Creepy

How You Life Your Life

You are honest and direct. You tell it like it is. You are always tactful and diplomatic. You let people down gently. You tend to have one best friend you hang with, as opposed to many aquaintences. You tend to dream big, but you worry that your dreams aren't attainable.

How Do You Live Your Life?

Hi! Having a blast -

Hi! Having a blast - weather is great,& we have been *very* busy. Low signal = no email but I don't mind a bit! Talk to you soon!

So Long!!

We're leaving in just a little while now! I'm so excited - get this - I even baked cookies for the ride. How Suzy Homemaker is that?? The best part is - they're *special* cookies! They should make the ride up much better... ;)

It's about a 3.5 hour drive north to our cabin, if you're doing a steady 20 over the speed limit the whole time. The drive is nice though, and usually traffic isn't too bad. I'll be gone for a whole week! Yay!!

Here are some old pictures from up north:

This is me, probably around 3, on a bridge at a nearby forest trail.

This one is a picture of our cabin about 15 years ago. It now has siding and a picture window in front, but is still the same size - smaller than my dad's garage.

This last one is me and my dad on his boat at Clear Lake.


Talk to y'all in a week or so!!

Good Evening, Mr. Gauge

Yes, that's right... Gauge and I finally met tonight.

I was most impressed that we got along right away... I thought that my stitches were going to be a little large, but if I've counted rows right [which I'm pretty sure I have] than I am right on the money. Yay!

The project that actually made me swatch? The Big Collar Cardigan that I'd mentioned awhile ago. I'd been holding off since i haven't actually done a big clothing project and the yarn costs were daunting. But, the time is here.

I really need a project to keep me occupied on the trip up north.. I'll bring some other small ones with me but this will be the biggie. I decided to use Wool-Ease as a substitute, and as I mentioned earlier the gauge is right on. It's *so* much cheaper, and still soft, plus it will be nice and snuggly - excellent for Michigan winters. I'm going with the color 'Cranberry,' not the grey in the picture. That was just for swatch.

Vacation is just a day away, and tomorrow will be full of loads of laundry and tons of packing - a trip to Costco - more laundry - LOL! Hopefully I'll squeeze in one last post, but if not, I'll talk to y'all in a week or so!!

Grand entrance, anyone?

LOL, I feel that I've been gone so long I should at least have something attractive and appealing to begin with. But, I don't!

I've been so neglectful about my thank yous, it makes me feel guilty. Firstly, a long overdue thanks to someone who sent me a package a couple weeks ago. I can't believe I've not acknowledged it here, how rude of me! This thoughtful elf sent a crocheted belt in periwinkle blue, a little package of teas, and this pretty little bookmark: Thank you so much, elf!

Next, a big thank you to Jessi! She sent me a box stuffed full of good things, wrapped in Christmas paper, no less. My sister was puzzled when she saw it, to say the least! Here are just a couple highlights of this package, stitch markers and a beautiful angel bookmark: Jessi also sent some bath treats - fizzies, a soap bag, and a washcloth. Plus, she stuffed a ball of JoAnn's Rainbow Boucle in there too, in the light blue colorway.

My last thank you is to an elf in Florida, who sent me a sweet postcard. It's so nice to get mail that's not credit card offers! Thank you!

Well, I have been crocheting during my absence... in fact, I finally finished triple play. I have yet to block it, and for some reason I just quit halfway through the drawstring, but for [most] intents and purposes, it's complete. I bought fabric to figure out a sort of lining - I'm pretty much planning on making a tube top. That way I can wear it as a top or a slip or not wear it at all if I want to just use 3play as a cover up or something. Make sense? My only problem is that I cannot sew... I'm pondering using that iron-on hem tape, think it'd work? Sorry for the crappy, self-taken pics, I'm hoping I can get Kris ot re-take them for me soon. All in all, I'd say that the second time was a success. I used LB Cotton-Ease and a J hook, and didn't pay attention to the pattern sizes at all. I just made it the length around my waist and kept going til it was as long as I wanted. Very simple. I think I'll be making a couple more soon, for Kris's sister and his brother's girlfriend.

I made this shawl yesterday, while taking a break from the new Harry Potter book. [Prolonging the goodness.] It's made with JA's Rainbow Boucle, since my JA's finally carries it now. [More about that in a bit...] Even though I generally am not a big fan of red, the hues in this yarn make me swoon. It's so rich and luxurious looking!I used Holly's Butterfly Wing Shawl pattern and an 8mm 'N' hook. I worked it up quickly over an afternoon of swimming - I'd guess it took somewhere around 3 or 4 hours to stitch up. I used slightly more than half the ball, maybe 6oz, of yarn. This will be going to my aunt, who's birthday is later this week. It's perfect for her.

