Whiskers On Wednesday

Today's post is all about Heidi......and her many naps! She DOES enjoy a good nap!!!

And can't leave out Bella!! Who finds the entire photo process rather irritating.....so today's shot is a mear shadow of Her Highness!!

Ten On Tuesday Post

Ten Favorite Characters From Television



1. Lucille Ball

2. Grace (Will and Grace)

3. Christine (New Adventures of Old Christine)

4. Allison Dubois (Medium)

5. Bree (Desperate Housewives)

6. Nora Walker (Brothers & Sisters)

7. Ann Marie (That Girl)....yes...I am THAT old!! LOL!!

8. Hawkeye (Mash)

9. Charlie (Two And A Half Men)

10. Samantha (Bewitched)

Ten On Tuesday Post

I am going to give the Ten On Tuesday posts a try for awhile so here goes: Each week participants are sent a subject and you are to post ten things.

Today's Ten On Tuesday Subject is 10 Favorite Sounds, so in no particular order:

1. Rain
2. Thunder
3. Train Whistle
4. Ocean waves crashing on the beach
5. Wind blowing
6. Anything played on an acoustic guitar
7. Piano music
8. Saxaphone music
9. Laughter
10. The stillness that comes with standing outside listening to snow fall.

Monday Post

I ran across the Simple Woman Blog

and thought I would try the Monday post for awhile. All you do is cut and paste the questions onto your blog each Monday and fill in the blanks!

NO knitting this weekend......I have been totally immersed in a book this weekend!! (see below).

FOR TODAY July 27th

Outside my window...I see lot's of weeds!

I am thinking...I have a lot to do today and don't want to do anything.

I am thankful for...my family!!

From the kitchen...I am going to create a new recipe for dinner tonight.

I am wearing...my usual...shorts and a t-shirt.

I am creating...some knitted socks.

I am going...to run some errands today.

I am reading...The autobiography of Julia Child.

I am hoping...to be able to start this week out on a diet and stay motivated for the ENTIRE week, not just the first 5 days.

I am hearing...my dog whine.

Around the house...is where I enjoy being.

One of my favorite things...is knitting.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Exercise (UGH)....knitting, visiting a friend and her sweet little boys.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

NO...it's not a fungi of some kind........

It's a bowl of blueberries, pulled from the freezer and thawing for breakfast!!

Happy Monday!!!!

Whiskers On Wednesday!!

Whiskers On Wednesday!!

Pretty boring week so far.....a whole lot of napping taking place!!

I guess they are resting up for the weekend!!

Friday Fill Ins & A New Post!!

Graphic courtesy of Tonya!




And...here we go!


1. Grilled burgers (because the hubby is in charge of the grill) and salad make a quick and easy dinner.


2. Dark Tort by Diane Mott Davidson is the book I'm reading right now.


3. July brings back memories of being a kid and swimming at the pool and playing with cousins, in town for the summer.

4. The crash of Jon & Kate was obvious.


5. They say if you tell your dreams you will be jinxed.

6. It is ALWAYS best to think it over.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Farming on Facebook, knitting, tomorrow my plans include baking my Dad a German Chocolate cake for his birthday, shopping for a birthday gift, washing the MOUNDS of laundry and Sunday, I want to call a Pajama Day, but will be traveling out of town to spend the day with my Dad for his Birthday!






I recently ran across the Better In Bulk blog and have decided to start following and posting my own......





I have had a love of photography that dates back to my teenage years when I got my first 35mm camera. While in college, I took photography classes and fell in love with the dark room....watching pictures magically come to life on paper was AWESOME!! (All you digital age photographers have missed out!)

Over the years I carted my camera (totally manual) with me everywhere I went.....including all the props of white boards for reflection, tripod, etc. All in hopes of catching that perfect shot. But then life got busy, my camera ended up in a yard sale and I have always, ALWAYS regretted letting it go!!!! I would love to dig out my books for a refresher course and get back to totally manual photography.


BUT.....until then......I'll be posting a weekly "Give Me Your Best Shot" digital picture....and here is this week's best shot.




My husband's great niece, age two, who had decided she'd had quite enough of the wedding festivities, crawled under the table at the reception and proceeded to remove her dress.....when asked what she was doing she just put her little hands up and said she was "nekkid".....as if I were too dumb to understand!! LOL!!

It's hard to see on this shot, but if you go here, although a bit grainy, you will see a perfect little lipstick kiss on her left cheek.

