Apple Pie

I finally made a pie with the apples from our tree..   :)  I really wasn't in the mood to make a pie. But after I got started, I started to enjoy it.  Especially while I was peeling and cutting the apples. Which usually I hate. But then I remembered how I always wanted to save the apple seeds to try and grow my own apple tree, every time we went apple picking in Michigan...    So then I started looking for good seeds. I only used seeds from apples that were big and ripe..  

Here it is with the top crust one.  I wasn't too happy with the way the edges came out. I think I didn't have enough crust, honestly. The apples were piled so high.  But it still tasted really good.

With my new pie crust shield on.  I have been wanting one of these forever...

I think it really did make a difference.  How can just a plain old pie be so good?...   Makes everyone go crazy.  :P

I also don't know if I posted about my other new baking "toy", my husband got me a new rolling pin. Yay...  What a stupid thing to be happy about, probably most of you are saying right now.  My old one was cracked, forever.  The crack kept getting bigger and bigger. Then, the ends started coming off. I had to try and re-screw them in. But it didn't really work. I finally just threw it away. Then I would have to use a recycled bottle to try and roll anything out.  I did that a few times.   Then my husband got me a new one.  

I also may have found out what kind of apples are on one of our apple trees. I think it might be Gravenstein Apples!!  I googled how to tell what kind of apple tree I have, and I found this site where you can type in all the characteristics of your apples, and 14 different varieties came up.  I think it is the Gravenstein. These were all my results.  I saw a sign at the Produce stand by our house, that said "Gravenstein Apples"...    It is either that or the Cox Orange Pippin. But I don't know if those grow here?..  According to that site, they do. Here is a comparison of the two side by side.. i don't know, maybe it is a Cox Orange Pippin.  It doesn't have a sweet sharp taste. It is just sweet. I might have to go buy some Gravenstein Apples and compare...

I am still working on getting organized..   I finally, totally cleaned off my "craft table".  In my "craft room".  Which is the laundry room aka dog kennel room..   But, it's better than nothing!

I finished a pair of baby booties I started for the OB Unit but quickly realized they would be too big. So I put them away and finished them later. I only had small amounts of the green so I did the soles in green, then took what I had left and cut it exactly in half.  Did the same thing with the turqoise.  I thought it looked kind of "ombre".  We're not supposed to use white to send to the Indian Reservation.  Since they have very limited washing facilities..   But...  I did.

I thought they were kind of cute. :)  They went into the OST/CPS box.

I started the fifth strip of the Scrap Strips Blanket...  

And I took a picture of the calendula...   In case no one knows what it is..  (No one did when I went to Walgreens, or the grocery stores here...)  My Mom used to be into Homeopathic remedies (she still is), and this was always for cuts burns scrapes..    I found it finally at Whole Foods.   I told my husband, "You might try it on your legs."  He has what they think is Psoriasis.  Guess what? It is really helping. More than all the creams from the doctor or the psoriasis creams.  I bought it for Duke's incision.   

My progress on my cousins' baby blanket. I'm farther than this, actually. 

And I finished another hat and scarf set for Operation General Beadle.. pattern.  And for the scarf, I used the Crochet Ribbed Scarf pattern.  For this scarf I chained 185 with an I hook.  And it came out to 56 inches (the chain did).

I used one Caron Cake to do the hat and scarf. With this much leftover.

Getting Organized...

