I wanna talk about me!

I am having a hard time finding thing you might be interested in or even thing I am interested in to put on the blog. I thought maybe this might qualify. There was a country western song that came out some time ago. while I don't often hear or even listen to the words of a song (I usually only hear the melody, harmony and the accompaniment) I remember hearing the gist of this song. A fellow was spending time with a woman who talked only about herself. The chorus was: I wanna talk about me. Here is a chance to talk about ME. A little questionnaire I found on Facebook.


1. What is your occupation right now?
Doing whatever I can to help my family both near and far and playing with yarn

2. What color are your socks right now?
Black lacy knee socks that I am going to throw away as soon as I take them off. Elastic has weakened and won't stay up.

3. What are you listening to right now?
My ears ring.

4. What was the last thing that you ate?
Dried fruit and nuts

5. Can you drive a stick shift?
Today is my 71st birthday. Of course I can.

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
Boyd. #1S.......wishing me a happy birthday

7. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
No one sent it to me. I had to find it and copy and paste it.

8. How old are you today?
Just told you.......Jan 11, 1938

9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
Don't have to do that anymore. No man in house. Soon, Feb 17 maybe, no TV, don't care.


10. What is your favorite drink?
Diet Pepsi. Don't keep it in the house. I know it can't be good for me
so only have it as a treat when I am out.

11. Have you ever dyed your hair?
Several times but not very successful

12. Favorite food?
Whatever is on my plate at meal time

13. What is the last movie you watched?
Trying to wade my way through "Big Fish" right now. Two days in the machine
and still not finished. I am sure I have seen it before.

14. Favorite day of the year?
Every day. At my age, each day is a gift.

15. How do you vent anger?
I can't remember the last time I was angry.

16. What was your favorite toy as a child?
Probably anything my brother had in hand.
I just remembered that I have done this before on Facebook If you are "my friend
on Facebook, just ignore this.
17. What is your favorite season?
Any part of the year that is not cold

18. Cherries or Blueberries?
If I have only the two choices, cherries

19. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back?
I love it when my friends send me personal e-mail

20. Who is the most likely to respond?
I can count on Beth, Brenda and Charlotte and sometimes Clif.

21. Who is least likely to respond?
?????????/////

22. Living arrangements?
Just lil' ol' me and an indifferent cat.

23. When was the last time you cried?
I seldom ever, ever, ever cry.

24. What is on the floor of your closet?
Which closet? And NO comments from you Beth.

25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending to?
this is not an e-mail but perhaps, even perhaps someone will see it and I
will make a new friend

26. What did you do last night?
After garage sale-ing (How DO you spell that?) and lunch with family at
"The Texas Roadhouse" Family will notice that I typed the name correctly
When the Roadhouse first came to town I couldn't remember the name and
called it "The Texas Outhouse"

27. What are you most afraid of?
I don't believe I am afraid of anything. I have seldom ever had a reason
to be afraid.

28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers?
I haven't eaten beef in a couple of years but if I did it would be with
EVERYTHING.

29. Favorite dog breed?
I have decided that I don't like slobbery, stinky, licky poopy dogs. I am now
a one cat lady

30. Favorite day of the week?
Every day that I can get out of bed and take nourishment. That make just about
Evey day my favorite.

31. How many states have you lived in?
MO, CA, CT, CO, CT, AZ, IA, AZ. You count 'em

32. Diamonds or pearls?
Why choose? I like them all

33. What is your favorite flower?
Gardenias. Had them in my wedding bouquet and someone sent them to me when my
husband died. Fitting, no? Thanks Rosalie.





One more thing before getting off the subject of me. I have a haircut that is the shortest of my whole life. I am due for a trim on Thursday. Sould I keep the appointment. Remember, this is the end of a long day........Help please.

Save a tree

Quite some time ago I came across the site below. You can go to this site and opt out of many of the advertising catalogs you receive in the mail. Not all of them. I have been using this site when I receive a catalog I don't want, didn't order and is useless to me and clogging up my mail AND USING TREES TO NO AVAIL. You may like the convenience of this site.

https://www.catalogchoice.org/login

Coincidence?

