The Blanket Project

Trying again

2012-02-03T18:04:00.001-08:00

February 2012 already. WOW. Time is sure speeding up.

Trying once more to blog here.
Life is very busy and there just seems no time for everything that needs doing every day.

A few whines:
1) I work 12 hours shift work. Some days, some nights, then back on days and round and round it goes till I am sleep deprived and exhausted A LOT. Night shift is really hard on me. I don't sleep well when it's daylight outside even though I have all the dark room, white noise, ear plugs, and everything else everyone suggests to aid sleep during shift workers.
2) The house repairs are a nuisance. Workers don't show up to work INDOORS when it's raining outdoors, they do A LOT of shoddy work, steal stuff, rummage through things, do stupid stuff (like put baseboard on an un-taped, un-floated, un-painted sheetrocked wall) they must be babysat the whole time they are in the house and are SUPPOSED to be working instead of digging through my things. I am fed up with the house repairs and just want the contractor GONE. Monday I go to teh office to talk to the company.
Tuesday I ought to have a house full of pissed off workers :(
3) I don't get to see my family enough, don't get to ride my motorcycle enough, don't see friends often enough, have too many pets and responsibilities and have absolutely no time for fun these days.

And - it's the weekend starting in the morning.
sigh

*~*

Isn't she lovely ....

2011-12-10T10:22:00.000-08:00

Aurora
Dec. 7, 2011
8 lbs 2 oz
19 inches tall

PERFECTLY ADORABLE

Long time, no see!

2011-12-10T09:38:00.000-08:00

In May I left work in an ambulance.
Didn't return to work till mid August.

The multitude of tests and dozens of specialists that I kept being transferred to found nothing medical. Finally a cardiologist wrote "STRESS" on the diagnosis line and I was sent back to live the same life that put me in the hospital in the first place.

Definition:
Stress is what you feel when you have to handle more than you are used to. When you are stressed, your body responds as though you are in danger. It makes hormones that speed up your heart, make you breathe faster, and give you a burst of energy.
~~

I knew this definition already. I have had more 'stuff than I normally have to deal with' for 3+ years now and I was doing mostly alright - till my boss at work became a total jerk after 2 years of being good friends. (Not a romantic friend - just a good friend)
5 months of a hostile work environment on top of extreme stress at home and my body just threw in the white flag and caused heart attack symptoms with no actual heart attack.

It was painful.
VERY painful!!!

So ... I've been reading all I can find on managing stress. Mostly, none of it is something that I can reasonably do, so I am trying to learn the skills of zoning out. LOL

Recommendations for handling stress:

1) Remove stress causers from your life. (Since these are people, I can't do it)
2) Manage your time better. (Is there ever enough hours in the day?)

3) Get more sleep (God, if only I could!!)

4) Exercise - this one I can do.

Bought a treadmill and put in in a place where I can go and be ALONE. Also making repairs to my bicycle so I can start riding it and get out of the house, since being IN the house is the biggest source of stress. I also asked Santa to bring me a battery tender for my motorcycle so it'll crank on cold days and I can get on that escape hatch and get some fresh air and clear my head.

Stressors:

*) I work shift work and the DuPont schedule must have been invented by a Military Sleep Depravation EXPERT!!!!

*) I don't spend enough time doing things that I enjoy (Not even sure anymore what those ARE!!)

*) I have too many pets.

*) Family issues.

***
If anything, life has gotten crazier since that day in May. :(

Any suggestions for things THAT WORK for you to relieve stress? There are lots of suggestions & articles, but most of the suggestions aren't reasonable.

Not the vacation I intended

2011-05-27T07:26:00.000-07:00

If only this was where I was .... It would have been SO much more interesting!! All those men of GH would have provided some eye candy to keep my mind occupied while I waited.

Wait for the pain to ease, drugs to take affect, tests, some more tests, tests that involve needles, something to eat 16 hrs after admittance, more tests.
It was 2 days before Mother's Day came and went and I was still waiting on a diagnosis.
There were long lists of tests to attend ... then wait for results to come in & another test can be scheduled.

I waited in the hospital 4 days after the 2 days of hurting and had no answers at the end of a 6 day stay ..... just more appointments for tests.

They let me out to "get my house in order" (Scary when they said that) and then I got to make another trip to the hospital for a short stay of tests that require an operating room. (oh, joy!!) Still black and blue from that little deal.

I have more tests after Memorial Day.
Dare I wish for a diagnosis - or a release form!?!

Today is day 21 since I was carted away from work in an ambulance. I still have no diagnosis and still no idea when I will be allowed to return to work. I'm not hurting anymore so that's a plus, but to add to the frustration of the whole ordeal the company is now starting to act like they haven't received paperwork that is needed to cover time off, medical bills and benefits so that I can keep the job that I was carted away from.
Believe me, I would rather have worked than suffered the pains that demanded an ambulance interrupt my work day!

My arm chair medical degree tells me STRESS is why I got that ride with all the blinking lights and loud sirens. I'll have to see what the guy with the sheep skin thinks before I can claim it, though.

**

Wasted days

2011-02-26T14:13:00.000-08:00

I have managed to waste a whole day today. It's nearly time for bed and I have accomplished nothing that I had on my TO-DO list!

Sad part is - I have nothing to blame it on. I'm not sick, it's not raining or freezing, I didn't spend all day working-for-tha-man, NOTHING.

I watched old black and white movies, talked to my new DIL on the phone, snuggled the critters, cooked 3 days worth of food and croched a shopping bag, cell phone/cigarette case, make up bag and check book cover.

I have to sew a big button on the cell phone case so it'll stay closed.

This is resting on 2 bed pillows. It's a nice size for mini shopping. Maybe a couple days worth of food but not big enough for a weeks worth! Heck, I need a BUGGY for that!

Not a total waste, I guess.

~*~

Good eats

2011-01-27T00:29:00.001-08:00

YUMMY!

Carrot Cake picture from Figi's

Winter

2011-01-02T09:52:00.000-08:00

She doesn't want to come inside today.
She wants to lay on top of the picnic table and take a nap in the sunshine. The sunshine that shines through the patio door inside the house won't do. She wants to be in the sunshine outside in the yard!
Every now and then she wakes up long enough to see if I'm still looking at her.

It's too cold to stay out there and watch her sleep in the sunshine - so I open the curtains and watch her through the glass door.

She gets sunbeams, a sweater, a bean-bag bed and a couple treats in case she gets bored.

(can you say ROTTEN DOG !??!)

**

Christmas is coming

2010-12-05T09:39:00.001-08:00

The tree is up and decorations are in progress. It's slow going this year and a lot less decorating that in years past. It's a lot of work and I just don't have the TIME these days!

A few years back when all the family members were grown, the gift giving got difficult because everybody had everything they wanted and a wish list was hard to get! It was then that we all realized that FAMILY is the best gift of all. Time to share a meal together or time to visit a tourist attraction or even time for a back yard BBQ had to be planned well in advance so that everyone can arrange things to get a day off or a few hours to spare.

This year time spent with family seems to be the nearly impossible, and it's the one thing we all say we want.

...

