Added, A link to the Daily Onion

It's not for everyone.

It's not PC.

In fact almost everyone can find something entirely obnoxious and perhaps even treasonous in it. I love the place. Enjoy!

B is for Brother

My little brother, the survivor. He's my Brave Rifle. He's been through a whole lot of stuff. I'm just glad that he was injured so badly that he didn't go to Viet Nam, where he was headed when his knee blew out from under him. So many of our friends went and didn't come back, or came back so messed up. Everyone knows about Viet Nam. Nothing more needs to be said.

He's over 60 now and still has those dimples and sparkling star like eyes. We've been pals for a long, long time.

A is for Airplane

I love them, flat out adore Airplanes. And the pilots. Click here for why you should Hug those pilots! And there's even an airplane gas station, from the "Old Gas Stations" picture collection.

Fitness for Old Ladies is a good thing...

 

We have gathered three copies of it. I can only claim Amnesia. Anyway, it may be too late already but I'm finally getting back on the hobby horse and getting fit. Even if I have to sit, I can still be fit.

Here's to getting that leg back outta the grave... so to speak... Buhahahaha!

Knitter's Salad on Artificial Greens

 

There they are, such as they are. I have my issues with a couple of them but nothing so far that threatens their very existence.

This piccie had to be taken inside the house and with a flash. It killed the color of the deep purple hempathy glove, may it forgive me. We need the rain or else I'd go outside and voice my opinion of having only one day of sunshine and seven days of rain.

Mother Nature needs the rain, What can I say, other than, "This IS SoCal, land of sunshine and winter roses isn't it???" We, who get our water piped in across a desert and whose ancestrals stole water from Central Cal, rule! Cowards,Bullies, Cads and Thieves from the last century insured this! We will also be the first to get water restrictions if we don't get enough rain. It's only fair that the profligates should be the first to feel the heavy hand of water limitations.

It didn't seem right

 

No it didn't seem right to go off to bedbefore adding some knitting content to a knitting blog. This is my DD4, knitting away on a tea cosy that she then tried to felt in my front loader the afternoon of the day they flew home. Talk about extreme knitting! Her fingers were flying! And Despite warnings she wanted to use the front loading washer. She got the cosy (see the little Vogue book-it's that cosy) down in size but not small enough for anything like a tea pot. A cosy for a seven pound casava maybe. It will be mine someday and I will be thrilled to possess it.

Knitting, no pictures, those come tomorrow

I have a lot to do and get moved around and get settled this week as the six months are up, and I get the knees treated, again, starting Friday. This is every Friday for three weeks. So, this hyper activity on the blog over the last few days reflects this.

One thing that is going to get caught up is the Aran Sweater, hovering as it is at 11% when everything else is up about 25 or 30. So, anyway pictures of the other four projects tomorrow and then a long silence because I'll be gnashing my teeth trying to get things done. I'm sure you know how it feels when something you can't stand is inevitable. It's not the pain, because it's fairly painless, it's having to take it ultra easy on those two big joints. This is annoying as hell but a cake walk compared to what so many of you put up with everyday.

Remember I never forget that you are making the most of so much. God Bless Ya! God Love Ya!

Accidental Art: 10 in an Occasional Series

 

Beautiful Curveliniar Accidental Art in the garden. Bromeliad spikes and flowers

Bowed but not Beaten

 

The little paper narcissus took a beating in the rain storm over the last few days, but still they seem a fresh and sweet harbenger of Spring.

Torts are Out! Spring is here!

 

It's not even March yet and look at the surprise I got while cleaning a corner of the garden. I just hope I didn't spoil his day by dumping water on him. I did spoil a mother dove's day by taking her hanging basket down. It was ready to fall down. I didn't see her in there building a nest until she flew out in an incredible burst of feather dust. Guess it's time to take an allergy pill!

The knitting is going along as expected now that Spring cleaning (such as it IS) has begun. I knit less than an hour a day now. So sad....

Itty Bitty Pretty One

 

Lanea makes these Itty bitty sock knitting project bags that hang daintily on a wrist while you knit away walking around the flat places of earth in sensible shoes. Places like the Park, where there's no chance of taking a header into the Koi Pond or running flat out into a city bus as you step off a curb, counting. I'm so in love with mine. Do you see the hint of a heart in the pattern of the fabric? *Sigh* Love and Hearts is a good thing. A real heart is gross looking but the ones we see plastered all over our lives are very sweet as they make us pause and take in the moment.

I've worked my back into a frenzy in the sewing room, restacking the bolts, baskets of scraps, piles of mending that haven't been poked into a drawer somewhere, as well as 10,000 other things that probably should be tossed but "might come in handy". Does it ever stop? Why can't I throw ANY fabric away? What is wrong with me? This can't be normal!

