Crazy Weather

The schools around here are shut down for the day and businesses have delayed openings. Whew, must have been a heck of a big snow storm! Nope, not at all. There may have been a little dusting of snow (I didn't see any) but what we did get was an ice coating on everything! Son #1s plumbing froze at his house and he wanted a ride over here to use the shower before work this afternoon. I walked out my front door to go to my car and I slid on my fanny! Don't worry, I have a "plush" fanny and wasn't hurt--but decided that he could be a little stinker for the day ;).

Looks wet but it's ice. (This part of the porch is new and can't be painted until spring so that's why it's 2-toned)

See what I mean about ice on everything?

Sending all my friends a virtual hot chocolate!!!

Ooops, there's a bag of ufo projects in the corner! lol!

Search Amazon.com for ice melter

Getting Ready for Winter Storm

Down here in Kentucky by Fort Knox, we're getting ready for a major storm with snow, freezing rain and sleet. Had to go and get bottled water, canned foods and extra batteries for the flash lights. The gas stove we have now locks up and it isn't possible to light the burners with matches like our old stove so I got some propane for our camping stove just in case we lose power. We were without power for almost a week a few winters ago and it was kind of cozy sleeping on the futon mattress in front of the fireplace with the 2 chihuahuas snuggled with us. Hopefully we'll keep power this time. I'm ready for whatever happens. Y'all have a nice night and stay warm...

Ice storm January-February 2009

Anyone Want a Corvette for Christmas?

DH is finally willing to sell his Corvette. It is kept in the garage AND under a car cover. He just put over $1000 in it doing a fancy-smancy tune-up. Why??? I don't know because he only takes it out and drives it around the neighborhood every now and then. I think he'd keep it in a giant sized curio cabinet if there was such a thing. Anyway, it's a 1986, and the first $6500 takes it. Now don't you just want to put it in your driveway or garage? It's a "man-toy" needing a new man to adopt it and take home before the holidays.

Remembering Our Troops and Veterans This Holiday Season--

Here are a couple poems remembering our veterans this holiday season. The first 2 are courtesy of Robert A. Hall, a veteran of the Marines and Massachusetts State Senate. You may visit his blog here.

A Veteran’s Christmas Wish

Each year when Christmas comes around again,

I pause on Christmas Eve to take a dram

Of whisky, and I think of absent friends,

And Christmas in a place called Vietnam.

I think of boys who never had the chance

To see their kids on Christmas Eve at play,

Their lives were spent that freedom might advance,

From Valley Forge right up through yesterday.

They fell at Belleau Wood and Normandy,

At Gettysburg, at Iwo and at Hue,

They gave their lives to keep our people free,

And never saw another Christmas Day.

So take a moment from your festive joys,

To think of soldiers who were young and true,

And say a prayer on Christmas Eve for boys

Who gave up all their Christmases for you.

Robert A. Hall

Former SSgt, USMC

           

Spell check notes: Scotch whisky has no “e.”

Hue (Vietnam) is pronounced “way.”

The Christmas Gift

There is a gift that comes

From those out on the lines,

It is not wrapped in bows,

But, oh, how bright it shines.

There is a Christmas gift,

A pearl beyond all price,

From those who ask for naught,

But make the sacrifice.

They risk their blood and bone

On endless weary tours,

For that is all that keeps

The evil from our shores.

You worship as you will,

You freely have your say,

And all that is a gift

From sentries far away.

There is a gift that comes

From troops who guard the line,

That lets us live in peace

And joy at Christmastime.

We say “Support the troops,”

But hardly pause to think

What honor really means,

Or how near looms the brink.

There is a Christmas gift

From those who hold the line,

And you and I, my friend,

Get nothing more sublime.

            Robert A. Hall

            Former SSgt, USMC

Here's another poem I found by another author:

A Soldier's Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
 I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
my daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree, I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

 My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep
in perfect contentment, or so it would seem.
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eye when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
and I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,
to the window that danced with a warm fire's light
then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night"

"Its my duty to stand at the front of the line,
that separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red white and blue... an American flag.

