Land of Paws

I've had the song "The Merry Old Land of Oz" running through my head recently. Do you remember when Dorothy and the gang finally get to the Emerald City and they are treated to some serious makeovers and a carriage ride drawn by the horse who keeps changing colors? And the song goes something like this: "Ho, ho, ho, hee, hee, hee, ha,ha,ha,ha,ha - that's how we laugh the day away in the merry old land of Oz."

Well, here in Kansas, here in the little animal house on the prairie, the song goes something like this: "Poop, poop, poop, pee, pee, pee, barfing everywhere - that's how we clean the day away in the merry old Land of Paws!" Okay, so it doesn't rhyme, but I don't have the time to make it rhyme. Because now that there is the pitter-patter of 28 little feet filling our home, it seems we are either cleaning up after the eating/pooping machines (AKA "the puppies"), or cleaning up the wet spots left by puppies who escaped their confines and by a certain naughty beagle who is acting out in response to the intruders, or cleaning up hairballs from the feline sector. (Chloe, as always, is a Very Good Dog who is trying hard not to cause extra work for mom and dad. She gets extra treats for her efforts.) I am personally responsible for driving up the profits of the Windex Wipes and Lysol corporations for the past 2 weeks. But look at these little faces. All together now, "Awwwwwww". So worth it!

Cody (AKA "Grunt") and Oreo (AKA "Squeek")

Marley, the newest member of the puppy posse

Despite my whining and complaining, I'm not sorry we're doing this. They are so sweet-natured and love people. And I was so proud today when Oreo and Cody both went right over to poop on the piece of newspaper I had put down in the play area. Only 6 weeks old and starting to potty train! Puppy Einsteins, that's what they are. Unfortunately, they haven't yet learned the concept of not stepping in their own mess and tracking it around all over, which starts another round of cleaning the day away in the merry old Land of Paws!

The members of the Permanent Pet Posse plan their revenge

February Color Swap

Here's my questionnaire for the February color swap:

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high-end natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I'm a yarn snob, but not a label snob. I avoid anything that looks cheap, feels scratchy and rough, or comes in ugly colors. When I knit for loved ones or myself, I use higher end yarns like Cashmerino, Noro, and Manos. When I knit for charity, I use yarns that are washable and can be thrown in the dryer, but even then, I don't like Lion's Brand and absolutely no Red Heart because it's so harsh.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I don't spin, but would like to when I have a lot more free time. I crocheted for years, but lost interest in it. I prefer knitting to crocheting now.

3. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Lately, all I want to do with my free time (what little I have) is knit, knit, knit! But I occasionally will make beaded jewelry, sew home decor items and make silk and dried flower wreaths and arrangements.

4. What is/are your favorite yarns to knit with?
Merino! Love it, want to marry it. I love how its soft and squishy and bouncy all at the same time. In worsted weight or bulkier so I don't have to use little needles.

5. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Anything that looks like a critter (furry, feathery, eyelashy) and anything that would feel at home in Vegas (shiny, sequiny, sparkly). Also, I do not like scratchy acrylics or wools. Or any kind of cotton that's not stretchy.

6. What is/are your current knitting obsessions?
I've been knitting 1 year this month and still consider myself inexperienced so I am obsessed with learning new stitches, patterns and techniques. Every time I make a new scarf or hat, I try to include something I haven't done before. Right now, I'm trying to understand how different stitches and stitch patterns affect the texture and "look" of the piece. My next goal is to learn how to knit cables.

7. What is/are your favorite items to knit?
So far, hats and scarves. I can experiment with different stitches, complete a project quickly, and there is a never-ending supply of people who need help staying warm.

8. What are you knitting right now?
I just finished a scarf for the Red Scarf Project. I also knitted 3 hats for the Love Fund (a local charity for children). And I just finished my sister-in-law's Christmas scarf (which shall now be a Valentine's Day scarf).
I'm casting on a new scarf tonight. This one will be for me!

9. Are you a sock knitter?
No. Maybe one day. For now, I am intimidated by the thought of using such little needles - I feel like it will take forever.

