172 thoughts on “Weekend Open Thread

  1. AJ August 20, 2016 / 9:47 am

    Yea I’m first!!! I’m first!!! So what did I win, huh Mike?? Love our Sat critter, what unusual markings. Nothing big planned for the weekend, fighting a bad allergy attack so I have a feeling I’m going be a couch lump today, have absolutely no ambition. Might do some laundry and clean the kitchen. Supposed to have breakfast with friends tomorrow but haven’t heard from them yet to confirm so it might just be running errands. If I feel up to it I may hit our local Goodwill thrift store then get the supplies for a weaving/knitting project.

    • debg August 20, 2016 / 10:20 am

      AJ, what are you making in your weaving/knitting project?

  2. Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 9:58 am

    I thought it was a baby panda at first! Took me a moment to sort out which end was what.

    I’m in the countdown – less than two weeks ’til my shoulder surgery so I’m planning on doing some garden clean-up – we need to hack through a climbing rose to allow the recliner we’re renting to be delivered. They tell you that a recliner is the only way you’ll get any sleep or respite from pain. I’m in the midst of photographing my work to apply for my Craft Guild’s upcoming show, lots of cleaning to get done, need to stock up on food that my dear hubby can handle, since he’ll be doing some cooking, at least for the first week. Not all of it will get done, but I need to make a good stab at it. Party tonight! Can’t wait – music party, lots of great musicians. Heading out now to get the makings for my contribution for the potluck. Thank goodness the weather is more reasonable! Have a great day, everyone!

    PS when the image first came up the commentary wasn’t there, consequently my panda comment.?

    • debg August 20, 2016 / 10:20 am

      Murray, what’s your craft?

      • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 12:44 pm

        I have been an illustrator, but right now I’m doing decorative painting on frames, birdhouses, little paper mache boxes, that sort of thing. I love pattern and textiles so I look to vintage Art Deco, Art Nouveau, African, pre-Colombian – whatever hits me – for inspiration. I sometimes make dolls, I also illustrate cards and I do some crochet – mostly with the finer thread, 8 or 9 steel needles and I make what I like to call String Pots that I make up as I go along. I’m a dabbler, I guess – Jack of all Trades, Master of None. tho’ I draw the line at kitchen re-dos!!!!?

        • debg August 20, 2016 / 1:33 pm

          I can’t draw more than stick figures, so I’m envious.

          • allein ? August 20, 2016 / 2:00 pm

            Me neither. I always joke that I can’t draw a straight line with a ruler, but it’s not entirely a joke…

            My brother hogged all the art genes.

        • N. Fritz August 20, 2016 / 3:02 pm

          Art nouveau textiles – you’re speaking my language, Murray! I love the Vienna Workshop (Wiener WerkstΓ€tte) and dream of the day when I can afford some little treasure from the period.

          • Murray C. August 21, 2016 / 11:14 pm

            I’ll have to look that up, N. Fritz. I am more familiar with William Morris
            ( Arts and Crafts, I guess, rather than considered Art Nouveau. I’m never clear on designations. I also paid a lot of attention to Alphonse Mucha (sp?) and his beautiful line. Taught me a lot about drawing.

          • Murray C. August 21, 2016 / 11:46 pm

            I’ve just had a fabulous time looking at galleries from the Wiener Werkstatte! Thank you so much – I have more fodder for my designs, so many ideas. I am so jazzed!

          • Murray C. August 22, 2016 / 10:22 pm

            I found several sites – The Vienna Secession site is my fave so far – and can’t stop looking. I love the lettering of that time and I love to do hand lettering. I’ve done several cd covers for friends and this is such a great source for inspiration. I also use old posters and old sheet music covers (of which I have many since I like the songs as well) – a wealth of resources. I thank you again, N. Fritz.

    • Phred's Mom August 20, 2016 / 10:35 am

      Yes, at first I was trying to figure out why a panda would be in a chair, then I looked at
      the other end. Gorgeous kittie. Murray, don’t overdo the housecleaning, etc. before
      your surgery. I understand the urge – totally- I go through this before every trip or
      time-consuming event. Don’t want to come home to chores. The trick is to relax your
      housekeeping standards for the duration. Hubster will get the basics done his way,
      and this will be a blessing. You probably won’t give a hoot anyway for the first week.
      Just relax, play Queen for a day (or more) and read, watch movies, nap, whatever.
      Follow the doctor’s instructions and heal.

      • Mich Patt August 20, 2016 / 10:58 am

        This is such sound advice! I had emergency surgery in late April (buh-bye gallbladder) and the above is precisely how the first week went. I relaxed my standards and, therefore, I relaxed. Nothing burned down, no one died, and the toilet eventually got cleaned. I was back to work within a week (desk job so no big deal) but was gentle with myself going right into June and July. I now feel like a million bucks and feel no physical restrictions! Though I do have some pretty itchy battle scars πŸ˜‰ (absentmindedly scratches belly…)

        • AJ August 20, 2016 / 11:08 am

          Isn’t gall bladder surgery so much fun?? I had mine out about 2 years ago and I thought “Oh not a big deal, I’ll be back to work in a day or two”. Wrong, I needed a week and even then still felt like my insides had been put through a blender.

          Murray, just take it easy after the shoulder surgery. My husband’s had 2 and he spent the first month or so sleeping in a recliner. The other thing, stock up on lots of button up shirts because there is no way you’ll be able to get pull over shirts on. Plus you may be relying on your hubby for a lot, help you get dressed, cut your food, take a shower, etc. You’ll feel like you’ve reverted back to being 3 years old with all the help you need.

