Another Hole In My Head

Considering all things, today has gone rather well. I am primed to stay caught up on the various activities required of me as part of my business, the weather is warming up..again..without much of a cold-spell and my birthday party this weekend is shaping up nicely! My only real issue today was I got another hole in my head. Yes, you read correctly not A hold in my head but ANOTHER hole in my head.

As a person raised by great upper middle-class parents, you would think that I (a person still under the age of 40) would be able to keep my teeth. But alas, I am a grinder. No one ever complains -- well except my current dentist -- so I wouldn't think it would be such a problem. However, grinders (especially if they have fillings) can crack, chip and/or break teeth.

So today I had to have a tooth, broken down to the gum, pulled -- nothing like loosing teeth when you were a kid. No gentle little wiggle and "pop" out it comes. No this is different. *Pry it up with the screwdriver lookin' thing and then grab it with the pliers and then repeat from * until the tooth comes out. So remember brush your teeth, take your vitamins and DON'T GRIND YOUR TEETH -- no one ever wants a hole in their head!

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They Grow Up So Fast

One year ago today, we added to our little family. A beautiful Spring day ride up Highway 99 for a couple of hours based on a photo seen on the internet. We were hopeful, so hopeful that we had already sent in our application to become parents. But which would be choose Otis or Scout. They both looked like fine fellas and would undoubtedly grow into handsome young men. But how to choose?!?

So we arrived with great anticipation, I favored Otis while Arlis favored Scout. And upon meeting them both, our feelings remained the same. These two very sweet brothers had been seperated for a week and were overjoyed to be able to play together again. How could we possibly seperate them again? As the pet adoption volunteer jokingly asks "Why don't you take them both?" We quickly glance at each other and say "YES"! "Really, she says....that would be so great!" And quickly adds that we can get them at a discount.

But having help some with pet rescue in the past, a discount is not really what these volunteer organizations need. So I happily write them a check for two puppies (full price -- they can always use the funds). And while they finish up paperwork, we shop for our new little boys. A blue collar for Arlis' pick and a green one for mine. The perfect present to celebrate both our birthdays.

So in celebration of one year of fun and joy with our rescue pups -- a picture from their first days with us!!

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Onward!

So most of the catchin' up has happened and I think I can finally focus on moving forward! So the next few days are about tying up loose ends and then.....(drum roll please)....I will work on CREATIVE stuff. Yes, crazy talk I know! Who would dream that you could spend time doing creative things when you own/run a knitting business. But yes, before the dawn of April -- creativity will happen! (At least that is the plan, assuming nothing gets in the way and I can focus on finishing up those last few things)!!!

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The Light!!!

Yes, the end of the tunnel is in sight. Today was the first day that I haven't worked a million hours (okay normally it is closer to 9 -11 hours, but it feels like a million) and I didn't get any further behind. In fact, I got all of the important thing done that needed to be done! Gotta love that! Also, after a visit to the printer tomorrow to pick up some much needed paper, I should be able to be caught up on the various mailings that I owe people. At that point, I will be caught up.

Of course, just in the nick of time, my husband's boss wants me to do some consulting for him. So I am expecting that my days of being caught up are going to be short lived. But I felt so caught up this weekend I even did some design planning. Now I just need to get far enough to get something on the needles. Amazingly enough, I don't really have any projects on the needles -- it just feels weird.

On top of everything else, Arlis and I are starting to make some progress on fixing up the house. This, of course, will be a many year -- if not many decade -- project, but it feels good to get started. It is like the first step in claiming ownership of a house that has, until this point, still been my grandparents house. But it is beginning to feel like mine. And probably a few more projects under our belt will only help! So there is light at the end of the tunnel -- a nice bright light!!

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Tomorrow I Knit

Today was not a day of knitting, but instead of cleaning. Something that has not happened around this place for some time -- too long actually. We had guests over for dinner tonight and needed to at least get a couple of the rooms presentable.

