The Cat is Chasing the Bird

Cat chases Bird! Corney but that's what came to mind as I was posting these pictures.  The yellow cotton washcloth with cat design is one I'll make again, but I won't exactly follow the pattern this time.  I think the cloth is a bit too small and the edge curls more then I like.  The pattern only has an edge of 3 knit stitches before you get into the pattern and I don't think that's adequate to get it to lay nicely.  Likewise it only has 4 rows of garter stitch top and bottom, and that doesn't seem like enough to me either.  So will be making adjustments the next time I make this one.  It's Kate the Cat Cloth by Rhonda K. White's pattern.  The shape however I think is good.  Sometimes with these shapes made of counting purls and garters the pattern isn't real noticeable, this obviously is.  I'm also wondering about doubling it to make a nice big square for say the center of an afghan?

Blue Jay, the name of this ghan...thus cat chasing bird, lol.  Well in real life the Blue Jay would probably go after a small cat, as they're very aggressive birds.  You can see there's still a few ties left.  I have 3 rows yet to crochet together then work on the border, launder and block before this will be ready to be donated.  With a busy week scheduled, fingers crossed I can show this to you next as a completed project.  And if that happens, it will be #10 on my list of YOP ghans to make from donated squares.

**Special note for Flamingo KS, I'm not able to comment on your blog now that you have google+.  This is happening quite a bit to folks without knowing it.  Once you sign up for google+, the only people who can visits, and comment on your blog are people who join up.  It really restricts people finding you.  Didn't know if you knew, and it's my understanding you can change a setting so people can blog with you like they did before you joined.  When you join google+ you are automatically taken to that forum type profile page and not to your blog, then people have to scroll around to find you.**

Happy Sunday, Happy Knitting, and Crocheting.  YOP badge and link in meme tab above.
(BL 5, R5)

Oh Friday, You are MY Friend

WOW, it's been a fast week.  I had planned to have my post written and scheduled and totally missed getting that done.  Been a busier week then normal, with promises of busier yet next week. 

• I make a really good Lemon Drop Martini
• I don't like fish, though I do eat tuna salad
• I've worn glasses since I was in the 4th grade, and started wearing tri-focals about 15 years ago
• I dislike winter immensely, and with each year am more impatient for spring
• I'm not an animal lover.  In fact, I have a fear of many.

 The above picture, lunch counter ladies is for your amusement, it is after-all Friday!  No one looks good in hair nets and lab coats, so we decided to make faces along with it, and heck why not play with the adjustments of color on the computer and really make the silly picture even more ridiculous.  Taken awhile back on a particularly crazy day at work while we were in the "test kitchen".

Enjoy your week-end.  Link and badge for Friday 5/Random Friday in meme tab.  It's fun join us.
(8,2)

Rainy Monday, Got Yarn?

Next ghan to be assembled from donated squares through Bridge and Beyond for Homesless Families Foundation is Blue Jay.  The variegated squares, dark blue, and medium blue required 1 row of single crochet as an edging, while the light blue required one row of double crochet.  I managed to get all the edging done in the car ride as we traveled back from St. Louis yesterday.  This needs to be tied together so crocheting it together can begin and I think will need a substantial border to bring the size up a bit.  Currently it measures 43 x 43.  Should be able to add several inches to it once it's assembled, bordered, and blocked.

Sorry gang, I'm a day late with my Sunday, YOP post.

My Year of Projects List for July 2012-July 2013

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)
Finish the Feather and Fan Afghan (knitted), that finally has a name, Sea and Sand
  **Sea and Sand in the works
SO, BLUE JAY WILL BE MY 10TH AFGHAN MADE FROM DONATED SQUARES.  IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF I'M GOING TO MANAGE TO COMPLETE SEA AND SAND, AND THAT LONG TERM CANDY CORN TO COMPLETE THIS PORTION OF THE LIST.

Other portion of the lists are not coming along as well as the afghan list.  The project for Darling Daughter got switched after I made a scarf that the colors weren't right, and switched that project to a sweater, which is in the works, but only have a portion of the the back piece done.  Need to rip out a few rows, and so have put it on the back burner.

Cable knit skirt for myself.....no hope of getting it done, though I did get part of my goal completed.  I learned how to knit cables, by knitting a scarf with cables, which is still in need of a good soak and blocking.

Cotton cloths for myself, has gotten switched to 2 Pay it Forward Gifts, and a gift for a friend who's husband has been very ill, in and out of the hospital.  Sadly, mostly in the hospital and she's in need of a pick me up.

Here's one cloth in the works, have completed a couple of others, which have previously been posted.  Hoping to get a few more done.  Worked on this some in our recent travels from Cols, to St. Louis.

