Hooked Not Only on Crochet but On Blog Reading Too

I love reading blogs. Since I've started reading blogs, I rarely do the magazine impulse buy at the grocery check-out. This is good--money isn't being spent to toss in the trash or drop in a donation box a few weeks later. Whenever I visit someone's blog, if I see a comment someone left that sounds interesting, intelligent or amusing and I'll visit their blog and soon I'll be scanning comments left for them and before you know it, I'm following a gazillion blogs-lol! I do enjoy them but I often don't have time to leave as many comments as I'd like to. If I don't leave a comment, I still enjoy reading your posts. I have found that many times, I'm reading about the same thing when I visit Crochetville.org and an individual's blog so I may only leave a comment on one place. If I'm visiting someone's blog and I feel compelled to get more information about what I've read there, I will use their google search box and maybe they can earn a few pennies if the writer has google for adsense installed. Anyway, before I started inanely jabbering away, what I wanted to say is that I am now reading 241 BLOGS!


As I was looking for a graphic to put on this post I found this comic that I thought was amusing:

I have a twitter account but rarely go to it, the same with myspace.

Hope all of you are having a great weekend. It's a bit overcast here but it isn't too bad otherwise. The crocheted hat and scarf wearing is having a break today. Hugs...

   

If You Crochet, Then You Will Appreciate This:

Did You Notice...?

Did you notice that under my blog's header not only do I have a link for a listing of free round(ish) afghan patterns but also for miscellaneous dog items? Under the dog items I also included some free patterns that are for sewing. I need to get off the Internet and stop looking at patterns and MAKE a few of them!

A bit off-topic but since I mentioned that dh hasn't been feeling too well I thought I'd do a quick update. He went to the doctor yesterday and when he complained of chronic headaches with neck pain and that a few days before it was so bad he had wanted to eject his dinner, they prescribed him antibiotics and told him that he had an upper respiratory infection. I don't know that I agree with that since he hasn't had runny nose or sinus congestion. He's back at work today so that is very good.

 Hope your week is going ok.

Head Sizes

If any of you are like me, you have some great ideas of making hat patterns but the question is, how big around is the "normal" head. At Martha Stewart's site, she has a chart that I am borrowing to put here. I hope she doesn't get mad at me since I'm giving her credit and a link back to her site. Anyway, here's the info:

Average Head-Size Chart
Newborn (6 Months and Younger)
Circumference: 14 to 17 inches
Crown: 8 to 10 inches

Infant (6 to 12 Months)Circumference: 16 to 19 inches
Crown: 11 to 12 inches

Child (1 to 3 Years)Circumference: 18 to 20 inches
Crown: 11 to 12 inches

Child (3 Years and Older)Circumference: 20 to 22 inches
Crown: 13 to 14 inches

Adult WomanCircumference: 21 to 23 1/2 inches
Crown: 13 to 15 inches

Adult ManCircumference: 22 to 24 1/2 inches
Crown: 14 to 16 inches

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Polarfleece Hats - Martha Stewart Crafts 

It's One of Those Blah Kind of Days...

Last night I finished one slipper (not pair, just one). I tried to fancy it up a bit by using some fun fur yarn but this extra yarn made the ankle snug so I'll finish the other slipper and set this pair aside to give to my adopted ggranddaughter because she is on the petite side. It looks pretty though.

DH hasn't been feeling well since Thursday and he stayed home from work Friday and came home in the middle of the day today. He's been "headachy" and that is strange for him because he NEVER gets headaches. It's off to the doc tomorrow for him. I've been moping today, although I did cook a relatively inexpensive, delicious dinner hoping to tempt DH to eat. It's round steak. I cut it in pieces, browned it and simmered it in tomato sauce with oregano, basil, garlic, small can of mushroom pieces and some dehydrated onions for about 2 hours. Every now and then I had to add a tad bit of water so it didn't cook down too far. I served it on noodles and topped it with Parmesan cheese. It's one of those things I came up with years ago when I had little money for good cuts of beef. I call it "Round Steak Italiano." I don't have exact measurements because most of the time I throw a little of this and a little of that in the pot. The downside of making this dish is that it has to simmer for a long time so that the meat gets tender; the upside is that it is delicious. I was going to take a picture for you but with son #1 over  it got devoured pdq! Hope everyone is having a great week.

Updated Round Afghan Pattern Page

I added another free pattern for a round afghan. This one is baby-sized. Patterns are listed chronologically by the date I added to the list so look under today's date. Oh, and the link to click to find these patterns is under the blog's header. Have fun!

To All My Family and Friends....

Have a joyous Valentine Day!

