~ A donation from the lovely Kate ~

I'm turning into a video monster.  :)

Kate's blog:
http://sssinthesun.blogspot.com/ 

blanket pattern link:
http://hooksandyarns.blogspot.com/2012/07/round-baby-blanket.html

~ Yarn winder video ~

This yarn winder is called a 'U-nitt TH7065' - I bought it off of Ebay quite a few years ago.  I think I paid around $40.00 for it.  It's one of my favorite toys.  :)

p.s.  I usually don't wind up full skeins - just skeins that I have already worked from.  Instead of having floppy half-used skeins of yarn - I have nice, neat yarn cakes.

~ Two on Tuesday ~

* Found the prettiest crochet flower pattern while searching around Pinterest.  I crocheted one for Bev's hat.  You can find the pattern here:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/autumn-berry-flower 
Here's Bev's hat with the flower - I think it's the perfect touch.

* I made a video!  

(I've noticed that a couple of things are going to take 50 years - that must be one of my favorite sayings)

Have a great day ladies.  :)

~ Moody Monday ~

January 20th - 26th:

20th - happy
21st - productive/creative
22nd - I'm ok/content
23rd - irritated/grouchy (cable man here again)
24th - bored
25th - happy
26th - I'm ok/content

~ a pink day ~

Saturday was a happy day (which will be a pink row in my mood blanket) - my grandson James came over for a visit and brought me a bracelet that he made for me.

He made it with those little tiny rubber bands that are the rage with the kids now.  He's made quite a few other bracelets that he has gifted to other family members and to some little girls at his school.  James loves the little girls.  :)

Vince, me and James went out to run a few errands and we stopped at McDonalds first to get some lunch.  While we were eating, a man came up to us and told us about the shooting at the Columbia Mall.  What a horrible thing to happen - I just don't understand what gets into peoples minds sometimes.  

After lunch we went to AC Moore so I could pick up a skein of Lion Brand Wool-ease chunky yarn.  Erica's soon-to-be mother-in-law Bev asked if I could crochet a hat for her, and wouldn't you know it - I didn't have the color in my stash that she wanted.  No matter - I love going to AC Moore anyway.  I also picked up 3 more bags of the little rubber bands for James.  He really liked that.

Then it was off to the Dollar Tree to pick up a few things, and then to Giant to do some grocery shopping.  I don't like grocery shopping.  Especially when it's crowded.  It's amazing to me how many rude people there are out there.  Irritates me sometimes.

Here's a picture of me and James.  He loves to make silly faces in pictures.  I'm also holding him still a little bit - this little fella is a firecracker.  And I ain't gonna lie - I softened the picture a little bit - sometimes I just don't know where that old lady came from.  :)

       

~ beaded ornament ~

I have had this beaded ornament kit for like 10 years.  I think I bought it from Herrschners or Mary Maxim - one of those mail order companies.  It just sat on my shelf waiting to be put together, and on Thursday I decided to go ahead and finally do it.  I didn't follow the pattern - just did what I wanted to do.  I ended up with a lot of pins and beads left over, so the next time I go to the thrift store I will be on the lookout for some styrofoam ornaments.  They're fun to do.  :)

      

~ baby hats from Linda ~

Look what I got in the mail yesterday for the guardian grandmas:

Aren't they cute?  Tiny little hats to keep tiny little baby heads warm.  They were crocheted and donated by Linda of "Linda's Crafty Corner".  When I opened the package and took each one out, I showed them to Vince and said "look how cute and little they are honey".  He agreed with me.  Then I said "awww - they're so adorable - let's have a baby".  He did not agree with me on that one - just kind of looked at me sideways.  (ya'll know I'm kidding on that anyway - I'm too old to have a baby)    

Thank you so much Linda - you're an angel too.  ♥

~ Moody Monday ~

My progress so far - Jan. 1st through the 19th.  There are a few rows in there that I had to use my scientific method to choose a color.  For instance, this past Saturday I was happy and then grouchy.  What can I say - it happens.  I am glad to see that I have mostly good days though.  :) 

~ what the ? ~

Going into Michaels to see what I could find.  Son Bobby asks me to get some red yarn.  I say "ok, why?".  Bobby then asks me if I could knit him a scarf.  I then ask him in a low growly voice "What.  did.  you.  just.  say?"  "Did you just ask me to 'knit' you a scarf?"  He laughed and said "I meant crochet - crochet!"  I laughed too.  Jeez, my own son.  :)

    

~ guardian grandmas donation ~

My friend Heather from 'At Home on the Meadow' has completed a gorgeous baby blanket that she is going to donate on behalf of the 'guardian grandmas'.  You can read her post about it here:  http://athomeonthemeadow.blogspot.com/2014/01/baby-blanket-complete.html

Thank you so much Heather - you're an angel.  ♥

~ ok - I'm doing it ~

I've decided that I'm going to join in the 'crochet mood blanket 2014'.  (this link is for the facebook page - you'll have to join before you can see the posts).

I first saw it on Trish's blog 'Tales from Trish' - and then I saw it on Holly Louise's blog 'Crafty Holly Louise'.  I've been going back and forth on whether I wanted to join or not, but I finally made up my mind.  I'm gonna do it.  

My blanket will be made of stripes - a sc row, a hdc row and then a dc row.  My moods and colors are:

* happy = pink
* grouchy = lavender
* bored = off-white
* sick/pain = grey
* tired = blue
* I'm ok/content = aqua
* creative/productive = lime
* sad/pensive = yellow

I most likely will feel more than one mood each day, so I will just choose one for that day by using the scientific method of 'eenie, meenie, mynie, moe'.  :)   

I missed the first 2 weeks, so I need to catch up.  I had to use my memory and my blog to see how I was feeling each day - good thing I post a lot.

