Crochet Crankiness

I have been working on a baby ensemble (jacket, booties, hat) since October. It is a project I'm doing "for hire" and I did the booties and jacket, and now it's up to me to finish the hat.

The stinking, annoying hat.

I have started and restarted and restarted this hat. When I get one bug worked out, I find myself messing up another way.

I have three days to get this hat started and finished without any mistakes.

I think after I'm finished, I will put the crochet hooks away for a while. It's making me cranky. No more for-hire work before the holidays....

The Next Generation

My sister sent me some pictures she took while I was in Portland visiting her and nephewpoo. I thought I would share, since they do have relevance to knitting!

First, another picture of him perfectly content in one of the sweaters I made for him:



Second, a picture of him doing awesome at learning to knit ~ he's such a quick study:



And lastly, just one of my non-knitting favorite pictures of the two of us, because our outfits are so coordinated, it's hard to tell where he ends and I begin. The funny thing is, we both had to change clothes shortly before this picture was taken thanks to a humongous spit-up episode.....

The Cutest Little Man In The Universe

I couldn't resist posting a photo of my nephew in one of the sweaters I knit for him. It's a little big, but he's still so stylish. I manipulated Fran's Hooded Baby Sweater...this one has no hood, and I changed just a few things about the layout of the body. I could've used a burlap sack and it would still look so stinkin' cute on this little guy...



I had a marvelous time visiting my nephew, sister, and brother-in-law. I didn't get hardly any knitting done, and therefore fell behind in my fair isle class..... It was worth it, though. That sweet little boy was more thereapuetic than any knitting I could have done. Except when his diaper leaked in my lap.....



He's going to be so spoiled....and I'm going to love every minute of spoiling him. Look at that sweet little face....

Weekend Update

Only....my weekend updates aren't as funny as the ones on Saturday Night Live. This is a report on my weekend in the cabin!!

October 10th thru 12th I was tucked away in the woods at a lakeside cabin in Minnesota. I still don't know really where it was, and had I not had step-by-step instructions, I might still be trying to find my way there. The drive there, though a bit rainy, was gorgeous. So many fall colors, a few rolling hills....it was pristine!



There were 12 women who attended this retreat. Eleven scrapbookers and me - the sole knitter/crocheter. Well, there were other women who do knit and/or crochet, but this weekend I was the only one not scrapbooking. Can I just say, that if my husband ever tries to tell me knitting is an expensive hobby - I will threaten to start scrapbooking! Good grief there are a lot of gizmos and doo-dads and supplies!!

Friday evening was the first evening there. Everyone was introduced and started crafting right away. I was recovering from a busy week at work, so I called it a night at about 11:00. There were four bedrooms, and three twin beds to a room. My bed happened to be in the middle of the other two. At some point during the night, I was having this odd dream. This super annoying man was talking.....like this.....really monotone.....stopping and starting.....and it was so annoying.....In my dream, I put my hands over my ears and yelled, "SHUT UP!" because I couldn't take his talking any longer. I woke myself up. I was lying in bed, awake, and I heard his voice. The monotone, rhythmic, annoying voice. I realized....it was one of the gals in my room ~ snoring. Her snoring was playing in to my dream as the most annoying voice on the planet. I had a hard time falling back asleep.......because of......the snoring........ugh.

About 7:00 a.m. Saturday, I couldn't take it any longer and got up. I was the first one to shower, and the first one awake. I decided to throw some shoes on and take a little nature walk. It was so peaceful, so calm, and such a beautiful morning. Check out the view across the lake when I walked down to the dock!



Saturday was a productive day. I spent nine hours on this jacket and am almost finished with it. I have the matching hat and booties to make yet and oh how I despise fuzzy yarn now.....



After midnight, as I was working on a hat and knitting quietly in the living room of the cabin, the retreat organized asked to have everyone's attention. Then she started and everyone else joined in - to sing Happy Birthday to me. It was Sunday, after all, and Sunday was my birthday. They presented me with a beautiful card that everyone signed and it was so very sweet, and I was so grateful!!

