Petunias

We planted petunias, rosemary, basil, parsley, and catnip in pots on our patio.

I love watching things grow!

Basil seedlings

Our basil is coming up!

Update

Home Life:
Life has been going well for us. I like our cozy apartment. We enjoy going outdoors and are glad this city has so many nice parks and outdoor areas. Spring is fast approaching. I have planted some petunias on our patio. I like raising the shades and seeing the sun shine through and glancing over at the bright flowers in the daytime. I plan to plant some herbs out there too this weekend. Our cats have both being doing well. They always keep us entertained and both have such different personalities that life is always interesting with them around. I call them my "coworkers" since I work from home and they are often in my lap as I type or nearby. We just celebrated our 4-year wedding anniversary and it still amazes me every day that I have such a wonderful and loving husband by my side. I feel blessed.

Work:
I have two accounts right now, a neurology and GI account. They are both interesting. The neurology account doctor is leaving at the end of this month so I will be back to one account again. I was just getting the hang of that account and able to do it quickly too! I continue to try to learn and build my skills and improve myself. I have noticed a considerable difference in my speed. I also am now more comfortable and can actually handle my workload better than at first. Most days I can get my work completed by the time Armando gets home from work which is great! (Of course, the finishing time is dependent on what time the files come, so some days it does not work that way.)

Crafts:
I have just started learning how to embroider. Joanne was a great teacher and inspired me to give it a try. I really like it so far, although I have only done two projects. I will show photos of those later as soon as I get them ironed and presentable. I also have several photos of some projects that I have done since last posting that I will get updated before too long.

Cooking:
I have been enjoying being creative in the kitchen. I have always enjoyed cooking. Breakfast and lunch are usually very quick and easy meals now that I am working. I drink coffee in the morning and eat a toasted sandwich usually for breakfast as I proofread my files before turning them in. We are trying to eat healthier with more fresh vegetables and salads.

How have you been and what have you been up to lately? :)

Until soon!
Michelle

New Job!

I started a new job at the end of December. I am thankful to have a job where I can gain some experience and work from home. I have a very nice and encouraging boss and that means a lot to me. I am looking forward to growing and improving my skills and speed.

I set several goals for this year. I hope I can stay organized and get a lot accomplished this upcoming year.

We have been sick since last weekend. I am starting to feel better now but Armando has a bad cold. Poor thing. I hope he feels better soon!

I have worked on several crafty projects but I cannot show you them until later. They are gifts and I do not want to ruin the surprise since both people read this blog sometimes.

Pictures to follow at a later date! :)

-Michelle

Cthulhu amigurumi

For Armando :)

Austin, a city full of birds.

I wish I had aimed a little bit lower when taking this photo to capture more of the trees covered with birds too. I often joke with Armando that I need to carry a bag of birdseed in my purse because birds seem to be everywhere here. I do not think I have ever lived in a city with this many birds before. It is a good thing we both love birdies! :)

Thank You Planet Shoes!

I entered a contest by Planet Shoes for a chance to win a pair of Jambu shoes. I have been looking at these shoes in the store for quite some time and had them on my wish list to buy in the future. I could not believe that I actually won them!

The shoes came packaged so neatly and in a nice box with a precut hole that can later be used to store ribbon. I was surprised at how quickly I received the shoes too.

Thank you so much for the beautiful shoes Planet shoes. I have been enjoying them. The shoes are comfortable and they stay on securely when I transfer from my wheelchair to the car. :)

I noticed the other day that Planet shoes has a weekly giveaway.

If you would like to enter the weekly giveaway click below or visit their website at Planet shoes.

Planet Shoes Weekly Giveaway

-Michelle

Magazine Christmas trees

I like projects that recycle.

I made this little christmas tree using a sales paper.

It just takes 3 folds for each piece of paper.

Instructions HERE .

Zilker Botanical Garden

I took this photo in the rose garden on Saturday.

Sunflowers from Armando

They are my favorite flowers.

Crochet wrist warmers

Both wrist warmers showing the thumb holes.

I made these wrist warmers from a pattern at Attic 24’s blog.

