Small Town Gal

Big Island Polarized

2011-09-28T15:34:00.001-07:00

Mauna Kea Beach, through polarized glasses

Little somethings

2011-02-24T21:30:00.001-08:00

Today:

Enjoyed a few-and-far-between solo lunch at a local Mexican restaurant, read the Journal and warmed up outside of the cold rain. My left hand felt entirely too bare, and reminded me of my single days of yesteryear. Luckily it was all an illusion, though, as my engagement ring was just down the street getting it's jewels tightened. I even forgot my phone at work that lunch hour. No texts, emails or internet searches were on the menu. The unsolicited seclusion was the perfect recipe for this stormy Thursday. I made a pact with myself right then and there to blog more. I love lunchtimes like that.

Over the Weekend:

I helped Mom pick out a new doggie in about 2 minutes at the shelter. It was love at first sight and she is the most lovey pup ever. Sweet Pea, welcome to the family. We love you so.

Neptune Quilt Finished

2011-02-13T12:23:00.000-08:00

Ahh I love Sundays like this. The sun is out, the chores are almost done (that pesky bathroom is dirty again?!), I'm on my computer and Mike's on his. Bills are paid, taxes will be returned soon, and the huge clean clothes monster will magically find it's home at some point today. AND, I finally took pictures of the recently finished Neptune Quilt! It was the first quilt I started, and it only took a year and a half to complete. Many other projects came and went during this time. This quilt is for me. And I'm so very excited it is done. It lives on the couch now.

December Yuletide and Holiday Spirit

2010-12-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

I read a lot of blogs and inspiration is everywhere for me. Sometimes I find it quite difficult to focus on the things that bring home the bacon - these 9+ hours sitting at a desk in an office, surrounded by coworkers. The fourth quarter billable challenge is wearing on me, for sure. Mike tells me to suck it up and just get through it. So that's what I'm going to do. Only two and a half weeks left though, then I have eleven blissful days away from work to craft and sew and sleep and enjoy the peaceful winter on our little hill above the town.

We've made an offer on another house. I try so hard to not get excited lest the same torture is around the corner like we experienced with the short sale earlier this year (and last year). But oh do I love dreaming about how I will make that new house a home! Paint colors, homemade curtain and shade ideas, furniture upgrades (in time of course) and how our family of 2 will grow. I decorated the house on sunday - candles and strings of lights everywhere and ornaments hanging from doorways. Our house is too miniature to put up a Christmas tree, but it's festive all the same. That will be another thing that I can't wait to do - decorate a full size, live tree in our new house! Ideally I'd like to get a potted tree and after the holidays plant it somewhere - our yard, or somewhere where we'll be able to watch it mature.

I've turned on the Vince Guaraldi Holiday station on Pandora at work. Is it too soon to be this excited about the holidays? Big life changes are right around the bend, I can feel it! The sun rose with a bang this morning. It's a bit how I feel too - raw edged, on fire, unpredictable, energized and eager.

Simple thoughts

2010-11-18T12:31:00.000-08:00

Outside my window.... I see a hallway of busy bees bustling to and fro. Though I wish I was looking out of my living room at the rain pattering the window sill.

I am thinking... about redecorating but our house is so teeny tiny (and a rental) that it is pointless. I think I will reorganize instead, and donate more things. Things things things. How do we accumulate them so quickly?

I am thankful for... the fact that Mike and I (and Mo) can function around eachother in our 600 sq ft house without too much complaint :)

From the kitchen... comes some new and exciting recipes from my numerous cookbooks needing attention this weekend.

I am creating... many things on the sewing machine. Namely a small quilt for a newborn baby. I must finish this before said newborn is a toddler! Also would like to get started on Christmas gifts. Still unsure of what form they will take.

I am going... to meet up with a dear friend after work over a glass of wine. It's been too long.

I am reading... A Year In Provence

I am hoping... to really create a lot this weekend (after putting in some extra time at work, blegh!)

I am hearing... the new Kings of Leon cd and work mates talking about stormwater system design and pipe sizing

Around the house... I will be definitely be putting away my mounds of clean clothes this weekend and getting some quiet crafting time in. (I figure if I write it down it'll be more likely to happen..)

Diaper Bag for Amy and Adeline

2010-09-22T09:39:00.000-07:00

Fun to make! Loved using the Hawaiian print! Yay for babies!

Long time no blog

2010-09-22T09:33:00.000-07:00

I've been sewing, but not a lot. It took me 15 hours in 5 months (I won't allow myself to take that long again for sanity's sake!) to make this quilt for sweet baby Dylan Olivia. Pictures are horrendous - it was dark, 10pm, and the quilt was going to it's new home in the morning, so no time for a photo shoot, unfortunately.

Ankle Surgery and First Shower

2010-03-19T19:38:00.000-07:00

*Cue angels singing!*

Tonight Mike took a shower with his casted leg for the first time since his ligament repair/major ankle surgery last thursday. It was an ordeal. The surgery AND the shower. I broke a steamy sweat. Didn't help that we tried it on the hottest day of the year. Scene of the crime.

We wrapped his cast and leg in a towel, then duct tape, then a big plastic bag, then more duct tape, then another draped towel. Probably overkill, but his cast didn't get wet!Towel graveyard.
Hey hey I'm clean!!

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T18:19:00.001-08:00

I just adore this song and video. Sexxxy!

Ben Harper - Morning yearning
Uploaded by Image-in. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Juggling Act

2010-02-09T11:07:00.000-08:00

There are so many things happening right now! So many balls in the air it feels a little hard to take a complete single breath. In a GOOD way though!!

Girls weekend in McCloud/Shasta area concluded on sunday. What a fabulous time but I'm still trying to gather all the photos to share. Reconnecting with my ladies was so fantastic and so necessary!
I'm engaged!! Mike proposed last night and I am really having a hard time concentrating on anything today! So happy and excited for our future. The ring is just so gorgeous and simple and beautiful and I can't stop looking at it. I wuv him so much. <3

We're still trying to buy this short sale house. We made the offer in early October and are still negotiating with the bank. Hoping the next thing out of them will be 'we've reviewed your offer and contract and ACCEPT!' but, alas, it takes months and months for any movement from them, so we're in for the long haul with this one. The $8K tax credit is over in April, and April is coming too soon! I hope we can get in on that. I'm always down for a little extra cashola!

