Sheep!

Sheep are done!


They went pretty fast. I made two white sheep and one black one. I think they are pretty cute.

We Three Kings

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and come to worship Him" -Matthew 2:1-2

The wise men are done!



They have definitely been the most intricate figures to make so far. I'm done with the shepards too, but won't post pics of them until their staffs and sheep are done.

Long Time No Post

Well I have not posted in a while. I've been pretty busy with school and life in general. I got a washer and dryer this past week. It was $125 for both and the are brand new! I was so excited. I am going to save so much money not going to the laundromat.
I am going to get on later and post some pictures and update some more, but for now I am just letting everyone know Im still alive. LOL

Welcome Jesus!

"While they were there (in Bethlehem), the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:6-7




Yay, Jesus is done! He was pretty fast. I actually knit more on this pair of socks than I did him.

I love knitting socks. These ones were pretty fun to. I think from here on out I'm knitting Christmas presents so it was nice to get something done for myself.

Joseph

"So Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him, and was expecting a child." Luke 2:4-5



Joseph is done! Yay! Just in the nick of time too. (my goal is to start a new character each Monday.) I think he turned out pretty well. The hair and beard where actually really fast and fun to knit. The coat isn't like what the pattern said, but for Joseph I like it a lot better. I think I am going to change up each charecter a little bit as I make them. This week I am making the baby Jesus.

I have another finished knitted object to show you.

I was originally commissoned to make this hat for a friend of mine. I was trying to be cheap and use yarn from my stash. Well that will teach me. It came out HUGE! And the intended recipient has the same size head as me, so I knew it wouldn't fit. I took it to church Tuesday night at the Wesley Center, just to show to Tamila the horror. One of the boys decided he loved it, and guess what? It Fit Him! So I was very happy the hat found a home. And I bought yarn to make another one that will actually fit my friend.

Busy Saturday.

Well, I am so close to being finished with Joseph. I had some trouble with him this week. The first time I made his coat, it was way to big. So I had to frog it, and do it again. Unfortunately the second time I was not in the mood to do it, so it languished until today. I buckled myself down and got his coat, both his arms, and his hands done today. Everything is sewn on. Now all that's left is his beard, hair and embroidering his face. So that will be my job tomorrow in between studying.
Today was the first home football game. EKU vs WKU. Supposedly its a big rivalry. I didn't go. I really wasn't in the mood. I'm not really that big of a football person anyway. I did go to a wedding this afternoon though. A guy from the Wesley Center was getting married so a few of us ended up going. I think it was the shortest wedding ever. It started a little after 4pm, and was done before 4:30pm. It was nice and simple too, even with two preachers officiating over the ceremony.
Alright, I'm off to bed as I have church in the morning.

Mary

-But the angel said to her "Do not be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus.- Luke 1:30-31



This is the first in a series of dolls I am knitting for my grandmother's Christmas present. She is going to have a whole Nativity scene with the Holy family, shepherds, Wise men, and even sheep! I really liked how she turned out, and am even pretty proud of my embroidery job.

Marble Stuff (for mom)

Mom, here are a few photos of things I liked when I was search for a necklace. This first picture is actually the fron page from a tutorial on a jewelry making book. Its simple and I like it.

This second one gave me the idea to make the one I wore around for a while. Its from an actual jewelry site, and it was only $20 but won't fit my uranium marble.


Just thought I would post those quick to see if thats what Ms. M had in mind.

All Moved In....

Well I am officially in Kentucky. Its ok so far. I have a cute little apartment. I have all new appliances in the kitchen, including a dishwasher (which is prolly my favorite part!) I have washer and dryer hook-up, but alas no washer and dryer. I had to take my laundry yesterday to this really ghetto laundromat which turned out horrible. Half their washers didn't work. Then I put my clothes in the dryer for over 1.5 hours and my clothes were not dry at all. I ran out of quarters so I just brought them home and laid them all over the house to air dry. I later found a tick in my bed, which I am assuming came from there. GROSS! Needless to say, I won't go back there.
Today I pretty much hung out around the house. Did the habitual trip to Wal-Mart to get a few things. Then I came home, took a nap, and have been cleaning unpacking, and knitting of course. I am working on Brock's Christmas Present which will be a Transformers Hat like the one Nicholas got for Christmas last year. I also organized my yarn stash, and I have 19730 yards of yarn. Thats 11.21 miles! Some of that will become Christmas presents, but a good chunk is sock yarn for me. Obviously I need to get knitting....

