A-C...Minus C

A good friend has left the country for a year.  She has a lovely blog where she tries to post three things that make her happy, or that she is thankful for.  A wonderful, cheesy, great idea.  That doesn't come across as cheesy when she does it at all.  For her sake so she can feel more a more included, I'm going to attempt to keep up a little better with this, and in her honor I'm starting with a thankful for/what makes me happy list.....
  But I'm going to do mine alphabet style:


A
Aran Armchair.

This arm chair makes me happy, and I hope one day to have something similar in my house.


B
Broooobeeee!

   Elias dressed as Brobee for Halloween.  (There's a party in tummy, oh yummy a party).
I didn't get to see it on Halloween, he apparently only did for a small amount of time, before taking it off at day care.  (No trick-or-treating for this little vegetarian.... he likes broccoli!)

C
Cars
    Cars have been acting up lately, but it's really great that I can get in a car to go someplace instead of walking, or Oregon Trailing.  I think this is a little pathetic of a thankful-ness thing.   Buuuuuut that's all I have right now, I'll come back to C.

*       *      *     *

The time writing this blog should have been spent writing a paper about Footloose.

But you have no idea how angry it makes me to watch a crap remake of a decent movie...and then have to write a college paper about it...

Okay.  I am attempting to knit awesome things by the end of the year.  (and ace my classes...  or at least... bace my classes...)

Things requested:

Hoodie-cozy - Anna C.
Star Trek-cozy -Anna C.
Owl - Katie F.
Fish Hat(s) - Jessica H.
Sweater vest - G.
Mittens - Jon C.
Sweater? -Katie R.
Wrist warmers - Krystal L., and Trish M.
Mittens.  -B.D

....

More to be added I'm sure...

I haven't forgotten...(and I'm sorry! Some of you have been waiting almost a year...)

1. Owls  for Katie F
2.  Mittens for Jonathan C.
3. Leg warmers for Anna's friend
4. Star wars or hoodie beer cosby for Anna
5. Wrist warmers for Trish
6. Homemade things for...Julie W.,  Bill, Katie H., Gabbie, Drew, Michelle N., Wendy H., and Chris


What I'm actually doing...

1. Baby blanket
2. Socks
3. Way too much Hulu and Netflix
4. Buying yarn

I joined a blog along.   Such a nerd.

So, keeping with the nerd thing I will pick the nerd projects I want to complete this year.

To start with I will make this.  Or something similar.
R2D2 Rock on.

Nothing completely finished lately.  Working on a sock, and finishing up a sweater vest for a mini man.

I admit it, I post according to the number of hits in the past few days.
It is currently at Zero.

Therefore,  I'm posting.

While spending time (finally) with my favorite second eldest female cousin, we discovered this sign.

Not in a sketchy place.

Just a usual restaurant bathroom.

...

I only can wonder what event caused that sign to be placed.

Okay, done thinking about that.


Hey.  Second eldest female cousin, apply for jobs in eastern NC!  I know we can find housing for you.  (This goes to all other far away cousins and friends)

Finished knitted things.....

A wash cloth with a cabled owl.  

It was supposed to be a square, but came out as a diamond. 

Elias is modeling a great little bib, 

with a owl that you can't see too well.

But it's there and waving.

Finally a wrist warmer/glove thing.

I must have been going through a blue period this week.

****

Apologies for the horrible quality of photography...

Book review or something

So I started reading book, and it's been quite a read.  So I'm writing a book report.  Accept it. Read it. Start a conversation, or don't.

What Paul Really said about Women

It's by a pastor who took the greek of Paul's writing about women (and marriage), and broke it down over again.  He took the english, translated it back into Greek, using the best words to create the same meanings in Greek that are in the English translation...turns out those words were completely different.

