I gained a new respect for "bikers" this week. I wiped out...twice.

I took - actually "tried to take" would be more accurate - a beginner's motorcycle class. This is the class that teaches you to turn on the bikes! For some reason, I can't get the throttle to do what I want it to. So I hit the pavement. Hurt my pride a lot, hurt my knee a little. Thank goodness I was using their bikes and not my husband's Harley!!!

By the way, I DO know that the wreck could have been a lot worse! I'm thankful that it's just some road rash!

It's hot. It's flippin' hot! In fact, hot doesn't even begin to describe it. So what am I doing? Yep. Making Christmas stuff! Here's the quilt I did. OK, it's really just a wall hanging, but it IS quilted!

So what am I going to do with this new knowledge? Why more wall hangings, of course!

This candle is something! It's a bell (as you can tell!) and smells like "twigs and berries." My hubby claims it's a "Manly Scent." I'm really thinking about a candle/soap booth at a craft fair. I'm not sure I have the experience, though... Who knows!

You know, I'm really enjoying the exchanges on a craft list I'm on. This month I did a choker and a dishcloth. I haven't received any yet (this month, that is!) but I realized how much fun I have creating the items to send off. I even added some homemade soap in the exchanges as a special "treat" for my partners. Of course, my hubby was excited to see some of THAT go as well! Here you can see the dishcloth and the choker I made.

The beads on this choker are little pastel flowers. They didn't show up so well on the picture. I really need to get better with this new digital camera. I have some candle pictures and soap pictures I want to upload, too, but I'm not happy with how they came out. Maybe I'm trying to get TOO close to shoot them... Yeah, that's probably it.

I'm still working on the quilt. Actually, I have the "quilt" part done now, too. I just have to add the "extras." It should be finished tomorrow at the latest.

Finished my quilting class, but not the quilt.

I did find my 50th geocache today. And even placed my very first one!!! Not a big thing, but I think it's cool!

Will have pictures later!

NOTE: I'm gonna rant!
Ok, so why would you have an animal, let it roam the neighborhood and NOT get it spayed or neutered? Are people just that stupid that they don't know that animals WILL reproduce? DUH! They teach sex education in schools, right? You can't apply that to cats?

For those who haven't guessed, my neighbors don't "fix" their cats. They let them roam around -- which is great for catching mice, but not so great for little girls catching cats. We know have a litter if kittens in my yard. The sad thing is they will grow up and be "un-fixed" cats, so the cycle will continue. We go through this every summer. So far my daughter has caught 2 (including this little runt!) and we've taken them to the shelter. It's 90 degrees here this week and these little guys need to be given a fair chance, don't you think???

Do I wish I could keep them all? Yep. Do I regret taking them to the shelter? Nope. Better than letting them starve or have MORE kittens which will starve. Do I wish my daughter wouldn't get so attached to the cute little things? Yep. (For the record, I have 3 cats already!) Do I wish my neighbor would be a more responsible pet owner? Yep!!!!

How's this for a Cat House? I did this fish from Simplicity Pattern #9004. Just for the record, it was a PAIN! If -- and this is a big "if" -- I ever make this again, I'll stuff it more like a pillow, instead of trying to sew the foam/batting. Seriously, I broke 5 needles and 4 of them were for heavy-duty fabrics! So I'm not overly pleased with it (of course, I see all the mistakes in just about everything I do!), but the cats seem to like it. Or maybe they just really liked the catnip I put inside....

Did another washcloth last night. Most people I know seem to use them as dish cloths, but I really like them as face cloths instead. Maybe it's the feel of the cotton, or just the fact that I made it. Who knows.

I'm taking a quilting class. I'm not sure where I'll find the time for yet ANOTHER hobby, but it keeps me out of trouble, right? Yeah, I didn't think so, either. At least I have a supportive husband who doesn't mind what hobbies I pick up! In fact, he is pretty happy when I pull out the sewing machine, so this should make him ecstatic! Of course, he's pretty pleased when I'm knitting or crocheting or making candles, too. (OK, he doesn't mind the soap, but we really do have a bit of it right now!)

Made this candle the other day. These are a lot of fun to do! I also did a taper, although why I only bought ONE taper mold is beyond me! OK, so I ordered a second on off the net last week and can't wait until it gets here -- along with a bunch of other candle molds!

Finished this choker for an exchange. I liked the idea of doing it in Patriotic colors for the Fourth of July holiday. Not the style I usually do, but I liked it. I'd really like to find a pattern for one that just has a charm hanging from it or something like that instead of a lot of beads.

What's going on in my life? Well, I'm heavy into making soap and candles. I'm enjoying time crocheting and knitting. I have recently gotten 2 new contracts for web design and I'm easily working on my mystery. (Not as often as I should, but I'm still plugging away!)

