Where I've been, and where I'm goin'

Sigh, more time slipped past me. Each day I have things to tell you but by the time I'm done work, and posted on Facebook and done a bunch of other things, I don't get back to my computer. Plus I do most of my 'fun' stuff on the iPad but prefer to type these posts on my computer. And that was part of the problem. My desk was filled with other things and there wasn't a place for my computer and so I found that it would just stay in its case, turned off, day after day.

Now I have cleared some desk space and I tend to leave it on but just put it to sleep. I find that I am more likely to go in and out of it much more often. I guess the iPad has spoiled me because it's never really turned off and comes on so quickly. The scary thought is that all this speedy computer equipment makes my brain want things quicker and I think my attention span is getting smaller. Luckily I'm not like those some of the people on TV shows like the ones they show on Slice or TLC, but still I find myself quitting something because I'm not willing to wait. I'm still a pretty good listener and my mind doesn't wander when others are talking, so there is still some hope for me yet.

Back on track, I think

Oh my! I didn't realize it had been so long. I guess I took the summer off. We had almost four months of sunny hot dry weather and I didn't spend too much time indoors. I don't actually know what I did all summer, but now it's the first of September and it's raining.

The rain  made many firefighters happy and much of the forests in British Columbia were burning and smoke travelled all the way into the eastern parts of Alberta. Smoke and fires also crossed the border between Washington state and BC

But now it's rain. And I'm indoors and I'm knitting and crocheting again and thinking about winter and Halloween and Christmas. And it all goes so fast. I really swear time speeds up the older we get!

I also see that I have lost almost all my readers and so I will have to begin like a  new blogger to build everything back. If you're reading this, could you comment so I know if anyone is still here?

Blogaversary - 9 years!

Today is my 9 year blogaversary. I just can't believe I have been writing for so many years. In the past I've written about all the things that have changed since I've started but since I've done that a couple of times, I thought I'd try something else.

This one is hard for me, but I'll see if I can go it - 9 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ME:

1) When I was a small child, I was convinced I had been reincarnated from a dog
2) I didn't go to kindergarten - I went to daycare from age 3 to 6 instead
3) I've only lived without a dog for about 3 years in my twenties when I lived on my own in apartments
4) My family isn't into sports, but I was. I put myself on the track team (high jump and 4x100 relay) when I was in elementary school, as well as track and the tennis team in high school. I also played field hockey in grades 9 & 10.
5) I seem to have an amazing memory for songs and lyrics. Unfortunately I have a terrible singing voice.
6) I am learning to speak Dutch for my trip to the Netherlands with my mom this year.
7) When I was 15 I entered a hand-sewn quilt in the Vancouver -Pacific National Exhibition (which used to have a cooking, baking and arts/crafts section for judging like a traditional farm fair) - I won a ribbon
8) I used to ride a motorcycle
9) I prefer driving a standard transmission car

whoops! there's the list! That wasn't as bad as I thought! Did you find it interesting?

Happy Blogaversary to me and Way Out Wear!!!

Blogging vs Facebook?

Many days I have come to this blog, started to write a post and then deleted it - either because I didn't have time to finish it or I didn't think that you'd want to read what I was writing.

I'm sure this has happened to many others, but since I joined Facebook, and 'liked' several craft pages and several bloggers, I get all my updates through there, and so I just don't visit my blog any much as I should. And I'm not visiting others blogs either - which is a real shame as you're all taking the time to thoughtfully choose your words and post interesting content.

Are you finding a decrease in traffic too? Are you on Facebook and have you moved away from your blog? I'm struggling with the answers to these questions. But then every now and again, Facebook makes an announcement about how it's showing the posts of organized posters (i.e. not individuals) and business accounts, and I've heard some people/groups/companies say they were leaving Facebook because they refused to pay the fees.

Just the other day, one person wrote that they had over 2,000 followers yet only  their reach was only 60+ people. That's a pretty low return. Of course, Facebook tells them they can get more followers if they pay. And that's where many people are resisting.

So my question is this - do you also have a Facebook account? Do you feel you've left your blog for Facebook? Or are you leaving Facebook for your blog?

Spring redecoration

Do you like my new spring blog look? It was time to say goodbye to the snow and the bunnies and the wooly background and embrace the bright spring colours. How'd I do?

Returning home

Today I will be flying home from  a week long visit with family in Alberta. It's been an animal filled week with several dogs, two skunks and lots of deer. Although it's been colder than what I am used to and even snowed a couple of times, it's been sunnier and brighter than a week of Vancouver rain and so I am grateful for that.

