KnittyOtter

FO: Cookie Cutter Short Row Socks, SoS08#1

These are my very first pair of Toe Up Short Row Socks. They are also my first pair of Socks for the Summer of Socks 2008. I love them sooooo much!

Clickety Biggety

These socks just fit so perfectly. I cannot wait until the weather cools a bit so I can wear them. (That and it's just plan farking Too HOT. *melts*)

Pattern: I used Cookie's Cookie Cutter Short Row Tutorial for the heels and toes. With a plain vanilla stockinette for the foot and part of the cuff, with a two inches of ribbing on the top of the cuff.  The total cuff is 4 inches from the heel.
Yarn: Regia Crazy Color #5439.
Yardage: 230 yards/50g per skien. I used two skeins, though I still have a fair amount left from each one.
Needles: Knit Picks Harmony DPN's US 1 / 2.50mm
Started on: Wednesday June 25
Finished on: Sunday July 6 (I would have finished them Saturday, but I burned my hand cutting Jalapeños and couldn't knit for a day...)
Again? Hell Yes! I've already cast onto my next pair of socks using Cookie's Toe Up Short Rows, though I'm designing my own patterning for the foot and cuff. :D
Knit For: Me.

Big Thanks to Cookie for writing out her tutorial. It's the easiest to use explanation I've come across in my search for short row stuffs. :D

While I was outside taking a picture of my socks, Little Tummy Kitty (TKK stands for Tummy Katty Kat, it's so soft you want to rub your face on it. *grin* That's just her online name, btw...) wanted to come out and have some special time with her catnip. While I was taking the picture though she decided it would be more fun to see what I was doing. So in the uncropped photo's there is kitty paw reaching in to reach the socks. Her paw was so cute I had to share it. :D

She is just the cutest kitty ever. Biased though I may be. ;^)

After we took the sock pictures we played in the catnip. Well she played and I sat beside her and petted her. I'm pretty sure she was in kitty heaven. Cats do in fact smile. She was a blissful little monkeybutt.

Think I'll go give her a hug now.

FYI: This is post 199... you know what that means don'tcha. ;^)

Edit: I swear those socks are not upside down...

TKK and the KittyHawk

Last week sweet little TKK got her summer haircut. It was a two day process as I only got to do one side the first day. It was hot and I didn't want to over stress her. Though she loved the attention she gets from her hair cuts.

I left a strip down the top of her back connecting her head and her tail in a soft patch of fur. We call it the KittyHawk. Kinda like a MoHawk, but for kitties. :D

Look at her strutting her stuff, Clickety Biggety!

Her fur is a bit fluffed up because she had just been rubbing all over the catnip.

Here she is after inspecting the Sprawling Cactus of DOOM. It started out this year as the three smaller center pieces. Then in just a few weeks it grew all those other parts. It grew crazy fast. If it keeps up like that we may have to move. o.0 Though it's not half as freaky as whatever the hell is growing over in Stacey's yard. Between that and the headless drunken chicken she is really doomed. *L*

Clickety Biggety!

In other news I need a haircut. I can't see past my bangs. It is weird over here. :P

Sunburnt Peas & Dealing with Catnip Addiction

I was feeling pretty good about my peas last week. But they weren't quite ready. Then Bam-O! They were out one day too long. It was a hot day. My peas suffered some losses that day. o.0

Here's what I was able to harvest yesterday morning.

All Photo's in this post are Clickety Biggety!

It's not as bad as it looks... though yeah it does look pretty bad. Especially compared to Norma's Peas. But I'm not jealous. I'm not jealous a damn farking bit. Not one damn bit. I swear. Feh.

Okay maybe a little bit. :P

But it's not as bad as it looks. I separated the burned peas from the lush plump green ones and only about a 4th of them were burned.

I shelled them and have a cup and a half of the good ones. I'm wondering if I can rehydrate the dry burned ones. Anyone have thoughts or tips on this?

I'm hoping the next crop of peas will be better. We still have carrots, onions, tomatoes, mini bell peppers and pumpkins growing out there as well. :D

There is also a very special stash of catnip growing out there. *dances*

Little TKK is LOVING this stuff.

