Ummmm...Hello??

Is anyone there?? I'm sorry I've neglected you for so very long. Life is crazy at times. But I am hopeful that things will be better now.

If you haven't noticed already, the old Jaybird Designs website disappeared a few months ago. My web host fell off the face of the planet and left me high and dry without a website. So over the past few weeks I made it my goal to re-design my blog and use it for my NEW website!! You can now access it directly from www.jaybirddesigns.com! I hope you all like the layout and if you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know!! You can contact me directly at jaybird [at] acsol [dot] net.

So now what? Well....I have a bunch of independently published patterns in the works! YAY!! Some of them I am very excited about! Here is a sneak peek of one!-------->

I also have a pattern or two scheduled to come out soon in magazines and am working hard on new submissions! Hopefully I will be dominating the crochet world soon.......{evil laugh!}

I also plan on updating my blog on a more regular basis. I'm not sure I will be able to do it daily, but I will update as often as I can!

So, enjoy your weekend and I'll be sure to post something new on Monday!

Plans...Big Plans

I have plans...big plans...life plans. Some of you may think this is strange coming from a 35 year old, but it's true. I am planning my life. Yes, I'm sure there will be some twists and turns, surprises thrown at me, and modifications.....but I'm making plans! Sadly, the people in my family don't live long lives...so I need to cram my dreams in as soon as possible. My only regret is that I didn't start working on these plans 10 years ago!!!

Right now we are in the process of refinancing the house. This time last year we became debt free (except for our house and HE loan.) This year, thanks to a nice tax return and looooooow interest rates, we are finally refinancing. We will be rolling the two loans into one and paying cash for the closing costs. We'll be dropping down to a 15 year mortgage and our payments will stay just about the same or may even go down some!

We have a lot of equity in our home, and you may be wondering why we don't take out some extra cash and take a trip to Disney or buy some new toys, but that's not my plan. My plan is to pay off the house as soon as possible. With a few extra payments a year, my goal is to have the house paid off by the time Heather goes off to college....in about 12 years.

When she heads off to college, my plan is to sell the house and most of our stuff and buy a really nice RV! Ron and I will be traveling the country with the greyhound(s) and enjoying life!

I'm not sure if you all know, but my husband has a form of Muscular Dystrophy. Basically his muscles are deteriorating and I'm not sure how much longer he will be able to work as a mechanic. I hope his body will hold out until Heather is ready for college. When his body finally gives up, I am thinking that he should be able to collect disability...but at this time I can't count on that. Should his body not hold out that long....maybe we'll just move everything up and take her with us! There are lots of online schools where she can finish high school while on the road!

For income on the road, I plan to continue my crochet designing. It's not a lot of income, but it should be enough to buy groceries! And there are always other odd jobs that can be done around the country. And lots of family and friends to visit.

Doesn't it sound great??? It does to me!

But these are my plans....just thought I'd share.

Ramble on....

OK, like I said before, this is a C-R-A-Z-Y time of year for us!! Thursday night Heather had her school's Christmas Party and Program. Here she is wearing her pretty dress that I made for her. She loved it and was the only one in a handmade/boutique dress.

Also on Thursday I met with a wonderful woman, Kathy, who needed my crochet help! She had a problem....her best friend's Grandmother was making her best friend an afghan. Well, unfortunately the Grandma passed away before she finished it and she was working from a pattern in her head! So Kathy wanted to finish the blanket for her friend, but couldn't figure out the pattern! She stopped into Tangle and they gave her my number. We met up and I took some long looks at the blanket and messed with my own hook and yarn. Let me tell you, those "bobbles" had me stumped. Well, while messing around, I figured it out!!! I was THRILLED!!! It really was a beautiful pattern and it made my day to figure it out! And Kathy was excited too! What a wonderful friend she is!

Let's see...what else has been going on. Saturday we put up the Christmas tree and decorated the house. I baked lots of cookies too! Sunday night I had another crochet lesson and baked even more cookies!! Today I need to finish my housework and laundry, and tonight is my husband's work's Christmas party.

Tuesday I will be volunteering at Heather's school like I do every Tuesday, Wednesday night we will be having Heather's birthday party at Chuck-E- Cheese. Thursday Heather only has half a day of school and I need to bring in her Birthday snacks and Thurdsday night is the children's Christmas party for my husbands work. Plus Thursday is Heather's 6th birthday!!!!

Hmmm, Friday we have a birthday party for a friend of Heather's from school, and Sunday/Monday Ron is heading to Denver for some work-related shooling. Then of course we have Christmas next week! OH!!! I also had another design submission accepted and need to have that finished by the 6th!!

And how am I doing on my Christmas gift list???? Well, I've made a dent, LOL!!

Ron
Heather
Mom- finished
Linda-finished
Anna-finished
James - finished
Cora - finished
Glen - I finally know what I want to make him and have the supplies!
Leiliki-finished
Mikey - supplies purchased
Trevor - mailed

Lauren - mailed
Lindsy - mailed
Mom Cirka-crocheted but still needs felted
Dad Cirka - I finally know what I want to make him and have the supplies!
Ms. Langdon - ????
Mr. Derek - supplies purchased

Uncle Kenny- supplies purchased

OK, better get off my butt and get this day going! Sounds like the dryer is done! Have a great week everyone and I'll post when I can!

Double the fun!

A new adventure is starting in our household. Today I have started watching the neighbor girl, Kathryn, while her parents work. I felt so bad for her having to go to daycare every day...plus felt bad for the parents and the amount of $$ they were forking over...so I figured I could use a little extra cash and watch her a few days a week. Luckily she is 5 and Heather's best friend, so they get along great together. Just the occasional argument over what to play first, LOL!!

Our fist day went well. Heather had dance this morning and then we ran a bunch of errands. Then home for lunch. And guess what??? I made them both sit down and watch a movie and now they are both fast asleep!! LOL!! Not too bad! But I do think I need to make up a household schedule to keep us all in line.

Good news is.....think of how much creating I can get done while they occupy each other!! Whoooohoooooo!!!!!!!!!