Dandelion Picker

Really, I’m not even going to show you the original it was so bad…peppered with acne, excessive shiney-ness, and multiple chins. Thanks to Pioneer Woman and some YouTube tutorials, I can show you this:

So, Saturday Wy and I ventured out to Sandusky for Corrie’s wedding. Sadly, I have no good pics to show. Wy has them on her camera and by the time she sends them to me, Corrie will be old and gray. If I ever get them, I’ll post them. Her dress was beautiful and everyone had a great time.

Wy was a little tired on the drive home. She’s not a good road-trip buddy…she always sleeps. I’m getting revenge since she makes me play the license plate game by myself…and because she doesn’t read my blog. I KNOW! My own sister doesn’t even care what I have to say!

She’s a hot mess, isn’t she?! So sexy when she sleeps. Quit drooling on my leather seats you camel! You can dress her up, but you can’t take her anywhere…

Saturday night we went out after we got back to Toledo. The first pic was taken at the Whiskey Ranch. I wanna know - how is it I spent 19 years in that city and when I go back, I never, ever run into anyone I know!? Isn’t that strange?

Sunday my mom made dinner and Wy, Mikey, Gram, and I ate over at mom’s house. It was a quick visit but it was nice to have dinner with everyone.

I didn’t get any of my desk done this weekend (obviously). Hopefully I will get it very close to being done this weekend.

I got another row done on Mary’s knitting project, but not much to show, so I’ll post a new WIP update next time.

Gotta get moving! Talk at you soon!

I didn’t forget about Father’s Day. Truth is, I was just trying to keep busy so as not to dwell on it. My dad’s been gone almost 9 years now. Its still hard to believe sometimes. Sometimes I forget and just think he’s in Dallas still and that I haven’t seen him cause he’s far away. That’s what I like to think anyways.

So its not often that I like to talk about my dad or celebrate who he was. I’m going to do it today. And I don’t care who wants to say that I’m “idolizing” him or “only remembering the good things”. He wasn’t perfect. No one is. But I loved him anyways…and I always will.

That’s my dad holding me when he was about 21. Yes, 21, and balding. From the looks of it I was being cranky, probably completely irrational, and stubborn. I’m still like that sometimes. I get it from my dad.

This is my dad with my Pop-pop and Nana in Myrtle Beach. We used to go to Myrtle Beach every summer. I loved it there. I have great memories from our vacations. My dad was big on family vacations and family traditions. I hated it at the time, but I’m grateful for it now.

Another thing I hated at the time was that I couldn’t do ANYTHING without his camera in my face. Now I’m really glad he did that. I have soooo many pics of my childhood and my family. Its really great.

So dad, Happy Father’s Day. I love you and I miss you all the time.

I’d also like to say Happy Father’s Day to one of my other favorite dad’s…my Pop-pop.

That’s my Pop-pop and I at my baptism. Notice how much my dad looks like him?! My Pop-pop is so much fun. He always played with us and spent lots of time with us. He’s a wonderful grandpa. He taught me lots too. Especially things like how to seal a homemade boat so that it doesn’t sink when you put it in the water. How to make homemade ice cream. And most fun of all, how to do HIS chores as soon as my Nana left the house for the day. Yes, I still remember that, and NO I won’t stop reminding you.

I love my Pop-pop. Happy Father’s Day

Well, I know it was a week ago, but as soon as I got home from my long weekend, I got sick. I kept getting sicker until yesterday night when I finally broke down and took some antibiotics I had laying around. Hopefully this will kick it.

So over the long weekend I went to Toledo to hang with Wylie. My friend Jodi was in town from LA, Wy’s best friend Mandy turned 21, and Marcus Freeman was hanging out at Wy’s boyfriend’s house. So it was a busy, fun weekend.

Saturday night we all took the party bus out for Mandy’s bday. We went downtown to The Pub St. George in Toledo. It was fun. A lot of fun. The party bus broke down on the way to the bar, but we didn’t let that rain on our parade.

Here are some pics before the drinking began:

That’s me, Wy, and Marcus’ girlfriend Joanna.

And here’s a pic from AFTER the party…um yea.

We are ditzy and giggly enough on our own, no one should give us alcohol

Here’s a pic from brunch the next morning. Would somebody PLEASE turn off that bright light!?!?

That’s Mikey (Wy’s boyfriend) me, Marcus, and Joanna.

