The Cooler King

Halloween Tarot

Listen to this as you read - I promise it's relevant:





So Monday started as normal - did a little blog post about the current MKAL, ran the hoover around, 3 loads of washing as the sun was out and the tail of hurricane Gonzalo was supposed to lash us on Tuesday ... yanno, the ordinary housewifey stuff that turns my brain to mush.

Sebastian keeps me company as I do my chores, although it's normally a pretty one-sided conversation, since he doesn't consider my rhetorical questions about what to do next as worthy of an answer.

As he gets older, he grows increasingly fond of patches of sunlight that are big enough for him to lie in, and if that patch is outside, so much the better. It being a lovely sunny day, he found a warm spot on the patio and stretched out while I hung out my 2nd load of washing on the line.

I shuffled back inside to continue tottering about with a duster in one hand and a gin can of polish in the other.

The next basket of wet clothes later, I shoved the conservatory door open and squished it all on the line somehow. Looking round, Sebastian was noticeable by his absence.

My shrivelled heart beat somewhat faster as I discovered he was also not in the house.

When I saw the open side gate, I went into full adrenaline mode; I checked his usual lairs when he has got out, but they were all quiet and empty, not even a pile of poop to show he'd been by.

The internetz gave me the Council Dog Warden, although it took me longer to find as it is listed under 'Lost & Stray Dogs', and fortunately he had already been picked up and transported 20 odd miles away to the kennels the Council use for strays. I remembered how to breathe. And then I remembered how to disconnect and unplug every single technological device Destructo Boy owns, as it was he who had left the gate open, he was in so much of a hurry to get back to 'Call of Minecraft: Zombie Doom' or whatever is his current gaming obsession.

Belo and I took an adventurous drive to the backend of nowhere to retrieve Sebastian yesterday - the ladies who run the kennels were lovely; I especially did not look at or think about all the other strays there who I'd brought treats for. At all. Not one bit. No pangs at all. Sebastian was overjoyed to see us, and told us ALL. ABOUT. IT for the whole journey home.

Do you think that looks repentant ?

No, me either.

Destructo Boy is in the doghouse with the dog, and is grounded for life.

Wittering

Shadowscapes Tarot

Almost one week into the holidays, and Mini Diva has kindly donated me her sore throat and snotty cold. I guess I can't complain too much, as I haven't had a cold for the longest time. Unfortunately I am out of rum, and Lemsip just doesn't taste the same (or have the same effect) without it.

In the quiet times I am hooking like a crazy person, and entertain some hopes of finishing the Deadline Item by the deadline. Next week. My nose is so blocked up it's almost the same as holding my breath, wouldn't you agree ?

Just because, here is a picture of someone who clearly knows he should not be where he is:

As usual, I have been able to count on the Eviller Twin and the Good Twin:

  

And inside was - no, not a herbal cure, if I used this I would die (and not from fluffiness) - but a housewarming present of two brugmansias (which the conservative amongst us might call daturas) :

They are presently being cossetted (but we're not telling them that, as you know what results) in the conservatory while they recover from their journey. Plus, I need to find some nice pots for them to go out on the patio ....I imagine sultry summer evenings of purple shadows and tropical fragrance, gin, tonic, lime and ice in hand ....

OK, so maybe the Lemsip is having some kind of hallucinatory effect ....

FO Friday 170: Rodents Galore

Spiral Tarot

I underestimated the number of size 6/0 miyuki beads in an 11g. tube, so while I wait, panting and twitching, for the arrival of the postman, let's look at another prior FO, a far more attractive picture, I guarantee. 

You'll remember that before Xmas I made a really cute and quirky tea cosy for my allocated Secret Santa SIL. Well, that was so popular, I have received a few requests from other people who feel that their lives are not complete without twinkly rodents - and first to shower filthy lucre in my direction was my friend Michelle, which resulted in this:

  As you can see, I kept the previous modifications of sparkly beady eyes and glossy stiff whiskers; I used some grey yarn for the mice as well as various tones of brown, changed the ribbon, and embroidered 'OATS' on the side in chain stitch, for that realistic sack look.     Mice eat oats, don't they ?

I liked it, but most importantly, Michelle said she loved it.

Much as I wish I could put it off, I cannot find any more excuses not to vacuum the floor while I wait for the postman to ring twice - I can't even find the dog, he is so well-camouflaged amongst the dust bunnies. As you know, he is my lil chihuahua, so rather than cuties like this:

My dust bunnies look are far more like this:

Wish me luck, and escape while you still can, to Tami's Amis where you can see some beautiful projects ....

