Friday Finish

The colors in this picture are a bit off.  This baby blanket is a soft yellow (more yellow than cream) and it is about 30" x 32".
I made this pattern of a crocheted baby blanket for each of our granddaughters when they were born - it's my favorite pattern for a quick baby gift.
The pattern is in a leaflet called Crocheted Afghans For Baby - 8 designs by Carole Rutler Tippet.
I actually misplaced this leaflet and spent 2 years looking for it.  I finally gave up and ordered a used copy from Amazon which arrived last December.  Naturally, while going through a box of quilting miscellany this past January, what did I find at the bottom but my beloved lost leaflet.
Spring cleaning has started here and all but 3 windows are sparkly clean (inside by me and outside by dh).  Clean shiny windows make me want to polish everything.  At my age I am still highly motivated but I think I must rest for the remainder of the day.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

Today's chuckle

I have been missing from blog land for a while now but it's so good to be back.


Our taxes are finally done so of course we have received a revised Form 1099 (:

I saw this picture on line and could not help but chuckle - I hope it makes you smile. 
If I have violated any copyright rules by posting this just let me know and I will remove it.

I have so many blogs to visit and see what lovely creations I have missed over the last month.

I can't wait to start playing - what kind of stitching will be calling to me the loudest?

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

Happy Valentine's Day

I found this picture here
Have a wonderful day.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

My Favorite Booty Pattern

This pattern is available on Ravelry - CLICK HERE.
I just knew as I crocheted the first Booty that this is the pattern I have been searching for.  Sometimes a pattern just clicks with me and it is so much fun to crochet that I can't stop.  Other patterns seem too much like work and when I stop and come back I can't seem to find my place easily.  For whatever reason this pattern is my favorite baby footwear pattern.
I am not using buttons - I just crocheted 6 sc in a magic ring and it works great for a button  -  it even looks like a little flower.
Thank you to the wonderful designer, Paloma Perez.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

More Booties

I have managed to crochet another pair of baby booties during my breaks from tax paperwork sorting/copying etc.. 
My daughter assures me she knows of a new baby that can use these.
This is a pattern available free on line - CLICK HERE. 
My booties turned out a little bit wonky and I really couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong - each bootie had the same peculiar shape. 
I used TLC baby yarn, sport weight, 3 ply.  I often have trouble figuring out if the yarn in my stash is anything like the description of the yarn used in some patterns.  Some day I must try to figure out what the different kinds of yarn descriptions mean.  Happy stitching everyone.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

Crocheted Baby Sandals

I was so lucky to finish these baby sandals before the start of the Super Bowl.  The game was such a close one I don't know if I would have continued crocheting while watching football yesterday.
My daughter goes to many baby showers so perhaps she can use them as a shower gift.
I found the free pattern on line CLICK HERE to to to http://www.whistleandivy.com to get the pdf pattern.
I used Caron Simply Soft yarn with a size F crochet hook.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

Update on Rest Stop

I am having the best time stitching this chart.  I may have to stop for a while because as we all know, it's time to bury ourselves in tax paperwork.  This will be my light at the end of the tunnel - with such a wonderful carrot to chase I should be able to dispatch the paperwork in record time this year.
Have a happy week of stitching.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

Rest Stop WIP

I have made some progress on my Stoney Creek chart called Rest Stop.  I want to keep moving along on this because as usual when January comes around I reflect on the dozens of projects that I didn't even get started in the prior year and the many wips that I didn't even add one stitch to.
I like the frame that is displayed with this but I think it will look nice in a regular frame too.
Have a great week of stitching.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

Crochet Hat Finish

This is three different shots of the same hat.  I just finished crocheting the hat that my daughter would like to take to a baby shower on saturday.  The pattern was a little difficult for me to figure out at first but just as I was about to give up my brain started to work.  The pattern is on Craftsy under NewbornKnots.  I think it's on Ravelery and Etsy, too.  This is the 0-3 months size.  Now that I think about it, I am not sure that a newborn can actually wear a cowboy hat unless someone is holding their head up for them.  Perhaps this would make a nice doll's hat size.
I am going to make another cowboy hat but I think a larger size would be more usable.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

Sarah is having a drawing ♥

You have until February 2 to go over to Sarah in Stitches to find out how to enter her drawing for some wonderful stitching prizes celebrating her blogoversary.  Good Luck

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

Recipe Black Eyed Pea Soup

I didn't take a picture before we ate it but this could be my go to recipe for our annual episode of "We Should Eat Black Eyed Peas on New Year's Day for good luck".  I never really thought they were particularly tasty but I was always able to eat them once a year.

I saw a recipe on Kalyn's blog for Hopping John Soup - Black-eyed Pea, Ham, and Collard Green Soup (CLICK HERE) and I was inspired to do something different with our 2 cans of black eyed peas this year.

Here is the recipe that we loved:

Black Eyed Pea Soup
 

1 T dehydrated onion flakes

1 large celery stalk,  finely chopped

1 medium carrot, finely chopped

1/2 tsp.garlic powder

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

5 cups homemade chicken stock
(or use water with chicken soup base or canned chicken broth)

2 cans black-eyed peas

2 large potatoes, diced

Fresh kale, chopped (about 2 cups when measured after chopping) 


Combine everything except potatoes and kale in large stockpot and bring to a boil.  
Meanwhile, peel and chop potatoes.  
Add potatoes to boiling soup - reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.
Rinse kale, remove leaves from stalks.  Chop kale and add to soup that has been simmered for an hour.
Continue simmering soup for another hour.

Makes about 8 servings (or just 4 servings, if you are really hungry and it's really cold outside)


If you try it, I hope you like it as much as we did.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

Happy New Year and a WIP

I can't believe I started this almost 2 months ago.  I have only been stitching on it since the holidays ended so November and December are busy enough without trying to work in a new WIP.  Did I actually believe I might finish this by Christmas 2014?
Yesterday morning it started snowing and it snowed all day and more fell during the night.  We now live in a beautiful winter wonderland but neither of us wants to go to the street to check the mailbox until the sun comes out and melts the snow covering everything.

I decided to add a picture of our pop up camper taken  from our deck this morning.  The layer of snow accumulated on the top is 10 1/2 inches deep.  There certainly won't be any camping with this any time before next spring.  We have had this pop up since 1979 and it has so many fun family outings in its history.

Sending best wishes and blessings to everyone in the new year.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]