Not dead

I swear ... I am among the living.

Credit: frommycherryheart.blogspot.com 

Rumors to the contrary

 are greatly exaggerated!

Yes, I have been quiet on the blog.  But life has been a busy, busy roller coaster.  Not terrible things, just time consuming, attention grabbing, and sometimes, just vegetative!

Just a sampling ...

1. Retired but getting up at 6:00 am ... grand dog duty.
2. Assisted living dog duties ... now I am providing that service for my elderly grand-dogs. I am such a wonderful dog-granny!
3. Funeral planning ... not that anyone has died recently, but financially it make sense.
4. Finishing up the crochet project from h*ll - which turned out pretty nice, but still ...
5. Vegging quietly when the opportunity presents itself (it is amazing how much time that eats up.)
6. Winning a few blog prizes - that I have neglected (but not forgotten) to mention on this blog (shame-faced, but promises to redeem self.)

So I guess I was just due for a blog-break and didn't know it until I looked back and discovered my own absence!

Not gone, Not dead ... just vegging.

Back soon!

Road Trip

Hello folks, Grimace here.

Today my grandma took me on a road trip with my cousin Milo.  Meathead wasn't interested in going.

First of all there wasn't a couch where we are going.  Secondly, Meathead just didn't want to go.  His attitude?  Why would anyone want to go anywhere that doesn't have a couch!

I never know where we are going on these trips.  I just hop in the front seat and sit to watch Grandma drive.  This time Milo was with us and he insisted on sitting in the front seat with me.  Whatever! I can share.

"uhh, Grandma, Milo here.  Grimace is touching me! Make him stop."

"Seriously Grandma, squeezing me."

"Geezy-peezy,
 he is fine!"
Whatever!"

"Yeah!  We are here ... wherever here is!"

"Smells like Great Grandma's place."

"Hey, Grimace, Great Grandma gives the best pets."

"She loves me more than you, Milo!"

Grandma's perspective?

Another road trip completed without blood shed!

  Life would be a little less complicated if one of them would sit in the back seat! 

Whatever!

:-) 

And the winner is ...

  

Today is the day. 

First let me say I am so very grateful for all the visits and kind comments I have received over the last days.  It has been humbling.  Thank you Vicki for hosting this event.

And as much as I have enjoyed past blogfests, this one has been the absolute best.  The quality of the blogs and the interesting themes have been extraordinary!

I have a winner for my hand woven scarf and I am thrilled.

After writing EVERYONE's name on a piece of paper,

And cutting them out individually,

Folding them up tight (till my fingers bled - just kidding) ... although I did get a paper cut!

 ...  squeezing my eyes tightly closed and sticking my hand into the basket to select one ...

the winner is:

_________________________________

I will be contacting you, Noofy, to get your address ... which can be sent to retiredknitter@gmail.com.

Happy Blogging everyone!  Let's all keep in touch. 

Tomorrow - A drawing, A new start

So February 1 is a busy day.

Yes, I am having a drawing for a hand woven scarf tomorrow.  For more information check here.  It is still not too late to leave a comment and be included in the drawing.  Just get your comment in before midnight - Eastern Standard Time.

Friday, February 1, is also the day I am returning to Weight Watchers, and walking, and stretching.   Lighter, more energetic and less like as a brittle, aged pretzel is what I aiming for.  Again!

I am the Queen of "Going Back, Starting Over Again!"

But, you know, I am OK with that.  The real failure in life is not trying, not doing something that is worthwhile ... just giving up. Yep, that is the real failure.

November, December and January have been very busy months in our house.  Holiday activities and new family adjustments have been my excuses so far.  Now faced with February - and no barriers (unless I make something up), it seems time to begin.

So we start again!

And actually, "starting again" on February 1st rather than January 1 is perfect!  Woo Hoo!!  Who starts stuff on February 1st?  Pretty much no one - so I have no competition!

How are your January 1 resolutions going?  Do you need to start again February 1st?

Who is joining me!!!!!!

Woo Hoo

Crafts by the sea

I was on a mission last weekend.  Finish my give-away scarf so I am ready for the drawing on February 1st.  Mission accomplished.

We had cooking.

We had wine.

And we had gobs of fun!  It is the only way to focus on a mission.

But first ... pictures of other missions that were accomplished ... I should be so talented as these folks.