"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
 Away from my family, my house and my home,
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat,
I can carry the weight of killing another
or lay down my life with my sisters and brothers
who stand at the front against any and all,
to insure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone.
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
to know you remember we fought and we bled
is payment enough, and with that we will trust.
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

By Michael Marks, Christmas 2000

Woodland Scarf Finished

I recently finished this Woodland scarf. I had gotten the pattern off the Internet a few years ago. I had made this once before but there isn't a picture on the pattern I saved. Hmmm, thought it did. Anyway, the pattern I have does contain a source that the pattern came from and it is Columbia Minerva Learn to Crochet book, 1976. You start out by making a square and then crochet a "ripple" down 2 of the corners. You can see what I mean from the pictures. I really like this pattern except that the edges tend to curl a tad bit but I did a bit of smoothing with my fingers and it seems to work. This is a completed Christmas present.



Search Amazon.com for learn to crochet for kids

Hat for Little Girl

When I crocheted this hat, I thought it was for an adult. I tried it on and whoa was it small! I used the pattern that I posted earlier this morning. I really like that pattern so I'm going to try and find a similar one in a grownup size. The pattern is fairly quick and very, very easy. I have tucked this hat away and maybe I'll review the copyright and see if I can sell it or maybe I'll just stash it for a future gift. Y'all have a wonderful week.

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern 13 Dec. 2010

Here's a sweet looking hat to keep warm with this winter. Wishing y'all a wonderful week...

"The Potato Child" --A Story for Christmas and Everyday Too

The following story is from the Project Gutenberg. It is a sweet story that teaches that gifts of value don't only come from the store. This story is now in the open domain and I am posting it here for your enjoyment...

The Potato Child

It was certain that Elsie had a very hard and solitary life.

When Miss Amanda had selected her from among the girls at "The Home," the motherly matron felt sorry.

"She is a tender-hearted little thing, and a kind word goes a great way with Elsie."

Miss Amanda looked at the matron as if she were speaking Greek, and said nothing. It was quite plain that few words, either kind or unkind, would pass Miss Amanda's lips. But "The Home" was more than full, and Miss Amanda Armstrong was a person well known as the leading dressmaker in the city, a person of some money; not obliged to work now if she didn't wish to. "If cold, she is at least perfectly just," they all said.

So Elsie went to work for Miss Amanda, and lived in the kitchen. She waited on the door, washed the dishes, cleaned the vegetables, and set the table (Miss Amanda lived alone, and ate in the kitchen). Every Friday she swept the house. Her bed was in a little room in the back attic.

When she came, Miss Amanda handed her a dress and petticoat, and a pair of shoes. "These are to last six months," she said, "and see you keep yourself clean." She gave her also one change of stockings and underclothes.

"Here is your room; you do not need a light to go to bed by, and it is not healthy to sleep under too many covers."

It wasn't so much what Miss Amanda did to her, for she never struck her, nor in any way ill-treated her; nor was it so much what she said, for she said almost nothing. But she said it all in commands, and the loving little Elsie was just driven into herself.

She had had a darling mother, full of love and tenderness, and Elsie would say to herself, "I must not forget the things mama told me, 'Love can never die, and kind words can never die.'" But she had no one to love, and she never heard any kind words; so she was a bit worried. "I shall forget how kind words sound, and I shall forget how to love," sighed the little girl.

She used to long for a doll or cat or something she could call her own and talk to. She asked Miss Amanda, who said "No." She added, "I have no money to give for such foolishness as a doll, and a cat would eat its head off."

Miss Amanda had been blessed with no little-girl time. When she was young, she always had been forced to work hard, and she thought it was no worse for Elsie than it had been for herself. I don't suppose it was; but one looking in on these two could not but feel for both of them.

Elsie would try to talk to herself a little at night, but it was cheerless. Then she would lift up her knee, and draw the sheet about it for a hood, and call it a little girl. She named it Nancy Pullam, and would try to love that; but it almost broke her back when she tried to hug Nancy. "Oh, if I had something to be good to"! she said.

So she began greeting the ladies, when she opened the door, with a cheerful little "Good morning" or "Good afternoon."

"I wouldn't do that," said Miss Amanda, "it looks forward and pert. It is their place to say 'Good morning,' not yours. You have no occasion to speak to your betters, and, anyway, children should be seen and not heard."

