Arrianna's Ramblings

Mike got us tickets to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in November.  I am so excited.  I love there music.  He got us main floor 3rd row!  I have never been that close at a concert.  Not that I have been to a whole lot of concerts in my life.  He also got tickets for a Australian Pink Floydd Tribute band that is supposed to be fenominal.  Same deal there floor 3rd row center.  He loves pink floydd and has seen them many times in concert so I hope he is not dissapointed.

Michaels is going good.  I am off today after working 7 days straight.  My feet are doing better to being on them for 8 hrs a day.  I will be glad when we are done setting up and open for business tho.

Today was the first day at Michaels.  My feet hurt!  Its been 5 years almost since I have had to stand on them for 8 hours.  Seem to be some nice fellow employees there.  The store manager seems very nice and has a pretty good sense of humor.  So it was a good day and I enjoyed myself.

Mike said he has to get used to making his own coffee and the dogs were completely thrown off this morning with my being up and 6 and out the door at 6:30. 

So it's been awhile since I posted anything.

Garden is doing good.  I have had some nice tomatoes; squash and various herbs.  The Rhubarb I planted this year is doing good.

I am excited.  I went to a job fair on monday for the new michaels opening up not to far away and I got a call offering me a job.  It is part time for now as it is a small michaels with only 5 full time spots and they were already filled.  The store manager said he wanted to get me in and the first full time opening was mine.  So I accepted the part time position for now.  Im excited about going back to work after almost 5 years of staying at home. 

Mike got us tickets for the Australian Pink Flloyd Tribute band that is supposed to be incrediable.  3rd row center.  It is in early Oct. so that should be a fun night.  We were looking at going to Transiberian Orchestra but my gawd the nose bleed seats were 135 each!  So we said no to that one.

I have 11 happy healthy puppies that are now 3 weeks old.  They are getting to that funny/cute stage.

We had a productive weekend around here.  Mike got the garden tilled and we got it planted.  We have tomoto's, green beans and a bunch of herbs.   We also got the squash patch made and planted and the ruhbarb area done too.  The flowers have all been planted in front of the house and in the pots in the sitting area.  

Puppy wise I had 3 people say they are sending money orders for deposits on some of the younger puppies.  As of today no deposits yet.  I did have a lady come and pick up one of the 3 month old ones today and just had another call from a lady from columbus that if the small repair they have to do on there car doesnt take long they are going to head up and pick up the last 3 month old I have left.  

I got some time in stitching also on guardian angel.  I hav the top half of her done except for the wings, the gold flecks in her dress and the 1 skin tone that peg nabbed from my chair and chewed up.  All in about 30 secs.  I had just pulled the color out.  Mike called me in the kitchen to show me something for just a few seconds came back and peg was happily chewing the heck out of my floss.  Of course that was one of the colors I only had 1 skien of.  And I refuse to make a special trip to the needlework shop for 1 skien of floss.  Yes the floss is more expensive at the needlework shop then at Pat Catans or JoAnn's but they are so far from here I would spend way more in gas then what I would save on the price.  I really wish Walmart wouldnt of stopped carrying it.  I have to return a couple books to the library in a couple days and the needlework shop is just up the road from there so finishing off the skin tones will have to wait till then.  

It is amazing how much more aware I am of making unwasted trips since the price of gas has sky rocketed.  In the past I would of just hopped in the truck and gone to the shop and picked up the skien I needed.  But since both trucks are not gas efficient by any means I never go anywhere for just one stop somewhere unless it is absolutely necessary.  So I am hoping by the time the books are due back on friday I have the deposits for the puppies in hand.   So I can do the bank, library and needlework shop all in one shot.  They are all within about 1 mile of each other.  And then head to walmart for few things we could do with.  The gallon of milk is getting very low but I think I can make it last till friday. 

It is the long weekend.  Im going to go out shortly and pull the rest of the weeds out of the garden so Mike can till it this weekend.  We have had so much rain the weeds are huge!  We bought flowers yesterday to plant out front and in my hanging baskets on the porch and for the pots in the sitting area Mike made for me a couple years ago.  It is supposed to be lovely weather all weekend.  I also hope we get a couple people to come and look at puppies and purchase this weekend.  I have 2 3 month olds that desperately need homes of there own, and 4 couple weeks old left.  I had 2 people tell me today that they are sending me money orders for deposits on the other 2  little ones.  I sure hope they actually do.