She's not just on the other side of the catnip. She is right in the middle of it. :D It's so cute when she gets in there rubbing her wittle face up all other the nip. I never thought I'd say this, but my cat is a NipHead. She can't get enough of the nip. Even gets antsy if she can't get out a few times a day to inhale some of the glory weed. So with the smoke situation that's been going on we've had to keep her inside more so she doesn't breathe too much nasty stuff. Let me tell you having a cat smack you in the face at 5:00am because she wants a fix is not the best way to wake up. *L*

If this keeps up we may have to send her to Kitty Rehab. I hope it doesn't come to that though. I wouldn't want her to meet any of those skanky celebrity cats that are always going in and out of rehab. You know who I mean. :P

Just to the right of the catnip is some Orange Mint we picked up this year. Can you say super yummy Mojito's, cause that's what's going to become of some of it once it gets big enough. *dances* We also got some chocolate mint. Not sure what to do with that yet. I don't think a chocolate mojito sounds very good.

Tune in tomorrow for Adventures in Cat Shaving Or perhaps a Recipe for Super Yummy Garlic & Ginger Shrimp... but not both at the same time.  Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

Saturday Sky, Snow & a New Year Oh My!

It's the first Saturday Sky of the New Year! (Clickey Biggety all photo's in this post!)

A little after I took the top photo the snow started to move. You can see it moving towards us in the next photo.

*blink blink* If the rest of the year is like the first week of the year you can have it back.

I hatez the stupid people... and that's all I'll say about that.

*sigh*

So on top of the life stuff I've been dealing with (mostly work and such) the weather people here have had their panties in a bind over the white death that we were expected to get. After a TON of rain, in which I got soaked through and through while out running some errands, it finally came. (Yes, the same rain/precipitation Cookie's dealing with.)

The white death, it is here. o.0

This morning the honey and I got up and ran outside to play shoveled the driveway and sidewalk. He wanted to wait but I wanted to get out in it before the sun made it slick and caused me to fall down a million times. (Otters have more grace in the water than on land, dontchaknow.) We only have one shovel so we took turns. It looked really nice... until a few hours ago when more snow fell. But at least we removed the snow soon enough so that the sun melted any ice that was hanging around.

Here's an action shot of the Honey shoveling some of the snow in our driveway.

It was kinda fun to shovel snow... I'm betting it won't be as interesting tomorrow or Monday. :P

The kitty made a brief visit to the backyard. I mostly held her, but she was allowed a brief walk from the fence to the door. It soothed her curiosity fairly quickly. *L*

After "playing" in the snow all morning we decided to go out into the world to the book store. I got a book on socks, Stitch Style Socks. It has skull socks in it. :D Not that I need another book on socks or anything... but there you go.

Speaking of knitting, yes I knit. Shut Up!

I have a few finished knits I comeplted in 2007 I need to post. Need to take their picture first.

Here's the iPod Sock I knit for Rendogg this past Autumn.

Those were the Cantaloupes that didn't start growing until Autumn was almost done with. They didn't get much bigger. The yarn is some kind of wool in the Gryffindor colors. Helpful, aren't I. I really should take notes on these things I suppose. :P

Maybe tomorrow I'll see if George wants to go outside into the snow for a photo shoot.  We'll see, his been such a Drama Whore since Christmas.

:P

Now to go knit on one of my nine unfinished projects while we watch that Knocked Up movie.

I think I see Hot Cocoa in my near future too. ;^)

Break on through to the other side...

Things have been crazy busy. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself.

Lots and LOTS have been going on. Mostly good. Some confuzleing. Some sad. And some things happened so fast my head hasn't stopped spinning yet. I could try to pick through the mess of a maze that is my brain to try to explain it here. Or I could hit the highlights and not worry about getting it just so, just right in the explaining.

Here we go.

My computer, Lightening hasn't been feeling so well lately. Lightening is a Dell. Purchased several years ago. He's not totally dead yet. I think he'll be okay for a while yet. Though we did kinda sorta run out of space. First I picked up an external harddrive and moved over all my pictures and music. I may have moved the knitting patterns over as well.

*pause*

The above text was written on November 26. o.0

Needles to say things go even crazier busy and here we are on December 26.

