Boys...and Dogs

OK, OK. I'm really going to try to be better.



Even the dogs are looking for some new pictures and new stuff to read about. This is the front door where they lay to watch the world. (If you look carefully at the reflection, you can see me with my cane.) Don't even look at the nose prints at their eye-level. I've got the cleaning help coming this weekend. Hopefully we will get to the doors and mirrors. (Maybe not, there is a long list above that little job.)



These are Grandma's big boys. The younger (left) is 16 and the older (right) is 18 and a proud graduate from high school. I can't believe that they are so big. Seems like just a few days ago they were little babies.



And this is the proud Grandma with her two beautiful boys. I'm sure you can see why I'm so proud of them.



I have some socks started. The first pair is the pair I started for my sister's birthday which was at the end of March. Then the bottom fell out of my world and I've had trouble picking them back up. At least she won't need them for a while in this Oklahoma heat and humidity. I'll get them done before cold weather sets in.



The other pair is from Red Heart Heart and Sole with Aloe. This color is called Watercolor Stripe. (The flash washed out the color on the skein. And yes, those are Knit Picks little 4" double pointed needles. I love them!) I think it is going to work up real pretty.

I've also been reading some. I try to read a little at night in bed, before I turn out the light. Unfortunately, Bunny thinks when we get in bed I should turn off the light. (Can't imagine why.) So while I'm trying to read, she is laying there going, "Woof..... Woof..... Woof....." Until I finally turn off the light so I won't have to listen to her. She's a hoot. And Buster, he thinks before he goes to sleep he has to take a bath. So he licks himself and licks and licks everywhere he can reach, all over his body. He gives a big sigh and flops down. Oh, the funny little routines that make up our lives. I'd be lost without these special little(?) dogs.

A Week in the Life

This is how we have been coping with our knee replacement recovery. We sleep, we eat, then we sleep some more. Naps happen. So do snacks.


After our naps and our snacks, we pile up on the loveseat and watch a little TV. I try not to turn it on until the 5:00 news, but some days we turn it on and watch whatever we have recorded on the DVR. Then we check the TV schedule and pick out something to watch and something to record for the evening. Rough life, huh?


Occasionally, we get a visitor. This is my daughter who came all the way from Houston to see me for mother's day. We had a great visit. We are already planning her next visit.


One day this week, my older sister came to visit and to introduce me to her new puppy, Spike. She has long been a lover of Bostons; she has had some before. Unfortunately, she lost them both on the same day due to old age and terminal illness. We were happy to meet her new one. He is 6-months old, and a real kissy boy. I understand he gives her cats a run for their money!


And to give you living proof that the knee is healing, my brother-in-law took this picture of it. You can see it is still swollen, but the scar is not so bad. I see the surgeon on Tuesday.

I went by work one day this week and offered to come back to week on Thursday (today) but they said not until I am released. So maybe I can go back next Thursday. I'm not so anxious for the work, but I'm anxious to not spend every single day in this house alone. I never signed up for this!!

Nothing to Report

There hasn't been any action to report around here. I'm still housebound because I'm not allowed to drive yet.

The incision has healed nicely, but the knee is still swelling. I was told I would have swelling for as long as 3 months. It makes it hard to do my bending exercises with it all swollen. I took a picture, but it looked so bad that I'm not posting it.

My childhood friend sent me a cross stitch kit to help me pass the time. It has been hard to get my mind focused on anything, probably from the pain pills. I turned the heel of my sister's sock, I've read a couple of Janet Evanovich books, dozed in front of the TV, and paced. Sitting hurts my back. (Cheese with that whine??)

I'm ready to get back to the real world. My next appointment with the doctor is June 2. Surely by then he will let me go back to work. He said no driving until I'm off the pain med.

You find out who your friends are when something like this comes along. And I have some really good friends. That includes sisters and sisters-in-law. I've had drivers to all the necessary places I needed to go: church, doctor, grocery store, pharmacy, and don't forget Wal-Mart. I have good internet friends too. They have kept me sane and entertained with jokes and messages of encouragement.

Thanks, guys. You're the greatest.

Knee Replacement

Yesterday my older sister went with me to do all the pre-op for my knee replacement surgery. We went to the surgeon first. They had papers for me to fill out. The best one was for a handicap parking sticker. It was downhill from there. They gave me final instructions on getting ready for the surgery and answered all my questions.

