GrammieSnowBird

Hello, I'm Daisy

2010-08-19T14:54:00.001-04:00

Hello, I'm Daisy. I am from Texas, I was a rescue dog. They say that I am just about the sweetest thing going, and I believe them.
I've been up here in the Massachusetts hills for about a month now. Not a bad place to be, all things considered. The trip up here was a bit trying, but once that was over all was well. We have a lake here. Well, in Texas we would have called it a small puddle or a watering hole, certainly not a lake. I'm learning to swim by myself now that the summer people are leaving.

My friend Kohl is arriving from Texas on Saturday and I can't wait to show him the water. He is used to swimming in salt water I think, so this will be new to him.

I don't want you to think that it's all fun a games around here. There is this cat who thinks he is the boss of everyone who comes across the threshold. His name seems to be Tigger,

they call him Kittykitty, and refer to him as TDC which is a polite way of saying That Damn Cat. He and I race around the house a couple of times a day, we scatter the rugs and make a mess of everything.

Goodbye Pooh, you were a good dawg

2010-01-22T16:28:00.000-05:00

And another one bit the dust

2009-12-27T20:06:00.003-05:00

Holiday meal that is.

Today we had “Christmas at the Lake”. We were blessed with a warm day so that we were able to use the summer porch, opening the room up to the house and using an electric heater to take the nip off.

The house was bulging at the seams with happy family. Four generations. It used to be that when someone bragged about four generations I thought someone must be really olde. Well, now that I am a member of the ‘older generation’ I can tell you that I was misled. Someone is not ‘really’ olde, just kinda olde.

We had enough food to feed an army and have some leftover for a navy too. Once, back when I was a bride, I ran out of roast before the platter made it around the table – never again, never again.

As each of the families left we checked to make sure that they had their kidz in the car. Then somehow our daughter and son-in-law managed to slip out without their two. It’s bedtime now, and I am off to listen to Brown Bear, Brown Bear for the gazillenth time.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Walkin' times four

2009-11-26T20:52:00.000-05:00

Way back in the beginning of my blog, I posted a photo of Zach and Lexi walking, holding hands. My aim was to take that photo each year so I could record their growth. Well, I quickly learned in year three that there is no making those two perform on cue. Leslie tells me that she actually had to bribe Zach to get close to Lexi for this photo shoot. At any rate, I like this photo of the four of them; they look carefree don't they?

Its tough to get older

2009-10-28T12:27:00.001-04:00

Its tough to get older
Originally uploaded by smoorect.

But its great to be in Florida visiting with old friends.
I visited with my doctor yesterday and he put me on Heart meds. He may also have to put me on diuretics but says that may cause trouble with mom and the rugs. Mom just wants me to be better.
Mom, Dad, TDC [that damn cat] and I are hanging out in the MH today cause Dad says it is too hot to be out. I'm having trouble breathing so he is probably right.

Traveling Bag

2009-10-07T16:59:00.004-04:00

I've been thinking about how inconvenient it is to carry my plastic bed knitting machine around in its box and wondering just what I could do to make a bag using stuff from around the sewing room. I wanted a bag that would protect the machine from bumps and thumps, but would fold for storage when not in use. I wanted a place to put the 'parts'. I didn't want to goto the store down the hill and run another line on my plastic.................

Now we are off in the cold wind to watch our grandson and his team mates play soccer. They are 4 for 4 and this is their first 'night' game. If their bedtime is 7:30 how do they play a soccer game which starts at 6:30?

Where

2009-09-02T10:01:00.002-04:00

Did August go? One day it's August 8th and the children are paddling the lake in their kayaks and the next day it's September the 2nd and they have been in school for three days. When did the school systems decide that they could steal the last week of summer?

So, I'm officially no longer the summer [of 09] sitter from Sunday through Tuesday. I didn't get fired, I got eased out by school. I am sure that if we lived closer I would be the after school grammie, no, I know that for a fact! But we chose to live up here in the hills and they chose to live down in the flatland. Most likely a good thing for all of us.................

I would post their first day photos here, but haven't gotten them yet. Mayhaps I should check Facebook and see if they are there to STEAL. Found them! BUT, now have to study how to add them, and they aren't even Leslie's photos. Maybe Leslie will send some to me when she reads this post. Can I make her feel guilty? NOT! She has learned how to fend off my attempts at that. I guess because I'm not really a Jewish mama.

Last night TOS and I went down the hill and met my daughter at the cinema. We saw Julie and Julia, or is it Julia and Julie? At any rate, it was a great movie. Have to say though that Leslie couldn't relate to it the way we did. Leslie does not watch cooking shows on PBS. I was disappointed that Julie never got to meet Julia and resolve the issue of her blog.

If you are into old fashioned fun you might want to wander over to the Craft Sanity etsy shop and look at her wooden looms. Ahem, I've already order a couple and am now waiting patiently for her to post her rug size looms. Jennifer has just quit her day job as a journalist and is staying home with her girls. She has great craft interviews on her Craft Sanity podcast. Pop over and give a listen.

Well, I've managed to waste most of the morning already. I've taken some stew beef out, but won't be making it Julia's way. Now it's off to the showers for me, then the garden where I will clip away all of the flox and trim the shrubs.

It FINALLY Stopped Raining

2009-08-08T14:14:00.002-04:00

Suddenly there is no more rain, or so it would seem anyway. And therefore I’ve been busy celebrating summer – and not knitting anything of consequence, getting sunburned for what seems like the first time in years, beaching with the grandkidz, beaching with the Southwick Knit-in girls, and just generally goofing off.

I wanted to get myself a sit upon kayak but instead found these at LLBean and of course, could absolutely not walk away from the pink one so had to get the orange one too. There is a youtube video is you are interested http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPTb1XAKnzM

I did finally find what I wanted for me. It weights 28# and is 8’ long, just like the kid’z kayaks. It is a dream to get in and out of, real comfy to ride in and great to paddle. It is actually considered an ocean kayak.

All three are made by PelicanSport out of Canada [where else?] The Kidz ones just carry the LLBean logo.

Darling daughter planned a trip to NYC for herself and the children. I gracefully so no. SO, she mentioned it at work and they ended up being almost a bus load. I think she said there were twenty of them all together. Thankfully there was a deal on train tickets for the kidz.

