crochet skillz

Last week my dear friend Cap came over and taught me how to make this bracelet.

 
Basically, you crochet with wire and weave beads along the strands as you go.  Then, when you have five or six strands, you braid them together, twist the ends and tie on a clasp!  It was pretty quick work and I made the whole thing in less than an hour.  It was tricky to figure out where to place the beads on each strand so that they weren't all clumped together, and that's something I will have to work on more for the next time.  And working with the wire hurt my fingers after a while, but at least it was quick work!

And speaking of my Capitano, she got engaged this weekend!  Beet and I are so thrilled for her and her fiance and I can't wait for many afternoon's of wedding related crafts!  But these are two of my absolute favorite people and I am so happy they are so happy.  We did a lot of celebrating this weekend with brunch, champagne toasts, candlepin bowling and Justin Bieber balloons.  I'm excited for many more fun times with them.

Good weekend!

warm fuzzy

It's always nice to know that something you put a lot of work into has been very much appreciated:

Quilt with Love

Speaking of warm fuzzies, did any of you ever make these as a kid?

Fuzzies!

I think we made them in our 5th grade Human Relations class.  These look cuter than the ones we made.

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday, Goat!

To celebrate the birth of this individual, we are going skiing in New Hampshire for the weekend.  Well, others are going skiing.  I have a wide variety of books with me, as well as crocheting, and possibly a few nips of Bailey's to keep me company while the others are outside freezing and pretending to have fun.  I look forward to having much to report on once we return, hopefully with all limbs intact.

Amazing People

Today my blog post is dedicated to the Heart of my Heart, my dear friend, Meris.  Today Meris is starting an exciting new adventure and leaving for South Africa to work for the Peace Corps.

I think Peace Corps Volunteers are amazing and I really admire them for going off to help in some of the toughest areas in the world.  Mer is now going to be doing HIV Outreach in South Africa, which just blows my mind and makes me feel pretty darn lazy.

I can't wait to hear all about her experiences, and if you're interested you can check in with her blog: http://meristhatswhatshesaid.blogspot.com/.  And one thing that Meris and I share a love of is sending and receiving mail, so that's how I'm going to help her get through these 2 years away.  Even if you don't know her, I'm sure she'd love to see postcards or something reminding her of the good ole' U S of A, so if you'd like to send her a hello, let me know!  And you can help me out, at some point I'd like to send her a package with things she may not be able to get in Africa.  What are some things you'd like to receive from home if you were living in a foreign country without a lot of luxuries?

Good luck, Mer!  I think you're really incredible and I heart you muchly.

Bowling

Bowling has always played a part in my life.  When I was little, I was jealous of all the trophy's my older brother had from various academic and athletic ventures, so my mother gave me her only trophy so I could pretend I had one, too (I know, it's a little sad).  Her trophy was from the bowling league she joined when my brother was born, because he was a bit of a crier and the bowling alley offered free babysitting.  Brilliance does run in the family, it's true.  Anyway, she was a terrible bowler, but she still got a trophy at the end of the season, and it has been a prized Withers family possession ever since.

Bringing the story full circle, Beet and I just signed up for a bowling league this winter with some of our friends.  I'm so excited.  I can't wait to orchestrate the entire crowd singing the classic song "Score Tonight" from one of my top-3 favorite movies, "Grease 2."  It is going to be epic.

 

Score Tonight! 

Fun fact!  When I was in high school, I had a bowling birthday party, and my two of my friend's and I learned this song and dance and performed.  Not at all embarrassing and completely awesome!

Flag Maker

So, to continue the theme of heroic American costumes, I strongarmed my friend Cap to be Betsy Ross for Halloween.  I even purchased her costume before she could say no.  Now maybe you aren't familiar with what the woman who made her first American flag looks like.  I'll help you out.

Betsy Ross Facts

Are you interested in knowing what she does not look like?

This costume is not good.  It didn't even come with all the pieces.  El Capo's going to have to go out and get an updo before the party.  I haven't opened up my costume, but now I'm a little scared.  Bert's adventure trying on his beard did not go great and I was left cleaning bits of it out of the sink for awhile.  I'm pretty sure whoever made these costumes are Communists who hate America.