Update on "Life"

Well, moving day is rapidly approaching and our lives are getting more and more hectic. For the past week, after work every evening, Doug and I have been visiting local car dealers trying to decide on what car to buy. We want something kind of inbetween an SUV and a Mini-Van. We are wanting to trade my Civic in and actually found a vehicle we both liked, but it just a little bit more than we are willing to pay. Not to mention that we have to get new furniture before the move. The new house has a sunken living room and is "open" so that we really only have 1 wall in which the entertainment center with the TV can go and the other wall has the bay window which we do not want to cover up so our 3 piece living room set of Rocker/Recliner, Couch and Chaise Lounge will not work. We stopped by a few furniture stores as well this week and found what we wanted, although a little bit more expensive than we'd like. Although, we did find it at the most expensive place in town. It's not that we're really picky, but the furniture stores that are "discount priced" have almost no selection.

So put all of that on top of the stress of actually moving and well, it's been crazy. We don't officially sign the lease on the new place til this Saturday and that's making me nervous. When we met with the landlord originally she said there would be no need for a pet deposit, now she wants one. Originally she agreed to take down this carport thing they had up which was an eyesore. (One of those steel ones with a canopy.) When I stopped by there tonite to measure the living room, her husband had taken down the canopy but the frame was still there and he said he wasn't going to take that down. They promised a few other things and I just don't see it happening by Saturday. If for some reason this deal goes through we will be in a serious situation as we HAVE to be out of this house by the first week of July... (Can someone teach me how to meditate? LOL)

I do have some possible good news! I may be able to leave the Hell Hole that is my job! All I will say at this point is that my prospects look very promising so please keep your fingers crossed that this works out. I would love nothing more in the world than to give my notice and leave that place! Every day it gets harder and harder to get up for work. If this prospect works out, it is an almost certainty that Doug and I will be able to fly up north for Christmas to see my family 6 months earlier than expected! I would be thrilled to go have another visit! It's so hard being this far away from my family so anytime I can make a visit is a blessing! The last time I was there was last June when my brother in law died suddenly. I was only there for 3 days and it was of course, not a happy occasion. We weren't planning on going up there again til next summer when my oldest niece, Sara, is getting married. I'm really looking forward to that trip as we are planning to take 2 weeks and drive up there. On the way we plan to stop in Cleveland, OHIO where pretty much all my aunts, uncles, cousins and my grandma lives. Doug has only met my Uncle Don and my Grandmother but hasn't met any of my other family there. We are also hoping to stop in Indiana for a day to visit one of my dearest crochet friends Shelle. Then we would go up to Michigan for Sara's wedding and maybe, just maybe we would actually have time to see some of my friends that I haven't seen in ages.

Speaking of Sara's wedding, I have been going back and forth between what I want to make her for her wedding present. I've always been decided on a bedspread/blanket of some sort but haven't been able to narrow down the exact pattern I want to make. Over at CAL Pals, Julie has started a new Filet CAL and I'm planning on doing this beautiful Butterfly Filet Bedspread. The only problem is what kind of yarn to use? I really want to make this larger than a twin size. Her and her fiance have a queen sized bed so I need it bigger than the pattern, but I also don't work well with thread or Lustersheen (what the pattern calls for) for that large of a project. I also don't want to go broke on the yarn as I won't know until I'm finished whether or not I'll actually give it to her for her wedding present... I know others at CAL Pals are doing theirs in WW yarn but I am afraid the Filet just won't POP like it does with a thinner yarn. If you have constructive ideas, please let me know. Just realize that I cannot spend hundreds of dollars on materials. It's just NOT an option! I HAVE to stay below $50 if possible...

Oh, and between July 1st and July 7th, I may not be updating my blog or on line very much, if at all. We are switching from the crappy DSL service that is Sprint and going to Cox Broadband for our internet at the new place (MUCH MUCH CHEAPER!) however, they cannot come out til the 7th to install it. We'll see what happens and if I'll have any time at work to get on, but if you don't hear from me for a week, that's probably why.

