Motivational Monday

This is how I spent my morning coffee... transforming and reflecting. 

Over on Ravelry, in the HPKCHC group, I get asked to make a lot of robes.  Those would be Ravatars to noncastle folk.. avatars to nonRavelry folk.. and profile pictures for those really not in my little world.  I honestly love to do it too... and sometimes, I get really lucky and the vision in my head comes out perfectly.

A First Year asked if I could simply give Jessica there some pinky purple hair to match her own hair in real life, natural color of course.  Well, this Firstie is in the noble house of Slytherin so naturally, I had to take it to the next level and the final results tickled me to no end.  Thankfully, they tickled her too.

There are times in our lives when a transformation happens that we aren't even initially aware of wanting or needing but when it and the realization come around, it sure does feel good.

Sunday Snaps

The West Wing... Granny Bedspread... not a bad time of it at all.

Weekend Wonderment

My weekend will spend underneath one of these... because I seem to be in blanket mode!

And for the less artistic version of this set up so you can see what exactly it is that I'll be working on all weekend, I give you this...

One keeps growing and the other is modular so I can get a sense of completion.  It's a good mix.

Nibbles and Narratives

I am absolutely loving this book!

I had to go to the doctor earlier this week.  It was for test results - she put an A+ on my report and asked if I studied hard, love her sense of humor - so I had a long wait but it was my fault.  I wasn't sure of the time so I ended up an hour early. Thank goodness I had stopped by a store for Starbucks and a book.  I knew I would be waiting but I had forgotten my book... which is curious and also not because I'm not really into it at the moment.  I've read it before so it's okay.  I want to read it but I'm not getting sucked in like I usually do so I decided to put it down and get a different book.. and then I walked out of the house without any book at all.

This was a quick grab and go shopping moment so I picked up two titles.  One is a Debbie Macomber that I will be reading once I'm done this one... this other new one... which is entitled "Death Comes to Pemberley".  Oh my goodness, I got sucked in right away and it's interesting too because they have it set up in the beginning where you don't necessarily have to have read "Pride and Prejudice", another favorite of mine.  Now, keep in mind that I don't read as quickly as my father or husband so I'm not halfway done or anything but I've just gotten to the moment where Lydia arrives in typical Lydia fashion and I despise her just as much now as I did before so that is a sign that things are written rather well.  I can't wait to see what comes next!

This whoops turned out to be a WHOOPY!

As far as the nibbles section goes, I've got a wonderful tip to share about a supper gone horribly wrong.  Yesterday, I made the roast my mother had put in our freezer a week or so ago.  My husband swears it was a "boston butt" so we'll go with that.. all I know is that I cooked it like I always do - in my crockpot with a bit of water, Worcestershire sauce, minced onions, ground mustard, garlic, salt and a dash of pepper.  I slow cooked it from frozen, just like always - putting it on at 8 a.m. and letting it fill the house with the aroma of yummy goodness so you're ready to gnaw off your own hand by supper time.  The only difference was, this time it was dry!  I have never made a dry roast so I immediately put the leftover Cowboy Lasagna from the day before in the oven and was heartbroken that I had somehow ruined supper.

Now, my husband, being the adventurous soul that he is, took the ruined roast and went to town.  He shredded it, slathered it in barbeque sauce and called it a success... and he was right!  We're having it for lunch today on some Hawaiian rolls - little BBQ Sliders.  So the next time you fear that you have ruined the roast because it came out dry - and trust me, it can apparently happen regardless of how long you've been making roasts - do as Pokey did... rip it to shreds, drown it in sauce and enjoy the best little sliders around.

Wednesday Wound-Up

Not too girly and not too masculine

Last night, I tried to be good.

I did, I swear.

I told myself that I already bought the yarn and so if I did my swatch that I could use it for my OWL instead of the gingerbread house... but I couldn't help myself.  It was just too much fun to stop and I was loving it to no end.  The simplicity of it all and the idea of what it will become just took over... I may need help.

