The Making of a Natural Beauty

Apparently is takes 25 bottles and 7 scrubbies to make 3 eighteen year old college room mates naturally beautiful. LOL!  I stopped by to take my daughter out to lunch and on the way home I needed to use the bathroom before my drive.  I walked in and thought this is crazy.  My daughter said only one bottle of shampoo and one bottle of body wash was hers.  She said it is crazy to get into the shower and kick over a few bottles.  Then when there is shampoo in your eyes a few more bottles fall into the tub.  She then said you have to shuffle your feet around until the soap is washed out of your eyes, so you don't fall.  Then you can pick up the bottles.  Oh the college years and all the strange memories that get added in that shape your future.

Free Flowers

I got a call that sweat shirts at a local store were on sale for $3.  My teenage daughter said, "I could use a couple more sweat shirts."  Off we went.  As we were leaving the store an employee was handing out flowers.  We really didn't know why, but thought it was a nice gesture.  The flowers were handed to my daughter, but when we got home she offered me one.  I reached into the bouquet to pull one out and out came a stem with 4 blossoms and 2 buds.  We both laughed that I reached for one and got 4.

I went to my china cabinet and got out a bud vase.  The flowers are just beautiful and sitting in my kitchen.  They make me smile every time I see them.  A little breath of spring in the winter time.

This morning I saw some flowers that made me laugh.  This is how a teenager takes care of their flowers.  I present "The Teenage Bud Vase."

Funny Craigslist "Free Yarn" Ad

Free Yarn (Sackets Harbor)

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Date: 2012-01-25, 4:38PM EST
Reply to: sale-4n2pf-2817981201@craigslist.org ^{[Errors when replying to ads?]}

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I have three skeins of Red Heart Baby Clouds yarn that I am never, ever, ever going to use. They can be yours for free! Two of them are in the color "Pink Lemonade," which I'm sure you can imagine, and the third is "Peaceful Dreams," which is a blend of purple and blue and pink. They look adorable together for baby items for a little girl. This yarn is size 6 (Super Bulky), 100% acrylic, and machine wash and dry. Each skein is 6 oz/140 yards.

One caveat, though: This yarn is NOT good for knitting.

These skeins are taking up space in my small home and I want them gone, as they have already given me both heartache and finger-aches and now they are also making me feel guilty because I don't want to use them for anything ever again. This yarn will tangle and split and make you crazy. Your spouse might consider hauling you to the doctor for anger issues and depression if you try to use it as Red Heart intended. Perhaps it's possible to crochet with this yarn; I don't know since I can't crochet, but I suspect you'd run into the same problems as I did with knitting.

HOWEVER, there are still many uses to which you might be able to put this yarn if you want to (I don't!). For instance, you could:
1. Give it as a gift to a knitter whom you secretly hate.
2. Let your cat play with it.
3. Give it to your kids for arts and crafts - or just give it to your kids to play with and then have them untangle it afterwards. They will be occupied for hours.
4. Use it as stuffing for some other object (it is very fluffy and soft).
5. If you are moving, use it instead of bubble wrap for cushioning delicate objects.
6. Maybe you like a challenge? Embark upon the most painful knitting project you've ever done.
7. Use it in place of ribbons for gift wrapping.
8. Play a practical joke on someone by wrapping one of their valued possessions in this yarn. This will be a great joke as it will take ages to remove whatever you put in there.

You get the idea. There's lots of opportunity here if you are creative.

If you are planning to do something extra cool with this yarn and if I like you, I will even consider knitting something (NOT with this yarn!) just for you as a thank you for taking it off my hands.

Pickup only, please.

• Location: Sackets Harbor
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 2817981201

Starbucks and the Free Coffee

I'm not a Starbucks frequenter.  I don't drink much coffee and I just can't see spending $3-$4 on a cup of coffee every day.  I do however treat myself about once a month usually due to traveling and wanting something delicious and warm to drink.  Either I'm on my way to my knitting meeting in the bay area or this month I was in Portland.  My friend had JUST moved into her house and wasn't set up for any real food prep in her house.  So, she asked where I wanted to go for breakfast the next day and I suggested Starbucks.  They are close and I love their Maple Oat Pecan scones.  Once we got there I ordered my usual a Grande Decaf Latte.  Then I changed my mind and bought a Dark Cherry Yogurt Parfait to go with it.

Now I'm down at the "wait for your coffee" shelf.  I'm waiting.  I'm waiting.  I realize that I forgot to order a Pumpkin Latte.  I'm waiting.  Now people who have walked in the door long after me are getting their coffee.  So, I ask the Barrista, "Any Grande Decaf Lattes coming down the pike?."  He says no.  Then he asks me if he can make me one.  I say yes and add, "Since it hasn't been made make it a Pumpkin Decaf Latte please and I'll pay the difference."  He tells me don't worry about it.  I'll make it for you.  Then when he slides the coffee to me he slides a coupon for a free coffee and apologizes for the mix up.  Wow I think that's pretty nice.  I got my Pumpkin Latte and a free future Latte.

I come back home and forget all about the coupon in my purse.  I had an encounter with my daughter's school front office crabby lady.  It's nothing new she's always crabby, but she runs a tight ship and gets the job done.  I can always count on her to help on those rare occasions I need it.  This particular day she flat out tells me she's having a bad day even though her crabbiness didn't seems any worse than usual.  After leaving the office I felt like I should get her a pick-me-up.  I decided to anonymously give her a Starbucks gift card.  Off to Starbucks I go.

