AVOCADO UPDATE

DEC 31 2018

Avocadee is growing new leaves! This plant is growing so much faster and healthier than my first one, Avacado. According to my research, you're supposed to prune your plant when it looks like this so it can branch out and look bushy and petite. I didn't know I was supposed to prune my plants until after they grew 6 inches. I feel like puning the plants this early is too harsh anyway, so I'm not going to do any serious pruning until the end of winter.

With all of this avocado knowledge, I'm thinking of writing an E-book about growing them. I did a quick search to see if anyone has published a book like that already, but I didn't find anything. I need to dedicate some of my own time ot do this, and it looks like the next time I'll get some free time will be when I'm done with Winterguard and SAT prep. However, I'll still make time to make monthly updates with my plants.

 I am so passionate about my avocado plants and I want to their progress as much as I can. In order for me to do that, I need a better camera, and more time and motivation. Right now I have neither, so I appreciate your patience.

Another eye-balled pattern. This is the first hat I've made in a very long time!

AVOCADO UPDATE

This is Avocadee and its leaves are getting BIGGER!

Avacado's leaves are still petite, but they've hardened and have that mature-leaf-feel to them. I'm still thinking of pruning it to 6 inches ....

This is Egg, the youngest but largest seed of the Avocado bundle. Its leaves are just beginning to split!

I think Egg is going to have 3 dominant leaves like its big sister, Avacado. You can also see the white fuzzy hairs covering the plant. All of my avocado plants had this fuzz at this stage of their lives, so this is completely normal. They probably won't lose this fuzz until they grow their first true green leaves.

Christmas Crochet

If you want help or want to know how to crochet a hat, just ask.

I believe I have a bigger purpose.

Yarn

I got my yarn back from the storage. Hopefully, I will be able to make more hats next week. I've been extremely busy with school and all, that I've hardly had any time for my favorite hobbies. It's been quite a while since my last hat anyway.

Introducing, my Avocado plants!

WINTER BREAK IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER WOOT WOOT!!

Since I haven't been keeping up with my crocheting, I figured I should post about what I've been growing in the past 5 months (wow, it's been that long).

This year in late August, I decided I was going to grow an avocado pit because why not. I looked up on the internet for tips and tricks on how to grow these things, and by the next day, I kinda felt like I was ready to be an avocado parent. On my first try, I used a seed from a really....really.......reeeaaaaaallllllyyyy old avocado from my fridge and hoped for the best. I did everything from peeling the brown skin off of it to changing the water every week and hoped I would see something exciting too. Then I waited. And waited. And waited until, OH LOOK! Nothing happened. A few weeks after I planted my first seed, I decided to plant another one but this time I didn't peel the skin or anything. I just stuck 3 toothpicks in the side and set it in some water, thinking nothing would happen anyway. A few more weeks go by, and I finally see something happen. My second planted avocado began to germinate, or split open!!!

It was such a big deal at the time. Avocado tree's don't grow the same way smaller seeds do like pinto beans or other fruiting seeds. It takes a lot longer for these seeds to germinate and they will only do so if they feel like they're in the right growing conditions. At least that's what I've learned from having my first 2. 

After about a month, my germinated seed began to grow a small stub of a root, and I couldn't help but feel proud of my accident. I threw out the first one because, by the time the germinated one grew roots, it was still a crack-less pit.

There's something about watching plants grow that makes you want to look forward to the next day just so you can see how much they've grown. After about a few more weeks, my avocado plant, of which I named Avacado, grew taller and taller and even grew a few leaves. They were so soft and fragile. I remember waking up every morning early enough to catch Avacado perking up in the morning sun. Avacado was just a month old and small and fragile. Now she's over 5 months old and still pushing through the chilly winter.

Between those 5 months, I've grown 3 more avocado seeds. On my 3rd avocado, I let it grow in a bag to promote faster germination. This one came from my friend when she gave it to me on the bus. I said I would take care of it for her unless she wants it back, and ever since then, I've been updating her about Avocadee, what she named it, and how much he's been growing. After about a month and a half, it grew a stem bright green stem and 5 big beautiful leaves. It's thriving a lot more than Avacado that's for sure.

