Approaching Glory

Wii Communicate

Still here - still no date.  Hubby sort of promised me the other day a "before the end of October".  Right.  Okay, so here is an updated list:

1.  I plan on using the storage bags I bought even if they don't stay totally compact because they do well enough that it is beneficial.

2.  Still have not tried the Pandigital.  So much other stuff going on.  Will get there.

3.  Had an interview.  It went well.  Get edged out by someone else.  Oh well.  I've got two more resume in and I still am in the system to sub.

4.  Everyone is back in school and doing well.  Jbird seems to be hanging in there and I see an upturn with a small med change.  He got good reports on his blood tests - he A1C's were very good - so no concern right now about diabetes.  He's been doing super on staying away from sweets and carbs as much as possible.  He's also cut back on portions and has started walking some hiking trails.

5. Have up and down days still, yet, whatever.... I know that is to be expected but it still bugs me when I lose a day to feeling depressed.

6.  Took a friend to the hospital for her necessary tests.  She got a good report and then we went out to eat at Fatz.  Good food.

7. Taking Speed Spanish and Podcasting for the Classroom for my final two need PLU's for recertification.  Think I may have put a little too much pressure on myself at this time.  Painting daisies 101 would have been more appropriate.

8. Tomorrow I have two projects to do:  get knitting stuff sorted, realistically look at some of the yarn and decide to keep or give away, put projects that I'm making in baggies, and repack all in a huge tub.  Laundry must be done or I'm going naked.  Through a meal in the crockpot in the morning so I don't have to worry about food for tomorrow night.  And I NEED to paint - for me - for sanity - for the pleasure of it.

9.  Oh - and we got a Wii - we need a respite from all the stress and the family is truly enjoying it.

Hope you are blessed and doing well.  You know where I am God and where I am going - that's good enough for me :)

Pandigital Scanner

My SIL introduced me to this little jewel.  It is a Pandigital scanner (8.5 x 11) size.  She got hers from QVC and I just ordered mine from there as well.  I sat at her apartment amazed and dazed as she scanned one photo after another (fast and easy).

I thought the idea novel.  However, I was a little concerned about getting rid of photo hard copies.  That was until I realized I have close to ten albums of photos and two boxes of photos from my Mom.  Do I really want to move them?  The answer is no.  The other day I scanned a few photos on our printer from our past.  The best thing about scanning them was the ability to use a good photo editor to crop, edit, correct redeyes, and eliminate scratches.

Scrapbooking?  I have been SO impressed with the little "try it" digital scrapbooking program I got with my printer.  The possibilities are endless with digital graphics and templates.

The problem with the printer scanner is the time it takes to do the process.  With the Pandigital you can sit and watch a movie and literally put one photo through right after another.  And - it is portable - people are taking these little jewels with them to family reunions and scanning family photos - neat idea!

Mine is due to be here in about a week - that gives me time to gather my photos and prepare to scan :)

Cool Buy on a Hot Day

Jbird and I drove down to Athens, GA the other day.  The kid was actually a pleasure to be with - considering I told him before we left that I intended to do more window shopping than anything else.

First thing we did was stop at Taco Bell's and got brunch.  I love their Bacon Club Chulupa - yum!  The weather was horribly hot.  We went to JoAnn's fabrics first.  Saw lots of things to be interested in but mother nature called and I needed to leave in order to find a restroom.  Note to the store:  you missed a sale - please put in restrooms - it doesn't make sense to be a store that sells primarily to women and NOT have public restrooms!  Okay - rant over.

We then went to Office Depot to get ink for my printer. I like the little printer we got to take the place of the one that died, but it seems to use ink much more quickly than the old one.

Then off to Hobby Lobby where I purchased a couple of canvasses at 30% off and some large wood letters for a project for Jbird's new room in the new place of which we know not.  I also plan on getting him a black wooden daybed/trundle - of which his father knows not - lol!

Lastly - we went to Barnes and Noble.  I could live there forever and be a happy camper.  We each got a caramel latte with a cream cheese bagel and enjoyed a good discussion.  Then we hit the books.  I got the Knitting book on the clearance table for practically nothing.  It has three patterns I've been wanting to knit!  Woo hoo!  I've seen other people's postings on their blogs and have drooled over the items.

Quick stop at Krogers to get some cold water and we headed back to the hacienda.

However, I have promised myself not to start anything new until we are settled in the new place.  I'm going to pack up all my knitting stuff (except two projects that are almost finished).  I am going to leave out my paints and I WILL do some painting to keep my stress levels as normal as possible. 

