New Year Resolutions

I love to blog, I will admit that, but I am a terrible blogger. It sits out in Cyberspace and I forget about it, like anything that isn't right in your face all the time. I like writing, I just seem to forget with all the other writing I do.

So on to resolutions. I am going to try to post on my blog at least once a week. I have stuff in my life, stuff that's not all that important in the big scheme of things, but it's important to me and that's what a blog is all about.

Another resolution - I need a bracelet, a bracelet with beads. Not a Pandora bracelet, necessarily, but something a little more personal. What's the bracelet for? Well, there are a lot of people I know that need a little extra boost, someone thinking about them, someone who needs a little extra prayer. This way, I can remember who needs what and go through them.

One more - limit my knitting swaps. I think last year that's all I did. They are tons of fun, but it's marathon knitting. I want to do more KAL's so I have Christmas presents completed. I have one done (YEAH!) and have to create a mate for it. I haven't started anything new, although I am itching to. I bought the Knit Picks Winter Woodlands mitten set and it sits in the box, waiting patiently for me to work on it. I couldn't resist these gorgeous mittens.

So on to 2011, may it be better for everyone!

Pre - Fair update

Well, the Clark County Fair has come and gone. It was an exciting time. We had a ball. Here are the highlights:

Our 4H club tie dyed tshirts to have screen printed with our logo. It was fun, but it took us 4 weeks to get it done. The colors were amazing and all the kids had a good time. If we do it again, we will definitely do it differently, with more organization and more people at once.

I took some photos of Ruby for Baylor's 4H project. He didn't show her because she kept acting up, but he did everything else to complete the project. Of course, Tan Man wanted in on the action. I never met a calf that enjoyed having his photo taken as much as that one.

Tomorrow I will post more about the set up and the fair in general.

One more month

Well, it's about a month to the fair. Skillathon was this past week. Miscellanous judging is coming up after the 4th.

What do I have to do before then? Well, as usual, I bit off a little more than I could chew. I have several fair entries I need to complete. There are a couple of knitted items (a handbag and a miscellanous item. hmmm... maybe the entrelac bag I was going to do last year, maybe something double knitted for the misc.), a cross stitch (I'm really leaning toward a dragon) , a collection (I thought my WTS would be good.), and a couple of photos. I have some great photos taken this year. These are the ones I'm considering:

I thought about this one for scenery. I love the color and textures. It's so cool.

It should be an interesting fair. I need to call Donna this weekend and see if she contacted judges yet. I need to contact the manager at the Hallmark store and get her some passes, since I didn't get them to her last year. I also need to figure out an adult Make N Take.

Next week we will finish dying at the 4H meeting. We've had some beautiful shirts. I have some great photos of those as well. I need to get them off my camera to share. I may take one of those for the 'scenery'.

If you are going out to the Clark County Fair in Springfield OH, stop by and say hi! I will be out there all day every day. It's a lot of work, but a lot of fun. If you don't come out, for whatever reason, say a little prayer for my poor, poor feet. I always end up with sore feet at the end of the fair.

So many events!

Well, so much has happened since I last wrote. It is now summer, at least in temperature as it's been in the 80's and 90's. Fair is about 6 weeks away and we are in full 'preparing for the fair' mode. It's been a lot of fun, but kind of sad as Baylor is the only one in 4H and FFA.

To get caught up, here's a run down of what I've done since I last wrote:

In April, Kelly and I went to Indianapolis for the Greencastle Fiber Arts Event. We stayed with some friends of Cheryl's and had an absolute ball, marred only by the fact that I had to be back in Springfield for the Master Gardener's Spring Fling on Saturday, but that was fun, too. We ate, drank some really good wine, spent $$$ at the fiber event and Kelly even started a pair of socks AND a shawl. Both are coming along nicely.

April 17th was our Golden Splendor - a wonderful event held at our high school. We had lots of really great items for sale, had record attendance, and made some serious money for the Boosters. We really need it because this is our biggest fundraiser of the year. If your local high school has a dinner auction event, please attend and support the organization. Too many schools are desperate to keep athletics and other after school activities going. I know a lot of people think school should be about education, but these programs provide education as well - education in perserverance, teamwork, socialization, organization, work ethics and leadership - all things we need in our future adults. Just think what our world will be like if we raise a generation of followers and no leaders.

Baylor went to Prom with his girlfriend Ashley. Baylor wore a tux and his wrestling coach allowed him to borrow his Miata. They looked so good all dressed up. Ashley's Mom and I took lots of photos: at her house, at the park at Marriott. I'm sure we were the only ones following our children around.

At the beginning of May, I went to Virginia with my sibs and cousins. Mom and I went from Ohio; Lou, Aunt June, Jo and Dee from Pennsylvania and Laura from South Carolina all met up and had so much fun. There was food and wine. I'm beginning to see a pattern here. It was great and while I didn't have any fiber artists with me, Dee, Laura and Jo worked on scrapbooking while I knitted. We talked and laughed.