So, enough about what happened and let's look at some pictures. I will post some pictures of my plants from the beginning of Avacado to now, and that's that.

So here they are now!

I apologize in advance for not having an HD 1000 DOUBLE FEATURE camera that takes Internet worthy pictures the internet loves so much.

Avacado (left) and Avocadee (right)

See how big Avocadee's (right) leaves are compared to Avacado (left)?

These are all photos that were taken this evening. There are more on the way. Eventually, I will post a whole album of my avocado's plant's growth soon!

Junior year

Howdy friends!

Junior year has now begun, and I'm already exhausted from school. I might have to put a hold on crocheting for now, but once I get inspired, I'll post something cool. Check out my English blog if you're interested in my writing, which would probably be nobody because no one looks at this blog.

Also, make sure to stay in touch with my PINTEREST PAGE! I post nice interesting things there.

School starts in a week!

My organized yarn basket

Thanks to my grandma for providing me with the basket, I worked pretty long to untangle the yarn monster that once was there.

Thinking about the Future

This afternoon, I was in the car with my mom heading back home from Sonic, when I thought of an interesting idea. Lately, I have been feeling down and unmotivated to do anything, and I want to know how I can get that inspirational spark back this summer. During the last school year, I felt like if only I had time to do this and if only I had time to do that, but now its summer and I got all this time, and I haven't done much of what I wanted to do. I did, in fact, finish reading a book under a month, and I finished making my friends hat, but I still haven't given it to her and I feel so bad about it! Plus I want to at least make a buck or two this summer.

But for now.......

I am fully charged and ready to tackle all my goals. I just started and energy boosting diet and I reorganized my yarn basket yesterday. Boy, you should've seen it. It was pretty bad, and now I double take it sometimes because it was so bad before.

But anyway, my idea today was to think about starting crochet classes. Now, I've been thinking about this for a pretty long time, but then another thought gets in the way or I lose that motivation just like that. My idea was that I could not only teach kids to crochet, but I can teach adults who maybe want to gain their hobby back or make something for their friends or family. I have to work hard if I really want that dream to come true, I just need to believe in myself and know that I am STRONG and capable for anything I want to keep my mind too.

So, moral of the story: Process takes time and motivation. Take that time to motivate yourself to project that perfect idea you have. If you got it, SHOW IT! Not to be pushy or anything. 😊

Therefore, this week I want to make something other than a hat. I'll make a blanket or a backpack or something. I found a few cool patterns on youtube that I think I want to try. I'll touch base on what I decide to do.

Ideas:

https://www.mooglyblog.com/leapingstripes-blocks-blanket-crochet/#comment-559420

Finished New hat

I decided to make a smaller purple hat because the first one I made was a little too big.
Took me no time! I also experimented with the stitches by making a smaller chain instead of the recommended number of chains.

Here's the original pattern: http://littlemonkeyscrochet.com/malia-beanie/

New Pattern!

Howdy!

Tonight, I am going to start this beautiful hat and maybe even the shawl. Now that I'm full of inspiration and corn chips, I feel mighty and motivated to finish this hat next week. From what I saw on Pinterest, it looked like the people who posted that they tried the pattern and they all said it was an enjoyable process. This pattern is definitely out of my comfort zone, but I'm not afraid to take the challenge. As long as I'm getting something good out of it.

I'm going to be using yellow yarn and my favorite crochet for this pattern. My goal is to get the hat done by next week. Wish me luck! Just kidding. No one even looks at this blog anyway.

New Hat - FINISHED

Howdy!

I finally finished that blue hat I've been making for what it seems like a year. I really like the fit and style of this one because the front-post-double-crochet adds a nice texture and cushion to the hat. My friend ordered this hat during the last week of school, and she told me that she wanted a pom pom on the top. So I need to add that on the hat before she gets it. I will definitely make more of these in the future.

New Hat

This week, I am making a blue front post double crochet hat for my friend before she leaves school next week. I owed her this hat since 9th grade, so I'm trying to hurry and make it for her. I will send an update on how it looks when I'm done!

