My Mind Wandered

I was going through Ravelry looking at patterns and I started to notice people's screen names and began wondering - why would you pick something like that?

A screen name is a snapshot of your personality.  It is who you are to many people who will never know you - it speaks volumes in a very mute online world.  A screen name holds your identity, people's perception and expectations of you, your unspoken view of yourself... yes, it does all that and much more.

Now that we all understand that unspoken importance of a screen name, let's try and figure out why some would choose the names they have... such as Domesticly Blissless, Perversia, Neurotic Nelly and many more that I won't put up because of the derogatory nature or blatant use of foul language.

Domesticly Blissless - you're telling the world that you hate your life.  There is no joy in your home.  Did you realize that when you picked your name?  Thanks for sharing, we won't be inviting you to any chats any time soon.

Perversia - yeah, your name says it all and I'm not saying another word.  Good luck with that.

Neurotic Nelly - wow, deep therapy sessions are probably in order.  Why would you label yourself neurotic?  We all have quirks and oddities that make us who we are but a neurosis takes it to a whole other level.  You are no longer quirky... you're certifiable.  Have you met Perversia?

My name is a great representation of me.  I am a mama.  I love coffee - especially peppermint mochas.  My screen name tells a story that is completely in focus.  I am proud to wear my screen name.  Do you think some of these people feel the same way... and if so, especially with these examples, why?!?  Even the names that make me blush - why would you want that to represent you... better yet, why do you feel that represents you?  Are you truly a witch with a 'b'... if not, then why add it in your name.  Unless you are a gangster, stripper or prostitute then why make the insinuation in your screen name?  I just don't understand.

I was always told that you are known by the company you keep - If these names are any indication of the types of people I'll be running into, I think I'll keep to my own company than, thank you.

Kathy's Question

My friend Kathy, whom I met on CafeMom, is in a couple of the same groups as I am and in one of them, she posts a Question of the Day every single day - where she comes up with them, I have no idea, but I love it.  Well, today's question was "what is the one question you hate to be asked?" and I gave a bloggish type response so I figured, why not actually post it here for all to share.  Here you go, my response to the QotD from Kathy:

Okay, this is going to sound silly but it's "Is that all?" when I'm at a drive-thru window for a meal.  I am always polite - to the point that it makes my friends laugh at me.  Here is an example:

Worker:  Welcome to [random food place], may I take your order.
Me:  Yes ma'am/sir.  May I please have [random food order].
Worker:  Do you want that super-sized.
Me:  No thank you.
Worker:  What to drink.
Me:  Sweet tea please.
Worker:  Is that all?

Now, to me at least, this sounds rude.  I believe something much nicer could be used.  "May I get anything else for you today" or perhaps even a simple "Does this complete your order" would be better than a curt and less than enthusiastic "is that all".  It always sounds as though I have the nerve to interrupt their day and request something of them... that I am bothering them and they are inquiring if I am done with the pestering for now.

Many people that I have run across who are working in the fast food industry do not seem  happy with their station in life or current employment situation.  They come off as believing that they are 'better' than where they are - but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't have pride in what they do.  The difference between me and these types of people is that I view the situation as an opportunity and I would dare say that they do not... but that is a rant for a different post.

Speaking of Famous People...

The other day there were three movie stars at my husband's work filming  ~ Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman!!

Winter

Pokey was so excited but he never got to actually see them.  They were upstairs filming in the Bay News 9 studios for an upcoming moving called "Dolphin Tale" - it's about Winter, the local dolphin who doesn't have a tail, over at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium... fascinating  story and sweet animal.  We've gone to visit her several times and she truly is amazing.

You know, for all the fussing I do about living here, there are some pretty cool things around.  After all, God himself was here and he keeps some pretty cool company in Harry Connick, Jr., if you ask me.

The Packing Peanut

Why does this item still exist?  Given all the advancements in technology, manufacturing and shipping - why do some companies still rely on the packing peanut?

Peanuts on the prowl

I was curious about these little buggers, as they are now laying siege upon my living room, so I thought I would do a little research.  I found out that they are a product of the 1960s from Dow Chemical Company and everything you see today is true to form as from the original model that is practically half of a century old.

