The Daily Times.... Marla's Style....

Wow, so much to cover! Figured I'd better make this more like a newsletter....

THE CASE OF THE MISSING SOAP.....

Last night I had a full shower... shower, shampoo, shaving, the works. (For those of you who know me, I often prefer a long bubble bath unless my hair needs washing.... ) Anyways, last night... nothing abnormal.... used my pink dove soap like normal. The bar was MAYBE half used.

Mom hasn't been home most of the day and the whole hour or so she was home, she was here on the computer playing Freecell. My dad doesn't bother to go in my bathroom (we have 3 bathrooms in the house- I have my own, my parents have a master bath in their room, and a community bathroom downstairs) unless it's to kill a spider. Our once weekly housekeeper hasn't been here since last Friday.

About 4pm or so I go upstairs to take a bath and clean up to go out and eat. Get bath ready, get in the tub, reach for the rag and soap..... Wait a minute... There's a brand new bar of soap on my tub. The old one's gone. I didn't put that there???? I look on the sink, all around the tub... in the wastecan.... nothing. What the heck happened to that half bar of soap that was sitting there about 2am, probably still wet from the shower the night before?

As I said, Mom hasn't been home all day, but I questioned her about it anyway. "What happened to my soap?" "What soap?" "The bar that was sitting on my tub when I got out of the shower at 2am this morning." "I don't know- maybe it slid off the side- look around the tub."

Now mom pulls some wierd stunts and often denies them or lies about what she's done or tries to cover them up... but I honestly don't think she did this one. After all, she got up after I did, put her face etc. on and came straight downstairs... she was in her bathroom while I was watching the news with my dad talking to him in their bedroom right next door. Then we all went straight downstairs. She didn't come back upstairs til suppertime. Why the heck would she want a half bar of soap anyway? She doesn't even use that kind. Noone else around here does either.

My dad knew nothing about it of course... Pat (housekeeper) hadn't been there in a week.... My conclusion? Our Ghost is at work again. Yes, we have an actual ghost that hangs around the house, plays tricks, shows himself (at least I think it's a him) from time to time, etc. OK Ghost, the joke's over, put my soap back and quit wasting new bars- the stuff don't grow on trees ya know!! You touch my yarn and I'll send you back to the previous life you came from so I can make your life miserable!!!!


FINISHED OBJECT AND UFO'S

Well I finished my kitty snuggle and almost finished the Neon Afghan. Just a few more stitches on it. The bad news is in going through stuff in a corner of my room I found 3 more UFO's to be either frogged or finished. Trying to determine their fates as we speak.

MOVING: ONE PIECE AT A TIME

Got that Baker's rack out of my room that had all the stuff on it, took it up to the house and set it up in the kitchen. Now if I just had a moving van for all my yarn/crochet stuff and someone to unload it for me... that's going to take weeks!!!! Got sacks and a couple of bins all ready to go up to the house now. Then more sacks with UFO's stay here- that way if I take most of the rest of the yarn to the house I can't work on much else til I move, right? We'll see if it works.

Next piece of furniture to go will probably be either my nightstand behind my bed, or the old sewing machine table that came from my grandparents' house. Can you believe all this stuff is currently stuffed in one room???? Well, the furniture that is...

WEDDING NEWS

On to Wedding news, the pictures are on hold til my mom and dad work out who is going to pay for them. That sounds strange, I know- and I wish my dad would just pay for it and get it over with. However, my mom insists on paying for it with money my grandparents left her, and while I'm grateful and she's been good about most things she's being really selfish about the pictures. She's decided she's not paying for any pictures except the main photographer's time, her album, and a small one for me. Everyone else will have to pay for their own, and if I want more than a few I have to pay for them myself. She knows I don't have the $$ to do that and have any decent ones. My dad told us both forget it, for me to order what I wanted and he'd pay for them... well that made her mad at both of us.... I finally told her I didn't want her paying for, or being involved with anything else with the wedding if that was the way she was going to be- that I'd not have any pictures or anything else if I had to deal with her to get it. And I meant it. End of Story. I really hate to be that kind of person, and I know it isn't the way I should be, but it isn't worth letting myself be tortured emotionally by her- letting her be nice and do something for me and then having it thrown up in my face as often happens. Not anymore. I imagine it'll pan out one way or the other- I think she's just trying to play a game she knows (or should know) she can't win.

Oh and I FINALLY got ahold of my Maid of Honor tonight. Her phone had been disconnected for a while, she hasn't been fitted for her dress yet and I was panicking thinking I was going to be short my Maid of Honor. I REALLY didn't want to have to ask someone else to do it, and I wasn't about to go thru trying to find another 4th bridesmaid. If I didn't get her ready and she couldn't do it, I was just going to stick with 3, my SIL, my cousin and a friend I used to work with. My Maid of Honor is also a friend I used to work with. We've pulled each other out of many a scrape and she's been there for me lots of times. Anyway she's coming to the shower Sunday, then 3 or 4 of us are going to the dressmaker's to get her and my cousin fitted. Cutting it a bit closer than I would like but as long as it gets done I'm at the point where I could care less if it's fancy or not. Same with Shoes, jewelery etc. I've got enough details to worry about.

