Too long!

It's been over 7 months since I last posted here, admittedly, that is entirely too long. Not to worry thought, it has not been 7 months since I made a cap or did some other work for Q's Caps! In fact, if you follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter you will have seen a few "yarny" posts from me.
I'm going go more personal here and tell you what has gone on these past months,  if you already know or want to skip on, go ahead on to the bottom of the post to the text not in italics. 

This is what moving yarn looks like

As I mentioned in my previous post, my job wasn't going well, it was a situation that felt like I was having the life sucked out of me. Even when I wasn't at work, I didn't have the motivation I needed to do things I needed or wanted to do. I was working through it the best I could while searching for another position that would better suit me. I was looking into moving to a smaller house but didn't know where to go with the job situation uncertain. Meanwhile, I had reconnected with a guy from high school that was also a teacher, though in a district about 5 miles south and we were becoming close from afar. He was helping me survive the year and motivating me and then he did one better and found a new job for me! A position was coming available at his school in January. I applied, had a phone interview, then an interview and was offered the position in under a week! I accepted the position, gave notice, started looking for houses, started packing at home and at school, and generally started getting stuff done. Over Christmas break I was able to visit with not only my local family but also my aunt, uncle, cousins and families and my grandpa, all from Kansas and my brother and his family from China while doing the previously mentioned items. It was a completely crazy time. I'll skip forward, in January I spent my last week at my old job, then I spent a week packing, then I moved into a temporary apartment, and started my new job. A couple weeks later, I closed on my new (but vintage :) house and moved in the first of February. From there, I spent time going back and forth between houses, settling into my new job and attending baseball games. As the end of the school year approaches, I've mostly settled into the new house, including some painting and yard work, though I haven't gotten everything moved in yet, I've started a mini container garden, I haven't unpacked all the yarn but I have plenty to pull out a little here and there and I'm looking forward to finishing up at the old house and getting it on the market in the next month. Once that is cleaned up, cleaned out, on the market and SOLD, things will be even more settled and I look forward to that happening. Meanwhile, I have gotten a few caps done...   

I have made a goal to crochet at least 3 times per week and I have met that goal most weeks this past month or so. A couple of the finished caps have been worked on while I was at baseball games, so you'll notice the nice green background :) I haven't had any new donations to share lately, which is quite alright given the quantity I have and the busy schedule I have had a few leftovers from other projects that have added a few pieces to my stash. I hope as I get back to having only one house and being settled that I can finish unpacking and organizing all my yarn again and also get back in the habit of cap making. Thanks for sticking with me...

Traveling Yarn

Gary Cunningham, Sweden

My last post was as I started back to work full time. As expected, that has kept me busy and I haven't posted since I haven't worked on much. I did finish off the edging on a few more blankets for the Linus Project. However, this school year has had a really rough start and so I've had even less time and motivation to work on caps than I normally do to start a school year. I have started one cap but although it's very unusual, I haven't finished it yet. However, I received a new donation on Sunday and it's extra special, as it came from Iceland. Eriq's uncle Gary, who lives in Sweden, came through Iceland and New York on his way to Texas, and he picked up some yarn for me during his stop in Iceland.

End of summer

As my summer officially wraps up, I have been working to get ready for going back to work. I always try to get my house in order, all the laundry and dishes done, food prepared, etc. even though I realize it will go back to "normal" shortly. However, mentally, it helps me to be prepared to go back to work when I do these things. I also plan some fun outings to celebrate the free time :)  I have been doing all these things and that has not left much time for new projects but I am also currently limited in my ability to run or bike due to a minor knee issue so that did leave me a little time to make one quick cap that I thought I'd go ahead and share here. Happy back to school everyone!

Hello Kitty

I mentioned in my last post that I was working on caps for a girl that likes Hello Kitty. I finished that cap and along with a few others in her favorite colors, pink and purple. I was able to get them mailed out to her on August 1, but I forgot to post the pictures here. I left the next morning for a bike ride in Lubbock. This year was the second year of Cycle for Hope, a ride benefiting the UMC Cancer Center and I was on a team with my father in law, brother in law, sister in law and nephew. My mother in law worked the event and we all had a great time. While I was in town, we went shopping and got some fabric and yarn and worked on blankets for the Linus Project (http://www.projectlinus.org/) It was nice to do something a little different with crochet but still for a great cause. We finished several blankets and bought supplies for several more that I brought home with me to finish.

Colorado donation

Kristyn Rose, Grand Junction, Colorado

I received a package today that had not only yarn but additional monetary donations as well. A friend had done a couple of things for Q's Caps. First, she put a flyer up and collected yarn at a Relay for Life fundraiser, and then the board of ADEIL decided to donate the money raised from a silent auction at a conference to the cause as well. As I've mentioned time and again, it's always an extra encouragement to get a package, a note, anything to remind me how people appreciate my work.  It was great to know that someone is out there working for this as well and people are still interested in helping and donating and This past week, I worked on a cap while I was waiting for an oil change, I usually have a nice conversation with someone about crochet when I work on it in public and it's good to share with people. I also started a special request cap yesterday as well and those are nice for a little challenge and knowing a little about the person I'm making it for. Look for a Hello Kitty cap coming soon...

In flight caps

After arriving home from my trip to Kansas, I spent just a couple of days at home before I took off again on another trip. This time, I was headed to Michigan, which involved both airport and flight time, which is perfect for crocheting! I have just returned home from that trip, it was a wonderful time away but I am glad to report that I was able to finish 4 caps total while I was on the plane both going and returning. So these are extra special caps, since they were made on a S80 airplane somewhere over Arkansas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Missouri and Illinois.

Kansas caps

Melissa Isaacson, Salina, KS

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been traveling this summer, including a trip to a few cities in Kansas. For this trip, I was driving so I didn't get any made during the actual travel time. Once I arrived, I spent most of the time enjoying my family and running around Kansas, but there was a little down time that I took advantage of and completed one cap. My cousin also brought along some yarn which she donated and I have added to my yarn stash, so there will be more caps from this visit as well.