I haven't really gotten into it, but the first chapter, he explains the views in the world at the time when Paul was writing, in the place where Paul was writing and writing to; Athens had a different view from Rome, Cairo different from Sparta...  The philosophies came from Greece, Egypt and Sparta had more a sexually equal society but didn't have philosophers who were respected to pass on the ideas.  When men from Greece did visit, they were appalled at the idea that women were given so much freedom (in Egypt they were independent, able to own land, and pass it on to their children, which is really impressive)

...

I'll get back to this.

Pen

I can't write with out a pen that inspires me.

The ink, the paper, the sound...

Scratchy or smooth?

It's so sad when the ink runs out.
  This typing is usually uninspiring, the screen uncomfortable to look at, too bright, white and the type is never what I want.

It's kind of depressing.

*******

Not a lot to say.

Work in progress Wednesday... on a Thursday

Since last week I haven't started anything new except these squares.  

Just a basic granny square, with some pretty fun colors.

And a little one who arranged them for me, and is climbing on the couch.






I finished some wrist warmers, and a sweater...

Puppy!

This weekend I finally stuffed the dog I made for a friend.

Here he is. . .next to his donor creature.

I was completely out of stuffing, and the nephew was being born, I had an hour to sew on his face and stuff him.

The donor creature was sacrificed, perhaps to be stuffed again at a later date.

A in process picture.   And a decent view of his face.

The donor is blind-folded for his own safty.

Oh no!  I forgot the ears!!!

There we go.

*Note for the pictures:  Slinky because I'm the $link$, and the flower is a special one that a little guy named Guy made for me.. . ..   Years ago, he's not that little any more.
   

As a senior in high school, I had received my first ever flower for Valentine's day, from my first ever Valentine.  I left it out on a table, while I served the couples at church.  When I returned, it was shredded, thrown away with little traces of left overs mocking me.  

   The kids had come to eat at that table, and destroyed.   I was sad and "Oh no! That is really sad!" came out of my mouth.  Guy was the last kid to leave, and asked what was wrong, because he was one of the best kids ever.   

   I explained.  

The next Sunday at church he presented me with this flower.  

And I still have it.   

Seven years later.

It meant a lot.

Wait...  It's been 7 years since high school?  ...  25 - 18...  yeah, that's 7.

And here it is on the way to it's new owner.

 

...

It was received with lots of love.  

...

And now there is a request for owls. 

  Owls of every kind.  

As many as I can make. 

:)

New babies do this to you:  More cute toys!

The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating - in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life.”

- Anne Morriss

*found on THIS blog

I'm sitting in the living room, wrapped in a blanket I've been crocheting for the past 3 years.  The AC is barely on and there's a fan blowing on my feet.  Today I had some good times with the Man, studied for Test #3 for my summer class (A average thank you), and worked on squares for a blanket #2, also crochet.  Oh, and I've started a project I can't tell you about, but it's for Kate R.  (Not included in WIPW.  It's knit, and not my original idea. But it's classy soft wonderful yarn, so it's still going to be great).

After much back and forth with checklists and transcripts and course equivalent lists, I almost sure that if I keep going on this degree, I have about 26 classes left to go.  (Other degree under consideration:  Middle Grade Education with 22 classes)

I am considering blogging about financial adventures, certainly more knitting projects.

And I will always be dreaming that I'm half as interesting as Kelly.   Amazing grad student @UNCW.  She rambles, and rarely remembers to add a paragraph break, but work it.


(okay, you got me, I'm not sitting in the living room any more, I'm at work.  About to wake up the baby.  But I was when I started)

Work in Progress Wednesday

I happened across a blog, though I already knew about it's existence (from Ravelry), that blogged "WIP Wednesday."  I was curious to see what I had going...  I took some pictures with my point and shoot and here we go.
Project One:

 This friends is the start of a blanket.
     I bought a giant HUGE skein of yarn...
with no project in mind.  So I started a blanket.
       
   The squares are supposed to be the same size.

...

We'll see how this goes...

