tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3123414861621234762024-03-13T13:09:22.831-06:00Golden OldieLindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-87471669405103928502009-09-17T19:45:00.004-06:002009-09-20T16:59:53.454-06:00New MedicineMy life seems to revolve around my health the past couple of years. What I do or don't do always depends on how I feel. I have become more hopeful, though, that I'll be able to do a lot more since I began taking Lyrica a week ago.<br /><br />The doctor told me to take it at night until I found out how it would affect me. The first night I took it was the best night's sleep I'd had in a year or more. The next day I remember stopping for a second and thinking something was wrong. Then I realized that I actually didn't hurt anywhere. Not all days have been that good, but they have been so much better than the days before I began taking the medicine, and I'm still taking only one capsule per day. I'll begin taking two capsules at night on Friday. I'm anxious to see how much relief that will bring. So far I haven't had any side effects, but it's probably to soon to get excited about that.<br />Update: Since I first started this post, I've begun taking two Lyricas a day. I have almost no pain. I've been able to start walking again, and today I walked two miles with no problems. I'm not tired all the time, and I've been able to do things again that I haven't felt like doing in two years. Needless to say, I feel very lucky that I haven't experienced any of the side effects that are common with this drug. I feel as if I've been given my life back.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-55707214505549152862009-08-23T15:40:00.004-06:002009-08-23T16:17:28.517-06:00I'm BackAnother month and it would have been a year since I last posted. I'm not sure why I decided to start posting again, but I thought I'd give it another try. I've decided it's best to just try to write something even if it's just for me. I've never been much of a creative writer; I've always been the one who obsesses about spelling and punctuation, and that attitude can pretty much hamper the creative flow. I also consider myself a very boring person. It's very difficult for me to talk about myself. I always took to heart those articles about conversation with other people and how you should ask questions about the person and his or her life. Get them to talk about themselves, and you're pretty much off the hook.<br /><br />One reason I'm doing this, I guess, is because I've been thinking about keeping a journal. This seems like a better way of doing it, and I won't have to hide it from the kids. One of my nieces is a prowler, and she loves to go through closets and drawers. I find it to be a very irritating habit. It would thrill her if she found something like a diary.<br /><br />What have I been doing for the past year? Pretty much the same thing I was doing when I last wrote. I'm still working for the newspaper in Snyder, reading my books, and trying to find some relief for my aches and pains. The newspaper is fun, and I feel much more comfortable with the software we use. My bosses are a husband and wife team, and that can be sort of stressful. I admire all the women who have put up with their husbands for years without killing them. I have a difficult time listening to it without putting in my two cents. It wouldn't help anyway, and it just might make it worse for her. (Southern women in my age group were taught to shut up and not stick our noses where they don't belong. When we finally decide we can't take it any longer, we tend to explode! It's never pretty when that happens.)<br /><br />I'm still not smoking after almost two years. I have to admit that I still want one at least once a day. Part of the problem is having a boss who smokes and refuses to follow the law about not smoking in a business. I still remember how scary it was after the surgery when my right lung was so congested that I couldn't breathe. I don't want to experience that ever again. I don't even remember the pain of the 8 inch incision the doctor made. All I can remember is the pain in my chest.<br /><br />I don't work at the library anymore either. I stopped working there last fall when I had a difference of opinion with some of the ladies on the library board. Now I just use paperbackswap.com for all my books, and I haven't been in the library since.<br /><p>I rented the land to my helper, Shane, at the first of the month. I sold him some of the cattle and the equipment. I paid off my loan, and I'm now debt free. It is a little depressing that I'm not involved in it anymore, but I haven't felt like taking an active role for a long time now. It will be for the best, and he certainly deserves his shot at it. </p><p>Guess that's all for now. Oh! I have been doing a little crocheting, but it's nothing too complicated. More on that later.<br /></p>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-74657173107317000972008-09-13T14:51:00.006-06:002008-09-13T15:29:01.869-06:00New Job<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxZiftSnwuLvbAa9pQcKhwPZK3E6tjQCoF9zKBBr4SOV7vIorAF-u73pV9oYt1JCEnN-fUX2RsTyFZWJ2_AbM6WD1-Qp6VtNg3pSULcDp0wyS5LBaxoi8x7-CgABS3tSpFhUYMXIj8oEc/s1600-h/lake+2.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div>I started working at the weekly newspaper in Snyder September 1. I believe I'm really going to like it. It's nice to be able to go to work and do your job without people complaining all of the time. The hours are good, and I get all of Friday off. I probably won't make as much money as I did working for the town, but that's okay, too. The working environment ranks higher than pay for me any day.</div><br /><div>I've been pretty tired in the evening, so my reading time has suffered. I've only finished one book this month. I'm reading <strong><em>The Sea, The Sea</em></strong> by Iris Murdoch as part of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ravelry</span> Book Club, and I don't believe I've ever met a character that I disliked more than Charles. I'll keep reading, though, because I'm hoping he'll get some kind of payback at the end.</div><br /><div>I've been picking up my great-nephew from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Pre</span>-K since school started in August. The high gas prices and budget cuts required the school system to eliminate the noon bus. I understand perfectly, but some parents really had to scramble to get their kids a ride to their day care. Everyone in the our family works, so I'm the one whose boss is nice enough to let me off for 30 minutes each day to pick Hunter up and deliver him to his sitter. Can't you imagine how strange I look with all those 20 something mothers waiting to pick up her child? There are a few grandparents, though, who have been called into service, so that makes me feel a little better.