tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38574184294360633962024-03-13T21:01:15.123-05:00Truly, Madly, Deeply.............Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-22302403479346850632011-05-08T08:36:00.002-05:002011-05-08T08:38:56.423-05:00Mother's Day(First of all, I've not blogged in forever and a day...my apologies) And my header is missing.....<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jAzXXKG85Wk/TcaYNcrSyLI/AAAAAAAAAPA/9ZC_A4wUc7o/s1600/img019.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 385px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jAzXXKG85Wk/TcaYNcrSyLI/AAAAAAAAAPA/9ZC_A4wUc7o/s400/img019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604334143112661170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8PXZqcv7YrE/TcaWEX0tqeI/AAAAAAAAAOg/B2zcS9by8Hg/s1600/img004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 398px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8PXZqcv7YrE/TcaWEX0tqeI/AAAAAAAAAOg/B2zcS9by8Hg/s400/img004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604331788167916002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Mother's day makes my stomach hurt....I'm not gonna lie. It makes my chest tight, my head hurt and my heart race. And not in a good way.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lcNsOv6Luyw/TcaWOxZigEI/AAAAAAAAAOo/4j1E0FfuA3M/s1600/img009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 391px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lcNsOv6Luyw/TcaWOxZigEI/AAAAAAAAAOo/4j1E0FfuA3M/s400/img009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604331966831951938" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This will be my third Mother's day without my mom. I don't know why this day is so hard for me. This day is harder than the anniversary of the day she passed.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4FZlJ7dJy4/TcaWvELTM_I/AAAAAAAAAOw/L662X4lapxE/s1600/img012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 370px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4FZlJ7dJy4/TcaWvELTM_I/AAAAAAAAAOw/L662X4lapxE/s400/img012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604332521628316658" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's on this day, and those leading up to it, that I sift through all the pictures and memories, and my heart aches. I watch our home movies, and all that longing for her returns.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mGfEuxLGA2s/TcaXeQryogI/AAAAAAAAAO4/s0ewW1fSoLw/s1600/img014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 386px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mGfEuxLGA2s/TcaXeQryogI/AAAAAAAAAO4/s0ewW1fSoLw/s400/img014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604333332439671298" border="0" /></a><br />It's on this day that I'm most aware I don't have a mom anymore. That I don't have someone that I can honor on this day.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uGsBVnA8JrE/TcaYXafs-jI/AAAAAAAAAPI/np4e-l2Vc5M/s1600/img013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 377px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uGsBVnA8JrE/TcaYXafs-jI/AAAAAAAAAPI/np4e-l2Vc5M/s400/img013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604334314325867058" border="0" /></a><br />It's funny how Mother's day is...for me anyway. My kids are great, and I love being their mom, but let's be honest. They don't really get it. I know they love me and appreciate what I do as best they can...but they still don't get it. It's not until you are a mom that you can truly know what your own mother sacrificed and gave. And you understand all the pain and heartbreak that a mama goes through.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Sn40j-LAEg/TcaZRdjs47I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/x8FnIiORqOo/s1600/img002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 388px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Sn40j-LAEg/TcaZRdjs47I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/x8FnIiORqOo/s400/img002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604335311580357554" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I guess for me Mother's day is about her..and not about me. I wish I could hug her one more time. I miss her voice. In fact, it's hard for me to even remember her voice, it's been so long since I heard it. The disease she had took that from her early on. I miss her laugh. I miss they way that she could drive me crazy faster than anyone ever could. I hate that my kids don't have her anymore.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xtVEF3Sb5Vo/TcaaA9-fUKI/AAAAAAAAAPY/QbYQKGgsMj8/s1600/img006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 392px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xtVEF3Sb5Vo/TcaaA9-fUKI/AAAAAAAAAPY/QbYQKGgsMj8/s400/img006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604336127736500386" border="0" /></a>So I guess I just wanted to say....hug your mamas today. Love them even when they make you crazy, and angry.<br /><br />I love this picture of her.....it makes me laugh.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wxmo7neQrp4/TcabHQDkZuI/AAAAAAAAAPg/I2NaiW-MkG8/s1600/img007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 380px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wxmo7neQrp4/TcabHQDkZuI/AAAAAAAAAPg/I2NaiW-MkG8/s400/img007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604337335180486370" border="0" /></a>Happy Mother's day friends. :)Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-91281714763478711062010-04-11T18:10:00.005-05:002010-04-11T19:00:15.417-05:00My sincere apologies, plus Fiber Alley<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4512812788_7ba06e811f.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4512812788_7ba06e811f.