YoP update #27

Only a couple of things for show and tell today. I finally made the other Fingerless Mitt for my mother. She was thrilled. I don't know why it took me so long except I think I was a bit scared of messing it up. I changed the pattern the when I made the first one and of course I didn't write it down. I just sat down and began and it sort of came back to me. The second glovelet looks a different color in the pic but I swear it's just the lighting. Weird how different it can be less than 18" apart.

I also worked on my Fathers hat. Here's a pic. Not going as fast as the other but I have a good reason. I had to add a few "people" to the pattern and a about 10 extra plain knitting rows (my bane!).

Plus I'm having a strange pain in my right arm. It's like I can feel it moving down from my forearm into my hand bones and  pointer/middle fingers. I've decided to slow down for a couple weeks and see if it gets any better. I'm having trouble writing, crafting and even typing is sending little twinges. I won't be giving up crafting though! Even if I should, I would be much too bored.

An Awesome Giveaway!

There's a giveaway that I am entering over at Forgotten Way Farms.

Just click through to the blog section.

Six chances to win and each one of the prises are wonderful in their own way. Even if you don't want any of the prises for yourself I'm sure they would make a great present for someone you know (hint, hint)* Everyone knows someone these days that is trying to live on less and there are even some who really love that lifestyle (me included) and are purposefully heading full steam* in that direction. All in all a great chance to learn or try something new.

* Not really folks, I think that would be considered cheating (^_^)
*in my case dragging 2 reluctant family members in tow.

YoP post # 26

Plenty of progress this week. I made a hat, which was supposed to be for my father, but was too small. Evedently I tighten up a bit when I get to the stranding part of colorwork. So now my mother has a hat and my father will soon have a hat to match. I can just see them now...Walking through the Flea market looking corny and all lovey dovey. It's called the Circle of Friends hat, only I had to take out some of the patterning because my father thought it looked too girly :) He found this little (statuette?) at a shop somewhere near New Mexico or lower California and then bought another (bigger!) for his mother so I knew when I saw this pattern on Rav. it would be perfect for him.

After I finished that hat in like 3 days (a new record for me) I decided I needed some crochet. Nothing like constant repetative movement to get the fingers aching. So I made "Midget" some new fingerless gloves. And yes folks she is wearing some shorts :)

Speaking of "Midget", She thinks she's too old and too big for that knick name now. Sad moment for sure with all these growing pains. Now I call her "Minnie". It's a mix between Midget and ninny which used to be our name for each other when we knew we had done something silly like try to put the pickle jar lid on a soda bottle etc...

Plus I worked a few rows on my Grandma's wrap. Not enough to take another pic because it never looks different (always a half circle). A row now takes me 20-30 min. and I'm near the end of the pattern but I know I will have to keep going on my own because Both my Grans are less than svelt. O' well we shall see how that goes. At least I'll be more sure on the second one.

Have a lovely week. Thats an order :)

YoP Update # 25

I have only really worked on one project this week. One of my I Love This Wrap projects for 2 presents for Mother's Day this year. I just realized though, that by Mother's Day it will be hot out. Maybe I should save them for Christmas presents? Eh. I just know that I think both my Grandmothers will look good in these. One of my Grandmas is tall and stately and the other is shorter and more homely (in a good way).

Tall and Stately

This is my Grandmother on my Dad's side. She was raised to be a true Lady. Bold colors, church clothes always, driving gloves, and never leaves the house without her make-up and heels, even though she had hip surgery and probably shouldn't be wearing those. Taller than my Dad! Though once again the heels probably help there (^_^).

My other Grandma is only 5'3" (my height) and she is only a few year younger so it's really weird how different they are. More casual clothes and shoes etc...

One thing they both have in common is Church. They both attend not only Sunday Morning Church but every chance they get. Which is something I can be really glad of because even "Midget" can see how much they Believe and asks me to tell her more about Him.

This Wrap is for my shorter Granny. She likes calmer colors. I'm thinking of making the other one Cream with a dark brown edging. I can't make it a bold color because she wears so many different colors.

Here's another pic sort of draped almost like it should be. One question though, a bit of starch (just a little)? during the blocking? I've never made anything that needed a bit of stiffening. Any advice there would be welcome.

I keep trying to picture it with shoulders in it but I think it's going well so far.

I'm off to read, read, read. I always try to check your posts Sunday night to give everyone a chance to post but today I'm the late one, oh well. We had an unexpected visitor today. My brother brought his Semi down for "Midget" to see and play with.

Belated YoP post # 24

Hi everyone. I'm back in the posting frame of mind :). Total insanity reigned all through the Holidays this year. My Father turned 50! Just a few days before Christmas we threw him a party. We took turns shooting bows, guns and  playing darts ect. We had cake ( I made a Semi-cake) and Ice cream. The whole 9...

Plus I had to take him out to the local Flea Market that morning because.. Tada... It was all a suprise! We had great fun :)

Imediatly after the party it was time to head out for "Midget's" Christmas play. They wern't allowed to perform that at the school because of the whole "God" issue but her teacher arranged for the kids to come to her church and it was great fun. Except for the part where we had to get there 4 hours early and sit through the rehersal and everything. Not that I complained out loud very much (though maybe a few times (^_^). The bleachers are not a good place to wait something like that out, especially for my Mother who has hip and back problems.

