Sunday Travel Report

As you can probably tell from Maggie's latest entry, we have been traveling.  We made a trip to San Antonio for Thanksgiving.

Yes, we actually took a real vacation!  This is the first family vacation involving travel that we've taken in about 6 years.  So we were overdue.  It was fun.  We left last Sunday at 4:30 a.m. (yes, a.m.) and made it in 10 hours.  (The tulips were actually planted the Sunday before).  We spent the week with Nana and saw most of our assorted family members that live in the area.  We had a wonderful time, and really enjoyed it.  Thanksgiving was a lot of fun - we ate too much, but that is kind of expected I think.

Froggy and I ran off for two days and hit various thrift stores.  We took Otter with us the first day and KN3 joined us the second day.  We had puffy tacos!  And I found two fairly rare Fenton pieces for $13.00 each.  Above my general price, but both pieces are worth it.  I'll get pictures posted soon.  We would have hit the yarn store I like so much, but they were closed. :(  Which actually was probably a good thing, because I would probably have spent every available cent I had and then not had any for Fenton.  Otter found (big surprise here) a pair of shoes and quite a few clothing items.  I did buy yarn, I found two skeins of vintage yarn at a thrift store for 49-cents each.  Of course it came home with me. :)

Bill brought home three new pachinko machines.  Two he got in SA and one he picked up on the way back.  Two fit in the trunk, but the one on the way back had to go in the back seat.  On the way down, Otter had her stuff spread out all across the back seat but she had to share space with a pachinko for about half the trip back.

The doggies went to be boarded.  The had a good time, but they were crazy excited when we got there to pick them up.  When we got them home, they ran around the living room like a couple of headless chickens for a while, then collapsed in a heap on their blanket and went right to sleep.

We came back on Friday.  Yes, we left at 4:30 a.m. again.  It took us a little longer to come back, we had a 30 minute detour for a pachinko and a little more traffic.  We did manage to get home before sundown, but we didn't have much time to spare.  We basically unloaded the car, went to get the dogs and then parked on the couch and stayed there until last night!

After church this morning, Otter and I went to the grocery store.  Since we were going to be gone for a week, I didn't buy groceries last week and we pretty much ran out of everything.  Since the refrigerator was empty, I could see that it was also in serious need of a cleaning.  So I did that after breakfast this morning, then we went to the grocery store and filled it up again.  But at least it's clean now!

I'm also doing laundry.  Which I normally do on Sunday anyway, but I have twice as much as normal since I wasn't home to do it last Sunday.  I did do some during the week before we left so there wasn't a whole lot but we have all the clothes we wore last week plus all the stuff Otter got while we were thrifting.

Bill got started on the firewood this afternoon.  He got to use his chainsaw!  He cut up most of two bundles, there are still over 4 waiting.  We stacked what he cut and it was about a rick.  Actually, I think it was a little more than that.  If it ever does turn into winter, we're ready.  There was some winter weather in this area on Thanksgiving, but we weren't here to deal with it.  I don't think it was horrible, but if we'd been home we probably wouldn't have been out in it anyway since it was a holiday.

I went shopping just now.  Froggy, I went to the antique/junk store where I found the picnic basket and you found the 3D puzzles for Scooter.  I found FENTON!  5 pieces, just over $20.00 so it was a good day.  That means that I've acquired 7 new pieces in less than a week.  Happy, happy!

Otter is off with BF today.  She thinks she escaped having to help stack firewood.  But there's plenty more waiting!  So she won't be left out.

I got quite a bit done on my afghan while we were on the way to and from SA.  I put about 12 rows on it.  I also got a few more rows added to the Dr. Who scarf.  I might get a little more done today, but I'm not sure.  My arms are kind of sore from stacking firewood.  But I might not let that stop me.

OK, back to my laundry now!  And probably to play with a couple of dogs.  And then I think I'm going to make chili.  It's cool but not cold, but it's always chili weather for us.

It's a Texas thing.

Puppy Paws

Hi, Hi, Hi!  It's meeee, Maggie!  Hi, Hi, Hi!

Me and my big brudder Frasier had a vayshun.  Wee got to go to anudder place for a bunch of days.  Wee had lots of funn.  There were udder doggies and a really nice lady we called Beckkymom who feeded us and playded wif us.

Our peoples went to anudder place for a few dayses but we dunt know where they wented.  But they were nice and let us have a vayshun and it was funn.

