Snow Day!

Yet again, my first day of school is snowed out... This makes two of the locations where I take classes.  I have been out of school for over a month now.  Going stir crazy, that's for sure!  If I'd known I'd be stuck inside so much over these weeks, I'd have started some big project to work on, but the plan was to be back in classes two weeks ago!  Now I keep saying, "Oh, I'll just clean something or read something today, no point in starting anything big because class starts in three days."  Noooo beans.  Looks like I'll be moseying around another weekend, reading, guitarring, watching phys lectures online from MIT... which I actually prefer to my own phys class. :)

Last night I was again bored so I started fiddling around with some stuff and made a few things that are pretty much worthless but were fun to make anyway. :P  

First was a bobby pin with a daisy on it...  Will have to make a few more of these for the sisters. :)

 Next was a headband.  Now that I have shorter hair (which I love, I am NEVER going back to high-maintenance inches and inches and inches!) I'm wearing more headbands and scarves since there's not a whole lot else I can do with my hair...  Anyways, this took way longer than I expected haha, you never expect the circumference of your own head to be so...large... :P

 And then another headband, this time experimenting with crocheting with beads!  I've never done this before, but I've heard of it and I knew the general idea. What you do is thread the bead you want to use onto the string BEFOREHAND.  Then you make a slip knot and start working, pushing the beads out of the way until you want them.  At the right stitch, just slide the bead close to the hook and crochet it into the stitch.  Pretty darn easy. :)  

I am very much aware that I look evil in that picture... bwa. ha. ha. ha. ha.

I also did some experimenting with crocheting around a plastic ring.  I put a lot of gold beads into the thread before I started and just added one every ten stitches as I went around.  

At least the snow is pretty!  I'm still a fan of the snow, very muchly. :)

Much colder and wetter, I present my pictures from outside...  Got quite a dusting and it's frigid!  Sorry for such a long post, but it's mostly pictures and I haven't posted in awhile anyway... :)

Appendix

I took a few quick pictures just cause. It's raining out, and it was chillier this morning.  So I needed these. :)

Easiest thing ever, I pretty much just chained about 20 (that'll vary depending on size of hand/hook/yarn--a chain that goes around the wides part of your knuckles rather tightly should work) joined it in a ring, and crocheted around and around forever.  When I reached the point I wanted the gap for the thumb, I just stopped, turned the work, crocheted around, stopped one stitch short, turned again, crocheted around, chained, and skipped across the gap, thereby closing it in a sort of box.  Finished going around and around as long as I wanted, cut yarn and tied off.  Then I went back and crocheted a few rows in a circle around the thumb-gap, making a sort of tube...  all in all very simple and not really worth a post but oh well. :)

Still Alive

In a manner of speaking... :P :)

Lotsa stuff has gone on, I've been down to TN again to see Union University more thoroughly, and come away very (unfortunately) impressed!  Means I have options.  I hate options!  I'm the kind of person who sees something that's just fine and wants to latch onto it.  I can just see myself buying a house... *walks in* "This looks fine! Where do we sign?" Poor Unsuspecting Companion: "Whoa, whoa, can we get out of the hallway first??"

And I just looked at the clock and it said 12:12pm.  I like these sorts of thing.  Unfortunately I was driving at 11:11am on Nov. 11, but I've still got 11:11pm tonight (shhhhh, don't tell anyone I stay up that late!) and it doesn't matter as I've got my thoughts all day.  :)

So anyways, can you tell I'm not easily distracted AT ALL... *not!*

Some more crafty updates, AT LONG LAST!  And a bit of a rip off as it is, sorry, since I don't have any pictures yet.  I'm anti-coats as a rule, it'll have to get down to the single digits for me to wear them regularly, but I must say it's not what you'd call "pleasant" to go out to the car at 7 in the morning and freeze my fingers off.  And I'm anti-gloves because they annoy me.  So anyways, I ended up crocheting some wristwarmer things to avoid frostbite in the mornings.

