Ah yes, the Autumnal Equinox. I've found the official date and time for fall to begin here in the northern hemisphere. September 23, 2007, at 5:51 a.m. EDT.
Since today is August 26, and if I'm adding correctly, that means we have 29 days (that's including today) until fall starts.
Friday and yesterday we had rain. Glorious rain, along with a LOT of lightning and rumbles of thunder. At least now the trees have had some relief from the unending heat and drought. I've been watching the leaves turn yellow and fall off to crunch underfoot. I don't expect much color this fall. I figure the leaves will just fall off unless we get more rain soon.
Anyway, enough rambles about the weather. It's just been on everyone's mind with the unbearable heat. Yes, August should be hot, but not like this.
I've made progress on Keith's sweater. I took it out again to add some ribbing to the bottom of it. It's slow going since there are 238 stitches in a round. I knitted for several hours last night, and I think I only did 4-5 rounds. There's not enough of it to look like anything, so I'll take pictures later this week.
I just received the newest issue of Health magazine on Friday, and it has the second article that I've seen since the doctor's visit that recommends 1 hour of cardio a day to lose weight. This article is based on NBC's the Biggest Loser. Now I have no interest in watching the show, but reading about how they did it can be useful. It's too bad that changing bad habits is not nearly as easy as acquiring them. And the things that are good for you aren't always as fun.
However, as the earth spins along in it's orbit, and the days get shorter, it's time for new beginnings. I've always felt September to be the time for starting new things. I'm sure this goes back to the school year beginning in September, but I think too that as the cool air starts to filter in I perk up after the oppressive heat of summer. The humidity levels drop as dryer air flows down from the arctic.
As for Brownie, she's still hanging in there. She actually went outside a few days ago. That was the first time she's left the kitchen in quite some time. Keith and I have joked about the oldies going out and baking their bones for awhile. Pixel has gone out today, and I don't expect her back in until maybe Tuesday, unless it rains a lot today. Then she'll have to come back in since all her hiding places will be too wet. Keith has wanted me to knit cat beds, but I think instead I'll go to the thrift store and buy some towels for the old girls. Towels are much easier to clean, especially if there are any accidents. Besides, I still have MS3, Keith's second sock, my toe up sock, Honi's present and Keith's sweater. I'm not adding another project to the list right now. Cat beds can wait a bit.
I've got to work today, so I'm off to do a few Sunday chores before I go.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
This one's for you, Honi
Hi Honi,
I read your comments about the fawn, and how you wanted to stop and save it. You're probably right. The other car was probably going too fast to stop, even if the driver wanted to.
Our neighborhood has always had feral cats move through it. We have a creek and a floodplain just a few lots away. We have a huge abundance of squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and probably woodrats. We have some resident hawks and owls that pass through. And how does this relate? Well, I've always been a softy who feeds the birds, squirrels and to a much lesser extent those feral cats. Last fall there were a couple of gorgeous orange ones living across the street. One of them is Momcat, who has been spayed & rabies vaccinated. As I headed off to work on one of the few very cold days we had this past winter, I saw one of the other orange cats dead in the road. I hate seeing roadkill, and I especially hate seeing them on my street. I went to work in a more subdued state of mind. Now remember, this was a very cold day. As I drove home that night, I saw the cat was still in the road, and luckily no one else had run over it. (You know how gross roadkill can get.) I stopped. Just what would I do? I had a box in the car, and I picked up the poor guy. He was frozen solid. It would have been like a cartoon except for the fact he was a very real, great looking, very dead cat. I took him home. When Keith got home, I told him what I had done. He said he had seen the cat also on his way out that morning, and hadn't wanted to tell me. He said he would bury him just as soon as the ground thawed out enough.
I've had to learn the hard way I can't save every animal that I would like to. Even if I won the lottery, there are too many out there that need help. However, if everyone made an effort, even a small one, we can make a difference. That may mean not going 20 miles over the speed limit in an area were there a deer. It may mean get your pet spayed or neutered. And donate to your local no-kill shelter. Even if it's only a small amount it will help.
Need some ideas? Check out Alley Cat Allies on the sidebar, and they can direct you to a local shelter in your area.
