My 1st SMART phone!

Ok, now don't laugh. I have been holding out jumping on the phone wagon.  My 2010 flip phone has been an old friend. I have had it for 5 years. I never needed the smartphone since I have an iPad2 and a newish MacBook Pro.  I was out of my 2 year plan with Verizon for 3 years now. It took that long to decide what to do.
But the 'ol Flip phone was starting to fail at receiving calls and messages. It just couldn't keep up with technology. 
So when Verizon offered the iPhone 5c for free I decided to jump on board. Yeah I know, the cost isn't in the phone, it's in the monthly charges.  I'm ok with the extra cost. I hate it but the phone companies have us by the neck.

She is very pretty.  I love how Apple packages their products. Everything is smooth, snug and simple.  I just love it. 

Look at this darling little box that they put the ear-buds in.

Can you believe how cute this is? They sound amazing too. But that box and the way they wind the cables so nicely. What other company pays attention to the details like this?

The only part I don't like is the time to get it set up how I want.

I am familiar with how it all works since it is so similar to the iPad.

FedX came early this morning and delivered my FREE iPhone. I tried to follow the instructions to set it up but since my Flip-phone was older I needed a Verizon store to transfer my contacts. So I drive the 23 miles to the next town.  I tell the guy to activate my new phone and de-activate the old one. He was very nice. Did the transfer thing. Then I went and did a little shopping around town with my new phone in my pocket. I felt like a million  dollars. I was hoping someone would call me. Nope, the phone was silent.

So when I get home I want to hear the phone ring. So I call it with my landline.  Long story short I discover that the phone was not activated and the old one was still working. I had to call Verizon and wait, wait, wait, wait and then a nice lady helped me.

Now everything is going good.  

I also took my first photo and started an Instagram account for the first time.  Everything is new to me with this new iPhone.

Here is my first Instagram photo

This is Charlie sitting on my new couch. He looks like a sourpuss.

He cracks me up.

So there you have it dear blog. I am a victim of the big bad techno monster. I promise to always put the phone aside at meal time and when visiting friends & family.

 Love and Hugs,  Carol

A post from the Past: May 29, 2008 - New Knitting Needles

I am transferring my blog post from Live Journal over here to Blogger. I will start with the newest first so that the last post I post will be the oldest one from LJ.  That way you can scroll down and read it in order. 2008 to 2009.

May 29, 2008  New Knitting Needles

I'm so happy. My new Knitting Needles from Signature arrived. 


They are Beautiful with a big B. 
They are smooth and they have nice sharp points. I ordered them with a 7" length. They are US size 4 or 3.50mm. 


The Idea to use my pet as a model came from my friend seweccentric. So my kitty "Solo Vino" (means he came alone in spanish) was a model to show off my new Needles.



He seemed to like the job and he models like a pro. He is thinking of taking up knitting too!!!!!





He is a little nervous because a new kitten is coming to live with us tonight. Photos to follow tomorrow.

A post from the Past: May 30, 2008 - New Cat

I am transferring my blog post from Live Journal over here to Blogger. I will start with the newest first so that the last post I post will be the oldest one from LJ.  That way you can scroll down and read it in order. 2008 to 2009.

May 30, 2008  -  New Cat, Sally

Yesterday evening my little sister came and delivered a new kitten to our home. This is Peanut's kitten. She named her "Sally Flower Lee". Lee is Peanut's and my middle name. Sally is Jack's girlfriend in Nightmare Before Christmas. Flower, well I guess Peanut likes flowers.



Peanut is in love.



My other cat Solo Vino was cool. He tried to act like he didn't care.
Peanut made a bed and Sally slept with her all night. Here she is ready for school.



Peanut said, "now I have a friend to play with me." She lost her mommy a year ago. My daughter Sierra died by a gunshot. Peanut was in the house when it happened and probably saw something. She was found by her mommy's side when the paramedics arrived. It's been a hard journey but we are doing ok. We take each day as it comes and we have a deep faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. I know that Sierra is in Heaven with her daddy, my late husband Richard.
This kitty is a good thing in our lives and in Peanut's life. She is being so nurturing with the kitten. It is sweet to watch. 

A post from the Past: June 12, 2008 - Still knitting

I am transferring my blog post from Live Journal over here to Blogger. I will start with the newest first so that the last post I post will be the oldest one from LJ.  That way you can scroll down and read it in order. 2008 to 2009.

June 12, 2008 - Still Knitting

I haven't posted in a while. This week has been busy because it is the last week of school for my kindergartner.
I took some pics of Sally our new kitten. She is a busy little kitty.
Here she is on the couch ready to jump.



This is Sally under the table attacking a crunchy ball.



