Kelli tagged me.

Here are the guidelines.

* Link to the person who tagged you.
* Post the rules on your blog.
* Write 6 random things about yourself.
* Tag 6-ish people at the end of your post.
* Let each person know he/she has been tagged.
* Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

1. One of my favorite memories of all time was a horse drawn sleigh ride. I was either in first or second grade because we lived in Alaska. My great grandmother had come to visit. The sky was clear and we saw the Northern Lights on our drive out to where the sleigh was. There were tons of blankets on our laps–I lived out my Little House on the Prairie obsession, pretending to be Laura. Two large horses pulled us around a lake. It was beyond magical.

2. Living in Alaska, there is a lot of hot beverage drinking to stay warm. As a kid I disliked coffee and hot chocolate. Instead, I drank hot Tang. I haven’t seen hot Tang on a menu in a long time. Yum!

3. Eric and I passed a significant dating milestone when I was doing a forward bend in yoga and passed gas.

4. I would love to study with la Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris. The grad school I’m looking at has opportunities to do that–but logistically it is just about impossible.

5. I used to be (and honestly still am) freaked out by aliens. I saw the movie Fire in the Sky when I was probably too young. I don’t really think they exist, but… **shudder**

6. Raw meat grosses me out. I enjoy eating steak, and hamburgers but not if I have to cook them. If it weren’t for Eric cooking meat, I could pretty easily be a vegetarian. I’m particularly picky about fat and gristle.

I’d love to have these people share.

Grace
Jill
Laura

Peace,

Katy ^_^

P.S. One of the spelling words in third grade this week is “throughout.” When I was grading spelling sentences, one of their favorites was, “I throughout the garbage.” I laughed out loud the first time I saw it.

It feels like days are flying by. Here’s the low-down for the past few. I’m trying out some new skins for Wordpress. I hope you like the new style.

We went for a walk yesterday. I’m obsessing about purple and greens. Like these beauties.

No news on Eric’s test results. Still waiting…

I got a physical at the doctor–it’d been a few years. I am totally healthy, which is something to celebrate. The doctor did say I could stand to lose 10 pounds. So far so good. We joined a gym and I’ve made it to two 5:50 am classes so far. Eric and I go two nights a week too. Here’s a delicious salad I made. Eric is being a sport. It means he’s lost his nightly wine-buddy.

We purchased our first Christmas tree today. It is a wee thing. Here’s the trimmings. We hope to get it up soon. I realize that is WAY early, but I’m beyond excited. We’ve never really had room for a tree before. We chose a blue theme.

An added bonus is the fact that we have a fireplace and mantle! Here’s the current look. I hope to make it festive too!

Jill created a Flicker group for our photos with the draft a long. I will post my progress later this evening. I plan to spend the rest of the day (it is already 3:30!!) drafting and working on sketches to apply for graduate school. I also want to use them in a portfolio I intend to send blindly to a few fashion companies around here. I’m not sure if I’ll do the school thing, but I do want to have everything ready so I can.

If you need a laugh, check out Cute Overload. I don’t think I can repeat this video too many times. Amazing.

Peace,

Katy ^_^

It has been a bit of an “off week.” Lots of blah-ness going around. Friday afternoon Eric and I headed for Half Moon Bay and drove down Hwy 1 to Santa Cruz. The road trip took about an hour and a half. It was fun. The view was spectacular. We stopped at a historic lighthouse. At the lighthouse, everything North was dark and foggy, everything south was sunny and radiant. I didn’t think about taking photos until after that stop. Here’s Eric driving.

Here’s a photo looking over a cliff toward the ocean. In the middle is clouds/fog and then the sky starts. Amazing, but the photo didn’t do it justice.

Yesterday, was lazy and wonderful. Today, I caught up on some sewing. I have re-purposed thrift store graduation robes into Wise Men finery. Here’s a shot of one of them.

I switched purses. This is one I purchased the summer I worked in Paris. It looks like an old-fashioned doctor’s bag. It is dark green. It makes me have such happy memories!