What started out as skeins of innocent yarn waiting patiently, magically turned into this last night... 

It's not like I did a lot... it's going to be a queen size bedspread so it will take a while... in theory anyway.

14 rounds and over a foot of bedspread started... all by itself.

Well, I helped... a little.

For Pokey

Because it's important to tell those you love exactly how much you love them... every single day.

Motivational Monday

Last week was not the most fabulous for me but I have decided that this week will make up for it.  I have project ideas, cooking thoughts and general tomfoolery that will make this week simply wonderful.

Sunday Snaps

Tinkerbell is finally realizing that she gets to stay with us forever... she's settling in perfectly...

Hobbit's birthday was this past Thursday.  She purposefully had a dental appointment because she loves her dentist!

Then we went home, had supper and enjoyed some yummy cupcakes before she spent the weekend with my mama.

Little miss Tink got her first homemade toy.  I think it's safe to say that it was a super successful kind of thing.

This is my next super huge project and I'm going to submit it for my OWL this Spring term over on the HPKCHC.

Coming through the other side

I have apparently needed a break.  This week has been very stressful - both good and bad in nature.  I had a jury summons on Monday that left me in the final breakdown of possible jurors for a capital murder trial that has left me with nightmares this week and feeling more than a bit unsettled.  I had a lot of things to finish up for Hobbit's birthday yesterday, including finishing crafting two of her presents!  We are in the beginning stages of a legal battle with our old bank for fraud and mismanagement of funds which has left us beyond broke and more exhausted - mentally, emotionally and physically - than usual.

All of these things left me empty when it came to writing.  I did not want to share my troubles, as they are larger than life to me, and I just didn't have enough happy to fill the space... or so I thought.  Then I took stock and realized, I had a whole lot of happy that just needed face time.

Did you know that through the kindness of complete strangers, we were gifted $150 at exactly the most perfect time that I fell to my knees, crying and thanking God for a miracle?  Did you know that through the kindness of complete strangers, little presents appeared in my Ravelry world in the form of patterns that I had on my wishlist?  Did you know that through the kindness of friends, I have received notes of support, encouragement and love?  I didn't share what was going on or anything... they all just must have known or felt that something wasn't quite right in my world.

Do you know that I don't think I could have made it through without each and every one of my little guardian angels... thank you so very much for all that you have done for me this past week.  I love y'all.

Sunday Snaps

Tinkerbell would like to say hello and wish y'all a wonderful week full of purr-fect moments

I went through my photographs for the week and they were all birthday present oriented so I couldn't post anything... with the exception of a few images of Tinkerbell so that is why she is here today... plus, who can resist that sweet face!

An interesting side note - I shared some photos of her, this one included, in one of my groups on Ravelry and her coloring - fur and eyes - inspired one of my friends to attempt to dye some yarn in a colorway that matches her.  How cool is that?!?  She said that if she is successful, she'll send me one.  I have my fingers crossed that she has the most awesome luck and is totally pleased with her results.

Truly Blessed

You know who you are and what you've done - and I will never forget it.  I am truly blessed.

The Bright Spot

It's supposed to be grey and dreary all weekend long - so I'm going to be adding my own burst of springtime colors.

Nibbles and Narratives

Random act of Hufflepuffness arrived at my house today - oh how I love my Hufflepuff friends!

This may look odd to some but trust me, it was the best thing in the world to me.  Just before Easter, I was talking in my cete, the Honey Badgers for the HPKCHC in the humble house of Hufflepuff, and we were discussing our favorite candies that come out this time of year.  One of my cete mates mentioned these Cadbury Flake bars and even showed a photo of them.  I died.  I mean look at it - all that light airy Cadbury goodness... and they weren't anywhere to be found in my area.

Fast forward to today, just after the mail had been delivered.  I received a package from California and inside was the best treat a girl could imagine... a sweet postcard and the aforementioned Flake candy bars - four of them!!  My jaw dropped, my eyes (and mouth) watered and my heart swelled.