First off, these charming knitted snow men in 3 sizes are so cute in person.

The beginnings of a beautiful blanket.

Finished spa cloths.

More beautiful spa cloths

Another weaving creation - in two colors.

A lovely cowl - cozy warm on a snowy beach visit.

My own project (the give-away for the blogfest) was coming along well.  

The picture shows the completed

portions of the woven scarf collecting on the fabric beam.

Finally reached the end and completed a hem stitch to secure the woven rows.

The finished scarf - laying in wait for it new owner.

Anyone who comments on my blog posts between January 18 and January 31 will be entered for a chance to win this scarf.  For more details check here.

The winner will be announced here on this blog on February 1.  Make sure you leave me your email address or web site so that I can contact you if you are the winner.

The Beach and The Snow

Last weekend I was at the beach!

I love the beach.

I love my cousin.

I love snow.

It was a win-win weekend for me!

My cousin is part owner of a lovely condo right on the beach.  

This was a regularly scheduled craft weekend and it was just perfect.

These pictures were taken from the balcony.  

We are close to the ocean.

Although I love the beach in any season, my least favorite season for beach visits is the summer.  See I am a selfish beach bunny.  I want to look out on the beach and see no one!  Just the sand, and the water ... that is it.  And if you go in January, snow is also welcome.

The next day the snow was gone and we were left with a beautiful scene.

And as the moon began to rise, we tried to get pictures.  

I say "try".

  Because as much as I tried, I couldn't get a picture without the rays off the moon.

No matter.  The view was beautiful.

Tomorrow ... the results of 2 days of uninterrupted craft time.

Pictures of the hand woven scarf for the give away - also included.

Be sure to comment on my blog sometime between January 18 and 31 

to be entered into a drawing to win it.

Details found here.

Patrice's Porch

Today I am visiting on Patrice's farmhouse porch. This is a feature every Tuesday on everydayruralty.com, a new blog I am following.  Every Tuesday there are a list of questions that each participant answers. These chats are all about getting to know others  and hopefully, they get to know you. So here goes... Questions

1. Have you ever been on a boat? (Motor boat, sail boat, cruise ship, ark, or Good Ship Lollipop).
2. Do you need an alarm to wake up in the morning, or do you wake up naturally? If you have an alarm, tell us what type.
3. Have you ever had a yard sale?
4. Do you like kitchen gadgets? What are some of your favorite?
5. Do you read labels at the grocery store?

Have you ever been on a boat?  Lordy, yes.  Many times but motion sickness is a problem.  Good boats - cruise ships with stabilizers and medical staff who dispense nausea meds.  Bad boats: motor boats, sail boats and mid size ships - like the ones that take you out to whale watch!  I remember one whale watching trip.  The ride out wasn't so bad.  The waiting and waiting for a whale to poke his head or tail above the water was painfully difficult.  Gently swaying, gently drifting, up and down, side to side, with nothing happening ... except I wanted  to vomit over the side of the boat!  For some reason on that day the whales weren't cooperating with the tourist ship.  And the ship was scheduled to stay in place until some whale made a guest appearance.  I remember praying as I hung over the boat, Dear God: Please .... pleeeaase, send whales!  Send someone is a whale costume.  Oh heck, please send a rogue wave that forces us back to shore.  The trip back to shore was terrible too - they were serving greasy burgers on this tourist boat, AND PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY EATING THEM!!  

Do you need an alarm to walk up in the morning?  Apparently not.  I must have some internal clock that pops my eyes open around the time I need to get up - no matter what time that is.  It is a spooky talent, I can tell you.

Have you ever had a yard sale?  Yes when I was much younger.  When I worked out the hours I devoted to the preparation, the sale, and the clean up ... against what I earned in sales, I made about .87 cents an hour.  No more yard sales for me.

Do you like kitchen gadgets?  Well I don't like to cook, but I do have 2 favorite kitchen gadgets.  My coffee maker.  Makes it possible for me to form complete sentences about 30 minutes later.  And my microwave.  Makes it possible for me to heat up food made by others!

Do you read labels at the grocery store?  You betcha!  But the best foods of all are the ones that don't have labels: fruit, veggies, etc.  

Well, that sure was fun.  Now off to check out some of the other blogs in the porch chat!