Semi-Family Reunion

Let's see if I can catch up some on my blog... This was actually the Saturday before Christmas. My sister (woman on the left) and her husband were driving down to Florida for a vacation. And my Mom got a ride with them to stay here. She is the woman next to my sister (between my sister and me). Then my brother is the guy on the very right, and his wife. So we had a "Semi" Family Reunion. Only three of the kids. And my step dad isn't there. It's been about four years since I saw my sister. I stayed with them when I went to Michigan for my Grandma's funeral.  Two years since I saw my Mom when she came to stay with us in Nevada. I don't even know how long it's been since I saw Nate. Oh yeah, when I came to Tennessee to stay with my Mom. I don't know... I think that was six years ago.  I can't keep track.. I know Gavin was just about 18 months or so? And Eon was five almost six.. So it had to be about six years.

The kids, and Porter (my sister's dog).  Not a very good picture. :( And I took it... (sigh)  And Eli took the picture of all of us.  He did a way better job.

I was in charge of desserts. I made a New York Cheesecake. First time I've ever made one. I did half cherry, half strawberry topping. Everyone loved it.  I don't remember the exact recipe I used for this. But, I do know it used four eight ounce blocks of cream cheese. :0



I also made my go-to (when I have chocolate chips) brownies recipe. Speedy Brownies.  I also made chocolate chip cookies.

This is Porter. He is an Australian Shepard. He's such a good boy! I want to trade one of my dogs for him. (Jetta). 



Eon, Gavin and Porter. Not in that order. :P

Christmas Pictures

Here's our tree... :)

I hung their stockings on their doorknobs, since we don't have a fireplace/mantle anymore. I didn't have energy or the money to try and find anything else, either.

On the tags, where it says "To:", I wrote "The Bear" on some of them. (Long story.. :P)  So Eon went and got The Bear. (Even though this isn't technically the Original Bear..)  :)

Eli opening his slippers I knitted him.

Duke checking out his stocking.

Oops, I meant to post the one of the ball I got Jetta. This was a chew toy I got Duke (which he won't even touch..).  I got Jetta an "indestructable" ball. Which, Duke immediately took away from her and destructed!! Brat!.

Eon in his Santa hat and Elf Slippers. :D

Close-up of the slippers on his feet. They're a little bit big. But that's okay. Room to grow. :D

Eli wearing his slippers.

Steve wearing his..

And I even made myself a pair. Nana Slippers pattern. It's a free Ravelry download. My neice is learning how to crochet. I might show her this pattern. When we went to their house (I still have to post pictures of that..) her Mom showed me a hat she had done on a loom, that my neice kept putting on her foot since it turned out too small for a hat. :P 

Cleaning Closet(s)..

One of the things about moving here is we went from a four bedroom (huge kitchen with plenty of cupboards and counter space, too; I might add) to a three bedroom. And the bedrooms are too small. (So are the closets..)  Our bedroom is layed out so stupid. There's three closets in the bedroom. One is technically in the bathroom-which I don't understand. Why not just make the closet in the bedroom a lot bigger (The adjoining wall is in between the bedroom closet and the bathroom closet)? Then you could eliminate the second closet in the bedroom (which is the stupidest one), and also make the bedroom big enough?  Anyway, I have been trying to cram a whole rooms worth of stuff (and I don't even have it all-the rest of it is in storage in Nevada, still!) into two closets.  It's beyond maddening.  And my closet was the one thing that didn't get organized put away, because I kept closing the door to it saying "I'll try and organize it one day.."  Well it finally got to me enough and I started it last night. (Every time I opened the door, I would get so stressed out.. You could not even see the floor.)  This was one side I organized yesterday. 

This was the other side. It was worse than this. Can you see why I got stressed out every time I tried to get anything to wear?... 

Well today I finished it. It's not completely organized, but...  It looks a lot better. I put my dirty clothes (hand wash) basket in the bathroom closet. (It's pretty empty. ) I don't know what I'm going to do when we get the rest of our stuff. I have two big rubbermade containers, and two more big yarn bins..  I don't have any bookshelves, either. I don't know where I'm going to put all my books. :/       Between that and the new neighbors who just bought the house next door to us (grrrrr!!), I am thinking we might be moving when our lease is up. As much as I hate to move.  :/

Eli's Slippers Are Done!!

