Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Floating

Since the last time I have posted, I did put my doctorate on hold. I have tried to spend more time doing things that I enjoy, while getting things done that have to be (hello, laundry). I feel like I am floating more and more. I do not feel like I have a direction, a goal, an objective. I feel like I am floating. I am not sure that I enjoy this feeling. I have never had it before. I have always been driven. Not in a Type-A way, but I have managed to figure out a direction to live my life, and have done so with purpose. Now, I feel that I do not have that. I have started seeking full time employment again, not because I want to go back to work, but because I feel I have to.

Floating is great at times, but when you see a need that you cannot fill, it hurts. Floating down a river is peaceful, until you see someone who needs help. Then floating is no longer a good choice.

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Plans

I have been ruminating on what to do. I still plan on stopping my doctorate program for now; I can and plan on picking it back up at a later date. But I have been thinking about my next adventure. I want to focus on homeschooling, and it is as much for my own education as it is my children's. I thought I may use this opportunity to work through the Master Crocheter's class. I got it a year or so ago, and have started it, but haven't finished it. I was thinking of doing some samples and posting them - maybe a video or two, or tutorials on some of the techniques. Things do not look like they will be slowing down any time soon, but such is life. And this season is a busy one.

Thursday, October 18, 2018

How long has it been?



I don't know about you, but things keep getting crazier around here. Before I knew it, it was October, and now the month is already half gone! I think I have taken on too much, so after some debating, I plan on scaling back after this month. The holidays are crazy enough without adding to it. I have been taking classes for my doctorate, and that will have to go. I will continue teaching for now, but after next semester, that's going too. I need to focus on our home, or what we call our home, for now. I thought I had stuff down, but the more things continue, the less control I have. I don't want to be a Type A, but I don't want stuff in utter chaos either. Sometimes life gets busier without adding to it.

Image may contain: flower, plant and nature

So, I leave you with an image of fall. I have been knitting and crocheting, and reading. Because I am splitting my free time between the three, none have a lot of progress. I hope to change that after the holidays.

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Craziness that is Life

Life has been a bit insane. I have been teaching at a college, teaching my 3 children, taking a class, getting sick, getting my children well, helping keep my mother-in-law on track with healing, and sometimes the walls close in. I don't get nearly as much time to do what I want to do, and feel like I never quite get caught up.

I have been working on this blanket again:




It is MUCH farther along than this. I am using the Cozy Stripe Afghan pattern from Attic24 with self-striping yarn. It's an easy, fun crochet.

Knitting is kind of on the back burner at the moment. I have a project that I want to start, and one I need to finish. I am almost done with my Milkrun Shawl, but the last ruffle I had planned to do, and started, I need to take out. There just isn't enough yarn. So, I can remove it and be done. My project list is slowly diminishing, but much like reading, I can never get as much done in an hour as I think I can.

My book list still sits, unread. And it has grown. I have added 2 titles to it, but haven't started on any of them.

How was your summer? Are you looking forward to fall?

Monday, September 03, 2018

This Month

I have 8 books that I would like to read this month. Over four weeks, that means two books each week. Technically, I have 10 books though. Two of them I am currently reading. The first is For the Sake of the Children: Foundations of Education for Home and School. The second is an audiobook of Outlander.  I love that book; it is one of my favorites. Audiobooks make it easy to multitask, so I can knit or crochet while listening. I usually fold clothes while Davina Porter reads to me. But if the laundry is mostly caught up, I knit or crochet. I am still working on my Milkrun Shawl, and not sure if I have enough yarn for the last ruffle. Yarn Chicken will be played I am sure.

Saturday, September 01, 2018

Reset

August was kind of a reset month for us. Everything started over, like school and I decided to start over on a few things myself. September is a continuation, and first change I am making is reading more. This is my book list for September. Yep, just for the month of September. There are 7 books, and I am still trying to finish 2 others. One is a re-read in audio form (Outlander) and one is an education book. Let's see if I can add books to my project list and make it through.

Monday, July 02, 2018

Busyness for us

I specifically did not plan much this summer. I wanted to relax. Ha - the joke is on me. It seems each week is filled with some sort of adventure. We have gone to the zoo, had eye appointments, visited the library, had a birthday party or two, gone to a friend's house or two, and just run errands. Nothing seems to ever really slow down. Recently, I had to change out the children's clothes, and clean out their room. Now the living room is piled with clothes and toys in various containers. I am still working through all of it.

