A Long Time Ago....

In a galaxy far, far away [queue music]...

There was a man and a woman. They had one beautiful little girl they loved very, very much, and they wanted another child so the family would have even more love and happiness.

They tried. And tried....and tried.

Finally, while living in a place worlds away from home....they found out that there was a little bundle of joy on the way.

A little skirmish/minor war broke out. For safety reasons, the woman and their little girl and bundle of joy were put on a plane and sent back to the US for safety reasons. No worries...Daddy will be home in plenty of time for the new delivery. Home by early March. Baby due in April.

All will be good....

February 27 rolls around. The woman feels sorta funny. Husband is still thousands of miles away. She is worried. Could this be it? It is really early...crap.

Sure enough. The bundle of joy has had enough and is ready to join the game! So at 1130 EST on February 27, nineteen sixty - ..um...something.... Their new little daughter arrives.

Very tiny. About 4 1/2 pounds. Lungs not developed. Prognosis very bad.

Telegram sent to the dh. Baby early. Send name so we can baptize just in case.

Dh sends telegram back - sending love and my name. (I got the telegrams when I turned 21- talk about cool)

Needless to say - it all worked out - baby girl grew up happy and healthy and surrounded by great family and super friends!

Thanks for being so strong mom. You did a great job holding down the fort way back then...till dad got back; a gal could not have asked for better parents - I don't know what I did in a previous life to have two such amazing parents this time around - but damm1t - thanks a million. (and thanks for putting up with me for all these years. Sorry about all the gray hairs I gave ya....)

Happy Birth-Anniversary to me! (my first portrait - dig the couch)


And this year's celebration got off to a special start on Tuesday night - met some friends for SnB night and was pleasantly surprised with some nifty prezzies and these gorgeous flowers from a dear friend!! Thanks buddy!


I will blog later this week about my recent trip.....with some very special travel companions.

Whip it...Whip it good

Hopefully you got my nod to Devo.... (now that song is in my head...crap)

OK - it has not been the best week for me - just generally bleh.

But I have had a few rays of sunshine getting me through - Enid and Michelle! Thanks gang.

So...I have been trying to figure out what to get myself...My little ole 4GB ipod is just not big enough. I really want one of these....80 gigs of utilitarian music storage....they even have 160 gb...hmmmmm and video can be stored here too.....

but these are really tempting me.....32 gigs of yummy fun.....ooh...shiny.....pretty colors....

crap. I just don't know. - granted, the fact that the ipod classic is 1/2 the price is leaning me in a certain direction...ugh.............. if you have either - I would love your input. The goddess of all things ipod has given her input already. and yes...my partial music collection on the laptop is already 20gig...so I am guessing I have about 35 GB of music....not to mention all the movies I have....


Yeah - I know I am supposed to be posting something re food...right. ok - here it is. Because the week has been bleh...so has the kitchen.... but I still have something yummy for you to try...

Here is the tip to spice up your dips....

Add one of these

with this (the middle size)



and this (one envelope)



(sorry any vegans out there....)
mix well - and let it sit in fridge overnight.

The ham makes a nice addition to your run of the mill onion dip!! I made some for superbowl - yummmy.

(it was gone before pics could be taken)

Waxing Nostalgic...or should it be Knitting Nostalgic

This is a very special day for me.

Back on this day in 1906, a very special person came into this world. She was here for 98 years. I lost the joy of having her around back in 2004 and have been missing her oh so much ever since.

She was Caroline....and she was my grandmother.

I learned many important things from her...

Be fearless - don't worry about getting hurt or scraping your knees. Despite what my mom wanted, the tomboy in me always came out - I wonder where I got it....? (hint - she is the one on top!)

Embrace who you really are; dance to the beat of your own drum - don't worry about what others think the 'norm' is. I wonder how much of a scandal this was when she brought it home....and boy was she a hottie!!!

Love fiercely and with all your heart - this was her lifelong sweetheart. I can only hope I will be as lucky....

Embrace all that life throws at you - you can handle anything that comes your way.

And the most important thing she taught me (and my father when he was a little boy).... the joy of playing with sticks and string!

Back when I was 11 or 12, I was smitten with a certain Brit - Tom Baker to be exact. Every Saturday, I would work in my dad's office as a receptionist and after we closed the office each week, we would go get Jack in the Box taco's and go home to watch Space 1999 and Dr Who. Well, I developed a crush on Dr Who and decided I needed a Dr Who-esque scarf....like this one....



So Caroline taught me to knit. And this was my first fo!

Pretty basic. 4 different yarns, 6.5 feet of stockinette stitch and ribbed edges. Damn good job weaving in the ends. Looking at it now, I actually did a damn good job. Even if it is acrylic.

Caroline was even better....here are some of her fo's:

A vest

A dress

A wrap

A cardigan

Are you getting the idea she liked cables?

No matter what I am making, every time I pick up the needles, I feel just a little closer to her and it makes me feel like she is here with me while I work on my wip.

Caroline - I cherish all the time I had with you .... and I still miss you every day.

Eye Candy Friday..and Ear Candy too!!!

These are one of my fave listens from AZ. Before these guys hit the big time, I spent every Sunday night from 10p-130am with them at a little dive bar. Ahhh....Enjoy!