Here We Go!

All right-ey then.  Here are the sox as chosen by Auntie Colleen.....

...and here is the picture of Gramma's favourite pair.....

..........and Munchie picked the only small ones I had left - but I forgot to get a nice picture of them - hopefully Mommee will take a picture for me, since I sent them off to Munchie this morning.  I also mailed sox to Aunt Grumpy, Auntie Colleen and Gramma.

Mommee has just received her e-mail, and I anticipate hearing from her soon.  I have finished another pair of sox since this giveaway started - so we have a head's up on the Third Great Sox Giveaway of 2011.  I have started the second pair as of last evening - they're still at the cuff stage.

We got the Villa computer all fixed up, so Poppa and Squeegie re-connected a multitude of wires to the back of it, and put it where it belongs.

Good job Poppa!  It seems to be working just fine now.

We are expecting company on Friday!  Becky is coming for a few days to get away from all the snow in West Virginia (yes - she is living in WV now!), and to soak up some Florida sunshine, with a stop at  Bike Week in Daytona in the middle of her visit with us.  So a couple of days ago, after Squeegie had breakfast,

he and Poppa went out to the lanai to make sure it was tidy and ready for company....

while I did something else.....

Oh my gosh - that reminds me...it's time to go in the pool now.........more later!

Results

Sock choices are coming in, but it's late now, so I'll post more tomorrow.  I didn't hear back from Aunt Grumpy so in the interest of getting things moving, and since she said she didn't really care about the colours - I chose this pair for her because - well - because I liked them a lot and thought the colours looked like some that she would choose.  So - she is getting this pair....

Auntie Colleen's choice is in and so is Gramma's.  So I'm sending pics off to Mommee in the morning.  I will still have one pair left over if anyone is interested????  If I don't find anyone who wants that last pair I think I will send them to Auntie Jean since she doesn't have internet - and I'm pretty sure she likes the hand knit socks.  And...........I already have one more pair ready for the next giveaway.

Update

Still haven't heard back from Aunt Grumpy...I'll let you know as soon as I get her choice!

Picture from Auntie Colleen:

And the caption:
"One morning, I couldn't sleep so I experimented with some early morning shots from the upstairs window as Shaun went out for his morning run. He's really in the shot. Really."


Can you see him?  I haven't found him yet....

Second Sox Giveaway 2011

Wow!  The response to the sock giveaway this time has been tremendous.  I already have five people on Taffy's list.  Here is the rundown.  Late last evening Aunt Grumpy came in first!  That was a nice surprise  since she missed the last one.  Sometime in the middle of the night Auntie Colleen chimed in.  Very early this morning Gramma jumped into the third slot.  Mid-afternoon today Mommee snatched fourth place.  And shortly after supper Aunt Muffy slipped into fifth.  That leaves one last lonely pair of socks to be given away..........anyone out there who wants in?  I have sent the six pics off to Auntie Pauline and as soon as she picks I'll be sending the five left to Auntie Colleen....and so on until they are all gone.  I should have enough yarn left for one more round - and by then I should be ready to knit something else for a change.  Of course, I'm not too tired of socks because every morning before Poppa wakes up I spend some time knitting lace for Auntie Colleen.  Here is my latest endeavour.

This one is called Maidenhair Lace and is from Second Book of Modern Lace Knitting by Marianne Kinzel.  It is more complicated than some of the others I have done, but it is worth the work - I really like it!  I hope Auntie Colleen likes it and can find a use for it!

Socks Are Ready For the Next Giveaway!

Here is the notification for the next Great Sox Giveaway.  Anyone interested please notify Taffy at taffy.robert@gmail.com

Once again it will be a first come, first served basis!  This Giveaway will run until 12:00pm on February 28th, 2011.  I have six pairs ready this time - same as last time.  As before, they all have four inch cuffs for those who like to turn them down.  As before, each pair is different from the others and cannot be duplicated since they are made with remnants of prior pairs of socks.

Regarding the bird post from yesterday, here is a quote from Auntie Muffy....
"I'm pretty sure the large black heron/egret thing is a bird called an "ANHINGA".  (Don;t ask me how to pronounce that - maybe Uncle Brian knows)  It would be sorta like the cormorants back home to put it with something you might be familiar with.  The camouflage bird looks like an American Bittern, but I'm less sure of that one."  


Poppa & I did a search on the internet for the above birds, and decided that she had it right on!  So now we know the species of the previously unidentified birds in Florida.


Just before I sign off for the night.......Mommee found the strangest thing in one of the packing boxes as she unpacked and put things where they belonged....