As I've already mentioned, I succumbed to HP mania. I tried not to give in, I did, really... I even made it until 6pm on Saturday before I had to have the new book. I was torn - with vacation fast approaching the money was really *not* in my budget. However, my hunny is wonderful and supplied me with the cash! I picked it up at Wal-Mart, totally grateful that they still had some in stock! Kris was prepared to pay the full thirty bucks for me [what a guy!!] but we got one of the store's last copies - only $16! I finished it this morning, after intentionally ignoring it for the greater part of yesterday. I'm so - not content - with the ending, and am anxiously awaiting #7 now... I think I'm going to check out 1-5 from the library again, and reread them on my trip...

My trip - Eek! The days are pretty sketchy, still... depending on weather, we will leave either this Friday or Saturday... and then we will be home, depending on weather, either Saturday or Sunday following. Up there, we have no TV - I mean, there is a TV but the only signal we get is a public access channel - Lawrence Welk and the like. Kris hadn't even heard of good old Mr. Welk until he came up with us a few summers ago! There's no news, either, unless you buy the paper everyday, which we don't. I'm thrilled! I will have email access this time, through my phone - primitive, but effective. Ill try to take lots of pictures to share, if anyone is interested.

I need to make one last trip to the craft stores for some SEX before I go. I want to have at least a couple different projects to work on while I'm there... i have to budget wisely, as both my Michael's and JA's have expanded their yarn sections lately! Michael's brought in a ton of new novelty yarns, which aren't really my thing. I'm really pleased with the new equipment they've brought in, though. Their hook and needle shelf has looked pretty dismal for awhile, but last time I went in, it'd turned into a fully stocked aisle! I'm most excited about the addition of Clover Soft Touch hooks, previously unavailable in my area. I hope to have a set acquired quickly, especially with my birthday coming up. Now, I wish they'd add the bamboo hooks, too!

And JoAnns... Oh dear. They've increased their yarn department about triplefold! It used to be sooo sucky looking - but now the shelves are stuffed, with bunches of new yarns, too! They've gotten in a bunch of fresh stuff from LB, Patons, Caron and Moda Dea, as well as their own Sensations line! We finally have the Rainbow Boucle, plus what I'm assuming is a new additon - the Bellezza collection. Wool and wool blends in gorgeous colors at wonderful prices! Here's what I got last week when I went, determined *not* to spend any money!The color is not at all orangey, like it looks here, in fact it is a soft pink and cream blend. This yarn is called Dolcetto, and is a single ply, wool/nylon/cotton blend. It's so soft and fluffy - it's seriously like spun cotton candy. I'm dreaming of making a sweater with it.

Okay, well, have I gone on long enough?? I'm not sure that I'll have a chance to blog again before vacation. I'm [barely] keeping up with my Bloglines as it is, so I know it will be bad when I get home!! I haven't been commenting anywhere and I fear I'm falling 'out of the loop,' so to speak! It's been high 90s here for the last couple weeks, it seems like, and I just can't bring myself to spend anymore time at the computer than I already am, which hasn't been much lately. Oh well! I'll try to pop in here at least once more before I go. And if not, it would make me feel very special to get an email from you, saying hello!

Ah, well - good night!!

Rut.

Blah. I feel stuck the last couple days. I have three crochet projects going right nwo and I can't seem to finish a single one. I have responsibilities to take care of, things to acknowledge, blogs to read, dishes to load, laundry to do, classes to register for - and I don't want to do any of it.

And I'm going to be selfish and just not. I'm running away for a little bit. Maybe an hour, maybe a day. ? I don't know.

I'll be giggling as I go, too, cuz my sister got pulled over today. She's had her license for *4* days and already has gotten her first speeding ticket. My dad's gonna be maa-aaaddd. [Just for the record - I've been in four accidents but still managed to not get a single ticket.] Gloat.

I'm gonna go enjoy my Saturday night, maybe get a little intoxicated... ;) Talk to y'all soon.

Happy Birthday to my hunny, Kris, who turned 25 today!! I love you, babe!

