1/18/2012

This post was supposed to have been on Friday, but my spousal-unit decided to take a couple of days off. He really does cramp my style!!! ;-) Just kidding, but it does change the way I do things.

This is Chelsea after her groomer time. She is not much on pictures, so this isn't the best of her, but the best she would do for me. She says she is old and doesn't want her picture taken!!!







Have I mentioned that one of Cory's favorite past times is watching TV!!! Especially when there are animals, cartoons or sirens on. Please ignore my messy chair full of projects!!! ;-)

Cory's new hated thing is the shredder!!! He even attacks it when it isn't running. I finally had to close the door to the office to keep him from attacking and pestering it. It just sits there and ignores him!! ;-)





This is my latest e-bay purchase. Isn't it adorable? It is hand painted by Cherry O'Neill. She sells under Tail End Productions. She has many dog breeds that she does. She also had stuff on Cafe Press with her pictures on it. After I got this and loved it so much, I ordered a sweatshirt with a scotty and a westie on it.













This is my latest "up-cycling" thing. It is the leg of jeans with a liner in it to make a basket. The medium and large are westie fabric. Not sure what will go in them, but they were fun to do.

I have finished Night Circus. It was very enjoyable, but for me it didn't live up to all the 5 of 5 ratings that it has gotten on the web. Of course, this type of fantasy book, is not my top favorite genre either, so that plays into it.

I have also read The Valise in the Attic. This is a cozy mystery. It is a series of books, I think this is #12, from Annie's Attic, the craft company. All the books revolve around Annie and things she finds in her grandmother's attic. Each has a story to tell. He craft group from her small town in Maine help solve the mysteries. They are a little like cotton candy. Quick, sweet and enjoyable.

I finished listening to Naughty in Nice. It is the latest in the Her Royal Spyness series. They are great fun. They are set in 1930's England. Georgie is 34th in line to the throne, and flat broke. They are very funny. They are cozy murder mysteries. I especially enjoyed the voices of the reader on the audio versions. I got them a couple of months ago on sale from Audible.

I still haven't done my reading challenge update, but when I started sorting my books for the year's reads, I decided I had bitten off more than I could chew!!! Seems every book I had planned to read was over 500, most of the over 800. So I am rethinking my list!!!

I have been looking at the Tagg GPS for dog collars. Anybody know anything about them?

Chat later
Susan

1/9/2012

Ok, I said there would probably not be a lot of Chelsea stories!! She must have read that post!!

On Saturday, I missed her. Hadn't seen her for a couple of hours. I looked for her. Couldn't find her. I was starting to get panic-y given her age. My husband finally said, didn't you go to your sewing room??? It is the room over the garage and I keep the door closed to keep Cory out. WELL, she had been locked up there for hours. She never made a sound. She was probably excited to get a peaceful nap, without Cory to torture her!!!

Next, we are changing food. Neither dog was eating their dog food, so I decided it was time to change. Chelsea's tummy is not dealing with it well. That is an understatement!!! I won't be more graphic, but it took half the day to scrub the carpet!!!

Today is groomer day. She comes to us. Cory is already back from the "spa". He is very stress by the fact the Chelsea is out in the van now. I don't know that it is so much that he misses her, but he doesn't want her to get any attention that he thinks he should get!!! Doesn't he look handsome after his grooming???

I finished The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. It is my least favorite of the 3 books. Still very good, but more of a legal thriller, than the adrenaline rush that the end of book 1 and all of book 2 are. All three books are well worth the read. I plan to watch the Swedish version of Hornet today. Husband unit has to work late, so it gives me plenty of time to watch it.

I started The Night Circus last night. I have only read 20 pages, so no review yet.

I am listening to the Her Royal Spyness series. It is a funny cozy mystery series. The heroine is 34th in line for the British throne. It takes place in the 1930's. The Queen is very worried about David and his lady friend Wallis. I got them during an Audible sale a couple of months ago. They are fun reads. I am now on the last one Naughty in Nice.

What have you read lately, that I NEED to read?

Still knitting on the ruffle of the Shopping Shawl. I have decided I need at least 30 rows instead of 20. ;-( But after working on it since May, I don't want to be unhappy with it because of a skimpy ruffle.

I still owe a post of my reading goals for 2012, but that can be another day.

