Road Trip and Soul Sisters

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, I ventured to Lawrence and Topeka on a Saturday the beginning of May!

Really, I had plans to see friends in Topeka and I had wanted to go to the most awesome fabric store in Lawrence. Below are a couple pictures of the inside of Sarah's on Mass St....see all that fabric....it is fabulous!!!

What better reason to take a ROAD TRIP!! I got out my Dixie Chicks CD's, filled up with gas, bought snacks, and set off for Lawrence before noon on Saturday.

This was one of those days where I didn't mind driving and didn't care how far and didn't need anyone else with me. Turned up the AC, turned up the Dixie Chicks and sang out loud the entire drive to Lawrence!

Listening to the Chicks reminded me of college, and I started reflecting on experiences and friendships. With each song, I was transported back to a time and place, remembering my girls, smiling and singing along.



All 8 of us together at Janel's Wedding, May 2010



Our friendships begin as children, and grew through high school and college. We became wives and mothers, our roles changing, our lives changing, but always making time for each other. The girls fill my soul, re-charge my batteries and make me laugh. There is an enduring history, an easy silence, and an unmistakable bond. We love each other like sisters and cherish the time we spend together!





Winery Trip in June 2007



Although not nearly enough, we try to get together monthly or every couple months to catch up, have some well deserved girl time, and usually talk all things crafting, husbands, relationships, and kids...the good, the bad and usually the funny!!



Tonya's Wedding in 2006

 

We joke about buying a "compound" and all of us living as one big happy family...with husbands, kids and pets leading a self sustaining life together! Our husbands probably wouldn't go for the "compound" idea BUT I know our friendships will survive anything and we will be road tripping, laughing and crafting until we are old and gray!

My wedding in 2007



I LOVE YOU GIRLS! NOW AND FOREVER!!! THANK YOU FOR BEING MY SOUL SISTERS!!! 

Biking bug....

Maybe I am crazy, or just a glutton for punishment....last week I joined my first Thursday night group ride!?!

For almost two years, there has been a group of biking enthusiasts riding every Thursday night...the love of biking and participation has greatly increased the past year.

Last year I told myself I wasn't ready for a long, gravel bike ride, even though I completed a hellacious 20 mile ride last May with Casey. I still didn't see myself doing THAT again!!

But this year, the biking bug hit and I signed up for the Dirty Kanza lite ride (20 miles)!! Over the winter, I rode in the gym and with the warmer weather, I have ventured outside, but only about 5-6 miles each time. I knew I needed to go on longer rides and this year I wanted to try a Thursday night group ride. The weekly rides started back in mid March and between my knees, back, birthday's and rain....this was my first!!

There were 40 some bikers last week (including Casey, he made it out of work in time to come along) and about 7pm we took off! We rode northwest of town and very shortly hit gravel and hills! Now, I am an in town, pavement biker, so it took me a little bit getting use to the gravel and using different gears than normal.


I was last in the pack and grateful for several experienced riders who stayed back to encourage me along. No riders left behind! The sunset was beautiful and NO SNAKES!!! 2 1/2 hours, 21 miles and too many hills later, we made it home!! I was so proud of myself for making it so far and tackling all the hills! Our friend, Rick Becker, says that hills build character!

I don't know how the Dirty Kanza riders manage 200 miles on the gravel Flinthills roads in the Kansas summer heat, but I know, I have NO desire to do anything near that many miles, ever! I am in awe of them and will be cheering on many of our friends as they ride in the DK this year!!

Lilybug

My niece, Lily, turned 6 on April 17th! I can not believe how tall she is getting nor that her Kindergarten year is almost over! She is a joy! I love her to pieces!! She constantly amazes me with her humor and she is learning so much in school.
Here are a few pictures from her 6th birthday party on Sunday, April 15th.


Birthday Girl with her new big girl Bike!



Lily with her Justin Bieber cake! Guess who her favorite singer is?!?



Also in April was her first music program at school! Both Kindergarten classes sang together...they were so cute! Remember this one.....it makes me smile every time I watch it! That's me giggling in the background!

Last Sunday, she came over for a play date. She loves our dogs and now that she is older and bigger than both Harry and Lucy, she loves to play with them. We planned to go swimming, but with the uncertain stormy sky, we changed our plans. Lily and I went to the zoo, got Dairy Queen ice cream, colored, and played with the dogs outside!
Here are a few zoo pictures....I was just as excited to tour the zoo as she was!

Lily the Lemur



Cooling off at the water fountain!

 

Playing at the new educational kids area!

 

Comparing her "wing span" to a vulture. Her's is equal to a Red Hawk!

 

Checking on the turtles sunning on the rocks!

Fiber Floozies

  A little over two years ago, I re-learned to crochet from a friend and I took a knitting class. My love of all things yarny began! Knitting mysteries, how-to books, patterns, magazines, blog sites, and weekly email newsletters fill my life now. I learned a new language....purling, YO, gauge, DPN's and of course my yarn stash grew exponentially! I now have 4 large totes and a project bag full of yarn, projects, tools and more!

One of my first knitted items...a pretty green scarf.

  I became part of a local knitting/crochet group and was welcomed with open needles by this fabulous group of woman (and an occasional man). We call ourselves the Fiber Floozies...we are Yarned and Dangerous!

The design on our t-shirts!

