Sunday Snaps

Started the week by celebrating my birthday with my 4/5 of my family members - cake and all...

Finished what was originally the last Christmas present to be made and was excited about it...

When I had an idea and ran with it... pattern coming soon.  Needs one more test run.

That's my week - celebrations and crafting.  I think that should be my week every time... find something to celebrate and have enough time to craft.  That would make for a fabulous year, wouldn't it!

Today, we're heading to see Santa and then go out looking at all the Christmas lights in one of my most favorite neighborhoods.  It should be a lot of fun.  We normally do it on Christmas Eve but we're headed up to my folks' house this year so we opted to go tonight since we're all off - no work tonight and no school tomorrow.  Although, my parents are coming to take Hobbit out to the movies and have a sleepover.  They're going to see "Saving Mr. Banks" and I'm a bit more than a tad jealous.  I really want to see it too but I have to work so hopefully she won't give me too many spoilers.

I hope you had a wonderful week full of celebrations and crafty goodness too!

Did I keep my promises?

Y'all know that I don't make resolutions but instead, every year I make promises to try.  This is what works best for me because as long as I give it an honest go, I totally succeed.  Why set myself up for failure at the start of the year by making a resolution when I can do something more positive and simply make a promise to try.

Now that the year is winding down, I wanted to take a look back at my promises for 2013 and see how I did.  I kept things relatively simple this year but they were huge for me.  These promises are never about putting on airs or keeping with anyone named Jones, they are simply things that I want to do to make me a better version of me.  So here goes, the moment of truth...

1. I promised to read one book a month.  Welp, I didn't make the quota but I did complete 5 books this year so that just a tad more than one book a quarter.  I can live with that because it means I made time to read more which ultimately was my goal.  To bring reading back into my life and make it important again - given my reentry to the working world this past year, I think knocking out five books (there were three I just didn't like and quit reading but I'm not counting those) is pretty awesome.
2. I promised to make my first sweater.  I so totally did this!  I don't personally own it any more because Peanut became it's new owner on Thanksgiving, but I still made it and it came out pretty okay... I might even attempt another!
3. I promised to save $1,000 this past year.  Hang on, let me crunch some numbers... up to today, we have saved $960 this year.  That's the good news.  The honest flip side is, we had to use $890 of it over the course of the year.  There are two ways to look at this, one is positive and one is negative.  The negative says that we flat out didn't reach our goal because we only have $26 in our savings account.  The positive side says that because of our constant and vigilant attempts at saving money, we were covered when those unexpected life emergencies cropped up this year AND we even have $26 left over to start off our savings plan for next year.  Guess which way I'm choosing to look at it...
4. I promised to visit my folks at least once a month.  I have totally lived up to this one.  Yes, the drive is expensive and tiring but the time spent with my family is well worth it.  Sure, it will get harder now with just one car but Pokey is totally on board and this month, we're going up twice!!  What makes it even better is that my folks make the same effort to come down here if we can't make it up there which makes me very happy.

There you have it - all of my Promises to Try for 2013 and their end results.  I must say, I did better than I thought so I'm rather pleased with the how well I did this year.  It's nice to take stock in our accomplishments, regardless of size, and take a second to say "good on you" for a job well done.

Now, what will I challenge myself with for 2014...

The finale

Doesn't it just scream "Hobbit"!

I am down to my last crafted Christmas present.  I am so chuffed right now.  I never finish all my wish list crafting for the holidays before the actual holidays.  I seriously could run around like Julie Andrews in the Alps, I feel that fabulous over it all.

I think my secret this year was that I cut back on who I crafted for honestly.  I used to make something for everyone and anyone, but not this year.  This year I made something for each member of my immediate family.  That means a grand total of 5 people - my parents, Pokey, Peanut, and Hobbit.  If I get to see you on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, I made you a present.

The other thing is that I kept my presents realistic.  Sure, I want to make my husband a sweater, but I didn't.  I'd love to make my mama an afghan, but I didn't.  I made things that I noticed they needed - smaller things but necessary things.  You know, those things you never think about until you need it.  I can't elaborate any further until after the holidays when I share what all they got but I know you know what I'm talking about... don't you.

