Wow! I didn't realize it had been so long since I had been here! Oops!

Anyway, been busy here. Trying to do some much needed house cleaning. And I joined weight watchers on line last week and started the program on Monday. So I have been busy reading and studying about what I needed to do for that and spending a lot of time on the computer looking for recipes.

Mama has decided it is time for her to move into assisted living so we are going to her house tomorrow and helping her to move in. Will be a big adjustment but I think she is making the right decision. Yesterday was her 85th birthday!

Have done very little crocheting lately but have done some.

Made final payment on our October cruise on Monday. That means it won't be long now!

We went to Mama's for the weekend and had a very good time. On Saturday we went to Cattleman's Steakhouse for lunch and then took Mama to Walmart for a bit. Then we just went back to her house and 'visited'. I crocheted 2 more chemo hats while we were talking. Sunday it was church, then the whole family came to Mama's for Sunday dinner. It sure was nice to see everybody. Kaitlyn and Jackson are really growing! Had a few minutes to talk to Mary Lou after the kids had gone. We don't get much of a chance to do that. All in all it was a very good time. I sure was tired when we got home last night!

I have the winterberry tote finished except for the lining. I decided I didn't like the lining material I bought for it so now I'm going to look for something I like better. Hope to find it this week but there is really no hurry on getting it finished.

This morning I went to HMH to meet the lady at the Cancer Center and to take 10 more caps. She was really nice and showed me all around the department and explained a little to me about what they do. I also explained about Hearts of Love and how wonderful and caring a group it is.

This afternoon I took out a bunch of rows I had done on the next purse I was making. I had already cut the size down a good bit from the pattern for a tote but I decided it was still too large for what I had in mind. I knew I would not be happy with it the way it was, so I took it out and ripped back to make a smaller base. Now I am starting up the sides again and think I will like this size much better. Now the base is about the same size as the purple ombre one that I just finished. I am much happier with what I have so far. I will just make the height until it 'feels right' and then do the handles. I'm going back to work some more on it as soon as I get of the computer.

New Purse

I got the lining put in my new purse (the Starling Handbag by Futuregirl) made with Peaches and Creme Dark Purple Ombre last night so I could carry the purse to church today and see how I liked it and the size. And the verdict is.....I like it! I might do the handles a little differently next time I make one of these but all in all I really do like it. It is approximately 9" wide, 6" tall, and 2" wide. Just enough room for the essentials without getting too heavy.

We saw something very unusual this morning. Maurice went to get the newspaper and when he came back in he said I had to come out and 'see this'. So here I go out the front door and into the yard, still in my nightclothes, to see what he was talking about. He had me turn around and look over the garage. We have a dead tree behind our garage and on a limb close to the top of it was a duck! That's right...a duck! I've never seen one in a tree before. He was just sitting there looking around. So I came in and got the camera and took about 3 pictures of it. Of course I zoomed in to get a close-up of it so you don't see any of the house but if I hadn't done that, you could not have been able to see the duck. Anyway, here's the proof that ducks do sit in trees!

FSC

I learned something new! I learned how to do foundation single crochet (fsc) and it rocks! Took a while and a few tries but it is great! I wanted to do the "Starling Handbag" from future girl and it uses the fsc so I had to learn how. Fortunately she also had great tutorials on her site on how to do this. The bag pattern is here: http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/downloads.aspx and the fsc tutorial is here: http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/2009/3/tutorial-foundation-single-crochet.aspx with the supplement here: http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/2009/6/tutorial-foundation-single-crochet-supplement.aspx

I just love her website and tutorials. Lots of pics and easy to understand instructions and there are even some good videos, too.

Anyway, I just finished the bag (did the small version) and next is lining it; again with a tutorial from future girl.

Also, yesterday I got the nicest phone call from the lady at the HMH cancer center about the caps I donated last week. She was really appreciative of them. I am going in to meet her next Monday and see what else they need other than caps (She is only there on Monday and Tuesday).