Monday I saw Jodi and Aiden since they were in town from LA. I have no pics cause I’m a dork. I always take my camera everywhere, I just never use it. Jodi got some though, so I’ll post them when she sends them over. Aiden’s just so adorable and such a good baby, he hardly fusses at all!

Monday night Mikey treated Wy and I to some new shoes and pedicures (boy did we need them). And Tuesday I spent the day at the zoo with Jodi, Jeremy, Aiden and the rest of the fam. It was a good time.

Needless to say I did NOT get Jodi’s sweater done in time for her visit But I have a feeling its going to be too small, so looks like Wy’s getting a new sweater. We’ll see what happens after I get it blocked.

So that was my busy weekend. Got to see lots of good friends and had a good time! A few things I learned this weekend: 1. I’m really, really, really white, and the pictures prove it. 2. I can’t drink like I used to. 3. I’m getting old. Nothing proves this faster than a bus full of 21 year olds.

I’m turning in early tonight, still trying to beat off this cold! Later!

Weekend Soundtrack: Lolllipop - Lil Wayne, Sexy Can I - Ray J, My Girl Gotta Girlfriend - Ray-L

Well I spent the past weekend in Toledo with Wy. I went in for my Grandma’s birthday party. Here’s a pic of me and my cousins (some of them anyways!). Oh - I got new hair! I *love* it so much! Its dark dark dark brown (as close to black as I could get) with red and copper streaks!

I didn’t get any knitting done. I was too busy playing Rock Band with Wylie (I suck at drums…but then again, so does she!) and catching up with my friend Sarah from grade school. It was good to see her again, we had lots to talk about and it was fun! And I grabbed a quick bite with my Aunt Kathleen before I came home on Sunday.

Other than that, not much to report over here. The snow keeps coming and its cold…but that’s to be expected, its March in Ohio. I really wish I had some knitting pics to show you, but I’m just not motivated lately. The endless stocking stitch of Jodi’s sweater is driving me to tears of boredom, and the beret I was working on is going to be too small, so I really need to frog it and start over.

I finished two books this week. They were both very good if anyone’s interested…

First I finished “We Need To Talk About Kevin”, then “What the Dead Know”…both kept my attention…which isn’t easy!

I broke down and bought a juicer, so there will probably be lots of juice pr0n pictures soon!

We think he looks like Pop-pop…what do you think?

Its a total Matt hat. We went down to Mike the Hatter a few weeks ago. We must have looked lost cause one of the guys took pity on us and told him to try this one…and he liked it!

Here’s a pic of the gorgeous yarn Kara and Katie got me for Christmas! Isn’t that multi-colored one pretty!?

Here’s my question for you knitters…
That yarn is lumpy and bumpy (its actually called that too!) and its a bulky weight. I’ve never knitted with anything like it. What kind of projects are best for yarn that’s different weights like that? It would make a beautiful scarf, or maybe a hat…is it good for a hat project?

Thanks again Katie and Kara! I know I’m a little late with the Christmas postings, but I love it!

Well it was a nice vacation from work, but now I gotta go back.

Christmas was nice. I went to Toledo and ended up staying there longer than planned cause I was having so much fun. I stayed with Wy and Mike at Mike’s house (Thanks Mike!) cause he has an awesome house…and his guest room has the best damn mattress in the world.

So, there was a lot of this going on:

Guitar Hero…my new favorite thing! Along with some sleeping, eating out, catching up with my cousin Katie over lunch, seeing Amy and the kids, and day-after-Christmas shopping.

SO everyone’s talking about New Year’s resolutions. I don’t make resolutions. I haven’t made them in years. Maybe this year I will…here goes.

First off, I’m not making resolutions I know I won’t keep…so lets just skip over the “lose weight”, “eat healthy”, “exercise”, and “stop shopping” routine and move on to the do-able resolutions, shall we?

1. Get one of those 401K thingy-s

2. Make a quilt. I saw the book Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts and I loved it so much it’s inspired me! I think I’m gonna have to make that color wheel one. I know someone who’d love it. (I hope I don’t screw it up. My sewing skills leave a lot to be desired.)

3. Knit a sweater. I’m terrified of knitting sweaters. I don’t know why, I just am. So this year, I plan to get on with it.

4. Get rid of extra crap around my apartment…I’ve already made a list for ebay.

5. Stick to my vegetarian diet. I actually enjoy being a vegetarian and I can’t say I miss meat one bit! Also, learn to cook more vegan and vegetarian food.

