Let's Try This Again...

This is the post I tried to do yesterday but it disappeared... Here is the Pride Square I started for the family on Pine Ridge who lost their little boy from a tornado that ripped through there. Right after they got blasted with two feet of snow. :( I don't know any more than that, but that's sad enough. Well the stupid square is 16", not twelve. So now I don't know what I'll do with it. Probably make an afghan out of it or a lapghan. (Which now adds to my pile of UFO's....) Sigh.... Or, I could donate it to someone who collects all sizes of squares, if I wanted.
Here is a twelve inch 'square' that really is twelve inches. Hmmm... it's not really a 'pattern.' It is a pattern stitch, called the Catherine Wheel IV. I made a similar 'square' with 'Catherine Wheel'; it's just a little different. I made it 8" to go with a square (scroll down, second to last picture) my secret pal sent me to donate. The only difference I can see, is; there are more stitches in each 'wheel' for this one. And it doesn't lay as flat. I like the first one better. Well now I am working on my toys for the toy swap and nothing else until I am finished with them. GRRR! I think the hardest one is this Hello Kitty doll. I'm sure once I'm done with it it will be smooth sailing from there. I'm on the embroidery part of the face. This has got to be the hardest part for me. I always mess up embroidery on toys... I'll post a picture after I mail them out and know the recipient recieved them... :)

Has the computer world gone mad?

I just did a lengthy post with pictures and links. Then when I clicked on 'Publish Post' it said 'you must sign in before proceeding...' and I lost everything. GRR!!!! Then, when I go to Crochetville and log in, it takes me directly back to the log in page... What the heck is going on?? Maybe I'll just go crochet. As far as I know nothings changed with that...

I got a postcard from my brother and his new wife from Waikiki, Hawaii. They went on their honeymoon there. I have never ever been to Hawaii. Probably because I don't like to fly. Maybe some day when the kids are grown and moved out we can travel...
Here's a square I'm working on. It's called the Pride Square. I'm making it for a family who lost their son when a tornado ripped through Pine Ridge. (Right after they got blasted with two feet of snow.) I think I may have to make another one, this one is already 9 inches wide at row 7. It's 'supposed' to be 6". Guess a size I hook is too big. I think that's the most irritating part about making 12" squares. (Or any size square for that matter.) They never turn out to be the right size. At least for me, anyway. I should be working on toys for the toy swap. I don't even want to think about it, though. I am almost done with the Hello Kitty body. I just need the motivation to pick it up and finish it. I hope the other toys aren't this bad.... Well I should go get dinner going.

Moved Again

Well we are all moved in to our new place. I feel almost human again. I'm so glad to be out of that house. Now all I have to do is clean and be out of there before she gets back on Monday. All I have to do is clean our bathroom and wipe up the kitchen sink and clean out the freezer. I don't know why I should bother, it isn't like it was clean when we moved in, and it isn't like SHE is going to clean it when she moves out. But, maybe it's because I'm the only decent person here. We'll drive up and give our keys to the landlord, and whatever she does (not pay rent) is her problem. She hasn't paid her part of the rent for two months. Plus the first month she said she would 'catch up on over the months'... Now she says she is going to catch up with him (the landlord) when she gets back. If she doesn't have the money to send in a check now how would she be able to 'catch up'? The whole time she was gone, (three months or so) we got calls from some company. I finally said 'What is this for?' 'It's for the Mazda MPV payment' She hadn't paid it in who knows how long... She doesn't pay her rent, she doesn't pay any bills (we also paid her 'overdue' water bill and electric bill from before we even got here...) but she can go travel to Michigan and Texas and do what she wants. And don't get me started on her lies.... Well, anyway... so I am glad to be out of that house, and in our own house. And I am not giving her our phone number. We also got a few new things. A coffee pot. (We had to, I broke ours trying to carry it out, it slipped out of the coffee maker and broke...) The new one is nice, it's a thermal one that keeps your coffee hot without burning it. Then we had to get a new microwave. We got the cheapest one at WalMart. It is ugly, but it works. And, a new tv. That is another thing... Our 'old' tv was fine when we moved there. From three months of living there, the old wiring ruined our tv. Good thing we didn't buy a new microwave and plug it in there. Her old microwave is junk anyway, we just used that. And, we had to buy a shower curtain. We didn't even have one. Except the cobalt blue and yellow one from the kids' old bathroom. Which doesn't 'go' with sage green and burgundy towels... Then I got a new soapdish and toothbrush holder to go with the new shower curtain. And a $1 picture with a $1.97 frame. Woo Hoo. Well that's about it. Oh, and we have highspeed internet now, too. (That's the best thing.) ;p

Some blathering...