          • Mich Patt August 20, 2016 / 11:13 am

            I didn’t even know I was having gallbladder attacks.; just thought they were incredibly painful backaches (naive!) so I was pretty surprised to be told I was having surgery and I have getting it done THAT NIGHT. I’ve had some other surgery in the past and on scale of 1 to 10 for recovery pain, this was only about a six. The pain even faded reasonably quickly. You’re right though… full blender mode for the first week. I hobbled around like I was 98 years old! So glad that’s over and done with. πŸ˜€

            • AJ August 20, 2016 / 11:32 am

              I had my first and only gall bladder attack at 3 am on Easter Sunday. Had to wake hubby to take me to the ER. They wanted to do surgery that night but since the pain had subsided, I told them no I wanted to double check my options with my doctor. I’m a big wuss when it comes to surgery plus I need special considerations when I go in for surgery (ie I’m a bleeder so I need clotting factor before they start and I have trouble waking up from the anesthesia) so unless absolutely necessary I wasn’t going for surgery. And yeah, felt like an old lady, I was walking with a cane as I needed help getting up from chairs, etc. Never want to go through that again.

            • Phred's Mom August 20, 2016 / 2:04 pm

              My worst surgery was to remove cancerous kidney.
              Felt a mass, went to doctor, was whipped into hospital
              within a couple of days. They took a rib that was in the way,
              and I ended up looking like the woman the magician saws
              in two (if he really did saw) and it changed my attitude
              toward so much, Fortunately no chemo, etc. was necessary,
              as it was encapsulated. The pain meds didn’t make the pain go away, it just made me not give a flying you-know-what and kinda
              view it as from a distance. Pain when the meds wore
              off was right up there with intense childbirth. MyMike
              and my mom took care of me and housework was no
              concern of mine for a long, long time. All ok since then,1989.

              • Mich Patt August 20, 2016 / 10:50 pm

                Good grief! What an ordeal!! So so glad you’re okay and you didn’t need to be pumped full of chemo afterward. Sometimes I marvel at modern medicine but then I also have times where I think we’re stuck in the middle ages.

                • Phred's Mom August 21, 2016 / 7:09 am

                  Too true, Mich. Chemo seems to me akin to
                  beating out the demons with switches and clubs.
                  Patient takes a lickin’ and may or may not survive.

                  • Murray C. August 21, 2016 / 11:48 pm

                    Thank goodness for us all that you did, Phred’s Mom!?

                    • Phred's Mom August 23, 2016 / 7:50 am

                      Thanks, Murray, I am touched.

          • 6rabbits August 21, 2016 / 8:49 pm

            AJ, gall bladder surgery recovery used to be 3 weeks, 20 or so years ago! When I came back to work after 6 days, collegues who’d had surgery decades ago were shocked.
            And Mich Patt, I too thought it was some kind of horrible back pain, went to the ER, and ended up with emergency surgery! Lovely memories!

        • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 12:36 pm

          Thanks, all – good advice and I will stick to the regime – I’ve been told more than once that you have to do all the exercises when PT starts, so I’m prepared to be as complaint as I can.

          • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 12:45 pm

            Uh, that was “compliant”, Sir Auto-correct!

            • allein ? August 20, 2016 / 12:53 pm

              Sure it was… πŸ˜‰

            • Mich Patt August 20, 2016 / 10:51 pm

              Freudian slip autocorrect! LOL

          • AJ August 20, 2016 / 1:10 pm

            Don’t worry, you might be complaining while being compliant. Me and hubby used to say PT actually meant Physical Torture, cause of some of the exercises they want you to do. But good luck and hope you feel better quickly.

          • Laura August 20, 2016 / 2:44 pm

            Amen on the exercise. I’ve had several orthopedic surgeries — thumb joint replacement, knee replacement, major back surgery — and every time the PT was NOT FUN. Especially the knee; they made me start PT 12 hours after surgery! I was shocked, to put it mildly. But it really worked. Today that’s my good knee. And the thumb surgery was on my primary hand, and today that hand is strong and pain-free.

            Also, take your pain meds as prescribed. Pain interferes with healing. The meds probably won’t take away all the pain, but they’ll help. If the pain gets too much for you even with the meds, talk to your doc; that happened to me after my knee surgery, and they had to give me another pain med for a few weeks that made all the difference.

            I know all will go well with your surgery, but please let us know as soon as you can how you’re doing so we don’t worry about you too much!

            • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 11:54 pm

              Sweet, thanks. What a group – you are as the Brits say, “Bricks”. I only know that I’ll probably be back here asap, only my typing will be significantly slowed down, but, hey, I’ll probably have some time on my hands. Other than the reading, listening to podcast, TED Talks, watching some DVD’s I’ve been trying to get to. And I’m learning how to water color with my left hand (and some other things as well of a more practical nature!)

    • Mich Patt August 20, 2016 / 11:09 am

      We’ve got a reclining love seat and they’re right—high quality naps and squishy comfort. What a good idea to rent one for your recovery!

      • Laura August 20, 2016 / 3:09 pm

        We have a reclining loveseat, too, that Sebastian LOVES. Except my hubs has been trying to keep him off it; it’s his favorite sleeping place when his head gets too stuffy to lie down completely. He had an old blanket on it that the dog loved to lie on, so yesterday he picked up the blanket off the seat. And then last night he found Sebastian with his head on hubs’ neck pillow, snoring up a storm, and he was so cute that he gave up! So now the old blanket is back, and Sebastian has permission to sleep there. Smart doggie! Cuteness wins every time! (Sorry the picture is fuzzy; hubs took it with his flip phone camera in low light.)

        • allein ? August 20, 2016 / 3:20 pm

          I guess Sebastian has settled in..

          My parents never bothered to try to keep dogs off furniture. Then again, my mom had a lap dog on purpose. I don’t think they let big dogs on the furniture when they babysit (they had a friend’s Olde English Sheepdog a few months ago, and occasionally have my cousin’s Wheaten Terrier, and recently also their new Havanese…who I’m sure is allowed on the couch. She carried on so much the first night that my mom ended up taking her to bed with her. She would have kept doing it but she figured my cousin wouldn’t like it if she went home and suddenly refused to sleep in her own bed. (My mom has a knack for inadvertently training dogs to do things like that; she’s the reason Pablo ate dinner in the armchair with someone keeping him company every night for months.)