They camed back home the day before today.  Wee were so glad to get home.  But we had fun at Beckkymom's house and hope we can go there again to play sometimeses.

Beckkymom tooked me to the vvett.  She said my owie on my headd was redd.  The vvett said that it's all bettered now and he took away the itchy things that he called stishes.  I dun't have to go back to the vvett anymore for my owie.

I gotta go, I'm going to go play with big brudder Frasier.  He thinks it's nap time, but it's really play time.

Happy Thanksgiving

I just wanted to take a few minutes to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!  Now, don't eat too much!

Let us not forget that this day was set aside to give thanks to our heavenly Father.  Not just for turkeys, eating ourselves into a stupor or watching sports.

I know that I personally have a lot to be thankful for, starting with my family.  And a whole lot else!

(And let's remember to thank our Veterans for keeping us safe.)

Sunday Tulips

It's done!  The tulip bed is planted.  We had originally planned on doing it in stages, bed prep one day then plant in a few days.  But we changed our minds and did it all in one day.  There are a bunch of tulip bulbs, Otter likes assorted colors and they are not planted in any particular order.  They are just tossed about the bed, and then planted wherever they land.  She mixed the bulbs up first, for color variety.

Now we don't have to do anything until Spring.  And then we just have to admire the blooms.  We might treat the bed again in a few days, just as a precaution because we have had a lot more moles and gophers lately.

I'm pretty much decided against planting mums in the whiskey barrel.  I think I've mentioned that before.  I realized that I have some bluebonnet seeds I bought last summer when I was in SA and now is the time to plant them.  I'll have to get to that pretty soon.  Then, maybe, I'll have bluebonnets come up at the right time!

It was pretty windy yesterday, which was fine because we were pretty much parked on the couch all day.  I crocheted, of course.  I got a couple of rows put on the blanket I'm making for Bill, we spread it out on the bed and it's just about there.  It really only needs a few more rows to be big enough to cover us both when we fight for the blanket!  Which happens a lot actually. :)  I didn't get anything done on the afghan yesterday, but I've had a little time today and have gotten several rows put on.  It's turning out really well.

Maggie Moo is healing nicely.  The spray the vet gave us made a big difference.  She doesn't like it and at first we weren't sure if it was helping or not, but she's much better now.  Fraiser hasn't tried to groom the incision nearly as much.  We took them on a short jaunt around the neighborhood yesterday and Maggie was extremely bouncy.  Frasier was his normal laid-back self, sniffing everything and marking territory, but the beagle was very energetic so we think she's about recovered.  Her fur is starting to grow back in where it was shaved. She still looks funny!

It's been really cool the last few days and then windy yesterday.  This coming week is supposed to be warmer until about Thursday, then it will be back to cool again.  We have a chance of rain all week.  We still need rain, we've had some but still could use more.  Fall is usually a very wet time of year in this area.

I'm actually looking forward to winter this year.  Mostly because my allergies are still giving me fits and will be until we get a couple of good, hard freezes.  I have had sinus headaches off and on the last few days and lots of congestion.  Even Bill is sneezing, and he's the least allergic person I know.  Except for one new thing:  he's suddenly developed an allergy.  TO MY HAND LOTION!  You know, the lotion I can't live without because of my extremely dry skin and the one I use is about the only one that I'm not allergic to!

Oh well.  I guess he'll just have to put up with it.  :)

It's a Blustery Day!

We like Winnie the Pooh at this house.  So it's not windy this evening.  It's blustery.

It's actually very blustery.  When Otter and I were coming home, the tree across the street was rapidly losing it's leaves in the wind.  It looked like a curtain, there were so many leaves flying.  It was cool today but nice temperatures, cloudy but not bad.  The expected cold front is hitting us now, and it's living up to it's name.  It's supposed to be pretty cold tonight.

Maggie Moo went back to the vet Monday.  The spot on her head suddenly looked very red and we were concerned with infection.  The vet said that it wasn't infected but could possibly be on the way to becoming infected, so he gave her additional antibiotics and we now have a spray to hit it with.  As well as being medicated, the spray is supposed to keep it from itching.  I don't know if it's working or not judging by the fact that we spend just as much time stopping her as we did before, but it does seem to be helping in general because it looks much better.  Frasier went with us, he was moral support for the beagle.  Actually, there's no way we could get one dog leashed and out of the house without taking the other one with us.  So they usually both go when one has to go to the vet for some reason.  They were happy to get there.  Maggie was overjoyed.  Until it was time to go into the exam room, and then we had to play a round of Drag the Dog.  Once we got in the room, she immediately got underneath the exam table.  Then after the door was shut, she went to the door and stood with her nose against it.  I don't think she was happy to be there!  Getting her to leave was no problem at all for some strange reason...