Occasionlly I hear there are no co-incidences in the Christians world. I don't know how that got started or when but sometimes something happens that makes us believe that might be true.

Today it was my turn to bring the special music at my church. The young man who runs the sound system, sings in the choir, leads the music in the worship service Sunday mornings and probably many other things that I don't know about, had a sinus infection and ask me to lead the worship service. I was there a bit early to work the song I was to sing with that young man while he set up the sound system for me and my voice and song. I sang Amazing Grace.

After church he told me about God's planning. I didn't know God was in charge of the song I chose to sing today. I guess He was. Thank goodness the young man didn't tell me the story until after church or I couldn't have gotten through the song. The story is: He had an older brother who was going to work on his bicycle. He was a teen at the time and someone hit and killed him. My friend, the sound man, told me that Amazing Grace had not been sung at this church very often for a long time because...Amazing Grace was sung at his brother's funeral AND TODAY WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS BROTHERS BIRTHDAY!!

Co-incidences? Maybe. Maybe not.

Various family pictures

OK, I dared! I dared to start with me and all my years attached.

The following pictures are a whole bunch of family pictures. I wonder if one can max this site out with pictures???? Anyway, if you have a question about any of the pictures, let me know and I will let you know.

Favorite thing to do

I first learned to knit when my oldest was just a baby. He is now 48 y/o. I love to knit. Love to feel the yarn, love to CREATE and love to see how it turns out. I learned to crochet when we moved to CT. in 1975. I have crocheted off and on many times during those years from '75 until now. I like the look of the knitted projects but enjoy crocheting the most because it is much faster than knitting and, as a friend of my sis-in-law said, "Crocheting is very forgiving". It is. A mistake can be made and rather than having to frog back to the error, sometimes you can cheat and make the error unnoticeable.

Two ladies in my church have undertaken service to the homeless. A couple of weeks ago, they ask for blankets, hats, whatever we could donate for the cold winter nights here for the homeless. I pulled out a pattern for crocheted stocking hats and set to work. From that Sun. to Wed. I had crocheted 12 hats. I am well on the way to that many once again. It is so much fun and almost instantly gratifing because they are finished so quickly.

I am including the first pattern that I crocheted for a stocking hat and then my revision for the way I am making them now. I hope the pattern is understandable for those that would like to try it. If there is some confusion in the pattern feel free to e-mail me and ask for an explaination.

Below is a great web site for crocheters. I just found it while looking up a crochet stitch (Shrimp Stitch).

http://www.crochetmemories.com/crochet4.php

This is the original pattern that I got from someplace on the web.

CHENILLE CHEMO SKULL CAP

ADULT: CHENILLE SENSATIONS YARN. J HOOK

RND 1: Ch 4. Join, work 12 dc into ring, join
RND 2: *2dc in ea st* around, join. (24 dc)
RND 3: *1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st* around, join (36dc)
RND 4: *1 dc in next 2st, 2dc in next st* around, join (48dc)
RND 5: *1 dc in next 3st, 2dc in next* around, join (60dc)
RND 6-14: dc in ea st around, join
RND 15: sc in ea st around, join.
Fasten off.
=============================================
Here is how I have been working the hats. You can change the size of a hat by changing types of yarn and/or the size of the hook (sports, 1 strand of sports and 1 strand of worsted, two strands of worsted). I have been using 2 strands of worsted to make adult hats.

I have been using a K hook, but use whatever you have but use a large one.

RND 1-4 same as the original pattern. At end of each row I slip st into the top of the beginning of last row to join then chain 2 or 3 if using 2 strands of worsted.
RND 5 and each following rows dc in each st.

until the hat is long enough to cover the ears:. I try on the hats occasionally to see if it will cover the ears or have George try it on to see how much more to cover the ears on a man.

Last row sc in each st around.

I enjoy using scrap yarn. When one of the balls of scrap yarn runs out I simply tie on another one, no matter what color. Often I use two different colors, one strand of one color and one strand of a different color. It is fun to see how they turn out.

When I made a child’s hat, I increased up to 2 dc then 1 increase before I started dc all around. Otherwise the hat gets too big. Also, if it is obviously a little girls hat, instead of a single crochet around at the last row, I do 2 dc in each stitch all around and makes a cute little brim.

