YES, I am still here.

Rough week at work,  had a background headache that sort of ebbed and flowed into my consciousness all week.  So forgive me if this is not the most inspired post.

Thom asked me about my vertical garden.  Seems good to me after the season, one plant died, but the rest seem pretty robust.



We definitely are into that fall late afternoon light in that picture and you can see the spruce tree has started dropping it's needles.  We've had a definite frost, so my eggplant and tomatillos are toast, but my tomatoes and peppers don't seem to get it and have been flowering and setting new fruit.  Seems sad to pull them up.  My hanging basket flowers also seem to be optimistic.





Fall flowers are here - loving the mums and daisies!





I can't get a picture of how truly deep and rich the red mums are, but you get the idea.  I have finished 2 crochet projects and a knit one, but they are for swaps so until they get to their intended recipients I can't post the pictures.  My two bags were put on temporary hold until those got done, so I hope to be felting next weekend!


SInce I have been feeling considerable  stress this week I figured I'd share 2 stress quizes:

You Are Driven Stressed

You have a lot of stress in your life, but a lot of it is your own doing. You put a lot of pressure on yourself. You have high standards, and you won't stop until you meet them. You can become work and goal obsessed. You sometimes suffer from too much micromanagement. Slow down and give yourself a break. When it comes to stress, you are your own worst enemy.

What Kind of Stressed Are You?

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!

        

Your Stress Level is: 54%

You are somewhat prone to stress, especially when life gets hard. When things are good, you resist stressing over little problems. But when things are difficult, you tend to freak out and find it hard to calm down.

How Stressed Are You?

Blogthings: If Quizzes Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Take Quizzes

       

Project Me (4)

Not a huge update this week.  I finally finished Through the Looking Glass, and the first book of a new(ish) series by Nora Roberts - Vision in White.  I returned them to the library this afternoon.  The library was out of book 2, so I picked up 2 more books from the 1001 list.  I got Atonement by Ian McEwan and  Lady Chatterley's Lover by DH Lawrence. 


Some knitting updates will be up tomorrow ( I am also working on 2 projects for swaps so those pictures won't be up until my partners receive them)   


Since I posted late last week, not a whole lot is new.  I was really tired, between staying up for Monday Night Football, and being up late on WEd getting Angie's fencing gear together, getting back from Philly after my bedtime...  folks, I'm definitely not 40 anymore!! My friends, who are much better able to go to bed when they need to , weren't very sympathetic .  I put the battery in the scale yesterday.  I'm thinking of getting my "annual" hair cut.  It's not annual on purpose.  I put of getting a trim and then warm weather came - and I won't cut it at that point because I NEED to be able to put it in a quick bun or pony tail.


This week I have been trying to extricate myself from several "drama" situations, involving friends or family.  They all hit at once, and seriously folks, I love , well some of you, tolerate the rest, these situations are not of my making nor am I directly involved.  If you insist on my opinion, most of you are not going to be happy with what you hear. If you want me to take sides, please understand that I will categorically pick whomever did not insist on this.  I am not going to be your messenger.  Hire a damn courier.  You are all being ridiculous and you know it.  I am not going to get stressed out or annoyed because of it.

We needed a quiz to tell us this??? Pffft.

You Are Odd

You are an odd duck - you don't do anything the conventional way. You see life as an adventure, and you always take the less traveled path. You love opportunities, but you run from responsibilities. You live for today. You may want to strike more of a balance in your life. You could stand to be more even!

Are You Even or Odd?

Blogthings: We Have a Quiz for Almost Everything

          

NO not Angie yet...

Peppers!!

I have a ton of peppers!  Thank goodness I only have one of each plant.  I am already re-thinkin next year and what is getting booted for other options next year.  I think  I have my tomatillo problems solved.  The fruit is staying on the plants and getting bigger.  We'll see if I have more than one ripen.  Now what to do with one cherry tomatillo???



Pueblo verdes tomatillo (one) and hades hot pepper



Onza rojas



orange blossom



bouquet chile



pequin black



McDonalds orange grove (tabasco peppers)



Australian lanterns



Solar Flare



Cubanelles - not hot - Italian frying peppers



what might have been the perfect Poblano...



2 of my pickled peppers (sorry not a peck... how much is a peck anyway?)

You Are a Full-time Foodie

Food is an important part of your life, and there's no denying it. You're probably at least a decent cook, and you have a very sophisticated palette. You're up on food trends, and you're always looking to sample something new and different. You figure that if you're going to eat three meals a day, you might as well make them an adventure.

Are You A Foodie?

Work is Hard. Time for Blogthings!

     

Expressive

hey Gracie!!! More knitting/crochet content!! LOL!

