My Coffee Pot Broke.

If you're not a coffee drinker, then you don't get the significance of this. I may as well not even get up if I can't have my coffee.
Well, we can't have that either, especially, when my insomniac affected body decides it needs to be out of bed.

So I did the only responsible thing I could think of, that being to dig around in the camping stuff and find the old percolator, look in my old farm cookbooks on how to brew coffee in this archaic manner and proceed. Keep in mind, all of this had to be accomplished SANS COFFEE!!

We did pretty well, here at Chez C-A-T. And to be honest, it makes a pretty darn good cup of coffee, even if it did balk at being used on a electric stove, rather than a campfire. It does take awhile though, like about the time it takes to boil water hard enough for it to be forced through the little stemmy thing, up into the percolator thing and drip back down through the coffee grounds. And then do all of that for 6-10 mins. And then cool down enough so it doesn't scorch the tongue right outta the mouth. But the coffee is pretty good. Due to my New Years Resolution...(this is a hint here), I will use this coffee maker rather than replacing the old one. Unless of course this one takes a hit, then all bets are off. We do have to have our coffee to survive after all.

So, today is The Brat's birthday. Happy Birthday Brat! I'm not real sure how this happened, but he's 22. Seems like just yesterday he was falling out of trees, jumping off of anything guaranteed to buy him some airtime (and in one case, some hospital time), learning how to ride a 2 wheeler (while being pushed downhill by two of his helpful big sisters - "dodge the trees!"). He's always been my baby, which when he was growing up was a pretty easy position to be in, what with 4 older sisters. And now he spends his time 24/7 in Iraq. Baghdad actually. It goes without saying that I WANT HIM HOME! True to his positive nature, he finds it not so bad. He says the Iraqi's are people just like we are. They want peace and stability just like we do. They want the same things for their families that we do. When he and his buddies got one of the tanks stuck in the mud during the rainy season (rainy season? In Iraq? Who knew?), several locals showed up with shovels and tractors to help them. The kids are adorable, he says, but then he's always loved kids. And he's always wanted to help people, which I suspect is one of the reason's he's there, that and the US govt sent him there.
Like many, he was a teenager when he first set foot on that sandy soil, when he left home he was still my baby boy. Now, when he is able to come home, there's a quiet maturity about him, he's grown into a man; a man who would do just about anything for me and the girls. A protector. And I'm so proud of him. And I miss him so much.
Be safe Brat!

See what happens when I don't get my coffee?

I'm so excited! My brother from Colorado will be here today. He'll be here until Wednesday. There is lots of garden, home improvement, critter enhancement... projects scheduled. But... the most important is the obligatory day long bike ride. Last fall we did this on a day that was gorgeous, he rode Hubby's bike and I, of course, rode mine. It was Mid-October, the leaves were in full color and flying all around, and it was around 80. Unseasonably warm for October, but the day was just perfect. We both still talk about that day, so this Holiday weekend we plan to redo it.
Maybe we'll ride over to the Big Lake for lunch.

No, the chickens and turkeys did not get put outside. They stink, they smell and they're flying and running and &$%^-ing all over the bathroom, but last night was knit night so, we do have our priorities. Besides, it's really something that's a two person job and hubby was out playing too. He likes to do the go kart thing and last night he and his buds were playing go karts. So, chix and turks are still inside. Tonight doesn't look good either, I'll probably be with my brother, and hubby will be go-karting again.

Look at this yarn!!! This is my latest score from Yarn Of The Month Club. It's the bamboo ribbon yarn that I hated but couldn't live without. It's soooo soft and when it knits up the drape is just perfect. I don't know what this yarn wants to be when it grows up, it hasn't told me yet, but someday it will make me a real nice something or other.

Update on the Blueberry Issue. I've filed a claim with paypal. I hate to do that, but it's been almost 3 weeks since I've sent my money or even heard from the guy. I'd still rather have the blueberries than my 30 bucks back, but we'll see. I really don't hold out much hope for either. The picture above is the spot hubby cleared for them, guess they'll be for the strawberries now. Next week, probably, we can start putting stuff outside, so I'll get those planted right away.

Our youngest called from Iraq yesterday, he's doing well, things are quiet for now where he is. I'm still pretty scared about the whole ordeal, but with the addition of N and her Monkey to our household, I've been even more distracted than I normally would be. And that's bad. In a good way.

Tomorrow night, Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. I'll be there! Go Wings!!

Yeah, Mr. Mail Guy!!

Something amazing happened yesterday! We get our mail picked up at work, so if I have to mail something that won't fit in the box, well it doesn't make sense to make a trip to the post office, we'll just put it in the Pile 'O Stuff To Go Out" at work.

My son is currently stationed in Iraq and I had his trunk almost ready to go, just needed to finish taping it up, fill out the customs forms, address it, weigh it (about 60 lbs!).....

When the postal carrier showed up to collect our outgoing mail, he asked if the box was to go, and I told him no, I'd take it because I had to go fill out forms... have it weighed.... so I'd just take it. He then asked if I could have it addressed and taped in 1/2 hour, he would make a special trip back to pick it up for me and bring the forms I needed. And anytime I had a package ready to go to my son in Iraq, just call him and he'd make a special trip out to get it. And to be sure and tell my son that he and his family appreciate the sacrifices our troops are making.

Now that's just nice! Still get choked up thinking about it. You get to feeling like you're kind of in this boat alone, although I know there are thousands and thousands of families like mine, with a member overseas in not-so-great circumstances, it's real easy to feel alone, until someone comes along and outwardly recognizes the efforts being made, and it doesn't matter how they feel about us being over there, it's the personal twist that boosts you up.

