So here we go...
WATCHING:
Exploring the possibilites. I don't often take time to think about things that interest me. I am constantly worried about what is going on around me and who I can help and what I need to do for other people. It is interesting to actually take a step back and just observe what is going on around me. I am sitting in my living room looking around at all I have done to the house and all of the things I would love to do to the house. I am sitting inside where it is nice and warm. Looking outside, I think of how lovely it is in the spring and wish I could see buds on the trees. Instead I guess I should be preparing for the 1-2 feet of snow they are predicting in the next two days. I don't mind the snow, but when you have your sights set on a garden and the plans for that; it is easy to wish winter away.
I was recently asked what I do for fun or in my spare time (don't have much spare time). I really couldn't come up with anything. Sad, isn't it!?! So I thought a little longer and eventually came up with the idea that I might like to learn how to knit. Or possible sew. I have supplies to scrapbook, but that would require actually printing the pictures off my computer. Of course there is the option for online scrapbooking too.
Project Possibilities:
- Knitting: As I said above, I believe I would like to learn to knit. I see all of these fabulous scarves and hats and it seems to me that I could eventually...someday learn how to knit. I don't really know the first thing about knitting other than the fact that it involves two needles and yarn. I learned to crochet when I was little, but that consisted of crochet a whole skein of yarn into one long rope. I never learned how to connect. I hear knitting is harder than crocheting, but who knows...it could be personal preference. What size needles do I use? What type of yarn? Can I learn from a book or is it easier to actually see someone knitting? I feel like I might have more success learning from someone in person, but you never know!
- Gardening: My boyfriend and I have plans to start a garden in the spring. I worked very hard on the flower beds this past year, so our focus will be a vegetable garden. Of course, as any gardener knows, the work that I did last year will have to be redone again this year. I am still attempting to get rid of all of the tiger lilies that had taken over!! Anyway, as far as the vegetable garden goes, we are not sure where to begin. I grew cherry tomatoes last year with great success, but that is as far as I got. Should we do a raised bed or regular garden. What is the best placement for the garden in my particular yard? What grows well in this area? Is there anything that shouldn't be planted next to each other?
- Traveling: We are trying to decide on a vacation spot. We haven't really been anywhere on vacation together. My boyfriend and I go back and forth between Chesterton, IN(me) and Chicago(him). We would love to travel to the different homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. I would specifically love to see Fallingwater in Pennsylvania. We would also like to go out to Portland, OR to see friends of mine. Then there is the other side of the country...Portland, Maine. When is the best time to travel to these places? What is the cost of hotels? How long would it take to drive? Is flying a better option? I would want to zero in on one place for the project, but there are so many to choose from!
- Home Improvements: There are some areas in my house that are in need of major improvements. We are slowly but surely working to make these improvements. We just painted the bathroom this weekend and we love it. Now we need to decide on how we are going to decorate it. Currently my house if full of bright colors. I love it and my boyfriend seems to like it as well. We are going to begin working on the upstairs. Here is where things get complicated. There are areas of the upstairs that need to be re-drywalled. We don't really know the first thing about drywalling and are curious if it is something we want to attempt or simply hire someone to do it for us. This is true of the hardwood floors as well. I have heard horror stories of people refinishing the hardwood floors themselves. One false move and they are ruined! Then we wonder what colors. Do we want to pull bright colors all the way though the house or done it down a bit? We are thinking a bit of wallpaper here and there. I am not a fan typically, but I really like our ideas!
- Wedding Planning: This is what I have decided to do my Inquiry Project on. I have known plenty of people who have gotten married and been a part of helping them plan. However, it feels completely different when you are thinking of doing it for yourself. Now, like I said, I am not engaged, but hope to be soon. This is, of course, after many conversation about just that with my boyfriend. I figure, why not be a step ahead of the game when he does ask me. I guess another reason I am choosing this is becasue I want to see if I could actually pull off what seems to me like a rather large wedding on my parents property. This is something both Brian (my boyfriend) and I would like. According to my dad...it is happening there and they will make it happen. I just don't want the work it will take and the money I imagine it will cost to become overwhelming for any party involved. Hence the inquiry into what really goes into a wedding hosted outside at a residence. Where will people park? Bathrooms...yikes...bathrooms?!? Dancing...the dance floor? What if it rains? We are thinking August. Is it too hot outside in August? I wouldn't want people to be miserable at my wedding...for that matter...I don't want to be miserable.
