Rubber Duckie

You're the one…

I'm awfully fond of you!

I have a great bathtub. It’s an old fashioned claw foot that was rescued from an abandoned ranch house in New Mexico. The rancher gave permission, so my husband and his friend dug it out, loaded it on the truck and brought it home.

When we built our house, well, when he built our house, he put it in the bathroom off the master bedroom. He built a wooden box around it and lay down navy blue tile on top. It was something to see!

Bubbles!

Despite the age of the tub, there was nothing at all wrong with it. There were no scars or hard water stains. It was smooth, white porcelain. Actually it is cast iron covered with porcelain. Did I mention the bathroom is upstairs? Yes, it was hard to get up there. And very heavy!

When I was at the hospital with baby number three, my husband got someone to spiff up the house so it would be nice for our homecoming. I don’t know what the lady used on the bathtub but it etched the porcelain. It also stained it in some places. Sad, but I still like it.

Since I have such an impressive tub, one of my favorite things to do is to take a bath. Specifically, I like bubble baths. I can get in the deep tub, have bubbles up to my chin, lean back and relax. Remember that old commercial, Calgon, take me away? Well, I don’t even need Calgon!

Got my toes in the water...

With a family and the busy schedule it includes, I was pretty much a shower girl. It was dash in, dash out, let’s get ready, and let’s go! Now that the kids are all gone I can take long baths if I want. I’ll light a scented candle or two, maybe pour a glass of wine, pick a book and escape. I can stay in ‘til my skin turns ‘pruny’.

There’s no swimming pool at our house. But when the littles come over a bath in Mamye’s tub is the next best thing! They have such fun, play cooking, swimming and making bubble beards. They don’t want to get out!

Rub a dub dub!

Playing in the bubbles.

Some people don’t like baths. But if you are a bath person and you haven’t had the time to take a leisurely bath lately, you might give it a try. Light a candle or two, grab a beverage and maybe a book. Get those bubbles going and get in. Sit back and relax. Enjoy the peace. Let it take you away.

Girls after my own heart!

Every day when I 

Make my way to the tubby…

I know I’ve said it before but I do the majority of my reading in the tub. I really can’t knit in there and I can’t sit still without doing something for too long. So I read (or kill Zombies on my phone!) But there’s always chance I could drop the phone in the water. That wouldn’t do! But if I dropped the book, oh well!

Murder, murder and more murder! I'm so predictable!

I managed to finish a couple more in the past couple of weeks. Both were murder mysteries. "Death of a Kitchen Diva" has new food writer Hayley Powell solving a murder of a rival food columnist before she takes the wrap! "Shakespear's Landlord" was a little dark at first with the main character having a hidden past. She's a loner but when her landlord is murdered and she's the prime suspect she has to prove her innocence before the real killer gets away. I am going to branch out and read something different…one of these days. But as long as my friend brings me the books I might as well read them!

I finished the Clapotis. Well, except for weaving in the ends. I didn’t have a proper soak so I tried shampoo, which I read would work. Well, it’s not a lot softer than it was. It’s not horrible by any means but I wouldn’t mind if it was a bit squishier! My friend Debi suggested I put it in the washing machine. I might.

Finished except the ends. I like it.

I started something else out of the same yarn. I won this yarn in a contest at Christmas. I got a lot. In fact, I didn’t even get it all and I have plenty! I wouldn’t have minded having some of it in different colors, but free is good so I won’t complain. The yarn is by Thomas Kvist and is mostly linen. Anyway, the new project is called Roberta’s Wrap and is an easy no seam vest/wrap. If I try I might be able to finish it soon.

Roberta's Wrap in progress.

Too bad I can’t knit in the tub. I’d be finished already!

You make bathtime lots of fun…

You Are So Beautiful

To me… 

She danced around the room, singing her songs. She sang, “You are so beautiful, to me-e-e-e”, ala Joe Cocker! I laughed, because it took me by surprise that she would know the words to a song that was introduced almost four decades before she was born. She struck a pose to hit the high note at the end and gave me a dazzling smile.

You are so beautiful...

Then she climbed in my lap. She put her little hand on my cheek and began to sing the song again. As I gazed into her ebony eyes, I believed every word she said. And for that little spot of time, I did feel beautiful. I knew she thought so. And I knew I held a special place in her heart, just as she holds in mine.

You're everything I need. 

Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever gone this long between posts since I started blogging. I don’t know exactly what I’ve been doing that’s kept me so busy lately but it sure tires me out. There have been a couple of deadline projects at work. That’s a little stress. By the time I get home I don’t want to do much of anything. I’ll get something ready for us to eat and maybe do a load of laundry and I’m finished. If I get in my chair and get comfortable I’m all but done for the night. Sometimes I don’t even pick up my knitting. This too shall pass.

I love these stitch markers my friend Alice made!

As far as knitting goes though, I have just been working on the Clapotis for the KAL and am (finally) on the decrease rows. There’s a road trip coming up so I might be able to finish it. I had forgotten how much I enjoy the pattern. I also forgot that it seems to take forever! I don’t know what’s next but I’ll think of something I’m sure.

On the down side!

I’ve managed to do a little bathtub reading and finished a couple of books as well. Bathtub reading is one of my private little pleasures! If it weren’t for that I might not ever finish a story. Usually, if I pick up a book it’s a signal for people to start talking to me. It doesn’t matter where; at the airport, in the car, at home. That’s why I knit. I can listen and comment and don’t lose my place unless it’s something complicated.