Zach had one thing in mind

Lexi adopted a baby at FAOSchwartz

That was Thursday, Friday was all about grammie’s beach

All I can say about that poor frog is that he/she/it had better move to another part of the lake. Every kid who goes to that beach catches him/her/it. I wonder if anyone has tried to kiss it? Maybe I’ll paddle my pea pod kayak over there tonight, take a couple of glasses of wine, a candle and ---------

kiss the frog.

Happy Monday

2009-07-06T09:32:00.001-04:00

The sun is shining through the slider on my back. Dawg is laying by my side in a beamer.

The kidz slept in this morning. Believe it or not, I was the first one up today, grampy was second and the babes dragged themselves down last. They got a good twelve hours last nite – so today should be a good day.

These are the faces we ~~like~~ love to see at the breakfast table.

Ragamuffin Lexi with her pink cast.

Zach contemplating the next spoonfull.

Pooh asleep between bowls.

Guess I need to reset the time stamp on the camera.

We are already looking forward to going to the library at two. Zach is out the door, going to push the hand mower up and down the hill. Lexi, our independent one, suddenly needs Grammie to do up her shorts and tie her shoes. She did brush her hair though. The cast is getting in the way of life…………………. Our usual days at the beach may be a problem.

Hopefully I will get in some knitting time today and tomorrow whilst the kidz are here. Truth be known though, my right hand is killing me from all the knitting, so a break would probably not be a bad idea.

I am on the hunt for a ‘jumbo’ Sequence game – one that himself can see. And, we need to get Zach a new reel. He needs one that won’t magically get inself into a tangle at each cast. Someone mentioned a Zebco.

Zach’s birthday is the 18th so I’ve got a while. BUT in the same respect, it would be nice to have one here for the next two Sunday/Monday/Tuesday visits. Maybe I’ll try to explain early gifts to him today. Now to find one. I know they can be had to Cabelas, but don’t relish a trip to East Hartford. Hoping I can find one at Wally World. Guess I’ll let my fingers do the walkin.

Just another rainy day in the hills of Western Massachusetts

2009-07-01T16:49:00.001-04:00

It doesn’t look like much does it? I’m hoping that it will look better when it’s not wet for blocking. It’s Double Seed Stitch Cardigan, designed by Rosemary Drysdale for Tahki Stacy Charles. a/k/a Cotton Classic Cardigan.

It is knit with, not Cotton Classic as the pattern suggests, but Berroco Comfort DK. It has a much softer drape than the sample that we saw at WEBS. which was knit with the Cotton Classic. I’m hoping that the switch in yarns, such a drastic one, was not a mistake. It was an easy knit, and the Berroco Comfort is a joy to work with. You and I know though that nylon and acrylic really don’t block.

When was the last time, you as a child, or a parent said/heard “mom can I have that'?” “mom will you buy that for me?” “mom will you knit that for me?” It was the last, will you that I heard from our daughter that day at WEBS. Softy that I am, I said sure, lets pick out some yarn. I really only took two weeks to knit, and a few hours to put together, with several weeks in between when it languished in my knitting basket waiting for me to be in the mood to get to that putting together.

Today is her Birthday and it will be her present. She won’t get it until tomorrow though. She is partying with the work crowd after work and I’m playing cards tonight. We both have our priorities. Tomorrow I will bring the sweater and cake.

I’ve got some goodies to share.

A friend, TOS gave me this tiny Doll House size crocheted afghan and quilt rack. It was among the collection of her aunt, who probably made it. That’s a dime for size.

This is my Saturday pudding. Served Saturday nite for company. It’s Rhubarb Pudding Cake, a cinch to make and oh so good.

I love my Polish pottery. Zanger’s warehouse is just down the road from our daughter’s house. My car often pulls into their parking lot as I try to drive past. It’s not far from I-91 in Windsor Locks, worth the stop I think.

I’ve been talking about lace on Twitter. Today I said that knitting lace is like trying to go uphill on ice with your Sunday school shoes on. I’m working on the easy section of my first lace weight, lace project and spending lots of time tinking. I’ve also read ahead in the instructions and am thinking that I am going to need some help. Problem is, the yarn is Shadow from Knit Picks, so I can’t approach any LYS for help. I’ve joined a lace group on Ravelry thinking they might be there to back me up. I’m sure though, that if I just follow the line by line instructions I will be fine – I hope!

Don’t drink and drive, don’t drink and lace.

Time to think about supper and then out to play cards.

On motherhood, daughterhood, birthdays and anniversaries

2009-07-01T09:15:00.001-04:00

Today is our daughter’s birthday. She would rather that I don’t mention the number. I won’t. But next year is her 40th.

Happy Birthday Leslie

My mother passed away when I was twelve. I guess that was a traumatic time to lose a parent, especially a mother. I could not tell you how that loss changed me as a person. My sister and I have frequent discussions about our memories of home. Sal is four years older than me, so has a different take on life with mom. My memories are of gardens, listening to Babar, reading Winnie the Pooh, basically all good stuff. Sal remembers a mother who killed herself with booze. I guess I am the lucky one.

But, is it lucky to go through life without a mother? I think not. No one to celebrate my accomplishments the way a mother would. No one to sit with my Dad at our Wedding. No one to shop with for stuff for our first house.

No one to hold me when I cried because we could not get pregnant. No one to talk with as we worked our way through the adoption process. No grandmother for Leslie. No unconditional love.

August the 18th is the Anniversary of the day that our lives changed. August the 18th is the day that our daughter was placed in our arms. I am eternally grateful to the birthmother who gave her baby away. Who made a decision that would affect us all. Her name is Susan too, she has come into our lives and left again. I wonder what she is thinking about today. Thank you Susan, from the bottom of my heart.

OPPS!

2009-06-29T18:25:00.002-04:00

Glad to say it didn’t happen on our watch, but is sure is going to mess up our beach time in July.

Look what I found

2009-06-28T11:31:00.001-04:00

I knew it was possible, and just in time for a warm sunny day, after a long string of wet, cool, cloudy days, tada.

View Full Album

The ‘business’ end of the summer porch isn’t ~~quite~~ anywhere ready for a public view. Give me another week of nice porch days willya?

It was a nice afternoon and evening yesterday and my friend TOS and I, tos, sat and knitted well into the night.

TOS and tos, what is that you wonder? We are two Sues, we are both Assessors here in Tolland and therefore are often confused at the town hall. We began referring to ourselves as “the other Sue” to have a bit of fun. TOS is also the Town Clerk. My sister and I do something similar – BSS and lss. She is the elder, and Sally; I am the younger and, well, you know my name.

