Again with the Technical Difficulties

No, I have not abandoned you, my internet lovelies.

We are experiencing internet hook up problems here in the midwest. I have to go to the library to check my email!

I miss checking up on your blogs and I've actually had some good ideas for posts, but it's difficult here. Hopefully, we will back up and running shortly. Don't feel neglected!

Quick update:

I am getting ready for my first 5K. I am running and it hurts, but it's a goal I have, so I'm gonna do it.

I have learned to waltz for a show I'm in this spring. Lots of fun and lots of rehearsals.

Spring has arrived. There is no more snow and now there is tons of yard work to do.

Volleyball is over and soccer is beginning. Our kids have too many activities.

I've started making granny squares for an afghan. It's all the rage. I'll show you as soon as I'm up again.

I have been spending time with lots of lady friends. It is so nice, this sisterhood I have here in town. I wish I could introduce you all to my real life friends. I think you would all suit.

Blessings to you, friends! I'll read you again, ASAP.

A referral for you

I have found a new blog that I love. Erin at Dress a Day is a fabric and sewing genius. She really has the best clothes.

But what I love most are the stories she tells. Go over and click on the Secret Lives of Dresses. Each one is a little vignette about a woman from the perspective of the dress she wears. The stories are beautiful and poignant and I wish I could read a whole book like this.

Erin has inspired me to sew my own dress, although I am procrastinating my project just a tad. I know I'll get to it, I just need to find the perfect fabric. When real spring hits (we had snow again) I know I will get tired of yarn and will want to move on to something lighter.

Anyone else follow a bunny trail that led you to a great blog?

More about yarn

I'm not sure you can get the full effect, (it looks kind of hairy here) but the yarn for this shrug is amazingly soft and it was only $1.00 a skein. I really hope it turns out. I think I would be proud to wear it.

Did you see Cameran Diaz/Kate Winslet movie where they switch houses at Christmas? (I know I just saw this not too long ago but can't remember the name.) Cameran's clothing in that movie was extremely soft and amazing. She wore these cashmere sweaters to SLEEP IN! that must have cost hundreds of dollars. I want soft clothes. And if I can't afford them, maybe I can make them.

I've been practicing different style hats, too. This one is almost right but not quite. I ended up giving it to a friend with way more hair volume than I have. It looks kind of rasti on her. Very cute and hip for the forty-something mom that she is.

Why is it that when I take pictures of myself I look all wonky? Must be the close range. Elsie Flannigan never looks wonky. My nose is not that long. I'm obsessing. Moving on. I'm in the bathroom and those are towels hanging out of the cupboards. I've said it before - I'm an excellent wife but a lousy housekeeper.

Anyway... I also love the movie Elizabethtown. I think it is one of my favorites. Kirsten Dunst wears this red hat that kind of looks like a beret but isn't. Super cute and I want one. But not red. I thought this stripe might be fun but I think I'm more of a solid color girl.

Here is the aerial view. The stripes are a little off line but it is just a practice hat.

I'm really trying to do a good job of finishing what I start, so maybe blogging about the shrug will keep my going until I have a finished product to show you.

Wow, this is quite the post. Rambling all over hill and dale, or should I say purls and knits, with a little bit of insecurity thrown in for good measure. Aye yi yi.

Yarnit - Rhymes with Darnit

Do not ask me why this photo is sideways. I've tried a couple of times now and blogger keeps being stupid.

Sorry.

Just tilt your head a little and you will get the right effect.

And the paragraphs are stupid, too. Not my fault!

Moving on... This is my friend, who is an amazing crocheter. She is part of my Wednesday knitting club, even though she is crocheting, we let her in. This garment was done up like a giant doily, with arm holes left open. It really is a beautiful piece of clothing.

The other picture features my desperate face. I spent a couple of hours trying to undo this tangled piece of yarn. Longer than it takes to knit the hat my daughter wants. Finally, with some very patient untwisting, I have a nice ball of yarn. I almost had to throw the dang thing away.

I have a beautiful project to show you that I started this week. I hope, hope, hope it will fit me when it's finished. It's this lacy like a cloud shrug in a very soft, light green. I've never tried anything like it, so we'll see.

I'm also waiting on another skein of blue that I ordered in order to finish the winter sweater that just needs some ribbing around the vee neck. But the snow is melting (yay!) so I wonder if I will finish it this year. I may put it away 'til fall.

Okay, this is just an all around crazy looking post. What the heck is wrong with my paragraphs?

I'm too lazy to redo this, so I hope you can muddle through the mess. I'll try another post tomorrow, hopefully with better success.