I ordered myself a Pumpkin Decaf Latte, one $20 gift card and a $20 reload on my coffee card.  The cashier pushes the cash button instead of ATM and now he's got a problem he can't fix.  I'm smiling and joking with him and then the manager as they try and figure out how to remedy the situation.  Once the manager gets it all worked out it took probably 10 minutes.  He, I thought, forgot to ring up my Latte and I point that out.  I like to help out cashiers; after all, I'm there to buy a cup of coffee not steal one.  He says, "Oh I'm not charging you for the cup of coffee you're a really nice lady and I really appreciate your patience."  Earlier in the transaction the first cashier had given me my "sorry for the trouble" coupon.  I tried to give this back and the manager would not let me.  So, now I've received 2 coupons from Starbucks.  I leave with my free Latte and great feeling that I'm a valued customer.

Today, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.  I had a hard time sleeping last night.  I'm just generally feeling cranky on my rounds of errands this morning.  I decided to cash in one of my coupons and treat myself to a Latte.  And BTW their Dark Cherry Yogurt Parfaits are so good I wanted to get another one of those for my lunch.  As I walk up to the cashier the guy in front of me orders 42 $20 gift cards.

"Are you kidding me," is what I'm thinking.  It's really OK though he was in line before me and I'm just going to have to wait.  The manager and cashier are counting cards and asking what kind of card does he want... this picture or a generic card.  Now he wants the cards rung up in 2 separate orders.  I'm keeping my crabbiness to myself, but I'm thinking really they couldn't open up the 2nd cash register?  The barista takes my drink order.  After some more fiddling around with the 42 gift cards my barista is loosing patience that I'm having to wait.  I tell her really it's OK.  She tries to open the 2nd cash register, but apparently there is an ongoing problem with her employee number.  They haven't been able to get it to work.  The barista/cashier, assistant manager and now the manager are trying to figure out why her employee number doesn't work and she has to use the generic number when she rings anything up.  The 3 of them are huddle around the cash register.  The other cashier is loading 42 gift cards on the other register.  Honestly, as crabby as I feel I'm very patient about this whole thing.  What am I going to do?  Her employee number I'm sure is an important part of doing business.  15 minutes has past.  She now can ring up my order.  Only my Parfait is rung up and I'm thinking that's because I used a coffee coupon.  She then hands me my receipt and my coupon back saying, "Please keep the coupon for another day.  I apologize for your trouble.  Thank you for your patience."  I can't believe it.  That is 5 free Starbucks drinks in a 3 week period.  Now I've only drank 3 of them.  The other 2 are in my purse waiting to be enjoyed.

Vultures, Teenagers, Oh My!

DH had some leftover ground beef and didn't know what to do with it.  I said to bag it up and I'd make an easy dinner of it the next night.  My thought was my all time favorite "Hamburger Beanie Wienie."  That's what my mom always called it even though it never involved wienies or a hot dogs... whatever one wants to call it.  The recipe came from an odd source and had no name.

I was 7 when my mother told me I'd be staying with the neighbors for about half an hour as she'd be late getting home that day.  "GREAT!" is what I thought sarcastically as I didn't like Clifford our neighbor's son.  He was 1 year older than me and 100 times more naughty.  He bullied my brother and I on our own swing set.  He ran around my parents new car dragging an untwisted wire hanger leaving about 10 circular scratches on the paint.  And on the day I was to STAY at their hose for 1/2 an hour he escorted me into their house like I was a prisoner of war.  Thank goodness he didn't have any rope.

One very good thing came of this day though was his mother had made the most delicious after school snack.  I recognized ground beef.  I recognized beans, but other than that I had no idea what was in it.  I just knew it was delicious.  When my mother came to rescue me... err...pick me up I told her about this wonderful concoction and that she needed to get the recipe.  As all good mother's she did go ask for the recipe.  Ground beef and Pork N' Beans.  That was the recipe.  I'm not sure why, but that combo makes the most delicious taste sensation.

So, last night after a long day at the lake I made this easy and delicious recipe.  My daughter and her 4 friends were going to stay and visit a while after their day at the lake.  On the way home these teenagers had their own money and were so hungry they asked if I'd drive them by our local Mexican Restaurant for take out.  Since I hadn't planned dinner for 5 hungry teens I thought this was a good idea.  They ate and went on with their business and I made dinner for my husband and me.  DH wasn't going to be home for a couple hours, but this recipe is better warmed up later.

As I was leaving the kitchen to go take my shower one of my daughter's friends came into the kitchen.  I knew she hadn't purchased as dinner and she said she was looking for food.  I pointed at the skillet and told her she was welcome to have some the dinner I had fixed.  She had one bite and declared it delicious and prepared herself a bowl.  I went to take a shower.  Then I blew my hair dry.  Then I watched a show on the TV in my room and I jokingly said, "I better go put DH's dinner in the fridge as I don't want to leave it unattended in a house full of teenagers."  When I saw the nearly empty skillet my eyes did that thing that cartoon characters eyes do when they are surprised by what they see.

I think the sound "arooga" trumpeted in the background.

When I offered the dinner to my daughter's friend it was because I knew she ate like a bird.  Now the old joke of "She eats like a bird... yeah a vulture" was coming to mind.  This recipe is really good stuff.  I checked the clock and quickly texted my husband that he needed to pick himself up something for dinner on the way home.  He called and asked what happened and we both had a good laugh.  So, seriously folks don't leave food unattended when you have teenagers in your house.  It's no joke!

Here's the recipe.  Over the years we've tweaked it just a little, but it's basically the same.