</div><div> </div><div>These are pictures I took at the lake last weekend. The birds are turkey vultures. I was afraid to get any closer because I'd spook them.</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245618995938628066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT3qVqh6FzM5EoN8-oNJ2uWqPkZIH04E1T8pL5HlqXw7FpwvNZg-xT4Oa54P5e-IttaTWNJXWeXAURAUyxVD1guQg5wgDNpfWz_K2yyn5oL3kJHLjk4tzfgtYsZ8Mj9d4lKjjvO_IO_fq/s320/turkey+vultures.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245619001280058450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbkyoBcIG8nFmHQKIx_N8lyr0xIiiJYmXC1Y-Y014dI0yeGJxRjA6M0mSSjlo5t9snMv2C2SX5VQReGOMiGSq0tiHjJAoGfcXWoyFroL7xi4sDPu5ZmKfJ3J58DWOzU4eIgTH9ajtH_-H/s320/dam.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245619004944879106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2y3xFh9ESTyTYSKByP3wlMbg6GafshEO7slSDyt6bdihWEQ5dvygIwunrIk6ytKCQreFu-f6RzGyY7mKUOfaivEdsahcX3nTNf8jlbBfK4AQNtmp0Au0cGOBJQdmko25ypwxp7PlP86VT/s320/lake.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245619020011761186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzQDUyPanS-EUw9PNmTXN_A_jM7uTKR7c-d4SkisQhRjmDH3zYNI8f1CrSk2dAs4xg1rmwxG3vaXKDgDS3UMxy2QPRvqVZ8Olx5X1KdQe3NqUZdVFnbJTbLwBWJAH0q-Su6HfIXHRZYkf/s320/lake+four.jpg" border="0" />The trees and the rocks kept getting in the way. I didn't want to climb out too far on the rocks because the rattlesnakes are still out. Besides, I had some lake ranger that kept watching me. I don't think there are any laws against taking pictures of a dam and a lake, but who knows since 9/11.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-46688044675017671782008-09-11T17:56:00.010-06:002008-09-11T18:12:44.466-06:00My Name's Hidden Meaning<p></p><p>I found this on <a href="http://aprilmagnuson.blogspot.com/">April</a>'s blog. I don't completely agree with it, but I bet my family and friends would argue the point.</p><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="350" align="center" border="0"><tbody><tr><td align="middle" style="color:#eeeeee;"><p><span style="font-size:0;"><strong>What Linda Means</strong></span></p></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff"><center><img height="100" src="http://www.blogthingsimages.com/whatsyournameshiddenmeaningquiz/name.gif" width="100" /></center><span style="color:#000000;">You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow.<br />You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily.<br />Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.<br /><br />You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.<br />You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.<br />You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.<br /><br />You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.<br />You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.<br />You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.<br /><br />You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row.<br />You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace.<br />People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality.<br /><br />You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.<br />You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.<br />You have the classic "Type A" personality.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyournameshiddenmeaningquiz/">What's" Your Name's Hidden Meaning?</a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Sandy asked a question about cleaning up after the goats and calf. Goat poop hasn't been a problem, but the calf manure is another thing. She requires a lot more work. It makes a great fertilizer, though.</div><div align="left">I also don't know why castrating the goats keeps them from stinking. Someone told me it worked, and it does. We have a billy goat that's running loose with the cattle on the farm. You can smell him from 30 feet away. They say a mountain lion won't eat a billy because they stink. I believe it must be true because the cattle can't even stand him.</div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-14382564529517208222008-08-31T19:26:00.004-06:002008-08-31T19:42:51.364-06:00Newest Family Members<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1znWB-HxL81l57vq24YC7GkiB5CrArGts46CMlf3TE0zwvCoCgS94FARfwvkycBtnU7kFwgeNX3PPbUkEHVqXm4tnEd67W8SCiZejGTMLf8vY5X_wLyX5I-q8EIYCG2CkqbKcT2oRg71_/s1600-h/goats+and+heifer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240859186000048082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1znWB-HxL81l57vq24YC7GkiB5CrArGts46CMlf3TE0zwvCoCgS94FARfwvkycBtnU7kFwgeNX3PPbUkEHVqXm4tnEd67W8SCiZejGTMLf8vY5X_wLyX5I-q8EIYCG2CkqbKcT2oRg71_/s320/goats+and+heifer.jpg" border="0" /></a> Yes. These are living in my backyard. The goats are my contribution to the green movement. They're suppose to replace the fossil fuel burning lawn mower. (They've been neutered, so they don't stink. In case, you're interested.)<br /><br />The little heifer calf's mother died, so I'm going to bottle feed her until about February. She's about a month old now.<br /><br />Some people call orphan calves "bums", but I prefer the term "bottle babies".<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiBjiGKPObPe-qLXQLZKVolNrgHhJqyjAPzwVOqGZ5i3KxIE6MN2kqMI8XIiYYLne3xuvPRKCKI5-NCzgyeCGtRSGvhPOvUxihTHBmVnW90cpy7z0iiaraKmq_1zH-nQmEyxUsUrmdlkf/s1600-h/neighbors.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240859189395999874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiBjiGKPObPe-qLXQLZKVolNrgHhJqyjAPzwVOqGZ5i3KxIE6MN2kqMI8XIiYYLne3xuvPRKCKI5-NCzgyeCGtRSGvhPOvUxihTHBmVnW90cpy7z0iiaraKmq_1zH-nQmEyxUsUrmdlkf/s320/neighbors.jpg" border="0" /></a> These guys aren't mine, but they live next door. </p><p><br /></p>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-39315830965149416892008-08-25T12:09:00.003-06:002008-08-25T12:13:12.108-06:00Summer and TeachingI found the perfect quote in the book I'm reading that describes what summer meant to me as a teacher. "Summer was the advantage to teaching: your life was always a cycle, you always had closure, rest, and a new beginning to look forward to. Always starting over, you never had time to grow old." Taken from <strong><em>Southern Exposure</em></strong> by Linda Lightsey Rice.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-30530351790101755172008-08-24T13:35:00.004-06:002008-08-24T13:54:33.808-06:00Another Southern Fiction Novel<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbQK2JCUhKt-UMWBc1YLgrr42dj10k7rKmIIikDPj04wql2gDYqUzlpRc3M9oLk5fjye2BsQXXy_u77CuXTLNNeS_EIRlDV86OIOVATlTdZr_CvV_fJ7IJcexQeHcvJ6VfWPxqYIsXC0i/s1600-h/the+little+friend.