Unhappy - but safe

2010-11-18T12:26:00.001-08:00

**
Look, we don't have to do this. I won't hop the fence, I swear.
Come on.
Come oonnn.
Seriously ..... Trust me.

FINE.

If that's the way you want it - I'll just sit here and ignore you till you give in.

Sure, you can sit at the table with me if you want - but don't think I'm going to act like I see you.

**
WHAT?!??!

I'm not heading for the gate - Trust me!!!!
**

Gotta love her !

Star's antics

2010-11-15T07:41:00.001-08:00

*
This morning Star had a long walk around the neighborhood. At 6 in the morning there aren't any cars so I took the 25ft leash so she could explore. She loved it, as usual.

About an hour after the walk we went out back - tethered together and I sat at the picnic table. She climbed to the table top and sat behind me to rest her head on my shoulder.
A shocker! We looked each other in the close-up-eye for a second, then I scratched her chin and told her what a good girl she is.

Her way of saying 'SORRY' for yesterday? ... I like to think so.

**
Someone at BRAT suggested this website.
http://www.fearfuldogs.com/index.html
I checked it out and see that I'll be reading there a lot!

**

Slippers

2010-11-14T16:18:00.000-08:00

*
Granny wants some hand made big slippers for Christmas this year.
Do you think she'll be thrilled with these?

**

This doggie gives me fits

2010-11-14T11:25:00.001-08:00

This morning at 6 she climbed the cyclone fence and ran off down the street. For 2 1/2 hours I chased, called, threw treats at, followed, whistled and tried to tempt her to me.
She wasn't having it!!!
It's 50* outside this morning and apparently that is perfect weather for running, because she ran so far I had to get a vehicle to catch up to her! She ran inside a fenced field while I drove alongside her and when I looked at the speedometer, it said EIGHTEEN.

Nothing I did got her to come back and finally I gave up chasing her.
I went inside and sent email to the rescue place I adopted her from to tell them if a dog pound gets her to call me. (She has a tag with their number and ID number on it)

I went back out for one more try and saw her down the street about 3 houses away.
Frustrated with her, I turned my back and headed back inside. She came across the street and I could hear her jingling tag getting closer. She followed me into the house... and I was happy she was home but mad that she'd run off.

I gave her a treat because I want her to learn that coming to me is GOOD. I have also made up my mind that she can't go out into the back yard anymore without being on a leash of some sort.

Definately a Basenji adventure this morning and a lesson that says chasing something to get it to come to you only chases that something farther away!
**

Week 3 begins

2010-11-08T01:02:00.001-08:00

*
Week 3 begins and they are still all smiles.
Even the neighbors 2 doors down commented that they have never seen him so happy.
What better thing could a parent want for their child than happiness in their life?

Keep it up you two.

Are you tired of weddings yet?

2010-11-03T01:22:00.000-07:00

~*~
Cause I'm not!!!

Sunday wedding

2010-10-27T06:48:00.000-07:00

~*~
This is the line of bikes that escorted the groom to the ceremony as he rode his bike to his wedding.
There were already about 50 bikes waiting to greet them. More and more kept coming as time for the wedding got closer.

~*~
In this picture you can see me, Rose, (Maid of Honor) Trish (the bride) Singe (Robert) Focker (Best man) and Cousin Connie and Nelda. The man standing at the bottom of the steps is Trish's dad.

~*~

~*~
In this picture is the ring bearer, bride, groom, best man.
Ring bearer is the son of the bride and Robert's step-son, Chase.

Chase already calls Robert "Dad" and wants Robert to be his 'real' dad and let his father be the stepdad. It's a wonderful tribute to the kind of man Robert is!

~*~
This one below is:
Weird Walt, Feather, Skipper, sliver of me, Rose, Chase, Trish, Robert, Focker, (at bottom of steps) Trish's dad, Haley (Connie's daughter) , Connie and Nelda taking a picture.
The motorcycles at the bottom of the picture are Robert's on the left and Trish's dad's on the right.

Pictured below:
Father of the bride, bride, groom, ring bearer, mother of the groom.

~*~

This is a beautiful - and happy- family. These three smile A LOT in their every day life!!
It is an amazing thing to be around and it warms the heart to observe them.
OCTOBER 24, 2010 at 13:00 they legally became a family.
I wish them a LIFETIME of smiles together
~*~

~*~

Boutinere

2010-10-18T14:27:00.000-07:00

Boutinere for the ring bearer. (He's 6)

In this picture you can see the ribbon says Trish and Robert except that the 'and' is replaced by a tiny motorcycle. The wedding date of October 24, 2010 is on the other side of the bow. Upside down in the picture.
The bride wants to make a shodowbox that contains some of the flowers, her bouquet, wedding favors and stuff like that. Because of this - all the flowers are silk.
One invitation was made just so they'd have one to save in the shadowbox.
No invitations were mailed to guests.
**

The Wedding

2010-10-17T04:34:00.000-07:00

Picture from HERE

This is the bouquet the bride will carry - with some modifications. The purple flowers will have to go. The bride has chosen black and white as her color scheme.

There is much discussion about whether to try tiny black flowers to replace the purple or whether they should just be removed. Maybe some tiny black ribbon loops instead of tiny flowers?

Whatever ends up happening for the final bouquet, I'll post pictures.

This is the box of flowers for everone else - plus the tossing bouquet.

The ribbons have the wedding date and the couples names with a tiny motorcycle between their names. It's really cute ribbon and I'll try for a close-up.

I'd love to show the dress, but that will have to wait till the groom sees it. The bride has been torturing him with keeping it a secret. This is as close as I can get.... a dress she tried but didn't buy:

Wedding Swag:
Engraved napkins as well.... now where did I put those .....

And this:

This is a black and white swirl sucker that tastes like cherry or grape.
These will the the "ticket" to a drawing for a prize.
They all look alike - except one, and that one wins a prize.

We expect it to be a very fun event.
See you there!
**

news snippets

2010-10-01T14:57:00.000-07:00

*
Driveway complete.
Wedding stress settled in, fought through and the wedding is STILL ON !!
Work week began on Friday.
Two 50 yr old oak trees worth of wood is cut, stacked and aging in the back yard.
Mustang is settling in to it's new home.
and finally .....
COOL WEATHER IS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*

Things to ponder

2010-09-21T17:41:00.001-07:00

Why is it that I can have a snack in the evening with coffee as I watch the news or catch tomorrow's weather prediction and still go to sleep at bedtime....

But if I have these same snacks with Coke, I am up for half the night.

(I love Coka-Cola) ~*~

ps: While I often have the bowl of beautiful fruit for snacks, I didn't have a picture of it. I found one at this website, though.

http://alannaknudsen.blogspot.com/

(Do you think we might be kinfolks?)

~*~

We're having a wedding

2010-09-11T08:55:00.001-07:00

Black and white.
Leather and lace.
Motorcycles and family.

Possible wedding cakes: The groom's cake will be a club vest and a couple on a motorcycle.

This is not the one she picked
but it's one of the dresses she tried on.

She was and will be beautiful in the dress she decided on. She is the perfect match for him and him for her. They make each other smile and they can't stand to be apart.
And I wish them a lifetime of happiness and love together.