6. Spend more time with my sister…even if it does mean going to Toledo more often.

7. Lay off the sugar.

8. Open a savings account that will contain only “Buy A House” money. (I’m not sure this will help, seeing as the “Vacation” account has a continuous balance of $10.01, but hey, I’ll try.)

9. Learn to dye and spin yarn.

One more -

10. Stop cussing so much - really, its gotten out of control!

In knitting news, I’ve cast on my Aunt Beth’s socks. I’m using the Hedera pattern and so far I love it. I’ve gotten as far as the heel. I’ve never knit a sock before, so I have no idea what I’m going to do with this long heel thing next, but hey, I followed the directions so we’ll see! Hopefully I will have at least one finished sock pic this week!

Nana got her shawl and loved it. I’m so glad! Now, Nana if you’re reading, I need you to send me a pic of you wearing it for my website!

Okay, so I’m not the best roommate sometimes. Sometimes I leave dishes in the sink, sometimes I complain about taking out the trash, and sometimes I open mail that’s not addressed to me.

I came home from work today to a box from JoAnn Fabrics, and although I didn’t remember ordering anything from them, it didn’t stop me from ripping into it because hey, if I didn’t order it, but they sent it anyways its fair game, right? Well, after pulling out the packing slip I noticed that it wasn’t really addressed to me, it was for my brother.

And YEAH I got a new yarn swift and ball winder for Christmas!

Well I sure am glad that the yarn stores in Toledo jumped on the Black Friday bandwagon! I controlled myself pretty well picking up just a few new yarns…6 to be exact. Here’s the score.

The two multi-colored ones my mom picked out cause she wants more scarves. So I started on one of those.

Did you spot my new pretty needles???

So Saturday evening I got to see my Aunt Jodi, Uncle Gene, and my cousins Katie (in from Chicago) and Kara (in from Findlay). I was so excited. I love hanging out with them. I taught Katie and Kara how to knit…well, a quick “this is how you cast on, knit, and purl” lesson anyways. Here’s a pic of Kara…she’s almost smiling…I’m not sure if its because she’s knitting or because I pulled out the camera. I don’t have any pics of Katie knitting because I didn’t think about the camera until after Katie’s lesson. Sorry Katie, I’ll get you at Christmas if you haven’t given up!

On Sunday I cast on Nana’s surprise project only to realize that I picked a project too advanced (or I just can’t concentrate long enough) for me. I really really wanted to do the Summer Shawlette cause I just love it, but the directions are confusing the hell out of me. I can’t even get past the crochet cast on! Pathetic, I know…

So, I decided to do a not-so-surprise wrap. Its a pretty color and I think she can wear it to church. Hopefully I can get through this one without having to frog it.

That’s about it till later this week. Hopefully I’ll have some more progress on the wrap and scarf to show you. I ran out of yarn already on one scarf. I think I’m going to cast on Aunt Beth’s socks (as soon as the yarn comes in that I ordered) until I get some more scarf yarn since that won’t be till Christmas time since I bought it in Toledo.

I have lots to do this week. I’m going to be making cinnamon bread, banana bread, and on Saturday I want to go to the Bazaar Bizarre downtown. It looks interesting. Has anyone been?

Which is why I only post about once a week…but this is much more interesting, isn’t it!?

So it looks like I haven’t gotten much done, but in reality, I did. That scarf took another two skeins of yarn this week, and I finished the bag part (still need to do the handles) of my Noro project. I didn’t follow the pattern exactly. I liked the eyelets so much (this was my first time doing them!) that I did lots! Both projects need to be blocked badly, but I need to go make a blocking board first…that’s my next project, hopefully I’ll get to it this weekend. I think I’m going the homosote route that I read of. Sounds good and cheap!

So, here’s mom’s Christmas scarf

I think I actually got a pretty good picture of it. You can see the cables and everything. I just love it. Hopefully the blocking will stop the corners from curling.

Here’s the Noro bag

Aren’t the eyelets so cute?! So now I have to decide on a long icord handle or wooden store bought ones. We’ll see if I feel like making icord or not!

So on the needles this weekend will be:
Nana’s surprise
and Wy’s hat (and the same one for me cause I love it)
I also hope to cast on Beth’s socks. I really need to get those started. I’m just afraid of doing socks cause I haven’t done them before!

I’m off to Toledo in the morning for Thanksgiving. I just finished making my Aunt Kathleen’s recipe for Brussels Sprouts and Chestnuts. Since my mom has the slowest computer in the free world, you won’t here from me till at least Sunday. So… HAPPY THANKSGIVING!