Sunday, May 31, 2009

weekend gardening part 1

rail box
Railing box - different celosias and I forget what the two end ones are.

urn 1
a dahlia, 2 geraniums and 2 kinds of coleus

close up dahlia
I wasn't looking for Dahlia's but Angie thought this one was perfect.

last week's bud
last week's rosebud, this weeks rose

elephant ear
I love elephant ears

front "garden"
You can get an idea of how tall my rose "tree" is over 7 ft!!


Part 2 will be the balcony - veggies!! yum.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Crawfish fest

Went to the Crawfish Fest today at the sussex county fairgrounds. Angie had a bunch of stuff going on and couldn't go. SO we brought a cooler and some tuperware ( genius isn't it?? people in line with us thought so) And brought back, boiled crawfish, etouffee, jambalaya, gumbo, crawfish pie, crawfish bread, alligator sausages, beignets, sweet potato pie, strawberry pie, and bread pudding.. and yes we did find other stuff to eat while we were there. WE split a catfish po-boy. Split some red beans and rice w/ sausage, deep fried veggies, shrimp creole, ice cream& iced cafe au lait) We got the bracelets to drink alcohol, but the only beer they had was bud and mich- yuck. So we ended up drinking tommy bahamas hurricane, and pina coladas. If anyome ever gets the opportunity to go it is definitely a great time. They bring up a lot of musicians and bands from New Orleans, cooks are all from down there. There are tents selling jewelry, glass, and all kinds of other hand crafted things. Here are some pics.

we parked like a  million miles uphill

We got there about 1, and had to park like a million miles uphill - more of a problem when we were walking back.

curt

Curt

me n curt

me n curt

tent city

Tent City, NJ

stage

STAGE

crawfish krewe

rigging to use HUGE baskets about 6x6x6 (feet) to boil the crawfish. The only time they had one of the baskets lifted, I didn't have my camera handy.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Thursday Thunker's Week! Take Two

Welcome to the May 28th version of Thursday Thunks!
(which we always seem to post on Wednesday)
Where we make you think a little bit before you blog!
This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by THE THURSDAY THUNKERS!!!!!

These questions were submitted by Thursday Thunker participants! (so don't blame Kimber & Berleen for the quality of the questions.....)

we are picking up where we left off last week, which explains why we are starting with #21 instead of #1. Great work on the questions submissions everyone! It gave Kimber & I a much needed mental break.
We posted these questions just as they were listed on the participant's blog.

21. How many states have you been in? NJ, NY, CT, MA, ME, VT, OH, IN, IL, KY, WI, DE, MD, WV, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, WY, CO, UT, TX, MS, CA, OR, HA I think that's it so 27 more than half!

22. If a sexist Man is called a pig, what is a sexist Woman called? ME?

23. You see the one person who you absolutely despise. If you were guarentee'd that he/she couldn't say or do anything back to you.... What would you do??I'm pretty much a what you see is what you get person, there is very limited filtering between my brain and my tongue, so most people that I dislike know exactly why. So I guess that leaves celebrities etc. obama And I'd probably tell them, although since I'm kind of a nobody, I don't think they'd care anyway.

24. How many states are to the right of you? And don’t give us a map to look at. shore Since I live in NJ, and have spent a lot of time down the shore, this is a geography question I can answer. NONE!! To the right of me is the Atlantic Ocean. Although since the earth is actually a big ball and if you keep going right eventually you'll hit the US again I guess I can also say a lot of them. But as I suck in Geography and no map is specified I'm going with none.

25. You can go anywhere in the world for free. Where are you? ThAT'S easy! Ireland!! irish_castle It would be my dream vacation, and will be someday, after Angie's done with college and everything!!

26. HOW MANY FINGERS AM I HOLDING UP? SINCE you had to type the question and typing has your fingers pointing DOWN, I'd say none. Unless you are seriously talented and type with your toes, in which case - how should I know??

27. Are you a boxing fan? Do you think there will be a rematch of the Hatton-Pacquiao fight? Not really a fan. Can't stand heavyweight fights. delahoyaLiked Oscar De La Hoya. But haven't followed since.