*starting again*

Hi New Readers, Last time on the blog I posted about Walnuts and Gold...

<.<

>.>

*waves at everybody from the Winter Knitty*

Star Athena posted a pattern called Quant, an enterlac headband. She used my Entrelac Tutorial to help her learn enterlac and then went on to create that gorgeous little number. I thinks I need to make myself a Quant. *GRIN*

That's pretty awesome. I've gotten some really lovely feedback from people who used my tutorial to learn this. I know I have been super sucky at not returning emails (of any sort) lately so thank you to those who emailed me. (and I'm sorry I sucky at the email returning)

So in the last two months I've done lots of stuffs.

Briefly I shall list the happenings:

Got a new Laptop: MacBook Pro - LOVES IT MUCHLY - though I am still mainly using my good 'ol Lightening... because I haven't set up my printer to the new computer yet. Haven't even named it yet. o.0 Any ideas?

And yes I already feel vastly superior to all you Windows Freaks. :P

(Just kidding about that last bit)

Finished breaking my cell phone the rest of the way. I guess there is a limit on how many times you can drop the damn things before the crack open. Considering I had that phone since 2003 it wasn't a bad run.

The post office has lost a box that I mailed earlier this month. The box contained two knit items. A Chunky Baby Alpaca Scarf and a Two Color Fair Isle Hat. LOST FOREVER. :(

That kinda crushed my Christmas spirit. Among many other things. Feh.

If a knit blogger knits something and doesn't take a picture of it to post, did it really happen? o.0

There were other gifts lost in that box as well. But those two things really burn my butt.

I was out of town for 11 days. It was the best of times and the worst of time. Literally.

I got to spend a week with Rendogg, BUT I also had to see people who suck and deal with some really shitty stuff.

Which leads me to this next part. I hate most people. Seriously. Especially the ones who are the crazy bad xtians and god freaks. Stupid  People Suck. 

I actually had one asshole tell me that Christianity is the ONE TRUE religion because Xtians are the most persecuted of all the religions. o.0 WTF?!

I had another tell me what a horrible person I am for living in sin.

The shitty thing is even if I did get married they'd just tell me how awful I am for not procreating. And if I had kids they'd find some other way to tell me I'm not good enough so fuck them all.

Feh. SIck of stupid bad Christians. I know it's not all of them because I know some pretty decent people, who just happen to be Xtain also. So I know being a good person can be done despite that flaw. (ha ha, it's just a joke, no panty bunching please)

I'm just sick of people telling everyone else how to live when they don't have a fucking clue how to do it themselves in the first place.

A bunch of other stuff happened to, but that was a lifetime ago and maybe even a different person ago. Time and Experience have a funny way of changing who we are from moment to moment. Now I just have to figure out who I am today and go from there.

Oh yeah there were Holidays. They came and went. Thanksgiving was fine.

We are still in the middle of the Winter Holiday. I spent the last few days with my Honey and Kitty.

Winter Holiday is what happens from December 21 through January 1. It's whatever you want it to be.  I'm sick of being told what to do during this time so I will just call it  My Winter Holiday and leave it at that.

The 24th and 25th the honey and I opened some presents to celebrate the lengthening days. It's really more a celebration of being home together away from all the stupid people.

One of the cutest things to happen this Holiday Season took place Monday night after I set all the presents out around George. It all started when TKK was very interested in the presents and was rubbing all over them. Eventually she found one she liked the bestest and started opening. Thankfully the honey and I were in the room and witnessed the whole thing. *GRIN* (and I suspected the giftie was hers anyway :P)

She opened this pretty little sparkley purple box. She was a kitty on a mission. A very happy mission. She told the box how much she loved it by rubbing her cute wittle faceykins all over it until she finally got it open. Inside was a purple wooly mousey filled with CatNip from her sweet Auntie Cookie. Watching how happy she was brightened my mood up right quick.

I caught TKK snuggling with Mousy when she didn't know I had the camera out.

Here's a shot of TKK more composed with Mousy and George watching over her and the gifties.