SECRET PALS ON CROCHETVILLE

Just waiting on the green light to send my package to my secret pal. Got a stash built up of little things... trouble is I'm ready to get them outta my way. Plus I'm anxious to be sneaky!!! Let the games begin!! Bet it doesn't take me long to figure out who's got my name.... they better be pretty sneaky!!

THANK YOU NOTES

Well since I still have about 15 thank you notes left from the last shower to write, and I've already written an issue of The Marla Times here describing all that's been going on, I better go give myself a case of writer's cramp and finish those thank you notes. After all, if 2 weeks hits and people still haven't gotten thank you notes, they're going to think I'm some kind of ungrateful brat!! *shame on me- sounding like my mother..... *

SECRET PALS ANNOUNCED!

YES!!!! Our Secret Pals on Crochetville have now been announced!!!! I am going to love this... already have a stash of little things built up to send my pal!! Hope she enjoys!!!

Hmmm I wonder who mine is? *sneaky thoughts* Let's see if I can figure out who mine is... bet I can.. wanna bet? So you really wanna know who I got as mine???

*Drum roll Please*

My Crochetville Secret Pal for May-July is......











Thought I'd really tell ya, didn't ya???? ROFLMAO!!!!!

Monkeys Always Look!!!

Frogging and Finishing

I should be able to announce a Finished Object soon- the Neon afghan is almost done!! Just another row and a half or so....

That's the progress to report. Other Progress on the Finish or Frog project:

Working on Finishing:

*Sage Mary Ripple afghan (former UFO)
*Neon Afghan (former UFO)
*Giant ripple afghan (former UFO)
*Rainbow afghan
*neon socks
*kitty snuggle for Project Linus
*2 Preemie afghans for Newborns in Need (former UFO's)
*Round Ripple baby afghan from New Crochet Basics
*Pastel Stripes Afghan (former UFO)

Frogged or to be frogged:

Aran and blue sock with no mate (lost yarn)
Varigated blues Slipper
Piece of scrap afghan
One row afghan
Baby outfit (lost pattern)

Also go through, ball, thin out scrap yarn from stash. Send baby yarn balls I can't use to another crocheter or charity.

This is all part of my Finish or Frog pledge- I have no choice- I can't move ALL of this!!!

Shower Curtain found!

Thanks to ZingyZoid on Crochetville, the notorious Navy Jubilee Swag shower curtain has been found! Thanks Stacy! *Dancing* I can have my navy and fuschia bathroom after all! Where oh where would I be without my crochet buddies???

Also, I did find a pair of natural color bamboo rings at Hobby Lobby for making the fleuri purse on CrochetMe Blog- BUT... I'm still looking for a set of clear ones, around 6-8", for a different purse.

I feel so loved at the moment!

Now, off to finish one of the WIP's (or UFO's) I've been talking about!

Writer's Cramp and Shower stuff

I've been trying to get some of these thank you notes accomplished from my shower last Sunday; got a few done but still missing some addresses. I appreciate all the gifts and they've got to be written, but it's hard on my hand much less my patience writing all this out by hand. Think I'm about to quit for the night and write the rest tomorrow. There weren't that many to write but it's still a chore.

I've been taking a break looking thru my linens n things and kohls and Wal-mart gift registries, seeing what needs to be taken off and put on each one, and what's been bought. A few things have been bought but on some, either people are waiting til the last minute or they're not giving the registry paper to the cashier so it can be marked off as bought.

I've got a big shower at church Sunday so I better get my butt in gear, the baker's rack in my room needs to be dismantled and taken up to the house, and the bathroom closet in the house has to be somewhat cleaned out. Not to mention a lot of the bottom kitchen cabinets- haven't even gotten to them yet. When I get through it's gonna be that time again.... YARD SALE TIME! But not til after the shower, please! One fiasco a weekend is about all I can take... I did garage sale here, as well as Shower #1 last weekend, and I think it about killed me. This weekend I've been dying of PMS (which doesn't usually bother me) and only gotten one or two things accomplished.

OK I'm gonna go crash for the night, or relax and crochet.. not sure which. Back to the grindstone in the morning!

