Missing "Daddy"

My fur babies have been driving me up a tree!  Nellie Belle and Opi are missing their daddy.  DH went on a trip for work last Wednesday and the "kids" have been barking all night at every little creaking noise that the house makes!  Needless to say, I haven't been getting much sleep.  Nellie B's usual habit is to go to the front door  about 5 minutes before dh gets home from work.  Nellie gets a sad look on her face like she's depressed or something when he doesn't come home.  The "kids" have their evening routine interrupted too--there's no daddy to cuddle in the recliner with! Mom isn't much of a recliner person but I've been making an effort to give them some cuddle time there.  I've been missing him too but I know that he'll be back on Friday but they don't understand that.  I let Nellie B. listen to the phone when I talk to him everyday and that perks her up for a bit.  I'm going to put some pics in here and then I'll go spend some quality time with the "babies".  

Here's Opi, moping in his "tent"

Nellie Belle says--"Can't find Daddy anywhere!"

I've had plenty of crochet time but I'm not finishing anything because I've been flitting between 3 different projects.  In a few more days things will get back to normal.  I've been wondering what I used to do when dh was in the Navy and deploying all the time then I remember that I had human kids at home that kept me really busy.  The 3 of us at home now need to get lives or something. ;)  Y'all have a great week!

Updated List of Links for Round Afghan Patterns

As some of you may know, I keep a list of links for free round afghan crochet patterns.  I added a new one to the list today. Plus, I found another one too--at least I think is new and not a duplicate lol!  To see the new links, you will have to scroll down to the end of the list. If you notice any problems with any of the links in the list let me know and I will investigate further.  Thanks and Enjoy!!!

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern

I saw this and thought it was very simple and most likely easily adjusted for larger and smaller sizes.  I liked it so much that it may go on the "to-do" list.  I haven't really made too many wearables unless you count hats, scarves and slippers so this will be a step out of my comfort-zone.  This pattern was mentioned on another blog and I decided to post the link here because this is such a nice item  Enjoy everyone!

Search Amazon.com for shrug patterns

Update on Lace and Bobbles Afghan

I'm becoming a frogging pro with this afghan!  For some reason, even though my count is correct as I'm crocheting, the next row is off.  I really should have paid attention in elementary school when we were learning how to count!  I think the problem is that I can only count to 20 accurately when I'm using my fingers and toes.  Anyway, I sneaked a row of sc in there to bring the count up to where it is supposed to be.  I'm really jealous of all the write-ups I've read about this ghan being fast to crochet.  For me, it's an exercise in frogging--rip-it, rip-it! Here's my lack of progress so far:

Thoughts on Pastor Terry Jones

Today I remembering the horrible thing that happened on this date in 2001. Many individuals lost their lives due to terrorist actions by crashing planes into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania. The parties responsible for such actions deserve to be punished and punished harshly. We can not condemn every person of the religion these terrorists belong to. That's ridiculous! Can we blame every Italian Catholic because of Mafia hits? Or can we blame every Irish Catholic for violence in Northern Ireland? Or every Jew because of violence in Israel? Of course not.


Terry Jones, a pastor of a small church in Florida had planned to burn copies of the Quran (alternative spellings are Koran and Qu'ran). This proposed action had sent shivers down my spine. Why? Anyone who has a little knowledge of World War II knows that Adolph Hitler burned many books to prevent the proliferation of non-Nazi ideas. On April 6, 1933, students in Berlin gathered to burn books. Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels joined the students at the bonfire and declared: "The era of extreme Jewish intellectualism is now at an end...The future German man will not just be a man of books, but a man of character. It is to this end that we want to educate you. As a young person, to already have the courage to face the pitiless glare, to overcome the fear of death, and to regain respect for death – this is the task of this young generation. And thus you do well in this midnight hour to commit to the flames the evil spirit of the past. This is a strong, great and symbolic deed – a deed which should document the following for the world to know – Here the intellectual foundation of the November [Democratic] Republic is sinking to the ground, but from this wreckage the phoenix of a new spirit will triumphantly rise..." (from here) 


Do you see where I am headed with all this???  Pastor Jones proposed actions are Hitleresque machinations of the public's fear and ignorance of Islam and Muslim people.   I am tired of religious men breeding hatred and fear such as this latest proposed "hate-crime." 


We must remember and honor those who lost their lives.  We must not do it by taunting violent episodes and by acting hatefully.  The victims deserve a better legacy than this!  