Hamburger Beanie Wienie
1 med onion, diced
1 pound ground beef
1 28 ounce can Pork N' Beans
garlic powder and season salt to taste

Saute' onion until soft.  Add ground beef.  Cook and break up the ground beef until cooked all the way through.  No pink left.  Add can of Pork N' Beans making sure to scrap all the sauce out of can.  Season with garlic powder and season salt to taste.

My Fear Story

I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts "Stuff You Should Know" and the podcast was about "How Fear works."  Then the host told his fear story.  It reminded me of my fear story.  I've been scared many times over the years, but a story of true fear doesn't happen often.

Mine begins with a move to the country in California.  I'd been an Air Force Brat all my life and always lived in the city.  When I was 16 my family moved to the home my parent ultimately retired to and it was in their dream spot in the country.  My brother and I were city kids.  It was difficult getting use to the quiet and the darkness at night.  Another thing contributing to my uncomfortableness was no curtains on my bedroom windows.  Never did get any.  I caught my brother and his friend one night looking in and trying to scare me through one of my windows.  He was 13 and so were his friends.  Perfect age for "let's spy on your 16 year old sister."

I told my mom and dad what was happening and my mom suggested that while theboys were outside and up to their shenanigans to lock the sliding glass door in my brother's bedroom.  That way he'll have to come in through the upstairs door in the living room and explain why he's out at night.

The fateful day came and I heard rustling by my bedroom window.  My mom was out of town for a nursing seminar and only my dad was home.  He was a crotchety old military man always yelling at us and on our cases (well he still is).  I knew my brother was going to be in big trouble.  My mom wasn't there to soften it.

I threw on my fluffy robe and tippy toed out of my room as not to alert my brother to the plan.  I locked the downstairs garage door.  Next to tippy toe into my brother's room and lock his slider.  Ever so quietly and slowly I step toward his slider.  Giddy with anticipation of his finally getting into trouble for peeping on me.  I'm halfway to the door when suddenly my brother sits up in bed and screams bloody murder.  I simultaneously scream bloody murdered at the top of my lungs and I scramble for the light switch.  There is my brother wide awake, but had been sound to sleep in bed.  What he saw was a big fuzzy creature creepy into his room in the middle of the night.

We stood frozen for probably 5 minutes just staring at one another and listening.  We were now terrorized by the fact that our crotchety old dad was going to come running downstairs to save us and nothing was really going on.  We listened intently.  Our eyes rolling around in our heads.  Listening for every bump.  For the rapid thump thump thump on carpeted steps of someone running down the stairs.  Finally we slowly let our breaths out.  No dad.  No dog barking.  We were greatly relieved not to get a tongue lashing.  Yet, our next anxious thought was "We just screamed our loudest bloody murder screams and no one heard us.

When we first moved to the country I had expressed my concern about the isolation, the quiet, the darkness, the fact that my brother and I were on ground level by ourselves.  My dad just laughed and said, "All you have to do is scream and I'll come save you."

What's Next? We've Been Skunked!

I'm telling you the last few months have been the most challenging in the world of pet ownership and it hasn't stopped yet.

The Prednisone is making my dog drink a lot.  So, she needs to go out a lot.  I noticed Wednesday morning she had had an accident in the night.  Fortunately, it was on the easily cleanable vinyl flooring.  So, Thursday night when she wanted out at 2am I thought "thank goodness she woke me up."  I got up and let her out.  She shot out like a rocket.  I thought she went after a cat.  I was hoping the cat had gotten away, but there was still some scuffling.  Then there was a poodle sneeze.  The poodle trotted away and out from the fence into the porch light as proud as a peacock came strutting a skunk with it's white and black tail standing tall.

My poodle was heading for my door.  I slammed it shut.  I wasn't sure if she got sprayed, but I was pretty sure she had, because of the sneeze.  It's 2 am and I really don't want to wake up dear hubby, but I don't think I can handle this myself.  OK I don't WANT to handle this myself.  So, I wake up dear hubby and tell him "I think the poodle has been sprayed by a skunk."  He groggily says, "Are you sure?"  I walked back to the French back doors and I can see the poodle patticaking at the door for me to let her in.  What she was doing was forcing skunk smell in through the crack in the doors.  I walk back to the bedroom and say, "Yep, I'm sure!"

Dear Hubby doesn't get near enough sleep mostly by his choice, so when he's a sleep I don't like to wake him willy nilly.  When there is a mini crisis though he gets right up and can be counted on to help calmly and surprisingly uncrankily.  Is that a word?

First thing I did was turn on my computer before I woke him up.  I remember seeing a formula for getting rid of skunk smell on a PBS Skunk show about 5 years ago that was guaranteed to work well.  I remembering saying, "I should write that down" back then.  I thought when will I ever come in contact with a skunk?  Talk about famous last words.  Want to hear some more famous last words?  Because my poodle had surgery a few weeks ago I asked my husband THAT night "Would it be safe for her incision to give her a bath tomorrow?  She's kind of stinky."  I didn't know the half of what I was saying.

Krebaum’s Formula to De-Skunk Pets
Items Needed:
1 quart of fresh (not old or out-dated) 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) – to act as a buffer
1 to 2 teaspoons of liquid soap – to alkalize the peroxide (don’t use shampoo)
If it’s for a larger pet, 1 quart of lukewarm water can be added.
Directions:
Be careful to keep this formula out of your pet’s ears, eyes and mouth. Lather thoroughly and deeply into pet fur. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Rinse well with water.