10. What's your favorite color? Or - do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Are there any colors you hate?
I love most colors but prefer darker, rich colors for fall and winter knitting. I also love brights, like turquoise, grape, cobalt and lime green. I dislike pastels and cannot abide tans and beiges.

11.Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No. But I wish for world peace.

12. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
Yes, I am allergic to smoke and certain perfumes. Thank God I'm not allergic to pets or wool!

13. Do you have any religious prohibitions or restrictions?
My beliefs prohibit me from eating sardines or doing unneccessary math.

14. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Vanilla and orange. And orange-vanilla. And lavender.

15. Do you burn candles?
Sometimes.

16. Do you have a sweet or salt tooth?
Definitely sweet!

17. Do you drink coffee, tea or cocoa?
I don't just drink coffee, I inhale it! I also like tea, but don't drink cocoa.

18. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with a wonderful, exascerbating husband, 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 3 foster puppies. And a zillion dust bunnies.

19. What are some of your favorite things?
My family and friends, my garden, anything to do with New Orleans, and of course, knitting.

20. Is there anything that you collect?
Rabbits, even though I hate to see them in my garden.

21. What is your favorite holiday?
I love Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas because I love autumn and winter.

22. What is your birthday? (You don't have to tell the year)
November 8
In other news, guess what I came home to find last night? Hint: see the previous post minus one.
I'll try to post pictures tomorrow.

Surprise! It's 2 Boys!

(I originally tried to post this earlier this week, but for some mysterious Blogger-like reason, it wouldn't publish the entry. And then I was crazy-busy the rest of the week so here I am today trying once again to publish.)

This is what I found waiting for me when I got home Monday night:


"Grunt" is the runt in the back and "Squeek" is the big boy in front. These are just nicknames, because the babies' father (aka Mr. Criquette) wants something to call them but doesn't want them burdened by silly names when they reach their full dogly manhood. Or should that be manly doghood? here is a close-up of Grunt (Blogger is still being pissy and won't let me download anymore pix right now so I can't show you a close-up of the Squeeker. Trust me, he's a cutie!)




Okay, so I'm just pretending to be grumpy about our foster children. Some time ago Mr. Criquette (who is a 4-year board member of our local low-kill shelter) brought up the subject of fostering kittens. We decided it would be better to wait until everything with the house was finished and our own babies had settled back in to their routine. But, yesterday he got "the call" and "couldn't say no." Animal control had brought in an abandoned mom and her litter of 10 -count 'em- 10 little young 'uns. The director told Mr. C that she had been a great mom until this week when she just threw in the towel. Couldn't handle the crew anymore. (I can empathize after a busy day spent seeing all ADHD kids. Especially when they've been all cooped up for almost 2 weeks because of ice and snow and cold.) So my sweet animal-loving guy stepped up and took one of the pairs they were sending to foster homes. And he did an amazing job of figuring out where to put them and gathering all of the things tiny puppies need and being such a good puppy dad. He already had stories to tell me about how much they ate and pooped and other proud papa stuff. It's soooo cute!

Meanwhile, Criquette has definitely figured out something's cooking, but isn't sure what. She kept acting out all last night. Bitsy has gone into hiding but it could have been because the workers were there yesterday. Abbie and Chloe so far seem rather blissfully ignorant of the impending chaos, and haven't figured out that *something* is lurking behind the guest bedroom door!

Of course, almost as soon as I met them I was planning what I could knit for them. I hope I have enough time to knit them each a chew toy and a little blankie. I think I will recruit their Auntie C, the premie hat knitter extrordinaire. Maybe she'll adopt one. See how I'm already scheming to find ways to keep them in our lives? I have some neighbors who are dogless, or in a 1-dog family who could surely share their homes with a cute little black furball. Hmmmmm, who else do I know?

We'll see how this experiment in fostering turns out. I am only worried about 2 things. First, will this disrupt the harmony in which our little animal family lives? And second, will it break our hearts when we send our charges on to their own new families? Stay tuned and share the adventure...

