Snow Refrain

Just insert the same ol’ same ol’ in here.  I went to work this morning, and it was flurrying.  I came home, after six hours with no internet, no cable, and it was flurrying.  It’s sleeted just long enough to make the hot tub cover sparkle, and now, we wait.

The bed gargoyles, daring me to move them to make said bed...

For those with score cards, please tell me what snow number we’re on, because honestly?  I have no clue.  I know this is the third event in February, and frankly, I’m impressed with myself for remembering that much.

We’ve had two casualties now.  The Knight and our awesome insurance guy have spoken, and sad metal shed (which looks far worse today, after the Knight tried to scrape some of the snow off last night) will be replaced with a sturdier wooden model with a loft (like the other shed, for those who happen to know our property).  But just to make life interesting, the Knight is at Lowe’s now, fetching a thermostat for the just out of warranty hot water heater.  I am SO blessed to have a handy man!

Being Irish, I think things come in threes.  Do my dead Wii handsets Saturday night count?  (Please?!)  Or maybe the brake line that let go in the Knight’s personal truck, repaired on Friday in spite of the storm?  (But not both, because then we’d have two more to go…)  Or how ’bout the flood light halogen bulb he just changed, in the snow, so the fur-girls have a well-lit pen again?

Yum... snow tastes good!

Gretchen wants you to know how brave she is.  She not only has warmed up to the whole concept of snow, but she’ll also run around without a jacket when it isn’t snowing, sleeting or otherwise dropping cold, wet stuff on her head and back.

Be vwery qwiet. I'm hunting wabbits.

Sissy just wants everyone to pay attention to her too.  She’s never really minded the snow, almost always prefers to be “nekkid” so what’s the big deal?!  She was hunting here, although I’m not sure what…

And here comes the snow.  I think I’m gonna’ steam some milk, add some mint Bailey’s and watch it snow.

All that Glitters

First things first.  Gretchen would like to thank everyone who voted for her, and those who would have voted if they’d seen the post in time.   She would also like to thank the judges and administrative staff who made Mango Minster 2010 possible, and -

Sissy just cut her off before she could blather nice things about the winners.  Sissy isn’t a bad sport, but she wouldn’t need much encouragement to become one.  (Can you BELIEVE that grumpy face on my sweet girl?!)

The lone casualty... one shed roof

So yeah, we’ve survived round… whatever number we’re on of winter 09-10.  I’ve lost track of how many snows we’ve had, but this was the third over 12 inches snow we’ve had this season.  It was the worst in terms of wind and side effects.  We lost power twice.  The first time – Friday night – we only were without for about 30 minutes, because the Knight’s old schoolmate, now a foreman with our beloved, awesome little electric co-op, happened to be driving through the area and took care of the little incident post-haste.    Saturday morning, we were without for 5-6 hours, but we all just crawled back in bed and slept through it.  The power has flickered a few times, but I can’t thank the good people at CVEC enough!  They’re even on Facebook, so we don’t have to go to the website to get updates.

See the Knight (in red)? See his truck? (mirror on left of tree trunk)

The worst?  No internet for about 24 hours Saturday-Sunday.  The Knight had to tend my Farmville plot from the firehouse for me.  (Yeah, dirty little secrets…  we’re HUGE Farmville addicts.  Don’t judge; just friend us and make us your neighbors already.)  I do have email on my Blackberry, but most of y’all were painfully quiet during the same time period.

Still snowing...

The longest?  No cable, from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon.  I ran out of DVDs Saturday night, and darned if the batteries weren’t dead in my Wii remote!  I have the only “motion plus” handset, so that meant no Wii Resort.  It was ugly, especially when the Knight and his band of warriors drove past the house TWICE (going and coming) en route to a neighbor’s heat pump filled the house with smoke call.  (And yes… I was on the phone with him demanding a battery delivery when the call came in, so I’m not at all sure why one of the trucks couldn’t risk getting stuck in our drive to bring me batteries.  Hrmph.)

In case you’re actually concerned about this poor, spoiled plugged-in country girl, we ventured out to our new, local WalMart last night and bought a four-handset, wireless, rechargeable contraption for all the Wii stuff.  Oh – and we got more milk, dry pasta and meats for the next siege, which begins sometime tomorrow.  (It’s all about priorities.  I never ran out of cookies, tea, K-cups, or peanut butter, so heck yeah, the Wii charger was more important than the food!)

Snowman attempt abandoned once gloves got wet...

