November 2, 2009

a halloween tail


On Halloween, about midnight, I let the dogs out into the front yard. I was dog sitting Chris and Kristy's dog, Fiona, because they were having a party and it was just easier for her to be here. So, anyway, I let Jack and Fiona out and I noticed there was a smell hanging in the air, all over the yard; kind musky with a sulphur undertone. It was weird. The dogs started going berserk, they were running around the perimeter of the fence, barking like mad. Of course, it was raining. I noticed the the security light had come on back in the driveway and the trashcan had been overturned (it's a BIG can, tall and on wheels). Hmm. Finally, I got the dogs back into the house and that was the end of it. Or so I thought. Yesterday, my neighbor called me to let me know that about that time I was running around the yarn. In the rain. In the dark. Chasing crazy dogs. There was a black bear (yes. BLACK BEAR) cruising through the neighborhood looking for something good to eat.



This isn't the bear she saw, this photo is from our local 'bear aware' website. I've lived in this house for 14 years and there hasn't been a bear before (that I know of). We've had big tom turkeys walking down the middle of the road gobbling, and I saw a fox running down the driveway this summer. It looked like it had a sandwich in it's mouth, which I thought was weird until I realized it found a big piece of bread Dale threw out for the birds. Years ago, there was a pair of foxes that played in the snow. But bears? Not so much.

November 1, 2009

time change




I love the Sunday when daylight savings ends. There is a shift in time yes, but in me as well. It's almost as if I am existing outside of time, in a shadow of time. This feeling last too; until my body and my life catch up to the change in time. Usually a week or so. And then? I like the digging in and cozy feeling of wrapping everything up before dark and closing the doors and curtains against the dark, turning on the lights. Don't get me wrong...I love when the days get longer and we have the free run of summer, but equally, I love the recharging that happens in the darker months. I know this probably sounds very off the wall, but there it is.

October 31, 2009

boo



Happy Halloween, ya'll!


October 28, 2009

lace goes in the sock column...




I must be deficient somehow because I started the lace bit on my shawl and had to tear it out TWICE. I could. not. figure out what in the hell I did wrong; smoke started coming out of my ears and then my brain crashed. So. I frogged the lace bit and I did a slight ruffle-ly-thing instead. It's cute but it's not the lacy bit either. Now I'm a lace-don't as well. Crap. And I still need to block the shawl. Actually, after living with it for a minute I think I like the ruffle better than the lace anyway. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.








Because I am a copycat I have been compulsively making silhouettes for Halloween. Probably because of my lace inadequacies. But whatever. It's Tia's fault. The link for the witch and the werewolf are here.








I love, love, love the crows.






Oh. And did I mention I blew out my back last week? No? Well, I did and I'm pissy about it. Not that you could tell. But really, I'm not as sweet as I usually am. I stubbed my freaking toe going up the stairs which shot lightening straight up to my sad, sad hip and whipped around to blow my back out. Stupid stairs. Stupid hip.

October 19, 2009

you want to know...


...how sick and twisted some people really are? I've recently been uploading months worth of photos to flickr and I've noticed one particular photo seems to be very popular.


My first thought was...That's weird...people must really like knitted rugs (it's in a set called KNITTING). But then it dawned on me. The title of the photo is 'Homemade. Happiness. Underfoot.' People who (thankfully) remain nameless are searching for pictures of (ick. ick. ick.) feet. I know this is true because after I changed the title to 'Homemade. Happiness.' the hits stopped on this particular photo. Pardon me, I have to go scrub my brain now.

October 13, 2009

pie and hot coffee...



...in honor of Daddy's birthday.

October 10, 2009

meanwhile...




It's time to think about fruitcake! Need to order the citron and get on with it. I've finally found a place that has the stuff sweetened with sugar instead of a chemical pretending to be sugar.


It was cold here. Blanket-on-the-bed-close-the-windows-at-night cold, then yesterday it got up to 85°. Then it rained. So I gave up and turned on the air conditioner. And today? It's about 52°. Maybe.


I'm ready for the time to change. Ready to dig in and cozy up with Hunny Bunny. Make soup and bread and wintry things. There's something energizing about this time of year. After I get over the urge to nap when the days first get shorter, that is.