Almost June

I have been a horrible blogger this month.  A whole lot of nothing going on.
-Yard work takes precedence over everything else.  It takes a big chunk of time to mow, trim, and weed eat.
-CJE and I went to Hollister, MO for an OWL (Ozarks Writers League) meeting.  We stayed in an old hotel that has been restored to nice accommodations.  The noise level from the bar and the people in the hallway made me feel as if I was in some dormitory somewhere.  CJE was deadly sick the whole weekend with sinus infection.  Not a lot of fun.  She slept the whole trip.
-CJE and I went to Eureka Springs after OWL meeting, stayed at the Writer's Colony Saturday night, and then attended Books in Bloom on Sunday.  Again, CJE sick, sluggish, and not feeling right. AE called me to talk to her, and we headed home after that.
-Moving slowly, but steadily, along on the sleeve of colorwork sweater.  After ripping out the four inches, I think this time it will stay in.  Looks good to me now. Interesting part- decreases every four rows. Repetitive pattern not so interesting to create, but looks pretty.
-Had a spurt of interest in spinning some yarn, and could not face white.  So dyed it pretty blue color.
The yarn will match my bachelor buttons outside.
-My yard is again covered in bachelor buttons and weeds mixed in those.  I am amazed at my neighbor's abhorrence of the untidiness of everything.  I like it, and I don't care that they don't.  She is afraid of snakes.
-Noodles has decided now to systematically kill off every chipmunk that might be around.  I wish he would kill other rodents, but he has his own menu.
-Patty was boarded while CJE and I were on our weekend trip.  She came home with some weird habits from the other dogs.  Noodles had to slap her down twice until she remembered she was out of control.  Things back to normal now.
-The dreadful privet bushes out front are blooming.  It is a very sickening sweet smell that I am highly allergic to.  Since I keep windows and doors open and sit on the screened porch, there is no avoiding the smell or pollen.  UGHHH!
-I started a barn-raising square.  I had so much trouble with the cast-on and double points.  Gave my one square to CP at LYS, and told her my problem.  I showed her the granny square afghan I am crocheting with the yarn I bought.  JF came in, laughed at me, and said she always teaches people to use the magic loop method.  That was a DUH! moment.  I never thought of that.  She said everyone on Ravelry that had problems used double-points. DUH!
-I had my birthday this weekend.  Weirdest thing-Google had birthday cupcakes, etc. When I pressed the Google logo to see who had a birthday the same day as me, it popped up "Happy Birthday, Juliann".  Now it is strange to know I have a relationship with my computer.  I also got a birthday email greeting from Toyota.  Too strange, huh?

So see not a lot going on.  Just mundane things that occur around here.  Not a lot going on.  I am moving towards sewing, but haven't gotten there.  Goal for the summer is finish the two quilts I started last year.  I want to do some small sewing projects too.  Just moving towards hottest part of summer when I am not as interested in knitting. 

So soon we move into June.  I really like June.  It is a transition month with the Solstice in the middle.  I enjoy the screened porch in the first part of the day, and seek coolness for the hot part of the day.  So come on June-I'm ready for ya.

Okay! It's Official-I'm Old!

I just returned from a whirlwind tour of the Arkansas Ozarks.  My friend CJE invited Ann Hood, the writer, to attend Books in Bloom in Eureka Springs.  She had to drive to Little Rock to pick her up, and deliver her to the Writer's Colony.  They spent a delightful evening on an art crawl on White Street, with wine and snacks along the way.  CJE had to return home to check on the moms and to check in with her husband.  Sunday a.m. she came over here, and we took off to Eureka Springs for the Books in Bloom event.  The afternoon was mostly HOT, with occasional clouds and wind.  We had a wonderful meal at Carib with a lot of the local folks that CJE knows.  Then after a restless night at a friend's house, we got up Monday to return Ann to Little Rock to fly away eastward. 

We took a quick trip down the Pig Trail, and onto the interstate straight into Little Rock.  We arrived in plenty of time to swing by the capitol building.  Then after dropping Ann off at the airport, we headed westward on the interstate.  We stopped at some friends' house in Conway to check in with them.  We stayed overnight, and then up and out yesterday morning.  Home again around 1 p.m.

I met some wonderful people, but I tell you the best were the kitties at K and R's house in Conway.  They have ten cats.  They were wonderful kitties.  I needed some kitty love by that time.

I picked up Patty at the boarders, and she was ecstatic to go home, too.  Bless her heart, she slept the whole afternoon and evening.  She was worn out.  Well, we both were.  Two old ladies , groaning and moaning, and just pooped.

It was fun to talk to Ann the whole trip, but I don't know how she manages her schedule and her life.  She travels a lot.  It was just remarkable to hear the stories and to laugh and to have fun on this quick little trip.

I am finally getting back to schedule again.  I got the trash out this am, watered what little bit I am watering, and unpacking my bag.  I need to shower and get dressed, but I may just not do that today.

My neighbor brought me supper last night.  I had to keep from hugging her.  I was so tired, and hungry, so I just pulled out something from the freezer to stick in the oven to heat up.  Just as I closed the oven door, the doorbell rang.  She had a platter full of fried crappie, real fried potatoes, and hush puppies.  It tasted really good.  When they cook fish, they usually bring me some of it.  That is the only time I eat fried foods like that.  It always tastes really good, because someone else makes it.

So I am going to try to get the vest finished this week.  I only have a coupla days left in the week, but I think I can do it. 

We are getting water-deprived here.  I have been watering my buckeye trees and some of the flowers.  A friend reminded me last night that I don't have to water the trees.  They go into dormancy to reserve energy.  But it hurts to see their leaves go yellow and fall off.  Nature is so good to figure out how to survive things like droughts.

Have a great rest of the week.  Gotta run!

"As I get older, I just prefer to knit." - Tracey Ullman