Shot with just your basic point and shoot digital camera.

A Wonderful Movie and What Else...Socks Of Course!!

Boeuf (pronounced boof) Bourguignon.....I find myself overcome with the desire to cook Boeuf Bourguignon.......all this from someone who can mess up just opening a can of peas!! Not to mention, the closest I have EVER come to wanting to cook french was French Fries!!! LOL!!

BUT......I went to see the Preview of Julie, Julia by Nora Nephron last night and OH MY!!!!

First of all....what a GREAT, FUN movie!!

If you are like me, you remember when Julia Child was on Public T.V.....back in the ....well....if you remember when she was on PBS, then you are most likely my age or close! LOL!! The movie is featured around a girl that decides to blog for a year, (hoping someone will see her blog and purchase the rights for a book).....all while cooking her way through Julia Child's Mastering The Art Of French Cooking Cookbook, interspersed with scenes from the life of Julia Child, the early years in France and her evolution into a Chef (both story lines are true).

Meryl Streep did an AWESOME portrayal of Julia Child and it was very interesting to discover some of the humerous and downright bawdy nuances of Julia Child!!! A lot of the details of Julia's life was documented by letters mailed from both Julia and her husband Paul to family members who had saved everything!!

SO....if you are looking for a good movie to see.....opens August 7th...GREAT movie!!!

I'll let you know when I get up the nerve to make the Boof Bornine!!! LOL!!

You gotta see this movie!!

Woo Hoo......WATERMELON SEASON!!!!!

Can't wait to cast on for some watermelon socks!!!!!

Whiskers On Wednesday And ANNOUNCEMENT!!

Bella Says: Happy Whiskers On Wednesday.....now....GO AWAY!!!!

Heidi Says: I'm bored....want to come play with me???

Now For The Announcement Portion Of The Blog:

DISH RAG TAG 2009 sign ups will start SOON!! Go to Emily's website for all the details.

Over the past few years I have enjoyed the DRT as well as the Wee Tiny Sock Swap!! I know it takes a lot of work to pull these off and in a show of support want to encourage everyone to head over and check out the AWESOME patterns Emily has written and has available for sale.

Once prizes are purchased for the DRT, all proceeds from the sock pattern will be donated to the Humane Society.

Over the years, Emily has and continues to intervene in the care and placement of what otherwise would be a sad predicament for a lot of different animals. Oh...and all this while caring for a toddler!!!

I am all about supporting my fellow knitters as well as such a worthy cause and I hope you will too!! The bowling ball and pin are too cute!!!

If you aren't a sock knitter or have a little one to knit for....it is still for a worthy cause.

If you prefer to check it out on Ravelry.

Knitting, This & That

First: Off The Needles!!
















Secret Knitting!! I was asked to test knit a pair of socks and was flattered to say the least!!!

The pattern writer is someone that I admire VERY much!!

I believe the details will be available tomorrow......so please check back for an update. Hopefully tomorrow the pattern will be posted on Ravelry!!

My test knitting was done with Colinette Jitterbug Yarn...of course I have no idea the color name/number as the BALLBAND.....is missing!! Hee, Hee!!!



This weekend I attended the wedding festivities for a most precious couple......which I have the good luck of being related to the groom as he is my husband's nephew!


The wedding was simply lovely, about 300 in attendance yet it was not an overwhelming affair!!

Both are graduates of Auburn University!! The bride just graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in mathematics education and the groom graduated 2008 Cum Laude and is currently a Sophomore at the Auburn University School of Veterinary Science..(his older sister is about to graduate from Vet School)...Woo Hoo...two vets in the family!!



The happy couple left the church via the tractor so lovingly delivered and decorated (in lieu of their car)....by all the Groomsmen. TOO CUTE!!!!



After a week in Colorado it will be back to school for Brian and Kelli will be starting her first year teaching Math!!









Sweetest couple EVER!!!




AND......the color red!!!!




Thanks my friend.....red makes me VERY happy!!!

Friday Fill Ins & Some Knitting!!

And...here we go!

1. The last thing I ate was oatmeal and fresh blueberries.

2. Yarn is something I recently bought.

3. When it rains, it makes me feel very mellow...LOVE the sound of rain!!

4. My Hubby was the first person I talked to today.

5. Hugs are the BEST.

6. We can all use some extra comfort.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to attending a pre-wedding dinner, tomorrow my plans include attending my nephew's wedding and Sunday, I want to KNIT (of course)...but will be visiting with family from out of state.

