I am still here. I've just been super busy with our new adventure www.primroseandtumbleweeds.com
I hope to return here soon.
What I am working on today
Making jewelry today but needing a little break.
I am finally getting around to doing the finishing work on my sweater. I hope to be wearing it next week.
Full Moon
This was the moon this morning on my drive to work. More beautiful than the picture can show. The sky was filled with stars and the air was crisp and cold, I even had ice on my car!
The Day After
I am almost certain this is what Santa will be doing on the day after tomorrow. A little relaxation in the sun will be well deserved.
My road trip to Arizona was fun, but I woke up with a sore throat the morning we left and have been sick since. Managed to rally for the time down there but now that I am back home I am exhausted. Really ready for a few days off. Since we celebrated our holiday early with both families I have nothing planned for the next three days. I cannot remember when that has happened. Now, don't get me wrong, I have a few things that could be done and a few things that need to be done but my schedule is my own and I plan to get some of this relaxation in (although no sunshine here just rain).
Back to the road trip. The cube truck and trailer did so well on the trip down, over the mountain pass and better gas mileage than we anticipated. Our little trailer is working out so well. The tents were set up and merchandise mostly displayed before I left, we even had a sale before I headed out to Phoenix to the airport.
My flight ended up being delayed over two hours due to bad weather in Chicago (our plane was coming in from there). Apparently, they were having to shut the Chicago airport down sporadically due to the weather so I wasn't sure if I would even be leaving Phoenix that night. I hung out at the airport, the free wi fi was great and I even managed to get a little work done and then some knitting so it was all good except that I still felt awful. I ended up not getting home until after midnight and needless to say, didn't get to work on time the next day.
I am thinking now about flying back to help Doug drive home in a couple of months. I'm watching the flight prices and hoping to get a deal on a ticket back. It is a long drive for him to do by himself with the four dogs.
Speaking of the little army, I miss them terribly. They are enjoying the sunshine and being outdoors all day. It will be really good for them and hopefully help the two babies socialize a little more. JJ has been so afraid of everything I am hoping it helps him get beyond that.
My road trip to Arizona was fun, but I woke up with a sore throat the morning we left and have been sick since. Managed to rally for the time down there but now that I am back home I am exhausted. Really ready for a few days off. Since we celebrated our holiday early with both families I have nothing planned for the next three days. I cannot remember when that has happened. Now, don't get me wrong, I have a few things that could be done and a few things that need to be done but my schedule is my own and I plan to get some of this relaxation in (although no sunshine here just rain).
Back to the road trip. The cube truck and trailer did so well on the trip down, over the mountain pass and better gas mileage than we anticipated. Our little trailer is working out so well. The tents were set up and merchandise mostly displayed before I left, we even had a sale before I headed out to Phoenix to the airport.
My flight ended up being delayed over two hours due to bad weather in Chicago (our plane was coming in from there). Apparently, they were having to shut the Chicago airport down sporadically due to the weather so I wasn't sure if I would even be leaving Phoenix that night. I hung out at the airport, the free wi fi was great and I even managed to get a little work done and then some knitting so it was all good except that I still felt awful. I ended up not getting home until after midnight and needless to say, didn't get to work on time the next day.
I am thinking now about flying back to help Doug drive home in a couple of months. I'm watching the flight prices and hoping to get a deal on a ticket back. It is a long drive for him to do by himself with the four dogs.
Speaking of the little army, I miss them terribly. They are enjoying the sunshine and being outdoors all day. It will be really good for them and hopefully help the two babies socialize a little more. JJ has been so afraid of everything I am hoping it helps him get beyond that.
Crochet Snowflake Ornaments
These crochet snowflakes are so fun and easy to make. The pattern is free over at attic24.typepad.com be sure to use a nice yarn for them, they do not tale much so scraps would work fine as long as the yarn is all the same weight. I'll be putting these on presents today for a family Christmas celebration. We are headed to the beach with Doug's family. We are suppose to have heavy rain today so should be an interesting drive. Then it is back home to get ready for the road trip,
Crochet Snowflake Ornaments
I am making a few of these to use as gift tags for Christmas. Found a great tutorial over at attic24.typepad.com they are very easy to make. I haven't done any crochet in awhile but I do enjoy it. I'm using Rowan Handknit Cotton and a size G hook.
New Sweater Projects
One thing I continue to learn over and over about myself is that I like to start new projects.
I have lots of ideas that constantly pop into my brain, I get really excited to get started and then just as quickly, lose interest. Sometimes I’ll pick up the project again and finish it sometimes it will linger for years and sometimes it will just get tossed out or unassembled and the pieces used for another project.
What does this all mean? How can I focus and finish things? Remember that NaNoWriMo thing? I wrote about 2,500 words. Far short of the 50,000 goal. It sounded like a great idea at the end of October, but by the end of the first week in November it didn’t sound like so much fun anymore. I still want to write and may try it again next year. It is a good focused timeframe with a deadline which is always helpful. I did learn about and download some free software to help with story writing so as I get new ideas I can put them into that program and hopefully format them into a complete story at some point.
