Chase your joy

I have decided that 2019 is the year that I chase my joy. Life is too short to do things that don't bring you joy... and I am supporting others with the same mindset. To that end, let me introduce you to John.

John is the brother of a dear friend of mine. If you run around Ravelry and spend time along the corridors of a certain castle, you know her as Stenojoz. She has the most caring and giving soul that you could ever dream of knowing. It doesn't matter what is going on with her - and trust me, life has tossed her some pretty craptastic lemons - she is there to make sure everyone around her is okay. Her kind and generous nature must be a family trait because her brother shares it... along with her crazy creative spirit.

So when this sweet family asked if would be willing to lend a hand in getting his little creative endeavor off the ground, I was not going to say no! Look this art he created... and it speaks volumes that he gets how much knitting and crocheting truly are healing tools that keep us grounded. I always say that my number one anxiety medication is knitting.

The shirts are generously sized and so very soft! He sent me a 3x because that is what I always get but honestly, I think I should have gotten just a 2x. It is soft, roomy, and just the perfect color for me. Purple is Pokey's favorite color so you know he tried to steal it from me. I told him the minute he crafted me something, I would share.

John is waiting for you to come and see what all he has waiting for you. You can follow him on his Facebook page as or on Instagram to get a sneak peek at all his crazy new designs.

As an added bonus, he was sweet enough to give y'all a discount! Just check out his shop, order your shirt (or mug, or bag, or sweatshirt), and use the code "MYTHERAPY" at check out to receive 12% off your order!! This code is good until Mother's Day, May 12th but don't delay. I know that I see a bag in my future, as well as my mama's.

Wednesday Wound-Up

Ahhh, Wednesdays... the day where I gather up all of my projects that are in progress and pass judgement on them. "I love working on you". "You are still in time out and I hope you are thinking about what you've done". "Hello, new beautiful project". You may be smiling, giggling even, but you know you do the same thing at some point. So what do I have going on - all of this...

We will start with the oldest first - my Henslowe Shawl. Still love it, just need a break from it. I'll pick her up again soon.

Next is Pork Swinewalker, whom I would like to finish for Pokey for our anniversary. I'll work on him this weekend.

My GGB Socks are on hold while I learn how to do either an afterthought heel or a fish lips kiss heel. Need brain power.

My February Lady Sweater has a completed body and is just needing sleeves to be picked up. I'm thinking this weekend.

I cast this on yesterday because I will need a shrug for my sundresses at work. I hope to have it done before the month is out.

Those are all of my current WIPs wound up in one tidy spot. I hope to have new updates for you on them next week. I have no idea how my crafting time will work out since I just went back to work full time outside of the house. I can tell you, last night when I rolled in the door at midnight, I did not feel like knitting at all. Hopefully, once I get used to it, that will change.

What all do you have laying around on your hooks and needles?

First Saturday

That's what I like to call today since I've been working four ten-hour shifts with Wednesdays off. I have "First Fridays" and "First Saturdays" which are very quickly followed by the standard Fridays and Saturdays. "First Saturdays" are generally for cleaning and errand running. Currently, I have four loads of laundry ticked off my list and during that time, I completed a hat.

Yep, that's two hats and two coffee collars so far this month. Not too shabby since I wrote out my game plan for the month. So far, I have turned in homework for DADA, Charms, Flying, and now Herbology.

Thotful Spot Hat is a pattern by Sarah Schira/Imagined Landscapes.

Next up, I am going to make some covers for two pillow forms that I picked up at JoAnn's with my mama. I am narrowing it down from a few cute granny square patterns that I have seen. Not really sure which version I like best but I am sure it will be in the grey and silver that I have in my box from my failed OWL. I over ordered so it's not a big deal.

Laundry buzzed. Time to fold it. Happy "First Saturday" of the week to you!

Making plans

It's the first of the month which means new prompts in my most favorite game on Ravelry - The Harry Potter Knitting & Crochet House Cup! This is the last month of the Winter Term so I need to go out on a bang since my February completely fizzled.

I have resigned to the fact that my OWL is a bust. While I do love working the Vivid squares and they are so very pretty, they are not fast for me... at least not as fast as I had hoped. I get pattern fatigue so that doesn't help either. I will continue to make the blanket but it will just take me a lot longer than I originally anticipated. I figure if I keep going, at this pace, I should have it done by Christmas at the latest. That really isn't bad if you think about it. I have a whopping 6.8 squares out of 56 done... only 49.2 to go!

