Red, White and Blue

So many way to show we care. Red, White and Blue. Be patriotic. These 12 inch squares are traditional style grannies. The royal blue left over from a blue scarf I made for The Bridge Project, The white from a yarn donation from Rae's Mother, the red and variegated from my stash, navy also left over from several other scarves for The Bridge Project. These 7 12 inch squares are for a new group I found recently doing a search using the words crochet and charity. American Angels Heroghans.

All squares need to be 12 inches, all squares need to be red, white, or blue or combination there-off. All are joined and given to grieving families who've lost a love one in service of their country. To date this group has crafted over 700 heroghans for families who's loved ones were indeed hero's.

Show your patriotism. If you like to make baby items there are 2 groups who distribute handmade gifts to newborn's who are born while Daddy's deployed. (Marine Corp Kids and
Lil Troppers). Want to support injured military personnel, donate 8 x 10 inch squares through HAP (Handmade Afghans to thank our military Project), who assemble and distribute thousands of afghans throughout military hospitals to our injured service men and women. Want to support the active military personnel make hats for the Ships Project (read about it on my friend Sandie's blog). Give your support to grieving family who's hero has paid the highest price, their life-- donate 12 inch squares for American Angels Heroghans. All groups have links in my sidebar.

Badges, BlogUpp, and Bridge

Ok, the voting is in...see my new badge! I like it; but am keeping the lightpost in my file in case I want to change it somewhere down the line. Thanks to all who took the time to vote and voice your opinions, much appreciated. Please feel free to grab my badge and add to your blog. That way clicking will bring you here easily. Right click on above picture and save to your computer, add widget to your blogspot blog, click browse and find the picture on your computer; then add url for my blog which is http://4ccccs.blogspot.com/ I really need to change that, if I can remember all the places it's listed that way in order to get it changed. But, for now...I'm leaving it, even though it's a weird url.


This badge is one I made for Jan, my SIL. I know she'd love visitors. I also know lots of you are animal lovers so think you'll enjoy her blog. Tell her I sent you traveling her way.

Have you noticed my BlogUpp widget? It's cool. Click on it and you can find other interesting blogs. Add one to your own blog easily. No registration required. Simply click on the widget, once on their page, add your url and presto......you have a widget. Cut and paste the code on your blog and have fun visiting. It truly is quick, easy, and very enjoyable to go blog walking in places you might not otherwise have known about. Have fun!

And now for my 3rd B...funny how everything today was a B word! I've updated things over on The BridgeThanks so much for all the help. Please take a look and see what people working together can accomplish. And...please feel free to help spread the word, even if you yourself don't knit or crochet. Thanks!

7 Amazing Caring Women! SEVEN

LOOK!
This beautiful comfort ghan made for me by some of my wonderful, kind and very caring ladies here on the internet. We've not met face to face; though some of us have known each other for several years. My words of gratitude can not possibly measure up to how touched, truly touched I was when I opened this box. THANK YOU!
Beth, Lynda (Bunny), Scarlet, Ghost (Diana), Faith, Sandie, and Wendy. All the squares are lovely. Even my hubby was impressed. The card was beautiful. I have it here on my computer desk reminding me daily how good people are. Yes, I am very sad at losing my Mother. I miss her everyday. When I read your card I filled up with tears; not because my Mother died; but because you all have such loving hearts to reach out to me in this way.

Daddy came to dinner last night and I shared the card with him, and explained how I knew each of you. He's 83, doesn't really get how we can know each other via the internet --in that he doesn't use the computer; but he's heard me speak often of things we all have worked on together. And so he knows it's only distance that keeps us from being friends face to face.

I thought perhaps my other readers here might also enjoy knowing how we've come to know each other. Sandie and I first became acquainted on Crochetville. She had been involved in a project with squares that was coming to an end for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The thread was long, I read it all and wanted to help; not knowing the project was now over. Shortly after Sandie and I chatted; she decided to keep the project alive and re-organized it from the original person who had headed it. Ghost (known to us in the group Squares4Survivors) as one with smoke flying off her crochet hook, and Bunny (Lynda) were also in that group. Through blogging we stumbled into each other again and frequent each others blogs. Faith, Beth, Wendy,and Scarlet are all friends through the wonderful world of blogging too.

