Felt Like Knitting

Blog Evolution

What do you do when life gets busy and/or your blog doesn't exactly fit you anymore?  I've missed blogging, but...

1) Life is super busy right now (like it is for everyone else).  In addition to church volunteering, I have been teaching 6th grade history this year.  There has been little time for extras.  I even had to drop out of book club.  I'm hoping next year will be better because I'll have a year of lesson plans to tweak instead of having to create everything from scratch.  (My last day of school is in 17 days, but who's counting?)

2) This blog is/was about knitting.  Even the title makes it all about knitting.  But when there isn't time for knitting, there isn't much to say on the blog.  It's a problem.

So do I archive this blog and start a new one?  Or do I keep this blog, write about everything, and hope knitters aren't disappointed when I talk about crazy 6th graders, weight loss, and funky guitar chords?  I could even keep this blog and start a new one specifically for another topic, but that seems like it would be hard to maintain.

For now, I'm going to try to start reading some blogs again.  If I can even remember what reader I was using...

Whirlwind

Hi!  There is so much going on in my life write now.  The past few months have been a time of self-discovery for me.  And I'm so far behind on my blog reading that I have no idea what any of you are up to!  Maybe I should remedy that this weekend.

One of the biggest things is the website that I'm creating for Emma's high school drama group.  I started that last spring then took a long break from it.  We now have the goal of starting it on November 1 - which we missed.  But we are so close!  The graphic artist has to finish up the new logo and I'm troubleshooting a few things and changing our email service to Google Apps (I hope!).  After it's up and running, we'll add phase two elements like more photos, putting in articles we've skipped for now, getting the summer camp registration form up, etc.  For anyone who needs to develop a website, I can recommend using Joomla! to do it.  I hope I can share the site with you soon.

Another great thing is that I signed up to take Project Real Life with Becky Higgins through Big Picture Classes.  I never paid much attention to the Project Life scrapbooking system, but I knew some of my friends were enjoying using it.  The great thing about Project Real Life is the extra stuff in the class.  Each week has a theme and the themes have activities associated with them.  These activities make you think about your priorities and I'm reprioritizing some things in my life.  I've learned that I need to take more (and better!) photos and that my iPhone isn't taking the best photos if I want to use them in scrapbooking.

Do you use Photoshop Elements?  I downloaded the trial version and I've played around with it a bit.  I downloaded it to be able to use the Christmas newsletter template I bought.  I'd better get to that before my trial expires!  It's also helpful for editing photos for the website.  I just signed up for another online class called Two Views.  By the end of the two week workshop, I'll have an 8x8 album that contains pictures and journaling about how I see things and how Emma sees things.  It's so great that she agreed to be the second person in my album!  This class will be a great way to learn more about digital scrapbooking and using Photoshop Elements.  There is still time to sign up if you're interested.

On a different level, I've been reading my Bible more and doing a Bible study called Unglued.  It's about not letting our raw emotions rule our lives.  So far I've learned that I get angry and raise my voice when I feel accused or demeaned.  But the study is helping me voice my feelings and what's bothering me instead of letting my feelings take control.

Whew - that's a lot!  There is more (like knitting), but I think I've written enough for tonight.  I hope to catch up with you soon.  I miss hearing what's been going on in your lives!

 

Social Media - How much is too much?

When I was a teenager, I was afraid of being old.  Now that I'm closer to being old :), I am doing more things to try to stay young and current.  Keeping up with social media is a great example.  

Recently I started thinking about Twitter.  Each night during the Olympics, Ryan Seacrest gave a social media update.  I wondered if Twitter was really that big or if NBC was just looking for something to add to their coverage.  So I dusted off my Twitter account and enabled notifications so I could see tweets on my phone.  Yes, Twitter really is that big.