I heard that Daddee packed most of those big bins, so I guess we know who put little Smiley in there!  And............here is a picture of the exterior of their new house!

Daddee's got a looooooooong driveway to shovel!  

Avian Creatures of Florida

Okay - I think I have been through all this year's photos and I have chosen these examples to demonstrate a small portion of the avian (bird) creatures that we have seen around here - just in our neighbourhood.  You may recall last year I posted a photo of two large grey birds - which Uncle Brian identified as sand cranes.  These birds are normally seen in couples and we were surprised to find this lonely fellow all by himself this year.

He's quite majestic looking - don't you think?  I'm not sure where his mate was, but we saw him all by himself, wandering around, several times.

A little farther along our walking route we noticed this big guy spreading his wings to catch a few rays and soak up some of the Florida sunshine.  I don't know what kind of bird he is, but I think a heron or egret of some variety.

We strolled a little further, and suddenly Poppa stopped and stared into the aquatic growths at the edge of the water.  Just on a hunch I got my camera ready - I thought maybe he had seen an alligator.  Nope, not an alligator, and I'm not even sure how he was able to see this guy in the greenery.  We may have spooked him, I'm not sure, but he came wandering out onto the grass.  You can see how well he would be camouflaged amongst growing plant life, he just about disappears in the grass.

On the way back home, as we passed by that small body of water again, the large black egret (heron?) was still in the weeds, but was more relaxed now.

With the glare of the sun on the camera, I couldn't catch him with the camera, so Poppa got this shot for me!  He looks very different when he isn't stretched out!  We were very pleased a few days later to get this shot, on the boulevard right across the road from the villa.

Yes - two sand cranes.  I don't know if the other fellow found his mate, a new mate....or maybe it was a totally different bird, but they just posed so well for me!  Then there is this other kind of bird.  I didn't get a good closeup...whenever I saw them up close they were.....oh wait!  I'll show you the picture first....

See those large black birds up there on that roof.  They are buzzards!  Every week on garbage day they hang around waiting for some unsuspecting tourist to put the garbage out in a plastic bag instead of the large bins provided.  Then they swoop down and tear it open to get at anything edible that might be stashed in the plastic bag.  They make a terrible mess and we always wish that visitors would use the garbage bins.  I did manage to see them up close and personal a couple of times - the first time they were surrounded by garbage and I didn't have my camera with me.  The next time they were having a dinner of armadillo.  Yes - armadillo.  I didn't get a picture because it was just too nasty - and the car was going too fast.  We think some poor armadillo got hit by a passing vehicle - and once it was hit, the buzzards came honing in.  It presented them with a bit of a challenge, but they got it turned over and managed to have their dinner.  Yuck!  They actually look a lot like very large crows and we frequently see them circling above, scanning the area for their next meal.

Here is a new picture of little Smiley..........soooo adorable!

And.....here is Munchie in his new back yard with Gramma.  I hear they built a snowman, but Mommee didn't get a picture of that - she was busy unpacking and looking after little Smiley.

It'll sure be different for Munchie to have that big back yard to play in!  He is used to the apartment building - I think he's going to love it.  Mommee has found her camera in one of those big packing boxes - so I expect more "new house" pictures soon!

WhooHoo!

Late last evening Taffy received an e-mail from Auntie Denise.  She and Uncle Brian received their socks the day before yesterday.  She was kinda busy and didn't remember to e-mail until last night.  They bought a new car, but she won't send a picture until the car is all clean and shiny....and with the weather up in Canada the new car is always dirty...but she says she will send one "soon".  Anyway, now that they have gotten their socks and are satisfied with them - now I can post the picture of Uncle Brian's not so tiny socks.

I think they are a tad outre for him, but he will probably wear them around the house.  He tends to be a little conservative I think, but his last socks were variegated and he liked them.

Bulletin!!!

Taffy just received an e-mail from Auntie Muffy - she got her sillie socks yesterday too!  I hope they keep her feet warm in that far north city where she lives.  She didn't say if she had seen any wild bears there this year, but last year she had one raiding her shed.

On a walk we espied these hanging on a date palm near us.  We watched a program on the TV one day about date palms.  Apparently there are male trees and female trees.  The pollen from the male tree has to be sprinkled on the dates on the female tree in order to produce real dates.  In areas where they grow dates for cultivation, they do this manually to ensure a good crop.  I don't think it happens very well in subdivisions though.  But, here is what they look like....

This one is a female tree.  The brown dates are from last year.  The green ones are this year's.

More Sox Arriving...

