PLARN Crocheted Bag

I taught myself how to crochet this past year using some videos posted by mikeysmail on YouTube. Amazing instructor. I have learned SOOOO much.

Now I am fascinated with crocheting things to re-purpose them. This bag was made from PLARN (plastic yarn) - made from those pesky little grocery plastic bags. There are tons of internet resources for "how to make plarn" - just look it up on YouTube!

This is my first (and only - so far) bag made from plarn. And this is my daughter modelling it for us.

Wreath for cards

My daughter's teacher had posted a very glamorous picture of this craft executed in a more shabby chic motif.... whereas I went for a more "this is what I have in my basement" motif... haha.

I picked up the embroidery hoop at Goodwill for only about $2 and the bag of clothespins was nominally priced too.

The center clothespin I covered with a gold ribbon and use that to display our current card.

Only Wish You Felt the Same

by Jennifer Warf July 17, 2011

Secret glances.
I was lonely when I first discovered you
Your electric charm was overwhelmingly attractive to me
Your talent was beyond what I could fathom
Then, after I had spent months of hoping,
you looked at me.

Amazing. Sparkly. Shiny. New.
You made me happy. You made me feel new.
You were like the mythical fantasy fellow.
And I fell hard, almost foolishly so.
So I was crushed when you looked away.
I felt cheated.

The growing season.
Was long and difficult. And I missed you.
But I branched out and bloomed.
My heart explored beyond my imagination.
And you faded, but did not disappear.
I still remember.

And I reflect.
On what I thought would be perfect.
And I am glad that time repaired my vision.
I am glad for you, my stepping stone -
The one who started up my heart way back then
So it would grow into what it is today.

Essentially en Disturbia

On a grander scale,
I may believe
in things that are larger
than my sleeve,

but the world is small
and blue and green,
so I only transfix
on the things in between.

Perhaps I should wait
on a slower boat,
one that ascends
to a higher moat.

Only then will I truly
get to see,
all the things
that must be revealed to me.

I was dreaming this night
of a luminous light
Shadows cast afar
From this ghostly star.

I was caught in the glare
of the light made of green
and I began to resemble
the hideous sheen.

So I watched in horror
as the mood took a turn
and the light began
to break forth and burn

Thank God I escaped
and fell into this boat
It's the only thing
that seems to float.

July 19, 2009 - 1:48am - by Jennifer C. Warf
© 2009 Jennifer C. Warf

Watch this space... details to follow...

Some interesting things are amiss in my strange brain... and I intend on sharing every tasty morsel with those who care enough to read it all. YUM. I am planning on over-sharing all of my little bits of wisdom... but then, what do I do? I stay up too late! hmmmm... Perhaps soon I will amaze you and astonish you with my verbiage! Thanks for staying tuned in. -Jennifer

Out of Control - I think I am still a teenager!

So, here I sit... it is nearly 2am. My 4 year old daughter is snoozing away in her room. My husband has gone to bed at least an hour ago. This was after we assembled the tree, plastic-wrapped our patio door, and put some lights up. Yet, this 38-year-old body insists on staying up and poking around on the computer all night like I was back in college.

I think I need a reality check.

I will be tired tomorrow.

And, the egg nog - although potent enough to knock out most, has not had any effect on me. sigh.

Oh well, late nights are when the creative weirdness emerges. Who knows what gem of brilliance will emit from this mind during these witching hours!!

Perhaps my fortune and fame are just one wink farther into the wee hours than I am ever willing to go.

Perhaps my millions are to be made in a bizarre anti-sleep study? Unlikely, but one can dream.

Still, I know that it is this lack of stability that renders me helpless on my weight control. It makes me tired, and fussy like a baby, and tempts me to eat the forbidden things which I can otherwise decline.

I think with all this said, it is time for me to sleep... brilliance shall have to wait for another opportunity.

God Moments - First in a series of posts

It has been very obvious to me for a while now that there is a greater force at work in my life, and no better way to testify to my belief in God than to share the moments that make me say "hmm.."

Some recent "God Moments" from my own life - in my own words...

KIDS COATS - Coat giveaway at my church is always full of God moments because of the nature of the charitable event. There are some things that happen that make me just stop and re-evaluate my position in this world. Several times there were volunteers who came into the kitchen (where I was popping popcorn) to cry it out. It was moving for me to see how the families at this event were touching the lives of these friends of mine. Another moment in this event was when our coordinator was asked about whether or not we check ID to see if people actually live in our county. She replied that it was not necessary and that if a person needed a coat, they would get one. No questions asked. That touched me and made me realize a little more about what GIVING was all about. Another moment was when she called a generous patron from last year's drive about getting some hats and gloves. He had a source for ordering them, so she said that we would like to buy some too with some funds that were donated. The man had the coats delivered and not only met the cost he donated last year, but added the additional order that KIDS COATS wanted to pay for and refused to take our money for the additional hats and mittens. What a blessing!

At the Kids Coats event I was talking to a family from another church about how things are so lovingly provided to me sometimes and how I feel blessed that whenever I needed or even wanted something it always appeared. I even told them that I was seeking a bed for my daughter. Strangely enough, when I returned home from Kids Coats on November 1st, My neighbor had gotten a pumpkin for me, because she knew I was roasting the seeds, and a friend from the moms group called and said she had a full size bed for Sarah. WOW! I never felt the rush to get the bed, and I left it in the hands of the universe to answer. I was not expecting such a generous gift. A friend helped pick it up (another blessing for we only have a sedan), and another mom had a freezer for sale at a small price. We got the freezer that day too!

I know that getting things is not really what God is all about. I always had this sense of urgency whenever I wanted something. Now, it seems that if I am patient, God will provide in a timely manner. I have faith, and I know I can live without, which makes my disappointment minimal.

I really feel that I lead a charmed life. It is amazing how things fall into place for me. Whenever I begin to worry about my daughter not having any clothes or shoes, they will somehow fall into my lap. My brother and sister-in-law are the best about making sure those boxes of clothes from my nieces' closets arrive just in the nick of time. I certainly think that they are Christ-like in their spirit of giving.

I posted a list of baby things for sale to my moms group, and the first person to reply about one of the items was who else but the bed donor. I was almost panicked in how I could possibly THANK her for the bed, and it turned out that I had something she wanted too! Needless to say, I did not charge her for the 3 wheel stroller... I was elated to give it to her in thanks. Amazingly enough, she also offered a bed skirt, which hubby and I discussed when we realized that the boxspring (blue) was peeking out in Sarah's pink ensemble of her new bed. Again, not a necessity, and we might not have ever gone out to buy one, but there it was... she offered it, not even knowing that we wanted it. We also saved the gift cards from Sarah's Birthday back in August and had $30 to spend on some pink snowman flannel sheets.

Many Many Blessings... I have been amazed at all the strange surprises in my life.
God Bless you and keep you, and may the spirit be alive and well in everyone's life!
-Jennifer