Theresa's Corner

What I"ve Been Doing Today

2009-05-03T16:42:00.003-04:00

Taking pictures with my new camera! LOL Marine Daughter bought it off of Ebay and then decided she didn't want it so I am trying it out! I like my old one but this one has many new features and tricks! Look at the pollen on that bee! I did have to get closer than I normally like being to a bee, but he was so busy flitting from one dandelion to another that he payed no attention to me! I took a few other pictures of flowers around the yard but the dandelion/bee ones are my favorites.
I've been crocheting, working, and still becoming acclimated to having the Mother-in-law here with us. But all is going well and I am glad she is here and safe and is getting happier by the day.
Today has been one of the few days we have had without rain! YIPPEE!!.... We so need to start on the new house, but it has been too wet to do it, I am praying that it stops raining so we can finally get started!
Also, on Friday afternoon I got a call from work telling me I am laid off for next week. I hope it only lasts a week but one never knows. At least I can still draw unemployment and get some organizing done here at home.
The hubster also got the mower ready to mow, he put brand new blades on it, and then hit a cable that he had left laying in the yard. Not too much damage was done to the new blades and they were still in pretty good condition. Today when he went to his Mom's to mow her lawn, I started mowing ours and hit a short but nice sized piece of angle iron that probably fell off of someone's load of scrap passing the house. I had just walked that area of the yard to make sure there was nothing there that I would run over too. This time it did ruin the new blades and also another part that the blades go into...hubster is now looking up the part to order. Hopefully it won't cost too much!
It's time for this old lady to get off of here and get to making supper!
Wishing you all a wonderful evening!

I'm sad today

2009-02-17T09:42:00.002-05:00

I'm sad today. Just sad.
For 10 months now we (as a family) have been dealing with health issues with the hubsters Mother. Ten months ago she was admitted into the hospital with a heart condition (A-Fib is what sil's referred to it as...I am not a nurse so I don't understand it all), but I guess she got out of it before she was discharged, but she was put on several new medicines. She just didn't seem to improve much over the next few months, was not very active, could not keep up on house work or regular day to day chores, and wouldn't let us help her either. Everyone tried but the woman cannot throw anything away....I mean not even a newspaper or the ads from them (there might be something in there she wants). As feared, the inevitable happened and she fell and broke her right shoulder. It could have been so much worse, we were lucky. She moved from her house into ours and like I had suspected got lots better before she was allowed to start physical therapy. She was getting her meds on time, at the same time, and the right dosages everyday. At the end of three weeks she was doing much better! Then she went to her youngest daughters house for physical therapy and continued to get better, not only did it help her shoulder but she began walking better, looking better, and feeling better. Her goal was to eventually be able to move back to her house. After 5 months of being cared for she was ready, some of us had our doubts whether she would be successful, we had been noticing short term memory loss and worried that she would not take her meds properly. The family decided to give her a chance anyway. The hubster and I still did not like this but so as not to cause too many problems agreed to it. He and I would still check on her everyday, I would take her to all Dr. visits, run errands, and he would check on her every evening before coming home. The first week went pretty well, I found a few pills on the floor though or one or two on a table by her chair, or maybe one left in the compartment of her pill organizer. This was not good and I pointed it out to her...she always had an expanation and swore that she was taking them right. The following weeks, she just went downhill. Becoming less active and motivated to do things, I was still finding pills laying around or on the floor. At the end of week three at home, I went to pick her up for a Dr.s appointment and she was shaky, breathing heavy, and very wobbly on her feet. She made it through her appointment fine, but got worse in the afternoon. I called one of her daughters and discussed the situation with her, it was decided that I should make an appointment for her to see her regular Dr. the next morning. We did, and he sent her to the hospital for testing, she was admitted with congestive heart failure, but we were told it could have been much worse. The Dr. called me into his office the next day and said that she should not and could not live on her own any longer, the family had to decide "what next". He said she could not be trusted to take her medicine right, that it was obvious from what he was seeing that she had not been taking it right or perhaps not at all. Wow....I did not want to tell her this, but I needed to. I called the hubster and his sister and we all thought it would be best if I told her but they be there...which was fine with me, except I still didn't WANT to do it. We got through it ok...she was very upset with the news and mad at the Dr. for thinking she wasn't taking her meds right when she Knew was! Never mind all the pills I've found in places they shouldn't be! LOL I mentioned this to her and she said "well, Theresa....that only happens when you're around!" LOL...I wonder what happens when I'm not around?!!
She spent from the 12th until the 16th in the hospital and has come to our house. I don't know if this is going to be permanent or temporary. The Dr. said not even assisted living for now. He wants to see if her memory, activity level, and motivation improves. He doesn't think any place would accept her for assisted living right now. She is not happy and wants to just go home. She keeps saying that she is going to try her hardest to take her meds on time and keep them straight and prove that Dr. wrong! I had to remind her twice yesterday afternoon to take a pill before she finally did and then she was reminded three times with in 30 minutes last night that it was time to take night time meds., finally I just took them to her.
I also mentioned to the Dr. that I had noticed a little bit of paranoia when she was at her house. If she couldn't find something she would blame the last person that had visited for either taking it, hiding it or putting it away where it didn't belong. If that didn't work, then she suspected an intruder had come in and done something with it. Sometimes she would say "I just don't know why so and so would do this to me, or I don't know why my kids want to hide my things."

All of this is why I am sad today.

Four weeks and counting

2009-02-06T14:56:00.002-05:00

I just finished my 4th full week of being laid off, and did not get the call to come back, yet. I sure hope to find out some good news on that end! Thank goodness for unemployment, and the time off has been really great....but....I am ready to get back to work! After this week our insurance is cut off unless we want to pay it all ourselves which is not a financial option right now as that would cost more a month than I make on unemployment.

UPDATE ON CROCHETING

I have been busy crocheting and all the kids got homemade Christmas presents this year. They all seemed to like them and I think I will be making more for next year too! Right now I am working on a sweater for me, just finished one for me and one for my Marine DD for Christmas too. Here are some pics of the Christmas presents:
This was for my oldest son who is getting married this year, he has always wanted me to make him one, so I finally did!
This was for my son-in-law who has been teasing me to make one of these for him...his face was priceless when he opened it!
A pillow for my grandson.
and one for the granddaughter!
a book bag for my oldest daughter.
A sweater for my Marine Daughter
Marine dd modeling the sweater I made for future dil.
and the willy warmers my Marine son asked for to give as gag gifts to his Marine buddies. I also crocheted a Christmas stocking filled with little gifts and a Tree decorated with small ornaments for him!

UPDATE ON FAMILY THINGS

We will be having a wedding in October also! Our oldest son is getting married to the most wonderful girl we could ask for! They make the most perfect couple, so good for each other! She has her dress, the bridesmaids dresses, and the tuxes all picked out and ordered. We have been getting silk flowers bought and just need to sit down and get the particulars worked out.
Our oldest daughter and her family have moved into a better part of the city too! Such a relief for me...I hated driving to the other side to visit them and it was not a good neighborhood either! Her step kids are growing up so fast...it's hard to believe the youngest was just a baby when they met! He will go to pre-K next year!
And we now have 2 Marines in the family! Our youngest son has been stationed in Japan and loves it, it took a very little time for him to adjust to the Marine life, but he says he likes it and doesn't know what else he would be doing if he had not joined! Our baby daughter graduated boot camp last November and is currently in North Carolina taking classes for her job. She said she got her orders last week and she will also be going to Japan. We all know how orders can change, and she did put Japan down as her first choice. As long as she is happy...then Momma's happy....well for the most part anyway! I hate having the two of them so far away and we may not be able to afford to go visit with the wedding and building of the new house...but I am sure going to try! Marine son was very happy to find out his sister was coming over!
I have three nieces who are expecting this spring and summer too! Two on my side and one on the hubsters! The hubsters mother is doing well after being sick and in the hospital last April. She was in for a week, came home, was not getting better and her house was a mess, and she would not let any of us try to help her. Bad situation turned worse when she fell and broke her right shoulder. She then moved in with us for about a month, got much better since she was getting her meds at the right time and was actually sleeping in a bed for the first time in months! She was getting the rest she needed and the care she needed too. She then went to stay with her youngest dd for physical therapy for about 3 months. When that was finished she desperately wanted to go back to her house. Not all of her kids agreed that this was a good idea, but they all agreed to let her try. So far after two weeks she is doing ok...but personally...I don't think it will take long for her to get headed back to where she was before she fell. Hopefully we will have the new house done and she will want to come over here.
I think that's it for now! Thanks for visiting! I will try to get some more pics of projects I've been working on up in a little while!

Wow...long time

2009-01-26T22:02:00.001-05:00

Well...it's been over a year since I've been here! Looks like I have a lot of work to do to get it caught up. Probably won't, just sayin'...... I am going to try to get here though with current updates and projects. A lot has happened in the past year that I may or may not mention...if anyone is interested you can always leave a comment and I will try to answer any questions!
Wishing anyone who visits a happy day!

Purse Tote Swap

2007-10-04T16:30:00.000-04:00

Thank you so much Clocke! This package arrived today and it is so wonderful!

This tote is amazing! It is large, It is roomy, it is done in my favorite colors (rust and brown), and it is absolutely gorgeous! I also received 2 skeins of Peru Chunky Luxury and a bag of the best smelling coffee in the world! I am not kidding...I may hate to use this coffee because it smells so good! And I think I will sleep with the tote if nothing else to keep it out of DD's hands! I don't know if she liked the tote or the packing peanuts more! LOL I think the tote wins! The stitching on this tote is just gorgeous too! It is felted, but not so much that all the stitches have disappeared...it is truly beautiful! I absolutely love this and I know it will be my favorite for many years!

Well now that we have both received our packages I can post pics of what I sent Clocke!
Here is the whole package:

Her tote is from the current issue of Interweave Crochet. It is the Felted Overlay Tote. She was such a great partner and made this swap so much fun and interesting too!

Long time gone!

2007-09-30T13:06:00.000-04:00

I see it's been a couple of months since I posted anything! All I can say is that life gets busy and I can only do so many things in one day. I do have some things to post but can't show the tote I'm doing for a c'ville swap since my partner hasn't received it yet. That will come later. I'm working on some Candy Corn Cone Hats that can be found here
Here is a pic of my daughter modeling it for me. She said you can't have a normal face and model this hat!

And here's a pic of another little stuffy that I tested for Stormy

I finished these last month for my nieces baptism. My sister loved them! I liked the way they turned out too.

And a scarf I designed:

Here is a silk wedding bouquet I did for a friends daughter. I still need to take pictures of my daughters bouquets and such and get them posted (boy am I behind!)

I will be doing another wedding for November as soon as they get the silk flowers to me. All of our kids are getting married now...next it will be baby gifts to crochet for all of them!

Well I think that is all for today. I am not feeling well and I think I will just go back to bed and hope I'm feeling well enough for work tonight! Thanks for visiting and looking!

A couple of tests

2007-07-17T09:25:00.000-04:00

Here are a couple of things I have recently tested for people. The first is a shawl I tested for someone at Crochetville:

I like the way it turned out! I think I will be making a few more of these too...it was fast and very easy!
The next is a little fishy wash cloth from a girl at Ravlery

I will probably make several of these for Christmas presents this year!
That's it for today. I just got home from work and need to get to bed! It was a long hard night and I just want to sleep!

Just some fun!

2007-07-12T09:54:00.001-04:00

I really must update, but haven't found the time or energy yet! I am just getting caught up reading the blogs I subscribe to and getting my house back in order after the wedding! I've been tagged by Madelyn
a good friend from CalPals! I love her blog and her too! So here are my tagees! It's so hard to pick but steal this button and tag 5 more girls!
Lucy at Folk-n-Fancy
because she has such a fun blog
Kel at Straight from the life and stash of Kel
because I love her work and she has a great blog too!
Wendy at Earthwhisper Fiber Arts she does great work and is so talented!
Sue at Good Yarns I know she has been tagged all ready...but her blog really rocks!
Nancy at Life's a Stitch because of her love for JD. She has also all ready been tagged...but I'm sure the last two of you won't have a problem tagging 5 more!

I'll be updating soon so be on the watch out...it should be pretty photo heavy, I hope!

Count down

2007-07-04T10:39:00.000-04:00

And it's three days before the wedding! Are we running around like headless chickens you ask? No, not really. DD is really really organized (you've learned well, grasshopper!) Today I think I will take inventory of all the supplies we have, I don't know why but I just feel like doing it! We are catering the food too, not me specifically but friends. I have a friend at work that does catering and she is coming home from her vacation to make three salads which I will pick up Thursday evening or Friday morning, another friend and a friend of his are grilling the pork loin which I picked up yesterday and are thawing as we speak. We will have veggies and dip for appetizers ( all ready prepared veggies), a roaster of chicken for sandwiches for those that don't like pork, green beans, and baked beans. The chicken, and two bean dishes will be prepared the morning of the wedding and shouldn't take very long to do. Then there is the cake which is being done by someone I don't really know, but she has done cakes for other occasions for me and they are wonderful. Got the beer ordered, and the wine is being made by two good family friends and is being bottled and labeled tonight. All of the decorations for the reception are done, this has been a joint effort between me and the bride. Too bad we can't get into the hall to decorate until the morning of the wedding though. But I have some good help lined up, some of DD's friends that I just love as my own and they know how to work for me! I can get bitchy with them and they don't take it personal and still love me! And they know how to use their imaginations and aren't afraid to offer their own suggestions! Isn't that wonderful! Oh and the flowers are all done too, by me. Good thing I've spent 95% of my working life as a florist! I have so many pictures to post, but those will have to wait until after the wedding and I have a little more time! I know time will go fast for us around here after the wedding too. My youngest son will leave for Marines Boot Camp on July 23rd. Bittersweet emotions here and I am thanking God that we have been busy with the wedding as I get so emotional just thinking of him in the Marines. After the 23rd I will have time to become depressed if I want, I guess. He just doesn't think that he will have to go to **** or ***********, (see I can't even bear to see those two places written), but there is always that chance. I'm happy for him that he wants to do this though....he has always wanted to be a Marine, since he was in the third or fourth grade and saw a poster of a Marine and he loved the sword! I always thought he would grow out of that, but instead he became more interested and would read about the marines, watch marine movies, etc. etc. He says he knows what he is getting into, but we all say that at one time or another and are always surprised in the end, aren't we?
Well I better wish everyone a Happy Fourth too! Hope you all are safe and happy!

