Finished Object Friday, sorta?

A completed strip for the wedding...probably a bit of a cheat; but it's all I've got to show you as a finished object...it is an object, not a project...soooooooo. I'm posting it and counting it. lol Since photographing this strip, I've been working on the 2nd strip which is coming along nicely and a bit faster then this first one did. I'm on the 5th color block of the 2nd strip. YIPPEE.

This is knitted and is the item I've been referring to as The Wedding Ghan. The light tan is the Double Eyelet pattern. I'm happy with it, and was a bit nervous when I started it, as it's my first eyelet pattern, and the first time I've done a pattern with psso in it. I had to get on line to figure out what it is (pass the slip stitch over). The medium tan is called Little Blocks and is the easiest of the 3 patterns to do...I really like this stitch and can see me using it often in other projects. The dark brown block is called Arrow Heads and is the most tedious for me with the counting; but provides lots of texture which I like, though believe it will look better once blocked. I think it's odd it doesn't have an edge of 2 or 3 garter stitches to keep it flat; but the book was trying hard I think to have all the blocks be the same size.

Click to enlarge the picture so you can see the 3 patterns and textures better. Girl time will officially start in about 2 hours...I'm sooooooooooooooooo excited.

Pink Poddle Ghan

Been awhile since I posted an update to show you progress on this diagonal striped afghan. It reminds me of back in the day, poodle skirts for those of ya as old as me. Thus it's name. When I started this ghan I had several charities in mind, one of which was my very own Bridge and Beyond for the gals at Nancy Place through Faith Mission. Then I heard about the need in Joplin, Missouri and believe if I can get it done anytime in the near future; that's where it's headed. Those folks lost so much, perhaps some young girl will enjoy curling up with this and find some comfort. Perhaps too, someone as old as me who remembers poodle skirts? I've laid this aside though for awhile in order to work on The Wedding Ghan, the wedding is after all Aug 13th...

I find when I'm tired I work on the poodle ghan, as I don't have to count or do different stitches, like I do for the wedding ghan. Don't like working on it when I'm tired, I've already frogged and made changes/corrections too many times.

Normally I have lots of projects going, but for now am just working back and forth between these 2. I do have plenty of other wip (work in progress) pieces, but I've put them all away for the time being.

Girl Time Soon

Looking forward to a weekend with my DD soon and girl time. We only get to have girl time once every couple of years it seems, but we always enjoy it when we do. I can't say I ever had "girl time" in the same way with my own Mother when she was living. Things were different then. Parents worked, life was harder, household chores certainly took more time; leaving little time for frivolous things. Since Mom and I always lived in the same city, it wasn't like we had to travel to visit each other; but we didn't plan time together. She was busy with work before she retired, as was I. Then she and Dad were busy spending time together, as were my husband and I (plus I still was, and am employed). We talked on the phone alot, had dinner as a family, but I can't really think of time when just she and I went to lunch or dinner. We just didn't do that. Our interests too were vastly different. I do remember when I turned 30 (a very long time ago), a shopping venture; but it was just for the afternoon.

So what do my DD and I do when we have girl time? We always get a massage, and often a pedicure. I don't believe my Mother ever had either. One didn't spend money and time on things like that. As I said, different time, different interests. I've got appointments lined up for us both to have a pedicure and a manicure the day she flies in. Then I think we'll paint pottery, that's something we've done together the last couple of times we've had "girl time". She's quite good at it, and well...........I try. Though perhaps it's silly to have a manicure if we're going to be painting...hum... We'll do lunch, or brunch here at home before the pedicures or eat in the shopping center where the salon. If weather permits (and that's a big if given how lousy it's been now for some time), we might opt for Shakespeare in the park that evening. We both really enjoy that, and it's free! The Scarlet Pimpernel is playing, and it's one I've not seen before.

We have massages scheduled for Sat morning, so we'll most probably do lunch afterwards, and then hit a yarn store or two...yeah, she's like me, she loves looking at yarn. She also knits and crochets, just doesn't have much time for it. Then I have a feeling she'll want to hit the used book store. They don't have Half Price Books in St. Louis, and she LOVES books, she doesn't read them, she consumes them. lol

We've done our "girl times" previously in Baltimore (when she lived there), in St. Louis where she currently lives, and in Breckenridge when we were vacationing. This is the first time we've actually done it here..at home. Looking forward to it, though it will be brief; she's only here for 2 nights.

Do you do "Girl Time" with your Daughters? Did you do "Girl Time" with your Mother, or do you still?