It's The Dog's Fault :) The Agony of Olympic Defeat

Dear Yarn Harlot,

This is MY story and I'm sticking to it.  I selected two items this year for the 2010 Knitting Olympics.  Having won the gold last go-round I was confident I could pull this off.  I selected something new for me and whilst not as daunting as your  awesome project - a challenge for my level of knitting.  I gathered all my materials (making necessary adjustments for lack of needed needle sizes).   

Of course this is when "life" decided to happen.

1. After procrastinating a few days (yes - you read that correctly) I remembered that I failed to take into account that I had two full days of activities that I had forgotten about - cute. But it probably doesn't count.
2. Does making food, cleaning, and pets count for anything?  Nah - didn't think so.
3. How about the time I got so engrossed in the movie I was supposed to knitting to that I actually watched the movie and didn't knit - didn't think so.
4. How about the fact it was a moral imperative that I attempt to beat my husband at Bejeweled?  Didn't think so (and I didn't beat him either)
5. How about the fact that for some reason when I started reading the baby bootee pattern I couldn't for the life of me make head nor tails of it?  Maybe so.
6. Does it mean anything that my two kittens thought batting at my knitting was cool mean anything?  Didn't think so.
7. How about the squirrels in the attic were driving me slightly bonkers?  I know how you feel about squirrels and yarn - does that work?  Didn't think so.

Okay - last chance at a legitimate excuse - last night whilst Canada and the USA were fighting it out on the ice (which by the way congrats and I sure do wish I could have seen it - no cable here) - the dog ate my yarn.  You see I decided to be nice to the dog and share some chicken with him and he grabbed the chicken and the yarn in one chomp.  I was eating and knitting at the same time - yes - I was!  And so I had to start the whole second bootee all over again - are you moved?  Do you care?  Didn't think so :(  Move over USA Hockey team - right there with you.

2010 Knitting Olympics Here I Come

Four years ago I took part in one of the most fun things I've done - the Knitting Olympics.  Because Ravelry was hosting a bunch of Olympic stuff for knitters, Stephanie aka:  Yarn Harlot, had seriously considered not doing the Knitting Olympics again.  Thankfully, she switched gears and it's a go.  To see what I did four years ago click here. 

This year I am going to attempt two items.  The first project is the baby sweater/dress Helena by Alison Green Will.  It is available online free here.  I love it and think it's adorable.  I want to make mine with buttons instead of the ties though. Kinda like the one seen here by Quill.  Hope mine turns out looking this good!

I also am going to make a pair of booties to match.  I'm going to use another freebie pattern which you can find here.   Aren't they just the cutest?  So - tonight when the torch is lit.  I start to cast on for one of my projects - and the race begins!  I've got till the torch goes out to finish my projects.  Going to the gold :)

Yes, I'm Still Knitting - Here's Meret!

I look terrible in hats - just not me!  But when the weather gets to freezing you have to do something.  I've tried lots of hats over the years and nothing ever looks right to me.

  Well - meet Meret by Wooly Wormhead.  Get the download for the free pattern here!  The pic to the right was taken before I wet the hat and stuck it on a plate to block.  I asked my niece to try it on and she wants one with more slouch.  So I tried it on and guess what?  I love it!  It is MINE!

• Pattern: Meret by Wooly Wormhead - used size medium
• Needles: 1 pair dpns and 1 circular size 7's
• Yarn:  Peace Fleece worsted weight in Volgasippi Blue

And 2010 Begins

These are the last few days of rest that I have before the next semester begins.  Hubby goes back to work on Tuesday and the 2 J's (Jason and Jennifer) begin their classes on Wednesday.  Lots to do before they start.  Jen's dorm room cleaned and readied.  Laundry ready to go.  Books to be bought and one schedule change for Jbird.  He wants to take the Introduction to Media Studies.

Jennifer got a car!  Woo hoo!  That should help with transportation issues.  Would love to get Jbird one but that is going to have to wait for awhile.

I continue to put in applications all over for a job.  Believing I will be led to go where I need to and will be placed where it will give the Lord glory.

Hubby's book is doing well.  He's blessed with some of the comments that he has gotten on it.

And I have been knitting.  I'll post the latest stuff up tomorrow.  I can't believe I've almost finished five pairs of slipper booties.  I've modified the pattern quite a bit to make it what I like - I'll share that information also.

