Another Book Read, Neighbor Complaint , and Lame Joke March 16, 2012

The people (no longer referred to as neighbor) are at it again.  They are so loud and that music is pounding into a headache for me.  And it's only 7PM.  I can't wait until 10 or 11 tonight.  I will be sooooooo glad when bike week is over.  I love seeing the bikes and riders and dogs with their little goggles and clothes, but the neighbors have to go.. ha ha...

 

Finished reading Harvest Moon by Robyn Carr.  It was a cute little book, and the 2nd that I have read by her.  I think I will eventually read all her books, and she has a lot.

 

Tomorrow is St. Patty's day.  That means a crock pot full of corned beef and cabbage along with carrots and potatoes. Everyone is Irish on the 17th of March, right??? 

 

I have just been loving this windy weather.  It's a little cool in the morning and even though it's hot in the afternoon, the breeze feels so good.  I wish I could find a place to live where it was like this all the time. 

 

Well, that's about it for now.  I will leave you with a groaner

 

What do you call an Irish girl who stays out all night?

 

Patty O'Furniture

 

Your groaning right.  ha ha.

 

Until next time

Ides of March ~ March 15, 2012

Sorry, I had to do it...  Eyes of Marge - Ides of March.  ha ha..

 

Yup, Yup, Yup...  Today is March 15th, the Ides of March are upon us.  Just a little bit of trivia for you.

 

The word Ides comes from the Latin word "Idus" and means "half division" especially in relation to a month. It is a word that was used widely in the Roman calendar indicating the approximate day that was the middle of the month. The term ides was used for the 15th day of the months of March, May, July, and October, and the 13th day of the other months. The Ides of March was a festive day dedicated to the god Mars and a military parade was usually held.

 

It was another gorgeous day until the afternoon sun got to blazing.  The morning was a balmy breezy Florida kind of morning.  Birds chirping (I would love to get them little buggers...They wake me up with all their cheerfulness.  ha ha..  It's okay after I'm up, as long as they behave themselves.  ha ha. 

 

Went to my crochet group today, and got a lot of help from Vicky.  Thank goodness for her.  I found a pattern I liked for another dishcloth, and just couldn't figure it out.  Vicky is really good at acting like a teacher, and I picked it up with no problem.  I love the way everyone in the group is so willing to help each other out.  Now if only Michaels or Wally World would get some yarn in.  They are both horrible.  Oh well..  I'm grateful they are there at all.

 

Beulah is sitting here looking at me with those "puppy dog" eyes.  I think she wants to go out, so I will have to end this here.

 

Until next time...

Journey into dishes #1 plus more - March 14, 2012

                                                   1.  Ribbed Crochet Dishcloth

 

Pattern at end

 

 

I don't know why I set myself up for failure, but I always do.  I need to learn to finally follow through.

 

I have set a goal of reading at least 25 books this year.  As of today, I have read 8 since January 2012. So, I am on my way.

 

I was reading some blogs today, just because I love to read what others are doing or saying.  What?  Me nosey??  ha ha.  I saw one that was a crocheting blog and she did 365 washcloths in 365 days.  Sounded good to me until I remembered that I am just learning, so that's an awful big undertaking especially since I want to work on Christmas gifts and make an afghan for myself. So I got off the subject.  Very easy for a scatterbrain like myself.  My decision was to make 52 dishcloths in 52 weeks.  That seems a little more doable and just think of all the dishcloths I will have to keep or share or sell or whatever....I looked through some patterns and decided to make one that us called The Ribbed Stitch.   So I will call it my Journey into dishes.  Oh wait....I think I'll use that as my name for them and then number them as I go along in pictures.  Note to self **Need batteries for camera**

 

A "friend" of mine, Vicky.  that I met on the internet related a story this morning about being out and having a bird do his business on her.  She knew what kind of bird it was.  Well honest to pete, what are the odds that the same exact thing would happen to me.  I was sitting outside this morning.  It was gorgeous out, not hot like it is now, and I was enjoying my cup of Maxwell House coffee with Italian Sweet Creme creamer, and reading.  Started a new book ~Harvest Moon by Robyn Carr~and it is very good.  Anyway, Beulah was just laying out there enjoying the cool air, and I was sitting on the steps reading.  All of a sudden I felt something on my left arm.  I looked and there it was, "Yellow Stuff".  Ewwwwwwww.  I tied Beulah up really quick and ran in to wash the crap, literally, off my arm.  ha ha.  Then I remembered Vicky and started to laugh.  Of course I had to e-mail her about it.

 

Well, this is my  first dishcloth so I can get it on here.  I'm excited.  Sad that it doesn't take much to make me happy.  ha ha

 

Until next time............

 

Directions for Ribbed Crochet Dishcloth

 

7.5 x 7

4.5 mm - Size 7 hook

***I didn't have a 7 so I used an H hook which is a #8

 

I used Sugar & Cream  Hot Green

 

1. Chain 29.  SC in 2nd ch from hook.  SC in each ch along foundation (28 SC)

 

2. Chain 1, turn.  SC in lst stitch.  SC in next 26 stitches in back loop only.  SC in last stitch  through both loops.

 

Repeat another 22 times.

