The Debates

Did you watch the debates last night - Obama/Hillary. My friend and I did. I was astonished by her comment at the end - something about "she new stressful and difficult situations, as you all know....." then went on to say how that is nothing compared to what americans are dealing with these days. Hurray for her insight. (sarcasm). However, my friend and I were blown away by the comment "difficult situations or stressful situations, whatever words she used to allude to Bill's behavior and all the other shenanigans those two were involved in. Now, I am not a prude, really, but I felt that was out of line for her to bring that situation up again at this time. I felt it discredited her and was a cheap shot. People are very concerned about the two of them being in the white house again and then she made that connection again. Wow!

On the other hand, Obama I am very intrigued with. He is very articulate, genuine, respectful, brilliant and from all I can see would be a great leader. This next year should be very interesting.



I am currently ready a book called "The Senator's Wife". It addresses the Washington scene and politics on a personal level. It's a novel so who knows but it is interesting what people in that position allow and think is normal. It probably is their "Normal".



Did anyone see Don Shelby and Amelia the other night when they showed a photo of a bare breasted woman embellished with beads. Right after the clip, Don says, "those were really big beads on that woman!" I about fell off the couch. Amelia gave him a look and said, "I'm not touching that". I thought it was very humorous but was amazed he did that on live news.

It's just around the corner, I'm told

Spring is just around the corner! Truly.

I have made some progress on Sandy's afghan. This is from Unique Kolours afghan kits. It will be beautiful.

Nancy and I made these last year. Marie Mayhew has a cute pattern for Easter Eggs - you knit them and then felt them. Nancy embroidered on them - she's a whiz at this. If you want to learn you have to come to the Bungee classes on Saturdays at Betsy's Back Porch, 54th and Nicollet. Check out the website for days and times. http://www.creativefibers.com/ for more information. I also hot water felted some eggs around a styrofoam shape and that worked really well. Happy Spring!!!! it's just around the corner, I'm told.

New Projects: These are two projects Nicole and I are working on. Hers is finished. The flower sweater. I bought the sweater and felted it in the washing machine and she embellished it with needle felting.

I also felted the other one that looks grey but it really is a grey green color. I embellished the bunnies and am still working on details. These are so fast and I think so adorable. Great for a spring project.

I have been so busy I haven't blogged in a while. I worked for a week at a very boring job and am still looking for an Office Manager or Adm. Asst. position. If anyone know of anything out there - please keep me in mind.

I have been helping Nicole with the children quite often and they are so much fun. Short story about Joshua. He was having a melt down in Target the other day (no nap day) and he hit his sister when he was acting out his frustration. Later, Ellie said, "I'm sorry Joshua" and he said, "You don't be sorry Ellie, I hit you."

I have also read a couple new books. "Growing and Inch" by an author I truly enjoy. Gordon West. He's from Minneapolis/St. Paul area. He includes a little history in his stories. They are really mysteries and he has great characters.
Of course, another Minnesota Author I love is Garrison Keillor. His story about the Pontoon is priceless. Laugh out loud, if you like small town stories. I first heard this story on his radio show several years ago and it was so funny - he's a great story teller.

I enjoy these two authors because they remind me of growing up in south Minneapolis. Life really was simpler then. We didn't have much fear back in that time. You felt safe in your neighborhood. You knew everybody and I can still drive back there and tell you who lived in what house. It was a charmed life.

Happy Knitting and reading!

My life as nanna

After work I went to see the babies. Picked up soup and sandwich at our favorite deli in Shakopee called (sorry I cannot remember). I arrived about 6:30. The children had already had dinner and were in their pajamas. I brought them each a piece of red licorice, which they devoured. As Nicole and I were eating out dinner, they were asking for more food. Joshua asking for more treats, Ellie wants yogurt and oh yes, a glass of water. Joshua is told "no more treats" so then he wants the grapefruit cup I brought. We opened it and he took one bite and did not like the sour taste. This was constant until I looked up at Nicole and said, "What time was bed?"



Logan was his smiley self but is teething so he didn't want to even have his bottle. Joshua had his store set up. He's always selling something these days. He had built little cages out of these magnetic clear blocks and put plastic bugs in them. It was a pet shop.

I was asked if I'd like to buy something? I said," sure, do you have any frogs?" No, no frogs but he had a great looking bug in this plastic container. I bought it. As I picked it up, the thing fell apart in my hands (it is only held together with magnets) I was so sorry, and Joshua replied, "that's okay Nanna, I can build it again, do you want to help?" Of course, Ellie, decided she wanted to work with these plastic pieces so she grabbed his cages and ran off.



Nicole has been gone about 15 minutes now! I put Logan to bed. The other two are scheming against me as I'm upstairs putting logan to sleep and they have decided they need blankets and nooks. It is now 7:00 pm so we turn on Caillou and cuddle up on the couch. This is good. Then we read about 40 books and troop upstairs. I'm thinking this is going really well. Got them both in bed, closed the doors and got downstairs.



Then, I hear, "Nanna? I need to go potty." They already had their evening diapers and pullups on so I didn't do that before putting them in their beds. So, Ellie goes on the big potty and Joshua on the small one facing each other. Ellie has brought this huge book to read.



It is now 8 PM so I figure I'll just let their mom handle this. I said, to them both, "you are going to get me in trouble - when your mom comes home she won't be happy with me." Joshua looks up at me, lifts his eyebrows and opens his eyes wide and slowly a little smile appears. He can hardly wait for me to get into trouble.



Nicole comes in and gets them all settled in and I gather my belongings and head home. I'm tired and go to bed at 10 PM. At 10:15 the phone rings and it is Nicole. She is whispering, she just heard the door open and shut downstairs. The dog lifted his head and laid back down. She is home alone with the 3 babies. I know how this feels, I've been in her place before. You hear a noise and your whole body tenses and then you try to decide if you really heard it or not and listen for another. It is terrifying! We agree she should call the neighbor across the street. Tom is sleeping so Michelle stays on the phone while Nicole walks through the house checking the doors. Everything is still locked up so she feels it's okay. I'm still worried. I was not very reassuring to her because I do worry about them when Peter is gone.

Well did you all make it to the caucus? I watched enough on TV last night but did not make it to the polls. I think by the end I will be so tired of listening to these people that it will be difficult to vote. I only hope for change for this America - it's definitely not the America I grew up in.



Working this week but trying to find something permanent. It is alot more difficult than I thought it would be. Nobody is hiring or else they don't like the year I was born. That number is a little too low. This is when I wish I had gotten a real career when I was 20. The real estate thing is still a viable option - I just need to study more before I take the test again. I'm able to review real estate while on this job so I feel like I'm accomplishing something. I don't think the corporate world is my world, however. I'm thinking a small business manager, some place that I have some flexibility. Corporate is a little too structured.



My arm has been so sore for a week so I have laid off the knitting for awhile, see if it helps. However, My projects are surrounding my sofa reminding me to get going. I think I'll try spinning for awhile and see if that helps.



I really want to do some dye work, but I have to get set up in the basement somewhere and I still have all these books staring me in the face that need to be photographed and logged into my sheet and I cannot seem to get motivated. I think I'll have a garage sale this summer and try to get rid of them.



I'm reading another good book this week, "pieces of my sisters life" by Elizabeth Joy Arnold. It's about twin sisters, but not your usual twin book. Very interesting characters and lots of quirks to this story.



Going to see the babies tonight!