Tiff Crochets

I’m staying up too late yet again, but it is Saturday (technically early Sunday morning at 12:06 am) and so I shall astound you with my random thoughts at this late hour.

Disclaimer: I am aware that I rarely astound.  It just sounds good. :)

1. I’ve misplaced my digital camera.  It’s somewhere between my house, my car, and my mom’s house in Houston.  I think it is somewhere in the back seat of my car, but have yet to actually find it.  The power is out at mom’s house so she can’t look for it.  My camera case has my awesome Ravelry “Where my stitches at?” button displayed proudly on the front cover.
2. We’re busily preparing (aka spending a lot of time Googling cool ideas versus actual planning) for Maddie’s birthday party on Saturday.  It’s Star Wars themed.  I practiced making Yoda cupcakes tonight.  Andy thinks I should have gone with plain white icing, then added the yoda decoration.  I disagree.  I rather like the green background.  Maddie fell asleep 30 minutes before they were finished so I can’t ask her opinion until the morning.  What do you think? I know that the blue eyes are out.  I know Yoda is an alien, but it makes him look like my alien ornament from Roswell.
3. I made this cake with the leftover batter when I couldn’t find my other cupcake pan (I think it’s hiding with my camera).  My hopes are that Maddie won’t like it because I’d much rather it say something more along the lines of Happy Birthday Maddie.
4. Laura’s home from Montana!  She surprised us with her first sewing project - an amazing quilt kaliedoscope wall hanging.  When (notice the lack of IF) I find my camera, I’ll take a photo of my new prized possession.
5. I found the missing piece of my yarn winder in the bottom of Laura’s closet so now I can finish my Brownie hat.  I need it in order to cover up whatever my hair seems to be doing lately.  It’s not pretty.
6. I’ve been searching for the perfect purse handle for my Meadow Handbag.  I think I may end up settling for a not-so-perfect one, which will completely blow the coolness of my pink flamingo fabric.
7. Andy has been appointed to the Iowa team at work.  I don’t remember if that includes all of the recently declared disaster areas or just Iowa.  Either way, he will be working hard over the next several months helping many, many families and businesses get the funding they need to restart their lives.
8. Ack.  I was distracted by Google Reader and the sound of Andy smacking the virtual tennis ball around in the living room.  It’s after 1 am and I’ve got to go to bed.

Good night!

Introduction (Look at the length of this post! You need section titles!)

Just as a side note before I begin because my brain never stays on one topic for too long. It’s noon and I’m feeling green from not eating! What am I doing instead of eating? Let’s show you a screen shot of what’s on my “screen plate”.

As of 12:09 pm, CST, I have four tabs open in Firefox. That may change at any time, should I suddenly receive note of a new mail message or be struck by a whim to search for Lord of the Rings fanfic (related to watching Doom the other night when bored, following links to IMDB and YouTube, and other general nonsense related to the strange progression of my brain). First, I have Ravelry open, which typically remains open any time that I am sitting at the computer. Today, I acted on a whim to remove myself from a few groups that I’ve never posted in, not really interested in at this time, or just felt a whim to remove myself from. Now, I’m browsing groups sorted by number of members for new groups to join. It’s an addiction. There are 177 pages of groups. This could take me awhile.

Second, I have open a tab for my Google Reader subscriptions. I love handy dandy “next..” bookmarklet. I was a loyal Bloglines subscriber since I first heard of RSS feeds and the like, but I love my bookmarklet more, so it’s with Google Reader I stay. Should Bloglines ever gain such a handy bookmarklet, I may return. Right now, I think I’m on one of Kari’s posts.

In the third tab, we have instructions from Lily on how to make their String Bag. I planned on starting it this afternoon while browsing through Ravelry and my feeds, but had to deal with the distraction of feeling the need to post to my own blog. I will probably start this after lunch, posting, and finishing up item number five (not on a tab!).

In the fourth tab, we have this window in which I’m posting to my wonderful Wordpress blog. I’ve come to love WP 2.5. Anyone else feel the same way? Thanks to the upgrade, I’ve finally discovered how to incorporate the Wordpress stats plugin to work for my non-wordpress.com blog. Whew. Feeling like a techie while I know whole-heartedly that I am not a tech in any sense of the word.

