Learning to be thankful

I Really Miss This Kid!

2009-07-15T11:17:00.005-05:00

Joy #2 is on his 4th week out at Nebraska Youth Camp. 4 WEEKS! Ok, I've not been away from him for 4 weeks. Only 2 and I was doing ok until about...today. I really miss him. 3 more days and I get to hug and smooch him. If he let's me...

Here's some photos I got off the website. I think he's having fun!

I Love Living Out of a Suitcase!

2009-07-10T10:37:00.003-05:00

June 19-27th- I spent a week out at Nebraska Youth Camp. This year I was the crafts teacher. I had a great time with my friends and the kids out at camp.

June 28th-July 4th- Lance & I left the kids for another week of camp and went to Cheyenne, WY, & Colorado Springs for a little vacation.

Today I'm going back to NE for the weekend. I'm starting to think I should sell my house and become a gypsy. I think I'd like it.

Some pictures from my trips are here.

***** Debbie, I'm sorry I didn't get a note sent out for your birthday! It dawned on me once I was out at camp and I didn't have any internet connection. Trust that I was thinking about you! I hope H did it up right. Oh and I'd love to see a blog post about those new puppies. Though, who am I to ask for a blog post!

Let me Catch up

2009-06-04T14:50:00.004-05:00

My niece and me at her graduation

In the past few months I've:

Worked hard to get through tax season
All my free time has been devoted to my family and friend
Either traveled or had company every other weekend since the end of March
Kids participated in LTC (Leadership Training for Christ) again this year
Knit almost nothing. 1 baby bib. I haven't even woven in the ends.

Oh man someone cut that hair!

Things you would be shocked to know:

I've cooked very little since January. That is almost 6 months of eating whatever. What happened to the days of fresh bread and culinary delights?
The knitting...very little. I'm going camping this weekend and I don't even have anything to bring with me to knit. I was on Raverly today and found some projects to start but I don't have any yarn. Why am I not a stasher? And the chances of me getting out to a yarn shop before I leave are 3%. I've been tempted to call Wayne in my knitting group to see what he has that I could buy. Sad.
I did plant my herbs garden but have done very little with it. Thank goodness for square ft gardening or else it would be a total loss.

Things that haven't changed:

I still do very little house cleaning. Wow is that all that hasn't changed? No wonder I haven't blogged. I don't have anything to report. :)

Life is good though. The kids are still the perfect blend of entertaining and frustrating. Getting older and wiser (cough) everyday. I added some pictures to assure you that all is well. Those of you in Kansas know that all ready but those of you in Canada might need some reassurance.

I remembered my password!

2009-04-24T11:58:00.002-05:00

My knitting buddies were right. It has been a long time since I posted. Life is good. Kids are good. Joy #2's hair is still growing strong. I'm headed out to Women Walking with God conference in Wichita this weekend. I'll think of something interesting to post about when I get back.

Oh, I lost my knitting mojo. I hope to find it soon...

(Mary don't you dare post a comment!)

2 weeks and 16 rows later

2009-02-24T20:23:00.002-06:00

My four rows a week is adding up. Slowly but surely...
Only 2 more weeks left of Snow Creek and then life will be a little more normal. A little more time in the evenings to do the things I enjoy.
It's not all work and no play though. I'm taking the weekend off to hang out with some friends who are coming to town for a visit. I am so looking forward to it!
Joy #2 turns 12 Thursday.

What I can do. What I can't do.

2009-02-11T13:01:00.002-06:00

Things are great here. Busy but great. This tax season is different than all the rest. Mostly because I'm working a weird schedule so that I can continue to fulfill my commitment out at Snow Creek. The ski season will be over by March 15th so I only have about a month let of this. Because of the weird schedule and just overall business of work I've come to the conclusion that some things have to fall by the wayside. And honestly they make me pretty sad.

I can eat, but I can't cook dinner. We've been eating out or fending for ourselves. I miss real food. My mom has brought me lunch and dinner a couple of times and that was great.
I can only knit about 4 rows a week. This is a total bummer. So no project will really get worked on until after March 15th. I really miss my knitting.
Housework is out of the question but as a collective we've been able to make sure the laundry is mostly done weekly and the kitchen has gotten cleaned once a week. My house smells like stinky dog but once you're there for awhile you get used to it.
Homemade V-day gifts were a crazy, unrealistic idea.