This morning I had an e-mail from Auntie Colleen.  She has received her sillie sox and she says she loves hers too!  I'm so glad they are living up to expectations!  And...I hope that means more people will want more socks, since I have about one half of the second last sock finished to complete six pairs for the next round.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am preparing for a post about all the birds we see around our neighbourhood, so in preparation I am going to share a photo of some of the bird life at Auntie Colleen's bird feeder in Canada....

She has quite a clientele doesn't she!

Socks...

....are beginning to arrive in Canada.  Taffy received an e-mail from Gramma today.  She has received hers and is quite pleased - she is going to wear them to her Art Class to show them off!  How cool!  There are now five pairs of socks in the sock heap - and the sixth pair has been started....stay tuned for updates!

Another in the abandoned series from Uncle Shaun....and this one is even more forlorn!

One gets the impression it is trying to snuggle under a blanket of snow - trying to keep warm.

And - here is a picture of Little Smiley taken just before the big move - he is being snuggled by Aunt Grumpy....and they both look happy to be together!

It was a beautiful day in Florida today....we went to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast...then just lazed around, reading and basking by the pool, followed of course by a swim.........lazy days in a warm place..........wonderful!

I'm Baaaack!

Sorry for the interruption in posting.....my laptop became ill and had to go to the computer hospital.  In this case it was Best Buy since there is one close by.  While it was there, I was using the desktop that comes with the villa.  Then it became ill too!  It just wasn't my computer week!  However, on Thursday I picked up my laptop - good as new!  Then after some e-mailing back and forth between the owner in England and myself, Poppa helped me disconnect the desktop and take it to Staples (which is also nearby and had a special on repairs!).  The desktop should be ready on Monday - they will call.  I am hoping this week is better for computers!

First off - I promised a picture taken after Squeegie and Taffy went on their shopping spree in Poinciana.  This displays their purchases in the cutest way!

Yes!  The evenings have been kinda chilly here, and Poppa and I would put on some nice fleece jammies - and they didn't have any...so.....since they were on sale for a ridiculously low price at that Wal-Mart, they each decided to buy a pair.  Of course, I had to give them an advance on their allowances, but I didn't mind.

In the meantime, Uncle Shaun is still busily finding specimens for the abandoned series - I like this one - it really looks very forlorn....

Poor thing - left out in the cold after providing someone with a nice warm cuppa!  Speaking of Uncle Shaun - that brings to mind Auntie Colleen.  I finished this piece of lace....

...which is (once again) from Nicky Epstein's Knitting Over the Edge.  It is called Small Duster Scallop.  This one will look a little different once it is blocked and starched, but I think it's very pretty.  I changed it up by doing the top rows in stocking stitch instead of garter...I just liked the way it looked better - what do you think?  Anyway, then I finished this piece of lace....

...which is called Irish Lace - once again from the same book - which incidentally is (in case you hadn't guessed) one of my favourites for knitting lace - and I got it from Auntie Colleen - imagine that!  This skein of crochet cotton is now finished so this morning I reached into my bag for a new one - pictures to follow soon.

I have also been working on sillie (tm Gramma) socks and there are four and a half pairs in the heap so far.  One and a half more pairs and we will have another draw to see if I can get them out of here and on their way to new owners.

My little boys have been busy moving into their new house so I don't have any brand new pictures...but here is Munchie making sure he doesn't get left behind....

..........hiding in a packing box so he'll get put into the truck!  Actually, I think he was playing hide-and-seek, because the next picture looks like this....

.........Boo Mommie!  It is also interesting to note that little Smiley is now old enough for a game that Munchie always loves playing with Daddie - just look at this....

....I think they are both enjoying it!  Awwwww!  I was talking to Mommie today and the boys are settling into their new house quite nicely.  Munchie has a new bed and they each have their own room.  Mommie is going to send some pictures just as soon as she rediscovers the camera - which has disappeared into a packing box somewhere!  There were 45 packing boxes and she is trying to get them all unpacked - which is quite a job with those two little boys there!  But, she assures me that she is making progress.

And finally, another picture of the bears - just because they look so darn cute! 

As soon as the TV show they were watching got over, I sent them off to bed.

P.S. - For those of you who inquired....Yes - Squeegie is reading a Cookbook in the picture in a previous blog.  No - he does not cook supper - he informs me what he wants for supper and I try to oblige.

Happy Birthday Poppa

Yep!  Today was Poppa's birthday.  It was cool and overcast and rainy today - but he had a good day.  Early this morning he heard from Great-Gramma Eileen, followed by several other phone calls (including Munchie!) and some e-mails all reminding him that the folks in Canada were remembering his special day.  We went for a drive to Poinciana and found a huge Wal-Mart where we bought a couple of things (pictures to follow), came home, changed and went to Longhorn Steakhouse for supper.  We all (Poppa, myself, Squeegie and Taffy) came home feeling stuffed and sat down to watch Gray's Anatomy.  Thanks to all for the birthday wishes!