Time off

2010-08-31T07:11:00.000-07:00

We're putting in a driveway at our "Hurricane Evacuation" place.

This is the kind of thing that gets done on my days off work. Or when I take vacation time.

We thought it would be a 2 day job but then the pipes arrived on 2 trucks and we realized before they ever STOPPED that we didn't have equipment large enough to unload them from the trucks. We had to send them back. We had rented a huge backhoe - but we had to go rent something bigger to unload them when they were RE-delivered.
(Hear the fees racking up??)

It has definitely been a learning experience.
Especially since nobody knew how to drive the backhoe when we rented it and it was over 105* with 60 to 80% humidity every single day we were out there.

Here's what it looks like with TWENTY- SIX TONS of stabilizing sand packed around the culverts and end caps.

Here's a shot of two of the endcaps.
Which weigh 3.6 tons each.
There are 4 of them.
And that backhoe in the background?

TRUST ME - that thing was HUGE !!

Next week we will spread on another 13 or 14 tons of stabilizing sand, around 20 tons of crushed concrete, a little regular sand (2 or 3 tons) to fill in around the crushed concrete chunks and then we will wait for the state highway department to decide if they are going to make us spread blacktop on it so that it matches the highway surface.

With any luck at all, it'll be drivable by October. :-)

Ain't it purdy?

Home sweet home

2010-08-11T19:34:00.001-07:00

How would you like a yard full of this ???

Home sweet home.
Going on 2 years already.
Will be 2.5 before it goes away.

August in Texas

2010-08-04T05:52:00.000-07:00

There's a joke 'round these parts.
It goes like this:

We have 2 seasons in Texas, Summer ........ and AUGUST.

This summer we aren't the only ones that are getting extreme heat in August. 104 in Dallas, 107 in Arkansas, 100 farther up the East Coast where snow is more the norm.

This is a good time of year to find indoor things to do. Spring cleaning, arts and crafts, start the Christmas shopping online, minor redecorating that doesn't require much opening the door.

It's also a good time to drag out the sprinkler and bathing suits for the kids. Small plastic pools are a good place to spend a little time under the shade tree. Dinner cooked on the pit saves heating up the house this time of year and can be a nice way to spend a little time with family enjoying conversation instead of television.

Whatever you and your family are doing - hope you are staying cool!
**

Surprises

2010-07-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

This beauty arrive unexpectedly.
Thanks cuz.
I love you.
**

Snow in July ..... in Texas

2010-07-14T23:48:00.000-07:00

**

Just so you get the right "feel" for this story ..... I work in an office.
I no longer work outside in the elements. No more baking in the sun, drowning in the rain, sweltering from the humidity.
I am now INdoors, in the air conditioning. Where it's cool and people that DO work outdoors come so they can get a break from the heat and cool off.
You know those kinds of places ... yes?

In March the air conditioner at work was ripped out and supposedly being replaced. All of us that used that air conditioning were looking forward to the change because the new unit would also have heating abilities. Something the old unit hadn't had in 30 years.

We didn't know they hadn't ordered a new one before they ripped out the old one. The old one that WORKED when they ripped it out.

We didn't know that the new one wouldn't be ordered till the old one was gone for more than 6 weeks.

Having no air conditioning in March wasn't such a big deal but by mid April we were all feeling it. By May 10 the office was creeping up to the mid 80's during the day and by the third week of May it was 80-85 during night shift.

In early June it got to be 95 in the office on my shift. The heat made me sick and caused lots of heath issues for everyone that works in the office. I ended up missing nearly a month from work because of heat related health troubles.

But now I am back to work and here we are in the month of July.

The new unit is installed and blowing cold air - but the controls are not yet hooked up.
That means the air conditioner runs wide open, on full cool.
You can't set a thermostat and you can't turn the thing off.

So guess what?

Any minute we expect it to start snowing in here.

Jackets and sweaters are piling up on the coat rack, space heaters are showing up under the desks - and they are ON!!!

Space heaters in Texas in JULY.
Who-da thought it?

I think it's time I started working on putting together the pieces of Granny's blanket so that I will have my own lap blanket. I may need it at work!!!

**

Tuesday

2010-07-13T18:59:00.001-07:00

It's 9 pm and 84 degrees outside. The news is warning shoppers to make sure you don't leave children or pets inside parked cars even if you leave the windows down.
If we don't have a few days of over 100 actual temperature in August, I will be surprised.

Tuesday has been a day filled with chuckles, visitors and yard work.
Yard work started at 6 this morning. I had a visitor scheduled for 9 and wanted to do some cleaning up around the front door before she arrived. Things collect there. Leaves especially.
The wind swirls around and blows a fair size pile of leaves into the corner where the sidewalk meets the porch. In the summer it's a good place for baby snakes to hide from the heat and in winter it's a good place for dampness to collect and grow mold.

The chuckles came from watching a neighbor get angry over a car that slowed in front of his house. He paced the driveway a couple times and starred after the car that was long gone down the street, obviously angry at the gall of them slowing as they passed his house. Most of us would be glad if the cars on this street went a little slower.
He's an angry man. Alway mad about something or at someone and generally bullying the neighbors. Loud, obnoxious, ranting and cussing at the top of his lungs in a regular basis.
I don't know why he stays in the neighborhood since he hates it here. Or appears to hate it here. Another neighbor says the man owns some property in the country and that he plans to retire there. Since I never have seen him go to work ..... or ... Let's just say he has no regular schedule that appears to be a work schedule and he is never gone from home during the week for more than an hour or 2 at a time. Now and then he's gone for the weekend and takes the woman that lives with him, but I think those are times that he visits his future retirement place.

The visitors - there were 3 today.
All 3 brought something I was happy to recieve, and 2 left with some work to do. One brought ME some work to do!! Yard work. It'll take all weekend and I will have to hire help to get it done.
The second visitor turned around in angry neighbors' driveway because they missed my house. He stomped out of his garage just as they returned to the street. Satisfied that he's chased them off, he strutted back into the garage. The garage is their main entrance to the house - it leads to the kitchen and the rarely use the front door.
He didn't notice the car pull in to my driveway right next door - or he would have loudly let them know he wasn't happy.
Ahhhh, neighbors.
Some are nice, some are a pain, some are comical.
Angry neighbor is becoming a comedy show.
**

Rain

2010-07-07T09:50:00.000-07:00

Raining again today.
This is day 6 I think.

I know it stopped for half a day a couple days ago because the grass-cop neighbor ran out and mowed his yard as soon as it quit, then like magic the rain started again just as I heard the mowing stop.

My mower won't mow wet grass. It just bogs down and dies...

I've been working night shift and with the rain I haven't seen daylight in awhile. I love rainy days more than any one I know, but I was starting to have cabin fever this morning.
It's something I nearly never get.

The cats were out of food and I was out of coffee. Both things can't be tolerated for very long so I decided to go out and let Mother Nature provide me with a few wet kisses.

When I returned home from the grocery the rain had slowed to a heavy drizzle and the sky had lightened a little so I decided it was a good day to wash the car. In the rain.
Yes, I used the rain to wash the car.
I should do that ALL the time.
The car is black and very shiny when it's clean but if I wash it during a sunny day, it streaks. Washing in the rain means I can avoid dragging the hose out, can save on the water bill, it's Eco-friendly and I can be out there when the neighbors aren't stopping by to chat for 10 minutes, or 30.

