Christmas 2011

Hi People.
Sorry I have been quite for so long. I went back to work on November 7 and I just haven't had enough energy to blog.
I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and to the now Christians...Happy Holidays. What ever the reason for your celibration, I hope it is happy and you are surrounded with joy and love.
Happy New Year, too.
Finally got everything wrapped and ready to go in the morning. We are going to be at Chris and Tahnees for brunch and unwrap presents. This is the best part of Christmas.

Hawaii was wonderful

Pictures of Hawaii. Starting with where we picked up the rental car.

The next is the Beautiful, Blue Pacific. I just can't seem to get enough of the ocean.

What am I doing in Utah. I should have beeen born in the Islands.

Little things

This is Ludwig. Rachel came home from work and asked if I could make a lion for her friend. So I got to thinking (That is always a bit scary.), and here he is.

Ludwig's little friend is Iris. She is my little bear. Rachel took the little white one to work. She has it on her desk.

I used the same pattern for each of them. I think I'll see what else come out of my hook and yarn.

I'm enjoying that pattern. I may even make some bigger animals.

More crochet and News

This is my little bear.  I started him last night during CSI.  By the middle of the News he was almost done.  I finished him this morning.  I put the nail polish in the picture so you could tell how big he is.

I got the patten from  http//www.mielkesfiberarts.com/teddy_pat.htm

He needs a name...Send me an idea.  I pick the name I like best and send you a surprize.

This is the gown I made for Breast Cancer Awarness Month.

I love Barbie and I never plan to give up making gowns for her.

They played with the settings for the blog again.  Now I have to learn how to do it all over again.

I will never understand why...when it ain't broke this computer geeks keep trying to fix it.  Just leave things along.

Facebook did the same thing.  It was just fine.  Now...I'm just confused.

I'll be away from my computer for awhile.  I'm leaving for Hawaii on Monday.  I'm going to be in the sun for 10 wonderful days.

My televising just died...the cable went out.  CRAP!!!!  It's so quiet in here.

Been Busy

I knitted this shawl. This is my daughter, Rachel, modelling my shawl.

It's just a big rectangle. I don't do alot of knitting. I prefer crochet. For me it is much faster. And I can do more with it. But I had this lovely yarn that just called to be knitted.

These are Voodoo dolls. I made the short pink one and Rachel made the other two. She's going to teach the girls she works with how to make them.

They look alien to me. Maybe it's because I have so many UFO around here. I just expect Aliens to appear.

This is my bird. I made him because someone had the pattern on the Crochet Partners Group on Yahoo. I added the feather for his tail. Because birds need feathers to survive in this world.

I seem to enjoy making silly things.

Chris says that I'm in my second childhood. I tell her, "No, I never left my first."

Autumn has appeared in Utah. The leaves are turning up in the mountains. My garden is almost finished. We'll be putting the swamp cooler to sleep for another year next week.

I am just not ready for Summer to be gone. Tough, right!

I read a Blog (Raymond and me) from a girl in New Zealand. She is getting excited for Spring.

I'm so happy for her.

Guess I'll deal with Autumn. DARN!

Rainbow.

My wonderful husband, Russell, made another rainbow for me last week. Isn't he just the cutest fellow!

I have decided that for the rest of my life I'm going to find at least one thing each day to get excited about. OK! That little rainbow isn't all that much, but it was alot of fun to get excited and let Russell know that I thought that he did it just for me. Sometimes he thinks I'm nuts.

I found another phrase to live by: Never give up a chance to go for a Joy ride.

Life is so good and I'm very lucky to be alive.

September

WOW! It's already the middle of September. Where does the time go?

I went to lunch yesterday with 3 of the nicest ladies. We met in Santaquin at the Family Tree for lunch. It was a lovely drive down from Salt Lake City.

We used to work together at the U.S. Postal Service. But I think we have gotten closer since we retired.

I can't remember enjoying lunch more.

After lunch we drove over the the Big Red Barn for ice cream. It was, also, wonderful.

It's good to have friends.

Look! Me make sox.

Look! I made these sox. I used the Patons*Kroy Socks Toe Up Socks (to crochet) pattern.

I think you can get it at www.patonsyarn.com

You may have to look for it there, but it's worth the time to find it.

I enjoyed making them.

That was about all I did this past week. Oh that, and made a batch of chili sauce.

I am not ready for Autumn. But in New Zealand is a lady who does a blog (Crochet with Raymond) who is so ready for Spring. I guess it all depends on where you are.

It is cooling down from the hot week we had. It is really nice.

The Shawl

This is how it started.

Section 2 continued.

Section 3...I'm making headway.

Section 4, beginning section 5

It's finished!

Hanging on the back of the rocking chair.

This is my version of Martha Simonsen's Critron Shawl. I saw the pattern last week on the internet and decided I needed to make one. It took a week. I think it's worth it.

I might even make another one. (Someday.)

Something New

This is what I started with... Three times. It just didn't look right. Too chunky.

This is what it looks like, now. OK, so I changed my mind. I'll make something else out of this. I don't waste any yarn. That is just WRONG!!!!

This is what I decided to use to make the Crocheted Critron Shawl.

The first choice just didn't seem right. I think I'll like this better.

When I saw this on Crochet Partners, I decided that I wanted to make it. I emailed my sister in Iowa and suggested that we each make one.

Like always...She is doing it faster than I am. And hers will be beautiful.

I'm still going to make one...Mine will also be beautiful.

I think I even know who I'll give it to when it's finished. I have a friend who loves this color.

