Mango Orange & Lemon Yellow

I went to Sally Beauty Supply last Friday because I needed a good hairbrush.  I picked up this stuff while I was there.  It smells really-really good.  It’s for your nails & cuticles and feet (or any other dry parts).  It’s got lots of natural oils in it and feels like Vaseline.  It’s really greasy, but us older girlies need some extra lubing in certain places.  Ha-ha…that didn’t sound right.  Ah-hem.

These are the lemon bars I made Saturday.  YUM.  Here’s the recipe if you missed it and want it:  Best Lemon Bars  Be sure and read a few of the reviews.  I added an extra lemon, but not near as much as some recommend.  Depends if you like ‘em really sour or not.  I think most people get bigger lemons than we do down here most of the time.

Anywho…that’s all I have for today.  I have work to do and errands to run.  Back to the grind!

House Decor

I went shopping yesterday and bought a couple of new things for the house…

I bought this new picture for above the fireplace.  I love the old one, but I was ready for a change.  I love it.

I also got these three little pots of fake hydrangeas for on top of the kitchen cabinets.  My sister has had something similar in her kitchen for years and I’ve always loved hers.

I still have a naked spot above the cabinets in the corner of my kitchen.  I’m not sure what will be going there.

I’m having my favorite Chicken and Stewed Tomatoes as I write this.  YUM.  I never get tired of this meal.

I’m not crocheting on anything yet today.  I have a sneaking suspicion I’m going to start yet another new project.  I know you are shocked.  What I need to do is put a couple more rows on the colorful striped dress, and a couple more rows on the Swing Set Cardigan, and add buttons to both.  Meh.  I’d rather do something new. 

 

I can hear Sarah Palin’s voice on the TV right now in the living room.  Ugh.  We are going to have to hear that annoying, whiney, nasal voice until at least November 2012!  God save us.

Roses & Lace Dress

With the camera’s flash on…

The colors are not showing up exactly right.

It’s a rose color and a very light pink color.

Without the flash…

It’s still not really right.  The rose color is more pinkish in real life.

I have a piece of paper and a paper towel rolled up and stuck up inside there so you can see the pattern clearly.  It looks kind of rumpled.  I’m not sure how to block this one.  This is a new one on me.  Maybe I’ll just steam it?  It’s #3 thread weight Paton’s Grace yarn done with a size E hook.

I forgot to take a picture of the back with the little pearl buttons.  I’ll do that tomorrow.

Pattern source:  Hooked on Crochet, April 2007.

Time to read a magazine in my happy place.  See ya tomorrow.  I almost forgot…I’m off because it’s a holiday!  Yipee!

Saturday Snackn' Food

I’ve been busy throwing food together for the weekend.  The Captain is off and he likes snackin’ food.  Of course it’s not for ME…it’s for HIM.  ;)

I threw together a box of Cheese-Its Snack Mix X-tra Cheese, another box of regular Cheese-Its, a bag of Bugles, and a bag of Jalapeno Cheetos.  That’s a snack mix for a couple of weeks, at least!  The container on the right has Sesame Noodles in it.  I haven’t added the cilantro, green onions, and chopped peanuts yet.  AND…in the oven still are the Best Lemon Bars.  Can’t wait to have those with Three O’Clock Coffee today.

Sesame Noodles

Ask Kate if she will give you the recipe.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve made these since she gave me the recipe.  They are so freakin’ good, especially now that the weather is turning hotter.  A nice cool noodle salad for dinner works great around here in the summer.

We also have a watermelon in the cooler.  We snuck some last night at about midnight, and it is super-sweet and good!  The trick for getting good watermelon is to NOT get the seedless kind.  They are always mushy and pithy…at least around here.  YUCK!  So get the seeded ones and see how right I am.

********************************

Teresa:  I got a Vizio TV from Wal-Mart to use as my computer monitor!  And, yes, I love it!

What else is going on?

