Still chuckling

The girlie just finished 2 weeks of acting camp. She did it last year and it was "Grease" in which she happily took a speaking part, even though it was a guy's role. This year, they riffed on "Glee". (Of course, we know OF it, but hadn't watched it until the night before her show on Friday.)

The cool thing is that she told us early on that she had a solo, and that it was "Sing!" from A Chorus Line. (She was doubly tickled as she'd met Mr. Hamlisch last year at a Teen Concert here in town, and he was very kind a generous with his time. Reception pre-show and brought all the teens backstage post-concert for Q&A.) (Classy.)

I have yet to get her OK to put it hers up here (and may not, even with approval), but this is the best YouTube version I found. (roll to 1:25 to start)



She owned it. And the thing I really liked? She had a blast with it. Told her afterwards that it wasn't a solo, it was a number. Big difference.

*grinning*

Consider this your invitation

To come visit and see the rest of my photos from the trip.....

Whatta ya got, you ask?

well.....
Viking yarn and knitting tools!
A cool chick and a cool old Citroen!
Wonderful Weymouth-ian and Silly Seattle-ite meet and make pilgrimage to yarn mecca; leave lighter of pocketbook!

Don't delay; click here today!

Next up....Norway!

This shot made me think of bb who has impeccable taste and documents fashion lovingly and bitingly with tongue in cheek. Neat trick, that.
I bought a red one.



Ahhh, Cafe Lillesand........

(Go to flickr if you'd like another helping. There will be more, but I think I took nearly 100 photos in Bergen and I'm not up to messing with them at this moment. Must go celebrate dismissal of $400 parking ticket that I received for being a numpty.)

There and back again

We've had an amazing June. Thanks to the generosity of our families, Mr. Smartypants, Miss M and I have thrilled to sights, sounds, and tastes of northern Europe and the ever-delightful UK. Am posting Flickr photos as we speak. You can go and have a look at the set (to date--much more to come) here.

A couple of teasers.....

good stuff

stolen from Amy over at the amazing angry chicken
(the other version on YouTube is pretty sweet, too)

thanks, Amy!

on the needles

I know, it's not what I asked about in the last post, but I started it as I waited for advice. (Thanks Gale! It's next on the list after a cute little Easter goodie for the girlie that I found on whipup! but don't want to show yet....)

Pattern from ravelry here. Very simple. Surprising, really, as I'm generally not a ruffly gal, but hey, it called to me....

It's a lovely red yard Italian yarn called Cestari in Dahlia Red that a very nice lady gifted me a while back. Noticing that it's really almost the same color as the coat I wear out into the wet weather daily. And my French Market Bag. I'm thinking of a slouchy hat to go with it...

Sunbreak! Must take Spot out for a walk while we have a few precipitationless moments. Happy weekend!

(Oh, here's a hat I banged out for M recently, too....

Helllllp meeeee!

I've fallen hard for this lovely.

This one, by a super-duper knitter, is delightful.

As is this one.

The contenders for my affection are a skein of Socks That Rock mediumweight (380 yds), Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock (2 skeins 215 yds each) and in a distant third place, some very friendly New England Shetland (I think I have about 4 skeins, 196 yds each).

I'm not great at substituting and making it work.

Which would suit best? And what the heck needle size do I switch to? I know I'd need to check gauge and all, but what would you suggest?

she reads minds

bb knew my theivery skills were rusty....and that I was longing for one of these.

10 things that amuse you or make you happy
(mine in random order)

1. Music or speech played backwards or at the wrong speed. Watched a teevee show with the girlie yesterday and the satellite was obviously flummoxed and the folks began speaking in a rather peculiar Martian dialect. Like to wet myself laughing, I did.

2. Watching my dad persevere and find some happiness a year after my mom's passing.

3. boiled wool slippers

4. virtual birdwatching--Mr. Smartypants called me at work mid-afternoon to tell me that there was major activity at the feeders I'd filled the day before--he described and I identified (and was VERY jealous not to have seen the pileated woodpecker in our backyard myself!)

5. lack of car payments

6. the .99 I spent for this app

7. the fact that the GIANT FLY invasion in the house seems to be subsiding.....