Two of my good friends are due in June/July. One is requesting a home made diaper bag that I can't wait to start, and the other will be receiving a lovely girlie baby quilt :) Such fun! Oh also I'm going to make a set of six placemats in exchange for some sweet Keen thermal boots (already in my possession)! The sewing to-do list is growing...

Mike has a bum ankle and is dealing with trying to get a surgery and it's all very complicated and another unknown hanging over our heads. I just want him to feel better and be healed!

Finally, work cannot be busier right now!! Projects are ramping up in various stages that all need my undivided attention.

Pics to follow - just need some t-i-m-e.

Going to the snow..

2010-02-04T19:42:00.000-08:00

..but we aren't going skiing! Well, most of us at least. A little less than a dozen of us girlies are headed to Mt. Shasta area tomorrow morning for three days of mountain fun! We plan to sew, read, play games, gab, get a little sauced (because there won't be any kids around!!) and relllaaaaax in our huge rental castle! Many of us are in the Underground Sewers (though we have direly neglected our own group blog) and plan to work on our various projects and maybe one of us will finally get one of those quilts done! We will be minus one member this weekend - sadly - due to back issues :( BUT the good news is it is inspiring her to be the coordinator for the next girl's weekend in the summer. We'll miss her dearly!!

Looking forward to it ladies! See you tomorrow ;)

Calvin's Quilt

2010-02-03T13:52:00.000-08:00

I finished my first-ever quilt. I work well on a deadline. It took 16 hours, 3 non-consecutive days out of one week to get this completed. Organic batting, designer fabrics, and homemade binding complete this baby quilt. Sally (mom-to-be) looooooves it, she says, and it is on her own bed until Calvin is born. I feel so very accomplished and look forward to actually finishing the two other quilt tops just sitting around waiting to be completed.It measures approximately 42" by 54"

Here is the back - and Mr. Mo tripping out on it, of course.

I'll leave you with this wonderful shot of Mr. Mo Belly. He plopped himself right down on my quilt during the photo session. Over the course of the marathon sewing on Saturday, I had to lock him in the bedroom TWICE so I could get things done without him jumping on the quilt, squeezing under the quilt mid-stitch, stealing pins, hitting around bobbins, and just acting out general mayhem all over my crafting area. I probably took 30 or 40 photos during the process, and his foot, or wisp of a tail, or blurred body are in over half of them! But I still love this little (getting bigger?!) pink belly of his:

A jotting of sorts

2010-01-03T15:37:00.000-08:00

It is a little frightening to post my rusty writing (and horrendous print) on the internets....

I made a whole lotta potholders!

2010-01-03T14:30:00.000-08:00

The gift of choice this year was to make everyone potholders. Fun, quick, easy, and pretty! These are just a few:

And here are the splendid wrapped pressies a few weeks ago:
And Mr. Mo a few days ago:

Calm and Uncharacterstic Sunday

2010-01-03T14:17:00.001-08:00

Views from my backyard this mid afternoon. I've started writing again - the old fashioned way. I hope this new year brings many lovely poems. It sure has been a while. Little divebombers love that bush

Can you see all the birdies?

FMF!

2009-11-20T08:11:00.001-08:00

Flea Market Fancy giveaway here
Though anyone who reads this blog already knows about it, I'm sure!

I'm back!

2009-10-06T17:50:00.000-07:00

My laptop died last month (or was it August?) and I've been computer-less for ever, it seems. My sweet sweet boyfriend bought a new fancy computer for himself, and I got his old one! It's a strange transition from a teeny laptop to this huge, loud monstrosity, but I'm very grateful to have internet etc back up at home. Now I have zero excuses to not blog...

Kasey's Skirt

2009-09-14T16:51:00.001-07:00

I finished this skirt for Kasey's belated July birthday over labor day weekend up at Mike's dad's house in the woods. I zigzag stitched around the raw edge about 3 or 4 times to get the cool hemline (at least I think it is cool). We had a fabulous relaxing romantic time :) It even rained! I want to eat Marcella's tomatoes there in the background.

Boy dog is getting pretty old, but he sure can take adorable pictures still.

Margaret Bag

2009-09-14T16:48:00.000-07:00

I finished this cutie patootie bag last night. Used Oh Fransson's Margaret Bag Tutorial

Fun stuff. I used an old vintage sheet to practice the bag. Looking forward to more!

I love it! I hate it!

2009-08-26T19:29:00.000-07:00

That's what Mike says I am like. I can't just sort-of like something. I'm a all or nothing sort of gal. I'll make this short. I like to cook. I wish I knew more. I need to know more. I saw 'Julie and Julia' in the theatre this weekend and now I'm obsessed with Julia Child's cookbooks. I love Julie Powell's blog. Every day after work I'm poaching eggs like crazy. My first poached egg ever, and it wasn't oval and the yolk was not as runny as I prefer, but it tasted heavenly. I made more tonight, and didn't take pictures before I chowed. They were more ovule and pretty than this one.I also made my version of that fabulous bruschetta that Julie and Eric totally devoured in the movie. It was so good I had it for dinner last night and breakfast again this morning at work. A coworker said "....whoa... " as I walked by with my plate of heaping tomatoes and fresh basil on toast. I skipped the garlic on accident last night, and found that it tasted fresh and yummy without, so I skipped it purposefully this morning too. I believe many fantastical meals will come out of me in the following months as I devour Ms. Child's cookbooks and continue reading Ms. Powell's still-on-the-internets blog. Currently I have had on my shelf, for, oh, over a decade, a used copy of The French Chef Cookbook and am just now busting it open. Stay tuned. Oh and I haven't forgotten my sewing, it's just taking a back burner this week. Har har.

A Start

2009-08-09T18:15:00.003-07:00

Disappearing 9 patch quilt top - it's getting there! Slow and steady wins the race this time.

Another Bag

2009-08-09T17:05:00.000-07:00

I'm having fun making these bags. This one is larger for more groceries and has an inner pocket. I'm practicing on these, then I'll start making the numerous birthday bags!

Skirt Time

2009-08-09T16:00:00.001-07:00

I made this quick and easy skirt for a little one yet to be born. I hope mommy likes it! I think I'll make another slightly larger one too, with lace at the bottom.

Neighborhood cat and Mo

2009-08-06T19:28:00.000-07:00

This neighborhood cat has been loitering on my porch the last couple days. I made the mistake of petting him a few days ago, then again this evening. Mo is quite curious!