Many of us blog about life, about knitting and crocheting for charity; and many have been very active helping me with my local homeless charity project, Bridge and Beyond.

I thank you all, truly from the bottom of my heart. This comfort ghan, does indeed bring comfort and will for many years to come.


(((((((HUGS))))))))

I wanted to post a 2nd picture giving you a little different view of this beautiful afghan

The end of Darling Daughters Yarn

You might recall DD bringing home a bag of yarn at Christmas, yarn she wanted scarfs to be made from. Several she wanted for herself, others for her housemates; and I think a fellow teacher or two.

I've posted them off and on here since, the finished projects that is. Not the housemates. lol

Just tucked in the last ends on this scarf, one more from The Light n Lofty Yarn she likes so much


And another hat for recess. It's cold when you're a teacher on recess duty. This is the 3rd hat I've crocheted for her. Though the pattern called for puff stitches, I only had the one skein of Lion Brand Jiffy #325 El Paso, and so did the whole thing in DC. It's certainly thick enough given the bulky yarn; just doesn't have the texture her 2 previous hats did.

The hat is made from a now favorite hat pattern Puffy Sloucy Hat. I printed it from a free site here on the net, will look and come back with link for you all. Nice pattern. Good change from the tight fitting, I've had a hat on my head patterns.

Things are really moving along nicely on The Bridge Project. Please take a minute and check it out.

My SIL, is having fun with her blog. If you've not had a chance, please stop by and chat. If you're a teacher, a mother, a grandma in need of quality writing suggestions/games for children, her blog truly is a must read. Got a particular problem, post it for her help.

Mr. Mitten has a story you might enjoy reading.

Style Show for Susie

Susie, my daughter's favorite doll went many places with us during the early years. We buckled her into the car seat and away we went..........just as if we were a family of 4 rather than 3. LOL For a while Susie and my daughter had twin nightgowns. There was a time period when Susie could wear the clothes Chrissy no longer could. She's been tucked away all these years, mostly forgotten until Jake the soon to be 2 year old (living next door), and "his" Elmo were swinging and sliding together on his swing set. That jogged my memory of Susie doing things with Chrissy. I decided she made a very good model, though perhaps she's a bit of a camera hog. She's modeling 3 different ponchos for newborns. They vary a little in size; with the yellow and rust one being the largest (probably suitable for up to a year). She's modeling the 2 ways of poncho can be worn

• The first way, probably the more traditional way is with point in both the front and the back


• The 2nd way with points over each arm, making the front and back straight across. I'm remembering Clint Eastwood wearing his Western Poncho's this way in a few of his cowboy movies.

The colors are a bit unusual in that they aren't the traditional light pink and light blue for babies; but I was using things I had here at hand; and I think for fall births.......probably ok. The black one is perhaps the most out of the norm, though it is trimmed in a nice light sorta icey blue. Not sure the blue shows up that well here in pictures.

My thinking is the red & blue, and the black & blue are suitable for girl or boy; but I think the yellow and rust is more suitable for a girl. What do you all think?

I'm hoping to get a few more made, then divide these up along with some booties and send some to Marine Corp Kids, and some to Lil_Troopers.

I think I'll make some Red, White and Blue ones as well.

Was pleased The Ohio State Buckeyes won last night against Wisconsin

My Absentee Ballot came yesterday

Tuesday night is the next debate, be sure and watch

Special Olympics...5 in the mail

Previous post, shows 1st, 2nd, and 3rd scarfs made. The 4th one in the works was ripped out and here are the 4th and 5th scarfs made. All 5 were crocheted. Used 5 skeins of yarn (2 white and 1 blue). 5 x 364 yards = 1,820 yds of yarn for this project...minus a wee bit left of the blue.

Of the 5, my personal favorite is #5. I really like the way the slant stitch scarf made on the horitzontal came out. Believe I'll make another scarf using that method for a different project. Scarf 4 and 5 were made with a J hook (larger, as the others were H and I). Scarf 4 was sc, dc, slant stitch, and crossed dc. 5th scarf was dc and slant stitch. (see the close up of this one pictured above)

My only thought on the 5th is that is might be gender specific? I think it might be too lacy looking to be appropiate for a guy? What do you think? I tried to make all the other 4 scarfs gender specific, as I was concerned with the number of definately female ones I spotted over on Ravelry in The Special Olympics Group. Didn't want them to not have some for the guys.

