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Double Bump Dishcloth

Posted on July 11, 2013 by auburnchick

I finished another project a few days ago.  This is my Double Bump Dishcloth.  It is a free Ravelry download available here.

I used size 6 needles…smaller than what the pattern called for because my tension is loose.

I used Peaches n Creme yarn.  You probably recognize the color.  Last Christmas, I bought a cone of this yarn.  I’ve knit a few cloths from it already.  The color is Happy Go Lucky.  I used 51 yards of yarn for this project.

The pattern is a four-line repeat that is so easy to memorize.  I love the texture!!!

I’ve already added this to my dishcloth drawer and, in fact, have used it!  This pattern only took two or three hours to knit up.  I know I’ll be using more in the future!

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

Helpful Hodgepodge

Posted on July 10, 2013 by auburnchick

It’s Wednesday, which means that it’s time for Joyce’s Hodgepodge!  Woo Hoo!  Let’s get to the questions!

1.  What’s something people might ask you for help with?

I am usually asked for help with technical problems.  I’ve got mad computer skills, so I’m the go-to girl with this kind of stuff!

2.  What’s something you might ask someone else for help with?

I’m not afraid to ask for help.  Anything that has to do with math is sure to mess with my brain.

Oh, and one other thing I thought of…I always need help lifting the 60lb bag of dog food that I purchase twice each month.  I buy it at Sam’s and can get it into the cart but not out of the cart into my car.  The last time I went, I actually prayed that a gentleman would be near my car when I exited the store.  There was, and I smiled very sweetly when I asked for help…all the while explaining that he was the answer to a prayer.  Talk about getting a smile in return!

3.  Did your family take summer vacations when you were a child? If so, where did you go? If you’re a parent, did/do you plan summer vacations with your own family? Did/do they resemble those you took as a child?

We did not really take vacations.  We lived a few hours from Six Flags in Atlanta, so we went there a couple of times, but I did not grow up going on vacation.  When my children were younger, we took them to Disney World on a regular basis.  As they got a bit older, we visited Disney’s water park, Blizzard Beach.  Those were fun times!

4.  Pool-lake-ocean…which one is most appealing to you on a hot summer day?

I live fifteen minutes from the ocean.  Easy choice.  There’s nothing quite like the sound of the surf and the sight of the sun setting over the water.

5.  Have you ever justified using the expression, ‘you gotta be cruel to be kind’?  Was it really necessary or were you rationalizing?

I’ve never even heard of this expression before.  I can’t say that I like it.  I realize that sometimes one has to be strict and hold people accountable in order to have a positive effect in the end, but being cruel?  No way.

6.  The Journal of Psychology recently mentioned the results of a survey identifying the ten most hated foods as-liver, lima beans, mayonnaise, mushrooms, eggs, okra, beets, brussel sprouts, tuna, and gelatin.  Of those foods, how many do you actually hate? Anything you’d add to the list?

From this list, I do not like liver, mayo, okra, beets, or gelatin.  I do like the taste of eggs but don’t eat them now that I’m a vegan.  To that list, off the top of my head, I’d have to add guacamole (avocados) and sweet potatoes.  Blech.

7.  What’s your favorite book or movie set in a beach or lake town?

Oh goodness…I am drawing a huge blank right now!  I read so much but cannot seem to separate the books and their settings.

How about Message in a Bottle…the book.  I read it quite a few years ago and remember the setting had to do with the beach/water.  It was the first book that made me cry.

8.  My Random Thought

I have Common Core training today and tomorrow.

This means that I had to get out of bed at 5:30.

I am not amused.

After this training is over, I plan to enjoy the rest of my non-alarm-setting days before school starts again.

Haruumph.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: | 8 Comments »

Perdita – Bluebell – A Knitted Bracelet

Posted on July 9, 2013 by auburnchick

Last week, I officially joined the Harry Potter Knitting & Crochet House Cup on Ravelry.

Participants are sorted into houses, and monthly assignments are posted.  Participants are only required to complete one “class” per month but can complete more.  Points are awarded, and the house with the most points wins.

There is a lot of socializing as well as a lot of inspiration as projects are oohed and ahhed over.

I’ve jumped right on in, excited to have finally found a forum comprised of nice people.  Many welcomed me immediately, and I felt loved.

Anyhoo…enough about the mushy stuff.

I wanted to share one of the four projects I’ve completed in the last week.  Yes, vacation has been so good to me.  Sleep in, do a few household chores, nap, eat dinner, and knit.  I’ll enjoy this while I can!

Here’s the project.

It’s called Perdita.  This pattern, free on Knitty, actually consists of three patterns for three different bracelets.

