Welcome February

Today is the last day of January. There is an hour more of light than the beginning of January, which I like very much.

Today is what they call a “snow event”. It looks like this

KTTC weather

That blue is lots of snow. We are, right now, is that little part that is lighter, slightly east of Rochester, but I am not going to get used to it, because it still means it’s snowing. It’s just brighter. Last month, every snow day was on a weekend, but January has been mostly weekdays, like Monday when I am off to shovel by myself.

Saturday I attempted a return of the now unwanted engagement ring and was told, by Rogers and Holland's that the diamond, which they said was worth over 3000 dollars is now worth 520. Livid does not begin to describe it. So I have to get the thing appraised and then continue on my war against the chain store jewelers. I feel especially bad because Cody originally wanted to go to a private jeweler, but I told him that R&H always provided good service and had a good selection. Little did I know they just rip you off. But I should know. My friend told me to just keep the diamond and Cody could use it for something else someday. But I don’t know. I wrote to the corporate office about this, and they are likely laughing about it over the water cooler. I am posting everyday on Facebook and Twitter about it too.

I guess what makes me sad is that it seems to me more and more that everyone is so concerned about making a buck, they lie and cheat to make a profit. I don’t see it. Oh, I understand mark up and retail vs wholesale, and everyone has to make a living, but a $3000 mark up? Really? And if they bought that diamond back for $520 dollars, they would have sold it to the next person for another $3500. Total profit of, what, 6000 dollars? How much do people need? And why can’t they just honestly take it back? Oh well. Enough of that.

I attended a birthday party for Chase. He is now two.

First of all, here’s the cake. Which was delicious, by the way.

Here’s Ali and Chase

They had the party at an indoor playground which was fantastic. The best part was Laura playing and riding on all the toys. Sadly, I didn’t get a picture of that, for which I am still kicking myself.

Chase had a good time, and when all the presents were said and done, played with the Styrofoam popcorn.

Diva was there too-

She’s my girl with the cake. She had her two year pictures taken-she loves the camera. Gosh.

Here she is at 6 months-back in the day

And here’s Chase, back in the day. Wow. Time is flying by.

I finished the Schlep bag, after doing everything wrong I possibly could. And it’s a super easy pattern.

I didn’t like working with the oilcloth all that much. This is the inside lining-the farm theme.

 

The upside down cows are the pocket.

Next weekend is knitting and Superbowl Sunday mystery, which I have to get going on because there is homework.

February-here we come!

Superbowl

Well, as everyone knows by now, unless you live in a cave somewhere,  the Packers won the NFC championship and are headed to Dallas and the Superbowl. We barely survived the game, and am not sure what will happen in a couple of weeks. I believe the last time the Steelers went to the Superbowl it was against Seattle, and we all know how that turned out. Hopefully the refs have gotten better since then. Yeah, you know what I’m talkin’ about.

I have my annual Superbowl Sunday Mystery Quilt in Decorah that day. We have been doing that for 5 years now? Could it be? I live for my SB Sunday Mystery Quilt day. It calms the nerves, especially for a game like this.

Otherwise, it has been a slow week. I am working hard on my Skacel KAL and am actually on track with it. Am on part 4 this week, which is the week of part 4. Amazing.

I turned the heel with short rows.

See-there’s a heel. So I actually made a whole sock on Magic Loop. Well, I have almost made a whole sock on Magic loop. I need to figure out the cast on though.

I finished this up last week. It is a Thimbleberries from a couple of years ago. I was so frustrated by this kit that I opened the other kits and just put the fabric in the stash. I refuse to do any more. The problem is there is not the right amount of fabric in the kits. And you have to cut exactly right or you will run out. Even if you don’t cut exactly right you will run out. Fuhget about it!

Sorry about the wrinkles. It has been folded up for a week while I am figuring out the back.

Next I am going to put the trees on this one and finish it up. It is supposed to have a bunch of pin wheels, and I  say “fuhget about it “ to those things too. I think the trees will complete it nicely.

See-that pinwheel in the lower L corner? Yeah, not making any more of those. I do like the mountains though. I put that little deer on there-it was from something else. Maybe I’ll hide him in the trees.

I found this on the floor today

It’s garbage. Funny thing is I have no idea where it came from. I think it came out of a bag that is tacked to the table, but the bag was still up on the table, so that means that Jack one of the cats went to the trouble of reaching up into said bag and picked out and removed the garbage of their choice. Weird.

I decided that since I didn’t have many pictures I’d get down and do a Beta cam. Beta did not think it was a great idea, and was a bit puzzled by the whole thing-like what was I doing laying on the floor pointing the camera at him.

That’s the best he could do. Because then he did this.

Enough is really enough.

I have been trying to up load a video of Jack. I am now uploading to Flickr to see if I can actually get it on the blog. Jeepers but they make it difficult sometimes.

This is a video-lets see if it works on the blog……It actually does work, but you have to click on it. Try it.

Off to sew and knit.

 

Moving Forward

Ah yes. Moving forward. New year, new things. It was a truly long holiday, that is for sure. Last I heard, Cody was renting a new apartment and moving this week. Then he was off to La Quinta, by Palm Springs for a little R & R. Must be nice. I got my plane tickets for Vegas for Feb 17th. Ahhh, it will be nice to see some bare ground for a change. It seems the worst is over, and it’s getting brighter everyday.