Do you know that these little beauties come in three different colors and the colors actually have meaning?  Oh yes, they do - green for environmentally friendly, white for 70% recycled content and pink to reduce static when shipping things electronics.  I had no idea that one of the most annoying products on earth has had such an interesting, and colorful, life thus far.  Now that we are almost done finding all the electrically charged wanna be snowflakes, I have learned that I can take them to any shipping facility, even my local post office, to be recycled or reused.

It's amazing what happens when you utter the phrase "Who in the world would created these little monsters and an even better question would be why"... and then actually look it up.

I'll be back later but I wanted to tell you good morning before I got too far into the day!

Rascal Flatts - I'll Be Home For Christmas

Wow... that's all I can say... wow.  If this doesn't put you in the spirit, nothing will!

Feeling A Bit Befuddled

Roughly three months ago, Pokey & I took the plunge and invested into a more expensive coffee pot.  We generally kill the little $20 pots within 3 months so we have deemed them as 'disposable'.  We, or should I say "I", didn't take this purchase lightly either.  Hours were spent researching all the different brands, bells and whistles to make sure that we purchased the perfect pot - because with the amount of money we were planning on spending, this pot was not going to die any time soon... or so we thought.

The time to make our purchase was upon us and there was more investigating to find the lowest price on the perfect pot.  Once that was located, we, or should I say "I", drove in to town and made the purchase.  Walking out of the store, I was filled with delight and trepidation - I had never spent so much money on a simple coffee pot before - oh but wait, this wasn't just a simple pot, was it.  It had a thermal decanter.  It did not have a heating element, as none was needed.  It had a cleaning cycle.  It was pretty.  It was the Rolls Royce of coffee pots and it was going to live on forever in my kitchen... or so we thought.

The first month we are in the honeymoon phase with our coffee pot.  It kept coffee warm up to 5 hours in that nifty little decanter.  It brewed a 10-cup pot in record speed.  It was still pretty.  Oh yes, we were so in love... until it came time to run the cleaning cycle.  We, or should I say "I", followed the cleaning instructions perfectly with anal retentive precision.  This was, after all, the Rolls Royce of coffee pots.  During the cleaning cycle, when it was supposed to pause for thirty minutes and then finish up, my coffee pot protested with a loud noise that could wake the dead.  It was a teeth shattering, high pitched, nonstop, ear-piercing tone that would be an excellent spy torture device to learn secret plans.  Immediately, I unplugged the coffee pot and called the manufacturer.  How could this be - it's only been a month and I followed all the directions for every aspect of operation.  I was so heartbroken.

The manufacturer was kind and understanding.  They sent us a replacement coffee pot within the week and while it may have looked identical - our love affair was jaded.  No more adoration was felt for the beauty of the machine, the nectar of the gods that it brewed or the speed at which it performed.  Oh no, instead, all of the normal feelings of love were replaced with dread for when the month was up and we would have to clean it.  Would it do the same thing?  Will we, or should I say "I", be on the floor in submission, spilling any and every secret plan that I could conjure up?  The answer came today... and the answer was a tearful yes.

I was prepared this time.  I did what I was taught - prepared for the worst, prayed for the best... but apparently I didn't pray hard enough.  So with phone in hand, I called the manufacturer.  While the customer service experience was wonderful - honestly, it was top notch fabulousness incarnate - the end result has me feeling a bit befuddled.  You see, the original pot was valued at $80 and this replacement one is only $75.  The original one was thermal without a heating element and this replacement one is glass and has a heating element.  Granted, the original one was only 10-cup and this one is 12-cup... but the original one was pretty - this one is not.

Replaced without any hassle.  Superior customer service representatives.  Inferior replacement product second time around.  Yeah, I'm a bit muddled with this.. we'll see how it goes in six to eight business days when it arrives.

Why... No Really, Why?

Why would you own a dog if you are simply going to put it outside and let it bark for 10 hours a day?  Are you mentally deranged - what am I say, of course you are!  This is the opening of a conversation that I would love to have with my neighbor.

You see, about 5 years ago, they bought a basset hound.  I'm guessing they aren't basset hound people because this poor animal spends 10 hours a day outside and she does nothing but bark... nonstop... the entire time she is outside... for 5 years.