I did go play in the snow yesterday, or tried to.  Turns out that the multi-layered mess of heavy, wet snow, sleet, snow-melt-refrozen, and very dry, powdery stuff we have on the ground doesn’t make a great snowman.  I also lack proper gloves – and so did WalMart.  The Knight went to work today and is going to hit Tractor Supply for some water proof/resistant gloves for me.  I’m afraid I set a dreadful precedent and not only kept a path cleared for the fur-princesses into the pen, but I dug my silver stead out on my own too.

Seriously…  The Knight has renamed Lexie-Beastie ”Snowbunny.”  He swears that he’s never driven a vehicle that handles so well in snow and ice.   I was under the mistaken impression that ground clearance was an issue for her, but evidently not.  The Knight has spent the last three snows trying to challenge her, and she just laughs at him while sticking all four tires on the ground.   He’s never even had to put her in her “snow” mode.

So, that was my weekend.  I did some knitting and tinking and tinking and knitting, because it seems I didn’t knit as well by booklight as I thought I had 10 days ago.   I finished a book and started another, but I’ll post about them later.  This last shot is for the Edward lovers out there…  a local friend remarked that the snow glistening reminded her of Edward’s sparkly skin.  (Sissy notes that we are a soundly Team Jacob household, and Gretchen has suggested that a few of you might not know all the Twilight lingo…)

How was YOUR weekend?  Anyone have any pretty, browned winter grass to share?  Or sand?  How ’bout you year ’round beach dwellers?

No Working Dogs Here

ETA:  Now that it’s after 5pm…

Lady Gretchen Greer of Haddon Woods requests the kind favor of your vote on her behalf in the Mango Minister Terrier Girl Reader’s Choice award.  She wishes her dear pals and co-competitors Misty and Sasha all the best too.

And in case the judges swing by, I dug out an old photo of this DEAR terror working her magic IN my yarn…

November 2008, Gretchen's second yarn tasting

*******************************************************************

We now return you to the post already in progress.

If it’s still before 5pm EST, rush over to Mango Minister and vote for Thor!  He’s a prime example of a real working dog, what with his tool belt, driving coach harness, book reading…  Gretchen’s group will be up soon.  She has lots of friends in the same group, so we know some of you have votes to cast elsewhere and it’s all good!

December 2009, FIRST big snow of the season

That’s us.  Only picture Gretchen actually not minding the white stuff now.  We’re roughly 12 hours into the current siege, and maybe six inches into the roughly two feet of snow they say we’ll get.  The heavy stuff is due to move in soon, so I hear.

So, I have potato soup on the stove, knitting at my side, and two dogs who can’t decide whether to pace indoors or out.  I’m sure that’s about all that’s ahead for my weekend, substituting some baking for the soup and some spinning for the knitting.  What’s on your schedule?

Batten Down

Look Ma!  No coat!  And if you can’t see her eyes or read her body language, we were playing when I took this photo on Sunday.

It’s snowed enough that Gretchen has adapted and doesn’t hate the white stuff, but I think I am pretty close to picking up where she left off.  I thought I loved snow, but with another whopper coming in tonight and staying through Saturday and MORE coming again on Tuesday…

For Thankful Thursday, a reminder that snow is beautiful.  We have everything we need to be safe and secure, no matter how much comes, how often.  I will not be snowed in, not for long, so I can still love snow…

For Dogs on Thursday, if you aren’t voting in Mango Minister daily, you should be!   Today, we’re pulling for our pal Fudge.   We’re more than a little biased, and we can admit it.

I’d wish you a happy little friday, but for me, I’m pretty sure this IS Friday.  The snow is supposed to start before dawn and come in hard and heavy, so I don’t look to work tomorrow at all.  I’m sorry you can’t all have an early friday with me!

Sis and I will update her blog, probably tomorrow, assuming we have power and internet. 

Wishing you a happy day, no matter where you are or what you’ll be doing tomorrow.

Warm, dry feet

Oh, calm down knitters, especially my Stash Sock girls.  There are no socks to be seen.  

Mine are a sexier brown, but the Knight decided last night, in the latest snow squall that makes me and most of my Central Virginia neighbors wonder when we became part of New England, that my beloved, 15 year (or more?) old winter boots needed to retire. 

