My Secret Life!?!?

A few years back, hubby traveled for work a lot. I was working full-time as well and entertaining myself while he was gone during the week by shopping in the evenings. Lots of book buying and reading going on. But I heard someone sing a song on a TV show -- can't even remember who or what it was now -- and thought, "I need to buy that CD."

And so it started. My new hobby was listening to music and purchasing CDs. I put together one of those nice zippered travel cases with hundreds of CDs and I'd change them out in my car, listening to new ones all the time. I love to sing at the top of my lungs in the car. In fact, that's how I got my last speeding ticket, but that's a story for another day.

One weekend, hubby and I were headed somewhere in my car that was a long drive -- probably Sedona -- and I was in the driver's seat. I said, "Let's switch out the CDs. Will you pull my CD case out from under the seat?"

Hubby has this confused look on his face and reaches down to pull the CD case from beneath the passenger seat. He unzips it and starts flipping through pages and pages of CDs. He says, "Where did all these come from?"

"I bought them."

"You bought all these CDs?" He's sounding very incredulous at this point.

"Well, yeah ... why?"

And he turns to me and says, "I don't even know you!"

Of course, we laughed our asses off and still do whenever we think about it. I guess he just couldn't believe I had this secret life -- buying CDs -- that he had no idea about. You know, ya gotta keep some mystery in the marriage!

Donny Osmond Rocks!

I was so thrilled to see that Donny Osmond is a contestant on "Dancing With the Stars" this season. Maybe because I lived for a number of years in Utah, I have always been a big fan of the Osmonds. I was pulling for Marie on DWTS a couple of years ago and just about had a heart attack when she fainted and hit the floor. I watched the "Donny & Marie" show in the 70s and sang along to "Puppy Love" and "The Twelfth of Never." I watched him do a craft project with Martha Stewart on her show a few years ago.

And I am so glad that Donny is doing well on this show. At 51, he is the second oldest contestant this season and his "Secret Agent Man" routine was great. He was entertaining and looked light on his feet. In fact, I think he got cheated out of a few points by the judges. He did just as well as Aaron Carter, who at 21 is the youngest contestant this year.

 



Go, Donny! Show 'em how it's done!!!

Wordless Wednesday - All the way to the top ...

Wordless Wednesday

Reading "The Last Time I Was Me"

I have been thoroughly taken by author Cathy Lamb. I read her first book, "Julia's Chocolates," a few months ago. The characters could not be quirkier, yet once I got into the rhythm of the story, I have to admit I was turning the pages just to see what strange thing they'd do next.

I liked it enough to go out and buy her second book, "The Last Time I Was Me." It's about a woman with several tragedies in her past that culminate in a major meltdown that not only blows her successful career out of the water, but puts her in court for revenge on a jerk boyfriend. (The court scene is simply delicious!) After hitting bottom so hard, she bounces back and builds a new life, making great new friends along the way. The bulk of the story is set in Oregon and Cathy Lamb really brings it all to life with a refreshing voice and perspective.

I would definitely recommend these books. Cathy Lamb is a master at creating weird, wonderful characters that I'd like to meet in person. Visit her website at www.cathylamb.net.

And it looks like I need to run to the book store and buy "Henry's Sisters" her latest book that came out at the end of July.

2010 Dishcloth Calendar

I am very happy and very excited. Through the thoroughly entertaining Mason-Dixon Knitting blog, I found out that there is a calendar of dishcloth designs being sold for $16.00 and may I just say What a bargain! The 2010 Dishcloth Calendar is called Gifts from the Heart ... Back to Basics and it is chock full of the cutest things to make -- 38 projects by terrific designers. In fact, the fantabulous Per Orla dishcloth in the calendar was designed by Kay Gardiner of Mason-Dixon.

I downloaded my copy and immediately started the Purly Waffle Cloth; I intend to take it as a hostess gift for a friend's dinner next weekend. I also have a friend whose baby is due in January and I'm planning to make the Kennel Club Pup Bib for her expected baby boy. Also, my youngest daughter recently mentioned that she needs a bag holder for plastic shopping bags and there is just the thing in the calendar called the Aloha Sack Sock. So there are all kinds of great bonus designs in addition to the dishcloths. I love having these smaller projects to work on when I can't make myself pick up the larger ones already going. Sometimes you just gotta have a little instant gratification!

To purchase your own print or download copy of the 2010 Dishcloth Calendar, click here.

Ratty Ol' Mouse

According to one of my breed books, Yorkshire Terriers were "bred originally to sniff out and catch rats for Welsh miners." They are mousers. I watched my first Yorkie, Buddy, chase a mouse across our large back yard when we lived in a somewhat rural area. He didn't catch it because he was stopped at the chain link fence and the mouse kept going, but he was on its heels the entire time. It was pretty exciting!

Half-a-mouse

So I guess it makes sense that our dogs love cat toys. When our youngest daughter lived at home with her two cats, some of their little toys were appropriated by the dogs. Skyler loved these little "mice" that seem to be a ping pong ball filled with something that rattles and is wrapped in a yarn covered fabric. They have pink ears, black eyes, a red nose, little whiskers and a tail. When Skyler passed away at the ripe old age of 15-1/2, he left his last mouse to Miles who absolutely adores it. As you can see, it is a ratty ol' half-assed mouse. All that is left is one eye, the nose and two whiskers.

When I'm reading or knitting, Miles will sashay -- I know, but sashay is the only way to describe it -- over and tease me with his mouse. He has this gleam in his eyes and he'll get just close enough for me to brush my fingers over his mouse and then he turns and runs like hell. He will play this game for the longest time, especially if I actually get up and chase him. Boy, is that fun!!!

Miles with his mouse

Sadly, we can no longer find any of these mice to get replacements. So we will keep washing it and live with this ratty ol' mouse until it disintegrates.

From Hot Water Bottle Covers to ... CARS!

So yesterday's post was about these cute little hot water bottle covers to knit.

Today my baby sister sends me this ...



All I can say besides WOW is I sure hope this girl got an A!

Hot Water Bottles

I got my Fall 2009 Knit Picks catalog in the mail this week. Their tag line is "Passionately Committed to Affordable Luxury Knitting." Pictured on page 15 are these very cute Hot Water Bottle Covers and they are selling a book by designer Chrissie Day with knit patterns for 30 of them! And it occurs to me ... does anyone actually still use a hot water bottle?



While I imagine we had at least one around the house while I was growing up, I don't remember ever using anything but an electric heating pad. I've never even owned a hot water bottle and I'm in my 50s.

According to my Internet research, the hot water bottle was invented in 1903 by a Croatian, Slavoljub Eduard Penkala (Budapest, Patent No 29276). Electric heating pads were invented in 1912 by an American, S.I. Russell, to warm patients suffering from tuberculosis.



My personal favorite for at least 15 years has been this microwave heating pad that feels as though it is filled with sand. I am going to make these for gifts someday, but will have to open a seam on mine to inspect the contents. I bought it at a craft fair and it's long and skinny and wraps cozily around the neck. I am prone to back spasms and it is great for fitting into just the right sore muscle and stays warm for a good long time.

But, back to my original thought? Does anyone still use old-fashioned hot water bottles?

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie II

You know, if this pillow sham was black, they'd never go near it!

Miles is 2 feet tall on this pillow

Wordless Wednesday - Sedona, Arizona

Wordless Wednesday