When will winter end?

Four inches of snow yesterday and another storm blowing in with another five inches expected tomorrow through Monday. You might say, “What do you expect, you live in the Midwest!” But even by our standards, we have had a ton of snow this winter. In fact, it’s the most we’ve had in over 20 years.

I remember as a child having winters that were cold and snowy, much like this one. We had a great sledding hill in our backyard and we made all kinds of snowmen, snow bunnies, snow families, etc. They pretty much all looked the same except for size and the ears on the bunnies. Dad would cut cubes for us while shoveling the driveway to make us igloos or forts. It’s really sad that you don’t see things like that anymore. The other day I finally saw a snowman in a yard. Two months after the first snow.

But enough about that.

Our boys like to sit by the vents while the heat is going. Can’t say I blame them – warm air and a cuddle buddy. Well the other day our heat went out and while we were waiting for the repair guy I saw the saddest thing ever (ignore the demon eyes).

Poor guy, waiting and waiting for the heat to kick in.

Valentine’s Day Snow

Happy Valentine’s Day! Look, more snow!

 

I really can’t complain though, our snow has come in less than 1 foot batches unlike other areas. And it’s very pretty (from the inside). Just look at the icicles that are forming.

But it just keeps piling up. We’re running out of room to put it all and it’s getting difficult to reach the top of the pile when shoveling. Yes, we are the few, the proud that still shovel. This winter is making us reconsider.

Other than the shoveling, which we are now experts at, it’s been a lazy day around here. I got some knitting done while the husband glued together his fuselage.

The boys are wondering what we are doing home. It’s a rare weekend that we are both home for the entire time. Q has been spending quality time draped under my chin (his favorite place) and P has been spending quality time with my yarn.

What a relaxing day.

Pretty

The flowers are blooming so fast what with all the rain/sun/rain going on around here. A day ago this was the only open bloom on my dahlia, now this is the view.

Aren’t they beautiful? My coreopsis is also blooming profusely, but the only good picture I got of it was this single bloom.

There is just something about yellow flowers in the spring that makes me happy.

Trial

Recently downloaded Windows Live writer and wanted to try it out for the blog. I have to say, it makes changing my font a lot easier than wordpress does. At least that I could figure out with my limited skills.

 

Here’s a cutie to test the picture adding feature. Wasn’t Q an adorable kitten?

 

Edit: Hmm, need to work on pictures…

Grrr! Life!

Don’t get me wrong, I love life, but some months life just gets in the way of everything. That includes knitting and blogging. If anyone actually pays attention to my progress bars, it’s not only the fact that I haven’t had a moment to look at my blog (let alone write anything for it) to further along those progress bars – I actually haven’t done any knitting since my last post. I now notice that I haven’t even taken down Miranda and put up Sahara – but that’s my laziness from before the last month. Must get on that.

Actually, while I have indeed been busy, I also have lost a little knitting mojo. The winter here has been never ending and I know I’m not the only one who is getting tired of it. We got snow again yesterday. Snow! In the middle of April. It’s not unheard of here for that to happen, but I can’t remember the last time it did. I know, I know – you people up north have to put up with more of the white stuff than I do and for longer, but when you go through mild winters for the past umpteen years a snowy one just throws you off. You’d think I’d want to finish my cozy alpaca socks. At this rate they won’t get worn until next winter.

But on a happier note, I had a birthday in the past month. No, I’m not saying when or how old I became. But I did get a delightful gift from my dear sister. A pricey box of chocolates. As you can see from the picture – I couldn’t be bothered to get said picture before I dug into them. But I did share – so less calories?

They’re almost too pretty to eat . . . almost.

 

 

Daylight Savings

I’m not that much of a morning person and this is what I saw on the way to work. I shouldn’t. Enough said.

 

How many 5 year olds?

I can take 15 five year olds in a fight. Makes me feel tough. Course, I can’t figure out how to get the code to put up the results so although I’m tough, I’m evidently not that smart. How many could you take?

Grrr…winter!

Beautiful, yes? But I’m so darn tired of winter! Cold, bitter weather; dry, cracked skin; dirty, slushy sidewalks. Today there was wind. I’m talking WIND! And snow, but mostly wind. We probably only got about 1/2 inch of snow, but it drifted. I’m ready for sun, I want warmth, I want to be able to walk outside without a coat, scarf, and mittens!

But I love Gimp. I just discovered it and so far really like it. Look at the lovely rounded corners on the picture above.  The few other things I’ve learned to do with it are:

Fuzzy Border

Old Photo

Slide

And the one everyone needs

Coffee Stain

I’m not exactly great at scripts though, so who knows how much further I’ll get with the program. It’ll be fun to try though.

I wish I were Paprika

I hear it’s the happiest spice in the world.

Your Score: Fennel

You scored 0% intoxication, 50% hotness, 100% complexity, and 25% craziness!

You are Fennel! You’re a cool cat. Crisp, clean, fresh, and extremely complicated. You’re like quantum physics or modern jazz. Think Niels Bohr meets Ornette Coleman. You may look normal now, but once you sprout, you look kind of, uh, funny.

Link: The Which Spice Are You Test written by jodiesattva on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Actual knitting content

So, an update on my projects. I finished the hubby’s Twisted Rib Socks. You can see them here. If they look like they don’t fit right it’s because they are on my feet.

 

He now has me making him the Boyfriend Socks in another color of Lorna’s Laces that I had picked out for myself. Sage green.

 

I was really surprised he wanted socks in that color, but they do match a nice dress shirt he has so they’re on the needles. I think he just likes to get me to do a project for him so he can nag me about when his socks will be done. I always tell him they’ll be done as soon as the swift he promised to make me (last year) is done. He’ll probably get five pairs of socks before I finally get a swift. And I’ll probably have to buy it. 

I also am doing a stash-busting project. I have leftover Lion Brand Homespun from when I learned to knit. I had been in the process of making a scarf out of the blue and had made a couple scarves out of the two reds when I discovered yarn I like better. So I’m making squares and will put them together for a Cat Blanket. The boys tend to lay on everything I make, warm clothes, coats left on the couch and me. The me I don’t mind, but maybe laying this blanket on the couch will keep them off all the other stuff. One can only hope. Here’s the half completed project. To be honest, I haven’t counted rows or anything and the lighter red knit up tighter than the bright red and blue, so the squares are not the same size. Oh well, it’s for cats to lay on.

  

I’m still in the planning stages of an argyle vest for the hubby. It may be a bigger challenge than I can handle and I’ve kind of stalled on it. We’ve been too busy around here to do anything that takes much brain power, hence the cat blanket. Garter stitch squares I can handle, argyle – not so much. And while I’m always up for something new, I haven’t ever done intarsia so I’ll need some time to figure that out. I may just have to go look for a pattern in a book, I can’t find anything on the internet that the picky husband cares for. He wants something like this. Suggestions?