Bookworm Wednesday! (v.7)

2011-06-29 17.47.12, a photo by prajaline on Flickr.

I've said before that I love real stories, and both of these are just that!

Human Smoke is a rather disturbing view into the world before WWII. Things I never thought I would hear about people I thought I knew from my history books are in here. Did you know that a president's wife wrote letters about how she didn't want to attend a party because there would be Jewish people there? Neither did I....and this book has that letter. It is odd to have your view of something adjusted like this book can do to you.

Conduct Under Fire is a bit different, it is about WWII from the view of the doctors that had been in Asia when war broke out....doctors that were then captured and held for the duration of the war. What they went through. What they had to do to survive. It is all in here, and since it is written by the son of one of the doctors, it is in fascinating detail.

Now, I'm not the only one that read these in my family. When B was born and spent five weeks in the NICU, my brother read both of these and he found them as fascinating and great as I did.

Happy Photo Catch-up!

Look at all this kitten goodness!  This is about three litters thrown together.  People say we're crazy when we tell them that the mommies put their babies together and take turns nursing or teaching or cleaning but they do!  With the exception of Bleach Spot, all the other litters are together in two separate groups - one on each side of the barn.

This is just one of the random barn cats on the old hitching post.  He is pretty normal in the fact that we have quite a few white cats with ice blue eyes.  I can tell it is a "he" because of the docked ear, when we "adjust" the boys, we cut the ear so that we know which toms are ours....

Apparently Buddy thought my craft bag was comfy.  I love this dog!  He cracks me up!  Trevor brought him out to the farm today and he ran up to me and stayed....I'm pretty sure that means he loves me too, right?  haha

Random, I LOVE Lunchables!  I mean, I could eat them every day and be a happy girl.  I took this picture because I wanted to profess my love for the fact that their meat *ALWAYS* is shaped like hearts.  This will never get old for me.  Never.

B has sippy cups!  Oh my!  What more can I say to this?!?!

Ahhhh high school me!  Mom gave me the *rare* opportunity to go through her desk looking for something, and I found a TREASURE TROVE of pictures!  This is Jacob and myself at my junior prom, so that would be May of 2002.  I love that dress!  The bottom is a long black satin skirt.  I still have it.  I'm not giving it up.  Ever.  (and WHY oh WHY did I ever think I was fat back then?!?!)

HAHAHAH  Another vintage find in the desk!  Amanda (my sister) wrote these for all of us in the family and this one is mine.  I almost peed my pants when I read this.  It could be worse though, she said my brother smelled like airplanes (he was studying to be an aircraft mechanic at the time), my dad looked like Santa (still kinda does in my opinion) and my mom only cooked and cleaned (yep, another one that hasn't changed...).  However, I still look like a queen...just sayin'

I worked some more on my swap project!  If I really sat down and did this, it would be done in no time!  I'm loving how it is turning out!

And this GIGANTIC horse is named Queen or Polly depending on who you ask.  She had a date with the slaughter house before my dad got in touch with the guy that had her.  She was a pull horse, and unfortunately those guys are heartless and when the horses can't do what they want them to do anymore, they kill them...unless someone like my dad steps in.  She is only 14 years old so she still has some breeding years in her and surprisingly she is actually about 300 pounds *less* than where she should be.  (that's Salem and Sam in the background, and Emma in front...they were all trying to smell her!)  My dad is about 6'1 and the top of her shoulders are taller than his shoulders....Salem's shoulders are shorter than my dad's by about two inches if that give you an idea of her size.

(not sure why blogger is putting all those crazy spaces in between pics, sorry!)

Christmas in June!

So, I've had my mail stopped for two weeks now since I haven't been home, and apparently this is when all the packages I've been waiting on decided to come in! 

 

How could I not be happy with all this!  

I started with this one!  It was the biggest and most curious because I didn't recognize the shipping address.  It was the yarn I won from Knitting Today!'s Giveaway Friday thing from their facebook page.  FIVE skeins of worsted in the prettiest shade of ecru-y/white!  

