Efficient Procrastinator

Sewing Mood

2010-08-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

I've been in a sewing mood, but my energy level has been a bit low lately. I have lots of things on a list to do, but just can't find the oomph to get things done. I have managed to do a few things that I feel need to be done. On my list of things to do:

~~Nursing covers~~
Bedding for used moses basket I found at a consignment sale
Quilt for my cousin's new baby (the top is done, I have a walking foot and I just have to be brave and quilt it on my machine)
~~Blocks for the same baby~~
Tag blankets for various babies, ~~including mine~~

(I love doing the strike through thing. It makes me feel like I've accomplished something!)

So I finally did a few things these past couple of days and took a few pictures. Here they are.

Nursing covers
I found the tutorial at Sew Much Ado. I had a question about the boning. I've never used it before and I didn't want to ruin things. So I asked the author, Abby, and she was so nice and sent me a really good explanation!

I made the first one with Mirabelle from Alexander Henry. I bought the fabric while visiting Esther's Fabrics on Bainbridge Island during a Seattle trip. I fell in love with it. I didn't know what I wanted to do with it until now.

I made the cover, but the fabric is very thin and so it doesn't keep it's shape as well as recommended home decor fabric would. But since I'm having an August baby, and temps have been in the 100s here since July, I thought it wouldn't really hurt to have a thinner, cooler cover. So here it is.

I decided that I needed to do a heavier weight one and I found some fabric at JoAnn's. I cut it out and finally finished it yesterday. But then I found fabric I like better. So I have a friend who just told me she is pregnant and I think I'll give it to her as a gift.

A few weekends ago, my friend took me to a shop called Quilting Adventures. I wish it were nearer to me! I found Its a Hoot home decor fabric by Alexander Henry. I made a baby blanket out of the same print in cotton. I love it! I found a yard and took it home. I was so excited, I started right away and cut it wrong! Thank goodness for Etsy! I ordered another yard and finished the cover yesterday. Yay! I have extra fabric to make a bag thanks to my mistake. Not so bad. If I can find the time.

I'll post other projects soon. This post has gotten longer than I thought it would. I'm going to stop for lunch and post the rest of the projects later.

More blocks

2010-07-29T05:07:00.000-07:00

This time for my baby. Truth to tell, I'm pretty sick of blocks though. This is actually the first set of three sets of blocks. I made some for a baby girl too. I might have one more small set in the works for another baby, if I have time (I'm on the countdown and my time is becoming limited). The fabric is from the Love U collection by Deb Strain. A very good friend also made a quilt out of the same fabric for the baby and I'm so excited to wrap him up in it. Here are some of the blocks. The pattern came from The Soft Baby Cube Tutorial on Flickr .

Not a great picture I know. They are cuter in person. I've also made a few bibs and a nursing cover. I'm in the process of making a quilt for my cousin's new baby. It may be finished before she goes to college.

New projects

2010-06-01T20:32:00.000-07:00

Baby Blankets - The idea came from Sew Much Ado except I didn't add rickrack or an appliqué. These were fun to make, except trying to get the flannel and cotton straight. That was hard and I needed a bit of help. I made three for me and five for gifts.

Knitting - I've been working on a baby blanket for my baby. I'm over halfway through it. I made this scarf in between. The stockinette got to me a little, but once I began the lacy part, it was more fun and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

More sewing - these baby blocks are fun to make. I'm making some from a fabric with owls. These are for a friend. The idea came from this baby block tutorial on flickr.

These have a bit of cellophane wrapper inside to make it crinkly when squeezed.
These have a bit jingle bell in them. I tried to get the biggest one so hopefully, should baby manage to tear into it, it will not be a choking hazard.

I wanted ones with tags as well.
I like them and they are lots of fun to make!

Simple solutions

2010-02-09T17:51:00.000-08:00

I bought a cute little calendar from Barnes and Noble. It was 75% off, so I paid something like $1.75. I needed a small calendar to keep up with my all the appointments that are coming up. Something that would fit into my handbag.

One thing that bugged me - flipping pages. How silly is that? But I needed something to hold back the pages from previous months, especially since the calendar goes all the way back to August 2009 (so far back in history!). So my solution? Raid my ribbon drawer, find a bit of elastic and plug in the sewing machine. I cut the ribbon so that the ends overlap the pages, but don't touch. Then I cut a small piece of elastic. I sewed the ends together and bazinga! Ribbon book mark. Simple, but effective.

Changes

2010-02-09T17:44:00.000-08:00

Things are going to be a bit different around here in a few months.

Cleaning out the guest room

2009-07-04T18:15:00.000-07:00

During the school year our guest room / my craft room /mom's bedroom has become a dumping ground for yarn, odds and ends and fabric. We are going to have a guest next week and I needed to do something, otherwise he was going to have to sleep with yarn. He will already have to sleep with the cats since I suspect that they use this room as their sleeping quarters as well.

Before

After

I cleared out a lot of stuff and took a haul to the charity shop. I also weeded my cross stitch patterns. I had 17 binders full. These are from various magazines. 17 binders!!! Even if I stitched every night for the rest of my life, I couldn't get through all of those patterns. I scaled down to 8 binders. Still too many, but by then I was exhausted. I've come to realize that I have too much material. I raised the bed with those big plastic risers. This not only raised the bed to make it easier to cut out patterns and use a nice worktable - kind of like my grandmother always did, but it also allowed me to store fabric under there. So I have to go on a fabric, yarn and food diet. ARRRGHHH.

and of course...
the girls approve.

projects

2009-07-04T15:07:00.000-07:00

Here are some recent projects that I finished these past few months. Balint asked me to make an iPod holder, something padded, with a zipper and a pocket to hold ear buds. It's not perfect, but it works.

Then I needed one since the holder I used for my mini was too small for my touch. I used this tutorial from Sew Mama Sew.

You can't see it, but I added a pocket inside to hold the ear buds and the microfiber thingie. I carry it everywhere.

This little sweater I made for a quick gift for a colleague's grandchild. It was super easy and I'm thinking of making another for a friend. I added snaps underneath the buttons instead of a button hole. I thought it might be easier to work on a wriggly baby instead of trying to do up an odd shape button. The pattern is called Ribbed Baby Jacket by Debbie Bliss.

Projects I am working on now -
* February Ladies Sweater
* Scarf with No Name
* Two swing bags

I'm busy, busy, busy.

hello little blog

2009-07-04T14:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have been ignoring you. Life is busy as usual, but things have gotten a bit slower now that school is out. Hopefully I'll post more often...but I doubt it.

Monticello

2009-04-26T15:27:00.000-07:00

Our 7th anniversary fell on the first day of my spring break. Unfortunately, thanks to the lovely little darlings I work with everyday, I didn't feel well and wasn't up to doing much until Wednesday. So on Friday, Bal took off from work and we took a trip to Monticello. I've been wanting to go for a very long time. We left early in the morning and even though it was very warm at home, Charlottesville was a bit cooler. We still had a lovely spring day with only one April shower. It started while we were walking the trail from the house to the visitor center.

Everything was starting to green up and the dogwoods were just blooming. The red buds were still in bloom too and everything was just beautiful! I love that first bit of green that starts to burst forth. It always seems so long in coming and just when you are about to give up, there is just a hint of green.

Here are a few more pictures from our trip.

What pleats?

2009-04-19T12:54:00.000-07:00

This is what I did this weekend. The pattern is the Swing Bag by Amy Butler. It's reversible, but I couldn't get a good shot of the other side. I altered the pattern a bit by putting in zippered pockets and a key fob. I love pockets.

Oh yeah, I left out the pleats on the straps.

Nearly spring break

2009-04-01T19:47:00.001-07:00

Counting down... This is the the big plan...

Sleep

Things I've been up to - pt 1

2009-01-26T15:08:00.000-08:00

So it's been a while, but I've been pretty busy. I thought I would post a few of the projects that I've finished this past year. This was a requested item.

The flamingo is a cross stitch pattern from Cross Stitch Crazy. The first time I used it, I made a thank you card. A friend at work saw the card and asked me to make it again for a friend of hers. They have a running joke about flamingos and give each other flamingo themed gifts each year. So we decided on a bag and she wanted it tacky. I figured flowers and rhinestones would do the trick. I found the pattern for the flowers here. Then my friend saw a nifty saying that needed to be included somewhere on the bag. I put it on the back.

In case you need help, it says "Butter my buns and call me a biscuit."
Funny how making the first flamingo took me one evening, but making the second one took me weeks! But it came out very cute (and tacky).

Before and After

2009-01-03T14:34:00.000-08:00

Before - Kittens just home from the Humane Society. 2005

After - New Year's Eve 2008

They have been eating well. Or the chair shrunk.

Too many crafty things

2009-01-03T14:31:00.000-08:00

Bella looking on at all the crafty things.

No Way!

2008-12-08T19:45:00.000-08:00

Stephen Fry visits my hometown in Kentucky.

hey, I'm still here

2008-12-07T14:30:00.000-08:00

Procrastinating as usual. Life has been very hectic. I thought that if I could just get through my first year of teaching, the second year would be smooth sailing. Not so much. The job is still great, it's just I feel like I'm just keeping my head above water.

My principal observed me the other day. I'm pleased to report that I got tons of smiley faces again. Life in an elementary school.

So here is a peek into what I've been doing lately
1st grade - beginning research
2nd grade - beginning research
3rd grade - animal diaries with research (I'm on a research kick much to the delight,yeah right, of my students)
4th grade - I haven't a clue. Something with dewey decimal system
5th grade - review of dewey decimal system and reference materials
kindergarten - Bad Boys Get Cookie venn diagram or Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus activities (did I mention I have a huge Mo Willems crush? Sorry Bal.)