Picture Post

2009-08-02T18:56:00.001-07:00

Finished blocks for Marina's cherished fabric improv quilt made by the Underground Sewers (that's our group's new name!). She absolutely loved all of our creations and I can't wait to see how she pieces all of the slightly wonky blocks together. We weren't allowed to use straight edges or rotary cutters for this assignment! I just love how bright and textured the fabrics are.

These were mine:
and these are all blocks the five of us made - just a start!
This is a block from my Neptune disappearing nine-patch. It is taking me forever to get this thing done, but I'm diligently getting the top pieced together this week. Hopefully I'll get the back done and the quilt sammy made next weekend. And this, well this is the very impromptu market bag I made this afternoon. I needed to get to the grocery store, and I lost my other pre-fab market bag months ago. The guilt of using the Co-op's paper bags got to be too much, so here is this beaut! I altered this tutorial a bit and used 3 different fabrics instead of two.

I used some Joel Dewberry, some Arcadia, and the ever popular Essex linen in putty. Lovely fabrics, I must say.
She made her maiden voyage this evening, and came out like a champ! But just because I'm paranoid, I'm going to stitch the heck out of the straps so they don't detach from the bag. Happy Sunday, not looking forward to Monday....

Failing Miserably

2009-07-30T10:54:00.000-07:00

I am so far behind on where I set my sewing goals earlier this summer. I have slacked BIG time on my Neptune quilt, but the top is almost patched together. I am primarily writing this to kick myself in the butt to progress on my projects. I've done a few things, like making a tablecloth for my friend Kasey, and I've made a little progress on the improv squares for Marina for our quilt group (basically I've cut the random pieces of fabric). I realize I am so far from improv that it is incredibly hard to actually complete. But, I must get it done because in 2 days the ladies are coming over to share our blocks!

This summer has been incredibly busy with weddings, parties, vacations, and just all around outside sunshine time that does not equal inside sewing time. However, true to it's nature, coastal Humboldt County has been experiencing the traditional foggy summers, so I should be getting more done than I am. Oh well.

Oh, and we've been doing some of this too:

Brave

2009-06-26T21:39:00.001-07:00

I am not entirely sure why Farrah Fawcett's death has hit me so hard. I was never a huge fan of hers, never went out of my way to see any of her movies and never googled her. With that being said, I am so very proud of her for making her struggle with cancer public because, in reality, the process she went through was just like any other person dealing with the balance between life and death (though perhaps the more regular folks with cancer are not flown to Germany for experimental treatments). Apparently she documented her struggle with video for the last few years of her life and I think that was one of the most wisest actions she could have taken during this process.

The battle begins with awareness.

Her struggle was not ANY different than my grandpa's or my still-living grandmother's, or your sister, friend, mother, cousin, neighbor, coworker or grocery store clerk. There has been cancer in my family, on both sides, and I realize how prevalent the disease is and I am also quite scared that I, too, will probably fight some sort of cancer as I age. Is that morbid of me to say? It just seems to be everywhere. I can just hope that those fortunate enough to affect millions of people like Farrah will continue to reach out and inform and help research grow. I have been part of a local American Cancer Society Relay for Life team for many years now, and it seems more important now than ever before. So let's conquer this devastating and painful disease once and for all. If any of you, my readers, are interested in donating to the American Cancer Society, please Click here to visit my personal page.

Thank you.

Sweetness and Light

2009-06-25T22:15:00.000-07:00

Happy day when I get a box in the mail. This arrived:

It is the start of my quilt group's next quilt. I'm thinking log cabins or bento box. What do you think? I told Sara (after a guessing game) that I purchased 15 yards of this line. She thought I was nuts, in a good way. I guess I wanted leftovers!

Also, I failed to mention in my previous post that when I got home from the valley on Sunday, my sweetest guy in the whole wide world left a single red rose by my bed. In unison, now: Awwwww!

Hi, my name is...

2009-06-23T22:06:00.000-07:00

..Deirdre, and I'm a fabric addict.

I searched high and low for the Lush line by Erin Michael. I spent more than I probably should have for small pieces of discontinued fabric. But this love feels so good!!
I hope I am done with this particular addiction to this line so I can stop spending so much time searching the internet for it and actually make something with it! I have been completely inspired by this quilt Jacquie, from Tallgrass Prairie Studio made for her son. It is simple, gorgeous, and a lovely design!

What's funny is that since my mom and I got back from a visit with Grandma Pat, I've been having this urge to really declutter my house. I'm not an inherently cluttery person, but I do tend to get lazy about the dishes in the sink, or the pottery dish full of who knows what on my bookcase/coffee table/kitchen counter. So while I continue to receive bundles of fabric in the mail and stash them away in my fabric bins, I simultaneously have been filling the goodwill box. Life is good.

Mom's birthday was friday, and I made her four placemats from the Alexander Henry Granville line. She loved them, but as I suspected, she wants eight! I tried different quilting techniques on each one, and because my feed dogs don't lower on my machine, I can't stipple. The curviest I can manage are slight waves, which I actually really dig how they look. You can't really tell the different techniques in the photo, but I tried waves, square spirals, boxes within boxes, and long curves every which way (still need to come up with a better name). Here are the backs:

And here we all are, enjoying the last of the Lincoln warm air. From left to right: Me, Mom, Aunt Laurel and her man Mike, Uncle Randy, Grandma Pat, Bon Bon (the cutest little munchkin doggie you will ever meet) and Grandma's honey Morris. Happy birthday Mom!!

And that concludes this segment of June 2009 birthdays.

"Quilty Group" Quilt No. 3

2009-06-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

As you know, I'm in a quilting bee with some good friends locally. We're coming up with a name finally and I think we've got it. We all met yesterday to reveal the blocks for the third quilt - the Heather Ross Mendocino couch quilt for Ms. Sara. Everyone is always so creative and I just really enjoy that we can all get together and be crafty. Here are my four squares.

June Birthdays: 2 of 3!

2009-06-14T17:19:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Tiffany!! I made her four quilted place mats and coordinating napkins out of a charm pack of the Wonderland line. I heart these place mats and it was tough to give them up. They were made with all kinds of love.

The backs are very simple.Here's Tif, happily seeing how the mats display on her dining room table. She loves them, by the way :)I also tried out a new vanilla cupcake recipe with chocolate frosting. They were so rich and yummy!
We also made some homemade super delicious rum mojitos! Needless to say I got up way later than expected this morning. Good times were had by all. Happy birthday, friend!