CAL Pals Summer Swap

Theresa was my wonderful Summer Swap buddy from over at CAL Pals and when I opened my package last night it was like Christmas in June!!!

As you can see, she sent me an assortment of some really neat novelty yarns along with a couple I have been wanting to try!

She made me a wonderful Birdhouse Bookmark, Doily, and 3 scrunchies! She also sent me a new tape measure, a Knit Check, a booklet of Knit Stitches (thank you so much! This is perfect for a beginner Knitter like me!), a wonderful little booklet with all kinds of recipes in it, and a neat hand-made Tweety Bird magnet!!! (P.S. Fozzy normally sits on my footstool. You can see that he's not pleased that Mommy had it full of her goodies!)



She also made me this cool Tweety Bird visor which I wore all last night! My hubby thought it was so cute!!!



And last but not least, these awesome beach sandals which I love! (Pardon my ugly feet, please!) I have always wanted a pair of these and now I have them!



Thank You Theresa for the most wonderful package of goodies ever!!!!

Bookmark Swap ~ First 2 packages

I have been slow about getting these added to my blog. So sorry! Ok, my first package came from Heidi and I just love it! The pic makes it look like a big white blur, but it's really lovely and the beads are just gorgeous! Thank you Heidi!!!



The 2nd package I got was from Anna! She did the lovely Fan Bookmark and sent me teas and Hershey's! Thank you so much Anna! I love love love the bookmark!!!!

My Jimbo Hook!!!

Last night I rcv'd my long awaited Jimbo Hook!!! (Sorry, the pic isn't the best, but I'll try and get some better ones tonite!) I have wanted one for quite awhile and my hubby told me I could order one for my birthday!

It's just amazing! I know you've heard this from others who have one of these hooks, but it literally feels like it was made from a mold of my hand! My husband, who normally doesn't get excited about such things actually said "how in the world did he get that molded to your hand?" in awe! I told him how Jimbo does it with a picture of our grip style and he said "boy, I should learn how to do that!" LOL. Jimbo, if my hubby likes it, you've got a good thing here!

Not only is it molded perfectly for me, but it slides through stitches with ease and doesn't snag or anything (like other wooden hooks I have tried.)

Thank you so so much! What a wonderful early Birthday present this was!!!

My June One-Skein Package

Last night I got my first One Skein skein of yarn and it is YUMMY! It's a wonderful cotton that doesn't look or feel like anything I have ever seen before! I keep petting it and petting it!!! I am going to have to think long and hard about what I'll make with this as it's way too nice for a dishcloth!!!

Thank You to my One Skein Pal!!!

Another WIP ~ Honeycomb Shawl

I'm testing this for a fellow CAL Pal. It's very fast going and the illusion it gives looks complicated when in reality it's just DC's and chains. I'm about 1/2 way done and am making this for my Crochetville Secret Pal... I hope she likes it!

(Of course she doesn't know I'm her Secret Pal yet, but she will once she gets her package!)

Happy Fathers Day Dad!

I was blessed with the best parents anyone could ask for! My dad worked his entire life to take care of us. I never knew the hardships he and mom went through while we were kids. He took a brown bag to work every day so us kids could have nice things. My parents struggled to make ends meet, yet my brother, sister and I never knew how little money we really had growing up. My parents didn't argue in front of us. (When my mom was mad she'd go in the kitchen and bang cupboards around, but for the most part, we never saw them arguing or anything. They saved that for when we weren't around.) They always made sure we had a great big Christmas, yet they very rarely got each other big gifts. It was always all about the kids.

Now that my mom is gone, I only have him left. I hate the fact that I live so far away and can't come visit often but I do think about him all the time. God blessed me with 2 wonderful parents, and that's more than enough for me!

Happy Father's Day Dad! You're the best!!!