One day, a never-forgotten day, she went down cellar to the bin of potatoes to select some for dinner. She was sorting them over and laying out all of one size, when she took up quite a long one, and lo! it had a little face on it and two eyes and a little hump between for a nose and a long crack below that made a very pretty mouth.

Elsie looked at it joyfully. "It will make me a child," she said, "no matter if it has no arms or legs; the face is everything."

She carefully placed it at the end of the bin, and whenever she could slip away without neglecting her work would run down cellar and talk softly to it.

But one day her potato-child was gone! Elsie's heart gave a big jump, and then fell like lead, and seemed to lie perfectly still; but it commenced to beat again, beat and ache, beat and ache!

She tried to look for the changeling; but the tears made her so that she couldn't see very well; and there were so many potatoes! She looked every moment she had a chance all the next day, and cried a great deal. "I can never be real happy again," she thought.

"Don't cry any more," said Miss Amanda, "it does not look well when you open the door for my customers. You have enough to eat and wear; what more do you want?"

"Something to love," said Elsie, but not very loud.

She tried not to cry again, and then she felt worse not-to shed tears, when, perhaps, her dear little potato-child was eaten up.

Two days after, as she was still searching, a little piece of white paper in the far dark corner attracted her attention. She went over and lifted it up. Behind it was a hole, and partly in and partly out of the hole lay her potato-child. I think a rat had dragged it out of the bin. She hugged it to her heart, and cried for joy.

"Oh, my darling, you have come back to me, you have come back!" And then it seemed as if the pink eyes of the potato-child looked up into Elsie's in affectionate gratitude; and it became plain to Elsie that her child loved her. She was so thankful that she even kissed the little piece of white paper. "If it hadn't been for you I would never have found my child. I mean to keep you always," she said, and she wrapped it about her potato-child, and put them in her bosom. "We must never be parted again," she murmured.

At supper, with many misgivings, she unwrapped her treasure for Miss Amanda, and asked if she could keep it as her own. "I won't eat any potato for dinner tomorrow if you will give me this," she said.

"Well," answered Miss Amanda, "I don't know as it will do any harm; why do you want it?"

"It is my potato-child. I want to love it."

"See you lose no time, then," said Miss Amanda.

And afterward, Elsie never called the potato it, but always "my child."

She found a fragment of calico, large enough for a dress and skirt, with enough over, a queer, three-cornered piece, which she pinned about the unequal shoulders for a shawl. Upon the bonnet she worked for days.

All this sewing was a great joy to her. Last of all, she begged a bit of frayed muslin from the sweepings for a night-dress. Then she could undress her baby every night.

She must have heard a tiny tuber-voice, for she said, "Now I can never forget the sound of loving words, and the world is full of joy."

Elsie had a candle-box in her room, with the cover hung on hinges. It served the double purpose of a trunk and a seat. She put her child's clothes and the scrap of white paper in this box. In the daytime she let her child sit upon the window-sill so she could see the blue sky; but when the weather grew colder she took her down to the kitchen each morning, lest she should suffer.

Sometimes, Miss Amanda watched her closely. "She does her work well, but she is a queer thing. She makes me uneasy," she thought.

Christmas was coming. Elsie and her mother had always loved Christmas, and had invariably given some gift to each other. After their stockings were hung side by side, Christmas Eve, her mother would take her in her lap and tell her the Christmas story. So now it was a great mercy for Elsie that she had her child to work for.

One day, when she had scrubbed the pantry floor unusually clean, Miss Amanda gave her the privilege of the rag barrel. This resulted in a new Christmas suit of silk and velvet for baby; and this she made.

When Elsie left "The Home" the matron had given her a little needle-book containing a spool of thread and thimble for a good-by present. These now came into good play. She used the lamp shears to cut with.

When all was done the babe looked beautiful, except that it had no stockings. It had not even legs. "I'll make her a wooden leg, and let her be a cripple, then I shall love her all the better."

But after she had made the leg, and a very good one, too, she hadn't the heart to break the skin of her child, and push it in.

"I'll make the stockings without legs," she said, and so she did.

