string theory*

Futures made of virtual insanity......

2011-12-14T12:40:00.001-07:00

Every night in Harper-ville. Poor dog.

This year has caused a paradigm shift in my life. I have become addicted to something. Something I thought would never happen. Addiction happens only to the weak I thought. People who are enabled, and have no self control, but then it crept in. Slowly, day by day it chipped away at my soul, weakening me. Then one day I realised, I am one of those. The addicted. I game therefore I am.

Hi tech!

You know, it wasn't like I had never gamed before, it's always been part of my life. Jake grew up with me playing Sonic while he was on my lap. I have amazing fond memories of playing Wizard, Jumpman and Ghostbusters on my Dad's Commodore 64. Hours, wasted (me too sometimes!) grinding those archaic levels. But I had always been able to walk away and go to something else.

Contents may not appear as on cover.

I'm skuuuuuured!!!!

I also have an awesome time watching (DIRECTING) Chris play games like Dragon Age, Silent Hill, Eternal Darkness, Final Fantasy 7 and all those beautiful games that aren't 2 player. I liken them to interactive movies, where I get to scream "TURN ON YOUR FUCKING LIGHT!!!!" and have the character (Chris) do what I say for once! These have provided me with thousands of hours for over more than a decades worth of enjoyment. They have made me cry, laugh, shriek, jump, and swell with emotions I hardly knew what to do with. They have affected me as much as any movie I've ever watched. They are a completely different experience and aren't nearly as passive as say, watching TV or movies. I love this way of "gaming".

Completely true.

!!!

SHUT UP.

But sometime this year something changed. A switch was flicked. I was getting dangerously close to the edge. Dancing on the razor thin line of casual user. Then it happened. We went away for a little holiday. 4 days, 3 nights of Vancouver Island fun. It was great! A vacation that left me actually relaxed. All but for one thing. I MISSED MY PS3 AND XBOX ALMOST AS MUCH AS MY DOGS AND KID. Ok, who am I kidding. IT WAS MORE. I talked to Jake everyday, but I had NO GAMING. Nothing on my Android phone filled that need. OH GOD THE HUMANITY.

Guiscard is useless. Srsly.

I have suffered for this need. I have endured buggy as shit games (I'm looking at you War In The North), terrible lag, sore thumbs, wrist strain and considerably less knitting (try knitting AND gaming. It's a damned if you do/don't scenario for sure) content. I have skipped social outings, lost sleep and had many game inspired dreams. I have found out that sometimes a 14$ game from the PSN is better than a 60$ game supported by a major studio (ahem WITN AGAIN) and I'll still play them both. Over and over. And over. Frustration, brilliance, actual high fives with my husband and rage quits. All parts of daily life.I wouldn't trade it for anything. Nope. Now if I could just find the time to finish that knitting....

I game therefore I am.

A song for the dumped

2011-10-27T12:55:00.000-06:00

It's never a bad time to clean things out. Start with your closet, You know you'll never fit in those jeans again no matter how much you wish you could. Just go buy some new pants dammit. Those shirts you haven't worn in forever? Donate them. Someone else will love them. Move on to your pantry. Holy shit that yeast for the bread you were gonna make expired in 2010! Oops. Get rid of spices that have had a label change or lost their zip. 2 year old cereal? TOSS THAT FUCKER. Move on to your fridge. Seriously people, just because it's kept cold it can still go off. Check condiment dates. You may end up eating slightly rancid salad dressing if you don't. Anything that is green that ain't celery? BIN IT. A clean fridge is a beautiful thing.

This is spurred on by the need to clean up and clear out that I periodically go through. It extends to Facebook. It's time to prune that too. Anyone you wouldn't want to talk to IRL for less than 5 minutes, clip! If you are keeping peeps around because you like to watch their drama? Dude, your life is better off without it. I have to tell you, that lecture-y tone is the voice of experience here.

I had a friend once, that no one liked. Not my family, not my other friends and not a single guy I dated. I always felt bad about that and glossed over it. Rooted for the under-dog so to say. We had been friends for so long, and were in that weird highschool way very very bad and ever so fun. We had gone through so much shit that I think I felt I owed it to the universe to stick it out. Like blaming the salad greens when you know damn well it's that goddamn dressing you can't bring yourself to toss.

We didn't even always live in the same city this girl and I, but when we did or when we were together it was like knowingly eating a green weenie to see what happened and I was the green weenie eater (PHRASING). I usually ended up sick, hurt and still nowhere near my goal weight. The last time I saw her was when her Dad died and I went back to my hometown for the funeral. We went shopping with her 8-9 year old daughter a couple of days later and I had the proverbial nail in the coffin experience. We went to the bog and while her kid was in the stall she calmly pulled out almost 2k worth of stuff she had stolen and showed it to me. I said nothing (eating greenies again) but after that trip I never saw her again. I think we may have had a phone call or two and we never did break up officially. Never had it out, never finalised the papers, nothing. I just stopped. It felt weird for a long time, but that feeling? It was clean. It was pure and it was the beginning of me taking care of me. Cleaning out the fucking fridge once and for all.

Brown sugar.. why do you taste so good?

2011-07-29T11:30:00.001-06:00

Serious Lemon Muffins. SERIOUS.*

2 c flour
1 tsp soda/salt
2 eggs
1/2 c butter
1/2-2/3 c sugar
2-3 tsp lemon flavouring/extract
500 ml plain Greek yogurt
couple squirts lemon juice
2 tsp vanilla bean paste
you can add some lemon zest if desired. I find it a little bitter.

glaze
lemon juice/sugar in equal amounts

Cream butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, lemon, flavour, yogurt, and juice.
Add dry to wet, don't over mix.

Cook in 325 oven for approx 25 min or until done. Poke tops with fork, spoon a little bit of glaze on top.

I need to refine this a bit. It was lemony, but didn't have the POP of flavour I wanted. I think next time I will up the lemon juice in the batter. Also I will do a cooked glaze. Maybe a blend of icing sugar and lemon juice (and get fresh this time dammit!) cooked on the stove until blended and spooned over the muffins. That sounds better. I do love me a good muffin. Chris LOVES these with some raspberry jam spread on them.

In other non muffin related news.. well there isn't much actually. My knitting has slowed to a crawl as I am still mesmerized by video games which eats into my knitting time considerably. I still try to knit during my HORROR MOVIE DE JOUR PROJECT but sometimes I just have to snuggle dogs instead.

How could you not want to snorgle these faces?? They are being bed-sharks on the snuggle pit (our bed) and OMG SO CUTE I CAN'T BREATHE!! Wow. That just blorked out!

Ooh look! More hail! What a surprise. Or you know, not. July in Calgary (especially during the Stampede) is wacky weather time. I kinda like it. Even if this hail storm did cause my video game horse to get eaten by wargs or some such bullshit and made me swear off paying for mounts ever again and watching hail while playing a video game that can't be paused (Sacred 2 Epic Fail) and write giant run on sentences. I'm unsure if that made sense. But this is stream of consciousness here, go with it.

Lily was entranced by the hail. She loves the screen door (or as we call it, DTV=dog TV) and watches it all the time. Her and Pickles are amazingly hilarious together. I'll try to get some video of them soon.

Good thing our car already got paid out from the hail last year. Poor dimpled Jack.

*there is no brown sugar in this recipe.

Pictures of Lily...

2011-07-07T13:51:00.001-06:00

Miss Leliana Wiggles Skywalker. Big name for a little wiggler. She came to live with us a week ago. She's a Bichon Shih Tzu, or as my Brother said, a Shitson (but only once. And it was totally my fault. I forgot to let them out) and she is 2. She has had a litter of pups, but is fixed now. She is very sweet and quiet (but when she does bark LOOK OUT! She has a DEEP VOICE!) and has assimilated right in. Her and Pickles are quite the good friends. They play together a few times a day and it warms up even my mouldy ol' black heart.

And the knitting! THE KNITTING!! I have been knitting up a storm, but have slowed to a crawl especially since it got hot and we have a few video games I CAN'T STOP PLAYING. Fly that nerd flag Karen!

See? I do not kid. the knitting has been awesome. It's hot here now. But I have a new screen door with an enormous screen, the breezes she let's in! It's lovely.

I only eat candy.....

2011-06-23T11:07:00.000-06:00

Chris has a theory that I have been avoiding my blog because of the pictures of Max. Maybe he is right... so here's a post to push that off the map.

To tell the truth I have been avoiding all my blogs as I am having a lazy/not feeling funny/too little hours in the day even for me who doesn't do anything few weeks. I will now force the issue. You know it's getting bad when I'm not even taking pictures of my knitting. And I have done a TON of knitting. I've finished at least 4 or 5 shawls since I've shown any off. huh.

Pickles is being very very strange since Max died. He is very NEEDY. At least I think he's stopped looking for Max. I think. But he seems kinda scared to go outside by himself. This is a picture of him I just took hiding under my chair. We are actively looking for a puppy for a companion for him. But it's harder than you'd think, finding a dog. I miss Max more than I thought I would. More than I thought was possible. The unending rain didn't help.

This has been a sad week. Chris' Auntie died. She was very sick and in pain, and far too young. I wish I could have gotten to know her better than I did. She seemed clever, funny and very caring. I'm so sad for my MIL. This has been a rough time for her. Big loves to you Moms.

But it's time to push the maudlin bullshit, poor me stuff away now. The sun is finally out! I'll take pictures of my knitting and go run around the back yard with Pickles (doing the dog turd obstacle course) and feel better. Cause I have always got my gummi bears.

You move, lost and lonely..

2011-05-13T11:08:00.000-06:00

Good Bye Maximilian J Scrufflesworth 3rd.com. You were the best a dog could be. I'll miss you always and forever.

Max

1996-2011

Black Sheep, Come Home...

2011-04-12T13:44:00.000-06:00

I'd like to welcome the newest additions to my desk, tiny cow and tiny deer. They are living on what Safeway calls (so aptly I must say) Green Balls. Seriously, that is what they were labeled as in the floral dept. I actually think they are some kind of moss or something as I've had it for 2 weeks and it shows no signs of dying yet. I have them cut very short and put into a wee glass bowl with tiny cow and deer grazing merrily on top. Wonder how long my black thumb will keep them going? Me too.

Knitting content!

Malabrigo lace and my first project with nupps. SUPER FUN. This is a pattern called Mimosa and I enjoyed it so much that I made another one. Right after. Cause I'm not weird or anything.

Same project, different yarn. Reclaimed cashmere I bought form Etsy. Lovely.

Punta space dyed merino lace yarn. I used a chart to knit this. That is amazing for me. AMAZING. I am usually terribly chart phobic. Go me!

More Malabrigo lace. Another Traveling Woman shawl. I sent the honeysuckle one to to my MIL so knit one for me to keep.

Knitpicks Chroma fingering weight. Nice enough yarn but it had 3 KNOTS IN IT! That were tied to different colours. An enormous pain in my arse and really put me off it. I have a shit ton more of it and don't really want to use it. :/

More Malabrigo, more nupps. I think I may have a problem here.....

War! What is it good for??

2011-03-29T11:11:00.000-06:00

In my house we have an ongoing war. Well a couple of them actually.. but I think I might be the only one fighting them. Unless my husband and son are NINJAS? I just thought of that. Or maybe covert agents. Anyways, I'm unsure how it works in other peoples' houses, but in mine, I am the only one who changes the toothpaste and puts the toilet paper on the holder. I can squeeze out the last minuscule drop of toothpaste and my husband will manage to get out a drip or drab and leave the tube there. Empty, broken, mocking me with it's flat-ness. Then I break down and get a fresh tube out. Maybe it's the re-cycling aspect. Both the box that the toothpaste comes in AND the loo roll need to get taken to the recycling bin in the back, So maybe that's why both of those particular things gets left to me? I'm not sure. But when I brought it up to Chris yesterday (well played sir, well played) he feigned ignorance of the whole thing. Yeah right.. let it rage.

I found this picture in a file. Chris must have taken it with his phone, I love that cartoon setting! It shows the mimping that Pickles does so well. He spent an hour on my lap as I surfed this am. Such a crybaby.

Til I am myself again...

2011-03-03T11:18:00.002-07:00

Can you believe Jake is 19? Me either. I think of how long ago that is and it seems like no time has passed at all. I wish my Mom could see how awesome he is becoming. He is a very kind caring boy and I reckon that is in no small part to having such a super support system when he was small. He had love from all sides, and the great fortune to know his grandparents. He still has a special bond with my Dad. Oh time.. slow down a little for a while wouldja?

It was also Pickles birthday. He and Jake are birthday twins you know. He celebrated by trying to sleep on the bed with us. Um, sorry buddy, no go. Maybe one day when we have a king size bed.. of course having said that I have to fess up. He totally sleeps on the bed when Chris gets up for work and uh, well, all night long when Chris is gone away. Like now. Chris is in Oklahoma City and Pickles couldn't be happier. All bed, all night. Even little Max gets in on it in the mornings. How I love my dogs. Spoiled little gits.

I had a couple of girlfriends try to talk me into trying out the netflix. Since my computer had to go BACK TO THE SHOP AGAIN* and I am movie impaired I decided to give it a go. I mean come on, it's free for a month right? OMG I WAS WRONG. I may be a convert. At least until I exhaust their shitty horror selections. They have a lot of really good stuff, I was super surprised. For 8 bucks a month I reckon that this is a big ol' winner.

Blargh I am suffering from a general malaise today. Time to try to motivate. Or turn on the netflix and eat those strawberries in the fridge... hmmm....

Hey my nephew Mark had some rather big surgery yesterday, send him some good healing thoughts. Love you dude, feel better soon.

*fer fucks sake. they absolutely did not fix it. my wiggins resulted in prepaid shipping and actually getting to talk to someone in the US. we'll see if it's fixed this time. dicks.

Panic on the streets of London....

2011-02-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

It happened. The worst computer thing of all. It crashed and burned and killed all my stuff. Pictures? Gone. Music? Gone .E-books? Gone. Data? Gone. KNITTING PATTERNS? GONE! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! So the lesson is kiddos, back your shit up. At least it is under warranty, and is now on it's way to be fixed or replaced. Ugh.

In other happier news, I got a new drug from my Dr that seems to be knocking my pain down to more than manageable levels and has reduced my choking related anxiety (along with all the other anxiety) down to gone levels. Perhaps that is TMI, but it's my blog and as a gorgeous girl I know said, "It's my blog I am GOD here"*

I am writing this on the new netbook Chris bought. It's a dual core processor Acer thingy that is more powerful than 2 computers ago. Ridiculous.

The picture up there is of the roses Chris bought me for sweeties day. My phone has this awesome feature called cartoon that makes your pictures look like cel shaded cartoons. I love it.

We took this one at Market Mall in the food court. Sometimes we must look like over grown teenagers taking the goofy pictures we do. Live long and have fun.

*very paraphrased.

It's different for girls....

2011-02-07T10:11:00.000-07:00

I causally mentioned to Chris one day that the next TV we buy has to be significantly bigger than the previous ones to be worth getting. CASUALLY. While I'm chatting with him one day at work he mentions he has found a great deal on a tv and can he get it? Who am I to deny my dearest? Of course hon. Saturday was spent waiting waiting waiting. Finally at 8pm I corral the dogs and this MONSTER (60 inches of LCD goodness. And it can talk to my phone!) shows up. The box was freaky huge. FREAKY I SAY. We had to wait until Sunday to get it out as the tv had been in truck so long it was nearly frozen and the delivery guy said let it warm up or something would pop if we turned it on all frozen(!). So there it is. It dominates the room. A lovely wall of black. Movies will never be the same. It's bigger than some of the screens in the old multiplex we used to go to for 1.00 Tuesdays in highschool! This will make my HMOTD project that much more awesome. I love you baby.