In the wee hours of Sunday morning, after everyone had gone to bed, there was a ridiculous thunder storm. Thunder, lightning, hard rain - it was lovely. Something about a thunderstorm while you're snuggled in a cabin is just so neat. I didn't mind that it had interrupted my sleep.

All in all it was a fabulous time, I got a lot of knitting and crocheting done, and I met lots of wonderful, beautiful women! And they are serious about their scrapbooking!

Weekend Get-Away

I am becoming more and more excited about next weekend. Next Friday after work, I will hop in my car, drive about an hour from here, and seclude myself in a cabin for an entire weekend where the only thing required of me will be - that I knit. I am crashing a scrapbooking retreat so I can hunker down and make some headway on the many projects I have started, or need to start, so I can hopefully finish before Christmas.

The following Sunday is also my birthday, so the chance to get away to a lakeside cabin, knit to my heart's content, and mostly have no other responsibilities, has me in stitches. (I couldn't resist....) It's a gift I'm very happy about giving myself.

I have to work on a project for a fair isle knitting class I'm taking, work on the Christmas gifts of four family members, and start making items to sell at a local holiday craft fair in November.

That may sound like a lot, but I say, "Bring it on!"

And let the knitting dedicated weekend begin. Happy birthday to meeeeee!!

Different Direction

I took a different direction today.

I felt it necessary to create a separate spot for it.

If you feel compelled to check out more ramblings of mine....they're here:

http://whispersintheworld.blogspot.com/

Whispers in the world. It will make sense. Hopefully. One day. :o)

Happy Birthday!

Today is my best friend's birthday. For 13 days she will be 2 years older than I am. Tee hee....

Let me tell you about my best friend. She and I hated each other upon meeting. I had just moved to the little town the summer before 8th grade. We had been placed in the same home room. At first I was happy to see I was not the only person in the world with wild, unmanageable, naturally curly hair. I could take a hint, however, that I was stepping on to someone else's territory.

The first half of the school year we tolerated one another's presence. She was the most popular girl in school, and I was not. In fact, I was booed when I won the costume contest that Halloween. How dare the "new girl" win.....I couldn't help that I was more creative than my fellow classmates, especially in the realm of costumes.

One day, I saw her crying in home room. Oh the drama!! I did feel bad for her, however, because she was a very strong and influential individual, and to see her crying made me feel a twinge of pain....I didn't know what was wrong, but I knew if it were me, it would've made my heart break, too.

I wrote her a note. Something like, "I know we don't talk at all, but I saw you crying. I hope everything will be alright, and if it isn't, just know I'm here to listen." I doubt there was much else to it, as I was in eighth grade and trying to be more mature than I really was.

That note spurred a frenzy of note-writing back and forth. I don't think we actually spoke to one another until we had been writing notes to each other for a good month. I don't remember our first verbal conversation. What I do remember, however, is that this girl and I became the best of friends.

Our yearbook signings became a contest to see who could write the longest "book". We shared in one another's happy moments, and shed tears on the other's behalf in times of trial. We laughed at our possessed vehicles, and I will never forget going "Thanksgiving Caroling" around the neighborhood.....

Two wild-haird crazy coots, (us) became inseperable. We are, in so many ways, the same person. Yet we are, in so many ways, completely different. She has been there for me in the best of times, the worst of times, we have fought, we have laughed, we have disagreed, we have completed each other's sentences......She is my sister in Christ, and I know we were brought together to serve Him with our unique and treasured relationship.

So, Tigger, on this day I want to wish you very Happy Birthday. You mean more to me than you may realize, and goodness knows where I'd be without your faith, your honesty, and your sense of humor. I love you, T, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Writer's Block

I was so excited to start blogging.....and here I sit day after day not knowing what I should blog about. What is going on in my life that I would feel so compelled to spend time reflecting on? What isn't going on in my life that I wish would? What thoughts or problems have I been trying to sort out that I might benefit if I could see them laid out in writing?