Finish or Frog

I'm swearing in to the Crocheters Against UFO's Crochet A Long on Crochetville- great project to finish before I move. Swearing to finish:

WIP's:

*Pastel Stripes Afghan
*Round Ripple Baby afghan
*snuggle
*Angel's Blankie

Finish or Frog UFO's:

*Neon afghan
*yellow & Pink baby afghan (may become preemie ghan- will be sent to Newborns in Need)
*blue & white baby afghan (may become preemie ghan- will be sent to Newborns in Need)
*adult ripple afghan
*rainbow child's afghan
*blue variegated slippers (may get frogged and turned into socks instead)
*neon socks
*scrap afghan (may get sent to LoveAfghans4PRR)


**And clean up/organize all that yarn in the sewing room/Den!!!!**

Gotta get all this stuff outta the way anyway so might as well join the CAL!

Now, if my Fairy Godmother would come along and wave her wand and move all this stuff for me.... and grant a few wishes from my RAOK list (hint hint)

Back to frogging..er.. finishing....

2 down, 11/2 to go

Hi all,

just a short update as I'm in serious need of a nap, some midol or excedrin (don't have either at the moment) and some space and privacy from everything and everyone. If the phone rings one more time, I'm gonna destroy it. If one more person.... just one... asks me "Did you get so and so done"...... I'll be in jail as of the result.

OK enough- here's the update....

*Got flower girls' dresses out of the way today

*Accomplished getting another of my bridesmaids measured for her dress

*visited with my grandparents for a few minutes

*And I'm about to cage a cat who's getting into everything she's big enough.

*Thank you to those of you who have been helping look for my shower curtain I got swindled on.... no luck yet.

I'm off to go crochet something .... don't know what it will be or if it will make any sense.... and may God help the first person who disturbs me!!

Be back with a better update when I'm back to myself- which may be never at this rate! ROFL

Check your Wal-marts!

Hi All-

this is completely off topic, but would everyone please check your Wal-marts for me? Mine have just discontinued the NAVY BLUE SWAG Jubilee shower curtain I had picked out for my bridal registry, and I can't find another one similar anywhere!

Every Wal-mart within 40 miles is sold out of this one, but I know there's got to be one out there still on clearance or in the domestics dept. somewhere. If anyone's Wal-mart has one, would you please email me? I'll gladly pay for the curtain and your shipping costs. Thanks! I can't find a decent navy blue shower curtain, especially a swag, anywhere around here for any price!

In other news, been going thru my crochet stuff, deciding what I'll use in the next 6 weeks and what I need to go on and take to the house. Has it been crazy around here, Sara asked me??? UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR!!! I can barely find time to sit and crochet lately for trying to get everything done. I still swear I'll never get everything moved!!

Well, back to sorting yarn/patterns!

Bad language on blogs and Project Hope

OK what's the deal? Is everyone PMSing for the last week or so? I frequent a LOT of blogs out there, especially crochet related and seems like the last week or so every sentence I see on MANY of the blogs I read has at least a couple of nice four letter words either. Most for no good reason at all... the ones I've seen aren't cussing anything in particular, aren't cussing about a bad day etc.. they're just cussing for the fun of it.

Sure, everyone's entitled to freedom of speech and a four letter word might slip now and then... but this blatant foul language every sentence or so on a LOT of the blogs I've read this week has really made me think hard about the ones I want to link to. After all, not one I've seen has even bothered to ** out some of the letters. Sure, everyone can put what they want on their blogs. But not everyone wants to read filth. Would you want YOUR 8-12 year old going to a craft blog and reading that?

Yes, I'm an adult, also a Christian and it's very offensive to ME, much less a child/teen. Nothing turns me off more than dirty language. If you're griping about a bad day, I can understand it. In every day talk, there's no excuse for it. Let's clean things up a bit in the crafty world please?? After all, kids read this stuff too! Not to mention Christians.

*Off soap box*

Now, on to a much more pleasant topic..... in addition to the two baby afghans (YES I said TWO- I had to start another WIP for a baby due in a few months) I've been working on, I'm also crocheting some on the side for Project Hope- a no-kill animal rescue shelter from which I adopted Angel.


Angel (somewhat annoyed at having her nap disturbed)

If you'd like to help crochet some simple small blankies 18" X 18" or 14" X 14" is a good size for kitties and small to medium dogs. You may send them either to me or to the Shelter's address in Metropolis IL. Please email me for either address. Kitty and doggie toys and supplies are welcome too. Only requirements are please weave in your yarn tails so the animals won't chew them off, and please make sure all parts are secure on home made toys.

Otherwise been a heck of a day putting up with certain family members and running all day. I treated myself to some of the new RH colors of yarn (I shouldn't have, but oh well..)at Wal-mart tonight, wanted more but a few is all my budget could stand. Planning on possibly some socks, a fleuri bag if I can work in the time and find the handles (just like the one seen on the crochetme ezine). Let's hope I can work it in- I could use some good old fashoned relaxing crochet time!

Well that's about all I have for now so as Tigger would say, "TTFN- Ta Ta for now!

OK the Joke's Over....

now change me back.