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238171525046050002" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbQK2JCUhKt-UMWBc1YLgrr42dj10k7rKmIIikDPj04wql2gDYqUzlpRc3M9oLk5fjye2BsQXXy_u77CuXTLNNeS_EIRlDV86OIOVATlTdZr_CvV_fJ7IJcexQeHcvJ6VfWPxqYIsXC0i/s320/the+little+friend.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div>Donna <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Tartt</span> tells the story of how a family tragedy can have a far reaching effect on the remaining family members. The main character is Harriet, a young girl whose brother was found murdered in her backyard when she is only a baby. To make matters worse, the killer was never found. Harriet's mother never fully recovers from the loss and spends most of her time in a drug-induced sleep. Harriet's father separates from the mother and has little influence in Harriet's life. Most of Harriet's upbringing is the responsibility of the family's maid, her grandmother, and her great-aunts.</div><div> </div><div>As Harriet becomes older she becomes more and more obsessed with her brother's murder. A chance remark by the maid convinces Harriet that she knows who the killer is, and she intends to make him pay. </div><div>Even though the novel is over six hundred pages long, I never got bored with it. It kept me reading right up to the end.</div><div> </div><div>Four of Five Stars</div><div> </div><div> </div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-45282270447175348082008-08-22T12:53:00.007-06:002008-08-22T18:54:18.588-06:00Today Show Book Club ListI love lists, and I especially love lists of books. This is my most recent addition of books I must read sometime in the future. I believe the numbers represent the order in which the appeared on the Today Show. (I copied this from a public libray site.)<br /><br /><strong><em>So many books; so little time.</em></strong><br /><br />Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden (#33)<br /><br />More Book Lust by Nancy Pearl (#32)<br /><br />The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (#31)<br /><br />Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini (#27)<br /><br />The Breathtaker by Alice Blanchard (#19)<br /><br />Broken for You by Stephanie Kallos (#28)<br /><br />Bury the Lead by David Rosenfelt (#24)<br /><br />Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros (#9)<br /><br />'The Clothes They Stood Up In' and 'The Lady in the Van' by Alan Bennett (#5)<br /><br />The Confessions of Max Tivoli by Andrew Sean Greer (#22)<br /><br />Crow Lake by Mary Lawson (#7)<br /><br />The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (#13)<br /><br />The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat (#23)<br /><br />The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst (#12)<br /><br />Drinking Coffe Elsewhere by ZZ Packer (#11)<br /><br />The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter (#1)<br /><br />Fluke, or I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings by Christopher Moore (#25)<br /><br />A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel (#3)<br /><br />Graceland by Chris Abani (#29)<br /><br />The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard (#16)<br /><br />Heir to the Glimmering World by Cynthia Ozick (#30)<br /><br />The Known World by Edward P. Jones (#17)<br /><br />Nine Horses: Poems by Billy Collins (#10)<br /><br />The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith (#8)<br /><br />Paradise Alley by Kevin Baker (#6)<br /><br />The Photograph by Penelope Lively (#21)<br /><br />Raising Fences: A Black Man's Love Story by Michael Datcher (#4)<br /><br />Shadow Baby by Alison McGhee (#14)<br /><br />The Sleeping Father by Matthew Sharpe (#20)<br /><br />The Time-Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (#15)<br /><br />The Way the Crow Flies by Ann-Marie MacDonald (#18)<br /><br />A Window Across the River by Brian Morton (#26)<br /><br />You Are Not a Stranger Here by Adam Haslett (#2)<br /><br />I've read <strong><em>The Time-Traveler's Wife</em></strong>, and I have a copy of <strong><em>Fluke</em></strong> that I haven't read yet. I'll search the library for the some others that sound interesting.<br /><br />I have a new job at the newspaper office in Snyder. It's just a weekly paper, so as long as I spell people's names correctly I think it will be a piece of cake. It will certainly be less stressful than the other job.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-77242799632085314072008-08-19T08:58:00.004-06:002008-08-19T09:07:37.633-06:00Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzhyXcj-EaEfbhtl4p_WVaL5NL8y1eq8tg6ixgfEaZOufjgxcvT67eWECixPRYtPdt4XaApcAZel_PSyhoZkfDPFw8DeMy1eSqsT3622WxxRer9EmA5Ydb5p63BwWzFatGfaK7dMhQxjq/s1600-h/ellen+foster.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236244171097696722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzhyXcj-EaEfbhtl4p_WVaL5NL8y1eq8tg6ixgfEaZOufjgxcvT67eWECixPRYtPdt4XaApcAZel_PSyhoZkfDPFw8DeMy1eSqsT3622WxxRer9EmA5Ydb5p63BwWzFatGfaK7dMhQxjq/s320/ellen+foster.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div>Ellen represents all of the children who are abused and neglected in the world. She is somehow able to withstand all her dysfunctional family has to throw at her and triumph in the end. </div><div></div><div>The story is told in Ellen's voice, and this girl is all things Southern. It can make it a little difficult to read at first, but the story is well worth the effort.</div><div></div><div></div><div>I found this one at the library last night while I was working and started reading it on the spot. What I didn't realize was I had found another Oprah Book Club selection. I'm drawn to Oprah's choices for some reason. I guess she and I have the same taste in books. </div><div> </div><div>Rating: Four out of five stars</div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-34879044583245043892008-08-17T20:14:00.007-06:002008-08-18T08:09:31.735-06:00Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3hVzkiov89YJ2TeuN-pDmH6yO4g5f3mnc3N3VslLT_EPuzhRdF5z-nCz6Utx8CTXktSQeRc_S5zVmh9svpoRDFhhBCss1f88ocNTHuqRkERvh-YppnZL9hxX97nOV8ankK2qYd7pZzJ_/s1600-h/three+bags+full.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235677240128480002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3hVzkiov89YJ2TeuN-pDmH6yO4g5f3mnc3N3VslLT_EPuzhRdF5z-nCz6Utx8CTXktSQeRc_S5zVmh9svpoRDFhhBCss1f88ocNTHuqRkERvh-YppnZL9hxX97nOV8ankK2qYd7pZzJ_/s320/three+bags+full.