I modified her pattern a bit. Mine are very simple and done only in one color without the border. I just wanted something to keep my hands off my wheelchair rims that get very cold in the winter. Now that I have made one pair, I would like to make more. Next time I will use cotton thread so they are more washer friendly and add more colors and maybe a border too.

They are very easy to make. Here is a basic explanation of how I made mine. You can go to Attic 24 and use her instructions if mine are too confusing.

Basic idea of how it is done. You will crochet single crochet enough chains to snugly fit around your hand and wrist. Then you half double crochet until you get the rectangle the length you want it. The rectangle you will then fold in half to fit snugly around your hand and wrist. After folding, you sew up the side leaving a space for your thumb opening. Then you go back and single crochet around the thumb opening. You can also add a border edging. I did not. I kept mine very simple and basic. It was my first time ever making any wrist warmers.

These were the stitches it took to fit my hand. I single crocheted 26. Then I half double crocheted and chained 2 at the end and turned. I did that for 14 rows. Afterwards, I sewed up the edge and measured each to have a thumb opening. Then I single crocheted around my thumb openings.

You will need to measure your own hand and find how many single crochets you need to start with and continue from there.

Good luck!

Michelle

Long time no see!

I am back after a very long absence from blogging. It appears that blogger has added new layouts and has fancied things up quite a bit since I have been gone. I like all the new features and options.


Since the last time I blogged several things have happened. I completed my studies and earned my Medical Transcription certificate. Right now I am studying and preparing for the Registered Medical Transcription exam. I visited home in Alabama for a month with my family after completing my final examination. It was great to spend time with my whole family and a nice break. I also got to travel to south Alabama and visit my childhood best friend! My husband got changed from night shift to day shift. We love that. He has a very good schedule at work and we can even go out in the evenings and do a few things before bedtime.


I have been trying to work on unfinished craft projects in the evenings. I still have several projects to finish including a pillow for my Dad and some flower hair accessories for several of my friends daughters. I also want to make a winter scarf for my blog giveaway.


I finally finished my husband's Cthulhu hat. He is a big H.P. Lovecraft fan and Cthulhu is a fictional entity from his book "The Call of Cthulhu".

It is not the best photograph but you at least get an idea of what it looks like. It was fun to make.



I am going to try to blog more regularly now. I have missed blogging.

I met Joanne from the Jonesy gets Crafty blog and we have started getting together sometimes on Saturdays and crafting. She is very creative, talented at embroidery, and makes the cutest items. She sells her items on Etsy (a link is on her blog to her Etsy) and at a store here in Austin called Moxie. Check her out sometimes. She makes the cutest baby onesies, bibs, and a variety of other items.

In my next entry I will show you some simple crochet wristers (or fingerless gloves) that I made and explain how easy they are to make. I found the instructions on another blog which I will link to as well when I show them.

Quickie Craft

I took a few moments last night and made a little bird feeder for our patio. The projects is great for recycling and it was cheap to make. I got the crochet twine-like material from a flea market and the little green bowl from a thrift store for 99 cents.

I used the instructions from HERE, but I modified the straps to make it more stable.

 

I added straps using chain stitch and attached them across forming a triangular shape to make it more stable. Imagine a circle (which is your bowl) and looking from the top down your straps form this shape /\ over your bowl.

 

Time to meet the finish line.

I am trying to really work hard and have set a goal for myself to finish this course as soon as possible. That means I need to study every day, including weekends. If all goes according to plan, I will finish with the last reports in approximately one month and a week. Then, I can begin studying for the final. (Oh, I do hope I make a good grade on that!)

Also, I really hope that I can find a position in this line of work. I think it can be hard to find work when you do not have experience. That is always a hard one. Isn’t it? How do you get experience when you cannot get hired without experience? Let us hope I can find a company who hires newbies and who is not a stickler on foot pedals and will allow me to use hot keys and software controls. Since foot pedals and paraplegics do not really get along for obvious reasons. LOL

This course has taken me longer than I imagined it would. I had a lot of health problems since I enrolled. Also, there were a lot more reports than I first thought there were when I signed up. It is okay though. It gives you a lot of needed experience. I have never given up, even though sometimes I was concerned about my slow pace.