Happy Valentine's day, my friends.

Oh, to be a Scot (or a time traveler)

I'm on book four in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. It's very exciting stuff. I also have Brother Odd to read, but I feel like I need to finish my series.



I came across a website called House of Tartan. You'll have to google it, I'm too lazy to go back and link, but I will show you what I made.

My very own tartan.

I like it.

Lisa's book is out!

Girlfriends, if you haven't read Lisa Samson, today is the perfect day to join the band wagon.

Quaker Summer is her newest and it's out today. I haven't read it yet, but I'm looking forward to as soon as I get my hands on a copy.

Go to Lisa's Amazon page to read the review from Publisher's Weekly and buy your own copy. You won't be disappointed.

*They done R-U-N-N-O-F-T

Where, oh where have my little dogs gone? They have run off in zero degree weather. Why don't they love us?

Normally, I don't worry. They have a habit of running off, then returning hours later. They always scavenge something to eat, usually cow pies and squirrel guts (which they puke up on my carpet later, that's how I know). BUT IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

How long can dogs last out there? They are used to being outside dogs, but they come in to sleep occassionally, and have been sleeping in since it's so cold. See, we love them! And they seem to love us, until the moment when they see a possible escape, and then they're gone.

Are dogs so stupid they prefer running around on frozen ground? Is is just my dogs? What if they are hit or cause an accident?

I've called the pound, where they have been known to be found, as well as the police station. Nothing so far. I'd like to say good riddance and hope some farmer finds them and decides to keep them, but really. Look at those faces. And look at that comfy bed. Why would they want to leave that?

Is there a dog whisperer out there who can tell me these things?

Hopefully they return before school lets out. Otherwise there will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth by my kids. I'll keep you posted. Damn dogs.

*Name that movie and you win... two dogs.

UPDATE: They came back... bearing gifts.

Baby, it's cold outside

Cold weather means:

• Hot Chocolate
• Puzzles
• Movies
• Big, long historical novels (Thank you, Diana Gabaldon!)
• All day on the couch, under the blankies
• Pajamas and Slippers
• Snacks, not meals
• Laziness
• Knitting

We are having below freezing temps here. It's cold!

Spirit Week and other crafty stuff

Next week my older kids have spirit week, so I started projects for them to wear for their color day. Actually, my son's scarf was started back in October. It was just one of those boring projects that was easy to put down and not pick up again. But I have perservered.

My daughter wanted wrist warmers, but didn't like the cabled ones I suggested. Her warmers kind of look like a tube without the cables, but they will do the job for which they are intended.

Last week when everyone was too sick for school, but too house crazy to lay down and drink their liquids, we entered the world of decoupage. We cut up all the magazines I had available and covered the front and backs of marbled journals. I like the way they turned out. We also made one for a birthday gift.

I'm hoping to try some new projects soon, too. I bought some pretty Asian looking fabric and have a purse pattern that I would like to try.

Oh, and I found the most perfect place. I really couldn't believe this was someone's actual sitting room and it filled me with all kinds of jealousy. Go here to look. It's unbelievable.

On another note, does anyone know how to arrange photos with blogger? I can't seem to get my paragraphs right or move my photos to where I want them. Everything looks like a hodge-podge. It's driving me crazy and I'm sure there is a simple explanation, so if you have the info, please pass it on.

And, if you want to play Show and Tell tomorrow, the topic is bumper stickers.

I lava, lava, lava me...

If you were to ask me to tell you a little about myself I would say things like I'm a nice person, I'm friendly, I usually do the favors people ask of me... things that might let you know a little about who I am, but not what I look like.


If you asked me to describe my appearance, my first inclination would be to not say kind things. I would pick at myself. Or give myself a compliment with a 'but...'.



Or be boring. I would have brown hair, be medium heighth, be average and not call any attention to myself.



Except that, there is a tiny little bit of myself that thinks I'm kind of cute. Would I ever say that outloud? Never. But here I am typing it, and all because bobbie asked me to. And she's asking you, too.

We are so hard on ourselves. And with body image issues being what they are today, it's easier to be more dissappointed in ourselves than ever.



So, without further ado, here they are: five things I LOVE about myself.





1. I have a little beauty mark under my right eye, high on my cheek. It's sexy.


2. I have very, very soft skin. I try hard with lotions and potions to keep it that way. I also usually smell really good because of said creams.



3. My lips are kissable with just the right amount of un-botoxed pout.



4. My eyebrows have a nice shape, and sometimes they quirk up at just the right moment.





5. Although I don't study my earlobes that often, I've been told they are cute, and have noticed that they, too, are very kissable. They are also unpierced, which makes them look like a kindergartners ears.