I haven't been crocheting or knitting for the OB Ward the past month (except the afghan I just posted). But not last month. I have been crocheting hats and mittens and scarves, though; for Operation General Beadle.  Anyway, there were three blankets still needed in August. I had the one finished, and thought "I should do a fleece one..." I did have some frog fleece I had bought because it was on sale. I wasn't going to do anything with it yet...   But then I thought "Why not?"   Well of course, then; I couldn't find all my stuff to cut the fleece out. I had the cutting mat, and the regular rotary cutting blade. But couldn't find the cutting guide or my skip stitch blade...   this is part of why I get so irritated. Finding everything. Then by the time I find everything I am so irritated I don't want to do it...     But while looking I saw some other fleece I had bought (this car fleece) at my pharmacy. I thought it was so cute for a boy.  I bought two big panels of it.    I found my cutting guide (it was buried, in my closet- which I thought it was in there, but it was under some shoes... UGH).   Then I looked for my skip stitch blade. I found the little plastic container it is in. Yay... Get it out after I cut the fleece, to switch blades on my cutter. It's not the skip stich blade it's the regular blade from the second cutter I bought. UGH!  Tried racking my brain "Where is the other cutter?"  "Oh I know...  It's in the Jeep." Exactly where it's supposed to be, right?   It was one of the (million things I just threw in the back when we were moving... (We've been here what five months now?)  Sigh...     I went out and got it. Then TOLD myself, "This will be fun. Damnit!!!"  I had a bad headache, and was a little irritable, but...   I cut out the frog fabric and did the skip stitch holes.   Then put it on the couch, to crochet on later...  Then started dinner.   Then got the car fleece out and cut it, and did the skip stitch holes..    

So, I got three blankets done.   Washed, tagged and mailed them yesterday.   

I got two pairs of booties done, too.   I mailed those the day before. Because I was mailing a box to Alice, and didn't know when I would have money or if I had a box to mail the blankets in. I had a puffy envelope to mail the booties though. So I finished filling two slots for the OB Ward...   :)   I really liked crocheting the light green booties.  The turqoise ones were pretty good, too. Well, the first one was. The second one, not so much. :P

I have to work on my pink baby blanket, too; so I can get that done in time for my cousins' baby shower...  (Or before their baby is born at least..)

Being unorganized and having clutter everywhere is really starting to get on my nerves.  It's not technically my fault. We moved so many *&^%$# times, I didn't even want to BE in the apartments; and knew (hoped!!) we were going to be moving again in a few months, so I didn't even unpack a few boxes. And had nowhere to put a lot of it, anyway..    And here, I don't have a lot of room to put it all, either.  But I have slowly been trying to get organized and keep things organized.    Since doing that, I cannot find my prescription pack.  Ugh...   I called the pharmacy though; and they were able to just look it up, and refill it.  O.o   

Another thing that was bugging me, was the un-matching dog dishes..  We had matching ones; but left them at a McDonald's parking lot, on the move out here..   Then we bought a water bowl. But were still just using the leftover container for the food.   I finally got a matching food bowl.  :P  Now I just need a mat for underneath, so the floor won't get ruined from Duke slopping water everywhere when he drinks...And any food on the floor gets all smushy, and makes a mess.. You can see some by their water bowl...

Another thing I had been wanting to get is one of these, to make pies with since I picked all those apples. Which is another thing I have to do... Make a pie.   I don't want to.   Lol...    Eon seemed to love this.  (He is a little strange... :P)  He got a big smile (what?) on his face and had this in his hand and said something about getting this in anticipation of something (I forget what it was, something to do with one of his games...) and something about a Mr. Anderson.  It's Mrs. Anderson's Baking Pie Crust shield..  I just smiled and said "I got it to make a pie with.."  :P   

My husband took me to Michaels last week.  I said "I don't know what to get..."  :0   (Did I say that?)  :P  But when I walked to the yarn section, I saw these! I said "I have to get one."  I didn't know they were a new thing and all the rage...  I just liked it.   

Right after I bought it, I kept seeing them all over Facebook.  It got old, fast.   I got it to crochet a scarf and hat to go with some gloves I had bought at Jo-Ann's, for Operation General Beadle.   Then went back to get one more. But (of course) they didn't have any more of THAT color.  So, since it was "Buy two get one free" (with Michael's membership, which is free); I got three more.  In different colors to go with other gloves I bought..

These are all the gloves I got, one in every color. I also bought a pack of socks at Sears last night.  By the time I get all this done I will have quite a bit to send.  The problem is doing it. And having fun and not thinking "I have to finish this.."   Which sucks all the fun out of it and burns me out.    I haven't taken a picture of it but I did finish a scarf with the first Caron Cake, and am working on a hat. But I don't like how the hat is turning out.....