Have a great rest of the weekend, I’m going to sit and knit.

Back to our normal life

2009-06-25T10:20:00.001-04:00

Well, it appears that we, the animals and the house have survived the first week of summer ~~baby~~kidsitting. The babes were safely delivered back to the parents yesterday evening. We had cake with the birthday girl and then headed back from the flat lands of Windsor Locks to the hills of Tolland. The house is quiet this morning. There is cleaning to be done.

Last Saturday I took a quickie course in Steeking at Webs. The course was great, the instructor did a wonderful job of demonstrating and encouraging. I went with a nice tube of knitting, came home with it in pieces. I now understand the concept of steeking and look forward to a cutting session.

Whilst I was at Webs I wandered around looking for some deals. I found some wonderful Misty Alpaca in the warehouse and added three skeins of it to my stash. Details: Misty Alpaca Worsted weight, color Chartreuse Melange, 100 g 220 yd. I got three skeins just to put away for some small project. Probably should have gotten more as 660 yards won’t make much.

There was a collection box in the class room with directions for making a helmet liner and a plea for donations of helmet liners to the Vermont National Guard. Of course I grabbed a copy of the instructions and immediately shopped for some appropriate wool. I got two skeins of Valley Yarns Northampton worsted weight wool in black. I’ve wanted to knit a helmet liner for a while, but the instructions always seemed daunting. I followed some advice I was given several years ago, and just followed the directions line by line – piece-o-cake. I see at least one more in the offing.

When we met for WWKIP I took along some yarn from my stash to knit a Kangaroo sweater. Here it is, finished and ready to go into my ‘future’ gifts bag. Still needs a cute button though.

When I get bored with what I’m knitting, or just want something down-n-dirty to knit, I revert to cotton dish rags. The latest, which was a pain to knit, is receiving rave reviews from the wash-up crew. It’s the Morning Glory washcloth from the Lion Brand collection. It seems to be worth the extra effort.

The day is wasting away. I’ve got to see if the vacuum cleaner works, then pack my knitting for #Southwick knit-in and head out by noon.

June 24, 2003

2009-06-24T07:18:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday Alexis

You help to make our lives complete.

A little of this, a little of that

2009-06-16T16:31:00.001-04:00

This post is indicative of how I live my days. Hoping from pillar to post, a little of this, a little of that.

Let’s start with the weather. The sun finally decided to grace us with its presence. It has arrived too late to heat the day however. We did laundry today, but we skipped the sheets. Those will wait for a day when the sun gets up with us. So, here we are, June 16 and look what is keeping us warm.

And, when there is a nice warm fire going there will surely be a dawg resting near.

Pooh is in her thirteenth year and seems to enjoy being olde. No more responsibilities. Let that damn cat scare the intruders away. Pooh is stone deaf, the intruder would have to make the floor vibrate before she would notice.

I thought I would share pictures of the buttercup cousins who live in our garden.

One is a common ~~garden~~ field variety and the other is the city cousin from the plant place. I like them both equally as well.

We had a fun time at our World Wide Knit in Public event. We held it at our usual Southwick Knit-in location, The Daily Grind. There was a Children’s event there at the same time.

It was such a nice day we settled in under the shade of a lovely white birch, right next to a Llama. What could have been more fitting?

As I was rushing around, trying to remember everything, I decided that I didn’t want to spend four or five hours knitting on my current project – a sock. I took a quick look at some patterns and found Wonderful Wallaby. We all know that I’ve got lots of yarn to choose from, don’t we? There, right under my nose were two full skeins of Bernat denimstyle in Weathered Rose. There were also four small balls which probably equaled a half-skein.

That was Saturday, it’s Tuesday afternoon and I’m at the neck opening on a size 2 wanda. It’s a fast knit, and the only problem so far is that I forgot to remember that the underarm stitches ‘should’ be taken off on yarn and not stitch holders. The stitch holders just make the next few rows more difficult to knit and cause the stitches at each end to stretch out. Make a note on pattern for next time. TADA

How do your tomatoes grow?

Note: objects taken close up look a lot larger than they actually are.

Progress report

2009-06-12T20:46:00.001-04:00

The week is almost over and I guess I’ve got to report in.

The garden is doing well, but the slugs are trying to beat me to the lettuce. I have most everything in pots, but the little slimy things have invaded anyway. I planted some lettuce starts in my one non-pot garden and it's all gone. I guess that next time himself is seen with a beer in his hand I’ll have to pour some off to feed/drown the slimy buggers.

My flower beds are doing well and the window boxes with impatients are beginning to fill in and look showy. All in all it has been a good spring for getting stuff going. Just enough rain, just enough sun, just enough warm [for the plants that is].

Wednesday card nite was a blast. There were six of us playing spite and malice. Two of the gals had played before but could not remember for the life of them how. It’s just a nice nite to have some fun, laugh at ourselves and not strain our brains too much.

The Ladies Aid project last night went well. We have to wait a week or so before we can ‘unpot’ out pots and see if they actually hold together. We all agreed though, that it mattered not. We had a great evening, fun was had by all and when it is all said and done, that is all that really matters.

I’m slowly working my way through the porch mess. We got the shelving up, and got some additional plastic boxes and I’ve been sorting, sorting, sorting. I took a bag of orphans to our Southwick knit in on Thursday and the girls claimed it all. I’ve got some more to take with me tomorrow when we have our WWKIP day event. I’ve gotten rid of all of the tail ends of sock yarn, and also some sock yarn that I had gotten for knitting for the grandkidz.

It has finally gotten through to me that I should not [ever] knit anything for my grandchildren but hats, scarves and mittens and I must use Encore WW yarn only. Any other knitting that I’ve done for them has been a waste of time, effort and money. A shame, but so it is and I have to accept it.

Tonight I found some lovely Tweedy Angora WW by Tahki Imports in my stash. This is from a froging project and I’ve listed it on Ravelry to be sold. It is real pretty yarn, and I have some white that goes with it. That will get listed next.

My problem with the cleaning project is that I have TUBS and TUBS of yarn, fabric, wool for rug hooking, wool flats, quilting projects etc, etc, etc. STUFF, just too much stuff.

What I envision for this room is one sewing machine set up [my high end sewing/embroidery], two knitting machines [4.5mm Studio 940 and 6.5mm Singer 150 plastic bed], a small work table for cutting and stuff, two rolling chairs and a wall of storage. I have a wonderful faux antique cabinet that my father-in-law made for me years ago, it holds all of the books, patterns, directions and punch cards and is at the sitting room end of the porch.

