Odd-ish

Up watching the NFL game last night, things got to the point where it was too close to the game's end to continue with any involved projects.  I looked over at a few sheets of "wood paper" that was out for me to do something with, and saw some things in the grains:

Hey, it was something to do.

Por Ejemplo

 I remember smatterings of my high school Spanish.  Phrases, mostly.  Words.  My favorite was always "Escuchame" --- "Listen to me."  In part it was because of what it means, but mostly because it's fun to say.

ANYway...  Here's the latest addition to one of the Pinterest boards I mentioned, an example of my love of the old:

 

I honestly have no clue why this kind of thing appeals to me so.  It just does.

I did finish the panic room sampler last night.  Today I've been working mainly on the hexagon quilt pieces.  A few knit rows have been thrown in, too.  Last night, I woke up and went back to bed three times.  During the second one, I cast on some bootie socks.  The twist?  The yarn is glow in the dark!  There aren't enough stitches yet to test the glowability --- I'll keep you posted.

TNT. Really.

Yes, I have put my fingers to work on some cross-stitch.  Though it isn't finished, the message is most likely clear.  (Hint: it's from Subversive Cross-Stitch, so you know it's a little saucy.)

The issue with my fingers being the fingers they are is that, on most things, I lead with my middle finger. (That is NOT meant to be saucy.)  Gripping a pencil/pen/marker/crayon, the pressure is with that finger, with the index finger "only" second.   (Writing tools lay on my ring finger, with my middle finger on top.) Same with a crochet hook, or any kind of stitching needle.  Knitting, I wrap with my index, so the middle bears all the weight of a needle.  My middle finger, therefore, gets quite tired and painful, and my index finger doesn't have as much strength with which to back it up.

At any rate, that's the cross-stitch, I finished my garter stitch snood, and cast on for a pair of socks.  I spent quite a bit of time Saturday making bracelets;  some beaded,

 some rubber band, 

and some crocheted floss

For the life of me, I cannot get the hang of braiding floss into bracelets.  What's the saying about old dogs and new tricks?

Okaaaay...

Ooh, strong reaction to Moose in Equine Alley.  (Sounds like a series of children's books.)  Perhaps these moose (meese?) can serve as a palate cleanser.

(I liked "Fractured Fairy Tales.")

(We had a stuffed Thidwick around here at one time.)

(Mr. Moose is OVER IT.)

So the species list in the alley is

equine

feline 

bovine

leporine

cervine

New Addition*

I teased it a few days ago.  He's here now.

Equine Alley has welcomed a moose.  As one does.  Now, the question, of course, is exactly where said moose's back half is.  The shabby chic couch and old, worn wallpaper and floor sold it for me.  Distressed wood, signs of age on and in buildings --- I love that.  I have Pinterest boards titled "Weathered Wood" and "Old Doors."

During a filter change some time ago, the HVAC technician told me that burning candles badly clogs filters.  I like some ambience and Ifragrance in the house, so I've turned to 1) batteried candles and 2) aroma diffusers.  This is my favorite of the latter:

 I do like a fireplace fire, so the flame effect entranced me.  I'm currently enjoying "ocean and bergamot," which is so very nice.  In the "flame," I see a ladderback chair in front of an open window, with long curtains blowing on either side.

Not so nice:

Man, I hate this stuff.  Decide your upcoming medical plan from among over 20 choices.  4000 graphs and charts to make your decision "easier."  So tedious, so boring.  

*Not New Edition, the R&B group.  In case you were confused.

Well, Shoot

I made the banana bread, but it isn't what I wanted.  By accident, I picked up baby food bananas and carrots instead of plain bananas.  It isn't sweet enough at all.  When I realized what had happened, I shrugged it off, thinking it would be a cross between banana bread and carrot cake, which didn't sound bad in theory.  In reality, though, the loaf is drier and less sweet than I wanted.

Live and learn.  Pay attention when you're shopping.

It was 102 degrees here today.  The air conditioner has run without pause.  Just miserable.

It would seem that miniature dachshund are the hot dog (!) of the moment.  You can understand why:

Move over, French Bulldogs.  You've been supplanted.

 

Re-Pixied

Haircut time.  The stylist played a little.

 She had to use "taffy" to get my thick, wavy mop styleable.  Not mousse, not wax, not spray.  Taffy.  You can see it in the photo.  The challenge comes when I have to do something with it myself.

More sewing last night.

Done with what reds I have.

Some blues

Shades of purple

The baby blue is my favorite.

I'm itching to make some banana bread.  Looking up bread machine recipes online, I'm seeing sour cream being used in a lot of them.  Never heard of that myself, but sour cream is a favorite ingredient of mine just on principle.  Unfortunately, I don't have any sour cream on hand, so it'll be plain ol' 

plebian banana bread for me. 

I've done a surprising amount of knitting on my garter stitch snood today, without my fingers screeching for mercy.  Quite a relief, I tell you.