What Holiday Weekend Isn't Complete Without a Trip to The ER/Urgent Care?

I don't know about you, but in our family, not a one...

Luckily, this time it wasn't me. Well, I was there, but I wan't the injured party. Nor did I do the injuring before any of you make any regrettable assumptions. I know, I know, you just know me a bit too well for any of our own goods. What happened you ask?

Well, let's just say that there were two instances this weekend that had we had a camera rolling we may be featured on youtube's FailArmy channel; however, by the grace of god neither event was captured on video for everyones viewing pleasure. What exactly happened to end with the first picture however involved some poor choices regarding getting a fire glowing so we could enjoy s'more's after having a friend over for dinner. See that ring around the still wood piled fire pit? That is the circumference of the BALL'O FLAME that was summoned with the help of our good friend Coleman Stove Fuel to try and kindle said fire. As you may note by the scorch marks, we were lucky it was a flash flame and none of it took. And by lucky I mean it now looks like the Guy has shaven his legs, eyebrows/lashes, and the front part of his head. And there's some doozy's of blisters that are still "popping up" that will make the next several days oh so much fun for him.

Now, I know some people are shaking their heads at me and saying, "Where's your compassion Man!" and I know. I feel for him, I do. I was once the victims of some serious bilateral full ankle circumferential rope burns (John stop laughing, you weren't even there. Only Mom and Cali know the true depth of my horrific embarrassment.) I know how much burns hurt and mine weren't this large. I'm happy to help lather them with cream and gently wrap them and do whatever else needs done such as walk dogs and wash canines as I understand that sunlight on raw burns is not a cozy sensation. But it's still kinda funny now that we can look back and say "It could have been really REALLY bad". Teach him to choose s'mores's for a dessert over a pear pie.

And while discussing pear pie, that brings us around to the first event of the weekend that would have landed us on FailArmy. Me tumbling out of the pear tree and landing on the ladder I had previously been standing on to pick pears, on my left side as I was trying to protect the pears in my picking bag. I know you all feel relief at knowing that the pears were indeed uninjured in this possibly disastrous bruising fall. I, on the other hand spent the day pretty sure I had broken ribs as I prepped dinner, went to work, and otherwise tried to act like nothing had happened when deep breathing/coughing/sneezing was kinda painful. A couple days later I think I just bruised my self nice and deeply and still can do little about it and laying on my left side is still a bit uncomfortable, but at least my skin is intact... I'll take the bruising Thank You Very Much.

But look how pretty that early sun is on the clouds over the pear tree right before I played at spontaneous unaided flight! Those sunrise illuminated clouds gave us a good downpour shortly after the Guy and the Boys got home from their morning walk. I noticed the glowing clouds as I was coming back from the garage with the ladder. That's the pear tree in front of the clouds and I needed to pick early as to not have to deal with the wasps loving all the downed pears. And that was all the excitement we could handle this weekend.

Oh wait, Animal Baths! No one get upset by that picture. It calms cats and dogs to be held by the scruff and makes them go lax. This is why moms of both species handle their young in this manner. If you don't believe me, think about that picture. I had the time while she drip dried for a minute to get my camera, snap a shot and there are no claw marks on my arm. I discovered this trick to washing cats a long time ago. When they start to flip out, just pick them up by their scruff or if they're a big hefty cat, don't pick then up as it can hurt, but just lift their front feet off the ground a bit and they will go limp and take a deep breath. There's actually a biological/hormonal reaction they have when picked up in this manner. A lot of scientists think it keeps them from thrashing about and injuring themselves when Mom's picked them up. I think it's just Gods little on/off switch for insanity pre-Xanax myself and wish people had this one too. It would solve a lot of chemical dependency issues though possibly bring up some personal space and public touching issues in our society. Kind of like anytime someone plays with my fast receding hair and I get sleepy, I'm sure many a hair dresser has thought I have narcolepsy. Seriously though, next time you have an overstimulated animal flipping out, try it. Same goes for big dogs too. Just grab the scruff and pull up a bit, you can lift their front legs off the ground but no further. Some don't even require that much, just gentle even pressure pulling up can relax some kids when they're freaking out. Works for car rides, thunderstorms, or just simple anxiety. DO NOT grab them here in an active dog fight. The other dog is often going for this spot and you will get bitten. Just a pro tip there.

Speaking of big dogs though, this fool was trying to distract me from the dogs baths. It didn't work. They got baths yesterday too and now everyone is soft and fluffy and good smelling for the last 24 hours. It won't last much longer but it's a nice thought, right?

Sullivan already tried to get me to pet and love on him with grubby hands as I planted the oak seedlings this morning. I'm vainly hoping that if they go in the ground soon enough that their roots will get in there good before frost and snow comes. Fingers crossed, this world needs a few more trees. Now I'm just hoping the next set of thunderstorms comes through and waters them for me over the next night and day.

Yesterday while the Guy took a recuperative nap I finished twisting the ends up on this and washed and hung it to dry today.

It's just about perfect for what I was going for. A nice soft wrap with rich colors and a nice little halo though not being mohair, there's no real itch to it. It's actually an acrylic yarn so I doubt that like mohair its halo will not grow in time but we shall see. I know, I actually worked with acrylic, but this stuff amazed me. It's one of those modern miracles they're doing with acrylics these days. It is soft, subtle, and looks like a mohair but has the strength to actually be woven. Well, we won't mention the two floating selvedges that finally snapped but to be fair I think that was due to the time it sat on the loom unworsting itself waiting for more yarn to come in, more than the yarn itself. Now someday soon I'll start the next weaving project. Until then...

Sock Monsters! I have a couple other projects going. These socks that are just a time waster/filler project. What's a time waster/filler project you non-knitters ask? Well, when you're sitting in an ER/Urgent Care waiting room and need to keep your hands busy, these are the perfect somewhat brainless knitting item. Yes, I did stop on the way out the door post burn to grab knitting. No I don't feel guilty. Stop judging. Besides, we had to stop to kick the company out and send him off with leftover black bean/corn/chicken/quinoa enchiladas and just that morning canned pear sauce. We weren't rushing exactly...

I also decided what to do with that wonderful lace weight birds of paradise reminesent yarn. More on this later, but isn't it pretty?

And I've been spinning a bit too.

While being stalked.

The guy had the boys out and someone was lonely without them. Can you tell?

A couple evening before this she wanted to play while I was trying to do things and I noticed she kept mouthing me and leaving blood behind so I took a closer look in her mouth and look what I found loose! So I just took care of that problem for her which she interpreted as I wanted to play more! I just got the dogs involved at that point so I could knit one uninterrupted row before bed. I know, I ask sssooooooo much.

Enough time sitting at the computer, I have things to do! You all have a great end to your weekend, and remember your fire safety.