Meet The Bobs

It became a thing with a friend of mine.  I wanted some plants, was gonna name one Bob, and he suggested that I call them all Bob so I did't get confused.  At any rate, I finally got me some Bobs.

Bob 1

Bob 2

Bob 3

The Bobs in my wee car

The Scoop

I've been missing for a bit. 

There's been a lot going on. I feel like I'm in a vortex at work, and it's emotionally taxing.  I come home at the end of the day feeling very drained.  It's too complicated to get into, but I'm just trying to keep my head above water, improve, and do the best that I can.  I don't know how successful I'm being.  But when I walk out of the building at night, it's like a temporary reprieve until I have to go back and do it again.  Something has to give there, and I fear it might be me, but I'm slowly working on changing things.  We shall see how it all shakes out.

I wound all my hanks into balls.  I'm telling you, that swift was one of the best investments I've ever made.  I still love that blanket with the fiery passion of a thousand suns, and I love it even more now that I've started putting on the new stripe of color.  It's purple and white, and the purple is pretty dark.  So even though I already adored the stitches and pattern, being able to see it really well in the lighter color makes me even happier.  I still want to keep it.  But the BFF saw it--I can't keep secrets *blushes*--and she loves it a lot a lot too.  And it's for her.

I've been experiencing a lot of highs and lows this week.  One minute feeling elated, then next very sad.  Okay, not quite that extreme or that often.  But it has been a bit of a roller coaster.  Which doesn't help with my feeling tired at the end of the day.  I can pin point a lot of reasons for the feelings, so that's good.  Right now I just have to ride it out.  But it's making me fall into bed a lot earlier than normal.  And it's making me feel like not doing a whole lot when I get home.  I haven't done much this week but read some--and reread some favorites--and yarn a little bit.  Very little is holding my interest.  I know it will pass, though.  

Anyway, I'm a bit of a mess, but I'll get through it and it'll be good again.  Just keep plugging along, doing my best, and trying to make all my hours worth it.  

It doesn't hurt that there's a long weekend this weekend, and no plans in sight!

Crazy Cats

I tried to be a good cat mom and break my furbabies of their bad habits.  Except sometimes, they are just too cute and it's hard and then I just give in.  Like Simon.  And his need to drink running water.  He gets in the sink all the time.

And then he just looks so adorable that I give in.  Because he's thirsty, dammit, and how can I not.

Weirdly, he doesn't mind getting wet.  In fact, he often stick his head right under the faucet and lets the water run on his head for a minute or two.  But he's cute, and thirsty, and I've given in so many times now, there's no help for it.  He drinks in the sink.  

*Happy Dance*

So I was feeling guilty about all the spending, right?  And I sort of regretted, a little bit, buying the swift.  I was thinking I should have waited till a later date in time, or just forgone it all together, but it was too late, it was on it's way.  I was excited about getting it, but it was marred by feeling guilty.

It arrived on Tuesday evening.  I expected it to be waiting when I got home from work, and it wasn't, so I was getting cranky thinking I had to wait an extra day for it to arrive, even though I had the two day shipping thing going on.  And sort of thought it was my karma for buying in it the first place when I maybe shouldn't have.  But arrive it did, and with a few quick motions, it was put together and spinning merrily.

And then I used it.  And, oh holy crap you guys, this was the best thing ever invented!  It worked like a charm, I was able to wind the five hanks I had into balls with minimal tangling and what tangling there was, it was because the hank itself was a little twisted around itself.  But fortunately, I'm an expert at untangling yarn and have an extraordinary amount of patience when it comes to that.  (Not so patient other times, I'll admit, but untangling yarn is like a puzzle and the result makes me happy)

I now have to refrain myself from buying other yarn in hanks just to wind it. :)

But I no longer feel the least bit guilty for the purchase.  It's wonderful on a lot of levels and it will get continued use in the future.  I am very happy.  

Sneak Attack Spending

Went a little, tiny, wee bit crazy spending money this past weekend.  

Well, really it started on Wednesday when I ordered tea direct from Bigelow because that was the only way I could get my two favorites, Constant Comment and English Breakfast, in loose leaf.  At the store here, they only have Twinings in loose leaf and while it's all right, I much prefer Bigelow.  (It arrived yesterday, and that pot of tea was one of the best I've ever had)

Then Thursday night, I ordered a spoon.  Yeah, you heard me.  A stainless steel teaspoon for the express purpose of scooping my tea.  It should arrive today.

And then Friday night...well, I finally ordered a swift.  Now, swifts are sort of necessary to wind balls of yarn from hanks.  Unless you have someone willing to hold the hank for you.  Which I don't.  I've been making do, but it's been a pain.  And I couldn't justify spending 50 or 60 dollars on a swift just to make my life a bit easier when I don't really need it that much.  Only I ordered yarn, in yanks, and I have a few other hanks to ball up and...well, I went looking.  Turns out I could get a wooden Amish style swift for less than the plastic umbrella style ones.  I was sold.  I tried to be good, but I caved and bought it.  It also should arrive today.

Then Saturday it was the farmer's market and fresh produce and vegetables.  And then to the home improvement store for the flowers I planted.  And out to lunch with Sis.

And Sunday?  Sunday there were books.

So yeah, I sneak attack spent way too much money because it was a little here and a little there and before I knew it...too much.

Now I have to be a very good girl for weeks!  

I can do it.  

The Garden Saga

It started like this...I forgot to take a pic before I started pulling out the glads.
There were three clumped in the middle

Yes, these are all weeds

Check out that thistle on the left.  Sucker was almost as tall as me

Much better, yes?  No weeds!

Pic is a little bendy, because it's a pano, but ta da!

The Garden

I didn't plant the front garden this year because of the little hellions next door and the fact that they would pull up the flowers.  Then the family moved out, but I still didn't do anything with it.  It's a mass of weeds, a really huge thistle...and some gladiolas.  

I thought I had pulled up all my glads last year when I planted.  I was over it, and they weren't planted deep enough to stand up straight once the flowers bloomed.  (Yeah, that's on me)  But I was over the glads, so I thought I had pulled them all up.  It turns out I didn't, and about five sprung up this year.  Only three actually bloomed, and they somehow got clumped together, but they were really pretty.  It was a nice splash of color in the mass of weeds, and glads are really gorgeous.

But now that the flowers are starting to fade, I really am going to pull them up.  Them and all the other weeds living in that garden.  And trying to choke the rose bush.  It's a yard clean up kind of day.  

I'm actually looking forward to it.