When we are not working outside this weekend I hope to get some more progress
 done on Guardian Angel by Lavender and Lace.  I am making it for Mike's neice's
 little girl.  This is after 6 days of stitching.  I did put in a lot of hours on her last
 saturday and sunday.  I did work on her a little this morning while I was having my coffee.  I got a lot of her right shoulder done.

Peg was in labor most of last night.  She finally started delivering at 3:15am today.  
I stayed up all night with her and today.  She had 8 puppies.  3 Harlequin Females, 2 black females, 1 black male and 2 merle males.  I already got a deposit on one of the merle males tonight.  Mom and puppies are all doing great.   

Our English Mastiff that is almost 1 1/2 years old still thinks she is a little puppy and can fit anywhere.   She fails to realize that she is no longer this tiny little girl she was.

















I also made a beaded scissor fob and stitch counter this weekend.

















Today I have been orgainizing all of my cross stitch stuff and giving tidying up the living room.  Im getting it prepared for a good spring clean tomorrow.  

This weekend was sad for me.  This is Hercules.  We had him put to sleep on saturday.
He was over 10...very old for a great dane.  He had arthritis really bad and was having trouble getting up and walking.  I know it was really the right thing and the best thing to do for him, but he was such a sweet boy.

This morning Mike took me to a place where he gets his supplies for smoking meats, and making sausages.  They have tons of herbs and spices and you can get them from a mini jar (reg size you get in the grocery store), pint, quart, gal and something they call a Jug.  The prices were great too.  Looking through all there herbs made me start thinking of my garden and I cant wait for it to get past the point of fear of frost.  I also started thinking about jam and jelly making.  We have given so much away this year that my supply is getting really low.  I want to try some of the no sugar added kind as we have a few diabetics in the family. 

 This is how the front of the house looked last year.  
It is so bare now I can not wait to plant again.  Mike loves flowers as much or more than I do.  Tho this year we will be a little late in planting as the support beams under the porch need replacing and new decking put down.  The porch kind of bounces when you walk on it.  I keep waiting to break one of the boards.  In the grape vine wreath to the right a robin had built a nest in it with 4 eggs.  Im afraid one the neighbors barn cats or something got her as she dissappeared.  She had gotten used to Mike and I and did not automatically fly off when we were around. 

The weather this weekend was beautiful.  Mike and I spent the weekend fixing and cleaning up the outside puppy area.  We got done early this afternoon and moved the puppies outside.  They love it!  Lots of room to run and play.  

I also spent some time in the garden doing a little prep work.  

I spent sometime in the evening cross stitching.  I started a baby blanket for Mike's nephew.  I ordered a book that has fantasy bears in it that I'm going to use.  Cute teddy bears done up like a dragon, a wizard, sorceress, unicorn, griffin, pegasus and i dont remember what else.  I found a lovely pansy pattern that im using as the filler for the couple extra blocks that need designs.  I have started with one of those till my pattern comes in.  It was nice as I have not picked up a needle in a couple of weeks.

Some of our dogs have been on occasion lately getting out under our fence.  Usually it is when they spot the neighbors barn cat.  Well the last 2 days Mike and I worked on the fence line along the back of the poperty and got the electric fence back up and working.  After we finished yesterday we waited for the yelp.  I happened to be looking out the back window and saw all the dogs go tearing off down to the bottom field.  Yup there was the barn cat running along the back between our fence and the neighbors horses paddock.  Well I waited to see who was going to try and go under the fence.  As I predicted it was Delilah.  She was quite dismayed when she got a little shock on her nose.  Wonder how many more times it will take her to do it till she stays away from the fence. 

Delilah

I have finished one hole pattern of the baby blanket I am making for Mike's nephew's impending arrival.  

It is a nice easy knit all knits and purls.

My weekend was uneventful.  We had a really nice time at Mike's sis in laws.  She made a lovely dinner of ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, rolls, and stuffed cabbage.  

I swiped this off a friends blog.

