It's Christmas!

Yes, it truly is!  The day celebrated as the day our Savior was born.

Today I was woken before 6:00 A.M. by an enthused sister quite ready to open presents, and, indeed just as excited, to give presents to other that she herself had picked out and helped pay for!  As soon as I was able to remain coherent, I was up and about as well.  Christmas only comes once a year!  After all presents were opened we got ready in our fine gowns [ ;) ]  and headed off to church for a Sunday morning service!  Quite lovely indeed!
Peradventure I will later have pictures of some of my wonderful gifts, but as of now I do not.  A small list will suffice ^_^            New video editing software; a stuffed Pascal from Tangled; a scrapbook; a Doctor Who sonic screwdriver and T-shirt; a cup with kitty cats on it; a new watch; and sparkly lotion stuff.  *grin*  It's been a lovely day so far!  Hopefully later on we'll put in some Doctor Who episodes ....   ^_^

Skyeler

Kitty Cats!

Here are a few more of the pictures I took of the kitties :)

Sparkles, my old and rather grumpy cat (though I love him all the same),  and Rory, my new and fluffy kitten.  Rory thinks they are BFFs, though Sparkles is not certain.  However, they share one rather important interest - kitty treats!  That is what they are looking at in that picture.  Of course they aren't looking at me.

Amelia truly wanted no part of this.  I think she slept several hours after her first photography experience.  For all her prettiness, it was quite hard to get a picture of her that was not blurry.

And Rory.  He is so pretty!  I affectionately call him fuzzy snuggles.

Skyeler

Christmas Card

So this year, on October 31st, we brought home two new kittens!!!   I don't have super great pictures of them even still, but this week I took some Christmas pictures of the kitties.  Not surprisingly, they didn't fancy staying still for a whole 1/500th of a second.  These were, possibly, the best I had of each.  Though I had another very good one of Rory (that I haven't cropped/edited yet) it didn't quite show his Santa coat!  Isn't he adorable?  The very essence of adorableness.  It's so fluffy!   

                               Rory

Amelia                                       Sparkles

                          

Notes:

1. Rory did not like the Santa coat.  He got his paws out of it, then when I put them back in he growled.

2. Amelia hissed several times when I tried to get her to wear that ribbon.  She also tried to pick it up in her mouth and run away with it.  She must not have realized it was attached to her anyway.

3. Sparkles can be bribed with treats.

4. Rory thinks he can be bribed, but really only goes to get the treat and not do his part of the agreement.

5. Mom tried to help by keeping the kitty cats interested.  Yet Amelia wanted that bow off.  NOW.  Sparkles and Rory, well, let's just say they were more interested in the food than the camera.

Skyeler

Regency Dress Finished!

Although my nonexistent readers will doubtful notice any differences since the last post, my regency gown is now finished!  The hem is done, buttons sewn, hooks and eyes in place, hole fixed, and satin steamed.  And it even fits pretty well too! (lol.)  It is currently hanging on my closet door.  My closet will wrinkle it, and my clothes rack is not tall enough to hang my longer dresses on. *sigh*  Perhaps more pictures will follow in the later months when I actually am able to attend the ball that this dress was made for!

Skyeler

Cute shoes!

Upon accident, I ran across this online shop of beautifully cute clothing and accessories!  Sadly, all of the prices are in pounds, not dollars, and I don't exactly know how to convert the currency...or if they even ship outside the UK.  However, I found these adorable  shoes!  Who knew shoes could be just so cute!

Skyeler

Blogging Award!

Lovely Olivia has bestowed upon me (and a lot of other people *grin* ) this Liebster Blog Award!

Like most blogging awards, this one comes with a list of rules ;)

• Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
• Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
• Copy and paste the award on your blog.
• Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.
• And most of all – have bloggity-blog fun!

Thank you Olivia !

Now here is the problem :S  I don't have too many bloggity friends.  But I will try to nominate a few all the same!

• Sarah, who has a cute new updated newly renovated blog *grin*
• Elizabeth, who might need a reason to update her blog more for me to read (hint hint: I mean, we don't spend enough time together as it is ;) )
• Mom, because she has never been nominated (and might not realize it even now...)

Skyeler

Pictures!

Don't get your hopes up, my nonexistent followers, as there will be no pictures in this post.  However, I did want to say that today we went out and took some!  I have a few individual shots that might be senior picture worthy, and some really nice group shots of me and two of my friends ^_^  Maybe I shall make a story board and post it here sometime soon.  Well, sort of soon.  Well, not really soon.  Well...eventually.  Also, Toria and Enna spent the night last night and we watched most of season four of Doctor Who!  Love that show!!!  Well, I'll be off.  Allons-y!

