In and Out

Last night, after Chess Club and Knowledge Bowl practice, but before the birthday dinner and concert A2 got dressed up (for said concert). My DH arrived home just as we were preparing to walk out the door so we were able to get a picture of him and A2 together.

While he dashed back to change clothes I convinced A2 to take off her glasses for a non-reflective shot.

As soon as we got home she literally ran to her bedroom to take off the dress and put on ratty looking old clothes. But we have pictorial evidence now that she is, indeed, a young lady. She has parents who try to keep her fed, bathed, clean and brush her hair. She is not an orphan who lives under the freeway. Her clothes have been washed and aren’t the castings off from a local bag lady. I’m archiving this should CPS come to investigate us for neglect!

Tonight A1 is going to a winter ball, A3 has Girl Scouts and there’s a Christmas party for my work group. I also need to bake cupcakes for A3’s party tomorrow. Once that’s done then life should slow down here for a few weeks. (crossing fingers and knocking on wood) We’re all looking forward to the break.

Happy Friday!

They Just Keep Growing!

Sometime during the night A3 relocated herself to the living room with a sleeping bag. The move wasn’t motivated by monsters, illness or nyctophobia. She simply wanted to be front and center to greet her new year. Today she turns 9 and begins her 10th trip around the sun. Of course this made stealth gift wrapping at 4:00 am a real challenge.

The flash and noise from the camera woke her up briefly, but she opted to go back to sleep and wait for her sisters to wake up before opening her presents.

Happy birthday A3, we love you lots!

(now slow down on that growing up thing)

Tis the Season

This weekend a package arrived all the way from Finland. It was from my cousin, Helena, and her family.   They’re neighbors with the big man himself, Santa.  We already gobbled up the ginger cookies and most of the candy.  The adorable ornaments are on the tree.  I’m going to make a pot of the tea to drink this evening, it smells delicious.  Thank you Helena, we love everything.

With only 10 days left before Christmas, panic is fast being replaced with apathy.  So far I’ve not mailed cards, baked, made plans for the day itself or even gone shopping.  A small amount of gift knitting took place on Saturday.  None of the items have been blocked yet. I’m going to try and finish some more items and do them all at once.

Thursday is A3’s 9th birthday and A2’s Christmas concert. Friday is the last day of school and our work group’s Christmas party.  I don’t know yet if I’m bringing my girls with me to the party. It depends on whether or not my DH will be home. He’s busy with training. Saturday is A3’s birthday party.  After that all should settle down.  Of course I know that Christmas isn’t about the cards, food, presents, etc.   Doctor Seuss summed it up best.

     ‘It came without ribbons! It came without tags!’         

      ‘It came without packages, boxes or bags!’

      And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.

     Then  the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before

     ‘Maybe Christmas,’ he thought, ‘

      ‘Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more

We’ve already decided to forego outside lights, setting up the Dicken’s village and candy making in a last ditch sanity-saving effort.  But  I still would like to have the Who pudding and roast beast ready for the feast…  and maybe a curmuzzler for the girls. Cheers!

A Night at the Derby

The Powder Puff Derby to be exact.

It’s pretty much just like the Pinewood Derbies held by The Boy Scouts, but the cars tend to be a little more pastel with many models featuring Littlest Petshop figures or dismembered Barbies, etc. as passengers. The endeavor ended up lasting all evening as there were over 100 participants in A3’s category. The car that A3 and her Grandpa Dave (my dad) made is the red and black car in the bottom, left corner of the box.

A3’s car won the first two heats it raced in, but it finished 3rd in the next two and was eliminated. Overall she ended up placing somewhere around 10th place. 

Trying to take pictures of her car during an actual heat proved futile due to crowds of people and an incompetent photographer.


The good thing was that my DH flew in this afternoon from Florida so he got to see the races too. The poor dear has been suffering 80 degree heat in Orlando for the past week! His next round of training will be in Oregon.  Not quite so glamorous, but much closer to home.