That's what I said to my hairstylist the other day. Went in to get the color on my hair redone so it would look good with my dress, and the blonde on it had to be lightened up quite a bit from the last time. She got me in the shampoo bowl and several of them were looking at it; not being able to hear without my aid in at the shampoo bowl, I asked jokingly "What'd you do, rot my hair off or something?" She said "Wellllllll..... I'm gonna let you look"; she got me a mirror and the top of my hair was as white as my grandmother's!!! I started laughing then everyone else did too... after a few minutes came the comment "OK the joke's over... now change me back!!" She's lucky I have a sense of humor and trust her!! Actually she fixed it and it looks great! Wish I'd had a camera though! I won't be letting her forget that one for a while!

Been a busy weekend and week so far. Friday and Saturday were another yard sale here at the house, Sunday came a small shower given by my future MIL and SIL. I received several nice presents- now I have to start working on the thank you notes!! Ugh! I hate it but it's gotta be done.... wish I could do them all on computer but it'd seem sort of tacky, huh? I hate having to write everything by hand!

Sorry to be like a revolving door but I gotta make like a banana and split.... I did get a little crochet done today during a trip to Benton. Just a little kitty snuggle for Project Hope where I adopted Angel. Now, back to the grindstone!!

Fooling around, Yard Sales and new goodie

OK OK so I wanted an excuse to fool around with my digital camera.... but couldn't find many good subjects.

I've been setting stuff out for a garage/moving sale tomorrow (YES another one! This one is MINE so I don't have to put up with anyone else, move the stuff somewhere else etc. don't have to put up with anyone except my mother that is, and that's a given....) so I've been spreading stuff out in the garage. Finally got almost done and needed a break so I sat down here and grabbed my camera.

While I have nothing crochet to report :o( at this time, I would like to remind you to both adopt from, and donate to your local Humane Society, Animal shelters, rescue projects and the like. You can donate cash, crocheted toys and snuggles (or knit), food, accessories and many other things. Contact your local shelter for details. I wouldn't have my Angel if it weren't for Project Hope, a local No-kill shelter close to here. Your local PetSmart stores also often help with or board animals up for adoption. Please read Angel's Story (link by her picture at top)to learn how they saved her life. I can't imagine my beautiful baby spending her life in a cage. Scott's Grandma also got Smokey from Project Hope via PetSmart- he was an orphan as well.


Angel


Smokey

Oh and I CANNOT ignore this issue- THE STATE OF WISCONSIN IS WANTING TO LEGALIZE THE HUNTING OF DOMESTIC CATS AS WELL AS WILD ONES!!!! EVEN IF THEY HAVE A COLLAR ON!!! If you are a cat lover and you happen to catch the online petition going around, PLEASE SIGN IT!!! Even the chairman of the National Audubon Society is against this (the push behind this being that cats kill millions of songbirds each year....). She even stated that the huge number of birds killed by cats was not enough to endanger the domestic cat. *Getting sick just talking about this subject....*

I was at Kohl's tonight doing some stuff on my gift registry I couldnt do online, and Mom had been nice and given me her $10 gift certificate since she wouldn't use it before it expired. After the gift registry stuff was done, I went looking at purses and shoes since I need both a new pair of tennis shoes and sandals, and my purse from Aeropostale is about worn out. Still usable but worn. Below is the result; almost all their spring purses etc were on sale, and had to be over $10 for me to use the certificate, so I wound up getting a formerly $25 purse for only $7. Pretty neat and I NEEDED a new one before the old one started getting holes in it. I didn't really need to spend the $7 though.


New purse

I keep promising to update my blog and wip and wim links and I will.... just too beat to do it tonight. Hopefully soon....

I have this garage sale this weekend, gotta call about getting my flower girls to get fitted for dresses, and also a shower Sunday given by my future MIL and SIL.

I'm beat for tonight- gonna go check my stuff and hit the sack. As Porky Pig would say, "Th-Th-Th-That's all folks!".

Comments and updates

Wow look at all the comments since last night! Thank you Everyone! Thought I'd make a rare daytime post on here and do a little updating and question answering since I've been busy last week or so. I'm planning another yard sale but this time at least some of it is all together. So there isn't quite as much work to be done. Just mostly putting stuff out and maybe getting a few more things together.

Nice to see Sara back!! Missed seeing you online- hope you're taking care of yourself with that busy schedule of yours.

Thanks to my friends from Crochetville.org who came over to visit and actually left comments! I like to visit blogs and try to at least leave a "Hi, I came to visit" comment if nothing else.

If time allows there's a couple, three wim's I'd like to become wip's but depends on what goes on. There's my mystery project, a baby toy (both designs of my own), Dot's Gentle Ripples poncho (I have the PERFECT yarn for it), a baby blanket for some friends.... OK so that's 4 and counting.... And maybe some socks if time allows. But I need to get some of my current wip's out of the way too.