The final bit that helped me out a lot was using my time in The Harry Potter Knitting and Crochet House Cup on Ravelry productively.  Fall term ran from September through November so that was three months that I was crafting for the glory of Slytherin (and Christmas).  The final push came when I used the prompts from the Disney Adventures group to get those last little things completed this month - all those ornaments, yep... they went directly to the challenges.  Crafting challenge groups have helped me stay on track and given me lots of inspiration over the years.  A lot of people worry that they won't be good enough or fast enough but honestly, it's not about all that.  You should check them out, you just might find your crafting taking off too.

Seriously - don't you just love the colors... I sure do!

I best get going on that last present while Hobbit is at school.  It's for her and I don't want her to see it, or figure it out!  There are only two people in our house who really like pink and considering the other one is me, my chances of getting away without being noticed are pretty slim.

 She knows Santa and I talk but if she knew how much... let's just say there wouldn't be a moment of peace in this house until Christmas morning!!

It's time!

The perfect song for today - it's not Christmas until this is played. Happy Christmas everyone!!

Love

See the ones I made!

Yesterday was my birthday.  It was a wonderful day really.  I was woken up at 9 a.m. with coffee and kisses.  I spent an hour or so on the computer while enjoying my coffee, then I set myself up at the kitchen table and proceeded to wrap all the presents we had purchased the day prior.  I didn't have to worry about prying eyes and nosey roseys.

Once all of that was complete, Pokey and I headed up to my parents' house.  On the way, I got my free Starbucks birthday drink (Peppermint Mocha, naturally) along with something for Pokey and a hot chocolate for Hobbit.  As soon as I opened my car door, my parents and Hobbit were singing "Happy Birthday" to me.

We sat around and talked for a while and then we had some pizza for my birthday supper.  Peanut and Hobbit both decorated my parents' house with homemade flair.  There was "Happy Birthday" cut out of construction paper with construction paper streamers and 'confetti' taped to the kitchen island overhead area, along with some wonderful and bright bead garland hanging from the dining room light fixture.  The dry erase board that lives on their refrigerator had a birthday message on it for me from both of my girls as well.  It was nice to have bits of Peanut around because she wasn't able to be there in person - her first weekend home for Christmas break and she had to go in to work.  That's what we get for raising a responsible human-bean.

Clockwise from left: My family + decorations, my cake, my plates, and my festive homemade decorations.

Once our pizza had settled, we dove into the beautiful spice cake that my mama made and Hobbit helped decorate.  I think it was funny that they used the leftover plates from my daddy's recent retirement party with the excuse of 'they were pretty and we thought we could get the cake on there before you read it'... seriously, my family is that funny.  Overall, it was a wonderful day full of what is most important to me ~ quiet times and family... oh yeah, and I made out like a bandit too!

Clockwise from top right: Blake Shelton CD, owl watch necklace, shirt, and Hobbit crafted necklace. Hello Kitty purse from Pokey. Me, the birthday girl. Ornament crafted by Peanut. Creation by Hobbit - honestly unsure what it is but she made it all by herself so it will be tucked safely away for as long as it holds together!  A cross-stitch that my mother made for me of a print Pokey and I saw years ago on our honeymoon.  We couldn't afford it but we talk about it all the time so she found the kit and made it for us.  Way better than a silly old print!

I have people that I know who go all out - so far in debt that they can't see straight but have to keep up appearances for whatever reason - but I have to say, I'd rather have a homemade celebration like this than anything else on Earth.  This has been a wonderful birthday because it was full of the most important thing to me... love.  I have a friend who once said the most amazing thing a few years back and I've never forgotten it.  She said "we may be poor in the pockets but we're rich in love" and I have to say, that's the only kind of wealth that matters.

Sunday Snaps

We started the week by making cookies... they were gone by Wednesday!  Making more tomorrow.

All presents have been made, or bought, and all are wrapped.  Just waiting for Christmas Eve to place them under the tree.

All of these were given to my parents, who promptly placed them all on their new huge tree.

I attempted my first ever charted color work in crochet.. and failed... but will try again soon.

Went to my husband's company Christmas party last night - it was... interesting...

Spent today celebrating my 41st birthday with my wonderful family - sans Peanut who had to work.

