New Blocks
Here are two of the newest blocks I've knitted recently...

This one is my favorite so far.


When I get some more time, I'll post some updates.

And I want to wish Angie a very happy 26th birthday!!!

Racing News; Darfur; Global Warming

Trav, Dad, and I went to ATV Dirtdrag's last night where Travis raced in the 0-350 class. He won first place!!! I'll be posting the video on my myspace page, http://www.myspace.com/trishaigibson , for anyone who would like to see his win. I very proud of him!

You'll notice I've posted a banner and added the Save Darfur blog to my list. Tonight there was a story on 60 Minutes about the genocide in the Darfur region and I was blown away. I would like to inform my readers about it. And as a woman, I would like to help those women who are being brutally rapped as their villages are taken over. No one should have to live like that. You can find ways to help by going to http://www.savedarfur.org/.

Also I wanted to post this list of things we can all do to help reduce global warming according to the new Yahoo Green site at http://green.yahoo.com/. I know some things may be hard to do, and I'm not perfect either, but maybe we can all try to do at least one thing. I have been recycling our cans, plastic, and cardboard, and I've unplugged the appliances that I don't use all the time, like my washer, and an air conditioner.

The following is a list of simple things you can do immediately, which will start to reduce your contribution to global warming. The items in this list will cost you no money at all and will in fact save you money.

1.Sign up to a green energy supplier, who will supply electricity from renewable sources (e.g. wind and hydroelectric power) - this will reduce your carbon footprint contribution from electricity to zero

2.Turn it off when not in use (lights, television, DVD player, Hi Fi, computer etc. etc. ...)

3.Turn down the central heating slightly ( just 1 to 2 degrees C)

4.Turn down the water heating setting (just 2 degrees will make a significant saving)

5.Check the central heating timer setting - remember there is no point heating the house after you have left for work

6.Fill your dish washer and washing machine with a full load - this will save you water, electricity, and washing powder .

7.Fill the kettle with only as much water as you need

8.Unplug your mobile phone as soon as it has finished charging

9.Defrost your fridge/freezer regularly

10.Do your weekly shopping in a single trip

11.Hang out the washing to dry rather than tumble drying it

12.Go for a run rather than drive to the gym

The following is a list of items that may take an initial investment, but should pay for themselves over the course of 1-4 years through savings on your energy bills.

1.Fit energy saving light bulbs

2.Install thermostatic valves on your radiators

3.Insulate your hot water tank, your loft and your walls

4. 35% of heat generated in the house is lost through the walls Installing cavity wall installation to a medium size house should reduce your heating bills. By installing 180mm thick loft insulation you could stop about 25% of your heating escaping through the roof

5.Recycle your grey water

6.Replace your old fridge / freezer (if it is over 15 years old), with a new one with energy efficiency rating of "A"

7.Replace your old boiler with a new energy efficient condensing boiler

Travel less and travel more carbon footprint friendly.

1.Car share to work, or for the kids school run

2.Use the bus or a train rather than your car

3.Don't use domestic flights (e.g. from London to Edinburgh), use a train or a coach.

4.Take the ferry or channel tunnel instead of flying to France

5.See if your employer will allow you to work from home one day a week

6.Next time you replace your car - check out diesel engines. With one of these you can even make your own Biodiesel fuel

7.When on holiday - hire a bicycle to explore locally rather than a car

8.When staying in a hotel turn the lights and air-conditioning off when you leave your hotel room

9.Ask for you room towels to be washed every other day, rather than every day As well as your primary carbon footprint, there is also a secondary footprint that you cause through your buying habits.

If you buy foods out of season at the super market, then these will have either been flown or shipped in from far away - all adding to your carbon footprint.

1.Buy local wine i.e. if you live in the UK then buy from European countries rather than Australia, South Africa, and America

2.Buy local fruit and vegetables, or even try growing your own

3.Try to buy clothes and products from closer to home (look out and avoid items that are made in the distant lands such as China and India)

In addition there is your footprint at work. Do you leave your computer and monitor on when you are away from your desk? Do you leave the lights on when you leave the office? Do you print documents unnecessarily - and could you print two pages to a side and double sided?

Have a great week!
New Block

Here is a picture of my latest knitting block.


The pattern was really the same concept as the last block I did, so it wasn't that hard to do. Now I have July and this months pattern to do and I'll be caught up!
Puppy Update; Travis; Then and Now Pictures

I think that Bella is in the clear. Travis got her playing this morning and she coughed once, that's is so far today! That's good news. Whew!


I am very very proud to announce that Travis raced last night at the Mason County Fair and won second place in his class. Yay Travis!!!! Here's a pic...




Tomorrow is my Weight Watchers meeting. I'm hoping that I did well this week. Check this out though...
My Dad and Me taken in March 2007



Me today!


That is a huge difference in my face just from losing what I have! I couldn't believe it! Woo hoo! Horray for me! LOL.

Knitting Block; Puppy Update

Bella is still alittle sick, but not near as bad as she was over the weekend. I'm praying that she will continue to improve so we don't have to take her back to the vet.
I've had this block done for a couple weeks, but some of you haven't seen it so here's a picture of my latest knitting endeavour.

I had some trouble with this one. I actually did the whole thing two different times until I got it right. I have the other one too, I might include it in my afghan but I'm not sure yet. It was really cool because the lady from the store in Parkersburg sat down with me for awhile and helped me figure out what I was doing wrong and then had me do a few rows so that she was sure I was on the right track before I left.

In other crafting news I am excited to say that I was asked to do a scrapbook for my Eastern Star chapter. They are wanting to preserve the chapters history and have pictures of the members, which is great. I love history and scrapbooking anyways :-) Plus I can scrapbook for free basically because they are reimbursing me for all the costs.

Thanks to everyone for the welcome back on MySpace!
Could things get any worse?

Ok. Aside from Travis getting laid off, that's bad enough, right? Now we have a sick little puppy. We had to take her to the vet on Saturday. Luckily they were open until noon. She has a respiratory infection. She had been hacking and coughing like crazy, and I've never heard any dog do that before. She scared us to death! The vet gave her a shot and some antibiotics to take for a week. It's been two days now, and she has improved imensley! She is still coughing some, but mostly when she gets excited. Oh, I was so worried about her. And plus I feel really guilty. She is sick because we've had her in and out of the weather so much and where it is really hot outside and then cool in our house that is bad for her if she's in and out like that. I thought that having her outside would be good for her. Now I feel like a bad mommy.

Still no news on the job front.

I've lost 18.8 pounds, so that's alittle good news.