Wake Me Up, Before You Go Go (to Serving Dinner)

I am so sleepy. I fell asleep in my chair, just before dinner, and Squidley roused me from my dream state an hour later. So, you probably know what's coming next . . . .

Nighty night.

I Heart My Bed

Our day has been quite nice, but now we all are so tired and want nothing more than our warm, soft bed. I know it's one of my favorite places.

Nighty night and sleep tight.

Duh duh duh duh duh duh, you say it's your birthday!

It is a wonderful day, as it is Squidley's birthday. He took me to lunch, where we dined with several others. I treated. And we went out for dinner because we were both just plain tired. Tomorrow is when we'll have some fun celebrating.

Nighty night, everyone.

Leap of Faith

Scout looks on as Deutsch exhibits a typical look for him.

Wondering if today was windy where you live. If not, perhaps your portion was mistakenly doled out to us. Whew! A Winnie the Pooh, blustery kind of day, times about ten.

I saw the film, "Leap Year" this evening, and it was unexpectedly delightful. After a slow start, it really grew on me. There were some fun character actors, and the "cliffs" scenes were striking. Really glad I took a chance on this film, especially since I canceled plans to see it this past weekend.

Getting tired, so good night, everyone.

Snow a No Show

This afternoon, armed with rotary cutter and self-healing mat (not to mention a strong grip), I cut fabric strips from an assortment of beauties found in two of my three scrap bins. The odds and ends there are of great value, and most will at some point or another be drafted into service, along with some of their brothers, for projects carefully planned with their inclusion in mind.

Today has been cold but not exceedingly so. And there has been rain. Originally, three to five inches of snow were predicted to fall in our area. Later, those figures changed to one to three, and only a couple of hours ago the new guess was one to two. By morning, I'm figuring it will be down to zero. Oh, those weather predictions! Gotta love 'em.

Squidley and I saw a pretty good film tonight, "Up in the Air." Interesting and believable storyline, good directing, and a well cast group of actors. On the way home, we picked up a couple of hot sandwiches. Good idea, but mine was not at all what Squidley ordered. And the thing is, he was the only one in the sandwich shop, and the "kid" could only fill half the order correctly. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Youth is wasted on the wrong people.

Tired and feeling in great need of some beauty sleep. Oh, miracles of miracles!

Nighty night, all.

Squirrel Girl

When Deutsch and Scout suddenly began barking this afternoon, I left them in the sitting room and walked to the front door to investigate for them. I wasn't for sure counting on there being "something." Occasionally I have to chide them for "barking at nothing." Just as "Seinfeld" was often described as a show about nothing, so, too, can their barking sometimes be described.

Today, however, I quickly learned they were barking about something. One might wonder how they could possibly detect a living creature on the other side of a closed door, particularly when they had not been able to see it. My answer: They're dachshunds. Their sense of smell and their sense of hearing are incredible.

At an rate, I looked out a front window to see a chubby gray squirrel. I don't know what he's been eating, since the ground until only days ago had been covered with a thick layer of snow for about the past several weeks. Perhaps he was indeed resorceful last Fall, stocked a full pantry, and then, when the cold temps and snow and blizzard arrived, just laid up like a couch potato until the melting process was well underway. (Honestly, he and his "plumpness" reminded me of how I look during those times when I just can't keep my hands out of the cookie jar.)

And just a by the way . . . The fellow may be doing a little reverse turn this weekend if we get more snow as has been predicted. He's gonna think he's a groundhog and not reappear for six more weeks.

Well, the day has been nice and very busy. Squidley took me to lunch at a new place he'd already tried, and though the food was good, the service was not impressive. Maybe it will just take some time to smooth the rough edges. I will say that the view from the facility is wonderful, and I wish I had taken my camera along.

Later on, I did housework and laundry, and I did a bit of sewing preparation. I want to practice some specialty stitching as I try to determine how I will "quilt" the little picnic quilt I recently started.

Well, I am, as usual, quite tired. So I am now on my way to the beddy bye.

Nighty night, everyone.

Package Pickup

It's been a busy day for us all, and yes, that includes Deutsch and Scout. I'd love to know how many calories they burned while jumping in and out of a package that arrived this afternoon and contained clothing and toys for them. It was so much fun seeing them and their unbridled excitement, and that gave tired Squidley and tired me quite a lift.

Well, we are, as I've already written, very tired and are retiring a bit early. Good night to all.

Vagrant Gypsy's Life

Sea Fever

I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,

And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking.

And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

All I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the seagulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-raver,

And a quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trip's over.

by John Masefield

Sweet dreams, everyone.

I'm an Ole Cowhand From the Rio Grande

This afternoon we went to a few shops that are about an hour from where we live. During the drive over and the drive back, I shot a few photos of the countryside. Most of the areas we passed through still had a sizable amount of snow, as is evident in some of the pictures.