1201

Wowzers, that a lot of posts.  I can't believe that I've had that much to say since July of 2010 but apparently I did.  Lots of history in this little blog - some good, some bad but all of it is honest.

This weekend is going to be crazy.  Hobbit just left to go spend it with my folks because I have to work tonight and Pokey is going out to get my birthday present.  Then on Saturday we are going Christmas shopping in the morning and we have his company Christmas party that evening - neither of us is looking forward to either event.  We're both such homebodies that it isn't even funny... which is good in a way because if one of us was not, the other would probably get frustrated.  Last, but not least, on Sunday it's my birthday!  We will be headed up to my folks to collect Hobbit and have a little celebration with my parents.  Peanut has to work, which made my heart sink, but I understand.

So that is my weekend in a nutshell... a small, and slightly cracked nutshell.  I will be so exhausted by the end of it, I just know it.  Actually, I think I'll go take a nap before work since the house is quiet.  Yeah, that'll be good... naps make everything better.

Not always

I had a sweet letter the other day from a fellow crafter who was praising me for "always making such beautiful things".  I had to giggle because obviously she was not privy to this currently creation that was sitting on my counter.

You see, I wanted to learn something new so I decided to attempt charted color work.  I have never done it - knit or crochet - so this was an adventure.  I grabbed my graph paper notebook that I purchased several months for exactly this and sat down.  Disappointed that I totally forgot to pick up colored pencils, I grabbed a pen and simply shaded in the squares where I thought the color would go.  Pleased with my new graph, I grabbed two colors from my stash and set to work.

The inside looked good, the outside was almost recognizable as snowflake...

I was thinking I was doing okay... then it dawned on me how wonky it was getting the further along I went.  I stuck with it because I figured it would be best to go on, using my limited skills, and figure what I did wrong at the end.  It was just scrap yarn and that is what scrap yarn is there for - practicing.  I also knew that this was going to my mama and she would love it regardless if looked like a snowflake bag or a Rorschach test.  Here is the end result...

Definite Rorschach test result but now it can be a game AND a bag that holds ornaments.

I get a giggle out of it but in a way, I'm also kind of proud of it.  I graphed it.  I overcame my fear of trying it.  I can kind of see where it wanted to be a snowflake and I'm sure with a bit more practice and research, the next one will be closer to being identifiable as what I intended.  So you see, it's not a true statement to say that everything I make comes out so beautiful - obviously, not always.

On the plus side, I am attempting the chart again but this time I am knitting it up as a gift card holder.  There are a few issues here as well but I'm not going to beat myself up over them.  I'm learning and when you're learning, everything is positive... even the creatively rogue moments.  See, I don't make mistakes when I'm creating... I simply go rogue... a lot.

Bet y'all forgot I knew how to knit... yeah, for a few minutes there, I did too!

The best part will happen next year or the year after, when these things are pulled out again and I can look at them, giggling over the silliness of the mistakes I made and the fear I had in creating them.  I can also be proud - that I had the courage to try and that I have learned so much since this first time.

Celebrate the efforts - regardless of the outcome.  Things will not always turn out as you envision them but as long as you continue to try, they have a better chance of success than if you don't even start.

Now these I can share!

I have been a busy bee this week making ornaments to give to my mama for their new tree.

My Ravelry project page for random ornaments has been growing steadily all week long.  There are notes for most of the ornaments in there, if you are wanting to make any of them.  I have the link to the Season of Snowflakes pattern there, the first red snowflake in the top middle row has a direct link to the pattern as well.  The rest have notes because I tweaked the pattern and the wreath has directions in there because I got really creative at 12:30 a.m. after work last night... that's a hairband of all things!

With all of this crafting I've been doing, I am only need two more items to reach 113 for the year!  I'll probably surpass it because I'm having fun with the ornaments but I'm chuffed to bits because I honestly didn't think I would make it at all.

So that's been my week of crafting - that I can share - and I hope that you have been having just as much fun with your projects.

Season of Snowflakes!

Y'all know how much I love winter and all the snow that comes with it - I've made my own snowflake to keep!