Iced In

First of all, I haven't been posting because I was having a smack-down with a "recurring virus" which launched it's first attack 2 days before Christmas and, just when I think I'm bouncing back, attacks me again. It's something that seems to be traveling the Northern Hemisphere of knitting, as I have read about many other fellow knitter-bloggers who have been sidelined with respiratory crud, voice loss, fatigue (but not too much to stop knitting!) and general feelings of ickiness. However, after I got a round of antibiotics to tag-team with me, I started feeling perky again yesterday. Just in time for an Arctic blast that has plunged our unseasonably warm temps down to highs in the low 20's and a generous coating of ice and sleet and, tomorrow, snow. So I made the smart choice to snuggle in this weekend rather than going out into the frigid air and risking the Return of the Mutant Virus. There's so much to catch up on!

As far as Christmas - which is rapidly becoming a distant memory - we enjoyed Christmas on the prairie with my in-laws, and then a week in New Orleans with my own near-and-dears. We had a great time (despite a raw, runny nose, intense coughing and a blimp-sized sinus-pressure headache) and of course I ate way too much artery-clogging goodness and spent gobs of time with my wonderful family and friends (who even love me when I am potentially contagious). But the best part of all involved knitting, specifically the knitted gifts I bestowed on almost everyone.

This year, my first as a knitter, I made scads of scarves to give as gifts - 12 to be precise (although I hate to admit that 4 of them are still UFO's). many of the scarves were made when I was still very new to knitting and involved much synthetic fluffiness, large needles and garter stitch. The later ones reflected my evolving taste in yarns (bouncy merinos, self-stripes, and lovely textures) and, for me, some more challenging patterns. But regardless of the yarn or workwomanship, with only one exception (and I won't name the BIL who was underwhelmed), the scarves were met with joy and enthusiasm! It felt wonderful to have made something for my loved ones and to see them stroking and squeezing and wearing their goodies and appreciating that I MADE THESE!

The appreciation is what truly made my Christmas. My very favorite response came from my darling niece, Miss V. When I was knitting my very first scarf last February, she was fascinated and said she hoped I would make her one someday. She didn't know it, but I made her a fun fluffy scarf for Xmas. She was helping me wrap one of the other scarves for a SIL and said "Auntie K, this is so beautiful! Do you think you would ever make me one?" To which I replied "Sure. And one day, when I do, what colors would you like?" "Pink, blue, purple and light green" were the answers.

But Mom, we don't want to give these away!

See the one on Abbie (she's on the right)? That's Miss V's scarf, knit back in the fall. Notice the colors? Did Auntie K guess well or what? So when it was time to open gifts, Miss V squealed and immediately put on her first handknitted creation and gave me a giant hug and wore the scarf all night. And the next day. And had to be dissuaded from sleeping in it. Now that's just downright satisfying. I can't wait to start knitting for Xmas 2007!


But first, I need to finish the scarves for 2006. Which I have been working on almost all iced-in day. And am headed off to do now. While watching one of my favorite movies, Napoleon Dynamite. With ligers and wolverines and tots and LaFawnduh and cakes and even an ALPACA! Who can resist???

Tomorrow I am posting about what I saw and experienced in New Orleans, with lots of pictures!

Welcome, 2007

Wishing everyone a healthy, joyous, prosperous and emotionally satisfying 2007!

Kid Stuff

One of my favorite poems is this one, written during World War II by an African-American poet named Frank Horne. It is simple and yet profound. And very, very relevant for us now.

Kid Stuff

The wise guys

tell me

that Christmas

is Kid Stuff...

Maybe they've got

something there --

Two thousand years ago

three wise guys

chased a star

across a continent

to bring

frankincense and myrrh

to a Kid

born in a manger

with an idea in his head...

And as the bombs

crash

all over the world

today

the real wise guys

know

that we've all

got to go chasing stars

again

in the hope

that we can get back

some of that

Kid Stuff

born two thousand years ago --

Frank Horne
December, 1942




This Christmas, please pray for that Christmas promise of Peace On Earth, Good Will To All. And in the spirit of the season, God bless us, everyone.

I won't be posting for the next week as I will be sans computer, enjoying the holidays with most of my family down in New Orleans. I will be back posting on New Year's Day and hope to have some photos and a report on the some of the lys's post-Katrina (and yes, I will be adding to my stash because how can I do research without buying?).

Weird? Who, Meme?