28. What is the most disgusting thing you have ever eaten? That I consider disgusting?? That would be liver when I was a kid. That other people may not consider palatable? Probably Natto. nattoI know of very few non- Japanese people that eat it. I have asked for it ( rarely have I seen it on a menu) and had the waiter ask me if I know what it is. Duh, if it's not on the menu and I'm asking I've heard of it. It's basically fermented soybeans, that end up kind of sticky/slimy. but seriously yummy!

29. Is it cloudy right now? Yes, and it's been on and off drizzling all day, supposed to be on and off rain for the rest of the week, don't know about the weekend yet.

30. What is your dream job? When I figure that out I'll be sending out a resume. I really don't know what I want to be when I grow up. (As I'm over 40 I may be running out of time) For now I know that although I've had many different jobs in many different locations for the company I work for now, I've been there over 18 years and am only a bit more than a year and a half away from 5 weeks vacation. I can't quit now!!

31. Someone gives you a $500 gift card to WalMart or Target. What are you going to buy?Well. I don't like Walmart yarn. Target doesn't sell yarn. I buy my laundry detergent and fabric softener from those two stores ( they have the purple snuggle) Probably some clothes for Angie. maybe a couple video games. I'm kind of boring on the shopping front.


32. When you were little, what did you want to be "when you grow up"? And, how much different is your occupation now from where you thought it would be when you were younger? I was one of those kids that wanted to be something different every time you asked. So some of the ones that had some longevity was thorasic surgeon, 'til I found out they practice drawing blood and hooking iv's on THEMSELVES!! first female bullriding champ. Soldier of fortune, NASA engineer , NASCAR engineer, Navy Seal.......
Now? I'm a mom, at work I do inventory mgmt, unload carpet off trucks and plug the holes left by mgmt.

33. what was your favorite toy as a child? Probably a toss up between my bb gun and my erector set.

34. How do you think these things up?? I'm thinking alcohol or other mind bending substances.

35. Why do you think so many "fake" veterans get away with pretending? Why don't people question them more (especially the media who eats up their stories?) Did not know there were any "fake" veterans pretending.

36. What is the last place you had a good cry and why? I don't really cry that often. I think the last time was after my dad's funeral 11 years ago. I didn't really get along with him, didn't even speak to him for several years. After my daughter was born we developed a sort of civil relationship, because he really loved his granddaughter. So I guess I was crying because there would be no more chances to ever improve our relationship past where it had been, and because I couldn't find a way to feel sad during the funeral, so I felt like a "bad" child. And because during crisis I tend to be the "rock" and then I fall apart later.

37. What do you mean?Jellybean??jellybean

38. Which Sesame Street Character do you relate with the most and why? OSCAR, because I have a general disdain for most of the planet,OscarI just really want to be left alone most of the time and I can be a serious cranky grouchy bitch at times.

39. What song one would you listen to over and over if you absolutely had to? Why Must Somebody AlwYS HAVE TO DIE by John Rich

40. Did you ever make what you believed at the time to be a horrible mistake - that in hindsight turned out to lead you on the best path in your life? I backed out of going to West Point because I was a wuss about all the military discipline. After it was too late, I realized it probably would have beenthe best thing for me as I still have no discipline in life. But if I hadn't I wouldn't have gone to NJIT instead and never would have met my husband or had my daughter. Curt Angie and Ria

41. If you could change one thing on your person, what would it be? I'd drop about 75 pounds.

42. What’s your favorite show to watch on television nowadays? TV just generally sucks nowadays. I mostly watch sports, NASCAR, the History Channel, Military Channel, Science Channel etc. I like The Big Bang Theory .

43. Do you believe there is life after death?I think you are better off believing in it, than not. If you believe and there is you're good. If you believe and there isn't - well you'll be dead so it won't matter anyway. If you don't believe and there is - you're kinda screwed. If you don't believe and there isn't it won't matter cause you'll be dead anyway. So the logic points to you are better off believing.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Wordy Wednesday?