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><em>Three Bags Full</em></strong> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">by Leonie Swann </div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="left">rating: 4 of 5 stars </div><div align="left"><br />I purchased this book some time ago to read as part of the Ravelry Book Club, but I just couldn't get into it at the time. I picked it up again this weekend, and this time I couldn't put it down. I think I finally stopped trying to think like a sheep, and just let the story flow. Even though I'm not usually a fan of mysteries, the sheep's point-of-view made this a very fun read. I'm so glad I went back and gave it another chance. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I've had two visits to the rheumatologist this summer. This first time was for tests, and the second visit she went over the results with me. The tests indicate that I have lupus arthritis, and the doctor has started me on hydroxychioroquine sulfate (Plaquenil) which seems to be helping. It has to be taken with meals, and my stomach seems to require a LOT of food before it can handle the pill. The first couple of weeks it made me terribly sick to my stomach, but it seems to have leveled out now. Anyway I'm beginning to feel like a human being again.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I've begun doing a little crochet work again, but nothing on a major scale. Maybe this winter when there's more to watch on TV I'll be able to get interested in it again.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I quit my job at the City Hall. I couldn't take the people any longer. I will probably go to work at the newspaper office in a couple of weeks, but right now I'm enjoying my first vacation in a year.</div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-45898575124015906362008-04-22T17:53:00.006-06:002008-04-23T19:38:12.687-06:00Book TalkMonday night was library night, but things were slow. Only two people came in during the entire three hours . I had a few books to shelve and then spent the rest of my time browsing through the titles and reading my latest book. I managed to finish <strong><em>The Same Sweet Girls</em></strong> by Cassandra King while I was there.<br /><br />I love books about the South and Southern women. Some of the best books I've ever read have been about the modern day South. <strong><em>Beach Music</em></strong> by Pat Conroy is one of my all time favorites. Another that I love is <strong><em>Sweet Tea and Jesus Shoes</em></strong>, and if you've never read the <strong><em>Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love</em></strong>, you sure need to give it a try. If you like that one then you'll probably love <strong><em>God Save the Sweet Potato Queens</em></strong> and <strong><em>Sweet Potato Queens' Big-Ass Cookbook (<span style="font-size:85%;">and Financial Planner</span>)</em></strong>. (I do think that you have to be over 40 to truly appreciate the Sweet Potato Queens.)<br /><br />I belong to two book groups on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ravelry</span></span> that I'm enjoying very much. One group is Book Challenge and the other is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ravelry</span></span> Book Club. Book Challenge keeps track of the books the group reads each month and adds them to a list on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">goodreads</span></span>.com. Some of the members give great reviews of the books they read, and my to read list grows a little more each day. With the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ravelry</span></span> Book Club I've read novels that I might not have read otherwise. <strong><em>The Thirteenth Tale</em></strong> and <strong><em>A Thousand Splendid Suns</em></strong> were both excellent books. Now we're reading <strong><em>Here Be Dragons</em></strong> which has been a little more difficult for me to get into. It's certainly not going to be a quick read like the other two, but I will finish it. Next month we're scheduled to read <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><strong><em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Middlesex</span></em></strong></span> which is another example of a book I might not have heard of or read without the Club.<br /><br />Thanks for the comments. I wish I'd posted about my problem earlier, but I've always had a difficult time sharing information like that. It's great to be able to talk about it with y'all. Luckily, this new medicine and the Extra Strength Tylenol have helped the pain and swelling in my hands. It makes me sleepy, though, and I'm a little <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">woozy</span> right now. Maybe I'll have a good night's sleep for a change.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-72549919118745963162008-04-20T16:45:00.002-06:002008-04-20T17:18:16.960-06:00Golden Oldie Doesn't Crochet AnymoreI wonder if I can change the name of the blog because I don't have much hope of crocheting again anytime soon.The arthritis pain has developed in my hands, and I can't hold a crochet very well anymore. Right now I'm using the two finger typing method because it hurts my wrists to type properly. The pain seems to be getting worse instead of better, and I know that I can no longer delay a trip to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">rheumatologist</span>. Of course it will probably be the end of May or the first of June before I'll be able to get an appointment. The Snyder doctor gave me a prescription for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Tramadol</span>, but it doesn't have much effect on the pain.<br /> I have been doing a lot of reading lately rather than crocheting and watching TV. With the writers' strike this season and so many reruns and reality shows on TV instead, I had pretty much lost interest in any of the shows I once watched. Books have become my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">obsession</span> rather than patterns and yarn.<br /> I volunteer at our little local <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">library</span> on Monday evenings from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. A few come in to use the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Internet</span> and I've even checked out a few books for others, but the majority of my time is spent reading or browsing through the shelves. It's a very pleasent way to spend an evening.<br /> I don't have any special type of novel that I'm reading right now. I just go with whatever strikes my fancy. A few retired teachers I know only read the trashy romance novels (their words, not mine), but I have to have something that has a good story to it. About the only thing I won't read is nonfiction, especially those self-help books. I think I'm beyond help, and I don't need a book to make me feel inadequate.