I love living here, don't get me wrong. This is a great place to raise kids, I have met some wonderful people, and I am at a school I love (literally, I'm writing this in the computer lab.)
There are some downsides to small town life, however. Take today for instance. I had to go to the doctors this morning and get some blood work done. After that, I have nothing to do until Rob gets out of school at 11:30.
In a big town, I could go to the mall, library, friends house, or even go home between errands. Out here, unfortunately, there is no mall. Strip malls and Walmart are the closest things to a mall that we have. And I do not feel up to walking around Walmart in the middle of their renovations. Looking for shoes for the kids last week was a nightmare.
I could go to the library, but I've pretty much devoured all the books that I am interested in over there, and the computer lab attendant is mean. I try to avoid it at all costs.
Since I could not eat before the phlebotonist had gotten her fill of my blood, the first item on my to do list was get food. I had heard good things about a local coffee shop, so I decided to stop there. I don't drink coffee, I'm an Italian soda and hot chocolate kind of girl. So I asked for an Italian cream soda with cherry. Like I always do when I am at a coffee shop. Oops, no cherry. Bummer. OK, plan B, hot chocolate.
Alright, I am kind of bummed that I could not get my lovely cherry drink, but the hot chocolate was yummy. As was the bagel sandwich I had. Now what? It's still to early for any of the shops to be open (another downside to small town life and mom and pop shops. they open when they want, close when they want, and it is suprising to see the times on the signs match the times they are actually there.)
So here I am at the college. Finishing the work I was supposed to finish tomorrow (yeah for finally being ahead!!) and waiting impatiently for 11:15 to roll around so I can grab the boy from school and take him to his first ever dentist appointment. Should be fun...
About Me
- Beth
- I have been a stay at home mom since Oct 31st 2006. My children started school in 2008, so I decided it was time for me to go back, too. I have been a full time student for over two years now, and it seems like I am learning about more than just my schoolwork.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
The day I received my new book from booksneeze, I received a couple of others that I had ordered. I faced a serious dilemma--read the new book and review it, read a book by my favorite author, or read a book that I love but never got to own (until now.) I tried to multitask, but with school, girl scouts, census stuff, crochet stuff, and everything else books got kind of put on hold. So I finally finished The Sacred Journey by Charles Foster.
Reading this book was like swallowing nasty medicine. I know it's good for me, it is beneficial, but boy, is it hard to take. There were so many contradictions, and side notes, and commentary, I scratched my head a lot, and did a lot of flipping pages. I think if you are looking for a different perspective on pilgrimage, this is a good book. If you are looking for a Christian take on what a spiritual journey really is, look somewhere else.
As a recommendation, I would rather let you borrow my copy than tell you to go out and buy your own.
Reading this book was like swallowing nasty medicine. I know it's good for me, it is beneficial, but boy, is it hard to take. There were so many contradictions, and side notes, and commentary, I scratched my head a lot, and did a lot of flipping pages. I think if you are looking for a different perspective on pilgrimage, this is a good book. If you are looking for a Christian take on what a spiritual journey really is, look somewhere else.
As a recommendation, I would rather let you borrow my copy than tell you to go out and buy your own.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
A finished Mom project
When I received the rest of Mom's knitting and crochet stuff, I found a handwritten pattern for a rosary case. Once I got good at crochet, I decided to make one. Well, I made it, and it actually turned out looking good. I passed it on to my sister, but I am in the process of making a second one for the other sister.
I decided that I want to put this pattern out for everyone to see and use. I don't think Mom would mind. So below is the pattern. Enjoy!!
Rosary Case
Materials:
size 2 or 3 crochet hook
crochet thread, whatever color desired
button
yarn needle
(if you want a liner, you need a small amount of satin or desired fabric and sewing thread in similar or complementary color and a sewing needle)
Pattern:
Chain 23.
Dc 3rd chain from hook. Twenty dc across. (21 total) Chain 3, turn.
Dc 20 across, 21 total.
Do this for 28 rows.
Row 29-chain 4, dc in 3rd space from hook. Dc across until 18 sp, skip sp 19 and 20, dc in last space.
Decrease this way until you reach 4 dc.
Chain 4 for button hole.
Break off.
At this point, if you want to sew a liner in, stitch fabric to the crocheted case.
Fold, join with slip stitch, single chain to edge.
Set the button where you want it, and stitch it in with yarn needle.
And that's it. It took me some frogging to figure out the decreases, but I finally got the hang of it. And I am a newbie when it comes to crocheting.
This can be used for jewelry, rings, change, anything small that you want a holder for.
I decided that I want to put this pattern out for everyone to see and use. I don't think Mom would mind. So below is the pattern. Enjoy!!
Rosary Case
Materials:
size 2 or 3 crochet hook
crochet thread, whatever color desired
button
yarn needle
(if you want a liner, you need a small amount of satin or desired fabric and sewing thread in similar or complementary color and a sewing needle)
Pattern:
Chain 23.
