Uh-Oh

I HATE IT!

I do not like it one bit.  It's ugly.  I'm going to sew these together and give it to the dogs for a blanket.  I don't like that you can't see the cabled pattern of the circles, and I just think the colors are hideous.  DAMMIT!  I should have stuck with what I knew I wanted, which was to use the Noro yarn for this pattern.  I hate it when a plan does not come together.  But I suppose I'm glad I found out I hate it now before I made all 80 circles.

*Heavy Sigh*

I've decided that my blog is too crapped up.  There's too much going on.  So....

Do not be alarmed if you try to come here in the next couple of days and my site is down.  I'm going to be working on it and changing things up.  Are you excited?  Okay, well, I guess it's just me then.

Ramble, Blah, Blah...

I've decided I hate the green shawl I'm making.  I don't like the way the colors of the yarn have worked up.  I'm going to frog it and just wait for the white yarn I ordered from Nordic Mart.  I still love the pattern though.

I made these no-bake bars last night.  I think the butter measurement in the recipe is wrong.  I just used one stick of butter, and it worked out fine.

I was so sick last night when I went to bed.  I was sick because I ate dinner at 9:00 and ate too much.  Then I lay there and whined, and then when it finally passed about thirty minutes later, I couldn't sleep.  I was awake the ENTIRE NIGHT.  I was the crazy lady on a ladder at 3:00 AM trying to cover the little green light on the smoke alarm with duct tape.  That little light has never bothered me before, but suddenly last night it was as bright as the face of the sun to me.  Covering it didn't help though.  Neither did the cinnamon Teddy Grahams I got up and ate.  (After being sick as a dog earlier...I'm so smart.)  I'm glad I rarely have insomnia like that because it made me a crazed woman.  I can't remember all the freaky things I thought about, but it was crazy.

I haven't taken a nap yet because Angelica has been here cleaning since 9:00.  She just left, but I don't feel like I'm sleepy.  I'll probably pass out at 6:00 this evening and be lots of fun.

I don't think I've ever told y'all this, but Sammi smells exactly like chocolate.  It's true!  Come on over and take a whiff.  You'll see.

Oh, I remember one thing I was thinking about...reincarnation.  I'm so deep.  heh-heh.  For some reason I started thinking about THIS STORY.  (Scroll down the page and read the synopsis if you're interested.)  I haven't read the book, but I saw a show about reincarnation a long time ago, and this boy's story was featured with several others.  Very interesting indeed.

God forbid I get up and do something productive instead of letting my mind take me wherever it wants and being miserable.

Okay then.  Nice idiotic ramble, Pammy Sue.  Whatever.  Later.

With Time on My Hands

Easy Potato Sausage Soup

Recipe HERE

We were pretending it was fall already yesterday and I made soup for dinner.  It was really good.  Hubby says it's a keeper and I agree.  I left out the green pepper because I didn't have any, and I halved the recipe for us.

Next!

I made this little doo-hickey yesterday.  It was fun for a change.  Don't ask me where I got the pattern (chart only) because I forgot to write it down and I don't have a clue.  Sorry.  It was just a chart anyway, and you can pretty much do it by looking at this picture if you're so inclined.  I can't decide on a border for it.

Next!

I started a shawl about an hour ago.  This is not a good picture, but I don't want you to see it really well anyway until it's done.  (That piece of dark yarn is just a stitch marker.)  It's a free pattern I'll link to when I show you the finished shawl.

I also bought a shawl pattern on Ravelry for $2, but decided against making it with any of the yarn I have.  I want to make it a solid color.

I am SO THRILLED that our work has finally slowed down and I have time to actually think about cooking and baking and crocheting more!  It's been really rough these last few months having little free time and big-time stress.  So I've been doing happy dance all around my house yesterday and today everytime I realize how relieved I am and good I feel.  The dogs just look at me like I'm crazy.  I'm so glad they can't talk because they see some seriously silly stuff out of me.

Hubby goes to his new job assignment and schedule next Wednesday.  That will be a huge adjustment for both of us.  Should be interesting to see how things settle in around here.

I'll talk at y'all again tomorrow.  Bye!

Better Pic - Yarn!