I think it's the beginning of washing ALL the cars in the rain.

**

Get well, Sister

2010-06-17T17:15:00.000-07:00

Flowers from here. Nicest folks I have dealt with in ages.
They were MUCH nicer than the big name flower companies!

**

Daddy, I miss you.

2010-05-31T10:35:00.001-07:00

Memorial Day.
A day to clean grave sites and pay respects.
A day to pay tribute to those that served.
A day for remembering.
A time for family.
**

Picture from here

This is a picture of the cemetery where Daddy is.
The old oak trees shade the roads and it keeps the heat at bay as best is possible in South Texas.
There's a stream that runs through the property on the East side and it is a well kept cemetery as I have every seen.
When you stand and face Dad's grave site there is an old farm house behind him maybe half a city block in distance. He picked his spot because of the view of that farm house and the huge oak tree that stands at the head of his resting place.
If not for the fact that my father is buried there, it would be a beautiful place.
Today is the anniversary of his burial. Fitting that Memorial Day is the day to pay respects to those passed and spend time cleaning and maintaining grave site.

Today when the heat of the day is passed, we will go visit with Daddy.
Spend some time just sitting and remembering when.
We'll pull weeds or do whatever needs to be done.
Plant flowers, share stories and be family.
Some tears will be shed and some laughs will be shared.

Sometimes all at the same time.

I miss you, daddy.

Helpful information

2010-03-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

Do you know when to cut your hair so the cutting will make the hair grow faster? Or when to cut hair to decrese growth?

Here's the blog that just might teach you something!!

**

First Day of SPRING !!

2010-03-20T13:23:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung!
Soon there will be trees and flowers blooming, warmer weather, sunshine and fresh air all around the United States.
Smells of fresh cut grass and flower beds will be full of fragrant flowers.
Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees will all be zipping around sampling the sweet nectar of every blossom they can see.

Sweet, beautiful SPRING!!!

**

Don't be fooled

2010-02-14T23:52:00.001-08:00

She looks so shy and innocent

There's no way she could every do anything she's not supposed to do.

Maybe the little one won't tell on her if they play kissey face.

No-no, I didn't want to bite you, I was trying to TASTE is all.

How could I be anything but sweet?

Are you blaming ME!?!?!?

I swear, I was sleeping while you showered - I swear.

~*~

Unexpected Gift

2010-02-13T06:43:00.000-08:00

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY.

~*~

It's party time!!!!

2010-02-07T15:42:00.000-08:00

Mardi Gras in New Orleans , Louisiana is off and running. Fat Tuesday is February 16 this year and the parades started January 30 according to their Mardi Gras website.

Mardi Gras in Galveston, Texas isn't having such a lengthy parade season. It's February 5 through 16 for them.

Of course, these are only 2 locations in America that are celebrating Mardi Gras .

~*~

Aunt Ruth's Spinach Dip

2010-01-28T19:33:00.000-08:00

Spinach Dip Recipe
(Family secret) <--- click here

1 package frozen spinach
2 to 4 green onions - diced
1 package Knorr vegeatble soup mix
8 oz. sour cream
1 cup mayo
1 can Water Chestnuts

Thaw, drain and chop spinach. Combine all ingredients and chill.
Serve in bread bowl or with crackers.

~*~

Mother Earth is pissed, it seems

2010-01-19T09:57:00.000-08:00

2010 seems to be off to an angry start.

Freezing temperatures as far South as Florida. Record breaking amounts of snow, torrential rain causing floods, earthquakes that level whole cities.
It makes me wonder what February will bring.

There was an earthquake off the shore of Iowa yesterday and Yellowstone National Park has recorded an earthquake TODAY!!
None of them as tragic as Haiti, but the Mother Earth sure seems unhappy.

Speaking of Haiti - I have watched all I can of the crisis in Haiti. I have seen some horrible things that the people are doing to each other. Brutality against each other doesn't help things.
I understand their desperation because of lack of food and water. I also understand their frustration with no help arriving.

Been there.
Got the T-shirt.

I know what it's like to wait for help that just does not seem to come. I know what it's like to be in a bind and while trying to do for myself, still having hope that help will arrive.I know what it feels like for the slow realization to take hold that nobody is coming to help you. I know the fear and anger and self preservation thinking that takes over. I know how horrible and heartbreaking it is when you realize that nobody really gives a rats ass and unless you act like sheep and form peaceful lines to beg for basics, the government helpers will retreat and leave you there.

I haven't been in that exact situation as Haiti, but Ike really taught me who cares and who don't give a real rats ass --- and truth is --- that everybody that shows up isn't necessarily there to help .

~*~
I've made personal donations and participated in several clicks-to-donate at blogs I read. http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/ donated 10cents per comment and eventually sent more than $6,000 in donations related to readers.
Hers was the largest of the blogger donations that I participated in.
Way-to-go P-Dub!
~*~

2010-01-14T22:14:00.000-08:00

They have come a long way.
From this:

to this:

Then this :
Goldy backed on to the bed.

And a little closer:

And now - here we are. NEARLY an ear cleaning.
Not quite, but nearly.

~*~

Farewell

2010-01-14T06:56:00.000-08:00

~*~

Another great voice has gone to be with the band of angels.

Teddy Pendergrass, age 59, has passed on.

~*~

Goals for 2010

2010-01-10T17:17:00.000-08:00

Things I want to do in 2010:

1.)Plant a garden.
I'll use flower beds and flower pots to start and raised beds for this purpose as it progresses.
I figure I can grow flowers or I can grow food. I have lots of flowers and it's time to replace them with somethig that will be useful to my family for more than astetics - food to sustain us.

Here are some blogs that will help me.
I think it would be wonderful to have my back yard look like the yard of this house. There are many blogs about homesteading that have good information about what worked for them.

There used to be the Victory Garden, why have things changed? We could all use a little garden to help with our food costs. Wouldn't it be nice to eat a salad that you grew of fresh veggies or fruit? Heck, even Mrs. Obama is growing a garden at the White House!

A couple years ago I wanted more shade trees in the back yard so I planted fruit trees. So far I have gotten minimal fruit from them, (around a dozen pieces) but surely that will increase over time and as the trees age they will produce more fruit.

I have wild strawberries and onions that grow as part of my backyard grass. Instead of mowing them down, I will cultivate them and use them as food this year.
I have picked and eaten the strawberries in the past.
They don't produce very many but they sure are sweet.

2.)Learn to can food.
All kinds of foods, not just make jelly.
During the aftermath of hurricane Ike, there wasn't much of a selection of eats. For weeks there were no stores open, no gas stations working to buy gas to drive around in search of rumored-to-be-open stores some 20 miles away.
Red Cross canned chili and ravioli gets really old really fast and there was no fruit, bread or milk. It kept us alive ..... but had I had a stash of canned fruits and veggies stored on upper shelves so as to avoid the flood, we could have eaten those and had fruits, veggies and better-for-us foods.
No electricity at my house for 12 weeks and no running water for 4.
Canned foods don't need refrigeration and dashboard sunshine heated the canned chili just fine.
We've had Ozarka delivering water for years, so we had plenty of clean drinking water. A healthier selection of food is something I can provide and I want to learn how THIS YEAR.