Some hookin’ and blog-readin’…

(That is not my new monitor)

New yarn and scheming which pattern to make next…

Button organizing…

(I still have two jars to add)

And maybe a little Saturday cruising for garage sales.

What are y’all doing?

The Black Hole & The New Book

Ladies & Gentlemen…

I Present To You…

The Black Hole

That Sucked A Wad of Money Down It…

OUR Money!

Bleh!

Bite Me, Black Hole.

*******************************

Alrightee Then…

On to something much more fun:

Sweet Baby Crochet

by Sandy Scoville & Denise Block

Just a peek at some of what’s inside…

Click on the pics for a larger view…

 

And now I have to run off because the Captain wants to hook up my new monitor.  It’s HUGE!  I love it!

Have a happy and safe Memorial Day Weekend!

Granny Ruffles

 

Crocheting through the American Idol Finale last night yielded me this pretty Ruffle-ie Granny Mandela.  I pinned it to a blocking board and sprayed it with Fabreze and spray starch and then dried it with my blow-dryer.  It’s still soft, but it holds the ruffles nicely.  I’ve never starched anything before.  I like it.  I never tire of making these.

Later!

Amen, Brothers & Sisters!

The dust is settling.  The butt cracks, also known as plumbers, are gone.  The $3,125.43 check has been written and handed over.  Tomorrow morning the City comes to do their inspection.  If all is well, we are done and the hole in the yard will be filled in. 

Then we wait for the next catastrophe.  You know it's coming.  It's just a matter of when.  Such is life.  Hopefully there's a little or a LOT of joy sprinkled in between.  That is what we should hold onto and dwell on.

Bring on the joy

Wednesday Thoughts

1.  The plumbing crew is here digging.  Oh joy.

2.  I still don't have my main computer back.  Grr!

3.  American Idol was a big bore last night.  I expected better songs, or at least more upbeat songs and a little excitement.  Nope.  I'm looking forward to the finale tonight because I heard that Aerosmith is going to perform.  I am smitten with Steven Tyler.

4.  We were the only area around here that didn't get pummeled by the storms last night.  We were always in a clear spot on the radar with storms all around us.  We did get rain, but that's about it.

5.  Remember those coral geraniums I bought and showed you a picture of several weeks ago?  They are both alive and well!  Shocker!  They both have pretty new blooms on them.  I thought they were both goners for a while there.

6.  Am I the only one NOT surprised by Arnold Schwarzenegger's infidelity?  Duh, Maria!  He's a ho and always has been.

7.   I thought Kirstie Alley would win DWTS for sure.  I thought she had the popularity vote hands down.  I guess not.

8.  I am not interested in watching The X Factor in the least.

9.  The arches of my feet are killing me.  I have really high arches, and this extra weight I'm carrying is making them scream.  They feel like they are ripping.  I hate wearing shoes when I'm in the house and I never do, but I'm going to have to start.  They need some support to carry this fat lady around now.  I'm wearing these Croc-type house shoes that seem to work.

9.  I want to have all my teeth pulled and get dentures.  I just do.  Is that weird?  It's not so much that I want dentures as it is that I don't want any real teeth in my head anymore.  I'd rather get tooth implants, but they're too expensive.  But if I did any of that, I would need to be totally unconscious for it.  Thanks.

10.  I also want electrolosis for my legs, underarms, and bikini area, although I am not a very hairy person.  Basically, I don't want anything with roots in my body except my head hair.  Got it?  It's disturbing for me to think about roots being in my body.  Is that weird too?

11.  As always, I need a nap, and it's only 9:20 in the morning.  I tend to shut down and sleep to deal with stress.

12.  Being unable to post pictures on my blog really sucks.

Have a good one.  Bye.

Major Bummer w/Update

We have a water leak under the foundation of the house by the water heater.  Plumber is here now.  It will cost approximately $3,000 to fix.  Will most likely break-up my ceramic tile floor to dig under the foundation AND/OR dig the yard up.