I read your comments about the fawn, and how you wanted to stop and save it. You're probably right. The other car was probably going too fast to stop, even if the driver wanted to.
Our neighborhood has always had feral cats move through it. We have a creek and a floodplain just a few lots away. We have a huge abundance of squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and probably woodrats. We have some resident hawks and owls that pass through. And how does this relate? Well, I've always been a softy who feeds the birds, squirrels and to a much lesser extent those feral cats. Last fall there were a couple of gorgeous orange ones living across the street. One of them is Momcat, who has been spayed & rabies vaccinated. As I headed off to work on one of the few very cold days we had this past winter, I saw one of the other orange cats dead in the road. I hate seeing roadkill, and I especially hate seeing them on my street. I went to work in a more subdued state of mind. Now remember, this was a very cold day. As I drove home that night, I saw the cat was still in the road, and luckily no one else had run over it. (You know how gross roadkill can get.) I stopped. Just what would I do? I had a box in the car, and I picked up the poor guy. He was frozen solid. It would have been like a cartoon except for the fact he was a very real, great looking, very dead cat. I took him home. When Keith got home, I told him what I had done. He said he had seen the cat also on his way out that morning, and hadn't wanted to tell me. He said he would bury him just as soon as the ground thawed out enough.
I've had to learn the hard way I can't save every animal that I would like to. Even if I won the lottery, there are too many out there that need help. However, if everyone made an effort, even a small one, we can make a difference. That may mean not going 20 miles over the speed limit in an area were there a deer. It may mean get your pet spayed or neutered. And donate to your local no-kill shelter. Even if it's only a small amount it will help.
Need some ideas? Check out Alley Cat Allies on the sidebar, and they can direct you to a local shelter in your area.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Crazy from the heat
Oh yes, we're all a bit wierd here right now. My lovely digital thermometer shows a high today of 103.1 F. No wonder we're all going nuts.
Pixel, Brownie's sister, is a very spry 18 years old. She went outside on Monday with apparently no intention of coming back into the house. I saw her briefly on Monday when she showed up for dinner, then disappeared again. She was outside at breakfast yesterday, then vanished until dinner. Now, to be honest, I have tried to catch her, but she is not a cooperative cat. She doesn't like to be held, and has clawed the heck out of me on more than one occasion. So this morning I fed her breakfast and left to go to work. However, this evening I had more time to fool with the cat. She also appeared while it was still daylight, a major factor in catching things. I gave her some kibble which it looks like she barely nibbled. What she wanted were treats. While plying her with kitty treats I was able to manuever between her and the van. I made the lightning fast snatch and had her. She's meowing and wriggling and trying to claw me while I'm trying to hold her fast and grab her back feet before I'm horribly wounded. (I currently have some long claw marks that I think may scar on my right forearm. One is about 3" long). She's inside again now, but only until she escapes over the weekend. I asked Keith if he thought maybe the house is too cold for her old bones. At an average of 78 F it doesn't ever feel cold to me, but to a cat who has been basking in over 100 degree temps for the past 3 days, maybe that is cold.
Next is my knitting error. I'm having to fiddle around with the pattern for the sweater for Keith. Last night I cast on 238 stitches, joined and started knitting the pattern for 4 rows. Yeah! The count is correct. However, I totally forgot to do the rows of ribbing I had planned to do at the bottom! Let's see. 4 rows X 238 stitches = 952 stitches that I get to undo. I plan to put another needle around the bottom row and rip back to the cast on. I am not pleased about this. I wonder if my brain hadn't been roasting all day for the past several weeks if I would have remembered to do my edge ribbing.
One of our customers mentioned that her son lives in Pennsylvania. He said their temp was 47 degrees the other night and it was raining. That sounds like bliss right now. I could wear a sweater. Heck, at 47 degrees I'd be tempted to sleep with the window open. It's been so bloody hot here!
That's really about all. I wanted to vent about the heat and the sweater, and just think about Pixel on virtual paper. I do know that sometimes pets go off when it's time to die, but since Pixel is showing up for meals I don't think that's the issue. One of the younger, more active kitties has been feeling cabin feverish and wild, so maybe there's just been too much goin's on for Pixel.
