Coasters and Dishcloth

I finished this dishcloth some time ago but never posted a picture of it. It's just a granny square with a shell edging. I'm going to have to compare this kind with one made with a smaller hook and decide which is better.

I finished up this set of coasters this morning too. I just "winged" 'em. These are in my gift drawer anticipating being given to I'm not sure who. I make small things like these and put them in the drawer with several recipients in mind and at the last minute decide who is getting what. I'm kind of silly that way lol! Thanks for stopping in and visiting. Hugs...

ps-- After Thanksgiving I will be putting a music player on this blog with Christmas carols on it. Should I have it operate manually or start automatically when someone visits my blog? My current music player operates manually. Let me know what you think and the majority wins. Thanks, Sharon

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern 22 Nov. 2010

Here is a cute pattern for potholders that might be a quick, project for a Christmas gift. Don't we all end up needing a last minute gift for someone? Seems like there is always someone I want to get a last-minute gift for. Haven't tried this pattern yet but if you have, let me know about your experiences with it! I just might need to make one of those last minute gifts I was talking about :). Hugs to all...

Hobby Lobby 40% Off Coupon Good thru 27 November!

Here's a coupon from Hobby Lobby. It is for 40% off online and in-store purchases. Check it out here!

Away From the Controversial and Back to Crochet Stuff:

Today's post is back to the comfortable subject of crochet. My mil was a kind and generous lady yesterday and brought me some crochet goodies from a thrift-type store. She found a bunch of granny squares that someone had started making. The squares came with extra yarn and 2 hooks--one still in the package. I feel pretty excited that she found these goodies for me because yarn and crochet items are very hard to find around here at thrift stores. Thank you Hannelore!!! Anyway, I have a gazillion things in the works and NOTHING is getting done! I have to get my act together because Christmas is on the way pretty darn quick. I start crocheting something then I see something else I want to make and I start new projects without finishing old. OK, here's the plan: Finish the super-sized granny square throw and make a few pairs of slippers; dishcloths are ok to work on but only as a "purse project" when I'm stuck waiting somewhere. That's the plan and I'm sticking to it (maybe).

I almost forgot--I have to finish the crate cover for my son and daughter-in-law's 2 fur babies! I'm just out of crochet-control!!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend...

Fashion and Youth...

Last year, many of the kids at the schools I subbed at were sagging their pants. I think it looks tacky but that's not the reason I am against this style. After all, I don't have to like the various styles of clothing out there but then again I go for clothing that is mix and matchable and stays in style for years like old fashioned straight legged jeans. I don't like sagging because it is in some cases indecent to see someone's behind, underwear or shorts above their britches. My main objection to this style is the safety factor. One day I had a sub job as a P.E. (don't giggle over this) teacher and a kid's pants fell and he tripped on them as they wrapped around his ankles while he was shooting hoops. Luckily, he was able to get back on his feet after this incidence but he could have broken a leg or something in the name of fashion.



This year, there is a new trend and it is to wear skin-tight jeans that I've heard called jeggings and also skinny jeans. Sometimes these jeans are so tight that I wonder if the kids wearing them are having problems breathing.



Or maybe these kids are just using:



Now there are a few kids out there wearing what I call a "hybrid style" jeans. They sag a pair of skinny jeans!


Sagging jeans have become controversial. For a while, rumors were flying that sagging jeans were a prison thing signaling sexual availability. Not so according to Snopes. Many cities and counties have enacted laws making sagging jeans illegal. Some have been challenged and cancelled out but some are still on the books. Go to Google or another search engine and type in "sagging pants laws" and see the huge amount of links to go to and read about this issue.

So, what do you think? Are sagging jeans attractive on young men and women or are they tacky or perhaps indecent?

Free Crochet Pattern 18 Nov. 2010

The following pattern is in the open-domain and is available for use without copyright restrictions. The foundation is knitted but I think some clever crocheter could come up with a way to use the more common chain foundation. :) Enjoy folks...