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />First of all, I've been neglecting this space. Some things are shifting here in my household, and I'm finding myself gone a lot more of the time. This is good and bad in a way....good in that I'm able to reach some goals I had set for myself...bad in the fact that all creativity, crafting, and making of almost all sorts has come to a screeching halt. We did do a cool easter craft that I'll blog about soon, and a little bit of knitting here and there has been going on, but that's about it. No completed projects have been crossed off the list...which makes me feel restless, but I'm just tying to keep my head above water right now honestly. It's hard to be gone from the household so much, when I've been right here almost everyday for so long. It'll be okay though, and possibly short lived, so I'm rolling with it as best I can.<br /><br />Now on to happy things.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4512821490_f5ed076531.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4512821490_f5ed076531.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This weekend was the annual Fiber Festival. I am lucky enough to live in a place where this is just a few short miles away from house one time a year. This event is fabulous! The Fiber Festival is a gathering of all kinds of fiber enthusiasts, knitters, spinners, rug hookers. There are vendors of all of the above crafts, tons of yarn, fiber, raw wool, spinning wheels, you name it is there. And live animals to boot. Goats, angora rabbits, sheep. So, so fun if you are into this kind of thing.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2397/4512169681_675d154ece.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2397/4512169681_675d154ece.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2694/4512807916_f227d2bedf.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2694/4512807916_f227d2bedf.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />And what's so great is that a lot of the vendors manufacture their own yarn. So they own the sheep, shear the sheep, process wool, dye the wool, spin the wool, then sell it at the fiber festival!!! It is such an art, and their is so much beauty at every turn, I can barely keep my eyes in my head. Can you believe the gorgeousness? Kinda makes you wanna reach out and touch it huh?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2258/4512176611_ca84bdd162.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2258/4512176611_ca84bdd162.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I also was able to meet a the designer of this fabulous pattern. It's called Summit and you can find the FREE pattern <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEss10/PATTsummit.php">here</a>. And I saw the finished project, the one made by the designer in person. This is ABSOLUTELY going on my to-do list right away. This pattern kinda makes my head spin, but it's beautiful....I just kept staring at it, and I love that color, I'm thinking mine might me close to that color as well.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2303/4512179369_40ff0a7008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2303/4512179369_40ff0a7008.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />And my girl got to hold a baby angora bunny. It was THE softest thing I've ever felt! And really tiny under all that fur. That had them for sale...but we didn't come home with one.<br /><br />Have a happy week everyone! Hopefully, I'll be back soon!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-23817902640392911552010-03-22T16:16:00.002-05:002010-03-22T16:27:04.901-05:00Sunshine on her shoulder makes me happy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2695/4454728441_671fe88c9f.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2695/4454728441_671fe88c9f.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yay! Spring is here!!! Or it's supposed to be anyway. Yesterday was the first official day of spring and the past few days have been super nice and warm.<br /><br />I love spring. I love the new beginnings, the start of warm days, a little (or lot) of rain, the smell of the earth, emerging life from the ground. Hip, hip, hooray!!! Spring is such a special reward for enduring the endless qualities of winter.<br /><br />We got new baby chicks this weekend, they are so sweet...and not scary. Why do I get terrified of them when they get bigger? My girls are loving them, they are checking on them constantly and holding them, it's very sweet.<br /><br />I've started plotting my garden layout. And we are getting fruit trees this year!! I'm so excited...this is something we've always wanted to do, and never got around to, but this is the year. Oh! And blueberries! We are planting blueberry bushes also. We go through blueberries like there is no tomorrow. My little one eats them like crazy, it will be nice to have a lot in the freezer eventually. I'm guessing they take a year or two to produce?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2756/4454730185_a02ba710e3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2756/4454730185_a02ba710e3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I took these pictures of my sweet on a warm sunny day last week. I can feel the sun just looking at them.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-37796419408532872662010-03-16T19:13:00.002-05:002010-03-16T19:40:02.464-05:00Good and good for you<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2784/4439665868_4bfc69efab.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2784/4439665868_4bfc69efab.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My people love granola bars. Love them. I like to make them myself, that way I have control of the ingredients and can make them healthy. No additives or preservatives, just straight up goodness. I've actually made these 3 times in the past week...they are going over like gangbusters!<br /><br />I've been through several granola recipes through the years, so I kinda tweaked them all together and this one is definitely a keeper. This makes a nice chewy bar...like a traditional chewy granola bar you would by at the store. Except 1000 times better.