Not much to say

I haven't really had a lot to say, which is why I haven't posted....

I may have more to talk about tomorrow, though. It is a long weekend this weekend, but have a wedding to go to tomorrow, so we won't be going out of town. We went last weekend, and did our annual pasta dinner.

Weather has been generally more pleasant finally - we're finally getting the sunshine and heat that we should for it being summer time.

I've been plugging away at those baby gifts - I wanted to be finished them by now, as the baby is due in August (but I'm not sure if it is beginning, middle or end). Oh, well - barring any major disasters, I should be able to be done them by next laundry day....

I've discovered that the little project I'm working on over the next few months might take much longer than that... I'll know more by the end of September how it will go. Keeping my fingers crossed about it, but also knowing that if it is meant to work out, it will.

So - that is about it. Might have something shareable by tomorrow... if not, then next week. I have to stop being lazy about prepping pictures for sharing.

Rushing around again....

Haven't taken the progress pics of the projects, did take some pics of my flowers and tomato plants but haven't downloaded off the camera yet, have to do shopping, packing for weekend, major dishes, and have a bath today, not to mention the other chores before taking off for a weekend, and wanted to tell you about yesterday (which is why the major dishes)

Yesterday had DGD #2 (almost 10 yrs old) over for the day. We did some cooking together. I had hoped to do a bunch of stuff, and be able to freeze some stuff for later. Had several things planned, thinking that I'd rather have too much than not enough to keep busy with.... Well, the sugar cookie dough came out too soft to roll and cut. I've used the recipe before, so I don't know what went wrong, other than the excess humidity in the air (I *hate* rain). I have now stuck it into the freezer, and next time, I'll knead more flour into it and we can try again. We also made perogies. These are little dumpling type things, filled dough pockets, that are a Ukrainian dish. The filling we used (and is a fave around here) was potato and cheddar. I made one batch of dough in one bowl, and K made a second batch - hers turned out just as good as mine, even though she'd never made it, or anything like it, before. She took to the filling and folding, too... I sent two dozen home with her, and DH and I ate several for supper. Mmmm, MMmm, good!

I'd hoped to be able to also make a batch or two of pasta - having a helper for that is always great, since both kitties now like to eat it.... But, we were running out of time. So, we whipped up a pineapple cake instead. Sent half of that home with her, too...

So, it was not as productive a day as I'd hoped, but it was still a good bonding day with the grandkid. Which is important, too. And even though I did keep washing dishes between moments, there are still quite a few left (plus the supper dishes - wasn't doing them last night after spending all day in the kitchen!!)

Anyway - gots to go. If I have a few free moments later, I'll try to deal with pictures. If not, well, there is always next week :)

Too many temptations....

All sorts of new projects screaming at me to make them... BUT I must do the baby gift stuffs first. Or, I know what will happen... I'll get excited about the new stuff, and the baby gifts will become UFO's or put off till the last minute...

I haven't sewn any seams on the knitted sweater yet. But, I did do the shoulder seams, collar, and front button bands on the crochet one. Just need to do the sleeves. When I picked this pattern, the shells that bordered the sweater looked fine - but now that I'm making it, I'm getting scared it is going to turn out too "girly". I wanted to aim for stuff that could be for a boy or girl. Dang.

Oh, well - baby number one for this couple was a girl; maybe it will turn out all right....

I did a UFO, as well. Yesterday - spent like, maybe ten minutes or less, and sewed up a seam. A few years ago, I made a latch hook piece. It was a small square - 12 inches, I think. I decided to do it as a cushion. So, I made a crocheted square backing for it. Then, I sewed three sides. I also bought a cushion form. It never got finished, though, because the pieces ended up separated from each other. So - recently, I tripped over both the cushion and the form. I put both parts in easy reach. Didn't do anything else, but yesterday, I found myself needing to kill a few moments. Didn't feel like doing computer things, so I grabbed my darning needle, the cushion parts, and... Now I have a completed project :)

So. Short post - I need to take a picture of the new cushion ;) so I can share it. Also am supposed to be downloading a video I took of the doglet, to send to DH.

Will post some progress pictures tomorrow :)

Off again....

Ahh, summertime - back to heading out to the cabin for some much needed mental relaxation..... Time to relax, to recuperate, to rest, to de-stress, to crochet and knit....