It's no surprise that I chose the song below for today because my friends have been sharing their photos of the recent snowfall with me.  I do love snow but unfortunately, here in Florida we just don't get any - except that magical kind that falls in the Magic Kingdom but I digress.

So since I don't get any of the beautiful snow, I've made my own... and I'm sharing it with you!  Today I have published my Season of Snowflakes ornament/coaster pattern and I hope you love it as much as I do.  It's simple, elegant and best of all - it will never melt!

I hope you enjoy this pattern as much as I do.  Now, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!

103 / 113

I was watching season 2 of "Miranda" and this is what came of it - and I absolutely love it!

At the beginning of the year, a group popped up on Ravelry that I was invited to called "113 in 2013".  The premise was that we would all challenge ourselves to make 113 things this year.  I joined on a lark, thinking there would be no way I could actually fulfill this challenge but I would still have fun playing along. Welp, with over two weeks left in the year, I'm down to the final ten projects.  Yep, I'm serious.  I never thought I would be able to do it but I have and that makes rather proud and seriously motivated to complete it.

This is my latest creation that put me to that T-minus 10 mark, a cute little headband that I made for Hobbit for Christmas.  I was in a rather foul mood yesterday - you know the kind where you hear the ugly coming out and you despise yourself for it but no matter what you do, it just doesn't stop - so I thought I would counteract all the ugly with some of my favorite British comedies, namely "Miranda".  Oh mylanta, I love Miranda Hart to no end... she just cracks me up and this show is absolutely brilliant.

While I was absentmindedly giggling along, I created this rather cheerful item.  It was super simple, honest.  I used my favorite Cherry Heart's Twinkler Star pattern, slightly modified, for the blue one on top.  The bottom star was a snowflake that took on a life of it's own and became a big puffy star.  I didn't write down the pattern and I don't think I could recreate it - it was just one of those happy crafting 'accidents' and I went with it.  For the band, I chained 83 and then hdc all the way back, starting at the second chain from the hook.  At the end, I did 4hdc to make the corner turn and worked my way back up doing hdc and then did 3hdc at the opposite end, using a slip stitch to finish it off to the beginning.  Once that was done, I took my embroidery needle and simply went in and out the entire length of the center and used the same thread to sew the headband closed.  Without cutting the thread, I then sewed the double stars to the headband securely, knotted it and wove in my ends.

It reminds me of something Ariel would wear, no idea why but it does.  It makes me happy to look at it and I hope that Hobbit loves to wear it.  I'm going to make her a few more and maybe even one for me, just never know... but first, I think I'll knock out ten little stars so I can accomplish my "113 in 2013".  Still floors me every time I think about... it's amazing what we can do, even when we aren't trying!

Sunday Snaps

We started the week by decorating our little house...

I've been diligently working on Christmas presents and sneaking in some reading time...

Tinkerbell and I have also been making ornaments this week...

Which are being used to decorate our presents - we even gave an early present to y'all, my bow pattern!

Wrapped up with a bow

Who doesn't love an awesome fluffy bow?

I feel horrible that I can't share what all I have been making with you but I'm going to make it up to you, right now! 

You see, last night, I had one of those moments where you go "You know would be great... if I made the bow too!  That way, once the present was opened, you'd have a great headband to always remember Christmas every time you wore it."  So that's exactly what I did and I'm sharing the pattern with you!

I must get back to Christmas crafting but just so you know, I've uploaded it as a free Ravelry download and you can get it through this link here.  I do hope that you enjoy it and that this little bow will brighten up the presents, and noggins, around your tree on Christmas morning.

A different light

Nothing beats a bit of crafting and a good book.

Y'all know that I did not like "The Hunger Games" when I read it because there wasn't a single character that I found endearing.  The rest of my family loved it, but I just was not on board.  Well, that was until we watched the film back when it was released almost two years ago.  It never happens where I love the film more than the book...

never...

but I did.

My mother claims it was because I 'read Katniss wrong' in the book.  Not sure how anyone could exactly do that but she claims that the reason I didn't like it is basically because I read it wrong.  Umm, sure Mama.  It cracks me up every time I think of her telling me this, all earnest and doe eyed.  I prefer to think of it as Jennifer Lawrence did an amazing job of softening her and making a character that I despised into one that I adored.  As a human being, I find Miss Lawrence to be of exquisite character and beautifully grounded.  As an actor, I find her to be very gifted.