Thank you, Cookie. She WUVS her new wittle friend and carries it around in her mouth. :D (Though she said she wasn't pinning any shawls out for you. Something about opposable thumbs. *eyeroll* They always have excuses for not helping with blocking. Good Luck with Clive Owen on that one. Maybe he can Block it for you Nekkid... if so can I come over? *grin*)

After that things picked up and I was in a MUCH better mood. That and knowing how lucky I am to have the people I love the most love me back.

So here we are today. I'm sorry for not posting for so long. That sucked ass, btw. If I'd known I would be gone for long I'd have said something. But I kept thinking any day now... time just got out of hand. Funny how that happens sometimes.

Blink and you'll miss it.

Red Scarf Project, George and TKK Oh My!

I finished my Scarf for this years Red Scarf Project. Well this Autumn's Red Scarf Project as it's not really 2008 yet. Either way it's fantabulous and benefits the Orphan Foundation of America. :D

Just think some College kid will receive my handknit scarf as modeled by the lovely George here. George is as high fashion as it gets, Baby! Clickety Biggety!

George was petting TKK when I took this photo. (Yes, the scarf was washed after it touched the kitty.) TKK said she wanted to be in the photo, but you know how models and their egos can be. So we had to take another photo of her without George or the scarf to show off just how vivacious and fuzzy she is. Truly the cutest kitty ever.

She knows how to work the camera. That and she was trying to lick it. :P

Some details on the scarf:

Cast On: August 17, 2007
Cast Off: September 21, 2007
Pattern: My Own "Not a Real Pattern Pattern" - Simple Alternating sections of Garter, Seed & Basket Weave
Yarn: Universal Yarn from the Moods line color 1505 - It's a Worsted Weight Wool/Acrylic blend that has colors that blend between Red and Black. - I had two balls of the yarn when I started and I still have 3/4 of one of them. I'll use that to make Hats for the Charity Box at Deluxe Yarns for the local homeless & needy.
Yardage: 247 yards
Yarn Source: Deluxe Yarns
Needles: Clover Takumi -  US 10.5 / 6.5mm 16" Circular
Again? YES! It was a fun easy knit and the honey liked it so he'll likely get one in the Blue and Black Colorway. :D Nothing like some mindless knitting to make you all nice and relaxed when things are kinda stressy.

Notes: This was my first Completed Scarf using Garter Stitch as more than a border. *L* The scarf is 6 feet long and 5.5 inches wide. This scarf was started with some friends when I was too brain dead to knit on the socks I had with me at the time. It's been knit on in four states and through several drinks and travels. Heh.

Random Observation: It just occurred to me that George kinda looks like Jerri Blank's Father, Guy.

George on the left, Guy on the right

Twins Separated at Birth! o.0

I'm glad I finished the scarf in time. Now I just need to get a gift certificate, write a note and care instructions and mail it off.

In other news I finished another pair of socks... *happy dance*

Give Peas a Chance... and other assorted veggies

Despite the recent high temperatures the garden is doing well. We've started moving the lawn chairs in front on the veggies to give them shade from the sun during the worst of it.

Yesterday I harvested our first haul of fresh veggies even. PEAS! They are the super yummiest peas ever.

Lookie!

We ate them raw. *GRIN*

Here's the plant they came off.

It seems like we'll have fresh peas for a while, unless the heat gets them. Sorta planted them late I suppose. 

We have several other plants in the veggie garden this year.

Here's the tomato plant, no sign of any tomatoes yet though.

The Onions are looking pretty good. The little plants next to it are some of the pepper plants. They will grow up to be green and yellow bell peppers. Yum!

The Pumpkin plants are looking really good. Keep your fingers crossed. I may very well have a successful Pumpkin Patch this year after all!

Devorah, how is Your Pumpkin Patch doing? :D Mine's gotten a bit larger and greener since last I posted about it. *L*

Here's a photo of the kitty I took yesterday afternoon. She's not allowed to go outside until the smokey air clears up more. She's a delicate wittle fuzzy head and I don't want her feeling sickie from all that.

It's been so smokey we haven't been hanging outside much either. Well other than to briefly grab some peas and photos yesterday. ;)

I will admit I've been using the smokey air thing as an excuse not to weave in the ends on my honey socks. They are done. I just need to weave in the ends and wash 'em. It's not even a big deal. I dunno, it's weird over here. I'm going to have to finish them, wash them and dry them inside now though. I'd hate for them to get that nasty smell stuck in them. So maybe I'll go finish those up in a bit and wash them so I can post them tomorrow.

