Saturday, February 28, 2015

Mittens and Stuff

I love to crochet.  These are a few of blankets I've made for some special recipients.  The top is a very special brown blanket that took forever. I made it out of Simply Soft by Caron. The yarn is lovely, but it was a pain to work with. This was a gift for a special couple to celebrate their wedding.


The middle is actually a denim blue color - I made it for my #1. He requested a blue blanket for Christmas. It did not photograph well at midnight when I took the picture. I was so excited that I'd finished it, that I just snapped the picture and posted it to FB. :)


This blanket was made for my husband's nephew's baby in Canada. It is soft and snuggly and the recipient and her family love it. 



Mittens are my favorite thing to make. They are useful, warm, they work up rather quickly, and are really nice looking - if I do say so myself.

The chunky yarn works up great. The recipients always seem happy with these.
  

I love the mohair. They are so soft and warm. I kept this pair for myself. I usually end up giving all my mittens away as gifts. I'd love to sell my mittens, but I am sure no one would want to pay for the time it takes to make these.

I also enjoy crocheting for the younger set. These sweaters are simply adorable! I really enjoy the challenge of making them and watching them turn out. :)

The red, yellow, and white sweater was made for a VMI Alumni baby. It works for boys or girls.

This was for a Citadel Alumni baby.  It is just as cute, but since it is Citadel...

I like to make scarves that are delicate but warm. These are both mohair. The recipients were most pleased. :)


I'm currently working on a taupey/beigey/mushroomy colored shawl for the Prayer Shawl Group at the church.  I like to watch the project grow.  I just have to remember to take a picture when I finish it...

Friday, February 27, 2015

Sock Singing

Mini is a great cat, but she has some quirks. She sock sings. She sings the songs of her people after retrieving socks from the sock drawers or the laundry. It depends on the day what sock she chooses. Her favorite person on the planet is Mr. He is her food source. He spoils her rotten. He lets her do things that I will not.


This morning - at 5:15am - you know, when it's still dark out and I am still asleep... Mini decided that Mr's departure was simply more than she could bear. She went and found a sock in the laundry basket. She dragged said sock into the kitchen, deposited it on the rug and began her song of woe. It was long and loud and oh so woeful... I had no idea she had such a set of lungs. (Maybe I should sign her up for American Idol or The Voice.)
Normally, her singing happens right after one of us goes to bed and lasts about 10 or 15 seconds.  And it's cute.
Well, this morning her sock singing lasted a good 10 minutes. It was not cute.
She is currently wandering around getting into things - which is very unlike her. Normally, at this time of day, she is toes up on our bed - resting in preparation of Mr's return from work when getting into things time normally starts. I hope she settles down soon, or I'm going to have to send her outside to play in the snow.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

So much fun!

Yesterday I took on a chime choir that had been dormant for a few years. I can honestly say that it was probably one of the best first rehearsals I have ever had. They can all read music, they play well, they smile when they ring (yes, the music was really easy and I know that will change), and they laugh a lot.
We read and rang through 3 pieces. They did great! We worked on dynamics and notes and making music. It was simply awesome!
I think I'll have to find some more challenging music for them.
I can't wait until next week.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Bumps and bruises

I have a tendency to walk into corners -- the corner of the hope chest, the arm of a pew, the corner of the coffee table, etc. these transgressions usually result in small circular or oval bruises on my thighs, hips, and shins. Unfortunately, when I do this, I do it more than once and my legs look like I've been in a fight.

Over the weekend, I walked into the arm of a chair. The chair did not move, as it was bolted into the floor. My thigh has a giant bruise on it -- with a lovely blank spot right in the middle that looks exactly like the edge of the arm of that chair. It is most unattractive. And every time I bump that spot, I know I have a giant bruise there. Do you have any idea how often you bump your thigh with your hand, your purse, your laundry basket, or how often you bump into things as you walk? I do. It's a lot.

I keep thinking I will grow out of this bumping into things. Alas, it isn't happening. I used to think it only happened when I was headed to the bathroom in the middle of the night without my glasses. I was lying to myself. It happens all times of the day - with and without glasses and it happens in spurts. I can go weeks without an issue and then, boom... I bump into things 3 times a week for months. What can I say? I'm klutzy.

Oh, and I don't wonder where my kids get it from... I know. They get it from their dad. ;)

Edited to add:
It seems that my arms and hands are not immune to being whacked and bumped. While I was cleaning and washing floors yesterday, I must have whacked my watch and arm at least 50 times on stuff as I whizzed by. I'm amazed my watch is still ticking and that my arm is still attached to my body...

Maybe I need to slow down a little and pay more attention to where my limbs are in relation to furniture and walls... Nah! We all know that's not going to happen!