I might be able to save my Mission. It's not been dormant for long and if I focus, I can grind it out. I am setting aside some time over the weekend to really go at it. I will love it once it is done - and I have plans to gift it to someone upon completion. So there is hope on this front, which is good.

Now, classes. I have eight opportunities to complete something for class in the month of March. They are creative and fabulous and wonderful labors of love from the professors. Here is a quick overview of what is being offered this month ~

1. DADA - To resist the Killing Curse, revive an old project by making it again. Rav crafts only.
2. Outdoor Survival - Option 1: Practice the bluebell flame spell and create an item that is more than 50% blue. Option 2: Gather materials for a fire: spin enough yarn for a medium sized project (200 yards+), dye yarn using several colors that will result in a variegated yarn, or knit/crochet an item that is made in pieces and then assembled (i.e. stuffed animals, hats with pompoms, sweaters etc). The item must be complete. Please no blanket squares or hexipuffs for this option. Rav crafts only.
3. Transfiguration - practice highly complicated spells that require a lot of concentration or has unusual/difficult construction. Difficult lacework, cables or colorwork. Amigurumis. Spinners, spin 3-ply, chain or braided ply. Weavers, weave using a complex pick-up pattern (sticks have to be removed and replaced) or a multi-shaft pattern with a long repeat. Dyers, use a multi-step process, acid dyes or indigo/vat dyeing techniques. Rav crafts only.
4. Flying - craft something that is inspired by the early efforts of flight (kites, hot air balloons, or mythical creatures mentioned) or craft something that is inspired by the speed of flight (smaller projects, bulky yarns, or projects that were crafted quickly. Please explain how the project is considered a quick project to you). Rav crafts only.
5. Herbology - craft something inspired by the Silver Lime tree. You may use any of its natural colors (grey, silver, green, or yellow) or the shape of its leaves (heart shape) or fruit (round). Rav crafts only.
6. Divination - be inspired by the close relationship between water, Neptune and fish. (Some ideas might include crafting something blue or the texture of the waves of the sea or scales of the fish.) Non-Rav crafts accepted if they fit the prompt. Prior approval not necessary.
7. Charms - please practice the Tea-making charm by crafting something in brown to represent tea or hot chocolate OR something that is related to tea (examples include but are not limited to teapot cozies, tea wallet, mitts to hold the hot cup). If you choose to craft in the color brown, the finished object must be at least 50% brown. Rav crafts only.
8. Ancient Runes - Craft something inspired by a Mayan rune, or something green and/or gold (over 50% of the project must be gold or green). You may choose a literal interpretation of the rune, like stuffies or an image of the rune itself. Or, you may craft an abstract representation of a Mayan rune. This is open to each crafter’s interpretation, but please be sure to explain how your item fits the prompt. You may also craft something the color gold to represent Mayan rune-inscribed gold, or use green to represent the jungle where the Mayans lived. Non-Rav crafts accepted if they fit the prompt. Prior approval not necessary.

Now, there is something about this game you should know - you only get base points for the first six classes that you turn in. The other two classes you can get professorial bonus points and yardage bonus points only so if you are going to craft for all 8, make sure your last two submissions are HUGE! After four years of playing this game, I have learned that there really is no advantage to posting to all 8 classes. You can maximize your points by crafting three large (400+ yards) classes and 3 small classes that have awesomely creative turn ins. Seriously, don't scrimp on photography and storytelling because they can make a ten minute toy hat really soar to incredible heights.

So, with that experience and logic behind me, I am going to make the following things for this month:

1. DADA - I am going to make another Tutti Frutti hat because I love that pattern and I have some awesome yarn that needs to made into one for Hobbit. Pokey and I both have one (I have two, actually), so she needs hers.
2. Flying - I am going to restart my Thotful Spot hat because I only managed to complete the ribbing and since there was no way I could finish 7" of hat and the decrease in one night after working a 10 hour day that started at 4:30 am, I frogged it. I plan on casting on once I'm done here so I can get back to where I was before I have to go to the parent teacher conference this afternoon.
3. Charms - I am going to make a coffee collar to keep in my purse for Starbuck days. I can whip this up super fast so I will do it first. Plus, I have a coffee date with my friend on Friday so I can use it then. I haven' decided if I am going to do my favorite crocheted one or my favorite knit one yet.
4. Herbology - I think I am going to make this awesome Scalloped Potholder and I can play off the round fruit aspect of the prompt.
5. Transfiguration - I can make several of the hexagons from this sampler blanket. They make great potholders... and since I did not like any of the patterns so far from the Knitterati Afghan-Along, I can use the yarn I bought for it to make this blanket if I can get them done fast enough. I purchased a combined total of over 6,000 yards of five different colors to make that blanket so it should work out well.
6. Divination - I can just whip up anything I wish in the color blue. Knowing me, it will probably be another hat or coffee collar simply because I can do them quickly.