Lately, of Jazzie, and some oldies, too

 

 

 

He's our baby boy. He is getting old fast but he still enjoys his walks, visits from people, little children, and his food! He's good at eating now that he takes a medicine that makes him feel like he's had a glass of wine!

The last picture is in artificial light which tends to bring out the red in his coat. He's very hard to see at night on our red brown tile! We have to be careful when we walk around because he sticks to us like glue. He doesn't see any better than I do in the dark either. He loves to smell the flowers DH brings home, and he loves the flower gardens we visit.

He's never lifted a leg to a single plant but politely kneels, in the dirt. It is just his way... Top to the bottom, the pictures are 2 years, 6 years, and 11.5 years

More!

 

 

 

 

Flower Show In the Park - December

 

 

 

 

Cloud over Santa Cruz Harbor

 

If you ever come to California, try to spend as much time as you can on the Peninsula, as it's called. Santa Cruz and the areas around it are beautiful, especially in Fall.

I woke up early this morning and went outside to look around. The mist is still curling around things and everything, including the big cactus that DH was finally able to plant yesterday afternoon are benefiting. There were narcissus blooming and when the sun comes up, I'll get some early morning photos of them. Narcissus are a sure sign that Spring has finally arrived!

Enjoy the day, and let troubles roll right off your shoulders. I'm going to be having a busy day of moving things again, and taking pictures to share and hopefully some knitting.

Meribeth, SWS is pretty nice stuff. This color mix might still be at Michael's because it's fairly new. Thanks for pausing to comment. It's much appreciated, M'friend. And yes, clothing comfort is a lot more important now, just so I don't wear too many raggedy things. DH, I have to take things away from him he has so many raggedy shirts that he absolutely adores.

What I've been reading, Am reading and will be reading

 

 

 

These are for anyone who wants to read the books but in particular for my DD, B.

These are the books we were talking about recently. I think the first one is hard to read but very, VERY intriguing and extremely well written. A little long on some rambling words of ancient Monks, but all of their ramblings add to the outcome. You will see it more clearly, the "why's" of something happening. It's a slog at first but it's very much worth the time you must take to sort out what is going on.

Sorting it out will set the stage for understanding the book, and it will explain the complicated politics of the era, where there were several secular titled Heads,two rival Popes, several OTHER high Church personalities, and all the rest of the highly placed titled rabble, going at in hammer and tongs, while all the others are rebelling against basically the first Mafiosi, who want to turn the church into a Forbes500 for their own benefit.

The writers of the first and last books are scholars of the era, and so to call them historical novels really doesn't serve the books well. Since I haven't the last book yet, this next observation will only apply to Eco's book. His book is more like an historical re-construction, with fictional characters as narrators and supporting actors, than an historical novel. I think this will also apply to the last book, which I'm VERY anxious to read since it deals more with the Heretics from France who are so dear to my heart.

The middle Book is an endearing look at a Bishop from France who goes out to the New Mexico Highlands and lives out his life in service. It's about friendship, and callings and is more of an Historical Novel. I love the books of Willa Cather, and this one will become a favorite to read again in my REAL old age.

Delicious Patons SWS

 

This is going to be a roll rimmed hat and scarf for memememe. It goes beautifully with a poofy winter coat that just needs a little something, in this case it will be something to make me look like a complete michelin (wo)man. I'm past caring. I just like being warm now. Being warm is of primary importance when a person reaches my age, and this desire is even greater than the one to be cool in Summer. Summer, when it takes a tub full of cold water and a dozen little indian dresses to stay cool. I wish to be warm in winter even if that makes me look like a Zamboni hurtling around on the ice.

Isn't the little bag cute?

 

Those were the days my friend...

 

I've been digging through a box that was a big surprise to me. These may be the most awful reminders of the macramé craze that exist. One more project will magically appear above this one but it, the little bag anyway, is cool enough to consider making; maybe not in the original colors, I dare say, but something calmer.

A Good Day. A very good day.

Today I found out how to fool blogger into giving me a hot button. Borrowing code from the web, I will now go link every button I have back to a source! Yippie! Sometimes it just pays to get out of bed in the morning! Yah, Jane, I have to confess, I stole your code for that one. *kicks toe*

Also, DH got me the new IK that I asked for. I asked for some Wool-Eze yarn too, but that's another story. Anyway, he is such a doll; he got me the magazine. This issue has a lot of sweater knits, and at least one shrug ( I flipped through the pages at max worp speed) and even a vestlet that L might like. She likes Vests.

While tossing through the interior of boxes that have not seen the light of day for years, I found this pretty hairpin lace leaflet. This is all very serendipitous because I even know where my hairpin lace loom is! Such organization!



