I'm Late to the Party

Hi all, it's early Monday morning thought I'd try to get this posted before heading to work.  Missed getting the post up for YOP yesterday.  Hope spring has finally come for most of you.  I have daffodils blooming which has me very excited.  And you can see Flat Stanley is also quite excited and wanted to get right out there and smell the flowers.  Some of you may know I have a Flat Stanley blog, and it's in the April A-Z Challenge.  There's tons of stuff there, so am inviting you all to have a look see.  Everyone learns with Flat Stanley.  Any of you parents, grandparents, teachers....would love you to get your young ones involved.  (ok end of my commercial)

I finished Iris and Lillies, and posted the final picture for Finished Object Friday.  Click or scroll back to see the finished afghan which is another that will be heading to Homeless Families Foundation through my charity, Bridge and Beyond. 

YOP List:

My Afghan Goals:
To complete 12 afghans:
10 from donated squares (9 down and 1 to go)
1.. Summers End
2.  Sandbox 
3. My Granny
4. Christmas Time 
5.  Buckeye Blitz
6.  Box of Crayons 
7.  Arapaho
8.  Desert Rose 
9.  Iris and Lillies 
Complete Candy Corn Afghan (longest work in progress project EVER)just don't know if I'm gonna pull it out of hibernation or not...sigh
Finish the Feather and Fan Afghan (knitted), that finally has a name, Sea and Sand
  **Sea and Sand in the works haven't worked on this in a couple of weeks

The goal accomplished last year, learn to cable. I want to make a skirt for myself using this new skill. Need to re-find the pattern for starters.
Changed to  The cabled scarf DONE

I want to make time for working on items other than the above afghans. I kept so busy with those last year, many other wanted projects didn't happen.

Cast on....I know there are other methods beyond the traditional one I always use. I get all tangled up when I try to do the thumb one and so ....do it old school...the long slow way. Would like to learn another faster cast on. No headway

I have a knitting machine, haven't used it in over a year. In fact removed it from my office in order to make room for my antique Treddle Singer Sewing Machine. Would like to set up a space in the basement and use it some again for accomplish quick things for charity, No Headway.  Bridge and Beyond.

Personal Projects:
 Need to block a blue scarf I knitted AND cable scarf mentioned above
Want to try the above mentioned cable skirt
Misc whatever items for DD (perhaps the jewel tone traveling scarf now in the works) and family, made scarf intended for DD, but ..colors didn't come out the way I hoped. (that was the above cable scarf, and she tells me she really doesn't need another, yet.  So perhaps it will be donated.  Project turned into a Green Sweater which is in the works.
perhaps even some washcloths for myself....in the works

So, in the works is the a washcloth for myself, the green sweater for DD, Sea and Sand Afghan
**No Headway...cast on, knitting machine, Candy Corn Ghan

It's all About Friday

Combining 5 on Friday with FOF(meme's for those all in tab at the top of the blog)

First...the finished object.  Finally finished the afghan called Iris and Lillies.  Iris because of all the purple and Lillies because of all the yellow.  There are about 6 shades of purple and 3 shades of yellow.  There have been many pictures of this as a work in progress and people keep saying they like the black and white swirls and the yellow and blue.  LOL, purple never shows up well in pictures, though it looks purple on my computer I know that varies.  I keep referring to the purple, makes ya wonder if that many screens are different color wise, people don't read, and or why is purple such a hard color to show up correctly?  Anyway, it's another of the ghans being assembled for my charity, Bridge and Beyond from donated squares for Homeless Families Foundation.

