No More New

I've got ideas, so many ideas.  And I'm sitting here in my sewing/guest room, thinking about all of the things I want still to design and make, and I spy with my little eye the foam balls that I bought to make a mobile for Baby M, before we knew her as Riley Girl.

I'm a little behind, you could say.

I intend to make these things.  Its just, you see, I have so very many ideas.  And the new ones, they always seem so much shinier than the old ones, and you know shiny always gets your attention (except for photographs - I totally prefer matte!).

This seems a little dramatic, but I think it might be time to put the kibosh on new ideas, until I get some of the current ones moved from "pinned" to "did".

One big plan I have includes these solid fabrics right here, along with a few others, some black Essex Yard Dyed Linen, and the fabulous Vintage Quilt Revival* book.  Big plans.  Queen-sized plans.  Because I've been sleeping with cowboys for far, far too long.

Oh, and if you squint, you can see some paper lanterns in the top left corner of that picture.  Those were decorations for RG's birthday party that I figured could do double duty as permanent decorations in her room.  So I bought two dowel rods, with yet another set of plans to make yet another mobile.  Here's hoping it's not a year from now and I'm still looking at those.

I've also got this quilt that I have made exactly zero progress on, but I am still excited about

And remember this super sweet ruffley quilt?  Well, I've gotten a number of questions about it, so I'm planning to make a tutorial, and a few quilts in the process.  But, uhm... yeah.  I've got the goods for it, just not the gumption, apparently.

And then I have a plan to make more of these guys, because they're adorable and RG's favorite lovey, and I just enjoy them so much.  And I want to figure out a way to make a toddler-sized backpack for a little love's birthday that is fast approaching.  Oh yeah, and bags, too.

As if these ideas weren't enough to be filling my head with, about once a week, Handsome & I talk about reno-ing the downstairs bath, putting in wood floors, and scrubbing the outside of the windows so that we can re-glaze and re-caulk.  And did you know today was 75?  And that it smelled like spring here?  Which immediately makes my mind go to planting...

I do exhaust myself, if that's any consolation.  But anyhow, no more new, that's my motto.  There is nothing so pressing that I have to buy it/obtain it before these projects get done.  Of course, now that I have set boundaries for myself, I want nothing more than to burst through them and do something contrary.  Because I'm hard-headed like that.  Oops!  I just linked to my storenvy shop, and it reminded me that I have another chenille baby blanket that only needs the binding sewn on and then it'll be done.  Add that to the list.

My hope is that next time I get the urge to make something, I can come back to this list and find something here that grabs my attention.  Some idea that's gotten better with age, a little "dust on the bottle" if you will (hashtag: david lee murphy & me 4 eva).  If nothing else, my now empty spending account & 28 yards of newly purchased fabric should help me remember (I kid you not. On either count!)

Are you making?  Share share!  Do you have the same treasure trove of 1/3 finished projects as I do?  Please tell me I'm not alone!

<3 M.

The Shoppe Is Open! (again)

Hey y'all!

I've been making things again.  I have been making progress on my actual "work" work, but after I put in a good day, I unwind with a little leather crafting.

Yes, leather crafting.  Don't you?

No?

Weird.

Anyhow, I've decided to re-open my shoppe, only instead of an Etsy shop, it is a Storenvy shop.  Because (1) Storenvy people are super nice, (2) they let you customize and tweak (not twerk) all different aspects of the display, and (3) they don't lift a little of your profit from your pockets while you're not looking.  Not that Etsy does that.  No.  I'm just sayin'...

Plus, I like their look.  They seem so... hip.  Thats it.  Totally hip.

I wanna be hip.  I want a hip place to sell my bags.  So its Storenvy for me!

I meant to wait.  To make a whole bunch of the same thing because it is my grand theory of design that anything looks pleasing, aesthetically, when it is presented en mass.  For example.

I'm not saying its the prettiest thing ever, but you're drawn to it, aren't you?
There's just something about repetition that makes you like it.
Don't deny.
If you feel more comfortable, imagine those toilets are purses.
Or kittens.