So we tried something new and it went very well. We served dinner out on the screened in porch that currently isn't screened in (see a couple post down). But everyone was cooperating, the weather was perfect, the bugs decided to leave us along -- we just couldn't have asked for a better night! The dinner and companionship was great too -- so over all a good night.

Tomorrow the studio will be open for a few hours in the morning. Hopefully someone will stop by, but even if they don't I will have some dedicated time to relax and knit. The creativity needs to flow -- I need some knitting time. But tomorrow, I will knit!

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More Classes

So I have just modified my class listing to include events, new classes , links to photos of finished items (where appropriate) and a link to an event/class only page for printing purposes. It sure doesn't sound like much when I type it in, but it took me most of the afternoon!!! Even so, I am much more proficient at this HTML coding thing that I was a few months ago.

Next thing is to work on some designs and get some new projects on the needles. I have several in mind (a couple are for classes) but I need to get them going! And the good news is that I should be pretty close to caught up, so I can focus on some of the design stuff -- YEA!!!

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The Blog Universe

So I have decided that the blog universe is a very good place. Particularly knitters' blogs, since those are the ones that I am particularly interested in. I am sure there are other good, even great blogs out there, but it will probably be some time before I find them.

You see, my very small blog universe has it all. In the limited number of blogs I read, I have examples of something that I can really relate to in each of them. I want to call it a characteristic of myself, but that isn't quite true. However, if you take elements from each of them, mix them up just right, you would be close to having me.

So why is it that we gravitate to what we are most familiar. Probably, for me, it is because it makes me happy. Tonight my blog friends shared accomplishments, struggles, talents and insights. It comforts me and challenges me all at the same time. To know that there are others out there with similar struggles provides a sense of comfort. But when I see how much these writers draw me into their world, it challenges me to be more than just a knitter, but to be a writer too. It may be more than I can accomplish, but I am going to try. I too want to make a stamp on the blog universe.

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Ta-Da

The long awaited for moment has arrived. I have caught up on all thing things that should have been done a month ago!!! Now that is a load off my mind, but the even better news is the current backlog will probably only be another week or two. So the long and short of it is I am gaining ground! If I keep up this pace, I could be complete caught up by the end of the month and be able to take a day off around my birthday!!!

Well, time to send out the newsletter which means that my computer will be busy for a while. Oh well, time for bed anyway!

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Spring Has Arrived

This is what I was doing during this beautiful weekend:


We have this great screened in porch (currently without screen) that we are getting ready for the Spring and Summer weather. This is great news for me as I haven't been cold for over a week now. Something, just a few weeks ago, I feared would NEVER come. So the thought of sitting out there, knitting, watching the dogs play in the yard, is a very peaceful image for me.

This is the most beautiful time of year around here. Everything is super green (notice the lawn in the corner of the picture), the weather is warm enough to be in shorts, but cool enough to enjoy being outside. I have always loved Spring. Maybe because I was born in the Spring, but probably because of how I feel. So many folks are miserable due to allergies and we have every kind of pollen you can thing of. Luckily I have never been serious afflicted so I can be outside and really soak it all in. Spring has arrived -- and that makes me happy!!

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Let's Just Imagine

So today was basically another good day for getting things checked off the list. I am no where near being caught up, but for the first time in more than a month, I can IMAGINE being caught up. I am getting big things checked off the list which is always satisfying. But even more importantly, I am not adding a tremendous number of new big things to the list. That will probably all change in a couple of days when I finally do some personal evaluation and goal setting. Ah....for the moment...I can imagine what it will be like to not feel behind.

My ultimate goal remains to be "caught up" by the end of the week. I still think it is possible. Tomorrow I will have to focus to make that happen, but it is well within my power. I could have a guilt free weekend. I could have a weekend without having to work! Well, that isn't quite true, I still have a class to teach on Saturday, but excluding that. And it is supposed to be a WONDERFUL weekend to be out, enjoying the California springtime weather. I can just imagine!!!

