tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339619329959179922024-02-19T02:42:11.167-08:00Just Connie'sAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357575798790067289noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233961932995917992.post-53822943161226439732014-02-09T22:03:00.000-08:002014-02-09T22:03:38.573-08:00Another Step of SeparationYou probably know I've been caring for my parents for a little over a year now. One of the saddest parts is the separation that I feel from my parents because they no longer act like my parents. <br />
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My mom and I developed quite a strong relationship over the years and we would often discuss things like the School District's budget, differences in school because of administrators, styles of churches, knitting vs. crochet, pretty much anything. After many of our visits we would joke about how much we would talk and how we had "solved all the worlds problems now". <br />
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My dad who accepted Christ about 17 years ago (right before my mom and dad's 50th Anniversary) would talk about the Bible, how God had changed his heart about things, and how tender he was towards things of God. <br />
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Its pretty apparent that both of my parents have a progressive dementia, probably Alzheimer's Disease. My mom has lost the ability to converse intelligently. My dad doesn't converse much at all. Both do an awful lot of talking tho. My mom knows who I am, my dad does not (most of the time). He knows I'm "Connie", but pretty sure he doesn't know who I am to him. <br />
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I have a room in the duplex and I've been sleeping quite comfortably in there with the door open until last night. Actually, quite comfortably is probably not the right set of words. I've been able to overcome "creeping myself out". My dad has turned on the light a couple of times which is a pretty rude awakening. He can wander a bit at night, which makes me a little freaky. I actually had a dream one night that someone touched my bed and it literally woke me completely up. The door alarm has woken me up with my dad leaving the house in his underwear. But last night topped it all. At midnight my mom touched my foot. Scared me to death. Funny thing is she wasn't trying to wake me up. Don't think she knew where she was, she certainly didn't need anything, and was a little freaked out herself. I couldn't go back to sleep without shutting and locking my bedroom door. I don't think I can sleep tonight without shutting and locking my bedroom door. <br />
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It feels like a loss to me. I'm having a hard time accepting it. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357575798790067289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233961932995917992.post-84741588399925998432013-12-26T21:50:00.002-08:002013-12-26T21:50:32.869-08:00Been thinking about forgiveness....Hanging out with old people makes you think and it changes the way you think. My sister and I talk about it all the time. She told me today that she feels like she can be more generous with someone who has been a hard person to get along with after dealing with our parents this year. I get that! <br />
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I started thinking about it. How hurt we can be by someone that we really want to have a good relationship with and it just feels so hopeless. Would we say we're all right with having a bad relationship with someone especially when we know we're going to have to deal with them year after year, maybe day after day, maybe hour after hour. Years of patterned behavior and conditioned responses. We aren't really trying to build a relationship anymore, we are just trying not to get hurt anymore. Don't we long for relationships full of love and respect, admiration, and joy?<br />
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I thought...people don't deserve forgiveness! But I think people deserve to have good relationships, they deserve it so much that they have to forgive in order to get past the bitterness they've been holding onto. I know I deserve that. I deserve to spend my time enjoying the relationships I'm involved in. <br />
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I can't control the other half of the relationship, but I sure can control my half. I may get hurt and it may not ever improve in the way I would like, but I know for a fact that if I don't do my part, forgive, and show grace and loving kindness, it will certainly NOT get better and I'll be unhappy with my own self. There is no miracle where I hold out for someone else to miraculously change into the person I want them to be and then I can be nice. It hasn't ever worked that way for me. <br />