Dc 3rd chain from hook. Twenty dc across. (21 total) Chain 3, turn.
Dc 20 across, 21 total.
Do this for 28 rows.
Row 29-chain 4, dc in 3rd space from hook. Dc across until 18 sp, skip sp 19 and 20, dc in last space.
Decrease this way until you reach 4 dc.
Chain 4 for button hole.
Break off.
At this point, if you want to sew a liner in, stitch fabric to the crocheted case.
Fold, join with slip stitch, single chain to edge.
Set the button where you want it, and stitch it in with yarn needle.
And that's it. It took me some frogging to figure out the decreases, but I finally got the hang of it. And I am a newbie when it comes to crocheting.
This can be used for jewelry, rings, change, anything small that you want a holder for.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Stuff, Things, Material Possessions
I have noticed in myself lately, the desire to simplify. There are a number of different factors that have accounted for my wish to declutter and clean up my home, my life, and my to-do list.
My original plan was to fill up a large trash bag with things to get rid of, and haul it off to the thrift store. Then one bag became two, and there are some glass and breakable things in a box, to keep them from being destroyed. Every day I find something new to remove from its dusty, neglected resting place. There may be enough stuff when I am done to hold a yard sale big enough to finance a family vacation. Who knows?
My husband accuses me of being a pack rat, when in reality, he is the one with the problem. When we moved a year ago, my goal was to empty every single box, except, of course, the seasonal decorations that would drive me crazy if they were left up too long. Now I am proud to say that the only boxes I have in the shed are marked "Christmas", "Easter", and "Halloween".
But next to my 3 or 4 holiday boxes are a dozen more marked "Mike's Stuff", "Mike's Misc.", and the ones he marked himself, "Mike's s***". As I was going through our belongings, attempting to remove things I no longer wish to keep--old candles that have never been burned, movies that we watched once and have never looked at since--I kept finding things returned to their original spots. And I am the pack rat??
Some people may be surprised to see that one bag is full of frogs. Stuffed frogs to be exact. I think I have graduated from the adolescent desire to cuddle with a stuffed animal. I kept a few, such as the frog that started it all (thanks, CJ!) and the one that held the box with the ring the night Mike proposed and the one I bought in Italy, but quite a few are going to go to a new home. And my figurines are right on the shelf where they belong. Too many memories there to get rid of them.
My next project is my CDs. This huge tower with at least 100 discs that no one ever listens to, will most likely end up empty except for my Christmas and Christian music. Oh, and Emma's Taylor Swift karaoke CD. After that, I may move onto my books..."may" being the operative word, there.
Another thing I wish to empty is my dresser full of fabric. Projects are in the works for skirts for Emma and me, shirts for all of us, and various other things. Why have the fabric if it is not being used? On that same note, my yarn stash from Mom is slowly but surely being reduced.
My goal is to be done removing stuff by the end of the school year. With the yard sale I now plan to have, perhaps a trip somewhere fun will be in the works for the summer.
My original plan was to fill up a large trash bag with things to get rid of, and haul it off to the thrift store. Then one bag became two, and there are some glass and breakable things in a box, to keep them from being destroyed. Every day I find something new to remove from its dusty, neglected resting place. There may be enough stuff when I am done to hold a yard sale big enough to finance a family vacation. Who knows?
My husband accuses me of being a pack rat, when in reality, he is the one with the problem. When we moved a year ago, my goal was to empty every single box, except, of course, the seasonal decorations that would drive me crazy if they were left up too long. Now I am proud to say that the only boxes I have in the shed are marked "Christmas", "Easter", and "Halloween".
But next to my 3 or 4 holiday boxes are a dozen more marked "Mike's Stuff", "Mike's Misc.", and the ones he marked himself, "Mike's s***". As I was going through our belongings, attempting to remove things I no longer wish to keep--old candles that have never been burned, movies that we watched once and have never looked at since--I kept finding things returned to their original spots. And I am the pack rat??
Some people may be surprised to see that one bag is full of frogs. Stuffed frogs to be exact. I think I have graduated from the adolescent desire to cuddle with a stuffed animal. I kept a few, such as the frog that started it all (thanks, CJ!) and the one that held the box with the ring the night Mike proposed and the one I bought in Italy, but quite a few are going to go to a new home. And my figurines are right on the shelf where they belong. Too many memories there to get rid of them.
My next project is my CDs. This huge tower with at least 100 discs that no one ever listens to, will most likely end up empty except for my Christmas and Christian music. Oh, and Emma's Taylor Swift karaoke CD. After that, I may move onto my books..."may" being the operative word, there.
Another thing I wish to empty is my dresser full of fabric. Projects are in the works for skirts for Emma and me, shirts for all of us, and various other things. Why have the fabric if it is not being used? On that same note, my yarn stash from Mom is slowly but surely being reduced.
My goal is to be done removing stuff by the end of the school year. With the yard sale I now plan to have, perhaps a trip somewhere fun will be in the works for the summer.
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