That beautiful season the Summer! -Longfellow

I am definitely a summer person. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy living in a state that experiences all four seasons, but summer is by far my favorite. I love the sun, I love swimming and tanning and going up north, I love the birthdays that come in the summer [MINE!!], I love the smell in the morning. I love going barefoot. I don't know why I'm going on and on about these things, since it's actually pretty downcast out right now, but I'm just in a great, summery kind of mood today, and I thought I'd share, I guess. :)

I go back to work today. It's the first time I've worked since Thursday. I totally loved the time off but it's so weird to not work at least a little... I felt like I didn't know what to do with myself. So, while I'm not actually looking forward to going back, I'm not dreading it either. What I am dreading is registering for classes... That's going to be a big headache. Trying to schedule classes around work is basically impossible with the stupid schedule I work, so I know I will have to cut back on my hours. It sucks though, because we're loosing a part-time cashier at the same time three of us go back to school. It's going to be a little rough for a while! Plus, I'll be cutting back my hours right as I have to pay tuition - I want to try very hard not to keep racking up financial aid... And I have to start thinking about when I'm going back to Oakland University, cuz I think I'm pretty close to having all my gen. ed. credits. *Stress!*

I worked on the Triple Play pattern for the majority of the [long] weekend... This is my progress: Yep, that is what it looks like - five balls of yarn. I'd almost finished it when I decided to try it on... way too late... big mistake! It was *HUGE* as it was and then, of course, the material stretched! So, instead of finishing it up and hating it, I decided to frog it and do it over. Hopefully the second time through will be alot smoother. I'm just glad it's not a difficult pattern at all, I don't feel as bad about re-starting.

Now for lunch... mmm...

Happy 4th!!

The fourth is always an event in my family, partly because it's around my sister's and now Kris's birthdays, and also because we live in a small town that has an annual celebration. My town is the kind where generations of families come back to, and so my mom and dad and now I always see people who we used to go to school with on the fourth. There will be fireworks tonight, and this afternoon - a craft fair, along with a regular fair that has rides and games and best of all, fair food - caramel apples and cotton candy and elephant ears. *YUM!!*

The festivities have been going for a few days now, but the big kick-off was this morning with the parade. We just got back to the house a few minutes ago and I snapped a few shots for your viewing enjoyment.

The first point of attraction is this model ship. My guess is it's at least five feet long. I was bummed cuz there's no name on it.

Next we have the flags that were handed out along the parade route. Note the "Made In" label.

This is just a cool lawnmower. A perk of a small town parade. Please note that I do not live in a hillbilly town.

This car overheated and stalled. Hehe!

This next one was the first of two banjo floats. Gotta love it.

I thought that this was one of the cooler floats on the parade. It's a bunch of girls painted silver green to look like Iwo Jima. The effect was nice, although I feel sorry for their poor arms.

I have a more but this is a pretty good taste of what it was like so I'll hold back - Blogger is being a bitch about uploading photos, anyways. Enjoy your holidays!!

Sunday

Well, the memorial service is over. It actually was really nice. The priest (or whoever he was) said a really nice speech, and he added some humor. It was good to lighten the mood and Kris's grandpa would've appreciated that. *A lot* of people came, and then we went back to grandpa's house for food afterward. Definitely the highlight of it all was getting to spend a little time with Kris's adorable neice and nephew, almost one and four, respectively. It almost makes me feel maternal... LOL, I hope my kids turn out as cute as his brother's did! Kris was really excited to see them too - since they live a couple hours away, he doesn't get to play "uncle" very often and he enjoys it.

We also got our new phones hooked up with Verizon... I got all the bells and whistles and I'm quite pleased with my new little toy. It's a camera/video phone so I added unlimited text/pix messaging to my plan, along with mobile internet access. Scary - now I can check my email anywhere! I love it though, especially after my last POS phone! I'm still figuring things out, but it was fun to take videos of his nephew playing baseball. [You should see this kid hit a ball. It's unreal, he's *so* much better than me. Did I mention he's four??] Kind of a related note - does anyone know if there's somewhere free online that hosts video, like photobucket? My digital and phone both take it now, and there's some I'd like to share...

The Triple Play pattern also came yesterday. Two weeks to the day. After looking it over, I felt kind of stupid for buying it cuz it's so damn simple. But, it's easier to let someone else figure it out for me than doing it myself by trial and error. And it was only $6. I started ti last night and am on the second tier... I'm thinking a) I really should've done a gauge swatch or b) the patterns a bit off... I thoguht I would have to go for the large but after making the foundation for the medium I realized that it was big enough... Then I did the required number of rows but thought it was *way* too short... so I'm going to add 10 rows to each tier... And then I think it should be the size I want. I think before trying the next I'll do a swatch - both Kris's sister and his brother's girlfriend have already asked for one.

Today is my sister's birthday. She's 16!! That's so wild. Sucks for her, cuz her b-day is on a long holiday weekend and she has to wait until Tuesday to get her drivers license! She's lucky cuz she gets a car given to her - my dad is giving her his not-so hoopty Buick to drive. She bitching cuz there's no CD player. Yours truly is still paying off the loan on her first car.

Now I'm off to grab a late lunch, Kris and I are starving. I'm so behind reading posts on Bloglines and at the 'Ville, hopefully I can catch up tonight but now I just want to eat. I also want to say thanks again for all your thoguhts and support, it was so kind of you and really appreciated.