It's been a long time. . .

It's been a long time, but I'm back.  I've had some serious health issues, which although not yet resolved, are at least getting treated.  It's a long road ahead, but at least I'm on it.

I was reading the other day about an idea going around Facebook; you post something for which you are grateful every day for 100 days.  I think I'm going to try it.  I need a reminder of how much good is in the world and how many blessings I truly have, even as I struggle to get my health to where it needs to be.  Today's moment of gratitude is that water evaporates.

While washing dishes from dinner, I accidentally sloshed a large pan full of water onto my kitchen floor.  That will teach me to actually cook dinner.  While I do need to mop my floor, I was planning to do it this Saturday when I can open the windows and air out my whole apartment.  It's raining right now.  So, I wiped up the water as best as I could with paper towels, spot -scrubbed the area, and left the rest to dry.  Like I said, I'm glad that evaporation is a natural phenomenon.  It makes towels dry, dishes sparkle, and roads non-muddy.

Knit to my Lou

We've had school cancelled two days on a row due to storms.  I've been doing lots of miscellaneous things, but I finished this scarf this afternoon.  I made the hat several months ago, but I finally have a matching set.  Good thing, too; the forecast is for snow tomorrow!

 


This is what I look like after not having had real, meaningful face to face human contact for a few days. Scary, I know.

2013 Here I come

Being the bright person that I am, I completely forgot to photograph the 8 quilts I made for my nieces and nephews as Christmas presents. I only remembered after the quilts were already wrapped and packed for shipping. Oops. On the bright side, I got 9 quilts completely finished this year. I have one quilt that just needs binding attached, and I assembled 5 more projects into flimsies (completed tops not yet quilted).  I think I can safely say that I have had a productive 2012.  I am hereby declaring 2013 to be the year of the finish.  My goal is to only work on projects I already have or to only use materials.that I already have.  I think it is time to get off a first name basis with the staff at the fabric store.  I am hoping to make myself more accountable by posting on my blog, even if no one is reading.  I am trying to keep a resolution this year; we will see how it goes. 

Window pane scrapbooking

I can't show everyone yet most of the projects I've been doing, mostly because I'd like them to be a Christmas surprise.  I did take a Community Education class this morning, though, and I made a scrapbooking-type project.  It's a window frame set up as a scrapbook.  Despite many adventures with the computer and printer in trying to get my pictures (not to mention visiting three stores to find said window), I managed to get it done today.  I'm just waiting for the heavy duty glue to finish drying, but I love the way it came out.  Don't you just love classes where you start and finish the project by the end?  I've got plenty of not-quite-finished items, but it's nice to have a finished art piece.  What do you think?

Ribbon wreath

Pinterest can be a dangerous thing.  I was looking at wreath ideas, and I happened to find several very cute wreaths decorated with ribbons.  Low and behold, I have a new decoration for my door.  It's nice, bright, and it makes me happy.  I need extra light, especially since the sun is now starting to go down by the time I leave school at the end of the day.  I've also been doing a lot of sewing for Christmas presents, but I don't want to give those projects away quite yet.  In the meantime, enjoy the wreath.  I am.

Hanging on the door

Close up of the many ribbons I used

Can I? Can I? (October 20)

A few weeks ago, the Relief Society Presidency passed out a sign up sheet.  They asked you to sign your name if you had experience canning and were willing to mentor someone just learning,  I wrote my name down, since I a) knew the theory and b) had actually canned before.  Well, turns out that a few minutes after class, I got asked to teach the next Relief Society activity lesson which was, incidentally, all about canning and food preservation.

Said activity occurred  last Thursday (the 20th), and I think it went okay.  The downside was, since I got my hot water canner and a bunch of my supplies out to show, I felt like I should actually use them before I put them away again.  I took a side trip to a local orchard this past Saturday, and then I spent some quality time in the kitchen.  I ended up with a lot of applesauce, some stewed tomatoes, a few jars of tomato sauce, and quite a few jars of pickle relish.  I still have a quarter of a bushel of apples whose fate I'm trying to decide.  I can't seem to find any ClearJel locally (FDA approved thickening agent) to make pie filling, so I might just have to make more applesauce.  I also have some juice strained from the peels and cores of the apples, so I think I will be making apple peel jelly this coming week.

OF course, I suppose I could just start munching on the apples I still have.  I don't think any one will mind.

Weekend update

Not much to report on the finished project front, I am afraid.  It's like I have a real day job and can't spend all of my time crafting.  I really miss summer.  :)

Our school colors are maroon and gold, and I happen to have a Harry Potter Gryffindor scarf that I usually wear for school spirit events.  I saw this yarn in the store and bought some of the maroon-gold stripe.  I crocheted a quick striped hat to go with the scarf (as in, started yesterday evening and finished today), so I now get to be festive from head down.  If I find myself helping to supervise another football game this year, at least I can keep my head warm.  The pattern is located at this link, and it's a pretty easy pattern to follow.  Since I have a fairly large head (insert all jokes and snarky comments here), I used a K hook instead of the pattern's recommended I.  I'm fairly happy with how it turned out.  It fits my head, so all's well on that front.


In other activities, I went to a Chinese cooking class this morning, took a nap, watched the Relief Society Broadcast, cleaned up, worked on the hat, made dinner, and changed the sheets on my bed.  I think I'm ready to call it a night, but I've still got a few more school things to get ready before Monday.  I took my digital camera to school to take some pictures of lab results, and I have to download those pictures before I can shoot my hat.  One of these days, I might finally catch up.