Just finished a quick project, for the soon to come baby of the woman who used to have my job. She always makes me think of sunshine, and she’s in Arizona…

There’s a few details on my Ravelry project page.

Four of us went to Portland last weekend (a bit of spinning fiber may have followed me home). And we had a great lunch at Silly’s. Fun place and a great wrap (O-M-G, so much bacon…). They even have an outside “garden” dining area, which is where we sat.

While I was in Portland (in DH’s mom-mobile), DH used my car. He lost the keys while out for a couple hours with the dogs looking for fungi. He went back and looked for two hours. And then we went back the next day and looked for another two hours. No luck (I have my own set, and we still have the “valet” key)… So, if you come across some Subaru keys in the woods behind the airport in Augusta, let me know! I doubt anybody ventures into the places he was… hilly, ravines, no trails, up and down… I was exhausted!

We had “help”

Wet Gracie from the creek… Zuzu, who has since gotten a trim.

So last week we had this “quick” meeting to discuss the FY 12-13 budget for info tech stuff. It lasted three hours. We have another tomorrow. Nobody will be able to speak unless they display their appropriate Three Hour Tour Meeting persona.

And yes, I’m Gilligan…

So, also since that sinus infection I have anosmia, or loss of the sense of smell, except for the smoke, which isn’t there. I put my nose in a jar of essential oil? Nothing. Cold cuts on the verge? Who could say? Not me.

Kiddo commented a few days back that the food closet stank. I reminded him I couldn’t smell anything. I asked a couple of friends with good noses, and they only smelled the spices. Then yesterday DH reeled back from the bad smell and discovered rotting potatoes.

The one good thing? These two can put their heavy breathing mouths right near my face and it’s not stinky! (well it really is, but I can’t tell).

I may buy a new refrigerator today. Ours is 30 years old. Leaking freon is a potential cause of the phantosmia, which is the last straw in the life of this fridge (not that I know it’s leaking freon, but it has age related issues, ha!). I will want to live in it today. It is just too hot and humid…

Seriously…

It even squeaked.

or it’s a damned good thing they’re so cute

Yesterday was brought home again the problem with empty belly syndrome. Zuzu around 10 pm, and Gracie a little after midnight. When it dawned on me that maybe they didn’t get their din dins.

Not that they’re underweight. Zuzu La Gorda weighs in at maybe 6 pounds over last year and Gracie Ms Skinny Mynx at maybe 3 more. Which in a dog about 40 pounds is not chicken feed. But then DH (who took them this year) says Zuzu was a wiggle meister on the scale and her numbers might be off.

Gracie got a serious trimming (with scissors, she won’t put up with the clippers) over the weekend. I even had to get all the long fur off her ears. It was a little scary, but needed as there was a fist sized mat in there.

And you can’t even see it here. Her little ears are so cute…

We’re also anticipating mud season. These two bring in more dirt dust than any dog I’ve ever known.

knitting

Yes. I ordered blocking wires! I think I might be ready to block that maple wing shawl this weekend. Or the one after.

making do

Saw this at the Chinese restaurant in Hallowell last week…

Window screening, folded into a square, screwed into an old light fixture… With a flourescent bulb!

O-M-G! It was cold. It was numbing. It was tingling. It was Burning Cold.

And it was Absolutely Fabulous!

Popham Beach!

(For you Mainers… the word is that the Morse River has cut a new channel more or less straight out to the ocean - instead of along the beach - and that sand deposition should begin to restore the beach… it was cut back about 150 feet since November last year)

There were lots and lots of people and dogs on the beach today, a freakishly warm day for March. Who would let an opportunity like this go by? Not many, and the beach seemed crowded, especially for this time of year. We saw kids playing in the surf, and some who got their feet wet and came right back out. I’m guessing the water was about 48 degrees F. This page tells us the average March sea surface temperature in Maine is about 5 degrees Celsius, which is 41 F…

We saw some of Molly Bee’s dogs, including some odd ones, like this pair,

Her “keeper” didn’t know what they are… The boy sure stood like a boxer, but one about 8 inches tall…. and long…. dachsund boxer whoknowswhat… And there were puppies, yellow lab and newfie most notably.

Here’s Mollly’s beast we went with,

A crazy shepherd girl…

And look what was up in my yard this first day of spring,

Usually there is snow here now. Snow to shovel. Or at least large piles everywhere and lots of frozen ground. This is a very bizarre year…