Pictures I promised....

I promised some new pictures of the babies so here they are.... including the big baby!


Ginger and Cracker Jack- age 8 weeks (now 3 mos)


Cracker Jack


Ginger

Mr. Earnhardt being very cute!

Earnhardt- now 9 mos old and 14lbs!

Testing, Testing.......

Yes!! This blog still works!!

May try to post pictures after Christmas- Mr. Earnhardt is a big boy now (minus his manhood) and we have 2 adorable offspring he thinks are his kittens!!

Merry Christmas from the Potters!!

Make a Difference Day

Don't forget Saturday Oct. 22 is national Make a Difference Day! Do something special for your favorite Charity or your community! I plan to work on some baby things for Newborns in Need and try to get them sent in ASAP.

Brrrrr

Well not yet actually but Monday (My birthday actually) it's supposed to get in the low 50's here. Not freezing I know but it makes it seem like freezing!

Time to get busy on those warm socks! Can't hardly type with a cat in my lap anyway- Mr. Earnhardt's getting big!

Some day today....

To start off with, Scott and I overslept and missed church- I hate when that happens!

Then slept most of the afternoon seeing as we had already overslept anyway, got up and picked up the house a little (barely made a dent). Been working on a dishcloth set as a gift if it turns out good enough (I'm teaching myself to knit a little at a time) and some teddy bears from this crochet pattern from Bev's Country Cottage. They're really cute and don't take long at all to work up. Now to stuff, seal and put some faces on them! They would make cute baby gifts too if done in baby colors.

The weather is turning cooler here too- glad to have those socks I've been making!

On the cats' note, all three cats got flea baths last night. Yes I said CATS!! Luckily only a couple of scratches or so. Earnhardt is getting so big- he's gonna be really big and fluffy!!

Gonna try to do some more cleaning/organizing around here.... at this rate it's gonna take me til Christmas 2025 to get everything set up like I want it. Back bedroom is still a mess with sewing stuff and other stuff that hasn't found a permanent place yet.

Back to picking up and finishing some of those gifts and things. Christmas will be here before we know it!

Christmas Projects

YES Already!!

If I don't get a move on on most of them they'll never get done. Finished a scarf/purse for my aunt (just have to add a closure), some dishcloths for my 96yo aunt (who still lives at home alone and does her own dishes, washing, etc. by hand!), working on some hanging towels and dishcloths for my grandmother who's been wanting me to make her some for ages and I just now figured out how a little while ago, and trying to keep this house in order. All using either existing stash (what isn't reserved for charity projects- I have a quickly depleting stash just for that) or the very few extra bucks we have. Christmas is coming up fast and I'm trying to find at least some part time work or odd jobs etc. to earn some extra $$.

My parents are getting one big item for both and that's it (can't say in case Mom peeks or some of her friends peek here) with maybe just something small to open.

Scott is going to be hard to shop for this year... having to watch close when he says he wants something cause if you ask him he says he doesn't need anything.

I've got a birthday coming up on the 24th and hopefully if I get any money it'll either go for a nice Christmas tree for the house or for carpet. We need carpet replaced in the hall badly if nothing else.

OK it's 9pm, time to get my husband off to work and work on this house and some Christmas items! Soup materials also go in the crock pot in the morning and somewhere in between comes a shower before bed. TTFN!!

From moving even MORE stuff. My sewing desk, machine, supplies and tons of other stuff was still at my parents' house so that got moved over the last couple of days, along with some other items. Now I have a place to organize all that stuff that's currently sitting in the floor. Now.... to find the floor in the back bedroom!!

Got that bonnet pattern typed up - just lacking a picture. Done a small bit of crocheting over the last few days- been so busy with the house and trying to work on everything. Four months and there's still a ton of setting up to be done. A woman's work is never done :o)

OK so back to sorting/unstacking stuff in the back bedroom... soon as I catch a bit of rest on the couch and a shower for tomorrow. Not necessarily in that order!! :oP

My newest pattern and FO

Between trying to play catch up in the house (aren't I always?? I have a husband- that explains it all!!) and get the house and shed cleaned up and set up this week I did manage to get some FO's done. The bootie pattern above was written and submitted to NIN for their very own if they choose. I did make up a bonnet pattern which will go for the same purpose but I have yet to write it out.

Soon as I get a spare minute or two I'll start on some Christmas decorations and get that Christmas tree skirt pattern I have in mind started. I know pretty much how I'll do it- it's just the formation that has to be done.

Been doing a little blog reading- sorry I haven't commented- my time at the puter is still gaining momentum slowly. Look forward to hearing from all my online buddies again! I've missed you all!!

checking in

Thanks Tara for checking on me- nice to know one or two of my friends missed me. Dust your house in LEMON pledge to get rid of those 8-legged creatures!! no kidding- it works pretty well! I rarely see one around my house (not that it's dust free!).

I'm playing major catch up in the house and on the puter and with crochet. With everything else that's gone on the last few weeks, I finally started getting caught up then Scott gets sick AGAIN on me this weekend. Mom fell out the door Saturday and sprained her wrist and ankle, (She's doing OK- just still sore, got a bandaged up ankle and brace on her wrist) I bet he picked up something while we were in the emergency room. Seems like he's over it now but he got up sick as a dog Sunday morn. and thru most of Monday.

Now that I have him off to work again, there's this HUGE pile of laundry that needs to be folded. He got out of the shower earlier and fussed "I don't have any clean underwear- why didn't you tell me before I took a shower??" "It's in the clothes basket with everything else where it's been all weekend while I was playing nurse. Go fish and find you a pair!!" MEN!! Not like HE folds it... LOL He thinks clean underwear just magically appears in his drawer along with everything else. ROFL

Why bother having kids? I've got 4- 3 with paws and fur and one 38 year old going on 2. Just kidding- I love him but still trying to get him outta that thing of being spoiled and having every finger lifted for him (his mama is to thank for that). A few people like to make smart comments when I say that- well if they don't like me kidding about having a big kid that's tough! Our business, even what we kid about is really none of someone else's. He really is a sweetheart even if he is spoiled rotten and so is his mom. Hopefully I'll get some time one day to post wedding pics on here... haven't had the time to upload them yet. I'll be sure and add a link on my sidebar when I do.

The only thing I've had time to crochet lately is a preemie thing or two. One day when I get the extra $$ for postage I'll send them to Newborns in Need. They are really in need of any preemie and baby things right now. They are getting calls galore from babies displaced by Hurricane Katrina in addition to their usual demands plus the stress and other problems associated with the hurricane are producing more preemies- more moms are going into labor early and more babies are having to be taken early.

TTFN on that note- I'm off to bed- worn out and gonna try for breakfast with my parents in the morning and do a little shopping and get some gas at Sam's where it's cheaper.

Remember me?

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth...

I'm still here... Just exhausted at the moment and trying to catch up.

Been a crazy last few weeks and I feel like I'll never catch up.

Been working on the Yarn Exchange since there are a lot of people in limbo due to illnesses and hurricanes. Still trying to sort it all out.

I'm off to bed for now but just wanted to let everyone know I'm still here.

One last note: Please pray for Peggy Kerley and Richard Adams (both struggling with cancer) and all those affected by the hurricanes.

A quick post

Yes, I know I'm behind...

been a whirlwind around here - this house is a mess and I'm trying to get cleaned up and been dealing with a sick husband for 2 weeks... he just cannot get rid of this respiratory infection. Hopefully this round of antibiotics will do it... first one seemed to help but it was a short course and after he finished them it came back again. He's asleep right now so maybe I've got a little time. I didn't think he needed to go to work last night with a 100.2 (It's been up and down all weekend) temperature but he wouldn't stay home. MEN... I'm glad he's willing to work but his devotion to his job is ridiculous.

Going to run for now- gonna try to clean up the kitchen and living room a little, get that taco soup in the crock pot for tonight before Scott wakes up and I have to deal with him. Oh and packages that are way overdue that need to go out. TTFN!!

Mail goodies today!

Finally some mail!! (Besides Bills and stupid credit card ads)

I received a very nice package from my secret pal today- a scarf made of Noro Aurora (very nice yarn I can't afford!!), a pattern booklet, a postcard, a knitted washcloth and bath soap. Oh yes and a neat little zippered make up case.

I know she's been stalking my blog so in case you're reading- Thank you SP!! I love it! It was so nice to get a package in the mail besides a bill!!

Idiosyncrasies

Sara tagged me with this one a while back and I'm just now getting to it. Sorry Sara- I know I'm behind!!!

Idiosyncrasy- a structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or group. Write down 5 of yours then tag 5 people if you like.

1. When I receive junk mail with a Business Reply Mail envelope enclosed, I tear all the contents except the business reply mail envelope up and mail it back to them, usually sticking in some more junk. They have to pay the postage according to weight. Wish I had some fishing sinkers!!

2. If someone's tailgating me, I either stay at the same speed or slow down gradually and force them to either back off, pass or change lanes. I won't move up or over if they're going to ride my bumper!

