Today is my first day back at work for this tax season. (Can you say 'Cruise Money'?) Still trying to get myself organized and back into 'tax' mode!

I did get to start on the Stained Glass Magic (SGM) afghan onver the weekend. It is going great! I was able to get a little over 6 (I think) bubble rows done. I really like doing this one, even if I do have some trouble with the 3 things of yarn kinda tangling sometime. I also worked a little more on the Indian style afghan last night.

Well, better get back to thinking about taxes and the tax program.

I figured out what I was doing wrong on my magic ball afghan so I've got that worked out now. I made a scarf out of three sets of 'bubble' rows so now I feel comfortable with making the afghan. I have 6 magic balls made so far for it so I should be ready to start on it soon. I won't get all of the MBs made before starting; I figure I'll need roughly two dozen magic balls for the size I want. But I have enough made that I can get started....maybe over the weekend. Here is a picture of the scarf to get an idea of what the afghan will look like.

And here is a close-up of it.

I also worked some more on the Indian style afghan and decided what I wanted to do with that so have been working on it, too.

We are getting our first major snow of the season today...at least it is snow and not ICE like last January! At least I didn't need to get out in it today.

Well, here it is January again! I have been AWOL since October....Shame on me! I will try to get back into this and keeping up with what is going on in my life and crocheting. I kinda got bogged down last year because as I finished Christmas gifts, I couldn't post about them or share pics because the recipients just might be reading this! But I think everyone liked what they got. I will try to get my list updated of what I completed in 2009 soon.

Anyway, as to what I'm working on right now...I started an Indian style afghan (3 times, actually) and still am not satisfied with how it is looking. So it is being put aside for a while and I'm going to attempt to make a Stained Glass Magic afghan with some help and advice from some new friends in the CAL for it on Ravelry. It is called the Magic Ball CAL. It can be found in the group 'I Love Crochet Afghans!' on Ravelry and the pattern is also available for sale on Ravelry. Here is a link to the pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stained-glass-magic and here is a link to the Ravelry group: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/i-luv-crochet-afghans

I have made 3 magic balls this afternoon so I am ready to get started on this.

Just thought I would drop in and post again just for the heck of it. Had a good time yesterday at Mama's and took a bunch of pictures.

I'm slowly getting the final things done before leaving Friday for our cruise. I promise to post pics of it when we get back!

I've been told by 2 people that I haven't been 'rambling' in a while so I thought I'd better stop by. I didn't think anyone was reading this but me!

Anyway, life goes on. I have been crocheting (of course) and have gotten some Christmas gifts finished and made some more afghans just because. I'll post some pictures one of these days.

Going on a cruise in just a few days! Leaving home for Miami this Friday, will board the Liberty of the Seas Saturday morning for a 7 day cruise of the Western Caribbean. Going with our friends (who are also my bosses!) Mike and Sally. It is the first cruise for them and we are all excited.

Today we are going the Mama's to have a family birthday party for Kaitlyn who turned 7 on Oct 2.

Well, we all got Mama moved in this weekend. Her apartment is very nice and the whole facility is awesome! I think she is really going to like it there.

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).

Hearts of Love

I was remiss in my posting yesterday and did not mention a wonderful Ravelry group---Hearts of Love---so I'm doing it now. It is a wonderful group and I am proud to be a part of it. Here is an excerpt of the introduction of the group

"Being a member of our active knitting and crocheting group, Hearts of Love ♥, casts its primary focus upon joyfully creating a new wave of FASHION FLAIR chemo caps with designer highlights and touch of class in our beautiful creations. Our designer chemo caps are taking artistry to new heights and providing extra love and hugs in our creations.

In additon to the beauty and joy of making chemo caps for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, our members also enjoy making scarves, dishcloths, prayers shawls, ponchos, socks, washcloths, neckwarmers and lapghans and more to brighten the lives of our lives with a smile and a hug. Love is like a flower that blooms with our special creations here.

MEMBERS can make chemo caps here for anyone or anyplace that they wish. Our optional GROUP project, open to any members who are interested, supports the UC DAVIS MEDICAL CENTER CANCER CENTER located in Northern California. This Cancer Center provides us with the opportunity to make our chemo caps for all ages from infants to children to teens to adults."

If you would like to join this group on Ravelry, you are most welcome to do so. Here is a link to the opening group page:

http://www.ravelry.com/groups/hearts-of-love

Hope to see you there!

I got my order of Peaches and Creme late yesterday. Woo Hoo! Now I have more colors to play with! More choices for chemo caps and other things.

24 caps donated

I just got back from taking a shopping bag of 24 chemo caps to donate to the HMH Cancer Care Center here in E-town. This is my first foray into donating chemo caps. Hope the patients like them and are able to make use of them.

I think I will make a sidebar entry to help me keep track of what I have donated.