I have a very supportive husband who thankfully has paid for extensions on my classes when I have needed it. That has meant a lot to me. Also, I have had some very supportive family, friends, and study buddies.

I have had several study buddies since being enrolled in Career Step and I only have one left who is actively enrolled in the program at this time. All of the rest dropped out of the course!

If I am a little less vocal on my blog right now please understand that I will be back chatting away soon! I will still pop in and say hi from time to time over this next month, but I may not be posting as frequently since I will be typing away for many hours and transcribing reports.

I have not forgotten about the giveaway and that is still going to happen, as soon as I get my projects completed. ;)

Cranes and fish at Asahi Imports

Sewing

Threads magazine has a new video series out.

Teach Yourself To Sew

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/teach-yourself-to-sew

I need some help with my sewing skills.

Chile Earthquake

Armando’s family lives in Santiago, Chile. Today was a nervous time for Armando and I as we awaited news from his family. Thank goodness his family and what friends we were able to contact, are okay. They awoke in the early hours of the morning scared with a big force and movement. The communication was unstable for many hours. Some areas still have basic services not working.

Sadly, many areas were affected with some damage to roads, homes, injuries and loss of life. In the coastal areas a tsunami followed the earthquake. More information will be available later, as they make their way to review the full damage.

The earthquake measured 8.8 on the Richter scale and was stronger than the earthquake they had in 1985.

Watch local tv for Chile here:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tv-de-chile

If you are looking for a family member in Chile, check here:

http://chilepersonfinder.appspot.com/

My thoughts are with all those involved. Please keep Chile in your thoughts and prayers.

 

Easy Italian Sausage Pie

Makes 8 servings

Prep: 20 minutes

Cook: 1 hour 15 minutes

Bake at 375F for 1 hour, 15 minutes

1 pound mild Italian sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces
5 eggs
1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, drained
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2/3 cup ricotta cheese
1 shallot, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 package (15 ounces) refrigerated ready-to-roll pie crusts
1 egg beaten lightly with 1 tablespoon water

1. Heat oven to 375F. Place sausage in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and cook 5 minutes, until browned on all sides.
2. In a large bowl, combine sausage, 5 eggs, spinach, mozzarella cheese, ricotta, shallot, pepper, garlic powder and salt.  Line a 9-inch pie plate with 1 of the pie crusts.  Spoon in the sausage-and-spinach mixture.  Top with the remaining pie crust; seal and crimp edges.  Poke a few holes in the center of the pie crust and brush with the egg-water mixture.
3. Bake at 375F for 1 hour, 15 minutes.  Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

From: Family Circle Magazine - November 1, 2009

 

NOTE: I USED MORE RICOTTA CHEESE. I JUST MIXED RICOTTA CHEESE IN UNTIL THE MIXTURE WAS AS CREAMY AS I WANTED IT.

Enjoy!

(The picture of this is in the post below.)

Dinner Tonight

I tried a new recipe tonight. I made Italian Sausage Pie. We both enjoyed it along with wine.

I had Barefoot White Zinfandel from California and Armando had a 2005 Marques de Caceres red wine from Spain.

If anybody wants the recipe just let me know and I will be happy to post it or you can email me at blog at msloyola.com.

I won! I won!

I cannot begin to tell you how excited I was when I checked my email and saw that I had won one of the items in the OWOH giveaway!

I won it from Joe and Bethany. Check out their blog It's a Wonderful Life here:

http://www.joeandbethany.blogspot.com/

I have never won a giveaway before. That is why I awoke Armando with screams of excitement. LOL But he loves me so it was okay. :p

I won a pencil drawing one subject portrait by a wonderful artist!

See Joe Everson's beautiful artwork by going to:

http://www.joesstudio.blogspot.com/ or http://www.joeeverson.com/

I also love to draw with pencil but have not done it in quite a while.

Thank you a lot Joe and Bethany for your very generous giveaway.

http://www.joeandbethany.blogspot.com/

If you haven't ever entered an online giveaway, you should try. It is a lot of fun. I think they do twitter giveaways too, but I have never tried those before.