Knitting
Grandmother's Pocket shawl (halfway there)
Diana's new baby blanket (halfway there)
White sweater with two arms (only needs blocking and a button, if I can find which bag I stuffed it in.)
White sweater with one arm - yeah, I don't like doing the arms
Argosy scarf - I couldn't help it! I'm sick of my other projects
Stuck in traffic scarf - knitted and given away already
Dragon fly green Sunday Market Shawl - blocking and it can't dry fast enough!
Black yarn for a hat for my baby brother who informed my mom that he would like a hat. Hmm. Maybe I shouldn't make it since he should actually have informed me?

Sewing
Diaper bag - Sorry Jen. I'll get it to you before your baby graduates high school.
Brown corduroy bag - so cute...why did I get out of the sewing mood?
Various knitting bags

Cross stitching
Pink flamingo on a bag - tacky tacky tacky - still need to do since it was sort of gift request.

In case you haven't realized, this list more for me than for you. I need to figure out what I've got going on and finish it. Geez. That's a pretty long list.

Pictures soon, just in case anyone is interested.

new floors and matching cats

2008-10-04T18:24:00.000-07:00

Our new bamboo floors have been installed and I love it! I think I need a few more chairs though because sitting on the floor is for the birds, or maybe I should say it is for the cats. Very uncomfortable. I think I need to make a few floor cushions which will be mainly used by the cats. hmmm....Here is one of the dust mops posing.

From the balcony looking down on the nearly empty room.

More bags

2008-07-08T07:34:00.000-07:00

My best friend from Kentucky is on her way to Virginia to visit. She is bringing her twin daughters who will soon be six years old. I picked up a few things to give them when they arrive including a Magic Tree House book, a notebook (they enjoyed "writing" in their diaries on their last visit), some little mechanical pencils, heart shaped erasers, stickers and lip gloss. I wanted to find a little gift bag, but nothing looked good and then I found a pattern I had printed out previously kicking around. I just tried to google for it, but no success. I'll try to find it again later. I changed things a little bit and lined it. I did this because I thought I would do the same drawstring channel technique from the Yarnmonster draw sting bag. It didn't work out quite the way I wanted it to, but it ended up working out better. You can draw the bag together either by the straps or by the ribbon draw cord. The bag is a bit smaller than called for because I was up late cutting them out and even though I double checked the measurements I still managed to ~~screw it up~~ make it better. It is smaller, but that works well for small girls I think. So here they are, filled with all their goodies.

The pink one was the first one I tried. I almost forgot the pockets and had to add it at the last minute, i.e. after I stitched up the side seams. I also decided to add a top to it, and the pink was my first attempt.

some finished projects

2008-07-07T06:47:00.000-07:00

Since I'm on the subject of sewing, here are a few finished objects that I keep meaning to post.

First up is a baby bib I made for a grandmother shower gift. It was finished in the spring and I finally managed to give it to the recipient before the baby started kindergarten. I'm such a procrastinator. The bib tutorial came from this site It was very easy to follow and turned out very cute although I was a bit worried it would be too small. I didn't have any bias tape, so I just lined the pocket with red and flip a bit over the top of the pocket.

Next is the Ms. Poppins bag. This is in my Ravelry notebook. I know I blogged about it before, but it is actually done now! I ended up resewing the lining into the bag because I didn't like my messy seams and I need to get the button tie thingie (actual name) on it. I also managed to tweak the pleats a bit more. I'm much happier with it. I love the button and handle.

Moving right along is my Amy Butler French Shoulder bag. I made one for myself. If I could do it over, I would choose a stiffer interfacing. The material is batik and it is pretty flimsy, so the pink part is always sinking. But I still like it.

The next few are the more recent projects. These I just finished these over the weekend.

This is the Amy Butler Frenchy handbag and the No Cash Wallet from Bend the Rules Sewing for a friend's 9 year old daughter. She saw my shoulder bag and asked for one. I have been looking for an excuse to try out the handbag (since I have made many of the shoulder bags.) I had extra material left and made the wallet to go with it. I am so in love with this little purse. I almost don't want to give it away! I made a few changes to the pattern. I placed the magnetic clasp higher than is called for. Just minor, but makes it easier to sew the lining into place on the last step. I also put a stitch up the middle of the interior pocket. I found the pockets were just too big on the first shoulder bag I made. I find that when I am reaching into my purse I'm usually do it while I'm doing other things, i.e. shopping, driving, walking. Not necessarily looking into the purse, so I don't want my hand to go immediately into a pocket. The pockets in these bags just flop open and you don't know where you are when you are reaching inside. Sewing a double seam up the middle of it not only helps this, but creates more compartments. It felt like a practical thing to do.

Last but not least, the drawstring bag from a tutorial I found on Yarnmonster's blog. Very easy, very quick and so, so cute. The material is left over from the craft bag I made for my friend Lisa. The hardest part was threading the cord through the cord stop. Thanks to Bal, who pulled the needle nose pliers from his fencing bag, we managed to get the cord through. I plan on making more of these with the scraps I have left over, and I have a lot of scraps. I'm such a pack rat. I literally keep the every scrap of material. If it is bigger than an inch, I keep it. Got to stop that, but for this it came in handy. While my mom was visiting, she made a bunch of stuffed dinosaurs for charity. I snagged all her scraps before they hit the trash. She was confused, but I had enough and then some to line this bag!

That's all for today. Sorry the post is so long. I'm off to sew some more.

Sewing

2008-07-07T06:32:00.001-07:00

I've been known to say that I can't sew. I guess I should change that now. I think I always compared myself to my mom and my grandmothers whenever I thought of my sewing abilities. While I'm still nowhere near their expertise, I can now find my way around many patterns. I've come a long way from making barbie clothes by sewing up side seams and cutting a hole in the top.

I've been trying to get into a sewing mood and it finally happened. My sewing machine (which is my grandmother's by the way) is sitting on the dining room table waiting for me. I have several projects in mind, including two little drawstring backpacks for the twin girls who are visiting me this week (along with their mom, my bff from Kentucky), and a diaper bag that isn't supposed to look like a diaper bag exactly. I'm excited about this project, but a little wary since I'm sort of doing it with no pattern. Be afraid Jen, be very afraid. I've got all sorts of plans for this one...hehehehe [evil giggling].

Sewing is a more lonely pursuit. (Is there such a thing as a sewing group?) That's why I have turned the dining room into a makeshift sewing room, (sorry Bal). It's nice to have the tv in the background and the table is a great surface to work on. It's a huge oak table that used to be my parent's kitchen table. In fact, you can still see the tracing wheel marks my mom made in the past while making clothes for my me. I do know that I tend to go into my own little world while I'm concentrating and my husband has been ever so patient by making me dinner and occupying himself by going on long bike rides and fencing.

Good intentions

2008-07-02T17:49:00.000-07:00

So...during the run up to summer, I fantasized about what I would do with the time off. I would clean my house, I would organize the closets, I would start excersicing, I would knit, I would sew...I had plans. But now that I'm a few weeks into summer, this sort of thing seems to be the only thing I'm capable of...

Dirty people

2008-06-23T13:18:00.000-07:00

Dirty people should not have white floors. And I can say this because a) I'm a dirty girl (and not in the best sense of the words) and b)I have white kitchen floors. I just spent my day cleaning my kitchen, including the floors. Yuck! My husband and I always complain about the house being dirty. He means clutter, I mean yucky, bacteria, disease starting stuff. Ewww. I need a maid.

Weight watching...watching it come back

2008-06-23T06:34:00.000-07:00

more cat pictures

This is how I am feeling today. I have not been very weight watcher friendly and I have gained about 6 pounds back. These pounds are going to exactly the wrong places and now most of my shirts will not fit. Sigh...

One long weekend

2008-06-13T18:34:00.001-07:00

As we were driving to work last Monday the dj on the radio was talking about school teachers. He said his aunt, a former teacher, always viewed summer vacation as one long weekend. June was Friday, July was Saturday and August, of course, was Sunday. That's pretty much how it feels to me. I'm looking forward to my loooonnnggg weekend. I have so many plans. I know I won't be able to squeeze it all in.
1. Sleep till 9 am (with the exception that I will have to get up at 5 am to feed the cats. They have no concept of weekend)
2. Sew
3. Take a nap
4. Weed the garden
5. Water the garden
6. Have long lunches with friends
7. Pee whenever I want to.
8. Visit my mom and dad
9. Go to knitting group
10. Organize my closet
11. Take more naps
12. Drink caffeinated coffee after 5pm

That's just a few things. No big deal. For now I'm going to enjoy the first day of my long weekend.

Other finished objects

2008-06-12T18:36:00.000-07:00

There are a few other things I wanted to post about before I go to bed. First here is the baby blanket I made. It's not that great and I even considered not giving it to the proud parents to be. But in the end I did. Mommy liked it, although she was more enthusiastic because it smelled great (Yay arm and hammer lavender dryer sheets). Oh well. I think it will get a bit of use. She was snuggling it as she walked away from the shower.

I also finished this purse. It is called the Ms. Poppins bag. It turned out smaller than I thought it would, but I like it. I still need to add something, either buttons or bead to the front, but for the most part it is done. This is the first time I've put on handles like this and just finding out that I can take them apart to attach was a huge relief. It was much easier than I thought it would be.