So that's my plan. I hope that by writing out, I can a) remember and b) stick to it. Goodness knows, I do love a list. 31 days in March and a 9 day holiday! Granted, my best friend is flying in from Texas for Spring Break and we do have a few Disney days but I will still be crafting in the parks. Y'all know that is where I get the best hat knitting done. She's even asked me to teach her how to crochet so there will be dedicated crafting time to boot!

Waiting for the first...

That's when my world will take a deep breath in... and let it out slowly, releasing a whole lot of tension... at least that is the plan/hope/desire. Given that it is "break month", I'm sure everything will according to what little plan I truly do have.

On the first of August, I will have officially stepped down from all of the staff roles I have in a silly little game that I love. I am so torn with the decision but I know it is the right one. I need to find a better balance in my life and that is one of the areas where I evaluated for joy and found it was not as high as it used to be... don't get me wrong, I still love the game very much but I think I need to step away from the responsibilities of it all and just play for a while.

People think being on staff for it is just willy nilly fun - and it can be - but the reality is that it is a LOT of work. Those who are truly dedicated to their positions can put in as many hours as a full time job - an awesome job but a job all the same - and I don't have the time to be as dedicated as I want to be so I thought it best to let someone else have a go.

I'm also going to be traveling, relatively speaking, next term. Things in the current house aren't as they used to be - which is neither good nor bad - but sometimes, in order to rekindle the joy for something, you have to let it go. So I'm going to let go of Slytherin House and see where the wind takes me. I have been focusing a lot of energies on Gryffindor but they have been eaten alive with the whole Pokémon GO! movement, and I just can't get in to that. I tried to get comfy in Ravenclaw but it's a work in progress. I have wandered back down into Hufflepuff but most of my friends have traveled on to other houses as well.

I think I may tell Sir Hat to put me where he sees fit - something that will reignite my crafting mojo and love of the game. A change of pace is in order so maybe he knows best... or I could just tell him to put me in Gryffindor and leave it at that. I'm a rising B7, which means I have been a diligent student in good standing since May 2012 - though I did play as a NQFY so the reality is I've been around since January of 2012.

I can go anywhere but the question remains... where do I want to go?

The plague and lots of knitting

That's what I've had for the entire start of the year - the plague. Okay, not really but sure has felt like it. What I thought was a harmless winter cold manifested itself in the most horrendous case of bronchitis known on the face of this Earth. Thankfully, pneumonia didn't rear it's ugly head even though it tried.

My awesome doctor was able to prescribe me medicine without having me toddle in since I had just been there in December. Three prescriptions and a chest x-ray later, I'm starting to feel more human - and I've been on this mess for a week already. The side effects are fabulous - puffy red face, insomnia, tummy challenges, irritability, and personal summers that could melt all the snow that just fell up north. It's been seriously lovely... on the honest up side, I have gotten a lot of crafting done during my sick days and insomnia nights.  Take a look...

My DK weight version of the very popular Vermonter hat.

My mourning hat to pay tribute to the late, great Alan Rickman... Always.

Slippers that I need to get off in the mail to a dear friend that I've known for 30 years.

I crocheted this shawl while I spent two days in my blue chair watching the entire Harry Potter movie series.

I made this cowl when I couldn't sleep because nothing says relaxation like neon colored squares that look like flowers.

Yesterday, I made this hat. It took me 18 hours - I was up since 4 am - and took it out that night to the grocery store.

You'd think I'd be crafted out but oh no, I've got more going on. I have also been working on the miles and miles of stockinette associated to Pokey's sweater that I promised him I would make. I have 11 of the 14.25" needed before the next bit in the directions.

I have to say though, I took it to knitting group this past Saturday and when people asked what I was making, they all made the same facial expression when I said it was a sweater for my husband. Men can love purple. It's okay. I think he will look amazing in it and he was the one who chose the color!

I really do think this sweater will be amazing when I'm done... I just need to get past this huge portion of boringness.

And last night, when I was done with the bunny butt hat, I started a new hat - because hats are awesome and you can never have enough. I actually won this pattern years ago but I was afraid to try it because it was lace and scary.

I'm 75% through the first pattern repeat of this hat. I really like how it still looks delicate on such a heavy worsted yarn.

So, the long and short of it is that the plague is horrible but the medicines they give you are apparently imbued with phenomenal crafting powers - and I'm using them to the best of my abilities.