Finally I'll just say Many Many Hugs to Crazy Aunt Purl. That was a hard post to read as soon as I noticed that she was using past tense. :(

I'm gonna go hug on my kitty some more and cherish every moment we have. I don't really like talking about her in person much anymore. Anytime you say anything about anything it seems like people just want to go for the most negative thing they can think of. I don't know if it's stupidity or a lack of class and common sense with people these days. You mention your cat is going to the box and drinking a lot more water than normal and they immediately tell you how close to deaths door she is. Nevermind the fact she gets that way every time the weather changes and has so for years. Nope, everyone else think they know best. Even when they don't know shit. In some cases it's extremely outrageous. One dumbass woman told a friend of mine horror stories about women losing their babies after finding out she (my friend) was pregnant. The day before I had told her, knowing what a yappy ass she was, not to say anything untoward to my friend. Cause nothing is as special as some old cunt* trying to scare the fuck out of a pregnant woman. When will people learn to shut their gaping pie holes. It's ridiculous. I'm quite frankly done with not telling those types what I really think. Hmmm I sense a theme in my life right now. *L*

*the most offensive word I could think of and it still doesn't do that clueless git credit for how stupid she was

I wonder if the last part of my post counts towards a WTF Wednesday. *L*

Morning Hike, Wild Horses & a Golden Eagle

This morning the Honey and I got up early and went for a hike. We decided to do this after having gone for a walk through part of the area on Sunday. It was truly more of a Hike today. *L*

Here is the view from the top of the hill we were on. It's actually the backside view, which I hadn't seen before. Looks like it might be easier to get to from the backside actually. heh.

All Pictures Clickety Biggety, except the birdie pics at the end

This is currently my favorite peaceful place. No not that particular view. Just the general walking around area. Sometimes I go by myself, but mostly I go with my honey or sometimes with a friend. You can do a lot of thinking up there. I'm surprised I haven't knit up there yet. Maybe I'll drag Rachel or MonkeySocks up that way sometime.

Today the honey and I got an extra wonderful surprise as we walked around soaking in all the beauty. We saw Wild Horses. Kinda came up on them while we were looking at various birds. I was looking at some little birdies with yellow tummies and some others with bright red throats when we spotted the wild horses. There were a total of 35 spread out in the area. I snapped a few photos before we backed out quietly leaving them to enjoy the crunchy green sage they were snacking on.

Lookie that one has black socks in the front and white socks on the back feet... err hooves. It's such a wonder to see the wild horses doing their own thing. Totally made my day.

A short while after that I spotted a Golden Eagle sitting on a rock. Got him taking off too. :D

The Golden Eagles sometimes drop bits of their dinner when they fly. A few times we had dead mice/voles/something smallish and furry drop into our yard. Thankfully TKK is way too big to be a snack for these birds of prey. Though I'm always careful of her when she's in the backyard with us. You never know. o.0

Speaking of the fabulous TKK she was sitting here in front of the keyboard as I typed this post out. She was trying to lick my hands and get me to pet her, which was fine until she reached up and licked me on the lips. So now she's on the floor thinking about what she's done. Cause no matter how much I love that cute wittle kittyhead that is just wrong. :P

Hmm I wonder if I should go kiss my honey and then tell him what she did. *evil grin*

Nah, I'm not that cruel. One of us having the cat cooties is enough for today. *L*

I Hope you're all having a fun safe 4th of July.

Eye Candy Friday: In the Garden & Ten for Dulaan

This year the honey and I are trying to start a garden. Again. I think y'all remember the sun fried pumpkin patch of last year. o.0

In all honesty the honey is doing most of the work. He asks me what I want and then surprises me with stuff he'll think I like and a few times a week take me on a "tour" of our garden. Sometimes I have helpful advice and sometimes I just ooo and ah over how cool it is. When I was out of town he planted some mini old fashioned roses in my favorite pinky coral color. Such a thoughtful sweetiehead! :D I don't have a picture of that to show you just yet.