The fabric I used for the lining was a happy coincidence. I found it at Joann's fabric a few months and liked it for a very odd reason. It reminded me of a pair of pajamas I gave my grandfather one year. Strange what will remind you of people. I seem to be associating fabric with people more and more. I see something and it reminds me of a person or I can see an object for someone made from that fabric. I think I'm losing it. But I bought my grandfather's PJ material and put it in the stash, figuring I'd never find a use for it. But I did! Yippee!

The last object is my ipod holder. I made it from a pattern I found somewhere. I'll find it again. I did it in the round and added a garter stitch at the bottom and on the edge of the flap. I also added a pocket for the earphones. On second thought, I think the pattern called for that. I'll put more details on Ravelry later. After school.

I really need to learn how to take digital photographs. Sorry for the poor quality.

more bags

2008-06-12T18:10:00.000-07:00

My friend, Lisa, has talent. She can bind books. My favorite book by PG Wodehouse, which was given to me by my grandmother, was falling to pieces. Lisa offered to rebind it for me. She also rebound my grandmother's World War II recipe book. This book was a test of her skills. It was full of mold, thanks to a flood during the 50s in my Dad's hometown. It has also been used. A lot. She literally had to reconstruct pages. When she brought these two books back, I wanted to give her something in return and she asked for a bag. She is a crafter too, and loves to play with paper (big surprise there). She wanted something she could hold all her accessories in as well as her paper, like calenders and other sheets. This is what I came up with.

The pattern was McCalls 5120. The fabric was from Sarah's Thimble in VA Beach.I saw it long before this and new that I wanted to make a bag for Lisa from. Luckily, she actually wanted a bag too.

The pattern called for many things that stretched my abilities. Before this, I had never even thought of sewing in zippers. This bag had 50 gazillion. Okay, fine. It had three, plus two separating zippers to hold it together.

I've never used bias tape before either. That wasn't as hard as the zippers. Except on the detachable pocket. The detachable pocket had zippers and bias tape. Goody.
Overall, the directions were pretty good. There were only a few times that I almost messed up but my mom was there and she helped me out. I can safely say that when I am working on a project and I start to feel tired, I should really, really put it down and just rest. I always try to get to a good stopping point and that never works.

Of course I had lots of help.

To be honest, I don't think that I would make anymore, although if I did, I would definitely change a few things. First I would make sure to line it so that the interfacing doesn't show. If you look at either large inside pocket, the interfacing is visible on the inside. I hate that, but I was told to follow the directions. I should have gone with my own instincts. The plus side of this, I still have some of the material in my stash. I thought I might try a sock bag.

Countdown to summer

2008-06-11T16:54:00.000-07:00

Two more days. Only two more days. Can you tell I'm looking forward to my first summer break? The past two weeks have been just a bit stressful, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...Soon I can get started on my to do list. Like updating this blog.

The best part of the trip...

2008-05-10T19:19:00.000-07:00

According to the cats the best part of my trip away was the fact that I brought them this...

This is a felted ball attached to a string with a bell inside. Magic.
If you move it an inch, one cat will come over and guard it. I just need to figure out how to make these.

MSWF

2008-05-06T18:14:00.000-07:00

Here are few pictures from my trip to Maryland. I had a grand time and need to start saving up for 2009 festival.

Travelers

New friends

More new friends

Some of the yarn (and the sign I held up after the 101st person asked me why I was standing in line.

More Yarn
More later....

Maryland Sheep and Wool Fest

2008-05-02T19:55:00.001-07:00

Here we are, well the day before the MSW festival. We made it safe and sound to Laurel, MD, had a fab lunch, spent a bit of my yarn money at some of the nifty shops at the Savage Mill shops and just generally chilled. I only thought about school once, right around lunchtime, but not for long. Tomorrow will be another early day as we are hoping to get to the fairgrounds by 8.30. I've made my list, packed my bags and ready to go. Still have to pack my snacks. Snacks are very, very important.

a very frenchy birthday

2008-03-27T20:24:00.000-07:00

I've finished my second Frenchy bag. It came together so easily. I loved it. I am so pleased with it. I've now given it to my friend, Christine, for her belated birthday present. Here are the pictures of the finished product.

I saw Christine in the fabric store and while trying to describe the bag I was making for the retirement gift (because I totally forgot the name) she mentioned how much she liked Amy Butler's Frenchy bag. After realizing that this was the bag I was trying to describe, my brain started whirring. So after she left, I picked out some really pretty material for her bag. The print and the colors just reminded me of her. I think it turned out really lovely. The colors and fabric design are so great.

Before she left the store, I desperately tried to get a clue as to what fabric she would like. She pointed a finger at a blue turtle print fabric and said, "anything but that". So of course I had to get it and make the little wallet found in Bend the Rules Sewing . So this is what she found inside the purse

It is a bit clumsy, but it was my first one.

I did change a few things on the Frenchy bag this time around. I moved the magnetic snap up a bit. I also sewed a seam down the middle of the pockets so that the bag has four pockets instead of two and when you stick your hand inside, you find yourself in the body of the bag and not in one of the huge pockets. There's nothing I hate more than to be rummaging around in my purse looking desperately for something only to realize that I'm rooting through the pocket.

I'm definitely going to make more of these, although I think I'm going to try the smaller version. I also have another Amy Butler bag pattern to try. I'm going to be pretty busy.

Too tired to spell check. must go to sleep.

Frenchy

2008-03-15T20:16:00.001-07:00

IMG_7082
Originally uploaded by Kim Joo

A friend of mine recently retired and I couldn't figure out what to give her. I knew she had become a part owner of a beach house and my brain connected beach house with beach reading and all beach readers need a beach bag to keep their beach books in...so I made a beach book bag. Hmmm.

I picked Amy Butler's Frenchy bag pattern. I liked Amy Butler's patterns. She makes if very easy for a beginner to follow. I'll probably make some changes the next time I make one of these. For instance I want to move the magnetic clip up a bit and I also think I will sew a stitch down the middle of one inside pocket. Those pockets are huge and just sort of flap around. But over all really liked making this.

awards...

2008-03-14T17:52:00.000-07:00

I forgot! While I was away my friend awarded me with a You Make My Day Award. Of course this happened last month, and apart from this gesture, Bal's birthday and his name day, I'd rather forget that February actually happened. That was one rough month! So now I have to pass on the award to the bloggers that make my day (I think I'm supposed to do this. If not, I will anyway...)

1) Kim obviously. She makes me laugh and always says the things that I wish I was quick enough to think of and actually say out loud. And she does say it outloud. She's just as funny in person.

2) Serena I can enjoy the ups and downs of raising two young children without actually having my own. And the pictures are awfully cute, not to mention the the videos. She's a talented cook as well as a very smart lady, and I love to read about the yummy food she creates. (hint to Serena...more please)

3) Jessica who is so nice and so talented and inspiring me to possibly, not promising anything, get off my big bum and start running.

4) Ranger Sarah who posts such lovely pictures of her projects and inspires me with her inspirations...

5) Peacock Chic, whose blog I found accidentally, but love to read. Again, lots of project pictures and she also reviews some patterns. Love reading about her sewing projects...

So that's it. I thought I would stop at five. Besides,I have my glass of wine to enjoy and my little piece of dark chocolate. That's my way of celebrating the fact that I know, officially, have four readers.

girl scout cookies and wine

2008-03-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my last post (as usual) but a lot has been going on. Now I'm back and I don't have much to say. Life has been as busy as usual. I haven't been knitting so much because my hand and wrist have been hurting and this seems to flare up after a knitting session. Last night was my first time to the knitting group in weeks. I've been working on a Clapotis for my mom and it is not going well. I did something wrong with it during the car trip to Kentucky and I can't quite figure out what happened. I need to brood on it a bit more.

Girl scout cookie season is nearly over and I almost made it through, but I could resist no longer. Girl scout cookies are like Christmas, it only comes around once a year. It's even better than Christmas because you can freeze the cookies and eat them throughout the year. Or if you are like me and upon finding two boxes on your desk left by a very well meaning library volunteer, you eat your way through two whole boxes of tagalongs in two days. That's right. Two days!!! They were so yummy. And so addictive, obviously. I dread my weigh in this week.

Speaking of weight watchers I've been on a plateau lately. I move up 2lbs and drop 2lbs. Obviously it's because of my weakness for things like cookies. I'm thinking of trying to give up all the little sweet snacks. If they are not around, I don't eat them.

Now, I'm going to mull over my knitting and think about sewing while I drink my small portion of red wine and wait for my lovely husband to finish cooking our delicious smelling meal.

apron

2008-02-11T16:29:00.001-08:00

I helped cohost a bridal shower. What fun! We had a great time planning. We decided to have a kitchen shower. That was even better! I wasn't sure what to bring as a gift, so I thought about what I loved in my kitchen. Besides my pink KitchenAid mixer, I would have to say it would be my mixing bowls. There are three nesting bowls and of course they are a lovely shade of pink. They also have a handle and a small spout and a nice ring on the bottom that keeps them from walking around the counter when you stir. I managed to find a nice set in red since that is the color I most associate with my bride-to-be friend. I don't know why, I just do. Then I thought I wanted to make an apron. I found the material at the local fabric shop and again, it reminded me of my friend. Not because she is fruity! but because of the pastel colors and the vivid red that just sort of pops. I knew exactly how I wanted it to look.
The pattern is from Amy Butler's In Stitches book. I changed only the pocket. I made it bigger because the measurement called for wouldn't be big enough for a child's hand.
Here is the result. Hopefully I can get a picture of the recipient wearing it.

still here

2008-02-10T12:09:00.001-08:00

I'm still around. It has been so busy with the first year of teaching and all. I'm trying to keep some time to myself, but between running a library and teaching six classes a day, I'm usually exhausted. I'm still knitting and I've been doing some sewing as well. I'll get around do posting my projects, probably in the summer.
Last night my grandfather passed away. He would have been 81 later this month. It's a trip back to Kentucky for us. It's so sad, but at the same time I believe it was a release for him. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease some years ago and after my grandmother passed in May, he has been going downhill. I can't imagine how my mom is feeling right now and I wish I could be there with her right now.

