That Strange Robin

Today as I pulled into school, I noticed a robin sitting on someone's car. I watched it and then as I was going in I took some pictures. It kept hopping from car to car. It eventually flew into a tree, I looked but didn't see a nest. Then it flew to the top of the school and then left. It was very strange...




Today I wore these to school...it was pajama day. If there is a day when I can stay in my pajamas I'm all for it!!!!


There was also breakfast given by the PTA for National Teacher's Day. I also got this cool flower from the Girl Scouts. It's a pen!!!!


This is what I am working on at the moment. It's for Keira and I'll never finish it for her shower tomorrow, but she will get it....


Now the Hubs is making dinner, as I will be off soon to watch my niece's premier performance as an Oompa Loompa!

Surrounded by Yarn

I have a lot of yarn - I'll admit it, I'm a Proud YARN HO.....I have 771 types of yarn stashed on Ravelry...and I haven't stashed everything yet....So I took some pics at school today (my other home) and where I also have yarn stashed. Now in my defense some of this yarn was for my Crochet Club that I have for 3-5 graders and alot of it was donated.




The pink boucle came in handy one day when I forgot to wear pick to support Sori (who is fighting cancer at the moment) I sat down and while my students ate breakfast, I whipped up a pink flower to wear as a pin. (Have no idea where it is at the moment) The cup of hooks had many more, but I have given several away to students. The box of yarn sits under my desk/table. So on days when I don't bring a project, I can always pick up a hook and start something...(and just an aside - I will continue the Crochet Club next year, so if you have any unwanted hooks or yarn - acrylic is best for them at the moment - it would be much appreciated. I teach in a high poverty district)

On the hook now: Trying to finish a baby blanket for Saturday that I just started yesterday, it's not gonna happen, but I'll still keep plugging away at it...

Oh - Poooo and a colorful school

Got something in the mail today that I was hoping would never arrive. Gonna cost a bit of money to remedy an oversight...oh well, it is what it is and just have to move on...
Now I visit several blogs on a regular basis and I am taking some inspiration from here
I took some pictures of our newly colorful halls at school, among other things...
The geese that greeted me on Monday morning in the schoolyard.

My desk on Monday morning...I don't have a traditional desk, got rid of it about 8 years ago. Now there is more room for bookcases.
And now the halls and artwork of our school:
The green is in my hallway, the red is in the middle school hallway.
The blue and tan are the staircase and staircase hallway (blue is upstairs, tan is down - kind like "Up the Downstair Case")

The turquoise is the front hall, the light green is the kindergarten wing and the tan is the first and second grade wing) We are very colorful...






Now for some artwork: our dragon mural. Our mascot used to be Magneto the dragon. This is a mural that heads down the first and second grade wing (sorry it's a bit blurry).


Our very colorful school. The classrooms are either blue or yellow. Mine is blue, but I wish it were yellow. Everything is being repainted this year. I've been there eleven years and it's the first time I've seen things get painted...

WIP's in Bad Light or At This Moment....

I left my better camera at work - took it to take some shots of our bright, multicolored walls. I have another camera, but the light in our apartment sucks, especially the bedroom. During the day, we get bright light from the window, but there is no overhead light. As you can see, I use one of the Hubs painter's lamps to crochet by...I also took a quick shot of what my bed looks like at the moment. It has a couple of different projects, and several project bags out on it. This is my favorite place to crochet. It is the warmest room in winter and the only one with a/c in summer. I have my tv, or a radio. Can plug my netbook in, put up a tv tray table for food and drinks and I'm all set... The green hunk of throw at the bottom is what I made out of a whole bunch of Lion Brand Chenille. It's falling apart, but is still warm and cuddly...I sit against the tan bed pillow thingy that the Hubs got me for Christmas, as the black one I had was falling apart.

But thought I'd post about what I am working on right now. The blue ripple is for the Hubs. I have only made him a couple of pair of large slippers that flop on his feet. So making him a nice ripple. I have a love/hate with ripples. Once I get them started, I'm okay. But they are such a bear to start!


I also am working on an ATW (Around the World) I love the way these little "saltine" projects look, but the sewing involved!! I've got a couple started and I've made a few, but whew!

The last set of squares are for a comfortghan I have started for a para at school. She has had one surgery and chemotherapy. She has two more surgeries in her future. I started it awhile ago, but just have not been able to finish it. I lost my mojo for awhile and then life interrupted and I am still plugging along on it.
I have 12 squares made, 8 to go....

Turkey Everywhere!