New Pair of Big Men's Slippers Hooked...

Here's another pair of "big men's slippers." Here's the original pattern if anyone is interested. I'm just hooking away making slippers to take on my trip to Florida for some family members there. They don't read my blog so I guess it's ok to blog about them. Now, if you know any of them, don't tell ok? :)

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern 14 February 2011

Last weeks link to a free pattern was for a free bootie pattern for baby girls so this week, in order to be fair, the link is for some adorable booties for baby boys. The pattern is here. Hope you enjoy...

Slipper Progress...

Here's the progress I've made on the slippers marathon I've had going on. I need to make some more "big men's slippers" and maybe another pair or 2 of women's just to be sure I have enough. Here's the basic pattern I used. The "big men's slippers" are from a modification I did to the original pattern.  Thanks for looking. Y'all have a great week...

Big Men's Slippers

To make a "Big Men's" pair, I used almost the full skein of rh ss plus a large amount of the one pounder. 

Big Men's Slippers  

Yarn required--get 2 skeins worsted weight (7 -  8 oz size). You will crochet using 2 strands of yarn.

Use a J Hook

INSTRUCTIONS

Rnd 1: Ch 2, work 5 sc into 2nd ch from hook to form a circle. Mark last st of this rnd with a pin, then move pin to mark the end of each succeeding rnd. 

Rnd 2: Work 3 sc into each sc around: you should have 15 sc. 

Rnd 3: * 2 sc in first sc, sc in each of next 2 sc, rep from * around:  20 Sc.

Rnd 4: * 2 sc in first sc, sc in each of the next 3sc, rep from * around 25 sc. 

Rnd 5 *2 sc in first sc, sc in each of the next 4sc, rep from * around. 30 sc.

Work even on 30 sc for 16 rnds more. Do not finish off.

Back: Ch 13.

Row 1: Using both loops, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next  12; sc in each of next 30 sc; sc in each ch on opposite side of beg ch; ch 1, turn. 

You should have 54 sc.

From now on, sc in the back loop (loop away from you) of each sc.

Rows 2-13:  Sc in back loop of each sc across; ch 1, turn.

Dec Row 1: Sc in each of next 24 sc, dec over next 2 sts as follows: draw up a loop in each of the next 2 sts: 3 loops on hook, YO and pull through all 3 loops on hook, work 2 sc, dec as before over next 2 sts, sc in each of next 24 sc, ch 1, turn. 

Dec Row 2: Sc in each of next 23 sc, dec over next 2 sts as follows: draw up a loop in each of the next 2 sts: 3 loops on hook, YO and pull through all 3 loops on hook, work 2 sc, dec as before over next 2 sts, sc in each of next 23 sc, ch 1, turn. 

Dec Row 3: Sc in each of next 22 sc, dec over next 2 sts as follows: draw up a loop in each of the next 2 sts: 3 loops on hook, YO and pull through all 3 loops on hook, work 2 sc, dec as before over next 2 sts, sc in each of next 22 sc, ch 1, turn. 

Finishing: Fold back section in half, carefully matching sts. Sl St inside loops of sides tog. Finish off  

 
If you see any problems with this pattern let me know. These are great slippers. They are warm and long lasting because of the double yarn thickness. Have a great day...

Slipper Marathon Continues...

I've made 3+ pairs of slippers in the last couple of days. Tomorrow I'll finish up the 4th pair and post pictures for you. I've "super-sized" the pattern for big men so if any of you would like the modifications to the pattern just ask me and I'll post the modifications for you. I've been able to use up several partial skeins of yarn so that's really good. Just need to use up some more so I can see what I have. Here's the pattern I'm using. It's the one I always use so some of you have probably already seen it. Today I was digging through my stack of patterns and I found the book it was published in. Boy was that book tattered from being used so much! Thanks for visiting and hugs...

Search Amazon.com for slipper crochet pattern

Slipper Marathon...

Here is my current crochet project. I need some quick gifts so I'm whipping up some slippers. I made one slipper last night. It's for a man and I had to resize the pattern a bit so that it would fit. Here's what I have so far:

I may have to pick up another skein of the variegated yarn. I need another 2 pair for men and a couple for ladies. I may have enough ladies pairs in my gift "stash" but I need to check that out to be sure.

You can click on the button below this post and see what other things are being created on this "Work In Progress Wednesday."

Search Amazon.com for slipper patterns

Happy Birthday Uncle!

It's my uncle's birthday today. He's a great guy and I just want to wish him a "Happy Birthday." He's my mom's baby brother so he's still a young puppy. :)

Opi to the Rescue...

