Relaxed

 I don't know why, but I slept for over 12 hours last night.  For some reason, I'm getting a bunch of stuff done today.  Maybe it's the sugar rush from starting the Christmas baking?  There's 2 batches of Christmas Crack, and one of the Reese's.  Ok, there's the remains of said batches.  ha!

    I figured out how to move my pictures from my phone into this.  The date will be changed after it's uploaded so that I can get a timeline figured of out of what I was making when.  That will be so helpful, especially in how much I've produced each month and how much time I'm spending on projects.  

Pictures

An easy hat for B Cole and family.  This is a 2 over 2 cable, 8 row repeat.  The fleece was handspun from a "waste" fleece that I was given in a bucket.  Despite being felted, the hand was surprisingly good.  

Late night

 This will count as Dec 9, but I was inspired to get some candy done.  I made 2 batches of toffee and one of the Reese's.  Yum.  Small trip for groceries, and mailed all of the bills except one.  The stamps that I ordered still haven't arrived.

     I suppose the other thing that I should talk about is Chubbles.  She's now 18, and is hurting.  First she did the thing like she couldn't pee.  I thought it could be urinary blockage, so right to the vet for $450.  The only test is that she's borderline hyperthyroid.  That explains that she's been so food seeking and such an extra level bitch.  Well.  We did the half a pill for 2 weeks, and then went to a full pill, but that's making her puke.  I backed the pill back to half and she seemed better, but still not good.  She stopped puking, but she's still wandering around yelling.  She's not doing the extra squatting all over or vehemently licking herself.  Well, yelling EXTRA if that makes sense.  She's still Siamese.  She's been low key limping for a few years.  I think it's the last couple of months that I noticed that she goes out of her way to not jump down from things.  If she's on my lap, she'll walk across the end table to her little couch to get down to avoid the jump.  The vet also said that she's gone from 15 pounds to 9 and she is avoiding food to avoid being pilled.  

     When I was trying to figure out all of the bells and whistles on this, I figured out that my blog is over 10 years old.  wtf.  Wow.  That makes me feel old and like I haven't done enough with this.  It's also been a great place to see where old pictures fit in.  That part is really cool.  Like Leo's hot pink hair.  That made me smile.  

2 Kicks in the Ass

 I've had 2 kicks in the ass today.  My cousin Dana reminded me that I'd already told a story and that I should be writing things down.  Then, I re-discovered a favorite podcast, Dr Gemma and the CogKnitive podcast.  She does small reminders of Cognitive and Behavioral Management things.  

So, what if I start to write things out and start holding myself accountable.  Even if I put this as private, it can be a thing to add pictures.  It will mean that things have to move forward.  And it can be a place to tell those stupid stories, and set goal lists so that I don't lose them.  

So the silly story is from when I lived out in the woods.  One morning, very early,  I had my coffee in hand and was sitting near the large front window.  I'm not a morning person, so my brain doesn't click until 10 am.  Also, understand that I was very far north in the woods.  I could hear my neighbors dog's barking, but not see anyone from my yard.  I'm more likely to see bambi than a stray dog.  

This morning, I was vaguely drinking coffee and waiting for the brain to turn on when I saw a cow go by.  Random cow.  I couldn't think when the last time I'd seen a cow.  A cow that closely, it might have been 20 years ago when my Dad accidentally got the herd of cows high.  High cows.  There's a cow in my front yard.  Galloping.  I've never seen a galloping cow.  They aren't very fast.

I know that I was doubting my senses and wondering about any traumatic brain injury from the past.  A half of a cowboy goes by.  A half.  I know what I saw.  Half - a cowboy.  With lasso.  

I know I looked at my coffee wondering if my husband or kid had tried to poison me.  This is clearly a psychotic break.  A galloping cow.  A half a cowboy.  One after the other as if the moment made any sense.

The ditch out front is pretty deep.  From where I was sitting, he was clearly running up the ditch because the cow had gotten out.  I'm very ashamed at how long it took me to realize that there could have been a reasonable explanation.   That's now the measure of chaos and confusion in my life - Did a half a cowboy go by yet?  Nope, then this is something that I can deal with.   

Slippers

After all this time, it's finally time to make more slippers.  I'm using the old Fiber Trends pattern because it's worked so well in the past. I'll see if I can add pictures as I go. 

. Bottom of the slipper before sewing or felting

 Top of the slipper

. Cream Lopi

. Purple Lopi on handspun.

. Handspun with glitter!

. Demin blue Lopi

Started the outline for an auto biography to procrastinate on house cleaning. LOL  Nothing like digging a huge hole to keep from planting grass.  Ah well.  I am getting my projects more organized to take pictures of wips and stash for Ravelry.

If anyone wants to see them, let me know and I might put a wall of shame on Facebook of the things that are stalled out in Area 51.  (There's 3 mysterious areas now.  Opps)

I also have an article started on why podcasting and why listen and I tripped over an awesome TED talk that inspired me to start telling stories and broadcasting the things that go on.  It could be really fabulous or really silly.  I think I'll collect some of the footage and just trot it down to upstream to edit some things together.  I know that I'd like to print bunches of the old pictures and get them on the walls.

Best Christmas present so far.  I picked up a little tablet and I'll be able to write about the interesting stuff that I find.

First, I'm going to research some basic information on podcasts.  I'm an addict, and happy to share the things that I find.  Would anyone like to suggest ideas, podcasts or pod catchers?  email me  I'm using Downcadt - a pay service.  Probably easiest to start with Itunes.  Free and easy.

Then, I would like to update my Ravelry profile information.  Pictures of stash, the top 3 projects, and pictures of things that I've actually finished.  As the Knitmore girls say, it's not done until the ends are tucked and photos are posted.

Finally, I'm going to be grabbing pictures of fixing up the old house.  The big projects are done.  I'm still so chuffed and amazed that I survived the insurance process that was actually worse than living with a hole in the roof, the barn blowing away, or the wind storm/tornado.  I have the stuff to paint William's room and install new screens.  I have to choose between 3 great real estate agents and just get it listed.

Have an amazing holiday!