Scott is doing a little better, no emergencies lately or anything but his blood sugar is still unstable to one extreme or the other. For those of you who haven't kept up or are just joining me, my Fiancee is a strictly insulin dependent diabetic and all of a sudden the Sat. before Easter his blood sugar started going haywire and bottoming out for no good reason. We're still messing with it on a daily basis trying to get it straightened out. Please keep praying for him. Seems whichever way the Dr. adjusts his insulin, it goes the other way. I've got him an appt. with a new Dr. but he can't get in before the last of May so unless it gets to the dire point he has to go to the ER or something like that he is going to have to fool with his old Dr. until he can see the new one. Thank you to everyone who has asked about and prayed for him- please do keep him in your prayers, especially that the Lord will keep him safe until he can see this new Dr. The new Dr. is my Dr. as well as several people I know and members of my family and although he isn't a specialist he is very good with diabetics, so I'm doing all the praying, finger crossing, whatever works that he can get him straightened out a whole lot more than his "specialist" is doing right now.

On the bright side I'm hoping to do a little updating of my side menu in the near future. Have a BUNCH of blogs and things bookmarked to add, may even have to add a section for crochet blogs! Dot's (as well as many others) is also included- I love your patterns!!! What was that I heard?? That you've been stopping by without leaving a comment?? Why how dare you- that's grounds for a free Pattern from you!!!! Oh wait, your patterns are all free.... Oh well since you fessed up I guess I'll let ya get by with it. ;o) Thanks for stopping by!

Oh well I'm off to crochet something and maybe a short nap before supper- was up late last night waiting for Scott to call since his sugar was off again. I don't mind staying up if it means I know he's OK but I'm worn out!!

Thanks everyone for stopping by- Stay tuned for the next episode.....

No comments and Crochetville

Hmm lot of people been checking in but they leave comments on private email or other places.... which means I can't tell who's actually been here. If you stop by, please leave me a comment, and not an anonymous one please... at least use your first name, crochetville name, email address or something. I'm not going to look you up and kill you or anything, I'd just like to know who's been here. If you have left a comment, thanks for stopping by and letting me know you were here! I love visitors! I love comments with names attached to them too... pretty please?

Which reminds me.... OH SARAAAAAA, WHERE ARE YOU???? Been a while since you commented here or updated your blog. Hope everything's OK!! Drop us a line!

Haven't gotten much accomplished today- been more of a day relaxing. My ankle is still pretty sore so been mostly at the puter or other around the house all day. Guess I must have sprained it a little more than I thought. Not much swelling, just a little, but it's got a wierd bruising pattern on it and pretty sore. Funny thing is it's more sore when I stay off of it than when I am up on it. Wierd. So I've Done a lot of reading and posting on Crochetville. Also some actual crocheting itself too.

Nothing new to report but about to start a mystery project *grin*. That means I'm designing something but not gonna tell til it's done. That means all ya copycats out there will just have to die of suspense. Ain't I sneaky???? Only hint: Yes it's crocheted, and has to do with the small 1.2oz ball of yarn I have tried to figure out what to do with. Actually I may have to put some with it but....

I have a cat chasing me smacking at my legs every time I get up for a drink or to go to the bathroom... she's in some kind of wacky mood tonight. Just gave her a rattle ball to play with... maybe that'll keep her occupied.

Well for the moment I'm hungry.. sandwich I had for dinner wasn't much count so I'm going to fix me some spaghetti. Ciao!

Sore ankle and relaxing for a bit

I'm doing a lot of relaxing today. Only form of actual work was spending a couple of hours at the house setting up my antique bed in our guest bedroom. And Scott did most of that, I just touched up a couple of scratches on it and polished it up good. Will try to get pics up later- it's beautiful.

Yard Sale did OK for a half-day sale. I love my aunt but she knows nothing about Yard sales. Only made a little $$ but got rid of a lot of little stuff. People weren't hunting good stuff, they were looking for 10-50 cent junk or trying to get you to take 50 cents for everything. I'm going to have a couple of my own yard sales- one this next weekend in my garage at home and maybe a couple more. I always do better here at home than I do going in with someone on a yard sale, and it's a lot less work.

Tonight I'm relaxing messing with puter, blog, crocheting on my teardrop granny square ghan (another of my many WIP's) and nursing a sore ankle. Nothing major I don't think, just twisted it enough to make it sore and swell a little bit. Doesn't really hurt to walk, just pains me some when I get off of it and sitting still with it up etc.

Actually Whirlwind Carson was pretty good for him during the yard sale. My uncle got tired of fooling with him (you know how men are- the leave me alone with the tv stage) so we wound up watching him and the yard sale at the same time. He was talking to just about everyone that came up.