A1 sang in a concert Thursday night. They sounded really great and she looked beautiful but I didn’t get any pictures. We arrived early, but A3 was acting like a complete pill so we gave up our seats to walk around. When we went back inside the gymnasium there was no place left to sit so we had to stand against a wall behind the choir. The lack of pictures, combined with her dad missing it because he was out of town, has A1 feeling a bit put out with us right now. She’s certain that she’s the victim of a mistaken adoption. Her real family is very rich and normal in every sense of the word. They’ve spent the last 13 years looking for their long-lost daughter and once they find her she’ll be whisked away to live with them in a palace and then she’ll be rich with her own bathroom and we’ll be sorry that we were ever so mean to her. Poor little waif!

A2 endured the past two nights’ activities quite stoicly. She brought along books and her DS for entertainment. Santa may have to deviate from his plan to leave coal in her stocking.  Next week it’s their turn to practice patience when she has her band concert.

Today one of the teachers came to school in a lovely sweater that his wife knitted for him. She designed the pattern herself too. I like how the stitches are wrapped where the colors join… very nice design element!

Seeing this makes me want to clear my needles and cast on a sweater.  Unfortunately, Christmas is less than two weeks away and I’ve not finished making presents, started baking or sent any Christmas Cards. Seasonal panic time.

Not a lot else to report, other than it’s supposed to snow a little tonight. Hopefully the roads will remain driveable. It’s good to have everyone home again.

Not Quite Friday Yet.

Good morning everyone! It’s a balmy 11°F/-12°C this morning in our neighborhood, with clear skies and no precipitation. This sounds like a downright heat wave to folks enduring temperatures below zero and heaps o’ snow and ice.  Winter has arrived in the northern hemisphere. Two nights ago I disconnected hoses and covered faucets with little foam bonnets. We also stocked up on toilet paper, coffee, cat food and other essentials should we become house bound.  Take that Martha Stewart! 

 This evening A3 has Chess Club until 4:45 and A1 has a choir concert at 6:30.  Theoretically there should be time for dinner, homework, dressing everyone appropriately and driving to and fro between home and the schools.  Isn’t that what caffeine and Prozac are for? If you prick me do I not bleed coffee, If you tickle me do I not laugh hysterically until I wet myself? (apologies to Mr. Shakespeare for the misquote).

The great cat stand-off of ‘09 continues. Those two critters have fluff for brains.  It’s a good thing they’re cute because the hissy, growly arguments at 2:00 am are annoying. 

As you’ve probably surmised, there are no pictures.  Nothing has been made, no Kodak-worthy happenings and no warm and fuzzy shots for posterity of the girls.  Just well-wishes for everyone and a reminder that tomorrow is Friday!

There’s No Place Like Home…

for the holidays.   Because not everyone can be home right now here are a few pictures taken during the past 24 hours at our house.

A2 and A3 decorating a pre-fab gingerbread house.

The finished result.

Day 8 of the Advent Calendars.

An almost finished quilt.

Therapy knitting.

Hope you’re all enjoying the spirit of the season and not letting the details wear you down.  Cheers!

Comings and Goings

(Some Pictures near end)

On Saturday morning a train arrived in Portland bearing Susan, Kim, Jessica, Nancy, Lisa and Kurt all from the Tri-Cities area of Eastern Washington. Unfortunately I wasn’t waiting on the platform to greet them. Many of the streets in downtown Portland are one-way and they now have designated the right hand lanes as mass-transit only. I could see the train station. I could see the parking lot. However, I could not see a way to get there without breaking about six laws in the process. Eventually I parked some blocks away, in a rather seedy part of town, and walked to the station. We couldn’t all fit into the Echo anyway and since it was unlikely to be the target of a break-in all was well. After bathroom breaks, hellos, hugs and introductions (Lisa and Kurt came on the trip for the first time, but they are soon moving to New York) Susan whipped out her phone, pulled up a map of yarn stores and we were off.  There were gifts as well, but I wish to do them justice a little later.