*Actual unretouched photo of new TV. HOLY SHIT BIG.

No colours any more I want them to turn black...

2011-01-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

The saying goes if you want something done give it to a busy person. I think it's pretty much on the money. I'm hoping the movie a day project kick starts some forward momentum. It's easy to slide back, to settle in. To make it easy and comfortable and go with the status quo. Let's kick it in the nuts and movie forward*. Slowly and kinda hobbling, but forward none the less.

Pickles Chewbacca goes all picture 'ho when I turn on t he camera. It makes a little chime and you can see his ears perk up, and he simply has to come investigate. I have to boot him off my knitting to take pictures of it, but of course after I take some pictures of him. You know for posterity. This is a test knit for a gal on Rav. I LOVE it! She doesn't have the pattern up yet, but you can check it out on my project page to see the details.

I think I chose the perfect yarn for this. Chris says it looks like a camo net you use in the jungle. It made the greatest scarf, breathable and super warm. Plus it looks lovely on! We've had such mild weather this last few days I've been going out with just a hoodie or sweater and a scarf. Perfect walking around gear. The roads are a slushy mess but +5?! I'll take it thanks.

Max can even take off his sweater now! I don't know how long this warm will last so let's enjoy it while we can alright?

*see what I did there? haha.

Public service announcement (with guitar!)

2011-01-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

Please note, All the Horror movie of the day posts can now be found at:

Horror movie of the day!

we now return you to your regularly scheduled knitting and whinging posts. thanks for your cooperation!

Oh Baby I'm Dreaming of Monday...

2011-01-10T09:36:00.000-07:00

Oh Monday, I'm awake far too early. Dammit Max, did you really have to go out this time? I guess so. These dogs they have it good. A quick pee outside than back to sleep. No thought to poor ol' Mom who is awake for good. I'm thinking this is a really good argument for having kids when you're young, it would KILL me now to be sleep deprived. And I'm far too lazy and apathetic. Raising kiddoes is too much work. Bless all you who do it now. Blergh.

Max found a nice snuggle nest in one of Chris' hoodies. If you leave anything on the couch one of the dogs will claim it as the perfect cuddle spot. They prefer Chris' clothes to mine, and if we let them have one of Jake's shoes up there, they'd never leave it alone.

It's been really cold here this weekend and Max needed a sweater on again. Poor old man, needs help down the stairs these days. It seems a little surreal sometimes to think I've had Max longer than I've known Chris. He still looks like a little puppy but has slowed down so much. I see him not engaging with Pickles as much as he used to. I wish our animals didn't have to age with us. Eternal puppies. That sounds good. :/

I haven't posted a picture of the piece Chris commissioned for me for Xmas. I needed a lucky koi I was told.

I'm sure I can get better pictures eventually, but for now, these will do. I love it so much. Traditional Japanese waves are one of my favourite things ever in all the art world. It's so amazing that this was made just for me. I'm a lucky lucky girl.

Caught up in a bad romance

2011-01-05T16:09:00.003-07:00

I finally got around to photographing my knits today. I have been prolific as usual. :D

This is a gorgeous scarf called Saroyan that I did out of Malabrigo. I think the mal is like a fibre-form of Valium. It relaxes me just knitting with it. Which is nice as I have been quite nervy lately. A little likely to get a bit wigged out over not much. This helps. It really does.

This is a test knit for a gal on Rav who hasn't put the pattern up yet. You can check it out here on my project page where it will go live eventually. A fun little knit, and the yarn was quite nice too. I picked it up from Pudding a while back. Pretty pretty colour right?

It's super slushy here now.. and above 0! Yay chinook! Boo chinook headache!

Hell is around the corner.

2011-01-04T10:04:00.003-07:00

I have the notion that I should try to watch a movie a day. More specifically a horror movie a day. Not that it hasn't been done before* but I rarely want to set goals for myself because I am ~~lazy, afraid of failing, really really lazy~~ not a goal oriented person.I've been thinking about it for a few days and the idea has stuck. Probably because we've watched nothing but horror movies for a week now. So I may not be able to make all 365 days, I'll try heartily, but will be super impressed if I hit 300. AND since I don't know if I can find 300+ (although I'll damn sure try) HORROR movies I'm going to open the genre up a bit and include sci-fi, fantasy and thrillers. Sounds like I'm wussing out already...

I've decided to move this idea to another blog entirely:

Horror movie of the day!

(What's so funny about) Peace Love and Understanding?

2010-12-31T19:58:00.000-07:00

It's the last night of the year and I can honestly say that this has been one hell of a year. I keep focusing on the negative which is truly unlike me, but a clean slate start tomorrow right?

Statistical recap:

1 incurable SYNDROME that I'll try to manage for the rest of my life. Good thing I like pills. Fuck you fibro.
2 old friends that died too young. We are all just into our 40's. I call not fair.
4 new tattoos. OH SO AWESOME.
2 new tricks I taught my doggie. Do a little dance, and roll over. see below.
1 new bathrobe. Sweet.
Too much nail polish to count. At least to mention to you normies anyways.
6 new drugs I got to try. Side effects are fun. NOT.
2 drinks is all it takes to interact with my meds. Learned that the hard way at a party. Which leads to
10 panic attacks in which I thought I may be having a stroke but fortunately didn't! HURRAY FOR THAT.
1 poker tournament that out of the 2 I played I won. Cool.
2 new pairs of shoes. Way less than Jake and Chris.
200+ awesome nights of sleep on the bed that dreams are made of.
1 earworm that WILL. NOT. DIE. see below.
100+ horror movies of pure joy. The grosser and nastier the better.
6 times I watched Kick Ass. I love that movie.
2 little doggies that give life meaning.
1 awesome kidlet that isn't a kidlet anymore.
1 fabulous husband. He knows it.
Too much time missing my Mom. Still do.

Happy New Year everyone. 2010, don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.

In the waiting line...

2010-12-22T10:34:00.000-07:00

I am not known for for my X-mas spirit. I haven't been fussed about celebrating it for many years. You'd think this year would be the same and in many ways it is.. yet it's the first year I've had gifts wrapped, both of our little trees and lights up well before X-mas eve. Both of my BFF's have lost a parent too, and both have said that the first holiday is the worst. Just the worst. I can see that coming down the road, but am letting little lights shine on all day/night to combat that kind of dark. It seems to be working.

This little birdie is one of my favourite ornaments. My parents brought it to Canada after being stationed in Germany over 50 years ago. I think we started out with maybe 6 of these but you know how that goes.. kids+ornaments=smashy. This is the lone survivor. My Dad gave it to me this summer after my Mum died. I was super happy to have a place to put him this X-mas. Isn't he sweet? Why is he a he? I have no idea.

Last night Pickles decided to wear his toy as a hat as he sat there squeaking it. Over and over and over. He is truly the dog with the most personality I've ever had. This is a good representation of what evenings are like here. Chilled out with knitting on the couch, a big glass of water and dogs all lounge-y. I just noticed this is actually a decent picture of one of Chris' atom tattoos. He has the matching one on his other arm. I wondered as we were at his company X-mas party what his co-workers would think if saw us both in sleeveless shirts. ...

Aren't they quite the pair? In Pickles mind it's a trio there. Rocky is real to him I think sometimes.

I can see clearly now.....

2010-12-16T13:42:00.003-07:00

Proof that I have been doing stuff besides the whinge. I actually have been super productive. Did some test knits, some holy shit I have no hat must knit hat now, knitting. Some more scarfy knits too. I have no desire to knit mittens but I need some more. Maybe I'll (gasp) buy some. Also, proof that if there is any knitted objects laying about you can be sure Pickles is resting at least one body part on it. I had to take some pictures for the test knitting I did, and had to shoo him away repeatedly. He is such a cam whore.

I knit this Cordova out of some bulky yarn I had left over from a sweater fail. It looks smashing on, but dude, I am not subjecting anyone a picture of me right now. I really need to tint my brows. White eyebrows=ugh.

I knit 2 of these. One right after the other. How whack is that? Whipped has proved to be one of my fave things to knit this year. I can totally see doing another one out of worsted weight. It would be like a puffy cloud.

This was nice to knit too. I know part of it is the yarn choice but Chinook was a great TV knit. The Punta Yarn was an absolute joy to knit. I'd like to do something a little tighter gauge wise next time with it. Also, OMG CHEAP. I got it at Pudding for 10$. Yeah 460 yards for 10$. I picked up a red a green too. Good deal!

This was the test knit. Isn't it gorgeous? I used up some Rowan Silky Wool I had and it was a great pairing with the pattern (Intermediate Scarf in Silk Rhapsody Glitter) and blocked out like a dream. Lucky me to be able to test something so freaking lovely!

In other news, Chris and I got new phones!! I have a pal who has an android phone that I have been secretly coveting for some time now, and I have to say it was that covet-ness that made me do it. We weren't eligible for a hardware upgrade from rogers yet (2 months for me, 12 for Chris) but I managed to persevere*and get us both upgraded now!

AHHHHHHHHH!! It's the proper internets in my phone!! Fantastic thing this technology! It's so pretty, and shiny and oh my gracious!

Pickles says stay warm and beware the gummi bears... they are 3 days from taking over the world.

*stay on the phone for 45 mins on hold to the retention dept. Once I got a service rep, she rather unhappily told me since I was sent there by a shop she couldn't refuse my request. So I said "um.. yay for me? and boo for you.. sorry" BUT YAY NEW SEXY PHONE!!!

Monster Hospital

2010-12-13T13:43:00.000-07:00

This is hard to write about. I mean come on, we all have it sofa king good here. How can a whinge from a person who never has to worry about where I'll sleep, if I can eat or if I will be safe count? By accident of birth, I live in the best country in the world*, where my standard of living is ridiculous compared to most everywhere else in world. Yet here it is, the incessant voice of pain, banging at my door. Some days are easier than others not to open that door, sometimes the damn door is already open by the time I get to it, and sometimes, I can't NOT open it. Know what? I've come to realise that my life is changed, forever marked differently than it was. Get over yourself Karen.

Things I love:
-cashmere yarn
-new tea mugs
-my husband who will sit up with me until all hours. And think it's awesome.
-dogs. all dogs but especially mine.
-video games. I'm looking at you Dragon Age. and um, Alistair.
-my kiddo who is one of the funniest people I know. Kind and sweet. He'll roll his eyes when he reads this. But you are, so there.
-my sheepskin on the couch. Why did I wait so long to get one of these? WHY?
-pink lady apples.
-my friends.
-especially well produced singles. music and yarns.

This list could go on to be gigantor, but I'll keep some things for another day. I keep them in a little chest in my mind and bring them out to turn around in my hands when I"m feeling like this. Hold fast, the ride can get bumpy!

* true fact

I'm a picture that I'm holding of someone who is cool..

2010-12-03T13:39:00.001-07:00

Don't know where the time is going. This year is sliding by like crazy. Not being measured by happy moments this time, but things that leave a red mark on my heart. Hope they will fade, and with time and liberal applications of love, nail polish and puppies that they won't scar. Another friend from the olden days has died. Too young and tragic to forget, it makes me lay down and fall backwards into the past. It makes me sit up and take stock of what I got and know it's all good. Let the lovin' come back to me..

So what makes everything better? This. I try to explain that it's pain with a purpose, productive pain. Chris sees it too now. It's a moment frozen.

Sometimes all you want to do is shine, and now it will be that way forever. I love my tattoo artist. Rick. Fits us in like old friends and bangs out minimal ideas into full fledged art.

I said on Facebook that old friends know the best stories and they really do. I was lucky enough to get a flying visit with a friend and it felt like we were 15 still. With older more real life stuff, but still lying on the couch, it was 1984 again. Lou Reed says "You're going to reap just what you sow". I am trying to sow the seeds of a better year. Let the planting start.

The bed's too big without you...

2010-11-18T15:07:00.000-07:00

My side of the bed when Chris is gone. Like now. He is on his way to West Virginia via Columbus Ohio. Usually I can think of heaps of things to do when I'm alone. The weather though, she sucks right now. Cold, snowy, blowy grossness. I dug out once and that was enough. I made sure I had provisions to keep me going (yogurt? check! lots of fizzy water? check! enough random stuff to keep me going? check! menus for good Thai delivery? check!) and snuggled down. I did manage to sneak in a haircut, and just like in the 80's wore a leather jacket that was completely inappropriate for the weather. So maybe that explained the hair? Sure. Let's go with that.

Rock on my bitches, rock on.

Time keeps on slipping into the future...

2010-11-08T12:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think I need to call my mom to tell her something. And I remember that I can't. It doesn't happens as much any more, but it comes out of the blue and leaves a strange metallic taste in my mouth. A feeling of unreality. My dad sent me a picture of her marker. In an email entitled FYI. Only he would do that. He is funny.

I'm slowly coming to realise that I am going to have to manage this stupid disorder* FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. I guess. I've forgotten to take my pills a few times now, and that my possums, is not a good thing. NOT AT ALL. Also, I am so disordered I can't take my vitamins unless I can chew them. Pills are good, but I am already tired of them. sigh. Oh, woe is me. Hardly. But calcium chews are pretty tasty. I now call them calci-yums!

I have started trying to brush the dogs teeth. Yeah, I know. But Max has the breath of a thousand corpses** and I've noticed Pickles getting a little bit if tartar on a couple of his teeth. I've been slacking on giving him the rawhide chews cause I don't want him to get fat(ter) but think his teeth are more important. It's way less fun than I thought, this dog tooth brushing. Ok, they actually aren't bad. But the next puppy I get? Starting this program EARLY.

I have been knitting, knitting, knitting. Anything to take my mind off my pain/annoyance at myself/shitty tv/general malaise. I even have pictures to prove it!

A lovely little scarfy thing called Laodice that was a bit of a slog to get through, but worth it in the end. Although that might be the Malabrigo talking...

This pattern was so much fun to knit, I'm actually knit another version of it in a different weight (and finished it last night) right after this one. It's called Whipped, but it was really whip it good.

I bought this yarn off of someone on Ravelry. I don't usually go for intense variegation anymore, but the colours of this just called to me I guess. The yarn was a joy to knit with, from an indie dyer called Ruby Sapphire. I LOVED it. Really gorgeous yarn, and I loved this pattern too.. so pretty,

My little green tree is still alive (better be) and it is called a Golden European Tree. I bought it at Safeway for 4$. It looks awesome on my desk..

*I had to go to Wikipedia to find out if it was a syndrome, disease or disorder. I think disorder sounds like the lesser of the three evils.
**maybe because he eats poo. I have tried everything. whatever. he doesn't have that long left, we'll deal. ugh. gross.

pocketful of pretty green...

2010-11-07T16:04:00.002-07:00

My newest family member. The colour is closest to the last picture, especially with the late sun hitting it against my green wall. I hope I don't kill this too quickly.. it smells like lemon-lime!

stay green...

History never repeats, I tell myself before I go to sleep...

2010-10-29T13:50:00.000-06:00

I came across a blog of a person I used to be really good friends with. An enormous part of my life included her. We were inseparable for a good long time. Now? We don't speak. Not one thing was the impetus of the ending of our friendship, but many small things, and the realisation that a toxic person is toxic no matter how long you've known them. No matter how much history you've had with them. Reading her blog made me understand how important it is to remember the way things really were. Not some sort of bullshit revisionist history you create to romanticise yourself, or to make you look better to your audience. Warts and all, it's valuable to be able to look back and sort out why you did things, to ensure you don't make those same mistakes over and over. Lessons learned the hard way seem to be the ones that we should try to hold on to. To really implement into our lives. It made me a little bit sad to read her blog, but it also was a fabulous reminder of why she isn't in my life anymore. I'm better for it. Her, I don't so much care either way.

