Why I like summer....

Sure I like summer because it's warm, flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, and all the other stuff poets write about.

But for me summer begins when CBS begins to air "Big Brother". Eleven seasons watching the hampsters. I love it!

And this year I joined a Ravelry Big Brother 11 Group Pool. My player is Natalie. She's 24, Tae Kwon Do champion and plays poker. She sounds like she could be a contender.

So the idea behind the "pool" is each Ravelry Player is randomly assigned one of the 12 BB Houseguests. If the Houseguest you are assigned wins BB, then you win a knitterly type gift from each of the other Ravelry players. Rumer has it a 13th person will join the Houseguests at some point, if that Houseguest wins, then the 12 Ravelry names will be but in a hat and a winner drawn.

It's not to late to join. Group 5 sign ups are being accepted now!

I can't wait until tomorrow night! And no, I don't follow the feeds. I like to see the edited version.

And since we're talking about summer, these are from my friend Macadoodle's garden!



Some of her cucumbers are shaped like squash. Anyone know what causes this?

I'm a planner

Background: Coco and I communicate by email. This mornings discussion.

Wallis: I think I'll plan my funeral at Scope. Not as big as Staples Ctr, but large enough to hold my family and friends. And I should increase my life insurance so y'all can buy that $25,000 gold plated casket for me. And I'd like Paul McCartney to sing a tribute.

Coco: OMG – I busted out laughing! I needed that! If you go before me I’ll to a “Tap” number after Paul sings a few songs. Maybe “Putting on the Ritz”!! And I’ll carry a Coco Channel purse and wear my Jackie O sun glasses!

If you would like to participate let me know. I'll add you to the program.

Dryer Balls

I finally found the directions for the dryer balls. I hear they work really well.

July 4th

In most cities in the US, Independence Day, July 4th, is celebrated on July 4th with music and fireworks in the city park. Not so in the city where I live. I enjoyed music and fireworks last night, July 3rd. The City Park is about a mile from my home, so I hear the music and can see the fireworks that go above the trees. So today I might celebrate again in another city or two.

Now let me introduce you to another niece....Becky. A gardner, knitter, baker, cook, former school teacher, day care provider, sewer, wife, and a mother...where does she find the time. And if you want movie reviews, check out Becky's husband's blog.

To answer Katie's question about the Guiding Eyes dogs, the ones that are currently in this area for raising/training are Labs. I'm told occasionally a Golden is sent. And German Shepherds are rarely used any longer. The public see Shepherds as police or protection dogs and are afraid of them.

Puppies are named at birth and keep the name for life. And they are not neutered/spayed until they complete their training at the Center. This is so dogs with good temperment, etc. can be selected for broods or sires.

If the dog is not cut out for Guiding, another career may be in their future. A service dog for autistic, deaf or other needs, search & rescue, or bomb/drug finding. If they just are not able to make it, the original raiser is offered the chance to adopt. There is a dog in our group, she's 7 now, that would become so depressed when she couldn't complete a task that she was deemed not usable. She lives with her raiser now and comes out to classes to visit the puppies.

Here's a link to the May 09 graduates.

And please let me add, that I am not an expert about Guiding Eyes. I've asked lots of questions and read quite a bit. I'll share what I learn as I continue in this process.

A random picture because I haven't taken any in a while and what's a blog without pictures!


The Snow of Winter '09

June 2009

Many years ago, on some newsy type tv show, I saw a story about seeing eye dogs and the people who raise/train them. I added that to my list of things to do one day. Wasn't quite sure when that day would be. The last 20 years at Big Bank my job entailed to much traveling to join clubs, or organizations or even take a class at a university.

There was a break about 16 years before I retired, one year and three months to be exact, that I only left the city 3 or 4 day a month. So I bought my first house, signed up for dance lessons and brought Bailey home, and thought....this is what it feels like to stay still.

But that changed when Bank bought another Bank and became at Big Bank that in 15 years would be Really Big Bank. I was on the "transition team" which meant I had to be where the transitioning was going on. Check out Ravelry to see the states I visited/lived in during those years.

So Bailey adjusted to week days at Four Paws Inn, I adjusted to weekends at home and life went on.

When I retired, I thought about those seeing eye dogs, but Bailey was adjusted to being an only dog and really liked having me to himself.

In late May I called the local rep for
Guiding Eyes. She invited me to attend their mid-June training session for puppies.

I begin MY training to raise a puppy in August. I can't wait. Hope I pass.....

May 2009

May is
Maryland Sheep & Wool. I did watch my spending and came home with 5 skeins (1 lace wt cashmere, 4 lace wt wool) of yarn and 2 patterns. Not bad at all.

I was very excited about one of the patterns. A shape for a shawl that I had not knit. Started right away and found so so so many problems with the pattern. Designer posted corrections that made it even worse. I rewrote it. It works. It's the start for my next WallisKnits pattern.

The month of May was spent learning about life in Princess Anne County from 1636 to 1810 on the Plantation of the Frances Land family. Two of my friends were roped into "volunteering" for my first tour. It's been lots of fun. My "Jane Austen" costume hasn't arrived so I'm wearing a 1750 style.

The end of the month was a very happy time indeed. My niece Katie married her David in a beautiful ceremony on a beautiful day. Here's her Blog where she discusses her new life of a wife & step mom. Check out her chickens, her lovable dog Scooter, her new puppy Elmer, gardening and her felted items..check out her etsy store...

April 2009

The first weekend in April, the weekend Bailey was acting like a 5 year old, the Frances Land House (link on the right) held their annual "Gathering of the Guilds".

This is an event the Knitting Guild has participated in for many years. Smockers, quilters, sewers, basket makers, hand carvers, bee keepers, potters, spinners, blacks smiths and so many many more demonstrate their craft. I've attended this event since 2001, when I joined TKGV aka The Guild. So much to see that I never really stopped to talk to the "workers" at the House.

This weekend I commented to a "worker" on her dress (think Jane Austen). She replied "you can wear one too". I learned that the majority of the workers are volunteers. I signed up!