Happy Valentine's Day!

I made my Dearest a card for Valentine's day. (Why can't I figure out how to use this photo up loader right?) This is the inside of the card. I attached the hearts to the cardstock with thread and yarn so that they can be removed later, if desired. The inside heart was crocheted using this free pattern from PlanetJune.

A closer view of the inside of the card. As you can see, my calligraphy skills aren't much better than my embroidery skills. But after all, it's the thought that counts, right?
And finally, here is the front of the card. His nickname for me has always been "My Lamb" so this stamp was perfect! The amigurumi-style hearts were crocheted using this free pattern from CRAFTYisCOOL. Aren't they the cutest?

This day promises to be a very special day for my Dearest. We are leaving early this morning to pick up his oldest daughter from the airport. They've never met before, (long story there, and not mine to share without permission) and in fact, he never knew about her until just before last Easter. She's bringing her youngest with her to visit with us for a week. Our hearts are overflowing right now with excitement and joy.

I hope your day is one of loving warmth and happiness! Happy Valentine's Day!

Baby Jacket With Flair!

I just love this pattern, you can do so much with it! This little sweater is made with the same pattern as yesterday's Piper Jacket, but with some frill added. We don't know if any of the expectant babies will be girls, but I'd like to be prepared. Even if they're all boys, this won't go to waste as there are so many program looking for donations. I'll have to do a post soon pointing to some of my old favorites.

Thanks to Bev's Country Cottage for supplying so many lovely patterns so freely! I adore her!

One Jacket Down

I started this morning and finished this afternoon, this little jacket for the expected Piper Baby. I used this pattern, from Bev's Country Cottage, one of my favorites. I made a couple of changes to the pattern, an extra row on the sleeves and the color changes. I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn from my stash and wasn't sure when I started it if I'd have enough of the Ombre to finish the jacket, I'm thrilled I did! I'm not sure when I bought the sandy colors yarn or where so I was terrified of having to find more in the same dye lot!

I just need some ribbon for the closure and it will be ready to go off in the mail!

By Leaps and Bounds!

Our family is growing!! Not just one new baby will grace our lives this year. No, Not only two babies to bounce on happy knees, o no! That's not good enough for us! We are going to be blessed by THREE new bundles of joy! I've known for a little while, but didn't want to say anything. I think (I hope) it's safe now to make the announcement.

My oldest son and his wife are having a boy, I learned that joyous news just the other day, with photo's and everything. We don't know what my youngest daughter is expecting, that little one was shy and covered up during the last photo shoot, durn it!

We don't know what my husbands' oldest daughter is having yet, either! It doesn't really matter what the sex of the baby is as far as I am concerned, I've always just prayed that they be healthy and happy when they arrive.

This isn't the first time I've been honored by grandchildren. I am so very proud of Gabby, Maya, Ryan, Brianna, Jeva, John, Jules, Diego, Kalista, Ava, and High Moon as I am of Aaron, Amber, Tommy and Danie! That's fifteen, just in case you weren't keeping count. And by the end of this year, they will be joined by three more for a happy total of EIGHTEEN!

I don't know about you, but just thinking about it leaves me a little breathless.

So I am warming up the crochet hooks and going through my stash, practicing and looking for patterns for booties, sweaters, caps and of course, blankets! Each stitch will be made with love and prayer for the ones they'll touch.

So? Do you have any favorite baby patterns you'd care to share? I'd really love to see them!

p.s. Don't laugh, but I had to correct this post three times, can you believe it? My math skills seem to be a little off this evening. I wonder why???

I hope you all are feeling as blessed as I am this evening!

My Hero!

I'm reminded today of just how much a hero to me my mother is.

From as early as I can remember, she has always been a shining example of what unconditional love is. Even to this day, she continues to show by example of what a loving Christian mother and woman should be. When I am having doubts and fears, all I have to do is think of her, of all she has done , and all she has overcome, and my worries fade away.

She has always been there for me, loving and supporting me. I will never forget one of the most important things she ever said to me: "I may not always approve of what you say or do, but I will ALWAYS love you."

Thank you, Mom, for being you, and for loving me. You are a big part of my strength. Thank you for raising me to have faith in God and the power of prayer.

Forgive me for not telling you more often of just how very much you mean to me. I wish I could hug you, not just today, but everyday!

I love you, Momma.

An Apple A Day...