What I do have is a photo of Pumpkin Patch 2007. (Clickety Biggety: All Photos in this post)

The sun is taking it's toll on a few of the leaves already. I'm thinking we'll have to put some kind of sun shade over the poor things. It almost feels like one of those storm watch things when the news/weather people get so excited they almost wet themselves. *L* Maybe we'll have Pumpkins this year and maybe we won't. Stay Tuned to find out!

Those are just some of the pumpkins. They are sharing the planter box that self waters with some green/yellow pepper thingies. You can eat them when they are green, or wait until they are yellow and a bit sweeter. The honey picked those out for me, even though he's not a huge fan of pepper thingies. That's love. ♥

While I was out there yesterday enjoying the afternoon breezes with the honey in the garden/backyard I did a little knitting. Still working on the honey socks. But I'm already thinking of all the other socks I wanna knit SOON. That darn Cookie has been talking up Kew to me for a while now and yesterday seeing her progress kicked my sock fever into over drive. So I went ahead and picked out the yarn I'm going to use for those socks too. I love me a lacy sock and that one looks uber fun. :D

Dave Cabin Cove Mercantile Yarn in Tencel & Merino for Kew: So Soft, Glossy and Wonderful!!

I think a cool refreshing pair of green socks is just what this already hot summer needs... well to wear when it gets cooler. But still knitting them will be like a cool drink of water in the shade. :D

Now I just need to knit more and dream about future socks less. I blame Cookie. Just Say'n. :P

TKK wanted her own picture taken after I took the Dave Yarn away. She loves her some Dave yarn. I'd need some attention too if someone took away my Dave yarn. o.0

You can almost see in her eyes that she wants that yarn back. I'm not kidding when I say she loves Dave Yarn. *L*

And finally several weeks ago before I went out of town I sent off my Dulaan Box. (Many Thanks to Cookie for keeping me up on the deadline to mail. *hugs*)

I had pledged to knit 5 pieces and managed to knit 10. :D

*Super Happy Otter Dance*

Here's George showing off The Ten Pieces/Sets for Dulaan.

From the top, left to right we have The Patons SWS Fuzzy Kiddie Scarf, My First Sweater Ever, Toddler Scarf & Hat Set, The Double Knit Stripe Hat, My First Attempt at Fair Isle, Candy Hat, Mohair Monstrosity, My First Socks , My First Hat and the Magic 28 Socks.

That's a lot of firsts in there for me. :D I have REALLY enjoyed knitting all of these for Dulaan. It's also helped me try things sooner than I might have. I dunno. It's different when you're knitting for someone in need than for yourself or friends/family. It's pure. No strings, no history. Just helping.

That's not to say I don't have plenty of people I could knit for. Though recently someone who obviously doesn't know me very well suggested that I knit for charity because I don't have anyone to knit for. As if knitting for charity was the only way I could knit for others and that it must be nice to have people to knit for because of this. *L* Well I doubt that person will be getting a handknit anytime soon. Not a knitter, btw. Not a charity helper either. Just plain ol' clueless. I could spend all my time knitting for people I love and still not have time to get to them all the way I'd like. Like I said, knitting for charity makes me feel good. I guess you gotta be happy to spread happy though. Miserable people who can't see past the gloom on their nose wouldn't understand that.

I don't know if they are going to do Dulaan again this year or not. I hope so, but if not I'm sure I can find a lot of other charities to participate in. Such as the upcoming Red Scarf Project 2008. The deadline is a bit earlier this year and the standards & practices have changed a bit for anyone interested. Looks to be lots of fun again. :D

Alrighty then, well tomorrow I head off on an adventure with some friends. It should be fun and fiberlicious. Details if we make it and return. You never know about these things. *L* It feels kinda like we are going off on some hobbiting adventure with a precarious chance of making it back. If we make it back I'll have to pull a Bilbo and write the tale. But I promise not to have Leonard Nimoy sing about the adventure. I don't think they even make those kind of drugs anymore.

To top it all off, like some sort of fabulous cherry on a sundae I've been promised a pair of Prized Squishy Balls!!! My Precious, Precioussssss Squishy Balls.....

