Plan B

this was taken with our $27 digital camera by him.  this one is the only one of the 5 test pictures that looked ok...the rest were out of focus...well, it is a $27 camera...hard to see what the heck you are focusing on!  but this is a plant in my garden.

i did it!  HOORAY!!!  balloons float up to the sky! i got a picture in and where i want it!  

boy, are some kids slow!  this really shouldn't have taken so long to figure out!  but i am so proud that i did it.

o, clap hands for charlie for he took the picture.  

what kind of flower is it?  a blue volunteer ...translation:  i haven't got a clue! but isn't it pretty!

now to see what else i can do. i want to see more even if you don't.  but if you are reading this, i will assume you do.  ready?  here we go!

ahhh...i may be figuring this out after all.  

this is a wonderful picy of texas spring clouds (and the top of the door of the van).  i love texas clouds as the following will attest.   

well they won't if i can't get them from flicke! and there critter flicks out there as well!

ok, i give up for now.  i have to figure out how to do some thing else for a while.  

so, you, my friend, will just have to wait!  (the cloud picture was taken with a 3mm throw away camera.  

am i having fun yet?  NO  i want to show them all to you! foiled again but i will figure it out.

It's a swift

i have a swift and dh is winding the first ball!  round to it circled!  imagine me doing giddy dance!!!  three cheers for charlie!!  he said that he would do it and indeed he did!!!

and what have i been doing while is he swifting?  changing my blog a bit.  i hope you like the changes.  i now live in the hope of being able to make this more workable for me...cross your fingers.

i may even try and go back and edit last posting to see if i can get pictures where i want them!

Nooooooooooo

but the answer is yes, the battery in the 27 dollar digital camera (that was supposed to be compatible with mac but isn't) died!  and the memory with it!  what do expect for 27 dollars!

i expect to have fresh batteries, memory comes back.  dummy me!  so, all the pictures i took on the pretty, sunny day are gone.  do you get the idea i am not a happy camper.  you are correct.  

where is that irs check...i want a digital camera...o, one with a flash, too, please and thank you; $27 does not get you flash.

ok, i am going over to the corner and sulk.  i know it is not mature.  i don't want to be mature.  i want to sulk. i'll talk to you.....footsteps slowly fade out (footsteps...who is she kidding...o, i get it...never mind)

Pictures pictures pictures

the top picture is of my grand niece and one of her sons.  i got this moved!!!  

lindsy and eric...i don't have a picture of the other one (boy child) yet.  linds is the daughter of patsy's (big sister) third daughter, leslie.

the other is of my niece and company. well, so what do i do now and how do i get them below my text.  i did it, i got this picture where i want it!  stacy is the adult in the group (patsy's #4 child).

i got them...other pictures i have taken recently...well, some of them, out of camera and onto disk.  major accomplishment!  my next task was to get them into and out of flicker.

did that. 

i spent most of last night getting 2 (the only ones so far) of my stash from there (flicker) into ravelry (pant, pant). 

now for my next trick (listen for the drum roll)...get pictures in here!  but first (no, not a message from our sponsers) a disclaimer:  

i will not tout these as my best...they were taken with those little throw away camera as they were all i had at the time...film is 35mm. (pause while i try to get pictures in.)

rats!  i keep trying to get them in and they keep showing up on top as one of those little blue boxes!  back to the drawing board! will go back to my experts in ravelry and see if they can help...lord knows i know all the help i can get.

can you tell i edited this posting?  it was a test to see if i had learned how to manipulate the pictures after learning (hopefully) some new tricks...and i did it!

Swift

Darling charlie is making me a swift...he doesn't want to have to hold his hands out while i wind yarn balls....don't understand why not!  but this will mean i can start work on some of the yarn i got from fiberfest or my gifted yarns.  yes, i am excited.  he better hurry, i want start yesterday!

We are safe!

so says sir charles.  it would appear that oscar de wild (see avatar) can see green gekos against yellow brick walls.  his only problem is he can't reach them.  it would also appear gekos have ears and can be chased from your garden to the next (or at least out of your fenced area).  

oscar is very aware of his pet (charlie) being dressed...ah, but when the keys were found and made a noise, actions must be taken.

"well, you have to make sure your toys don't escape you!"  (such vocals made would make scrooge smile.)  "of course if one is going to work guarding the car, one must be properly clothed! that girl is so slow.  why is she taking so long getting my harness on."