As you can tell by the "Signal Box," I'm still caching. I finally broke down and purchased some travel bugs and need to get those placed soon. House work has fallen by the wayside, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make! ;)

Oh, and I'm thinking of selling soap and candles at a flea market/craft fair type thing. A little nervous about that, though!

Just got back from the Job's Daughters Grand Bethel. Too much fun! My daughter ever got selected for a Grand Bethel Officer!!! What an honor!

Been awhile since I've posted anything of substance, but hey, I've been busy! Had family in for Mother's Day and we went to Bear Country USA in the Black Hills of South Dakota. So much fun! The baby bears have been born and they look so cute. Wouldn't want to hug on one of the mama's though! They're huge!!! And the claws are frightening! We did see one bear try to eat the car in front of us. Must have needed salt or something because the bear didn't take a real bite.

Have been doing a lot of geocaching now that the weather is warming up. Have found some tough ones. I tried to plant one the other day, but it was STOLEN! Before I could even publish it!!! Can you believe it??? I was so upset! I'm not sure I'll ever plant another one.

Have I been writing? Yes. I did two more short stories and have been working on the mystery novel.

As for crafting, I've been knitting and crocheting some. This washcloths has a peace sign in the middle (got the pattern off the 'net). I've also taken up two new hobbies: soap and candle making. Love both! I am doing melt and pour soap, which I know that some believe it's not "real" soap making, but I don't have the time, the space, or the desire to do the cold process stuff. My sister, though, does it all the time.

So that's been my month or so. I'll try to post more regularly!

OK, so I like the Washing Well Wenches at the Ren. Fest!!!

You are Petunia! Congratulations! You are a lonely little Petunia in an onion patch... a sweet delicate flower, sweetening the air around you. Being a Petunia means that you love life, laundry and the pursuit of cleanliness! You don't just love your laundry, you roll around in it, sleep in piles of it and have vivid, epic dreams about YOUR LAUNDRY. You care deeeply about the public's hygiene. Which Wench Are YOU? Find out at http://www.washingwellwenches.com

PLEASE VOTE!!!

OK, so I entered a short story contest under my pen name. Please go and read it and vote for it!!!! Here's the link
http://www.donardpublishing.com/page81.html
Thanks!!!

This could be a little disturbing!

What Type of Homeschooler Are You?

Mr. Potato Head You have your ideal of how things should look, but youre flexible enough to allow for change. You are not bothered by changing methods, mid-course if necessary. You use an eclectic combination of curriculum sources. Visit my blog: http://www.GuiltFreeHomeschooling.blogspot.com
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What kind of yarn are you?

You are Shetland Wool. You are a traditional sort who can sometimes be a little on the harsh side. Though you look delicate you are tough as nails and prone to intricacies. Despite your acerbic ways you are widely respected and even revered.
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So much for the summer-like weather! Winter hasn't ended just yet. Today towns up in the hills got more than TWO FEET of snow!!! Yep, 24 inches of wet, nasty, snow. Gotta love that..... I did get some more geocaching done before winter made it's return. A new (and more accurate!) GPS makes that more fun!!

Did a creative project this week. This Monkey iPod cover is found in the latest "Stitch N Bitch" book -- "Happy Hooker." Finally a book with fun, funky patterns for crocheting as well! Other projects still in the works include the Weasley sweater (yep, still!) and a pair of socks (one is finished). I'm also doing the choker exchange still and that's fun. Did the dishcloth exchange this month as well.

I'm also finishing up the school year here. Finishing books and ending courses. Writing finals and grading a few final papers. One of the things I really love about home educating is being able to FINISH the subjects. We go all the way to the end of the book before the subject is considered over. Of course, I also need to start looking for books for next year. Have much of the year planned, I just need to get the texts ordered.

At least it's not boring, right? ;)

Been a busy week, but the weather is BEAUTIFUL!! My loving hubby got me a barrel planter and this is what I've done so far. I'm thinking I'll plant some more of those English Daisies (don't they look like pretty dandilions?) when I'm sure there won't be a frost. I also planted some "Dragon's Blood" and some Phylox near our driveway.

The house is finally sided. I'm so glad not to have to paint ever again. I won't be so glad to pay the loan, but it wasn't that bad and it did need to be done, so what can you say?

With the great weather, I have gotten some geocaching done. Although, getting a new GPS was a great reason to go out and test it!!!

Am working on chapter 7 of the mystery novel I did for NaNoWriMo. This is total re-write mode. Some of what I wrote is really good, but some is just .... well, you get the picture. I don't know what I'd do without my critique group. They really help me turn the crap into something I can use. This dream of being an author might actually come true one of these days!

Made an awesome choker the other day. I really like the colors of this one. Didn't think I'd ever be able to crochet wire! How cool is that?