Hopefully, I'll be back with some progress/completed pictures to share :)

Current WIP's

Well, the two main ones - I do have a couple others, as mentioned....


This is the knitted sweater - I have to do the two underarm/side seams, then sew on some buttons.













For the second sweater, I still have to do a few rows on the back section, then the left front. Then there are a collar and button band to do, too. Not to mention, making the sleeves. When I found this pattern, I thought that it could work for either a boy or girl; and I chose a nice neutral brown/beige for a colour theme for this gift. Now, though, I'm almost wondering if the scalloped border is too girly looking.....


















The blanket has the scallops at the top and bottom edge, and plain sc in the middle. I'm using a different yarn for that, though. And, I haven't started crocheting on it yet, either.

Didn't take picture of the shawl/scarf. I should, maybe.... a "before and after" picture, since I'm going to rip it out.... Well, not all out, just back a couple dozen rows. Of lace....

I also have another shawl, one I designed, that needs the ends woven in. It needs to be blocked properly, too. I did block it, sort of, but did a rush job on it. I really want it to be stretched out proper.

Then, it will be time to sort through my stuff, clear up a few things, prepare to make the next batch of baby gifts, and find those UFO's and get a bunch of them looked after.

No pictures.

But I don't want to forget to keep posting here!!

I guess I could/should take some progress pictures of the two main projects I'm working on. The baby gifts for August. I have been ignoring the knit sweater, which needs seaming and button sewing, in favour of creating the crochet sweater. I keep thinking I'm getting closer to finishing, then remember I still need to make sleeves.... I have four or six rows to finish on the back, then the left front piece. Two sleeves, then the collar, button band, and seams.... Then, the matching blanket.

Working in fine yarn on small hook is nasty business... I can knit faster than I can crochet. Wish I hadn't picked this pattern :( But, the picture was cute, and I did feel like doing some crochet.

Next projects will be all knit. Or, maybe, I might crochet a blanket, but it will be on a larger hook, that is definite!!

I do have a knit lace project to work on - from the knitandknag blog. Well, the designer is Anna from knitandknag, but the pattern is a bought one. It is a shawl - but I misread the directions, and missed a repeat of a section of the pattern.... I am debating trying to rip back, or to just carry on and have a slightly smaller "scarf". Since I haven't even looked at it since realizing my mistake, I think the answer is clear - I need to rip back. Too bad; I completed one entire half (well, sort of) in one day - a very easy relaxing knit....

All my other projects qualify as UFO's; I haven't touched any of them in so long.... And then there are the ones that I have ready, but not started.... I've said it before, and I'll say it again- I really don't buy yarn just to "stash" it. I buy yarn for projects. I will buy sock yarn on a whim, since I can really use any sock pattern. But for any other project - I must have the pattern decided on so that I can buy the right amount of yarn. Yes, I do have some stash made up of leftover yarn; I do like to buy that extra ball or so of yarn "just in case". But even that "stash", can become granny square or other scrap type afghans.

I want to get some more socks knit up soon. I have some that I started, some that I dream of starting....

And I want to get some designs out of my head and down onto paper.

All while keeping up with a special project, and getting my house in order. I am determined not to just talk about it this time, but to actually make progress!!!!

Now for a long overdue introduction.....

Of course, the first few weeks of January were difficult. Not being greeted at the door by a tail wagging furry body. Empty spot in the living room. Toys laying around, instead of being dropped at my feet or in my lap....

Very hard indeed - though, it was a busy enough time at work, so my mind was somewhat occupied... Weekends were roughest - but again, had DH to commiserate with, and when he was at work, it was shopping/errand running day...

Toward the middle of January, though, DH started having to work overtime for a while - inventory time. I was suddenly alone in the house. VERY alone. Yeah, I know, I had/have the kitties. But it wasn't the same. And they were missing Bear, too. Yes, animals grieve, too. They really do. And it isn't just anthropomorphizing. There is a distinct sadness about the look in their eyes.