I know, I know, an apple a day doesn't really keep the doctor away, but they sure do make a delicious pizza! This is one of our family's favorite recipes, and I thought I would share it with you. It's a big hit with the kids, surprisingly I have yet to meet an adult who didn't like it either!

Apple Pizza

1 - 12 inch Boboli pizza shell (thin variety - or do as I do and make your own crust from scratch!)
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
3 to 4 medium sized tart apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1 to 2 tablespoons of sugar (depending on the apples)
1/4 cup apricot jam (optional glaze)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Set the pizza shell on a baking sheet and sprinkle it with cheese.

Arrange the apple slices on top of the cheese in a spiral fashion. Sprinkle with sugar to taste.

Bake for fifteen minutes, or until the apples are beginning to brown around the edges. Remove the pizza from the oven and allow it to sit for about ten minutes.

If you intend to glaze it, melt the apricot jam, and brush the top surface with the melted jam. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.

Yield: 4 to 5 servings
Preparation time: 30 minutes (10 minutes of work)

I found this recipe in one of my favorite cookbooks, Mollie Katzen's "Vegetable Heaven".

Bon Appetit!

Share Four Things You Enjoy

I got this idea from Crochet by the Sea, of sharing four things that you enjoy. My top four things for today are:

A warm hug from my loving husband. (Honestly, he gives the most wonderful loving embraces I have ever experienced!)

That first morning cup of chocolate truffle coffee with coconut cream creamer.

Thoughts and prayers of and from my wonderful family.

Seeing a child's tears turn to smiles.

I would greatly appreciate it if you'd share four things that you enjoy with me, too!

Down Time Show and Tell

As I said in my last post, I've been comforting myself with hooks and yarn. I thought I'd share some of the things that I've been making. This is a tiny airplane.




As you can see, my embroidery hasn't improved any, but I still think it's a cute little airplane. The best thing is that this plane can fly all over the house and not break anything!

This is for a little boy who likes Curious George. Unfortunately, I don't have two shades of brown yarn. I only have one shade of brown, and it's cotton yarn. I was afraid it would shrink if I tried making a toy out of it.

These are Heart Babies! Aren't they the cutest little things? The pink one was made exactly following the pattern. The red one I made a mistake on. Guess which one everyone seems to like better? The red one, of course!

A coral snake! I love snakes, and hopefully the little boy I made this for will like him, too.

I tried to follow the pattern for this snake, but I think I made a mistake somewhere as he doesn't seem to have as many stripes as the one on the pattern photo shows.

This is a tote or messenger bag I made for one of my teen age granddaughters. She loves pink, can you tell? I have a confession to make though. I made an error on this one, too. I used a magnetic snap to close it, and I didn't line the two halves up exact. Hopefully she won't be too disappointed. I love the lining material, and the way the thin black strips accent the pink.

This is the bag closed. The pattern crochets up in one piece, and is very easy to follow.

What do you make for a teenage boy? He doesn't wear hats or scarfs, they're not cool where he lives. He's too old for toys, though I threatened his mother that I would crochet a spider for him. (She's terrified of them!) He does belong to ROTC so I thought a camo duffel bag would be perfect for him. I looked all over the internet for a free pattern for a duffel bag like this, but couldn't find one, so this is my own design. Here it is opened.

The back of the duffel bag.

And here is the duffel bag closed. I used the backpack straps to pull the bag closed, and a magnetic snap to hold the flap closed.

Hope y'all enjoyed my little show and tell, and that you've had a wonderful weekend!

I'm Still Here!

My body is going through a rebellion of sorts, so I haven't been doing much other than cingrocheting, I'm trying to catch up on some crocheted toys and bags for my new grankids in Chicago. So far I've made a messenger bag, a duffel bag, a coral snake, an airplane, a doll, a puppet doll in a blanket, two Valentine babies and am currently working on a monkey. He was supposed to be a Curious Gearge, but I discovered to my dismay that I don't have a solid dark brown yarn fir him, so he is going to be a two different shades of blue monkey.

I'll post some pics when I feel better and the weather cooperates. I had also hoped to introduce you to my rescue ferret Bubba. He's such a sweetheartm a real lover-boy.

We'll talk again soon! Till then crochet hugs!

