Merry Christmas!

Well, Christmas is over.  The tree has been taken down and most of the decorations have already been packed away.  The last of the visitors have left.  I think it was a great celebration this year.  We had the opportunity to hang out with family we hadn't seen in almost a year.  I just wanted to post before the new year.  So Merry Christmas!!!  And Happy New Year!!!

Heartstrings Yarn Studio

On my way out of Chico on Friday I stopped by this little yarn shop that I had walked to one of my first weeks at Chico State.  It is called Heartstrings Yarn Studio.  Honestly, I have to say I wasn’t overly impressed during my first visit.  Although the selection of yarn is INCREDIBLE, there is a lack of local yarns.  I know I went in with expectations of tons of local yarns because this is an “Ag” county and therefore there has to be more local spinners and fiber suppliers.

Even though I wasn’t completely awed my first visit, Heartstrings is one of the (if not the) only yarn shop in Chico.  And I wanted some “good” yarn.  After 10 years I have grown tired of Red Heart Super Saver acrylic yarn.  I was in the mood for some sock yarn, I want to learn to knit socks two at a time on circular needles.  

I think I chose a good day, there was no one in the store (okay one other person) and the sales lady was so kind to help me.  It was awesome.  I told her I was looking for some sock yarn, she showed me the selection.  I picked out a nice merino wool and an alpaca/merino blend.  Both are delicious!  

Then I told the sales lady I was looking to make some crocheted potholders.  She showed me her selection of 100% cottons as well as the sales bins that I could dig through to find some cotton yarns.  It was great fun!  

I came away with my two sock yarns, a new set of circular needles, and some great information about the local spinning group.  I even applied for a job there!  Boy it would be great if I could work there!

On my second visit my mind was changed regarding this quaint little yarn shop.  I quite like it. The selection of yarn and needles is quite extensive and the staff is very knowledgable.  I will someday be a supplier for high quality fiber rovings and yarn to shops such as Heartstrings Yarn Studio.'

Check out there website at http://heartstringsyarn.com/ 

KnitPicks Podcast

I have recently become addicted to the Knit Picks Podcasts.  I’m not exactly sure what the appeal is, since I don’t knit very much.  It must be all the chatting about yarn, dying, spinning, and interviews with authors.  I checked out the website and they have so much amazing yarn.  The only downfall is that I can’t snuggle with it before I commit to buying.  Their prices aren’t bad either.  I really love that (at least for now) there is FREE shipping for order over $50!  And that is not a hard number to hit!  

I was listening to an old podcast from July 3, 2008, it was an interview with Gale Zucker the photographer for Shear Spirit.  I have yet to check out the book but I loved the interview!  Kelley, the podcast hostess, asked Gale if she could have any livestock in on a little farm what would she have.  Her answer to my great delight...alpacas and goats!  I was pulling some bread out of the oven and when I heard that I started laughing out loud!  I thought I was the only one on this planet that was that crazy to pick that combination of livestock.  I was happy to hear I’m not the only crazy person on the planet.  

I will eventually buy some Knit Picks’ yarn, but until I have some disposable income, I will be content with what I have and enjoy listening to the podcast.  www.knitpicks.com

Daily Audio Bible

Last year (2010), I discovered the Daily Audio Bible on itunes.  I listened on and off that year, but this year I have been (fairly) constant in listening to the Daily Audio Bible daily.  What is the Daily Audio Bible you ask?  It is the Bible being read every day every year, going through the entire Bible in one year.  Each day is a bit from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Proverbs and Psalms.  I enjoy being about to listen to the Bible and each week it is read from a different translation.

My only complaint (sort of), is that at the end there are called in prayer requests.  Sometimes I feel that some of the people are whining, selfish, and just annoying.  I usually just turn it off after the daily reading, so that in itself just by passes the problem.  

If you want to get in on this awesome way to go through the entire Bible every day of the year go to iTunes and search Daily Audio Bible and it will come right up or go to this link http://www.dailyaudiobible.com  

I feel loved...

Last weekend, my family took our traditional trip up the mountain to cut down our own Christmas tree as Little Bear Creek Tree Farm.  It was quite the hunt finding the perfect tree, but we found it.  Today, when I was chatting with my little sister she informs me that I have to come home this weekend so we can decorate our Christmas tree.  I told her if I didn’t come home this weekend I’d probably come home next weekend.  She said, that I had to come home this weekend because she needed to be able to take pictures in front of the tree with her boyfriend and “their” rabbit, Stella for the Christmas cards she intends to send out this year.  And I thought she just loved me and wanted to see me.  

December, Already?

I really cannot believe it is already the first day of the last month of this year!  I have no idea where this year went.  Okay, I do...it graduated from the future to the present to the past.  I have kept myself busy with work, then school, and now school and job hunting.  It has been a good eleven months, the only thing that could have made it better would have been to keep my job and have a free ride at school.  Oh well, I guess I'll just have to work for everything I need and want myself.  I will hopefully have a few posts this month of some yummy treats and look for a post or two on cleaning up and seasoning old cast iron cookware!