Rest in Peace Betta Fishy

2009-06-14T16:41:00.000-07:00

My 2+ year old Betta died a couple days ago. What makes me the saddest is Mo really misses him! They used to hang out together, and I honestly believe that Mo didn't want to eat him..
They hung out for hours - Mo on the warm dryer and Betta Fishy in his tasteful little home. We'll miss you little Betta Fishy.

A very happy birthday

2009-06-07T12:43:00.001-07:00

Numerous pictures in this blog, beware!

This weekend has been action packed full of Mike's birthday fun. Yesterday I spent the entire afternoon and evening in the kitchen making a german chocolate cake from scratch (Mike's favorite) then homemade lasagna for the birthday boy's dinner. For some reason the coconut pecan frosting didn't make it to the outside of the cake, but that is ok, because Mike enjoys the cake part of the cake better anyways. It looks pretty funny, sorta lopsided and bare, but it sure was tasty! And as always, he hammed it up for the camera big time any chance he got.

I also have spent the last few weekends thinking up a pattern for pillows for Mike's bed. I just love Alexander Henry's fabric collections, and made a couple pillows out of naked camo girls and some cutie patootie spotted owls. My mom says the owl pillow looks like it's for a kid.. Of course Mo had to get in on the action. A blog post is never complete without a shot of the crazy catface.

We rounded out the evening with the brand new Guitar Hero for Wii at John and Melina's. We lost ALL track of time, and noticed that it was almost 1 am and decided to call it quits. I can't get Eye of the Tiger out of my head (and I don't want to!)
Today is Mike's actual birthday, and we're celebrating with dinner and a movie with his folks. Fun fun! Happy birthday sweetie!!

I hope I win! And more.

2009-05-31T10:52:00.000-07:00

Tonight is when winners of all of the what seemed like hundreds of materials/handmade gifts giveaways I entered will be announced! I do hope I win something! I still need to conquer the last of the handmade list...

On another note, I am just so INTO the gift I finished last night for my dear friend's birthday in two weeks. I can't say anything more and it's killing me! Today I'll take a ton of pictures in anticipation of that future blog I'll be writing.

Last night I used the recipe found on Posie Gets Cozy bloggy for Baked Rigatoni with Eggplant and Sausage. My eggplant sure didn't end up looking like Alicia's, and honestly that was my first and last time cooking eggplant. I really don't like it! I think if I had fried it a little more (but I fried it for way longer than the recipe called for, and they still turned up squishy and weird) then maybe they would have been good. Or maybe if eggplant had a better taste, the texture wouldn't bother me so much. Anyways, this isn't a rag on eggplant; I'm sure it has a place but not in this dish next time I make it. And I will make it again as it was super delish. Mike agreed that perhaps artichoke hearts or zucchini would be a better fit. Of course we enjoyed this dish with the last drops of Fieldbrook Winery's barbera, and opened (and tried not to finish) the lovely 2003 Turnbull syrah. Yummms. Sausage was cooking when I took this picture. I used whisky fennel chicken sausage for a healthier version rather than the traditioal pork sausage. Eggplant is so pretty - I do wish I liked it better.

It smelled amazing, with the freshly grated parmgiano reggiano on top and the fresh basil leaves (from my garden!) mixed in with the tomato sauce.

Just delicious! And now I have my meal for the rest of the week until payday. I will try and not pick out the eggplant. Maybe a re-heat of leftovers in the oven will make them tastier?

Old Tapes

2009-05-29T22:54:00.001-07:00

I was just watching a movie with Mike tonight and an ad came on for that Notorious movie about Biggie Smalls aka Big Poppa the fat rapper guy that was shot dead and it inspired me to pull out my old cassette tapes. Mike was astound that a) I've kept and moved with my hella old tapes for a over a decade and b) the sheer number of them fill two old boxes full. I found a couple of recorded and re-recorded tapes from back in the day. You know, when you buy a cassette, say Boyz II Men's Cooleyhighharmony, and record over that (after you put scotch tape over the two little anti-record holes on the top) with some awesome Power 96.3 Jodeci song or in later years song after song from KXGO - primarily he Rolling Stones then re-record over that with your own personal musings, but leave a few spaces between re-recordings so you can still dig on the Stones.

Sophomore year my best friend Shaunna and I went to a yard sale and bought a small (for the time) tape recorder with built-in microphone. The following month (May 1997 to be exact) was audibly covered - from my weekend stays at their house in Eureka to our evenings out with the friends and instruments and cigarettes and music and pot and the occasional six pack of beer shared amongst at least 10 friends. The recorder wasn't allowed at school, and honestly it probably wouldn't have fit in Shaunna's backpack. We talked about teen angst, taking huge trucker shits that clog up the toilet, endless strings of quotes from Beavis and Butthead to Forrest Gump to Dirty Dancing and the fact that one of the boys didn't like us recording because "what if the cops found this, man?!?" Not like we were doing anything remotely bad or illegal, except for that random sixer, the toke everyone had in their pockets and the walks around the neighborhood late at night past curfew. I wonder if other people did this - before ipods, cell phones, even daily use of the internet. How cumbersome it all seems now compared to the current days of fast fast fast information, yet so much more innocent. I'm nostalgic now after hearing those tapes of the end of that sophomore year, before Shaunna moved to Arizona, and before we all grew up. I don't want to go back, that's for sure, but I do enjoy listening down memory lane. I wish I had a picture scanned in from those days that I could post here now, but I don't because I'm still not that techie. Perhaps I'm trying to preserve a teeny bit of that sophomore innocence by not adapting completely. Like my dad, who refuses to own a cell phone and who still doesn't log into the home computer. Ever. Will I be one of those old ladies who doesn't understand a thing 'young kids do these days?'

Packing and Hacking

2009-04-23T21:23:00.000-07:00

Well not so much hacking as packing, but my throat has been sore since yesterday. Tomorrow before the sun rises I'm driving down to the Bay Area with Melissa as my date. First pit stop: outlet mall in Petaluma. Second stop, Market Street in San Francisco for some serious H&M etc shopping. Then meeting up with Geraldine for dinner and staying there for the night. Uncle Gerry is turing 65 (!!) and we are celebrating Saturday night on a dance party boat in Sausalito! I am just so freaking excited for his adventure. I wish I wasn't getting sick. Mel also has some headache sore throat thing going on too. We'll be quite the pair. Shopping til we drop, missing our honeys, but having a blast dancing til the sun comes up (well not really) on the bay. How more romantic is that? Too bad Mike is in the desert on his bike right now hehe.

