crochet — Page 17

My Blogiversary

February 20, 2012 at 11:39 am by Claudia

With all the drama surrounding the septic system, I didn’t realize until yesterday that my 4th anniversary of blogging had come and gone. I started this blog on February 17, 2008. Four years and 944 posts later, I love blogging more than ever. I wish I had chronicled the various looks of this blog. My first was, I’m sure, just the basic template and a photo of the house. Eventually it evolved to this:

It’s hard to see, but the background was in a pretty shade of brown.

At one point, I used this header:

Then I had Mandy design the font:

Then I used a favorite photo of peonies, with Mandy’s font design:

Eventually I had someone design a new header and background:

I had it for about a year and a half. But there was a problem with that designer. She stopped designing and didn’t tell her clients. She also stopped communicating with her clients. I saw the writing on the wall – I knew there was a very good chance she might pull her designs or let her Photobucket account lapse – and I redesigned the blog on my own. (By the way, her account lapsed several months later and many bloggers woke up one morning to missing design elements. Make sure you are in control of your blog. Keep those images in your own account. After all, you’ve paid for them. They should be yours. Or better yet, create your own design.)

And that brings us to today. Blogs evolve, don’t they? I had an idea of what this blog was to be, but it kept changing as I found my blogging voice. The professional design never really suited me; I see that now. It was an idea, a concept, that I wanted to fit into, much like a pretty dress that is perfect for someone else, just not for me. I’m finally comfortable with who I am, what Mockingbird Hill Cottage is. This blog design, much simpler, fits me perfectly. And I did it myself.

I’ve learned so much along the way. I am not overstating things when I say blogging has changed my life. It truly has. My loves; writing, photography, design, collecting, gardening, decorating, crafting and my husband and dogs, all come together at this little URL. I’m grateful. I’m blessed.

Thank you for being there. Some of you have been with me since the beginning. Some of you are newer readers. I’m thankful for each and every one of you. I’m looking forward to my fifth year of blogging. The adventure continues.
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By the way, I’m behind in visiting everyone and I know it. Life has been a little hectic here and I find that I am crocheting things for the shop in every spare moment. I will try to visit everyone this week. Fingers crossed.

Some of you have mentioned wanting a scarf but missing out when a new one is listed. I just listed this one yesterday (update: sold).

And I’m working on this one in silk and bamboo. Perfect for spring. It will be listed tomorrow.

Happy Monday.

Leach Fields are not Pretty

February 18, 2012 at 10:32 am by Claudia

It’s finished. Two guys worked tirelessly yesterday and the new leach field is in.

My yard is a mess. The grass is gone, replaced by mud. I can’t even look at it. Like Scarlett O’Hara, I say “Tomorrow is another day.”

I don’t do well with upheaval and the constant noise of machinery outside my window. So I closed the blinds, moved into the living room and played music all day. Thank you, Steve Jobs, for iTunes and good earbuds and my favorites list right here on my laptop. And for my laptop.

I am constantly playing “Running in the Deep” by Adele. That girl is seriously talented. I am always drawn to voices with a bit of huskiness to them. Her big, powerful voice and the lyrics she writes touch my heart.

Some snapshots (via the Hipstamatic App) of the day:

I’ve added the shawls to the shop. Today I’m adding a new Obsession Scarf and I’ll most likely add another one tomorrow. I find I have to remind myself to take a break or my hand and wrist start hurting. Occupational hazard.

Obsession Scarf in Wine – Update: Sold

Apropos of nothing, I just read a post by a blogger who had recently redecorated her kitchen. It’s gorgeous. But here’s the kicker: she linked the post to 46 linky parties. That might be the all-time record. I counted twice to make sure I was right.

What’s on the docket for your Saturday?

A Stealth Attack

February 13, 2012 at 10:04 am by Claudia

Our boy Riley has issues. One of them: absolutely no to any nail cutting. He will instinctively try to bite anyone who goes near his nails. In the past, we’ve dealt with this by giving him a little sedative before a visit to the Vet hospital. He would get pleasantly groggy and the deed would be done. But the last few times he’s had the sedative, he’s had an increasingly bad reaction to it. The last reaction was so strong that he was out of it for over 24 hours. Obviously we will not use it any longer.

But the nails are a problem. Especially for a boy who is finding it harder and harder to get around, especially on the hardwood floors in the kitchen, because of the progressive disease that has hit his spine. (Yes, we have throw rugs, but they can’t cover every inch of space.) What to do?

Stealth nail cutting. Last night, I sneaked the nail cutters into the den (on my dinner tray.) When he was finally fast asleep, I knelt beside him and clipped whatever nails I could get to. This will have to be a slow process over the course of several evenings – especially since I got a little over-zealous and clipped one nail a bit too much, causing it to bleed. Luckily I have some of that stuff that Vets use to stop the bleeding.

I know better. I used to work for a Vet. Lesson learned a second time. He’s okay, the sweet boy. More nail cutting is scheduled for tonight.

(I originally wrote ‘snuck.’ But then I wondered if that was the correct past tense of sneak. Turns out it isn’t. So ‘sneaked’ it is.)

Finished another scarf – this one is wool in a deep red shade. Is it just me or is red hard to photograph? The beautiful scarf that Mer wove was a challenge – I never seemed to capture the right shade. Too much fussing in photo editing invariably made the red too brassy. Both scarves are deep, yummy shades of red.

More yarn is on the way. Some of you have requested special orders or missed out on one of the color combinations. I’ll do my best to get them in the shop as quickly as my fingers and hook will let me. I’m also crocheting some more in the silk and bamboo combination – they are perfect for spring and summer and feel so silky to the touch.

I’m off to run some errands on this Monday morning. Have a great day.

My Blogiversary

Leach Fields are not Pretty

A Stealth Attack

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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