I made Bluebell.

I used Artiste DMC Cotton Pearl.  The colorway is #790196.  It’s a light blue…very pretty.

I used size 0 needles and made the XS size.  I should have made the small though, which only adds one more repeat.

I bought the beads at Hobby Lobby.  It’s the Chocolate/Blue mixture.  I used a .75mm crochet hook to string the beads as I knit.  I did not string them all beforehand.  This link explains how to add beads to a project.

The pattern was super-easy.  I easily knit it in one evening…during a movie that Chicky and I sat down to watch together.

I’m so happy that I’ve been practicing my crocheting skills, because I was able to SC around one end and chain the button loops.  I wound up adding an extra button because there was a large gap between the two I originally put on.  The extra repeat would have prevented this gap.  Hindsight.  All worked out in the end.

The buttons are actually brown, not orange.

I absolutely love this little bracelet and will probably make more in different colors!

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

Golden Vanilla Cupcakes – Vegan Friendly!

Posted on July 8, 2013 by auburnchick

As you know, a couple of weeks ago, I purchased this book…

I paid more than I should have…purchased it locally instead of online where I could have gotten a better deal.

BUT…

It has been worth every penny!

Last week, I made the mint chocolate cupcakes.

They had turned out extremely well.

Last night, I went for something that everyone would like…Golden Vanilla Cupcakes.

I made them “very” golden by adding tumeric, as the recipe suggested.  For the record, I found this spice at Target.  It was the ONLY place I could find it!  The cupcakes did, indeed, come out of the oven looking golden.

The icing for the mint cupcakes from the week before had turned out a bit too wet, so I was nervous this go-round.

This time I made the Vanilla Buttercream frosting.  I had even purchased non-hydrogenated margarine and shortening…vegan of course.

I followed the instructions EXACTLY and grew excited when I tasted it.

It was so sweet and…get this…LIGHT…just as the recipe described it.

I was able to use the icing contraption I’d purchased from Pampered Chef.  It came with several different tips.

The icing was the perfect consistency!

The most fun part was adding the Rich Ganache (there’s a special extra something in there to make it “rich” in nature) on top.

I wanted to drizzle it, but my usage of a fork and then a spoon proved horrible looking.

Chicky suggested I pour it into a baggie and snip the corner.

Genius idea!

The ganache was thinner than the buttercream frosting, so the icing contraption would not have sufficed.  The baggie worked beautifully!

I decorated all but one this way.  The Mr. didn’t want buttercream on his, so I only put ganache on that one.

I was eager for the family to try them given my preview of the icing.

Rooster had a friend over.  This friend’s mom is well known for her cooking, so I was nervous.

From the picture below, you can see that there weren’t many cupcakes left over after the first round of eating…

Chicky was amazed, once again, at the texture.

Both this and the mint chocolate cupcakes turned out moist and light.

The buttercream icing could not have turned out better.  It paired perfectly with the ganache.

If you’re looking for a healthier way of eating desserts, I highly recommend this book.

Filed under: Vegan | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

We May Never Know

Posted on July 7, 2013 by auburnchick

This morning, my pastor, Tom, preached an excellent sermon.

He always does.

He is working his way through some of the Bible’s most famous children’s stories and explaining the lessons that we adults can take from them.

This morning’s lesson came from the story of Jericho and its walls coming down.

One person was key, though, to helping with this success…Rahab.

Rahab was a prostitute and not an Israelite, but she hid the spies that had been sent out to do surveillance work and covered for them when officials in Jericho launched a search.

In return for her help, she was spared when the walls came down.

I’ve heard this story many, many times; however, Tom said something that struck me anew this morning.

To paraphrase his words (Tom, if you’re reading this, forgive me if it’s not an accurate paraphrase), in the midst of such destruction, God kept, intact, His plan for salvation.

You see, in case you didn’t know, Rahab became a part of the lineage of Christ.

That’s right.

A prostitute…one of Jesus’s ancestors.

Oh, there are many lessons we can draw from this one story; however, what spoke to my soul today was that we may never know why God allows things.  I think about the storms that hit my area recently, and the flooding they caused.  I think about the various conflicts going on in the world and the tragedies that occur on a daily basis.

We have to trust that God’s plan for His people is being carried out, even when we cannot see and when we may never know the “why’s” of the hard times.

Rahab never knew that the Savior of mankind would come from her DNA.

The Israelites didn’t know, at the time, either.

Only later did God reveal His plan.

Sometimes we never get to find out, and still the faith must remain.

I am so in awe of God’s faithfulness, and I am humbled that though He knew how sinful His people would become, He still made a way for us to spend eternity with Him.

