Monday, December 27, 2010

Taking it all in


Hope it was magical for you, too!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Tangled

I don't know what was more fun. Watching The GrandPrincess try to catch the 3D butterflies and water splashes, or hearing my son and husband giggle at bits in the movie. Great fun.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

This just cracks me up...

This is the "beltway" around Spencer...to avoid the terrible traffic.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Winter Wonderland

So, this morning I go to let Rudy and his cousins out the back for their morning constitutional unaware that it had been misting in this 20 degree weather....and I fell right down these steps. On my behind. Good thing it is padded. Still going to leave a mark.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Magical Music


The play dough didn't get played with too much today. The girl was busy working on her audition numbers.


Gramma took a couple Advil late in the afternoon. You notice Rudy trusts her to get close enough to her drum set. He's a trusting little guy. So far, no reason not to be. So far....

The Grand Princess is probably getting an odd little education at Gramma's. Earlier in the afternoon she helped me use my brand new drum carder and thought it was wonderful. She told me that the fiber we carded in shades of purple, green, and pink was just lovely. Her words. 





Saturday, October 23, 2010

I have issues...

Many. I'm sure that has been discussed among you. But this issue has me puzzled:


What are the job qualifications to work in signage? Must you graduate from high school? Pass the TAKS? Do you get any kind of test in proof reading? And, what is the pay scale? Do you get paid by the sign? Or by the correct sign? Is there a supervisor? What are the qualifications for THAT job?

Does this sign confuse those living on Liles Lane? 

Did someone just say OOPS? Maybe they won't notice?

Why hasn't anyone corrected this?? Electrical tape would work. Or even Sharpy drawn arrows. It is right in front of an elementary school, for crying out loud!! Have the kids noticed? Could it be a class project to fix it?

Or are they all misspelling that word on this week's spelling test?

Did I have the person who created this sign in class?

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

My Two Weeks at Camp

Sorry. I've been busy learning to use this program. I read my mom's last post, and despite the fact that she seemed to have a really good time, it can't compare to mine. What a dream come true!

This is my best friend, Petey:


Petey lives next door. That's me peeking into his yard, if you didn't recognize me. (I don't think my mom puts nearly enough pictures of me here, so you might not know it is me.) That big hole in the fence is embarrassing to my mom, but she won't have it fixed since it is usually the only way I get to see Petey. (Another dog made that big hole right after the new Hurricane Ike fence.)

I got to go stay with Petey for two whole weeks. I got into a bit of trouble the first night, cuz when I went to bed with Petey, I wanted to play all night. So I got banned from the bed. No matter. We played ALL DAY LONG!


Mom will play tug with me. But not as much as I want. Petey was GREAT at playing tug. Oh me. We went through a brand new toy in NO TIME!


Mom lets go of our tug toys often. Not Petey.

Petey also plays attack. Since I'm so much bigger than Petey, I usually won.


Petey had these soft cushy jowls that were great to pull on. 


SO....as long as I get to play with Petey and at least nap with him a bit, mom can go anywhere she wants!!








Tuesday, October 5, 2010

A Few of My Favorite Things

Whenever I'm in the Alps (both times) I've had the urge to spin and sing The Hills are Alive. I mean....really. It is an awesome place. Were I to actually do this, however, the hills would groan and crumble, windows would break, goats would bolt, cows would have no milk for months, and I most likely would be added to the list of persona non grata. If there were such a thing. If there isn't, one would be created.

So instead, I'm going list here my TOP 5 favorite things about our trip. Tomorrow, Rudy will list his.

1. The boys and their pretending and even their fighting. Star Wars, up dog, How to Train Your Dragon, Get Smart (the old TV series!), snuggles, boobies. All of it.


2. Partnach Gorge outside of Garmisch was awesome. I posted picts earlier. But one thing that was amazing to me was coming out of the tunnel on the hike up through the gorge to find dozens and dozens of stacked rocks. I know there is a word for them. Someone suggested prayer stone stacks. I'm not sure, but to me it was a magical site!


3. Cow and goat bells. Yes, I'm dingy. The first night in the Alps Cuddle Buns and I sat outside of our room admiring the mountains we could barely make out in the dark. There were bells ringing. Not like church bells. More tin-y than chimes. Then, as we hiked up one of the slopes to a lake nestled above us, we heard goats. They had bells. And then cows. They had bells. In the morning and again in the evening, the sound of bells could be heard from our room. Loved it.


4. Heidelberg. I just love it. The castle and it's history. But the little town itself, too. Sitting in the little outdoor cafe eating ice cream while the other adults had beers, watching the "tourists" and the locals and the boys run around the fountain.


5. Our host and hostess. For putting up with my kleenex and knitting and Cuddle Bun's Mario Kart and beer drinking. For taking Cuddle Buns to Oktoberfest and letting me swim all day with the boys. For showing us everything but Neuschwanstein Castle. : )


(This isn't a picture of their apartment. It is at Heidelberg Castle. Their apartment has about as many steps as does the castle, but they have plumbing.)