The second is this Etsy order from Yarntopia Treasures...it is called tencel yarn, something I've never worked with but I love the feel of it!  And that sheen WITH the color combo of pink & grey!  Die!

Another Etsy order, this one is from Dyed Fiber, some is cotton, some tencel....all of it is great!  These will be doilies soon.  I'm excited!  Imagine that blue against a red background in a black frame...or the white/pink combos against black in a white frame....

And of course, I have an order from Sunflower Yarns!  This is Like Buttah and will be a Critron Shawl for Amanda's Shawl-A-Long on Rav.  And that fabric piece?  That would be a new pattern holder!  I'm in love with this idea from Madbird, and this print was special for Sunflower Yarns only, so it is even more special!

The last package was from Susannah and was what I won from the giveaway over on All Things Chula.  How adorable is this headband?!?!  And now that my hair is shorter, I def need this bad boy!  And how cute is the card it is on?!?!  I totally look up to this girl when it comes to how she packages things...I mean, she stamped the envelope with the cutest stamps. this card is gorg, and her business cards make me envious! 

And finally....I turned to the card from my ldb, Camille!  This girl is just the best.  She and I were destined to be friends!  I'm just sure of it.....inside the card was this

A DREAM CATCHER!  I *love* them!  My mom's family has Cherokee Indian roots so I was raised with things like this.  I have a huge one above my headboard, and this guy will probably find a home hanging from my mirror in my Jeep (you know, if I ever get it back!)

Me

I'm always going to be that girl that wishes on the first star I see at night.

I'm always going to try and catch lightening bugs....and then let them go just to watch their little light fly away into the sky.

I'm always going to be the girl that sings along to the oldies with her mom in the car.  And in the house.

I'm always going to stop and listen to my daddy sing along to the radio in the barn.

In some ways, I'm always going to be that little girl that does these things.  Take it or leave it - that's me.

(unknown origin)

Well, hello funk. Welcome home.

Oh my.  Today is just not my day.  This year is just not my year.  I know that I will *never* be handed something in life if I can't handle it.  There is someone looking down and they are helping me in the direction my life should be going though it is not always the way I want it to go.  I know that all the difficult situations are just there to make me stronger and more appreciative of the other situations. 

With that said...

Dear God/Allah/Buddah/whomever is up there: I could use a break.  I need to not have phone calls that end in yelling.  I need to not have family members that act so childish and selfish and silly I don't want to call them family.  I need a break.  Love, Andrea.

Bookworm Wednesday! (out to vacation!)

Remember that post where I said I would be spending this week in the pool?  I wasn't kidding!  haha, I'm nowhere near my books in Dayton or my books at the farm, so I don't have any books to share this week!  Sorry!  I will be back next week with some good ones!

I think I'm out of my funk. Maybe.

I'm excited to be making something for Miss Haley!

I'm excited that my shop is open!  etsy.com/shop/scarlettkey .....just be warned: there isn't anything listed for sale.  haha

I got my hair cut for the first time in 8 months.  Not kidding.  I have had some HORRIBLE experiences with having my hair cut that go all the way back to five-year-old me getting held down to have my waist length hair chopped into a pixie cut.  So, when I go get my hair cut it is a pretty big deal.  Thankfully, the girl I took a chance on today was perfect!  She listened, she was super nice, and she's my age and doesn't plan on moving around like my other girls have done.

My sister is getting married on like July 17th apparently.  Guess I need to find a dress....agh!  I'm excited for her though.  She seems to be happy and he's been a great guy to her.  I took him to pick out her ring and got to spend some time with just me and him, so I feel better about their relationship now that we've talked.  I worry about my sister.

I'm excited about working on some major crochet projects.  I would like to do up a blanket for Amanda and Rollie, but not sure since they're getting hitched so quick!  I do have other projects to work on, so I def don't lack for things to do!

There is a barn full of kittens to play with at the farm.  How can you be sad when there is all kinds of kitten cuteness going on?!?!

Just a few reminders.....

1 - Once I hit 10 followers I'm doing a giveaway!  Spread the word!  You've all seen my crochet, and the one hint I will give you is that crochet is involved ;)

2 - A lovely little blog I stumbled upon, *all things chula* is running quite a few giveaways that end today!  There are some great things up for grabs!  I entered like three or four of them!!