Do this cleaning procedure outside, and if you have plastic goggles–wear them. Dogs especially are notorious for shaking their fur out when wet, you don’t want this stuff spraying in your eyes.

This recipe can be used on people, pets, clothing, or outdoors where needed. Be careful when applying and don’t let it get into eyes, ears or mouths.

Skunks can carry rabies, take to vet immediately if you find any bleeding or open wounds while washing your pet.

Amazingly, I had ALL the ingredients.  I got a plastic tub from the garage.  I wasn't sure how much would be needed to wash her.  I wanted to catch the formula in the tub and reuse if needed.  Armed with the formula and tub we headed to the backyard hubby in shorts me in my pajamas.

The hose I needed was coiled up right where the skunk was last sighted.  I decided to use the hose by the other back door only the teenagers had disconnected it.  I wondered why as I screwed it back on the hose bib and turned it on.  Next thing I knew a 6 foot tall rooster tail stream of ice cold water is spraying my backside through a giant hole in the hose.  OK now I know why it was disconnected!  I scream.  Dear hubby thinks the skunk is attacking me.  I quiet down and quickly tell him I was hosed down with cold water.  He sees me me fighting the hose like a water wiggle.  He's now fighting to hold the dog in the tub who wants to come to my rescue.  Now we're laughing, but trying to be quiet at 2 am in the morning not wanting to wake the neighbors or the kids.

We wetted her down with the ice cold water from the hose and she's looking at us with eyes that are saying, "Why are you being so mean to me?"  Dear hubby is scrubbing her face and neck I'm scrubbing the rest of her.  I am getting worried that she's going to get too cold since she's got some health issue and recovering from surgery.  Dear hubby says I'll rinse her in a warm shower.  That made me feel better to get her in a warm shower.  As he rinsed her in the shower I got towels from the rag cabinet.  I pull back the shower curtain and there she is in his arms like he use to bathe our babies when they were itty bitty.  Poodle is looking itty bitty and sad.  I took her from his arms and I could tell she was relieved it was all over.

Remarkably this all took less than half an hour.  We were back in bed at 2:30 am with a dog who smelled nice enough to be welcomed back in the bed.  Considering 30 minutes earlier she stunk so bad we didn't even want her in our backyard.  The formula worked GREAT!

Next day I got many recommendations of tomato juice, but I've been told it really doesn't work that well.  Plus I never have tomato juice in my house.  The formula worked great.  Yeah if you stick your nose in the hair on her neck there is a faint smell of skunk, but how often does one do that.  We used about half of the formula and she was soaked through and through and suds up.  So, for a 23 pound dog it was more than enough.

Living With a Roomba?

Since my poodle's increase hunger began with the taking of Prednisone I've started to get the feeling people must have that own a Roomba. "The Roomba is an autonomous robotic vacuum cleaner sold by iRobot. Under normal operating conditions, it is able to navigate a living space and its obstacles while vacuuming the floor."

The last few nights I sat down in the living room to enjoy a few programs on my DVR and in walked my shadow (the poodle). She begins systematically sniffing every inch of the living room floor. She walks around in no particular pattern.  Bumping into things and going in new directions.  Hoping I'm sure that a tortilla chip or the like has fallen to the floor. After sniffing every square inch of the living room floor she jumps up and lays down beside me.

She does this for every room. If I'm cooking she comes into the kitchen and again runs her nose over every inch of the kitchen floor. My original thought was she was looking more like a blood hound, but last night I realized that she is vacuuming. She's my Roomba!

So, now I'm getting a little feeling of "I hope she doesn't find any food on the floor I'll feel like such a slob." Like I'm not doing my job or my family isn't doing their job of picking up after themselves. I know my poodle isn't judging me. In fact if she found food on the floor it would be a good thing in her eyes. I can't help, but feel like I'm being given the white glove treatment about ten times a day.

YOUR DOG IS GOING TO EAT MORE THAN NORMAL

In the continuing saga of "How the Poodle Turns" last week my poodle had a liver biopsy.  I thought they'd just stick a needle in her and take a plug out.  The Vet explained oh no we'll need to cut her open and take a sterile sliver of her liver.  We've tried everything since January when this all began to figure out why her liver isn't functioning properly.  I consented to this final test.

When the results came back it was about the same as every test.  No real reason why it's not functioning properly.  They said there are signs of a "toxic event" (Vet words.)  The Vet goes on to tell me her liver seems to be struggling to recover from this.  To help the healing along we'll need to put her on Prednisone.  On Prednisone she may notice her become more hungry and thirsty.  I asked the Vet, "Do I need to feed her more?"  He said, "No, you may just have to watch out for her nipping things off the counter and getting into the trash."  I said, "Oh she already does that.  We have a whole plan to keep her out of the trash and off of the counters."  He laughed and we concluded our conversation.

Flash forward about a week that my poodle has been on Prednisone suddenly she's drinking 2 bowls of water a day and she's asking me for food all day long.  When I don't give her food she goes outside and grazes.  We now have to go out with her, because she's eating things that we have no idea what it is and she's eating her own poop.  No more leisurely going out and picking it up.  We have to pick it up immediately.  I'll be walking along with her and suddenly she's crunching on something.  I've watched her like a hawk and don't know what she's eating.  She knows to swallow quickly or I'll drag it out of her.  I'm hoping they are acorns or some other nonlethal plant substance.