 This is the Christmas stocking promised to be made for Kristen King
  (new sister!)
 ...

for last Christmas.

It needs to be ripped out and done over.
   The front looks okay, but the back got tangled.

Really tangled

This is a horrid picture of a decent sweater.
   We'll see how it goes.

It's the same one made for Katie F.
 

     That same sweater.

And my favorite for last

A scrap blanket.   As you can tell, the beginning (on the right) I had a plan, and it faded into a mess.  It's big enough to cover the bed.  But I will probably keep going.

I also have started, some where, a sweater with a complicated color work pattern.    I don't think I'll ever get that done, and I can't find it, so I'm leaving it be. 

A Suggestion...

I just wanted to say that a friend started a blog, and you should read it.

http://graceisawkward.blogspot.com/

I just remembered my resolutions:


Blogging is important, it's on my list of important things for this year. 
1)  Knit 12 sweaters  (It's at 11 sweaters, perhaps I was a little ambitious, I think I will accept 4 sweaters)
2)  Journal every day  (bahaha... Yeah that's not happening)
3)  Blog once a week  (Also not happening)
4)  Knit 6 pairs of socks  (four...  I'm happy with four, but wouldn't mind making some more)
5)  Knit/create all my presents  (this goal is too vague I'm skipping it)
6)  Plant and tend a garden (...Some attempt, bought seeds, have plants to start, but...I think the plants are dead already)
7)  Write 52+ thank you notes/letters (the idea was to write one every day, I think I've got... 49 to write)
8)  Receive a grade of B or higher in all classes  (nope,  changing goal)8) End year with a 3.0 GPA9)  Eat on a regular schedule (Doing very well on this, probably too well, I need to...eat better, which I'll keep in this one)
10) At least one chocolate party every month, the first 6 months   (quit the chocolate)
11)  drastically reduce amount of yarn in my house, by knitting and gifting.  ( Doing so much better!  I've used 4 or 5 skeins working on a "scrap" blanket)


I have two sweaters on my needles.  I took a better picture of it.  Let's see if I can get the picture on my computer, and then get it on this blog. 

There we go.  Not a bad picture, a little dark, but the image is pretty clear, I got a closer up and clearer picture.  Also: Cute baby picture:

Edit: Just realized that I posted a picture of the same sweater... with about the same amount done.  Oh well, I'll keep working on that.

Over Inspired

Is it possible to be over inspired?

 I read all of one blog this week.  I've adored every set of pictures she posted, every inspired street art project and the videos were nice too.
  I almost don't want to share whose blog it was because then you will know where I get the ideas, but there is just too much happiness in her blog to keep it to myself.  There it's linked.
I'm looking forward to doing something like this on my walls.  And if I buy the printer from Kate I can have pictures to print. . .and then I will do this.   I have other plans...  But plans and actions are different.

We'll see.

Okay, now.  I used the camera at work, and took some knitting pictures:

This is the sweater that I cast on last Sunday. I tried to get a closer picture, but since the yarn is so soft the picture attempts came out almost fuzzy.

It's from the bottom up, and will stretch out more.  The color from far away is gray like the picture, but up close it has a blue/green/purple quality.

It's a man sweater pattern, now if only I can find a guy who is willing to hand wash a sweater...


This past Sunday was Mother's Day and my grandmother's 75th birthday party.  I took some pictures, but they're on my parents camera.  This week I knit her a few dish cloths that match her kitchen colors.  She had a great day, my cousins, Uncles and Aunt were fantastic as always and I miss them.
   My littest cousin is recovering from some medical issues and can't be too active, which is super hard on a scout/baseball player/brother wrestler.  So he's learning to crochet, which his older brother knows how to do as well.  I helped him learn some more stitches and that was fun.
 




Saturday night I cast on this sweater:

There's not a lot to it yet, but the yarn is cotton, so the stitches are more defined and I was able to take some up close pictures.