I have to go jean shopping tomorrow.  I was bent over to put something on the floor when Bill remarked that he could see my underwear.  I thought he meant that it was showing over the top as I stood up, because the jeans are a little big now.  (Yea!).  But he meant that he could see the pattern on my underwear through the jean fabric!  This is after I wore them to work today!  I'm going to go find some new ones tomorrow, and this time I'm not going to get a pair that is too short because I'm in a hurry.  But they will be as dark blue as I can find, just in case.

Otter and I also went thrifting today.  I found a blouse at one and she found a few books.  At the second one, I didn't find anything but she found a couple of dvd's and a vhs movie.  Her tv has a dvd player and a vhs player built in.  We were going to stop at the grocery store for a couple of things we need, but that got put off until tomorrow afternoon.  We were getting hungry and wanted to get home so we could make dinner.  It was spaghetti, which as Otter & Bill will tell you, we have pretty often.  In fact, hardly a week goes by without having spaghetti.  It is about my favorite food.  I'm glad they like it as well.  Because I'd still make it at least once a week, even if they didn't!

Wood'n It Be Nice...

(I like bad puns, in case you haven't figured that out yet!)

Our firewood was delivered this afternoon.  One of the guys Bill works with went to a sawmill and brought back a trailer load.  Each bundle is 10' long, and probably weighed several hundered pounds, like 800 pounds.  Each.  We split the load with him.  He brought back 12 loads, kept 6 and brought our 6 today.  It took 3 very big, strong men several minutes of intense work to shift the bundles off the trailer.  It's at least 4 ricks (2 cords) of wood, but could well be more.  It's all hardwood, and could be easily used for building with a little planing and prep work.

Bill will now have an excuse to use his chain saw!  We'll need to cut the pieces down to size, 10' long is not an exaggerations.  Then Otter and I get to go to work, we will have to carry and stack it.  Because the gate that is big enough for things like trailers is on the opposite side of the house/yard from the wood rack!

This is it!  This picture doesn't really do it justice.  But trust me, there is a LOT of wood!  The 2nd picture that Otter took won't post on here for some reason.  Blogger must be having a moment.

Better go buy lots of marshmallows.  We're going to need them, I see a lot of 'smores in our future.

Sunday Gophers

To be strictly accurate, this should have been Saturday Gophers.  But I didn't blog on Saturday.  It does have gophers, so it's not totally off.

Yesterday morning, I was looking out the dining room window and noticed a small pile of dirt.  Which means gophers.  They dig tunnels underground, then they come up to the surface and deposit all the dirt that they then need out of the way.  Moles dig as well, but they don't usually make dirt piles.

I saw movement, so I kept watching.  And pretty soon, there was more movement.  It was small and furry.  It almost looked like a prarie dog at first, but it was definitely a gopher.  And he was busy, he kept bringing more and more dirt up to the surface.  Every so often, he'd poke his head up and look around.  Then he'd get back to work.

One of the specific things the vet said to keep Maggie away from was dirt and digging.  So I wasn't able to let her out.  After a while, we decided to let Frasier out to play with the gopher.  He runs out the door.  And immediately goes to the opposite side of the yard from the gopher.  That's my Frasier, always dependable.  We didn't see any more gopher pop-ups at that point, so we let Maggie out and she at least went in the general direction.  But she was more interested in tracking it, we think she could hear it underground by the way she was acting.  After a few minutes, I called them back in and went to check it myself.  The gopher had a nice sized hole dug.  But he didn't come back again yesterday.

This morning, there were two dirt piles.  One right next to the other one.

After we got home from church, there were three!

We have another spider.  It might actually be the same one.  We thought that he was dead, but this one is the same size and markings.  We're leaving him there, he's happy.

I just heard Bill yelling at a dog.  I think that it was most likely Maggie Moo.  She keeps getting on the couch or love seat when we aren't in the living room.