My reading choices are simple books, mysteries mostly, easy no-brainer reading. The last three I read of course, had a murder. Would it be an oxymoron to say a homicide makes light reading? They are entertaining and the villain is caught in the end. And I like them.

Intellectual reading!

With heroines and sleuths like Cece Caruso, Sarah Boothe Delaney and Tinkie, and Gwen Katz, how could I not be interested? There’s a suspicious death on Kosher Karaoke Night, a missing 4 million dollar ruby necklace and a wrongly convicted criminal still awaiting parole after 40 years. If that’s not better, (and a lot more fun) than the daily news, what is? You can see, my literary choices run deep! Maybe I’ll go take a bath.

You are so beautiful, 

To me…

Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine…

Ever had a drink of watermelon wine he asked…

I’m not a big fan of watermelon so watermelon wine doesn’t sound too good to me at all. I’ve seen watermelon vodka and watermelon martinis. They don’t sound good either. I don’t even like watermelon flavor gum or candy.

A wooden watermelon I use as a bookend now. Holding up my Mad Libs book! ha ha

When I was a college freshman, of course I knew everything. I had a roommate, Monica, who also knew everything. Between the two of us I guarantee there were no unanswered questions.

One weekend I returned from a trip to my grandparent’s house with a watermelon. It wasn’t a big watermelon, just the right size for two. They had a garden, some things purposely planted and some volunteer. The watermelon vine was a surprise, especially when it was covered with fruit.

Monica was a military brat and had lived in many places, including countries overseas. I grew up in the city and was very worldly myself. Together, we decided to make a ‘plugged’ watermelon out of my little gem. We had tasted one recently and decided it was just the thing to do.

Watermelon painted gift bag from my secret pal...years ago.

A ‘plugged’ watermelon is created by slicing about a 3 inch piece out of the melon. Clear liquor is poured into the watermelon and the plug is replaced. It then sits for a while, even overnight, preferably in the refrigerator. When it is ready it’s sliced and enjoyed. The watermelon has become permeated with the liquor and becomes a refreshing snack. Easy peasy! We were anxious to start!

There was some liquor in our room. The drinking age at the time was 21. We were both 18. I don’t know where the booze came from but I’m sure it was hers, not mine! Together we prepared the watermelon. I cut out the plug and inserted a skewer a couple of times to make passages for the liquor. Monica began to pour the liquid out of the brown bottle. When she was finished I replaced the plug.

It wasn’t easy but we waited patiently for the fruit to become ready. That evening we could wait no longer. Monica spread out some newspaper while I got a knife. We were finally going to taste our masterpiece! In anticipation of a culinary delight, I placed the knife against the rind and pressed it down. I sliced back and forth until it was cut into halves.

An old t-shirt with a  painted watermelon. From my secret pal a long time ago.The paint is stiff!

With watering mouths, the melon was opened. What the heck? It was empty! Seriously, the watermelon had turned into an empty shell! It was absolutely hollow. We were flabbergasted and very disappointed.

What could have gone wrong? Watermelon + clear liquor = spiked fruit. It was a no-brainer! “Wait”, Monica said. “Clear liquor? It had to be clear? As in colorless?” The alcohol she had procured was Southern Comfort. Amber colored whiskey was what had been poured into the melon.

Whiskey must be pretty powerful stuff. It devoured the inside out of our watermelon. Imagine what it does to the inside of a stomach! We laughed and decided there had to be a lesson for us. Maybe it was you can’t drink your booze and eat it too! Or maybe it was a reminder that we weren’t supposed to have any alcohol anyway as we were underage. Then again, possibly it was a message to two 18 year old college freshmen who thought they knew it all that they had a lot of life lessons yet to learn.

Ain't but three things in this world that's worth a solitary dime,

But old dogs and children and watermelon wine…

I started the Clapotis for the knitalong. I’m using Summer Breeze by Thomas Kvist. I swatched (for once!) to see how it would do with the drop stitches and it’s going to work well.

A swatch...but this isn't the real color.

I like the color. It’s tan I guess, unless I pull out the box of 64 colors and do a match!

The newest Clapotis. That's the real color!

I finished a book called “Not a Girl Detective”, by Susan Kandel. It was action packed and reminded me of a Stephanie Plum book. The heroine, Cece Caruso, writes biographies of dead mystery writers for a living and collects vintage clothing. While researching her next book, the life of "Carolyn Keene," the fictitious name several authors used to create the Nancy Drew mysteries, she has to solve a murder before she becomes a victim herself!

Three of my four Clapotis...

I was so afraid the wind was going to blow all the peaches off the tree. And we were surprised it even had peaches since it froze again after it had blossomed. But for some reason it was covered! We picked all we could reach. Then Alan picked more after climbing the ladder. There were ten grocery bags full in all. And the tree was still covered with the peaches that weren’t quite ripe! I blanched peaches and peeled peaches. I cut peaches and ate peaches and cut some more. Finally all were done and ready for the freezer. There were 23 quart bags full. There probably would have been more but like I said, I ate peaches!

There were tons of peaches on this one lone tree.

Another view.

Perfect!

Ten bags full!

Up close and peachy!

Blurry bad picture...but you get the idea!

Alan read somewhere you could infuse peaches with brandy. I told him I guess we could try. But you know brandy is not a clear liquor.

That night I dreamed in peaceful sleep of shady summertime,

Of old dogs and children and watermelon wine…