My church, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, has a ministry called Hugs Ministry. The latest project is knitted or crocheted prayer shawls for people who are ill and need a little hug from God as well as from loving parishioners.
I finally started knitting a prayer shawl! Here's a picture of it in the beginning stage. The color is called Mixed Berry, and it is a very uplifting color. I know it appears to be small, but it is folded under, so it's not stretched out to the full 20 inches. It will eventually be 20" x 60" with a pocket at each end. Warm, comforting, and useful!
Previously for this ministry, we made baby blankets for unwed mothers. I really enjoy making blankets, so I made two: see them here.
I'm looking forward to finishing this project, but I love the process as well. Each time I pick up my shawl and knit a few rows, I say a prayer for the person who will receive this homemade hug. I hope and pray my humble gift will warm that special someone with God's love.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Totally Cool Tuesday: Spring Fever
While I did have a high fever last week and over the weekend, that's not the fever I want to blog about. I'm over my random illness, so now it's time to focus on more important things such as spring cleaning, spring weather, and a touch of spring fever. Cue the visual!
After last week's freakishly freezing temperatures, I'm enjoying this much more mild weather. Don't be fooled by the "Mostly Cloudy" bit. The sun is working just fine, trust me. Although, I actually prefer mostly cloudy.
This forecast is totally cool.
After last week's freakishly freezing temperatures, I'm enjoying this much more mild weather. Don't be fooled by the "Mostly Cloudy" bit. The sun is working just fine, trust me. Although, I actually prefer mostly cloudy.
This forecast is totally cool.
What do you think?
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Totally Cool Tuesday: One of the Good Guys
Sidney Poitier is my favorite actor. He's a class act all around, and he's one of the few celebrities I would love to meet. He hasn't made any movies lately (he'll be 84 on February 20), but we still have many wonderful movies of his to watch and enjoy--over and over and over.
Lilies of the Field is my favorite--not only of Sidney Poitier's movies, but all movies. Mr. Poitier was the first black actor to win an Oscar, and it was for this movie (best actor in a leading role). I know why, too. He's fantastic!
I haven't seen all of his movies, but here are a few that I have seen several times:
Take a few minutes to find out more about this amazing man. Maybe you'll say he's totally cool as well.
Lilies of the Field is my favorite--not only of Sidney Poitier's movies, but all movies. Mr. Poitier was the first black actor to win an Oscar, and it was for this movie (best actor in a leading role). I know why, too. He's fantastic!
I haven't seen all of his movies, but here are a few that I have seen several times:
- A Raisin in the Sun (1961)
- Lilies of the Field (1963)
- A Patch of Blue (1965)
- To Sir, with Love (1967)
- Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
Take a few minutes to find out more about this amazing man. Maybe you'll say he's totally cool as well.
What do you think?
Friday, February 4, 2011
Paw Prints and Catnaps
A lot of the neighborhood cats seem to love our yard and especially our deck. Most of the cats run away if I go outside--who knows why they are so skittish. The cat next door, however, never hightails it when I open the door. She loves when I go outside and pet her and let her jump in my lap.
There's a friendly orange cat that has been hanging around lately.
Not too long ago, the orange cat wanted to be friendly with the charcoal cat who was very comfortably sleeping on our patio chair.
Yesterday afternoon, the orange cat wanted to come inside. It has been very cold this week. I was tempted, but I said no because I know this cat has a home close by and is well taken care of. I told her to run on home before it got dark, and she did.
This morning we woke up to a tiny bit of snow. Not a big deal to people north of us, but a big deal here in south Texas. Since we get so many kitties visiting our house, I can't be sure which cat left these cute little paw prints. We get a white/gray, a charcoal, a black (two), and an orange cat at any given time, so these prints could belong to any one of them--or maybe a new one. Either way, they are all welcome to stop by and visit or take a little nap on our deck or porch.
I'm not quite ready to get another cat of my own, so I'm satisfied with the occasional visit from the many cats that live around here and patrol our neighborhood.
There's a friendly orange cat that has been hanging around lately.
Not too long ago, the orange cat wanted to be friendly with the charcoal cat who was very comfortably sleeping on our patio chair.
Yesterday afternoon, the orange cat wanted to come inside. It has been very cold this week. I was tempted, but I said no because I know this cat has a home close by and is well taken care of. I told her to run on home before it got dark, and she did.