And finally, I will briefly mention the fifth thing I am currently working on. You will learn more about this in the true post that will begin below my amazingly long tangent. Influenced by the Crochet Biffer Shrug (Rav link), and this knit version (Rav link), I made the Swiffer Cardi last night and am working on the pattern in Word at the moment. Please see my note at the end of this post if you would like to test this pattern for me before I upload it to Ravelry.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming after I eat lunch. If you are so inclined and suddenly think I’m nutty (if you’ve ever met me, you know that I am very inclined to be this nutty and wordy if given the time and opportunity to be myself), you can blame this pre-post entirely on a small bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats (with almonds!), one cup of coffee with some kind of hazelnut sugary syrup, and a large glass of sugar-laced iced tea.

Ah, one tasty Lean Cuisine, one load of laundry, one load of dishes, and 40 minutes later….

Continue Reading »

I apologize for keeping you up so late this week. It’s really not my fault. Really. You can blame Major League Baseball. It’s not fair to start the Astros season on the West Coast. They have forgotten that you no longer live in Las Vegas in that wonderful Pacific Standard Time. Even now, you should be in bed instead of starting your future nephew’s blanket, having made the right decision of putting the hairpin lace aside until tomorrow when you are more cognizant, but needing something to work on while listening to the game since for some reason MLB.com thinks that Astros games are shown in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and has blacked out the game on your subscription.

Oh, you have a Brownie troop meeting tomorrow night? And you’ve decided to do the GirlSports try-it so that the girls can run off all of their excess energy? Okay, perhaps you won’t be able to look at the hairpin lace again until Friday evening. It would be exciting to take your coaster-in-progress to the DFW Fiber Fest over the weekend to show off your newly learned skill, but I know you’ll really just be too busy drooling over all of the yarn in the vendor area and won’t even think about that dainty little coaster again until Sunday evening. It understands. It’s not the first project to be started and cast aside when something else strikes your fancy. It has heard talk of mutiny among the discarded projects in your closet. They would prefer to be rewound into beautiful yarn cakes with hopes of one day becoming a new project than to waste away unloved, especially now that you picked up that new sock knitting book.

Just to remind you of that beautiful hairpin lace, here is a photo. It does not want to be forgotten.

I will go ahead and show off your knitting book impulse purchase at Hobby Lobby too. You were shopping for sewing materials and just couldn’t keep yourself out of the yarn. You addict, you.

Look at that new crochet hook too! Let me know how it works some time soon.

Go to bed!

p.s. The Astros are about to lose their third game in a row. Aren’t you glad you wasted three good nights of sleep? I know, you’re excited about the new team, Michael Bourn’s start so far this year, Berkman’s three doubles in the series, and Backe having a decent start. You can always sleep in on Saturday.

p.p.s.  Ack!  They’ve tied the game in the top of the 9th.  Curses!

The girls and I were in the library this afternoon for our weekly visit when I heard sirens in the distance.  Having grown up in Houston near the refineries, a siren to me means that there was an unexpected release of a chemical from one of the plants.  A siren in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area signifies severe weather and sometimes, if the weather is just right, a tornado.  I knew that we were under a tornado watch thanks to hearing the latest weather on the radio before entering the library, so I calmly returned to browsing our library’s amazing DVD collection.  A few minutes later, all of the library employees were gathered around the TV set watching the radar.  I was doing my best to stay calm to finish our library trip without stampeding for the door with freaked out little girls, but no, everyone had to start talking about tornadoes, which made the girls start talking about tornadoes.  After I reminded them that we would be just fine and would head home in five minutes, they returned to hanging out in the children’s section.

We all finished picking up our weekly goodies, checked out, and made it home almost a minute before the rain hit.  It was nasty.  The weather in Houston can be nasty, but this was nasty.  Then, after about five minutes, the rain ended.  Andy arrived home from work about 30 minutes later and said he had sunny skies the entire drive.  Boob.  So not fair.

I am so awesome!  The dishwasher was clogged yesterday and after a quick Google search, I found out how to fix it.  I didn’t attempt anything until today because I couldn’t find our allen wrenches, but after a few cranks, I completely cleared the clog.  Ha!  Andy came home and laughed at my celebrations, saying that I could do all of the handyman fixes now.  He thinks he’s funny.  I am not handy.  This was a wonderful fluke.

