Water Under the Bridge or There is Nothing Father Away Than Yesterday

Don't get too excited to see me two days in a row, I doubt I'll be making a habit of it. What I didn't mention yesterday about all the time I've been spending on the internet, is that I spend a good amount of each day trolling Apartment Therapy, where I am learning a lot about how little I know about home design. I know what I like, and what I like is stuff that I can't afford. Rewind the clock to a few years back, circa 2004. I was walking B home from a day of kindergarten, likely pushing a stroller full of newborn Jack, when I came across an estate sale a few blocks from my house. I am not making this up, there were some weird things, like a vintage (and very versatile) douche/enema/hot-water bottle, still in the box, a chair with a toilet seat built right in and possibly some macramé plant holders. These people had obviously lived in their home a very, very long time. There was also a very cool old chair which I instinctively knew was a good find, even though 'mid-century' was not a term in my lexicon. I happily forked over the dollar that they were asking, and carried it home. Juan came home, declared it the ugliest thing he had ever seen, and we commenced a 2 year stalemate over the chair. I couldn't afford to have the cushions refilled, and he would not even sit in it. I was constantly vacuuming the filling that was disintegrating out of it, and he would not even sit in it. I loved it even and thought it worthy of a place in our living room, and he hated it would not even sit in it. When we moved, he made it clear that the chair was not coming with us, and I finally gave into my inner minimalist and we ended up throwing it away. Yes, THROWING it in the dump, with a load of stuff that wouldn't sell in a thrift store. We reasoned no one was going to buy it for a dollar without about three hundred dollars to invest into it, because that was what I was quoted for reupholstering the cushions, and you can buy brand new chair at target for a fraction of that price.

Ok, back to the year 2010. Hours spent wiling away my life on Apartment Therapy have shown me that 'mid-century' retro furniture is pretty hot. I thought to myself, I wonder if I threw away a treasure in that cool chair. Gentle readers, you may not want to follow this link, I wish I hadn't. C'est la vi, easy come, easy go. But still....

Bad Apple

Remember the old adage: Blasters don't kill people, Stormtroopers kill people? The same could be said for imac making me into a horrible parent, wife, knitter, and dog owner. Logically, I know if I exercised an ounce of self control, I could get off the computer and break the spell, but it is so much easier and helpful to blame the computer. I feel like I stumbled upon the isle of Circe, this thing is strangely intoxicating, it causes time to pass by very quickly, but with out my noticing. Suddenly, hours have gone by, my coffee is cold, the kids are hungry, I haven't been outside since early March, laundry has piled up past the point of no return, and here I am, still in my pajamas, trying to find the end of the internet. It's not as if I'm doing anything truly constructive, unless you count reading other people's blogs, youtube and self portraits on photo-booth constructive. The verdict is still out, as far as I'm concerned, but Juan would beg to differ. He believes productivity would come from cooking a hot meal, making the bed...showering. Yikes, he sure has high standards for his stay-at-home-mom-wife. The argument could be made that he brought the mac home in the first place, so really, it is his fault. And the cycle starts again, blasters and Stormtroopers, apples and sloths.

So, here's the dish.....

Despite the lack of blogging going on around here, except for Juan, who is a surprisingly dedicated blogger, there are many, many things that I would love to share. I just don't seem to find or make the time to get online and do it. So, I'll give you a quick, somewhat cronological account of what has been going on en mi vida loca:
1. Thanksgiving was a smash, we shared it with friends and family in Alburqurque and the family representin' the East coast. I am still trying to lose that five pounds that was gained from all the wonderful food.

2. Christmas was the best ever. My mom, my brother and his wife (along with a dog disguised as a horse, or was it the other way around) came on the 23rd (my mom's birthday) and stayed till the 27th. Buddy and Cinder (the dog-horse) played non-stop and we got to catch up on all our lost time since July. We celebrated B's 12th birthday, which is more unbelievable than the eleven before it! Where does the time go? We got the kids a Wii for Christmas, and my brother, wife and my mom got our family a Wii Fit. It is more fun than I had planned on, even Juan gets in on the Punch Out and Wii sports...

Traditional tamales, posole, and chili set in Juan's grandmother's bowls

set the table, everything was perfect.

3. On Christmas Eve, our computer took a hard crash, basically destroying the hard drive and shutting down our lives for a few weeks. But Juan's friend was able to get it all straightened out (though all the files were a mess, named computer names and numbers) and we were up and running again. Apparently, tracking Santa, uploading cd's to itunes and adding a high-def video to vimeo all at the same time can really do some terrific damage, should a breaker happen to trip in the middle of it all. Who knew?

4. My kids went to NM for a week during Christmas break and Juan and I were home alone for the first time in at least six years...we actually saw a movie, had dinner out and just hung out watching the house stay clean. It gives me hope that when our kids are older and are gone from the house more regularly, we will still enjoy each other's company and will want to hang out together.