So anyways, can you tell I'm not dramatic or exaggerating AT ALL... *not!*

Pictures of those might come eventually whenever I'm un-lazy enough to go out to the car and get them...

Meanwhile, I bought something and I received it yesterday. :)  Nice to come home from work to a package!  While I was at Union, I met Rachel Carbonell, who makes hair accessory type things with her sister. See their etsy shop!  I was like, heck! I'll buy somethin'!  So I did. :)  And since my hair was already up when I got home, I just pulled out the flower I was wearing and clipped this in all ad-libbed like that. :P

So anyways, golly do I feel all domestic and female now... Hmmm.  I think a rubber band sneak attack is needed to re-establish my non-girliness. :P :)

.... *zing!* OUCH!  Me:  *evil laugh*

Well, duty calls, physics in particular, only slightly drowning out the yells of my calculus saying I ought to be studying for tomoz... off I go!

AMZi x x x x x

// he was one of us / he was just like us / but he loved this country enough to leave it / to go to blood and dirt and pain and keep believing / he was one of us / saving all of us / for God and country / i will proudly stand / giving everything / to defend this land / for Christ and kingdom / honor and freedom / i will take my place / no i'm not afraid //

Off Again

Here I am, FINALLY getting around to posting after like 3 days...just in time to say, "So long, mates" before we dash off on a road trip for a week.  Timing, yes?  Brilliant.

I have been holding off posting only because the LGM was out of batteries and not taking any pictures, and I'm stingy and don't like to spend money on things that run out.  Like batteries.  So, we had a problem there.  But yesterday, I bought a set of rechargable batteries and the charger, so the camera is in business again!

Update Number One :: I did make that hat I was telling you about.  And I do like it.  I can't believe I can pull off a hat.  It's making me adventurous, though I have gotten the hippie label now.  No one will let me wear it out (which is all right since it's usually upward of 90 degrees in the heat) because I "look like I'm from Manitou Springs."  Well, I kinda am, recently! :P

And I'm sooo savvy I can read and study and listen to music and crochet at the same time!

Or maybe not... frogging...

Finished!

Update Number Two :: I did say adventurous, didn't I?  Well, how adventurous?  Stripes!

I was wanting some darkish red to go in with the lot to make it really all the nautical colors, but it's not to be. :P  And that would make it hard to carry the colors up.  I really really hate changing colors with knots and any other way.  So I just leave the blue yarn hanging off to the side and pick up the white yarn loosely, and knit two rows with it.  And vice versa.  So much easier!

Update Number Three :: For my birthday, I got this!!! and this!!! and they are woooondeeerfuuulll!  Buy them and play them!  You will love them!

So goodbye for a week, maybe longer...
AMZi x x x x x

The Stories...

The Pictures on the Camera Tell...

Pippin making my day by making my egg!  :)  This was from yesterday, actually.  How'd it sneak in there?  Visit the "Seasonal Stuff to Make" tab up top to make your own!  Great work, Pip!!

6:57pm :: I heart words.  

6:58pm :: Ooohhh, more words.

4:15pm :: Check out my paperweights!  This idea was highly popular a few months ago, and I wrinkled my nose at it.  I mean, a crochet-covered ROCK?  But then I kept finding myself in need of paperweights while outdoors with my papers flying Every Which Way.  So I decided to give it a go.  I like!  And lots of other people like too.  They masqueraded as Easter Eggs yesterday.

4:16pm :: They decide they don't like each others' companies so much after all... :P

1:55pm :: I heart C's color choices at Fiber Arts!  

AMZi x x x x x

The Stories...

The Pictures on the Camera Tell ::

7:33 am :: Notice how the red sunrise reflects on the bark of the tree.  Slam up the sash and screen, snap pictures.  Click!  Click!  Click!

7:36 am :: Notice the buds.  Click!

8:37am :: Start fiddling with a new pattern idea before dashing out.  

4:20pm :: The tail end of my afternoon as I come home.  Click!

