Iphone Questions

So I was considering getting an Iphone while I'm in China, they are expensive here, but cheaper than in the U.S. However, in China there is no Verizon network, everyone uses sim cards. From my understanding an Iphone has to be unlocked to do this, I could use AT&T in the U.S. but I have a year left on my Verizon contract and I'd really rather not use AT&T. Do any of you know if I can get the Iphone relocked in the states and put on my already existing Verizon plan? Any comments, ideas, advice or links are welcome.

Late Thanksgiving

So Thanksgiving was last week and it was fantastic. I missed my family (it's my first time not spending the holidays with them). But all the American and some of our Chinese friends got together and had  blast! We made lots of tasty food and a thanksgiving tree, then we read the story of thanksgiving in English and Chinese and sang songs of thanksgiving.  I'm truley blessed with the friends I have here, and all the wonderful people the Father has sent my way.

Not so crazy lately ....

Well! Not much going on today, work earlier, the room is almost cleen. I'm finally working on my pajama pants, I have a basket of paper hearts and a bag of granny squares. I want to get a bright blue metal frame bunk bed and I want to paint my walls yellow. I just realized it's past midnight and I'm not remotly tired yet! Oh well ... This is my Chinese notebook and my sock knitting. I really want a pair of heels and I'm really into this idea of lace up ankle boots. I may have found some that I like, you'll know if I buy them.  At any rate, a friend is comein over at lunchtime tomorrow and we're gonna mess around with my skateboard so maybe I'll take some pictures. Also throwing around the idea of doing yoga excersizes. I understand it's really good for you. Anyone ever tried it? Any comments? 

The world thinks eccentricity in great things is genius, but in small things, only crazy.' ~Edward G. Buwler-Lytton

Long Weekends, Happy Mondays, Sock Pets and Skateboarding

So it was a long but good weekend, I had an unexpected holiday on Saturday. It was lovely, I got to hang out with some of my Chinese University friends. Well yesterday as always was a long Sunday full of long classes. However, this particular Sunday night dragging myself up the 97 steps to our apartment at 7 pm, was not the end. There was a party at school for the teachers and I had to be there. Well it wasn't bad, but the walk home was rather chilly. It hasn't gotten far above freazing the past three days and I have this feeling that it won't be warm again till spring. Ah well, such is life in Harbin. At any rate I got to have lunch with my good friend Punk today and we had a lovely walk in the coooooooold outside afterwords. P.S. I got a scateboard last week and I'm very excited to learn its wonderfull ways.

Yes I was practicing in the house :)

A friend of mine who lives Glasgow makes adorable sock animals and I was feeling rather inspired. Soooooo  I went out to the night market and found some I thought would make some cute pets.  Here are some wonderful little tutorial links. Hope you enjoy!

Cute baby sock bunny!

Floppy sock kitty!

Fat little frog!

Cute little owl!

Down the Rabbit Hole, and Under the Brick Wall

 Well dearies I was out on adventure today and found the loverly spot, it's quite perfect a quiet walf, a loverly picnic or a pleasent party, I can't wait till the spring, late spring of course, when things are warming up and turning green. For now it'll do for walking and a quiet place to sit and knitt or write or practice my Chinese, and not be gawked at or scolded for sitting on the ground. It's really an answer to prayer, I was just telling my mom the othe day that I needed a place like this. Well that's all for now lovelies.

Loving Selbu

The free pattern for these can be found here.

And what about these lovelies.

So I haven't posted anything for a while, I keep meaning to but it just keeps not happening. Well here's a little something to hold you over. If your thinking it's not really about your life though, think of it this way, these are the things I enjoy thinking about, they're a real enjoyable part of my life. Anywho I've recently rediscovered Selbu patterns and I really love the look of Norwegan knitting, I think it's absolutely beautiful! Well I'm working on my socks now, but a friend took me to a big yarn market, and I'm looking forward to trying my hand at a Selbu mitten pattern before the winter is over. Here's some beauties and some free patterns I found, hope you enjoy and let me know of any patterns you think are wonderful! So there's a scrap of news and a bit of insight on my crazy brain, I'll write a much better blog post soon.

Love this one!

Find it here.

Color it Brightly

Some times life seems dull. Esspecially here in China, the subtle consistencies in the standard life here are almost unbearably predictable. So it's time to switch it up, color your life bright! 

Watch your Heart

Have you ever noticed it's easier to watch other peoples hearts and forget to protect your own? Anyhow! I had a fantastic weekend and I'm looking forward to the week ahead, here's some picture for you lovelies.

this

Shopping and lots of Fun

Sooo yesterday I went on a 5 mile shopping excursion! I found 4 pairs of shoes I loved and I didn't buy any. However, I did get some material from the fabric market, sadly I didn't take any pictures. I also got some glue, tape, a ruler and a stapler. Later I got a ring and I found a really cute little shop where I got nail polish and a wallet. Later I found this belt, I tried not to buy it, but I was in love and couldn't resist!  Also I had this brilliant idea to see if any of the small shops near here want to buy stuff I make and sell it as handmade american goods :D it's brilliant! Possibly....

