Oh Jane

You know how it is when you see a movie, read a book, or some sort of art or media or song or whatever just catches you and holds you and sticks? I knew I loved Jane Eyre from the movies. I didn't realize exactly how much until I read the book. I want to crawl into the book and live there. The cadence is wonderful. I came across this line and it really captures, for me, why I love it: "This was very pleasant; there is no happiness like that of being loved by your fellow-creatures, and feeling that your presence is an addition to their comfort." This quote comes about after coming home to the first place where she's felt love and acceptance. I think that many of us have grown up in homes where we are loved, at least somewhat. Imagine not feeling like anyone loved you ever and you were a burden to their very existence in life. That was Jane's reality until she came to this home. There, she was an addition to their comfort, not a detraction. I love that. I love rooting for a character and being truly pleased that finally she gets to feel loved. I think that all of us, even grumpy people who may not want to admit it, want to know that we are loved and that even our presence is a comfort. Like, just walking into a room will make someone else happy and content. I'm still mulling this story, these characters, the countryside......love it all. In case you haven't noticed, I'd totally recommend reading this book!

bunny cuteness

I finished this knitted bunny a few weeks, possibly a month ago?  His name is Max.  I brought him home from work so I could take a couple pics for the ol' blog and where did I find him?  In a tree!  LOL I guess the kitchen was too boring :) I foung the pattern on Ravelry, it was for fuzzy mitten lamb and I just modified the ears.  Okay, and now I have something shocking to tell you - I bought a pdf pattern!  I know, I know.  I have reiterated several times that I'm too cheap to buy one, but this bunny really needed a sweater!  I had seen on this blog, Flutterby Patch some really cute bunnies and as usual tucked it away in my conciousness.  After knitting up this bun I bought this pattern and it was worth it!  Really easy to follow directions and perfect dimensions for Max.  I will eventually make a female companion for him :)
I had a surprise package waiting for me on the porch when I got home, from Mom so I knew it would be something fun.  It was heavy so I was thinking book?  Opened it and was so happy to find this picture:
It is one of my favorites, ever! Love it. I put it right up on the wall. There were also, indeed, books: And fun fabric: Love it. Today I am enjoying the nice weather, have repotted a couple plants and finished Jane Eyre this morning. Oh how I lvoe that book! I ordered myself a copy because I can't imagine that I won't want to read it several hundred more times!

photocatchup

Okay, this is a phot catch up sort of post because I have been slacking a bit in the uploading area as of late. So, first up is a pic of how long my hair was before the chop. And, this is the after.  Nice up the nose shot, dontcha think?    This was taken right after the cut, I had been scrapbooking, took a break for the haircut, went back, snapped a pic and got back to scrapbooking.  I donated the ponytail to Locks of Love which is for cancer to make wigs.  Total length was about 12 inches!  And, I started this quilt on a whim.  I wanted a quick project and a lady in our bible study is pregnant. I don't know if she'll really like it so much because I recall her saying that the nursery is going to be primary colors. But, I really like the way it turned out and figure that anyone can use an extra quilt, right? Here's the back.  I basically just copied the quilt I had just finished, the ugly fabric quilt.  These were taken prior to adding on the binding because I was having a little trouble picking a color.  I wanted to use something from my stash to avoid spending any moolah.  But, I really had my heart set on turquoise and had none in my stash.  So, I ended up buying more fabric anyway but had a good coupon.  So, imagine it with turquoise binding :) I'll leave you with this, a picture of one of the flowers on my squash plants!!!!  I am so excited!  The other plants are also doing well but this is the first one to flower.  Isn't it beautiful? Okay, I can't resist a dog picture!  I was snapping pics of my plants and the boys had to be in the middle of it.  You'll notice my jenky set up here with the plants elevated.  That's because those little stinkers finally noticed the plants and felt the need to try and help with watering if you know what I mean!  Argh!Okay,  that's all for now, I've got to go get ready for a wedding!  Hope you all have a fab weekend!  It's nice and sunny and warm here and in the 80's - perfect!