I used to be all about the Halloween. Dressing up, going out, decorating. It was my Christmas. Now, I'm ambivalent. I see things in the shops I would have gone mad for, gross awful things which I still squeeeeee about, but no longer want to buy it all and hang it up in my living room. Since when did the appropriation of all the horror movie stuff that shocked the normies get normal? Hmmm.....

Pickles went and hurt himself this week. we figure he went into the long dead grass in the backyard and got something in his eye. It never got bad enough to get him to the vet (but I did make an appointment for him next week that I canceled), but enough to worry the Dog-Mom in me. Jake and I were chatting about it, and I remarked that Max had never had to hit the vet for anything more than shots. Jake said "Max may be stupid*, but he sure is careful!" How true.

Happy Halloween little monsters!

*he is. he doesn't care. he really really is. we love him more for it.

A few of my favourite things...

2010-10-23T18:30:00.001-06:00

A friend* introduced me to this ice cream. The best ice cream in the world she said. You won't believe how good it is, how amazing. Everyone who eats this ice cream becomes smarter, funnier, better looking and loses 15 pounds. Ok,, maybe I made some of that last bit up. But it may have well as been that superfluous when she extolled the virtues of it.

She was right.

So damn right.

It really is the best ice cream I have ever eaten. Chris agrees. Even Jake liked it, and he isn't one for the sweets. So um, yeah. I love you ice cream. LOVE YOU.

Poster in my kitchen. I love this poster, this movie, this time of year, all of it. But mostly the poster and the movie.

Jake and my Dad. The picture is a year or 2 old (and my Mom took it) but they are such cheeky buggers the pair of them.

Pills! Yay!

Lolcats! Everyday. Yup, cats on the internets is one of my fave things.

I wish I had a pic of my knitting bitches but I don't. They are definitely 2 of my favourite things. Love my gals.

happy weekend!

*or is she a friend? DEVIL WOMAN!

Why do I smile at people I'd much rather kick in the eye?

2010-10-15T11:38:00.000-06:00

Welcome to October!!!! Time for lovely walks through the drifting, crunching leaves. The smell of decay and cool winds. Hallowe'en (that's for you Christine) and candy, costumes, spooky pumpkins. Or there's this...

I would be lying if I said I hate this. I don't. I kinda like snow. Maybe not in the dead of winter when we get 30 cm in a day, but now? It's nice. It makes me want to cook soup and knit more frantically. With heaps of horror movies to watch, what more can a gal want? It lets me put off the haircut that Pickles needs, it encourages snuggling. All good things.

Also it hides dog turds in the back yard. Pickles is entranced with it, Every year it's like he forgets and has to rediscover it. Usually it scares him a little bit at first.

He keeps standing in it, pushing it with his nose a bit to see if it will move, stick or melt. Max? He sees it and looks at me like "really? ugh. ok, let's get this over with. help me down the stairs." Poor doggie.

I've been making some rings* in my frenzy to appear fashionable. They are easy peasy and very glam I must say. See?

Swanky huh? I've given a few away, and have been thinking of re-opening my etsy shop. We'll have to see. It's a little sick that I'm matching my polish to them. Wow.

Other things I love about fall? All the Halloween decor! Behold the mug of DOOM.

Every morning this makes me just that much happier. Which is a good thing as we are tinkering with my Fibro meds right now. I'm in some weird place that is somewhat unsettling (and I've had some shitty things happening that has nothing to do with anything but plumbing. Of the real kind in the house, not MY plumbing! Those in know, know how awful this has been. :/) but I have faith that I'll get these meds sorted eventually. I'm not sure if I'm sleepy or in pain or just restless sometimes and it does come out in a blather. But I have good friends and an amazing family to help me through this. I'm seriously the luckiest girl I know.

Wow... that got real serious there. Now to completely change the subject, here's Pickles with his stupid raccoon (racon for Jake) Rocky. He ripped a huge hole in his head and won't let me fix it. Such a true character.Or jerk. Take your pick.

Knit fast, Die Warm!

*not for you Sauron, Bugger off.

Sanitarium.. just leave me alone...

2010-10-05T13:17:00.000-06:00

I need to buy some winter type foot wear. All I wear are sneakers. No heels, no sandals, no boots. Sneakers. Oh and I have one pair of ballet flats I am crazy mad, mental insane in love with. Not practical for winter right? I used to wear all different kinds of shoes, clogs, heels, platforms, boots you name it. I have gotten so super lazy with my fashion sense, I guess it doesn't help that I dress like a 14 year old skater. I get so excited when I find something that is remotely *fashionable that I wear the shit out of it. And it is usually a fluke, like finding a sweater in the lingerie dept that I don't even know where to start looking for *normal* clothes. I'd love to find something to cover my feet that aren't sneakers, but everything feels so not sneaker like that I get frustrated. The joys of being a perpetual skater kid.

I haven't been acting like normal lately. I was a monogamous knitter for the longest time. It set me apart from other knitters as I would be finishing stuff all the time. Since I have discovered the joy of multiple projects it's like a whole new world opened up. BUT, I had nothing to post for ages. The bonus? When I finish stuff it seems to be all at once now!

This was a test knit for a gal on Ravelry. Gorgeous pattern (be. leaf.) and scrumptious yarn. Can you ask for anything more?

I love that this shawl was used by a group on Ravelry as a Supernatural KAL. One of my favourite shows EVER. The pattern is Gabriel's Wings, so I can see how it was close enough to Castiel for them to pick it. Great pattern and I love these shawlettes for fall. Winding them about my neck makes everything instantly warmer.

This took me FOREVER to finish and was the reason I started to cheat on my knitting in the first place. It is a gorgeous pattern called Laodice that I bought. It's gorgeous and soft and easy but DAMN. Did it ever take ages to finish! Totally worth it in the end.

I have been knitting all these shawlette/scarves and actually wearing them. This is the most productive, actively used knitting I have ever done. Selfish knitting mostly. I did knit one of these and sent it off to a pal in LA. I don't know if ever gets cold enough there for them, but I love her dearly and thought she should see it done out into something tangible. Besos Rhian.

The dogs have been practicing their sychronised sleeping! Aren't they getting good? Poor Max is back into his sweaters for the season. I shaved him down, but he really need it. He was smelly and shaggy. poor old goat.

Listening to Metallica in the morning is awesome. Great vacuuming music!

*not a t-shirt/jeans/hoodie.

Ain't that some shit?

2010-09-15T14:34:00.002-06:00

I hate plumbing problems. HATE THEM. I have no idea how it works, and they are always so damn expensive! I keep telling Jake to learn to be a plumber, it's a license to print money I say! So when our hot water in the kitchen shut off for good* we were borked! Blergh. Chris pokes around at the faucet for a few minutes and tells me to phone the plumber in the morning.

So I phone the plumber in the morning. The same guys who did our dishwasher rough in and install. Some Russian/Eastern Block dude comes over turns the faucet on and proclaims it's the cartridge and he can't repair it because it's an IKEA faucet and their parts aren't standard, and the faucet is a piece of garbage and we really should get a new one as IKEA blows goats yadda yadda. He tries to sell me a 700$ (I blurted out HOLY SHIT NO WAY when he told me the price. then I started laughing) super fancy faucet. When I politely declined he said we could get a pretty good one at say Home Depot and get them to install it. I'm pretty pissed off at this point (I like having hot water in the kitchen. call me weird) so I tell him I'll talk to my husband about it. He left and to be fair, didn't charge me anything for coming out so yay for that.

I call IKEA to see if I can buy a replacement part. The dude tells me they don't carry them, and has no idea where I can get one. I was REALLY pissed of at this point and I cussed out the dude and hung up. I called Chris at work to tell him the bad news. He came home and we were getting ready to go buy a new faucet when he said "Lemme try something first!" Alrighty then! So he pulls some stuff apart, gets a big pot out and puts it behind the faucet (ok, writing faucet out so many times makes it look like a non word now!) fiddles around, pulls out some stuff and turns on some water, uses come compressed air and BAM! The faucet is FIXED. Turns out there was a blockage in the tube from the shut off to the tap. HURRAY!!!! A hearty thanks to the (now almost) handy man, and a big poke in the eye with a sharp stick to the SO CALLED professional.

The weather here has been so grey and rainy, I hate it. I don't mind that cold, but the grey? YUCK. I still don't know how you all on the Island can take it. It bums me out. I suppose getting used to these new meds I'm taking for the Fibromyalgia isn't helping either. I feel a little fuzzy, and disconnected from myself a little. I miss my Mom and I worry about my Dad. I am just a bundle of happiness, unicorns, wizards, rainbows and puppies aren't I?

I'm also doing slightly out of character things too. Nothing weird, just doing 3 knitting projects at the same time. Something most knitters do, but I've always been a fairly monogamous knitter. Not anymore. At least not now. I'm test knitting an awesome shawl for a gal on Ravelry and it is turning out GORGEOUS. I love me some red Malabrigo lace! The downside is I don't have any pictures for you. Not yet anyways.

AND... since my husband was such a good sport about his Slanket picture I reckon turnabout is fair play. This is totally what I look like most evenings. With less feigned joy. I have everything I need in my little corner. Water with a straw**? Check! Knitting? Check! Incense burning? Check! Bathrobe? Check! Small Dog? Check! Some sort of snack (usually still yogurt.. holy hell food jag much??)? Check!

And what have you been doing?

*we've been having this problem for months and months but it has always resolved itself in 5 min or so. UNTIL NOW
**OMG I LOVE STRAWS.

We all float on

2010-08-29T11:19:00.002-06:00

After this weekend I may need to get this app. We went to Montana's for lunch on Friday. We never go there but Chris was told by his GI Dr that he is low in iron so he wanted some RED MEAT and off we went. I order chicken finger because sometimes I roll like a toddler. The food came out and we dug in. I took one bite and it happened. I swallowed and swallowed and swallowed. It wasn't going down, in fact it wasn't going anywhere. I couldn't breathe or move and my ears started to ring. I looked at Chris across the table wordlessly and made my hands go around my neck. He laughed and then looked really weird.. he asked if I was choking and I nodded. The ringing was getting louder. He stood up and came over to my side of the booth (he is a trained first aid responder) and started to get behind me to give me the Heimlich. The ringing was getting louder and I thought "oh fuck, I don't wanna die in a Montana's! this SUCKS!" Utilising a Herculean force I managed to kinda throw up the blocking chicken piece and GASPED for air. Chris sat down and asked if I was ok. He said he knew it was trouble when I went dead silent. No noise is bad. I shook for about an hour after it was all said and done, and even managed to nibble on some chicken. I was really hungry what can I say?

I had no idea so many thoughts could race through your mind in such a short time. It was one of the scariest things that has ever happened. even if nothing did happen. Lesson learned, chew your food better. But I have to say I am a little bit scared of big solid food still. I've been eating lots of yogurt. :/

More knitting: Citron out of some colour changing cotton yarn. I'm not sure about the yarn, it's cool, but not fantastic to knit with. Very splitty and the colour change parts have knots in them. I think I am a wool girl at heart. Cotton seems lifeless in my hands. No bounce or spring. Blocking is a PITA* and um... I dunno..

But it *is* pretty! I may have gone on a little yarn bender when Chris was gone to Houston.

There's some nice wool in there I tell ya! Almost all of it was 50% off too. Shamefully I have a nail polish bender to almost rival that too.. it's the colours that get me. Every time.

*pain in the arse

Alone again.. naturally...

2010-08-17T17:48:00.002-06:00

It's weird how many times I've done this lately. Seriously. Like 5 times in the last week! I'm blaming meds. I did start a bunch of news ones so..

The last few weeks have been not very great here. My Mom died on July 30th. She has been sick for a long time, but this was really sudden. We had expected a few more months.. but that's not how it went. None of us were ready for it to happen so quickly. We had a lovely service for her and so many people came! It was really a celebration of her life, she would have loved it, but been embarrassed by all the attention. That was my Mom. Our little English Rose.

The flowers were from my ex-In-laws. Weird right? But they are lovely people and Jake's grandparents. So very kind of them. I have to say I am impressed with the kindness people have shown me in the last few weeks. My friends have really been amazing, emailing and phoning and offering help. It is times like this that you find out who your friends really are. They are ones holding you up when you feel like falling down. Showing small kindnesses.

And now onto more uplifting things..

One of Jake's friends put this on Mr Pickles and holy shit did we laugh. Isn't he just the bomb? Poor Pickles, the indignities he suffers to make us laugh. I shaved him yesterday and after wards I was covered in picklefuzz so I took a shower. When I was done I called him in to the bathroom and brought him in the shower. That definitely sounds way pervier than it was. In fact it was hilarious as he doesn't realise he should shut his eyes when water is falling in them. He does the same thing in the rain. Anyways, he got a quick rinse and towel off. I'm sure he felt much better in yesterdays heat. Today however, I'm sure I was getting the stink eye. Summer in Alberta dude.. we have had our furnace on every month of the year. And I reckon it is going on tonight.

Chris is in Houston right now training a bunch of people to do I have no idea what.. so I have been eating badly, staying up late and shopping. In case you thought this was a knitting content free post, think again. I have been PRODUCTIVE!

See? Lace is my crack right now. Which is better than say.. real crack.. right?

The Heart Remains a Child

2010-07-22T13:02:00.002-06:00

Apparently I make a wicked good bean salad! Who knew? I've been trying to eat a little healthier since these stupid meds I'm on have a really awesome side effect of weight gain (which is full of suck) and really.. we could all totally eat better than we do. Right?

Awesomely bright bean salad.

1 can black beans (drained)
1 can corn (drained too)
1 pepper. red/yellow/green, your choice. I used yellow. mmm..
a bunch of grape or cherry tomatoes.
1 whole lemon
salt and pepper

Make sure your beans and corn are well drained, toss 'em in a big ol' bowl.
Dice the pepper. half or quarter your tomatoes. Depending on size. toss them in the bowl too.
cut the lemon in half, and juice that sucker right over the bowl. Both sides. You can add a little zest of the lemon if you were so inclined.
Add salt and pepper. I used lots of pepper. I love pepper.
Make sure your salad is well mixed and put it in the fridge. Let it chill for a couple of hours. Eat. Go OMG! I had no idea bean salad was this good with not a stitch of added fat in it! Marvel that your husband who can be notoriously fussy eats 2 huge bowls of it and is actually excited to eat the leftovers the next day. Feel good about making yourself look like a food rockstar.

I have been doing something really out of character for me. I have been working on more than one knitting project at a time! I KNOW RIGHT!?!

This was a super fun knit. The yarn is a silk bamboo mix I got from (gasp) Michaels ages ago. Beautiful drape and so shiny and pretty! I loves it!

Pickles says HAI GUISE!

Um.. yeah. So I went and got some more ink. It is the companion piece to my sweet cupcake. I was so excited when it was done I was showing all the hardcore dudes in the shop. Hey! Dudes! Look at this sweet fucking ball of yarn! Wow, did they all laugh. And they all loved it :) I really dig going to Strange World Tattoo, and Rick is totally the man. He is funny and really awesome to work with. Clearly I like him, he's done 6 tattoos for me. This is his first yarn ball he's done. I know, I live to provide people with fresh new experiences. It's a gift.

Max doesn't care.

life goes on BRA!