The green-multi is Araucania Ranco Multy, and I got it on ebay from THIS SELLER.  The other is a wool-silk blend (yummy) in Figi that I ordered from Yarntopia Treasures.  I plan on making shawls with both of these.  I just need to find the perfect pattern.  I'll know it when I see it!

Oh, great.  Way to go, Pammy Sue.  Now we have to look at THAT all day.

Ew

Tony Hayward, CEO of British Petroleum

I must say, he looks quite smarmy and icky.  He always looks like he has the slightest of a smart-aleck grin on his face just underneath the surface.  The oil spill scandal aside, it makes me want to slap it off of his face.  Not a good face for PR purposes.  And while I'm sure he's just the fall guy for a lot of other people and their bad decisions, he doesn't do much for BP's public image.

It makes my stomach physically ache when I see all of those animals covered in oil.  I just can't watch it.

Moving on to more pleasant things...

I've got nothing!  Ha!  Nothing is better than THAT though.  I'll try to come up with something nicer and bring it to you later.  I've got a wee bit of work to do this morning, but my afternoon should be free!

I wrote this whole entry with an English accent in my head.

Restless...

Geez, this is a bad picture...

Blue Doily

Did the first five rounds of THIS PATTERN using Sinfonia (sport weight cotton) yarn and an F hook.  The Sinfonia was a little too stiff for this kind of thing, but I used it anyway.  (There's a joke there somewhere!)  It was a fun distraction from the granny stripes and circles.

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It's dark and I just heard thunder roll outside.  Yipee!  We need some rain.

Do you know what I'm doing?  Or I should say, do you know what I'm NOT doing?  I'm NOT working on one of those three afghans I have started.  I'm looking for something new, of course.  Ha!  I'm a spazz.  I have CADD, Crochet Attention Deficit Disorder.  Yes, that must be it.

Now where are my pattern books...

Books & Hooks

I'm reading this book and it's FANTASTIC!

It's exactly what I wanted.

It gripped me from the first page.

Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Crochet

My latest crochet book purchase.

Worth every penny!

AND...

This is what I've been working on all day:

Yes, I jumped on the Granny Stripes bandwagon.

I wasn't going to make one, but I kept seeing everyone else's really beautiful blankets, and I just had to.  I decided to use more pastel-ish colors for a change...not usually my bag, but I like it.  The colors look much more vibrant in this picture than they do in person.  The colors are much softer than they show here.

So now I'm working on three blankets at the same time.  It's making things go very slowly, but I'm in no hurry.  What's the fun in hurrying?

Hubby is whining for some dinner.  I think we'll have eggs of some type.  Eggs are always good.  Hope you had a nice Sunday.

Linky-Lou Saturday

I just made my TWINKIE CAKE and got it in the fridge, now go make yours!  (I only made half.)  You can give me a hug later.  No baking in this dreadful heat!

I don't go to Pioneer Woman's blog much anymore, but she has a list of recipes on her blog today.  GO CHECK THEM OUT.  Several of them look really yummy!

THIS WEBSITE is kind of funny.  The captions have given me a few giggles.  Thanks, Boon Pappy!

I'm loving my NOOK.  I'm quite happy with it.  And just for shits and giggles, go to BARNES & NOBLE and click on the "see details" link next to their coupons on this page to see what you CAN'T buy with them.  Good Lord, what's the point in having a coupon at all??  Why don't they just put some books on sale and be done with it?  *Hate*

Lots of FREE DOILY Patterns!

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I obviously have not found any inspiration yet.  I hope you get something out of the links here today.  I tried.

On the crochet front, I'm still making circles and I'm not sick of them yet.  I went to Hobby Lobby today and got more variegated colors because I ran out.  I love the Vanna's Choice yarn.  The circles are so soft and squishy and thick made with it.  This is going to be a warm blanket.

Love from my heart to yours.  Bye.

I'm Here

We've been back since Wednesday night.  I've been waiting for some inspiration to smack me up side the head, but it hasn't and I thought I should at least pop in and say thank you all for all of your sweet comments.  So thank you all very much.

I haven't crocheted a lick since Monday, but I did make 3/4ths of a circle a little while ago.  Woot.