Monday, October 4, 2010

Re-entry

During our trip to Germany, I drank bunches of coffee. The hotel where we stayed during the Octoberfest outing had a Starbucks. Care Bear has an awesome coffee maker that Cuddle Buns and DSIL kept flowing until about lunch time. (I think they were perhaps creating their own drinks with it. I was drinking it straight.) Yesterday, though, we left the house at about 6am Frankfurt time (11pm on Saturday Houston time) to catch our flight. I had one cup of coffee. I bought a Coke at the airport that was hot and consumed about half of it. By the time we landed yesterday at 3:30pm, I had downed maybe two little airplane cups of Coke. This morning, at 7am our time.....2pm - a whole day and a half from my last cup of coffee by my body time...I awoke with a massive caffeine-withdrawal headache. Perhaps it is time to cut back?

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Not a bit of withdrawal....

I was without Internet access from Thursday to Tuesday this last week. I had some serious doubts that it could be done and that I might succumb to the outrageous cyperspace fees charged by the hotel where we were. Cuddle Buns expressed doubts as well. But I did it! Most likely due to:




Even for me, walking in snow above the clouds trumps cyberspace any day. 
(That last picture was taken from Zugspitze, the highest point in Germany.)

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Travels Without Rudy

Cuddle Buns and I arrived in Frankfurt after a fairly uneventful flight unless you count the passanger shouting at the screaming child (FINALLY!) uneventful. (The child did get quiet. He was old enough to know better anyway.)

My favorite things so far:

Having the windows open 24/7. The weather is awesome.  We walked downtown yesterday and had a nice lunch sitting outside. It was amusing seeing everyone wearing coats and scarves. 


And...



My three boys and Mario Cart. Another WII attachment we will acquire once home. The games are ON here, though! Cuddle Buns/Gramps won't quit until he masters it. 

In between watching all episodes of Modern Family.

Off to Garmisch tomorrow!!!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

It is a sin to lie...

Those of you who read this know I don't like lying. (And if you don't know it and you lie to me, I already know it, you know. You don't do it very well.) (This means you!) Having said that...


I lied to the Grand Princess.


I confess.


But I just couldn't take the Banana Splits singing "LALALA".


The CD really was in the car.


I should have just told you NO! I'm sorry I lied. Especially after our conversation about stories vs. fibs.


I'm telling Rudy lies, too. I've told him we're going away this afternoon, but we won't be gone long. But we will. Two weeks.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Don't Ask, Don't Tell??

So what makes a usually cuddly, tug-playing, dog do weird and out-of-character things? It can't be puberty yet. I'm thinking he has a few months. In dog years he is only 8 or 9. Maybe he is precocious. (Well, of course he is.)




Not even my kids stood on tables when they hit puberty. To my knowledge.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

In the Dog House

Rudy has NEVER done anything to make me mad. Ever. Until today. I can't believe it. I'm sure the Dog Whisperer would have a field day. I think it's because I just told someone that my sweetheart had NEVER chewed on the shoes or furniture or anything but his toys.


My new shoes. Was it the style he took exception to??


My formerly innocent Rudy trying not to make eye contact. 

I'm still in shock.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

A good friend made the Grand Princess a cute fleece Disney Princess blanket. She keeps it here at Gramma's and is very possessive of it. She'd be so upset if she knew how it was being used when she isn't here.


BTW-Cuddle Buns really is watching Monday Night Football here. He is just resting his eyes.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

How Much of This Can You Take?

About one and a half of my readership (which is about half of my readership) has suggested that I need to blog more often. This poses a problem for me. You already know I have a cute and clever dog. You already know my grandchildren are brilliant and even more clever than the dog. I hate to rub it all in. I've actually heard that other people think that THEIR grandchildren and pets are cuter/smarter/stronger/etc than mine. I've thought that by keeping it not quite so sickening, I might be low key enough not to hurt anyone's feelings when they read the truth here. (It IS on the Internet, afterall.)

But, my public has spoken. But you'll be SOOOOORRRRYYY!

Cuddle Buns did make it back from China. He got his bags the night before he flew back. Just in time to pack all of the gifts bestowed upon him for everyone here. I did have several suitcase presents. All silk. A silk blanket, for goodness sakes. A beautiful silk scarf. Two silk robes. (XL, I might add. Those people are so little!)  His Chinese hosts did send back a beautiful silver bracelet for the grandprincess since she had taught Gramps to say Ni Hao. (Actually, she taught him to say Ni Hao, Kai Lan. I had to tell him that the last part was actually a character's name.) I will at some point try to take some picts, but you know how those things photograph. I mean, really....you want to see them?