I am so thankful for the example of Rahab that helps me trust God even more.

I know, with a firm certainty, that no matter what life throws at me, that God is in control…that His plan is magnificent, and it WILL be accomplished.

Filed under: Christian | Tagged: , | 2 Comments »

Rain, Rain On My Face

Posted on July 5, 2013 by auburnchick

I live in the Panhandle of Florida.  You may have seen news footage of the torrential rainfall and flooding that we’ve had.

It’s been bad.

We sat at home all day yesterday watching the backyard flood and the water slowly edge toward our porch…

Despite having our yard redone last August, the grading that was done was not effective.

It wasn’t long until our porch looked like this…

The water was over my ankles…

Needless to say, the dogs refused to go potty.  We even tried taking them out front, where the yard was still visible, but our efforts were in vain.

One would think that we would be used to a lot of rain given the number of hurricanes this area is forced to endure each year; however, hurricanes are a lot different from the severe thunderstorms that have descended upon us the last few days.

Hurricanes are comprised of rain bands that usually offer reprieves at given intervals.

We have been dealing with nearly constant, heavy rain with little letup.

It’s been a test of faith…and patience…and more faith.

Fortunately, the rain finally slowed down, and the water stopped short of the French door that leads to the interior of my home.  Ironically (and much to my relief), the water receded quickly…

We have another day of heavy rain ahead of us.  Please pray for our area.  Many long-time local residents say they haven’t seen flooding like this in forty years.

Oh, and I couldn’t resist ending this post with the following video of the Jars of Clay song Flood.  It seems appropriate, don’t you think?

“Flood”

Rain, rain on my face
It hasn’t stopped raining for days
My world is a flood
Slowly I become one with the mud

[Chorus:]

But if I can’t swim after forty days
and my mind is crushed by the thrashing waves
Lift me up so high that I cannot fall
Lift me up
Lift me up – when I’m falling
Lift me up – I’m weak and I’m dying
Lift me up – I need you to hold me
Lift me up – Keep me from drowning again

Downpour on my soul
Splashing in the ocean, I’m losing control
Dark sky all around
I can’t feel my feet touching the ground

[Chorus]

Calm the storms that drench my eyes
Dry the streams still flowing
Cast down all the waves of sin
And guilt that overthrow me

[Chorus]

Lift me up – when I’m falling
Lift me up – I’m weak and I’m dying
Lift me up – I need you to hold me
Lift me up – Keep me from drowning again

Filed under: This-n-That | 1 Comment »

One Nation Under God

Posted on July 4, 2013 by auburnchick

Happy 4th of July!

May we never fail to uphold God’s laws and stay true to Him, for He has abundantly blessed our country.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: | 2 Comments »

Patriotic Hodgepodge

Posted on July 3, 2013 by auburnchick

Joyce’s Hodgepodge is abounding with red, white, and blue!  As always, I love these questions because they allow me to share things about myself that I normally wouldn’t.  I also love reading others’ responses.  Now, it’s time for the questions!

1.  What’s one simple small pleasure on your summer ‘to-do’ list?

Honestly, I think I have managed to indulge in the pleasurable activities I had on my list.  As a teacher, I look forward to the summer break.  This one has been especially rewarding because I have fully embraced the time off, done very little work, and have made no apologies for it.

One of my small pleasures has been daily nap time.  By 2pm, I’m ready, no matter what time I have gotten out of bed.  I sleep anywhere from thirty minutes to a couple of hours.  Of course, I am staying up until 2am and getting up between 7:30 and 9.

My body was worn out.  Teaching isn’t necessarily physically demanding; however, it is mentally challenging.  The break is going swimmingly!

2.  Do you have strong feelings or opinions regarding the immigration debate in your home country? Feel free to share your thoughts, but please play nice.

I can’t say that I have strong feelings about the immigration issues our nation is facing.  I do, however, struggle with the thought that my tax dollars are paying for people, not just immigrants, who contribute little to nothing for the services that I pay thousands of dollars for.  This just does not seem fair.

I am glad that our country is known as one of acceptance where people can come after escaping persecution elsewhere.  We have a responsibility to embrace those in need.

3.  What’s something in your home or wardrobe that could be described as ‘star spangled’?

Well, hmmm…I have a blue dress, but it doesn’t have red or white on it.  I don’t really have anything with all three colors or worthy of being called “star-spangled.”

4.  Is your house set up for a party?

I do not consider my home the perfect set up for a party.  I do have a dining room table that can seat eight.  I also have a round kitchen table and bar counter top that extends from the sink.  My screened in porch needs some work…tile specifically.  It also needs furniture.  The Mr. is in the process of acquiring a grill…a present from his parents.  Entertaining certainly isn’t a priority.  That would require cooking.  And cleaning.

