A beginning

I started a new shawl today. I've been wanting to start this project since I bought the book Handknit Holidays a few years ago. Its a pattern called the Swedish Heart Warmer Shawl. I bought the yarn from Knit Picks last month, and got the knitting needles from them yesterday. The shawl has a sun motif near the neck but I'm replacing that with the Flame of Tar Valon. Also I'm using Gray instead of yellow so this will be one of my Aes Sedai shawls.

I worked on it for an hour today, and want to work on it at least an hour every day. I'm going to try and take a picture of it each day after I work on it so I can chronicle how it grows.

I probably won't blog the change every day, but I'll at least show the pictures as I go.

Happy (belated) Birthday Recap

Ok, ok. Yes I know this is a week overdue.

Last Wednesday was my birthday. I'm the ripe old age of 25 now. The birthday itself was fairly un-eventful. My lovely boyfriend did drive down here to take me out to dinner though, which was nice. We went to Logan's and even convinced our waitress to bring me a free dessert. They didn't sing but she did yell Happy Birthday and Yeehaw or something. The cheesecake was totally worth it.
I got quite a few presents, mostly opened much before my birthday. My mom got me a new lunch pail from Tupperware with some matching lunch containers. Dad and Darcy gave me a new George Foreman. I has plates that you can take off and switch for other ones, so I can grill, and cook pizzas or quesadillas on it too, among many other things.
Adam gave me a few things for my birthday, but the big gift was this.

Its a pink pistol! I'm pretty excited about it. We took it out and shot it the day after he gave it to me. I definitely need more practice and to build up my strength, as its hard for me to shoot it still. (Which makes me feel like a weakling.

Weekend Recap Part #1

This past weekend was very busy, but it was busy with fun things so it was worth all the hustle.
The first event that happened this weekend was the Crick Family Fall Party. I've been told this is a yearly occurrence. We spent a good portion of Friday night getting lights strung up and the yard and shop set up for the party. Then Saturday morning was more party decorating, chili making, finishing up with a nap for me Saturday afternoon.
Guests started coming at about 6pm. There was a DJ set up in the yard too and lots of dancing occured. Yes including the Chicken Dance.

There was a ton of food there too. Lots of desserts, drinks, hot dogs and chili. There was a chili cook-off contest so many families brought a crock-pot of chili with them. I made a pot of my vegetarian chili and entered it. I didn't think many people would like it, but I actually won the cook-off. I got a fuzzy new blanket as my prize.

The chili is actually really easy to make. I'm going to include the recipe for any who might be interested.
Elizabeth's (Prize-Winning) Vegetarian Chili
1 can Chili beans
1 can black beans (drained)
1 can Mexicali corn (drained)
1 can refried beans
1 small jar of salsa
1 can (or equivalent amount) of broth

Mix all ingredients together into a crock-pot and heat. Serve with Frito's and cheese.

See its easy. You can make it non-vegetarian by using chicken broth and adding some cut up cooked chicken to the pot.

WICKED!

I got to see Wicked this past weekend!

It all started when a group came to the ranch and wanted a trail ride at Adam's house. It turned out to be a couple of people from the the show, which is playing in Louisville right now. Adam actually got me a poster signed by the Wizard of Oz and Glinda!!
Then they told us that if we show up early to the show, we can put ourselves into a lottery to win tickets. We showed up Friday night and didn't win, but we tried again on Saturday for the matinee and won!! We ended up with two front row tickets to the show.

And afterwards one of the stage hands that Adam met on Monday gave us a backstage tour! I got to see the whole set and stand on stage, and actually touch the Wicked Witch's dress! It was so fabulous!

Wii Party!

My friend Tamila's in town for a few days, so we decided to get people together to hang out who missed her. I brought my Wii to the Wesley Foundation and we've been having a lot of fun.

Thats Tamila and Caroline playing Wii Winter Olympics. Right now they're trying to do the figure skating and it's so funny.

The end is near.

By 5pm tomorrow, my semester is over! I'm so ready to have sometime to relax. I still have a lot to do this summer, in order for my thesis to get written, but it won't be as bad as my workload this semester.
I can't wait to have time to actually relax and do fun things like read, play video games or knit.
Speaking of knitting, this is what I've been working on lately.

It might be hard to tell, but its a doll. Its one of those dolls where you slip the skirt over and another doll is hiding underneath. I just have the body and one skirt done so far. Its been very slow going since I've been working on school stuff, but I'm excited each time I finish a piece.

Half a Year Later

So Saturday marks 6 months that Adam and I have been dating. Its definitely been a great time so far. We've had some rough patches, but luckily we got through them well. He's pretty much the best boyfriend that exists. Thoughtful, caring, and not to mention we basically live parrallel lives. I think we decided the perfect date is us sitting at separate TV's in the same room playing separate video games. Though he has bought come co-op games for us to start playing on the same TV. :-P
Well, since it was an anniversary of sorts, Adam got me a few things. (Even thought I told him this was a no gift holiday.) A tin of mints thats shaped like a Hyrulian Shield, a Science cookbook, and this:

Yes folks, thats the Linux Penguin.

Best. Boyfriend. Ever.