Fortunately, I still try to make time to do a few other things, like read and knit. I have finally gotten the Milkrun Shawl back to where it was before I started over.


I didn't intend to do this, but I did just start the book 1776 in audio book form last week. Ironic, but appropriate. I have new glasses (picture soon, I promise!) and I think I have a priority list for projects. I will finish the Milkrun shawl, then finish the Cosy Stripe afghan, and then do Little Man's Dragon. I hope that will end in August, and then I can finish my V-Neck Boxy, Little Man's afghan, and maybe start on the Princess's afghan. I also need to work on the 2 unicorns for the girls. I have Jane's Ubiquitous Shawl in the wings, as well as Fading Point. All I need is time, right?


Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Milk rerun

I found my stitch count was off on my Milk Run Shawl, so I frogged it. I also had decided I did not like the beginning, so I wanted to fix it. The problem is there is no fixing what I don't like. At least, not to my knowledge.

The first picture is of the starting point; the ridge is my complaint. I do not know if that has to be there, as a result of picking up stitches, or not. The second picture is where I currently am. I have a little less than half back of where I was, which was probably about half of the shawl body. I hope to get back to where I was soon.

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Summertime

This has been a busy, crazy year so far. Everything has blossomed and gone wild. Life was supposed to be lazier now, but it is not. I have lots of projects still going. Nothing is done.

I am currently working on my Milk Run Shawl, in a lovely lavender shade of Rowan Pure Wool Worsted. I should probably be working on something else, like a dragon, socks, one of the many blankets or sweaters I have started, but for now, a shawl it is.

Saturday, May 05, 2018

Spring, sort of

Spring has sprung, finally. More like summer lite, as we usually bypass spring here in Georgia. I managed to get startitis, and am swatching for a top for myself. I chose Buttercup, as it would be something different. I ordered yarn, since digging through my stash is not the easiest (being packed in boxes in a storage unit).

Recently, I have been book-obsessed. That works, as my children reap the benefits. I have bought a couple of boxes of books, and am reading on my own and to my children. I have also been working on embroidery pieces. I bought one yesterday (see picture below). I haven't decided yet what to do, but have lots of options.

Spring is in the air!

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Newish things

I still have not finished anything. I did recently make more progress on Little Man's dragon. I am up to about row 15 on the body. Last weekend was a mess, which was good and bad. The bad news was our car's transmission went out. The good news was we found a new (to is) vehicle that will comfortably fit us all.

This one was financed, with a decent down payment. Not a perfect scenario, but definitely better than not having any vehicle. We are still trying to see if the old one can be fixed reasonably. Having two vehicles would be helpful.

In other events, ever start off thinking something was a good idea, and it was at the time, but then after it was all over, you realize it wasn't such a great idea? Yeah, I just did that. Being frustrated and depressed affects your judgment. Don't allow yourself to purchase self-help coaching during that time. I haven't finished all the "bonus" material, but it was not worth what I paid. Encouragement is great, but you shouldn't have to pay for it.

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Thursday, March 08, 2018

Makers

I am trying to just keep working on things. Every step forward seems like minor progress, and once in a while I move back instead of forward. I keep trying though.

Measuring or limiting what I am eating is having a slow, but positive affect. I may not really be losing any weight, but my acid reflux has diminished. I plan on pushing forward with eating smaller more frequent meals and drinking more water.

Making has been taking a backseat to many other activities. It seems this month everything is happening all at once. Spring and winter are battling for control, and life is busy. Nothing has been completed yet, but still I push forward. Staying positive at times is difficult, but faith and trust persevere.

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Finishitis

I now have finishitis. Startitis is when you want to start a bunch of projects, so finishitis is when you want to finish a bunch of projects. The problem is, finishing is a lot harder than starting.

Up first, I think: the Ice Queen cape. It is close to being done anyway. I went looking for the second skein, only to realize that this WAS the second skein. It really is close to being done. I just need to finish it.