The mosque/Islamic center is still scheduled to built near not at "ground zero."  Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf has not promised to move the location of it despite the pastor's decision to halt the Quran burning.  I'm proud of you for not following through with it but why lie as to your reasons for this decision?  Be honest, you were wrong and the Presidential appeal from President Barrack Obama probably made you shake in your boots.  In the United States, we don't take the law in our own hands and it is scary to note that Jones's son Luke Jones and two assistant pastors, Wayne and Stephanie Sapp, are all wearing sidearms. (see:  USA Today article) Anyway,  Muslims have been worshiping there for about a year so what's the big deal?

• Here is some video footage reporting on the decision to cancel the Quran burning:

We should remember that our great country has, as one of it's basic building stones, the right for people to have religious freedom. In words of one of our founding fathers:

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church and State.- Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Connecticut Baptists

Pastor Jones, I'm praying that hate will leave your heart.  

New WIP--Lace and Bobbles Afghan

Many months ago I fell in love with the pattern for the Lace and Bobbles afghan pattern.

I found it in a used leaflet on the Amazon site and bought it right away.

 I was so anxious to get the pattern but finally today I started to make it.  I'm not using as many colors as the pattern calls for and my color scheme is more neutral with stash yarn in off-white, khaki, tans and a tweed-like off white.  The idea is to use up what is in my stash because one of the spare bedrooms is unusable because of stacks of yarn and patterns. A large part of the problem is that I got carried away when novelty yarns went on deep-clearance  and they're just not going away oh, and other yarn is stockpiled too.  I really need to do something with the fun fur and eyelash yarn I have but not in this project--maybe the next???

Anyway, here's what I've done so far.  I really shouldn't be posting about this in case this becomes a ufo in the closet but what the heck, here it is:

Scrap Yarn Afghans, Book 2: 7 Designs to Crochet (Leisure Arts #2159)

And Here's the HAT!!!

Ta Da--it's a hat! lol!  Made on the green Knifty Knitter loom. The grey yarn I used is ww I acquired from a thrift store a while ago and the pink is Yarn Bee from Hobby Lobby  I have decided that I have a fat head because this hat is snug on me too :). So, in the drawer it goes to be given to some young lady who comes to visit without a hat this winter or maybe I'll find a place to donate it.  Oh yeah, the picture:

Search Amazon.com for knifty knitter pattern book

A Hat Is Ready to Come Off the Loom

I have a hat ready to come off the loom.  I looked at a video tutorial to check out the procedure.  Mickeyssmail has numerous great tutorials for the knifty knitter. He also has a few video tutorials for crochet projects AND he has a facebook page too!  Here's the tutorial for taking a hat off the loom and finishing it off.

 Hat picture coming soon--I hope!

Search Amazon.com for loom knitting

Son and His "Kids"

My son has had the sweetest Cocker Spaniel named Spike.  Spike is a tan-colored little boy.  Spike is so attached to my son that when I babysat one weekend Spike moped the entire time he was with me and only moved to go outside and go potty.  Now, my son brought home a rescue little girl Cocker Spaniel named Coco as a sister and new playmate for Spike. She is very sweet!  Here's a picture of the 3 of them.

Search Amazon.com for Cocker Spaniel

Starting With My Knifty Knitter Again...

I've been thinking of breaking out my knifty knitters and making some hats for my guys.  I haven't loom knit very much so I decided to go to youtube and check out some videos there. Here's one by piggelwiggins that gives a great lesson on getting started.  I've only made a couple hats a few years ago with my knifty knitter so I really need some help review here.


Have a great week everyone!  Hugs...


Search Amazon.com for knifty knitter

A Classy Crocheted Hat...

When I saw this pattern for a hat, I knew I had to make it.  It is classy looking and slightly sophisticated in appearance.  I dug in my yarn stash and came up with the following yarn in lime green:

The yarn is medium weight (4) and that is comparable to the yarn required by the pattern.  Despite the fact that I crochet loosely, the yarn has a minimal amount of give and results in a snug fit.  So, this hat is going to a tween as a Christmas present.   I won't keep you waiting any longer; here's the picture of my completed project:

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern

YEE Haw!  It's a cowgirl outfit for a 7" doll!  Get your copy here.  Hugs....

More Vintage Comedy--The Little Rascals!

I posted a vintage video of the Three Stooges the other day.  Today, I have another vintage video for you--Little Rascals.  Where the Stooges used comic violence the Rascals used cutsie humor and loads of talent such as dancing and singing.  Here's one of their shows for your enjoyment:



Search Amazon.com for Little Rascals

Here's A Bit of Vintage Comedy--The Three Stooges

When I was a very little girl, I loved The Three Stooges.  I was terrified of them at the same time!  I would hide behind my dad's old vinyl recliner and steal glances at the television to watch them.  When Moe would clobber one of the other guys, I would fall behind that old chair until the sounds of eye poking, head clobbering, and face smacking were silenced!  Here is one of their short episodes for your enjoyment...



