Thursday, December 31, 2009

Fare Thee Well 2009...you sucked 89/365

Nope...I'm not sorry to see this year go. I'm not holding my breathe for 2010 to be much better but it can't suck much more than this one did. But anyways.....Here's me and the last sunset of 2009:


And in the words of Robert Burns
(sing sweetly now)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne ?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my jo, for auld lang syne, we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp !
and surely I’ll be mine !
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS
We twa hae run about the braes,
and pu’d the gowans fine ;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot,
sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS
We twa hae paidl’d i' the burn,
frae morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS
And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !
and gie's a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

The Video Game Gene 87/365

I have it and so do all my kids. School holidays at our house were filled with Nintendo tourneys and a trip to the video store was for games more than movies. Right now I am playing on my PC but I still have a Nintendo 8 bit tucked away in the closet waiting to be brought to light in a flurry of Mario, Klax, Mega Man and Crazy Critters....Push up and Jump!!!!!

My favorite computer games right now are the shooting chickens in space- Chicken Invaders 3-Revenge of the Yolk, A puzzle game Da Vinci's Secret, a flower farming game Magic Farm-Ultimate Flower , Zuma, Cribbage and Insaniquarium (time trial mode). I will be getting a new one soon as I am a subcriber to Yahoo Games...what to choose, what to choose.


My 365 is me and my children back in April of 2008 (John, Gabe, me and Deanna)

Monday, December 28, 2009

I needed a picture...this is it 86/365





Wow what a day. Phone rang constantly all morning. I went on a Bible study over at Vera's. Jack and I went to the West Side to get groceries, kerosene and yarn (I know, I know but I didn't have the colors I needed for Leslie's hats...it doesn't count against me coz I make the rules here!) We even went to the HUmane Society to look at dogs and kitties even though the neighbor's cat came home finally (We had planned on going to see if it had gotten picked up by Animal Control) When we got home we realized we didn't feel like cooking so we went back to McNasty's for a cheap meal. Got a Redbox movie, Night at the Museum 2, and I sat and happily knitted through that and Antiques Roadshow...Now I am going to shoot chickens in space for awhile and hit the hay...carry on.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

John Deere Doofy Hat (for Brian) 85/365




Ask and you shall receive. Deanna requested this for her farmer husband. I'm looking for a John Deere patch to sew on the front.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Land of the Pirate Skull Hats 84/365



You know you'd look good in one of these...coz I do LOL!



But seriously...you can get them in my etsy shop over there>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Friday, December 25, 2009

Some Good Ideas 83/365

This list has been floating around the internet for quite awhile. To whomever wrote it originally, I salute you!

1. Respect others, even if they don't respect you. Later in life they may remember that respect.

2. Love with your whole heart. It may be broken, but you can't say that you never loved.

3. Treat animals with kindness, and it will be repaid to you a hundredfold.

4. Be honest with the people you love. Honesty really IS the best policy.

5. Admit your mistakes; it shows you are human.

6. Learn from your mistakes, but don't dwell on them. Negative thinking will only make you depressed -- and that's not good for you or those around you.

7. Tell your family often that you love them. You never know when it will be the last time you get to say it.

8. Never tell others that their dreams are stupid or dumb. Each of us is entitled to our dreams. Who are we to say they won't come true?

9. Realize that the only person you can change is yourself.

10. Be thankful for everything you have. Knowing you are blessed isn't arrogant or cocky if you're truly thankful for your blessings.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

The 12 Point Ball Thingy 82/365



So is this thing cool or what!?! Made from sock yarn I had, two different ones, as at first i thought I had enough of the orange striped but I didn't. This is # 41 on my 100 thing list.. I'm doing a slightly larger version from worsted weight scrap yarn now.

My 365 is the leaf shawl I will be listing on etsy soon in my Szenario shop



Wednesday, December 23, 2009

The Cable-Luxe Coincidence 81/365

I love me a good coincidence. I had one happen today/yesterday. I wore my blue cable luxe sweater to Jean's Memorial service yesterday. It was the first time I had worn it for about 10 months. Today I checked my Ravelry account and found this...
From: Arielluria
Request to feature your photo:
Sent at 12:27 PM December 20, 2009
We’d like to feature your photo on the Ravelry page for Cable Luxe Tunic by Lion Brand Yarn.(you can't see ravelry pages unless you join up..do it...it's free)

Wow...OK sure......


Like I said...I love me a good coincidence...and I swear I didn't know about the request until today

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

A Grand Haul from Gina 80/365

Oh my my what a day! Up down UP down...emotional roller coaster times 10.

I got a call from a former boss wanting website work done. Yes, I need the money but I am reluctant to accept the job because he's so hard to work for.

I got a call from someone who saw my website and wants a walking stick but wants badges/souveniers from different countries his wife had visited. "Look on Ebay for some and call me back dude"

The cuffs I beaded for the new fox stick weren't a good enough contrast so I have to make another set. The good news is Jack's etsy shop is getting a lot of attention...yay!

I opened my email to find a message from my first real BF, Rick Anderson. Not good as he killed himself a year ago. WTH!?! It was obviously a hack job and I reported it to Yahoo. Ugh.

I called my sister to tell her about the email and she told me my wayward brother's address so that was good.

Jack got the dreaded "End of Unemployment Benefits" letter but I got him signed up for another round so we are hopefully OK for another couple of months.

I went to Miss Jean's memorial service and cried my eyes out. She was dearly loved and everyone is really missing her. I gave Pam a copy of the picture I posted of Jean yesterday and everyone got a good chuckle. Jean would have loved that.

