Crochet and Grandma Land

Since my last post, I haven't done much sewing. I did sew rank patches to my son's uniform.
But, I've been crocheting!  My first ever baby sweater! I've crocheted off on, completed a few blankets but I have more unfinished crochet projects sitting around that completed projects.  I think I just might have graduated to an "accomplished" or "intermediate" crocheter.  A proud moment. 

 For my granddaughter Everest. I used the 12 month pattern. She's 6 months and wearing 6-9 month perfect, so next week they'll be too small.   The pattern is free online from Caron yarn site, I think it's yarninspirations.com. A shared site for Caron, Patron and Bernat yarns. The patterned called for Caron International"s Simply Soft Brites weight 4.  I had Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable yarn on hand.

I really like this yarn. I have it in blue and plan to make a shawl for myself.

Then I made another sweater!

I added buttons but didn't take a picture. I finished it and went straight to the post office to mail to SA, TX.
This pattern was from RedHeart yarn website and was free too. I've bought patterns from Etsy.com but the yarn sites free patterns are hands down much easier. I used Bernat's baby warn weight 3 for this sweater.  The pattern called for Red Heart Anne Geddes Baby weight 3 (light). 
Next? A baby dress, I bought the pattern from Etsy.com seller.

I'm using YarnBee lace yarn weight 2. The pattern calls for baby fingering weight 1 yarn. I like this yarn, it's $5.99. It bought it on sale and am going back for more in different colors.

I always thought yarn was yarn.  I never understood the weight  catagory.  I understood that crochet hooks came in sizes and impacted stitch count or gauge.  I just never understood the same for yarn.  So, after purchasing some patterns from Etsy.com sellers, I went looking for yarn.  It isn't easy to find "Baby Fingering Yarn, weight 1".  In my area I have Joann's, Hobby Lobby and Michaels.  Joann's and Michael's carry mainly weight 4, Sport Weight Yarn with a handful of weight 3.  Hobby Lobby has a nice selection of yarns and they have a small selection of different weight's.  Walmart carries one isle of yarn and mainly weight 4 with perhaps 4-5 colors in weight 3. 

Right now I'm hanging in my kitchen watching TV before I leave for work.

Coffee please, and yes to the whip cream!

I love my outlet covers. I need a couple more. It took months of watching EBay to get the 4 I have and then, no mas. I can't find anymore. I'm hoping to find some in SA, TX when I go at the end of this month.

Still waiting to go to day shift. Still tired most of the time but overall I'm feeling better. I only work 4 hours at my second job in the last 2 weeks! Wow! But I had 16 hours OT. Life is good, time to go.

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Monday, Monday

Progress on Mirabelia's "Angel Proclamation"

Angel taking shape.

My granddaughter's name plotted for stitching.

Two baby blankets to give as gifts.

First time! I'm making a baby sweater.

Honey got a new truck!

Very pretty. He's scared to get it dirty. So he's still driving his old truck while this one sits. LOL!

That's what I've done this week.

Tamales? Maybe Friday. Have a great week everyone!

 

 

 

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TaDaaa!

Dinner tonight . . . TaDaaaa!

flautas or taquitos, depending on your Momma,

fideo or mexican spaghetti (I know, right? ;),

avacado and some pico. Yummy in my tummy.

 

Sewing for Everest, my granddaughter.

They live in SA,TX, so sun hat is appropriate. First time I've made one and it was super easy. After cutting, it was less than an hour of sewing. Fun!

Slippers, I wanted to try this pattern and it took a little bit. I didn't like the instructions on inserting the inner sole and I didn't want exposed seams. So I watched a video on YouTube and was able to have hidden seams. I love YouTube. You can learn to do almost anything.

This was made out of scraps! Pennies ;).

Making progress! Mirabilia's "Angel Proclamation".

One more angel, letters, beads, outline and ribbon. I'm going to add my granddaughter's name, date of birth and weight/length.

Wanda Whinner. Yup, my other self. Still waiting to go to days. Crazy co-workers, trying to stay drama free. It is so hard sometimes to ignore the stupid sh--t. I'm trying. You know those co-workers that say they are team players but in the background they're working every angle to pad their own nest. Yeah. Lord give me strength to walk in your peace.

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I fell off the face of the Earth. . . Again, LOL!!!

Yes, it's so true to form.  I fell off the face of the earth, again.  What happened, so you say, Or I pretend to hear. 

Well, same ol, same ol and yet, not.  Over the last year+ there have been many changes in my life.  I don't want to bore anyone, or make myself sad.  So lets just hit the highs. . .

Yes, I'm still married.  My marriage rolls along, the sea is clear and while waters in other lands may get choppy, we float along calm water.  thanks God!

My son turned 30!!!!  Oh my.  He proposed, got married and had a baby - all in less than a year!!!!  So you know what that means?  Yes, Call me Grandma!!!

My second son is taking time off from college while he grows and figures out where he wants life to take him.  He does have a JOB and he is still in the National Guard. Only sadness I will touch on. . . His beloved dog, Swarly, was poisoned.  I still tear up, I loved that guy.  

So when we went to Texas to see my grand-daughter, we brought home a new puppy.  Rex, aka, Rex-a-million, is a joy. 

My Daughter, BooPah got a major scholorship to college and this Mother is off the hook for tuition and books!!!!!  She was the Commander's Pick for the Air Force ROTC program at KU!  Rock Chalk, go AirForce!!!  She starts school in a few more weeks.

My Baby will be a senior in high school this year.  Now I panic, my heart is racing.  Empty nest, what will I do???? 

For 30 years I have devoted myself to others.  Now what???  (lamaze breathing here)

Yes, I've been a bit depressed with all the changes.  It's come on gradually, with mini panic attacks.  It started with the annoucement of my son's wedding, the birth of my granddaughter, major family illness, and then the loss of Swarly.  And even though there have been so many blessings, my life is changing fast.  The constant rush and feeling of "what next" even though most events where joyful.  One day it hit me, "I'm depressed". 

My mother-in-law is growing more dependent on my family and my parents have been in/out of the hospital.  Almost tag each other like wrestlers in/out of the ring.  My mother had open heart surgery and seeing her after in ICU hit me hard. 

I turned 49, this month.  And since so much is changing I think I will continue with the changes. 
Here we go. . . I should be going to day shift in a month. I'm cutting way back my hours from work. Gone are the 70-80 hour weeks. Now I'm doing 50-60. For me that's major and I will cut back even more, down to 50 or less.

This last year of my 40's, and before I turn 50, I want to focus on me a little more than I have in the last few years.  I need to loose 30 pounds, the doctor said 50 and if that happens, I'll take it!  I need to return to my spiritual life, no more slap dash praying on the fly.  But really devoting time daily in prayer and meditation.  Hit the gym 5 times a week - now if you know me, you know I do really well for a few weeks, and then I crawl into a bag of chips and hide from my workout clothes for a few weeks.  I'm hoping by getting off nights I won't be tired all the time and I can avoid the chip cave. 

For the next year I plan to blog at least weekly.  yes I have been sewing!  And crocheting & cross stitching.  Time to get my blog updated with all my projects on hand. 

Folks, be kind to everyone you meet.  And when someone not nice crosses your path, take a deep breath and pray for them.  Allow Forgiveness and Peace into your heart and Joy will surely follow. God Bless you!