Hurry up autumn! The days are getting shorter! Drop our temps soon!
Pixel, Brownie's sister, is a very spry 18 years old. She went outside on Monday with apparently no intention of coming back into the house. I saw her briefly on Monday when she showed up for dinner, then disappeared again. She was outside at breakfast yesterday, then vanished until dinner. Now, to be honest, I have tried to catch her, but she is not a cooperative cat. She doesn't like to be held, and has clawed the heck out of me on more than one occasion. So this morning I fed her breakfast and left to go to work. However, this evening I had more time to fool with the cat. She also appeared while it was still daylight, a major factor in catching things. I gave her some kibble which it looks like she barely nibbled. What she wanted were treats. While plying her with kitty treats I was able to manuever between her and the van. I made the lightning fast snatch and had her. She's meowing and wriggling and trying to claw me while I'm trying to hold her fast and grab her back feet before I'm horribly wounded. (I currently have some long claw marks that I think may scar on my right forearm. One is about 3" long). She's inside again now, but only until she escapes over the weekend. I asked Keith if he thought maybe the house is too cold for her old bones. At an average of 78 F it doesn't ever feel cold to me, but to a cat who has been basking in over 100 degree temps for the past 3 days, maybe that is cold.
Next is my knitting error. I'm having to fiddle around with the pattern for the sweater for Keith. Last night I cast on 238 stitches, joined and started knitting the pattern for 4 rows. Yeah! The count is correct. However, I totally forgot to do the rows of ribbing I had planned to do at the bottom! Let's see. 4 rows X 238 stitches = 952 stitches that I get to undo. I plan to put another needle around the bottom row and rip back to the cast on. I am not pleased about this. I wonder if my brain hadn't been roasting all day for the past several weeks if I would have remembered to do my edge ribbing.
One of our customers mentioned that her son lives in Pennsylvania. He said their temp was 47 degrees the other night and it was raining. That sounds like bliss right now. I could wear a sweater. Heck, at 47 degrees I'd be tempted to sleep with the window open. It's been so bloody hot here!
That's really about all. I wanted to vent about the heat and the sweater, and just think about Pixel on virtual paper. I do know that sometimes pets go off when it's time to die, but since Pixel is showing up for meals I don't think that's the issue. One of the younger, more active kitties has been feeling cabin feverish and wild, so maybe there's just been too much goin's on for Pixel.
Hurry up autumn! The days are getting shorter! Drop our temps soon!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Just for knitters, probably
I did my due diligence - gauge swatch - for K's sweater. I got gauge with a slightly larger needle because I'm substituting Plymouth Galway for Lion Brand Wool-Ease. Apparently the Wool-Ease is just a smidge thicker than Galway. I started knitting the sweater Monday night, and even though it was gauge, it didn't look right. That's because to get gauge I had to use a size 9 instead of an 8 needle, and the sweater was looking a bit lacy. Not good for a man's sweater that he may want to wear skiing. I'd been debating about ripping it out and starting again, but to be sure I asked his opinion. His verdict - the wind would rip through it. He's right.
Now the fun begins. He wants a larger size sweater for things like layers. I was already knitting the largest size in Stitch N Bitch Nation, so what's a gal to do? Turns out to be very easy. Grab the Ann Budd Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns, find the raglan sweaters, go to the right size and gauge, and Bob's your uncle! problem solved. Ok, mostly solved. I'll have to do a little fiddling to get the cast on numbers right in order to work with the stitch pattern (which is just a very wide rib). However, a little number juggling is nothing to someone who spent a lot of years in front of a computer straightening out balance sheets and budgeting. In fact, it gives me a chance to tweak the pattern a bit anyway. Why make it just as the book says?