for when the zombies come

I'm just wondering what in the whooville is going on?  Yesterday I was trolling around walmart and walked past a display of boxes of "emergency food supply"!  Um. Huh?  What did I miss?  The only thing I can think of is that people must be stocking up emergency food supplies for when the zombie hordes take over.  Or the end of the world in December?  But really, if it's the end of the world then you don't need an emgency food supply, am I right?  Just another marketing ploy and some dummies are buying it up!  Now that I say that I'll probably be one of those dummies once I find out what the rush is to get emergency food supplies.  But, I'd rather just can up some super yummy stuff and not some leftover astronaut food.  Just sayin.

puttery

So, again with a post sans pictures.  Sorry.  I don't have any finishes to show!  I am kind of chilling out right now :)  and what that means is that I made a dress this morning and have been knitting otherwise.  And reading.  I bought a couple of adirondack chairs last summer and I put one on the deck which is in the sun and the other in the grass under one of the trees in the back yard and I've been rotating which one I sit in and I'm either knitting or reading. 
I'm reading Jane Eyre right now and it's perfect.  Since I've seen so many versions of the movie I can really savor the book because I already know what's going to happen.  And, I just love the pace of the book.  I think since it was written so long ago, and the language is a little archaic at times, the pace is different.  And Jane.  Jane obsesses over things, or at least just really thinks about things so much.  I can so relate to that.
Oh, I almost forgot!  I bought some squash plants last weekend!  They have been living in the kitchen because our weather is frigid!  We had frost warnings at least 2-3 times this week.  So, today was overcast but a little warmish so I put them in bigger pots and put them out in the sun.  My Mom gave me an heirloom tomato plant when I went to visit last and I had such high hopes for that little plant.  Um.  but we almost had snow the week before last (or last week?) and it succumbed to the chill because someone isn't good at remembering to cover plants when it's cold.  I'm blaming Joey.  That dog has such a terrible memory!

hairyness or the lack thereof

This will have to be a super quick post but I just wanted to chime in.  I got my hair cut yesterday and it's such a funny thing.  I had started a couple years ago to grow my bangs out.  Which, if you've ever tried to do, you know that it is a painfully annoying process.  There are so many awkward stages.  Well, anyways, in growing my bangs the rest of my hair took the cue.  And then I thought, hey why not see how long it can get?  So I did.  It got about to my bra strap (halfway down my back) before it started to get all broken and yucky looking and super annoying.  So, yesterday Annette cut it all off and it will be mailed to "Locks of Love" to hopefully help make a wig for a cancer patient.  Grin.  And now I am back to me!  I instantly felt like I had gotten myself back when my cut was done.  That's what I mean about funny - like my hair being long or short should make me more or less me :)
 BTW did I mention how I got a new giant bubble wand and it's the bomb diggity?  I did and I love it. 

Christmas in June

I know, it's too early to be thinking of Christmas!  But, I needed a change of pace and something fairly quick to work on.  I am thinking I will add more white and then quilt it for a nice wallhanging.  I really like this block, it's just really not that quick of a block so I can't imagine doing a whole quilt with like 9-12 of them!  Yikes. 
So, what else is new?  Not much really.  I started going to zumba and water aerobics at the Y.  I was scared to death to be seen in public in a swimsuit but I found some shorts that sorta hide my butt and it's not so bad.  Not cute, mind you!  But not so bad.  The class is actually really easy, I don't know what I was expecting?  I love being in the water so it's fun.  Zumba is fun, too.
I started reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte yesterday because I figured since I've seen practically every version of it on film I should probably just go ahead and read the book.  My favorite version so far is a BBC version, natch.  I am also going to try and start going to book club again for Summer since I think we are moving bible study back to Mondays.  So, I'll keep you updated there.
Today is 81 degrees which is practically like a heat wave since we've been lucky to hit 60!  I'm loving it :)  So are the boys because when it's nice and warm I like to sit out back and read and they get to run amok.  Yesterday I got Rocky a new squeak toy and it was hilarious to watch him grab it, run to the couch and squeek it practically to death and then when I went outside he packed it with him and ran up and down the yard with it.  Love.