So, what to do with the fifteen tubs, the one milk crate of quilting books, and two crates of machine knitting magazines that are taking up valuable floor space and causing havoc with my plans? Do you detect a mental health problem here? Leave us not forget about the ‘collection’ of knitting machines that lives under the grandkidz bunk beds upstairs. YIKES! My husband is a saint.

We, himself and I, occasionally have ~~heated~~ short discussions about his workshop, the many, many pieces of wood he keeps, the many table saws, chop saws, hand saws, screws, nuts and bolts. It usually ends in a draw……………..

Happy World Wide Knit In Public Day [6/13]

That kind of a day

2009-06-09T18:52:00.001-04:00

My post this morning on Twitter “cool, rain, dark, glum - coffee, yarn, chair, fire - what more could one ask?”

Apparently my friends in CT got some nasty weather. We just got the aforementioned. Although sitting in front of the fire seemed to be a logical thing for a day like today, it was not to be.

Out Tolland Ladies Aid meeting is on Thursday afternoon and evening and we are to make hydrotufa pots. My brainy idea. It’s been nothing but Trouble, with a capital T. I won’t even try to get into the ways and whyfors, but today himself and I had to get our lazy selves down the hill to the lumber yard to pick up a sack of portland cement. We took three semi-large bins with us and the nice kid in the ‘yard’ split the bag into three manageable parts for me. Who knew that a sack of portland cement weights in at 96#?

Now, when you live where we do, you don’t go off the mountain without more than one purpose. Guess where I went?

The one of the last times I was at Webs I bought some yarn to make a bunny egg cozy from Little Cotton Rabbits Well, I bought the wrong yarn so needed to take care of that problem. Then when I went for the tent sale some sock yarn jumped into my basket. The price was mismarked in the computer and I ~~had~~ needed to go up there to get my credit.

While I was there I thought it would be a good idea to make good use of the spent mileage/gas money and get ready for another project. I’ve been looking at lace. Yes, lace. Not for me particularly, but I think I can find someone who will be pleased to have a lace shawl or such knitted for her. I knew that I could easily get the yarn and project sheet back into the car without being caught as I had the bag I went into the store with. Sneaky eh? [notice my Canadian accent!]

I bought two patterns, both by Evelyn Clark for Fiber Trends. One, Field of Flowers, a square shawl or throw. The other, Estonian Garden, a scarf or wrap. I also purchased three skeins of Misti Alpaca lace weight in Blue Mist. This yarn is one of Steve’s warehouse sale items. It is oh so soft and I am looking forward to getting it on my needles. I would encourage you to take a long hard look at it and think about adding some to your stash right away.

Fiber Trends S-2004 Field of Flowers

Fiber Trends S-2009 Estonian Garden

On the way back down through Springfield we thought we should stop at the liquor warehouse store and stock up some more, just in case the threatened liquor, wine, and beer tax becomes a reality soon. Ever had Yukon Jack? It was billed as the Black Sheep of Canadian Whisky. In the US it’s 100 proof, a honey laced whisky.

When we got home I heated up my rice bag, put some Jack over ice and had a bit of a nap. Fire is still going, supper is now done and I am heading back to the chair by the fire with another cuppa and my knitting.

I won’t let it beat me

2009-06-05T19:11:00.001-04:00

Sorry for the double post just now. I think anyway. I’ve still got a lot to learn about Blogger and Windows Live Writer and getting photos into my blog.

Show off my Garden, why not?

2009-06-05T19:03:00.002-04:00

It seems that everyone is showing off their gardens these days. I’m real proud of mine, so will jump on that bandwagon.

We live in the rocky Berkshire foothills. Our cash crop is often called Tolland potatoes, a/k/a rocks. I’ve amended my gardens with so much tree chipping mulch that our son in law won’t visit any more if he thinks I’ve gotten my hands on another truck load.

The trick to gardens, or so I was told by a lady whose flowers were spectacular, is Chicken Gicken from the Otis Poultry Farm Store. I’m not really sure how to spell that, but can stand behind the product. It takes a year or two to work, but when it does, watch out.

A photographer I am not – here is what’s blooming today.

I just love Columbine for the way it self-seeds. I’m surprised that some that I would have thought were hybreds have seeded pretty true.

These wild Geraniums are another prolific seeder. They also spread wonderfully.

Of course, there is always the weed that wants to add to the color

These yellow Iris are yet another from my mom’s gardens

Our grandchildren just love the song from the Fifties, Rockin Robin. When I found this along the wayside I just had to have one for the garden. They seem to like the barren roadside better then my chicken shit laced rotted tree mulch.

Some more Iris, a Clemetis that I though was a goner, and even a couple of plants that I cannot remember the name of, imagine that.

If getting our soil up to snuff for flowers is a trick, finding enough sun for vegetables is a real problem. I’ve tried several different ideas over the years and failed each year. I decided that this year I would not fail, and it looks like I’m right [so far anyway]. I have four tomato plants in pots, lettuce plants, musclun lettuce, basil, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, dill and cilantro all growing happily in pots on our front walkway. That seems to be the only place where there is consistent sun. We can thank the winter ice storm for some of that sun………. I’ve also got a few tomato plants planted in the ground not far away where they seem to get enough sun to be happy

Notice all of the walls built out of Tolland potatoes……

We’ve already had fresh lettuce salad a couple of times and it’s been heavenly.

Overwhelmed is a good description

2009-06-03T09:26:00.002-04:00

On a scale of 1 to 10 how do you feel about the job ahead of you today? Oh, just about a 25.

We got the shelving up yesterday, so today I will begin with the chore of sorting my stuff. I thought that I have lots of plastic boxes to put stuff into, but they must be buried somewhere in the mess. Onward!

When I was a child, my grandparents lived with us. Doc, my grandpa died when I was about seven. Nonny died in 1954 when I was 12. Mom followed her the next year. What happened to their stuff?

I remember only one thing and that was a white cotton crocheted coverlet that was stashed in a closet in Nonny’s room. I wonder where it went, and what happened to all of her knitting and sewing stuff. I seriously doubt that there was a stash, but there were tools and books and other stuff. Gone, all gone.

I picture what will happen to my stash, my knitting machines, my sewing machines, my rug hooking tools. Most of it will probably end up in a large dumpster, along with all of my genealogy research paperwork. I know it, I just know it.

