Ten On Tuesday- 10 Favorite TV Moms

Eddie Haskell: Wally, if your dumb brother tags along, I'm gonna - oh, good afternoon, Mrs. Cleaver. I was just telling Wallace how pleasant it would be for Theodore to accompany us to the movies. 
 
1. I don't think there was ever a better TV Mom than June Cleaver, with her pearls and hair done while she did her housework. The formal evening meals in the dining room, her cute little hats.  And her interactions with the smarmy Eddie Haskell.
 
2. Lily Munster, who was really just a normal mom, with Frankenstein for a husband, and a coffin lining cape.

 And Eddie Munster, with his woof-woof doll.

3.Laurie Petrie, on Dick Van Dyke, especially when she danced.
 4. I would have said Carol Brady, but I didn't like her.
5. Ditto Anne Romano, aka Bonnie Franklin. Loathed her.
6. Betty Draper, on Mad Men, for her underlying evil, which makes her an interesting character.
7. Maude, aka Bea Arthur- she epitomized the partying seventies mom.
8. On the other side, Edith Bunker, the ditzy, long suffering wife on All In The Family.
9. In case you get the impression I live in the '60's, I did like Thirtysomething, and Hope and Nancy were interesting as the moms.

10. Last and not least, one of my all-time favorites, Edina Monsoon. If you haven't ever watched Absolutely Fabulous, it's hysterical.

 Fleece out, Sweeties.

Ten On Tuesday- Ten Reasons Why You Knit

 Well, since last week, my back problems have flared up again, no doubt from bad posture and sitting in one spot for too long- that is bad news for us knitters isn't it? Worse for spinners, who want to indulge in marathon sessions.  I also, with the generous help of my sister, got most of the backyard cleaned up, and I've decided not to go crazy buying annuals and things- just a few planters for the urns.  There are lots of perennials and FC wants to install a fence so it will get trampled on anyway.

Yesterday I took a road trip with The Raging Success to Michigan, because he needed to get a driveshaft for his truck, so hey, I'm up for that.  Well, after a few hours sitting I was pretty sore- but I'm seeing the doctor later today.  Had a great day otherwise.

Now, back to business:

1. I knit so I don't kill people.
2. I LOVE wool- even the raw sheepy smells.
3. I can't imagine what people who don't knit do with themselves.
4. So many new designers and patterns, it's mind boggling.
5. I have made some of my best friends through knitting.
6. I plan trips around fiber festivals and wool shops.
7. I've been taught by a fantastic teacher, and have returned the favour by teaching others.
8. Knitters, are, on the whole, nice people.
9. I love the cameraderie, the getting together and being inspired by others. Ravelry rocks.
10. I would save my stash if my house went on fire, before my jewelery.

A crappy picture of my sock in progress.
 
Finishing a Cameo shawl for a gift.....

Valentino taking up Kitten Chow's squirrel watching post....

...and Howard is pretending to ignore my Norfolk pine, and not quite succeeding.

Fleece out.

Ten On Tuesday- 10 Things You Are Looking Forward To In May

It is almost May, isn't it? Geez.

1. Long walks outdoors- maybe going to some new neighborhoods.
2. Getting the back garden cleaned up.
3. Firing up the spitting turtle in the pond.
4. Wearing sandals.
5. Getting the kitties neutered (I hope)
6. Sitting on the porch.
7. Flowers
8. Planning what to spin for Tour de Fleece
9. Getting the inside of my car cleaned (my son does it)
10. Hanging clothes on the line.

I was having a hard time coming up with 10, as summer is not my favorite season. But you have to find good things about the warmer weather, as long as it isn't humid.

I'll leave you with a Valentino pic.

Doesn't he look cougarish?

Not Ten, Not Tuesday

This weeks subject was 10 Favorite Sweater Patterns, and I started to compile a list, but then I had other thoughts.  I was out in the garden on Monday morning, and that and a combination of a spinning marathon has killed my back once again.  So sitting at the computer and making links wasn't on.

I do have a few, what I consider quintessential sweater pattern in mind, and they have a few things in common. Wearability- will this design be worn? Comfort- speaks for itself.  Style- not too out there, but distinguishing itself by color or texture, and last but not least, fun to knit. I think alot of pattern writers out there get caught up in putting something on paper, an idea, and lose sight of the person who will actually be executing the instructions. I have come across alot of patterns lately that looked great in the pic, but once I started reading the pattern, thought "forget it"- they are so convoluted and complicated that you have no idea what you're supposed to be doing in the first place.