 

3. Stitch next row through both loops and fasten off.

The Girl at the Beach - March 12, 2012

Thought a joke might be in order for today. Hope you enjoy this sick sense of humor....  ha ha

 

The Girl at the Beach

A couple lived near the ocean and used to walk the beach a lot.  One summer
they noticed a girl who was at the beach almost every day.  She wasn't
unusual, nor was the travel bag she carried, except for one thing; she would
approach people who were sitting on the beach, glance around and then speak
to them.

Generally, the people would respond negatively and she would wander off.
But occasionally someone would nod and there would be a quick exchange of
money and something that she carried in her bag.

The couple assumed that she was selling drugs and debated calling the cops,
but since they didn't know for sure, they decided to just continue watching
her.

After a couple of weeks the wife said, 'Honey, have you ever noticed that
she only goes up to people with boom boxes and other electronic devices?' He
hadn't and said so.

Then she said, 'Tomorrow I want you to get a towel and our big radio and go
lie out on the beach.  Then we can find out what she's really doing.'
Well, the plan went off without a hitch and the wife was almost hopping up
and down with anticipation when she saw the girl talk to her husband and
then leave...  The man then walked up the beach and met his wife at the
road.

'Well, is she selling drugs?' she asked excitedly.  'No, she's not,' he
said, enjoying this probably more than he should have.

'Well, what is it then?  What does she do?' his wife fairly shrieked.

The man grinned and said, 'She's a battery salesperson.'
'Batteries?' cried the wife.

'Yes!' he replied.

'She Sells 'C Cells' down by the Seashore!'



And People Ask Me Why I Like Retirement...

Until Next Time.....

Another List of 10 plus more ramblings - March 11, 2012

Let's see what has been happening in my neck of the woods.  Not a whole lot.

 

It's bike week here and so there are a gajillion bikers out.  We have some of them in our neighborhood, and lets just say they are "loud".  Sounds like thunder.  And the roads are full of them too.  But there are some really neat bikes.  My neighbor down the road has a little itty bitty dog that weighs about 3 lbs.  She is a tiny maltese, and they have goggles for her.  They're pink.  Val has a baby carrier that she wears in front of her (like the sling), and Missy sits right in there with her little bow and goggles and the 3 of them take off riding.  It is adorable.  Then there is another guy here who has a bike with a side car that his collie Lady rides in everywhere he goes.  So you can imagine what you see during bike week in Daytona.  Beulah thinks it's thunder and so I need to try to calm her down every now and then.

 

I just finished reading "The House I Loved" and was disappointed in it.  I have read the author, Tatiana de Rosnay's two other books,  "A Secret Kept, and "Sarah's Key" which were excellent.  This one was set in Paris and used a lot of French words and innuendos in french that I had a hard time getting into it.  It had a good story line, but was very slow going for me.

 

In the meantime, back at the ranch, well not really, but I have been having the steroid shots in my back again.  2 weeks ago they worked for the first time in 2 years.  I went back again this past Friday and had more, and they are not doing the trick, and I am so disappointed.  I thought for sure that pain I felt right down to my toes on two of the 6 shots he gave me meant it was going to work.  It's not as bad, but not as good as the last time.  Oh well.  I am grateful for each moment that I am able to stand.

 

Just finished making a macaroni salad with tuna, hard boiled eggs, onions, celery, and kalamata olives.  Mmm Mmm Good.  The hard part is waiting for it to all cool down.  My friend Michelle loves it and so of course I made her some too.

 

Did a little thrifting yesterday.  Went to Hospice and got a mug to make the chocolate brownie microwave cake recipe that Steve printed out for us.  Then over to Goodwill.  I found a shirt.  Brand new, with tags, for $2.99.  It was Yellow Day, and so with that discount it cost me a whopping.....drum roll please...........$1.43.  Woo Hoo..  ha ha.  It is nice but sleeveless, so I will only wear it to sit outside when Beulah decides she wants to just bask in the sun.  My underarms are like bat wings taking off.  ha ha... I don't want to scare all the dogs and kids... ha ha.

 

It has been raining and it is so nice.  It is an off again on again rain and it is the misty kind with no storms attached.  No thunder or lightning, and that is my kind of rain.  This time change is messing with me though and I just realized that maybe my back is hurting more this time because of the arthritis and the rain.  Hmmm.  It's possible I suppose. 

 

I did 3 more pages of the scrapbook of Don's chemo hats.  They are getting easier to do and look at.  I am now finding just a tiny bit of sadness attached to the pictures, but mostly I laugh at remembering him in them and what he would do and say.  So, I think that's a good thing.

 

My list of l0 is way down here.

Name 10 of your favorite websites.

