Christmas Day

 We put together some 3D printed toys Mark had downloaded and printed.

 

Mark made a roast beef cut and potatoes, and we had the pears that I had made yesterday with pudding.  It was a good dinner, and over by 3:30 pm, and everyone opened their gifts.  Esme and Mark got clothing they needed and snacks and Grandma got some snacks and a blanket and socks.  Esme bought Mark a blanket, as well.  I gave Esme a talking penguin toy, a star projector and we all played a card game that I had bought.  I got coffee and spices and socks.  Mark had found more guajilio chiles for me at the store, which I knew they had according to the website but couldn't find them IN the store.  I also considered buying three plus pounds of pears and the gouda cheese as part of my Christmas gift 'splurging' on food that I wanted. 

 Grandma watched a few shows with us, and then I brought her back home. 

 I have work tomorrow and Saturday.  Studying Greek mostly today, and some Catalan.

 

another of the spice mixes I had in my Christmas presents, with pumpkin seeds, a bag of caramel coffee, seaweed snacks and pistachio pudding :)

 

 

bits of fourth

 It's the Fourth of July.  I have the day off from the office job, but still have 'double duty' postal route tomorrow so I don't know if we are going to try to go do anything late night tonight.   We're still waiting for the HVAC company to get the equipment and come install it, probably next week.  I've written a little bit on a few books but I've taken up teaching E some work skills like inventory management, spreadsheets and table formatting.  She is going to help me set up a printer today.  I told her we also need to work on some phone skills, and of course, preparing more for her driving test.  We need to focus on getting her a car to drive - but the HVAC was unexpected and we've had to do that first.  Next week we go and make sure she has all the classes she needs to graduate this year, as there have been some changeups required.

 

I've wondered what other online courses I could get her to take that might be of use for her, certificates etc.  I took that financial literacy course with her late last year, but haven't been chomping at the bit to take any more on that site, either.  But she is appreciating learning more about computer skills that I actually use daily at work, and her school experience has pretty much thrown her out into word processors and spreadsheets and said 'go do something with it' without giving her anything useful to do with it or any instruction.  It's a far cry from when we had entire classes in typing and ten-key (which she had never heard that term before), computer programming and word processing.

 

I've been studying French and Welsh - both of those are advanced level stuff so it's not as easy as just playing around in low level Japanese or Czech, but still not as annoying as  trying to keep Spanish separate in my head, and started a different world in the Minetest to see how I adapt to building now with knowing how everything works and how to survive in each environment.   And that isn't getting any more books released.  I've just put a lot on my plate right now and some of it - like E's extra computer lessons - are things I probably should have been doing for a good while.

Quests for Humans

 It's been busy weeks - on top of busy weeks.  The cold let up a little - we're getting some rain but hopefully no ice overnight.  Got the little car's heater fixed.  Mark had his birthday - I gave him some clothing and some candy that Esme and I had picked out when we got propane one day.  He watched a lot of the cartoons and movies he likes - and ordered some things for his computer that is only just now arriving.  

It doesn't feel like Christmas will be here in a few weeks.  I've only bought a few things and to be completely honest - I never even took the little tree down last year. It's still up from LAST YEAR.  But it does need to be taken down and cleaned and the lights replaced and put back up.  If I can figure out time that I have ambition that isn't used for making dinner and laundry and existing.  I've come home and just sort of collapsed on the couch for a while and not been very conversational a few times.  That isn't really my style - It's been a bit like the epitome of 'flattened'.. edging back towards human at the end enough to eat and talk.  Usually my style is to come home and eat a huge pile of food and chat way too much until I deflate from the anxiety of the day and then ease back down from the high-tension end of the slide into normal.  I've had fewer of the 'keep doing what needs doing but anxiety of single being in a single timeflow with multi-dimensional timeflow thoughts that I can't process so I stick them down in the box all day until it overflows' type of days.  But I'm not sure if this is better or not - the 'I've kept doing all that needed doing but my 'brain box' is only full of dead space - no brain, no thoughts, just 'stop' or 'go' and now that I've stopped I'm flattened' feeling is a bit worse.  I guess other people would explain that as : 'I'm tired'.  But I guess that is proof I do still have those multi-dimensional thoughts when I start to think about it... when I'm not so tired.