Elsie was very careful never to let her child see, or mention before her, how busy she was for Christmas.

She felt very sorry for Miss Amanda, and wished she had something to give her, but she could think of nothing except the piece of white paper she found with her potato-child. The afternoon before Christmas she took it from the candle-box, and smoothed it out upon the cover. It had some writing upon one side. Elsie thought it was very pretty writing—it had so many flourishes. Elsie could not read it, of course, but she hoped Miss Amanda would like it.

How should she give it to her? She didn't dare hand it to her outright, and she was certain Miss Amanda wouldn't hang any stocking; so just before dark she slipped into Miss Amanda's sleeping-room, and laid it on the brown cushion just in front of the mirror.

When Elsie had finished her work she went to her room, pinned her child's stocking to the foot of the bed and slyly tucked in the new suit she had made. Her own stockings lay flat upon the floor. Her breath caught a little bit as she noticed them. "But it doesn't matter," she said, "parents never care for themselves if they can give their children pleasure."

She crept into bed and took her child on her arm. The night was very cold. The frost made mysterious noises on the roof in the nail-holes and on the glass. She went to bed early because the kitchen was so cold. She thought "we can talk in bed." The lock of her door was broken, and she could not shut it tight. Through this the air came chilly.

---

Miss Amanda put on her flannel wrapper and her bed-slippers and sat down before the open fire in her sleeping-room. Some way she couldn't keep her thoughts from that little back attic room. She went into the hall, silently up the stairs, and stood outside the door. Elsie was talking softly, but Miss Amanda could hear every word, thanks to the broken lock.

"I have much to tell you to-night, dear child," she heard the waif say, "the whole story of the Christmas Child. It was years ago. His mother was very young, I guess about twice as old as I am. They hadn't any house; they were in a barn. I think there were no houses to rent in that town. But she fixed a little cradle for Him in the feed-box, and wrapped Him in long clothes, as I do you, my darling. The angels sang a new song for Him. A new star shone in the East for Him. Some men with sheep came to visit Him, and some rich men brought Him lovely presents. My mother told me all these things, and I mustn't forget them; it helps me to remember to tell it to you. So now, this lovely Christmas Child was born in a little bit of a town, the town of—oh, my child"—with a mournful cry—"I've forgotten the name of the town! I used to say it to my mother—it's the town of, the town of—I can't remember."

Miss Amanda could hear her crying a little softly.

"Never mind," she said presently. "I am very sorry; I have not told the story often enough. I wish I had some one to teach me a little, but perhaps it don't make so much difference if I have forgotten the name of the town. He came to teach us. Sure I won't forget that. Love can never die. That's the present He gave to everybody. So if nobody else gives us a Christmas present, we always have the one He gave us."

Silence for a little.

"I am very sorry for Miss Amanda, dear. She has no child to love. She has a very sad and lonely life."

Her teeth chattered a little. "It seems like a very cold night; the covers are quite thin, but we can never really suffer while our hearts are so warm. I'm glad you feel real well, and are just as plump as ever, but your little skin is just one bit wrinkled. You are not going to take cold or be sick? Oh, I couldn't give you up! I should miss you so much, you happy, good little child."

Miss Amanda heard a kiss. "Good-night, dear. I'm so tired. God bless us all, and help us to remember Miss Amanda, and let her find her present to-night."

Miss Amanda crept back to her warm room, and waited until she was sure the child was fast asleep. Then she took a down quilt off the foot of her own bed, picked up her candle, and retraced her way up-stairs.

She softly dropped the comforter upon Elsie. She heard, as a sort of echo, a soft sigh of content. Miss Amanda waited a moment, then shading the candle with one hand, she looked at the sleeping child.

The face was pale and thin. The lashes lay dark upon the white cheeks. They were quite wet; but, pressed close to them, and carefully covered by little, toil-hardened hands, was the grotesque potato in its white night-gown.

Miss Amanda was surprised by a queer click in her throat, and hurried out of the room.

She stood before her fire, candle in hand, and bitterly compressed her lips. She hopes "I'll find my Christmas present to-night. Who will send it to me, and what will it be? Whom do I care for, and who cares for me? No one. Not one human being."

