Debra's Dose

Merry, merry!

2011-12-25T23:11:00.000-06:00

Friday was the day we shared festivities with the three of Jerry's five children and their families; that live in the area. This shallow dish/platter, with autumn leaves, is one of my favorites received that day. And I absolutely love this hemp necklace with an amber pendant/disk and the oblong wooden beads. My husband's eldest son's wife made this for me and I put it on immediately. It's just perfect.

This lapghan is shaping up quite nicely. It's pictured in my last entry. Since then, I've added ten more rounds. I had thought I'd do an additional twenty, but now, I'm not so sure. If I do that, it'll be over five foot square. Currently it's a lil over three foot square. Still undecided how large I do want it to be.

The center is based on reverse sequence of prime numbers under ten {7, 5, 3, 2, and 1}. Then I included a white round to create space between that and the next sequence, which is based on the Fibonacci sequence under ten {0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8}. I'm actually just starting on the round of 8 claret. Then I will probably do some white and finish up with teal and aqua. It depends tho what I do from here, as far as actual number of rounds in which colors.

Next Project

2011-12-22T22:51:00.000-06:00

K, here is the center twenty rounds for Christi's afghan. She's a lovely young woman who tends to the pups when we need her to do so. She likes the throw I have draped over my recliner, so I thought that a nice "thank~you" afghan of her own would show some appreciation.

I'm using Red Heart's shocking pink, claret, real teal, aqua, and soft white. If you saw my entry yesterday, you'll have clicked on the link that takes you to the Red Heart With Love giveaway sponsored by AllFreeCrochet.com. Don't forget to enter daily!

This is about six hours worth of crocheting while watching the original Dr Who. We're part way thru the second season. Oh, and we watched TiVo'd X~Factor; yea! Melanie!

Red Heart: with love

2011-12-21T23:50:00.000-06:00

Earlier today, my husband and I delivered fifty hats, scarves, hoods, and hooded scarves that I crocheted, knitted, or loomed for the kids at the Palmer Home Orphanage. The Palmer Home is unique in that they are committed to keeping siblings together. There are five cottages {with an average of eight children at each, along with two house~parents} at the main campus in Columbus, MS. Pretty cool how I made exactly enough so that everyone was able to pick an item!

I did speak with the admin ladies and let them know that if there are any special requests, folks wanting a hat in this style with those colors or some such thing; then just let me know and I'll see what I can do. It's not hat/scarf weather here in MS yet, but in the new year, and for months to come; it gets pretty cold. You wouldn't think that MS has a need for warm garments such as those accessories, but yes, we do.

For most of the hats, hoods, and hooded scarves, I used Red Heart yarns. Speaking of which, I came upon this just now. It is a giveaway for Red Heart's relatively new yarn, With Love. It's an acrylic yes, but is so very soft and yet holds it shape. I've spoken with a few folks who have used this for various projects, and they rave about it. Our local WalMart doesn't carry the With Love; perhaps when I get to Tupelo's JoAnn's or down to Jackson's Michaels, I will be able to pick some up. Our local WalMart has expanded their yarn section quite a bit, but at this point, Red Heart's With Love isn't available there.

However, check out the giveaway for the Red Heart With Love at AllFreeCrochet.com. You can enter once per day til Jan 4. So go check it! Also, if you post a blog entry mentioning it, or Tweet about it, or FaceBook it, that counts as an extra entry into the giveaway. I don't FaceBook, nor do I tweet, but I do blog.

tah~DAH!

Sophie with Santa

2011-12-13T00:38:00.000-06:00

My husband becomes Santa every December for a few events. This past weekend, the Emerson Center, BrickFire Project, and a few other community efforts joined together to put on a Christmas Extravaganza. It featured pictures with Santa, decorating cookies, wrapping gifts, making cards, singing songs, reading books, etc. The event is always the second Saturday in December and it gets better every year, cuz every year an old kink is eased but a new one develops, or so it seems. I think they are controlling the chaos pretty well, considering!

The main thing is that the kids love it and so do the adults. Some children take to Santa right off and want to hang with him for hours and hours. They have to be coaxed to move on so that others can spend time with him. Then there are some children who will not, with any amount of coaxing, have anything to do with Santa. He can be a big ole scary dude, with all that white fluffy hair and that can be a tad intimidating.

But mostly, it's fun to watch the kids pose with Santa and tell him their names and list all their wishes. The funniest kid has got to be my friend's lil boy, Alex, almost three. When asked what he wanted for Christmas, he replied with great enthusiasm, "presents!" and stuck to that answer when pressed for specifically what kind of present does he want. It doesn't matter, a box to unwrap can be just as fun as whatever is inside the box, doncha know.

my support group, uhm I meant "MY WRITERS GROUP"

2011-11-28T14:51:00.000-06:00

"Hello. I'm Debra. I'm a short story writer."
"Hello, Debra."
"I started writing words. Then it graduated to paragraphs and then correspondence, ya know, letters. Eventually it was group story style and then, well, then that wasn't doing it for me anymore...so I started to write short stories. It's been affecting my relationships, cuz I snap at loved ones who interrupt me when I'm in the zone. So, yeah, that's why I'm here."

When writers groups go support group style.

Asian Persimmon

2011-11-27T18:11:00.000-06:00

My first ever Asian Persimmon, lovely and local

Knittreat

2011-11-18T21:19:00.000-06:00

My husband is so very sweet ta me. This summer, I taught myself to knit {being a long time crocheter, I heard a fair share of "you're doing it wrong" from traditional knitters who throw their yarn, whereas I'm a picker}. My husband decided that he would treat me to a knitting retreat, a knittreat if you will. So he picked this one, sponsored by the Pittsburgh Knitters and Crocheters, held at the Bedford Springs Hotel, Resort, and Spa. We decided to combine it with a bit of a trip to my old stomping grounds and also a visit to my childhood friend who came down for our wedding two years ago.

Since this was a combination anniversary, birthday, and christmas present, my husband really went all out. The trip was wonderful, some of it has been documented here in this blog. The Bedford Springs Hotel was definitely a resort. As you can see from the top picture, it is HAH~yuge! And posh.

We were met by valets and bellhops. We had turn down service, where they come in and fill your ice bucket and plump your pillows and make sure you have all the towels you could want. They practically hold heated robes for you to don straight out of the shower, well, okey, they don't go that far. We had a morning service, where they brought fresh coffee and tea, with honey, cream, and lemon, as well as the morning paper.

The food was phenomenal. I almost expected them to pull out my chair, spread out my napkin on my lap, and tuck one under my chin. They didn't, but I think if I'd've asked, they would've. Very accommodating.

Very posh. I felt like the Mississippi rube I am.

Oh, and the knittreat was cool, too. But I was almost impressed more so with the hotel. Obviously.

My husband, that man, he sure is sweet ta me. sigh.

2011-11-18T20:59:00.000-06:00

My husband, holding a can of diet Moxie, from the Catawissa Bottling Works, which is behind the house I spent my teen years in.

A childhood friend and me, outside of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

This is a covered bridge outside of my hometown, Catawissa, Pennsylvania. I used to walk thru this bridge quite frequently. It spans across Catawissa Creek. When my husband and I visited Pennsylvania a few weeks ago, we drove around, and I showed him where I grew up. I also showed him where my father grew up, where my mother grew up, where they met, where they wed, where my mom's parents are buried, and where I went to college. It was definitely a trip down memory lane for me, as I haven't visited PA for ten years, having moved away over fifteen years ago.

racketeering

2011-11-18T20:46:00.000-06:00

A few months back, my husband and I bought this wine rack; but didn't hang it cuz we were gonna wait til the luan was moved. Then we decided last week that the luan wasn't really in the way and we could go ahead and put the rack in place. Besides, we had some wine from our trip north that we wanted to put somewhere, in the proper position {which is so that the cork stays wet, upright won't do}. The wine in the center, in the blue bottle is Shade Mountain Vineyard's Anniversary White, a sweet table wine from Pennsylvania; which we intend to save til next year.

The lil glasses hanging there are from the only winery in Mississippi, Natchez's own Old South Winery. We had gotten them while we were on our honeymoon. Cuz these particular bottles are long and slender, the middle two glass slots are not being used as intended~~but that's ok, cuz I figured the cork~screws were in keeping with the wine theme.

She wore a looooooooooooooooooong HAT

2011-11-18T16:51:00.000-06:00

Okey dokey, below is a shot of all three hats {the reversible, the long, and the multi~brim} all nested on inside the other~~the Russian Dolls of Middies' Hats.

Below and to the left is the multi~rimmed hat, which oddly enough resembles the headgear Whoopi Goldberg's character wore in that Sci~Fi show {uhm StarTrekk: The Next Generation}.

I did not think that an adolescent boy would wear it, but ya never know. Sometimes kids don't need to conform in order to be cool. Or in this case, warm.

reversible hat

2011-11-17T17:54:00.000-06:00

My childhood friend's sons' school colors are silver and blue, altho they look blue and white in the sport pix I found online.

So I made her two younger sons hats while I was visiting. But I ran outta time while making the third hat. So I decided to make a few when I got back home.

This is one of the hats. It is reversible. One side is mostly grey. Turn it so the grey side is in and the outside is grey, blue/grey, and blue.

I also made two other hats to send too. One is very long and one is kinda creative. I may post pix of those in another entry.

She did what?

2011-11-17T15:43:00.000-06:00

Unrelated to the welcome leaf that my husband hung next to the front door, as seen to the left, is how Jerry and I can crack each other up.

So yesterday was my birthday {41, is that even possible? I'm sure that my folks were just that old not so very long ago...} and it was also the last meeting of Cafe Scientifique for the semester. They usually meet on Tuesdays, which means that last year, they met on my birthday. This year, this month's meeting was moved to a Wednesday, which meant that it was also on my birthday. Perhaps next year, they will move the meeting to Friday, so that it is on my birthday {I think next year is a leap year, so we're skipping my birthday being on Thursday this time around}. Is it possible for me to say "my birthday" once again?

My birthday.

Yes, it is possible.

So yesterday, my husband and I met at Harvey's for dinner before the meeting and then stayed for the presentation. I learned something about Mississippi and our water that I didn't know; the water in Mississippi is owned by the citizens of Mississippi and not by the individuals who own the land that water is found on. Wow.

But that's not what cracked my husband and I up. No. It was this: I said to him, "earlier today, I surprised myself..." and then he laughed. I reviewed what I said and what I did and waited for him to tell me what he found funny, with a preparatory half~smile starting on my own face. He snickered and then said, "I'm sorry, but I pictured you leaping out in front of a mirror, arms spread, yelling "surprise" at yourself."

I snickered too, cuz not only could I picture the scene, but also cuz if you saw yesterday's post, you'll see that I did take a pic of myself in front of a mirror. I got so tickled by the image of me surprising myself by leaping around and yelling "surprise" that I forgot what I had started to relate about surprising myself.

It still hasn't come back to me. I must not have been all that surprised after all.

Oh! And one more time..."my birthday".

Proud November Baby Since 1970

2011-11-16T21:36:00.000-06:00

There's an app for that.

2011-10-30T19:45:00.000-05:00

So after drinking a large travel cup of coffee, I was thrilled to see restrooms at a lil scenic overlook in the Smoky Mountains. I quickly zipped up to the door, where a woman was scowling intently at her phone, while standing in the doorway. Finally, she moved, heaving a huge sigh. I flew in and realized that it was just a potty, like those in an outhouse or porta~potty. No sink. "That's ok," I thought, as I plunked down on the toilet~lid covered hole. Right before I realized there was no toilet paper. None. There was an empty cardboard roll where toilet paper should be. But no paper. I clawed up in the holder, thinking, hoping, that there was some squirreled away.

Nope.

So when I went back to the car, I passed a woman getting off a motorcycle and I told her that she might want to take some tissue or a napkin with her as there was no paper there. Then I said that it would have been awesome if the woman before me would have said something to me about it.

Then again, she was scowling at her phone.

