cynical knitter

2009-07-09T09:03:00.001-05:00

they are blooming!

It is HOT.

2009-06-25T10:12:00.003-05:00

Gracie "Happy Wagger" by ahj

Well. those who had been hoping for summer weather in Chicago have been granted their wish. I prefer the transitional seasons. Spring and Fall. Mild temperatures, no windchill or heat indices. But, four seasons are nice for variation.

And, despite this heat, I have signed myself up for some more motivation...a 5K on July 19th. It is a Women Only event. So, I'm going to do this. Even if I have to walk part of it.

I've been doing strength training for two weeks now and feel a little different already. No, not just the muscle aches ha ha.

Off to take a walk/run in the sweltering heat. I will leave Miss Gracie at home for this one, I think it's too hot for her.

2009-06-20T09:17:00.001-05:00

some storms! this tree is on irving park road!

2009-06-18T11:30:00.001-05:00

happy dogs on thursday! have a ball ;)

summer?

2009-06-17T23:51:00.001-05:00

African Daisies from seeds! Thanks Birdie's Mama.

Where have you been?

2009-06-15T19:35:00.003-05:00

Peony with Raindrops June 2009

Well, my friends. I have not been blogging as frequently as I once did. This is not because I have been working too much (which easily could have been the issue in the recent past), or because I don't think of you all out there in cyberblogville heights.

It is because I have actually been exercising. Okay, it's out. I've been walking most days about 1 mile and a half, with Miss Gracie. I am afraid that she is going to learn that the words Daily Constitutional mean the same thing as W-A-L-K but so far she hasn't figured this out.

We just met a little girl 1 1/2 years old who was fascinated by Gracie...and Gracie was so hyper that I was holding her back. I think that 2 1/2 or 3 is the size of kid that is perfect for Gracie. She just sits and lets them pet her, pull her ears, whatever...but timid little ones who are lower than eye level seem to get the crazy golden retriever act. The girl's mom was very sweet about the whole thing. Although, there is a big exception...that is Miss Birdie. She is not timid with the doggies, or much else which makes her a-ok in my book (even if she was, she'd still be a-ok because I really love her mom and dad and any product of those two HAS to be stellar).

Anyway, on our walk today (we've been walking at least thrice a week (tee hee hee, thrice) for 3 months now. Today was the first day that we ran even a little bit and it didn't nearly kill me. My goal is ... to run a 5K on October 3rd. I had originally thought I'd do one on May 30th but that was just plain nutty. So, instead, I have signed up for the AIDS Run/Walk for October 3rd.

This will be my first 5K, and I'm not sure if it will be my last. But, I do not want this to distract from my Alzheimer's fund raising. That walk is September 19th. I don't think I am going because Teddy (sister) and the Blondinas (neices) are coming to town that weekend. But I am setting up a fundraising page. I just have to find the purple bandanna that Gracie won last year for being the dog who raised the most money for the Kalamazoo Alzheimer's Memory Walk. Huzzah!

2009-06-13T13:50:00.001-05:00

an au lait and wool...perfect.

Robin Paparazzi

2009-06-08T07:42:00.001-05:00

I think this one is my favorite one (above). This is one of the parents of the baby bird below.

Mmm ... worms for breakfast.

The robin keeps coming back. Last weekend, I was digging up some roots of a - shall we say - "rather busy" plant that was not-so gradually taking up the beds that get the best sun.

I put an ad on Craig's list and a lady came over and got the plants (for free) for her yard which is MUCH larger than mine. Everyone wins.

Anyway, the robin came back ... and stole, err, I mean ate some worms. This bird doesn't seem all that afraid when I get near with the camera. It makes it fun. It feels like I am the Robin paparazzi, ha ha.

I was looking at some old pictures and I have Robin pictures for the past three years or so. I really do love springtime!

Summer Sundays

2009-06-07T08:00:00.006-05:00

A few Sundays ago (when it was not overcast or raining) we brought out the hammock again...Lehu enjoyed a nice relaxing afternoon with a 50 pound Golden Retriever on her feet. When Lehu got out of the hammock, guess who stayed...

And stayed...

...and stayed...

And stayed.

I love this dog, she cracks me up!

A Guest Knitter

2009-06-06T11:20:00.002-05:00

Look at what my mom made...it is even more gorgeous in person. It is a gift for a friend of hers. All of the yarn for it cost less than $100 and it is so nice!

July 11 in Philadelphia?

2009-06-03T21:48:00.003-05:00

So, East Coast Knitting Friends...I am going to be traveling to Philadelphia for a wedding and will have the day of Saturday, July 11th to knit, go yarn shopping, drink coffee, and hang out with my knitting friends...

Any takers?