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Hopefully I can take my own advice and put it into practice. I'm pretty sure the people I have to deal with on a semi-regular basis will give me lots of opportunities to do just that. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357575798790067289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233961932995917992.post-64995593023599594962012-03-10T13:30:00.003-08:002012-03-10T13:58:18.633-08:00Deep Thought While Raking<span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">I'm a people pleaser. Let's just say the word "no" was not in my vocabulary for a long long time, unless I thought you wanted me to tell you no, like You: "Does this make my butt look big?", Me: "No". My happiness was solely based on what people thought about me, my so called accomplishments, especially if someone else noticed, and if I was making others around me happy. I honestly used to think that if others were happy, I would be happy. Needless to say I had a huge problem with approval. I sought it like the holy grail. Do you think it worked? It didn't? I couldn't make everyone happy, I couldn't find the unconditional love I wanted with people, and I surely didn't have everyone's approval. </span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">It took me a long time to figure out that God loves me unconditionally and accepts me totally AND that this is enough. It started back in the late 80s and probably didn't really become saturated into my being until.....well, this week. No, usually I have a pretty good handle on it. But I can tell you, it is still a fight sometimes. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">I've learned to think before I speak. I try very very hard not to say yes without thinking. Do I really want to do this? Does God want me to or is the guilt from others and not him? Is this something that I am doing just to make someone else approve of me more. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Now, think about this issue with me, and combine that with what I was taught growing up, Ask once, and don't beg. "Asking me more than once is just going to make me _____. (mad). I'll bet my son and my girls could fill that word in. It was how I was raised. My dad thought long and hard about things before he would answer. But his answer was in stone. You did not beg my parents to let you do things. This DID NOT WORK!! (btw it didn't stop me from trying)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">I find myself at this stage of life getting very cranky when people ask me more than once to do something when I have already said no. At this time in my life, I think very hard about something before I say no, and sometimes it is very hard for me to say no. So when someone has a hard time taking no for an answer it isn't because they know the </span>dilemma <span style="font-size: 100%;">that I went through to get to the word no. Who knows what their psychosis is?</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">So, as I was raking, I was wondering, is this pattern one that was set from generation to generation. Is there a people pleaser in my past that had to get over it too? Or was there someone who just couldn't take no for an answer and this is the boomerang from that person. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">There are some things that I think are pretty cool from all this:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">God does love me unconditionally!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">God wants me to ask him repeatedly and it doesn't bug him at all. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">And anyone who doesn't like me is crazy! oh wait, maybe that's anyone who does like me is crazy!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Anyway, back to my knitting. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233961932995917992.post-63634736694352873592011-12-26T11:22:00.000-08:002011-12-26T11:46:02.251-08:00Change of Title Coming Soon...Although I love it here in Illinois, my title is Connie, Crazy Connie, Miss Connie, Just Connie. <div><br /></div><div>Today I am travelling to a location that will totally change my title. As I was packing my suitcase and some Christmas decorations, I thought quite hard about this change. Here are my favorite title changes:</div><div><br /></div><div>Several young ladies and their gentlemen will be calling my Aunt Connie. This is one of my favorites, and to make it even more special there are a couple of greats who will also be saying "Aunt Connie". </div><div><br /></div><div>Then there's the title I've had the shortest, Grandma Connie. Now believe me this one is pretty awesome. There's not much better than hearing your name with Grandma in front of it. </div><div><br /></div><div>The ones I have the longest probably won't be said, although sometimes my brother Wes will call me sister, but my mom and dad probably won't say, "Daughter", though I will feel that sister love from my sister and brothers and that daughter love in a big big way. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was funny when I realized that my favorite title is one that doesn't get used by many...but even just sitting here thinking about hearing it is bringing tears to my eyes. Mom, mama....this is the title I'm looking forward to the most I guess. Who knew?</div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233961932995917992.post-34825404608305379582011-09-24T13:09:00.000-07:002011-09-24T13:25:54.856-07:00I wanna be a Michigander....