Perhaps she was searching for an app for that!

The Grotto by Bro Joe

2011-10-30T19:38:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, we stopped to see the Ave Maria Grotto.

Bro Joe did 125 replications of well known structures. Most of them are not entirely accurate, but the resemblance is awesome. Especially considering that many of these are constructed from marbles, cold~cream jars, trinkets and jewelry, seashells, and various miscellaneous items such as buttons and drawer pulls.

Does the Wall look huge? Well, see the pic below to get an idea of scale!

first knit wrap

2011-10-26T22:59:00.000-05:00

first knit wrap.

{happy birthday, mom}

detail.

folded in half.

creative tids 'n' bits

2011-10-26T18:52:00.000-05:00

my husband sketched this and gave it to me for our second anniversary.

awww.

sigh.

*blush*

this is the largest knit project i've attempted.

it will be a wrap, for my mom.

awwww.

sigh.

{grins}

a few tids and bits

2011-10-16T21:08:00.000-05:00

Awhile back, we had to get a new camera. So this lapghan was something I did this summer, a few months ago. But it's the first time I was able to get my picture taken, saved, and uploaded.

So this is a turqua lapghan for the VA hospital in Jackson.

Sophie turned a year old earlier this month. My husband made her a "cake", using a can of dog food {a real treat as she's never had wet food like that!} sandwiched between two slices of bread, soaked in gravy.

Complete with a candle and everything!!

This leaf we bought in Natchez.

It fits in nicely with the rest of our autumnal decor.

When we got home from Natchez, there was a package waiting for us. While I was unpacking our bags, my husband unpacked the box and set out my anniversary present~~pumpkin tea set!!

So immediately I made us some mango/peach tea! The pot and cups are microwavable, so I filled the pot with water and zapped it. I let the tea steep and poured it into the two cups and guess what? It was exactly the right amount.

Perfect!

would the real results please come forward

2011-10-12T14:00:00.000-05:00

Okey dokey, so I expressed my concerns, anxiety, and puzzlement with my counselor earlier. I didn't know for sure whom to speak with and which way would be the best way to approach the whole breastestes questions. My counselor helped me sort thru some stuff, and then we made some decisive calls and whoa and behold we talked with the actual radiologist to ascertain that my left breast doesn't have the new unfamiliar dense pea and that it was my right breast that had the mass. The doc verified that yes, that was right {as in correct, also that it was my right and not the left breast: right in every way}. So I am much relieved. I then went back to the office and showed the nurse that the document reads "left" when it was my right breast which hid the pea and the right I had ultrasounded and the right that was biopsied. So yup, I'm way more assured today than I was yesterday. Yea!!!

Here's the thing: no indication of malignancy. Yea!! Yea for breastests!

results: yea...?

2011-10-11T20:10:00.000-05:00

please note, this is not me; notice the absence of tattoos

"Mild fibrocystic disorder of breast with micro cyst formation and focal duct epithelial hyperplasia. NO evidence of malignancy..." {emphasis on NO is mine}

So I'll go back in six months for a follow~up ultrasound to have my right breast lubed and viewed. I'm pretty stoked! I do, however, have to return tomorrow to correct something in my charts. But that's minor.

Or should be. I fear that if it's not corrected tho, at some point, there may be some confusion regarding my left breast. My diagnostic records show that it was my left breast with the pea, but it was my right breast biopsied. Ok. So uhm, should I be concerned about this? Is the pea really in my right breast, and so the specimen was mislabeled? Or is the pea really in my left breast and my right was biopsied, but perhaps the left should have been?

I'd laugh, but I'm not sure if it's really that funny.

Balls, Birthdays, Boobs, & Books

2011-10-06T21:16:00.000-05:00

Saturday morning, my husband will be attending the MSU game at B'ham; whilst I take my friend out for brunch. That evening, she is having a hah~YUGE birthday bash, with Mexican food, margaritas, and rich deep dark chocolate cake. Yea for football! Yea for birthdays!

October is National Book Month. Read one. Read two. Hell, read a bunch! Read one for every day of the month, or at least for every week. Do your bit. Yea for books!

This month marks the 25th anniversary of National Breast Cancer Awareness month. Last month, I visited the women's clinic to have my yearly exam; I didn't realize that I wasn't actually due for a pap til NEXT November. Silly me, apparently since my insurance changed their coverage to only reimbursing every two years; that's now the standard in care. Here I was thinking that all the hype about yearly paps was for my own good. Silly me.

While the doc was poking at me, but not doing a pap smear, he said, "ahhh, I think you are past due for a mammogram." Wow, you can tell that from way down there? I am impressed. So can you also tell if I'm due for a tooth cleaning?

So before I left, their office called over to the Breast Health Care Clinic {that is the actual name, we take mam~management seriously here} and scheduled a pat down for me, cuz they're nice like that. Tuesday, I show up, they squish me, and take some lovely pix with their x~ray specs. Then I go to perch until they ogle the lovely shadows and interpret them using their magical mystical methods.

Now I am a very lumpy bumpy person, always have been. But fluid filled simple cysts always raise the alarm, just cuz they want to make sure that they really are what they appear to be. So I was not at all surprised that they wanted me to return for an ultrasound that afternoon.

Except when I viewed the mammogram results, there was something that didn't look like the run~of~the~mill floating fluid sacs that make my breasts so much more fun. There was a dense pea just sitting there, by itself, deep within my right breast. The other usual cysts are easily manipulated, just under the surface of my skin, and they are diffuse. This pea was very dense, a bright lil piece of gravel that looked different in every way possible. So, I was all, "yeah, let's check that out."

A few hours later found me slathered with boob~lube and a scanner showing some simple cysts. The doc kept saying, "yeah, that's a big one, but totally benign" and "that one too" and "oh yeah, that one too." Finally, he just started chanting, "simple cyst, simple cyst, simple cyst". Sorta like he was checking off a grocery list.

I asked him what it looks like when it isn't a simple cyst. He stops, turns to me, giving me all his attention. He describes how a mass that isn't a simple cyst tends to be so dense that it doesn't let the sonic sound waves pass thru, so this shadow is cast. I nod my head, just imagining, cuz I've only ever seen my fluid~filled simple cysts which allow sound waves to pass right thru, cuz fluid is like that~~a great conductor of all sorts of waves. He turns his attention back to the ultrasound screen and replaces the scanner on my breast and immediately a black void with a trailing shadow appears.

I didn't giggle, or say, "oh, ya mean like that? Does it look like that?" Cuz the answer was obvious and not everyone shares my love of well timed moments. I did point out that the pea is a just a lil guy, about a centimeter and a half it looked from the film. Yes, he agrees, about a centimeter point seven, actually. So, I say, about half an inch. Uhm yes, he confirms.

If this lil pea is cancer, it would be stage one. Easily removed, a lumpectomy. The treatment tends to be a few weeks of follow~up radiation to make sure that any stray cancer cells are killed off. Easy peasy.

That would be worst case scenario. But in all likelihood, the pea is a calcified nodule that happens as women age. So today, I went in for a biopsy.

First, they tried to aspirate it. A lil thin needle goes down into a fluid filled sac and then the fluid is drawn up into the needle and the sac shrinks. I've had it done multiple times, in various locations {including my thyroid, back when I had one}, cuz I am a lumpy bumpy person.

But this is a solid mass, not aspirateable, as it were. So out comes the core needle which is some larger in bore and has a grooved tip. A spring loaded gun pushes the sharp lil corkscrew into the solid mass and takes a sample of the tissue to be sent off to be analyzed. The sound when it fires off is like an industrial staple gun, or an air nail gun {if you are into construction and are more familiar with air guns then office equipment}.

I asked if they just couldn't remove the pea. I mean, it's lil, and the needle could probably suck it right up. At any rate, they did take three samples. I should know what the pea's composition is on Tuesday. What a week!

Due to the pounding and poking and prodding, my right breast should be particularly colorful tomorrow. Right now, I'm sporting a wad of bandages taped to my breast. The nurse practically wrapped the tape under, across, and over so that half of my breast is swathed in wide white tape. That will feel oh so good coming off, I'm sure.

Every one should have so much fun!

My special eyes, my cat eyes

2011-10-03T18:59:00.000-05:00

So about ten days ago, I wrote a lil letter to Zenni~Optical; and POOF! Speedy service, they rushed making three pairs of glasses for me and sent them to me priority. Here I am, rockin' the retro cat~eye frames. I love, Love, LOVE these glasses.

Love 'em.

And so does my husband.

Cuz he loves me, and is clearly biased. I think he would love whatever I put on my face. But he really does like these.

Cool Stumble Upon find

2011-09-25T23:45:00.000-05:00

For that extra huge appetite!

I feel like I ate this, instead of the several normal sized hamburgers I did have today!

If you want to see some other awesome pumpkins, decorated in unique ways, head over to this site!

http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/2011/09/20-unique-pumpkin-ideas.html

Another project, finished!

2011-09-25T21:32:00.000-05:00

This is a shot of the newly painted master bedroom, tah~DAH!!! My mom, she's the absolute best, in so many ways. Thanks for the lovely wedding present.

Jerry hang the new blinds and the chocolate brown curtains this evening, in both the bedroom and the bathroom. Yea!! The color of the paint is peppermint tea, from WalMart. It's a light, frothy, frosty, pale green that is so soothing and refreshing.

On one of the bedposts is an assortment of hats that I'd made my husband a few years back. The black and gold is for our local high~school yellow jackets. The maroon and white is for MSU {go dogs!}. There is a blue watch cap that he calls his skittles cap. And the silver and black is for the raiders {his team from way back}.

Mom also painted the master bath for us, too. In the magazine rack are several editions of Crochet Today! The floor is not finished, eventually, it will have tile~~there's no rush.

Ferah's Fantastical Funky Formal Fortieth

2011-09-24T19:36:00.000-05:00

My husband spent the morning building a box; a large, heavy, durable box fastened with screws and painted black. So when I got home, he was sweaty, dusty, and marked up with paint. It's for my friend.

Ferah is turning forty next month. She is having a wildly funky formal birthday bash in a few weeks. There will be mexican foods, margaritas, and plenty of dancing. I'm planning to wear my wedding dress. It's champagne, cocktail~length, sleeveless, satin, and two years old. I might even wear my veil, cuz it's cool and very would be a funky thing to do, fitting the theme.

Yesterday, my husband and I met at the Mexican restaurant down by the high~school cuz the Yellow Jackets played a home game last night. We were the first few folks to arrive, at 4, well before the dinner crowd. Normally, we both are very careful not to drink and drive, but we figured since kick~off was at 7:30, we had a few hours. I was gonna get a margarita, but then my husband decided to have one too. So we ordered a pitcher. A half~dozen swallows into his, my husband decided he didn't want anymore. So I drank the entire pitcher. Minus a half~dozen swallows.

Then, I went to the football game. I have to say, it was the drunkest I've been in about ten years. And it was the best time I've ever had a game. I was very energetic by the end of it, the buzz was dying off, I thought, and so I drove to WalMart, my husband followed me. If I had doubts, I would have left my car and come home with him and returned in the morning.

It turns out, while I was in WalMart, that I realized that the buzz hadn't really worn off at all. It was lying dormant. Once I started to walk around, all that blood got to moving around and I told my husband that I wanted to buy my friend, Ferah, the one who turns forty next month, the one I mentioned in the beginning of this, a pamper me kit for her birthday.

He supported my decision to load the cart with liquid soaps, bubblebaths, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, facial scrubs and masks, shower~poofs, candles, baby oils, etc. Basically all the accouterments you'd need for pampering a girly~girl. But they didn't have a basket big enough. So I tossed around the idea of loading it all in a rectangular laundry basket, displayed with tissue paper and then my husband, my wonderful husband, said, "ya know, I could build her a box. Ya know, a pamper box, with all her pamper stuff."

Sure, that sounds great! And is incredibly sweet. So we finally get home around MIDNIGHT. At 9:30 this morning, my husband wakes me so that I can make it to the BookMart by ten, cuz I told the fiber friends I'd be there. He then builds this box for Ferah and all her lovely stuffs.