Where does the time go?

2007-06-13T20:11:00.000-04:00

Oh my I just can't find the time to come here lately and update. I really don't know where the time goes! Sometimes I wish I were three people and there were at least 30 hours in a day! Oh wait sometimes there are 30 hours in a day, right?!
The wedding shower was a success with about half the people there that were invited, which I don't think is really too bad and Mary got lots of nice things to start a house. When she got home with the load, her DH to be said that it looked more like the gifts that they got for his first marriage! I guess no one had a shower for them and not many people were invited to the wedding and she took everything in the divorce so everything he and Mary got from the shower and anything they receive as wedding presents will be greatly appreciated and considered theirs...not something that he had to pick up to replace from his 1st. Poor guy lost his job two days ago too, what a spineless boss he had! Couldn't he wait two and half weeks so the wedding would be over? Well he and Mary got his resume and cover letter all ready and Mary's new boss offered his help and connections and got him an interview for Friday with a company that he will fit in nicely with! He also has a couple of other interviews all ready scheduled for next week! Mary got an email from her boss saying how impressed he was with the resume and how impressed his Bil was too! The Bil is who owns the company where the interview is on Friday! Enough about that! What is a blog update without pictures? The first pic is of :from left to right, my youngest dd, my sister, Mary (the Bride), me, and in front is Mary's new step daughter

OOO and look I am wearing my newest crochet tank...The Mango Mesh! I'm not crazy about the shoulders and arm pits....kinda funky but everyone told me they didn't see anything wrong with it. I think it is the Micro spun and the gauge difference from the pattern...oh well live and learn! It turned out well enough to wear and that's what I wanted.
This next picture is of me and my two newest niece and nephew! On the right is my niece (my side) born 5-6-7 and on the left is my nephew (hubsters side) born 5-15-7. I was looking forward to seeing three other babies there but two of the mothers decided not to bring them....How could they do that to me! There was another 7 month old there but she was too squirmy for me to hold her with the two other babies!

I just love babies and their smell and their softness! My kids call me the baby nazi because I can hold them forever and never give them up!

These next two pictures are of a cabinet my son made for me in his cabinet class at school, I am using it to put all of my crochet books, patterns, supplies, etc in. It is beautiful! I love it! And the humongous table is a "beer pong table" which is a drinking game and I guess other people have made them too. He made his taller so you can't bend over very far. We will have to build our new basement around this and the entertainment center he built last year for us. After he leaves for the Marines this table will be my "crafting" table! It is a wonderful height for arranging flowers, scrap booking, etc. on! He says I can't use it for that, but he won't be here anyway!
My cabinet:

Beer Pong Crafting table:

Saturday is the graduation party here. I think I am stressing more about this than the wedding! My new chairs are not in yet and we really need them! Hopefully they will come in and get delivered before the party! I will have to call the store tomorrow to either get them or tell them to forget it! Even though we need them badly now if they can't be here before this weekend I will wait until the new house gets built and get everything we need then! And depending on the service I get tomorrow it may or may not be from that store! I have never heard anything bad about that store from anyone I know that has bought there and is the reason we went there....but I have not gotten the service I expected either! We ordered the chairs three weeks ago and have only heard from them once, they were supposed to have called us yesterday but didn't, didn't hear anything from them today, so tomorrow I will call them.
It's time to get off of here and work on my shawl for the wedding! It is going slow, but is easy, and boring...kind of like working on an afghan for me! Hopefully I will be done soon.
Wishing you all a happy day!

Easy Breezy

2007-06-03T22:13:00.000-04:00

Well I've been busy with graduation and wedding plans. Decorations, food, last minute invites, trying to keep the house clean, all the wonderful things that make getting ready a pain! But I've also been busy doing a little crocheting! I've so wanted to join in on a couple of CALs on a couple of boards I belong to (Cal Pals and Fiber Freaks), but knew with my upcoming busy days I better not join then not be able to finish. But since I got my dress finished, I decided to do another wearable for me. Gee, this is fun making something for yourself to wear! I did the Easy Breezy Cardigan from Crochet! Magazine March 2006. I used Lily Sugar and Cream in a hot pink color because that is what I had in my stash and it just took my fancy one night! Here's a pic of the front:

and one of the back:

I followed the directions for the small size. I like the way it turned out even though the sleeves turned out bell shaped and the picture in the mag is not. I suppose it is the difference in the yarns. The pattern called for NY Yarns Caprice. I like how mine turned out anyway and have worn it twice already! I am not a big fan of AC in the summer especially in restaurants where I cannot move around to keep warm. I always freeze when we go out to eat and at church too. Some discount stores are really cold to me too especially if they are also a grocery store! Anyway I wore this out to eat one night and to church this morning. It is just enough to keep the chill off with out being too warm! I am currently working on the Mango Mesh top but am using LB Micro Spun and the next smaller hook than the pattern calls for...we shall see how it turns out. So far my gauge is about 1/4" smaller than the pattern states but holding it up to me and comparing it to other tanks I have, I think it may be just right. I am almost done with the front and I think I am not going to do the popcorn on the back, I don't think I would like that when I lean back or sit down. I may also do more of a picot edging around the neck and sleeves. I'll decide on that for sure when I get that far!
Thanks for reading and I wish you all a happy day!

Reflections continued

2007-05-29T18:37:00.000-04:00

Well here we are in Matt's Junior year of High School. That was the most trying year of all. It's where will met will, where control was a constant every day struggle, and where we all really learned how far we could push each other! Every day I would hear how he was moving out as soon as he turned 18 and how much he hated living in our house and every one here! I know and it was true, it all stopped two days before he actually turned 18!. His birthday is in June so he was still a minor until after school let out that year. His attendance was horrible, he was constantly tardy, always spending days in In School Suspension, Detention, or Saturday School. He never did get suspended or expelled though. He wasn't a discipline or behavioral problem either from all that I heard from the teachers. The principal, however was a different story. For some reason he doesn't seem to like Matt, but he says differently. But then tell me why did I get calls from teachers and parents of Matt's friends saying, telling, and asking me why I haven't done or when am I going to, or what have I done about this man picking on Matt. Reports from these people tell me that the principal literally stands out in the parking lot after school in the area where Matt and his friends park, and if he sees any of them do the slightest thing wrong or make a mistake he writes them up the next day. One of them had to stop fast one day and a few stones flew up...that kid got detention for wreck less operation in the parking lot. Another kid took the service drive between the high school and elementary school to go pick his little brother up and got detention for that....that was a new rule that was just added that day! Little things that most people would over look, but not this man. Then there was the day that he followed Matt into a class room to see what his shirt said. They can't wear offensive shirts to school and I understand that policy and have always made my kids abide by it even though half the football team or other sports kids can get away with a lot more. I guess the principal thought Matt's shirt had a beer can on it...it didn't and I still don't understand why he thought it did. As he was examining Matt's attire he noticed that Matt had a small (dime sized) hole that the pocket of his jeans showed through, well since they are not allowed to have holes in their jeans he told Matt he would have to change. Matt was not taking PE that semester so had nothing to change into....note: shorts are OK to wear, even cut off shorts or cut off sweat pants, heck he could have even worn boxers! But skin cannot show through a hole in a pair of jeans. Makes a lot of sense doesn't it? (I just love the zero intelligence er I mean tolerance policy). But only the pocket of his pants was showing through the hole. Anyway they said they tried to call me and left a message on the answering machine. I put in writing to call my cell phone during the day as I sleep and I can't hear the home phone from the bedroom. There was no call on my cell phone, they wouldn't let Matt call my cell phone, they wouldn't let him come home to change his pants, and they never attempted to call the five other people I listed as emergency contacts on his medical forms that we have to fill out at the beginning of the year. Instead he was made to sit in the ISS room from 10AM until school let out at 2:50. Missing all of his classes and any work that they did that day. All because of a hole that showed his pocket lining. I was so fuming and had a nice go round with the principal the next day. It got me no where with the man except that he left Matt alone for the rest of the year....it was funny how Matt didn't get in trouble with the principal for the remaining two months! He got into plenty of trouble with us at home though and ended up on probation for six months because of it. It was the last two weeks of school and because of something he did here at home we grounded him from driving his truck to school for one week, but he (and this is where the control issues come in) informed us he was going to drive no matter what we said. He was told that if he drove we would call the Sheriff and report him for unlawful use of a vehicle. His truck is in hubby's name, we pay insurance, etc. Well the next morning he was still mad and decided to drive his truck. I really didn't think he would do that and so I had to carry through with our threat to call the Sheriff. That was the hardest phone call to make...I dialed and hung up three times before I actually talked to anyone. Hubby came home from work early, and we met the deputy at the school to have a talk with Matt. He just sat there and kept saying he couldn't believe I actually did that to him....never understanding that he did it to himself. The deputy was really good with him and told him that we weren't pressing charges but since he was a minor that it had to be reported and that he would have to speak to the judge and the judge would decide what would happen. The judge was really good too and saw right through Matt and told Matt exactly what he thought Matt was thinking! He was right too....so he fined Matt $90.00, put him on probation for 6 months and asked us if it was OK if Matt had driving privileges to and from work or did we want to take him. I was so tempted to say we would take him, but figured that would add fuel to the fire so we let him have driving privileges for work. The judge agreed that that would be best and then told Matt that he doesn't usually see good kids in his courts. He had checked Matt's friends out, talked to teachers and the guidance counselor, and could not believe that a kid like Matt was sitting in front of him and that he didn't expect to ever see him again. the probation officer told him the same thing, as a matter of fact because of his reputation he was completely unsupervised during his probation. He never had to report in to anyone or call the office, they did keep track of his grades and attendance when school started back up though. I don't know if I would do the same thing over again given the chance, but in hind sight I guess I am glad I did as it really let Matt know that even though he would soon be 18 he still had to follow our home rules and listen to us. Two days before his birthday he quit saying that he was moving out and then after his birthday he even told us he knew it was a stupid thing to be saying and he never planned on carrying through with it because he knew that when we said if he left he couldn't come back until he could follow the rules we meant it!

His senior year was basically the same...grades, attendance and just being plain ornery! We got a letter a week from the principal concerning one or all of these things and are saving them to display at his graduation party! We have laughed about this the whole year. He was on the not graduating list for a week until he got his English grade up to passing and that added some pressure, but he made it. The last two weeks of school he got suspended for three days for having a Bic lighter in his pocket. But it all started because someone said they saw him talking on his cell phone. He got called into the office and asked to empty his pockets...no cell phone but he did have a lighter which is an automatic 3 day suspension. When I talked to the principal I asked what this would do to his graduation status since our letter of the week stated that he couldn't miss any more days. He told me that he would make an exception and that Matt would graduate! Now this really gets my gourd because the three years I have had to deal with this man he would never ever consider making any kind of exception for anything! But now he does...maybe since I asked him if he really wanted Matt back for another year changed his mind! Matt also spent the last two days of his high school career in ISS for being tardy. This turned out to be a good thing as then he couldn't get blamed for the many senior pranks that were being played out!
Graduation was Sunday and it went very well. I think every kid that crossed the stage to get their diploma got cheered! The principal didn't like this as it makes the ceremony last longer, but it was so entertaining and I can really understand now when I used to hear the teachers say that they couldn't wait until this class moved on to the next year! All of the kids in that class were just plain ornery! But at least they all kept their clothes on!
That's it for now....so on to the graduation parties!
I wish you all a happy day!

