Merry Christmas

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy the day with your family and loved ones!

It's Going to Make It!

The hibiscus plant I bought at the farmer's market this year is doing well.  My husband had stained the arbor and fence that I planted it by and we really didn't know if it was going to survive.  BUT as you can see, it is blooming flowers and has a lot more buds on it too.  So I am very happy.  I have another variety of hibiscus in a different part of the yard and has single petals with a bright yellow stamen in the center.

No Cold Feet Here - I'm in Love

For SmallThings yarn-along today I'd like to share my socks!!!  I just finished the toe yesterday morning and couldn't be happier with the way they turned out.

This is a nice pattern called So Simple sock that I found on Ravelry.  It seemed to take forever to finish these, so I am very happy they are off the needles!  I tried to take a close up of the cable running through them but I think the picture turned out a bit fuzzy.  Alongside the cable on the leg part of the sock are ribs.  On top of the foot the pattern follows through too.  Kind of hard to tell in the photo, but they are there.

The yarn is from Knit Picks and I just love the warm autumn color!  Reading Knitting Block by Block by Nicky Epstein.  I've found a dinosaur scarf pattern that I'd like to make my youngest son for Christmas.  Have to start this soon!  Enjoy your day and head on over to see what everyone else is up to.

Beach Ball Blanket = FUN Table Cloth

I have finished my BEACH BALL BLANKET/TABLE COVER!!!  I am sooooo excited about it.  I came up with the idea as I was floating around in the pool.  The hubby and I rescued a wrought iron table and  two chairs that someone in the neighborhood had kicked to the curb.  They do need a coat of paint, BUT  I knew I could come up with something before the bucket of paint arrived.  My son and I were throwing the beach ball around when the AHA moment hit me for the table!  BEACH BALL!!!!!!  I made it in the same colors and used white for the clear parts.  I even made a hole in the center piece so that if we decide to put an umbrella in the table, I can still use my cover!  I added a shell edging and am just in love with how it turned out.  The yarn is acrylic so that it can withstand the weather and washings!  Oh happy day!  

To view more great projects, join SmallThings yarn-along!!  It's nice to see what others are working on.  Started reading together with my youngest son: George's Secret Key to the Universe  by Lucy and Stephen Hawking.  Made it to chapter 4 and it seems like it's going to be an adventurous read.  

Have a great Wednesday!!!

We All Need Prayers

I belong to my church's Prayer Shawl Ministry and have finished up my second prayer shawl.  (Forgot to take a picture of the first one, which was done in a pretty sea-foam green color.)  This shawl was made using a purple yarn that was donated to our group.  

I don't think the photographs do the yarn color justice.  

 

The pattern was found in a great little book called Crochet Prayer Shawls by Leisure Arts.  I love quite a few of the patterns found in the book.  I already have some yarn stashed away to make another.

I enjoy making them and LOVE that they go to those who are in need of a warm hug and prayers!  Each shawl is blessed and a list of prayers and bible passages are attached to each.

I'm still reading Secrets of Harmony Grove.  Enjoy your day, be a blessing to others and go browse the other great blogs at SmallThings Yarn-Along!!  

Yarn-Along with Small Things

This is my grandmother!  She turned 92 on July 17th.  I made here a Queen Annes Lace Scarf, which she requested be made in a cream color.  Doesn't it look nice on her?  She's a crocheter herself and still loves to make washcloths, hotpads and creating anything with the "v-stitch".  The pattern can be found here on my Ravelry and is really fun to do!  Just like the chips - you can't make just one because you want to try them in different colors and yarns!  Reading Secrets of Harmony Grove; yet another Amish-themed book.  Read the Creation story and the story of Adam and Eve out of our New Catholic Picture Bible last night.  My youngest son is in vacation bible school this week and we are reading each night from his book.  Take care and have a great Wednesday reading all these great posts here at Small Things blog.

92 Years Young!!!!!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

We LOVE you!

We celebrated my Grandma turning 92 yesterday with a picnic-style birthday party.  She still crochets herself and loves doing the v-stitch.  I made her a cream-colored Anne Scarf which can be found on my Ravelry. 

Tooty Fruity Crocheting

I have finished my summer fruit dishcloths and couldn't be happier with how they turned out.  They are bright and cheery and can make this household chore just a bit less mundane.  I have to admit that I haven't used them yet though.  I will though - believe me!  Can't decide if I want to add seeds to the watermelon or just leave it plain.  The pattern is a basic crochet circle and changing yarn colors.  I was inspired by the lovely blogger here.  I did not fold mine in half though so that I could use them in the sink.  Want to make a lime and an apple now.

I am also inspired by much talent found at SmallThings yarn-along!!!  I just finished reading The Amish Midwife by Mindy Starns Clark.  I have just started A Stranger's Wish by Gayle Roper.  I'm on an Amish-themed reading binge right now it seems, but I do enjoy them.  Go check it out and join the yarn-along too.

Have a great day!  Our family's trying to stay cool here, been much too hot these past days (112 heat index - yikes!!)