Turns out, this box is heavy. The stuff is heavy. I think we will have drive to B'ham, sneak the stuff and the box into her house, load it and all that once it is on the table, cuz there is no FRIGGIN' way that we can carry that. We'd need a hand~truck {a dolly}. Or a wheelbarrow. Or the Incredible Hulk. On crack.

So my husband and I are staring at the box, and he turns to me and says, "you can tell Ferah that I spend all morning playing with her box, in the driveway." I replied, "she'd like that."

Crafting at the Cafe

2011-09-24T15:38:00.000-05:00

This morning, I went to the BookMart DownTown here is Starkville to meet up with a few crafters. I finished one knitting project, started another, and began to plan what other projects I want to work on in the near future. I had told fellow fiber freaks that I would stay til 2p; however, the screaming, demanding, whining toddlers did me in and so I packed it in early and left at a quarter past one. Why people feel compelled to dress their tots in cute lil university outfits and then drag them cranky to a football game, with packed crowded and rowdy stadiums, when the kid is gonna be out of sorts...is beyond me.

That's like popping your kid into a stroller and spending hours at the local fair. The kid's eye~level is at the same level as your thighs, so for hours, that kid is lost in a sea of ass. Bobbling fat asses encased in tight denim, releasing fumes from fair food. Oh how glorious that child's life must be, as they ride rough~shod over bumpy gravel, strapped into a sticky torture chamber. Poor thing.

People, you may think that it's so very awesome that you take your tykes to each and every game, cuz you are a diehard fan. But your child is not gonna remember having spent game~time as a several days, months, or even years old. I'm thinking most kids are not going to remember even as a small child of three or four, sitting with you at the game, let alone what the hell is happening on the field. Now, if your kid is thoroughly enjoying the game experience, great! Chances are tho, that if you kid is needing a nap, not great with change or strangers, teething, or having just recently acquired crazy~mad skilZ like crawling, walking, or running; then they are not enjoying the confinement of your lap with lots of confusing smells, sounds, and weirdos jostling them about. So if they won't remember what a swell time it was, and they aren't having fun at the present time; then why are you dragging them thru this and making everyone else miserable too? WHY?

One couple that was at the BookMart with a sobbing toddler in tow was the deal~breaker and that's when I left. The kid kept screaming, "why?? oh, why?? why are we here??? why are we here, DAD????" It would have been humorous, were it not so annoying. Also, I was tempted to start screaming, "why?? oh, why?? why are you here?? why are you here, DAD??" right along with the kid. And parents tolerate that crap from their own adorable {not} offspring, but not from adults who hopefully would know better.

I'd hope the parents would know better, too.

Hope springs eternal.

Dear Zenni~Optical

2011-09-22T00:39:00.000-05:00

{This is an eMail I sent to the Zenni~Optical folks earlier this evening. Cuz I like their products, but am not thrilled with this particular situation. However, the glasses/frames that others I know have from Zenni are holding up just fine; indeed my other pair are as well.}

Hello! Earlier this year, I ordered two pair of glasses from you {order#zippittee~dooh~DAH}. I have enjoyed them immensely and receive many compliments. I'm like a representative for your company, referring to your website and bragging on you.

Well, guess what happened? No, don't guess! We'll be playing eMail tag forever. Instead, I'll just tell ya.

Earlier this evening, I was cleaning my glasses {the regular ones, not the shades} and the arm snapped right off. The bottom plastic corner piece that holds the screw that attaches the arm to the front part {eye pieces} sorta disintegrated. Because that part was in crumbly plastic bits, I can't really fix it. I don't have anything to hold the screw in the bottom; I mean the screw would go thru the top loop, down thru the arm, but the bottom piece with the hole for the screw is missing~~just a lone jagged piece survives.

So uhm, frame#zippittee~dooh~DAH {a sort of caramel color that matches my hair, at least this month it does, next month, I'm thinking pumpkin orange would be suitable, don't you agree? yes! I thought you would!} isn't wanting to stay on my face any longer. Oh, bother. {sigh}.

What might you suggest? Can I send the broken frames in for repair? Can you salvage the lenses? Do I need to just chalk this up to an extremely short~lived pair of specs? I know my prescription is the same, as I just had my eyes examined earlier this year and since I keep my old prescriptions on file, I know that over the years, my Rx hasn't changed that much since I began wearing glasses at the age of nine {I'm forty}. At any rate, I've never had a pair of glasses leave my face so soon. It's heart~rending, it is.

I will wear my lovely rose~shades with the rose~tinted lenses tomorrow and perhaps for awhile til I get plain untinted lenses in reliable frames, cuz dude/tte{s}, I must wear glasses. Otherwise, I'm like Mr Magoo, and driving would be an adventure. Especially for my passengers.

You're lovely folks, you are. And tomorrow, I will attempt to view your site when I am more awake and able to make decisions. In the meantime, please advise me. And let me know, why, oh why did this pair die? Do have a wonderful Thursday. Thanks so very much for your consideration, Debra

the next project

2011-09-09T17:39:00.000-05:00

Long time readers may recall that when I moved in with my now~husband over two and a half years ago, my mom had given me an awesome wedding~gift. She would help me clean, and paint, the entire interior of my new home. She had come over and spent about five or six weeks at that time. We cleaned and painted the huge open living area which includes the living area, the dining area, the breakfast nook, and the kitchen; and one bedroom and one bathroom. Later that year, a month or so before my wedding, she and my brother returned and painted three guest rooms in the addition and laid tile flooring in those rooms as well.

Last year, we never really coordinated things well, either when she could spend sufficient time, or when I felt lively enough to want to do any major cleaning/painting. Besides, I wanted to have a few visits with my mom that weren't working~vacations. And also there was my husband's wreck and then a five~month house~guest. So we thought we'd wait a bit.

This year, my mom was bound and determined to make it happen; so Wednesday evening she arrived with her brushes and her knee~pad. Yesterday, we did a few errands around town. This morning, we started in on the master bedroom, with plans to also do the master bath. For now, it's mostly cleaning and painting; the floors must wait to be tiled for a later date.

So enter Krud~Kutter deglosser and prep for the painting. That stuff is strong, good, and very very effective. Mom is applying the first coat of primer for most of the room. A second coat of primer is applied as well. We use KilZ primer, great stuff!

Then she does two top coats of the satin {or semi~gloss} paint. We are sticking with what is called "peppermint tea". All but one room so far has been painted in this color. Peppermint tea is a light frothy frosty pale green that is soothing and refreshing.

In the future, we have one rather large front bedroom to do~~I still need to clear it out and go thru all the clutter in there. And back in the addition, we do have a small room, the bathroom, and the wide hall to do. As well as laying new tile in all but three rooms.

We're not in a rush. Each time a new section is done, we feel oh so much better. My husband says that he never notices how much the walls and floor do affect him until they are cleaned and painted; then he feels so much lighter. I know what he means!

When I was growing up, my mother repainted our kitchen and sometimes the bedrooms ever other year or so. It felt so much more better, to have that freshly cleaned and painted room. I can't describe it quite right, but if you've experienced it, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Ahhhhhhh.

I'm disgusted with the dust~dogs under my bed, behind my dresser, in the corners, hanging from the ceiling. I call them "dust~dogs" cuz they are fine spider~webs that have caught dog hair in the corners; wads of dust that are more dog hair piled under the bed; drifts of dog hair that are settled behind dressers; so much so that we could easily construct several other dogs with all the shed dog hair. I love Shaddow, but I will not ever get another large dog.

My floors are in a constant state of nastiness, cuz I have admitted defeat in the battle of scrubbing them clean. My husband and I both use the broom when it gets to the point that the drifting, settling dog fur piles encroach on our space. I always forewarn folks that my floors are not ever so clean you'd want to eat off them. I shudder when a small child crawls around on them, and apologize to the parents ahead of time if the knees of their pants are dirty after chasing the lil chiweenie around. It seems that when we sweep, it just stirs up the grit and fluffy fur so that when it resettles, the same clumps of hair is there yet again. {sigh}

At least my walls are lovely! And other than my floors, I think we have a fairly clean, clutterless home. Well, maybe not so clutter~free at this moment, as I have tools spread across the table, yarn piled here, fabric piled there, and books here and there. Once the bedroom is done, I can put things back into place. So I can deal with the clutter.

For now.

I think.

stumble upon

2011-09-01T22:25:00.000-05:00

This past week has been a bit odd for me and I'm exhausted. But I didn't want to go to bed too early, as I knew that waking in the middle of the night wide eyed would not leave me feeling refreshed. So I'm listening to my audio~book while my husband is watching MSU at Memphis {pht~ballZ}. Since I'm sitting at the computer, I thought I'd stumble upon a few sites and see what's what. Usually there are a plethora of cute pix that others have marked to share with others. Rarely do I find something that I want to go, "hey! check this out!"

But I did just now. Kelly Harman's blog, Did I Say That Out Loud? cracked me up. The first entry I read was posted yesterday, entitled "Why 6th Grade Boys are Evil". She relates an incident that results in her going to work to meet with her boss, a former litigator, dressed in nylons and a trenchcoat, forgetting to pick up her power~suit from the cleaners. I actually did snicker while reading this.

If you need a few light~hearted snippets to make you smile, you might want to give this blog a read! Check it!

scarf it up

2011-08-28T16:01:00.000-05:00

Dude! Here it is, the end of August and I have yet to reconcile that it still isn't May. How did this happen? I know that time seems to fly by faster, the older I get. But this summer seems to have been a long day of sizzling heat, not more than a week long at the most. And here it is, almost September already.

What have I done this year? I honestly cannot think of any one thing, but when I do ponder, I can come up with a bunch of lil things. But this year wasn't dedicated to any one thing, except maybe developing more of my knowledge of fiber~arts. The anatomy of stitches fascinates me. In the spring, I crocheted hats and scarves for various charities. Moving into summer, I began to work on lapghans for the vets at the VA hospital in Jackson, MS.

Then I took a break from that to pick up knitting needles and pick at some yarn, holding it exactly as I would crochet. I learned more about how loops interconnect and what sort of fabric that yields. Scarves make wonderful swatches to teach myself, by experimenting with this method and then that; and what happens then when I combine this with that? Those scarves will go to the kids over at Palmer Home in Columbus, the next county to the east.

Now, I'm ready to pick up crochet hooks again, finishing a few more lapghans. And when I need to take a break from that project, more scarves are needed as there are between eighty and a hundred kids at Palmer. There are also kids over at Sally Kate Winters in West Point, MS. And scarves are needed for the Special Olympians in 2012.

And I have not even begun to think of holiday stuff yet. And here it is September. Already.

knots of love

2011-08-14T17:41:00.000-05:00

On Saturdays, there is a small group of crafters that gather for a cuppa and companionship at the BookMart DownTown on Main Street in Starkville, Mississippi.

Yesterday, four of us helped to celebrate Knots of Love's knotting and knitting in public day from ten til two.

Knots of Love can be found here: knots-of-love.org

It's a way cool organization, that gives warm soft handmade caps to over three hundred treatment centers for their clients who have had traumatic hair loss due to disease {such as cancer} or other causes {some forms of high stress cause folks to lose their hair such as witnessing a horrible accident, being involved in a fire, or loss of a loved one}. To find out more about the organization's activities and how you too can help them reach their goals, visit them at knots-of-love.org

Ready Brek...?

2011-08-10T16:57:00.000-05:00

Because I've been doing lots of wasteful things instead of primarily focusing on constructive things of late, I have been reading lots of blogs lately. See, I belong to a group called Ravelry {link in the left bar} which focuses on us yarny types {fellow fiber freaks, yea!!}. And in that community, many people list their blogs on their profile pages. And if I like their work, or find them interesting, or just want to kill time doing absolutely nothing directly creative; I go blog gandering.

And I find out lil interesting tid~bits of trivial knowledge that have no significant import other than my then thinking/writing about them myself.