Reflections of a Senior Year, by a Mother of a Senior

2007-05-26T08:27:00.000-04:00

And what a year it has been! Actually it has been four years of my sons high school career that has been filled with fun (for him), frustrations (for us), laughter, tears, sweat, bad grades, good grades, and weekly letters from the principal. Who ever could have guessed that this little angel:

Would end up looking like this!:

The mo-hawk is something that he has always wanted to do and I would never pay to have it done. I'm just old fashioned and I don't like them, plain and simple. I don't care how nice of a person you are a mo-hawk makes you look like a rebel (that's my opinion and I'm sticking with it!) This kid knows how to push buttons though and is another reason he did it. He wanted to do something outrageous for graduation and if this is all he came up with then I am counting my blessings! I just hope this is all he is doing! Graduation is Sunday (tomorrow) so we will find out then. You better believe I will be checking to make sure he is wearing clothes under that gown before we leave the house and before he makes the walk! Yes, he has already hinted that he may not be wearing pants. But I digress, I'm sure you are all waiting with baited breath for more history of my amazing son and his never ending ability to constantly entertain, amaze, and basically keep us guessing as to what he could possibly do next!
I think I will start out with his confirmation into our church. Our church confirms kids as they are about to leave 8th grade before entering High School. Each child goes through 5 years of catechism beginning in the third grade with the hopes that they will learn and digest the way of the Lord and know what their responsibilities are not only to the church but to themselves and others. No child is confirmed unless the pastor is certain that they know what they are doing. Two days before confirmation, Matt was in his room doing what ever he was supposed to be doing or so I thought....all of a sudden I hear this blood curdling scream followed by another from my daughter! Actually I figured they were fighting and he did something to her, but no sooner had I thought this then she comes running down the stairs screaming that Matt stabbed himself! What?! What do you mean? Is he all right? Oh my God How? I'm saying, thinking, screaming as I run up the stairs. OMG....yes there is blood running down his leg...how did this happen...what were you doing....omg get down stairs. I don't remember getting him down stairs, I just remember grabbing towels, applying pressure, shoving him in the car with hubby dad and watching them race to the nearest hospital. With me to follow soon. Daughter was crying and freaking out as I was trying to get out of her exactly what happened. You cannot believe what my thoughts were and neither could I, but I had to ask the unaskable and that was did you stab your brother?! Oh how I didn't want to ask that as no one thinks one of their children could ever do that to a sibling, worse yet was I didn't want to hear the answer if it was yes. Fortunately, the answer was no and then how could you even think I would do something like that? (never mind the fact that these two were at the time at the age where all I heard was how much they hated each other one minute and were best friends the next!) Well it turns out that the oldest son had placed a kind of flip knife on his dresser and Matt picked it up to look at it, instead of putting it back on the dresser he tossed it on his bed to look at later. Well the lock was broken on it and it flipped open, unbeknown-st to Matt because he was a thirteen year old scatter brain! A few minutes later he decides to jump belly first onto the bed...you guessed it the knife went right into his thigh, two inches! Just missing that wonderful femoral artery(I think that's what it's called.....the one that you can bleed out and die in just a couple of minutes). He ended up with a drain tube in for 24 hours and a couple of stitches and hobbling around on crutches for a week. He did make it through confirmation, here's a picture of him being confirmed by the pastor. Does this answer the question of God's protection?

Now on to high school. His freshman year was pretty uneventful except for a few bouts with bad grades which he was always able to bring up at the last second. He has always scored high on proficiency tests, and the Ohio Graduation Tests so we really didn't worry too much, we knew he was capable and learning. We also knew that Matt was going to be the one child that tested us as parents too. We live in a farming community, the high school is literally surrounded by corn fields in the country between two or three little towns with populations of about 500. So we are talking about a school filled with kids who farm, most are avid hunters (the school excuses them all on the first day of deer season if they bring in their hunting license), and most of them are avid fisher men too. Before any of them can get a hunting license they have to take a hunters course and pass it, this is state law here. It's nice that they all know gun safety and most are very responsible. We really have never had any problems in this area. Anyway no related story here just thought some back ground information would be interesting! LOL
Sophomore year for him wasn't too bad either, except that we got a new principal and a few problems arose. He seemed to single Matt out for different things but was never able to prove that he was involved in anything he accused Matt of and even told Matt once that he would find a way to prove that he was involved. I can't even remember exactly what he thought Matt did, but Matt was only questioned because he sat next to the kid in a class. Matt said he wasn't friends with the kid and really didn't like the kid because he was always getting into trouble anyway and he just basically steered away from those types. All of Matt's friends are farmers and this kid was not. That didn't stop the principal though and he started finding things wrong with the way Matt dressed, still couldn't get him on anything but he sure tried! This only made Matt dislike the man more and more. By the end of the year Matt hated this man and one of his teachers (who goes to church with us) told me to watch and be on top of things because this principal seemed to have Matt targeted along with a few others.
Junior year and all hell breaks loose! TO BE CONTINUED (hopefully tomorrow) I gotta get some stuff done and this is taking on a life of its own! Stay tuned for more fun and adventures!
Wishing you all a happy day!

My Mother of the Bride dress

2007-05-25T13:21:00.000-04:00

Drum roll please.......LOL...... Yes it is done! All I need to do is wash and block it and that shouldn't take too long, but I am going to wait until after my sons graduation party in June when I will be a little more relaxed and have room to do it! I took these pictures and my youngest daughter is modeling it. I was going to but then she said I probably wouldn't like the pictures she took so she offered to model it. We are basically the same size except her boobs are a little bigger than mine and she is more shapely too...but heck I'm almost 49 and she's 17!
Here's the front:

The back:

And here are some close ups of different sections so you all can see the beads I put in too. I only put a few beads in starting just below the hips down to the bottom of the dress:

As I was trying to find just the right pattern to make my dress, I was reading some old posts at the 'ville and ran across a very similar dress made by someone who also did her own version of a Lily Chin dress
and I just loved it! I had remembered the dress but really didn't like it for me until I saw this girls on the ville and then decided if she could do it, so could I! The bodice was just ideas of what I found and liked in different patterns. I have always liked a shell stitch so I knew that was the stitch I was going to use and then I basically just followed instructions from Josi Hannon Madera for the fitted tank. I took lots of my measurements so I knew exactly when to increase and decrease and it just worked out wonderful! Now if I gain a few pounds between now and July, and manage to get the dress on....I may need scissors to get it off again! I am very small busted so I didn't need to worry about darts or anything like that which is good because I wouldn't know a dart if it bit me in the tush! (well I guess I would know what kind of dart that was!) My best guesstimation of how long it took me to do this is six weeks. I crocheted on it every day for between 1 and 3 hours, except for just a few days when either time or schedules wouldn't allow. If I had to drive anywhere I of course couldn't work on it, but if we went somewhere and the Hubster drove I was crocheting! And at Mother's Day I took a couple of days to make my Mom the socks just because I needed a break from the dress. I was so close to finishing and found myself hurrying and really messing up so I put it down for a day or so and made the socks and the hot pad.
I used Red Heart Luster Sheen and a "D" hook. It only took 4 skeins with a little left over in the 4th. I have enough of the LS left to make a matching shawl. I am using the pattern from the Go for Baroque sweater from the Happy Hooker to make a little rectangular shawl. I will probably only wear the shawl in church since it is air conditioned and usually I get really chilled in church and just need something for my bare arms. And one of my Pals over at Cal Pals suggested making matching jewelry with the left over beads...hmmm good idea and I just may try to tackle that, time permitting.
I am relieved to have this done, now I can concentrate on my sons graduation party and getting the rest of the things done for the wedding that I need to do! All of the silk flowers are bought and I just have to put them together! She has picked out very easy to do bouquets and very summery looking too! It will be good to be able to work on them without having anything else hanging over my head...but wait...there are still other things that need done too...oh well...one thing at a time right?! After all I have a little over 30 days to get it all done! Wish me luck everyone! I really do love working under pressure! It's when I do my best!
Wishing you all happy days ahead!

Socks

2007-05-22T18:49:00.000-04:00

Here are a couple of pictures of the socks I made for my Mom for Mother's Day. Of course our schedules haven't meshed so she doesn't have them yet, but hopefully this weekend I can get them to her. I think and hope she will like them!

Next is a close up of the cuff and then the heel:

I used socketta sock yarn and the pattern is from the Crochet Me site, Toe up socks. I can't wait to be able to make some for me! I have some sock yarn with Chitin in it and it is oh so soft! I may try the other socks from Crochet me for those...just haven't decided, but I do like more of a cuff on my socks.
Here is a picture of an origami hot pad I made too. I really needed a diversion from the dress I am making and almost finished with and this was quick and easy!

Busy Busy

2007-05-21T21:50:00.000-04:00

Here's a quick update to what I have been doing. Got the shower invites for dd#1's bridal shower all filled out and ready to mail, got ds#2's grad announcements made, printed, and almost ready to mail. Got three more rounds on my dress for the wedding to do and the edging around the top and it will be done! Made a pair of socks for my Mom for Mother's Day, and a hot pad. Pictures to follow as soon as I get some spare time. But here is a pic of the graduation announcement. If I have time to get a better pic I will edit this and replace it, but this is all I could do tonight! Now I have to get ready to go to work and my house is a mess! Flowers to do for two weddings are all over my kitchen table and I have to get a room cleaned out so I have a place to put them and then to do them! Any way here's the graduation announcement. Hopefully I'll get back here soon to update more!

Behind once again

2007-04-22T22:56:00.000-04:00

I guess this is going to be the norm for me! Not updating for long periods of time! I've been too busy with life in general and it isn't going to change for the rest of the summer either! I have so much to do for ds#2's graduation and then the wedding in July and getting on the hubster about getting the house started. I will be lucky to get on here once a month I think! I will try, but it will be hard. Right now I really need to go to work before I'm late! I'm making progress on my dress for the wedding, maybe I'll get pics posted soon. I haven't even had time to read any of the blogs I usually read either....so sorry ladies! At least the weather here has been beautiful the past couple of days, it is supposed to cool down a little but only down into the 50's and 60's...after that cold spell from February till Easter it will still seem warm! The kids have prom this weekend too..so we will have lots of last minute things to do for that too, I'm sure! I've tried to get everyone prepared but I know my kids and I know they will want something at the last minute! This is sons senior year and the first prom he has wanted to go to. DD is going to another schools prom on the same night so we probably won't be able to make it to both to see them all walk in. I told her sorry but since this is her brother's first and last prom that we would have to go see him, unless the times are different enough that we could make it to both, but I don't see that happening.
I wish you all a happy day!

OK...just one more fun thing!

2007-03-17T16:23:00.000-04:00

Another blog thing! LOL This was fun to see the results! Try it...you will like it!

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion:

You have medium extroversion.
You're not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party.
Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences.
But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your "down time."

Conscientiousness:

You have high conscientiousness.
Intelligent and reliable, you tend to succeed in life.
Most things in your life are organized and planned well.
But you borderline on being a total perfectionist.

Agreeableness:

You have medium agreeableness.
You're generally a friendly and trusting person.
But you also have a healthy dose of cynicism.
You get along well with others, as long as they play fair.

Neuroticism:

You have low neuroticism.
You are very emotionally stable and mentally together.
Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly.
Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure.

Openness to experience:

Your openness to new experiences is medium.
You are generally broad minded when it come to new things.
But if something crosses a moral line, there's no way you'll approve of it.
You are suspicious of anything too wacky, though you do still consider creativity a virtue.

The Five Factor Personality Test

More for fun

2007-03-17T16:12:00.000-04:00

I just saw this on Lucy's Blog
Who is your celebrity boob twin! Here's mine!

Your Celebrity Boob Twin:

Kate Moss

Who's Your Celebrity Boob Twin?

LOL I wish she was my celebrity look a like! but you know what they say...if wishes were horses...beggars would ride!

More for Saturday

2007-03-17T15:57:00.000-04:00

I'm taking a small break from cleaning my house! DD#2 and her friend have helped me get started. They did all the dusting and general picking up so I can concentrate on the deep cleaning! Got all the ceilings and walls in the kitchen and living room swept down, ceiling fans cleaned, and now I am working on everything in between! I think I will be able to get the kitchen and living room done completely today including the floors, bath and dressing room will have to wait until tomorrow! The girls got all of my stash set in the middle of the living room floor by my instruction so that now I HAVE to get it reorganized! That will be the last thing I do before mopping the floors! It is going to look and smell so good in here...finally! It's just been too long of a winter, and this is my way of welcoming spring! Hopefully Mother Nature will agree and bring us warmer temps. now!
The girls had good incentive though to help me.....they wanted to go to the rodeo tonight....so I said under one condition! They agreed right away and didn't complain about a thing...bless their hearts! They really worked hard and did some extra things for me too!
After I get done, I am going to make up some pizza from a kit I bought from a fund raiser, do dishes, then sit down and crochet! I am working on a hat and some booties to match the little sun suit I did earlier. Then I really want to sit down and work on a dress for dd#1's wedding....I have something in mind and hope I can work it out with out a pattern! LOL We shall see! I used to do this with some things years ago, but now I don't know if I have the patience anymore! Just send me good wishes if you can!
That's it for now....back to cleaning!
I wish you all a happy day!

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

2007-03-17T00:55:00.000-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! And it is Saturday, too! All of you that are going out to drink that green beer...make sure you have a DD to get you home safe and sound! No work for me this weekend, the next paycheck will stink, but it is nice to have a weekend off too. DD#1 and I went to get the fabric for her wedding dress tonight. We saved so much money at Jo Ann's using three 50% coupons....it is unbelievable. DD#2 went along too so that we had someone else to use the third coupon. #1 is making her own dress and is so excited! To top it all off I was able to pay for everything tonight! She had some money put back and I didn't tell her I had enough (from working overtime) to pay for everything until we checked out. They are really trying to pay for this wedding all on their own (bless their hearts) so anything anyone offers to pay for is so much appreciated by them both. Fiance is so excited too. This will be his second wedding, but the first he says he had no say in any planning and is so happy when #1 asks him to participate in the decision making. I wish everyone could feel the love that just came out of that girl when I paid for everything.....she didn't have to say a word either....I just felt it coming straight from her heart. She is going to be (well she is already, naturally) the most beautiful woman on her wedding day! sniff sniff
OK enough sentimentality for now!
Here is a picture of what I wore to work last night in celebration of St. Patrick's Day.

