Purling Oaks

Saturday surprise

For all my list-making, Saturday had a surprise waiting for me.  Early in the morning, DH walked out to the shed to find something and spied a red cherry on the drive, quite a ways from our "orchard."  He came back in with the news that the cherries were ripe.  If I were Martha Stewart, "watch for ripe cherries" would have been on my list and one of my minions would have picked them.  However, I'm not Martha.  So, I grabbed a bowl, found some shoes, and heading out the door to our cherry trees.  We have one mature tree and two just-planted-this-Spring trees.  All three had cherries!  I came back into the house with a bit over two quarts of harvested cherries.  It is nice to get some before the birds get the majority of the fruit. 

I pitted the cherries and contemplated what to make with them.  I love a pie but I think that will have to wait a week or two until my nephews arrive to help eat it.  Then I ran across this recipe and decided it would be perfect for Sunday's breakfast.

The Cherry Clafoutis was very good.  I had not made it before, and, frankly, I've never made a custard before either, but this was very simple.  I used two cups of pitted cherries in place of the plums referenced in the recipe I linked to.  Otherwise, I followed the instructions exactly.  (I skipped the rum.)  I used pitted cherries.  I don't care if the pits do add flavor, I like my teeth!

Remember to enter the contest!

Catching up, organizing, and a contest!

This morning's sock status report:  The fixation footies came with me to Chicago and are a little bit bigger.  I picked up the gusset stitches this morning because the train didn't have the lighting I needed with my eyes and this part-black yarn.  I picked up those stitches even before my morning caffeine.  Crazy.  I know the footies are not SOS08 material but I just wanted to finish them.  I am l looking forward to returning to the Magic FG socks that DO qualify for SOS.  I'll be using Cookie's Short-Row tutorial for the Magic FG sock heels.  Thanks, Cookie.

Today is the first day of vacation for me and the DH.  We had planned to stay around home even before the recent basement-changing events and that's what we are doing, outside of visiting with family in Wisconsin.  I'm looking forward to doing some finishing up and re-organizing.  We've just been so busy lately that things have been overlooked, put-off, and piled up.  Especially with *stuff* formerly located in the basement, now located scattered around the first floor.  Now there this time to get everything in reasonable order and it will make me feel good.  I just need a little time to get a list together of what all needs to be done.  (Too busy and distracted lately, for sure, to not have a list!)   Here are a few of the fun things:

• Knit socks
• Weave!!  I've had the rigid heddle loom set-up (not warped, Stacey,) for the longest time and now I can get the first project going. 
• Try to get a few buttons on the blog and generally spruce it up.
• and if time presents itself, sew and dye some yarn. 

• Oh, YEAH, and have a contest!  I am probably going to pass the 300 posts mark during this vacation.  To celebrate that and solicit some ideas from everyone, here's my plan:

I have an opportunity to redo the area that I call my studio because of the recent basement event (ahem).  I would like you to comment with ideas for me to consider for the new and improved space.  I would like to read about how you organize your stash or craft area.  Comment with ideas you've found that you think are cool or interesting for organizing or decorating the place that you have designated for knitting, weaving, needlecrafts, and/or other creative endeavors.  Book and website references are very welcome, too.  Even if you don't have an idea, comment to be included in the contest.  Comment on this post or any more recent posts with an idea for me until Sunday, July 6th at midnight.  You can submit any number of ideas or just plain comments for the contest, each a separate comment.  I'll count up to three entries per person.  One prize per person.  I'll choose three winners randomly from the comments.  Thanks in advance for all your ideas.  I'm looking forward to reading them.

ETA:  You don't need an idea to comment for the contest! 

Tuesday petals

What does a blogger do when she has nothing on Tuesday?  It is Tuesday, right?

Weekend happenings

I'm starting the Summer of Socks 2008 with an adventure.  My first top-up sock using Judy Becker's Magic Cast-on with the assistance of Cat Bordhi's YouTube video on the technique and the Knitty article by Judy Becker.  I'm also going to try short-row heels since all the cool knitters do them....besides, technique expansion is a good thing.  The yarn is loot from Joan that I won a little while ago at her blog:  Silky Sock from The Great Adirondack Yarn Company.  The toe was a little bit of challenge but I really like it.

It was a busy weekend full of chores, travel, gardening, and the bit of knitting I've told you about.  I drove up to Oshkosh on Saturday to have a good time with a mop and some bleach.  Yeah, the cottage basement had (at one point, not now) about 4 to 6 inches of water in it from the recent flooding.  Mom gave me a big hand to haul out the wet stuff to the curb for pick up and move things so the bleach would have a clear field.  I'll have to have the mechanicals looked at, but the structure is still fine.  Just a wet June, eh?  No wonder I have been having water dreams.  We drove to Leon's to have a chili dog and soda for lunch, which was fun since it is a drive-in.  No custard cone this time.