My mother had a bad-ish fall just before all our festivities this year. Looking at it now I don't know how she didn't break anything. I hate to say it but these falls happen more and more often these days.

After all that, just 2 days later, it was time to get ready for my own Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve. It went well for a dinner scheduled after a Christmas Breakfast (at Grandmas) and a Christmas Lunch (at the other Grandmas). Actually I'm surprised anyone ate at all! I know I have been eating the left overs for weeks.

This is Ginger. Santa brought her. Isn't she just perfect? So sweet though she does knaw a bit and Guinnea Pigs aren't supposed to bite. She's very jumpy though and when she gets excited she leaps around like a 3 yr old on a sugar high.

Someone was talking about the traditions they have during the holidays and it made me think about a few things we do that I didn't even consider traditions. Namely, Christmas bingo. Each year we sit down to breakfast and then clear the table and get down to the fun bit. Whoever wins bingo gets to go pick any present from under the tree and either open it or give it to the person who's name is on it. this not only teaches "Midget" to give instead of only pick her presents but it also makes a 2 minute wrapping paper frenzy into a 2 hour family party/game.

As for crafting... I didn't.

I only did a contest project and my latchhook project. Well that and crocheting the white edging around those African Flower motifs.

Here's my Christmas Angel. Who won! Yay! prize was 3 skeins of nice yarn. She made a beautiful centerpiece for my Dinner.

Here's a pic of my Latch hook project. In my last pic of this (at the beginning of this holiday season) I had only gotten up past the E. Maybe this thing wont take me 10 years after all :) I don't have a pic of the motifs because I just didn't take one yet, maybe next week.

YoP Post #23

I have been making African Flower Motifs. I haven't done the white borders yet because I didn't know how they would be joined but I think I found a good tutorial to help me figure that part out :)

I finally found a pattern that I like for the Fingerless gloves for my Mom. Took me forever of searching but these will match the scarf I gave her for her Birthday and the shells hat too.

I want to post pics of something I tested for Marie at Underground Crafter. I'll wait though :) It's an awfully cute piggy. Which brings me to the Guinnea pig again. "Migdet" asked the Santa at the photo shop for one and he said "I'll see what I can do"! I was already going to try my hardest to get one but now I'll really have to bring my A-game. Oh well, I love Guinnea Pigs anyway. The're so sweet and cuddly and, most importantly, adverse to biting.

As to the changes in my YoP List, I want to be rid of the:

• Flowery Stitch markers (thread)
• Misty Shrug (nobody I know likes this)
• Crochet Socks (I like knitting my socks)
• Lace Gloves (thread)
• Swimming Hole (curls too much and I can't find a color for this I truely like)

And I'm exchanging these for :

•  Ivy League
• Snowman Ornaments (for next Christmas)
• Panda Silk Fan Shawl
• Renaissance Tunic 
• I Love This Wrap (2)
• Country Apples Afghan (for me!)
• Lacy Fingerless Gloves (this time for "Midget")
• African Flower Blanket (using this Tutorial and a different pattern)
• Kelp Forest Shawlette (if I can figure out these pattern directions)

I'm probably forgetting something but there always next week right?

Yop Post # 22

The hat is done! I wont show any pics till after Christmas. This is not, as some may think, because I want the finished hat to be a suprise for you guys too but instead it is because I was so excited to get it done I imediately wrapped it for Christmas. *sigh* I completely forgot to take a pic first.

I also finished the Leisel Scarf which only came out to 4 feet and a few inches. No where near long enough for a scarf so I sewed the ends together and made it into a cowl. I don't know if I will be keeping it or not but I really like it. It all depends on if someone unexpected comes to the family party and if that someone is a girl.

My  kid wants a Guinnea Pig fro Christmas. But not just a guinnea pig, Oh no, a guinnea pig from SANTA which makes it all a bit harder since I've no place to stash an animal for a few days to a week (which is when all the pet stores close for the holiday) nor do I have a cage and supplies for the thing either. Santa better get a move on! (^_^) What crazy things have your kids asked Santa for?

All in all no pics this week but Christmas is a very busy time for just about everybody so a little slacking off on the posting front is acceptable. Right?

Yop post # 21

This week has been pretty good to me :) Not only did I get some work done on the suprise H in the beginning of this week but I also got some work done on a few other things (school mwas out since Wed.) and I didn't have to cook dinner Twice! Yay!

Today is my day to cook. All Day. Then tomorrow we get to eat Turkey potpie (which I will call chicken potpie to make "Midget think it's not just Turkey again) and other variations till it's all gone :)

Here's what I've been working on.



I've started the decreases. Yay!

If she doesn't like it (unlikely) I'll wear it. I love this pattern. I did get quite jealous of the sweater and 2 hats someone else is knitting in this group. You know who you are :). But I got over that pretty quick. Especially when I saw that huge ball of ends she had to weave in. I probably wont ever be that fast but since it's the knitting I enjoy I can live with that.