She crossed the room, and, placing her candle upon the dressing-table, gazed at herself in the glass. "I am growing old, old and hard, and perfectly friendless."

But why that start and cry? There before her eyes, in the big, flourishing, boyish handwriting so well remembered, she reads: "Our love can never die. We have nothing in the world except each other, dear sister, and no matter what may come, our love can never change."

She snatched up the paper and threw herself into a chair.

"Where did it come from"? she cried. "What evil genius placed it here this night? Haven't I, years ago, torn and destroyed every word that wretched boy ever wrote me?"

She tossed her arms over her head, and rocked back and forth, and groaned aloud. She could not help her thoughts now, or keep them from going back over the past. Her heart softened as she remembered, and the scalding tears fell.

She was only a child, not much older than the one up-stairs, when her dying mother had placed her baby-brother in her arms, saying:

"He is all I have to leave you, Amanda. I know you love him. Don't ever be harsh or unforgiving to him."

How had she kept her trust? She had loved him. She had worked early and worked late for him. She had given up everything; but she had been ill-repaid.

"Ill," do I say? Verily, is this not true of Love: that it brings its own blessedness?

The fire burned low, and the room settled cold and still. She seemed to feel a pair of boyish arms about her neck and a boy's rough kiss upon her cheek.

When she was but a young woman she had moved to the big city, and started her dressmaker's shop, so that he could have a better chance at school. What a loving boy he was! So full of fun!

The wind whistled outside. She thought it was he, and she heard him again: "You're my handsome sister. Not one of the fellows have as handsome a sister as I."

How proud she had felt when she had started him off to college. "It only means a few years of a little harder work, and then I'll see my boy able to take his stand with anybody."

But now she wept and groaned afresh. "Oh, how could he treat me so, how could he! The wretched disgrace!"

He had been expelled. The president's letter was severe; but the young man's letter regretted it as only a boyish prank. He was sorry. He had never expected anything so serious would come of it. He deserved the disgrace. It only hurt him through his love for her. But only forgive him, and he would show her what he could yet do.

What had he done?

He had tied a calf to the president's door-bell.

She remembered her answer to this letter, asking for her forgiveness. It stood before her, written in characters of flame.

Had she in this been harsh to the boy, the only legacy her dying mother had to leave her?

"Never speak to me, nor see my face again. You have disgraced yourself and me."

It was not so long a letter but that she could easily remember it.

Afterward, the president himself had written again to her. He thought he had been too hasty. It was truly only a boy's prank. It was, of course, ungentlemanly, but the trick was played on All-Fool's Night, and that should have had greater weight than it did. The faculty were willing, after proper apologies were made, to excuse it, and take her brother back.

Where was her brother? He could not be found, and not one word had she heard of him since she sent that dreadful letter. He might be dead. Oh, how often she thought that! Now she wrung her hands and covered her wet cheeks with them. Her hair fell about her shoulders, as she shook in her agony of remorse.

---

What noise is this? the door-bell pealing through the silent house. Again and again it rings.

She did not hear this bell. She was listening to another, and how it rang! Louder and louder, how it rang, and well it might, with a calf jumping about, trying to get away from it. Even in all her misery—so near together are the ecstasies of emotion—she laughed aloud and then shuddered at the thought that she should never again hear any noise quite so loud as this of the past.

Then she felt in the silent, chill room a tattered presence, a little half-frozen hand upon her own. She turned her streaming eyes, and they were met by the big, wide eyes of Elsie.

"Miss Amanda, didn't you hear the door-bell ringing? There is something—no, there is somebody—waiting down-stairs for you."

Half dazed, half afraid, ashamed of her tears, Miss Amanda left the room, led by the child as by an unearthly presence into an unearthly presence.

Who was this bearded man that folded her in his strong, true arms?

---

"I have so much to tell you, dear child. I am such a happy little girl. Miss Amanda's dear brother has come home. She is so happy, and she loves him so much. And, oh darling, they both love me! And it was all you! You did it all! Oh, there is no knowing how much good one sweet, loving, contented potato-child can do in a house."

Whoo-Hoo Here's a Freebie for Bloggers!

