A Quick Hello

I have been busy, busy, busy.  Between decorating, work, work, and more work, oh and lots of cleaning up from decorating, and more cleaning, I have had about zero time for blogging.  So I am sorry if my responses have been limited, I am hoping this pace slows down soon.  It is always this way around the Holidays, isn't it?  I am off to Columbus for my sons swim meet.  It is a three day meet against four other teams, but for the life of me I can't remember who.  I know Florida, Indiana and who knows who else?  So on top of packing and cleaning my house for my SIL's who are staying with my youngest and Max, I have been having to deal with the dreaded looks I am getting from my furry boy.  He knows that he is going to be on his own to tend to himself for days and days.  Well at least that is what he is trying to tell me.  I did finish my small jars and crocheted up 20 star coasters to give as gifts.  They are in sets of four.  One more star project and I am done with the star motif, so hang in there with me.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  And if you have any swimming mojo, or positive thoughts to send to Mr. 19 year old for his first big college Invitational Swim Meet, I am sure he would appreciate it.

See you next week.

Thankful, Sad and 45

We had a lovely Thanksgiving, quiet and yummy.  Not a lot of people, just my Dad, my sons and a friend, and my husband and myself.  It was nice to have my family together even if it was for a very short time. Remember when I said my son would be home for 52 hours?  Well it was more like 49 1/2.  But he was home with us a lot of that time and I enjoyed every minute.  I cut his hair, worked on his knee and ankle, washed his clothes and you guessed it...peeked at him while he was sleeping.  He flying back to Columbus right now as I type these words and I have to admit I am a bit sad.  I will see him next week at a big Invitational Swim Meet, but just the same watching your grown up baby get on a plane that is leaving you is hard.  And do you know what?  He was sad, too.  He said that being home made him realize how much he missed his friends and family.  I am sure glad he included the family part!  His buddies are all here for longer than he was, the whole weekend in fact.  I told him that as soon as he gets back and sees his school buddies he will feel right at home again.  He is a good boy, a typical 19 year old, so as good as a typical 19 year old boy is.

 Here are my three boys.... doesn't the look on Max's face make you laugh?  He hates the camera and looks like he is in pain.

Of course he would not even look at the camera, so I should be happy I got at least one picture of him looking in my direction, even if he looks stressed in the picture.  Do you want to hear a funny Max story?  When Mr. 19 year old arrived home I went and opened the door so Max could greet him.  He ran down the driveway to my son, looked at him, growled and walked away.  He did this three times.  My son was astonished, so he got on the ground and called Max over, three more times Max walked up to him, turned around and walked away.  But this time he would go over to my youngest and jump up on him. My oldest wondered what was wrong.  So I said that Max's feeling are hurt because you left and you have not been home.  He doesn't understand where you have been, to him he feels abandoned.  So Mr. 19 year old got down and told Max he was sorry and that he loved him, and Max walked right over and snuggled up against him.  All was well....well until we left with is brother and did not return with him this afternoon.  Max is pouting in my husbands closet right now.

The star table runner for my friend's Christmas present is complete, I apologize for yet another sorry looking photo.  This is finished project number 45 for the year for me.  Hope she likes it!

Happy Thanksgiving and a Happy Birthday

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you wonderful blogging friends.  I have to say that each and everyone of you have added so much to my life.  You make me laugh and you make me cry.  You have given me such fantastic advice and shared in the ups and downs of my life.  You have let me into your lives and shared your friendship, and that means so much to me.  So I want to wish you all a very wonderful Thanksgiving Day. 

Also this is a very special birthday for my wonderful sister Claudia.  Most of you know my sister by now so I was hoping you could stop by and wish her a happy day.  She is struggling right now for many reasons and she can use all the love she can get.  Claudia is the most amazing sister.  I wish all of you could experience her love and devotion.  I am so blessed to have her in my life.  And I should know because I have one sister that hasn't spoken to me in years and years.  So please give her a shout out.  And again I wish you and your families the very best on this Holiday.

Weekend Christmas Crochet Crazy

My behind is sore, that is right it is.  I have been sitting on my behind at my kitchen table crocheting like a mad woman all weekend long.  I have watched far too much football to entertain myself, while my hands have been busy crocheting, and crocheting some more.  This is coming from the woman who swore she was not making a thing for Christmas presents.  It started with that Star Table Runner.  I made the bulky one for myself, and then had to make one for my friend.  I am five stars away from that being completed.  Once you make something for one friend, well you start thinking about others and before you know it things have gotten out of control.  Now I think everyone I know needs something I have made, whether they want it or not!

 This is my current obsession.

I know I am a bit late to the crocheting jar covers party, everyone has done it by now, but I thought it might make a fun little present for friends.  Pop some sand into the bottom, grab a candle to put inside and you have a nice little gift.

  Once I figured out the bottom, the rest was a breeze.  I used cotton string we had in the kitchen for my first batch, then switched to Sugar and Cream cotton yarn for my second batch. I used a size J hook and for both the string and the yarn.

Once you are done with the crochet you pop in a ribbon, and then you are all set.

Here is the first batch looking lovely in the sun.

The second group got completed when it was much darker out.

I also made up nine of these smaller ones with some Berroco Pure Pima yarn that I had in my stash.  

I just have to go get red ribbon to put on these and they will be all done.  I have four more of the larger jars to complete today and then this Christmas project will be finished.  I think they might look lovely with the candle light shining from inside. 

