Summer So Far

So this summer has been very mellow up until now. I've quite enjoyed it. Lots of bonfires in the backyard and grilling and chilling with my coffee. Yes, I have officially started drinking coffee. It's good. But I don't know what all the hype is about. I can take it or leave it. Now tea....that's just divine!

I have a couple projects going on right now. Of course I am always knitting. But I am also making a skirt out of t-shirts which I'll probably only wear on laundry day, but it's a fun project. I used 2 t-shirts for the cloth and both t-shirts together cost 67 cents plus tax at the thrift store. A very economical craft project!

I have some new yarn so I'm knitting washcloths (love them!!!) and planning another sweater. And last but not least I am on the search for the best 'Huevos Rancheros' in Arcata. It's a fun project that Doug and I have begun. Three more restaurants and our taste tests will be complete. Who knew there were so many restaurants that serve it in town ?!?

Back to the knitting...I finished another hat that I will keep for myself. I just need to crochet a pink flower and attach it to the side and it will be totally as I envisioned it. I also finished a sweater that I started back in June 2009 when I was in Alaska. That project had many hibernation periods. It fits me weird, but I don't care. I made it so I will wear it and I'll like it!!!

OH! and I've also picked up some workout videos from my thrift store excursions. Oh the gems you can find at the bottom of a thrift store bin!!! My favorites are: "Jane Fonda's Step Aerobics" circa 1992 and "MTV The Grind workout hip hop aerobics" circa 1995. I swear the Jane Fonda one looks more like it was made in 1985. And after I'm done mastering the hip hop aerobics choreography???? Well, I'll be a dancing queen!

Fun stuff man. Fun stuff.

 Wildlife sighting: A molting sea lion. Alive. Not dead.

 Mushroom seating. Perfect for a morning beverage.

 One of my favorite sights: a bonfire.

Good Morning Sunshine!

Have you ever noticed that as you get older you need much more time in the morning? There are people out there who are too young to know what I'm talking about or don't live with any sort of vanity and just don't care. I'm talking about the rest of us. When I was younger I'd wake up and think "Ah, I look so cute and cuddly!". Now I wake up and am horrified to see my eyes have migrated to random spots on my face, my skin looks like accordion pleats and yet is so swollen it looks like I've had an allergic reaction of some sort. I actually have to get up early to let everything return to it's normal spot on my face. No more get up and go. Never mind that it looks like someone twisted up a rubber band and released it in my hair. I can put a hoody over that. Well, I guess I've wasted enough time this morning. I look presentable enough to go downstairs and make my smoothy now.
The following are some pretty pictures. You didn't think I'd post awful pics of me did you?!?

Dog and Kitten

So I just ended 12 days of house/dog/kitten sitting. I love all animals but realized without a doubt that I am a cat person. Dogs require work and I am lazy. When Kitten nuzzles me or imbeds his claws deep into my bare skin I find it endearing. When sweet stinky Dog nuzzles me or gives me a love smack as gentle as is possible for a dog made of wound muscle I shrink back a little. I could go to the store and buy dog shampoo, but I am lazy. By the way Dog totally knows the meaning of bath, outside and come in. I looked at Dog and she looked at me and I said "You really need a bath". Dog looked away and got a very worried look on her face. She slowly put it in reverse and walked away keeping me in the corner of her eye. Kitten knows his name but must be in that  jr high cat stage where he'll kinda ignore you when outside.

If I lay down to watch tv they both chill and sleep nearby but if I get up they follow me everywhere. Right underfoot as most pet owners have experienced.  Dog we'll stand right in my path and then look up as if to ask "Where are we going?" Cat will just walk figure eights around my ankles until I almost trip on him and then merrrow in panic and flee. Oh, Dog won't follow me into the bath area. She stops at the doorway. Smart Dog. Cat, who doesn't know the horrors of bathing, will sleep in the shower room while I shower.

I fell asleep on the couch. I was jarred awake by one "woof!". I listened...no more barking so I started to pass out again and then one more "Woof!" I looked at Dog sleeping on her circle mattress and got suspicious. I started to pass out again and was in that half awake half asleep state when I woke myself up snoring loud and I hear the "Woof!" again. LAUGHS!!! She was totally woofing at my really loud obnoxious snoring. I told my boyfriend (who is actually a man not a boy, but that's a topic for another day) and we were just cracking up.

Dog almost gave me a heart attack! First thing in the morning she treed a fuzzy cat in the backyard. I ended up bringing her in with a "leash" I made. Thank goodness she's a good soul and walked right in with me no problem. The cat left. Then a different cat, that had previously been run off by Cat, decided to come back and have a look around again. Dog was so hell bent on chasing it away she jumped over the fence and darted across the road and treed the second cat in the neighbors yard. This time I couldn't get Dog to come back so I just had to wait until she came back on her own which she did. With a proud yet sheepish look on her face. I imagine she was thinking "Heh! Got carried away, but that cat was just asking for it ya know?!? ...I'm cool now."

One day I had a bunch of appointments in Town so the pets were on their own for a few hours. I hoped the house wasn't in tatters or someone was breaking in. Probably not the last one since Dogs bark is pretty powerful and scary even when she's jumping on you and licking your face in glee. She has also scared off a clipboard holding woman which I was so so so happy about. Yay Dog! Then she warned away a sweet little dread headed woman. I was in the middle of a shower and didn't want to go out in my towel and say "Go away". So Dog did it for me. Anyway, I was so worried about leaving them so long. In a split second my mind thought "I should call and see if they are all right" ... "There's no landline"..."Neither Dog nor Cat has a phone"..."Oh yeah they're animals !!!" 

Hwy 1 Brewing company

The drive home from SoCal was not bad. The traffic was bad in LA but could have been worse. On the way home I saw a sign for a brewery off of Hwy 1. So of course  I had to stop and check it out. And I got gas too to justify the stop even more. They had 4 of their own brews on tap, plus a few guest taps. I had tasters of: French Mexican war, Amberdextrous, 1PA (yes that's One PA) and my fave the Knuckle Down Brown. The first was not hot even though it had a jalapeno infusion of some sort. My throat got a warm feeling but never over-reacted the way it normally does in the presence of hot peppers. Amberdextrous was really nice and had a little "buiscuit" aftertaste which I enjoyed.  Loved the 1PA and the Knuckle Down Brown. Brown ale is my fave style. I actually took notes, but I cannot find them anywhere! Ate some fresh tacos with that too. Afterwards I went for a hike. A walk behind the place brings you to old hwy 1. If you walk down that a bit you'll connect up to a trailhead that brings you to the ocean. I believe it's part of Ano Nuevo State Reserve. The turnoff for Butano State Park was right there too. The owners were super nice. I think they're going to do well this summer. I sure hope they do! Fun Fun Fun. I love little surprises like this. Next time I plan on bringing my growler and doing a longer hike. Oh yes there will most definitely be a next time!