The first stop was at Dublin BayYarn.  What a delightful store! There were yarns available for most price ranges and the charming owner and her mother served tea while Kurt was able to sit on the couch and watch t.v.   Next we walked to a little store called Knit Knot Studio (at least I think that was the name). This store is rather small, but the owner is extremely friendly and will talk your ear off if given the opportunity.  The next yarn stop was at Knit Purl.  Knit Purl has some nice yarn, but they tend to cater to the more up-scale knitter when it comes to prices. And an obnoxious old lady was there with her ankle-biter in tow on a very long leash.  At first I thought she was just darting in to pick up something quickly and had brought the pooch.  But she loitered and shopped for some time. The dog was well-behaved, but that is not the point. Anyone with phobias or allergies had to endure her being there. Considering the price of some of the yarn I was surprised that the owners didn’t object  because of dog hair.  Sorry, I digress.  We all trekked up to The Button Emporium and Ribbonry and browsed the trimmings.  At some point along the way Kurt had left us in pursuit of other endeavors and he rejoined our group here. 

Lunch was at The Deschutes Brewery Pub.  Nancy and Susan both partook of a beer named, “Streaking the Quad”.  The cold temperatures would have required more than one glass in order for this beer to live up to its name though.  The food was unique and delicious.  I can’t recall what everyone else ate, but I enjoyed a Portobello mushroom, hazel-nut and goat cheese sandwich… with a diet Pepsi.  For some strange reason, we’ll just call it laziness,  the waiter said that he was unable to split the bill into more than two.  When all was said and done Susan bought my lunch.  Thank you Susan.

The final port of call was Powell’s Books.   Here we all separated and browsed for quite some time.  I found some books for the girls for Christmas.  By this time exhaustion had set in (I blame the M.S. because who wants to admit that they’re middle-aged and out of shape) so I found a bench near the entrance and sat down.  Jessica showed up and entertained me by translating Hardanger Lace books from German into English.  The written directions were quite spartan, but the graphs were detailed.  Everyone finally emerged from their ink-enduced Shangri-Las and rejoined the real world for our journey back to the train station.

Although I did remember to pack my camera, the batteries died so I couldn’t take nary a photo of our adventure.  Susan took pictures though!Once home and the batteries had been replaced the first order of business was to take pictures of these lovely socks!

Aren’t they pretty?  These were a present from the ever-talented and lovely Jessica (who is sadly blogless).  They fit like a dream and I love them to no end.  I’m wearing them to work this morning to ward off the chill of 20 degree weather and recess duty.  But that’s not all, Jessica also gave me a lovely batt of wild and crazy roving, appropriately named, “Cat Woman”.

It’s loaded with sparklies and lots of surprise colors. I can’t wait to start spinning it.

Another surprise while we were out was this adorable key chain set from Kim.

I’ve not put in on my work keys because I’m thinking it would make a fine necklace.

The day went quickly and our time spent together was delightful. Thank you everyone for the gift of your company, especially during this hurried season.

Speaking of which, my D.H. took the girls up to Ridgefield so that A1 could sing with her choir. While she was singing he walked around perusing the sights with A2 and A3.  He didn’t take any pictures either. 

Sunday morning my D.H. had to fly out for training.  The girls and I decided to decorate the house for the holidays. Rather than drag Old Scratchy (our 8 ft. tall artificial monstrosity) down from the attic we bought a smaller, real shrubbery from the Boy Scouts.  The girls decorated it and we hung the stockings, etc.  It was A1’s turn to top the tree (we rotate years). She chose to put on the 45-year-old wax angel that was purchased by her grandmother in Germany for her dad’s first Christmas. This is the first time we’ve used her, as she’s very delicate.

Because of our newest addition, Roxie, we opted to put the train under the tree and forego setting up the Christmas village.

The birds have been temporarily re-located to the sun room so we could rearrange the family room without providing kitty access to their cage via the back of the sofa.

Weather permitting, we may work on outside lights this week.  Hopefully everyone is enjoying their December so far.

Help!

This is Bonnie The Cat, formerly known as “The Only Cat in the House” and/or ”The Queen”.   Something has gone terribly amiss and the interloper Is. Still. Here.   

