Knit-tage!

Yes, in case you missed it, that was a nod to a certain Mr. Pauly Shore.

I noticed when moving my blog from the old site to here, that nearly every single post required the tagging of "knitting," "crochet," or "crafting" (or any combination of all the above!). There are a couple of reasons for that. 1) That blog was originally intended for mostly only crafting purposes. I needed somewhere to post about my knitting and crocheting for my Ravelry page so I could link the projects to something, and 2) because I literally nearly always have some form of crafting in my hands. If I'm not at my computer and I'm not reading (or doing mommy duties...like cleaning or laundry or dishes or cooking...), I'm crafting. I take my crafting with me wherever I go, and I even knit in the car on our drive down to Ramstein this past weekend. In fact, I honestly think I spent more on a special tote bag for yarn than I ever have on any purse or diaper bag. LOL It's kind of an obsession for me. (I think it's therapeutic for me. No matter what emotion I'm feeling or how much I feel like I've failed at something, crafting always soothes me because I can watch something beautiful take shape at my hand.)

I have, however, been quite remiss lately in posting regularly! That was largely in part due to our move from Italy to Germany, but it's also because I semi-retreated from the blog-o-sphere (and you'll notice it happens often...I'll blog consistently, and then fall off the face of the Blogging Universe for months at a time). Now that we're in a new home, though, I'm trying to develop some new (and healthier!) habits, so we'll see where that goes.

My latest knit-tage, however, is an extremely beautiful scarf! Designed by Ann Kingstone, she's releasing the pattern for the scarf (with an option for a hood!) in pieces, spreading it out over the course of 2 months. There's a whole group of us on Ravelry that are knitting it together in a knit-a-long (referred to as a KAL...like Kal-El...but not! HA! I'm such a nerd...), and while the KAL is going on (great, now every time I see the abbreviation KAL, my brain will forever tag on "El"...LOL), the pattern is free, but as soon as it's over, it'll be available by purchase only.

I first started knitting it in the most breathtaking blue (my favorite color, by the way).



Unfortunately, I was so excited with the weekly release of the pattern, that I failed to see the text that read: "the instructions below are split into two sections. Follow the first set for a scarf without a hood, and the second set for a scarf with a hood." I honestly have no idea how I overlooked that. It was right there; anyone could have seen it. But I missed it. So I plowed through that section without the necessary modifications to make the hood. When I realized my mistake, I started mentally kicking myself and couldn't stop saying "I can't believe I just did that..." It's not that I can't undo it and re-do it...it's that I won't...because it would mean undoing over 100 rows of knit-tage! So instead, I've decided to keep the blue one without the hood, and cast on a second scarf. That's right. The first one isn't even done yet (I need the next release, which won't be until this Saturday, at midnight UK time...so 1 a.m. for me!) and I started a second. And I have every intention of completing both during this KAL (::whisper:: "El")! Because that's how this crazy person rolls. LOL The hooded one is going to be done in this soft, lovely gray:


The second scarf is actually coming along quite quickly, and they are both beautiful! I can't wait to show them off! (No, really, I can't wait...) So here's how far I am on the blue one (please excuse the pins and the ends that aren't woven in yet...LOL):



And the gray:



Isn't that design just amazing?! I am excited to see the finish! Of both scarves!!!

Friday Fill-In....on Sunday!

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. This was supposed to be posted on Friday. Unfortunately, I was far too busy on Friday moving my LiveJournal blog to here, so I didn't get around to it...and then yesterday I spent aaaaaaaaaaaaall day down at Ramstein & hanging out with "Misha" (we got to go see Harry Potter at the theater there! WOO-HOO!), so today I spent catching up on all the dishes and vacuuming and laundry that I neglected over the past few days (and with 3 males in this house, it adds up fast!). So now....without further ado....I give you my Friday Fill-In!

1. If you were a famous movie star, what types of movies would you star in? Musicals! I LOOOOOOOOOVE musicals!!!
   
2. What is a vacation you would like to take if money were no object? A decent tour of Europe; one where I could actually take the time to see what all I wanted to see on my own timetable instead of one from a tour group that rushes you through everything
   
3. Did you have pets growing up? We had a German Shepherd/Keshond mix when I was 6, but he had to be put down about 6 years after we got him, and then my brother got a dog when I was 14 or 15, but he was only around for about 2-3 years (if I recall correctly). When I lived with my BFF, there were pets EVERYWHERE, but none were mine
   
4. What do you do for exercise? Not near as much as I should, though I do love to do Pilates! Pilates and aerobic dancing workouts are my favorite :)
   
5. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received as a MilSpouse? Hmmm...I'm not really sure...
   

