Housekeeping

All righty, it is a new year and time to get organized.

To do:

1. Tidy up the blog sidebar
2. HPHCKC Winter term (soar Ravenclaw!)
3. The Great Sockening
4. Read stuff

One down. 363 days to do the rest!

Winery Adventure

I went on a very fun adventure this weekend with a friend.  We went to Masia de la Vinya for wine tasting.  We had a great "bartender", the wine was delicious, the company was excellent and the day was beautifu.  Somewhere around taste #5 I started to relax and feel like myself again... I may need to become a middle aged drinker after all.

Kidding! But seriously, how cute are we?  This is out on the patio, drinking local sangria and listening to live classic rock.  I think this was during the James Taylor song.   We had a great time. I highly recommend it.

After wine and breadsticks and water and time we hit the road back home with only a couple stops - one at the bead store for some beads to match some of the yarn-crawl yarn, one to get my nose pierced and one for a delicious burrito late lunch.  Pretty much a perfect day.  I didn't even touch my knitting.

And So It Goes...

Life here at Chez Picky continues to pass.  Galen's memory is a fond one but mostly the other cats are filling the gap (except for a moment this morning when I was cutting up cooked chicken and went to give him a pill).

The big cats (formerly known as the kittens) are slowly coming out of their shells although none are as greedy for attention as Galen.  But they will sleep by my and meow to be petted.  Bingo has learned to jump on my lap and also is moving into Galen's old space on the computer chair.  I think I have given up all hope of giving ayway the baby kitten; she has taken over Galen's old duties and emotion-checking cat and walking on the keyboard-cat.  She may be only a few months old but she rules with an iron paw.  Even the dog is in line.

Wild and Free

It was time to get out and about and unwind from the crazy week at work. I dusted off my zoo membership card, checked and found out I could still get free parking at the Wild Animal Park, grabbed my re-fillable cup and hit the road.

First stop was the flamigos, of course, followed by an aviary.  The scarlet ibis are my new love - pink of course.  Next I headed up to the bird show.  I was a little early so I watched the lemurs and lorikeets for a while.  The bird show was excellent - lots of free flying and an interview with an African Grey.   The milky eagle owl was amazing as well.  

After the bird show it was down the hill to the tram ride.   There was lots of quality knitting-while-waiting time and the ride did not disappoint.  All 4 cheetahs were out, the screaming children eventually settled down and the tour was quite nice.

Post tram ride I started to wander back to the front.  I went past more flamingos (the creepy red-eye ones are less creepy in person).  I found the warthogs by accident.  I was going to pass by but a keeper was telling someone about the bat-eared foxes and I perked right up.   I watched the hogs for a long time (they were very interesting until nap time when 2 lay together and then 3 lay together, each set in a perfect line by decreasing size).  Finally gave up on the foxes (they are more nocturnal) and went around the corner.   To my delight, through a break in the trees I could see the other side of the enclosure and a flash of movement. The little bastards all came out as soon as I'd left.  I watched for a while, then crept back to the front and watched them for a long time,  walking, barking, sunning themselves and generally being awesome.  They are super furry with spindly legs; much like shetland sheep with huge ears and pointy noses.  After that were the okapi (so plush looking) and the secretary birds.

I circled around past the tram and headed up toward the elephants but took a long break to look over the savannah vista.  There were a bunch of rhinos out, some pretty antelope and even some entertaining people.   Then it was a last push up to the elephants (and more quality knitting time).  They were pleasant to watch and then there was the sex.  Well, OK then, elephants, you go at it. I'll just stand here.  Hearing the trumpeting was cool though.

Finally it was time to think about leaving.  Up past the chinchillas (missed the baby tiger), watched the bats for a while in the bat house,  refilled my soda and hit the flamingo pond to knit and watch until closing time.  A little coot who was resting by my bench made a good companion.

Starting Again

Happy "buy a new calendar" month, everyone.   That reminds me...

Ravenclaw won the House Cup & the Quidditch Cup at last last term.  I knit hard and scored well. I even completed an OWL and a Mission for the Order of the Phoenix and scored a sweet new badge.  I didn't even know it was a thing that is hard to do!

I didn't get too much done over the December break month; finally seamed the last of the blocks & added a few finalizing rows to the Steampunk blanket.  I'm thinking of buying one more skein to use as a large border to make it a little bigger.  

My head was cold this weekend so I broke out a skein of pretty yarn from this summer, an old issue of Spin-Off and crocheted up a little hat.  I love the hat, I like the pattern... not sure about the finished project.  It is more muffin cap than cloche.   I made a cord as a drawstring with my handy dandy lucet so it fits better but it is still puffy.  I may give it another try or I may rip it halfway back and rework with a smaller crochet hook.