Other than having to curb anything domestic related things are swell. Really, I'm living a man's life right now only he would come home to a clean house with dinner on the table. I've only got time for work and for family and that's all I need. I have no guilt whatsoever that my house is dirty. Only a little sadness for not having enough time to enjoy homemaking. And here is the difference from me and many other women out there. They beat themselves up for not getting to it all. I accept the fact that my time is well spent providing for my family and as long as I get to enjoy my kids I could care less if the dog chewed up a styrofoam cup and it's been laying on the landing for 4 days. It's obviously not bothering anyone else or else they would have picked it up right?

Frogging

2009-02-04T07:09:00.002-06:00

I do not like the boot socks I'm knitting for Joy #2. I can't remember ever chucking a whole project. However, the time is come to make peace with the fact that I don't like the boot socks. I've knit one and I just don't like it. Maybe it's the wool I'm using (Knit Picks Swish), it's very soft and squishy but is not giving me the kind of fabric I think boot socks should have. So I'm frogging it and now need to find something else.

I still like the idea of socks but I don't know if I can whip a pair out by V-Day. And because I don't stash, I'll have to make them using leftovers of what I do have. I like the idea of homemade V day presents but homemade for boys is hard.

Ah, what to do, what to do.

Finish, Progress, Started

2009-02-02T08:10:00.004-06:00

Finish: I've finished a tea scarf for my friend Shay. We had Joy #1's sweet 16 party at her family home. She was such a big help at the party that I wanted to make her something. That and the fact that the Christmas goodies I made her never got to her and we had to eat them before they went stale. :)

Progress: I picked this lovely up again this weekend. I worked on it for hours on Saturday and am now at the back neck decreases. Sadly, this knitting needs focus and I won't get a chance to focus on it again until next weekend. I'm also really hoping it fits!

Started: Boot Socks for Joy #2 for Valentine's Day. I'm using Knit Picks Swish. It's very weird knitting socks in worsted weight. I'm not sure I like it at all. But you can't make boot socks out of fingering weight yarn. Here's hoping I get them done by V-Day!

Hemlock Ring Blanket

2009-01-24T11:54:00.004-06:00

Pre-blocking state:

I couldn't resist trying it on as a hat.

Blocking:

Hemlock Ring Blanket : 5.25 skeins of Wool of the Andes Bulky, taupe

The color looks kind of boring in the pictures. It's still plain in real life but not nearly as boring. I really liked knitting this. And somehow I finished it within 2 weeks. I hope it blocks quickly because it's on my bed. I don't really want to sleep on the couch tonight.

Those final 5 rows take forever!

2009-01-23T11:57:00.002-06:00

I am so close to finishing the Hemlock Ring Blanket! I've been working on the last 5 rows since Tuesday!

Tuesday, 5 rows from the cast off (which I imagine will take a while with so many stitches) I broke my cable to my needles. Yep! It was exciting. I was sitting on my sons bed watching StarDust with him when it broke. I did my best to not freak out and loose all those stitches. I hollered for a circular needle, any circular needle STAT! Joy #2 ran to my room and brought me one back before things got ugly. Now that I think about it, I'm pretty impressed he knew what a circular was. I didn't drop many stitches but I didn't have anything big enough to use to finish up the knitting.

The next day I was able to borrow a large, cable for my Boyd Knitting set from Sandra and was back on track.

Last night I managed to complete 2.5 whole rows at knit night. Now I've got 2.5 left to knit. It's all straight knitting from here and then the cast off. I hope to finish knitting on Saturday and block on Sunday!

I'm so glad I took the plunge on this one. I think I'm gonna love it! Next up I'm going to make so V-Day Presents for my Joy's. Another pair of socks for Joy #2 and a bag for Joy #1.

One FO and One Blob

2009-01-18T16:42:00.002-06:00

Noro Cash Island Scarf. 1X1 ribbing My favorite scarf to date. It is so soft!

And here is my hemlock ring blanket blob. I'm up to a 350 + stitches on the needles. This is still flying off the needles considering how little time I've had to knit on it. I can't wait for the magic of blocking lace.

My freak out in Aldi's

2009-01-17T20:41:00.002-06:00

Today, amongst the long list of things I needed to take care of I decided to go to Aldi grocery store. I haven't been to Aldi's in a long time, about a year. It was right by 2 other stores I needed to go to.

Let me back up...since the spring I have done my best to eat real food. Nothing packaged, boxed, canned, or food like products. I've been cooking from scratch and eating from the garden. I had read Animal, Miracle, Vegetable, and the 100 mile diet last winter and those books opened my eyes to what food really is. I'm not a fanatic. I eat what people cook for me but when I shop I buy real food. I didn't realize how ingrained this has been for me until I tried to shop in Aldi's.