So I wanted to wait and to have a whole bunch of inventory ready to go.  So that they would look super nice all stacked up together, even if they didn't speak to you individually.  But they do.  Oooo they do.  They speak so loudly.  And so I decided to jump the gun and re-open my shop with only two purses in stock.  I'm getting new leather hide today, and so there should be new purses in the shop soon.  But for now, there are only these lovely two.

They speak to me so loudly that I very nearly decided to keep one.  I took it out for a day trip, just to try it out.  We drove around a little, saw some sights, etc.  It was a grand old time, but, well, the purse & I are not meant to be.  

I promise, it will look this lovely on your seat.
Take it some nicer places than I did, mkay?

So if you like leather crafts, and purses, or just small businesses in general, check out my new shop!  Share it, pin it, tweet it to your friends.  Or just look at it and then think, "Hm.  Those are nice."

<3 M.

New Favorite Hobby :: 2014

I went to write a post about how I have a new favorite hobby.  And then I paused.  Because it seemed like I've done this before...

Apparently I have a new favorite hobby every year.  Last year, extruding pasta.  This year, re-purposing wine bottles into drinking glasses.  Next year, the world.

A week before Christmas, Handsome finally noticed that I've been hoarding empty wine bottles in the cupboard.  I'd like to point out that we throw the word "hoarding" around like its a hot potato.  You have 2 pairs of boots?  Are you hoarding?  Keeping those Christmas ornaments for next year, I see... *coughHOARDERcough*.  So when I say I was hoarding empty wine bottles, I mean I had 5.  So yeah.

Anyhow, I had big plans of maybe someday getting a bottle cutter and making my own sleek line of drinkware.  I love glasses more than I ought, and why not make some more!  Plus, I have this ... this... thing. Where I have a hard time throwing away something that still has so much use left in it.  Its like I can feel its potential energy, and I just can't toss it in the trash.  So I "hoard".  Same goes for pasta sauce jars, maple syrup containers... Its fortunate that we've bought most of our babyfood in little squeezable pouches, else I can't imagine the tiny glass pyramid I could have built by now.  Okay, maybe "hoarding" is an acurate term, if you're categorizing all of my glass collection.

I never bought a glass bottle cutter, though, because, although it's on my wishlist, it never seemed to make its way to the top.  Instead, I'd spend my "personal cash" budget on things like fancy unsweetened cocoa powder and a partial cow hide.

That's how I roll.

Aaaand... now this story is getting much longer than I meant for it to.  So let's actually make a long story short.  Handsome got me a glass bottle cutter.  It's called the Kinkajou.  I love it.  I now need a dremel so that I can make the tops nice and smooth and then I'll be in business.  My favorite part is the details about the cups that remind you they were once wine bottles.  Things like "1.2 L" on the bottom and the punt, which is the dimple on the bottom that makes you pay more for less wine.

I love my new toy.  I'm out of wine bottles.  I could remedy this situation on my own, but... well, then I'd be drunk.  And I'd probably still try to cut the wine bottles, and then handsome would have to respond to a rescue call at his own house and I've vowed to never make him do that sooooo... send me your bottles.

Do you have a new hobby of the new year?  Do tell!  I'll probably be looking for something new to do next week ;)

<3 M.

Made Things :: Nesting?

If nesting is supposed to immediately precede labor, then no, I'm not nesting.  Because apparently, this baby is not planning on being born any time soon.  But all the same, I've had some time on my hands, and as a result, I've been making things.  Lots of things.  Here's some sneak peeks!

I wanted a bright, colorful purse to make it feel more spring-y!
These was the perfect color combo to fix my winter blues.

Next up, a bright little clutch for keeping my things separate from baby's.
Of course, I was anticipating needing room for baby things by now, but let's try not to dwell...

Not Nesting

My baseboards?  Still dirty.  Freezer meals?  Still just an idea on pinterest.  Learning to bake the perfect cherry pie?  Don't feel the need.  I'm pretty sure I'm not technically "nesting".  But what I have been doing is getting crap done, which I've always loved to do!

ASIDE: I have a problem with people telling me I'm nesting.  I don't know why.  I feel somehow that attributing my awesome success in the "getting crap done" department to "nesting" somehow diminishes what I was able to accomplish.  Like, "Oh, you climbed everest. But only because you're nesting."  No!  I did it because I'm a flippin' great mountain climber!  Do you know what I mean?  Does that even make any sense?  Either way.  