We were kind of worried about Beagle Brat yesterday.  One of her stitches came loose.  My crochet scissors are actually nurse's scissors and they are very sharp.  Heavy duty, one side is rounded and the other side is flat (to go under stitches).  I got my trusty nurse's scissors and snipped the part off that was sticking up, I was afraid she'd get it caught on something and then we'd have a big problem on our hands.  The swelling has gone done quite a bit, the incision is still unattractive but it's better.  But last night, she started scratching at it and we didn't catch her until she'd made it start to bleed.  We've been wiping her head off with a damp washcloth, which has seemed to soothe her.  We try not to touch the incision but we had to wipe it off a little bit.  Then it took both Otter and me to keep her from scratching it more.  Eventually, the dog curled up on a blanket in the floor and went to sleep.  And we left her there.  This morning, it still is a little red but it looks much better.  I guess it itches as it heals, like people's stitches and cuts do.

Otter and I went in search of a yard sale today.  It was advertised as a Saturday sale, but they had a pachinko machine.  Since we had a couple of errands to run, we decided to head that way anyway.  Bing maps won't be getting a good review from me any time soon!  (It became what we refer to affectionatly as a Toadles Trip.)  The map put us on a highway that runs through town, and then it had us exit off and head into a neighborhood.  Then it took us in a circle through the neighborhood.  Then it took us right back up to and on the highway we'd just left!  The next step was to go a couple of miles to the correct exit for the street and turn on a couple of streets which was accurate.  But the part in the middle?  And, after all that, the yard sale was not open today.  Which didn't surprise me.

We decided to make lemonade out of lemons.  There is a large bookstore that we love but don't get to go to very often.  It was about a mile away from us at that point.  So that's where we went.  Otter found a couple of books.

We also went to Michael's.  I bought yarn, but this was for a specific project and not the same gauge/size/weight that I already have.  Details later, if it works.

I have done 4 rows on the afghan.  I am going to change colors every four rows.  I was thinking that I'd do three rows and then change, but it looked too narrow at three rows so I put a fourth row on.  Pictures later!

I was out in the back yard while ago, and the dogsters were both out there.  I was filling in a hole that they left on one of their previous gopher hunting expiditions, and I noticed movement and the sound of something running through leaves.  Then Frasier exploded (he was parked on the grass, probably dozing off) and ran to the shed.  And then he ran around it a few times, stopping here and there to look underneath.  Maggier had to get in on the fun, but she was trying to dig to get under the shed herself.  I grabbed her by the collar and put her inside, then it took a few minutes to catch Frasier.  I caught him by the collar and gave him to Otter, she took him inside.  I was afraid that he might have distured a "black & white kitty" and I had zero interest in that type of an encounter.  But it was a regular cat.  As soon as Fraiser was inside, the cat ran out from under the shed and over the fence.  Hopefully, it won't be back.  I didn't see it, but Otter said it was grey.  I think it's the same cat that Frasier spotted when we were walking the other day and zeroed in on.  He got very alert and I had to hustle him up the street at a pretty good clip.

Back to my laundry now!  And Otter needs to clean her bathroom.  Then, I think I'm going to make Bill's Bachelor Stew and rice for dinner.  It's cool but not cold, however it is a perfect day for Bachelor Stew.

Friday's Frankenpuppy Update

And other stuff.

Maggie Moo is doing pretty good.  We had a hard time keeping Frasier from "helping" her head to heal, he's still trying to lick at the spot but not as often.  Maggie sometimes acts like the place is bothering her, she'll come up to us and look sad and we think it's probably itching as it heals.  Otter took a damp washcloth to the area around the incision a couple of times today and she said that it seemed to help, Maggie was happier after that.  Not on the incision, just around it.  The dog is still bald but her fur is beginning to grow back.  Otter had the day off from school today, so she kept an eye on BigStink aka Frasier and sidetracked him when he started to groom Maggie's head.

It's been raining off and on today.  At times, it's been a heavy rain but it never lasts long.  We need the rain badly, so I'm not complaining.

This week has been crazy and next week looks to be just as busy.  I'm hoping to get some crochet time in there somewhere, I haven't had time to even attempt the second row on my afghan.  Maybe tomorrow.  I also have another pillow project, I want to make another throw pillow to put in the bedroom.  I was out of camo yarn so I got it and also a pillow form.  I learned a new stitch pattern that I want to use on it.  I tried it out and it is fun.  I'm always looking for new stitches and ways to use them.  I also have not had a lot of time to read lately.

