the annie blog

30 day knitting challenge

Posted on March 14, 2012 by annieblog

I saw this floating around and stole it from: Opi

30 Day Knitting Challenge Day 1: What was your first finished project?

Day 2: What is currently on your needles?

Day 3: Do you have any other WIPs (works in progress)?

Day 4: How did you learn how to knit?

Day 5: How long did it take from the time your learned how to knit, to finish your first project?

Day 6: What is your favorite piece that you’ve knit?

Day 7: Your least favorite?

Day 8: What’s your most challenging project?

Day 9: What fiber or yarn do you love working with?

Day 10: Do you have a favorite pattern or designer?

Day 11: Do you have a “Knitter Hero” or someone that is just way too awesome for their own good? Do share!

Day 12: Where do you keep your stash? Post pictures!

Day 13: Do you have yarn that you love but can’t find a project for?

Day 14: What’s the worst yarn/fiber that you’ve worked with and why?

Day 15: What was your least favorite pattern and why?

Day 16: Have you ever had a knitting related injury?

Day 17: Have you ever had a project that you loved become ruined? What’s the story behind it?

Day 18: Do you knit English or Continental?

Day 19: Do you watch movies and/or listen to podcasts while knitting? What are your favorite things to knit to?

Day 20: Do you knit in public? Was anyone offended/incredibly happy/curious that you were doing so?

Day 21: Do you knit gifts for friends and family for the holidays or birthdays?

Day 22: Have you ever stricken someone off your to-knit-for list because they didn’t appreciate/take care of your last knitted gift to them?

Day 23: If you had the supplies (and patience) for it, what project would you start today?

Day 24: Have you ever made your own pattern or dyed your own yarn? How did it turn out?

Day 25: Do you have a knitting book or a place where you keep patterns, ideas, size measurements? Post a picture of it!

Day 26: Have you ever been a part, or wanted to be a part of a knit-a-long? What was it? If not, why?

Day 27: How do you acquire most of yarn? Online retailers, local yarn shops, swaps, or large chain craft stores? What’s your favorite?

Day 28: Do you do any other crafts besides knitting? What are they, and did learning to knit come before or after learning these other crafts?

Day 29: Do you have any tips, or things that you’ve learned from knitting?

Day 30: What’s your name on Ravelry? If you don’t have a Ravelry account, why?

So, let me begin with #1

My very first project was a scarf, but it turned out to be the size of a placement. Consequently, I gave it to one of the kitties to sleep on. It had yarnovers all over it. It was made of black acrylic. It was covered in cat hair even before I gave it to the kitties. The edges weren’t straight because I added and decreased randomly without knowing it. I ended up throwing it away a few years later. No regrets. I was very proud. It was the start of something great!

Filed under: creative things | Tagged: Knitting, Ravelry | Leave a comment »

first woman

Posted on March 14, 2012 by annieblog

For awhile I’ve wanted to write about some women that inspire me. These are women I know. Or have known. Not that I want to BE these women. But, each of them have certain qualities that I admire somehow. They each have flaws – as do I. But, they also have traits that kind of keep me going. Hopefully it will all make more sense once you read it.

I met this first woman about 18 years ago. I knew her for close to 4 years. She and her husband got transferred and moved halfway across the country. Now, this was pre-facebook, so we didn’t even stay connected like people do today. In fact, I think most people only had a work email addy at that time. Oh sure, a few people kind of kept up with them here and there. I heard that they eventually had a baby, then there was a rumor that they moved again, then I heard there was MAYBE another child or two; and then recently I heard that they had moved overseas. I have no idea how much of this is true. I have tried locating her and her husband via facebook. No luck. I’ve googled them – nothing. So, I’m just resigning myself to the fact that I probably won’t hear from her again. And, that’s ok. I kind of feel like she came in to my life and made her impression – and that’s what she was supposed to do. I think about her quite frequently.

She was like a Jane Eyre character come-to-life. She was a hopeless romantic. When I knew her, she and her husband were still newlyweds. But, I just know she is still in the newlywed phase today. Though some of her actions were a tad corny, they always made me smile. She would often race home to meet her husband for lunch and set the table, add candles, and turn on soft music. Just for lunch. On a Wednesday. Or, she would pack a quick picnic lunch and when he got home she would usher him back out the door to feast at a local park. I know she would often get up early to surprise him with breakfast in bed. She was always mailing romantic little cards to him at work. Things like that. That was just her way. I loved those things about her. Not that I do these things all the time, but I do know how important they are. Sometimes I find that I need to remind myself to do things like this now and again. Things don’t have to be “sexy”, but adding a touch of romance to everyday activities is awfully sweet.

She always saw the “good” in people. Part of it was her naiveté. She saw the good in people because she really just missed all the other stuff. She didn’t have a mean bone in her body. Even when people were not so nice to her. She always shrugged it off and continued on without letting it bother her. She knew that they had their own reasons for acting like they did. She didn’t have to agree with their opinions or attitudes, but she didn’t judge or condemn them. And, it wasn’t that sickening sweet attitude either, she genuinely felt compassion for all people. I’m not like that. I try to be. I’ve TRIED to be. But, it’s hard. People tick me off and do something horrible to me, and it’s over. It’s impossible to gain my trust back. It’s never going to be the same between us. But, she was able to go on and not let it affect her. Unbelievable. I admire the heck out of that. I know that there are times when I do let things consume my thoughts. And, that’s not a good way to spend my energy. But, I do it. It’s hard to “drop it” and forget about it. She was a master at that. A very zen-like master actually.