Now, I'm no animal expert but it sure sounds (literally) like abuse and neglect to me.  Leaving the poor animal, who is obviously unhappy as displayed by the constant barking, in the sweltering heat or freezing bitter cold without food or water (at least none that I can see) is just cruel.  All the ding dang dog wants is some attention.  No one ever plays with her, takes her for walks or even talks to her.  How would the so called 'owners' feel if they were treated in such fashion?

I am at my wits end because for the past year, since we've been watching my folks' house, I have had to listen to the animal day in and day out.  I finally broke two weeks ago and went to speak to my HOA, who sent a letter and nothing was done.  I called Animal Control last week but nothing seems to have been done.  I just got off the phone with the HOA again who could actually hear the dog through the phone so we'll see if anything happens now.

Why adopt an animal if you aren't going to be an active participant in it's life.  Why... no really, why?

20 Years... Really?

1990 Senior Portrait

This was the weekend of my 20th Class Reunion.  I have been graduated from W.P. Davidson High School (Go Warriors!) for twenty years... I can't believe it.  I don't feel like I'm 20 years older.  I certainly don't act 20 years older.  How can it be that so much time has passed from when I graduated to this present day?

A friend of mine went to the reunion and posted the photos on his Facebook page.  It was so nice to see all those smiling faces.  Some hadn't changed at all and some I could not find the friend I knew in years past.  That is neither good nor bad, it is just an observation.  I am sure if I had gone, others would have had the same feelings about me.

2010 version of me

I didn't attend the reunion this weekend for many reasons, some good and some not so good.  My husband and I don't drink so hanging out at a bar, no matter how swanky it may appear, is not appealing to us.  Spending a lot of money for a weekend where not all activities are family oriented wasn't our cup of tea either.  The few people that I truly desired to see would not be there and making polite conversation with people that I did not really associate with in school wasn't high on my list of things that I wanted to do.

We all know how these things go anyway - old cliques get back together and the pettiness begins.  Let's look at who got fat, who is balding, who has had plastic surgery, blah blah blabbety blah.  I didn't enjoy such things when I was actually in high school and I know I would not care for them now.  We have all gotten older, some of us have gotten wiser and I pray that all of us are happier with who we are and what we have become in life.  I know I have and I pray that others feel the same contentment in their own skin.

So here ~ enjoy a "then" and "now" moment on me and consider it my attendance at our 20 year class reunion.

Lookie Lookie

So today I had a surge of creativity and made an online store devoted to all things regarding this blog.  Sounds silly to some and inspirational to others - I think I'll hang out in the middle so that I can inspire silliness.

You may have noticed that over to the right there is a little 'widget' that says "My Zazzle Store" and it has products flipping through it.  I made all of those items today!  I was feeling creative and I thought about comments from my friends, most of whom are constantly urging me to write a book about the goings on in my life.  My standard response is that I could never do that... my life is boring.  I'm a housewife.  I'm a mommy.  No one could give a flying fart in space about that stuff - I blog because in my world, it's just a diary.  These things I write are sitting out in the cosmos for all to see but I have no delusions of grandeur that anyone is actually 'following' me... and then I dared myself to think those two little words... "what" and  "if".

Oh yes, 'What If' entered the pictured and gave my brain a one way ticket on a flight of fancy.  We landed in record breaking time, complete with movie and book deals I might add.  Make no mistake, when it comes to making 'magic', I am a professional.  Since I had been on the "What If" Express and was proudly wearing the t-shirt I bought there, I thought it would be cool to make some for others - you know, my cosmic followers.

I would like to welcome you to the grand opening of the Peppermint Mocha Mama Online Zazzle Store - please feel free to browse around, leave comments and shop for the holidays.  I will work hard to keep items fresh and new.  I am currently focusing on knitting and coffee - go figure, right.  Perhaps in the near future I will branch out into baking and cooking, who knows.  The possibilities are endless and if you have any suggestions, by all means, please share!  I'm really excited by this and I hope you enjoy it. 

While you're browsing, I'm just gonna sit here and ponder who will play me in the movie version of Peppermint Mocha Mama... I'm hoping Amy Adams is available.

Perhaps I'll Market It... Nah!

I would like to pay homage to my alarm clock.  It has a gentle gradual waking system that involves the aroma of fresh soap, the softness of kisses on my forehead and the patience of a saint.  It tickles just slightly due to the fuzziness of it.