One benefit of the rain is that it will be easier to plant the tulips.  I had planned on clearing the bed off, then treating the ground and planting a few days later.  But I'm thinking that Sunday after church we'll just get it all done at once.  I'll still treat the ground, but it may be after the bulbs are planted and then possibly a couple of days later as well.

I still have two bluebonnets.  They are doing pretty good.  I took one to work for my Texan boss and he was very happy.  But then he did what he usually does - which is drown any plant within sight!  If my two actually make it to the blooming stage, I'll take one of them in for him.  Because it won't matter then.  But it will be a while before that happens.  Also, I use water from the rain barrel to water my plants and they do better with that.

I guess that's it for today.  I'm suddenly starving.  Buffalo burgers are on the menu tonight, and possibly mac & cheese.

The Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month

To all our veterans, THANK YOU.

Frankenpuppy

This is Maggie pre-surgery.  She was not happy, she didn't get breakfast.  She was very sad but she got about 2 hours of belly rubs to keep her mind off of food and she was happier.  She got a short walk and got to see Otter off to school on the bus.  The green thing I'm holding in the picture is the beginning of my afghan, I got the first row done last night.

WARNING:  The next picture is a closer view of the spot.

It was larger than a pencil eraser, at least the part above the skin.  It was larger than it looks because it was also underneath the skin a bit.  It was slightly discolored on the top, which doesn't really show in the pictures.  It was not attractive!

I dropped her off at 8:00 a.m. and picked her up about 3:00.  She was happy to go for a ride in the car, but not happy with the destination.  She was more than ready to leave, however, at 3:00!

Here's one slightly bald beagle:

No cone of shame for her, but I'm thinking that maybe she needs one.  She has scratched at it a little bit, or at least tried to.  Frasier was very interested in it and kept trying to lick it.  I called the vet and they said we could wrap it with vet wrap, which is similar to an elastic bandage, but that it would not heal as fast.  I told them that we were just interested in tonight and maybe tomorrow, because I kept having to haul Frasier off of it.

Maggie is now sporting a lavender bandage wrapped around her head.  It's loosely wrapped, because it has to go underneath her head and we didn't want it to be too tight.

She has eaten a little bit and that improved her mood considerably.  We couldn't feed her very much, because there was still a risk that she would upchuck if she ate too much.  She's had 3 or 4 small snacks of dry food, not a lot of food at a time and not too often.  She seems to be ok.  She was a little groggy still when I got her, but a little food and some affection and she was much better.  I have to take her back in a couple of weeks to get the stitches removed.  Her appointment is the week after Thanksgiving, which is actually just over 2 weeks but because of the holidays it was the closest appointment I could get for her.  The vet was hoping to use surgical glue but he wound up having to use regular stitches.  She's got a little brusing and some swelling.  She has an antibiotic and what is basically a pain pill, I have to give her those starting tomorrow because they gave her today's doses.

I'm thinking that Frasier might be spending the night outside tonight.  And tomorrow they may be kept in seperate parts of the yard.  Because he will not leave her head alone, if we aren't policing him.

Sunday Puppies

Today's title is from something Bill said.  His suggestion for our Sunday title was actually something along the lines of "puppy for sale", meaning a certain beagle we all know and love.  I don't think he's too happy with her at the moment, it might have something to do with the fact that she keeps getting on the couch.

Otter is off with BF for the day.  I think she thought that she could avoid housework and having to help with the firewood if and when it gets here.  It might not be today, it might actually be tomorrow.  But she's not escaping anything, there is plenty for her to do.

Otter's remaining hamster died Friday evening.  We expected it, Nadine (the hamster) had been acting odd lately.  When rodents get old, it hits them suddenly and they act a certain way.  We'd been seeing the signs for about a week and Friday afternoon she was unresponsive and her breathing was labored.  We made sure that she was warm and as comfortable as we could make her, then we let nature take it's course.  Which was the only thing we could do.  Sometime that evening, she peacefully died.  She is now buried out in the back yard, along with the other hamster (Helena), 1 mouse (April), 2 parakeets (Aqua and Skyler) and one sphinx cat that belonged to the neighbor.  Otter is ok, it was rough on her but she's ok.  The hamster was about 2 years old, which is a good length of time.  They normally live between 1 1/2 to 2 years.  The previous hamster was probably about 1 1/2 years old.  Otter thinks she's through with small pets, at least for a while.  She'll stick with dogs for now.  She'd love a hairless rat, however.  But Bill absolutely said no to that one!  I would have let her have one...