The first question was "where will he cut, and how big will the scar be?" She said he will cut from the knob at the top of my shin bone, up across the knee but not through the muscle, and will make a cut from the middle of that one to the inside of my knee. Apparently, he will not cut through any muscles or tendons, but will open the skin and push them aside so he can get to the joint. Then he will shave the bones, remove what cartilidge is left, cap the femur with a metal cap, attach a plastic insert to the tibia, put a plastic piece behind the knee cap and I'll be good as new. (Ouch!) And sound like the scar will be 5-6" in length.

She didn't sound as optimistic as he did about my driving. Hope that doesn't screw up my plans for going back to work fairly soon.

It'll be walker or crutches for 3 weeks, cane or one crutch for 3 weeks then another appointment with the doctor to see how I'm doing. There will be a physical therapist involved. I plan on working on rehab as if it were a job so I can get back to the real world ASAP.

Second, we had pre-op at the hospital. More papers to fill out and sign, many many instructions on prescriptions, what to take, what not to take, which ones to bring with me, how to bathe (!) to get ready. What to bring (my walker), what to bring to wear (big legged shorts), how long I'll stay (probably 3 nights).

Now I'm just wishing it was over. But I'll try to be a good patient. Nothing I hate more than a cry-baby whiner.

I was planning on having my own private nurse/coach/trainer/driver to help me through this, but that wasn't to be. He would have wanted me to go ahead and get this done. In fact, he had been harassing me for a couple of years to get it fixed. So the time is right and I'm going for it. I'll need lots of prayers and the help of my sisters and a few good friends.

After those two appointments, we picked up our aunt and took her for an MRI on her lower back. It was a difficult appointment for her. Afterward, she treated us to dinner.

Today I meet my friends from grade school and junior high (two of them) for lunch. We haven't seen each other since we were 18 (and that's a long time.) We are meeting at an Amish restaurant between my home and their homes. I'm excited but I can't decide what to wear. Oh, well, that won't matter in the long run. We will just be happy to be together after all these years.

Keep me in your prayers for the next few weeks. I have a feeling I'm going to need lots of encouragement.

In Memory

February 1947 - March 2009
Rest in Peace, Big Guy

Keep an Open Mind

Regardless of what you read about the banning on Ravelry, please keep an open mind until you hear both sides.

It's Hard to Believe

It's hard to believe that it has been almost a month since I updated here. Whew! Lots of things have been going on. I'll start with the things that have pictures.

Thanks for your comments on the Noro scarf. I loved working on it. It was so fun to watch the colors change. And I taught myself to hold the yarn in my left hand while knitting which hurried the 1x1 ribbing along.

Last Saturday I finished my baby sister's birthday socks. They are made from JoJo Melody superwash wool. I loved working with this yarn, and I loved the results. The yarn has a tight twist and the ribbing is really springy. I think they will hold their shape nicely. (Obviously I didn't block them. They will be Work Socks, not Show-off Socks.) The way the colors blended and changed was subtle and they turned out beautifully.

Now, among other things, I'm working on my older sister's birthday socks. These are from Vinca yarn and I'm doing them on size #1 dpns. I think they will be OK for her dainty little feet and legs, but they are way tight on me. I'm crossing my fingers that they will fit. If they don't, I have some shades of pink Vinca socks started on larger needles that I will work on for her. (Hopefully the first ones will fit, because I have the first one finished. The pink one isn't down to the heel yet! Yikes!)

When I deem that I have been a Really Good Girl, I let myself work on this scarf. It is made from Knit Picks Shimmer (alpaca and silk). I got it in the Riverside Cafe lace sampler. The color is called Cumulus. I got the pattern from Ravelry, but I can't tell you the name of it right now. Slipped my mind. It is an easy to remember pattern with just 40 stitches. I think when it is blocked it will be lovely on many different sweaters. (I got four new sweaters @ $10 each at an end of season sale!) It will be ready for next fall anyway. (OK, I had to look it up. It is called Party Lace Scarf and is by Lisa Sisk.)

There's also my shawl that I'm making for the Bunker KAL, but I'm not in any hurry for that one. It is nice too. It is also Knit Picks Shimmer in steel gray. These other things have to come first.

I'm reading "Atlas Shrugged" for a RAL. I had read it years ago, but wanted to join in the discussion of it. If you haven't read it, you probably should. It's an eye-opener.