Update on Baby Robin Adventures

2009-05-30T17:58:00.006-05:00

I was there when he flew away. It was very exciting. I made a little video of some of his adventures.

P.S. Be sure to check out Golden Gracie's Cafe Press Shop, all proceeds help pay for Gracie's vet bills and meds.

The Wild Life in the Big City

2009-05-23T21:30:00.003-05:00

This baby bird and its family seems to be living under our back porch. These birds seem to have a death wish, what with the Golden Retriever aka hunting is instinct and the cats hunting and killing is instinct...I have some better pics of the little guy which I will post another time. In this one he looks a little like an owlet. So peculiar.

Either way, this little guy has been perching on the back porch about 4 feet from the back door we use to let Gracie out in the yard. It does not fly well at this point and is acting a bit stubborn if you ask me. Sort of like the teenager out after curfew.

So, with all the bird drama...I've been letting Gracie out the front on the leash which I hate so much at night time.

Any suggestions? I don't want to disrupt this family, but they are in such danger! I am very glad that it isn't an opossum.

The Last Day in my 30's

2009-05-22T16:03:00.002-05:00

My sister "Teddy" and my nieces #1 and #2 sent flowers...a card that plays "Over the Rainbow" ... with drawings! Fred and Ginger, and Tap Shoes sent a lovely card. I am a lucky gal! and my bday isn't til tomorrow! Birdie's Mama and Papa gave me a very generous gift of cash (one dollar for each year...getting older does have some perks, ha ha), and a drawing from Birdie.

Viburnum, Spirea and Gracie ... Oh My!

2009-05-21T18:43:00.002-05:00

this one is for birdie's mama

In Which the Urban Zoo Acquires a Hammock

2009-05-20T22:14:00.005-05:00

Happy Birthday Chicago Sarah!

Chicago Sarah (whose birthday is 5/20) and her Sweetie brought me a hammock from Nicaragua in January...and I finally got a stand (from Lowe's). So, while I am away from work on my Staycation, there will be hammock time. Thanks Sarah!!!

Knitting for Good, the Sequel Post

2009-05-13T06:35:00.008-05:00

The fleecy bear is Leah and the orange kitty is Angie. The one that Gracie chooses will represent the one to whom I will mail the above mentioned book...If she picks the Mallard, well, then I'm back to the drawing board. Instructions are inside the book cover, but also on my previous entry on this subject. Both are favorite toys in this house, but this morning, fleecy bear wins out! Congrats Leah...instructions are in the inside cover of the book, and below. Please email me your snail mail and I'll put it in the mail before the end of the week!

Cheers!

Rule 1: When you receive the book, please go to Monika's blog and add yourself to the world map, so that those interested, can see where the book is. Please add your Name, location, and your blog address, so we can visit, and for those who want the book, to leave a comment on your blog post.

Rule 2: Read the book, enjoy it, let it inspire you, then do a draw, so you can pass it on. Best to copy the rules to your blog post with a link to Monika's blog. (So others who know nothing about me, know what's going on.) It would be nice, if the book would not lie around for TOO long at any one point.

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T07:40:00.004-05:00

My dear readers, I would like to dedicate this entry to my mom, my sister and my friends who are also moms (Birdie's Mama, you know who you are).

My dad took this photo in 1971. It is one of my favorite photographs because my mom and I both really like elephants, and we are looking at a Mama and a baby elephant. Mom's pregnant with my little sister in this picture too, which makes it all the more special to me. Those last moments of being the only child.

In recent years, we have begun a tradition of going to garden centers on Mother's Day. Every year I add a shrub to my yard, and each one is now thriving. We have, in past, have some very intense car rides to these places and some not that big of a deal. I think that's just part of our dynamic. Today, we are going to be trying a new place which is always a bit of an adventure. I tend toward the familiar with this type of thing but that's alright.

To all of you moms out there...

Happy Mother's Day

Knitting for Good - Pass It On

2009-05-07T05:33:00.003-05:00

I'm nearly finished reading this lovely little tome, and it is time to do a drawing for who is next in the chain of knitters who want to join in and read it too.

If you leave a comment to this post before Monday, May 11th at 12 midnight ... you will be included in the drawing. The only thing is that you have to be willing to read the book, post about it on your blog, enter your location on Monica's blog and link back to her from your blog...and to have a drawing of your own when you are finished reading so it can continue its journey of good will.

Gracie will likely assist in the drawing, if that makes it any more appealing :) She's all excited and ready to roll!

2009-05-02T11:12:00.003-05:00

...got this two weeks (or more) ago from Gaylen who got it from Sue who got it from Yvonne who got it from Ann who got it from Monika...is this cool or what. When I finish reading I'll pass it on too.

Dogs on Thursday

2009-04-30T12:36:00.001-05:00

The nose knows...what does it know? I do not know.

