It's official. I stink at blogging.
...but I enjoy it as a medium to express my emotions (excitement over an idea, stress over a toddler, etc) and get things off my chest, so I'm still going to do it! One of these days, life will have a routine and I'll have time to do this, right?! I'm not giving up! Once a month or every few weeks is better than never at all, and I enjoy so really that's all that matters. Not like anybody reads it anyway!!! Maybe my sister? :) Hey, Molli!
My sister. *le sigh* I miss her greatly. I talked to her on the phone this morning for what felt like the first time in ages, and truthfully, it probably was. I remember when life was easy and we talked constantly. Life isn't horrible now, don't get me wrong, but we both have so many responsibilities and the 536 miles between us makes things difficult for sure! She has three kids that range in age from <almost> 11 to three! I miss the days when I was still in Tennessee and we were so close and I miss those kids! Her oldest was 7 when I moved and the baby wasn't even born yet. Moving to Missouri was an extremely emotional and taxing decision, but it's one that did go right (one in the so very many that didn't...)! I love it here, and I love my beautiful little family and our farm and all the friends I've made along the way, but leaving East TN left a hole in my heart that can never ever be filled!
I don't get to go home near as much as I would like. Life, amirite? Between our jobs, the farm, and the terrible 2's, we don't get to do much at all that we want to. It's not that I'm making excuses, these are legitimate reasons. We're not carefree and can't just pull a 9 hour drive and a long weekend like I wish we could. The farm is the biggest reason; 30+ miles of fence and 126 momma cows that depend on us for everything (as much as we depend on them, really) can't just be left without even minor supervision for a weekend. Then there's Ikey. He's in the "OUT!" phase and strapping him into a carseat is the equivalent of having sand thrown in your eyes! Basically, he's not a fan, and for 9 hours? Shoot me. Driving at night is out of the question, too. We used to do it when it was just John and me, but I-40 is a scary drive with all semis on the road at night, and we're not going to risk it with the baby. Sorry, not sorry. NOPE. I don't expect anybody else to do it, either. They're nuts! Last time we did that it rained and there were semis weaving everywhere, passing like crazy, and one didn't even have headlights! Talk about terrifying! Then there are our jobs. We both work full-time in sales. So yes, it's definitely easier to get away from our jobs than say an 8-5, but it also means while we can "get away", we are never ever really truly "away", but we're definitely not getting paid! So these are all my legit reasons that I don't go to TN as much as I'd like, but hopefully when Ike is a few years older, some of this at least. will get easier! ...not that anybody really cares about our reasons. It seems everybody just wants us to come home. I understand that, for sure, and I wish it was as easy as just packing up and going! I really do! Someday... Right? Yeah. I guess this has just been stressing me out lately. It seems it's all I hear from *most people and it has me dreading the conversation, which I hate.
*side note: My sister did NOT mention this during our talk this morning. As usual, she does not fall into this category! :D
So anyway, I've been working on some amazing (and crocheted, obviously) Christmas presents and I could not be more excited! I am currently OBSESSED with Caron Cakes yarn and have gone to great lengths to get my hands on more since most stores seem to be completely out! (If you happen find it by calling random stores, they can ship it to your local store for you! ...and if your local store is 2 hours away, your neighbor's son can pick it up for you since he lives there, and then she'll just get it when she sees him over the weekend! PHEW!) I made a granny shawl using the Jelly Roll colorway and I absolutely loved it so much that I started one for my mom in the Buttercream colorway! The pattern I used for the first one called for clusters for 3 dc's, but on this one I altered it a bit to clusters of 2. It's a lot puffier and is going to be quite a bit bigger! I only used one ball on the first one, but I plan on using at least another half on this one, so it should be pretty good sized! The first is more like a shawlette, really, but it's very lovely!!! I haven't' been able to crochet at all in the last two days and I feel like I'm going through withdrawals! Tonight I'm going to get some hook time in if I have to stay up until 11 to do it!!! *gasp!*
Okay, well, back to work for me! Have a good day, y'all!
Well, it's been a little bit since I've blogged, but not because I haven't thought about it! I just haven't had the time or motivation, sadly.
Two weeks ago, I had Mohs Surgery in Springfield to remove a basal cell carcinoma from my forehead. (Don't burn... just don't. Actually, it's probably too late for you, but don't let your kids burn... just don't.) It was at my hairline on the right side, and barely noticeable! Luckily the doctor was able to remove it all with just one layer and 15 sutures later I was on my way to Jo-Ann where I bought my weight in fun new yarn and Susan Bates hooks (love!)! Then it was off to Chick-Fil-A and I was headed home! About an hour into the two hour drive home, the local anesthetic wore off and I had to stop and get some ibuprofen... holy headache!