I got my cart and started down the isles. I picked up this and that, mostly packaged foods that I haven't bought in a year. As I continued to shop, I started feeling like yuck! I don't want to eat any of this stuff. Yuck don't they sell real food here? I had my moment when I was in the frozen food section looking at BBQ ribs in a box. It was then and there that I realized, I didn't want any of this food. I didn't have much in my cart so I just pushed it to the side and walked off and out to my car, with the quarter still in the cart. I got in my car and went home.

I, my friends, am a wacko. And I'm ok with it. Somewhere between cooking from scratch and picking up my farm produce over the past year I've come up with a standard that I can't sink below. No matter how hungry I am I'd prefer a banana and cheese for dinner to bbq ribs in a box. So I'm sticking with my regular grocery store where I can buy what I want and dream of the garden that will be here before I know it.

This is the year I'm starting the strawberry patch!

Oh, and my sincerest public apology to Joy #2 who in fact did not misplace the camera but instead found it under a cushion of the chair. Pictures to come!

Checking In

2009-01-14T14:04:00.003-06:00

Our camera is still MIA. I have no idea where it is. I suspect Joy #2 used it and forgot it somewhere but he swears it wasn't him.

I've been wearing my Noro scarf and I love it! It is so soft and beautiful. It looks like this only finished. (man I really want to know where our camera is)

I'm cranking out the Hemlock Ring Blanket. I finished the middle flower part in a flash and now I am now working on the fan and feather portion. I'd say I'm 50% done based on how much yarn I've used. There isn't much time to knit in the evenings anymore. The real job is kicking my behind this week. I hope to work on Saturday and get everything caught up so next week won't be so intense.

It is freezing here. Really, negative degrees and all. I don't know how those poor people wearing acrylic are making it!

I don't know what's got into me

2009-01-10T10:43:00.003-06:00

I finished the beautiful and soft Noro scarf. I love it! No picture because our camera is MIA. I surprised myself with this project. As I've said, I don't enjoy scarf projects. They drag on and on and 1X1 ribbing I thought would be a pain. I had fully intended to dread the process and love the product. Surprisingly, I love the process AND the product. Weird.

To top that one I've casted on for the Hemlock Ring blanket. This one I've had in my queue for awhile but knit a blanket? that's just crazy!! I learned to crochet last spring so I could make an afghan since "There is no way I would ever knit a blanket." Yet, here I am on row 14 and I'm excited. And guess what I'm using to knit it?

Wool. So not only am I knitting something I thought I never would I'm using a fiber that I will have to hand wash. I am totally off my rocker here.

Who knows what's next! I'll probably crochet a toilet cozy soon.

Swee16

2009-01-08T13:48:00.003-06:00

Here are a few pictures of "the party". A great time was had by all. Joy #1 had a friend come in from NE and stay the weekend. Between the main event and taking them to every shopping center in a 25 mile radius they wore me out! I was glad to get to the office that Monday so I could get some rest.

Ahh rest. I'm already looking forward to resting in April once tax season is over! Funny 'cause it hasn't even really started yet. Working out at the resort is turning out well. At first I was overwhelmed but I cut back my hours and now have a pretty good system. Joy #2 is enjoying getting a lot of time in at the slopes. He skied with the college age crowd last night and taught a couple of them to ski down the hill backwards. (Why?Why, I ask you does anyone need to ski backwards?) It was funny seeing him instructing grown men last night. That kid's got confidence. Before those of you think he's just off meeting who knows who, Snow Creek is heavily staffed and I've made sure all the key people know who he is from hill manager to restaurant.

I have been knitting. I am a few rows from casting off my Noro Scarf. It is beautiful and shockingly I've enjoyed knitting it. I thought the 1X1 ribbing was going to drag on forever. I don't know if it's because of the yarn or because I needed something simple these few weeks but I'd cast on for another if I had the yarn. That's saying something because I am NOT a scarf knitter!

The Giraffe Purse is to die for

2008-12-31T07:18:00.002-06:00

Hi. How ya been? Have a good Christmas? Our Christmas was a great, whirlwind. That's what happens when you have lots of family close by, friends in town, and special birthdays to celebrate. Joy #1's sweet 16 was special. She was spoiled rotten not only by me but by others who love her. I'm waiting to get the photos back from my friend who was the photographer for the evening. I knew I wouldn't get many pictures so I made sure someone would! I will write out a full post later so I can remember the night and how much fun we had. Here's a shot. You can't tell but she is opening a beautiful, diamond, snowflake necklace from my brother and sister in law.