*Update on cost to fix:  $3500.00
*Our home insurance?  State Farm.  Amount they will pay:  ZERO!  Assholes.

My main computer (work computer) is at the shop getting a new part.  Don't know the cost of that yet.  Should get it back today.  No pictures here until that happens.

I want to go to bed.

On the other hand, there are thousands of people affected much worse than that by the tornadoes lately.  Does that mean I should be grateful that it's a relatively small thing compared to that?  I guess that's one way to look at it, but it's not helping me at the moment.

I may be away for a few days while I deal with life and work.  We'll see.  But if I'm MIA, that's what I'm doing.

P.S.  While I'm being depressed...I'm also FAT!

Dish Mat Pattern

I’ve made many of these dish mats over the years.  I use one every day on my counter.  They get so much use that I need to make new ones every so often.  I don’t think I’ve made a new one in at least a year or more.  The top photo shows the true colors I used, and the bottom photo lets you see the texture of the stitches.  This is one of my favorite stitches, and a solid color looks really nice or you can change colors as desired.  Throw it in the washing machine now and then to freshen it up.  If using acrylic, you can dry it for just a few minutes in the dryer and lay it flat to dry completely.

Crocheted Dish Mat

Yarn:  I have always used 100% acrylic yarn, but you can use cotton or whatever you want. I like acrylic because it dries fast and so far hasn’t molded or started smelling like cotton does.

Hook:  K

The below starting chain makes a dish mat that is approximately 26 inches long.  If you want a longer mat, just chain any odd number of stitches.

Ch 83

Row 1:  Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across to end.  Ch 3; turn.

Row 2:  Sc in next st (not the same st as ch 3), (dc in next st, sc in next st) across, ending with sc in last st.  Ch 3; turn.

Row 3:  Sc in first dc from previous row, (dc in next sc, sc in next dc) across.  Ch 3; turn.

Repeat Row 3 until the mat is as wide as you want it.

Last Row:  Sc in each stitch across.

Edge as desired or leave it as is.  (I just did sc all around in the one pictured above.)

 

These make a great little gift.  You could add a couple of dish cloths or scrubbies or dish towels for a nice little package.

Pattern published on Ravelry.

Hall of No Shame

The Captain says I should be too ashamed to show you these pictures, but I’m not.  I have no shame.  This is my crochet pile in one corner of the Master Bedroom.  This does NOT include my yarn stash, which is mostly in big tubs under the bed.  There are a few skeins and partial skeins in there, but it is by no means by yarn.  This is just all the crochet crap that accumulates very quickly when you crochet every day like I do.  Behind that table is a bookcase full to the brim with more crap and most of my crochet books that you can’t even see.

I will straighten it out some day, and soon hopefully.  But for now, I know exactly where everything is so don’t mess with it!

What are YOU looking at?

Are you looking at ME?

*********************

We had blueberry boobs muffins for breakfast.  They are not nearly as over-done as they appear in this picture, although the bottoms are brown.

This is another thing I am not ashamed of:  I always use Betty Crocker Wild Blueberry Muffin Mix.  It’s the best.  I always think of my momma when I make these.  She always made them when I was a kid.  I always knew when she was making them because I could smell them baking before I’d get out of bed.

I have nothing of the crochet variety to show you today.  I spent most of yesterday, hours and hours, trying to figure out a crochet top pattern and write it out.  I gave up at 1:00AM and went to bed.  Forget it.  I suck at it.  I gave it a good go, so I’m not ashamed to surrender.  So there.  I told you I have no shame.

Finished, Started, Eaten!

Finished…

 

Here is Linda Permann’s Swing Set Cardigan.  I ran out of the solid aqua yarn so couldn’t make the sleeves longer like the pattern.  I hate to go buy more because I just got rid of what I’d had for at least three years.  I may just use the variegated Snowflake to make them longer.  I’m just not sure how great that will look.  I also need buttons.  My Hobby Lobby list is full of buttons.