Whiskers on Wednesday

2009-04-29T08:34:00.002-05:00

Ruthie is really diggin' her new summer 'do, but Georgie thinks we've brought an alien into the house. The saga of the felines in the Urban Zoo continues...

We have continued the "New Cat Entering the Household" protocol. Ruthie is happy as a clam, not really all that interested in going to the door where paws can play. But Georgie and Idgie sit in front of that door most of their waking hours. Yesterday, the cat formerly known as Mellow Georgie, hissed and growled and his tail puffed up like a feather duster when he saw Ruthie as I exited the bedroom/bathroom where she has been living. This made me also want to growl, but part of the protocol is to act normally toward all the animals. No one is special/everyone is special.

Oye gevalt is all I'm saying.

But this morning, Ruthie ventured out of her rooms. The other cats are in the basement where they live at night time (there are lots of fun and comfy spots for them down there...plus food, water and litter boxes). She is now exploring the living room. She has hissed at Gracie and swatted, but I think that is because Gracie was annoyed with Ruthie for sitting on "her" chair.

Again, oye gevalt.

On a knitting note...Mom's socks are nearly complete. I am now considering cute patterns for baby hats. There seem to be a lot of little girls due this summer. One set of twins included.

2009-04-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

I love Spring.

The one where Ruthie gets a Lion Cut

2009-04-25T09:40:00.010-05:00

Once upon a time, there were three cats. One, who is usually very very mellow and does not get upset easily (Georgie), one, who adapts to change very very poorly (Idgie), and one who keeps to herself (Ruthie).

The other players:

Urban Zoo Knitter
Lehu
Gracie - you probably know her...she's the Golden I can't stop talking about.

Back to our story, already in progress. Georgie spent most of the day yesterday sitting on the front enclosed porch enjoying the sunshine and supervising the workers.

Urban Zoo Knitter (UZK) gathered up Ruthie at 12:30 pm and got her in the carrier with not much ado -- getting pretty good at this task. Didn't get ANY scratches at all. And, there was only one hiss involved (from the cat).

In case you forgot what our Diva looks like with her tresses...very glam.

This time of year, however, the glam becomes matty and kind of impossible to maintain (mane-tain...ha ha ha). So, we generally take her to a cats only groomer who refuses to do lion cuts because she thinks they are cruel. She might be right. But stay with me here...because I'm not convinced.

I have friends who run a no-kill cat shelter and one of their cats gets a lion cut for the summer too, so I didn't feel terrible about subjecting Ruthie to this process. And, she's been to the other groomer so much that she's really actually well behaved at the groomers now.

As I dropped her off at this place called the Bark Bark club (dogs, clearly, get more services than cats...what with day care and all of that)... their review on yelp talked about how great the cat groomer is. They were right, but I'll get to that.

I dropped her off at 1. Because that is the time I wrote in my calendar. When I was filling out the paperwork, they said they would probably start her at 3 and she'd be done by 5, but since they close at 5 could I get there earlier. I shrugged my shoulders and thought, why didn't I drop her off later? I felt so bad that she'd have to be in the carrier for all that time. Poor little Miss Ruthie. But, I left her feeling hopeful that it would be alright.

So, I went on my way to do errands and visit with a friend. At 4:30 they called and said, "your kitty will be ready at 5, could you be here a little before that since we close at 5?" I was perplexed. Why not just say she'd be ready at 4:45? But, whatever. I got there and she was just about ready. I paid the nice people, and the groomer came out with Ruthie in her carrier (it's a nice one, like a duffel bag with mesh sides so she can see out ... and breathe).

"Was she okay?" I asked reluctantly.
"Yes, she was perfect...she would just lie down and let us work on her."
"Really?! Oh, that's good. Thanks." Inside I was feeling horrible. I was scared that this cat would hate me forever and ever. And, I'm her favorite mama so that was not a fun thought AT ALL.
"Do you have other cats at home? Because they will sometimes treat cats who come home with a lion cut as outsiders...so I want you to be ready for that." No biggie, I thought, they always treat her as an outsider.

I was unprepared for what happened next.

Every cat changed roles.

Georgie became a freaked out howling hissing growling maniac
Idgie was indifferent
Ruthie was sweet and playful

We have instituted the "introducing a new cat to your household" protocol. I expect that this will last a week.

But, last night, Ruthie just started to love her new style. She's carefree and cuddly...she loves to be touched (this is unusual) and she's letting me pick her up more.

Drum Roll Please...

She is so soft and pretty...but kinda looks like a giant rat. Have a great weekend everyone!

Rainy but Productive

2009-04-19T14:16:00.001-05:00

progress...still sock #1. love rainy days. also love blogging from my cell phone.