Later on, Squidley and I enjoyed a most relaxing evening out at a nice restaurant that featured a gentleman playing wonderful songs, many of them some of our favorites. (Two favorites include "Moon River" and the lovely, melancholy "Laura." There were other Mercer tunes as well.) And, coincidentally, Squidley learned from said gentleman that occasionally a cousin of Johnny Mercer, who lives just down the road, shows up at that restaurant with some friends who come there for a bit of dancing. Small world.

We are quite tired after a very full day (Squidley was a judge for the county science fair, so that kept him busy this morning.), and the beddy bye is calling.

And one more thing. I've included a photograph of Deutsch doing his "Wicked Witch of the West" impersonation at the bottom of today's entry. And as I recall hearing someone from my childhood say, "Now doesn't that just beat all.

Nighty night, everyone.

Got No Hocho

Not so long ago I posted some photos of a new knitting project I'd just begun: a pair of fingerless mitts in a beautiful, multicolored yarn called Hacho, produced by Mirasol. I'd bought one skein of the washable wool while on a little New Year's holiday in a nearby state. A free pattern accompanied the purchase.

So, I finished the first mitt, then began working up the second. I knitted about half of the latter. A few days later, I thought I knit just a few rounds; but I got into a really good knitting groove and was quickly headed toward the finish line.

The checkered flag moment, however, shrewdly avoided me. It was just not to be had that day. The yarn was exhausted. And only four rounds plus binding off until the pair would have been finished.

Oh, miracle of miracles! More of the same yarn has been located. And since it became obvious to me that one skein is not enough, I'm going to get two more. In essence, it would be a waste to buy only one. I'd get my four rounds and bindoff from it, then scratch my head and wonder what the heck I'd do with the remainder. With two additional skeins, I can actually make another pair of mitts or perhaps even a hat.

Meanwhile, I needed a knitting project. It was time for my six month dental checkup, and I always take my knitting along. It's almost a tradition. The staff might not recognize me without a pair of circulars or double points and some sorta fiber. Hence the above photo. I began working up another pair of mitts, this time using a classic, slightly tweedy looking wool from an Australian company called Heirloom. It was a good choice of yarn, so I'm glad I found that little shop while accompanying Squidley on that particular trip.

Well, Squidley and Deutsch and Scout are in the beddy bye and must be wondering where in the world I am. Actually, they are all sound asleep. Scout has no cover on him, and Deutsch has everything covered except his head and those adorable, velvety feet, which are poking out from one end of the "blankie," a la "Wicked Witch of the West under the house" style. How precious to be so darn cute with absolutely no effort!

Wishing each of you a very good weekend.

Nighty night.

Offbeat Photographer

We have had so much fun today but haven't ventured too far from home in recent weeks because of the extreme cold temps. Of course, we did spend a lot of time playing in the snow.

And speaking of the fluffy white stuff, the landscape is still nicely carpeted with snowfall from the infamous Blizzard of 2010. And I can tell you that we're all going to be looking at snow for a pretty long time.

Yesterday I got a tip that there were four deer behind a neighbor's house, likely headed my way. Wearing only a tee shirt, I grabbed an above the knee robe and dashed downstairs, donning my snow boots once I reached the bottom step. With camera strap slung over my shoulder, I headed outdoors.

Nothing. The tip I received did not pay off. Evidently, however, the tip the deer must have received did. Nonetheless, I am not one to just wallow in my lack of good luck. There were great candidates for an ice photo collection out there, and tarry I must not. So, I shot as many photos as I could before frost bite figured into the occasion. (I didn't take time to put on any socks; I was too fearful of missing the photo op.)

At any rate, I plan on publishing some of those photos soon. No deer. Just ice, and plenty of it. And there will soon be snow pictures, too. These days, if you're shooting outdoors, it is highly unlikely that snow won't enter into the photograph taking equation. Unless, of course, you're in Hawaii. They are snowless.

We have had a very busy day and are quite tired.

Nighty night, everyone.

Sleepyhead

We enjoyed a late dinner and I am the sleepiest I've been in a while. So, it is nighty night time for me.

The Birds

Everything just came together beautifully for me when shooting this photo. My hat is off to nature for providing great light and shadows and textures. Also, I especially like the natural framing of this little guy.

The robins are happy about the melting snow and being afforded the opportunity to forage previously unreachable food sources.

It has been a good day. I had planned to sew during the afternoon but changed my mind and did a bit of knitting instead. After a short, I realized I was on a roll and figured I'd plow on through and finish the second mitt. Well, I almost finished. Unfortunately, the ball of yarn decided it had had enough with only four rows left.

I called the shop where I'd bought the yarn, but it had no more of the yarn in the particular colorway I needed. The owner said she'd check to see if she could find more, so I'm awaiting a call back from her.