While I may be enjoying my peaceful slumber, it is wonderful to wake up to such a handsome alarm every morning... way better than the crass "beep, beep, beep" of conventional models.  It has the added bonus feature of bringing perfectly prepared coffee and placing it on my bedside table.

I was thinking of marketing it but then I though - nah, it's my alarm clock and I'm not sharing.

Poor In The Pockets, Rich In Love

That is a phrase that a friend of mine uses and I love it.  I will be the first to admit that sometimes I get too wrapped up in the things we are missing and how financially destitute we are at the moment but those are not the most important things in life.  Our kids have no clue about the trials and tribulations we are currently facing - because everyone's perception is their own reality.

Homemade items don't mean that we don't have the money to purchase store bought - it means you are loved more than anything in the universe and this was made specifically for you.  Cookies and treats from scratch don't mean that it wasn't in our budget to purchase sweets - it means memories of times spent in the kitchen together creating delicious goodies are more precious than gold.  Comfort foods like meatloaf, soup and such don't mean that we can't afford dining out - it means we'd rather have the quiet of our own home to sit together and talk as a family while we dine.

It isn't always about what we can get - it's about appreciating what we already have.  No, I don't have pocket money or disposable income.  Yes, I float bills and squeeze blood from a stone.  Sure, we've got our belts tighten to the point where we can hardly breath but none of that matters.  In the big scheme of things, none of that matters.  I have a husband who adores me.  I have kids who light up my life.  I have parents who are loving and supportive.

So while others are out shopping til they drop, eating out til they burst and filling voids with items - I'll stay as poor as a church mouse and happy as clam, thank you very much.

It is truly wonderful to be poor in the pockets but rich in love - I pray you are wealthy too.

"Up Close & Personal" Challenge

I belong to a photography group on CafeMom and that is this week's challenge.  I am having a blast with it - here's what I've got so far... I am sure there will be more later - I do admit to being a shutterbug. All photos are © peppermintmochamama... sorry, it's the internet and I have to say it.  Enjoy! 

Heads & Toes Chart

Head Size Chart - knitted or crocheted hats should be made about 1- 1 1/2" smaller around than the head circumference, as the hats should stretch and sizes are not an exact science! If you make it, someone will fit into it.

* Height given is measured BEFORE the brim is already folded up - from the base of the un-folded up brim to the center top of hat. They can be made taller if you want a larger brim to fold up. On newborn hats I plan to fold up about 1" for a brim, on adult hats I usually figure 2" or so for a brim, but this varies according to personal preference.

I have been told by many NICU nurses that this is an ideal hat to knit for preemies and newborns because it has so much stretch.

Preemies:
1 -2 lbs
Baby's Head Circumference is 9" - 10" (so hat circ. should be about 7.5" -8") Height of hat should be 3.5 - 4"

2 - 3 lbs
Head Circumference 10" - 11 1/4" hat circ = 8.5" - 10" Hat height = 4"

4 - 5 lbs
Head Circumference 11 1/2" - 12 1/2" hat circ = 9" - 11.5" Hat height = 4 to 4.5"

5 1/2 - 6 lbs
Head Circumference 12 1/2" - 13" hat circ = 11" - 12" Hat height = 5 to 5.5"

Newborn
Head Circumference 13" - 14 " hat circ = 11.5" - 13" Hat height = 5.5 to 6"

Baby - 3 to 6 months
Head Circumference: 14" - 17 " Hat height= 6.5 - 7"

Baby 6 to 12 months
Head Circumference: 16" - 19 " Hat height = 7.5"

Toddler - preschooler (12 months - 3 years) Hat height = 8"
Head Circumference: 18" to 20 "

Child (3 - 10 years) Hat height =8.5"
Head Circumference: 19" - 20 1/2"

Pre-teens and Teens Hat height 9-10"
Head Circumference: 20 1/2" - 22"

Adult Woman
Head Circumference: 21.5" - 22.5" Hat height = 11"

Adult Man
Head Circumference: 23" - 24" Hat height = 11"-11.5"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Foot Size Chart for babies
Preemies
1-2 lbs
Foot Length 1" - 1 3/4"

2-3 lbs
Foot Length 2" - 2 1/2"

3-5 lbs
Foot Length 2 1/2" - 3"

5-7 lbs
Foot Length 3" - 3 1/2"

7-9 lbs
Foot Length 3 1/4" - 3 3/4" (most needed size for newborns)

OLDER KIDS FEET
For older kids and adults, feet vary so much in size, you will need to measure each persons foot to be more accurate.