As for the intarsia and duplicate stitch. I've been looking at the duplicate stitch in the photo in the book, and to me it just looks a bit sloppy. I haven't decided if it's the nature of duplicate stitch or maybe the sweater was knit up pretty quickly. I think I'm doing intarsia instead of duplicate stitch for the yellow. I think it will just look better. If not, I'm not afraid to rip it out. I've got 2 hours of Nova and an episode of In Search of Myths and Heroes tonight, so let the knitting begin. (and yes, I love PBS. Send them some money so they can keep producing quality tv like Nova)
Gotta go. The laundry won't finish itself. I'd say why don't we have robots to do that, but I'd end up with Bender.
Now the fun begins. He wants a larger size sweater for things like layers. I was already knitting the largest size in Stitch N Bitch Nation, so what's a gal to do? Turns out to be very easy. Grab the Ann Budd Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns, find the raglan sweaters, go to the right size and gauge, and Bob's your uncle! problem solved. Ok, mostly solved. I'll have to do a little fiddling to get the cast on numbers right in order to work with the stitch pattern (which is just a very wide rib). However, a little number juggling is nothing to someone who spent a lot of years in front of a computer straightening out balance sheets and budgeting. In fact, it gives me a chance to tweak the pattern a bit anyway. Why make it just as the book says?
As for the intarsia and duplicate stitch. I've been looking at the duplicate stitch in the photo in the book, and to me it just looks a bit sloppy. I haven't decided if it's the nature of duplicate stitch or maybe the sweater was knit up pretty quickly. I think I'm doing intarsia instead of duplicate stitch for the yellow. I think it will just look better. If not, I'm not afraid to rip it out. I've got 2 hours of Nova and an episode of In Search of Myths and Heroes tonight, so let the knitting begin. (and yes, I love PBS. Send them some money so they can keep producing quality tv like Nova)
Gotta go. The laundry won't finish itself. I'd say why don't we have robots to do that, but I'd end up with Bender.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
In lieu of a thousand words
The UT blanket
Random insect picture. I love to find the praying mantis around the yard or on the house:
The Rowan Summer Tweed Sweater:
The first toe-up sock:
The first toe-up sock:
A Sweater for Keith
Yarn is like lipstick or nail polish. I always seem to buy the same colors!
Random insect picture. I love to find the praying mantis around the yard or on the house:
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Countdown
How long until September? Only 13 more days. Approximately 34 more days until the autumnal equinox. Ah, then the earth will be tilted in the other direction with the northern hemisphere gradually getting further away from the sun until the winter solstice. Why these fun factoids? It is so hot here. It's been above 100 degrees more days than I care to think about. I don't want to leave the house. I feel like a hermit, locked away in the house, only leaving when I have to.
However, I have done some finishing. The UT blanket is finished. My first Summer Tweed Sweater is almost entirely pieced together. My Cherry Tree Hill "car" sock is moving along nicely now that the heel is turned. In rush hour traffic I can get a surprisingly amount of rows knitted while waiting at traffic lights. MS3 stole is in time out. I've started Honi's wedding present and have knitted about 8" of length. Depending on how long I can stay awake, I'll finish piecing the sweater. That way it will be ready to wear when the heat abates. I keep thinking, only 13 more days.
I know, there's nothing magic about September, but it seems that at least the nights start to cool off a bit then. Considering that it was 80 degrees yesterday at 8 a.m., anything will be better.
Ending with a random cat picture.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
The heat is on...
a.k.a. just some weather data. Yesterday the high temp at my house was 100.2 F. Today it reached 101.7F. We have a computerized thermostat, being energy conscious. It goes down to 78 around 5:00 p.m., unless one of us has been home during the day and turned it down earlier. It's 9:09 p.m. now, and it's still 81F in the house. I wouldn't mind the Arizona temps if we had the same low humidity. It's like a stinking steambath here with the ozone and pollution.
I went out to check the birdbath and wildlife water dishes this evening. It's really quite funny how both the birds and feral cats keep a lookout for me. Ok, it's not just ferals. One of the neighbors has a senior cat. Her husband won't let the cat in the house, but she lets him in when hubby isn't home. The rest of the time the cat keeps an eye out for me in the yard. He's a grumpy old mooch who is quite happy to see me refill the food dish. As for the birds, they have been fussing a bit since the suet feeder is empty. The downy woodpeckers have actually been lowering their standards and eating at the sunflower feeder. I think the suet would melt in this weather, or go rancid in no time. The funny part is if the feeder is empty, the chickadees and titmice (sp) raise a lot of hell if I go outside and don't fill it. They don't have much fear of me, as one of the nuthatches landed on the feeder mere minutes after I had refilled it, and I was only about 4 feet away.