I've got to share a bit of 4 year old humor.... I'd have had to have killed him if it'd been my kid... but he disappeared on us for a few minutes while we were busy with a couple customers. The customer left and we couldn't find him. Apparently about the time I went around back looking for him he came around front from the other side of the house. When I saw he wasn't in the back yard I went back to the front, and he had just walked up to Mom and Marsha. They were fussing at him for walking off and I asked him "Where were you anyway all by yourself?" He innocently replied "I went out back- I had to pee." ROFL Crazy kid!!! We were sitting there trying to keep from laughing and refrain from spanking him for walking off. *Shakes head* I honestly don't know what we're gonna do with him.

Anyway I think I'm about to go soak my foot in the bathtub for a while. Hair needs washing but it can wait til morning- don't feel like standing in the shower at the moment. With any luck maybe I can get this teardrop granny lapghan done in the next couple of days. I want to start Dot's (Bythehook) gentle ripples poncho pattern. I plan on putting that on my wim's and adding her link to blogs along with some others soon as I update. Not right this minute though... my ankle hurts so I'm headed for a nice warm bath and some relaxation!! *blows bubbles*

Gift Registries and House

No time for crocheting so far today, been busy running here and there trying to do last minute gift registries before my first shower next Sunday. I already had a small online registry at Kohls.com but our store didn't open til this week. Since today was their grand opening we went to check it out and I found some matching stuff to go along with my Waechtersbach (I hope I spelled that right) red dishes that they didn't carry at Linens N things. Most of my registry is at lnt.com but there is some at Wal-mart.com too. I figure people will shop a variety of places, since everyone has different tastes.

Also went up to the house for a couple of hours and only thing I really got done was collected some more dishes and things from the kitchen that are going in the Yard Sale this Saturday. I really hope it isn't too early for this yard sale- I desperately need some stuff out of my way. Not to mention some cash for it wouldn't hurt either. So my uncle is going to have to keep an eye on Carson instead of me so I can tend to yard sale items.

Gonna have to run see what else needs to be dug out.... the sooner I can get rid of more stuff from here as well as the house up there, the better. Wish I didn't have to but no way is that house big enough for it all, plus I will be getting new stuff of some of it. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll get a little time for crocheting in tonight. That pastel stripes blanket is just begging to be finished although I have a feeling it won't get finished this next week. Maybe in the next month the way things are going....

More crochet and cleaning out chaos

Mostly Chaos.

I've got several last minute (or more like month before) preparations that need to be finalized soon and can't seem to get any peace around here long enough to get them done. I've still got to see about my flower girls' dresses hopefully next weekend, and get my bridesmaids' dresses finished. Actually two of the girls have got to get measured still- two down two to go. This has been the slowest going thing of the whole thing- getting the flower girls' and bridesmaids' dresses. Got to see about some music too if I want any music to walk down the aisle to. I've got some music I can use (it has to be acapella) but it isn't really what I want to use. We'll see what I can come up with. Still looking at music.

Been doing MORE cleaning out.... I swear I'll never get through everything I've got much less get it all moved. At least we're making a little leeway in the house where I can get to what will be my craft room closet. Hard to do with a bed/mattress/springs sitting in front of it. That's about to be moved too.

Now comes the fun part... moving what I have gotten to. Or getting rid of... and very little of my yarn/fabric/craft stuff is being gotten rid of. I just dread sorting the rest of it, and the rest of what I've got.

Amid all this griping today did I really get anything useful done? Not really. It's been more of a day of trying to avoid my mother's nonsense (that's not the word but I can't think of one that would be decent to put on here) about the wedding, visited with my grandmother for a little while, and generally not getting much useful done except for some crocheting and computer stuff.

So if I want anything else out of the house up at Calvert to go in the yard sale I better get my butt up there and get it. Still got a few dishes etc. to go yet. I don't know if it'll be worth dragging to my aunt's or not but I'm planning on having a sale here either the next weekend or the next depending on weather etc.

I'm having my first small shower not this Saturday but next and I am determined to get some cleaning out done on the house before then. Both houses. Mom's already been nagging but that's something I won't get into. Anyone wanna buy an extra mother, at least til the wedding's over?? Actually I'd pay you to take her til then.... she's driving me nuts!

Hopefully this weekend I can get the bedroom painted and the antique bed moved. Well, the OTHER bedroom that is. Most of it is already painted, just the back bedroom and hall haven't been yet. I figure if we don't get it painted now we'll just have to work around it later.

Well, enough rambling... I'm going to bed as soon as Scott calls. Night all! I leave you with a picture of another of my creations... my Preemie Onesie.

With Ewe in Mind

That's the name of the Local Yarn Shop I was at this morning. Had heard about it from some friends so decided to check it out while mom was in the eye Dr's. They had some really nice yarns, mostly designer and all pricey. I was drooling but then came to my senses: I don't use stuff like this every day and my bank acct. isn't in the shape right now to pay that kind of $$ for yarn. Oh well maybe one day I'll find a really special project as an excuse to go shopping in there. As if I need more yarn...

