A Short Story on Covetousness

Once upon a time there was a beautiful cake stand with a lid on JC Penny's website.  Jennifer saw it and determined that she had to have it.  She purchased the cake stand with lid in December, but alas, it would not be delivered until February.  Jennifer waited anxiously for 2 months in the hopes of receiving her cake stand with lid.  It arrived in February.  She brought it home, washed it, and set it on her countertop for all to see.  The very next evening, Jennifer was putting away the dishes from her drainer into her cabinets.  As she reached to place a porceline bowl in the cabinet, it slipped from her fingers and crashed onto the lip of her cake stand.  The delicate cake stand shattered into a hundred pieces all over the kitchen countertop and floor.  The lid, surprisingly, came out unscathed except for a few chips on the rim.  Jennifer was devistated by her loss.  Two months of waiting for only one day of joy.  Perhaps Jennifer coveted the cake stand with lid too much.  

This is what arrived at my door yesterday.  A birthday present from Tish!

Isn't it gorgeous!  I was very surprised!  Hmmm, I think I'll make a cake this weekend. 

This is another present I received for my birthday from my in-laws.  It is a pink cover for my iPod to protect it.  

Not a great picture, but it really is beautiful!

Yesterday was Jaalla's birthday, so I drove to see her and have dinner.  We went to Chili's and to the pet store to buy more fish for her tank.  The ansemble below is what Jaalla's grandmother thinks she would want to wear.  It is 3 sizes to big and not really something somebody her age would wear.  Every year it is the same story, so every year we anxiously wait to see what she's going to get.  

Birthday

I had a great birthday yesterday!  I now unfortunately have to say that I am in my late 20's.  I can no longer say that I am in my mid 20's.  My husband reminded me of this the other day.  He was sweet though and bought me a fun gift.  Let me start off by saying that Kevin and I do not give each other gifts for our birthdays, only cards.  We also do not give each other presents at Christmas time.  It doesn't bother me in the slightest.  Although I do enjoy a surprise every now and then.  When we were given gifts at our wedding showers, someone gave us a bowl.  It was a medium size white plastic bowl with a pour spout and a black handle.  I love this bowl.  It's great for pouring cake batter and pancakes.  Love it, love it, love it!  In fact, I think I say it out loud every time I use it.  So... Kevin found this!

A large mixing bowl with pour spout and a pink handle!  What girl could ask for more.  I really do love it!  Very creative gift!  I also had requested a birthday cake from Debbie.  Debbie works with Kevin and makes fabulous professional deserts for weddings, showers, and special occasions.  I've had her cake before and it is wonderful.  She has been wanting to take a break from cake making, but she did a favor and made one for me.  Kevin told her my interests and this is what she came up with:

Isn't that the cutest cake ever!!!  The yarn balls are pieces of domed cake with lots and lots of frosting on top.  I hated to cut into it.  It was so delicious though!  I had asked for wedding cake, and I don't think I've ever tasted a wedding cake as good as this; not even my own.  

I received lots of great gifts for my birthday: money, Starbucks gift cards, flowers, yarn, a Rockey Mountain Chocolate Factory apple, and a movie.  My friends at work had a party for me and we had cake.  It was a good day!

Knitting progress:

Here's the latest progress on my bag.  My colors aren't as bold and contrasting as the one in the book, but are more subtle.  I can't wait to finish and felt it in the washing machine.  I estimate this bag to be done in November.  It's going to take me a while. 

Circus

Jaalla and I went to the Barnum & Bailey's Circus in Fort Worth on Sunday.  

I hadn't been to the circus since I was a little girl.  I enjoyed it.  I was expecting all big animals, but they had a dog act and a cat act.  Very cute and funny!  Those animals were definitely working for the treats!  I think I enjoyed the acrobats the best.  Here's a picture of the elephants.


More knitting pictures soon.  Right now I am working on two projects, but one is Christmas present knitting, so I cannot show pictures until after Christmas. 

Tag, I'm It!

I've been tagged...

Four jobs I have had:
1. disc jockey twice, once at a Christian station, then at a classical music station
2. catalog librarian's assistant
3. data enterer at a title company
4. admin. asst. to an asst. VP/meet and assist VIP's


Favorite TV shows: (do not have cable)
1. Globe Trecker
2. Antiques Road Show
3. The Office
4. America's Next Top Model


Food:
1. Italian
2. Seafood
3. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory apples covered in just about anything
4. Texas chocolate sheetcake


Places I would rather be:
1. Europe
2. visiting with family and friends
3. sitting on the couch knitting
4. taking a roadtrip with Kevin

Favorite movies:
1. Sense and Sensibility
2. Pride and Prejudice
3. The Devil Wears Prada
4. Legally Blonde


This is my latest finished project.  They are really warm because of all the colorwork.  It was 101 degrees outside when we took this picture. 

Eesti Trail Hiking Socks from Favorite Socks done in Knitpicks merino wool.

Thanks

Thank you everyone who commented or left a kind email.  The days are getting better.  

On to a happier subject.  My friend Veronica went to visit her mom in Chicago last week.  Let me preface by saying that I am a huge hot dog fan.  Huge!  I could probably eat a hot dog everyday and not get tired of them, at least that is what my husband says.  I even like putting ketchup on them, which I know is a sin to most northerners.  Well, Veronica went by Superdawg while she was there.  I know about Superdawg from a PBS special they did on hot dogs.  (I told you I was a geek.)  The picture below is what they use on the box that you hot dog comes in.  Cute huh?!
Veronica was sweet and bought me two shirts while she was there.  A black one and a grey one.
 
Someday I hope to visit.
 

Sad News

I will give you the short version since this is very hard for me to talk about right now.  Our new dog Woodrow woke up Monday morning with seizures.  He had two before we left for the vet.  If any of you have ever seen your pet have a seizure, you know how awful it is.  The vet's office opened 10 min. after we arrived.  In that time he had three more seizures and they continued to get progressively more violent.  Kevin stayed with him in the examining room with the doctor while I waited outside.  I was getting physically ill.  He had several more seizures while in the examing room.  The doctor told Kevin he could put him on seizure meds, but that might not help him.  He told Kevin is was probably something hereditery.  He was concerned about the frequency of the seizures and how violent they had become.  He said he could put him to sleep and if it was his dog he would do the same thing to keep him from suffering.  Kevin and I agreed.  I got to say goodbye to him while he was sleeping.  It's amazing how attached you can get to a dog in less than a week.  I had literally fallen in love with him and taken him on a walk everyday.  I miss him so much and can't shake the awful memory of what I saw him go through yesterday.  I am so glad he is not suffering anymore.  He was a joy to Kevin and me while we had him and I think we made him happy too. 

New Addition

Here is the new addition to our family.  



His name is Woodrow and he is a black lab mix, around two years old.  He thinks he's a lap dog.  He ended up on the doorstep of a co-worker of Kevin's.  She took care of him for two weeks and tried to find his owner (he didn't have a tag).  She already has two large dogs and couldn't keep him.  She was pleased to know that we have been looking for a dog.  He will be Kevin's companion as he drives around all day at work.  He is an absolute sweetheart!  He seemed really lethargic at first.  I think he was sad because he missed his family.  I thought we might have to get some doggy Prozac if he didn't start to perk up.  I think he's starting to adjust now.  We took him for a little walk/jog last night.  I really enjoyed that and he seemed to also.  It will be an almost daily routine for us now.