Well, that nasty little bug that I had almost beaten came back with a vengeance this weekend. I broke down and went to the doctor yesterday (I'm so thankful that Walgreens Clinic is open on Sunday) and got some antibiotics. Don't worry, Mom, I've been loading up on Vitamin C too. The bad news...I haven't felt like crocheting. I'm feeling better today but my ears have plugged up pretty bad so I can't hear anything.
The good news is, I'm flying home on Wednesday to see my family. I'm really, really hoping I can hear by then. I'm so excited to see everyone and we're having a big get together on Saturday, which is always a blast.
And I'm trying to decide what project(s) to take with me. I'm thinking a scarf maybe. Or I could stick with my white squares, something lightweight and portable. Any ideas?
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Randomness and Memories
I apologize for not posting sooner. Things were really busy and then I got some kind of weird bug that didn't make me sick, other than a pretty bad sore throat, but it wiped me out. I had no energy at all and today I'm finally feeling like myself again.
So, in my blogging absence, I took a knitting class! It went really well and the teacher said my stitches look really good and she's going to try to find an easy pattern for me so I can actually make something other than 4 X 4 swatches...
I'm really excited about my next class, I'll keep practicing in the meantime. It still feels a little awkward and slow but I'm getting better.
I also started a scarf. I saw this yarn and couldn't resist the color. It's so pretty and sooooo soft.
There is an edging to put on each end and then it's finished.
On a reminiscent note, I've recently started to taking my lunch to work so every evening before I go to bed, I get everything ready for the next day. It just so happens that I thought peanut butter and jelly sandwiches sounded pretty good for lunch this week so I went to the store and got the stuff. You'd think the PB&J would be staples in any house but apparently, not mine. When I opened the top of the peanut butter, I remembered what my mom used to do when we were kids. Every time we opened a new jar of Jif...
she'd take the knife and draw a smiley face in the top of the fresh jar.
Then I started making the sandwich...just the way my dad always made them. You mix the peanut butter and jelly together, and then spread it on the bread. For some reason it tastes better that way.
It's funny how memories like that stay with you. Little things that bring back your childhood. Every time I open a fresh peanut butter jar, I always draw a smiley face in it and I always mix the PB&J together. And I will do these things for my kids too. I consider them little expressions of love. I love you, Mom. I miss you, Dad.
So, in my blogging absence, I took a knitting class! It went really well and the teacher said my stitches look really good and she's going to try to find an easy pattern for me so I can actually make something other than 4 X 4 swatches...
I'm really excited about my next class, I'll keep practicing in the meantime. It still feels a little awkward and slow but I'm getting better. I also started a scarf. I saw this yarn and couldn't resist the color. It's so pretty and sooooo soft.
There is an edging to put on each end and then it's finished.On a reminiscent note, I've recently started to taking my lunch to work so every evening before I go to bed, I get everything ready for the next day. It just so happens that I thought peanut butter and jelly sandwiches sounded pretty good for lunch this week so I went to the store and got the stuff. You'd think the PB&J would be staples in any house but apparently, not mine. When I opened the top of the peanut butter, I remembered what my mom used to do when we were kids. Every time we opened a new jar of Jif...
she'd take the knife and draw a smiley face in the top of the fresh jar. Then I started making the sandwich...just the way my dad always made them. You mix the peanut butter and jelly together, and then spread it on the bread. For some reason it tastes better that way.
It's funny how memories like that stay with you. Little things that bring back your childhood. Every time I open a fresh peanut butter jar, I always draw a smiley face in it and I always mix the PB&J together. And I will do these things for my kids too. I consider them little expressions of love. I love you, Mom. I miss you, Dad.
Monday, June 15, 2009
I'm so excited! I ordered this painting from Julie King and it is so pretty!
You can read her blog here. Her artwork is so amazing. She does torn paper collage, photography and has ventured into painting with this piece. You should definitely check out her Etsy store. I absolutely love it. The girl reminds me of myself. There is wisdom in her eyes and hope in her smile. Moving to Florida and being on my own has been such an amazing experience for me, a journey, if you will. I'm finding myself and growing and learning about who I am and who I want to be.