        • Mich Patt August 20, 2016 / 10:57 pm

          What a total cutie! I’d give in too.

          I’m okay with my pets anywhere in the house excepting two places: our bed and the kitchen. The bed is for humans, not animals, as we all need quality sleep. You sleep in your bed and we’ll sleep in ours. Otherwise cuddles on any piece of furniture are more than welcome! (especially naps on the reclining love seat!) The no-kitchen rule stems from having a chihuahua that got stepped on once. Since then, both dog and cat have been trained to lay down on the dining room area rug or the hardwood floor in the kitchen doorway. Pets can keep an eye on humans and vice versa but no one is underfoot. The cat now even waits to be called to her dish like a dog! Weirdo.

          • allein ? August 20, 2016 / 11:20 pm

            I don’t mind the cats in the kitchen as long as they don’t get on the counters. And in my parents’ house you have to go through the kitchen to get to the basement, and the litter boxes are in the basement, so there’s no keeping the cats out of the kitchen. Luckily they’ve never been much for getting on the counters where food is prepped. The boy does sometimes get on the table but we don’t encourage that. The only counter they’re allowed on is the low one behind the table, below the bay window, but we don’t use that for food.

            I have a friend whose cat gets up on the kitchen counter, and I even saw her get up on the stove once! (For that and a couple other reasons, I generally avoid eating food at his house, unless it’s a freshly opened bag of popcorn or something.)

            • Mich Patt August 21, 2016 / 11:55 am

              You hit the nail on the head with the cat/kitchen counter thing! I loathe the idea that they’ve just finished having a nice pee in some dirty litter and then walking on the counter or the table. Blech.

              And is it just me or does jumping up on the stove seem kind of dangerous? Fortunately, our girl is too lazy for such antics.

              • allein ? August 21, 2016 / 12:24 pm

                The one time I saw her do it, the stove was turned off but still warm (it’s electric, though, so at least she can’t light herself on fire), but yeah, it’s a scary thought. More often she’ll just lay on the heater vent (which is in the floor) and hog all the warm.

                I don’t remember if my mom did something to discourage ours from the counters when they were kittens, but I’ve really never seen them do it. I believe she did hold them near the stove so they could learn that it was hot without finding out the hard way (they have a flat-top electric stove, and it takes a little bit to cool down after it’s turned off, so she worried about that). Stripes usually gets on the table when there’s some paper or something on it for him to play with.

        • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 11:56 pm

          Awwww, so dear!

  3. debg August 20, 2016 / 10:23 am

    I’ve got big plans to find out everybody’s crafting agendas on Cutetropolis. Then hit Home Depot and Lowes (again–it’s a weekly ritual) for more kitchen improvement supplies. This weekend, I install tile backsplash and maybe sew the Roman shades.

    I’m back in my (upstairs) kitchen again, people–it’s got a working sink, garbage disposal, and dishwasher after last weekend’s work! Such a relief to be fully functional again, even without backsplash or window treatments. That was a long 12 weeks, cooking out of the basement kitchen.

    I may even do some baking to celebrate.

    • Phred's Mom August 20, 2016 / 10:41 am

      You’ve done a lot, Deb, we want images
      Tell me about the tile backsplash. I want
      to do this over my stove. There’s just a
      sheet of formica on the wall there now,
      aesthetically a zero.

      • debg August 20, 2016 / 1:22 pm

        Rats, got an error message with the image. Will try sending it to Mike to see if he can help. Phred’s Mom, tiling is fun AND easy. I’ll do white subway tile with gray grout (because the kitchen is gray) and add some brushed stainless steel accents.

        • Phred's Mom August 20, 2016 / 2:26 pm

          Sounds good. Did this a couple of years ago in new bathroom, white
          subway for shower, little white hexagons with the occasional black one
          and grey grout for the floor. White grout would be a pain in the tush on
          the floor, let’s face it. With an antique oak washstand, etc. the bathroom
          looks as if it has always been here in this older house. Already used the
          leftover subway tile as backsplash over laundry sink, so I’ll have to hunt
          up some small quantity for the kitchen. Thanks for the idea!

    • AJ August 20, 2016 / 11:01 am

      I have big ambitions for my crafting, see lots of ideas but then I’m horrible with getting it done because I really don’t have the crafting gene. I usually do coloring but my new project is to get a rectangular loom and make scarves. I’ve tried knitting, sewing, etc and I’m all thumbs so we’ll see how I do with this. I do have an incentive to get the scarves done, they’re for hockey season (in less than 2 months!!! YEAH!!!!!) in my team’s colors. GO Gulls!!! If I get anything done, I’ll post pics.

      • debg August 20, 2016 / 1:15 pm

        AJ, a rigid heddle loom will be PERFECT for scarves–way more fun than knitting them! Weaving is totally zen and doesn’t require much manual dexterity. You just have to remember what row you’re on and that you have to watch your selvedges. It’s ideal for audiobooks but not TV or anything you want to actually *watch*.

    • Mich Patt August 20, 2016 / 11:04 am

      Phred’s Mom is on it… we demand photos! πŸ™‚

      Crafting agenda for today: sewing, sewing, sewing! I just discovered the joy of sewing with jersey knit and have concocted a shirt and skirt pattern for myself that’s stylish, easy to whip up, and super comfy. I have enough fabric from a recent 50% off sale that I can make five separate shirt/skirt combinations to wear to work. Each full outfit takes about 3 hours to make from fabric cutting to finish so I may get one or two done today between chores and errands.

      • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 12:47 pm

        I have NEVER gotten the hang of working with Jersey Knit! How DO you DO IT?!!!

        • debg August 20, 2016 / 1:16 pm

          What Murray C said–do not love working with knits.

          • Phred's Mom August 20, 2016 / 2:29 pm

            Did it once, and once only. Used tape on the seam line, pulled it off
            after stitching. Worked okay, but more trouble than joy. No fun.