Wristers or Pulse-Warmers

Wristers or Pulse-Warmers

Wristers or pulse-warmers, are very comfortable on a cold day, and those described particularly so, as they fill the sleeve and completely exclude the wind. Using knitting-worsted, or yarn of any desired size or quality with needles to correspond, such as would be employed for a man's knitted sock, cast 18 to 22 stitches on each of 3 needles, and knit 2, purl 2, alternately, for 35 rows or more, according to length required. Bind off loosely.

With bone crochet-hook work in straight rows from top to bottom, putting a treble in every other stitch and 2 chain-stitches between trebles; after the last treble at the edge chain 2, miss a row and return on the next.

Having completed the rows of spaces, make 2 trebles in 1st space, 3 in next, and repeat, working back and forth until all the spaces are filled. A very attractive finish is to work a row of doubles in color, making a double in each treble. With fine wool, crochet-silk may be prettily used for this finish.

A fringed wrister may be made on the foundation described by holding a pencil on lengthwise with the left hand, and with the right sewing over and over it; make the rows quite close together, cut the wound yarn open with a pair of sharp scissors, and brush lightly across it, back and forth, until the cut ends become "mossy" or fluffed up.

Whoo Hoo--I Won a Give-Away!

I won a beautiful cross-stitched Christmas picture. It is so pretty. It was done by Paula of Crochet & Cross Stitch Pattern Slut. Go on over and take a peek at her blog it's great. Thank you Paula!

And We Were Off to the Veterinarian's Clinic Again

My 2 chis, Opi and Nellie Belle have problems with allergies. Nellie was scratching quite a bit and Opi was too but he really tore his skin up. The vet checked for fleas because that's a common cause for skin allergies but neither of them have fleas. Both little ones ended up getting steroid shots and Opi is on antibiotics too. Here's a picture of them ready to go to the vet's.

Don't they look like they're saying, "Please don't take us for shots Mommy. We'll be good"?

WIP Wednesday 17 Nov. 2010

 

This week I'm showing off a throw that I'm making out of a single, super-sized granny square. I love how easy these workup. I'm using Caron off-white (a "staple" yarn in my stash) and a ILTY variegated color from Hobby Lobby.

Birthday Greetings...

If my mom, JoAnn Jungles French, would still be with us, today would have been her 74th birthday. She passed at the age of 33 from a stroke. She is still missed by my brother and me. Angel food cake is being served :). Love you mom...

Hobby Lobby 40% Off Coupon Good thru 20 November!

In-Store Coupon : Weekly In-Store Specials : Hobby Lobby - Hobby Lobby

Locating Historical Information About US Navy Ships:

USS Ajax AR-6

I was just being nosy and checked out a ship an old acquaintance of mine had been stationed on during Operation Eagle Pull and Operation Frequent Wind. Sometimes this old friend likes to make it sound like he was a Vietnam war hero but to tell you the truth, I have my doubts as to if he'd even left the ship since he was in engineering and they don't go cold iron (turn the ship "off") when there's a chance it might need to make a quick get away--at least that's the way it was with the old steam powered ships like this one. This means no liberty. This ship made a stop off the coast of Vietnam to help in the evacuations. Anyway, the ship's history is pretty well documented in Wikipedia. My old ship, the USS Ajax, is also listed in wikipedia so if you are interested in any other navy ships you may check there for any information.

We need to honor our vets and it is a shame that some vets exaggerate their experiences. No offense intended, after all, I'm a vet.

More information about US Navy ships can be found at:

• NavSource Naval History
• Naval History and Heritage Command (Navy Department Library)

More information on the evacuation in Vietnam:

• Operation Eagle Pull
• Operation Frequent Wind

Many ships have online webpages and shipmates organizations that you can visit for more information.

A Never Ending Crochet Project...

My son Justin asked me to make a cover for the large crate his 2 cocker spaniels sleep in. I've finished the basic panels--still have to crochet around them in black to "fit" them to the crate. I've used almost 3 pounds of black yarn so far! I'm crocheting with one strand of black and one strand of magic ball yarn. It's a big project and it burns me out sometimes but I WILL finish this, my granddogs are counting on me lol! Here's the panels so far:

Here's my son with his "kids" I am making the crate cover for:

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern 15 Nov. 2010

Walking into a local discount store is a big reminder that Christmas is coming up when I see all the decorations. It reminds me that it's time to get my hook moving and get ready for the big day! Here is a cute little Christmas stocking to crochet and then hang up for Santa to load with goodies for someone special. Hope y'all had a good weekend.