So, I guess that what we pass on, because they cannot be put into the dumpster, are memories.

I remember Nonny knitting a twin set for my sister. The yarn was a bit bumpy, a beautiful coral color. I had probably stood still for what seemed like forever, holding the yarn hanks on outstretched arms while Nonny wound the balls of yarn. Funny, I never remember the finished sweaters. Did they have UFO’s back in the forties and fifties do you think?

I remember Mom sewing a dress for me. It was Indian Head cotton, I think it was green, kinda a south pacific sea green. She sewed rows and rows of lace to the inside of the bodice to give me my first ‘shape’.

I remember gardens, and cooking, and doing dishes with my sister, making soap suds galore with the egg beater. I remember eating fresh peas, right out of the garden with lots of butter.

I have my memories, and lots of perennials that I took from the old house and have transplanted from my first house to here. I also have a stainless steel cabbage slicer.

Is this getting stuff done, no. This is called procrastinating.

Mom's bleeding heart, several

generations later

Some days

2009-05-29T16:48:00.002-04:00

One should not get out of bed.

So, I started on 'the room' mess and actually managed to get from one end to the other. That was some feat, let me tell you.

Next was to put together the shelving we had gotten from Target - two boxes of wire cubes [make 9 cubes]. First box was black wire, no connectors, didn't even count the wire pieces. Second box was white wire, it seemed complete [duh, read and count Susan]. I put it together until I ran out of parts before I was finished. Damnit, why do people return things to stores and stores don't check to see if the box is complete???
I mean, who would shoplift connectors and two side/back units?

It is took apart and will be returned. I was trying to save $ by not getting the shelving that Home Depot sells - big mistake. Now I am not going to make that mistake again - Home Depot, here I come.

That is for another day, now I shall imbibe...............

Blazing a trail - a public confession

2009-05-29T14:31:00.003-04:00

I am making a confession to all who venture here - I am a slob, I have a bad habit of buying stuff and not often using it, I have more stuff than I have room, I have some work to do.

We have a very nice summer porch on the lakeside of our home. It's supposed to be three season, but actually it's probably more like a season and a half. BUT, when it is used as a storage room then it is a no season.

We used to have a real house, one with a basement and a garage; places to keep stuff and places to play with stuff. Now we have a revamped summer place. It has a garage, but no workshop - no basement - no place for the car cause the workshop is in the garage. No place for the off season stuff, no closets, no storage. Barely room enough to set up my sewing machine and knitting machine.

They machines are set up, but I cannot get to them.

I plan to do some organizing. Now you've seen the before pictures, I'll bet you cannot wait to see the after photos. Do you think I can do it?

The day I was born

2009-04-12T12:02:00.001-04:00

Great Internet minds say that on the day I was born the popular song of the day was Moonlight Cocktail.

I don’t know, I wasn’t paying attention.

Moonlight Cocktail
Glenn Miller & his Orchestra
Words by Kim Gannon
Music by Lucky Roberts
#1 from week of February 28, 1942 to week of May 2, 1942

Couple of jiggers of moonlight and add a star,
Pour in the blue of a June night and one guitar,
Mix in a couple of dreamers and there you are:
Lovers hail the Moonlight Cocktail.

Now add a couple of flowers, a drop of dew,
Stir for a couple of hours 'til dreams come true.
Add to the number of kisses, it's up to you.
Moonlight Cocktail - need a few.

Cool it in the summer breeze
Serve it in the starlight underneath the trees.
You'll discover tricks like these
Are sure to make your Moonlight Cocktail please.

Follow the simple directions and they will bring
Life of another complexion where you'll be king.
You will awake in the morning and start to sing
Moonlight Cocktails are the thing.

(Instrumental interlude)
Follow the simple directions and they will bring
Life of another complexion where you'll be king.
You will awake in the morning and start to sing
Moonlight Cocktails are the thing.

When is Spring?

2009-04-05T23:02:00.001-04:00

The calendar says its Spring. The seasons say its Spring. The weather isn’t quite so sure.

And why, he wants to know, is it April 5 and we are still listening to March madness? Our roots are in Connecticut and we are UConn Husky ladies basketball fans. We are proud of the program, think it’s something that Connecticut can brag about. Go Huskies……. 37 to 24 at the half with Stanford.

I have been getting antsy about quilting of late. I know, I know, I was searching for the bottom of the knitting basket. Well, I was naughty and looked at some quilting sites on the net, and it was all over. Don’t worry though, the fabric stash is stashed in such a way that I won’t be starting any quilting any time soon. First we need some warm days so I can do a serious clean up of the ‘studio’. What studio you ask? Look out that double door, see it? It’s there along with enuf yarn to circle the world and then go to the moon at least once, enuf magazines and books on knitting, machine knitting and quilting to reach the tipity top of the beanstalk. Wool for rug hooking you say, Oh, you spied that out there. You’re good, I thought it was buried so deep it wouldn’t ever be found. See the dollhouse over there? OMG there is no way that I will even get this stuff organized in my lifetime, nevermind use it up.

What quilts are getting me excited about quilting again. Nothing that stretches my ability, just something easy and comfortable to have around the house. My quilts are like zucchini, getting difficult to give them away.

Quilt 1 would be Cobblestone 1, shown here in scraps, but mine will be done in batik to help get rid of that collection of fabrics.

Quilt 2 would be Disappearing Nine Patch. This will be a scrappy quilt. I think I will probably make the blocks of the nine patch 4 or 5 inches so I will have either a 12 or 15 inch block.

Quilt 3 would be Majestic Mountains or some layout of that base block but done square. Several years ago our quilt group at Royal Coachman Campground in Florida was doing raw edge homespun quilts. I bought the fabric but never got the gettup and go. I think, if I can find it, that there is enough fabric to make up this quilt in at least a twin size.

50/26 huskies with 14 minutes to go. Is it safe to go to bed? Listening you lose some of the fun of the game.

Ice Out

2009-04-01T21:22:00.000-04:00

Actually the ice has been out for a few days now. All of a sudden it was gone. One day it was there, almost translucent, with a large crack going from shore to shore. The next day there was ice from the middle of the lake to the other side, but our side was clear. By the end of that day the ice had come to visit with us. Next day, gone, just gone.

We’ve been visited all winter by grey, black and red squirrels on our deck. They are fun to watch but are little hogs about the sunflower seed. They quickly climb up the side of the house and get onto the feeder, sending seeds showering down to the deck for all to share.