ASIDE: I think it also has something to do with people telling me that I was nesting ever since about week 22.  NO.  You're not nesting then.  You don't "nest" until right before the baby comes.  You're getting things done.  You're prepping for the baby.  You're being responsible and not leaving stuff until the last minute.  But you're not nesting.  It's just not true.

Okay.  WHEW.  Sorry.  Apparently I have a lot to say on the topic of "Why I'm Not Nesting".  Anyhow, I am getting things done, and that makes me ever so happy.  Mostly, I'm trying to get Baby M's room finished.  I know, the baby doesn't actually need a nursery, and that he/she doesn't care what it looks like.  I think we can all agree that a nursery is for the parents, and in our case, specifically the mom.  Handsome, well, I think the nursery is making it a little more "real" for him, but he would be fine without it.  Or a couch - he doesn't need that either.  Or a table.  Chairs.  Shelves of any kind... he's sort of a minimalist that way.

Let me start off by saying that the gifts that people have given this baby, the love already poured out, is overwhelming.  While I was up in PA, I got not one, but two beautiful hand-made blankets!  One from a very good friend (which I'll show you later...), and the other from a cousin who I like very well but rarely get to see.  She apparently doesn't hold it against me that we're hardly ever in the same state, let alone the same zip, as she spent hours of her life crocheting this lovely blanket!

I'm pretty sure no two are the same, although I'd have to keep careful count and catalog them to find out for sure.
Have I mentioned that I LOVE bright colors!
And, said lovely cousin was kind enough to use cotton yarn so that it won't irritate Baby M's skin.
I can't wait to bundle him/her up in this piece of art!

Neutral Colors Quilt for Baby M.

While I was in PA recently, we had some bomb-phenom baby showers.  Seriously, such wonderful food, such good times.  It was magnificent.  So many people gave us sweet sweet presents, some of which I'll be sharing with you in time.  With all of these gifts and the overwhelming cuteness, I started to become even more excited for this little bambino to join us come February.  Just looking at the little onesies and the socks (Oh, lawd, the socks!) made me want to have that thing that is supposed to fill these cute clothes :)  You know, the baby!

As you can imagine, with the whole "having a baby whose gender has not been revealed" thing, I got a lot of yellow & green.  And my, it's cute!  The duck faces and the frogs, they're all pretty darling.  At the same time, I have a fear that one day, my then-grown child will look back at pictures of him/herself always dressed in yellow & green and know.  They'll know I didn't find out, and they'll somehow hold me responsible for it.

To remedy such a situation, I've been working on a few items for baby in my own neutral color scheme - Gray & All the bright colors.  To my eyes, Gray and every-bold-color-but-pink can pass for neutral.  For some reason, once you throw in a good amount of pink (it'll still work in small quantities), I see girl.  It's sexist, it's American, but it's my eyes.

So in the Gray & All the bright colors scheme, let me introduce to you the first item I've made for Baby M!  

It's fashioned out of old t-shirts and some robot flannel circa the flannel-buying-blackout of 2011.
You know, the one where I remember looking at the fabrics on sale on Cyber Monday, and that's all I remember.
2 weeks later, 24 yards of flannel are delivered to my house.
Whoops.

Making Things

I've missed making things.  I haven't made much.  Heck, up until the chocolate chip cheesecake I made two nights ago, I can't remember the last time I baked just because.  It feels good to be me again.  Of course, our grocery budget doesn't love my baking, but we're working out a compromise.

And then last night?  The sewing bug hit.  I've made a few baby quilts recently, but no purses/wallets.  Not until last week when a friend asked for a purse for a birthday present.  I gave her the purse, and she gave me two bears full of home-produced honey and a jar of apple butter (made from Honey Crisps, oh I can't wait!).  We trade in commodities.  If anyone else wants to join our barter system, feel free to list your skills below.

Please excuse the junk in the background.
Or don't.
Consider it a preparation for what life would be like if you really visited me.