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The Power of the Blog

As is my normal practice before bed, I reviewed my favorite blogs, just prior to penning this. I was planning on extolling the virtues of my glorious day. I actually completed all the "A'' items on my "to do" list. But then I realized the true power of the blog.

While reviewing one of the other blogs I discovered why I had several channels missing from my satellite TV. Not something that I was terribly worried about, but happy to know the reason none the less!! I probably would have never found out otherwise (I am very anti-news). So now I have found another reason to blog. Blogs have information, blogs have humor, blogs have power!

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A Good Week in the Making

Before my head hits the hay tonight, the new and improve website will be uploaded for everyone's viewing pleasure. There are still a few little things missing or not quite right, but it has to be done anyway. There are folks out there just waiting for the newest version -- I am sure of it!!!

So another big item is checked off the "to do" list. However, there are still several biggies left to go. I still need to desgin, print up and send out the Teacher's Retreat material to those who have requested it. I am trying to get a submission ready and sent out before the deadline -- this one is urgent at this point! I still need to finish the final updates for the Rep packages. As always, so much to do, but at least we have begun with a bang. I think we have a good week in the making!

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The Wonder of the Web

So we are finally getting close to being able to publish our completely new and improved web site. We have been working on it for weeks and I think we are finally getting close. There are so many new pages to add and then everything needs to be proofed. So the list of things that needed to be done before the end of last month is getting shorter. Hopefully I can get it done before this month comes to an end!! I have great hope for this week!!

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A Quick Post

I know it is cheap...but I like the quizzes and this one was both fun a fairly accuarate!!


You are water. You're not really organic; you're neither acidic nor basic, yet you're an acid and a base at the same time. You're strong willed and opinionated, but relaxed and ready to flow. So while you often seem worthless without you, everything would just not work People should definitely drink more of you every day.


Which Biological Molecule Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

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Introducing...

Today was another day of progress, so this evening I thought I would take this time to introduce my puppies. Antigone (the old lady of the bunch) was part of a kid's program at our church called CATCH (Children At The CHurch). We talked about how we got to know one another and how we communicate since she cannot talk like Scooby-Doo (although she is a Great Dane too). I love my Tig -- I have had her longer than I have had my husband. She is coming up on 8 yrs old which is getting old for a Great Dane, but she seems to be in good health and "the boys" keep her active. So introducing Antigone!!



"The Boys" are brothers. We rescued them about a year ago when they were puppies. We were only going to take one, but they obviously loved being together and we have a big farm...so what is another 40 lbs of dog food! TheY are both mutts, but definitely have Hound in their blood lines. Ares is the dominant one, although he is the smaller of the two. Triton is much more "the hound" with almond shaped eyes, a much more lazy attitude and you can here the howl in his bark. We call them "the little boys" as they are the youngsters and they are smaller than Antigone, but they are both well over 50 lbs, so they are not that little! Without further ado, Ares and Triton!!





And that is our very much loved doggie family!! Tomorrow we will get back to the business of knitting!

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I am WOMAN!

I have been complaining about the fact that my list keeps growing significantly faster than I am able to check things off, but today I actually made some headway! This brings me some serious joy! I have always been very goal oriented, and the appearance of loosing ground is not good for my type of personality. But today I gained a little. And tomorrow has some good prospects of gaining a bit more. I suppose I am most excited about the fact that by the end of the week, I might actually be feeling "caught up".

Now this is not to say that everything will be done. Any entreprenuer can tell you, it is never done!! But manageable is all that I am asking for at this moment. I have about 4 BIG things that I need to get checked off my list (preferrably by the end of the week) and I will be in a much better state of mind. One item was completed today with significant progress on another. At this rate, one a day, I should be good by the end of the week. I have been feeling so proud of myself, I keep singing to myself the classic "I Am Woman" -- which is okay, because I am!

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