1. FIRST NAME? Pamela
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes a friend of my parents daughter. They thought she was such a lovely girl...shame i didnt turn out like her.
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? I can not think of when
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Nope
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Roast Beef
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes I think so
7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? No
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No Way Im afraid of heights
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Frosted Flakes
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Not usually
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? No
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Chocolate
14. SHOE SIZE? 9
15. RED OR PINK? Red
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My weight and I procrastinate way to much.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My mom
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Im not sending it out.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? black pants, blue t-shirt, white and pink tennies.
20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Cocoa crispies
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The radio
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Purple
23. FAVORITE SMELL? Vanilla
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Someone about a puppy
25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Eyes.
26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? Yes
27. FAVORITE DRINK? Coffee!! Coffee!! Coffee!
28. FAVORITE SPORT? Dont really have one, become a Steelers fan by osmosis
29. EYE COLOR? Green
30. HAT SIZE? No idea
31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No
32. FAVORITE FOOD? Steak!
33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings.
35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
36. HUGS OR KISSES? Both!
37. FAVORITE DESSERT? French Apple Pie
38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Not applicable
39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Not applicable
40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Patricia Cornwell ( cant think of the title)
41. WHAT’S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? The periodic table
42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Are you smarter then a 5th grader ( i never am)
43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Rain, kids laughing
44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Beatles
45. THE FURTHEST YOU’VE BEEN FROM HOME? England
46. WHAT’S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? I can do almost anything I try craftwise
47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Garden City Michigan
48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? I took it from Annette

Well today has been sunny.  Cold but sunny.  We had some snow last night too.  I spent some time outside playing with the dogs and looking at the garden and flower beds.  It's amazing how the sun can lift your spirits.  Also the possibility that I got more than a coupld hours of sleep may have helped.  I have been making up today for no productivity of yesterday.  Now if some people would come and put some deposits on puppies everything would be perfect!  Mike and I must of been a site this afternoon.  He decided to take Marge ( our english mastiff) with him to pick up his check at the office.  She has not been in the truck in a very long time.  They he and I were trying to wrestle a 200 lb dog into the passengers seat.  It was no easy feat!  She just was not sure about the whole expierence.  I'm sure she is having a wonderful time meeting all the people at the lab and will decide it was well worth the trip.  Well off to switch the laundry and do a bit more tidying up.  Then I think I will do some stitching.  Hope everyone is having a good day.

 I am sooo ready for spring.  It is one of those cold dreary rainy days.  I'm ready to plant my garden.  It is not a very big garden.  Not like we had when I first moved here.  That was huge and down in the bottom field and was a pain to take care of.  Plus there was not water down there except for the pond so if we were having a dry spell I had to dip water in a watering can from the pond and water it that way.  Took for ever!  Mike made me a nice little garden closer to the house last year.  I only had tomatoe plants, green peppers, parsley and basil.  I have Mike hooked on the fresh herbs now.  He loved all the things I cooked last year with the fresh herbs and the difference they made to the salsa we canned.  I am expanding the herbs this year.  I dont think I will have a hard time convincing him.  

We have a huge farmers/flea market not far from here in Ohio.  It is only open on fridays.  I am so looking forward to the weather breaking and there being more produce and fruits there.  

We have 9 puppies at the moment.  They will be 5 weeks old tomorrow.  They were born on Valentine's day.  We have only sold 1 so far.  Had a couple people come look and lots of calls but just no actual buyers.  Hope we find buyers for them soon!  

I will be glad when Mike is done with this early morning shift.  This week to finish out and next week.  This week was supposed to be the last but his boss called today and said the coke plant asked for anothers week to find a new company and they said yes again.  They said next week would be the last time, but they said that for this week too.  I kept thinking I would get used to him on this early mornings but I have not.  Guess I got to used to the 3:30 - midnight over the last 4 years.

Well I guess I am done rambling.  I should be doing some stitching or knitting but I just feel whipped.

I can not believe it is coming up on 5 years since I moved to Pennsylvania.  The time sure has flown by.  As much as I love my life here in PA I am finding myself missing so many thing from life in Michigan.  The things I miss most are... my friends from Brackendelve and the Barony of Roaring Wastes, sewing with Ygraine, the state park and walking around, talking to Gaylin (the person I wanted to be when I grew up), my family, the lebanese bakeries near my home, a starbucks within 15 minutes no matter what direction I drove, Mongolian Bar-b-que, my favorite cross stitch shop, the detroit museum of art, House Loch Mor meetings, straight flat roads (but not the construction), and classes at brackendelve.