I am going to start by saying that I went to engineering school. I learned efficient design and force loading etc. I came up with a plan to be able to hang more baskets of tomatoes from my deck as the structural integrity of the overhang is seriously questionable. Mine was going to use 3 inch pvc pipes and various fittings to create a base which would be about 16 or 18 inches wide which the floor pots would sit on (acting also as ballast) and roughly 6 1/2 feet high and have a tie in to the deck rail which is sound. I was going to spray it either the same color as the deck or green. That way I could have my pots of (ok mostly peppers) plants and herbs on the deck and my hanging baskets with upside down tomatoes and basil, and maybe 2 cucumbers.
My dear, darling husband- who went to the same college as me, but majored in EE apparently that stands for excessively engineered- said that since I had a lot going on right now he would build it for me. Dumbass that I am , I said yes. What exactly was I thinking??? The man was off on Friday. He went to Home Depot by himself. NOT the Home Depot that I work at. So he was unsupervised. I came home to a pile ( yes an actual pile of maybe 12 2x4x8's) in the dining room. 2x4's like what you actually frame a HOUSE with. Seriously. He ( thank goodness) had trouble with the top sill idea, so ended up with pipe hangers and closet rods to hang the baskets from. He was originally going to have eye lag bolts attached to a top sill plate, until I told him that the plants would be different sizes so that the spacing wasn't going to be even. Then since it was hideous, he had to get stain. And the thing is almost 4 feet wide. I don't know why he just didn't run it the entire width and put floor planks on it. Now there is a weird gap between IT and the wall.

And he is so proud of this monstrosity. But it would take serious work to dismantle it at this point. So I'm going for some serious leafy foliage for camoflage. SIGH. I then realized the problem with why his projects come out so bizarre. It is the same problem that repair techs complain about.

He has never in his life actually built anything except for his little projects. I worked through high school and college installing floors,that spread to working on additions and redoing gutted out brownstones before they were ready for the floors because I needed money after I got kicked out of my parents house. I can and have done almost everything except roofing. Actually I shingled a few garages, but my severe dislike of heights have kept me off regular house roofs. He never even helped his dad around the house, cause he wasn't interested and his dad didn't want a surly helper. So he has no idea of any kind of practicality!!!


Pictures by the weekend!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

moving the quiz to Tues. due to Memorial Day




Your Animal is the Owl



You are brilliant, but you keep your insights to yourself. You tend to be a recluse.

Others are captivated and enchanted by you, but you hardly even notice. You have a powerful presence.



You are passionate and strident. After a while your personality can be a bit overwhelming.

You are quite misunderstood. You are more emotional and mystical than people realizes.


Monday, May 25, 2009

Memorial Day

Old_Glory_Blue_Angels



I changed my usual quiz that appears on Mondays
Over to Tuesday, to honor Memorial Day
Too many people just see Memorial Day as an excuse
To drink beer and stuff themselves with burgers
To hit the shore and open their pools
After all it's the unofficial start of summer.
But as someone who comes from a seriously
Military family, I'd like to take this moment to

REMEMBER

freedom_isnt_free

Sunday, May 24, 2009

More knitting

evil sockies

My evil sockies are done - in time for flip flop weather :)

red checker

Red checker square for my next VJGC afghan

kaffe fassett socks

My new lunchtime at work project- socks with Kaffe Fassett Regia yarn.

dragon's bruise

I'm trying to adapt dragon's breathe socks to anklets with my new Castle Fibers Undead " Deep Bruise" yarn. I'm calling them Dragon's bruise. I figure you mess with a dragon it's going to leave a mark!!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Flowers

Ok, garden season is here. Deck updates later next week. Here's some pic's from outside the front door.

rose buds
I think the buds may be prettier than the blooms!

rosebud
This bud is like 7 feet in the air!

red/white/blue basket

My red, white and blue hanging basket.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

THURSDAY THUNK

Thursday Thunker's Week!

Welcome to the May 21st version of Thursday Thunks!
(which we always seem to post on Wednesday)
Where we make you think a little bit before you blog!
This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by THE THURSDAY THUNKERS!!!!!

These questions were submitted by last week's Thursday Thunk's participants! (so don't blame Kimber & Berleen for the quality of the questions.....)

1. Have you seen the new Star Trek movie, and if so what did you think? No, not sure if I will see it. It looks like it has a huge potential for disappointment as they really look like they are trying to hard in the previews.nimoy'sspock
new spock

2. Which popular sitcom character (past or present) are you most like? Probably the girl from My Boys - Most of my friends are guys, I don't really get most women. And being girly is always a royal pain in the ass . Sexy I can do though :)

3. What kind of dreams do you have? Very weird psychedellic dreams, non- earthly. Strangest thing, is although it is not often that people I know end up in my dreams, my husband almost never shows up in my dreams.