We've had some spring-like weather lately and the dogs have been loving it. This is Buster doing what we call GIJoe crawling. Problem is that he comes in with his belly bright red and itching from what we assume is a grass allergy. Poor little guy.

Bunny has had some seizures during February and March. The vet has added another medication to her ever-growing list. It is what some believe to be a preventive measure. It is called DMG and is a liquid. The doctor said it tastes sweet (I'm not going to test it!) and she doesn't mind it. Also it is in a small dose (l.5ml) rather than the large dose of potassium bromide (10cc). I have noticed on last year's calendar that she was having seizures this time of the year also. The doctor thinks that weather changes, storms and winds all have something to do with the onset of her seizures.

Now, the thing with no pictures. Last week I went to the knee surgeon and took him my MRI's. He determined that I am going to have to have not just knee surgery, but Knee Replacement Surgery. I'm really surprised. I didn't think it hurt that bad. (And I didn't think I was that old! Sixty-two on Saturday. Hello, Social Security!)But the x-rays show bone-on-bone so I guess it is time. He said the other knee should last at least 5 more years. He already has surgeries scheduled through the middle of April and has 11 patients in front of me on the waiting list. So that gives me time to work on losing a few more pounds (I've lost 16 already), and working on my cardio to get ready for the surgery and recovery. He said I could go back to playing golf 7 weeks after, and that I could drive as soon as I feel like it (if I'm off the drugs). I guess the other part-time girl at the office will do my computer work while I'm off work. (Hopefully, I'll be back after 3 weeks or so.)

So there you have it. Now I'll go nurse the big guy who was throwing up for 22 hours since yesterday a.m. He's better now, thank goodness. I was beginning to think I was going to have to call in the EMT's!

For Daniele

Here is my latest finished project, the Noro scarf in Noro silk garden, worsted weight.

I love this scarf and I've picked out some others yarns in various colors to make for Christmas presents. (Can't afford Noro except for special gifts!)

Daniele, I finally finished it!



I'm having trouble getting sharp pics with my Canon, especially closeups. If anyone has a suggestion, I would gladly try it.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Mr. Doglover. He had a few errands to do today while I was at work, but mostly he was going to spend the day with his everfaithful companions, Buster and Bunny. He declined the offer of a birthday cake. And we are not getting gifts for our birthdays this year.

In January, just in time for the OU game for the National Championship, our Sony bit the dust. So we chose up sides and purchased a 46" LCD tv. We are calling it our birthday present(s).

We are making plans for dinner for Valentine's Day. I'm thinking Mexican.

(OK Ms.Create, I'll try to take pics on Wednesday! I'll see how much more I can get done tonight.)

Empty Nest , Again

It never bothered me before. In fact, I was eager for my kids to grow up, get a job, and move out on their own. But this time, when my son found a place of his own, it made me feel sad. Give me a break, he will be 30 in May, and he had only moved in for a few months to save some money. But I can't help it, I'm sad. It feels like this time he is really gone.

To get my mind off of it, I'm going to show you some pictures.


(Aren't those lavender roses just gorgeous?) These are the flowers my big guy sent me for our 42nd anniversary on Jan. 20. There was a lot going on that day, and the flowers made the whole day better. He's a gem about remembering our anniversary and my birthday.




These are the skeins of Noro Silk Garden that I am using to knit the Noro Scarf that Everyone but me has made. I haven't taken a picture of the scarf in progress, but I only have a little yarn left to knit. So it will be soon.

I like the pattern so much that I'm going to make some more (cheaper versions) for Christmas presents. I really like making this scarf. And I have learned to knit (sorta) continental while working on it. (I'm sure it is not exactly the correct way, but the finished product looks good!)

Bunny's last vet visit and the resulting lab work was all good. In fact, we are reducing some of her medication until Feb. 20 to see if it will still work for her. Cross you fingers for her!

January in a nutshell

OK. I know I've been bad lately. I will give you only one excuse, and I'll save all the others for another day.

Since our son has been living here, I've had trouble getting to my computer. He works hard all day and I let him have the computer until bedtime. Terrible excuse, because there are a couple of days a week when I could blog in the daytime. Oh, well...

I have a couple of things to show you. I did a KAL with the members of The Bunker on Ravelry. We did a Choose-your-own KAL between the presidential election and the inauguration. I chose a smoke ring. The pattern I used was Wavy Feathers Wimple by Caryll McConnell. I used Knit Picks lace yarn (alpaca cloud) in Papaya Heather.

