Storm of the Century?

Word is that we're expecting a huge-ass winter storm, not that you would know it around here. I turned on the tv this morning, and the weather was barely mentioned. However, everything you ever wanted to know about Kwame Kilpatrick, just stay tuned.

I also learned that Britney's back in the hospital. I'm just stunned an in awe, as I'm sure you are. I'm thinking of keeping my kids home from school tomorrow, so we can pray for her.

Seriously.

When did 7-15" of snow become the least exciting thing going on?

wizacky weather in the hizzouse

The weather Gods have freaked out and apparently decided to give us every type of weather in one week. Fun for us lowly unsuspecting humans! Monday was nearly 50*, and I was dragged kicking & screaming outside to throw the football with Evan. Today it's about 9* and mega windy. The kind of wind where you are sure your house is going to be swept away. Or your small car. (Reason #214 to be thankful I drive a Hummer)

I'm not really happy it's windy; I'm squinting so I'm not blinded by the flying hairs whipping around. I am, however, glad that it's cold enough to allow me to wear the softest scarf in the world all day long. It's like a fuzzy hug.

And someone (ok, it was me) forgot to bring in the plastic container of girl scout stuff off the porch last night. Luckily I had taken out all the cookie order forms, becasue our sign up sheet vanished, and the box was broken to smithereens. The lid was unscathed, which goes a long way towards explaining why we have such a weird box to lid ratio in our house.
Hey, how did that monkey get in here?

Don't be alarmed. He's not real.

I made him for this kid that I know that loves monkeys. I hope it doesn't scare him to death.
And this would be my latest project, a wraparound cari in the lovliest shade called 'embers'. It's beautiful but not fussy, and hopefully very flattering on chubby girls.

See ya!

gimme cookie (channel Cookie Monster as you say this)

This is the scene on my kitchen table today as I scurry to fill out cookie order forms. Yes, it's that time of year again...Girl Scout cookie time. I have to turn in my order tomorrow morning, so the pressure is on to make sure my math adds up and no one gets shorted cookies. People get angry when they get shorted cookies.

Our troop of 12 (with 11 selling) sold 990 boxes of cookies. Which is 75 cases. Which is a lot of cookies in my house. Add another 25 cases for the cookie booth, and I am virtually swimming in Caramel Delights and Peanut Butter patties. It's a few, I'm just sayin'.

Today I believe I hit a personal new low on the slug-o-meter. I woke up with really horrid ovulation cramps...there is too such a thing. Shut up. If you have never had them, they can be worse than actual period cramps. I didn't much feel like doing anything, so I read and dozed on my heating pad until they went away. I added cookie forms. I read a magazine. I finished my monkey. I watched Bugs Bunny on my computer. Truly exciting stuff. It's amazing that I don't have my own reality show by now.

And let's talk about tv, please. Will the writer's strike ever end, or am I going to have to have a hissy fit? Last night was the worst. The worst. The only thing on the tube all night was the State of the Union address. Snoozefest. I know I should care, and I try to. I really do. I just don't. I watched out of sheer boredom and lack of proximity to the remote control. I can't stand all the self congratulatory applause and empty promises. The best part was watching for Hillary, and the expression on her face. I was hoping to catch an actual eye roll, but I think she checked herself in time. And Ted Kennedy? was he sleeping? This is not a long address. He should be able to stay awake for it.

So nothing on.tv. It breaks my heart. At least Lost is on this week. Sing hallelujah.

Hey, did you know that Apple & iTunes rent movies now? This is exciting! I have been waiting anxiously for Netflix to get the approval to 'watch instantly' on a Mac, but so far it hasn't happened. I would be carrying my laptop with me all day, glued to the screen. Maybe this is a good thing. But I am planning to rent one just to try it out. For shits & giggles.

Tuesday out!

anatomy of my messy desk

For someone who hasn't spent a lot of time in her scrap room

I sure have managed to make it a pigsty! I went downstairs today to finish some things, but I spent more time clearing out a spot to work.

Here's a look...

overview of the desk. There are so many things going on here!

My yarn winder, attached to the right side of the desk. Also, the broken remnants of the IKEA clock. I haven't decided what to do with it yet, if anything. 

No less than 4 layouts worth of photos here, along with paper for my altered clock, 3 snowflake tins I never used at Christmas, & 2 miscellaneous alterable tins.