Hmm...

Well its been a very interesting week. I met this really awesome nice great guy, and found out he has a girlfriend. *insert pouty face here* But we have been talking for a while, and he gave me this riddle to figure out. Now the catch is that if I figure it out or show satisfactory work before I leave to go to school I get a book. Now this isn't just *any* book. This is a copy of Charles Darwin's Origin of the Species, printed in 1871. Let me repeat that, 1871. This book is 137 years old. Leather bound and everything. I may have drooled a little when he showed me. But he won't let me have it or read it until I leave for school, and work some more on the riddle. He said there are 5 parts, and I have the first so far:

all but one are in row
but not the four from days of old

My guess was its the elements, because they are in rows on the periodic table except hydrogen which is off by itself, and way back when humans thought there were just four; earth air fire water. But he said that wasn't it, but its close. Its definitely something to do with science, and he also said its more of an idea than a tangible object. Anybody have any other ideas? I get my next clue wednesday, so we will see if that shines any lights on things.

Venting of Frustrations....

Ok, so I have been waiting all summer to recieve my Financial Aid statement from EKU. I called today and after being transferred between no less than 6 offices, found out that my statement was e-mailed to an my EKU email. I wasn't aware I even had and EKU email, or even that all this important documentation was being sent there. So now I am waiting on my username to be activated to see what kind of hoops I have to jump through to get some money for school! Ugh! Also someone inputted my social security number wrong so now I have to fill out some paperwork and present them with proof of what my real number is. Great, just what I want to do when I start school in less than a month.

Work has been normal. And by normal I mean it sucks. Most people that know me well, relieze I am NOT a customer service kind of person. I don't like the small talk, I don't like the interaction, and most of the time I really don't give a crap when you are unhappy, or want to go the extra mile to fix it. This is why I chose a vocation where I can sit in a nice quiet by my self, and only occasionally have to deal with people.
My frustrations with customers are also magnified with all the stupid things they do. Most don't see whats right in front of their face. Everything in the ice cream is clearly labeled with its flavor, and yet noone thinks to actually read the labels and instead asks me a millon question. Not to mention the fact that the number of mispronounciations of the names is countless. Lemon Chi-fen? No thats Chiffon. Jamacha Almond Fudge? no thats JaMOcha. And yes there is nuts in it. Do even get me started on my inability to understand the eubonics people speak in half the time....

I would like to post script this with things I do like about my job, just to show I am not a total grump. Little kids who come in and pick out flavors by color are adorable. Elderly couples who come in once a week on dates, also adorable. My regulars who get excited that I can remember what they normally get, make me feel smart. Also that fact that I get to eat ice cream everyday, but that was evidenced by the fact I have gained 5 pounds this summer. Oh, and paychecks are nice too.

I have a ton of pictures of things I have knit, and of the three boys to upload, I just can't seem to find my camera cord. But as soon as I find it, there will be lots of pictures, let me promise you.

Can't find the words....

Wow. Its hard to believe that its been over a week since Konrad was killed. Konrad is my older (step) brother. He was killed late Saturday night in a hit and run accident. I personally believe that the girl who hit him was drunk, since she waited over 24 hours to turn herself in, even after they found her rental car abandoned.
I guess I knew I really needed to write about this, I have just not been able to concentrate enough to do it until today. Last week I went to work to distract myself a little, and pretty much cried or slept otherwise. Friday my aunts and I drove down to Knoxville TN to meet my stepmom Darcy and my Dad for Konrads funeral. It was actually a really nice funeral. A ton of his friends from school came and spoke. I coupled ageed to send me pictures via facebook so I can give them to Darcy. Darcy seemed to be taking everything ok, but she said she was just so tired from crying she couldn't physically cry anymore. Even my dad took it hard.
It was hard to leave Knoxville after the service Saturday. Eventually Darcy kicked us out and sent us on our way. My aunts made a surprise stop and drove me around Richmond KY on our way back, since that is where my new school is. I hadn't been there yet so it was nice to see the campus. They are building a brand new science center, so that is exciting. It was reassuring to see that while campus was bigger than LSSU, its not huge, so it won't be too much of a change for me. There is also a National City in Richmond, so I won't have to switch banks, which is a blessing.