Quietness

2007-09-22T19:28:00.000-07:00

I've been settling into my new job as a elementary school media specialist (aka: liberrian). I'm really enjoying it now. The first week of work, the meetings before the kids actually started school, scared the stuffing out of me. I was ready to crawl back to my old job begging...but once I got through the first day of school, I felt so much better. Not to say there won't be challenging days (Thursdays spring to mind), but I now look forward to going into work everyday. That's good, right?

confessions of a bag lover

2007-08-11T08:30:00.000-07:00

I've been learning how to use my sewing machine. Of course the only thing I have been making are bags. When I was little I used to spend summers with my grandparents. When I stayed with my Mamaw, we would sew, read, go to the library and maybe do a bit of shopping. I would always come home with a book, a barbie and a new purse/bag. I love purses and bags. I have too many and I know Bal worries that I only want our house to store my bags in. So is it any wonder that when I get the sewing bug, I only want to sew bags?
Here is the first one. It's a pattern for the bucket bag from Romantic Home Sewing. I added a pocket on the front, one inside and a small knitting needle holder.
The second one I finished yesterday. It's the everyday tote from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing: Patterns and How-To for 24 Fresh and Easy Projects . Again I added a few pockets and a knitting needle holder. I also decided to buy canvas handles instead of making them. I got a bit lazy what with all the painting and landscaping that's been going on around the house.

I'm pretty pleased with my efforts. Not too bad considering its really a first try.

paint in my hair

2007-08-11T08:10:00.000-07:00

While my mom has been visiting, we decided to tackle a couple of paint jobs. And when I say we, I really mean mom. While she has been here she has painted the dining room, downstairs bathroom, the office and the upstairs hall way as well as the ceilings in the entry way and the living room. It looks great. My dad arrived this week and they will be leaving tomorrow. In a last ditch effort, we decided to do the stairwell. It really needed to be done since the hallways, which connect to the stairwell have been newly painted, make it look horrible. So my dad and I got a huge ladder and my mom and I have been painting away. It's a b@#%&.
I don't want to paint again for a long time. I have paint all over me. Even with the 8 foot extension pole, it's a stretch. The hardest part is the trim work. We have a trimmer (didn't work very well over head), a corner roller (ditto) and finally we duct taped a paint brush to the end of the pole and it worked reasonable well.
We are almost done. We have help. My cat, Rosa, thinks the drop cloth is a perfect place to take her five hour nap. Nevermind the paint drips and the people tripping over her down the stairs.

Knitting still

2007-07-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

I'm still knitting and I'm having so much fun with it. I didn't know it would get under your skin like this. I'm still on the easy patterns, not much thinking to it. I finished a blanket for my cousin's second baby. It was the simplest pattern, basically the grandmas favorite dishcloth but much, much bigger. I decided to thread ribbon through the lacy bit. I really liked it. The only problem with it...there is a huge glaring mistake. I figured it out around about 20 rows to the end. I've been making the same mistake when I made dishcloths from the same pattern. Basically when the pattern says k1, yarn over and then knit 1 together, I did just that, not realizing that I should have done the last two steps in one smooth motion. I really considered ripping it back to the halfway point, to the point where I started to decrease (mainly cause I'm anal), but the knitting group talked me out of it and introduced me to the concept of design elements. Here is is finished.

I showed the blanket to Bal and he asked if I could make one for friends in Hungary who have just had their first baby. So I did. My cousin's blanket seemed to take forever to finish. The second attempt took no time at all. The added bonus is there are no ~~mistakes~~ design elements.

Here it is at the beginning...
And after a couple of weeks...the finished product...

Honestly! It took me longer to get around to threading the ribbon through than it did to knit. At least that's what it felt like. I'm such a procrastinator. Unfortunately, my procrastination tendencies are on going because neither one of these blankets has been delivered to it's intended baby. Hopefully the parents will receive them before the babies go to college.

Newness

2007-07-22T06:12:00.000-07:00

I'm officially no longer a public librarian. Beginning August 1st, I will be working an Elementary school as a media specialist. I'm so excited and a bit anxious. This is what I've wanted to do for a very long time though. I'll miss a lot of my friends at the library, but there are many other things there that I will not miss.

My last day was a blow out. We had a Harry Potter (Madness)party where the library turned into Hogwarts. We had a potions class with Snape insulting the children (Bal in a very bad wig and black graduation robe). There was also Defense Against the Dark Arts with Tonks, who had very nice pink hair and our very own dementor who was very scary. Divination was taught by a really excellent Professor Trelawny. We also had Care of magical creatures and a real, live unicorn. I was in charge of crafts which included HP glasses, owls, and wand making. The wands were the most popular. Who knew that drinking straws, bits of paper and thread would be so popular. We were a bit overwelmed and when I say we, I mean my co worker who had just happened to sit at that table and never moved for two solid hours.

It was great fun but I was completely keyed up afterwards and even though I was tired that night, I had trouble sleeping. That meant I was a grumpy, grumpy person on my first day of freedom. Oh well. I feel better now. And Bal was pretty impressive as Snape.

Knitting

2007-05-20T07:45:00.000-07:00

I've been working on the argosy dishcloth from Knitting in a Happy Camper blog.
Okay. It's only a dishcloth. But it's much more than just the grandma's favorite pattern, which happens to be my favorite no brainer knitting. All garter stitch and a few yarn overs and you have something you've knitted in front of the telly and it's useful too. Argosy is a little more complex. There's also a similar baby blanket pattern I want to attempt for a cousin.
I've been knitting for a year now, I think. And I'm getting ok. I no longer panic (much -ish) when I make a mistake. I don't have to take projects to my knitting teacher so that she can fix them (much). I'd been knitting on the argosy dishcloth at a fair rate. I felt confident and good. I had a itty bitty glass of wine. All was going well until I tried to count 73 stitches and found I only had 72. 72. I went backwards. I tried to find the dropped stitch. I couldn't see it. I pondered. I got fed up. I threw the needles across the room and I at an ice cream sandwich. I did not pick it up for two days. This has been driving me crazy most of the weekend.
Then bright and early this morning, as I was drowsing away, I realized where the mistake could be. Maybe I didn't yarn over at the very end. Could it be that simple? Hell yes it could be! That's exactly where the mistake was. JOY!
Now, I'm moving back along and trying to remember to yarn over. I still feel very green, but I figured it out. All. By. Myself.

weight watching still

2007-05-19T19:43:00.000-07:00

I thought maybe it was time for an update. As of last Monday I have lost 22lbs since January of this year. I've gone down two sizes. It's pretty noticable, even to me! I feel much better too.

playing

2007-05-13T19:50:00.000-07:00

Trying to figure out how to put a banner piccie thingie on my blog. I've gotten it there, but I have no idea how to center it. It's late. I'll figure it out tomorrow. Cute though. Once it's in the right spot, I'll like it more.

passing

2007-05-13T17:44:00.000-07:00

My grandmother passed away last Sunday. She had been battling cancer for almost two years. It was lung cancer. When it was first diagnosed, she was only given 6 months to live. She fought it for a long time. And in the end...well, at least we know that she is no longer in pain.
Balint and I went to Kentucky for the funeral. I have a hard time with funerals and with death in general. I know I'm not the only one. My grandmother looked so beautiful and peaceful and not sick at all. It was hard to believe that she wasn't just sleeping. I never thought this would happen this soon. I always thought she would live a very long time.

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival...Day one

2007-05-04T09:34:00.000-07:00

I'm going to a festival! I can't wait. I leave early this afternoon. My friend, her sister and I are driving to Maryland Sheep and Wool Fest. It'll be a 3 hour drive. We invited Bal, because I haven't seen him all week and you know, we need someone to carry all our bags of yarn, but no. He doesn't want to come. He'd rather go fencing. That's okay though. It'll be a girly weekend. And he'll stay with the kittens.

I don't know what it will be like at the festival. I've never been and being a newbie knitter, I really don't know what to expect or what I'll even purchase. I have my camera, my bag for yarn and the money to buy another bag, because you can never have too many bags!

The queen is coming...hide!

2007-05-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

Queen Elizabeth stopped here today on her way to the Kentucky Derby. Oh, well, it is Jamestown's 400th Anniversary. She was just down the road from my library this afternoon. She caused all sorts of havoc. Loads of people everywhere, roads blocked off. I couldn't travel home on my normal route. This may not sound like a big deal, but I'm like a homing pigeon. I have to go the same way or I get a little panicked. But it was alright in the end. I bad mouthed my steering wheel, the police officer directing traffic gave me a "what can ya do" shrug and off I went in the opposite direction and ended up at Target to buy some snacks for an upcoming trip. Alls well that ends well.

Star Wars Personality

2007-05-03T03:36:00.000-07:00

Drumroll....

Thank God it was a character I'd heard of!

My little daemon

2007-04-26T12:56:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to see the movie based on the books by Philip Pullman. I hope it lives up to the expectation. His Dark Materials series, The Golden Compass being the first (It's called Northern Lights in the UK), are really great reads. I think I would like to go back and re-read them, but the first book was a very emotional read for me and I remember one part very vividly. So it's a bit hard for me to settle down and read them again I think. But I will. I have plenty of time.