4. Bugger it. Go get a tattoo and come back. Right, now answer me this, what ees eet?_coyote0 Has to be Wile E Coyote. When I was in college I came very close . I made it to the shop the guy drew out what I wanted , I was going to get it on my left ankle. I saw the thing with the needles and punked out and lost my $$ as I left. My best friend who went with me but was in another room ended up with a tattoo on his left shoulder blade. Boy was he mad!

5. Do you think you could be on American Idol with the singing voice you have now without any voice training? the American Canine public has voted. it would cause to much suffering in the can9ne population and they would haved to send the ASPCA out to stop me.

6. How much wood, would a woodchuck chuck? If a woodchuck could chuck wood? As long as he stays away from my deck and trees I don't really care.

7. If you were a tree in a Dr. Seuss book, what would you look like? Are there any creapy scary dark gnarly looking ones? I only know the Grinch and Green Eggs and Ham. But if there is one like that in one of his books it's be me. Sorta Nightmare before Christmas or Corpse Bride.

8. Twilight? I'm addicted/Who cares/What the hell is Twilight? keep meaning to grab my daughter's copy to read. Really really love the twilight inspired yarns.

9. Do you think Kimber and Berleen do a dube while writing these questions? LSD? ACID??

10. What the worst injury you've ever had?fell off my grandmother's ceiling (she had a tudor house with the big ceiling beams seperated by plaster. if you wedges your arms and legs pushing out you could scoot across the ceiling. If you relaxed you'd fall) landed on my head needed 37 stitches, still have a scar if i do pigtails.

11. What is your favorite dessert? tiramisu

12. What do you prefer...beach or mountains?I love the ocean and the surf and the sounds of the sea lulling you to sleep at night, but if I could only visit one for the rest of forever i would have to pick the mountains. Any season. But especially fall and winter.

13. What movie have you seen that still make you cry?city_of_angelsCity of Angels

14. Why are you making me submit a question? Are you too lazy to think of one yourself? If I could think of my own stuff to blog I wouldn't need a thunk would I? (and I think this question has been asked before!)

15. how often do you do laundry? Twice - sometimes three times a week - kid plays sports - gotta! Oust only can do so much as can febreeze!

16. What is your favorite movie of all time, and why?historyMel Brook's History of the world part I ( why was there never a part 2?) Followed closely by Monty Python's The Holy Grail. I don't think either of these movies require explanation.Monty Python Holy Grail

17. If you won a million dollars in the lottery, would you keep working?Curtis really hates this answer - but the answer is absolutely yes. and if he wants a share of the loot he'll work at least part time too!

18. If there was a war of the gummies, would you be on the gummi bear side or the gummi worm side?soujr worms Sour gummy worms. Crushed oreo's. chocolate pudding. tombstones from marshmallows. Love halloween food!

19. What's your favorite comic strip?calvin-and-hobbesCalvin and Hobbes

20. Close your eyes… imagine you are in the perfect room/place… describe it. Could go a couple ways- 50 yard line, super bowl, 49ers winning. Brickyard 500, Tony winning. or - 5 star hotel, candles, music, sushi, pitcher of margarita's and Curt.

....to be continued next week.... (you didn't want all 40-some questions this week, did you?)

Monday, May 18, 2009

weather




You Are Lightning



Beautiful yet dangerous

People will stop and watch you when you appear

Even though you're capable of random violence



You are best known for: your power



Your dominant state: performing

Sunday, May 17, 2009

$1,000,000 Smile

Tony won last night!! Woo hoo!! It was the Sprint All-Star Race. No Points and $1,000,000 check to the winner. And people thought he would struggle this season as a car owner. Gotta love that smile.
Tony said the trophy meant more to him than the check and if you see that smile - you know he meant it.

This picture from LOLNascar says it all!!

You'd think that I would feel happy and I kinda do, but not really. And if Tony winning can't cheer me up, what will ?

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Knitting Updates

Started balling my hank of deep bruise yesterday. I'm going to have fresh bruises by the time I'm done. I really need to get a swift, ASAP. Curt has been my human swift since I discovered yummier yarns that come in hanks. He told me I was pulling from the wrong end so I switched. He was apparently wrong. It keeps getting horrible tangled. Horribly. Curt spent a good couple hours last night, we then wound some more this morning. I'll be too arthritic to knit before this thing gets wound. Don't have a picture.