2010-07-15T17:45:00.000-06:00

We had visitors from the west coast this last weekend. It was so good to see Chris' parents.. it's far too long between visits. we didn't do a whole lot, but we did get to Stampede. First time in 10 years for us, 50 for my MIL (please don't kill me)! It was still.. yup.. Stampede! But we did go see SUPERDOGS!! Which was super. The host mentioned he had been doing it for the last 35 (25?) years and I don't think he had purchased any new clothes since then. They were very, um, natty. Like a game show host from the 70's. And happily as gay as a Christmas tablecloth. He was hilarious. They had 3 little pugs (HEATHER!!!) that ran this little flag course.. I about died from the cute. Ate a corn dog, some mini donuts and called it a day.

The rest of the weekend was pretty rainy, and I wasn't feeling super great so we all laid low. Watched the futbol, had some Chinese (spicy hut!) and caught up. Pickles made new BFF's. He was such an attention ho, I think he completely charmed Moms and Pops.

Do you see what a good sport my husband is? I caught him wearing my robe like a slanket and forced him to capitulate to some extremely shameful photos. Yes he is reading my Fangoria magazine and having a tasty treat out of my flirt mug. Gods, he is a keeper!

I have been knitting, knitting, knitting. One project keeps getting put aside for faster, easier, smaller ones. I never thought I'd break with my knitting monogamy!

Poor little Max got some sort of gross thing on his foot (a wart I think, he is slowly turning into a roaming lump farm) so I put a little bandage on it so he'd leave it alone. It is working. I think.

We had a wicked hail storm last week.. our car is dimpled (not from smiling too much I tell ya!) and it beat the shit out of the trees. It was CRAZY HAIL.

Thems some big balls!

PS That is me up there. I found some photos in the car (!) and scanned them. I reckon this is the last time I wore a 2 piece. I think I was about 3.

this shit is bananas

2010-07-02T14:52:00.001-06:00

Seriously the best muffins EVER. The secret? MORE bananas. We usually have quite small bananas in the house as we use them for smoothies mostly. Last time I made these I had 5 slightly rotten ones kicking around so I used them all. AND... BEST. MUFFINS. EVER. OF. THE. HISTORY. OF. MUFFINS.

Also I use my mix master cause I can and that is just how I roll. I also have a preference for unbleached brown muffin cups I get from Planet Organic. They are great!

best. muffins. ever.
oven at 350
yields 18 perfect muffins.

wet mixture

1/2 cup butter (I usually end up nuking it for 30 sec's cause it's been in the fridge)
5 small bananas (browner is better here)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
1/2-3/4 cup of sugar. the recipe calls for 3/4 c, but I found them a tad sweet. I cut it back to 1/2.

toss this all your mix master and beat the hell out of it. seriously. get it nice and smooth.

dry mixture

2 cups of flour. don't use whole wheat. trust me. all purpose is better.
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1tsp cinnamon
1 cup (or more.. I won't tell) MILK chocolate chips. I've done fancy dark, semi-sweet, but by FAR milk is the best.

When your wet is nice and smooth, add in your dry ingredients. DON'T OVER MIX. Muffins are best when they're not beaten into submission. Mix it until it's all incorporated.

Spoon into 18 prepared muffin tins. Bake for about 20 mins or until tops are golden. Don't over bake these.

Cool. Eat. Enjoy.

PS I ate the one at the top of the post as soon I as took that picture. HOLY SHIT GOOD.

The Fear

2010-06-26T14:55:00.000-06:00

Chris is putting together a recumbent bike in the spare room. Here's to hoping a little exercise will get done. You know, besides the assembling of it.

It's been unusually wet here for us, even if it is June. The southern parts of the province are experiencing enormous amounts flooding. Our lawn is still green. Which is really saying something. We don't water it. EVER. Yes, we are those neighbours. But we do mow. Rather, Jake does. It's nice having a teenage back around to do the heavy lifting.

I'm tired lately. The Fibro stuff makes me conscious of how much I do, and where I want to spend my spoons. Chris went to Pittsburgh overnight for a meeting this week, and I went out the first day he was gone to do some shopping. I used to be able to go go GO, but I was beat by the end of the day. Which awesomely involved new shoes, new dresses and did you know Perrier makes GRAPEFRUIT FLAVOURED WATER? Well they do. And it is gooooooood.

Also: when you find a half a ice cream bar and tell Unilever about it, they send you coupons! Plus check out that awesome nail polish. OMG. I love, it!! I started a polish blog, it's pretty much just pictures. But I do so enjoy it. Pretty Girly.

somewhere.. beyond the sea....

2010-05-13T17:44:00.001-06:00

This has been a weird week-ish. I found out a very old friend passed away (is died too bad to say? I mean that is what happened, but it sounds so final doesn't it?) from a heart attack. We are only 41* isn't that too young? Yes, yes it is. I keep hearing songs that make me think of her, and I hadn't even seen her for years, but you know music has that effect. It gives you the STOP, REFLECT, THINK's doesn't it? Maybe I really should take up running now. Or at least lay off the frozen snickers bars. :/

Also May 8th was our 11th anniversary. I have now doubled my first marriage. Which maybe is crass but again, stop, reflect, think. Yup. Chris got a new TV. Such a silly goose. but he sure likes it. :)

We went bowling on Tuesday with Chris' work. Who knew your ass muscles were so integral in bowling? Well mine are sure pissed with me. The silver lining? My absolute suckage won me not one, but TWO prizes for being the worst there. GO ME!!! I kept imagining I was The Jesus from The Big Lewbowski. It didn't help, but I felt smoooooooth. I still sucked.

I have been knitting, knitting, knitting.

And painting my nails, which is approaching a level of near insanity with my renewed polish lust. It's like a super small craft project that is immediately done with shiny beautiful results. Oh my.. such possibilities!

We also had some visitors on our lawn last weekend...

They hung out for a hour or 2. And scared me. With the quacking. Big birds are scary!
What have YOU been doing?

*42 on the 24th. I relish aging. it's preferable to the alternative.

may the road rise with you.......

2010-04-12T13:46:00.001-06:00

I know it's perils of aging, but another one of my teenage idols died. Malcolm McLaren was an innovator, a firebrand, a dick, an inciter, a user, a visionary and many other things to many other people. This makes me haz a sad like the lolcats say. He died from mesothelioma, a lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. The picture above is him at his infamous shop he owned with Vivienne Westwood. They reckon it was this shop that the exposure came from as they tore out the ceiling to make it look like a bomb hit it. That was SO THE SHIT when I was a wee baby punk rocker. We aspired to that. Coveted it. sigh. Be careful what you wish for.

I found out about this from reading Mr Roger Ebert's blog this am. I truly love his blog, his writing is amazing and makes me tear up on a semi-regular basis. Since he lost his voice, he found mine. Truly awesome.

Anyways I read that, and sat here surfing the Internets aimlessly for hours it seems. I finally got up and took a shower and missed a phone call in the shower. Don't you hate that? When I got out I went and checked caller ID* and it was Jakey. You know, all it takes to buoy you up is to hear from your kid.

I'm gonna go call my parents now. You should too.

*How did we live without this? EVER?

the view belongs to everyone

2010-03-27T16:37:00.000-06:00

the view on my desk as of today:

Chris went all over to find those Quatchi figures. There was much McDonald's eating. :/ My husband is a strange man sometimes.

enjoy the sun!

sheena is a punk rocker, me too!

2010-03-16T14:03:00.004-06:00

So the time has slid by like butter on a hot plate yes?

Some recent highlights:

-Chris got some contract work (while he looks for a permanent place) with his old company! Hurrah! I now know we will be fine when he retires. I am lucky enough to truly enjoy my dude's company. Although stuff does get done more when he is at work. And the kitchen stays cleaner.

-Speaking of the kitchen.. why did I choose WHITE FLOORS? We've had a gorgeous spell of weather here which leads to little doggie foot prints. Good thing I have awesome floor mops* at either side of the room.

-We went to Canmore this weekend with the aforementioned company for their belated Xmas party. Nice!

-I've been baking and knitting and painting my nails with great regularity. Not all at the same time. I don't have that kind of skill set.

See? A nice sweater! Spud and Chloe sweater yarn and it's completely washable. NICE!!

And a lovely scarf. This is knit out of a merino/silk blend I spun up. It was fun and very, very simple. Great TV knitting.

-Chris had a quick trip out to the Island after his Grampa passed away. It was very sad, but he really loved seeing all his awesome relly's and goggling at the green grass. As always much love to you all out there.

-My Mom and Dad are in Vegas AS I WRITE. Moms' cancer treatment is done for now, and she was feeling a little perkier so off they went. I hope they are having a fabulous time.

-My back pain is still here, but since we have been treating this like a fibromyalgia case (which bites but WHATEVER. I am so frikken tired of being tired and in pain and all the symptoms fit so there!), the pills I am taking to help with my sleep has reduced it to being able to be managed with OTC stuff! Go Me!

-Jake turned 18. I cannot have an adult child. I AM NOT GROWN UP MYSELF!

-My hair is in a short bob right now. I'm trying to decide if I wanna chop it all off again. Really, it's just a matter of time right?

-I realise that I only like to blog when Chris isn't home. Blame him for the lack of posts.

*awesome floor mops? kitchen towels on the floor you scrub around with your feet. lazy is as lazy does.

so much ink.. so little skin.

2010-01-14T22:42:00.004-07:00

When you spend your life following the rules, and you still get a kick in the goolies.. GET TATTOOED!! At least this seems to be Chris' new mantra. He was unfortunately laid off on Dec 9. It was a total shock for him (and me!) and seems to be a poor choice on his (former) companies part, but it is what it is. Happy Christmas assholes! So he just up and decided that FUCK THE MAN was kinda appropo.. and VOILA! I seem to have forgotten to take pictures of Chris' other side. It's the same as Big Red, but it's blue!

My reasons aren't nearly as shazam worthy.. I am an addict. Plain and simple. But ain't it just sweet?

This year promises to hold lots of challenges*, new beginnings and who knows what else. It should be.. interesting. To say the least.

*my little tiny baby turns 18. gulp.

all was calm

2009-12-24T18:25:00.001-07:00

all was bright. Happy whatever you celebrate ya'll!

The girl is crafty like ice is cold!

2009-11-18T09:15:00.004-07:00

I recently had an old old* pal get in contact with me who I hadn't seen in oh.. close to 15 years. Our kids used to play together when they were wee. In fact they are only 9 months apart. Of course she went on to have 2 more and I opted for dogs. Bad ones. See?

Anyways.. she had the occasion to come to town and we hooked up for an afternoon of catching up. Which entailed laying on my new bed and picking up right where we left off. Funny thing friendship, the true ones really hold on. We fell back into familiar patterns and it was like we were in junior high. Facebook can be used for good see?

I have been having real sleep problems lately. I have excellent sleep hygiene so am a little stressed about it. I picked up some melatonin this weekend, and haven't quite found the right dosage yet. The search continues. Any good remedies? Speak up!

We also picked up a new coffee system. You know how much I LOVE my coffee, but after about um.. 3 or 4 years of pulling my own shots, I am tired of it**. So we went with the system we had been looking at before buying our last one. We weren't convinced it would still be around but it is and OMG. Where have you been all my life Tassimo? What with your perfect cup of coffee and teas, and hot chocolate and lattes and espressos and..

One button. ONE BUTTON AND 45 SECONDS TO HEAVEN.

I have also been knitting like a crazy woman. Well duh. Finished a sweater. Gave it to Miss Morgan (who seriously? I have GOT TO STOP KNITTING FOR) who wore like it was made for her. Cause apparently it was. The bonus? She has a pink Malabrigo sweater FOR MEEE!!!!

A HUGE shawl. Huge as in big ass yarn. Took 2 days. Silly fast.

Random shot of Henry the bear as I was testing out the simple drive on my camera.

Bed report: Like laying in a cloud. Enough said.

*not that we are old.. we have been friends for a REALLY LONG TIME ok? NOT OLD.
**lazy FTW!

Ain't no rest for the wicked

2009-11-03T09:23:00.003-07:00

and money don't grow on trees..
I got bills to pay
I got mouths to feed
ain't nothing in this world for free.

Please Cage the Elephant. You have dominated my mind for many many days.

In other making sense news..

Best. Breakfast. EVER.

1/3 cup quick oats
1 honeycrisp* apple, peeled, cut up.
a mess of cinnamon
splenda to taste (dude or use sugar, I don't care)
enough water to make a soupy mixture.

Nuke for 2 minutes. Splash with milk.. die from goodness.

The bed is here and it is pretty freaking amazing. We did notice that our old feather pillows really have no support now though. Actually when we were at Sleep Country they had these AWESOME latex pillows that were springy amazing. We went looking for them this weekend and I ended up ordering some from The Sears. They should be here Friday. They were on sale. SALE!

I am so super excited. I WON SOMETHING!!! I won a book! From Lemondrop and it's all about/by my favourite MMA fighter.. Forrest Griffin. I never win stuff. How exciting!

In knitting news, I have finished my goblin cardigan, but it needs a block. And whipped out a cute quick little hat. Slouchy! I think it needs a button or 2.

Also, Pickles.. yup still a pest. Max, still a geezer. Max didn't even wake up when the doorbell rang on Halloween. He is sure slowing down. :(

And finally.. this picture cracks me up (like Morgan says) so there.

*I love fall apples. I can't find Pink Ladies right now, but there are other yumtacular options.

It's the little things...

2009-10-29T07:51:00.006-06:00

that make it all worthwhile isn't it? For example, my laptop. Since I am lucky enough to live in Canada it has a French compatible keyboard. Cool you think? NO. Since every once in a while I would mysteriously activate it and not be able to use my question mark. Some crazy E with a line over it would appear and I would have to re-boot to fix it. FINALLY I got tired of this and googled it. HURRAY! The internets know everything! I removed that language capability from my keyboard settings and VOILA! (hahaha that's Franch you know) done! No more random stupid characters I don't know how to use.

I have been doing some (in one of my Dad's favourite words) pondering about the state of some things lately and have a few things I need (yes need) to proclaim my love for.

Turner Classic Movies. Oh thank you movie gods for this channel. After the shit show that is AMC tricking me* while watching Aliens/The Shining/all of the horror movies they are showing right now (and a hearty FUCK YOU to them for ruining art. I mean really? Put a speedo on The David next whydontcha assholes?) it is a joy to watch ANYTHING on TCM. This month has been especially fantastic. As my good buddy Bob Mitchum up there will attest to.
-Arsenic and Old Lace
-Terror in the Wax Museum (1933.. oh Fay Wray!)
-too many Boris Karloff movies to count!
Thank you thank you thank you!

My new bed that is coming today. Oh jeebus don't let this be a premature thanking! You all know how wack my back is. It suddenly came to my attention that perhaps.. just perhaps our aging IKEA (8+ years) may be playing into this. I have thought the bed uncomfortable for some time now, but reckoned it was just me. Welp, Chris started to complain about it** and the heavens parted and unicorns farted rainbows and the light was seen. We went out last weekend and bought a new bed. It's coming today! I AM SO EXCITED I COULD PEE. but not in the bed. I have no picture to show you, but it's called Kingsdown. And the model is Beethoven. Ah. So knocking all wood, the sleeping will not result in the hurting (which it has for oh.. say the last 8 months) back anymore.

My little dogs. Even when they do bastardly things like escape, get into the neighbours yard and cry to get back home, resulting in a nightgowned/sweatpants jaunt before 8am to retrieve said dog. Or when they insist the best place to sleep in on my knitting in progress. Oh my dogs!