1. Though it's another dark gloomy day here in Central Ohio....you might think you were Ireland.  Seriously, in the last 2-3 days it's gotten soooooooo incredibly green.  The grass is waking up from the it's winter dormat blah stage, it's been feed with the recent rains, and warmed up.  Very green and very pretty.  I hope the weather men who say we're in for a few more snows are wrong, my daffodils have started blooming.  The yellow dotting the bright green..........puts a smile of spring appreciation on my face.
2. Do to technical difficulties, our cable not working we missed the season opening of Mad Men.  We both love the show and have been anxiously awaiting the 2 hour special.  Feet up, wine poured Sunday night we were ready.  ARgh.  Thanks to the cable men ...all 3 crews it took to fix it on Monday and Tuesday, we're operational again.  However, not in time to get it recorded yet.  So, fingers crossed tonight we'll get to see it...or get it recorded if it's on late so we'll be ready for the 2nd episode.
3. I've been involved an April A-Z Blog Challenge, which has been fun, exciting, challenge, and some days disappointing.  You blog in alphabetical order everyday, except Sundays.  I signed up 3 of my blogs.  The point is to be able to finish...the challenge.  AND meet new bloggers, by visiting at a minimum 5 blogs daily for each blog you signed up. 
4. It's almost time to get my bike out of the shed, wash it, check the tires to enjoy some bike rides.  I enjoy riding my old cruiser, heck it's an antique it's from 1971.
5. We have a long standing tradition for Friday night.  I never cook.  It's always pizza night for hubby and I.  We might change what type of pizza we get, but 99.9% of the time it's pizza and beer for him, and pizza and wine for me.  It's the way we kick back at the end of the week.

And, now ...off to do some blog walking through the various Finished Object Friday Meme's and the new one I'm enjoying Friday 5

Friday 5

A change of pace for me today.  I thought I would do the Finished Object Friday Meme, though I don't ever week, can't get large items finished often enough for that.  When I came across this fun,  meme for Friday.  Getting in late as the day's half gone...but getting in.

1. Had an enjoyable time today meeting 2 Whetstone High School Seniors as they accompanied me to Homeless Families Shelter.  They are doing a service project with global implications.  They are to write about the problem, present how or why it happened and what might be done to make it better.  One taught the other to knit and they're both slowing working at making a scarf to donate to my charity, Bridge and Beyond.  I'm always impressed when young people want to do for others.  Good luck with your projections Anna and Emily, it was pleasure to have you with me today and answer your questions.
2. The sun is out and though it started well below freezing at 25% degrees this morning, I was able to take my outer coat off and open the car window a bit for some fresh air...sooooo nice, come on Spring catch up with the calendar, please.
3. Thank you NOT to our neighbors that seem to think it's ok to let their dogs out before daylight to bark and bark.  Not everyone gets up as early as you.
4. I enjoy Vodka in my Martinis, and hubby prefers Gin.  
5. I don't drink decaf...if it's not real coffee, what's the point.  I need it to wake up

(#7)

Easter Sunday

Hope you're all having a wonderful Easter Sunday.  This afghan, Iris and Lillies is about 90% done.  I have one more join to do, the bottom section; then figure out a border.  I'
m hopeful I have a couple of shades of purple to mix with the mellow yellow for a border.  Must review my stash to see and hope to be able to show this ghan completed very soon.

This is my YOP post, and let's Get Social Sunday Post, both badges and links in meme tab across the top of the blog.

When completed this will be the 9th afghan assembled from donated squares with 10 as my goal there's one to go.  Additionally I had the completion of the longest running work in progress ever.....candy corn on my list (just don't know if I'm going to get it done...wrong time of year is my excuse, lol), and completion of the feather and fan, Sea and Sand...which has about 3 sections remaining.

Hope on over to Oozing Out my Ears to see the yummy brunch we had for Easter Sunday.



**I have just a few hours left to decide whether or not to enter this blog in the A-Z Blog Challenge.  Check back tomorrow and see what I decided.**

8-3

Memories of Mom and Typing About Easter

Though this story is about typing, I can't really say the typewriter was this kind, though Mom loved the color turquoise and I think the time frame is fairly correct. 

It's been awhile since I've shared an alphabetical memory of Mom.

(Mom in purple on my wedding day, 1972)
But, with this weekend being Easter, memories of her come flooding back.  She was admitted to the hospital on Ash Wednesday back in 2009 and had emergency surgery in the wee hours of the following morning.  It was a long and difficult period in all of our lives, testing our resolve; as well as her's.  She died on what we kids always called Easter Monday.  I guess we always called it that because long before kids got a spring break, we got Good Friday and Easter Monday off from school.  And so with today being Good Friday, I find myself reading about the stages of The Cross, Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday, and of course Easter Sunday, and remembering  Mom as well.

There's more to the connection, but for now ...typing.  Mom was a strong, very determined woman.  She made things work, whatever was needed; though some of  her "I can do anything attitude" diminished as she aged; that is truly the way I remember her most.  And in fact, the minister at her funeral told this story.

