You Know What That's Like...

You know that feeling. You were just pointing out what seemed like simple facts, then as if there's an echo it returns to your ears. And then that "oh $H!&" feeling takes a hold. This last weekend at the knitting retreat, surrounded by a bunch of gay guys, I gave up trying to keep such phrasings from coming out and just ran with it.

And how was the retreat you may ask? Wonderful. I got one knitting goal done, and three singles for the newest yarn that is currently hanging to dry after it's bath downstairs. I was able to ply it up yesterday morning.

This morning however, I couldn't force myself back to my knitting goals. It's been too long since I spun anything and the wheel won't give it's hold on me up yet. So I started working on a little braid of merino, alpaca, nylon, and silk mix just for fun. I'm thinking I'll have a nice little hank of sock yarn soon. I did continue workingman that little bit of scarf you see there next to my three bobbins. Someday it will be an actual scarf!

This little guy was on the from t porch steps when I got home one day. Very pretty.

So, I told you it's been a crazy month here. I quit the pharmacy. It just became too much in a couple different ways and the most healthy thing to do was to see what my options were. Right now I'm at the yarn store only, and I'm loving it. I've actually had 2 days off in a row! Wow.

Then a couple weeks ago on my way home from the morning dog walk I hit a deer. I know, it still makes me a bit sick thinking about it. Luckily I, nor the boys were hurt. The deer that I thought was done for actually ended up getting back up and hopping away into the woods with it's tail up and flashing white, though she was only on three legs. I'm still hoping that fourth leg was okay in the end. As you can see from the picture, the car isn't to badly damaged. I dropped it off yesterday to get repaired. Fingers crossed that whatever is wrong with the battery will be found out and fixed too.

And before that, while the guy was out for a dog walk they ran into a skunk. Yep, they were skunked. Tucker got it the worse. He actually had the thick gunk in his fur and of course being the fluffiest of the dogs, he stunk for weeks. Well, not stunk. He just had a bit of odor le'weasel on his head and face, especially if he got wet. There wasn't a lot we could do as it was on the skin around his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. It just had to break down and dissipate with time.

Because of that he wasn't able to go into the store with me at all for a few weeks. Sullivan being a shy boy goes, but normally only on short days as he just doesn't take to all the activity. See that mope!?!

Our fall colors weren't very spectacular this year. I even tried running down to Saugatuck since I hadn't been there yet and to see what the colors were like closer to the lake. They weren't that great there either. The trees went in stages this year. The reds were early and were off the trees by the time yellows and golds turned. The oaks stayed green even then and now are just drab brown and most everything is down off the trees. I noticed how bare the trees were when I was on my way home from the retreat this last Sunday.

But we did get to walk on the water and have a nice jaunt around the town. Saugatuck is a very pretty little community and as it seems most pretty little coastal town are, is home to many artists.

All Hallows Eve is pretty quiet out here in the country so I spent the evening at work with a little party of knitters. Much chat, food, wine, and fun was had by all.

I miss the Trick or Treaters, but not enough to want to live in a big city. Maybe enough to live in one of the small towns but I like where we're at.

Though living out here and being on our own well we also discovered a draw back. Last year the water heater was replaced and suddenly in October our hot water started to smell vaguely of sulphur. Then not so vaguely. Then it got to the point where you nor the dished felt clean after a scrubbing and the house was starting smell of it. When my friend Matthew asked if he could crash here before the retreat I realized I really wanted to get this fixed.

I know, that sounds expensive, but after just a bit of re-plumbing to allow us access to the hot water heaters tank, it was quite easy. Jut one bottle of hydrogen peroxide and some time. No more stink of sulphur until next time.

Like I said, we've been a bit busy. But I've been enjoying the time home. The time with the boys, and the guy. The time to just be a bit.

And obviously blogging hasn't been high on that list. But I'm still trying to keep it up guys. Thanks for the reminder emails, and the wondering where I've been. It's all encouragement to get on the computer and get something written.

We can all use encouragement, no? These pictures are encouraging me to get up off the bum and walk the boys while The Guy finishes up the new hen house for the winter. Gotta keep those girls warm so they keep laying us eggs!

One of the other things that has kept me from blogging has been negativity. Mine in particular. What causes it? Mainly,w watching the frigg'n news. I know, why do I do that to myself? It's not so much the local news, it's the national news.

Everyday the sheer amount of stupidity, finger pointing, lack of accepting responsibility for our actions, and complete lack of respect or even caring about ones neighbors and worse, ourselves gets me down. Leaves me feeling like trying to write a light and funny blog post is the last thing I want to do. But perhaps, I should. It might make me feel better.

Maybe that needs to be a challenge to myself as we head into the winter months as it seems when we're huddled against the cold, it's even harder to find laughter and light.

I'll see what I can do on that note. But for now, I need to wrap this post up and really, get the kids out.

See, they're begging to go. Maybe I'll take the little one too? She's been spay this last month and could probably use the outing as much as the boys.

To bad she doesn't enjoy as much as I'd hoped for. But oh, she still loves to try to run out the back door when her boys go out without her.

Speaking of the boys, this one doesn't appear to be too upset about being caught on the pillows, does he?

Of course, this bed belongs to this one, and he knows it.

What, you don't want me sleeping on the blanket? Allergies smallergies.

Ahhhhhh.