I still have a stack of items that need finishing work but I also need to sit down and think of some projects to complete this term. I've already warmed up the spinning wheel and am working through some half started bobbins.  Need to ply some mystery gray (chain ply, I think, I can already use another hat) and I am spinning through some mystery blue / gold / green (merino / silk?).  This one is interesting - there are two lots of about equal size but one is richly colored and one is more pastel.  My choices are ply the two against each other or ply them separately (2 ply? chain ply) and decide if I want to use them in the same project. It might look nice as stripes.   Idea: ZickZack scarf.

I didn't set any resolutions except that I kind of did:  read 16 books for the Goodreads challenge (G16) and also participate in the January Cure again.   So far I have swept one room and every time I sit down to read I just fall asleep.  Will have to work on these.

Nice Recovery

All night and morning I turned the problem at work over in my mind.  I was all set to confront the person, but then the problem was slightly less bad and it wasn't worth the possible increase in bullying.  Will continue to hold steady but I have some speeches prepared if I have to engage.  One has lepers.

On the way home I went to the library, discovered my special request had arrived (Old Man's War) and also rented a video ("Dancing at Lughnasa").  I have been enjoying being part of a book club even if it is only on the knitting forum.  Friday is library day - if it is there, I should use it.  Made a trip to the grocery store next; I want to make crock pot lasagna this week.  It might be wierd but it should be edible.  Last adventure was to Kohl's to spend a $10 gift card.  I didn't really have a plan but ended up with some cutting boards (bamboo, set of 3) that I can put to good use.  The only one at home is a pull out from the cupboard and is likely original along with that 40's contact paper.  Finally I can have a dedicated soap board!

Galen is helping type the blog today - he is laying across my arms as I try to type.  It's pretty annoying... he must be thoroughly recovered from his dental surgery two weeks ago.  I know he is sure a bottomless pit as far as kibble is concerned.

Baby cockatiels are hale & hearty, covered in yellow fluff and sporting crops full to bursting.  I think they might just make it.

Put in a good row on Catkin today at lunch, the end is near at last.  Unfortunately this is one of the fiddliest parts of the pattern, which is saying something as this is one of the most difficult patterns I've worked in some time... possibly ever.

Hiccup

I'm not having a great evening - irritated and upset about something at work and haven't been able to shake it off. But I had cookies for dinner and the pets are fed & have clean quarters so that is something.

Blasting things in D3 also helped; time to show my wizard some love before season 2 starts next week.  I bet I can get her to 70 in no time.

And I picked up a pro tip the hard way today: if you bring your knitting for entertainment, be sure to bring your pattern as well.

Baby cockatiels are still doing well although the one that was pipping in the egg yesterday seems to have died.  It's not been a successful year yet for chicks... fingers crossed these 2 little guys make it. One of the ladies at work is in line for a baby.

Burst of Energy

It was relatively quiet at work today so I scampered off early.  I think I may have actually hit every single thing on my to do list.

• lunch
• catboxes
• finish library book
• return library book
• order book club book
• drop off book donation
• laundry
• pick up cat food from vet
• fix the knitting issue with Catkin
• buy drain cleaner and milk
• clear drain
• spin yarn 90 min
• feed cats

... and it's only quarter to 8pm.  I still have to pay the rent but I really think I did a great job. 

Funny story: the kitten likes to leap from the top of the parrot cage to the bed and then bounce sideways to the floor instead of the 4 foot drop straight down.  Today she lept... and banked off my back as I was leaning down.  Kitty went flying, poor dear. 

No one is in the cat bed by the bookshelf tonight, they must have called a musical cat beds truce.  

Musical Cat Beds

Continues apace...

Lizette

I came home, did some tidying, played some Daymare Town while trying to figure out how to occupy myself this evening, and whammo it is nearly bedtime.   Hmmm, my library book is due tomorrow, I guess I could finish it.

My home life is really orderly, peaceful, quiet and boring... and I like it that way.

Finishing Up Right

Very unusual events in the Picky household the last few days: an irresistible urge to clean and to finish projects.  I approve, but it is very strange.  Perhaps the last year of UnFucking my Habitat has started to cement good habits at last.  Things aren't perfect but progress is being made.  Mount Laundry, for example, is a thing of the past.

Year end bonus time came at work and has been a boon.  Gifts were given, party was attended, groceries & cat food were stocked, reading material for the winter acquired and there may have been a yarn incident.  Going "cold sheep" next year for sure.

Things are mostly calm and happy and I like it a lot.  Any resolutions for 2015?  A couple in the planning stages:

• sell more soap
• weave the Fuzzy blanket for Martha
• go "cold sheep" (no yarn or fiber purchases)

Low expectations keep me a happy camper.