I went to an estate sale this afternoon but was less than impressed.  I also stopped at a yard sale I saw a sign for, but didn't find anything there either.

It's been pretty cold the last few nights.  Yesterday morning when I went outside to get the paper, the cars were frosted.  That's the first time this season.  The days have been absolutely beautiful.

I might get out and start on the tulip bed in a little while.  It needs to have all the old growth pulled off and that's not something Otter has ever been able to help with due to a specific allergy she has.  She helps with the rest of it, but the clearing of the bed is my job.

My mums in the front are blooming, they are a very pretty deep maroonish color.  I think I've changed my mind on getting mums for the whiskey barrel planter.  I really like them, but I think I'm ready for a change.  I'm not going to do anything about the one mum I have, it's pretty and can stay there as long as it wants to.  But I think I'm going to stick with replanting each spring/summer in the whiskey barrel, and probably go with different things each year.  Or at least that's the plan today!

Otter and I thought that this was funny.  It's from Harry Potter, I think from the new movie.  The point is that they are all redheads!

I just thought that this was funny.  It reminds me of Otter.  Although she's a karate otter, not a karate kitty!  Well, she was a calico kitty one year for Halloween.

This one is strictly about me!

Our spider friend is gone.  As in dead.  The web was empty yesterday morning, then Bill noticed that the spider was out there mid-morning but was barely moving.  We thought maybe he was just not quite warmed up yet because he was moving although slowly, but then later it was pretty obvious that he wasn't moving at all.  But the web was empty the last time I looked out, still there and tattered but empty.  A bird probably got the spider.  I'm surprised he was there as long as he was, as cold as it's been the last few nights.

I have finished all my throw pillows.  I have one small item to finish, a pot holder I made for Froggy but then didn't quite finish before I went to see her.  I took it with me and forgot about it, then I asked her to send it back to me and now I just have to finish it.  It's all made, I just have to put the pieces together.  That's the last thing I have to do, before I let myself start the afghan.  I thought I'd get to the afghan yesterday, but I didn't quite get there.  Sometime this week.  I still have to work on the quilt.  It was on the agenda for this weekend, but Otter slept until nearly noon yesterday (Saturdays are lazy days for us) and today she's off with BF.  Nobody was in a particularly creative mood yesterday, Otter was kind of down because of the hamster and my skin was a little painful so I didn't do much with the yarn.

Our church now has a 9:00 service, they started it a few weeks back.  We started attending the early service two weeks ago, there were 10 people including us.  The minister commented that the first Sunday, he'd only had two people!  Today, there were between 15 and 20 so it's beginning to catch on.  We like the earlier time better.

OK, I've put it off long enough.  Time to go get my shovel and head to the tulip bed!  And then I'll get back to my laundry.

First Friday in November

I can't think of anything else to use as a title.  It's Friday, it's November and it's the first Friday in November.  So, it works.

We finally turned the heater on last night.  I would have turned it on a few nights ago, but I had to convince Bill.  Among other things, I set up one of the humidifiers because I'm constantly shocking myself.  The one in the bedroom.  I'm not sure where we're going to put the one in the living room, the spot where we always put it is where the library shelf is and I really don't want to put that much water in the air next to the books!  I also switched the quilts.  I put my pretty quilt in the chest with the blankets and put Bill's camo quilt on the bed.  And we're probably getting firewood delivered Sunday or Monday, more or less.  But not by Bubba & Bubba this year, we weren't overly impressed with the quality of wood we got from them last year.

I guess that means that it's getting colder and winter is on the way.

Well, at least we'll be able to make (real) 'smores again soon!  They just aren't same when they are made in the microwave.  They still taste good, they just aren't the same.  Some things just need to be made the right way and 'smores are one of them.

One other sign that Fall is here and Winter is coming:  I have winter skin!  I hate it, it interferes with my crochet but I deal with it.  Because I don't have a choice.  I have already gotten my latex gloves where I can reach them and I've been pouring on lotion.  At the moment, my right thumb is split at the right side of the nail.  Which I discovered when I bumped it on something and then realized that it was bleeding.  It's not fun.  But it won't stop me from crocheting.  I'm probably going to start my afghan tomorrow.  I still have to finish the pillows, all I have to do now is attach the crochet pieces to the pillows but I haven't had time this week.