Skyeler

I found this T-shirt online yesterday.  It is so fitting to my personality I should get it :p

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/womens/c9ba/


Skyeler

Random Blog Post

I have neglected my blog of late.  My apologies, thou nonexistent readers. ;)  However, in my defense, I have been ill!  I assure you, this common cold has been rather miserable.  I have missed nigh a week of, well, everything: church, school, getting out of the house, and now the Ren Fest :(  My friends had decided to go again today, but, alas, I was unwell and decided it would not be wise to attempt so long a day in the allergy fraught outdoors.  Peradventure I shall make it to church tomorrow.  It is too hard to say as of now.

Another note of little interest to you.  I have finished Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.  And quite enjoyed it!  Shakespeare has such...flow.  It is beautiful!  If a bit hard to understand at times...but the side notes help me with the vocabulary of the time ^_^  I have completed my project, which is a "digital scrapbook page" of Hero.  The quotes have come from Claudio...or, if you prefer to give the author credit instead of his character, the quotes are from Shakespeare himself XD  Here is my project ^_^

Er, Shakespeare may also be to blame for my partial turn of speech.  I do hope thou shalt forgive me if such becomes aggravating.  Up next in the works of William Shakespeare is Macbeth! Which, I do believe, I will be reading over Halloween O.o  That has the potential to be eerie ;)

Also, I look forward to (hopefully) having some senior pictures taken this month!  I am excited about this, for some reason or other *grin*  

Now I shall post and depart.  Fare thee well.

Skyeler

Ren Fest!

Today we went to the Renaissance Festival!  So much fun!!!  Granny came up to go with us ^_^

I bought a few things, which I will, hopefully, take pictures of to get on my blog soon...ish :P  I also want a pair of elf ears, which I had wanted for Christmas, but now I think I may not wish to wait, so perhaps I shall find a job and buy them before ;)  I dressed up, in the same dress I wore last year which I do not have a picture of on my blog.  There are pictures from today, however, that I will want to post, once they are on my computer ^_^

I'll elaborate with more details once I do get those pictures *nodnod*  It was great fun, and already am looking forward to returning next year!  (I want to go again this year...truly...)

Skyeler


P.S.  I learned how to spell "Renaissance" today!!!

Photoshop Actions

Just over the last 48 hours, Mom has shown me how to download Photoshop actions, something that (surprisingly) I didn't know existed!  This evening I played with a few of them and here are two results that were produced.

Elizabeth, Me, and Victoria after the wedding :)

Myself and Elizabeth while watching fireworks.  Curtisy to Elizabeth for giving me this picture, and whichever mom had a camera XD (probably hers, since mine wasn't there, heh heh)

Skyeler

New Design!

So, yet again, a random an most likely incoherent post that few will take pleasure in reading.  However, those of you who frequent my blog, or pass by even at those rare occasions, may notice a new addition!  I now have pets!  *cough* virtual, pets ^_^  I have five fishies at the bottom of my blog, named Flynn, Enna, and Toothless, (the black ones), and Luna and Starwhale (the white ones.)   For those of you who didn't get it, Flynn is from Tangled; Enna is from The Goose Girl (by Shannon Hale); Toothless is from How To Train your Dragon; Luna is from Harry Potter; and Starwhale is from Season 5, episode 2 of Doctor Who ^_^ I also have  a kitty!  I have updated my pictures, which makes me pleased.  So, now that these slight updates are revealed to you, I shall depart!  Goodnight!

Skyeler

Socialization

So, today I am participating in a senior event.  That is, a group of people who are graduating all in one general area.  The scariest part is I might actually have to talk to some of them.  And I had to get a shot at my check-up the other day because I would be around other people within the year.  I was not pleased with either of these unpleasant facts of life.  But, alas, my sanity parted from me on impulse and I decided to join up with this group along with my friends!  So here I am, today, preparing to leave yet again for an event that involves (gasp) people!  Thankfully, this is a corn-maze, which means it will be outside in the fresh air and pleasant breeze, even though…it so appears…there might be rain.  Ah well, I do like rain, albeit this is cold rain.  So I bid you farewell as I take leave of sanity and depart to socialize!  I must be mental…

Skyeler

Frying Pans

Some days, this is me...  Graceful, balanced, rational, serious... Who knew, right?

*cough* ditzy quirky clumsy funny naive might be more accurate ... 

