Afghan...sniff...

I've got a bit of a cold, ugh...anyway...

Here's the baby afghan I made for the baby our pastor's wife is expecting:

The baby shower was two weeks ago, and I forgot to get a picture of this before I gave it to her. But big sister Hannah shot a picture for me, thanks Hannah! :)

Oh dear, now I'm sneezing... I'm mainly tired today, with a slightly sore throat. I get along okay though if I keep up on the cups of hot tea, and the occasional chewable Tylenol. It seems like the chewable gets to my throat that way, and helps faster. I have no clue if Tylenol really works that way or not...I'm waiting for someone to tell me that "no of course it doesn't have any topical effect at all, you're just imagining it!" Which I may very well be, though I do know my headaches respond very fast to regular swallowed Tylenol.

The spell-check says that Tylenol is supposed to be capitalized, which I suppose it is...I should have said acetaminophen... it's not Tylenol brand anyhow.

Oh well, as long as I'm just sneezing, not coughing. If I get coughing, I don't stop for weeks...

Cupcakes

Valentine's Day cupcakes to be exact:










They aren't as neatly decorated as I would have liked, but I was in a hurry... I don't really have time for decorating cupcakes during the week on a regular basis!

I also can't seem to get the hang of photographing food, it always looks...flat, sort of. And if I try to shoot things at an angle, you can't see all of it and it looks just as scary, even if it is more artistic! :) Then there's the whole decision about whether to use flash or not...also affecting the scariness of the food item being shot. I think food is generally hard to photograph though.

School, life, etc.

Well, I thought I’d do a post about what I’m doing in the way of school and stuff. Technically this is my last year of high-school, but since I’m not planning on going to college, I’m not going to completely finish this year. Right now I’m working on literature, history, and science. The books I’m using are about as comprehensive as college books. I know Mom read some where that someone’s kid had used a BJU history textbook in 8th or 9th grade, and said it was way more detailed and in-depth than their college book!
So anyway, we’re looking at these books as pretty much college level. The literature and history are Bob Jones University press, and when I get done with these ones, Mom has another one of each for me to do…so I’ll be at them for a while at least.

I’m not terribly fond of the literature book…although I’m starting to like it better. Since I love to read, I don’t really like reading little tiny bits out of a book and not knowing the context or anything. And some of the selections are from books I wouldn’t have any interest in anyway…although I’ll read just about anything! It is very well-presented and from a Christian view-point and has explanation and background for the selections. The book is divided into unit or chapters, with a subject for each one, like the one I just finished was on “allusion”. Also, every unit/chapter there is at least one, usually more, writing assignments that have to do with the subject, i.e.: writing something with allusions.

History is going okay, I never have really liked history, and it’s not much better with this book…it’s not so much the history I mind (I can read right through a history book fine), but the having to read it and comprehend all the stuff I need for the test. Because, while I am comprehending it in my own way, that is, it’s sort of stored in the back of my head and if I really have some need for it, I’ll probably be able to remember it. But I have to know everything exactly for the test…

Science, on the other hand, I enjoy. The book I’m working on now, Biology, is a little bit more difficult than the last one which was Physical Science. I think I have a liking for things that can’t really be proved/are tangible other than if you know the formula, and know it’s there. In other words, the centripetal force post I wrote last year! :) Which would also be why I like (at least in concept) Algebra…or did…I like the organization of taking an equation and solving it….if it’s difficult and I can’t solve it, that’s when I get frustrated. I suppose all that could be looked at by a psychologist(or would it be a psychiatrist? I always get confused) as a possible unwillingness to face reality… Ha-ha! :) Which I certainly don’t think I have, being very German and practical and all…

Anyway, after that irrelevant side-thought, coming back to the main point, I like my science book best of all. It’s Apologia, written by Jay Wile, and is (like my last two books) the best science book ever. Well-explained without being stuffy, casual without being ignorantly chummy! Hmm…do I sound like I’ve been reading British mystery novels or what? Or clothing descriptions…

I’m not doing anything for math right now, since I finished my Consumer Math book. I’m not sure yet whether I’m doing geometry or more algebra next, Mom and Dad haven’t decided. I would rather not do either of course, but since I have to, I’d rather do geometry rather than try to struggle through another algebra book…ugh. :)

So that’s pretty much what I’m up to in school. In general, I’ve been working on various craft projects and thinking about what I’m going to do in the upcoming years.
Ideally, I like to have a business, but that rather needs capital and a market for what you’re selling. So, for right now, it’s mainly saving money for something, and working on my skills (skills, ha-ha! Anyone know what I’m thinking of?).
I’d like to have a shop either selling crafts/hand-made stuff, or picture framing, specializing in framing cross-stitch. I really have no idea what sort of market and competition there would be for either of those where we live. If you live in the right part of the US, and probably certain parts of the state, you could have a pretty good market for the hand-crafted stuff, and likewise the framing, though I have a feeling those would not have the same market.
And the frustration that I have now even, is that I have more hobbies/things to do/things I could do, than I have time or money for! Oh well…I guess that I at least can’t say I’m bored! :)

Finally, my post about our Christmas

And it took me long enough!
It was a fun Christmas, even though it was cold and rainy outside. We went next-door to my grandparent's house for breakfast and then everyone came back over here to open presents and eat Christmas lunch.