Off The Needles:

Dash socks. Koigu yarn....LOVE this super fast pattern!!

Happy 4th of July!!!!

I hope that everyone has a WONDERFUL 4th of July and keep in our hearts and prayers all our soldiers and their families, especially today!!

Friday Fill Ins!!

And...here we go!

1. When I heard Ginger's description of a potential funeral for Michael Jackson I about fell out of my chair.

2. Love and laughter truly is the best medicine.

3. It's late, but NEVER too late to do the right thing in any situation.

4. I try to do the right thing always. (note...I said TRY).

5. My eyes have seen a lot that I wish I had never had to see.

6. I believe in God strongly.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to knitting and watching a movie, tomorrow my plans include hopefully not much and Sunday, I want to do my usual, knit and do some baking!

Summer Knitting

It is hot here......really, REALLY hot!!! Heat index is in the triple digit, humidity is 1% shy of rain....yet the sun shines!!

In other words.....it is like a sauna..truly!!

We went from Spring to Summer overnight!! UGH!! Needless to say, the AC is working overtime. I do NOT like to sweat...so the air is down to "ice cube" temps!!

I M.A.Y. have turned it a bit too low......poor Heidi....I found her wrapped in her favorite towel playing with her toy! If you look close....I believe she is sticking her tongue out at me...or perhaps licking the ice off her nose! LOL!!

Knitting:

I have competed the first Dash sock, knit with Koigu yarn and well underway on the second one.

I stopped the pattern at the beginning of the foot portion as I was afraid it would be too thick to wear with my shoes...but will definitely make a second pair in a lighter gauge yarn and continue the pattern to the toe.

Sock for the Hubby...who was complaining that I had knit myself WAYYY more socks than I had for him.

Wah, wah, wah!!

Last but not least: I made a quick peak at the nest in the fern and was surprised to see very active baby birds!! The pic is a bit fuzzy....didn't take time to adjust the shutter speed, just snapped.

What a vision of sweet uglies!! LOL!!

I am still driving to the Post Office daily to pick up my mail as the wrens are still in residence in the mailbox.

Friday Fill Ins!!

And...here we go!

1. All children alarm their parents, if only because you are forever expecting (I don't have kids so I can't answer).

2. Show me a good loser and I will show you a good actor.

3. Finding a GREAT yarn sale is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs at one time.

4. Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are not politicians and have no clout in Washington!!

5. I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine cooking and keeping the house clean!!

6. It is impossible to think of any good meal, no matter how plain or elegant, without butter or cheese in it.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending an evening with my DH, tomorrow my plans include a bit of coffee drinking and knitting and Sunday, I want to finish Ophelia!

Weekend In Review

There was a Birthday Celebration!!

My Mother turned 76...can you BELIEVE it?? I am SO lucky to have a wonderful mother!!!!!

AND she he has NO wrinkles!! (click the pic to enlarge....you'll see I am NOT joking)!! Sure hope I received that gene...guess time will tell!! We all went out for lunch then home for Birthday cake and a great visit!!

I finished a pair of socks for the Sock A Month KAL

Trekking XXL in the Twin Rib Pattern

AND.......after a conversation with my friend Laura ...(who needs to update her blog with all her fabulous socks and updated pics of Master Coal)...but I digress..........during the course of our conversation we naturally came around to the subject of knitting.

In a nutshell, Laura feels that knitting needles are lonely when not in the presence of yarn....and feels that it is better to have lot's of UFO's/projects on the needles/new cast ons than to have needles languishing away. (Me thinks she doth justify too much).........

So I cast on 7 pairs of socks!!!!!!!!! (A pitifully inadequate number considering there are SOME with socks in various states in the DOUBLE DIGITS).......but anything to help out a friend to feel better!! LOL!!

L to R: JoJo Land, Mystery yarn, Supersocke 100, Koigu

L to R: Colinette Jitterbug, Fleece Artist, Fortissima

I may need to order more needles!!!! LOL!!!!!!

Friday Fill Ins!!

And...here we go!

1. I grew up thinking that life would just evolve...I didn't "contemplate" my future much.

2. MSN was the last website I was at before coming here.

3. Why don't you pick up after yourself?

4. Knitting helps me relax.

5. Thanks for the many, many, many friends that I have!!!

6. People that aren't comfortable with themselves and feel they must try to make themselves better than others is very off-putting.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to knittingtomorrow my plans include taking my Mom to lunch and celebrate her birthday and Sunday, I want to do NOTHING....but I am helping give a bridal tea!