Now if you'll excuse me, it's time for another dose.

Something different

I have been toying with trying a podcast for a while now but was just too chicken. Welp, yesterday during my lunch hour I gave it a go. For some reason, the audio and video get out of sync later on the video but I may have a solution moving forward.

So here it is, my first ever attempt at vloggin'... podcasting... taping myself and feeling awkward... there, that's the best description of it right there. As my mama says - be kind.. and if you can't be kind, just be quiet. I know y'all will always be kind though, we crafty folks are always supportive - even of failed projects because they are also learning experiences.

Sunday Snaps

I have been crafting up a storm, all week - and it felt really great!

This week I have been making things and it felt so good.  It really recharged my batteries to spend hours playing with my yarn.

I started the week by finishing up my Matching Wrap!  I was so happy to have it completed.  It was fun and I love the color combination. Things have been deliciously slower at work so I was able to make a few things - like the beret and the hotpad - during the week. 

I finished up the week by making the doll cape, backpack (colors are due to a HPKCHC class, Potions, not my choosing), and yarn caddy all yesterday!  Oh yes, so many hours spent in preparation of constant noise that would be happening... and did happen, well past 2:30 this morning!

Today, I'm going to work on the two projects I have going on (Abigail's sweater and my shrug) but I'm going to start a simple cowl for something to do during knitting group, and I need to get to the start of Row 11 on my Whippoorwill so that my friend KP can help me figure out what I'm doing wrong at that point.  I really want to make this shawl because it means a lot to me - one of my sweet readers gifted it to me with a note letting me know I wasn't alone and understood where I was coming from in regards to my recent diagnosis.  I'm going to be doing it in a delicious bubble gum pink and chocolate brown - and it will be gorgeous!

I hope y'all have a fabulous week ahead.  Did you get a chance to play with your projects this week?

Sunday Snaps

Project Page: Emily's Blankie

I finished this yesterday and shared a photo of it with my future daughter-in-law and my son.  I was immediately told that this would be Emily's coming home blanket!  I was so moved, I admit to having tears of joy.  My granddaughter is going to come home in September, wrapped all snug in a hug from her Nana.

I do love this blanket.  I made it in my future daughter-in-law's favorite color, as she loves greens and blues.  I thought it would be a nice spot in Emily's sea of Hello Kitty pink.  The yarn is so soft and the blanket came out the perfect size.  I do hope that it becomes a cherished lovie, just like my girls love their blankets from my mother.

I highly recommend both the pattern and the yarn to everyone.  While neither are free, the pricing is not bad.  I was able to do the entire blanket in one skein of JoAnn Fabric's Rainbow Classics.  There was 615 yards of yarn in the skein that I purchased.  I had picked up two at the time because I was not sure how big it was going to be so now I have a bonus skein for my stash.  The pattern is currently being used for a KAL over at Berroco's Ravelry group.  There is a prize involved if you make it with Berroco yarn.

It works up deceptively fast, though I will admit that the edging took me three days of crafting!  I'm not talking an hour each day either.  I'm talking the first day I put in about five hours on it, the second day was also five hours, and the third day was about 3 hours if you don't count the blocking.  So for as quickly as the blanket works up, the edging will take you some time... but it is all worth it.  I think it would be fun to work this up in different weights - fingering would make a lovely shawl, worsted would be a great lapghan, and the bulky that it calls for creates an awesome baby blanket.

Oh, and just so you know - I was not solicited or paid by any company for this 'review' and this post is simply me sharing my latest FO and gushing over the materials.  All of this is my own opinion and love of a recent project that I wanted to share.

I turned this in to HPKCHC's DADA classroom since it required such strenuous and aggressive blocking.  I do hope they like it.  I know the yardage will get me some bonus points for the most noble house of Slytherin but it's nice to get recognition from the professors for your efforts.  We'll see... either way, I'm so tickled with it and the fact that it's already loved by those I made it for so my blessing are aplenty already.

Sunday Snaps

I know I don't normally do collages on Sunday but hey, some stuff has been going on and I was feeling collagey today... so that's what I did.

On Tuesday, I made a gorgeous Garlic Citrus Turkey for supper for no other reason than it was Tuesday.  It was so delicious and looked so great, I had to take a shot of it.  It was super simple - onion powder, garlic salt, orange peel, lemon peel, Worcestershire sauce (on top and in cavity), and a bit of pepper.  Added about half a cup of water to the bottom of the pan and just popped it in a 350 oven for 20 minutes per pound, laying foil over the top (loosely) after two hours.  It was magnificent.