Colin got (among other things) a racetrack from my other grandma (my dad's mom). He told us, about a week before Christmas, that he knew what he wanted for Christmas... a Nascar racetrack!
Well, we explained to him that we had all done our shopping already, and grandma and grandpa had too, so we were sorry, but it was too late to be asking for more, and told him he'd be very happy with what he got, etc. So, he's opening his present from other grandma (we don't know what she's sent) and he says "Oh, it's my Nascar racetrack."...very matter-of-factly... and it was!! So that was pretty crazy! Gracie likes the racetrack too:
She loves to catch the cars as they go zooming around.

Colin also got a wood train train and track from my parents. He likes that too, and so does my dad! Here's Colin playing with it:


Two gifts that I particularly liked were two things I got from my parents, a bright green cast-iron pot, and candle sconces for my bedroom:











And Gracie got her big-girl collar, for her bigger, but still skinny little neck:

I bet these pictures are laid out really badly, but I can't ever get them to look the same as when I'm formatting the post...ugh!

Yeah, I'm still here...

... not that you would know I hadn't just disappeared... as my cousins have so tactfully pointed out, I haven't been so successful on number 11. But I have been getting some other stuff done!
I've been very busy on various needlework projects. I'm working on one gift item right now, and when I finish need to start working on two more; plus I'd like to be able to work on at least one thing for myself as well, cross-stitch, knitting, or sewing whatever! I'm getting to many ideas of things to make, and I think I need to go through and prioritize some. (Okay there's a weird gap here in the text that I can't get to go away!)

And I may want to sell some yarn. Right now I'm trying to only make things with the yarn I have, not buy too much more. However, I don't have any plan for this yarn (Paton's Bohemian), and I just wore a sweater on Sunday made out of that yarn, and it shed all over, with little furry clumps of fuzz. It's a really, really soft yarn, and the sweater was very warm and cozy, but I just don't think I can deal with that much fuzz...my clothes get enough cat hair on them as it is, without adding in sweater shedding.
Here's two things I did for Christmas gifts, since I couldn't post pictures while I was working on them. First, the Christmas ornaments I made for my friends, that's not all of them, but it's the three I had on hand the day I was taking pictures:

Secondly, the sweater I made for Amelia, a little 1 1/2 year old in our church. It has a matching hat, but she's not wearing it in the picture. She is such a sweetie:

Thanks Melody, for letting me post the picture! :)


In reference to my other goals, I've been able to stick to my exercising plan pretty well, so that's good. I got a book from the library about pilates, just for some variety, and that's fun, though a little hard.

Guitar...well, I've practiced um...once or twice this month, but I've been busy!!!! I have wanted to a couple times, and just not had the time to practice right then.

Most of the other things are straggling along... my room is getting cleaned more often, etc.
One thing I need to work on is my recipe scrapbook. I wanted to basically make my own cookbook, and I decided that it would be best to get a scrapbook to put them in. Basically, I wanted a fancy three-ring binder with page-protectors. So I have this:

It's a Christmas(???) scrapbook that I got on clearance at Joann.com. It's 12 x 12, and I bought some various colors of card stock that size to mount the 8 1/2 x 11 recipe pages on. I suppose as far as scrapbooking goes, it's pretty low-key, but I'm not real into cutesy stuff. Occasionally, I'll like stuff like that, and perhaps some retro kitchen stickers or something would be cool, but I also don't want a cluttered look, so I'll probably just have the pages on card stock, in the album. Microsoft Word has a really neat Celtic knot page border in the borders, so I think I'll probably use that (just black & white) around the edges. When I get some pages made, I'll post pictures!
It should be pretty fun, and I've already thought of putting my printed out knitting/crochet patterns in a scrapbook also...Mom says I'm going to end up taking up scrapbooking once I get started. I don't think so though...what with the cropping pictures and stuff... the photographer in me can't take scissors to a printed photo!
So anyway, I need to get to work on typing up recipes...which I will probably do when I get done here.

So, anyway, that's what I've been up to, in brief form anyway. I think I'll make two other posts as well...just to separate the topics covered!

And I really will try to work on blogging more often!

Goals for 2007

I don't say resolutions, because I have a tendency to think of that word in quotes, and these really are more goals, not things set in stone that I intend to do this year... I of course have no control over what really happens this year, nor will I pretend to. Plus I find the word "resolution" silly... (not meaning any offence to anyone who uses it, just my personal opinion).
So, anyway...

1. To exercise every day (not to lose weight! Before anyone who knows me starts getting all worried about me that I'm anorexic or something, I'm not trying to lose weight, I'm just trying to get so that I'm not injuring myself so easily! And I feel better in general if I exercise).
That's exercising every day, excluding weekends, and when I don't feel well enough to. And I know that's a totally overdone goal, every one's exercising in January, but I need to anyway and why not start now.

2. To practice guitar at least two times a week.
This one's going to be hard for me, but hopefully I'll be able to stick with it.... even if my fingers are killing me.