The hat is the Yee Haw Lady from HH. I just added a few things to make it more festive for the day! DS#2 has claimed it to wear to a party tonight, too. It got rave reviews at work last night, several young people asking to wear it for awhile and some people coming early to where I work just to see it! It was fun! I'm thinking of doing some Bunny ears for Easter now, but not sure if I will have time with the other projects I have planned. It would be fun to make them for the other people that I work next to, but that would mean making anywhere from 4 to 6 pairs. Ummm....nope don't think so!
That is all for now....I wish you all a Happy Day!

Baby shower gifts complete

2007-03-15T20:27:00.000-04:00

It's been about a week since I've had the time to get here, but here I finally am! I got the shower gifts done. Now all is left is washing and wrapping! Here are a few pics of them. I am so happy with the way they turned out! I still may make some booties and a hat, but I'm kinda babied out right now. I keep telling my self that booties and a hat won't take long at all! Here are the pics...pretty self explanatory.

that is all of them together, here are a couple of close ups of the sun suit and onesie. First is the onesie and then the back of the sun suit, close up of the front of the sun suit and then the front of the sun suit.

The pictures don't do the onesie justice..it is so much prettier than the picture lets on!
The shower is the 31st of this month which gives me time to make the booties and hat if I feel like it!
I really need to get going on things for the wedding, but have to get the thread or what ever I decide to use bought! I think I will have to buy something on line, as I just haven't seen what I really want in the stores around here! I don't have many choices though, just discount stores so I can't complain! We're going Friday or Saturday to get the fabric for dd#1's wedding dress, so maybe Joann's will have something to look at! DD says it is a big new store, can't wait to get there and scope out the yarn department!

What's wrong?

2007-03-06T22:24:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it has been over a week since I last updated! I was doing so good there for awhile too! I must do better though. I did finish the baby onesie for my sister. No pics yet, just have some finishing to do yet. gotta find some buttons and some small appliques for the front. Now I am working on a hooded towel and wash cloth. If I have time I would still like to do a dress, but we shall see. Three weeks until the shower....I think I can...I think I can! Then it will be on to the wedding crocheting! DD#1 still has to decide what she wants on her dress and how she wants it. We were talking about that last night and still haven't completely decided. We were talking about a train kind of thing that would double as a shawl or wrap after the wedding, now we just have to get the schematics worked out. If I can I would like to crochet my dress for the wedding too. I am giving myself a deadline of June 1st to have it done, otherwise I will go and buy one. I don't want that pressure for the last month leading up to the wedding! I want to be sure to get her things done first too. I love the butterfly shawl that Noreen Crone Findlay (I hope I got her name right) did for her daughter! It is so beautiful...I will see if I can find the link for that and post it here later.

We just got home from DD#1's house where we celebrated her soon to be step son's 2nd birthday. He is so cute and loved all his presents! I swear I have never seen kids that are such neat eaters! Especially at two years old! We had fun and from the looks and sounds of things when we left so did the kids!

Well that is it for now, I gotta get to work....and I'll try to be a better blogger too!
I wish you all a happy day!

Feeling Felted!

2007-02-25T21:43:00.000-05:00

Here it is in all its glory!

and the sides:

The lighting was not very good and neither is my old camera! I should learn to use my dd's, but its batteries always seem to be low when I want to use it!
Anyway...I am very happy with the way this turned out. I am going to do a little trimming to make the hearts look more like hearts and the flowers to add more definition to the petals. Other than that I think I am very satisfied with the finished product. Now on to some onesies and bath accessories! Thanks for looking everyone!

Diaper Bag is FINISHED

2007-02-25T14:34:00.000-05:00

Well except for the final step of felting and I am doing that now, unless hubby is putting something else in the washer! LOL...nope beat him to it! Now the anxiety sets in! Hoping it all turns out well! I don't know if it was a mistake sewing all the embellishments on before felting them. I guess I will soon find out. Measurements before felting are approximately 15x15. Here are a few pics of the finshed bag before I threw it in the washer: These are the sides folded over the front (or the back, it really doesn't matter!)and the front and back:

Now I just wait and felt and maybe felt some more and some more! I will be back later with an up date!

Kitchen Messes

2007-02-24T07:56:00.000-05:00

Walking into my house last night at around 8:30 after being gone all day, with no sleep after work was a night mare! I can't even see my kitchen table this morning! I got off work yesterday morning, went to the bank, filled my gas tank, got home and DD#2 got in the car and we headed off to get her stitches out of her arm at the Dr.'s in Fort Wayne. We arrived there 5 minutes before her appointed schedule. Got done, went to Hobby Lobby which was very disappointing yarn wise for me, but I did get a few things I needed. We then headed back home stopping at McD's drive through for a take home lunch. Got home at 12:30, made two cheesecakes for a bake sale at 4. I laid down for a short 1 hour nap, got up got ready for the bake sale, loaded all the bake sale items that everyone had dropped off at my house the day before into my car, drove to the sale, unloaded, worked the bake sale for 4 hours, came home to a mess! I was so tired from only having an hour nap that as soon as I laid down I was out for the night! When I got up this morning, I just wanted to go back to bed and hoped I was having a night mare! NOT! Now, it's time to clean up after everyone....they are all lucky that they are gone for the day! DD#1 called and wants me to come and look at some wedding things, but I have to much to do this after noon to do that and I know it will disappoint her. I have obligations to fulfill this afternoon that I can't get out of though. With the weekend being so busy I won't be able to get any crocheting done either until probably late tonight and a little tomorrow. I NEED to crochet! LOL I'll take my traveling bag with me today and maybe get a few stitches done to feed my habit! The diaper bag is almost done, just have the embellishments to do and sew on before I felt it! I am just so excited to get this done and felted! I hope it turns out well and looks like what I have imagined in my head! Well, I gotta go if I am going to get everything done!
I wish you all a happy day!

Frozen Fog

2007-02-21T19:20:00.000-05:00

I walked out to frozen fog after work this morning! I love frozen fog because it is so pretty on the trees and and things! Bad to drive in, makes the roads very slick, and it is very hard to see when the fog is heavy! When I drove to work last night it was hard to see, hard to see driving home, and it is still foggy now! I think it is even thicker than last night! It is supposed to start getting windy tonight and blow it all away! I took a few pics around the yard when I got home this morning and thought I would share with you all! This first picture is of the frozen fog on some cedar tree branches

this next one is of my red bud tree branches

these next two just turned out pretty to me! Hope you enjoy!

I wish you all a happy day!

Progress

2007-02-20T17:32:00.000-05:00

I finally got some progress pics of my felted diaper bag! I am using Lion Brand Wool in a hot pink for the front and back of the bag, royal blue for the gusset, brown to attach the gusset to the front and back, maybe purple for the handles but I'm not sure if I will have enough. I think I will do some outside pockets with the yellow, and then some flowers or balloons or both from the rest of the colors, red, yellow, blue, cream, green, and what ever I have left in the purple. I am not a good picture taker, so I hope you all can figure out what you are looking at!

I only have the gusset part of the way attached to the front, the back of the bag is in the right corner just waiting its turn! I wish I had some orange and maybe I'll get some when I take DD#2 to her Dr's appointment on Friday. There is a Michael's and a Hobby Lobby close to his office. The shower is March 31, got the fellowship hall of her Church rented for this and the cake ordered, now it's up to the other sisters to do the rest! YAY...my part is done! I'm sure I will help with every thing else though. I would love to start some onesies or something, but am holding off till I get this bag about done. I don't have too much more to go on it. Not sure about a closure for it, maybe just leave it as an open bag? I don't know....any suggestions!
DD#1 is still having trouble finding a hall for the wedding and is seriously thinking of changing it to two weeks later. Yay for me, boo for her. Apparently she isn't the only one who liked the 7-7-7 wedding date. We have at least two more places in a neighboring town to check out, so say some prayers for her that at least one of them will be available.
Tonight I am making escalloped potatoes and smoked sausage for supper. Maybe I will have some left to take to work, who knows! DD#2 and DS#2 are 16 and 18 and if they don't like what we are having for supper, they fend for themselves. Sunday (I think) I made meat loaf, mashed potatoes, and corn. A big meat loaf so I would have some to take to work with me. Well, both kids were gone and I figured they would be gone for the rest of the evening since they didn't have school on Monday. Guess who walked in the door just as supper was ready? Yep...both of them, DS with a friend, and DD with her boyfriend. Guess how many I had for supper? Yep...all of them! Guess how much I had left? Yep....NONE! As soon as they all walked in they all said...yay...your meat loaf is the best can I eat? Now how do you tell a kid, no matter what age that they can't eat! Especially when all the friends know that my cupboards are always open to them?! I think they all had their radars on for meat loaf and smelled it as I was making it! Tonight just may be the same way, no friends yet, but it wouldn't surprise if someone walks in and asks what's for supper!
Well I am going to try to get this gusset attached before supper is ready!
I wish you all a happy day!

Monday, Monday

2007-02-19T20:52:00.000-05:00

so good to me Monday Mornin', it was all I hoped it would be. LOL I just always think of this song on Monday mornings! I don't know why, but I do. That doesn't date me does it?
I almost have the gusset done for the diaper bag I'm working on for my sister. If I'm not too tired in the morning I will take some pics and show my progress.
Well, the question I was waiting for from DD#1 came today! She is having trouble finding a place to have her wedding reception for July 7,'07. I knew we would, and we are almost out of options. We have a couple more places to check. She asked me if all else fails, can we have it in our backyard? I don't know how we would do that if we are in the middle of building a new house and where would everyone park? I would love to be able to do that, but not this year...how about next year? Ha Ha...that wasn't received well. We'll work something out, I'm sure hubby is working it over in his head right now....he said we could handle it. Stay tuned for more adventures and mayhem!
Weather here is going to be wonderful the next week or so! Highs in the upper 30's...it will be so nice! This old house is so cold that I won't clean if I have to have an extra heater in a room just to clean...so....it has been two weeks since I did the bathroom! YUCK! But it is all nice and sanitary and clean once again! I told everyone not to take a shower though because then it won't look as nice as it does now! That didn't go over well either...sheez...no one in this family has a sense of humor!
Well I'm off to crochet more of the gusset
I wish you all a happy day!

Sunday Sunshine!

2007-02-18T16:45:00.001-05:00

Still haven't crocheted at all....what a bummer, my days just don't feel right if I don't get to crochet!
I just got up and have to get something fixed for supper, put laundry away, and then sit down to crochet before going to work. I am hoping for an easy night tonight, the weekend was not easy! I worked the same job Saturday and Sunday which really was an easy job, but the people I worked with were not! Saturday wasn't too bad, the girl I worked with complains constantly about everything and I can usually handle her and her bitching and it's easy for me to tell her that's enough and she doesn't get mad, we worked that out about two years ago after working together for a year. One night it was all I could take of her constant complaining, so we sat down and had a good ole heart to heart and we agreed that whenever the other was getting on our nerves we would tell them and NO ONE would get mad. Of course we have ground rules...we can't attack each other personally and we will NOT have gossiping to others about what goes on at our jobs! Now this has worked for two years and we are still good friends. But last night I worked with a man who is just plain lazy and mean and inconsiderate! If I hadn't been making double pay, I would have seriously considered going home! Since I had done the job the night before I knew I wouldn't have any trouble. He had never done the job before and wouldn't listen to the people from the previous shift explain it to him, finally I told the girls not to worry because I knew the job. The one girl took me off to the side and gave me her condolences for having to work with that guy! LOL I told her I had a run in with him last year on my regular press that I run and that I could handle it. Last night he decided he wanted to work the press part of the job, which was fine with me as I thought that part of the job was harder! LOL and boy did he find out it was! He didn't hesitate to let me know that he thought I had the easier part, so I stepped up to the press and said that's OK I'll do this and you do all the walking, make labels, tear off foam, pack parts, push totes and do the paper work. (I told you he was lazy, and he hates walking...would rather stand in one place all night) He said Oh, no I was just kidding! Then, he started having trouble putting little clips on the parts (trust me, this is a no brain-er), but instead of trying to figure out what he was doing wrong or letting me help, he decides to just whack the crap out of the part with his hammer! Well the whole clip tower (about an inch high) with a metal clip on it flies through the air and hits me! Not once, not twice, but three times. Granted I wasn't hurt, but not once did he ask if it hit me, or apologize, instead he just kept doing it! Finally after the third clip hit me in the forehead, I looked at him (he was laughing) and told him if I got hit with one more clip that I would be going to the supervisor. He just blew up at me, cussing and yelling! I just put my hand up told him to stop right there, that he knew what he was doing, could control his temper, and if he felt the need to hit the clips off that he should hit them away from me! I also added that if I was doing that to him, he wouldn't like it either. Funniest thing happened after that, not once did he have any more trouble putting the clips on....not once! He did tell me that I should stop doing work that the person who gives us our breaks should be doing. And I could get in trouble with the union for doing it, but I know he doesn't have the balls to report me either! I don't mind helping the break person when they need it as it is always appreciated by her and then she does a better job for us in the long run. I told him that and he stopped talking to me all together! PTL and pass the ammunition! The rest of the night (three hours) went a lot smoother! But boy was I glad to get home! Tonight I should be on my regular job with people who are considerate of each other and help each other out! Well if you have read this entire post...sorry! I just needed to vent a little today!
I am off to make a meatloaf now....yum yum!
I wish you all a happy day!