A 2007 'Year in Review' album that needs the last 2months added to it. Various acrylic letter stamps that didn't get put away, 3 envelopes of enlargements, 2 stamp pads, more patterned paper, & an unfinished sweater that Emma has probably outgrown.

My altered clock inner workings, the mini book that goes in the back, nail polish (I painted the gold hands with it), another unfinished mini (the scalloped one in the rear), and a pile of things that need to be returned to where they should go.
Now before you think this isn't too messy, please remember that this is only one surface of many in my room, all of which are covered. I just chose to show the one I need to sit at!

See ya!

sweet or sour?

10 year old girls may be the most confusing creatures on the planet.

All within the span of 5 days I have seen major extremes from mine. 

First the sour...

Driving home from soccer practice the other night, things were getting a little loud in the car. Snow was falling and traffic was crawling;I was trying to concentrate on not getting plowed into. Emma was singing, obnoxiously, on purpose. Evan was whining about the singing. She would not stop. So I turned off the radio in order to have one less distraction. At this point, Emma lost her mind and began screaming at me to" turn the radio on right now. I said NOW. Turn it on now.NOW! NOW! NOW!"

Because I am attempting to be a calm and rational rather than emotional person I ignored the screaming. I apologized to Evan for having to endure the torturous caterwauling. She continued to scream for the entire drive home, without pausing to breathe. I wanted to stuff my fist down her throat, or shake her until she stopped, but I just kept driving. (If ever a moment called for duct tape!) I should get a medal for my restraint, honestly. I'm sure heinous acts have been commited for far less bs than I put up with on that drive home.

Now the sweet...

Em asked if I would take her up to Target so that she could buy, with her own money, Valentine's Day gifts for the kindergarden class she is the safety for. She had some ideas of what sort of thing she was looking for. And she was armed with a catalog from Oriental Trading Company, chock full of useless crap in bright colors. But she didn't want to pay s&h. I was skeptical that Target would have what she was looking for. I should know by now not to doubt Target. They had tons of stuff to chose from! She ended up buying little play-doh containers, heart stickers with googly eyes, mini-heart stampers, & drawstring gift bags. I threw in a package of candy as a donation.

The end result- 23 perfect little bags. She wasn't asked to make these, but I wouldn't be surprised if they end up being the kids' favorite treats.

So why all the extremes? If you would have asked me Wednesday night, I would have traded her for a sack of nickels. Then today, she pulls off this sweet gesture, with no prompting or encouragement from her friends. It was the sweetest thing, and I'm so proud.

She makes my head hurt.

FYI- we watched Away From Her last night. It was truly a heartbreaking movie. I would be surprised if Julie Christie doesn't win the Oscar. Not that I have seen any of the other nominated performances; her's was just stellar. Go rent it ASAP.

Tomorrow!

ice ice baby

                                                                                  

okay, this is not turning out how I wanted it to. My mosiac is tiny! very tiny.

We went to the Plymouth Ice show this evening, right before dusk. It was lightly snowing, and everything looked so beautiful. Of course, Evan complained of being cold the entire time, and insisted on mucking thru the slush. Boys.

Anyway, if you click on the tiny box, it pops up in larger image and you can see the detail of the pictures. Hopefully.

Have a good saturday!

go fiber!

After my day of 'near scrapping' (hey, is that like near beer?) 

I spent the day in pursuit of total domination of the fiber world.

In other words, I went to the yarn store.

This is Thread Bear in Lansing. It is mecca for yarn lovers. I am in heaven. If I were to die here, that would be ok. Not to mention the cute pups that were wandering the store, looking for a head scratch.

I went to this store a few days ago, but couldn't find the cable to plug my camera into the computer.

Today I went to City Knits.

I had lunch downtown with my honey. We haven't done lunch in a long time, and I wanted to go on a day I could pop into the store. I was so proud -I managed to get there & back all by myself.

Not a small feat, to be sure. I'm usually the passenger, not the driver.

I didn't take any pix in the store, but it was nice. Not as nice as Thread Bear, but then again, how could it be. Still enjoyable.

This is my latest finished project, cabled fingerless mitts. They are made from variegated wool, and are very cozy. I like these a lot. The cuffs are much longer than the first pair of fingerless gloves I made. I can see wearing these when I'm trying to take pix outside in the snow. Or walking the dog. Or taking out the trash.

the kids have the day offtomorrow. I'm thrilled. Evan has a birthday party, and we are going to go hang with the 'rents. Nothing much will get accomplished. It's all good.

Happy Thursday!