Anyway - I decided, that first Sunday that I was alone, that I couldn't wait any longer. That the house was too empty. DH thought it was too soon, but I couldn't handle it... So, I started an online search.... Looking first at the border collie rescue website. There wasn't really anything on there that seemed to "fit". I wandered a few more sites, but didn't find much. So, I told DH that I might go to the shelter that Bear came from when I did my weekly shopping the next day. I said that I would see if I felt like going there when I went out, that I would take it as a sign that it was meant to be, but if I didn't feel like making the trip, I wouldn't. (remember in my last post, I mentioned that the store had moved since we got Bear? I guess it was an important point, after all.... they moved farther away from where I live). So, when I woke up, I really didn't feel like bothering. Which meant, obviously, that it wasn't meant to be.

So, when I was getting ready to go out of the door, I suddenly had an overwhelming urge to go to a different shelter - one that I'd never really bothered with much in the past. I did shop there once or twice, since they were a few blocks away from where I live. But, they to had moved to a new location - larger, cleaner - but still not too far away. And quite close to where I do my shopping for groceries.... So, I stopped in there. Wandered through, past all the cat rooms - no cages, just large open spaces with lots of toys and nesting areas and scratching posts.... very comfortable for the kitties... But, I wasn't in there to look at kitties - I was looking for the dog area. They also have a store doggy greeter. This is one who was badly abused. Despite her physical scars, she is a very friendly sweet dog (really makes you wonder about people). Anyway - of course I had to pet her, and scritch her chin... when I stopped, she barked at me. Friendly bark, of course - not sure if it was a "thank you" bark or a "hey, why'd you stop?" bark... Anyway, at that point, I had just reached the doggy areas...The dogs weren't housed quite as generously as the kitties, but still have nice quarters... a kennel area, with toys, food/water, and somewhere to sleep... also, a window into the store. On the window, they place information such as the name they've given the dog (which of course, you can change - but they name them when they come in to the shelter), when it was born, etc. Well, when the store doggy barked, I was just about up to the first of these doggy windows.... and up popped a pooch to see what the bark was all about. His eyes met mine.... I continued on to check out the other windows... there was an older rottweiler, a pair of Jack Russel terriers, and another pair of chihuahua crosses... I am not fond of "rats on a leash"; I much more recently heard someone refer to the Jack Russels as "Jack Russel Terrorists" and must admit, that about describes these high-energy dogs (besides which, they were a pair, and I really wasn't interested in that); and much as I think Rotties are very nice looking dogs, and no more dangerous than an other when raised with love, I was really in the market for another border collie. But, there was that first dog.... Now, I should mention, that when I was little, I did the dreaming like all kids do of what kind of a house I wanted when I grew up. My dream included a "pet room" - where I'd have (actually, I forget the number now, I think it was like four or six) German Shepherds. I've always liked the way they look, and how intelligent they seem to be. We have a neighbour, whose son is a retired cop. He has a couple shepherds - and I learned that these dogs are capable of making a sound that isn't a bark, isn't a whine, but is sort of a combination of those sounds - - - and quite unpleasant at that. I decided I wouldn't bother ever owning a shepherd; only continue to admire them from afar.

Anyway - I found myself enquiring about the dog in the first window. His name, according to the window, was Delko. So - his story was that he was born at the beginning of July last year, and had come into the shelter at the end of September, along with his sister and brother. They had chosen theme names for them: Calleigh and Horatio were adopted rather quickly, but Delko was the shier one of the bunch, so he was often passed over. (the names, for those who aren't fans, all come from characters from the TV show "CSI: Miami"). There was some suspicion about mistreatment when he was younger, as he was extremely shy around men - shy enough around strange women, but really afraid of men. Also, he had a docked tail. I asked if this was due to any particular injury or anything, and was told that no, when he was born, the people who owned his mother (who was a German Shepherd - but you guessed that after reading the previous paragraph, right?) believed the pups where rottweilers, so had their tails docked at birth. Apparently, "Horatio" was all one colour, the same colour as Delko's light tan (there's going to be a picture at the end of this post, so you can look now or wait) and "Calleigh" had the same colouring as Delko, but longer fur. I am still shaking my head - though I'm over the sadness at what his tail could have been. (I know why some breeds need their tails docked, and why others have their tails docked, but I'm not in favour of it when it doesn't have to happen). Well, we talked for a while, I asked about adoption procedures/applications. After a good chat, I asked if it was possible to "meet" Delko, spend a bit of time with him. So, I was taken into the room they use for introductions. Then, they brought him in. He came through the door, beelined for my lap, and he looked up at me with such a sweet look - remember when I first saw him and he looked in my eyes? Well, I think it was love at first sight for both of us. I mean, gee whiz, he was curious, and interested, and intelligent looking - aware of his surroundings, not just resigned to live in a cage the rest of his life....