I've also been working hard to finish the aprons for my friends. They are coming along very well...
The cream and sage one is all finished and the blue and sage one just needs flowers...and please kindly ignore that I sewed the strap on backwards. That will be corrected very soon.
I also finished the blanket for my friends baby shower.
And I started one of the two scarves my friend's mom ordered.
And this week I bought this book!!
I'm thinking about making a few to send with each order when someone buys something from my Etsy shop. That would be neat, huh? And I've ordered a book of shawls and wraps. I cannot WAIT for that to come in.
Well, I'm off to finish an apron or a scarf...eeny, meeny, miny, mo...
You can read her blog here. Her artwork is so amazing. She does torn paper collage, photography and has ventured into painting with this piece. You should definitely check out her Etsy store. I absolutely love it. The girl reminds me of myself. There is wisdom in her eyes and hope in her smile. Moving to Florida and being on my own has been such an amazing experience for me, a journey, if you will. I'm finding myself and growing and learning about who I am and who I want to be.I've also been working hard to finish the aprons for my friends. They are coming along very well...
The cream and sage one is all finished and the blue and sage one just needs flowers...and please kindly ignore that I sewed the strap on backwards. That will be corrected very soon.I also finished the blanket for my friends baby shower.
And I started one of the two scarves my friend's mom ordered.
And this week I bought this book!!
I'm thinking about making a few to send with each order when someone buys something from my Etsy shop. That would be neat, huh? And I've ordered a book of shawls and wraps. I cannot WAIT for that to come in.
Well, I'm off to finish an apron or a scarf...eeny, meeny, miny, mo...
Thursday, June 4, 2009
I think my endorphin factory is broken. Now, granted, my knowledge of endorphins is restricted to the movie Legally Blonde, but according to Reese Witherspoon, exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy, happy people don't kill people...they just don't. I'm not UNhappy, but I'm not feeling any particular additional happiness after my little attempt at exercising this evening. And furthermore, I believe that I may have done something to tick off Denise Austin. I don't know what it was but it must have been bad because she is trying to kill me! Maybe her endorphin factory isn't working either. At any rate, she has something against me BIG time. Whew.
So, I know you've been waiting with bated breath to see what's going on in the world of Drea. (See, the sarcasm? I'm not usually sarcastic...it's a lack of endorphins.) I do have stuff to show you...good stuff.
I've decided to give knitting another try. I follow the Yarn Harlot's blog, she is a pretty well known knitter and has written several books...she's hilarious. I stumbled across her blog and after reading one entry decided I had to go back to 2004 when she first started blogging to read everything she'd ever written. She's that good. She makes some of the most beautiful shawls and the coolest looking socks and I want to be able to do that. So, here's a look at my dubious knitting...
Look at me knit! Now, while it perhaps looks like I've been moderately successful at this, looks can be deceiving. Knitting takes FOREVER! It is painstaking and you have to think about every stitch. And it's probably pretty funny to watch. I have a death grip on one needle, the other needle is flopping around all over the place. The cats won't come anywhere near me. There is a very deep crease between my eyebrows and I'm afraid I might be going just a little bit cross-eyed. I don't remember crocheting ever being this difficult. I'm not giving up but I am taking a break. I've started an apron hand towel for my friend. There's not enough of it to warrant a picture yet.
I've also made a discovery. Remember the coverlet I was drooling over? (Yes, here we go again.) Well, look what I made!!
I think it just might work. Does it look familiar? It should.
It turns out, if you make the center of my white squares with a larger thread and hook, it becomes what I've been searching for. Now, I just need to figure out how to easily hook these squares all together. But that will have to wait for another day. I have an apron to finish and knitting to master. Wish me luck!
So, I know you've been waiting with bated breath to see what's going on in the world of Drea. (See, the sarcasm? I'm not usually sarcastic...it's a lack of endorphins.) I do have stuff to show you...good stuff.
I've decided to give knitting another try. I follow the Yarn Harlot's blog, she is a pretty well known knitter and has written several books...she's hilarious. I stumbled across her blog and after reading one entry decided I had to go back to 2004 when she first started blogging to read everything she'd ever written. She's that good. She makes some of the most beautiful shawls and the coolest looking socks and I want to be able to do that. So, here's a look at my dubious knitting...