It’s hard to believe these are my first Timberland boots.   I remember shopping for Bec’s (childhood BFF) first pair when we were 20-somethings (you do the math – or be polite and assume it wasn’t so very long ago)…  You see, while no fashion maven, I have always had ample work boots around, but Timberland never made the cut until last night.  Both pairs the Knight very literally shoved at me to try on were Timberland. 

I get the hype now.  They’re lightweight, warm, comfy, and not so awfully ugly that I can’t wear them all day here at the family business.  I also appreciate that I am married to a man who rolls his eyes and buys me proper snow gear whether I think it’s necessary or not. 

Can someone volunteer to remind him that he bought these boots next time we have the “Why on EARTH do you need so many shoes?!” discussion?

In other news, our dear friend Misty needs your thoughts and prayers today.    Actually, I suspect her human is even more in need…  I think it’s harder to sit and wait than it is to have surgery in most cases!

This is also a good time to have the daily mention of Mango Minister.   Up until 5pm today, vote for Sporty dogs (we’re pulling for our new friend Marge and if you don’t know her story, read and be moved and inspired), and after 5, the bad sports are up, including dearly beloved Fudge. 

Lastly and WAY in the other direction, unless you think boots, four-leggeds and toe-tappin’ are all connected far more closely than they are, WoollyMoose wants to talk music.   Here are some music facts about me:

1. I own an outdated mp3 player and don’t know where it is.
2. We are long-time XM Radio subscribers.  I won’t confess to how many we own, but it’s safe to say we’re never without one.  We even gave a subscription as a gift for Christmas this year…
3. 1980’s rock makes me smile and sing loudly.
4. While I did the oboe thing through college, I also love to sing.  However, as a STRONG (read: high and loud) soprano, I rarely sing in public since my favorite choir director left.
5. I used to say I wasn’t fond of bluegrass, but a friend pointed out that I love Alison Krauss.
6. I still want to learn to play the piano.
7. Memories are triggered by songs for me.
8. The highlight of my vocal career was singing with Michael Talbot on The Mall.  I was 18.
9. The Knight and his family turn on the TV for background noise.  I prefer music.
10. Sugarland, Love on the Inside is the only CD the Knight and I both have in our personal vehicles right now.

Well, that’s enough of that.  Clearly, I could go on for days…  How does music fit into your life?  What’s your favorite genre?  Artist?  Instrument?  Concert?  (Hands down, Elton John…)

Daddy’s Girl

Thanks to everyone who voted for Sis yesterday.  While she didn’t win, place or show, she took it far better than I anticipated.  In fact, she gave the Knight a BIG lick from fingertip to elbow, and trotted on out into the pen to play.

OBX Fall 2008

It seems that Sis was just delighted that her Dadaw, who sometimes scoffs at bloggy things, did go vote for her.  My apologies, grand diva of the Woods…  I overestimated your ego and underestimated your sense of self worth.  We also urge you to check in daily and vote for your favorite in the Mango Minister group of the day.

The pretty sweater Gretchen will likely sport tonight...

We’re going to try to squeeze in a few errands this evening, after Sissy’s vet appointment.  If the snow holds off (which it doesn’t sound like it will), the plan is for Sissy and me to head to the vet, and come straight home.  Otherwise, we’ll shove Gretchen in a pretty sweater and the whole pack will have a vet fieldtrip, followed by some rapid-fire human errands that have been snowed out once already.

And no, I still don’t have a dress for the event that is now LATER THIS MONTH.  We’ll be very near Chico’s tonight, so if it isn’t snowing too hard, I might skip in and see what my local store has in stock…

I never reviewed Family Tree, did I?  I really, REALLY liked this book.  It wasn’t too heavy and serious, despite the weighty issues within – a bi-racial baby born to not visibly bi-racial parents, and ALL the assumptions that follow – and a knitting shop was kinda’ featured, on the mom’s side of things.  It wasn’t ubber-suspenseful, but it was compelling, if that makes sense?  I never gasped out loud, although I did mist up and cheer once each, but I still had trouble putting the book down and getting back to the rest of my life.  I was very sorry to realize I’d gotten to the last page, and I found myself wondering what became of the characters after the author stopped writing.

What are you reading?

Rock the Vote!

 

My new favorite photo of DIVA - can the girl strike a pose or what?!

Please slide over and vote for Sissy!   Voting in the Hound Dawg category of Mango Minister closes at 5pm EST on February 1.  Our good friend Tsar already won his class and is headed to best of show, so Sissy will be crushed if she doesn’t join him.