Now that I'm tweeting, I'm wondering how much social media is too much.  I recently took stock of my social media connections:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Ravelry
• Pinterest
• Instagram
• Typepad blog and Google Reader
• Google+ (just joined)
• Yelp (although I don't routinely use it)
• LinkedIn (again, I don't use it much)
• MySpace (haven't signed on in months)
• YouTube (haven't signed on in months)
• Skype (Does this count as social media?)
• Grooveshark (Haven't used in a long time.)
• Flickr
• goodreads
• SeamedUP (like Ravelry for quilters)
• Yahoo groups (don't use any more)
• Texting
• Good ole email

Whew!  A person could spend all day connecting with other people.

What do you think?  Is it better to pick a few social media outlets and use those a lot?  Or is it better to have a presence in many of them and use them each a little?

Please excuse me while I check my Twitter feed...

I couldn't resist

So I did resist starting the baby quilt from the fabric I showed you, but I did not resist starting it with these fabrics.  This disappearing nine patch block is so fun to make!

I've used up a couple of my fabrics so today I will pick up some fat quarters to finish off the quilt top.  I'm not going to allow myself to start sewing it together until all the blocks are finished.  I do have some discipline!  :)

The weekend wasn't all sewing.  I mentioned yesterday that I did some reading.  I've been wanting to read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, but haven't gotten around to it.  Emma was assigned this book for freshman reading so I figured this is a good time to read it.  Have you read it?  I'm about half done and it's really been a good book so far.  There are some interesting photos on the author's web site.

Emma came home for something this weekend and it was good to see her.  It's very strange because it felt weird when she left to go to school.  Then this weekend if felt a little weird to have her at home.  I guess this weird feeling is the new norm for now.  :)

For sociology class, she was supposed to break a social norm yesterday and see how people reacted.  She decided to wear her blonde curly wig to church.  And since her dressier clothes were at school (she hadn't originally planned to stay through Sunday), she wore her Flash t-shirt.  I should have taken a photo!  I was glad she figured out something that wasn't rude.  I could only think of social norms that you really wouldn't want to break.

Well, I've been on the computer long enough and I need to get to some other thnigs - like buying that quilt fabric!  Hope you all have a great day!

Currents again

listening - to the dog snore

eating - FAGE yogurt, leftover squash casserole and some chocolate chips 

drinking - Hmm...  I haven't had anything to drink yet!  Time to make some iced tea.

wearing - Exercise shorts and t-shirt

reading - The Distant Hours for July's book club selection, The 36-Hour Day and Etsy 101

weather - Right now it's 10AM and it's 77 degrees with 72% humidity - very muggy already

knitting - Botanic Hat for a late high school graduation present - using Spud and Chloe Sweater

wanting - to get my new glasses ordered

needing - catch up on church band stuff and the drama web site

enjoying - harvesting things from our garden

looking forward - to knitting with Mary this afternoon and to quilting at church tomorrow - haven't done either in ages!

wondering - how Emma is doing with her first day of college classes

 

Some random things I've learned recently

Nutella is very, very good.  I bought my first jar yesterday and was surprised that Nutella tastes just like Ferrero Rocher candies.  That shouldn't have surprised me since apparently the same company makes both products.

I should also not be surprised that the weight I gained over Thanksgiving and Christmas is not coming off because I keep eating leftover treats.  And buying Nutella...

Have you heard of CouchSurfing?  I hadn't heard of it and I doubt I'd get involved, but what a cool concept.  It sounds like a bed and breakfast but free and you really could be sleeping on someone's couch.  The friend who told me about it had positive things to say about it even though she had a somewhat scary experience with it.  The key is to make sure your host has lots of positive feedback.

Okay, okay... it really is a good idea to read through a knitting pattern before one starts a project.  Mary says she always reads through her patterns before she starts.  I'm usually in a hurry to just start so I take a quick glance then jump right in.  Last night I started Villemo and had 16 rows done (fortunately short ones) when I realized I was supposed to be increasing every once in a while.  I ripped out half the rows then knitted more later in the evening.  It's coming along and it feels very soft because of the Berroco Ultra Alpaca.

