A little garden for two...

Well, today was the first semi-warm day...lower 60's and a perfect day to get this garden started. So while I cleaned up a little in the house, Ed started his garden. Last year was the first year he had a garden at this house and it was a little thing that ended up having alot of weeds. We did get some tomatoes and peppers from it...but it was started rather late in the Spring so we got what we sowed. This year is gonna be different...
As you can see Ed was building a garden with landscaping timbers and beyond the fence (what you can't see) is 1/2 ton top soil. 1000 pounds of soil that had to go from the truck bed to the garden....and two middle aged people to do it! Oh, yeah, me and sweetie man unloaded 1/2 ton of top soil into this garden... "5 gallon bucket brigade" style!!! Took us a couple of hours and a few tea breaks in between but we done did it! Unfortunately it just barely filled the bottom. We'll probably just get a billion bags of top soil next time and finish filling it up. This is the almost finished garden minus another ton or so of dirt.

Good thing we will only have to do this once...next year we'll just need to fertilize or whatever you do to gardens to make things grow in them year after year. Seeing as we are both a little bit sore now...we figure that with a good nights sleep.......these middle aged bodies will most likely not be able to move tomorrow morning!
Okay, just so you don't think I forgot about my yarn, I must show you something I did yesterday. As I am a life long crocheter but a newby at knitting, I watch Knitty Gritty on DIY and I learned this little trick (which you life long knitters probably already know). I made my own knitting needles. I measured a dowel to a needle gauge, cut, sharpened the tip in a pencil sharpener, sanded, and put little wooden acorn ends which I stained. This is the result.

I love them. They are so light to work with. I love the feel of the wooden needle versus the metal one but the wooden ones to buy are rather pricey....so I made my own. (don't look for me to make crochet hooks tho....at least not yet) The pattern is the same as the purse I made a few days ago (see pics from a few days ago) but this time it is a bit smaller as it is for the son's gal pal. In her school, they cracked down on large purses as kids were bringing cell phones and using them to cheat on tests (don't get any funny ideas, Kaity....just kidding!)....go figure. So, now the purses can only be as big as a half sheet of paper....and yes they do measure them. She really liked my other purse but wanted a smaller one. Hey, just another excuse to buy more yarn...don't ya love it! I told her never to be afraid to tell me if she liked something and wanted it made....glad to oblige..(he-he).
Well, getting late, and my body is getting sorer by the minute so I think I need to put it in a reclining position. I have a feeling that the only thing working tomorrow will be my brain....I'll let you know....till tomorrow and another warm spring day...at least in PA!!! Tootles!

Al Hirt, here we come....

Happy Saturday...ours started out on a fun "note"...literally....Sweetie Man got a trumpet. It was rather funny cause we'd be listening to the radio and he would say, "if I had my trumpet, I could play that." And I of course said, "yeah, right!" He bought himself a used trumpet this past weekend...I would get to see if he was telling me the truth.
Well, son of a gun if he didn't prove me wrong. First he tried to wake my son up with Reveille....my son closed his door rather quickly...but he did get up! Then I accompanied him with my vocals on his rendition of "when the saints go marching in." And of course we got to hear somebody's fight song! And all around 10 am in the morning....lucky the neighbors couldn't hear...yet!
We had fun the rest of the day, shopping, getting a half ton of top soil for our new garden we will be making, and the of course, making dinner. Now, sometimes just a plain dinner won't do....we gotta be fancy. I hate to cook but love to bake. Ed is the chef. A few weeks ago he bought this....
It's called a Fiesta Station....it's like this mini buffet for tacos....($20 at Walmart if you just have to have one!) The roof of the thing holds lettuce, cheese, warm burritos while the heated section holds your taco meat and re-fried beans if you so choose. The side dishes hold your toppings. It all plugs in to keep things warm and is rather neat. Sweetie man loves gadgets and this was just one more to add to the collection (mainly cause it was decorated with peppers)....he's so cute!!!
Now if you didn't know by now, Ed is really into peppers....so I found this really cute pattern for a jalapeno pepper through google that I made in one evening with crochet cotton. (click on the words for the pattern--the pic may not show but the pattern will)
I'll probably make more as we plan on painting the kitchen in the next month with a pepper theme...I can't wait, cause I hate the color of the kitchen now...UGH! I guess there was a pepper crochet something free at Annie's Attic but I missed it but I found this one which was really easy.
So with that I will leave you with my cute sleeping kitty...Echo Deuxfoille.....He's a french cat....(if you believe that....I got a bridge in Pittsburgh I'll sell ya) Anyway, he doesn't like the light in his eyes and we finally caught him covering his eyes as he slept. Isn't he adorable?
With that....I leave you for yet another day....till tomorrow and one day closer to putting my porch furniture up. (oh, yeah!) Tootles!