I have a lot to learn about native fruits and vegetables. What will grow best in my climate and what to plant for each season. I already know we can grow Satsuma fairly easily. There are huge grapefruit trees just 3 blocks from my house and nearly everybody grows tomato and peppers around here. Squash grew in a side flower bed last year, all on it's own and pumpkin grew in the jack-o-lantern spot one year from a few seeds that accidentally got planted.

The yard has the potential and has been hinting at me - It's up to me to be a gardner, I guess.

3.)Get organized.
With less clutter, this should be easier to implement than it has been in the past. A house that was full-to-running-over made it near impossible to get things de-cluttered and organized in years past. For 2010 we are starting out with lots less and are insistent on keeping less as the rule we live by. It'll certainly mean having less to throw out in case of another flood and it will be less to keep track of, less to find a place for, less clutter. (Have you seen the Hoarder show?!?!)
Hopefully with less to organize, organization will finally happen.
It'll take some work to make it part of my routine, but it's a goal I want to accomplish.

Lots of changes coming for my family in 2010. Lots of things done differently than in past years. Probably lots of trial and error but there will be lots of learning along the way.
It's what keeps us young.

~*~

Couch potatoes

2010-01-08T13:50:00.000-08:00

Spending the "Artic Freeze" snuggled on the couch, keeping warm and fighting off naps.

Watching Animal Planet.

Catalogs

2010-01-07T13:31:00.000-08:00

I love catalogs. I get loads of them in the mail. Everything from gardening catalogs to fur coats.

Yesterday The Pyramid Collection catalog came in the mail. and had (on page 40) this red velvet blouse paired with these shoes and black legging.

Aren't these the cutese things??

And now, all I have to do is find something to go with THESE beauties!
I love the spider web and the witchy charm.
(For days I ride my mortorcycle!)
~*~

Colds, Christmas and just running at the mouth.

2010-01-05T10:36:00.000-08:00

I'm sick with a cold this weekend that I picked up at work. The sickie who was passing it around kept saying it was allergies. I wasn't thinking or I would have realized that all the grass is dead and all the trees are in hibernation. There is no pollen to have allergies for at this time of year.
Staying inside since I got off work Friday, and I am bored stiff. It's cold outside and cloudy, grey, wet, gloomy. Normally a day I LOVE - but not good to hang out in if you are sick.
My head swirls if I do much, so cleaning house and grocery shopping is out of the scope of "able to do" things. (WOO-HOO) Normally I have no excuse for not doing them.

Thought I'd sit on my fanny and clean up the blog. Looking at this blog, you'd think all I ever do is crochet. That's not true. As with everybody else, crafting is a small part of what I do.
When I started this blog, I was crocheting a LOT because I was working to finish blankets in time for Christmas. Theblankets are done, gone, and in new homes now. Things have moved on and other projects have been finished and put away. I made Christmas Stockings and repaired a tree skirt that Mother made years ago and put them away till winter 2010. I'll start Christmas projects again in September. Shopping will start then, too.

Working 12 hour shifts takes up all of the day on days I work and on days off there are book size lists of things to do. Laundry, household shopping, cleaning, repairs that need to be made, remodeling work that is never ending, yard work, and all that stuff that is always on the TO-DO list. You know, the same things everybody has to get done.
Then is the list of fun things - catch a movie, out to dinner with family and friends, girls-night-out, motorcycle rides, take the dogs to the dog park and all those things that are worth the effort but take time that is always too short.

Welcome 2010

2009-12-30T11:47:00.001-08:00

I'll be working New Year's Eve on nightshift so there won't be any wild parties this year for me. Which is fine - the rainy weather is reason enough to stay out of traffic.

Friends

2009-12-28T09:47:00.000-08:00

I have a friend that is always urging me to try new things. He thinks I am brave and always willing to learn. Because of him I learned to use a couple computer programs that seemed daunting.
Because of him I am learning to read crochet patterns.
He says since I can read blueprints, patterns will come easy.
I'm not so sure he's right, but I'm willing to try

This is an example of those I make without a pattern. They always get snapped up by someone that wants to wear them and I never see them again.

I have made several pairs of slippers over the years, but not from pattern - just from doing it.

Last night I tried a pattern for slippers from the internet. It looked easy, didn't have many different stitches and said it was a pattern for beginners. After some research to determine that I knew what stitch was what - I made a slipper like the pattern and bragged to him that I had read the pattern.

I'm not sure I like the pattern slipper better than the non-pattern slipper, but the object was to learn to read a pattern, not like the pattern one better.

Random stuff

2009-12-26T09:35:00.001-08:00

This is the 5 month anniversary of adoption.
First day so far that she decided she'll share her bed.
I think she is starting to think of us as her family.

~*~
These are wrist warmers I gave as a Christmas gift.
I gave 3 pairs total. They measure 10 inches long, have no finger cover and only the smallest of thumb cover - see it sticking out of the side?

Good for cool offices since you can type and wear these.
Two pair went to biker-chicks and one pair to an office worker.

~*~

Day before Christmas Eve

2009-12-23T20:41:00.000-08:00

This year we will be celebrating Christmas on Christmas Eve.

That's not usually how we do it.

I'm not the chief cook this year.

That's not usually how we do it.

We'll gather for a meal together and gifts will be exchanged, just like always, but it won't be happening in my house - and that's not how we usually do it.

The anticipation has me sleepless.

It's all started me thinking about Christmas Traditions and how they got started and why we have them the way we have them. I'm up late so I'm surfing the net and reading about Christmas Traditions. Each family is different and have their own traditions and sometimes I think traditions become traditions because they are what works, not because it was set out to be made in to a tradition.

There's one of us that demands socks in the gift pile. One year there were no socks and it was stated loud and clear that from now on there shall be socks because they were the most anticipated gift!!! So now, there are socks every year. It's tradition.

There's one of us that wants TIME every year.

It's on the "want" list - some of your TIME, it says.

Because time is the thing that is hardest to find and spare.

Texas Christmas Dinner (according to the Internets) says potato salad and mashed potato are pretty much a required tradition, pecan pie and banana pudding are too so it says. The standards like turkey, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, dressing and cranberry sauce are assumed to be on every table all over America. It's tradition.

If I combine Texas Meal and Standard meal - we'd be eating 3 kinds of potato and a turkey!!!

We don't.

For several years our Christmas Dinner has been a theme meal.

It has turned in to our family tradition.

Tex-Mex: enchiladas, Spanish rice, nachos with cheese, refried beans, tres leches cake.

Italian: lasagna, garlic bread, garden salad and biscotti.

Cajun: chicken jambalaya, corn bread, pecan pie.

BBQ: sliced brisket, baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw with sweet tea and Texas Toast.

You get the idea.

There have always been extras - Daddy's fruit salad is a requirement no matter what else we have, and there is usually chocolate pie. There is always tea and Coca-Cola.