I've gotten to the 3rd wedge of my sock heels. Lastly I've started a mystery/contest knit with my group. All I know so is that I need #2 DPN's and #9 straights and that Ethreal (?) is what we're going for. Plus beads. Can't show a pic till it's finished though :(.

Oh and I want to make something from this yarn I bought. It's a mesh but not like Katia with the thin and thick edges, just mesh. I don't really like the potato chip scarves, too dainty for me, but I would love to make some kind of shawl or wrap. Here's the yarn.


Brown, Beige, Cream, and Dusty Pink. though you can't tell from this pic

Next week...I'll detail the changes I've decided I have to make to my list. Till then...

Thanksgiving Crunch

Already beginning my Prep for Thanksgiving. Tomorrow my Gramdmother is having her T-Day lunch. Friday my Uncle, from the other side of the family, is having his dinner. Sunday My Family (in our household and Other Grandma) are having My dinner. That's a Lot of Turkey but it's also a lot of family time and that is never too bad :)

Here's the list of what I plan to make:
Devilel Eggs
Greenbeans and New Potatoes
Stuffing
Cranberry Sauce
Maple Glazed Carrots
Yams and Marshmallows
Rolls
Corn on the Cob
2 Pecan Pies
1 Cherry Cheesecake
3 Pumpkin Pies
And Turkey (Huge)

There's alot of veggies in there but that is to combat all the Pie. No really it's because nobody likes just 1 veggie I have 2 no-carrot people, I'm a no-greenbean person, and well corn is just so delicious that I couldn't resist.

I will be taking a couple pies to each party. Just so you know I wont be home stuffing them all in my gullet :) Each Day till Sunday will be a cooking day. The Turkey will need 24 hours to Brine in the fridge and all day in the oven. Sounds exausting, sounds like a long week, sounds.....

Like I can't wait!

P.S.

Did I mention they have a ton of Christian Books . Can you san "Candy Store" I love to read. Each of those waiting moments ( car rider line, bank line, practices) can be spent in a book. I especially love to be able to read aloud to my kid. I have read to her since, well lets say years. Before bed, before school(if we have a few minutes), after school etc... except now she gets to read to me after school :). Wonderful moments together all snuggly and quiet. When she was little, 3/4, I would gloss over any parts I didn't like but now she can follow along so she can see all those things/words I changed before. Big Uh-Oh moment the first time that happened let me tell you. I was in "BIG trouble" (her words). I love not having to do that! I think you will too. Check it out. Weather at the site or in a Christian book store near you, doesn't really matter there should be something you and your kid/s can get into and enjoy together.

You can find out more by visiting Life In A Shoe. Which is one of the Blogs I enjoy following or at Generation Cedar which I just found because of this giveaway but am already enjoying quite a bit.

Christian Living

Have you ever wanted to let your kids go crazy and pick a toy/book all on their own? I know I would love to. If I could just let her choose! So many of today's toys and books have references to unmentionable subjects woven into them. They're so subtle! Sometimes even I have trouble. I'll be reading a book and she'll ask me about it and I'll have to clean it up in order to tell her. I just don't realize how "bad" it got until I have to say it out loud.

Don't even get me started on Tattoo Barbie!, and those ugly monster/barbie/dracula dolls in all the stores around here. NEVER! I asked all the family to find "clean" toys but It's so hard to find affordable quality things in todays' TV fueled market.

Right now Vision Forum is having a giveaway through another blog I read regularly called Raising Olives. This is an unbelievable opportunity folks.
The prize is not just great in itself but If I win I could let my kid fun free and choose her own adventure. Plus for the first time I will be able to just watch and see what she really loves without her wondering if what she picks will upset me and me worrying I'll have to say no and explain another "fact of life". Have you ever had to explain why girls "like" girls to a 5 yr. old or why that guy on TV hit the woman? It's hard, to say the least, especially when you don't want to teach a child to hate or be mean but you really want them to understand.

Go on and check it out. I'm so excited about this!

Yop Update # 20

Absloutely no progress on my suprise hat! Someone has been home most of the week, sick, so not only no time for secret knitting but also I may be able to claim Insanity soon. I have had a bit of good/bad sock knitting this week though. I had to start over because when I picked up these socks to get started with them again I found a gaping hole. *sigh* but now I'm almost to the heel turn so Yay! These will be for me this time (I hope). I love this colorway.


I've actually gotten a bit further than this now. I'm into the darker blue again.


We've begun oue holiday decorating early this year. We just couldn't resist what with all the holiday music already on the radio stations. This is my major Holiday craft. It will take me about 10 years to complete by my calculations because I only work on it during the Christmas season and even then it has to share me with the knitting and present wrapping.

On a sadder note we (the family) have hit a run of bad luck. My Grandma broke her wrist just after last weeks Sunday post went out and The day before yesterday my sisters house burned down because of something with the clothes dryer. Lucky for her her 2 boys were at school and all she had to worry about was getting her and her daughter out. Now we're all going through our possesions and loading up the car for a trip down there to help out. Thanks to the Freecycle group I'm a member of we have much more than we could have collected alone and I think everything will be alright.

Hope everyone is well and happy. See you all next week.