Crochet Therapy

I know it's been a while since my last post, but with the loss of Oscar and the hustle and bustle the Holiday's bring, it's been nuts around here. Oh did I mention I started a new job too? Oh well, it's working out very nicely. In my spare time? really? Don't ask me where I found it, but I've made another wondrous blanky! 

I've been seeing all these pic's of diagonal afghans, and scarves on Pinterest. I had been thinking about trying one for a while now, and was in need of some desperate emotional therapy after Oscar's passing.

Here's the start....

I'm using the left over yarn from my Ripple and Hexagon blanky's, with a little more purple/pink hues that i got on clearance at Michaels a while back....This lovely Pattern is so easy to follow! There is an English version too...thank goodness.

I found this blanky as soothing to work on as the ripple. It came together nicely! Do pay attention to the  pile off stuff in the back ground...that's for a glorious bridal shower I threw for neighbor.. Yes? did I say crazy time of year???

Did I mention that in my family there are 6 birthdays, and 1 anniversary in December? My middle son J is now 16! We had a splendid time with the family celebrating his milestone of a birthday.  So as you can see, I needed some ME time to think and plan all these festivities, plus Christmas shop, and start a new job! Also decorating for Christmas and I haven't even started baking yet... yikes!!!!!

I will admit I did dearly miss my corchet companion....Oscar.  How he would try to sneak a nap or two on every blanky I've ever made. he would just give me this look of....really? you don't need this end of the blanky, or I was only gonna rest for a lil while??? Or to get up to go do something and find him all snuggled up in a blanky creation just a purring away...thinking...is this one for me????

This is my least favorite part of an afghan.....Do have to say that I truly despise weaving in the ends of an afghan....it drives me batty, but for some reason I cannot bring myself to tuck them in as I go????

Well, I'm off to deal with a mountain of laundry, and a another headache.... : O (

I'll be back to post pictures of the decorations!

Ta ta till next time....

RIP Oscar.......

As you can tell by the tittle this has not been a good few weeks here on the Avenue. Our beloved kitty Oscar has become very ill and passed away.

He was only 6 1/2 years old but a mysterious illness snuffed his little soul way to soon. He was the king of our household and will be missed greatly.  It's only been a week since his passing the the puppies seem so melancholy without him to romp around the house with.  As for the teens they miss the daily greetings at the door and the midnight sneak attach snuggles form him, but we will mend and be OK

We love you Oscar!!

Ta ta till next time...

blanky, blanky, blanky!

So, with the weather changing and Fall here. I have managed to pull out this hexagon afghan I started over a year ago, and start working on it again.....

It's just growing and growing....I've got about 3 more rows and it should be done...

Now here's the question.....do I keep it, or give as a gift?

Humm....what to do?

What do you think?

Happy Halloween!!!!

Hope all of you are haven loads of fun today!!!!  Here are our pumpkins from the weekend...

Before.....

After.....

No stencils this year...All good o' free hand...

Lil M's putty cat...

Daddios.....

Lil M's

And lastly..........porky......

I thought this was gonna be an easy job.....nope....

Took me well over an hour and 2 ripping them out and starting over to get it done.

My shoulder and fingers hurt today form trying to push them light through....LOL

I'll post he boys' later......Off to make carmel apples...

Ta ta till next time........

Whew...where does the time go????

October has been an awfully busy month. Feels like jus yesterday was the first?  Why does time have to move faster the older you get???? Lil M has been talking about want to dye he hair a funky color for a while now.....So after talking to my hair dresser, I decided she could do it but not all of her hair.......

We had a lovely day sitting at the beauty shop while her hair was processing. Boy was she in a shock when she realized just how long it takes to have your hair done.......

First.......The beaching of the hair.......

This is what she would look like as a blond........

First goes the blue........

Then the purple..........

Then sit and wait and wait.......

Ta da......the finished look.....

Don't worry it's only a semi-permanent color...

She does love it! and i will admit, i do too!!!!

Ta ta till tomorrow.....I'll post some pics of our pumpkins..

Yeah! FALLLLLLL.......

Ahhhhhh......As I awake from a wonderus 10 hour sleep and not having to awake to an alarm today, I am in a warm and fuzzy mood!!!!!  I caught some absolutely beautiful pictures of it tooo.....

I caught this one on the to work one afternoon this week....

This is my Fav tree in the neighborhood. It's colors are just a delight to watch.

 See here's a close up....isn't she just delightful...

I found this one on the way to the yarn store...go figure....