This morning we woke up to a tiny bit of snow. Not a big deal to people north of us, but a big deal here in south Texas. Since we get so many kitties visiting our house, I can't be sure which cat left these cute little paw prints. We get a white/gray, a charcoal, a black (two), and an orange cat at any given time, so these prints could belong to any one of them--or maybe a new one. Either way, they are all welcome to stop by and visit or take a little nap on our deck or porch.
I'm not quite ready to get another cat of my own, so I'm satisfied with the occasional visit from the many cats that live around here and patrol our neighborhood.
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Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Totally Cool Tuesday: Don't Just Use It, Reuseit!
One of my favorite websites is http://www.reuseit.com/. Their tagline is "reusables for every part of your life."
It's been a while since I've ordered something from this site. I recently checked it out again, and I discovered they have added so many new things. Actually, the site used to be called ReusableBags, but I guess they changed it because they go way beyond bags now.
Several years ago, I ordered five shopping bags. This picture is the closest I could find to what my bags look like.
The only difference is that my bags are brown, and they were around $6 each. They are now on sale for $2.95. These cotton bags get compliments--mostly because of the dual handles. The short handles make lifting and carrying a lot easier when the bag is extra heavy. I know you can get much cheaper reusable bags, but I bought these when most stores didn't sell them or give them away. I don't regret a single penny, because my brown bags are wonderful!
I did get these bags from the same site before I ordered the ones I just described.
I think these string bags would be good at farmer's markets when you are buying a lot of fruits and vegetables. I struggled with them on a regular basis and with regular groceries. They're too stretchy and somewhat awkward with corners poking out and small things falling through, but they are still better than those urban tumbleweeds: the plastic ones at the checkout.
http://www.reuseit.com/ added so many totally cool new categories since I last ordered anything. I'm looking forward to browsing. I will also spend a little time reading some of the interesting stuff they have on their site that informs and encourages the public to do the right thing.
It's been a while since I've ordered something from this site. I recently checked it out again, and I discovered they have added so many new things. Actually, the site used to be called ReusableBags, but I guess they changed it because they go way beyond bags now.
Several years ago, I ordered five shopping bags. This picture is the closest I could find to what my bags look like.
The only difference is that my bags are brown, and they were around $6 each. They are now on sale for $2.95. These cotton bags get compliments--mostly because of the dual handles. The short handles make lifting and carrying a lot easier when the bag is extra heavy. I know you can get much cheaper reusable bags, but I bought these when most stores didn't sell them or give them away. I don't regret a single penny, because my brown bags are wonderful!
I did get these bags from the same site before I ordered the ones I just described.
I think these string bags would be good at farmer's markets when you are buying a lot of fruits and vegetables. I struggled with them on a regular basis and with regular groceries. They're too stretchy and somewhat awkward with corners poking out and small things falling through, but they are still better than those urban tumbleweeds: the plastic ones at the checkout.
http://www.reuseit.com/ added so many totally cool new categories since I last ordered anything. I'm looking forward to browsing. I will also spend a little time reading some of the interesting stuff they have on their site that informs and encourages the public to do the right thing.
What do you think?
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Totally Cool Tuesday
Welcome to my new blog idea. This weekly post is where I share what I consider to be totally cool. It might be a gadget, a book, a place, a person, an activity--could be anything!
For this first Totally Cool Tuesday, I have chosen a very handy dandy emergency radio. This AM/FM, TV, and weather alert radio has a hand crank to charge the built-in battery, and it can be used as a flashlight and a beacon. What I really like about this product is that you can charge your cell phone on it. Now that's really cool.
I'm really into being prepared for emergencies, and this radio would be the perfect item to add to my action plan for preparedness.
For this first Totally Cool Tuesday, I have chosen a very handy dandy emergency radio. This AM/FM, TV, and weather alert radio has a hand crank to charge the built-in battery, and it can be used as a flashlight and a beacon. What I really like about this product is that you can charge your cell phone on it. Now that's really cool.
I'm really into being prepared for emergencies, and this radio would be the perfect item to add to my action plan for preparedness.
What do you think?
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
A Little Reinvention
Now what? Well, I'm looking for a job. Actually, I'm looking for a career--or at least employment that will allow me to utilize my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in English. I want to find something that will make me smile each morning because I love what I do!