WIP Wednesday 160: Old Ogre-wear

Spiral Tarot

So in amongst the frenzied last minute holiday activities like swimming, park visits and girlie shopping with Mini Diva, I have actually managed to start the Old Man Cardigan for Shrek, aka DH. He not only selected and paid for the yarn (James C.Brett Rustic Aran Tweed in a shade enticingly named DAT16).

scale shown by 44kg/96lb Alsatian, not the Ogre, but built along the same lines

 
But he also pre-approved the pattern, choosing from a variety which included quite a few vintage offerings (thank you, Kitten), and ending up with this Nubby Pocket Cardigan pattern. It does have a textured stitch pattern, which I misled myself with, foolishly imagining that it would make the acres of Back that much more interesting to knit.

You think I exaggerate with 'acres' ?

Well, OK, possibly. 

But not by much - the back shown here is 18''/45cm  from bottom edge to bottom of the armhole, and the armhole is currently 10''/25cm long, and needs to be a minimum of 11''/27.5cm. That's 29''/ 72.5cm so far - and we haven't even mentioned the width yet. Because I'm too lazy to get up and find the gauge, I'll guesstimate you by saying it is the 52''/130cm size I am making.

I know, you are right, I really don't have time to sit here chatting with you if I want to get this finished in this lifetime, let alone this year. Pop over to Tami's Amis where they are enjoying their WIPs ....

WIP Wednesday 158 : Cats and Dogs

Gaian Tarot

I am feeling just like the woman in this joyful Sun card from the Gaian Tarot: I had the most fabulous weekend away in Kent, meeting the gorgeous Nephew (August 2013 Edition) and attending SIL2's birthday gettogether. The sun shone, everyone was in a good mood, the kids and the dog behaved beautifully, DH and I were put up somewhere self-contained on our own, we didn't have to cook (by we, I mean DH, of course)  ....  it was just superb.

On top of that, all the baby things I'd made were much appreciated and more importantly, ooohed and awed at; SIL2 loved her birthday shawl. And now I am home alone in quiet solitude. Even my checkup at the dentist (only 1 filling needed in 2 weeks' time, in the tooth that had the ache - you can't imagine my relief. Or maybe you can.) and mucking out Destructo Boy's sty to the tune of 4 full big black bags full of rubbish has not affected my mood.

 It has just occurred to me that because I was out walking with DH and Sebastian on the beach or in barley fields ie. The Wild, I didn't even go into any yarn shops. Wow.

Unfortunately I have not managed much knitting or making. I did take my knitting with me - I find it keeps me calm and distracted in the car - intending to get on with the fronts for Destructo Boy's cardigan. I made a start, with the ribbing, and a few rows of pattern - then realized that I had managed to leave behind the pocket linings.

It is obviously not part of the Universe's plan for me to knit this week:

Perhaps everybody else is being more productive over at Tami's Amis .....

Monday Moan

Tarot of Durer

Well, it must be Monday because here I am moaning again. Not whinging, as that would be a Wednesday, right ? And the Universe must have me tagged as a soft sap for lame ducks. Meanwhile, I have me tagged for being psychic: I foresee another trip to the vet in this holiday period.

Jewel the rescue cat is in a cone of shame to prevent her from licking, scratching and biting herself - she has an allergy to flea bites, and even though she is treated regularly with the one vet prescribed product that works for her, every now and then she breaks out into a self-mutilating frenzy.

In addition to that, suddenly over the weekend Sebastian has been scratching and licking himself to pieces: usually we see this in spring and summer as he is allergic to grass. But it is winter and there are no flowering grasses right now. He also is treated regularly with vet prescribed anti-flea product, and has no fleas: I have checked him over exhaustively.

He does have some rather large hot spots which I totally sympathize with him must be horribly itchy. 

So he and I have had a shower this morning in his very expensive anti-bacterial dog shampoo. I guess I won't have any bacteria either now. I sure smell medicinally sulphurous, even after a shower on my own to wash and rinse it away.

He now has one of DH's shirts on to prevent scratching and licking while I wait for his steroid prescription to be ready for collection from the vet:

He is still cute and gorgeous if a bit grumbly. Also cute and gorgeous is Mini Diva (who is very grumbly), and who has been sneezing like some really sneezy thing, and also shares the allergy sensitivities - again, not hayfever season and she has no bug bites. So there is definitely something going on.

The only thing that is new or different is that last week we had some building work done, and an internal plaster and lathe wall dating from the Victorian era when this house was built was removed and replaced: the dust was unbelievable, and went everywhere.

On top of this, Sebastian's insurance renewal has come through for next year, and it is now just about the same amount as the Wilhelmina the 2.4l Volvo V70 estate; and if we switch insurers, although it would be tons cheaper, anything connected to his pre-existing condition ie. allergy, will not be covered. Wilhelmina has developed an electrical fault which drains the battery as soon as you look at it, so she will be visiting the garage very shortly.