Now that it’s a bit warmer we have a chippy who apparently is out of hibernation. He/she is alone and is so cute. Friends a couple of doors down trained a chippy to hand feed. I seem to recall that went on for four or so years.

We put up a new metal core cotton cloths line last week. Our clothesline tree came down in the December ice storm. A younger friend was nice enough to stop by and put the hook in the tree and set the line up on that end. I had dreams of sheets blowing in the breeze. Our last line was just Para shoot cord and was put up for the sole purpose of getting the bird stuff away from the squirrels. That was a joke, the little devils are great high wire walkers. Anyway, we put a suit cake on the clothsline and pushed it out. The line is probably 45 feet long. After a day we had raveled cotton cord on each end. Someone thought they could chew the line down I guess. So much for my clothsline.

I’m trying a new way of posting for the Blog. I read about using Windows Live Writer and that it is easier to use than Blogger. One of my problems with Blogger is posting photos. I can’t seem to get them to land where I want. So now I shall try posting a photo here. Let’s see what I have to post.

View Full Album

Wow, that worked great! The pink scarf is one I made of my Lexi. I found the yarn at Webs in the warehouse. It just jumped out at me, it was Lexi, girly girl. Told her mom what I was up to and was told to make sure it was long enough. She also wanted to know if it was a nice bright pink and I assured her that it was. Well, Lexi says it is too long and itches. I have it back in my closet now.

The blue gloves are made of either Lopi lite or Webs yarn. They were made for a friends four year old son. He loves them. See, I can do some stuff right!

I am pleased with how my quest to find the bottom of my knitting basket is coming along. Problem is, spring is upon us and the garden calls. I’m also getting the itch to piece a quilt, having my eye on something easy like Disappearing nine patch.

Look at my progress losing weight. I’ve actually noticed that one of my rolls is GONE. Can life get any better than that?

Technorati Tags: knitting,Webs,Disappearing nine patch,quilting,gardening,squirrels

Spring

2009-03-14T18:33:00.004-04:00

I took three shovels full of dog fertilizer out of the garden and look what I found

SPRING

I delivered a pair of mittens to a mailbox for a little friend. The report back was that he took off the pair he had on and put the new ones on right away. Here they are, finished from the bottom of the knitting basket.

On Days Flying By, Projects Finished, Food and Wildlife

2009-03-07T09:05:00.014-05:00

Where in the heck has the time gone? I last posted on January 28th and here it is March 7th. Yikes, someone stole February. I thought when I last posted that I would have my projects finished, or almost so, in a short week or two. So much for thinking.

Getting on with it. I've made a winter wall hanging of our lake. Sue gifted me a fall wall hanging a couple of years ago, and I just thought I should have a winter one too. Can spring and summer be far behind? I have to admit that I've not been getting friendly with my new sewing machine as I should and I am not the pro machine quilter that Sue is, but - well, it's done, just don't turn it over and look at the back Okay?

The fabrics that I choose for this piece are indicative of winter. The water has a snow and ice cover with dog foot prints crossing it. The trees are pines. The inner border is snowflakes and the outer border is frost.

Now it's companion piece done by Sue Strauch, quilter extraordinaire.

I am so happy to say that I've got the BlueBell sweater almost finished. It's off the needles and ready to have the sleeves inserted. I'm not looking forward to that job. I have just a bit more knitting to finish on it. The lace trim goes around the neck and has to be knitted from each side, kitchenered together at the back and then sewn onto the neck. Almost done, can spring be far off? Here are a couple of photos, the color is actually a lovely dusty lavender but probably won't show up as such.

This was a fun sweater to knit, the anticipation of the finished sweater kept me going. Would I change a few things, you bet! I would short row the shoulder shaping and then do a three needle bind off to eliminate having to fuss with sewing the shoulders together; I think that I would rather pick-up and knit the sleeves from the top down to eliminate having to inset them but I'm not sure about that.
All in all I like what I see and am looking forward to trying it on.

My knitting basket holds all sorts of projects. Some started and put down for lack of interest; some started and put down from frustration; some just on paper with yarn ordered; some ongoing and some finished. I like the finished ones the best, and then the ones that I've not started yet!

I like a challenge. Trying something new will entice me every time. Sometimes I like to knit something simple, something that is a no brainer so-to-speak. Sometimes there is something that just must be knitted, with a time schedule for finishing and all. Whatever the reason, I like to knit. I find it very relaxing and most projects allow me time to let my mind wander. I don't often watch TV; it's on in the background but I am usually not really paying any attention to it.
I just sit, knit and think.

On the subject of food and the D word. I love to eat, I love to look at food, I love to cook food, I love to think about cooking food BUT, I don't love my love handles. That being said, I can also say that I am trying, really trying to lose about forty or fifty pounds. If you look at the meter on the blog you can see that I did manage to lose ten pounds. Then something went wrong.. What you say. Three meals eaten out, a rib roast and some stuffed shells. A bump in the road? I sure hope so.

I have been walking with himself and the dawg, but not faithfully enough. I was supposed to join the Y in Granby, CT and do three days of swimming and other stuff, but a nasty cold got in the way of that. Joining is on the schedule for next week.

I think that I need to preplan our meals so I can plan the fat and calories out of them. I used to plan our meals for two weeks at a time and it made life much easier. I think that if I do some planning it will also help with the food budget.
We shall see.

We put our bird feeders right outside the dining room slider for the winter. We have been enjoying the daily activity and spending much time raping on the window to scare the squirrels away. We have grey, black, red and flying squirrels. Our bird count varies by the day and the weather. The yellow finches are beginning to color up. We have purple finch, a couple of different woodpeckers, cardinals, bluejays, junko, titmouse, and a couple of more whose name slip my mind right now.

I did say that we are all enjoying the activity didn't I?

Snow Day

2009-01-28T11:31:00.006-05:00

It's a Snow Day today. What exactly does that mean to two olde retreads and their pets? It means that we don't go for our morning walk because the roads aren't plowed yet. It means that the activity at the bird feeders is on overload. It means that I check in with my BSS [big sister Sal] because she claims to worry about us when we have weather. I think she just wants to gloat.

Yes, Sal would be gloating because when we decided we were no longer going to be SnowBirds, she and her hubby purchased our Florida home. When I checked in this morning they were headed to Nokomis

beach for a walk. I feel so sorry for them, they are missing this nice winter wonderland.

Enuf said on that subject.