3. Memorize scripture. Proverbs 3, for starters, and I don't know what after that.

4. To learn how to make soap.
I've been wanting to do this for a while...I just need to get all the supplies. And find someplace to do it without damaging anything. I'm planning on making "real" soap, which has lye in it, so I need to have space to do it without spilling lye, coloring, etc. on carpet, or anything it would hurt! It may take me awhile before I get started on that, mainly because of the expense and time involved. I need to buy a kitchen/soap making scale, an immersion blender, find someplace to buy lye, and get some scents and colors for the soap. I think they have lye at Lowes Hardware, so that won't be too bad...if you buy it online you have to sign a waiver, saying 1. you know it's dangerous, and 2. you won't make anything illegal out of it... and you have to be eighteen, so I'd have to get my parents to buy it until I turn eighteen. So I'm hoping that you can just buy it at Lowes without any signing and fussing about it. It's as bad as trying to find sinus medicine...sheesh! Okay, sorry about the rant, on with the goals...

5. Learn tatting... which is lace, and I'm not real big on lace, but I have seen a few really neat patterns, and as long as it's not too expensive, I might as well try.

6. Cross-stitch, knit, etc...craft more. Last year I tried to get a whole bunch of stuff done in the month or so right before the fair, this year I need to get more stuff done through the year. And besides, for all I know about knitting, I really haven't done that much... ;)

7. Sew more/actually do the projects I've been planning on doing for a long time. Like making a simple pillow...a pillow, for goodness sake!... out of supplies that I already have!!!

8. Work on my cooking, or rather my meal-planning. I can cook pretty well when I know what I'm cooking, but thinking of things to cook is not something I'm good at. And my cooking could use some fine-tuning too, things like having the food ready on time every time, not missing anything, and cleaning up the kitchen as I'm cooking ... my parents will be very happy if I accomplish the latter. :)

9. Taking time to clean my room, so that I don't end up (like I did so many times last year) with my room completely covered with whatever I'd been working on at that time....another thing that's going to be hard for me.

10. Find time to do all this stuff! :) Ha...this may be the hardest!

The guitar, and exercising will have to wait until my wrist feels better. I did something to my left wrist, sprained it or something, and it's kind of sore still. So I get a break on those...hee-hee...I can walk though, even if I can't lift weights.

And I'm sure there are other goals, but I can't think of them at the moment, so this will have to do. I may end up posting "Goals: part 2" ...oh yeah:

11. Blog at least twice a week, preferably everyday!


And finally, a picture of the apple pie I made this morning for my grandma's birthday:
It looks a bit better than that in person...it's really hard to photograph food. Pies in particular seem to end up looking really brown and greasy even if they're not!

I've got several other post ideas in my head, but I have other stuff to do right now, so they're not going to get written right now!
I finished my math book today, so I think I may post about school...and Christmas... later, that is!

Happy New Year!

Well, it's 2007!
I can't believe I'm actually awake this early (10) when I stayed up until one last night!

I'm afraid I can't think of anything too spectacular that happened last year, but then it doesn't even seem like it could have been a year already!

And speaking of un-spectacular, at midnight last night, yes exactly at midnight, I was kneeling on the floor with a washcloth in one hand and carpet-cleaner in the other, because for some annoying reason, known only to her, one of my cats decided to pick that time to upchuck a hairball...
*sigh* Happy new year to you too! Ugh.
I think it may have been a sort of chain reaction: we were watching something on TV, and there were people playing bluegrass music, which got Gracie racing around the house (I don't think she liked the sound), and then she started fighting with Petunia, which is probably why Petunia was feeling a little queasy.
And of course, right after that it was midnight, and people somewhere in our neighborhood started shooting...they don't seem to go in for fireworks around here, just gunshot.

Anyway, that was my very un-spectacular New Year's Eve...maybe next year will be better...

Happy New Year! And enjoy 2007!

...now I have to try to remember to write '07, not '06... :)

The Christmas Story

Luke 2:1-14:
1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.

3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David:

5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

King of kings

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

The kingdom of this world
Is become the kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ, and of His Christ;
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
For ever and ever, forever and ever,

King of kings, and Lord of lords,
King of kings, and Lord of lords,
And Lord of lords,
And He shall reign,
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings, forever and ever,
And Lord of lords,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Those of course are the words to Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, taken from Revelation 11:15- "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever."

Our family went to a church Christmas program this year (not our church) that seemed to have very little emphasis on the whole meaning of Christmas, other than that we should be focusing on Jesus, not just on getting presents. And while that's true, they failed to put any emphasis on the power, mercy, or grace of God in sending His Son as a man to die for us. Nor that He now reigns...reigns forever, and the "kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ".

However, we went last week to a Christmas concert sponsored by the Salvation Army, a local news station, and various other sponsors; a concert that makes no particular claim to being Christian, and is for all intents merely secular. Every year though, near the end of the concert they have a sing-along, and along with secular Christmas songs like "Jingle Bells" and "Deck the Halls", at the very end is the Hallelujah Chorus. So you can stand there surrounded by people who may or may not be Christians, and sing of the truth that our Lord reigns forever. It's wonderful!


John 1:14- And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Merry Christmas!