4:34pm :: Ooh, look, my shoes!  Love these shoes!  Click!

4:38pm :: Finish little project (well, finish two of them actually)  Click!  Click!  Click!  Click!

4:50pm :: Favorite seaglass and pebbles migrate over the windowsill into the sunshine.  Click! Click!

5:15pm :: Notice buds again.  Click!  Click!  Click!

And a little story....  Setting :: Dinner Table

El hermano :: Look, my broccoli all fell out of the middle and into the butter.

Me ::  Ew.  That is absolutely repulsive.

La hermana :: You say that all the time.  "Absolutely repulsive!"  

El hermano :: And "slightly repulsive."

Me :: *smugly*  It is so often applicable.

El padre :: *SMIRK*

AMZi x x x x x 

OH GLORIOUS SOUND!

Guess what I just heard??  The wonderful sound of the neighbor's crotchety and asthmatic weedwacker!  THIS is how I know summer is coming!  But let't not get too ahead of ourselves... Spring first.  ACK!  THE SUN'S OUT!  *races off*

*drags. self. back*  Sit!  Good girl.  Write!

Have I mentioned how I live for Sundays?  Even in spite of some gloom, some icky feelings (sub tempestas) some slight bantering ridicule (really, how long will it take to get used to, honestly) the day just might shape itself up.  Sunshine is good.  Yes.

I started crocheting some little hearts last night, and this morning had some early-morning stringing sessions before church.  The blinds at the kitchen table let in slats of light :: so cool!

A tutorial will be appearing in short order for these little hearts, just in case anybody wants to give them a go.  They're pretty simple, though I just can't seem to buckle myself down to a lateral back-and-forth or even round-and-round project.  I always have to be turning and crocheting across places where crochetery doesn't usually go, and flipping and picoting, and generally breaking rules.  Ah well.  The tutorial will be rather more in depth than usual, with pictures step-by-step.  Hope it helps.

I'm going to go sit in some grass!  :)
AMZi x x x x x

PS :: Happy Palm Sunday.  Go sing a really good old hymn, like "Oh God Beyond All Praising."  While we're sitting in the grass.  And maybe doing some small and colorful Crochetery.  Yeaaaaaaaaaaaah.

Yet More Spheres

I'm on a spherical rampage, it appears.  Very sorry about the late trend.  It's just what I've been doing lately.

Check out that one on the right.  It Cracks. Me. Up.  I made it last night while listening to a live web streaming of a meeting, and taking notes!  Multitasking, yes?  Same with that two-layer flower.  New idea and new leaves there.  It just makes me laugh to play catch with a gigantic eyeball... :)

And this is the latest, which I've just finished.  I'm liking stripes!

I've got votes for a dark-blue-iris-ed Eyeball.  I wish I had a bit of light blue, or brown.

And as a follow-up for yesterday's post, I was cured by the time I got home from work, and a half an hour spent outdoors only bettered the situation.  :)  I'm back to my jolly self!  In spite of some frightful weather today!

I'm going to go find someone to hurl these balls at.... *insert evil laugh*

AMZi x x x x x

Friday...

What is it with Fridays?  They have every excuse to be the best days of the weeks!  Anticipation of the weekend, movie night, no classes... what more can you ask for?

And yet it seems to be a trend :: Fridays are becoming ugly.  Discontented, maybe.  Mostly they feel like just an extra day to muddle through, staring out of windows, counting hours until it's over.  I H:A:T:E days like that.  Days when you're just waiting for them to end, instead of doing good things with them and enjoying them.  Maybe I need to get outside.  Maybe I need to find a good book to read.  Maybe I need some Attic 24 Therapy is all.  Some color.  Some yarn.  Some charming little projects.  Sounds good to me...

Maybe some tea?