        • Mich Patt August 20, 2016 / 11:16 pm

          Ah, it’s all about the serger (which I got used for $60). The finished neckline and sleeve seams are then done on the regular machine with a narrow zig-zag. I’ve love a fancy two-needle straight stitch finish but, honestly, I don’t care enough to make the investment.

          I’ve used a little seam tape here and there and found that definitely helps. Just finished a shirt and skirt tonight without it but won’t do that again. Had to re-do a sleeve seam twice! (gah…I HATE stitch ripping) I’ll go back to using the seam tape and I’m sure all will be good in the ‘hood on the next items.

          Here’s a pic of an outfit I did last week for the local “polka dot picnic”.

          • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 11:58 pm

            NICE! Beautifully done, nice drape. Nice and slim, too!?

          • Phred's Mom August 21, 2016 / 7:14 am

            Very nice. Sophisticated, clean lines, pretty fabric.
            Big win.

          • Faye August 21, 2016 / 8:19 am

            Love it. Easy breezy and light.

          • debg August 21, 2016 / 11:00 am

            Wow, it’s gorgeous. YOU’RE gorgeous. Great work.

            • Mich Patt August 21, 2016 / 11:59 am

              Y’all are making me blush! Good grief.

              The slim is a combination of genes, exercise 5 days a week, and no junk food. *sigh* Not gonna lie, sometimes it’s hard work. And I may be sucking in the old tum/using good posture in this photo. πŸ˜‰

              • Murray C. August 21, 2016 / 12:47 pm

                Hey, sucking in only takes you so far – you still have a nice flat tummy. I long for mine – I’m not TOO bad, but everything does kinda move south, doesn’t it??? I may have told this before, but I have a friend who always said to me “You have the body of a much younger woman….and when she sees what you’ve done to it she’s gonna me mad.”?

                PS Cute cat.

                • Phred's Mom August 21, 2016 / 1:28 pm

                  “Always said” this to you? I hear the past tense.

                  • Murray C. August 21, 2016 / 1:35 pm

                    She’s still with us, she just forgets having said it to me – it was quite a few years ago, over a period of time. She says lots of funny things but she is starting to lose it – she’s in her mid 80’s now, so I figure she’s entitled.?

                • Mich Patt August 21, 2016 / 6:59 pm

                  LOL! Hilarious!

          • Mich Patt August 21, 2016 / 12:02 pm

            LOL! I just realized our cat is in this pic!! πŸ™‚ If you click on the photo, you can see her creeping out of my butt. Yeesh.

          • 6rabbits August 21, 2016 / 9:02 pm

            Wow! That is a great dress!??
            I used to sew a lot of my clothes, and nephews’ clothes, but knits were always difficult because I couldn’t/can’t afford a serger. The most difficult item I ever made was a bride’s maid dress for my sister.

    • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 12:28 pm

      YAY, DEBG, and congratulations. While we didn’t do the work on our kitchen when it was done 18 years ago, we did have the luxury of a second kitchen. The house we live in we bought so that my mother could be with us and it had an in-law suite (used to be a dr’s office) with full bath, kitchen, etc. Good to hear you had one, especially doing the work yourself. I am deeply impressed.

      • debg August 20, 2016 / 1:27 pm

        Let’s see if it works this time.

        • debg August 20, 2016 / 1:29 pm

          And looking at the opposite wall. It’s 112 square feet in an L shape.

          • Faye August 20, 2016 / 1:46 pm

            Oh wow!!! Lovely kitchen. I live in an old house with a very “tired” kitchen and first floor bath. I would love to have your kitchen. I’m totally impresses. Enjoy!

          • Phred's Mom August 20, 2016 / 2:30 pm

            Great job and great photos!
            Proud to know you.

          • Laura August 20, 2016 / 3:18 pm

            Wow, fantastic job! You really did all that yourself??? I am beyond impressed! I feel so inadequate in comparison — all I do is knit. Either socks or lace. I tend to alternate in months-long spurts. My last big lace project was a big shawl for my niece’s wedding gift a year and a half ago. I also did one for her sister’s wedding a couple years before that. They were really fun, but a LOT of work. I’ve done smaller lace projects since then, but in the craziness of moving, I haven’t had a chance to get them blocked yet. I’ll try to dig up a photo of my niece’s shawl to show you. I was pretty proud of it, if I do say so myself. Even if it did end up 6 feet square!

            • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 11:59 pm

              Knitted lace is amazing – I couldn’t begin to tackle that.

              • Phred's Mom August 21, 2016 / 7:17 am

                I had relatives in Shetland who did lace with the finest
                white wool. They sent me a gorgeous gossamer-like
                shawl for my January wedding. Google Shetland lace
                sometime. It was so fine it could be drawn through a
                wedding ring. A treasure until the dang American moths
                found it about forty years later.

                • debg August 21, 2016 / 11:02 am

                  I can do lace like that. Yep, bragging on myself. I can’t remember the last time I couldn’t figure out any knitting pattern someone threw at me. Guess that’s why I’m an editor now!

                  • Murray C. August 21, 2016 / 12:53 pm

                    DEBG, I am even more impressed. I love that kind of knitting couldn’t begin to do it. I did sign up for Ravelry but haven’t looked you up just yet – lot going on. But I look forward to it. And I’m hoping maybe someone there can help me help a friend find a particular crochet pattern for a shawl. We both had made it long ago but can’t find the pattern. It’s quite simple, starts with the point and keeps increasing, has a nice stitch design.

                  • Phred's Mom August 21, 2016 / 1:29 pm

                    You can?!?!?!? Wow!
                    What CAN’T you do?

              • Mich Patt August 21, 2016 / 7:02 pm

                Agreed. Epic!

          • jerzowa August 21, 2016 / 3:36 pm

            WOW! Great job! Love it!

          • 6rabbits August 21, 2016 / 9:08 pm

            WOW!! I join the gaggle of impressed people! Good on you!?