Some very un interesting stitches, but they're great just the same.

And to end all things, a picture I stole from the camera...

The end.

I've been meaning to write.  I've lost the purpose of blogging.
   I'm not quite clever enough for the vastly interesting blogs I read without pictures, and I currently am without a camera I'm happy with, ... or that has batteries.   Pictures make things more interesting.
And I'd like to take good ones.

School is finishing up.  Most of my Finals are online, with not a lot of work to them.  Tests aren't stressful for me. . .Not worried about it.

Reading food blogs is making me truly want to work on life things so that I eat better and locally.

Recently told by a friend that if I wanted there are a number of people who would commission a sweater from me.  :)  We'll see what I can do.

 "Writing is 3% talent and 97% not being distracted by the internet."

Haven't done a whole lot of crafting lately.  After polishing off the hats and all the pirate-y purple yarn in my town, I've fallen behind on my craftiness.  Recently a friend gave me a bicycle to do something with, I promise to take pictures.
  Okay, I have done a little.  I continued work on a "scrap" blanket.
It started out as a lovely thing, black with blue and pink craft yarns.  It was lovely.  Now it's a mess of colors.

Blogging is not as interesting without pictures.


That or it would be better to not write and surf the internet at the same time.

Updates?

  

-Knoxville

-Spring Break

Tuesday I did Karaoke, there's a video that one day may come into your awareness.

Wednesday it took me over an hour to take a 15 minute trip.

I'll try to be more interesting later.

Mid Semester...

That was an interesting week.  I think I'd like to keep sleeping, and knitting.  My hands are starting to tingle from completing a hat every other day.  Pirate hearts, faire isle, and pirate hearts.  Ear flaps, plarn bag...  Started a hat for charity, a NC State hat...attempt that's not looking very well, and oh dear there's something else I'm working on.
  I am very glad I don't have any papers to do, that most of my "homework" is extra credit. . .the kind of extra credit that helps you do well on the actual assignments.  I fell a little behind on Biology reading, because I was sick. . .I think that was this week.  I feel like I've been sick for ages, the almost sick that drags on for days.  Nose stuffy and feeling gross. . .I blame the immunizations I had to get.

The internet at my house, while set up, is a little spastic, the modem decides to shut off, or not be connected, it takes my laptop 10-15 minutes to notice the connection, which I completely blame on the modem. NOT my dear computer.  Poor think is barely half as loved as any skein of yarn I have in the house.
  The yarn by the way, is taking over.  I ordered a good amount of yarn for a sweater. . .and now I don't remember which sweater pattern I was planning to make with it.  You would think I would have the sense to write it down, to order exactly what the pattern says, but my creativity has been stunted, I've been making the same hat in various colours for weeks.  And yes I enjoy British spelling over American.

Reading True Grit, I'm more than halfway done, and it's lovely.  Please borrow it from me.

Picked up my violin on Wednesday from Gawlik's.  It's sitting in my living room, restrung, bow rehaired, in the case, untuned...
Must find rosin


Katie R. has gotten me sucked into Brothers & Sisters.  Almost done with the first season.
Also, the quote from I believe it was Mr. Sunshine, the new series with Matthew Perry, made me want to watch it: "Just because they're grown ups, doesn't make family any easier."

So.  how did you spend you Saturday evening?
Me?   Let me show you:


Plarn turning into a bag

two started hats

the house is still messy

The wireless router?  Not connected yet

School work?  Started.  Not finished.





But then it's never finished.

Weekend

Grandpa's 75th Birthday was this weekend.
    Not a big party, but the uncles were there, and most of the cousins, which is always exciting and good.  Finally got to see Hallie* for a little bit, and we have plans for a Williamsburg adventure sometime soon...ish.  Grandpa and his wife are slowly getting ready for a move, and you wouldn't believe me if I told you about their things.  I do very much want to take a decent camera** in there, and document the various themes that I find.
  Such as Cranes:  A feather with a painting for a crane on it.  A lawn ornament crane in the sunroom.  A miniature crane in the kitchen.  Etc. etc.
     There's also ducks, lighthouses, marines, lost toys, cooking things***...