"stop wiggling?  but i am excited!!! a ride in the car!!!!  hurry up!!!  i have on my leash!!!  let's go!!!!  now!!!"

and they did.

him must have left a carrot out on the counter.  this is known because the midnight marauder  (aka mystery puppy aka mysy pup) has trotted back here, jumped on the couch at the foot of the bed and is crunching away.  him and the midnight marauder play these games of "you leave it, i steal it".  which is why there are pottery bits to use in mosaics!  "don't ya know, if you steal something behind something else and you don't have hands to move things...what do you expect?"

"why is there a doorbell in this house?  woof alert is so much better and alerts to more that just people at the door.  cars arriving.  doors opening.  gates opening. husbands arriving thru the back door or sneaking down the hall.  yes, it is a loud alert.  it can cause a person to jump a bit resulting in the drop of a stitch.  but is so effective!"

him = husband, aka sir charles, aka charlie

she = me, aka sandy 

all other characters are the dog critters who inhabit the household

I wish you could go to my bookmarks!

i have started a new folder for favorite blogs. there i have captured some of my favorites...interesting folks who write well about stuff...of course yarns and patterns that they dye or invent but other stuff of interest...teas and flowers and vistas...i've had teas from all over the world...seen the beginning of spring in scotland...flowers from everywhere! shared laughter from the still thawing northern united states, great britian, both coasts of the states, germany, and korea.

what a wonder filled time i am having and way too much to take you as an escort. it's so grand to find others who know rainbows require watching...who sometimes capture them in the dyes of yarn or the patterned projects.

(hear a deep sigh.) i gotta go now. sorry!

i have things to knit which cannot be done if i am talking to you or reading what you or others are writing...i really do need more hands!

oh, oh, oh...i have found one way...podcasting...i can listen and do things with my hands at the same time! technology can be grand!

toodles

updates: van down. saturn down. charlie comes in blackened nightly...god bless his tenasity but could they both hurry with functionality! i dislike that i will have to be pushed around a lot (motorized chairs can be so speedy and i so independant) but am even more disturbed being house bound! no one will get to see the snowball trees or texas natives in bloom! and i want a digital camera! and OUT OF HERE!

ok, i'll go quietly.

i wish you could go to my bookmarks!

i have start a new folder for favorite blogs.

It's just not fair!

so much money spent on getting the air conditioner fixed! so much money spent on bits and bobs to fix this and that to figure out what is happening! end result...the van is dead! it's only 10 year and 4 months old. the toyota lasted 16. why isn't my van lasting that long!! so now he , charlie nee darling husband, is working of the saturn to get that running again..will the saturn carry my wheelchair....NO. the saturn is a sedan. can we afford a new vehicle at this time...NO. so what do i do...i don't know...i'll keep you posted.

meanwhile, back at the ranch, the bsj is finished. TA DA!

i've gone brain dead on how i closed the heels of my booties and need to get a pair done...and a hat...asap. so of course, i started the booties first. translation, the ball of yarn is stuck on the first bootie until i remember how i closed the heel and then i have to do the cuff. uck! i need to remember now! the harder i try....well, you know... it's like i know what to do but not how to do it. but i will...or i will figure out how to take it off the loom onto needles and close it that way....later on that one as well.

now that you are on tender hooks, i will stop.

As Shirley Temple said "Oh my goodness!"

DFW Fiberfest was wonderful!

and i didn't even attend any classes! the first day i went around (and i am so glad that this is only the third year) just stopping and looking and meeting people (glad because it is still small enough to get around). i had decided ahead of time that i would not take any classes as this was my first year. i just wanted to find out what it was all about and see all there is to see.

i was pretty good about not spending...but it was such a good deal (a hand knit gray shawl for $55)! and i made a new friend as a result (she had first dibbies on the shawl)! the next day i did spend money but not on everything (a springtime yarn feast and some yummy brooks farm yarn to make 2 shawls) i wanted to buy. and yesterday, i did buy the last...well, of course i did. it was a sort of light green foamy ocean color, a blended wool and silk. it was the last day!

but, lordie love a duck, did i meet so many people. People i want to keep as friends and see again in person...even if it does mean i have to wait til next year! and i will be back next year!

I almost forgot about my new braclet...it's an on the go row counter! you can use it to count up to 100 before you have to start over. is that cool or what??? i just had to get 3...and make a friend of the designer...well, you know i'll have to buy more in the future...get real!

any, any of you locals who did not go this year, have never been before, plan to next year!