She asks to go out about every hour.  I don't know if it's to eat or to pee the 2 bowls of water.  This afternoon she asked to go out and I told her no.  Next thing we find out she's peed on the carpet.  I felt SO badly.  I told the family every time she asks we just need to walk her out.  The Prednisone is supposed to be a 3 month treatment.  In fact after about a month we start backing down the dose and I'm hoping her hunger will back down to a normal poodle level.

Today I was cleaning off my dresser and came across this cartoon one of my favorites and it just seem so apropos for our life right now.

Packing Peanuts A Thing Of The Past

I bought some bowls off of eBay and when I opened the box I was greeted with a surprise.  A box full of Swiss cheese triangles.  OK they are made out of recycled cardboard not cheese.  What a clever idea.  I wondered if this seller had to put together all these triangles?  I suppose one could just sit and watch a good movie and mindless fold these together.  I liked that they are recyclable it I don't want to keep them.

Only one drawback.... you can't really dig around in the box or these triangles will cut up your knuckles.  So, I slowly scooped and slid my hands around in the box.  Honestly, there could be more in the box and I wouldn't know as one can't swirl their hands around to find out.  With soft non-recyclable environment destroying packing peanuts one could dive in head first and be just fine.  I'll have to empty them out into another box to double check the contents of the box.  Why would I need to go to this trouble?  Shouldn't the box contain what I ordered?  Well, the seller sent me something I didn't buy, so who knows what else is in the box.  That's whole nother story.

Have You Ever Thought You'd Been Accosted!

Mary Anne Oger from one of my favorite machine knitting blogs was accosted in a grocery or so she thought.  A strange person grabbed her to get her attention, because she liked her scarf.  The story reminded me of the time my mom and I were accosted in a fabric store.

Oh it's one of those funny stories that gets told every so often, but at the time we thought we were in mortal danger.

My crafting gene was in full swing by the time I was 14.  My mother and I were on one of our many trips to the fabric store to feed my sewing habit.  I made a lot of my own clothes.  My secret loop hole to the clothing budget.  My parents bought me all the fabric I wanted, because I was of course learning a valuable skill.  Anyhow we were at the sewing store.  Perusing the fabrics.  Chatting about my pattern and what color of fabric I was looking for.  Enjoying a shopping trip... enjoying some mother/daughter time when all of a sudden a creepy old man lunges at us.  His hands are held in front of him fingers curled in a menacing claw like manner.  He was yelling, "Raaaaarrrrrrrrrr!!!!"  My mother and I screamed bloody murder and grab each other in a tight hug.  I had my eyes closed convinced the man was going to strike us or something worse.

Suddenly, it was quiet.  I opened my eyes to see what was coming next and the man was standing in front of us with a smile on his face.  Now my mom and I are puzzled.  He asks, "Well?"  My mom and I look at one another and back at the man trying to understand what the heck was going on.  He asked me directly, "Well, do you still have the hiccups?"  We both suddenly relax and realize he was trying to scare the hiccups out of me.  Yes, he did scare the hiccups out of me and nearly a few other things.

My mom and I gave him a forced smile and went on our way.  We weren't nearly as thankful as I think he thought we should be.  Instead we walked around the corner away from his sight and grabbed our chests and breathed several great sighs of relief.  It was only then we could chuckle at the ridiculousness of the whole situation.  Poor guy thought he was doing a good deed and we just thought he was creepy.

Huh?!

People keep telling me Raley's is more expensive than other grocery stores and I didn't believe them.

Meet George Jetson!

That is my text message ring tone.  I seldom hear it as I have my phone set up to vibrate twice before ringing.  It gives me a chance to pull my phone out and answer it before it makes a sound.  That all goes out the window if I'm asleep though.

Usually I turn my cell phone off at night.  I figure if anyone has an emergency in the middle of the night they can call my land line.  BUT if I have a family member, mainly my child, out of town I'll leave on the cell so they can call me... well you know teenagers... text me.

I didn't sleep well last night due to a creepy incident involving a light turning off by itself.  That's another story.  So, I was trying to sleep in today.  When at 7:30am I hear "Meet George Jetson!"  I roll over fumble around and look at my phone.  My dear daughter away on a skiing trip with friends has texted me "Are my snow pants in my room?"  I roll out of bed take a look and sure enough they are.  I also see her medical card laying on her bed I'm sure there to remind her to put it in her wallet.  Why was it out of her wallet?!  I just roll my eyes stumble back to bed and begin to text her back.  "Yes, you're snow pants are here."  I get a "Oh no!" response.  I don't respond with any solutions.  Why... I'm tired and really just want to go back to sleep.  Also she's on a trip with 6 friends and 2 grandparents.  I think they should figure this out themselves.  Really what can I do I'm 2 hours away if the weather is good.  4 if it isn't.  I get about 3 separate texts saying, "NOOOOOOO!!!" "I LAID THEM OUT AND EVERYTHING!" "I can't believe this!"  I figure she's fishing for a solution from me.  I finally text back "You'll figure something out."  I'm sure not what she wanted to hear.

Life is really about solving problems.  Staying calm and figuring out solutions.  This particular problem isn't serious.  Worst thing that can happen is she doesn't go skiing.  Or she does go and is cold.  Very very cold.  As a mother I'm good with that.  Lots of learning can come from this.  Learn how to pack.  She's always been a bad packer.  Leaves things behind nearly every trip.  Usually mundane things like PJs, underwear, tooth brush or hair brush to name a few.  This time she was going to have to solve a problem that could end her fun.

I remember being young and with a group of friends and having a problems.  Half the group thinks and says, "Sucks for you" and goes on with their day.  The other half helps to brain storm and we get it figured out.  That's exactly what happened with Dear Daughter.