Enter "Ready Brek". In the photo, it appeared to be a bowl of smushy oatmeal gripped in a chubby toddler's hand. But I googled it lest I assume incorrectly that Ready Brek referred to instant breakfast in the guise of quick oats. And yes, it is.

However, WIKI gave me pause as apparently Ready Brek is not only available in original, SuperOaty, and Honey...but CHOCOLATE. My brain stuttered a bit as I tried to conceive of choco~oats in the form of a hot breakfast like oatmeal versus the super~surgared chocolatee children's dry cereals. UuuuhmmmMM...?

And then, I remembered the conversation I had a few years back regarding peanut butter. The Aussee I was chatting with while eating a fluffer~nutter {a marshmallow creme confection which draws puzzlement here in the South} shuddered over the thought of peanut~butter and jelly. "Why would you do that?" {shudder, shudder} "What would possess you people to do such a horrible thing?" I thought she meant mixing legumes with jelly.

But no. She clarified that it was a horrible fate, sticky jelly smothering those poor beans. Wasn't it bad enough that we made paste out of them?

Uhm. Vegemite anyone?

Knit Wit

2011-07-31T23:35:00.000-05:00

Well, dudes, I've been knitting and witting. This is scarf number five. Or six. I have two others on needles in the works. One is in my car and the other is here in the house. It's just that I wanted to try a different stitch combination for a medium to thick ribbing, that had some stretch to it, so that is why I started this one yesterday afternoon. It's about three feet right now.

I just lectured my husband on priorities. Namely, his health versus having a splendid yard. I know the yard work is very important to him. His health is important to me. Why would his health be jeopardized by the yard work?

Well, ya know how hot every where is right now? In Mississippi, we have lots of humidity as well. This means that what may be a HOT day, may actually be a dangerously hot day, once the heat index is taken into account.

So this coming week our high TEMPS {without the heat index} are: Monday 98, Tue 99, Wed 100, Thurs 101, and Fri 100. He wants to take Wed off from his work at MSU to mow about four or five acres. So I said that I understand he wants to mow {cuz all that humidity is making our grass and weeds get rather unruly, fast}, but I worry about him.

Compromise? I told him to come in and shower at 2pm and plant his butt in his chair, eat popsicles, and watch tv til at least 4p. Then if he still feels that he just absolutely needs to get out there, he can. The hottest part of the day is usually between two and four, here.

I'd just like to say that at seven this evening, the heat index read 104. SEVEN o'clock. 104! So just imagine what the heat indexes are going to be like in the middle of the day when the temps hit triple digits. I'm just sayin'.

wow

2011-07-29T01:09:00.000-05:00

Wow! Earlier today I received the 1960s vintage Sears interchangeable knitting needle kit, similar to the one pictured here. Earlier this week, I won the bid on eBay for it and ended up paying less than half {including shipping} than what modern interchangeable knitting needle kits go for when they are on sale. I was so excited that I resembled a toddler getting her hands on a lego set for the first time. My husband was all excited that I was excited!

AND I went to the monthly meeting of the local knitters guild this evening. That was before I realized that the package addressed to my husband contained this kit. I had an excellent time and enjoyed meeting the ladies.

BUT WAIT!!! That's not all! My husband and I are going to PA to a Knittreat in November. It'll be our gift to each other. I'm so excited!

AND! I have made some adjustments to some meds and feel much more energetic and more enthusiastic about things {especially since I'm not dragging}.

BUT WAIT!! {are you expecting a plea that if you order now, in the next five minutes, you too can receive a set of extra~sharp knives for two easy payments of some amount ending with a nine or a five, AND you also will receive the tomato you can cut with the sharp knives?? are you??} I've been meeting with other local fiber freaks, and I'm excited about that too!

I must go to sleep now, all this excitement is exhausting! grins, debra

JoAnn's sale

2011-07-22T15:45:00.000-05:00

JoAnn's online had a sale, all their yarn was thirty percent off. Out of hundreds of selections, I narrowed down my final choices. LionBrand Jiffy has been a favorite of mine from when I first was able to try it years ago when our local WalMart carried it. I chose the autumnal colors of our wedding~~gold, rust, and wine.

I saw that RedHeart has some new cotton that I wanted to try. I've never even seen it before {not in person, just online}. So I thought a sale would be the perfect time to get it. I got tangerine and currant. Yea!! Yea for me! And yea for whomever gets the final crafted product using these scrumptious fibers!

knit this from that

2011-07-20T21:37:00.000-05:00

I've been having lots of fun with experimenting with knitting these past ten days or so. So this scarf that I'm doing here is actually being knit off of another piece that I was knitting this past weekend. I've taken a break from my brother's afghan, am not terribly sure when I will get back to it; soon, I think. Having a blast and that's what's key, right? RIGHT?!?

That's what I thought, too.

By the way, the scarf is folded back on itself, altho it kinda looks like I've knit an oven mitt with a really, Really, REALLY long thumb.

slow progress on the brother's afghan

2011-07-14T21:46:00.000-05:00

ok, I've been getting really distracted lately; trying out all sorts of new methods and techniques with knitting, that I haven't been spending nearly enough time focused on crocheting my brother's afghan. {sigh} BUT WAIT!! My mom's visit has been delayed and since I'm planning to send it home with her, I have more time to get crackin'!

coming up roses

2011-07-11T22:10:00.000-05:00

Several years ago, I sat down and taught myself to knit on circular needles in the round. I made a neckwarmer. Then I didn't knit again til this past weekend.

I felt like I wasn't doing it right. So I when I saw that there was an intensive class focused on the basics of knitting, I sent an eMail to ask about it. Since I am right~handed, I learned to crochet with the hook in my right hand and the yarn feeding thru my left. In knitting, left~handed yarn~holding is called "continental" and the vast majority of knitters I've met are either first knitters then crocheters or only knitters and they knit by throwing the yarn with their right hands. Most yarn stores are devoted to knitters with crochet being a poor second at best.

Well, the folks at Knit1 Oxford are super friendly and welcome any fiber~freak, no matter if you knit, crochet, loom, weave, wrap, needlepoint, quilt, etc. The owner, Patsy, does continental, so was very willing to sit with me on Friday and I could watch her do her knitting. There is a major difference in the way I hold my yarn. I tend to keep my index finger extended up, so that when I crochet I can pick the yarn with the hook. Turns out that's what I do with the needles too. This makes my stitches a bit looser than most new knitters {which actually may be a good thing}.

I returned on Saturday for the intensive knitting class. I knew more than I thought I did, but lacked the confidence. So Saturday morning was perfect for me! Also, since I like the anatomy of stitches and examining the hows and whys of methods and techniques and not just the do this that way and this is correct; I could better understand that if I did this instead, it would result in this look. Way cool!

I really enjoyed meeting the ladies there and felt very comfortable. So it might be a treat for me to go up every other month or so and spend a Saturday there. I met a fellow crocheter too and it'd be great to spend more time with her, comparing notes and tips and such.

Saturday, Jerry and I ate lunch at "Rice and Spice", a Thai kitchen in Oxford and then drove home. It was a wonderful weekend. Sunday, I was practicing my knitting and discovered something...a style of my very own. And it's not wrong. It's different. My new~found friends gave me the confidence to know that just cuz it's not what they would do, or what I've ever seen anyone else do, it's still a good way as long as it gets me to where I wanna be.

The above flat piece on circular needles is a bit of that technique. It yields the stockinette stitch. I just started messing with it this evening.

The roses are from my husband. He's so sweet ta me! And I put them right in front of me on my table so that I can enjoy them all the time.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Fiber~Freaks UNITE!

2011-07-07T15:20:00.000-05:00

Knit1 Oxford is a fairly new yarny store located in Oxford, Mississippi. When Jerry and I went to the Fiber Fest in January, Knit1 folks were very friendly. I joined their mailing list and have been debating with myself about the intensive knitting class they offer frequently. Finally the other night, I contacted them to ask if the instructor teaches continental {yarn in the left hand knitting}.

Yes, I'm right~handed. But I crochet and have been doing so for thirty some years. Which means that I hold the hook with my right hand and use my left to provide the tension needed to feed the yarn properly. So when I dabbled with knitting a few years back, I naturally held the yarn with my left hand.

However, most folks that knit {and do not crochet or learned to knit first} use their right hand to throw the yarn. I'd be interested in the class, preferably if they also teach continental for those of us that are on the left. So, it turns out that the instructor of that class does not knit continental and does not teach that way either.

BUT WAIT!! There is another lovely lady that does! So we got it all set up and she is going to work with me on my knitting, molding me into a yarny~type that can add yet another craft to my mix. Yea!!!

I've got quite a few circular set of needles, including my favorite feel, the bamboo. I also have some straight needles. But at the moment, I'm refreshing my memory from when I taught myself briefly how to cast on and knit. I'm using chop sticks and acrylic yarn. But tomorrow, ahhhhhhhhh I get to plunge my fingers into wool and all sorts of other lovely frothy fibers. And I might get some yummy~yarn to work with for the new craft!

When I did work with the circular needles a few years back, I used Jennifer Stafford's domiKnitrix: whip your knitting into shape. It is a fantabulousness tool to use to teach yourself some wicked kick~ass skills, besides how to knit and purl.

Stafford is indeed awesome. She prefers to knit continental, but also shows english. She gives great advice and good tips to remember for that extra appeal. It was by using her book that I first even contemplated venturing into knitting, and I did several pieces using the circular needles to create in the round neck~warmer. However, I didn't feel quite confident until I can actually watch someone who knits in a way I can understand and mimic.

I'm really excited about tomorrow's trip!

The Columbus Arts Council features Elayne Goodman

2011-07-07T14:52:00.000-05:00

The Columbus Arts Council is sponsoring a show and reception at the Rosenzweig Gallery tonight. The show features works by Elayne Goodman, an MUW alumni.

Her work is also available for purchase on eBay and other online sites as well .physical locations. She uses recycled materials and combines them in different ways to show new perspectives and a variety of forms.

One of the techniques Goodman uses often is to encrust items with other items into a collage of sorts. For instance, she covered a stool's seat with Elvis memorabilia and laminated it so that the seat can still be used. I think some of the bowls and vases she has covered with buttons are very interesting and eye~catching.

My husband and I are on our way to the reception this evening. A friend of mine was newly named the executive director for the Columbus Arts Council and it will be nice to show our support. I really had no idea that there was so much showcased there! Later this month, two classical guitarists will be performing. There are also classes and other events. It will definitely be worth watching!

in the name of Mr Anonymous Gifter

2011-07-05T00:11:00.000-05:00

Long time readers will remember that the second half of 2008 started rough and rocky but ended on a great note! I met my husband in mid~December that year and that, my friends, made all the other crappity~crap worth wading thru. I won't rehash all of that six months' toils and boils, go back and read my entries from then if you really are that interested.

However, mid~November to mid~December I was having all sorts of car problems. At one point, Mr Anonymous Gifter stepped up and paid to have my gas~tank replaced. Now, he was elderly and had been gifting folks for quite some time, as he served as the benefactors board for his church. But I was the second person to have actually thanked him. This was a sad commentary on how entitled folks feel. At any rate, I figured I could get the message of thanks to him the same way that he got the plea for help; so I not only thanked him right then with a card and some home~baked cookies and breads, I also continued to thank him annually with a card and some item {in 2009 it also involved crocheted hotpads}.

A couple weeks back, he died. I knew who he was {uhm, a smart girl who uses the computer and checks out the tubeZ for info, 'twasn't hard to obtain}, so when I heard that he had died, I read over his obituary {online}. His wife asked that all and any memorials be sent to the Sunnybrook Childrens Home just outside of Jackson {our state capital}.

This was a no~brainer. Earlier this evening, I sent an eMail to the organization, asking if I could donate crocheted items to their kids, parents, and other staff. I'd like to give back to the folks who helped me when I needed it. This would be a good way to continue to show my appreciation for Mr Anonymous Gifter.