45% off Coupon for Michaels Expires Today--HURRY!!!

Online Offer

Here's a Bit of Sister Humor!

This was sent to me in an email and I thought I would share a laugh with all of you.





Search Amazon.com for standup comedy

A Couple Finished Projects

Here's a totally unrelated set of crochet projects I recently finished-- a doll and a dishcloth. The doll has given me headaches been a pain in the rear.

The doll worked up fairly easy but the clothing pattern was not easily comprehensible to me so I ended up "winging" her clothing. I'd crochet a little bit, hold it up to the doll and either frog or add more stitches as I tried to get the indecent dolly clothed! She started out as a Goldilocks doll but she quickly ended up a Christmas elf-ette or whatever you call girl elves. I believe she'll end up sitting on a branch on our Christmas tree. Anyway, here she is:

The dishcloth is reminiscent of hippies because it appears to be tie-dyed at first glance. I used a small hook, either an E or an F and crocheted a tight granny square that I used a shell-edging on. Turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. Now, some of my friends are probably wondering who will receive it as part of their Christmas gift. I don't know, but one of you probably will because I still have enough dishcloths for my own use and this one is going in the "gift drawer." I'll end up deciding at the last minute who gets it and who gets a different one. Almost forgot to put the picture in--lol--and here it is:

 Dentist did a partial root canal the other day and I have to go back next week to have it finished up. Some discomfort but no major pain and I forget to take the pain meds sometimes but I don't miss them so guess I can do without.

Hope y'all are having a great week so far. Hugs to all...

New Free Round(ish) Afghan Pattern Added to List

There is a cute octagon shaped afghan pattern for free at redhearts new site. I have placed the link on the page I've been making at the top of the blog page or you can click here to see it. Enjoy!

Slippers--Think Pattern Is for a Giant!

I tried a different pattern for slippers. It works up easy but my gauge was off so I down-sized to a smaller hook. This pair was going to be for me so I made the larger size to fit my BIG size 10 (sshhh) feet. Well, I think that either my gauge was still off or these slippers are for the Jolly Green Giant! I'm just going to pitch this slipper. I suppose I could frog it and use the yarn in a magic ball for some future project. Anyway, here's a picture of it:

After the Christmas slipper rush is over I'll probably try these again. In the meantime, I'll stick with my old tried and true pattern for these slippers:

A Belated Birthday Greeting & Getting Old and Things Are Starting to Fall Apart!

I was so wrapped up in myself and some dental phobias yesterday that I forgot to make a post saying "happy birthday" to my "baby." He's a big bouncing baby boy of 31 now! I did remember to get him a present so I'm not a totally derelict mom :). Happy belated birthday Justin!

I've had an achy tooth for a couple of weeks. It wasn't excruciating or anything, just a low-grade ache. I procrastinated going to the dentist but I started picturing having a toothless grin and I decide to cave and make plans for a dental visit. I get the insurance information from dh and schedule an appointment. Of course, with insurance being as it is, my previous dentist wasn't in the "network" and I had to get a new one. So, off I go to the yellow pages and find a "new" dentist and I do mean new. Turns out he just graduated from dental school this year. At first I was apprehensive to have this "kid," younger than my kids, delve into my mouth with his pointy instruments of torture! To my surprise, he was very gentle and took the time to show me the x-rays and explain what was going on. Seems like I need a root canal. Ugh, gasp, oh no! I've never had anything more than a filling except for the 1 wisdom tooth I had pulled. I've heard all the horror stories and now I'm sitting on pins and needles! Tomorrow is the day. I wanted it scheduled asap because the end of the year is coming up and I know that after the 1st of the year the new insurance deductible and all that starts over. I have no idea how much this is going to cost so it's best to get it taken care of before Jan. 1st.  I don't want to go!!! My question--will the tooth fairy leave a quarter under my pillow after this????