Rain

Lotta rain here, which is good, we desperately needed it.  Not as desperately as Texas, but still, pretty darn badly.  It’s so nice and cool right now, and I wish you could hear the frogs.  Almost a return to normal, wet-wise.

Where I’m “At” Right now…

Update…

Well, let’s see –

• I’m a bit nervous about it, but I’ve signed up for September’s NaBloPoMo.  I didn’t make it last time – hopefully this one will go better. ;P
• I’ve updated my about page a bit – it was in drastic need of help.  Hopefully more changes on the way, “as we go”…..
• I’m hoping the sewing machine will be done this week….
• I am utterly exhausted today.  Gotta keep on truckin, though…..

Yeah, Think I *Am* Going to Start a PhotoBlog

… when I get some of that (ahem) free time…. 😛 I’ll post deets when I do.

Bits and Bobs

School is ramping up, so there’s not a lot of time to post.  Been working on plain things, basics.  Have some cotton kitchen washcloths done, and a test hat on a basic pattern.  Will post pics soon.  Been working on my photography lately.  Really want to learn to do that.  Debating on a photo blog, or sticking to deviantart and or Flickr.

Be well, my lovelies….

I’m Still Out Here….

… just feeling a bit frazzled.  As I’m sure is the case for many, we’ve been working hard to stay above water, so niceties like blogging got put aside for a while. 😛  Still more or less in the same position (thanks, BP! -.-), but we’ll get there, and in the meantime, I’ve decided to come back to blogging and pursuing creative outlets in an effort to stay sane. o.O Anyway, so – to bring things back to all things creative and crafty – here’s a new (to me!) concept I’m looking at trying out – crocheting with poptabs from soda cans.  Check out these great links (links pulled from (and adapted from) a fab thread on Ravelry):

Pop Tab Wrap

• Tutorial for making a large crocheted pop tab purse.
• Here you can find has instructions for making pop tab flowers (which you can use as motifs for larger items).
• “This one is in Portugese, but the pictures are pretty self-explanitory and could be used as a guide for designing your own (she does rows instead of flowers).”
• “This ebook has patterns for making purses, baskets, vests, bracelets, skirts, and dresses. I don’t know if it uses crochet, though.”

I also found:

• http://poptabpurse.blogspot.com/
• Pull Tab Crochet / Crochet com Lacres – Flickr set from a lady who specializes in creating Pop Tab crochet pieces.  The photo in this blog entry is from this set.

Posts and Projects

Well, losing the game, so to speak, with NaBloPoMo kinda put me off blogging feed.  I decided to get focused on other things for a while – got some projects done, recentered myself.  Probably good, in the long run.

SO – here’s what I’ve been up to:

I’m still working on exploring the Newbie Level of crochet.  I’ve gotten a few projects done  (Please forgive the photo layout – I’m struggling with this template and may chuck it soon. 😛 ) –

Firstly is this LAMB inspired hat.  You can find info on the pattern here at Ravelry, and see more pics at my project page here.  This one turned out pretty well – da kiddo is pleased – it’s for his girlfriend.  He was a bit reluctant to model it for me, tho. ^_-

I also worked up a headband last night.  For some reason it gave me fits – frogged it a kajillion times before I really figured out the pattern.  Go figure.  Anyhoo, while it’s far from perfect, it’s done and I like it.  I figure I’ll do more soon.

The pattern (Trebel Crochet Headband)  uses just a very little yarn.  I can see using project scraps to make more of these.  In this case, I used some left over Peaches & Creme from a Christmas present project.  (No more information on *that* one right now. Ahem.)

I also frogged a hat I was working on for the other half.  He’s finicky. 😛 So, as he likes the yarn I am using, but didn’t like the way the hat was shaping up, I frogged the whole thing.  Blech.  No fun, frogging an almost done project.  Ah well, I have some ideas for creating a Fabulous Hat for the man.  We shall see.

I’ve been contemplating picking up knitting needles again.  I’ve just been a little intimidated – the last few times I’ve tried, I’ve come away with aching hands and wrists.  Guess we’ll see, huh?  o.O  I’m also working on a few small projects for Christmas.

Oh, I also discovered the most awesome vegan peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe, but I believe I’ll leave that for the next post. 😉

Be well, y’all!

Hmm – Well…. [NaBloPoMo]

…another busy day – Youngest turned 6.  I’m tired.  Long day – the kids had to get to school early for a field trip.  Yawn.  Much more interesting stuff tomorrow, I hope. 😛

Weird Week [NaBloPoMo]

OK, so the school board, in its infinite wisdom canceled school Tuesday for Ida.  Whole lot of us in the community thought that was silly – they certainly wouldn’t have done it 10 years ago.  Total nonstarter of a tropical event.  Many were scrambling to find ways to keep the kids safe and happy – the storm was pretty much over by school time and nobody EXCEPT the school board canceled work.  I am lucky enough to work from here, so we’ve just taken a bit of a holiday the past couple of days, because I had the luxury of being able to do so.

So, beyond not keeping up with the housework, crocheting entirely too much (working on a project for my step mother-in-law) and some movie-watching, we’ve been pretty much been focused on fort-making and the like:

Well, off to bed – back to “real life” tomorrow – I’ll have a lot of catchup to concern myself with, I”m sure.

Recent Food Explorations [NaBloPoMo]

I’m struggling with what I believe are gluten issues this week.  If I’m right, it explains an awful lot.  I’ll probably be heading over to the doc as soon as I can manage it this week.  Here’s hoping.

If I do have to go gluten free, I’m a bit bummed about what that will mean for baking and other culinary pursuits.  Both Kittee (over at Cake Maker to the Stars) and Mary (over at Mitten Machen) have extensively documented their struggles to make vegan xGFx (gluten-free) baked goods (crusts, breads, etc.).  Other vegan and xGFx blogs can be found out there (the following taken from this PPK thread):

• http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/
• http://glutenfreeveganfam.blogspot.com/
• http://glutenfreehippie.com/
• http://glutenfreesoyfreevegan.blogspot.com/
• http://glutenfreevegan.wordpress.com/
• http://clumzycook.blogspot.com/
• http://cupcakepunk.wordpress.com/
• http://happyveganface.blogspot.com/
• http://cupcakekitteh.blogspot.com

I’m still exploring these.

I have to say, I am VERY interested in pursuing a potential diagnosis – something I’m sure I’ll blog further on this month.  I do have some concerns tho – the most major being what looks to be the greater expense of trying to eat gluten-free – xanthan gum is 12 bucks at the local grocery, for instance.  I guess I should just be stoked they have it at all – it’s a small grocery.

On a totally opposite note, the local grocery chain in the area is carrying Gardein brand vegan meat analogs.  Everything we’ve tried is really fabulous.  I’ve some concerns that it won’t last, tho – they’ve already dropped the price on them.  On the other hand, if I go gluten free, I guess it won’t matter to me personally.  My oldest will be sorry, though.

Marinara Chick'n Good Stuff - the current fav - vegan cheez!!!!

We also made Whoopie Pies from My Sweet Vegan. They were OK, but need a lot of work before I’d be satisfied with them. I think the cookies should have been much smaller, for instance. Overall, I was surprised at the meh-factor – I’ve never made anything by Ms. Hannah I didn’t love – guess there’s a first time for everything.