On Wednesday night, I found a pattern in my email inbox and fell in love.  I had to make.  I literally went out that night and bought yarn with my pocket money and the pattern with my revenue from my Variable Star Shawl pattern sales.  It is a completely new adventure for me - knitting with charts!  I've never used lace charts before but I figured it out and am now up to the second chart and plugging along.  I am so very proud of me.

Friday marked the start of Spring Term for the Harry Potter Knitting and Crochet House Cup so I was eager to get something posted - my Detention!  I finished that beautiful shawlette on Monday, took it off the blocking pins on Thursday night so I could weave in the ends Friday morning.  I do love it and the success of that is what prompted me to feel confident enough to attempt the baby blanket for my soon to be here granddaughter, Emily.  My little jellybean is due in September but this blanket is going much faster than I anticipated so I will definitely have it done in time.  I also started a Hello Kitty sleep sack upon my son's request - that alone made me swell with pride.  My son actually asked that I make his daughter something!!  That has never happened before so I jumped at the chance.

Yesterday, Hobbit and I went up to see my folks.  Pokey had to work so we went just the two of us.  We had fun.  It was chillier than anticipated so we didn't go swimming but we did watch "Paddington" and then went to visit the Appleton Museum.  The girls had fun and I got to spend time with my family so I was content.  On the way home, I broke out in hives from my chin through my decolletage.  Complete works followed shortly after - sneezing, tummy issues, watery eyes.  Needless to say, I fell asleep early.

Today I am almost human... well, I'm less splotchy so that is always a plus.  The rest will wind down in time, I'm sure.  I've got a pile of wash to get done today and then I'm going to just relax and play with my yarn.  I have no plans today and I like it.

I hope y'all have had a great week and were able to get some time to do the things you love.

You know, that slow kind of crazy

That's the type of train I've been on lately.  You know the kind.  It's crazy, you know it's crazy, but it has just enough sane moments in it to make you think it's doable.  Oh yeah, those are actually worse than the full blown crazy trains.

I've been finding moments to stay sane though.  I've been knitting and even gathered up all my stuff for my Summer OWL.  I'm going for a Potions OWL - three colors - by working a Color Affection.  I even have a shawl chosen for my BROOM, just hope I can figure out a way to make it fit the Mission.  I also got some new yarn today which, as you know, makes life perfect.

I made these for Peanut's roommate as an Easter present since she came home with her for the break.

I made these for Peanut and they were so silky feeling.  She honestly liked them and I'm sure they'll get used.

Here are the fixings for my Potions OWL.  It's going to be gorgeous, I just know it!

This is my fabulous yarn.  I'm going to make my mama something with it.

I have been knitting a lot more lately so that I can be just as well versed in that as my crochet.  I am enjoying it but my goodness it is a much longer process.  What takes me a few days in crochet will take me about three times as long as knitting.  I'm sure I will never be as fast knitting as I am when I crochet but I feel good about the progress I've made... I mean come on, I made thumb gussets!

Time for some comfort food - hamburgers and fries.  I will be back shortly, I hope y'all have a great weekend!

Sunny Side Up

I named this shawl project that because it reminds me of eggs... tasty treat and project.

I've got a new pattern being tested right now - there are still a few slots open if you'd like to lend a hand - and after a little bit of a bumpy start, it seems to be going swimmingly now.  I hope to have the pattern ready to release by the end of April.  I hope y'all love it as much as I do.

Here is a quick Wednesday Wound Up of what all I've been working on lately...

I made a hat for Pokey - pattern chosen by the HPKCHC Quidditch Match 4, colors chosen by him.

I finished the last piece to my HPKCH OotP Mission.  I honestly like how it turned out too.

Not much progress on this beauty but that should change next week.

So that's what I've been up to lately.  What all have you been working on?

TGIM

That's what we'll be saying around here - thank goodness it's March!  February has been less than kind to us here in the PMM household.  I'll do the quick rundown because I can't stand those posts that drone on about how horrible things have been and then they disappear again only to come back and share more ugly news.  So the skinny of it has been, we've been plagued.  Not literally but it sure feels like it.

Started the month by finding Butch a new furever home.  He is now the proud followerer of a four-year-old boy with Autism.  They are both happy campers and it's nice to know that while we weren't the perfect fit, we were the perfect stopping point for him to get ready for his final place.

Afterwards, I was hit hard with a few episodes.  Every time I thought I was good, I was reminded I was stupid for thinking I was good.  I'm not going to say I'm good any more.  I consider vertical a win.  It makes life more positive.  If I can be vertical, it's an awesome day.