3. I play Christmas movies all year around.

4. I crumble crackers in my chicken noodle soup; hubby floats his like a boat.

5. Once I start a CD or DVD, I usually keep it on repeat til I get sick of it. (Usually days or months later)

OK there's my 5 characteristic behaviors; Sara's already tagged me, I'm tagging Sharon, Lisa, Tara, Deneen, and Kari H. You guys wanna try it?

Catching up and bargains

This is a bit of catch up.... or is that ketchup?

Was finally able to do a bit of crocheting this afternoon, trying to finish a baby blanket for a baby that's already here in between doing loads of laundry. (Running up the water/electricity bill that is).

After that, I have some other projects in the works but am going to try to finish a few little preemie projects for Newborns in Need. Haven't sent them a box in a good while due to postage being so expensive but you can send quite a few preemie items in quite a small box. They are really in need of 2-4lb items right now, and recently had to turn away a request for a donation because their shelves were empty of preemie items.

Scott is about over his bout with bronchitis, back to being lazy- I literally have to drag him out of the house which is normal. I think he'd be content to do nothing but stay on the couch all day watching tv if I'd let him. I told him today since he's feeling better and it's cooled off a little outside he can mow our nearly knee high grass tomorrow, and I might even join him and do some trimming where I can reach on the shrubs.

I did get a chance to stop by Hobby Lobby Saturday since the new Michaels isn't open yet. I was all excited since there was a "NOW OPEN" sign in front of it but it turned out to be for the Bed Bath & Beyond store next door. So I had to settle for HL which I'm pretty bored with lately- they're getting so much foo foo designer stuff in and cutting back on their every day yarn, and not enough new patterns. Sorry people I can't afford to pay $12/skein of yarn esp when you'd need 4-8 skeins to complete a project!

However, I did find a few little things on the clearance rack and browsed, oohed and ahhed thru the Christmas stuff they have out. It's never too early! Christmastime for me is a time to be all excited and happy and I could use some of that lately- even if it is 4 months or so away!

On the bargain side, I found a skein of bernat sox yarn (black) for $1, a skein of odd but pretty TLC Essentials for $1.00, some peach baby yarn (I love light peach yarn!!) for $1.99 on sale (enough to make me a sweater probably!!) and one of those electric candle warmers for $3.99- they're $5-5.99 everywhere else! I have found that HL is putting things on clearance for ridiculous prices- mostly because the wrappers are missing and the clerk is too stupid to know what they are to stick them back in the correct bin. She was standing next to me when I picked up the Sox yarn for $1 and I told Scott "Oh cool- that's sock yarn for $1.... the wrapper's just missing!". Her response? "Oh I dunno what that stuff is, just some kind of thin yarn and I don't know where it goes so I marked it down and put it in there". HA! Oh well, her stupidity= my gain!!

I'm also hoping we can save enough money in the very near future to replace at least this hall carpet. Shouldn't cost that much but badly needs to be done- it is in bad shape and stinks; one of the few spots that hasn't been replaced in the house since we bought it. I was hoping to do it and this computer room and the back bedroom all at once, but I think the hall is going to have to go before we get the $$ to do all three! Unfortunately that's one thing I can't make!!

Well I'm still not done but unfortunately there's laundry to do and a baby blanket to finish before I can work on much else. Also started a VERY pretty pair of socks with some hand dyed merino wool I splurged on a while back at our lys. Will post when done of course.

Happy crocheting all!

Of rants and Men ... and crochet.

OK so it's silly but it'll have to do.

Well I'm highly surprised that someone didn't send me hate mail for the previous post, but if they had.... OH WELL is all I can say. I'm used to being scorned for doing "the right thing", so no biggie if they had. After all, before he was crucified, Jesus did say "If the world hates you, remember it has hated me first" (talking to his disciples). So I'm not afraid of criticism for my thoughts. I did actually get some supportive comments. I just can't understand how anyone can promote as much hatred in the world as the terrorists we fight and call it patriotism.

In other news.... (Sorry Tara I had to steal that one... couldnt think of anything else!)

Today is supposed to be WIP Wednesday. (Or actually yesterday was now....) But who had time to crochet? I'll probably never get that dang baby blanket done... it's beautiful but taking forever! I spent all my time with a sick husband and we got roped into babysitting for about an hour for my MIL. She "keeps" a young man with a mental disability every morning and afternoon, takes him to the exceptional school (kind of like an adult daycare really) and picks him up til his mom comes to get him.

Well we had just gotten up this afternoon (We were both up most of the morning til about 11am when we finally went to sleep..... Scott kept coughing and keeping me awake... nuff said) when she knocked on the door "Can Heath stay here til his mom comes to get him?" We said yeah I guess so, how come and she just said "I'll tell you when we get back".

So we sat with Heath at her house (next door) til about 4:15 or so when Heath left and went back to the house and Scott was gonna lay back down and I was gonna lay down with him when there was another knock at the door. My MIL and SIL were in the driveway with a new car- seems they had traded my SIL's car for another one.

Well, Congrats, and I didn't say anything but when we got back in the house I told Scott, we just talked to both of them last night, they knew they were going to do this, could they have not asked one of us in advance if we could watch Heath tomorrow while they did something? Not that I minded but the very short notice caught me off guard.... we were both still in our night clothes when she knocked at the door (having just gotten up and no lunch yet or Scott's shots), her son has been sick and she knows it, could she not have asked 12hrs or so in advance? I'd have probably gladly said yes and been up and ready if I'd known, but the short notice thing drives me nuts esp since she knows Scott has been sick. My aunt does that to me and I hate it.... she'll call at 10pm "Can you babysit for Carson at 7am in the morning??"

NEXT....

There's an appt tomorrow to go look at the rest of our wedding pictures. And believe me they better have ALL of them this time or there's gonna be trouble. Out of 4XX some odd pictures we've seen less than 100 of them. And they expect us to order for our albums from this????

Seems everyone has sick husbands right now... I asked Tara if she wanted to run away together and leave our whining husbands in bed..... NAH!!! Big babies'd probably never survive!

OK I'm going to go watch some relaxing tv, slip into my jammies, crochet a bit, and whatever else I wanna do!!

This blog post has been brought to you by the National "Let's all stitch, whine and put up with whiny husbands" foundation.

ROFL- I couldn't resist!

One last thought.... What has happened to Christian Values???

I received a rather disturbing piece of e-mail tonight from a friend who has good intentions, but since he passed this email on, he is obviously misguided in the name of Patriotism. May God forgive anyone who harbors and promotes such ill thoughts- even to the ones who would do us the most harm on earth.

The email was forwarded about what is happening in Iraq, and was one woman's thoughts. One might portray it as patriotism; however if you read into it, it is the radical trashing of Christian values disguised in the name of glorifying our Country. I love our country in every way but could never think the thoughts this woman obviously harbors toward anyone who has even done me the worst evil possible.

This post is NOT meant to offend anyone and it is NOT meant to stir up any trouble, so if you are going to be offended by some Christian thoughts, you have the right not to read, just as I have the right to post.

Here is the forward of the email I received (names witheld)PLEASE NOTE- THIS DOES NOT REFLECT MY THOUGHTS IN ANY WAY AND IS NOT MY WRITING!!!:


This is a forward from *****

The lady that wrote this letter is *****. She recently wrote a letter to a family member serving in Iraq.
Read it!

WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS?

"Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it
or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11,2001? Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, as well as across the Potomac from
our nation's capitol and in addition a field in Pennsylvania?

Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they? And I'm supposed to care that a copy of
the Koran was "desecrated" when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet? Well, I don't. I don't care at all!

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent eople on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia.

I'll care when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi tells the world he is sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling, slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called "insurgents" in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana (or Allah's Paradise) care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.

I'll care when judges stop ordering my government to release photos of the abuses at Abu Ghraib, which are sure to set off the Islamic extremists just as Newsweek's lies did a few weeks ago.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.

When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college hazing incident, rest assured that I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank that I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed "special" food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being "mishandled," you can absolutely believe in your
heart of hearts that I don't give a d....

And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled "Koran" and other times "Quran." Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and -- you guessed it -- I DON'T CARE!

Written by ****** and sent bY ******

(Come to think of it I don't care either. If you do not care send this on
to others. OK? GOD BLESS THE USA AND MAY THE ISLAMIC TERRORISTS GET WHAT
THEY DESERVE. and it is refreshing to see someone take a patriotic stance
instead of a politically correct one.)

*******END OF FORWARDED EMAIL*******


GOOD LORD, WHAT WAS SOMEONE THINKING??? THEY HAVE SOME VERY GOOD POINTS.... WE MUST FIGHT TERRORISM IN ANY FORM ACROSS THE WORLD..... BUT HOW AS CHRISTIANS (OR OF ANY RELIGION I CAN THINK OF FOR THAT MATTER) PREACH A STANCE "MISTREAT THOSE WHO MISTREAT YOU"??? WE ARE NOT SENDING A MESSAGE OF PATRIOTISM TO ANYONE BY EMAILS LIKE THIS- WE ARE SENDING A MESSAGE OF HATRED AND HOWEVER GOOD THEIR INTENTIONS, THE PERSON WHO WROTE THIS WAS SORELY MISGUIDED IN SENDING SUCH A MESSAGE THAT WE SHOULD DISRESPECT A RELIGION IN GENERAL, OR BEAR ILL WILL TOWARDS ANYONE, EVEN THOSE THAT DO US WRONG.