The other two boxes stacked forEVER in a corner of the SR contained jeans, some of which I can use for Ugly quilts and, sadly, some of which I can now wear again. Well, Yippie anyway! What the heck!

Have a real nice day tomorrow. I'm going to TRY TO KNIT on something! Meanwhile, look at Obsessed with Knitting. She is really on a knitting roll. You go Girl!

Happy Valentine's Day

Just For You

Just so you know, this is a commercial picture. I most remember to mist roses the way that pros do! All of this was typed one handed, so thus all the typo corrections, Gah! Sorry to you for generating spams!

Enjoy the day...I'm getting a lot of knitting. Purple Hempathy is back up to the palm. I accidentally picked out the 00 needles and that ribbing is really pretty but did my eyes EVER get sore!! Shiny bright pink 00 needles and reaaaly dark purple yarn is a challenge. It's raining today which is very good for poor dry California - Nature's Kiss for Mother Earth!

Also, I added a place for rss feeds at the top of the side bar. Finally noodled it out and only took a few days but DH was not involved so I am proud of this old brain of mine this AM. Tomorrow may be different but today is Senior Brain Pride Day as well as Valentine's Day(it's easier to remember it that way!).

Have a great day!

One successful surgery for Jack, one to go.

The day after Valentine's Day is the drawing for prizes for saving Yukon Jack's legs. This big brave boy has another surgery to correct his worst leg. He is doing well after the first surgery because he's all heart and loved and cared for by those who rescued him back from neglect.

Read about it on Pugknit's Blog HERE This is a wonderful cause and the drawing prizes are great, a little spinning wheel from Jack's family, and fiber prizes from all over the place.

Pugknits explains how to enter the drawing or donate a prize for the raffle, or both! At a time when it's hard to do much about most troubles, here's something that will make the difference in quality of life for a wonderful sweet natured Great Pyrenees,and get him out of the pain he's suffering arising from neglect from former owners.

The State of the State

You're California!

In many ways, you are larger than life and almost defy description. You
certainly love to shake, rattle, and roll with the best of them. You have a generally
sunny disposition, but are capable of resorting to harsh extremes when pressed. You are
more likely than most to become rich, or famous, or perhaps both. While you have the
golden touch in so many regards, your respect for actors is a little over-zealous. This
endless faith in actors needs to be terminated.


Take the State Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

I stole this from Catherine's Blog. I love the thing about having to terminate this endless faith in Actors. As if HollyWooood was all there was about California. We do have Tahoe and San Francisco for heaven's sake. LOL!

Visit with a Sister and Thoughts on Love and Friendship

My sister visited today for lunch and to chat. It's been harder for her to visit me because she is getting more tired now. We spend the time talking about many things and today it was mostly about Unconditional Love. We talked about friendship, a part of loving people.

One thing that all people seem to have in common is that there are people who treat them badly because it gives said persons a sense of power, or maybe even a purpose to be alive, someone to hate or belittle. They both ignore you and they try to influence others to do the same. But my sister and I decided that it was most important to love such people anyway, even if from a distance. This behavior will force "Hatred" and "Hurt" out of the equation, and then the Spirit that is in the both of you will respond and be able to perceive "Love". The Spirit of Goodness that dwells in us all will thrive where there is Love.

There is a quote from Aristotle, that I told my sister about today, that is so beautiful. I found it, floating around the web at various places, one of them was a knitting blog. Thank you if you recognize this from your blog. I'm borrowing it from you, with Love and with thanks...

"Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods."

Aristotle also said this: "A friend is a second self."

My sister and I talked about friendship and how important it was in her life. She has friends at work and friends at leisure. They get her through the bad times that are happening for her. These are people who stick with her and take care of her. We agreed that this can be so, even from a distance, this "taking care of" will happen. It is an important component of Unconditional Love. The highest Love, which is given humbly, for the sake of someone's inherent humanity and to improve their lives.

Adiemus, though a word that means nothing, still conveys a meaning of drawing near simply because it resembles one, in Latin, that does. "We will draw near". What a lovely promise!

I Ching states that an idea can be responded to, even from as far away as 10,000 miles the originator can feel the response come to his mind from another. Well, Love is as much like an Idea as an Emotion.

And you thought you could escape the Love Train. No no no.. not possible.

Before is HERE.. Sigh.....

After for the big slider

This slider was ten feet across, massive and heavy to move open. Now it's a center opening. The whole room has the feel of a garden room. We just have to improve the views, which we are always happy to do. Lots of buddleya is going in, at the top of the hill, for the butterflies.

Joie and DDs, I hope you've liked the pictures. The windows are already keeping the ancient furnace from struggling, though the nights have been getting down into the 30s here. These will also be so easy to clean!