Ick a spider was just crawling on my arm when I as writing on my wall calendar!! Now I feel creepy crawlies all over me ewwww.

Ok, gotta complete the packing, go to sleep and get to the City tomorrow.

Spring is here

2009-04-19T16:51:00.000-07:00

Mo loves to lay silly in the skylight sun.

The first caterpillar in the yard

Strawberry blossoms and fruit tree blossoms.

Today was hot!

Project list and a side note

2009-04-16T13:12:00.000-07:00

I'm super busy at work but I feel overwhelmed with all my (crafty) projects swimming in my head so I just really need to type them out really quick so I can get back to my work projects:

2 birthday surprise gifts due for June (mustn't go into detail here)
'Fancy' pillow for Mike with fabric I have yet to purchase but is reserved for me on Etsy
Tula Pink Neptune disappearing 9 patch first ever quilt for ME
Checkbook cover
Finish more squares for Lynn's retro quilt with remaining fabric
Spring Chicken!!! Too cute. No reason to make it except I think it is more than adorable.
At least one fabric box for fabric scraps
I also want to make a purse/bag using one of the various tutorials I've seen floating around the internets and then get good at it and give them away as gifts

I wonder if I should just create a sidebar thing on my blog for works in progress, so I can just refer to it and not blog about them over and over? Good idea. I'll do that later.

Ok, one more thing that just makes me so happy for some reason. There is an auto-electric repair place across the street from my work. It is owned by a couple, and they work together, day in and day out. She mainly does the business end, taking appointments/payments etc, and he works on the vehicles. Today I saw both of them assessing something under the hood of a red hot rod car, and they just seem so content. I know that every relationship has its issues, but they must really get along if they work all day together, get off at 5 oclock (on the dot, every day) and go home together too. Anyways, I just like them and the image I have made of their perfect relationship in my head makes me happy.

I love Sunday!

2009-04-12T17:27:00.000-07:00

Today was pretty much my definition of the best Sunday ever. I slept in until almost 10 and that is only because I covered my eyes with the blanket to shade from the blasting bright skylight to squeeze in an extra couple hours. Mo was outside my door periodically mewing like he was in so much pain. I tell him if he behaved during the night, he wouldn't be banished outside the bedroom door, but he doesn't get it. I had a banana for breakfast, washed dishes, took out trash, did laundry, caught up on bloggies and facebooked, ate a meager raid-the-fridge/cupboard lunch, yada yada - all that Sunday stuff. Took a shower, went to Murphy's and got a bottle of table red and sat down at my sewing machine. I've been very inspired by Lynn's retro fabric for some reason. I've made four blocks for our quilt group's third compilation quilt and I still have more fabric left over to work with. Mo was 'helping' me sew as you can see, but from his expression I think he was jealous of where my attention was. I'm totally digging the disappearing 9 patch blocks. Soon I'll be starting my own quilt with this design. Here are the four:

Oh and how could I forget to mention?! We finally gave Tony his secret birthday blue oceany/watery quilt yesterday! He seemed to really enjoy the thoughtfulness and the way we kept it a secret this whole time. It is the second quilt for our group. This is my dolphin pinwheel strip (and my toes) on a rare sunny day
Here are the quilt group girls minus Kathryn - home with a horrible back issue :( and the happy quilt recipient Tony and our finished quilt! I guess technically it isn't a quilt because it isn't quilted, but it is extremely beautiful and we are all so proud and looking forward to more more more!
We also still need a name for our group! We are so busy hunched over our fabric to get creative with a name. I think yesterday when we gave Tony his gift, we enlisted the men in our lives to help out with a name. We'll see how fruitious that is..

Monday Monday

2009-04-06T22:29:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here with a huge stack of new fabric from my first ever order off of Etsy. Deborah at Whipstich is Incredible. She even has her own magnet.

Alexander Henry Granville - 5 prints, 1 yard each, a charm pack of wonderland (!!), a layer cake of tula pink's neptune (for my first ever quilt), a FQ of Kaufman's Iota vegetable garden, and two unexpected FQs of some old AH and another unknown fabric to me (so far) and a 1/2 yard I think AH and it fits in perfectly with my Granville collection! All I have plans for, but mustn't discuss for they are all gifts (except Neptune). Wow, lots of parenthesiseses in this one (I do love my parenthesis). I want to post photos of my fabric, but I think I'll just lay in bed and fondle them as I sleep instead.

At least something is making me smile today.

Sigh.

Professional Friend Requests

2009-03-31T10:42:00.000-07:00

To accept or deny? I'm having a new etiquette issue of the 21st century. Recently I've gotten a few friend requests on facebook from people I know in the professional world. More specifically, a client of mine and his son. Now, my profession is such that we consult for our client related to development improvements (subdivisions, lot line adjustments, commercial/mixed use developments, local, state and federal agency interface etc) and we deal with things seemingly very important to our client: time, money and property. So, to have my clients on facebook puts me in a strange position. What if I did or said something on facebook that made me look unprofessional? Not that I make it a habit to express embarrassing or immoral behavior, but what if my actions in my personal electronic world had a detrimental affect on my professional world because of this weird online friendship? On the flip side of this, we live in Humboldt County, and I see these people in the real world outside of my work capacity all the time. Grocery store, musical events, even the bar. So, I think my conclusion is that I will accept them as friends, because what would it look like if I denied them? I think it could be more detrimental to our relationship than accepting them. I do have a current goal to watch what I say more often, so maybe this will be a test to my tactless blunt antics that have gotten me in trouble in the past. And maybe I'll stay off facebook a little more.

I'm obsessed

2009-03-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

I'm completely consumed with looking at quilty-type blogs and tutorials and all sorts of fabric online and around town am starting to plan my upcoming quilting projects. I'm such a novice at quilting, but I have this overwhelming will to create things that is keeping me motivated. So, I really want to do a zig zag quilt, and have practiced with triangles now on two different compilation quilts (first attempt) but I find that I should probably practice on something a bit smaller before I attempt a large quilt. I have seen experienced quilters recommend making a doll quilt, but alas, I have no children, nor any dolls. And practicing triangles on a quilt that will be a gift seems like too much pressure. I think I'll practice on pillow covers. I have 3 blank pillow forms that have been waiting to be pretty for at least four years now. I've decided my first quilt will be the disappearing 9 patch. It just looks so COOL! I love this one.. I actually keep the link open and stare at it from time to time while I'm at work. Ahhh fabric porn. I get paid in three days and I am planning online fabric shopping craziness! My stash is pretty much non-existant, save for a few stacks of fat quarters and huge piles of muslin I purchased years ago. Next step: set up an actual stash area in my teeny house.