39 Years Ago

Thirty-nine years ago at 4:00 pm in The Whetstone Park of Roses, walking through the trees on my way to marry Ernie, my honey. Mom made my dress, white dotty swiss. The flowers were bachelor buttons (which are sorta purple) and white carnations. We had no huge round of showers, no bachelor or bachelorete parties, no rehearsal dinner. We simply got married because we loved each other and wanted to get married. We didn't have a long engagement, live together before hand, or buy a house, or have pets together first. No, we did it the old fashion way. We got married, we lived in a small apartment with hand me down furniture. He went to school part time and worked part time, I worked full-time. It was wonderful. We had a blast, and never felt like we missed out on anything. We spent time together, did cheap things. We didn't go out to eat often, buy new cars, lots of cloths or take expensive vacations. We camped, ate lots of tuna casserole and had the time of our lives.

Love you Ernie, what a great 39 years together we've had.

Remembering

I photographed this sign the other day when my Dad and I traveled to Urbana to visit my 92 year old Aunt in assisted living. These words have been haunting me a bit since I first read the sign. Yes, at that age she doesn't remember things like she used to; but actually her memory isn't much of an issue. I photographed the sign because it makes me think of a dear friend with severe Alzheimer's.

We all know the disease affects many elderly, but sadly it affects many younger people too. My friend was diagnosed several years back, so obviously had it awhile before being diagnosed. I've read quite a bit on line about the 7 stages and she's most definitely in the late stages (final stages, stage 7). She was in her 50's when diagnosed.

She's not been able to carry on a conversation now for a couple of years, and has not been able to be left alone while her husbands at work. She requires 24 x 7 care.
The following is a cut and paste from The National Alzheimer's Association.

Alzheimer's disease has no survivors. It destroys brain cells and causes memory changes, erratic behaviors and loss of body functions. It slowly and painfully takes away a person's identity, ability to connect with others, think, eat, talk, walk and find his or her way home.

We've spent many a vacation at the beach through the years; even when our girls were all young. We have many memories. Recently, hubby and I spent a week at the beach again with these very good friends; in hopes of bringing back some of those old memories we so cherish.

Share a memory with someone you love, maybe someone from your past. Keep memories alive, tell family stories, reminisce with friends. Take time to let people you know you care about them, while you can. It's more important then you know.

Third Times The Charm, I think?

Work In Progress Wednesday

Plan A was to be to 2 colors, the light and middle color above, was to be separate squares using dishcloth patterns. I blogged about it HERE, you might remember. That was designs using the light color, garter stitch squares using the middle color. The idea being it would provide both color contrast and texture contrast. Onto plan B, because the light colored squares designs weren't showing up very well. That was designs on medium color, using light for garter; and or designs on both...oh wait. Plan B 2 was hatched. I wasn't going to have enough yarn, enter the 3rd color, the above dark brown. After making 4 squares you see HERE, 2 of the light and medium color....plan C was hatched.
Spoke with DD and we decided to nix the dishcloth pattern idea completely, just weren't seeing the designs, and if you did, without knowing what they were suppose to be...you really didn't know. Using my stitch books and book of 200 squares comes plan C. Three colors, three squares each a different pattern/texture. Then I thought to help make up lost time, rather then making separate squares I would make strips to eliminate lots of casting on, binding off, and minimize the stitching together.
Using 200 Knitted Blocks by Jan Eaton I soon learned in order to do a strip, you need the same number of stitches in the cast on. Searched the book for 3 squares I thought complimented each other, 3 that had the same number of cast on stitches and have my fingers crossed this works. I truly need want real opinions here folks. Using Plymouth Encore Chunky (25% wool 75% acryclic), and size 10 Addie Turbo's, will make it soft, warm-heavy, but washable.

The 3 squares very in that the lightest color is an eyelet pattern (lightest in stitch appearance), the medium tan is called Little Blocks (I think medium in pattern appearance), while the dark brown is called Arrowheads, and is, I believe the heaviest in pattern appearance. The Arrowhead section has purls on the edge and so curls in a bit; but I believe when stitched to the next strip will smooth out nicely and be even.

This is a wedding gift for my DD best friend. She's the maid of honor. I wanted the ghan to be appropriate for her hubby to use as well. Earth colors should blend with any decor...right?

**note to my fellow bloggers, and wipw members, please please KILL the word verification, try it for a week, you'll be amazed and pleased with how well the filter on blogger works. You really really don't need the captcha thing, it's sooooooooo annoying, and time consuming. Try it at least, change your settings. Most of us can't see those idiot letters and they really aren't needed, the filter is what get's rid of the spam** Please and thanks