Funny Friday- Amanda

Amanda (Right) is the final member in Luke's IBC group to be posted and is certanly not the least! Melanie and Amanda were roomates 2 (maybe 3) out of their four years in college and were one of our favorite "couples" to go to dinner with! They converse like they've grown up together and are each other's halves. Amanda continues to impress as she played on the U of I Womens Golf Team and speaks Japanese! She is using her Japanese skills in Japan as I type to teach English for a year.

Where's Wanda

Our (Val's first then mine) friend Laura invited me to go look for a hat a socks for her Halloween costume. She had made plans to be Wanda, Waldo's Girlfriend. In my experience scoping out knit items in chain stores I knew that there wouldn't be too many striped items, let alone red and white stripes. She said she'd just wear a red or white beanie, and being the authenticator in this whole deal I just couldn't have that.

I also couldn't resist the challenge.

2 skeins of bulky yarn later (one red and one white) and I had this bad boy ready to go to San Francisco with her this morning.

Where's Wanda?

On another note, at lunch today with my friend who shall remain unnamed to avoid bashing, I started showing her pictures of my latest Etsy projects. She was going through the pictures and in a disbelieving voice says: "These are good Jess." Tsch. Ye of little faith.

On that note, check out my Etsy shop HERE!

Open for Business

My Etsy store is.



Do come and check it out!

I've been hemming and hawing about pricing quite a bit.  I personally wouldn't take waltzing out and buying a hat more than $20 lightly. However, I use high quality yarns with natural fibres (see here for a few reasons I'm drawn to them other than how enjoyable they are to knit) and I spend quite a bit of time making sure the item is a quality item, made to withstand being passed down to friends and family alike. If I was charging an hourly wage, these hats would be hundred dollar hats, but it brings me great joy to share them with you and I have tried to set prices that will cover costs and a bit of time. Thank you for checking out my wares, and for supporting me in my craft!

Last Sneak Peak

before I open my Etsy store! I should have it open tomorrow!

Niche to Knit

Cami and I discovered our favorite place to knit in Colorado Springs!

It's in Old Colorado City just down the street from our (Luke and my) apartment.

 The walls are lined with herbs, seasonings, and teas. My personal favorite is a Caramel Vanilla tea, sweetened with honey and poured over ice.

 I love how the owner disguised architectural flaws as bird hideaways!

 These little "birds" they're fake, that's why they need quotes, overlook things from the loft area.

 Here's Cami in the sitting area/loft! Its the coziest place to just hide away, watch the traffic below, sip your tea and sit in the friendly germ chairs and knit.

Funny Friday- Melanie

Melanie (left) was also in Luke's business college group for two years and has become a fast friend to both of us. From the first time I met her and she offered the use of  her shower knowing I was staying at Luke's 4 boy apartment at which the bathroom was...less than stellar, I knew she was a kindred spirit. Melanie and her roomate (business partner as well) Amanda joined us for many family style dinners and breakfast's in Luke and Marks apartment in the second year. Making for some of the best company. I'm thinking she must also be a California girl at heart because this summer she landed an internship in San Jose *and is looking to find a full time position in the area.

*written in August to be published in October. There may be an update coming.

Nature of the Beast

So I just arrived back in Fresno yesterday. Tomorrow I'll register for my classes that I will start in January to complete my credential program.

It's true that I HAD started my teaching credential program in May of 2009, but due to the fact that I wanted to focus my time and energy on my mom I withdrew from the program. I'm extremely glad that I did.

Luke and I got married in May 2010, about a month after my mom passed away. We moved to Colorado Springs, CO where Luke has a pretty sweet internship at a golf course I'm still not allowed to name online.

I worked at a daycare. I loved the kids but quickly learned that daycare franchises are NOT for me. Especially ones owned by incompetent people. (Over 38 people were hired and left in their first year and a half of operation. Scary!)

Luke and I began to have many conversations about where does this put us, what do we want to do?

Contrary to the popular belief that golf pros are rolling in the dough...they're not. Especially not the ones at the bottom of the totem pole. They do what they do for the love of the game, and free golf. Maybe 5, or 7, or 10 years down the road they get somewhere with a decent salary and maybe even some benefits but right now, not so much. Which puts me.....working again.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against working, but if I'm gonna work, I really really really would like to be doing something useful feeling, that I'm good at, that leaves me tired from a good days work but energized because it's what I love to do.

Which leads us to me getting my credential.
So here's the thing, I have a scholarship in CA. At Fresno State. This scholarship covers nearly all of my fees and even some of my books. I can get done in three semesters here, and have a credential that reciprocates in 40 other states. That's virtually the same as a National Credential which you have to be teaching 3 years to get. If I get my credential in CO, not so much the same story. Plus I have to take all the tests over again in the CO version, and jump through some other hoops that could take as long as a year to get through.

Here's where the nature of the beast roars it's ugly roar:
The golf industry is unpredictable. It is dependant on weather, and people who like to do things on whim. It has one of the highest turnovers second to the restaurant industry. It is based on who you know, and the prestige of what you have in your resume. It forces you to be flexible and potentially move a lot. (Especially in the early stages.) Oh yeah, and my husband loves it! And I love that it makes him happy! And I knew all these things within a month of dating him. I wasn't naive, I knew that this was the nature of the beast before I married him. I knew that we could potentially be living in different locations for months at a time. I'm just glad he's not a pro on tour at a different location every week!

So yes, we decided that it would be beneficial to both of us for me to have a clear CA credential. Yes, this decision means we will probably be apart for significant chunks of time. Yes, we still love each other. No, I'm not back in California because we can't stand each other. Yes, I am very much looking forward to being back with him!