So I guess I'll decide on a new knitting project since I like having something I can pick up and work on at any given time. I'm not sure what that will be, but I have several pattern books that I will browse over the next few days.

Very tired and ready to get into the beddy bye.

Nighty night.

Snowflakes Keep Falling on My Head

Yes, it is still cold, and yes, we still have an abundance of snow. In fact, snowflakes were spotted briefly on Saturday. Again today, while I was out and about, it began snowing. The flakes were fairly large and were falling quickly. It didn't last, however, and eventually raindrops fell instead. (Snow showers predicted again for tomorrow.)

It has been a good day. I shopped for a short and purchased two knitting books, both picked up for half price. One is a copy of a book I found at the public library several years ago. I have wanted to see that book again for such a long time, but I could not recall its title. Oh, and with another coupon I had, I saved another ten percent off the sale prices. Gotta love it. Spending money to save money. Yippee!

Getting sleepy, so it's off to beddy bye. Nighty night.

Happy Hearts

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone. I do hope everyone had not only a good day but a good weekend as well.

As for our crew, it was relaxing and cozy and fun. Squidley grilled steaks and served them with broccoli, also cooked on the grill, and potatoes. For dessert there was a heart-shaped cake decorated with white chocolate shavings and red and pink roses and a pink ribbon.

Nighty night, all.

Door to You Heart

Happy Valentines Eve!

Saw this on someone's front door. Pretty.

Nighty night.

Someone With a Little Pull

Tonight there was an absolutely hilarious game of tug of war in our sitting room between Deutsch and Scout. Pictured is one of three new toys Squidley bought for them this evening, a toy that greatly resembles a dachshund. As is obvious, Deutsch has hold of the head, and Scout is grasping the tail. The toy's body, when not being touched, is about half the length as seen in the photo. Inside, there is a shorter strip of elastic.

Deutsch already had his "end" in his mouth when Scout decided to get in the game. Scout is very strong, and when he pulled his "end," the dachshund toy, Deutsch, and the little doggie pillow all came along for the ride. Love it.

Hope your weekend is filled with joy.

Television Impressionism

There is one thing I know for sure that Squidley doesn't miss about the snowstorm, a.k.a. "The Blizzard of 2010." That one thing would be seeing the above picture appear on our television screen. And I must say, I do understand that. In certain situations, cabin fever is pretty much a sure thing; however, it can be kept at bay for some time if there is an idiot box in the house.

Oh, and just a by the way. Squidley kept the above image's appearances to a minimum thanks to a nifty little device he constructed, a sorta snow-sweepy-off-the-dish kinda thing.

Well, it's late, and we are all ready to get into the beddy bye and get a good night's sleep.

After we watch a little boob tube!

Nighty night.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

This little guy was attempting to locate the least cold place around. I'm hoping he and his buddies considered furloughing underneath the patio, out of the wind's way.

What road?

I shot this picture while lying on my belly in the breakfast nook. Of course, I was heating the outdoors while doing so.

The drift on the right side of the patio is pretty obvious.

These are drifts out front.

Even the trash bin had its day in the sun, so to speak.

The roof gets a little drift time, too.

Now come the standard "cute doggies in the snow" pictures. Squidley took Deutsch and Scout outdoors for a little playtime, and they loved it.

Longer legs would sure come in handy.

Scout picks up the snowball Squidley threw during their friendly little game of fetch.

The snowball is still in front of him.

Scout tries again.

Got it!

Ready for another round.

Now Deutsch is ready to get into the act.

Trailblazing!

It's a flying dachshund!

Scout performs his disappearing act.

Scout retrieves a really big snowball and hurries to return it to Squidley.

What a good team Scout and Squidley make!

Deutsch and Scout are back indoors, dry and toasty warm.

We'd been waiting all day for this vehicle to show up and were very happy it at last made it.

So, the various news outlets are referring to this storm as the Blizzard of 2010. That's funny. Just last week they were calling last week's storm by the same name. Wouldn't it make much more sense to give it a different name. Something like, say, "Part Deux" or "The Sequel," or perhaps even something like "The Blizzard of 2010: the Evil Twin."

As much as we're enjoying the positive aspects of last week's and this week's snows, we are not without compassion for those who are without power. Many, many of those have been without power since last week's storm. We just pray that things will be back to normal for them very soon.

And, on the subject of snow, it is predicted that there will be more for us during the next week, and I can tell you right now that my daffodils "to be" are not going to like that one little bit. Perhaps if the snow is not accompanied by a blizzard, conditions will be more tolerable. Especially in terms of the temps, 'cause I'm telling you, it is so cold when the wind is blowing snow all the way from here to Kalamazoo. Otherwise, it wouldn't be as big a deal. But that wind. Yeow!

Well, it has been a very busy day, and we are all ready to get into the beddy bye.

Everyone take very good care.

Nighty night.