I have to back to help my son. I am hoping that it will only be a couple of days. I’d like to return tomorrow, but you never know. I wound up staying a lot longer than I planned the last time I was there. I have to go again in a few weeks, but this is important to him.
Archive for the ‘Family and Friends’ Category
Back to Reisterstown
February 18, 2008Saturday
February 16, 2008The commentator at the local National Public Radio station is awful. He’s the comic relief between The Metropolitan Opera and Prairie Home Companion. At least there is an NPR station in this area. That’s what I keep telling myself anyway.
Back of mitten.
I’m ready to start the thumb. Maybe, I’ll get to it tonight. Last night, we went out with friends for dinner. We all had scallops with crabmeat. It was so good. We talked for a good while when we came back so I started the gloves. I can’t follow this mitten pattern and a conversation at the same time. Besides, Elvis was in my lap and Zip was in Linda’s.
Animal Testing
February 15, 2008Did anyone see the HBO movie about the first blue baby surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital? This was about three years ago. When I actually saw that baby change from blue to pink, I cried. I am sure it was enhanced, but I have seen it happen with my own two eyes. I cried then, too. And I still cry at times. If it weren’t for research on animals, where would we be? I believe in animal testing when it comes to saving lives.
I don’t believe in animal testing when it comes to cosmetics. If these cosmetic companies want to test their products on anything, it should be themselves. Every cream or lotion that I pick up, I look for No Animal Testing. Sometimes, it’s written out and sometimes it’s a little animal with that slash-circle over it. You may have to do some bending over or tiptoeing to reach them, but they are there. You don’t have to go to specialty shops. I get mine at Walmart and they are reasonably priced, too. I just looked at my bath oil and I can actually read every single ingredient. My favorite brands are Booth’s and ?. ?. Watkins (sorry– senior moment there). They smell nice, too, like peach, vanilla, lemon. And food is my husband’s favorite flavor. No excuses! I don’t want to here it. Just do It!
Speaking of food, I made turkey pot pie last night. I had saved some nice chunks of breast meat and the pan drippings. I made a little gravy in a pot, cut up the turkey, added some leftover vegetables and a can of mixed vegetables. While this was simmering, I made biscuits. Yes, from scratch. It’s not hard. And they are so good. I put the oven on 450 and got out a baking dish and sheet. I poured the pot into the baking dish and gently laid about eight biscuits on top. This went on the top oven shelf and the rest of the biscuits went on a sheet underneath. After about fifteen minutes, they were ready to eat.
And this is what’s left. Was someone happy?
Happy Valentine’s Day
February 14, 2008I figured everyone else is saying it so I might as well say it too. Don’t get me wrong. I do like hearts and chocolate but I don’t need a special day to enjoy them. I like to put hearts on clothing. Last year I embroidered a big Happy Valentine’s Day on a shirt for my daughter. I also did conversation hearts on a blouse for her that she could where to work. It made her happy and I thoroughly enjoyed doing it.
I put these hearts on a plain, but very comfy shirt a while back. Just this little cluster of hearts made it nice enough to wear out. Socially acceptable and comfy, too. What more can you ask?
We had some snow last night. I managed to get around some ice in my driveway, but there were still some places in the road. By the time that I got to the hill, I was so tense that I didn’t even attempt it. I turned around and came home. I believe I have mentioned that I am a big chicken when it comes to snow and ice. Why don’t I move further south, you say? Well, when you don’t have to get up and go to work, what difference does it make? You just wait it out. An inch or two is all we ever get here anyway. And my family is only two hours away.
Mitten update. It’s a good thing this is a multicolored mitten. Zippo had some for dinner last night.
Peanut Butter Sandwich
February 14, 2008We went down to the Food Lion in Laurel late this afternoon. The one in town in dreary. It has been raining all day and the temperature kept dropping all day. By the time we got back, it was after 5PM. We hadn’t gotten anything quick to eat and I definitely was not in a mood to make anything involved. Doug pulled out a couple of Healthy Choice dinners that he had bought a while back. They were so bad that I couldn’t eat mine. I gave Doug a taste of the chicken and he said, “That’s chicken?” The dog liked it, but I think he liked the yucky stuff from the turkey better. Doug offered me a peanut butter sandwich which was a hell of a lot better than that other crap. I should have had a bowl of turkey noodle soup, but I didn’t think of it at the time. It would have warmed me up. Maybe, I’ll fix some tea. I bought two new kinds today.