Hey There!

A quick post to let you know that my computer is at Best Buy for a few days.  I am posting from the computer at the villa - but I can't post pictures.  If anything exciting happens I will let you know without pictures.  It is cool here today, so we may just go to Wal-Mart and watch TV.  I had a wonderful blog plan about the avians around our area, but it will follow later!

For Granny

This is a post for Granny.  We went for a long walk recently - and I'm sure she will recognize the territory!  We started out and were lucky.  Someone was leaving and we got out the main gates.

 It appears that the large palm tree which used to be here did not survive last year's freezing and it has been replaced by this much smaller version.  But, the large palms at the main entrance are still there - as well as those poor little trees that they decapitate every year.

So, off we went with no place in particular on the agenda.  We found ourselves walking past this place....

Then we kept on going...down the road.....

...do you know where we decided to go Granny?  Can you recognize it yet?  It is one of your favourite places!  Not yet?  Ok then.  We kept on going to those lights, then found ourselves looking at this sign....

....and decided to stop for some onion rings!

Yes!  Your're right.  It is just over a mile to the Cracker Barrel, so we thought we should go in.  The visit was short, but tasty....and I was telling Poppa how Granny and I would sneak over there in the afternoon for a snack while Poppa and Gramps were playing golf....of course we usually drove over, but I never visit Cracker Barrel without thinking about Granny - I think it is one of her favourite places.  Did you enjoy the walk Granny?

I have finished the sox for Uncle Brian, but I'll hold off on posting the picture until he has received them...I don't want to spoil his surprise.  This means I have resumed knitting sillie sox for the next draw.  It will take a couple of weeks for me to create the four more pairs required for a decent choice to be available - I'll let you know via the blog when they are ready.  In the meantime, I finished this piece of lace....

....which is from Nicky Epstein's book "Knitting Over the Edge" and is called Molly's Lace.  Since then I have started another piece called Irish Lace, but I haven't got a picture yet..........I just started it this morning.

Yesterday and the day before, the temperature went up to 80+.  It was wonderful!  Squeegie took a book and went outside to read.  A few minutes later when I grabbed my book, I found him in my chair....

...fast asleep under one of his favourite books!

Various Topics

Let's see - where do I start?

OK - for those of you who do not quite comprehend the concept of  "sillie sox" - here is a brief synopsis.  Each time I knit a pair of socks, I inevitably have a small amount of yarn left over.  To create sillie sox I scrutinize all the available amounts and colours, then try to choose some that will blend nicely for texture and colour.  So...  here is the beginning of some sillie sox for Uncle Brian.

Then I take all the bits and pieces and try to assemble them into a relatively pleasing pair of socks.  You can see the very beginning of his first sock in the foreground.  I'll let you see the finished product when it is done.

In the meantime, Poppa had a mission of his own.  While putting some stuff under the kitchen sink the other day, he noticed a small puddle under there.  This, of course, caused him to begin an immediate investigation of the situation.

  Remember last year, he used his ingenuity to repair a crack in the housing of the under-sink garbage disposal?  Well, to his dismay, he discovered that it was opening up again - only larger this time - too large to use the same method he used last year.

Upon further investigation he discovered that there was another - larger - crack on the back side of the unit.  He decided that there was only one solution to this problem....

Yep - A trip to Home Depot (oh yes - that was really a chore for Poppa - Hee) and he came home with a new unit. So - out came the old one.  Then he showed me the crack on the back side....

It looks like it had been leaking for a while, but it was getting larger.  So he removed it and checked to see if he could determine why.  We looked inside (kinda yucky), but couldn't see any thing there.  But, when he had it disconnected from the drain pipe, it appeared that there was paper or cardboard blocking the drain.  He thinks that the blockage was creating stress on the unit when it tried to expel the macerated garbage and caused it to crack.  The next step was to wire up the new unit...

....notice the small, furry helper.  Then install the new unit...

...then clean all the connecting pipes.....

....hook up all the pipes again, test the unit and check for leaks....

...TaaDaa!  All good, working fine and no leaks!  So he put the booklet and instructions into a small plastic bag and put them in the cupboard with the other manuals for the villa.  Mission accomplished!

Yesterday was very warm, but overcast.  However, a couple of days ago, it was cool in the morning....here is what Taffy looked like when we went out to the lanai for breakfast....

It warmed up nicely later in the day...but more about that later.