It's so nice to be randomly thought of by someone whom you've never met... random acts of Hufflepuffness are the best.  Now, I am of to dive into my tasty treat and plot a way to pay it forward...

Wednesday Wound-Up

It's been a sweat shop around these parts, I swear.  Here is a peek at what all I've been doing...

Not a lot of help but I would hate to give anything away.  I've got one more thing to finish and then I'll be all done!

Tuesday Tunes

I love this song but then again, Blake could just sing the phone book and I'd cheer.

Motivational Monday

Isn't it funny how the simplest of truths can get lost over time.

I keep dreaming of all these things that I want but unless I start working harder at them, they just won't materialize.  So now the time has come when I have to decide what is just a dream and what is worth the reality.

Sunday Snaps

I made a couple of super cute bunnies that made two very special people extra happy this Easter.

Hobbit had a pretty stellar Easter morning...

and a pretty awesome Easter afternoon as we went to visit my mama and my great aunt came up too.

Made a little progress on my super huge afghan.

I got some new pretty things, all thanks to my mama's generosity with her Kohl's cash.

Tinkerbell has integrated nicely into our family.  She's always with me and I love her dearly.

I learned how to make bread and it is honestly just slapyourmama delicious!

I finished one of three doll blankets for Hobbit's birthday next Thursday.

I also learned a new casserole that super tasty... so with that, it's been a most extraordinary week!

My mama and my great aunt are coming down for lunch today - should be fun.  Must do a final run through of the house to make sure all is in order.  Hopefully I will be able to work on the second doll blanket for Hobbit's birthday.  I've been able to do them in front of her because she keeps asking if they're baby blankets and I can honestly say yes... they are - for her babies.  Won't she be surprised next Thursday when she sees they were all for her birthday!

You know that moment...

I'm so stinking proud of this stuff I can't even being to describe it.  I needed one good thing this week.. this is it.

in "Castaway" when Tom Hanks stands up and yells "I have made fire!" and he's all proud?  Yeah, that's me but I have made bread!  The recipe said that it was foolproof and they didn't lie. The crust is crunchy goodness like it should be and the inside looks so soft... and it smells like heaven. 

If heaven has a smell, it's fresh baked bread, I swear.

When the going gets tough...

Look at it... I made that... with my own two hands... me.

Have you ever just had such a week that was so "ugh"... where all you wanted to do was throw your hands in the air and holler "I want a do-over!"?  It worked when we were kids... do-overs were miraculous things.  They righted wrongs and set the world back proper.  No one ever questioned the need, they were just automatically granted because you wouldn't ask for one if you didn't honestly need one.

Without going into the long sob story of what went wrong all during the week, I'll just pick up after my good long cry.  Yep, that's what I said, a good long cry.  It was necessary and when I decided I was done, I was done... and I set to do what I always seem to do when my world feels chaotic and out of control - I cleaned and baked.

My mama does this and when I was younger, I thought she was bonkers but I get it now.  When everything is wildly out of control, it helps - mainly because it puts you back in control of something.  So after the aforementioned cry, I scrubbed my kitchen top to bottom... then I wrote out my menu plan for April (yes, the entire month), then I wrote out my grocery list for the week and went to the store for my tiny bit of supplies.  Then, after getting Hobbit from school and putting up the groceries, I went on my own adventure.

It's the little things that bring back peace and comfort.

So like the old saying goes - when the going gets tough, the tough make bread.  What's that?  They don't make bread?  They get going?  Rubbish!  The going for me had gotten tough (oh you have no idea how tough) but me, being tough, I have decided to learn how to make bread.  It is currently rising on my counter top and I will soon have to punch it down, seal it and place it in my fridge overnight.  Tomorrow, I will attempt to actually make my first ever loaf of real, honest to goodness bread.

It's nice to know that no matter how chaotic, crazy and out of control the world may become, I can always count on being able to make something, anything, and it will calm me right back down.  Some days it's crafting, some days it's writing and some days it's getting my hands dirty in the kitchen.  Some days, like today, it just takes all three.