It's been fun to come up with something everybody would like and Tex-Mex has won out more than anything else.

This year, we are having a what the internet says is a Standard Traditional Christmas Meal.

Turkey, dressing, sweet potato, green beans, rolls, pie, cranberry sauce and gravy.

I'm looking forward to it. (I'm not the cook so all that work won't be done by me -snicker)

Do you have traditions that don't change, or something that is a tradition because it changes every year? Do you have a dish that is a MUST HAVE ? Something that would make it not seem like Christmas if it wasn't there?

Is there a specific order that must be followed? The meal and then the gifts? The gifts before the meal? Is dinner at noon or later in the evening? Is there a certain Christmas Breakfast tradition?

Are you starting a new tradition this year or dropping an old one?

Whatever you're doing, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

Everyone.

~*~

Quick projects

2009-12-21T11:21:00.000-08:00

Just beginning a scarf and wrist warmers set.

Wrist warmers are fingerless gloves.

Just completed scarves and a hat.
These were very quick projects.

There are never enough scarves to go around.

~*~

Dear Elvis...Thank You !!

2009-12-20T23:09:00.001-08:00

~*~
Here's the latest thing I taught myself. (With some help from Elvis)

I can SPELL in crochet!!

A few years ago I paid someone to crochet what I called a name plate (of my family name) for me for Christmas. It's made of tiny cotton thread and is framed in an 8X10 frame and used to hang in the dining room. I examined that thing a zillion times trying to figure out how to do it - because I have always wanted to learn how to make those.

Last weekend I was trying to decide what to do with the leftover 3 skeins of yarn from The Blanket Project and started crocheting. I made one row of double crochet and then skipped every other stitch between double crochet stitches - and realized I was doing just what was in that frame that used to hang in the dining room!!

Then suddenly I was making an "i" ..... I ripped everything out and started fresh.

Spelling out my last name just came to me and I whipped out the whole name till I got to the S. Could NOT figure out how to do the S.

It was 2 a.m. and I'm sure lack of sleep didn't help with figuring things out.
I don't read patterns - so no help there.
Finally I gave up and went to bed.

Monday when I went to the post office to mail the blankets, a man in front of me had on an Elvis T-shirt. I was reading all the concerts Elvis still puts on and got to looking hard at the S in Elvis.

THERE was my pattern for my name blanket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I asked the woman with him if I could borrow her ink pen and told her why- then I drew the Elvis S in the palm of my hand, copying his shirt, and there ya go!!!

Came home, sewed the pattern on my palm into the yarn and made the S in the blanket!!

~*~

Dear Elvis,

Thank you for helping me read patterns for crochet!!

~*~

Not just for Christmas

2009-12-20T16:07:00.000-08:00

I found the light jars recipe long after I had figured out how to make them.

I have seen these jars for years in cubicles and homes.

They give off a subtle light and scent and are easy to make.

Not for everybody, I know, but making them can be kid friendly and a family craft.

(Be sure to wash your hands after making. .. ALL string lights have lead in them.)

Home made - can you tell?

2009-12-20T12:09:00.000-08:00

It's a little frosty at night sometimes. Not everybody has a sleeping buddy to snuggle up to and help keep the body warm.

I refuse to pay $25 or more for dog jackets. We aren't going on a fashion parade- we're trying to stay warm!! I make dog jackets out of old sweatshirt sleeves. As you can see, I misjudged where her back leg could go thru - but she actually LOVED the jacket. Kept sticking her head into it when I took it off the next morning.

She makes me laugh.

~*~

Sisterly love

2009-12-19T21:55:00.001-08:00

They love each other.
Always will.
8/19/09
~*~

And the last one for today -- Get that dern flash bulb outta my face!!

~*~

Surprise!!!

2009-12-19T21:51:00.001-08:00

After 12 days without sunshine, it finally showed up.

Winter Sunrise

2009-12-17T06:29:00.000-08:00

This is the last day that we had sunshine.

The red sky should have been a warning, I guess, but at the time I just thought it a was beautiful sunrise.

This was 2 weeks ago.

Since then we have had rain, clouds, cold - but no sunshine.

This morning it's raining and cold, again.

The weather channel says it's going to stay this way another 2 or 3 days.

I love rainy, cold, grey days better than anybody I know -- but this is a little much!!

Boxes mailed !

2009-12-14T10:03:00.000-08:00

Monday morning - blankets mailed.

Saturday it just didn't happen.

I have loads of excuses.... cold, fog was unbelievable, must get out of pajamas to go to post office, lazyitis, found a few repairs I had missed earlier, mud where I park, cold, very dense fog ....
But they are finally mailed.

They should be there in time for Santa's big show.
It's up to you whether to put the box under the tree and wait - or open when it arrives.

Oh, mother put in a little gift from her.

MERRY CHRISTMAS Y'ALL !!

~*~

Friday

2009-12-11T08:14:00.000-08:00

The blankets are all done and ready to mail.
Tomorrow is mailing day.

I started this site to allow family the opportunity of watching the progress of this particular blanket project.
Now this project is coming to a close.
I've had (have) other blogs but this one really seems to be the one I enjoy doing.
I think I will keep it open and continue to post pictures of weekend bike rides, puppies and fun times ..... and blankets in progress.
There are lots of places that receive donated blanket, so there can always be a 'Blanket Project' to fit the title. I sew when I have the time and always have a craft project in the works.
There's the cancer patient blanket project : The baby blanket project: Project Linus: The Preemie Project: Blankets for Soldiers:
There are always the homeless that could use a blanket of their own or patients at the local hospital (which is always too cold!!).
Many of the benefits that motorcyclist support take donations for things that will be auctioned to raise money for someone that need financial support for medical expenses or whatever.
Senior citizens in care facilities could use a shoulder wrap or lap blanket, winter time everybody could use a scarf for their neck.
I carry a small blanket in my vehicle that has been used more times than I can count to cover legs or wrap up in after an unexpected rain shower drenched me on the way to the car.
And baby blankets - there's always a new baby coming and all babies need blankets.

Hundreds of blankets needed all over the place........ stay tuned!!
LOL

Colors are off a bit

2009-12-10T11:41:00.000-08:00

I noticed that the colors in the latest pictures of blankets B abd C look tan and brown where they are really yellow and purple.
If you look at the colors of the blanket in the header, THAT'S what the colors look like.

NO BROWNS OR TANS

Two choices remain

2009-12-09T16:34:00.000-08:00

Since Baby Siater made her selection, that means there are only 2 choices left.
Blanket B

And Blanket C

~*~

Blanket C is the one with the rows that didn't match up and had to have some extra rows of black thread added to make up the mismatched place. (top left in the pic)

This one turned out to be the most work but ended up nicely, and is my favorite of the 3.

ALL the blankets turned out nicely.

All of them will make nice additions to the family that gets them.

All were originally made by our grandmother and will be passed down to her bloodline.

It doesn't matter which one you get - but if you see one you like, please claim it and help me make the decision on which one to send to you!!

Every blanket comes with a promise from me to repair any damage to it that I can for as long as I live. You'll have to ship it to me to have me fix it, but I'll fix it if I can.

Promise.

