More of the Same Thing

More of the same thing, unfortunately… Mike’s pretty hard to get decent photos of. I suppose that’s because he’s a kitten. All I know is that I have a lick mark on my lens and that does not make me happy. Hundreds of non-lick photos of Bill and all it takes is two pictures and BAM kitten lick mark.

Finished the first fingerless mitt. It’s really awesome. I can’t wait to finish the second and have a big reveal. I’m hoping to get them finished before my Kentucky trip next week so I have something awesome to wear when I’m outside.

What’s going on in your neck of the woods? 

 

A New Direction

…so. 

How are you today? I’m okay, although I’m addicted to knitting the fingerless mitts I showed you yesterday. I didn’t get any spinning done, but I did work on Spanish and slog through English… and read the Nubby Twiglet blog and cried silent tears for design. (In a previous life [well, middle school] I wanted to be a graphic designer- not to be.)

I do find the visual arts incredibly appealing. I’m a crap painter, and I can’t draw to save my life, so I struggle with photography instead. I currently have a love-hate relationship with my camera, which usually goes like this:

Me: You’re out of batteries again! (dramatically low sobbing)

Camera: whzzz

Me: Why must the photography world hate me sooooo?? (even more dramatic sobbing)

Camera: bzzzz whzzz click

BUT, but, but my dear blog readers, I am trying a new direction with photography. I’m going to do a 365 project! No more Autumn fooling around with knitting projects and conveniently forgetting batteries! I have goals, I have dreams, I have prompts! 

Anyway, I’m nine days behind so I better hurry up with everyone else.

PS: I finished the first mitt! I feel like a genius! I’ll show you tomorrow!

Wordless Wednesday (This is Mike)

Odds & Ends

Pappy gave me these brochures that he found at the Farm Show. In the Honey, Nature’s Secret Ingredient one, there’s a recipe for some Lemon Curd Tarts that I want to try out… and maybe the Honey Glazed Barbecued Spareribs, too. Thanks, Pappy!

On the other hand, I started a new project already. Doesn’t the picot edging look awesome? Just looking at it makes me feel like a total genius. Although I’ve already made a ton of modifications to this pattern already…

This is Mike the kitten. Isn’t he cute? Mike likes to take naps on my purple knitted blanket I finished last year. He’s learning to be a good cuddler, but right now he’s a little too playful to do much cuddling.

That’s just about it for today, I want to do some spinning (ooooh, I have to show you tomorrow!) and finish up some Spanish for school. Tonight I’ve got a Youth Stamp Club meeting to attend & help out at… I love helping out those little guys with their stamps!

What’s going on in your neck of the woods?

FO Parade: Sweet Mocha Blankie

Pattern: Improvised

Yarn: Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn! Ombre in Sweet Mocha Ombre

Needles: US #17 (12.75 mm)

Modifications: None

Notes: Two years ago I knitted a blanket for Gabe using a pattern that came from Country Woman magazine. I’ve long since forgotten the name of the pattern, so I cast on 70 stitches using 2 strands, knit for ages, cast off, and fringed. Really basic stuff, but the outcome was super adorable! This is my first finished knitting project of 2013!

My Nana, the Storyteller

My Nana passed away yesterday. 

I’m not sure what to say, it feels so awkward. Grief is not what I expected it to be. It’s so weird. 

Nana was one of my blog readers. She commented here and there, and told me that she liked how happy my blog was. I told her that I liked it happy, too. I’ve been reading over her comments for a little, and it makes me feel better. 

Nana was a storyteller. Growing up, she would have me at her house for a sleepovers. Just before we would go to bed, Nana would tell me a story. I loved her stories, and I still do. I looked forward to her stories every night, and I remembered begging her for more.

One summer, I started a family newspaper, The Backyard Gazette. I wrote down the stories that happened to us each week and gave them to Nana when she would pick us up. When we’d get back to her house, she’d sit in her rocking chair and read each and every single one, telling me that the stories were “fabulous” and “exciting.”

Not long after I started writing short stories in school. I would write them, and then carefully print them onto fresh paper, and then give the story to Nana to read. After I finished one story, Glory in particular, my teacher helped me use some big pieces of construction paper and yarn to make a book out of it. I illustrated each page and drew the main character on the cover. I gave the book to Nana, and she had said that it was “the best story ever written.” 

Nana’s stories are probably the biggest reason why I love to blog and write. Her stories were a big inspiration to me. Even now, as I am writing, I am thinking about one of her stories she told me. Nana might not be able to tell me stories anymore, but the ones I have tucked away already are cherished, well worn memories.  

After the Holiday

Oh my, the winter holiday break is over, and it’s back to the grindstone for school. Thankfully, I had a Cherry Mash hanging about to snack on while I was working on Spanish earlier this afternoon. I’m so glad I can find them at the Hobby Lobby. (Oh, Hobby Lobby!)

Have you ever been to a Hobby Lobby? There’s one down in Altoona. It’s a giant craft store with everything you think you could possibly need for your crafts there, plus some. I love just to walk around and see what they have out. Last time I was there I found some beads and scrapbook paper.

DQ’s a little sad the Christmas decorations are down. She’s very much a Christmas cat, always has been for some reason. She likes to creep down and visit us and lick the tree during the holiday season. She’s been super snuggly as of late, which I very much appreciate.

I was hoping to have a finished project to show you today, but I’m still fringing it. I haven’t talked much about this project yet, aside from a few posts in the fall. I’m glad to have finished something so soon in the new year!

What have you been up to? Working on any projects?