It was NOT a fun week that followed... it HURT. Thursday I went to my local doctor to get the sutures out and I was thinking the incision might be infected because of the pain and it was a little swollen on one end. He said he thought I would be better off going back to Springfield for the sutures (they used clear sutures and he was afraid he might miss one; they were SUPER hard to see... like impossible, actually!). So Friday I went back to Springfield where they told me it probably wasn't infected because it didn't seem to hurt bad enough and removed the sutures! I went to Target and got Ikey some of the cutest clothes, then hit Starbucks for a Green Tea Latte (no... FYI), and then on to Michael's where I scored a couple of Caron Cakes (O. M. G!!! ...and with a 50% off coupon for one of them; heck yes!) and then it was another two hour drive back to the office!
Saturday morning I woke up to an oozing incision site and ...well, I'll just say it was definitely infected. I called the 24 hour number and the PA sent me in a prescription for an antibiotic. Everything seems to be all good now, thankfully! The incision is still pink, but it's hardly noticeable unless you know it's there!
I'm definitely regretting all those tanning bed appointments and the blatant refusal to apply any form of UV protection... needless to say, none of us leave the house without our mineral sunscreen these days!
Over the weekend, we went to some "new" neighbors for burgers! These are easily the coolest people I've met. They have done so much! I love how much they have experienced and I hope one day we can do things like that with Ikey! They have a freakin' GRIZZLY BEAR on the wall for cryin' out loud! SO amazing. They also have a 230lb English Mastiff that adored Ike and let him waller all over him! I wanted to get a picture, but didn't want to be weird so I played it cool. TOTAL REGRET! I NEED A PIC OF IKEY WITH THAT DOG! Next visit I will shamelessly pose them for a photo.
I made my niece a puff stitch beanie (see previous post for link to the most fabulous pattern ever, by The Hook Nook) and I used Adriafil yarn's StellaJacq! IT WORKED UP INCREDIBLY! And it's soooo squishy! I'm going to mail it to her soon, but I'm building them a jar of Missouri to send with it! Think: river rocks, ear tags, fishing lures, etc! FUN!
We also had a few sick days before my surgery... Ike had bronchitis (again). I'm convinced it's related to his teeth. He popped a tooth through and his congestion was gone as quickly as it came. So weird...
Anywho, that pretty much catches you up! ;) Oh, have any of you tried Tunisian Crochet? I have a hook for it, and started messing with a swatch, but it's so tight. I read it's best to use a hook that's a couple of sizes bigger than gauge, so that could be the issue! It's super pretty, though!
So last week, I was looking for amazing crochet patterns (as per usual), and I found several I figured I could accomplish fairly well, even with my total newbie badge ablaze! I bought three from Jessica at The Hook Nook, and one from another source (also on Etsy), but the shop shall remain anonymous.
Of course, Jessica's patterns were not only beautifully written and, in my eyes, extremely desirable as a finished product, but she proudly thanks you for supporting her family and says go ahead and sell the puff stitch beanies you make, just mention me in the process! AWESOME!
So I was pumped! I felt like I was on a roll! I finished several beanies and decided to try something different! This is when I bought the other pattern! It's also beautifully written and the finished product will appear complex and be totally gorgeous, but much to my dismay the pattern states bluntly "This is for private use only. You may NOT sell the finished items."
Whoa. I wasn't ready for that! I was a little pissed, honestly. I felt like I paid for the pattern, and it's not like I'm out to steal her biz, ya know? Why the hate? So I immediately emailed Jessica and thanked her profusely because she is so selfless and helpful! But I never reached out to the anonymous shop owner... I just stewed silently.
Well, friends. Today I left 5 star review on the other beanie pattern, because I canNOT lie, the pattern was amazing and the beanie is totally adorable. And you know? The owner of the shop emailed me back within MINUTES and gave me permission to sell what I made.
Here I was hurt and disappointed and felt all of these insanely petty emotions over being told "please don't pimp my pattern" and then she just out-of-nowhere says, "hey go for it!" I wrote her back and thanked HER profusely this time. I vowed not to sell them on my Etsy page, but I will definitely have them available in my stash for locals.
Talk about a slap in the face, though. All of that doubt and assumption of a complete stranger and for what? She is actually a supremely kind and caring individual that I labeled as selfish without ever even having a conversation with her. SHAME ON ME!
So the moral of the story: never ever doubt others. The goodness is there... go find it.
Love one another and support, support, support! :) There's enough to go around, I promise!
ALSO... Knit Picks, y'all! SOOOO in love with this one!