Saturday

2007-02-17T09:40:00.000-05:00

Not much to post about today or update. I haven't done much for the crochet world this week. I want to get a progress pic of the diaper bag posted, but I haven't taken one yet! I just got home from work and have to work tonight too, but I am not complaining! We can sure use the money and I know who can't, right? I hope the rumors are true that we will be working every weekend for awhile, but as rumors go there isn't much of a chance! I don't believe any thing I hear at work until I see it!
We are supposed to get up to 4 inches of snow today and then next week it is supposed to start warming up. I sure hope so, I am so tired of this cold and being cold! Well this is short and sweet today, well short anyway. More later, maybe!
I wish you all a happy day!

Feeling satisfied!

2007-02-15T09:16:00.000-05:00

I got half of my sisters diaper bag done last night, but no pics yet. I am finally feeling satisfied with what I have in my head for this thing. I'm not using a pattern so I really don't know how it is going to turn out! I am using LB wool and will felt it when I get it done. I want to put a few pockets on it, and some flowers or balloons or both too! It is going to be pretty colorful I hope! It is not going to be a big bag either, rather a small one for quick trips and such. I remember when my kids were little, there was no such thing as a small diaper bag until my fourth one was born! I really liked having something small for quick trips to the store or short visits. Then I still want to get a personalized baby afghan done for her too. And a little dress or layette. Hope I can get it all done by the end of March when we are having her shower.
The #1 daughter is beginning to plan her wedding for July 7th of this year! She called last night and told me to go the simplicity site to see the dress she is making for herself! It is going to be very pretty, simple and very elegant. She is so excited as well she should be! She really sounds happy and her fiance is a super guy too. He has two small children (5 and almost 2) that he has custody of. They love Mary and she loves them. The oldest when told about the engagement and wedding told them that is what she has always wished for! LOL I guess a year is a long time in the life of a little one!
Tonight I have lots of phone calls to make before Survivor starts and have to get something baked to take to work for our snack night too! DD #2 has PT at 3:15 and hubby said he would be home in time to pick her up at school and take her.....that will help out so much....I will be able to get a little more sleep that way. #2 son is having problems with his truck and had to leave it at his place of work last night, now he wants to drive my car to school, that was an easy NO! He promised to be home on time and bring his sister home so she could make her appointment, but too many times I've heard that! He isn't very happy with me right now, but that isn't new either! But (and I quote) He's 18 and is in control!
Well it's time for me to get some much needed sleep!
I wish everyone a happy day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2007-02-14T14:33:00.000-05:00

Look what I woke up to this morning! My sweet Hubby did this for me and then a plate for my daughter too! They are pancakes cut into shapes of hearts! We've been married 24 years and this is the first time he has done anything besides a card for me! LOL We agreed a long time ago that we wouldn't do special gifts or plans for VD, so this really was a surprise! Neither of us had to work because of the weather so this is also the first VD we have ever been able to spend together! I worked in a flower shop most of my life so VD was always spent there!

I wish you all a happy day!

Blizzard Update

2007-02-14T14:15:00.000-05:00

Well, well, I don't think we got hit as hard as was expected. It was treacherous driving and hard to see because of the wind, but we didn't get the amount of snow called for. I still took after pictures for you all to see, although I don't think there is a lot of difference. Aw well...it was fun while it lasted!
First is looking West and then looking east. Actually, I think the roads look better today!

Next is the trees, the school house, and the barn.

And just for kicks (and I wanted a picture of the house anyway).....are pictures of our house (can't wait to build!) and Chuck's tractor in a snow drift.

Looks like I will be going to work tonight, which is fine as they are denying everyone a vacation day for yesterday which means a 4 day pay check.
I also got a nice big pot of Chili made for supper and it is simmering on the stove now. I was going to make a meat loaf, but when I mentioned chili, hubby said that sounded good and after the wonderfully romantic breakfast he surprised me with, I couldn't say no!
I wish everyone a happy day!

Blizzard '07

2007-02-13T11:22:00.000-05:00

Our winter storm warning turned into a blizzard warning this morning so I thought I would take a few pics of how it looks outside now and hopefully take pics tomorrow morning to see the difference. This first picture is of our road looking to the East.

Not too bad and that is basically what the roads were like coming home from work this morning around 9 AM. These pictures were taken about 11 AM. The next one is the same only looking west this time.

That's a little worse going that direction. You can actually see the snow blowing and starting to drift in that pic!
Here's a picture of the old school house slated for demolition this spring to make room for our new house.

And next are two pictures of the trees lining our driveway. I took these from the driveway.

This last picture I took standing in our back porch. Please disregard all the crap laying around! The small barn you see on the left right under the tree is where my dd's goats live.

I wonder what the difference will be tomorrow morning!? We are supposed to get between 10 and 15 inches of snow by tomorrow morning.
Now I don't think I've posted the picture of my heart shaped basket I made at CalPals in the valentine mystery along! Well here it is! This was so easy and fun to make, I literally didn't know what it was going to be until the last set of directions were posted! Bought some chocolate kisses to put in it too! Here it is shortly after I finished crocheting it:

and here it is filled!

Well that's it for now. I wish everyone a happy day!

Snowy Monday

2007-02-12T09:12:00.000-05:00

Good morning all! We are supposed to get an inch of snow today and 10 or more inches by Wednesday with blowing and drifting possible! It would be a shame if I couldn't make it into work and have to stay home and crochet! LOL.
We had a good weekend. For Christmas, DH bought the two oldest and their dates and us tickets to go see a "Bob and Tom" comedy show. They are DH's favorite radio show personalities, every day they have "guests" show up and the guests were the ones doing the comedy show. The son is also a fan. It was funny and the seats were pretty good. It made hubby happy to take us all out too. I would have much preferred to spend the evening in a yarn store though! LOL
Our oldest daughter called last night and told us bf proposed to her! Of course she said yes. Just a few minutes ago she called and said in order for our youngest son to be in the wedding they are planning it for this July! Son #2 is going into the Marines July 23rd...so that means an early July wedding! Son # 2 is also graduating from high school in May! And we are going to build a new house this summer too! My head is just spinning now! This is not what I always had pictured for the wedding of my first born! I hope some of their plans change...she wants to have some of our friends roast a hog and me and friends do the rest of the food to save money. Plus I will be doing the flowers, and she wants some crocheted embellishments on her dress. These are all just tentative plans...if it is meant to be it will! Oh and I can't forget she wants crocheted doilies as table decorations too. Oh my my.................I think I need to go take a sleeping pill or I won't be able to sleep at all today! Stay tuned for more wedding news and mayhem!
I really got on here to update my crocheting! So here is a picture of the Pastel Pineapple baby afghan I did for my sister. We are having her baby shower in March, she is due in April and it is a girl! This isn't a very good picture, the color didn't turn out well, but it is the best I can do with the lighting today!

( clickable )

WIPS

2007-02-07T20:21:00.000-05:00

It is so cold here and I am so ready for spring to get here and warm weather! When it ever gets to 30 or above it will be a heat wave here! LOL I did get the Pastel Pineapple Baby ghan done this week and will post pics later. Now I am trying to do some sort of felted diaper bag, no pattern just doing it with what ever is in my head! Only God knows how it will turn out and he ain't telling yet! I am also working on two sock monkeys for a friend at work, a quilt ghan for the same friend as soon as she gets the yarn and decides on colors. Hopefully I will get all of my baby yarn organized, for some reason it has all ended up in two or three different totes and I want to know what I have so I can finish planning what to make for my little sis who is due in April. Plans are underway for the families shower for her and I am getting excited! I also have to start a doily for the doily cal at CalPals...good intentions gone awry here...it just keeps getting pushed back for other projects..ACK..I hate that!
Well that is my update for today! More later!

Feeling pic(ky)?

2007-01-30T18:39:00.000-05:00

Hey hey hey! Well I'm not really feeling like updating but I did get a few pics uploaded so I guess I better get them on here!
First is a few pics of my felted bag I did for a cal at CalPals. I used LB wool and I think an I or J hook. I forgot to take measurements before and haven't done it for the after yet, but it shrank a lot! LOL I really didn't like it until after it was felted either, but now can't wait till it drys completely and I can get grommets and a strap for it! Here's the before:

and here's the after:

Next is something I knitted from a link I found at Fiber Freaks. It is called "calorimetry". I am not happy with my knitting yet and don't know if I ever will be! I just need practice but I would rather crochet since that is what I know! I think I am too old to want to learn another craft! I will just stick with knitting socks, slippers, and dish cloths I think! My dd is modeling (with out make-up...Oh Mom how could you!) She wanted to go out and buy some ear warmers but when I showed her this she liked it and wanted it. I got the 'ol brain going on doing this in crochet too, but here's the link to the knitted one: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTcalorimetry.html

Next is my finished crocheted quilt ghan! YAY Me! Actually this didn't take long to get done at all....less than a month if I would've stayed with it, but it got put on a back burner last year and I just now got it out and completed it a couple of weeks ago. When I picked it back up it was about 1/3 of the way done and it took me about two weeks to get the rest of it done. I really like it and can't wait to put it on the end of a bed or over a chair in my new house!

I made this little monkey hat for my nephews girl friends son. He is about two and has the cutest little blonde curls! I still haven't sent it out...got to do that so he can wear it this winter yet! I made him a sock monkey for Christmas and this to go along with it!

Well that's it for now. I have some pics of my kids I want to post someday..but not tonight! LOL Thanks for looking everyone, hope you enjoy!

Monday Morning

2007-01-29T09:04:00.000-05:00

It is so cold here this morning, only about 9 degrees! I can't wait to get to bed and get nice and toasty warm, but thought I would come here first and at least post a little something! I need to get links to blogs I read in my side bar. I had some there before I changed the design, but lost them and can't remember how to do it! I'll figure it out though. I will try to get photo updates of my projects up tonight or tomorrow morning, just too tired to do it right now. I need to bake a birthday cake for someone at work tonight too, maybe I can talk the daughter into baking after school! Either do dishes or bake a cake, now what would you choose?! LOL

So it's been a month!

2007-01-28T19:48:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it has been a month since I updated! So sorry, but I don't think many read this anyway since I am a baaaad blogger. All I can do is try harder I guess! I really have to try to just come here once a day and post something!

I do have a few pictures of things I've completed and am working on so try to stay tuned for that! Let's see...I have done a monkey hat, finished my crocheted quilt, knitted one sock, knitted a thing called a calorimetry (why I don't know), it's ear warmers and I am working on a crochet version of that, I've crocheted and felted a purse which is drying as we speak (I will need to get a strap for it before it's done), and I am working on a couple of baby afghans (Pineapple pastels and a name ghan that I have yet to start). I also need to get started on a doily for the doily cal at cal pals...just can't get into thread right now.

On the home front: Not much going on. We just got our first real snow accumulation of the winter! Can't say that I am happy but at least it held off this long! All ready I can't wait for spring! Nothing going on with the new house right now, but hopefully in a couple of weeks. Hubby's Dad passed away almost 2 weeks ago, gee it doesn't seem that long ago already. I miss him as I'm sure everyone does. MIL is doing well though getting things done and in order. We tried to get her to let us come over and pick her up for church this morning, but she just isn't ready for that yet. I bet another week or so and she will be!

I am getting over whatever it was that I had Thursday night and Friday...thank God! I was absolutely miserable! My skin hurt, everything hurt...it hurt to blink my eyes! I stayed home from work and slept! I know I slept more than 24 hours straight, but it did me good! DD had it Saturday and most of today...but she is feeling better too. I just hope no one else gets it! Speaking of DD...she lost 2 goats this past month and we don't know why. Sometimes that just happens I guess...they were both older goats and that may be why. We have a couple that are older but they seem to be fine.

Well hopefully I will get here every day or every other to keep posting, but I can't promise anything! Who knows what tomorrow may bring!

Merry Christmas

2006-12-25T15:27:00.000-05:00

Well here it is Christmas day! It has been a great day so far. Oldest son got here in time to eat breakfast cooked by hubby this morning. Oldest daughter wasn't able to make it home at all today but at least we got to celebrate Saturday with her and her boyfriend and his two little ones! Youngest ds and dd slept in this morning until around 10:30, then got up and we all opened gifts. There weren't many but everyone was happy with what they got! Hubby, with the help of youngest dd got me a new pair of warm comfy jammies....and that is what I have been wearing all day! LOL Oh it feels good to laze around! I was crocheting a monkey hat for my nephews gf's little boy, all I have left to do is the mouth eyes and ears, just not sure how and where to put them, so I thought I would take a break and update here! This hat was an after thought gift...I made him a sock monkey for Christmas and he loved it and I found out he loved hats too...so I thought I would make him one! I will post pics later when it is done, but I used the pattern from the Happy Hooker book but made it little larger (since he is 2 and has a larger head), added some ribbing and ear flaps! It is turning out cute and I can just see his little blond curls sticking out from underneath! All the other kids liked their sock monkeys too except for my one 3 yr old niece, she is such a girly girl and was disappointed that it didn't have any yellow on it! LOL I bet if I made her a dress with yellow on it for the monkey she would love it...so there's another wim! This morning my oldest son (21) said that he thought I was making the sock monkeys for each of my kids! Now he wants one.....he is always full of surprises that one! He's a kid that has no fear (he is a novice rider in a rodeo and just got his first 8 sec. ride a couple of weeks ago) So now I have at least 4 more to make for the new year! Looks like it's going to be a busy crochet year for me, I got 4 requests for the fat bottom bag too! Not sure if three of them are really serious, but they did say they would like one (but they aren't people I would just give gifts to and I don't know if they are willing to at least pay for materials to make them).
Well it's time to get supper in the oven and get back to that little hat and finish it so I can mail it off before he gets too big for it!
More later!