I didn’t mind when Tasha was alive.  She made lots of fun noises when I jumped out at her (her eyes weren’t up to cat standards).  She didn’t go outside and hunt the mousers so I gots them all to myself.  And even though I teased her lots I still loved her and when she wasn’t looking I’d even sleep next to her.  But only if she was already making snores, because if she saw me she’d yell and scream.   I missed her when she went to the Rainbow Bridge.  The only good thing was that for almost one month I RULED EVERYTHING! 

The short, loud people did become a new-sance because I was the only beautiful, soft, kitty to love.  I had to find new hiding spots for my queenly self when they brought out doll clothes, etc.  Tasha used to let them dress her up.  She was a little soft in the head. 

Anyway, on to my new problem… Roxanna. Roxie. The “new” kitty.  Sure, she’s half my size, but what you have to understand is that she had special training at an Acatemy called “The Pound”.  She knows Kung Foods, Tae Kwan Dough and other tricky ways of jumping on me when I wants to eat.  When I tries to take a leisurely walk down the hall she chases me!   I used my bestest, scariest hisses at her, but all she does is roll on her back and look all innocent.  I wasn’t born yesterday (hard to believe with my kittenish good looks). It’s a trap.   She’s also a SLUT!  Whenever any of the peoples come into a room she gives off rumbly purrs. They don’t even have to actually touch her and that butt of hers goes flying up into the stratosphere.

Any self-respecting kitty knows to hold out!  They must not have taught “Indifference” at that fancy Acatemy.  She’s not the sharpest tool in the shed either.  Even I knows that the crunchy flying treats are off limits.  She stares at them for hours. Sometimes she even tries to eats them through the bars. 

Yes, I may have pounced their way a time or two, but that was just to keep my humans on their toes.  More proof that she’s not too bright… she sleeps in her toilet. In her toilet!

I’m so glad we don’t have to share a bathroom (but if we did I might pee on her head).  

My human Mom keeps trying to drug us on catnip because she thinks maybe we’d be nicer if we were stoned, but I’m too smart to fall for that.  Roxie may have those humans fooled, but I think she’s really THE DEBBIL!

Maybe I can mail her to Zanzibar!  Hee hee.

Love, Bonnie

Thanksgiving

Thursday morning we locked the birds away in one of the bedrooms, gave each of the kitties an extra pat on their heads to go with their lifetime supply of cat food then loaded up and drove to my parents’ house.   Creep and beep traffic  heading up I-5 had everyone’s nerves frazzled and sanity was in short supply by the time we arrived. Even the girls were stressed from the trip.

Once again my mom completely out did herself with the baking and cooking. The official Thanksgiving dinner hadn’t even been served  before the gluttony (lots of food set out to graze upon) started.  Grandpa Porgy and Great Auntie Ruth arrived about an hour after we did.  In addition to the traditional turkey dinner and all of the trimmings we also feasted on ham, cake, many varieties of cranberries, etc., etc.  My sister and her family did not make it.

After a wonderful visit, that went way too quickly, it was time for Ruth to leave and for us to drive Grandpa back to where he’s living.  The girls stayed with my mom while my DH, Dad and I took Grandpa “home”.  The assisted living facility he’s living at is very nice and reminiscent of college dorms.  I’ve a sneaking suspicion that Grandpa hosts the party room. 

On Friday morning we woke up and resumed eating.  Breakfast included, pancakes, fried potatoes, ham, fresh eggs and homemade rolls and toast.  We digested leisurely by the wood stove then bundled up for a walk on the beach under sunny skies.  In the short time it took us to drive the car down and park the clouds had started rolling in.  Here are some pictures from our trek.

skeletal tree left at Washaway Beach

Dungeness crab my dad found in a tidal pool, but we had to leave because nobody had their licenses

Old wooden cribbing unearthed during recent storms.  Many farms, and even a cemetery used to exist where the channel cuts through.  We weren’t sure what this had been used for.