Well, the purse, it got me going.  Also, I'm heading off on a trip tomorrow.  Headed for the great white North.  Except this time of year, it's mostly gray and raining with a few autumn leaves thrown in for color.  I'm so pumped.  But that trip is a post all in itself.  Today, we're talking about making crap.  And make crap I did, except not crap.  A purse and two wallets.  The purse, because I wanted a new purse for my trip (sounds so fanciful, doesn't it?!).  The wallet, because I wanted a new wallet.  It seems we have a pattern going here.  But the second wallet, that was for someone else.  And curiously enough, not Anonymous Kate, the winner I announced yesterday.

The second wallet is for a very special person (who sometimes reads here so I don't want to give it away).  She inspires me, even though I very much doubt she knows.  I do know that she'd scoff if I told her.  She'd start listing all of the un-inspiring things about her.  Makes no difference to me.  Some people are just awesome, and she's one of them.  So I made her a little present.  At least that part of my creativity fever wasn't all about me.

But mostly, I made them because I had ideas, and the ideas needed to be given some space to be.  They needed to be pulled out of the recesses of my head and made with hands.  It's the creating that gets me.  The making.  I have no idea if this will/should ever be more than a hobby.  A "Oh, I wonder what sort of purse (not if it's gonna be a purse) Mariah is going to give me for Christmas" type thing.  I don't know.  But I do know I loved last night.  Didn't even feel the hours tick by.  I've been considering buying the book Quitter.  Have you read it?  Have you "quit"?  Let me know.  Msg me, y'all!

Crafty Shout-out!

Yo peeps.

I need your help, yo.

I've got two problems (but my dog ain't one).

Well, I've got 3 problems if you consider how thug I'm feeling right now to be a problem.  I don't.

Problem 1:  I can't read this without tearing up

Kind of ruins my whole thug cred, doesn't it?
credit here

It was read over us on our wedding day, and it always makes me cry.  Especially now with the whole "laughter of children" thing.  *sob*

Problem 2: I need the above tear-jerker on my wall, in some format.  Canvas, paint, children's wooden blocks, whatever.  I just need to be able to see it every day.  But my creative juices aren't flowing.  So I need your help.  How would you do it?  How do you think I should do it?  If any of you have any idea, please share.

And get this: suppose someone gives me an awesome idea, and I do it, and I love it for ever and always.  Suppose that.  Then I'd probably have to send said person a present of some sort.  I'm just sayin'.  I'm a giver.

Off to do the ugly cry,

TFW

(no more) Dirty Laundry

I finally did it.  I've been thinking about it and talking about it and planning on it since last year.  Yesterday, after getting home & settled from Orlando, I realized that there was a large mountain where I had left a molehill of laundry.  Problem: I was out of laundry detergent (I'm sure that's the reason that Handsome didn't do any while I was gone...).  So, instead of dropping $12+ on my favorite brand, I finally went through the work and made my own for $19.

4 lb. box of Borax
4 lb. box of Super Washing Soda (or 3.4 or something)
3 lb. OxiClean
4 lbs. Baking Soda
3 bars Fels Naptha
RECIPE FOUND HERE

ASIDE: Dear Father, I have sinned visited Wal Mart.  It has been 7 weeks since my last transgression.  I'll try to not go again.  But all of this stuff was easily found in the laundry detergent isle!

I didn't have anything large enough to mix all of the ingredients in, so I got a little creative and threw it all in a kitchen garbage bag.  Now, some people might call this a redneck thing to do.  And maybe, maybe I am a bit red around the collar.  But I just call it "using what you have".

Pretty Math

Hi.  Want to know two things that are difficult for me?

1. Talking about Math-y things
2. Writing about things I make

Please notice that I was very specific with my verbage (love that word).  I can write math-y things.

Real math.
That I wrote.
And understand.
Please still be my friend.

And just ask anyone who I see even remotely regularly - I love to talk about what I've recently made, be it food, sewn-things, or garden plants (yes, I know God technically "makes" things grow, but I always feel so proud when I take credit for His work...).  In fact, a friend of mine who I hadn't seen in 8 months came to visit, and the first thing I did was show her something I'd recently made.  Then took her on a tour of the garden.  Then fed her some no-bake cookies I'd whipped up.