Flyingdales- by Lisa Lloyd. As a matter of fact, alot of her patterns are wonderful.  Really well written, wearable items that have an element of style that is classic.  I plan on making another Flyingdales with some Blackwater Abbey yarn (another source of great patterns).

Well, Alice Starmore, who has re-interpreted alot of her designs in her Virtual Yarns range, and I would have to say Oregon is one of my favorites. I am not an AS groupie, merely an admirer, who has followed her design career for a long time. I realize that I haven't even put buttons on this- I should do that.

Another favorite is Sirdal, a traditional Dale Of Norway Lusekofte cardigan- I look like a stunned bunny in this pic, but I love everything about this sweater, and it has the classic Norwegian braid and pewter buttons.
Love it. I've made a number of Norwegian sweaters, and they were displayed in the yarn shop I worked for in the '80's.  Laura had a small cardi, which I kept.

 I've been spinning.....

 ...finished sewing the edges on this Rams & Ewes, don't ask....

...started a sock, Embossed Leaves.....

..and have been enjoying kitten time. 

Until next time, fleece out.

Pass The Banana's-

Last week was my birthday, and I planned to go for a long walk with my sister. The weather hasn't been that nice- if it's warm out it's raining, or if it isn't raining it's cold. We had snow on Thursday, and ice on the roads. What can you do, it's Spring, and I'll just continue to hibernate.

My back is sore from a combination of bad posture and too much spinning.  But FC bought me some wonderful batts from an Etsy store, Nunoco- and their colours are just amazing, and there are (giggle) sparkles in them.

Razzle Dazzle Rooster

 

Hummingbird- these are carded merino with some silk and Firestar and I can't wait to get to them, I don't care if I walk like an ape the rest of my life.

  Got a beautiful Emma Bridgewater mug from my sis, and Krystyna helped.

Alexander put these on the kitchen table with a beautiful card- (sniff)-

Laura got me this Hello Kitty Makeup brush set- which is too nice to open.  Thanks baby- as well as a cool card....

And Jewel sent a gift certificate for a cool bag to made from spun Fat Cat fiber.  Thanks Honey. I got some wonderful cards and well wishes from my Rav friends.  All in all, a great day.   Notice that Howard is between Tino's legs. This just started a few days ago.

I have to go put something on my knuckles from where they have been dragging on the ground. 

Fleece out.

Ten On Tuesday-10 Things You Always Bring On Vacation

This one made me laugh because I haven't taken a real vacation in years.  But if I did (just like that O.J. Simpson book- "I didn't kill Nicole but if I did......")here's a shortlist, not in any order.

1. Lipstick- I never leave the house without it.
2. Phone
3. Knitting
4. Extra underwear. I live in mortal fear of running out of clean ones.
5. Bathing suit- if we're going to a hotel with a pool.
6.Camera.  
7.A book- but I never usually read much. Can't read in the car.
8. Plastic bags, for laundry.
9. Toothbrush and toothpaste.
10. Snoopy pyjamas.

I'm not much of a traveler. I don't like flying, but I love car rides.  My maximum length of time without my own bed or toilet is 2 nights.  Then I want to go home. 

I will be driving to New York state to deliver this Great Wheel to a friend. It comes apart so I can fit it in my Rabbit.

The kittens are growing exponentially- I do nothing but dish out kibble and food all day. This is Howard who is into everything.....don't even think about closing a door on him or having private bathroom time.....

...and Valentino or "Tino" as we call him. Like his name, a great lover. 

Fun times.

No Ten On Tuesday

The subject was favorite pranks and jokes, and I'm not a big one for things like that.  So it will be whatever.

The big news at Chez Sheriff is the living room redecoration is done.  I am waiting for a lamp to be delivered, but here is the reveal.

 One side- 2 custom wing chairs, and recycling of some older pieces, like the tables.

And a new custom sofa- notice the spray bottle of water for kitten training.

 

We had Easter.....

And snow.... and backyard bunnies.

Happy April.

Ten On Tuesday- 10 Things You Would Do If You Won The Big Powerball Lottery

This is quite a question, because I guess alot would depend on how much you won, and I'm thinking if I ever did come into alot of money, the reality would be somewhat different. But, heck, I'll play along.

1.I'd buy THIS Land Rover Defender.