Skyeler

One and the Same

This video was what I "gave" Elizabeth for her 16th birthday in June.  ^_^  I only am beginning to figure out ways to upload them onto Blogger though, so hence it being up on my blog many months late (and after several drafts in which it didn't quite upload :P )  So (Hopefully....) here it is.

This is our theme song *grin*  Sung by Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato.

Skyeler

Vacation Glimpse :)

Last week we returned from our vacation in Florida, and thoroughly enjoyed out stay in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!!!!  Aly entered for her "first year" on her 11th birthday, much to her excitement ^_^

In "honor" of the occasion, I decided to dress up as Luna Lovegood; she is perhaps my favorite Harry Potter character, and I find her quite amusing and also enjoyable to watch and strangely relate-able (though perhaps this only means that I am strange...)  I picked out the outfit myself *grin*  I did not wear the spectrespecs (really cool classes) all day, nor did I carry my want:  "this is a collectors item, not a toy" and any other warnings.  But the want is the replica of Luna's ^_^  I also bought Radish Earrings (that came with two other pieces of her jewelry) and will probably, in time, dress as Luna again as a Ravenclaw student and get another picture.

One of my favorite suveniers:  My Pygmy Puff!!!  His name is Puffskein.  He is nice.  He is fluffy.  He is cute.

And, last but not least, Hogwarts castle!  I took this picture ^_^  The inside was just as amazing...but I'll leave that for when I retrieve the pictures we took of the inside.

Skyeler

Random Ramblings

I keep thinking there certainly should be something to post today, but, alas (or perhaps you find this a joy) I find nothing creative to say or post here!

Once again my video attempt has failed -_- Hopefully Blogger will, in the future, allow me to post videos again. Why has it banned one of my favorite hobbies? Why has it blocked my creative juices from being shown to the world? I may never know.

Some exciting news has come up! In two days time I shall have departed for vacation! Woot! The day after tomorrow I will find myself in the car and on the way to the beach. I still, heh, need to pack. I think my clothes sneaked out of the closet and, instead of finding their way into my suitcase, decided it would be more fun to lay all over the floor. Good for them, I might normally say, but right now, I kind of need them to do something slightly more productive. They seem to claim that it was I, I who put everything away as soon as I am done with it, left them there. I find this hard to believe. They must simply be refusing to pack themselves. Quite a notion, my clothes have. Frustrating notion indeed.

I have poured my time and built up excitement into reading books (shocking, I know.) I had considered posting a list of books I have read this year...somewhere...but that would mean editing my blog on my mother's account. Something which would actually take time to do. That's also why my side picture is, *cough* , a year and a half old *hides* I haven't found a new picture of me I like as much yet. >.< For our Co-op pictures this year my hair decided it wanted to try some blonde highlights ... which turn orange if you try to put the dye in it every day. Who knew? So hence me not liking those pictures as much, because I find myself going *is that my hair?* But I'm over it now -.- Really.

So, I have considered trying out a blog post 'most every day. Or...at least once a week XD I worry I hear groans coming from those who occasionally glance at my blog XD As such, I'm sure you've heard enough of my babbling for today. I bid thee farewell!

Skyeler

Doctor Who game board

How could I have failed to mention this! My family and I have this past year becoming devoted "Whovians", what seems to be the generally accepted shortened term for "Hopelessly addicted to all relating to or encompassing Doctor Who with unswerving fascination and annoyance to those nearby who shockingly don't care for Doctor Who and, despite this, talk of it ceaselessly."

My sister and I have talked of a Doctor Who board game. I made some miniature cardboard cutouts (interesting process in itself) and she, in tern, made her own game board. Deciding that she had quite some cool ideas, I helped and made one on Photoshop. I saved pictures off the internet and incorporated them into the image you see below, which will be, eventually, a game board. We have tried to print it out correctly more than once, and failed. Funny thing is our printer doesn't want to print a 19'' by 19'' image, and my math was off in dividing it up (*sigh*)

So anyway, here it is! Our very own, homemade, Doctor Who board game!

How to Play

The game begins with all the characters on Earth, and each needs to get to the TARDIS. Each player will roll a die and move the corresponding number of spaces. You must first reach the place on the game board labeled “TARDIS key.” You need a key to enter the TARDIS. Watch out for Aliens along the way, as they won’t be a help to you getting to your destination. After you retrieve the key, you may make your way in the direction of the TARDIS. The first person who makes it to the TARDIS with their key in possession wins!

Game Rules

· You can go forward and backwards, but not both forward and backwards in the same turn.

· You must move the exact number of spaces necessary to land on the TARDIS and win.

· If you land on the same space as another player, nothing extraordinary happens. The game continues.