That’s more than 12″ of snow, no matter what the local news is reporting.  Those are rather standard wrought iron chairs, and as you can see, the bottom of the curled edge is touching the top of the snow, just barely.  I measured right at 15″, no drifting.

Gretchen also has decided that snow is kinda’ fun after all.  She chose this frigid weekend to show of her determined terrier spunk too; she opted out of wearing a sweater when it stopped snowing, as you can see her.  However, she did get too cold a few times and then flatly refused to follow Sissy outside.  If Sis stayed out for more than a couple of minutes, Gretchen would ask for a sweater and then head out to join her sister. 

So, that was my weekend.  We had no power for more than eight hours yesterday.  For a country girl, I have become shamefully dependent upon my creature comforts.  The woodstove cannot be called into service, because neither it nor the chimney have been cleaned or inspected for several years.  I was afraid to use my Blackberry for email, because I only had about a half life on my battery, and I wasn’t sure how long the power would be out…

How was your weekend?  What’s ahead for your week?  Me?  Snow again tomorrow and another significant storm for the weekend.  Our driveway never got plowed, so I’m riding around with the Knight when I do venture out.

Gretchen saw her shadow yesterday, and she’s worried about Phil and his shadow tomorrow.  Personally, I’m wondering when Virginia became part of New England?

Parcel Review

I bet we won’t get mail today, but that’s okay, because the past week has been VERY good to me.  It started with a sock club kit last week, and goes through the three parcels I had to open yesterday, and you just have to see them.  The photos aren’t great because the snow clouds had already moved in, and I wasn’t dressed to stand out in what natural light there was and snap photo after photo, but you’ll get the idea.

Those cuties are MY alpacas, made by Anita.   She’s started making her signature clay animals as spinning wheel orifice hooks.  (Last link will take you to her Etsy shop.) 

I love the detail Anita puts into her creations.  Isn’t that the cutest little clay alpaca?  I’m not sure I can leave it hanging on my wheel, given Sissy’s latest path of destruction.  Both girls recognize Auntie ‘Nita’s scent and go ape when she sends even a note, much less something she’s crafted with her own hands.   Still, I have my own alpaca – two of ‘em! 

I’m so blessed to have talented friends.  Do slip over to Episode 55 of Manic Purl’s podcast.   Dear Jessi got a much-deserved rave review of her SpringValley Yarns.   She’s famous!!  I’m glad I have an inside track, because I almost always have something on the needles with one of her yarns. 

On Tuesday, Amanda of NH Knitting Mama had a shop update.   I scored a “seconds” version of Franconia for a steal.  I MEAN A STEAL!!!!!  Amanda offered it as a second because one ply of the base didn’t take dye the same way the others did, but I *LOVE* it.  I also have a custom alpaca laceweight she dyed for me at the start of her dyeing career on the needles right now.

In keeping with the friends who dye theme, the most recent sock club kit from Dianne of Creatively Dyed Yarn.   Each of my indie dyer friends has her own style and base yarns, and I really think I could tell them apart with my eyes closed even!  I’ve never knitted socks with beads, but I’m going to have to with this kit.  Check out the pattern page on Ravelry for Sivia Harding’s Emerald Forest Socks!

I know this is a painfully long post, but go grab a cuppa’ and a bite to eat because there’s still more!

A few days ago, Grace’s Master Blocker challenged her readers, and because he must think like the Knight, I won!   I received the beautiful yarn above, and the extra goodies below.   I can’t wait to wind it up and knit with it.  I think it wants to be a shawl for me.  What do you think?

Grace must keep notebooks on what her friends like, because she always sends the most thoughtful packages.  I’m sipping the Mighty Leaf Chamomile Citrus now, and I think I’m in love.  I’d never tried Mighty Leaf  teas before, but I think another parcel will be on my porch about the time the mail carrier can get to us again.  I’m also ridiculously fond of those highlighters with the built-in sticky flags and notebooks.  The red dotted thing almost hidden is a little notebook, in case you didn’t put that together from my almost random comments.

I’ll just briefly note another Embrace the Lace package floated in this week too.  I think there’s only one more to go, but I’m honestly not sure.  Justice is grey, and that’s a shawl in the pattern.   There are better photos in the Ravelry group, of course. 