One tree done!

2006-12-09T00:38:00.000-05:00

I got my Mom's tree up tonight! Yay! Now I can do mine with no interruptions or guilty feelings! Mom has a beautiful pre lit tree, but this year we had trouble with the lights and could not get 1/2 a string to work! So, I just put on a string of 50 and turned that section to the back! LOL I told her not to put it away until I could restring new lights on it, there were lots that have lost their clear bright sparkle and are starting to look dim, but I think they will hold out for this year. I asked her how long she had had the tree and was really shocked when she said about ten years! She couldn't understand why she was having so much trouble with the lights this year! I also bought some pretty ribbon to put through the tree this year too and she liked it so well that she didn't even want to put her ornaments on it! LOL. After I got most of the ornaments on, except for the red balls she really wanted me to stop there...it was all silver and sparkly and just plain pretty....but she said maybe we could try some red balls and if I don't like them we could take them off, well we got a few balls on and decided we both like it better without the red and started taking them off when my Dad walked in the room and says "Now the red makes it look even better!" LOL so we put the red balls back on!
I am going to go crochet, I want to finish another sock monkey tonight and start some wrist warmers too. Hopefully I can have a pair done to post a pic soon!

Let it Snow, let it snow, let it snow!

2006-12-06T19:53:00.000-05:00

We are supposed to get up to two inches by tomorrow afternoon. That should give us a pretty good dusting here! Hopefully it won't make travel too bad either. The worst part is that is supposed to get windy too. That means the house will be colder, but hubby is finally getting plastic on the windows in the front room. We keep that closed off in the winter anyway, but plastic still helps....and here's the funny part....this is the first time in many years that he has ever done this...and it is taking him forever! LOL I have always put the plastic on those windows all by myself and now all of a sudden he is doing it but needs the help of our son! LOL I am cracking up here because all they are doing is arguing! Now granted, I never did a really neat job of it but I figured as long as the cold air doesn't get in, all's OK...but he is being his typical self and everything is measured out perfectly, no wrinkles or anything! Big deal I say...the curtains cover it so you can't see it anyway! LOL I say that's what he gets for not getting the new house started! LOL I know I am mean, but this is the second winter that we weren't supposed to still be in this old house! OH, now I am mad..he just came out and said the kids were being p***y about the whole thing and he could sure use some help with MY project! Am I the only one who lives here? Hello!!! I just told him "why do you think I have always done it by myself!" Seriously now, I can get it done in less than an hour (it's only three windows) and he has now been working on it for almost 3....does that tell anyone how particular he is?!!! And only one window is done! LOL Well at least I can laugh, it's not as messy as crying, I guess! Oh well, I do love him!
I have slowed down on the monkeys so I have to go start crocheting again! I hope to have the fourth one done and the fifth started tonight so I better sk-daddle! I think I am going to start a Christmas doily too...Annies had a pretty one today!

BRRRRR It's Cold!

2006-12-03T13:36:00.000-05:00

It is so cold here....I hate the cold! The high for today is supposed to be 30 degrees and the rest of the week doesn't look any better either! There is a chance for snow but not much of one. I would like to have a little snow for Christmas but after that spring can come early and stay! Still working on that fourth sock monkey, he's coming along and hopefully I will finish him soon. I have a lot to get done today and it is already getting to be late afternoon. Doesn't seem that anyone here will available to help me move stuff around so I can set trees up either, but that's not surprising! As the kids get older they all get their own lives leaving their crap here for me to clean up...LOL...one last time I guess! We have some Christmas parties coming up and I've nothing to wear...so I think I will be going shopping for some new clothes, I really need them too so I won't be able to get anything too Christmasy but that's OK too. The daughter is going to get a new t shirt for an art project and then going to the church to decorate the Christmas tree. She will be gone all afternoon, the son is working, so that leaves me and hubby here to work! It would be nice if the oldest daughter showed up to help, but I doubt that will happen! Oh well.....I am getting anxious to get the trees up and get decorated! I bet my Mom is too...I need to call her to see when she wants me to do her tree too. Well that's it for today....I'm off to get some stuff cleaned I hope!

They're here!

2006-12-02T15:09:00.000-05:00

As promised here are the pictures of the infamous Sock Monkeys!

Oh How they love to play!

They sure do love each other!

Like I said before, there are five more coming to join their ranks! I'm sure they are going to get into all kinds of mischief before going to their respective homes at Christmas! Hopefully their transition will be an easy one and they won't miss each other too badly. So far when we've had company they have been pretty good, only sneaking up on a guest and scaring her one time, although with their numbers growing I might find it a little more difficult to keep them under control! They watch as I crochet on another little buddy every night, they are such a good cheering section although now I think it will get harder to hear TV over them! They all seem to really like watching Desperate Housewives with me but I think their favorite show is Survivor, especially when they see those palm trees and Ozzy picking cocoanuts! But hey can you blame them?!

Just a few more shots of them!

Well the daughter just left with her boyfriend to go to his basketball game. She told me the pictures were a little creepy (of the monkeys), but I think that is just her being 16, boyfriend just laughed and shook his head! Rumor has it that my kids friends all think I am nutz! LOL I think I have fulfilled my obligation to parent hood instilling that opinion.....this way they never know what to expect!
Well that's about it for now! Have a great weekend!

Coming Soon

2006-12-02T12:18:00.000-05:00

Coming soon to this blog....Sock Monkey pictures! I just got some taken, however, my battery went dead before I could upload them! I will get them uploaded sometime soon, hopefully today!
I have three done , the fourth one started, and then only four more after that! Those are just for Christmas presents. I have orders for four more by Easter then!
Today I am going to go to a craft show at our High School, then to a friends house whose house in the Christmas Walk. That's it for now, I'll be back!

Friday

2006-11-24T15:04:00.000-05:00

We had a great Thanksgiving with Chucks Mom and Dad! I was a little late getting the turkey done, but not bad. We took turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn casserole, and cherry delight over to their house and ate about 3 in the afternoon. Chucks Mom had a salad, dinner rolls, and pies and coffee all ready for dinner and dessert. It was a good meal and very good company for the afternoon. We got home just in time to watch Survivor, so we had a good relaxing evening too. Here are a few pictures of Chuck and his Mom and Dad.

The three of them:

Mom and Dad

Sarah and I both woke up sick this morning , she is much worse than me though. She hasn't been able to keep anything down until about an hour ago, so she must be feeling better, but still doesn't look or act good. At least she is drinking and eating. My head is completely stuffed up, so I am taking it easy today too. Tomorrow I have a little shopping planned so I hope I am feeling better. I want to get to the store tonight just to get some buttons for the sock monkeys, I have one done and another started. They are really cute, I hope the kids all like them at Christmas!
That's it for today, more later! Gonna go nap!

Decorating

2006-11-21T18:07:00.000-05:00

Happy Tuesday to all! Now that we are all thinking of and getting ready for Thanksgiving, that brings the subject of Christmas decorating up! At least for me it does! I was kind of dreading unpacking everything and bringing it down stairs a couple of weeks ago, since I was counting on being able to at least live in the new house this year, and I even considered not decorating this year (OH DREAD), but there is no way I could do that. I love decorating for Christmas so much! My house ends up looking so clean and and different...it reminds me of a new house! At least for a little while! I get such a warm feeling seeing the soft glow of the lights and all the other decorations up make me feel so warm and calm!
I will be helping a friend decorate her house for a Christmas House walk the first weekend in December too. I am going to do her back porch, and help with the inside a little. She says they have one tree up and are working on others. One person helping her is freaking out a little about it not being done yet, but in my opinion she has plenty of time! I told her just have everything out and we'll go from there! We can make anything look good! We both have access to plenty of fresh greens in our yards, and Walmart and Kmart are close too if we would need anything! I will ask her if I can take and post pictures when we get done!
Well I have a pretty good start on a crocheted Sock Monkey for Christmas! I want to do about 6 of them for gifts and I think I shouldn't have any trouble getting them done after I get the first one done. Here is a picture of my progress so far:

Can't wait to get these done, I think they are so cute and they bring back such happy memories of my Grandma!
That's it for now!

Sunday!

2006-11-19T21:40:00.000-05:00

Not too much went on today. I did a little cleaning and got the living room walls and ceiling swept down...woohoo, right? I didn't get any crocheting done yet, but I hope to before going to work in a couple of hours. I started a crocheted sock monkey last night and got two arms, the tail, mouth, and ears done. I would really like to work on it but I don't know if I will have time. I just woke up from my nap so I should be good for work tonight. I hate Sunday nights because it takes too long to get things started but it is also the easiest night of work too! Hubby is making grocery lists for Thanksgiving dinner right now. Just a few more days! The plans for his side got changed today, which I am not too happy about but my opinion never has counted so I will just do as I usually do and roll with the punches. We will be going to my brothers house the Sunday after Thanksgiving for dinner. I'm not sure what I will be making, I guess I better call sil to find out if there is anything special she wants me to bring. On Thanksgiving day hubby and I will spend it with his parents. We will cook the turkey here and some other things and take it to their house. The original plans were that the rest of his family would go about 3 hours away to his sisters house, which is why we would stay here and have dinner with his parents. Their health is not good and they wouldn't be able to handle the long drive, so to allow them to enjoy a Thanksgiving hubby and I decided to spend it with them. Then Christmas would be at his other sisters house which is only 30 minutes away. I had thought how nice it would be if everyone would take turns on Christmas going to visit them for short periods and take them dinner. Well now the locations are switched so those plans are no good anymore. I guess we will just go with our plans for Thanksgiving and then do the same for Christmas. Well....it's time for me to get ready for work!
More later!

That's it for now!

2006-11-18T16:34:00.000-05:00

I think I have everything I crocheted posted here now. I thought I didn't have all the pics posted but going back in the archives, I see I do! LOL And here I was anxious about all the updating I had to do! Now I wish organizing my patterns could be so easy! I did get storage tubs for all of my yarn stash a couple of months ago, boy do they help!
On my list of things to crochet yet are, sock monkeys for nieces and nephews, a baby afghan (maybe two) for a friends baby girl, a few more undecided Christmas gifts, and then I can start on crocheting lots of different things for my little sis, Beth, who is pregnant and due in April! It's her first and I can't wait! I would also like to design and write a pattern for a secret project! Sorry I can't tell yet, but when the time comes, this is the first place I will post about it! I may need some help but I'll let everyone know if and when I do!
In October my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary! We all got together at the local Golf Course, some of us golfed, and the rest of us just met them there for a catered and yummy dinner! Here are a few pictures from the event.

The Guests of Honor:

The Cake:

Sisters:

Brother Joe with Dad's Best Man:
(I know you will be here to see if I have updated!)

My other brothers left before I got a chance to get the camera out so I don't have any pictures of them. I'm hoping someone else took some too and was able to get everyone! We had a great time and I think Mom and Dad did too.
That's it for now! I promise to try harder to get here and update on a regular basis! Now it's off to clean my house to get ready to put up Christmas decorations! And I'm really praying that this will be the last year to put them up in this house!

HeHeHe...finally here I am!

2006-11-18T15:50:00.000-05:00

Been a few months I see, bad me, bad me. I promise to try to do better! It's been a busy couple of months! I was reviewing all the things I crocheted this year and boy am I surprised! I didn't think I could crochet so much in one year! Trust me it is a lot for me, and I'm not done yet! Still have some things to make for Christmas that I will hopefully get done!

For now I will start with the latest projects completed. First are the three Fat Bottom Bags for grab gifts. I made these with Lion Brand Suede, the pattern is from the SNB Happy Hooker (love that book!) The red one was done following the directions and it turned out bigger then the pattern called for, but I knew it would using the suede, for the other two I just did crocheted less increase and decrease rows. I also used an H hook. The red one is 12 x 10, and the other two are 11 x 8 1/2. Without further ado:

Next are some ornaments I did for an ornament swap at CalPals. I haven't sent these out yet so sorry if I ruin someone's surprise but here they are anyway! The two stars are for a different swap at CalPals, they are going to go with some squares (those pics are next!). Here is one of the ornaments and two of the stars.

Here are the Christmas squares I did for the Christmas Square Swap at CalPals. Again these haven't been sent so I apologize if I ruin a surprise. Each square will also have a star ornament attached. I made a total of 12 squares and this picture is one of each design. Everyone had their own choice of colors to be used.

Next is an afghan I made for a friend at work. I've worked there almost three years and most of the time with her, we work the same job. The entire time, up until July, she has been working on getting her high school diploma. She was married very young, has three kids, is now single, and really wanted her diploma (not GED). I've helped her with what I could when I could and she has really worked hard. I am so proud of her and she is now enrolled in college! I wanted to make something special for her so here it is (she picked the pattern and colors and loves the afghan!)

Next is a purse I put together from squares we did at CalPals for a Friendship purse swap. Everyone made a square according to the color choices of the receiver, this was fun to do and is one of my favorite purses! I lined it with green cotton and added a small button to close it.

Next is a pillow I did as a CAL at CalPals. I really like this pillow and might do an afghan to match!

Here is a little bear I crocheted and gave to a friend who really worked hard at the fair this summer and needed a little pick me up one day.

Now I have to check to see what other projects I have all ready posted here! I wouldn't want to post repeats and bore anyone!
I'll post more later, heck it might even still be today!