Hate me if you must, but even though I fully support our troops around the world as they fight any form of terrorism, and hate what happened to us on September 11, 2001 and is still happening around the world today, I can NOT condone what was displayed in this email by promoting just as much hatred as the terrorists our men and women are fighting in Iraq and the rest of the world.

I can't believe God would condone this author's words, actions and thoughts either. You can disagree with me about harboring ill will towards anyone if you want to; but you'd better think long and hard before you disagree with God.

*off my soap box*

A few rants and apologies....

First, I have to apologize to some of my buddies, especially Sara, Deneen, Dot and Tara and last but not least Ashleigh- I am WAY behind on my computer work and blog reading and it's been a while since I've commented on and in some cases even gotten to read thru your blogs. Thanks you guys for sticking with me! I know I fuss about people not commenting on my blogs, and I know you like comments too- it's been too crazy around here to do much of anything.

Just about the time Angel started getting better, Scott started getting sick- mostly sinus infection but it's starting to go to his chest. If you ask him he says he feels fine but he's been a royal pain since late last week. Between the two, I am way behind on housework, which of course he is fussing about. Let's see HIM do it.... yes I will be nice and get his laundry folded and out of the way, plus pick up the mess he made... wash the pile of clothes he left at the bedroom/bathroom door... you get the picture. MEN! Actually I did tell him to let ME do the laundry on account of things that have to be washed a certain way that he doesn't pay attention to etc. but nothing else has suited him all weekend either. If I turned on a light, he wanted it off. If a door was shut, he wanted it open. If he got soup for supper, he wanted a Sandwich. You get the picture. Next time he gets sick, I'm shooting him early and getting him out of his misery.

Hopefully the antibiotic the Dr. called in this afternoon will kick in and he'll get back to his usually sweet (and lazy but hey I still love him) self. Anyway I kept calling the pharmacy til almost 6 and they still didn't have it filled yet so by the time his sister got back to me (she works at that Wal-mart) they had it ready so she picked it up and delivered it (she lives next door) while I was eating with my parents while waiting on the prescription. Make any sense? Well join the club... neither has this weekend. LOL.

And it's been either too hot or forecasting rain (which we seldom get when it's forecasted) on the weekends to have a proper yard sale like I need to. I need to get rid of some junk that's cluttering up the place. I could freecycle it or donate it to Goodwill but heck we could use the money even if it was sold really cheap.

I did put in a couple of applications in the last week or so, but so far haven't heard anything from them yet. I got let go from my last job because my drawer was OVER instead of SHORT... I still say someone in cash office was messing with my bag but there was no way to prove it since we were never allowed to count our drawer or know what was actually in it before we turned it in- all we got was a slip of paper, a computer readout saying what was *supposed* to be in our drawer... it was never actually counted before we turned it in to cash office.

That's another story for another day, but since then noone has even called me about a job when they see on my application that I've been dismissed from one. Sure would like a job at the new Michael's that's opening but I'll be very pleasantly surprised if they call me since they made a big deal on their application about have you ever been dismissed from a job for any reason and if so why. I just hate it because it makes me out to be dishonest when it says reason for dismissal "mistakes on cash register" which I can't disprove and they can't prove, and they don't bother to mention that there was on most all occasions MORE in my drawer than there was supposed to be.... a LOT more which makes it look very fishy. Why would I have ADDED money to my own drawer, especially times when I only had a couple of customers for that bag?

Still gonna try a few more places around here- there are several places hiring right now. I would also still love to get in with either county school system as a teacher's aide but before I can do that, have to redo ALL my information with the school boards etc. since I am now married and my info has changed, and also they purge all info at the end of the calendar year- and I don't think either has an application for me this year. I'd been too busy up til now planning a wedding and house.

Haven't even had much time to crochet over the last few days- the few precious minutes I have had, I finished up that pair of socks from the rest of the Opal Rodeo sock yarn that Ashleigh sent me and trying to work on that baby blanket that is very slowly getting done. Would love to start another project or two just for me but must finish a couple that are sitting in the way first....

I can't say I haven't had any mail... I received 2 beautiful skeins of Caron SS in deep purple from Sara- Thank you Sara! Even though it was a mix-up and you didn't owe me anything I still love them! Now if you could just send me the extra time to make something for just ME with it.....

But other than that little pick me up from Sara it's been a pretty blah week. I got so busy I am behind- I owe some people some crochet patterns that must be sent out ASAP or they are going to think I kidnapped them.

OK, off to work! Yes, work.... try to do something with this mess of a house that needs cleaning and things I've gotten behind on.

One last note, please continue to keep Richard Adams and Peggy Kerley in your daily prayers. Both are having a tough time with cancer right now!

Where does God buy Salt?

This is a cute story I just had to share, esp. after reading posts from others about things their kids have said, asked and done. Deneen's daughter Elena is a smart kid like Carson for her age, and some of Deneen's stories reminded me of this.

I was sitting with Carson the other day while my cousin had some more surgery done and we were watching The Brave Little Toaster. For those who don't know, it's about a group of appliances who become abandoned when the people of the house they are living in move away. They set out in search for their "Master", the small boy who loves them.

Now to the story:

It comes to the part in the movie where out in the wilderness the appliances fall into a pond. Carson turns to me and asks "Do you think there's sharks in there?" "No, I don't think there's any sharks in that water" I replied.

Carson: "Oh. Why not?"
Me: "Well because Sharks have to live in the ocean and that's just a small pond."

Carson: "Why can't they live in a pond?"
Me: "Well Sharks are big so they're too big to live in a pond and they have to live in the ocean where it's saltwater- the ocean has salt in it."

Carson: "Why does the ocean have salt in it?"
Me: "Because God Made it that way."

Carson: "Oh." (pauses quietly for a few minutes)
"Aunt Marla?"
"Yeah?"
"Where does God buy salt??"

I had to laugh then he wanted to know what was so funny.

That kid is too smart for his own good. I just told him something like God already had salt, now watch your movie. If I had said he made it himself, the next question would have been how does he make it?

Can't believe this kid is going to be 5 next Monday. Can't call him "the baby" anymore. He's a real character! He starts preschool 3 days a week this week... he should be something else. He'll either wow them or take the place apart depending on his mood.

Just figured anyone with young kids would appreciate this story!

A gallon of Gas or....

Someone made mention of if they had a choice between groceries and yarn and just enough for one or the other.... you get the idea.

I came up with this one- feel free to add it to your blogs and add your own ideas.

With gas being $2.50-$3.00 around the U.S., let's say you have just the amount for a gallon of gas in your pocket.

You have a choice; you have just enough for a gallon of gas OR (what else will that buy):

1. a skein of yarn (average)
2. a bag of chips
3. a 12pk of drinks
4. a package of lunchmeat
5. a meal at McDonald's
6. postage on a small package
7. 1lb of grape tomatoes
8. a gallon of milk
9. 10 cans of cat food
10. bag of cheap kitty litter
11. pr. of socks
12. pants, shirt or sweater at Goodwill

Cats

... do the cutest things.

My flash didn't exactly make this pic come out right but I did manage to catch a picture of Angel and Earnhardt in the chair together. Earnhardt is getting his usual bath from Angel.






And no Sara, They don't usually hold this still for long! Especially Earnhardt! He's usually on the move unless you catch him asleep. I was lucky they were still in the process of bathing when I came back with my camera.

Mail report and other things

Wow- I actually got some mail today! It had been nothing all week- tough since it's been a tough week between Angel being sick and no mail. Sara sent me 2 beautiful skeins of Caron Simply Soft Brites in purple.... lovely color. These two are all MINE for something... just gotta figure out what. Thanks Sara! It was a great pick me up even though it was a mix-up and she really didn't owe me anything! Hmm maybe she'll get a surprise one day....

Angel is doing fine for those of you asking- she's laying behind me in the chair at the moment. One of her few "private" moments with me... Earnhardt seems to think he has to be where she is constantly or do what she's doing (eating, sleeping, be in someone's lap, etc.)

A last remark: Please say some extra prayers for Peggy Kerley and Richard Adams. Peggy is still struggling with cancer; the experimental treatment they put her on did not work apparently and she has been put back on Chemo and is having a really tough time right now.

Richard is struggling hard with cancer also; they are repeatedly having to increase his chemo more and more. Please pray for Richard and his wife Barbara and young son Andrew. Barbara was the one in charge of the food at my wedding reception and did a wonderful job.

Please say at least one extra prayer each day/night for these two- they really need it!

Playing Catch up

Well I'll never get caught up on my blogs so I'll try to catch up a bit here.

First, thanks for you comments, Angel is doing much better and is back to wrestling with Earnhardt. I have a floor full of white and black hair to prove it, not to mention the white hair hanging out of Earnhardt's mouth every time I turn around. Vet gave her a couple of doses of antibiotics and some fluids and sent her home..... she seems to be doing alright after the 2nd visit. Cost me an arm and a leg though... Could have filled up my gas tank TWICE!! YIKES!!