Working some more on my pastel stripes afghan... I'd really like to get some more projects out of the way and if I'm going to use this one as a gift I want to get it ready in time for shower/delivery (not sure just when that is yet but looks like it isn't going to be too long). Mom managed to hide my hook I needed from me so took me forever to get started on it. MOTHERS!!! Especially ones that don't understand crochet.

I've also been fighting a runny nose from sinus/allergy all evening so I'm sitting here with afghan project, kleenex and germ-x. Made a big mistake at supper and I'm paying for it.... had a piece of apple pie and it was wonderful but they had cinnamon in it which I'm highly allergic to so like I said my eyes, nose, etc. are giving me a fit right now. Oh well, I'll live and should have known better. I figured since it was sugar free (I'm type 2 diabetic so have to watch sugar) it would be OK but didn't think about the cinnamon til I tasted it. Then like an idiot I went ahead and ate it anyway. Sometimes it won't bother me if it's just a little but this was more than a little and my nose is running like a sugar tree.

Finally got the bed fixed up at the house.... the dang bedrails had bowed since we lost the center support on them so we had to fix them and get a new center support. At least the mattress isn't going to fall in now. Now maybe I can get the back bedroom painted and the other antique bed set up in there this weekend. I bought this antique bed from a friend of ours, it's a dark mahogany color and beautiful. Around 100 years old and in beautiful shape. She's 67 or so and it wasn't her mother's but her GRANDMOTHER's when her grandmother married. Will post pics when I get it up. Really pretty. Will be our guest bed along with a sewing machine table that belonged to my grandparents as a nightstand. The two don't match exactly but are close enough to be pretty together I think.

Well seeing as it's almost 5am I'm going to try to work on my afghan for a bit then hit the sack for a few hours. I'm sure I'll get dragged up early again as this is Mom's hair day. No, I don't have to get up but if I don't I'll wind up waking up starving later, and don't have any extra cash at the moment to go out for breakfast myself. Of course there's no decent breakfast food here- just mostly snack stuff since we hardly cook at home. This is a self-serve kitchen- if you're hungry you serve yourself if you can find any food that is.

*Ugh* And someone kick me next time I voluntarily consume cinnamon when I know better.

Relaxing for the moment....

Hey Everyone,

First I have to thank Sara for your sweet comments here and on your blog. You're a really sweet and talented person and I really enjoy your blog and company!

Finally got some time to relax and spending some time on ME for a change. Did a little yard sale stuff (Hey there's tons of it) and ran with Scott to pick up some stuff for him at Wal-mart this afternoon, my dad grilled some hamburgers here for supper and been pretty much relaxing and crocheting or watching tv or computering ever since.

Been working some on my pastel stripes afghan tonight and surfing looking at some new blogs, mostly crochet related. I popped in Susie Luchsinger, My Gospel Hymnal. Andy Griffith would be next except I'm too lazy to go upstairs to get the CD. The pastel stripes will probably go to our Youth minister and his wife at church, just found out they're expecting a baby soon and I'm almost gonna HAVE to start another baby ghan for a friend of ours' grandbaby. Found out it's gonna be a little girl. I'm thinking a baby round ripple... I've got a really nice commercial pattern for one that looks better than the ones I've seen online. Unless of course I find something in the meantime I like better.

In the meantime here's a picture of the Pastel Stripes afghan:



Not finished of course but there's what's done of it. Really cute and a pattern I don't have to rack my brain to work on.

Kind of waiting for Scott to call on lunch and deciding if I actually want to go to bed early and get some sleep or stay up and play/get some stuff done while I have some peaceful time to myself. Mom has a danged appt. at 11 tomorrow so I have a choice: either get dragged out of bed early and get breakfast, or sleep in til they get back and wake up starving. I hate mornings.... wish they'd outlaw the time before 11:30am. As if that isn't plenty early. I think I'm going to love life with Scott... he goes to work at about 7-9pm depending... gets off about 3-5am (about the time I go to bed anyway), sleeps til about noon and you can't get the man in a hurry for anything much less have him rush ME or hurry ME to get up. And I thought *I* was hard to get up once I'm asleep....

Scott is feeling a little better, his blood sugar is a little more stable; we're just having to really watch it. We did get the bed moved into the main bedroom from the back bedroom this weekend but didn't get it put back together good and it just about fell in on him this morning, poor thing! So he had my dad help him fix the piece that was bent on it and got it back together tonight before he left for work. I've been clearing out MORE of Grandma's stuff that we aren't keeping or were only keeping til we got our own stuff. That house was stuffed FULL! Gonna take me forever to clear it out much less clear out my own stuff to move. I shoulda started this the minute we got engaged.... if I'd only known.....

OK going back to crocheting, I'm fighting not to start on a design that's burning a hole in my mind, but this afghan has GOT to get started first. Design is a baby toy, won't take long but working it up will take away from my other projects. If you know of another crocheter, please do send them over. If they have a blog, let me know that too- I love exploring new ones!