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCSOAlmJCsvVxMYTNbCIpaa5uTF-j2McW-V_4rUmhR8ne8kL7yK0qE7GceRVbBm0kTYpPyYe0a32849tv9acwbjD1Eld_0abAFd0EZM4ohMxDguOkgpeVLVeRhmLVZvbxwcJljB6U00E/s1600/Pasty.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCSOAlmJCsvVxMYTNbCIpaa5uTF-j2McW-V_4rUmhR8ne8kL7yK0qE7GceRVbBm0kTYpPyYe0a32849tv9acwbjD1Eld_0abAFd0EZM4ohMxDguOkgpeVLVeRhmLVZvbxwcJljB6U00E/s200/Pasty.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656024295129307554" /></a><br />and so, I'm making some pasties. No no no, not those little things that cover your nipples when you're a stripper. A meat pie usually found in the U.P. but which can also be sometimes found in Northern Michigan.....<div><br /></div><div>I had to go buy a rutabaga. Its way more rutabaga than I need, but I think if these turn out good, that rutabaga will get used up! </div><div><br /></div><div>I always try to use the food in the house when Doug is gone, and so I started foraging in the freezer for some steak. I knew what I'd find....two nice little filets that are way too good to be used in pasties, but hey, whatever, I'm worth filet mignon pasties, right?</div><div><br /></div><div>I had two potatoes left from the garden, nice big ones, and part of an onion.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I began to make some pie crust....now, if you know me, you know I can make pie crusts. I've had all of two pasties in my entire existence...one that we bought in the U.P. last spring, that was devine. The second was bought in Cadillac at the end of this summer, and was good, but not as good as the U.P. one. I think the difference was the crust....so I'm so excited. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdVGUeg_w-7FPXVzROJIKx1hUPc8QzZYq7w5FQ5OKczp7zk25SDMxbhcjPIZnZSmFtLBEeAQpHGnTU1xxmwG5aCzut_EEWl5Ljzh0mizW6YdH4PGdLqYzZljgj04LXsOqoJBYAUqG1lw/s200/Pasty+Baking.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656024297764956610" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /><div><br /><div>The U.P, one was a circle of dough, no edge. The Cadillac one was a foldover, with a rolled/braided crust. So, I made one of each. If only you could smell them baking....I hope I don't burn my tongue.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233961932995917992.post-54359283543682541572011-07-06T06:09:00.000-07:002011-07-06T06:21:41.267-07:00A bookcase and a lot of selfishness<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wkYOuDUtnwNxxLgc1v-RZwb7RVMxIE6xVyxu04igHzHYdV5nP0vjhwQsaDYYUrkcX4U-Rznt2S9jkDTkBbLQZpzmb3_v8CSvzHx_t_LHfLmcFfECYpiJhqbqqMR1AUf9YLIE2OJA1sM/s1600/garden+6.2811+018.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; ">Sometimes, I don't even realize how selfish I am.</span></a><div><br /></div><div>When we moved into the house and set up our bedroom upstairs, I didn't want a floor to ceiling bookcase cluttering up my pretty corner, so it went on Doug's side of the room. As you came in the room, you didn't see the bookcase, you saw my beautiful corner. That was about 8 years ago. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now in the meantime my pretty corner definitely got cluttered up with a whole mess of knitting stuff...to which I kept thinking, I guess I need to get something to put in that corner to hold my knitting. </div><div><br /></div><div>Doug came home in March and had knee surgery in April. In order for him to get out of bed easier (my side of the room is much more spacious), I switched sides of the bed with him. We stayed </div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wkYOuDUtnwNxxLgc1v-RZwb7RVMxIE6xVyxu04igHzHYdV5nP0vjhwQsaDYYUrkcX4U-Rznt2S9jkDTkBbLQZpzmb3_v8CSvzHx_t_LHfLmcFfECYpiJhqbqqMR1AUf9YLIE2OJA1sM/s200/garden+6.2811+018.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626228103822432002" /><div>switched until he left. During this time, I realized how selfish I had been. There was very little space on that side of the bed, and a toe-stubbing experience for the less than careful to walk between the bed and the bookcase. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now, while I can't move the bed, it is where it is and that's that (talk to Doug - he attached the headboard to the wall), I can move the bookcase, and I did! Cleaning it out, I even made room on the bottom shelf for my knitting stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sorry babe, had no idea how selfish I had been when we put that bookcase there! </div><div><br /></div><div>And I think my corner still looks just fine!</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXtbJh-1nxfy2-E1Vfm-HsWbfLxViaqagE3OphQVIvqrcOOWpQH-QPzNs7V48tn9qTyefRUf-SVz6XHpZtcRa7n9ApdxEBIwcCjiCvPlRHnyn_7EZNg7xW8QKAU0mQkOiTH51quQTJP4/s200/garden+6.2811+017.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626228110270275042" /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233961932995917992.post-21667298589096204122011-03-10T05:23:00.000-08:002011-03-10T05:47:56.296-08:00TrustingOh the joys of Grandmahood! I can't begin to describe what it is like to have those faces look at you and say Grama, c'mere. I have a picture on my fridge from my Granddaughter Nina that says To: Gramba Cony. It is a picture she drew freehand. I'm not usually a saver...it will stay. <div><br /></div><div>I pray daily for my Grandchildren (and Great Nephews), for them to accept Christ as their savior at an early age and commit their lives to serving him. I pray daily for my children to raise their children in homes that will honor God. I do this because I trust God wholeheartedly. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today, I am left trusting. Not that things will turn out as I plan or as I want, but I am trusting that no matter what the circumstances of life or death that I will be found faithful. That my words will be honoring to God, drawing others closer to him and that if there is grief in my future that it will be obvious to others that it is His hands that support me. </div><div><br /></div><div>For the last two days I have added a new prayer for my children, that they will also trust God wholeheartedly, that they will honor him, drawing closer to him in this time of uncertainty, that they will draw their strength from Him. I know that this, and only this, will make the burden easier to bear. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233961932995917992.post-38206765193779054752011-03-03T07:42:00.001-08:002011-03-03T07:52:33.180-08:00Knitting gone wild....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhkf-GV8Ou_19vDX0YKjMMAGbKyszEfa4CTRdNf5Oh7u9gSenE1sZZ9BLLkD_ZaaekHtOv9wEGhHbjctpnGAazQySe7_vOECuHKHvDfDHJQbQuqPiirAMGYabw9xnTfZ9pL91XEUZBys/s1600/3.3.11+011.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhkf-GV8Ou_19vDX0YKjMMAGbKyszEfa4CTRdNf5Oh7u9gSenE1sZZ9BLLkD_ZaaekHtOv9wEGhHbjctpnGAazQySe7_vOECuHKHvDfDHJQbQuqPiirAMGYabw9xnTfZ9pL91XEUZBys/s200/3.3.11+011.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579879742211615234" /></a><b><i>I used to be a very sane knitter.</i></b> <div><br /></div><div>I never bought yarn that I didn't have a project for. </div><div><br /></div><div>I never started a project before I finished the last one. </div><div><br /></div><div>I never started a project without even having a pattern.</div><div><br /></div><div>I never would have paid $8+ for a skein of yarn.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IpxDT8T7UxO0v7J3uOWAP5cxSgGrMJ4ltWgOQF3a171XaY9TJQWCMcYQDtLWbK5Tdub2Hktf5QCnobenrFOhNupAqnZcWKwIwem23GAHRt7ucKbjtW2UUrG0cSN3UDokX2rVDnHt-1s/s200/3.3.11+016.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579879751103167570" /></div><div>I never thought obsessively about buying more knitting accessories.</div><div><br /></div><div>I never used to think, oh I'll just browse "friend's activity" on ravelry thinking oh that's pretty. </div><div><br /></div><div>I NEVER put a project in a bag in the corner and thought someday I'll finish that (or maybe not)! </div><div><div><br /></div><div>I would never have texted (repeatedly) someone to get a recommendation for a yarn type and then obsessed about the color of yarn, and do they have a heathered one?</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233961932995917992.post-66866882971909596362010-07-11T13:43:00.001-07:002010-07-11T13:55:41.433-07:00Christians are Not AnnualsChristians are perennials! Yay - <div><br /></div><div>Ok - so you know I'm passionate about my gardening and I was just thinking Christians are not annuals. Let me tell ya - Annuals are plants that sprout, grow, produce, die. Corn is a good example...you plant a "corn" it sprouts, grows, makes some ears (yummy), and then dies....nothing you can do can ever make that corn produce more ears or live longer....it just aint happening...I don't care what climate you are in. </div><div><br /></div><div>Perennials on the hand (check out these synonyms: constant, incessant, continual, imperishable, undying, eternal, immortal) don't die - it may look dead but it's not. Asparagus is a perennial, every spring I get a bountiful harvest!</div><div><br /></div><div>When we become a Christ follower (if you don't know how I can help you learn) the bible tells us that God gives us eternal life, we become a child of God, we are sealed with the holy spirit. This life perennial - it does not die, I mean the Bible says its eternal!</div><div><br /></div><div>Ok, I know you can pick this apart and say that perennial plants can be killed (yep I've done it) but not so with God's eternal life! Yes, asparagus need a dormant period, and although we probably all go through one now and again, we are more like a tropical plant, fed and watered, we just keep producing bloom after bloom. </div><div><br /></div><div>So there you have it - Christians are not annuals!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233961932995917992.post-82086559145321909252010-05-05T10:41:00.000-07:002010-05-05T10:48:02.696-07:00Dear Snake,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4feOvK5PHyiz2gRIMYaXVww1b32uM-S-HnXA7WFyr7EPKuRgS2hKBpoCVrGEUCwO5X_i6XOkugJ6oLsJRbSxnmcphT7mMytbNDrKGSWSnP26QQnHmHreG3Zh1NIN2VbwDSIzxhvXA3A/s1600/5.5.10+004.jpg"></a>Dear Snake,<div><br /></div><div>Hurry Hurry Hurry - she's gonna hit you. She doesn't see you in the tall tall grass. </div><div><br /></div><div>In your best interest,</div><div>The Lawn Mower</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Dear Connie,</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Ow! That really hurt!