I may teach accounting but I can’t count

Posted on March 13, 2024 by suziecreamcheese

Last summer my dear friend gave me a ton of fabric – mostly Christmas and Fall prints. The Fall prints were all orange themed – and I’m not a fan of that color but I thought I could do something with them, because hey, the guy gives me the fabric, he loves that color so I can make him something, right? I took myself to JoAnn Fabrics and bought some plain orange fabric, some cranberry fabric and some bright yellow and the cutting commenced.

9 squares are one of the easiest patterns ever, so I happily cut and sewed with no real plan in mind except that this would become a quilt. After consulting with my friend, we decided that it would bring out the colors if I sashed each block in black. (Sashing is the strips between blocks – it’s a wonderful thing if your blocks aren’t perfect squares – and mine rarely are.)

Eventually I had sewn enough squares to figure out how to put this baby together. I spread them out on the bedroom floor and commenced to arrange them and during this process, figure out how many I needed for each row. This is a big quilt. Each block is 6 x 6 inches with a 1.5 inch strip between. It’s 11 blocks wide and 13 long It was a lot of sewing. 🙂 Half way through, I started working from the middle down because it’s a lot of fabric to handle.

Last night I was all ready to attach the last row to the bottom half and then I can sew the two halves together. Started across using my handy dandy sewing clips – I adore those little things – and got nearly to the end when I realized something was not quite right.

It’s ELEVEN blocks wide. ELEVEN. Not ten.

Oops. Somehow the last row only has 10 blocks. Well. That’s a conundrum, I looked through my orphan blocks to see if I put the extra one there. Nope (Orphan blocks are those that don’t have any friends, eventually I’ll find a way to put them all into one quilt. Or not. But I always have plans!) So the search for any unused fabric commenced. Thank goodness – found a bag full and put together another block. So today I rip out the strip of black that will now be too short and sew on a new one and then the two halves will be joined. And why does ripping take 10 times as long as sewing? It’s just cruel!

What happens next is up to my friend. I no longer have the patience for hand quilting, so if he wants that, he’ll have to do it himself – and he’s better at it than I am anyway. If he wants machine quilted, I can manage that. Pictures may appear here eventually.

In other news, Maverick has had three days of being a total shithead. A vet visit yesterday for his annual physical let me vent to the vet – who told me Maverick needs a girlfriend. Maverick is intact (not neutered) and apparently his hormones get raging now and again. I informed the vet that i will do most anything for my dog, but I draw the line there – so find him a girlfriend! (No, there will be no puppies, and if there were, they would be pure Goldens, no doodles for us!) After we got home last night, we spent a peaceful hour on the porch, and he seems to settled down. Thank goodness, cuz I’m running out of booze. (For me, not him! Geesh, people, what kind of puppy parent do you think I am?) 🙂

Posted in dogs, home, old friends, quilting, sewing | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Jumping bean!

Posted on March 7, 2024 by suziecreamcheese

We’re working on paws up on the black bowl – he’s not fond of the bowl so I’m using dehydrated liver as treats- very high value.

This is the result.

Lord help me 😂😂

Posted in Uncategorized | 20 Comments

Onerva

Posted on March 6, 2024 by suziecreamcheese

I found this picture by Googling, by the way.

This is the bloody cursed Onerva shawl. I did not make this. I mentioned it in a comment yesterday – I attempted it with lace weight yarn (think thread weight) twice. The first time I learned the benefits of a life line. The second time I realized that the pattern was actually a hot mess and attempted to rewrite it. Apparently there used to be a chart floating about the interwebs, but I can’t find it and I have difficulty with charts so I never printed that out. Or perhaps I did, and it’s hidden in a file somewhere on a zip drive amongst the pile of zip drives that is so big that even thinking about searching through them makes me want to drink.

I restarted it in worsted weight yarn – not caring if it was off gauge, I just wanted to figure it out. My rewrite of the pattern is also a hot mess.

It’s basically a mirror image from the center out – so it shouldn’t be that hard to rewrite, right? RIght. (Insert eye roll emoji)

After updating all the stuff for my next round of classes and looking for more classes anywhere – I have a mortgage, people! – I’m going to sit with this thing and redo it. It will not defeat me!

(Please send booze) (And cookies) (And maybe chocolate)

Posted in knitting | Tagged | 16 Comments

Knitting – because I don’t always train dogs!

Posted on March 5, 2024 by suziecreamcheese

In September, we became Great Grandparents. According to the Bear, he isn’t old enough but I am. Sorry, Dear, so are you! Shortly after the first was born, we learned that yet another grandchild was expecting, so in April we will have two little boys to spoil rotten. (Unless we get sucked into babysitting – it’s no fun to spoil when they’re gonna be with you all day, every day) At any rate, a Valentine’s Day hat was requested – and completed fairly quickly. A St. Patrick’s Day hat was next, also completed quickly, although I remembered why I’m not a fan of Fair Isle knitting – I can never totally hide the floats.