So, I took a couple pictures, drove to where DH worked, and arranged to come back that evening so DH could also meet Delko. It was a rough first meet - Delko had been sleeping, and I've really noticed that when he's tired, he tends to revert back to that shy, frightened pup, though he's getting better daily. Anyway - it was a rough first meet, but by the end of the visit, the worker at the shelter announced to the others, "Delko's going home!". That still chokes me up a bit - not, "Delko's been adopted", or "someone is taking Delko", but that "Delko is going HOME". That yes, he is going to a home, not just a shelter cage, not just being fostered, but that he is going to a forever home.

Well, those first few days/weeks were a bit rough. After all, I'd just had a 12 year old border collie. Now I had a six and a half month old "teenager" with issues and baggage.... especially trust issues. A teenager with intelligence, and a sense of humour. It took a lot of work, and it is still ongoing, but most of those issues are fading away. He still doesn't like to be touched by feet - even accidental contact causes him to jump out of his skin. And he takes a bit to warm up to strangers and children - but he's really coming along. He took his time getting comfortable with DH, but now worships the ground "Daddy" walks on... And he's really turning into a sweet, loving, lovable doglet.

Ok, he's now a year old, but I call him a doglet, because even though he was technically a puppy when we got him, usually when you say that you got a new puppy, people expect to see a wriggly little fluffy clumsy ball, not a half grown doglet... And, I couldn't call him a dog, since he isn't an adult. So, I refer to him as a "doglet". :) Oh, and we kept his name, since he had it for so long and was getting quite used to it, and would answer to it, and I'm not so good at thinking up names....

So - without further ado, or babble, since this post is getting long - I present: Delko (aka Del, Mr. D, or D - he's learning to answer to the nicknames, too)

Put it off long enough.

This post should have been made six and a half months ago. It will be a long post, and a painful one. I'm dealing with a lot of depression over it....

It all started some 12 or so years ago... I was going through a rough time in my life. Things were starting to look up, but I still had issues to deal with; baggage, if you will. I was avoiding that, as most people might do, because it would mean thinking about issues from my childhood, painful memories, etc.There was a pet store near the bank we dealt with (both have since moved to new locations, not that it is terribly important to know that bit) and I would often like to pop in there to look at the kitties. One visit, I saw some adorable puppies - of course, back then, we had Spud. But she was three years old then... Anyway, I decided I wanted a puppy to look after again. DH nixed the idea...

Soon after that, I found myself in a self-help group that made me realize that I had some self-esteem problems, and that the whole wanting a puppy thing was really just a way to avoid looking at myself - I'd be too busy house-training and other training, and wouldn't have time to focus on myself.... So, since I was now getting those issues dealt with, I no longer desired a distraction (aka a puppy).

A couple months later, DS (who still lived at home then, but was an adult and had a job) decided that he wanted to own a border collie. He called me on my cell phone to ask when I was coming home from work that day, because he wanted me to drive him to the local humane society. I informed him that I had just parked on the street in front of our house, and that I wasn't going to drive all the way across the city on the off chance that there might be a border at the shelter. BUT, I did have to go to the bank, and since the pet store was also a no-kill shelter, that he could come along if he wanted....

What are the odds that on that particular day, there was one border collie puppy left from a litter at that store? Of course, you all know the answer, if you've ever read this blog in the past.

So. DS got himself a puppy. I made him do all the housetraining, cleaning up, chipping in money for food and vet care, etc. After all, it was his dog, and his responsibility. Even though I had thought I wanted a puppy, this was to be DS's dog, and I had other things to work on.