Knitting lace was new to me, and I struggled for a while, but I perservered and finally finished it. I used only about half a hank. Here it is blocking.

I don't know why that photo turned up on end, but I guess it doesn't really matter. I also have a picture of the smoke ring ON. You can see that I have it smooshed down as I have a short neck. But I think it looks pretty. (Obviously, I'm having photo problems here. I haven't figured out how to rotate the photo in my file to make it fit right side up here. Any suggestions will be appreciated.)

Also this month, the big guy and I celebrated our 42nd anniversary. I'd show you the flowers he sent, but they would be laying on their side. (I know this rotating thing can't be that complicated, I'm just being a doofus.)

Through the miracle of the Wollmeise Virgin thread on the Loopy Ewe group on Ravelry, I acquired my very first skein of Wollmeise. Ohhh, it is gorgeous. Red, soft, just beautiful. Maybe I can download that photo. Let's see...

Well, that worked. This is making me crazy.

I'm wondering if anyone has used fingering weight yarn to make a stole? I think this red Wollmeise would be lovely in a wrap of some sort. Any advice??

My baby sister had another birthday. Her 50th. Do you realize how old that makes me? I gave her some yarn then took it back so I can make her a pair of socks. I will wait to show you the FO later. Hopefully, by my birthday they will be done.

My boss, the doctor, sent me for an MRI on my knee last week. The report showed some problems so I'm in line for an appointment with a specialist. I'm expecting him to want me to have surgery. We'll update that one after I see the surgeon.

And to top off the month, Bunny had 3 seizures, all on the same day. She is due her yearly checkup, so on Friday we will talk it over with the vet. I'm sure we are doing about as well as can be expected. She hadn't had one since July, and she recovered more quickly this time. Think good thoughts for us this week.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! I'm spending the day with my sisters and our families. It is a bright sunshiny day and we are having a great time. I will have pics in my next post.

Bad Blogger

I admit, I've been a bad, bad blogger. Things have been hopping around here, getting ready for the holidays and trying to cope at work.

My boss, the doctor, has been ill and out of the clinic. We've been extra busy on the phones with patients and prescription refills, and finding another doctor to see the patients that are "really" sick. It's been a madhouse.

Every time I sat down I worked a few minutes on the gift socks. I'll admit it was a hard knit. I hated the yarn, so every time I started knitting on them I would doze off. But I finished them on Sunday, so I'll show you the finished project.

The yarn is Regia, which I normally like just fine. This one has elastic in it. That is why I didn't like it. It just didn't feel good to my hands. I like the patterning and I wear my other Regia socks all the time. But I think the elastic made the yarn feel thick and rough. But they are finished and will be on their way this week.



I've started an alpaca smoke ring. The yarn is from Knit Picks, and the pattern is from Ravelry. It is called Wavy Feathers Wimple. I'm not sure that I will be able to deal with this lace weight yarn. It feels like spider webs in my hands. But I love the pattern.



We've had some really cold weather. We got up to this. It is not snow, it is sleet. Surprisingly, it was not slick. At least on the street. It was slick on the deck.



The dogs are piled up for the cold weather. Pits like to lay in a pile. Bunny was sitting up like a little lady. Believe me, she is no lady.



I won another drawing. Daniele (Ms. Create (It's always about the sticks and string)) bought a book that she already had. It is a counted cross stitch pattern book. So she had a drawing and I won!! I love the book and will be able to use the patterns to make my own cross stitch designs. I have a sampler started that I should finish, but knitting gets in the way.

The other thing I have been doing is corresponding with my long-time friends. I was able to get hold of two of my best childhood-through-junior-high friends. We have been trying to catch up on old times. I'm glad I was able to contact them. I have missed them for years.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! We are spending a quiet day at home. We had lunch at the buffet at the Cherokee Casino which is about a mile from our house. And we didn't have to clean up the kitchen! It is just the two of us and it isn't worth buying and cooking all that food.

I have a few WIP to show you. The only finished object I have is the socks I showed you Nov. 8 made from the Vinca yarn. Here are some WIPs.



The first is a dishcloth from Peaches 'n' Creme cotton yarn. Notice the yarn is in a giant ball? Some little Bunny got the cone, unraveled it and tangled it all up. So I spent a long time untangling and winding it back up. It is not very handy in this ball, but I will cope.