I'm a 50's gal...

what decade does your personality live in?

quiz brought to you by lady interference, ltd

Okay...so I'm showing my age...but then again I think I've told most of you I'll be 50 this year!!! This a cool quiz from Sue at Good Yarns. (check out her button on side bar). I found out the other day that some folks in my office actually thought I was going to be 40 or that I was only in my 40's!!! Wow....probably cause most almost-50 year olds don't act nearly as strange and crazy as I do....and believe me, I'll be same if not worse when I'm 80...except then I can blame it on senility!

Now, I'm going to show you a picture of yet another project I'm starting. I'm not putting this on the side percentage bars cause I plan on finishing this rather quickly. (and I'm embarrassed as to how many are already on there)

The pattern is from the Lion Brand site of free patterns and it's the Triangle Shawl done with Imagine yarn. I chose to do it with TLC Amore which is actually a fitting yarn to use as I will be wearing it on a special romantic dinner cruise I will be going on with my sweetie-man in a few weeks on the beautiful Allegheny River in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. I'll try to take pics. I'm really excited about it....he booked it as a surprise for us and something he and I have always wanted to do. I will definately show you the finished shawl. I still am working on the shawl for my Shawl swap I signed up for but as you know....can't show you that one...yet.

Well, off to do a little crocheting of something.....so enjoy your evening and Happy FRIDAY!!!!!!

How cute are these??

Are these not the cutest things you have ever seen?? I fell in love with them while checking out a copy of Interweave Magazine in a Walmart. They were so different I just had to try them and they fit too.

Now, I gotta tell ya, it called for 4 ply jute (found at the hardware store...yeah right!) There is only 3 ply (and Walmart has it too). There is such a thing as 4 ply but I only found it once for something I was making and I found it at this out of the way sorta junk and tool store. So, I opted for 2 strands of the 3 ply together and it worked out fine....same gauge too. If you never crocheted with jute you're in for an experience. I actually crocheted baskets with it once and then weaved a ribbon through it...they were really adorable...small...but adorable. It's not the easiest thing to crochet with and if you have very weak hands you may have some difficulty...and crocheting with two, more so. But give it a try.
The strap I didn't use what it called for. I used a Sugar and Cream or any 4 ply worsted weight cotton yarn but I used an E hook and that gave me the correct gauge.
Interweave magazine has the pattern for the soles and two of the designs for straps with sizes in children, women, and men. Interweave online, (www.interweavecrochet.com) only has the free pattern for straps...not soles...gotta buy the magazine for that unless you can figure it out yourself...which really isn't all that difficult if your good at that. I worked these up really quickly and want to make more. They are sorta fun to walk in....I won't wear them to the office, but around the house, beach, pool, whatever...and the kids would love them. I mean think of the possiblities.....buttons, bows, whatever you want....silk flowers, ribbons....do your own thing.
Well, I was really anxious to share that with you. Let me know if you try them and definately post a pic. And if you really like them......vote for me for Top Crochet List (see sidebar). I'ld love to make it on there just once!!!!
Okay, that's it....till tomorrow remember....it's spring.....go make some sandals!!!! Tootle-Lu!

What kind of car are YOU?

I'm a Mazda Miata!

You like to soak up the sun, but your tastes are down to earth. Everyone thinks you're cute. Life is a winding road, and you like to take the curves in stride. Let other people compete in the rat race - you're just here to enjoy the ride.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

Haven't seen this one yet, have you? Someone sent it to me in my email and I just had to pass it along knowing how much you all love quizzes. I'm rather surprised as I was hoping I was a yellow volkswagon beetle (you know, the ones with the little flower vases in them?) . Though after being with my sweetie-man (aka significant other), I sorta am liking the power of a pickup truck! A yellow one!!

And...speaking of yellow, it's a brand new Project Spectrum month and I told Lolly who created Project Spectrum (check out my link on sidebar) that I was dedicating my entire blog colors to April which is yellow and orange. Great idea I thought! I still will post more project spectrum stuff for April don't worry....can't pass up a good yellow!

With that, I bid you a fond adieu. Oh, and don't forget to let me know what kind of car you are also...it's a really short quiz and you may just learn something about yourself! Till tomorrow...Folk-n-Fancy, signing off.