On the way home we stopped at an English pup for lunching.  There was a great chair that Dad sat in, and Joe sat in to eat.  Picture from my phone...







 I created some things while away from school work, for the most part.

Saturday I started and finished an impossible to photograph neck warmer/circular scarf.  Therefore, it's not this one:


Today:
Me, my face, my new pirate love hat.  It's a hot pink and black.  :)
Enjoy.

Also setting up my printer tonight...   I'm pretty excited.

I'll get to print from my lovely Apple from home...

*Hallie is my oldest cousin, she's lovely.  **Next trip I might beg a camera from my camera loving friends...Offers?  ***Cooking things come in pairs.

Thanks to Dad and Michael for their lovely poses.

Bahhh... I need to make up for this photo-less-ness by a post of just photos.

Knitting to do list:

 Hat for J. H.
 Mittens for J. C.
 Sweater for K. R.
 Pirate hat craze (3 so far)
    -one for A.
    -obtain more ECU purple yarn
 Create Pirate headband
 Braid ends for sweater of craziness
 NC State hat for S.


School to do:
  Child Life:
      -Read Chapter One
      -Write paper
 Marriage and Family
     -Read
Biology
     -Read
     -Watch videos
Biology Lab
    -Start next experiment, with pictures
    -Print items for notebook
    -Organize 3-ring binder so it is JUST Bio Lab
Music
   -Discussion Board
   -Poster
   -Video
   -Notepad
   -Model Lesson
Child Development
   -Chapter Review (20 pages, it's no joke)


....

Which would I rather do?
Knit.

Which do I end up doing?
...Read knitting blogs.



It's okay Mom, my grades are still awesome.  I have an A in everything except Bio Lab.  Which is 88%, I understand, but proving to the teacher I understand...  I have to talk to her like she's stupid.  Yay school.

yay being 25 and in the same classes as freshmen.  Please tell me I knew enough to shut up when I was 18.

Alright, a few days behind.  Recovery week?

I let my Biology lab lapse just a little.  Still received a 90% on the quiz.  Everything else is going the same as before.

Started the sweater kit I got, and knitting a DNA model.
...  hm ...

Pictures?

Week Five

That was a week.



Really.  It was one.


School:  About the same, got my first less than 90% on a test...74% to be honest.  Extenuating circumstances are claimed.

Work:  Elias is talking endlessly.  Studs = "dougs,"  "You're looking very dougly."  Leslie = Yeh-yee.  A new one.  Every child I know says "Leslie" differently.  My favorite is still "E Bup-ee."

Knitting:  Finished another hat, and started a sweater.  I used  reversed colours:

Ahhh it's my face.  Oh well.  Hi Internet, it's me.  Leslie

What Week is this?

Sick and out of tissues.  No lab due this week.  Tests were moved back two days.  94% on one and 96% on the other.

My car key has been moved.  repeatedly.  I can't find the poor thing any where.  Waiting for my dad or Brother to find the spare key.  Lucky me I'm able to make copies, one of the nice things about having a car from 1993, there's no mini computer in my car key.

Not a lot to say.

Pictures:

 This poor creature has yet to tell me his name.   But he doesn't belong to me.  I have to pass him on soon.
   But he's cute, and ugly.




And able to use my computer in the dark.

This is my lovely new laptop sleeve.
Made by the fantastic people at

IUpTown Chic on Etsy

The birds are blue and white.
Maid with a thick fabric, maybe wool,
I'm being too lazy too look up the listing to see
what the shop listing says.

It makes me happy.

This is my latest project.   A super Pirate-y ECU hat for Sarah.  I started it last night, and will probably finish it tonight.

Hats are fun and easy...