Sara, congrats on your job! Missed you! Don't forget your internet buddies!! My cats just happen to be in the right place at the right time although Earnhardt is hard to catch, he's so wiggly. Typical 4 month old kitten.

Mr. Earnhardt, by the way, is still banned from the bathroom.... I wish I had taken a picture of that shower curtain before we took it down! Or rather the large gaping hole in it left by being slit by kitty claws. And this was while Angel was sick so I know she wasn't in there... and Smokey doesn't have any claws..... Wasn't hard to solve that mystery.

I got tied up all day Monday and part of the day Tuesday at the Vet's with Angel and running some other errands, then at the last minute (about 24hrs notice) my cousin who just had some more reconstructive surgery last week due to breast cancer last November decided she needed her knee fixed immediately so she could find a job. So I had Carson again today while that was done. I think the girl's nuts if you ask me, having 2 non-emergency surgeries in one week..... one is bad enough.

So I really haven't had time to crochet either. Just relieved my baby is going to be alright and trying to spend a little time with Scott since I've been gone all week... I'm feeling a little deprived.

Well, off to finish that baby blanket for a baby at church, and take a long shower now that I finally have a shower curtain again that doesn't have a huge 18-20" slit in it!!

Busy and Angel

Been a busy weekend... haven't even had time to crochet. On top of it Angel got sick over the weekend so I spent most of today running back and forth to the vet to check on her. He sent her home but she still doesn't feel well and I can't stand to see her feel so bad.

Need to be working on some Christmas gifts I have been neglecting and the baby blanket for a lady at church... the baby may have to get it a little late at this rate.

Sorry been so long in posting... need to go back to watching Angel and crocheting. Say a prayer for me and Angel!

Taking a break...

From Crocheting that is....

Been working on some Christmas presents (YES already!!) and trying to finish up that last sock from the Opal Rodeo yarn Ashleigh sent me. I gave the first pair from them to Mom, this pair is mine.

I also want to get some Christmas gifts made and out of the way. That way I don't have to rush at Christmas time and don't run out of time! Several people are getting handmades this year both due to finances and my newfound creativity LOL

Sold a few of my pattern books I won't use any longer so I have a little spending $$. Still got a few left- may list them here if they don't sell on Crochetville or the Crochet4SaleorTrade list.

May go eat breakfast with my dad in the morning- Mom is going to some kind of sale with a friend. And I need to get out of the house... except for going to Wal-mart I feel like I'm stuck in here.

Received a great box from my Sea of Yarn swap partner Wed. Although it wasn't really the summer colors we were supposed to be trading there was some great yarn in there and I will use all of it! My favorite was the Caron Rainbow dreams in variegated purples. A sweater may come out of that if I can find a decent pattern I like. Crocheted sweater (not cardigans, the pull over type) patterns are soooo hard to find especially something fancier like I could wear to church. I also got some novelty yarns, some bath stuff in vanilla sugar (mmmm smells good), some Jiffy yarn and 3 skeins of RH Super Saver in Coral. Not sure what the coral will go for yet.. I love peach colors!! Thank you Veronica! It was great! I don't think I'll do another though since it is sooo expensive to ship yarn. Especially a big package like that. I think I'll stick to the secret pal exchanges and the smaller exchanges. Besides, I do have the YarnExchange group on Yahoo that I run and the requirement there is much smaller and much less expensive.

OK back to crocheting .... gonna see if I can get some of those gifts out of the way plus finish that sock and a baby afghan for a gift. Dang if there isn't always either a wedding or a baby being born at church these days!! It never stops!

TTFN!

One last entry...

Before bed...

gotta be at my Cousin's in the morning at 5:30 to watch Carson while she's having some more minor surgery done.

Well, my reveal package and Sea of Yarn package got mailed off today. A bit late but better late than never. I still haven't received my Sea of Yarn package yet but my partner assures me it's on the way.

I did get a package today from my partner on Yarn Exchange on Yahoogroups- a skein of Caron Simply Soft brites in Papaya. Nice fall color!! Still deciding what to do with it. Thank you Pam! Now which yarn to send out....

Question for cat lovers: WHY is it that when you're trying to crochet, at least one cat insists on sleeping in your lap and if you're doing nothing you can't get them into your lap to save your life??? Ever try crocheting with 25lbs of cats in your lap?? Didn't want to try it tonight since I was working on a baby gift and didn't need black/grey cat hair of different varieties in the baby afghan.

On a last but very important note, please pray for little Sydney Kerley, daughter of Chad and Shauna and granddaughter of Peggy and J.V. (good friends of ours). Sydney was born 7/27 slightly premature and has been airlifted to Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville with problems with her lungs being underdeveloped. Please pray for Peggy also as she is still struggling with cancer.

Cascade Fixation

This is a yarn with spandex in it... does anyone have any ideas what to do with it? I received some from an elf in the mail and not quite sure what to do with it or what kind of projects it's used for. Anyone have any ideas??

*having my tomatoes and coffee for Breakfast before going to mail off my secret pal's reveal package- I've already been found out!*

Also have my new secret pal's name for August-October and my secret pal has already emailed me! Time to get crackin!

Finally... Pics of my goodies

Finally... I got a chance to get my camera out and post some pics of my goodies!! The first set is goodies from my Reveal package from my Secret Pal for summer, Ashleigh (AshEgypt) on Crochetville. She spoiled me with all this wonderful yarn and other items from Europe and Egypt! Stuff I'll probably never have a chance to work with again! Cool!

A shot of all of it... on the couch back are the Mini-Martha poncho and a fancy scarf from Egypt.


A skein of sock yarn Ash sent from Egypt- cool! I've been wanting some grey socks!! In the background is another scarf from Egypt. Very pretty!!


Top: The white scarf; Bottom:a skinny scarf she made and the sock yarn along with some cotton/linen yarn she found.



My first pair of socks from the Opal Rodeo sock yarn she sent! They came out a little big so they will go to someone special as a surprise... luckily my feet are small and the 100gm ball is enough for 2 pairs... so the 2nd pair (that fits better) is mine!!


From my first package from Ash; a skein of Patons Cha Cha and 2 balls of Lanas Stop Jazmin from Spain. I'm thinking Sandals!!



I also got a surprise in the mail from an unknown elf.... it had to have been someone reading my blog... cause I didn't mention it anywhere else.... 2 skeins of Noro Kuryeon #134!!! I've been drooling over the stuff since Ash posted a ditty bag she made out of the stuff! I don't know who the elf was but Thank you very much!! I love it! Beautiful color... just like the ditty bag.


Another Crochetville elf sent me a couple of hooks... E and F... now I can do some more baby projects!! Thank you!!

Oh and I also got a box of UFO's and yarn from Melissa for charity items!! Thank you Melissa!! I didn't get the yarn before it was wound into balls but Smokey sure says he appreciates the box!! He's so fat he barely fits!!


A 2nd pair of socks (This one is all MINE!!!) from the Opal Rodeo #1151 is in the works and I'll post pics soon as they're done. Wow I've got enough to keep me busy for a while!! And just a day or two agao I was complaining about no mail... I should complain more often!! When it rains it pours!!

Now to go work up some of this stuff... after I finish organizing the scrap yarn etc. in my craft room that is....

Wow what a surprise! Thank you Elves!!

As I said, I need to complain about no mail more often!!

When Scott and I got up there was a package sitting on my porch and 2 more in my mailbox! The box on the porch contained yarn and UFO's from Melissa- Thank you Melissa! This will make great charity ghans! We may be up for a meet-up in September! How cool!

The packages on the porch contained:

2 hooks, an E and an F from a Crochetville Elf. Thank you Elf- you know who you are!!

And... are you ready for this??

2 50gm balls of that coveted noro kuryeon #134 wool yarn I've been drooling over since Ashleigh showed that ditty bag!! I opened the package, found an invoice inside.. I didn't order this?!?! Apparently someone ordered the yarn and had the seller ship directly to me! No evidence of who... Someone's been reading my blog... *grin*... Some anonymous crochet elf!! Hmmm Ashleigh did you do this one?? Whoever it was... THANK YOU!!!! Now to decide what to make with it... stuff is so expensive/fancy don't want to use it for "just anything"... gotta find a special project for it! I love it- thank you elves!! And I didn't even sign up for Christmas in July since I knew I couldn't very well grant any wishes this month! I know you don't have to but I don't like signing up for something like that if I can't reciprocate.

*off to pet my new yarn, use my new hooks and wind some cakes of the charity yarn*

Reveal Package

I got my reveal package today from my super cool Secret Pal on Crochetville..... my suspicions were correct; it was Ashleigh (AshEgypt on crochetville) from England. Figured out a week or two ago but didn't want to say so in case I was wrong.

And all this after complaining about no mail yesterday! I'll have to complain about no mail more often!!

