I had not intended to take a summer vacation away from blogging, internet surfing, and for that matter, crocheting, but I did. I’m back and the more I wander around the more I find that I’ve missed it.

I’m making a shawl for myself to bring to work. I know that I have boxes of unfinished projects that should come first, but what better to get my groove back than to do a new project just for me? I’ll post pictures tonight, as long as I don’t fall asleep after tucking the girls into bed.

It’s just the three of us. Andy is working in Dallas, four hours away from home, but no worries - it’s just a really, really, really good contract job so we’ll make do until he can find something closer or this job turns permanent and we join him. For now, we’re here, he’s there, and we visit every other weekend. It’s time for me to head up there for a weekend, just because I wouldn’t mind checking out Dallas area yarn shops. :)

Picture updates tonight! (Or tomorrow!)

My class is over! I’m taking a break from continuing my education until the rest of my life can return to normal. Now, in case you’ve wondered where I’ve been, here’s a quick review. :)

Our landlord put our house on the market six months before our lease was up. Andy sat down with him and drew up an agreement that no matter when the house sold, we would be able to remain in the house until the end of May to coincide with the end of school. The house sold the first weekend on the market and we went ahead and started looking for a new home. We moved a month early, mostly because we found a great place that was available at that time. We’re moved in and there’s only half a garage and two bedrooms left to unpack! The girls’ bedroom is on the plate for this weekend so that they can get their girlie stuff out and displayed.

My crochet stash has not been unpacked. I want to, but since I haven’t had time to even look at any unfinished projects I’ve left them in their storage boxes. Next Monday, in honor of having that evening free with no class, I’m going to unpack it all and organize (i.e. start organizing and then throw it all into a basket because hours will have passed and nothing’s accomplished).

Maddie decided to scare us and leave me walking around in a daze until this past Tuesday. My aunt kept her about a month ago and noticed that she had a growth on the floor of her mouth. It was about the size of a marble at that time. We took her to a pediatric dentist who diagnosed it as a “ranula” and sent us to an oral surgeon. The oral surgeon agreed that it was most like a ranula and should be removed, but they would do a biopsy to rule out mouth cancer (this is where I went from being okay with everything to freaking out to being just here. We had to take her to her pediatrician for a history and physical before he would perform surgery. The pediatrician says everything is fine but then tells us that she has a benign heart murmer that she’ll keep an eye on. Gah. Anyway, Maddie’s surgery was Tuesday and the mass plus the salivary gland causing the mass are now gone. The little snot is happily running around the house like the banshee she is and shows no sign of having been in the hospital just days ago.

Maddie pre-op

Maddie post-op

I’ve brought the mystery doily to work in order to finish for Julie. I received hers in the mail and as soon as I find the box where I carefully packed it, I’ll show it off!

Just a quick note to say I’m still here, just a little tired. :)

I’ve finally progressed to the same point on Molly’s baby blanket that I was pre-break-in. I get a few rows in and then I fall asleep. lol I was promoted at work but until I find a replacement for my position (my company hires through word of mouth over placing an ad) I’m stuck doing both jobs. Once I move into my new office next week I’m taking a basket for a supply of yarn to crochet during my lunch breaks. Right now I work in an open space and everyone stops by to ask me what I’m doing while I’m at lunch so I usually eat a quick lunch and then read a book because they don’t seem to bother me when I’m reading.

We’re heading to my family reunion this weekend. Andy just bought the girls fishing poles so we plan on fishing the entire time (i.e. 10 minutes max before they move on). We’ve practiced casting in the back yard (aiming for the bananas on the banana tree) and they’re really doing a great job. I’m definitely taking the camera with us to catch their expressions the first time they touch either a worm for a fish.

Bedtime. :)

Note to the jerk who broke into my truck tonight while I was at dinner with my husband:

I hope you enjoy a mostly-finished baby blanket for my new niece, my Brittany crochet hook, and my Chibi needles. I bet you’re happy that you have a bunch of acrylic yarn and not one penny huh? Next time, open the ginormous “purse” before stealing it. The kids cowboy hat in the backseat is worth more, not to mention the car seat it was sitting in.

God does have a sense of humor. Can you imagine some poor fool all happy from breaking into a truck and getting a suede needlework bag that looks like a purse only to find it full of yarn? Take that, stupid thief.

The truck is fine, it just needs a little bondo work to fix the hole next to the keyhole the thief made while popping the lock. I’m much more angry at my husband for leaving me to walk to my car alone at night while he drove home in his car. I doubt he’ll do it again.

It looks like I get to pick up that gorgeous clear blue Chibi I’ve had my eyes on at Hobby Lobby. Oh yeah. It’ll make me feel better about my poor bag and goodies that are probably in someone’s garbage.