3 -6 months
Foot Length 4" - 4.5"

6 months - 1 year
4.25" – 4.75"

18 months - 2 years
Foot Length 4.5" - 5.5"

2 years - 4 years
Foot Length 5.5" - 6"

5-8 years
Foot Length 6” - 7"

12 years
Foot Length 7" - 8.5"

Adult Woman
Foot Length 8" - 11"
(My friend wears a size 9.5-10 womens shoe and her foot measures 10.5" not standing on it.)

Adult Man
Foot Length 10" - 12"
(Her son wears a 12.5 shoe and his foot measures 11.25" long not standing on it.)

61

That's the temperature outside right now - 61 degrees.  There is even a slight breeze.  It is wonderful.  I am head over heels happy.  I know people who are bummed about the dropping temperatures and while I may adore them to no end, I will never understand how anyone could be depressed about this particular event.

Change like this is wonderful.  It puts a spring in my step and a song in my heart.  It makes me more appreciative of the little things around me and I actually want to be outside to soak it all in.  I promise, as soon as the yard crew is done with our yard this morning - I'm parking my tushy in the swing and knitting.  If I could trust that our animals weren't going to be special and fall out of the screened windows, I would open the whole house up.  It is just fabulous today.

I can't wait for the few traditional trees in the area to figure out that it's autumn and being to change their colors - we had a nice wet summer so the colors should be spectacular... if only palm trees did the same... that would be the icing on the cake.

My Mama's Slippers

My mom has always made us slippers, ever since I was little. I love getting them and I've made a few pairs for others myself.  I am posting the pattern on Ravelry for all to enjoy.

Detailed look at finished slipper

I love to embellish these little cuties with ribbons, bows, pompoms and even jingle bells for the younger folks.  Color combinations are endless and this pattern is so quick and easy, you could make everyone you know a pair and still want to make more.


Enjoy!

Crafty Kids

Yep, that's right - I have a couple of crafty little kids and I have been sitting here this morning remembering all the times I sat around with my brother and mother, making seasonal decorations out of construction paper and taping them to the front windows.  Snowflakes.  Leaves.  Pumpkins.  Eggs.  Paper chains.

I think today I will go through our crafting supplies in the garage and see if we have any of the necessary articles.  I think it's time to introduce Hobbit to the joy of construction paper decorations.  It's coming on Halloween and we haven't a single festive item to display.  I know Peanut will have a blast, being the art geek that she is, so Hobbit will follow suit, idolizing her big sister as she does.

Yes, ghosts and goblins beware - we're 'spookifying' our windows today and making memories to last a lifetime.

**Edited to add a photo for all to enjoy... and yes, that is a Mickey Pumpkin.**

Autumn Found Me!

It's amazing.  Right now, outside this very house, is weather that feels nothing like summer.  It's deliciously cool in the shade and not agonizingly hot in the sunshine.  Capris may be in order instead of shorts.  Shoes with socks instead of flip flops... well, that might be taking it a bit too far but it is definitely cooler here and I'm loving it!

I have a lot of friends who live where seasons occur.  I too once resided in a normal part of this country.  The vibrant change in scenery while the trees changed their clothes and decorated the landscape for the changing of the season - an event regarded as highly as the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.  The sound of leaves crunching under foot, the smell of wood fires in the mornings, the feeling of Autumn's kiss on your cheek during a cool breeze.  Oh yes, Autumn and I had a glorious love affair.  We enjoyed reconnecting every year and it seems as though she has found me once again.

Hello old friend - it wonderful to see you again and I hope you stay for a while.

In 2 Days

Minnie, the night she adopted us back in 2009

In two days, our little Bella will be a year old.  Yep, I know the exact birthday of our cat.  I know this because Minnie, Bella's mama, hopped up on our dining room window one rainy evening in early September last year while we were having supper and Hobbit pleaded with Pokey to 'save' her.