I will post updates about my mood blanket on Mondays and I will call it 'Moody Monday'.

Thanks for dropping by ladies - have a great crochet day.  :)
       

~ Two on Tuesday ~

Found out I'm a scofflaw and a convicted felon.  (It's funny when you think about it.)  I'll explain.

*  You may remember that my sister Laura and I decorated the bathhouse that's across the street from our campsite.  Here's 2 pictures to refresh your memory.

Well, I was looking through the by-laws of our campground and found out that we were not supposed to do that.  I did not know this.  So far they have not sent out the SWAT team to get us, so I guess we're ok.

*  I've been looking for a job for a little while now and have applied twice at the City of Bowie.  Both times I got a nice, polite rejection letter.  A few days ago, I applied for another job and submitted my application.  (All 3 applications were sent through their website.)  For some reason I decided to go back and look at my applications again and I noticed that the question that asks "have you ever been convicted of a felony?" was checked 'yes'.  Wait, what?  Oh jeez - really?  I'm not a convicted felon - I'm not a convicted anything.  I tried a few times to change it, but I couldn't.  No wonder I'm getting rejection letters.  I called the HR department and the young lady told me that their computers were down and that she would call me back.  She did not call me back.  (Probably doesn't want to associate with a convicted felon.)  My next phone call was to my daughter Erica - she works at the City of Bowie.  She will call her friend in HR and get this fixed for me.  

Once I got over the initial 'uh-oh, now what?' - both of these situations are funny to me.

I looked at Vince and asked "dang man, what kind of woman did you marry?"  He just said "I don't know".  :)
           

~ another guardian grandmas donation ~

This time it's from Joyce - and look at what she sent me:

adorable baby blankies - just look at those little bear squares.

I love round ripples.

I love granny squares too.

3 little cocoons with matching hats to keep babies warm. 

And a ton of baby hats too.  I love all the different sizes.

Isn't this just amazing?  Joyce has definitely been a busy little crocheter.  Thank you so much Joyce - I so appreciate all of your hard work.  ♥  

p.s. to Joyce - I'm sorry that I have to ask you this, but I need my memory refreshed - can you please email me (dlyrs@juno.com) with your blog or Facebook links.  :)
  

~ I'm bored ~

I started a hat 3 days ago and I don't feel like working on it.  I have 2 baby blankies started, but don't feel like working on them either.  I need to figure something out - this is driving me crazy.  :)
    

~ Two on Tuesday ~

 Sorry, I've got nothin'.  Everything this week has been the same ol', same ol'.  Although I am happy to have a wood stove to supplement the heat pump - we're having some crazy cold weather.  :)

~ the 1st 'guardian grandmas' donation of 2014~

Good morning ladies.  I received a box from Liz (one of our guardian grandmas) on Saturday just full to the brim with 5 beautiful baby blankets.  Thank you so much Liz for your generous donation!  :)

That's my little Ladybug - she always has to be in the picture.

~ Afcap's Top Bloggers of 2013 ~

I received an email from Nicola, editor of 'Allfreecrochetafghanpatterns' letting me know that I am one of their 'Top bloggers of 2013'.  I am very happy and honored that so many of my crochet friends enjoy my crochet patterns.  Thank you all very much!

My patterns that were in the top 100 on their site are:

- 'the crooked ripple' 

- 'the ferris wheel baby blanket'

- 'the candy drops blanket'

- 'the cupcakes square' (which is a variation of the '4-hearts square')

To see all the other crochet patterns that are included in 'The 100 Best Crochet Afghans Ever: Crochet Baby Blankets, Ripple Crochet Patterns, and More', please click on this link:

http://www.allfreecrochetafghanpatterns.com/Popular-Afghan-Projects/The-100-Best-Crochet-Afghans-Ever-Crochet-Baby-Blankets-Ripple-Crochet-Patterns-and-More

Once again, thank you all very much.  :)

~ stuff ~

I have to show ya'll one of the best gifts I received this Christmas.  My 7 yr. old grandson James gave me this - a package of 2 heart shaped fingernail polishes:

He bought it with his own money and wrapped it himself.  He also gave a set of screwdrivers to his Grandpa and a set of padlocks to his Uncle Bobby.  He's so thoughtful - I just love him silly.  ♥  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I finished up a hat for my great-nephew Justin.  His Mom (my niece Kristal) had asked me a while back if I could make him one, and I'm embarrassed to say that I forgot.  When I crocheted the pink Keppi yarn hat (http://hooksandyarns.blogspot.com/2013/12/two-on-tuesday_31.html) for his sister - it reminded me about his hat.  I hope he likes it.

My pattern version is posted here:
 http://hooksandyarns.blogspot.com/2013/01/vanilla-janes-and-hat.html 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We've got snow!!

p.s. this is not a movie - Google made the picture look like it's snowing.  Pretty cool.  :)

~ Scrappy hat, scrappy hat ~

I don't know why, but every time I say 'scrappy hat, scrappy hat', I think of Phoebe on 'Friends' singing 'smelly cat'.  Ha-ha, now that I've got that song in your head - here's my new scrappy hat that I finished up last night.

Front:

Back:

and my scraps jar (which is a big giant pickle jar):

It's ok - you can tell me what you really think (just be nice please).  Would you make this?  Would you wear it, or know someone who would?  I tried it on last night and it didn't look all that bad.  :)

***for those that are wondering:

~ Happy New Year!! ~