</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Mortally wounded,</b></div><div><b>The Snake</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Dear Snake,</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd like to apologize but ever since we started mowing the grass longer, it's harder to see you guys and I couldn't ever see you even when it was short....</div><div><br /></div><div>Not really sorry,</div><div>Connie</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Dear Connie,</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>My blade is dulled by the contact with the snake. Could you be a little more careful in the future?</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Used as a weapon,</b></div><div><b>The Lawn Mower</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Dear Lawn Mower,</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm very sorry to have hurt you. Doug will be sure to sharpen your blade when he comes home next month.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sincerely,</div><div>Connie</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4feOvK5PHyiz2gRIMYaXVww1b32uM-S-HnXA7WFyr7EPKuRgS2hKBpoCVrGEUCwO5X_i6XOkugJ6oLsJRbSxnmcphT7mMytbNDrKGSWSnP26QQnHmHreG3Zh1NIN2VbwDSIzxhvXA3A/s200/5.5.10+004.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467843845732620818" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233961932995917992.post-66500135766055055032010-03-26T08:53:00.000-07:002010-03-26T09:08:19.625-07:00Spring....it's in the air....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5oYSFylXx9L1X_Fl2-BfYC_ZgWpPQzvYUV5EmtM7EwGK5W3sBnIDA04-e44YUqoLE5EaaHM25bEsjULJMcVDnIKS29k0xxRdQSY_QcvtOKFdQMRW9sFnWE4XhTLyDDOIIM-C1uYeJeo/s1600/3.26.10+007.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlFjLUKW6I8h8X3hEk02qjqQS5ouDNh7ZPL3mzhR1ZB3Pd28IzFteaw_8YEXe8agYtOaBzLVpwI_NZmSbiIQlZA-G8HuJuw-IkuKpXzUyKtvGLRIqSovT50e2sFfWUPr1kn6RbmgV_DU/s1600/3.26.10+006.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKyQx4160ATuPGvAUoQZnpCWj-eWl3ecGHuCMPjKhflNuN21WFmVNImE4WrC2zuHkY9uVbMJpzEw3GCDvG0DEmISEcK3sX4e-r7cCLwFqOf69MOzmJo31iAD1uyd2alr4Gqstqc2DTkY/s1600/3.26.10+009.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKyQx4160ATuPGvAUoQZnpCWj-eWl3ecGHuCMPjKhflNuN21WFmVNImE4WrC2zuHkY9uVbMJpzEw3GCDvG0DEmISEcK3sX4e-r7cCLwFqOf69MOzmJo31iAD1uyd2alr4Gqstqc2DTkY/s200/3.26.10+009.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452971736853149522" /></a>Although it was quite crisp this morning, longer days and the height of the sun leave no doubt that spring has sprung and if you need more proof, check out the daffodils. There is green growth on all kinds of things, I see phlox, dragonflower, primrose, peonies, clematis, iris, seedum, green green green. The trees are fairly popping with huge buds and I did see a magnolia tree starting to bloom on the way back from walmart. <div><br /></div><div>It seems crazy that four weeks has passed and that Doug is already back in Alaska and heading out to Shemya today. We had an awesome time with lots of days at home to relax, a 5 day car ride through Arkansas, which has its good and bad points. We had a wonderful meal at Lamberts in Branson (home of the throwed rolls)...I'll take you when you come visit. We also found 70 acres of land we are seriously considering buying it, northeast of Branson that has absolutely no structures on it at all. Crazy!</div><div><br /></div><div>I ate like a pig and my weight shows it, the house is a disaster area, seriously needing spring cleaning, the weeds are starting, and I'm ready for all challenges. This next 9 weeks is going to be like the exact opposite of the 9 weeks before Doug came home. My entryway got attacked this morning, but not until I had done a chest/tricep workout and 2 miles on the treadmill.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5oYSFylXx9L1X_Fl2-BfYC_ZgWpPQzvYUV5EmtM7EwGK5W3sBnIDA04-e44YUqoLE5EaaHM25bEsjULJMcVDnIKS29k0xxRdQSY_QcvtOKFdQMRW9sFnWE4XhTLyDDOIIM-C1uYeJeo/s200/3.26.10+007.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452973649003206498" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlFjLUKW6I8h8X3hEk02qjqQS5ouDNh7ZPL3mzhR1ZB3Pd28IzFteaw_8YEXe8agYtOaBzLVpwI_NZmSbiIQlZA-G8HuJuw-IkuKpXzUyKtvGLRIqSovT50e2sFfWUPr1kn6RbmgV_DU/s200/3.26.10+006.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452973640221514882" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span><div>One very cool thing is that we bought a 4' plant light and a germination mat. Seems like my little plants are quite happy. I believe I have about 48 healthy salvia for around my well, and lots of other things including several varieties of marigolds. Also some tomato plants that are doing well, and blue and white petunias! I just planted some veggie seeds and am excited to start thinking about my garden!! It's almost time to move everything off the dining room table and into the sunroom, maybe tomorrow. </div><div><br /></div><div>I can't believe how fast the grass is greening up.....I guess I'm going to have to think about mowing later this week! <br /><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233961932995917992.post-29742058054774525482010-02-25T10:15:00.000-08:002010-02-25T10:24:44.850-08:00Parent Mode Can Be A Bad Thing.....So, have you ever gone parental on your spouse? I did this morning, and it's not good especially over the phone. Some know the details, others may not. <div><br /></div><div>My normally OCD husband gets up two hours before he has to leave the house. He likes to go the airport two hours before departure, even if he's already checked in. He has a flight this morning that leaves at 9 am, so naturally when the phone rings at 7:15 (10:15 my time) I'm thinking, he's through security...Oh no, he hasn't even left my mom and dads! I'm like, really? Then I find out he hasn't even checked in. I lost it - I went ballistic. His excuse, I don't have a computer....really I told you my mom has one and you can use her printer to print your boarding pass. "I don't know how"....