Bonus #6: My hands. I like they way they look and I like what they are able to do, accomplish, and give.



I would love to see what you all LOVE about yourselves. Consider yourself tagged and please go read bobbie's post and the links she has provided there.

Lost and found

Remember in Little Women, when Amy is trying to get even with Jo, and she throws her manuscript into the fire and Jo has a very dramatic melt-down?

When I was younger I could never really understand that. I mean, for pete's sake, it came out of her own head. How hard would it be for Jo to just write it down again?

And now, that I try to write myself, I cringe that I ever thought like that. My ideas are so fleeting that I can't remember from yesterday what I intended to write today. My kids sometimes will say, "Mom, whatever happened to that story you told me about..." and I can't believe I didn't keep going with that story. Or I will look through old journals with ideas jotted down, and think "Hey, I'd like to read that book, why didn't I write it?" Unfortunately, even if I did pick up these threads, they would never be what they would have been if I had kept going.

Even this blog thing frustrates me. I can't duplicate a post that was lost. A comment that is not accepted and gets lost drives me crazy. The muscle memory in my fingertips doesn't even help.

Sometimes, though, what comes out second is okay. A comment comes out better, a post more thoughtful. Maybe even my stories, when I get around to them, will improve at a second go-around. Jo's did.

Yes, it's that time again

To cut bangs, or let them grow. It's a huge decision, every few months, because I usually tend to choose bangs, which I regret, and then have to let them grow until they drive me bananas. We are now at the bananas stage. Reese's bangs are cute. But I bet we'll see her without them in no time.
Kelly and Rachael both have the long, side swipey thing going on, but mine never turn out like that. Maybe I need superstar mousse. Or a hairstylist on retainer.
Oops, I cut off her chin, but I'm not going back. She's still cute, though, eh?

I know you are wondering, is this the only thing I have to worry about? Ha, I say. But whatever, it's a post and I feel like if I wait to post anything until I have something important to stay, it may be a while. So my fringe is taking center stage.

Really, we've been back to the doctor and we have another kid with influenza. He's already missed 3 days of school this month because of stomach flu, and will miss at least 3 more with this.

The littlest one is over it and is feeling good again, but we had a scare on Sunday when she TOOK A NAP without being asked or sent, which never happens and usually always means she is sick.

We are all frantically washing our hands and isolating any person with a hint of a germ, but it's still coming on. Pray the rest of us don't get it. We are a huggy-kissy family so it's hard to keep the hands off.

Blessings to you, friends! Be well.

The view from my kitchen...

is very unappealing.

We are showing our local weather today for Show and Tell. It was so bright today that my snow pictures didn't turn out. So, I had to show you my snow against an ugly, brown AMC Pacer, circa 1976.

It's horrendous. And I have to look at it. Every day.

I once considered crashing into it and blaming the ice, but that would ruin my nice, comfortable mini-van so I opted out.

The owner of this car knows that it's ugly and keeps it in her side yard, rather than in her drive way, or her EMPTY garage! It's presence graces the view from the alley, which also happens to be the view from my kitchen. Is it any wonder I don't want to do my dishes?

The car rarely moves. In spring and fall, the nice, lady neighbor lines the back of the Pacer with garbage bags and fills it with her yard debris. When it's full she drives it to the land fill, then comes home to VACUUM out the ugly Pacer. After vacuuming, it sits. Waiting for it's next trip to the land fill. It is a well cared for ugly car.

And this concludes my Show and Tell. Can't wait to see yours!

Time keeps on slippin'

My days have been a whirlwind and I don't know why. The just keep floating on top of each other and it's Wednesday already.

The sickies we had here are all better and back to school. I have gone back to work after being home last week.

This week I discovered:

I can JOG! I upped the speed on the treadmill and I JOGGED! for a whole 60 seconds. It hurts. But it's the good kind of hurt.

My guilty pleasure this week:

You're The One That I Want - the search for Sandy and Danny. I'm living vicariously, let me tell ya.

On the flip side, I watched Grease with my oldest daughter this week and then we had to have a Discussion. As this is my first teenager, I am not very adept at Discussions and mostly look like the stupid parents in your typical Disney channel sitcom.

Me: Wow, some of that was really inappropriate.

Her: (Face straight ahead) Hmmm.

Me: Don't get into backseats of cars.

Her: (Bershon look then head back to straight ahead)

Me: (clears throat)

Her: Are there any bonus features?

Yeah, like I said... Not so good at Discussions.

Sad, yet hopeful!

You paid attention during 69% of high school!

