Vacations Are Good for the Soul

Vacations are good for the soul!

We had a lovely time in Florida. It was our first "family" vacation. My kids and I went with my sister and her kids -- there were eleven of us all together -- to Disney World.  Look out Mickey, here we come! It was truly a trip of a life time. And you know what... with all the exciting things to choose from, my favorite part of the trip was when all eleven of us would reconvene at a restaurant for dinner. Seven kids, four adults... it was a mad house, and I loved it!  We were all sooo excited to talk about our adventures of the day... and, after dinner there would be more to come, fireworks over Cinderella's castle, Fantsasmic shows, and Electric Light Parades. We didn't hit the hay until midnight most nights! It was awesome!  The clock doesn't count when your on vacation!

On our last day we drove to Cocoa Beach. I love the water.  I live on the Fox River here in Illinois, but it doesn't hold a candle to the Atlantic Ocean.  Something about the ocean just calms me, brings out my inner hippy and makes all the the worry disappear.  I came home a better person.  I realized that I need to get back to the root of things... do what makes me happy, instead of worrying about what everyone else is thinking about what I do or don't do.

It's funny how easy it is stray from the path of life that I want to lead?!?

The new me... reinvented!

Back to nature, the simple things, and re-enlist my focus for school.  Only one year left of grad school -- I can do it!

xoxo,

Nicky

What... another one??

Yes, Yes... another one.

I need another project like I need a hole in my head! But, I thought I'd try my hook on a ripple. My reason you ask...because it doesn't take much thought. You can coast along in the rhythmic pattern and enjoy the crochet.

Do you remember this one? I started The Granny last summer. This is not one to travel with because you have to carry so many balls of yarn... or be really organized and only carry the colors that come next. Too much thinking for me :)

Then there is this one. I got the idea from Little Woolie, but for some reason I have lost interest for the moment.

Actually, it has been quite difficult to find any time to craft/crochet while in grad school. The professors want us to do home work -- and projects... what are they thinking? Don't they know I have important things to do?

Well, I have several to choose from when I am able. In the meantime, I am enjoying other blog posts from my favorite authors. Thanks everyone for posting, as it inspires me to carry on the craft!

xoxo,

Nicky

Harvesting Funny

For those that have been following along... do you remember when I went to the
Midwest Folk & Fiber show up in Grayslake last summer? I went there to find
some unique yarn to crochet with and I ended up coming home with an English
Angora rabbit! Meet Funny. Funny Bunny. My mistake was bringing my daughter
Kelsey along... how could I not let her get the cutest bunny in the world. Those
people had us hook, line, and sinker! They were like, " You can harvest the
angora and spin your own wool." How cool would that be!! Needless to say -- I
haven't done it yet, but... I did finally harvest the wool. Is angora wool??
Yes, yes it is.

Pretty funny, huh?? OMG was Funny little under all that fluff.
I didn't do a very good job trimming and my fiber was too short. But next time I
will no longer be a novice... I will be an experienced angora rabbit trimmer,
and I will harvest like the best of 'em! But for now... not so much :(
Funny was so good -- I think she may have actually enjoyed all
the attention. I wonder if she feels naked?? Now I just have to harvest her
about 45 more times and I'll have enough to make a baby scarf -- ha ha ha
xoxo, Nicky

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy New Year 2012!

Happy New Year!
A time for reflection... and new beginnings.

Wishing you the best in 2012
xx
Nicky

Recycle Reuse Rejoyce

As I find myself with some extra time, I am enjoying a bit of thrift shopping. There are some good things to find in the midst... if you have the time to pick through the "junk". For me it's like treasure hunting. Searching, searching, searching to find someone's trash that makes up my treasure.

The loot from this trip to Goodwill consists of (1) Abercrombie & Fitch shirt, XL for my husband, that looks like it was never worn, The Tenth House, a novel about Tarot in England during the 1800s, a trinket box, a brass colander that I intend to plant Ivy in this spring, and a very colorful plate that I just couldn't resist.

Re-Purposing is fun!

Lots of Catching Up to Do!

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Whew... A lot has happened since the last time I checked in. First and foremost, I have officially graduated from Aurora University!! December 15th was my very last day of classes. I now hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Yay for me! I am 39 years old, and like I always say...better late than never :)

After I finished school I thought it was going to be so great to do whatever I wanted. But I found myself anxious, almost pacing the floor. What? Free time... What am I supposed to do with that?

Christmas kept me busy... like way busy. I finally finished my "Shaker" afghan I started back in July, which was intended as Christmas gift for my Dad, at 1 o'clock on Christmas eve. School kinda got in the way of crocheting. But, talk about pressure... I worked on it with fury crocheting 6 skeins in three days. That is not my style of crocheting. I didn't enjoy it, it became work. Now, its on to the next one, my no rhyme, no reason stripey afghan. Maybe I'll finish that one before Grad school starts... but I doubt it.

I would like to leave you with this relaxing image of hot cocoa... Enjoy!