Look at me knit! Now, while it perhaps looks like I've been moderately successful at this, looks can be deceiving. Knitting takes FOREVER! It is painstaking and you have to think about every stitch. And it's probably pretty funny to watch. I have a death grip on one needle, the other needle is flopping around all over the place. The cats won't come anywhere near me. There is a very deep crease between my eyebrows and I'm afraid I might be going just a little bit cross-eyed. I don't remember crocheting ever being this difficult. I'm not giving up but I am taking a break. I've started an apron hand towel for my friend. There's not enough of it to warrant a picture yet.
I've also made a discovery. Remember the coverlet I was drooling over? (Yes, here we go again.) Well, look what I made!!
I think it just might work. Does it look familiar? It should.
It turns out, if you make the center of my white squares with a larger thread and hook, it becomes what I've been searching for. Now, I just need to figure out how to easily hook these squares all together. But that will have to wait for another day. I have an apron to finish and knitting to master. Wish me luck!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Life Lessons and Godmother of the Year
Yep, that's me...godmother of the year. My godson is an amazing, energetic, fun, wonderful four-year old boy. I went over to my friend's house last week after a fairly brutal day of work and when I walked in the door, he came over and gave me a HUGE hug to make me feel better. I have found that he gives the best hugs!
My sweetheart of a godson has learned that winning is wonderful and losing...not so wonderful. So, we're trying to teach him that it's OK to be unhappy if you don't win, but it's not OK to quit or cry or insist on starting over five times. It's a tough lesson and there are a lot of adults still learning this lesson...case in point, his very loving, typically good sport godmother.
For his birthday last week, he got a new Wii game...Monsters vs. Aliens. I love this movie and he wanted me to play the game with him and I was happy to comply. I'm not very good at video games (see number 64 on my 100 Things) but they're still fun and I love my boy. This is a two player game: one person (me) is B.O.B. who is trying to get from Point A to Point B. The other person (AJ) is a gun, shooting at things that make B.O.B.'s journey much more difficult. So, as I'm going along, AJ keeps shooting at me! He's knocking me off of platforms and B.O.B. keeps saying, "ow, you got me" and making other outbursts. AJ is having a grand old time and I, well...I'm getting annoyed. After the tenth time of being blown off the platform, I said, "AJ, playing this game with you is just not fun." I tossed my controller down and stalked out of the room like a...well, like a four year old. Luckily, my friend thought it was funny rather than a horrible lesson for the son she's so lovingly bringing up to be a happy winner and a gracious loser. She told me something that was very wise. See, I was thinking that the object of the game was to try to get B.O.B. to fulfill his mission and successfully reach Point B when actually the point of the game was to be a moving target. She said that if I'm playing the game with the intent of being the target, it's a lot more fun. Huh! I think this lesson applies not just to my attitude toward the game but my attitude toward life. Perhaps my mindset is just getting to Point B when really I need to be exploring the possibilities of where I am in the meantime...we'll call it Point 1 1/2. Maybe it would be fun to fall of a few platforms or get lost and ask a four year old for directions. It turns out, they have a better grip on what's important than we do.
My sweetheart of a godson has learned that winning is wonderful and losing...not so wonderful. So, we're trying to teach him that it's OK to be unhappy if you don't win, but it's not OK to quit or cry or insist on starting over five times. It's a tough lesson and there are a lot of adults still learning this lesson...case in point, his very loving, typically good sport godmother.