          • Not That Mike The Other Mike August 21, 2016 / 9:13 pm

            That’s a nice job. I like cabinet hardware, it’s not ostentatious, but “just right.” And that microwave shelf is a great idea.

        • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 1:51 pm

          I am even more impressed – good job!!!

        • allein ? August 20, 2016 / 1:59 pm

          Nice! I wish I could redo my kitchen. I especially love the microwave shelf. My kitchen is so tiny and there’s no way to get the microwave off the corner cabinet (which is an old chest of drawers that’d been in my parents’ basement for years; my dad did some cosmetic surgery on it for my Christmas present the year before last. He had that thing since he was a teenager in the 50s). We looked into putting one above the stove but the cabinet above is too low so there wouldn’t be enough room between the oven and the burners. Would love to be able to use that cabinet top for other things.

          • debg August 20, 2016 / 2:07 pm

            I may actually take out the microwave shelf and put the microwave on a new stainless steel shelf bolted to a different wall. Because I had to raise the floor so much to get it (relatively) level, I don’t have a full 18″ between countertop and wall cabinets. The base cabinet below the microwave shelfy thing is only 18″ deep, instead of 25″ (by design) and so the shelf gets in my way. We’ll see how things develop as I get used to my new space.

            I expect that for months, I’ll be trying to remember where I put utensil X. So many drawers! It’s a wonderful luxury.

            Thanks, everybody, for the support. You all got me through some loooonnngggg sweaty weekends while this was going on.

            • allein ? August 20, 2016 / 3:12 pm

              I lived in an apartment once that had a tiny galley kitchen with exactly one drawer. Couldn’t open the fridge and the oven at the same time, but apparently they felt a dishwasher for an apartment that probably wouldn’t ever house more than two people was more important than having more drawers. I mostly used the dishwasher as a drying rack after I washed dishes in the sink, so I could keep the little counter space I had clear, because I would run out of clean dishes long before I had enough dishes to justify running the dishwasher.

              • Murray C. August 21, 2016 / 12:01 am

                ? I lived in an apartment where if you leaned over to set the table you burned your bum on the oven.

                • allein ? August 21, 2016 / 12:16 am

                  The description for the place said “eat in kitchen” but unless you were standing over the sink, uh, no. There was a ceiling light fixture in the corner just outside the kitchen and my table was underneath it; I guess they were counting that as part of the kitchen, but it was most definitely part of the living room. My mom called it an “eat near kitchen.” πŸ™‚

          • Phred's Mom August 20, 2016 / 2:33 pm

            You’ll probably tweak the details as you use the new setup.
            Usage will suggest new ways.

        • Mich Patt August 20, 2016 / 11:17 pm

          It’s BEEEEAAUUUTIFUL! Pat yourself on the back, big time.

    • N. Fritz August 20, 2016 / 3:11 pm

      Only got one painting done in the North Woods. Back to civilization last night. Here at my folks’ place I’ve got a beaded crossstitch project that I started in March… 1995. So I’ll be working on that for the next ten days (in between bouts of fall class prep).

      • Murray C. August 21, 2016 / 12:01 am

        Hey, one more than I did! Good for you.

  4. Phred's Mom August 20, 2016 / 10:38 am

    Tidying indoor plants, dusting are the goals today.
    Not much going on in this household. Thank heavens
    the humidty is lower. Actually a pretty summer day
    here in Bucks County. Might hit the Grange Fair this
    afternoon. Piggie races, oxcarts, border collies, etc.

    • Mich Patt August 20, 2016 / 11:05 am

      The border collies alone are reason enough to go to the Fair! πŸ™‚

      • Phred's Mom August 20, 2016 / 2:40 pm

        Too right, Mich Patt. One of my favorite critters. So sharp.

    • AJ August 20, 2016 / 11:13 am

      A grange fair sounds like fun, Done county fairs and the Big E in MA a few times, always neat to see all the animals, the races, and the crafts. Some of the crafts are just jaw dropping gorgeous, and I get little jealous of people with such ability when I can’t even draw a straight line with a ruler, lol.

      • Laura August 20, 2016 / 3:19 pm

        The animals are great! I’ll never forget seeing the largest pig I have ever seen in my life at the Ohio state fair many years ago. It was as tall as I was — I don’t even want to think how much it weighed!

    • Phred's Mom August 20, 2016 / 2:38 pm

      MyMike is lukewarm to going, and since I won’t drag him, we’ll just stay home.
      Maybe I can jolly him into it tomorrow, if there’s no rain. He was lukewarm to
      the whalewatching, until the first one ambled over and gave him the eye. He
      nearly fell overboard, trying to get a good shot with his Hasselblad. I held onto
      his belt when I wasn’t being seasick into the barrel.

  5. Gigi the cat lady August 20, 2016 / 11:18 am

    Pandacat is gorgeous!
    My project for today are finishing the curtains for the kitchen windows (had to buy full length and cut them to make 3) and getting thing prepared to go back to work on Monday after 3 weeks vacation.
    I take courage in that it’s only for 2 months and then retirement and finally freedom!

    • Faye August 20, 2016 / 1:28 pm

      Yay! Retirement is awesome. I have never been happier in my life. I’m so happy for you.

  6. Patty August 20, 2016 / 11:21 am

    Crafting? Mine is crochet. I have a project that I hate right now. It’s a baby blanket, which I was volunteered to make for a woman I barely know. SIL invited me to a baby shower for her niece in a town 2 1/2 hours away. Husband called to tell her we wouldn’t be there for the shower, but “Patty will make a blanket, what colors does she like?” No particular color, but wildlife critters, foxes, she likes foxes. This means I can’t just grab a hook, turn on Netflix and mindlessly crochet. No, this means a graph, with squares that represent stitches that need to be counted. This means 5 balls of yarn attached to the WIP that need to be kept untangled. In this case, I bought a pattern, so at least I saved myself from making the graph. It was delayed when the incident with my great niece happened, I didn’t have time to sit and count stitches. It gets delayed when the husband is around. Tip: If you are talking to someone who is crocheting and they answer your question by counting, it’s probably best to stop talking and wait until that row is done. I need to work on it this week, I missed the shower date already, and the baby is due the 16th of September.
    I woke up cold this morning, it was 64 degrees outside, which is really weird for August in Kansas.

    • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 12:32 pm

      I have never quite figured out changing colors in crochet – I should definitely sit down and do it sometime. What I have done is embroider over single crochet stitches which are basically square, so you still rely on a grid but don’t have the hassle. Tho’ with a baby blanket, little toes might get caught. Good luck with that project. (Learn to say “NO” ??)

      • debg August 20, 2016 / 1:31 pm

        Again, one of the mags I’m involved with explains exactly how to do this, Murray C. On Ravelry, I’m iamsherLOKed2. Look me up, everybody.

    • debg August 20, 2016 / 1:19 pm

      Patty, knitters do that counting thing too! My ex-boyfriend just never got the hint, though.

      August in Kansas–you’re bringing back horrible memories.

    • Laura August 20, 2016 / 3:24 pm

      I started off crocheting, but never tried working a charted pattern. That is really impressive! You’ll have to show us a photo when it’s done. Even if you are mildly resentful about being volunteered to make it, which I would be, too!

      And I totally understand about not being talked to when you’re working. I can hold a conversation with no problem when I’m knitting basic socks. But when I was knitting my niece’s shawl, I had to pay so much attention to the pattern that I couldn’t even listen to an audiobook. I had to sit by myself with music playing to keep outside noise out so I could knit and count. For two months straight. My husband has learned that if I’m counting, he’ll get his head bit off if I have to start again, so I hope yours learns it, too!

    • Mich Patt August 20, 2016 / 11:22 pm

      Okay, I’m in awe. I can crochet a granny square or the basic backs and forths to make a blanket but anything involving more than one colour or–heaven forbid–a pattern is WAY beyond me. And baby won’t know the difference if the blanket is there in time for the birth. πŸ˜‰

      64 does seem a bit chilly?! Brrr.

    • 6rabbits August 21, 2016 / 9:16 pm

      You are too nice, Patty! After being volunteered, I would have just made one of my “go to” baby blankets, which are very nice but not as involved as those I do for people that mean something to me! Doing a color-changing pattern is above an beyond the call of duty IMHO. Crocheting is supposed to be fun. Making something you don’t like is NOT relaxing!

  7. Margaret August 20, 2016 / 11:23 am

    Another scorcher today in the mid 90s so I’ll be in the basement knitting. I’m making hats for a friend who is going through chemo and radiation for breast cancer.

    • AJ August 20, 2016 / 11:39 am

      Margaret, you’re such a good friend making hats. Hope your friend comes through this okay. Have you seen the knitted boobies some people use instead of the silicone prosthetics for after the surgery? I think those are so neat.

      • debg August 20, 2016 / 1:19 pm

        Heh–one of the magazines I help edit is running a story on Knitted Knockers. There are also crochet patterns.

        • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 1:59 pm

          I beg your pardon?????? ? The English would have a field day with that one – or Frat boys.

          • debg August 20, 2016 / 2:04 pm

            Knitted Knockers is the organization that gathers yarn-crafted prosthetics for cancer wards and individual patients. Google them.

            • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 2:22 pm

              Ooo, sorry for being snerky where snerky don’t belong – had no idea! Now I see, after reading AJ’s post more carefully! Great sense of humor in a tough situation – very admirable, indeed.

              • Phred's Mom August 20, 2016 / 2:43 pm

                There’s a lovely shop for cabinet hardware near here
                called, ahem, Knobs and Knockers.

            • Allu August 20, 2016 / 4:17 pm

              Thank you for the tip! I used one of those silicon things long ago, but not for long. Since then I have driven thru life with only one head light and nobody has given me a ticket yet. I just might make me one, if I ever have a breast-up occasion, must be more comfortable than the silicon one.

              • Murray C. August 21, 2016 / 12:04 am

                ?

    • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 12:33 pm

      Nice.❣️

    • Margaret August 20, 2016 / 2:20 pm

      Thanks everyone. She had a double mastectomy 12 years ago and had been cancer free until this year. They found it in her lymph nodes, luckily no where else.

      • Phred's Mom August 20, 2016 / 2:45 pm

        Let her know we are all rooting for her. She must be terrified even if things
        look good right now. I’be been there.

  8. SoccerSue August 20, 2016 / 12:25 pm

    We finally caught up with the rest of the country and will have temps in the mid to high 90s today, so because I’m not very smart, I’m going to be spending most of the day outside of my nice, air-conditioned house. πŸ˜›

    Taking photos at our little town’s first ever Rock Festival (a charity event for the food bank) this afternoon, and then going to a minor league baseball game tonight.

    And drinking water. Lots and lots of water.

    • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 12:33 pm

      Neat!

  9. allein ? August 20, 2016 / 12:35 pm

    Do I really have to get up?

    • debg August 20, 2016 / 1:31 pm

      Where in the world does one find a coati and a fennec fox in the same room? I want to go to there.

      • allein ? August 20, 2016 / 2:00 pm

        Thank you for identifying the other critter! The name just wasn’t coming to me.

        I googled cute animal gifs and that’s one that I found. πŸ™‚

  10. allein ? August 20, 2016 / 12:44 pm

    I am going to see Florence Foster Jenkins this afternoon and then banana splits for dinner. It’s my mom’s Mother’s Day present that we’re finally getting around to.

  11. Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 12:49 pm

    GREAT! It was a lot of fun. And I love the gif. A GIF that keeps on GIF-ing???
    (I think that’s the Flying Nun’s Lil dog. – Arctic Fox????)

    • allein ? August 20, 2016 / 12:55 pm

      I think he’s a fennec fox. Not sure what his little friend is.