I don't think Nellie Belle likes the shrug I made her. I put it on her this morning to take her picture and she took it off and "lost" it when I went to get the camera. So, he-man Opi became the designated model. He doesn't mind wearing a flower on his sleeve. Here's the "man" of the hour--

The pattern I based this doggie shrug on is here. I used a smaller hook and did this mainly in dc rather than the huge stitches they used. I also modified the flower by only making one of them and putting a button in the center. I think it is cute but I know dh will strip down the babies if he sees them wearing it. When he's not around, we play dress-up!

My FurBaby Model Went into Hiding

I made Nellie Belle a shrug based on this pattern. After having her try it on 3 times for "fittings" she ran off to bed with dh. That is totally out of personality for Nellie B--usually she has to be the last one up. Anyway, I'll "capture" her tomorrow and have her model it for you.

Second Time Scammers Called in Less than an Hour!

The scamming Card Services just called AGAIN! This time I was able to press "9" and get someone. The man asked "are you calling to lower your interest rate?" I replied, "I pressed 9 to tell you not to call me again." Click. This time the number I was called from was (567) 259-9780. This call came in at 2:39 pm. The previous call was at 2:15 pm. Filed 2nd complaint of the day with the "Do Not Call" registry.

The Bums Called AGAIN!

The scamming Credit "Card Services" called again. When I pressed "9" to talk with a representative, it hung up on me so I wasn't able to tell them to get lost again. I'm off to fill out ANOTHER complaint. The number they called from this time was (637) 000-2238. Do not have anything to do with these people if they call you. They are identity thieves.

Crazy Weather

The weather here is crazy. When the rest of the country was snow-bound, we didn't get snow. Now, the temperatures are above freezing and it's snowing like crazy. Strange, strange weather! I love my spruce tree in the front yard and you've probably seen it numerous times in my blog. I think it looks so pretty with snow on the branches. If you click on the picture you can see the snow coming down. Have a nice, warm day everyone...

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern 07 February 2011

I've recently discovered that making baby booties helps to use up those small balls of left-over yarn. Here's a cute girlie pair made out of dk weight yarn. I have some of this yarn in my stash of left-over yarn and I just might make a pair of these. I bet making them out of ww would work for an older baby or maybe even a younger toddler.

Texting and Driving

If you text and drive or know someone who does, please watch this video.

More Baby Booties...

I'm on a roll with crocheting baby booties. This is the 3rd pair and I'm putting them aside for some lucky baby in the future. Same pattern as the others I've recently made--pattern info is: "Winner's Circle: Easy Baby Booties."Crochet World, June 2010: 6-7. The yarn I used was some left-over yarn from an afghan I recently finished. It is a RedHeart yarn but I don't know the specifics on it because I threw the label away. I do know it is acrylic and the color is off-white with flecks of tan, blue and green. Thanks for looking. 

Granny Ripple Ghan is Fini!

Here it is, finished at last. I made it a little wider than the pattern I based it on. I ended up doing a light blocking by putting it on the bed slightly damp and finger-smoothing it flat. I only did 1 round of single crochet and maybe I should have done a 2nd but I think it looks ok.  Thanks for looking...

Quick and Easy Cheesecake

I'm not a Susie Homemaker nor a Betty Crocker but I do get ambitious once in a while to make some "treats." I see all sorts of delicious goodies on some blogs I read and I'm jealous. Not that I'd want to take the talent/goodies away I'd just like a little bit of my own. So, sometimes I find shortcuts and easy things to make. I've been in the mood for some cheesecake lately so when DH and I stopped at Meiers yesterday on our way back from Louisville we bought some cream cheese (on sale 4 packs for  $5). Today when my sweet, adopted great-granddaughter came over we made an easy cheesecake. Here's how we did it:

Easy Cheesecake
1 store-bought graham cracker crumb crust (or one of the cookie flavor ones will work)
2 8oz. packs cream cheese--let it get to be room temp (I let mine sit on counter for an hour)
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar (I used an off brand of Splenda)
2 teasp vanilla
1/2 teasp grated lemon peel (I use the stuff in the jar from the spice section)

Preheat oven to 350

Beat cheese

Add eggs, sugar, vanilla and lemon peel--beat it until it is fluffy-looking

Bake about 25 minutes until it looks firm

Refrigerate 8 hours

Eat with your choice of topping or plain. We like it plain.

Very easy and quite tasty. Enjoy y'all....

Search Amazon.com for cheesecake recipe book

Granny Ripple Is Entering the Home Stretch...