Started…

 

I just started my Fisherman’s Wife Shawl a few minutes ago.  I’m about to start Row 2.  I like the Fishermen’s Wool yarn.  It doesn’t feel as scratchy as I thought it would.  I bought the pattern several months back but didn’t have the yarn I needed until now.

Already Eaten…

Crustless Egg Custard

And lastly, here’s the Crustless Egg Custard I made several days ago.  Doesn’t it look yummy?  I got this from a hooky friend that lives in South Carolina.  She said it had been in her family since the 1850s!  I absolutely love this as a dessert or breakfast.  It’s very dangerous though.  I can’t stop eating it once I make it.  In fact, you’d better make two if you make it because it won’t last.  And look how EASY…

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In your blender place the following:

• 3 Eggs
• 5 Tbsp Flour (1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp)
• 1/2 Cup Sugar
• 1 Cup of Milk
• 1 (12-oz) Can of Evaporated Milk (Not sweetened condensed)
• 2 tsp Vanilla

Blend well about 1 minute.

Butter a 9-inch pie plate.  Pour the mixture into your buttered dish and top with generous amount of freshly grated nutmeg.  Be careful while placing it in the oven…plate will be FULL.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.  It's okay if you have a spot in the middle that is still jiggly.  It will set up as it cools.  Cool completely on a rack.  Refrigerate.

 

Have a great weekend!

Crochet, Blah, Blah…

Little Crochet

by Linda Permann

I haven’t felt like working on long-term projects lately.  I think you can tell.  These baby projects are perfect for me right now.  They’re rather addicting because they don’t take but a couple of days at most, and they all turn out so cute.  I may have to get serious about opening that etsy.com shop.  I’ve about made a closet-full already.

There are lots of cute things to make in this book, and I really like Linda Permann’s patterns.  Here’s the beginnings of my first project out of it:

I’ll likely finish this tonight.  I’m already a couple of rows into the shells that make up the bottom part.  I’m doing that part in the solid teal yarn you see in the picture above.  It looks so good with that Snowflake yarn I used for the yoke.  Have I mentioned how much I love the Snowflake yarn?  I love it.  It’s a little easy to get snagged in your hook, but all the good things about it outweigh that little caveat.  I like that it’s a little bit stretchy, and the color choices are amazing.

For those who keep asking…no, I don’t know that the grandbaby will be a girl yet for sure.  Unfortunately, I won’t be blogging a whole lot about it anymore.  Why?  Don’t ask.

Still With the Dress

I haven’t sewn the buttons on because I’m going to get different ones, and I still have the tie around the middle to make or buy ribbon for.  I think it’s done other than that.  I don’t want the skirt as long as it would be if I were to add the ripples.  This is for a newborn, so I don’t want it really big.  It may still be too big as it is.  It looks really teeny in that picture but bigger in person.  I want to make this again in a bigger size later down the road.

I used THIS PATTERN as a guide for the top part and then added a round of 2 DC in each stitch in white and a round of SC in red, and THIS PATTERN for the skirt.  I used all Vanna’s Choice Baby yarn.

I’ll show it to y’all again when the tie and buttons are on.  Gotta run.

More of the Dress

This is where I am after ripping it out, making more rows on the bodice, and then redoing the shell rows.  I still have a row of yellow and another row of white before the ripples start.  I’m still not sure how I’m going to start those ripples, but I’ll worry about it when I get there.  So far I like it.  I’m going to bed.  Nightie-Night.

Dress Progress

So far, so good! 

(See previous post)

But I think I’m going to rip it out up to the pink part of the chest and add a few more rows before starting the skirt.  It looks a little short-waisted…okay, a LOT short-waisted.

Stupid

Me again.  I had to make another entry today because I’m feeling chatty.  I just had more things to say.  Some days are like that, and others I just sit here picking my nose.  (Not really…you know what I mean.)