And this is why I have decided to give "Catching Fire" another read.  I must say, I'm glad so far that I did because I am loving it.  Katniss is softer to me now, instead of the egocentric snob I initially took her for - too good for her family, seeing herself above her mother, a martyr over her sister, and a false love for someone who truly cared for her.  Oh no, that's not how I see her at all any more.  Now she is vulnerable, scared, compassionate and doing all she can to hold it together and protect her family when in reality all she wants is to live a life without worry for those she loves.

I'm at the part where they are just on the train, she and Peeta are talking and he's showing her what he's been up to for his talent.  I won't go into detail in case someone is reading it for the first time but I must say, it's going a lot better this time around because I am seeing Katniss in a different light - and she's absolutely lovely.

On the nibble front - it's my first weekend of the Christmas holiday season and I am going to make a family favorite today.  The cookie to shame all other cookies - Tollhouse traditional chocolate chip cookies!!  Oh yes, they are the first cookie that I make every year because I know I will have to make a second batch before the month is out.  This week, we'll be getting fat on the most delicious cookies ever invented.

I can't wait.. best get off here and get cracking then, huh.

P.I.P.

This little elf has been working!

I would love nothing more than to show off all that I have been making this past week but I can't - namely because the future owners actually read my blog.  I know, crazy but it's true.

I managed to crank out two very important gifts - a total of five items crafted - this week.  I do hope they love them.  That's always the worry, isn't it.  We spend hours crafting, possibly frogging and recrafting which was the case with one of my things, and then we sit around and fret that the recipient won't be as chuffed as we are about it.

Sure, it may be just an item, but it's an item that I sat down and dedicated several hours of my life to create with my two hands.  Squeezing in time to stitch whenever possible - even setting up a little sweatshop like I have now in my office - just to ensure that the item is perfect in every way possible.

I have photos of the items I made and I will share them once the presents have been opened - but if you look closely, you just might spy my latest present in progress.  These little P.I.P.s have been worked on in stealth mode for the past two weeks.  Just two more to go and I'm done.

20 days folks - it all ends in just 20 days.  How are your holiday crafting endeavors coming along?  Me?  All I can say is - Back to the sweatshop!!

Holiday Cheer

We all have them, relatives that we tuck away and don't talk about because of their 'issues' - be it alcohol, drugs or just inability to behave in society.  I have them on my side of the family and my husband has them on his... and yesterday, one of them reached out to us.  We discussed the message that was received and what would be in the best interest of our family.  We talked to other members of our family that we honestly haven't spoken to in several years, just to see what the backstory might be or if there even was one.  That's when we learned the truth, and that's when the disappointment set in.

This person gave us such a sob story that included things such as homelessness, unemployment and abandonment by the rest of the family.  Given their substance abuse issues, we decided that we couldn't take this person on but directed them to where they could get help - and we knew for a fact that they would receive the help they needed.  This person, instead of being able to see what we were saying and follow the advise we were giving, attempted to lay on guilt and manipulation instead.  Claiming that they simply wanted us to buy them a $70 bike and a case of water to brush their teeth... then they blocked us from contacting them.

Here's the thing though - if a person is homeless and unemployed, basically on skid row as it were - how are they able to afford the cell phone they used to contact us on?  If they are homeless and unemployed, basically on skid row as it were - how is it that their facebook page is full of pictures dated just this past week of them partying, surrounded by tons of empty alcohol containers, cigarette butts and other such items?  If they are homeless and unemployed, basically on skid row as it were - why is the requested amount for the supposed bicycle apparently the exact same amount required for a specific portioned amount of illegal drugs that we know they are addicted to using?  Where would this $70 bicycle be kept if they were truly homeless and what would they do with this supposed 'therapy dog' which in reality is an overpriced accessory that was purchased for them several years ago and is what is keeping them from supposedly being allowed access to any shelter?

I'm sorry that this family member is in the situation that they are in but it is by their own design.  We contacted the rest of the family and the truth is not that this person was shunned by them, the truth is that this person hasn't spoken to them in over four months.  If they truly just needed a bicycle to have transportation to and from work, the Salvation Army has them on sale for $5 and that same establishment will help them with shelter, hygiene needs and food.  They are there to help a person get back on their feet... and, they allow pets.