Chat later

Susan

1/6/2012

This is Chelsea with Cory. Chelsea is the 12 1/2 yr old Scottie. You won't hear many funny stories about her, because she is old and sleepy!!! ;-) She sleeps, eats, and fusses with Cory. She, like myself, haven't given up on making him behave!!! We just haven't convinced him yet!!

But then there is Cory!! I would have no entertainment in my life without him!!! Took him to PetSmart the other day. I was buying up some of the Christmas treats that they had on sale 75% off. So he was in the basket with a pile of treats!! We got to the checkout and I was putting things on the conveyor!!! He jumped out of the basket and up on the conveyor and proceeded to just walk along like he was on the treadmill!!! The lady checking me out was laughing so hard, she was bent double!!! They do bring joy to our lives, don't they?

This is my stained glass masterpiece. I just love it. I have it on a timer, so it is on when I come down in the morning and it is still dark in the house except for my lamp!!! ;-) It brings me joy!! I have started a second one, but it is moving along very slowly!!!

I am still plugging along on Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. I haven't had time to sit down and really get into it. Hopefully shortly. Just a few more things to mark off the to do list, before I am allowed to read. Chores don't get done at all if I don't finish them before I start reading.

Chat later

Susan

1/4/2012

Well, I'm back. Someone has been calling me "Basically Blogless Susan" to try to get me to get back to it. I don't plan to have a regular posting schedule, just when I finish a book or project that needs reporting on!!!

Brief update on what has happened in the last 2.5 years.

Daddy died on June 25, 2011. He had had heart valve replacement surgery and just wasn't strong enough to recover.

Mack has gone to doggie heaven. But Cory has come to live with us. He is a WILD 21 month old westie boy. Love him to pieces but anyone who stole him, would bring him back!!! ;-) I have never learned to put pictures where I wanted them, so the picture at the top is Cory. He had to have knee surgery before he was a year old. I carried him around for the 8 weeks he was supposed to be in the kennel healing, so he is SPOILED!!!

Let's see. Most of 2011, I knit on Kate's Shopping Shawl. It is with fingering weight yarn on size 1 needles!!! I started it in May 2011 and hope to finish it by the end of January 2012. So look for pictures soon, I hope!!

I took up stained glass. Both fused and soldered. I will post a couple of pictures later. Seems I needed to put all the pictures in first, then write around them. As I am typing it is coming back to me!!!

I read 111 books for 37,600 pages. That is a drop from 2010, when I read 134 for a total of 49,600 pages. But I was having fun!!! ;-)

So far this year I have read The Girl who Played With Fire. I had been putting off reading this series because folks told me how hard it was to get into. Well, the movie came out and I didn't want to see the movie until I read the book. The first book did take the first 65% to get into, but the last 35% was excellent. Played with Fire, I was engrossed from the first page. I think I liked book 2 better than 1. I have watched the Swedish movies for the first 2 books (dubbed in English). I started the Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Next last night, but since I hadn't finished Fire until 2:45AM the night/morning before, I didn't read long before I fell asleep, so you will have to wait until a little later for an update on what I think of book 3.

I have 10 Reading Challenges, I am playing along with for 2012. I will do a separate post on them soon. I did 14 in 2011 and completed 9. I never really sign up for them, just follow the rules and keep track of them on my own.

Ok, before you get bored.

Chat later

Susan

8/17/09

Happy 81st B'day Daddy!!! ;-)

He is doing well currently. Hopefully it will stay that way for quite some time. My uncle, Daddy's brother died the 25th of July. He had such a rough last week, that it was a blessing. He would have been 83 the 15th of August, had he made it that long.

This is my second Classic Cardigan. It is mindless knitting and it fits me well. I have the third one underway. It is teal. You will be seeing it soon.




This Nonna's Garden, the kit came from Knitpicks. it was NOT a mindless knit. I love it. It feels so good. I have to get a backing for it. And, of course, block it. I have a stack of about 10 things that need blocking. Guess that is why I like socks, I don't block them, I just wear them!!!

I started the first block of the Lollypop Tree quilt. I have reduced it by 25% in size. I started it the weekend that my uncle died. It got laid aside and it is still "resting". I LOVED this when I saw the picture online. But when I got it the blocks were HUGE. I fell out of love, so I reduced the size. The love hasn't returned yet. I need to work on it more, now that things have calmed back down, so see if I can rekindle the romance.