3 - Last, but certainly not least, my ldb *Camille* is running a giveaway too.  It ends tomorrow as well so get on it!  haha, she does one every month and they're always great things!  We've shared quite a few bestie packages and she puts thought into everything!  I just adore that girl! 

County Fairs & Swimming Pools

If you've ever been to my part of Ohio during the summer, then you know your whole world revolves around the fair and pools during the summer.  Well, since I'm not working (trying, but isn't working real well...long story.) I think I'm going to submit something to the county fair.  The Ross County fair out by the farm is the second week of August.  The only issue I'm running into is that I don't know when I have to have stuff into the fair board by.  I tried sending an email but it didn't work so I will call them on Monday, or maybe tomorrow if I feel like it.  Anywhoooo if I can get in on a little fair action then I will most likely be submitting this:

I'm pretty obsessed with this doily and have the urge to make a million of them.  And put them all in pretty picture frames.  And sell the crap out of 'em!  This yarn is something that I just LOVE!  It is a cotton and bamboo mix and is sooooo soft and easy to work with.  If I had a million dollars, I would buy a ton of it.  But, at like $9 for only about 150 yards, I use it sparingly.  This doily is about 8 3/4" or so and used almost 2/3rds of that skein.  But, it only took me about five hours of off & on working on it.

I'm also going to be working on the crochet version of *THIS SHAWLETTE* (that isn't the pattern, just a blog post and picture I found) for the Sunflower Yarns group on Rav, so why not send that in too if it looks good and is done on time....which it should be because Amanda will have my yarn done on Tuesday.  I should have the current doily done by then and will just slide right on over to that project easily.  Gosh, I have too much time on my hands!

In other news, I'm still up at almost midnight because I'm having a hard time falling asleep lately.  The last few days I've been drinking Sprite, and carbonated drinks really kick up my already stress-induced heartburn.  I just couldn't drink water anymore.  I go thru spurts where I will become obsessed with a specific food or drink and water was on the top of my list for a long time, but I just couldn't drink it anymore but I'm trying to keep as much of it in my diet as possible though.

Oh!  How do pools fit into my life?  That's simple, I'm spending the next week here:

Now that hay is done for another two-ish months, I can try and clear my head from all the stress that bops around in there day in and day out.

Can you guess what this is....?

It is something I'm obsessed with.  Something I am quite enamored with.  And something that is related my Elroy....

It is a sleeping kitten that decided to make my boooooobies a bed this evening at the farm.  This little one, I finally figured out, belongs to Bleach Spot who is Elroy's sister.  Get ready to die from the cuteness going on here...These pictures don't do any justice at all to the color of it's eyes; they're like butterflies mixed with marble mixed with the deepest blue of the ocean. 

And she/he (it is too early to tell what it is still...) has the best little mustache shaped color on it's nose.  I'm seriously in love.

Bookworm Wednesday! (v.6)

I promised a craft book edition....so here you go!  These are the three books that I have in my craft bag at all times. 

Crochet: The Complete Guide is my go-to crochet book.  I have a few "teacher" books, but this one is so...well, complete.  It discusses yarns, hooks, and patterns.  I appreciate that nearly every design is written and charted.  I like both ways to read a pattern, but having access to both is a huge help to visualizing the actual stitch/pattern.  This really is my #1 recommendation when it comes to the question of "where do I start?"  It is rare that I come along something in a pattern or project that isn't in here if I need help on it.  I really do love this book.

Ripples for Babies and Knitting Stitches are both Leisure Arts books.  I love Leisure Arts books because they are so cheap yet sooooo full of information!  These babies were literally $3.50 each!  If you have ever priced craft books, you *know* that is a great price!  Ripples for Babies was the first true crochet pattern book that I bought.  I like this one because the patterns are for baby blankets, they are great size to really teach yourself a pattern/stitch but are not so big that you get discouraged when you're just starting out like I am.  Knitting Stitches is one that doesn't get opened that often, but I do use it when I feel like knitting something random.  I've been knitting a lot longer than I've been crocheting, but I know more in crochet than knitting, so I've been trying to expand my knowledge in that department, and this book certainly helps me with that!