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Granola bars<br /><br /><br /></span><p>1 2/3 cups quick rolled oats<br /></p><p>1/2 cup granulated sugar<br />1/3 cup oat flour (or 1/3 cup oats, processed till finely ground in a food processor or blender)<br />1/2 teaspoon salt<br />1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon<br />2 to 3 cups dried fruits and nuts<br />1/3 cup peanut butter or another nut butter (I used almond butter) </p><p>6 tablespoons melted butter<br />1/4 cup maple syrup<br />2 tablespoons honey<br />1 tablespoon water</p> <p>Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8″ x 8″ x 2″ pan in one direction with parchment paper, allowing it to go up the opposing sides. pan, </p> <p>Stir together all the dry ingredients, including the fruit and nuts. In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter , liquid sweeteners and water. Mix the wet ingredients with the dry (and peanut butter, if you’re using it) until the mixture is crumbly. Spread in the prepared pan, pressing them in firmly to ensure they are molded to the shape of the pan. (You have to press really, really hard for this to pack correctly. Like really hard. I even take it out of the oven and press again after it's baked for about 20min.)<br /></p> <p>Bake the bars for 30 to 40 minutes, until they’re brown around the edges — don’t be afraid to get a little color on the tops too. </p><p>*I use Almond butter unless I have freshly ground peanut butter on hand.<br /></p><p>*As far as fruits and nuts, the sky is the limit. I use raisins, almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, dried cherries, currants, pecans, coconut, and I always put chocolate chips in mine. Gotta have the chocolate.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-5821790117162407032010-03-09T15:15:00.007-05:002010-03-09T17:20:44.322-05:00Pieces<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4421045770_4bd6873e53.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 288px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4421045770_4bd6873e53.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />One of my resolutions this year was to make a quilt. I am always in awe of people who make quilts...and like everything else the past few years..I kinda feel like if I just jumped in, I could figure it out. So far that philosophy has worked with photography, knitting and random sewing projects.<br /><br />So recently I've had lots of extra time on my hands...(or hand as it were) so I've been summoning up the courage and today was the day. I don't have any quilt how-to books in my possession so I really just kind of jumped right in and went for it. I knew I wanted to start with a 12 inch square so I got out my cutting mat and rotary cutter, and some bits of random fabric I had. And since this was just for practice, I didn't worry about the color scheme, I just used whatever I had smallish pieces of.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2705/4421047710_56bec58454.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2705/4421047710_56bec58454.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I cut out pieces in different shapes and started fitting them into my 12 inch square. I did it! It really wasn't that hard. I am literally the worst cutter in the world. I can't cut a straight line to save my life, even WITH a rotary cutter. But I just kept trimming and squaring up and it worked great.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2734/4420282699_2f5ea83f38.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2734/4420282699_2f5ea83f38.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I decided after I had my square sewn together to go ahead and make a slipcover for one of my couch pillows. They are getting pretty raggedy and could use a new look. My pillows are 18 in., so I knew I would have to add a 3 in. border around my square. I used some natural linen I had lying around to frame the square, and I think it looks great! I can never get enough of linen I think it is my favorite design fabric.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2761/4420284555_645fa5d31c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2761/4420284555_645fa5d31c.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Next, I made an envelope back with two colors that were on the front patchwork part.The cover actually ended being a little bit too big, but I think that's because my pillow has lost a lot of it's fluff. Oh, I forgot to take a picture of the back...ooops. I'm so happy with how it turned out for my first time.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4420290707_d1b2de3679.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4420290707_d1b2de3679.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />It actually came together without a hitch. Which NEVER happens for me, it was almost too easy..hmmmm. I am going to make another one since I have another pillow on my couch which now needs covered. I think it looks perfect on my window seat. Don't you?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4421055484_ea94268439.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4421055484_ea94268439.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4421053504_4e5019ea7d.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4421053504_4e5019ea7d.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now I'm going to start scouting fabric for my real quilt. I think I want some bold colors with linen sashing and I'm not sure about the backing yet. Feel free to comment on any new fabric lines that you are loving. :)Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-17062754359548316942010-03-03T17:36:00.003-05:002010-03-03T17:52:19.958-05:00Radio girl<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4373546575_87e3c08935.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4373546575_87e3c08935.