I'm also going to get the quilt finished.  The one I started for Otter about 13 years ago.  I think it's time.

Maggie's Moosings

Hi! Hi! Hi!  It's meee, Maggiee.  I wantt to tallllkk to youuu.

I got a owie.  It's on my headd.  My momm telled me that the vvett is going to fix it all betterr.  I don't like the vvett.  But maybe the vvett can make me al bettered.  I dun no how the vvett is gunna fixx me.  But the vvett gived me and my bigg brudder Frasierrr lots and lots and lots of trrreats the day before todayy. The vvett only gave us trrreats and no shotts or anything!

My momm telled me in some days that are not today I have to go back to the vvett and stay der all day.  Big brudder Frasierrr won't to that dayy, jusst meee.  Momm's Momm saided that I haves to stay der with the vvett and the peoples there but that she and my Momm will come back and gett me after the vvett fixes my owie on my headd.  I'm gunna be brave and not be scareded.

Well maybee just a little scareded.  But I dunt want my owie, I want it to go away.  Big brudder Frasier grooms me and he tried to help make my owie go away but I dunt think he did any good.  But he's not a bad boy, he's a gooood boy.  But dunt tell him I saided he's a goooood boy!

Beagle Brains?

The question of the day:  Does the beagle have a brain?

We might find out.

The vet wants to remove the cyst, which means surgery.  It's a cyst, possibly a tumor but he does NOT expect it to be cancer.  But because it's not really improved and is, in fact, larger, he feels like it needs to come out.  I am going to call them in the morning and schedule the surgery.  I want to get it done as soon as possible and the vet agrees.  We'll have to drop her off on the morning of the surgery, which will be really fun because she isn't going to be allowed to eat that day and she'll be frantic.  Then I'll pick her up late that afternoon.  She'll have a shaved patch on her head.  He'll use regular stitches for under the skin and surgical glue on the top layer of the skin with the hope that Frasier won't be able to cause a healing problem when he grooms her.

But she won't have to wear the Cone of Shame at least.  However, we might want to put one on Frasier just because!

But I still think that the beagle's little skull is empty.

Firsts

Today, like most of the country, Oklahoma went to the polls. 

Among other things, Oklahoma will have it's first female governer.

Among other things, it looks like there will be a record (or close to) turnout for a non-Presidential election.  Our polling place was pretty busy, we were # 785 and 789 and they were saying that they expected to hit 1,000 for the first time.

Among other things, one of the people casting votes today was OTTER.

The poll workers were making a big deal out of any young person voting, and they really were excited about her.  There was another young voter, a boy, and he was obviously voting for the first time as well.  I'm really glad to see that.  He looked a little overwhelmed, but they were happy for him as well.  Otter talked to BF, and he voted for the first time today also.

Otter was very happy to get that "I Voted" sticker.  We went to Wallyworld after we voted, and the greeter made a big deal out of it which probably made her day.

I have never made a secret of my political preferences and don't intend to start now.  But it's up to Otter if she wants to share her votes, so I'm not going to go into anything about who/what she voted for.  But my voting preferences have not changed.  If anything, they are more conservative than ever.

I'm just glad to see so many people voting today, no matter what side of the aisle they are on.  It's too important to not participate.

October Books and Monday Whatever

Books!  Books! Books!

Books are very important around my house.  In case you didn't already know that.

October's list:

1.  Without a Word, How a Boy's Unspoken Love Changed Everything by Jill Kelly.  This was about a boy who was unable to speak due to a health condition he was born with.  I don't remember the details, but I think it was a good book although a sad one.  True story.

2.  Regretsy, Where DIY Meets WT_?  By April Winchell (Fill in the letter in the title yourself).  Really funny.

3.  Weird US, Your Travel Guide to America's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets by Moran and Sceuman.  This was good in general, but a lot of it was of no interest to me.

4.  D-Day in Photographs by Andrew Witmarsh.  Recommended reading for anyone and everyone.

5.  Lips Unsealed by Belinda Carlisle.  Autobiography and like most of the other books by/about the entertainers of "my generation":  drugs and she's lucky to still be alive.  Bad choice after bad choice.