Alien Spaces

Cybermen – You will be Deleted!

If you are the Doctor: Lose one turn making a speech that will save the universe

If you are a Companion: You are saved, but transported to a parallel universe. Move to any other Cybermen space on the board.

If you are an Alien: Go back four spaces to avoid The Doctor.

Dalek – You will be Exterminated!

If you are the Doctor: Lose one turn to regenerate.

If you are a Companion: Run! Go back five spaces looking for The Doctor.

If you are an Alien: Lose one turn and recover from the effects from the Sonic Screwdriver.

Weeping Angel – The Angels have the Phonebox!

You have to start over. Return to “Start” and loose the TARDIS key, which the angels have stolen.

Sonic Cards

The contents of these cards may either help or harm you, so it is your choice whether to land on one of these spaces. If the card gives an instruction, it must be followed immediately. If it can be used when you land on an enemy square, you may chose when to use it.

If you bothered to read through that, thank you, and feel free to leave a comment (or critique XD )

Skyeler

Photoshop Projects

Here are a few things I made with Photoshop brushes!

Skyeler

Co-op Picture Day

Well, this year for picture day we waited until the very last co-op. But thankfully, we got it all done! Mom ran around with the camera for a long time, snapping portraits of us all. I have been assembling my yearbook page, and need a portrait. I have already chosen and put one on, but I thought if any of my followers (albeit nigh as inactive as I in the blogging world) would drop a comment and say which picture they think is best, I might end up changing it to the better one (as voted by majority.) If not, I (woot!) made another post! :) lol

Skyeler

Ladies' Banquet

This May for our annual Ladies' Banquet, Elizabeth, Emily, Victoria, and I decided to dress up in formal gowns for the dinner. As we homeschoolers have no prom, we decided we should use this as our time to dress up :) We spent much of the day getting ready, and had a blast! I did Aly's hair before leaving to join the three other girls at Elizabeth and Tori's household, and then gladly helped them take over the bathroom there with make-up, my curling iron, brushes, Jewelry, tiara, glitter, nail polish, Victoria's hairspray (which we used...well...all of), and lots and lots and lots of bobby pins. I went through all of mine, all of moms, and a good number of Elizabeth's pins. I was so proud of myself for doing my own hair and putting it up that I also did Emily and Elizabeth's hair. Even more importantly, they liked it ;) I would say we spent a good bit of the evening swishing around, trying to act graceful, running around in the heels, or smelling roses. Upon us getting up to eat, one little girl said, "Look Mommy! They're princesses!"

Us all lined up and having our picture taken *grin*

Elizabeth, Me, Emily, Victoria

Shocking, I know, but we wanting a picture with the piano. Even more shocking, M and I were trying to play it while the pictures were being taken.

Victoria, Elizabeth, me, M

Us playing with our roses. Quite fun! I added the spotlight in Photoshop because...why not :D

Victoria, Emily, Elizabeth, me

Skyeler

Jane Austen Bonnets

Yesterday we had yet another meeting with The Austen Sisters. We decorated bonnets or a hat, and it was quite enjoyable! Mama took some pictures, and though they will more than likely be posted on the Conversations with Jane blog, I wanted to post them here too :)

Elizabeth and I; supposedly doing something intelligent and studious.

Victoria, Elizabeth, and I decorating (or messing around.)

As you can see, some of us are...easily distracted. And quite easily amused, I daresay.

I have been working on my bonnet more today, and am actually pleased with how it is beginning to turn out! I shall have a picture when it is done :)

Also, note my music skirt in the above pictures! I made it myself, and am quite pleased that all the staff lined up! I love music notes!

Skyeler

Next Time Won't You Sing With Me?

For the first time in my blogging history (short history albeit) I have been tagged! Olivia tagged me with the ABC ... thing (for lack of a creative word) and now it is my turn! Thanks Olivia! Perchance I shall follow you in celebrating this tag annually *grin*

A. Age: Sixteen

B. Bed size: Twin. (and lots of pillows) XD

C. Chore you hate: I don't have too many assigned chores *dodges random objects thrown at me* But I do not particular like to unload the dishwasher. But, in general, it is a tossup between doing dishes and running the vacuum. Thankfully, I have been spared those unappealing jobs.

D. Day: Um, 'tis Thursday. My favorite day of the week varies.

E. Essential start to your day: Hmm, probably getting something to drink :)

F. Favorite color: Blue (though I like purple a lot too, in case you didn't notice, lol)

G. Gold or silver: Silver! Definitely. It used to be my second favorite color, but I am now unsure if a metallic counts as a color.