If you haven't read the books, everyone in Lyra's world (the main character) has a daemon which is sort of their self concious brought to reality and form in the shape of an animal. What do you think of my Daemon? Does it suit?

a purse for my mother

2007-04-08T15:58:00.000-07:00

It's almost done. I bought the yarn and the pattern way back in October. I promised my mom that I would finish it for her birthday. That was last week. Oops. I really suck at birthdays. I aim to have it completed by the end of next week. The pieces have been knitted for over a month, but I've been dragging my heels about putting it together. It's still not completely together. If you could look closely, you would see the wonderful little clip things that are holding the strap onto the purse. I learned something new with this, the mattress stitch. I don't think I did it totally right because it was really hard to see which side of the stitch my needle was going into, but it's good enough. The yarn is very bobbly and pretty forgiving.

Snow in April

2007-04-07T20:03:00.000-07:00

This morning the cats woke me at 6.30am. This is not an unusual occurrence. They tend to hang around outside our bedroom door and act like little furry roosters, mewing until we either get up and feed them or throw something at the door. Throwing an object at the door doesn't help. They are quiet for about a second and then the mewing starts up again. Once I make my bleary way down the stairs, I always find their bowls full of food. This doesn't seem to matter to them. They won't touch the bowls until I put more food in.
This morning was only slightly different. When I wondered down the stairs I was amazed to see the world looked different. I didn't have my glasses on, but I could tell that the light was different, brighter. The photo above is exactly what I saw, although you are seeing it much clearer than I did. It's hard to believe that just a few days ago the temperatures were around 80 degrees and we were running around in sandals. Now we have over an inch of snow on the ground. Not that much really, but still a shock to the system.

red balloon

2007-03-18T12:55:00.000-07:00

Way back in the beginning of the month I went along to a Dr. Suess party...in a purely professional capacity since I helped organize it, read stories and helped with crafts. For my trouble, I got a free cup of coffee and a red helium balloon. The balloon is still floating and the cats are really loving it. Rosa grabs the end of it and carries it all around the house. It's so funny to see this red balloon bopping around the house. She's not really sure what else to do with it and can never get the balloon under the table with her. It just floats away. I'm not sure what we'll do when the balloon finally loses it's floating power.

jeans, jeans, jeans

2007-03-18T12:51:00.000-07:00

Lately most of my trousers have been a bit big for me. That's great news in some ways, since it seems that the weight loss thing is working...14 pounds!!!!!! The bad news is that I now have to find new clothes. But then today I pulled out some blue jeans I haven't been able to wear since my first trip to Scotland back in 2001. They fit, they fit, they fit. A little tight, but some of that is because I'm not really used to clothes actually fitting. I've even called my mom and asked her to dig out some of my summer dresses that I've not worn in the same amount of time.

lunar eclipse

2007-03-03T18:07:00.000-08:00

I didn't realize that there was a lunar eclipse tonight. I saw it and at first I just thought it was a cloud covering the moon. A strange cloud, I'll admit, but just a cloud. We were heading to Trader Joe's and as I was getting into the car I looked up at the full moon only to see a dark outline and just a little speck of white peeking through. When we got to TJ's, people were standing outside the door staring at the moon. When we came out, there was more white peeking out. It looked like a thumbnail moon. I kept trying to tell B that it must be an eclipse and finally when we arrived home we just stood in our neighbor's driveway (a tree across the street obstructed the view from our house) and watched the eclipse. I just googled now and sure enough, lunar eclipse. The sky was so clear and the moon so bright it made for amazing viewing. I could have stood there all night. I get a little moonstruck anyway, especially when the moon is full. I'm always staring at it, and that can make driving a little tricky, let me tell you. But I find I can't help myself. My eyes are just drawn to it.

the yellow room

2007-03-03T17:59:00.000-08:00

It's done, it's done, it's done. And it is beautiful. I was a bit worried because it was soooo yellow, but overnight it seemed to mellow out. Just after we finished, B said it was like being in butter. I think that was a compliment. I'm taking it as one. After Hungary, we will have to start on the other rooms. I still have to move everything back into the room. I also need to get new curtains. The shears just seem drab now that the room is so bright and energetic. I think some nice white curtains. Hmmmmm. We also have to find a bed frame for the mattress. Unfortunately we need to do that tomorrow. My mom is arriving in the afternoon. Yikes!

Again, the pictures are on my flickr site since I couldn't be bothered trying to figure out how to upload them here.

Redecorating continued

2007-02-26T21:25:00.000-08:00

Primer ...check
Baseboards...check
Trim around windows...check
Doors...almost done
still to be continued

Redecorating

2007-02-24T17:39:00.001-08:00

Since we will soon be having guests arrive, I thought it was time to do something about the guest bedroom/craft room. I've picked out paint. Step one done. We even bought a mattress and bed springs which will be delievered tomorrow morning. So I figured I'd get to it bright and early this morning. How hard would it be to remove the ugly border that is currently gracing the walls. Bastard BORDER!!!!!I'm am afraid I've been taking the names of the previous owners of our house in vain. But it will be beautiful, right? Please be beautiful!

Oops

2007-02-21T20:26:00.001-08:00

Oh yeah. I have a blog thingie. Hmmm. Oops.
Life so far - I am still trying the weight watchers thing and so far I have lost 10 lbs. I've started taking a yoga class on Mondays. Mondays are a busy day. I have weight watchers meeting at lunch, yoga straight after work and then, on alternate weeks, knitting group. I managed to finish a baby hat for my friend's baby just in time for the very bitter February. He's only 7 months old, but at least he got some use out of it.

Other knitting - I finished my bastard scarf. This is the first real project that I got my teeth into. It is just a ribbed scarf. I was soooo sick of it by the time I finished it two weeks ago that I put it away and I probably won't look at it until next winter. This probably does not bode well for my adventures in knitting.

I started a baby blanket for my cousin who will have her second in June. With this project I have found out something unfortunate for my wallet. I'm a yarn snob.

I also started my mom's purse. She only picked it out last October. I'm not sure, but fingers crossed and it may be done for her April birthday. It's pretty simple.

I've decided to do a scarf/wrap called Clapotis. It will be done in this yarn. This will probably be my next bastard project, but I hope it turns out as nice as my friend's.

I've also wanted to start a cross stitch project for a gift. I want to make napkin holders. I can see the finished product in my mind, I just have to figure out the measurements and start on it. I'm such a procrastinator.

Bal's birthday was yesterday. I gave him a new fencing bag. I managed to do this with the help of my friend who is one of his fencing buddies. She ordered it for me and sweetly lied when it came in right under his nose. She delivered it to me the next day and I've had it hidden in the trunk of my car for about a month. Bal and I went out for a very nice dinner at the Bone Fish Grill and I even splurged and shared dessert. It was soooo yummy. Creme Brulee.....mmmmmmm.....

Congratulations to Jason, Serena and little Lauren on your very exciting news. I was so thrilled for you guys when I saw your post this afternoon. Hoooray!

yoga

2007-01-23T04:43:00.000-08:00

Last night was my first night at yoga. I got lost trying to get to the building, so even though I left work early (for once) I still managed to be late for my class. It doesn't matter. It was a great class. Not easy though. During the middle of the class I thought my arms were going to fall off they were burning so badly. My favorite part of yoga (and pilates for that matter) is the time at the end when you can just lie on your mat and let the world fade away and relax. I kept thinking I can make it to that point, just keep going. It was hard but well worth the wait!
I also had the little ones for two storytimes yesterday morning. Lots of action going on there. Lots of dancing and singing. It can be really exhausting, but so much fun. I love working with groups of two and three year olds (and their parents/carers!).
Mondays are shaping up to be busy nights. I have weight watchers at lunchtime, yoga straight after work, and knitting group on some Mondays.
Speaking of weight watching. I only lost 1 pound. But I guess that is better than gaining 1 pound.

Weight Watching

2007-01-20T17:37:00.000-08:00

So this is the end of my second full week of weight watchers. It's not so sucky. I haven't been really hungry and I do think the fact that I'm writing down what I eat and not eating all that chocolate and other sweets is helping. I'm also making sure that I am drinking lots and lots and lots of water. I started this program with a few other people from work. For me, it was because I was suddenly finding myself going for the size 18/20 when trying on new clothes. (That's American size. British sizes are always at least one to two sizes more numerically. Think about it for a minute...Yeah, that's why). The first week I could have 25 points / day. At my weigh in I lost 3.8 lbs. That's the good news. The bad news, I have to decrease my points/day to 24. Yeah. That's about the only sucky part. I'm starting a yoga class on Monday. I've done it before and really enjoyed it. Maybe it will help me destress about my job a bit and life in general.
My pseudo new year's resolution is to organize and clear out stuff. So far the organization part is starting. The clearing out stuff...not so much. Why do I think I have to keep everything? Why am I such a pack rat? Oh well.
I'm getting better at knitting now. At Christmas I didn't know what to give my coworkers and I decided to knit a dishcloth for everyone in with red and white cotton yarn. They turned out really nice and I was able to knit 2 a day. One day I even managed to start and finish three. I was almost fell asleep while knitting. I made 14 in a full week. I can honestly say I feel much more confident about my knitting now. I made a little gift tag out of a picture of Bella in the Christmas tree with (cheeky) instructions on how to use the cloth. Nothing like deciding to do something at the last possible moment.
I'm still working on the never ending scarf. I thought I was done with it and even bound off. I was pleased and I had one whole skein of yarn left, but then I changed my mind and decided to make it longer. It won't take too much and I'm hoping to make fingerless gloves with the left over yarn. I can't wait to do those. More like I can't wait to wear them! I'm also working on a baby hat. It's the first time I've done the magic loop method and I've just found a mistake. I want to un-knit it, but I'm confused by the method and go a bit cross eyed when I try to reason out which needle is supposed to be where. I'll just wait and give it to my friend. She's used to me coming into work with my knitting saying "HELP ME". Although I do seem to be doing that less and less.
So now I'm going to go downstairs for my late night snack and work on (yet another) dishcloth.

