Coming Back

It's been a little over a year since I posted. But with all that's happened since, blogging has taken a backseat in my life. I decided to take it up once again. So let's catch up.

Since October 14, 2011:

Fall of 2011: I started my senior year in high school. I started courting my boyfriend, Brendan, on October 9. Other than that the season passed with not much more than the simple humdrum of school and work.

Winter 2011/12: Life got a little more exciting, a little more hectic. On December 13, I saw my boyfriend for the first time in three years since he left for college and his family moved back to Georgia (giving him no real reason to make the hike for Alabama all the way back to Delaware). Then, five days after Christmas, I headed down to Dixieland to visit him and his family in Georgia. I spent a week there, going hiking, watching football, going for walks, rollerskating, recording music, going to church, playing SmashBros, reading devotionals together, and, what would become a tradition for us, going out to eat at Chili's the night before I left. Then it was back home to school and work.

Brendan, his Grandma, and I after his college graduation

Spring of 2012: My soccer team had an amazing season. For the seven senior girls, it couldn't have been any better. We walked away as the regular season champions and with a second place finish in the tournament. I registered for my first semester of college at a local community college as a nursing student. My semester was to consist of four classes-Anatomy and Physiology I, Review of Math Fundamentals (yeah, I've never been good at math), Composition, and First Year Seminar. One credit above full time, I was set and ready to go. Just after our soccer season ended, during the first week in May, I headed back down to Dixie, this time to Alabama for Brendan's graduation from Auburn University. I stayed with a wonderfully sweet southern belle named Julia that week, since her two roommates were out of town. And conveniently, her house was five or so minutes from his (her boyfriend, Isaac, lived there with Brendan along with two or three or four, depending on who was crashing on the couch, other guys). The week held many things for me: meeting new people (which, if you know me, I don't do well with), graduation, seeing his family again (they drove from Georgia for the event), an anniversary picnic, going to see The Avengers (twice!), Chick-fil-A milkshakes and a walk in the park, and our dinner out the night before I left.

The family (and Brendan) in Virginia

And then, on June 7, I finally graduated! Brendan, of course, traveled up for the event. I gave my graduation speech without a hitch and my hit all the low notes on "Blessings" by Laura Story that I sang for my senior talent. The day after graduation we packed everyone up and headed to D.C. for a trip to the zoo (okay, it was mainly a trip for the younger ones, but I still enjoy zoos). The Monday after graduation I got my wisdom teeth out. Brendan, like any good boyfriend, stuck with me through it all, even in my worse drugged up, hydrocodine moments. We mainly watched movies on my laptop and he read all of Love Comes Softly by Janette Oak to me. My family also headed down to Luray Caverns and Shenandoah National Park once I was well enough to travel. We hiked through the caverns and got sprinkled with "cave kisses" (supposed to bring you one year's good luck with every one; I got something like 20 so I should have plenty of good luck). Then, twelve days after he arrived, he left again. We haven't had the chance to visit since.

Working the Fourth of July Parade with the world's favorite cow

Summer 2012: I meant to have a great last summer before college. You know how well that worked out? Not very. I worked. Usually eight to nine hours a day. Once I worked for twelve. I managed to make it to the beach once this summer. Other than that I waited impatiently for my financial aid to come through, bought textbooks and worked some more. I also moved in with my older sister (also a college student) and we now an apartment together. Oh the adventures that brings! As a side note, I worked Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day as a drive thru order taker. And let me tell you our whole team was exhausted for the following week. But we put on our smiles, said our "my pleasure"'s and worked as hard as we could. Because it truly was our pleasure to serve everyone, no matter who they were, and it was heartwarming to see all the support we were given. Bobby also made it safely home for Afghanistan. Praise the Lord!

Studying for my first A&P exam

Fall 2012: Let college begin! Classes took over my life and now I literally do not have one. I still work part time and have now been promoted to a team leader. My boyfriend and I reached our first year anniversary. He sent me a gorgeous lantern necklace with one of those sun crystals inside that catches rays of light and we had a one hour Skype date. And so, now, we are up to date. 

Hats for Bobby-Week 15

The Dainty Daisy: "Shell Stitch Beanie"

The only thing I have against this hat is that the top was a little hard to do along with the flower. But other than that it is super adorable.

105 days down, 295 to go!

Hats for Bobby-Week 14

Kaleidoscope Beret


This has got to be one of the easiest hats I have ever made. And it's going on my list of favorites. As a kid I loved kaleidoscopes and I wish I had had a neat multi-colored yarn that would have made it look like one. But purple is good too. :)

98 days down, 302 to go!

Hats for Bobby-Week 13

"The Amy" in Sage and Dark Green

This one was made for a friend of Betty's who wanted one just like Amy and Emily's, only in different colors.

91 days down, 309 to go!

Hats for Bobby-Weeks 11 and 12

"The Amy and the Emily" Matching Hats

Yeah! I'm finally starting to catch up!