And this last item is not something new to me, but it might be new to you.  Are you familiar with the comic strip Zits?  It's my favorite and it's my life.  Really.  The main character is a 16 year old boy and my life's main character is a 17 year old girl but that's about the only difference.  This comic strip is so true and so funny.

Happy weekend, everyone!

My little big kid

My daughter got her license recently and I have to tell you it is a really weird feeling to have her out and about on her own.  I've never had a problem with her being out with friends or whatever but one of us always dropped her off and picked her up.  And I want her to be independent...it just feels strange.

So how could my grown up girl want this?

Emma wanted a hat with ear flaps so I'm using Thorpe and adding the features of the other hat.  I feel like this project has been going forever because I haven't worked on it much.  Maybe I can finish it up this weekend while she's out driving around.  :)

Happy knitting!

Odds and ends

Peony time!

Hi there, everyone!  Life has been pretty busy and I haven't taken the time to blog.  (I haven't read many blogs lately either.  Hope you are all well!)  I've had some people inquire about my safety during the tornadoes.  We're fine in our part of Georgia and I feel very blessed to be able to say that.  Thank you for your concern!

Holy Week and Easter are a busy time of the church year for the Worship & Music team at any church.  From that point of view, I breathed a sigh of relief when Easter was over.  :)  But I loved, loved, loved the worship service we had!  It was a joyous celebration.  One of our band members called it "Easter to the max" and I think that fits.  Another special thing from that day was "flowering the cross."  (The poor photo quality reminds me of photos from the 70s and 80s!) 

Did you watch "the wedding" this morning?  I didn't think about it until after I was done checking my email.  They were just starting their vows when I tuned in on my phone - almost missed it!  (Okay, I have to say that I think it is really cool to be able to watch on my phone from across the globe.  I guess it makes me old to think this is fun or unusual.  But when I was growing up, people would have just read about it in the papers the next day.  Would it have even been broadcast here live?)  The music in that service was beautiful, wasn't it?  And the wedding dress?  Fabulous!

Prom is this weekend.  And a friend's play.  And a couple of meetings.  I guess this is a busy time of the year for anyone with kids in high school!  I hope you all have a great and safe weekend.

 

Soggy Monday

Hey there!  Things got kind of busy and I'm way behind on my blog reading - and writing!  We had a really rainy weekend and it's a little soggy outside.  

While I as away from my blog, I celebrated a birthday.  It was so nice and relaxing!  Steve and Emma gave me a Bluetooth headset so now I can talk on the phone and knit at the same time.  Love it!  Of course, I could also do chores when I talk but that wouldn't be nearly as fun.  ;)  My friends made me feel so loved, too.

About the same time I started worm composting.  After a day thinking that I was killing them, I can say now that the worms are doing well.  My mom and I keep joking around about her "grandworms."  Below are pictures of their house, their bedding, and the worms at work under the bedding (sorry for the blurry photo!).

          

I have a ton of things to catch up on today so I'll close.  Later this week I'll share what I'm knitting - a shawl and a sweater.  A sweater?  That doesn't happen very often!

 

Shaking it off

  It's amazing how many more cherry blossoms there are after just a few days!

Today's Ten on Tuesday topic is a fun one but I don't have a list.  And yesterday was pretty much wasted so I don't have anything interesting to share.  I spent most of the day getting my car repaired (8AM - 1:30PM) then ran home and took Emma to the mall so she could visit with friends.  This was followed by a quick salad then a church council meeting.

But today I am going to shake all that off and get some serious work done.  (I especially have to shake off the car repair.  Toward the end it was not a good wait and the repairs were expensive with more promised at the next service.)  Monday is my day to do the laundry, clean out the fridge, make a grocery list and clip coupons, and get the trash gathered.  None of that happened yesterday aside from getting one load of laundry done.  Fortunately I don't usually schedule much for Tuesdays so I should be able to get caught up.

I can get a lot done each week when I am able to stick with the schedule I've developed.  (Sticking with it is often a problem!)  How do you divide out your chores and responsibilities?