Chicken. Cause I love me some chicken.

Bath and Body Works Shea Cashmere hand cream. Seriously the best stuff I have ever used. I can knit or spin moments after putting this on. It's amazing. Moisture with absolutely no greasiness and it smells DIVINE.

Finishing things. For example this hand spun, hand dyed (by ME!) pygora scarfy thing. Mm hm.

Family and friends that eat my cooking without complaining! And the rare picture of Jake!!

In this picture I am wearing the sweater I have worn a billion times but have no real pictures of. This was Thanksgiving when we were lucky enough to have a little houseful of fabulous people over. Kevin (the tall one! who came with his lovely lady Trish. No pictures.. jeeze) and Lane (with Karen and Zoe.. why do we have no pictures of the cutest little girl in the world dammit Chris!) with me in the Kitchen. Great job photo documenting Chris. Really great.

Also I love coffee, salted caramel, my new tattoos, and I hope this goes without saying.. you!

*In my halfhearted defense, sometimes when I check the listings I get so excited to see something I like on, I just GO TO THE DAMN SHOW. Only to be HORRIFIED when the best bits get cut. Or ahem.. SANITISED.

**After her started snoring and he decided to sleep on his side rather than back. You know I bought a box of those breathe right strips, and apparently you only need to buy them not use them, cause he has pretty much stopped after I got those suckers in the house. Who knew?

poor impulse control

2009-10-16T15:05:00.003-06:00

Unplanned but thrilled.

smoke 'em if you got 'em

2009-10-07T19:03:00.006-06:00

Movies I have watched and loved lately:

-Zombieland. In fact I think I may go see this AGAIN in the theater. IT WAS THAT GOOD.

-Land of the Lost. This was a whim. A total, I think this will probably suck monkey balls, but what the hell its free. WELL SMACK MY ASS AND CALL ME CHARLIE. It's really really funny. Like surprisingly, lolling funny. So that goes to show you can't judge a movie by its shitty source material.

-Infestation. I think this was a direct to DVD kinda deal about giant bugs that take over the world. You never do find out why. But you won't care because this was really a decent little flick! Great acting, nifty (if not slightly lowish budget in some shots) effects and a good time was had by all.

-Pandorum. I thought this would be an Aliens/Doom/Event Horizon rip off. And it was. But in the best way possible. Totally slick looking and more fun than a barrel of insane space monkeys that want to kill you and eat your face.

-Inglorious Basterds. Typical Tarantino (with less violence) and so of course being the screamy fangirl I am... I LOVED it. Great pacing, GREAT acting, beautiful. Well done Q.

The media frenzy we held this weekend was a lovely success! We got rid of maybe half of our CD's and 2/3 of our DVD's. I think people really liked picking over the stuff.. and seriously, A LOT of safeway bags were used. We still have lots left though...

And now the pictures I have been saying are here are well.. here.

See? My vision came together. Chris was not all about the red rug at first (Him: It looks like a pool of blood. Me; Yeah? And? Him: Oh Karen! Me: The kitchen is the most appropriate place for that innit?) but came around when he saw the prints I ordered. AND OMG WEREWOLF. How I love that image. And I love being right.

I have finished another shawl with the most excellent yarn EVER. Diamond Luxury Yarn cashmere silk.

r

a

Never you mind the yucky looking rug, its a weird old Ikea jobby that has this amazing super power of holding yarn so blocking pins aren't needed. Just LOOK AT THAT SHAWL! It's the same one I knit for my Moms, just for me this time. I love it so hard. I will try to take better pictures in a more flattering situation. Maybe an Xmas party or something.

We have Turkey day coming up this weekend and there will be ~~blood~~ food!

We got the beat

2009-09-30T09:43:00.002-06:00

We had an unreasonably hot spell last week. For reals who thinks 34 c is good idea in September? NOT ME. Or the dogs. Poor bastards had a rotten time staying cool. Pickles idea is to stay off the ground as much as possible. Max? He sleeps.

But really? It made for some purty pictures didn't it? I love our big blue sky, who knew I was totally a prairie girl?

Of course this lead to me not being able to knit on my ginormous blanket* of sock yarn. No way could I have all the wool on my lap. Gross. So I knit a quick sweater (that I have no pictures of) and started a shawl out of cashmere and silk. Woot.

We have done the almost unthinkable and invited a great whack of people over this Sunday to view our new kitchen. Oh and give away all of our CD's and lots of movies. Since we've ripped most of our music to the compy, the actual physical discs have been quietly gathering dust and taking up space. Movies too. SO MANY MOVIES!** So we thought why not give them to our nearest and dearest. So that means I really do gotta finish up the small bits of decor that have been plaguing me.

In other news...

Jake had his wisdom teeth out with no ill effects so far. It was kinda entertaining to see him all sleepy and compliant. But he is a trooper (tough as nails) and there has been a minimum of complaining. For a teenager. Nice how I had to add that in innit?

*Blanket is larger than it appears.
**Many which I have bought at least three times. VHS, DVD and now Blu Ray. NO MORE I TELL YOU. NO MORE.

poor poor pitiful me..

2009-09-22T09:51:00.002-06:00

Hey Guise! We're BACK!

Well not really. Poor bloggy. All alone and somewhat friendless. Chris keeps ~~nagging~~ reminding me about you dear blog. So finally, here I am. hat in hand ready to say I'm sorry I've ignored you for so long.

A quick recap then shall we?

End of July. Nothing much to see here. Please drive through.

August. More of the same. Mostly. We DID plan our kitchen reno! The best place to find out about that is over at Chris' blog. He was much more on the ball than I was about recording the whole thing. I however am in possession of most of the pictures! Which I haven't uploaded off the camera.

UNTIL NOW!!!! (duh duh duuuuuuuuuuh!

In fact to prove how meta I am, I took some more pictures of my NEW DESK as I was writing this post. With the post up on the screen! How internets awesome am I? I have never had my own desk before. I KNOW RIGHT? So since the kitchen is you know, kitchen like now, a work space was a good idea! This is what my morning looks like most days to start.

The mug is one I drew when I was in Grade 1. Seriously a relic of my childhood. Magazine for a little light reading (and OMG ZOMBIELAND SOON!*), yarn, coffee and my little terrarium. I am a bit green thumbed challenged you see.

Top view of the rad.

Now I have all the kitchen photos! I think I'll get Chris to do a photo essay of them. I have some teaser shots for you, but we are waiting on a couple of prints for the naked walls (that look so good painted!)** and we are still discussing rugs. Like we bought one, but it was compromise rug. I dunno.. it's not my vision.

Please to be noticing THE DISHWASHER! It is actually on and hissing bits of lovely steam as I took this picture. You know this has been the longest period of my life that I didn't have a dishwasher. I will run that bastard everyday. It brings me joy. Such sweet joy.

TILE!!

So in other non house related news...

Jakey boy has to get his wisdom teeth pulled out this Friday (the bottom ones are totally HORIZONTAL!) at the oral surgeon. I kiboshed the idea of our dentist doing it, and was commended by the surgeon for that decision. So 3k later.. actually our insurance pays for all but about 100 dollars. THANK VOODOO MAN! Go Jake! He pretends he isn't nervous, but I think different. :)

My Moms is having some health issues right now too. I have been trying to knit for her as I am not there, but it's not the same.

Sweater for Moms. Bamboo and silk. Nice!

Shawl of merino. So much fun to knit I think I'm gonna do another one for me.

And I have been doing some knitting for me too..

Hand dyed and hand spun organic merino garter stitch shawl. I love it. Super snuggly.

I have just finished another sweater as of last night but it's blocking out right now. It took less than a week to knit!!!! And I also have a 10 stitch blanket on the go. In fact I'm hosting a KAL for it on Ravelry on the Calgary Knit Club group. Why haven't you joined yet?

*Which reminds me, we went and saw The Final Destination in 3D! The 3D elevated a normally ho hum. somewhat predictable rube goldberg killing movie into AWESOMENESS. Seriously, I was swatting away things and ducking. Oh 3D. I love you.

**If my back wasn't full of fail, I have no doubt I could paint walls for a living. Oh and fuck diamonds, a palm sander is a girls best friend in the painting world.

Pick and choose

2009-07-20T10:14:00.003-06:00

So you know when you have soooo much to say you get all confuzzled like an old terrier barking at pieces of crap blowing past the back fence* then you forget what you were doing in the first place and all the stuff you wanted to say just goes clean out of your head and you are left wondering why you are staring at the back yard and go and sit down and finish spinning that awesome alpaca silk you were working on?

Yeah that.

So I got a new awesome camera! Its this one!!

Pink and everything! HD BITCHES! SAWHEET! 10 mp pictures! Pistol grip! Now when I figure out how to get the pics off of it I reckon I'm golden..

My iPod keeps playing Guns & Roses. Is it trying to tell me something? See me hit you.. you fall down HUH!

So this summer has been less that great weather wise here. We had something like our entire months worth of rain in the first week. :/ Lame.

I did go join our local knitting guild though! How not like me huh? But I missed all my knitting gals.. and everyone was happy. My social-ness feels really good! I have missed Alana, Michelle, Trish, Marilynn and everyone else. It was full of win to be welcomed back into the knitting scene again. <3!

We went to IKEA yesterday and I think we started the ball rolling on our long awaited kitchen reno. Its almost like I don't want to say too much about it lest I jinx it somehow. Be prepared though... its a comin'.

*MAX. I am looking at you. Bad Dog.

Almost summer....

2009-06-15T11:54:00.003-06:00

Summer strawberries in a robins egg blue bowl. Is there anything prettier? My lust for vintage inspired linens is reaching a weird fever pitch and thankfully Chris doesn't mind twee rosebuds and pink. Whatta good man huh?

We had to get the fans out! Normally I would grouse somewhat about this, but after the shitty winter... BRING IT ON.

I have truly been on a lace knitting TEAR. I can't seem to get enough. Crazy is as crazy does. My back has been a nightmare, and doing intricate (yet semi-mindless) work seems to distract me. Well that and big pharma. Oh big pharma.. how I lurve you.

Plus I have been dyeing a little. Inside. Ha ha! But seriously. This is organic merino I got from Shuttleworks. Scrummy, soft, dreamy to spin. And now? Beautifully colourful.

Things I love right now:

xenergy energy drinks especially big apple!
organic strawberries.
chicken on salad.
cotton nighties.
new slippers.
my flat iron.

More to come..

Dyeing for spring

2009-05-22T13:33:00.004-06:00

Pickles and Max* would like to welcome spring. And line drying dyeing. At least if Pickles wasn't scared of it and wigged out when he first saw it. He is fine now. But still that first line dry... terrifying.

Sometimes I forgot there are people who aren't on Ravelry. Sorry. I have been knitting! See? Pretty huh? Drops alpaca scarf. Yummay.

And some not so great photos of eyes wide shut us but its the only one I have of my smokin' boots, so tough. The sweater I knit out of black Malabrigo, its like butter. But better. We were on our way out to a fancy dinner for our 10th anniversary. Swanky huh?

Still goofballs after 10 years. And could I maybe have covered up that bra strap? Oh my!

Right now I have a cobbler in the oven and am waiting for Chris to finish his remicade infusion. Then its the beginning if birthday weekend** extravaganza. And by that I mean I booked and appointment for Chris to go to a posh spa for a massage (I am having some back issues.. again so no thanks) and that's about it. EXCITING HUH? :) Happy birthday also to our Angie. It must have sucked sharing a b-day when you were kids. But now? Who cares eh?

I have some optim to spin, and am happy to sit very still and do so. Careful now. Easy does it.

Happy weekend all..

*See his teeny tiny head on the very right hand side of the picture? Poor Maxy had to get a loose tooth pulled the other day. I am happy to report he came through like a trouper and is much happier for it. Also my vet rocks. He didn't even charge me for a vet visit. I LOVE YOU DR TORRENCE.
**Chris is 37 on Saturday. I am 41 (gulp) on Sunday. It helps to never forget being that close.

Raindrops on roses

2009-05-12T13:04:00.012-06:00

You know, one of my favourite things? But don't push it rain, you are welcome for only so long.

More of my favourite things?

Mmm scratchy Japanese washcloths that make you silky smooth! Jake LOVES it! He is such a funny monkey. He actually used mine before I did. Good thing I bought one for everyone. From this seller on Ebay. She was awesome! Superfast and very communicative!

Greek yogurt! I haven't been able to readily find the real thing, so have been making my own. I use fat free (that's just how I roll) Astro (no gelatin) Balkan style, or Annie's (if I get up to the natural market) plain yogurt. Put it in a paper towel lined strainer, sit it in a bowl and let it sit overnight in the fridge. It drains out all the whey, it usually reduces by 1/3! OMG! Then you have the thickest most delicious yogurt KNOWN TO MAN. I just pop it back into its original container. I have been having mine with some:

Mmmm.. agave goodness! Like honey mated with maple syrup! Tasty!

I also add some Vanilla Bean Paste:

Which is heaven in a jar. I got it from Williams Sonoma in Chinook Centre. Pricey but sosososososo worth it. It is also spectacular with homemade jam.

I am also on a coconut oil bender. I have been making these to die for scones with it.

Its good for you. Honest!

Scones of deliciousness

2 cups flour
2 tbsp sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp cinnamon*
1 tsp nutmeg*
1.5 tsp citrus zest of some kind. I have used lemon, clememtine and orange. ALL GOOD

Whisk these together in a bowl.

Add 1/4 cup coconut oil. Mash it with a fork until it looks like sand. Coconut oil is solid at room temp. Or you could use butter.. but why? WHY? Smell how good that is? Oh yeah.

Now you'll need:

2 beaten eggs
1/4-1/3 cup milk. Less if you are going to put some kind of fruit in it. I have used frozen raspberries.
1 tbsp vanilla. See that stuff up there? Use that!

Add wet to dry and mix. Stir in:

1/2 cup fruit. Dried chopped apricots, cranberries, raisins**, frozen raspberries.. I dunno, experiment. I am!
1/2 cup nuts
1/2 cup chocolate chips. Use good ones for goodness sake. Mini dark ones are especially good.

Or any combo of the three. Ok?

Mix until its a soft sticky dough. Shape into 2 rounds and cut them into 6 or 8 pie shaped wedges. Bake on a greased cookie sheet for 13-15 minutes (longer if you use fresh/frozen fruit) or until golden brown at 400 degrees.

You can glaze these if you are so inclined. I use a couple of tbsp of whatever citrus zest I used juice (fresh squeeze please!) and about a cup of icing sugar. Mix and drizzle while scones are still hot. I suggest being judicious when using fresh/frozen fruit as they can get a little wet-ish if you go nutso.

Serve and impress your friends. I did.

Answer man time:

Shower curtain? Got it at Home Outfitters. I think it was 40$. They have matching accessories!
Toilet? Painted behind it it when it wasn't there. My Momma didn't raise me to be a fool.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go wipe off wet dogs. Damn rain.

Oh and happy 10 years to my fabulous husband. May is a month full of stuff to celebrate, but really? 10 YEARS!?! We rock my love. We really do.

*or add your own spices. I love these two. they make me happy
**Chris hates raisins. he says its a perfectly good way to wreck almost anything. :)

hell-o reno.

2009-04-29T12:32:00.005-06:00

It all started with a leaky faucet. Isn't that the way it goes? The night before we left for Vegas the taps in our ONE BATHROOM house decided to shit the bed. GREAT. Fortunately, my parents are the good sport types and used the kitchen sink for everything. Good thing its a whopping 10 steps away.