Currently, Hobbit is down with the flu.  Hit her like a ton of icky bricks too.  Had to get her from school Friday - needed a cab and everything.  I would have thought my first cab ride would have been more exciting.  Oh well, life isn't like the movies.  She was so sick that her pediatrician called in medicine usually reserved for cancer patients dealing with the effects of chemo.  That helped her a great deal but today, she popped a fever of 102 and it's bounced around all day but not yet broke.  It teased me by going down to 99 but then reminded that I'm stupid and came back up to 102 just a few minutes ago.  I see a lukewarm bath in our future.

On the pretty side, look at what all I've completed since I've been horizontal a good bit of this month... yes, I can knit and crochet while lying down - it's a talent I'm rather tickled about because it means that I can still work even though I feel wretched.

This was originally for my mama but it came out very small so I gave it to Hobbit - yes, it's knit lace!

I crocheted this for my mama  instead.  I love how it turned out, so did she.  She said it was fancy.

I had some yarn leftover so I made this ascot because it's awesome.

I finished this project bag the other day and now I'm debating lining it.

I've got another bag in the works right now - also known as my Mission for HPKCHC.  I've given up on my OWL because honestly, I don't like the projects any longer.  I'm going to frog the one and find something else to do with that yarn... the shawl, I'll just find a good stopping point and give it to Hobbit.  She's still small, she'll love it.

Off to figure out I'm doing for supper.  Somehow my planned menu of pizza doesn't seem right now.  I hope y'all are having a wonderful weekend and I have big things coming in March... a giveaway or two might even be up my sleeve!!

Good morning!

Oh my great giddy aunt... I went to bed early last night and I apparently really needed it.  I actually feel rested this morning which is a feeling I haven't had all month.  Working on the weekends during the school year is rough.  I never get an opportunity to recharge - and I'm a horrible napper so I constantly feel tired which makes me pretty much a poop.  My patience and attitude both just plummet.  I may go to bed early again tonight... who knows.

I brought my Patronus shawl into work with me.  I am honestly disappointed in this pattern.  I am not enjoying it and it's not coming out at all like I had hoped.  I love my colors but the actual shawl and the construction are not enjoyable - which is odd because I absolutely love the designer.  I've made several of her shawls before and I've loved every one.  Oh well, them's the breaks, as they say.  I'm on row 35 of 57 so only 22 more rows to go.  I told myself to do one row a day and then I'll reward myself with something fun to make... yes, I fall for my own bribes.  I've very gullible.

Time to get ready for work.  I've got to write menus for February today too because we've got to go grocery shopping when I get off.  Thankfully, it's a short month so I don't have to be too creative.  I hope everyone has a good day and oh yeah, guess what I finished last night...

My Hitchhiker is all done!  I am so proud of it... and now, on to the next knit WIP that needs attention!

Tonight...

I will open this bag (yes, it's a gratuitous shot of my favorite project bag)...

and work the last three rows of my Hitchhiker!

Butch is not impressed... oh well.

For the love of Mickey...

Super cute puppy butt cheers everyone up... right?

I am actually writing this on Friday night because I can't sleep.  Hobbit and I spent the entire day - literally the entire day - at either the doctor's office or the pharmacy today.  Pokey took us out for medicinal milk shakes between appointments so that was nice.

Turns out that poor little Hobbit does have strep throat.  She's been given an antibiotic and we've stocked up on yogurt so all should be well in her world within the next 48 hours.  Me, well I've managed to kink up my Eustachian Tube... the official diagnosis was called Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. I am am officially dysfunctional... lol.  Oh my word, you have to laugh or you'll cry, right?  I can tell you that it hurts more than you can even imagine.  Thankfully, I have a note that I turned in to my supervisor which allows me to work but not have to wear my headset, which is a godsend!  My supervisor, who is fabulous, said it wouldn't be a problem at all.  I hate missing work.  I may not always love being there, but I don't like to be thought of as unreliable.  If I can be vertical, I can be at work.

I talked to my mama tonight too.  Monday can't come fast enough.  I need my Mommy Day.  No clue what we'll do and I honestly don't care.  I just want to hang out with my mama for the day.  I don't get to see her enough as it is so when our initial day was pushed back, I was really disappointed.  Granted, she had a super severe allergic reaction that landed her in the ER so I was more worried about her than anything - she's where my stubborn/suck it up streak comes from and with my daddy not there right now, there is no one to push her to do what is best in spite of herself.  Thankfully, if there is a thankfully, Peanut was with her when it happened so she took her to the ER.  Two weeks later and she's finally all better, so what do I do, I get dysfunctional.. I swear, sometimes it feels like I can't win for losing.