</div><div><br /></div><div>I think my exact words were, "When I tell you to do something, I expect you to do it!"....and believe me I just couldn't let it go. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now, to give me a little break, I am anxious for him to be home, I miss him, and it just wasn't what I expected. </div><div><br /></div><div>I knew I was really bad, when he said, let me just call Wes and see if he's on his way. I'm like, YEAH!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Then Wes calls me from the airport after dropping him off, and I know I'm still in parent mode, when I'm hollering, Can you believe him? Just like I used to ask Wes about John....(Thanks Wes, you just let me yell!)</div><div><br /></div><div>Long story short, when Doug called back after checking through security, I apologized for going all parental on him. He chuckled good naturedly, and told me how he hadn't gotten up til 6:20. Thank God he didn't tell me that the first time! </div><div><br /></div><div>Well, he's on his way home! Hurrah!! I think my heart beat might be back to normal....</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233961932995917992.post-939712077472211832010-02-19T08:22:00.000-08:002010-02-19T08:28:07.038-08:00The Blahs are gone!!Yay! Sometimes I think I'm not ever supposed to feel bad, so when I do feel bad, I'm always trying to figure out why. Like my last post, winter blues, short timer's attitude...those things generally aren't even in my vocabulary with a negative effect. PMS/cramps - I think that's why I felt bad!! Now that shouldn't be a revelation but it is. <div><br /></div><div>I feel great today - laundry is sorted, bed is made, I have the desire to clean, I've been going through stacks of paperwork and actually only handling them once to accomplish their purpose and file it away. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm a woman on a mission!! I'm gonna start a new hat, memorize the lines for my adventureland script and talk to my man, who'll be home in 6 days!!! Yay!! </div><div><br /></div><div>Just thought I'd let you know, I'm feeling good! </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh and my Bible reading today was pretty cool too - like how Jesus tells Peter once he's been cleaned, he doesn't need another bath. Nice presentation of the difference between salvation and the need for daily cleanup...</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233961932995917992.post-40432358180570233262010-02-17T10:36:00.000-08:002010-02-17T10:49:53.313-08:00Can you say Blah my friend....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCy9Ns-bncHqcz_WX4UjDZ_mUUz-FUOXmfHWwfcb1JmXDaITwmZC2Kbq7PAsXljwiZ13KZxLMR1jLXPr_yp9YTEREMFr7xQHXzUihzNumJagJZ97WnhvjAL3IUF6h2FzUy6AsnMfwJes/s1600-h/2.17.10+008.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmZ0T2bBEtMtwg0SZxgiZA0ZxM6zyVxDbr6anYmlijnm77_HpLxY5FgsWVHsKnTieAvuB8XyG88aAQU9E43gsu-iCNeuvXFeM0wY2-zy3npTrV0lINSefIQzODpMKzm8bBW8Z2NuXGw0/s1600-h/2.17.10+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmZ0T2bBEtMtwg0SZxgiZA0ZxM6zyVxDbr6anYmlijnm77_HpLxY5FgsWVHsKnTieAvuB8XyG88aAQU9E43gsu-iCNeuvXFeM0wY2-zy3npTrV0lINSefIQzODpMKzm8bBW8Z2NuXGw0/s200/2.17.10+001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439283920296937618" /></a>I believe I have a case of winter blues and short-timers attitude...not usual for me and certainly not overwhelming. Is it still call pms while you're ms"ing"....? About the only thing I've been doing, besides a little knitting, is caring for my babies...and there aren't as many babies as I'd like. There's a whole tray of peat pots that just isn't sprouted and that has me down....one lone marigold out of the whole tray of variety....what is up with that....but I'm not don't hoping more will sprout!<div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUST0mnSj53bs36xMbF1I_pDFB9EZHBWG6PNU1SuIpjOaTA900fwEZfblAEREegcqFUhj8Y2b0cgqMQOvUOPEDGeM1JWGm1wl75tM0MoKoJqGgL5eEYSf2BMz7wrGjY1vMn6ZErgKC0I/s200/2.17.10+004.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439284565676446370" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span><div>I do have a nice tray of Salvia (Red Flame) that has sprouted (about 50%) which is pretty good for older seeds. Some of them are starting to get their secondary leaves, some look like they might not make it. I do have another tray half petunias and half salvia seeds sitting under the lights. I love Salvia and can't wait to see these planted around my well attracting beautiful hummingbirds!! They just bloom and bloom and bloom</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyqZYDuFJqh-NQqRBOlbWBolnpXuLfgWusC2KRYz4RfAxHM5PYnt2nlvn1JCjLiOJfwjr4vDJuwGBBKrMc0Vx_RcOtIcpCMfxBYi8eK3RkrygwFkFcMtEdrBevIJwA0MU6owGECgmx-8/s200/2.17.10+006.