2012 - Week One - Let's Do This2012 - Week One - Let's Do This I'm starting off 2012 with a positive surge of energy and eagerness because I know this is going to be a great year!  This year, although I don't set new year's goals or resolutions, I am looking forward...

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Week Fifty - GiftsWeek Fifty - Gifts This week's post is all about gifts.  First I'll start with the gift of an amazing husband who cares for me way more than I could ever deserve.  This past week, my laptop that I use for doing my job...

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Week Fourty Nine - Lessons LearnedWeek Fourty Nine - Lessons Learned One of the things I have learned about blogging over the past years, is that the very thing that you most want to write about generally keeps you from writing. That thing is called life. When I get busy,...

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Week Thirty - Rabbits Reborn and Sharing the Game of SoccerWeek Thirty - Rabbits Reborn and Sharing the Game of... This week has been a long one.  Scott has been in Africa all week and does not get back until Wednesday.  Although I have missed him greatly, I have been able to accomplish much with the quiet house...

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Week Twenty Nine - Missions and MittensWeek Twenty Nine - Missions and Mittens Scott left for Uganda yesterday on his first mission trip, ever.  He will be gone for 10 days and is part of an all male (testosterone rich) group of coaches and active guys.  He was excited, nervous,...

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Week Twenty Two – Holiday Knitting

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Category : Featured, Fiber Arts, Health

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Yes, I have actually started my Christmas 2011 knitting and crafting.  I am hoping to give more hand made gifts this year than ever before.  Unfortunately, I can’t reveal photos of those projects because, as I found out last week, my family reads my blog from time to time.  However, here are photos of the socks that I started on the way to the festival last week.  These are most likely for me and you can find more details on my Ravelry page.

Both pair are now at the turn heel stage.  So, I should have two new pair of socks to show in a couple of weeks.  Also, I was selected to test knit these socks.  Aren’t they a gas?  Of course, I had to order yarn to make them…gotta love stash enhancement!

On the health front, I went to the oral surgeon to see about the third tooth extraction and he does not want to do the procedure until I have blood work done to make sure my platelet count is high enough.  This liver thing is a PITA!  I have had two teeth extracted in the last two weeks and have had no complications.  Because this guy is a surgeon and not a dentist, he wants to “make sure” (read: legally cover his rear) when it comes to my “procedure” (read: pulling a tooth).  I can understand completely, but HATE having blood drawn…  Anyway, after the tooth is removed, I will finally have a partial, something that has been a long time coming.

Quote of the Day: “We are the people our parents warned us about.” ~ Jimmy Buffet

Week Seventeen – Picking Up The Pieces

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Category : Fiber Arts, Journal

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This week was a devastating one for the state of Alabama and the southern United States in general.  Currently, the death toll is at 248 in Alabama and 345 across the south, with hundreds still missing from the viscous tornadoes that ripped across the south on Wednesday.  Tuscaloosa, AL seemed to be hit the hardest.  Scott ventured up to Dadeville, AL with some people from our church to assist in the relief effort on Saturday.  There is so much devastation everywhere that it is difficult to do anything, because anything you do to help just seems so small in comparison to the overwhelming power of the storm’s wrath and the aftermath.  To see some wonderful photos that Scott was able to capture on Saturday, please see this post.

In crafting news, Sock Madness 5 is officially over for me.  I made it to round 4 and the pattern for that round is one I just couldn’t bring myself to spend the time and energy on.  It was a lovely sock, but the pattern contained too many “omissions” for my taste.  So, I moved on and finished one of the Spider Socks this week.  It was not a hard pattern, but a challenging one.  In contrast to the SM5 pattern for round 4, the Spider Sock pattern is very well written.  I am going to knit a few mindless things before picking up the second sock.  Here are the unglamorous photos:

That is about all for this week.  Happy Knitting Everyone!

