Nov 17 2008
Title? Who needs a flippin’ title?
I’m not going to be able to get out of bed tomorrow. We moved 8 LARGE piles of leaves to the garden beds for the winter. Wet leaves - did I mention that? Raked them onto tarps, dragged the tarps to the garden, dumped them, and then re-raked them to a uniform depth.
THREE hours later, we only have 3/4 of an acre worth left to do. And no more garden space - so these will be bagged. Once they’re not wet and weigh 17 tons, that is. Although if they don’t dry by next Monday - the official “last leaf pickup of the year” - I see Mr. Hot us lifting all 34,000 pounds, filling those paper “yard waste” bags, and dragging them to the curb.
~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~
I was dating Practice, although I wasn’t supposed to be because my parents had banned me from seeing him. It was Autumn 1983 and a friend of ours from MSU had graduated. Before she moved to Boston, we decided to have a final blowout at this local bar with cheap, cheap drinks (and, ergo, cheap, cheap alcohol). Rum and Coke was my poison of choice that night. In these skinny glasses that probably fit 6 ounces of liquid.
Which meant I drank about 18 of those suckers. Oh mah holy hell, y’all.
I DROVE home that night - certainly in the top 5 “Most Stupidest Things” I’ve done in my entire life. I crawled upstairs to my bed and passed out. I remember waking up multiple times to puke into the plastic lined trash can next to my bed. (What I don’t remember is ever cleaning that thing out, but the next morning, it was empty. Did I dream the heaving? Maybe. It sure didn’t help the way I felt.)
The worst thing, though, about the morning after? My mother coming into my room at 8 a.m., yelling at me to get my ass out of bed, and go outside to help The Golden Child. Rake and pick up leaves. Every time I bent over to pick up a pile, I thought I was going to vomit again, which would have so totally blown my cover. I finally gave up and sat on the ground, with the bag open next to me, and shoveled the leaves in with my hands.
It took me about 15 years to be able to face another Rum and Coke.
I suspect that my mother heard me the night before, surmised I was crocked off my ever-lovin’ ass, and decided that the early-morning wake-up call was just punishment.
~~~~~End Flashback~~~~~~
Okay, so here’s your first chance to snicker. Please be gentle.
I’ve been on a crocheting kick lately. I finished a project I’ve been working on - well, except for a button. It’s a cropped jacket. In Navy.
This one shows the sleeves and the length:
Now, I don’t do apparel usually (Okay - so I’ve only done one other thing that is wearable.). I’m an expert at straight lines; I can crochet the hell out of an afghan, but the whole piece-it-together kinda freaks me out. I lose track of the right side vs. the wrong side vs. the upside. You can probably tell that from the raglan seams up there. I think the front of the jacket is inside out, and the back is rightside out. I’m calling this one my practice version.
—- Next up, trying to re-teach myself to knit. If following the instructions for casting on is any indication, the only thing I’m going to use those needles for is to stab myself. —-
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That is SO cute! You could open your own Etsy store!
Kristabellas last blog post..She Works Hard For Her Money
You are so brave. I have yet to attempt clothing of any sort. Well, scarves don’t count.
I love the jacket!
I can crochet blankets and hats and scarves. Thats about it.
Veronicas last blog post..30w3d
Oooooh I love it!
I agree with Kristabella … and Etsy store is in the near future. There you next job puzzle has been solved.
Nancys last blog post..Looks as Good as it Tastes!
I want one of these in exactly the same color! Made by you! You can include it in my package. I’ll be nice and fashionable for reading on the couch.
Dingos last blog post..Why Won’t She Call Me?
Oh how exciting…I can’t make clothes (or much of anything else) but I try. I think the jacket looks great - Love the color!
~K
kels last blog post..Monday Madness - Thing I Never Realized
All of those wet leaves? So not fun.
Jasons last blog post..Sweet Sixteen!
I think you did a fantastic job! I’ve always wanted to learn to knit. I love looking at stuff other people knit. Keep up the good work!
Mommy Crackeds last blog post..Sunday Selfishness
Super cute. And knitting? It’s a walk in the park compared to crocheting. At least, here in my world. Good luck.
Pamelas last blog post..thank you for the meme, that’s just one less post i have to think about for NaBloPoMo
I think the jacket is really cute!