Mom interviewed and got a job which required that she type.  She told a little white lie telling them she could type...oophs.  But, she was determine to get the job, and confident that she could do it.  When I arrived home from school, she told me I needed to teach her to type and we had about a week to do it.  LOL  This is before computer keyboards mind you.  Heck, most of my typing class used standard non electric typewriters...the few electric were reserved for those who were speedy at it...I was not among that group.  It's also pertinent to add...we did not have a type writer at home in order to teach her.  But, that didn't stop her/us.  We fashioned a cardboard keyboard on the dining room table and propped up my high school typing book.  Thinking that still makes me smile.  Yes, she did learn to type in the short amount of time she had, and yes she was successful in her new job...the job she retired from many years later.

( Mom and Dad at a nephews wedding.)

Mom at 16 in a gorgeous dress she made herself from dotted swiss, as was my wedding dress that she also made.

The family in 2007, at Mom and Dad's 60th wedding anniversary.  Younger brother Mike, Mom, Me, Daddy, and older brother Chuck.

Mom had grown up a Lutheran, sang in the church choir but after she and Dad got married they became members of The Methodist Church.  In those final hours, she squeezed my hand as I recited the 23rd Psalm.  Later when she opened her eyes (briefly and the first time in a couple of days), looking towards heaven she reached up, smiled, and crossed herself.  Lent is 46 days (bout 7wks), and that was how long Mom was in the hospital, most of it in ICU.  She bore her final days with bravery while the rest of us had tears.

Mom's name was Miriam, I read today that is a Hebrew name that means 'wise woman or lady'.  I read that Mary is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Miriam while reading about Mary in connection to the Easter Story.

Miss you Mom
Happy Easter All

Working on Iris and Lillies on the Wednesday Before Easter

Am making good progress after the frogging of a group of 4 squares (1 block).  Top two blocks are attached, and am working on the 4th block which will get attached to the 3rd block, which will then get attached to the top rectangle piece.  LOL...Makes you think the hip bones connected to the thigh bone...blah

Normally, I edge the individual squares ( which I did in purple first) and tie them together and join in one long row, working across and then up and down.  But,  these squares needed a little more help with getting to the same size so (enter the mellow yellow) they're not all edge with the same number of rows, or even the same stitches; and I wanted a bit more width then the 4 squares across would give.  This seems to accomplish both of those goals, AND it's a bit less on your lap to work with therefore making it a bit more portable.  Currently the mellow yellow joining and edging of the block of 4 squares is muting the bright yellow a smedge which is helping to blend...I think the more mellow yellow in the variegated squares.

I'll be looking through my stash once this is all 1 piece to see about an appropriate purple to edge the whole thing with.

This is another of the ghans assembled from donated squares through Bridge and Beyond which will be donated to Homeless Families Foundation. 

I hope this Wednesday finds you happily busy.  Those who are traveling for the up coming holiday, please be safe and enjoy your time with loved ones.

(13) Work in Progress Wednesday badges and links in meme tab above.

Going Backward is no Fun

I feel like the Texas two step....going backward with my work on this Iris and Lillies Afghan.  All squares have been edged with various rows of purple.  I'm using a different joining then I typically do.  Normally I tied the whole ghan together and crochet all the way across and or all the way up and down.  But, that means you have to have the whole ghan on your lap at one time.  I needed this to be a bit portable...so decided to work in blocks of 4.  Plus felt it just wasn't quite wide enough at only 4 squares across, so by joining the 4 blocks and adding extra rows I could gain another couple of inches.  So first block of 4 done, 2nd block of 4 done, and when I went to join the 2 blocks of 4.......they weren't in the right order!  Somehow I had flipped them and couldn't maintain the diagonal design.  Kept moving the 2nd block around to see if I could use it as it was elsewhere in the ghan to avoid frogging it....to no avail.  I've added enough rows that it was probably 3 oz of yarn worth!  ERRRRRRRRR

But, it had to be done.  So, I redid the 2nd group of 4, and now have those 2 blocks joined.  I think I'll be happy with the additional width I've gained.

 

Flipped this around, thus the strange angle but thought you might better see the difference in width I'm talking about.  This is the way I see the ghan being used, but had to take the picture the other way at the time.

I'm in need of unknitting several rows on my DD's green sweater also, just haven't brought myself around to doing that yet.  Going backward on 2 projects at the same time was just more then I was up to.

Year of Projects (11) links in tabs across the top of the page.  And Let's Get Social Sunday (9) in the meme tab.   Looking forward to catching up with everyone, as I've been a bit behind.