And this baby I spied as i pulled into the driveway......

And now to my busy organizing and planning for my class I'm teaching tomorrow night.

Oh that's right I haven't posted that yet have I.  I'm so excited...I've started a beginners crochet group!

Doesn't it sound like so much fun?????  Can't wait till tomorrow night!!!

Ta ta till next time.....

Wonderous Saturday, and 4 days off!!!!

On my first day off  last Saturday lil M and I went to our local Farmers Market. We had soo much fun! We decide whats for dinner depending on what we find at the market......

Got lots and lots of fresh green and wax beans. We fried them in EVOO with a touch of garlic and salt...

Don't they look jus delish? Well they were!

Then we spotted lots of fresh veggies for stir fry....

Cabbage, Cilantro, Onion, Carrots, and Broccoli,  Then with a trip to the Asian Market down the street were complete for dinner......

 And we cannot forget the noodles with sprouts.....

  we even found this beautiful flower arrangement to set the table with.......

We just took our time and strolled through the market while sipping a scrumptious Chi latte and hot coco, and saying hello to all the sweet puppies, and doggies.

On Sunday.....

I started a new blanky! YAY!

This one is for my mama....

Oh I do relish the starting of a new blanky!!

Monday...

Lunch with my BFF at Brueggers, and some shopping for lil M.

She wants some semi permanent hair dye, and look at what I found..

Can you say OMG! I've got to have these????? For her or for me??? ha ha

That's still being worked out...lol

Tuesday.....

Sleeping in, and not waking to an alarm! Yippee!

Another Chi latte, and working on Mama's blanky....awhh a perfect day!

Oh, I almost forgot. That's silly of me! I have been working on starting a beginners crochet group. Doesn't it jus sound like fun? I do have a group of about 8 wonderful ladies that have signed up and I finally secured a venue! It starts Oct. 6th! Wish me luck!

And..

Ta ta till next time!

Baby blanky...Done!

I have been working on the most delightful baby blanky for a co-worker.....

Just beautiful rows and rows of flowers....

As you can tell it is for a baby girl....just hope the ultrasound is right...

cuz, a baby boy is gonna look kinda funny in this ultra chica blanky...

As you can tell, by all the pic's....I LOVE this blanky...

This is my gift to you Sam and your baby girl....

Hope she likes it!

Ta ta till next time....

P.S. the pattern is form Leisure Arts, Afghans by the pound, "Daisy Garden".

Homemade Laundry Soap!

So, I got this idea for my new fav site..... pinterest .... Its full of pictures, with links to the original idea, so you can get the "how to's" of almost everything posted. Oh my, I could and have spent hours and hours window shopping. In fact my fav file is growing by leaps and bounds, because of it...ha ha!

Here's one the best things ever.. homemade laundry soap and it works, and cheaper than store bought too!

So, shred 3 bars of Fels-naptha soap. ( i used my salad shooter)

you can use dove if you want

Then use 3/4 box of Borax, and a whole box Super Washing soda....

And....whaw la, you get laundry soap. It has the most delish scent in the jar and when washing, but it's fragrance free once done.

It really works and is way cheaper than store bought too.

Fels-naptha 1.15 per bar  

Borax  4.99 a box

Super Soda 3.99 a box

Grand total.....$12.43 and you use only 1 TBS per load

(i do use 1 1/2 TBS on the hubby's work clothes)

Try it and tell me whatcha think...

Ta ta till next time!

Ta dah's and goodbye's.....

So, I have been working a couple of projects.  They have been so much fun to make!

The texture of this wrap is jus delish....

See the snazzy button I made to go with it?

And check out the jazzy fringe!

This lil number is for a very close friend of mine who is moving away  : o(

Miss Gulia this is for you, when you need a hug, or just know that when you put this on,

I am thinking wonderful happy thoughts of you!

I will miss you greatly, and I see great things in your future!

But, I loved yours soooo much I had to make one for me too!

OK, mine is a bit crazy? But really, would I have it any other way?

I know when I wear this I will remember all those crazy nights at work together!

A big thank you for coming into my life and sharing your sunny disposition with me!

Best wishes Gulia!

P.S. The pattern is from.....

A new begining!

Looky what i found in the door way to the garage.....

A Monarch butterfly coccoon......They can take 1-3 weeks to hatch...

This is one week later.....You could see it moving inside.....

And ta da! Its a girl???? Isn't she just beautiful?

We missed her fly a way....   : o (

Ta ta for now....