Last night I met Leah (from Knitting Giraffe) and her mom in Shawnee Mission. She is in town for the holidays and I was lucky enough to get to meet her for coffee. We knit and chatted and it was nice to be able to sit still for a couple of hours. I'm so glad we were able to meet up. It's fun to meet Internet people! I've now met the Yarn Harlot and Leah. :)

And I've started a new project. A Noro Scarf out of the Noro Cash Island. It is so soft, must be the cashmere. :) I'm not much of a scarf knitter but this one is moving along. It's the yarn.

Thank You Santa!

2008-12-25T11:41:00.002-06:00

A stocking full of Noro Cash Island.

Thing that I've really enjoyed this Christmas

2008-12-23T13:37:00.004-06:00

I can only remember one Christmas that stressed me out and I felt like I couldn't get anything done. It was a few years ago and if I remember correctly the holiday fell on a weekend. I was jiped of those extra weekend days to get shopping and baking done. Thank goodness Christmas falls in the middle of the week this year.

I am really enjoying this holiday season this year. I don't know if it is because Joy #1 is jazzed up for her birthday or if it's because I'm sharing it with you all. This year I've done some additional stuff that I feel is extra and I do if I want to. Now I'm wondering if these things should be manditory and the rest is extra.

Example A: Christmas Cards. I have never sent out Christmas cards, EVER. Shame on me I know but I've never been a great card sender. I've always thought that this was time consuming, expensive, and a pain. Guess what!? It's not! I had so much fun putting the cards together, addressing them, and putting a surprise inside. I don't know if I got everybody I should have but when people popped in my head they went on the list.

Example B: Giving gifts and tokens to neighbors. I knitted a special hat for my neighbor who does more yard work in my yard than I do. He techinically isn't my neighbor since he doesn't live next door. His mom lives next to me and he comes over and takes care of her yard and throws mine in when he can. The fun of this gift is that he was not expecting it. I love giving gifts to people who you wouldn't (or I wouldn't) normally give to. I also gave baked goodies to his mom and my other neighbor across the street.

Example C: This is another example of giving a gift to someone who doesn't expect one. My mailman. I remember my mom used to always give our mail carrier fudge. It was the norm and somehow we've (I've) gotten away from the norm. I put a card thanking him for delivering even when we don't shovel or get rid of our ice very well and when the dog barks at him. He also got a package of baked goodies. It was so much fun to think how shocked he was at our package. I've lived there 7 years and have always had the same mailman. He wasn't expecting anything from me. Trust me.

I hope you all are having as merry a season as I am. And if not...go find someone who looks wipe out and buy them some coffee. Then you'll find the merry that I've got!

Gearing Up

2008-12-21T18:37:00.002-06:00

Behind the scenes...getting things done...

Ski mask knit for the boy CHECK (pictures later)
Another mitten on the needles CHECK
Christmas baking CHECK
Most presents purchased CHECK
Christmas Eve party planned CHECK

Still need to do

Wrap Presents
Tie up loose end for Sweet 16 party
Finish up Holiday Cards

I love the holidays! I think it's because I don't stress out easily. Merry Christmas and I plan on photographing the recent knits soon!

Grandma's Snowflake

2008-12-17T21:23:00.003-06:00

Many years ago at a Christmas party my grandmother gifted several crocheted snowflakes to whoever wanted one. My grandma has created a large family ( 6 children, 19? grandchildren, more great-grans than I can count!). Obviously, she doesn't gift to everyone, that would be insane. Instead she would make something or give out calendars. I have always treasured the snowflake.

This year when putting up the tree I pondered Grandma's snowflake. Hmm, I wondered if I could find a pattern and make my own snowflake. That same week, Colleen at my knit night brought us a snowflake crochet pattern. Her timing couldn't have been more perfect!

Let it Snow Doily by Susan Lowman; AuntLydia's bamboo crochet thread natural (Sorry for the blurry photo)

I have made 2 snowflakes so far. I'm not sure how many more are in my future. This snowflake thing was harder than I thought! Crocheting into tiny stitches was not soothing. The second went much faster/better. And thank goodness, once you get them wet and block them everything smooths out and it looks like a snowflake!

Grandma's snowflake browned with age.

Thanks for coming by. I'm enjoying blogging through the holidays. Someday when I'm older and have forgotten the little things I hope to look back and remember.

Random knitting

2008-12-16T10:13:00.002-06:00

I had a little bit of Telemark still left after crocheting the scarf so I decided to make a cowl.