Last night I was laying in bed thinking, "School is going to start in a couple of weeks I think...  NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"  :(  Two weeks from today to be exact.   And I feel worse about it than that baby.   (And I am not even the one gong back to school?!!)  But I still have to get up, make sure Eon gets up, get his lunch ready, and drive him there. (Driving him there and being there is the part I hate the most...)  I hate this school so much.   And didn't want to have him go back there next year (now, this year).   My husband kept saying, "You have all summer. Don't think about it."   Easy for him to say..  There isn't much I can do about any of it. We have a two year lease in this house, so it isn't like we can just move to a different school district.  Which might make things better for me.   Sigh...     I keep trying to tell myself, "Eon seems to like it there, so why you can't I?"...     The schools is Tennessee were better than they are here. In fact, the schools in Tennessee were better than they were in Nevada.  But, this is the absolute worst school any of my kids have ever gone to.    And we have lived in five different states.   

I finished another Corner-To-Corner Baby Blanket, for the OB Ward.  I had some blue, and I had bought another lavender One Pounder Caron on sale at Jo-Ann''s.. And the variegated was leftover from my Scalloped Top.  I thought I had one more skein of the variegated, but I couldn't find any anywhere...    I was going to make each "section" the exact same size...   Sigh...   I didn't feel like taking practically the whole thing apart just to try and do that, though...   

The sun was shining in the windows no matter how I put the blinds...   

The first picture is more true to color.   

Duke's Surgery

Duke had his surgery on Wednesday.  Drop off time was 8-8:15 am.  The Vet called me about 11 or 11:30, and said he was out of surgery and he "did" fine. (He was completely under anesthesia, so I don't know how he did anything, but... :P) But I was glad to hear it all went well.  She said he was howling. I laughed.  (But then I started to worry, too..)  Then while we were talking, I could hear him howling.  It was loud.  She said that's actually pretty common, they are pretty loopy when they come out of anesthesia and are confused. We were able to pick him up at 2.  (When I went to pick him up, another dog was howling in the back...)  Look at the six inch (?) incision!! :(  For a little 3/4 inch tumor...    She said she got "wide margins"...   Yeah. I guess so.   Poor Duke.   I was really worried about him that first whole day (and night). 

He did sleep a lot. That first night (and last night, actually) we put his big pillow in our room and he slept in there.  I did not get much sleep that first night.  Besides being worried about Duke, I had to take my sister-in-law to the hospital the very next morning (she asked me a couple weeks ago, and I said I would.. I didn't know Duke was going to have cancer, and his surgery was going to be scheduled the day before).      

Getting him to take his pills is a whole other can of worms...   He has two pills to take- one for pain, one for the inflammation; around the incision site.  The first time I tried putting it into a piece of lunch meat. He did eat one that way. but spit the other one out.  Then I put it into a piece of cheese. He ate the cheese and spit the pill out.  Brat.  Then the next time we smushed them up, and mixed it with peanut butter. That worked. Once. The next morning (the morning of my sister in law's surgery) it didn't work. He was on to me. So I had to trick him by giving him pieces of my eggs, then putting the peanut butter on my finger. He ate it.   I was telling my sister in law about it, and she said our other sister in law (my husbands' and her husbands' sister) got some special treats for one of her dogs, because it wouldn't take its meds either.   So last night we went to PetCo and got these...    They work pretty good.  He still keeps spitting half the treat out but so far has eaten it all.     This week was stressful...  Well, the past two days were.  

My sister in law gave me this, yesterday; when we got back to her house. (She had cataract surgery, by the way; her last one..)   I said she didn't have to do that. But it is beautiful, and I do love it! I never buy myself things like this. (I am always buying yarn or crochet magazines, or books for myself..)   It's a peacock, and it opens up into a little box.  I love it.   I don't know what I will put into it..   

