#35 Send 3 people who aren't related to me a surprise, just because.

Who doesn't love getting a package in the mail?  It is even more fun when you don't expect it.  That is the reasoning behind this goal. 

The first package that I sent was a secret Santa package.  I crocheted  a pink hat for a 7 year old girl that I know.  Her big sister had been stationed in Korea and was not going to be home for Christmas for the first time.  She also has 4 brothers.  I know that she is close to her older sister and was going to miss her.  So I anonymously sent her the package with a note saying that I knew her sister was going to be missing her too and that the hat was pink so that her brothers wouldn't steal it. I did hear through the grapevine that she really liked the hat and wore it often last year.

The second package was to a lady that I meet through Postcrossing.  She lives in Germany.  I sent her a bracelet that I had made.  We have been writing to each other since our first postcard and sending small things back and forth.  She makes Hummel  cards to sell at craft sales with the money going for underprivileged children.

The third package that I sent was to a friends daughter that is studying in England for a year.  I wasn't sure how people across the pond celebrate Halloween, so I got together some decorations and fun toys to send her.  The shipping cost as much as everything in the box did!  She greatly appreciated the thought and had fun with the things that I sent. 

It is so much fun to make someones day.  I will be sending out more packages, who knows maybe you will be the next to get one!  :)

#78 Make a crocheted rug with the material I bought.

My bathroom rug was in terrible shape, I had bought it years ago at a craft sale.  It was woven on a loom.  I bought material to cut into strips and then crochet into a rug like my friend Becky H does.  The rugs are thick and very comfortable for standing on. 

The center of the rug is from the old rug in the bathroom.  I took it apart and then reused the material in the new rug.  The blue is material I bought and then cut into strips.  The plain white ball that you see in the top two pictures is from a bedskirt that was falling apart.  The outer white is actually a polka dotted fabric that I bought.  I love how it turned out and how comfortable it is under my feet.  There is a lot of cush and absorption to it.  It is also very heavy!  I have started a second one made out of t-shirts and a jersey sheet that was wearing out.  It takes a considerable amount of time cutting the fabric into strips but I like the thickness of these rugs.  I will be making more!..

#47 Clean out Jason's Room

When Jason went to college I was going to re-do his room and never got around to it.  Now that he has had his own place in the cities for about 3 years I feel the room is mine to do what I want.  I cleaned it out and rearranged it.  It still has his bed in there which is used for company.  The closet is a disaster, but all of my closets are.  I still need to go through it.  Two thirds of what is in the closet is either Jason's or Jenni's.  Pete helped me repaint the ceiling and I need to do the walls.  It is being used as the daycare nap room now. When I get it painted I will have finished another of my Day Zero projects.  :)

# 21 Start Gardening-Plant or harvest 10 things

I actually had nine of the ten things planted last year.  So this year I tried planting something different altogether.  Here is the list of things I have gotten to grow on my deck.  Lettuce, Radishes, Onions, Jalapeno Peppers, Cilantro, Green Pepper, Mint, Tomato, Kolarobi, Banana Pepper.  The peppers did the best, I guess they like it a little drier.  I didn't much of anything, I have very limited space.

#17 Take 10 book suggestions from people and read them.

This is an easy one for me.  I love to read!  I also joined a book club this spring.  So with two sisters who are librarians and a new book club I have no shortage of suggestions.  I know I read more than these, but these are the ones that have stuck in my head for one reason or another.

Souless by Gail Carriger.  The first in a series that introduced me to the steampunk movement. I liked the mix of vampires, werewolves, and inventors.

50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James.  I read all three of the books.  They were interesting, the second and third seemed like they were more toward the romance genre. I hate romance novels.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. I enjoyed this book although it was very sad.  Don't let that stop you though.  It gives you something to think about.  I like books that make you think.

Grave Matters by Mark Harris  I feel this is a must read for everyone!  It lets you know what goes on with a body after you die and what your options are.  I just wish I would've read it before I had to bury a loved one.

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens  I made it through this book, it was one for my book club.  Very lengthy.  I was told after I was done that Mr. Dickens got paid by the word, so that is why there was so much.......stuff (?).  It was ok.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.  As a general rule the book is better than the movie and this was no exception.  I enjoyed her journey to self discovery.  I just wish I had a job that would let me travel for a year to get myself together.

Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley.  Loved this book!  First the author started writing when he was 70 years old.  His characters are wonderful.  Flavia is delightful, I wish she was my friend growing up.

Dresden Files by Jim Butcher This is actually a series about a wizard in Chicago.  I have read the first 3 books.  Sci-Fi is my favorite genre.  I am delighted to find a new series to devour.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson  I really enjoyed this.  I got to read about Sweden, which at times was a little confusing but still good.  I like mysteries and strong female characters.  This had both.  I am now on the third of the series.

Murder by Peacocks by Donna Andrews.  This is a fun quick read. Mystery with quirky family mixed in.  It is also a series but I haven't had time to find any of the other books.

These are only a few of the books I have read this summer.  I would list more, but I have been on a cleaning spree and gave two large boxes of books away to a high school teacher so that she can use them for her class room.  I hope you get time to read some of these too.

Where have I been?

This summer was especially busy with both of my boys getting married in the month of August.  I had many things to do in preparation.  I made 3 cheesecakes for Jason's Groom's Dinner and 12 cheesecakes for Dan's wedding.  It was a wonderful time and I am very glad to have Michelle and Nicole as my daughter in laws.  Fun moments include...At Jason's Wedding:  The sand ceremony, parasols, the shoe game, cutting the cake with a sword.  At Dan's wedding:  Nicole walking barefoot down the aisle, very personalized vows, Cedric's cartwheel, painting the tree instead of a unity candle. 

Along with the weddings I have also started to date a wonderful man, Pete.  It has been an unbelievable summer with many great memories.  Unfortunately that has left very little time for my Day Zero project.  I have completed a measly 4 projects in the last 7 months.  I know at this point that I will not finish the entire 101 projects.  The experience has been enlightening and I want to continue it in some shape or form.  The things that I have enjoyed the most are Postcrossing  and Geocaching.  I love getting cards from all over the world and not getting just bills in the mailbox isn't so bad either.  Geocaching has been so much fun, I now have a group of friends hooked on it.  There has been talk of doing it as a competition, complete with trophies and everything.