I DID IT!!!

I did it!!! I've knitted something...I haven't knitted probably in a good 30 years. I actually remembered....I guess it's like riding a bike. The pattern is from a Carol Duvall show on knitting of all things. This lady did a purse and it was so easy I thought it would be a good beginner's project. I made a few boo-boos but I fixed them. I even lined the purse...I'm so happy with myself. By the way, I used Lion Brand Jiffy Thick and Quick yarn in Adirondack.



I originally learned to crochet at an early age. My mom taught me both crochet and knit but she was a crocheter. I thought crocheting was easier but back in the 60's, knitting was much prettier to me. So my parents bought me a "knit-0-matic" for my birthday (I was about 10). I loved that thing...when it worked. It was for young girls to learn how to knit. I guess if I googled it, someone probably has one for sale on ebay. Anyway, I never really did learn all the fine parts of knitting...but now I'm ready to attempt more....don't know what it will be next, and it will be worked on between my crochet projects, but you'll be the first to see the completed project.
So, that it's for tonight...short and sweet....till tomorrow.....10-4 good buddy!

Planting thyme...oops "time"

So, we're not planting thyme but it was planting TIME...at least for my sweetie man, Ed. He's been so anxious to plant his little seeds that he finally started this past weekend. He loves his Hot Peppers (as you know by his blog THE FUNNY PEPPERS) so there are various kinds of those as well as Roma tomatoes for his salsa and Chamomille for my dried tea. As you can see, he has this mini greenhouse thing going on outside.

Inside, my window sill in the living room is full of little pots of this and that. It's so cool to see them emerging in the sunshine. This picture is of one of the pots though a little blurry, you'll get the idea.

Unfortunately, we are getting a bit a cold weather tonight (32 degrees for the low) and a rain and snow mix Tuesday. And...it was so windy this afternoon, all the tops blew off the mini greenhouses even tho they were tied down. I had to go chasing them through the yard. I brought the greenhouses in my cellar (same as a basement...Pittsburgheese) for the next day near the best window I could find. The end of the week should bring warm temps so they will definately head back out. Keep your fingers crossed.
We're also going to build a small garden from these log things (sorry, Ed...I forgot the name of them) which will be really nice once we fill it with lots of top soil. It will be a fairly decent size too and will decorate the yard a bit...something to look at while crocheting outside.
I'm personally looking forward to the front porch being cleaned up..We love the porch swing out there and spend many hours sitting, relaxing, crafting, reading and just being....We cannot wait for that.
Well, that's it for tonight. This daylight savings time is not in my brain yet! It's so funny...when I came home from work, the cat was still sleeping which he usually is up and ready to go....but heck, he's still on standard time...go figure...hey, he doesn't know. Unfortunately, he'll probably be running around when I'm trying to get to sleep.
Okay...off to dreamland....till tomorrow...Tootles!

The finished product...sorta!

Well, here is the finished felted purse. The blocking or shaping of it turned out nicely as you can see.

It shrunk up pretty good also.
Where it was 19 inches long it is now 11 inches and it was about 12 inches high and now it is about 8 inches. I forgot to measure the width of it but I'm gonna guess that it was a good 8 inches wide and now is about 4 inches wide.
Now as far as the grommets go (those gold clasps), I never was good at putting them in and the directions weren't the best, but after several attempts and two hammers later I figured it out.
Unfortunately I ran out of grommets in the process and the back (which you cannot see in the picture) has no grommets yet...but they will. In the pattern (which is in my Favorite Patterns Link now) it showed the straps out of strips of leather. I managed to find a pack of scrap leather strips at the craft store so I used those...but you can do anything you want.
So with that said, don't be afraid to attempt felting...it's really easy. I got my yarn at Knit Picks and it was called Wool of the Andes...only $1.79 a skein and their delivery was pretty quick. Check it out. (click on Knit Picks and it will take you there)
Well, that's about it for today. It was a beautiful spring day here in Pennsylvania and I hope it was where you are...so with that, I'll talk to ya tomorrow, after going back to the old grind....tootles!

Let's FELT...

Ok, I'm attempting my first felting project with Dawn's Well Traveled Bag, at Wild Yarn which I fell in love with. So that I don't feel alone, I'm going to have you join me in my first felting adventures.
First, I'm going to show you the size of the finished crocheted bag. As you can see it is approximately 19 X 12. I just loved the colores in it. It will be interesting to see if they stay the same after felting.