However, it's hard for me to write about the things that I make, because I don't like to be all self-promoter-y on here.  I like to tell you stories and make you laugh or make you concerned about my well-being (like yesterday - note: the house was not on fire).  And in real life, I go to extensive lengths to not talk about math things.  People are often surprised when they find out what my degrees are in and what I plan to do for a living.  I like having the element of surprise.

This weekend, I'm breaking through one of those barriers and giving a presentation at a conference.  I'm going to be all up in the math business.  My name is even in the program.  I'll chat with fellow PhD students about research, listen to talks  given by professionals in the business.  It's going to be gloriously nerdy.

So I thought that tonight, I'd share with you some things that I made recently, since I'm breaking barriers left and right around here.  I want to warn you that the picture quality is terrible, and so these items are not yet up in my etsy shoppe.  But they will be soon!  So here you go!    

New little wallet design with the change purse on the back side.
I'm pretty much in love with this style.
And the fabric, that looks like you wore your favorite pink dress then jumped in a mud puddle.

"What's this cute little number?" you ask?
And why do my legs look so nice?
I can't explain the second, but I'll unveil the first for you!

Pins On The Brain

First, let me tell you all, I loved all of your great comments and interaction from the giveaway!  I appreciate that you stop here, that you talk to me, that we get to just... know each other.  Sharing, you know, that stuff.  The giveaway also gave me time away to fully enjoy time with the in-laws.  

We had a great time.

And we worked like dogs.

Not that I've ever seen a dog actually work, but I hear Australian shepherds do work sometimes.  Or something like that.  My FIL, I'll tell you what.  That man is happiest when working, and it's impressive what he can get accomplished.  I'm not going to tell you that it's all fun, but it's impressive ;-)

Anyhow, I'll be updating you on the hard won progress soon.  But for now, in my final days of Spring Break, I've got a leetle bit-o-time to get my creativeness out.  And I've turned to pinterest for some inspiration.  Here's a mix of my favorite things.  Some I can do, some I can't.  But it's nice to imagine!

1. Crispy Gnocchi and Pesto
Technically, I made this already.
But I'm making it again.
Because it's easy and delicious.
Seriously, they are just... so fun to bit into!

2. Fabric Rosettes
They're cute, and could have so many uses.
Or they could just sit around my house in various places.
Either way, I call it necessary.

Luck of The Irish **Giveaway!**

I have a love for St. Patrick's day.  I do.  Like, a lot.  

Let me put this in perspective for you.  I've always wished I were Irish.  The Irish (not to stereotype, but, well, stereotypically) get to be full of spit and vigor, wild and free, love a good fight and a good time.  Plus, they have awesome freckles.

Man, some people just have it all.

My family, although there is some Irish in there, is mostly a diluted mix of everything, with a dash of some more.  Not a whole lot of heritage to hold on to.  But I'm pretty sure there's Irish on both sides.  And my middle name is spelled in the Gaelic fashion, and I have a Claddagh ring.  Which makes me more Irish than anything else, as I see it.

I love to celebrate Saint Pattie's day.  I'll wear green, make some traditional foodstuffs, and then there's the most important part: the music.

If I love Saint Patrick's day, I LOVELoveLove Irish Pub Rock music.  Flogging Molly's, Dropkick Murphy's, I just feel so alive when I listen to it!  This morning, while I re-screened every window in our house (We have 18 windows.  Have I mentioned that?) I listened to Pandora's Irish Pub Rock station.  I had to thumbs-down a few songs, because they can get a little explicit, but mostly it was wonderful.  I was a'jumpin' and a'clappin', singing along and putting in screens in my own little Irish celebration.

So, to celebrate this lovely day, and perhaps bestow upon you a little luck-o-the-Irish, I've got a giveaway for you!  Let me warn you: it's not green.  I realize that's an oversight on my part.  But, eh, what can you do?

The Venango!

It's the prototype for a snazzy little duffle bag that I mentioned a while ago.  Just got one up in the shop, so now I can post this one to give away to you!  It measures 18x8x8 inches, fits as a carry-on for most major airlines, and is terribly terribly cute.  Handles are reinforced, zipper is high-quality metal, and did I mention it's super cute?  See the Etsy listing for more information! 

****The Giveaway****

How to Enter (One entry for each task! Up to 5 entries!)