I urge you to find a charity, organization, effort, cause, whatever that you can feel strongly about and for and DO something. Maybe you can't build a house, but I bet you can slap a paint brush on a wall. Maybe you can't donate a wad of cash, but I bet you can give some time to help set up for an event. There are so many ways that you can do something, anything, for someone, anyone.

Here's to you, Mr Anonymous Gifter. Thank you so very much.

today's yield

2011-07-01T23:47:00.000-05:00

Earlier when I was looking at the calendar, I realized that we've forgotten to check out July's birthdays and anniversaries. So I decided to get busy and make my brother an afghan for his bed for his birthday, which is July 17th. What do you think, can I make it? Here's four 12" squares I made since 4pm.

granny~rectangle?

2011-06-30T10:54:00.000-05:00

lapghan #3: Done

2011-06-29T00:16:00.000-05:00

tinkering

2011-06-28T19:23:00.000-05:00

So I decided to experiment with a few stitches and designs. I came up with this, which might not look different from the other squares, but if you enlarge and look at the detail, you'll see a difference.

squares

2011-06-24T22:34:00.000-05:00

What I did today? Four squares toward lapghan #3:

lapghan #3, and so it begins

2011-06-23T22:42:00.000-05:00

This is the first block for the next lapghan. I wanted to show the back and also my nails that I had done today. And of course, the front. And my toes, at the end of my fat lil peasant foot! I had a pedi today, too. My leg seems impossibly long and it's just my shin...alllllllllllll in the perspective. And yes, I need to shave. Click to enlarge for detail {ya know, just in case you want to count the hair that is long enough to braid}.

border

2011-06-22T22:49:00.000-05:00

lapghan #2, all but the edging

2011-06-22T21:20:00.000-05:00

Yeah so I spread this out on the bed and I thought, "dude, there is something missing, what is missing?" And then it occurred to me, the edging, debra, the edging. And yes, that will tidy up the border of these squares and tie it all together.

twelfth square

2011-06-22T18:37:00.000-05:00

Summer Solstice

2011-06-21T18:18:00.000-05:00

Look what my husband got for me! It came today. We saw it on a site dedicated to rescuing animals and saving pets. It's a lovely windchime! The autumnal leaves are ceramic, and I just love it. I didn't realize how very awesome it would make me feel. He's so sweet to me.

{sigh}

*blush*

square hat

2011-06-19T00:33:00.000-05:00

I started to do a square, got lost in a movie, ended up with a hat instead. Here is my stunning husband, modeling for me once again:

hip, hip to be square

2011-06-18T18:48:00.000-05:00

Square #5

2011-06-18T13:52:00.000-05:00

Pattern Binders

2011-06-18T10:29:00.000-05:00

My printer is doing all sorts of fascinating stutters and whirring. I think it may be dying. This makes me sad {sniffle}.

So this means that I've been unable to print a few square patterns for a crochet~along I'm doing with a couple of fun ladies on~line. Then I remembered late last night that I have binders. This makes me happy {yea}!

I've not thought of these binders full of patterns in ... quite some time. The one open on the table is full of granny squares. The one closed is just dishcloths and doilies. Since many of those items could be interchangeable, I got both binders out to start browsing thru. This makes me pleased {humming}.

Also pictured are my other binders. Afghans, filet, special stitches, sweaters, tunisian, knitting, looming, wearables, and something else that I'm not remembering right off the top of my head {I could go look, but I'm too lazy at the moment}. Since it's been years since I opened these, I'm eager to see what's in them. This makes me excited {grins}!

So today, and for the rest of the weekend, I plan to tinker about, looking thru these binders, picking patterns, crocheting squares to be used in lapghans for the VA Vets in Jackson, drinking tea, watching some TiVo'd CSIs, Criminal Minds, Law & Order, L&O:CI, and movies. This makes me delighted {wahoo}!

hip to be square {squared}

2011-06-17T23:12:00.000-05:00

See? Doesn't this look nicer than the last post? Well, at least different...

hip to be square

2011-06-17T21:37:00.000-05:00

This square didn't turn out like the pattern, cuz I already reached 12"x12" well before the pattern does. Hm. I fix that, now! While I go do that, here's this one:

lapghan #1, DONE

2011-06-17T19:22:00.000-05:00

There are a few things I'd do differently, if I use this design again. Like extend the blue field past the "S" or ya know, move the "S" to the left some so that the blue extends like it does behind the "U". But here it is!

lapghan #1, inching along

2011-06-17T12:16:00.000-05:00

I'm still slllllllllloooowly working on the lapghan. There are about fifteen rows left. These pix show what will be the back side of the lapghan cuz the letters that are coming along are "SU". However the flip side, which will be the front, will feature something that makes so much more sense {"US"}, considering the theme of the lapghan and whom the recipient will be.

reading, yes READING, and crocheting {at the same time!!}

2011-06-15T21:17:00.000-05:00

In my car, I carry a complete set of crochet hooks, scissors, stitch markers, round looms, etc. This is so that if I have time to kill, I can work on a project. Currently, my project that I've been working on here at home is the lapghan that I've graphed and it is NOT a project I want to be carrying around with me.

So this afternoon, after my appt this morning, I stopped at WalMart to get a skein of yarn so I could tinker around with doing some squares in the round {think granny~square alternatives}. Red~Heart's Super~Saver Warm Brown was on clearance for two bucks per skein! Yeah, I'm allllllllllllllllllllll about that. So I scarfed up those seven skeins and gave myself high~fives all the way to the check~out.

Then I went to a coffee~shop located in a locally owned and managed book~store on Main Street. I settled down with my skein and my hooks and got busy. And quickly got bored. Cuz there was nothing to occupy my other senses while my hands were flying around with the yarn.

But then my mind drifted to something it sometimes has been tossing and turning and tumbling around. See, I always say that I listen to audio~books while crafting cuz I haven't mastered the whole reading while crocheting thing. But my friend who is blind learned to crochet last year and the stuff she does is all granny~square. Which when ya think about it makes sense, this would be the ideal; cuz you crochet into the space, not the loops of the stitches in the row below. I thought, dude, if she can do this, with practice, I might be able to as well.

So I tried to feel with my fingers the space between stitch clusters and I discovered that with a few glances, I was able to do an entire cluster of three stitches {one square was double crochet and the next square was treble~crochet}. I was all like, wow! Dude, look at me!

So then I decided to put myself to the test and READ my book while doing the granny~squares. I shocked myself! I think with practice, I could really improve and fly right along. It's like most any activity, gets better with practice. I mean, how many times did you think when you were first learning to type, I WILL NEVER GET THIS!! And now you just type/text without even paying attention all that much.

Also at the cafe were about twenty bridge~playing women. A few came over and talked with me. One of them said that her granddaughter just moved here and likes to crochet but cannot find anyone who does too. So I gave her my number and confirmed that there aren't any crochet groups in the area {some church groups do some various crafts, yes}, there are a few quilting guilds, a few knitting circles, but no crochet groups. I told her to tell her granddaughter to give me a call and we could get together and stitch a bit.

lapghan #1, half done {for real this time}

2011-06-13T23:14:00.000-05:00

So here is the first lapghan, half completed. The lower half, which is pictured here, is the heart of the Coast Guard emblem, a shield. I designed the top half a few days back and am ready to get started on that.

Earlier today, my husband handed me a package from Knots of Love! They're the organization for which I crocheted the ten hats to go to the Veterans. Knots of Love had a nice lil welcome to the team package and note. Way cool!

Sophie and Phredd, hanging out

2011-06-13T22:06:00.000-05:00

My husband called my attention to the below scene. I grabbed the camera and snapped this pic cuz it is just way too cute and sooooo appropriate. Sophie hanging out with her best~bud, Phredd.

Avoiding the Twisties cont'd

2011-06-12T17:47:00.000-05:00

What other options might be available to me when I am working with multiple color changes in the same row, Debra? Answer me that! Well, one method that comes to mind is one that works quite well for some folks. They cut the yarn and later weave the ends in for each block of color in one row. This doesn't really set well with me, cuz I find it a lil labor intensive and dislike having multiple ends poking out. Plus with more ends, the risk of the piece unraveling is more likely. That's not pretty.

Yeah, so, then ya say, "what the hell, Debra? My afghan is getting to be too large to go flipping and it gets tangled cuz it's so heavy. What now, huh? huh? HUH?" Easy there, dudes! Here's another thing that I do when my king~sized afghan progresses to a nice length and weight.

As I go along my row, when I'm done with that ball of yarn color for the row, I actually just plop it down on the piece. And the next one and so on and so on. When I finish the row, all my balls or skeins of yarn are now actually sitting on the piece. Are ya ready?

I spin the piece around so that the left is now the right and the right is now the left. It's a 180 degree spin, that makes the end now the beginning. I'm all ready to start the new row.

The last time I worked on a large project where this was the case, my husband had asked me to come into the kitchen and I said, "ok, just let me finish tucking in my balls" referring to the yarn and the piece before I spun it around and got it ready to start the new row. Things got really quiet as my husband cleared his throat and said, "come again?"

snicker. I take the chuckles where I find them, ya know?

One year since the wreck

2011-06-12T14:59:00.000-05:00

Long time readers will know that my husband and I met in mid~December 2008, married at the end of October 2009, and then my husband was involved in a wreck in mid~June 2010. He made an amazing recovery and many things have happened and changed and strengthened in our relationship as a couple, and personally as individuals, since then. Most stuff is in this blog, but quite a bit of stuff is not; cuz it wasn't my info to share and most of the drama was just that...drama that wasn't and isn't ours.

I'd planned to take my husband to a steakhouse for dinner Friday as a surprise, to celebrate his wonderful recovery and what an amazing man he is. But he really had a stressful day and even left work early so that he could come home and work outside. The physical activity helped him blow off some steam and get rid of some of his frustration and lingering ickyness from earlier in the day.

So I decided to take him to Old Hickory on Saturday afternoon/evening {they don't open til 4p}. Before we had gone for dinner, while I was running some errands and picking up some produce; my husband spent the morning outside doing some very nice sharp detailing to our yard. He enjoys doing that and it's a point of pride of ownership. It's also a celebration of how far he has come in this past year.

Also before dinner, we worked with some Great Stuf {very sticky spray foam which expands and hardens, making a good insulation for gaps and such}. It's a two person job to clean up before it gets too tacky and move quickly enough so that the foam doesn't block the application tube, rendering the can useless. Next weekend, he'll paint the new crown moulding we plan to use as trim around the opening between the breakfast nook and kitchen. He wants to install it then too. Our home has settled over the years and the reroofing has revealed a bit of a gap between the halves of the main part of the house. So we're addressing that properly instead of just slapping something up to cover it...it's our peacefully soothing home and we want to keep it that way.

Yesterday, late afternoon, I took him to Old Hickory, a small steak house in Columbus, MS. If you've any taste for steak, you will love this place. I've not been for a few years, but have always enjoyed it, whenever I've been there. We had a great meal and were able to relax for awhile.

Then we drove around and visited a few sites that will be interesting to spend more time at in the future. When we finally did come home, we watched a movie that he'd TiVo'd from the free channel. It stormed a bit and we felt all nice and snug under our new roof. We were a lil disappointed that we didn't hear rain falling on the metal roof, but that means that there most likely is more insulation than we had thought and that's a good thing!

As we were snuggling down for the night, my husband said that he was glad to have had the afternoon and evening, but let's not celebrate the wreck on an annual basis. I agreed. We are ready to put it behind us and continue moving forward.

Today, I've done a lil crocheting on the graphed lapghan, but to tell the truth, I'm a bit bored by it right now. I don't want to set it aside, as then I won't dig it out again and it will languish as a work~in~progress, perpetually. So I'm gonna get started working on it again and maybe the fun of it will come back and replace some of the residual unease from Friday's stresses.

All in all, it was a great weekend! I hope yours is too!