Home again, home again

2006-12-27T10:01:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's so nice to be home again. I love visiting my parents, but there is something about coming home that is so nice. The cats were amazing again on the trip back. Once again, Rosa decided to test out the litter box just as we started out. We ran into a bit of snow at the very beginning of the journey and then mostly rain. But it was a quiet trip and we listened to Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett the whole way.
I've taken a vacation day from work today and it's so nice not to have to rush around trying to put everything away while getting ready for work at the same time. The weather is sunny and breezy, and I have the windows thrown open in order to air out the house. I can't believe that it's December (almost January)! The girls seem relieved to be home too. I have to break them of the habit of scratching at our door at 6.30 in the morning. They can be really annoying that way.
My parents gave me a vacuum cleaner for Christmas. I know this is a hint, but I really appreciate it. It has a detachment for cleaning the stairs. It's very nice and shiny. I also got some pink things for the kitchen from Bal as well as some new picture books including Flotsam by David Wiesner, which is my favorite at the moment.
I was very bad and did not send out any Christmas cards this season. I'm very sorry to all my friends. I bought them and stared at them the entire season, but I was too ornery to fill them out. I'm sorry. My new year's resolution is to send out cards next year. I think I can keep it. I already have the cards.
On a sad note, I saw my grandparents over Christmas. My grandmother has cancer. She has fought it for almost two years, but this last time I saw her...it's too hard to even think about it, to talk about it. I can't. I'm just going to deny some more.

Christmas Travelling

2006-12-24T04:28:00.000-08:00

Here we are in sunny London, Kentucky. Cats and all. My dad decided not to come to our house for the holidays because of the long trip, the night driving and, oh yeah, he has a UK ball game to attend on the 28th. So the big decision makers that we are, we finally settled on making the 10 hour drive on Friday night. I didn't feed the girls their evening meal, bought another cat carrier and packed up. At 6.30 Saturday morning all things were go. We packed up the pressies, the cat paraphernalia, the kittens and off we went. We made it to the park just as Rosa decided to test out the tiny litter box I put into each carrier. Wow, what a stinker.
The traffic was lighter than I imagined. The cats were very good, apart from the occasional mewing and scratching at the door of the carrier, they slept most of the time. We tried to take them out (on leads) at a rest area and that scared the bejesus out of them. They were more than happy to go back into the carriers.
Everyone was happy to see us and them. They've had the run of the house. I was so tired last night that I couldn't think straight and I was really looking forward to having a nice late morning, but I woke up at 6.30 again and can't go back to sleep. Oh well. Next stop, presents!

Just waiting

2006-12-08T17:02:00.000-08:00

So Bal has been away in Dublin this past week. I wanted to get so much done while he was away, but all I managed to do was lay on the couch and watch Heroes and My Name is Earl. (yes that was on my to do list! ) Bal was to arrive home tonight, but his flight from Newark was cancelled and now I may have to drive to the airport in Richmond to pick him up since he had to get a new flight into a totally different airport. Luckily my friend has agreed to ride along with me so that I won't get lost in the dark. I feel so bad for poor bal. He'll be exhausted and frustrated to boot. As soon as I find out if he managed to get onto this flight, I'm running out to Trader Joe's for some wine. (For him, not me!)

The cats have figured out a new way to let me know that their food bowls need refilling (not that they are ever empty). I was in the living room last night, watching my name is earl, when I heard a loud bang. I ran into the kitchen to find a perfectly calm kitten sitting on the table and the container I keep their food in was upside down on the floor. I squirted Rosa with water and put the container back on the table. Five minutes later, another bang and Rosa was on the table again looking at me expectantly while the container was on the floor. So I fed them.

I just found out that Bal did not make it on standby and will have to take a later flight. So it is off to Richmond for me!!

Don' t look Elliot

2006-12-02T07:23:00.000-08:00

Not that he (or his parents) would anyway since not many people really read this. This is my finished project. It is the first full project that I've finished (that is apart from dish cloths which everyone I know will soon have). It's a baby gift for friends in Scotland. Finally finished! A little scarf and hat from Debbie Bliss Baby knits for beginners. I'm hoping that it will still fit and not be too small. This is the first hat I've ever made and the seam is a little bit chunky. I'm going to do another in the round (once I learn it!) and see how that goes. The little tiger looks a bit indignant about being photographed though.

The first ornament on the tree

2006-11-28T17:36:00.000-08:00

I splurged on a tree. I felt the need and it was on sale, so there. The kittens are absolutely loving it, particularly Bella. As you can see, she likes to climb into the tree and peek out at me. I also picked up a few shatterproof ornaments for decorating. Looks like I'll need it. She seems to like to chew on the wires. I fully expect to come in from work and find either the tree on the ground or a frizzy cat.

Who's been a busy boy then?

2006-11-28T17:34:00.000-08:00

This is the product of a weekend's worth of work in our garden. We counted at least 11 bags of pine needles and leaves. Mostly pine needles.I take no credit as I had to work at the library. I think I was the lucky one. Poor Bal!

Painting

2006-10-28T20:51:00.000-07:00

Last week the kittens decided to redecorate. They seemed to have taken offense to the wallpaper in the foyer. Good thing I didn't like it either. They tore huge hole in the paper and I made up my mind it was time to paint. So while Bal was in Boston, I bought paint, brushes and a drop cloth and tried hard to get it all done before he arrived home. Didn't happen. It took all morning just to tape off! The trim is done and my mom and I are going to paint the walls tomorrow. Thank goodness my mom is here. She took the wall paper down (with help from the cats!) and prepared and repaired the walls. I can't wait to see the walls done, but even with the only the trim painted the room looks better. I wonder which room the kits will decide needs redecorating next?

Sorry we have been so slack lately. No reason except laziness and not much to say.

Seafood fest

2006-10-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

We went to the Poquoson Seafood Festival last weekend.
I had the barbecue beef sandwich.
And a funnel cake.
It was yummy!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2006-09-09T15:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to me. Happy birthday toooooo mmmmmeeeeeee!
Happy birthday to me!

Hooray. I love my birthday!

The blustery day

2006-09-05T04:54:00.000-07:00

A note from Balint's diary:

Friday, September 1, 2006: I say! It's a bit wet and blustery out there what?

Ernesto

2006-09-03T16:10:00.000-07:00

We made it through our first tropical storm. While I lived in the nice land locked state of Kentucky, I would always hear about hurricanes being downgraded to tropical storms and I would think, oh well that's good. No problems there. It's still scary when it's a tropical storm! We sat in our house, looking up towards the skylights and watching the wind blow the pine trees this way and that. At one point I actually saw my chimney shake. The airport nearby reported winds of up to 55 miles per hour. With winds like that and heavy rain, I guess water is going to find it's way through any crack and crevice it can. And that's just what happened. We started finding the leaks. A big one in the garage, one over the den, water coming in around the front door and the front window. We have some water damage. Hopefully it will be taken care of by the insurance. I've decided I don't want to be a home owner anymore, and I want to go back to Kentucky where there are only tornadoes.

We had lots of water everywhere. Below is a picture of me and my boots in our backyard. Luckily the water stopped just short of our house. It's the first time I've gotten a chance to use my galoshes since moving to the US!

IMG_5563
Originally uploaded by Kim Joo.

The picture below is of our neighbor's shed almost floating.

IMG_5564
Originally uploaded by Kim Joo.

I have more pictures of damage, but I'm waiting until we talk to the insurance. It was an interesting experience and driving around the city, I can see we where very lucky. No trees fell, only big branches and pine needles. We didn't have electricity from 8.30am Friday until 1.30pm on Saturday. Our phone finally started working again sometime last night.

Now I'm just trying to relax and stay as stress free as possible and count my blessings.

phone again

2006-08-07T19:42:00.000-07:00

Hooray! We have a phone again. After a storm last Friday afternoon, our phone was knocked out all weekend long. Verizon finally fixed it today.

Other good news - My brother in law is engaged. Hooray!!!!
I got a good appraisal at work and I will be getting a tiny raise in October.

That's all.

Blogging Bella

2006-08-01T19:02:00.000-07:00

IMG_54241
Originally uploaded by Kim Joo.

For Jason. Bella needed to catch up on all the happenings around the blog world and really enjoyed Jason's video post. Or maybe she's trying to destroy David Hasslehoff. Who could blame her really?

Knitting

2006-07-28T19:25:00.000-07:00

My friend showed me how to knit today. I have the Stitch and Bitch book, but I've been hesitant to try and figure it all out. So my friend met me at a Starbucks and we sat outside and she showed me how to cast on, knit and purl. It was fun and very familiar. I think it might be because my mommy Jo, my grandmother, has taught me the basics of crocheting. Not that I can do that competently, but I can start a mean chain stitch! Well when I say mean, I really mean long. Tonight we sat outside with cold coffees and teas and even though it was hot and humid and I had a strip of yarn in my hands, it was really fun. I was very proud of myself to have a nifty swatch on my needles. I think I'll dust off the stitch n' bitch book and try some more, after I finish straightening.

Balint comes home tonight and I'm very glad he is too. I've really missed him. We are going to see a Shakespearean musical (based on Twelfth Night) tomorrow with some friends. That's exciting!

What colour are your knickers?