So in my daily attempts at procrastinating having to return phone calls or do my charting, I was surfing the blogosphere and ran across this fun little exercise from Theresa at Keyboard Biologist.


It's a meme called "6 Weird Things About Me". It's my first meme, and since I think I'm kind of weird, it seemed like a natural. And since I haven't done a "True Confessions" Wednesday in a couple of weeks, this can take its place this week. And since I'm not tagging either, leave me a comment and let me know if you're putting this on your blog and I will come over and visit you!

Why am I weird? Let me count the ways...

1. I like to repeat certain words over and over in my head, for no other reason than because it is entertaining. My current favorite is "monkey" with the first syllable really drawn out. I also like the word "onamotopia".

2. I love to sing to my kitties when I am alone. Loudly. In my best operatic voice (cough). Current favorites: excerpts from "Carmen" or "Everything's Coming Up Roses". I have taught this behavior to most of my nieces and nephews as well.

3. I am the only member of my immediate or extended family (even going back several generations) who was not born in southern Louisiana. Not even born south of the Mason-Dixon line. I was born in Aberdeen, Maryland when my dad was stationed there. We moved back to New Orleans when I was 3 months old. According to mother, that's why I grew up to be so oppositional and difficult.

4. I hate and despise movies in which there is violence and yet, some of my favorite movies are anything by Quentin Tarrantino, especially the Kill Bills.

5. I have postal-phobia. I avoid anything having to do with mailing things at all costs, until it is absolutely neccessary. I have always been this way and haven't a clue why.

6. One of my top 5 goals for 2007 is to learn juggling. I have toyed with this idea for several years now and have finally met someone who is willing to teach me - a 9 year old who is quite skilled already. We started today, with me just working on being able to catch 1 ball that I toss into the air. Oh, I have so far to go...

That Tingly Holiday Feeling

This weekend, I watched a special program on our local TV station. It was about an area business man named Larry Stewart, who for years roamed the streets of Kansas City in the days before Christmas, walking up to strangers and handing them money - sometimes several hundred, even thousands of dollars. He did it to pay back an old debt and then kept doing it because it makes him so happy. He goes to those parts of town where he is most likely to find people who are the most needy, or else hears about people who are having a particularly hard time. He always gives the money with the message "One day, when you are able, do something to help someone else."


You can find out more about this remarkable man at the website Secret Santa. Look under "Media Stories". Mr. Stewart was diagnosed with cancer this year and is undergoing treatment. Now he is relying on other Secret Santas to help him. He doesn't encourage people to do exactly what he did, since walking around dangerous parts of town with large sums of money can only be done safely with a police escort. But he does say that each of us can do a little something to bless others, whether it's giving an extra tip, give someone an extra word of appreciation, or help in some other way. So the goodness just keeps growing and rippling out to more and more people.

I believe Secret Santa has captured the truest meaning of Christmas, which is to give of yourself in order to share the love with someone else, regardless of their social status, race, creed, or even character. To give someone the gift of knowing that someone somewhere singled them out to share the love, to show them that we are all special in God's eyes. And each and every one of us can be a Secret Santa, even in a very small way. And by doing this, we can each share in the perfect love that was born in a manger long ago.




So this year, I'm giving myself the best Christmas present I can think of - the gift of joy! I've signed up to be a Secret Santa. Will you?

The Life Chaotic

The painters descended upon us this week like locusts - very welcome locusts, just lots of them. They are sanding, bondo-ing and repainting every inch of our semi-new house, fixing all of their mistakes and previous sloppy work and FINALLY the walls and trim look like what we expected from our builder instead of looking like a bunch of hyper kindergarteners were turned loose with paint. The correct color is finally on the walls, instead of the pinkish-greyish ghastly color the painting contractor swore was the one I had chosen ("All paint looks different when you bring in your furniture" and "It looks different because of the lighting in your home" were 2 of the excuses I was given). There are no longer streaks of random, strange colors (bright blue? raspberry?) showing up here and there. The baseboards are now smooth and gleaming, rather than looking like a roller derby took place in the final stage of construction. And, miracle of miracles, the blue tape is gone!

Of course, my house has looked like this all week:






And the cats have looked like this:

Where's my sofa?

Give me back my house!

(The dogs don't care as long as they get their walks and treats).