Never, ever, ever wear cowboy boots, even if they’re your favorite and you’ve owned them for 12 years, to an all day excursion to the rodeo. Never. Ever. My feet are still killing me!

A quick post because it’s past my bedtime. I’ve been working on a few projects during lunch to try to catch up. The girls are at my grandparents for the week so Andy and I went to see 16 Blocks. I love Bruce Willis and Mos Def is becoming a favorite actor of mine also. Excellent movie - go see it. :)

Okay, back to the rodeo. We went to the Houston Rodeo, which is a ginormous event here. I went last Monday also, but didn’t take any pictures. The performers that night were Robert Earl Keen and Cross Canadian Ragweed and they both rocked. Anyway, Saturday we saw Lee Ann Womack after another great rodeo and a very long trip through the livestock show. We saw a milking demonstration during which Maddie drooled and begged for her own cow. This cow was in the middle of producing up to 10 gallons of milk while we were watching.

We then found a Jersey cow resting nearby. Her name was Laura so Laura (and Maddie, who’s trying to figure out how to get in there and get milk) posed for a quick photo. Maddie was saying the whole time during the photo, “Mom? Can we have cow peeease??”

Here’s a very exciting photo (not really) from our seats. If you look closely at the monitor, I took this during one of the bull rides. The bull won a second or so later and then taunted the rodeo clowns a bit before prancing back into the corral.

Okay, it’s past my bedtime. I’ve got eight more rows to go on the mystery doily and then I can send it off to its recipient. :)

Returning to work full-time has left me scrambling for time and I’ve been slacking in taking photos of my progress on projects! I haven’t finished a thing yet, but hope to during this week.

Updates coming soon!

First off, I have some good news - I’m starting a new job next week! I’m working for an engineering firm that does testing related to the durability of concrete and asphalt and the like. It’s definitely not in my field, but it’s a wonderful position to pay the bills until the fall when I should be starting in a teaching position.

I want to show off my Olympic progress, but instead of posting the image, I’m providing the link. That means if you know about a mystery doily with your name on it, don’t peek!! Olympic doily progress. I’m on Row 17 of 28. I hope to get a few rows in before bedtime tonight. I’m pretty confident that I will finish it before the closing ceremonies.

I went to the library today to start the research process for my paper for my class. I’m focusing on Rwanda and the UN/US inaction during the genocide of 1994. Oh, and then I printed off tons of nonclassified documents from April of 1994 about Rwanda. I had to cut and paste a few because four page documents had these crazy black boxes all over them and only one paragraph of information. it’s really crazy to read stuff that has CLASSIFIED stamped all over it and then DECLASSIFIED stamped over that.

If you’ve never heard of Rwanda (don’t tell me that you haven’t heard of it because the teacher in me will develop an ulcer), go here and find out when PBS’ next showing of Ghosts of Rwanda will be or find out if your library has a copy.

I added a little mini-challenge for myself by making a shrug over the weekend. I call her the Iris Shrug. :)

I used the wonderful Mrs. Who’s shrug schematics from Crochetville and the Iris Stitch from The Crochet Bible. I ended up using a little over 2 skeins of Lion Brand Wool Ease in Denim.

After several unsuccessful attempts at a photo which didn’t look like I was a walking zombie, I opted for photos a la clothes hanger. I worked today and then went to class so I look worn out when I don’t necessarily feel worn out. :)

Thank you for all of your encouraging thoughts over our unsuccessful job hunts. Andy has four interviews this week so after the longest drought yet (three weeks), we’ve got a busy week ahead of us maneuvering my work schedule, Andy’s interviews, who keeps Maddie, who picks up Laura from school, and who does the dishes.

It’s time for bed. Buffy sends out Happy Valentine’s Day wishes to all of you from her second favorite lounging spot (my bum’s sitting on her most favorite spot, thus the “did I give you permission to take my picture?” look.

Boucle deserves to rot in the deepest circles of hell. Really.

It took me 45 minutes to get this far and then I gave in. I’m planning on getting out my big knitting needles and trying the boucle in the knit stitch. Now I need to come up with a cool pattern for these bamboo purse handles. thinking…. thinking…

If you’re able, help Elizabeth reach her goal.

I’m off to finish a modified version of my bucket hat. Think chocolate. :)

While I’m waiting to watch Lost, can you guess what I’ll be starting tonight? It involves these three items and a crochet hook.

I’ve decided to join the Crochet Olympics. I waited long enough to make up my mind about joining because it’s starting in just two days! I’ll be making a “mystery” doily (hint, hint someone :) ).