Healing Power of Crochet

I went to the doctors today because my stomach (pancreatitis) is flaring up again, and found out I have diverticulitis, too. I'm not complaining to you, don't get me wrong. What made my visit with my doctor much better was how impressed he was with how calm I was! He asked me what I was doing to maintain my peacefulness with all that was going on with me. I simply pointed to the bag at my feet and said my best medicine right now is crochet!

When I work with my hooks and yarn, it gives me something else to concentrate on other than how bad I feel. One thought that keeps running through my head is one of amazement. I can hardly believe that I can take a simple string or yarn, and turn it into FABRIC to warm a body, or a toy to bring a child joy or a beautiful new bag that is truly one of a kind.

I mean, think about it? How many people other than a knitter or crocheter or any other fiber artist can say that? I don't think everyoe understands that, It just recently hit me like that, 'I can turn string into fabric with a simple stick! How awesome is that?'

I also think that it's something that we fiber artists should be very proud of.

I hope all my friends and loved ones are having a weekend as wonderful as they are!
　

New Toy - Off My Hook Extra

I've been having a bad day, health-wise, but thanks to positive reading from some of my favorite blogs, and the warming comfort of crochet, I'm making it through with a glad attitude!

I made this chubby little baby today. There's just something about working with a hook and yarn and a picture in my head that makes almost anything bearable. Do you ever feel like that?

Wishing you all a lovely weekend!

Off My Hook Thursday

I finally finished my granny hoodie! I used the same basic pattern that I crocheted Brianna's cardigan with, but this time I added a hood to it. I didn't have a pattern to follow for the hood, just winged it, and now that it's complete, I can see what I want to change for the next one. Yes, there will be a next one.

I've had more than my usual trouble sleeping last night, so I crocheted a new beanie for Brianna. She hasn't seen it yet, so no photo. As soon as I can get her to try it on, I'll post some pictures. I used the free pattern found here. You have to register to view the patterns, but it's free and there are so many wonderful patterns, not only for crochet, but knitting as well. The hat is a very easy pattern to follow and works up so fast!

Now I'm working on a surprise for someone else. I can't tell you what it is or post any pictures because her mommy reads this blog, and she likes to read over mommy's shoulder! I'll wait instead until I've finished it and mailed it to her.

What are you crafting? I'd love to hear about it!

Good Morning World

Good morning" said the Sun

as he gently kissed the Sky.

He rose to start the day

as a blush spread across her face.

I hope this day finds you all happy, healthy and loved!

Food! Glorious Food!

Today is grocery shopping day. My daughter and I make a menu for lunches and dinners for a whole week, and plan the grocery shopping around that menu. We are vegetarians, so must be a little creative with our meals. This week, I thought I'd share our menu with you.

Monday:
Lunch - Leftovers (Whatever happens to be in the fridge from meals from the week before. It's eaten buffet style, which adds to the fun.)
Dinner - Redone Lentils and yellow rice.

Tuesday:
Lunch - Hash brown Casserole and Muffins.
Dinner - Mexican Polenta and Rice

Wednesday:
Lunch - Gingery Quinia Salad with apples, peas and coconut, Bread
Dinner - Lasagna Roll ups, Bread sticks, and salad

Thursday:
Lunch - Asparagus and Olives Linguine, Bread sticks.
Dinner - Eastern European Red Lentil Soup, Olive Oil Crackers (homemade), salad.

Friday:
Lunch - Scones (homemade), Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits, Veggie sausage.
Dinner - Pizza topped with artichoke hearts, fresh tomato slices, black olives and feta cheese.

Saturday:
Lunch - Corn Fritters with Creamed Spinach, applesauce.
Dinner - Peanut Noodles, Snow Peas with a single herb.

Sunday:
Lunch - Cabbage Calzones.
Dinner - Cheese Verde Enchiladas, yellow rice, strawberries.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I should mention a few things. My daughter and I take turns cooking, each making one meal a day, the other cleaning up after said meal. My granddaughter is in charge of all the clean ups on the weekends.

Also, the only bread we ever buy from the store is rye bread. All other bread or bread products we make from scratch, including the bread sticks, scones and pizza dough featured on this menu.

The most read books in our household are the cookbooks. We have one whole shelf full of cookbooks, plus a box full out in the garage of them that we either don't care for or don't have enough use for.

What about you? Do you plan your menus day by day or by the week like us? Do you have a favorite cookbook? I'd love to hear about it!