And snowier. I shoveled  more today. I am running out of places to put snow and have had to resort to the wheelbarrow-again.

Today is a work holiday, Martin Luther King day; one of the perks of a government job. So it is a short week this week, and next week as I flex a day. WooHoo. Already dreading work tomorrow. But that’s another story.

In the meantime, work was ok late last week when our Tater Pie came to visit.

  Look at how big that girl is getting. She is walking now. She wasn’t too sure about all of us standing around staring at her. Laura came up and got her smiling with a little peek-a-boo.

This weekend I have been working on a quilt to give as a housewarming gift. I had the top done forever.

I decided to burn up some stash for the back, instead of buying 8 more yards of fabric. So, I made up a quick Turning Twenty in browns, so the quilt will match all decor.

It only took about a day to make this top. Any and all delays in manufacturing were the direct result of this:

Jack cannot be out of your face whatever the occasion. Started Saturday PM when I was trying to do some computer work.

He sat on the mouse first, then stretched out and pushed my letter holder off onto Dave’s desk. Only the beginning.

I then decided to get this quilt thing done-got the fabric out and cut Saturday PM, and finished cutting and started sewing Sunday.

This is what I put up with.

 

This was a favorite spot throughout the day.

 

It was constant. And Jack is not exactly a light dainty cat to be moving around.

I tried putting him in his bag, but he lost interest and pretended to ignore me while sitting on the milking stool.

He then ran over to the table and knocked the little garbage can onto the floor.

This morning when I got up to finish the last part of the quilt, I found this

Look closer

Does that look like garbage to you? Does it look like the garbage that came out of this bag?

With some more garbage in front of it? Hmmmmm. Let’s see. I wonder how THAT happened? So, I had to get the broom and clean that up before I could start sewing. See what I mean?  It is freakin’ endless.

I finally got done this AM and took top and bottom to the quilt store. I also stopped at Kristen’s Knits to pick up a few skeins of Noro for the wrap me up. The roads were crappy this morning and I saw cars in the ditch and an accident by Eyota. I didn’t have any problems.

And did anyone notice the Packers are a step away from going to the Superbowl? Fabulous.

The Seahawks? Not so much. It would have been tough, though, having to root for both the Packers and the Seahawks in the same game.

So, back to business. Gotta go and knit on my KAL socks. On to instruction #3 and I am not quite done with #2-

Happy Week!

 

Go Pack Go!

Seriously, the Seahawks won last night. They won. I’m still pinching myself to make sure it’s not a dream.

And why I didn’t make some book on this game is beyond me. The odds were something like 50:1. Dang it. But soo happy. Today is the Packers and the Eagles.

Let’s hope we can have two wins this weekend. I’d hate to see the Eagles win. Not a big fan of Mike Vick, no matter what anyone says, or how much he says he’s changed. Plus, I really like that Aaron Rodgers. I hope he remembers to slide this week.

Cody went back to school last weekend. We did go to Sushi Tango and yum, it was delish. We got another picture in before he left because the picture at the table….not so much.

It’s kinda blurry because Dave took the picture. Enough said.

Blane left the next day, after we watched the Seahawks beat the Rams. I was sad to see them go, but there were some in the household that  were quite happy to see the end of it….

Uh huh. That is not a happy face. (Just to be clear-I am talking about Jack).

Dave turned 50 something on Tuesday. (Not trying to be cute, I really can’t remember and shouldn’t have to think that hard right now).

There’s a bad picture. How about this one

If you click on it and make it bigger, you can read the funny card I got him. We had a nice dinner and chocolate cake.

Cora’s birthday party was yesterday.

It was quite the party. Ali and Chase were there

Morgan was there too, but she didn’t want to be held by us too much.

She did have a good time though.

Cora got some good stuff-

 

But the best thing was the Gator, which all the kids seemed to know about, but I had to Google when Angie told me about it.

Check it out. That thing can go 4.5 mph. Laura (who was also there) and I were all about getting into it and taking off. However, it looks bad when we are shoving little kids out of the way so we can play with their stuff, so we held back. This time.

This party was also all things Dora. Dora is quite the deal. We had Ninja Turtles when my boys were little. Laura was kind enough to sing part of the theme song for me, and to name all the Turtles and ancillary characters. I have go to figure out a way to make some cash out of Laura’s memory for all things trivial. Seriously. It’s a gift.

Dave’s boys were over and I got a group shot of them. Note that when I take the picture, it is not blurry.

On the home front today, it’s cold outside. My thermometer on my computer says 4. That’s 4 BELOW zero.

I am busy working on my Skacel KAL. Got the second instructions, and hope to finish this week’s part during the Packer game. Started a new BOTM at the knitting store-the Wrap Me Up shawl.

I know, the model doesn’t look very thrilled. I am knitting it in Noro silk garden and I think it is going to be very fun to do. Much better than the GAAA. Which, by the way, I blessedly only have two squares left.

So I am off this AM to finish up the a Thimbleberry wall hanging, then I am going to make a Turning 20 to use for a back on a square in a square quilt I made a couple or so years ago.

This will make a good back, the quilt will be two sided, and will use up a bunch of stash. WooHoo.

Have a great week all, and don’t forget-Go Pack Go!