I have been doing a lot of reading. I joined the Sookie Stackhouse challenge. You are supposed to read the 9 books between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010. I read all in about 3 weeks. They are written by Charlaine Harris. The are quite good. They are vampire books, but not scary vampires. And somewhat tongue in cheek. You have to read them, just to find out who "Bubba" is!!! ;-)

Dead Until Dark (Southern Vampire #1)
Living Dead in Dallas (Southern Vampire #2)
Club Dead (Southern Vampire #3)
Dead to the World (Southern Vampire #4)
Dead as a Doornail (Southern Vampire #5)
Definitely Dead (Southern Vampire #6)
All Together Dead (Southern Vampire #7)
From Dead to Worse (Southen Vampire #8)
Dead and Gone (Southern Vampire #9)

Now I have started a Lisa Jackson challenge. I have started her "New Orleans" series. So far I have read

Hot Blooded
Cold Blooded
The Night Before

So far Hot Blooded is my favorite. Cold Blooded was a little predictable, but I still enjoyed it very much. The Night Before is very different. It is actually the start of a separate series of her books, as well as #3 in the New Orleans series. I would recommend these. They are mostly murder mysteries (serial killers, all, so far) with a little romance thrown in!! So there is something for everyone in these books.

I also read Snowbound by Larissa Ione. It was good, but not nearly as good as her Demonica series.

Also, Jackie and Bobby by C David Heymann. The premise of the book is that Jackie and Bobby Kennedy had an affair from the time Jack was shot until Bobby was shot. Rehash of a lot of things we had heard before.

At this point, I am reading books 60 and 61 for the year. My goal was 52, so I am somewhat ahead of target. Course, if I would quit reading so much, I could get some other things done!!! But the weather so so nice to sit on the porch with my nose in a book!!

I have also made Watermelon Rind Pickle and Dill Pickle. It is my first attempt at pickle, so in a couple of weeks I can find out how I did. I am "crocking" the dill pickles, so they have to sit in the brine for 3 weeks. I didn't have a crock big enough, so they are in the punchbowl!! It looks pretty funny sitting on the kitchen counter full of pickle.



This is who is sitting next to me while I type this!! They have to keep me company!!

Chat later
Susan

7/21/09

Where have I been for a month? Well, it is July, so that would be the Tour de France. I am not a big sports person, but I do love the Tour. I sit and stitch for HOURS on end while it is on.

Here is the Baltimore Halloween quilt top finished. YIPPEE!!! This is such a fun quilt. Now for the quilting.... That is a lot like blocking knitting. Something to be done, someday. ;-)





Here is another pair of my 2 at once toe up, K3P1 socks. These were knit at swim meets. Not sure of the yarn, I lost the ball band. But is was from one one's sock club.

My plan was to finish Nonna's Garden (from KnitPicks) during the Tour, BUT I ran out of 2 colors of yarn. That really slows you down. Now I am waiting for more yarn. ;-( So this challenge will not be meet.


I have been doing some reading. I finish Vampire Diaries: Return: Night Fall. This is the sequel written recently. It was quite disappointing after the earlier books. I loved the first 4, doubt I will even read any additional ones.

Then I read SweetGum Knit Lit Society. This is good light reading. A lot like the Blossom Street books. There is a second book in this series and it is in my near future.

Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure. This was fairly light reading and quite eye opening. How far the President has come since Truman. At that time, they were paid no retirement and no help for their offices. He lived on just his military retirement in his post Presidential days. This book covers a car trip the Truman's took in their retirement. Quite entertaining and educational.

Doomsday Key by James Rollins. This was the first book I had read of his. It was a very slow start. He spent the first half of the book setting up all the players. Then the story really started. By the last third, I couldn't put it down.

I joined the Sookie Stackhouse Read along. You are supposed to read all the books, 9 I think, by next June 30. I had read book 1, Dead until Dark, but decided to read it again before reading the others. I have read the second book also, so far Living Dead in Dallas. They are both very good, quick reads. Sookie is a telepath dating a vampire, working for a shapeshifter. So there are plenty of paranormal "folks" to keep things interesting. I recommend this series. It is what HBO's First Blood is based on.

Daddy is doing much better, still weak, but getting around some. Uncle has taken a turn for the worse, so we just can't get them all on their feet at the same time.




Unusual to get the Pups together for a picture. Chelsea (scotty) will be 10 on the 31st of July. Macklin (Westie) will be digging a hole to celebrate!!!

