Distracted...

I thought last night about the blog and I realized I hadn't posted in a while. I feel distracted by nothing. I know, that probably doesn't make any sense but let me explain. In winter, there just isn't much going on, and I get distracted by the fact that I can be lazy and let it take over me :) Let's just say, when it's -10 degrees outside, it's hard to muster up any motivation. The dogs have shortened their potty breaks to a mere minute long. When it's nicer, they will stay outside and spend some time sniffing around. Not lately! It seems like even some wildlife have disappeared into some warm spot. The bird feeder at home and at work have been rather inactive. The feeder here at work is next to the East River, and about 3 feet from where I'm sitting, just outside my window. Usually it has Downy Woodpeckers or Chickadee's getting at it. I have even seen a Red-bellied Woodpecker and a Hairy Woodpecker at the work feeder. Very cool! But for the last two weeks, nothing. I do agree with the birds though, it's just too cold to be outside! Yesterday, we took advantage of the cold weather and did a lot of cleaning at home. That felt nice. We are efforting to keep the house more "tidy." That helps with my mental state too. I like organization! I hope everyone is able to keep warm. This "arctic blast" is ridiculous!

What I like about Winter

This past week it was VERY cold out.  Negative 30 - 40 with the wind chill, and just plain negative 20 without the windchill!  Everyone complained.  I agree, that is too darn cold!  But, in lieu of the miserable temperature, but I'm going to come up with some good things.  I complied this list in my head on the way to work because I was inspired by the great things I was seeing.  I take the "back way" to work which allows me to avoid the highway.  This is a great thing for my sanity and my safety!

Thing #1 that I like about winter:  Getting bundled up!  Winter is a time of comfort food and warmth.  I like getting bundled up with my hat and warm scarf and sweater, it makes me feel so cozy (regardless of how I feel when I actually get outside :))

Thing #2 that I like about winter: Wide and open sunrise!  The sun rises over the river, and it is just beautiful.  Since the leaves are off the trees, it really allows for the colors and beautiful display to be seen.   There is also a great spot on my drive into work that has a view of the sun rising up over the Niagara Escarpment.  In the forefront is a farm homestead, and then stretches of wide open field.

Thing #3 that I like about winter:  Since there is less vegetation, you see more wildlife!  The other day I was driving I saw 2 eagles over the river, a hawk swooping out of a tree, and a red fox trotting through a barren corn field.  It was magnificent!  Even though I was driving, I felt like a silent observer of nature.

Thing # 4 that I like about winter:  Relaxing!  Sometimes it's just too cold to be out and about, and when that's the case, curl up to a good book or watching a movie!  

I figure, why complain when this weather is what we'll be dealt.  Might as well find a way to enjoy it!  I look forward to it warming up a little so we can go snowshoeing again!

-L

In this case, deer are people too.

Have you heard the story out of Waupaca, WI? Three deer were found dead in a field and 2 others needed to be euthanized because they were mortally wounded. The culprit - some idoits on snowmobiles who herded the deer on their snowmobiles and them proceeds to brutally kill the deer. What on earth is going on here? The fact that one person thought that it was okay to do this is just disgusting, but then you think of a group of people playing along with it? Warning, the article has explict details about the deer. Very sad. I hope that if these idiots are found that they can pull out every possible offense so that losers pay heavy fines and spend a ton of jail time.

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I made a flower!