Avoiding the Twisties

2011-06-11T23:03:00.000-05:00

Some folks have asked various questions regarding working with various skeins of yarn and I thought I'd address some of them here in my blog. This is a long post, but eventually I get to the subject of how to avoid twisting and tangling and knotting up your yarn when working with multiple skeins. I promise.

First off, there are various ways that you can change color and continue to work with them, when using multiple colors in the same row. Two of the more popular methods are entrelac and intarsia. Without going into great detail about those methods let me sum them up here: one method involves carrying the unused yarn along within the stitches til you need to use it again and the other method involves dropping the unused yarn til you need it in the next row.

The method I developed for me is a combination of the two. I actually didn't realize that there was an intarsia and had never heard of entrelac til sometime last year. Up til then, I just did what I thought made sense to me, when handling various colors within the same row. There are other methods besides these so if you find one that works for you, there are no crochet police coming to force you to switch from your method to another, k? I promise.

I don't usually like to carry the unused yarn over great distances cuz you can see it thru the stitches {well, I can, you can too if I point it out to you, which I'm likely to do cuz I'm like that girl that goes, "is my cowlick noticeable?" except with yarn and my other creative pursuits~~you will never hear me ask, "does my butt look big?" but you will hear me say, "dude, that yarn there is soooOOOooo obvious, isn't it?" and of course you have to say yes, cuz now that I've pointed it out, how can you not see it? hm? yeah, that's what I thought too}. I don't like to carry the unused yarn for only a few stitches, cuz I think the tension gets weird {not the mood, but the actual tension or tightness/looseness of the yarn and the stitches}. I'm sure some folks are all like, dude, I never see the unused yarn when I carry it. And that's great! For them. It most likely is cuz they have a really tight tension, whereas most of my stuff is meant to be drapey and have a looser tension so that you are more likely to actually use the afghan instead of letting it cover the back of the sofa while you grab a more cozy comfortable blanket to drape over your shoulders and lap and cuddle and snuggle into.

Wait, was that bitchy of me? Yes, most likely it was. So let me restate: if it works for you, great! I'm saying what my experiences are and my preferences and why {which links back to experiences, see how that all works together? yeah, I thought so too!}. Besides, you can quit reading any time and go check out some other really cool sites on crochet, techniques, stitches, yarn, etc. I won't get upset. I promise.

So the other method, the dropping the unused yarn and changing over to another color method, often yields incredibly ugly messes with a definite back or "wrong side" of the piece. Many people find this totally acceptable and take care not to wear their stuff inside out or make their beds with the ugly side of the afghan showing. Me, I like my work to look just as good on both sides. It's my preference cuz I want all my pieces to look good, no matter which way you hold it, wear it, use it, etc. To me, it's more practical not to worry if the ugly side is up or am I holding this right or displaying this side or what...that's just how anal I can be.

So I work with multiple skeins when necessary. One skein for each section of color in each row is preferable. It yields a nicer, more consistent, beautiful piece.

Now, as to the actual method I use, mostly it is a drop the unused yarn; but instead of twisting the yarns when changing colors and leaving an ugly mess, I pick up the unused yarn from the row before and carry it thru the few stitches in the new row to the new location where it will be used. I'll explain and demonstrate this in some other future post. I promise.

So that's one way I avoid the twisties. However, I think that what most folks want to know about avoiding tangles is how to keep the multiple skeins from getting all wonky~weird when I flip the work over to start on the next row. PRACTICE!

Actually, since I have a large table to spread my work on, I take advantage of that. I very rarely hold large pieces in my lap and settle into a recliner and work that way. If I did that, I certainly would not be working on eleven skeins at the same time. It'd be a huge mess and very frustrating, which is soooOOOoooooooo not the reason I crochet. In fact, I crochet to help me destress from those things I find frustrating. As for messes? I think we all know how I feel about them. {shudder} Don't we? yeah, I thought so too.

So I have the piece with all eleven skeins connected to one row and am at the end of that row, ready to flip the piece and start working on the next row {scroll down to a few previous entries and view the pix of this latest project for a visual of what this looks like}. How do I do this? Okey dokey, first, I tend to flip by moving the left side of the project over the right and moving the right under and toward the left, simultaneously. However you flip, do what works for you. There is no right or wrong way, I promise.

Now, all the yarn is crossed over and seems like it could tangle and get messy, but it's not at the moment. So what I do is I pick up the skein all the way to the left and move it over to the far right, that becomes the first skein. Then I pick up the next skein all the way to the left and set it down to the left of the first skein {the one I just set down to the right side of the work}. That skein becomes the second skein from the right. Then I pick up what has become the last skein on the left and move it over to the right, setting it down to the left of what is now the second skein from the right. That skein I just moved is now the third skein from the right. I continue in that fashion til I've reached the last skein that had been the very first skein on the far right of the previous row. Then I am ready to start to crochet the new row.

If this sounds confusing, line up some objects in front of you. Say it's crayons. Your old row is like this, viewing them left to right, just like you most likely read:
red orange yellow green blue purple

You are going to flip the work over to start on the new row now. So you flip your work. Now you need to line up the skeins with the current segments so that you don't get your yarn all twisted and tangled. So you move the red skein on the left all the way to the right. Now your row of yarn skeins look like this:
orange yellow green blue purple red

Next you move the last on the left, orange, to the right and place it on the left of the first skein, red. It looks like this:
yellow green blue purple orange red

Next you move what has become the last skein on the left, yellow, to the right and place it to the left of what has become the second skein from the right. So now it looks like this:
green blue purple yellow orange red

Now you continue that until you end up with what started off as the very first skein on the far right of the previous row, purple {see the first strip which had been your old row}, being your left most skein for your new row. It will look like this:
purple blue green yellow orange red

Hopefully this makes sense to you! Reread and follow along with the last few paragraphs and give it a try as you do it. Take it step by step and it should feel more comfortable. If not, lemme know, k? I'll clarify. I promise!!

Roofing, day 3

2011-06-09T15:50:00.000-05:00

All but done:

lapghan #1, half done

2011-06-08T19:37:00.000-05:00

This is just short of half done. I need to do a few more rows of stripes and then the solid blue field that forms the top portion of the shield. Then the first lapghan for the VA in Jackson, Mississippi will be completed.

reroofing, day 2

2011-06-08T16:08:00.000-05:00

So, there is a new roof on the addition, and they did the back half of the main house and a portion of the front. I went out to see how they were doing around 3:30pm, cuz they've been here since 6am and with this heat {103F}, I figured they'd be beat. And they are. But they cleaned up the yard, wrapped all the supplies up, threw a tarp over everything, and put their tools away. I glanced over and saw this and just HAD to post it! It's the dying plum tree that my husband cut and one of the roofer's hat and sunglasses. I love it!

Here's a view of the back and a portion of the front:

lapghan #1

2011-06-07T22:18:00.000-05:00

Okey dokey, so what I posted the other day was a first~try mini~version of a graph that I did of the heart of the Coast Guard emblem, the shield. Mine only has nine stripes versus the thirteen on the shield. I'd asked my husband {a retired Coastie} if he thought anyone would be offended by my not having the exact number of stripes. He'd said that he didn't think so. I might go ahead and revamp the graph so that I can have the shield be more accurate on the next time around.

But for the time being, here is the second attempt at using the graph, the first time I'm making it to lapghan size. Here are the first few rows at the bottom. See how much straighter my stripes are?

These lapghans are for the VA in Jackson, so that the vets can choose a lapghan that is special to them. I plan to incorporate or isolate elements from the official emblem of all five branches of the service. Plus do a few that are patriotic {red, white, and blue}, a few that are green/brown camo themed, a few that are black/white, a few that are featuring blues, etc. And I probably will do a few that are more feminine too, cuz not all our vets are manly men.

reroofing, Day 1

2011-06-07T15:32:00.000-05:00

I am very impressed with these roofers. They came in the morning, replacing the roof as they go, fixing rotted underlying areas, non~invasive, low~chatter, fast, clean, clean, clean, and great work. Tomorrow they will be here bright and early, which means Sophie will start to actively guard the house with lil barks and running about inside. So I'll be ready to get up early too. Here's what they did today:

mah crojo? it ain't workin'

2011-06-06T21:34:00.000-05:00

Dude, this has got to be the best statement, evah; cuz it is so appropriately descriptive {sigh}.

My crojo ain't workin'!

David Burchall over at "A Yarnified Life", the master of all things slip~stitch crochet, coined this {well, as far as I know} and I am loving it! Cuz I can't tell ya how frustrating it is for me not to be able to clearly convey the state in which nothing yarny is coming together for me. And in one crystal clear moment, aha! I see exactly what he means. It's such an apt statement. Thanks, David~dude, for imparting this nugget. I will use it wisely.

failed.

2011-06-06T17:15:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm not too happy with this, I think that I need to tinker with it some more. I was going to start lapghans for the dude{tte}s at the VA hospital in Jackson, MS. So I was graphing out some of the emblems from all the branches of the service so that the Vets could choose a lapghan that was special to them. In addition, I am going to do some lapghans that feature the good ol' US of A's red, white, and blue color schematic. However, I did the center shield, the heart, of the Coast Guard emblem earlier and I must say that I am not too pleased with the technique I used for this. I think I might have to do something else in order for the vertical bars to look like stripes and not wavy smears. I have a plan tho, actually, I have several. I will make this right, I promise!

zennioptical.com

2011-06-05T19:30:00.000-05:00

A few folks have asked about where I got my specs and I got them from www.zennioptical.com Zenni is wonderful! A few years ago, I checked out their site and discovered way too many choices with all sorts of options. I thought about it and decided that since most of the eye~places you go are not places that grind and fit your lenses, but rather they often send off to someplace like Zenni themselves and then mark up the same pair of glasses lots; well I thought I'd give Zenni a shot.

So last fall, my husband's daughter was staying with us for a few months. She needed some glasses. So she went to a local examiner and brought a copy of the prescription home with her. Then she browsed thru Zenni's thousands of frames and saw the options they gave her. She uploaded a picture of her face so that she could try on the glasses and then picked out a pair. She ordered them and they came in a few weeks, for less than fifteen dollars.

A few months later, my husband had his eyes examined for free on~campus {he is an employee and a doc was doing free eye~exams for students, staff, and faculty}. Then he too went to Zenni, uploaded a pic of his face, found some frames he liked, and placed an order for two different pairs. He wears bifocals, and both pairs ended up running about $65 together. You can see one pair in the pix where he is modeling my hats. Now I want to be clear, he prefers bifocals, but there are also progressive lenses available at the site {that's the sort that don't include the line but rather are gradual change from far sight at the top to close up at the bottom}.

So a few weeks ago, I got my eyes examined. I asked the dude to also note my pupillary distance {PD is the distance your pupils are from the center of your nose, or from pupil to pupil when staring straight ahead}. If you forget to ask for this, you can note it yourself. You can either mark it on the mirror or have a friend measure, it will be in millimeters.

Then I went to Zenni, uploaded a pic of my face, and tried on pairs til I found some I really liked. Now, for some, uploading a pic of their face might not give them the same feeling of security that they get from actually trying the frames on. For me, I hated being at the place and then the person would plop a pair of blank frames and say, "how'dya lahk em?" Ok, dude, I'm there at the eye~place cuz I need glasses, which means I can't see the frames you just plonked on my face unless I get two inches from the mirror, so I can't really tell ya that, now can I? Some folks really like that option tho and they might take someone with them who can say, "stunning, darlin', you are sooooOOOooo stunnin'!" In which case, I suggest trying on some frames, jotting down the numbers/brand and looking them up online later.

Or ya know, have that friend take a pic with their phone and then go home and find a comparable pair online. It seems most everyone has phones that take pix and all sorta other apps. Me? I use a cell for emergency purposes to actually make or receive calls. But I'm a technophobe of sorts.

I digress.

So after I decided what I wanted. I placed the order. Now it is on the order form that you will notice a butt~load of options. I chose to have a pair of prescription with 80% tinted lenses. You can choose no tint, or 20%, 40%, 60%, or 80%. There are different types of tints too. I choose rose, but there is brown, gray, amber, blue, etc. Also, if you want to have the magnetic sort of shades that can be placed onto your clear glass frames, you can do that.