In fact, when things would get crazy around her, she would kind of flutter her hands in front of her face and take a few deep breaths. Then she could calm herself down and relax. She was always super confident that somehow, the chaotic event would be fixed. Either by God, her husband, her boss, her family or her friends. Always. Just supreme confidence that it would always work out. Not that she tossed things aside and took no responsibility, but she totally knew that she had a great support system that could help her get through anything. How am I different? Well, I have a support system, but sometimes I kind of forget about them. Sometimes I don’t use them. I have the “I’m-a-big-girl-and-can-do-it-myself” attitude sometimes. There’s nothing wrong with using your support systems – I need to remember that. Yes, she could handle things on her own, but she was always aware that there were people who would take care of her should something go wrong. I like that.

Those are the three things that I think most when I think about her. Even though it’s been over 10 years since my last contact with her, I still think about her an awful lot. She was a good friend. She is a good person. I know she came into my life to teach me things. I’m still learning.

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making beds

Posted on March 12, 2012 by annieblog

When I was growing up, we always made our beds. No questions asked. Beds were made. Every day. Holidays. No matter what.

Well, then I went to live in a dorm in college. And I didn’t make my bed. Oh, maybe I would pull the comforter up if the sheets were super dirty and we had cute boys in the room. But, basically, I can’t remember anyone making their beds. My roommates never did. I didn’t care. I also think I really MADE my bed when my folks would come to visit. I think I just pulled the comforter up and tossed the pillows to one end.

Then I finally moved into my own apartments for the rest of my undergrad and graduate schooling. Again, no bed making. None. Ever. At this point I didn’t even “tidy up” for visitors. I mean, it was an apartment, we basically stayed in the living room, so I didn’t even bother pulling up the comforter.

Then, hubby and I moved in to our apartments together. No bed-making. When people came over, we didn’t care. Even when family visited. They weren’t hanging out in our bedroom, so no biggie. Besides, why made the bed when we were still in the napping phase leftover from college.

Then we bought a home. Then we became parents. And now, we still don’t make the beds. None of us. I’ve never had her make her bed. When I chang ethe sheets every week, I kind of pull up the quilts and comforters and call it good. So, that happens once a week. And, it’s not really MAKING the bed, it’s just pulling up the sheets. In fact, hubby and I are still in the napping phase leftover from college. Even though we graduated from college some twenty -(cough, cough) years ago. We still like to nap. The wee one, not so much. But, damn, hubby and I can rock a nap with the best of them. Anyway, we don’t make our beds. And we don’t care.

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half birthday

Posted on March 11, 2012 by annieblog

Today is my half birthday. In our house, that means it’s time for a celebration. We have always celebrated our half birthdays around here. Even before the wee one arrived. We still continue that tradition. She thinks it’s so normal. She assumes everyone celebrates theirs as well. It’s very confusing to her when people don’t comprehend the concept of a half birthday celebrations. I love that about her.

Today was my celebration though. We went to lunch where I wanted to go. We picked up an to-go order so we could have a yummy dinner at home later tonight. We grabbed some coffee. We ran some errands. No gifts, we normally don’t. We just have a day for the birthday person. I have had a lovely day. I am pleased.

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planning

Posted on March 10, 2012 by annieblog

Today at work I made a list of things I need to do. You know, specifically those things I mentioned on last post. Things I want to do daily and some are even weekly. So, I made an excel file and worked on my little listy. I finally got something that would work. Then, I promptly left it at work.

But, tonight, while I was blog reading, I came across this: erincondren.com How perfect!! I mean, here I was, working on my own little schedule. When lo and behold, they have life planners!! Now, I can’t wait to get mine.

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girls only

Posted on March 9, 2012 by annieblog

When the wee one woke up today I informed her that tonight was going to be a girl’s night for us. She commented that we almost always have pancakes on girls night. Tis true. We;ll see if she remembers that or not.

Hubby is out-of-town tonight, so she and I are going to watch a movie and do “girly” things. I’m sure some sort of facial mask and copious amounts of lotion will be involved. Oh, and nail polish. There will most definitely be nail polish. I like girls nights with her. We have fun. We get cozy. We drink hot chocolate. We eat popcorn and watch movies. We snuggle.

I really don’t think I had those times with my mom. At least I can’t really remember any. I probably had more girls nights with my little brother. He was, and still is, incredibly patient and easy-going. Thank God for that.

But tonight, our night will really be about girls. No boys allowed. And that’s good once in a while.

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i think i can…

Posted on March 9, 2012 by annieblog

I work better with some sort of structure. Now, don’t get me wrong, I can be spontaneous. I can change plans. I can throw it all out the window. But, I really just work better knowing I have things to do. Do I do it all the time? Not really. Mostly. Sometimes I don’t.

Just the beginning of this calendar year I decided to do a few more things than normal. My “normal” would be the cleaning and my other duties around the house. The ADDED things include stuff like, blogging, taking pictures at 5pm, writing in my Q&A book, participating in all the different readings for church, etc.. But, even with all of those things, I have things I would like to add on to that list. I would like to add: exercising, keeping up with twitter, this blog, and ravelry. That’s really not that much. It’s the damn exercising thing that throws me. Oh, and podcasts, I need to keep up with those. Seriously, I really think I can do all of it. I have time at work for SOME of these things. I have time while I’m picking her up from school, I have time when everyone is at rehearsal. I’m saying – I have time. I just need to get my mindset right.

Damn, that’s the hardest part. I can do it. I think….

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new day

Posted on February 29, 2012 by annieblog

As I busily wasted time looking for a “cute” little heading, I realized that my standard name would work just fine. And maybe that’s my lesson for the day: the same ole’, same ole’ is just fine.