I'm having trouble visualizing what that job will be, but it's out there. I just need to put all the pieces in place, and I need to trust in God to lead me.
In the meantime, I'm reading, playing pool, and cleaning/organizing my house. Little miss laziness has her eye on me, so I'm trying to stay strong! Inspiration is all around me.
- Start buying new clothes . . . including a suit. Yes, a suit! A first for me. I actually can't wait to wear it. A little reinvention never hurt anyone: check
- Visit the Career Center at UTSA and start using their website to help locate that perfect job: check
- Work on my resume so I can upload it to the UTSA Career Center website and upload it to LinkedIn: check
- Apply!
I'm having trouble visualizing what that job will be, but it's out there. I just need to put all the pieces in place, and I need to trust in God to lead me.
In the meantime, I'm reading, playing pool, and cleaning/organizing my house. Little miss laziness has her eye on me, so I'm trying to stay strong! Inspiration is all around me.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Reader of Books
Besides setting the goals of finding a job, becoming a better pool player, and cleaning/organizing all the nooks and crannies in my house in 2011, I have also set a reading goal. I think it's so much fun that Goodreads.com has set up a Reading Challenge! This kind of thing is right up my alley because, well, I love to read. Oh really?
I'm not sure if eight more books is much of a challenge, but I read most of those books last year for grad school--and several were over 800 pages! I'm finished with school, and I have free time to read a lot right now . . . but . . . I can't really say what my reading life will be like once I start working. I hate setting this type of goal and then coming up short. I really hate that! It's like doing NaNoWriMo in November. If I start it, I finish it. Period. I might find myself reading like a maniac in November and December because I will read at least 111 books this year!
My goal is to read 111 books this year! I made a "read in 2010" shelf in Goodreads, tagged those books, and discovered I read 103 books last year. Some of those books I actually read before 2010, but I did read them again last year, so I counted them. I like to be accurate!
I'm not sure if eight more books is much of a challenge, but I read most of those books last year for grad school--and several were over 800 pages! I'm finished with school, and I have free time to read a lot right now . . . but . . . I can't really say what my reading life will be like once I start working. I hate setting this type of goal and then coming up short. I really hate that! It's like doing NaNoWriMo in November. If I start it, I finish it. Period. I might find myself reading like a maniac in November and December because I will read at least 111 books this year!I added the Goodreads Reading Challenge widget right here on my blog (to the left) to show my progress. I can do it!
What's your goal?
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Owning the Table
Time for another year of pool! The part I like best about this game is watching Ken play. He's so good, and he makes the game look so easy. He skilfully controls the cue ball so that it seems almost magical. It's also fun to see people acknowledge Ken as an amazing pool player. Infused with a bit of jealousy and a lot of admiration, Ken's opponents know who owns the table.
One of my goals for 2011 is to practice more. I think I got a little burned out by the end of 2010, so I need to get my head back in the game. I wouldn't mind owning the table once in a while.
Rack 'em!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Movies 2011
1. Country Strong--January 15
2. The King's Speech--March 16
3. The Lincoln Lawyer--March 20
4. Unknown--April 22
5. Water for Elephants--May 21
6. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides--June 11
7. Super 8--June 15
8. Larry Crowne--July 5
9. Cowboys & Aliens--August 5
10. The Help--August 22
11. The Debt--September 9
12. Contagion--September 24
13. Seven Days in Utopia--October 7
14. Killer Elite--October 21
15. Tower Heist--November 5
16. The Way--November 6
17. The Descendents--November 24
18. J. Edgar--December 3
19. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows--December 16
20. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo--December 30
***
Movies 2010
Movies 2009
2. The King's Speech--March 16
3. The Lincoln Lawyer--March 20
4. Unknown--April 22
5. Water for Elephants--May 21
6. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides--June 11
7. Super 8--June 15
8. Larry Crowne--July 5
9. Cowboys & Aliens--August 5
10. The Help--August 22
11. The Debt--September 9
12. Contagion--September 24
13. Seven Days in Utopia--October 7
14. Killer Elite--October 21
15. Tower Heist--November 5
16. The Way--November 6
17. The Descendents--November 24
18. J. Edgar--December 3
19. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows--December 16
20. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo--December 30
***
Movies 2010
Movies 2009
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