Baby It's Cold Outside!

I shouldn't be a cry baby because it really doesn't get as cold here in Kentucky as it does in the more northern states. I am a cry baby about being in extreme temperatures though I do appreciate the beauty of the ice we seem to have an abundance of today. Here's a glimpse of what you'd see if you were at my home today.

I don't know where the falling snow came from in this one. I thought I took a still photo.

Amazon has large selection of snow shovels

Found in My Email

I often receive so many "cutsie" things in my email that I barely glance at them before sending them on their way to the trash bin. These hints/pictures took me by surprise because I didn't know or think of any of these hints because I live a sheltered life or something. Here they are...

Most aluminum foil boxes have press-in tabs that secure the roll in place, so you don’t have worry about it flying out every time you rip off a sheet.

You’ve been dispensing Tic Tacs the hard way.

You know how when you violently shake a container of Tic Tacs into your palm it seems as though you always end up with zero or seven? Avoid that altogether by letting a mint gently glide into the tiny lid crevice.

You haven’t been using ketchup cups to their full potential.

Instead of grabbing multiple cups of ketchup, simply pull apart at the edges for twice the space.

Chinese takeout containers are actually made to fold out into plates.

The containers actually are meant to unfold into a makeshift plate, which you can easily reassemble into a box for storing leftovers.

Greek yogurt containers are meant to be folded in half.

Chances are you’ve been scooping the toppings with your spoon onto the yogurt.

But, have you realized, the topping holder folds over, so you can pour the toppings DIRECTLY ON TOP?

You’ve probably been placing toilet seat covers in the wrong direction.

The flap is meant to be placed toward the front. This prevents the agony of sitting down on a toilet seat, only to realize you’ve dragged the cover down into the bowl.

Soda tabs double as straw holders.

Turn the tab around so that it acts as holder that can stop the straw from raising out of the can as the soda fizzes.

You probably don’t realize it, but your pots come with built-in spoon rests.

(I thought these holes were to hang pots up by) 

soft drink lids can double as coasters.

None of these hints are going to drastically change the world but they sure are interesting to know.

Take care everyone!
Sharon 

A Small Project

Here's a pair of child sized slippers I just finished. I'm going to be visiting some family in the near future and I'm hoping to have slippers for everyone. I better get busy because I've been a bit lax with my crocheting lately. Anyway, here's the slippers.

pattern

This is the same pattern I always use for adult slippers. I think this is the first time I've crocheted the child-sized version.

Have You Seen This?

I thought I had surfed the Internet from one end to the other. Somehow I had missed the online magazine Crochet Savvy. They allow it to be embedded on other sites so here's the latest for you.

Turbo Tax is at Amazon

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (03 February 2014)

Here's a cute pattern for a dalmatian hat sizes baby - adult.

Enjoy!

OOPS! I forgot to put the link for this pattern. It is now added to the post. So sorry.

Here's a Crochet-Along

Head on over to Carolyn Christmas Design's page for information on a crochet-along she is hosting. Participants will be making afghans out of squares--but not your usual granny squares. These squares are made in a variety of sizes and have circles and dots. Here is the page with all the patterns for the squares. At a later date I will be making this but right now I'm trying to finish up another afghan and I need to get some slippers made to take as gifts for a trip I'll be taking soon.

Take care everyone and I hope life is treating you good.

Hugs, Sharon




FREE Kindle Version of Lion Brand's New Fall Collection: 15 Free Crochet Scarf Patterns, Afghan Patterns, and More

10 Uses for Vinegar

I always like to find cheap ways to do things. I use vinegar to clean my windows all the time. My proportions of vinegar to water aren't the same as in the video-- I use 2 parts of vinegar to 1 part water with a drop or 2 of Dawn dish soap and it streaks less.

Take care everyone...

"Mork & Mindy" Reunion

A favorite show of mine in the late 70s was Mork and Mindy. Mork (played by Robin Williams) was from a distant planet. He landed in Boulder, CO and Mindy (played by Pam Dawber) took Mork under her wing to teach about humans. I recently read that Robin Williams and Pam Dawber will be reunited later this year for an episode of William's current sitcom The Crazy Ones.

Here is the pilot episode for Mork and Mindy:

Mork and Mindy DVDs at Amazon

A Wee Bit of Humor...

I laughed and laughed when I saw this video clip. The language is a little coarse at times so if you're offended by that I'm letting you know ahead of time. Youtube has bunches of Mrs. Brown videos, some full episodes if you're interested in seeing more of this show.

Take care...
Sharon

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (13 January 2014)

Today's free pattern is for the Little Super Hero Blanket. This is a cute blanket for a youngster who is into the cartoon and comic super heroes. I really like this one because it is a round blanket.

Have a great week everyone!

My Current WIP

This is my current wip. This is for a dear friend of mine who isn't feeling well lately. She's a great person and very generous to others so this time she is going to be on the receiving end. :) This pattern is from one of my crochet magazines and I will post the pattern information on a later post in case someone is interested.

The color isn't quite true in this picture. It's just too darned cold to take pictures outside.

Stay warm!

Heated socks and foot warmers at Amazon

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (06 January 2014)

Hard to believe that 2013 is kaput already. It seems the older I get the faster the years go by. Wasn't I a 20-something girl just a year or two ago??? My mirror and old bones say otherwise. :)  Anyway, today's pattern is for a vintage afghan that would look great today too. You can find it here.

I hope everyone is staying warm. Take care...

Sharon

Amazon has heaters to keep you warm!

Happy 2014!

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