Whiskers On Wednesday, Feathers and Socks!!

Now that the hot weather is here....the kitties are doing a lot of sleeping interspersed with a lot of terrorizing each other.

Here are a few of Heidi's napping places and positions.

Her go to place......love of her life.....sheep rug!!


















Dead to the world.....bird watching is VERY tiring!!


















Holding Max's bed hostage!


























Now.....I know this has got to be a birds nest....but does that look like a bird to you????
























Sort of looks

like a Chipmunk...









Trekking XXL socks....hope to finish tonight!!

Bird News

Nest-O-Birds, ready to leave......





By 6:00 a.m. this morning there were two.







By 6:05.....all gone. The cats are really ticked too....they were thoroughly enjoying the constant "show"....by 8:00 they were completely bored and taken to stalking each other for entertainment.




Other Bird News: Yesterday afternoon I spotted a wren in the mailbox....of course once I got back to the mailbox with camera in hand, she was gone. BUT.....we have EGGS!!!


I called the post office......I put my mail delivery on hold until further notice.





Ahhh......the joys of a fertile Spring......now if I could only get a money tree to grow in the yard!!!

Knitting News: started on the foot of the second Trekking XXL sock, will post pics and once completed I will deal with Ophelia.

Weekend In Review

Bird Update:



No eggs in the mailbox nest....if there aren't any by this afternoon, I'll probably clean out the mailbox and have the mail delivery started back.



The Baby birds by the back porch are just about to leave the nest....I am guessing they will be gone one day this week.






I thought to check my Boston Fern prior to watering....and sure enough.....





The new beginnings of another nest........ we are nothing if not fertile ground for birthing birds around here!! LOL!!'



KNITTING:








Despite my intentions to finish Ophelia, I didn't knit a stitch on it. I did finish up a Prayer Shawl for donation to a local Hospice.



I kitchnered the toe on a pair of socks......that I don't like. (I can't believe I'm even saying that)!





I have never.....EVER wanted to throw a project in the trash....I H.A.T.E. this yarn!!! Noro sock yarn.....this yarn was so thin in places, just pulling from the ball would break the yarn!!! I am a HUGE fan of Noro yarns and understand completely single ply yarn, don't have a problem with vegie matter, etc. But this yarn was just aweful. I tried several times to chunk the whole project....but the "thrifty" part of me just couldn't let myself throw away yarn.

I have a skein of Noro Silk Garden Sock yarn and I sure hope it won't be the nightmare this was!!


So they are completed and will now be shoved to the bottom of the sock drawer.

I also finished the cuff on a pair of Trekking XXL socks........

Soooo.........that was my weekend!

And...here we go!

1. There TRULY is no place like home.

2. My favorite thing for dinner lately has been anything quick and easy and gets me out of the kitchen quickly!!

3. Max says bark! bark! bark! but not like he used to!!

4. A nice long walk is good time to talk to God.

5. Our family could use some good news.

6. When all is said and done, it isn't about what you had or where you went, but rather how many people you loved along the way

.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to chillin with my DH, tomorrow my plans include catching up on some housework, get to work hand carding some rolags to spin, and Sunday, I want to hopefully finish Ophelia and get that off my list!

Whiskers On Wednesday!!!

Does this table make my butt look big???
















Poor Heidi, she obviously thinks she is about two sizes smaller than her actual size....she is forever going places that are simply too small to accommodate her....girth.

Birds, Birds, Birds

It has been quite a busy time around here!!

We are on the SECOND set of baby birds.....different mother, different species, same nest oddly enough!! If you clicked the link and look R.E.A.L.L.Y. close you will see some fuzzy white at the top of the nest...that would be roving that I placed on the tree branches several weeks ago.

We did a bit of yard work this weekend and despite digging deep into the bushes to be sure there were no birds nesting we found this nest AFTER cutting the bush down.....no eggs, thankfully!!

When I rounded the corner to the mailbox this morning I saw the door was open and the mail was half out of the box!! I have a VERY sweet mail lady and I know she wouldn't just throw my mail in the box like that unless there was a reason......imagining a snake I was surprised to see this:

Which interestingly, was NOT there on Saturday when I got the mail!!! This has been one busy bird!!! I guess I'll head down to the post office to have them hold my mail......not sure what kind of bird is making this nest.....guess word is out....baby birds welcome!!