Some of you may know that I make afghans with a bunch of my NASCAR knitting friends for Victory Junction Camp, a free camp for kids with medical issues that would otherwise prohibit them from going to summer camp, in North Carolina.  At the camp each campers bed is covered by a handmade  quilt and an afghan.  At the end of the session the camper gets to take the afghan home, so they are always in need of afghans.  WE turn it into a friendly competition, scoring points either by square or by afghan.  You get more points for your driver if you send in a completed afghan, so for Tony ( you were surprised I'm on Team Tony??) I am willing to suck it up and seam up the squares.

This year, during the off season we had the option of getting "starter squares" from orphan squares from last year.  This way the orphan squares have the opportunity to get  into an afghan.  I received my squares in I think February.  But have not even thought about the afghan since.  I think I was a bit burned out on afghans after the rush to finish last year.  These are the squares I received.

 

The square in the middle is the difficult one, it is a much brighter and shinier turquiose than is shown in the picture.  

So this past week I knit these three "almost squares"  My row gauge was off and I didn't realize until I had knit the border on top, so I made 2 more so they can be the top or bottom row and line up.



And during today's race, I made up a granny square.



This is a much brighter pink than what is showing up in the picture.  Since I have no bright turquiose yarn, my plan is a few squares that are bright to balance it out.

This quiz is almost good - the second section is pretty inaccurate, I made a note about it. 

You Are Expressive

During your downtime, you like to develop ideas and work on creative projects. You secretly wish that you could be a more successful person. Being rich is a dream of yours.Seriously - not really true. I can pay my bills, buy my yarn, go to the races - I'm good. You are realistic about the world. You may have challenges that come your way, but you can overcome them. You are inspired by your own thoughts and observations. You don't need much outside influence in order to feel inspired.

The Cafe Test

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!

   

Rats, Triscuits, Socks, Aphrodite

 I am slowly, very slowly coming out of my knitting funk.  Can I blame  my phone?  The ability to check out Ravelry, Twitter and IM during my lunch hour seriously encroaches on lunchtime knitting.  Not to mention Sudoku at my finger tips.  It's kind of ironic that the more time I spend on Ravelry, the less time I have for knitting.

I did knock out a few projects recently though.  As some of you may know Felix Jung recently lost his big brother Ocs.  Since I spent time in Philly visiting with his mom, Min last week I thought I would bring him a couple of toys.  First his "Triscuit" (Its supposed to be a mouse, but I don't think so)



Since I wasn't happy with the Triscuit, I decided to use Wendy Johnson's pattern for a felted mouse.  Which I think came out more like a rat.  I knew I had a winner when I pulled it out of the washing machine at the laundromat , by the tail , and the woman who worked there screamed!  Yes!!




The funnel is to stuff the rat's ass with catnip.

Here's a pic of Fe sleeping it off after:


I also finished my first sock and started my second last week.



And I finally started working on my VJAC afghan - after receiving my starter squares in February! I know leave it to me to wait for a heat wave to start an afghan! 

Oh, and I also am almost done with a "minion" just need bigger googly eyes.  And I made a Angel/Dunkin Donuts inspired Valkyrie.  ( Angie's room is Dunkn Donuts Pink and Dunkin Donuts Orange - a fact she didn't realize until later) Both of these projects are crochet.

You Are Aphrodite!

A total shining star with a ton of admirers And no wonder: you live life to the fullest! When things get bad, you can easily take off to a happier place But occasionally, you need to deal with problems head on

What Goddess Are You?

Blogthings: We'll Tell You The Truth... Someone Has To!

   

Prom Pics? You think Angie gave me them already?

I'm still waiting for Ecuador pictures!  But here are three pic's I took with my phone. ( Most of her school shows up at the Lake clubhouse - and those not going show up to see the dresses etc, and even recent grads from the last few years as well - like 50o kids and a bunch of parents - and one cop)  

Your Home is Lively

Whether you live by yourself or with many other people, your home is always buzzing with activity. You are likely to have water boiling for tea or a fire burning in the fireplace. You live in every area of your home, and you really savor your time there. You could never feel at home in an empty or quiet house. A home should be enjoyed to the fullest.

The Homebody Test

Blogthings: Cheaper Than a Therapist

       

Tomatoes Today

So meet the tomatoes today.  Next year I am definitely hitting this place early.  They were sold out of a few types I really wanted to try including the coyote tomato.  But, as you probably guessed I did make up for it and find others.

First I got a regular patio tomato- from Home Depot.  I had to keep it inside for a couple weeks , because it was still to early to put it outside, but I couldn't resist. Some of the lower leaves are a tad rough, because I should have waited another week, but over all it is doing well:



Next ironically, currently my smallest plant is the "Big Zebra".  This is a mid-season indeterminate tomato, that is a large flattened globe shape that ripens red with green stripes.  Should look great on salads!!  And salsa's.



Next ( just a tad blurry- but it was breezy)  is the Japanese Black Trifle.  It is an indeterminate, mid season pear  deep flavored tomato.  It's leaves are more potato than tomato shaped.  It is supposed to be  a rich sauce tomato.



You've already met the grape tomato. ( the tomatoes are getting bigger!)  