Being crafty again

2009-02-24T10:16:00.000-08:00

When I lived at home as a teenager and after I moved out, I made all kinds of things - weird purses, corduroy pants (that I wore constantly), skirts, shorts, blankets, pillows.. then I just stopped. Well, I am pleased to announce that I am ultimately and fully obsessed with sewing again! It's been about a decade. I don't quite know why I stopped, but I won't allow myself to do that again. I am currently making a quilt with a group of awesome crafty friends, and this is only the beginning! I have so many ideas floating around in my brain. So now I need to start saving money for fabric as well as saving for my far-off dream of traveling out of this country. I think my first attempt will be to cover those blank pillows that I purchased years ago that have been stuck in their plastic jo-ann's fabrics bag ever since. Also, I have a pair of pants that are a tad too short that need a bottom cuff so I don't look like I'm waiting for a flood.

I don't think I'll create another blog for my crafts, just because I'm really not sure how much I'll be making and because I hardly blog on this as it is.

These are the four quilt blocks I pumped out last night in an hour. Who knew I could do it so quickly?! It definitely brought my confidence back (even though the pattern is super duper beginner). The fabric is Kathryn's and these blocks will go to her so she can incorporate them into our first compilation quilt. I'm excited to start being crafty again!! Maybe I'll also pick up my poetry that has also been left by the wayside..

The Story: Sleepless In Arcata

2009-02-15T21:53:00.001-08:00

The Players:
Mo, the teenage kitten who will stop at nothing
Mason, the eight year old border collie who has lost his cool
Deirdre, the human who wants everything to just work out

The Plot:
Deirdre decides to dog sit for her beloved Mason who is only in her life when his owner goes out of town. This decision has created an 'invasion' into Mo's domain for a weekend, and maybe a week depending on their compatibility...

The Dilemma:
Mo is extremely curious about Mason to the point where he follows him everywhere, and gets so close to the him that he freaks himself out and hisses at Mason. Mason was a good sport about this odd creature at first, and just laid back thinking to himself 'Cat, just go away, OK?' Three days go by, and Mason is having trouble brushing off the cat-turned-devil. Mo watches Mason eat, and tries to drink from his water dish. Mo bats at Mason's unassuming wagging tail, much to Mason's dismay. Mo slowly skirts around Mason's sleeping form to get around him. Mo tries to eat houseplants and when disciplined by Deirdre, also gets an earful from Mason. Mo even wants to play with Mason sometimes, but doesn't quite know how that works with a 'tween cat and a mature dog. Deirdre watches the two interact; however numerous hissing-barking-rash movement bouts later, and Deirdre is fed up.

The Conclusion:
Against Deirdre's desire and to Mo's contentment, Mason will be going to another caretaker until Friday to prevent the likelihood of blood shed - or at least a puncture wound or two. Deirdre is upset - these are the only times she is able to be with Mason, yet her new kitten will not accept this temporary addition to the household.

Officially Boring.

2008-12-02T21:18:00.000-08:00

I know hearing about other people's dreams is one of the most boring things, but I've been having some strange and vivid dreams the past couple days. I tend to dream most in the mornings right before I wake up, which I think is pretty common. Oh god I think this blog is going to be boring. Anyways, recently I dreamed I was in Mumbai, India, at night, and I was wearing a sweater because in my dream it gets chilly at night. Mind you, I dreamed about Mumbai (of all places) before I even tuned into NPR to hear all the horrorific news coming from Mumbai. I woke up wondering, Mumbai really is a place, right? And, what is the weather really like in Mumbai at night? I did some research and it does get a wee bit chilly (high 60s at night), especially if you're acclimated to 90 to 100 degree temperatures during the day. Oh yes, this blog is getting more and more boring. What is possessing me to write this? Ok. The last dream I had was this morning and I dreamed I was giving birth. Two big pushes and out comes this sweet baby boy with a full head of dark hair. Nursing came right away with no difficulty. I was just walking around this strange place with outside decks and stairs with my new baby in my arms. Hmm. I do have this maternal clock thing ticking away, that is a given. Officially boring, eh? Here's a funny picture of my current little one, Mr. Mo (short for Mohammed. Just kidding). He just hangs out like this. For real.

My new munchkin!

2008-11-15T14:56:00.000-08:00

He loves to look at himself in the mirror, he makes a lot of noise, I think he misses his cage-mates, and he needs a name (and a nap)!

2008-10-27T19:46:00.000-07:00

I'm not quite sure where to start, and most of you who read my blog already know, but my sweet kitty boy Spaz was hit by a car last week and is gone from my life now. I am facing, for the first time, truly living alone. Spaz was my buddy for 6 years and was the bestest, most spoiled sweet smart cat ever. He enjoyed his fields too much, and searched far and wide for one after our move to Arcata. He died doing what he loved, and he had a wonderful life with me. It's heartbreaking. We buried Angus our family dog only in February, so this felt all too soon to be doing it again. His grave is among all our other pets up on Humboldt Hill, overlooking the bay and the coastal mountains.

This house feels so lonely and quiet without his presence. Luckily Colin had to go out of town, so I watched Mason the Dog all weekend. It was the greatest solace I could have asked for. His energy was just what I needed in this quiet house. The support and compassion from all of my family and friends was so very appreciated as well. I am truly blessed to have so many loving people in my life and truly blessed to have shared those years with Spaz.

I know it's too soon, but I think after the new year I am going to get two new kitties :) I am a pet person, and just feel normal and whole when I am surrounded by animal energies.

Violated Continued

2008-10-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

I just checked my car in more detail. There are actually two dents. One a square-shaped dent about 1.5 inches and another longer dent on the door about 4 inches long. This is not right.

I called and complained, but I am afraid I'll piss the dude off even more, and create more problems. The supervisor said he would talk to the driver. I doubt he will get reprimanded, let alone fired.

Two fucking dents!