My youngest son thinks I am a nutter bringing these outside for a photo shoot.  He just shakes his head at my weirdness.  Well of course he thinks I am a nutter and weird, because he is 15!  Mr. 19 year old comes home in two days for 52 hours.  That is all we get him this Thanksgiving.  I bet he isn't home much of that time, he has plenty of friends to see. I just want to quietly open his bedroom door while he is sleeping and peek inside to see him sleeping in his own bed.  Sort of like I did when he was a baby.  I can't wait.

How was your weekend?

Regula and Star Crazy

Have you met my very wonderful friend Regula?  If you haven't you need to swing on by her blog and get to know her.  Regula lives in Switzerland and is soooooo talented.  She knits, she crochets, she sews and she lives in an amazing farmhouse.  She is kind, and giving, and will welcome you with open arms.  Before you know it you will have an amazing friendship, and you will wish you are sitting beside her drinking hot chocolate and chatting like you have been best friends forever.  Regula sent me this.........

A beautifully wrapped little package, hmmmm...... wonder what is inside.

A little lavender pillow with the most beautiful crochet.  Do you see the heart?  I was so thrilled by Regula's kind gesture I can't even tell you.  Now I have something this amazing woman has made and it is all the way from Switzerland!  Thank you so much Regula, you are so wonderful!

 Star table runner number two is half way done.  This is going to be a gift for my wonderful friend Lynda in North Carolina.  Of course I said I wasn't making any gifts this year and then Stitchy started this darn CAL, and now I am hooked!  Literally!  Now I have visions of everyone in my life receiving a table runner, I know I have to get a grip.  Maybe I can not be that productive six weeks before Christmas, but I can finish this one and make lots of star coasters as extra presents.
 

I am loving this Deborah Norville yarn with the sequins, it is just so perfect for this project.  Joann's is having a 20% off everything crafty sale tomorrow, you might want to check out this yarn if you are thinking about a star table runner.  I should be able to make 19 stars with about 4 skeins, if you want a longer runner buy more yarn!

So this afternoon is all about crochet for me, what are you up to today?

Stitchy is having a CAL

Hi everyone, hope your week has been wonderful.  I am joining my very first CAL.  I am not usually one to join in, well officially that is.  So I am quite happy to expand my crochet skills by joining my friend Stitchy, in her crochet-a-long.  The project she has chosen is the Star Table Runner by Red Heart Yarns. You can find the pattern here.  It takes a minute or two for the link to pop up, so be patient. 

Being the rebel I am, I have decided to give this pattern a try in a medium weight yarn, not thread.  We will see how that goes......  When I moan and groan about it not working you can remind me that it was my idea to stray from the suggested yarn.  You see I went yarn shopping in my stash and found this yummy Debbie Bliss yarn.  So I will give it a try and if it doesn't work, I will try, try, try again.

 As for trying again, remember this basket that used to have a back and front to the Penny Arcade Sweater Coat?  Well the whole thing has been frogged, painstakingly frogged!  I am starting over, with a bigger hook, I just wasn't happy with the size.  I know do we see a theme here, always too big or too small.  I understand what Goldilocks was thinking when she visited the three bears, nothing fits just right!

Please visit Sticthy and join in with the crochet fun, and have a great weekend.

Election Night Finish

It's done!!! Well almost done.  But I am counting it as a finished project anyway, even though I am not quite sure what to do.  What, am I not making any sense at all?  This is what happens when you have been knitting, and knitting, and knitting some more, while staying up late watching the election returns.  You see my alarm goes off at 5:20 AM every weekday morning no matter how early or late I go to bed, so I am a bit hazy today.  

Do you want to see?

 After all that yick-yacking about gauge the joke is on me, this sweater has ended up being a bit snug.  I intend to wet it down and pull it a bit here and there to help it fit better, but not today.

 And for some reason I did not put in button holes, I may or may not add buttons with a crochet loop used as the button hole.  You see I am having difficulty focusing and making a decision.

This is the Sawtelle Sweater by Berrocco, made out of Berroco remix yarn.  Loved the texture of this yarn, it knits up beautifully. It just took a long time to finish, so here is finished project 41, even though it really isn't finished!

Hope you got more sleep then I did.  And whether you were happy or upset with the results from last night, I hope our politicians can learn someway to work together.  I have loved the pictures of President Obama and Gov. Christie working together for the people of New Jersey.  Isn't that what it should be about, putting politics aside to work for the people of the country.

Have a great day, I am off to work, that should be interesting with my mind all fuzzy!

Thankful Friday

I have been it a twit lately, probably due to my crazy hormones, my general tendency to worry, the upcoming election......well you know how it goes.  So I decided to heed my own advice and just take some time to be Thankful.  I wanted to walk around near my house for just five minutes, and just try to be one with the beauty of nature.  Nature can pack a huge wallop, like we have witnessed with Hurricane Sandy.  I don't want to only notice when nature is negative, or fierce, I just want to be able to notice the nature all around me.  Today I was enticed by the Autumn sun and how it filters in slowly, with a much softer edge. The summer sun here in Florida is so fierce and brutal.  So come along with me on my five minute walk and lets see what we can find.

Still sending all of you affected by Sandy positive thoughts to get through this very difficult time.

Happy Weekend.