The stripes will be pajamas and who knows what else. 

The flowered material I will atttempt to make a button up shirt.

It was a chily, grey, foggy day.

I'm a little obsessed with the idea of getting a bike.

Apparently this place sells Pigeon BBQ.

All in a Days Work

Well at least the socks were all done in a days work. It took me an hour to cast on but once I got the hang of it they went pretty quickly and I'm rather proud of how well they are turning out. I also made two apple pies for my little friends 6th birthday. Had a nice day hangin out with his mommy and ended it all with a super game of rummy that lasted till midnight! It was a pretty good day. Also made two more granny squares for my up and comeing cozy afghan! 

Granny Afghans they Warm the Heart, the Mind and the Rest of Me

Right now I'm missing haveing afghans around the house. The weight of them some how holds the heat so much better. And lets face it! They're just fun! They have personality! Well I've decided to make one! it probably won't be as pretty as these but it'll be mine and that will make it better.

Wednesdays Dinner

I've decided every wednesday I will make dinner for myself and the family I'm staying with. Tonight was Chicken, noodle, spinach, tomatoes soup and garlic bread. I wish I was at home and making this for my mommy and daddy, they'd be so happy and proud! I was going to go to the fabric market this morning, but I got a message and went instead to KFC for lunch with a friend. Deep discussion of serious topics occured. Things that are far more important than the fabrick market. Tomorrow is game night and in honor of the party I'll make some apple pie and maybe cookies.

First Snow

Normally I get excited about the first snow. Considering It's only October 17 ..... well, not so much.

That place

Song bei da dao bridge Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.

So I had my class over at Hulan today and when I left it was pouring rain, with thick angry black clouds and lots of streak lightning. By the time we got to the bridge (40 minutes later) this is what I saw. Oh yes! I almost forgot! I got a charger for my camera. I realized on the way back today that I can think of home fondly now, instead of only in desperation. What I mean is I can think of going home and the thoughts are pleasent and warm and happy, I can think of all the wonderful things I will do when I get back and smile about it. Whereas a week or two ago I could only think sad thoughts of lacking and desperate longing. This all may change by the end of next week, but for now I am content and blessed. 

Socks!

I've always wanted too knit socks, when I found this yarn the other day I knew this was the year! So I bought it and I will start as soon as I've finished roaling it into individual balls. I really hope that I can master the art of pretty, wearable, lacey, knitted, socks. I'll keep you updated on that!

Stairwell Sessions

Quilted Hearts with Bows

Looky what I found yesterday! These quiltidy heart earmuffs grabbed my eyes at the street market the other day and just would not let go. I knew they would be gone the next day so I stopped and bought their cute littles selves. Also I found the first birthday/christmas/from China/because I miss you present. But because such people have access to this blog I can't put any pictures on untill they've been given their gifts. So in 10 months you can see all the cool stuff i've gotten for my friends. It's hard to believe, but I've been living in China for a full two months today. On schedual for today, go and find a cameras I like, come home and look up reviews for them. Hopefully I'll have found and purchased one by tomorrow afternoon.

Lamps Galore

So there is this light fixture on my ceiling that is in desperate need of a shade for the middle light. So a few days ago I thought, why not make one out of paper!?

Here are some ideas I found, I haven't decided exactly what I'm going to do yet.

found here

found here

found here

And two more ideas found here and here, I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet but I thought these were some interesting ideas.

Learning to write, to live, and to love.

So last night my new friend Punk brought me these books to help me learn to write in Chinese (actual simbols). It was so completely unexpected, he really is sweet. My friends and I were talking today about how he's so considerate and careing and how he's just punk and we've never met anyone quite like him. I love talking to him and I can't wait for the day when he's introduced to the Father, I hope I get the honor. I feel so certain that he will before I leave and I pray I'm there. Well today I have no classes, but it's pay day which means I'll be getting a camera soon. New camera = more blog posts.  Well for today, I've been studying and soon I'm gonna go scout out a new place, Lenore's Coffee Bar, and then hopefully find the fabric market today, it's beautiful outside and I want to soak up as much of the nice weather as I can before it turns cold. I had a lot of spirit changing realizations this past week and I'm feeling much better about being in China, and my purpose. 

“You keep him in perfect peace whoes mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

~ Isaiah 26:3

Studies start NOW

So I had 11 classes to teach on Wednesday and 11 again yesterday, but today I had off and tomorrow and Monday. So I'm officialy going to start my self inflicted study time today. Really what it is, is I miss being a student and so I'm creating my own study time. This afternoon I took a nice long walk down to find the fabric market ... I never found it. Oh well, I kept calling my friend and I don't even know... BUT! I did find a nice little shop that has yarn. I met a university student there named Lee who spoke English, I got some nice olive almost drab green yarn that I think I might actually be able to tat with we'll see how that works, anyhow the little lady who owned the shop was nice enough to make me a gift of  2 knitting needles. She was so sweet, I think I will go back sometime.