Ashleigh's been a super cool Pal.... along with the wonderful yarn and goodies I'd already received, my reveal package contained 2 scarves and a skein of sock looking yarn from Egypt (Ash is studying Egyptology in Liverpool England- Neato! Thanks Ash- I don't think it's pathetic... I've been wanting some grey socks!!) and a couple of little skeins of cotton and Linen yarn, a Mini Martha Poncho (The one she thought was too small- well it came out just about right for me, I'm so tiny!!) and a skinny scarf made from Ribbon yarn.

All in all it was all super cool! Now to get my camera out.. will try to get a picture of the socks being made from the Opal Sock yarn she sent in her first package.

On top of this I received my yarn winder in the mail today! Talk about a super crochet/mail day! I've been busy tidying up scraps and playing with my goodies!

Thank you again Ashleigh!! I love all the goodies!!

Nice sock weather

Wow what a change...

in the weather that is. It has cooled off considerably and is supposed to be in the 70's-80's all week. Supposed to rain today but so far hasn't yet.

Makes for nice sock weather! I'm working up that wonderful ball of Opal Rodeo sock yarn my Secret Pal sent me plus doing some worsted socks for fall/winter. I may try to do a holiday pair or two and sell. The Opal is working up great- I got a 100gram ball and even though it said enough for one pair of adult socks my feet are small enough I only used 50 grams on one pair of socks so I'm going to get 2 pair out of the ball! Super cool since that stuff is expensive if you go to buy it and it's hard to find. I'd love to have some of that in either the Tropical Fish, Parrot, or the Pinks and Reds (can't seem to find out the color name/number on that one).

Will post pictures when I get done with the 2nd pair. Haven't found out who my pal is for sure yet (got a good idea if I'm right) but I want her to see.

Haven't had a chance to work up the sandals I've had in mind yet.... She sent me 2 balls of Lanas Stop Jazmin which I've never seen before... not sure if that's classified as a thread or yarn but I do know I can't find any more of it anywhere! Where does she get this stuff?? Anyway I'd love to make some sandals out of that as well as some black yarn along with the Patons Cha Cha she sent me. Sorry I didn't get a pic of all this before it got worked up! It was the neatest package! Some of it I wasn't sure I could work with but after I tried it I love it!!

Speaking of weather, got the screens open on the doors... would have the windows open but Scott is asleep and of course wants the bedroom blind shut. It's about 70 degrees out right now... just about right.

Back to the living room where the breeze is blowing and working up that last pair of socks while the laundry is going!

Empty mailbox.... again

Well the mailman came early and I hurried out there, thinking surely some mail would come today.... nothing but a bill I didn't want.

I should be getting a couple of checks, a reveal package soon from my secret pal, a Sea of Yarn package and some other people have promised me a thing or two but either they haven't sent yet or it's disappeared. I hate empty mailboxes... wish some of that anticipated or expected mail would get here! I need to mail a couple of packages myself but waiting on those checks to get here, starting to think the mailman ate them. Wouldn't mind going shopping for some more sock weight yarn either but..... again waiting on my spending $$.

Oh mail..... where are you?? Our mailman must have a heck of an appetite. Either that or I got ripped off on some mail I should be getting.

Christmas in July- at 101 degrees

It's scorching hot outside (at least it will be when the sun gets good and up) and I must be nuts.... been sitting on the couch in between cleaning sessions crocheting either Christmas presents or some new pairs of socks. YES socks. And got a sweater or two in mind for cooler weather if I can find the time. Oh how I wish I could find some sweaters and things to recycle the yarn from!!

Will post a pic of the socks when done.... the pair I'm working on CROCHETING at present (people have this stereotype that most socks have to be knitted) is being made out of this really awesom ball of Opal Rodeo sock yarn my super cool secret pal sent me. I'd never seen the stuff before and when I went to look it up this stuff sells for anywhere from $10-15 a ball!! Sheesh! Won't be buying much of that for myself! A ball is just about enough to make one pair of adult socks.

My SP has sent me the most awsome yarn I can't wait to use all of.... the Sugar N Cream has already gone into a Dishcloths/Hanging towel set for my Secret Pal, The Opal Sock yarn is being worked up as we speak, and still contemplating the proper project for the Lanas Stop Jazmin... not sure if you call that thread or yarn but have some sandals in mind for it if I have enough to manage them. Oh and some black WW yarn trimmed in the Patons Cha Cha she sent for another pair of sandals. Sounds cool huh? If I can get it all worked up.

I am still looking for E and F hooks... have patterns that call for them but all of them except one of my E's seems to have sprouted legs and walked off. Either that or my parents' ghost followed me and has hidden them!! Speaking of Which I owe TARA some ghost stories!! Soon as I get to type them up my friend! I fully believe in ghosts, lived with at least one for years, and the lady who lays our carpet swears we sent one home with her inside a tin man statue we gave her! Yes, I have had some interesting experiences with ghosts I have yet to have time to tell. So no dear, you aren't nuts.... and don't let anyone tell you you are.

Off to finish that sock and spend some time with Scott!

I love this Blog question... and answer!

This is too too funny if you're a knit/crochet addict! I got it off of Donna's profile.... on Blogger they ask you a random question to be answered on your profile. Here's a really funny answer.

Q: You're wearing a sweater that stretches down to your feet. What color belt do you put on?

A: Forget the belt! I'd change into a T-shirt, unravel the sweater for the yarn, and crochet something with it!

ROFL!! Spoken like a true Yarn Addict!!

Freezing in a Heat Wave (responses)

Just a few responses to comments and emails left on my post about places freezing you out:

Thanks to all of you for your support! Evidently there are quite a few others out there that see this as the same problem!

Tara, good suggestion- a shawl is definitely more elegant but how do you eat with a shawl hanging over your arms/shoulders if you're out eating? LOL Proves kind of hard at least for me. Shawl seems better for church where it's often hot in the auditorium (during the summer) and freezing in the classrooms. At most of these eating places, you need a SWEATER with actual sleeves. It's that cold. And at Hobby Lobby you better have Eskimo gear!! Shrug is too open in the front for most places, leaving your front to freeze. (And if I want my bra frozen I'll put it in the freezer!!)

And I'll ignore the smart aleck who told me to stay home. What do you want me to do, die of boredom cooped up in the house?? Never mind, don't answer that- it was a rhetorical question. I have a pretty good idea which smart aleck that was.

A few Responses

Thanks everyone for your comments lately... please don't stop- I appreciate so much knowing you're here and reading! I'll try to drop in on your blogs (and say hi!) as much as possible!

I thought I'd respond to a few things people have said on here:

Kari, Sorry about the Earnhardt name... the kitty's name was my idea. Actually I'm not even really a racing or Earnhardt fan but Scott is- figured he'd like it. He seems to care less just like a lot of things. Sometimes I wonder what world that man is in.

Deneen, I'm jealous- you get to go swimming!! Just kidding! Actually was gonna say thanks for your comments and support.

Oh Dot?? Are you out there somewhere? And where is Mr. Spike? I have to say all my products are kitty tested and approved. Seriously was gonna link to your wonderful blog and designs but having trouble finding/accessing your blog? It says it's private? Maybe our beloved Dot can design that Shrug Sara and I were talking about! Dot, I just wanted you to know I appreciate your experience, caring and knowledge- you're a sweetheart!

Hmm Who else do I owe a comment....

DONNA! AKA YARN TOMATO... Of all the blogs out there you visited mine! Wow! Hope you liked what you read! Thanks for all your great work on Crochetville!

And Last but not Least, Sara- My ever-present buddy! I look forward to hearing from you every day and miss those blog updates when you go into hermit style! You rock girl! Keep bloggin and crochetin! (notice I didn't say knitting! ROFL!) Seriously, knit if ya want to- all I can say is as long as knitters don't fit into the snob stereotype they're OK with me.

SHARON that goes for you too- don't you go all snobby on me just cause you knit too!!

And Lisa, my ever-present friend and confidante... thanks for your friendship and support! Love ya!!
If I've forgotten any of my buddies, I love ya all anyway! Thanks for lifting me up!

Eating in an Igloo or Oven-like Temperatures.. your choice

Sara struck on a topic on her blog that drives me nuts. Actually a side topic. Her topic was in response to someone's dismissal of crocheted and knitted shrugs; For those of you who don't know, a Shrug is an off the shoulder type sweater (or just covering the shoulders and long sleeves.)It is open at the front, or semi-open and is meant to keep mostly arms and shoulders warm.

The topic she hit was: people being air conditioned to death inside when temperatures are like an oven outside. Even with it being almost 100 degrees here lately, there is no need for every restaurant, business establishment, store, etc. to run their air conditioning on literally 50 or 60. You can't go out to eat around here without carrying a jacket or asking the manager to turn the air down. Doesn't matter if the outside temperature is 20 degrees or 120 degrees. The inside temperature will be about 65 in most restaurants.

Remember last Dec. 23 when we got about 15" of snow and it lasted for a week?? We were one of the handful of people who could get out in a 4 wheel drive that morning when there was about 5 or 6 inches already on the ground and a blizzard outside and decided to find some breakfast at Cracker Barrel. What did we find? Besides being short on help due to the storm that is, there was a very small fire in the fire place and freezing cold air blowing from the vents and fans running full blast. Their response?? Some people were complaining in the kitchen about overheating.

