Tiff Crochets

Today, Laura started 2nd grade and was so excited that last night she could not get to sleep. I went in to check on her around 10:00 pm and she said, “Mom, I’m just so excited to learn! I get to read tomorrow and do math!  It’s just too much!”  She has always been full of energy and excitement when it comes to school.  Maddie started Kindergarten today with almost as much excitement.  She was ready for me to leave her classroom as soon as I dropped her off.  There were friends to meet and play dough waiting to be molded.  I love you, honey bunnies.

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I found this on Cris’ blog.

SCATTERGORIES … and it’s harder than it looks!

Here are the rules:
* Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the questions.
* They MUST be real places, names, things … NOTHING made up!
* If you can’t think of anything, skip it.
* You CAN’T use your name for the boy/girl name question.
* If your name happens to start with the same letter as mine, sorry, but you can’t use my answers!

My name: Tiffany
1. Famous Singer/Band:  Tiffany!
2. Four letter word: toad
3. Street: Tarrant Parkway
4. Color: teal
5. Gifts/Presents: tulips
6. Vehicle: Titan
7. Things in a Souvenir Shop: toys
8. Boy Name: Ty
9. Girl Name: Tina
10. Movie Title: Tombstone
11. Drink: Tanqueray & Tonic
12. Occupation: timekeeper
13. Celebrity:  Tina Turner
14. Magazine: Time
15. U.S. City:  Tallahassee
16. Pro Sports Teams: TEXANS!
17. Fruit: tangerine
18. Reason for Being Late for Work: traffic
19. Something You Throw Away: trash
20. Things You Shout: Timeout!
21. Cartoon Character: Tasmanian Devil

Ok, if you read this, consider yourself tagged :)

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Why, when you’re doing your best to eat healthy, does THIS have to be August’s recipe??

I’m way too much of a sucker for key lime pie not to try it out…. sometime soon.

Just because she looked too cute not to take a photo of her, here’s Shiloh in her new favorite sleeping spot:

I’d turn my head away from my stinky flip flops too, if I were sleeping so close to them.

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I’ve been a fan of Bloglines since I first heard of it a few years ago, but after having trouble getting Blogger blog updates yet again, I thought I’d play around with Google Reader.  I imported my bloglines subscriptions, which transferred my categories along with the subscriptions, so I was ready to go.  Except..  It’s hard to break a habit.  I have Bloglines in my bookmark toolbar on Firefox and it’s just too easy to push that button instead of logging into the Reader.  THEN, I discovered the toys.  Google Reader has cool toys.  You can add bookmarklets for Subscribe.. (same as for Bloglines) along with the greatest button ever - Next.  Next takes you to the blogs that have updated.  Instead of reading updates in the reader, you get to go to the sites (encouraging comment leaving, which is good for me), and each time you click “Next”, it’s a surprise.  The best part - when you reach the end of your updated subscriptions, you get a page that says,

“Congratulations, you’ve reached the End of the Internet.”

Yes, I’m a dork.  I’ve admitted it before, but seeing that page cracks me up.  It tells me that I’ve spent too much time on the computer today and should get to something productive.  BUT, if you subscribe to enough blogs, and Flickr Photo Pools, the End of the Internet never lasts long.  You just have to test it by hitting the Next button one more time.

I finally took photos of my Spiderweb Cardigan progress.  I’m almost done with the Left Front, which I’ve been working on after taking this picture, and then can finish the sleeves over the weekend to get it shipped off.  I love this yarn.  And I love how quickly the pattern stitches work up.  I could easily fall in love with cardigans if I were a cardigan person.  Being that I’ve only ever had bulky, boring just-for-work cardigans, a nice, lacy crocheted cardigan could change everything.

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Originally saw it on Regina’s blog, but after seeing it again on Deneen’s blog, decided to participate.