I got a text "I'm going to have to rent some snow pants."  I sent her with plenty of money for contingencies.  A while later I receive a text "They don't rent snow pants."  30 minutes later "Snow pants are expensive here."  All the while I'm not answering.  I'm just imagining their brains ticking.  Thinking of solutions.  Then I get the final text "Found a pair of cheap snow pants."  I text back "That's my Deal Queen."  She's had a gift of getting things on sale for prices I'll never see ever since she made her first purchases at age 5.  I don't have the luck of the Deal Queen.

I figure she'll get some Christmas money and I'll have her reimburse me for the pants.  Another learning experience.  Mom will buy you only one pair of snow pants.  You pay for the rest.

At 10am I get this picture.  All must be right in the world again.  Now I can get some sleep!

Pulled In Many Directions

I have so many projects I want to finish, I want to start, I want to learn.  I'm just not a person to sit still and veg.  I have to have a project to do.  When I see friends and family state on facebook "I'm bored."  I don't even know what they are talking about.  I can always find something to do.  Boredom isn't in my realm of possibilities.

Right now I'm finishing up an afghan in a CAL on Ravelry.  I have a pattern for a hat that my daughter wants to learn how to crochet.  I have a pattern for some fingerless gloves I would love to start for myself since it's fricking cold out.  I've also challenged myself to learn some new techniques and patterns on my knitting machine.  Mainly socks since it's fricking cold out.  Yesterday, I was picking out cookie recipes to teach my young protégé.  Today I'm juggling finances so every thing is paid on time while I'm doing laundry.

When does someone have time to be bored?  I welcome a few minutes when I give myself permission to just sit and do absolutely nothing.

Thanksgiving With All The Trimmings

I've come to realize that "all the trimmings" means something different to everyone.  My daughter asked, "Would it be too weird to have Cheddar Potatoes Slices for Thanksgiving this year?"  My answer, "YES!"  It's going to be mashed potatoes.  What would one put the gravy on?  I, by the way, made the best turkey gravy I've ever made this year.  Then I was watching the Thanksgiving episode of "Mike & Molly," as he described the crispy cheddar cheese on scalloped potatoes for Thanksgiving.  I told my daughter, "Mike's got your back."

My daughter asked why would it be weird.  I said it really wouldn't be weird it just wouldn't be the Thanksgiving I look forward to every year.  I told her when she cooks Thanksgiving dinner she can serve whatever she wants.  I did say keep in mind you don't want a riot on that day, so you might want to have a few traditional foods.

Lynne's Thanksgiving with all the Trimmings
Turkey (big enough for leftovers for everyone)
Dressing
Mashed Potatoes
Gravy
Jellied Cranberry Sauce
Oven Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Big Green Salad
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie
Pecan Tassies

Lynne's note:

Best Turkey Gravy Ever

In the pan under a 25 pound turkey place roughly chopped celery, carrots and onions.  Add one quart of chicken broth.  Bake turkey covered with foil for half of it's baking time.  Remove foil and bake until turkey is done. Strain vegetables out of broth in bottom of turkey pan.  Skim fat off of broth.  Measure broth.  I had 6 cups.  To skillet add 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons of flour per cup of broth reserved.  When butter is melted and flour incorporated add turkey broth.  Stir until thickened.  Add garlic powdered and Lawry's Season Salt to taste.

Eating Out... Overwhelming?

Boy that is sure what happened to me when DH and I decided to go to a new restaurant in town.  Now that the kids are teenagers we like to go out occasionally by ourselves... you know like a date.  Remember those.  They are usually very relaxing enjoyable times.

We went to Buffalo Wild Wings.  DH hubby loves wings and I enjoy them too on occasion.  Thought I'd surprise him and suggest going some where he wouldn't think I'd like to go.  He was surprised and looked forward to going.

We walk through Buffalo Wild Wings doors and the first thing that hits you is the noise.  OK this isn't going to be a quiet experience.  One can barely talk to their companion it's so loud.  They wanted to seat us at a 2 person table right by the entrance and hostess stand.  Really?! Do we need a little more noise added to our experience?  We asked for another table.  Hostess then points to the next table.  How about this one?  It's a big round table for 8 people.  Really?!  You want 2 people taking an 8 person table when there are plenty of 2 and 4 person empty tables in this room.  Now I'm starting to sound like a pill when my hostess really doesn't have any common sense.

OK we're seated at a 4 person.  Our waiter comes over immediately and gives us a game controller and wants our drink orders.  "Want me to show you how to operate the game controller" he asks?  What do you want to drink?  Controller? Drinks?  Controller?  Drinks?  With the noise, lights, TV screens, choices and decisions to make so suddenly we are totally overwhelm.  Then we get the menu.  I should have turned and left before the menu came, because DH doesn't do well at making food choices in a new restaurant when things are calm and quiet.

He is clearly ready to throw one of his "I'm overwhelmed tizzy fits."  I remain calm and do the things girlfriends do.  Give him a squeeze, a wink, hold his hand.  He's distracted enough to look at the menu calmly.  BUT he snatches his hand back as I see the wheels in his head start whirling.  I can't blame him I'm totally confused too.  They don't serve just wings.  They serve all sort of things like burgers, wraps, salads, flat breads and ribs to name few.  How I deal with a new menu is I simplify.  I pick the first thing that appeals to me and I close the menu.  I know there are many choices I want, but I can't have them all so why agonize.  It's a wing joint I'm having wings.  DH on the other hand has all the choices whirling around in his head.  If I hadn't put a stop to it he might have gotten a nose bleed.