Do you feel the non-enthusiam dripping from my pores?  I am totally low on energy.  Who knew that Good & Plenty doesn't have all the nutrients your body needs?  The back of the box says there are 4.5 servings in a box.  I'm so sure!

Johnny Joyce & Tommy Royce

I'll be gone for several days due to a death in the family.  I think I told y'all my mother's twin brother took suddenly ill about a month ago.  He passed away on Friday evening.

I shall return.

Circles, Circles, Circles

Just a quick one to say hi.

Still making circles and enjoying it.  I'll square them up with white today and then make more circles.  I'm going to run out of scrap yarn to use unless I start making solid ones.  I'm not sure yet what I'll do.  This is just kind of a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants afghan.  It would probably turn out prettier if I'd have planned it more.  I'm not much of a planner though.

New Yarn

Who doesn't need that?

I don't think these are going to be used for circles.  The yarn is too much of a different size & weight.

Nookie!

Got your attention, dinnit?

But it's not THAT kind of nookie.  My hubbie brought this home to me last night:

The Nook from Barnes & Noble

Now I can purchase and read digital books.  Yea!  When you're setting it up, there's a place where you can name your Nook.  I named mine Nookie, hence the title of this post.  I'm sure that is very original...NOT, but I was in a hurry to start.

Thank you all for your book recommendations.  I didn't download one single thing last night because I spent a three hours browsing the books and trying to make up my mind and never could pull the trigger!  I think Barnaby just needs to pick something for me the first time.  It's kind of freaking me out, and I don't know why.  Weirdo.  It's not like it would be the first time I bought a book I didn't read because I didn't like it.

Lookie what I've been doing.

They are easy to do and go quickly once you get the pattern down in your head.  I decided to just start making the circles and do the white edging in batches.  I'm not sure I like that orange & yellow one.  That's some yarn that I died with Kool Aid months ago.  The other is the same yarn I made the scarf out of last weekend.  I found another ball.  I'd forgotten that I bought two skeins.

I got a bunch of yarn in the mail yesterday.  I'm going to try making a square like this with the three colors of Noro and two colors of the DROPS Fabel I got.  I'm hoping they'll block out to be the same size as these I've already made and look good together.

If you want to make some too, HERE is the free pattern pdf.

I must go work now.  Ta-ta.

Gimme a Book Title

One of my roses after it rained a couple of days ago.

Pretty good picture for a crappy little camera...

(As long as you don't look at GB's pictures!)

I haven't felt like crocheting on big projects for many days now.  I haven't worked on either of my afghans or really much of anything.  I made a silly little Blackberry holder, and I started another scarf but frogged it last night because I decided I didn't like it.

I did shop online over the weekend and ordered some yarn.  I think I ordered from three or four different places -- eBay, etsy, Nordic Mart -- not a lot of any one thing.  It's mostly yarn for shawls and/or scarves since that's what I feel like doing lately.  Oh, and I got a couple of different colorways of Noro (on sale) just in case I can stockpile enough to make one of those gorgeous afghans I showed y'all a few days ago...the one with the circles in the squares.  I might have enough yarn and be able to finish it by 2020 if I start now.

IS SUMMER OVER YET???  BLEH!  Sorry for yelling, but I hate summer.

What else?  Hmm...

Oh, I printed out THIS RECIPE a day or two ago.  I'm going to make one soon.  It's such a pretty dessert and would be perfect for Three O'Clock Coffee some afternoon.  You'll definitely see a picture of it when I make it.

I made chili in the crock pot yesterday.  It makes for several good meals.  Last night I made chili soft tacos (used some of the leftover greens and cilantro from the Asian salad), we're having omelets with chili on top tonight, and then we'll probably have Frito Pie or I'll make some dip out of the rest.

I'm nearly finished with the last Twilight book.  I'm reading just a few pages and then putting it down to try and make it last.  How dumb.  But I don't want it to end!  What will I do when there are no more to read besides wait for the next?

Somebody stop my madness and suggest a good book, will ya?  I like to read pretty much anything.  What is the best book you've ever read?  That's the caliber of book I want.