With these extreme temperatures, I haven't seen any of the blue tailed skinks lately. On the plus side that means I won't find lizard tails in the house until it cools off again. I don't have the same experience catching lizards since we haven't had them around here until just a few years ago. I think is was the summer of Katrina when we started seeing a lot of lizards around the yard. Even 2 years ago the old kitties were still hunting a little, but not like the days of their youth when I could count on finding live chipmunks and snakes in the house. I'm an old pro at catching chipmunks and the occasional snake, but lizards are more elusive. I had one lizard catching attempt back in the spring which ended when the lizard darted outside on its own. I do miss seeing them in the yard while I don't miss seeing their tailless selves darting under furniture.
I don't know if I wrote that I finished the UT blanket last night. I had reached the point where I was tired of working on it, and it was a good size. I'll take a picture before I send it off.
I had planned to work on MS3 tonight, but it's getting late and there were goodies in the mail. Magazines and catalogs and patterns and yarn, oh my! It's been so lovely tonight with no tv, just the soothing whoosh of the a/c. I did just finish Wolf to the Slaughter by Ruth Rendell last night. Don't start it unless you can read it through! And before you think I merely read tales of murder and vampires, I must admit to an impending dig through all my paperbacks to find Beowulf. I read part of it while taking Old English in college, then this translation came out several years ago. It's wonderful. This modern English version has the cadence of the old. And you will recognize some of the names within - just compare it to The Lord of the Rings for fun.
On that note I bid you goodnight.
I went out to check the birdbath and wildlife water dishes this evening. It's really quite funny how both the birds and feral cats keep a lookout for me. Ok, it's not just ferals. One of the neighbors has a senior cat. Her husband won't let the cat in the house, but she lets him in when hubby isn't home. The rest of the time the cat keeps an eye out for me in the yard. He's a grumpy old mooch who is quite happy to see me refill the food dish. As for the birds, they have been fussing a bit since the suet feeder is empty. The downy woodpeckers have actually been lowering their standards and eating at the sunflower feeder. I think the suet would melt in this weather, or go rancid in no time. The funny part is if the feeder is empty, the chickadees and titmice (sp) raise a lot of hell if I go outside and don't fill it. They don't have much fear of me, as one of the nuthatches landed on the feeder mere minutes after I had refilled it, and I was only about 4 feet away.
With these extreme temperatures, I haven't seen any of the blue tailed skinks lately. On the plus side that means I won't find lizard tails in the house until it cools off again. I don't have the same experience catching lizards since we haven't had them around here until just a few years ago. I think is was the summer of Katrina when we started seeing a lot of lizards around the yard. Even 2 years ago the old kitties were still hunting a little, but not like the days of their youth when I could count on finding live chipmunks and snakes in the house. I'm an old pro at catching chipmunks and the occasional snake, but lizards are more elusive. I had one lizard catching attempt back in the spring which ended when the lizard darted outside on its own. I do miss seeing them in the yard while I don't miss seeing their tailless selves darting under furniture.
I don't know if I wrote that I finished the UT blanket last night. I had reached the point where I was tired of working on it, and it was a good size. I'll take a picture before I send it off.
I had planned to work on MS3 tonight, but it's getting late and there were goodies in the mail. Magazines and catalogs and patterns and yarn, oh my! It's been so lovely tonight with no tv, just the soothing whoosh of the a/c. I did just finish Wolf to the Slaughter by Ruth Rendell last night. Don't start it unless you can read it through! And before you think I merely read tales of murder and vampires, I must admit to an impending dig through all my paperbacks to find Beowulf. I read part of it while taking Old English in college, then this translation came out several years ago. It's wonderful. This modern English version has the cadence of the old. And you will recognize some of the names within - just compare it to The Lord of the Rings for fun.
On that note I bid you goodnight.
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