6/28/07

Oops, I Did It Again!


I went to Dick's just to try on a size seven, you know, just to see how they fit vs. a six. And they were so pretty! This is the "Beach" model, which feels pretty much exactly the same as the celery colored "Cayman" version.

In Tie Dye News...



These were both supposed to be vertical patterns and were folded as such. I have no idea what happened. But they turned out OK just the same. Lenore picked hers because of the little guy in the middle. Can you see him?!



These are my co workers. We went to the local beach today for lunch. I started to take the picture, and Hua shouted, "WAIT!! I HAVE TO TAKE MY CLOTHES OFF!" I was like, "What?! Is this some Chinese tradition you haven't told us about?!" Turns out, she just wanted to take off her sweater. She was very opposed to being photographed in her sweater, but I liked this picture better than the calm posed version. I don't think she reads my blog, so don't tell. (Click on the photo to see it larger...it just cracks me up!)



I haven't made any potholders lately...but we're going to Madison for the weekend, and then I've got the whole week OFF, so expect documentation soon!

6/27/07

I'm a New Disciple


See my new shoes?! I had to see for myself what all this hoopla was over Crocs. I'm now a believer. They're coyote ugly and quite comfy, what more do you need in footwear? I'm already plotting the next color, cuz I think it would be fun to wear one of each. This particular color is called "Celery." I got them here, because they offered free shipping, free returns and exchanges, and no sales tax. Sweet!

In other news, Perky Potholders has received a rather distinctive honor. Lynda sent a message (and I'm pretty sure she wasn't drunk when she sent it) that she looks forward to new installments "as much as a new homestar installment."

Whoa.

But back to my shoes. Does anyone else have these? I'd like to discuss the finer points of sizing with you.

Here is a random and gratiutous picture of Hoops in time out for stealing potholder loops. I should also note that two days after the mouse-on-the-porch incident, I found a mouse in my mousetrap that's in the garage. I'm not sure if it was the same rodent...its facial expression was definitely different.

6/26/07

A Fine Mess


So this is what you shouldn't try at home: washing potholder loops in your washing machine. I dyed some with the leftover tie dye and thought I could save time by washing them in the machine instead of by hand. It turned into a gnarled mess. These are the ones that were salvageable. Guarded by Hoops.

Here are new sofa portraits! I love mine -- it's very comfy and conducive to lounging.



My mom and Lenore taking Lenore's new couch (sofa?) for a test drive.



At first Hoops was not thrilled with this newness in her house, but now she approves.



Anybody wanna buy a nice Norwalk sofa? I know where you can get one cheap. It's listed on Craig's List if you're interested!

6/25/07

Don't Try This At Home

Are you wondering what? I'll post a picture soon and you'll see!

I did another tie dye experiment over the weekend with good results, Lenore and I *each* bought a couch, and I just found out I get to go to Savannah in July! Sweet!

More on all of this soon.

Does anyone else tend to agonize WAY too long over spending, say, an additional .39 cents on store brand zip log baggies but then drops, say, for example, $700-plus on a new couch in about 15 minutes? How does that happen?

Roland crash landed (literally, darn toe clips!) at my back door last night and joined us for some v-chatting with Laura and Lynda. We should have taken a picture! For one of Lenore's b.day presents, Roland's going to help Lenore convert her albums into digital bits that she can put on CD. I will be nowhere in the vicinity. It's 80s music. 'Nuf said.

6/21/07

What's WRONG With This Picture??!!


Someone, and I'm not naming names, but it rhymes with mom, only it's not a mom, it's a DAD who's been known to bake a loaf of bread or two now and then, needed a potholder, but did he reach for an appropriate model? It would appear NOT. You call THAT a potholder?? It's appalling, really. Thankfully, the delicious rolls were not adversely affected by the use of an inferior potholder. "What is a potholder?" he stammered, "it's made up of two words: pot and holder. I was not holding a pot, I was...um..." Yeah, yeah, tell it to the judge. "And THIS potholder is a work of art, it's far to beautiful to risk ruining..." OK, that's better. All is forgiven. Flattery will get you everywhere.



