Funny Magic

Woof!

If my presence around these parts happens to become a bit sporadic (wait, it kinda already is..) in the near future, I can only blame this sweet Basset Hound face:

This Friday we'll be picking up Flossie (yep, named her already) and bringing her home to live with us forever - we're so excited!! I've never raised a dog from puppyhood before; we've always adopted adult dogs, so I know I'm in for an eye-opening and brand spankin' new experience. Anyone have any tales to tell, experiences to share, or helpful puppy hints? Flossie and I are all ears....

Hello, Wallaby

Hello, again. Hello. Thanks for all of the birthday wishes last week - y'all just totally made my day, as I was at work from 11am to midnight, and checking in to read comments made a looooooooong day seem bearable. (And reading new comments throughout the week's been nice, too!) So, thank you.

Last week I finished Charlie's Wonderful Wallaby:

"Mom? I just absolutely love this sweater!"

I love that quote for the pure and simple reason that it eases the pain of knowing that I knit this sweater too small (pass the tissues please). I checked guage, I measured, but still....somewhere along the way I went wrong. Once I'd finished the yoke I had Charlie try it on; then and there I decided to omit the hood, bind off, and get it on the boy while it still fits, and before he truly can't wear it at all. Overall, though, this was a great knit, made all the more so by the Malabrigo yarn. It's so true that the yarn you're working with can make all the difference in how you feel about what you're knitting or working on. (Deets on my Ravelry page.)

A scarf I'm knitting for my dad for Christmas is coming along:

Okay, can anyone else believe that the big holiday is only 5 weeks away??  I'm distracting myself from this fact by learning to crochet granny squares:

This is the first one I've ever tried, and just as I thought, they're fun and addicting. Let's see if I'm saying that 3 weeks from now when we're in full Christmas Cookie-Making mode, though, because everyone knows that Russian Teacakes and Casserole Cookies trump all else! Gotta go wind up a bit of yarn now...the grannies are calling.

They Say It's Your Birthday

That's right, today I am 39.

I'm a lucky lady, blessed with a roof over my head, an awesome family, good friends, and general good health...I'm happy to be here, what else can I say?

Now on to the good stuff - since my zodiac sign is the Scorpio, I was curious to find out who else shares this sign with me; here's the results of my deep, dark, burning desire to know:

Ryan Adams: Rocker.

Lou Ferrigno: Monster.
  

Sylvia Plath: Writer.

 
 Joni Mitchell: Genius.

 

Auguste Rodin: Sculptor. (Camille Claudel is still one of my favorite movies.)  

I'm dreaming of someday going here.
  
For now, though, I'm off to work...be back later this week with (hopefully!) a finished sweater for Charlie and a new bag for me. Here's a peek:

Later Alligators!

Alexis Rocks!

Why, helllloooo! How's your weekend shaping up? We're doing much better around these parts...I still feel like I'm fighting-off something-or-other, but that's not gonna stop me from sharing some goodness I got in the mail from Alexis of Knot Sew Crafty, as I was the lucky winnah' of her last giveaway...!

Mmmm....yarn. Yummy yarn. I'm thinking crocheted flowers and a knitted hat. Or cowl. Or fingerless gloves.

Miscellaneous notions and crafty good stuff - a reusable shopping bag, a mini journal, stickers and napkins and lip balm and doll pins and wooden plaques for decorating.

Oh, and fabric! I love me some fabric!

Can't forget the ReadyMade magazine and two beautiful Japanese books...

Isn't that little skirt over the jeans so cute?? And I'd love to make a top just like the one above for Juliet with some thrifted fabric from the stash.

Thank you, THANK YOU, thank you Alexis...you totally rock. XO!

Moments :: Yesterday

It was beautiful here yesterday - warm and sunny with no wind, all of which added-up to a perfect day for yardwork. In the morning and early afternoon I raked while hubby mulched with the mower.

3:15 yesterday afternoon was GAME TIME: MN Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers. Truthfully, I'm a fair-weather football fan, and this year is fair indeed for the Vikings, so I've hopped aboard the bandwagon big time. (Plus I think Brett Favre rocks.) (Plus we won!!)

I actually got to sit down and watch the entire game from start to finish because my littlest one has been under the weather and running a temp:

She slept on my lap for three hours while we watched the game...excuse me while I slap myself because I think I'm still in shock.
Today, though, the sickness around here continues, as Charlie came home early from school with a bit of a fever and a headache, and I woke up feeling rather funky, too. Anyhoo, I'm gonna go and rearrange our bedrooms this afternoon - it's too cold to be sleeping in beds that are up against the outside walls and windows now. Winter is on it's way... 

(Thanks to Amy for the inspiration - more Moments posts to be found at her place.)
 

Happy Halloween! Missing Mojo Found!

It was there all along, in the darkest reaches of the basement...

The macabre pirate, now keeping watch over the neighborhood from our front porch.

Lights, cheesecloth, and spiders.

And everything we needed to set up our (mwahahaha...) Gruesomely Gory Mad Laboratory!