<br /> I hope the rheumy can help me deal with the pain. It's hard to imagine having to feel like this for the remainder of my life. My mother suffered from arthritis in her later years. I never knew how badly she hurt until I begin experiencing the same symptoms. I wish I had been more sympathetic to her condition.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-44415067199808528842008-01-20T16:27:00.000-06:002008-01-20T18:34:03.894-06:00Homespun Hat<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfv5ArNZSotZ376K6wvbVH6F2BX1NQoz8flMCAUWTv2yIzTjM8O89dUQzRrhjPmwEMFax1_vEIJ_gv0ajZMBFGptTMI864ghliH_aFsZJ9CG8K_EYj3LarxGWuAGP60BXmyD_tDybHgMi/s1600-h/front+view+brown+hat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157689897641892450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfv5ArNZSotZ376K6wvbVH6F2BX1NQoz8flMCAUWTv2yIzTjM8O89dUQzRrhjPmwEMFax1_vEIJ_gv0ajZMBFGptTMI864ghliH_aFsZJ9CG8K_EYj3LarxGWuAGP60BXmyD_tDybHgMi/s320/front+view+brown+hat.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlJD0SZLdV9Nl-omjP41q3VuTlqcRr2DX-IiBPVs8KsoZt62-FxpvPsTub5suKqOKASndrwZWLH-Rv2m1K1Nh15Xl4ylr6-4LZreHJAuHXB0RULrGkvLiGhBXsRE5xh-296XedVMJYBi3/s1600-h/crochet+roll+brim+hat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157689901936859762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlJD0SZLdV9Nl-omjP41q3VuTlqcRr2DX-IiBPVs8KsoZt62-FxpvPsTub5suKqOKASndrwZWLH-Rv2m1K1Nh15Xl4ylr6-4LZreHJAuHXB0RULrGkvLiGhBXsRE5xh-296XedVMJYBi3/s320/crochet+roll+brim+hat.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7WgbPKDza_cO5x5pFS3sZUVPlFYvgqjE3WxZNublcKiOWPhCvN01iRFtDegbYuSY2C52fDAV9tgFkcmCus1v1B9xnZzebGstwdYfeARAB1orHZj-5JcRJbgxiltNCCgOZiieN-ErOJK5/s1600-h/Finishing+Touches.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157689901936859778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7WgbPKDza_cO5x5pFS3sZUVPlFYvgqjE3WxZNublcKiOWPhCvN01iRFtDegbYuSY2C52fDAV9tgFkcmCus1v1B9xnZzebGstwdYfeARAB1orHZj-5JcRJbgxiltNCCgOZiieN-ErOJK5/s320/Finishing+Touches.jpg" border="0" /></a>This isn't where I intended to start the post, but blogger decided for me. I don't have the energy to try to figure out why, so I'll just type here.<br /><br />I completed another hat for me. It's done in Lion Brand Homespun with a P hook. Since the yarn is doubled, it's very fast to make. Now I need to make a scarf to go with it. According to the weather reports, I'll probably need it this week. Winter has finally come to Oklahoma.<br /><br />I'm going to get out my fat jeans and iron them for next week. (My fat jeans are the ones big enough to comfortably wear insulated underwear with. ) Thank goodness I'm allowed to dress very casual at work. Otherwise, I would have frozen to death weeks ago.<br /><br />I haven't had a cigarette in 11 weeks and 5 days. (I can't seem to quit marking off the days and weeks like that. For some reason I feel the need to keep track of how long it's been since I last smoked.) I'm not taking the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Chantix</span> anymore either. The insurance company never approved the prescription, and I ended up paying for the first four weeks. I don't think I really needed it in the first place, but I was so afraid that I would smoke again. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Chantix</span> was a kind of talisman to help me not smoke. I've found that sugarless candy does the same thing, and it's a whole lot cheaper.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-59349739154550855192008-01-19T12:50:00.000-06:002008-01-19T13:05:04.455-06:00Another Cap<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9lK4inaUsdH8IYycrgPjrVtnRb9FMayAeukpNCThuddcUciCm0wfhoh2-QGpzgsQeTVJT_QhS3iLbl5j-vH2aYr6PSE-fp5YdD1POUEnwC6xBIkTEJ3nuYaJxsDNVAF7W1xySGCdVg7M/s1600-h/Rolled+Brim+Hat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157263944260311618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9lK4inaUsdH8IYycrgPjrVtnRb9FMayAeukpNCThuddcUciCm0wfhoh2-QGpzgsQeTVJT_QhS3iLbl5j-vH2aYr6PSE-fp5YdD1POUEnwC6xBIkTEJ3nuYaJxsDNVAF7W1xySGCdVg7M/s320/Rolled+Brim+Hat.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Caps and scarves seem to be the only things I finish lately. This one is knitted and was actually started before Christmas. I finally finished seaming the back and weaving in the ends.<br /><div><br /><br /><div>I splurged ($3.50) and bought a model for the caps I've been making. Caps photograph so much better on her than when they're just laid on the table. The cats would love to get their claws in her, though, so I have to keep her hidden most of the time.</div><br /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157263944260311634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGEDCakYEF39qtlPPU0pXNTyY3yoN9gC4j_oiHtaQVc3M3O9-FqKm4bMDZwKSzIiITinl60WcqONW7Wo9Tzc6sHRIMMYzutufq313fU5NKUBUkMdhw5kQmnx7u3fXUNdrzL2-0ZBnf3g_/s320/roll+brimmed+cap+side+view.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><br /><br /><p>The pattern is from <a href="http://www.bernat.com/patternbook.php?PBS=542012">Bernat's 9 Family Designs-Bonus Book</a>. You know-one those little booklets that Wal-Mart has displayed near the shelves of yarn. (I do wish they would offer some new ones.)</p><br /><p>Yarn: Bernat Softee Chunky in Nature's Way</p><br /><p></p>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-68305270165079066312007-12-23T13:41:00.000-06:002007-12-23T14:14:58.501-06:00Caps and Scarves<div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBv6nK0uQRS_9CkxMxpM3hq-Rpa0aaw9NY9i-IotE_OVBV2xg40-soAnNY_S8wONSiswp436H4z_-CTW7sOQXrqIw41cseWNEjFNSvYZH03lIFbh9BjUI_rBilKRq-hys09zJ1TnpLETpx/s1600-h/cap+and+scarf.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147256362686046594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBv6nK0uQRS_9CkxMxpM3hq-Rpa0aaw9NY9i-IotE_OVBV2xg40-soAnNY_S8wONSiswp436H4z_-CTW7sOQXrqIw41cseWNEjFNSvYZH03lIFbh9BjUI_rBilKRq-hys09zJ1TnpLETpx/s320/cap+and+scarf.jpg" border="0" /></a> The cap pattern is found in Leisure Arts Quick Caps by Barbara Shaffer. The scarf is Shelly by Emily Nelson and can be found at <a href="http://www.crochetme.com/shelly">Crochetme</a>. The yarn is Bernat Frenzy in Loonie Lilac that I found at Dollar Tree a couple years ago. Even with the heavier yarn the scarf is still light and airy, but of course I didn't get the stitch definition I would have if I had used a lighter weight yarn. The set is going to be a Christmas present for my nephew's SO.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147259635451126162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgo5F1CX3ngZTqiDWxjrI8yAXaUcgHldw7h8mRjjeCVg2KTIVtMvaRK7-jKtntSokPTSWM2EM4zAZ1-tW2d_CzVmqItfCtD-7-G1bnAsT56QpBp531g7RbzNp0EVlGYtFGFx-baCIemHu/s320/blue+cap+and+scarf.jpg" border="0" />Same patterns and yarn. This set is going to my sister-in-law.