At any rate, expectant granddaughter requested a sweater for soon to arrive #2 and although I have a million patterns, off I went in search of another. I fell in love with this:

2 in 1, knitting patterns set, knit pattern baby jumper, knit pattern baby hat, knit baby sweater, todler, newborn knit pattern image 1

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1291808871/2-in-1-knitting-patterns-set-knit?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=shaker+knit+baby+sweater+pattern&ref=sr_gallery-1-4&pro=1&bes=1&dd=1&search_preloaded_img=1&organic_search_click=1

I learned to knit when I was 4 years old. I watched my mom, who always had a baby sweater on the needles, and legend has it that I just picked up the needles and went to town. I don’t remember any repercussions, so I’m assuming there were no mistakes made. At any rate, I got a little knitting kit for Christmas that year and there have been few times in my life when I wasn’t knitting something or other.

I don’t mind a challenge, although as I’m getting older I kinda prefer mindless, done in a few weeks types of projects. I didn’t expect this sweater to be difficult.

You know what they say about expectations. (Actually I don’t think they say anything about expectations except you shouldn’t live on them, but it sounds good, so I’m keeping it here)
First, I had to order needles, because I didn’t have circular needles of the correct size or length. I don’t mind that, one can never have enough knitting needles. However, I’m not a fan of magic loop and so I had to order shorter circular needles. Still too long. Fine, order the damned dp’s that I didn’t have.

I got it cast on, 8 rows of 1×1 ribbing done, on to the “decorating neckband” instructions. There’s a video link, so I went and watched – only demonstrated using the English method (which I can do so not a problem) BUT, the video doesn’t match the instructions. Okay, I can figure this out. But meanwhile, I went and did what I should have done before purchasing the pattern – read the reviews.

Here’s a hint – read the reviews first.

I’ll manage to complete the sweater before he outgrows it, And I’ll leave a detailed review. Meanwhile, I’m going to knit a bunny hat for Easter for #1.

Sometimes you just need a shot of booze and to wing it!

Posted in knitting, my life | Tagged , , , , , | 18 Comments

Roll over

Posted on March 3, 2024 by suziecreamcheese
Another trick
Posted in Uncategorized | 24 Comments

I need a nap

Posted on February 29, 2024 by suziecreamcheese

I got up at 6:30 yesterday morning – the literal crack o’dawn for me. I had my urologist appointment at 8:30 and managed to be awake and alert for the whole thing.

The bad news – I have yet another UTI, this makes 4 since January. So another round of Cepalexin, yippeee. However, the good news is that this is semi-normal in older women. (Yes, I am an older woman, and damned proud of it since I honestly expected to die at the age of 21) So there is a treatment plan that has had great success and I now have tools to fight this. It is not what I feared, she said it’s not ICS, so that made me very happy! A few lifestyle changes are in order – less coffee, more water – I should probably get one of those fancy bottles that tells you how much to drink when but I’m thinking a gallon jug will do the trick just as well. I can make it pretty and paint lines on it and put my own times on there. 🙂 (Yes, I’m that crafty)

In other news, the quilt I’ve been battling for ages is nearly done. I was hoping to finish it but getting up at 6:30 is not conducive to getting anything much done. I do need a nap, but I have office hour and then meeting a student who can’t make office hour, so I’ll have maybe an hour to sew anyway.

The shot in my shoulder blade appears to be working, although the steroids kept me awake last night – even though I was tired out from getting up so early. We had a wicked storm roll through, I’m pretty sure I saw Toto go by at least once. I never worried about wind till we built our house – in the woods. When surrounded by trees, one worries about wind. We were doing fine till the lights blinked out – that freaked me out and then of course, Maverick got stressed out. It’s scary enough with the wind, really scary when there’s no light. But we muddled through and calm ensued.

There is nothing on TV lately. I kind of like Will Trent because I read all the books and loved them so even though I’m not fond of the changes that were made (gotta keep the woke crowd happy) I still like the series. Last night I went to Netflix and scrolled till I landed on Enola Holmes – I like the actress who stars in this _ Millie Bobby Brown – she played Eleven in Stranger Things. (Stranger Things is kind of a favorite because my great nephew, who can do absolutely no wrong in my eyes, has the same type of wild hair as Dustin). I didn’t realize it was 2 hours long so that will be finished tonight.

And the quilt that’s tormented me for a few years, that I wadded into a ball and threw into a corner at one point, may be finished today. I pulled it out, told it to go together or go in the trash, it was not my choice, seems to be going together. Is it perfect? Hell no. But it will be done and will grace a bed in one of the spare bedrooms.

Posted in Maverick, my life, quilting, sewing | Tagged | 17 Comments

Get in a box

Posted on February 28, 2024 by suziecreamcheese
His favorite trick
Posted in Uncategorized | 21 Comments

Getting old is not for sissies

Posted on February 27, 2024 by suziecreamcheese

My mom used to say that and I would laugh, little knowing how right she was. After getting a cortisone shot in my shoulder blade area yesterday for bursitis, I have a urology appointment tomorrow for what I’m starting to think isn’t actually ICS, but recurring UTI’s. (Sometimes Google is your friend. Not often, but sometimes)

About a week and a half later, I have an MRI scheduled for my back because the cortisone shots are not working in that area. (None of this will cost much, if anything, so pffffftttt to those who think the American medical system is so awful. Go to another country is we’re so bad)

Yes, I’m a touch cranky. Why, you ask? Because it feels like yet another recurring UTI is starting. Thankfully, I have the urologist tomorrow. Meanwhile, I smack myself upside the head and go, “Seriously???????????” I do not have time for this nonsense.