Sometimes I use a half double crochet stitch for the last row.
Sometimes I us a Shrimp Stitch to finish.

I still, after all the hats I have made, sometimes have to frog it back a ways and do it a different way.

UNFAITHFUL!

I must admit and confess that I have been unfaithful to you dear friends and readers. I have found other interest and...I lead, to some, a boring life. To me, my life is blessed and in no way boring. The unfaithful part, I have spent a whole lot of time on Facebook these last few weeks ;>( To those of you who have missed me, I appologize. But, by being on Facebook each day (playing Scrabble with my Tennessee Songbird (my baby daughter) I have daily contact, even if it is just saying a few words on the inst. msg. part of the scrabble game. I lose almost every time miserably but enjoy playing. The game is much different than the board game you may play at home and no one is watching a waiting, waiting, waiting for me to play and I enjoy the Facebook game much more because of that very thing.

Two women at my little church are involved with the homeless and the services supplied to them. Laat week they requested that each of us search our homes for things needed by the homeless: blankets, hats, anything they might be able to use. In the past, both in Iowa,(a group of ladies who called themselves 'Care & Share) and at home in Scottsdale while staying with my mom every minute after I moved her into my home, I knitted or crocheted hats. It is basically a brainless thing to do and a very gratifying thing to do for me because each hat is quickly done. I have made dozens and dozens of them. So, last week, while some of you were faithful to me and kept checking on my blog, I was making hats for the homeless. From Sun. to Wed. I made a dozen hats (told you it is quick and brainless) and am off and running again this week making some more. It is very cold here, for us desert rats, especially during the night. I have to go out each morning and break about half an inch of ice off the chickens water containers.

I will post some pictures to let you see other things I have been doing. I have so many pictures on my computer I will need to delete some soon I think. If the computer had seams, they would be bulging, (like my clothing after Christmas dinner).

Thank you for caring.

The first four pictures are of our Thanksgiving. I decided that I did't want to go to all that work with turkey and all the trimmings. So...we had hamburgers. They were a little more than just BBQ'ed Burgers. They were double burgers, some beef and some turkey, stuffed with cheese and green chilis. We had a huge bowl of Tortilla chips and another huge bowl of homemade Pico de Gallo. Beth taught me how to make that Pico de Gallo when I was in Tennessee. Oh my goodness, BIG YUM. I could eat it with a spoon, kinda like soup. We were all stuffed like some people's turkeys and happy with it all. BB had been very ill but still volenteered to cook the burgers. It was a rainy day. #1S is helping. You will notice he is in shirt sleeves. He spent several years cutting meat and grew to enjoy the cold. My only AZ grandson is also in the picture.























The next two pictures are of a collage of pictures my oldest grandaughter took of me while she lived with me for a couple of years and going to college in Tucson. You will have seen some of those pictures as headers on this blog. She then stayed up ALL NIGHT LONG! doing one of the pictures in charcoal. Click on the pictures and it will make them larger and easier to see.



















The last two pictures are of an afghan I made for a friend at church. I made if for Mr. J. but I found out Sunday, Mrs. J. has taken control of it. It is very cold here. I told him I may make him another one but he may not get it until Spring. I have too many other things I want to make.

I will stop for now. Some of you will look at this lengthy blog and shut down. I will save more for later.

Checking on this before I publish it, I found it is so long that I don't even want to proof read it...........Oh well, what you see is what you get. Some of you did ask for it.......... ;>)

One more Roy website

http://web.mac.com/roy.achmoody/Prayer/Writings/Writings.html

Easy way out

I am going to take the easy, non-thinking way of entertaining you today. I have just this a.m. discovered a website of a very dear friend. Take a look at his cartoons. I think you will enjoy them.


http://web.mac.com/roy.achmoody/cartoons/Christian_Cartoons.html

Thanksgiving weekend

OK, OK. I know my limitations. I am not a pro with this handy dandy little camera. BB is/was a pro. photog. and would have known what to do but he and #1S were no where to be found to provide help. So, if you click on the dark pictures I believe you will be able to see them a little better. I did that this a.m. and couldn't find my way back and lost an almost complete blog!!! Won't do that again today.

