Day 4

Back to school...really tired...need to buy my allergy meds, ran out a couple days ago....ordered a new computer, should be here by the weekend.....maybe going to two fairs this weekend....Berlin is a very big fair and Harwinton, a small fair....hmmmmm
Goodies!!!!! Frog's Leg Gummies, they are awesome! When I first saw the package, thought it might be a candle....gummies better

Sneezing fit, followed by coughing...I think I'm just gonna go to bed....

Caking and Stashing

Yesterday I caked my first four skeins...
The one on the left is the wonderful Malabrigo I won last month. It is absolutely squishy!!!! The other three are the silk and cashmere blend I bought at School Products on my NYC trip.....I love the colors....

I used my Boyd electric winder for the first time. It has just been sitting around the house...I have used my swift before, but never with the winder....

I also stashed some of the last yarn I bought this summer over on Ravelry. I am TammyG on Ravelry....

Today I stashed some yarn I bought a couple years ago from a friend who had bought out stock from a closing store...It's just been sitting in the yarn room...There was some good stuff in there...excuse the dark picture and floor in need of vacuuming..
I also decided to clean the side of my bed, where I found a couple of projects that were almost done....

The hat is a free pattern from Tahki Stacy Charles...It is made with N.Y. Yarns. I thought I had to get the yarn from NY, which I bought at String. I bought it YEARS ago and stopped and started it several times. I finally finished it a couple months ago, but never put on the buttons. I bought these this summer and I think they go well.
The other project I worked on was mittens to match the set I made my niece last year. They were WAY too big. I finished one, but it is funny looking. She'll not care, so I have to finish the other one....
Gratutious cute pic of niece in the set I made her...

"Day 3"

Well technically it's Day 3, but I have already opened all the packages.
Some really cool buttons, they are hollowed out and some fun beads....The beads I will use for jewerly...Since there are leaves, and I just bought some nice green glass beads, I'm going to use them in a bracelet. I just need to get a copper colored chain, for the design I have in mind...
Now the last two are potholders, which are great. I needed some new ones. It's funny I always seem to get potholders in swaps, so I hardly ever buy them. My kitchen is yellow and brown, so they are a good match....

Things Kids Say.....

The majority of my students call me "Miss" and it drives me NUTS!

Me: My name is not Miss, I have been married for 19 years!

Student, in disbelief: To the same boy!?

Not five minutes later, another student pops his tooth out, it goes flying across his table. He is crawling around trying to find it....a bunch of students rush to look for it and another student says, in Spanish, "Haven't you ever seen a tooth before?" Which was promptly translated for me...I did a faceplant into my hands...

The students: her face is as red as a tomato! Sshhh! Everyone sit down....

I am laughing, how could you not? We did finally finish the algebra lesson, but I did giggle a couple of times during it.....kids....gotta love them...

I'm making a sign: My name is not MISS!!!!

Day Two

was a squishy package filled with fiber....now I don't spin, but am interested in needle felting. There was another gifty that makes me think this is for needlefelting. It is Corriedale, merino and a blend. I love the purple one...

Now I really should get on that needlefelting thing.....

Today is the day...

I received my swap package!!!!!! I've been waiting and waiting and waiting....This is the first swap I had done in awhile. Last year I went swap happy and I had to stop for a bit.....

This swap was organized by Eskimimi on The Blog Hub on Ravelry....

We had to get 7 things for our swap partner and of course fiber was one of those....

Well today I had an eye doctor appoinment, then went grocery shopping...I brought in the first two bags, made the important bathroom stop and immediately went to the front door and this was waiting....

I grabbed it and said, "A box, a box, a box for me!" I plopped it on the bed and MADE myself go back and get the rest of the groceries out of my car. Then I made myself unpack them and put them away (before I tore into it, all pretty in purple and green)
.....and then I tore into the package and opened 4 things before I caught hold of myself....after eating and gaining some sense back, I figured, "what the heck!" and opened the rest! Such great goodies, but you only get to see one at a time....
Frog Tree Alpaca - I love this yarn. It is soooo soft! I have some of the brighter colors, but I love this soft brown, tweedy color...and my favorite kind of crochet hook (other than wood) I love the bamboo handles on these hooks. They help reduce the pain in my finger joints...

It was off to a great start! Thank you to Dragonknits! Take a gander at her blog!

It's been coming for awhile

but I was hoping it would last another month or so...our desktop has died...it just went blip (as if a fuse blew) and it will no longer turn on....which means computer shopping in the next couple of days......I have a call in to a tech savvy friend...Good thing I get paid this week....