For his birthday last week, he got a new Wii game...Monsters vs. Aliens. I love this movie and he wanted me to play the game with him and I was happy to comply. I'm not very good at video games (see number 64 on my 100 Things) but they're still fun and I love my boy. This is a two player game: one person (me) is B.O.B. who is trying to get from Point A to Point B. The other person (AJ) is a gun, shooting at things that make B.O.B.'s journey much more difficult. So, as I'm going along, AJ keeps shooting at me! He's knocking me off of platforms and B.O.B. keeps saying, "ow, you got me" and making other outbursts. AJ is having a grand old time and I, well...I'm getting annoyed. After the tenth time of being blown off the platform, I said, "AJ, playing this game with you is just not fun." I tossed my controller down and stalked out of the room like a...well, like a four year old. Luckily, my friend thought it was funny rather than a horrible lesson for the son she's so lovingly bringing up to be a happy winner and a gracious loser. She told me something that was very wise. See, I was thinking that the object of the game was to try to get B.O.B. to fulfill his mission and successfully reach Point B when actually the point of the game was to be a moving target. She said that if I'm playing the game with the intent of being the target, it's a lot more fun. Huh! I think this lesson applies not just to my attitude toward the game but my attitude toward life. Perhaps my mindset is just getting to Point B when really I need to be exploring the possibilities of where I am in the meantime...we'll call it Point 1 1/2. Maybe it would be fun to fall of a few platforms or get lost and ask a four year old for directions. It turns out, they have a better grip on what's important than we do.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The Wedding
Ladies and gentlemen, by the power vested in me by Red Heart Yarn and Boye Brand crochet hooks, it is my pleasure to introduce to you for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. Pea. Congratulations to the happy couple!
I'm quite pleased with my first effort. I like them so much, I think I'm going to keep them as opposed to selling them in my shop.
This weekend was so nice. The birthday party was so fun. There's something about seeing little children running around and being children that makes me want to cry. Sounds silly, right? It's just so amazing to see the promise in these kids, the potential to be absolutely anything they want to be. It brings tears to my eyes every time. As crazy and wild and out of control a group of kids can be, they are equally miraculous.
I finished the pink and chocolate scarf and started this new apron yesterday. It's not much to look at yet but I love the colors. It will be so pretty when I'm finished.
Well, I got a new Crochet! Magazine in the mail today that I can't wait to go through. It comes every other month and I always save it for an evening when I can really give it my full attention and I mark the patterns I like with stickies and make notes about what I like or what colors I think would look good. So excited.
I will keep you posted with apron pictures!
I'm quite pleased with my first effort. I like them so much, I think I'm going to keep them as opposed to selling them in my shop.
This weekend was so nice. The birthday party was so fun. There's something about seeing little children running around and being children that makes me want to cry. Sounds silly, right? It's just so amazing to see the promise in these kids, the potential to be absolutely anything they want to be. It brings tears to my eyes every time. As crazy and wild and out of control a group of kids can be, they are equally miraculous.
I finished the pink and chocolate scarf and started this new apron yesterday. It's not much to look at yet but I love the colors. It will be so pretty when I'm finished.
Well, I got a new Crochet! Magazine in the mail today that I can't wait to go through. It comes every other month and I always save it for an evening when I can really give it my full attention and I mark the patterns I like with stickies and make notes about what I like or what colors I think would look good. So excited.
I will keep you posted with apron pictures!
Friday, May 22, 2009
*SIGH*
Can you feel it? Take a second, a deep breath. Aaaaaaahhhhhh. It's the beginning of a THREE DAY WEEKEND! It is a wonderful evening here, I made it through the week and what a long, rainy week it's been here in Orlando. It has poured every day and I don't know about you, but I like to be curled up on the couch with a good book when it rains. Rainy days make me think of toasted cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, wrapped up in a blanket with my kitty sitting on the back of the couch keeping me company.
Rainy days are not to be spent behind a desk wishing you were at home. Aaahhhh, it feels great sitting here at the computer with this weekend (read, time to crochet!) ahead of me. Here are the reasons this weekend is going to be awesome.
1. I get to wear this!
This came in the mail today from Sweetbrooke. You can see their Etsy shop here. I love their page so much I linked it twice. They have so many incredible, unique jewelry items. I fell in love with this bracelet as soon as I saw it and I'm sitting here in my pajamas wearing it.
2. Tomorrow is my godson's birthday party. He turned four years old last week and we're celebrating tomorrow. I can't believe it's been four years already. I love him so much and I'm so excited to celebrate his birthday. I got a couple games and a Spongebob coloring book...they're waiting to be wrapped...
