Slothful Sunday...

Good morning, Sunday peeps.  If I move any slower this morning, I will be at a complete stop.  I was busy enough yesterday doing chores and stuff, but nothing that would warrant this bone-deep tired. I've got a bit of the sniffles, so maybe I'm just feeling a cold coming on.  Or maybe I'm a sloth at heart.  LOL

So up this morning at 7:45 am.  Yep, that's almost 4 hours of sleeping in since I'm usually up at 4 am! LOL I have drank a cup of coffee, ate a tortilla with eggs, and sent a picture by email.  Oh yeah, full speed ahead, Captain!

I did work on a couple of projects yesterday.  I finished/finished my star and made it a friend.  I think that the red chenille really makes the colors pop.  I'm deciding if I need to go to Michael's and pick up a few more stars.  If I wait a month, all the Christmas stuff will be gone!

They are not quite as crooked as they look in this picture! LOL  The stars are not symmetrical, but I think it adds to the primitive look.

Then, on to my scarf.  I so want to start a new one...but NO, NO, NO...I must finish this one!  LOL You will notice a stitch marker.  It is not there for any other reason than to encourage me.  I look at this scarf and it appears that I am getting nowhere.  So, I put in the marker and at least I can tell where I started on that day.  

All right, I need to get moving.  Maybe a shower is in order?  Quick sniff.  Yep, should do that today. Have a wonderful Sunday.  Smile an extra smile, give an extra hug, and be kind to one another.

Never Ever Ending Knitting

Happy Monday evening from the rancho...

There is something about small yarn and smaller needles.  You just keep knitting, and knitting, and knitting...and LOOK, you now have one inch of scarf.  I love the colors, the yarn is so soft and squishy, but I may not be finishing this scarf anytime soon.  LOL

I still think this should be a self-striping yarn...what in the world did I do wrong?  LOL

Took a little trip to Michael's, found some very cool wooden stars.  A little chalk paint, some wax, BOOM, a new project is born.  LOL  Pulled out my punch needle and did this little star.  It is cream with blue swirls. I've got some little red chenille to put around the outside.  I think that will really make it pop...I will get it finished this week and post another picture.  You can see the next star in the background.  I've started punching that star, it will be dark blue, with a golden circle in the middle and red rays.  Just so you know, it is not quite as crooked as it looks in this picture.  LOL

Dad is still hanging in there.  No talking, but does seem alert when I feed him.  I try to keep up a conversation, but sometimes, I have nothing left to say.  Sigh.

My son is doing very well.  He is teaching Poetry and Rhetoric at the University of Iowa.  It is only for this year, so he's starting to plan his next step.  He would like to stay in the area...me, I'd like him closer to home.  LOL  I've started to hint that he should come home next January for a visit.  It's never too early to start the nagging process!  I've got two weeks of vacation coming in November, but I don't really care to fly.  I could drive...but another 4000 miles?  And in the snow?  Hmmm, I'll have to give that some thought. LOL

Okay, peeps, off to finish my night chores and fall into bed.  I wish a happy week for all, be kind to one another.

Happy Sunday!

Good morning and Happy Sunday to all my peeps and peepettes!

Still making do here at the rancho.  It is not as hard as you would think...we've conserved water for so long, it's as though nothing is different!!  The only thing I've changed is to capture the gray water from the washing machine during the rinse cycle to water my hanging plants.  I've got spider plants and asparagus ferns from the 1980's.  I do not want to lose those.

It was a four day work week due to the Labor Day holiday, and boy, was I ready for the weekend! LOL Old people get tired fast.  I took part of yesterday as a "me" day and DH stayed with Dad.  The annual yarn crawl was going on, so I took a little trip to two of my favorite shops.  Ball and Skein and More is in Cambria and had a special guest.  I found a few skeins that I just HAD TO HAVE.  What a surprise.   I am starting to collect special yarn for my shawl.

Then it was off to Yarns at the Adobe in San Luis Obispo.  They had a "showcase" of the new yarns coming this fall...and a local artist who dyes and SPINS her own yarn.  All of the wool is from Oregon, the alpaca from Peru...so beautiful.  I picked up a couple a skeins.  I love the fact that it was all done by hand...

I've spent some time working on my scarf.  It is not creating stripes.  I'm not sure how I could be doing it wrong, it's only knit and purl!  LOL  It is still pretty, so I will keep going.  I have a boo-boo on the edge in a few places, but I think that blocking will take care of it.  I've already ripped it out twice, I just can't do it again.  Besides, it's a scarf...I don't think that a wavy edge will be life threatening.

