The View from Here and There

This was our view Sunday evening. Yes, my husband barbecues in the rain.

I've been begging Ernest for a snow picture and he finally came through with his view.

What's your view like right now?

Phantom Clock

While Ernest was gone last fall, I plugged in his iHome clock so I could see what time it was as I puttered away at his clutter.

(He generally relies on his phone for an alarm although he sleeps through it so often that I wonder how he manages.) Well, he didn't have any problems with the clock while he was here. It was only after he left that the clock went crazy. 

For several mornings, I wondered, am I hearing something or is it just the normal ringing in my ears? It would gradually get louder and I would realize it was that clock. I would stumble into his room to poke at buttons until the damn thing shut up. Its controls are not instinctive at all. I have no idea how to actually turn the alarm OFF. I kept meaning to download a manual but in the light of day I would forget.  So it kept happening. Finally I unplugged it and the next morning it went off again! I pulled out the batteries, thinking that if it went off the next day I would swear that ghosts are real.

...It didn't go off... so the jury's still out on ghosts. Meanwhile, I have to look up the damn manual.

We Made a Hat (Just Call Me the Mad Hatter)

We're working on ways for my lovely M-I-L to knit one handed. 

After quite a bit of internet searching we did not find anything really suitable. Suggestions from knitting friends are most welcome. 

By now, my long time readers will see where this is going. You know he's the Handy Husband. He's a doityourselfer. 

First, Handy built a little tray to hold the future device. This turned out to be the best thing, maybe not rivaling the entire internets but at least since sliced bread. It holds books and food plates and... Well, it's really nifty and she's delighted her son made it for her. One of her caregivers is also a handy guy and so he and Handy have discussions about plastic and other handy stuff...

Back to the knitting. Handy has adapted a loom onto a lazy susan (apologies to all the susans out there for that horrible name). Now he is working on the best way to secure the loom to the tray. 

Working with the prototype, M-I-L and I made a baby hat! 

(Modeled by Flower. She's the little sister of the dolls you met earlier.)

I added the embellishment. I'm like that. 

Flower thought it was a lovely hat but it didn't match her outfit. What to do? It seemed easier to make another hat. 

Flower's happy with her 1920's cloche look. 

Just call me the Mad Hatter.

That hat was supposed to be for Handy but oh my he has a large head. It fits me and Frank...I wonder where Ernest is in the head size range. He could get better use from it. 

My lovely M-I-L wants to do a scarf next, so Handy's working on adapting that loom. He was hampered a bit from a little exacto knife mishap: 

But now he's down to band aids so we should see the scarf loom soon. 

Weekend Snapshots

Shhh. Don't tell Homer about Louie. 

We truly wish we weren't having summer weather. 

Surf and turf for Valentine's Day. $81 a plate at a restaurant. $10 at home. 

Damn. Those newfangled LED bulbs are bright!

It's a Cool Cali Kind of Weekend

We had a bit of desperately needed rain, which left a snowy drift of petals on the ground. 

But not enough rain to interfere with the barbecue plans tonight. 

For lunch, a little avocado and Artichoke Bruschetta. 

Handy's noodling on the guitar, I'm reading, and the cats have staked out their usual napping positions. 

Last night Frank had all three cats on the couch. He's a cool cat, too.