In my last post I mentioned that I wanted to try a couple of new things on my next pair of toe up socks. I knew that it was the Zimmerman Sewn Cast Off, but I was unsure of the cast on. It's Judy Becker's Magic Cast On as demonstrated by Cat Brodhi on UTube. I'm not sure when I will be getting to that project, but know that I need some more DK or heavier weight wool socks real soon. As I wear my wool socks I wonder how many days everyone gets out of a washing. I always chuck my cloths into the wash when I change out of them. I wear sweaters several times between washing, as I do with sweatshirts too. It's a downright pain to hand wash socks and watch them dry............which in this house can take anywhere from 2 - 4 days unless I manage to hang them over the hot air register. So, is it ten pair, ten days? or twenty days or what?

I'm not doing as well as I would like on the eating plan. I can't stop thinking about food, and then I want some. Too bad there isn't a patch like there is for smoking. Problem is, there is still some junk food around here and the Yankee in me won't just pitch it in the trash. I am trying, I really am. Today so far, breakfast and lunch amounted to 503 calories. It doesn't look like we are going to get to walk today; it's raining now. The calorie counting program that I am using give a credit to daily calorie count for exercise. I'm not doing loops around our lake roads but at least I am out there, that's more than I could say for myself last week. Cheer me on - please.

Knitting, sewing and otherwise crafting are calling my name. When I finish and post this I think I will sit at the sewing machine and finish that little wall piece. It's a seasonal companion to one a friend gave me. Sue is a very talented machine quilter. She is handicapped by the loss of both legs, so spends her days at her machine. She is the only person I know who wears out high end sewing machines! She lives alone, is a snowbird and someone I greatly admire. I'll post a photo of both pieces next time.

I plodding along on the purple sweater. I've got around 13 inches of 16 done to get to the underarm. Then the three sections part ways and the rows will be shorter. And, the back won't have any lace to fuss with.

Sue, mentioned above, lives in Ossipee, NH and is an annual attendee at the Keepsake Quilting Annual Sale. She got me up there one year and wants me back again this year. The same folks who own Keepsake own Patternworks which is right next door, and also has a sale. We take our MH up to Sue's and camp out in her yard. She and I would be up before the crack of dawn and on the road. Himself and the pets could sleep in. What I do know is that there are deals to be had at Keepsake - deals that I probably should not partake of.

It's Been Forever

2009-01-25T19:02:00.004-05:00

It's not that I didn't want to blog, it's just that I never seem to get around to it.

For the New Year I am going to try to keep a bit of a diary of what exactly is going on in my life. Here goes

I am really trying to be aware of what I am putting into my mouth. I am also going to make an attempt to spend more time getting off my butt and less time making excuses. Tomorrow I am going to the Y to see about water exercise. It's a bit of a trip to get there; 22 miles one way. That's what comes of wanting to live in the woods. We've always eaten healthy for our meals, it's the trips to the kitchen in between that is taking me down. It wasn't that long ago that I was as skinny as a rail. That was back when I went to work, took care of the family and watched out for my Dad. Now I move from the computer to knitting, to sewing and back again. It's got to STOP. I've got to move. I WILL.

My hand knitting is keeping me content. I find knitting to be very relaxing and I can get lost in it. I am not much for TV, mostly because I cannot seem to claim the clicker and himself and I don't have the same taste in shows. Even so, I can knit and watch at the same time. My problem with knitting, as with all of my hobbies is that I love a challenge, I love to start. I start, and I start, and I start. I've got to learn to finish one thing before I begin another.

I am going to try to keep from starting. I will try not to begin any new hobbies, and I will try to have only one project going in any one hobby at a time.

I am knitting a BlueBell sweater right now. It's a pattern from Webs in Northampton. I had a real problem with the pattern when I started knitting it. Well, it wasn't the pattern, it was operator error! We were in Florida, moving our stuff out of our place there and I was trying to knit to relax. The pattern begins with a lace border along the bottom and up the sides. I plum wore the yarn out, casting on, knitting, unknitting, etc. Now things are going along fine.

My knitting basket has some stuff in it that need to be acknowledged. 1. There is one finished child's mitten and another that is at the thumb gusset. I am using the pattern in the knitter's handy book of Patterns I lost my way and need to rip back and start the thumb gusset over. Golly, it's just a little kids mitten, how long can that take? 2. Then there is the pair of Maine Morning Mitts that I just absolutely had to have in a pink/purple run of Noro. That little project is barely off the ground. I should be able to finish the two mitts in a couple of short days. 3. The next project is for sure going on the back burner. I fell in love with the mittens that grumperina posted about here I bought the pattern by Eunny because she writes such awesome directions. I quickly went out and bought some yarn; I watched the UTube video on tubular cast on; I tried, I really tried. It's not happening. It's going to be a project for another day. 4. There is a pair of socks, worn some, but not comfortable. They were my first attempt at toe up. Will I knit toe up again? Probably yes. There is a cast on that I want to try. Problem is, I need to learn how to cast off so I can get my foot in the darn sock. So, these have to have their tops cut off and cast off again - probably will use the Elizabeth Zimmerman sewn cast-off that is covered in this article in Knitty: Summer 2006. 5. There is a bag that is ready to grab that has needles and baby yarn and patterns for infant and premie hats. That's just an ongoing project. The last one I knit was actually a helmit with ear flaps. It's so cute. That's about it for what's in the knitting basket. OH, there are other projects, but they are packed away on the unheated summer porch. Any discussion of them will be for another day. The day that I come to terms with everything that's out on that porch!

My chunky knitting machine is sitting here in the dining room. I was going to make mittens on it and that project never really got off the ground. I want to get back to it though.

Sewing, yes, there is sewing too. My machine is set up and on the ready. In fact, there is something under the presser foot. I probably have about 15 minutes of quilting to finish and a binding to put on a small seasonal wall piece. Got to get to that before the season is no longer. Other that that, I have lots of projects ready to go, but only one other one that is actually started. I'll cover that on another day too.

I said that I don't do TV. Well tonight I made an appointment to have ownership of the clicker for a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. It's almost time so I'll say goodnight.

It's Been Forever

2007-09-09T13:12:00.000-04:00

I'm back. I gave up on blogging when I got discouraged trying to post photos. No matter what I tried I could not post more than one, and it never ended up where I wanted it to. A problem with my age? Who knows.

I've joined Ravelry and linked my profile there to this blog. I think it would be nice if my blog represented today rather than February 07, don't you? So, I'll try again.