Added more chemo caps this week. They are in finished projects list but here are a couple of pics.

Tomorrow I plan on taking a bag of them to Hardin Memorial Hospital to the Cancer Ceter there and see what they think of them.

I have added to my completed items list and I think I am up to date with it at the moment. As you can see, I've been busy.


We had a great time at Myrtle Beach and Mama enjoyed it, too. Only took a few pictures, though.


I have been busily crocheting away on chemo caps and newborn caps that I intend to donate. Still working on the details on doing that but I'm making more in the mean time. Here are group pictures of the ones I've made so far...















The first picture is of the ones I made on vacation, the second is for newborns, the third is child sized, and the fourth is adult sized. Oh, they are all made with Peaches and Creme worsted weight cotton yarn.



edit: Oops! Forgot to upload one of the photos. Here it is..






Now that is all 31 that I have made so far.

Well, we are getting ready to leave again. Went back to Mama's last weekend. She said she would feel better if we were there with her. Still not real steady and having more tests this week. Haven't had time to post this week due to getting ready for this trip. We are going to Myrtle Beach for a week. I promise to get caught up with everything I've been crocheting and have pictures of items and pictures of the trip after we get back. Byeeee...

Got home from Mama's yesterday. Her surgery went really well and she is doing fine! I stayed with her to be sure she was okay and did the cooking for her (and anything else she needed done). I took her to get her hair done Friday and to get some groceries because she is not allowed to drive yet. We watched some reruns of "Reba" and loved them! Neither of us had seen the show so we really enjoyed these. So much so, that I am getting the DVDs of the complete seasons. I found seasons 1, 3, and 4 at Walmart today. Barnes and Noble has the other 2 seasons in stock on line (at 50% off!) so I'll probably just order them there. And the last season will be available at the end of June.

Got a good bit of crocheting done while there...I made 3 more angel wing shawls; one in hot rose, one in periwinkle, and one in peacock ILTY.

Tomorrow morning I'm going to the doctor for my annual visit and get my meds renewed. After that I plan on getting my hair cut. It sure needs it! Plus I need to go to AAA to get the Triptik for our trip to Myrtle Beach. Getting close now---we leave May 29!

Updates with some photos finally

I have been busy crocheting away. Since my last post I have made 2 large potholders and 3 hotpads in double weight cotton in blue swirls, 2 fold on itself potholders, 8 more small round dishcloths, plastic bag keeper bag in peppercorn ombre, 12 coasters, 2 tawashi flowers, 4 more market bags ( 1 in blue swirls, 1 in peppercorn, 1 in blue variegated, 1 in yellow daisy), and another red angel wings shawl. Wheww!

And, as promised, here are some photos.

First, some of the market bags.

These are in yellow daisy and peppercorn ombre Peaches and Creme.

And this one is in blue swirls.Some potholders.And hotpads.Plastic bag keeper.Coasters and dishcloth in blue swirls.Close up of one coaster.Close up of a dishcloth.Some more dishcloths.

I will be off line for the next few days. Mama is having surgery tomorrow morning early so we are going to her house this evening and I will probably stay with her until Saturday. She has no internet so I'll have a lot catch up on when I get home! I'm taking bunches of yarn and projects to work on while there, though. So I'll try to update when I get home!

I'm Baaack

Sorry I haven't posted in a good while. I have gotten a lot of crocheting done in the meantime though. I'll have to add the list to my side bar. But here they all are (I think!)--Last night I finished the big Granny rectangle afghan for Kaitlyn. I have also made 5 more market bags. Tried some different patterns and finally came up with one I like; it is actually a combination of a couple of them. Made 2 hot go cup cozies (like the cardboard wrap-around ones); 2 new dishcloths in a very different style. That's all I can remember at the moment. I'll have to check and see if I'm missing anything. (edited to add: Oh I also did a small bowl in daisy ombre to hold my Splenda packets. Turned out nice. Also did a small square potholder/hot pad.)

We made our weekend trip to Gatlinburg after tax season. Had a good time and relaxed. It rained on us most of the time but that was okay.

We did have an experience the week before we went to Gatlinburg. On the way to Louisville to visit with friends, a wild turkey hit us. Now you wouldn't think a turkey could do that much damage but it did! It hit our grill then slid over the hood and across the roof of my car. We had to have the grill, it's supports, the medallion on the front all replaced, it damaged the hood and it had to be removed, repaired and repainted. All in all, insurance allowed almost $800 after our deductible to get it fixed. And they provided a rental car for the week that my car was in the shop. I'm just glad it didn't cause a full wreck with us hitting another car or something. Luckily there was no other traffic around us at the time.

I ordered a bunch of yarn and it is due to arive today! Love getting more yarn! This is all cotton yarn on cones, with one exception and that is a cone of super petalspun rayon that I want to use for a shawl. It is all from Peaches 'n Creme. I'm gonna have fun!