Maddie has lost both of her front teeth in the past week.  There goes her speech therapy for the rest of the school year.  Her therapist is going to have to be creative for the next two months.

I finished a quick shrug for Laura’s Molly doll last night.  I’m going to write up a quick pattern and post it on here and Ravelry.  Here are a few photos, along with photos of Maddie’s empty spaces.

Hi!  I’m alive!  Things were so out of control hectic during February in this household that I don’t think I have ever been so happy to see March arrive safely and on time (some times it does seem to arrive late, so thus, “on time”).  If only March would also behave and not bring a freak snow storm immediately following a nice, warm 80 degree day all will be well.

I’ve started a few new projects that I’ll try to take photos of tomorrow during daylight hours.  For now, I have pictures of an amazing complete rainbow that appeared after a storm about a month ago.  Bare with me, there are three photos so you can see the complete thing.

More pictures of the sky!  The girls and I sat outside watching the total lunar eclipse a few weeks ago.  This is the best photo that I managed to take over two hours.

I bought a few skeins of new yarns at my LYS last week and can’t wait to find my yarn winder so that I can play with it.  Until then, the yarn gets to play in one of the new baskets I grabbed at Target in their world marketplace 75% clearance aisle.  I picked up two skeins of Cascade Yarns Luna and one skein of  Bristol Yarn Gallery Lyndon Hill.  I think both will be used to make summer hats for the girls.

Is anyone else out there watching Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles?  I hope that it is picked up by Fox for a second season.  I loved the use of Johnny Cash in the big action scene.  I made Andy watch it with me this afternoon.  He’s mad that I watched the season without him, but we can never come to an agreement on a time to watch TV together, so I usually watch alone.  I was finally able to view Garret Dillahunt as someone other than creepy Francis Wolcott and accept that Brian Austin Green does not live perpetually in the 91210 ZIP code right as the season came to an end.

Person Francis Wolcott

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Do you remember how I said on Monday that I didn’t feel well?  Monday was a great day compared to the last few days.  I got dressed just to take the girls to school and came home to veg on the couch.  My fever finally broke yesterday, which was a blessing because by that point, all I wanted to do was get in my car and drive home to my mom.  Andy isn’t the supportive-while-you’re-sick type.  At all.  Men.  As for today - I’m alive!  I even mopped the kitchen, which was probably too much for my first day of activity all week, but it needed done. 

I would have photos to share, but I’m letting the girls watch videos on LaunchCast on my computer since their dad’s out at poker night.  I think I could live without hearing non-stop Trace Adkins though.  I tried to expand their music repetoire with a little U2, but Laura said that they’re not rock and roll.  I’m ashamed girls.  I’m replacing all of the CD’s in the car with my U2 collection.  We’re going to have music lessons on the way to school every morning.

 Relief!  Launch Cast just went down.  I think we’re going to make down the sofa bed and have a movie night.  Now that I can function again, I’ll post photos of all of the things I’ve been working on.  The more I crochet, the less I post.  The more I post, the less I crochet.  Eventually, I’ll find even ground.

How was your Labor Day weekend?  We spent the weekend visiting the Ft. Worth stockyards.  On Saturday, we watched the cattle cruise through the streets followed by a Labor Day parade. 

Longhorns are my favorite breed of cattle.  There is just something beautiful about them.

Mom and the girls getting snow cones before the parade

The stockyards are worth seeing if you’re ever in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.  The girls had a blast, despite having to drag Laura to the car to get there.  The old station, where they loaded the cattle on or off the trains, has been turned into a little shopping area.  They sell Dublin Dr. Pepper at the general store.  I should have bought more.  It’s not that far away…..  I might have to go back and pick up a few bottles. 

The girls wanted to be sheriff.

Sunday, Andy and I went back to the Stockyards for the 2nd Annual Red Dirt Roundup.  We went last year and with it falling near our anniversary (8 years!), we had to go back.  I can’t pass up seeing Ragweed, Gary Allan, The Black Crowes, Stoney LaRue, the Randy Rogers Band, plus more all in one venue.