I'm almost out of yarn (since I don't stash) and am out of ideas of things to knit. I will be at a conference Thursday and Friday will ample knitting time. I guess I'll need to start something new. Another pair of mittens?

2 More extra knits down

2008-12-15T09:44:00.002-06:00

I finished up Tess's mitered mitts Friday evening.
I'm dreaming about another pair of these in Noro. How many mittens do I really need? I've only have 4 pairs. Last year I knit 10 pairs of mittens. I was shocked when I looked at my Ravelry notebook and saw that I have made 10 in 2008, though I only kept 1, so far this year. There are still a few weeks left in 2008.

I also whipped out this scarf.
I've been dreaming about making this scarf. It's crocheted using several balls of Knit Picks Telemark. It is hard to get a good picture of this scarf, not that I usually take good pictures but this one looks great in person.

I made it with the intention of keeping it. However, as I was working on it I decided I'd take it to our ladies holiday party tonight. We do a gift exchange/steal game at our party so I may just choose my own gift, unless there is something better I want!

I had a little amount left of the Telemark so I started a cowl. Never not knitting around here. :)

PS) Did you know there are only 10 days until Christmas? Isn't that crazy!?

Christmas Traditions

2008-12-13T12:06:00.005-06:00

A long time ago I told you about Joy #1 and my Christmas stockings. Remember? Well, to refresh the newcomers, Joy #1 and I are both born in December. We were also born at the same hospital. Actually all 3 of us were born at the same hospital but just Joy 1 and I in December. I digress...The hospital gives every baby born in December a stocking that is big enough for the baby to fit in. It is so sweet to see a tiny newborn in the stocking. I came home in my stocking and so did Joy #1. We use our hospital stockings every year. There has never been another stocking for me or Joy #1. These are very special to us.

Joy #2 was born in February therefore he did not have a hospital stocking. He uses a stocking my mom made and gave us many years before he was born. It is a cute little stocking but he's always been kinda bummed that he didn't have a hospital stocking. I think it's because you can get a whole lot in our stockings.

Well, this year when I was getting out our stockings I had an idea. Why not make Joy #2 a stocking to match our hospital stockings? I don't know why I've never thought about it before. What a simple solution!

So I did!

I love the way it turned out. I think the green is masculine. I am going to wait to put it up on Christmas eve though. I think he'll be surprised and appreciate it more if I wait. I love it when my ideas turn out!

Succeeding & Exceling

2008-12-12T08:41:00.004-06:00

I am doing really well completing my Christmas knitting! I have 2 knitting lists, the have to finish as a gift and the wouldn't it be nice to make lists. Well, I am proud to say that I have completed the first "need to get done list" and have moved on to the "wouldn't it be nice" list!

Must Knit for Christmas:

The wouldn't it be nice list has only item on it right now. That is the beauty of the wouldn't it be nice. When I finish one, then I think about another and jump right in.

Wouldn't it be nice to knit:

Mitered mittens for Tess (business partner) in progress
What ever else I feel like making and gifting :)

Someday I'll have to get back to the Ivy League Vest. I'm loving the quick projects right now! I hope you all are having as good a luck with your Christmas knitting and crafting!

Trying not to brag

2008-12-11T10:55:00.002-06:00

My birthday was great! My girl went out of her way to make my day special. We had planned to have tea and presents when I got home yesterday evening. She had the table set with the good china, had the water boiling for the tea, and even made me a cake. Joy #1 made the best egg nog cake ever. Very moist and delicious. I've never even heard of an egg nog cake but she saw it as a footnote in the cookbook and decided to give it a try. Yum.

I received many lovely gifts yesterday which was a nice surprise! I received a poinsettia, 2 books: Tales of Beedle the Bard & Harry, A History (love), a warm and beautiful robe, bookstore gift certificate, a Dora the explorer video (Joy #1 is soooo funny), and beautiful handmade cards from my friend Bonnie. This is the second year Bonnie has made me cards and she out did herself this year. They are so beautiful!

Gayle & Del out did themselves too! Gayle asked for my grocery shopping list and did my grocery shopping to include putting the groceries away for me. She said they were trying to give practical gifts this year. She saved me at least 1 hour if not more of my time this week! Awesome. My mom also gave me a meal from Social Suppers. Having dinners ready and planned will be so nice the next couple of weeks!

Ok, so maybe I did brag a little. Only on the people who were kind to me on my birthday and made it special! Thank you Janai, Donnie, Mom, Del & Gayle, Toby & Jenni, Bonnie, Debbie, Wendy, Bob, and Tess. I love you, too!