Watching SG-1 and am up to season eight.  Also have been watching Sherlock Holmes and The Commish.

Hope your first day of the year was great.

Colored Pencil - Pen and Ink - Oils - Watercolor

 I continue to pursue the "art thing".  To the left is pasrt of an oil painting that I'm thinking of cropping down to what you see here.  I don't like the rest of the picture at all.  I believe you can take the canvas off the frame, cut it, and then reframe it.  I hope.

This spring, I took a class at the Quinlan on colored pencil drawing.  The teacher was Debra Yaun.  You can visit her site here and drool over her pictures.  She just recently won Best of Show at the Festival of Arts Show in Cumming, Georgia.  For a look at that pic click here.  While there you can also see my friend, Beth Stull's work.  Beth got the Audience Choice Award - on her birthday!  Beth works primarily in acrylics and does awesome work.  If I had had the money I would have bought that picture when I first saw it - it is beautiful.  Beth's talent is so natural I could just sit and watch her paint.  Her painting was the first piece to sell at the Cumming show - which did not surprise me one bit.  Anyway - the pic beneath right - is a small sketch piece that I was working on to see how color combos work, how some mixed media with ink would do, and to just play around with some ideas.  I'm working on the same picture (having used tracing paper to recopy the design with a dark background and different colored leaves.  Thinking of producing a diptych with the pics.  But I have got to tell you - colored pencil work is amazingly detailed (not mine but Debra's - lol) and takes the patience of three people to accomplish - which for some reason my other teacher Chris seems to think I have.

One of the speakers that presented at the Art League suggested that most artists have an "icon".  Something which they seem to do over and over - or return to often.  Umm... guess mine is leaves.  The next one on the left is a taste of one in watercolor  with mixed media (some ink added) - sorry the colors are off - the colors are much more rich in blue.

I have worked on some portraits in graphite.  I don't know if I have the patience to try one in colored pencil.  I have purchased a large piece of board to work on some pen and ink.  I used to work in black in white all the time when I was in high school and still have a hankering to get back to some stark graphic work.  Off to work on some more colored pencil.

Socking Along

Sorry I'm a day late.  Let's just say that the tests are done and leave it at that.  I'll know more soon on the results.  Anyway -  I have been knitting off and on and actually have some finished objects!

These were made with Austermann's Step with Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil.  I started out working the yarn in a tube sock pattern and then decided I didn't like it.  So I used a plain toe-up pattern and a 1x1 ribbing (which I like better than 2x2 because it is snugger around the ankle).  I'm a little disappointed that the yarn pooled so differently on the one sock - but I don't think any one is going to mind.
Then we have: 

These socks were made from Socks that Rock in Mochaberry (100% merino washable).  I've got to tell you - this is awesome yarn.  Thicker and spongier than regular finger weight yarn.  Great for those cold winter days.  The pattern is Spring Forward from Knitty's summer 2008.  I love the pattern.  It is easy and looks great - wish I could get a better pic of it for you.  I'm currently on the second sock in the same yarn in a green - Footzey Foo (I believe it's the color that they show the pattern in on the Knitty site)  Finally -

I was going to make these in a lace pattern and then decided it was too much for the yarn.  This yarn is Online Supersocke in the colorway City.  It is being knit up in a plain toe-up with the 1x1 ribbing.  I'm just about done with one sock.  These are being made as a birthday gift for my niece.  Unfortunately, I'm going to miss the deadline (tomorrow - bad Aunt).  But I think she'll like them when they are done - they just happen to match her current color-guard costumes - so they'll be a reminder of this show.  BTW her color-guard won first in their regional area.  I got to see the performance and they were great!  Not to be outdone by "silly things".....

Tango decided to see what was so special. He believes he ranks much higher on the list than some dumb socks - so I snapped him as well. I do think he's pretty cute.  Don't you?

Frame Me

Last visit to J's pediatric dentist.  What a super dentist this has been.  He's been so wonderful through the years.  Got the name they recommended for J's adult dentist.  Of course J didn't have any cavities.  Must be nice.

Then we drove over to the new frame shop here in town.  Very nice man and great service.  I'll be taking the pics back to him on Wednesday for framing - one for the show - two for me - and a couple more that need hanging gear.  Costly - but done right.  Art is NOT cheap.

Still haven't gotten stuff off to ACT - must do that.  Grass pollen must be increasing - having to us inhaler more each day.

Hope you have blessed one.