Friday, February 23, 2018

Rocky

It has been a little while since I last posted - I've been busy. Not busy knitting or crocheting, unfortunately, but busy with life. We all have these seasons. This is one of mine. Hubby and I are still waiting for a new job/place to live. I am still working, albeit slowly, on craft projects, homeschooling the three littles (although they are not so little anymore at 11, 7, and 3), teaching a class at the local college, church, and now taking a class for my doctorate. That is a lot of reading and writing. I don't mind quite so much, but I think once my teaching class is done, the other can retain my focus easier. I enjoy writing, which is part of the reason I have this blog.

I am still working on my Cosy Woodland Blanket, and am a little more than 1/3 of the way done. I am on color 40 of 117, I think. Then there is the border to be done. I wish I had a place to put all of my crafting things together, and hopefully one day soon I will. Living where we are, space is limited, but I saw a picture of something I wish I had time to play with from a few years ago:


My loving hubby bought me some Wollmeise Sock Yarn, and it is buried somewhere (like everything else). A beautiful blue and dark brownish-grey. My mind flits from project to project, and one day I will get to all my stash, I think. Provided that I live that long. =) We sometimes have stash beyond our life expectancy, but I would like to think mine is manageable, provided that I live until at least 80. Haha!

Wednesday, February 07, 2018

For me

Sometimes you need or want a quick project, just for yourself. Enter the Copy Cat C.C. beanie. I thought it would go nicely with my cowl. I think it will be done by Valentine's Day.

Monday, February 05, 2018

Timeliness

It has been a while since I posted, because the past two weeks have been crazy. I started teaching again,  my doctoral classes started, my Biblical counseling track started, and I have started preparing for the Ladies' Retreat at our church. Not to mention all the issues our church has had. Our pastor and music minister left, some of the members who held positions have left, and there are lots of holes to fill. So between external factors and regular cooking/cleaning/homeschooling factors and last week's insane weather causing sinus issues, I haven't been able to do much crafting. I am about a quarter done with my Woodland blanket. It sounds like a lot, but considering that it is supposed to be almost done, it really isn't. My V-neck Boxy  is still waiting, and I have a sleeve done on Little Man's birthday sweater. I still have not wound the yarn for that yet. I hope to catch up a bit after February with knitting and crochet goals. My reading goal is off to a good start - I have already read 2 books this year. I have at least 2 more to read before next week (they are short). But books are books.

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Craziness

Ever have those days when things feel like they are spiraling at an increasing speed and you are just trying to hang on for dear life? Yeah...that has been me over the past 3 days. There have been all kinds of things that have popped up, most are temporary, but all seem to be immediate. Things like:

1) Our pastor left. That may seem inconsequential, but his wife was the music minister. So we have 2 holes to fill, but it was more than just preaching and music on Sunday morning. It was a partnership with the elementary school, choir practice and special music, church meetings and keeping the calendar, and a million other little jobs they did.

2) A women's retreat at church. Again, it may seem irrelevant, but I am coordinating it. And our speaker fell through.

3) Spring semester at the local college started. I knew this was coming, and have been looking forward to it. However, I have had less time to prepare than I would have liked due to the holidays.

4) I took an ingenious idea to get my doctorate and start it this year. Not a big deal, until I got talked into starting it sooner than expected because of a scholarship opportunity.

5) At our last church, there was a Biblical Counseling course they did, and I wanted to participate but never had the time or money. Now after reaching out about the books used, I was offered an opportunity to get it at a fraction of the cost and online, so the timing was flexible.

6) Hubby and I found an apartment complex that we may be able to afford with assistance. I also discovered a program for helping families like ours purchase a home.

All of these things mean my time is super limited, even more than normal.  I am still homeschooling my children, and both my older children are in book clubs. That is good and bad - another obligation, but I get some semi-free time. I know I should say no more, but once the initial panic calms down, I think I can handle it. My brain can process small bits at a time. I have to plan the work and work the plan. And stay on top of it all, which small steps can accomplish.

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Working On It

I am back to working on my V neck Boxy. I got the back and both fronts done, and have joined the body. All I have to do is knit. And knit. And knit.

It should be great for knitting while watching TV, although I am trying to watch less and read more. My next major project is a sweater for Little Man. I have the yarn, but still have to wind it. Guess what is on the list for tomorrow?

Monday, January 15, 2018

Startitis

I started another crochet project, because I had some of the yarn and am having a great time with the blanket.

I pulled out the Mandala yarn from Lion Brand that I bought for Little Man. His birthday is Saturday, and he will be 11. Can you believe it? Eleven already. He is as smart as ever, picking up some sarcasm like a good boy, and has a terrific sense of humor.