These, which I have dubbed the Amy and the Emily after the beautiful ladies I made them for, are weeks 11 and 12. I originally got the pattern off of about.com but it was so bad that I ended up having to change it so much that it basically became my own pattern. Anyway, they love them and I hope they get a lot of use out of them. Amy, by the way, is Bobby's sister-in-law, and Emily is his wonderful little neice.

84 days down, 316 to go!

Hurricane Party

Rain is pouring. The power just came back on (we lost it for 22 minutes). Wind's blowing. There are 12 people in our little house, hunkering down for the storm. They told me not to come in to work today, so I have basically all day with nothing to do. Time to work on some "Bobby" hats, learn to use the camera for my brother's wedding, and watch Rio! (maybe. China Cry is more likely.) Stay safe, everyone. Use this locked up time to have some quality bonding time. We're certainly getting a lot of it here, 3 of us sitting on the same couch, using the same internet modem.

Hats for Bobby-Week 10

Puff Stitch Beret



And we finally come to posting for week 10. When I first started making this hat I wondered who in their right mind ever made up that puff stitch! But, as it went along, it wasn't as hard as it was before. And it's comfortable, cute, and I seem to have a thing with berets.

70 days down, 330 to go!

Hats for Bobby-Week 9

Owl Hat

A little late but better late than never. I had a lot of gray and white yarn so I decided to make an owl hat for my little one-year-old sister. The pattern was obviously designed with a boy in mind, but I changed the color tan to pink to make it a little more girly. She can't wear it until the winter but she loves it. She has a thing about hats.

63 days down, 337 to go!

Hats for Bobby-Week 8

Groovy Crochet-Camelot

This has got to be my favorite hat yet. It's comfortable, not too hot, and is really cute. I did have to add 20 extra stitches in the beginning for it to fit my head. And sorry about the quality of the picture-my sister, who normally takes the pictures, is gone for a month, so this picture, taken at a birthday party, was the best I had.

56 down, 344 to go!

Hats for Bobby-Week 6

As a tribute to Independence Day, this hat, the "Victorian Pinkie" from week three with an added bow, was made with Sugar n Cream self-striping yarn and modeled (as I have a serious lack of patriotic-colored clothing) by my dear little sister. And she wanted to everything but hold still and smile.

42 days down, 358 to go!
P.S. Thank God for the soldiers who died and are currently fighting to keep your independence. Freedom doesn't come free!

Hats for Bobby-Week 5

Toddler Sunhat

I have a terribly adorable one-year-old little sister and my mom loves to put her in hats. I was originally making this hat for my two-year-old sister, but about half way in I knew it would never fit her head. This one was a little easy to make after you figure out how to do a front post double crochet (simpler than it sounds, promise). I did have to add somewhere around five or six extra rounds on the hat to make it long enough (and she has a little head) so maybe I went wrong somewhere. Who knows? The clip was taken from her older sister's collection of hair bows.

35 days down, 365 to go!

Hats for Bobby-Week 4

"May Flowers Hat"

"So proud of my soldier"
Betty and Bobby

This one was a lot more time consuming than the others have been. It probably took me at least two days between making the actual hat, then the flowers and leaves and then sewing it all together. But it was completely worth it in the end seeing as how it had a pattern for a large head. I would highly recommend it for anyone with a lot of time on their hands (which I currently have). End of 28 days for Bobby!

P.S. Please include him, his parents, and all the other soldiers and their families currently deployed in your prayers. They need it, alot!

Hats for Bobby-Honoring an American Soldier

There is a lovely lady I know named Betty. I've known her for years and even adopted her as my grandma (since I don't have any). Betty has three children-two daughters and a son. On May 25, her son, Bobby, shipped out for 400 days of deployment overseas. They originally thought it was only 365 when he shipped out, but then they found out otherwise. Betty said she is working on an afghan for him everyday that she's gone to pass the time (only one afghan, not 400, please don't get confused). So I decided I would do something similiar to support this woman I love so much. For every week that he's gone, I'm crocheting a hat. I did the math and that makes 57 hats. I'm not keeping that many (I don't even know how I'm going to get yarn for that many!) and will probably donate some to The James 2 Project and probably make some and give them to my baby sisters (my mom loves putting hats on them). But either way it turns out, I'm going to try my best to support my "grandma" and her son.

Week 1
"Woods, Elle" Hat

I had recently watched "Legally Blonde" and found that I loved a purple crochet hat that she wore in several scenes. So I looked up a crochet pattern on line, and, sure enough, there was a pattern for (link included in title). Due to the fact that I have a rather large head, I had to alter the pattern slightly to make it fit my head.

Week 2
"Renaissance Rose Cap" (Designed by Melissa Mall)

I've always loved the medival/renaissance period (not the part about the beautiful ladies in their elegant gowns, at least not until later in life; as a child I was always interested in the swashbuckling knights and their adventures) so this one was an instant hit with me and most of my sisters. It's fairly easy to make (unfortunately I don't have the link) and looks great when it's done.

Week 3
"Victorian Pinkie"

Now, this one obviously isn't pink. The yarn was actually leftovers from a hat that I made for a friend for Christmas one year. This one is a little more difficult to master and has vague directions but there are three or four different ways to wear it. And, Bobby is now through 24 days!