My day today was awesome. I came home from a very relaxing massage to find a  Real Life Diva in my living room.


Her shoes light up, too. Very blingy. The jewelry is all precious silver plastic, plastic purls, and Disney Princesses. She spent some time playing inside before taking off all of her finery to play in the water outside until she started playing in an ant bed. Put a bit of a damper on the outside time. (That kind of sounds like she played outside naked. No....she was almost naked since her swimsuit is a bit smallish....but she was covered. Wish her feet had been.)

THEN, I actually went to knit night tonight. I tend to have a knit night every night here in front of the TV, but  Twisted Yarns is having this cool thing once a month where they provide a pattern for $5 of something you could finish quickly for Christmas gifts. They started in June or July, and I just haven't been able to attend. I did tonight. Had a knitter friend go with me.


The patterns tonight were of critters, and I almost succumbed. Just not sure who to give a critter to. The boys are kind of beyond stuffed toys, even of cool alien beings (which is the one I almost bought). I made Zoey the doll for her first birthday, and haven't seen it since, so.... I knit on another project. A scarf for Care Bear. DR knit her A&M scarf. We closed the place down. I mean, who leaves a knit night before it is over???








Friday, September 3, 2010

Ni Hao

Rudy and I have been bach-ing it this week. Cuddle Buns has been in China. I can't wait to pick him up today to hear about his whirlwind little adventure (he left on Monday, his luggage didn't make it, and he's coming back today) and see what awesome presents he brought me.

I typically am not one who needs presents. Some people I know just NEED them to feel loved/appreciated/etc. I'm not judging...that is just the way it is. I need words. BUT I am a FIRM believer in suitcase presents. Especially from countries where SILK and JADE come to mind. And since Cuddle Buns is usually unpacking suitcases after hunting trips (don't need those kinds of presents) I am really looking forward to this one.

After 30 hours on a plane, though, I'll probably have to rummage through his suitcase while he is snoring on the bed.

Friday, August 27, 2010

I'm a Dropper

So I'm standing by the kitchen table removing my memory card from my camera to upload some picts into my computer.....and I dropped it right in my coffee. Care Bear was always nervous when I held her babies. We can't have pricey dishes or glassware. BUT, that is how I did get my camera. Dropped the old one.

PS....picts seem OK! going to download them quick before the caffeine seeps in.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Big Boy Check-Up


Rudy had his yearly yesterday. He did the usual shaking-like-a-leaf act to begin with. Wouldn't even eat the treat the vet gave him after the blood tests and shots. (Did you know they don't do a stool sample anymore?? I get to scrape a sample together for them and return it!!) By the time it was all over, though, two techs AND the vet were oohhing and aahhing over him while he looked cute and cuddly. 



Rudy then went with me to have my car checked out. He's just getting to be such a big boy! 

Friday, August 13, 2010

Artistic Displays

Rudy is the only one who has really been "with me" on my quest to find a way to display my newly handspun yarns. And really, I think he is just sucking up. He knows where his food comes from. However, all of you will be able to take a collective sigh of relief, because I found my display. At Martha's Bloomers. In Navasota.

I know you can't see it very well, but that is my new merino/silk 3-ply there on the left right above that pink braid of wool (that I kettle dyed, btw). OK....I'm sure I've lost most of my readership with that. But I'm thrilled. And therefore, so is Rudy Patootie.



Sunday, August 1, 2010

Rudy is Distraught: WHAT HAPPENED TO JULY?

After a month of new playmates, Rudy is back to just Cuddle Buns and me. He wandered from room to room this morning looking for his new playmates. They are gone. Back to Germany. They kissed him goodbye yesterday, but I just don't think he understood the gravity of the situation. They won't be coming back for awhile.

No one here to constantly squeak his toys to get his attention. 
No one locking him in a room or a closet so that he won't play with anyone else. 
No one pretending to be a dog to get him to obey. 
No playing tug from dawn 'til dusk. 

This is a picture of when Rudy first met Maddox. Maddox is the dog man. 



Hayden didn't want to be, but became one.


Rudy desperately misses them both.





Thursday, July 15, 2010

Kennel Crud


This is Rudy Patootie when Cuddle Buns picked him up from the spa. If looks could kill!! He found out we were here:


Without him. 

Having fun. Without him.


Looking at fish through crystal clear water.  Without him.


There's 3 feet of water there. It really is crystal clear. Promise.




Playing in that water. Without him.


And having all kinds of other adventures. Without him.




Poor Rudy. He came home from the spa with a touch of Kennel Crud. I think he's faking it to make us feel bad. We went to Okoboji. Without him.  (We had a BLAST!  Missed you, though, Rudy!!)