Bev of One Yarn After Another posted about a give-away from Shutterfly. How's 50 free cards sound? If you go to this link you can get in on it too:
http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/ . "Free" is good!

Here's a Small Christmas Stocking

Here's a small Christmas stocking I just finished crocheting. It's small enough to be another package decoration for a gift then whoever gets it will have an ornament/decoration too! The pattern is here if anyone is interested. I'm trying to use up the partial skeins of green and red Christmas yarn I have and  it's taking a while. Maybe I'll put pompoms made from it on Christmas packages too lol! Y'all have a nice night and good day tomorrow.

Opi Is in Photo Contest

Kodak is having a photo contest on Facebook. If you could, I'd appreciate it if you would vote for my Opi. Here's the page http://apps.facebook.com/holiday-pets/entries

I asked for help from my crochetville friends but it was kicked off the board. I don't know how many times I have voted for contests other members were in and I almost feel "picked on" over this. Sigh...

Hobby Lobby 40% Off Coupon

Click on link for 40% off savings at Hobby Lobby but hurry because coupon is good only thru 11 December! Perfect timing to get supplies for your Christmas crafts or crafting gifts. Enjoy! Link: In-Store Coupon : Weekly In-Store Specials : Hobby Lobby - Hobby Lobby

New Round Baby Afghan Pattern Added to List

Check out the list of round afghan crochet patterns for a new one for a baby afghan by Caron called Candy Cable Baby Blanket. Enjoy y'all!

ps... Found another one
http://smoothfoxlover.blogspot.com/2010/11/smoothfoxs-spiral-baby-blanket-number-2.html

Search Amazon.com for baby afghan crochet patterns

A Christmas Cartoon from 1933

As I was watching this cartoon, the thought occurred to me that there are more than a few differences between old cartoons and the new. Obviously, the primative animation and the black/white vs. color are the obvious differences. Did you ever notice that there is very little talking and viewers have to use their imaginations to imagine what is being said and happening? This is an oldie and it came out in 1933 when my dad was a mere babe in arms. I wonder if his older siblings saw it at the movie theater?  Enjoy everyone!

WIP Wednesday for 08 December 2010

This is a granny throw that I've been working with between other projects. It's coming to the final few rounds and I  hope to have it finished in the next couple of days. Thanks for stopping in and visiting. If you click on the Work-in-Progress button at the bottom of this post you will be able to see what some other crocheters have been up to. Have a great week!

Free Hat Pattern for Man: "Matt in the Hat"

I was asked for the pattern I used to make my son Matthew a hat. I just winged it but I did write down what I did so I wrote up the pattern for you. Matt is really happy with his hat. Enjoy...

Matt in the Hat:

Materials
ww yarn (not sure how much yarn I used because I started out with less than a full skein and had some left afterwards so it might be safe to start out with a full skein.)
H hook
needle to weave in ends
Stitch marker

Instructions
Rnd 1: Chain 2, and place 6 sc into the 1^st ch. Mark the 1st sc and remember to move the marker as you progress. Work in rounds--you will not be turning. (6 sc)

Rnd 2: 2 dc into each sc. (12 dc)

Rnd 3: 2 dc into each sc.(24 dc)

Rnd 4: *2 dc in the 1^st dc, and 1 dc in the next dc* repeat from * to * for remainder of round. (36 dc)

Rnd 5: *2 dc in the 1^st dc,1 dc in ea of the next 2 dc* Repeat from * to * for remainder of round. (48 dc)

Rnd 6: *2 dc in the 1^st dc, 1 dc in ea of the next 3 dc* Repeat from * to * for remainder of round. (60 dc)

Rnd 7: *2 dc in the 1^st dc, 1 dc in ea of the next 4 dc*, Repeat from * to * for remainder of round. (72 dc)

Rnd 8: *2 dc in the 1^st dc, 1 dc in ea of the next 17dc * for remainder of round (76 dc)

Rnd 9-20: 1 dc in ea of the 76 sts.

Rnd 21 : sc in blo for entire round (76) (this makes the "brim" fold up easier)

Row 22-26: dc in all stitches (76)

Row 27: sc in each dc (76)

Finish off. Voila it is done!