I think I need a nap at the thought.

5.  What one never-before-visited city in America, would you most like to see?

Tough question!!!  I am a history buff and would love to visit a couple of places…Boston and Philadelphia.  I have seen quite a few places in America, but I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting these historic cities.

Oh, and for fun, I’ll throw in Maui.  Hey!  What can I say?  A trip to Hawaii would be amazing!

6.  Your favorite red food? White food? Blue food?

Red – Tomatoes
White – Tofu
Blue – I read that there aren’t any truly “blue” foods.  I’m not a fan of blueberries either.  I guess I’ll have to leave this question halfway unanswered.

7.  What freedom do you value the most, and why?

I value my right to say the name of Jesus and worship Him.  Many countries punish Christians for even reading their Bibles in public.  People have to worship in secret.  Christians are being persecuted in so many ways around the world.  This is so sad.  I really hope that, despite the way our country’s politics are going of late, Christians in this country will not be denied the rights our founders laid out.

8.  My Random Thought

Along the lines of relaxing this summer, I thought I’d share a photo of my latest find.  Chicky was bored a couple of days ago, so we headed out to a few stores.  I’ve been looking for some long dresses, but I’m so petite that nothing fits properly.

I found the following dresses at TJ Maxx for a scant $16.99 each.  Chicky tried one on and liked the fit as well.  I bought her a dress in a different pattern.

I know I can pair these dresses with coordinating sweaters, thus covering my shoulders, and keeping them student friendly.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: | 9 Comments »

See Ya Soon, Cali Girl

Posted on July 2, 2013 by auburnchick

Chicky’s puppy, Cali, has been staying with us since Chicky came home in May.

Chicky and one of her roommates adopted Cali nearly a year ago, and we have treasured her visits.

Having her here for over a month has been a lot of fun.

It only took a couple of days to train her to not attack her food bowl.  Now, she sits patiently and won’t eat until we give her the command.

She rules the house from her perch on the couch…

But now, it’s time for her to go back down south.  Chicky is taking her to her roommate’s parents’ house, where her roommate is spending the summer.  “K” will keep Cali for the rest of the summer, and Cali will live with the girls when they move into their off-campus housing in August.

I will miss this sweet puppy.  She has so much personality, and she’s incredibly smart.

She has livened up our home through her crazy antics.

Gambit is going to miss his playmate too…

I’ll miss my snuggle buddy…it didn’t take her long to get used to sleeping with me…giving Chicky’s allergies a break…

Safe travels, sweet girl.  I’ll see you soon.  Like any grandma, I’ll probably take a surprise down to you the next time I’m down your way!

Filed under: Pets | Tagged: , | 2 Comments »

Book Review – The Fault in our Stars

Posted on July 1, 2013 by auburnchick

A few days ago, I finished my 32nd book of 2013…The Fault in our Stars, by John Green…

The book tells the story of Hazel, a young woman who, although holding the tumors in her lungs at bay thanks to experimental drugs, still fights the complications from the cancer, such as fluid buildup and labored breathing.

She meets Augustus at a cancer support group.  He is a cancer survivor.  The attraction is immediate; however, she fights herself and worries about how her illness might leave others to deal with her loss one day, so she can’t fully give herself over to the affection she feels for Augustus.

She has a wonderful set of parents who you just can’t help but love.  Her mother needs to win Mom of the Year.  She is so patient and attentive to Hazel’s needs.  Their relationship is tight; however, Hazel fears leaving her parents should she one day pass away.

This book is not one filled with trite sayings…the stuff you’d find embroidered and hung up on the wall so you’ll find inspiration.

Hazel, Augustus, and their friends are very blunt about their cancer.  Their witty comments leave you chuckling at various points throughout the book.

However, it is their brutal honesty and raw emotions that leave you in tears at various points throughout the book.  Somehow, it feels wrong to laugh, but you can’t help yourself, and those moments are very fitting.

I didn’t want to read this book, I’ll admit it.  I don’t like to cry when I read.

However, as a teacher, and this is Young Adult fiction, it really is my duty to read what’s out there.

I’ve got to find books that will touch my students’ hearts, and this certainly is one of them.

It was incredibly poignant and smartly written with references to Shakespeare and other great literary works sprinkled throughout.

I highly recommend this book, both for teenagers and adults.  These are characters you will not soon forget, and you won’t help but think of them when you encounter a friend or loved one who is battling this tragic disease as well.

Filed under: Books | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

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