Today I pushed on and after work went to the bank (hard quest, it closes less than a half hour after I get out of work, about a half hour drive away from bank), feed store (also closes an hour after bank does, but only fifteen minute drive away from bank), then another store for Mark and the grocery store, and then home.  I am really glad the little car made it through all those stops.  When the mail truck was having trouble with its battery that was an ever-increasing anxiety making multiple stops without running the truck long enough to charge the battery in between.  Quests for humans, indeed... with difficulty settings.

Not to mention it gets dark so early now.  And is extremely dark and cold and sometimes icy in the mornings.  It could be worse.  I don't want it to be.  Boss was ranting to me about somebody taking days off and going to be fired for missing work - and I told her my anxiety stack is still on all the ice days of previous years and I can't say one word one way or the other about anyone else because I'm just doing my best to be there every day and anxiety about what will happen if/when the weather changes.  She tried to assure me that I can't control the weather.  Yea.  That is what worries me.

I called all of our errands and my work days 'quests for humans' the other day to Esme - as she helped us get groceries with Grandma, and propane.  I told her it feels like that sometimes, like ticking off parts on some video game quest until you get all the bits done - but then it's just done for that day, and it rolls back around the next day starting all over again.  I had a very very busy postal route the other day, but not so much I couldn't get it done.  I'm wondering what this weekend will be like - Christmas packages et al.  This is the time of year they used to call in some help.  I used to be that help, on the weekdays - but now I am at the office job during the week.  Last Saturday they said that they were surprised I finished it all without needing help, but I said I didn't know they were providing help yet, so I pushed through and got it done - by continuously telling myself during the day : 'It's not going to help to sit here and stare at it - up, onward, get it done' over and over until it got done.  Thus: the quests for humans.  There is a book I keep seeing that is close to that name but it isn't quite the same emotion.

And I feel like my hips, knees, ankles, fingers and wrists are all clicky at the moment - it could be worse, don't want it to be.  It's like my muscles are made of toothpicks bound together with lots of rubber, and the toothpicks are clicky and shifting around and hoping they don't break.  I am glad the weather has been good - hope that continues to be.  Just keep getting home from work, dinner, head to bed after a bit.  I played the game a few days (Sims 3) and it still feels like I've just wasted most of that time.  I discovered how some things work again - without going and looking things up - but still, it got nothing done in the real world.

I've sent out several copies of my Mikki Mack book to people - sold one locally, and still need to find a way to get the rest of the stack to the local gallery.  They are open later on Fridays (or, at least they used to be) so I might have to take up that 'quest for human' mentality and just push push to have that be something I want to get done so I make sure it gets done.  At the office job that is how I make things work - just push push and when I stop to breathe for a minute line up the next stack.  Same thing with the postal route.  Same thing with lots of things, it's the only way I keep the balls in the air.  I'm just still adjusting to that weird feeling of stopping and there isn't new material coming in from all sides of my brain that has nothing to do with the task at hand or minimal tangents.  It's like missing an old friend that don't hardly get any time to spend with, except the old friend is my creative side which is asleep in a chair in the corner.

Languages - lots of Japanese.  A little bit of Czech.  Not a lot else.  The Japanese on my highest Duolingo profile is actually getting into new words FINALLY.... why has it taken so long?  It really has.  And I do like the little yomu yomu app that has short conversations or stories to listen to.  The Czech language app is a bit annoying in that it is supposed to recognize your speech and there are so many things I cannot come close to pronouncing (acc. to the app) but yet I feel like I understand them and am saying them as best I can. 