First couple years, everything went according to plan. At one point, DS had moved temporarily into an apartment with a guy he worked with, until the guy's lease ran out. He had to leave Bear with us. I think that was the beginning of when Bear became my dog, even though DS moved back home for a while and was only gone a couple months. He was home another year, then met DIL. Ok, of course she is DIL now. Anyway - he met her, and they decided to buy a house together. By then, she already had two children, and Bear had not really been exposed to young children. Now, my grandkids have all had exposure to animals throughout their lives, and are great with them. BUT - Bear did not have experience with kids, and whenever they visited in those early days, he went into "deer in the headlights" mode, and panicked, and needed to be outside if they were in the house and vice versa. So, when DS and DIL moved in together, they left Bear here.

I knew for sure that Bear was no longer DS's dog one time when DS was visiting, and Bear was laying on the floor, and DS stood over him with one foot on either side of the dog's body... Bear curled his lips up and growled. It was like, "you don't live here anymore, and you don't get to dominate me in my own home. :)"

Bear always loved going to the country. He loved to swim in the river. He loved to go for walks, and to play Frisbee. He also loved his cats. And he got used to the grandkids. He even got protective of them when they came to visit.Bear didn't get a chance to herd sheep, but he was a working dog just the same. His job was to play Frisbee:This is a picture of "the stance" - the border collie stare just waiting for the command to herd the sheep... or, in this case, the stare that says, "c'mon, Mom, throw the Frisbee - never mind the camera..." And, funny thing - I suspect there was species memory. Even though he'd never been around sheep, if I bought wool yarn that was lightly processed, or when I bought a sheep fleece to spin, Bear would go into the stance and stare at the box or bag. Seriously - he even poked at one box with his nose, as if to make it behave, lol. When he was over the idea that the box or bag or fleece or ball of wool was going to be herded, he would then stick his nose in, and inhale the sheepy smell.

He did love to swim, too - was often disappointed when the river was too high and just not safe.
I do have a video of him swimming; uploaded it to Youtube. I'm "CatsrmeCatlady" on youtube, if you want to search it out. I could, I suppose, find the link, but honestly, now is not a good time for me to do so. It is taking me especially long to do this post as it is....

I mentioned Bear got used to the grandkids, protected them even. Here's a picture of Bear and GS:
He did become very protective, as well, of his kitties. Started when Mica was a kitten - even though until then, Bear hadn't been quite sure of cats. When we got Ashleigh, he had pretty much figured them all out. I have a picture somewhere, can't seem to find it right now, of Ash eating out of Bear's dish, with Bear eating at the same time. At one time, that would never have happened - Bear didn't like to share his food.... But, he got to where he loved the kitties...

He was also very protective of me. I started taking him with me for "truck rides" when I had some errands to run. Despite being a friendly, loving doggy, when he was told to "watch" the truck, he did. He would even bark menacingly at friends if I was alone, and they did something "out of character". I remember one time, a particularly close friend came to visit, and entered our home without knocking (something which was perfectly acceptable to us). It just so happened that it was a time when I was home alone. Bear decided that maybe coming in without knocking was not so acceptable after all; at least, not while I was alone.

Somewhere in there, Bear and I developed a very close bond. Which is where a lot of the depression comes from.... I was working full time.. still spending as much time as I could with Bear, of course, but less than before. DH mentioned that Bear seemed to be getting like Spud was... when I came home, though, I wouldn't notice anything wrong. Bear was always happy to see me home, and would do anything to please me. :) Sweet dog that he was - typical border that he was. Never show a weakness, never let on that you can't do your job....

Well, one day I got a phone call at work. That was at the end of December... the 29th. I left work, and rushed home. This was what I found....
With me home, he did rally - he tried. At one point, he even got up and went outside.... he lifted his head a few times.... he really wanted to please me.....

I had hoped that he would be all right, but when I went to bed that night, I told him that he should do what he had to do. I hoped he'd be all right, but that it was OK if he had to go. That I would see him at the Rainbow Bridge. I told him, "That'll do, Bear". (even though he'd never been trained with that phrase). I gave him a final kiss and hug, and went to bed.

Sadly, he slipped away during the night.....

Rest in Peace, My beloved Mr. Bear.

January 26, 1998 - December 30, 2009

So, have I lost all my readers?

I know, I've always said that my blog was more for me. But, I know other people would comment now and again....

Just kind of wondering if everyone has given up on me.