Next, I'm going place the crocheted purse in a zippered pillowcase for washing.
Well, that wasn't difficult.
Now I promised to show you the inside of my washing machine, and so I will.

As you can see, I placed an old pair of jeans and a pair of flip flops for extra agitation and of course the pillowcase with the purse zippered inside. I put the machine on the small load, hot wash/cold rinse (tho it won't rinse at all in the machine) and a regular/normal wash.
I checked the purse after 10 minutes and it had already begun to felt fairly well. I gave it another 10 minutes and was satisfied with this.

I did a close up of the stitches so you could see how close they have become now.

I stopped here and took it out for a cold water rinse by hand and also I also squeezed out the excess water with a towel. I didn't want to wring it dry as I did not want excess creasing. Just a good squeeze in a towel did it.
Now, I'm going to block it. I put a plastic bag over a box that was about the same size then placed the damp felted purse over it for a good 24 hour drying.

So, tomorrow, I'll let you see the finished product that is hopefully dry. I'll also measure it again so you can see the difference in sizes from the crochet item.

Also, I found this site http://lusciousgracious.com/felt.htm a very good tutorial for felting. I'm sorta following these steps, but there are also some hints and tips on there that you may find interesting and helpful.

So, check me out tomorrow to see at what point the purse is. Enjoy the rest of your evening and don't forget to come back for hopefully the finished product. Hasta manana!!!

Out to dinner....

Well, tonight we went out to dinner with my son and his gal pal. My son had told us about this place that he thought my sweetie and I would like cause he knows how much we like cabin type places. Well, this place was cabin like but in a totally different way. It was really cool. This first picture shows the view from our booth.
There is stuff everywhere. It's like you don't have enough time to look at it all. Posters, beaded curtains, twinkle lights, you name it.
They also had this cool looking lamp...nothing I'd have in my house, but it was so unusual that we just had to take a pic.
This odd bride was hanging from the ceiling when you walked in....it really was the first thing you saw because she was so big. I'm sure there is a story behind it as, from what I understand, there is for most of the items in this family owned restaurant.
This cute piano player, who probably was at least 80 years old, sat there in his suit and tie playing the piano...we heard someone playing a coronet also, but I didn't see him/her.
Now you know of course, I had to throw in pictures of my son and his gal pal as well as my sweetie and me.


We had a very nice dinner and good conversation. It seems as though ever since my son got out of High School and into college, we have so much more fun with him. He actually asks us to go places with them. Like last week when we went to the movies; in his younger days, he wouldn't have sat next to us...like it was really uncool. Now he does...he actually wants to. It's like when those teenage years come, you have to watch them from a distance and try to guide them without them knowing but at the same time be right behind them ready to be there if, as Dr. Phil says, they need a soft place to fall. It's one of the hardest parts that I've experienced in my son growing up. They want you, but they don't want you...they hate you but they love you. It's really crazy. But I'm see him growing up and maturing somewhat and becoming his own person, ready to face the world. I sorta think that God just loans us our children.....we'll help them grow and guide them then send them on their way to start their own lives. Having an only child, I don't want him tied to my apron strings....I want him to have his own life, his own family, his own world as my mom did with us. We've given him the tools, showed him how to use them...now we want him to build a life. And most of all....we want him to be happy!!! We want him to follow his heart and his soul in finding what and who makes him happy and go with it....just be happy.
Ok, child rearing 101 is over...off to the rest of the evening. Enjoy yours...and till tomorrow....tootle-lu!

Just a mag review....

Not that much to say today so I thought I would do a little magazine review. It happened that two days and many dollars later, I got my little Ford Escort back from the mechanic. Well, I must say it was extremely dirty so I decided to go to the car wash. After sitting in a row of five cars (this is were you need to have a crochet/knitting project always in the car somewhere) I got my car cleaned. Now I wanted to see if it was running up to par, so I decided to take it for a spin to the book/magazine store. Okay...okay...so I was looking for a particular magazine and being as I was cooped up in the house for two days,(aside from work) at the mercy of my son who had his car, (actually mine, but I'm supposed to say it's his), I was itching to get to any store. So I came across this particular magazine by Vogue, called Knit Simple. It's theSpring/Summer issue.

What caught my eye was that it had crochet on the front and it's a knitting magazine. So of course I made myself comfortable on the floor of the book store and skimmed through it. I liked it enough to buy it. When I checked it out at home, it did have a bit of crochet in it which were the flowers on the front of the magazine. They also gave a little tutorial on crocheting in a back section and a really nice knitting one with supplies you need, etc...