In other news, I had a mouse on my actual porch, which doubles as Hoops' upstairs apartment, and I have to say, she was pretty useless in capturing said rodent! She was content to chase it around the recycling bin a few times and then put her paw on top of the poor critter, rendering it temporarily squished, but then Hoops got bored (her attention span is gnat-like) and LET THE MOUSE GO! Hello? What happened to the laws of nature?! So I had to take matters into my own hands and trap the now terrified creature under a plastic container. I think I heard an audible sigh of relief. Anything was better than the paw of death, apparently. But now what? I have a co worker who eschewed mouse traps, using a brick instead. Ick. This mousing technique did result, however, in some tasty mouse cookies like these that Pat made for the office.



I slipped a baited mouse trap under the tub to see if the mouse would commit mousie hari kari, but no such luck. It did sample the peanut butter though. In the end, I slid some cardboard under the container and transported Mighty Mouse across the street and let it go in a vacant lot. Destiny will have to run its course. It was really kind of a cute mouse. Hoops looked on with mild interest, but not enough to actually get up off her chaise lounge and help. For this I paid $50 to animal rescue. Sheesh.

Speaking of animals...I paid forward my debt from drafting off the friendly giant cyclist over the weekend. I went for a bike ride this morning before work and happened across a black and a chocolate lab out for an unsupervised romp. They weren't too interested in me or my spinning wheels, so I didn't think much of it. But then on my way back, I saw a lady standing by her van peering up the bike trail yelling at a chocolate lab to come back. The dog (Boomer was his name I believe), however, was employing the selective hearing technique that all pets have, and was trotting happily away from her, basically singing, "la la la, I can't hear you!" He was about a third of a mile away and had paused to sniff a lady out for a walk (she was not amused), so I rode up behind him, climbed off my bike, grabbed his collar and walked him back to his owner. She was very grateful. I asked her about the black lab; he was also hers, but had already come back home on his own. This guy was all wet and muddy, no doubt from playing in the creek where I saw some very large incriminating paw prints.

6/19/07

1,000 Words Instead

Well, since I neglected to put the card back into my camera, I can't replace thousands of words with pictures, so get your reading glasses out!

We made a sumptuous NY strip steak dinner to celebrate Father's Day with our dads -- Tom is here for the week to help Lenore through the first IP treatment and, as it turns out, bake bread. We like hired help that can bake (and doesn't charge for his services either). I wish I could show you the delicious rosemary loaf he baked for dinner. I should have given him his Father's Day potholder sooner!

Sunday I dusted off my road bike and went for an almost 20-mile ride early, before it got too hot. Almost 20 sounds longer than 18, don't you think? My road bike is really light and peppy...it's kind of like riding Sea Biscuit instead of Clarence the mule. But it's not as comfy as Clarence, at least not early in the season, so I didn't go that far. On the way back, a VERY tall biker (I think I could have rested my chin on the crossbar of his bike) dropped in front of me, so I drafted behind him for quite a ways, which was great fun, since I don't usually go that fast (about 18-20 m.p.h) for that long. He said he was "only riding 100 miles today," and had about 50 to go. I would have continued, but hey, I had hostas to plant and weeds to pull! (Thank God) Plus, I think it's kind of rude to be a wheel sucker without asking, which is exactly what I was. I promise to somehow pay it forward soon.

Well, turns out I do have a couple of photos. These were taken with the little camera on Lenore's laptop computer during her chemo session. I had to hold the computer up and hope for the best. They turned out pretty good all things considered.


Here's Lenore getting her direct deposit. It took about 1.5 hours per bag with a potty break in between. Each bag was one liter (!), plus some additional saline for good measure. You can see in the next picture how big the bags are. Lenore didn't make any sloshing noises when she was done, even when I changed lanes on the drive home.




Below is what Laura e-mailed to the family yesterday after we called her w/a progress report from the hospital. She feels very bloated today, but so far no nausea or major discomfort. The nurse said Lenore would feel like "you're 8 or 9 mos. pregnant," but since neither of us has experienced that joyful sensation, it wasn't too helpful! She is not blown up like a pregnant lady at least, just sort of "thick" around the middle. I imagine all that fluid is what makes your insides feel like there's a being floating around in there.

Lenore's therapy is underway a bit late due to pharmacy delays.
The first of 2 liters of warmed-up (to her body temperature) chemicals was started about noon Midwestern time and it will take up 1-1/2 hours per liter. Lenore is comfortable and is watching episodes of Columbo on DVD. Hopefully all that mid-century fashion and home furnishings will keep her mind off any discomfort that may occur. Dad and Paula are with her so she seems to have plenty of distractions.