I've worked a bit on my cross stitch project, but not enough for a picture.

As I was out and about yesterday, I stopped by and had my first Pumpkin Spice Frappacino of the season. Swoon...Even the picture makes my mouth water.

I wish each of you a beautiful Sunday.  As I close, please remember to be kind to one another.  There is so much hate and terror in the world. Each of us can make a difference.

Bad, Badder, Baddest...

Update from the rancho to all the peeps...

Bad News

Our well is dry. There is nothing but mud at the bottom.  We purchased 5000 gallons of water to put in our holding tank, hoping it will last one month. I can't drink it, but we can shower with it and wash laundry. Yay!

Badder News

It is a one month wait for a well company to drill a well...maybe, could go as long as two months. See Bad News...hoping we can make the water last...if not, we will need another truck load.  To drill a well, it will cost about $40 a foot, minimum 800 feet.  I will let you do the math.  Very. Sad. Face.  I have some money in retirement, but am unable to withdraw any until: 1) I turn 59 1/2.  That's 3 more years, I don't think I can last that long without water or 2) extreme emergency.  I said that no water was an emergency.  The man on the phone said, no, that's not an emergency.  I guess he must have water at his house, otherwise he might think differently.

Baddest News

It is the entire neighborhood.  Anyone with a well 400 feet deep or less is very likely to need a new well within on year.  Less than a half mile away, there are three homes drilling wells.  On either side of our property, the wells are low on water and have issues.  I have lived in California my entire life. I am so incredibly sad that our state has come to this.  There was no regard given to over-building or farming changes.  Our area was once surrounded by dry farming...hay, grain, etc.  Now it is grapes for wine and golf courses.  Our county went for the money, not what was best for the environment.

So, I will keep on my big girl bloomers.  Standing at the well and crying won't fill it, so I will smile and be happy that it is nothing life threatening.

Thank you to all for your prayers and good thoughts.  I am doing okay.  Be kind to one another.

Still No Water...And A Plan

Here it is Sunday morning and still no water.  But, as I am a country girl and ever resourceful....I realized that I have 500 gallons of clean, chemical-laden water right in my back yard.

We have a spa...

So, with a bucket, I can at least flush the toilets.  And I will have the cleanest, most sparkly facilities in the entire area.  LOL  

The dogs and the horse will be okay until tomorrow, and then I can stretch a hose from a friend's house.  I won't ask to share their water except for the animals, water is too precious.  I will make do with the spa.

Not the perfect plan, and I will need to pick up drinking water today for me, the house animals, and Dad, but it will work.

I am getting a lot of knitting done.  And I'm not really missing the housework.  LOL

In the big scheme of things, I'm much better off than a lot of other people.  Between fires and floods in this country, my problem is very small.  I am doing just fine.

Have a wonderful Sunday, be kind to one another.

A Great Start...Then Really? Seriously? Sigh....

So, a big weekend was planned and set up.  DH went on a camping trip to the Sierras.  I had lots of yarn, lots of cross stitch supplies, plenty of wooden boxes and paint.  I was on a roll.  Got most of the yard work done, finished cleaning one bathroom and the kitchen.  Three days of peace and quiet and projects. Happy, happy dance.

Finished my stepson's scarf.

Pulled out some new wool/silk/cashmere for my next project.

I'm working on Number 5 needles.  Smaller than I am used to, but perfect for this project.  It will be a soft, delicate scarf for a friend...the true pattern starts in another 1/2 inch.

And then...no water.  That's odd.  We are on a well with a 5000 gallon tank.  I go out to check this morning.  No pump sound, no water in the tank.  That is all bad.  I call the well company, but the first thing he asks is the depth of my pump and well.  Pump at 340 feet, well depth is 350 feet. He sighs, says that the water in my area is below 350 feet.  That means it is possible that I've lost my well. Really?  Seriously? So, he's coming to check my well and I'm trying to find a company that will deliver water for my holding tank.  On a Saturday.  On a three day weekend.  On  Labor Day.  Oh yeah, that's going to happen.  I have bottled water for emergencies, but not enough for showers and the toilet.  I'm willing to skip the shower part, but pretty sure I will need to use the facilities at least a few times in the next two days.  I am hoping to get another phone number for water delivery when the well guy gets here.  Sigh....

I will keep good thoughts that I will get this settled today.  Dad's care doesn't include much water, so we are good on that front.  At least I won't be doing any more house cleaning or yard work.  LOL More time for knitting.

And for each of you, have a wonderful weekend. Be kind to one another.