We followed the same plan as last year, except I was fearing hot weather so I left my crochet at home.  We lounged about halfway between both stages, venturing into the crush of people near the front only for one man.

This is the third time I’ve seen Gary Allan this year, which makes me feel like I’m obsessive, but I’m not.  Really!  The first was a Christmas present from Andy to see him in February in Louisiana.  This summer, Ragweed and Gary Allan came to Houston and I couldn’t pass up the price of the lawn seats.  Then, we couldn’t pass up the 2nd annual RDR after we’d been at the first, particularly now that we’re living in Ft. Worth permanently.  Ragweed was as awesome live as ever.  I can’t wait to see the set list next year. 

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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!

Bored today at work so I’ll torture you with randomness. 

• I think she’ll make a great Mrs. Gates.  How cool that they’re making a sequel!  Even though it was rather far fetched, I loved it.  Being a history buff and all, how could I not?
• Already did the Complete Your Album thing from itunes.  I needed the rest of Toby Keith’s White Trash with Money CD.  I know, I should have better taste in music, but I can’t help it. 
• I finally added a few of my buttons over there in the sidebar.  Now that I have Photoshop Elements, I should have a few more soon.  I also need to add back buttons of others some time soon.  I should do it now since I have nothing.else.to.do. 
• I left my current project at home or I’d be finishing up Laura’s top right now.  It’s going to look great!  I’m so excited about it!  A real, live garment pattern!  Cotton Ease rules.
• Opening Day is Monday.  I have tickets for the Easter game against the Cardinals (won’t be cooking Easter dinner for the fam - woohoo!!!). 
• I’ve effectively wasted two hours writing this.  Not bad.  Toodles!

Today I begin my unintentional soup taste test.  What happens when your gone from work for a week?  You bring a soup from home that’s the same as the soup waiting for you at work.  So, tomorrow I’ll find out if Progresso is actually better than Campbells Select (I teeter between the two when shopping).  Right now, I’m pretty impressed with the Campbells, but I still can’t finish a whole bowl which is awesome.  I would prefer they come up with a better system for removing the metal lid though.  I do not want to wear minestrone.  Ever. 

I just opened Bloglines for my first visit in a week.  563 entries????  If I pace myself, maybe I can start blog commenting again.  Since I started this post with the intention of posting vacation photos, I’m down to 384 entries and have commented on two.  I know I can do better than that!  I’m also working too (strange enough - being back at work and having to work) so it’s taking me awhile to get this post finished. 

My knee and thighs are killing me.  My mom and I took the girls roller skating yesterday afternoon.  Maddie was so excited and then devastated when she just couldn’t stop falling down.  She whined all evening when she sat down.  Poor hiney.  I fell once thanks to a button or something on the rink getting caught in my wheels, thus the hurt/bruised knee.  My hips were sore by the time we quit, but I’m feeling it in my thighs.  Not that it’s a bad thing!  We’re tentatively planning to start going every Sunday afternoon.  It’s good exercise and the girls enjoy it.

Okay, since I’ve been working on this all day, I’ll end with vacation photos.  I’ll put more up in an album later.

There was a gaggle of geese at the lake house.  This one was napping on the beach early one morning.

It rained off and on Sunday through Wednesday.  This view is from the deck of the Llano River and Packsaddle Mountain. 

Thursday it was beautiful and warm so we played in the water all afternoon.  Unfortunately, the rain caused what was beautiful blue/green water to be brown, but it was nice to be out in the sun.

The four of us went out for new hair cuts.  Both Laura and Maddie (and me for that matter!  I had about 10 inches cut off though.) had a minimum of five inches cut off.  Yes, Sam is a teenager.  Just look at that look.  It speaks teenager.  Avoid looking too closely at me please. 

What may look like a normal sized nest is actually the home to this adorable, from afar, bald eagle.  I believe it’s parent(s) had to be close by due to the high number of much more professional photographers on the side of the road between Burnet and Llano snapping photos.  This photo is extremely zoomed in.  We were at least 500 yards away.  Apparently there is a growing bald eagle community in the Texas hill country that I need to find a little bit more about.

That’s it for now!  I’ve got to finish up here at work, but I’ll have photos of my crochet progress soon.