WIP's: I am working on a couple baby gifts - have one due in August, getting a knitted sweater, a crocheted sweater, and crochet blanket. The blanket matches the sweater stitch patterning. So far, I need to do the sleeve and side seams on the knit sweater, then sew on the buttons. The crochet sweater needs to be finished, then buttons and any seaming. The blanket isn't started yet.

Another friend/extended family member is also expecting - need to come up with something for her. And a second friend/extended family member is due in January - going to work on something for her, too.

Besides that, the ongoing neverending house... I do have it partially organized - more than I thought or gave myself credit for. But, I do need to deal with a few organizational things.... ever since losing one cupboard in the kitchen, I have been meaning to seriously declutter some of the others. Now, really, they aren't truly cluttered, but I can probably box and store some seasonal kitchen things.... Give me more room to put stuff that is currently living on the counter...

Also, need to really deal with basement stuff. A lot of it is stuff that I stuck down there instead of dealing with in the past - in some cases, though, it is stuff that needs to be saved and brought back to the main living space.

Tomorrow, I don't know if I'll get a chance to post - have some major errand running to do. Then, Saturday, we are doing a pig roast for the youngest gd. Next week, I hope to be able to begin establishing a proper routine.... Hah. I know, I'm dreaming, lol.

Can't think what to say, lol

Other than, today is laundry day.... we all know how much I "*LOVE*" that...

I'm working on something else, too, that I really can't talk much about. I am my own worst enemy, though... In my head, I can go one of three ways. One is, I can do this. I've done things like this before, and I can do it. The second - I can get totally excited about it, so much so, that if I don't succeed, then I go into a deep depression afterwards.... Third - I can defeat myself before I start with negative thoughts about it not working at all....

I'm trying my darndest to go with the first - that I can do it, and that if I don't at least try, I'll never know. And besides, I don't know what the future will bring, and it might just work out all right....

I can't say much more than that, since I don't know who all is reading my blog (and who all gave up totally when I didn't post for so long). But, I will say that I'm working on a special project for the next six months or so.

Now, however - I have an annoying Mica cat using my arms for a nap cushion.... The only thing saving her is that she is purring.

More pictures to share of crafts

I was on a felting kick for a while. It took me forever - make that *FOREVER* to appreciate "felting" as a craft. First of all, it is technically "fulling", not "felting", but since the popular term is felting and since the resulting fabric resembles felt (done properly, there should be no real stitch definition left) that is what I'll go with. Second of all, most of my life I had it drilled into me that hand knitted wool items should always be handwashed to PREVENT shrinking/felting. Third, it seemed like such an expense to buy extra wool and make an item larger, then purposely make it small - why not just make it the right size in the first place?Anyway - as is always the way for me - I came across a cat pattern for a tote bag that required felting.... Somehow, that did it... Well, that and seeing other patterns for interesting effects... So, by treating the "knitted felt" projects as a separate craft unto itself, I decided it wasn't such a terrible thing to do after all. I now have several knitted, felted, totes.... Still no intention to make slippers or any other wearables, since size is crucial to them, but not to tote bags :)
So - here are some pictures of a tote (though I have sewn on the handles, I seem to have not taken a picture of them sewn on) in before and after poses: (and the ever present kitty - Ashleigh magically appears whenever the camera comes out) I also took a picture with my teacup close by, for a size comparison. The yarn is Patons' SWS (Soy Wool Stripes) in Geranium (I think) colour:

Aand now for the after shot, with teacup, of course. :) (I know, it isn't a traditional type tea cup, but it is the cup that I use most often to drink my morning tea from)And yes, that is Mica, putting in her camera appearance. Though, I cropped more of her out...Mostly because I was focusing on the bag, so half of her wasn't even in the shot anyway.

Here's the blankie that matches the hat I posted about the other day:










This is the one that I knitted, then frogged, then knitted, then frogged... I thought it was going to be too small if I kept following the pattern - it was designed as a pram cover, I guess... small small small - but I wanted it to be more like a baby blanket, rather than just a coverlet. So, I had to make it bigger. Basket weave is not my favourite stitch to do over and over and over.... Don't mind it in small projects like socks, but for a whole blankie? Of course, this is what has been requested as a "possible" gift for another baby.... *sigh*....