I laughed out loud at my own stupidity when I got my tag order in the mail…

Bwa-ha-ha!  They are HUGE!

I swear, I need to pay more attention.  Like I’m going to sew these giant tags into my crochet things!  I’m so sure!  It would be kind of funny though.  I thought I was ordering something that was small, like maybe an inch wide and 1/2 inch high.

 

Um, not quite, Pammy Sue!

Try again.

 

These might work if I was making king-size mattresses.  Hee-hee-hee.  I laugh every time I look at them.  Even with trimming just my name off, they’d still be too big.  Oh well.

Have a look at the lovely cantaloupe I cut open yesterday morning.  It’s really good.  It had been sitting on my counter for several days.  I was waiting for it to start smelling so I would know it was ripe, but it never did.  I finally cut  it open to see what the deal was, and it’s perfect!  It’s just a smell-free cantaloupe I guess.  Weird.

* YUM*

***************

I am dying to make this little dress in exactly those same colors!  I love it.  I got the picture from MagiadoCrochet.  There are no instructions.  Well, there are semi-instructions, but they are in another language which just doesn’t translate well.  I’m sure I could figure something out that is similar and in a smaller size.  I’m wondering about that transition from shells to ripples on the skirt though.  Hmm.  I’ll have to study it.  Does anyone happen to have something similar?  I know I can do the top part on my own, but I may need a little help with starting the ripple part.

I can hardly stand it.  I think I’m going to go make the top part right now and see how it goes.

I have a Crustless Custard Pie in the oven right now.  I haven’t made one of those since last summer.  I love having it for breakfast.  Gotta go check it.  Bye.

Fingerless Gloves

“Romantic Fingerless Gloves”

by Kalurah

I’ve had this glove pattern for a while now but never used it.  I really enjoyed making these while watching the race this afternoon.  It took me about 4 hours of leisurely crocheting with breaks and stuff.  Easy.  I love the two buttons I found in my button jar that Kate gave me for my birthday last year.  I’ve had more fun looking and digging through those buttons.  Who knew buttons were so much fun?

The pattern is on Ravelry for purchase HERE.  I used (you guessed it)…H.L. I Love This Yarn in Warm Brown and a size J hook.  I would have modeled them for the picture, but my nails look like crap right now.  Time for a mani/pedi very soon.  The Captain said I looked very “hip” wearing them.  Ha-ha.  Do people use that term anymore?

Okay, okay, you have not left me after all.  I was just being needy.  Thank you all for being there, commenting or not.  I miss you when you’re quiet and start getting worried that I’ve said something horrible to run you off…or it’s a conspiracy and someone has stolen all my friends.  Ahh…my friend Paranoia is always there to keep me company.  Heh-heh.

And just so you know…I am always there reading you guys also.  Okay, sometimes I skim, but don’t tell anybody.  I don’t always comment when I know I should either.  I tend to clam up a little when it comes to that.  Isn’t that silly?  I can’t help it.  I’m a social retard. (You’d never know it by reading here, but it’s true.)  But I try because I know it does mean a lot, even if it’s just a couple of words.

To answer the question several of you have asked…

No, I did NOT get a dog, but we did go to Trade Days on Saturday.  I played with the cutest and BIGGEST 7-week-old Great Dane puppy.  I could not get over how big his feet were.  They were my favorite color for Great Danes, Harlequin, which is just a fancy word for black and white splotches.  This is what they look like full-grown:

And for your information, I didn’t ask to take home any of the puppies we saw…not one.  And they even had Boston Terriers and Pugs.  I must be growing up…not a chance!

 

Groovy gloves, man.

Much Love,

Peace Out

Lonely Again

Where did all my peeps go? You have all abandoned me. I've hardly had a comment in a week!

Have I run you all off?

Lonely Again

I love this song!

Lonely...