Thursday, June 30, 2011

Free Thing Thursday

I have a lot of stuff....I like to shop...It's a fact, I am a proud shopper...but there are things I have had for many years and have never used...so I figure I'd send them out to those in the "innernets."

Like they say, somebody's junk, is someone else's treasure....It's too much trouble for me to sell on ebay....I just want to get rid of the stuff....if you want it and want to reimburse for postage, fine, but not totally necessary...

If more than one person wants it...I'll random generate it....so here goes the first "free thing Thursday."

It's a Simplicity pattern 9661...printed in 1995....I have never used the pattern, although it is open, it is all still intact...so if you are interested, just leave a comment....I'll leave this open for 1 week....

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

WIP Wednesday and Yarn Along

tami_wip        DSC_0041-1

Today I’m actually going to post to both…and on an actual Wednesday!

DSC04494 I am on the third book of the series…I took a few days off, as I had done the naughty and skimmed the book to the end and really didn’t like what I read, so I was putting it off…

I also pulled the Crazy Aunt Purl book, as I think I need to read something a little lighter at times….the Martin series is very heavy and dark…

I am working on my Knitmore Vanilla sock and also “A Breath of Fresh Air” scarf..from the Loopy Ewe monthly kit……the big striped thing in the back is what I am crocheting at the moment.  It is my mindless project.  I bought a bunch of Patons SWS Soy on sale a long time ago….I am just crocheting it up and hope to felt it to make a project bag…….

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

My Craft Nest

DSC04493 This is what my bed presently looks like…

Giving Geeks

The Giving Geeks challenge this month was to make or give something to an organization to help with newborns of families that may need support.

I made 10 hats…some are larger, some smaller…and I am off to donate them today to the hospital in the next city.  It’s the city I teach in and is the poorest city in our state.  There are larger cities, but they have bigger tax bases.

DSC04481 I didn’t do too many “traditional” baby colors, as I was using scraps….but there are some in there…

Monday, June 27, 2011

OMG! Am I Out of Shape!

Today I started my summer goal of trying to work out the majority of the week…I was dying 6 minutes in!

I chose to ride the bike and not walk and I chose the cardio function…..and I was dripping sweat by 6 minutes and ready to quit….I quit at 17 minutes, but I rode over six miles….

Then I went grocery shopping….nothing stops the buying of the crap food than having just worked out…..except for my one addiction…

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I know it’s empty calories and not good for me, but I have tried to give it up.  I don’t drink as much of it in the summer, but I do still drink it…..

And no I don’t drink diet, 1) it taste nasty to me and 2) the fake sugar they use does not agree with my insides…

The good thing is I did weigh myself this morning and I have not gained any weight…I thought I had, in fact I am down a pound or two since the last time I weighed myself many months ago…so my goal is to lose at least a dress size, if not 2 by the time I go back to school….I’m not good at doing this, as I tend to sabotage myself,,,,but I’m at that point…I’ve got to do it for my health…

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Another Baby Day

I don’t have children of my own…we tried, it didn’t work out, adoption was too costly and I wasn’t interested in putting myself through painful procedures…but I have lots of friends with babies, students to borrow, and my niece and nephews whenever I need a kid fix…and the nice thing is I get to give them back and not pay for their college education….

A couple weeks ago, I was wishing to spend some time with babies and lately I have gotten my wish in abundance!  Today was the latest…

It was his birthday
DSC04480 That’s my friend K, with her 1 year old K…He loved the turtle I got him…it’s one of those big Pillow Pets.  I also gave him these:
DSC04406 Hopefully they will fit…we think so, but he’s got some chubby feet!

I also got to play with this handsome 6 month old
DSC04467 Whose name rhymes with K’s, but starts with a J!

And this little cutie, who is 8 months old
DSC04474 She is here with the birthday boy…their moms are best friends and there is some scheming going on for the future of these two!!!!

It was a great day, full of lots of little ones (many more besides these three, but I had permission to post their pictures) cake and ice cream.  What more could you ask for???

Saturday, June 25, 2011

25 Years Later

DSC04446  These are my best friends from high school.  We got together this year again.  Last year, there were only six of us, this year there were 12 of us.  We all hung around together in high school.  Many of us had come from different middle schools.  Some of us have stayed in touch more than others, but hopefully we’ll keep more in touch…One of us had just had a baby, she is three months old….There were many other children there too…..

Not sure if this is going to become a yearly thing, but it was a nice way to spend the day….and one of us is heading for an adventure and moving her family to New Zealand for a year!  Color me JEALOUS!!!!!

And, of course, one of us is flashing the camera!  Love you R!!!!!!!

We had people come from Washington state, Florida, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut…..and the weather held out for it…Great Day!!!

Friday, June 24, 2011

Finally!

It’s the song that goes through my head every year…

What have I been doing this past week?  Finishing packing up classroom..and waiting, waiting, waiting for the last day of school!

