D is for

Dogs.

I just can't imagine life without them. Wherever I go, they go. They're my little entourage.

Introducing...

Old man Ruger. He's the best damn dog ever.

Grizz and Sadie.

and Fatboy (can you even?) He's Ashley's so I guess that makes him our granddog. :)

for today

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return."

-Mary Jean Iron

Thanks Ali

does knitting one sock make me a sock knitter?

I'm going to say YES IT DOES!

Look at this people - I knit a sock! My first sock. How cool is this?

Look at that heel flap. Superb!

And those toe decreases. Magic!
It's not perfect. Only Allah is (tongue planted firmly in cheek). :) But it -is- DONE.

Now to cast on the other one...

click any image for full-sized vewing

C is for

Cooking.

I love to cook.

This maybe isn't the best photo to share as there was no cooking involved here with these fruit kabobs with yummy marshmallow fluff dippy sauce. But this was the first picture I came across. And I did enjoy making these.

Bits of fresh strawberries, bananas, cantaloupe, grapes, blackberries, pineapple and starfruit layered on a skewer. That's it.

The dippy sauce is the real star here:

1 jar of marshmallow fluff combined with a brick of cream cheese and some freshly ground nutmeg. And wire cutters. Evidently they are an essential tool when making fruit kabobs.

:)

I sometimes say if you can read, you can cook but maybe there's more to it than that.

I'm a good cook. It's something I really enjoy. From start to finish.

I love selecting the perfect recipe, hunting down fresh ingredients and watching the whole thing come together. The best part is watching everyone enjoy the dish I've created. I do get self satisfaction out of the whole process but for me, it's all in the sharing.

It's that whole food = love thing, I'm sure.

Now go make something yummy.

email and merlot don't mix

My mom actually sent me this figurine. She's a funny one. Turns out they DO mix! Any time you have something to say, drink some merlot and SAY IT! hehe

It's the eve of my 39th (for the first time) birthday and I'm sitting home alone feeling rather silly, drinking and karaoking by myself. Now those are two things that don't mix - karaoke and merlot. hehe

But email - that I can do. Good thing ya'll can't see all the back spacing I'm doing here. heh

I've been slacking on my emailing this week. If you were expecting to hear from me, sorry for the silence. I've been swamped taking care of puppies, sewing an apron, knitting a sock and all things domestic.

Do you know I wanted to be a wife and mother when I grew up? Ashley said I should have aimed higher. I'm thinking she's right. Any monkey can scrub a toilet.

Nothing like a birthday to make you ponder things.

Blogging and merlot definitely don't mix.

*hic*

:)

nighty night...

this could break the internet

This is one of the puppies Ashley's been house sitting with.

They've been here most of this whole last week because of her new job and I'm about done.

Don't be deceived by her cuteness - she's a pooping machine, that one.

She has, however, stolen my heart.

Don't worry. I'll get it back when she leaves.

But to those who say money can't buy happiness?

You, my friend, forgot about puppies.

click on my Picasa album for more cuteness.

B is for Baby

My cousin Cristi (who I love like a sister) called me yesterday.

She's a grandma! My cousin Timmy, is a daddy.

I'm filled with love and pride today.

Babies.

There's just nothing better is there?

"Babies are bits of stardust blown down from the hand of God. Lucky the woman who knows the pangs of bith for she has held a star." - Larry Barretto

sock it to me baby!

As you can see, I've been a -little- busy here.

I decided to give the old sock thing another try. Some day I'll share the fate of my very first sock attempt but today, the pain is just too raw. I'm kidding only a little.

With the help of muh nittas, Cami and Rhonda (not to mention help from the Harlot and knittinghelp.com) I think I'm actually knitting a sock.

I'm. KNITTING. a. SOCK!

Cami said it so perfectly. It's like a little miracle. I'm taking two (or in this case four) sticks and some string and I'm making something three dimensional. A wearable. A sock.

It's nuts, I tell you!

A - Z of me

Got the idea from Vickie.

Thought it'd be a good way to pass the blogging hours when no craftiness is to be found.

A is for:

Ashley, of course.

Firstborn and a good mix between the bane of my existence and my heart.

Keeps me on my toes, that one.

Apron Along

Cami and I schemed up a sewing class. Come and join the fun!

It's an apron - along. :)From Amy Butler's In Stitches
She's a basket case (Cami, not Amy Butler *g*). I keep assuring her everything will be just fine.
We compliment each other nicely.

If I were any more laid back they'd throw dirt on me, as my brother, Russ always says. :)

She gets the Xanax and I get to keep assuring her everything will be just fine.
Wanna sew an apron?