Coffee cozies and current projects

I came across this pattern for felted coffee cozies a little while back and with the help in the form of donated scrap wool yarn from a co-worker friend, I now have three done. They are so cute and the colors are great! Can't wait to use them myself. No burnt fingers from too hot cups and sometimes my coffee shop doesn't give them out. I really like the feel good idea of reusing these instead of throwing out the paper ones all the time too.

On a side note, I finally got my scrapbooking done! Last night! Current through May 16 too! Projects are finishing up. I've still got two scarfs in the works and would love to have mittens done before winter hits again; but I really have to start painting again. I seem to have lots of excuses to keep from starting again. It's just been a long time and maybe I'm a little afraid to see how rusty I've gotten with the paint brush. I really would love to show some new work too. If you want inspiration check out Suzi Blu's videos on youtube or her blog.

Additions to my blog...

I've added a couple of things to my blog that I thought I'd call attention to.

The first one is the "Drawing Day 08" on June 7, 2008. Now, I came across this after following a few links on some artist's blogs and thought it sounded like fun, so check it out. I usually find out about these events the week after they've happened; so it was nice to be ahead of this one for once.

The second thing I added is the "playlist". Now, the things I listen to vary greatly on a day to day basis. Sometimes it's the heavy metal I listened to in high school and college and other times it's Christian rock and other times it's current Top 40 stuff. It's way fun to it added here.

Oh, and I removed the "Countdown to my 50th birthday." I just thought that was stupid after I'd done it; so it's gone. Not that that will stop me from turning 50 some 2000 or so days from now.

Our preemie story, ten years ago...

On this day, ten years ago, began our journey with our son coming into this world.

I went into Holland Hospital with pre-term labor, thought I was nuts for going in, thought they would send me home, but they admitted me!

I was released two days later only to return to the hospital early on Saturday morning, May 9, 1998.

Following a 15 minute ambulance ride to Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids (usually a 35 minute drive), our son was born. Jarod Evan weighed 1313 grams (approx. 2 pounds, 14 ounces). He was 11 weeks early, born at 29 weeks gestation.

He spent four weeks in NICU and two weeks in NIM at the Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI. He was born the day before Mother's Day and came home on Father's Day, a month before his original due date of July 23, 2008. He then weighed 4 pounds, 10 ounces.

Jarod will be ten years old this Friday, May 9 and he is a wonderful, healthy, "normal" boy. There is SO much more to the story, but I just wanted to document this briefly on this day.

(Hula) Hooping

I love YouTube and spend more time on it than I probably should. I subscribe to videos posted by Suzi Blu and love her creativity and positive attitude. Anyway, one of her latest videos have her hula hooping and I thought that it looked like so much fun.

As with everything, one thing leads to another and I came across some great instructional videos (on YouTube of course) on "hooping" and then I "googled" "hooping" and came across several recommendations for a man with a tutorial on his website about how to make your own hoops. Turns out that the hula hoops they sell in store are too small for adults, they are really kid's size, and that is the reason most adults can't do it. I always just thought it was because I am really uncoordinated.

All you need is some of that black pipe they use for underground sprinkling (They recommend 160 psi, 3/4".) and a connector. When you stand the hoop on the floor in front of you it should come mid way between your waist and shoulders. That's BIG! I found and used 100 psi, and the hoop cost me $4.50. I want to make another with the recommended 160 psi. That will cost a little more and will be a little heavier, which I would like to try. I have to shop around to see if I can find it by the foot. I used 11' to make mine. Once you get the hoop done you wind colored tapes around it for decoration, weight, and added friction.

I assembled my hoop this morning and tried it out and it worked! I was shocked! I will post a picture of the hoop and maybe even me hooping (shock, horror) when I get the decorating part done.