As for my knitting. I was distracted for a week or so with the scarf on the beautiful new needles. It is the scarf done in Kanui wool. I had started it and decided it was too narrow. So I cast off, and then cast on with more stitches. I had to set it aside to get the Socks done.



I have only 2 weeks left to finish the socks and a felted hat for my daughter in law's birthday. I know I will have the socks done in a couple days. I can crochet the hat pretty fast but the felting takes a few days. I let it air dry after the machine washing so it just takes time to dry out. 

Other than that I did get a call from my boss yesterday. I use to work in a dental lab making porcelain teeth. It was so much fun. I went to school to be a dental technician after my husband died. So I had worked in this lab for 3 years but in March 08 I had to quit because my granddaughter needs me to be home. We are still grieving my daughters death. I got custody of my granddaughter late last year. I worked when I had her for a few months but I was killing myself. I can't be mom, employee, cook, cleaner, gardener, etc. I'm not married since my husband died of cancer in Aug. 2000. It's tough being a single mom again. My kids were all grown. I had the empty nest.

So I was flattered that my boss would call and ask me to return. I know I could have asked for a huge raise. I am still thinking about it. He is even willing to wait for the fall when school gets back in. 
I loved what I did. I loved working with the tools and baking porcelain, grinding the teeth with tiny tiny high speed drills. I was also doing digital design with the Cad/Cam program with scanning models and designing bridges and crowns on the computer then sending those files to be milled out in zirconia. I was in the High Tech department. I loved it.
I hated the drive from my home to the lab. I had to go on 4 different freeways (only 22 miles) and the traffic was horrible. I do not miss that drive at all. It could take 30 min. on a good day or 2 hours on a bad day. Average time was 45 min. I was ok with the drive before I had Peanut. When I lived alone. I would just listen to the radio and kick back. But when you have a little one waiting for you at after school care it is horrible. I just missed her so bad. She needed to be with me or with family after loosing her mommy. 
So now I am home with her and I have more free time for my knitting and hobbies, also for errands and house work. 
We go to church several times a week. Our life is full.

A post from the Past: June 16, 2008 - Socks

I am transferring my blog post from Live Journal over here to Blogger. I will start with the newest first so that the last post I post will be the oldest one from LJ.  That way you can scroll down and read it in order. 2008 to 2009.

June 16, 2008   Socks 

Well last night I finished my 3rd pair of socks. These took me 18 days to knit which is good for me. I was also swatching other projects during this time. 



I didn't like the colors of this sock. I ordered it online and ironically it is named OnLine supersocke 100. I like the colors when it was in the skein but as I knit it up there seems to be way too much yellow. I also don't like the beige color stripe in the yellow section.
I love the purple, magenta, navy and red. The yarn was splitty too. For the high price I think I would have liked to spend the $14.99 on another yarn. We will see if it is worth the money by how long wearing the socks are and if they look good after some years.

I tried them on even though they will be a birthday present for my daughter in law. Sally Cat helped me. 



They fit very good. I had changed from the 2.75mm DPN's to the 3.00mm DPN's. It was a good choice. So my DIL will have a pair of socks from both sizes. She tried on the pair from the 2.75mm and they were snug. She said they were cool but I think the 2nd pair will fit better.
Here is the 1st pair I knit for her. These are done in Austermann Step Yarn, expensive at $14.99 a skein but I got a pair from one skein and I have a lot left over. This yarn is infused with Jojoba and Aloe Vera. It is soft to your hands as you knit. The yarn felt a little stiff but after I washed them the socks were so soft. The label says that the jojoba oil and Aloe Vera will last through 40 washes. 


So that is the skinny from here. I will be starting a sweater soon. More on that later with photos.

A post from the Past: July 1, 2008

I am transferring my blog post from Live Journal over here to Blogger. I will start with the newest first so that the last post I post will be the oldest one from LJ.  That way you can scroll down and read it in order. 2008 to 2009.

July 1, 2008

My first ever knitted hat is done. I had no pattern, just made it up as I knit. I had a photo of the pattern of the cubes but then on the top I just made up the pattern myself. I put a crocheted ball on top. Basically I had to draw out my pattern on graph paper. This is more of intarsia knitting than stranded.

It took me 3 days knitting a few hours each day. In that time was designing the pattern. 
This was designed by looking at a pattern by Pippa. She is a friend of my daughter Sierra's friend A. or Monkeyspinner. My daughter died last year of a gunshot to her head. Police say it was an accident.
I have Sierra's daughter Peanut with me. My granddaughter. This hat is for her. 
I asked A. if I could use the design by Pippa and she wrote me that it was ok. Here is what she said (so sweet):

Carol,
I am indeed very honored. I don't think Pippa would be at all offended. I hope that the hat turns out great. I am impressed how you took knitting into part of your life. People use knitting as a very healing art, creating gifts from love, from their time to keep their loved ones warm and safe. Whether it is waiting with someone while they are sick in the hospital, or warm and safe in their own bed.At the same time, finding a sense of inner peace with themselves. Create the hat, keep Peanut warm and know your happy. I am honored to be a continuous part of Peanut's life even from the outside~ lots of love Autumn

Introducing Charlie kitty

We have a new member to our family.  Here he is.


