Bummed out

Well, I'm not sure if it's the upcoming Holidays, or the fact that I'm a little under the weather but I'm a little low today. I think alot of my mood is due to no job outlooks in the near future. Retail at the Galleria is really slow. I'm thinking every one is waiting for the BIG DEALS after Thanksgiving, but the retailers are really hurting right now.

I finished Josh's other mitten this morning. Then I took off for the cities to do a little shopping at Trader's Joes. Picked up a few things, headed to Byerlys which was having a deal on pork chops and chicken. Huge, plump chickens for $6.00 - tasty too. Got home about 3 PM and crafted all night. I'm making these secret snowmen, I may show you later.

We had the sales at Carver and New Prague this weekend and I did very well again. New Prague is picking up too. Classes in both places will start very soon, I hope. I will post dates on the website for anyone who is interested. I made it to New Prague on Sat. morning for a while. It is such a cute shop. Lovely gift items for everyone.

Dan stopped home tonight. He and Jenna are staying with me Wed. night. I have to work until 9 pm but we'll have the morning and afternoon to hang-out (as they say) until dinner at Nicole's later in the afternoon. It is Nicole's birthday on thanksgiving this year!

Well, that's all for now folks! I'm heading to bed.

Friday should have been the 13th

It was one of those days. I didn't work all day, so I thought I'd have the whole day to do crafting and what not.

The morning started off with Coffee at Dunn Bros., stopped by Bluff Creek to pick up check. Manager said he would deliver bricks to B's house today. Okay, B is going to be in a meeting over lunch and then hunting so I would have to be there to accept the load of bricks. No Problem-o.

Got back home, worked on a few projects, made phone calls and about 1:00 pm, Ryan called to say he was on his way with the bricks. I met him at B's house. Well, Ryan, who drives a little crazy stopped a little to quickly and all the bricks went sliding off the pallet into the back of the pick up - luckily they were not high enough to go through the window. He's a crazy kid. Therefore, we had to unload them by hand. So I built this great little wall on the grass. B owes me big time! He was impressed, so that helped. My hands were so cold they hurt and I'm not even sure about my back yet.

Got home, took off my filthy jacket and ran downstairs to throw in the washer. Came up to do some crafting and ran downstairs as fast as I could remembering my phone was in my pocket. Yes, it was soaked. Now I have to go to EP Mall and get a new phone, which is probably not insured. (never dreaming I would wash it). About $130 later, I head back home. Stop at the antique store in Carver (which I love) for some accessories to my new project. Meanwhile, Kim had called and she wanted to look at a rental property in Carver for her catering business we might work on together, Garlic Breath Catering. Great Food. There is a renevated space next to the adorable reconditioned gas station downtown. There is also a Victorian house some of us are looking at for a retreat center and we could cater out of there. So many ideas, so exciting, no wonder I washed the phone. My head is swimming with possibilities.

Kim came back to Carver with her daughter, Sam, who is already 13, which I can hardly believe, and we had hamburgers at Harveys. By now I'm too tired to pick up needles. To Bed.

My new manager is pissed off at me because I am trying to get another part time job. I told them that when they hired me but apparently she didn't know. We are hiring another person so it shouldn't be a big deal. It's a little disconcerting, however, to have conflict already. I work today so we'll see what the mood is.

Keep knitting

a little late

Okay, so I didn't get all the gardens cleaned out this year. I did manage to get the Huskavarna in the garage, which was no small fete. I first had to dismantle the dog kennel, move things around, in the icy rain, mind you, until there was room for the riding lawn mower.

Now, how to manuever it into the garage, remembering the little incident with the stop sign last week, I was a little leary of driving it into a tight space. Moved the car out of the garage, came through the second stall, made the turn and parked it in front of the other garage stall. Perfect! Then B said, now you have to put some "stuff" in the gas tank so it won't freeze and pull the battery. Yea, like I know how to do that! He thinks I've led a sheltered life cuz I don't know how to pull a battery. I won't be pullin' any battery!

The hoody is coming along nicely. Now I cannot work on it at work anymore, so I have to make use of good time when I get home. When I don't get home until 9:30 pm it's hard to fall asleep right a way so I knit for a while and relax. I started the pockets and ribbing last night.

I picked up another sweater at ARC this week, so now I have 3 more jackets to make. I'm waiting for a little inspiration.

I don't like this cold, just for the record.

I'm a little short on blogging this week. It's been hectic. I finished up on Wednesday at Bluff Creek - went into Uber on Thursday for training. Went very well. I had Friday off, so I took advantage of that day and worked around the house.

Friday evening I went to Nicole's and gave her a sewing lesson and we actually made Ellie a cute jumper in just a few hours. The woman at the fabric store told her she didn't need facing ribbon, so we had to make facings out of left over fabric. She also didn't give her enough fabric so she had to go back and get more. It was corduroy so we had to deal with the Nap. Anyway, I haven't sewn for years but it all came back to me. Awful Butterick pattern, however.

Sat. I worked again at Uber Baby and had a very bad tummy all day. (thank heaven for immodium) Made it through and then I was onto Dunn Bros. to teach a knitting class. Had a great time. Wonderful woman. We got her going on the thrummed mittens.