I noticed today when I was viewing Zimmermaniacs that once we get the hang of the BSJ and how it turns into a sweater, we place our stripes where we want them. The first sweater is truly a surprise though. I've made two Baby Surprise and one of the earlier version that was a wrap. Now I've found the Machine Knitting version in MacKnit and am going to attempt it. I've not posted my Zimmerman sweaters, which also include a saddle shoulder for Z who was 5 at the time, but suppose I would do that too. One would think that being retired that I would have lots of time for this stuff.......................

Ask anyone who is retired about what goes on in their day. I've started to use a day book again to attempt to get back some of the hours that I seem to be losing along the way.

I notice that on Tuesday I have plans to take Z for his first cub scout uniform.
This scouting thing is getting DD into remembrance mode. Apparently she has 'scouted' around in her storage boxes and found her GS badges and some have yet to be sewed on and I guess some that are on need attention. Let me put that in my day book!

I'm working on the last few rows of a 3-6 month babe sweater for DD's neighbor who is due to deliver on the 21st. I've already turned over a BSJ which grandaughter A has excitedly given already, much to the surprise of her mom. DD did a short stint of babysitting for a neighbor child. In that A seems to think that Jake is her 'brother', she is somewhat put out by the fact that Grammie is knitting for a yet to be borned babe and has not yet knit a sweater for Jake. Day book again!

enuf, and no photo attempts

pool party

2007-02-15T23:15:00.001-05:00

pool party
Originally uploaded by smoorect.

Don'cha just love these high speed camera's where you can catch the water in mid air?

pool party

2007-02-15T23:13:00.001-05:00

pool party
Originally uploaded by smoorect.

It took a few minutes to get used to being in the water, but then this grandchild was in her glory.

My feet

2007-01-31T08:12:00.000-05:00

Blogger and I are having issues. I wanted this photo to be in yesterday's post, but alas I am not apparently up to the task. The learning curve for getting photos and words on the same page here is above me. I can knit socks, I can knit lace, I can run a home and raise a family, but I cannot get my blog photos to land where I want! Oh well!

Walkin version 2006

2007-01-24T19:45:00.000-05:00

It seems that it's getting more and more difficult getting these two to pose for their 'annual' Walkin photo. This fall Zachary was in some strange kind of mood. He wanted to stoop like an old man.

Knitting in my sleep

2007-01-24T19:35:00.000-05:00

I spent a good deal of time last night and this morning machine knitting. Would be great except the machine is in the box and I was in bed.
I don't know if I don't sleep because my mind is so busy, or my mind is keeping me busy when I can't sleep.
What was on my mind this particular time was the question - how do I do the Tuck stitch on the Brother 350 manual machine? Do you have nights like that, times when you just want to 'go at it' and maybe then you would be able to sleep? I know that if I had a craft room that was away from the bedroom I would have been giving it a go instead of just thinking.
Tonight's problem may be the same, considering the machine is still packed away. I have hand knitting to finish and cannot tempt myself. I guess I should get movin on the hand projects so I can solve that problem.

It's just been One of Those Days

2007-01-22T19:14:00.000-05:00

Today should have been a great day. It all began quite normally. I woke early, the dawg had taken over my share of the bottom of the bed, and, knowing that it would be a losing battle to try to get her to move - I left.
The coffee perked and didn't spill over the counter. It was not raining. I found the PIN for my debit card. Things were definately looking towards a good day.
The phone rang. It seems that our grandcat died during the night. Well, that sure is not the kind of news you want to hear early in the morning or at all for that matter. This was totally unexpected, he hadn't been sick, he was only three, yadayada. He was just there in the living room for the babes to find, stiff!
Any other problems today were pale by comparison. I had been working on the latest sweater project for our grandaughter, but put that aside when I took my coffee out to the patio. I had my Morehouse Farms merino sock. Opps! is that a free and easy stitch just hanging there about fifteen rows back? Sure nuff it was. Tore that back and picked up the stitches and then it was off for a haircut.
I managed to get out and back without any further problems. Back to the patio, back to the sock. I commented to himself when I got back to where I had discovered the stitch only to discover that I had added a stitch..............you guessed it, about fifteen rows back. Being the anal person I am, I could not be content with a simple knit two together so - it was back to the frog pond. Said sock project is having a time out right now and I am back to working on the sweater.
Notes on the sweater. I didn't trust the pattern directions on the sleeve decreases so did my own thing - had to take out about six inches of that baby too! But that was yesterday.
Guess what, it's raining...........

Walkin ver 2004

2007-01-20T11:53:00.000-05:00

Perhaps It's Time

2007-01-19T11:06:00.000-05:00

Perhaps it's time to get down to the business of blogging for real. A look back to my earliest posts shows that I tried, and gave up!

As I wander round the net, reading other's blogs, I think of what I want to share. I think, wouldn't it be great if I could post a photo of this, or that? Shouldn't I be linking to my blog when I post a comment?

So, here goes, again!

Surfs Up

2005-12-28T16:53:00.000-05:00

Florida Sunsets

2005-09-15T21:51:00.000-04:00

What I really wanted to do with this sunset was to put it in my Profile. I'm learning, I'm learning! For you folks on the 'other' coast, this is what you miss. Don't tell me about the sunrise, who wants to get up that early? Yes, I know that theyschedule Florida Sunrise later than New England Sunrise, but I still don't want to be up that early. Besides, cocktails and dinner at the beach for Sunset is much nicer than mimosas and dunkin donuts!
Goodnight sun

Who said Blogging was easy?

2005-09-15T19:10:00.000-04:00

Here I go again, trying to be a blogger. I'm thinking, what will I post, and who will read my posts. More important, will I even be able to work my way through the maze of learning how to blog??? We shall see.

I can't let the opportunity of posting pictures slip by. Bear with me, don't let me bore you though. If you slip out the door now I will understand - just don't expect me to ever talk with you again. WOW! I did it! It landed in the wrong place this first time and I managed to move it. I'm impressed with me.

This is the 2005 version of Zach and Lexie walkin hand in hand. Lexie who is two is not going to have anything to do with walkin with Zach who is four, who therefore is absolutely sure he is the BOSS.

Now the 2004 version is much better. Lexie had just learned to walk and needed a big brother to hang onto. One thing that I've quickly discovered - adding pictures to a blog when signed on at 28.8 is downright impossible. I guess the 2004 picture will have to wait for now.