Creative Limits (or Horizons)

1.  I have no interest in the following activities:
Scrapbooking, card making, needle felting, rubberstamping, stained glass

2.  Would love to try these things:
soap making, wool dyeing, sewing, spinning (have a wheel waiting for me in Montana), embroidery, wire crochet, jewelry making

3.  I do or have dabbled in these things:
crocheting, knitting, cross-stitch, sculpting, writing short fiction, felting

4.  Love it! These are my things:
crocheting, cooking

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When I first saw my new home last Monday, the 13th, having let Andy pick out it on his very own, I realized that after almost 8 years of marriage, my husband really has come to know me rather well.  The kitchen, while full of what could be considered wasted space, is truly my space.  It was the first room to be unpacked, and is still the spot where you find me the most during the day time.  I took a couple of photos, but it only shows you about a quarter of the room.  Keep in mind that my breakfast and computer areas are also in the kitchen. 

The other quarter of the kitchen has more cabinets, and a bar that opens into the living room, plus a pantry.  The other half of the room holds the dining table, computer desk, china hutch, wine table, and other goodies.  (Notice Andy’s laptop says, “Andy is awesome”.  That’s courtesy of Samantha about a year ago.  Every time he opens it, he gives me a dirty look.  I didn’t put it there!  Plus, an attorney should know how to change his own background photo.)

Being such a large room, you would think that if you were a little girl, you wouldn’t be (a) sitting two feet from your mom on the tile floor building a tower of magnets and bolts or (b) marching around (a) saying, “Hup, two three four” repeatedly.  Just saying.  You would be walking out of the door you’re sitting in front of to roll down the cool hill in the backyard, maybe playing in your room with all of your toys that have been boxed up for a few weeks, or even just chasing the cats around the house, which seems to be a preferred pastime lately.  Nope.  It’s like (b) is holding guard over (a), who is building some super-secret government project.  Apparently, they’re trying to build something before the “boys” do.  Are their boys hiding around the house??  This situation is getting more interesting….

More pictures!  I have FOUR built-in bookshelves in the hallway (one is further down the hallway).  I was hoping to save one for yarn/crochet books, but I spread out everything.  If I do some rearranging, I might be able to manage it, but for now, I have a nook in our bedroom closet with shelves, drawers, and baskets.

Living room with boxes still unpacked)

Three of four bookshelves.

My back is killing me today.  It hurts all over and it makes me want to hunt down some stretching exercises to loosen up whatever’s not happy with me.  I’m off to sit and relax on my couch for a bit.  I think a few episodes of Psych On Demand is on the menu.  Either that or start on my sock for the Recipe for Sock-cess group at Ravelry.  First, I have to hang up Laura’s shelves in her room before she goes psycho on me.  Her snow globe collection doesn’t appreciate being boxed up.  Ack.  No rest for the back any time soon.  I think a detour to the medicine cabinet is priority number one.

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Moving out of Houston, separated me not only from my family, but also from my CGOA Chapter, H-Town Crocheters.  I was fortunate enough to find such a wonderful group to join while living there.  We had a little gathering, going away party the Thursday before we left.  If you visit the homepage of our Yahoo group, you can see a photo of me along with a fellow member, who also has now moved away.  This past weekend, I was able to attend a meeting of my new CGOA group, Crochet Texas! , which is very active in the DFW area.  I’m looking forward to many future meetings.

Getting so quickly involved with another group helped me out of my crochet funk and I’ve been quickly getting back into the groove of things, sneaking in crocheting on works in progress (Sheryl, I promise an email soon!  I should have no problem getting the Spiderweb Cardi to you by the 2nd!), and starting something new.  Before you see the new, I have to show off my last two completed projects in their new home environment.

First off, my chicken!  You have a better idea now of it’s true colors instead of the bland coloring in my past photo from my darkened kitchen.

Next up, Laura’s grannied place mat.  I should be finished with Maddie’s, made in coordinating color sequences, soon.  For now, Laura’s is our banana and syrup holder.