Now what I liked about the magazine is that it has these little informational sections....sorta like little knitting tidbits, book reviews, new products, etc.

I'm not one for magazines that have nothing but the patterns, unless of course there are alot of patterns I want. There are patterns in it, from knitted sweaters for kids to adults, as well as some cool vests, the crocheted flowers and lots of ideas on where to use them, and a really neat knitted afghan made with 12 individual squares to represent each month. This I would bet you could make following the same pattern using the afghan stitch in crochet, with a couple of tweaks. I haven't read it all yet, but it looks interesting, especially if you're new to knitting or restarting after a long long absence, such as myself.
So, that's my blog for today...not much, but hey, most of you were probably out enjoying this beautiful spring weather anyway, as was I.
I want to finish a particular crocheted purse that will be felted....I can't wait to try my first felting. Hopefully this weekend I'll do some pics from crocheted purse, to washer, to felted purse...to finished product. Sorta like we're doing it together...hey, you'll get to see the inside of my washer....try to hold in your excitement. So, till tomorrow and the beginning of the weekend.....(OH YEAH)......don't let the "blog" hit ya in the butt on the way out!!!! Tootles!

I SHALL WEAR......

When I am an old woman
I shall wear purple,
With a red hat which doesn't go and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and
summer gloves. And satin sandals, and say we've
no money for butter. I shall sit down on the pavement
when I'm tired. And gobble up samples in shops and
press alarm bells. And run my stick along public
railings. And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain. And pick
flowers in other people's gardens.

And learn to spit...
But, maybe I ought to practice a little now? So
people who know me are not too shocked or surprised
when suddenly I am old and start to wear
purple.

- Jenny Joseph

And with that said, I shall begin with my purple slippers that have been on my percentage bars for quite awhile. The pattern for this is on my favorite patterns at the sidebar under Quick Slippers. I love these slippers. They are so easy to make and very comfortable and warm to wear. I think I could have 100 of them in every color and be perfectly content to wear nothing but these....for the cold weather of course. These ones have a cute trim made from yarn that I had received in my box of "winnings" from the contest on The Cats in my Craft Basket blog. It is a soft yarn called "(something) Bee" from Hobby Lobby and the color is "Frosting". We don't have a Hobby Lobby in my area but I'm sure any fun furry soft yarn will do....let your imagination go wild...add beads, fringe...whatever!

Now keeping in the purple theme...I was so excited to see little tiny buds on my purple lilac tree. So, of course, I ran out with the camera and took a picture.

My dog, Katie, as you can see in the background, looked at me as though I was losing my mind. But those first buds after a long winter are such a welcome site. I think my favorite thing is, after a long days rain or a couple of days, you go outside, and everything suddenly looks so green. It's like magically, overnight, someone came along and just painted everything...the greens are so bright....and the smells of that first warm spring day are absolutely incredible. I love living in Pennsylvania....I see the hills right outside my Kitchen window and the changing seasons on them...it's beautiful!!!!

So, I think....that when I am an old woman, I shall wear purple.....and live in Pennsylvania!!! Till tomorrow and one day closer to that first warm green spring day......

A quick and easy project..

Hi all...I found this quick and easy crochet project that I took on for my Project Linus blankets. Our chapter noted that though the baby blankets were wonderful, they were in need of blankets for older children. Our Project Linus newsletter also gives ideas for blankets and one was this quick and easy crochet trim for a fleece blanket.




It's two yards of fleece and about one skein of Red Heart worsted weight yarn. Now the pattern suggested that you get an awl and poke holes in the fleece about 1/2 inch apart and maybe a little less than that from the outside edge. Another suggestion, which I tried to do, was to hammer a nail into a piece of board and then just push the material down on it. Well, there I am pushing this nail into the material, my hand starting to hurt everytime it hit the board, at which time I opted to put on a pair of gloves. My sweetie-man said, "What are you doing?" When I explained, he said, "Why aren't you just using a hole punch?" I said,"That won't work....that 's for paper...this is material." He said, "Try it...humor me!" By golly gee whiz, if that didn't work like a charm. A nice 1/8 inch hole punch punched that material slicker than....slick! I whipped right through those punches and was on my way to crocheting. I used an F hook and did 2 single crochets in each hole. The second round is really up to your discretion. I did 1 single crochet, skipped a stitch, 5 double crochet in the next stitch, skipped a stitch, then back to 1 single crochet and so forth all the way around. It sorta ruffled a bit, but it turned out cute. Now I did see some really fancy baby blankets done on the web (just google crocheted fleece blankets) and the edgings were really elaborate. Mine is simple and it will be great for an older child...big and warm.
So, that's about it for tonight...Iwas messing on my blog today and took up most of my evening trying to teach myself more HTML tricks. I'm learning. So, off to sleep.....till tomorrow...happy crocheting and/or knitting!!!

