A Load Off

As mentioned before, I am a History Major at Marshall University. I am hoping to get my BA in History in a few years and then receive my MA in Museum Studies. I have begun sounding out museums in the area to see what and who is hiring and their requirements for employment.

Well, a large step has now been taken. When I first started college, frankly, I was stupid and lost me financial aid eligibility. Now, I have finally gotten it straighted out and am back in good standing. I have offered a grant and two loans. The grant is automatic, but I will have to choose which of the loans I want. Getting them both is overkill. I don't need $6,000.

The tuition and fees will equal about $3,000. When I got online and saw the amount I was being offered, I immediately called my mom, even though it was 1:30 in the morning. Luckily, I get my night-owl tendency from her and she was still awake. So, as long as I don't screw up again, I should be good!

Long Time, No Post

Jeez, I did not realize how long it had been since I posted here. Therefore, I have a lot to post and will probably spread it across a few days. In fiber news (what else) I finished my Marsh socks at the end of April and will not be worrying about doing the rest.

I don't like knitting more than a few things at a time, and I currently have a tank top, a sweater, another pair of socks, and a hibernating dishcloth on the needles. At the moment, I am mainly knitting on the tank top. It is beautiful! It is 50% cotton and 50% rayon and is a very shimmery green and purple. See!












It was hand dyed by a local independent spinner, weaver and dyer named Cyndi. I mentioned in a previous post that I had put some yarn in layaway in December. Well this is it! I have over 1200 yards, which is a good thing, because it is a lighter weight yarn than the pattern calls for. I am knitting a plain stockinette stitch tank, mostly because this is the kind of yarn where a simple pattern is best.

In other fiber news, the first weekend of April was the River Cities Fiber Guild's annual retreat. I was unable to stay the full time due to work, but many others stayed all night. It was held at a local church camp, so there where plenty of beds. Several of my friends from the guild were there, as will as a few people I didn't know.

This is Cyndi, who dyed the lovely yarn above; Debbie, a very talented spinner;

Ellen, who gave samples of fleece for the goody bags. I helped her write the name of the place where she got them o (Wool Grower's in Columbus, Ohio) on the bags and she gave me several more that were extra.

This is Elaine (on the left) and Grace (on the right). Elaine was actually spinning a large fluffy synthetic fiber usually used for packing material. It was a pure white and she blended in some orange wool with a drum carder and it looked great!

This is Judy, one of the founding members of the guild. She is a absolutely adorable, sweet woman with a very quirky sense of humor

And this is Mitzi, one of the other founding members and Judy's daughter. They own several llamas and got started spinning because of that.

This is Nadine, who is a 'spinning prodigy' to use Grace's words on Ravelry. She has been spinning only about a year and her stuff is phenomenal!

This a Maria, a good friend and an excellent knitter, as shown by the entrelac shawl she is wearing.

Nancy, a very good spinner and knitter,

Sam, who is a very good knitter and is developing into an exceptional spinner as well (blame Nadine, she got her hooked).

Then there is Dana (on the right) and Trish (on the left). Dana has made some of the most intricate socks I have ever seem and Trish spins some of the best yarn. She taught me to Andean ply last year.

Finally, there were several people from a WV guild several hours away. They are the ones that convinced Mitzi and Judy to develop the guild here. I think there names were Linda, Linda, Lynda and Deb.

Ok, there is more to catch up on, but I think I will leave it until tomorrow. It is another pic heavy post.

Just a quick note to say

My Feb socks are done, and I have cast on my first sweater. More details in next post.

Did you know

That they tax you on your tax return? Doesn't that rather defeat the point. Oh, well, thank God for schooling credits, or I would be getting back almost nothing. As it is, I will be getting about $600.00 from state and federal together. I plan to pay off a few outstanding debts (like paying Cindy for the yarn I have in layaway) and will sit on the rest to supplement my income when things fall short on payday. You'd think with two jobs, I would not have this problem! But, I don't work full time at either job, so that is not the case. I just need to hold out until my lease expires in July and find a cheaper apartment. Hopefully, cheaper will not equal rat-trap!

In fibery news, my February socks are going good. They are two-by-two rib in two striped white and green. Will be great for St. Patrick's day and Marshall games. I was doing them in stockinette stitch, and had already turned the heel, when I realized that they would be too big. So, I frogged them and started again. They should fit fine. The striping made picking the gusset stitches a bit tricky and at one point the stripes are off, but no one but me could really tell. I will post pics when the first sock is finished.

Tomorrow is the birthday of both Jon, and my great-grandmother, Mamaw Crow. Jon will be 26 and Mamaw will be 100. Mine and Jon's second anniversary will be later this month. I don't know what to get Jon, except for more art supplies. His drawing skillz are amazing!

Winter Weather

Question I was asked at the gas station today "When did we move to Canada?" The Tri-state region of West Virginia; usually a region of moderate temperatures protected from much snowfall by the mountains around us. Well, not today. It started snowing late last night and has not stopped all today, except when it switches to freezing rain, that is.

Right now the entire area is covered with snow and ice and everyone is praying the power doesn't go out. I got up around 1:00 this afternoon, called Taco Bell to see if the paychecks were in (they were) and hauled my but out of bed to go get and cash mine. After a brief stop at the gas station mentioned above, I got on the road. Now I work a good way from where I live, but it usually only takes about 20-30 minutes to get to Taco Bell. Today it took a good hour. Luckily, my credit union is right next door to Taco Bell.

I finally got my check cashed and headed to Walmart to get chili fixings. If this isn't chili weather, I don't know what is. I visited Jon while there (he works in the electronic dept.) and headed home. The roads were a bit clearer, so it didn't take as long. I then started the chili in the crockpot (I love that thing) and started a new loaf of homemade bread. My last attempt at bread fell flat a bit; it was still raw dough in the middle. This one turned out fine, though.

So, my plans for the rest of today and all of tomorrow is simply to veg, knit my February socks and watch my fave TV show, Most Haunted, on Youtube. I finished my Wavy scarf last night and will hopefully post pics tomorrow. I also began my February socks. They will be green and white striped. The cuff, heel and toe of one will be green and the cuff, heel and toe of the other will be white. Beyond it is just two-row stripes. I will probably post pics of it tomorrow also.

New Obsession?

I have created a monster! No, actually I have created bread:

My first loaf of homemade bread! It tastes better than store-bought and is healthier, what with the no preservitives. I used this recipe and it can out good after I called my grandmother a few times for advice. The directions did not say to add water.

Also, my January socks for the Great 2009 Sock Off are finished and feel and look great.

Yah!

For more hours at work. A slight emergency with scheduling gave me am additional 8 hours at my security job. The down side is those 8 hours are attached to the next eight. Translation: I have to work a 16 hour shift, go home and sleep for 12 hour and come back in for another 12. Oh, well, at least I will be able to pay the rent. I really hope we get the stimulus check they are talking about in the next couple months. If I can just get my credit cards paid off, I will be much better off!

Onto fiber related topics. My first pair of socks for the year are going quite good. One is finished and I am about half done with the heel flap of the other. It helps that several people have uploaded episodes of one of my fave TV shows onto YouTube. The show is called Most Haunted, and as the name suggests, they spend the night in haunted locations. It is interesting and can be scary at times. A lot of people believe it is fake, but some stuff is hard to fake.