OKKKK.... All I can say to that is.... DUH!!! If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen!! Literally!! There's a raging snowstorm outside and they've got the air on cause people are hot in the kitchen?? My dad loves to write on their little table inserts where it says Why we have a fireplace at our place; His answer: so we can run the air conditioner in the wintertime!

Even in 100 degree Heat, you better take a sweater with you! A list of the worst places around here about freezing you out?

Cracker Barrel (and that goes for just about every one I have ever been in, here in town or out of town)

O'Charley's (who once told us the management and help liked it that way and they wouldn't change it. Needless to say it was a LONG time til after management changed before we went back.) Hasn't been too bad in a long time.

Applebee's- though I love their food (known for being cold on one side of the restaurant and hot on the other)

Kentucky Oaks Mall in Paducah (will either be sweaty hot or freezing cold)

and the all time #1 worst igloo? ** Drum Roll Please**

HOBBY LOBBY

Yes, that's right... our favorite craft hangout.... if you're going in... you'd better have your eskimo gear on winter or summer!


Now see what ya did Sara? Ya got me started! Seriously this is a hot topic .... unless the restaurant (or state depending on where you are) is a non-smoking place many also run the air to draw out cigarette smoke from smoking sections. Or at least they use that as an excuse. It seldom helps air quality.. just makes the restaurant cold and smoky. Which is hard on those of us with breathing problems. Then you freeze to death on top of it.

May I also mention the idiots who design restaurants with non-smoking sections at one table and smoking sections in the next.. no distance or barrier between them. Either you want to breathe smoke or you don't. Most of those that smoke don't much care if someone is smoking next to them but those that don't or who can't be around it don't want to breathe it... hence the purpose of smoking and non-smoking sections. Irates me to no end when restaurants put them right together.

Not much I can do about the air quality issue in restaurants but I'd better make myself a nice sweater or shrug- mine is getting worn out. Wouldn't want my top half to freeze off while I'm eating. But like an idiot where will I usually go with my parents to breakfast? Cracker Barrel of course.. there really isn't much other place to get a decent breakfast in town other than fast food.

OK I'm stopping here before I freeze myself to death. Just stay warm when you go out to eat! Or Shop!

Stretched Afghan... my style

Also called the Rectangle Granny but I hate that name! This is my version!



WW yarn.. how much depends on how big you want your afghan to be. Experiment! This one was done from scraps and Unfinished Objects people sent me and is still in progress as this was written.

Thanks to the few that have sent me Scraps and UFO's.. they are being put to good use!

H Hook

Chain 13

Round 1: 2 double crochets in the third chain from the hook, chain 1 and then *3 double crochets, skip 2 chains, chain 1, 3 double crochets in the next chain across to the end. In the end chain you will be making a corner, chain one space, then another corner. In End chain (3 double crochets, chain 2, 3 double crochets, chain 1, 3 double crochets, chain 2, 3 double crochets, chain 1).

Working on the opposite side of the chain in the free loops: note: you will be making 3 double crochets in the free loop of the same chain where you made the 3 double crochets on the other side.

Skip 2 unworked loops, *3 double crochets in the same loop where you made the 3 double crochets on the other side, skip 2 unworked loops across to end chain. You will only be making a corner and a half in this end chain (the other half of the corner is already there).

In End Chain: Corner (3 double crochets, chain 2, 3 double crochets), chain one, 3 double crochets, chain 2, join to first double crochet with a slip stitch.

Round 2: Slip stitch in next 2 stitches to next chain one space. Chain 2, 2 double crochets in chain one space, chain one, *(skip next 3 double crochets on row below, make 3 double crochets in the next chain one space, chain one) across to corner. Make a corner as described above in corner, chain 1, 3 double crochets in each chain one space to next corner. Make another corner and chain one.

Make 3 double crochets in each chain one space, chain one, skip 3 double crochets on row below across to next end. Make a corner in each corner, chain one after the corner, 3 double crochets in each chain one space to next corner, make another corner, chain one. Continue til you reach the joining, then join to first double crochet with a slip stitch.

Repeat Round 2 til afghan is desired size. This looks really pretty if you use several coordinating colors!

Yay! I'm not abandoned after all!!

Whew! I was starting to think you guys didn't love me anymore!! Don't worry, I still love all of ya even if you haven't been leaving me a "Hi Marla, how are ya" comment!

Deneen, Dot... no need to be ashamed! I haven't frequented your blogs as much lately and I miss them... been busy trying to get this rats nest.. er that is... house in some kind of order. Believe me, it ain't easy.

In the meantime I've been working on some Christmas presents (YES already)... among the few I can post here, britches dishcloths, regular dishcloths of the smaller variety, and a few I can't post here since there are snooping eyes :oP

I also have a scrap comfortghan in the works. You may have noticed I ask that you not throw away ANY UFO's or scrap yarn you don't want to fool with- I have been using some UFO's and "scraps" (many of which are full or half skeins) people have been about to throw away but sent me instead for charity projects. I do baby, animal and adult charities and also comfort items depending on the yarn I get. My budget is too tight right now for charity yarn (even bargain charity yarn which I haven't found any bargains lately) so this is where most of my charity projects come from.

Here's a picture of what I am working on at the time



That's the Scrap Comfortghan made with UFO's and a couple of unwanted skeins someone sent me! Pretty huh? And just think those UFO's were about to be thrown away. Unfortunately that's all the pics I can post... too many prying eyes on here to post other pics of stuff I'm working on.

OK back to the ever present task of laundry... men are so messy! But I love him anyway!

Help! I'm a blog orphan!!

I've been abandoned all of a sudden!! Where are all my readers? I know just a few of you all usually leave comments but... has everyone been scared off by hurricanes or what?

If you drop in for a visit, please leave me a comment. At least once in a while :o) About the only ones that have commented lately have been Sharon and Sara. Where are some of the rest of my readers? Deneen? Dot? Lulu? And anyone else?

On the upside, I've been trying desperately to work some on the house and not making much headway. So much to do... on top of that I finally found my thank you note material and have some left I need to write from the wedding and things sent just before the wedding.

Special thanks to Mom and Sharon for cleaning off my kitchen table.... Now Earnhardt has a place to take a nap!!!



No he isn't usually allowed on the table but this time he was so cute he got away with it! Oh well tablecloth has to be washed anyway where my child, er husband drips food when he eats.

Back to trying to organize things here which should take me til about Christmas! And Please, if you stop by leave a comment. I leave comments on everyone else's blogs even if it's only to say Hi.

Project Hope needs

I got an email back from Pat, my contact at Project Hope and here was her reply about what is going on at the shelter and how anyone can help:

Dear Marla,
Thanks so much for your concern. We have an outbreak of feline pneumonitis at the shelter. Its an upper respiratory infection that is easily passed by coughing/sneezing etc.
The prescribed antibiotic (Clavimox) will run about $15-20 per cat and at present there are 36 cats.
We are a 501-c3 organization and will be happy to send reciepts to any and all. Donations may be earmarked specifically for medication/vet care or any other item or service a person may wish to contribute to and it will be used specifically for that purpose. It may be designated specifically for one particular animal if the person so desires. Sort of an "adoption" with the animal remaining at the shelter under our care but having money donated to provide his medication.
We can always use cleaning supplies. Especially bleach, paper towels, laundry detergent. Rubber gloves, shoe covers, hand sanitizer, anything for infection control.
We could use manpower. someone to watch the front, answer the phone etc. Anyone wanting to volunteer at the shelter should contact our shelter manager to see what help is needed. We most certainlly wouldn't want anyone to carry the pneumonitis home to their own kitties. Perhaps a cat owner could help with the dogs and dog owner with the cats.
We can use soft blankets, towels etc for the sick kitties need frequent changes. Thus producing more laundry.
Computer skills to set up a shelter program we have would be beneficial, someone to deal with the public and answer the phone.
Marjorie Smith is the shelter manager and she can be reached at the shelter at (618) 524-8939.

The shelter will be closed for 30 days to get a handle on this outbreak. We won't be accepting any animals or adopting any out during that time.

Again thanks for your care and concern, any help will be greatly appreciated. Hug Angel, Smokey and Earnhardt for me. I'm so glad they are in a wonderful forever home.

Sincerely, for the animals
Pat.


Looks like they can use snuggles (crocheted or knitted), monetary donations for cleanup costs and the cats' medicine, cleaning supplies, surgical gowns and footies if you happen to have access to any of those, plastic gloves, hand sanitizer to say the least. For more information please contact Project Hope at the link or phone number above or mail checks to:

Project Hope Humane Society
P.O. Box 125
1698 W. 10th
Metropolis IL 62960
Phone: 618-524-8939
Email: szque_525@hotmail.com

Project Hope in danger of closing

While at my parents' tonight, I happened to catch a glimpse of the Paducah Sun; Seems there has been an outbreak of conjunctivitis and some other respiratory infections at Project Hope in Metropolis, IL causing them a major crisis right now. As soon as all the money is spent on antibiotics for the cats and kittens there, and cleaning up the shelter, lack of funds could cause the shelter to close.

