Settling Into His New Home

Baxter came home to live with me last Friday.  He is settling in pretty well, although I think his first Thanksgiving Day was a little too exciting.  He looked like this after everyone had gone.

Has it really been that long since I posted..........?????!!!!!

Life has certainly gotten in the way of my computer time!  Not to mention that my computer is limping along on it's last leg as I type this.  I made a big decision yesterday and adopted a precious rescued dog.  He is a Mastiff mixed with Boxer or Lab (maybe both).  He was rescued from the Animal Shelter minutes before he was to be euthanized by Carolina P.A.W.S.   He's right at a year old.  Ain't he purty?  He is 5 weeks into his 8 week training in the New Leash on Life program.  That's a program where the rescue group and a low/medium security prison work together to train dogs.  It's a win win for all involved.  The prisoners love learning to train, working with, and living with the dog they are responsible for.  The dogs come out with basic, advanced, and agility training, ready for a forever home.  This sweet dog is the top of his class and will graduate November 19th.  I get to take him home with me after graduation, can't wait! 

There has been a little knitting going on, but the pictures haven't been taken yet.  Hopefully that will happen soon.   

Who knew bees would chew up wood?

Okay, so now I've learned another lesson about living out here in the woods.  The weather has been beautiful which got me busy working outside.  Living in the woods I have mountains of leaves to get out of my landscaped beds and blown back into the floor of the woods.  As I came in for a snack break I noticed something on my front door.  When I stooped down to see what on earth was on the door I saw this guy (or gal).

Oh, okay, it's just a bumble bee, so I grabbed a broom and knocked it off the door.  This is what I saw.........

and this.................

This would be the threshold where the chewed up wood fragments fell from the hole the bee made in my door.  I have to say that I LOVE my beautiful wood front door and I'm more than a little upset to have a giant hole bored in it.  After I discovered the damage to my door the giant bad ass bee bumble bee had an unfortunate accident and is no longer with us.  Awwwwww, I feel really bad about that.

Let's recap my encounters with woodland visitors since I've moved into my new home.  First off there was the baby copperhead in my garage, that was fun.  Then the marble sized black widow on my screened in porch, thank heavens it was on the outside of the screen.  After that it was the Super Pooping opossum that took up residence in my garage and destroyed just about everything including the walls.  Now I have bees chewing up my doors.  It's a good thing it's beautiful and peaceful here because I'm beginning to think it may be hazardous to your health!

I googled wood eating bees and the best I can tell is that it must be a carpenter bee.  Evidently they don't eat the wood, they bore a hole and nest in it.  Well now, that makes me and my door feel much better.  On a good note it also said that they are usually solo, so maybe my door will be safe for awhile.

What? The Olympics are Over?

   
                            

This is a pattern that someone graciously posted on Ravelry.  It is a pretty good replica of the the hat worn by Lindsay Vonn (see below).  The rings are a little "squarish", but I like it all the same.  My young adult children all think it's pretty great and it looks like I'll be making more of them.

So, are you guys as sick of winter as I am?  We got a teasing of sunshine and a 73 degree day, the next day was in the 40's and raining.  Weird weather, totally weird. 

My 16 year old daughter came home from school with not one, but TWO projects the other day.  One in Biology, the other in Math.  Both are due on Monday.  I survived endless projects with my three older children, somehow I just don't seem to be able to muster up the stamina for a double barrel shot of projects just now.  Someone (ahem) is yelling for help on a project as I speak.  As much as I hate to leave such good company, duty calls.............

A Very Happy Birthday!

 

Monday was my birthday............having all four of my children together at my house rarely happens now that three of them are in college and live out on their own.  The best present of all was having them all here with me. 

 

Two triple chocolate cakes!  These won't help me lose those few pounds that appeared over the winter.  Obviously everybody knows that my weakness is chocolate, but hey, I love wine too, where's my Merlot?

My son's girlfriend brought beautiful roses too. 

It was a great birthday.

I've been knitting a little,  something Olympic actually.  I'll save that for the next post.

Yucky Weather and Finished Objects

Our weather has been HORRIBLE DEPRESSING UGLY less than comfortable all winter.  The temperature has steadily remained 15-30 degrees below normal.  Along with the abnormally cold temperatures we have also had ice, snow, sleet, and rain............everything but sunshine!  Yep, I'm definitely whining.  We are usually enjoying sun and temps in the low 60's this time of year.  One good thing comes out of bad weather though............finished objects!

I got the pattern for the makeup bag (largest one on the bottom) from Ravelry.  Once again, it's a free pattern that the designer graciously shared with everyone and I thank her.  It's called Sundance Makeup Bag.  I liked it so much that I also made a case for my little Blackberry Pearl cell phone and a credit card case to match.  I've made a ton of these things in the last couple of weeks, my daughters all like them too.  I also finished the gray Cable Luxe sweater and a hat like Lindsay Vonn wore in an interview.  The off white one with "USA" and the Olympic Rings on it.  Pictures coming soon.........

Useful Finished Object, Yay!

I have this weird thing going on with my fingers called Ranaud's Syndrome/Disease.  When I get cold or touch something cold my fingers go totally white with no blood circulation whatsoever.  That makes riding my horse in the winter almost impossible.  I tried using the hand warmer packs like hunters use in my gloves, but of course I can't get the warmth from the pack down in the fingers of the gloves where I need it and they did no good.  I would be able to get the hand warmer pack down in the finger end of a mitten though, so I set about making a pair of thick wool mittens.  Riding in mittens isn't ideal for holding the reins, but it beats not getting to ride.

                                      

                                        

After a pattern search on Ravelry I settled on a mitten pattern from World War II.  It's as basic as it gets.  Long warm cuff, dense, thick, perfect to fit my need.  I made them out of Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool.  They are knit on a size 3 needle, so the fabric is nice and dense.  Hopefully the heat from the hand warmer packs will not escape.  Can't wait to try them out!