I had a fun surprise in the garden....one of my hollyhocks is blooming!  I purchased these plants at Felly's Greenhouse but the blooms indicate there is hope for the hollyhock seeds that Stacey is sending. *g*

These are actually pretty short hollyhocks but since they are in a raised bed they show up nicely.

Here is one of my favorite photos from the weekend.  Blue enjoying the catmint/catnip. I thought I had planted cat mint but the cats enjoy it so much it may be cat nip.  I'll have to pay attention when it flowers.  I love the goofy little face on this cat.

Friday lists

The baseball game was nice.  There were a number of firsts: 

• my first visit to the new Miller Park.  It is attractive and the seats with cupholders were nice. 
• my first tailgating event.  I'm just not much of a "go to the game" person.  It was very nice.  A co-worker that does this regularly had everything organized and did a marvelous time grilling.  The twenty-somethings next to us in the parking lot provided entertainment with their drinking games and high jinx. 
• my first dipping dots.  (I had them so I could be cool like Nora and Deborah.)  Cookies and cream flavor.  Very tasty and welcome when sitting in sunny left field on an 80 degree day.
• my first sunburn in several years.  I applied sunscreen early in the day but apparently not often enough.  It is not bad but it is RED.
• my first knitting at a sporting event.  I didn't knit very long.  I was sweating too much which didn't go well with knitting. 

The week is moving so fast, I almost forgot to post my Summer Knitting Goals.  Ali is having a contest and Cookie posted her goals, so here are mine:

• Finish Forest Canopy
• Start Icarus and, gulp, finish Icarus
• Finish at least two pairs of socks for SOS 2008, excluding the Fixation Footies.
• Finish the Fixation Footies.

You need to post your goals by midnight tonight, so hurry!  I think my goals are reasonable for *this* the summer.  I may surprise myself and finish more than what's on my list, but keeping my stress level at manageable levels is also a goal.  *grin*

Included in today's goals are a few loads of laundry, a massage, some grocery shopping, and peeking at a few books about basement remodeling.  Happy Last Day of Spring!

Another update

The clean-up crew finished before noon on Tuesday.  The basement is drying down to the studs now (minus drywall, paneling, etc.) and all has been sanitized.  We should be free of the fans and dehumidifier by Friday sometime.    Just look at all that potential.  (The view into my studio.)  (upcoming contest hint)  I *heart* plastic containers.

Tomorrow, with some of our other crew members, DH and I are celebrating our co-worker's return from Iraq.  He is an Air Force Reservist.  The celebration involves tailgating and watching the Brewers game.  This will be my first visit to the new stadium.  The strike did diminish my enthusiasm for professional baseball but I'm always ready for a good party, especially for a good reason.  *And* I have the second fixation footie to keep me occupied between innings. 

I want to have my hair cut shorter.  I'm waiting a few days to see my desire for shorter locks is the result of the recent excitement around here or is just a summer thing where shorter hair is just more comfortable.   I have a massage scheduled for Friday.   The timing of the massage is important so I can be loose, relaxed, and ready to cast on for the Summer of Socks 2008.

DH has been concerned that I haven't posted since Monday and has been offering post suggestions.  I'm not sure what to think of this new development.  I think he needs a blog.

Honeysuckle Sunday

The oregano in my herb garden has just loved this weather.  It was waving around, hogging garden space from the rosemary and the chives and the greek oregano.  So, on Sunday, I hacked off about half the plant.   I harvested a big batch......a fills the sink kind of batch.  Since we are still drying things out in the house, I thought the front porch might be a more successful place to dry.  At least they will look "scenic" for a few days.... I have a dehydrator that I usually dry herbs in but this batch would have required ten of them.

Wisconsin isn't exactly the high desert of California, so it is quite likely that this outside drying of herbs thing may be an experiment gone wrong, but it kept me busy while waiting for our insurance adjuster to make his way to us through the flooded highway infrastructure that is Columbia County.  I found Sunday that I have developed a pacing habit and it isn't something I'm happy about.  I did knit but I kept dropping the yarn.  More yoga for me, I see.  That or see if I can find my cute red GoKnit pouch from Scout that hangs on my belt loop in the debris of my studio.

It was an educational visit.  The news from the adjuster is looking better than initially thought but it isn't final.  The relatively little bit of water and icky-stuff combination did a whole lot of damage to a finished basement.  Today, the clean up guys were here again to remove not-so-sanitary paneling (that, frankly, I won't miss too much), insulation, drywall, and woodwork.  They worked hard ---- until 8:30 pm (!) and they will be back tomorrow morning at 7 am (gasp!) for a few more hours of work.  The cats are confined to the bedroom due to all the drywall dust, nails, and debris that they would be bound to venture through if they were roaming the house.