We hold no ill will towards this person for the fact that they have attempted to extort money from us under false pretenses.  We feel sorry for this individual.  We pray for this individual, that they find the will and strength to get better.  We don't have the money this person requested but that doesn't mean that if they got sober we wouldn't do what we could to help... but they have to help themselves first.

This is the season of giving and we do our best to give all we can - not because we have everything but simply because we know what it feels like to have nothing.  Be sure that you spread a little cheer this month and I know that every time we give monies to the Salvation Army, we'll be thinking of our family member and praying that they finally get the help that they need - both physically, mentally and spiritually.

Yay - December!

Our precious little tree

This is my most favorite month in the entire year and it's finally here!!  The whole world is decorated, people are in sweeter moods, kids are home on break, carols are being sung everywhere, cookies are being baked all the time and it just restores my faith in humanity.  Oh how I wish every month could be like this, what a wonderful place the world would be then.

We've spent the holiday weekend all over the place - first at my mama's and then home but we ended up having two Thanksgivings... quite by accident, I assure you.  You see, we spent the actual holiday at my folks' house surrounded by family.  It was lovely to see everyone and spend time together.  We had turkey and pie and played games and watched the parade and "A Christmas Story".  Then we came back home and spent the rest of the weekend here since Pokey and I both had to work on Friday.  Though I did receive a wonderful surprise when I learned that Friday was actually considered part of the holiday at my work and I earned holiday pay for working it - hello Christmas shopping money!

Well, Saturday we went grocery shopping and bought two turkeys because they were on sale and we love turkey.  We put one in the freezer and we made one on yesterday after we put up all the decorations.  Our little house is decked out from top to bottom, inside and out, for the holidays.  We had our Pandora Christmas station on most of the afternoon and when it came time to eat, we all piled in the living room and watched "Elf" with our turkey, mash and corn.  I smiled at the scene around me and giggled that we are so into our own little traditions that, without even thinking about it, we recreated Thanksgiving at our house.

Holiday cheer around here

You see, every year, after the parade, we put up our tree but we couldn't this year because we were up at my folks' house.  It was fine and we weren't sad over it since we got to spend time with everyone - my daddy was home finally, my great aunt was there and Peanut was down from school.  It was wonderful, but it didn't feel like the season was here... then we did all that we did yesterday and now I feel full of the Christmas spirit.

Funny how that works isn't it.  Without even thinking about it, we worked out our own little bit of holiday magic to bring the season to life.  No planning or discussing, just by happenstance... but it was one of my favorite days this year and how fortunate that it should happen on the first day of my most favorite months of the year.

Guess I'm not a cottonheadedninnymuggins after all.

Many thanks - to you!

Morning Coffee eReader Cover!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend and to celebrate the kick-off of my favorite time of year, I made y'all a little something.  Please accept this pattern as a token of my appreciation.  I am so very thankful for all of you who come into my little world and hang out with me.

It's available on Ravelry as a downloadable pattern and there is also a direct link to the pdf here.

I hope that everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving, surrounded by those you hold dear, celebrating all the things that make life magical.  I know I'll be adding all y'all to my list of things that I'm thankful for - so if you're traveling, be safe and if you're staying home, be at peace.

Motivation...

This little bit of information right here...

was the final bit of motivation I needed to finish this little diddy right here!  My first ever sweater!!

Guess what I'll be wearing this Thanksgiving to my folks' house...

Multi-tasking

This week has gotten away from me so the best way to get back on track is to simply pick up where we left off until we reach where we are supposed to be... so here goes!


I've had this song in my head most of the week so I thought I'd share the joy with the rest of you.   Now we have background music for the rest of the post too!

All of my projects have managed to migrate to my office and I try to give each a bit of love every day.

 The goal today is to make the sweater complete, along with the Christmas present.  I hope to have them off the hooks by this evening and ready for photographing before the sun goes down or by first light tomorrow before I have to go to work.  It's a goal, hopefully one that I will make too.

This is our supper tonight - thanks to Pinterest - minus the bacon because of my really dumb pork allergy.