All these pictures of leaves, leaves, leaves. So heres a video too. I tried playing with he slo-mo action on my phone. It took way more time than it probably should have for me to pull it together. Some people are so not tech savvy.

Oh, and I finally wrapped up that little shawl lI was making out of my handspan yarn! Ooooh, pretty.

Of course I had run into a little problem on one of the eyelet rows and decided that I just wasn't that worried about it. I had thought I had possibly dropped a stitch and searched and searched and then just decided I must have missed a yarn over and in the grand scheme of things, that isn't something I'm going got lose sleep over. When I took it into to show off at the halloween party, Lisa had it in her hand for 30 seconds flat and said, "Oh no Q, You dropped a stitch!" Go figure. I was lucky as I had blocked it somewhat aggressively and it didn't ladder down and now it's been caught and taken care of, so yay!



Oh, and when trying to find that new Adele video everyone's been crying about, I found this version, and can you say "Wow?" What a voice this little girl has. Maybe I need to just spend more time on youtube with awesome singers and watching Ellen clips to feel positive enough for blog clips that add to the smiles across the internet, no?

Oh, and I found this guy while cleaning windows. He made me feel happy. But then, I like nifty not bitey bugs. They rank right up there with frogs and snakes. The spiders I cleaned out of the house seem to be laying low. I just had to take care of it when I could find 4 on the ceiling of the bedroom. It was time for a clean sweep. Literally.

 So, time to leave you, and it's only fittingI leave you with one last leaf. Look, that was two posts for November, and if you scoff at that, it was two more than there were in October.

And Why Am I thinking About Another?

The beasts are just being pains in the butt this morning. Not listening, being pig headed, and ignoring anything you tell them to do. Then when you get upset, they are keeping their distance and acting like we beat them. Because that helps calm you down when you're already irritated and now they won't respond.

At least they didn't spill the tea I never brewed this morning. They have; however, spilled The Guy's coffee I brewed for him at least twice, being little F$#% Wits. Deep breath, everyone go chill out and think about the next step.

So I'm here finishing up that pattern I told you I may have for the next posting. You can get My Window Onto The Woods by clicking that green name link right there. It's a simple pattern using garter and stockinette stitches to create a "window frame" effect. It's a small lap blanket, or prayer shawl in it's entirety. I made it to replace a shawl that used to be in the living room for cool winter night when you just need something to sit across your legs or shoulders.

So, that's two major projects off the needles. Guess I should return to the Fox Paws pattern, right? Maybe. It's getting near time to ramp up for Tour De'Fleece 2015! Yay!

Until then, I think I should work on some stuff around here today. I should have bought some milk to make bread, but I didn't. Didn't even cross my mind at the store yesterday, but I thought of it this morning. I'm thinking homemade pizza sounds good for dinner though, and for that I need dough for crust, right?

This weeks pictures are a mash of ones I took over the last few weeks that have been sitting on my camera ignored.

Since I haven't taken many this week, which I need to start carrying a camera on the morning dog walk to remedy this.

Many of the birds you will notice have a blur to them, or halo effect on shiny things. That's the window screen playing with the light as it's not the focal point of the pictures.

We've had lot's of bird traffic this week. Caught this shy little Indigo Bunting the other day quick as flitted into the pine from the feeder. Haven't seen him back. Have yet to snag a picture of the Oriole I've seen a few times in the apple tree.

But, speaking of nectar feeders, the Hummingbirds are back in town. First saw one last Monday afternoon zooming around the deck, and soon saw them at the feeders after I put them up.

What can I say, they're favorites.

There's just something about them.

And the always present Robins. It appears that something raided the nest in the yard and we haven't had them return to it. No eggs... That's a shame but Im' not surprised. It's fairly easy to see in it's spot.

Too boot, while planting the window boxes Friday, I startled up a nice big fat Garter Snake. I think, based on the spacing of her size, that she may have been pregnant. Not that I've ever seen Garters in trees, but I know the local Brown's are adept at climbing trees and raiding bird nests for tasty eggs.

Since spring is in full swing, we've quit putting out suet. We just don't want the mess, nor the squirrels and dogs attracted to it. We've still seen and heard the woodpeckers around, but sightings at the feeders are down. The Nut Hatches as usual though, are happy to swoop in for some sunflower seeds.

And the doves. They seem to enjoy hanging around under the feeders for the dropped seeds. They as well as many of the finches are getting braver around us as they realize we are not going to bother them. We even had a little goldfinch sit on the feeder out front while were in and out of the garage several times mere feet from the feeder. He kept eating and keeping an eye on us but didn't budge until he was ready to.

These are from the farm field in the back of us. There's a farm off to the north west of us.

And if I had a pair of shears, a great source of fiber just to our west. Sometimes in the evening the sheep are quite vocal and it's kind of nice to sit out and listen to them.

This week The Guy ordered some more trees. This next spring and summer I hope we have more flowering plants to draw in birds and bees. And Grapes! Let's see if my hopes for grapes are any better in Michigan than they were in Wyoming. Although, the last couple years, I did have a few grapes to eat to myself.

They will be planed inside the fence since the deer are ever present. It appears that a young buck used the magnolia as a scratching post this last year for his itchy antler velvet and the top of the tree is now dead. We'll see how it does, but a new magnolia was in the order. Despite the abundance of grass and lack of tree damage by nibbling deer, it appears we still must take precautions with young trees. That dang nature just insists on running wild. Sometimes like my dogs... wee heathens.