Snowy Days & Dreaming of Adventure

Today has been spent in a time of snowy dreaming. After walking home from church in a beautiful snow fall - I used some rotting apples for a baked apple oatmeal. While the aroma of baking apples and cinnamon wafted through the kitchen – I periodically glanced up from my computer screen to see soft snowflakes falling. I spent this afternoon baking and dreaming. 

In this season of waiting and anticipating, it is fun to imagine future adventures and future goals that I want to achieve. My friend just sent me her New Years Resolutions and 2014 Goals. I haven't sat down to intentionally think about my 2014 resolutions and goals, but I was reminded of The Day Zero Project. It's a website I started using in 2010 to track goals that I wanted to achieve and things I wanted to do. 

The first list I made was 101 things I wanted to do in 1001 days. That list was started in January 01, 2010 and concluded on September 29, 2012. It included things like Study Abroad, apply to BVS, become a vegetarian, make a sweater for myself, and kiss someone on New Years Eve. Spoiler alert: all those things happened! I didn't finish everything on that list, but I completed over half of it. Some things are still left to do like plant a tree, go ice skating, donate my hair, and attend a peace rally. 

The next list I'm working on is called Me and My Young Adult Life. It started September 12, 2012 and is currently slated to end June 14, 2016. I chose my 26th birthday, because that is when I will have to start paying for my own insurance and that seems like a pretty adult thing to do. Some things I hope to do are Pay Off my Student Loans, hike the Appalachian Trail, donate my hair, cook a whole meal for my family, and WWOOF in Europe. It's all coming in stride. My current adventure is BVS, Elgin, Community Living, National Youth Conference, Cooking new recipes, and sometimes hanging with small children. 

Speaking of cooking, here's the finished Baked Apple Oatmeal. And the next adventure looks like driving in this snow to enjoy some appetizers and Christmas movies at a friend's house. 

What are the adventures waiting right outside my door if I but only opened my eyes to them?  

Knitting | Katniss Cowl

Who didn't LOVE Katniss Everdeen's cowl/vest that she wore in the opening scenes of Catching Fire!? Pretty much everyone. After I saw the movie last week, I searched the internet for patterns. The piece that Katniss wears in the movies isn't knitted, but a woven piece. So mine is super "inspired by" - but not intended to look exactly like the original.

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I worked off of two different patterns from Ravelry. This one for the bulk of the body. The original pattern is made for a SUPER small person. I adjusted it a little for my size, but some of it was left to the imagination.

You can find my EDITS on Ravelry HERE. 

I wore it to the office this morning. It doesn't exactly scream rebellion against the Capital, but it will be a fun piece to wear this winter. It's SO WARM! 

The second pattern I used for construction of the neck. I morphed it, created a different shape, and left a little opening for fun. 

So, I realized this is the second fictional thing I have knitted - 

after my Harry Potter Weasley Sweater. 

What fictional thing should I knit next? 

Doctor Who Scarf?

Thanksgiving

My family came to Elgin for Thanksgiving this year. It was so sweet for them to come out to visit me - since this will likely be the only chance for them to come see where I will have spent two years of my life! 

They took a Sunday morning to cook breakfast for my housemates and myself. (Lillie and I stayed away from the sausage gravy, but I think my meat-deprived housemates appreciated it!) They made homemade bisquits, sausage gravy, eggs, and fried potatoes. Homecooked breakfasts are amazing. 

We journeyed to Chicago for a brisk day of walking and exploring. We found the Bean, ate some amazing falfal at Sultan's Market, visited the Christkindlmartket, and rode the Metra to and fro.

Thanksgiving Day was relaxed and wonderful. I made Mac & Cheese, while Mama made mashed potatoes, broccoli, salad, and of course TOFURKEY. We streamed the Macy's Day Parade from my laptop. Then finished the day with an evening of Scattegories and Awkward Family Photo. I could play Scattegories all day every day. 

Other random adventures throughout the week included: celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who, traveling through time and space on the Tardis, going for walks around the neighborhood and finding a fairy door, and Lou Malnati's Chicago Style Deep Dish pizza! 

I miss them so much already. But I'll be journeying home in just under 3 and half weeks to spend Christmas in Virginia.