That night, a year ago, my soft-hearted husband went outside in the thunderstorm to 'save' Minnie - a pregnant cat who was all too pleased in her accomplishment of being adopted.  In the beginning, she was loving and attentive and just a super cat.  We took her to the vet and had her looked at - mostly to verify what my husband said when he picked her up regarding her being pregnant... and she was!  Our vet said she was due in a matter of weeks and to just make sure we had a good place for her to feel safe and secure.  She chose our bathroom closet which worked out beautiful.

Bella - 3 weeks old

Then, on September 28th my husband and I went to bed with 2 girls, a dog and a cat in the house... we woke up on the 29th to two girls, a dog and 5 cats in the house!  The kittens were beautiful - 3 huge healthy babies and one little runt.  Minnie worked really hard to sit on her, she would carry her out of the closet and leave her in the laundry room closet... poor little baby.  I spent more time with her in my pockets then she did next to her mother.

Minnie, it turns out, was not maternal.  She fed them and then worked as hard as she could once they were weaned to get back outside.  We thought it was unfair to her to keep her cooped up in the house so we took her to a horse farm where she could be a barn cat - a life that suits her much better.  Now, let me state that we made an agreement with the girls before the kittens were born that we would only consider keeping the girl ones - boys spray and if there is going to be an animal living in my home that I am allergic to, it's not going to aggravate me in any other fashion as well.  We were blessed to only have one girl in the litter - Bella, the runt who resided in my pocket.

Bella - a year later

We have since found homes for the boys (Shadow, Pudge and Bruiser) and now Bella is the love of the girls' lives.  She gives as much love and attention as she receives... and sometimes she gives it whether she receives it or not... lol.  We are now back down to 2 girls, a dog and a cat - and that is how we shall stay.  

Happy Birthday Bella - you are truly a beautiful girl and hold the hearts of many in this house... now, if I can just get you to stop tossing your litter all over the kitchen floor, you'd be perfect, I swear!

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

I just wanted to show some love to my boys.

Daughtry - What About Now

I just wanted to share a beautiful song and a powerful message.

Joy & Gladness ~ This Goober's Journey

One of my groups that I co-own on CafeMom is a Christian group.  It has the coolest name - Not a Normal Christian.  Too many times, we had been put down by the Holier Than Thou Society on this site and told that we weren't "true" Christians because of such silly things - like reading Harry Potter or simply having a different stance than they do regarding any topic in the universe.  I love this group and it holds some of the sweetest women I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

We are doing a group study - I say we but it is really just myself and another lady at the moment - and it is around Galatians 5:22-23 regarding Joy and Gladness.  Our assignment this week was to be the total embodiment of joy and what we learned... the definition and execution so to speak.  Y'all know that I am a super nerd and love to do stuff like this so I wanted to share that journey with you.

Joy, to me at least, is when your heart takes wings and just soars.  You are so full of love, peace and happiness that you feel you could explode.  Complete and utter joy brings those smiles that make your cheeks ache and those tears you don't mind crying.. joy is just beautiful.  As far as what it means to in relation to God, I think Psalm 51 is perfect.

Joy is definitely contagious.  Have you ever been in a cantankerous mood and then heard the sound of children laughing... all of a sudden your spirit lifts and you smile in spite of yourself?  That is joy being contagious.

I kept the concept of Joy and Gladness in the front of my mind the other day when I was going to meet Tracy.  I approached everything with a positive light, even my running late which is very difficult for me.  Instead of getting frustrated (and I really was starting to), I kept smiling and reminding myself to be joyful and share that joy with my new friend... and it worked!  Our joy even spread to the others sitting near us, as they came and joined our little group.  We lost track of time and spent almost 7 hours together before we had to part.  My new friend and I even made plans to get together again soon.


By my keeping joy in the front of my mind, I kept what could have been a very stressful experience into something that was relaxed and enjoyable.  Everyone involved, even the complete strangers, was smiling and enjoying themselves in our presence.  Just goes to show that a little joy can go a long way.

Tears Giveway to Enlightenment

Some people are just cruel.  They seem to take pleasure in creating pain for others.  We teach our kids that those types of people are called bullies and that the best way to deal with bullies is to simply ignore them... we teach our kids wrong.

I ignored my bully.  I removed myself from the same places as the bully - no matter how much I enjoyed the area.  I refused to get sucked into the meanness and become that which I despise.  I did as my mother taught me - I walked away.... no one told me what to do if they should follow!