Weekend Wonderment ~ 4/4 - 4/7

24 of these... 8 green, 8 purple, and 8 red.  All done in super secret because they're a birthday present.

That's what I'm working on all weekend long - and I can't even just work on them because Hobbit will see and then she'll figure it out which will ruin her birthday surprise.  I only have 13 days left until her birthday so that's 12 days to get it all done... and to make it better, I have been summoned for jury duty on the 15th so if y'all could send up some powerful good thoughts about there being no cases on the docket so no jurors are needed, I'd be awfully grateful.

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend - anything exciting planned?

The adventure has begun!

source

I finally had a nice chunk of time to properly start my book.  Now I know it's not the first time I've read it... shoot, it's not even the second time honestly, but I seem to be discovering a lot of new things this time around that I had not noticed previously.  It could be due to my age or it could be my brain attempting to find discrepancies between it and the film... whatever it is, it's interesting and a tad distracting honestly.  Oh well, forgotten pocket handkerchiefs aside, the adventure has begun!

Today, I have some ground beef thawing for supper and I was searching for something to make with it because I'm burned out on what I usually make so I did what anyone else in my shoes would do now... I went to Pinterest!  Thank goodness for my Foodie Galore board or else I would be floundering today.  When I popped over there, this was the first thing to catch my eye that matched my stores - Mexican Beef Casserole.  Oh yeah, this is what's for supper tonight and I'm going to 'cheat' a little bit.  I'll share but don't tell - instead of all the tomato paste, olives, garlic, etc I'm just opening up a packet of taco seasoning and using it.  The rest is going to be the same (maybe) and I'll add a side salad to cool it off. 

I promise to report back if it's any good and if I tweak it any further then y'all will be the first to know.

Wednesday Wound-Up

Ever try to take covert photographs of covert crafting in the wee hours of the morning... yeah, doesn't really work, does it.

Hobbit's birthday is coming up - two Thursdays after next actually - and I've somehow gotten a bit behind.  I wanted to make doll blankets for her triple bunk bed that my folks got for her but I kept thinking that I had time... then I ran out of time!  I made one earlier for Quidditch but the longer it sits around, the more I don't really like it.  I might use it in a pinch if I can't get these done though.

The yellow thing is a new blanket idea - one long strip of grannys - but I'm thinking of ripping it out since I started it so late because it doesn't look good to me now.  The four square item at the top is hopefully a table cloth for her doll table and chair set that my folks got as well.  I have no idea if it will fit or not... if not, one of her dolls now has a woobie.  That little white square is an idea that I just think will break my heart because... well.. it's white... and Hobbit is... well... messy.  It is currently just sitting there, mocking me.

Can you see my bigger project in the back there?  My afghan that I've been working on?  No, oh... here's an updated shot I took yesterday -

This is covert too because the recipient doesn't know that they are in fact the recipient at all so this is where my time has gone.

I must run - time to get ready to face the day and as soon as I get Hobbit off to school, I have to get back to crafting!

Tuesday Tunes

I've got the day to myself... everyone is back to work and school. Ahhh, routine... how I've missed you!!

Motivational Monday

You thought I was going to do something prankster like and join in on the April Fool's, didn't you... nope, not me. I don't like being tricked - it's too mean spirited for me.  I prefer to focus on the beauty of the day instead of making other people feel somehow stupid or ridiculous or frightened... must be why I don't like Halloween much either because it carries many of the same traits.

Anywho, this is my week - copious amounts of coffee and lots of crochet while surrounded by the beauty of Spring!  I have some upcoming birthdays and unfinished crafts which is never a good coupling.  Thankfully, Hobbit goes back to school tomorrow so things will be back to normal around here... although I do believe I will be taking a more relaxed approach to this week as we ease ourselves back into our routines.

Although, in 4 weeks Peanut will be home for good and in 8 weeks Hobbit will be out of school for Summer Break... I can't help but get just a little excited, can I!