Christmas 2023

 

I haven't been taking Christmas pictures, but letting everyone open their presents organically and just spending time.  I made a few cards after lunch today, and read some of the book Esme got me for Christmas.

Had finally finished up those fingerless mitts a few days ago, that had been started a year ago! They're too big, but they are complete and they do fit, just loosely. It's so warm I don't really need them right now! So with these needles free I had started a simple ribbed hat pattern, size 6 dpns, 100 stitches give or take... 1 x 1 ribbing - and I always make the hat a little too small or a little too short so I think I'll keep this one by my desk and do a little 'overkill' on it, a bit too big perhaps, and longer -- some of my instincts say to mix a somewhat-clash color with it, like Navy Blue, and then it will be 'a real thing' compared to just a plain straight color. It is supposed to get colder again after a week or so - and since I keep having to put my other hat from last year back on after it slips off my head - I thought another hat might perhaps be a useful item if it turns out better than that one. Accounting myself to stop knitting so my hands will be in good shape tomorrow... Is six o'clock too early to go to bed? Considering the dogs wake me up multiple times in the night and wake-up time is before six in the morning, it is probably okay.

 

I have a big route tomorrow, and not my usual one - and we expect it to be heavy.

I need to go fold the laundry and go to sleep, probably.

 

 Our Minion cat already has gone to sleep on my desk - although I had to evict her out of a baseball cap she had claimed... put this ten year old scarf on the desk out of a bag hanging on the wall and she eventually accepted it.

 

Grandma Irene came down for lunch, we made pork roast and I made a butter cake with ginger-syrup poached pears beside it. The pears were a bit soft, but better than too hard. We did a few small presents, something for each of the family members to wear, a book, candy - and a little something else for Esme. She got a game she wanted on the computer, and there is an art item coming in the mail for her soon. I bought her a book by Erin Hunter, which she had previously missed I think, by her reaction.

I've still been doing French language this week, maybe one or two lessons for something else, but switch back and majority of French. I've done a little drawing, mostly for thank you and New Year's cards.

I also need to order the next proof of my book soon so I can get it looked over and push the button to order print copies.  

 

 

 

Easter Egg Hunt at TCAT Tennessee College of Applied Technology

Ready to GO!

 And, they're off!

Esme, Gwenny and a friend gathered up for the egg hunt.

 Treasure trove!

Opening candy, very focused!

Who is this child?  Do I know her?

 

I was working on making some more rag dolls. I need more practice.  This is Esme's doll Daisy (in red) and the new one that took several hours today.  I want to make two more like her and see if I can work out the kinks.

Christmas Day

 A very bird Christmas

Tweet, repeat

Fluffy blanket!

 And Mark got a dinosaur toy, that was taken over by Esme.

Grandma came down and Mark made a wonderful deep dish lasagna.  I put on a movie 'The Hundred Foot Journey'.  Esme gave Grandma her painted birdhouse and I gave her the little sequined ornament.  Daddy had gotten Grandma a huge bale of potting soil medium for her greenhouse this winter.  Grandma gave us many thoughtful gifts, as well.  She found a mortar and pestle, which we had been hardpressed to find for chemistry and other projects earlier this year.  We were so happy to have her down for a meal and enjoy the movie together.  Mark's lasagna was truly good and everyone ate a lot.

I have new yarn to add to my two years and counting blanket I was knitting, and to make more dishcloths out of.  Mark and Esme have canned octopus...which was a gag gift from Mom.  But, I think I'll have to try to cook it for real - not for them.  That will be bravery.  There were also lots of treats everyone will like - even the dogs and cats got their own treats.

Other Note: Esme's book has been digitally proofed and a physical proof copy is due in our mailbox in early January.  Then, when we see that everything is good, we'll order several copies and they will wing out in the mail :)  I have another New Year's gift ready to be sent out too - just added the finishing sewing bits to it the other day. 