Shabby Sheep are not

shabby! It's a lovely old yellow house that is now a yarn shop with y a r n ...all kinds and they let you touch smell and squeeze all sorts and they ask you want you are looking for and help you narrow it down! what wonderful ladies they are with lots of texas warmth and humor...they even helped me (?) rip (ouch) my bsj sweater back about 20 rows but got all back on! lovely! of course i have to knit it back (sniff) but it will look better. so if you get the chance,..run,drive, ride your bike...get there! you can just sit at the big table and knit or roam the rooms with lust in your heart! and the chairs must be comfortable cause we spent hours there and charlie was comfy and sort of attentive until the very end...and there is a love cocker puppy to entertain you.

No, Body in Retrograde

and having a tole on my knitting! That's a for sure! Going along fine on my Baby Surprise Jacket, mercury problems, then body went the same way...thanks for sharing Charlie! Now count on row is way off and I can't figure out why. The yarn is tearing up my hands but I am so close to the end. I want to finish....just to get through to the end...to see what it should look like...then do booties and hat...just to have a set to pass on to the new borns. Then I want to do another with some lovely yarn to prove to myself I can do it up right. Then on to something else.

As i am still not fully recovered yet, I'll stop now.

Is Mercury in Retrograde?

My chair carrying van is sick and has been since about the 6th of the month and Mr. Fixit has been working so hard to fix it...and the weather has not helped a bit! Raining, snowing! And then there was this nasty onry bolt that would not come loose! He wanted me to get him up early so he and his pal could work on it some more. Now, he is sick and he rarely gets sick! There is nothing I can do for him but offer comforting words and suggestions. There he lies with covers over his eyes and a big dog hat....well, sort of. See--- no no---I know you can't see---there lies His Nips, head on pillow, big black dog lying on pillow behind him...why never have camera ar right time---in the space between his head and the back board. Oscar got tired of the big dying fish impersonator who also keeps throwing covers around and jumping out of bed and then there's the noises he makes and the smells...what's a poor dog to do? This smart puppy came up on the other side of me, asked for a bit of attention, then went back to peaceful dreaming safe in the knowledge that I will be less intrusive.

I did manage to get a couple of row done while at the local Dems meeting. We met the congressional candidate who seems to have the right educational background and working experience. Seems very knowledge about the issues. He was not afraid of any of the questions asked without hesitation. I do feel sorry for him as his district covers all sorts of disconnected blocks. Thank you Tom Delay....now another state's problem. I wonder if the state's attorney general made a deal with him if he got out of Texas or he it was his idea to hightail it out of the state as it was getting too hot for him before spring arrived!

I'm in a tea karma swap group and I got my swapped box yesterday...no the day before...see how your brain works? No sleep equals no calendar change! Anyway, it was so grand! I've tried two of the teas and they were fabulos! Some of the tea came in the sweetest little tin box...great for loose tea when the bags are all used up or for more tea bags. I will deside on that another day. But I gotta tell about some yarn she sent...baby camel hair...oh, if you could only feel it...so soft! As was the green yarn...and those who know me know how much I love green! So soft, so green...ahhhh. Sigh...all i need now is a pattern...I have needles. Oh and there were cookies...they went down fast! Almonds!!! And a card to boot!

No, Sandy, stop thinking about those yarns! You have to finish that Baby Surprise Jacket before you think about or touch that yarn again! Control. Just a little bit of focus!!! And then He, El Sicko, wants a hat or socks...thick socks...she who cringes when people talk about them and double pointed needles! Shuddering at the mention! BUT, I checked with a friend (fiend) who also works with round looms who has done a grand pair of socks on the blue Knifty Knitter loom, She used chunky yarn on hers and they are absolutely beautiful. I want to make them out of bamboo as it has antibacterial properties so will be kind to his toes. He will pick out the color (good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise...and the van gets fixed)....

Light bulb....a V8 moment! I could make a hat with the baby camel yarn and we can share it or if I have enough yarn, I could make two and we wouldn't have to share!

Correction...BSJ... must be completed and a pair of booties to go with and wee hat...both latter projects to be completed with same yarn only on the looms! If none of the kids' kids can use them and no one is pregies, they will be gifted to a newborn baby at the hospital.

Please say prayers for both baby projects and The Van!!!


Happy Easter everyone!!!

PS Lesson: You cannot watch great skating and knit at the same time! Barely enough time to blink!