Even with the hoards of painters, they still haven't finished the job in 1 week of hard work and they expect to be here all of next week. Then they will be back after Christmas to sand and refinish the cabinets because the finish is already peeling off in numerous places, as well as several more odds and ends. So I will be living the life chaotic for a while longer, blogging when I can make my way to the computer and getting high on paint fumes. Since it is impossible for me to clean house or cook, all I can do when I am at home is knit and watch TV. How sad is that?

It's Monday and That's My Excuse

Silly Christmas Heads

Worked 12 hour day, too tired to write anything remotely clever or interesting. So I am resorting to my old trick of posting random pictures from my downloads. Enjoy!

Knitting Frantically Towards Christmas

As promised, here is the scarf I knit for one of the SIL's:




It's Sophia's "Go Diagonal" scarf and the pattern can be found on her blog Yarn Over Manhattan. The yarn is Kureyon No. 51. I only had to tweak it a little to come out with a somewhat symmetrical colorway on each side of the scarf.


This brings the number of gift scarves that have finished to 8, with 3 on the needles and at least 1 more waiting to be cast on. I will be knitting my fingers off in order to get these finished on time.


I am hoping the painters, who will be here Monday morning at the crack of dawn, will be finished by the end of the week and I will FINALLY be rid of the blue tape. Then I can move the furniture back into place and have room to give the litle woolies a bath in Eucalan and a little gentle blocking and then get their official portraits before sending them off to their new homes.


On a rather sad note, this is what is left of Teensy Frosty after our warm spell and bright sunshine yesterday. The carrot is gone and my guess is one of the dogs ate it.

Please take a nanosecond of silence in his memory. Ok, that was long enough. Thank you.

Finally, here's a shout out to my new blog buddy, Li over at Life's A Stitch. She has a free pattern for an amazing Herringbone Rib scarf that she was kind enough to share with me and that I plan to make for the Red Scarf Project. Stay posted as I plan to start this right after Christmas. Li knits lots of scarves too, like me, except that she is definitely a better knitter. My flea-sized attention span still won't let me get past the 5th row of Wendy's Feather and Fan without have to frog, frog, frog. Also, she lives in one of the most fabulous places I have ever visited, Vancouver, and she works with kids, too. I have bookmarked her blog and look forward to future stalkings! Thanks, Li!

I Laugh At The Cold!

It's been a cold week! And I love the cold, in fact, I LAUGH at the cold! It's what has allowed this subtropical belle to survive subzero wind chills since first moving to the prairie 12 years ago. The day we left New Orleans, the temperature was in the 70's. By the next morning, moving in day, the temperature on the prairie was single digits, with a windchill of 17 below zero. With the front door open all day as moving commenced, frozen fingers, feet and everything in between, I figured I could cry and whine, or learn to love the winter. And now, after laughing at the cold for so long, I can say that a cold winter is my second favorite season. And it's finally here. No global warming this week, ya'll.


I have been a busy psychologist this week. After being cooped up inside for 4 days, many of the families I work with were about to sell their kids on EBay. Fortunately, they decided to schedule a visit with Dr. Criquette instead, and gain Valuable Pointers for the next bout of cabin fever.Therefore, I haven't been able to post these pix of last week's 2 storms until today. Since there is still quite a bit of snow left on the ground, it counts, right?

Last Wednesday night's ice storm was followed on Thursday by a second storm that dumped 8 inches of powdery goodness on our piece of the prairie. What is normally a 15 minute drive to work took me 70 minutes to inch home. I'm crazy, but I like driving in the snow as long as there's reasonable traction. It was dark by the time I got home, so I had to wait until Friday to take some photos out in my yard.

Winterberry

Blue Spruce

The woods are especially wonderful in the snow. I sit by the window to knit so I could keep watching them throughout the day.

Even the stream is snowed in!

And I finally did something I've never done in the 12 years I have lived here - voila!



It's teensy Frosty! I would have gone bigger, but the snow was too dry and powdery and wouldn't hold together. But I managed to find some of the wet, icy stuff from Wednesday to make this little guy. He is pretty cute and has been living on the porch for a week. Although today, we are having a warm spell, with sunny skies and temps near 40, so he won't be around much longer.(Please note the cute little handknit premie cap that I "borrowed" from my charity knitting bag.)