Happy Halloween

We went out and had a nice night trick or treating with some friends.  It rained halfway through... and everyone was glad to see the cars!  Esme got a good haul of candy, not too much :)  She went in her watermelon costume and had her face painted by her friend's mom.  Esme said it was the best Halloween ever, and was super-excited about everything.

 Who me?

A watermelon zombie candy pirate?

Boxing Day as clean up day

I really couldn't find any articles about this - except for cleaning out your wardrobe, to make room for new purchases.  However, we had gotten used to the idea, in Minnesota, for the day after Christmas to be a day you reorganize, bag up all the wrapping paper and empty boxes as well as loose trash, papers and 'build-up' you have around the house.  Whatever isn't where it needs to be - within reason (it is still a holiday) gets moved to a more logical place.  Clothes get reorganized, shook out, wash whatever has built up over the past few holiday days etc...  And then pile up the items for charity, dump and so forth to be dealt with over the next week.  Sometimes, we had to clean out the fridge for leftovers - or wash lots of dishes.. so the day was just a general clean-up until everyone had done something really noticeable, and then we collapse again to let it all sink in.  Maybe my family was just cleaning-oriented.  I know my mom was..

I held Esme to a 'boxing day' clean-up today, her major areas.. she grumbled.  But, it made really nice progress.  And she is being rewarded by playing on the computer game some more now.

There is a lot more we could clean up - but having a start on the basic areas feels good. 

I'm thinking what to do with the sourcream in the fridge, and maybe the pumpkin cans Mark gave me as part of my canned goods.  My 'Pumpkin' recipe book is calling to me... Mark has planned porkchops for dinner and we're all just hanging out and trying to stay warm.  The puppies have started to both grow teeth and wander the room more.  I have lots of thoughts ranging through my head - and back to work at 7 am tomorrow....

reading: Fool's Fate, Tawny Man trilogy, by Robin Hobb
---wondering about picking up Half Magic, the book I bought for Esme, after this.  It has been so long since I read it...

Thanksgiving

I am sorry to say I was down and out this Thanksgiving - spent most of the day in bed with the flu.  I will have to do a raincheck for Grandma, sorry :(  Esme watched a bad stomach moment and was grossed out - she told me the flu virus was not in her stomach, she was going to squish it and make it dead and go away.  I had just told her I was going to puke - and she said oh - with the little 'l' in it, puke, yes I know... *roll eyes*  I spelled it for her - and that was pretty much it, because then it was a visual example after that (I had a bucket).  She then said 'Eww..  You are sick.  You are really really sick!', to which I responded : 'I told you so.'  She was very good considering Mama was down all day - she played PBS kids, Sims (where she took newfound interest in when they get sick) and watched movies all day.  She watched me cut my hair during the one time I was really up - the headache was so bad and I was fighting the nasuea at that point and needed to take my mind off things... that is the usual time for self haircut.  I did an adequate job considering, will have to fix little bits here and there.

Esme has been moving forward on her language at a greater speed - Martha Speaks and other shows she is watching.  And she has been asking for more definitions and trying to make bigger explanations of things she is thinking.  When she was eating dinner last night (we had grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup - she got all the noodles) she said it was going into her brain and splashing and feeding her brain and it felt good.  She held a sandwich up and said the butter and the cheese were so good.  When she had a popsicle before bed she told Mark and I that she had grape popsicles and grape fruit in the refrigerator, just like that - and she was thinking, the one thing and the other thing, and that is an idea, in her brain.  People have ideas, and  she likes ideas.  When we went to WalMart the other day there were toys wrapped up she wanted to look at, but they were covered with signs that said 'Not Available until Thanksgiving 8 pm' on them;. I pointed to the signs and told her what they said and she was sad but accepting of it.  I saw a noticeable uptick that night on her trying to decode things on the computer, and trying to spell words out, not always correctly.