  12. allein ? August 20, 2016 / 12:59 pm

    I know I say this every weekend but I need to clean. I was emailing back and forth with a friend yesterday and said how disgusted I am with the current state of my house, but I feel like I just don’t know where to start. He sent me an ebook of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up (which I’ve read before but don’t own). Maybe I just need to go all Marie Kondo on this place. (Okay, not entirely; some of her ideas are a little kooky, but some of the more practical ones might be useful.) Just need to stop being lazy.

    • AJ August 20, 2016 / 1:14 pm

      Hey Allein, it’s summer and being lazy is allowed, if not actually encouraged. I should be cleaning too but we’ll see how far I get. Dishwasher is done so need to wipe down counter then do some laundry. The rest of the house can wait for now until it cools down a little. Since, it’s nice out I may take my coloring supplies out to the patio and color there for a little bit before the sun moves around and hits the patio making it too hot.

      • Laura August 20, 2016 / 3:29 pm

        Wiping down counters is something I usually end up doing, even though my lovely hubs does most of the other housework — such as it is, mostly sweeping up dog hair and steam mopping the tile floors. For some reason he simply doesn’t notice the condition of the counters or sink, even though he’s an excellent cook and deals with all the dirty dishes. The counters in this house don’t help, either, being a mixed brown granite that show NO dirt. You have to run your hand over it to find out where any spill is. They’re very pretty, fortunately.

      • Phred's Mom August 20, 2016 / 2:46 pm

        Perfect.

      • N. Fritz August 20, 2016 / 3:15 pm

        Awesome comic! True story!

      • 6rabbits August 21, 2016 / 9:20 pm

        Story of my cleaning life!

        • allein ? August 21, 2016 / 10:48 pm

          I did the dishes and a couple loads of laundry…that’s something..

  13. debg August 20, 2016 / 1:34 pm

    It’s taken me an embarrassingly long time to spot the panda here. (See what I did there?) My brain immediately went “cat.”

    • Faye August 20, 2016 / 3:59 pm

      Lol.

  14. Faye August 20, 2016 / 1:39 pm

    More artwork for me. I have completed drawing 18 and my technique is coming back. And with some improvements. I plan to go to the library soon to get art books. I have had very little instruction. I learn by looking and then waiting for my own interpretation to come out.

    I do want to relearn pencil sketching with smudgers, textures, so books. I have looked at artists drawing on YouTube but it doesn’t stay with me.

    I’ve been lazy this week and hardly left the cool house. Where did August go!?

    • Murray C. August 21, 2016 / 12:18 am

      Great going, Faye!

      • Faye August 21, 2016 / 12:56 am

        Thank you Murray!

  15. Faye August 20, 2016 / 1:42 pm

    Oh sorry Mike. I love today’s PandaCat. If only it were true. Cutropolis Zoo Of The Odd But Cute.

  16. Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 1:55 pm

    Hey, Mike, we’ve all been jabbering away. What’s up with you? I’m thinking you had your pretzel? And we haven’t heard any more cooking adventures. What are you up to?

    • Not That Mike The Other Mike August 20, 2016 / 2:09 pm

      Well, the pretzel stand wasn’t at the farmer’s market today, so no pretzel ritual. Bummer πŸ™

      I haven’t tried any new cooking ideas lately, but if I do I’ll talk about it and maybe put up some pictures.

      There are a lot of tasks and projects that I should be doing, and the sheer volume of them overwhelms me and I don’t do any of them. :/

      • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 2:28 pm

        Boy, if that doesn’t sound familiar – sometimes I just stare around the clutter in my studio and, like you and Allein (and others, I feel certain) My brain turns to mush. No idea where to begin.

        • allein ? August 20, 2016 / 3:13 pm

          I’m going to begin by going to the movies. Later!

      • Emmberrann August 20, 2016 / 4:57 pm

        I am still learning to deal with the “shoulds” (which I deal with by rebelling against them) in life. Sprained hip preventing accomplishment of the physical, so am working on mental and emotional, Analog journaling.

        • Murray C. August 21, 2016 / 11:07 pm

          Emmberrann, I certainly hope your hip gets better soon. How does one sprain a hip? Did you fall? Please take it easy. Hope you have lots of support.

  17. Laura August 20, 2016 / 3:32 pm

    My excuse for not cleaning up my office is work. I can usually come up with something that pays $$ to avoid cleaning or sorting. I have built-in shelves that I put my DVDs on in here, for example, but I need to move some to the top shelf, but I need to bring a step stool in from the garage so it hasn’t happened yet. Work always seems more important.

  18. amyliz August 20, 2016 / 5:53 pm

    This was a crazy-busy week for me. The nonprofit I work for always has 2-3 days of training before a new school year begins, plus doing home visits with the parents of new kids who will be starting in my early childhood education program this Wednesday. Actually did my last visit this morning at 8:00! Now have a couple of days to thoroughly clean and reorganize my classroom. A friend of mine had her 15-year-old dog put down today so another friend and I are taking her out for brunch tomorrow; we have all been through it.

    • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 11:48 pm

      Oh, my that is a crazy week – so sad about the pooch and so nice of you to help bolster her spirits. I hope everyone starts feeling renewed, reinvigorated, and that all your professional hard work is in the end satisfying.

  19. Recherche August 20, 2016 / 8:54 pm

    I need to finish my new costume and work on repairing and sprucing up all my old costumes. The big Scifi convention is at the beginning of September for me and I need to be ready to show off.

    • Mich Patt August 20, 2016 / 11:30 pm

      What kind of new costume are you working on? What are your past ones?

      • Recherche August 21, 2016 / 12:49 am

        Circe from the Odyssey is the new hotness. My two favorite and slightly worn-to-death steampunk outfits are in for repairs and added embroidery. Other stuff I’ve done before but will not be bringing include Empoleon and Team Rocket grunt from Pokemon, Vin from Mistborn, Phedre from Kushiel’s Legacy and Vaarsuvius from the Order of the Stick.