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439285276375191890" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div>This tray has the remainder (about half a tray) of a package of 3 year old vinca (annual variety, white with red centers) seeds germinating (I hope) in them. They need dark to germinate so I'm obliging them with a nice covering of a dark towel. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCy9Ns-bncHqcz_WX4UjDZ_mUUz-FUOXmfHWwfcb1JmXDaITwmZC2Kbq7PAsXljwiZ13KZxLMR1jLXPr_yp9YTEREMFr7xQHXzUihzNumJagJZ97WnhvjAL3IUF6h2FzUy6AsnMfwJes/s200/2.17.10+008.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439285729879054754" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div>I'm longing for warmer days and you can see by my yard that today isn't it. To the left of the shed you can just make out stripes. He's been coming to visit every day. </div><div><br /></div><div>Patiently (NOT) waiting for spring and Doug!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233961932995917992.post-39245187567860028512010-02-06T07:14:00.000-08:002010-02-06T07:23:51.125-08:00A watched peat pot never sprouts.....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz11Pgp7t8PQluC7SR2TNFGWoXnU2S7NsFggIvI5PXcnnW3uUZh6_pQsCnAGCs3xmzQHhjvCaT2xQRJEz_YSQTjRtfcOjj9QJ4RoI2V8PC5q_ICTkI6ryixH6IoHNL71Mhp0bsJbC45yI/s1600-h/2.6.10+004.jpg"></a>at least that was <i>supposed</i> to be the title....<br /><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZBr46e4LMI5z5ArTe1tS-fnPgChbEwza-U0k5uXx_bvdLDRAHUj4hV-N6130-OEJZUw5oUEhHv6fnzVkm1tPLnYhKa4x0ce8YbIB6l9p9M2Oyy7jx0c66x8T3f1WqoDEFxOurAIHlo8/s1600-h/2.6.10+006.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZBr46e4LMI5z5ArTe1tS-fnPgChbEwza-U0k5uXx_bvdLDRAHUj4hV-N6130-OEJZUw5oUEhHv6fnzVkm1tPLnYhKa4x0ce8YbIB6l9p9M2Oyy7jx0c66x8T3f1WqoDEFxOurAIHlo8/s200/2.6.10+006.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435149486881892706" /></a>but check out this little baby!<br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Some day he'll be a marigold. I planted my seeds last week and voila a sprout! </div><div><br /></div><div>This morning the ground is covered in white not very much, and pretty crusty. It is beautiful especially because I know what's under it. Check it out - this picture is from 2/3/10 and you can just see a little daffodil poking out...Hang on little daffodils longer days and more sun is coming. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuSzhTeofLdWE49eL41-6mgQyAtwQeoYFuhBgDKDkhe99Z18TPR5N7Z8ccqxUoFJR9zOWbrFPwcZOvALHmU84dhIGkkFX3bHJlXvO8tjnSa_BWoHxpkmqIW-RCsjTVcaliH3NmCfSk98/s200/2.3.10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435150422884432738" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>This is my dining room table and this is just the beginning. I haven't even started any petunia seeds yet. If you look in the upper left corner of this pic you can see a blue jay enjoying some sunflower seeds. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCE4uxiwsY16Hig_Zm9NDsuraFcCM-dB4_dHv8pI-I7tfBxsKPntUJ5B6s1dyTolYLy1CCf1gJTpKrXUoN3ZLE0029oj4iCPateDBvL5RIkTpSgdmCs9dDHVT-cH_fzW2X9zmjmL5b7k/s200/2.6.10+001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435150426964275698" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233961932995917992.post-12666367308791451312010-02-05T15:08:00.000-08:002010-02-05T15:27:18.681-08:00Not enough stash.....I learned something new today - I don't have enough stash. No, I'm not doing drugs, although you may consider me psychotic. I wanted to make something for a baby, not another hat or another pair of socks, not even baby socks.<div><br /></div><div>I went into my bedroom and peered into the bags in the corner, pulling several of them up onto the bed. They are organized by weight (not bag weight, yarn weight) and so I went for the fingering weight yarn. I have about 15 small 2-3 inch diameter balls of fingering weight yarn, nothing suitable for making anything other than baby socks!! I know Abrianna needs some more socks, but I'm just not in the mood. I must confess right now that there is 3 1/2 skeins of lavender fingering weight yarn, plenty to make a cute little top or sweater for a baby, but I didn't even notice it this morning when I went to check my stash. I'm not in the mood to confess why it didn't receive consideration....lets just say it could be yarn snobbery....</div><div><br /></div><div>I also must confess that up until this year, I have never even considered buying yarn for a project unspecified. However, earlier in the summer I bought a whole mess of yarn when it was on sale, with no particular projects in mind. Since then, I've been guilty, except now I realize that I've completed several projects from this stash and have enjoyed having the variety of yarn available.</div><div><br /></div><div>I blame both of these psychotic issues on Kelsey! Its her fault.</div><div><br /></div><div>So now, I'm stuck making another hat - though I did challenge myself and am doing my first double knit project. The flap hat will be black on the outside and red on the inside....cool huh? Oh and check out the hat from yesterday's blog at the bottom of this page...I think it turned out quite nice...more pics when Hannah gets it!