SNOW!

Finally, some snow that might stick around. Lately it has just been cold. Really cold, like the 13 degrees at 9 am with a daily high of 21 cold. Yesterday it warmed up a bit and then last night the snow came. It even snowed off and on all morning and the ground was covered in white. I am not holding my breathe for a white Christmas though since it is getting even warmer and things are turning to slush. At least it is pretty right now!

My baby is seven

Yesterday my "baby" turned seven years old. What a day. This is a super fun age for birthdays and holidays. They enjoy everything about them and just let the day be all about themselves and their happiness without being at all selfish. Many adults, myself included, could certainly learn something from this.

RENT!!

Went to the movie RENT last night. My MIL took myself and my SIL, who both have Dec birthdays, to dinner and the movie for our birthday present. Usually we go to a live production of some sort, but there wasn't much playing that interested us this year. Since a couple of years ago we had gone to the traveling production of RENT we decided it would be interesting to see what happened to it in movie form.

WOW! I was pleasantly surprised. I had forgotten how much I love the music in RENT. I can't stop humming this morning. There is nothing like a live production, but the movie was well done and I enjoyed it. It certainly gets five stars from me!

This story is one that really touches me. Primarily because I know that there are those for whom this is a portrait of reality and daily life. I am reminded how blessed I am and how, had the circumstances of my birth been different, it could also be my daily life. I am also reminded how important friendship and family are in a person's life and that family takes many different forms.

DONE!!! - for now

I have officially finished my ASL 3 class. I took the final last night and the instructor graded them on the spot and provided us with our semester grade if we wanted. I wanted! "B" No surprise, it is what I expected going into the final. Now, the overacheiver part of me is upset it is not an "A". The other side of me that sat in that class, did the homework and projects, and knows that I gave it my best is pretty darn proud of that "B" because I know I earned every bit of it!! The instructor is an excellent teacher and is very fair, but he doesn't give you any slack. So, now I can enjoy the craziness of the holidays and the 47 thousand December birthdays in my family then prepare for ASL 4 to start in January.

Comfortghan mailed

I have mailed this comfortghan today to a lady who's Father has passed away. This one is pretty special as my Father died almost 8 years ago. There are times that it is harder than others and the holidays is often one of those times because of all the good memories.

Breeding Yarn

I have been working diligently to use up the yarn I have on hand. I do not have tons and tons, but I do have several boxes (think the size paper comes in). I am only purchasing yarn when I need a specific color for the assembly of comfortghans, mostly white for OPH. The rest of the things I am only allowing myself to use what I have. Goodness knows that I have enough sock yarn to keep me busy for a while. I also decided that the colors I have available for squares are just going to have to do and when they match a request they do and if not, then they don't. This has an awful lot to do with the full shelf set of boxes in my garage. Now, not all of that is yarn, there are also several boxes of thread. I know, that will take my lifetime to use up one bookmark at a time, but at least I am trying!

So, yesterday my DH is helping me to get down the Christmas decorations and he says "Do you want me to get these other boxes of yarn so you can consolidate?" I don't even remember that I have TWO MORE boxes of yarn. So, which is worse 1. that he knows about the boxes and I don't or 2. that I have been working on my existing stash to make room for several months, but I still have to tell him there is no room to consolidate?

I swear, this yarn must really be angora instead of acrylic because it is "breeding like rabbits"!!!

In Honor of Nathan Clemons

This OPH comfortghan was assembler in honor of Marine PFC Nathan Clemons.

In Honor of Cory R. Mracek

This OPH comfortghan was assembled for the parents of Army Sgt. Cory R. Mracek. Thank you to all those who helped by donating squares and supporting our goal of comfort!

I have had a truly enjoyable day. I spent the morning and early afternoon at a class at my LSS (local scrapbook store). I made a DC case calendar and it is so cute! I am debating if this is still going to be the Christmas gift for the person I intended or if I am just going to keep it for myself. I do have a desk now :).
I also picked up some additional paper to do another covered comp book and looked around at ideas for the altered book I am going to do. I saw a really neat technique that involved purchased lace, fabric glue and really fine glitter. It was beautiful!!! This will definitely make the pages of my book someplace.
The evening is being spent watching the Stanford vs Notre Dame football game while working on hexagons for the group LA4PRR. Oh yeah, and brownies just came out of the oven. It doesn't get much better!

Thankful for What!?!?!

Ok, so it is Thanksgiving and time to list what we are thankful for. I have the usual list and sincerely mean it. My family, a roof over my head, employment and general financial security. I also have some additional things to add to the list.

I am thankful that neither myself or my kids were in the car when the jerk hit it in the store parking lot.
I am thankful that the security camera caught the entire thing on tape including them stopping, getting out and looking at my car then getting back in a driving off.
I am thankful that the police officer making the report finds this sort of thing reprehensible and has a 100% solve rate on hit and runs.
I am thankful that the police have enhancement equipment so that hopefully we will be able to read the license plate of the jerk who hit my car and didn't leave any information behind since there is a clear shot of the back of the vehicle.
I am thankful that the store I was at has copied the video to a disk to give the officer on Monday.
I am thankful that when I called the officer to let him know it was all caught on tape he was even more excited than me.
I am thankful that I have car insurance that will help pay for fixing my car.
I am thankful that said insurance company will go after the jerk that hit my car for the $500 deductible amount for me should they find him.
I am thankful that I have an appointment on Monday morning for the insurance assessment of the damage to my car.