2006-08-05T09:36:00.000-04:00

Sorry it's so long since I updated! I have to try harder to get here and do this! I can't believe almost a month has passed! It has been too hot lately to crochet on the ghans I am working on. I do have a picture to take of something that I started Thursday and finished up last night that I will get posted later today or tomorrow.
We've had a couple of record breaking hot days here. I love summer and the hot weather, but even those two days wore me out!
I did get some canning done, of course it had to start with the hottest day of last week, but you gotta make hay while the sunshines, right? So far I have canned 20 quarts of green beans. It's been a few years since I canned so it will be nice to have some good ol home canned food for the winter! I'll try to get a pic of some of the beans to post here.
Here is a pattern for a boobie pillow, I made this for a friends at work for his birthday and now have three more to make. I personally think it is hilarious but realize some may not share my sense of humor on this.
http://web.archive.org/web/20040404050507/http://home.inreach.com/marthac/boobie.jpg
I made mine like the pink one at the bottom except I used white as the trim. I will post more later after I take a couple of pictures of other things I am working on.

Hailey's Hat and Afghan

2006-07-04T13:08:00.000-04:00

I've finished the little star afghan I was making for Hailey (two year old granddaughter and leukeimia patient of good friends of ours), I also made a little cap to match the afghan. I just hope one or both bring some comfort to her. I have to say that with every stitch I said a prayer or had thoughts of Gods gift of healing for her and comfort for the family. What do you do when you feel like there is nothing to do? And you can't take away the feelings of pain and suffering? I pray that Gods will is that she recover completely and rapidly and that the family becomes stronger, emotionally, spiritually, and physically through HIM.

Another Star

2006-07-03T13:31:00.000-04:00

I am in the process of crocheting another little star afghan. This one is going to be for a friends 2 year old granddaughter who they just found out has leukemia. Her name is Hailey and she will be going through a 2 or 2 1/2 year treatment of chemotherapy. Please keep them in your prayers. I will post a picture when I get it done.

Happy Birthday Dad!

2006-07-03T13:07:00.000-04:00

I got Dad's star done just in time for his birthday! Here's a picture of it for all to see! I couldn't get him to pose with it so this is a picture I took before I gave it to him.

He said he liked it and showed most people when they got to the cottage. I told him he could do anything he wanted with it, use it as a rug, put it in the boat, sell it, whatever....he didn't like any of those ideas! LOL He said he needed to find a place to put it where everyone could see it. That was so sweet! We had a good time at the lake. My sister and her husband were there. She said she liked the shawls I made her. Her daughter and hubby said they would come in handy as she is always cold. I made her the honey comb shawl and then also gave her another shawl that I made out of cotton that will be warmer for in the fall. She slept most of both days that I was there. It is so hard to keep her awake, and harder to get her to talk anymore too. NOTE: (She suffered a brain anuerysm three years ago and has never fully recovered, requiring all day care...she dresses herself and does what you tell her to, but someone has to be with her and tell her what to do.) Her husband is beyond words to describe the care and love he gives her, he makes sure she is always happy and never goes anywhere with out her. He is truly an angel on earth.
The fireworks were Saturday at the lake too. For a small lake community, they really do a nice job! We have watched those fireworks from the back yard for over thirty years now! When we were kids we watched them, then our boyfriends, girlfriends, and now husbands, wives, our kids and their boyfriends and girlfriends! This year 4 of Mom and Dad's grandkids had a boyfriend or girlfriend with them! Memories!

Honey Comb Shawl completed

2006-06-25T01:58:00.001-04:00

Well here it is! The Honey Comb Shawl! This is a test pattern from a friend at Cal Pals. It is a neat pattern and worked up really well! I used a G hook and RH soft baby yarn in New Mint Twinkle. I made it for my sisters birthday, which is the same day as mine and my daughters. I thought it would be really nice for a light covering on these cool summer evenings. She is always cold so I thought this would help.





This next one is a closeup of the pattern stitch.

Summertime Swap Package Received!

2006-06-23T19:35:00.000-04:00

Look what I got in the mail today! Words just can't describe all the GREAT goodies Donna sent me! This first picture is of all the not crocheted items I found in my box! There is a plastic crochet hook, size G, a 6" ruler, a "Tony the Tiger" journal and two matching pens, a baggie full of all different kinds of teas (I'm not normally a tea drinker but I can't wait to try some...they smell so good!), a sweet vanilla scented candle in a tin, a beaded heart ornament kit (now this looks interesting and challenging to me!), a small pair of scissors, 2 packs of scrap booking stickers, a really cute picture frame, and a package of the cutest buttons I've ever seen!



This next picture is of a very cute purse! I love it! It is bright orange with white eyelash trim and bow. The color in the pic isn't right, but I just can't take good pics...this does not do this purse justice...it is absolutely gorgeous!



Here is a water bottle carrier (thanks, Donna for clarifying for me!) It is just too cute!



Here is a dish cloth and dish soap bottle cover (I hope that's right, Donna?) They are both wonderful!



Now look at this beautiful scarf! This is the best picture I managed to take, but it is just gorgeous and the picture doesn't do it justice!



And now last but certainly not least is a skein of beautiful yarn! And a great little bookmark crocheted from thread. One end is a flower and the other is a butterfly, I just love it!





Here is a group picture of every thing that was in the box...isn't it awesome! Thank you, Donna, so much!

House Plans

2006-06-22T12:15:00.000-04:00

We just got word that our house plans are ready to pick up! Now all we have to do is get started! I don't know when that will be, but hopefully soon so we can be in the new house by no later than Christmas! As much as I love my hubby he can really put things off! Hopefully he can get everything in order that he thinks need be and we can keep moving with this project! I need to start taking pics of this old house before we start building, so I can see the progress! It will be a shame to see this old place go, but it would just be too expensive to fix it up the right way! I need to get back to my crocheting for today or I will get nothing done!
TTFN

WOOHOO

2006-06-21T20:02:00.000-04:00

WOO HOO!! I can't believe I finally figured out how to add buttons to my sidebar! I understood how to do it, I just could never figure out the place to put them! Now I am going to try to work on figuring out how to link to other people's blogs! I cannot find any links in my template and can't seem to add any either. Maybe eventually I'll get it figured out, hopefully soon, but who knows!

Dish cloths I received

2006-06-21T17:48:00.000-04:00

Here are the dish cloths I received from the dish cloth swap! Oh my they are all so beautiful! Some of them I am not going to use as dish cloths either! The blue star is on my table where I crochet, and the little heart one will be used as a pretty little coaster! The dark one done in the shades of green and wine is going to be saved to be used on my counter of the new house! They are all so pretty and very well made too! Thank You ladies! (Brandy, Mare, Madelyn, Andrea, Claire, Sue, and Julie!)

Honeycomb Shawl

2006-06-21T17:38:00.000-04:00

Here is my progress on the honeycomb shawl I am testing for Lisa at Cal Pals. This is really a neat pattern and looks complicated, but it isn't! She has done a great job creating this pattern and I can't wait to get this done! It is for my sister's birthday, Thursday (tomorrow!) But I won't see her until this weekend or probably over the 4th holiday, so I have a little bit more time to get it done!

Little Star Afghan

2006-06-21T17:34:00.000-04:00

Here is the progress I have made on this ghan. This is going to be for my Dad's Birthday, July 1. It will be done in red, white, and blue. I'm not sure how big it will be, depends on how bored I get doing it more towards the end! LOL I am using Caron one pounders. This is easy after you get going...a very good project when you just want to sit and crochet and not concentrate too much!

Summertime Swap

2006-06-21T17:25:00.000-04:00

Donna was my swap partner for this at Cal Pals! She received my package a couple of days ago. She said she loved everything! She was so much fun to have as a swap partner, and pretty easy to decide on the things to make too! She posted pics of the contents of the box on her blog and as soon as I figure out how to link to other blogs and put buttons and things on here, I will add it! But here are a few things I sent her that I made. A doily, a bookmark, a Tweety magnet for her fridge, and a Tweety on a sun visor. I also made a pair of barefoot sandals but forgot to take a picture of them!

Share A Squares

2006-06-21T17:04:00.000-04:00

Here are squares that I made for the Share A Square cal at Cal Pals! They will all be sent to AJ to put together into an afghan, and someones name will be drawn out to be the lucky recipient! I can't imagine arranging all of the squares from everyone! I know AJ will do beautiful job and I can't wait to see it finished!

Yikes!

2006-06-09T19:50:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I updated! YIKES! I will have to post and put some pictures up of some things I have been working on, but it will have to wait until the recipents get them!

Mother's Day

2006-05-17T20:58:00.000-04:00

Oh what a wonderful Mother's Day I had!. Hubby had stayed with his parents on Saturday night since his Mom had just had eye surgery and wasn't supposed to do any type of lifting or bending. He came home for church Sunday morning and I went to sit with his folks. Which I didn't mind at all! We had a great morning and afternoon. I got a little crocheting done, but mostly sat and talked and got MIL's eye's cleaned and medicated, and made lunch. After church, Chuck, Mary, Andrew, and Sarah got there for lunch. It seemed to get on Elmer's nerves a little and so the kids and I didn't stay long after lunch. When we got home, there was a new microwave sitting on the counter! It is a little one, like I like and it works so much better than the old one! We had Mary's that she had in college and brought home with her this summer, but it was so big and took up so much room on the counter and was really getting on my nerves! This new one is so nice and looks so nice too! There were also a couple of really nice cards and a $20.00 gift card from JoAnn's so that I can go buy yarn or whatever I want! Mary had already given me 2 crochet pattern books, one for dish cloths and one for rugs (hint, hint!) and also an Ott Lite! Oh, my, do I love that! It is so nice to crochet by or to read by. The kids can watch movies in the dark and I can still crochet and it doesn't bother either of us! That is one cool little light! It is a desk top model that I can adjust to where ever I want it! I absolutely love it! The best part of the day was when Chuck got home from his parents house though. He came in and I told him how much I loved the gifts and he said well there is one more thing we have to do, but we have to go outside for it. It was raining and kind of cold, but Mary grabbed her camera, Sarah grabbed an umbrella and we all went outside. Chuck went in the garage and brought out our shovel which he had painted gold! He said come over here, and we walked behind the garage. He said we are going to have a ground breaking ceremony for the new house! So we did! Together, he and I broke ground for the new house! I can't tell you how I was feeling. It was all his idea, even to paint the shovel gold. And we did it together, and you know, it seems the house project is really going to get started! And he did all of this for ME! He is the best, most wonderful, thoughtful, loving, caring, man I could ever ask for! I love you, Chuck!

Shrug

2006-05-17T20:57:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures of the shrug I made for the shrug along at c'ville. I would probably make some changes if I ever did this shrug again. The sleeves are a little bit long but I still like it and it should be good for summer evenings or early fall and spring too!

2006-05-17T20:45:00.000-04:00

on the hanger

2006-05-17T20:44:00.000-04:00

Front view

7 dish cloths

2006-05-17T20:41:00.000-04:00

Here are the seven dish cloths I made for the dish cloth swap at CalPals! Love that place! I hope who ever gets them likes them!

3 strips done

2006-05-17T20:40:00.000-04:00

Here are 3 strips of my Attic Windows sewed together! YeeHaw..only 5 more strips to go!

Mothers Day

2006-05-13T18:56:00.000-04:00

Well, here it is almost Mother's Day! I love my kids, even though these teen and early adult days have been very trying! I got an Ott Lite from JoAnns from my oldest and two pattern books of crocheted dish cloths and and rugs! Can't wait to start them! Got my dish cloths done for CalPals dish cloth swap, I have 30 blocks of my Attic Windows quilt ghan done and sewed into three strips. And tonight I am going to try to get a shrug done for the shrug along at c'ville. Thought I'd better get in here and post a little something, though! I will try to get pics posted soon of all of my projects!

80 squares done

2006-04-24T20:29:00.000-04:00

I finally have all 80 squares done! I hope it doesn't take me too long to get the other four colors on them and then sewn together. I joined another cal at the 'ville. It is the shrug cal. I've been wanting to do a shrug for sometime and this will be my chance! I want to get my quilt-ghan at least half way finished before starting a shrug.
Not a good weekend here. My 20 yr. old son got picked up for OVI and underage consumption Sat. morning. Court on Wednesday. My heart is broken, life goes on and we will get through this. Plus two Dr.'s appointments this week. One for my daughter and one for me. Hubby is getting going on building our house too. Made an appointment to get house plans finalized. It's a step, and I'll take it!
ttfn

Tuesday April 18

2006-04-18T09:41:00.000-04:00

Well, the babies are doing fine so far. They all seem active and healthy. They are so cute too! Sarah has named them Lionel, Toby, and Camille. I don't know if that will be their registered names or not. I have a lot to check into to get that done yet.
Here is a picture of two of the Attic Windows crocheted quilt squares I have done. I now have 20 of the brown starter squares done. I am going to try to get all 80 of them done so all I have to do is add the other four colors.

TTFN

2006-04-16T20:14:00.000-04:00

Here is what we came home to after Easter Dinner Today!

