First Day....

I finished the top and pieced the back for Challenge #1 quilt, but no show until its completely done, that's how I decided. My weekend plans changed a bit, so the amount of sewing I thought I would get done was limited. Also, I've had something with my right arm, knot in the muscle that would only go away after several hours with heating pad and gentle massage. This has been going on for more then a year every time I get too busy with my hands in the kitchen or around the house. It is very frustrating because it means I can only wash so many dishes at the time, or only clean the house part by part, which does not get me far. I know it sounds like a great excuse, but believe me, it's not. :)
Sewing doesn't hurt though..I am not sure about quilting a large quilt :(

Today was my first day at school as a graduate student. I am really excited to see what all this would bring. I know I need to get ready for a lot of reading, writing, and more reading..

And so tonight, instead of tackling the quilt, I will rather sit in my favorite spot on the sofa with my heating pad, articles to read and yummy mandarins.

I am going to leave you a link with a pretty cool video that explain just a bit what I do..

I use tools like they present in the video to study plants and tree's spatial distribution and how factors such as climate change affect their growth, spread, and regeneration.. and such...:)

I guess, I just wanted you to know...

Returning...

I guess, I took almost unexpected break from blogging and bunch of other things, but here I am ready to get back to my normal.
I needed some time off from my usual, at least, that is how I explain myself to myself. :)
I spent a lot of time outside not far, just in my yard, enjoying every new leaf that grew and every new bloom.



My vegetables are all planted in abundance, now I am anxious to harvest fruits.




I visited with old friends and family, who hardly see me during the school time.
The most important, I organized my life a bit (really just a bit) and set my priorities once again...

Now? I am really longing for craftiness.

..but before I have to show for any of that, here are some pieces of my garden...







Thank you all for comments wondering about me and whether I found time to sew... I read and appreciate them all. I guess it is hard to admit several times in row that things are not going the way I wished they would. :)
Thanks for visiting...

Finals are done, I am back...

Just a quick note for those who might want to know... Yep, finals and school is behind me for now and I will be back here enjoying the crafty days with you. I have a long list of want to and need to, but since my work situation is not going to change for now, I do have more time on my hands.
All of you moms out there, enjoy yours Mother's Day weekend! We will be out of town till Monday.

Happy mother's day to my mom that is far far away.... I love you mom.

And here, so my dad does not need to translate:

Mamka,
vsetko najlepsie ku Dnu Matiek!
Lubim Ta a chybas mi...
Som rada ze ta mam...
M.

A bad news...

Thank you all for stopping by. I have been working on my school stuff all this time. All of my projects are finished and I am pretty proud of them. I have last two finals tomorrow. Then I will be back here as usual.
In fact, I might be here more often. I just found out today that my hours at work are going to be cut almost in half starting next week, maybe till June. Reason? I guess economy...
I am more then frustrated since we had lost one income in the house already. What do i do? I am having a feeling I 'll find out soon.
I might have a back up plan, but that will require some prayers. :)
On the other side, Jacquie at Tallgrass Prairie Studio is holding the Spring to Finish on till the end of May. I am looking for some quality time spent behind the sewing machine.
Wish me luck... I'll need it.

I am remembering.....

Valentine's Day won't ever be the same for me. Last year on February 14th at 3:20 pm, I was on my way to my Geography class in Cole Hall at NIU in DeKalb, IL. I was in my car making my way through campus to the parking garages. I was listening to NPR and noticed way too many people walking on the sidewalks all on cell phones. Suddenly, I heard breaking news through the radio about shootings that happened. It wasn't clear where exactly the shooting happened. They thought it was in the bookstore. For whatever reason, I drove in the parking garages, seeing everybody fleeing out of there. I then found out that the shooting took place in Cole Hall and campus is closed. On my detoured (due to traffic) way home, I got almost hit by the other cars twice because roads where closed and it was a total chaos. Later, I learned that the shooter is dead and some students were shot. I was able to call everyone that I am OK.
It took me a few hours to realize that I might of been right there if I wasn't running late. My class was supposed to take place in THAT lecture hall right after theirs.
It's been a year and I still start walking much faster passing Cole Hall, I still stop and remember when seeing signs like this around town, and somehow, I stopped running late for my classes.