Where have I been??

No where! just messing around with Ravelry...it is soooo addictive! I keep finding groups I like and talking to people I like! and then what happens???? I end up spending all my free time reading and posting and reading ans posting and.... get the idea?

Oh, my hands? In the peeling stage...wish the finger tips would start! It's like you burned your finger tip, the blister has dried up but the peeling has not started or they suddenly are all callused...something like that only involving all tips!

Did you get to hear or read Mr. Obama's speech! If not, go here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23691239#23691239

I thought it was great! I listened to lots of the talking heads and I think they were not listening to the speech but looking for lines they could argue or endorse. Reading or listening to the to the speech as a whole gives one lots to think about, feel about, search inside yourself...so much more that the news snippits.


His Nibs is outside working again on the van...rain delay. Sure hope he has it up and running by Thursday...have missed way to many days due to van sickness! So why didn't we used the Saturn...you guessed it...broken!

I know another reason Elizabeth Zimmermann called the a Surprise Jacket...it's because she probably was surprised so many of us made it through knitting the whole thing and decided to make more! I finally got it going and then ... the pain... i can't rip it because I am not talented enough to get it back on the needles! That means I have to unknit it...so many rows! I have a good college education... why can't I read???? Good thing I made another copy before I started so I could make notes so as not to repeat the same mistakes. One good thing about continental style, I don't make any accidental yarn overs. Now if I could just get one way of holding the yarn I might finish the baby jacket before the end of the year.

Enough of this chatter...I have to eat my salad before it wilts!

What to do after 1 AM

Type...answer messages, make messages for others to read at a reasonable time of day, read others blogs...

And "Why", you might well ask, "aren't you knitting or at least crocheting or painting?"

Answer: my hands are not well. I discovered why my hands keep breaking out in tiny little blisters which cause much burning and itching! I am allergic to my pain med, which according to Dr. Jones, has put me beyond the pale. Anyway, I have been pretty quiet over the weekend and doing mostly just messing with the computer, The yarn moving over fingers gave me little else to do besides this and sleep.

DH just put on poker after dark so will have to stop...at least until it is over or I fall asleep!

A Meme...

Loom Knitting Meme!
Posted by Denise on Thursday, March 6th, 2008
Filed in Knitting Without Needles · 2 comments

Just for fun…a loom knitting meme.
What have you made with your loom? lots of booties, baby hats, slippers
What do you do knitting/fiber related? dabble with round looms, bond knitting frame, knitting needles, crochet hooks
What I’ve made on my knitting looms and what I have done knitting/fiber related:
Afghan - no
I-cord - no
Garter stitch - no
Knitting with metal wire - no
Shawl - no
Stockinette stitch - yes
Socks: top-down - no
Socks: toe-up - no
Knitting with camel yarn - No--Joann's doesn't carry it.
Mittens: Cuff-up - no
Mittens: Tip-down - no
Hat - lots
Knitting with silk a fine strand with wool for socks - no
Moebius band knitting - no
Participating in a LAL - no
Sweater -no
Drop stitch patterns - no
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn - also called "free", my favorite yarn, followed closely by "sale"
Slip stitch patterns - yes
Knitting with banana fiber yarn - no
Twisted stitch patterns - no
Knitting with bamboo yarn - no
Charity knitting - yes
Knitting with soy yarn - no
Cardigan - no
Toy/doll clothing - no
Baby items - YES!
Knitting with your own handspun yarn - no
Slippers - yes
Designing knitted garments - no!
Cable stitch patterns - no
Lace patterns - no
Publishing a knitting book - no
Scarf - no
Teaching a child to knit - no
Knitting to make money - no
Buttonholes - no
Knitting with alpaca - no
Fair Isle knitting - no
Dying with plant colors - no
Knitting items for a wedding - no
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…) - no
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) - no
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn - no
Holiday related knitting - yes
Teaching a male how to loom knit - no
Bobbles - no and I don't intend to as I don't like them
Knitting for a living - no
Knitting with cotton - no
Knitting smocking - no
Dying yarn - no
Knitting art - no
Fulling/felting - no
Knitting with wool - yes
Textured knitting - yes
Kitchener stitch - no
Purses/bags - no
Knitting with beads - no,
Swatching - yes
Long Tail CO - no on a loom but yes on knitting needles
Knitting and purling backwards -uh, no
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn - yes
Stuffed toys - no
Knitting with cashmere - I wish
Darning - no
Jewelry - no
Knitting with synthetic yarn - of course
Writing a pattern - yes
Gloves mittens are warmer! - no
Intarsia - no
Knitting with linen - no
Knitting for preemies - yes
Short rows - no
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers - no
Pillows - no
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine - no
Rug - no
Knitting on a loom - duh, yes
Knitting a gift - yes
Knitting for a pet? - no
Shrug/bolero/poncho - no
Knitting with dog/cat hair accidentally or on purpose? - with 2 dogs, what do you think
Hair accessories - no
Knitting in public - yes
!Knitting with buffalo yarn - no
Knitting with pygora - no
Dyeing with food dye/drink mixes - no
Dyeing with chemical dyes (acid, etc) - no