Sunday I picked up Ellie for the morning. Josh had gone to Grams for the day so I got Miss Ellie. We had a great time, filled her with hot chocolate, marshmallows, out to lunch for cheeseburgers, fries and an Ice cream sunday at Culvers. You think it was too much SUGAR???? She was a trooper, took it all in. Hopefully, she napped, I did.

Dan came home Saturday night for Pizza - had a great visit. I finished knitting the 12.5 inches of my sweater and now I can start the ribbing. I also started a sock out of Tofutsies. I just ordered in 50 different colors and couldn't wait to knit with it. It's great to work with. Look out Bungee group you are going to want some of this.

Sunday evening Uber Baby staff met at a restaurant in Edina for a little food and drink. It was very nice and I came home and watched my favorite show, desperate housewives. ( I admit it , I'm hooked.) and fell into bed.

Monday I worked at Uber for a couple hours training, M's last day. One staff already had to quit so I'm hiring. Anybody interested, give me a call. I interviewed at another part time position today. I think it went well, will let you know on Monday.

Get out those Christmas gifts and get knittin.

Change

Change is the word for today - Big Change last night - I'm an Obama supporter so I was very excited. I have a little hope again for this country. It was very exciting to watch. We made a pot of tortilla soup, corn bread and wine and watched until about 10 PM. Finally, I couldn't watch anymore. Good news this morning when I woke up.

Recipe: This is a collaborative effort between Jeff (his wife) and Rigo (chef)
This was a hit with Bob - Very good - you can spice it up as much as you want but real mexican food is not really all that spicy, just great flavor. (of course today, Bob says he had such indigestion he woke up several times last night. He had two big bowls, Folks).

1 Med/small onion, chopped
1 tbsp. olive oil
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 yellow pepper, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, chopped
1 anaheim pepper, chopped
1 pallamo pepper, chopped
1 lg. can (32 oz) of chicken broth
1 can 8 oz. of Raul tomatoes w/ peppers (I used 2 cans)
1 8 oz. can of corn with peppers]
1 8 oz. can of V8 juice
2 chicken breast, grilled and shredded (I bought Pepittos grilled chicken)
1/2 c. fresh chopped cilantro

Fresh Chips and sour cream

Saute all chopped ingredients, remove from pan and blend in the cuisinart. Return to pan, add liquids and cilantro. (I did not use the cuisinart, I left mine chunky)

Crumble chips in the bottom of the bowl, ladel on the soup mix, add cheese and sour cream
Enjoy. You can spice this up as much as you want with more peppers.



Balmy outside - I guess there will be a big change in the weather by the weekend. Need to get those leaves put away.

Change Jobs:
I also have another bit of good news. I got an Asst Mgr. position with Uber Baby and Uber Expecting in the Galleria. They also have an outlet and a space at Kowalskis. Very cute shop and reasonably priced for parents, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles. Stop by the Galleria and say hello. I'm only part time right now.

I'm also working with a friend of mine, Kim, and her catering company, "Garlic Breath Catering." This could also be alot of fun. Kim is very creative and loves to cook, so I'll be the business person, keeping track of things, website and sales.

My knit shop is doing very well. I'll be teaching this winter it looks like. New Prague said lessons are starting to sign up, So I'll keep you posted where I'll be - makes my head dizzy but all fun fun fun!

I need to sit and knit for awhile.

November

It feels like 70 degrees today - cuz it is!!! I love it. I remember a few year's ago - probably 10 or so - it stayed really nice all through November - we walked outside after Thanksgiving Dinner in 50 degrees - no jacket. Not good for the trees cuz there was no rain either but it was lovely for getting ready for Christmas. I saw people stringing up their lights this weekend. I'm still raking leaves, cutting down perennials and sealing windows and doors.

I was thinking yesterday as I worked my tail off all day in the yard, wasn't I done with all this by Nov. last year? Yes, because I wasn't working so I had more time to clean up last year.

Holloween was great! Josh was a skunk and insisted on spraying everyone (real cute!) and Ellie was a lovely, somewhat graceful butterfly and Logan was an blue octopus. He really didn't get what was going on but when the kids arrived at his door in costume he thought just laughed and ran out after them. He would let out a greeting that was supposed to be "HI" but sounded more like a squeal. He just had a fantastic time. All of a sudden he's grown up. He was just smiles all over the place.

Dano came home that evening and we watched the DaVinci Code, which I never saw but read the book. I think the movie was a little confusing or else I'm just forgetting how confusing the book was. It didn't help that we started it half way through.

Saturday, I worked until 3 pm. Came home - did some yard work, baby sat at 6:30 PM and fell asleep on the couch at 9:00 PM.

Sunday, I worked like crazy in the yard and had my first ride on the Huskavarna mower. It was really fun except for the slight miscalculation I had with the STOP SIGN! I got a little hung up and couldn't back the thing up. I got off and tried to push it back a little - got back on - started it again and finally it backed up so I could get unhooked from the sign. I was thinking, "I cannot call Bob, he'll kill me".

At any rate, I did have a good time riding around the yard - I kinda had a hard time remembering where I was at times. I didn't plan to spray the leaves back into the rocks which I had just blown out with the blower but I just forgot which way I was turned. I'm sure this just takes practice.

With all this work, I got very little knitting accomplished.