With only a minute to spare. Lol These were the last of the slippers I had to knit for Christmas for my guys. I thought I was going to have the rest of this week to finish them (I was almost halfway done with the second one). But then Eli said on Monday, "I'm exempt from attending on Thursday." (Because of his excellent grades and no absences, he didn't have to attend for finals. I called the school to confirm.)  So I thought I would have Tuesday and Wednesday to finish them. (But Tuesday I had a bunch of things to do, so I didn't get to work on them.) Then, Monday when I picked him up, he said he was exempt on Wednesday, too. (Sigh..) I was literally wrapping them, when he woke up.   Fortunately he sleeps until 1:30 or 2, so I locked myself in my room and was able to finish them. Woo Hoo!!

I have been so busy crocheting and knitting my fingers off.  I just sent a box today to the Pine Ridge OB Ward. This is a set that I sent (among other things..)  I used the Sue's No-Holes Hexagon Sweater (like the Hexagon Sweater I have done, but no holes..) I just made each hexagon four inches wide to make it a newborn size.  The hat, I started out with one pattern, then switched to a different one. I wish I had written down what I did, because I really like that hat. The mittens are my own pattern. The booties are the SLK Booties pattern. I like those.  
ETA: I did write down what I did for the hat! (Yay, because I am making another one right now..  :D )  It is Bev's Preemie/Newborn Hat in the Round. (The largest size -13".) I just did the band like the Lion Brand Preemie hat, which is chain 11 (then do the rest just like the pattern says). Then, do the rest of the pattern just like it says. I did until the hat measures 4" from the band part, though. Not from the beginning. That way I can turn it up. (Actually, I did 4.5" from the band for this hat.. But I also think that hat was a little bit too big for what the OB unit likes for a newborn size. So I am going by the pattern from now on.)   ;)

Some headbands I made for a friend. Actually, another friend asked me if I could make her daughter some. She posted a picture on facebook. I asked her where she saw the picture (Pinterest). So I did a search on Pinterest, and couldn't find anything like it. So I asked her if she could "like" the picture, on Pinterest, so I could see if there was an available pattern. And there was. Woo Hoo!! (Oops, it looks like it is temporarily sold out. But, it is called Bow Ear Warmer- here's my Pin.) It technically isn't a headband pattern (which is why I probably couldn't find it, since I was typing in "headband"..). It's an ear warmer pattern.  These are for the friend who originally asked me to make some. Then, I made two for another friend who I've made headbands for her daughter in the past. Hers were orange, and pink. But I forgot to get a picture of them before I packaged them all up. :(

Then I made two for another friends' daughter. Mailed the last two packages out today.

And, another Christmas present (same people/family as the ear warmers..) done. More Minion Slippers.

And a booties/mitts set (same pattern as the booties/mitts above)

And, a snowman card I made one day when Eon had a snow day. We did Arts & Crafts. :D  It's been a long time since we have done that. He made a folded "book" (?) with a picture of Santa in it. He folded about four different pieces of card stock (Christmas colors) and glued them all together. Then put the picture of Santa in the middle.  I thought, "Oh that would be cool to make a card like that.." Mine was off-centered, though. I made a snowman scene. Nothing big.

Eons' Elf Slippers

...are done! :D  I finished them Friday. I didn't think I would be able to work on them all weekend. But Eon slept so late on Friday (he was home sick), that I was actually able to finish them. Yay! I wasn't able to take a picture until today, though. :P I also finished a baby hat, booties, and mittens set for the OB Ward. I took a picture but I can't seem to find it on my computer. :/   

I had an interview this morning at the high school, for a cafeteria job. I am so excited!! I won't know until Wednesday if I am hired or not, but she said she was impressed. (She has a couple more interviews to do.) She said to not give up, if I don't get a call on Wednesday, because they always have something opening.   

I am going to get started on slippers for Eli now.  Have a great day. :D

Eons' Elf Slippers Progress

They aren't done yet, but getting close! It's kind of hard to work on them the last two days Eon has been home sick (again). I don't know if it's his allergies, or if he is sick. :(  Hate not having a pediatrician/doctor in a new place..   I do have the fringe almost done. I am on the third one (you have to make four-two for each slipper.)  I guess I could work on Steve's Balaclava..

Elf Set

After failing at the knitted longies, I decided to try a crocheted pair. I had been wanting to do them forever, too. WOW, SO much faster. I almost finished the whole body plus one leg, just sitting in car pool. I finished the pants in one day. And the Elfin Booties, too.  The hat is actually the Santa Baby Hat from Christmas in Crochet issue of Crochet World, from this year. I wanted to make a little outfit for the onesie..   The pants are Baby Breeches by Carrie Piper. It's a free Ravelry download.