Is there such a word?..... Here are some coasters I recently finished. I broke down and bought some variegated thread before my order came, Mimi. ;) I made four of them. I should have taken a better picture, but oh well... This is the only picture I have, though, and they are gone. I sent them to someone in the mail. I used the shells coaster pattern. I am moving on to more challenging projects. I have wanted the Crochet Shrugs pattern for a long time, but have been fighting it. Well last night I went and ordered one from Annie's Attic. I looked at WalMart (they don't have anything... I didn't think they would have it, but since we were there I thought I'd look.) And we were right by Hobby Lobby last night, but it was late and as we drove past it I noticed they looked closed anyway. (It was 8:41 pm. They must close early.) Anyway, it should be coming in the mail soon. And meanwhile I am going to work on finishing the toys for the toy swap. I am getting close to being done on the Hello Kitty toy. It isn't *as* hard as I thought it would be. It's just not a 'real' pattern. And was confusing me. Anyway. I will feel like I have accomplished something when it is done. Then I will only have two toys left. Well that's about all for today. I think I might go over to the new place today, and hang the new shower curtain. And take a few things over.

Look at all the Goodies!

Yesterday my husband called me on the way home from work, and we were talking about (nothing...) 'What are you making for dinner?' 'Food' 'What kind?' 'The kind you eat...' ;p Then he got around to telling me he was at the new house and I had a package there. :) It was from my secret pal! (The one who I was sending things to..) So, after dinner we went back over there and I got it. Inside were all these goodies. The dishcloth, above. She said it was from 'tail ends'. I think it is so cool! I love the two different colors, and the triangles. It reminds me of the knitted 'Idiot's dishcloth'. And, she said it was one of the 200 Crochet Blocks in the book, so I have this pattern! And, look at all the other goodies she sent:
A Moser-Roth package of premium milk chocolate bars! My husband said he doesn't like it. (Yay! I thought...) She also sent a baggy full of little chocolates for the kids. (Which you can see is almost gone.) An adorable little square box tape measure. It's so cute! And, a beautiful pendant bookmark! It's so pretty. I didn't have a chance to really look at it until this morning, and then I noticed....
It is a locket, too! I love it! It is so cool!! Thank you Lene for everything!!!
She also sent a bunny pin but it has been confiscated by the nine year old. (He's the middle child you know...) Don't get me started on that... ;p Thanks so much Lene!!

I'm Going To Be An Aunt (Again)

I just found out this morning that my brother and his wife are expecting their second child. The first thing out of my mouth was not, 'Oh how exciting!', or, 'Oh how nice!'.... the first thing out of my mouth was, 'They can't even handle the one they have now!' She is a little monster. I don't mean that in a 'cute' way, either. She's horrible. And, it isn't her fault. It's theirs. But... it is their lives. The first time she hits or scratches that baby I wonder what will happen. Maybe they will get control of her now. But, I highly doubt it. At least they don't live by me, and won't be asking me to babysit all the time. I know, 'how negative I am'... I don't think I am being negative, I am just being realistic. If you saw how this little girl acts, and how her mother does NOTHING about it. 'Oh she does that' (hit her grandmother, kick her grandmother...) Or watch her pull her mother's hair and the mother says 'I love you..' ???? I don't get it. I would not be hugging my child and saying 'I love you' if the child just pulled my hair. I would be disciplining the child, for wrong behavior. So, you can see I'm not exactly thrilled with the news. Maybe I should report them to Dr. Phil. Or the Nanny. Well I guess that's all I have to say about that... I'm not exactly thrilled with things I"m crocheting , either... I have been crocheting toys for the toy swap. I guess I'm just disgusted with the toy I am working on. I don't 'get' it, and I think I am stressing myself out with everything. (How many more toys I have to do, moving, going on vacation, or not going on vacation, I should say...) Speaking of stressing myself out, I have to go make dinner. So I should get busy... Talk to you soon~~

