Monday's Link to a Free Crochet Pattern (30 December 2013)

Today's free pattern is for an afghan. This is a beautiful afghan made of a single color. The advantage of making an afghan out of a single color is fewer ends to weave in. :) 

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (23 December 2013)

Here's a pattern for a star. You can use it for a toy or decoration. Check it out. :)

Wishing all of you good health, peace and joy this holiday season.

Hugs,
Sharon

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (16 December 2013)

Need a stocking for Santa to fill? Here's a pattern to make your own.

Have a great week everyone!

A Beret

Just finished making a beret tonight. This is the first beret I made and it was pretty simple. This is going to be a Christmas present for my daughter-in-law. She doesn't read my blog so it's okay to post the picture here.

pattern

Things are slowly settling down on the home front. Hoping to be back here more in the near future.

Take care everyone...

A Scarf to Match Friend's Hat

I made a scarf to match my friend's hat. She's a California girl freezing here in Kentucky. Poor thing will be more than ready to go home when her doctor gives the ok to fly.

This scarf is a free pattern from Lion. I did not use as many colors in mine. I used some purple to match the variegated yarn. I had concerns of having enough of the variegated and this purple matched the purple in the variegated pretty good.

Free Kindle Crochet Patterns "Welcome to Our Home"

Home Again

I spent the last 2 nights in the hospital. I went in with pain in my back so severe I couldn't walk. Ray tried to walk me to the car to take me to the hospital but I could only scream and cry. Felt like my lower spine was compressed together and that when I tried to walk knives were being jammed in there. Got to the hospital and they weren't too worried about my back but my O2 levels were really low. I had to stay in the hospital for 2 nights and have some respiratory therapy because I now have COPD.

Lessons learned:

• Should not have started smoking in my late teens (or ever) to be defiant or to be "cool."
• Can spend the money on better, more fun things than cigarettes.
• Most important is that COPD is not curable but rather controllable.  I took my health too much for granted in my younger years and now I have numerous health issues that I might never have had if I had taken better care of myself by eating better and not started smoking.

I hope to be back here in a day or 2 with a more upbeat post.

Take care everyone and I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Hugs,

Sharon

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (18 November 2013)

Here's a cute dishcloth that is shaped like a fish. This would make a quick, last minute gift for someone.

Black Friday Ad for Yarnoholics

Just thought I'd share this with you. At 6pm on Thanksgiving, you will be able to purchase RedHeart Jumbo Supersaver Yarn for only $3.88 at WalMart. Here's a look at the page from their ad. Time to stockup!

So much for my stash-busting lol.

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (11 November 2013)

Here's a cute amigurumi raccoon for you.

Enjoy

Here's the Projects I Haven't Had Time to Post about Lately

My friend saw a hat I made and asked if I'd make one for her too. She's a California girl and has been cold since she's been here in Kentucky at the rehab/nursing home. I think the color of this one looks great on her.

Pattern

Poor thing really messed her leg up--

One of her nurses liked the hat and asked if I'd make her an identical one and another hat out of a different pattern in gray.

Pattern

Pattern

A little over a month ago, I made a scarf. I forgot what pattern I used but it came from one of the yarn companies sites like lion, bernat or one of the others (I think). I made another hat like the gray one but I used a flower on it instead of the bow-like trim.

Hat Pattern

Flower Pattern

Ray has been a bit slow with the bathroom remodel. We've changed the design of the shower tile layout a few times. He also doesn't like working with the subway tiles and had wanted to use 12x12 inch tiles but I pouted long enough to convince him otherwise. ;)

For some reason, many of the pictures I take in the bathroom have these orb-like blobs in them. Maybe we have ghosts?!

All the drywall has been finished as has the electrical being redone and ready for the fixtures. He installed a new dual flush toilet and had to remove it and take it back because there was a defect--when he did the first test flush water spewed out a crack that looked like a defect in the manufacturing. We got a different type and it isn't a dual flush but does conserve water.

See the little crack at the top on your left.

This is the good toilet. The drywall behind it is all done now.

I think I'm caught up here except for a pair of slippers I made. I'll put them in here later on. 

Take care y'all!

Sharon

Sorry I've been gone for so long. My friend came to visit me and she ended up falling and broke 2 bones in her left leg. She had to go in the hospital and have a rod put in her leg. She is now in a nursing/rehab facility here. I've been spending a lot of time with her. We're hoping that in the next week she can walk the length of the hallway and then she can come to my house until she becomes more mobile and is able to go home. Her surgeon doesn't foresee her being able to travel until the middle of December. I have a few things I've completed that I'll be back later to post. Take care everyone...