Busy Bee

Yes, I was a busy bee this morning...

I made Blueberry Refrigerator Jam

And...

Friendship Coffee

And now, because I love you, I will share with you how I made them.

The Friendship Coffee idea was found HERE.

The label link didn't work, but I emailed her and she was nice enough to send them to me.  I'll send them to you if you ask me, and I'm sure she'd do the same.  I slightly altered the recipe, adding more cinnamon & nutmeg.

Here's the recipe I used:

Friendship Coffee

1 cup instant coffee

2 cups Nestle Quick

2 cups powdered creamer

1 tsp cinnamon

3/4 tsp nutmeg

1 1/2 cups sugar

Mix everything together in a big bowl and combine well.  Divide into jars, label with instructions, and give them away.  Be sure to keep some for yourself!

Now for the Blueberry Jam...

Place blueberries (I used fresh), sugar, and lemon jello in a medium saucepan.

(Recipe with quantities below.)

Heat on medium-low, stirring constantly to avoid burning the sugar.  It will seem dry, but avoid the temptation to add water.  The sugar will melt and some of the blueberries will pop creating plenty of liquid before long.  You can mash them up as it's heating if you want.

When the sugar melts, it will look like this.  Keep stirring and turn up the heat to medium-high.  Bring to a boil and let it boil for 2 minutes.

The instructions didn't say to do this, but I didn't want big hunks of blueberries in mine, so I used my hand blender and blended up the blueberries.  You can mash them with a fork or potato masher too if you don't have a hand blender.

Then I laid out newspaper on the counter so I didn't stain it, filled the jars and labeled them, and put them in the refrigerator to set-up.

Note:  This only made four cups of jam so you might want to double it.  It's REALLY good.  I expected it to be good, but not THIS GOOD.  YUM.

Refrigerator Blueberry Jam

4 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (2 pints)

2 cups sugar

1 (3-oz) box lemon flavored gelatin

In a medium saucepan, combine all three ingredients.  Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and let boil for 2 minutes.  Pour into jars and refrigerate.

Bye!

Chain Lace Scarf

Free Pattern Here:  Pie-in-the-Sky Crochet (Easy!)
I chained 148 to start.  (The pattern doesn't say how many to chain to begin.)  It only took about 4 hours to do.  I blocked it before these pictures after dunking in cold water and Downey fabric softener.
Hook: Size H
Yarn:  Worsted Weight Wool/Alpaca Yarn, Hand Dyed - Caribbean - Limited Edition (Used the entire skein)
Yarn purchased online at:  Black Sheep Dyeworks

More Pretties

Pretty, and I would have bought them if they were smaller.

Pretty, but I probably like it only because it’s purple and I also have a thing for pearls lately.  Didn’t buy it either.  It needs a longer chain.  I know I could buy that separately, but whatever.  I don’t like that silver post sticking out from the bottom of the pearl.  Picky, ain’t I?

Cute, cute, cute!  Didn’t buy it either.  I think I’m just being a tight wad because of all the money we were forced to spend in June on unfun things.

All of these things can be found and purchased HERE.  I have no affiliation with this shop or the person who owns it.

I’ve got nothing else.

I’m a Slacker Today

Yes, I am.  I should be working, but screw it!  I’m sick of it!  I have released myself from duty and any guilt because of it.  For you all know, I am the Queen of Guilt.  But not today.

Look what I made!  Is this pretty or WHAT?

I saw it HERE and snagged the picture so you could see it.  So many pretty things, and so little time.  Ho-Hum.

I am working on a couple of pretty things myself.  One you have seen, another is a secret until it’s bigger.  I have no idea why I decided it’s a secret, but I did.

I went clothes shopping earlier today.  Well, actually I just went to one little shop, but that is technically shopping since I didn’t know what I was going to buy.  I bought several things in REALLY BIG sizes.  Dammit.

I also stopped at Hobby Lobby (shocking!) and bought some yarn (even more shocking!).  Hee-hee.  I needed it for my secret.

And then I went grocery shopping and got that done.  I may or may not have eaten a Ding-Dong in the car on my way home.  I only live a couple of blocks away from the store so it really was only one.  I mean, that is, if I really did do that.