Book reviews...

Hey...got some books in the mail today. I was waiting for them then all of a sudden they all came in on one day. So I'm going to give a little book review here.
The first one is the Crochet for Barbie.....

Okay call me crazy, but there is just something that draws me to that doll. My sister is the same way....must be something from our childhood. I actually think I wouldn't mind making the doll clothes and selling them. Well, anyway, I found this book on amazon at a pretty good price used so I bought it. The outfits in it are pretty cool....alot made with pearl cotton or Knit-Cro Sheen. Some of the yarns I've never heard of but I'm sure one shot on Google and I'd find them. The outfits are pretty up to date too. There's hats, ponchos, little purses, gowns, casual wear, Barbie afghans and pillows, outfits for Ken, even one for her dog. There are alot of cute sweaters and scarves and outfits for various seasons (a pumpkin sweater for instance). 75 in all. I think the crochet is done very well....by that I mean it matches the size of Barbie versus being too bulky for her. It's worth checking it out if you are into making small doll clothes.
The book next to that, Ready, Set, Knit...was one that I saw on someone's blog and for the life of me cannot remember whose it was. I'm sure it was someone on my favorite blog list. Seeing that I'm wanting to start to knit again, I thought it was worth a look-see on Amazon. Nice book with lots of detailed pictures and some cute patterns. Good price used.
Now these next books were a trial from House of White Birches.

If I don't like them, I can return them postage free. My only problem with these, were that, for me, the patterns sorta reminded me of the 1970's. But someone else may love it. Trying it out for free...what the heck. But I'll be honest with you, I'll probably send it back. It came with the Quick and Easy Scrap Projects which I would pretty much give the same review....a little 70's for me. Don't get me wrong, some cute bookmarks and stuff, but I'm honestly trying to find new and updated looking stuff. I was a little disappointed in both. It may be what you are looking for....so I'm sure if you Google "House of White Birches" you'll find it.....may be too new for Amazon, but give it a try.
From everyone's comments on my cat, I guess cats all have their hangups.....A couple people suggested a 12-step program, which I thought was hilarious....but a good thought. I haven't even begun to tell you about my dog who likewise cannot hold his "licker"...except her drug of choice is the livingroom rug, walls, doors, and the inside of her doghouse. (not to mention SHE humps one particular pillow on the couch when no one is around) Where do I find these animals anyway...gotta love 'em.
Well, with that....I'm off to crochet land. Enjoy your evening and don't forget to get your daily dose of humor at THE FUNNY PEPPERS! (Hey, check out Candel In TheWind too.....she made a cute sock monkey and has some cute stories to tell!) Till tomorrow...

A family secret....

Well, it's finally happened. We have to face the inevitable in our home. We've tried to deny it...tried to ignore the warning signs, but it's just gone on for way too long. We don't know if it's genetic or possibly something we have subjected him too when he was small. It's a sad situation and we feel that we may have to have some type of intervention.....but, yes.....our.....our
okay...I'll just come right out and say it....OUR CAT CANNOT HOLD HIS "LICKER"!

Whew....that wasn't easy. Yes, our cat is a LICKER...he's addicted to plastic. He licks it in the morning...in the afternoon...he sneaks into the garbage can at night and pulls out any plastic bags he can find. Yesterday, he hit rock bottom when he threw up on the window sill after "binge licking."
He's even gone so far as to pull out the little wrapped packages of hygiene products from the bathroom just to lick the plastic. He cries at the bathroom thinking that I'm throwing them away without his knowing. I'm guilty of contributing to his addiction, I admit....I'm an enabler! Is there a Dr Phil for cats and their owners?
I just wanted to get that out in the open before you think I'm who I'm not.....yes....I admit...I have an addicted cat! Now you know it.....
Okay...with that out craziness out of the way.....I'm going to bed.....that was too stressful for me.....so, till tomorrow......don't let the cat get your tongue....(he-he) Tootles! P.S. Thanks for all the nice compliments on my pics yesterday...you guys are great!