Copyrighted by Sharon Gardner 2010. Do NOT post pattern or photo(s) to other web pages or sell pattern. You may link to pattern. You may make and sell items made from this pattern.

Note: I'm the only one who has made a hat from this pattern so far. If you see any discrepancies please let me know and I will fix the pattern. Thank you very much.

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Old School Crochet--

The following patterns are in the open domain and are taken from the Project Gutenberg site. This item is taken from: ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NEEDLEWORK BY THÉRÈSE DE DILLMONT


Crochet square (fig. 441).—Begin with 4 chain stitches, and work 1 single on the 1st chain, to make a round. Work, 1 chain and 2 plain on the next chain, 3 plain on each of the next 3 chain, 1 plain on the stitch on which the two first plain are worked.
Slip the next stitch, that is, put the needle in between the horizontal bars of the 1st plain stitch of the previous row, and draw the thread out without making a stitch.
Then make 1 chain and 2 plain on the slipped stitch.
After which, you make 3 plain on the second of the 3 plain that form the corner, and 1 plain on all the other stitches of the last row. The beginning and end of each row, are worked as described above.
Fig. 441 represents a square, worked in consecutive rows. In making a crochet square, the rows may end in the middle of a side.

Fig. 441. Crochet square.

When you use a stitch that has to be worked to and fro, you turn your work at the end of every row and work back along the stitches you have just made.


Crochet hexagon (fig. 442).—Make a foundation chain of 6 stitches, join the round; 12 plain on the 6 chain; finish the row as indicated for the previous figure == turn the work == * 1 plain, 3 plain on the second plain of the last row; repeat 5 times from *. Finish the row with 1 single == turn the work == 2 plain, 3 plain on the second of the first 3 plain; 3 plain and so on. These hexagons can be made of any size.

Fig. 442. Crochet hexagon.

Coloured star worked into a light ground (fig. 443).—Begin with 3 chain, join the ring = 2 plain on each of the 3 chain; then for the foundation, 1 plain with the dark thread, and 1 with the light on each of the 6 plain.
In each subsequent row, make one dark stitch more, increasing regularly, that is, making 2 stitches on the last light stitch that comes before the dark ones.
Proceed in this manner until you have 6 or 8 dark stitches, in all and then begin to decrease in every row by one, until there is at last only one dark stitch remaining.
These stars are used in the making of purses, cap-crowns and mats for lamps, etc.

Fig. 443. Coloured star worked into a light ground.

Body Part Measurements ;)

No, I'm not getting into something I shouldn't. I want to post this link for all of you crocheters and me because there is a size chart with measurements for heads, babies, feet and so on as a reference if you want to make up your own pattern for say baby booties, just check the info and see that an average 3 to 6 month old baby will have 4 to 4 1/2 inch feet. This is great info that I found a reference to when I was reading some posts over at crochetville.

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A Few Random Thoughts...

As applicable today as when this poster first premiered (ca 1940s).

Eat them left-overs and save money!

I'm really not in the Christmas spirit. I need to get my rear-in-gear and get to it for the family. I'm a depressed sort of person normally. Lately I've been thinking of some simple fixes to help our government start pulling out of the huge pile of debt they've put us in. and that's not a cheerful subject by any means. Actually, we're demanding people. We want minimal government in our lives but let there be a disaster and look at the media and local politicians jump all over our elected officials in Washington D.C. for not taking action quick enough especially with FEMA dollars. Folks filing taxes getting more money back than they paid in because they have so many dependents/deductions seems like a form of welfare to me. My little family was never in a position for that to happen and now that the kiddies are grown men, we get hit super hard at tax time--doesn't seem fair does it? Get close to retirement age and instead of being able to put some money in the bank it is going to taxes. I am fortunate to be able to use the V.A. for my medical care because I'm a veteran with service connected disabilities. Recently one clinic I go to got beautiful new waiting room furniture. The old was in perfect condition--clean, good repair and stylish too! Rumors (remember I'm saying rumors)  abound that housing that was built for the troops at Ft. Knox just about 5 years ago is to go under the wrecking ball because of the need for a landing strip due to expansion of the base related to base realignment. Does that make sense? Does it make sense that the majority of enlisted family housing units are being demolished and new ones built? That's after many were rehabbed with Pella windows installed! Drive past the old housing units and see crushed furnaces, water heaters, toilets, tubs, etc... that are all items with potential reuse and resale.