One Blanket CLAIMED

2009-12-09T15:46:00.000-08:00

OK everybody - Baby Sister has called dibs on Blanket 1.

As far as I can match them up, this is the one she wants. Match top right corner of the picture on the right with lower left of picture with the chair. Blue with purple next to purple with yellow and pink with white.
Baby Sis, if this isn't right, please say so in the comments just below this post.

Lunch with friends

2009-12-08T07:10:00.000-08:00

Sunday it was 45 outside.
Son called - there was a benefit ride for some kids that needed Christmas and he was leaving in 45 minutes, if I wanted to go - he said "get a move on".
I got dressed as best I could for cold weather and headed out to crank the bike. It's not fond of the cold so it took awhile to get it started, but it eventually did and off we went.
(His bike cranked right up but he rides more than I do)
We headed to North for about 45 minutes and met up with 2 more riders before continuing to a meet-up destination with lots of other people that were out to support the kids in the cold.

We arrived and parked the bikes and get some coffee!!

After about 45 minutes of sign up, coffee, greeting friends and familiar faces and watching more bikes roll in, it was time to get ready for the ride.
This ride had a police escort to block off the highway and all side streets so that we were the only people on the road until we reached the kids.

This is the "road guard" that park their bikes to block entrance ramps on the highway till we all get by. They bunched up to get directions, hand signal meanings and general information.

It's really a sight when as far as you can see is a double row of motorcycles going down the road and cars being held at bay for 5 miles of us to get past the entrance ramp where they wait.

Even Santa came out to ride with us.
He was sent to the front of the line so he'd be just behind the police bikes as we rode.
We weren't far behind Santa.
That red and black bike in the lower right is Son's.
I'm sitting on mine to make the picture.

There were some well loved bikes and some that hadn't been around so long.
This is a kick-start Harley.
Well ridden, as you can see.

Here's the rest of us - behind Santa and all the way around the building lined up 4 bikes across.
All bundled up and ready to hit the road.

50 degrees and drizzling rain at 70 mph is pretty chilly.

You can see the pavement is wet around the bikes and dry under them. The rain started before we every pulled out.

I haven't figured out how to drive a motorcycle and make pictures, so here we are at the destination that has the kids. They were all standing at the fence with signs and waves for us. They hollered and whistled and some made hand signs for us to rev the engines for them.

Everybody loves the sound of rolling thunder it seems.

After following a line of bikes into the destination we parked our bikes and got off to make pictures. There was still a long line of riders coming in to park.

Here's part of the crowd in the room. (maybe 1/4)
I heard an announcer say there were 281 bikes in the ride. At least half the bikes had 2 people.
There were cookies of all kinds set up on tables scattered around the outer walls and huge pots of hot chocolate and coffee. When our fingers thawed out enough to flex a little, we all helped ourselves to some cookies and a hot drink to warm us and waited for Santa to ride his bike into the room and hand out all the gifts.

The kids were thrilled!!!

This last picture wasn't intended to be a picture of BUTTS!! (Or no butts as the case may be.) There's a little dog in there. He followed the owner around everywhere and never wandered off or got lost from the owner. A tiny little black and white dog.
See that leather jacket on the floor behind the dog??
That little dog stayed right there and guarded that jacket the whole time it was on the floor!
Of course, the owner was right there in front of the dog.
See the foot pointing this way? That's the owner of the dog, and the jacket.

When they got ready to leave, the dog had a leather jacket of his own to put on to protect him from the rain. This was one of the cutest things of the whole day.

We stayed about an hour and a half then wandered off to the "after party" where others were already partaking of spirits and loud music!! About 50 bikes had beat us there and it was raining pretty hard so I didn't stay out in it to get pictures.
Ever seen a biker bar?
Then you know what it looks like !! :-)

We stayed at the after party about the same amount of time. They had BBQ sandwiches, potato salad and beans all ready and waiting to feed us. Seemed everywhere we went people were trying to feed us!
The company was good, the music loud, old friends I haven't seen in awhile were there.
It was awesome.
So many people all crowded elbow to elbow. Some wearing 'colors' and some not. Well, most were wearing- but not all the same colors. There were many different groups there, all doing the same thing - supporting some kids so they could have Christmas. Showing Christmas spirit and giving gifts to children that wouldn't have it if not for these bikers.

5 of us headed out for home, in the rain. It rained on us all day.
It was getting colder and colder as the day drew to a close, but we rode it without stopping.

Even though we had to pour the rain out of our boots when we reached the house and had doubts that our frozen fingers would ever have feeling in them again - it was a wonderful day.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Rain, cold, wind and all.

Three Blankets

2009-12-07T04:58:00.000-08:00

Blanket C. This is the one with the squares that didn't match up and required extra rows of black to fill the gap. Top Left of picture shows the mis aligned rows.

Blanket B. This blanket will get one more row of edging before sending it out. Somehow it's a tad smaller than the other 2. Lots of pink and green in this one. Well, in all of them !!

Blanket A. This one has the most green, I think.

Here's the pictures.

Select one if you see one you want - leave a comment and say which one.

Cold weather work

2009-12-05T17:44:00.000-08:00

When I got up it was 28 degrees outside.
Not so unusual for the Northern relatives but damn cold for South Texas!!

I busied myself by working on The Blankets It was a nice day for drinking coffee and snuggling under a warm blanket while watching TV. They definitely are warm !
I finished the third blanket edging and tomorrow will do a couple repairs, check all 3 to make sure they don't need a repair - and measure them against each other to make sure they are reasonably the same size.
This last blanket lays flat. Both the other blankets have a little ripple in the edging. It's not really ruffled, just a little wavy. Don't know what happened - that's just the way they turned out.

Monday I'll post pictures of each blanket and see if one captures your heart over another, or if it doesn't matter which one arrives.
I know I said I'd post pictures already and didn't....I couldn't seem to get all the needed parts in the same place at the same time, but Monday I'll have all my cords and parts and pieces together and will get them downloaded and posted.

I'm off work this coming weekend - so pick on if you like one - I'll get them in the mail Friday
or Saturday.

Another map of visitors

2009-12-04T02:36:00.000-08:00

Map

[URL=http://www.maploco.com/view.php?id=3646802][IMG]

If you want to see who dropped by, there are 2 maps that you can click on to see what part of the country has checked in or drifted by for a quick look.

Snow in Texas

2009-12-04T02:17:00.000-08:00

The high for Friday is expected to be 40, Low 29. Snow starting around 09:00 and lasting till around 5 inches falls on the Gulf Coast area. Closer to the water you get, the more snow expected.
Very unusual weather we have been having the last few years!! This is the 4th snow in 6 years.
2004, 2006, 2008, 2009
Last winter we had record levels of snow and now we expect that record to go bye-bye. This will be the earliest it's snowed!

Here's a blog in Bayou Vista, Texas which is right on the water just across the causeway from Galveston, Texas. They have lots of pictures of palm trees and snow from 2004 when it snowed on Christmas Day.

http://www.bayouvista.com/bvsnow04/snow.htm

~*~
12/5/09 UPDATE - the snow didn't do everything it was expected to do. It snowed several inches in Houston and several surrounding areas.
Even snowed in Galveston for a lilttle while.
The warm ground and rain before and after the snow made it melt pretty fast, but while it lasted IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!!!