I finally got my husband's ladder out, and went and picked some apples from one of our apple trees. We have two. But the other tree; the apples are all wormy, and real small..   I feel like a slacker because I should have been picking the apples all along. They just have been ending up on the ground, then my husband cleans them all up into the wheelbarrow and the end up in the mulch pile. (You should see how many are back there!!)  But....   I feel like I can't keep up. Between housework and picking all the blackberries...  Washing them, freezing them. Baking blackberry cobbler. Let the dogs out let the dogs in. Go run errands. Do laundry.   Then this week was crazy..   How did I do everything before, and work five days a week?   I feel like I can't keep up lately...  Now I hope these all don't go bad. Because yesterday, today and tomorrow is a high heat advisory (over 100). So there is no way I am going to be baking...  I don't know what kind of apples they are.  And it's weird, because even though they are all from the same tree, they look like two different apples. Maybe I should have waited to pick the smaller green ones..  Maybe they weren't ready yet?  But the ones on the top are beautiful.    The kids still haven't eaten one. I posted this picture on Facebook, and one of my friends (from school days, she lives in Michigan) said she wished her apple tree got apples like this. Her one son will eat a whole bag a day just for a snack..     :0    I said I wish my kids would eat one apple.  Not unless it is inside a pie, or a cobbler, or with some (super expensive) caramel dip...   I want to make a pie with these.  I was going to give some to my sister in law yesterday, but I was in a rush in the morning and didn't get to it.. 

One Year "Anniversary", and Scrap Strips Blanket Update

Today marks the One Year "Anniversary" of the day we moved here.  This is my "On This Day" in Facebook History thing...  I didn't share it (at least not on Facebook).  I need a Time Machine...   So I can go back in time and NOT move here....   :(

I sewed what I have done so far on the Scrap Strips Blanket. It measures 41 inches across.  So one more strip should be good. I haven't started it yet, though..   I wasn't sure about the strips when they were all separate. Some looked smaller (I think I used some Wool-Ease or maybe Simply Soft scraps which are thinner weight than Red Heart..) in spots. But once they are all together (and when I get a border all around), it should even out.

I think I mentioned before how Duke gives us "The Look" when he wants to go outside.  He sticks his head forward as far as he can and stares at you.  I have been trying to get a picture of him doing it since forever...  I never can get one. But this time came pretty close. It is much funnier and more dramatic in Real Life.    Tomorrow is his surgery.  :(    Poor guy doesn't know what's coming..  I need to go get some more dog shampoo so we can give him a bath again. He got one the day before his last appointment, but he stinks already again. How can he just go outside and stinks when he comes back in???....

A New Project, and Trip Pics

I started a blanket for my cousin, who is having a baby in November. Obviously it's a girl. :P  And she likes pink, so pink it is.. I couldn't find any information about what colors they were doing the nursery/baby's room. So..   She is my youngest Aunts' daughter. She is the same age as our oldest son. (24.)  Incidentally (or coincidentally?), this Aunt is the one who helped me learn to crochet. I kind of already knew the basics. But she helped me with any questions, and she taught me the ripple stitch.   I am sure she is crocheting tons of things for her first grandbaby.  :)   I thought I only made the one of these, for my nephew Gavin. But I forgot I made one for my old neighbor, too.

We went to the Pacific Coast again last weekend.  We "forced" Eli to come this time. He had never been to the ocean. He said he wanted to come.  There is a huge arcade there.

Eli getting blown away by the wind. 

Eon with Tillamook Head in the background. 

They both had their shoes off. I said they were a couple of beach bums. :P  

Eon wrote his name in the sand...  :P   Eli was writing (with his feet) "HELP" in huge letters, lol..  He cracks me up.   It was too big to try and get a picture of. Then I looked over at my husband and he's writing "Steve was here... O.M.G...    

This wasn't at Seaside, but at the Maritime Museum in Astoria.  It costs $14 per adult to get in so I said "Never mind". Plus I was half windblown to death, and didn't feel like walking any more.   It's hard work walking on a huge sandy beach with the wind blowing you away.   This was down by the docks...

I think you can guess the name of the river, by the name on the boat.  

I loved this boat. 

Another Update on Duke, and FO's..