Project Hope is the No-Kill animal shelter from which all three of my kitties have come. Animals are never put to sleep for lack of a home. Please stay tuned; I am gathering information as this is being written on what can be done. I can't help the shelter financially right now myself but I'm sure there are people out there that would love to do so. I'd hate to see this shelter close.. they rescue a lot of abandoned and abused, neglected etc. animals.

We just adopted Earnhardt from there about 10 days ago but he wasn't at the shelter when the outbreak started according to his records and my contact at Project Hope. We got him from PetSmart which keeps kitties for adoption from local animal shelters.

Here's my three kitties that have come from Project Hope:

Angel

Smokey

Earnhardt


I do know they are needing some other supplies as well. Will update as soon as I find out what and how they can be supported. I do know according to the paper each dose of medicine for each cat costs $14.xx, and cleanup is a major expense right now as all cats will have to be treated and the shelter decontaminated. They need surgical gowns, etc. as well right now.

*Singing* A Froggin I will go....

No not my work but some UFO's someone sent me. Got some nice balls of baby yarn to work with- at least suitable for some preemie items if not more.

And SHARON, since I know you'll ask... a UFO is an unfinished object that someone doesn't want anymore. Hence the name UFO. Also called an Orphan or "orphaned project". And Froggin... you should have heard that one. Frogging is what you do when you rip out your work.... since you rip-it rip-it rip-it, it is called Frogging.

Anyway here's my yield from some ufo's someone sent me. They also sent me a 1.2oz ball of chenille I have no use for. Will probably barter it.

Baby Yarn:


Chenille:


OK back to checking posts and more sorting of crochet stuff!

Spoiled rotten

He's Rotten.. just rotten. Take a look at the proof:
Helping Mom Crochet.... or laying on my pattern is more like it...




See how pretty I can pose for the camera?







Meanwhile the other two cats are enjoying him.... however Angel is savoring all the lap time she can by herself. She doesn't mind the other two being around but she wants all the time she can get with "her" Marla. Was gonna put some pics of Angel up here playing with Earnhardt but couldn't get her still long enough. Who needs kids? Like Lisa said, I've already got 4.... a husband who's 38 going on 5 and 3 with fur.

Lucky I can manage any crochet time around here....

YAY!! BLOGGER IMAGES BACK UP!!!

Guess they finally got their act together!! Now I don't have to post from the web anymore!!! All was posting and loading except the DONE page, and it wouldn't load without that!

What a relief!

Gift package patterns

Finally!!

I got around to writing down and typing up the hanger cover patterns and washcloth pattern I made up for a wedding gift. Made a couple of things to go with it but they weren't my pattern so I can only post the four that were.

Here they are in the posts below: 3 padded hanger covers and a washcloth! The blogger images feature has been a pain last few days. These patterns will also be posted to my website for future reference.

Hope you enjoy!!

Padded Hanger Cover W/Flower

Padded Hanger Cover W/Flower





F Hook
2oz WW Yarn in main color, small amount flower color
1 15"(approx) padded clothes hanger

Hanger cover:

Ch 4
Row 1: 11 dc in 4th ch from hook, join w/sl st.

Row 2: Ch 2, DC in same Space, *Skip next st, 2dc in next st, repeat from * around. Join with sl st. (12 dc, 6 ch-1 spaces made)

Row 3: Ch 2, CD in each st. and ch-1 sp around. Join w/ sl st. (18 dc made)

Note: Somewhere around 6 or 7 rows, slip your hanger cover on hanger and begin working around hanger.

Row 4-36: Ch 2, dc in each st. around, join w/sl st. (18 dc)

Row 37: ch 2, hdc in next st, *dc next 2 st. together. Repeat from * around. (6 dctog clusters)

Row 38: Ch2, dc in each st. around (12dc), join with sl. st.

Fasten off and weave in tail well.

Optional Hook Cover:

Ch 28

Row 1-5: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. Ch 1, turn.

At end of row 5, join both sides to form a tube as follows: Slip st. through booth thicknesses, pulling yarn through both loops of one side and only one loop of the other. Slip over hook and join with a slip stitch in 2 or more places to hanger cover.


Flower:

With Flower Color, ch 8 and join to first ch to form a ring.

(Ch 4, 2 triple crochet, ch 4, sl st) 5 times in ring. Join with a slip st. to base of first ch 4. Fasten off. Slip gently over hook cover.

V Stitch Padded Hanger Cover

V Stitch Padded Hanger Cover





F Hook
1oz WW Yarn

Row 1: Ch 4, 7 dc in 4th ch from hook, join w/sl st.

Row 2-41: Ch 4, dc in same st.,* skip next st, (dc, ch2, dc) in next st. Repeat from * around. Join w/ sl st to beginning ch 2.

Row 42: Ch2, hdc in same ch-2 sp. (dc 2 together in each ch-2 sp) around. Join to beginning ch 2 and pull tight to close end.

Peek a boo Hanger Cover

Peek a Boo Padded Hanger Cover



F hook
1oz WW Yarn

Row 1: Ch 4, 11 dc in 4th ch from hook, join w/sl st. to 3rd ch of beginning ch-3.

Row 2-37: Ch 2, dc in next st., ch 1 *dc in next 2 st, ch1. Repeat from * around. Join w/ sl st to beginning ch 2.

Row 38: ch 2, hdc in next st, (dc next 2 dc together, skip ch1 sp) around. Join to first st. and pull end tight. Fasten off. Weave in tail well.

Washcloth pattern

Ladies' Washcloth



F hook
1oz WW yarn

Shell=5dc in same stitch

Ch 45

Row 1:DC in 4th ch from hook, (Shell in next ch. Sk next 2 ch, DC in next ch, Sk next 2 ch) across to last 7 chains. Skip next 2 chains, Shell in next ch, sk next 2 ch, DC in next to last ch and again in last ch. Ch 2, turn.

Row 2-18: Shell in each ch and dc in 3rd dc of each shell across. Dc in last dc. Ch 2 and turn at end of each row except last one.

Fasten off and weave in tail well.

Tag, you're it

That's Angel and Earnhardt's latest game thru the house. One smacks the other, then the chase thru the house is on. Now that I have 3 cats, I can truly say I have a 3 ring circus in the house. As if the house wasn't enough of a mess... I'd post pictures but how do you catch a picture of two cats playing tag.

Earnhardt's decided to get awfully brave- this little scrawny 2lb, 3mo old kitten runs and jumps with all four feet at full speed onto 20lb Smokey's back. Poor Smokey, all he does is whine and jump like "get this thing off of me". He does a little chasing himself but not as much... he's more fat and lazy.

Little Mr. Tough Stuff better watch who he's picking on... Smokey hasn't decided to clobber him yet but when he does... Smokey's about 5 or 6 times Earnhardt's size.

Like I said, I have a 3 ring circus in my own living room....

Earnhardt- Our New Baby

Everyone please welcome Earnhardt to the family! He was adopted this afternoon from Project Hope. He's 12 weeks old and very loveable! Actually the Earnhardt name was my idea, I figured Scott'd like it.




Guess who's already scattered kitty litter all over the floor (clean) from his box?? Good thing we keep a couple of vacuums handy! At least he IS litter trained! Good kitty!!

The other cats aren't much on him yet but they'll come around. Smokey hasn't come too close yet, and Angel got as far as nose to nose then meowed at me like "What is this thing in your lap?"

No picture....

You may have noticed that there's no picture of the baby blanket as I had promised.... That's because the blogger images refuses to cooperate right now- not because I forgot to put it in.

If you want to see the pic of the baby blanket scroll down several entries - there is a pic of it from a few days ago I can't seem to get on here.

Mission: Clean and Crochet

Well maybe not in that order as such.

I've finished the baby blanket for the shower Sunday several days ago.. now I'm working on a wedding gift for another shower NEXT Sunday. Money is a little tight right now so just about everyone who's getting married or having a baby is getting crocheted gifts since I have 10 tons of yarn to organize/use up/get rid of. Most of it is getting used for something or put in the closet. YES I have a yarn closet and NO the yarn isn't in there at the moment (and you don't want to see my yarn/craft/computer room either!!!).

Which brings me to cleaning.... something has to be done about the boxes etc. in the living room, hallway and the piles of yarn and sacks and you name it in here. So that will pretty much keep me busy today except for a probably trip down to Paducah later- gotta pick up my DVD players I had fixed if nothing else. We also may run by PetSmart... my SIL said Project Hope had some kittens there. May see if there's anything we like but will be a young kitten(s) if we get anything since the adoption fee is higher for older kittens and cats. Very young kittens are about $20 just for their first vet checks etc. then you have to pay to have them spayed/neutered etc. later.

So with that I leave you with a pic of baby blanket, a round ripple from New crochet Basics... will post pics of covered hangers and sachet when done and also made up a covered hanger pattern that I will post here and on my website when I get it done.

Fried Chicken Sunday

By now I should be sick of Fried Chicken... But I'm not. After church, lunch was truck stop's buffet... you guessed it- Fried Chicken is on it every Sunday along with 2-3 other meats and various vegetables, soup, salad bar etc.

