Pregnant Cats And Beads

Some of you know our problems with Casey (that's her up there a couple of years ago), aka Slut Kitty, and how she can streak out the door between your feet every four months or so. Last time it was T-man who let her slip out the door. HAH! He did it, not me, not one of the kids. Anyway, do you know how to tell when a cat is ready to have her kittens? Well, she goes rooting around for a place to make a nest. Casey is in the utility room now, in a big box, having her litter of kittens. Yesterday, however, this was not the case. Yesterday she was rooting around, looking for a nice nesting spot. Do you want to know where she was rooting? Of course you do. That's why you've kept reading. She was rooting in my bookshelves of beads. Do you want to know what she did while she was rooting? Well, I'll tell you what she did. She managed to very quietly knock a small trunk off the shelf. In that small trunk were two bead trays filled with Delicas®, seed beads, needles, thread, wire, findings and two partially finished projects. In knocking it off the shelf, she managed to knock the lid off of it. Yep, she did that and didn't even let me know. When I found it last night as I was headed for the bedroom, I just about had my own litter of kittens. Argh.

It's Friday. Are you glad? It's a three-day weekend, too. T-man is still getting used to the fact that he gets paid holidays. His hilarious comment last night was "I don't have time for a day off." Oh my stars, my hubby has turned into a Type A workaholic. I talked him into quitting the lawn business because I wanted him to have time to relax and now all he thinks about is work. He brought work home last night! He has turned into what I was 13 years ago. It's role reversal at it's finest, kids.

I didn't go play with the Friday beading group today. There are too many little things left to do to send projects off to be accepted or rejected. I'm trying to be professional and not get everything in just under the wire this time. I don't want the stress involved with doing things in that manner. For once, I'd like to have a few days to spare and breathe easy, which is what we are going to do on Monday. Pork brisket and corn on the cob will be on the grill and maybe I'll fry up some okra. How's that for home cooking? Betcha didn't think I could do stuff like that, did ya? And nothing says end of summer better, except maybe some homemade ice cream and a last dip in the pool to top it all off. Aw, who am I kidding? This is Central Texas in the midst of a heat wave. We'll be floating until mid-October at the least!!

Have a deliciously relaxing weekend!

Anniversary Fun

We went to IKEA and came home with a few inexpensive necessities. I also came home with new ideas for the kitchen, the guest bath and the master bed and bath and I'll still have money left over! Oh my stars, that place is wicked evil. Then we went . . .

BOWLING!

Yes, yes, it's true. We went bowling. We went to probably the cheapest bowling lanes in Austin. Next time we get that particular bug up our rears, we will go to the more expensive lanes. The balls had chips in them! Some of them had plastic liners in the holes because the holes were so chipped. They looked like people had taken pocket knives to them to make them larger. I kid you not. I could not find the right ball. I need a very light ball, because I am a frail, fragile flower of femininity. Also, I am very weak and wussy. The very light balls have very tiny finger holes because they save them for the children, you see. I finally found a ball with the right size holes.

We bowled three games. After the first game, our scores were so pitiful that T-man started looking for beer. Lo and behold, they had Guinness! My man was happy and no longer cared about his score. We bowled a second game. It's hard to bowl when you're laughing as hard as we were. By the third game, I decided to change the rules and make the scores more like golf. You know, the lowest score wins. My last game I bowled a 24. What does that tell you?

We had a blast, though. And no, I didn't get on the back of the bike. We've had bad thunderstorms in the afternoons, so we took the car. But we're still planning on a ride here in the near future, and I'll be sure to take the camera along. As for today, every joint in my body aches and I feel like I was hit with a bunch of bowling balls! I'm off for the sofa and a lap full of beads! Go check out Pam's Goddess Beads and check out Angela Cartwright's images of her own baby bird leaving the nest (you'll have to scroll down a bit). And don't forget that it's Thursday. Later, beadlings!

Baby Bird Has Flown The Coop . . . .

Well, yesterday was a milestone. Natalie has moved into her own place. Keep in mind that half of her stuff is still here, but she did spend the night in the apartment last night. Her reaction to leaving really surprised me. It would seem that my baby has some misgivings about being a grown-up after all. Natalie's classes start on Wednesday, which doesn't give her much time to get settled. Annabelle is still here for a few days, though. And Natalie's 20^th birthday is next week, so this weekend is to be spent with both families.

Ariel's first day of middle school went swimmingly! She came home with the glad news that she has made two new friends! And she got to have lunch with Emmie. And she has theater as her last class. She is in a new program called "Explorers". It was set up so that students can experience several different types of electives. She has theater, Spanish and two others that she cannot remember, but she swears it will be great!

Our 12^th anniversary is tomorrow. T-man is taking the entire day off and is mentioning the motorcycle. Maybe the weather will hold. We'll have to wait and see. The weather may hold, but I'm not sure I like the idea of riding in 100° with 80% humidity! Can you say "sweaty helmet hair"? Yuck.