The best thing that happened though is the package I got from my upstream IME (International Moleskine Exchange) partner, Gina. I am overwhelmed by her generosity. Yards and yards of baby alpaca (blue) 100% silk (pink) and a lovely Merino lace weight (reds, golds, oranges), a new moley, tea, candy and other goodies....woooooooooooooooo!!!!!!! Check it out!


Monday, December 21, 2009

RIP Miss Jean 79/365

I have to go down to the Printer's Home for a memorial service for Pam's mom tomorrow. Jean was a feisty ol gal with a wicked sense of humor. She will be missed.


Thinking about the printer's Home made me remember this pic that Leslie took of me and Faith Nation. Is that a cool name or what? I read a book about creativity that said we should change our names to something that fits us. I kinda like Faith Nation. It would have to be Faith-Nation Halley though...you know have the whole Faith -Nation as a first name. Or maybe Cheyenne Autumn. I always liked that too. (If I had my way I would have named my daughter that)

Sunday, December 20, 2009

A Frightful Picture for my Lovely Sister, Judy 78/365


My new mission in life is to scare my little sister...mwahahaahhaahhaahhaa

On a different note, I have been busy listing new things in our etsy shops, knitting and beading cuffs for the new fox stick.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Reflections Part 1 76/365


I was looking for a picture to use as Jack's avatar in his new Etsy.com shop and I came across this shot from a couple of years ago...I'm reflected in his glasses. You might have to enlarge to see it but I'm there.

Here's his shop...I gave it my Dances With Pit Bulls name because it fits.
http://danceswithpitbulls.etsy.com

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Falling Off the (Fiber) Wagon & a Surprise Gift 74/365

Yeah so about that 100 thing challenge. The one where I was going to make 100 things BEFORE buying anything new for my stash. I fell off the fiber wagon. I had a little $$$ in my pocket and I needed colors I didn't have. You know how that goes right? OK I am tightening my belt and pulling myself up by the bootstraps. I will finish the 100 thing challenge...I WILL I SAY!!!! And not only that....I think (know) I will surpass 100 and then it will be the "How many things can I make now before I buy more stuff?" challenge. I'll keep you posted, you know I will.


Here's what I bought. Six balls of crochet cotton at $1 per at the Yarn Outlet. These have 1093 yds. Wow. That could take me a year to use up. I needed cool colors. Got mint green, lavender, two olive green and a grey. A thick and Quick wool blend from Lion Brand. I sold all three hats I made from this yarn so I wanted another skein. Bought at JoAnns with a Hobby Lobby coupon for 40% off. Two skeins of sock yarn for this. They were super reasonable at 2 for $5.00, also from JoAnns. The last bulky yarn is for a hat for my friend Ac1d in camfrog. I promised him a hat a year ago and he's not letting me forget it. How cold does it get in New Zealand? I got it for a song with a coupon at Michaels. Total spent....about $18 plus tax. I can live with that.

Check out the COOL labels Marcy sent me!!! OMG OMG OMG! This has to be one of the best gifts I have ever received!

My 365 shows another bulky hat I squeezed out of the last of the Thick n Quick.


Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Me and Jessica Garden of the Gods 73/365


Still no word from Jessica...hurry up and wait, story of my life. She did have a final and another photo shoot so I won't pressure her for pics yet.

Grabbed this when Leslie or Erin tagged me on Facebook.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Light Show 71/365






I waited for Jessica to email me the pics we took at Garden of the Gods but they aren't here yet....so I took some pictures on the fireworks setting on my walk tonight...so cool!

My 365 is a snap I took yesterday. Sorry about the glare on my glasses :P

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Me and the Little Chief 70/365


Found in my mom's wallet after she died. OK maybe it was her address book? Hmmmm my memory fails me. Imagine that.

I shared this with the Chief Illiniwek group on Facebook.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Another JackPost 69/365











We went to the Pioneer Museum yesterday and out again today to pick up Jack's check and do some much needed shopping. Jack wanted to show me his snow stuff from earlier this week so I let him. Here's a bunch of Jack pictures lol.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

The Art of the Deep Freeze 67/365



It's still cold. I mean really cold. I went out to try to capture my breathe but it was so cold and the camera took so long on night settings I took a couple of shots and gave up. I played around with this one in Photoshop...the top picture is using a filter called Fresco then I inverted the colors to make it more Brrrrrrrrrrrish. You do see my nose on the left don't you?

Jack worked out in the sub zero temps again last night. He's off now that the snow is mostly cleared. I met his other new boss today. Nice guy and his dog was really smart. And me without my camera to prove it. Dang.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Window Ice 66/365




OK it's frost. I call it window ice so sue me.

Artistic arrangements on my kitchen window sill. 365 is my hand print. Brrrrrrr.

Monday, December 7, 2009

In Praise of Snow 65/365


Usually I am ranting and raving about not liking snow. I am looking at it a little different this year as Jack has a temporary job in snow removal. That's the good news. The bad news is he goes in at 1 AM. Good thing I stay up late now anyways so I can be his alarm clock.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

The Purple PIllow 64/365








Here is the purple crazy quilt pillow I did for Dennis and Kelli. I hope the spider doesn't freak them out lol. I was going to tell them about the tradition but they didn't open their presents at the reception because they had to catch a plane for their honeymoon or something.

My 365 pic tells how I feel after the death yesterday and news Friday that a friend's son has also died. Bleh