Some of My Thoughts...

Not much going on today so I thought I'd just put some of my jumbled thoughts here...

My magic ball afghan project is on pause for now. I ran out of black yarn so I decided to focus my attention on the doily I'm making for my uncle. Can you tell I'm procrastinating with it? I think I have been working on it for MONTHS! It is just so darned hard for me to see the tiny, little stitches.

Here are some other thoughts...everyone I know has replaced their incandescent light bulbs with the new improved energy bulbs. My question is, is it more economic and better for the environment to take perfectly good bulbs and toss them in the trash causing factories to manufacture more new bulbs quicker, the consumer to pay for them sooner than necessary, and landfills to receive them quicker? Let's see, you also need to calculate the cost-saving of having the new bulbs in your lighting fixtures.  How do we do that?  Whew!  You almost need to be a scientist to calculate out this one! Me, as my old bulbs die, I replace with the new and improved model.

Last night dh and I had our supper at a diner-type restaurant. I ordered a meal that was too much for me and as I was putting the left-overs into a "to-go" container a bit of food dropped on the table and I picked it up and put it in the container. DH said, "Heloise says that you shouldn't do that because sometimes women use public rest rooms and they put their purses on the floor. No telling what gets on the bottom of their purses. Then when they go back to the dining room, they might put their purses on the table and all kinds of germs get on the table. Then you just picked up that food with all sorts of bathroom bugs on it." Got me thinking that's for sure! Heloise is not only in the newspaper she is also online so go visit her for some creative hints.  Oh, by the way, I'm sure there are more "bathroom bugs" on the floor in the men's room!  LOL!

See ya later gator...

Just Before Midnight, 28 Feb 1942, USS Houston CA 30 Engages Japanese ...

On February 28, the USS Houston CA30 and the HMAS Perth proceeded to the port of Batavia in western Java, and partially refueled before attempting that night to pass through Sunda Strait in an effort to reach the safer waters of the Indian Ocean. As they approached the entrance to the strait near midnight, they unexpectedly encountered a Japanese covering force of nearly one dozen destroyers, three cruisers, and numerous torpedo boats and minesweepers that were protecting the invasion fleet. In the ensuing Battle of Sunda Strait, the Houston and Perth both aggressively fired at the attacking Japanese ships at close range, but, outnumbered and outgunned, they were no match for the enemy forces that completely surrounded them. Four torpedoes sealed the fate of the Perth shortly after midnight. Soon after, the first torpedo struck the Houston, and another Japanese shell destroyed her number two eight-inch turret, at which point Captain Rooks gave the order to abandon ship.
Tragically, one of the incoming Japanese shells struck a gun mount, killing Captain Rooks. The abandon ship order was countermanded and the Houston continued to fight, now alone against the Japanese fleet. She managed to hit three destroyers and sink a minesweeper before three more torpedoes ripped into the ship.
Hit by four torpedoes and listing to starboard, the Houston was doomed. The Japanese turned on their searchlights and continued to blast the ship. Captain Rooks and the majority of the crew were already dead. As a second order was given to abandon ship, the remaining crew members jumped over the sides, then began swimming furiously away from the suction of the sinking ship.
In the water, Japanese torpedo boats were machine gunning escaping sailors. Those who could avoid the gunfire began swimming through the dark, oil-coated water towards the Java shore, many miles away. Terrible as the experience of the last few days had been, their ordeal was just beginning.  (Information from University of Houston Special Collection).


When I was in college, I wrote my thesis on the sinking of this ship and the heroic crew.  The ship was substandard and the men did the best they could.  I was fortunate to attend a reunion/ memorial ceremony in 2002 and again in 2003.  The survivors I spoke with were friendly and more than happy to answer my questions. A bit of trivia, their experiences as POWs of the Japanese were used for the movie Bridge on River Kwai.

Update on My Magic Ball Afghan

This magic ball afghan is my relaxation.  I work on it in the evenings while dh watches television.  I think this afghan will fit a queen-size bed when it is finished or an over-sized double/full size bed.  I love how these look and I like the idea that I can use up remnants of yarn left over from other projects.  Roughly, I have crocheted it to 52".  I'm not sure how big I'm going to make it until I get it a tad bit bigger and lay it on the bed I'm making it for.  I'm thinking about using it for a regular blanket.  What do you think??? Do people use afghans for blankets?  The stitches in this one are close so there aren't any gaping holes to let the cold air in.  My chis, Opi and Nellie Belle love when I work on this and Opi is curled up next to me and Nellie B. is on my lap.  I've rambled on here long enough.  Thanks for visiting...
Click on the cute doggie button below to see links to other crafty people's works-in-progress.

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

Here is a vintage pattern for the

CROCHETED SONTAG:SHAWL PATTERN .

 It is a little bit different from most shawl patterns that I've seen because it has "ties" to help keep it on.  The site that it comes from is for Civil War re-enactors and has a variety of sewing patterns too. Hope you enjoy... 

Slavery Video: The History of Slavery in America

I've been a bit neglectful of posting topics of historical events in my blog.  Today, in honor of African American History Month, I am posting this 3 part video The History of Slavery in America.  You may turn off the music player by scrolling down the right column until you get to the player and then clicking on the mute button.  May we learn from the mistakes in our history...

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

Today's link to a free pattern is for a cuddly costume for your k9 fur baby. It can be worn in cooler weather just like any other dog sweater imho. It is from crochet kitten.    Here's the pattern.  Enjoy y'all!

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Sending all of you warm wishes and affection on Valentine's Day... Here's a sweet video for your listening enjoyment. You may want to go to the column on your right hand side and scroll down to the music player and mute it before playing this video. Happy Valentine's Day!