I hope my flights aren't delayed as I would like to be home tonight. Jp didn't walk Eco at all this week but tells me they played frisbee with her, so that would give her some exercise and outdoor time.

My mom provide a nice place to stay and I appreciate the many yummy meals planned just for me. It wasn't without drama but I'm not going to dwell on the events and just look forward to one last morning and afternoon before I return to my little house and family. Hope you had a good week, I hope to catch up on your blogs this week as well.

Chickies are Hatching ! Hurrry!!!!

This is so interesting! Head on over to Honey Nutbrown's blog  - she's giving a play by play of chickies hatching. But hurry cuz it's almost over!

BC's First Family Day

Today is a statutory holiday in BC - for many years workers in this province asked for a day off between New Years and Easter, especially when other provinces in Canada had a holiday. This year is our first one. Somewhere along the way there was a vote on when it should be (no one I know knew anything about this vote) and it was decided that since we are unique people we should have it the week before the rest of the country. For many this probably doesn't make much difference, but if you're a national business you have potentially lost two business days in the shortest month of the year   - one for our holiday and one the rest of the country. As well, my family is in another province. Perhaps if we had the holiday on the same weekend one of us would have travelled to see family? Nope, not gonna happen. 

Today is also a special day here at Way Out Wear headquarters because it's the 7th Blogaversary. Yes, I have been writing to you for seven years. Reflecting on that time  one of the biggest things that has changed is my readers - not one person who was with me in the beginning is here with me now - except family. That's just part of being a grown-up isn't it? As the saying goes "people come into your life for reason, a season or a lifetime". I hope you are with me for a long time as I really do enjoy your comments and your company. 

Other things that have changed over the past seven years, just to name a few: 

1) Both my dogs, Maxx and Jazz are no longer with me but now I share my life with my wonderful chocolate lab, Eco. There were lots of stories about Maxx's epilepsy and lots of stories about Jazz's noise phobia, and lots of puppy raising stories

2) I got married

3) I started a business

4) I've changed my page layout and background at least 20 times

5) We replaced our old cars with new ones

6) countless knitting, crochet and embroidery projects

7) multiple thrift store adventures

8) too many stories about the weather

9) lots of cooking/baking stories 

10) and funny things about the family. 

So thank you readers for sharing my journey with me, I'm glad you're part of my family. 

Halloween Decorating Ideas

If you are looking for some fabulous Halloween decorating ideas - check out the Older and Wisor blog - here's a photo from her blog:

She shows lots of fabulous ideas, and if I lived near the shop, I'd be in there today!!!!

A Ghost A Day?

Want to try something fun in October?

Check out this site - she gives 48 cute food ideas for ghosts - that gives you plenty of choice for the month. Wouldn't that be fun?

Let me know if you try it!

Panda Baby

I couldn't resist making this adorable panda hat for babies for the next newborn photoshoot:

I think it's adorable.

My brother's going to get mad at me for saying this (too negative, he says) but I never like putting on ears or other parts like this as  I never seem to get them straight no matter how hard I try, but I think I finally got this one  - I only had to pick and resew an eye patch once, and remake the nose (it wasn't salvageable after I tried to unpick it). Now I can't wait to see it on a little baby's head!

And, if you'd like to see how to do it yourself, or compare what it should look like, then head on over the to the designer's blog KnitProCro (I just love that name!)

Finished piece is for sale in my Etsy shop, see sidebar at right for link and photo.

Advanced Style

This is awesome. This is a fashion blog featuring fashionable "older" ladies. It's nice to see them knock the fashion world out of the park, and it's nice to see fashion on ordinary people - not just on the runway or in a magazine and it's a nice break from seeing all the 20-something Kardashian/Snooky/fill-in-the-blank perfect little hot bodies running around town.

The bio on his blog states: My name is Ari Seth Cohen. I roam the streets of New York looking for the most stylish and creative older folks. Respect your elders and let these ladies and gents teach you a thing or two about living life to the fullest. Advanced Style offers proof from the wise and silver-haired set that personal style advances with age

If you'd like to see some real fashion, then check out this blog: Advanced Style. And tell me what you think!

Know and Tell

I just love this blog Know and Tell Crafts - not only are there fun crafts and great Photoshop tutorials, I just love that it's written by a 12 year old boy. Honestly I have a hard time believing he's only 12, it's just that good. And he's one of the few craft bloggers that writes "MOD podge" instead of other words that kinda, actually make me cringe a wee bit.

So  I recommend you pour yourself a cup of tea or coffee and sit down to read as many posts as you can. I'm sure you'll quite enjoy it. I know I did!

Here's his signature narwhale, isn't it fab?