While at my Crochet Texas! meeting, I finally broke down (okay, it just involved buying yarn after my move so that I wouldn’t have to add any more to my stash to  move) and picked up enough of Lion Brand’s Vanna’s Choice yarn to make a ripple afghan for my new home.  I’m using the Tassled Afghan pattern from Vanna’s Choice Color it Beautiful Afghans in Taupe, Linen, Dusty Blue, Chocolate, and Black.  I’m not sure of the Chocolate and Black.  I really like the first three colors together.  If I get the first color sequence complete and am still not sure, I might just adjust and use just Taupe, Linen, and Dusty Blue.  I have a tendency to use a lot of browns (woods) and blacks in my living room decorations, so it might work out well.

I did take a few photos of our home, but I’ll save them for a post tomorrow.  Today has been an overall crummy day for all of us around here.  Laura’s extra bossy, Maddie’s more sensitive than usual to Laura’s controlling attitude, and Andy and I, having woken up this morning with a desire for a nice, relaxing day for everyone, have taken to sneaking out into the backyard for quiet time.  Finally, Laura sat down next to me a moment ago and said, “Mom, we’re all having a bad day today, aren’t we?”  Finally!  She’s letting Maddie do her own thing and the house is quiet.  I’m off to enjoy the peace. 

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We’re in!  I’ve got quite a story to tell soon of our moving experience, but I’ll share that later.  For now, we’re relaxing, my dream kitchen (let’s just say I have 16 drawers, 16 lower cabinets, 10 upper cabinets, and a walk-in pantry — my kitchen gadget addictive personality is in heaven!) mostly unpacked, my feet could use a soak, and a much needed chocolate shake is on the way.  Now, I’ve just got to find my camera so that I can share pictures! 

I’m off to enjoy living with my husband again after 15 months of having two homes.  Photos soon!!

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All kitchens should have at least one chicken potholder.  You leave it on display and when someone comes in and asks what that thing is, you tell them it’s a chicken.  They’ll look at you like you’ve lost your mind and you just smile sweetly.  It works particularly well with 14 year old cousins.

The actual potholder is a little more blue than it looks in this photo.  My photo editing abilities stink at midnight.  I couldn’t find any red cotton so I used spare wool.

I’m making the girls granny square placemats for the kitchen island.  I may make more for our dining table, but for now, there will be only two.  I’m having to sneak in crochet moments as it is thanks to it being “banned” for the moment in my house until Sunday, post-packing day.

Again, the lighting is bad.  I’ll take better photos in better lighting after they’re in place in their new home.

Stats:

Traditional Granny Square with Reverse SC edging.

Hook:  Size “I”, Susan Bates

Materials:  Lion Brand Cotton Ease, 1 ball Taupe, 1 ball Berry

Did I ever tell you that I’m a horrible procrastinator?  I am.  Really.  Case in point - I’m moving this weekend.  This Saturday morning we’re picking up the UHaul and will be out of the house by that evening.  Care to take a guess as to how much packing I’ve finished?  According to the PN (Packing Nazi aka Mom), I’m about one quarter of the way through.  I’ve got my bedroom, bathroom, the girls room, and the kitchen left.  Everything else is in a state of upheaval, although mostly packed. 

Why haven’t I made much more progress?  Because when I get home from work, I want to sit on my lonely chair (the sofa’s in the garage ready for the move) and watch Deadwood or Psych while making chickens for my kitchen.  The PN has banned me from crochet or reading until the rest of the house is packed.  That doesn’t mean I can’t crochet or read while at work!  ah ha!  I finished a chicken yesterday and have made one of two placemats for the girls for the kitchen island in the new house.  I did finish my other sock too.  Before packing it tonight, I’ll take a photo.  They don’t match, even if they’re from the same dye lot, but they’re insanely bright so having matching color stripes won’t make a difference in their wearability. 

I received a great package in my Fiber Freaks Fiber & Frappe swap from Patty in Pennsylvania!  I’m thinking about using the yarn for another pair of socks. 

Have you ever tried the replenishing lip balm from Burt’s Bees?  To die for!