Party time tonight - our friends are having a Christmas party and are asking everyone to bring a toy for Toys For Tots. Isn't this a great idea? I wish more people would collect items for those less fortunate when having a holiday party. I have resolved to do something similar when my house is finally party-ready (should be real soon!)and challenge anyone reading this to do the same.

I finished the Kureyon scarf for my SIL - it's not yet finished or blocked but it's so pretty I am posting it's picture tomorrow!

Little Snowstorm on the Prairie

First snow of the season on the prairie tonight. What is usually a 15 minute drive to work took me 1 hour earlier this evening. It's 15 degrees and we've had about 5 inches of beautiful, fluffy snow that sparkles in the light. If you live further north this may seem like mild winter conditions. But consider this: At 5pm Tuesday, the temperature was 71. When I went to work on Wednesday, the temperature was 56 and by noon it was 30. Yes, I live in the land of temperature mood swings, where this kind of sudden plunge is common. Not at all good for the sinuses, but keeps life exciting!

I like it this cold and LOOOOOVVVVVE the snow so I am in my element. I spent the evening curled up on the sofa with Abbie warming my feet while I knitted 24" worth of the Kureyon scarf for my SIL. Happy, happy, happy. I can't wait until I can go out tomorrow and walk around in the snow and hopefully it will pack down enough to let me make a snowman.

Chloe and Abbie don't mind going out so much as long as they can stay warm. They agreed to model 2 of the scarves I have finished for Christmas for some teenage relatives, but declined to wear them outside to use the bathroom. They told me they would really prefer some sweaters in a nice merino handspun instead. At least my dogs have good taste.

This is so not my color!

Goodbye Turkeys, Time For Christmas

This is one of the things I did over the long weekend. I started knitting a pretty blue scarf for a niece. Love the pattern but I have to pay more attention than I am used to and so have done several rows of frogging. I did finally figure out that too many glasses of Cabernet and knitting that requires attention do not mix. Duh.



The girls all had lots of turkey for dinner and took extra-long naps.



Chloe wasn't too full to pass up her nightly treat, though!

Time to get back to my knitting. The green urban camo scarf is back on the needles - the correct length this time - and 2/3's finished. I also have 2 others on the needles - a blue Tonalita diagonal scarf for one of my SIL's and the blue for my niece. Hope to have all 3 finished by next Sunday. I'd like to get 4 more finished before Christmas and I think I should be able to get this done.


We found out that the house is finally supposed to get finished. Our new (and vastly improved) project manager, Paul, said he wants to have us all done before Christmas. He has been an angel - he has really advocated for us and is making sure that we will end up with the house we thought we were getting. He is a perfectionist and has found problems we didn't even realize we had. If I can get my furniture, rugs and pictures into place before Christmas Eve, I will have gotten the best gift I've had in a long time!

True Confessions Wednesday: I Live in Chaos!

This is beyond ridiculous, people.

This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for the fact that our 1 1/2 year stretch of living in Chaosland (aka "the new house") may be winding to a conclusion. Instead of having to face this mess everyday:

Furniture piled in the foyer and dining room

Most surfaces in the kitchen covered in stuff that has no where to go

My former favorite inside knitting spot, now a giant pile of furniture blocking the TV

My office (aka "the junk room")

Note the scattered rubbermaid totes containing the stash - I long for the day it is organized all nice and neat in the closet where it belongs.

I will hopefully soon be able to finally move my furniture, rugs, pictures and tschotkas into place, look at walls that are not covered in extensive sheetrock repairs, walk on floors that do not have bunched-up carpeting, or floors full of hundreds of little holes that were not filled, or have to deal with bathrooms that have sharp tile edges that rip open a person's kneecap or commodes that make horrible burping noises before overflowing with raw sewerage onto the bunched-up carpet. In addition to the 1100 other problems we have identified and fought to have repaired since we moved into the Home of Our Dreams.