6.  Swim to Me by Betsy Carter.  Entertaining, she reminds me of Debbie Macomber in her writing style.  It was ok and I might see what else I can find by this author.

7.  Little Girl Blue, the Life of Karen Carpenter.  By Randy L. Schmidt.  I'd already read a couple of books about her so I already knew the basic story and I remember when she died.  Karen never had a chance.  For a lot of reasons.

8.  Plus Size Crochet, Fashions that Fit & Flatter by Margaret Hubert.  I don't remember finding much in this one.

9.  My Heart May Be Broken But my Hair Still Looks Great by Dixie Cash.  If this is the one I think it is, it wasn't anything to get excited about.

10 - 17.  Batman

18.  Green River, Running Red by Ann Rule.  Many times a rerun and will be on my list again in the future.

19.  The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas.  Froggy recommended this one.  It is about a group of quilters.  Froggy and I have a similar situation, quilting in her case and crochet in mine - you know you are addicted when you choose a book just because it has fabric/yarn in the title, story or on the cover!  This was actually good and I think that I have another book by this author waiting on my bookshelf.

20.  The Village Bride of Beverly Hills by Kavita Daswani.  This one was ok, but it was a little too close to a romance novel for my tastes.  But it wasn't bad.

21.  Amish Grace, How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy ty Kraybill, Nolt and Weater-Zercher.  This was about the Amish school shooting and how the Community responded.  We could and should all learn a lesson from them.

Not as many books as usual for me, but October was a busy month.  November might be just as busy, but I'll give it a good try to read as many as I can!

We had a trick-or-treater last night, we didn't actually buy candy to hand out but had some on hand for us, but this one came when it was still light.  It was a clown.  A very young clown, maybe 3 but probably closer to 2 years old.  He was so cute!  Of course we gave him candy.  I wasn't about to turn him away!  His parents were smart, they were taking him around while it was still light.  We did that with Otter the first few times, her first Halloween was when she was a baby and she still had a costume.  She didn't really trick or treat then, but Bill carried her around with him while he was accompanying (sp?) a friend of ours who was taking his daughter around.  The next year, we were in Oklahoma and she had a family clown costume that she wore to the zoo for their event.  She didn't actually go around the neighborhood then as I recall.  But the year after that, she got to trick or treat for real.  She wore another family costume - she was a jack 'o lantern.  She was escorted by Grandpa and Bill, around Grandpa's neighborhood.  Which is now ours.

Really bad picture, I already know that!  But this is the costume that Otter wore to the party Saturday night.  She wasn't quite finished when I took the picture.  This is one of the few pictures of Otter's face I'll EVER post.  I think this one is pretty safe, considering that she's made up and wearing a wig!  But I really do need to get busy and learn the camera settings.

We just came from the Halloween store.  Today is their last day and it's half-price clearance day.  We ran into two of Otter's friends there.  She found several things and I found a package of squishy rubber bats.  I was hoping to find spiders, TOADLES IN CASE YOU ARE INTERESTED.  But no spiders, just squishy bats.

Speaking of spiders, our 8-legged tan friend is still out on the deck.  He's got a good spot for his web.  We might get a freeze towards the end of the week, we didn't quite get that cold last week but I'm thinking that we probably won't have the spider's company for much longer.

I finished the last part of the crochet on my pillows.  I put Otter's together completely last night, I just have to finish the ones I made for the couch.  There are 4 of them.  I sewed the fabric covers yesterday and stuffed the pillow forms into them - which was kind of difficult, since I didn't leave the openings quite big enough!  But I managed to get them into the covers.  They are still waiting on me to sew them closed, then I just have to attach the crocheted covers.  Because they are granny squares, the white of the pillow form would show through so I bought some fabric to cover them with first.  Otter's is blue fabric, one crochet side is blue and the other side is the color called Beach that I made a scarf out of - the scarf is on the craft blog if you want to see the color, it's the one I made for my sisterfriend Virginia.  The ones for the couch are all various shades of brown or tan, some solid and some varigated - one is turquoise and brown and is similar to the color I made the prayer shawl out of that is also on the craft blog, but is not the same yarn.  The fabric covers are tan for two and brown for the other two.  I might get them finished up tonight.

I guess that's it for now!  I hear the dogs making nosie in the living room, I hope that they are just playing but I probably should go check on them.