We're just sort of doing these things now before we have other variables that make things more complicated.
i.e. kids (10 years from now) or a mortgage.

Funny Friday-Cody

Cody was one of Luke's suite mates when we met and is dating Kelsi, my old suite mate. He did the Professional Golf Management program with Luke and was also in his business college group throughout the two year program.

What the Puck?

Luke's job blessed us with two tickets to a Colorado College Hockey game! (My first hockey game for that matter!)

 One of the members gave one of the pro's (Brandon) 4 3rd row tickets right behind the opposing team's bench! Those tickets weren't too much to sneeze at!

 L-R Luke, Brandon, Brandon's wife Britney
I had a blast! I never would have guessed that I would like hockey! I only knit between the last two periods.

Check out this guys last name!!! Think he got more popular after the Twilight books?

 Speaking of those books with the apples on the cover, check out the apples that have me loving Colorado sporting events!! They have them at Skysox baseball games AND CC hockey games! Woooh! I'll go to almost any sporting event for one of these babies! (Not UFC.)

This is the RPI coaches walking across the ice in their dress shoes and suits. They were just shuffling delicately. Cracked me up.

Also, I learned about checking. I think I'd like to practice this more. You know, walking down the hall, bam checked into the wall. In the name of athleticism. I will admit I was a bit inspired for my soccer game the following Sunday.

Funny Friday- John

John is Luke's dad. (Just in case you weren't sure. Fun Fact: When John went to the University of Idaho he spent some time living in the residence hall Galt. Galt and Upham were big time rivals. The funny part, Luke and Jessica were both living in Upham the year they met! (Granted they were newly remodeled buildings with the old residence hall names but still, kind of funny.)

Get a Glimpse

of some of the hats I've been working on to put in my Etsy shop SOON! I'm waiting for a shipment of yarn that I need to finish before I can put all my items for sale. I know some of you are anxious, but I want to post them all at once. :) And yes, there will be more dino hats.

Top left: Navy and yellow dino hat, 100% wool purchased at a Palisade Farmers market, the seep were raised on the farm where they were shorn, the wool was carded on that very same farm, and the woman who owned the sheep then spun the wool and dyed it right there on that very same farm. Tell me that's not cool. Ribbing makes the hat stretchy to fit almost any size up to 22.5 inches.

Top Right: Wool and Mohair blend. The same yarn I used for Val's shrug minus koolaid dye. Super warm and cozy hat! There will be no cold getting through that one. Deep ribbing on this hat to make it snug. Fits up to 23 inches.

Bottom Right: 100% wool, Gray, two button stretchy. Will fit child or adult up to 23 inches.

Bottom left: Fading Cable Hat. Versatile Gray, 100% wool, very stretchy! Up to 23 inches. Dense and warm!

Middle: 100% Cotton, especially good for avoiding hat hair as this hat sort of sits loosely on top. Gray and sky blue. (North Carolina blue?) Little stem on top just for fun. (Luke judged me for it.)

Minor Rantings of a Newlywed

To be taken with a grain of salt.

Luke and I enjoy our technology. We each have a laptop, an iPod and with that, our earphones/earbuds so that when needed we can keep our technology noises to ourselves.

I really like my technology. I don't like to replace it, (unless upgrading, but even then I don't like to pay for it.) I don't think Luke likes to replace his either but he also doesn't like to neatly coil up the cords for his technology and put them in the same place. Especially not his earphones. Which is why we have like 4 broken pairs laying around our apartment.

Mine are in my technology spot ready and waiting for when I want them.

Recently I noticed that they have started to disappear. And reappear plugged into Luke's computer.

We had a conversation, agreeing that my 3 pairs were the unbroken pairs coiled on top of the DVD's and that he was to "let them be" and use his broken ones so mine don't get broken too, and I can always find at least one pair of mine.

Lo and behold, today, as I'm moving about our one bedroom apartment the ear buds plugged into Luke's computer are in the middle of the walkway. I walk over them a couple times...then I think to look closer. They're MINE! From the spot I put them in. The day after our conversation!!!

As soon as I bring it up he is immediately sheepish. It was blatant. Grrrr.

His reasoning: He knew exactly where they were.

Roar. I finished one more.

Yep. One more dino hat.

 49ers colors!

Science Sunday

We live in a one bedroom apartment with a standard, basic, no frills fridge/freezer. So we have ice cube trays. The other day when I went to get my ice I found this:

Our ice cube has an antenna. How? Why?

International Hats

My friend Alex (au paire from Germany) brought clothes appropriate for the season she was to arrive in the US. For her Summer. Unfortunately for her, winter is coming! Eek! I took it upon myself to make her a winter hat!

 Then I found out my dear friend Cindy found a steal of a deal on an American Girl Doll to give to her grandaughter Charlotte for her birthday. Since I knew I would have some extra yarn, and LOVED making Alex's hat, I decided to make a doll size version. So now I have a German Girl Hat and an American Girl (Doll) Hat.

 Then...my imagination started to get to me...Charlotte's doll would need mittens! American Girl is all about the ensemble right?

 (Of course now I'm working on Alex's mittens haha.)

 I've got to say I had so much fun giving these to Charlotte! I confess I'm pretty happy with how they came out! AND with the fun I hope Charlotte has dressing up her new doll Molly!

 Aren't those kids cute! I just couldn't cut that happy little guy (Charlotte's brother Levi) out of the picture!

Funny Friday- Abbey

Abbey is Lukes Cousin Jason's daughter. We'll call her Luke's cousin for convienience sake. Abbey was one of our wonderful flower girls and a fun fact about her:

She can touch her nose with her tounge too! It's now one of our favorite dinner entertainment tricks!