Not your momma's caramel corn

Is Garrett's the only reason I go into the city?  Definitely not.  But it is right up there near the very top!  The photo may not look like much but it is popcorn heaven.

China? Really??

Yes, I found China far less daunting than I expected.  I'm even VERY seriously considering moving there.  They need English teachers and I can do that, with a little training first.  I am going to talk with a rep from an agency (of sorts) about whether I'm being realistic.  I'm 51 years old already, and I have some personal debt.  But while I don't have a degree in teaching, I do have a somewhat recent master's degree (MBA)

On the other hand, I have ideas for getting the women I know together to support one another and I can't do that from China.  Plus the music ministry Carole and I already have to the folks at the Convalescent Center.

I'll let God decide :-)

Fun?

I just looked up the definition of the word "fun" because people keep suggesting that my upcoming trip to China will be fun.

I'm correct.  Fun is not the right word.  Interesting. Enjoyable. Worthwhile. Intriguing. Stretching. Mind-expanding. Not really fun, although I certainly hope for many fun moments along the way.  Just sayin.

Ideas

I was bumbling around the blogosphere at  lunch today and found a few really excellent things.  People who are really using blogging in a good way.
I subscribe to a blog that is set up as a weekly free journaling class with four regular teachers and a guest.  So far it has been interesting but only marginally inspiring because the styles are rather similar, are not very "art"istic (more craft than art) and are simply not to my tastes.  However the guest for this past Saturday was a breath of fresh, artistic air.  He has a nifty, interesting blog and also is involved with an online school for visual journalers.  Which led me to several other teachers, and one in particular.  She also has a very interesting blog in which she was willing to admit that she watches tv and even explained why she enjoyed a particular show so much.  I was favorably impressed.  Then, the piece de resistance, she also has a blog with a yearly one-month-long project.  Similar to NaNoWriMo, it runs for the month of April.  International Fake Journal.  I'm seriously considering it.  Even though I have something huge looming in mid-May.  I was thinking that the protagonist of my mystery novel could be the journaler and she could sketch the town where the book takes place.  It would help with future novels (assuming I write more and not veer off into that science fiction storyline I was considering).
The artist was explaining why she liked the show Foyle's War so much and that's just another reason this seems so providential, because her reasons are some of the same reasons that I chose to write a mystery to begin with.  Heros and villains and right over might.  *Sigh*  Another project-just what I needed???

H.A.H., Jr.

We lost a good man recently.  He was 80, so I guess it should come as no shock, but it certainly was a surprise.  He had been in good health.  He was dapper, and gentle.  He had the biggest hands.  I think they somehow matched his big heart.  He was a scholar, and wrote many things.  He was a teacher and taught so many people about God and His Son.  He was an Old Testament scholar, and well understood the righteousness and holiness of our God.  He was joyously grateful that God sent His Son to pay the price for our sin.  He spent his life helping to show that to other people.  He was kind and compassionate.  He modeled the sort of person that we should all strive to be.  He did his best to reveal Jesus to the world.  I will miss him a lot.  I'll miss his smile, and his warm greetings.  I'll miss his teaching and the way he gestured with those big hands of his.  I'll miss his suit & tie, and I'll miss his care for those around him.  I'm glad to have known him and I look forward to telling him one day just how much he meant to me.  I can imagine there was the angelic-equivalent of a cheer when he got to heaven the other day.  Saints who joyfully welcomed one of their own.

Travel x 3

I've never been off this continent.  I've been all over the continental US, although perhaps not Texas.  I've been to Canada a number of times and once in Mexico.

Within the next 8 months I will have been to China, Bulgaria and Germany (Layover in Frankfort).  Beijing and Changchun, China.  Sofia and Tran, Bulgaria.  I'm suddenly on track to have been a world traveler before Halloween.

Freaks me out a little bit.

Am I nuts or what?!?

I've been accepted on both teams.  Which means I have to go to Bulgaria AND China this year.  I keep hearing the blood pumping through my ears.  What have I gotten myself into???

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Seriously.  If I manage to accomplish this, it will only be through the work of the Spirit in me.  The three-in-one making me more than I could be without Father/Son/Spirit.

OMG.  Literally.