Welcome to my world!

Hello, fellow Blizzard Boghoppers! Welcome to my world! What all is a part of my world, you ask? My husband (of whom I am proud to be called his wife) that serves in the US Air Force, and the reason we are living in Europe. My boys, that even though neither of them were planned, are of the utmost importance to me. My friends, to whom I am completely loyal and committed to. Books, books, and more books. I have never, in my life, made it a secret of how much of a bookworm I am and how much I love to learn. My crafting, which is the only way I keep my sanity most days. Knitting, crocheting, beading, and playing with clay are my current obsessions, though that's always open to expand and/or grow. I love to make things with my hands for nothing other than the sake of watching it take form under my fingers. Music, while no longer in the form of band and choir (of which I took part of both in high school), will remain a vital part of my life until the day I die.

I have always had an explorer's spirit, and am ecstatic to have the opportunities abroad that I do (with an emphasis on all things France and French!). I love to discover new little tidbits about the most random and seemingly insignificant details that I can, and am a hard core Harry Potter fan. There is so much more to me than I could fit into a few sentences, but that's the gist of it all. Oh, and I smile. A lot. In fact, because of my tendency towards optimism and all things cheery, my user name around the web tends to have the words "netta" and some form of "smile" in it. :) (Yes, my excessive smiling extends to emoticons, too...) I hope to meet some amazing people through this bloghop! Feel free to hop on board or not. :)

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Now playing: Idina Menzel/Kristin Chenoweth - For Good
via FoxyTunes

Finally settling in!

So much for ending that last blogging lull! LOL I guess that's what happens when the military uproots you and moves you to a new country. ;) We are no longer in Italy. We moved out of our home into temporary lodging the 3rd week of November, and then got up to Germany the beginning of December. Blessedly, it didn't take us long to find a house. (Major perk of moving NOT in PCS season!) We're already moved in and have all of our stuff (it didn't take nearly as long for our stuff to be toted from Aviano to Spangdahlem as it did from Oklahoma to Aviano...for obvious reasons!)

It was painful to leave Italy for the fact that I absolutely adored A's teacher there. She was simply amazing! I truly wish we could have brought her with us! It's not as though the school up here or his new teacher is bad, but there's the whole adjustment time of her getting to know him and him getting used to the new setting and group of people. It's not been easy, and it's not been quick, but I think he's finally getting used to Germany, though he will occasionally ask to move back to Italy and his old class.

C has his days, but he's slowly getting less clingy and becoming more independent and helpful. Yesterday, he helped me to strip the beds and remake them with clean sheets, and tonight before dinner, he cleared and wiped down the table for me. :) Unfortunately, he's still dead set against actual potty training (though he will go pee in the toilet, at least), but as he knows his 5th birthday and starting school are approaching, he knows he needs to get along with it. I think he's finally showing the first signs of genuine interest. I guess I'm not too surprised by the delay as a) his older brother didn't potty train until 4 months before his 5th birthday and b) because of all the changes with his brother starting school and moving and whatnot. We'll get there. Eventually.

Our new base is actually quite small, so I'm grateful for the fact that we live close to Ramstein!!! Their facilities are far superior and I have friends that are stationed down there to visit! Hooray!!! One of them got stationed there following Aviano, so we know her from Italy, but the other one I actually met before I even met my husband! it's been so incredibly nice to have them as close by as they are! My husband takes a martial arts class that's offered down at Ramstein, so we drive down there at least every other week, if not weekly, and this past weekend, they all came up to see us! :D And on top of all that, I've planned a Mother's Day trip (though it won't be on Mother's Day! LOL) to go to London!!!! I am so very excited! LONDON!!!!!!!!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!! We've got the hotel booked and tickets bought to go see the show "Wicked," and I can't wait!!! I also need to get out and see more of Germany. So far I've only been to the Christmas market in Saarbrucken and the craft shop in Trier. I hope the weather warms up soon enough to walk around the different towns and cities!

And on a final, and exciting (as if I haven't been overflowing with excitement enough already!!!), note.........I MADE MY FIRST LISTINGS ON ETSY TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited!!! The crafter's bazaar that was scheduled for while we were in Italy got rained out, and they rescheduled it for after we left Italy, so now I've got all this jewelry and crocheted goods to sell. So to the Internet I go! I'm quite excited! I've made myself only list 7 items for now, until I know for sure how well things are going to sell. It's hard to not list everything! LOL I'm so excited! So feel free to hop on over there and look around! You can find it at http://www.etsy.com/shop/smileynetta . :)