At least I got a lot of waiting room crafting done.  I am now up to 31.5 teeth on my Hitchhiker, up to Row 34 on my Patronus, and I even got in another tooth done on my Variable Star.  When I got home, I worked on everything a little bit more, even adding an inch to my Magnolia shawl.  I must say, feeling so horrible that you can't move around does have it's privileges.

Okay, I should head off to bed now.  I'm not telling you want time it is but I've got this set to go up around 10 am so at least it will look like I got some sleep... even though I flat out told you from the get go that I was up late... as you can see, I am a horrible liar.  I hope every is having a beautiful weekend, whatever time it might be.

Such a good day

Today has been such a good day.  You know the kind where it starts off with a small bit of goodness and then it just snowballs into awesomeness?  It was one of those kinds of days.

It started when I learned about a particular event that can only be described as... well.. Karma.  There was a little poster or online meme that said something about how if you live a good life, and do good things, then God will allow you to watch when Karma comes around to those who deserve it.  Well, today I got to watch and I must say, I was so pleased.  For months, I have been dreading going to work because the environment was, simply put, toxic.  To learn that something was actually done just had me praising His name and thanking Him for his work... and today was a great day at work... something that hasn't happened since August!

The next bit of awesomeness in my day was finding an unused gift card for iTunes.  It was enough for me to be able to get the new Phillip Phillips' album, which has been playing most of the day - and it is magnificent!  I told my husband when he auditioned for American Idol that he would be the winner.  I just knew... granted, I've got a good tracker record picking the winners from auditions too but he was different.  He was electric, captivating, and his voice was cosmic.  He has simply gotten better with time too.  Amazing artist and I highly recommend you pick up this album if you can.

The other fabulous fun of the day - I won a project bag from my Quidditch square this past match over in the HPKCHC on Ravelry!!  Oh yeah, so super cool and I can't wait to see what comes.  I love project bags and I don't have near enough - not true project bags.  I have some cute totes that I'll use but I really wish I had more actual project bags - box bags are my favorite.  I may need to learn how to make them.  That would be a great Mommy Day.  I'll have to see if we can't do that one day.

The creative energy here is fabulous now!

The final bit of stupendousness for my day... Pokey bought me a cork board for my office!  Yep, I made an offhanded comment that I really wanted one so I could get all the ugly stickies off my monitor because it just looked cluttered to me and he knows I don't do well with clutter.  Now my office looks perfect and I'm in hog heaven.  The last bit that I could use is a clock to hang on the wall for Hobbit to use to know when to go outside for the bus.  I'll find one though... something fun... maybe I'll make one.  Crochet a cute mandala and then get the clock kits to make it work.  Yeah, I think that'll be my plan.  I could use buttons or crochet cute flowers for the numbers.

My day has been so fully blessed - even my Knit Picks order came in faster than it said so I've got my "AUSTENtatious Crochet" book to read and figure out what I'm going to make first.  I hope y'all had an equally blessed day.  It's amazing the recharging effect it can have on a person - body and soul.

One down, three to go

This is going to it's new house tomorrow.  I really like how it turned out - I hope she does too!

My Detention OWL has four shawls needing to be finished.  This is the first one that I have completed.  I used my new blocking mats and wires last night to get it to bloom so nicely.  It is huge, let me tell you.  It took up my entire office floor - look...

The wingspan reached 64" and the length from center is 32"... it's massive and soft and fabulous!

I really like the difference using blocking wires makes.  My edges are crisp and straight.  My lace really opened up and the peaks are perfect.  I think next time though, I will place a wire between the body and the lace edge so I can open the lace a bit more.

Today I was supposed to have been spent tooling around with my mama but she had to cancel.  I understand - she had a severe allergic reaction to the material they used to strip the wallpaper border from her kitchen.  By Saturday night, she was in the ER, it was that scary.  Today, three days later, she's still covered in hives and miserable but at least she can breathe and her face isn't swollen any longer.  It was scary - scarier to me because I've been there myself so I know how she feels and what she is going through.  We've rescheduled for week after next so I will still get to see her, just not today.  I really needed a "Mommy Daughter Day" too... but I will simply readjust my day and wait until the end of the month.  I've been fighting a cold anyway so I'm pretty miserable too.  To celebrate my mama, here is the tune for today - enjoy!

All set

I don't normally carry a ton of WIPs so I'm doing a Detention OWL this term to clear them out!