So we come back from Vegas. Taps. Argh. Go to find a replacement cartridge (not a washer type this POS. Nope. A cartridge. L.A.M.E.) and the nice dude at Rona gives us 2 for free! Delta has a lifetime warranty. You know, if they fit that is. Which they don't.

Off to buy a cheap replacement faucet. BUT whats that I see? A super cute vanity? For like 100$? Well that of course leads to better taps. Which leads to a new floor as the old one just won't do with all that new floor space. Which leads to a new toilet* (super small! super efficient! 2 flush sizes!) which leads to new paint which leads to a new bathroom.

We only had to call the plumber to attach the sink as we have NON STANDARD plumbing. But you know.. its pretty smokin' if I do say so myself.

Now if you ever hear me volunteer to paint another bathroom.. you know there is something really wrong with me. Cause that ain't NO FUN AT ALL. Really though, scraping up ancient flooring isn't either.

The awesome? We have more room, and its pretty and fresh and clean. And we learned that NO WAY IN HELL could we ever do our own kitchen. NOPE.**

AND Chris got to smash the old toilet with a hammer! Fun times!

*Chris calls it the Hello Kitty toilet it's so small!
**But I have a sneaking suspicion it will be done :)

Neglect

2009-04-18T17:56:00.007-06:00

Oh poor bloggy.. you have been so neglected lately haven't you? Well I wanted to blog about our trip to the Vegas, but was sidetracked by an impromptu renovation that took hold. But I reckon chronological is best isn't it?

The Vegas.

We stayed at Planet Hollywood again. Just so you know, the sandwich* totally works and a 20$ tip got us upgraded to a way bigger room with a strip view. Oh yeah.

We made some new friends:

And an old one:

We saw beauty queens and a show:

The Amazing Jonathan was AMAZING. Ok not really, but he was bloated, completely not PC, vulgar and not just a little bit drunk. We loved it. He was raunchy. I think he used to be a magician, but the only things I saw him make disappear was some shots and a beer. Not for the faint of heart.

We saw Volcanoes, fountains and so. many. kids.

It was weird to see so many people pushing strollers. Why? Vegas=not for kids. Although Chris and I found it hilarious to see a 7 year old boy picking up the hooker trading cards the snappers hand out while his 5 year old brother was laughing. Oh Vegas!

We ate too much, drank too much, and had too much fun!

Next up... RENO. HELL.

*Front Desk Tip It works. For reals.

Snose goes away please...*

2009-03-26T17:55:00.005-06:00

I have a black thumb. Its true. I planted a HUGE garden when we first bought our little duplex. I broke the ground, rototilled the soil**, planted little seeds, weeded and cared for it. Then Chris ended up in hospital that fall and while I managed to get a few things out of the ground, it was left to go to seed. The backyard has since reclaimed that piece of land and I buy my veggies. Screw you gardening.

House plants have NEVER fared well in my care, but I have had a lucky bamboo stick that is seeming to be ok*** so I have branched out. A tiny terrarium! With a very small plastic deer! Did you have any idea how hard it is to find tiny plastic animals? Well it is. I really wanted a sheep, but didn't find one. So deer it is. Lets see how long it lasts. Hopefully a long time.

The flick carded cormo locks spun up into some lovely yarn didn't it? And of course.. Mr Takemypicture is right there. Aways there for impromptu photo shoots. Little bugger.

The little baby sweater sure knitted up fast! Not having done a whack of baby knitting I can say with certainty, it is FUN. Like instant gratification fun.

Not that I'm a good friend. This sweater does have to be hand washed. Like new Moms have time for that right? STILL EVIL.

*what Pickles looks like when he comes in after the snow. You know EVERY DAMN DAY. Ugh. GO AWAY.

**and got 3rd degree sunburn for it. Ugh.

***leave it alone and apparently it works.

I call BULLSHIT.

2009-03-22T15:13:00.004-06:00

On a whole buncha stuff.

Spring:

SPRING MY ASS. This was taken this am so the dogs could go out to pee. The door couldn't be opened until Chris shovelled. UGH.

Dogs who won't stay outta the back 9. Then cry cause they are too jammed up to walk.

People who claim something has happened only maybe 2x when you know that is as false as false can be? RIGHT. /eyeroll

Things I am not calling out?

Gorgeous flick carded cormo locks. From The Fiber Denn Fleece on Etsy. Wow. This is spinning up like BUTTAH. And yes, I did the flick carding.

I also have a whack of Polwarth that I am processing by hand. Time consuming and very pretty. I'll try to get Chris to do some photo journalistic pics of it being done soon. Very old school.

Another thing that doesn't suck*? Going to Vegas in a couple weeks.

Nope. No suck there.

*Soul Calibur 4. FULL OF WIN.

Springing into action

2009-03-13T16:57:00.004-06:00

I've just heard from an old pal that she is expecting. Ooooh baby knitting! What an exciting prospect!

Finished: one ~~more~~ sweater*. From the book Custom Knits its the Favorite (it kills me a little inside to spell it that way you know) Cardigan and I listed my mods on the Ravelry page for it. I love it. The colour is more true in the first picture. Mmmmalabrigo. From Mmmmorgan.

Tattoo info:

Tattoo was done by an amazing artist named Rick Wilson working at Strangeworld Tattoo here in Calgary. The nicest shop ever. Super clean styley place with big flat screens on each station and they were totally playing 28 Days Later when I went. Le sigh. He was an awesome guy, really friendly and had the bonus of being cute and liking alot of the same things as me which makes 2 hours of tattooing fly. I can't wait to get more. MORE MORE MORE.

We have a wedding to go to tomorrow so I guess I have to get out my one vaguely dressy dress/slutty waitress outfit. Hahaha not. Oh well. Thankfully its ok to wear black to weddings now. At least it said so in the newest edition of Glamour Magazine (my only lady mag weakness) so there. I haven't met the bride or groom (the groom is one of Chris' pals) so hey! What the hell huh?

Captain Flashbang** is wholly addicted to Call Of Duty (doody! haha) World at War and is a total write off and is prone to yelling out shit that makes no sense at all while playing. "I WANT THAT LITTLE THING!" "OOOPS BUDDY!" "JESUS I KILLED YOU HAHAHAHA SORRY!"

oh well at least its not crack. right?

This was photo shopped for my Dad who loves this picture of Max/Matlock with his whole heart.

It never fails to make him laugh.

Chris was up in Prince George this week, so I watched a whole lotta movies. Inside Deep Throat (a documentary about the porno movie that changed the world! ) Religulous (amazing. Actually Dad, you'd really enjoy this) and Dracula 2000. So bad, so very very bad, it was good.

The weather is finally warming up. But for how long? Sigh.

I'm starting to feel the siren call of Vegas. This winter has sucked the will to live err... um no that sounds about right, outta us all.

*Sweater count for 2009: 5 so far.
**Chris. Not Pickles.

Marked for good

2009-03-03T12:28:00.004-07:00

I actually have some photos of new and awesome things.

Like ME!

I have been plotting these tattoos for a LONG time. See my Dad has these birds on his hands and I remember being utterly fascinated with them as little girl. I wondered why everyone's Daddy didn't have them (wusses) and I loved them. So FFWD 40 years and here they are! The one with the little rose? For my Mom. Although she cried when I got my first tattoo, I think she likes these. :)

And some stuff I knitted: unfortunately no modeled shots. But I do hope to rectify that at some point in the future. Both sweaters knit from the same yarn. Lana Gatto Bambini Soft. Super good deal at Elann.com.

The garter one is a rav pattern thats super easy and fast to knit.

The grey one? My own made up-ness. Since new tattoos call for shorter armed sweaters, good thing I can oblige huh?

Man shorter armed sweaters knit up FAST!

Pickles is providing much picture fodder these days. When he sees the camera come out he poses like a supermodel. So its kinda rare that I can catch him in a candid* unposed shot. Boy does he love his PEST** tent. And his toys. Nope not at all spoiled.

I have to thank Michelle for the link (see picture at top pf page thnx) to the Superhero Creator. I'm LOVING it.

*OMG I am totally one of those crazy people who thinks I'm catching my dog in a candid
moment. Lock me up.
**Like in Deadwood. Pest tent. Hahaha.

Random strangeness.

2009-02-20T11:10:00.006-07:00

Things that have happened over the last couple of weeks.

1. The mom asking Chris and I to take her underage kids into the Friday the 13th remake. Um no? Its 18A for a reason*. Boobies (fake ones :/)/sex and gore. You either take them yourself or oh I dunno, SAY NO? Parents are such wusses these days. PS It sucked.

2. MORE SNOW. Ugh. Just say no. But at least its bright and sunshiny. I would go more bananas if it rained all the time. For real.

3. ROCK BAND 2!! We haven't even needed to turn on the no fail option!

4. The TV came!

5. Finished another sweater.

6. Jake is 17 today! Happy Birthday wee baby Jake.

7. OH! And it's Pickles birthday too! Happy 2nd my Pickley pal!

Happy weekend all!

*yeah.. I know it totally doesn't sound like something I'd care about, but dude, I really do. I have my buttons. This is one of them. You can ask Jake how I didn't let him play M games or watch R movies. He thought it was lame, but he he still knew where my stance was.

Stand up straight

2009-02-09T10:20:00.003-07:00

The ONE picture of the millions Chris took of me in two sweaters I like. It'll do Pig. It'll do.

Note to self.. knit smaller sweaters.

On my mind lately:

2009-02-04T12:34:00.005-07:00

Since I have been batching it for the last few days (Chris is on a course up in the 'Chuck) I have been contemplating a whole bunch of things.

1. Why is it so hard to get this goddamn TV?

2. Why does Max get over the fence then stare at me like I am supposed to go get him to come back?*

3. I think I like dyeing roving more than yarn, but its harder. But its prettier. But its harder. Le sigh.

4. I am crazy mad, mental insane over Spoon Fed. For reals their homemade crackers might just have real crack in them. At least when I commented that, Carmie (who is my newest hero/girl crush) actually emailed me back to lol at me. The soups? AMBROSIA. And weirdly, its making me cook more soup on my own. Viva La Soup!

5. I really want this shirt. See above image? Oh yeah.

6. My husband loves to make us look like zombies. Is that telling me something?

7. I *still* have a sweater, a cowl, a scarf and a whole lotta shit to take pictures of and put up. Since I hate the mySpace angle, its will still have to wait.

8. Mmmm cobbler smells so good cooking!

9. Mixing plain unscented baby oil with a nice smelling perfume oil? Best shower moisturiser EVER. I slop it on while still in the shower and rinse off a little. For a 1.99 (plus perfume oil) its inexpensive, effective, customisable, and FULL OF WIN.**

10. My new nail lady (Linda) made my nails look new. WIN.

11. I only have a half a sleeve and the collar left on my new sweater to finish. Then it can not get photographed too!

12. I should not watch youtube ghost videos when I have to sleep by myself. Not even if they are cheesey. And Max likes to bark at nothing when we are alone. Thanks senility!

13. My Bloody Valentine 3D? OMG SO FULL OF WIN! The tech is amazing! I hope one day all movies will be like this. It was gross, violent, bloody and FUN.

14. Bleach gets anything out of anything.

15. I kinda really want Rock Band 2.

16. Leave Christian Bale alone. For reals.

17. I loathe movies like He's Just Not That Into You. WHY? WHY DOES THIS GARBAGE GET MADE? Based on a self help book? Gragh.

18. Pickles loves his pest tent. No Max allowed.

19. Spinning Pygora? YUM.

20. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair? Changed my life.

*Not happening little buddy. Suck it up.
** I like my S'es ok spell check? Suck it up.

Close to good for you..

2009-01-23T13:01:00.005-07:00

*

I had a hankering for cupcakes but after almost not getting out of in front of the house once yesterday, there was no way I was gonna risk it again. So whats a junkie to do? Make them myself!

Very close to vegan chocolate cupcakes. I have heavily modified this recipe based on one I found on the PPK.

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup Splenda
5 Tbsp canola oil
1 tbsp vanilla
1 banana, mushed well
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup chocolate chips

Oven at 350. Line 12 cupcake pan with liners. I have these awesome ones that are unbleached and practically fall off anything you put in them.

Combine sugar, splenda, oil, vanilla and banana and beat until smooth. Oh Kitchen Aid. You make everything so easy.

Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk until well mixed. Add dry to wet alternately with milk, scraping down sides of bowl. Stir in choccy chips.

Spoon into cups and bake for about 20 mins or until they spring back when touched and/or a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

YUMMAY! These come in at about 150 cals each. Not iced, but damn a chocolate ganache would be amazing on these. You know providing they last longer than a day or so. Which these won't. No way.

So seriously? Every single Oscar nomination? Ugh. I am such a philistine.

*Actual photo of cuppycake. Holy shit are these good.

Hey! I missed it!

2009-01-21T08:09:00.004-07:00

This is my 201st post! You'd think I'd be more on it huh? WRONG. Oh well.

I have been up since 5am. I had to let the dogs out. Pickles sometimes has to go you know? And he lets me know by standing by the door and mooping. Very quietly, but still. Mooping. Or squeaking. Anyways I can usually fall back asleep but not today. Today I was tantalised by the thoughts of rice pudding. I guess that's what happens when you go to bed hungry huh?

Rice Pudding

4 cups of milk. I use skm cause thats what I buy.
1/2 c arborio rice. You know, risotto rice.
a few tbsp of sugar (I use splenda)
half a vanilla bean. Go on, even Safeway has them.
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract, cinnamon to taste.

Put your milk, rice and sugar/splenda in a heavy bottomed pot. Split your vanilla bean in half, and slit along the length to let out all the vanilla goodness. Scrape it out into the milk, and toss the whole thing in. Bring your mixture to a gentle boil and turn down to a nice simmer. Stir this. Alot. Don't go sit down and read the internets and let the bottom scorch. No, keep stirring. For like 30-40 min intermittently. You'll know the rice is done by tasting it. Arborio rice holds a lot of moisture and still retains its shape. Like risotto. Get it?

I like mine a little on the wet-ish side as I find if its dry, it doesn't keep in the fridge as well. And its creamier that way. Anyways, when it's done cooking, take off the heat and add the vanilla extract and cinnamon. I make this not that sweet on purpose, so you can sweeten it to your taste. The first batch I made I used 1/4 c splenda and I found it too sweet. The vanilla bean seems to add a lot of sweetness for me, but you know what you like so adjust accordingly. Store the leftovers in the fridge and reheat or don't. yum.

I eat this for breakfast, for afters, for fun. Seriously, its good for you! A nice big serving of calcium, some rice? All kinds of goodness.

My parents are in Hawaii right now. Not covered in slush and getting stuck in front of the house. I hope they are having a fabulous time.

I seem to have a case of the January blahs. So do the dogs. See ^. I have a whole bunch of stuff to put up, write up and photograph. Lets see how long it takes to get through it. Maybe I just need more coffee...

I gave in. (all about the stuff man..)

2009-01-12T15:29:00.006-07:00

I did. I resisted as long as I could but in the end it was futile. I got an ipod. AND OMG HOW DID I EVER NOT ALWAYS HAVE ONE!?!? It is purple and shiny and when I shake it the song changes and it has games and I LOVEITLOVEITLOVEIT. Who knew 16g were this fun?

So um yeah.

Oh and I got some awesome new boots too. They have penguins on the bottoms! Very warm and good for Dog Park!

I finished a sweater, a hat, and a cowl. Pictures will follow. I hope. The sweater is simply amazingly snuggly. Why did I wait so long to be on the Rowan train? Argh.

