Murphy's Law of Home Ownership...

If your 20 year old A/C unit is going to act up, it will do it on a holiday weekend.


We arrived home about midnight Saturday to a deafening sound coming from the area of the air conditioner. Whatever was going on was making the house vibrate and was so loud we obviously could not sleep with the A/C on. So we made do with the ceiling fan until Sunday morning. Keep in mind this is the first weekend forecasted for upper-80's here in Middle-TN. The bedroom warmed enough to get me out of bed by 6:30. I read the Sunday paper on the front porch with thoughts of what a new 2.5 ton A/C unit could possibly cost. I talked to God and let him know I understood that these things weren't meant to last 20 years to begin with, and to please help there at least be someone that could come look at it before Tuesday.
HB woke up about an hour after me with his own plan of action. "I need to find that Poteete guy's phone number, Ricky's brother... he does heating and cooling. He told me if I ever needed anything to call him." Now, in guy world, when someone tells you to call if you need something, that does include the Sunday of a holiday weekend. We found the listing for Poteete Heating and Cooling on the internet and Greg called and talked with Johnny's wife. Long story short, they were both at our house by 9:30. Turns out the fan inside our until had broke in two. Johnny did some fabrication to replace the fan, cleaned our unit, checked the freon level, pet our dog and admired my JBL Creature speakers all within about and hour and a half. All for $80. This is the ultimate homeowner high. We were floating on air for the rest of the day, thinking about what we had braced ourselves for. Thank you, Lord, for hearing my prayers and wow, what a way to answer them.

Got those happy feet?

There is nothing like coming home from work on a Monday and finding a package. Especially one from your secret pal! Oh, and what a fun package it is. A sock kit!

Its the prettiest denim-y striped Opal yarn with needles and stitch markers. These are my first fancy beaded stitch markers. I have arrived!


Thank you SP!

P.S. My package had to go through Customs!

rub a dub rug

See the giant cone of cotton? See those stacked up corners? It can only mean one thing... I've been bit by the Mason-Dixon log cabin bug. I was inspired by the bath mats they made in the book, only I decided I would make one and sew a backing on. I'm thinking possibly chenille. I'm not intimidated by going into a project somewhat blind. I'll knit until I get it big enough and then go see what kind of fabric fun I can get into. If you haven't picked up the MD book yet, you should. It is snort out loud funny and has amazing patterns. If you have a non-knitter in your life that you are trying to convert, show them this book and they will wonder why they haven't picked up the needles. Not to mention they rely heavily on yarns like my cone of cotton over there that don't cost an arm, leg and 3 months worth of plasma.

Happy Camper

The camping trip to Cloudland Canyon was fantastic. I got to spend both my mom's birthday and Mother's Day with her, which is a treat. My mom and dad have a nice trailer with a heater, but HB, Sadie and I were snuggled up in our tent against the 38 degree nighttime temps! Check out my pics from the trip, and please excuse the short post. I'm still suffering from camp-itis.

Head in the Clouds

Thursday evening we're headed for a long weekend of camping at Cloudland Canyon State Park. My parents are pulling their fifth wheel down from Michigan (well, their truck will do the pulling). HB, Sadie and I are all excited for a long weekend of no yard chores, no phones, no work, nothing but camp food, hiking and laziness!

Dear Sadie,

I know those storms wore you out last night. They wore us out too! I know you really, really wanted to go outside. You looked so sad, forlorn, heartbroken. Your dad was already waiting in the car and we had to go to work to afford your bad joint medicine, your Omega-3 fatty acid supplements, your prescrition diet for your bad liver. I really just wanted to let you out and watch you roll in the wet grass.

Secret Pal 8 Questionnaire

This post is a requirement of my involvement in Secret Pal 8. Check it out here

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I'm a big fan of wool, alpaca, cotton. What I don't look are the yarns that feel hot and sticky, like chenille and those fluffy acrylic yarns
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a Lantern Moon fabric needle holder.
3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting since January 2005. I consider myself an ambitious beginner - As in I taught myself cables and am scared to knit a garment so I have WAY too many bags and scarves. I like following a pattern and learn new things.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/ref=cm_gft_sub_wl/102-8274724-1441751?%5Fencoding=UTF8
sephora: http://www.sephora.com/giftregistry/index.jhtml
5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
citrus, mango, vanilla, fig,
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I am especially fond of chocolate, the darker the better. And I love truffles
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
My two main loves are gardening and knitting. I have a sewing machine. I've made glycerin soap, mosaic, photo collages. No spinning.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like James Taylor, Wilco, old country, Van Morrison, bluegrass, Pat Green...but please don't burn me a cd. Where I work I promote the idea that music is property every day, and I believe in it very strongly.
9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I like strong colors like green, blue, yellow, orange, red, purple. Dislike mauve, fushia, peach.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with my husband and our labrador, Sadie.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
all but the poncho
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
bags and purses
13. What are you knitting right now?
Mason-Dixon Ball Band dishrag and a mohair scarf.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Really, the only thing I can't stand are those 14 inch aluminum needles.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
neither
17. How did you learn to knit?
I took a class
18. How old is your oldest UFO?
1 week.
19. What is your favorite holiday?
Fourth of July
20. Is there anything that you collect?
interesting fabrics, perennial plants
21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I have been coveting the Noni bag patterns. They are so enchanting.
I usually buy what looks interesting at the newsstand, no knitting magazine subscriptions.
22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
socks.
23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
see above. Foot measurements???? well, I wear a size 9 1/2
24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
02/22

Way back in 5th grade

Studies show that it takes the average person 10-20 minutes to fall asleep at night. Now, I would think I am on the high side of that average, but who knows since you can't fall asleep if you wake yourself up to see how long it takes you to drift off. In that roughly 20 minutes or so when its just me and the pillow, the weirdest things float through my mind. Last night, while pondering this blog, I thought of a term that hasn't been part of my vocabulary since grade school. Creative Writing. Maybe I can get Mrs. King to grade my posts. With a red ink pen.

Pink Lady

Look at that! I finished the other purse project. That is two finished cable purses within a week. That seems wacky.

Springtime in Smyrna

Dear Lord,
Thank you for giving me a job with a very generous personal day policy. Thank you for allowing me the simple joy of napping from 11:30-2:00 on a Monday. Thank you for making the bloom of an iris seem so effortless, yet so elegant and breath-taking. Thank you for dirt, earthworms, yarn for all seasons and cornbread salad. AMEN!


Corn Bread Salad
1 package (8-1/2 ounces) corn bread/muffin mix
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies, undrained
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon dried oregano Pinch rubbed sage
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix
2 cans (15 ounces each) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans (15-1/4 ounces each) whole kernel corn, drained
3 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup chopped green pepper
1 cup chopped green onions
10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
Prepare corn bread batter according to package directions. Stir in the chilies, cumin, oregano and sage. Spread in a greased 8-in. square baking pan. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream and dressing mix; set aside. Crumble half of the corn bread into a 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. dish. Layer with half of the beans, mayonnaise mixture, corn, tomatoes, green pepper, onions, bacon and cheese. Repeat layers (dish will be very full). Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Yield: 12 servings