 

The thing is, the dog is mine and the car is DH's. And you can't cuddle a car.

Silver Linings

Housewives Tarot

So I know how happy you'll be to hear that I managed to finish Destructo Boy's school sweater with only modest consumption of midnight oil - it's such an expensive price these days, one cannot afford to be profligate with such a labor-intensive commodity.

Lucky that I did, too, as I was then knocked sideways by severe stomach pain so bad it restricted my movement. According to the doctor, it was stomach acid; and he prescribed me Omeprazole which made me feel almost human again in a mere 4 days. I don't even know what is going on with that - it's connected to stress, apparently, of which I have exactly ... let me think .... none.

That meant that I was physically back on track for the weekend, so we could go to the beach on such a lovely hot, sunny day: and I actually got in the water with Mini Diva the water baby, got wet, and swam. Well, doggy-paddled would be more accurate, but hey, my feet were off the bottom.

 

Destructo Boy living up to his name by falling off his scooter; won't happen again, though, as someone stole it out of the front garden.

  

Destructo Boy in the guise of Nobel Prize-winning rocket scientist.

And some pictures of the Noble Hound as he is so purty to look at:

And I accompanied DH to the hospital for his 2nd injection into his eye - but the check they did beforehand confirms that there has been an improvement in the condition of his retina; I guess you can imagine how happy I am about that !

So all in all, last week a bit of a mixed week ... Do come back on Friday to see pictures of Destructo Boy's school sweater - if he hasn't lost it in the meanwhile. If he has, look for him in the coal-hole.

The Eggsnatcher

Even though the Easter Bank Holiday weekend weather was bad - grey, cold and rainy (we are not complaining about the rain, however, since the hosepipe ban also came into effect this weekend) - DH actually wasn't working for one of the Bank Holidays, so we had a long weekend with him, which was lovely. Once the chores were done, we couch-potatoed through all the good films that were on the TV.

The Easter Bunny visited, leaving generous amounts of chocolate eggs in our front garden, which were collected with much glee by Destructo Boy and Mini Diva, and then divided out without any squabbling, believe it or not.

The children left their two tidy piles of eggs on our bedroom floor. This was unfortunate on two counts: firstly, we have a Thief. The Thief is not allowed upstairs, which he knows; but, secondly, when the house is empty, there is no-one to say him nay. 

So we came back from a short trip to get bread to find nothing but a few bits of shiny gold and silver foil scattered across the carpet, and a rather large shamefaced dog who tried to squeeze himself into the smallest space possible to make himself unnoticeable: which didn't work, there is too much of him to hide successfully ....

He had no supper, and is none the worse for his chocolate intake: we figure even several small eggs don't really impact on him as he is now a healthy 40kg (88lbs) or so. But I think the kids  have at last learned the lesson of not leaving anything edible where Sebastian can reach it ...

Spring is Sprung

So after the ironing was done, the patio cleared, swept, and last year's troughs and tubs emptied into the garden recycling bin, it was time to enjoy the unpredicted sunshine and amble over to the park. 

Enjoy the following very Spring-y photos:

 

Oh my ! What is that hidden amongst the daffodils ?

 

 What a cunning disguise

 

 No-one will ever notice me

Just another flower, keep moving, people, nothing to see here

If At First You Don't Succeed .....

... try, try again. And once or twice more. Really, until you run out of patience or you get hungry, cold and wet and go home.

Yesterday we woke up to a generous covering of snow; parental chores completed, after lunch a visit to one of the nearby parks was indicated. Sebastian loves snow, so we took him as well, and I took my camera, a Xmas gift from DH.

So here are some fantastic photos of Sebastian gambolling in the white stuff:

 

 Aha ! Gotcha !

Rewards

So this was me today. Calm, chilled, relaxed, focussed. Believe that, believe anything.

Actually, this was far closer to the truth:

I had looked at Moonheart, and I really think that she had totally the right idea about how to spend the day - especially since it was very cold and blustery outside:

Yes, the radiator is on, and that is a rather unusual and hard-to-come-by spider plant that she is crushing, next to the very expensive cutting that came from Kent that she has her paw in. Buddha also took a header not long afterwards.

However, as I was just about to settle down to Karise (thanks so much again, Steph) with a cup of tea, blankey, hot water bottle and Dr.Mark Sloan, I saw this:

Irresistible, isn't he ? A mere hour and a half of running around chasing squirrels and big leaves in the park turned him into this:

I need to figure out how I can be more productive during this time.