I’m rambling.  I’m going to go goof-off and maybe take a nap.  Love you.  Bye.

He Ate It

I am the proud new owner of a crappy old library book…

Look at me, Eli.

Sit up straight and look at me!  Laying on Daddy’s lap looking cute will not save you.

Guilty as charged.  Brat.

Another cozy I made over the weekend.  This one is all hdc with a shell edging at the top.  The shell is 5 dc in one stitch, skip a stitch, sc in next stitch, skip a stitch, 5 dc in next stitch, etc.

Back to work.  Bye!

Granny Cozy

I got these basic instructions from Attic24’s blog for her Granny Stripes Blanket and edited them slightly so they are easier to read and are in American crochet terms.  These instructions are for changing colors every two rows.  I only used one color for my Granny Cozy pictured, and then used another color for the trim.  (I’m not sure her instructions about the multiples of 3 are correct.  Mine never work out right.  Whatever.  You’ll figure it out.  Just undo some if you have too many.  Math is not my bag.  Counting is hard.)

Granny Cozy

Measure the bottom part of your glass or cup.  Beginning chain should be long enough to fit around the bottom of your cup (in multiples of three).  It will still fit the wider part of your cup if you use a yarn that stretches a bit.  I used Hobby Lobby’s ILTY and an I hook, but you can use whatever you wish.

Chain appropriate number for your cup size (in multiples of three).
Row 1 :: Work 1 sc in 2nd chain from hook. Continue working sc into each chain till the end. Turn the work.
Row 2 :: Chain 3, then work 1 dc into first stitch. *Skip 2 stitches, then work 3 dc (dc cluster) into next stitch*. Repeat between ** 4 more times, skip 2 stitches, then work 2 dc into last stitch on row.
You should have a row that begins and ends with 2 dc, and has 5 dc clusters in between. Turn.
Row 3 :: You'll be working out of the spaces between the dc clusters of the previous row. Chain 3 then work 3 dc into 1st space between clusters of previous row and in each space across previous row. To finish the row, work 1 dc into the top stitch of the ch-3 made at start of previous row. Fasten off.
Row 4 :: Tie in your new color...knot the two yarns tightly together, leaving ends to darn in after. To begin, insert hook through the very first space of the previous row (between the last dc and the previous dc cluster). Draw the new yarn color through to the front, ch 3, then 1 dc in same space. Work dc clusters into all the spaces across to last space, then work 2 dc into the final space. Turn.
Row 5 :: Chain 3, work dc cluster's in all spaces across to end, working 1 dc into the top stitch of the ch-3 made at start of previous row.

Repeat rows 4 and 5, working two rows for each color.  Fasten off leaving a 5-6-inch tail for joining your rows together later.

Trim as desired.  I joined my trim yarn with an sc between dc clusters, (ch 4, sc in next space) around; fasten off.
Whipstitch cozy together using the 5-6-inch tail of yarn you left at the end of your last row.  Finish off.

Beautiful!

I had to come back and post again to show you something bee-U-tee-ful...

OMG, isn't it pretty?  I want it!

I have the pattern because it was in Crochet Today Magazine.  It's also a freebie on the Red Heart Website.  It's "Sunny Spread" by Ellen Gormley if you want to Google it or look it up on Ravelry.  (I'm too lazy at the moment to put in the link.)  This particular one was done by "fiveoaks66" on Ravelry.  She has a lot of different pictures of it there.  I'd seen the pattern many times, but it's never looked this beautiful before.  It's the Noro yarn she used to do the circles with.  It would cost a fortune to buy all those colors, which is why I won't be making it unless I win the lottery!

Crochet & Food & Stuff

I made myself a couple of new cup cozies.

I use them all day every day.

Isn't Granny Cozy purdy?

Making progress on the afghan,  although I haven't crocheted as much as I thought I would over the holiday weekend.  (No, I didn't get those ends woven in.)

Click the picture for a better look.

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Sinfonia yarn is on sale at Hobby Lobby this week for $3.66.