The Seven of us left on Friday for Bisbee, AZ about 10 a.m. for the weekend. We got ourselves situated in a very nice hotel in Sierra Vista, AZ, which #1S provided for us all, then we headed for Bisbee. They touted a Christmas lite celebration in which the town was to be lighted at 6 p.m. We were there for the ceremony. Afterwards they had a program which involved a former mayor of Bisbee and the current mayor. Yawn! Then they had 13 acts. There were tiny tots in Christmas outfits doing dances and were adorable. There were also dancers from Naco, MX. I don't think that is the whole name of the area in Mexico but I do at least remember that much. Some very colorful costumes and enjoyable dances.


Below, the first two pictures are of the Somethingorother Queen Hotel. Can't remember the whole name right now. It has been renovated in the last 10-15 years. I was told that my late hubby, his sis and hubby and I ate in the dining room some years ago but don't remember that either. I may have to be commited soon.






The next two pictures are of some of the adorable tiny tots in costume So sorry you can hardly see them. Remember to click on the picture. Makes them larger and a bit more visible.




After the "show" and being thankful we were in the middle of the three tiered bleachers (we were kept reasonably warm by bodies that surrounded us) we went to "The Texas Outhouse". When that establishment first came to town I couldn't remember the correct name, "Texas.........."HUMMM, the name is gone again. You probably know what it is. (While proof reading this I remembered, "Texas Roadhouse") Anyway, we went to that place to have dinner. The following is a picture of Danny Girl aka. Danica. MC's daughter


Mike........MC's son, not quite ready for the picture to be taken.



MC's sweet hubby


MC


BB


#1S Humm again. Do you suppose they practiced those wonderful smiles?



And then there is that OLD lady that keeps showing up in family pictures. Looks as if she was not quite ready for the picture to be taken either.



Last but not least is the lady who waited on us. What a special person. She and #1S sparred the whole time. She did a great job of keeping up with his teasing. He is a pro at giving people a run for their money, all in fun, and she kept up with him very well.

And a good time was had by all.

On Sat. Bisbee had a craft fair. Another Yawn. It was OK. We had a good time just all being there together but the fair at Bisbee was less than I expected. We wore me out. I was so exhausted that I didn't sleep well the whole time I was there and the hip joints and one knee kept protesting. Today, I am OK. I think I have survived and will recover. A little more slowly than in years past. I must be as old as that OLD lady that keeps showing up in our family pictures.

WELL!

AND AGAIN I SAY WELL! It was supposed to rain yesterday. It did rain... someplace. I am told that it rained where MC's hubby works. That is about 30-35 miles away. Downpour. Not here. It waited until just after 6 a.m. today, THANKSGIVING! And we planed a BBQ. No traditionalist we. BBQ. Well, it may end up being a Burger Fry. Whatever, most of us will be together, all except those traditional Tennessee people. Hey you TN people. Enjoy your turkey! I really mean it. Enjoy. Then see how long it takes you to clean up all that tradition.

HAVE A WONDERFUL, THANKFUL DAY.

Plagerism

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
May your pies take the prize,
May your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I believe it may rain.

Click on the picture and you can more easily see what caught my attention enough to grab my camera and rush to the front porch. See that bright patch of sunlight to the right? It was a nice sight and gone forever within minutes.

We have a promise of rain. 60%! Wow. A nice promise down here in my desert.

Fog? No, not fog

Early this a.m. I looked outside and it looked like fog. Reminded me of the 29 years I spent in San Jose, CA. Often we had fog in the a.m. and I hated it. Dress for a cold morning and by 10 a.m. - 12 noon, it would be hot because all the fog and damp had burned off. I still hate fog. I love my desert but this a.m. I was reminded of the fog. What you are seeing, especially in the second picture is the dust in the air left by all the working people heading off out the dirt, washboard road that runs behind my house (it is a main road). I had my house set so that it faced Picacho Peak and the main road behind the house. The dust is hanging around and hanging low to the ground because it was so still. No breeze at all.