Pokey and Hobbit are both having a Thanksgiving feast today while they're out so I figured a lighter supper was in order.  A simple egg and hashbrown casserole will do the trick because they should still be full when they get home and I don't see the need in wasting a roast on a group of troops that are already stuffed.

Gotta love Goodreads.com

I also started a new book the other night.  Not because I really wanted to read it but because I wanted to read something and it was there.  I'm not into it yet but I'll give it a bit more time because the scenes are still just developing.  I have high hopes for it since I like the author from when I read "Wicked" so many years ago.

I've actually had this book for some time, along with "Mirror, Mirror" and "Son of a Witch".  I received them as presents the same year I was raving about "Wicked" but I've never been moved to immediately read them because I worry that the next won't be as good as the first, leaving a souring on the first book.  I know, it's strange but y'all know that I'm strange anyway so this is not some kind of miracle revelation.  I'll keep plugging away and we'll see if it pulls me in as I go along, which I hope it does because now that I sit here remembering his first novel, I've rekindled my desire to read his later works.

There you have it - all caught up and ready for the rest of the week.  I have a great sense of accomplishment about the day now.  Let's see if we can't carry that through to the sweater like I was talking about earlier...

Inspiration

I have this bag that I love.  It was sent to me by a dear friend who went to London, UK which makes it doubly awesome...

and it's my inspiration for the color palette of my latest project.  Brilliant, no?

I find inspiration in the strangest places sometimes.  A flower, a painting, a moment, a mood... or even a bag.  I have been a lover of grey for a very long time.  It is so underrated as a color when in reality, it's practically perfect.  It goes with everything and adds just enough lift to make everything around it pop.

I've never been to London but whenever I think about it, grey has a very strong presence for me.  Earl Grey or Lady Grey, fog, stonework, River Thames, and so much more.  They just resonate and so, in order to bring a bit of that to my part of the world, I've been on a grey crafting spree as of late.  It started with a bag, then a sweater and now this latest project - a test crochet for one of my favorite designers.  Everyone who knows me knows that I am a complete Anglophile so hopefully, one day, I will be able to wear all of my beautiful grey creations at some point as I wonder around the streets that stole my heart long before I ever arrived.

The beauty and warmth is undeniable, hopefully my projects will emulate it as well.  I think it's interesting how we go through such cycles - gravitating towards certain colors or patterns.  What do you find is really speaking to you lately?

Sunday Snaps

Guess who found a USB cord that works with her camera...

and can now take - and off load - images of her projects that she's been working on...

so that she can share them with everyone else because she's kinda proud of her progress...

Like I always say... all it takes is faith, trust and a little bit of pixie dust.

Positivity Challenge

I challenged all of my friends last night to post nothing but positive and uplifting things for the next 24 hours. There is enough doom and gloom in the world and I think on a day that is numbered as fabulously as 11/12/13, we should do something equally as awesome - be positive!! So here is my contribution to the smiles today... I know I have a few fellow Whovians that will get a giggle out of this pairing doing this song.

Three things...

These times, they are hard... and I am still learning...

Well now that's a conundrum...

How in the world am I supposed to do "Sunday Snaps" without a way to offload photos onto my computer?  It truly is a conundrum... as is the fact that I spelled that word correctly the first time - even checked it in Google to make sure, which I guess is kind of sad if you think about it.  Oh well, onward...

Since I don't have a way to upload images from my camera at the moment and I have some awesome crochet project progress images to share, I'll utilize my pinning abilities to break down my week for you.  To the boards!

Monday, my laptop died but I was able to get a new tower...

Tuesday, the monitor I had died but I was able to get one added on to the tower I got the day prior...

Wednesday, I learned that all the options and avenues I explored to refinance my car weren't going to work...

Thursday, I returned my car to the dealership because I just couldn't get it into the budget any longer...

Friday, I was just over the week and focused on making it to the end of my shift...

This weekend has been spent attempting to get back to this mindset... and that's been my week.  I think I can safely say that it's been the worst week in recent history.  Here's to praying for a better one coming up!

TGIF!