And you've met the sweet 100's (the flowers fell off during that cold windstorm)



And finally the Siletz.  It is an early season,  determinate, globe tomato.





Here's a quiz for y'all.  Good thing I'm a "natural beauty" cause leaving the house at 3 am - means that's all you're going to get!

You Are a Natural Beauty!

You're the kind of beauty that every guy dreams about... One that looks good in the morning - without a stitch of makeup That's doesn't mean you're a total hippie chic though You have style, but for you, style is effortless

What Type of Beauty Are You?

Blogthings: Take a Quiz. Annoy Your Friends.

   

Finally have some knitting pic's and a faulty teapot quiz.

I decided that the best way to get my knitting mojo back, I needed to knock out some short attention span projects.  And what is quicker than dishcloths?  So first is the dishcloth of the week on my Squares Squared group on Ravelry- Boxy dishcloth   





And Americana ( in the new issue of Creative Knitting Magazine)



Now anyone who knows me would totally disagree with the results of this test - with the exception of being 1/2 japanese I do drink green tea occasionally, but white tea is my fav.

You Are Measured

You believe in moderation, and you're pretty good at practicing it too. You avoid all extremes. You try to live a sustainable life. You believe in conserving both your energy and your resources. You're the type of person who puts a pot of tea on when you need some energy. You don't depend on it, but it gives you a boost. Your signature tea: green tea - any and all kinds

The Teapot Test

Blogthings: A Fine Line Between Insight and Stupidity

   

A how to - hanging tomatoes

I'm in kind of a funk right now.  Only knit 8 rows on my sock at lunches all week, haven't touched Robin since last weekend.  Yes I have lost my knitting mojo.  I'm not doing Sharon's next KAL.  Two reasons - first - it's colorwork.  I can do colorwork.  I've done projects with intarsia, with entrelac, fair isle and stranding.  I just really don't enjoy doing it.  And I really don't wear it much.  I'm more of a texture and pattern through stitches kind of knitter.  Second I may possibly finish the second robin by the end of  this new KAL and maybe I'll be ready for KAL 5.  I kinda knew from previous experience, that once I fell behind finishing was going to be rough.  And that's where my knitting mojo went.  I want to finish so I'm not going to cast on something new.  And none of my other wip's or ufo's are looking good.  So tonight I am going toknit on robin for at least an hour.

Since I have no knitting to show you, and people have asked how I do my hanging tomato baskets, today will be a how to post.

How to plant your own hanging tomato basket.

Step 1.  If you have never done this before, get a metal hanging basket lined with coco-fiber (coir)  make sure there is a circle on the bottom not x's or floral shapes - you need to get the tomato through there.  If you have baskets from previous years, buy new liners.  The old liner can harbor, mold, fungus, disease etc.  In prior years I used pre-formed liners, but like an idiot, this year I bought the wrong size and then  the store was sold out of the correct size.  So I was forced to use these liners.





2. The biggest issue with this type of liner is forming it to the basket.  If you were just planting flowers on top, you could fill it with potting soil and that would help work it into shape.  So, once you get pot and liner, work the liner into the pot and make an x shape cut into the bottom of the liner.

 Don't worry if it seems large, the plant and the soil will keep it closed.

3. Choose your tomato plants.  I try for slightly willowy plants over stocky ones, and you want to choose younger rather than more mature plants.  i don't think it would be a huge issue with a more mature plant, but working the rootball will be more difficult and having the roots messed with may cause stress and shock your plant.  This is the plant I planted yesterday. It is a sweeet 100, I also did a grape tomato as well.




4.  Take the plant out of the pot and squish the rootball into an oblong, footballish shape.



(that frayed cuff is attached to an equally frayed, "holey" sweatshirt I won't give up from Tony's 1999 rookie season)

5.  Work the rootball up ( some books/mags tell you to put the plant through - but I never can do that without roughing up the leaves too much)  into the hole, it will push the points of the X up into the basket.  Once the rootball is in the basket, the points go back down to secure the stem.  DOn't worry about excess soil on the outside - it will wash away after a watering or 2.





6. Fill basket with well draining light potting soil.  I mix moisture control ( yes well draining and holding moisture at the same time is a tall order) potting soil by miracle  grow, mixed with 25-33% miracle grow perlite.  Be very careful at first to get the soil evenly around the roots.  Then fill to just over 1/2 way.

7.  Get some basil - these 2 pots have sweet basil, others will have lemon basil, thai basil etc.  But use what you like to eat.

plant the basil in the basket and fill with more soil.

8. Hang water and (sigh) wait.

You Should Work with Things

You are a very hands on sort of person. You like doing physical work and moving around. It would kill you to be at a desk job all day. You don't like to sit still for too long. You are very energetic, and you get bored if you aren't able to channel your hyperactivity. You are good at mastering difficult tasks. You have excellent eye hand coordination, and you are quite graceful.

What Should You Work With?

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