The kittie blankie

The hairpin lace blankie is done.  I finished the double crochet edging last night.

It's not perfect, it's not as good as some might do, but it's done and good enough.  Wants blocking.  The side are straight, but the ends are a bit wiggly - that's the nature of hairpin lace.

Suitable for use as a lovey, soft and snuggly.  Washable too. 

Now I need to get it in the mail for this little monkey, my youngest niece.  Isn't she a cutie?

Aaa-choo!

One of the joys of living in Hotlanta is how beautiful it is in the spring.  Really, it's spectacular.  But then there is the pollen.

I read about pollen counts and people sneezing in New York City and other parts of the country, and I laugh.  Because they are griping when the pollen count is 300.  Now, 300 is high, I'll give you that.  But folks, you ain't seen nothing.

This is today's pollen count.  It is 2,967, and I think it will go higher - I've seen pollen counts as high as 6,000 here.  One year when the pollen was at this level, I was stuck at a dead stop in downtown traffic and had a major asthma attack.  (I carry an inhaler at all times now - I'm not repeating that horror.)

We are living on Claritin here.  And using lots of tissues.  Even the cats are sneezing, poor things.  And this is part of the reason.

Here's the little dogwood in our front yard.  The white dogwoods are blooming, and the pink ones are not far behind.

This is in my side yard.  I'll be durned if I know what it is, but I see these blooming everywhere.  Such a gorgeous purple color.

The azaleas are starting to bloom.

Phlox is out in force.

And one of my all-time favorite spring flowers is now blooming - wisteria.  It grows wild along the road (it's a vine).

And sometimes people train it.  Isn't the wisteria pretty on this garden gate?

I've been cleaning and relaxing on my time off.  I've tried to organize my HDT - more on that another time - and I'm getting Curly's old room ready to paint a soothing blue.  And I've been working on the Kittie blankie.

See?  It's getting big.  It's 30 inches long and 17 wide - getting wider by the day.  (I've folded it under so you don't see the unfinished edges that look icky.)

I think it's soft and nice.  Should be good for a sweet baby.

Cisco, my big kitty, brought us a present this morning.  I found it on the doorstep of the front door, beheaded.  Yes, Cisco killed the Easter Bunny. The head was next to it, leaving us ALL the good parts.  Um, thanks?

I will be kind and not show you the picture.  Cisco has no remorse about this.  In fact, he can sleep peacefully.  Sophie doesn't seem perturbed either.

ttfn

Happy Easter

He is risen!

He is risen indeed....
(This cross is in front of my church on Easter.  It is a church tradition to bring flowers on Easter Sunday to put on it.)

We've had a nice Easter.  Curly resurfaced late Saturday night and spent the night in the tent in the backyard without complaints.  He got up and shaved off his week-old stubble and came to church with me and Moe, wearing the new dress shirt I bought for him.  Tomorrow he has a job interview at the local Target - let's hope he gets a job and can keep himself out of trouble.  And maybe even save some money!

Hope springs eternal. 

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chilliest land
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
    Emily Dickinson

With Curly, as with all my children, I must always have hope.  And faith that God will take care of them.  For it is, after all, Easter.

The weather has been quite lovely.  Warm, almost hot, dry days with pleasant nights.  The azaleas and the dogwoods are beginning to bloom - soon the shrubbery will be exploding with color.

My Ott light arrived - I love it!  It's so wonderful to have such good full spectrum light.  It helps while I'm working on the hairpin lace or tatting.  I'm still working on the Kitty Blankie for my new niece.

And I'm a winner!  Tatting Chic had a giveaway for her 2 year blogiversary. She decided to give away a How To Tat book and a shuttle and some thread.  And I won!  Hurrah!  I've wanted a how to tat book, as I've got a number of folks wanting to to be taught, and this will help them.  Thank you Tatting Chic.  You are very kind, and your gift will be much appreciated.

Tomorrow I am not going to work.  I still have 2 furlough days to take, so I'm going to sleep in and relax.  I may spend some time painting in Curly's old room.  DH has cleaned it out and put patches on most of the bad spots on the walls.  It will be a soothing blue with white trim, a pleasant color for a guest room.  Moe (and Curly) are off this week for Spring Break, and I may see if there is something little I can do with Moe.

For a last lovely bit - look at today's BC comic.  It's a little sermon in the funny pages.

I hope your Easter was wonderful.....

Where we are at now....

OK - here's the way things are here at chez Crazy.

Curly showed up yesterday afternoon.  He immediately demanded to take a shower.  We reiterated the rules and told him of the rule changes, and after he showered we told him to pack his bag for the hospital.  He started storming around and threw things into a duffle.  Then he stomped downstairs and informed me that he couldn't live with me.  And he went out the door and was gone.

Of course, he dumped a lot of trash on the front porch for me to clean up.  Typical.

He's not staying with the folks from the church - they told him to go home.  I think he spent last night in his drug buddy's car.  He hasn't taken his medicine since Thursday morning, so he's going to be crashing soon.