We have had a bit of a debacle regarding Chris' new TV. He was disappointed, angry, sad and hopefully tonight, well on his way to actually getting one. Poor Chris.

I could go for some yam fries.

Post Holiday Breakdown. In a good way.

2009-01-01T18:36:00.003-07:00

Things we did this holiday season (not in order.. not even close):

Drove up North for my parents 50th Wedding anniversary! Holy cats! 50 years! We got the whole family together (for the first time since Chris and I got married. You know.. almost 10 years ago?) for dinner. Its shocking when the wee little nieces and nephews are not so wee. When they are taller than me. And you know, adults. Able to drink the liquor and live on their own with a boyfriend and go to college. sigh. Of course not many good pictures were taken, but it was nice to see everyone. Time passages.

We saw Jake and took him shopping for many, many things. Clothes, Cd's, shoes. All in stores I would never have gone in. With loud hip hop music. And baggy pants that need to be belted about ones butt to be the ultimate in cool. Um yeah. We threw some gang signs*, hung out and had a good time. He is such a funny kid.

Gave the dogs a bath on New Years eve. I know, hold the freaking phone, the excitement never stops. I had a bath using a LUSH bubble bar and when I was done I decided to dunk the dogs as they smelled, well.. doggy you know? And I reckoned how could a geranium scented dog be worse than the usual? Impressed? Judge for yourself.

Went shopping. A lot of shopping. My husband really really REALLY apparently NEEDED a new TV so we have a new addition coming next week. Voodoo man knows where a 52 inch LCD will go, but since this means we can pretty much ignore the theatre from now on, I'll make do.

Found out one of our LYS is closing. That is a sad state indeed, but the owner told me she'd been trying to sell for a year with no takers and she wants out before the economy slows down even more here. High end yarn shops are hit hard with the looming recession and the Internet makes price shopping EASY and with no overhead? You do the math. She is right, but its sad to see it go. Upside? I found some awesome discontinued Rowan Soft Tweed. Enough for a sweater! Hoo-rah!

Saw some friends we hadn't seen in ages.

Ate a lot of bad for you but oh so good food.**

Bought 2 Giftmess trees! 2! Both pink, both tinsel! Go ME!

Watched all of Deadwood. I learned new and exciting combinations of curses I never thought of. I also am now pining for some resolution, but what can a girl do? C@*&suckers! Oh and got a thumping big crush on Ian McShane.

Shovelled the walks like fourhundredeleventybillion times. And its snowing now. ENOUGH ALREADY.

and how was your holidays?

*Good thing I got my nails done.
**Note to self. No buying any jeans until after the feeding frenzy ok?

Productive

2008-12-21T10:54:00.003-07:00

The weather is forcing me to become productive. Small projects give you the feeling of accomplishment. Quickly. Which is nice. These were all done in the last week or so. I know you sorta saw the dogs, but see their cunning initials?

We went to a party last night that friends we haven't seen in absolute dogs ages threw. It was in my pals in-laws house which was the most awesome. house. ever. Know why? Cause it looked like Buffy's house. All craftsman-ly and full of wood. Sigh. I also took the (very soon to be famous for me) cupcake bites. I was certainly the belle of the ball with those! They look so much more complicated than they are.

Cold on the outside

2008-12-15T10:45:00.004-07:00

Although the weather outside was frightful, we had the most delightful weekend. Considering I fully intended not to leave the house, that plan was quickly squashed by my dearest husband. But first, we had to contend with a few things, you know, like snow!

Chris shoveled like a trooper on Saturday morning. It was COLD* but he struggled through like a champ. See? He even carved out a prison yard/maze for the dogs in the back do poor little Max could pee without getting his belly wet. Speaking of I knit them matching sweaters this weekend. Oh. My. God. I am officially one of *those* people. You know, the crazy ones. If I knit Chris and Jake matching ones, just send me out behind the shed ok?

I also knit a pair of mittens, a hat, and half a scarf that I didn't like so I frogged. Ah the impermanence of knitting! I hit an amazing sale at American Eagle and got a whole bunch of new snuggle wear (sweat pants! thermal t! hoodie!) for uber cheap.

On Sunday we went to a movie (full price! That NEVER happens!) and it was so full of awesome.. well for us it was. The Punisher! It was so over the top violent/bloody/gross/fun/full of crazy/heads getting shot off that I couldn't believe it. I haven't had that much fun in a movie for soooo long. I wouldn't recommend it for the more erudite of you, but for us? PERFECTION. Then last night as Chris went to his final poker tourney of the year (and won it.. came home with 6 shiny $100 bills!) I watched the season ender of Dexter. Ah.. what a fabulous wind down.

Speaking of Chris and $, his old company has finally gotten their collective poop in a group and are ready to pay him out for the shares he is still holding this week. It should be a pretty huge chunk of change that will allow us to be completely debt free (aside from the house of course.. but have I mentioned we hope to have it paid off in the next 5 years? We are thankful everyday that we bought when we did!) with a monstrous amount left over. And a good portion of it will be in American funds. A bright spot with our dollar being in the dumpster. We feel really fortunate and blessed.

This pic is for Miss Morgan who is off to balmy Argentina this week. If she finds the Malabrigo factory, and she knows whats good for her, at least ONE** sweaters worth of yarn better be on its way to me. Travel safe my sweetie.

*about -25 without the wind chill. Today its -30. Again, without the wind chill. gross.

** Two.

About waiting

2008-12-12T10:48:00.006-07:00

Sometimes waiting is a great thing. It heightens the pay off. And then there is the complete and utter opposite. Like when you wait 17 years for a certain album to come out. And it drops. And drops is the right word. Ugh. Mr Rose. The only place that album (CD? MP3s?) should drop is in the toilet. Thanks.*

Its supposed to get cold this weekend. How cold you ask? How does -40 avec wind chill sound? It sounds like crap to me! We have plans dammit! NO MORE SNOW. Of course we are looking at 15 cm or so. ARGH.

Here is a picture of the dogs bed. Where Pickles goes to snit. They go there when they think I am getting ready to go out. And to sleep at night of course.

Know what? I have no mittens! I have lotsa fingerless ones, but real proper mittens? NOPE. Seriously? Seriously! I found this out this week as dog park visits and snow shoveling** were colder than usual due to this over sight. You know I have like eleventy twelve bazillion hats and scarves right? Will get on that right away.

The woman who does my nails is named Truly. Is that not the cutest thing EVER? This is NOT her, but it did give me a big need to re watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Now chut up.

*But I did discover how much I LOVE Lily Allen. LOVE LOVE LOVE. Her bouncy sweetness tempered with subject matter and swearing? I LOVE HER. Late to the party but at least I made it ok? Now shut up.

**If I don't do it, it won't get done. Thanks percocet.

Grinching along...

2008-12-08T09:44:00.005-07:00

I'm pretty sure everyone who knows me IRL (in real life Dad!) knows I am not a huge Xmas fan. This wasn't always the case. When Jake was small I took great delight in this holiday. Making big fake candy garlands, decorating everything in sight and generally being almost as excited as he used to be. As he got older I had a few bad Xmases in a row, and now particularly that he isn't living here, I pretty much wish it was over before it begins. It may also have to do with the Christmas Creep that started well before Halloween this year. I mean COME ON. Sheesh.

Having blorked that out, I felt a tiny stir in my Xmas parts this year. Wow that sounded dirty didn't it? So with very specific conditions, we actually got and erected (haha) a tree. Now these conditions were VERY VERY EXPLICIT. The tree must be tiny. The tree must be tinsel. The tree must be PINK and it must be under 20.00$

Thanks Sears! You had it on the button. I *decorated* it with some yarn pom poms (another condition that had to be agreed on) and Voila!

Chris has always wanted these lights. The hurt your eyes blue kind. Here they are! Note we didn't put them outside, cause Chris couldn't see them there. Screw everyone else! Pickles was scared of the lights at first but has now gotten used to them.

This was what we saw last night out of the back door. The dogs are alternately thrilled and horrified by all this snow.. I think its pretty and hides all the dog shit in the backyard! Driving however.. FREAKSHOW. Looks like I'll be staying in today.

SCHWAG!

2008-12-05T14:15:00.005-07:00

Look what showed up yesterday!

Three skeins of baby alpaca, three of alpaca silk! Sweet project bag too! Thanks Blue Sky.

Then.. this....

I swear I can't pull out the camera without Pickles hopping in frame. He is such a bugger.

How can you get mad at this face?

Then of course Max gets all wound up not wanting to be left out. Oh dogs!

Dogs in sweaters melt your heart don't they?

On a sad note, Forrest J Ackerman died today. He was the man behind Famous Monsters Of Filmland magazine and the guy who coined Sci-Fi. Without him, there would be no Rue Morgue and sad little gorehounds like me would be worse off in this world. We'll miss you Uncle Forry.

A few of my favourite things

2008-12-04T09:35:00.005-07:00

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens....

Oh wait, this is me remember? More like zombies in basements and dismembered house guests..

But really? In no particular order:

Flexeril
Coffee
The felted colinette socks that Dana gave me. Seriously. I LOVE them. Best. Socks. EVER.
New flannel pj's. Um OMG. I have retired the tired old ones and have ALL NEW JAMMIES!
My husband who lets me draw on him. And the toe that is bad.

New felted slippers.

Guess who?

Buttercream Cupcakes which I love with my whole heart.
Flexeril
Spinning through it all.
Good friends.
Flexeril.
My fake ass nails! Girly! Pretty! Strong!
Pretty much being done my Giftmas shopping.
Oka Cheese!

Have I mentioned the Flexeril? It seems that maybe chiro wasn't doing the job I had hoped. In fact I think maybe it was the pain pills. Especially when they ran out and the chiro wasn't doing much of anything. So back to my MD who gave some of this stuff. It makes me SLEEPY, but it also makes me better. And really isn't sleepy just an excuse for more coffee? Why yes it is! I am hoping this resolves soon, but since I have no nerve stuff going on (thanks Voodoo Man!) there isn't a whole lot to do about it. And since 90% of this kind of thing usually naturally does resolve itself.. lets hope I'm in that percentile ok?

Stay warm possums and be happy.

Senses working overtime

2008-11-27T13:23:00.002-07:00

I have to tell you, I haven't been spinning lately. My back was in a world of hurt and I just didn't want to risk it. BUT.. with a little help from my chiro guy Dr Grant (who I accused of voodoo and being a witch doctor. He laughed then we talked about UFC and our dogs. Could I have met a better guy to allay my fears about the chiropractic? I think not), the odd pain pill and the EMS unit I ordered and got in 3 days.. I am spinning again! GO ME!!!

All that downtime was not really downtime though..

I managed to knit a mini clapotis out of one skein of Noro Kureyon Sock:

This scarf gets so many compliments.. its crazy!

A drop stitch scarf from some hand spun:

And a Lion Neck Cardigan! This is done out of some merino/seacell I spun then dyed. I modded the sleeves a bit and changed up the neck.

It is so snuggly and sqooshy. I heart it so berry berry much.

Oh and I got a haircut and changed the colour. And got me some nails did. Chris has his company Xmas party this weekend and since he is an EXECUTIVE* now.. I reckoned its not a bad thing to not have dye stained raggedy ass hands. You know, for once. :)

*Did I mention he got a promotion to head of Mechanical Engineering after only 6 weeks? Oh yeah. He did. They even gave him a parking spot in downtown Calgary! He's still taking the bus though. And getting paid out for it. MOVE OVER JEFFERSON'S. WE IS MOVIN' ON UP.

Almost Famous

2008-11-25T19:02:00.002-07:00

I got a really cool email the other day. From Blue Sky Alpacas. They wanted to know if it was ok if they featured my sock pattern, Betty Cable on their site? WELL HELL YEAH! So holy Hannah.. here it is! WOWSERS!!

Dudes.. I couldn't be more pleased.

Shill

2008-11-14T11:29:00.002-07:00

Up these went into the shop today! Hard to part with ones too..

I'm off to the Chiro this afternoon. Of which I am more than a little freaked out. My back has been exceptionally terrible this week. My Dr recommended him (and gave me some good stuff) to see if this will alleviate some of the noxious pain I have been having. Wish me luck! And have a good weekend all!

Who wants a cookie??

2008-11-13T14:55:00.005-07:00

That's what I yell to get the dogs to come in quickly. It ALWAYS works. Well.. except when Mr Pickles Houdini Chewbacca finds a hole the size of a soup can and manages to squeeze his fat ass through it into our neighbours yard*. If you've met Pickles, you know he is booty-licious, but still managed that. Damn dog. Anyways, I was thinking of making them up some of their own cookies and came up with this:

Peanut on a pumpkin puppy paws. (OMG I am so going to hell for that stupid name)

Oven at 350

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup pumpkin (not pie filling, the plain stuff)
1 cup milk (divided in half)
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cups flour
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 tbsp baking soda

Mix pumpkin, peanut butter and half the milk until smooth. Mix the dry ingredients together then add to wet alternating with the last 1/2 cup milk. The dough should be pretty firm. Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet (the dough doesn't spread much so they can be pretty close together), press down with a fork (to make them look like the cookies you used to eat when you were little, isn't that cute?) and bake for about 15 minutes until they are lightly browned on the bottoms. Let them cool and freeze them! Defrost what you need or give them to the doggas frozen.. they don't care. I LOVE DOGS!

*And bless Max's' old tattletale barking heart for ratting out the escapee. Max is getting old but he still knows whats the what. Well.. mostly.

The Smallest

2008-11-05T11:49:00.009-07:00

Things are sometimes the most full of awesome.

-long weekends
-puppy cam
-a lapful of my *clean* snuggly puppies
-a new hoodie
-finishing a hat/scarf/mitt set for Chris
-home made pumpkin chocolate chip loaf
-finally getting a picture of my sweater (even if Chris did a shit job as I was interrupting his video game time)
-toaster ovens that work
-finishing a bobbin of lace weight
-awesome friends that come visit and praise my barista skillzor (see what you are missing assholes?*)
-nothing exciting politically to charge me up**
-hairdye
-sleeping in

Mmm.. sweater goodness.

* And no I haven't been back to you stbx. We are through. YOU HEAR ME THROUGH!
**A tip of the hat to the USA. This goes a long way to assure me that despite your shitty chocolate, private health care and GOD hates Fags people, you guys rock. Good job.

More Squash, Less gross.

2008-11-04T10:59:00.002-07:00

So the last experiment with the squash was only moderately successful. It was.. erm.. less than fantastic, but for sure mostly edible. I wasn't put off by that, in fact it made me more determined than EVER to have a yummy squash recipe in my retinue. I have used spaghetti squash before, but really not for many many years. Like maybe when Jake was a baby. EEK! So I set off to re-experience this pasta substitute. Chris is amused by my obsession with faux foods right now. Whatever.. after you hit 40, its harder and harder to keep weight off. So nuh uh pasta. Hello squashes. I am pleased to report that this foray turned out fantastic.

Serious Sausage Squash Soiree.

You'll need:

4 Spolumbo hot Italian sausages (or whatever. Mr Spolumbo makes the BEST. SAUSAGES. EVER. If there is a Mr Spolumbo. If you want something else do it. I ain't your Mom.)
Half a white onion chopped.
A whack of garlic.
2 14 oz cans of chunky tomatoes
A glug of olive oil
I heart of celery chopped
3 giant carrots (or 5 normal ones) chopped. Make the celery and carrots approx the same size ok?
1 spaghetti Squash
Parmesan cheese, say 1/4 cup or whatever.