So the netbook it is for the next couple of days....it's alot slower....but I can still get online....not so the Hubs, he doesn't use the netbook.....oh well.....

A Confession, it's always connected to Stargate

Today I confessed to my 5th graders that I kinda enjoy Selena Gomez. She's a Disney star. Now I have no kids, so when I watch Disney, it's for myself. I've enjoyed a little Hannah Montana and liked the first High School Musical...

But I did explain that it all links back to Stargate. I checked out the "Wizards of Waverly Place" because I saw David Deluise was on it. He played Pete Shanahan on Stargate SG-1. All of the Deluises have been on Stargate, except the Mom. Dom was on a first season episode. Peter played a big role as a director, extra, writer and producer and Michael was in an episode.

I've been a fan of Peter since 21 Jump Street, I liked him more than Johnny Depp....Sure liked Johnny Depp, but just really liked Peter Deluise's character....

I love to play "spot the Stargate" actor. Since Vancouver is a big film town, lots of actors are in tons of shows. Just learned that Cory Monteith from Glee was in an episode. I'll have to watch it, as I own ALL the seasons of SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. Stargate Universe starts it's second season next week. It's been a bit of a bumpy ride, but I am enjoying it now. One of the writers, Joe Mallozzi, writes a daily blog about the show, food, his dogs, etc...I never miss it!

I really would like to go to Vancouver, it's the reason I got my passport a couple years ago. But I ended up going to San Diego instead. Now I may use that passport to go to Costa Rica, it's an idea spreading at school for February vacation...

Monday, again????

So back to school today and I did stay late to work on lesson plans....tomorrow is class picture day.....

I am reading The Guardians of Go'Hoole. I saw the movie advertised and it looks interesting, so decided to read the books. Borders was having a sale and I got the first 3 for 2.....I will bring them to the classroom, once I've read the first one. It's pretty interesting...

So my swap partner Laura at Sudden Expressionfinally received her package. It was to an APO overseas, but it took less than a week....You should hop over to her blog and take a gander....

I'm glad she likes the Mini Mocha, as that was the one thing I was really unsure about...

Our weather is not sure what it wants to be, going from chilly to warm almost every day. I love the fall and our leaves have started to turn...because we had such a dry summer....

Well I guess that is it today, a post about not much....dum, dum, dum, dum.....

Fiber Twist

Today I headed off to this. I learned about it from Madison Wool She had included a link on Facebook....

It was held at the Nathan Hale Homestead. I've never been and have always wanted to go, so it was great. Of course I bought some fiber, in the form of 5 skeins of yarn. Three of the skeins are au natural and the last two reminded me of "Pond Scum" from Socks That Rock. I bought from three local farms: Palmer Family Farm, I got CVM/Romedale blend, Three Dog Farm, which is Icelandic Wool, and Mocha's Fiber, a kettle-dyed Merino (don't know if this is actually a farm). I also bought some pottery buttons from the last one.


Of course, for the HUBS, I bought some soap. "Precious Amber" from Sleepy Moon Soaps. It smells really good. I think we have had their soap before, it is shea butter with honey. Also "Oatmeal Vanilla" goat milk soap from Wind-Gait Farm. We are finding we like goat's milk soap the best and really love Rowanwood Farm. They were not there.

And, of course, some wool on the hoof!

The little white ones are actually goats, not sheep. Did not write down the breed, but think it starts with a "P"

Burgis Brook farm was there and I will be visiting them at Rhinebeck, as they have these awesome needle holder thingyies......
It was a good day to just walk around. It did get warm. Picked up a bunch of flyers for Farm Days. I got the last yummy lunch of BBQ ribs, he ran out after me. All in all, a very good day!

Dora the Doorstop

So awhile ago I saw this I love it! I also needed a doorstop for my classroom door....However I do not have the skill to make that...Although I do have a sewing machine, I break it whenever I use it....so, I made Dora instead...

I had just started crocheting random leftover balls of pink yarn. Today I put the two together, they were blobs this morning...She doesn't have a mouth or nose, but I think that is fine.

I did have a frustrating moment. I knew I had some of those heavy beads you put in the bottom of shelf sitters to make them bottom heavy. Well I tore the room apart looking for the bag. Of course I couldn't find it, so I dumped what rice we had into a plastic bag and used that for the weight.

Then I went to get some yarn for the hair and of course found the bag with the beads! GRRRRRRR!!!!!!! But I think she is cute and I'm sure the kids will get a kick out of her...so she'll go to school with me on Monday...

Ami's

Awhile ago, I said I needed a minion, well now I can make my own How cute is he??????