Now I have also been doing a lot of reading, which has kind of taken over my life…remember this last week?
DSC04407 I finished the second book, which is over 900 pages….and have just started on the third book, which is over 1000 pages….I did the naughty and scanned some of it and really don’t like where this one is heading!!!!!  But I will finish this one and hopefully read the next one before the end of summer…

I also finished the diving helmet that I planned with this yarn
DSC04443 Here is Wil-key modeling it.  It was for the scientific challenge…you had to represent lightening.  A diving helmet was used as a lightening rod in Torment of Tantalus.

I also made a baby hat for a co-worker….well I had made her one, but she said she had been looking online for one…and the one I made would fit the baby in the fall…so I made a smaller one.  He is expected in July. It is made with Manos de Uruguay cotton stria…love this yarn and horde it, as I heard they are not going to make it anymore…
DSC04436 The new one
DSC04354The original one

I’ve been reading a lot about sock knitting…..well here is the sad sock facts from me….I have two different patterns started..the first
DSC04440 It is a kit from Tsarina of Tsocks.  Not sure I like the yarn anymore…and it’s been a long time since I worked on it…so I’m not sure where I am….I may just frogged the whole thing, although the Hubs says to keep it to show how I started…
and
DSC04439 I am using OnLIne, which I LOVE and have bought more of and a pattern from The Knitmore Girls…it just seems to take forever!  But I will power through…

whoops forgot - the random number thingy picked number 3!!! Which is Kiwiyarns!  Congrats on the shells...I'll email you ....

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Today, I

Spent the day here

DSC04408 (this is literally the backyard of a friend’s beach cottage!)

with lots of these

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Good friends and little kids…..

DSC04419 Footsies with a 3 year old..

I collected some of these

DSC04410 would you like some shells from a Connecticut shore?  Post a comment by the end of June 23 and I’ll randomly select someone to receive some shells I picked up on the beach today…

What’s your favorite way to spend a summer day?

It was a good day….four more school days until I am officially on summer break, but man it felt like it today!

Friday, June 17, 2011

Last Friday of the School Year

We have four more days, but today was the last Friday...woo-hoo and I am exhausted and behind on reading blogs.....I'll catch up this weekend....

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Yarn Along

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ Ginny
DSC04407  I actually had the first book for a couple years before reading it.  I had read many, many good things about it.  Then during the lull of Nerd Wars, they did a read along…O!! M!!! G!!!! It was so good!  I told myself I would wait until summer vacation before I got the second one, yup didn’t happen…I’m about halfway through (but have cheated and read some chapters ahead…each chapter is told from a different person’s viewpoint, so you can follow their story alone by reading their chapters)….I will be reading the rest this summer…..and look the yarn and book match!

The yarn?  Why that is the yarn for my next and last project of the month for Nerd Wars…I’m still ruminating on the design…but it has to do with lightening!

The just finished project is on the downlow right now, as I’m using it twofold and will be giving it away as a gifty….so I’ll post a pic, one it’s gifted…

Monday, June 13, 2011

Hasn't Got A Name Yet....

My latest submission to Nerd Wars....now she just needs a name....

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Nerd Wars

I was lucky enough to join Nerd Wars this round and to get on Team Stargate Command!

I have finished two projects so far…..well three, but the other isn’t totally complete….it could be, but I’m going to add to it…

Anyway!

DSC04396 Here’s the hat!  I asked about the yarn a couple posts back..I went with the darker yarn…I think it looks like the Stargate…

stargate

DSC04395 I did add the symbol for Earth onto it…not sure I’ll keep it after Nerd Wars, but I like the way it looks…I made the pattern up as I went along…

And secondly

DSC04394 This is Wil-key….he’s a monkey inspired by Jonathan Coutlon singing “Wil Wheaton” to WW, replacing lyrics in his “My Monkey” song…

I love this video!

Now I added to Wil-key, by giving him a flak jacket and hat like Daniel of SG1, so I can get more points……let’s hope they accept it!

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Now notice that Wil-key is dressed in a red shirt in homage to Star Trek:TNG…

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Hi Ya’ Folks!