Well Jill over at Inside My Sewing Box, and I are working on a project. We’d love to have you join along if you are interested. First step, that was supposed to be done a while back is to draft a skirt block. I think we’re hoping to complete that by this Friday, November 14. Next step is to create a skirt from our block. The deadline is Friday, November 28. Believe me, we’ve not been good at deadlines. Jill is preparing for a show, and well, I’m just being lazy. I created a cute icon in Illustrator. It looks quite dated (mid-80s) at least to me, but it is a start, right? I’m having difficulty saving it–so hopefully it’ll be up later.

Peace,

^_^ Katy

I went with a new friend to the Artistry in Fashion Event at the local community college. The keynote speaker was Marla Duran from Project Runway Season 2. She seems to be one of the most down to earth project runway contestants. Here’s my terrible attempt at snapping her photo.

The school was really nice. The department held an open house and had a lot of the designers items on display. I think it’ll be fun to take a class or two when I can afford tuition (appropriate context is at the bottom of the post in the link).

Here is a shot of one of the pink sacks that lined the way from the different buildings on campus. They were very helpful!

Lastly, I wanted to introduce the Robinson’s new “friend,” Bob. He set up shop a few days ago on the wall in our bathroom above our toilet. We left him alone, generally. Eric even fed him an ant this afternoon. But since some friends are going to stop by later this evening, we decided he needed to be removed. It is one thing to think a “pet” spider is cute, but another thing to explain that to a friend that really has to go to the bathroom. So we transplanted him outside. We hope he makes it.

When I was a wee thing I had reoccurring nightmares involving spiders. They only ended when one night in my dream I was able to smash them with my biggest book–My First Dictionary. I like to think I’ve come a long way.

Peace,

^_^

Sorry I have been such a stranger. Thoughts seem to come to me in spurts and this has been a bit of a dry spell. As I catch you up to the last few weeks, enjoy a photo-stroll around my new town that is finally starting to feel like home.

Eric spent most of the second week of October in Tahoe. He was at the district’s pastors conference. They met in a casino?!? He fell in love with Tahoe and brought home some of his best photographic work yet. While he was away, I took it upon myself to play “catch up.” Getting through the not-so-fun things that always get ignored on “to do” lists. I’m quite pleased with my first attempt at repainting wooden furniture. It is by no means perfect, but it does look much better!

Last week started off great. The three day weekend was beyond refreshing. Standardized testing started on Tuesday and students and teachers alike wore out quickly.

Tuesday, Eric and I quietly celebrated my 27th birthday and his 3 year cancer-versary. I was overwhelmed at the birthday wishes from my family and friends. It sure is fun.

Thursday we left for Texas and a giant celebration for Eric’s mom’s 50th! It was quite the extravaganza. I think we were successful in toasting the birthday girl.

The fun part about the trip was seeing my parent’s new-to-them home. They moved down the street from the in laws. So splitting time was very easy. I got to take 2 long walks with my dad. We talk best while walking. I got to see my grandpa. He has dementia/Alzheimers. It was good. He remembered me. Not my name, but me anyways. We got to catch up with one of my bridesmaids and her husband. We also got to see good friends and their crazy dog that helped us survive our first year of seminary and Eric’s diagnosis.

Yesterday was the Nike Women’s Marathon. I ran it in 2006. I tried to get in this year, but wasn’t a lucky lottery winner. Maybe next year. Thanks to all of the people that raised money. $15 million was raised in 2006. That is a crazy, ridiculous number. I just heard from a dear friend that is supporting a loved one with CML. She’s not responding to treatment. I’m grateful Eric and I are some of the lucky ones.

I feel like I’m starting the week a day late, way behind, and am trying to run and tie my shoes at the same time.

Peace,

^_^

Izzie “adopted” Eric and me when we were at the seminary. Someway or another she got connected to us–nothing official. She is the dearest lady that sends us typewriter-written letters with some frequency. She’s a farmer’s wife and has mentioned that she has never left the county she was born in. Our life experiences could not be more different.

We received one of her letters today. I love the way that in the heading, after her address, she typed, “Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 30, 2008.” I envision her sitting at the kitchen table with the typewriter out, pecking out our note.

Her letters usually include a recipe or anecdote. Today was no different. There was a poem about being a “vicar.” This is the official term for Eric’s internship. I am so grateful for people like her. She is a true gem and has encouraged me more than she will ever understand.