8. my Canadian calendar that has purty photos of botanicals--done up like an old bunch of illustrations from a science book

9. the girlie continuing her musical pursuits; now taking on keyboards

10.

Hello!

Here's a quick look at some of what I've been up to since I posted in August. Sorry for the boring column of shots--I'm rusty at blogging and still learning my lovely new laptop's ins and outs.

Wishing everyone a wonderful healthy, happy New Year that's the best ever.

Type more at you later.

Oh baby, it's Christmas all over again!

Love me some Tom, even with the old short haircut.

Happy Christmas, all!

wonderous

Is anyone else out there watching this show and as captivated as my family is?

(Edited: it's been a month with a grand total of ZERO comments, so I guess I have my answer.)

sneak peek

I'm told that the designer has created for many famous names......


I'm hoping for something in this vein



Not so much these.



Or perhaps we could try this



But let's not go here.



Here's the frame.


Oh-so cool, yet sadly, black just isn't me.

Are you ready for the colour?

.
.
.
.
.





I'm ready.
They're not.
Maybe in October.


They'll be worth it, but I again quote Tom Petty:

So sweet

Thanks, M, for taking me to the show. I liked them (and like them) more than I expected to.

Is that picture still too big?

I like the photo, but I'm wondering about dropping down one more size. Love the water droplets.

Copious thanks to A Foothill Home Companion for the tutorial. Way cool blog, too--go have a look!

Finally Friday

OK, I've puttered and re-sized and noodled a bit. Now it's looking a bit tidier here. Off to the outlet stores tomorrow in search of shoes....then, mayhap, to clear off the desk and do a bit of crafting. Ideas for some creatures are dancing in my head; let's see if I can get them past the imagination stage.

More on these stories as they develop. Watch this space. (I'm not sure what it will look like when next you come to call, but please stop by again soon!)

Oh wow.

Ye Gods, what have I wrought?

I just wanted a new header, not one that would eat my entire title page.

Back later to fiddle.

smitten

I'm in love.

We met last year, shortly after I moved to this tiny house. It was a fairly quick infatuation on my part, fading somewhat as the days shortened and winter crept in.

Now it's spring again, and everyone knows just where a young woman's fancy turns lightly to in spring. As Charles Schultz says, oh-so-eloquently,

*sigh*.

Pacific Dogwood has captured my heart. Everywhere I look this month, those pale creamy or soft, rosy bracts are bobbing in the breeze, or bejeweled by the light rain, jostling and waving in an all-too-successful attempt to capture my eye. They are so compelling that I am stooping to deceitful behaviour. Last weekend in the early evening, I unabashedly lied to my dear husband. I told him that I was going to sit out on the patio with glass of wine to enjoy the lingering daylight. Hah! A likely story.

In fact, I was eager to spend more time gazing at the tall specimen in our yard. It's come into bloom (into bract?), and is beauteous to behold. I noticed last year that the crows were actually breaking off thinner branches; for nest building, I suppose. Our tree appears a bit slighter this year. Perhaps I'll need to shoo away those meddlesome corvids.

I was delighted to find that my 1990 World Book classifies my crush as Cornus Muttallii. A fitting moniker, I thought gleefully, for a Dogwood. Moments later, modern-day technology disabused me of this whimsical notion and gently corrected the species name to Cornus Nuttallii.

Drat. I think I'll stick with old book knowledge on this one. I prefer the prior designation.

bb makes me feel like Cary Grant in "To Catch A Thief"...the stuff she blogs is really tempting, and unlike him, I can't resist stealing it.

bb makes me feel like Cary Grant in "To Catch A Thief"...the stuff she blogs is really tempting, and unlike him, I can't resist stealing it.

That and the fact that I'm still coming out of a bad slump and am too lazy to be creative right now.

a meme from the Crazy Mom

1. Do you like bleu cheese? No.
   
2. Have you ever smoked? No.
   
3. Do you own a gun? No.
   
4. Favorite type of food? Crunchy things.
   
5. Favorite type of music? Lots-.
   
6. What do you think of hot dogs? Needs to be a well-done one with mustard and sauerkraut, please. (My dad has been known to eat them raw....ugh!)
   