Liz J in Central Illinoiss last blog post..Sometimes I Hate My ISP **UPDATE**
I don’t do bag leaves… I mulch them into the grass… =)
Beth from the Funny Farms last blog post..Around this farm…
I smell a sweater giveaway!! MINE!
I can knit the hell out of a straight stitch—
What’s that you’re making, OT?
Oh this? It’s a line of stitches.
What are you going to do with that, OT?
SHUT UP–go away! Don’t ask so many questions!
The Over-Thinkers last blog post..Sometimes…All I need is the air that I breath and to driii-ink.
Well, I’m impressed! I’ve tried knitting and crocheting simple scarves and the results were laughable, to put it kindly. Your jacket rocks!
LemonySarahs last blog post..Department of Security - With a Smile, Y’all.
I absolutely LOVE the fact that you can make something wearable! I think that’s great and am in awe!
The jacket is adorable. I am so short waisted I have never been able to wear the little “matador jackets”, as I call them. Wish they looked decent on me…. oh well.
Keep it up! And definitely wear the jacket!
Krissas last blog post..Hemming things up and musical Henrietta
And you KNIT? You are SO much more awesome than me. *sigh*
Mr Ladys last blog post..Tooth Fairy Helps Self To More Teeth
Love that jacket…It’s soo cute!
Jamies last blog post..Diary of a Snow Shoveler
I’m impressed. I couldn’t make a duvet cover out of 2 tablecloths. Unless it involves a sewing machine, of course…
Solomon@ThingsI’mGratefulFors last blog post..Things I’m Grateful For on Monday 17 November
Knitting needles have another use? Um, yeah, I gave up all sewing type endeavors when I was 11, took a sewing class, and sewed the pocket of my shorts on the wrong side THREE times. Some things just are not meant to be.
Shellys last blog post..Weekend
Oh! And I love the flashback. And I’m filing that idea away to use against my own children. Thanks!
Shellys last blog post..Weekend
Oh wow I know the feeling of not ever facing certain beverages again. 9 years after my first (and so far, only) experience with that sickly sweet concoction known in New Orleans as a Hurricane and just the thought of them makes me want to run to the nearest toilet and hug it like my life depends on it. I knit, but only things like scarves. I’ll have to post a picture of my favorite, made with yarn from the Dollar Tree. It’s the warmest thing EVER and daughter is always trying to take it from me.
Flutterbys last blog post..Squirrels Don’t Sing
Very cute jacket. Your mother was an evil genius.
witchypoos last blog post..Skinny Bitch Gets Dumped
Knitting is a pain, I like crocheting much better and that jacket is great, much better than what I can do. See how the bottom edge of the jacket s straight and not curved and messed up? I do that, even with blankets!
Talinas last blog post..Milk breath sucks… I miss coffee.
Oh, I think it looks really cute! Good for you, woman! And if you need/want good knitting pointers: http://www.knittinghelp.com is awesome, with good video, etc.
Madmads last blog post..A work in progress
Great work on that jacket/shrug!
Ah, there’s a reason we call those drinks a “Dumb and coke” around here. Rum makes me dumb, I stay far, far away from it.
People don’t give leaf raking enough credit as a work out. It’s TOUGH on a body!
melissas last blog post..Oh the weather outside is frightful
CUTE sweater, and totally the reason why I stick to hats, scarves and small toys, LOL!!
Spookygirls last blog post..I am all about making the holidays easier!
I still can’t face Rum and Coke - although my morning after experience was a 2 hour plane trip, run to another plane, 3 hour plane trip - with the School Secretary and the Rowing Coach.
jeanies last blog post..For those baying for more…
You could totally knit if you can do THAT with a crochet hook. I learned to knit last week and I’ve already finished a sock! My suggestions would be to become friends with http://www.howstuffworks.com- just type in knitting. Also, if you search “knitting for beginners” on YouTube, you’ll find a whole series of demonstrations. And once you get going, knitty.com has the cutest patterns ever. EVER. Good luck!!
Marys last blog post..1st Foodiversary!
You rock! I love that jacket. I gave up on crocheting at this point in my life.
Hyphen Mamas last blog post..Dear Universe…. Uncle, Uncle, Uncle! **Hugely long bullet list**
Its gorgeous - and no one would even notice if you didn’t point it out. I’ll tell you what, send it to me to wear around the office, I’ll let you know if anyone says anything.
Its gorgeous !!!