H. Height: I'm not entirely sure. About 4'10'' 1/2

I. Instruments: PIANO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

J. Job title: Um...there must be something witty to put here... Ah well. When I finally start that Photography business with my mom, I'll have a title XD

K. Kids: I am a kid, don't have any of my own. But I have a cat!!!! :D

L. Live: In my own little world.

M. Mom's name: Angel

N. Nicknames: Depends who from! Skye is the most popular and widely used. T

hen there is Cloudler, thankfully not used often. Then Dancing Oracle, Isi, Sapphira, Marianne, Fanny dear, Dearest, Cling, Nadia, Ani... Yes, I have many. Though several of these came from books, and several are used virtually from my online friends :)

O. Overnight hospital stays: Thank God zero

P. Pet peeve: Oh, I don't know. I really don't like loud noises, bad smells, large crowds, bright lights, itchy clothes...but those are more sensory things than pet peeves

Q. Quote from a movie: Just quote Tangled. That about sums it up ;) Oh! And Thank you for nothing, you useless reptile. Then there is probably a Doctor Who quote or two or

five... ;) And don't forget the several Jane Austen quotes! X_X too many movie quotes total... XD

R. Right or left handed: Right.

S. Siblings: One sister :)

T. Time you wake up: About 9:00 ish

U. Underwear: Um, what about it....? O.o weird question I dare say.

V. Vegetables you dislike: *chuckles* I like most vegetables. I can't think of any I don't like...

W. What makes you run late: Parents and sister and sleepiness. I don't like to be late myself, though of course some times it is my fault if we are late. I just can't stand being late!

X. X-rays you've had: I believe only one. Maybe two though.

Y. Yummy food you make: Who knows. Not much XD Chocolate chip cookies I suppose ;)

Z. Zoo: I want to go again...

Okay! now I get to tag people myself! Let's see...I tag

Sarah

Calleigh

Elizabeth

Have fun!

Skyeler

Piano Keys

I had decided one day to try taking picture of our piano keys. I think some of them turned out nice, and as such, I Photoshoped these two :) The second one has a quote from a song I wrote (that still doesn't have music *sigh*) It's nice to Photoshop something knowing that I am using my own photography :)

Skyeler

Photoshop Names

So I have returned to the world of Photoshop. Granted, this doesn't surprise any of you who actually read my blog, but I have found new techniques that are actually quite fun! These last three pictures were provoked by a book series and reading too many tutorials. Each of these pictures is a name, and each also is supposed to represent an element :) The Bayern Books, by Shannon Hale, are where the names are from. Feel free to tell me what you think! (I used brushes, smudge tool, wind filter, differing opacities, bevel and emboss, and different layers. As well as unmentioned other ideas and steps and clicks ;) lol)

Wind

Fire

Water

Skyeler

Regency Gown.

So recently I have been making a Regency gown in co-op. It is quite fun to say I am making my own dress. However, it is even more fun to say I am making my

own gown. The best part? I am making my gown for a ball. Yes, a ball. It sounds so elegan

t and amazing! So, as I have much of it done, I wanted to post three picture taken of me some time last co-op. Glimpses of the messy sewing room (cleaned after we are done so the church shall not be stepping on pins or needles) are in the background.

Yes, it makes me look even shorter :p

Yes, I am standing on the table. It needs hemmed, and this proved to be the easiest way to get the job done :)

Another pictures :) I think the photographer was standing on the table this time...or at least a chair.

Skyeler

Photography

This afternoon I took the camera outside to practice my photography skills. I wanted to play with aperture...though I'm really not sure it worked. I decided in the end to play with a few on Photoshop and edit them...because I like to do that :)

Here is a lamp on he side of the house. It was one of the last pictures I took today, and kind of a random shot. Still, I toned down the saturation and upped the contrast. I think it looks kind of cool...

Here is an old bench. I lowered the saturation on this as well, trying to give it the sepia look.

Here is a thermometer. It's finally getting warm here! Photography wise; I was still playing with aperture . I wanted it to focus on the "80". It was a bit dark, but it did what I wanted it to, in essence.

And the animals :)

This is a picture of Toby. I wanted his eyes. He is so sweet.

And O'mally. He was not being cooperative. I edited his picture too (taking a plant off his nose, sharpening his face, upping the contrast...etc.) He's really cute ;)

And the Frog. Pascall by name :)

Not pictured: the fourtyish other pictures of "frog sitting still" - "frog gone" - repeat process.

Here is Pascall on Aly's shoulder :D

That is all I shall post currently. I have more flower pictures which may show up later :)

Skyeler