I may be crazy for proposing all of these but I can't handle having them hanging around any longer so I am going to do the once a year offering of a Detention OWL over at The Harry Potter Knitting and Crochet House Cup on Ravelry.  It doesn't count towards my OWL Mistress badge or for being able to do a NEWT but it will clean out all of my old projects that are just hanging about and making me twitchy.  I have three months to get them done... and here is where they each stand, as of right now...

My Hitchhiker that I started in November.  I am so painfully slow when it comes to knitting, I swear.

This was supposed to a Christmas present for one of Pokey's coworkers - obviously I didn't make it.

This was the first knit project I started after several years of not touching my needles.

Another awesome MADDesign shawl that I love working on but it is just so flipping big, I got burnt out.

I figured with two crochet shawls and two knit shawls, it will give me a nice mix of things to work on.  I am proposing my 50% mark to be when I have completed both crochet shawls, made it to 30 teeth on the Hitchhiker and completed up to x” on the cabled edge shawl.  I really need to figure out what that "x" will be... it's sitting at 18" right now so I think if I can get it to 22" that will be a good indication of halfway... though I'll probably propose it to be 20" and if I go over, then it's all the better but I don't make it, then that's a challenge.  Yeah, I'm going to make it 20", thanks for helping me work through that last bit.

How many WIPs do you have hanging around?  Do you have a point that you reach where you get twitchy too?  Here, enjoy one of my favorite songs while you pull out your pile of WIPs and figure out whether to finish or frog...

Wednesday Wound-Up

Lots of things to wind up and it's only three days in to the week!  Monday started off super busy, as we all had work/school and then as soon as we were done we had to head to Hobbit's school for an Odyssey of the Mind meeting that was followed by the weekly Hollow Diner.  I swear, her school does some pretty awesome stuff.  Yesterday, after work, we all ran to the grocery store to pick the stuff we couldn't get at the one store on Sunday.  Both nights led to late suppers and exhausted family members.

Today was better.  Today was slower.  I think this was because we had nowhere to go today after work.  We're enjoying the nothingness of tonight and we'll enjoy it again tomorrow because the weekend is going to be busy again.  We're meeting my folks at a halfway point to drop off Hobbit on Friday night because on Saturday morning, Pokey and I have a Coaches Training/Meeting for Odyssey of the Mind all day Saturday.  Then on Sunday, we're driving up to get Hobbit back for the week.  It's just nuts.

I did manage to get some crafting done.  I made a Autumn wreath for my front door area.  I don't have a lot of decorations any more - over the years I thinned things out as they got old and kept meaning to replace them but never have so now I'm down to minimal items and the need to make new stuff is creeping in hard.  Anyway, I made this wreath this week and I really love how it turned out.

It's autumnal, right?

Now my little screened in front porch is all yarny and seasonal - two fabulous things that are unique to our little home.  Here is a peek at what it looks like when you come to visit...

Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, doesn't it.

For someone who is not a fan of Halloween at all, I think putting that much love into some awesome bunting is worth noting.  Granted, I made it two years ago but look at how fabulously it has held up being outside for two seasons.  I've been debating making some in just random fun colors because the screened area has hooks all around the top that I could use to secure it.  It would be inside the screened section too so that would protect it a bit from the elements.  Still debating so we'll see.

I made some silly little ornaments this past week too.  I needed something quick and small for Quidditch and these two fit the bill.  Nothing spectacular, just cute.

Maybe I'll just make a ton of them and hang them from the hooks on the porch.

 I'm still plugging along on my Christmas Tree Skirt.  I'm about halfway there now.  I've just finished the 2 rows of white and am moving on to the crimson.  I took a progress picture to update my Ravelry page and you just can't see the different colors.  It all looks black - even with a bounced flash.  Oh well, here it is anyway...

Yes, I made it overlap on purpose to fit nicely over the legs of the new tree.  It should even out then.

See, you can't see the first row of crimson or the one between the two small rows of green, can you.  Oh well.  I know it's there and when I have it done, I will take a proper photograph in the sunshine which will show it off in all it's glory.

I need to find a nice pattern for a lapghan to make Pokey's coworker.  She was in a head-on collision this past week and has been in the hospital.  I wanted to make her something but I am just stumped as to what.  I initially thought shawl but then his friend at work said a lapghan so we'll see.  I've got a skein of purple, her favorite color, in my stash.  Maybe I can figure something pretty out.

Time to scoot.  I'd like to get a few rows in before bed tonight.  I hope you're having a fabulous week so far.  I'll see y'all tomorrow.