Saturday morning it was 28 degrees at sunrise.
It made for a cold seat.

One doggie snuggled under the covers in her bed.

And one doggie was just mad because she had to wear a coat to stop the shivers. Those ears pointing backwards are a sure sign of ticked-off!

whos.amung.us

2009-12-01T19:56:00.001-08:00

Get Your Own Real Time Visitor Map!

Blanket 3 in progress

2009-12-01T12:10:00.000-08:00

Well, blanket #1 was just a preview of things to come with it's mismatched square sizes! Blanket #3 has one place where no matter how I tried to shift it around, it's just 4 rows of crochet too short!!
I did manage to make things work by adding 4 rows of black to it (sewn back and forth) until it matched the next section but this blanket will be a little different than the others because of this.
The rows that don't line up both have 5 squares in them, they just don't match.
Since they all came off the same blanket I am wondering how they were lined up before the blanket was taken apart!!
This is the blanket that had 2 sections that had to be put together to make one 5 squares by 7 squares blanket.
When I get all 3 blankets completed I will lay them out and make a picture to see if anybody wants to claim a particular blanket. If not -- I'll throw names in a hat, bag the blankets so I can't see them, shuffle the bags and give it a couple days before I select a name to match up with a bag just so I have time to forget what blanket is in what bag. (hope that made sense!!!) I don't know any other fair way to do it. If I pick a blanket for a person - they may not want the one I pick. If nobody picks one - then "chance" is the only fair way to divvy them up.

Yellow blanket

2009-11-29T07:39:00.000-08:00

Here's an individual square of the yellow afghan

Here they are .... sewn together This is the progress so far. 4 small squares sewn together to make a row, 4 rows sewn together to make a square and then edged with what I think is filet crochet then that's edged with double crochet and it's connected to another square just like it until 4 of those are connected to make the square that you see below. Edging is a filet row, double crochet row then repeat those 2 rows.

In person this blanket is beautiful. (my opinion)

My pictures aren't very good quality and the color looks dull in them but in real life this blanket is very yellow and all the detail makes is special.

This blanket has been a lot of work because the small squares are only 3 rows!! It's not finished but right now it's a good size for a baby blanket.

I'm proud of this blanket! I think it turned out very nice.

Blanket progress

2009-11-29T05:14:00.001-08:00

I do not work by pattern and have been told that I can't crochet because I don't know the proper names of the stitches, so if I call a stitch the wrong name - forgive me, all you crochet people.

This is Blanket #2 with the edging in progress.

Blanket#2 size referance - a recliner chair.
Yarn skein still attached :-)

This is blanket#1 : edge completed. ---->
I had many squares that didn't match up on this blanket. Some squares had 7 rows and were next to a square that had only 5 rows, or 6. It was a job to get to a place where the edging was even and I could crochet a row completely around the outter edge, but it worked out and I finished off with 3 rows of no-holes edging of double crochet.

Blanket#1, size. It's on a recliner chair (duh) for easy size idea when looking at it.
Each blanket has a little different color scheme, so if you see one that you just love (family members) speak up so you can lay claim to that one.

The edging will be the same on all the blanket - unless someone wants ruffles??

26 days till Christmas

2009-11-28T18:43:00.000-08:00

I have 2 of the Blanket Project blankets edged, mended and ready for fuzz-ball removal. Starting on edging the third one this coming week.
They are coming together faster than I expected and I'm glad about that!! It means they'll make the shipping-for-Christmas deadline.

Baby blanket

2009-11-28T04:52:00.000-08:00

Pictured above is the beginning of a new baby afghan.

Yellow because it's gender neutral and a happy color. This little yellow blanket makes me feel good when I work on it. The color, I think is what does it. For me, yellow is a happy color.
Bright, warm, sunny days and Springtime is what it says. Nice for winter crochet!

I have several baby blankets in the works but this one is the only one that will be truly afghan. The others are a single square made large enough to be a blanket. I'll share those blankets another time. Today it's about sunshine and warmth!

www.basenjirescue.org

2009-11-23T12:01:00.000-08:00

Our newest family member.

Taking a regal stance in the lazing position.

She's a little shy!

Searching for snacks

2009-11-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

A Basenji on the prowl searching for snacks that have been thrown around the yard to bring out some hunting skills.

The blanket project begins.

2009-11-22T23:58:00.000-08:00

Years ago our grandmother made a blanket for our father. I don't remember how many years ago it was but this blanket has been around for a long time.
Our mother says it was a gift for our father for his birthday and was the only thing our grandmother ever made for him.
This blanket has seen many years of being used to snuggle under and watch TV or movies at home before it became mostly a decoration for the back of the couch. When our father died and our mother set up residence with her eldest child, the blanket didn't spend much time being used. It hung around on the back of a couch for awhile and then for several years it has been wrapped and sitting in a closet on a shelf, to keep it safe.
Being wrapped in a plastic bag on a shelf in a dark closet just isn't what I think the blanket maker had in mind when she made it! Blanket makers spend lots of time doing the work it takes and they put love in every stitch. Being hidden away for it's own safety just doesn't seem to do it justice.
It survived a huge hurricane in September 2008 and it's time it got off the shelf and lived a little! There are still family members that could snuggle under it to keep warm or take a nap or just to feel close to relatives that are no longer with us.
There's a lot of love left in this old blanket, so it's being divided and sent out to bring some smiles and memories to family members that can make room for it - out of the closet.

~*~

This is the blanket as it was whole, laid out on a full size bed.
It fit a full size bed perfectly before the disassemble process began.

The blanket isn't square. It's longer than it is wide.

Separation is well underway in this picture.

They will all be 5 by 7 rows of squares with edging added to make them lap blanket sized when it's all done.
I hope to have them together, edged and arriving at their new homes by Christmas.

One blanket will have several single rows (top left in picture below) and one section of 2 rows. I decided to make this "multi-rows-needing-to-be-sewn-together" one mine. I can take my time assembling it. No rush to have it done by Christmas.

Another view of the separation in progress.

One blanket will have to be pieced together - a section of 3 rows by 5 rows and a section of 4 rows by 5 rows will make one blanket of 5 rows by 7 rows. (Top right of picture)

One lap blanket separated and ready to be edged. (top of picture) A second lap blanket will have to have 2 pieces connected to make a whole, then edged. (bottom of picture)

Three blankets ready for edging !!

Somewhere along the way somebody used regular sewing thread to try to repair the places that came apart. I'll try to make repairs with matching yarn.

The black yarns don't always match.

Another view of mismatched black yarns.

Part of the charm of the blanket is that it has a "Use what you have" feel about it.

Here's an example of the damage that needs to be repaired.

The center has come undone.

Another place needing special attention.

~*~

It'll all come together and hopefully bring some sense of family and warm fuzzy feelings when the blankets are recieved.

The Blanket

2009-10-27T18:35:00.000-07:00

This blanket has been in the family for as long as I can remember. Draped over the back of a couch, used to stave off the chill during movies and mostly just being a reminder of family at a distance.