Charlie played Mad Scientist this year, and I'd say he did a fantastically horrible job:

It's gory, but that's the way we roll here at The Ranch.

Have a wicked weekend!
 

APB Re: Missing Halloween Mojo!

Yesterday, while on a Search and Rescue mission for my missing Halloween mojo, I volunteered at Juliet's preschool for their annual Halloween party:

(That's Juliet on the left as a princess, complete with (fake) furry stole and poofy pink dress; her friend was dressed as Tinkerbell.)

For some reason I haven't "felt the spooky" this year...decorations are still in the basement and the front porch remains unadorned with frightfulness. Today, though, we're gonna carve our pumpkins and after that, I'll start conjuring the creepy:

 

Better late than never, right??

A Little Good Mail and a Good Idea.

But before all that, a pillow. Here's the front:

And the back:

You know what I discovered in making this big 'ol pillow cover? That I really love just wingin' it. No pattern, no instructions, just taking what I've learned about sewing thus far and going for it, much in the way my daughter approaches crafting, I guess. Lately when she tells me she's in the mood for "crafting" I've been setting a box of goodies on the table for her and let me tell 'ya, she just goes to town with the glitter and pipecleaners and scissor and glue.  Today she took a strip of fabric that she found in there, tied a little knot, and pronounced, "A necklace for you, Mama!" And by gosh, I wore it to work and was damn proud.

Anyhoo, more good fun to share in the form of mail:

A stack of vintage linens.

An awesome old table runner.

  
Fabric that's telling me it would love to be a skirt.

Also some doilies and a small quilt top (not pictured, blurry, sorry). Thank you Marlana, my Vintage Swap partner! This has been an awesome swap to take part in and I'd definitely partake again. (Thanks Heather!)

And last but not least, I'm liking Amy's good idea, whereby we share our imperfections in the spirit of being "less-than-perfect" creatures...kinda' like noticing the good in the midst of the mess, the beauty in the boredom, the magic within the mundane, etc. At least that's my interpretation, and I'm looking forward to digging-in a little more - lately I feel like I've been skating on the surface of life. Am I making any sense? Ah, well. Time for me to go nighty-night. Ta-ta for now!

In the Northland

Hi! We're back from our short but rejuvenating and very relaxing weekend up north with my dad. We arrived at sundown on Friday, and after Charlie turned-in for the night my dad and I stayed up until 1:30 a.m.(!) talking and laughing around the campfire; oh, how I love these times with my dear 'ol dad.

We had a campfire going constantly as it was pretty chilly up there, especially once the sun went down. Thankfully, it was not rainy, just cool and cloudy.

We took some time for walking in the woods during the day on Saturday - found lots of deer tracks and even what we think was some, ahem, bear 'poo....which freaks me out a bit, as I'm kinda' scared of bears. Moving on now....

I was able to make some good progress on the sweater I'm knitting for Charlie, and spent some time knitting around the campfire - more knitting was done inside the warm and toasty camper, though.

Oh, how I love it up north...October is my favorite time of year up there...so cool and crisp and pretty.

But having to "powder your nose" in the outhouse??? Man, it's dang cold, especially when nature calls in the middle of the night! (That would be the good 'ol outhouse on the left.)

How was your weekend?
 

In One Word...

(via Alexis!)

1. Where is your mobile phone? Unpurchased.
2. Your hair? Straight.

3. Your mother? Loving.
4. Your father? Dependable.
5. Your favourite food? Pizza.
6. Your dream last night? Dunno.
7. Your favourite drink? Coffee.
8. Your dream/goal? Security.
9. What room are you in? Living.
10. Your hobby? Knitting.
11. Your fear? Unknown.
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Here.
13. Where were you last night? Upstairs.
14. Something that you aren’t? Vindictive.
15. Muffins? Rhubarb.
16. Wish list item? Pedicure.
17. Where did you grow up? Norwood
18. Last thing you did? Laundry.
19. What are you wearing? Jammies.
20. Your TV? Mad Men.
21. Your pet? Furry.
22. Friends? Essential.
23. Your life? Busy.

24. Your mood? Calm.
25. Missing someone? Emily.
26. Vehicle? Saturn.
27. Something you’re not wearing? Make-up.
28. Your favorite store? LYS.
29. Your favorite color? Pink.
30. When was the last time you laughed? Today.

31. Last time you cried? Monday.

32. Your best friend? All-knowing.
33. One place that I go to over and over? Target.
34. One person who emails me regularly? Sarahx2.

35. Favorite place to eat? Home.

In addition:

36. Best Vacation?  England.

37. Dessert? Cheesecake.

38. Why do you blog? Connection.

39. Skill you wish you had? Meditation.

40. Favorite trait in others? Humor.

 

Feel free to partake if you'd like, and have a great weekend...  

...I'm off to the north country this weekend with Charlie and my dad for some fall colors, fresh air, campfires, walks in the woods, and perhaps a little R&R - see you next week!