My dad, A1 and my mom (in the background in the white) while beach combing.

erosion

A fishing float, two Japanese bottles, assorted shells and a bait box were found during the walk.

The sun fighting a losing battle with the ubiquitous cloud cover.

Footprints left by an earlier visitor.  Perhaps a coyote?

Looking south, towards Willapa Bay.

A piece of net next to a barnacle-covered tree branch.

A disgusting amount of plastic was mixed into the driftwood and seaweed at the tide line. Most of the offending waste consisted of drink bottles. Sadly, this stuff will probably outlast the land itself here.  People can be so thoughtless and lazy.  The walk was lots of fun though and everyone was ready for a rest and something hot to drink when it was over.

During our visit my dad helped A3 with her Pinewood Derby car that she’s doing for Girl Scouts. Her Brownie troop was invited to participate with the Cub Scouts who meet at their school. 

Grandpa even took it up to the local hardware store to have it weighed so he could add weights to it and not exceed the limit for her.  We’ve packed the car away now to prevent it from breaking before the race. Once it’s over she can play with it, but if something happens to it before then we have no way of helping her make a new one.

My mom and dad gave us a camera! (hence the above pictures)  I’m very excited.  I’ve missed taking pictures of the girls, cats, knitting, etc.

While not eating, sleeping or beach walking I worked on Christmas presents. Here is a piece of what I’ve been doing. 

There are six applique squares on each throw/wall hanging. Each square has the pictures outlined with quilting. After the sashing is completed then I may go back and quilt a grid behind each of the appliques.  The quilting is not fine because I simply don’t have time to turn out 10 to 12 stitches per inch between now and Christmas.  Even so, I hope that the recipients will like them.

We returned home to find all of the birds, cats and fish intact. We came back loaded down with salmon and other delights from my parents.   I miss the beach, but it’s always good to be home.  Thank you Mom and Dad for a lovely Thanksgiving and for everything else too.

A New Post!

There is a perfectly sound and reasonable explanation for my lack of blog posting.  Typing is now extremely difficult because webs have grown between my fingers and toes. 

The girls show every sign of sprouting gills behind their ears as well.  Yes, this is western Washington and rain is notorious for this region, but this is ridiculous!  The wind, rain and generally crappy weather have kept everyone inside. Perpetual clouds transform even midday to dreary darkness.  My girls and tired and grumpy, the people (both big and small) who I work with seem to drag and everyone just wants to sleep.  

Last night the girls and I agreed that a sleepy evening at home would be perfect.  I made French toast stuffed with cream cheese, bacon and sausage for dinner then we all gathered together and watched “Up”.  My DH even came in and joined us. The movie made me cry and laugh, then cry again. It was delightful. The two youngest are watching it again this morning before we return it.

Roxie and Bonny still haven’t bonded.  They’ve come to understand that the other exists and isn’t leaving though. It’s a start. Roxie is about half of Bonny’s size, yet Bonny shies away from her as though she were a bobcat.  The irony of this is that Bonny took great delight in terrorizing Tasha for four years. Hopefully that won’t be the case here though.

Sorry for the picture quality, but I’m still using the camera on my phone.  She looks annoyed in this picture because I stopped petting her long enough to take the picture.  Bonny flat-out refused to be photographed this morning.

The muffler/scarf knitted from this summer’s handspun is finally finished.  It’s much brighter and crisper looking in person.  For some reason this took an unreasonable amount of time in comparison to the completed size.  Perhaps it’s because I’m used to knitting lace and the holes make projects “grow” faster.

Other WIPs include making new slippers to felt for my DH and trying to applique some more quilt squares for Christmas wall-hangings.  Next week we’re driving to my mom and dad’s for Thanksgiving. Everyone is looking forward to the holiday. Grandpa Porgy, Great Auntie Ruth, my Sister and BIL and perhaps others will all be there.  My brother works on Thanksgiving so he and his family can’t make it.  From what I understand his oldest daughter, from a previous marriage, is expecting another baby soon. 

Hopey’all are staying dry and warm. Cheers!