I asked him about a sweater for his birthday, and he still wants one. It won't be ready for Friday, but I will make one. I also have a dragon to make for him. A big one, with enormous wings. This year will be more fun stuff, and not so much about Christmas. I still have a sweater for me and some socks, 2 unicorns and blankets for the girls, several books to read and at least one shawl for me. That should keep me sufficiently occupied this year, don't you think?

Tuesday, January 09, 2018

Cozy Woods

I have been working on the Woodland Stripe blanket, in the Cozy Stripe colorway. I am using the stripe sequence from the Cozy blanket, which means I have all my colors lined up. There has been a little extra planning, as the Woodland blanket pattern has 117 stripes, and the Cozy blanket only has 90. So, how am I dealing with this? Simple - I am repeating the first sequence (about 16 colors) and I did the first color for the starting row and rows 2 and 3.

Another change I have made is with color changes. Most of the time, the directions read "end with dc, change to new color, ch 3." I change the color at the top of the last dc (or sc, whichever stitch it is), and then chain 3. I also catch the ends under the next row.

Catching the ends makes weaving them in a bit easier. I will also finish weaving them in section by section.

The colors are not as bright as I imagined, which is nice. I thought they would look more vibrant, almost neon or day glow, but they are actually more subdued. It looks really good.

Saturday, January 06, 2018

Finished objects and more

I did finish my Veronika, and have worn it.  I really need to get a picture of it on, but maybe I can do that later.

I started a blanket. It is coming together nicely, when there is not a user error in the pattern.

I have also finished one book! I am one book closer to my goal! I hope read at least 9 more. I have 7 that I have started, and if I can finish those, my goal of 15 will be easy.

I am working towards my goals quickly. I am getting school all lined up, and the search for a house is in the beginning stages.

This year is off to a great start!

Wednesday, January 03, 2018

WIP Wednesday

So I finished my Veronika last night, at least the knitting. I would show it to you, but I stuck it in the washer (it is acrylic and wool, so I think it will be okay) so I can block it. That is later today's project.

I am also still working on the Snow Queen cape/blanket. So far, I think it is turning out okay.

I have a CAL starting on Friday. It is the Woodland blanket, in the Cosy stripe colorway. It should be fun.

I also have my V-neck boxy and a birthday sweater to do. There is a dragon and 2 unicorns to make. I think that is all of my WIPs. How about yours?

Monday, January 01, 2018

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! This is the time for new beginnings. Just about everyone I know is making resolutions. Have you made yours? I have several, and I have thought carefully about them.

First on my list is more or better self-care. I have had a tendency to neglect myself this past year, even after falling. If I don't take care of me, no one else will. I also must teach my children to care for themselves, in all ways. Not to be selfish, but so that they do not get hurt. Neglect can lead to injury, and simple care can prevent it.

Along with self-care goes more knitting for me. I have not made something for myself that actually fits and I enjoy it for a long time. So, this year, I plan on focusing more on me and what I would like. No one else knits, so if I want something handmade, it is up to me.

Moving is on tha agenda for this year. We need our own place. The children need separate rooms. We need a more stable income and environment. Times are tough, but where there is a will, there is a way.

Deeper knowledge is always a good goal. This year, I want to dig deeper into knowledge of my Savior. Jesus is a top priority, and although everyone may not agree, I want a deeper understanding of God, His Son, His Spirit and His Word. Many people object to God and Christianity by what they think they know or what someone else has told them. I believe this is short-sighted. Second, third, or fourth hand accounts are heresay. Read for yourself. Learn for yourself.

Speaking of reading, last year I had a goal of reading 10 books. I read 6. This year, I challenge myself to read 15. If I have the same rate of success, it will be 9 for the year.

I want to lose 100 pounds this year. I have already started making a conscious effort in that direction. Eating healthy meals that are balanced, eating smaller portions and eating every 3 hours will take me a long way in reaching that goal. Exercise will come when possible. Right now, the extra weight and tense muscles prevent most of that from happening. As part of self-care, a healthier body is a must. Interestingly, I think pictures are also part of that.

I am close to being done with my Veronika. I think by the end of the week I will be done, which is great because it will be cold all week long.

What about your New Year's resolutions?