Introducing Princess Wendy NeKe

It's another chilly morning here in north east Florida, perfect weather for cuddling up and working on my new cardigan. The warmth the yarn fabric gives reminds me of the warm feelings I get from my furbabies, ferrets Wendy (full name Princess Wendy NeKe) and Bubba (full name Prince Ga'arra). I could write volumes about both Wendy and Bubba, their various antics and all the love and joy they bring to my life, but I thought I'd start with just a short intro to Wendy.

I got Wendy when she was just about 6 weeks old (she's now almost 4 years old). We were living just outside Chicago, Illinois, and I already had a ferret, Sugar Bob (a long, sad story I'll tell you about some other time. Anyway, I took one look at Wendy and she captured my heart. She has the sweetest personality! Wendy has the ability to sense just what her 'mommy' needs at any time and does her best to fulfill that need. She, like all ferrets, is playful, loving, curious, and a seemingly endless ball of energy. I've always said that ferrets are like the best of a dog and cat mixed together. They are loyal and loving, and never out grow the playful kitten stage. They also use a litter box inside the house, and with proper training, love to go for long walks on a leash.

Some of my favorite things about Wendy is when she curls up on my chest or lap for a nap, how she loves to ride inside my jacket when the weather gets too chilly for her, and when she walks up to me, and looks right at me with a doleful expression on her face. That's her signal for, "Pick me up, Mommy, I'm too tired to walk now".

Wendy fills my life with love, joy, laughter, and brightness. What more could you ask from a loyal companion?

Friday Night is Pizza Night!

Fridays are pizza night in our house. Tonight we had Pizza Margarita. Homemade from scratch pizza crust, a little olive oil, fresh slices of ripe tomato, a dash of salt and pepper, and a generous topping of fresh mozzarella cheese. After it's baked, while it's still hot, we top it with some chopped fresh basil.

It was yummy!

Where to Go? What to Do?

I realize that I seem to be focused on my crochet lately in my blog. I have no intentions of making this a primarily crochet blog, but I do like to show off my work once in a while. Plus, it gives you an idea of what else I do to fill the hours of my days.

Right now I'm in the process of figuring out where I want to go with my blogging. I'm considering a plan that would focus on a different subject every day. For example, Mondays would be Family Day, Tuesdays would be Food, Wednesday would be Writing (poetry or short stories), Thursdays would be Crafting or Crochet, and Fridays would be Anything Goes.

Nothing's set in stone yet, but I believe a plan like this would keep me focused on my blogging, with a little less pressure on me to come up with ideas for what to post about.

I'm interested in your opinion. What do you think of this idea?

Finally Finished!

A simple granny square lapghan using Red Heart Super Saver yarn in Soft White, Bikini, and Black colorways using an "I" hook. This took me longer to make than I thought it would as I changed my pattern after I started making it and the squares turned out smaller than I planned. Of course, I didn't realize that until I started assembling my blocks into the lapghan! I had to make another row of squares, then added a couple more inches to it by using the Cathedral Edging.

I do love the way the colors go together, this is a bright happy lapghan as far as I'm concerned!

Off My Hook!

My granddaughter and I were yarn shopping the other day, and she fell in love with Red Heart Super Saver Multi in the Bikini colorway. I knew I would have to make her something in it, so I went searching for a pattern to use, and found this Granny Cardigan by Yarn Artist.

I made a few adaptations to the pattern, mainly in the sleeves so that the cold breezes couldn't blow up them. I am very happy with the way it turned out, and so is she!

Snowy Owlet (Crochet Amigurumi)

Owlet


Materials needed:

small amount of 4 ply (ww) yarn, for body, eyes, wings and wing trim, and feet (I used Yarn Bee's Cameo ivory for the body and wings referred to in pattern as main color, Yarn Bee's Cameo black for the eye rings, Caron Simply Soft Shadows pearl frost for wing trim, and Caron Simply Soft mango for the feet)
size 3 crochet thread for beak (I used Senso Metallics black)
"G" hook
"C" hook
stitch markers
Darning needle
2 post eyes (I used the snap on post and back type eyes, don't know what they're typically called.)
fiberfill for stuffing

Abbreviations used:
sc = single crochet
st = stitch
ss = slip stitch
inc = increase (do 2 single crochets in one stitch)
dec = decrease ( insert hook into first stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, insert hook into the next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through the two loops on your hook)