And with that, I bid you adieu!

Up At The Crack Of Dawn

Argh, is this rough. Apologies to all my working-outside-the-house friends, but it was DIFFICULT to get up this morning and get Ariel off to orientation! I've truly gotten used to sleeping in. (Yeah, yeah -- I know. I'm a slug. By the way, I'm sitting here in my jammies as I type.) She has an all-day thing at school today. They get a big tour of the school so they'll know where everything is come Monday. I was up around 7:00. She has been up since 5:30. Do you think she was a little excited about today? When I dropped her off, her little face was the weensiest bit forlorn. I think she'll be okay though. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) she and Em don't have any classes together, but I'm sure they will be on the phone for a couple of hours this afternoon.


Here's a sneak peek of the current project, which is just about finished. Then I've got one last piece to stitch, then I write up the proposals and then I send them off. This one is so far away from the original idea and sketch that it is almost frightening. I joke about letting the beads decide what's going to happen, but this time it was surreal! They just took control and away we went!!

I really don't have much else today, so I'm going to get back to finishing this piece. I told Ariel that we must practice getting Mom up early tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday so I'll be able to do so next week. But I'm not giving up working in my jammies! No sirree. I think I'll be like Hugh Hefner and work in my jammies all the time. I'll start collecting different jammie sets so I can have different ones to wear each day. Yep, sounds like a plan!

And I must correct my post about Guilty Pleasures. The parasailor's friends did not tape his adventure. It was, in fact, caught quite serendipitously by a news camera as our sailor was caught by a "surprise" gust of wind! I still maintain that parasailing during a tropical storm is not the brightest idea.

Guilty Pleasures

We all have them, those little secrets we keep even from our closest friends. They are our guilty pleasures. One of mine is watching "World's Greatest Videos" on TV. Yes, I admit it, I watch it and other shows which showcase the stupidity of mankind and I sit there and wonder what were those idiots thinking and then, on the news site this morning, I find this:

A Fort Lauderdale man was critically injured when a sudden gust of wind caught his kite surf and hurled him across a busy road and into a concrete wall.

A Florida man literally got carried away by the wind as Tropical Storm Fay barreled toward south Florida when his kite was swept in a strong gust.

He was bounced and dragged along the beach in Fort Lauderdale then eventually slammed into the side of a building.

He was rushed to a local hospital, however his friends told Miami's WFOR-TV that he'll be okay. He said he's suffering some bruises and a few broken bones and that it could have been much worse.

By the way, his friends were videotaping the entire flight, so guess who will be on the newest chapter of "World's Most Amazing Videos"? And guess who will be sitting there watching? Yep, that's right. It's one of my guilty pleasures! So, beadlings, what are some of your guilty pleasures?? 'Fess up and make 'em good!

Blue Monday

Yuck. I know we need rain, but today is just overcast and gray and dreary. It just drizzles and doesn't really rain. Let's just say I could never live in Seattle. The amusing side of the weather is Annabelle. When she goes out to do her business in the grass, her belly gets wet. Then she streaks into the house and scoots around on her belly trying to get dry. Yes, we laugh at her expense.

The big excitement in our house is school starting next week. Ariel will be in middle school this year, and she is excited. OMG, she gets a LOCKER! Yep, it's more than mom can handle right now. HAH! They have all day orientation Thursday and she cannot wait. I'm really glad that she is looking forward to this so much, and I'm hoping she isn't too let down after a couple of weeks of school. We'll just have to wait and see.

Suzanne Cooper has a new blog! Check it out.

And inspiration hit big time last week, so I'm almost finished with the latest piece and then I have one more to do before they all get shipped off to be approved or discarded. Well, it's not really that bad. I either get accepted as a teacher or I don't. If not, then they go off to the next proposal and I do the wait and see game again. It's kind of a vicious cycle, which once started becomes difficult to end so I keep it interesting with new projects to throw out there.

We did do some fun things Saturday. I went to the hardware store for supplies (wait and see!) and then we had game night with KC and family. What fun things did you do this weekend?

Friday Beading . . . .

is always a pleasure!

It was great today. I love getting out of the house. I love seeing my beady friends.

Look! There, On The Horizon!!

It's my deadline, looming largely. Later!

Hunting The Elusive "I Know I Used To Have That" Component

Do I still have it or did I give it away? I know I had it six years ago, but where did I put it? Crapola, I need a personal assistant!

So today, after I deliver a kitten to her new owner, I will search for those elusive components because I am sure they will be perfect for the earrings I have in mind. I'm just not sure where to start!

And I've told Ariel we will do an experiment with the Mardi Gras beads today. And I'll ask again -- does anyone want Mardi Gras beads? I have 75 pounds of them!! Please, please take some. All I ask is that you pay for shipping. FREE MARDI GRAS BEADS AND YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO LIFE YOUR SHIRT!! Oh my gosh, who could ask for anything better than that?? HAH!