Task 1 - Check out my shop, come back here, and leave a comment telling me your favorite item

Task 2 - Check out my Pinterest Handbags Board, comment on your favorite item, come back here and leave a comment saying you did that 

Task 3 - "Follow" my Pinterest Handbags Board, then comment here saying you did so

Task 4 - Pin an item from my shop, then comment here with the link

Task 5 - Leave me a comment on here telling me your favorite thing about Saint Pattie's day

Giveaway will close on Tuesday, March 20th, at 11:59 PM.

Winner announced Wednesday!

And now, for your listening pleasure, The Money Hams playing one of my all time favorite Irish songs, The Moonshiner.

Best of luck to you!

TFW

Talking to Inspiration

**********************

linking up to “Make Your Everyday Beautiful Inspiration Party”

**********************

Today was lovely.  And full of talking.  Today I talked with Handsome a few times.  He likes me, I can tell by the sound of his voice.  Today I talked with people who are paying me to be smart, and they thought I sounded decently intelligent. Today I talked with Creator God, and He loves me as well.  And He loves you.  I know, because we talked about it.

And then, in the spirit of Toby Keith, I stopped talking and got down to business.  See, I was feeling inspired today.  My house is mostly clean, which helps.  But it was spring-ish out, and there was a Double Punch deal going down at my local quilt shop so...  I grabbed some fabrics that inspired me, and got to work!

I <3 Batiks.
For those not in "the know", I just googled it.
It means "fabric manually dyed with a wax method" or something.
Translation: Beautiful.
Any one want to call dibs?

That material, second from bottom up there, turned into this little number.

This piece, well, this piece just called out to me in the store.
Does anyone out there not love gray?
Does anyone know the correct spelling? (grey?  gray?  greigh?)

And now it's this.
Also, putting snaps on things is not hard.
I learned that today.

So today is was: The sun, Pretty fabric, and Spring that inspired me.  What has inspired you today?

Busy little bee,

TFW

A Safe Place II

Because I have to much more to share...

And because we've established this is a safe place...

And because I need you to know that I did eat the rest of those delicious cookies...

And because I want to show you what I did with the rest of my night...

A picture montage, for you.

And I'm done,

TFW

A Birthday Means You Do What You Want

And apparently, I want to post 3 times today.  Before 5:30 PM.  Some might say that's excessive.  Know what I say?  Suck it, Trebec, it's my birthday, and I do what I want.

I guess what I wanted was to get lost in episodes of SNL Celebrity Jeopardy for umpteen minutes.  If you can get past the first few minutes of jostling, it's a great bootlegged copy.  Also, language is not G-rated, just so you know.

In other news, I made my birthday cake from this recipe from Foodess.  And then I had a small slice, because, although I do what I want, something else that I wanted was to not spoil my dinner.  A sweet friend is taking me out, since (1) Handsome is working & classing it up, and (2) I have a coupon so I'm a cheap date.  That there small slice, it was lovely.  I'm telling, were I to have an evening that did not involve my sweet friend taking me to dinner, I would totally eat at least 1/4 of that cake.

Delicious.
If she cancels on me for dinner, I'm eating this whole thing.
I won't even be mad.

Yesterday

I was fired up yesterday.  My tutoring bro (I'm not sure what to call him.  Suggestions are being accepted) couldn't understand (a) why I was so excited about graphing compound inequalities and (b) how I could be in such a good mood when it's been such a mess outside lately.  By the end of the hour, however, he may or may not have (and it's definitely a "may" ) fist-pumped.  It was half-hearted, but it felt like a victory.

I was so fired up.  SO much.  I couldn't answer Tbro's (that one won't work, sounds like Tebow) question, either; the "why?"  If you had asked me yesterday, I might have blamed it on the exercising I've started doing.

Watch out, I'm taming this beast!

However, since I slept for a good 9 1/2 hours last night out of sheer exhaustion, I'm thinking that may not be the source of my newfound energy.

I'm sure it is in no small part due to my best. purchase. oftheyear.  I got it in the mail yesterday about 52 minutes before I had to go tutor.  Since it takes me 9 minutes to drive there, I spent approximately 43 minutes falling in love.

Is This Offensive? You Vote!