Exhausted....

I've been going through more yard sale stuff, caught a nap after church today but I'm still worn out. Got up sleepy and with a headache this morning and I've pretty much had it all day. Probably worn out from staying up most of the weekend keeping an eye on Scott.

He's doing a little better and gone to work tonight so I plan on going to bed soon as I post this, making a few crochet stitches on my Pastel Stripes blanket and waiting for him to call at break and let me know how his sugar's running.

Since I really don't feel good I'm gonna cut this short and post more later. Night all!

Yard Sale, Scott, etc.

I've been busy clearing out junk for the first of several yard sales. My aunt is having one next Sat. and I'm putting a few things in. This will be a start in getting rid of what I'm not taking with me. I don't think of myself as a packrat, and I don't keep everything but I'd hate to imagine if I did. Now Scott on the other hand.... HE'S A PACKRAT!!

Taking a break at the moment working on one of my many WIP's. Sara was right.. you CAN have way too many WIP's. You all don't even wanna know about the WIPs I found in bags, boxes etc. while cleaning out the craft/junk/sewing room. Not to mention the materials, both new and half-used that were intended for such. I'm still clearing out, trying desperately to either find room for things or reluctantly give up some of it. I thought I had tons of room in the house, and it has HUGE walk-in closets. That was before I started trying to move about half of my stuff in. I've got stuff on top of stuff with more stuff coming out my ears.

Scott is doing some better today with his blood sugar, but I'm still almost afraid to take my eye off of him for more than a few minutes. His sugar's been pretty stable today but that doesn't mean it'll stay that way. I can only hope and pray it does.

He had a Dr's appt Friday and instead of the Dr. they sent in this idiot nurse practitioner that wouldn't know a diabetic from a hypoglycemic. Anyway she had him cut one type of insulin and keep the other the same. He ate some pasta for lunch which should have drove his sugar sky high, then took his shots as she told him. Instead of keeping his sugar at a safe level it sent it straight in a downward spiral again. We finally got it back up to halfway normal but it's been a fight til this morning to keep it that way. It finally got high again this morning when his long acting shot wore off. Good thing when I called back that dang woman was gone for the weekend... I might have had to turn into the Boston Strangler. I'm no Dr. or expert on insulin but I told her in the first place which insulin was knocking his sugar down, and she ignored me and told him to cut the other one. I know one thing- he WON'T be seeing her again- if the Dr. can't find time to see him we'll find one that does. At least he's stable for right now.

So while he's sleeping in the next room and OK for the moment I'm trying to catch up on some things I've missed last couple days while trying to watch him like a hawk. My blog and computer work had to be put on hold for a couple days too so I am behind there.

I'm going to try to follow Sara's lead and get at least some of my WIP's done this month. BUT I won't say I won't do anything new cause I know as soon as I say it I'll start something. I do have an idea for a design in mind but it will depend on how time goes. Some stuff really needs to be gotten out of the way first.

I'm going to run for now- gotta get a shower and get all clean for church in the morning. Don't forget to set your clocks forward before you go to bed! Don't want to be late for church! Thank you to everyone for your prayers, thoughts and comments about Scott- please keep them coming.

Prayers and updates

First tonight (or this morning, whichever you'd like to call it) I'd like to ask you to keep my fiancee Scott in your prayers. He's a strictly insulin dependent diabetic and his blood sugar has gone haywire the last week or so. Please pray that he gets it under control. He has a Dr's appt in the morning- hopefully we will find out something.

While I'm waiting for him to call from work on his lunch hour I'm working on one of my WIP's (I should be going thru and moving or getting rid of stuff). I'm working on #2 Pastel Stripes from the LA booklet Make One For Baby. Really pretty and good for a boy or girl either one. Dunno where this one will go, maybe for a friend of ours or maybe for Charity. Haven't decided what to do for our friends yet, and don't know what they're having yet so this might be perfect. We'll see... then again I might do something gender specific.

Was gonna go get some stuff done at the house today but that was cut short by another episode of Scott's blood sugar bottoming out on him so wound up keeping an eye on him all afternoon. Main thing I need to do right now is get some stuff together at this house and that one for the first of many yard/garage sales this summer. I gotta either move everything I got or get rid of it. My aunt is having one not this Saturday but next so I'm gonna start by putting some stuff in there. Then hopefully the next weekend I'm gonna try to have one of my own. Will depend on how much stuff I have ready to get rid of and the weather.

Need to also go by my booth tomorrow and go by the newspaper office to pick up my picture from the engagement announcement, then to the Post office. Going out this time: a box of yarn scraps and a UFO to be finished for Love Afghans 4 PRR, and a Yarn Angel package for someone on YarnExchange.

Lot to do tomorrow so soon as Scott calls and I know he's OK I'm going to bed.