Right now my new interest is in recycling wool sweaters, felting them and creating with them. I have a whole list of items that I’d like to make. I have wanted to do this for awhile now and have some sweaters saved. Then a couple of weeks ago I got all excited about the thought of it again and started haunting thrift stores for more sweaters. At the same time I’ve picked up some chunky bangle bracelets for another one of my wildly creative ideas. Now I need a serger. I don’t want to tackle this project without one, I think it will be much easier with a serger. So if any of you out there have one that is just collecting dust will you give me a shout and we can work something out? In the meantime, I will continue to look for wool items to felt. I think a trip to “The Bins” is in order for my lunch break today.
One of my creative projects that I manage to go in and out of more frequently is knitting. I’ve started another sweater (still have the last one waiting to be seamed and finished but the knitting is all done). The new one is pictured at the top. This one has a beautiful panel of oak leaves in the center of the back and I the yarn was in my stash just waiting for the right sweater pattern to appear. The yarn is Malabrigo Worsted, a beautiful merino wool in a purple and blue colorway called Violettas. This yarn is so nice to knit with and the sweater is going to be so comfy I am excited to finish it. It is moving along quickly, which for me is a good thing. I need fairly instant gratification or I can’t stick with something. If it feels like it is going to take a long time I usually give up, put it aside and start something else. Maybe 2011 should be the year of finishing up old projects? But what do I do with all of these ideas I have in my head? I do keep an idea journal but just writing it down doesn’t seem to be enough.
I have lots of ideas that constantly pop into my brain, I get really excited to get started and then just as quickly, lose interest. Sometimes I’ll pick up the project again and finish it sometimes it will linger for years and sometimes it will just get tossed out or unassembled and the pieces used for another project.
What does this all mean? How can I focus and finish things? Remember that NaNoWriMo thing? I wrote about 2,500 words. Far short of the 50,000 goal. It sounded like a great idea at the end of October, but by the end of the first week in November it didn’t sound like so much fun anymore. I still want to write and may try it again next year. It is a good focused timeframe with a deadline which is always helpful. I did learn about and download some free software to help with story writing so as I get new ideas I can put them into that program and hopefully format them into a complete story at some point.
Right now my new interest is in recycling wool sweaters, felting them and creating with them. I have a whole list of items that I’d like to make. I have wanted to do this for awhile now and have some sweaters saved. Then a couple of weeks ago I got all excited about the thought of it again and started haunting thrift stores for more sweaters. At the same time I’ve picked up some chunky bangle bracelets for another one of my wildly creative ideas. Now I need a serger. I don’t want to tackle this project without one, I think it will be much easier with a serger. So if any of you out there have one that is just collecting dust will you give me a shout and we can work something out? In the meantime, I will continue to look for wool items to felt. I think a trip to “The Bins” is in order for my lunch break today.
One of my creative projects that I manage to go in and out of more frequently is knitting. I’ve started another sweater (still have the last one waiting to be seamed and finished but the knitting is all done). The new one is pictured at the top. This one has a beautiful panel of oak leaves in the center of the back and I the yarn was in my stash just waiting for the right sweater pattern to appear. The yarn is Malabrigo Worsted, a beautiful merino wool in a purple and blue colorway called Violettas. This yarn is so nice to knit with and the sweater is going to be so comfy I am excited to finish it. It is moving along quickly, which for me is a good thing. I need fairly instant gratification or I can’t stick with something. If it feels like it is going to take a long time I usually give up, put it aside and start something else. Maybe 2011 should be the year of finishing up old projects? But what do I do with all of these ideas I have in my head? I do keep an idea journal but just writing it down doesn’t seem to be enough.
Hello December
It is so hard to believe that December is here already! This month is jam packed with activity for us including an early Christmas celebration with Doug’s family at the beach, which we haven’t even started shopping for, and then Road Trip! Doug & I will be hitting the road in our new to us travel trailer, pulled by our cube truck filled with antiques. We will be traveling to Arizona to set up and sell in Quartzsite. I’ll road trip it down with Doug & the Chihuahuas and then I have to fly back because I can’t take that much time off work. He will stay and sell as much as he can.
I am excited for a little vacation, even if it will mostly be spent in the seat of the truck. I just hope the weather holds out and isn’t too snowy or icy over the mountains. I love the snow but not on the roads.
Last weekend we spent most of our time at the beach house. As we were having our coffee on Sunday morning, our view was this amazing double rainbow over the ocean. We are so lucky! I am never going to get over this amazing view. I can sit and stare at it for hours. To me, this is the ultimate relaxation.
I am excited for a little vacation, even if it will mostly be spent in the seat of the truck. I just hope the weather holds out and isn’t too snowy or icy over the mountains. I love the snow but not on the roads.
Last weekend we spent most of our time at the beach house. As we were having our coffee on Sunday morning, our view was this amazing double rainbow over the ocean. We are so lucky! I am never going to get over this amazing view. I can sit and stare at it for hours. To me, this is the ultimate relaxation.