The level of self-esteem a person has makes no difference.  The degree of patience a person has is of no consequence.  Little can be done when the bully refuses to acknowledge that they have no effect... they beat on you relentlessly until there is nothing left but tears... and those tears make the bully feel better - superior even - and they are sustained for a moment.  It's like a drug addict searching for a fix... they are fine for a short while until the monster starts scratching to get out again.

The tears this time gave way to enlightenment.  I don't have to simply take it.  I don't have to keep trying to ignore all the nastiness... I can disappear in my cocoon and reemerge as the beautiful butterfly I know myself to be.. and I have decided that it is time to break free and fly.

103 days, 15 hours and 58 minutes

That's how long I have until Christmas morning.  I have three projects sitting next to me that I haven't touched in days.  I just haven't felt like working on them - I got a bit discouraged when I had to frog Peanut's scarf because I lost my place and when I tried to figure out where I was and picked up working, it was backwards.  I don't want to work on Pokey's present when he's home because then he'll see it and I'm worn out on Hobbit's stitch work with almost 300 stitches to work it through.

I needed a bit of motivation and I'm thinking that having just over 100 days to finish all three is going to do it for me... except, now I've gone from unmotivated to panic mode - I wonder if I can finish all three in such a short amount of time.  Oh goodness, now I'm down to 103 days, 15 days and 52 minutes.. gotta go.. see ya soon!!

Nibbles & Needles

That's what I'd call it.  Call what... my yarn store/coffee shop.  It's been my dream to own a coffee shop and a local yarn store (LYS) so one day during daydreaming I decided to combine them... and Nibbles & Needles is what I created.

It's a beautiful store.  You walk in the front door and are immediately hugged by the aroma of fresh baked cookies and muffins.  The sumptuous smell of coffee kisses you hello.  Looking around you notice that it feels like the home of a good friend.  Buttery soft leather chairs to curl up in, pillowy sofas to lounge on and little wooden craft tables to sit and sew your creations together.  The lighting is peacefully soft but still conducive to knitting and reading patterns.  The color pallet is earthy but feminine - mossy greens, sky blues, sunshine yellows and petal soft pinks.

The walls are lined with diamond cut boxes and filled floor to ceiling with yarn.  It's an organized, functional piece of art.  The logic behind the system is simple - lightest weight to heaviest and the rainbow follows along from red all the way through to indigo and back again.  The color of the wood used to house the section of yarn also helps newer guests learn where to look - light sand all the way through to a golden putty.

Notions and accessories are found in the back section of Nibbles & Needles.  Everything from the obvious to the obscure.  Prices are affordable because the purpose of the store would not be to make items unobtainable.  I have some yarn - the total price was well over $100 - that I was going to make into a short sleeve sweater... I'm afraid to use it because of the astronomical price.  Nothing in our store would ever cost so much that our guests would be too scared to enjoy it.  The purpose of it all is bring joy, relaxation and veritable oasis for knitters.

So that is my "retirement" plan... to open Nibbles & Needles.  I look forward to seeing you there.

Oh So Excited!

That's right - I am oh so excited because this coming Tuesday at 10 a.m. I will be meeting up with my friend Tracy to teach her how to knit!  This is doubly exciting because I have never actually met her before - we have a mutual friend on Facebook and hit it off on his page... lol.

The plan is to meet at a halfway point since we live an hour away from each other.  Her sweet husband did all the research for us and we are to meet at a new shopping complex that is 30 minutes from us.  It is a new facility so I'm excited about that as well.  I might take the kids over on Saturday so I can actually find it on Tuesday.  Yes, yes, I am that anal retentive but let's just call it detail oriented and conscientious, okay.

Once we get there, we're going to meet at the Barnes & Noble Cafe where we can grab some coffee and then hunt out some squishy chairs in which to plant our patooties for several hours to learn how to knit and get to know each other.  I have since learned that her favorite colors are pink and green (see why I like her!) and so I'm going to create her a starter kit with some essentials for her journey into knitting.  I hope she likes it and we can do it like once a month or so... and with it being in public, we might get more people to join our group and then who knows... oh wow - the possibilities!!

So here are the items that I am going to get for her ~ it's like a mini Christmas in September... lol.