I just have to know.

So y'all know I've started up an Etsy shop.  And I might be addicted.  I've been making purses pretty much non-stop, and I love it!  They're quick to whip up (relative to, say, a quilt!) and extremely satisfying!  And I've had this one shirt I wanted to make a tote out of for a while...

And so I did...

And I put it up for sale...

But...

Is it offensive?  I don't want to be offensive!  I found it at Sally Anne's (which I'm thinking of changing my shop name to, FYI), and just couldn't not buy it.

The front

The back.

I'm fairly certain it was made by one Chinese person for another, as a joke.  At least, that's my guess.  Help me here, I'm conflicted.

Please weigh in!

Public OpinionView Results

Insulting peoples everywhere,

TFW

When I Grow Up

I said recently that I didn't know why I was doing that thing I do.  You know, school, school, and more school.  Something else I know, is that the easy part of decision making is deciding what's wrong, or what isn't a good idea.  The hard part comes in when we try and come up with alternatives.

TCoTFW: I actually proposed a research project focusing on the different types of cognitive reasoning and how to produce the most understanding in students with all the different types of questions.  It was all good until I decided that teaching high school is not for me.  In no small part due to the fact that high school should be a compound word, in my opinion.

So, since I'm slightly less than thrilled about this current course of action (no doubt brought to the limelight by the fact that I'm entering yet another semester, and people keep asking, "How many years left?" and "What are you going to do when you're done?" and I don't have answers to either question.  "Quite a few." and "Who knows" are my answers right now.) I decided to entertain some alternatives.

So Curtains...

I've got curtains on the brain.  Probably because our house has only 2 windows properly clothed, out of, I think, 18 windows?  Do door windows count?  It seems to have gotten so bad that my neighbor stopped by yesterday with a set of drapes she wanted me to have.  "You know, *head point towards bare front windows* because it seemed like they might... let us not see you all the time warm the place up a bit."  Right Jules, right... "warm the place up"... I see right through you... kind of like you can see right through my windows...

Once I get curtains, this guy won't be able to see in anymore.
Guess he'll have to find another hobby.
Racquetball is an option.

Anyhow.

I know it's New Year's Eve's eve, and I should be thinking about resolutions and reflecting on this past year.  So let me get that part out of the way so I can go back to whats really on my mind.

Resolutions

• Exercise myself and my dog regularly
• Eat real food even when Handsome is on shift (anyone else think cereal is a fine dinner meal 3 nights a week?)
• Seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly (and regularly) with my God.  Yes, it's in a song, but it's pretty apropos.
• Handsome would like me to add, "Take better care of my things and put things back where they belong."  Apparently I've been lacking in some areas...

Reflections

• This year has been great.

Obviously, I'm not feeling very reflective.  In true scatterbrained fashion, I'll probably bore you with some "looking back" next week or something.  But this year was awesome.  Here's to another!

So... Curtains...

You might think that curtains are a boring topic for a blog post.  Let me warn you, you ain't seen nothing yet.  I'm about to dissect this subject so thoroughly that you'll be crying for 10th grade history.  

You think curtains are interesting and could never be boring?  Challenge, accepted.

A Star

We're in the not-as-cold-as-it-should-be-this-time-of-year North.  I've already done some visiting, met a baby who has been in my heart forever but actually arrived shortly after our last visit to PA.  I've taken part in some traditions.  It's been good.  Exhausting (already!) but good.  

One of my favorite things already is the time I've spent with my little niece, Shwayler.  She comes to me, says she wants to sew something.  Okay.  "An ornament, please."  We do our little guessing game we do where I ask specific questions and hope that I'll be able to deal with the answers.  Questions like, "What color do you want it to be" while hoping she picks red, green, or gray, as those are the only colors I have.  "What shape do you want to make it?" knowing that I cannot, in fact, draw Dora to save my life, hoping desperately she picks something she won't be disappointed with.  "A star" is her answer.  Whew.  Safe.  There are 4 new ornaments on the tree now.  She's proud of them, and thinks I'm an amazing "sew-er" and great at wrapping presents, too.  My heart is so full.

My camera is missing.
Little hands seem to be getting grabby...

Stars are all that we need,

TFW