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNouBk5E4ydZufl8xwNI-G6HnHRftLKn86ebFAAgyUqqpo6pnzlal1m8VnOOn6cLMjgxcrAjFWaT0szgDrnglRqkbLa0SCjgPCXTnUkBG4qm55YY2a1CsJthWuTj1irwZVysqCBfIhik/s1600-h/2.5.10+015.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNouBk5E4ydZufl8xwNI-G6HnHRftLKn86ebFAAgyUqqpo6pnzlal1m8VnOOn6cLMjgxcrAjFWaT0szgDrnglRqkbLa0SCjgPCXTnUkBG4qm55YY2a1CsJthWuTj1irwZVysqCBfIhik/s320/2.5.10+015.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434904035628018578" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BusdHyiqB2YRSQZ9pFmSneotvHy9F1BCkH-43biuX4857dlTuGhlmRtyAYDP7Q3KGncMLEUl5irfxlddq16WMtIgrNpM20uF91OijnMBiRDKMaDrEsN6mf0X7hczx7LEkbeF0bRWguA/s1600-h/2.5.10+013.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BusdHyiqB2YRSQZ9pFmSneotvHy9F1BCkH-43biuX4857dlTuGhlmRtyAYDP7Q3KGncMLEUl5irfxlddq16WMtIgrNpM20uF91OijnMBiRDKMaDrEsN6mf0X7hczx7LEkbeF0bRWguA/s320/2.5.10+013.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434904026885055794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHIdYzVFFTu6uUoDqekPC11VxC_ZV-SpGsBo_VXT5BWYaBesmLtF33BEdNTb-XO2QUcXw6bJ6Ynp46wXPmwEs2EKucrAwlrpqBvC83LSCgLQQG41Y3Z1nSoJK7cHQ7dbdwb0zuJM1g6A/s1600-h/2.5.10+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHIdYzVFFTu6uUoDqekPC11VxC_ZV-SpGsBo_VXT5BWYaBesmLtF33BEdNTb-XO2QUcXw6bJ6Ynp46wXPmwEs2EKucrAwlrpqBvC83LSCgLQQG41Y3Z1nSoJK7cHQ7dbdwb0zuJM1g6A/s320/2.5.10+001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434904016808804850" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233961932995917992.post-42503389901923296932010-02-04T07:16:00.000-08:002010-02-04T07:22:56.337-08:00Good Knitting Gone Wrong<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPwxOXDQc8WcwDnSskaSLOVR9MPpb9R9NbITxdQbkEj_E-z9vH7zUnE3CZRCUmUL56L0yXnJoCt2fCrun1k93Xc0mzbT4rs0EJcRJi9EoU7CuFa43OZAViRC5FoVf8LQaQurfX_qwqnM/s1600-h/to+File+050.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPwxOXDQc8WcwDnSskaSLOVR9MPpb9R9NbITxdQbkEj_E-z9vH7zUnE3CZRCUmUL56L0yXnJoCt2fCrun1k93Xc0mzbT4rs0EJcRJi9EoU7CuFa43OZAViRC5FoVf8LQaQurfX_qwqnM/s320/to+File+050.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434408017831247682" /></a><div>Hats are <i>easy</i> - simple, they work up fast and you can have them done in no time...that is...if you know what you want the hat to look like when you're finished...</div><div><br /></div><div>I believe hats should be like snowflakes, no two the same....so I'm making Hannah Bilau a hat reminiscent of the style of Meaghan Goldman's hat (see below). However, it can't just be exactly the same...that aint right!</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I get the yarn, which I might add is beautiful. It is called Marigold and was hand dyed by my niece Kelsey Saari...It is a beautiful semi solid with some soft deep yellows in there - gorgeous!!</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I cast on the appropriate number of stitches and rib for an inch and a half, and decide that aint enough stitches....so I rip the whole thing down to nothing and start again. Perfect I now have the perfect number of rib stitches for the hat to go over a human head! That's always good.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I look through my beloved book, A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, and come across "wasp wings"...well I only want one wing and I'm circular so I start rewriting the pattern and add the needed stitches, and go to town....Only problem is is that after one repeat I realize that I only needed 7 stitches not 8 and so each of little half wings is off center.....frogging to the rib!</div><div><br /></div><div>All right now, I have it all centered up, the problem is...well, I just don't like it!! What does a froggie say?</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I start flipping those pages again and I come across something I think will be nice, a cabled feather pattern....so I figured out the pattern for circular - seems simple enough and go to town. I get two repeats of the pattern done, and it looks wrong....I look at my pattern and look at the hat and look at the picture in the book....hmmmm....and then with all the brains of a 51 year old woman at 10 at night (yes that's late for me) I think, well there's my problem it's supposed to be a repeat of 18 and I'm only repeating 12 stitches. Can anyone say frogged to the rib.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the bright dawn of morning and with a second cup of coffee under my belt I get on the computer and chart the thing and that's when I realize that I was repeating 18 stitches. In my tiredness I had neglected to remember that the repeat of one of the sixes had yarn overs in it...</div><div><br /></div><div>and now I'm wondering if it was right all along and I just wasn't awake enough to know it.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXo4ikQU8nvotfuxwHIWz3F8qm3Eig1mcSQwsT88hwZab4wvsXrU1YHNy0zIhUZr6Kwiqmc6BeCMjufgwiXCCyeudIYoT6_xYUITB0PedNzv9hIRi9bu1LW1QjOE-S4UpMMN9iJW3uy1Q/s1600-h/Hats+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXo4ikQU8nvotfuxwHIWz3F8qm3Eig1mcSQwsT88hwZab4wvsXrU1YHNy0zIhUZr6Kwiqmc6BeCMjufgwiXCCyeudIYoT6_xYUITB0PedNzv9hIRi9bu1LW1QjOE-S4UpMMN9iJW3uy1Q/s320/Hats+001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434408013121786082" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1