I can't tell you how happy I am that it's the weekend.  All I have to now is just have to make it through my shift at work tonight and then I'm going to be a lump.  That's right, a big ol' lump on my sofa with my crochet projects all around me.

There are things that need to be done, sure, but honestly, after the week I've had, I don't care if they need to be done or not. There is nothing so paramount that it can't wait a few days.

I'm taking a mental health weekend, what about you?

Sometimes, being a grown up sucks.

It's true.  This week has been horrible, absolutely horrible.  Do you know I cancelled a doctor appointment for my yearly check up because I just couldn't stand the thought of possibly hearing more bad news.

Monday, my computer dies and I have to figure out a way to get one because of work.  It's not a luxury item any more, it's my livelihood and without it, we're toast.  Thanks to my daddy's ingenius idea, I was able to find one that worked and it was able to be financed so I could afford it.

Tuesday, the monitor goes out so I have to go back to the same place to get a monitor and add it on to my monthly bill.  It's not a big change, less than $20, but still it was more money going out the door.

Wednesday, I contacted our bank to see if we could refinance my car for a lower payment because ever since the whole restructuring of Pokey's work and the change in position, our income was cut in half... half!  That's with me finally finding a job too.  I have juggled all the bills and managed to get everything set where we can make it work but the one thing that wasn't fitting into the equation any longer was my car.  My cute, precious little dream car was no longer financially doable for us.  I'll be honest, I've been crying over it and I'm not proud... and it's not for some selfish or vain reason... it's because I feel kind of like a failure.

Today, I learned that our bank wouldn't do the refinancing and the current finance company won't redo the loan, it apparently just can't be done and so I have made the tough decision to simply return my car to the dealership.  I called the finance company to let them know, the DMV regarding my tag, our insurance to modify the policy, and the dealership so it's all set to go back tonight.  We still have Pokey's car and Hobbit can take the bus so it's not like it will ruin our lives in any way but it will make things a bit more creative when it comes time to do groceries and whatnot.  Plus, he will have to learn to keep the car clean and not full of junk... and honestly, I don't like his car so I know I won't be driving it much.  It just stinks and I feel beat up and I'm angry at things I can't control.  It's not like we aren't working our hinies off to make ends meet but to have to make the decision to return my car, it's a blow.

So that's what's up - nothing terrible in the big scheme of things but it feels it all the same.  Thanks for listening, now if I could stop puddling up for no good reason and just suck it up again, I'd be good to go.

Lots of people are worse off, it's just a car...

Progress... I swear!

I know I said last week that I wanted to get my armholes done and a few inches past on my OWL sweater.  That was my goal all week and all week, I had life laugh at me whenever I thought I would sit down and crochet... until last night!

While I was at work, I sat down and worked on my sweater between calls and research so that I made my goal.  I have armholes and two rows after!!  I gave my friends a progress update and said that "I did a full on Bilbo and it pulled a David Copperfield" because while I was working it, I didn't think it was going to work.  Not one bit.  I was crocheting, the entire time thinking that I could simply rip it out and try again but it honestly worked out perfectly.  So I went there and back again, and it was magical!

I tried it on today - mostly because I've never made an adult sized anything so to be able to try on my first ever sweater was pretty exciting - and I found the armholes to be just a touch too tight for my liking.  I'm thinking that the weight of the sweater will pull it to a perfect fit so I'm not going to frog it and extend it, as much as I may want to, becaues that might make it too big in the end.

Now here comes the hard part.  Y'all may have heard that my laptop died on Monday.  Just went splat - it powers up and runs but the screen is completely black.  Pokey thinks he can get it up in safe mode, hooked up to his monitor, and transfer off all my files that I need and dump them into the second harddrive he has on his computer so I'm not worried about it.  I was also blessed by being able to find a computer that I could finance that actually had the proper operating system for my work needs... the only challenge is that it doesn't have a drive for my camera memory card like my laptop did and I don't have the USB cable for my camera.  Pokey said we could get an external drive for the memory card but for right now, I don't have a way to offload pictures and share with you.

So there is progress on my sweater, I swear!  Hopefully by my next payday I will be able to pick up what I need and show you a completed sweater.  That would be awesome.

Tuesday Tunes

Today just calls for a bit George. Sing along, dance around, and have a great day!