Options, options, options.

Also, frames start at $6.99 and move up to $9.99, $12.99, and so forth. Mine were $6.99 frames. There are lots of frame styles to choose from, but I liked the one style so much, that I got two pairs of the same style. They are different colors, but the same style. Both pair, one Rx~sunglasses, and shipping were $28.

After I ordered, it took two weeks to receive the glasses. That was cuz they contacted me via eMail to make sure that I'd entered my Rx correctly. To make sure that I really did mean -5.00 and not -0.50. Since I can be fanatic about record keeping, I went to my files and compared older prescriptions with the current one. My eyes haven't changed all that much, and yes, it was -5.00. But I did appreciate Zenni asking, just to make sure.

Zenni sends the glasses in their own cases in a bubble~bag. They send it confirmed confirmation delivery. You don't need to sign for them, the mail~dude just scans it in and confirms that the envelop was delivered.

And that's the story of Zenni and the Wolf pack.

meet Phredd

2011-06-04T20:05:00.000-05:00

Sophie, our lil chiweenie, is now eight months old. Her favorite toy was an elongated dachshund~like monkey~faced squeaky that also gave monkey~ahh~ohh~ah~AHHAHAHHHz if squeezed in just the right spot. We called the monkey "George" and Sophie LOVED that thing. When I first brought it home for her in January, it was actually longer than she was. She has grown over the last few months, so she now is bigger than George. Well, Sophie started choking the other day and I pried out some fuzz from her lil throat. I examined George and he was missing a bit of stuffing from just behind his neck, where Sophie would put a strangling hold on him.

After I put him up on the counter, Sophie sat just beneath him and whined and whimpered and sounded rather sad and pathetic. So I asked Jerry to get Sophie another similar toy, but he'd already put it on his list. Great minds think alike!

So meet Phredd! Phredd is considered a loofah~dog by MultiPet International. Loofah~dogs come in different lengths, colors, etc.

Sophie loves him! She grabbed him out of Jerry's hand and raced with him to the chair and settled her body down next to his and started to nosh on his ears right off. Phredd is a good bit bigger than George was, once again, being longer than Sophie. We don't think Sophie will grow much bigger, she's pretty much topped her range at fifteen pounds. She already has designated Phredd as her favorite toy, placing him on her lil bed when she is done playing with him.

Feed the Blitz, getcher alerts here!

2011-06-01T20:11:00.000-05:00

Some of you are automatically eMailed my entries as I post them. However, I only have ten addresses that may go into that internal service in my blog. So I'd like to let you know how you too can set up a wonderful account with FeedBlitz so that you can do what all the cool kids do {and by that I mean me, cuz I'm a cool kid in my own book, regardless of my own techno~phobic ways}.

There are several blogs and other websites that I really like, but don't want to check continuously for updates. I have a life and other better more important things to do, like ponder my ever expanding belly~button which seems to be getting deeper as I get fatter. So, I use FeedBlitz.

Here's what happens: I think, "oh hey! I really like this uber~kewl site!" So I go to my account with FeedBlitz and add the site to my subscriptions. Then whenever there is a new post to that site, I get a notification in my eMail with the entire new entry! Wahoo!

This works for any site that has new info posted, when it is posted. Did I say, "wahoo!" yet? Yes, I did! And I'll say it again! Wahoo!

"Well," you say, "it sounds sorta complicated, Debra...why would I want to do such a thing?" No, I say, it may sound sorta complicated, but it's not! Here's the skuupp so that you too can be like me, uber~kewl kidz unite!

If ya look to the left, you'll see a bar of links. One of the is "Feed the Blitz, Getcher Alerts Here!". Click on it and you will go here: http://www.feedblitz.com

Once there, you can poke around the site and learn all about FeedBlitz or you can immediately say, "well, hey, Debra recommends it, so that's good enough for me" and start setting up your FREE account. Register here.

The screen will have three places for you to complete. One is your eMail address. Then you enter your password for your new FeedBlitz account {choose a different one than the one you use for your eMail account, k? or not, 'sup ta ya!}. Then re~enter that same password for your new FeedBlitz account. Go to your eMail, check it for a message from FeedBlitz, open it, click on the lil link that should open and confirm a new account with FeedBlitz for you.

Easy peasy? Why, yes, it was!

Now, there are TONS of things you can do with FeedBlitz, but I primarily use it to get my alerts of new postings sent to my eMail. To do this, you just go under "subscriptions" and copy/paste the link to that page or blog or site from which you want to receive updates. For instance, for my blog, you would put "http://debrasdose.blogspot.com" into the appropriate space that asks for which site you would like to subscribe.

Then the next time I post an entry, you will receive an alert and copy of my post to your eMail from FeedBlitz. Easy peasy? Why, yes!

Now, if for some reason you still say, "Debra, that is way to complicated for me...what can I do?" A couple of things, one option is that you can grab some ultra~techophile and say, "here, read this entry and do it for me!" Another option is for you to just bookmark my site and continue to check it. Another option is that you can add it to your blogroll if you also have a blog with blogger/blogspot. Another option is to .... well you get the idea.

Now, if I already have you listed on my internal service and you have been receiving my posts in your eMail, don't worry. You'll still continue to receive the eMails. However, do keep in mind that I am limited by blogger/blogspot to ten eMail addys for my archives. That's why I urge you to set up a FeedBlitz account so that you can receive all your alerts and not just mine. Cuz ya know, I've run out of my allotment. And just added the last person I will be adding. However if you do create an account and opt for another way to receive your alerts that I've posted a new entry, please let me know so that I can take your address off my internal archiving system, k? Much appreciated!

You can let me know by leaving a comment or eMailing me. See on the left? Where it says, "View my complete profile"? Click on it, it will take you to...uhm...my complete profile. Once there, on the left under "contact" it says "eMail". Click on that and wow! there is my eMail address. k? K!

Go, go now! Do it!

By the way, the short list of "blogs I follow" on my profile is not accurate. Why? Cuz most of the blogs I do follow are listed thru my FeedBlitz so that I receive the alerts that way.

I'm a Wolf!

2011-05-31T22:18:00.000-05:00

My husband and I spent this past weekend at MoonDance, for the third year. We found the above wall~hanging our first hour there. I particularly liked this one, because it features a wolf couple, in silhouette. It seems most of the wolf stuff you see is featuring a lone wolf, but this is special for us~~a wolf couple.

If you click on the pix, you'll see an enlargement so that you can see the detail of the two necklaces. The top necklace is the smaller of the two and it was one that My Jerr bought me last year at MoonDance. I love it and wear it all the time. Whenever I wear it, I get lots and lots of compliments and comments. So this year when we saw that the same artist had a larger one with a touch of red, I really wanted it! The copper wiring is braided and she did an excellent job with it!

Folks who know me, have seen my artwork and know that trees are extra special for me. My back is covered with an awesome tree, the web curls around my ribs, extending over my shoulders and down over my breasts. All seasons are represented within the trees branches, as you can see by the spring buds over my right and the falling leaves over my left. Several years ago, I did an extensive entry devoted just to description of my tattoos that I have. Roughly 35~40% of my body is inked and there really isn't any way to answer the question, "how many tats do you have?" accurately. It's just a work in progress!!

My new glasses were waiting for me when we returned home. There are thousands of frames available, but I really liked this style of frame, so I got two pair. The ones above are my regular wear and the ones to the right are 80% tinted. So I have prescription sunglasses! I can look thru my rose tinted lenses at my world. And the best thing, both pairs, and shipping, $28 bucks!

My husband, I love him so...modeling hat #6

2011-05-31T21:37:00.000-05:00

I tried to post this last week, but blogger/blogspot was experiencing some technical difficulties.

Hat #6 can be worn snug as a cap or as shown here. I think it's fitting that I was able to post this now, as a belated~memorial day tribute.

hat #5

2011-05-24T00:36:00.000-05:00

My Jerr modeling hat#5.

Work it, work it!!

By the way, that shadow box behind him was made and presented to him last year by his youngest son. It's a collection of all Jerr's Coast Guard medals, patches, plagues, pins, buttons, etc. Plus the USA flag and the Coast Guard flag. His youngest son is also career Coast Guard.

These hats are to go to Knots of Love's Veterans' Cap drive. Since my father is a Vietnam~Vet and my husband is retired Coast Guard, I thought it fitting to choose this as one of the charities I'll donate to.

Hat #4

2011-05-22T21:58:00.000-05:00

My Jerr modeling hat#4. I really like this particular hat. I've been having fun tinkering with technique. This hat was constructed entirely of single crochet and slip stitches.

This is not your run of the mill slip stitch. Here's some detail. Of course, for better detail, click on the pic for enlargement.

To do this slip stitch, enter the back bar from the back, yarn over, and pull the yarn thru. The main difference is that you do not enter the loop from the front, but do so from the back. It yields a taller stitch with more stretch.

Did you know that slip stitches could be done so many different ways and result in so many different looks? I've not yet tried all the ways to slip, but it's fun to try these techniques on hats, cuz they are worked in the round, so the front is what is worked on at all times. I think it lends nice finish, firm band.

And the hats can be worn with either side showing. The work looks neat from either perspective. More hats tomorrow!

hat #3

2011-05-22T18:04:00.000-05:00

Tah~Dah

This hat actually makes me think of the traditional painter's sort. That's painter as in artist, not construction.

Oddly when I asked my husband to model it, I noticed that it matches his ensemble! A bluish~gray tank top with MSU maroon shorts.

The blue shade is Caron's Simply Soft's "Ocean".

Hat number TWO

2011-05-21T20:41:00.000-05:00

{*sigh*}

My Jerr, I love him so!

{*blush*}

Here he is modeling the second hat I made for Knots of Love's Veterans' Cap Drive.

He indulges me so much, wearing a hat in this heat!

{muwahZ, baby!}

Knots of Love

2011-05-21T15:05:00.000-05:00

Back in April, I'd heard about the Knots of Love's Veterans' Cap Drive. So when I finished up the afghan I was working on for my husband's daughter and when I finished up two of May's project of the month for different charities thru two yahoo groups; I thought it would be a good time to begin amassing some items for various organizations. Most of them are local efforts, but this one, this Knots of Love's Veterans' Cap Drive, well I'd like to help them reach their goal of five thousand hats by November.

This hat is the first! It's made using Caron's Simply Soft. The color is Autumn Red. I used an I/9 {5.5mm} aluminum Boye hook. Pictured here, the hat is resting on a 8.5"x11" sheet of paper. It's kinda large, but someone might not like their hats too snug.

I'm going to try a few different styles. I'm trying for a more solid crochet, but without the bulk. So I will probably try a few hats in single crochet, or even slip stitch. This one was done in half~double crochet stitch {in some countries, this is called a double crochet, while what we in USA call double crochet, others call treble}.

Knots of Love ask that the hats not be very holey or open mesh; this particular group of folks are Vets who have had chemo/cancer and so their bare heads are more tender and more likely to be cold. So Knots of Love has a list of yarns that they ask folks to use, most are very soft.

I like using Caron's Simply Soft. It works up nicely, is soft to touch, and is easily attainable {our local WalMart carries it...sometimes...well as much as our WalMart carries any yarn}. It's not too expensive, which is a nice plus.

~tah~DAH~

tah~DAH

2011-05-17T14:39:00.001-05:00

Sew...

I mean, so...

My friend, Kim, came over last week and we cut out the pieces for my first tote.

Then today, she came over and helped me sew it.

It's my FIRST!

It's for my laptop.

AND it's reversible!

TAH~DAAAAAAH!

flat pieces from round looms

2011-05-16T15:24:00.000-05:00

Wrapping a round loom for a flat piece is not as complicated as written descriptions can sound.

Basically you use an eWrap {so called because the yarn does look like an "e" wrapped around the peg} to go around the loom. But instead of continuing the wrap, to form a complete circle; you reverse the wrap at the last peg. This creates a gap so that the resulting piece is not round, a tube; but flat.