Need Crochet Motivation...

I  need to get motivated and finish the 2nd doily I'm making for my uncle's new place in Florida.  I'm not too keen on crocheting with thread.  In the meantime, I am working on a "brainless" project--a magic ball afghan.  For this, you just wind up all your scraps of similar yarns, in this case worsted weight acrylic, and crochet a simple pattern using a strand of the magic ball yarn and one other color, I'm using black.  It is so relaxing to just crochet back and forth. I'm doing the following row sequence:  single crochet, half-double crochet, double crochet, half-double crochet, and single crochet.  I'm repeating this sequence until I get to the desired size or run out of magic balls and have to put the project on hold until I have enough scrap yarn to make additional magic balls.  I'm using a J-hook to have a tighter crochet and hopefully warmer ghan. 

Until later, stay warm everyone!

Cuppa Coffee Anyone?

I love my patio and my front porch.  Frequently we have our coffee out there.  When I lived up north, not too many people used their front porches except as means of egress.  Now that we live a little further south in Kentucky, it is common to see folks sitting on their front porches visiting or just kickin' back.  I was thinking about how it's been months since I had my coffee outside and missing it.  Anyone want a cup???

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

Today's link to a free pattern is for the triple dishcloth.  You can find it here.  It is at Marlo's Crochet Corner.

UFO Scarf Is Now an FO

A scarf I was making had made its way out of favor and was set aside for a couple months.  I pulled it out the other day and finished it up today.  The yarn I used was some novelty yarn in a royal blue color.  I think I got it at Hobby Lobby so it is probably one of their brands.  I used a 2nd strand of Red Heart Super Saver in black.  Those novelty yarns are hard for me to see where to put my hook so I usually use a strand of  "regular" yarn with the novelty yarn.  Anyway, the ufo is now an fo and I still have time to use it this year before the weather warms up!  Here's a couple pictures....

 

Made Another Potholder

I made another potholder last night while dh and I were kickin' back watching some television.  The pattern I used is the same one I used in yesterday's post.  I think 2 good potholders should be enough for now.  Last night I dumped the rest of my store-bought ones in the garbage can.  They were in sad, sad shape.  I currently have 2 projects I'm alternating between, a scarf and another doily for my uncle.  Concentration has been off for more than a week because of this bug I can't seem to shake.  Anyway, thanks for stopping by and visiting...

Potholder and Dishcloth Completed

 

 

Yesterday as dh and I went to the VA Hospital for my appointment, I sat in the waiting area and worked on this potholder.  I finished it last night and had only a small amount of one of my colors to make this dishcloth that I finished this morning.  The reason behind making a potholder is that I was looking at my potholders and they are TRASH!  I hate to waste them just because they're not pretty but the ones I have are way beyond the "not pretty anymore" stage.  I made this potholder to be functional.  This basic design is the workhorse of potholders.   The pattern is a freebie from Lion Brand Yarns.  It whipped up pretty quick and I'm going to make a couple more and throw my current (store-bought) supply in the trash.  The dishcloth is just one row single crochet and alternating rows that are double crochet, chain one and then skip a space and double crochet again all the way across. A single crochet edge finishes it off. Thanks for visiting...Sharon 

Look-Up #1 Song for Specific Dates Since 1940 and On This Day 05 Feb 1953--"Sweets" Rationing Ends

Are you ever curious as to what the #1 song was on the day you were born, married or other special day?  You can go to this page and look up #1 songs for dates since 1940.  OK, let's look at an event that happened this day in history and see what song the people back then were listening too.  On this day in history, 05 February 1953, Great Britain ends rationing of sweets--candies and confections.  Sugar was still rationed until September of that same year.  You can go here for more information on this event.  Anywho, in the UK, they may have been listening to Perry Como sing Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes. Here's the song for your listening enjoyment.  Note:  To turn off the blog's music player and to more comfortably listen to this song, go to the blog column on your right and scroll down to the music player.  Click on the pause button to turn the player's sound off.

The Ripple Toddler-Sized Afghan is Complete!

This is a picture of the toddler-sized afghan I was working on.  It is finished!  WoooHooooo!  It was very easy to make.  There is a problem with it though and it's not because of me unless you consider the fact that I went "cheap" by using mill ends to make this.  Ok, here's the scoop.  The claret-colored yarn is mill ends that I ordered some time ago from a now defunct company.  Anyway, mill ends also equals "seconds" as far as quality.  In approximately the middle of this little ghan, the claret yarn is much thicker.  I think it will be alright as long as I throw in some baby booties or hat to go with it when I find someone to gift it to.  What do you think?  The yarn is soft and very pettable--crocheters and knitters know what I mean by this lol!  Here are 2 other posts I've made about it #1, #2.  Hope you enjoy.  Hugs...

The January Snow Here at Home

The things we do for our kids.  When we had our "big" snow of 4-6 inches, that was a big deal for our little chihuahuas, Opi and Nellie Belle.  If you think about it, that amount of snow hits them in the middle of their faces!  DH, the good doggie daddy that he is, shoveled an area for them to go outside to do their duty.  Here's a glimpse of  the "rest area." Barney, our "big girl" didn't have any problem with the snow as you can see by all of her foot prints.She loves to frolic in the snow.

DH thought I should put this picture in here so you can see what our pond fish are living under. He made this cover to put over the pond to keep all the leaves and winter debris out of the pond to save beaucoup effort to clean it in the spring.

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

Today's free pattern is for a crocheted baby set and afghan done in the shell stitch.  Enjoy...