Have a weekend stitching event this weekend. I hope to get Lollipop Trees quilt started, but I decided to resize the entire thing, so that is slowing me down on getting started.

Chat later.
Susan

6/25/09

Another blog post in less than a month!!! I really should do better.

Daddy continues to not be well. He has improved significantly but still extremely weak. He has fallen twice, which worries us greatly.

This is the Shipwreak Shawl from Knitty. It is a fun and not overwhelming knit. I love the ruffly edging. Now I just need to block it.




This is a class I took at Beadworkz in Portsmouth. It is called All Crossed Up. I finished it in class and wore it home, so it is a quickie.











This is the Classic Lines Cardigan from KnitPicks knit with the recommended yarn. This was a mindless knit. It has some waist shaping which makes it fit well. It also has finished edges. Knit in the round and steeked so not much finishing. I am working on a second one of these in purples. This one also needs blocking. I need to have a "block party" ;-).







Two pair of socks. The one on the left is a simple lace pattern in Scout Swag yarn, I believe. The pair on the right is from Poem yarn. Plain old K3, P1 rib. Both are knit toe up. Thanks to Wendy Knits wonderful and free pattern.










Another Beadworkz class. They are both Flat Spiral. The necklace is single, the bracelet is double. Done with pearls.











Another Flat Spiral Bracelet. Again double. Made with crystals. This isn't as comfortable to wear as the pearl one, but goes with a lot of my summer clothes, so has actually gotten more wear.


We had a UFO weekend in June. I worked mostly on the purple Classic Lines Cardigan. But also finished the Flat Spiral necklace and worked on the socks. We have another one planned for July. In July, most of us are starting the Lollypop Tree Quilt. If you haven't seen this beauty, you need to go to Glorious Colors website and look at it. You have to smile. It isn't hard applique, almost no points, but LOTS of circles.

I have the Baltimore Halloween quilt top together and am appliquing the bat border. I hope to have a picture of it finished next post.

Reading has been progressing nicely. The weather has been good to spend a lot of time sitting in the swing.

Hair of the Dog - Laurien Berenson. Another in the dog mystery series. They are fun cozy murder mysteries. They really are fun, especially if you are a dog lover. They revolve around dog shows mostly.

Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand This is an oldie, but a goodie. It is a very good 1,200 page book, it would be an excellent 700 page book. It is so like our government/business relationships today, but was written in the 1950's. I will certainly read other of her books.

Ripping the Bodice - Inara Lavey - This was a free download from Ravenous Romance. It was ok. Not great.

Then I read the Larissa Ione series about Demons. There are three books:
Pleasure Unbound
Desire Unchained
Passion Unleashed
This is 3 demon brothers. One is half vampire, one is half werewolf. Each book covers one of the brothers stories. They were quite interesting reads. I look forward to the new novel do later in the year. The first book was a free Kindle download from Amazon.

Vampire Diaries - L. J. Smith - I have read the first 4 of this series. It is to be a TV series in the Fall. Not as good as the Twilight books, but still good. These 4 books were written in the early 1990's. There are new books just published recently, I am reading those next.

Common Sense - Glenn Beck - I was somewhat disappointed in this book. I have read his other books and feel that this one was written quickly to ride a newscycle. I wish it had been fleshed out more. I hadn't read Thomas Paines Common Sense since school, so it got me to read that again, so that was good.

I have now read 42 books this year. My goal is 52, so I should be able to reach that with no problem at all.

I am taking part in the Sookie Stackhouse reading Challenge. It starts July 1st, so hopefully I can finish the Vampire Diary books before then. Shouldn't be a problem. I have read book 1 of the Sookie books, but plan to reread it as part of the challenge.

I also have to plan my Tour de France project. I think this year instead of starting a special project for the TdF, I will have a UFO finishup. It is supposed to be knitting, but I am stretching it a little for me. I plan to finish the bats on the Baltimore Halloween quilt, finish the purple Classic Lines Cardigan, and finish the Nonna's Garden shawl. If I get those things done, then I can start something new!!! Let's see how that works out!!! ;-)

Doggies are doing well. Time for new bloodwork, but the vet is on vacation this week so have to wait until next week to make the appointment.

Exercise doing quite well even with some foot problems tormenting me!!! Bad right foot!!!

Chat Later
Susan