So, that is what I have for you all today. I did take pictures of that ripple felted bag - but haven't downloaded them to the 'puter yet. Will do that soon... promise :)

Finger is better this morning, too - Last night I attacked it with a pin, then gave it a squeeze.... gunk came out and while it is still tender, at least bumping it into things doesn't bring tears to my eyes anymore!

Back again :)

Ok - back from a weekend of rejuvenation :) Mind you, it was all rain and mud and muck... but, gave me a chance to go through some files on the laptop, and I found some more pictures. I mentioned, before disappearing, that I'd made a knit-then-felt bag. Took pictures of it this weekend. It is a ripple knit bag - and I loved making it. And, it turns out that I did take a picture of the blanket that matched the hat - so I'll post that one tomorrow. I do have a sore finger, which is making typing painful right now..... somehow ended up with an infection beside the fingernail - hurt to crochet or knit this weekend; all I could do was mouse stuff on the 'puter....

Anyway - getting a bit late, and tonight is "Big Bang Theory" night (so what if they are in summer reruns - still a great show!) Will write up more and share pictures tomorrow :)

Found 'em

Ok. Pictures.

First, the baby gift.... you may remember that last year, my dear friend was going to be a grandma for the first time in March. Well, the baby was born, and I had managed to complete a baby blanket and matching hat. Didn't take pictures - remember, when doing baby gifts, my priority is to finish, wash and wrap. BUT - I did manage to get a picture of the baby wearing the hat at the shower (yes, she put it on him immediately!! Talk about a compliment)The blanket and hat were a hit; so much so, that now that another grandchild is in the works, there has been a request for another blanket!!
While wandering through the pictures, I realized that I really haven't finished too many things after all. I did make a small cable purse/evening bag thing for the store. But never got the pattern written properly. Also, I have knitted a new design - a shawl, that I did write the pattern for. Just need to finish weaving in the ends, and I'll figure out what I'll do with the pattern (likely free, but we'll see... I just need to decide where to post it).

I have started lots of items, though :)
One of my other finishes... Ok, to start at the beginning. My gs has become a football player. Last summer he proudly showed me his uniform. He loves football - and is fantastic at it. A natural, in my humble opinion. At the end of last season, Hallowe'en weekend, the kids all got to play at our "professional" team's stadium. For the younger kids, it was more like an exhibition game; participation more than scoring...That's my gs, on the left, wearing a light coloured jacket, talking to one of the coaches. On the right, behind the pole, is my ds, also a coach. You will notice, that gs seems to be pretty much the smallest guy on the team. Yet, he was playing defence. And.... I was amazed - most of the other kids looked like they were running around, looking to tackle whoever.... GS kept his eyes on the ball. Really - while everyone else was running around, trying to block the guy who *had* the ball, GS was breaking out, going after whoever had caught the ball, and tackling them. He had this little thing - he would do a little kind of leap-jump thing, and hit the guy high, knocking him over. :) He was usually responsible for the other team getting few or no yards :) Sometimes, he even tackled them behind the line of scrimmage!! :) Ok, so I finally sound like a proud grandma, right? :)
Anyway, between the evening when he showed off his uniform, and the final games, I found a crochet magazine (sorry, forget exactly which, think it may have been Crochet World) with a soccer ball and a football pattern. Guess which I made? :)
Well, that`s about all the update you`re going to get for a few days. Yes, it is summer, and the first Saturday I haven`t had to work in well over a year. So, I`ll be heading out to the cabin... We leave tonight, and will be back sometime on Monday. I don`t know if I`ll be too tired to post then, but for sure, next week, you`ll hear from me some more. With critter updates.

Need to find pictures!!

I thought I knew where they were, but I can't find them quick enough to share this morning. I did take some pictures of some of the things I managed to finish lately, and some of the things that I am working on. But, I'm not sure where they ended up - thought I had a nice neat file with them in it, but I can't seem to find it right now.

In other news - a year ago I bought myself a new laptop. I have a desktop computer still, but also this laptop. I also bought a new digital camera. I'm still working on getting everything organized!! But, that will come with time. And I promise to find and share some pictures.

So, short post today, then, and I'll go wandering around my laptop, and gather together some pictures of interest. Might post some later today, but no promises, 'K?