3. I get to finish this beautiful scarf!
This is the second of my two requested scarves and I am in love with this yarn. It's 100% wool but still soft and the colors are so pretty. My friend asked for "pink and chocolate" and this scarf fits the bill (in several shades) and it looks like her, like something she would wear. I'm very excited to finish it for her.
4. Friends, here we come. I have come to the conclusion that I will never take a week off work to watch Friends straight through. It would be wonderful, I would accomplish so much as far as my crocheting goes but it's just not going to happen. All of my shows have come to an end for the season so, I've decided to start now. Season 1 begins tonight.
5. DMV - OK, so going to the DMV isn't really anything to be all that excited about under normal circumstances. However, I have the card that says I've completed the Motorcycle Safety course so all I need to do is go to the license branch and get an updated license and I'm official! Since they're open during the week at the most inconvenient hours possible, I have to fight every other working Floridian on the weekend to make this change. Once it's done, I can legally drive a motorcycle! I was a little burned out right after the course and wasn't sure if I would actually want to drive a motorcycle again but now that I've had a chance to rest my mind and get out of the heat, I'm anxious to get back on. I definitely need some practice on a closed course before taking it to the street but I want to give it a chance.
6. I get to sleep in for three days!! Yes, I know it would be best if I got to the license branch as soon as it opens tomorrow morning but, let's face it, I'm going to stay up way too late tonight trying to finish that scarf and getting up in time to be all prettified (they're going to take my picture for the new license, I can't just roll out of bed and go) and AT the DMV by 8 a.m. is just not happening. I will just take a little project (squares perhaps?) and crochet in line.
So, I'm going to bid you goodnight for now. I have a stack of gifts to wrap and a scarf to finish.
Rainy days are not to be spent behind a desk wishing you were at home. Aaahhhh, it feels great sitting here at the computer with this weekend (read, time to crochet!) ahead of me. Here are the reasons this weekend is going to be awesome.
1. I get to wear this!
This came in the mail today from Sweetbrooke. You can see their Etsy shop here. I love their page so much I linked it twice. They have so many incredible, unique jewelry items. I fell in love with this bracelet as soon as I saw it and I'm sitting here in my pajamas wearing it.
2. Tomorrow is my godson's birthday party. He turned four years old last week and we're celebrating tomorrow. I can't believe it's been four years already. I love him so much and I'm so excited to celebrate his birthday. I got a couple games and a Spongebob coloring book...they're waiting to be wrapped...
3. I get to finish this beautiful scarf!
This is the second of my two requested scarves and I am in love with this yarn. It's 100% wool but still soft and the colors are so pretty. My friend asked for "pink and chocolate" and this scarf fits the bill (in several shades) and it looks like her, like something she would wear. I'm very excited to finish it for her.
4. Friends, here we come. I have come to the conclusion that I will never take a week off work to watch Friends straight through. It would be wonderful, I would accomplish so much as far as my crocheting goes but it's just not going to happen. All of my shows have come to an end for the season so, I've decided to start now. Season 1 begins tonight.
5. DMV - OK, so going to the DMV isn't really anything to be all that excited about under normal circumstances. However, I have the card that says I've completed the Motorcycle Safety course so all I need to do is go to the license branch and get an updated license and I'm official! Since they're open during the week at the most inconvenient hours possible, I have to fight every other working Floridian on the weekend to make this change. Once it's done, I can legally drive a motorcycle! I was a little burned out right after the course and wasn't sure if I would actually want to drive a motorcycle again but now that I've had a chance to rest my mind and get out of the heat, I'm anxious to get back on. I definitely need some practice on a closed course before taking it to the street but I want to give it a chance.
6. I get to sleep in for three days!! Yes, I know it would be best if I got to the license branch as soon as it opens tomorrow morning but, let's face it, I'm going to stay up way too late tonight trying to finish that scarf and getting up in time to be all prettified (they're going to take my picture for the new license, I can't just roll out of bed and go) and AT the DMV by 8 a.m. is just not happening. I will just take a little project (squares perhaps?) and crochet in line.
So, I'm going to bid you goodnight for now. I have a stack of gifts to wrap and a scarf to finish.
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