Hugs,
Sharon

Bathroom Update--

It's slow going but progressing nevertheless. We had an electrician in this week to rearrange the plug and setting up the exhaust with a light on separate switches so we don't have to run the exhaust whenever we want light in there. We will also have additional lighting over the mirror. I really wanted that because it is hard to pluck those stray hairs without good lighting. :) Today the guys are going to temporarily put the toilet in. One of my best friends is coming in Monday for a 2 week visit and it might be awkward if she had to walk through the master bedroom to use the facilities in the middle of the night. Hubby will still be working on the bathroom during the day. He has done this kind of work several times for friends but because it's his house, he watches and rewatches how-to videos on Youtube--goofy guy. ;)

I've been slowing working on a baby blanket. Don't know where my crochet mojo has gone. This year has been an off one for crocheting.

That's about all for now.

Y'all take care!

Sharon

Bathroom Gone!

Yesterday when I returned home from 2 doctor appointments, I went to use the "facilities" and this is what I found--

Bathroom was GONE!  You may recall that back in April, I blogged about redoing the bath. Hubster has had a major procrastination episode and it didn't get started. Of course, I have had the new bathroom vanity plopped down in the living room for many months now and several boxes of lighting fixtures, faucets, tile and miscellany stored in the garage. I have a friend from California coming for a visit and this has been motivation to get the job done. I also think he is reluctant to work for this boss--ME.   I will be so happy to get this done and fixed up pretty.

About the doctors' appointments:

• I do have arthritis in feet and ankles. That's no big news. I'm to take the medication I have for arthritis in lower back, hips and legs for these areas/parts too. I am very thankful that my hands have not been affected.
• I have surgery scheduled for November 25th. I have a rectocele that needs to be repaired and a prolapsed uterus. The surgeon will put everything back in place and use my own tissue or donor tissue if needed to assist in putting everything in place and keeping it there. He doesn't want to do any extreme surgeries such as taking out the uterus because I am very prone to scarring and if any of you have had adhesions post-op, you know what I mean when I say they cause pain and it gets worse as time goes by. Anyway, everything is looking brighter for me and I am feeling blessed about it. 

Hugs, Sharon

ps--We do have a 2nd bathroom so it's not a big loss having this one under construction.  

Have a great week everyone!

This is like the one on Big Bang Theory

More Shower Curtains

Minion Hat #2

I finished the 2nd Minion hat the other day. It should fit a child this time; the last time I made it, it ended up fitting me. :-(

Here it is:

Pattern is available here.

Take care...

Sweet and Hungry Little Birds

My husband came home the other day with this old hummingbird feeder. He cleaned it up and asked me if I could find a recipe on the Internet to make the nectar for it. I googled around and found a few. Here's how I ended up making my nectar.

You will need:

4 cups of water

1 cup of sugar

Bring water to a boil, remove from heat. Stir in sugar until dissolved. You may add red food coloring if you desire. I didn't have red food coloring but I did have red crystal sprinkles and they were getting old so I just mixed  'em in. The little hummingbirds love it! It was hard to get a picture of one of those little buggers. They're constantly in motion and fast!

Hope everyone is having a nice week. Y'all take care.

Hugs,
Sharon

 

  More Hummingbird Feeders

Happy Birthday!!!

To my dad I'm sending you hugs and best wishes on your birthday--Back in the day, you were the best!

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (23 September 2013)

Today's link to a free pattern is for a teapot cozy. Winter is on its way and there's not much better than a hot cup of tea to keep you warm.

Yesterday was the first day of fall. Stay warm my friends!

Hugs,
Sharon

More Teapots

Minion Hat

It's a minion hat! I made it for a child but it turned out an adult size. I am going to make it again and down-size the hooks I use. This pattern is easy and fun to make. The pattern is available on this Ravelry page. There are numerous sizes included in the pattern and an assortment of looks to choose from. I'll be making another one of these soon.

Take care and have fun!

Hugs,

Sharon

More Minion socks

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (16 September 2013)

I know I haven't been here lately. I had some severe pain in my lower back/legs/hips and could barely walk for a few days. Turns out I have arthritis. It's under control now and I'm very thankful that my hands aren't affected.

Here's a link to a free afghan pattern. It combines the ripple stitch with diamonds.

Hugs...

Sharon

Look What I Found on Ancestry...

Way back in the early 90s, I became enamored with tracing my family tree and I worked it for about 5 years or so. That was back in the days before Internet and Ancestry.com were easily available. I was on Prodigy and there were some message boards I used and I used microfiche/film and other reference materials at the LDS Family History Centers close to where I lived. Then I got side-tracked and put little additional effort in researching for more leads. As a matter of fact, it had been so long, that my data files were stored on a floppy disc! 