        • Mich Patt August 21, 2016 / 12:08 pm

          After much Googling of characters I’m not familiar with, I say “WOWWWW!” You’ve gotta have mad skillz to put these things together. Like Murray, I demand photos! πŸ™‚

    • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 11:48 pm

      Photos!!!!?

      • Recherche August 21, 2016 / 12:50 am

        Not until I actually have stuff done instead of as a pile of thread, beads and fabric. Some of the competitions require you document and photograph every stage of construction but for some reason I hate taking pictures of everything when it’s unfinished. It just looks so messy.

        • Murray C. August 21, 2016 / 5:33 pm

          Fine – we’re very patient. ☺️

  20. allein ? August 20, 2016 / 11:29 pm

    After the movie (which was good), we went to the mall for banana splits (which were okay), then to the ASPCA adoption center (which is in the space that used to house a regular pet store, until the mall decided it wouldn’t allow such businesses anymore). There was one puppy in the puppy area, with a volunteer who was feeding him and playing with him (they don’t normally keep dogs there all the time; the’ll bring a few over but then they go back to their main facility for the night). Then there were a whole bunch of kittens, almost all of whom were black, except for a pair of tabbies that looked a lot like our cats. And it was feeding time so they were all going nuts watching the guy distributing dishes of gushy food. Several of them had candy names, like Cotton Candy and Gummy Bear.

    Then I brought my mom home and went in to say hi to my dad. Stripes was being crazy and he was rubbing on me and wanting attention and then he bit my hand. When I left Stars was sitting at the edge of the living room and as I walked toward her she turned and headed down the hall. I felt so loved.?

    • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 11:44 pm

      Life is good, Allein. Sounds like a great day.

      I just got back from a party, saw lots of old, dear friends, we sang – there was a French fellow who plays Parisian style accordion and I got to sing La Vie En Rose with him and we sang lots of other songs – When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin Along – it was grand.

      • allein ? August 20, 2016 / 11:51 pm

        I suggested we get pizza for dessert (we didn’t do it; too much ice cream).

        I bet you sing better than Lady Florence. πŸ˜‰

        • Murray C. August 21, 2016 / 12:05 am

          Oooh, I hope so.?

    • 6rabbits August 21, 2016 / 9:23 pm

      I’ve got to say Bravo to the mall that refuses to have a live pet store! Yay!

      • allein ? August 21, 2016 / 10:47 pm

        I used to go in there sometimes and ask to play with a puppy. I could never buy one but they need love, too. I once spent 20 minutes on a rainy day cuddling with a sleepy Boston Terrier while I was waiting for my car at Sears. But I was glad when I found out they were closing and the ASPCA was moving in.

  21. allein ? August 20, 2016 / 11:41 pm

    Oh! And I was browsing jigsaw puzzles the other day and I found the radish mice!

    • Murray C. August 20, 2016 / 11:45 pm

      Were they lost???????It is impressive that they’re made into a jog saw puzzle!

      • allein ? August 20, 2016 / 11:50 pm

        I just thought it was funny because I posted them a week or two ago.

        • Murray C. August 21, 2016 / 12:06 am

          Yes, I remember – I think it was in response to some auto-incorrectness of mine.

          • allein ? August 21, 2016 / 12:18 am

            No, it was on the Mickey-fied animal ears post; you said they looked like radar dishes, and Duckie misread it as radishes. πŸ™‚

            • Murray C. August 21, 2016 / 12:40 pm

              Ah, yes, that was funny!

    • Mich Patt August 21, 2016 / 12:12 pm

      I didn’t watch but there were several people in my department at work who issued strict DO NOT CALL OR TEXT ME instructions to non-Hip-fans friends and family so they could view without interruption. I loved the Hip when I was younger and still rock out regularly to Fully Completely and others from that era. The whole situation is just so freakin’ sad. πŸ™

      • fkaWaldenPond August 21, 2016 / 6:49 pm

        Me too Mich, Fully Completely was my repeat play when it came out. Grace, Too and Bobcaygeon are my present day favourites. I wasn’t planning to but couldn’t look away after tuning in about an hour the way through.

  22. Jan August 21, 2016 / 8:19 pm

    Wow, look at all the fun I’ve missed! Yesterday was a migraine (ugh) and today was an MRI and lunch with my mom after.

    Took Lily and her growing nose spot to the vet Friday; looks like an infected insect bite, either one of the hundreds of fleas that she came with (free of charge!) or a spider since she’s been clearing spider webs out of every corner, nook and cranny in the house. One shot of antibiotics and two days later it’s looking much much better. I just hope she doesn’t end up with too bad a scar to mar that purrfectly pink little nose!

    • allein ? August 21, 2016 / 8:45 pm

      Aw, poor baby.

      I have a spiderweb right outside my door. Does Lily want to come visit?

      I would sweep it away but the icky thing has been home every time I’ve gone out there and I’m not gonna risk him running at me.

    • Gigi the cat lady August 21, 2016 / 8:47 pm

      Glad to know Lily is doing good.

    • Jan August 21, 2016 / 8:52 pm

      Lily specializes in investigating and clearing out every crevice and hidey-hole she can find, so I’m sure for sufficient treats she’d love to help!

      Her latest trick is jumping up onto my shoulders when I lean over the bathroom sink to brush my teeth. Thinks she’s clever, she does!

    • Murray C. August 21, 2016 / 9:52 pm

      Jan, sorry about your migraine – I’m always amazed how many people suffer from them. And glad Lily is doing ok – you’re a wonderful and attentive kitty mom.

      And 6Rabbits – school in already??? Crikey, that’s early!

      • allein ? August 21, 2016 / 10:49 pm

        My friend’s kids in Georgia started last week!

  23. 6rabbits August 21, 2016 / 9:27 pm

    School started last week, so my weekend was full of school stuff. Been so busy, hardly time to come here and read comments. ☹️

Comments are closed.