Dainty Kitty

Paragraphs of Seriously Random Things

I worked on my 101 in 1001 list today. My, this list is taking forever. So far I only have thirty-four items listed. It’s ridiculous how hard this is for me. I’m trying to be fairly specific, though, no challenges that I need to undertake that are completely vague like, “Make a relationship work” or “Don’t loose your self in a relationship” (I think the current theme is obvious). I did add “Take myself on weekly coffee shop dates” and, considering that I was working on the list at a coffee shop, I can at least say that I’m working on my list even though it isn’t complete.  

I can see my craft room floor but the tabletops are still hidden – it’s a start anyway. I finished one baby bootie today and half of a Christmas ornament. I need to take a break before I finish the second bootie – I’m such a tight knitter that my little metal needles are killing the tip of my left pointy finger as I push off the loop. Ridiculous. I think I’ll try to finish the ornament during The Amazing Race tonight.

I'm listening to one of my favorite CD's right now - The Bridge School Concerts Vol.1 - I'm particularly fond of Chrissy Hynde's sassy lyric from "Sense of Purpose" -

Bully boys don’t bother me
I purse my lips and they run away
Guys like you who are gentle and true
Don’t come around here everyday
I’m potent, baby, I’m potent
Just one swig of me would get most guys smashed
But a drop of yours makes me stagger and swerve
I guess I’m outclassed 

When I told someone about Fido, they jokingly (at least I think so) replied, “…it is time to let the Halloween stuff be for a while.” Um, when it comes to zombies? No, never.  Anyway, I loved Fido, a brightly colored little black comedy zombie flick. I just wish Billy Connolly did a bit more than grunt throughout but I guess that would be a lot to ask of a zombie.

I couldn't for the life of me figure out why the clock on my computer was wrong this morning...some time after noon I realized that we'd fallen back.  Duh.   It's amazing how one hour can make such a difference - I feel like this day should have ended, um, a day ago. 

And, in closing, the cutest finger puppets ever via Beetlegrass.

 

Odd and Beautiful and Sad

As I drove out to my parents' house earlier this evening, I spotted this rainbow and pulled over to take a quick photo.  It's not a great photograph - the sunset was strange, everything was oversaturated and bright - but I've got some personal things going on right now and seeing this made me cry.  I'm not sure why - I don't think it's because I'm sad.  Perhaps I felt something between the beauty of the rainbow (which was gone by the time I reached my parents' house) and the odd sky, something that's familiar to me right now.  Something odd and beautiful and sad.

It could also be the fever I think I might be developing...I don't know. 

Socks, Moral Dilemmas & Stitch Markers

It's rained here most of the day but it was finally clear enough to take photos of my first sock in progress.  Hooray for the sock yarn Kim sent - the kick in the arse that I needed to finally give sock making a try!
I only have a few minutes - Jake's coming over for dinner and the season premiere of The Office here in just a little bit.  Of course, we had to have a bit of an argument.  He mentioned that the next book in the series he's reading isn't available for him to pick up at the library so he might have to spend a couple of hours at a bookstore, reading.  I said that I couldn't imagine reading a book at a bookstore only to put it back on the shelf and not purchase anything.  He seems to think that because they have comfy chairs, this is okay.  Especially if it's a big chain bookstore.  He wouldn't do it at a smaller, locally owned store which just astounds me.  I asked what the difference was and added, "Oh, you want to 'stick it to the man,' right?"   Really, some times I think book smarts totally leave no room in person's mind for common sense.   He then said that he would ask his friends on the forum what they thought.  I shot that down because what you really need to do is ask employees of a large chain bookstore what they thought about it.  He went into something about a poll of employees because one opinion wouldn't do... which was my point exactly.  Then I said something about how going to the forums for an opinion isn't always the solution.   Anyway, long story short, he got off the phone pretty quickly.   Gah, I swear.  What do you all think about reading a book in a book store?  And I don't mean perusing a new book of knitting patterns.  I mean sitting down with a novel and reading it.  Not just a sample to see if you like it (I always read the first page)...just reading.  And the next time I'm at a Barnes & Noble, I'm going to ask an employee for sure. 