<br /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147260241041514914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtuzZlGQfJOeevPE_C8cak-cFv-VUu1nLz8qNvbg9rKWQNco2lW8_NU-yHMSJWyiIi-HRkI636DLoiocgop6zpj1czrz7uVi5OoVOWTm9Ci2ZdjyjAplt4j-ukN2ZTS7uxBE3oOEv_HpB/s320/pink+scarf+and+cap.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div><br /><p>The cap is the same pattern as the previous two, but the scarf pattern is called the Skinny Scarf and is found at <a href="http://www.coatsandclark.com/">http://www.coatsandclark.com/</a>. The daughter of my nephew's SO gets this set.</p><p>I'm happy to report that I've used quite a bit of my stash yarn for these projects, although there are still a few skeins left. I may turn those into lapghans eventually. </p>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-33581134819872698532007-12-02T19:09:00.000-06:002007-12-02T19:26:55.366-06:00My DistractionsTen days in the hospital allowed me to quit smoking after 37 years. But even with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Chantix</span> the doctor prescribed after I came home, I still get a little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">antsy</span> at times. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Chantix</span> web sites recommends that you have a distraction for those times, so crochet has been my main distraction since I came home from the hospital. Since the projects were suppose to be a distraction and not a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">stresser</span>, I've been working on simple items like caps and scarves. I've made 3 women's caps, 4 scarves, 3 toques, 1 knitted men's cap, 2 girl's caps, and 2 girl's scarves. Guess what some of my family members are getting for Christmas this year.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-67546368001742412842007-10-08T15:57:00.000-06:002007-10-08T16:27:35.405-06:00Still AroundIt's hard to know what to say after being away so long. I've been reading <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">everyone's</span> blogs, but I seem to be so brain dead in the evenings that I haven't even left comments. I have been checking your blogs, though, and admiring the work everyone has been doing.<br />I haven't even been doing much crocheting or knitting in the evenings until recently, and I haven't finished anything at all that I can show. Maybe as it gets cooler I'll get to spend more time with it. I even thought there would be slow days at work when I could read or crochet a little, but I can tell that's not going to happen anytime soon.<br />Maybe you'd be interested to know how I came to be hired as Office Manager for the town. The City Clerk/Office Manager was suspended in May on suspicion of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">embezzlement</span>. The state auditor came in June at the request of the DA and began an audit that was released about five weeks ago. Apparently, the girl managed to steal about $80,000 in cash over a period of 3 1/2 years. Anyway, I'm still classified as temporary until she's arrested.<br />Of course, the town is broke and owes huge sums of money to the trash company, electric company, and various vendors. She is bonded for $60,000, but the town won't get that money until she's convicted or a settlement is made. The town officials really want to see her convicted, though, and they want back every dime that was stolen. Hopefully, our DA will get busy and start proceedings against her.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-4667578285570525552007-08-23T20:43:00.000-06:002007-08-23T20:54:16.420-06:00New JobI started my new job on Wednesday as the Office Manager for the Town of Mountain Park. I had applied for it earlier, but I thought they were going to hire someone younger. It's perfect for me right now. The City Hall is only open from 9-3, and I get an hour off for lunch. I'm only 4 and 1/2 blocks from where it's located, so I can even walk to work if I need to. (I have no plans to do that right now. It's HOT in Oklahoma this month.) I'll make enough each month with my retirement check to bring my monthly income up to about what I was making as a teacher in 2005. It's a great feeling to be working again.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-7561185949491042352007-08-12T15:54:00.001-06:002007-08-15T16:02:19.397-06:00It's Finished<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GHdv487SeuBpZgempyCEn2y5o-CdpewBJDGKQj0PuwVjUrlbc_UsYYsgv6Jz4E6CluJLR2DRJtGsSUNoXaC8Qxdmbh1dC01r5vAUJ0FnER21g9BoEEjGghvHbYs2yNI4Cmsn3N8oGgaQ/s1600-h/knit+sweaterr.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097935952722943186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GHdv487SeuBpZgempyCEn2y5o-CdpewBJDGKQj0PuwVjUrlbc_UsYYsgv6Jz4E6CluJLR2DRJtGsSUNoXaC8Qxdmbh1dC01r5vAUJ0FnER21g9BoEEjGghvHbYs2yNI4Cmsn3N8oGgaQ/s320/knit+sweaterr.jpg" border="0" /></a> I finally made myself finish seaming and weaving in the ends. Then I took it outside on the hottest day of the year for photos. It's hard to believe it will ever been cool enough in Oklahoma to wear this.<br /><br /><div></div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-80766815453154245742007-08-10T16:10:00.000-06:002007-08-10T22:17:08.389-06:00Sweet and Simple Child ShrugPublication: American School of Needlework's <strong><em>The Crochet Yearbook, Volume 1</em></strong><br /><div align="left">Designer: Joyce Nordstrom</div><div align="left">Size: 26" x 6" </div><div align="left">Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Brites in watermelon, 1 skein</div><div align="left">Hook: I<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097290079835937954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvQvC3Vu074T123UwEiR-W3wfYdjFX5Fw1GOUDC1zqAFKQguoJ6ToR24DCa8FFYqcgSBxkMtCN6tncb3336tT6CW3l7kU9EAcvIEqLlHGFn2XhH-vnOS_ZPclIHD5P0PXxH5NhhKP6rcP/s320/Child's+Shrug+front.jpg" border="0" /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097290084130905282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBT6ZOHaCUtlwj7VlB129Y9CMpCTgkxbvpJicxhPfWdjR8wn0QTeDHBZ_dHPxKSS31g666Fbx8j3LP8yIq6hGhge2OE5mdwZ9o9Rl2wNnAiw4-8jBg6AJizCg_0DRQcZDjOPia8Jo01-R/s320/child's+shrug.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>I have two great-nieces, ages 7 and 9. Hopefully, this will fit one of them, and I can then adjust the size to make a second one. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><center></center><br /><center></center><br /><center></center><br /><center></center><br /><center><a href="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n222/lindakn/crochetyearbooksvol1.jpg" target="_blank"></a></center><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><center></center><br /><div align="left"><br /><a href="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n222/lindakn/ChildsShrugfront.jpg" target="_blank"></a><br /></div><a href="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n222/lindakn/shrugpattern-1.jpg" target="_blank"></a><br /><br /><center></center><a href="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n222/lindakn/childsshrugback.jpg" target="_blank"></a><br /><br /><center></center><br /><br /><center></center><br /><br /><center></center><br /><br /><a href="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n222/lindakn/childsshrug.jpg" target="_blank"></a>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-48462941656175383742007-08-02T21:49:00.000-06:002007-08-04T11:42:12.207-06:00Hobby Lobby Shopping SpreeI had to go to Lawton Thursday for an appointment with the dermatologist to have the spots checked where he'd removed the skin cancers. The places had healed, and no further surgery or treatment will be necessary.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I spent 45 minutes getting there, and I wasn't even in the examination room 10 minutes. And I had to give them another $25 co-pay. Since I'd already wasted all of that gas just getting to Lawton, I decided I might as will swing by Hobby Lobby and check out the yarn.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I hadn't been to Hobby Lobby in quite awhile, and I had never bought yarn there before. It was really something of a disappointment. I wasn't impressed with most of the Yarn Bee yarns, and anything that I might have bought had only a few colors and not enough skeins with the same dye lot. They did have a good selection of the Sugar and Cream cotton, and I stocked up on some of that. I also got some Lion Brand Wool Ease Chunky to try a knit purse I found on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Garn</span> Studio. There was also some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Senso</span> and Luster Sheen on clearance, and I picked up some of that. So the whole experience wasn't a total waste of time, and at least now I know that I'll have to do my buying online.<br /><br /><br /><br />I want to end with a tip from the dermatologist. He recommended the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Neutrogena</span> 70 Sunblock. The 70 has more anti-aging and anti-wrinkle properties than the 45. It might be a little late for that in my case, but I guess I'll give it a shot if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Wal</span> Mart carries it.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-79078874366873239072007-07-10T18:53:00.000-06:002007-07-31T15:11:04.421-06:00FO and WIPI was reading <a href="http://crochetkel.blogspot.com/">Kelly's</a> blog and found this little <a href="http://www.jpfun.com/patterns/free/bags/f125003cosmeticbag.shtml">cosmetic bag pattern </a>that she had made. She modified hers to use as a little tote for her crochet, but I'm going to use mine as a holder for all those things that sometimes float around on the bottom of my purse-mints, gum, lip balm, etc. This isn't a very good picture of it. It's actually much cuter in person.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085737088252239842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgxOeLNsWRzmxud_4uetI6naD_wfAIuVSnMCkN5DKtVbuHc-MYIP_xVG828vEer-5tr24ICJ5epMazmgcXv_9sR1wIPDDDY9pMilQY91dAumE2BCcQpqVKGhhQZr9ry0ES0hPhpGuSPtU/s320/Crochet+Ripple+Cosmetic+Bag.jpg" border="0" /><br />I used Sugar and Cream in gum drop and a H hook. There's actually a mistake on the bag because for some reason I crocheted into the back loops of about four stitches. It's not noticable really to anyone except me. It just irritates the heck out of me for doing something so dumb.<br /><br /><br /><br />I'm still trying to use up my stash. It seems as if I've been trying forever, and I'm getting pretty tired of it. It sounds as if I have a large amount of yarn, but that's not really true. I'm just slow as the seven year itch.<br /><br />This is my first knitted sweater that I've been trying to seam together. I've managed to seam the shoulders and attach the sleeves to the body. Now if I can just get the sleeves and side seams done, it will be FINISHED. I used 3 1/2 skeins of Homespun in quartz and size 10 knitting needles. Let me tell you that this thing weights a ton! It was a good beginner's project, though. You can see the pattern <a href="http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jsp?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/1134393451332.xml&catref=cat840013">here</a>.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093463620457487506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTOIIpueg36aIetBGmw-tyGXqyFcsiuLNSBwzYMo6CTOnwXwO9H06XIAFscdgs_uwLdQ2OCt8kKvvIQJSPKN04nI-Lzr5lgJvMjDAgWLFHRPiAb4PI839GGX3B3JeU7fPoMoQmuA2FAfS/s320/First+Knitted+Sweater.jpg" border="0" /><br />I had to edit this post quite a bit to get the link right. I hope Bloglines doesn't notify you every time I hit Publish Post. How embarrassing if it does!Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-30945798322097807852007-07-06T18:05:00.000-06:002007-07-10T12:01:20.001-06:00What I've Been Up ToWe didn't have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Internet</span> Wednesday night and most of the day yesterday. Last night we had a thunderstorm with lots of thunder and lightning, so I turned the computer off and unplugged everything. I don't have much faith in surge protectors since I lost a TV, a VCR, and the modem on my first computer. It's best just to shut everything down and wait it out.<br /><br /><br /><br />I'm gradually adding pictures to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ravelry</span>, but I'm taking it slow. I wish I had kept better notes on my projects like some of the others. It takes time to look that stuff up, but it will be a great record of projects once I get everything entered.<br /><br /><br /><br />Yesterday I did sort through two totes of yarn and projects. I found a couple of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">WIPs</span> that I had forgotten about. One of them is a child's cap that I started while Mom was in the nursing home. It uses sport weight yarn, so the ribbing is done on size 4 needles. I realize now why I stopped working on it. After a few rows my hands went numb, and I had to stop and give them a rest. I'm through with the ribbing now and was able to switch to the size 6 needles for the stockinette part. My hands don't seem to mind those, and I made quite a bit of progress on the cap today. I should be ready to start the decreases soon.