Christine has tagged me again. The book is Slow Dollar by Margaret Maron. And it is not a knitting book. I actually had four books, eight knitting magazines, numerous patterns and mostly expired coupons sitting next to me. The first two were knitting books. That didn’t work. Page 123 in both were pictures. I then went into my bedroom and got the book on my bed stand. Success!
‘Lamarr quit cussing and beamed at Stevie like an innocent black angel. “We didn’t do the breaking. All we’re going to do is the entering.” ‘ How’s that.
I finished the front of the baby quilt. It was a bit of a pain. The picture blocks were a bit smaller than they were supposed to be. The directions said to use the other fabric to make them the right size. Also, neither the pictures nor the stripes were on the straight of grain. Over all, it is now about one inch smaller than it is supposed to be with no fabric left over. This is why I usually stay with patterns and books or just wing it. This kit was definitely not convenient.
There’s No Place Like Home
February 10, 2008We had a great walk this morning. I even wandered through the woods and hardly used my cane at all. I love my new hip. We were out for one and a half hours. After a little rest, we went to Walmart. I REALLY HATE to do Walmart on Saturday, but there were things that we needed. I was not about to waste time, gas and money going to three different places to get the same thing. I’m too cheap and I need money to spend on my vices like this:
Now, I won’t get to this for several weeks, but I bought it anyway. It would probably not be around when I was ready to make it. I have to make the baby quilt first. Well, I have to make as much as possible before the baby is born. I want to embroider it’s name and date of birth. It’s mainly blue. I think I was thinking of Colette’s grandson, but that’s OK. It’s really cute. I’m sure it will be well received. And just wait until you see what I am making for Colette!
I wish that I had taken my glove things with me to Reisterstown. You know that I didn’t plan to be there that long, but my son needed me around. I haven’t decided on patterns yet. I need to make some swatches. I should email Nancy before I decide, too. I’ve been thinking about Christine and her husband, too.
And I’m Back
February 9, 2008I was going to wait until Saturday to leave, but I started thinking about how it is to wake up here. Every morning, I come into the living room and pull up the curtains to see what’s out there. I left around 8PM and I was home in less than two hours. Big Zip has gone to sleep on my hands, so please forgive my typing. My son has new shirts, pants, ties and a better haircut. We have yet to find someone worthy of a return.
Zip likes watching the creek too.
Still Here
February 9, 2008I think I’ll be here until tomorrow, maybe Saturday. I’ve been throwing out stuff, washing rugs and cleaning the
bathroom. I also fixed three pair of his jeans. I’m on a roll. I might get a haircut. The place that I used to go to
is right down the street. I’ve gotten a fair amount of knitting done.
A Quicky
February 5, 2008I am going up to Reisterstown for a day or two. When I go during the week, traffic isn’t bad at all. I want to give my daughter her birthday presents in person and pick up a few things. I hope to get back by Thursday. Sewing club is this Friday.
Nancy and Christine
February 5, 2008I am really going to enjoy making the gloves and mittens for you two. Nancy picked a yarn that is fingering weight which is good because she lives in Phoenix where it doesn’t get really cold. Maybe I will make something lacy. Christine said to surprise her. So many things come to mind that I just don’t know what I am going to do. She has so much snow that she saw a horse drawn sleigh go by her house. I figure I could make anything because she probably needs mittens year round. But, seriously folks, I am thinking about doing twined knitting with some Noro orphans that I have lying around.
I only had to wear a sweater when we walked this morning. We walked way down the river. Gus smelled plenty of deer. I finally had to give him to Doug. He was so excited that he wouldn’t listen. I think he will always be a silly puppy. Not at all like my serious German Shepherds. Kevin doesn’t mind.
Up a Creek in Lower Slower Delaware 