6/15/07

Happy Father's Day!


See where I got my good looks?!

Some shots from my trip to Chicago this week for a conference...



6/13/07

Think I Might Need a Bigger Basket...



Not having learned my lesson the first few times, I bid on a couple more e-bay auctions for loops...and won, so now I've got lots-o-loops. Some of them are kind of crappy, but I got some new colors (including black), and also three more looms, so now I can have potholders stretching and still work on new ones. Sweet! None of the local craft stores sell decent loops anymore (?!), so my only source is online, which kind of blows, because shipping usually costs more than the loops. (sigh) I may need to grow pot instead of tomatoes to support my art. I think I'll dye some more of the white ones next time we tie dye shirts.

Below are a few recent ones that weren't visible in the shot above. The orange and green one illustrates why it's important to use loops of approximately the same width. The orange loops were fat and woolly, while the green ones were more delicate; it resulted in kind of a lopsided Dali-esque potholder.




Fit to be Dyed


Almost forgot to post the results of our little tie dye project. They turned out pretty good for a first attempt. Hoops thought so too. Michael's had their dye on sale again, so I bought some for a second attempt, next time we get a rainy day. Lenore has already placed her order.

6/8/07

My What Big Teeth You Have...


I asked Lenore to find me a Shark's tooth while she was visiting family and celebrating birthdays w/mom and dad. She's been busy! (or someone has)

The Latvian potholder makes for a nice addition to the Latvian tribute on the Edisto Island refrigerator, don't you think?


Here's a very cute and funny video for your viewing pleasure. I had nothing to do with it, other than stumbling across it on YouTube.

6/6/07

Recovery Potholder


Lenore made me a potholder! This is her first one, and I think it's splendid. I left her the supplies in hopes that she'd behave herself while I was at work and not attempt to do something silly like carry laundry or re roof the house. She's been known to ignore doctor's orders in the past.

Here's Hoops disrespecting some of the potholders I made over the weekend (did I mention there was a lot of waiting around?!).


I'm almost out of the vintage loops, so I made myself this one, because I like the colors so much.


Here's one made with some of the vintage white loops that I had to bleach white again, then colored with some leftover dye from my tie dye kit. I like the way it turned out.


A potholder in it's raw state...


I was pleased with this "Blues" number too.


I might have to make Hoops her own potholder.


After the photo shoot, I put everything back in my basket. Hoops added her sparkly ball!

Too Hot for Potholders



FINALLY, I got a picture of Odie on his sweet new bike. I also got a sound demo of the engine via cell phone. I think it will be better in person though. He will need a new dental plan to get all the bugs out of his teeth. Hope the cicadas don't like orange!

6/5/07

Platelets, Ports and Potholders...Oh My!


Looks like Hoops mistook Lenore's pain killers for cat treats!

The weekend was spent propping up poor Lenore, whose vivacious platelets allowed for installation of her "soaker hose" port on Friday. The doctor said everything looked "clean and shiny as it should" and even had photos to prove it. Said photos were later left *unsupervised* within my very reach, but Lenore wouldn't let me steal one (it was a duplicate!) out of her chart for posting here. She such a stickler for protocol that Lenore! Anyway this 20-minute procedure, which was to have begun at noon (but that's hospital time, so it really didn't start 'til after 1:30 real-world time) got us home at around 8 p.m., after a swing through Walgreen's drive up for a Norco refill (or as Lenore calls it "NICOR"). Needless to say, I made more than a few potholders that day while waiting. Stay tuned for photos, plus documentation of our first attempt at tie dying.

In other news...wait, there's really no other news. It rained a lot, so we fired up the crock pot, made some bread pudding, sat around quite a bit and Lenore battled the post surgery adjustments one's organs seem to make after any type of medical invasion. We did still make a brief appearance at the Farmer's Market, and I took a couple of bike rides between storms (one attempt was poorly timed and I got soaked despite Lenore's up-to-the-minute monitoring of the weather radar -- she was able to call mid ride to tell me I would be getting rained on once I left Elgin).

Sorry no photos today; maybe later in the week after I get caught up at work.