To learn more about what happend, you can go here.

Where I 've been...

here...



Most of my days are currently occupied by school. I don't like it a bit, but this is the hardest semester I ever had so far and I just will have to deal with it for now. There was no sewing ever since I came back from Europe... I am ready to cry at this point because there honestly is no time for it.



I have so many unfinished projects and just projects that I am dying to work on... So please be patient with me and don't forget about me totally. I'll be back here soon...
I am reading what all of you are up to, almost daily. In fact, those are those bright times of my days now. Thank you for that...

Oh, no....

I didn't have a good day.
Last night with the snow/wind storm we lost our internet connection. We don't have cable here, so it's working through the satelite and because of the weather, that obviously didn't work.
This morning we found out that the company the internet is coming from won't fix it unless we pay $160.00 dollars or sign another two year contract. So what do we do?
Send them .... you know where. We were in search for other company for awhile anyway since there were other issues.
We found a different company, but they won't be able to come and set it up until Dec. 18th.
So, I am posting this from school. Sorry, no pictures...
This wouldn't be the end of the world for us anyway because we can use internet at work or at school.
Well, another unfortunate thing that happened is that I am worried about my flight home.
My dad woke up us this morning calling from Slovakia. There has been strikes going on in Budapest airport (where I am supposed to arrive) since this morning and flights are being canceled. You can read about it more here, if you are interested.
I was nervous about the whole traveling part of my trip anyway. I am not much of a traveler, you may say.
I don't know how long this will be going on, but it sure makes me worried.

If I won't be able to post until I leave....
I will definately post from Slovakia. I should be able to get there sometime, right?
I just might be too worried about other things tomorrow.
I am leaving Chicago 5pm on Friday, wish me luck.

Feeling Quiet......, but Busy

I have been absent for a few days. Business of life got in the way during the day and sleepiness at night. I have been finishing some baby gifts and working through my Christmas list slowly, but surely. So there is show and tell to come soon.
I am trying to keep calm about everything that is awaiting me in the next month. Wrap up the semester, pack up everything for a month stay at my parents in Europe, get over flying issue (I only flew once in my life and that was from Slovakia here, this would be my second.) and get all my paperwork ready for visiting American embassy in Slovakia (because for some reason American embassy in Slovakia doesn't communicate with U.S. one, so I have to take everything with me.) and than make sure to get all the presents ready for those here and in Europe.
There is a lot on my mind as you can see lately and I have become a little stressed over it all, so I am trying to calm down. Being quiet helps...
I am going to leave you with some pictures of my home town.












All images are random finds on Google after you put Kosice, Slovakia search for images.

Little about me....

I stumbled upon this fun photo play few days ago here and wanted to try it, just to see what will I come up with. It is addictive!! Have fun!!!



Here are some suggestions from Jane that I found very helpful.

(NOTE: if you are going to do this,
make sure that you join up to the mosaic maker site first!
I spent a long time doing it
and then had to join & lost everything!)
Here´s how you do it...type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr search, using only the first page, choose an image, copy and paste each of the URL’s into the mosaic maker (3 columns, 4 rows).

The questions:

1. What is your first name? [Michaela]

2. What is your favorite food? [Potato]

3. What high school did you attend?[Kosice, Slovakia]

4. What is your favorite color?[green]

5. Who is your celebrity crush?[Eric Bana]

6. Favorite drink?[Margaritas]

7. Dream vacation?[Puerto Rico]

8. Favorite dessert?[Chocolate Ice Cream]

9. What do you want to be when you grow up?[Mother]

10.What do you love most in life?[Nature]

11. One word to describe you.[Honest]

12. Your Flickr name.[Michaela]

The links to the pictures in my mosaic:

1. Michaela Robin - My New Little Girl - 4, 2. Heart potato, 3. Inside The Cathedral, 4. Green on Green, 5. Eric Bana, 6. Ritas, 7. Dreamland, 8. choco-vanilla swirl, 9. 2 months + 26 days, 10. technicolor bois de boulogne in Paris :-), 11. drops of purple petals, 12. Howling at the Moon