Door Mat

I'm thinking of making a doormat for my room.

Birthday Bundle

I had a wonderful birthday on Monday! My family and I went to a new Chinese buffet in town and the food was delicious. Before the dinner, I had to go to school and perform a winter guard performance in front of the whole school. It was very nerve-wracking, but it wasn't like I haven't done it before.

I got so many birthday gifts, I feel so spoiled! My mom tried to give me 16 gifts for my 16th birthday, and so far they all have the phrase SWEET 16 on it. I know turning 16 is a big deal, but I guess I haven't felt the excitement yet. 

I am so thankful for the presents that all my friends and family gave me. I want to thank all my friends for giving me yarn! I love yarn and I always get excited when I see it! I can't wait to make something with them. I also got a Hobby Lobby gift card, which I'm really excited to use. All I need is time, but I'm still looking forward to shopping. Sometime soon, I'm going to have to attack the yarn stack in the corner of my room. It's making my room look super unorganized. Maybe I should start looking for a yarn organizer.

I eyeballed this pattern. I think next time I will use a thicker yarn. Keep checking the blog for the follow-up up photo and pattern!

Looking towards Spring Break!

One thing I love about crocheting is that I can destress while making something pretty. Last week was pretty stressful because I was so focused on schoolwork and nothing but schoolwork. My 10th-grade class and I all agree that we have TOO MUCH HOMEWORK. Last Friday, my English teacher decided to listen to our feelings and concerns about school and stress. Before I went to English, I heard my English teacher cried and a bunch of other students cried while they talked. At some point, my friend had to quiet down the teacher just so she can speak up about her feeling about the outrageous amount of homework we had. Hearing these stories made me feel scared to go to class because I really don't like crying and I definitely don't like watching other people cry. Luckily for me, that's not how it went in my class. My class was pretty chill. Only two people cried.

What my class and I hoping to get out of our little homework discussion is that we hope to see something change to where we won't have to be so stressed for all the projects that we do. I feel like I would be a more organized and a happier person if it wasn't for all the homework I had to do. I could tell a difference in my mood when I don't have to do a lot of homework. I understand that my school is preparing us for college, but the methods that some of the teachers are using are breaking us down instead of building us up. As that one Kelly Clarkson song said, I hope it's true when they say "What doesn't kill you make you stronger."

Ok. Now let's talk about Crochet.

You have probably figured out by now why I haven't been able to crochet lately. Now that spring break is coming up, I can finally catch up on my Pinterest boards and blog updates. I got two orders from a friend and my great aunt who want me to make them a beanie and a baby blanket. The beanie will probably take me a day or less to make, but the baby blanket's going to be a completely new experience.

The last time I attempted to make a blanket was last year and the blanket turned into a scarf, which became a Christmas present. My great aunt asked me if I could help make a baby blanket for her new great-grandchild. The baby's going to be a boy, so she's looking at boyish yarns and colors. I remember she said the mother liked the colors yellow, blue, and some other color I forgot. I'm pretty excited to get this blanket started because I have never made one before. We have to have a blanket done by July because that's when the baby is due. I already looked up a few patterns that I thought would be super easy but gorgeous for the baby.

Here's a link to what I found:

Baby Blanket

I would also take recommendations from whoever has made baby blankets before! All ideas are welcomed in the comment section.

I'm pretty excited for the beanie too because I am thinking of trying out a new pattern. My friend would like a slouchy beanie, but she picked a beanie out of some other google images with a cool beehive-looking design on it. I thought I might give that one a try. Here's an example of what I might make.

courtesy of Esty and Pinterest.

Other than those projects, I haven't crocheted at all for the past few months. Hopefully, I'll get the chance to make something during spring break. Plus, my birthday is coming up. Looking forward to a fabulous sweet 16!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2018 IS HERE!

I hope you all had a great 2017! Even though it was wacky and smacky, we all made it through the year proud and strong. But who knows? Maybe I'll actually complete my new year's resolutions this year.