Big Bird

One of the best parts about living near a lake is all of the wildlife. I wish I knew birds by their call because I hear lots of different ones every day. One creature makes a really weird sounds, similar to a bullfrog but I think it might be a bird making the sounds. We've never seen the creature, only heard it. The sound resembles a very loud, creaky door. Any ideas? I heard it when I saw a big, white bird fly by the other day.

Here are 2 pics of what is maybe a heron that lives near the lake and likes to sit out on the neighbor's dock:

I Can See Clearly Now!

I drove from Michigan to my folks' condo in Illinois tonight just so I could see the season premier of Grey's Anatomy without squinting through the static on the television at the lake. It was worth it just to lie on the couch and watch much-anticipated, mindless television. Earlier today I took a test to be a substitute secretary in a neighboring school district. You see, I don't think I could handle the tortue that students put substitute teachers through but I think I could handle working in the office. I had to take a typing test. The first document I had to type was, "Should You Be a Secretary?" and the second was, "Should You Be a Social Worker?" Hmmmmmmmm...

Getting Your Hair to Grow

Okay, so I finally got to a computer with high-speed internet and was able to view the following ADORABLE video on my friend's website. Please check it out, but only if you like cute kids: Eliza, What Did You Do?

Secret Mittens

I signed up for a Mitten Exchange on Ravelry. I provided information about my favorite colors, yarn, types of mittens I'd like, etc. The facilitator collected all of the information and then told us who would be knitting mittens for us and who we would be knitting mittens for. I have about 3 months to make them but with Christmas coming I'd better get busy!! I will be knitting mittens for Irma in the Netherlands. You can see her blog at: http://www.zoetegoed.blogspot.com/. I hope I will be able to make something she will like.

Energy Sucker

A good friend called at 10:30pm last night and we talked FOR 3 HOURS. She had to be at work by 7am but instead of going to bed and getting some rest, she called me to dialogue for 3 hours. She finally admitted that, as an extrovert, she goes around sucking out other people's energy to use for herself. Can you believe it? When I am stressed out and have to work alot of hours, it doesn't give me more energy to talk to people. I would much rather find some peace and quiet and get some rest for the next day. We covered lots of topics in those 3 hours and it was fun to reconnect across the miles. This friend isn't a big fan of blogs, so we'll see if she posts a comment...

I finished 2 kitty cat hats to sell. I used Caron Simply Soft yarn, which is very inexpensive and wonderfully soft. The pattern can be found for free at
http://www.kittyville.com/knit/kitty_hat.html. If you're a knitter, the pattern is probably for an adult size. I cast on 60 stitches for a toddler hat and 72 stitches for a child hat. Happy knitting!

A Little Work and A Little Fun

Oh geez. I had all the best intentions to go to bed early, as in before 10:30pm. However, I made the mistake of checking my email and then I really wanted to see the pictures that my Dad sent from Kentucky where they are on a volunteer assignment. Since I apparently live in a section of Michigan where it is IMPOSSIBLE to get high speed internet service, it took me a good chunk of time to download the 12 pictures but it was worth it for these 2 pics of my folks visiting a coal mine on their day off. Now I can go to bed knowing they are working hard and having fun.

A Good Day...and It's All FREE!

Yesterday was full of little surprises. I got a free 3-month supply of one of prescriptions that I usually have to buy for $60/month. I worked only 2 hours at my job and then stopped at the library where the library director gave me a big box of free yarn. While it was all acrylic yarn, that I don't usually use, it will be perfect for the appetizers and other fake food that I want to knit for my nieces. A couple of skeins are even in a weird lunchmeat color!


When I got home, I found an AMAZING birthday package from my friend, Christy. If you know her and want to read a funny store, check out Kristin's Blog. Christy sent a full box of treats from Prairie Harvest in Newton, KS. I think it was as fun for her to shop as it was for me to get the presents.


I spent the afternoon knitting like crazy. I have been selling lots of my things at Grace's Place in Paw Paw, MI and I need to build up my inventory. I took some new things over there yesterday, including this felted puppet made from Lopi yarn:

The Best Sandwich Ever

Cheyanne turned 6 last week. She was born 3 days after September 11, 2001. It was remarkable to see new life after so much destruction.

I'm so glad she's in my life! We celebrated her birthday last week with a family get-together. Her favorite present was a fake peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

The Party and the Tricky Kid

I visited my family in Illinois last weekend. We had a farewell party for a friend of the family who we've know for over 20 years who is moving out East.

I stayed with my folks on Saturday night, as did my 2 nieces. When Cheyanne was getting ready for church on Sunday morning she proudly showed me her new "high heel flip flops" and asked if she could wear them to church. I told her, "Sure! I don't see why not." Well, turns out she had been instructed by both parents that she is only to wear them for dress-up around the house and NOT to clomp around at church in them. She's a sneaky one! What do you think? Are they church shoes?

Is it Working?

Could some of you click on the My Projects at Ravelry link in the sidebar to the left and tell me if it is working. Does it send you to a page with pictures of things I have made? Can you click on them for more info? Thanks for helping me figure out if it is working.

Feeding My Addiction

OH NO! For those of you who know how much I love to: knit, talk about knitting, listen to people talk about knitting, watch knitting on T.V., etc., you will not be surprised to learn that I am obsessed with a brand new site called Ravelry. It is still in beta testing and I have been on the waiting list for months...until today. I was surprised to receive my invitation to register on the site and now I get to play! I can upload pictures and details about all my projects, past and present. I can search for other people who have used the same patterns and see pictures and posts about their finished products. I can upload info about all of the knitting books that I have and about my stash (that is, all of the yarn that I am presently hoarding). If you're not a knitter, you will probably not understand the joy that this brings me. If you are a knitter, you MUST check it out and sign up on the waiting list. It is SO COOL! Once you are signed up, you can search for Auntiebonita and see all of my projects and the embarrassing size of my stash (which I have yet to upload).

The Last Warm Days of Summer

My youngest niece came to spend a couple of days with me before the rest of the family came for the Labor Day weekend. As you can see, I took her out in the kayak -- we call it the "otter boat." The nights were cool and she was able to wear the new poncho that I made for her.