So that brings me to the Great Lakes Fiber Arts event we went to last weekend. The Depot Fiber Arts group went along with a few friends from Greencastle. It was a ball. Wooster has a wonderful fiber event that includes sheep shows, vendor shows and classes, as well as 'free' events for anyone interested. It was fun.

And that brings me to photos! Kelly and Robyn went with us. They had a great time, although they were sleep deprived:

Our whole group had a great time, especially at Creatively Dyed Yarn! Diane is a wonderful young woman with a great eye for color.

There were spinners and other artists:

Alpacas:

And fiber, lots and lots of fiber:

I bought enough to make several things: a cardigan from Creatively Dyed's Beaches in Waya a vest in Lamb's Pride in Aubergrine (kind of a wine color), and a summer tank in a silk/merino blend in a dusty aqua. Plus some other fun stuff. It was great.

Let it snow

Well, we have about 3 feet of snow. There are some places I don't think will thaw until May or June. The parking lots are piled 10 feet high. It's pretty amazing. Baylor hasn't been at school since last Tuesday. Here are some photos to enjoy.

Our picnic tables. You can only see the tops:

Baylor using the snow blower last week:

TJ and Max enjoying a romp in the snow. Max's ears aren't really pointed, I caught him in mid-romp.

This is the drift in front of the barn doors last week. It's a good five feet tall.

Hope you are enjoying your weather. Remember, we will have spring in about 60 days! Keep warm and be safe.

The 2010 challenge

I joined America's Knitting on Ravelry and decided to do the 2010 challenge. This challenge is to get things OFF the needles. Since I, like Mary, start lots of projects and do not finish, this is a great challenge for me.

So, in addition to the swaps I do, the projects I enjoy for family and friends, etc. I am trying to finish other projects and get my craft room organized. Wittenberg was great in helping to make this a reality. They gave us from Christmas Eve to January 4th off. YEAH! It was wonderfully relaxing, but here it is not even a month later and I could easily take 10 more days off.

What I've done so far: I didn't take photos of my craft/sewing/laundry room because honestly, I was too embarassed. It was a disaster with cobwebs hanging everywhere like I intentionally draped them from the ceiling. You could hardly walk through for the stuff piled everywhere. So, I went to the Evil Empire (also known as Wal-Mart) and picked up 6 totes... the big ones... to sort what I wanted. They are divided as follows: Ribbon, fabric, books, beads, paintables, kids crafts. After I fill a tote, I sort it. For one entire afternoon, I sat on the floor with a needle and beading string and picked up seed beads off the floor. I also found LOTS of change, which is going towards coach's gifts.

Other things I've completed: The January WTS swap! I made a WTS bookmark for my partner. I hope she likes it. It's 100% alpaca in RED so she can find the book. Didn't take photos of that, either (note to self - TAKE PHOTOS!)

Next on the list is the LYS1 traveling scarf that should be completed tonight, followed by the Ohio Traveling Scarf that's been at my home for about 2 months.

Other projects:

1. Headband Swap
2. Versatility
3. Rainbow dog lead
4. French Press slippers (I actually have two pair ready to felt!)
5. Calorimetry (would like to make several of these for a student's community service project)

Guess that's about it.

Wrestling is going well. Baylor has lost a few and won a few. He placed third at the London Harry S. Steele Tournament last weekend. Not to bad, in my book. He is now 18 - 4. One more and he ties last year's record.

Ethan is back at school taking Bio, Chem, Africana Studies and Black History. He wasn't too sure about the Africana Studies or Black History but says he has learned a ton already. He sounded really excited.

I, too, am back at school taking America Literary Survey. We have touched on Emerson and Thoreau. I have to go home and READ tonight, plus make some banana muffins for the team for tomorrow.

A New Season

Well, it's started.... the smell of testosterone and sweat in the air, screams of 'Base up! Base up!' and 'Walk towards the head', the heat of the gym, lots of laughter and tears... what is it? WRESTLING SEASON!!! We officially started wrestling season this past week.

Northeastern's team is tough and has lots of potential. We are a D-3 school and wrestle against a lot of D-1 and D-2 schools and still win. Our first meet was against Lima Catholic Central and West Liberty-Salem. Baylor is wrestling at 135. He beat the LCC kid, a senior. WLS didn't have anyone in his weight class.

At the Duals this weekend, Baylor went 8 - 1, losing only to the opponent from Covington. He placed second in his weight class. The team placed third, right behind Covington and Fairborn. It was a great weekend.

Ethan got home from college on Friday, also. Now we have a house full of young men. It's great to have him home again. He will be home for about a month.

As for Christmas, well I am having a tough time getting out to do any shopping. I need to get done this week so I can finish decorating the house. Not today, though! We have a booster meeting at 7 tonight.