68-84% Pretty good, you know that there are libraries and newspapers, and you remember what you've read. You were a child that wasn't left behind!

Do you deserve your high school diploma?
Create a Quiz

Your Language Arts Grade: 100%

Way to go! You know not to trust the MS Grammar Check and you know "no" from "know." Now, go forth and spread the good word (or at least, the proper use of apostrophes).

Are You Gooder at Grammar?
Make a Quiz

At least I came out of High School knowing my they're, there and theirs!

Now that I think about it, I probably did pay attention only 69% of the time, what with sports, boys, and teenage drama. I did learn to juggle in PE, though. So at least we know that time wasn't wasted.

Helloooo out there!

I'm jumping on the de-lurking bandwagon. So, if you want to, come out and say hi!

Personally, I don't think I have any lurkers. I have no site counter or hit meter so there is really no way to tell who comes by.

And I don't want one.

I'm sure one of those meters would turn me into some type of private investigator, sending me hither and yon on the blogosphere to try and figure out who people are. This way is just more sane for me. I'm low-tech all the way.

About the picture... I've wanted to use it for a long time but really had no purpose. I thought this was the coolest way to camp ever. We saw this couple at a gas station in Wyoming, I think. Maybe more east, I'm not sure. Anyway, isn't cute?

By the way, the sickies are getting better, but one is going in today for a visit. Seems like she is developing some tonsilitis. Ick.

Health and Peace to you!

Bowl days

We have a sickness in our house. Two kids home from school, two kids well. More importantly, two parents well! The parents have to be well in order to keep the track to the bathroom clear and have fresh bowls at the ready in case of emergency. In which there were quite a few. Emergencies, that is.

Yes, two of my little lovelies have spent much of the last two days with bowls on their laps, gatorade in their cups and naught much else in their stomachs.

So tell me this. Would food poisoning wait a full 24 hours to hit, or would it show up sooner? My experience tells me that when I am sick from food, I am sick almost immediately, but read on.

This is suspicious to me. After church on Sunday, we went out with some friends. There were about eight or nine families from church there, too. We live in a small town, not a lot of options for the after church crowd.

Monday night my kids got sick, along with at least two other members of three of the families we saw at lunch. So a total of eight people sick only 24 hours after we all ate together. (Sorry for all that math!) I'm wondering if I should call the restaurant or if everyone just got the same bug.

What do you think?

Getting crafty

I have been wanting to do more crafty things lately, but with two kids in basketball, the holiday stuff we've just come out of, and life in general, crafty time was hard to come by.

However, change is coming! My oldest daughter and I spent the weekend making aprons out of fun, crazy fabric. I think they turned out pretty cute.


Here's my daughter modeling the one I think we both like best. This was her first experience with the sewing machine and she did great.

These are the other ones. (Pictured with my new red crock pot) I like the blue one with circles a lot. It's made of sturdier fabric so I will probably wear that one the most.

I am a mess in the kitchen. The aprons I've been wearing have either been old restaurant aprons I've kept from waiting tables, or the blue cotton apron I made in 9th grade. At least I have one item of clothing from high school that I can say I can still wear!

We had a great time learning how to put these things together and were thankful that they were so easy. I also got a new iron out of the deal since the old one shorted out during the second apron.

I also started reading 'Outlander' this weekend. Love it! 18th century Scotland and time travel, can't get more exciting than that. Also finished 'Avalon High'. It was okay. I've like other Meg Cabot stuff much better. How's that for some fancy book reviewing?

Off to clean my kitchen with one of my new aprons. Hopefully I'll have another something crafty to show you next weekend.

Christmas Pictures show and tell

Show and Tell Thursdays are back. Now hosted by the lovely Sarah Louise of Pink Sneakers.

Our topic for today is Christmas extras. I dug around in my stash and I don't have a lot to show, but here is what I got... The two olders received Red Rider Daisy bb guns, but without the compass on the stock and a thing which tells time. (Name that movie) Imagine how grateful I was to see that they weren't pointing them at each other.
Here is our tree in the dark. It wasn't as blurry in real life. It now sits on our front porch, sans ornaments and lights, waiting for it's pick up to be recycled into a fish habitat in some pond somewhere.
And remember how I told you that my kids received digital cameras and were up to all kinds of shenanigans? Well, here is one of my children, airborn. I took this off my little Sprite's camera. Couch diving is a big no-no.

How to play Show and Tell: Sarah Louise will put up a topic at the beginning of the week. On Thursday, leave a comment on her show and tell post and everyone will pop on over to see what you're showing.

Go here and here to see some examples of past show and tells.

Hope you can come out and play!