This is the last week of classes for me, I get two weeks off and then back for 7 weeks, during which I pray for classes to get me through the summer. I love teaching from my lawn swing, by the way. Maverick runs around outside while I teach, it’s a win – win situation

Maverick – he cracks me up as often as he drives me nuts. Last night I was taking some stuff out of the family room and he was way too nosy. So I pulled down the box we used in tricks class and told him to “get in the box!” He did, and jumped out. I told him, “Nope, get in the box and sit!” He did. While he was going in and out of the box, and I was cracking up, I got the stuff I wanted to get out of the family room, out! He’s a character!

In other news, a quilt that’s been in process for over a year may be finished tomorrow. Will be finished tomorrow. It has a big border that wouldn’t lay flat, so I had to take it apart and redo it twice, at which point I wadded it up and stuffed it in a bag and threw it into a spare bedroom. I’m on mission to complete projects, so out it came and I told it, “you go together or you go to the trash, you decide.” Apparently it understood, I have onlyl the binding to do. By the way, this is not actually a “quilt,” because it’s machine “quilted” and my mother would slap me for calling it anything other than a “comforter.” If it wasn’t hand quilted, it was not deserving of the title “quilt” in her eyes. Who am I to argue with her?

Posted in Maverick, my life, teaching | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

I don’t think so

Posted on February 22, 2024 by suziecreamcheese

Ever since my ER visit, I’ve been reading a lot about ICS and even though the doctor diagnosed that in 2019, I’m not so sure I have it. I’m seeing a urologist next week and I’ll get a definite diagnosis then. One of the things I’ve read is that you should do an elimination diet to see what your triggers are. I joined a support group – which I may leave soon because my symptoms are nothing compared to these people, I don’t know how they function. At any rate, it seems that pretty much anything can be a trigger and people are willing to give up coffee, spaghetti, chocolate, alchohol, any scented soap or detergent, and a myriad of other things.

What.

The

Actual

Flock?

I enjoy coffee. I like my beer. i NEED spaghetti on a regular basis. Chocolate is something I need in moderation, but I went two weeks without any and I was thinking, yep, worth the possible migraine, gimme an M&M or twelve.

After doing a lot of reading and a lot of research, I came to the conclusion last night that I can’t live like that. Is it living if you can’t do or have the things you enjoy? Asking me to give up coffee, sauce, an adult beverage, would be like telling me I could never read another book, never knit another stitch, never sew another doll dress. There would seriously be little point in living.

So I’m not gonna do it. I’m looking into alternatives – accupuncture was mentioned – and crystals – I firmly believe in the power of crystals. Tomorrow or Monday, I will find a store, since the place I used to use seems to have closed, and take my list and buy myself some crystals. I will discuss accupuncture with my urologist. And I will eat and drink what I like, even if I have to gobble Prelief tablets with every bite. I will not let this defeat me.

Bladder spasms are awful. They’re terribly painful. But they stop Eventually they stop I’m not going to tiptoe through my life in fear of them. I just don’t think so

Posted in home, my life, pain | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

I think it’s Monday

Posted on February 18, 2024 by suziecreamcheese

Today has been one of those *CFSS days. Maverick does not do weekends well. Therefore, I do not do weekends well. I’m sure it’s my fault, basically everything to do with Maverick is my fault. He goes to daycare 5 days a week and doesn’t understand why he has to be home 2 days. His routine is get up in the morning and get in the car, play all day, come home and snuggle a bit, play some games with Mommah and then repeat the same thing the next day. Saturdays and Sundays, Mommah wants to sleep past 8 am, and drink her coffee in peace.

What is this peace of which you speak? Maverick hasn’t a clue and doesn’t wish to catch one.

I was told that by the age of 2, dogs became more aware of their people and less focuses on themselves. 5 1/2 years later, I’m still waiting for that to happen. I was also told that he would calm down when he hit 2. Still waiting on that one, too.

So today was Sunday, aka “drag Mommah around the park’ day. Our walk wasn’t as bad as yesterday but it wasn’t good. My body hurts, from the cold, partly, and partly from 5 years of being beaten up by Maverick. When we got home, I had lunch, and watered my plants – and if you want plant advice, go visit my friend Kristi’s new blog Plants and Projects and she’ll tell you how to fix any problem you have, although “put it out of its misery” is probably not the best advice I’ve ever gotten. (Okay, I did tell her I hate the poinsettia and it hates me back) Anyway, she made me laugh today.

And i think I managed to figure out, after multiple attempts to fix the bloody thing, how to get my printer to print normally from my laptop. What a CFSS that’s been!

*cluster fuckin shit show

Posted in dogs, home, my life, pain, snow, training | 15 Comments