Now back to slippers... :)

Grinch Pills and Snowman Kisses

I finally finished all of them. (My version of them, anyway.) I didn't do the distressing ink around the edges of the Grinch part. Because I don't have any distressing ink in green, or anything to put the ink on with. I just made the Grinch Pill case just like the snowman kisses ones, but I measured it to be 5 1/2" x 3 1/2", and measured 2 1/4" from each edge to make the score lines. (For the folds.)  So far, these are the only stocking stuffers I have for them. :/   Less than 30 days until Christmas Yikes~ Only 29 days left.. 

Snowman Kisses
Grinch Pills
 

Accidental Baby Afghan Is Done

All done. I think I will run it through the washer and dryer; just to get any stray dog hairs floating around..

I started a pair of longies, too. I have NO idea what I am doing... So. I hope they turn out. They look super tiny. I was on gauge though. I bought a long sleeved "My First Christmas" onesie. (I am making these to go with it.) I measured it across and it only measures 5 1/4". So maybe I am doing it right. Who knows. I want to go measure a pair of newborn pants, next time I go to Walmart; to see. I wish I could just buy some.. But. You know that little thing called lack of money. ;)  Plus I need to save what I have to be able to send the box. :)    

Oh, I finished one of Eons' slippers (except the sewing up and putting the cuff on). I just haven't taken any pictures. I only have two days to work on them this week. So I am *hoping* to do nothing but knit!

Secret Project #3

I think I mentioned before, I'm knitting Eon some Elf Slippers (scroll down to the elf slippers pattern) for Christmas. I have five more ridges to go, then I start on the dpn part (I think?).   I had originally bought this yarn for a Minecraft Creeper. But then I found out Eon didn't want one.  I thought it might work for some Elf Slippers. I'm going to make the cuff in red.

Square #2 is Done..

It didn't turn out as hideous as I thought it was going to. I am more than halfway done with square #3, too. I am having serious "Startitis", too. I want to start about two or three more projects right now. I bought the Cloudy Sunday vest pattern yesterday, and printed it out. I LOVE this vest! I also want to start a cowl. And I want to start a baby bunting or sleep sack.  But I am forcing myself to finish what I have started. :(  See how fast I make progress, though; working on one thing at a time?  (Trying to give myself a pep talk, here..) :P

Awww...  A Kodak Moment..   Now they both want up on the couch. But they both STINK!!! So I put my (nice) afghan I made for my husband down. (Which, coincidentally; I just washed. Grrr...)  Better than the couch stinking though.

The Accidental Baby Ghan Progress...

Square #1 is done. I was going to just keep going with it, but after reading Paula's comment about just making squares, I thought.. "That does sound like a better idea."  (I had thought of that, but was going to just do one big one..) But: 1. I can use up all the little odds and ends you can see here in the picture. And, 2. I am already getting tired of how long each round is taking. Lol    I started a second square- you can see it in the picture. This one is turning out kind of hideous. :(   Maybe once I get it all done and put together, it won't be so bad.  I thought since I have such a big skein of the darker turqoise, I would edge all the squares in that color so when I sew them together, it will all be the same color.

Scrap Granny Baby Ghan

When I first started the Baby Hexagon Sweater (No-Holes), I accidentally started making a granny square. The middle part is as far as I got before I realized I was supposed to be doing a Hexagon..  O.o  So I just finished off, and thought, "Maybe I'll make a baby afghan with it.."  And...  I started one. I'm just trying to used up scrap yarns. None of them seem to go together. And I don't have much selection. Wish I had the rest of my yarn with me. :(   I am enlisting Eons' help. When I get to the end of one color, I have been asking him, "What color should I do next?" So far it measures 18 inches across. So... Only 22 more inches to go. :)

Slippers and a Scarf and Hat Set

My husbands' slippers are one, and wrapped and ready for Christmas.They have been done for a few days, just haven't posted about them til now. I also started a pair of Elf Slippers, for Eon.  I really wanted to knit the Elf Shoes, but I could not wrap my brain around them for some reason. Having real scatterbrain issues right now. So unless it is simple enough for a brain dead knitter (like me)... Yesterday I (almost) finished two Snowman Kisses Tic-Tac Holders (?); for stocking stuffers for the boys.  I am making a Grinch Pills one for my husband.  I am having a hard time finding any green Tic Tacs, though..  :/  I found some light green ones yesterday (but I didn't buy them). 