On the local level, the city has had to fire layoff employees. You can bet your bottom dollar that next year, like this year, city public works employees will be out planting thousands of dollars worth of annual flowers. I love flowers but I just think that some things need to be done without during financially hard times. You want flowers, call for civics groups to provide and maintain a variety of flower beds and strategically located giant flower pots.

Be conservative with office supplies. Everyone stop buying those "sticky" note pads. Use the back side of "waste" computer paper. Wassa matter with folks throwing out something that still has use and can save the government us money? Stop providing cell phones to workers and allowing them to use as "personal" phones after hours. Collect the darned things at the end of the work day and see how much of a cheaper plan you can order when the phone contract comes up for renewal. I am NOT responsible for providing cell phone service for Mr./Ms. X to call their significant others to say "What's going on Honey."

Now I'm going to make some people mad. I'm sorry but I just have say this--if a family receives assistance for groceries with what is traditionally known as "food stamps" or more recently known as EBT then why do the kids get free lunches at school? Aren't they already receiving money for that meal with the food stamps or EBT? What's the matter with packing a lunch and toting it to school like a large number of us grew up doing? I don't mind helping folks out so they don't go hungry but lets face it, times are tough and double-dipping isn't fair to the folks paying the bills.

Here's another suggestion. Don't cut taxes, make them more fair--filers who CHOOSE to have many dependents should carry their fair load of the tax burden. Let's give a little break here--allow deductions for no more than 5 total family members.

A while back there was a poll on Facebook about instituting a requirement for welfare (not disability) recipients to take random drug screen testing as a requirement to receiving assistance. There was an overwhelming response in support of this idea. Isn't it fair to those paying the bills that illegal drugs aren't paid for with "assistance" money? Military members have to take such drug screens randomly and they put their lives on the line for us so why not ANYONE getting a check from the government???

These are just small things when you look at the big picture. We have to start out small though and let the more knowledge able people we elect look at the bigger things that a woman sitting at her home computer knows nil about.

I'm in a negative mood today can you tell?

I promise to make my next post more upbeat and maybe even FUN. After all this moaning and groaning I've done I hope y'all have a GREAT day!

Smurfs' Christmas Special Part 2 of 2

As I promised you yesterday, here is part 2 of the Smurf's Christmas Special. Isn't it fun to watch something a little bit light-hearted?



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A Few Small Crochet Projects Recently Completed

Here's a Christmas towel and towel ring. The ring pattern is from this page .  I modified it by starting with a chain instead of wrapping the yarn around my hand.

Small wreath made by crocheting around a ring from a gallon milk jug.

Hat I made for my son. No pattern used; I winged it. I can write a pattern up if anyone wants it.

Hope y'all are having a good week!

Smurfs' Christmas Special Part 1 of 2

Remember watching the Smurfs? Here is part 1 of their Christmas Special; stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow. I really enjoyed these little blue characters as my sons and I watched them together oh so many years ago. I hope you enjoy them too. Hugs...

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern 06 Dec. 2010

Here's an interesting take on an afghan. This is a stadium afghan that folds up and has handles to tote it with you. Would be great for visits to stadiums (the name gives this one away), picnics or perhaps to carry in your car during the winter in case you get stuck somewhere in the cold.

PTSD and Women Vets

As I was watching this video, it brought back some vivid memories of events that I was aware of from my time in the military. I can not say how things are in today's military because I separated from the US Navy in 1992. I do know that any sort of abusive relationship problems oftentimes were brushed under the carpet and abused sailors were told "you weren't issued a family/boyfriend in your seabag"--in other words, we don't want to hear about your problems. There may be help on the horizon although I am wondering how many women vets will actually be sent to the facility in California that is mentioned in this video. Interesting video, I guess I shouldn't say I hope you enjoy because this is not an enjoyable topic.

From 1952: Pluto's Christmas Tree

Gosh I love the old Disney cartoons!
To better hear this, you may want to scroll down the column on your right and mute the music player if it started automatically. Enjoy...


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