Here's my completed (except for weaving the ends) right sock

right evil sockie

Here's where I'm at on the left sock

left sockie

Here's the red/white/blue tea cozy base. working on the blingy part.

patriotic cozy

And I've sorta started fooling with a concept for a new afghan

new ghan


I'm less cranky and grouchy than yesterday. Much more depressed. Don't know why. Don't know how to fix it, just hate life - mostly mine, hate being me (never really hated being me before- usually like me, hate everyone else) Then I hate feeling like this - so it makes me feel even worse.



Friday, May 15, 2009

Cranky

Oscar

I am very very very grouchy!! And cranky and depressed and just want to scream!! (and Curt almost died, because it isn't that time! and I don't get that anyway)

Thursday, May 14, 2009

THURSDAY THUNK

Robbing the place, cracks, blogs, geographical locations and other fun stuff
Welcome to the May 14th version of Thursday Thunks!
(which we always seem to post on Wednesday)
Where we make you think a little bit before you blog!

We pick a subject, and your job is to interpret it anyway you want. Write about it on your blog... simple as that. Maybe you can interpret it as a picture - we don't care!
Please only leave a link if you have written a Thursday Thunks post. Please mention us in your post, and link back to the blog here.
Don't forget to go visit the other participants' blogs. Read and comment about all their Thursday Thunks! Thats what all this is about afterall, isn't it? We'll have so much fun and become lifelong friends....

This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by Kimber, taken over by Berleen, the color carrot orange and the number 94.

1. You are at the store when suddenly 2 men walk in with guns and rob the place. Are you the hero, quiet & follow the rules type, or try to make a run for it? I think that would greatly depend on the day I was having. But I figure I'll either be paralysed or really pissed. And if I were the latter I'd probably get confrontational and get my ass shot. Running is out of the question. Even when I was young and in shape I was probably one of the world's slowest runners.Meteora

2. Do you like Twizzlers? Not as candy. I have been known to use the cherry ones as swizzle sticks in drinks though. DSCF2371

3. Are you a YouTube watcher?Only on those very rare occasions that someone sends me a link.

4. When a auto glass store calls you and asks if you have a chip or crack in your windshield, what do you tell them? A little bit confused on this one. Do auto glass places in other parts of the country do cold calls??

5. What is the age difference between you and your father? Um, he's kinda - ok not kinda, really dead. So do you want the difference in out ages when I was born? Or the difference between me now and him when he passed?? He was 33 when I was born.

6. Have you ever tried to find the end of a rainbow? Was never actually that drunk when a rainbow was around, was never stoned so never went off looking for a rainbow. Would probably have been too lazy to get up anyway.

7. Camping - recreational vehicle or tent? Luxury motor home all the way baby!luxury_motorhome_rental

8. Have you ever had to call 9-1-1?No thank goodness.

9. Who is your favorite blog in the Thursday Thunk bloggers to visit? Has to be Bud Wiesser's

10. How long do you think you could live locked in your house on the food that you have on hand right now? Since I've been putting off grocery shopping?? Maybe 3 days with a normal menu, after that maybe another 7 days with a really weird menu. (although since the scone recipe I have only calls for like 2 tbs of half and half and I have a pint - we'd have great breakfasts for the week.)chocolate chip scone

11. Pepper - shaker or grinder? Grinder! 100%. I actually currently have 4 grinders. Black peppercorns,red peppercorns,green peppercorns and a blend of black, white, green red and pink.

12. What state (or country if you are not in the US) is 2 states west of you? I just got done telling a friend how horrible I am at geography. But I am sure the answer is Ohio!Ohio if you ever go to Ohio, I can strongly recommend Eldora speedway (great dirt track owned by Tony Stewart) , Sandusky Speedway ( great local saturday night under the lights racing) and cedar point amusement park.

13. What color do you believe you look best in? RED

and once again... next week is Thursday Thunkers Questions... so....

14. What is your question submission for next week? Did you ever make what you believed at the time to be a horrible mistake - that in hindsight turned out to lead you on the best path in your life?