I asked him, "Anything appeal to you?"  He says, "I DON'T KNOW.  THERE ARE SO MANY CHOICES.  EVERYTHING APPEALS TO ME."  I ask in my loving syrupy girlfriend voice, "Why don't we share a wing platter."  He says, "I DON'T KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY WING PLATTERS AND WING SAUCES!"  I suggest we try a traditional wing sauce.  We'll get one platter with bone in wings and one with boneless wings and we'll share.  We'll get a side of hot sauce for him and blue cheese for me.  Crisis dialed down no one's head is going to explode.

We order.  First thing we are told is there are no french fries.  We can have potato chips or potato wedges at no extra charge.  I love crispy freshly made potato chips and DH loves potato wedges.  No problem.  Out comes our order.  We have 2 cups of blue cheese dressing, and 2 cups of ranch dressing.  Wings were your typical hot wings.  Nothing special, but good.  My potato chips were very thick and squishy.  They were just chip shaped potato wedges, which I don't like.  The potato wedges were at least seasoned and had a flavor.  DH offer to share his wedges.  When out of the corner of my eye I see 2 kids eating french fries.  WHAT?!  I was told no how no way was I getting french fries.  I grab one of my husband potato wedges and what do I get a lone french fry.  You know one of the non existent french fries.

The mild sauce was starting to get a little hot for me so I looked around for my celery.  No celery.  My platter was clearly pictured with celery.  What did they run out of celery too?  I stop the waiter and ask?  He tells me that since I have 2 different flavors of sauce I get no celery.  I didn't order 2 different kinds of sauces.  DH doesn't like ranch and I only like the blue cheese.  Sorry you have 2 sauces no celery for you.  WHAT?!  I didn't want to push it at this point.  I just wanted to go home.  The noise level and the disappointment of this meal was just at its apex for me.  I don't throw tizzies in restaurants, but I sure wanted to at this point.  I just remembered I was enjoying lunch with DH on a rare day off that he had during the week.

Before I left though I took a quick movie of a quarter of the restaurant.  I counted 32 TV screens in the whole restaurant.  Some might think that's a good thing, but with each one on a loud different channel... it's not.

In Limbo

My 18 now 19 year old son is having a rough time deciding what he wants to do in life.  After a lack luster year at the Junior College he was put on academic suspension.  He missed the cut off to appeal and found himself without a school to go to this semester.

He has also been looking for a job for about a year.  He can't seem to get arrested in this economy.  When I found out he wasn't going to be in school and he had no job.  I asked my brother to put him to work.  I'm thinking volunteer work something to get him out of the house maybe get him some experience.  My brother says, "No, I'd have to show him how to do everything.  I'd rather just do it myself."  GEEZE!!   His own uncle won't hire him.

After my husband and I hit the roof and lengthy discussion we decided not to kick him out of the house.   We haven't given up on him.  We just need to convince him not to give up on himself.  The men in the family have all put a piss poor effort into High School.  Then gave college a sniff and joined the military.  All the men have done great and some even graduated from college later.  My son is dead set against going into the military.  We discussed with him that his options are getting narrower and narrower.

Anyhow his plan he proposed to us was to keep looking for a job this semester.  Get back into school in January.  With the job he's going to get pay us back for all the money we paid for him to go to school last semester and fail.  Until he gets a job he said he'll be my "man servant."  I prefer to call him my "house elf."

One morning he asked me if I'd like waffles for breakfast.  Wow that sounded great.  Yes please.  He was dressed to go out to an interview.  So, he threw on my apron to protect his clothes.  I had to chuckle and take a picture.  He was truly looking like my man servant.  

Never Thought It Would Happen

My poodle Little Star is 7 years old.  Will be 8 in a month.  She's the most darling thing until you get her in a car.  She's just never been a good car rider.  She whines, pants, barks, patty cakes, occasionally sits, but never lays down and goes to sleep.  All my other dogs would get in the car find a comfortable spot and go to sleep.  Some how they'd sense we were near our destination and they'd wake up and be ready to get out of the car. 

The first few years I think Little Star would know we were close to our destination by the sheer desperation sweat coming from our every pour.  We would be so stressed out from her anxiousness.  Didn't matter if the trip was 30 minutes or 3 hours.  She's barking the kids are yelling.  We're yelling and the dog is SO whiney.  Not her fault I'm sure, but what did we do wrong this time around?

She sits in the back seat with the kids, so it's been their job to keep her at least quiet.  Also their job to keep her from patty caking the back of my driving arm with her dagger sharp poodle nails.  I'm the driver for the most part.  Years ago I had a neck injury and the pain from it coupled with my already in place motion sickness just made it easier on me if I did all the driving.

Little Star hasn't experienced riding with me in a car when I'm not driving.  A couple years ago I tried riding in the back seat and about 30 minutes later I cried UNCLE.  Dear hubby pulled over and let me drive.  I was SO sick I just felt awful the whole rest of the 3 hour trip.

Well, this past labor day weekend I don't know what got into me, but I decided to give it another try.  This time around I swore I'd make sure I did no reading and look out the front window as much as I could.  I don't know what was different this time, but I felt great.

Then something happened that made us all relax.  Little Star did a few scratching nest building twirls and laid down and went to sleep.  I guess I didn't dare get sick and disturb this freakish event.  She slept all the way to our destination.  Then she slept all the way back.  I was in the back seat both times.  I am her alpha dog.  Was she afraid to disobey me?  Or was she able to relax and lay down next to me like she does at home?  I'm not sure what it was, but I'm going to try riding in the back seat and do some car training.  Maybe we can stop her anxious behavior.

