Friday, August 9, 2013

Friday Mishmash

Ever have one of those days weeks where stupid things bug you more than they should?  This week, the mouse on my computer nearly did me in - I never realized just how much I depended on something as simple as moving a cursor around whenever I wanted to, but have it go all herky-jerky, and I was not a happy camper.  Three mouses (mice?) later (all were laying around the house; amazing the amount of computer stuff we amass and never throw away) plus several computer restarts and I was back in business.  I just want things to work - is that too much to ask?

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It's been a crazy week with the bathroom redo going on - people have been in and out of my house all week and I've been a bit discombobulated.  I'm going to blame that for my indecision at the grocery store the other day - I wanted fruit, but everything looked good - so I bought everything:
A peach, a plum, a nectarine, a pear, a watermelon (OK, I'll share it with Paco), and a bag of cherries.  Now that I think about it, I restrained myself from buying a pineapple, but really only because it didn't seem ripe.

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Jeff moved my computer into the kitchen this week, because we weren't sure when the carpet would be installed and I didn't trust myself to get it set up correctly (seeing all the issues with my mouse, this was probably a good decision).  Anyway, even though I'm just one room over from my office, my view into the backyard is a little different - I'm closer to the giant oak tree and can see the squirrels much better:
Henry was laying under the tree one afternoon, much to the displeasure of the squirrel in the tree - he hung upside down, flicking his tail at the cat, for at least an hour.  Henners did not care one bit.
Paco, on the other hand, cares very deeply for the squirrels.  But not in a nice way.  Here's a staring contest he had with a squirrel...it lasted until Paco couldn't help himself and had to bang on the window, scaring the squirrel back up the tree.  But it was funny to watch them watching each other!
 This guy was pretending he was a squirrel-skin rug.  All the pets were inside so he got a nice long time to laze around one afternoon without being chased back up a tree.
 
This little guy liked to stretch out in the crook of the tree - what a cutie!
It was very hot - about 106 degrees on this day.  Henners wanted to be outside (crazy cat), but he sure looked miserable.  Wouldn't come in when I opened the door, though - I don't understand animals!

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Look who learned how to knit!  Amy!!  She mentioned that she was interested in learning while we were running last Saturday, so I had her come over and BOOM.  This girl is a knitter! 
She has natural ability, but I'd also like to think that using the magic needles - aka the same pair that Debby taught me to knit with - helped.  She started a washcloth, spent a few hours learning how to cast on, knit and purl, and the next day?  She was finished AND had bound off!  Go Amy!

As for me, I'm knitting a shrug, although I'll probably extend the length to make it more of a sweater.  It's the same pattern that I tried, several times, to knit a year ago (even Debby tried to help me, when I was in California for a visit), but I just didn't get it back then.  Now, it makes a lot more sense, and I'm rolling right along with it:
I'm knitting the body right now - once that's done, I'll pick up the live stitches on the sleeves (eek, haven't ever tried that yet), and then add the neckline.

Have a great weekend!

20 comments:

  1. I had a friend teach me to knit and even though I don't often knit, I love that I know how!

    Our cat too tortures the squirrels in our yard by doing nothing but being there.

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  2. Commenting on the ipadis a pain in the ...

    Third attempt, love the squirrels and am a bit disappointed that Paco didn't win the contest :)

    The pink color for the sweater is beautiful.

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    1. Fran, I am going to get a smart phone and I think you have convinced me to get a droid and not an iphone :D

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    2. I don't think there's any one perfect system, Lori - Jeff just left his droid for an iPhone...

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    3. We have an Ipad that I use to read blogs at home but commenting is terrible. My phone is a Samsung Galaxy and I love it.

      I'm going back to turning on my computer at home during my vacation and read blogs from that.

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  3. Kyle or Lyle did that the other day - just laid flat on her/his tummy - I'd never seen a squirrel do that! I think the squirrels are around more since Ed isn't here to scare them away!

    I love how Paco is staring them down though!

    Happy Friday!

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    1. The tummy thing must be because of the heat? It is funny to see, though!

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  4. That sweater is beautiful. I love the detail where the sleeves are set in.

    Hilarious to see the squirrel doings. I know that there are squirrels in my yard because they are busy gathering stuff and dropping the leftovers in the yard. But most of the time I don't see them. They stay way up high, I think because Noah fancies himself a great squirrel hunter. I've seen them laying flat out like that on the road on the really hot days. So funny! I love all the animal shots you included.

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    1. I am really liking how the sweater is turning out! Nice to finally understand that pattern; you were so patient with me last year when I tried to knit it!

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  5. So frustrating when my mouse doesn't work! I feel your pain. Your puppy is so cute! Mine love squirrels, too...well, love in not a loving kind of way!

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    1. Haha, I guess all dogs "love" squirrels in that same way!

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  6. Wow, I wish I was a natural knitter like you and Amy! That's really impressive!

    Paco is so patient staring down that squirrel! Jude would be lunging at the window and barking like crazy. He loves chasing squirrels and bunnies.

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    1. Honestly, Amy is the natural when it comes to knitting. :)

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  7. Haha, time to get a Mac. No mice here.

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    1. That is still hard to fathom, no mouse. But a whole new OS? My brain would explode!

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  8. Poor Henry looks so hot!

    I feel for you with the computer issues. I lost my touchpad (which I use instead of the mouse) and then the myriad of other issues with the new computer. I was just saying "Why cannot anything ever be easy!!!"

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    1. Exactly...I thought computers were supposed to make our lives easier, not more frustrating!!!

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  9. I have two squirrels in my yard who don't get along. They chase each other up and down and around the tree, into the back yard, back out into the front yard and then start all over again. Must be siblings. :)

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