QUESTIONS:

What browser are you all using? Anyone having trouble getting into a few peoples blogs? Getting message blog can't be opened with Int. Explorer? Having that trouble with Ghost's blog. Wondering if there are others? Unsure about loading foxfire (had tons of trouble with it about a year ago), what about a different browser? Whats the difference between foxfire and mozilla? Anyone use Netscapes?

Anyone have a link for a good tutorial for crocheting from a graph...carrying over yarn? I don't want to have lots of joins, but would like to try my hand at that.

Happy Stitching one and all

#885 Delft and #311 White = SPECIAL OLYMPICS

5,000 Delft Blue and White scarfs are needed for the upcoming Special Olympics. These colors are chosen to match the colors of The Special Olympics, being sponsored by Coats & Clark (Red Heart). These colors are there's only. The request if to have every participant, judge, and official wearing hand knit and hand crochet scarfs. As of a previous publication, 1,000 had been received. No clue when the deadline for the publication was; to know how many more have been collected since then. I do know groups here on Blogger, and some over on Ravelry, and in Crochetville working on this project.

My 3 completed ones are all crocheted: 1 6 3/4 x 68, 2nd one is 6.5 x 72, and 3rd one is 5 3/4 x 74. The one in the works is being knitted and measures 5 1/2 inches wide. I've only knitted 15 inches so far; but would like to finish and get all 4 in the mail soon. I think that will do it for me on this project (and take care of the 2 special colors I search high and low for here in town).

I'm not real thrilled with my one in the works; contemplating ripping it out. Hum...will ponder while at work today.

Have made 2 6 x 9 rectangles (need to make lots more) for HAP

Have 2 pair of slippers for Pine Ridge (want to make lots more)

Candy Corn Ghan still on back burner, haven't touched it in a very long time

Thinking about booties next---red, white, and blue ones. Patriotic Booties for our newborns of our military.

Scarfin it up

Red Scarfs! The first one is knit with Airy Aunt Bee, so nice and soft. It's the brighter one of the 3. Wish this pictures would load in the order I actually put them in. sigh
The 2 darker reds are both crocheted. The 2nd one I made was with Caron Simply Soft (hate working with that yarn), it's the one pictured on the far right. I do like the texture. Used 2 dc followed by 1 fpdc, continued that pattern throughout. I did not switch to bpdc on the next row, but continued with the fpdc. Added to both ends and around edge with Red Heart, as I ran slightly short. Gave it a bit more substance and a wee bit of shading.
The 3rd scarf, the one pictured in the middle here was my favorite. I did blocks of stitches and really like how they show up with the solid dark red. sc, dc, v-stitches. All 3 were mailed off 2 days ago for The Red Scarf Foundation. Two measured 68 inches, while the 3rd one measured 76 inches long. Widths varied from 6-7.5-8 inches.
Thanks for the good wishes regarding the mess left from Ike, much appreciated. Heading to The Ohio State Football Game shortly, so no more clean up today. We'll hopefully get the rest of it done tomorrow.
Working on the blue and white scarfs now for The Special Olympics. Just finished the 3rd one last night (no pics yet), and hope to get one more done with the yarn I have left.

Time to Scarf!

One red scarf done, one in the works. Both to be sent to The Red Scarf Project (link on right side of blog). Remember the month of Sept is the ONLY time these scarfs can be sent to The Orphan Foundation of America. The completed scarf was knitted, the one in the works is being crocheted. Look at the close up...I'm really liking the texture. (texture is 2 dc, followed by fpdc, 2dc across...then instead of putting a bpdc in the next row where the pfdc is, I've continued to use fpdc. This is making a nice thick scarf. Hoping to get one more Red one done for this project and get them in mail. Goal to wrap this up this week...fingers crossed.

Then would like to work on some rectangles for HAP, and blue scarfs for The Special Olympics Project...and many other items, but those probably on the top of the list.

Ohio State Football Game yesterday. Yes we beat Ohio University; but we did not play well. Weather was nicer than the previous week in that I didn't feel like I was going to melt from the heat.

Headache, sore throat today...not good, have a very long week ahead at work.