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I am a radio girl. I listen to the radio almost all the time, in the car, while I'm working, and I have one on in my kitchen at all times. In this age of computerized music files, mp3's, itunes whatever else I still prefer the radio. I love music obviously first and foremost, but I love the conversation as well. I love me some knowledgeable dj's. Those are few and far between these days with all the practical joking and hy-jinks that go on during a typical radio morning show...but I listen to a privately-owned station who specialize in lots of independent artists....I love that. I love branching out into new music territories. Now don't get me wrong..I love my classic stuff too, which they also play, so it's all good. :)<br /><br />I'm also a fan of talk radio, I don't get to listen to it as much as I'd like to, but I do like it. And I'm not talking about Rush Limbaugh, or any other political rhetoric.......good grief no. I'm talking about cooking segments and book reviews, the kind of stuff that is on NPR. Good stuff indeed.<br /><br />Call me old-fashioned....I'll take my radio, over your ipod. I'm sorry shuffle just isn't the same...I don't know who Apple was trying to fool. ;) I just love the element of surprise...you never know what's coming next!<br /><br />Oh...and raise your hand if you used to record songs of the radio onto a cassette? Mix tape anyone? Yeah....I thought so. ;)Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-29170662081535429872010-03-01T11:14:00.003-05:002010-03-01T12:49:47.453-05:00Healing nectar<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4330359683_1675a674a7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4330359683_1675a674a7.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />It's been a week since I maimed myself. 8 days actually, 7 days since my surgery. Oy. I can't believe I had to have surgery. It seems like time has passed in slow motion. Crawling by. I'm able to do a little more now, not much but a little. Even though this whole experience has been miserable, I am thankful for a few little things. 1. Good friends... I've had a TON of food cooked for my family and delivered to the house, thanks everyone. 2. Time....lots, and lots and lots of down time. I've been able to read at least 957 books to my littlest one, and play lots of board games with the other two. (the kind of games you can play with one hand that is..) 3. Healing....my attitude has been a huge part of this. Sure I've had my sobbing moments over not being able to hold a broom in my hand..(what?) but overall those have been few. I've been trying to eat lots of healing things to speed this whole process up, if that's possible.<br /><br />Green smoothies are my life blood. Well, along with coffee, who am I kidding? I drink one of these every day of my life. I've had a few people ask for recipes for green smoothies, but there really isn't one. Just make a fruit smoothie and throw a bunch of green stuff in it. Seriously, don' t be afraid to mix it up. My favorite combo is fresh pineapple, banana, spinach, kale or swiss chard, and a big handful of flat leaf parsley. But I use everything, strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, mango, apples, kiwi, any fruit at all in any combination. And you can really use any combo of greens also; spinach, kale, swiss chard, parsley, cabbage. I prefer the milder tasting ones myself, but I try and put about 1 1/2 cups in my batch.<br /><br />A lots of times I'll add some seeds also. Like flax, or hemp or chia...whatever I might have on hand. Also I add bee pollen, honey, coconut oil...whatever strikes my fancy. I usually end up drinking the entire pitcher over the course of the morning and lunch.<br /><br />It's so energizing and fresh to drink this everyday. And honestly, once it gets warm, I don' t even drink coffee...just my smoothies.<br /><br />I added these to my daily food repertoire about 2 years ago. My mom was diagnosed with a rare disease and actually died from it around the same time. I've been spurred in the direction of healthy living ever since she was diagnosed 6 years ago. This is just one of the many preventative food measures I make now.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-55647550592731945162010-02-23T17:28:00.003-05:002010-02-23T17:48:22.604-05:00aaaaaand CUT!!! Quite literally.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yu6RJDQd1-M/S4RbKu_x83I/AAAAAAAAANA/xxA7VwNV3xI/s1600-h/blog-1-31.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yu6RJDQd1-M/S4RbKu_x83I/AAAAAAAAANA/xxA7VwNV3xI/s320/blog-1-31.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441574489742766962" border="0" /></a><br />So it seems everything has come to a screeching halt. I managed to injure myself pretty seriously over the weekend. So much so that i had to have emergency surgery, and now I am re-cooping one-handed for who knows how long. I'm so upset with myself....because I did something I know better than to do.....I now cannot do the simplest of things. Like hold a broom, put my socks on, or even do my daughter's hair.<br /><br />I know all things happen for a reason, and that God is in control of everything so I'm trying to embrace this time and find the purpose in it but it's VERY hard. You know how it is for moms we are in control of everything...it's hard to let go of that and relax. I am thankful that I have 3 very attentive nurses who are waiting on me hand and foot. (no pun intended)<br /><br />So for now I'm camped out on the couch with my laptop watching movies. I'm planning on reading too, so if you have any good book rec's send them my way. The worst part of all this down time is that I can't knit!!<br /><br />Oh, and here is a tip...make sure your can openers work correctly. ;)Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-81286616813870382842010-02-20T18:04:00.003-05:002010-02-20T18:33:36.108-05:00I do not love......<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4374299488_493f338a4e.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4374299488_493f338a4e.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />It's been a week since my V-day 'I love...' post, and all this week I've been thinking about things that well, I don't so much love. Most of them are funny, not to terribly deep, and I thought it was kinda nice to have the contrast. Because if you know me at all, you know that this is how I roll....