You should make hats.
   I'm trying to find charities to make hats for, any suggestions?   So far I've only found Rivers Around the World (they do Caps Around the World)  I know it's popular to donate for cancer patients, but haven't found any great places to do that.


Okay then.  I think this is week four.

Week Three

The knitting monster is glaring at me,  I've left him on my junk table for too long.  He wants to start standing on my desk, complete and stuffed, with an angry face embroidered on the front.  ... Still glaring at me to be taken to his home, which is not with me.  I hope to finish him this weekend, but I have other things on my list that need to be done first, so I will continue to accept his glare, with shame.
   I have been over productive so far this year, so I don't feel that bad, but even when I tell him, he doesn't listen and becomes angry.  I've made two of the six pairs of socks, and a sweater.  It's only January!  But ...  it does not matter.

My mind is starting to wonder from school work, I find myself playing Facebook games.  I currently "should be" working on a lab assignment, getting a printer working with my computer, organizing my house, so I feel better living there, posting a discussion board answer, finishing the loose ends of my health class, making sure my calendar is up to date, finishing the second half of my 20 page chapter review, replacing my wind-sheild wipers, planning my meals for next week so that I stop eating chickfila every day, buying some pirate bucks so I can have Chickfilla cheaper every day....

Blogging is important, it's on my list of important things for this year.
1)  Knit 12 sweaters  (Now 11 sweaters)
2)  Journal every day  (Fail, but trying again next month)
3)  Blog once a week  (so far so good, smudged a little bit)
4)  Knit 6 pairs of socks  (4)
5)  Knit/create all my presents  (we'll see)
6)  Plant and tend a garden (warmer weather please)
7)  Write 52+ thank you notes/letters (52)
8)  Receive a grade of B or higher in all classes  (So far)
9)  Eat on a regular schedule (doing better than normal)
10) At least one chcoclate party every month, the first 6 months (January: Check)
11)  drastically reduce amount of yarn in my house, by knitting and gifting.  ( lol )

Week Two

This can count still, since it was an extended three day weekend.

I had today off from Baby time.  The Momma just got back from being in Mexico for almost two weeks, so she needed the Baby time.  I enjoyed today spending time with a friend, watching True Grit with friend and Other Brother (+ sister and family).  The past couple of hours I've been sitting at Starbucks doing school work (and I have no idea what time it closes... I'm guessing 11?).  I did the math, and though I only have a few assignments completed in each class, I have all As.  It was a good first week.  I'm halfway through my online Health class, hoping to finish that by the end of next weekend.  Then I can knock two hours of course work off my list this semester.
   Still need to buy some Pirate Bucks or maybe a meal plan, but then all of my big expenditures will be gone and I can put the rest of my loan/grant money away in a savings account.

That means. . .I own a computer! And a bike.
I found a great cruiser style bike with gears at Target, on clearance.  It was 89.99 instead of 179.99.  Score.

I am currently using my computer, it is a lovely MacBook Pro. . .  You'll have to visit me to see it.  Or I'll come visit you, since I don't have internet at my place yet, and I have mess loads of school work to do. . .always. :)

Anyway.  That's my blogging post for the week.

First Week

Well then.  I got a head start on the knitting ideas.

Completed:  1 sweater.  1 1/2 pairs of socks.
Currently on the needles: 2nd sock, working on the foot.

Pictures and details to come, Katie F. now has the sweater.  Katie R. has the first pair of socks.  The 2nd pair of socks go to Man.  I think.  Might give them to Joe, just because I failed at Christmas/Birthday presents.

I'm excited about starting school, which is tomorrow.  I have money on the way for school, the refund form grants and loans for school (plus a computer, plus living expenses). . .which will come. . .probably too late.  But soon?  Four classes online, and three classes in person.   And work, little man is getting big.  Talking a lot, napping less, and generally being awesome, when not being cranky.

...

Deep thoughts.