A Journey of a Thousand Miles ....

"... begins with a Single Step"

For Christmas, I received a notebook with this saying on the front cover. It caught my eye this week and made me think of a "Journey" that I've been trying to take for quite a number of years.

I've never been very strong in math, at least that's how I've always felt. I couldn't have been too bad cause I made it through my college courses alright. Still I've never been satisfied with my understanding in this subject. Honestly, this is one reason (not the only reason) why I did not pursue taking the GRE; on the practice test my math scores were below normal. Say what you want about it, that really bugged me, I mean really bugged me. How bugged? Well if I'm being honest, the fact is my master's program at the school I was looking into did not care what score I got on the GRE, just that I took it. So to say the least, I'm bugged by my math skills.

Back in high school I got introduced to Saxon Math and really liked their method of reviewing the past lessons along with learning new material. None of the textbooks I had before and even after ever really taught that way. I think I figured that was really my problem with math, I never had consistent review to cement the methods in my memory.

So Saxon Math has really stuck with me through the years because I've bought some of their books hoping to finally "fill in the gaps". Funny cause I own Algebra 1/2, Algebra 1, and Calculus. Algebra 1 was bought in 1999 & Algebra 1/2 last year in 2009 with Calculus being acquired sometime in between. But it wasn't until two weeks ago that I even started working with the Algebra 1/2 book. I started midweek so I got through 2 chapters before the weekend. Then last week I fell off and only completed 1 chapter for the whole week.

This was on my mind when my eye caught the Journey saying. Even though it's been 10 years since I bought the first Saxon book, they all have a brand new appearance because I just never made it past the first week/2 weeks. The biggest challenge I'm having with this time is just sitting down and working through one chapter. The math is currently just addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Understanding how to work large numbers really. So it's stuff I already know but to get through a chapter I have to sit down and focus. Who knew "focusing" would be so difficult? And we are talking focusing for less then an hour, cause none of those chapters have yet pushed me to longer. Another challenge, which could be connected to the whole focusing bit, is waking up the mind to do math. Honestly, I never thought remembering my times tables would be difficult, we're talking 4-9 times tables, people. It shouldn't be that hard, but obviously the math portion of my mind has been unused for too long cause it's really sluggish with coming up with the answers.

Long story but my point is although "A Journey of a Thousand Miles begins with a single step" it only gets shorter when you take one more step, and then another, and then another. And that is the only way I'm going to complete my math "Journey" by doing one chapter ... today. That's all, just take one more step.

" ... will only be completed, if you take one more step."

How about you?

Feeling Green

What can I say? The greenish of this template just spoke to me. We shall see how long it lasts. For some it could really turn you away, but then again so could not having anything to say for over a month. What can I say? ... I know I'll blame the fact that I can't figure out where the camera went. That's it. Has anyone seen it?

Just wondering ....

"You can attract more flies with honey then with vinegar"

Who in their right mind would want to attract flies? They're a nuisance, aren't they?

I am an "Old Maid"!!!!

For all those who think "old maid is a bad word"

According to Webster:
old maid: a woman, esp. an older woman, who has never married;
What's even better..... I'm not only an old maid but I'm a spinster too!!!!!
spinster: 1)a woman who spins thread or yarn; 2)an unmarried older woman

Isn't that great, especially when you consider as an artist, thread and yarn are my medium of choice.

Courtesy of a 31 year old unmarried woman who feels it necessary to correct the general idea that: an "old maid is an older unmarried woman who has no hope of ever getting married". That's not what it means and now you know what I mean when I call myself an "old maid".

Background Statistics
Age of Women in my family at time of Marriage:
Mean/Average: 19.95
Medium: 19.3
Mode: 19

Range 4

Sources: Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language 2nd Edition
College Statistics - and to think I thought I would never use this in daily life

Thank you and that's all

Introducing Viola and this season's new hat

Viola has kindly agreed to model for us today.

This is Viola before the makeup artist and hairstylist gets a hold of her.
See models are just like the rest of us.

For those who were wondering how Viola got her name.

Now if that is all the personal questions you have for Viola, let's get on with the fashion show.

Remember last winter's hat?
It's quite warm and perfect for any blizzards that may come my way.

Now let me introduce you to this winter's new head wear Fashion.
A crocheted Cloche with lovely heirloom pin.
(..mm excuse me ma'am we are in the middle of a fashion show... yes that is your grandmother's pin, doesn't it look great. ... what? really? but, but ... fine, I'll get my own.)

Sorry for the delay, we had a "technical" difficulty

Introducing a crocheted Cloche with a lovely crocheted Star Flower Pin

Now the question I have for you is?
Should I go with the black button?
or the sparkly jeweled button?

More Socks

With the weather turning cold, I've added two more sets of socks to keep my toesies warm.

These were started in April but not finished until the end of July. Isn't procrastination great!

I was going for more green but as you can see, the blue and yellow are more dominate.

These I finished this month. The yarn was thicker then what I had previously used so I knitted them with larger needles. Turns out I really didn't need to do that, they are slightly big.

But they are Green with brown and off-white.
Now if only it would get cold enough to wear them. Maybe in a month or two.

Buckwheats!!!

"Well, well, bless my soul! It must be getting late! We've had such a good time I didn't realize. Those certainly were good buckwheats, Miss Cloud. I shan't forget them very soon."

- Cloudy Jewel by Grace Livingston Hill

Buckwheat Pancakes are so stinking good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I made them for the first time tonight and boy oh boy were they good. I highly recommend them.

So has anyone had them or even heard of them?