<br /><br />So without delay, the list.<br /><br />I DO NOT love.......<br /><br />poison ivy<br /><br />paper cuts<br /><br />gravel roads<br /><br />mud<br /><br />cats mating beneath my window at night<br /><br />flat tires<br /><br />dusting<br /><br />snapping green beans<br /><br />medications<br /><br />adverse reactions (see above)<br /><br />lies<br /><br />pretentiousness<br /><br />car repairs<br /><br />people who aren't good listeners<br /><br />beets<br /><br />vegemite<br /><br />government holidays<br /><br />snow<br /><br />biting dogs<br /><br />falling down steps<br /><br />following sewing patterns<br /><br />closed minds<br /><br />dream squashers<br /><br />naysayers<br /><br />pop country music<br /><br />middle of the night phone calls<br /><br />snakes<br /><br />rodents of any kind<br /><br />ice cream<br /><br />earl grey tea<br /><br />over-sleeping<br /><br />unloyalty<br /><br />dead batteries<br /><br />hair plucking<br /><br />reckless drivers<br /><br />cobwebs<br /><br />canceled plans<br /><br />manipulation<br /><br />arrogance<br /><br />hangnails<br /><br />putting my hands in the toilet for any reason<br /><br />soap scum<br /><br />late fees<br /><br />penicillin<br /><br />lost keys<br /><br />unreturned phone calls<br /><br />flooded basements<br /><br />stampeding horses (or really any stampeding livestock)<br /><br />bats<br /><br />being without my mom<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I love making these lists. Maybe I will make it a theme and make one every week...hmmmm. Feel free to copy this and make your own. :)Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-11643455751366709012010-02-13T15:06:00.011-05:002010-02-13T18:01:13.210-05:00I love......<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4353841479_818f08493b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 225px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4353841479_818f08493b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the Father<br /><br />music, music, and more music (this category needs another post to itself )<br /><br />vocabulary<br /><br />making something out of nothing<br /><br />worship<br /><br />Star Wars movies (but only the original 3, not the newer ones)<br /><br />magazines<br /><br />iced tea<br /><br />early mornings<br /><br />expensive coffee<br /><br />blogs<br /><br />nag champa<br /><br />making bread<br /><br />the smell of my kids' hair<br /><br />vintage pyrex<br /><br />thrift stores<br /><br />dogs<br /><br />fresh herbs<br /><br />cheese<br /><br />books<br /><br />reality tv<br /><br />coca cola<br /><br />Green and Blacks organic milk chocolate<br /><br />drinking through a straw<br /><br />outdoor concerts<br /><br />creativity<br /><br />fresh eggs<br /><br />gas stoves<br /><br />etsy.com<br /><br />vintage sheets<br /><br />fabric<br /><br />pottery<br /><br />the radio<br /><br />wood floors<br /><br />birkenstocks<br /><br />going to the movies<br /><br />textiles<br /><br />the different smells of each season<br /><br />cloth napkins<br /><br />homemade gifts<br /><br />photo editing<br /><br />bandaids<br /><br />jeans<br /><br />When Harry Met Sally<br /><br />patchouli<br /><br />perennials<br /><br />maple syrup<br /><br />running<br /><br />the smell of cigarette smoke on a hot summer night (not a smoker...just like it, okay?)<br /><br />breastfeeding<br /><br />rainbows<br /><br />health food stores<br /><br />fresh ground black pepper<br /><br />ear candles<br /><br />texting<br /><br />the warm spot on the bed after my husband gets up<br /><br />schnauzers<br /><br />Ray la Montagne<br /><br />the 70's<br /><br />vintage anything, really<br /><br />garage sales<br /><br />green smoothies<br /><br />picking strawberries<br /><br />seeing my kids when they first wake up in the morning<br /><br />the smell of a skunk<br /><br />butter<br /><br />rocking chairs<br /><br />front porches<br /><br />station wagons<br /><br />knitting<br /><br />beaches<br /><br />the smell of grass<br /><br />pizza<br /><br />sea salt<br /><br />baby lips<br /><br />pajamas<br /><br />natural fiber clothing<br /><br />silk screening<br /><br />old barns<br /><br />high thread count sheets<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />.......<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">and much more to come.</span></span><br /><br />Happy Valentines day everyone.......I saw this idea on another blog and loved it.....feel free to post your own I love list too!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-71812146122817605952010-02-11T20:34:00.002-05:002010-02-11T20:47:21.997-05:00Cute girl, cute hat.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4349556297_ca3e17f66e.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4349556297_ca3e17f66e.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Love this hat, the yarn, the pattern. Love. So simple and slouchy, and hippie cool. I made this for my best friend. This hat is so her...in every way. It is 100% wool and has the perfect amount of slouchiness, and it's super warm. It's being modeled my my oldest daughter....I love this picture of her. I think it's my new favorite.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2497/4313262307_07cc5e45ed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2497/4313262307_07cc5e45ed.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Look how pretty the self striping yarn is.....I'm loving these colors together. I can't wait to see this on my friends head. I guess that's one good thing about all this arctic cold weather....more time for handknits. :)Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-71136136892913230602010-02-04T15:41:00.005-05:002010-02-04T16:03:24.917-05:00The strike is over.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4330362527_f77440c506.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4330362527_f77440c506.