My Warranty has Expired....

Why is it now that I don't have insurance, I need to go to the Dr? I have been having this really weird pain in my shoulder blade. It almost feels tingly like when your foot falls asleep. Its really getting annoying. I am just hoping its not a pinched nerve or something.

Nick's party was yesterday, and it was a lot of fun. I was pretty happy that I spent the whole day in the sun and didn't get sunburned. It tried to rain for a little bit, but luckily that didn't last. Luckily we have plenty of food. Sloppy joes, baked beans, pasta and potato salad, chips and dip, and of course cake. The cake actually turned out really good. I was worried because it was a Felspausch cake, but it was really good, everybody thought so. I made Nick a few dishcloths for his present, plus got him some dish soap. I think he liked it, I was worried he would think it was stupid though.

Well, its late and I am at work in my office, so I think I will head home.

Jumping on the Bandwagon

I love the new "trend" of bringing your own bags to the grocery store. I think it is just the best idea, and hope more people start doing it. I haven't bought any of those nice $0.99 bags you can get at the stores, because hey, I am crafty and I can make my own. I have own knitted out of plastic shopping bags, and one more in the works. And then today I was looking at my favorite online magazine and saw this...


http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer08/PATTbyob.html

Isn't that perfect? I want to start one so bad, but I have Nicholas' graduation present(s) to finish first. I need to get into my yarn stash and see if I have enough cotten to make one, if not a trip to Jo-anns might be in order.

Ponderings

Why is it when I read fashion and style magazines they refer to the new popular "natural" look for hair, and then when I look at the model all I can think is, "My hair does not naturally look like that" Now if big 80's hair was popular, I could pull that off without hairspray. But alas, I must attack my hair every morning with a straightening iron to get it to even think of behaving.
Well, its Friday (hopefully) the last workday of the week. I have a feeling I am going to get called in to work tomorrow, which on one hand would be ok since I need the money, but my sanity needs some time off.

Home Again

Well, I am in Delton again. Its definitely been a tough transition. Its always really hard to go from living by yourself to living 5 other people (plus the dog)! I really wanted to have moved to Kentuck by now, but mom said it made more sense for me to stay here and not pay rent, and just save money up. (I think she just wants to keep a free babysitter around) ;-)
I have been keeping busy lately. I worked about 50 hours last week for Papa, and this week have been watching Heath and Brock since their day care lady is out of town, which is extra fun since they are both sick. Plus going to work every night. I am a little tired. I really would like a day off just to sit and watch movies and work on my knitting projects. But I don't think that is going to happen any time soon. Maybe I can just steal some time while the kids are napping....

New Haircut....

I think its pretty cute. I have been meaning to get it cut for a while now, and just decided to go. I really needed to get it cut before graduation.

I am 2/3 of the way done with classes. I have one more exam tomorrow, and I am not really even worried. I might or might not study for it tonight. I have more important things to do, like finish Brock's blanket for his birthday.

Finishing a few things...

Well, my Senior poster is done. As is my power point, a paper for toxicology, my math take home test and.....

These socks. I finished them sitting in Crawford waiting to go over my presentation with Judy. I was so excited, I changed socks right then to wear these. Thats not even a lie. I showed them off for a few minutes, and then put them on and put my other socks in my book bag. My friend Drew remarked that he was suprised I waited as long as I did to put them on. I pretty much love them.

Stressed Out...

Well, its that time of the year. Crunch time. Aka, I'm going to lose my mind I'm so stressed out. I have so much to do before the end of the year, its not even funny. Here's a list:
1. Powerpoint Presentation
2. Poster
3. Senior Paper
4. Toxicology paper/presentation
5. mail taxes
6. get gen ed substitution approved
7. pack
8. prep Chem 115 class (I teach it)
9. make Brock's blanket

Ok, so the last one is the most fun. I am making Brock a blanket that looks like a Spiderman web when its done. Should be super cute. I am also working on some socks and a shawl, but it might be a while before any of those get finished.

