Spring!

What a gift this past week has been with such gorgeous weather! We saw snowdrops blooming on Monday and the daffodils and crocuses began blooming yesterday in our yard. George took the dog ramp down yesterday and began building the new deck today. I cleaned up the back gardens and started moving the stick pile in preparation for the new deck. All the cats enjoyed some time outside in our newly "cat proofed" fenced yard. (Although the two older cats continue to find escape routes). Our two new siamese cats are slowly adjusting to living here. It has been almost 2 weeks since we got them. Fritz is much more adventurous and actually sat on my lap while we watched "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang" last night. Pharoh mainly stays in his bed.

Random musings....6 word biographies?!

Can you summarize yourself in just 6 words? a mini biography? That was a challenge I heard about that the online magazine Smith.com (I think) reportedly issued to its readers. They received thousands of entries. I posted the same challenge on my facebook page and so far have had interesting results! As usual the drive home finally stimulated my tired brain and I came up with several possibilities: "This caught my fancy, tried it!" ....or "Mindful of many blessings, great family!" ....or "Succeed? Can do if truly try!" ....or " daughter, sister, friend, wife, mother, teacher"....or to borrow one "To thine own self be true!"...or maybe: "Slay dragons? Not today, maybe tomorrow." What are yours?

Homemade Soft Pretzels Recipe : Alton Brown : Food Network

Homemade Soft Pretzels Recipe : Alton Brown : Food Network

Good-bye Darling Lucky

We lost our darling, happy-go-lucky 9 month old Lucky today quite unexpectedly. We are all in shock with grief and sadness. We will all have a big hole in our hearts without Lucky. He was one special little cat. We got him when he was about 5 - 6 weeks old as a nearly road-kill baby from a busy road in Akron, Ohio. Students sheltered him one night on campus and contacted me to inquire if I might be interested in raising a kitten. I sent his picture to George and the rest is history. George says Lucky was his first cat. He never knew that kittens were so much fun. We had regular play times with him each morning and evening as he adjusted to living in our home. He loved life and lived it to the max. We will miss him so much.

Welcome to Winter 2010

4 degrees this morning, but "warmed" up to 16 degrees by 4:45. It just kept snowing and snowing and snowing today! At least 14 inches fell. We shoveled the driveway twice so far today. Believe it or not we went out driving 4 times today. 3 trips were to get new tires on George's car and one was to go out to Cleats for lunch with some friends. We are staying put the rest of the day. I'm making good progress on my future red wool felted brimmed hat.

Berroco® Free Pattern | Dagmar

Berroco® Free Pattern Dagmar

Approximately 14” wide x 64” long.

MATERIALSBERROCO DENIM SILK (50 grs), 5 hanks #1425 Amaranth.Crochet hooks, sizes 5.00 mm (H) and 7.00 mm (L).1 Hair Pin Lace Tool with width of 4”.

SHAWLSet Hair Pin Lace Tool on width of 4”. Following instructions on the package, using smaller hook, make 6 strips 228 loops long.

FINISHINGLay 2 strips side by side. With larger hook, pick up 3 loops on the left strip. * Draw 3 loops from the right strip through the 3 loops on hook. Draw 3 loops from the left strip through the 3 loops on hook. Rep from * until all loops have been used. To finish off the last group of 3 loops, thread the tail from the right strip through the last group creating a loop and weave end down through the sc center. Join remaining strips tog in the same manner.

Medieval Feast!

What a production! Getting ready for the Medieval Feast at Trinity Cathedral was an adventure. I made our costumes. It was a humbling experience and quite frustrating at times but the end results were a hit with everyone! I got many compliments on our outfits. They were even quite comfortable, although I don't quite have the knack for wearing a veil. I don't know how our ancestors ever managed to move around much and get anything done with all that material to manage! Everyone kept stepping on my gown's slight train. They eventually learned not to walk too close behind me. We had a 4 course dinner plus dessert, with a spiked mulled wine reception before dinner and all the wine and beer you wanted throughout the feast. The attendants were attentive to our every need. The music was lovely and the 'Fairy Tale' was cute. They involved quite a few members of the audience. It was fun to see all the different types of costumes. Most people were in costume. Quite an event!