7. Favorite Christmas movie? It's a Wonderful Life.
   
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Some form of coffee with 1/2 & 1/2.
9. Can you do push-ups? Can I ? Yes. Will I? I'd rather not.
   
10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? My wedding rings.
    
11. Favorite hobby? words.
    
12. Do you have A. D. D.? Nope.
13. Do you wear glasses/contacts? Glasses.
    
14. Middle name? Ann.
    
15. Name three thoughts at this exact moment: I want Cheez-Its. We need to dye the eggs. It's cold.
    
16. Name three drinks you regularly drink: Water, milk, coffee.
    
17. Current worry? Long work week ahead.
    
18. Current hate right now? Now, as ever, lima beans.
    
19. Favorite place to be? Home.
    
20. How did you bring in the new year? Quietly.
    
21. Someplace you’d like to go? Ireland.
    
22. Name three people who will complete this. Liz....
23. Do you own slippers? Just uber-thick socks.
    
24. What color shirt are you wearing? Springy-green.
    
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No.
    
26. Can you whistle? Yes. With and without the use of fingers.
    
27. Where are you now? In the office.
    
28. Would you be a pirate? In a perfect pirate world, yes.
    
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? Can't recall the last time I did that.
    
30. Favorite Girl’s Name? Emma.
    
31. Favorite boy’s name? Sam.
    
32. What is in your pocket right now? Lint.
    
33. Last thing that made you laugh? Marion's morning joke.
    
34. What vehicle do you drive? A PT Cruiser.
    
35. Worst injury you’ve ever had? Bitten in the face by a dog. Don't like German Shepherds much.
    
36. Do you love where you live? Yes and no. It's an evolving relationship.
    
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 1.
    
38. How many computers do you have in your house? 3.5.
    
39. If you changed your job, what would it be? Baker.
    
40. If you were granted three wishes, what would they be? Stealing again from bb: Health, wealth and happiness.

old meme

Blog maintenance has turned up this one from last May.
Answers from now.


What are your current obsessions?
James May
chocolate
birds

Which item from your wardrobe do you wear the most often?
Work wardrobe: my red, insulated raincoat
Life wardrobe: my Lee Valley sweatshirt in a chocolatey-grey-brown
(check out the catalogs; you won't be sorry)

What's for dinner?
Hellifiknow. Steak?

What is your greatest fear at the moment?
Anything happening to my family

What are you listening to?
ELO "Showdown" (thanks, Pandora)

If you were a god/goddess what would you be?
Unemployed and fairly unfettered, Zeus willing

What are your favourite holiday
Halloween

What is your guilty pleasure?
HGTV shows
James May fan website

Who or what makes you laugh?
My Dad, my dear husband, my girlie, my old dog, Hazel my !amazing! co-worker

What is your favourite spring thing to do?
Revel in flowers, especially bulbs here in the NW-daffodils, crocus, hyacinths

Where are you planning to travel next?
YES!
Maybe Europe this summer?

What is the best thing you ate or drank lately?
An icy Rolling Rock beer and a slice of rosemary bread, although I had
a crab cake last night that was yummy, too

Who was your first ever crush?
Craig in 4th grade in Glenview, Ill. Dark hair and glasses. Mmmmm.

What is you favourite ever film?
tough question
don't tell anyone, but one of them is
Valley Girl
(it was before Nicholas Cage got his teeth fixed, and he was gorgeous....)

What is the biggest life lesson you've learned from your kids?
Be flexible, and make sure they've slept, eaten and pooped recently

What song can't you get out of your head?
Pretty much anything ELO

What book do you know you should read but refuse to?
Silent Spring

What is your physical abnormality/abnormal physical ability?
Hmmmm.. I can cross just my left eye...

What is your favourite color?
grey

DISCLAIMER: I am not tagging. Do it if you want. Don't if you don't. Whatever.
The rules of this meme are as follows:- Respond to and rework the meme.- Answer the questions on your own blog.- Replace one question and add one question.- Tag 8 people.

Birthday panda

panda again
Originally uploaded by kamsarmer

Keychain/luggage tag for my friend Hazel.

Turned out pretty well!