This blue sock is made from Regia that has some elastic in it. I think I like it, but I'm not sure how it will hold up. I believe I won't dry it on a sock blocker.



Here is the shades of pink Vinca that I have started. It is way down the line of what I want to work on. But it will wait for me. I do like the colors.



Last, here is the beginning of my first sweater. It is Knit Picks Swish in a Kimono Style sweater pattern from Plymouth Yarn Company. All the pieces are rectangles (how hard can that be?) and then there is a band around the front and neck. No Buttonholes! Again, this is down the list from my Christmas knitting. But it is so soft and mindless that I want to pick it up everytime I sit down to watch tv.

I have some beautiful alpaca laceweight yarn from Knit Picks for a smoke ring that I want to work on. My shortest circulars are 24 inches and I want the 16" ones. So I ordered them today. I'll try to finish the socks before the circulars get here. I also have some gray for a stole, but I'm not going to start on it until at least Jan. 20 (a KAL project).

On Thanksgiving this year, I'm thankful for my family, immediate and extended, near and far; good friends old and new; and all of you who encourage me in my knitting. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season. (And Happy Thanksgiving Buster and Bunny!)

This is so exciting!

That's what she said in her first e-mail. My friend was glad to hear from me and she wrote me a nice long e-mail about her life from sophomore year to present. We have a lot of catching up to do, and we are starting with one e-mail at a time.

So thanks to those of you who encouraged me. I'm glad I took your advice. We have many, many years to cover. And it is strange what events you choose to relay first.

This is way more fun that knitting round and round on a Christmas gift sock!

Woo-Hoo!

My yarn came in the mail today! It is beautiful! Unfortunately, I'm at work today so I can't take pictures until later.

Also unfortunately, I just found out that there is a pair of socks to knit before Christmas. I'm going to have to stay up nights or get up early if I'm going to get done what needs to be done before my deadline.

The smoke ring has to be done before Jan. 20. The sweater has no deadline, but the socks need to be done a week or two before Christmas. The shawl will be started on Jan. 20 or after.

The Harmony needles are beautiful. I ordered size 4's and 5's, also 8's and 9's. Can't wait to try them out.

Wish me luck on meeting my deadlines. I'll post pictures later!

Still Waiting

It is hard to wait when you have yarn ordered.

I ordered enough Knit Picks yarn to make my first ever sweater. I chose a camel color worsted weight superwash merino. The next day I ordered some almost red lace weight for a smoke ring KAL and some steel gray for a shawl KAL that will start in January. Of course, I "had" to order some Harmony interchangeable needles for each project.

I was notified on Monday that the sweater yarn was shipped. I was notified Tuesday that the other yarn was shipped. I'm so excited it makes waiting very difficult.

In other news, I finally talked a sweet woman out of her Opal Petticoat 1290 yarn. She sold it to me from her stash on Ravelry. Thanks fibercrone.

I finished the Vinca socks. They don't even come close to matching, but I like them anyway. And since I don't have my other yarn yet, I started another pair out of the Vinca, this time the pinkish-lavender yarn. I'm in a rut here with all the pastels. I need to pull out some bright colors and cast on!

The dogs are sleeping more during this cold spell. So I don't have any funny stories to tell about them.

I'm thinking about getting hold of a woman who was my best friend when we were kids. My dad took a job and we moved from Fayetteville, Arkansas, to Tulsa, Oklahoma, just before I turned 16. It was a traumatic move for me, and I didn't stay in touch with her. Now that I'm "old" and have time for more than running after kids and jobs, I'm wishing I could catch up with her. What do you think? Should I or should I not? Would you want someone to look you up after all these years?

What a Relief!

What a relief! I got my hair cut yesterday and it is soooo much better.

I called my regular barber (yes, she is a barber) and she was unable to get me in. She has her surgery on Monday, so I knew I'd have to find someone else until she gets better. So I went to the nearest Supercuts and signed in. There was only one stylist there, and he was the manager. He actually listened to what I wanted and gave me a great cut. He also gave me some tips on styling while drying. So I am a very happy camper today.

I've been knitting on some socks from my Vinca yarn that I bought a while back. (The second one from the left.) I love the way the colors are going from one color to another. The downside (to me) is that I wasn't able to match the colors from one sock to another. I'm a little bit particular about that, but I'm just going to loosen up and wear them.