 

Gibbs'd Defined

After I wrote the previous post, I realized that some might not know what it means to be Gibbs slapped - or Gibbs'd. Please enjoy this fabulous video, outlining the different techniques used by Leroy Jethro Gibbs, as he is the master and creator. I know, I know ~ he truly is awesome.

The Hidden Monday

Yes, I know it is technically Tuesday but all that really means is that it is a Hidden Monday. What is a Hidden Monday, you ask - oh my... please, let me explain.

Mondays, to most in the universe, are days of dread where the work week begins and time seems to sludge by almost as slowly as Christmas Eve night for a child. A Hidden Monday is the same effect placed on a Tuesday because you were blessed with being off on the actual Monday... see where I'm going with this one?

I've decided to trick the Hidden Monday though. Most people walk around with a false sense of accomplishment that today is Tuesday and they have outwitted Monday only to have it smack them in the back of the head (affectionately known as being "Gibbs'd") by the fact that two days worth of work needs to be accomplished in one day.

Instead of walking around with that silly feeling, I'm going to embrace the Hidden Monday and freak it smooth out. It won't know what to do. It will be confused and perhaps, just maybe, I won't get Gibbs'd... it's worth a shot in any event and if I'm lucky ~ I'll Gibbs the Hidden Monday instead!

Thanks Disney

I honestly think that if I had not been a cast member for so many years, I would not have known what to do with a day like today. We are in the middle of a three day weekend. The plan was to go swimming and spend the day outside... well, woke up to snuffly kids and rain. What to do, what to do!!

Problem was quickly turned into positive. We grabbed the tent and set it up in our living room - complete with sleeping bags and a small kitty version. The kids are currently sitting in it and watching the Disney Channel. They were so surprised and excited at the possibility to spend the day in a tent in the living room - to be a child again.

Happy Saturday

I've got a lot of knitting to do and a very short time to do it... oh goodness, now the song from Smokey and the Bandit is in my head... lack of sleep, caffeination in progress and rammy kids makes for a crazy day indeed.

Peanut's Christmas Scarf

White lace scarf - Rory has one and I always thought it was so grown up and beautiful. I can still picture it clearly in my head to this very day... then again, I do have Gilmore Girls on DVD so the amount of times I've watched it probably has something to do with it as well... nah, it's just a phenomenal scarf!

I decided that Peanut needed a scarf just like Rory's - one that says "Hey, I'm classy" and yet whispers "Elegant and practical ~ look out world"... it's a very yappy scarf but that's okay because Peanut isn't... it can talk all it wants!

So I started the pattern - K2, P4, carry the 1, divide by Pi - and was impressed with how well it is going! I am normally too scatterbrained for intricate stitch work but this time, I might actually make it to the end... all 71 inches of it!

My Corner of the World

In my CafeMom group, Nutty Knitters, we had a post going about our "spots" - the locations in our homes where we have planted our needles and claimed ownership. So many of these spots look like their inhabitants... I wonder if mine does?

Flat or Round?

I have been working hard all day - no, not cleaning and doing chores but researching! The sad part is that I am no better off now than when I first started this journey.

I want to make Pokey a sweater vest for Christmas that I found in my Deborah Norville pattern book. I have a beautiful hazelnut beige to work it in that is creamy beyond belief and a joy to work with but I hesitate to cast on... you see, I despise seaming. I do, I said it and I'm not ashamed. Seaming is not something I excel at and if I can figure out a way to convert a pattern and not have to do it, I'm all over it.

So this sweater vest, which is actually elegantly simplistic in nature, has become a mental juggernaut for me. How many stitches to actually cast on, do you ignore the salvage edge in your count, what to do when you reach the armhole shaping... ugh, my blond brain can only handle so much some days and when you add a ponytail to the mix, well let's just say I have yet to figure this out.

I am thinking that since my pattern calls for 98 stitches to be cast on for the front, that if I were to work in the round, I should cast on 196 with a purple marker after the first 98 and a blue marker after the second 98 but before joining the round... then my brain goes into overload and I wonder how will I know if I am on the front or back once it's being worked because the position of the markers is all relative and perception could change as to their location during the knitting process ~ no lie, I actually went there.

I have a sneaky suspicion that I just might be over-thinking this one a tad.