Last, but HARDLY least is a sneak peek at the Namaste Monroe that wandered to my house.  I couldn’t help myself Monday evening.  I love it, not that I’ll be using it for a few days, what with over a foot of snow on the ground and no signs of it stopping…   It’s roughly the same size as my beloved Newport (same color too), with that coveted outside pocket, firm sides…  I think my dream bag might have landed.  (Disclaimer:  My bad back and I do not strut around with these monster bags I carry.  The bags go from the vehicle inside work, office, home.  For shopping and other ambling experiences, I just carry a small bag with the Blackberry, wallet and keys.) 

My fingers were too cold to peel off all the protective wraps, or to get all around photos, but after I load that baby up and tote it around for a few days, I’ll do better and tell you what I really think.

So, what are you doing this weekend?  Evidently, I’ll be snowed in, knitting, spinning, reading, decluttering, baking…

Tea Network

Tea, the friendship-builder.  Tea, the networking tool.

Week 4: January 24-30
“Whom have you met because of something related to tea? Share something about this person and how your relationship began and blossomed.”

Cute little tea magnets

I can’t begin to count the friendships I’ve made through tea.  Instead, I’m going to mention a couple of significant ones, and note that I thoroughly enjoyed hosting the tea swaps, meeting so many tea lovers, and making new friends.

To clarify, I’m not sure how many people I’ve actually MET through tea related things, but it’s amazing how a shared love of tea has deepened many connections in my life. 

Because I never pulled out my camera while we were together, I don’t have a photo of Ruth.  I could steal one from her, but I won’t.  I can however, remind you of the tea she brought me when we met in person!    Tea, dogs, books, knitting, and a friendship was born.   We’ve shared one cuppa’ in person, and countless more as we email, read each other’s blogs and chat on Facebook almost daily!

I was thoroughly spoiled in one tea swap by Nannette.   Just because life gets in the way and we don’t chat regularly doesn’t mean I don’t still think of Nannette.  The garden flag she gave me still graces the back deck.

I believe tea swaps introduced me to Holly too, and as tea tends to do, I then got to know her sister Lacey.  (I have the flowering teas in my car, and next week when MJ is back in the office some, I’ll be able to get things shipped!)  They’re both kind, thoughtful, talented women and maybe one day, life will let us share a cuppa’ in person.

While I could go on all day, I’ll close by mentioning Wendy.  I’m not sure which swap brought us together, but she’s shared a lot of tea with me, in person and by mail.   In fact, I can’t  recall a time we’ve gotten together she hasn’t handed me some new tea finds to try.  (Now THAT is a true tea friend!)

I couldn’t begin to list all the friendships I’ve made through tea, whether tea brought us together or not.  Please know that if I didn’t mention you, I still adore you and appreciate the teas you’ve shared with me!

Tea is a special part of so many of my friendships, all the way back to my toddler days, when a neighbor lady took on my mother and insisted I could – WOULD – have a proper tea with her.  There’s just something cementing about sitting down with a cuppa’ and another person… if they aren’t a friend when you plop down, they will be before the last sip!

Thanks again Ruth, for continuing this Hot Tea Month tradition.  Sip on!

Hound Dawg

Well…  I thought I had a photo in Flickr that I don’t, so we’ll revist the topic I seem to have mistakenly tagged a health issue on Sissy’s blog…

After the hound owners weighed in, it seems that being a little destructive, particularly where trash is concerned, is no sign of a starving basset.   Gmarie reminded me that Sis is just a teenager, testing her boundaries.  Barbara pointed out that some senior bassets STILL have a thing for trash.  Sissy is proudest of the honorary PWD award Sue and her pack proposed upon reading of Sissy’s path of destruction.   She also appreciates all the advice and support the other dogs have sent her!

The good dog at our house  wee Gretchen Greer is rather concerned about the potential for another BIG SNOW this weekend.  The set-up is very similar to the December storm, although at the time I’m writing, it seems we’ll just dodge the heavy snow line and we’ll get a nice blanket of the white stuff, but not enough to cripple the area again.

 

Dogs on Thursday, little friday, friday eve as a college girlfriend called it today…  It all adds up to Thankful it is Thursday.  This has been a rather calm week for me, and I’m thankful for that. 

Yesterday, happy post.  Today, thankful.  They’re connected, happiness and thankfulness, but they’re not the same thing.

Vintage photo from around 1990?

Since I just finished lunch with my favorite aunt, there’s my happy photo that makes me so thankful.  It’s not a great photo of either of us, but sadly, it’s the best of the photos of us I have in Flickr!  (See’Nita?  You aren’t the only one I torture…)

Now to finish up at work and go home and download the photo(s) I thought I had to blog about today…