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />My chickens have been on strike. A month long strike. No egg laying, not a one of them. This is typical with chickens I know...during the winter especially. But our chickens have never done that before this year...they've never had a strike period, not in the 3 years we've had them. It's been kind of a bummer coming back from the barn everyday empty-handed. But not today!!! We are back in business! I LOVE gathering eggs. There is something wonderful about finding eggs inside the chicken coop. Even though I'm scared of the chickens(I know, right?) I love getting the eggs. There is something so beautiful about those earthy brown colors.....gorgeous!<br /><br />So thank you dear chickens for picking up the slack....it was about time. I feel like I should make a frittata or something in celebration, but I won't because as of right now, I only have a dozen. Gotta wait and see if they are gonna keep up the good work, they can be fickle.......<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4330359683_1675a674a7.jpg"><br /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-31717043110310692402010-02-01T16:24:00.003-05:002010-02-01T16:36:38.082-05:00Inspired life.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yu6RJDQd1-M/S2dHGyFoCLI/AAAAAAAAAL4/spp4uZ9CoEI/s1600-h/blog-1-11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yu6RJDQd1-M/S2dHGyFoCLI/AAAAAAAAAL4/spp4uZ9CoEI/s320/blog-1-11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433389657295947954" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A conversation with an old friend got me to thinking about what inspires me. I thought about it all night and even a lot today. I don't think I can count all the things that inspire me. It's limitless really, every where I look I find inspiration. Color, nature, people, family, animals, music, morning, night, other specific times during the day. And funny weird things too...I could go on and on and on. I have a tendency to focus on the negative a lot....not something I like about myself to be honest. But, trying to view things through another lens often makes me think differently.<br />Creative people REALLY fuel me. A. Lot. I love the different ways that creative people view the world, it makes ME see things in a different way. My children are good at that also.<br /><br />Eventually I would like to come up with an exhaustive list of inspirational things for me. I think that will take a while. But for now, something really simple that made me look twice....my youngest's tights that she wore today. She was so proud of them, it totally changed her mood the entire day....all because of rainbow colored tights......<br /><br />Happy Monday everyone, what will inspire you this week?Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-42509276699274133322010-01-29T14:54:00.005-05:002010-01-29T16:15:47.962-05:00Kittens and Mittens<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2700/4314000318_73f4423b93.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2700/4314000318_73f4423b93.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Actually there are no kittens in this post, but there are a LOT of mittens. It seems like mitten knitting has been where it's at for me the past few months. I started in November with <a href="http://subliminalrabbit.blogspot.com/2008/12/bellas-mittens-updated-pattern.html">Bella's Mittens</a>. I was still in a giddy post New Moon viewing phase and just HAD to make these. They are beautiful, I used an alpaca yarn which was less than ideal for these mittens and my coat because they shed like crazy, and the cable definition is kind of lost...but they are crazy warm. I think I read somewhere once that alpaca is 60 times warmer than wool.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4314001772_5af60f4354.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4314001772_5af60f4354.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next up on the mitten circuit are the Give a Hoot mittens for my oldest daughter. I had decided that I was going to knit mittens for both of my girls to put into their christmas stockings. That didn't happen, because of those colorwork mittens I blogged about yesterday...I ended up finishing those on Dec. 24. Both girls got their mittens the week <span style="font-style: italic;">after</span> christmas so everybody's hands are nice and toasty.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4313258787_e09f170814.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4313258787_e09f170814.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2767/4313259895_97b04cc638.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2767/4313259895_97b04cc638.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My oldest daughter loves owls. So these mittens are perfect for her. I made them out of an inexpensive nylon blend (that way I won't wanna kill her if/when she loses one or more). They are the perfect size...if they weren't pink I would be stealing them.<br /><br />And lastly, Hope's mittens. These turned out so cute! They are 100% wool. I've been saving this particular skein of yarn for almost three years....why? I'm not sure...I guess maybe because it was the first quality wool yarn I ever bought right after I had learned how to knit. I bought it at a yarn festival in 2007, and because I had just learned how to knit...I did not save the tag or any info about the yarn. So I have no idea who made it, dyed it, nothing. I decided to break in out for Hope's mittens because it's got such a great mix of colors and it matches her coat. I have quite a bit left over so I will probably make her a hat as well.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4314524208_7a62830bab.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4314524208_7a62830bab.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2799/4313789559_9221e709cd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2799/4313789559_9221e709cd.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />And I'm still not done...I've got several patterns I'm wanting to try out for myself. Just call me a mitten knitting fool. Say that 3 x's fast.