Easter Developments with a mostly happy ending

**graphic image (end of post): dog with cuts and punctures on face

Oh wow, what an Easter day. It actually started yesterday after Mark picked me up from work. We came home to a bloody porch and a severely torn up Bunny dog. We have no idea really what happened to her - deep small punctures all over her face, chest and under one leg. We thought she had lost an eye at first - but it's still in there. What was worse, in the middle of cleaning Bunny up and seeing just how many wounds there were (and what was just blood) we did a head count, and Misha was also missing. It was a stressful night thinking we were going to find a dead dog in the morning out in the woods - and caring for the hurt one as well.

Early this morning Mark went out and walked the woods, but didn't find any sign of Misha or what had torn up Bunny. At about 9 am our cat Mitzi began to have her first litter of kittens. The first was born breech and stillborn, it never moved or took a breath. Since then she has had four more and seems to be doing well with them. It took a bit of urging for her to take care of the first two live ones after the disappointment and confusion of the first one being stillborn. But with some soft voice and lots of 'good girl' she took them to nurse and things were a lot easier after that.


Four kittens for Mitzi
what a surprise, they're orange!
* correction: three kittens for Mitzi :( *


Mitzi looking proud of herself
I took Esme up to see her Grandparents and they had a good time with plastic eggs and running around the house. She made up her own game with Grandma where she falls onto Grandma and gets hugged - very very cute. We came back home, had some lunch and she took a nap.

The rainstorm started - a big heavy downpour. And in the middle of it I looked up and there at the door was Misha. She was wet and looked like she had been running all day and so tired she just wanted to lay down. But, she doesn't seem to be hurt anywhere. She came right in the house soaking wet and went immediately to where Bunny was laying. She looked her over and laid down nose to nose - almost a 'sorry you got hurt glad you are okay.' We dried her off and they are both sleeping on a blanket. What a relief. Misha is the 'brains' for all of our dogs it seems some days, the one who takes care of everyone and knows how to translate human. I would have missed her the most, I think, out of all of our critters.

So, a happy ending even with poor Bunny torn up. Mark is taking good care of her - nearly carrying her outside when necessary. Mitzi is taking good care of her kittens so far, and finally after sunset on Easter it seems we have a little Peace falling on our house.

click to see poor Bunny dog curled up on a red towel

Crafting365: day 26: Happy Easter!

EVERYBBODY THINK GOOD THOUGHTS for Rhiannon!.
It looks like she'll be having her baby boy soon :)

Happy Easter!

For Easter we'll probably take Esme up to her grandparents for a short visit (have to call them yet) and make Mark a good dinner :) We still have a steak left in the freezer. Esme is a little too young for any other Easter festivities, but she'll get to chew on a cotton bunny I'm sure ;)

I'm still going strong on Crafting365. The hard part is keeping a post up of the things I've done, since I'm truly always doing something. Yesterday I made a few toys and set out some 'big plans' towards making more of the things I've mentioned.


Checklists like this sometimes help me keep on track

Christmas Toys already?

It's just one day after Labor Day and it seems people are already thinking about the holiday season. I saw lots of Halloween stuff being sold, and when I checked my mail today I found an inquiry about making some toys for a Christmas showcase. Christmas toys already? Well, I'm ready as soon as she tells me the quantity and color. In that same vein, I started gearing up for more production by buying some new fabrics and a new iron. I was using Mark's mom's old iron but it was time for a new one.

Mark also had the idea that I could make little reindeer with some alterations to the horse pattern. I tried the first prototype today, and although this try isn't quite right the idea is sound. I'll take this one apart and try again.

Reindeer Prototype - try 1

So happy with this rabbit fabric I bought from a lady on Etsy. Her shop is in China, but it arrived here relatively quickly and much bigger cuts than I expected. They are both Japanese import fabrics I've seen elsewhere, and will be used in another quilt for Bazooka.

Links:
It's been forever since I've been to either of these blogs below, but ran across them again lately...
Bella Dia
Dacia Ray

Happy Easter!

Wishing you all safe travel and a happy holiday wherever you are :)