Project Spectrum update

Ok, seeing as I hadn't posted too many pictures for Project Spectrum, I thought I would devote this blog post to it. I think Project Spectrum was such a cool idea. I mean, there is no timeline to finish or anything you really need to do other than be more aware of the colors in our world. What a great idea...hats off to Lolly of Lolly Knitting Around of comming up with it. I'm already thinking about next month's colors. And that is what it is all about...being more aware.
My first picture is of the most beautiful roses I had ever seen that were sent to me for Valentines Day 2005 when my sweetie couldn't be with me that day.

The picture is a little blurry and doesn't do them justice, but I thought they were absolutely gorgeous. I managed to dry them right in my office and they still are hanging there as beautiful as ever.
My second red, is a santa hat.

Actually it's a toilet tissue cover for my bathroom that I made for Christmas. The reason this is so special is that I took at pattern of another kind of toilet tissue cover (I think it was one for the 4th of July) and made it my own. I don't normally if ever do that. Usually I need to have that pattern right in front of me. It was a small project but it gave me a little confidence in designing something on my own. (if you knew me and my NEED for patterns, you would understand this was a real feat for me!)
This next picture is a rag quilt I made out of flannel for my son's gal-pal's 16th birthday last year.

I did it because I really think she is special and I really don't know anyone whose favorite color is red. So I just red-i-fied it...I don't think that is a word. It was very warm and very snuggly and she loved it.
Next is a picture of Adagio Tea.

Now, I am a die-hard coffee drinker. I do like tea once in awhile, but I put cream and sugar in it as my parents did for us when we were growing up. Rarely, if ever, do I drink it without...usually only with a bad head cold. Now everyone had these Adagio Tea buttons on their blogs. It was sorta like the signature drink for people who love yarn...what the heck, I would try it. It's only sold online (see my button for it) and it is by far (when made correctly and not overbrewed) the best tea I have ever ever tasted. I use honey in it and religiously drink a cup everyday now. I am "hooked-lined-and sinkered" on this stuff. No cream...no sugar....just honey!!! Smooth and not a bitter drop in it....WOW! The first time I made it, I thought it was so pretty...is that crazy? So I took a picture of it. (Don't worry...I still love my coffee)

Last is a picture of a quilt that has nothing whatsoever to do with Project Spectrum, but I promised Amy from The Calico Cat (a new blog I read) that I would post this.

My niece, whom I love dearly, married the man of her dreams, last year. I wanted to do something that would blow their minds, so I made this wedding ring quilt. It took me a year, and had some crazy amount of pieces. I did the entire thing by hand, pieced and quilted, and I included some memorable pieces of material in it from things I made from her childhood as well as material symbolizing things that her and her new husband enjoyed. I also included material from an old dress my mom (who lives in heaven now) used to wear quite alot around the house. Needless to say, it was a tremendous project for me. Lots of tears when the family read the letter I put with it. I haven't been quilting as long as I've been crocheting and I'm a self-taught quilter...but, once again, I had a pattern and sometimes that's all I need. I always say, I can reproduce anything....but don't make me think it up myself. I admire so many of you out there who can pick up a skein of yarn and come up with these beautiful projects and patterns all from your head. Now I think THAT is talent!!!!
Well, so much for tonight.....Cops and America's Most Wanted, along with a crochet project or two are on my agenda for the night...sitting next to my sweetie-man of course. Enjoy your evening and don't forget to get your daily dose of humor in THE FUNNY PEPPERS (remember...best viewed in Netscape or FireFox). Hasta manana, mi amigos (didn't know I could speak Spanish, did ya...I can't really) Tootles!

Let's recycle...

Okay...we're going to try something different. I was reading Brandy's blog at Crochet Nut and she was crocheting with rag strips and it brought to mind something I've heard of and always want to try........

That's right....plastic grocery bags. I think this is so cool. I immediately thought, "heck, I got a ton of those." Well, it turns out I don't have nearly as many as I thought believe it or not....but I can come up with something. I know, I know..you're saying...didn't you just start a purse yesterday. Yeah, I did and I'm working on it. As far as this goes with the plastic bags, I have to cut these and put them together and then put them in ball....so it sorta like something I'll do on the side just for the fun of it. (along with all the other stuff on the side I'm doing) Just for your reference, here are three links to crocheting with plastic bags that I think you might enjoy:

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art35668.asp

http://www.marloscrochetcorner.com/round%20plastic%20bag%20tote.html

http://www.marloscrochetcorner.com/Plastic%20Bag%20tote.html

The last two sites I think have really cute bags. I'm sure you could knit with the same plastic bags. I've never seen knitting tho. I've also seen rugs crocheted too. I imagine you could you use any kind of plastic. Sometimes you can get those cheap kitchen bags in different colors. Let me know if you've ever tried it. Don't worry...I'm still working on my felted bag....that is most important....that and my shawl swap project.