We wanted so much to have a second house cat.

On Jan. 4th I had  brought home a kitten a few months ago.  He bit me when he got scared and saw the dog. He bit so hard that his canine tooth went through my thumbnail. That wasn't the worst of it. What was worse was his other canine went through the joint of my thumb. My thumb swelled up twice it's size. I went to Urgent Care and got an antibiotic shot in my hip, a tetanus shot in my arm and a prescription for oral antibiotics.
Cat bites are nothing to play around with. If you are bit go see a doctor. The bacteria in the mouth of a cat can put you in the hospital. I had many employees at the Vet's office tell me of having to go to the hospital and have IV antibiotics and a drain put in for the infection.
Here is my thumb.


During the week that we had Norman I could see that he was sick. I took him to the Vet and they did a test on his stool for parasites.  The test came back negative. The Vet gave me a big list of what could be wrong with him and that they could take blood and start doing a lot of testing on him.  Well I am on a very tight budget and as much as I hated to return him I did. The animal shelter had a return policy if I returned him in 3 or 4 days.
I gave them all the medicine I had paid for for him.
I looked at the other cats that needed homes but I didn't see any that wanted me so I went home cat-less.  It was a hard decision but I knew that they would have the resources to help Norman get better.

I waited over a month but the desire to have a 2nd cat kept tugging at my heart.  When Peanut was in school I went back to the animal shelter, just to look. :-) That was Feb. 10th. 2012.
There were no kittens which was ok. There were so many beautiful cats. Most of these cats were there because their owners had lost their homes and they had moved to places that didn't accept pets.  It broke my heart. I even cried for these cats. They were all in cages. It was clean, each had food and water with a blanket or towel to lay on but I knew that they were use to roaming in a nice home and sleeping on a couch or their owners bed. Now they were stuck in a little cage.
Some of the cats were very friendly and would reach out. I loved on each and every one.
Some of the cats were curled up in their cat box but they were not sleeping. Their eyes were open with a blank stare.  It was just so sad.

I had narrowed it down between 2 cats that I liked.  One was a 18 month old Tuxedo and the other was all black.  They both had good personalities.  But there was something about the tuxedo cat. He would cock his head to the side and look at me with his big eyes. He would reach out with both arms and never let his nails come out of his paws.  I decided I wanted the tuxedo cat.
So I made the arrangements and paid.  I couldn't take him at that time because he had to be neutered.  I had to wait the long weekend and then I could pick him up from the Vet.

He is a little camera shy.


We tried many names for him. We tried Horice, Jasper,  Samson, and some other names. He didn't respond to any.  Then we tried Charlie and he perked up. I think he liked it.

Charlie show us your handsome face.


Aww come on Charlie, everyone wants to see you.


Here he is.... He has an upside down heart on his nose.


He loves to sleep on beds.


He even has managed to jump up on the refrigerator.


He is the sweetest kitty in all the world. He is very loving and playful.  He loves to be with us and follows us around the house.  He is clean and is very respectful with Coraline our other kitty. She is the boss you know.
See how she just gives Charlie the stink eye and he submits?


And see how Coraline smiles about being the alpha kitty.


But Charlie is cool. He will be larger than her when he grows up but he is a gentleman.
I am in love with him already.

Update on the Broken Fingernail

One month after "my accident"............
I know this is gross. I just want to keep a record so I can look back in a few year to see if it was really as bad as it feels.
As you remember the first photos were taken a day or two after the accident happened. My Accident


NOW this is how I am healing.



The good nail is growing under the older nail.  Towards my fingertip the older nail is still very much connected like a nail should be.  Now there is a stair step between the new and the old.  It catches on things and it hurts when that happens.
Washing dishes seems to make it better.  It keeps it nice and clean.

So that is the update on the 'ol finger.
The update on Oliver, my cat, is not good.  He is still missing. I sure do miss him.

{This Moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit SouleMama leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

First blog on iPad2

This is my first time to blog on my iPad2. Yesterday I had to take my MacBook Pro laptop in for repairs. The DVD drive was not working. So how could I go a full week with no Internet?

I use my computer for business and financial stuff. I don't have a smart phone so I decided to buy an iPad2. I have wanted one ever since the first iPad came out.

I am trying to get use to this touch keyboard. I'm use to typing without looking at the keyboard but with this touch screen I do have to look. Or maybe this is my learning period?