My Reveal Package Came This Morning!!! :)

Inside it was this beautiful!!! tote messenger bag that my secret pal (who is now revealed- it is Claire!) crocheted. It is a work of art. This picture does not do this bag justice AT all. I hate my camera. It's acting tempermental again. I think it is just a piece of junk. Anyway, there is so much detail on this purse. It is the Bobbling-Along Tote from someone, somewhere in Crochetville. I remember printing the pattern out, a while ago. I have just never gotten around to actually making one. Thank you so much, Claire. It is a beautiful tote. And, inside it was all these goodies!:
A Necco 'Skybar'. I have never had one of these. I don't think I've ever even seen one of these. It was delicious. And, an Almond Joy bar. Boston Baked Beans (I love these!) And Lindt Lindor Truffles!! YUUMMY! Claire also sent a roll of Necco wafers, which the three year old immediately picked up and said, 'These are mine'. I had to take them away after a couple, though. (He hadn't even eaten any breakfast yet..) :) A box of Moroccan Pomegranate Red by Celestial Seasonings!! I have been wanting to try this tea for a long time, but always keep buying the same old tea that I *know* I like. (I also order the same food at the restaurant every time, too. In case you were wondering.) Well I have to break out and try something different don't I? Thank you for helping me to do this. ;p It smells delicious. I am going to make a cup later and sit on the deck and read the 'Yankee' magazine with my tea.
Claire must have read my wish list at Crochetville, because a lot of the things she sent were on my wish list. ;) Like these candy molds! I have never tried making truffles, but Wilton makes it easy. And I love the popsicle molds. Those are my favorite. I think I better go edit my wish list, I think now I have more than enough candy molds. :)
And, last but not least, a skein of Lion 'Baby Soft' yarn. Once again, my camera has messed up. This is not the color of this yarn. It is actually 'Bubble Gum'. Like a hot pink. Just yesterday I almost bought this, for a Hello Kitty doll I am making. But decided to go with the soft pink. Then, you know how it goes, 'Maybe I should have bought the other one...' Well now I have both colors. Even if I don't use it for the Hello Kitty doll, I can use it for something! Thank you so much for everything and for all the hard work you put into the beautiful tote bag. Everything you have sent had a lot of thought put into it, and I love it all. Thank you, Claire! :)

Some Preemie Projects....

April is 'Preemie Protectors' month for the Charity Blitz at Crochetville. So I have been working on things for preemie babies. So far I have finished this preemie afghan. I looked and looked for a soft, simple pattern I could use. Then I remembered one I saw in a magazine I had in Michigan. (Which is still in Michigan.) I tried to remember how to do it. I think I got pretty close. It is a simple sc, ch 1, sc. It turned out 13 inches wide. It used just a little bit of the second skein of yarn.
Then there are these two hats. I can't lie, I've had these done for a while. I just have never sent them in yet. I think I'll do some booties and maybe another afghan. I don't know. I am also working on toys for the small toys swap. Right now I am working on Reecie's turtle. It's amigurumi. But it's little. For some reason crocheting tight like that really hurts my fingers. I'm probably going to end up with arthiritis. Anyway, I'm still kinda just waiting to see who I'll get paired up with so I'll know what to make. I swear I am not joining another swap after this. I don't know why I keep doing it. It's like an addiction with me or something. Speaking of swaps.... I mailed off my last package, my 'Reveal' package, to my secret pal. Even though she knows who I am since about the first week. So it's not really a 'reveal' package. And, I have one more package to mail to one of my elders this month then I will be done. (For April, anyway...) :p

Barbie Paloma's Poncho

Remember Paloma's Poncho? Well I have made up a matching Barbie poncho. You can find the pattern here. Since the poncho pattern was free, the matching Barbie poncho will be free, too. It is not to be sold on ebay or any other way. I am sending this poncho and matching Barbie poncho to the grand daughter of one of my elders on Pine Ridge. She is raising her and another grandson. And the grand daughter likes Barbies, so I thought this would be cute.