Mea Culpa

Well, I'm not starting out the new year on a very blog-friendly note, now am I?? My apologies to all, especially Dude, who tells me all the time how much he loves reading it and catching up on his niece and nephew.

Ok, now a rant/plea to the Big Guy upstairs. Enough with the death and dying for a while, ok?? The denizens of Maison Cou Rouge have had a spate of them, unexpected and not, and I am tired of counting in multiples of three to see if we are at the end of the cycle. (note to self--explore where that superstition came from...I think it's Roman..) From my great-aunt, my beloved Auntie Mame, who left on her final cruise at the age of 95, to a friend who had complications from elective surgery, to family friends from my childhood, enough already! I'm beginning to dread the telephone's ring, as it's never good news.

It's a four day weekend here. Girl had gone off with the Methodist youth group skiing here in West Virginia.

How so many teens can look so good at 9am is beyond me..and so cheery for facing an 8-hour road trip.

I sent them off with tons of junk food. Her list of "things to bring" had both a bible and a bathing suit. As Girl's boyfriend is along on the trip (he being the main reason Girl now attends all Methodist youth group activities and occasionally goes to church services) Grumpy Guy is about to bust a gasket. Ah, the life of a red-blooded father of a teenaged girl who fully understands what all teenaged boys think about. You'd think they were vacationing at the Playboy Mansion and not West-by-God-Virginia.

Chip has gotten used to the neighborhood chickens that seem to get out at every turn.

I guess she only retrieves those who are not ambulatory. It's still hilarious to me to be looking out the window and see the rooster and his harem.

Knitting wise, I've finished my pink cardigan

and made the most hilarious knitted olives

for Valentine's Day (Olive You!) I need to get a life.

And Congratulations to Girl's BFF who got her braces off this week!!

A pretty girl with an even prettier smile! Hope they survive snowskiing!

Wild Weekend

First of all---my team WON!!!

Congratulations to the fabulous NEW YORK GIANTS and their amazing victory in the Superbowl! Who'da thunk it??

And what an amazing game. The commercials were so-so..I did like the GoDaddy ad and the E-trade ads featuring the baby.

We had quite a weekend. Grumy Guy had been up in Atlanta helping a friend at the Atlanta Flower Show, so I got alot of decluttering done. It's my annual mission for the month of January, but I never seem to get enough of it done. This month was a little more productive, with most of Girl's room redone.

Both kids had friends over most of the weekend. Boy got a new "crybaby" pedal for his guitar, and the new "old" tube amp arrived in the mail, so he had a fab weekend playing guitar. We also prepared for asking a date to prom, which has turned into quite an elaborate event in these parts. Creativity is a must, and, as always, Boy rose to the task.

With a little help from Mom, we spelled "Prom?" on the roof in Christmas lights, and had rose petals tracked around the house for a scavenger hunt. She said yes, so that's all squared away.

Alix had her new boyfriend and other buddies over to hang out on Sunday pre-superbowl, and the usual "gang of reprobates" joined us for kickoff.

Much fun was had by all.

I fixed a gi-normous pot of chili. Meatballs and cheesedip and chips completed the menu, and one of Boy's "friends who are girls" brought brownies (thank you muchly for the sweets, Kristina--you are the real sweetie!!)

GG and friend Paul arrived just in time for the last minute of play, including the game winning touchdown. There was much rejoicing.

Looked out the window this morning, and saw these.

Evidently the gate down the street was left open. I wonder how long it will be before the neighbors realize their flock is out.. I love living in rural Georgia!

Peace reigns this morning at Maison Cou Rouge--kitchen clean, GG home and back working hard at the computer. I really missed him while he was gone this past week. Home really is "Home, Sweet Home" again!

So Much for Getting Things Done

When one reads blogs, one is certain to get sidetracked...

Many thanks to the Yarn Harlot for blogging about Flight of the Hamsters. Go kill and hour or two. Who needs to make dinner?????

PS- I'm up to 322 feet!!!!!!!!

Catching Up Again

How easy it is to get out of the habit of writing. But it's been a slow month here at Maison Cou Rouge, as January often is.

I went on a field trip with Boy

and the most of Brentwood Juniors and Seniors to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon

and the High Museum in Atlanta to see the Impressionists and the Ancient Works of the Louvre Exhibits.

Girl had a birthday--14!!

She had a giggle fit while contemplating blowing out so many candles.

We drove the kids and two of Boy's friends to a rock concert in Atlanta. Several hours of hearing loss were survived. We got to see the snow fall in Atlanta, but had no trouble driving home.

I worked on some knitting....

And the kids played nicely together....in this case, Rock Band.

All in all, a good beginning to 2008!

Rainy Rainy

It started raining at 3pm yesterday, and hasn't stopped. Just one of those steady, sometimes heavy, persistent rains that, while messy and inconvenient, we need so desperately here in Georgia. A good time for building a fire and reading or knitting.

I haven't posted anything about knitting in a while. I've finished several projects, and all that can be found on my Ravelry page- check out the links. I'm finishing the last bit of a pink cardigan---a cabled band that goes all around the edge--and it's 85 inches of 11 stitches and 10 row repeats. Terribly repetitive, and BORING. I allow myself to get up every 45 minutes or so and do something else. It should take me about 5 more hours, then I can block the pieces of the sweater and seam them up.

Above the links you'll see I've added a list of books I've read or am in the process of reading this year. I love to read and have a neverending stack on my bedside table. I buy books, and then MORE books, and then something else comes up..... I'm trying to read at least an hour or two a day. I also listen to unabridged books while I knit--the limit of my multitasking ability. Hopefully, the list will remind me to set aside more time to read. It truly is better for one's brain than the hopeless drivel on the idiotbox.

Speaking of the idiotbox, one great thing that just started last Sunday is the new season of Masterpiece Theatre, or "Masterpiece" as it's now called. The latest offering is a 12-week series "The Complete Jane Austen." And if you know me, you know I love Jane Austen. Sunday's offering was a 90-minute version of "Persuasion" which I enjoyed immensely. I'm looking forward to the next few weeks.

Back to the books- you may also notice that there are several India and Asian-inspired tomes....I'm trying to read up before a trip I am taking with my mom in March (here).
I've been fascinated with India and Hinduism ever since I took a world religions course. I know I won't get to see much in such a short time, but I do get to go here, which thrills me to pieces.

Enough stalling...back to the cable!