Search Amazon.com for Three Stooges

SCAM!!! "Rachael" from Credit Card Services

The scammers called again today at about 7:17 PM.  The lady said her name was Rachael and she was with Credit Card Services. A recording says they're calling about our credit card, there's no problem with it and we need to talk to them if we want to lower the interest rate. This time their phone number was different but the prefix was the same as another time when they called.  The number they called from was 502-000-9912.  It is really a strange looking number and a few times calls have come from a "000" prefix but different area codes..  I'm reporting them again.  One of these days they may quit calling!  I keep telling Credit Card Services to take my name off their call list and STOP calling me but they still do. Oh, and by documenting the calls here, someone else may see that these callers are scammers and not fall for their line. If you google this telephone number you can see that many people have received calls from this number and are getting upset about it.


Search Amazon.com for identity theft

Round Ripple Afghan Done--Just About...

Here it is!  Finished except for weaving in the ends.  In real life the main color is more of a mauve-ish.  It is a present for a friend of mine.  I hope she likes it.  I don't know if the color matches any of her stuff; if it doesn't then maybe she can just keep it on a shelf until she needs it to cuddle up with when watching TV or something like that.  I have several afghans that I've made that don't match anything but I just pull them out as needed.  I'm goofy about liking to work with different colors that don't necessarily match the decor--silly Sharon :). I used Aggie May's pattern (she's on crochetville.org).  She is very generous about sharing it with folks who pm her for it.  I LOVE this pattern! 

Time to weave in those ends and then finish the doll I started sometime ago.  After that, I have a hat I want to make--even have the pattern printed and the yarn assembled and all stored in a ziploc bag ready to go.

Have a great week everyone!

Search Amazon.com for crochet hooks

A Handsome Son!

Just had to share a picture of my handsome son Justin.  We went to Ft. Knox last weekend to see the Traveling Wall and made a quick visit to Patton Museum there too.  I got a bit worn out after viewing the wall--temperatures in the 90s and NO place to get something to drink.  I'd go again though even in the heat to  honor those who gave their lives.  It has been a long time since Justin and I did anything like this and I really enjoyed it.

ps--If you want an "unmarked" copy of this picture drop me a note and I will email you one.  

The Traveling Wall Visits Ft. Knox

This last weekend, the Traveling Wall was at Ft. Knox, KY.  My younger son and I visited it to pay our respects.  Here are a few pictures of our visit.  I was teary-eyed when I saw all the names.  I don't know how I escaped knowing anyone who died in Vietnam.


This traveling tribute is a true depiction of the great sacrifices made throughout the history of our country. It consists of: 

• Displays representing statistics from every war/conflict that the USA has been involved in.
• A series of World War II panels portraying the entire timeline of events.
• A Korean War tribute representing the timeline of the entire conflict with corresponding battle maps and photos.
• The Traveling Vietnam Wall – 80% replica (largest replica) of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC. The "wall" stretches over 380 ft long from end to end and contains all 58,253 names. The "wall" is current through 2009 and is constantly being updated to accurately pay tribute to those who died during the Vietnam war.
• A timeline, series of facts and figures, and a display of art from Vietnam veteran artists depicting patriotic and veteran themes.
• A display of USA founding and significant historical documents including the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and other historical documents.

• Panels for honoring Law Enforcement and Firefighters with pictorial display.
• A panel memorializing the casualties at the Ft Hood 2009 shooting.
• Pictures of each of our commanders in chief throughout history.
• A 9/11 tribute with the names of all 2984 casualties organized by where they were located at the time of death.
• The AVTT "Gold Dog Tag" display.  This one of a kind tribute honors those who have fallen and to which there is not currently a memorial for their honor and remembrance. Each dog tag permanently records the casualty information (full name, branch of service, rank, date and location of casualty) for that American Hero. This tribute is updated constantly and would be accurate to the day it would arrive at your location. Currently the AVTT Gold Dog Tag display is the tribute to those who have fallen 1) In hostile military actions between the end of Vietnam and the 9/11 attack and 2) As a member of the armed forces who have given their life in the Global War on Terror. 

For more info on this exhibit, visit this page.

Search Amazon.com for vietnam war

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern

I fell in love with this pattern for a hat.  It may make it on to the "short-list" of wanna make projects!  I really, really like this one!  Can you tell that I like it?!  Enjoy everyone....
















Search Amazon.com for crochet hat

And Here's Tooter Turtle!

I can hardly believe I found this cartoon! I couldn't remember the name of it, just when the disillusioned turtle would learn his lesson and call out "Mr. Wizard, Mr. Wizard I don't want... ." This was one of those Saturday morning cartoons that I looked forward to watching back in the old days.  I'm so happy to have found this!  Have a great weekend every one!