Guess I learned my lesson.

Can I make them pay to fix the dents?

Violated

2008-10-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

I have been violated because of the ' no less than 3 feet' rule. I wake in the 3am hour this morning to hear the usual recycling and garbage truck lumbering and beeping down my street. Their route is odd, and they cruise the street about 3 or 4 times within the hour, so this morning seemed no different. About the second or third go-round, the truck stopped longer than normal outside my house. I didn't think much of it, but now that I think about it, I felt a malicious feeling coming from my driveway as I heard extra crashing and banging but I didn't think much of it in my sleepy haze. Then Spaz and I fell back asleep, seemingly cozy and safe.

----Four hours later----

Cheery me is walking to my car to go to work for the day (well not so cheery - I am definitely NOT a morning person). I see that my paper recycling container is thrown into the front lawn and my trash can is on it's side on the sidewalk between my car and the hedge. The paper recycling container hit the grass with so much force it actually ripped up some grass in the newly formed plastic crack. I diligently take all my containers to the back porch and get into my car. The righthand side mirror is bent inwards and that's when it hits me. I get out, flip the mirror back to it's rightful place, and that's when I see it. A half-dollar sized dent in my car! The garbage man went postal (pardon the mixed up phrase) and threw my garbage can into my car! My heart starts racing as I realize that I most definitely put my containers too far into the '3-feet zone' and completely pissed off my garbage man. I signed an agreement when I started City of Arcata garbage service, stating clearly that I would not put my containers closer than 3 feet from any person place or thing. It is my fault for not following their rules. But, does that warrant them denting my car? I guess if they don't have the courtesy to leave a note, or maybe do something non-violent to get their 3 feet rule across, perhaps I'll just put something really stinky in the trashcan. Garbage wars. And it's extra scary because they know where I live.

Moved In and Mostly Moved Out

2008-09-02T12:29:00.000-07:00

This past month has been very hectic for me - maybe one of the most hectic months in years. I have lived in the same house for 6 years on Humboldt Hill, and I just moved out to a fabulous little house in Arcata just below the park. Six years is a lot to leave, it felt like. I'm pretty much over it now, but I got quite sentimental about abandoning the HH house. A lot of memories took place there, a lot of accomplishments and a few setbacks but all learning experiences, and I essentially grew to maturity while living there (well, my maturity as it is now, I guess). However, this sentimentality has been tainted by the necessity to do a deep clean on the place for the new tenant. Who knew how much ickyness builds up over 6 years! I do now. I've used a lot of bleach (shh, don't tell the enviro-police). And it's not entirely clean yet, either, and there are various errant yard things I need to move still. And not to mention the trash run for old old crap. I can't wait to not be tied to that house anymore.

I am mostly all moved in in Arcata, but the kitchen needs help. Boxes full of cans and boxes of food, pots and pans, and weird kitchen odds and ends litter the floor and table. The rest of the house is settled, as well as Spaz. It was hard for the first few days. He had to get re-acquainted with the litter box that he hadn't used since he was probably 6 months old. But, no accidents and he is (mostly) happily using it. It doesn't seem like much now that we have a routine, but it was a huge deal moving my six-year old outdoor cat to a new place and keeping him strictly indoors. In the beginning I just couldn't stand his meows and looks of longing out each window and under the door, that I bought a harness and tied him to a rope and 'walked' him around the yard. He acted like the harness weighted a TON and he would scoot/crawl on his belly veerrry sllowwwly across the grass. It was funny to watch, but I felt bad too. I figured out that letting him out on the harness was just making his inside time that much more undesirable for him, so I ended the outdoor adventures. In a couple weeks I'll let him out, but I really want him to know where home and safety is before he is on his own. One thing I continue to feel bad about is that he is moved away from all of his kitty friends. He was quite the popular neighborhood cat. He had this one blind friend who he loved to sneak up and pounce on. The blind kitty had a weird meow, it was more of a squeak or a beep sound. So every time Spaz would play with him, he'd squeak beep squeak! I'm sure he'll make more friends, being the social good looking cat that he is.

I really wish I had a few days to just chill and get everything settled, completely. Oh wait, I did just have a 3-day weekend. Where the heck did it go?

I'll have photos up of the new place soon. First I need working internet at my house. Suddenlink SUCKS! I think I may ditch them and go local.

Dirt Rising/Rager on my Liver

2008-08-09T11:27:00.000-07:00

Reggae (I am still compelled to say On The River) Rising this year:

Cons-
slightly annoying
tiring
black boogers
not the best line up
9pm-2am shift serving very wasted/fried/stoned people is NOT my cup of tea

Pros-
Mike was there and he is awesome!
gyros. 'nuff said.
gorgeous weather
always fun to hang with the entire family and camp
unending supply of juices, water, beer and hurricanes

Even after all of my complaining and horribly bitchy attitude (I dearly apologize, Mike and family) I am still going next year. I told myself and Mike emphatically when we were catching the last shuttle at 2:30am "I am NOT doing this ever again!!" but when I woke up the next morning, I was ready to do it all over again - next year. Every year I tend to skip out on Dirt Rising on Sunday all together. Am I getting old and staunchy? Mean and bitter? Maybe. Just don't make me work that night shift again! Oh and this was funny but also pissed me off. Around the midnight hour, I was called a Hater! Two jockrockers wanted free water and when I wouldn't give it to them, one called me a hater and then mouthed at me "Fuuuck Yooouuu." I almost was scared. Who knows what kind of drugs they were on, and they were big. And this was all when Mike was off at the medical tent fixing his bleeding knuckle. Ice is sharp!

What I learned (again):

I have little tolerance for ignorant, stupid and rude people.
I need to loosen up.
I'm a reggae purist. I love roots and dub reggae and not reggaeton, dancehall or even worse, hip hop rap reggae.
My man is incredible and I love him so much.

We hardly took any pictures, but here are a couple. Drew and Michael were stoned and hot needing free libation. Mike and I were eating and sitting under the parachute.

I guess when all is said and done it was a pretty good time, despite my ramblings. Next year will mark our 10th year working on the beverages crew. A decade of the same reggae festival, I guess that's why I'm a tad burned out. But not enough to stop going.

Reggae Babee!

2008-07-31T18:09:00.000-07:00

We'll be slingin' drinks and takin tokens all weekend, ahh hells yea! See y'all when I get back! I'm just so excited I gotta put pics up from previous years:

Feelin' alright..