Here is a hat/scarf/gloves set ready to go to Pine Ridge for the Elders for CFAC.  I had some Red Heart Soft left from my Mom's bag; so I did the hat. (Just like mine- last picture of that post. Except next time I will use a bigger sized hook, and do the extra rows like I did for mine- this hat is a litttle bit tight.)  Then I tried to find orange gloves to go with it. All I could find were brown ones with an orange bow. So I got those. Then I saw a scarf that my SIL liked in a picture of two little girls on facebook. They both had scarves on, grey and off white. I loved their scarves and sat there trying to figure out how she made them.  Well, I don't know if this is how she did it, but this is what I came up with. :P  I started with the orange until I ran out. Then I did tan. Then since the gloves are brown and orange, I did the brown.   This is how I did the scarf. Pretty basic.

H hook
Worsted weight yarn
Chained 36 (?) Dc in fourth chain from hook and in each chain across.  Ch 3 turn.
Row 2: Dc in BLO in each dc across. Ch 3, turn. Repeat row 2 until your scarf is long enough. 

I used a smaller weight worsted weight for this one, so I might chain less for regular worsted weight. I don't know. It measures eight inches across, exactly.  This was my "Carpool Project"; while I sat in car pool waiting for Eon.  I got SO sick of it, but...  Now I'm going to start another one. LOL  In grey and Aran Fleck (or mayble in Buff Fleck). Like the original ones I saw. :D

Happy Veterans Day

...a day late. This is a picture of my Dad. He served over in Germany during Vietnam.  Yesterday Eons' school had a Veterans Day Program. Parents were invited to attend, so I went.

Not a very good picture of the screen. It says "Thank You Veterans".  They also showed all the pictures of Veterans that students (or faculty/staff) brought in. I only saw a thumbnail of my Dad, but Eon said they did show a big shot of him. I must have missed it. :(   My phone was dead (of course, only would happen to me..)  I didn't think to charge it up before I left. I had to go out to the truck, plug it in and wait. Then I went back in to get more pictures, after the program..

The Hero Wall. :)

My Dads picture beside other heros.

A table set up in remembrance..

It was a wonderful program. I almost didn't go. But I'm glad I did. The students did a wonderful job! The band played a lot of songs, the choir sung several songs. It was so beautiful. I almost cried a couple times.  At the end of the program, the band played all the songs for each division (?) of armed forces. Ie: The song for the Army, the song for the Navy, etc..  While each song was playing, if any of the audience was a member of that group, they all stood up.   They never had anything like that in Nevada. They didn't even have auditioriums in the schools in Nevada.   

A day late, but.. Better than never.  :P 
Happy 11-12-13.

Done, Done, and Half Done.. :P

I finally made some of Paula's Pulled Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches, yesterday. :D   (Not the greatest pictures... sorry..)  I used five chicken breasts, and did the broth like Paula does.  I was a little worried about using a whole cup of hot sauce, thinking; "That is going to be way too hot." But it wasn't.  I think everyone loved them. (I can barely get a reaction- or even a yes or no out of my husband or the the teenager, sometimes. But they have their "tells".)   ;)  

I also made dessert yesterday, too. I saw some of these on a Ravelry group I am in (Knit and Bake Group.)  So I googled recipes, and made some Millionaire Shortbread Bars. They are done in layers, like the Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars. 

Side view. I thought they were going to be different. I don't know what I thought. I guess I was thinking a Twix candy bar, since on the site it says "Like Twix on steroids"..  But, they were good. My chocolate did not harden. Maybe it is today. But they were in the fridge for a few hours last night before we ate them, and the chocolate still wasn't hard. 

My Secret Project #2 is half way done. :)  Besides making dessert and the Chicken yesterday, I finished one slipper. I also printed out some Grinch Pill labels- I'm going to make one for my husbands' stocking; since he is a Grump. (Eli helped me print the label out, I kept getting the last line cut off.)  And found another design I want to do for the kids' stockings. Snowman Kisses pills (?). I was going to do Snowman Poop. But... I like the Snowman Kisses better.  (Plus, I am not able to print out the download for the Snowman Poop ones... Don't know what's up with that, but after reading some of the comments, it seems it isn't just me..)