Peace,

Katy ^_^

Why is it so difficult to get photos of finished garments? See, I was wearing the outfit on Thursday–and got lots of compliments which are always fun–and still no photos. I had a haircut appointment and being a girl, I thought, why not take photos after my hair is done? Well, then we unexpectedly, but still very excitedly got invited out to dinner. We were about 30 minutes late because of my hair appointment, then Eric had to jet to church for activities and well, no photos.

Friday was amazingly lazy. It was superb.

Saturday was a conference, then Light the Night. Or Night the Light if you ask Eric’s aunt. It is a very fun fundraiser. Eric is always so excited he gets to carry a white balloon–because he is a survivor. It is one of the few perks. Sadly half-way through the walk, his balloon flew away. We walked two-miles around downtown Palo Alto. It was neat to see a new area, for me. I was caught off-guard as we walked right past the Facebook headquarters. It feels odd that it happens in a normal-looking office building. Not sure why though.

Here’s some photos.

Eric and his white balloon–yay for Gleevec!!

Walking–the balloons have lights on the inside.

Waiting to Start.

So since this was sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, they also had information about Team in Training. I’m awfully nervous about this–but I’m pretty sure I’m going to sign up for the next event. The Tour de Palm Springs–a century ride. This be my fourth Team in Training event, and the final leg of my Triple Crown–a marathon, a triathlon, and a century ride. I’m hoping to get Eric to join too. Right now the LLS is short on donations because of the troubling economy. Each company that files bankruptcy, or dissolves is also not making corporate donations. Without those donations, new drugs cannot be developed as easily. Team and Training developed the drug that saves Eric daily–Gleevec.

Enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon. I highly recommend Eric and my favorite Sunday evening show–America’s Funniest Videos. The season premiere is tonight.

Peace,

Katy ^_^

I got these sunflowers last week while shopping at Trader Joes. They are the easiest flowers to take care of. They’re still gorgeous!

I’ve been cleaning today. We had Eric’s college friends staying with us last week. They both just got jobs in the area so we were housing them while they found an apartment. Scotch loved the visitors, Sake hid in the bedroom whenever they were around. We tried to keep cat hair to a minimum, but there is only so much that can be done. Sorry, Meredith, if it was too much. You were a great sport about it!

My mom arrives tomorrow afternoon. I’m giddy like a kid high on candy. It is her first visit to California since we’ve become Californians. I can’t wait to show her our digs and the area. So the air mattresses are being relocated. One will go to the study for my mom, the other will be deflated and stored. Until then, the cat’s have decided to play “fort.” It is pretty ridiculous.

Here’s Sake.

Here’s Scotch.

I realize I’ve become that crazy cat lady, but I’ve come to terms with it. Meanwhile, in the study I’ve almost finished scrap booking my trips to Paris. This was the summer of 02 and 03. Seems like 5 or 6 years later is a good time to start, right?

I finally checked with the community college about how to get registered for classes. I would like to take some draping, fitting, and possibly some business classes. Seems like I’ve got a bit of waiting to do. You see, classes would currently cost $204 per credit hour plus any fees and materials. But if I wait until I’ve been here a year and a day, they will only cost $20 per credit hour plus any fees. It is worth waiting. In the meantime, I will be honing the skills I have learned and have let get a bit rusty. Flat-pattern work.

School is going well. The kids never cease to amaze and humor me. I love third graders’ enthusiasm for everything.

Peace,

Katy ^_^

Sake “helping” as usual. And yes, we didn’t make our bed today. I’d blame Eric since he was the last to get up, but I helped with my after school nap!

Here’s my buddy.

I’ve had my violin since 6th grade. In 7th grade, I became an orchestra drop-out. I was terrified of the music my teacher gave me for a competition. Now, that I’m researching getting lessons–and $50 for 30 minutes is a steal–I’m kicking myself. Looks like I’ll be self-taught.

One of my violin’s cutest features is where it was made.

In a country that doesn’t exist today.

The hope was I could help with a song at church. The new schedule messed me up so much I chose not to practice. I’m practicing now and hoping to be ready the next time the song comes up.

Keep in mind I haven’t picked up much since 7th grade. I’m a bit screetchy, but man is it fun when the notes come out right.

Helping as a teacher’s aide has been really fun. Everything but the alarm clock waking me up. The class has so many unique personalities. I love it!