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-83532520183862933922010-01-28T08:02:00.013-05:002010-01-28T22:42:29.656-05:00ResolutionI promised myself that I would blog more. Umm, yeah. So today is Jan. 28th...nothing like getting right on it is there? I need to blog...I have so many projects that need documented for one thing, and little interesting tidbits I need to share about also. So please bear with me while I get my ducks in a row...again. I need to freshen up this blog....which will take a little bit of time I'm sure, after all I've not even posted in almost a year! That will change, I solemnly vow.<br /><br />I've got FO's to share woo hoo!!!!! Since it is after Christmas and all things have been gifted it is safe to share.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yu6RJDQd1-M/S2GNUAGFnGI/AAAAAAAAALo/sYLB4mA5rJA/s1600-h/blog-1-5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 413px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yu6RJDQd1-M/S2GNUAGFnGI/AAAAAAAAALo/sYLB4mA5rJA/s400/blog-1-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431778000347962466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">These mittens were my bff's christmas gift....the one I got finished on time anyway.<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chevron-love-mittens"> Chevron Love mittens</a> from <a href="http://www.knitterlythings.com/shop/">Knitterlythings</a>. I anticipated this being a fairly quick knit...and it really wasn't. This was my first foray into colorwork...and even though I was really only knitting with two colors at a time, I was having to carry all eight colors up the mitten....I kept getting it tangled..ugh. Not fun. I did devise a strategy on the second one though...I got a shoe box and cut holes in it for the yarn to come through, then put all eight balls of yarn in the box and knit it like that. It helped some, but when you are working with that many yarn balls, there IS going to be tangling. Even though they were difficult...I think the payoff was worth it....they are gorgeous!<br /><br />Next up, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mod-cables-hat">Mod Cables hat</a>. Who knew that cables were for more than just looking pretty cool....they really keep your head warm!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yu6RJDQd1-M/S2HhEDkzjPI/AAAAAAAAALw/eTlfm2Zzt1c/s1600-h/blog-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 268px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yu6RJDQd1-M/S2HhEDkzjPI/AAAAAAAAALw/eTlfm2Zzt1c/s400/blog-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431870085380934898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />10 days ago I had all four wisdom teeth removed...ugh. I'm still recovering but this is what kept me busy the first couple of days I was lying around on the couch. This is knit with Cascade Venezia I believe...(I lost the yarn label) It's super squishy and the color is beautiful.<br /><br />Yay! I did let's hope I can keep this up...blogging I mean. I have lots more finished projects to share.<br /><br />Oh...and feel free to leave me a comment. :)<br /></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-80321573281427057322009-04-22T19:20:00.003-05:002009-04-22T19:32:40.273-05:00It's a record!!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yu6RJDQd1-M/Se-2bp6pG-I/AAAAAAAAACI/ODWIb7Hagag/s1600-h/DSC_0563.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 313px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yu6RJDQd1-M/Se-2bp6pG-I/AAAAAAAAACI/ODWIb7Hagag/s320/DSC_0563.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327677470427126754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yu6RJDQd1-M/Se-1Zfok2pI/AAAAAAAAACA/cnngeUbBJfw/s1600-h/DSC_0555-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Yu6RJDQd1-M/Se-1Zfok2pI/AAAAAAAAACA/cnngeUbBJfw/s320/DSC_0555-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327676333795629714" border="0" /></a><br />Okay well two days in a row that must me some kind of record for me. Let' s hope it's a habit I don't break.<br /><br />I took this little lovely out to do some photos today. We went to the local university because there were lots of flowers in bloom and she wanted to wear some dresses. We didn't get the shots I was really wanting because the weather was not cooperating...gale-force winds at times, and rain! Enough with the rain. Anyway, she was delightful, she is getting to be such a big girl....not just a little one anymore. It makes me sad when I look at these pics...she looks so grown up.<br /><br />And I was really wanting to get a lot done today..I needed to pick out paint for hallway/bookcase room, and my new laundry room. That didn't really happen. I am itching to pick out something new to knit....I just don't know what. I've been staring at my stash and thinking. Looking on Ravelry and checking my queue list, I guess I just feel uninspired. Hopefully something will hit me soon.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-57085069722940726832009-04-21T09:44:00.002-05:002009-04-21T10:31:04.508-05:00Yay, I made something!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3526/3462112709_7902c41e3c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3526/3462112709_7902c41e3c.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Finally, I've had the time to make something!!!! It is so gratifying, satisfying, liberating to make clothing for someone. It makes me feel empowered!!!! I first saw a tutorial for this skirt on a parenting website I frequent. It's been in the back of my mind to do for months and finally I had a long enough break from work to tackle it! It was a very simple strip skirt pattern, I'll definitely be making more. I made two of these, one is for a friends who so graciously donated the fabric, her little girl will look darling in it I'm sure!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-26877434878916810532009-02-26T15:51:00.003-05:002009-02-26T15:58:44.619-05:00Dude....I suck at blogging...and a knitted hat.