Wednesday Yarn Along

So for Wednesday's kal with smallthings I have a picture of my almost-finished-second sock - yippee!  I found this pattern on Ravelry and have really enjoyed it.  It's under my favorites and my Ravelry name is theknittedlamb.  I am currently reading One Thousand Gifts and I do a daily reading from The King, Crucified and Risen: Meditations on the Passion and Glory of Christ (daily readings from Ash Wednesday to Divine Mercy Sunday).

Hope everyone has a great day.

Another CREATIVE giveaway going on!

I have been following Christy's blog now and just love her creativity!  There's a very special giveaway going on now to win one of her online classes - She Had Three Hearts!  Check out Courtney Walsh's blog to find out how to enter.  

This would be a great class; looks very inspirational!

Good Clean Fun!

It all started with this fun little package!  I won this from a giveaway on Rhythm of the Home blog.  Smallthings was giving a felted soap making package away and I was so happy to win!  My youngest son and I set everything out.  We admired the wool, squished it in our hands, smelled it and looked at all of the pretty colors provided.

Ryan unwrapped the bar of Dr. Bronner's soap - love those products - and began to come up with a plan for wrapping his soap with the wool.  He started with the brown as his base and made sure to cover all of the soap bar.  You can see he didn't leave any white soap showing through.

He then took the colorful bits of wool and began wrapping, and wrapping, and rewrapping.  At this point he wasn't so sure we were up to.  The wool is still soft and not sticking to anything.  I kept telling him, trust me once we put some warm water on it, you will see.

 So we took our softness to the bathroom sink and began running the wool-wrapped bar underneath warm water.  He squished and rolled and pressed and mashed and reran the bar under more water.

He squished and rolled and pressed and mashed and reran the bar under more water UNTIL...

VOILA!  A beautifully wrapped bar of natural soap.  We set it out to dry.  

He couldn't wait to try it out in the tub. 

It was a lot of fun and I would definitely do this project again.  Thanks again Ginny for the giveaway.  

My son and I were able to try a new project and spend time together doing something new.

Good.  Clean.  Fun!

Sometimes you feel like a nut...

Sometimes you don't!

 If you look very carefully at what the squirrel is holding in his hands, you'll see my point.  We have the sweetest mail lady who always leaves a treat in the mailbox for our yellow lab, Zoe.  Well I put Zoe's treat out on the deck for her to get later - a little surprise you know.  Well if I didn't hear some noise and look out the dining room window to witness this!  The squirrel has her treat!  He smelled it, flipped it around and examined it, and then finally took a nibble.  One nibble led to another and then he ran off with it.  Hmmm...  My youngest son thought this to be hilarious and wondered if he went home with a mouthful and the momma squirrel asking, "Where have you been and what's that you're holding in your hand?"  So now I know to always give Zoe her treat directly and try not leaving little surprises for her.

Knitting Along with smallthings

Another chance to view all of the wonderful projects out there at smallthings blog.  

Still working on my socks from last week.  I have made it past the heel and am working on the foot length now.   

 

Have many scarves on the needles and am finally finishing up with my youngest son's stripey afghan.

Here's a close-up of the edging I'm adding on the last round.  It's a 5-stitch picot.  All rounds are single crochet except for the last round before the picot which is a double crochet.

I'm helping mom purge her huge stash of yarns.  I know...someone's got to do it right!  

I'm still working through my oldest son's old theology book, "Blest Are We".  

I have been focusing on Psalm 51:11-14.

Have a great Wednesday.

Yarn Along

Yarn-Along with us at smallthings blog.  I just love seeing what others are working on.  I have never linked to the yarn along, but thought there's no better day than today, right?  So here goes...

I am currently working on a pair of socks for myself.  I received the cutest pair of black maryjane shoes for Christmas from good 'ole mom!  I just knew what to do with this Knit Picks sock yarn I had stashed for quite awhile.  Hope everyone has a great Wednesday.

I found the pattern (So Simple socks) on Ravelry.  I am now at the heel and am enjoying the pattern.

Knitting today will be a nice quiet way to reflect on the season of Lent.  I am reading one of my son's old theology book (Blest Are We) from grade school.  I am working on the chapters pertaining to Lent and Easter.  Sorry, I do not have a picture of the book.

I'm a Winner...

I have just found out I won a spot in the Soul Restoration class being hosted by Brave Girls Club/Melody Ross.  So yahoo!  I really think this class was so meant to be - I just had a feeling when I read the post on the Gilded Life's blog.  Cannot wait to dig in to the curriculum!!! 

AWESOME GIVEAWAY

I have just come upon an amazing giveaway!  The creativity and talent you'll find at The Gilded Life is very inspirational.  The giveaway is for an online class from Melody Ross.  Sounds like a great way to renew one's soul and get very creative!

Good luck to all who enter.  Have a great day!

Where Women Create Giveaway

I am so excited about the latest giveaway on WWC.  Christy Tomlinson's artwork is so inspiring.  You just have to take a peek for yourselves.  The giveaway ends today, but I'm considering taking her class whether I win or not. 

Very creative.