I know you've seen this picture not too long ago but I have to let you know that I have a row and a half to go then it's an edging and weaving in the loose ends. It's going pretty quick especially since there were days I didn't pick it up. I really like the colors--a bit of contrast but still neutral. Stay tuned, I hope to post a finished picture in a week or less. Hugs...

And Yet ANOTHER Call from the SCAMMERS!

If you've been visiting my blog lately, you may have noticed that I've been getting many calls from an organization that specializes in identity theft. Well, I just received ANOTHER call from them at about 2:45 this afternoon. This time, as soon as I talked to the person and said "no" to the question "do you want to reduce the interest rates on your credit cards?" the woman (this time it was a female) hung up on ME. She didn't even give me the opportunity to say that they needed to remove my number from their list and not to call again. The number the call came from this time was (870) 000-6654. I'm off to file ANOTHER complaint!

Another Pair of Baby Booties

I'm really enjoying crocheting baby booties for some reason. I did another pair today. I used the same pattern as the pair I made yesterday but I used the other option for the cuff. I also added little pompoms to the ends of the ties. This used up some more scrap yarn. The remainder of this skein is now going to become part of a "magic ball." Here's a picture of 'em:

Pattern source: Voelker, Estelle. "Winner's Circle: Easy Baby Booties."  Crochet World, June 2010: 6-7.

Why Won't the Scammers aka "Credit Card Services" Stop Calling?

I know I shouldn't answer the phone when I see a telephone number that that starts with "000" I should ignore it. I don't even though it is probably "Credit Card Services". I want to tell them again not to call and document that they are in violation of the "do not call" registry. Tonight at about 5:15, I see the number (637) 000-2238 on my caller id. I answer it, listen to the recording press the button to speak with someone, tell them to stop calling, that I have reported them several times in the past week and will do it again tonight. I told them that they were scammers and identity thieves and to take my name off their list and stop calling. He said they were not any of the things I said they were and that he'd be calling AGAIN! I told him in bad, bad language (left over from my days as a sailor) what he could do with himself. I thought he'd hangup but he didn't and then I did. I have already filed my new complaint with the "do not call" registry. One of these days they will be caught.

Did a Small, Quick Project Today

Today as I was keeping an eye on the worker who was fixing my oven, I decided that I needed a small project to work on because my kitchen is very small and the afghan I'm working on is getting pretty big. I went into the yarn warehouse (aka craftroom/extra bedroom) and grabbed a couple crochet-type magazines and a small bag of yarn odds and ends. I found this cute pattern for baby booties and so that's what I made. This pattern was easy and worked up fast. OK, I know I used Christmas colors but maybe someone will have a Christmas baby this year. :) Sorry the picture isn't very good, the lighting inside and outside is bad today. Here's the pic:

Pattern source: Voelker, Estelle. "Winner's Circle: Easy Baby Booties." Crochet World, June 2010: 6-7.

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern 31 January 2011

Because I love to crochet, I often get teased about not having a crocheted toilet tissue cover. Well folks, that's somewhere on the list of to-do projects. I'll get to it one of these days.  Here's a sweet looking one with a flower on it. I hope you enjoy it and thanks for stopping in. Hugs to all...

Forgot My Oven is O.O.C.

I had taken a big turkey breast out of the freezer and defrosted it. I was looking forward to having a big meal tonight. I forgot my oven is out of commission until Monday when the repairman comes AGAIN, this time with the parts. So I had to use some good ol' Yankee ingenuity down here in Kentucky and figure out how I was going to fix it. So

I plopped it in the electric skillet...

to brown it. Then...

I put it in the crock pot with a little water and seasonings. I got a late start with it so we'll have it tomorrow with some stuffing, veggies and biscuits with honey butter. Yum!

So that's today's damage control. Hope y'all are having a nice weekend. Hugs...

Need to Finish a Few Projects...BUT Really Wanna Make This!

I have a deadline to meet with the afghan I'm currently crocheting. Last night I was dropping stitches left and right and had to do some frogging a few times--once I had to frog FIVE rows! Gee whiz, where was my concentration at? Anyway, I bought myself Twinkie Chan's Crochet Goodies for Fashion Foodies with a Christmas gift card. There is a very cute pattern in this book for a popcorn scarf. I really, really want to make it for my dil who works in a movie theater. I need to stay focused, I really need to stay focused and get a few other wips and ufos finished before starting a new project. Why do crochet designers make such cute, tempting patterns? ;)

See, it really is a cute scarf

This is the book it is from.

Two More Calls from the Scamming "Credit Card Services"

I made someone mad the other day. Credit Card Services has called TWICE today! I have filled out THREE reports, this week, with the Do Not Call registry on them because each time the call comes from a different telephone number. Here's my last entry on them. I also added the new telephone numbers they used (see comments). This time I called my telephone company too and info'd them that their phone security has been breeched--someone is STEALING phone numbers from them.