Toodles!

On Fridays I Make Things

I unbeaded and rebeaded yesterday, so now I'm pleased with what's coming out of the beads and thread. I love it when they don't fight back. But today, I think I'll put together some pretties, take some pics and post some things in my poor, ignored Etsy store. And then I'll probably do some more web site work. I hate web site work. I hate Front Page . . . . . oh wait, you've already heard that rant. I will try to move on.

I'm ready for cooler weather, kids. I've got things that I want to do, but it's just too freaking hot to do them! I am not known for my patience, you see. It's too hot for resin, it's too hot for browsing market days and antique days. It's too humid for painting. Ugh. I envy those of you who live in cooler climes. Wake me when it cools off!!


We are lucky enough to have a small pool, and we use patio umbrellas to keep the sun off. We buy freezer pops (like Otter Pops or Fun Pops). We have been playing a lot of indoor games this summer, rather than pulling out the croquet set. Look what I found! I could make my own fruit pops with these. I could make my own fudgesicles with these!


How are you staying cool this summer?

Caffeine And Puppies Redux

Caffeina is still the reigning goddess in my house and the puppy is still freaking cute! Even T-man grins at her antics. She plays with the cats, she plays with Ariel, she plays with me, and she loves, loves, loves Natalie (as it should be). I do believe Ariel will miss her when Natalie moves in a couple of weeks. I will miss both of them. *sigh*

Otherwise, there is not much going on Chez Bead-Mused. We have tentative plans for the weekend, but we may have to wait and see. T-man has a home and garden show to participate in at least one day this weekend and we're not sure yet which day so everything hinges on which day he has free.

What are your delicious plans for the weekend?

Caffeine And Puppies

I can have caffeine again! Woo hoo! I'm on top of the world this morning. Yesterday's test left me totally worn out, so it was one of those lost days. Then I took a drive with Natalie to Pflugerville to pick up her new toy, I mean puppy.


Annabelle is like a stuffed toy that moves. The cats are rather fascinated by her. She just wants to play and maybe chew on them. She is part West Highland Terrier and part Pappillion, which gives her some Chihuahua characteristics. And she is used to being held all the time, which makes what I do very difficult. But she is so cute! Natalie moves into her new apartment in two weeks and Annabelle goes with her.

So, today I will try to make up for lost time again. I'm not happy with the way the newest piece is turning out, so I may have to just put it aside and work on something else for a while. I really don't want to fight with another piece. I just don't have the time. And in that vein, what is it you are fighting with that's eating all your time? No, you cannot tell me that it's your significant other. That's too easy. Think, beadlings. What's giving you fits that just really isn't rocket science but is trying to act like it is?

It's August? What Happened To July??

Sheesh, where did it go? I shouldn't be over yet! School starts in just two weeks!! Do you remember when we were little, and school didn't start until after Labor Day? And it ended in mid-May rather than AFTER Memorial Day? And we got a full three weeks at Christmas? At least that's how it was here in Texas back in the dark ages when I was in school. Ariel is already saying she's not ready to go back. Of course, she starts middle school this year, at a new school, with new people so she's a little hesitant.

Oddly enough, there have been no more open doors on the hen house, but we're not putting the alarm away just yet. And, would you believe, one of those stinking leghorn roosters bit me on the arm? No, he did not peck me. He BIT me. It left a little beak imprint and a bruise. Of course, I was holding him at the time, discussing with T-man how there would barely be enough meat on him to make a good chicken salad . . . What? You thought we were going to keep those two because we love the noise they make 24 hours a day?? Unless they can lay eggs, they become dinner and those are the rules! And they certainly won't make any pedigreed chicks, so they have no use except to take up room, and eat, and poop. Don't forget that I adopted them to be nice, not because I wanted two more mouths to feed!

I've been steadily beading, but not necessarily beading steadily as I have become a teensy bit cranky. I have a medical test tomorrow that prohibits taking all of my meds since yesterday and until the test is completed. By the way, that includes caffeine. None, absolutely nothing until after the test tomorrow. Obviously they care nothing for the safety of humanity. Pity poor T-man who must drive me there, wait with me, and drive me home tomorrow, and that man better be stopping at Starbucks on the way!!

Everything Is A-Okay Today!

No loose chickens this morning, thank goodness. We have one of those infared door bells for the driveway, which T-man mounted out by the door of the hen house. It went off at 12:30 this morning, but we think it may have been one of the cats, as there were no two-legged varmints about. We'll keep it up for a few nights and see what happens. By the way, that is a BIG adrenaline rush.

Beading with the Friday group was great! I hadn't seen everyone in so long. There were a couple of friends I missed, but hopefully I'll make the next get-together and they will be there.

Got to run --- groceries need to be bought and we must fly before traffic gets too awful. Bead away, beadlings.