So as a mentioned a few posts ago, I am resolving to craft, in particular - crochet.  I completed a plain 'ol scarf with single crochet stitch.  It is just one color, bland, and has some obvious areas that aren't quite right :)  Next, I wanted to learn the double crochet.  So, using the same yarn, I have made a long skinny scarf with the double crochet stitch.  I have to say, I was pretty happy with how quick I picked it up, and before I knew it I had my scarf done.  I looked back at it, and noticed one spot that I must have stitched a few too many across and it was wider than the rest of the scarf.  I wanted to make the scarf wearable since I worked so hard on it, so I decided that I would figure out a way to cover up the flaw :)  I decided to make a large crochet flower, and then cover that area of the scarf with it. I have obviously never made a flower, so I was a bit intimidated by learning it.  I followed the youtube instructions from a channel I subscribed to.  The lady who does the channel has dozen's and dozen's of helpful and easy to understand video's.  She also has a blog, which is very helpful. I followed the youtube video instructions and ended up with a beautiful flower to attach to my scarf.  The flower is finished and I have it attached now.  It's in the perfect spot of the scarf, where you can wear it kind of like a tie, and right at the top there is a beautiful crocheted flower!  I'll hopefully post a picture of me wearing it, but for the meantime, here is a picture of the flower only.  I am so excited about this :)  I can't wait to wear the scarf out.  Hopefully today we'll go to the craft store and I'm going to pick up some more hooks (different sizes) and some different yarns to try out.  I bought only 1 hook and 1 acrylic yarn just to see if I could figure it out.  I didn't want to waste a lot of money if I wasn't going to be able to figure it out.  So far, I have found crocheting to be fun and personally satisfying.  I like having something usable to end up with.   

Put Your Life on a Diet

Living with less stuff means living a better life. I like this. Let's be sensible...living in our means, not above them. A part of the article for your flavor:"To begin, let’s compare the American standard of living today with that of half a century ago. In 1950, the average household consisted of almost four people. Most new homes were less than 1,200 square feet (62 percent) and had one or two bedrooms (66 percent), fewer than two bathrooms (96 percent), and no air conditioning, according to the National Association of Home Builders. A “dishwasher” meant two hands in the sink; most families had only one car (if any); and television was a newfangled idea. Yet many folks thought they had achieved the American Dream.By 2003, the average household size shrank to 2.6 people. Only 5 percent of new homes built now are less than 1,200 square feet, but 37 percent have more than twice that—with at least four bedrooms. About 95 percent have two or more bathrooms and 88 percent have central air conditioning. And practically everyone who builds a house—93 percent—installs a dishwashing appliance. Americans own twice as many cars per person, plus multiple TVs, computers, and cell phones."

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Resolving to learn a craft

Have you made your New Year resolution, only to already fail it by day 7? I've never been much for resolutions. I feel like they are a good way to set yourself up for failure. I'm not sure if this is a negative, or realistic way to look at it! This year I am resolving something, but it's probably very different than most resolutions. This year I resolve to learn something new. I thought to myself that I would like to learn a craft. This really is stepping outside the box, because I don't really feel I'm very creative, and I have shown to myself that I am by no means a "natural" at crafts. After doing much research, I decided on 2 things. 1.) Get more familiar with the sewing machine and making useful things. Tim is so good at sewing (he may not be happy I just reported that here :) ). I just don't get it unless I think really really hard. On one of my holiday days off of work, I decided on whim to make a purse. There was a bit of trial and error, but I ended up making a cute small tote/purse. I was VERY happy with myself. Admittedly, I had to take a bit of advice from Tim. I don't want to be a master at sewing, I just want to understand the basics. I think I'm on my way. 2.) I decided I would like to learn to crochet. Like sewing, it is a practical and useful craft and not expensive to get into. I have officially learned 2 crochet stitches! Single crochet and double crochet, which seem to be the staples to crocheting. While learning the stitches, I made the obvious...a scarf! I have one thin scarf created with a single crochet and half of a scarf completed made with a double crochet. I am so eager to learn! I have two books that show the stiches, and I've found youtube to be a great help. There are many people who have posted their instructional videos of different crocheting stiches. It's just awesome! I hope that my practicing will lead to the ability to make useful items like hats, scarfs, mittens, socks, etc. Based on the research I've done on crocheting, I am amazed at the amount of things that can be made! Can't wait to make them!

Good luck to anyone who made resolutions. I hope that you will find yourself successful! Happy 2009 Everyone!