Flinging all good sense and caution to the wind, we built a new home (a horror to never be repeated, ever) and moved in at the end of April, 2005. From the start, we noticed multitudes of problems, ranging from insignificant (bad paint job) to severe (house built too low for the land, water floods the patio and all around the foundation in rainstorms) to ridiculous (the showerhead, faucet, and drain were 3 completely different metal finishes in the guestbath) to disgusting (I'll spare the details).

There have literally been problems with every household category, except the roof: drainage, sheetrock, floors, carpeting, tile, plumbing, paint, etc. And this is after the builder had to re-do the front entrance that the framers "created" instead of following the blueprints, and rip out and replace several windows that were installed by a guy who was the height of your average NBA player and put the windows in at an average height so a 7 foot tall guy could see out, but regular people would have to keep jumping up & down to see outside. After much arguing with the project manager, these were eventually fixed.

I could write a book about the pig roast that took place inside while my dining room was being constructed (I was told that it was too cold for the poor workers to have to roast it outside!!!) and the dogs that were brought to work and tied up in the basement and stairwell (where they of course went to the bathroom numerous times, leaving smelly spots that my dogs have been compelled to mark as well) and how the painters dumped 2 different buckets of paint together to come up with their own "mystery paint" which they used all over the entire first floor and then insisted it matched the paint I had actually chosen. And on and on. And it is still not over.

When we first moved in and started pointing out the problems to the "project manager" (I use the term manager with dripping sarcasm), he handed me a roll of blue masking tape and advised me to mark the problems and that they would fix everything marked. I literally went through 3 rolls of tape to do this. We have lived in a sea of blue tape on the walls, the doors, the floors, the cabinets, etcetcetc for over a year now. My niece kindly said 'It looks like ya'll have modern art everywhere." Last year we celebrated a "Blue Christmas" with our guests. At least they all had a sense of humor about it.

Click for close-up of blue tape (further proof of my OCD)

The builder finally came out to look at the problems after the project manager wigged out. To his credit, the builder has reluctantly been s-l-o-w-l-y addressing most of the problems. Sheetrock has literally been repaired on every wall in the house. After 6 months, I've kinda gotten used to the "distressed" look. The plumbing fixtures in my guest bath now match. Unfortunately, the commode is still unusable. But the carpeting has been replaced and the hardwood floors are finally finished and the floors are all now blue tape-free! Yayyyyyy!!!!
And, fingers crossed, we may actually get the house repainted before Christmas. The right color this time.
And then we can finally settle in and make ourselves at home. Where we will all live happily ever after (well, maybe not the always-grumpy BitsyBonTon) and I will have nothing else to do with my free time but knit and knit and knit. Yes, I am thankful.

But most of all, I am thankful for my family and my friends. I am so very fortunate and really, a house of blue tape and chaos is just a minor blip on the radar screen of what makes life meaningful.

So, to my nearest and dearest, and to the 3 or so people who may be reading my humble little blog, have a truly blessed and thankful day! (and thanks for the free therapy!)

Good News At Last!

You Have Good Karma

In general, you like to do the right thing when it comes to others. Your caring personality really shines through. Sure, you have your moments of weakness - and occasionally act out. But, all in all, you're karma is good... even with those few dark spots.

How's Your Karma?

True Confessions Wednesday: Sometimes I Have Too Much Fun

To ME!!!!!

See ya tomorrow (maybe)...

A Charmined Life?

Ever have a day where you felt like all you did was clean up after a bunch of assholes?
Yep, that's what mine was like. A Charmin kind of day.

Scary Knitting

Okay, I'm starting something really scary today. I'm taking my next steps as a newbie knitter by branching out with a sweater! Actually, a tiny sweater, more of a kimono actually - a straight knitting pattern that involves lots of shaping and then sewing 2 seams - I think I can manage this. I am making the "heartbreakingly cute baby kimono" from the Mason-Dixon book, which is also the first book of knitting patterns that I have bought. Wow, I feel so knitterly! I am also knitting on tinier needles than I have previously used - size 6 Clover bamboo. And the yarn, luscious and satiny-soft, in ghostly white (appropriate for Halloween) is Classic Yarns Cashsoft Baby DK.

I am going to try casting on and knitting in between little visitors seeking high-octane sugar treats, we'll see how that goes. Have a fun and safe and sugary H'night!