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Thursday, November 30, 2006

A Snowy Apron and a Captivating Experience

Even though I haven't mentioned it in the last couple of entries, I have been working on some sewing projects. I am in the process of making some Criss Cross Christmas coasters like these. There are several ladies in the front office at school who will receive these as small tokens of appreciation for their help throughout the year.

Snowflake Apron
I also completed an apron out of some snowflake material. The pattern did not have the patchwork on the pocket. That is my attempt of trying to be creative. I do not know if you can tell but I also sewed three little buttons on the patchwork. My husband offered to model...maybe I should have taken him up on the offer.
Snowflake Apron

Yesterday I had a very interesting experience. Next year our school will move into a new building. My principal and I spent all day at a state prison picking out furniture for the school. Yes, I said prison. It turns out the state prison has a program where prisoners build and upholster furniture for state government. Office furniture, library furniture, tables, etc. I must say they do beautiful work but it was strange being there. When we entered the property, I assumed we would have to stop at a gate, show our identfication to a guard before proceeding to our destination. Nope, we drove straight through the gate because there was no guard on duty. We found out later that the only time a guard is at the gate is when there is going to be an execution. There is more security at airports than at this prison. Creepy feeling. As we drove around this huge place trying to find where we were to go, fences with razor sharp wire coiled on top surrounded the perimeters of buildings, pastures and warehouses. According the directions, we were to turn at a gas station. Everything was so dull and drab, we never saw the gas station. Creepy feeling. Prisoners were everywhere and I don't think I saw a single guard or anyone who resembled a guard the entire time we were there. Creepy feeling.

Saturday, November 25, 2006

A Perfect Football Weekend

U...S...C....GO COCKS!
Friday night our local high school won the upper state championship and will play for the state championship next friday in Columbia.....Go Eagles! And today USC beat Clemson.....WHAT A WONDERFUL WEEKEND OF FOOTBALL!!!!!! It has been 4 long years since we beat Clemson and an even longer 10 years since we beat Clemson at Clemson. Wish I could have been there.

Speaking of a perfect weekend, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time off. We had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner with my husband's family, went to the movies twice - Deck the Halls and Casino Royale, attended high school football game, went shopping, ate at the Mellow Mushroom (yum, yum), cooked and baked (cookies and candy), talked on the phone with my Atlanta, Ga brother and an uncle (lives in Arizona) whom I haven't talk to in several months, and did a little sewing and a little, itty, bitty bit of knitting. Haven't taken the time to photo anything I worked on. The only thing that would have made the weekend better would be if my son was able to come home.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Happy Thanksgiving!


I spent all day cooking and baking and I think I am ready for tomorrow. Whew! There will be seven of us sitting at the table. Just wish my son could be here. Hope you all have a wonderful day with family and friends.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Before/After and a Quick Trip

I have just returned from a trip to Hilton Head, SC. It has been many, many years since I have been there. I wish I could say that I was on vacation but I wasn't. It was a conference on testing. I drove down on Sunday and returned on Tuesday. It was a nice break from school and a very good and informative conference. I am always so impressed with educators I meet at conferences - so creative and talented. So much is learned in the conversations held between the attendees.
The weather was beautiful as I traveled down I26 and while I was there.
IM000029 Hilton Head
(The beach picture was taken with my phone. The day it was taken was a clear day - not hazy like it appears.)

I completed the brown felted bag. This is the before picture:
DSCF0043
Here is the after picture:
IM000037 IM000034
I added a felted flower. I used this pattern.

Can't believe that this time next week, I'll be preparing a Thanksgiving meal. I need to begin making my shopping list and deciding exactly what I want to prepare. I also need to begin planning the baking I want to do for Christmas. One new recipe I want to try is Candied Citrus Rinds. I was given some last Christmas and loved them. Today a colleague brought Oreo Truffles to school. They, also, will be on my "To Make" list. I love this time of the year.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Piddling The Day Away


Hope everyone voted today....I did and I have thoroughly enjoyed having the day off. It has been a rainy day so other than going out to vote, I have had a wonderful day piddling around the house. "Piddling" now there is a word that I use all the time but never in the true meaning. To piddle means to spend time in a wasteful, trifling way. I piddle like my grandfather use to when I was growing up. When he piddled, it meant he would do a little of this and a little of that, small jobs around the house. You know....the many little things that build up, need to be done, have been ignored or pushed aside. So that is how I spent my day. I picked up around the house, found homes for plants that spend their summers outside but now need a spot inside, cleaned out the magazines accummulating under the coffee table, and I've baked a brown sugar pound cake, and icebox cookies. The cookies are in the freezer. I haven't baked them yet. But as you can tell, I have already sampled the cake. It was a new recipe...yum, yum!
Brown Sugar Pound Cake

One thing I haven't done today but plan to do in just a few minutes is knit. I am working on a brown felted bag for me.
Brown fFelted Bag
And I am trying to finish a Lucy Bag for my son's girlfriend. I have been working on this bag since this June.
Emily's Lucy Bag
I need to knit a few more inches in the body and then work on the strap. I don't know why it is taking me so long. During the summer, wool just didn't seem to be the right fiber to be working with. I've got to get it completed and mailed to her soon. I need to know it isn't sitting around waiting on me anymore. I need to have that feeling of accommplishment before it becomes that feeling of dread.

I have mentioned before how great this community of bloggers is. I am so humbled at how thoughtful you ladies are. Recently I participated in a Pink and Brown swap organzed by Mary Ann. Was I surprised to find a box full of pink and brown items sitting on my porch yesterday? She sent them to me because my swap partner was late in getting her pack to me. Mary Ann, you're the best! Thanks!!!

Contest alert: Notepad is being given away. Check out Jennifer's site.

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Knit Mitt Kit Swap

I am participating in a swap over at swap-bot. The task is to send a pattern, yarn and materials needed to complete a pair of mittens plus a small project hand made bag. It sounds like fun.

The Questionnaire:
Are you allergic to any fibers
? no
What are your favorite colors? greens and blue
Are you a new mitt knitter? yes, excited about the possibility
How long have you been knitting mittens? very small amount of time
Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn? both
What fibers do you prefer in mitten yarn? not picky but love soft yarns
Where do you usually knit mittens? in my favorite chair
How do you usually carry/store small projects? in a hand sewn small bag
What are your favorite mitten patterns? haven't had enough experience to know
What are your favorite mitten knitting techniques? same as above
What new techniques would you like to try? any
What are your favorite needles for knitting mittens? bamboo
What are some of your favorite yarns? wools, alpaca
What yarn do you totally covet? anything that I can't find in my town - there aren't any yarn stores in my town - just a walmart and hancock
Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object?
Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)?
bamboo - circles
If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be?
Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack?
not crazy about anything made with peanut butter
What’s your favorite animal? don't own a pet but I do feed the birds outside my backdoor
Would you prefer super warm mittens or something more like fingerless mitts? warm mittens
If you were a color what color would you be? green - shades a spring
What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature? anything natural...even rocks
Do you have a wishlist? no
Anything else you’d like to share with the group today? I am looking forward to this swap

Thursday, November 02, 2006

SPOT - Society of The Preservation of Thanksgiving


Have you noticed that as of Nov. 1, Christmas commercials have started on television? I had just made that comment to my husband when I came across SPOT. I love Thanksgiving....the time with family, turkey, dressing, cranberries, sweet potato pie, etc. I love finding new recipes and preparing them for Thanksgiving dinner. I love that this month reminds me to be thankful.

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever! Psalms 118:1

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Blog Contest

Check out these toile notecards. If you leave a comment, you could be the winner of these. Aren't the nice?