I also have been wanting to make an Ewok I've copied the pattern twice. The last time when I was in Corpus Christi. I was going to make it for my dad, but ended up making Husky Bear instead....so Dad, maybe you'll get an Ewok for Christmas....


I have these blobs of leftover pink that I will turn into something this weekend...I started making them at Shelby's this summer.....

Got to get back to the crafting....oh and I did make another ami, but it's for my Rav swap partner on the Blog Swap and she has not received her package yet...so will post when she gets it....

Friday Night

Just finished watching the first Glee DVD. How I went a whole season without watching this show will be a mystery for the ages... It's so my kinda show....also bought the second season of Fringe. Only shows the Hubs and I share are Big Bang Theory and Fringe. I didn't watch Fringe, but he watched and bought Season 1 and told me to watch it cuz it was my kinda show...Yep, my kinda show....

See, every new tv season, I restrict what new shows I'll devote time to...why? Because I watch ALOT of television...If I'm up, the tv is on...sometimes, just as background noise...right now Criminal Minds is playing in the bedroom....

I only have basic cable, as I refuse to get any bigger packages...I'd never leave my house! I do not own a dvr or TiVo or any of those things....I have one DVD player and my VCR still works. My On-Demand has never worked, really have to call the cable company about that....I'll watch pretty much anything, except food shows (will watch the challenges) and sports...only the Olympics....

Last night was Open House...my partner and I share 59 students, 15 parents showed up...we knew them all, as we had taught their kids in 3rd grade....Guess you don't need to come to Open House once your kids are in 5th....

I left at 7:50, got home by 8:20 and was asleep by 9:00....It has been an exhausting week...today I spent a 1/2 day at PD, that really was old stuff to me....been giving that test in a different form for 9 years, just tell me what is different and let me get on with the job of teaching...was scheduled to go ALL day and sit through a running records PD...I've given PD on running records, wasn't doing THAT!

Here's to a great looking weekend and maybe finishing a project!

Bazinga!

I got Bazinga'd today...which is annoying, since I introduced the Hubs to Big Bang Theory...I love this show...I read once that it is a love letter to geeks everywhere. I'm a proud geek, although only a minor geek, as I don't have the technobabble, but can restore my computer after a crash and I don't play any type of games, online, LARPing or D&D or any of that(but I actually know what they are)...I am a book, movie, tv scifi fan, especially Stargate, well and Star Wars, and Farscape and certain Trek's and...well you get the picture...

Today my cell phone rang at school. My phone NEVER rings, so my kids were surprised. It was the Hubs, he was surprised I picked up...It's our anniversary, and as has been traditional for the past couple of years, I forgot and he remembered. Now I didn't COMPLETELY forget, just thought it was tomorrow (but really haven't thought about it since Monday) What can I say? This time of year, I'm really only thinking about school, ya' know Open House is Thursday...
Anyway I came home to this...and a Bazinga!

Happy 19th Hubs!

If you haven't seen Sheldon Cooper do the Bazinga, check it out (can't be embedded)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfL4-C8OCys&feature=related

Now off to find that Bazinga shirt I saw mentioned...

Serious Crimp

Being back to school and teaching has put a serious crimp in the whole blogging/crafting lifestyle I had going over the summer...I am behind on blogging and on reading blogs....I have done some beading, making a pair of earrings and a set of stitch markers for my swap partner, but yesterday was International Crochet Day and I didn't manage to crochet a stitch. I was writing lesson plans and correcting papers..

Last time a worked a stitch was here:
This was at lunch, I think last Wednesday or Thursday, in the teacher's lunchroom...

I'm enjoying the fifth grade students critiquing my outfit. Today I was told I looked as if I should be on a motorcycle. Granted I was wearing my "motorcycle" boots. I am rocking the whole leggings, shirtdress, and boots look this year. I love leggings and it's what I wore in the 80's, except I'd have on hightop sneakers with double socks instead. I went and bought three more pair of leggings today and another two shirtdresses...all in plaid..love the plaid...

I was also told by one of my boys that only 2 of the strands of my 4 strand bracelet were nice and asked who made it for me. Well it's actually a bracelet I bought...

Last week I was asked if all my earrings changed colors. I had worn a pair of glass cubes that reflect light and then a pair of diachromic glass earrings...

It's been fun being back at school....

September 11, 2010

One of the teachers said to me yesterday, that she had just realized that her third grade students have grown up with our country always at war. Most were born in 2002, some in 2001. Since I was moved to 5th this year from my third graders, my students were 1 year old. We had a really good discussion about 9/11 yesterday. I brought in some books to share and I read "Bravemole" which is an incredible allegorical story about the events. I've read it the past couple of years to my classes.