How do I say this delicately...

I have a bit of a tan from recent outdoor activities. Now I'm not much of a tanner. Burner yes, Tanner No. So this is a bit of a shock.

Growing up as a kid I was burned by the sun's horrible death rays more times than I can count. I'd never even heard of sun block until I was 10 or so when a cousin brought some over for a summer visit. It was disgusting and vile, smelling like a sickly sweet concoction of coconuts and chemicals. It was greasy and burny on the skin and to hell with you if ever accidentally forgot it was on your hands or face and rubbed yours eyes. It didn't just sting and burn, it was hard as hell to wash out. Ouchie.

So as you can see I never had much use for that hifalutin nonsense as a kid. You can't run around and play when you are coated in icky nasty stuff. Not only did you feel oddly uncomfortable BUT you were like some sort of magnet for free range cat fur that might come your way. A very real possibility when your mother insists on having more cats than fingers on her hands at any given time. Now it wasn't all fun and play when I was a kid. So you'll have to add in plenty of dirt, sweat and hay bits sticking to you as well. Which lemme tell ya, really didn't need the assistance to cover you in a layer of work grime.  So that sunblock really wasn't my friend. You ever try wipe sweat off your face when you got sunblock & all that all over ya?

More trouble than it's worth.

But as I grew up they improved the sunblocks more and more. Now they have stuff for sensitive skin, greaseless and even active stuff that goes on dry and doesn't get all funky when you are trying to have fun and just happen to be in the sun. It still smells pretty weird, but not so assaultive on the nose as it once was.

For several years now my dear best friend has been nicely nagging advising me to wear sunblock and be prepared when I go outside. I've done a better job of listening to her and have therefor been less whiny overall about my skin being red & ouchie and my summer part time job of being Lobster Girl.

She's also been telling me about these things called "hats". Even going so far as to send me several. I've been wearing those and doing much better... when I remember that is. It's a lot easier to remember to wear a hat in the backyard than it is other places. Partly because I'm "Nagging it Forward" and tell my honey he needs to wear a hat in the sun. Even going so far as to help him select several at various stores that I think look good on him. *L*

Proof of Sun Hat Use @ Home in Backyard (taken a bit ago before 7:00 am, so yeah no direct sunlight out there just yet. *L*) Oh and that's My Coral Sweater.

Bonus: Kitty doing her usual morning inspection of the backyard. She gives it her approval as she likes the grass. It's like her own personal salad bar. Furry Freak. ;^) Clickety Biggety!

I really should carry a hat with me in my car. I did a few years ago after Cookie suggested it. (She's the smart one and tells me the stuff you'd think I should have figured out for myself. *L*)

But at the end of one summer I brought the hat back inside and promptly forgot all about it.

Note to Self: Put a sun hat back into the car!

This would have come in handy recently on several occasions.

Sometimes I meet friends for coffee in the morning and we sit outside. For some reason I can't seem to grasp that the sun is out at 8:00 in the morning. In my backyard the patio doesn't move out of the shade until 10:30 or so. Can my brain be so preoccupied that I have forgotten that other locations still get direct sunlight? This has caused a few uncomfortable situations due to my lack of foresight. So next time I am so taking a hat.

Between those bits of sun exposure, knitting in the backyard and the occasional getting caught off guard by the sun or just doing normal outdoor activities I have found myself with a bit of a tan. Well a tan for me anyway. :P

But the funniest part is that it's a specific activity tan. Much like that of the Farmer's Tan of my youth in a way. Only this time no scratchy hay throwing, cow corralling or fence mending was involved.

I have a Knitter's Tan. *L*

It's the freakiest damn thing. Hold your arms/hands as if you are knitting and see where the sun would hit. Now extend them out and turn them a bit. The top is a peachy shade of tan and the bendy part and bottom part is a stark shade of winter white.

I'm two tone, Baby!

I wonder if this is how the tiger got it's stripes and the leopard got it's spots. *L*

Saturday when I next get together with some knitting friends I'm going to look at their arms to see if they have the tell tell Knitter's Tan as well. Or if I'm just some kind of half tanning freak. :P

And yes Cookie, I'll bring a hat & sunscreen. ;^)