Body: (make one)

As amigurumi is made in spirals, do not join rounds. Use a stitch marker or a piece of thread or yarn to mark the end of your rounds.
With "G" hook, and main color:
Start 8 sc in a magic ring. (8 sc)
Rnd 2: *1 sc in first st, 2 sc (inc) in second st* repeat from * to * around. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: *1 sc in first 2 st, 2 sc (inc) in third st* repeat from * to * around. (16 sc)
Rnd 4: *1 sc in first 3 st, 2 sc (inc) in fourth st* repeat from * to * around. (20 sc)
Rnd 5: *1 sc in first 4 st, 2 sc (inc) in fifth st* repeat from * to * around. (24 sc)
Rnd 6: *1 sc in first 5 st, 2 sc (inc) in sixth st* repeat from * to * around. (28 sc)
Rnd 7: *1 sc in first 6 st, 2 sc (inc) in seventh st* repeat from * to * around. (32 sc)
Rnd 8: *1 sc in first 7 st, 2 sc (inc) in eighth st* repeat from * to * around. (36 sc)
Rnd 9: *1 sc in first 8 st, 2 sc (inc) in ninth st* repeat from * to * around. (40 sc)
Rnds 10 - 12: work even (40 sc)
Rnd 13: *sc first 2 st together (dec), sc in the next 3 st* repeat from * to * around ( 32 sc)
Rnd 14: *sc first 2 st together (dec), sc in the next 2 st* repeat from * to * around ( 24 sc)
Rnd 15: *sc first 2 st together (dec), sc in the next st* repeat from * to * around ( 16 sc)
Rnd 16: *sc first 2 st together (dec)* repeat from * to * around. (8 sc) ss in next st and fasten off, leaving a long tail for closing and sewing.

Wings: (make two)

With "G" hook, and main color:
Work 8 sc in a magic ring (8 sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (16 sc)
Rnd 3: * 1 sc in the first st, 2 sc in next (inc)* repeat from * to * around (24 sc)
Rnd 4: work even (24 sc) ss into next st, and fasten off
Rnd 5: attach new color in any st and work even around (24 sc) ss in next st and fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Fold wing circle in half and sew edges together. Do not cut yarn, you'll use the remainder to sew the wing onto the body of the owlet.

Eye Rings: (make 2)

With "G" hook, and eye color:
Make 6 sc in a magic ring, join with a ss and fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing eye rings to body.

Beak: (make 1)

With "C" hook, and size 3 hook:
Make 4 sc in a magic ring.
Rnd 2: *sc in first st, 2 sc in next st (inc)* repeat from * to * around. ( 6 sc)
Rnd 3: *sc in first 2 st, 2 sc in next st (inc)* repeat from * to * around. ( 8 sc)
Rnd 4: *sc in first 3 st, 2 sc in next st (inc)* repeat from * to * around. ( 10 sc)
Rnd 5: Work even (10 sc) ss into next st and fasten off, leaving long tail for weaving and sewing. Weave yarn through the last row of stitches and pull to close. Flatten slightly to form beak shape.

Feet: (make 2)

With "C" hook, and 'feet' color yarn:
Start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: *1 sc in first st, 2 sc (inc) in second st* repeat from * to * around. (9 sc)
Rnd 3 - 4: Work even around (10 sc)
Rnd 5: *sc first 2 st together (dec), sc in the next st* repeat from * to * around ( 6 sc) ss into next st, and fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing and weaving.

Assembly Instructions:

I find it easiest to sew the beaks and eye rings onto the body before stuffing it and sewing it closed. Referring to photo, sew beak in place, then eye rings. Attach the eye posts in the centers of the eye rings.

Stuff the body, and weave the long tail through the last row of stitches, pull tight to close, and sew the tail to secure. Bury thread through the center of the body.

Sew the wings onto each side of the body. Fold feet flat, and sew to bottom of the owlet (I placed them at the 3 row from the bottom.

Notes:

It's also easiest for me to pin my body parts into place before sewing them, to make sure they're balanced and in the correct position.

A good tutorial for making a magic ring can be found here:
http://crochetme.com/Dec_Jan_0405/reads_round.html

If you're not comfortable with using a magic ring, you can also start with the traditional method (chain two and work appropriate numbers of sc into second chain from the hook) but I find it leaves too big a hole for my tastes.