Easter Weekend

2006-04-13T13:58:00.000-04:00

Yeah...Easter weekend is here! I think Easter is my favorite of all holidays. It brings back such good memories of my Grandmother and get togethers when we were kids. I am so thankful my side of the family still has an Easter get together! I will of course be taking two of the dishes that Grandma always provided....the infamous "Easter Bunny Cake" and her apple salad. I will also be taking a veggie tray and dip. We only have two little ones this year to do the egg hunt, but it will still be fun for them, I'm sure they will be a hoot to watch! The weather is supposed to be in the mid to upper 70's for Sunday too! How great is that!
Well, I have started on my Attic Windows ghan for the crochetville cal! I still need to go get two more colors but am hoping to do that tonight! I should be able to finish Mary's sweater and post a pic of that and her "fulled" bag I made her for her birthday too.
TTFN...more later

Long Time

2006-04-08T11:19:00.000-04:00

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted! Life gets so busy! Anyway, Mary got home from Mississippi in one piece, but very emotional about all that she saw and did and overwhelmed by the generosity and appreciation they received while down there helping. She had a very good trip and would like to continue doing things like that if time and finances allow. She is all moved back here now! We had a friends daughter get married last week, but our friends refused to help out their daughter because they didn't like the man she married and thought she was making a mistake. To make a long story short everyone else in our circle of friends decided to help her out with wedding plans, etc. In our circle of friends we all treat each others kids as our own, and they are the only ones who don't support their kids decisions if they don't agree with what the kids are doing. They are good people, but think if they don't support the kids when they think they are making a mistake, then the kids will come around to their way of thinking. I don't think I have ever seen this work for as many times as I've seen and heard of people doing it. Anyway, the wedding was on a Saturday, and on Friday at the rehearsal, her father showed up and wanted to give her away. It was planned that his Father would do those honors, but the bride told him that she could walk down the aisle with both of them, her mother (actually her step-mother...but she raised her from the age of 3) started to add her two cents about not being included in anything and was gently reminded that that was the way that they wanted it. The bride decided she wasn't going to change anything because everything was planned and in place. I told her that was the best thing to do in that situation. The wedding and reception went off without a hitch from that point and it was a beautiful wedding and a beautiful day too. I was very tired as the whole day from 8 am until the evening had me busy with decorating, helping the bride in the dressing room, pinning on flowers that I did for a wedding present for them and then helping a little with the food and clean up. Our friends aren't really speaking to us unless we speak first and I offered to help with another daughters confirmation party for today but was told everything was taken care of. But Thursday evening I got a phone call from this other daughter telling me that her mother wondered if me and my oldest daughter would help serve food at the party. Of course, I said yes and so did my daughter. I know they know they did wrong but they won't admit it....I heard them say that we would all regret helping with the wedding when the kids got divorced. I hope the kids prove everyone wrong! If they don't make it though I will not regret anything I did. They are young to get married(20 and 21) and very poor, but that isn't my business. He isn't currently working but is looking. I know this because I took him to an interview yesterday and he has another one on Tuesday that I am taking him to. He doesn't yet have his drivers license because he has never been able to pass the written test, he is dyslexic, so he can't read very well and no one ever told him that in cases like that...he is allowed to take the test verbally. He feels very stupid when interviewing, taking tests, filling out applications, etc....but has never had the guidance needed to better himself. I've talked to a couple of people from his past that were involved with his parents and education and they said that this is truly a kid that has fallen through the cracks of our educational system. They kept changing schools all through his education and he was a behavioral problem until the last school he attended and someone finally figured out what was going on, they did tests on him, worked with him, special attention and classes and he was able to graduate. Which was something no one ever thought he would do. He is a good person and seems to love his wife and so far is very determined to get a job. After I had a talk with both them and told them the excuses had to stop and that they were responsible for their own lives, etc,. etc.......it seemed to put a fire under their feet and they are both determined to better their situation. Now it seems we have another daughter and son-in-law! LOL They come out and watch T.V. and movies with us, call when something good or bad happens, ask for advice when they need it. My oldest daughter and the bride have always been friends so that makes it easier for them to come out and visit too. Ok...rambled on about that enough!
I joined a crochet along at crochetville! (cal) We are crocheting quilts. I can't wait to get started and am going to get some yarn to get started on it tomorrow! I don't have enough money this week to get all of the yarn, but I think I can spare some to get at least one color! I am going ot make the Attic Windows from "Vanna's Favorite Gift Afghans" book. It looks easy and very pretty too!
That's it for now
TTFN

Just let me Bitch!

2006-03-23T20:45:00.000-05:00

Ok I just need to get something off of my chest. Yesterday, as I was waiting for my daughter, Sarah, to tan (for prom) and there were other girls there that she is on the softball team with tanning and talking and waiting, etc.. Just acting like regular high school teens, there was one girl who had also been a Mat Maid for the wrestlers, whom I was advisor for this year. This girl was one of my seniors, one that had lied to me all year (even though I didn't find out about it until the season was over), didn't show up for the awards banquet, didn't get any of her scrap books for the boys done on time (I still don't know if they are done yet), and never called me about not showing up for anything! Anyway, I walk in to get Sarah and they all start talking to me, except for her, and as soon as she sees me, she lowers her head, won't make eye contact with me, and she makes a bee line for the door not even saying good bye to her friends! Some one asked what was wrong with her! Everyone else said they had no idea, that she was ok just a minute ago. Well, I didn't say anything but I have a pretty good idea.....I went to a lot of trouble and expense to make each one of the eight mat maids a purse (pictures are below) not to mention calling each girl before each meet to see who was going to be able to make it so I could have all the duties organized for them, just basically what I was supposed to do being the advisor. At the awards banquet for the end of the season, only three mat maids showed up out of eight. Two of them had to be there, one was my daughter and the other was the coaches daughter, and then only one other showed up. I really found it hard to swallow that out of eight girls, only one had the sense of responsibility and duty to follow through and finish what she had signed up for! My daughter and the coaches daughter would have been there regardless of our positions (I make sure my kids follow through when they start something, if Sarah hadn't been able to make it you can bet that she would have made the appropriate phone calls to explain her absence). I can knowingly say that about the coaches daughter too. Well, anyway, I gave each of the girls that were there the purse I made for them, did not receive one thank you (my daughter had already thanked me for her purse). I left the rest of the purses along with their certificates in the high school office, knowing that the secretary would see that they each got them the next day. They did, according to Sarah. I haven't heard one word from any of them! One of the girls even spent the night with my daughter last week at our house, never said a word about her purse to me (as I sat there crocheting a purse just like the one she got for another of Sarahs friends). I asked Sarah the next day if she (her friend) liked her purse and she said...Oh yeah she said she loved it! I've had several people ask me what the mat maids got me as a gift, it is the senior girls responsibility to do that, well....I say, they got me nothing. People just can't believe it! I don't really care that they didn't get me a gift.....that's not why I was advisor. I really am hurt because I felt I was very understanding with all of them this year, especially when it came to their schedules and conflicts with the meets. There was one weekend that I only had two girls to take stats, videos, and pictures at a tournament with seven other schools! When I mentioned this at the next meet to the ones who couldn't go not one of them thanked the two except for Sarah! Not one! Even after hearing Sarah thank them! (and NO...I didn't have to tell Sarah to do that either). At the end of the season there is always an awards banquet, and usually the mat maids don't get anything, so this year I thought I would do something for them. I made the purses after getting other girls' opinions on them because I wanted to make sure it was something girls that age would like. Everyone I asked about them said they would even like to have one like that, so I made them and then wrote each girl a personal thank you and put it with the purse, then put each one into a gift bag with tissue paper etc. They really looked nice and I was so excited to give them to the girls. Then we got to the banquet and none of them showed up. I was so disappointed, but just put it off to being busy with other things and put them in the office for them to get the next day. That was three weeks ago and I haven't heard one word from any of them and then to get treated like the girl treated me yesterday, is just really a blow to my feelings. I know kids get busy, but am I the only parent that makes their kids send thank you notes, or call if they can't make an appointment or obligation that they signed up for, or to finish something that they started? If I did that bad of a job with the girls (and I haven't heard any complaints) I really wish some one would tell me. I mean all season I thought we had a good season...we all got along, we had fun at the meets, played games and talked on the bus rides to and from the meets. The girls would tell me things, and joke around with me, I really felt I had a good relationship with all of them. I wish I knew why, now, I haven't heard from any of them. Now I have to call the five that didn't show up and ask if they have finished their scrap books for the their wrestlers. I am going to feel so awkward, but it is something I have to do because the boys deserve a finished scrap book. I have decided too, that if they aren't finished I will drive to the girls house, pick up the scrap book and finish them myself. I know there will be some I will have to finish. Oh well, I guess that is life. I really wish if I have done something to offend any of these kids that someone would tell me. I would rather know than to be treated like I have the plague! Well, I guess I feel better typing this all out, but I just can't get it off my mind. If I have done anything to any of them in any way...I hope they can forgive me. That's it for now.
TTFN

Thursday

2006-03-23T19:58:00.000-05:00

The week is almost over! One more night of work and it's payday once again. Union dues will be taken out this week...so that means a shorter paycheck! YUCK!!! But I guess it's better than no paycheck at all!
I am fulling the purse I made for my daughter, Mary, whose birthday is Friday. So far I've run it through 2 times and it is now on the third cycle. It keeps getting better and I hope this is the last time I have to do it. I don't mind doing it, I'm just anxious to see the final results! I think she will like it, she liked the pics I showed her of some, I just didn't know what color to make it! I used Lion Wool Prints in Autumn sunset. She said she would like something that she wouldn't normally pick out and she wears a lot of green and pink, not too much blue but some.....of course she picks those colors because she looks good in them and the autumn sunset has some of those colors in it just deeper shades than she usually wears. I think it will go good with a lot of the things she has. I am also making a crocheted top that she said she liked. The pattern was a free one from Joann's and uses Moda Dea yarn, but I couldn't afford that right now, so I'm using some WW that I had in my stash. It is a brownish burgundy color and I so hope it turns out to be something she likes. Of course the WW isn't going to give it the same look as the MD would, but it should still look nice. It is working up good so far. I had to go two sizes smaller for the hook to get the gauge to come out right....it will be a learning experience since there is so much difference in the yarns!
Mary will be 23 Friday and won't even be around here to celebrate. I can't complain as she is taking her last "spring break" and volunteering in Mississippi, helping rebuild houses and cleaning up after Katrina. She called home Tuesday evening and was just overwhelmed with everything she has experienced down there. She can't believe the slow progress and the appreciation shown to them by the residents. She went down with Wright State University, Dayton Ohio. They took 26 students and 2 staff members through the Student Union. They contacted business and churches in our areas for donations of money and supplies and have estimated that they were able to take approximately $3,000.00 in supplies and some cash. Most of that was in supplies that they bought here and took with them because of the inflated prices of supplies in Mississippi. I can't wait till she gets home and is able to show us pictures and tell us of her adventures. People from our church were so generous too and everyone is very excited for her to come back and give a presentation. It will be nice to see pictures and hear how our donations have helped! I will definitely post pictures of her bag and sweater when they are both done and also try to put something here of her trip to Mississippi.
TTFN

Sunday

2006-03-19T15:26:00.000-05:00

Well here it is Sunday! After we got home from church and ate lunch, I sat down and made up a little crocheted bag for Mary's birthday. I just have to "full" it now. I am going to try to post before and after pics soon. I also want to get her a crocheted top done too but have to go get the yarn yet. The top is from a free crochet project sheet I picked up at Joanns using Moda Dea yarn so hopefully I can get the yarn tomorrow and get it started. Her birthday is Friday. She will be 23! She is in Mississippi this week helping to rebuild a Katrina victims house. She was so excited when she called me last night....I bet she didn't get much sleep! She was really looking forward to this trip. She will be home sometime on the 25th and I would really like to have this top done for her. She just moved back home and is going to try to work full time and finish college this summer, while we try to get a new house built! It should be a very interesting summer around here! Andrew who will be 21 in August is supposed to move back from Toledo to live with some friends, they all rented a house near here. I know, Matt, wo will be 18 in June (our youngest son), is really going to give us a ride this summer! He keeps talking about joining the Army and going to basic training this summer to get away from all of our rules here! Sarah, who will be 16 in June, will be able to drive and hopes to find a job, but she has so many responsiblities with 4-H, Jr. Fair Board, her animals, and sports, I don't know when she is going to have the time to work! Things will work out as they will though! My, my, my, but the teenage years have been fun! LOL There is never a dull moment or a quiet one around here anymore! I have to get her appointments to get her hair and nails done for prom, tanning appointments, and go dress shopping. The prom is on the 29th of April and will be here before we know it so I have to get moving on these things this week!
Hopefully we will hear from Mary a couple of times this week and hear how things are progressing down there.
More later.........ttfn

Two Purses

2006-03-18T16:13:00.000-05:00

Here is closer look at two of the purses I made.

Purses

2006-03-18T16:12:00.000-05:00

I made these purses for the Wrestling Mat Maids at our High school. I think they all liked them and I got four requests for more from other people that saw them too!

Matt's Afghan

2006-03-18T16:09:00.000-05:00

Here is Matt's afghan. This one took me about two years to finish because I just got tired of the pattern and the color changes. But he really likes and I got a request to make another one from someone who saw it! I said no way but I would make one similar to it. This is going to be a one of a kind for me!

Andrew's Afghan

2006-03-18T16:04:00.000-05:00

This is the Afghan I made for my son Andrew. It is from the Lion Brand web site and is called the 5 1/2 hour throw. It took longer than that but that's because I can't sit still for that long at one time! He said he likes it and his room mates now want me to make them each a blanket too.

2006-03-18T09:22:00.000-05:00

This is a test post