Crocheting and Knitting on Wednesday

Working on Iris and Lillies. Making headway with the edging of the squares.  Think I'm about 1/3rd done with the edging of these squares.

Some squares require one granny style edge, others a sc row after the granny style, and others, maybe just a sc row to get things sized up before joinging.  Working on this afghan sure makes me think of flowers, lillies, iris, and daffodils.   It's another of the afghans being assembled from donated squares through Bridge and Beyond that will donated to Homeless Families. 

I've gotten upto 16 inches so far on this kimono style sweater for my Darling Daughter.  This is the back piece.  It's grown several inches since the last picture (previous post).  Think and hope when this is finished the sleeves and 2 front pieces will seem faster.

WIPW post.  Badges and links in meme tab  across the top of the blog.  Please join us.

Green Kimono Style Sweater

Knitted on the plane going to Newport Coast, CA and almost every day while on vacation there.  This is the back of THIS, my work in progress this Wednesday.  Using washable Plymouth Encore Wool and Acyrlic yarn, and 2 sizes of circular needles 7's and 8's; this is the back.  Lots still to do, as it needs to measure 29 inches with a cast on of 120 stitches.  Currently this measures about 13 inches.  LOVE the color.  Some of you know, green is one of my DD's favorite colors, the other is purple.  I bought the pattern and yarn as a Christmas present ...but, wrap it and told her I'd make it after Christmas.

The style looks like it would be very comfortable and good sweater to have on hand.

What's everyone working on this Wednesday for work in progress?  Having just gotten back in town last night in the middle of our latest snow storm, this post is short and sweet.  Much to do in order to catch up.

Happy Stitches all, badges and links in tabs for meme's across the top of the blog, please join us.

Painting Pottery with Darling Daughter

 You might have read about my recent Girls Wkend with my Fabulous Darling Daughter.  One of the many things we did (and if you didn't read about it Click Here and HERE...plus you can see how different the pottery pieces look now that they're fired), was paint pottery.  We enjoy doing that when we're together.  With each outing my pieces are less pathetic, but her's are always awesome.  She has a steady had and the ability to draw.  I draw to keep my piece smaller and more basis.  Shallow bowl above could be a good size for a salad bowl

 AND or snack bowl.  I think it would work for crackers and cheese, salty snacks etc.  We often have salty snacks with our Martini's during cocktail.

 Her bowl.......see what I mean!  She drew this awesome flower by hand inside the bowl, even picked up some shading with the colors in the flower and leaves.  Inside background is a pretty blue, while the outside is a nice dark navy blue.  She made two of these.

 These are good sizes for soup, cereal, and or side dishes. 

Sunday Stitches with Sandy

 The green sweater for DD is almost at it's 5 inches of garter which is the band of the sweater.  Once it hits 5 inches it's time to change needle size and move into the pattern stitch.  Took this photo several days before this Sunday's YOP post, as I was trying to get posts lined up.  Hopefully by the time you read this, those changes have happened.  If you scroll back or click here, you'll progress has been made.  I started with the largest piece for the sweater the back with a cast on of 120 stitches, so even with garter it takes so time.  Most people it seems start with the two smaller pieces of sweaters the fronts...thought mentally, I would like to do the largest first so I could really fell like headway was being made.  The pattern picture is Here

 The feather and fan afghan, Sea and Sand has been in the works for a long while; but it too is making progress.  It's so large I really can't take it with me anymore so only work on it here and there at home.  But, when you last saw it, I had just finished the variegated section.  I'm now about half done with tan.  There are 232 stitches per row, so it seems to take forever to get a few rows done...but I am plugging along.

Love the tan right next to that last variegated, so thought I'd show you a close up.

YOP-2 update:(see tab top of the blog for badge and link)
Make 10 ghans from donated squares etc. (8 done 2 more to go)
Finish Sea and Sand (getting close, I think)
Finish Candy Corn (I don't know if I'll get to it, or want to, but it's been waiting for SSSSSoooooo long.
Learn new cast on methods...haven't done anything in that direction
Use knitting machine....still in box in basement, no headway setting it back up for use
Knit myself a cable skirt.......not happening, by the time I get my other items done it will summer, probably
Something for DD, which was to be a scarf...which was in fact completed.  But, it wasn't right for her or needed.  Project for her has turned into the green sweater above.