The rest of us are enjoying the peace and quiet.  The Curly Show is no longer in residence.

We have changed all the deadbolts on the house.  Curly seemed surprised about this.  We are serious.

So what are the rest of us doing?

Moe and I went to see a movie on Saturday afternoon and had a nice time.  We stopped by the local Michaels and got him some wooden models to put together.  He was very pleased.  He's a good boy and a pleasure to be around.

DH has been working to get some of the mess out of Curly's room.  We are switching him (he doesn't know this) to the smaller room which has been our guest room.  It will be very spartan.  I'll need to patch the 8" hole Curly punched in it and any other wall defects (and there are others) and then paint it top to bottom.  It will be all fresh and new....

Larry has been visiting with some friends and working out at the gym.  He's lost 15 lbs lately and is looking fit. Good for him.

All of us (sans Curly) had a nice dinner together last night of take out Chinese.  It was very pleasant.

And me?  Well, I've been cleaning my desk off and working on the Kitty blankie for my niece.  I've made the number of hairpin lace strips that the pattern calls for (14), but it doesn't seem wide enough.  So I'm adding 7 more.

And I'm trying hard to get back on my diet.  Since Christmas I've put on a ton of weight.  It's not Curly's fault that I put junk food in my mouth, but the stress hasn't helped.  So I've got to do better.  And I will.

Ya'll, the pollen is starting to get to me - I've broken out the Claritin for all of us.  Pollen is part of the joy of spring in Hotlanta.  But oh, it is glorious.

Spring and Linky Links

Saw this on the train today.  Someone had marked up an advertisement.

Her teeth are blacked out and she has SNAKES written on her forehead.  Somehow, it's funny.  Because I am a SICK PUPPY.

Hairpin lace blankie is coming along.  This is five strips woven together.  Soft.

This shows about 2/3 of the length of the strips (it's folded under).  My pattern calls for 14 strips - I think I'm going to have to go for at least 21, otherwise it's way to narrow for a blankie.

My buddy D lives up in the Catskills of New York state.  This is her house.  And I'm glad it's hers - and not mine.  That's a lotta snow.

And some linky stuff....

I want spring.  And it's almost here!  Really!  It got into the upper 60's here today!!

Well, duh.  What genius figured that out?

I had a free shopping card for a retail outfit via my credit card points.  So I went online and bought this and this and this - and ended up paying only paying $14.19 on my credit card, plus I got an extra 25% cashback bonus on that.  Oh, and free shipping.  Shall I toot my own horn?  Ok - I rock!

And this week I got a free $100 gift card in the mail from said credit card.  Woo-hoo!  I don't think it will go far towards Curly's attorney fees......

With spring, it's almost time to do some serious research.  I have spent some time with these and a microwave.  They get BIG.  Hee.

I love this woman, but this dress looked suspiciously like it was made for this woman. In a sequined leopard print, of course. 

And a lovely person in my Sunday School class gifted me with this.  I'm sooooo excited.

Weekend miscellany

Curly got called by a band he knows to sub in as their singer in a local battle of the bands Saturday night.  This band tours a good deal, and the guys are older than he is.  Curly happens to write lyrics - and he's really quite good.  And he sings.  He wrote a number of songs for this band.  I was a little iffy about him going, but the location for this is run by good folks, and they make the kids behave.  (No drinking, no drugs, no fighting, no bad language, and they have Bible study there in the afternoon.)  DH thought it was ok.

So Curly went.  He wasn't feeling too hot, very hoarse, and he hadn't practiced with the band.  He couldn't hit those high notes, so he had to drop some by an octave.  They sang five or six songs.  There were 20 bands - and the band he sang with came in 2nd!  He was the youngest singer there. Per Curly, the winning group had a phenomenally good singer, a guy who's been signed for some time to a record contract.  Curly didn't mind losing to this guy a bit, and told the winner how good he was.  And Curly was stoked about how well he did.

I've read some of Curly's lyrics.  I have to tell you - he's really good.  I mean, really good.  I think he could make a living writing lyrics.  Here's something he dashed off this morning:

He can't hold his own
Who would've known
He's got no place to go
No place to call home
The more the Light shines though me
I pretend to close my eyes
The more the dark consumes me
I pretend that I'm burning bright

See what I mean?

In other news...

Our local grocery is remodeling and I'm diggin' what they've done with the floors.

This is a stain on concrete.  (In the pet food aisle, yo.)  It ends up being a variegated chocolate, with a shine.  I'm thinking this is what we need to do in our basement, which is still unfinished. But I'm just thinking.

Watching the Oscars - Robin Williams needs to wear something other than just black.  His stylist should be fired.  So should Molly Ringwald's stylist.  Man, that was an ugly puple mess! But I loved Penelope Cruz's dress.

The Kitty baby blankie is coming along nicely.  Just not quickly.

Wish I could live my life and be so happy and free like my Cisco boy.  He's so relaxed and carefree.  What a life!

Progress on hairpin lace

The Kitty blankie made from hairpin lace is coming along.