Wednesday, June 23, 2010

For Women Only

I had to have a couple of scans yesterday. The kind that I don't mind. You just lay back and have them scan their magic technical wands over you to see if you are loosing all of your bones or to see if your thyroid has doubled in size. Very unobtrusive tests. But as I was almost snoozing on the table, thinking about the other female tests that are NOT unobtrusive (as a matter of fact, they are downright OBTRUSIVE) I got to thinking about how if women ran this whole medical fiasco (from the start....not just coming in late) we'd have a spa for this kind of thing. Between procedures you could have a massage or pedicure. Maybe make it a girlfriends overnighter and bring your knitting or scrapping or reading or whatever you wanted to do in peace.

Don't get me wrong....I'm not saying our husbands don't let us do our thing in peace. Cuddle Buns is very accommodating, as I've mentioned before. I'm just saying that only our female sisters know what we're really doing when we go in for that pap smear. Right? OK...there are  probably some male gynos out there that get it. Doubt it comes up as a serious topic in the locker room, though.

The tech asked about the possible need for biopsy during the test. I know I'd want my husband there. But I stand by the fact that the females in my life would be more support. Still need to work on this aspect.

And along that same topic, I think the procedures would be different if women developed them AND that the test results would be immediate.

So, when you are checking out hospitals to give birth, make sure you find out if they have a masseuse on call. Or a nail tech. Or maybe someone to teach a class on making embellishments using paper scraps and all of those shape makers you've been collecting. Or on knitting baby booties. Or on deep breathing techniques while your legs are in the stirrups.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Game On!

When I worked, I rarely made our bed. It is pretty safe to say that it only was made when the sheets were changed. Now that I'm home, I like the bed made every day. I like coming in to the bedroom when it is neat, and I love getting into bed at night with the sheets all smoothed out and the blankets just so.

Rudy has made up a new game to HELP me make the bed. He jumps on and off trying to catch whatever I'm pulling up or smoothing down. Guess he knows I'll give him a little belly rubbing for helping me.

Now if I could get him to put his toys back IN the basket...

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Rose Colored Glasses

Those of you reading this most likely all know where I was today since my readership consists of people I see or talk to on a regular basis. And, despite the fact that you are all most likely interested in Rudy, today's post is about a new obsession I've found. (Actually, I decided tonight that I really only  have two obsessions. Scrapbooking and Fiber. The Fiber Obsession can be broken into three categories for me now: knitting, spinning, DYING. Rudy is an obsession, but different from those requiring 12 steps.)

Barbara and I met up Friday evening in Navasota. Her oldest son used to work in Navasota while at A&M and couldn't imagine why we would want to go there. Foolish children.

The WC Mercantile is there. And these lovely ladies.


That's Super Steph on the left and her mom, Petra, on the right. Super Steph owns the Mercantile. Petra taught a class on fiber dying that Barbara and I took today. (Just to set the record straight, Petra did not name her daughter Super Steph. Although it fits appropriately, and although I don't know her full name, I do know that Super Steph is what I call her because that is her Ravelry name. If you don't know what Ravelry is...you probably don't know who I am either.)

We each started with a skein of sock yarn that the girls had prepped for us. We hand painted dye onto it.



Rolled it in plastic wrap. And nuked it. (I'm sure this is how the pioneers set their dye.)



Everyone's technique was different. Everyone's yarn looked wonderful! Here's mine:

I used sapphire blue, chartreuse, and a golden color to make big stripes. I now have to purchase a whole set of different tools. Dyes. Crockpots. Vinegar by the gallon. Plastic Wrap. Rubber gloves. And then DIFFERENT dyes for my plant fibers like bamboo and milk fiber. These things, truth be told, are cheaper than the spinning wheel, fiber,  and yarn I've collected.

It was mighty nice to come home and have Rudy so excited to see me that he wet on the floor. 




Friday, May 21, 2010

Betrayal

In the past, when Darling GrandPrincess spent the night, she slept with Cuddle Buns and Me. Crazy thing has happened. There isn't room in our California King bed for the four of us any more. So, the last overnighter she slept in the guest room. (I know, I know....she should have been there all along.)

Problem is, Rudy wouldn't leave her. He slept with HER and not me. I can't tell you how hurt I am. We may just have to put up with two adults, a growing cuddler, and Rudy in one bed. I can't take the rejection.


Wednesday, May 12, 2010

I'm Sorry, So Sorry....along with Happy Birthday To You!

Read this with Brenda Lee singing in the background of your mind. For the first half of the post. Then the Birthday Song for the second half.

Through a series of unfortunately timed events (Mother's Day. The release of Iron Man 2) Rudy's first birthday came and went with not one piece of cake. I feel like the worst mom in the world. But since it is my Care Bear's birthday TODAY, I'm going to have two Hostess Cupcakes. One in her honor. One in Rudy Patootie's. It is the least I can do.
To both Rudy and Care Bear: Where does the time go? It seems like only yesterday you were a baby. 



Thankfully, some of us grow.