B is for Brown

When most people think of the desert they think of the color brown. But the Sonoran desert isn't all brown, it's full of lots of different colors.

B is not for Brown. B is for Beautiful.

Photo by maunshb3

Photo by onetiredbuthappymamablog

Photo by theranchmineofficial

Photo by ckchristian

A is for Arroyo

Most places have rivers. In the desert, we have washes. Dry ones. They are called arroyos. They fill up when it rains and then they dry up. Sometimes they REALLY fill up.

When it rains the water causes a flash flood.




Some arroyos are really deep and wide. One of the largest is the Santa Cruz river. It is dry for most of the year. 

Here are a couple of photos to help give you a perspective of what it looks like when it is dry or kind of dry like the photo directly below.

Photo by lasertrimman

Photo by R.S. Walker

But then it rains and the excitement begins.

Photo by kiqwi

Photo by kevinlane2

The A to Z of My Sonoran Desert

The Blogging from A to Z Challenge begins in just a few hours.

This will be my 4th year taking part in the challenge. But it will be my first year actually choosing a theme to write about. In the past, I never chose a theme because I don't really think I am an expert at anything. So, I didn't really know what to write about. 

My "theme" for the last 3 years of the challenge has been ALL about Me. But this year I decided I should write about something else, because there is just so much that I can write about myself before it starts to get really really weird.

So, my theme for this year's A to Z Challenge will be... All about the Sonoran Desert.

I was born in the desert and raised here so I have to know something, right? But because I am me, my posts will be more like My Sonoran Desert.

Blogging from A to Z

I can't believe that I am doing this AGAIN!!

I signed up at the beginning of the year, but I have been on the fence about actually participating. I have enjoyed the challenge for 3-years now, but there was something about last year that made me feel like I just couldn't do it again.

The first year I did the challenge (2011) I had a blast. I wrote my posts by the seat of my pants and had a great time visiting other blogs and responding to comments (both on other blogs and on my own).

The next year I participated (2013) I planned out my posts a bit more. There was a lot of activity at the beginning of the challenge but it sort of petered out towards the end of the month. Even so, I still enjoyed the challenge enough to want to do it again the following year.

Last year (2014) had the largest amount of people participating in the challenge but I noticed very few people visiting my blog, much less leaving comments. From what I could tell this seemed to be happening just on my own blog though because I saw lots of comments on other blogs when I was visiting other challengers from the list. I didn't find 2014 to be as much fun as previous years. I decided then that I probably wouldn't participate in the next year's challenge.

But then I read the sign-up post for this year. And for some unknown reason I put my name on that list.

I think I may actually have a theme this year. I am starting to get a little bit excited about it all. April will soon be here. Oh boy, what have I done?

Just ignore it

I have this thing about not blogging unless I have a photo to go with the post. 

Recently, I have been dealing with a full hard drive on my computer. It won't even let me open a photo to view it. 

I have been writing all these blog posts but then they just sit there, unpublished. All because I don't have a photo. And since I don't want to deal with deleting stuff, I end up just ignoring the entire situation by not turning on the computer for weeks. As if ignoring it will make it all go away. 

But then again, I haven't turned on the computer lately to check. Who knows, maybe it's all fixed now.

2014: A year in scrapbooking

This post was supposed to be published in January, but as you can see that totally did not happen. And since I know it will bug me if I don't publish this particular year in review post, I am doing it now.

Although I didn't do any traditional scrapbooking this year (again), I did take part in the Index-Card-a-Day challenge. It's like a mini art journal page on an index card. I love doing this challenge and now-a-days it seems to be the only time I get to use my supplies. Here's hoping to a scrappier 2015!

2014: A year in yarn

I worked on many yarny projects this year but in the end I only managed to complete one. Well kind of. I still have the ends to weave in, but since the fun part was completed in 2014, I considered this project finished.

: : DETAILS : :

Pattern: Neat Ripple Pattern from Attic24
Yarn: KnitPicks Brava Worsted in Asphalt Heather, Cobblestone Heather, Dove Heather & Persimmon
Hook (needle) size: 5.5 mm (I)
My Ravelry link: Spooky {ripple} 

2014: A year in photos

This year's update is a bit different than my usual year end photo update. Because I just couldn't stop myself, I took part in another 365 daily photo project. This would be my 4th one! This one was a bit different though because I ONLY used my iPod.

I took so many photos in 2014. I even took photos in addition to the photos I took for my daily photo challenge. My iPod is full. My computer hard drive is full. I have no space.

I do love having all these photos though. I love being able to look back and see what happened during the year. Especially since 2014 started and ended with taking care of a very sick kitty.

There are so many photos. I just couldn't pick a couple of photos for each month. So this year, I picked them all. Well, not really all of them. Just my iPod 365 photos.

Other years in review: 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009

goodbye

Bye bye sweet Cairo kitty.

It is in their eyes that their magic resides.
~ Arthur Symons

from where i stand

Work on the next ripple has begun

I'm so happy that I get to finally use "girl" colors. All my other ripple blankets have been boy blankets. I had fun choosing colors for this blanket. I'm using Brava worsted and the colors are much brighter than I expected. I love it!