Update on Oliver. He is still missing. We have walked the whole neighborhood and can't find him. I miss him so much.
I'm not letting Coraline out anymore and she is kinda crazy. She stares out the window. She runs through the house like a maniac. She is bored too and sleeps a lot.



Here is some knitting I am doing. This is the back ok the Cassidy sweater. The yarn is Madelinetosh DK. I love the color but not sure if it is too variegated.
The cables are easier than I had anticipated.

I'm also working on some gloves and a hat at the same time.

Well I do like this iPad. It is different and I'm glad that I have the Mac for serious typing. I also don't know yet how to see all the blogs that I usually read from my mail.

Have a great day. It is windy here with the Santa Anna winds keeping us cold and with hair that looks like we put our finger in a light socket.

Happy Knitting!
Carol

{This Moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit SouleMama leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

TWO kitties & a DOG

I have 4 cats really. Two are outdoor cats who keep the gophers out of my yard.
The other two are barely 1 year old and they are 75% indoor cats. As spring turns warm
they want to be out more and more.

So here are some cute photos of my 2 indoor cats. Coraline is the tuxedo, black and white cat.  Oliver is my gray and white cat. I'm not sure if he is a tuxedo, maybe a causal tux?
The dialog between Oli & Coral

OH NO, MOM FOUND US!!!


I TOLD YOU TO BE QUIET, NOW SHE IS LOOKING AT US.


I CAN'T LOOK AT YOU CORALINE, NOW I JUST WANT TO GO OUTSIDE.


LOOK AT THAT BIRD OUT THERE JUST WAITING FOR ME.


MOM, OLI ISN'T BEING NICE TO ME. LET ME OUTSIDE BUT KEEP HIM IN.


I'M SORRY CORALINE, NOW CAN WE GO OUT MOM?


I love my kitties. They just crack me up.  I think that they wanted to read that cat book!!

So here is BOB. Bob is 7 1/2 months old now.  That is an estimate, give or take a week.
 I haven't posted about Bob lately. He is growning fast.  He went to the vet 2 weeks ago and was 57 pounds. He was updated on his shots. He got his first rabies shot. Then we went to City Hall. Yes Bob walked in the front doors of City Hall and to the window to receive his first dog tag.  He is legal now.  Yeah!


He is so good.  He is easy to teach and sweet as pie.
I think he is turning brown. What's up with that?


He isn't going to be as tall as we thought.  But I love his size even if he doesn't grow another inch. Here he is with Peanut who is trying to put a flower on his collar.


He is really tired from our walk to the park, then he played and played with the dogs at the dog park.  The dogs all love him. One crabby lady kept yelling at all the dogs who stepped on her feet.  I wanted to tell her to just move.  She was sitting right were the dogs go to get in the shade.


WELL BOB, CAN YOU GIVE EVERY BLOGGY FRIEND AN ADIOS SMILE?


Have a great day and go hug your pets.
Hugs from me, Carol

1-11-11

I had to post today because it is 1-11-11.  Isn't that cool.  I am assuming everyone understands but it means Jan. first, 2011.  Some countries put the day first and month second. So in that case today is 11-1-11.  Still pretty cool.

The uncool thing is that this afternoon my Peanut was under the weather.


She had a headache so she took a nap. Then she woke up feeling better but she had a fever. I know that she probably picked up a bug at church on Saturday evening. Well I going to keep her home tomorrow.  Poor baby.
The cat just hunkered down to sleep with her. She is in bed now and he is on her bed. But when she wants to hold him he runs all over the house.  LOL


Now I am going to show you some of my journal painting. I am having fun with it.

Inside cover of my new book which has watercolor paper in it.



This is some of my colors but I made up that wood paintbox.  The brush is one of my favorite brushes made of squirrel in France.


Here is my favorite pencil and then some sugar skulls.  The pencil is real but the skulls are my imagination.  I love Day of the Dead stuff.


Here is a painting from my imagination which is easy to see that without me saying it.
The animals are looking towards the star so I call this painting, "Waiting for Jesus".
 I did this before Christmas.



This is a little sketch I did when I was waiting in a coffee shop. I was drinking some yummy hot apple cider.  I tried photographing it in different lighting.

How about a Pumpkin sitting on a Moleskein sketchbook?  Here she is.

There also is a little village on the left.  Just for fun.
I have gone back and painted the table. You can see faintly the lines I drew on the table. I guess I just forgot to take another photo.  I like it a lot with the table done.

One of my favorite Bible verses I wrote at the top. AND ALWAYS BE THANKFUL.

With different lighting.
It was hard to capture the orange of the pumpkin. I need more practice.

I will end with a pic of Coraline. When Peanut and Oli snuggled in the big chair, Coraline curled up on the couch. She looks like she is thinking something.  What's on your mind Coraline???