Winding Down

It is a quiet week here at Chez Picky.  Work has been mostly calm, home has been mostly calm, weather has been warm & calm.  Finished a soap order, finished a pair of socks, started some fingerless gloves.

My sweet Billy Bird is winding down, though.  All week he has been quiet and sleepy.  he eats, drinks, preens and moves from the floor of the cage to the perches, but is sleeping a lot and even lets me pet his head - he must be feeling poorly.  He is at least 24 years old and that is a good age for a cockatiel.   His lady Peaseblossom and I are both giving him extra attention but I am not sure he will be with us too much longer.  He has been an excellent birdie & his talents include saying he is a pretty bird and mangling "The Entertainer".

The foster kittens are settling in at last and the dog is almost letting me sleep through the night.  They love watching the parrot and the rat loves chasing them around the bedroom.

Tonight it is time to hang out with my birds and rest up for work tomorrow.

Beach Day

On a whim, I asked a friend if I could join her on a beachcombing adventure. Happily, the answer was yes and we had a lovely visit and trip to a beach by her house.

We investigaed tide pools - anemones! hermit crabs! kelp! - and looked between the rocks for he treasure of the day: sea glass.  We found quite a few likely pieces and I learned how to judge when one is "ready" and when one needs more time in the ocean to get a lovely patina and texture.

I also found a pretty cowrie shell, a hag stone (a rock with a hole that goes all the way through) and an interesting piece of coral.  We checked to make sure it was long dead, it bounced around in my pocket with the other rocks & glass, the family examined it when we returned, it waited on the counter while we had drinks, dinner, dessert and coffee and it wasn't until I was walking out the door that I saw the little notch in the underside... with a very irritated hermit crab in residence!   Jen ran him back to the sea and I hope he will be fine. I could have sworn I checked that peice a hundred times. Well, a dozen times anyway.

It was a really great adventure & visit and I think there will be more beachcombing in my future.

Finally, Flamingos

Little Victories

Today I walked my dog and paid off the vet bill credit card.  There's plenty more on the to-do list, but crossing off even 2 small things feels like an accomplishment today.

Birthday Revels

Pretty tipsy right now, let me sum up.
Saturday:

• chores, chores, chores

Sunday

• renaissance faire. Great fun

Monday

• crochet
• pie with Ruth
• margaritas with Martha & Dennis
• can't feel my face. 
• got an emai from someone thanking me for a picture, don't know which one. Am concerned.
• Also washed the rats in the morning, before tequila

And because I am still riding the tequila high & can't use my computer, a picture of a silk batt & the Ravenclaw tower from last fall at Blizzcon

Sad April

First I lost my beautiful Lola (guinea pig) to a fast-moving stomach upset, then today I took Fritti in for an antibiotic shot and ended up having to euthanize him.  Whatever has been going on in his mouth / sinuses for the last few years finally won and when I saw that he had been sneezing blood all day there was no other choice.  My poor little guy.  

Fritti came to me as a stray at the San Bernardino house July 4th weekend 1997. He was tiny, scrawny and covered in fleas.  We went right to the vet to get cleaned up and although he was an asshole for the first decade, he started to mellow and seek out my company more and more in the last several years.  The last year or so he has been my constant desk companion... if I wanted him here or not.

I have no idea what Galen will do without him - they were best buddies for so long.  I am happy that he isn't suffering anymore, but I will miss my little guy.

Workless Wednesday

Another Wednesday off and I managed to fill it with chores & responsible things... mostly.  Laundry, packing & shipping soap, making lunch instead of eating out, changing my sheets and such all qualify me for an "adulting" award.

In the afternoon Anne & I went to the birdfarm, got Frostys at Wendy's and enjoyed the beautiful spring day while getting caught up.  A chocolate shake soothes a lot of frazzled ends.

I even got a little knitting in - finished up 2 washcloths to ship with soap and put a few rows on Martha's red socks.  They are coming out very well.

Resting Monday

Took the cat to the vet, finished the first Scylla sock & took 2 hampers of wash to the laundromat. A big day. 

Productive Saturday

• Went to work
• Tidied living room
• Knit on Scylla sock
• Checked on Hogsmeade Owl Post
• Watched an hour of Coursera lectures
• Watched some "Breaking Bad"
• Made lunch, fed dog
• Rejuvenating nap

Rest Day

Lots of long days (staying up too late) and early mornings (trying to be at work on time) plus a walk up Mt Rubidoux this morning have taken their toll and I am taking it easy.  A nice nap, checking the Ravelry boards, staring at the cockatiels, this is all I have energy for.  I need to go to the store & laundromat but can't be bothered to put pants on.

Doing lots of thinking about what I should spin for the Tour de Fleece but have not made any decisions yet; just today I thought it would be fun to spin a lot of white wool to set aside for natural dyeing.