Monday, February 23, 2015

Another Monday

Yup. It's Monday.
I'm in a bit of a mood. I discovered that FaceBook - yet again - isn't showing me my whole feed. Why not? Do they think that I don't want to see my sister's successful skyscraper climb? Or my friend's post about his new home complete with pictures? I'd much rather see that than some crap they want me to see about the Oscars!
I'm not sure I can fix the issue. I'm not sure I can do anything about it but whine to all of you.
Sorry about the whining.
A lovely cup of chai might adjust my attitude. I think I'll make one.
Have a happy Monday.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

That cat!

Mini wonders what she can get into today...

Friday, February 20, 2015

Shh... Don't tell...

It's me, Mini.
They are off to VMI and mom left her computer on. She thinks we don't know how to surf the web! Ha! If they only knew the porn sites we surf: Animal Planet and Petco are the best! Heck we felines know how to work the TV, too. They think we spend our days curled up asleep when they aren't home. We will continue to let them think that. This is our little secret, ok?

I've only got a little time to type this up. It seems the #1 son will be arriving home shortly. I need time to go collect some socks and spread them in the hallway. Mom loves it but it irritates the heck out of Dad. He doesn't like his socks touched. I choose each sock carefully. Sometimes I take them from the dirty laundry and sometimes - when I get the urge - I open the sock drawers and choose from there because it's more of a challenge and the socks aren't smelly.

These snowy days have me cooped up in the house and I'm kinda starting to lose it. There is just not enough cat nip in this house to keep me calm. I need to get outside and chase some rodents! Yeah, I chase 'em for about 10 steps, and then it's nap time. I really need some warm weather so I can get back to my afternoon nap by the pool. This napping on their bed all day is getting really old -- even if their bed is very comfy.

I am even beginning to think that Zeb is starting to go stir crazy. He asks to go out and then proceeds to sit out there on the pool deck with his butt in the snow. In.the.snow. That stuff is cold! I touched it with my paw once. I will not to that again -- that stuff is worse than plain old nasty water.

Oo... I just noticed some papers they left on the counter. They are pristine and need to be munched and shredded. I love to shred paper. Napkins shred the best... I'm just sayin. Hmm... I wonder if we have full toilet paper rolls. Let me check... Why yes, yes we do. I think those need to be unrolled while I have the time.

Ok - well, I've got chores to do before the boy gets home. The best part -- he won't notice anything. He will just whip up some mac and cheese, turn on the TV, and settle in. I'm golden until Mom gets home.

Mini - out.


Thursday, February 19, 2015

Aubergine

I decided to make a triangle shawl for my next project. I've got the buttery mohair mittens on hold until I get the shawl to the point that it will cover my lap. I need to get it big enough to keep me warm while I work on it during Saturday's meeting. :)

I've got 14 rows done. I figure another 5 or six and I will be able to keep warm while I work. Then I'll get back to those yummy buttery mittens.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Sunshine, snow, and bitter cold

This is what the front yard looks like this morning. It is deceptively lovely.


I can guarantee you that I'm not ready for any of the predicted weather except the sunshine part. Now, 75 and sunny with low humidity -- I'm all over that!  We don't have much snow - unlike my dear friends in New England and I'm fine with that.   What I'm not fine with is temps that are supposed to drop like a stone to below zero. I live in the south - where cold is supposed to be 40, not -10. 

I'm off to Prayer Shawl today. I think I'll start a shawl or a lap robe today and finish it during the VMI Parents Council Meeting on Saturday. The room is notoriously cold and if I'm working on a larger item, it will keep me warm. See? I'm always thinking. 

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

2 years?

It's been 2 years since I last posted. How can this be?
I guess I'd better get back to it, huh?

I can attribute my return here to a friend who told me that he, too, was censored, but didn't much care what people said.  I thought - you know, he is right. This is my blog. It's my opinion. Opinions are like a$$holes. Everyone has one. If you don't like what I have to say, click the little red button up there in the corner, close the window, and don't come back.

Much has happened in those 2 years. Almost too much to say.
I will post the past 2 Christmas letters and that will catch you up.

For now, it goes like this:
Both of my cherubs are in college.
We are enjoying our empty nest, but we also love spending time with the kids when we visit or when they are home.
I work at a local winery part time and as Mr says, "I've become a wine snob." Nah! I just know what I like. FYI: I like a good Merlot.
I've picked up another bell choir to direct. I start with them in a week and a half and I'm really looking forward to getting to know the ladies and making music with them.

Well, the wood stove needs feeding and the dog needs to go out.
Mini keeps trying to steal my blog and type her own thing. Maybe tomorrow, I'll let her post. If I do that, my next post might actually post sooner than 2 years from now...