<br /><br /><br /><br />I'm still working on the rectangle grannies. I have 96 centers done, and I've added the second round of purple to about 75 of those. I'm weaving the ends as I go, and that become mind numbing after awhile. Why do I start projects like that anyway?<br /><br /><br /><br />I sort of set the ruffled cardigan aside for awhile. I still haven't gotten up the nerve to sew the sleeves to the body. I get it out, stare at it awhile, and then put it back in the drawer. Part of the problem is that the Plush yarn is hard to sew with, so I know if I screw up it won't be easy to take it out.<br /><br /><br /><br />We had a quiet Fourth of July here because of the weather. There's usually a celebration in the park across the street from the house, but it was cancelled because of the flooding. The past few years it's been so dry that you had to stand guard constantly to make sure none of the fireworks caught your yard or house on fire. (Yes, there's a city ordinance against setting off fireworks in the city limits, but there's no police to enforce it.) This year everything is so wet that I don't think you could start a fire with a flame thrower. Anyway, the neighbors were nice enough to set theirs off before 12:00 p.m., so all in all, I had a very pleasant Fourth.<br /><br /><br />I'll leave you with a picture of the youngest members of the family. Normally, they're outside cats now, but when it was flooding I let them stay inside. Clockwise, you see Tiny, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Beavis</span>, and Butt-Head. Butt-Head got his name first because of his actions. I guess a nice way to put it is that he's developmentally delayed. He reminds me of some guys I know. Nice to look at but not a lot going on upstairs.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084250604366061522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4Bmm50OzMXFDWod08Xm4rDfP0KDFO6MhPHOdkORf82fsLeVT597TJe9jQUUBXMaI47Dp4HHML9-U_RIMi_Sz0iAijVN30D-Avbes9hSKkMsM2X8kdr2jZoR_35pLGkh40Y1SAlJFeqoZ/s320/100_0634.jpg" border="0" />Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-30361892562075058832007-07-02T16:03:00.000-06:002007-07-04T10:59:56.404-06:00RavelryI got my invitation to join <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a>, and after giving it some thought I decided to go ahead and sign up. I hesitated because of the time involved in setting up my own notebook, but I just couldn't resist having access to the work of other crocheters and knitters. It really will be a great resource, and I wish those who came up with the idea a lot of luck.<br /><br />I finally got a project listed in my notebook. It's embarrassing to even think about how long it took me to figure it out. Flickr and I got off to a rocky start. I did something stupid at the beginning of the relationship, and Flickr refused to tell me what I had done wrong so I could make amends. I finally became so furious that I completely broke off all contact and cancelled my account. But I continued to think about Flickr and how much I needed it, so last night about 12:30 a.m. I reintroduced myself under an altered screen name. It worked, and I was able to get a picture up. (I'm not normally such a sneak, but I was desperate.) I'll take the relationship slow for now and work my way up gradually.<br /><br />The coolest feature I've discovered about Ravelry so far is that I can do a search for a yarn and see projects that others have done with the same stuff. That's great for someone like me who is trying to reduce her stash.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312341486162123476.post-20993740432320126802007-06-30T07:22:00.000-06:002007-06-30T07:46:46.447-06:00Same Song, Different Verse<div>There hasn't been a whole lot of crochet going on around here. I've finished some dishcloths for Christmas, and I've started on some magic square potholders to go with them. My mind just hasn't been on crochet because of other things that have been going on. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>This was the view yesterday morning when I got up. </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081852170073923474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh424ALWA6_UUvkFNQS6tgIUyBvr2bXmaglaVT8iGsHRbi834Z2uIG5FB67v8KKTQIDAU-_jYs9N8eC-8XJrk2udI1GfvSse8NeXeB9X4LIzpo23NkiDWJTEk4xLXS_7yAs5PA7NcG5y9nd/s320/floodwater1.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081852178663858082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-EkP3FWC4Sncu6qMCxcp2zeYAywtrSnvsz6TlWBRt5OLshgJjJ2gRq4-ViV1cyKbuyZxwgPnWfsWidoWSFYKQBuMTjoxm6a287sowNCP6M3DvyzCByid6r5gY3B_er-z6K1-kIEIywKP/s320/2.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081852187253792690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNVqLIi7YMCj-j2bC4ld9ZGgAul9zRukNJXi3LCpoJVICZ_K5Nc4WE40uZnOC3qVXXxTinpt1CKYBAnI4R4oYq9Nodu9oOmIVjq7VCoGAU0jGwKbihjQfgQ2i88R79kisIvrJbE4zUsWB/s320/3.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081852191548760002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrN0xUvEyHhCrFH6yq6taubVgbS_Y7r4tCvi6NvPZcakoZdlJegQlObou3OcqOsQsUFzqgAUwWnyFwCLEvhOasHx4O1uZwZf_tuIleJTmvStRLbqLB3MrJwc2B2xr42LebQrOqWdRI_0Sw/s320/4.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><br /><div>It was much higher this time, and people to the southwest of me had to be evacuated from their homes because of the high water. There was suppose to be an Old Settlers Day Reunion in the park across the street, but the rising waters flooded them out. They had difficulty getting some of the vendors out of the park, and some of the trucks and travel trailers had to be abandoned until the waters went down. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I moved my pickup to the street on the west side just in case the water got up to the house. Luckily, it never got closer than the driveway. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The electricity was off for seven hours which made waiting very difficult. We Oklahomans like to check our weather quite frequently, and not having TV made that impossible. (I've put a weather radio on my shopping list.)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We had a break overnight, but it suppose to rain again this afternoon and tomorrow.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The fences on the farm are gone again and will have to be repaired as soon as the water goes down.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The good news is that we thought we had lost a baby calf that was born during the flood, but Mama and baby showed up yesterday. </div>Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01998195171644867903noreply@blogger.com4