Book Box

In the box, I received a book that I ordered. I am stymied by the cost of out-of-print knitting books. It exudes the passions of the knitters seeking them! Astonishing!

More on The Book

The other side of the box-shipping looked like this:

And when it was all unwrapped and ungifted, it looked like this:


Donna, being really busy with her bookstore duties--even with lots of bookstore stuff like this to do--she really exceeded expectations. I received the book in NO TIME and it was exactly what I wanted!

Getting Mail

Getting mail can be as easy as whipping out your credit card when the woman at the bookstore says "I have one copy left". When the book comes, it is just like a Birthday Day except that you probably know what's in the package. It might come wrapped like this:

And then inside the wrapped package part, you might find this:

It is less of a carbon footprint, I think, to re-use a simple box instead of those balloon bags and/or bubble wrap. Not that I don't like bubble wrap, but it is the re-use thing that was appealing. Very creative.

Just Duck-ey

This is the coolest . . . duck thing. A few years ago, we had a duck nest in The Front Bush. We had 13 duck babies launch from their nest. We got to watch the Trip to The Pond. Each year, the ducks return. This year, they founded a nest in some brush that made its way to The Brush Pile for compost. OOohMahyGosh. THEDUCKEGGSWEREINTHERE!!!! So, My Husband thought that it would be a good idea to do this after ripping them from their egg-safe place:

Humane Society People, it is really important that it is noted that My Husband used a vintage stool for this Duck Shelter. I think extra points are available for this.

We also had a SECOND Duck Nest that My Husband unearthed in The Garden. He moved the eggs to a safer place; however, The Ducks moved them BACK!

These ducks are WAhaahiiiild! CraaaahzEY.

More on any knitting later. I gotta watch The Ducks.

Expectations

There is something to be said for not going out of the house for a very long time. I have not been able to do those little errand trips and running errands after work, etc. So now, when I get to go somewhere, anywhere, it is really pretty special. More than regular special. Really special.

When I get to a place, like the grocery store, I just want to hug the people who make my experience swell. Even if they just do regular grocery-store things, like check you out and say "sign here, please", I kinda want to hug 'em.

That's why yesterday, when my trip out with My Husband went less-than-as-expected, I was a bit sad. The grocery store was packed and they moved things and they had those demos and tastings. There were people everywhere. I had to leave because it was so overwhelming. I got my cheese and ran. When I went to my LYS, it was not as much fun as I had imagined. We tried a new restaurant--ayh.

Next time, no expectations. I imagine then that everything will be better than expected. Hm.

Except for The Cheese Guy.

He's always better than expected.

YH

Everybody was yucked by the weather on Thursday night. Getting to YH was dangerous. Walking, driving and the avoidance of saying offensive bad words--all dangerous.

The Yarnery did YH with incredible flair. They created a memorable event with unmatched personal enthusiasm. They had the VonYarnery Family Singers who sang hysterical, crack-me-up lyrics to all the really good songs from "Sound of Music". When they were done singing, I could have just gone home, totally content that I had gotten my Money's Worth. It was a free event, so it was like getting something very valuable for free.

Then, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee came out and took traveling sock photos.

She is so cool.

And she talked and blathered about knitting, brain research and life. She could have yapped all night and we would have just sat there holding our sides, praying to The Gods of I Can Hold It A-Little-While-Longer that we did not have to go to the bathroom in the middle of her important messages.





I saw this while YH was speaking. Pretty much captured the whole event. Laden with camera and a smiles, The Yarnery Employees had as good of a time as The Ticket Holders. I think so.

YH Prep

I am packing my bags and wardrobe planning for Yarn Harlot's St. Paul gig.

1. Really cool sock project to knit while waiting in the audience.
   
2. Camera for possible Kineering (or whatever she calls that camera sneakiness).
3. Good walking shoes.
4. Something to wear that will get people to say "Did you make that"?
5. Mints. Good breath is necessary.
6. Snow boots. It IS April.
7. Notebook and working writing utensil. She does say noteworthy things.
   

Celebrities

Is anyone noticing that YH is hours away in St. Paul, MN? Well, a couple days. Who is counting?

Last year, it was My Birthday when YH visited MN. It was a swell celebration put on by My LYS. I am pretty usually low-key about My Birthday. I did make it to and out unscathed thanks to My Knit Friend and My Husband.

This year, I anticipate more unscathedness.

Anybody who knows My Husband can anticipate a LOT of unscathedness.

Fun Facts

My smart and savvy friend sent me a few fun facts on my VIP (birthday, April 4) day:

• On this day in 1881, a centrifugal separator was patented by Edwin J. Houston and Elihu Thomson which enabled the cream to be separated from milk.
• Around this time, in the Netherlands, Casparus Van Wooden patented a chocolate powder which could be stirred into milk.
• And on this day in 1812, the Territory of Orleans became the State of Louisiana. (and the beignets were grand!)

So I'm (she's) thinking that you were born on the "Treats" day! Cream, chocolate milk, and Louisiana.

I do not know about Louisiana (my smart friend does), but I DO know about cream and chocolate.

I wonder who was born on the same day that sock yarn was improved greatly by the addition of a little nylon.

Birthday

Sometimes you write something kinda good, or meaningful. There is this copy/paste option that allows less typing . . . I sent this off to My Knit Friends, but kindof liked it enough to share here:

I got up this morning and checked Ravelry right off . . . my avatar has a little birthday cake on it! That means it is My Birthday! If I did not have an e-mail and phone call and mail box explosion, it would go pretty much unnoticed.

I did take note this morning that I have to choose today--cup half empty or half full. It's a half-way b'day. I decided half full as many of my treasured friends are on the "upside" of my age--all of whom I love and respect. My college friends, my knit friends, my colleagues--held in high esteem--are older than me.

You can reply "and wiser" as I am set up for it.

I have been reading of many reasons in your e-mails to include many of you in my prayers. Today is a good day to take that on. I am a Big Fan of Oprah and she one time said something like "the only prayer that you should ever have to say is thank you" and I do a LOT of those prayers. And, it's good to ask for what you need as well.

So, lots of prayers out to you . . . thanks for your many kindnesses . . . every day, not just today . . . time to order a pizza and watch a movie!

Oh, and G'pa wished me sun today and, well, by golly, it's a sunny day!