Anyway, great way to leave things before your boyfriend comes over because you're leaving for a week.

To close on a cute, happy note here are the stitch markers I received from Better Bead It! Designs and how cute are they?!  Finally!  Cute crochet stitch markers!

I'm so ready to sink my feet in the sand!  And my dad is bringing his laptop (the condo has internet access) so I can keep up with my blogs - yay!   

A Glimpse of Things Other Than Cats That Live in My Home

After the AleFest, Jake and I stopped at the grocery store for an onion and vanilla ice cream (onion for him, ice cream for me to go with the delicious oatmeal cookies he'd bought at Trader Joe's earlier in the week).  As we passed a cart of discounted plants and flowers,  I had to stop. 

I came home with a Cyclamen ($2.99) which I transplanted (pot on sale at Lowes for $2.99) as a thank you for my parents who treated us to pizza and salad at Dewey's (in fact I'm warming up leftovers right now) and a mini rose bush ($2) for myself.  I'm not sure if the rosebush will bloom anymore - I can't find any buds on it - but it was too pretty to pass up for a mere two bucks.  The daisies and the lovely Muppet looking yellow flower are what remains of the birthday flowers I received from the office (Season Three Sept 4th - woot!).  Daisies are my favorite flower for for many reasons - the fact that they continue to hold their color and live for weeks is just one of them. 

I also came home with a new pet, aptly named Wednesday.  Who can pass up a Venus Flytrap for only two dollars?  Not me! I transplanted her into a cute blood red pot I also got on sale for $1.99. You're supposed to pot them in soil made for African Violets so I'll have to make another stop for a bag of that and a mister (as in the type that softly sprays water, not the type that means a new boyfriend) as you're supposed to keep the soil damp.  Last year I had a plant (named Gomez) which had leaves that would curl up when you touched them.  Gomez was totally awesome but, unfortunately, he didn't last long.  I'm not sure if it was the transplanting, where I had him in the room or the fact that I couldn't stop touching the leaves every time I walked by that killed him.  So I'm really going to try harder with my second vaguely creepy plant.  My apartment is pretty bug free so I'm also resisting the urge to go outside and find a few to feed to Wednesday because...well, that's kind of gross.

Ahem, Wednesday is also quite a lush and spends all of her time hanging out at the bar.  It's a bit embarrassing really. 

And I leave you with a quote from Henry David Thoreau...and my yucca plant.   

Cotton Candy

My friend Delly spun this - isn't it beautiful?  I saw this photo earlier today and I haven't been able to get it out of my mind. 

It so reminds me of cotton candy and I love cotton candy.  I think I had four or five cones of it at my dad's company picnic.   So much that I eventually sent Jake to get some for me because I was embarassed....

Anyway, I think I could just eat this up and let it melt in my mouth. 

Chelsea Morning Coffee

This is my souvenir from the weekend.  Bought on the way home, in Bowling Green, Ohio.  Starbucks makes great mugs, I tell ya. They're colorful, beautiful, large and come in such pleasant chapes.  My favorite mug is a beautiful retro/arty mug I bought around Thanksgiving in Charleston last year.  This is now a close second.  They also had it a blue/green theme.  I might have to go to a store here to pick one up...although I'm trying to tell myself that it's more fun to have mugs that don't match and not buying one would make room in my cabinets for one more I might find somewhere else.

Hmm, I think I'll have to replace this photo eventually with one taken on a sunnier day.

And is there anything nicer than Joni Mitchell in an otherwise quiet, dark room?  Nevermind that "Both Sides, Now" always reminds me of Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman and Love Actually. 

Pretty

Farm Scene

I came around a corner as I was driving home from Hueston Woods yesterday morning, saw this and pulled over to take a photo.