Twofer craziness

So yesterday while I was waiting for my interview with representatives of the Missions Committee, a man was chatting with me while he was figuring out where he was supposed to be.  Casually he mentioned that I should be going on the trip that he and his wife were leading.  Shortly after that, I found myself asking the Missions Pastor if it would be possible for me to apply for two trips.  He thought it was possible.  So sometime tomorrow I should find out if I will be going overseas not just once but twice in the next eight months!!!  The first time I've ever been abroad.  Not bad for a middle-aged chick, eh?

Desert island musicians

Yes, I should be working with my whole brain, but I've been really enjoying Spotify and I came up with the three musicians I would want access to if I were on a desert island.  Or if I got to pick who would accompany me in space.
#1 - Fernando Ortega
#2 - Harry Connick Jr
#3 - Brad Paisley
If there was room for one more I'd probably pick Sara Groves. 

Or Craig Morgan.  It'd be handy to have a hunter along.

Best Sock Knitting Pattern-Toes Up (of course)

Regia is the best sock wool.  I didn't love wool, but it makes the best-wearing socks.  This is the best and fastest way to knit a pair.  I knit it almost all in plain knit because I can knit much faster than I can purl and patterns really slow me down (although they look awesome).  I love a snug-fitting sock and I have size 9 (wide) feet.  Adjust as you see fit, so to speak.


M (make) as often as possible on the back loop to leave the smallest hole possible


100g yarn
5 size-1 Double-Pointed Needles (DPN)
9" size-1 circular needle (I like the Chiagoo)
stitch markers
ruler
CAST ON


Cast on 30 stitches on two of the DPN using the figure eight cast-on method.  I leave a decent amount of tail so that I can knit it into the second half of the first round and then I don't have to worry about it unraveling and can simply cut it off after that first, but make sure not to pick up the two threads as two stitches.  Make a slip knot on the right needle, then wind under around and down over the left needle (one stitch) down through the middle and under around and over the right needle (second stitch).  Repeat to 30 stitches and be sure not to include the knot.  Pull them snug.  Knit the stiches on the left needle but don't count them as a round (or part of one).  Drop the slip knot, pick up the tail and knit one round, all stitches on both needles.


TOE
Knit the toe in pairs of rounds, increasing twice at each edge for the first round and a plain knit the second, notated thus:
1--K1    M1     knit to the penultimate stich     M1      K1 (first needle)
Repeat for second needle to finish the first round
2--Knit a round
Repeat to 25 stitches on each needle or 50 stitches total.  Add a pair of needles as needed (pretty early, in my experience)
FOOT
Switch to the circular needle, marking the edges and continue knitting all rounds until the sock measures six inches.
GUSSETS
Increase at each edge to create the gussets until there are 70 stitches total, notated as pairs of rounds thus:
1--Sole(first needle)-K1     M1     knit to the penultimate stitch     M1     K1 --- Arch(second needle)-Knit
2--Knit one round (both needles)
For the final round (once you've reached 70) taking off the markers: put 25 arch stitches on the Chiagoo,  sole---14 on one DPN, 17 on the second DPN, and 14 on the third DPN.
HEEL
Working only on the second needle (for now) on a knit row:
K1     M1     knit to penultimate stitch      wrap and turn
P1      M1     P to the 3rd-to-last-stitch     wrap and turn
K1     M1     K to the 3rd-to-last-stitch     wrap and turn
P1     M1      P to the 5th-to-last-stitch      wrap and turn
K1     M1     K to the 5th-to-last-stitch     wrap and turn
P1     M1     P to the 7th-to-last-stitch      wrap and turn
K1     M1     K to the 7th-to-last-stitch     wrap and turn
TURN HEEL
P1     M1     P to the last stitch, slip & purl tog with stitch from the first needle, turn.  Repeat the following pattern until all stitches on needle one and three are used, splitting the work on the second needle as needed (Partridge stitch);
Slip1    (K1 S1) to penultimate stitch, knit together with stitch from other needle     turn
Slip 1     P to penultimate stitch, purl together with stitch from other needle      turn
Slip1    K1 (K1 S1) to penultimate stitch, knit together with stitch from other needle     turn
Slip 1     P to penultimate stitch, purl together with stitch from other needle      turn
LEG
Knit around all 50 stitches until the sock is as high as you desire, then K1 P1 for the final 1-1/2 inch.  Secure your end and Boom, SOCK!  Repeat for a pair :-)