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yu6RJDQd1-M/SacBs9DTlzI/AAAAAAAAABo/jxmi6JnfYvU/s1600-h/DSC_0498.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Yu6RJDQd1-M/SacBs9DTlzI/AAAAAAAAABo/jxmi6JnfYvU/s320/DSC_0498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307212557693720370" border="0" /></a><br />Okay, so it's been forever and a day literally. I really want to do this I don't know why it's so hard for me. Throughout the day I always think of things I want to blog about and then I never do...Ugh. I hate that about myself. It would be so good for me to have a place to log my thoughts, if for no other reason than just to vent, ya know? Alright, enough brow-beating of myself.....on to the actual blog subject.<br /><br />My lovely in a hat I made him! I just made this pattern up myself, using Patons classic wool, which is a merino blend, worsted weight on size 10 needle. Super simple. It took me all of about 2 -2.5 hours. Not to shabby. N has been bugging me for 3 months to knit him a hat, and finally during the last couple of days of February I have obliged him....better late than never right?<br /><br />Now today I shall be going through my yarn/project stash to pick what I'm knitting next. I've always had some large project waiting in the wings ever since I began knitting 2 years ago, and now I don't have anything big I'm dying to knit. So I'm enjoying lots of little things, which is great because you get the satisfaction of a quick finish. I'll be back soon with what I'm working on. ;)Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-88033385285179028342008-09-01T11:43:00.004-05:002008-09-01T11:48:40.771-05:00Fairy Fabulousness!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yu6RJDQd1-M/SLwcIxozMlI/AAAAAAAAAA4/jIGLYhbr5cc/s1600-h/DSC_0929.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Yu6RJDQd1-M/SLwcIxozMlI/AAAAAAAAAA4/jIGLYhbr5cc/s320/DSC_0929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241095003441410642" border="0" /></a><br />Lookee what my lovely fairy brought me!!!!!!!!! Matchy matchy goodness. I belong to a crafty swap type thing on a forum that I frequent. You handmake gifts for someone and they make something(s) for you. It's so much fun! I got this fabulous wrap skirt, and a dress for Hope. And it's in my favorite Park Slope fabric. What's better than that? The skirt fits me perfectly, and it only took my children about 30 pictures to get a decent one that I could post. Seriously.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-25021559125926621732008-08-27T06:38:00.002-05:002008-08-27T06:38:47.229-05:00I PROMISE I will start blogging again.Seriously. I'm such a loser. I will do it, I will do it, I will do it.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-32773393078686729602007-04-10T07:12:00.000-05:002007-04-10T07:26:54.775-05:00SistahsSistahs.......you know those girlfriends who really, REALLY "get" you. I just spent a lovely, leisurely, fabulous day with two of mine. The only two of my "real" friends. I love our times together, it's filled with much laughter, love, thought, and a little meanness thrown in for good measure. I'm not lucky enough to have a naural-born sister, I have brothers. But I have had the good fortune to be blessed with these two soul sistahs whom I love and adore. I love it that they make me feel alive and valued, smart; and I love that they expand my mind. How many people that you come in contact with, can you actually say 'expand your mind'? Not many in my life anyway, but I think that is why I treasure my sistahs and our times together all the more. And our time together is not enough, let me be the first to tell you that.<br /><br />And here is another thing that I love that I think is few and far between these days..........long friendships. The kind that span years of time. How great is it to look back with a friend and reminisce? It's fun to do that with family too, however with family you are just forced together naturally. But with a friend, you have chosen each other. The time that you spend together is a hot commodity, because let's be honest we really only give our "quality" time to those we truly love. Anyways, thank you my sistahs, for making me feel alive. <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Yu6RJDQd1-M/Rht_risjkII/AAAAAAAAAAM/Bravb_P_nHc/s1600-h/57210673.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051771793050931330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Yu6RJDQd1-M/Rht_risjkII/AAAAAAAAAAM/Bravb_P_nHc/s320/57210673.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3857418429436063396.post-56496846267266119332007-03-07T08:04:00.000-05:002007-03-07T08:16:01.760-05:00There's a First Time for Everything<span style="font-family: georgia;">I can't believe that I'm blogging! Seriously, I've always admired bloggers, loved reading blogs and finally I decided to do it myself. What the heck, throw caution to the wind, right? I've been itching to log my thoughts somewhere, and so I bought a journal, (and a really beautiful one at that) however I just can't bring myself to write in it. I find this type of format more appealing for some reason. Maybe it's because I like to type? I like the sound of the clicking keys under my fingers recording my thoughts, maybe-I don't know yet. Anyhoo, I've got so much going through my mind on a daily basis I really wanted a place to bring it all together. Not that it will all go together, mind you, because that is not how I work, or think.<br /><br />So I guess this would be an introduction of sorts.........not really sure to say about myself that isn't already in my profile. You'll probably get to know more about me as this blogs plays itself out. I don't have any grandiose ideas about how often I'll post, or how deep and meaningful they'll be. I don't want to put conditions upon it, because I know I will disappoint myself that way. I always do.<br /><br />I really wanted to add a pic of myself for the first blog, but couldn't find one that I like enough. Maybe I will work on that today.<br /></span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778248766197708154noreply@blogger.com0