I am using a total of 12 different colors in my Anna ripple. First round of color is complete. Just repeating the pattern now.


My social life is pretty much consumed by this blanket at the moment.

Will I finish this blanket in time for Christmas?

Autumn has come and gone

I was so excited to see the leaves on my tree turn yellow. They were so very yellow!

Then the rain came and washed away all that yellow.



I think Winter has finally arrived in the desert.

Currently...

Posting... for all of you that aren't a Googlebot. Lately, my blog has been super popular with the Googlebots. Way too many Googlebots. Are there any Humans out there?

Wondering... if I will put up a Christmas tree this year. The bathroom redo is STILL in process and I don't think I could handle adding a tree to the toilet and vanity that are currently hanging out in the living room.

Weaving... in the ends of the first Christmas ripple blanket for this year. I am making 2 blankets this year. I just started crocheting the second blanket and I fear it won't be finished before Christmas.

Hoping... that the weather cools down some. 70 degrees just doesn't feel like Christmas. I would like to get to wear a sweater at least once this season. For goodness sakes, I am wearing flip flops in December!

Thinking... that my sweet Cairo kitty may not make it to the end of the year. She starts to not do as well but then she keeps bouncing back, so I am never sure what is going on.

ruined

Exactly 1 year ago, to the day (which is very weird by the way), I bought myself a new pair of glasses. It was long overdue and as usual it was a long process which involved going back multiple times for replacement lenses and other various issues. I always seem to have issues when I buy a new pair of glasses. Sadly, the issues pretty much are always due to the place where I buy them.

Needless to say, I am very careful when I get a new pair of glasses because I dread ever having to go back.

For a while now my glasses have been sitting a little crooked. I work late and by the time I get out of work, the eyeglass place is always closed. Today, I had an early day so I went down to get my eyeglass frames adjusted. The guy who adjusted my glasses completely scratched up both of the lenses. The entire right lens is covered in hairline scratches. The left lens is almost as bad.

I was so proud of myself, that after a year, I only had one scratch on one lens (which coincidentally happened the last time I got them adjusted). This time, I made sure my lenses were clean before I went so that they wouldn't have to clean them and so that I could avoid any scratches. As soon as the guy took my glasses I noticed he sprayed something on the lenses and smeared them up. After making the adjustments, he did some more rubbing of the lenses. I noticed when I got home that the lenses were all smeared and needed to be clean. I went to wash them with soap and noticed that what I thought were smears and streaks were actually scratches.

Now I need entirely new glasses. That's how bad the damage is. When I look through the lenses, all I see is haze and glare bouncing off the haze.

I called the store when I got home but it was a few minutes before their closing time and they had already closed up. I left a message but my plan is to go in first thing in the morning and see what they will do for me. I have a sinking feeling that I will be left having to buy a whole new pair of glasses. I worry that since I didn't notice the scratches until after I left, that they won't believe me.

UPDATE 11/30/14:  I am a happy camper. I went back to the store to show them the scratched lenses. They have ordered new lenses for me at no charge. I was told that when they heat up the glasses (to adjust them) that the heat can crack the coating on the lenses. Apparently, it is really rare. So of course it had to happen to me.

Popcorn clouds

Some days the sky is so pretty you just have to take as many photos of it as you can.

Nothing beats that morning sun

Wordless Wednesday: On the prowl

The Spookiness is growing

I am about half-way finished with my current ripple blanket. I really need to pick up the pace though because I have a second blanket that I need to make before Christmas.

This is my 5th ripple. I guess I am a bit addicted to them. I have used the same Attic24 pattern for all of my ripple blankets. I really do like this pattern. Not only does it look good but it is very easy to memorize.

One good thing about using the same pattern over and over is that I pretty much know exactly how much yarn I will need and how long it should take me to complete a blanket. However, that doesn't really mean much when it comes to my procrastination issues.

Casual Friday

Knit ALL the things!!

There are so many cozy things I want to make.

Spoooooky ripple

My new ripple is looking a bit Halloweeny. The dark grey is a little blacker than I had expected. 

The start of a new ripple

I've started crocheting a new ripple blanket. 

Christmas will soon be here, only a few weeks to go if you stop and think about it, and I have 2 blankets to crochet this year.

Three or so years ago I started making one ripple blanket each year to give to one of my nephews/nieces. One of my brothers has 5 kids and so far I have made blankets for 3 of them. This is the year I get to make blankets for his youngest, the twins. I am actually pretty excited that I get to actually make a "girly" blanket this year.



 
I LOVED using Knit Picks Brava on my last ripple blanket. I wanted to use it again but had read online that the yarn now comes from China instead of Turkey. The majority of the reviews were not kind. I decided to just go ahead and order the Brava. So far, it's been okay. I did get some skeins from Turkey and I can definitely see (and feel) the difference. I much prefer the original yarn (from Turkey). But I have to say that even though the new yarn (from China) is much much thinner and kind of shiny, it still feels soft once I have crocheted it.

Have you tried Knit Picks Brava? What do you think of it?