Today I am being adventurous. I'm going to try a new nail salon. My favorite tech moved to a neighboring suburb to manage the salon in the Wal-Mart there. It is not too far away, but there is a salon a mile from my house that I'm going to try. (Wow! a new barber and a new nail tech all in the space of two days! I am being brave!) You can tell I'm not a very flexible person. I get in a rut and stay there.

The dogs are being couch potatoes this morning. Hopefully, they will stay in this mood until I get back. Yesterday they emptied the trash can, spread trash all over the kitchen and dining room, shredded the trash bag, and ate the last slice of cherry pie that was left out on the kitchen cabinet. I'm not sure if they have separation anxiety, or if they just think it is funny to make a mess. This time I will be sure everything is put away before I leave.

Well, I'm back from the nail salon. They did an OK job. I still like my regular girl better.

As for the dogs, they didn't make a mess! Yay! How big a mess can they make in an hour? You'd be surprised!

Frog pond

Today I had to face the facts: both socks I was knitting were too small. I have wide feet and thick ankles. So you know what comes next, frog pond.

The Victorian Swag sock has already been started over. It Trekking XXL and is 72 stitches around (which is usually enough for my fat ankles but not this time) and I had started it on US 2 needles. But after I got to the heel and tried it on, it was stretched too tight. So I frogged it and started over on US 3's. I have completed 3 patterns and I think it will be better. I love this pattern.

The pink with maroon is Knit Picks Essential and I was just making up a pattern based on Jane Lithgow's Summer Pick 'n' Mix socks. I wanted it snug and in simple stockinette stitch, so I started it with 64 stitches and US 1's. Wrong answer. I should have done one or the other, as I couldn't wear it that snug. So: Frog Pond. I haven't cast it on again yet, but will do that soon. I was looking forward to wearing it. Oh, well...

Today we are taking all the plants in pots from the backyard and de-bugging them. We will doctor them for slugs, snails, spider mites, etc., etc. before we bring them in for the winter. At least one of them has to be repotted (which I hate to do) and then they will need to be pruned. I hate doing this stuff. I'm not an outdoorsy girl, and I hate hate hate to get anything under my fingernails. (I know, wear gloves.) We will be moving them to the front yard for this, as we don't want the dogs to get in the chemicals.

I have a new funny picture of Bunny. Here's the background. When she gets ready for a nap, she likes to be covered up. She turns about 18 circles, then plops down and we are supposed to cover her up. Then she tucks her nose under the blanket and sleeps. When she raises up her head she looks like she has on a hood and we call her Osama bin Bunny. She's a funny girl.

Both Buster and Bunny want the place on the loveseat next to the big guy, so when she beats him to the place, he gets mad and moves to the couch. Here he is pouting. What big babies they are. But that is what makes them so lovable.

It's almost over

Yardwork. It's almost over for this year. I don't usually do much out there, but since we were decorating a little with flowers this year, I helped. We worked out there almost all afternoon on Sunday.

We bought, hauled and spread a truckload of sand for the sandbox. The dogs love it. It was so soft and fluffy.

Then we bought, hauled and spread a truckload of red mulch to put in the "mulch garden." That meant we had to take out and put back all the rock walkways and the outdoor furniture.

It's time for me to take down and clean up the hummingbird feeders. We are also about ready to bring in the hibiscus and the other plants we want to save. We will let the petunias and geraniums go. I haven't decided about the begonias. I will move the fern indoors and see if I can save it. (Usually anything I touch turns brown, unlike my mother who could make any plant flourish and bloom.)

I tried to take some pics of the petunias. They are making their last stand. Most of my shots were blurry. I'm having a little trouble focusing my new camera. It'll get better with practice, I hope.

Bunny beat us to her pool. We wanted to dump and refill it, but she wasn't having it. She's such a water baby. Sometimes she will lie down in the water, stick her nose under and blow bubbles. And sometimes she gets in it so low that she looks like an alligator with only her eyes sticking out. She's a hoot. Buster will play in the hose but not the pool.

Today's golf has been called off. It is raining and in the 60's. We have played in the rain before, but we were younger then. I'm going to try to get some knitting done and maybe do a little reading. I have a book started, "The Friday Night Knitting Club." It's hard for me to put down a good book until I have it finished.