....and as an extra, here is the cover to my pattern note book.  I found these notebooks in the clearance aisle at WalMart, they come in black and white so that you can color them in, and I'm a sucker for coloring anything!

I'm working on something special!

Please keep in mind that it isn't blocked at all...or, well, finished.  I'm only done up to round 7, and there's over 25 rounds I think.....but it uses *This Yarn* and that makes me smile :)

This isn't the original pattern I had picked for this yarn, but I'm more excited about this one for this yarn.  This yarn called for something solid and substantial, not something super lacy like the other project.  Here's hoping it all works out!

Sometimes

....all you need is a little girl time.

....all you need is random driving trying to find yard sales (and getting lost so many times you actually only make it to one yard sale....).

....all you need is an hours long dinner conversation about everything under the sun.

....all you need is to convince your best friend to take you out in the Corvette.  With the top down.  And the radio up.  Loud.  Really loud.

....all you need is to make plans to see multiple movies at the theater for tomorrow because you can.

....all you need is an oldies radio station, all the windows in the Jeep rolled down, driving down back roads, in the dark....and singing along at the top of your lungs.

Yep.  Today was a good day.  Probably because I got just about everything I could need.

Summer Hope

There is no surprise in me saying that I LOVE *Sunflower Yarns*.....well, there shouldn't be at least.  I would much rather order yarn from Amanda all the way over in NH than drive ten minutes down the road to my yarn shop.  Her's was the first "special" yarn that I ordered and fell in love with, so it is kinda like my first yarn love, it hopefully will always be special and will never go away.

Anywhoooo, I have to do a swap project and just couldn't find what I wanted anywhere when it came to the yarn, so a few emails to Amanda later, I present to you Summer Hope.  I'm in complete adoration of it.  I love how she took the few words and pictures that I had for her and made something that's perfect for what I need!

Don't you want to see pictures....well, ok, I guess I will share!

 

Let me know what you think in the comments!  I hope you like it as much as I do! 

(edited to add....Amanda told m that she is putting a hank up on the website during the next update, so if you love this, you could own it too!!!!)

Yes, I'm 26 & yes, I crochet & knit....

A lot of my friends irl forget that I knit and crochet because I don't bring up all that often, especially before I lost my job.  I have since found my love for all things yarn all over again and it makes me a happy girl!  I can thank Susannah for a lot of that....I found her blog one night and literally took a day or two and read the entire thing.  She does some wicked cute knitting and crochet stuff.  And she turned me on to Ravelry which has turned into the best thing since sliced bread for me!  (If you join, I'm there under prajaline - friend me!  We can chat!) 

Well, I've quite a few of my friends and some bloggy friends (I'm looking at you Camille!) ask me to teach them or give them ideas on where to start.  I couldn't be happier about this!  Both knit and crochet are great crafts to learn!  They are keeping alive a craft that has been around for YEARS and one that probably a lot of our families did at some point.  Luckily I grew up with a mom that did both and a grandma that did both so well there are numerous news articles and such that were done about her - she also used to hold classes in her basement, how cool is that!?! 

Anywhoooo...This whole post was to link up to *THIS POST* from Susannah and say that I will be doing a craft book Bookworm Wednesday next week so keep your eyes out for that one! :)

Bookworm Wednesday! (v.5)

Hey guess what!  It is Wednesday!  And I'm doing Bookworm Wednesday!  Go me!  haha

So, I'm tired and have a lot to get done that isn't getting done because I'm sitting on the couch.....so, there are only two books today! 

The Modern Girl's Guide to Life is one of my go-to books for just about everything.  I've had it for a few years but only really use it when I'm living in my apartment.  Toilet leaking from an unknown source at 4 a.m.?  This can tell you how to stop the water at least (but it also tells you how to repair the whole guts part of a toilet....don't ask me how/when/why I needed that information.  Ha!).  Need to check your oil?  This can tell you what to look for on the engine.  Need budget conscious makeup brush cleaning tips?  They're in here.  And the best part?  THIS BOOK IS FUNNY!  It talks to you like it is your best friend talking to you. 