I got a call from the Vet's this morning with Dukes' pre-bloodwork lab results. The results were fine, everything looked normal and how it was supposed to look. WHEW!! I also got to ask the vet more questions. He does have cancer. BUT, it is very low grade and only in the tumor. Once they get that off of him (and they are going to get margins around the tumor area too); he should be fine.   I am SOOO relieved!!! I said "So if he was a human it would be like Stage One Cancer?"  "Yes"..      I am so so relieved. He is my baby!!!

He had to get in the picture here, too. :P   He cracks me up...   I finished the fourth strip on my scrap strips blanket. I have since taking this picture started sewing them together, too.  I think one more strip and it should be big enough. It doesn't look very big but the strips are 60 inches long.

I also finished a pair of childs' slippers. In Christmas colors.  I should have taken a side view picture. The trim is the variegated color just like the pom-poms.  

I also finished a hat, for Operation General Beadle. 

To go with these mittens which I finished this past weekend. I'm not sure because I don't have the yarn wrappers, but I think this is a wool blend yarn. So it should be warmer for their hands/mittens.  I do have more yarn I could do a scarf to go with these, but I haven't decided..  They need mittens and hats more than scarves.

And I have a soft navy blue hat and scarf done, too. I was thinking about doing a pair of mittens... But, acrylic yarn is not very warm for mittens.

Update On Duke

I got the lab results from the Vet.  I can't even begin to describe what it is he has.  Here is what the email said:
"The results from the aspirate are most consistent with a soft tissue sarcoma such as a hemangiopericytoma, neruofibrosarcoma, or malignant schwannoma/malignant nerve sheath tumor.  I know these are all very big names, but most of these are very low grade tumors.  Meaning they grow slow and rarely spread to other areas of the body.  We would need to get at least 2 centimeter margins around this tumor so unfortunately it does mean a full anesthesia.  Some of these will grow back months to years after excision.  Its less likely if we get good margins, and the margins are clean."    Basically he has to have surgery, and full anesthesia. :(   I thought the word "sarcoma" sounds like cancer...   Poor Gooby Goo.   I just hope this takes care of it and they DON'T come back..   I am waiting for the Vet to call me...  I will keep you updated.

~Update~

I just got off the phone with the vet and confirmed it is cancer. I also googled it before talking with them.  She said if they get it all then he will be "fine"; but there is always a chance it will come back.   :(  I am taking him in today for pre-bloodwork and scheduled his surgery for next Wednesday.  He is my best little buddy.  :(

Duke's First Trip To His New Vet...

I had made an appointment on Monday for Duke, at a new Vet's office here.  He hadn't been since we lived in Tennessee. Plus, he has had some "issues".  One was his one ear, something was going on with it (I had totally forgot about the ear, because I had done a vinegar/water wash for 7 days; and it didn't seem to be bothering him... apparently it still has something going on- a yeast infection).  But the thing I took him for is a bump (which I posted about when it first started- a picture of what it looks like now is a few pictures down, so if you don't want to look at it, be forewarned.)  Plus he just needed to be updated on his shots, etc..    Well, that was a huge chunk of change. (Sigh...)  The thing that cost the most was the lab for the bump.  And I still haven't even gotten that taken care of. They have to call me back with the results and see what the next step will be. So, it's going to be even more money. Sigh...

Duke kept panting and whining....  

Poor Duke...

We tried distracting him with lights from our phones.. :P  He was trying to get the light on the wall here.   He has gained almost 25 pounds since his last vet appointment! I thought he had filled out (he is really muscular). The vet said he is a little overweight.
The next picture is the bump (in case you don't want to see it)...

It keeps getting bigger...   I have no idea what it is. But, she did say it was really bloody.  ??? Hopefully it was just a clogged hair follicle or something that got infected.   Sheesh. He is high maintenance.  I have to give him ear drops for a week now.  Fortunately only once a day. He doesn't like it, so I have to get Steve to help me (pin him down).  But his ear already looks better, from the vet washing it all out.  

A not very good picture of Duke being all wore out from his first trip to the vet....    

Now today we get to go get haircuts and go apply for jobs for Eli...    Do Moms ever get a break? ;)