So basically, I am thankful for many things this year. Did I mention that I am thankful for my family? :)

Organized?

I have never claimed to be an organized person. I do claim to try. This work thing is really testing my abilities. I, literally, had a package I was hauling around in my trunk for a WEEK to get to the Post Office. Oh, and get this, I drive right by the Post Office to and from work!!! I am struggling to schedule my time more efficiently and I will succeed, now is just a bit trying.

I have to say that I am really loving the job. I had forgotten how truly enjoyable what I do can be. It is a great ego boost when clients and business associates remember you four years later and tell you how excited they are to have you back! Not quite as great as when my youngest gives me a great big hug and tells me I am the best mom in the whole world, but still very nice.

Mailed to Cheyenne River

These items, including the quilt, were mailed to Childrens Services on the Cheyenne River Reservation. Please contact me if you would like to contribute to this wonderful and needy cause!

New Patterns

I have a friend, Chris Simon, who has just published three different pattern books for crocheted twelve inch squares. I helped test a couple of the patterns so can definitely say they are well written and the squares are GORGEOUS!! Take a look!

http://www.lulu.com/yarncrazy

Enjoy!

Pictures of auction items!!

As promised, these are the items I won in the auction at the Charity Crop. The mini covered comp books were made by Gayle, the full size comp book was made by Sara D. and the pencil box was done by Tina. I absolutely LOVE all of these!!

The Charity Crop

The scrapping group I am part of had their annual Charity Crop and Auction on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005. This was the first one since I have joined and it was a BLAST!! Many members were in attendance so I got to meet new people (well, put faces to names) and see some I hadn't seen in a long time. We had two members who taught fantastic classes. Great job ladies!
In addition to the fun, there was a silent auction of items made by members in order to raise money and several raffles available to purchase tickets. I did not win a raffle, but I did win some of the auctions I bid on. I will post pictures later, trust me, you want to see these!!
Our group was able to, in one night, raise over $2500 for Ronald McDonald house and several of us also brought in items that were on the Ronald McDonald "wish list" such as dishwasher soap, microwave popcorn, etc.

Work and Fun

It is official. I start back to work on Monday. I think that everything is worked out so that I will still be home when my kids are home and also have time off during the week to attend school activities or spend time volunteering. If at any time the arrangement doesn't work for me or my family then the working stops.

I am super excited for this weekend. The statewide scrappers group I am part of it having a Charity Crop. Our selected recipient of funds this year is the Boise Ronald McDonald House. What a great cause. I will get to meet several women I have not had the opportunity to meet yet as well as spend time cropping, shipping (good thing I am working again :)) and taking some fantastic classes. There are also all these wonderful donated items for both auction and raffles. WOW!! I can hardly wait!!!

I had a lot of fun making paper bag books and have been looking at the altered books people make. Six months ago I would have said, "Why?". Now I keep saying, that looks like fun!! I am hoping to pick some brains this weekend of these talented people for ideas and inspiration. A little encouragement would be good as well.

Smurf Turf

Yes, the astroturf at Boise State really is bright blue. Do not adjust your television sets, just get some sunglasses and enjoy the game. It is not really very cool and I think it was an awful decision, but then, I get upset that people donate so much money to the athletic program and the students are meeting in portable classrooms and kicked out of the parking lot during Friday games so that non students can cook hamburgers and drink beer before the football game. All these arguments about how a great team bring recognition and more money to a school are well and good. However, what would happen to the football team if there was no school.....................?

Changes

Looks like life is going to throw me a curve. Just as I begin to figure out what is going on and that perhaps I really can handle everything on my plate I am going to change the rules! Yep, I am going back to work. I really have mixed feelings here and am in a bit of a panic. There are all these things I need/want to do first. I MUST do some turning out so it is easier to keep the house clean and the outside obligations have to be cut down. This is going to be the hardest as they all are important and I really hate to try and figure out if one is more important than another.

Speaking of, I knit and crochet (depending on my mood) the leprosy bandages. Recently, this article was shared with my and it brought tears to my ears. It really brought things home.

It has a home

The "banked" comfortghan now is in the mail and on the way to a new home. It is destined to share some love and comfort with a gentleman who has found he has a brain tumor. I hope he knows we care and are wishing him all of our very best.

Nine more!!

Woooooooo Hooooooooo!! I just heard that ABC ordered nine more episodes of Commander In Chief!! I am really liking this show. It has little to do with a female President and a lot to do with Geena Davis. That said, I am enjoying how the writers are handling the role of a woman President and a male First "Lady". The best though is the youngest daughter and the assorted things she has for breakfast :).

If you haven't been watching, it is not too late. Just be sure you know that Donald Sutherland is the bad guy!