This teacher also is the wife of a vet, whose husband has done several tours. We are going to try to do something incredible for Veteran's Day, but are still percolating on the ideas...

Please stop and take a moment to remember and reflect. I know that there are others out there that have it worse than Americans. Their countries have been devastated by years and maybe decades long wars. So just pause and think of them today...and maybe sing along with Darryl Worley..

Back to School

I woke up really early this morning and am now yawning continually. Think I need a nap...

Didn't get very far on my lesson planning, so everything has been lugged back home tonight..

I am hungry...

This is a stream of consciousness post....

I'm really tired, but also hungry....

Had two kids stay after to help me today, they are such great girls...both are "peanuts"

Hmm, do I have any interesting pictures????
This is the banana I made to go to one of those parties...I don't remember what the party was for, but we had to bring a banana...I made mine...(I gave it to the hostess)

This monkey's arms and legs took forever to make......I didn't think I would ever finish him. I don't remember who I gave him to...the only ami's I have kept are:
Babybot and the green frog....

I guess that is it today, boy I'm tired...

Look What I Did!

This is the second square from the Learn to Knit book I an using. I ripped the whole thing out last night and restarted. It must be getting into my muscle memory, because it was not hard to pick back up. I haven't touched it in over 2 weeks!
I also ripped out and restarted the hat. I hadn't done it in the round. I know there are a few mistakes, but I'm getting it...Think I'm ready for socks yet????

and some yarn p0rn: This is what I purchased at the fair yesterday....From a local farm, I think Sleepy Hollow Farm. It's a mohair blend. It's gonna be a bag..
Recycled silk from Frabjous Fibers. It's fair trade....
More recycled silk from Frabjous.
Brushed Mohair from Kraemer Yarns, also got a free shawl pattern....
Allison's pick for a soft scarf. It's Feza Cyprus Mohair.

Just realized I got mostly mohair yesterday!

Okay need to take a break from knitting...left hand is cramped and need to do several things today....Hope all my American friends and family have a wonderful Labor Day!

The Goshen Fair

Yesterday I spent the day with two of my most "favoritest" people..my niece Allison and nephew Kyle. My other nephew, Christian wasn't able to join us...Allison is my "winggirl" We like to shop and even though she doesn't crochet or knit, whenever we go to someplace with yarn, I end up buying yarn to make her something..Kyle is my godson and a joy even at 15. He was rocking out to the Momma Mia soundtrack with his sister and I. (He likes all kinds of music) Kyle also said the sweetest thing to me two years ago. I was picking them up to go somewhere and I said, "Kyle, you're getting so big, you're not going to want to spend time with me anymore." and he said, "Aunt Tammy, I'll always have time to spend with you." Almost made me cry.

I was planning on vegging yesterday, as I was exhausted. But the HUBS reminded me that The Goshen Fair was on. It's not officially fall until you hit a fair. I usually go to the Goshen Fair every year..I had a brain fart this year and got lost for a bit, but we made it there...Can only blame it on my sheer exhaustion...

We hit food first as we were all starving, then we shopped, petted some sheep, shopped some more, saw the chickens, shopped a bit more (with Kyle getting some "bling") and watched a lumberjack demonstration, shopped a bit more and headed home...I got yarn, Allison got some finger puppets and I bought her a penguin needlefelting kit. I've been wanting to try this and have some kits of my own (thought I had a book too, but can't locate it...hmmm) Kyle got some fun sunglasses and Boston bling....it was a great day....just gonna post the pictures...

It's a Miscellenous Post

School...brutal....weather has been beyond hot...classroom....well it's beyond, beyond hot and 30 students....let's just say I have some challenges this year....

My dad called me yesterday *****WAVING WILDLY AT DAD ****** he says he reads my blog, but has never left a comment. I like comments... He told me to be on the lookout for a package...Well I got this:
Yes it plays the Jedi theme...how awesome is that! My dad is a MAJOR Star Wars fan and although not as MAJOR as him, I do like me some Star Wars....(the original 1st three - the last three, well enough said)

Yesterday ran into a friend I haven't seen in YEARS...She was shopping with her son. I tutored him in fourth grade. He's now a SENIOR! They were shopping for sneakers, he tried many on...look at his old ones...definitely time for new kicks (I got a new pair too)
Mine are cool plaid Rocketdogs...


Look at our great Teddy Bear sunflowers!


Oh and our other sunflower(s) and corn plant(s) I backed over one...too close to the driveway...they are growing where the HUBS throws bird feed...we didn't plant them, well HE didn't plant them
Time to go make some dinner, grab the netbook and sit in the cool a/c of the bedroom to catch up on blogs....didn't get on yesterday...