Merged Blogs

For some reason, my Shelly Knits blog has always worked better.

I will be updating there instead of here.

Join me at www.shellyknits.blogspot.com

Thanks!

All Right Already! I stink at blogging!

I have no excuse except that things got a little bit crazy at the beginning of the year. Here's the Reader's Digest Condensed Version:

*Started school at SCC (local community college)to pursue degree in nursing
*Loved school, doing great, very busy!
*Found out I was a high school drop out (shorter version-California and SCC can't seem to get along)
*Got kicked out of SCC
*Hate SCC and their lack of Customer Relations and stupid non-logical bureaucracy
*Took FL GED
*Still hate SCC, etc...
*Will be waiting on GED results for 8-12 weeks so I can be a high school graduate once again.
*After I get the results back, I'll have to decide just how bad I hate SCC and if I want to go back or go elsewhere that is way more expensive.

I sound bitter, don't I? I'm getting over it a little.


On the knitting front, I've got lots of projects going! I have finally fallen into the black hole that is Ravelry. I could look at patterns for months there. Could be the reason for my serious case of startitis. Currently on the needles and being worked on (the ignore pile is way to big to list) are 2 baby blankets (charity for hospital)and feather and fan shawl made from Euroflax and a Branching Out lace scarf made from Kidlin.

For some reason, blogger won't let me post a pic. What's up with that?
Better a post with no pic than no post at all I suppose...

Reason for the long stretch between posts...

Or also titled "I've been knitting constantly since November!"

*Warning-this will be a picture heavy post!*

I knitted a lot of Christmas gifts this year. These were all knitted from stash so no immediate cash outlay. You might call it a stash busting Christmas. Yippee!

These are slippers for my grandma in her favorite color, purple. This is a pattern that she knitted for us for years. I found it on the internet, ironically called "Grandmother's Slippers". Go figure.

This is a camo cap for Parker. Generic hat pattern.

Brown wool hat for Pete, again generic hat pattern.

Feather and Fan scarf and generic hat pattern for Lilli.

Feather and Fan scarf and generic hat for Katelyn.

Green and Purple nubby scarf with fringe for my neice Sara.

Dishtowel for my sister.

Brown and cream garter stitch scarf and generic brown hat for my nephew Jordan.


Pink seed stitch scarf and hat and 5 baby doll hats for my neice Kendall.

Kendall and Jordan (neice and nephew) graciously modeling said handknits (and making their aunt ever so happy and proud!)

So now I'm past all my deadline and stealth knitting. What's on the needles now? A feather and fan scarf in raspberry Euroflax for me. Also starting 3 matching hat and scarf sets (mother and daughters) for a friend of my sisters in a pumpkin color. Always glad to have a project on the needles.

Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time...

We are very blessed. These are my children holding their favorite presents. And this is before we went to Gramsy's house and does not include cash. (which is ALWAYS a favorite gift, especially to teens).

We spent Christmas Eve day together. We had Lasagna and Broccoli for dinner. Went to CCC's Christmas Eve service and then spent time afterward with friends at a bonfire out our house complete with s'mores. Despite the drizzle, a good time was had by all. Traditionally the kids open one present on Christmas Eve which is always pajamas. This year was no exception. Lilli woke us up promptly at 8 am (as promised, even though she says she woke up at 6:58). The gifts were attacked and enjoyed. A new tradition this year was for everyone to write a letter to each member of the family and place it in their stocking. I loved this and will likely continue this tradition. Then we had orange rolls, fruit salad and real thick cut bacon (we usually eat turkey bacon only). We relaxed and enjoyed gifts until we went to my sister's house. We ate, opened more gifts, ate some more, played guitar hero and ate some more. A great time was had by all.

I will conclude this post with quite possibly my favorite gift ever. A scrapbook made by Katelyn. Love this.

Subway Gift Card Giveaway

I'm a regular reader over at The "Centsable" Sawyer. Lots of great tips/ideas there.
Anyway, she's giving away a $15 Subway gift card. Go now and check it out!
http://thecentsiblesawyer.blogspot.com/2008/12/subway-give-away.html

November Stamping

Okay, I slacked off on the blogging quite a bit last week, but I was busy!

Pete sent out about 60 business Thanksgiving cards and I'm pleased to say I made each one of them. I will confess however that I totally copied cards from Linda Heller's Stamping School. If you are not a member you should be! Great video tutorials added every week. Love it. So much easier than losing hours at a time at splitcoast. (nothing against splitcoast, it's just a time black hole for me)

Also I made up a batch of gift card holders for Lake Mary Jazzercise. The pattern/directions for these are also at Stamping School (www.stampingschool.com) and they are easy peasy!

Next post will be a knitting update. Yes, I've been in a knitting frenzy and will need to keep it up to accomplish all my Christmas gift knitting.

A List...

I saw this list on someone else's blog and decided it would be fun to steal it for my blog! (Thanks Dawn!) You are supposed to bold the things you have done. Going along with my blessing theme, look at all these blessings! Wow!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band ....at school
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland /world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square


74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Way too much fun!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Today's Blessing Count Remains High...

The freezer (although it's insulted with only bread and a few assorted odd ball things to keep cold) is still chugging away at 20 degrees.

Water Heater is still working hard, but hanging in there!

The surviving turkey (survived the freezer incident of 08) who was left alone in the dark all nite to defrost did not fit in my crockpot! Horrors. What? That doesn't sound like a blessing? Well my oven (that has been dead except for the stove top) suddenly decided to rise (in temperature) to the occasion! Said surviving turkey is enjoying warmer climates (shh.... don't speak of his fate!).

Lastly, yesterday ended so productively, that this morning there is clear white space on my desk top (signifying lack of paperwork, bills, etc). Sweet!

All these blessings and it is only 9am.