The honeysuckle is getting a lot of blog time but I do love it.

I'm going to be approaching the 300 post milestone soon so watch for a contest announcement soon.

Saturday's sky and a little of this and that

• Here's a smidgeon of blue sky for Sandy.  Her blog is temporarily out of commission but being the prepared person she is, you can find her at her back-up blog over here.
• I'm interpreting all this rain and the resulting work to clean it up as a reminder from Mother Nature that I should have my muscles and body in shape in preparation of stuff like this happening.  That way, the Advil supply will last longer.  I should have jumped on Nora's Tuesday bandwagon a long time ago.
• We have sunshine at the moment, which is lovely.  I have the windows open this morning to give everything an airing.  Even the living room was starting to smell musty.  As soon as water stops seeping into the basement (maybe next week?), I'm going to try Julie's suggestion of tree tee oil spray to discourage mold.
• I'm running behind answering emails.  I'm still working on them but thank you all for your sympathy and good wishes.  Although this is a real pain in the rear and a lot of work and worry, we have far fewer problems than a lot of people in Wisconsin and the rest of the Upper Midwest from the recent storms and flooding.
• I'm going to do some essential laundry today and get some grocery items.  I'm glad I have the low-water use washer now, for sure. We've wet-vac'ed once all ready this morning.  The seeping is slowing down, which is promising.  We'll do it again this afternoon.  There is a chance of storms this afternoon through Sunday night.  I am hoping for a good two-week period of no rain starting today.  Well, hoping never hurt anything, right?
• I also need to catch up with some "real" work sometime this weekend.  "Real" meaning stuff that results in the bank balance being happy or happier, anyway.
• Tomorrow the insurance adjuster is visiting at 8 AM.  We'll see what results from the visit.  The raw sewage effects (or "poopie" as someone calls it and makes me laugh)  are covered; the water is probably not.  How it gets split out will be interesting.  I may not be going here this October as I had tentatively planned.
• However, all this moving stuff around, cleaning, and throwing stuff out leaves room for new organization solutions, like Joan's new to-dream-about closet.
• The plants and flowers in my gardens seem to like the rain but they aren't as bright and cheery as some flowers.  Thanks for the drive-by flower photo, Cookie.
• Have a marvelous weekend everyone. 

Second verse.....

Surprise!  Here's a little knitting content.  The first footie is ready for grafting.  There is a heel there, just hidden on the back side of the sock. 

For the observant reader, yes, that is my kitchen table.  I drove home mid-day to help DH with any potential problems (with the blessing of my supervisor).  I just couldn't leave him to deal with it all.  I'm glad I did.  The dark green on the screen in the photo indicates areas of rainfall exceeding four inches yesterday.  Our house (and a good portion of Wisconsin) are in that area.  We were up until 3:30 AM or so with the rainwater in the basement. 

DH had to brave the storms with the lightning outside to deal with the septic system because the floats were not working properly to make the pump work.  We did not have any (icky) backup last night, for which I am very thankful.  I am a bit crabby, however, since the septic floats were just replaced two days ago.  I'm also thankful that the septic alarm continues to work properly and gave us a warning several warnings last night.  So, same song, second verse.  The forecast says no rain today.  I'll be using the wet vac later today to see if I can catch up with the seeping water.  And getting some work completed to pay for the plumbers..........

Happy Friday!

Rain, Rain, Go A-Way!

I'm taking time out for a worry-break before I head to work.  Don't read on for knitting content because there is none.  I'm just taking my blog for a worry-release-run.  I'm working and "hoteling" it in Milwaukee and DH is at home working.  Based on the forecast, we are due to get one to two inches of more rain today on a severely-waterlogged terrain.  I feel that I should be home but I really do need to work on-site.  I am sure I'm not the only one worrying.  DH said the people he saw and spoke with yesterday at the grocery and hardware stores looked dazed or shocked.  He heard stories of whole streets of homes with septic and sewer backups and others with water a foot high in their finished basements.  And what about having your home swept away when Lake Delton left for the Wisconsin River?  I'm worrrying for all of these people, too.  I think we are all just comprehending what just happened to us and we are wondering what the next several days of rain can hold.

We are doing okay today.  Our basement is clean again.  As of last night, DH reported we were still getting a trickle of water in one end of the basement but overall it is looking (and smelling) good.  Things are stacked up and most are on blocks so the floor can dry from the big fans and dehumidifiers left by the clean-up folks.  DH bought another wet vac with more capacity.  The septic system should be functioning properly now.  (DH is monitoring it closely.)

I think we are as prepared as we can be for whatever is in store the next several days.  Nevertheless, please join me in singing.......

Rain, Rain, go a-way!

There.  *deep sigh*   I hope I got the worst of that out of my brain, at least for a while.  Stay well and dry, if you can!