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I made Asian Noodle Salad this morning.  I LOVE THIS SALAD!  It's so fresh-tasting.  The only drawback is that it takes forever to prepare everything for it.  Barnaby begs me to make this and I usually refuse, but today he got his wish.  I told him if he went to the grocery store and got everything I needed for it, I'd make it.  So I did.  You will not regret it if you make it.  And it makes a TON.

I chop all the veggies and cabbage and put them in large ziplock bags.  Then I boil the linguini and add a little oil and put it in a bag too.  Then I mix the dressing ingredients (except cilantro) in a jar with a lid.  Then just before we're ready to eat, I pull out just enough from each bag for us both and put it in a big bowl.  That way we can have it leftover without it becoming too soggy.  Just pull out what you want each time, add enough dressing to suit your taste, and put the rest back in the fridge.

I'm also making some Steakhouse Dark Wheat Bread in my bread machine right now.  It's starting to smell really good.  There's nothing better than smelling a yeast bread baking (except eating it!).

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I picked up the last book in the Twilight series again last week and started reading it.  It's so good.  I'll be sad when I done and there are no more left to read.  I'm sure there'll be more written in the future.  I'll just have to wait along with everybody else.

We did not go see Knight & Day at the movies over the weekend.  Neither one of us felt like getting out.

That is all.

YES, It's Friday!

I've paused in my crocheting of the afghan to weave in the ends, and there are LOTS.  It'll be much easier to do it this way than if I wait until I'm finished and have to do them all at once. 

I am eating a box of Good & Plenty candy as I'm weaving.  They are so freakin' good.  I love licorice, but nothing is quite as good as Good & Plenty.  I think it's the thinnest of candy shells they have around them that make them so good.  Let's examine this, shall we?  Just kidding.

I had a completely different post up and accidentally deleted it.  What a dumb-ass.  It sucked anyway so you lucked out.  Not that this one won't suck, but at least you get my second effort.

I'm looking foward to a loooooong, relaxing weekend!  I hope it drags.  I want to crochet and crochet some more, watch the NASCAR race Saturday night at Daytona (I love me some night racing even more than day racing), then I might crochet a little, oh, and then crochet with a few naps in-between all those things.  I don't want to go anywhere or see anyone.  Wait.  That's not quite correct.  I might like to go see Day & Knight with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, but I don't know if we will or not.  I really only want to go for the 995-calorie popcorn!  Hee-hee.

I can't believe Eli and Fletcher just both ate a Good & Plenty.  They couldn't have liked it, but they're asking for more.  They must have just tasted the candy on the outside and then swallowed them whole.  We'll be picking up pink and white polka-dot poo in the backyard. 

I'm also going to pack up SO MANY clothes into garbage bags this weekend and take them to Goodwill.  I've got to get rid of them.  I have at least 3 times as many clothes that don't fit than do.

It just started raining...yea!  I love it!  We're supposed to get waves of rain for the next few days from the Hurricane in the Gulf.  Suits me just fine!

Gotta run.  Have a GREAT holiday weekend and BE SAFE.

Edited to add:  I bought the book with the baby afghan pattern I wanted in it.  So all of you people offering up this pattern to me can disregard.  I mean it.  All of you stop scrambling to help me.  (Not one person!  Hmphf.)

Still waiting for things to settle down around here.  The latest thing was that Barnaby was involved in an accident on Monday on his way home from work.  Nobody was hurt, thank goodness.  But it was just one more thing to add to the list for June.

In the meantime, I've been soothing my soul with crochet.  This is my latest project.  I've had the book the pattern is in for a couple of years, I think, and have stared at this afghan many times.  I've just been too lazy or intimidated or something to start it.  I knew it would be slow-going (and it is) because it's mostly sc stitches, but I'm enjoying it.

Fireside Cheer, by Anne Halliday

Leisure Arts #100318,

Afghans for All Seasons, Book 1

This is what the front cover looks like.

This is someone else's finished afghan using this pattern:

This is Heather414's finished afghan.

Isn't it gorgeous?

I got the photo off of her Ravelry page.

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Here are my in-progress photos: 

This is about 10 hours of crochet time.

Cool view.

Close-up of stitches.

I thought I might regret not using one bright color, like red, but I still like it like this.

Too late anyway!