 

 1. Facebook (of course)

 

 2. Pinterest (I'm hooked)

 

 3. Blogs, any and all. Love to read them, especially the craft ones

 

 4. You tube - Learning to crochet is fun that way.

 

 5. Free Digital Stamps - really cool vintage ones

     http://freevintagedigistamps.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2012-01-08T03:00:00-07:00&max-results=12

 

6.  Swagbucks.  I am earning lots of them.  You use them for all kinds of things.  I use mine for free paypal money and Amazon gift cards.  If your interested check it out, and if you decide to do it, please use this so I get extra credit for it.  Thanks. (No Spam)

www.swagbucks.com/refer/whinendine

 

7. All things cupcake - recipe site

http://www.allthingscupcake.com/

 

8. The Animal Rescue Site.  You can click free to help feed the animals.  You can also click to help breast cancer, veterans, literacy, and more.  No cost, just a simple click. And no spam.

www.theanimalrescuesite.com

 

9. Card making paradise

http://www.cardmakingparadise.com/index.html

 

10. Online newspapers by state for all 50 US States

http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/usstate/usatable.htm

 

Well that's it for now. Feel free to comment or post your lists too.  I enjoy reading them.

 

Until next time.

Bill Paying Day - March 2, 2012

Bill paying day.  Horror, I mean Hooray....  ha ha..  I never know whether to pay over the phone, on the internet, send a check, the possibilities are endless............ha ha.  We never had these choices before, so why now.  All we had many moons ago was the option of using a checkbook.  Now, Lucy, you know..I love Lucy..That's my check background.  One scene is the grape stomping and another is the candy with Ethel, and there are a few more. Oh, I forgot what I was talking about.  ha ha...Choices.  Ah yeah..

 

I am horrified by the tornadoes that are wrecking havoc all over the US.  Living through and taking direct hits from 3 hurricanes in 2004 teaches you not to take Mother Nature for granite.  I know what I went through and that was only 10 days without power the first one, 7 days without power the 2nd one, and 3 days for the last one.  No water, no food, no gas, millions of mosquitoes though.  And these poor people are losing their homes to such devastation.  My heart and prayers go out to all the families.

 

Gave Beulah a new flea pill earlier and she is going bonkers from it.  I feel so bad for her, and don't know what to do to calm her down.  She just can not get comfortable.  It must feel horrible, or maybe it itches, or burns.  I wish she could tell me things like that.  I can read her pretty well, but not this time.  And oh the stories she could tell if she spoke.  ha ha... 

 

I have started a new book The House I Loved by Tatiana de Rosnay.  I loved her other 2 books - Sarah's Key and A Secret Kept, but this one for some reason I am having a hard time getting into.  I may read a while or crochet.  Working on another scarf.  This one is is turquoise and is falling like bells.  It is so pretty.  Then next, I am going to tackle an afghan for myself, and still work on smaller projects in between.  I wish there were more hours and more time when I wasn't tired to work on my crafts and read.  I say this as I look at my sink of dishes from supper tonight.  Sigh........

 

So, I will get off here and do something.  What I don't know.. ha ha.  Until next time

March 1, 2012 ~ Back to the blog

Okay.  Vicky is questioning why I have not written on my blog, so I thought I'd better get my butt in gear and do a little something something.  ha ha

 

It's been a while since I have written on here.  Tsk. Tsk.  Shame on me. Thanks for the push friend.

 

I have been having a strange week for sure.  I went and got my steroid shot last Wednesday, and am still having side affects from it.  Not allergic reactions, just all the side effects you can get.  But I have got to admit, that after going to pain management for 2 years now, this is the 1st time that the shots in the back have worked for this amount of time.  I know it has only been 4 days, but I have not been able to get out of bed without excruciating pain for almost 6 months and almost 2 years since I have been able to just stand longer than 5-10 minutes.  So this is WONDERFUL.....  I go back in a week again for more shots, and I hope he gets the right area again.  I am in hog heaven.  Still have pain, but it's not consuming my every movement and that people is what life is about.. At least to me..  ha ha

 

Went to crocheting today and it took me about half an hour to move my K hook from my left hand to my right.  Just wanted to throw in the "K" so you'd think I was a real crocheter.  ha ha.  Then it took another half hour to move it from my right hand to the chain.  ha ha.  Let's just say I did not get anything done today.  Had a lot of laughs and I really do love the hookers.....It is a great bunch of gals and guys, and it's funny how I felt so comfortable from day one.  Then again, it must be my bubbly personality, oh wait, that might be the champagne bubbles I forgot to drink.  ha ha.

 

The weather here is crazy.  Rained all day Sunday for the Daytona 500 race which they had to cancel.  We have not had rain like that in forever.  Now they are saying by the weekend it will be in the 90's.  I have enough hot flashes that they are only going to add to my power surges.. ha ha..

The joys of aging.....ha ha.

 

Beulah is here doing the happy dance.  Think she wants to go out.  I don't.  To many mosquitoes.  Why in the world couldn't they have missed the ark...  ha ha.. 

 

So ends a very quick thought process of mind to paper, or thoughts to fingertips to keys that the letters are worn off of.

 

Until next time......