With my answers, your assumptions are correct, I really have just dabbled!
Play along if you like.

Wheelchair knitting...

Ok, you have a knitting bag but it's on its own wheels. You have your MIL's but it has a wooden handle which won't fit. Ahhhh. Recycle. Take one of those plastic bags your DH brought home and use it....lovely idea, it's waterproof, not quite long enough to drag on the wheel. Has it's own nicely enlarged handles. Ok, so you don't transfer to the comfy chair....you seat is comfy enough and the arms are really set better for knitting and you don't have to put it on the seat beside you where the dogs want to lie or on the floor where you have to almost fall out of the chair to reach. Yes, and it's good for on the go as you can knit in all those long lines or long speeches. What a deal! And "they" feel sorry for me? Ha. They have to stand around sifting from leg to leg, holding coats (mine go over the back of the chair...and twittle their thumbs while I am constructive and happy....oh, works well at doc's office or any other place where "hurry up and wait" is the order of the day!

I used to knit in the car until Oscar decide he had to see and either sit on my shoulder (dog who thinks he is a parrot?) or under my right arm on the arm rest. Either way, knitting is OUT if he is in the car.

May you have a better, better day!!!

Who was that person...

I think I was blogging in my sleep! Then I feel asleep. Woke up a couple of hours later, thought it was afternoon. Computed away before starting to count my stitches. Count did not come out right so started again....next thing I knew, it as 3 p.m.! So maybe when we really need sleep we should count lots of stitches (don't try to knit, or you could end up on mid row) instead of sheep!

Let's see. Ate, drank, sorted laundry, called Dr., can I knit now? No, one more business call, then you can knit the rest of the day.

Tomorrow is PT and then if I have been a really good girl and we don't get lost, Shabby Sheep time. It is just a weee bit of our beaten path to home but.... Well, if there is a yarn shop close to you or you routine, don't you just have to go visit???? I mean a real knitting shop, not just a craft store???!!! I mean all the others I have to go out of my way, but this???? And the reports of the store and people are great.

Him, the Chauffer has said he will be Keeper of the wallet (credit cards and money) before we enter! Says visiting is ok but yarn level must go down and there are enough patters and needles for god knows how many people to work! It's hard to be good but I will try and let you know how I did tomorrow!

I survived yesterday..

or is it really yesterday if you have not gone to sleep...phones too busy, finally ripped out completely (knitting, not phone), recast on before going to caucus...what a zoo...the turn out waayyy underestimated! Got back home about 10:30 and watched returns with hubby and ate dinner. He 's gone to sleep now....I've not, pain. But while at the site of the caucus and waiting for people to move us around and waiting to sign in and waiting....anyway I did get 4 rows done and if my eyes can unblur enough, I will stop updating all my computer stuff and get back to knitting...well, counting to make sure I am still spot on and then knitting again.

How do you know if it is Election day in Texas?

Easy! Every two minutes you have people calling from the candidates or their supporters requesting your vote! And making sure you will caucus. Texas has both primary and caucus voting...so I get to vote twice. Now the other candidates for other offices are calling!!! Don't they know I have stuff to do?

Subject change: Don't try doing more than two things at a time with a huge cup of fresh hot coco! The resulting scream hurts DH's ears, the dog steals your scone, and the resulting red burn marks on you thumb, belly and thighs from the spill makes one very unhappy (dog not fazed as he liked my scone)! Nooooo, I was not trying to knit at the same time...yarn was safe.

I think I might be better served by giving up the knitting for the day and watch my EZ Glossary until it runs out or it is time to go caucus, come home and watch the results.

'Nah...so I keep goofing up...one learns from mistakes and mishaps. Right?