Well I lost one follower and gained two, so welcome!  And please if you have not left a comment, stop by and say HI!  I will visit your blog/site, if you do…or eventually, sometimes I’m a little slow, but will get there!  It’s just I have that neat little gadget on the side that tells me where people are visiting from, but I don’t hear from you all….
It’s been several days…I just didn’t feel like I had anything to say…and it was hot, and the room with the computer does not have a/c….It can be sweltering in here!  And I’ve been busy doing end of the year stuff for school…
So here’s an update!
Yesterday last field trip of the year, I came home with this:
DSC04389 and this little fella’ landed on my hat and stayed for about 40 minutes!
DSC04379 We were at High Meadow.  It was a fun, relaxing day.  The teachers really just got to sit back and enjoy visiting and hanging out…the kids did a ton of activities and just enjoyed being kids for the day….
Latest Finished Objects!
DSC04352 My one skein cowl…it’s an improvised pattern, but I’m thinking of writing it up…it would be my first written pattern….The yarn is from Good Karma Farm in Mamma Mia.  I bought it at the Rhode Island Wool and Fiber event.  It was great yarn, nice and squishy and dreamy to work with!  I actually made this for a contest…you can read about it here.  My cowl is in their next post, here.
DSC04347
DSC04354 Baby hat for a lady at work…I’m going to make another one, much smaller in cotton.  She is due in July.
and
DSC04353 much smaller baby hats for the Giving Geek challenge in Nerd Wars…I’m going to try to make a few more before sending them out…
I’ve also been busy with Nerd Wars on Ravelry!…These are some yucky shots, as it is raining here today….
DSC04391 The Stargate…I went with the darker yarn….
DSC04390 The start of my monkey head for another project….
I also swatched The Dipped Infinity Scarf which is my dissertation for Nerd Wars.  I’ve ripped out the swatch, as I bought the pattern as a kit and unsure if I have extra yardage, but here is the swatch before I frogged it:
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Plus I finished one class correcting, I have one more class to finish and I have to do my grades this weekend….
So that is what I’ve been up to this past week….how about you?

Sunday, June 5, 2011

A Graduation Party and Webs Again!

Yesterday I went to Massachusetts to surprise a former student.  her mom had invited me to her high school graduation party…I had her in second grade….

It took her a moment, but she was very surprised and seemed very happy to see me.  She’s grown into a wonderful girl.

DSC04333 She’s taller than me now…which isn’t hard….

I felt like a celebrity..my 15 minutes of fame…everyone knew who I was.  It’s just so gratifying to know that you have touched a student’s life and have had an impact.  As a teacher, it’s what many of us hope to achieve.  It was a great day!

I made it up there about an hour early, so where better to hang out than Webs? As I had to go through Northhampton to get to the party!

Did I get yarn?  Silly Billies, of course!

DSC04342 I added to my Manos stash of cotton stria..I ADORE this yarn and heard they weren’t going to make it anymore???It was on sale in the warehouse….

I also added to my Madelintosh stash with Tosh Vintage in Baltic, maybe for the gate?

and Tosh Sock in Brick for either the Rick or Sam socks from Cookie A’s Sock Innovation….it’s for Nerd Wars….

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Another Saturday

I haven’t been home on a Saturday in weeks!  Weeks I tell you!  This is so unusual for me, as I am usually a bed potato on the weekends….but I’ve been out and about since May 14…

First I was in New Hampshire at a Sheep and Wool Festival, with a stop at Webs tent sale…

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Then I was in Rhode Island for the Wool and Fiber Festival…

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Then I was back in Massachusetts for their Sheep and Wool Festival and since we drove through Northampton, we stopped at Webs

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And this Saturday, I am heading back to Massachusetts for a graduation party….and you now I need to get off the same exit as Webs, so another stop may be in order…

And I may be back in Northampton tomorrow night to see Natasha Bedingfield…not sure we are going, but possibly…I’m not working on Monday.

Today I am heading to a high school graduation party of a student I had in second grade many years ago…the family has kept in touch all of these years….should be fun….

And then we’ll see…I have nothing planned for next weekend yet…I don’t think, what is the date…oh next weekend is Connecticut Open House Day.  I went last year to places around my town, this year maybe I’ll head farther afield….need to peruse the list…

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Procrastination is Thine Name

Yep, every year I promise myself...I will stay on top of the correcting...I will NOT have bags of work to correct before I can post grades in the gradebook/report card (it's online this year)...yep...every year....I finished two bags between yesterday and today....that's my homeroom...I still have a few bits and bobs of social studies, as I did not bring home the book and need to see the pages....

No, I don't still have TWO bags of correcting to do for the other homeroom, no sirree, I stayed on top of it....hmmm...maybe I can just dump it all into the circular file....

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

WIP Wednesday

On Monday I was cleaning…part of that cleaning was pulling out all the WIP’s on the side of my bed, so that I could vacuum….so I took some updated photos….

DSC04274 Aiden’s blanket

DSC04276 The Hubs’ ripple

DSC04277 A bag I’m using up my SWS yarn up..I plan to felt it when done…

DSC04278 Betty shrug started a long time ago…needs other arm…

DSC04279 Starghan started for a friend’s daughter…It started to ripple on me, so I put it in timeout…it’s been there a couple years now…

DSC04280My saltine ATW quilt…lots of sweing involved and ends…lots of ends….

DSC04281My A Breathe of Fresh Air scarf…

DSC04282 My Splashy Flowers scarf…gotta pay attention too much for this one…

DSC04283 My sock….

DSC04284 Newest project..a cowl for a contest..

DSC04285 Baby hat, I’m whipping up…it’s pretty done, just need to snip and weave end….

DSC04286Hooded scarf I’ve been working on awhile

DSC04287 A bane of my existence…I’ve frogged this several times, as it keeps getting narrower as I go along! Grrr!!!

I have more, but these are the major ones I’d like to finish up…summer is almost upon me (4 weeks) and I’ll have much more time…..