Maybe I'll get it done for Christmas.

YES! I have friends. Look in the mirror...you could be one of them. I'm glad you are.

OH! The Pattern can be found on Ravelry, It's by Martha Simonsen.

I crochet so that no one gets hurt.

Begin at once to live, and count each day as a separate life.

~Lucius Annaeus Seneca~

It's done.

This is how it started.

Moving right along.

It's done. This was not my favorite project. I think it looks like a bulls eye. Rachel said it looks like a rug. I think it's a round throw.

The day is beautiful. We have humidity, but it's still not like the East. It's good to be in Utah.

Discover yourself.

Stars again

I got this garland finished today. I put it up in the back yard. Wonder how long it will take Russell, my wonderful husband, to tell me to take it down.

Want to take bets?

Bad Monday

We put our big black lab, Duke, to sleep today. He had gotten so he couldn't get up on his hind legs and he had stopped eating. So it was time. I miss him.

More another day, when I feel better.

Steering Wheel Cover

Look what I did. I've wanted a steering wheel cover forever. So I made one. It matches my interior and my frogs.

Some people just have too much time on their hands.

Thunder

More thunder storms today. This is a silly way to run a desert. But my tomatoes love all this rain.

The clouds are about gone and it's supposed to get sunny and clear for the next few days.

I'm working on that ---- round afghan. I promised me that I'll finish it. But it is not my favorite.

I'm going to take a break and make a few snowflakes and a bag.

I think.

Remember...You are unique ~ Just like everyone else.

OMG! I'm a grandmother, senior citizen, old broad, whatever.
How did this happen????? Where did all the time go???
Yesterday I was 35 and now I'll be 62 next month.
What happened???

I spend most of my days sitting in a rocking chair with my crocheting and the television.

Energy Vampires

Beware of Energy Vampires. They steal your energy and leave you tired and depressed. Many times they are family members or friends that are around often. The only thing you can do to protect yourself is stay away from them whenever possible.

But after dealing with an Energy Vampires a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream can help you feel better. But now I'll have to do some crunches and push-ups. (and probably run around 15 or 20 blocks.) NO! That is not going to happen. I'm too tired for that silliness.

Most Energy Vampires do not have a clue that they are that draining. They really don't mean to be. (At least I want to believe they don't.) If you tell them, they won't understand. And will tell you that you hurt their feelings. But they don't realize what damage they are doing to you.

Run while you can. Protect yourself. You are all you really have.

Monday July 11

We made it to another Monday. Thunder storms again. Humidity. Life is Good.

3 or 1.

This is my avocado tree. It's about 10 inches tall.

This is my lily surrounded by whatever. I'm not sure what is growing here.

Cucumbers and Zucchini. Look close the zucchini is blooming. They are doing great.

Brussell sprouts, Swiss chard and Purple cabbage are doing great.

Purple Kale starting to bloom.

Purple Kale blooming. It's right outside my front window.

TOMATOES. Everyone has blooms and tomatoes on them.

This is my eggplant. I don't know why, but I didn't know they bloomed. Isn't it pretty. It's only about 6 inches tall.

Beginnings

This is a bag that I made because Letha, my sister, had made one and I thanked her for it and brought it home with me. I think I'll send this one to her. She also gave me the yarn I made it from. The little needle case is going with the bag. It opens up to keep your needles close.

(There are two needles in the right pic.)


And so it begins. This is going to be a hexigon afghan. Letha gave me the gray cone. I found the blues in my basement. (Probable also Letha's) There are some great thing hidden in my basement.

Stars

I made a mess of stars. These are about 2 inches, made from cotton.

I dug out the frog from my basement hung the stars on it and put it on my front door.

The blue and yellow one is a pin cushion.

the little one is a book mark and made from # 10 crochet cotton.

The pattern for the stars is available at:

http://my-pattern.blogspot.com/2009/12/flower-in-my-star.html

I love making these little stars.

My sister sewed some of hers to a bag she made.

Home again

Just got back from Iowa. I know...Why would anyone go to Iowa. My younger sister lives there with her "new family". Took the older sister along for the ride. (Yes! I brought her back.)

Took along my camera. And can you believe it! Didn't take one picture. Forgot and left it in the house every time we went out.

It was a lovely trip. I always love seeing Letha. She has so many funny stories to tell and just catching up is fun. We talk about everything.

Went shopping in Ames and bought a mess of yarn. (Yeah, I probably could have got it here in Utah, but it's good to pick up yarn other places.)

We rode the Boone Historical Railroad train. It was a hot day, but we enjoyed the ride.

We watched movies and crocheted in the evenings. I made a mess of stars to go with the mess I already had. I started a granny square. (I'll post pictures in a few days.)

The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.
Marcel Proust

Book

I read Conversations with a Moonflower today. It's a very good read. I will keep it close to read again and again. Thanks to Chris Hall for writing this lovely little book.

I sent for some Moonflower seed after I read the book. I can hardly wait to get them.

I have a Moon Lily that only blooms at night, but it's different from the Moonflower in the story.
I love my Moon Lily. It smell awful, but it is really beautiful to look at.

OK! Now to show off...

These are some necklaces that I crocheted. I plan to sell them. So if you are interested just let me know. They are one of a kind. I need $25 each for them.

I have so much fun crocheting, but my darling husband thinks that I should make some money to support my habit. (Silly man)

Where does the time go.

My iris' were beautiful this year. They are mostly gone now.

The only thing I don't like about them is they don't last long enough.

Looks like summer is finally going to get here.