2008-07-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

I've got my little kittie-face Spaz sittin' here right next to me on the table next to my lappy and Mason my former doggie who I'm dog-sitting is laying under my feet as I watch sunday's episode of Big Brother online. God, I'm slightly ashamed that I am watching this show! I swear this is the first BB I've ever followed. And it all started when I was dead tired from our Pork of July party a couple weekends ago. I was zoned out on the couch barely watching tv, when lo and behold, Season 10, Episode 1 of BB was officially airing. So I watched. And got hooked. But I can't make time out of every sunday, tuesday and thursday evenings at 9 (it's on a lot, folks) so I just now got caught up on cbs.com. And now I have only a few minutes until the next 'live' broadcast! That's a lot of blog coverage for BB. I didn't intend this.

Okeee.. I am moving August 30th!!! Arcata here I come! Spaz seems fine with all the boxes and junk moved around - in fact, he seems to be delighted with the change and the odd box to play hide and seek. I hope that bodes well for when we finally get into the new house and he is trapped inside for a few weeks to adjust. My biggest fear is he will revolt against the litter box and use my indoor plants. Though I think that is better than him getting lost, or him running way, or worse... if he is let out too soon at the new house. 11th street in Arcata will be busy - school will have started and he'll be only one house away from that busy area. He loves this big field we have going up here on the Hill, plus he'll have to leave all of his kitty friends. He never gets into fights, and we've been here 6 years. I've only had to treat one puncture wound on his foot and ear, but luckily no veterinary assistance was needed. So, he better get along with all those new cats on the New Arcata Hill, and he better be car-savvy.

~~~~~~~~~~~

One of the best things about this house: Southern Exposure

I love how the concrete front porch stays warm long after the sun has gone down. It is almost 9pm and that porch is still radiating heat like crazy! Feels good on my footsies.

Captain Save-a-Dog is Retiring

2008-07-20T10:14:00.001-07:00

A happy ending.

Dolly found a good home with Steve's coworker, and Buck (now named Jack) is happy at home with my friend and coworker, Maile. She has a boston terrier female, and was interested in getting a puppy to keep her 5 yr old dog company. I hope they are having a good time getting to know eachother!

Here is Dolly yawning and Jack just chillin:I had so much intense and instant love for Jack that it pretty much controlled me to find him a good home. I cared for Dolly too, but definitely not as much, for whatever reason. Mom thinks it is because I miss our late dog, Angus. Who knows. All I know is that I will see Jack grow up, and have peace of mind knowing he has the best new mommy ever!

Here is Jack and his tongue:
I am just so elated that the puppy week is over on a positive note. It felt sooo long and draining! I could never ever work in a shelter or a rescue place. During this process I have pissed people off, learned a whole lot about adopting out animals, cried cried cried, and realized how much compassion I can have for young helpless creatures. I'm retiring from this biz.

This weekend was Relay for Life out at the CR track. I couldn't believe how many less people and teams there were this year. It was my fourth year on a team, and every year the grassy field gets more and more open as there are less and less tents on it. I'm wondering the fate of Relay for this area. I think the past couple years the committee members and people who ran the Relay office got burned out and just quit for this year. I hope they come back, because we need strong leaders and people with a drive to raise money and awareness for cancer research etc. Anyhoo, one more busy weekend under my belt. Next week: art show, dinner with the ladies, roller derby, and Kasey and Vikki's party. All in one night!

Then the weekend after that....Reggae!!!

Really Quick

2008-07-16T07:50:00.000-07:00

So Dolly and Buck (the two pit bull cross pups) are still in Mike's back yard. I don't think he knows I named them yet, hehe. Mike and his roommate are trying to find homes for them instead of taking them to the shelter, so it's taking a little while. Dolly has quite the personality, and is a bouncy girl and very chewy on hands, pants, hair, ears, anything, really. Buck is much calmer and likes to get loves then wander around by himself and his toys. They keep eachother company while everyone is at work, which is great. It reaffirms that when I have kids, I'd like to have two (we'll see how that plays out!) I love them, but I really don't want the responsibility of keeping them.

Pork of July was a fabulous time. The air was very smoky due to the fires to the south, east and north and it seemed to settle in Redwood Valley, but a good time was had by all. I won't go into details, but they all sure like to party! Looking forward to next year.

It's funny, most, if not all, of my close friends with blogs have children. I sort of feel like there is something missing in my blog, or in my photos.. Weird. The day will come I suppose, and by then I will have years of blogging under my belt. Anyways.

One more thing and this is odd. I dreamed this morning that Dave Meserve, former Arcata City Council member, killed himself. Now don't ask why I am dreaming about a former city council member. I won't go into too much detail, but I was sort of the eye witness in his self-strangling death just because, get this, his blog I was reading was so vivid. Dreams are weird. My work life (city government) and my personal life (this new fancy blog) are intertwining in a way I don't prefer.

I took a bunch more pics of the raucous pups and will post later on my Picasa.

I lied

2008-07-11T20:25:00.000-07:00

Between the time I talked to Mike this morning and just now, Mike and his roommate decided to keep the puppies. I guess the saga continues...

I am secretly (or not so secretly) pleased. Puppies!

The Brief Saga Ends

2008-07-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

Both pups are now at Miranda's Rescue. I hope they get an awesome family together. The good thing about these puppies is they are so darned cute, they won't stay long at Miranda's, I don't think. I can't believe they were in our lives for only 24 hours, yet they made such a huge impression!

On another note, I am super looking forward to a grand ol' time out at Mike's dad's house in the woods this weekend. The Pork of July annual partay. Should be fun. Sun, tequila, bikers, camping, food.. Just the beginning of a string of festivities every weekend until September! I hope this isn't me in a few weeks...

Le Puppies

2008-07-10T19:56:00.000-07:00

So here are Miss Adorable and Mr. Handsome. Mike has a BIG decision to make! :)

Okeedokeee!

2008-07-10T10:05:00.000-07:00

I have started a blog! Big things are happening right now - well, not super huge, but life is good. I'm moving to Arcata next month after living on The Hill for all but 8 months of my entire life, I have a fantastic and brilliant boyfriend, my desk job is steadily moving towards being a career with copious amounts of responsibility, and we may keep one or both puppies Mike found abandoned in the rural smoky heat by Piercy today (I'm trying to convince him to keep them together).. That's all for now, as I am busy busy busy at work..