Oh, well, I also got my postcard swap recipient today in email. I'm anxious to see what I can come up with in yellow and oranges. This will definately be fun....I usually go to a craft store near us called Pat Catan (anyone have those) and I'll be looking around there tomorrow for some ideas, in addition to buying a skein of yarn or two that I don't need...he-he!
Well, not much more to say tonight....gonna go read some other blogs on my bloglines....I feel like life is passing me by when I don't read them everyday and I am behind!
So, till tomorrow... and the beginning of the weekend...oh yeah!!!! Tootles!

Poopy is over...

Okay...I'm back to reality...and feeling great. My poopy mood is over. First off, I got this cool book in the mail today, 200 Crochet Blocks.

I'm a big fan of Amazon.com. I saw this book somewhere and got it used off of Amazon for less than the book store cost with shipping. 200 crochet blocks...that's alot! Haven't checked them all out yet, but it seems to have every possible block you could make. I look at it as 200 different patterns...so needless to say, I'm happy.
And I started a new project. Don't moan...I had to. The purse I am using had a leaky pen in it and so I have to make another....right? Anyway, it gives me an excuse to try my first felted project. Dawn's Well-Traveled Bag that I've been dying to try.
Got the yarn from Knit Picks (that place is cheap) and I'm on my way. I will finish this one...guaranteed. I fell in love with this bag the first time I saw it. Here's the start...looks huge...but that will change I'm sure. I'll let you see the end results.

In the middle of that pic is my Mini Kacha Kacha.....or row counter.

I'm terrible with numbers...I wasn't in line when God was giving out memory for numbers.(must have been crocheting somewhere) This really helps. At least I can remember to click it everytime I finish a row. (don't laugh..wait till you get 9 months away from 50!)
So, just wanted to show you some stuff. I spent so much time on the computer yesterday, I really want to crochet tonight...and by golly I will!
So, you all take care....don't forget to read THE FUNNY PEPPERS (best viewed in Netscape or Firefox) and enjoy your evening!!! And remember......tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!

No pictures...only a post!

Okay, first of all, I want to thank all you wonderful bloggers who read my blog for the kind comments. I tried to leave a comment back to thank you on your blogs....(note to Turtle Heart: my comment wouldn't stay on your blog for some reason...but thanks) If I missed you....thank you! You guys are the best!!!
Second...I have no pics to post because I'm going to send you to the blog "candel in the wind." Why? Because my dear friend Courtney (whom I've adopted as my internet little sister) wanted a new background. Well, I've only changed my background and that wasn' t real hard because they gave you the code and you put it in and BINGO, everything fell into place. Well, just like a real "little sister", Courtney wanted something different....and as I love a challenge, I just had to figure it out. It was quite different to say the least with downloads and a few different files with html codes. And being as I really never did this before January, I'm pretty damn pleased with the results. Whether Court will like it, I don't know. It still needs a few tweaks (love that word) here and there but it worked. The best part about it was that I learned so much in the past 3 hours (almost midnight now)! My brain is fried but happy!!!! I really really love a challenge. Once at work, they needed someone to type out a Power Point presentation. My boss asked me if I ever did it. I said nope...but I'd be more than happy to give it a shot. Damn if that power point presentation didn't make the front page of the newspapers....ok, the picture of the guy giving the presentation was on the front page, but he was pointing at the presentation I did on the computer. Cool, eh? Boy did I learn alot on that one. When I got my job, I had to take a test beforehand. When I was done, the lady said, "well, your low point is the computer." (go figure) Well, in the past seven years, I taught myself (along with the help of my sweetie and little from my son) a ton. People come to ME and ask questions...and I never had a lick of computer training. But that is how it is with most stuff I do. I work better alone...never liked to work in groups. Probably everyone has something that they've done like that...self taught. I think it's great when you can do that. Whether it's a new craft, a new recipe,.....teaching yourself something and succeeding is a real "high". It's sorta like running a "brain marathon" and coming in first place. Ya know, if everyone tried to learn one little thing everyday....well, just think about it! So, check out "candel in the wind" and tell me what you think...good and bad. It's not perfect by no means...but it's sorta cool and leaves alot of room to add on. So until tomorrow....don't forget to read The Funny Peppers for your dose of humor and release those endorphins...till the 'morrow...later gator!