"Credit Card Services" = Identity Thieves

• Do NOT trust these people. 

• They are NOT a reputable company. 

• They are IDENTITY THIEVES.

Scammers Are Calling AGAIN! BEWARE of "Credit Card Services"

Some of you who have been reading my blog for a while may remember that I am having a war with a scamming company called Credit Card Services. They call you and promise to lower your credit card interest rates. OK, the first problem is, it is NEVER a good idea to give out credit card information over the phone unless you initiate the call to a business that you KNOW is reputable. The second problem is the number that shows up on the caller id LOOKS BOGUS-- (637) 000-2238. The 3rd problem is I have asked them many, many times to STOP CALLING ME, but they don't. For more information google their name or the telephone number I've given you and  see all the complaints about them. Once again, I registered a complaint with the Do Not Call folks. Today I told these idiots that they were predatory scammers and that I reported them before and was going to do it again. I told them that I was telling them AGAIN to take me off their call list. Their call came in shortly before 1 this afternoon and by 1, I was filling out the form to report them.

There is still plenty of time to crochet your fur-baby a bit of crocheted bling for Valentine Day. A pretty collar of hearts would look really pretty for your K-9 Valentine (oooh, that rhymed, I'm a poet). Have fun...

Note: This is Opi before he became a "chunky monkey." :)

Found an Interesting Butterfly Looming Blog...

Small Butterfly Loom

Have any of you seen the butterfly looms? I fell in love with the idea of making some beautiful afghans with them and when Annie's Attic had them on deep-discount several years ago I bought 3 or 4 different sizes. They're now sitting in my "yarn warehouse" gathering dust! After seeing this new-to-me blog, I will be dusting mine off and putting them to use after I finish up a few crochet wips! Check out the Butterfly Loom Blogspot and see some great projects and how-to videos.

Search Amazon.com for butterfly loom

Nellie is Kickin' Back with Dad...

Just thought I'd share this cute picture of Nellie Belle. This is the position you'll see her in most nights as she cuddles in the recliner by her "daddy" and gets her belly tickled... :)

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Search Amazon.com for chihuahua calendar 2011 (several versions/prices are available)

The Granddaughter of My Heart Models New Winter Set

This young lady became my great-granddaughter when my son married her nana. She was 4 then and now she's a special young lady of 12! When she came over today, I took the opportunity to snap a photo of her wearing the hat and scarf I made her for Christmas. I know you've seen a picture of it before but this time someone is wearing it! Here she is....

Oh, and when she comes to see grandma, we sometimes work on her blog. 

Nellie Braved the Cold to Greet Her Daddy

I couldn't resist sharing this photo of Nellie Belle and Ray with you. There are a couple more pictures of the chi kids, ready to greet Ray after work, on their blog.

Look--Ray brought in the mail too--An Annie's Attic Catalog!

Search Amazon.com for annies attic mysteries

Opened Another Blog

I decided to keep this blog as my family/crochet blog. I opened a new blog to have a place for topics of history, current events and that sort of thing. It is called Little Looks at History. I'm not going to move things from here to there so it's pretty empty right now but I hope you'll stop in every now and then for a visit.

Hobby Lobby 40% Off Coupon.

40% Off Coupon--Good through January 22nd.
Hobby Lobby's ad, good through January 22nd.

What's Going on in My Crochet World?

I'm working on a granny ripple afghan. My other projects have been put on hold because there is a time limit on this one--I plan to give it to a dear aunt and uncle. They don't know about it so shhh if you know them. ; ) I'm enjoying the use of neutral colors. I never thought I'd say that! I had gotten so used to white walls when we moved around in the military that I have gone crazy with color when we finally settled in our own home. My big mistake was when I picked a color for our bedroom that I thought resembled terracotta but it ended up looking like we were living inside a CARROT! That lasted a few years and I now have a soft-blue colored bedroom that is perfect. Anyway, I'm jabbering on here about carrots and colors and what I really wanted to do is show you how far I've gotten on this project. Sometimes I take part in the WIP Wednesday over at Every Day Crochet but I don't think she's doing it this week. Oh, and finally, here's the picture:

Affordable Health Care Act

Is anyone interested in the almost 1000 page Affordable Health Care Act? It's rather lengthy and full of political double talk but it is available for you to read and lookup answers to your questions. I would really appreciate knowing what it entails but I just don't have the wherewithal to read the entire thing! Anyway, I thought it was important to know where it is.