Motto for the week:

Be kind, it makes the world a better place.

Keeping People Warm, sooooooooo many ways!

If you glance back through the last couple of posts, you'll see a bit of a Military Theme. Adding to that, another box going out today. Though this one is heading to Lil Troopers for the wee ones of our men and women in The Army (Previous one was Marine Corp Kids).

Items to warm seniors in the post before this one, as well as those with Cancer; and now...adding Pine Ridge. So many needs, to much yarn; but never enough time

Next up...hum

Still in the works is the Candy Corn Ghan

The Pink and Purple stripped ghan (maybe a baby blanket, or perhaps a ladies lapghan)

Though those items are started, believe I need to switch gears...it's time to reav up for The Red Scarf Project. Remember Sept 1 is when we can start sending in those scarfs to benefit foster care kids in college who need some encouragement. And rectangles for HAP...few other places in need of squares as well.

Can someone clue me into a hat project? Also, can someone tell me how to place the little graph thing here on blogger showing the percentage on a WIP?

Also, question...who's made the Guidepost sweater? Knitted or crocheted version? Do all those sweaters go abroad? I was unclear reading their website whether any of our own kids here in the US get the benefit of them?

Mr. Mailman.......PLEASE

Things are piling up.....where's my mail carrier? Donde'? Silly me, I need to get up away from the computer and go to the post office. What's in need of being mailed, you might be wondering.
Squares:
6 red 8 inchers to be used in a joint effort to make lapghans. Goal 100 lapghans for senior citizens at a nursing home through Stitches of Love, check in with Sissie, if you'd like to lend her a hand.
Scarfs, 3 of them (all knitted), for ladies with cancer through Scarfs from the Heart




And to more pair of baby booties I got done before sealing the box for Marine Corp Kids (see previous post).
Once these were all addressed, I turned my attentions to the pink and blue baby blanket (picture in previous post), and while watching the closing ceremonies last night got it done. Picture later....gotta get to the post office remember. Then once I photograph I need to decide where to send it. Got another pair of booties started last night, but just barely.

Weather is much nicer here today than it's been for several days, not nearly so hot AND we got rain last night!!! YIPPEE. We really needed it.

**updated my mileage knitted and crocheted
****updated my counter towards my charity goal
*****Since my last post, I've only managed to get above 10,000 steps once while wearing my pedometer....wish I could figure out how to walk and knit or crochet at the same time?

Projects I'm focusing on:
Some baby items to mail with the pink and blue blanket
Some Squares for Pine Ridge
Finishing Candy Corn Ghan....started long ago
Finishing the pink and purple ghan picture in previous post
Rectangles for HAP

M = Military

Been busy knitting and crocheting and thus far here's what I have ready for Marine Corp Kids:
This blue, green and yellow baby ghan is just under 40 inches square, crocheted with V-stitch and sc from knitted worsted weight yarn. The yarn is called The REal Worsted Yarn. I've never used it before; but really like the feel of it. Softer than Red Heart, but much more durable to work with than Caron Super Soft which I find splits very easily.

AND






Booties, slippers, and a little hat. Most of the booties and slippers are knitted, the mutli colored booties are crocheted. A little size variation; but basically newborn size.

In the works, this blue and pink knitted baby blanket which will be a bit larger than the blue and green one. This is about 8/10th complete. My hope is to finish it in the next day or so and then be able to ship out this donation.



PROJECTS IN THE WORKS:
Candy Corn Ghan 1/5th done for Victory Gang?
Squares and slippers for Pine Ridge Reservation
Pink and Purple Baby for...whom, not sure which charity yet.



**updated my mileage
***updated my numbers and items for donation
****managed to wear my pedometer 4 days last wk and walked the following:
Monday 12,023 steps
Tues 11,943
Wed 11,418
Thurs 10,736

today forgot to put it on, probably would be less though am heading outside to do some yard work. So that counts as exercise...right? My new pedometer doesn't convert steps to miles but some where here on line I found a scale...basically 10,000 steps equals 5 miles.

Anyone know what happened to Joansie, Knitting by thje Ocean?? Her link no longer takes you to her blog. You get a message you must be invited. It says to email her for an invite...however, there is no email ady to so. I do hope she's ok.