I'm getting better.

And I've joined some strips.  I like it.  And it's soft.....

Nice kitty.

Curly appears to have contracted the flu.  He seems quite miserable.  But his Facebook status is "I ♥ my mom for bailing me out of jail".

Someone emailed me and asked if instead of fricasseed Curly, perhaps I could eat Curly fries.

Hee!  Made me snort.... 

Thanks - a bit better now

Curly is back home, no longer in the pokey.  He had been found with some of his morning meds in his pocket (not inside of him) and also some OTC meds.  To have any medicine in one's possession at a school is a big no-no here, and he got charged with this.  Stupid of him.  Scared him pretty good to spend the night there.  (I couldn't bail him out until today - bail had to be set by the judge.)  We are not done yet.  He has to go back to court and address the charge and punishment. I really hadn't planned to have to spend money on attorneys and other legal crap, but as a parent you do what must be done.  It's that, or eat your young.  (Wonder if Curly would taste good fricasseed?)

Thank you all so kindly for your warm wishes and prayers.  It means a lot.

Also yuck...

More snow in Hotlanta.  Will winter never end? This was leaving the courthouse.

And the snow picked up more - the back deck.  There should be flowers blooming now.

And more - this driving home with Curly.  They let the schools out 2.5 hours early because of the weather.  Streets are very slushy and yuck.

(cultural art center in my county)

I am toiling away on the Kitty blankie for my neice.  It's starting to look nice - pics soon.

Blessings to all...

Kitty and fun

This made me laugh and laugh.

And I'm making progress on hairpin lace. I found some cute pink baby yarn to use.  It's pale pink with little splots of fushia and purple.  And the color's called - get this - Kitty.  Really.

I'm doing better, but still have a ways to go before I'm good.  Too tight.

I'm going to make a baby blankie for my new neice.  I hope it's not awful.  And named Bad Kitty.

Curly is trying to find a job, and I took him to a number of places today so he could put in an application.  For some reason he's never held a job, so this is harder than for most 17 year olds.  But he's trying.  He's even willing to stand on a street corner for a local pizza franchise and look silly with one of their signs.  He may work at the local Awful House and learn how to cook on the grill.  Omelets.  Bacon.  And (of course) waffles.  We shall see.  Cross your fingers.

There is the possiblity of more snow here in Hotlanta next week.  Damn.  I think we are all sick of winter.

Just to show you, here's an Ohio icebreaker on Lake Erie.

Damn tough, those Buckeyes.

Some Progress

I'm liking my MIUAYGA earrings.

Don't you?  I'm diggin' them.

And I took some advice and am a little better at my hairpin lace practice.  Far from perfect, but much better.

No, I'm not doing an afghan in this suede red yarn.  But it's good to practice with.

Watching the Olympics, loving short track speed skating.  It's more like roller derby and kind of fun to watch.  Being a Southerner we have zero exposure to these sports on a regular basis.  And wow!  Apolo Ohno got disqualified in the 500 m final - weird!

Elana Meyers, a bobsledder who went to Moe's middle school, won a bronze this week.  Her picture was all over the school and the kids were really excited.  And good for her!  She's working on her Master's degree and is a great inspiration to the kids.

I wonder what color yarn I should get for the hairpin lace afghan?  I'm thinking earth tones.....

More of same

Things are ok here at the House o' Crazy.

See?  Cisco is lounging and looks daffy.  He wants me to pet him.  DH hates when Cisco gets on the table.  But I don't mind.  He's my boy.

He lurves me.

I got DH and Curly and me all together with Curly's therapist and actually had a good session yesterday.  DH is very suspicious of counselors and doctors when it comes to psychotherapy.  But things went well and I feel a bit more hopeful, if just for a moment.  I'll take it.

Curly has been complaining of back pain for some time.  Today I took him to the orthopod to get him checked out.  They made him wear these funny paper shorts to get x-rays.

Fortunately, nothing evil showed on the x-rays.  He's been given some meds and was prescribed some PT.  He'll be ok.

(DH's friend Bubba say this picture and laughed, saying that the picture was missing the prisoner ID number on Curly's shirt.  Hee.)

I saw this post recently on the Wee Folks Art blog and need to do this.

Gorgeous.  Want.  There are directions on the Wee Folk Art blog.

I ordered a hairpin lace loom and got it today. I'm excited! I have this desire to make that afghan.  Or maybe incorporate hairpin lace in tatting.  So I got started with some sample yarn.

Somehow I'm not doing it right.

Their version.  Pretty.  Even.  Nice.  Will be a beautiful afghan.

My version. Ugly. Sumpin wrong here.  Looks like my yarn vomited on itself.  I think I need more practice.

Maybe the Wee Folk Art folks will send their gnomes over to teach me.  Or maybe I'll wake up and some gnomes will have gifted me with a gorgeous hairpin lace afghan and the know-how to do it.

A girl can dream, can't she?

PS - am digging my navy & silver MIUAYGA earrings