I got nothin'.

I seriously just draw blanks. I sit and I stew and I strain all day long every day, and when I think about how to incorporate it into a latest and greatest blog entry, my mind literally goes white. Nothing but white.

Two blondes walk in to a bar. One says, "ouch!"

That's it. That's all I've got.

Pondering Tolerance

Last night I went to a dear friend's house to knit. I enjoy our time knitting together because we have excellent conversation, and share excitement over each other's projects. Last night was no exception. We had more philosophical discussion, talked about life events, and shared some laughs in the process.

One thing in particular that came about was a question to ponder. Consider the following: Person A is an associate of yours, and they irritate the tar out of you. Person B is an associate of yours, and they irritate the tar out of you as well. You are gracious and tolerable of Person A. Person B receives no tolerance, no mercy, and no forgiveness. You can't stand either of them, yet you are more tolerable of one than the other. Why is that?

I think my friend came up with some incredible insight. She suggested one of the variables could be how much is invested in the relationship. Is Person A the spouse of a close friend? A team member? Someone with closer ties to you may bear reason to force yourself to withstand more than you would for someone who doesn't share a communal circle.

Having said that, herein lies my issue: I am a stickler for genuineness. People who are not genuine really get under my skin. However! If I have two people I cannot stand and treat one with more respect than the other, how am I being genuine? And therefore, why can I not exercise mercy and tolerance for the one I haven't displayed it for previously? If it's easy enough for me to do it for one, shouldn't it be so for another?

A bigger question evolved from the previous. What about MY attitude is keeping me from being able to accept this person? How is it I'm so easily able to place 100% of our personality clashes on the other person, rather than take ownership of my own contributions to the problem?

What it all boils down to is this: I very well could be a horrible person.

Will you pass the cookies, please? Oh, and not those kind, I can't stand the guy who made them.....

The Formal Introduction

I love to write. I love to relive stories. I don't know why I have taken so long to commit to blogspot, but I have a feeling I will really enjoy - and over-utilize - this site.

I'm a 20-something gal who doesn't feel as old as the number says I am. I like to think I reached an aging plateau when I turned 23. Reality is harsh most times, and I prefer my delusional bubble of happy thoughts versus responsibility. I realize, however, I'm not exempt from responsibility and try to live my life....well....responsibly.

I spent the first 12 years of my life on the coast of California. The beach was more than just a destination, it was a way of life. I started life as a valley girl, like, for sure. I wish I could still feel the sand between my toes and hear the waves breaking on the shore. I miss the ocean. It's the one tie I can't break from my California days.

The summer before I turned 13, we moved lock, stock, and barrel, to Wyoming. Talk about your culture shock. My misery quickly passed, however, and I grew to fall in love with Wyoming. The landscape, the wildlife, the atmosphere, the people - the serenity and simplicity of life there was something I wish I had not taken for granted. I soon became a rugged mountain girl, longing for an escape from the real world to hike, fish, and even hunt. I still fawn over the majesty of Yellowstone National Park, and would give anything to live in a remote cabin within those park boundaries. When groceries can be teleported, that is.....

January 1st of 2006, my husband and I rolled into our new homestead in North Dakota. There are no mountains here. There is no clear blue water. There is no ocean. I'm not sure if you're aware of it or not, but North Dakota is known for mosquitos. Known for. "Hey Ole, there are a lot of mosquito things flyin' around, doncha know?" "Yah, Lena, sure, you betcha!"

I do like it here, though, and know I was placed in each area at each point in time for a purpose. Though I'm unclear why I'm here, I know it's for a reason. In that I can be sure, and find contentment in a purpose. God and I have a lot of talks about this. Mostly He just listens, but every now and again I can hear the faintest whisper of confirmation and encouragement. Even with my hearing loss. :o)

A brief and very summarized window into my developing soul - but I hope you have a sense of who I am and maybe why I'm a little nuts. More to come...