5. Over the last weekend of January, my best friend and I went to Buena Vista for our second annual knitting retreat with the same group of ladies as last year, minus a few, adding a newbie. We had a great time relaxing and enjoying the beautiful scenery, checking out each other's new yarns & patterns, and drooling over the selection in the LYS (yeah, I'm that cool, I use an acronym for local yarn store). I didn't buy a new purse this year, as the one that I spent a pretty penny on last year didn't hold up too well. I bought Son of Stitch & Bitch instead and plan to make the boys a Luchador mask each, and maybe one for Mimi too, if she needs one. It will be Nacho Libre 24/7 around here until it gets too hot for acrylic ski masks.

6. Valentine's day brought another year for our Mimi. She is four now, going on more like 14. We have a bonafide princess on our hands, and as much fun as it is, it leaves me scratching my head...how does this happen? She asked for roses for her birthday! What a girly-girl!We celebrated with cake and few presents (music, coloring book, and some very neat pens) then the next week brought packages from her aunt and uncle, and one from my baby sister and mom. Each was full to the brim of all things girly and pink. We

ended up celebrating all week long!

7. Monday March 1: After much irritation, angst and another issues, we got a new

computer...and not just any old computer, we got a mac. The last pc we got, I vowed never again to buy another pc. Juan disagreed, apparently he was happy with frozen screens, hours wasted waiting for things to load, crappy technical support, constant updates...I tell ya, if I added up all the time I've spent cursing dell for the past nine, it would probably have equaled a part time job. Then this fall, Juan got an awesome new video camera, which was really not being utilized. He also ended up with a great digital camera that he was just learning to use when the computer decided that it was done. So we did the research, and made the right decision! I am in love with this computer, it is amazing.

So, now you are up to date on the comings and goings of this wannabe blogger. If things go well, and I feel the need to keep sitting here at the computer for 8 hours a day, I might even blog again! We shall see.

What the...

I can only assume that I can't receive comments on the snail post because of the video, although momentarily I was able to see one the other day. Weird and annoying. If I were any kind of computer person, I would write a program for my own blog (and share it with the world) and not have to rely on someone else's, but as you might guess, if I can't even figure out how to make it show comments, I am not skilled enough to write it. Oh well. Here is a picture to pacify you in the mean time:

Hungry yet?

I'm ready for Thanksgiving. I plan to eat my weight in creamy mashed potatoes and brown gravy. A turkey leg will be just fine...make that one for each hand. Sweet potatoes and stuffing and cranberries, oh my. You can keep your green beans, unless they are made with cream o' something and covered in french fried onions. I'll take some pumpkin pie, and some pecan pie, and apple if it's available. Baby dill pickles, and pickled okra are a staple, but black olives, I hate you, stay off my plate. Forgiving pants are a must, so are slip on shoes, because I won't be able to bend at the waist after this momentous day. I'll be running double distance until March to make up for my thankfulness and I could care less. I. Can't. Wait. And I hope it is a joyous (and stuffed) day for you too!

Snail Tales

Could this be any cuter? I found these over here and made one last night, in no time at all. Nothing slow about it. I am thinking of putting some strong magnets inside them and giving them as little teacher gifts for Christmas. I suspect that most teachers don't need another coffee mug or a candle, so I thought that I would make these little things useful and give them with hot cocoa mix. I'm planning on making some mitten ornaments as well. He looks a little wonky here, but it is just the angle. It was so simple to make, and uses next to no yarn...go make some for yourself, it is so easy and the result is beyond satisfying.

And just for fun, and in keeping with the snail theme:

Ever feel like doing this?

Some fall pondering

It has been a while, but things have been moving along quite quickly. First, I have a new nephew who was born in late August. Sweet babies deserve something special, so I made him some little fruit and veggie rattles from JimmyBeans Wool. It is a free pattern, super easy with very impressive results. Unfortunately, like happens so often, I have no photographic evidence of said knitting. I worked right up till the moment of delivery (of gifts, not baby) and then handed them off with out so much as a snap-shot for my blog. Ugh. But you can go check out the website, knit a few of your own and see what you're missing out on. I also made a little monster pillow thing, which was really cute, and which also has no picture. I don't even have a website to point you to, because it was designed by my friend and I, just for fun, just for the new addition. If I ever make another, I will be sure to get pictures, but imagine googly eyes, silly teeth, green ribbon toes and a big red pocket to stash a baby sized necessity...maybe a pacifier? Maybe a fruit or veggie rattle for the road? I don't know what babies need to bring along anymore, since I am far from that stage, so your guess is as good as mine.

In other knitting and crafting news, I started back to my Tess shawl in earnest. I am about half way done, and with this crazy weather, it may be getting some good wear before the end of the month. We have had snow, wind, covered peaks, winter wonderland type weather these past few days. Nothing like the wonderful fall weather that I remember from days of yore. This new skip spring and autumn is really messing with me. I prefer to see my seasons changing, that way I know where I'm heading.

Not much else has been knit or sewn (after all the Spanky-Panty excitement, I know you were expecting more...) But now that holding wool seems like a good idea again, I hope to actually get something off the needles in the near future. And in the meantime, enjoy some fall-like photos to remind you of what it was supposed to look like. (Except for Buddy wearing the cone of shame, that is, that is just to make me happy.)