I've felt so bad for her in the past.  In fact after our Memorial day trip this year I thought maybe I should consider getting her a sedative.  I hate having her so upset, but I hate the idea of drugging her more.  I didn't get her a sedative for this trip, because I figured she's been doing this for years and it hasn't killed her.  I did though get in the back seat to see if it would help.  Surprisingly, it worked GREAT!  To coin and old phrase "A picture is worth a thousand words.

Zingy Zig-Zags Earns Respect

Zingy Zig-Zags, yep that's what the pattern is called for this delightful afghan.  I have to admit I don't like it.  I call my afghan Autumn Zigs.  I saw this pattern on the front cover of Leisure Arts book #3818 called "Scrap Afghans for all."  I thought it was just gorgeous.  I never have a bunch of scraps laying around that are of the same weight and size enough to make an afghan.  I just bought some yarn.

I wanted to make mine in colors that would look good in my living room.  My living room is very fallish in theme and color.  Lots of fall colors and leaves every where.  I found some Soft Red Heart yarn in the perfect colors to with the pattern.  I wrote out a list of the colors the afghan called for and the colors I was replacing them with.  Orange with Tangerine, black with chocolate, white with off white, green with leaf, red with paprika, blue with mid blue, pink with grape and yellow with toast.  Yes, that's lots of colors to keep track of and more colors with which I've ever worked.

I needed to devise an organizing system to keep my yarn from turning into a tangled mess and from me losing my mind.  When all of a sudden a box that had come into the house went DING in my head.  I ran out to the garage to grab it before it got recycled.  Once I used my ball winder to turn my skeins into what they call cakes it was perfect.  I keep my size I crochet needle, scissor and reading glasses in the box.  I've also added a copy of the pattern for my own use.  The book was getting beaten up in the box.  I wanted to keep it in good condition in case I wanted to do another pattern later on. 

The project is ready to work at a moments notice.  While it seems very organized and convenient.  It doesn't travel well.  So, I do most of the work at home.  I have taken it into my car while watching and waiting at Cross Country practices.  It is too cumbersome to really say drag into a coffee shop or my guild meetings.

I began the project last fall.  My then 15 year old daughter asked in the beginning stages what I was making.  I told her an afghan.  Her eyebrows shot up and she said, "Wow you've got a long ways to go."  Once I had gotten to the  2 inches wide stage.  Dear Daughter said, "Wow mom your belt is looking great."  I began to explain to her it was an afghan not a belt when I noticed the smirk on her face and knew she was teasing me.  HEY! I said.

When I got to the 8 inched wide stage Dear Daughter said, "That's a great looking scarf mom."  It had been about month since it was 2 inches wide.  I began to explain to her it was an afghan not a scarf when I noticed the smirk on her face.  HEY! She got me again.

Now it's about 1 1/2 feet wide and covers my legs.  I haven't heard any more comments from the peanut gallery.  I think it's gained some respect in the afghan world.

New Haircut

Just a few thoughts...a new hair cut and boy do I need to straighten up my craft room!

I got my haircut a few weeks ago and was left with something that looked like a mini mullet.  I'm not normally one to get upset over a haircut, because I'm very lucky my hair grows quickly.  This haircut though really got me down.  I'm sure the hair dresser, a friend of mine for 26 years, did exactly what I told her.  After I shampooed and styled it myself I just never could get it to look nice.  It got to where I didn't even want to look at my own reflection, because it would just make me groan.  I know my friend would totally recut it for free, but she's not close by.  I just never really found someone to cut my hair in my own town when I moved back.

My daughter on the other hand has someone she likes.  Toni is the mom of one of my daughter's soccer team mates.  Allison always enjoyed Toni's chirper attitude and when she started getting haircuts instead of letting her hair grow long she picked Toni.  Last week Allison informed me she was ready for a haircut and it made me think I should let Toni redo my doo!  I made an appointment for the both of us. 

Now I had never sat in the chair with Toni before.  So, of course I'm comparing her to my gal.  She took me back for a shampoo.  It was very quick minimal products used, but a good decent shampoo.  Then a scratchy thin towel like the ones I put in my rag drawer was wrapped around my head.  Still perfectly good towel, but not fluffy and soft.  Toni begins my hair cut.  She uses a razor during most of my cut.  Cutting and shaping my pitiful mullet into something adorable.  I felt a little like Edward Scissorhand's muse she worked so quickly around my head.  She applied some gel and next came the blow drying.  She just let it fly blowing hair all over my face.  Whipping into my eyes and into my mouth.  It was comical.  I spit, I sputtered, I suppressed a laugh.  My hair dresser seldom gets hair into my face and when she does she apologizes.  Once my hair was dry she took a flat iron and styled my hair into the cutest little bob.  I was SO happy to be rid of the mullet.  I was cute again.  At least in my own mind and that's what's important!

My daughter and I very happy with our new haircuts went to the register.  Something I forget between haircuts with Toni is how reasonable her cuts are. So, reasonable that I feel like I'm ripping her off paying so little.  My friend the hair dresser is reasonable too and to put it into perspective the friend charges nearly double what Toni does.  I asked Toni, "How much?"  She told me.  I said a little surprised, "For both of us?!"  She said, "Yes."  I gave her a big tip.  On the way out I thought she does and excellent job for that amount.  I think she may be my new hair dresser.