Quote of the Week:

“I bought a cheap watch from a crazy man
Floating down canal
It doesn’t use numbers or moving hands
It always just says now
Now you may be thinking that I was had
But this watch is never wrong
And If I have trouble the warranty said
Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On”

Jimmy Buffett, Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On

Week Sixteen – Blessings Abound

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Category : Fiber Arts

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We found out this week that our new grand-baby is going to be a boy.  Currently, the parents plan to name him Luke Alan.  Good thing I started my baby sock adventure with a blue pair.  Here are the pairs I have made so far.

One other thing I made this week was a ring to hold my cable needle (toothpick).  Since I have been doing a lot of cables on socks lately, I have been trying to figure out a way to have my cable needle handy, without setting it down on a table or sticking it into the yarn ball or sock.  Here is what I have settled on thus far:

Finally, Easter is always the most difficult time of year for me since mom passed away (4/9/08).  It is a time for renewal and reflection, but for me it always comes with mixed thoughts of new life and life that has passed.  I hope everyone had a blessed Easter.  Give someone you love a hug today, it may be the last one you give them.

Quote of the week: “Mr. Cromwell, there really is no difference between us, except that I shall die today and you tomorrow.” Sir Thomas Moore ~ The Tudors, His Majesty’s Pleasure

Week Fifteen – Calm and Still Here

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Category : Fiber Arts

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Well, after all of last week’s good news I was really hoping that I would not get hit by a truck or struck by lightening this week to even things out.  We did have a strong storm blow through but, thankfully, no real damage to speak of.  This week has been calm and quiet.  Spring has sprung and everything is growing and blooming.  I am waiting for the release of the pattern for round 4 of Sock Madness and there was some concern on the group about releasing the pattern and competing over the Easter holidays.  So, the moderators are releasing an optional round pattern that does not count for the competition.  After Easter they will release the pattern for round 4 and things will heat up again.

In the meantime, while waiting, I have started on my baby sock adventure.  This is the first trial sock:

I wanted to get a feel for how many cast on stitches it would take and what size the finished sock would be.  This pattern is Garter Stripes Baby Socks and is very simple to do.  The only thing I would change in the pattern is the heel, which was somewhat of a pain, and the toe, which I changed already.  I think the pattern is really cute.  After doing this one I have a much better idea of the specs and will probably be making up some of my own designs for Baby Fillmer in the future.

Quote of the week: Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.  Benjamin Franklin ~ Poor Richard

Week Fourteen – It’s All Good

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Category : Fiber Arts, Health, Journal

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Ever have one of those days when everything went right and it made you a little afraid to step out in the street for fear of being hit by a truck?  Well, the last half of week 14 of 2011 was like that for us.  Let’s see if I can break it down.

We received the liver biopsy pathology results from the doctor on Tuesday, April 5th.  There is no cancer.  From here on out I will have to have periodic MRIs to monitor the disease, but that is the best news we could have hoped for.

Next, we finally received the paperwork on our sponsored child in Uganda.  Her name is Joanita and she is 8 years old.  We are so happy to finally know that she is the one we are helping to clothe and educate.  Now we are able to begin corresponding with her and we are hoping that Scott will be able to meet her in October when he goes to Buloba.  The organization we are working with for this sponsorship is African Renewal Ministries (ARM).  If you are so inclined, have a look at what you can do with $35 per month.

Also in the mail on the same day was my diploma from Liberty University.  It was a long two+ year endeavor, but I am glad I did it.  I now have a Master of Arts in Religion (MAR) to add to my list of completed objectives.

On Thursday, Sock Madness Round 3 began with the release of the pattern at 7 pm.  So the rest of my week was spent furiously knitting whenever I was sitting still. I stayed up until 1 AM last night to finish the pair.  My hands are killing me and, so, I will be laying off the knitting at least for a couple of days.

Finally, while knitting on the socks and talking on iChat with my son and his family, my son let it slip that he will be coming to visit us in June.  We were expecting to visit with our daughter-in-law and grandson on that trip, as our son was not planning on coming.  Their family is going to Disney and he was trying to avoid that adventure.  We are thrilled to pieces that he will now be joining them.

So, there you have it.  An overall GREAT week.

Quote of the Week: “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” Dr Seuss

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