Roughly chop your sausage into bite size pieces and saute in olive oil in a nice big pot until brown. Add in onion and garlic. Now because the sausage I used is seriously perfectly spiced I used no other seasonings. For reals. Nothing. Why mess with perfection right? If yours isn't, I suggest salt, pepper, some cayenne and whatever else floats your boat. I know there is a little fennel in the Spolumbos so maybe try that? I dunno. Saute until the onion is translucent. Add in celery, carrots and tomatoes. Simmer for a couple, three hours. If you start to reduce too much add some chicken stock so it doesn't burn.

Turn on your oven now ok? Say 350? Sounds good!

Now you gotta cook your spaghetti squash. I cut mine in half, cleaned out the seeds and membranes and put it in the microwave in a covered dish with some water (cut side down) and nuked it for about 10 minutes per half. Then you take your squash (half at a time) and shred out the flesh into an oven safe dish. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on the squash then layer half your sausage mixture on top of the squash. Repeat. Pop this in the oven until Chris gets home say an hour or so.

Dig in! Seriously, this was amazing. And makes at least 5 servings or so. Very good for you, mostly veggies with a hit of sausage goodness. Mmm..

Regarding knitting and the loss of mojo-ness..

2008-10-28T09:55:00.004-06:00

Sometimes I feel bad cause I'm not finishing something. I have seen how startitis is running roughshod through the internets lately (and around my circle too :P) but I love me some finishing. I started knitting Ingenue from the awesome new book and I knew as I was knitting it, the fabric was coming out a little.. um.. firm. But you know when you have that ah fuck it anyway moment and try to convince yourself that if you just get past the sleeves, it'll loosen up? Yeah. It didn't. So a frogging I went. BALLS. Do you have any idea how annoying frogging yarn (hand spun natural BFL YUM) that has been held doubled is? Well I mean I guess its not *that* bad, but separating those plies are. I have a noodley mess on my craft table that will just have to stay in time out until I am good and ready to ask for help.

I also have a mini clapotis on the go and and really hopeful that it will be long enough when done. The food scale says yes.. but we'll see. We'll see.

I did finish the most awesome sweater EVER. Its warm, cute and I have worn it a million times already. I used the Blue Sky Alpaca worsted that I reclaimed from a cardigan that just got too big. It killed me to see that huge whack of unused expensive yarn, so huzzah for recycling! Now it lives again in a better life than ever before. I will take pictures of it asap and show ya'll.

I am all about the warm utility sweaters these days. Which is why I was in total denial about the FIRM. Ah well..

In spinning news. I have been going pretty nuts. I got 24 oz of pin drafted Cormo (from an awesome Raveler for 25 $$ including shipping!!!!!) that I almost peed my pants over. I had to get Dana to come and touch it. Like Oh My God! I have been working on the merino seacell roving (and is this spinning up to be the squishiest most lofty yarn!) and maybe will be motivated enough to dye some stuff up.

I went and saw a physio guy last week too. He explained exactly what was wrong with my back and was pretty shocked at how much damage there was. Then when I told him I was 40, he was a little less shocked*, but still said its very significant and good for me for coming in before it gets worse. As it will. Quickly. He basically has me doing kegels right now to tighten the tiny little muscles holding my spine up. Jesus.. that's gross isn't it? Anyways, since I have been doing them, my back hurts more. GREAT. But to be fair, and under used muscles when being worked hurt. Blergh. I go back and see him tomorrow. He couldn't believe I knit. Like only grannies did or something. Silly goose.

Today I am going to try baking some acorn squash. Lets see how THAT goes too.. with some meatloaf? Sounds good.

*He thought I was 28. I told him good answer.

Meme along

2008-10-24T09:15:00.005-06:00

I was tagged by the adorable (even without lady shoes) Dana to tell you all six quirky yet boring and/or unspectacular details about myself. Well strap in:

1. Although there are days when I can barely remember what I ate for lunch let alone my kid/husbands/dogs/my own name/s, I can clearly and without a beat remember lyrics to songs I haven't heard in 20 years. Why do I know all the words to J Geils Centerfold, AC/DC Dirty Deeds Done Cheap and pretty much ANYTHING from the 80-90's? I mean this has translated over into inane music trivia as well. Chris' theory that memory only has a finite amount of space is scary if its true. And if it is, I hope he likes hearing all this garbage (oh Shirley Manson, that first album was DIVINE) cause Its all I'll be spouting when I'm old.

2. I hate side seat drivers. Ok hate is a strong word. Strongly dislike. Is that better? I mean I LOVE people who navigate. HUGE DIFFERENCE. Telling me what lane I need to be in, good. Telling me to watch out for that plastic bag? NOT GOOD. Of course this stems from Chris' inability to know where we are at any given moment. Seriously, the guy could get lost within 6 blocks of the house. I have gotten very good at navigating as he needs one. Can I just say the GPS on his Blackberry is a miraculous thing.

3. I believe in Crystal Light cause it believes in me. And it is tasty! All artificial and chemmy.. mmmm... raspberry ice...

4. I am almost incapable of knitting from a pattern. They usually seem wrong to me. Having said that I bought a knitting book! Custom Knits by Wendy (Knit and Tonic) Bernard! Its the best knitting book EVER. And even I am knitting a sweater out of it . But have changed it already :)

5. When I make up my mind about something its very hard to change it. I can totally do it, but am resistant to the end. NIKE? Bad business practices/sweatshops/bad things in my mind all around. I cannot bring myself to buy any products from them. No matter how cute the shoe, how nice the shirt etc. When did I decide this? Um Grade 11. :) HELLO 23+ years ago. Now I just walk past and feel weirdly smug. Go figure.

6. I really want us to evolve a third arm. Or maybe I could graft one on. Or a prehensile tail. Man, so much would be made easier with a third arm. You could read and knit. You could clip the dogs nails. Just think of the possibilities! Sign me up!

Now I'd really like to see Dana, Morgan, Suzen and Alanna as I think none of them blog enough.

Get a buffaload of this!

2008-10-21T09:27:00.003-06:00

Seriously close to good for you.

Buffalo pie. (I'd call it shepherds pie but no sheep were involved.)

You will need:

1lb of ground lean bison. I get mine at our local Co-op. In fact I buy it by the whack and freeze it.
1 head o cauliflower
3-4 tbsp of non fat sour cream (or use the good stuff I don't care)
a tsp or 2 or butter/margarine. Whatever floats yer boat.
1/3-1/2 cup of beef stock
1/2 large white onion
couple shakes (or more) of cayenne pepper.
salt and pepper.
1 tsp or so of cornstarch in a few tbsps of h2o. Cold ok? Don't cook this.

Pre heat your oven to say 325-ish.

I did this all in my cast iron fry pan so I would have less clean up. LAZY should have been my middle name.

Chop your cauliflower into florets and steam the ever loving crap outta them until they are super soft. Drain, add sour cream, butter/marg, salt and pepper and ok... this is seriously wack.. use your immersion blender or regular blender (but what a pain to clean. Go get an immersion blender. They are cheap ok?) and blend this stuff until it resembles mashed taters. GET IT?

Chop your onion. Brown your bison with that onion. Add cayenne/salt/pepper. Brown until it really is a lovely brown and getting a titch (TITCH MIND YOU) dry. Add beef stock. Mmm.. taste it! Add whatever else you want. Add cornstarch mixture so it thickens just a bit. Spread evenly in your cast iron or whatever you are gonna bake it in.

Now you are going to take your mashed cauliflower (faux tatoes) and spread them over the top of your bison mixture in a nice even layer. Pop this sucker in your oven for I dunno until Chris gets home? Like maybe an 60-90 minutes or until your faux tatoes are browned and its all pulled away from the edge of your pan and the smell is driving you nuts.

Don't tell your husband what the top is so he won't make that poop face until he agrees whatever it is, its divine and then is all shocked when its cauliflower. Enjoy, feel virtuous and make sure your frozen snicker bar with almonds is hidden well in the freezer.

Makes 4 servings. Yay dinner for 2 nights!

Don't fence me in!

2008-10-17T13:10:00.002-06:00

Charter members of the We Hate The New Fence Club.

President Pickles and Minister Of the Interrier Max.

You know its kinda funny.. I applied for 2 jobs this past month on a whim. I was offered both of them. One I turned down because I got the hinkies (and a wise woman told me TRUST YOUR HINKIES) and the other I turned down because they asked me to take out my nose ring. Um. For a part time job? AT A COFFEE SHOP*? Seriously? The manager and I hit it off immediately, we chatted like old friends in fact. She asked me about a dress code, no problem right? Except their corporate policy doesn't allow any facial piercings. For reals? I asked. She looked crestfallen. She also explained that she has had a lot of people turn down the job for that reason. Ah well I thought.. I finished my Americano, wished her luck and left. Stewing.

Then her district manager called me to see if I would reconsider. Well I had been considering.. all frikkin night and was royally pissed off by that point. I explained to her how let down I felt that I would be precluded for a nose ring. That in the employmentally challenged microcosm that is Calgary it is cutting off your nose (hahahaha) to spite your face and that although I have been a loyal (nay FANATICAL) customer for years, I was now reconsidering that as well. I think she wasn't expecting any response like this I tell you. You know, if I was from India we wouldn't have even had that conversation. Unless they won't hire anyone whose culture has nose rings? Dammit if I didn't forget to say that. But anyways.. she was shocked at the response I gave her. I mean I know its not her fault, but WELCOME TO THE MODERN WORLD DICKHEADS. I think after I use up whats left on my card, I am done. Now I need to find a new source for my ~~crack~~ coffee problem.

I can tell you that latte I had today didn't taste as sweet as it usually does. And I don't think the lack of Splenda was the problem.

*oH COME ON YOU ALL KNOW ITS STARBUCKS RIGHT??

PIctures of things

2008-10-13T11:31:00.002-06:00

Flowers from my sweetie..

Pickles being cute

Then not.

Scarf for Chris.

Sweater for me.

Happy T-day ya'll.

Now showing

2008-10-07T09:27:00.002-06:00

Whip Up features Keep Away felted slippers!

Seriously.. how cool is that? The link is over on the sidebar if anyone wants it.

Awesome way to wake up today! :)

OLD (fail)

2008-10-06T11:16:00.003-06:00

You know, as you get older your medicine cabinet no longer becomes the place where you have the odd Tylenol, Advil, vitamins and various weird herbal things. It starts to actually hold.. MEDICINE. Who knew? Aches and pains that you used to be able to brush off or sleep off (HI HANGOVER) are hanging around longer and causing more HEY! moments. While discussing the aliments of old with some pals, I was informed it was NOT NORMAL to live with such pain and while the stock I have in Robaxacet profits from it, I really should go see someone about the back pain that JUST WON'T GO AWAY. So I did.

Today I went for a callback about some X-rays I had done last week and since my usual Doc is on paternity leave (awwwwwww) I saw the stand in doc. Nothing like being told you have a narrowing and slightly slipped disc with some osteo-arthritis forming in your spine and oh yeah a slight congenital defect by some young whippersnapper maybe in her mid twenties. Its bad enough that my regular doc is 4 years younger than me, this was almost like seeing Jake as a doctor. Le sigh. She offered to get me into the SPINAL CARE CENTRE who can give INJECTIONS INTO MY SPINE* but I said I'd be happy to try some physio first. YIKES! The good news?

At least this isn't all in my head!

*shudder. Hi that's a last resort. And the photograph at the top of the page? Not an accurate representation of my med cabinet. Yet.

Debate? What debate?

2008-10-03T14:16:00.005-06:00

This is what my last 5 minutes have been:

Pickles: Moms.. hey moms.. hey moms... hey moms...

Pickles: Moms.. I'm over here! I'm over here!!

Max: Jesus.. doesn't he ever sleep?

Pickles: Guess where I am now? OVER HERE MOMS!

I wanted to watch the VP USA debate last night. Chris didn't want to. So with no debating, there was no debate. For some reason we didn't even entertain the notion of watching our own leadership debate. Eh. Instead we watched poker. See my husband has a poker problem. Its transferred enough now that last night I dreamed about playing poker with Phil Hellmuth. Using crib hands. Then going for dinner. *sigh* Ok then we watched RAMBO in HD. OMGWTFBBQ. Most awesomely violent movie ever.

The culinary gods took a dump on my head yesterday. My espresso grounds exploded, my tomato sauce was hot sweet ass and I burned the bananas foster. I give up.

We had sandwiches.

NEVER AGAIN...

2008-10-01T08:59:00.004-06:00

will us as Canadians have to suffer through the nightly dinner interruption of an unwanted call. Or least for 3 years at a pop.

Canadian Do Not Call List!!!!

Go register all your numbers. I did. All of them. Cells too. And now when someone calls trying to get me buy an alarm system* I can make sure they pay the price.

*I had to get all up in some guys grill (hahahaha white mom) when some alarm company WOULD NOT stop harassing us. 4 letter words flew, and voila! Only 5 calls later did they stop.

Shorn you do!

2008-09-30T14:45:00.002-06:00

Gods/Allah/Isis and/or Voodoo Man.. is there any better feeling than a new spiffy haircut? Ok maybe driving down a fall road with an awesome mix CD, gorgeous weather outside (Elvis Costello! David Bowie! Guns & Roses! Nick Lowe!) AND a new haircut*! Perfect fall day.

*and maybe new jeans and a sweater in the back seat. Gilding the lily indeed.

Things I forgot

2008-09-21T16:29:00.004-06:00

To brag/blog about.

Socks. Yup lots o socks.

Man Socks! KFB Fat n SASSY Yarn. Yum.

Boring but serviceable.

HHHH socks. I know I showed these but ain't they nice?

Casbah Knee highs. They slouch, but so do I. Nice scarred up knees huh? Thanks skateboarding!*

Self patterning yarn! My first!

And a couple of handspuns. Damned if I can remember where the roving came from, but they are sure warm!

* I got Chris to take this picture this am. In my gonch. I was yelling, LOWER LOWER! NO PANTY SHOTS ON THE BLOG. < loser

Technology sucks (me in)

2008-09-18T10:28:00.004-06:00

Yargh. SOMEONE decided to muck about on my side of the laptop and now I am resetting everything AGAIN. SOMEONE* better check this shit out before he does it again.

In other non tech news:

I have recently paid off a substantial library fine (thank you Pickles for tendering your literary criticism and eating that book) and have gotten some awesome reading on. Right now I am LOVING Watch You Bleed by Stephen Davis. The story of Guns and F'n Roses man! Bang on! I also have a weird fetish lately about old Robert E Howard Conan books and anything H P Lovecraft. I have been trolling used book stores for them . I have unleashed my inner 14 year old.

Yesterday was wash the dogs day. A job I truly don't mind as I use Kathy's soap. Well I guess its not her soap anymore. Yikes I just realised that. I had a decent little stash of it but I gave some up to my seeester in law for her birthday and am down to about a bar. See my old guy Max has really sensitive skin and this is the best soap I have ever used on him. Plus it makes him smell good for ages! Seriously! Pickles likes it too! Damn.. now I will eventually have to find a new soap purveyor. Preferably with hemp!

Ok now I have a problem to whinge about. I have 3 single socks I knit that have gone through on the ball of the foot. On ONE SOCK ONLY. I think its my new sneakers that is eating them (but its different feet so....?) alive. I suppose I should darn them but UGH. Darn it all** I don't wanna. Oh the conundrums of knitting.

Speaking of, body of new sweater? DONE.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (with guitar!)

When the oven cleaner stuff says to wear rubber gloves. DO IT. Its tends to eat the skin right off your hands. Ask me how I know. I double dirty dog dare you.

*YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. Don't make me tell your Mom.

**So lame. Sorry