In which I go to the ER...

So I have decided that my Sr project is cursed. This past Thursday while working on my project I cut myself on some glass and had to go to the ER. I called Jeff from the waiting room and made him sit with me. I ended up spending two hours there and got liquid stiches. So since I cut my left hand (my dominent hand) I am pretty much useless. Today was the first day I am able to type, and I am still mostly using my right hand. I still can't write, or even worse.... knit. I have just been watching a lot of tv and trying to catch up on my reading. Its really weird to have to try and do my normal routine with the wrong hand. Jeff thinks its really funny to watch me eat....

I hope I heal soon....

Night One of Vacation

Well this morning we left for our week of adventures. I am traveling with my work, Admissions, and we are presenting programs to students interested in LSSU. I presented a little about myself and what I am studying. Boy was I nervous, my hands were shaking really bad. But we got to talk to quite a few kids, and a couple are really excited about coming to the school. I am just excited to spend a week in hotels, and eating out while not paying for anything. Tonight after our presentation we went to dinner at Buffulo Wild Wings. Al (my boss) and I shared a plate of wings, and they were HOT! My lips are still on fire. Al and I ate only about half of what we order. I had a pulled-pork sandwhich though, which was delicious.
Well, I'm off to relax for a while, and get some sleep!

Recyling Adventures!

So I recently learned how to take old sweaters and recycle them to reuse the yarn. I went to Goodwill and found this sweater:

Then I ripped it all apart and wound up the yarn into balls. I used my chair to wind the skeins and measure the amount of yarn I had.

Each wrap around my chair is equal to 1.25 yards. So by multiplying the number or wraps by that length, I get the length in each skein.
Then each skein got washed and dried.

Then once they are dry, I made a little label for them, and they are ready to knit with!


I bought the sweater at Goodwill for a whopping $6.99. After unraveling it and skeining it up, I had 1724 yards of yarn. It is a really soft wool/cashmere/angora/rayon blend. I found a similar yarn online that goes for $8.50 a ball. So the retail of all the yarn I got was around $74! I am going to use it to make this sweater:

I should definetly have enough have enough to make the sweater, hopefully with leftovers for a pair of socks or something.

Exciting News!!

I am at work, so I have to make this quick, but I wanted everyone to know: I GOT A JOB!! In Hawaii too! I will be working for the Army on their base there, doing drug screenings. I just got the letter today making it official, so now I just have to fill out my paperwork and take a drug screening and I get to move to Hawaii!

Busy Little Bee

I have had a busy couple of weeks, so unfortunetly this has not gotten updated as it should have. My senior project data is due this Friday, so I have been busy getting that done. I am very very close, hopefully everything will go well tomorrow and I will be done. Cross your fingers. I also have four tests this week. It seems like my professors all plan test to fall at the same time, so I have to cram them all in instead of having plenty of time to prepare.
I have been getting a little bit of knitting done. I have been doing the most knitting done during class time. I just finished a hat for my friend Andy the other day in Criminology. (FYI worst class EVER) It fit him really well, and he liked it, so that was good. It got some yarn out of my stash. I have been working really hard not to buy any yarn or craft supplies and just using what I have, so that I have less to move in May. Also, I just don't have the extra money lately to buy all that stuff. I bought groceries Saturday, and actually felt really guilty about it. But seriously, I need food, and if I have to eat one more processed cafeteria meal it will probably turn me into a preservative.
I have also been working on this cute little yellow shrug lately. I want to get it done in time for Spring Break. I get to travel with our Admissions department around MI and tell students about LSSU. It should be fun. I am looking forward to a relatively relaxing week, just traveling, letting other people drive, pay for my meals, getting some serious knitting time in the car.
I have also been trying to unravel this pink sweater I got from Goodwill about a month ago. I am unraveling it and am going to reuse the yarn to make something new. I have a really pretty sweater picked out. I want to get all the yarn ready so I can take that project to work on in the car next week. I have a really cool tutorial to rip sweaters apart to use the yarn I will have to post next time, plus some of the pictures of the sweater as I work on it!

For Deanna:

I took these Christmas Eve too.


He was just being so cute playing by himself and with Heath I couldn't help it.