2006-07-27T18:20:00.000-07:00

This was the best book to read to the kids at my outreach yesterday. There were kids of all ages there and they were absolutely rolling. Just to give you a taster...What colour are your knickers Sheep Sherlene? (Lift the flap to find some nifty knited green pants) They're Green!!!!Both groups begged me to read again and I had to promise to bring it back next week. I also read Ain't Gonna Paint No More and the older group ( 9-10 year olds) really got it! They liked it, but not as well as the What Colour Are Your Knickers?

Much better

2006-07-27T18:12:00.000-07:00

The virus is nearly gone. I feel human again. Which is a good thing since I had storytime again today. That's three days in a row that I've had to this. I'm tired. I don't want to see another kid! My throat is only a little sore tonight and I have a cough starting.

I left work bang on 5.30. No dilly dallying around for me. Got out to the car only to find it wouldn't start. It would only make a clicking sound and the clock read 12.00. So I hurried back to the library in a brewing storm and asked if anyone had jumper cables. Luckily one of the librarians did, so we waited around a bit for the downpour to stop and then ran along to the parking garage. As we were fumbling around in the dark trying to find the positive and negative charge thingies (yes, that is the technical term) a cop showed up and asked if he could help. He had a flashlight so we let him do the work. In 2 minutes my car was up and running. I went straight to the auto store where a nice guy tested the battery, all the while telling me that it was probably my alternator and how much that would cost. Luckily the screen read bad battery and I paid him $50 for a new battery and installation. That's the only bit of luck I seem to have had today.

Now I'm away since I have a kitten crawling up my leg.

Hi Ho Silver

2006-07-25T04:48:00.000-07:00

00020
Originally uploaded by Kim Joo.

Balint having a good time in Old Tucson.

better

2006-07-25T04:44:00.000-07:00

So Balint is having a high old time in Tucson, Arizona. He's put some nice pics on our flickr. It's almost like being there. Not really, but I am enjoying the photos. He's having a grand time, despite having the dreaded lurgy. I'm feeling better this morning, although it was very hard to get out of bed. Now I have to go and read to a bunch of summer school mites. This is their last week of summer school, so it might be a little rough. I hope my voice holds out.

uhng

2006-07-24T20:44:00.000-07:00

I have a virus that has been going around. Balint has it too and he has to travel. I get to stay home. I feel all achy with a sore throat. All I want to do is sleep (big departure from my normal routine I know). Nothing tastes right. And the weather has finally cooled down enough to sort of enjoy. You know it never feels right to be ill in the summertime. Oh well. Blah

all's well

2006-07-18T18:35:00.000-07:00

So after a sleepless night of worrying about an upcoming exam for my teaching certificate and fear of mounting vet bills for my klutzy cats, I awoke this morning to find Bella as rambunctious as ever and no sign of a limp whatsoever. Relief. Went to a school this morning to read to the summer school students. Poor mites. At least they are in an airconditioned school. We had fun reading Some Dogs Do by Jez Alborough (which got applause from all the classes). I even tried my hand at storytelling and the younger set really enjoyed it. The older set insisted I sing because they thought it would embarrass me. I made them sing along with me. I was embarrassed for them! It was not a pleasant sound!

hopefully not another vet visit

2006-07-17T20:56:00.000-07:00

While I was in the kitchen sterilizing the medicine dropper for Bella, I heard an awful yowling from the dining room. After running into the room I found Bella hanging upside down by her leg off the back of the dining room chair. She just couldn't free herself. Once I managed to get her loose she ran away and is now limping around. The leg looks a little funny, but she does stand on it and does move it a bit. I'm just hoping it will be okay tomorrow and I won't have to visit the vet again tomorrow morning. The kits are very rambunctious and a little bit klutzy. Hopefully they'll grow out of that soon. They are fascinated by the blinds and the curtains. Rosa is now able to jump up to the bathroom sink, although I'm not sure why she would want to after the wash down she received this morning after the toilet incident.

cat in the toilet

2006-07-17T15:45:00.000-07:00

That's right. The cat jumped up onto the toilet seat expecting to land on the lid and instead dropped right in the water. I hosed her down in the sink afterward. But it was a very funny way to start a Monday morning.

And back to the vet again

2006-07-14T20:21:00.000-07:00

So we had to go back to the vet today. I found Bella (my new name for the completely yellow cat) still has diarrhea. She has had it since I brought her home. She eats all the time. She also goes to the litter box all the time and it smells up the entire bottom floor of the house. The vet thinks it is a certain type of parasite and has prescribed meds for her. They even administered the first dose. The first went down fine, but the second one went all over me! And this was a professional giving it to her. I gave her a dose just before bedtime and it she took almost all of it except one little tiny bit. That little bit was hard going. She is not very happy with me right now and keeps running away from me. It will soon be over and hopefully this will cure it.

Vet

2006-07-13T06:02:00.000-07:00

So we went to the vet yesterday. I hope I don't have to do that too often. The girls were excellent. They handled it beautifully. They are actually only about 2 1/2 months old. So still pretty young, which might explain some of the crying and nuzzling. They are in good health with no bugs or worms. I will have to find an immunization clinic which will help a bit on vet bills.

Now they are sitting in the floor after thoroughly investigating the computer. One even managed to unplug the computer. Very technical minded. She also likes to chew on electric cords which will eventually get her into trouble. When they do something they are not supposed to (and I catch them at it) I spray them with water. But that's kind of scary when it's electrical cords. Sizzle!

kits

2006-07-10T06:37:00.000-07:00

So Balint is getting used to the new additions. He's held up well seeing as how he only expected to have one kitten in the house but I came home with two. I'm glad I couldn't choose between them. One will cry for the other if they stray to far from sight.

One is a crier. She 'talks' about everything and won't really shut up. Her sister is quieter, but when she does cry, you notice it. The shy one is very active and loves to play and jump in the air. Their favorite toy is the .87 cent cat toy from walmart which is a fake rabbits foot on a piece of elastic tied to a plastic stick. It has silk ribbons and a bell on it. They love that and are very possessive of it. When one is playing with it and her sister happens to mosey on up, the first one will lay on top of the toy and hiss.

Our first visit to the vet is on Wednesday morning. That should be fun.

first night

2006-07-07T21:28:00.000-07:00

It's been a long day and the kits are in bed and not making much noise, so hopefully they will rest well. Good night!

Twins, Basil. Twins!

2006-07-07T21:11:00.000-07:00

I did it. I adopted, not one, but two shelter cats from the humane society. I couldn't bear to choose between them and I'm glad I didn't separate them as they really look after each other. I brought them home today and I'm so glad that my mom was here to help me with them. It was a long drive from the humane society and I almost made it home with no incident. But just as I exited the interstate I smelled it. At the first red light I glanced back to see the two huddled to one side of the carrier and looking at me with pitiful eyes. For such small varmits, they sure can smell up a car! But they are so cute and they seem to be settling in well (knock on wood!). The one in the pink collar is very clingy though and likes to talk. The other is much more independent and loves to play. She does seem to have an upset tummy and when her sister is out of sight she will cry after her. When Balint came in he was very surprised to find two instead of one but he did well. Now they follow him about trying to get his attention and when he goes out to the sunroom, they both stand at the door watching after him and mewing.

We haven't named them yet. I'm still debating. I like:
Lizzy and Jane (Pride and Prejudice, of course)
Lucy and Ethel
Eloise and Olivia (after two very mischievous girls from children's literature)
Georgia and Libby (Louise Rennison characters)

Or any other suggestion. Nothing so far seems to fit.

So

2006-06-30T20:47:00.000-07:00

The past week has not been my best. Fun things that are happening...my mom is here! Not so fun things...I found a puppy at the pound that I fell in love with, but Bal didn't therefore no puppy. Still sad over Peanut and feeling horrible and guilty. The news from home is that four more neighborhood cats have disappeared along with a west highland terrier all supposed victims of the friendly neighborhood coyote.

Mom and I planted my herbs this morning. I'm hoping that I will not find them chewed to the ground by bunnies tomorrow morning. We seem to have a lot of cute bunnies hopping around, but I've also heard they like basil. I've planted rosemary, lavender, basil, thyme, parsley, tarragon and a dead stalk of cilantro. I live in hope it will survive. I'm so glad my mom was here to help me. I have no clue what I'm doing and it helps I have some one with more gardening experience than I do.

My friend Julie and family have moved back to the US and it's so nice to talk in the (almost) same time zone. Hopefully I can see her soonish. I've never been out west before.

I've just finished reading Caddy Ever After by Hilary McKay (yes, a children's novel) I'm not a huge fan of her books about the Casson family, but I really enjoyed reading this one. Loved Rose and Caddy...Panda, panda, panda.

Peanut

2006-06-18T12:06:00.000-07:00

I found out today that my cat, my lovely little Peanut, disappeared from my mom and dad's house this past week. A few days after she went missing, my dad saw a coyote in the back yard. The dogs, labs, chased it away. I'm so sad today. I keep crying and I feel so bad.

scary

2006-06-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

While sitting at the desk in the children's department of my library a little boy, about 8 years old, approached and asked for a chapter book on technology. I was stumped. I asked what kind of technology he wanted, thinking robots or computer games. He said weapons. I started to look up weapons and told him that I would probably only be able to find non fiction, not chapter books. His face lit up and he said "I love non fiction". Then he proceeded to tell me that he wanted to do research to invent a weapon to blow up a girls team. Scary kid. His mom just laughed and told him that he needed a notebook and pencils instead.