Yeah, it's a real small town, where about 90% of the county is related, but still, this went above and beyond in my book.
Just sayin......

Ok, I'm done being all tear-jerkery and philosophical now on to the fun stuff.

I'm mentioned before our oldest daughter owns and runs a resale shop. Guess what she scored yesterday???

Hang on.....

Sit down......

A Log Desk! You can't imagine how great this is, not only do I now have a log desk to match my log cabin and growing log furniture collection, but I have to refinish it (stained dark), get my workshop cleaned up so I can refinish it, tear down the wall between my laundry room and work room so I can start cleaning, relocate the washer and dryer so I can tear down the wall, which will probably eventually lead to new paint. Now that's scary, all because she called and told me she had this desk come into her store. Has anyone read Pat McManus' treatise on "Sequences"? Think I've got him beat with this one!

Hubby was not allowed to make the decision as to whether or not he would bring this home, this is an ongoing joke. He's nothing if not a packrat, and has been known to drag home treasures from her store. So she and I have a pact. NO FURNITURE PURCHASES WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION FROM ME FIRST! This was too funny, everyone involved just knew I'd have to have this desk, but they wouldn't let him just bring it home, nope, they had to have my ok. And not only that, he wasn't allowed to carry my ok, she had to call and verify that I actually did say ok. Too funny! Gotta love kids, they're fairly trainable even when they're grown.

And yes, we did get good kids. Specially when they score us some useful treasures!

As soon as it stops raining, and he brings it home (back of his truck, will get wet if it's raining.....), I'll take pictures, too cool!! This purchase alone motivated me to get all of our coats, hats, boots, snow suits, scarves, parkas, mittens, snow pants,shawls, mukluks, ice fishing suits (zoot-soots) and other assorted winter gear hung up, washed and put away. (Don't even ask where the link is that would supposedly connect these two events, it's there, you'll just have to trust me on this one.)

All of this is a bit confusing to The Bu-Dawgh as his bedroom is where all of this stuff gets hung up in the off season. He was a bit concerned with the filling of his bedroom with snow gear and boots and we had a bit of a panic attack, but we assured him all was ok, there would still be room for his bed. He then went out to chase a turkey. So next time someone asks, "What is the link between a log desk and a bu-dawgh", you can give them an intelligent answer. It's ok, you can keep this post to reference back if you forget, or go into brain spasms, or otherwise have a problem with my thought processes.

My Wings play game 4 of the Western Conference Finals tonight. Against the Dallas Stars. I'm sure it will be a good game, just ask me!

Regular Wednesday Night Stuff (technical term)

So, it being Wednesday, and night and all, and taco night at the Local Watering Hole and a Michigan team was playing (Tigers) and the drinks were on sale because of it, guess where I could be found? Ding, ding, ding.... yup, you guessed it!

I'm not a people person. At all. Mostly ever. Unless there's alcohol involved. Would much rather commune with my critters, and plants and stuff. Wander around the blueberry patch and have an intellegent conversation with the green stuff which produces leaves and which needs to be mowed, and stuff.

But last night at the Local Watering Hole, there were people, and alcohol, and even though I'm soooo not a Tigers fan, a good time was had by all. The Mouth even showed up for awhile and harassed some of the local clientelle. She's entertaining if nothing else.

My yummy, yummy Yarn Of The Month shipment came in the mail yesterday. It was all ribbon yarn. I don't like trendy yarns, give me wool, or cotton or silk any day, and I make enough slubby stuff when I spin that we really have more than enough of that too. But the ribbon yarn came, and one, in particular, a Bamboo ribbon yarn in heathered blues, and teals and beiges, and browns.... all variagated... kind of attracted my attention. It was sooo soft and nice to knit with, if I liked ribbon yarns, which I don't. It had beautiful drape, just the right amount of stretch and was very enjoyable to knit with, if I liked ribbon yarns, which I don't. So, now we have a conundrum, in which we are knitting with a yarn we don't like, that we actually like. Gonna have to think about that one. Not sure which path to travel down now, my world is all mixed up and everything. Might even have to procure a special box to put that one in. But then we get into all the other special boxes that stuff is shoved into up in Little Brain and we have another whole issue.

Have to get a package ready to ship to The Youngest, who is currently in An Old Nuclear Facility In The Middle Of Nowhere In Iraq. Not sure if this is a good thing or not. Don't nuclear facilities just shout RADIATION??? But it is in the middle of nowhere, which is good, even if it is in Iraq, which is not good. Ugh, another conundrum. You can see how it is that I end up wandering in circles out talking to my blueberries can't you?

Hey, guess what? The woodstove has not been started in over a week! That's got to be good, eh? Course there's been a few nights when we've gone to bed in sweats and wrapped up in extra blankets, but hey, the woodstove appears to be retired for the summer. And now that I've said that.... well, you know. Coupled with the fact that I have my tomatoes and peppers started and currently parked out in the sun on our patio table should be more than enough to invoke the Gods of Frost and Snow. But nope, the woodstove shall not be started again, at least until Sept.

LIG enjoyed another beautiful ride to work today, bundled up of course, with gloves and leather coat, and even socks! That's a biggie, I normally don't do socks, but the toes get cold when I ride LIG in 37 deg. temps. It's a nice enough ride to take most of the sting out of the frostbite, but after a few miles you can't feel anything anyway so it's all good.

Tonight I have knit night, but also the Red Wings are playing game 1 of the 3rd round. Another conundrum. Do I stay or do I go.... isn't there a song like that? Guess you'll have to wait until tomorrow to hear of my decision!

Happy wandering!