(not so) Wordless Wordless

I've been absent lately.  I hate when I go a few weeks without anything more substantial than Wordless Wednesday.  But there is a good reason!  As I mentioned before, I picked up crocheting a few weeks ago.  What started out as a cheap new way to be creative turned into a crazy whirlwind of orders from my friends and family.  I'm living and breathing these babies right here.  Check out my Etsy page or Facebook page to keep up with all the latest designs!

Wordless Wednesday: Halloween Edition

Wordless Wednesday: Pumpkin Patch Edition

My New Hobby

For most of my life, if I wanted to be creative, I did so with words.  I wrote poetry and short stories and of course, this blog.  But over the past year, I've been trying out my creativity in different ways too.  I've picked up sewing, dove back into embroidery, and have tried my hand at yarn wreaths.

My new hobby?  Crocheting.

It is addicting.  And so very satisfying.  My first attempt--a scarf for Evie--didn't turn out so well.  I kept forgetting to count my stitches so the lines weren't at all even, and it was just an utter disaster.  But I refused to give up, so I tried a somewhat simpler pattern for a hat.  I think it turned out pretty cute.

Then I crocheted a flower to adorn it.  It was exactly what the hat needed.  Now it looks fabulous, if I do say so myself.  Because I'm super humble like that.

It's a good thing Christmas is right around the corner so I have an excuse to create a bunch of things.  My goal is to make most if not all our of Christmas gifts this year.  Personalized gifts made from the heart are always more fun than something mass-produced in the stores anyway.

For step-by-step instructions on how to make your own "darling hat" or "slinky flower", check out Crochet Geek's Youtube channel.  She makes it so easy to follow along, even for a complete novice like me.  She even has videos teaching you all the basic stitches you will need for her huge assortment of patterns. Someday I may even attempt her Angry Bird hat tutorial! 

My Life In This Moment

Wordless Wednesday: Blunt Card Edition

I hope these put a smile on your face.  Because they sure made me laugh!

Wordless Wednesday: Family Pictures Edition

While visiting in Wisconsin, we had a photo session with my family.  With my brother in the Army and Michael in the Air Force, we rarely are all in the same place at the same time.

Our Newest Addition

The other day I mentioned that it took us a few days to recuperate from our honeymoon slash short visit home to Wisconsin fun fest.  And I hinted that there was more than one reason for that.  Well, that reason entered our family the morning after we arrived back to Kansas.

Welcome our newest addition, Camber.  She's a nine week dachshund/shepherd mix (we think) that we adopted from the local Humane Society.  Isn't she the sweetest thing?

We've been tossing around the idea to get a dog for months now.  We've had two dogs in the past that we ended up finding new homes for, and we absolutely do not want that happening again.  We want a dog for keeps.  So we sat on it for awhile, and we finally decided the timing was perfect.  So in entered Camber.

She is the sweetest little dog ever.  Absolutely perfect for our family.  She doesn't whine in her kennel at night, she rarely has accidents in the house, and is playful but not overly so.  She is cuddly, and although she has a deep love for nipping at toes and chins, she gives lots of love too. 

I'm excited for the new dynamic she brings to our family.  Evie needs a playmate, and I need something additional to nurture.  Michael is along for the ride like usual, just adjusting himself to the higher level of estrogen in the house.

What do you think...is she a keeper?

Delayed Honeymoon, Part 3

After hiking two days in a row, Michael and I were too exhausted to hike again on our last day in Steamboat.  And when I say exhausted, really I mean we were so sore that we couldn't even walk right.  So we slept in late, overdosed on HGTV, and then finally forced ourselves from our hotel suite for lunch at the best place in town, Shack Cafe.  Best. Food. Ever.  So good.

And then we had a leisurely day walking through the Botanic Gardens and playing mini golf.  The day barely even deserves it's own blog post.  Except the Botanic Gardens were too pretty not to share a little of it with you.  So enjoy.

Delayed Honeymoon, Part 2

In case you missed my gushing yesterday about the initial amazingness of our delayed honeymoon, let me reiterate that Steamboat Springs?  Best. Place. Ever. The peacefulness of the town and the surrounding mountains made it pretty darn easy to pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist.  We needed that.

Our other big hiking escapade during our trip gave us that peacefulness in bucketfuls.  If you also allow for copious amounts of swearing and me predicting that at any moment I was going to plunge to my death.  It was a peaceful near death experience. 

When we woke up Tuesday morning, Michael and I decided we were going to spend the day at Steamboat Lake State Park.  It's about a twenty minute drive outside Steamboat, and we figured we'd pass the time fishing and hiking the nearby trails.

As we drove closer to the Park, Michael pointed out a mountain peak that he thought would be fun to climb.  I laughed and said there was no way we were climbing that.  The peak of the mountain was completely bare of any vegetation, and looked to be either barren earth or lots of rock.  That's not even taking into account the fact that it was a mountain peak.  And I'm afraid of heights.

When we got to the Visitor's Center at the Park, we talked to a Ranger about the different trails and such in the area.  What do you think he recommended?  Ah, yes. The mountain peak.  Hahn's Peak, we were told.  And he threw in casually that he had taken his seventy year old mother hiking there once.  Was I to be out-hiked by a seventy year old woman?  Apparently not.

So we set out to climb Hahn's Peak. It was another steep climb, so we took many, many breaks.  Luckily the scenery along the way was amazing so I just used that as an excuse to stop.

When we neared the top of the peak, we ran out of pretty trees and wildflowers and were presented with the "fun" part of the climb.  Turns out, what looked like barren nothingness is in fact slate.  Tiny little rocks that I now had to climb on.  With the wind howling at my back, threatening to push me off the edge of the now non-existent trails.

I will admit, I wanted to turn around when I saw all that slate.  I figured we had climbed higher than I probably had ever been before regardless, and my death just didn't seem like a price I wanted to pay.  But then I remembered the Ranger's mother, and unless he forgot to mention that she died on that mountain, I figured I would survive.  Most likely.  And if not?  Well, at least I had my pride.

Since you are reading this, I am pleased to announce that I didn't die climbing that peak.  Or climbing back down.  Because honestly?  That's when I was about 90% sure I was never going to see another day.  I just couldn't fathom climbing back down on slate that moved under your feet with every step.  With that wind I mentioned, blowing at my back.  Quite strongly, I might add.  I am not even exaggerating that I thought I might slip right off the side of that mountain.

The view from the peak was so amazing though.  Beyond amazing.  For once, I don't even have the words to describe it.  I don't believe in God, but in those moments, I felt closer to something.  More at peace with the world than I have ever been.  From that high in the sky, it felt like you could literally touch the clouds they were so close. So I guess the terror of the climb was worth it.

When I made it down the mountain alive, I was pretty proud of myself.  And more than a little cocky.  I hadn't died.  That deserved like, a medal or something.  Overcoming my fears and doing something remarkable should mean something. 

What I got was 33 cent wings and an early bedtime.  But hey, what else are honeymoons for?

Stay tuned for Delayed Honeymoon, Part 3!