PS. Jeff is Jeff Erb. He went to Delton, and he is also the RA of my dorm.

Back in the snowglobe...

Well, we had an exciting weekend. Jeff and I decided it was high time to come home. LSSU was also playing Western in hockey, so this past weekend seemed a good choice. (We tied Friday and won Saturday- thank you very much) The hockey game was fun, although Western's fans are very- mouthy. They are not nice, at all. I am really against booing and making fun of players during games, but especially if you are going to make fun of players pronounce their names right. (Western fans need to learn to read, seriously)
Saturday I got to spend the whole day with my family. It was nice to be home. The baby was not as excited to see me as to see my purse and cell phone, which are his favorite toys. Saturday night Mom, Grandma, Sara, and I went to Salvation Army. I got a ton of things. I got three sweaters for $.50 each, a really cute army style jacket for $5, a winter coat for $2, and some cute coffee mugs. It was so much fun. Sunday we stayed home from church and had waffles for breakfast. I was supposed to come back to the Soo that day, but I-75 and the Mackinac bridge were closed, so we waited until Monday. But we got back safely, and I had classes today.
Which gets me to my next story.... Somebody threw away my senior project. I will give you a moment for that to sink in. This is my project that I have to design, evaluate, and perform by myself. It is a requirement for graduation. All my data from my samples are due at the end of February. Somebody threw it out. Over the weekend I guess they thought the lab wasn't clean enough. I am MAD. I yelled in a classroom full of people. I called my mom and yelled to her in the hallway. I left nasty notes in the lab. Luckily, I still had a stash of the pills I was working on locked in a drawer, so I could start over. But this is a crazy set back that I really don't need at this point.
Ok, on to some pictures....
Here are my socks, I finally finished the first one, and turned the heel of the second one in the car on the way back to school. Hopefully they will be done soon because I can't wait to wear them.

This is one I took of Heath this weekend:

He loves hats. I had made this hat for a friend, and so I made him wear it to get pictures. I don't think he minded much though.


And just because everybody else's blog has pictures of Seth, I thought I would too.

I took that in the nursery on Christmas Eve. I just thought it was cute how they were playing together.

Quick Update.

Yes I am still alive. Sorry I haven't called Mom.

Things are pretty busy here at school. All my data for my Senior Project is due at the end of the month. So that deadline looming is pretty stressful, not to mention that I have four test this Thursday and Friday. But Friday I get to come home(!) for the weekend, go to a hockey game, and see my family. I am super excited.
I have been knitting, I am still working on those socks. I have also started a little yellow shrug which should be super cute when its done. I got together all of my leftover acrylic that was in the same kinda color scheme, and I am going to be working on afghan squares with it, and will eventually have a blanket. I have actually been working a lot on that, because I can do that in class, or at a hockey game. Its also really mindless knitting, so its perfect for short break from studying and homework.
Alright, hopefully I will have a better post tomorrow with some pictures, but just wanted to pop in a let everybody know I was still here!

Survival of the Fittest....

Well, I survived the first week of classes. My classes arn't too bad. Toxicology is going to be really interesting, and its with my favorite professor so thats a bonus. Criminology and Abnormal Psychology will be ok, a lot of reading, but thats nothing I can't handle. I am getting excited to do my senior project. My professors mom keeps sending me all the oxycodone and hydrocodone tablets to analyze. I feel like a drug dealer. But its actually been really nice of her. I need to write myself a note to send her a thank you note for everything. Calculus is going to kick my butt though. I am really not looking forward to this class. But I need it to start graduate school. Which by the way I was accepted into!! Yay! So, I just have to get my financial ducks in a row in order to go. But, I am really excited to get the acceptance off my chest.
Well, I actually did get some knitting done this week. I have been pretty much exclusively working on my Gryffindor Entralac Socks.

They have been actually really fun to work on. They should look pretty cool when they are done.

Long time no post...

Well, I am back to school. I am pretty excited to start classes again. I am sure this last semester will be very stressful, but it will be over fast. I took advantage of this past couple of days and did nothing at all. Seriously. I spent all day sitting on my couch watching my Harry Potter movies, and knitting on my socks. I am excited to be done with Christmas present knitting, and be able to knit things for myself.
Alright, I need to go pack my bag for tomorrow.