It's about as scary as the time I taught the crocodile song to kindergarteners - the little fishy swims inside and then you slap your hands together and sing oh no oh no oh no. Some of them were looking a little scared and I said that I thought the fishy escaped before the croc ate it. But then one little boy piped up "Not in my song he didn't!" I didn't know whether to laugh or run for cover, so I just laughed.

I'm not sure why I'm sitting up here blogging when I just received my Subversive Cross stitch book and I can't wait to see what projects I can get my needle into!

the useless gardener

2006-06-03T19:58:00.000-07:00

My garden has been such a surprise this spring. I don't know what I'll find there next. Of course I have no clue what half the things are called when they pop out of the ground. I'm afraid to dig anywhere for fear of damaging something that hasn't yet grown. I have to exercise the patience muscle. But I want a cute little herb garden with lovely lavender and other useful things. And I guess I should just clear out a bed, fall flowers be damned. I know that the previous owner of the house, the one who took such loving care of the garden and planted so many things (including at last count 22 rose bushes) won't be knocking down my door if I change things. At least I hope not. Very scary thought. She obviously knows how to wield garden tools.

life as a children's librarian again

2006-05-16T18:47:00.000-07:00

I love to read comic strips with my morning cup of tea. One of my favs is Unshelved about life in the library. It often hits pretty close to home.
Link in case you are interested.
This morning I was reading the article about the creators in the Seattle Times and this hit even closer to home...

Still, one of their spiels involves an image of children's librarians as idealistic souls who jump and clap their hands when they're happy. "It's true," Barnes says. "They all do it. Someone came up to me [after a talk] and said, I just want you to know, 'I'm a children's librarian, and I don't do that.' So I signed her book and drew the children's librarian, and she jumped up and clapped her hands. Swear to God."

I was totally jumping and clapping my hands this morning when I found out that I might possibly, just possibly be able to go to Arizona with my husband this July. As soon as I did it though, I was like, Oh crap...I'm a typical children's librarian.

Oh Bother!

2006-05-14T16:54:00.000-07:00

It's been a fun and eventful weekend. We went to the park yesterday and walked along the trails with my brother. I'm very impressed with JI. He's been working very hard to lose weight. He has lost 50 pounds so far! A year ago, he would not have been able to keep up our pace through a 3 mile walk along a nature trail. We even took a longer route. He was doing a great job. Then in the evening it was off to VA Beach for a play. A friend was playing a role in Agatha Christie's Unexpected Guest. It was a good show. Bal, JI and I played on the beach before the play. I was the smart one and wore sandals. The guys had a few damp spots on their shoes.

Today was another trip to the park. Bal and I cycled while my brother walked the trails again. It is raining again and when we came home from the exercise and the grocery store, we found that our gutters were backed up. This has thrown us in a bit of a tizzy as we don't have a ladder and water was pouring onto the porch over the gutters. Bal managed to lean out of the window and clear it out, but we have to get a ladder and figure things out. I won't say what my outlook on owning a house is right now. I just hope my dad comes and tells me what to do. What would we do without our parents! They seem to have all the answers.

Oh Brother!

2006-05-10T21:02:00.000-07:00

My bouncing baby brother has come to visit. I'm so happy to see him. This is the first time that he has been to our new home. It's very interesting because suddenly he seems all grown up. I mean I know that he is going on 25, but he now seems like it. He isn't the same little brat that used to bite me when I was 12. (I cured him of that when we were fighting one day. He tried to bite me and I stuck his arm in his mouth. I could see the look of triumph in his eyes as he bite down thinking that he had gotten a hold of a really juicy bit of my arm. The look quickly turned to surprise and then he ran off crying and telling mom that I made him bite himself. Served him right.)

In other news, there are things in the works for me right now that I just can't talk about right now. It was a very exciting and strange day. More on that later and no, I am not preggers. I have been in a bit of a quiet mood. Lots to think about right now. I did go along to do the hospital visit today. We go there to speak to the expectant parents at the hospital tour. We give them a shiny folder with a baby's first library card. I tell them the importance of reading, read them a picture book which is always amusing to see the look on their faces. Then I bugger off to the coffee place down the road for a quick injection of caffeine for me and my work mates. Works quite nicely.

Time to go to bed now. I'm very tired and words are starting to look funny. Night night.

Another day

2006-05-09T21:06:00.000-07:00

Another day in the library. Things are starting to get busier than usual. Adults like to come to our section to use the children's internet computer (of which we only have two and they are really crappy) mainly because they don't have to worry about time limits or necessarily need a card. Today there was a race for the computers. A couple came in to use one and as the man was preparing to sit down another man came along and swiped the seat right out from under him in order to get a claim on the other computer. I couldn't believe it. Honestly, the children act better than the adults do!

weekend work

2006-05-07T06:31:00.000-07:00

There are twenty one rose bushes around our garden. Twenty one! Who likes roses this much? Obviously the previous owners of our house. They are lovely, but looking at them closely there are black spots all over their leaves. That's what I don't like about roses. You have to really take care of them. Baby them. I'm obviously failing. I guess just letting sun and rain take care of things isn't enough. My mom says that the black spots are possibly aphids. She gave me some sort of rose food that also kills off pests and helps with diseases. Scary stuff. But I got it out and put it on the roses. I almost didn't have enough for all the bushes and carting a big watering can around is really annoying.

The other big news is that Bal bought a lawn mower. I was told not to take a picture of him mowing but he is awfully cute when he is doing yard work. While he was mowing, I was weeding the flower beds. I've figured out that if the roots come out of the ground easily, it wasn't a weed. But the yard looks very nice now. We even enjoyed it in the best light last night. Moonlight. We sat out in the back yard under the stars. It was lovely.

I also went to the farmer's market yesterday. I bought a tomato plant. I wanted to put it in a container, but the soil sold to me at Lowe's has a big warning sticker on the back that it is not for containers. Hmmm. So much for the helpfulness of the lowes staff when I specifically asked for soil for a container. But I did find one of the empty beds that I could dig in and so there it is. Hopefully I'll have lots of lovely tomatoes soon.

busy day

2006-05-01T12:19:00.000-07:00

It's been a bit of a hectic day. I had storytime this morning with the babies. There were over fifty people (mostly 1 - 3 year olds) ready to bounce, sing and dance. We did Boing! Boing! Squeak!, a poem by Jack Prelustky, to start off. I also taught them Wind the Bobbin up, which most people here have never heard before. The second group was much smaller with only 17. But they were all so cute and sweet, dancing to the music and following all the moves. It was a lot of fun. My job can sometimes be a bit of a stress, but I'm also pretty lucky that I get to sing songs, share fun books and read and play all day.

There are a few down sides to my job though. Working with the public, people often tell me more about their lives than I necessarily want to know. And I'm just stuck there at the desk with no other place to go. Like the butt fungus lady. Honestly. She told me history of the rash on her bottom from the start to the end. She even followed me back into the library one day to give me an update! Why??

my rag rug

2006-04-24T20:12:00.000-07:00

While my mom was visiting, she taught me how to crochet a rag rug. I've just finished it and I'm so proud of myself. B is very complimentary, although I can tell when he says "it's very pink" that he's not that fond of my color choice. Oh well. It's nice and soft to stand on when I'm at the sink.

my poor car

2006-04-12T20:39:00.000-07:00

I know it is only a hunk of metal, but my poor car was rear ended while I was stopped at a red light. I was looking down at my radio and bang! I was so shaken up. It was awful. People drive like lunatics around here anyway, so I figured it was only a matter of time, but still it's horrible to be involved in an accident. I was very lucky though. My neck and shoulders are sore, so I'm being sent along to physical therapy next week. I hope that sorts it. My car is being fixed as we speak. It could have been done today, however when the auto body place tried to transfer the cavelier nameplate, they cracked the new trunk. Now I wait another day for my car. I have a rental car. It's an impala and while I know it's not as big as the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme I used to drive, it is still much bigger than the car I am driving now.

I used to drive my dad's '77 olds when I was around 19. It was a land yacht. Once I was sitting in the parking lot of the department store I was working at warming up my car and I got hit by some drunk who backed into me. It was impossible that he couldn't see me. I was in the biggest, reddest car in the parking lot. I barely felt it, but it tore his truck up. When I looked at my car, there wasn't even a scratch. Very much a Stephanie Plum moment there. I drove home and told my mom and dad and got in trouble for not calling the police. Of course this was before cell phones were common. I don't think I even knew anyone who had a cell phone then! How times have changed.

This recent accident happened on my way to work. It was rainy and I was sitting at a light, minding my own business. Then bang! I really didn't even think any damage had been done. And again I didn't call the police right away. I've been quite happy here without a cell phone. Now that's all changed. Time to get one I suppose.

Catch up

2006-04-01T18:41:00.000-08:00

So felt as if I should catch up with my blog since my cousin has done her's recently. I'm horrible with these things. I always find other things to do instead. Like moving.
I don't feel as if I've been settled for a year now. I'm not sure if I'll get used to all this. It was around this time last year that we found out that we would be moving at some point. We are finally in a place that feels like home and I keep feeling as if someone is going to come along and kick us out.
Mom and dad came along to help us organize and get things done. That's been a real help, especially since Bal had to hop off to Ed the week after we moved. That's okay. He's making it up to me by stuffing his incredibly small bag with lots of goodies. (As well as birthday presents for my mom which I forgot to buy myself. Saves my ass.) Now I have to think of a good anniversary present since that's coming up in less than a week. Four years and look where we are now.
The thing that's really pissing me off is how everyone keeps saying that we have to fill the new house up with babies. Stop! We'll do that when we are good and ready. Just stop!

Just a funny thought. The spell checker on this thing can't handle blog. How funny is that?