I forgot and the Hubs reminded me....as we were driving to Goshen, a wild turkey decided it was gonna try and fly across the road. However, it misjudged something, cuz it got smacked by the blue truck in front of us. There were turkey feathers all over the road. It was still alive, as far as I could see, as it hobbled off the side of the road into the woods. It was absolutely amazing and incredible! It happened so fast I couldn't get a picture, but it was a sight!!!! The sky was full of turkey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Yarnz

When I was in Corpus Christi, dealing with the family emergency, I reconnected with my Aunt Kathy, her daughter Tracy and my Uncle Frank. Kathy and Frank are my dad's sister and brother. My uncle Frank was in the Marines and we saw him rarely when we were growing up, but it was always a treat. I went out to visit him a couple of summers ago and it was so great! He lives in San Diego and I'm in love with that city!

My Aunt Kathy is my dad's older sister. She is the warmth of the family. She raised her family in Brooklyn, NY and we went every year for Thanksgiving. It's the one childhood tradition that we really had and I have such great memories. She lives in Florida now and I had not seen her since she moved there.

Anyway, she learned of my yarn obsession (my Uncle Frank knew this, as he took me to an LYS when I was in San Diego - The Grove) This is where I met Mission Falls 1824 Cotton for the first time.

So Aunt Kathy, Tracy and I spent some time at Hobby Lobby. We don't have Hobby Lobbies in CT, and I like their store brand "I Love This Yarn." I made my dad a bear in UCONN colors while I was there. I also bought the yarn for the "Nautical" and started it there.

I was very surprised when a box arrived at my house. Inside Aunt Kathy had sent me some yarn....What a great thing! I am so thrilled with surprise boxes and surprise boxes filled with yarn are THE BEST!!! She sent me some Red Heart, but in addition she also sent some yummy SWTC Therapi in Jade - oh is this soft! And my absolute favorite fiber alpaca from Wake Robin Alpacas in Georgia. They were from a shop in Georgia called Sugarfoot Yarns in Peachtree City, GA. If I ever get there, I'll have to look them up.



What a wonderful and thoughtful surprise! Thank you Aunt Kathy! I love you!

Now I did purchase some new yarnz yesterday on a jaunt throughout Litchfield County. There are two LYS in Torrington. One, Hither and Yarn, I have been to several times. I found some great Koigu that looks like my Secret Garden and some gorgeous Nature's Palette in Iris that I am going to make a cowl with. I bought some gorgeous buttons to go on the cowl....




I also visited a new to me shop - In Sheep's Clothing - which is above a bridal salon. The owner was extremely friendly and I enjoyed my visit. I picked up some merino that she had dyed in pinks and then two skeins of Wisdom Yarns Poems in a green/blue/pink/teal variegate. She had a gorgeous felted bag she had made with the yarn. So all in all a wonderful day yesterday!

Saturday on the Road

I live in the little state of Connecticut. It's a small state, not as small as Rhode Island or Delaware, but small. You can get in and out of our state in about two hours, going north-south or east-west. Even though it is small, it has great variety. We have a coast, we have some mighty big hills, not really mountains, but pretty big. We have alot of flat land and we have a very large river valley. The Connecticut River cuts our state almost equally in half. I live to the west of the river, which is west of Hartford. It is always such a shock at how big other states are. I enjoy road trips and take them quite a bit. I have driven to Texas twice (huge state!) and Florida once (way tooo long). I enjoy the variety of our country.

Yesterday the Hubs and I drove all over the Northwest section(upper pink section) of our state, known as the Litchfield Hills in Litchfield County. The Hubs is from that area. We went out to Goshen to Nodines. Nodines is a family run smoked meat house. It has the most delicious smoked beef jerky. The only one I'll eat. My MIL likes it too. It's about the only thing we have in common, besides the Hubs, but that's okay. So we drove out to get her some jerky for Mother's Day/birthday. I only get it a couple times a year. I'll get it again at the Goshen Fair in the fall. It's very yummy, but pricey...





We then started on our way home, stopping to take some pictures, but then the Hubs veered off to go to Norfolk. I don't think I've every been there, but what a cute town! He may go see a show later this month and was looking for the venue, Infinity Music Hall. It's a great place!


On the way there, we stopped at a flea market. Didn't find anything, but took a picture of a great old spinning wheel and then my camera died...forgot to change the battery!

Then we ended up in Torrington and I went to TWO LYS!!!! I will post about the goodies later....We also stopped by a silversmith. We had stopped by a craft fair before we headed out and I picked up a piece of amber (with bugs in it) and am getting it set to wear as a pendant.

Finally on our way home, we headed to our favorite garden place to pick up a hanging plant for the MIL. My Mom is in Florida. I sent her a card, but haven't found anything yet that I liked to send with it...Then we had a few errands to run and ended up on the other end of town.

When we finally got home, I was so tired, I took a siesta.....

It was such a great Saturday just driving around our beautiful little state! I made lots of great purchases, got some beef jerky, saw some sheep, just a great day!