The Book of Questions is a though provoking book.  It has questions like what do you do if your best friend and favorite family member get bitten by a snake that you only have one anti-venom...who do you save?  Yeah, those kind of questions.  As a one-time (and probably again in the future) psychology student, this book fascinates me on an odd, deep level.  I highly recommend this as an ice breaker, or boredom buster!  (Random, but I reallyyyyyyy want *THIS BOOK* that's along the same lines....I mean, I want it BAD, so if anyone know where I can get it cheap, def let me know!)

Thankful Tuesday (stolen from Camille!)

Ok, there are a few things I'm thankful for right now, and Camille wrote a post that I'm totally stealing this idea from...

These moments.  

This guy.

Being able to go here and check out for a day.

Being able to make things for my friends.

These girls.  They're my sanity in Dayton. 

This girl!  She's the best long distance bestie ever!  So glad I found her blog and we've become friends!  Can't wait to meet her irl someday!  (sorry, Camille, I had to steal this from your blog! haha)

Giveaway over at Little Chief Honeybee!

Hey all!  I adore the Little Chief Honeybee blog, if you haven't checked it out.....click HERE  BUTTTTT.....Kaelah is also doing a giveaway this month that is for something I've been eyeing for a while now so check that out too!

Link to Giveaway!

Rav Swap - May Swap

I'm in two different groups on Rav for swaps.  The one I "run" is the Seasonal Swappers and we only swap every few months but do big projects for the swap.  The second one is the Supper Swappers Group....they do swaps every month or more.  I don't participate in every one of theirs, i.e. I'm not doing the June swap, but I did participate in the May swap....and I got my package from it today!  AND I LOVE EVERYTHING IN IT! 

The theme this time was Cup of Yarn so that is why there are beverage-related items in here...Now for pics!

A lovely mug, fun thermal travel mug, sweeeet smelling hand sanitizer, and Orbit (which I chew alllll the time!) gum that made the whole box smell yummy!

Big scarf sized knitting needles (a size I don't have! yay!), a needle gauge, a fun sheep notebook, knitting stitch markers that I'm gonna need for my shawls, and a sweet card!

Two knitted mug cozies!  They are actually bring pink and purple, silly phone pictures!  There are great because I want to knit cables and I will be able to look at these for structure!

Two fun yarns!  Again, colors are better in person, a purple-y blue and melon-y yellow!  And they're so soft!  Can't wait to use them!

THANKS to my partner!  I really do love it all! :)

Bookworm Wednesday! (v.4)

Sorry this is a day late, but I kinda had an odd day yesterday, and the holiday threw me off totally!  Hey, unemployed people get holidays too! :)

When I find an author I like, I tend to read as much of them as I can get my hands on!  Anna Maxted is no different.  She's written more than these but these happen to be the ones that I have in my apartment.  She has a very sarcastic sense of humor that I can really appreciate!  She makes her characters people, people I want to live by, to get to know, to be friends with.  She's just great!

A Tale of Two Sisters is the first book of hers that I picked up.  The relationship I have with my sister is a lot like a BIG roller coaster; we know how to make each other smile and cry and get angry, and we push those buttons every chance we can.  This book is quite similar to my sister and I....two very different sisters to the outside world are thrown together randomly, and thrown apart even more randomly.  The sister relationship is very complex and hard to explain, but somehow Anna grasps the whole concept of it.

Behaving Like Adults is about a girl trying to figure out if she is in the right place at the right time in her life.  She starts questioning things around her....something I'm doing a lot of lately myself.  Like I said, Anna makes characters that I want to be friends with, and Holly is definitely one of those characters.

Running in Heels is another one that I can relate to since my best friend got married and pregnant in October of last year....how do you adjust your friendship after you're not that person's best friend anymore, when their husband takes over that place?  You go off into crazy land for a bit and have to find your way back, right?  No?  Well, I kinda did and so does Natalie. 

Alright, I PROMISE to do Bookworm Wednesday on Wednesday next week!  Promise! :)