LINKS!! :)

So, as I've been gone for so long, I've had some chances to find some awesome new websites I would love to share with you:




RainyMood.com - Rain makes everything better. If you're like me, you like the sound of rain. Acutally, you love it. And this website is for rain-lovers. It continuously plays the sound of rain, for as long as you want. I use it as background sound while I'm studying or reading. It's very relaxing.



The Unemployed Philosopher's Guild - I discovered this at the Folger Shakespeare Library, when I got my favourite souviner. It's a mug that has insults from the Bard's plays wrapped all around it. Guess where it's from? The Unemployed Philosopher's Guild, of course! The site, if you ask me, isn't as epiclly awesome as Think Geek, but it does have some interesting stuff for lit. nerds like me, and not just computer and sci-fi geeks.



Collage Fashion - I found this site because it was linked to another one of my favourite sites (Surviving Collage Life- check it out if you want to; great articles on studying.), and I am now hooked. For someone who's just getting into fashion, or for someone who's been in love with designing outfits since they could draw - you will enjoy this website. I know I do! :) Check out the Disney inspired outfits as well - Ellie from Up is my favourite!!! :)



Scarf Tying - I love scarves. Always have, always will. And this is a tutorial on 37 ways to tie a scarf. I fell in love instantly. Hope you do to.



Courageous - Ok, this is one of the only movie trailors that actually made me cry. I mean, like tears rolling down my cheeks. It's a movie that all dads today should see. I can't wait to see it myself. If the trailor doesn't convince you to see it...I'm not sure what will.





Don't Blink Cat - This was shown to me by one of my Doctor Who friends, and I laughed so hard I cried. If you love Doctor Who, you would love this YouTube video.





Goodreads - Ok, this site is amazing. I was seeing it mentioned on Facebook quite frequently, so I decided to check it out. One of the best things I've ever done. A friend of mine described it as a "Ravelry for readers". (Btw, if you like to knit or crochet, and you don't know what Ravelry is, you are deprived. Check it out, and friend me, I'm under Scriptor :) And go ahead and friend me on Goodreads too, I'm under 'Rachel'.

Hope you enjoy these websites as much as I do!! :)

Apologies

I must apologize to my readers...I haven't been posting lately because...well...for multiple reasons. First, I went on a two-week trip to Virginia and Washington DC. Secondly, because of the trip, I had quite a bit of catch-up to do in school, and that made doing anything extra-curricular very difficult...but now, here I am. And ready to tell you all about it :)

First, the trip. It was amazing! We took it with my grandparents, and there wasn't a day that didn't have at something memorable. We went to colonial Williamsburg first. If you have never been, you need to go sometime before you die. It is fantastic! Above is a picture of an artillery demonstration they did with real cannons...and I thought regular gunfire was loud!!

Every day, we did something that was fascinating and full of history: toured the Governor's Palace, went through the old houses, listened to actors portray the characters of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and (my sister's favourite) the Marquis de Lafayette. We watched people do trades that they would have back in colonial times: blacksmiths, brewers, wig makers, barrel-makers (coopers, technically), gun-makers, shoe-makers, milliners, wheel-makers, book-binders (my favourite), printers, and so many more which I can't think of at the moment. Each one would talk about his trade and then demonstrate it for us, using all the techniques they would have in the colonial times. It was fascinating, and there was never a dull day!

After the trip to Williamsburg, we went to Washington D.C., which was absolutly fantastic. We walked around the entire Mall, and saw every single monument there was to see. They were beautiful and awe-inspiring. I loved seeing the Abraham Lincoln and the Thomas Jefferson memorials. They were so breath-taking...I can't wait to see them again someday!! We also got to tour the Captiol, which was amazing. We got to see all the statues, and the beautiful masonry, and all of the gorgeous paintings. But my favourite had to be the Library of Congress. I think I could live there and never, ever get bored. The paintings and the sculputres alone could take up weeks of study and enjoyment, not to mention the Reading Rooms. I need to go back there someday, just to see the Library of Congress. If you're considering going, go. It's so worth it.

A close runner-up had to be the Folger Shakespeare Library, however. There was a rehersal of Othello going on, and we got to see the actors practicing. I loved watching the directors and the sound guys do their jobs...I've always been fasinated by the behind-the-scenes workings. It was also fun to watch the actors play around on the stage when they got bored between scenes and during sound and lighting tests. And in their giftshop, I found the souviner that made me SO happy: Hamlet by the Royal Shakespeare Company, starring - guess who!?!?!?! - David Tennent and Patrick Stewart!! I was so happy!!! Now, all I need to do is find time to watch it...!

I also got a mug with some of Shakespeare's best insults written all over it. Here's a picture...

Awesome, isn't it? :)

Anyway, I hope I can write again soon...keep updated! :)

Cloudless Skies

In spite of the contradition of the weather, I'm knitting a project which I'm calling "Cloudless Skies". The yarn I'm using reminds me of the sky on a windy day in late summer, when the sky is so blue it seems to be almost as bright as the sun. I'm making basic fingerless mitts for my sister, and I've already completed one of them. The other is almost done...but I've not been able to find time to knit, or even write! *insert shocked gasp*. It's been very, very busy around here...but I'll elaborate more on that in the next blog post. :) Once I finish the gloves, I'll have to upload a few pictures for you as well :)

Have a holly, home-made Christmas...

I decided that this year, I'm going to make all my Christmas presents, instead of buying things. Home-made things always seem to carry more sentiment than things from the store, I've noticed. I always get a little thrill when I receive something that someone has made especially for me. Just the idea of someone working away over needles or yarn or whatever for me has always made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. So, I've decided to spread that warm and fuzzy feeling, by working with warm and fuzzy yarn. Yep, I've taught myself how to knit. I've already made my mom's Christmas present (I'm not completely sure if she reads my blog or not, so I'm not going to say what it is :)) I'm working on my Dad's right now, and still have to discover what exactly I'm making for everyone else. It's difficult to find something that's pretty, useful, and still in my skill level.

Not everything I'm making for Christmas is knitted, however. I'm also embroidering some other things, and for my siblings, I'm writing a story that we used to play when we were younger.

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions for home-made Christmas presents, please let me know!!