Anyhow, all that gripe later, an announcement is in order ::

There is a New Pattern available in the Pages list at the top of the page, just under the banner

Those above are crochet spheres.  I made the green one yesterday if you recall, and the purple one last night. El hermano piensa que they look like fruits from this book.  Maybe so.  I have no idea what I should do with them, but I like them anyhow. :)

Now I'm going outside to try and work myself into a good mood before I have to take off for extra training at work.  Shall I say THAT is not contributing to my Good Mood Efforts?

AMZi x x x x x

An Afternoon

Ahhhh.  That is a long and happy sigh after rushing around for several hours just to be able to sit down now and have some time to myself.

The sun finally decided to show, and I managed to get the LGM outside to get some pictures of the maples, which have burst into bloom.  Maple blooms are so silly and frivolous for temperate-climate trees....  *big grin*

I have no idea what these are... they remind me of something called "Hens 'N' Chicks" from way back when, but I'm not sure.  I love their fat thick leaves :: they must be succulents :: and how they catch the raindrops!  

The Grass is so Green...

And the Sky is so Blue..

And this Wall was so Wallish...  Yeaaaaaaaah. :P

So then the Hooligans cleared out and I had the house to myself for a lovely two sunny hours.  I made a hot lemon and honey, because my usual strong black tea seems a little oppressive in this light weather.  I suppose a dash of milk and a sweetener would fix that, but I'm really a solid-black-tea person, not putting extra bits in.  Anyhow, I settled in with the Complete Symphonic Recording of Les Mis, and some bright green Yarny Stuffs.

This was me at the Set-Out, thinking, this ain't half bad!  Sunny windowseat, crochetery, scalding hot stuff in a mug... yessss.  Hence the happy sigh at the top of this post. :)  I'm a girl who really requires her down time.  And then I use that down time very carefully, in activities that I plan out ahead of time so as to have the joy of anticipating them.  Anticipation's really half the fun, or maybe even three quarters of it.  I've always done a lot of it.  Might call it day-dreaming, as things hardly ever turn out quite as nice as I anticipated... :P  

But then someone will usually walk in on me while I'm doing something Down-Time-Ish and Very Carefully Planned and Very Muchly Anticipated, and they will say, "Boy, I think you have too much time on your hands!"  

As a matter of fact, NO, I do not.  I have enough work to fill a whole day.  I just choose to dash about madly getting it all done in a timely fashion, so as to have a nice chunk of Down Time to myself.  I like a whole hour of time rather than wasting five minutes out of each hour.  It's as simple as that.  And these same people somehow find the time to play video games, or watch sports on TV, or whatever.  Everyone makes time for things they love.  That's all I'm doing, and if it seems strange or silly, well, Live With It!

All of this Rumination later...  We reach the Halfway Point ::

This is me wondering if I will have enough yarn.  I never really do, you know?

And these people can't understand that I like my time quiet and undisturbed, to myself, and uninterrupted.  Alone.  Yes, what a nice word.  Of COURSE I enjoy other people's company, but in small chunks.  And I'm no antisocial hermit :: most of my friends tell me they'd never guess I was such an extreme introvert.  But there it is :: the I word.  I pull off a wild-and-crazy, entertainer, joker personality with my friends, and that's definitely a part of me, the Entertainer.  I make people laugh, and I'm happy with that.  But after about an hour or two, or more if I'm slap-happy, it wears off.  I start looking out of windows more.  I start listening more than I'm talking.  I start becoming the Observer rather than the Entertainer.  And the later it gets, the more serious the topics of discussion become.... Kind of funny, actually.  :)  I can break out of my shell, and it's not difficult or unpleasant, but I will say it's not quite as pleasant as having a few minutes quietly to myself being Happy.  

And during all of this, we have been stuffing and finish off and weaving in ends and.... Ta da! 

A perfectly Spherical crochet ball!  So pathetically Silly and pointless, but so worth it!  It's GREEN!  And it's ROUND!  And we've had a proper Think with ourselves during, so it's not completely a waste of time. :)

But now... I'm looking around... and I feel a massive tidy coming over me!  

Obsessive Compulsive Cleaning Disorder... Bother!!

AMZi x x x x x