I had been promising dinner to my MIL and SIL for a while since they've done the same for us several times. Well, about the only thing I had in the freezer that needed to be fixed was a bag of chicken quarters..... ROFL The rest is self explanatory. Nice except I forgot the can of jellied cranberry sauce in the fridge. Oh well will use it later.

Scott has gone to the depot to pick up some food... typical- I can't keep him away from that place when I want him home, and when I want time to myself I can't get it. So I'm messing around on the puter til he gets back. I got my after dinner nap interrupted for this too- hmmph!! The nerve of the man- wakes me up saying he wants to go to the depot for a few minutes.... just because I am asleep in his lap! I shoulda told him tough and went back to sleep.

Now to work on a small wedding gift before my child *oops I mean husband* returns!!

In Memoriam and correction

When I put the tribute up to John Fielder who was Disney's voice for Piglet and several others, I made a mistake; I listed him as the voice for Tigger as well. I didn't think that sounded quite right.

It seems another prominent Disney voice has recently passed away as well: Paul Winchell who did quite a bit of animated voices including Tigger in Disney's Winnie the Pooh. Disney fans are mourning the loss of 2 of Disney's most famous voices.

Another Reba Recipe

Thanks to Lisa I now have the link to Reba McEntire's Broccoli Casserole up, and will post a couple of other recipes soon as I have time to get them up.

Click on the Reba's Family Recipes link to the right, the Broccoli Casserole has been added there and links to the other 2 I have will be put there as well.

Mission Reinstall

That's right- everything on my puter literally got reinstalled tonight. You name it- Windows and everything. It's been throwing fits lately at certain things so it got a whole workover.

Must have worked- fixed all my problems except for the color/video problems I've been having with web sites and blogs. That's right- can't see the backgrounds on websites and blogs. The rest of the graphics show up fine, just not the backgrounds or fonts. My blog is in black and white. WAHHHHHHH!

I thought it was blogger at first- I emailed Sara and said hey what's up with Blogger. She told me it must be me to restart my puter. I thought SHE was nuts til I went to my website.... there was no background image there either. So I went down to my dad's and pulled everything up on his. What the heck's wrong with my puter??? AOL and other techs and I have checked all Windows and AOL settings... a tech even told me it could be my video card damaged. I seriously doubt that but we'll see. Gonna do some checking around before I take it somewhere to be looked at. I'd hate to spend a bunch of money if it was an error or setting I could fix myself. Even a system restore didn't work. So something's up. Not a major deal, just a major annoyance.

Anyone out there a puter junkie and know how to fix this?

Reba's Family Recipes

I wanted to share with you some links I've found of Recipes that my favorite singer, Reba McEntire has shared from her family's kitchen over the years. A friend of mine has asked Reba.com to publish recipes she's shared with different magazines, organizations for cook books and the like. We'll see if they post them but in the meantime here's some I found online.

Reba's Beans and Tennessee Cornbread
Reba's Hot N' Chunky Chili
Reba's Praline Sweet Potato Casserole
Reba's Mexican Cornbread Casserole
Reba's Broccoli Casserole (Thanks Lisa!)

Susie Luchsinger's Corn Chowder (Reba's sister Susie- an awesome Christian Country artist)

We're still looking for Reba's Banana pudding and several other recipes she's shared.

Angel's new hangout...

Sara, have your cats been talking to mine??? Angel has now gone from the back of the chair (pushing me out as you showed Whitey doing) to laying by or in front of my monitor and playing with my mouse as Topper does. I kid you not:



Why DO cats just have to lay on/in front of your mouse and monitor?? Next she'll be chasing the cursor across the screen. Yet she pays not a bit of attention to my Marine Aquarium screensaver.

OK who's been giving Angel all these ideas? At least Smokey's too fat to get up here (either that or he hasn't discovered this spot yet).

New carpet

Some people were asking for some more pics of the house since we've done a bit of work. Still boxes and bags everywhere but I did manage a clean picture of the bathroom where we just had new carpet and accessories put in.



Navy and hot pink... or actually Sassy Pink as it's called. OK playtime's over... gotta see what I can do with some of these boxes etc. in the living room!

Attention Disney Fans...

It seems our friend John Fielder, the voice of Tigger, Piglet and many other Disney Characters has passed away. I did find this article link posted on some other blogs but seems very little details have been given.

John Fielder obituary.

Baby afghan and blogger photos

Here's a pic of the round ripple baby afghan I finished last night for a baby shower in a couple of weeks. Need to get working on both the house and turning some UFO's into comforghans or such.

I found out real quick I don't like the new blogger photo upload... the photos I posted look terrible, while if I post the original photo they look fine. Something's garbled between the communication. They need to improve something real quick if they're going to use this for blogger photo posting.

The first of many...

Pictures of Disney... and some stories/details.


Me and Scott at the Castle

I had to drag him into this picture- one of the photopass photographers took it using my camera. He hates having his picture taken so I had to bribe him into a few pictures.

Speaking of pictures I have a few on disk that someone took... still trying to see if there's one good enough to post. Most of them were pretty blurry. Haven't heard a word from the professional pictures yet.

Haven't really got much done on the house yesterday; Dinner after church consisted of Chong's buffet (my favorite chinese restaurant here in town) then trying to do some straightening out on my puter, then a nap then it was time to get Scott's lunch and stuff ready to go to work. Did get the dishwasher unloaded and most of the stuff put away, a few things moved around and some more rows done on the round ripple baby afghan I'm almost done with for a shower in a couple of weeks. Will definitely post a pic when I get it done. It's from New Crochet Basics.... I think.

Need to get my butt in bed as it's 4:30am and Scott will be home soon but alas; laundry awaits in piles that have outgrown the hamper.

I will leave you with one or two only halfway decent pictures from the wedding:

Putting the ring on his finger


Mr. and Mrs. Scott Potter



Ain't we cute??

Of Pot Roast and Pizza....

OK OK not together... YUCK! Even I couldn't stand that combo.

Been a wierd day. I wound up working in the house all night and was still up when Scott came in, and put the planned pot roast, vegetables and ingredients in the crock pot, planning to have Pot roast for supper. That was 7:15am; laid down about 8:30am finally. Intended to sleep til about 12 or so and then get up when Scott did and get some stuff done (The house is still a pigsty, boxes everywhere).

Next thing I know Scott is waking me up saying my cousin is on the phone. I wake up, put my hearing aid in and talk to her a bit; she's wanting to know if we'll meet them and my parents later for supper at Chuck E Cheese's with Carson since he was good at Day camp. I relay the message to Scott and he says OK so I tell her we'll meet them and hang up the phone.

First I looked at the clock... 3:48!! Why the heck didn't he wake me up when he got up??? He says "Well you looked like you wanted to sleep so I left you there." MEN!!! BAH! HUMBUG!!! If I had wanted to sleep he'd have been pestering me to get up and do something with him! Don't get me wrong, I love him dearly... just have a lot more training to do.

On to the next saga... When I told Missy we'd meet them at Chuck E Cheese, I totally forgot about the pot roast cooking in the crock pot. So we wound up having pizza for dinner last night (Fri. night). Wasn't bad, and I think Scott has about as much fun as Carson did. Carson was really really good til the last minute when Marsha told him it was time to go he got in the climbing tunnel to keep from having to leave. We all hid and he decided to come out and find out where we went- he thought he'd been left!

So back to the forgotten pot roast... thank goodness for removeable stoneware- it's in the fridge untouched and my parents are going to join us for dinner tomorrow night. Now does anyone have a maid I can borrow for the kitchen???

Seriously I did sneak a little bite that was swimming in the mix (thing's done- it's falling apart)- it's delicious! I have to say I think I'm gonna love my new SmartPot Crock pot I got with gift cards! Gonna fix some green beans, and maybe boil some mini ears of corn with it tomorrow, serve tea and let that be it. Just my way of saying thanks to my parents for helping me move since our "moving buddies" all opted out on us for one reason or another at the last minute. My dad also spent several hours over three days up here putting in a garbage disposal for us so I can cook comfortably.

Scott and I are discussing getting some more animals... maybe. I don't want any more cages to have to clean out so if he comes home with something caged it's gonna be HIS responsibility to clean out. I love Taffy (my bunny) but hate cleaning that cage even though it isn't hard to change the sack around the litter pan under her cage. Myself, I'd rather have another kitten or two. Angel is still my baby but I wouldn't mind having a couple more. Then again I snap back to the reality of the two cats we have now that run the Indy 500 thru the house about every 2 hours or less.... We'll see what happens. Wouldn't mind a small dog either except someone has to take that dog out every so often whether rain, sleet, snow, heat.... you name it. My MIL just opens the door and lets all 8 of hers (YES- I said *8*- she has 8 shelties) out and they come back in a few minutes but I couldn't imagine doing that. Esp. if I were to get a little dog. Most of these are medium sized or larger dogs.

Hate to cut blogging short, but if my parents are coming over then there is a kitchen to be organized.... TTFN!! More pics/details to come from Disney World soon as I get time to post them!