Puppet Rampage 2007

Living close to a major city does have advantages. Having discovered that Kiddo likes puppets (he is STILL talking about Pinocchio's Marionette Theater in Orlando), we took advantage of the free, public "Mini Street Fair" held by The National Puppetry Festival "Puppet Rampage 2007" hosted by Concordia Univeristy.



Kiddo's favorites? Silly Bunny (thanks to the folks from Arizona, I think!), and the "Guitar Cowboy" which was a marionette. Kutey liked Silly Bunny, but she preferred the ladies walking around on stilts. I didn't get a good picture of them, unfortunately (I was low on battery power), but they were wonderful! My favorite? Watching 3 people orchestrate the movements of the blond woman above, and 5 people synchronize their movements to operate the giant below. And Silly Bunny, of course!



We had a BLAST! It only ran for about 3 hours, but in that time we saw so many different puppets, Kiddo was enthralled. The weather was absolutely perfect, everyone we encountered was exceptionally nice, and Kiddo has more puppet shows to talk about (and for some reason, there is always a crocodile/alligator lurking).

Knit, tinK, repeat.

Yep, that is what I have been doing. I am working on Anouk. I have been STUCK on one row. I think there is a stitch missing in the instructions. But it required me to do LOTS of math and some meticulous counting. I love a good problem solved!



I am making slow progress, but I am hopeful that I will complete it before Kutey outgrows it!

As an aside: I figured out a better way to post pictures, I think. Let me know what you think!

Operation Thistle Eradication

Let me state for the record: I am no expert when it comes to lawn care. And my lawn is living proof of that.

Hubby and I have a dislike of all things lawn chemical. It makes it a bit tricky to keep one's lawn looking lush and green, but we have learned to live with it. Our dandelion crop is the *envy* of all our neighbors! But with two small children and a dog romping through the space, we simply cannot justify applying harsh chemicals to the space.

But, oh, how the thistles do grow! And they take over small tracts of land. And they mock me. I do not like thistles. They are prickly and painful and I just really can't stand them. And so is launched Operation Thistle Eradication.

Josh, over at Bungalow 23, was RAVING about the Weed Hound.

Perhaps you've seen this contraption at your local hardware store or garden center. It is rather funny looking, but once you get the hang of it, OH BOY! It whips the thistles right out of the ground.

With the purchase of new lawn and garden gadgets come the obligation to prove to hubby that I will, in fact, USE it. Thus, for the last few weeks, I have been pulling thistles in my "spare time." Mostly I have been grabbing the Weed Hound and taking it with me to the back yard when Kiddo and Kutey want to play.

"And have you eradicated the thistles?"

Well, no. But I am making progress. I have pulled over 100 of them, either by hand (well gloved) or using the fabulous Weed Hound. Yet every excursion to the yard results in some reminder that they lurk there. And I still have work to do. They no longer outnumber the bushes in the front landscaping, however. I consider that a step in the right direction.

Hat # 6....

Has officially been frogged. It just wasn't looking like anything I wanted to work on, much less finish. So, if anyone has a good, simple, free hat pattern, I'm looking for a new one.