2. I would make sure that FC would never have to work another day in his life, if he didn't want to.
3. I would see that my kids were set for life.
4. I'd give my sister an annuity for life and buy her whatever house she wanted.
5. The same for my nieces and nephews.
6. I would buy a cottage on a lake.

7. I would have a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Or 3.

8. I would probably see if the Black Christmas house is for sale and if so, buy that too.
9. Major contribution to The Princess Margaret Foundation.
10. Thumb my nose at all the idiots in life who start to kiss up to me because I now have money.

The last one would be sweet, let me tell ya.

Random Randomness

March is coming to a close, and Spring is here. It's cold, but no point in complaining, although that's what I hear alot of people doing.  The bible quote from Ecclesiates "To everything, there is a season" is very true. There is no point in wishing for sun and sand, unless you travel south, in March. It will come in due course, and I think the secret of life is acceptance of what IS, rather than what you wish it will be.  I just put on another layer, and SO BE IT. It isn't a big deal.

Having said that, FC and I purchased an offset umbrella at Home Depot yesterday.  I didn't want to wait until they sold out, or raised the price.

My random thought that I wanted to write about was some of the major changes that have occurred over the winter, well, starting in September. Laura moved out and got her own apartment. Not far away, or anything, but I wasn't ready.  I am alot better now, but somehow it snuck up on me, and she is happy and enjoying her independence and her job, and I am so proud of her.  I didn't want to visit MY issues on her, and I will probably miss her every day for as long as I live.

I talk to her often, and that makes me feel better, but I think her leaving was a big part of adopting the dog.  That didn't work out, because aside from being a high energy breed, he started getting aggressive and snarling, as well as biting. If I walked him 3 times a day, it wouldn't have been enough, so he has found a home with another family that has 2 other dogs, and I think he is far happier. I was heartbroken.

Then, of course, the KC situation, and now I have the 2 kittens.  They are alot of fun and have made me very happy.  They will never replace my Kitten Chow, but these guys are going a long way to filling the void.
And kittens are alot of fun.

In other news, I have redecorated the front room, and will be getting some new furniture this week.  I hope the room will be a place I can relax and look out the window, play with my kitties and work on my projects.
I very seldom listen to music any more, unless I am in the car, so I hope to do that instead of falling into the Dr. Phil abyss- but I doubt I will give up Judge Judy.

 I have been doing some spinning.  I really love it- you start with the beautiful dyed fibers, which are one thing, you spin it, and it's another, then you ply it- and it changes again.  Knitting with handspun is amazing, and it looks completely different.

I love making these fingerless mittens, they are like little works of art.

I'll leave you with some kitten pictures, because it's been kittypalooza around here.  Easter is coming, and I hope to have roast lamb next Sunday, and my sister over.  We still do the chocolate rabbits and stuff.

Have a great week, and I'll do the big reveal of the living room next time.

Lost and Found

I wasn't ready to post this, and I hope it won't be too lengthy.  Very suddenly, we lost our darling Kitten-Chow on Monday. He was having trouble breathing, and I noticed he wasn't himself, although he was eating, but I made a vet appointment for the next day, being Tuesday. By the time FC got home, he was laying on the couch, and his eyes told me it wasn't good.  Turns out my big boy had an enlarged heart, and fluid was in his lungs.  I kissed his head, and said goodbye, and was utterly devastated, as you can imagine.
He was always there, and now he wasn't.  A day did not go by that he didn't make me smile. We sang songs about him, made up names for him, tolerated his badness, he was a force to be reckoned with. Well, as many of you know, those blog buddies of mine who's babies are Chaos, Mayhem, Atticus, Mae, Gandolf, Malcolm, Jetsam, Tamyra, Hez, Suzy, Tikka, Slushie, Mia- forgive me if I have missed anyone, I am not at my best now.

A couple of days later, despite my better judgement, I looked up local cat shelters and couldn't believe it when I saw KC's doppelganger.  He was local, and I tried to contact the shelter, figuring that someone already had him, and it was an old ad.  I always felt very strongly that Kitten Chow found ME instead of the other way around, and somehow my father sent him to me, as he had passed away in 2003, and a few weeks later KC came into my life.  I strongly feel KC was urging me to find another kitten- and well, judge for yourself::

Pictures are courtesy of the foster mom, Devon.
This is Howard, and he is with his foster mom right now.  Howard has made fast friends with another kitten, Valentino, so guess who's coming to live here too.

The Condotta Zoo lives on.