YOP badge and link in meme tab across the top of the blog.

Friday Friday, Everyone's Favorite Day

Hello Friday (5 on Friday and Finished object Friday)

1. I drink coffee to wake up, but want tea in the afternoon, or tea when I'm cold, or tea when I don't feel well.
2. I like wine, dry wine.  Typically I drink White(favorite Pinot Grigio) to sip and Red with dinner (Pinot Noir).  I tent to like lighter reds over heavy like a Merlot.
3. I rarely drink pop, maybe twice a year.
4. I like Champagne, we always have a bottle with our traditional Christmas morning brunch.
5. I love milk and it took me forever to get used to 2% after drinking the real deal forever

Finished another little project, the traditional corner to corner Grandma's Favorite cotton dishcloth.  Little projects are very satisfying.  Need to make 1 maybe 2 more and get rollin back on some major projects again.  Had planned to make myself a couple, then remembered this would be good for my Pay it Forward Gifts, then found out a friend's husband is very ill and thought she could use a pick me up with say homemade soap, pretty cotton cloth and a card.  So, looks like I'll be making more then I had planned on.

Join us for Finished Object Friday and or Random 5, links and badges in meme at the top of the blog.

Dark and Gloomy Wednesday

Got the two areas in front weeded.  Paced myself and did some last Friday and finished on Sunday, then hubby got picked up the first round of mulch.  I say first because it takes more then several.  20 bags is what fits in the back of the Explorer and that's what you see here is 20 bags.  These aren't real large areas in front of the house, but I bet 20 bags isn't going to be enough, as I eye ball it.  I should remember to write down how much we use where from year to year.  So, perhaps posting here on the blog will aid me next year.

In previous years I would have probably weeded and mulch both areas in a day.  Can't do that now.  The arthritis in the knee and back being a problem.  Must pace myself.  Do things in shorter time frames, and then ice the knee.  Getting old is not the "golden years".  It was a pretty day though to be outside, sun was out; but it was still quite cool and windy.

Monday I did the larger of the 2 areas to the left of the door and about half the other side, when I decided the body had had enough for one round.  Mulch is spread much thinner then it should be, so my initial eyeball that 20 bags wasn't enough seems to be correct.  But, it's a start.  Will take several weekends for this work in progress, and probably about 5 more trips to buy more mulch to get the 2 sides, all around the deck in back and the 3 fence rows in back.  I'm thinking I might like to do away with one of the beds and let it go back to grass, getting to hard to keep up.

Having finished the basic square, side to side garter stitch cotton washcloth started everyone's favorite...Grandma's corner to corner with what I had left of the pretty blue, white, and yellow variegated.  Just started here with the yellow from my stash and am now at the decreasing part, so just over half way.  Plan to make maybe 2 more....shhhhhhh though, am working on Pay it Forward Gifts so mums the word.

WIPW badges and links in meme tab across the top of the blog, please join us.

Dark and Gloomy, looks like night instead of morning, more rain is expected....which means I probably won't be finishing the mulching today.  I'm ok with that; but hope to do it tomorrow so there's a few days between before taking delivery of the next load.
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Almost Instant Gratification.

The beauty of small projects is you get a chance to let you mind breath, and you get almost instant gratification.  AND, if you're one to make a list you get to cross something off...that's always a good feeling.

I don't do many small items, but may have to start doing a few more.  Plus, you feel like there's more variety in the work you're doing.

And so, we have one knitted cotton washcloth, looking all springy.  After finishing this the other night, I started another; but this will be the traditional Grandma style, corner to corner cloth.  I know there's not enough left of this variegated to make another full cloth, so will see if the yellow or blue solids I have in my stash blend well enough to add when I run out of the variegated blue and yellow.

Enjoy your Friday, and share your Finished Objects, see links and badges in meme above, AND for Friday 5, as well.

1. I drink high test coffee only, mentioned that a few Fridays ago.  I only drink 2-3 cups a day, and only in the morning.  Always wondered how people could sleep if they had coffee through out the course of the day.
2. I think it's finally safe to say spring has arrived, people have begun mowing their yards, ours is in need.  I used to enjoy mowing; but my arthritis in my knee has me not wanting to do it now.  Guess hubby will do the bulk of it this year.  
3. I don't get why so many people have tattoos.
4. I'm closing in on being finished with all the blogs posts for the last of the 3 blogs I registered in the April A-Z Blog Challenge.  Got 3 more posts to write for the travel blog, X,Y, and Z.
5. Heard about a website where you can make a newsletter, that might be my big project for today....wish me luck, I've never made one before

Enjoy your up coming weekend folks.