My grandma and I have a psychic connection - or - Goals in progress

I'm not in the habit of making New Year's resolutions, but I do have some goals for the year.

Finish unfinished crochet projects, which includes frogging half completed projects that I have no intention of finishing.

De-clutter.

Repurpose.

That pretty much covers it. So I cleaned out the yarn stash and reduced it by about 25%. I donated all of that to Squallis Puppeteers (so their site isn't really up to date, but they're good folks.)
I cleaned out a couple of closets and donated that to a thrift shop. While there, I found 4 hanks of 100% virgin wool yarn with no price, so I asked the cashier for a price. She looked around and said, "tweny nine cent." I really feel like I stole this yarn.



The colors are more muted than they look here, since I never have a chance to photograph things in natural light. I guess I should add that to my list of goals for the year.

Photograph things in natural light.

In the spirit of finished things, I made and sold this scarf.



It's the first thing that I've ever sold, and it's encouraged me to scheme about possibly selling some things around town this fall. I'm still brainstorming on that one.

As far as psychic connections... I called my grandma a couple of weeks ago so I could spend the day there, and she said, "How did you know that I just made a batch of fried apples?!" (which are my favorite!) I called her again today to drop something off to her, and she said, "How did you know that I just made a pot of chili?!" Who knows what the next one will be. She's so awesome, my grandma is. I would not trade anything in the world for the time I lived with her or the relationship we have now. Add that one to the list too.

Spend more time with Grandma.

Finished projects

Finally, something. In the past month I finished some things that I've been working on for awhile: College. I did finally complete my Spanish degree in December. I thought that I would feel fulfilled or accomplished, but really just feel a little sad that I don't get to see my friends at school as often, and am at a loss for what I should do with myself with all this free time that I have. I had imagined that I would use it productively - taking some kind of fun class (dance, sewing, etc.), but really I'm just making sure that dinner is on the table before 7, dishes are done, and then crochet and/ or watch TV. I'm also getting some reading done. It is nice to read what I want at whatever pace works for me. So far I've finished up the Harry Potter books, reread A Prayer for Owen Meany, and am now reading Devil in the White City.

I'm also crocheting like a fool and made up a couple of quick scarves, need to make a hat since the lawn mower ate mine, and am working on a baby blanket for one of my Spanish professors. I have started using Knit Picks yarn, and using real wool and the like feels so much better and looks so much prettier than the acrylic I've been using. The prices at Knit Picks are really reasonable, so I can get "luxury" yarn for about the same price as "cheapy" yarn from Michaels. I finished the blankets that I was working on for the kids next door for Christmas. They were a little late for Christmas, but the boys loved them anyway.

For the older kid: Spiderman Ripple



For the younger guy: Color Me

And the mower got the last word...

Yesterday was probably my last day mowing grass at work, and it was a little chilly out, so I grabbed my favorite toboggan. I don't usually wear it to work, but it was the only one I could find. It used to look like this one below (which is actually my brother's) but blue.



Now it looks like this:




I had taken it off and put it in my pocket, and it fell out on the ground. I guess the mower was either upset with me or hungry, because it sucked it up and spit it out the other side. I nearly cried, as it's the first thing I really designed (not the hat part - it came from Happy Hooker, but the fleur part). Sure I can make another one, but still, there was my happy, favorite hat in a mangled pile of blue yarn, some purple flung about, full of grass and gunk from under the mower deck. Goodbye, mower, I'm sure I won't miss you, and you won't miss me.

Derby hats

I wanted to post on the history of the phenomenon that is Kentucky Derby hats, as the world will be watching us closely here in Louisville tomorrow for the best two minutes in sports. It is on this day that after two weeks of local folks partying (starting with Thunder Over Louisville, the Great Steamboat Race, and a gluttony of other events) we put off all other important weekend plans, drink mint juleps, and act like we're experts on horse racing for the day, all while celebreties flock to our fine city. In fact, this year the Queen! of! England! is here. At any rate, part of the Derby tradition is the donning of elaborate hats, the likes that no one would ever wear any other time of the year. I was, however, unable to find any information on the history of this tradition. Even Wikipedia let me down on this one. As a good citizen of Louisville, I feel I should know already. What I do know is this year I got sucked into Derby hat fever and made my own. I planned on making this hat from Interweave Crochet anyway, so I decided to adorn it with a daisy chain while I was at it. I didn't use the cotton that the pattern called for, but Cotton Classic from Tahki - Stachy Charles, which I bought at Sophie's Fine Yarn Shoppe. The staff there was super helpful in finding a substitute yarn for the Debbie Bliss Cotton that the pattern called for, but they didn't carry. I can't say the same for other shops in town (really, they'll remain unnamed). The hat was fairly quick to make; I think I did it in 4 or 5 hours, and I love it. After Derby, the flowers come off and I'll wear it all summer.
Happy Derby, everyone! I'll start the partying after I get off work tomorrow...