A few months ago I bought a new genealogy program. The other day I finally installed it. The previous program I was using was Personal Ancestral File and that program is no longer supported. I purchased  Family Tree Maker Deluxe.  With this program, you can update your tree at Ancestry or on your computer and then sync them so all the changes show up on both places!  When I bought this program I got a 3 MONTH free trial for Ancestry.com too (I don't know if that was a limited thing time or not). I found this picture of my great-great grandparents on Ancestry and now I see where the chunkiness in the family comes from. 

 Once again, I'm up and running after my ancestors and filling in the blanks and looking for more branches.

Take care everyone!

Spiderman Baby/Toddler 'Ghan is Complete

It's done and now I'm getting ready to start a new project. I need to make a minion hat for a little boy.  There are several cute patterns in cyber-world and I need to pick one out.

Today is canning day. Yesterday's sauce is cooked down and I need to heat it, get it in jars and processed. Love the smell of tomato sauce cooking--it's like walking into an Italian restaurant. Who would of thought that plain ol' simmering tomato sauce could smell so good?

I'm rambling now so I'll be a good girl and get out of here.

Take care and stay tuned!

A Glitch in Finishing Blanket Tonight

I'm crocheting along, only a few minutes to go and my latest project is finished. When to to my wondering eyes should appear but a "lump" on my project.

Seems that Nellie Belle wanted some attention and since she's now an only child, the yarn and hook were put aside and it was time for some cuddling.

I'll finish the blanket tomorrow and then we'll probably have some more "quality time". 

Take care,

Sharon

Tomato Sauce Canning Time

Been picking, pureeing and cooking tomatoes for canning homemade tomato sauce. It's a lot of work but it is so delicious when compared to store-bought. I leave the skin on and then strain the seeds out after pureeing in the food processor so it is more nutritious.

More Information on Picasa/Blogger Photo Storage Issues

Here is some more information on using Picasa for your blog photos.  Hope this helps out others before they get in the position of either having to pay for increased storage, resizing all their pictures or starting a new blog.

• http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/picasa/_q6H3oOoPVA

• https://support.google.com/picasa/answer/1224181?hl=en

Hugs,

Sharon

Hope I'm Not Messing Things Up

I'm going through my picasa web albums and resizing and replacing all my pictures so that I don't have to pay for photo storage. Hope it's not goofing things up. I have started using Flickr and it's great with 1T of free storage but it is easier to use picasa. Crossing my fingers it turns out.

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (12 August 2013)

Today's free pattern link is for a pretty baby blanket done in shell stitches.

Enjoy!
Sharon

Peeking at a Work in Progress

This is what I'm working on now. It is going to be a Spiderman baby afghan for a friend's soon-to-be-born new grandson. I have more rounds to make and the webbing to put on. I love making round ripple afghans, they're so relaxing to work on.

Stay tuned for the final product....

Hugs,
Sharon

So Far, a "Slipperful" Week :)

I'm starting to get my crochet mojo back--YAY! I've finished 2 pairs of slippers this week and one was from a new (to me) pattern.

First, a pair of slippers from the pattern that I have made more times than I can shake a stick at.





The other pair of slippers is named "Tennis Socks" from the book Big Foot Boutique (Annie's Attic). I enjoyed making slippers from this pattern and I will definitely be making more. I did not put the embellishments on these because I think they look fine as they are and I had the "itch" to move on to another project lol!





I started another spiderman baby blanket last night.  I already have another project on the short list--a minion hat. I don't even know what a minion thing is but, I have been noticing a lot of cartoons and some crochet projects about minions.

Gotta go. I put a link below here for the book the slipper pattern came from. There's also a pattern for a cute pair of cowboy slippers--best of all, the patterns in this book are sized for kids and adults!

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (05 August 2013)

Today's free pattern is for an amigurumi dog. It is a real cutie too. Here's the link.

Have a great week y'all.
Sharon

Soft Green and Purple Baby Blanket.

Just finished this baby blanket today. The pattern I started with didn't work out. The center of the baby blanket was a granny stitch--meaning it looked similar to the pattern of stitches around the side of a granny square but it was made in rows and not rounds. The squares were supposed to go on the outside edges. My squares did not fit the sides of the center portion so I frogged the center and made a baby blanket out of basic granny squares. I think the colors give this blanket a special appeal. Okay, I've gabbed enough and here are some pictures. That's my Buster trying out the blanket. Now it's off to the washer with this one and time to tuck it away because the baby it's meant for isn't due for a few months.

Hugs,

Sharon