  We meet each Tuesday night and I can't tell you how much I look forward to having dinner and crafting with a diverse group of woman who love all things fiber! We have knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers, Etsy shop owners, experts and beginners (quilters and sewers too). We are a lively group and discuss all things fiber...latest projects, UFO's (UnFinished Objects), patterns, ideas...all while our needles (and hooks) click away! (And there is always good gossip and funny stories flying around the room.) Socks frequently appear on our sticks, along with fair projects and gifts for loved ones.You will find us on Facebook at Tuesday Night Knitters. We post weekly plans, yarn funnies, patterns and pictures of completed projects.

Tuesday Night Knitters in 2010 at Java Cat

  Over the past few years, not only did I learn to knit, but I know how to felt, dye yarn, knit socks, Tunisian crochet, weave, and quilt all due to the amazing talents of my fellow floozies. The floozies even had t-shirts made and took our knitting bags on the road. We love to go on the Central Kansas Yarn Hop each October and often day trip to Lawrence, Wamego, Hutchinson...anywhere with a yarn store! Just in case you are wondering, there are 14 yarn shops just in central Kansas and I have visited all of them...some more than once!

Yarn Hopping in 2010

  One of our very talented ladies, Barb, hosts Fiber Fun Day once a year in June. We meet at her country home for 2 days of dyeing, weaving, crafting, felting, and of course food, fun and lots of laughs! She raises sheep and this time of year has lots of little lambs! We are all counting the days until the next Fiber Fun Day, June 22nd and 23rd!

  My dream to open a yarn shop was born two years ago also. Each week, I imagine our Tuesday night group gathered in a small shop, drinking tea or coffee, knitting (or crocheting) away in over-sized chairs, comfy couches, surrounded by skeins, hanks, and balls of beautiful yarn in all shades and weights! Some day, some day...
  For now, the floozies gather weekly at a local church and each week I am grateful to have found such a fun group of woman to share talents, gain wisdom, and laugh!

March 12th...it is a good day!

I composed this blog in my head on Saturday while getting a massage, but I am just now writing it down. Saturday my list was at 10, since today is the 12th....here are 12 things I love today and March so far!

1. My amazing, 1 hour full-body massage on Saturday...heavenly and long over due!

2. The beautiful weather....the sun is shining, grass is getting green, trees are budding and that makes me smile! I love Spring!

3. Good wine shared with good friends!

4. Dancing the night away with friends....my knees hurt and I don't even care, it was so fun!!

5. I am starting my first knitted sweater, bought the yarn, checked my gauge, and I am ready to KNIT!

6. My unbelievably, adorable 5 (almost 6) year old niece. We had a play date on Sunday...I love coloring and it's okay to do when she is around!

7. Snuggling with my hubby and our puppies each night....we need a bigger bed!

8. Crafty shopping day scheduled with my besties!

9. Taking my bike out for a ride for the first time in many months! DK lite here I come!

10. Singing along to the car radio as loud as I want with my windows down!

11. Our tulips are up and daffodils are blooming!

12. Taxes are done and we only have to pay $50 this year!

New Pioneer Woman Cookbook

Besides being cold and windy.....it's a happy Friday!
So, for those of you who don't follow The Pioneer Woman online....she has a new cookbook coming out! YAY! Today on her website she just announced her book tour and guess what?!?!
She is coming to WICHITA!!!! I am signing up, getting tickets or whatever you do....anyone wanna go with me!?

Books, Books, Books!!!

I love reading! I come by it naturally...my Grandmother loves to ready romance novels by the 5 cent bag full who instilled the love of books to my mother who always has a book or book on tape...sometimes both! I remember when I was younger, mom and dad always reading mysteries....Stephen King, Dean Koontz, John Grisham. So, that is what I tended to read as a young adult. R.L. Stine was my favorite author as a teen. Mom would censor (per my request) which King or Koontz would be good and not too scary. The older I have gotten, the more variety I read...although fiction still my favorite. I have a hard time getting through non-fiction. I never thought I would love girly, mindless romances, but I do!!

Besides my crafty hobbies, the bookstore gets a lot of our money!!! We are in there at least once a week! I could never have a nook, kindle thing because I love holding my books, turning the pages, reading about the author, and thumbing through the front and back before I dive into my new read!

I usually have a stack on my nightstand or office waiting for me. I always have a wish list at the bookstore! I have multiple authors that I read everything they write, other authors have series that I am hooked on.

Currently, I am reading Gil McNeil's "Knit One Pearl One". It is the third in a yarn shop series that takes place in a small seaside town in England.

I LOVE Nicholas Sparks!!! I have read everything he has written and all the movies to come from those books!

My inspiration for the yarn store came from Kate Jacobs' novels, "Friday Night Knitting Club"! I have also read her "Knit Two", "Knit the Season", (both followups to FNKC) and "Comfort Food".

When True Blood debuted on HBO about two years ago, Casey and I were so excited...a new show! After the first episode, we were hooked! And realized that it was based on Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse book series! I jumped all over that and I have read all 11 of them! (The 12th comes out this summer.) We collect the True Blood box sets too!
Interesting side note for you Emporia gals....I put a link to the #1 True Blood Fan site above and guess who created and manages it....Melissa Lowery! Plus she operates websites for Chuck and several other popular TV shows.

My favorite bookstore owner and friend recommended a lighter, fun vampire series by Mary Janice Davidson's...The Undead, Vampire Betsy books. She has 10 so far and the 11th comes out this summer!

"PS I Love You" is one off my favorite books and movies!!

Chocolate Shop Series is fun too!

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE AUTHORS OR BOOKS!?!? Please share, anyone want to start a book club??

Happy reading!!!