Hopefully you can see that there is a gap between the pegs, above the lil knob on the loom. I didn't continue the wrap around from the last peg to the first one to complete the circle. I wrapped to the last one, reversed and continued the warp in a clockwise direction to the first peg. Then I reversed directions and wrapped in a counter~clockwise direction to the last peg, then I reverse directions and wrap in the clockwise direction to the first peg and so on and so on.

I'll see if I can't do a better demonstration with each step illustrated.

wrap it up!

2011-05-15T20:27:00.000-05:00

Ok, there are lots of ways to wrap pegs when looming. Here are three. Click on the picture to see an enlarged version to see the details.

This is a slanted version, each peg is not wrapped in full. The yarn goes around the outside of the peg only. This produces a double~knit, medium density.

Ok, this creates a much more open weave. As you can see, It is a wide U wrap, using two pegs per wrap. The peg is not completely wrapped, but again the yarn goes around the outside of the pegs.

Ok, this is actually a denser weave, with each peg being wrapped three~quarters of the way. You can see that each wrap crosses over to create an overlap of coverage.

The yarn is Yarn Bee's Soft Delight in pale pink.

loomin' large

2011-05-13T23:15:00.000-05:00

You can click on the pic for an enlargement to show detail. I've been looming scarves these past few days. They aren't intended for warmth, so much as comfort.

The one to the right is incredibly soft! It's folded in half so you can't really see how gauzy it is. Fuzzy, soft, comfy.

The one to the left is using some super thin ribbon that I found at a fabric store a few towns over. After I finish a few more, I will box them up and send them to California for a project that wants to give women at abuse shelters a lil gift for being brave enough to leave their situations.

ribboned scarf

2011-05-11T20:33:00.000-05:00

The other day, a friend and I went to Ackerman {two towns to the west of me} to a fabric store which has tons of notions, like buttons, snaps, elastic, thread, and such. The woman who owns the store had some water damage a month or so ago and a large portion of her inventory has been marked down. She's also rearranging the layout and so she's clearing scads.

So I bought ten rolls of very very thin ribbon for 99 cents per roll. Since the regular price for this sort of ribbon was 94 cents per yard, I figured I was way ahead. So here is the scarf I finished this evening, crocheted with baby~boucle from my stash and woven thru with matching ribbon.

I'm looming another with very thin baby yarn, Bernat Baby Jacquards, and some of the thin, Thin, THIN ribbon. It's very pretty so far, and once it's done, I'll post a pic!

hats off!

2011-05-10T15:51:00.000-05:00

Some of the charities to which I'm donating crochet items are monthly picks, so might not be in need of the articles right this minute. Like the May's project for one group are hats that won't be used til this coming winter by folks in Michigan. So here are some of the hats for warmth that I've been making. There are a few for smaller sized heads, but most are for older children and adults. Some have brims, others are brimless. There is even one pictured here that has three brims!

the crafty room

2011-05-08T02:04:00.000-05:00

This room contains most of my crafting supplies and also functions as our office. It is a rather large room, possibly the largest single room in the house! It's on the backside, to the northwest of the front of the house.

Part of my mom's wedding gift to me was to repaint the interior of my new home. Also, my mom and brother laid new tile for my new husband and me. The walls are a peppermint~tea and the floors are a marbleized blend of dark shades of green. My husband and I bought the paint in a five gallon bucket from WalMart and the tile was found at Fred's {a discount pharmacy chain in this region~~something like Dollar Store, Dollar Tree, or Dollar Bill's, only with a pharmacy as well}.

The two wooden cabinets pictured above were built by my husband several years ago. The large table is loaded with unfinished or unsatisfactory projects to be frogged {rip~it, rip~it, rip~it} on one half. The other half of the table is seen here.

It's full of Caron Simply Soft yarns. There is a charity that I'm making hats for that require soft fibers. Most of the yarn was bought on clearance when our WalMart was renovating their lay~out and radically changing their yarn section {also eliminating their fabric area altogether}. Some of the yarn I'd gotten when a store discontinues that color or shade. I keep my eyes open for bargains like that.

These two wooden shelving units were actually part of a large custom~made corner cabinet that my husband's first wife had designed and asked him to build. He's a very obliging, sweet man! I'm very glad that I'd met him, three years after his first wife had died {they'd been married 29 years}. Two years ago, we wed. I'm a lucky lady!

What you see here are some of the many skeins of yarn I have amassed. I use yarn frequently, constantly crocheting and sometimes looming. So yarn never dry~rots here! The pink chair is one of two that I brought with me. They rock and swivel. They came to me used, and I have no idea what sort of history they have, but they're mine now. The floor~lamp is also used, and my husband did some repairs to it since I loved the shade and the actual lamp assembly. It's very peaceful to sit in the pink chair, with soft light, listening to an audio book, crocheting away. Very peaceful.

I included this picture cuz it features three yarns that are my favorites. I didn't used to be very fond of these colors, but our wedding was in the fall so we used autumnal colors. Since then, these shades have become very special to me! Claret, carrot, and gold are the three colors pictured here. Also, atop the sewing cabinet/machine, is a stack of boxed tea. I can't find this tea in my area, so when I was in Wisconsin, I bought a bunch of it! It's Good Earth, sweet and spicy. Very very tasty.

Of course you can click on any picture to enlarge for detail, but this one might be something you won't want to miss. The desk and chair are the ones that my husband used when he was a lil boy at his grandparents. My mother did all our floral arrangements for our wedding, and there is one sitting on the corner of the desk. She also made the lil doll you see.

Draped over the chair's back is a very long hat and a small scarflette with Bully, the MSU mascot. Atop the filing cabinet are several purses that are MSU themed as well. The shorter one my husband found on our honeymoon for five bucks! The other one, he found here in town for five bucks too. I haven't used the larger one, tho I probably will in awhile.

It's past my bed time, happy mother's day to all you ladies out there! g'n'nite!

May Day!

2011-05-01T23:58:00.000-05:00

So yesterday, I was having lunch with a friend and she'd referred to an event and I said, "oh, yeah, that happened a few months back...wait!! NO! Last fall!" and then gasped cuz it's MAY already. When did that happen? I realize it's a trite cliche, but, as I get older, time flies faster and faster.

Every December, I sit down with two calendars; the one for that old year and one for the new incoming year. I page thru and mark birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates, transferring the data from the old to the new. Then at the end of each month, I go thru the next month and figure out who I need to get which cards for and what needs to be sent out when. Otherwise, days go by and I see them coming from a long way off, then I glance away and miss them til after they've gone by and it's too late to send even a "Happy beLated birthday" card.

So earlier this past week, I was looking at the month of May, and I asked my husband, "when did they stop marking May Day on the calendar?" I mean, our calendar has most all the "special" days marked on it, including days that I need to google cuz I'm totally unfamiliar with them; I look up Boxing Day every year, EVERY YEAR, cuz I can never remember what I discovered the previous year. Now, May Day in much of the world is sort of like our Labor Day here. In theory, anyway. Labor Day here mostly marks the end of summer and the beginning of the school year. At least that's the way it was when I was young.

Now, here in Mississippi, Labor Day doesn't much mark the end of summer in any way. Area schools start back in the beginning of August and the temperatures are usually in the triple digits well into September. The old social etiquette rule regarding wearing white {especially footwear} has definitely gone by the wayside; does anyone even remember that white pumps were not seen on ladies' feet from Labor Day to Memorial Day?

I never was much of a lady.

But I do remember as a child dancing about the May Pole with streamers and ribbons. Last year, I had a chance to do that again! I'd forgotten all about it til I saw the pole standing atop a hill, with strips fluttering in the breeze. We had so much fun, strangers most of us, all ages represented, that most of us were laughing by the time we finished wrapping the pole in multi~colored fabric.

Happy May Day, from me, to you and yours!

my husband, you sexy~thang!

2011-05-01T22:35:00.000-05:00

Another scarf finished!

I had problems with my coordination and kept taking the pic of the scarf, shaking, blurring it out of focus~~and that was even WITH the camera's stabilizing feature engaged! So finally, I handed the scarf to my husband:

Give it to me! Great! Fierce! Now turn! Good!

And cuz he is such a great guy, he pulled it off, all campy!

Sigh, I love this guy!

Scarf for May's project

2011-05-01T16:19:00.000-05:00

I've finished up the flower~afghan I was making for one of my husband's kids and some other items that are in the picture of an entry from a few days back.

I'd started to look at various charities and organizations that I could donate crocheted items to, about a month ago. One group collects scarves from women's shelters. The scarves aren't meant for warmth, but rather can be for comfort or a fashion accessory or whatever. It's the current project for May. So I gave a shot at making just a regular mesh scarf and then weaving some other lighter pink thru the darker pink squares. It's ok, I'm not thrilled with it, but not everyone's tastes run the same. So I'll probably be posting pix of scarves during the next few weeks.

s'more pix for yer joy

2011-04-30T16:26:00.000-05:00

Okey dokey, I'd folded up the flower~afghan and set it with the water~bottle sleeve/carrier, the three hot~pot~pads, and the assorted scrubbies that I've made for my husband's middle child/girl.

To the right is my stunningly talented husband, wearing his wiener~T and holding my walking~staff that he made for me. If you click on the pic, it enlarges and you can see more detail, Detail, DETAIL. I'll tell ya the story behind the wiener~T some other time.

tah~DAH!

2011-04-29T23:34:00.000-05:00

Usually, I spread out afghans on the my bed from when I lived on the farm, before I got married. We have it set up in a spare bedroom, along with my bookshelves and the vanity my grandfather made me when I was a child. But right now, it's covered in material and patterns for the totes. So I spread out the afghan that I've made for my husband's middle child/daughter, who just turned thirty last Sunday. What you see here is actually the back side of the afghan. I used Red Heart brand, acrylic, cornmeal, carrot, light sage, and claret. I was not planning to use the claret, but I couldn't find more light sage and I didn't think I had enough. Turns out I probably did~~but I'd already used the claret. That's fine, cuz I'm also sending her some claret items, in addition to the rest of the items which are Peaches and Cream cotton, variegated green/yellow/orange that perfectly matches the Red Heart yarn used. I may take a pic of all of the items together, but right now, they are in the room that my husband's youngest grandson {he's two!} is sleeping in and I don't want to disturb him.

gooooooooooooooood day!

2011-04-22T17:54:00.000-05:00

This morning, when I got up, I had a headache. I've had a pretty much constant headache now for about ten days. I've taken stuff for it, but I'm thinking that part of it is the barometric pressure changes are killer right now.

My friend with whom I've been trying to get together since...awhile now, called and we did lunch at Waffle House. Not the best Waffle House experience either of us have ever had. Just snippity and snarky employees who were very sullen and even allowing for how much their lives may suck, it didn't justify their suckededness.

However, it was great to see her for a few and her babies are growing so fast! Her oldest is such a cutie and she was showing me her boo~boo on her knee. I asked what it was from, she said, "rocks". Good answer.

The youngest is almost a year and she is such a plump lil thing, chubby in all the right baby ways. I thought of Sunny, from Lemony Snicket's. Now tho, I'm thinking of the dimpled Cabbage Patch Kids that were all the rage back in the eighties.

When I came home, my husband had finished putting the second coat on my walking~staff. It's so beautiful, and when it is done, I'll probably take numerous pix cuz the detail of nature is amazing. It's so humid out there, that it feels like it ought to rain some more.

Also, my husband, who is off today, helped me do up my sewing patterns for my totes/purses. We did four pattern~packets. We used the heavy brown paper that I'd mentioned before, and I gave him the measurements, they were all rectangular pieces with no extra curves or slants or what not. That took most of this afternoon, cuz there were several pieces per pattern. But now they are labeled, color~coded, each zipped in their own gallon~bag...so I feel very good about getting that outta the way for the weekend.

Hope you have a great one!

done!

2011-04-20T13:28:00.000-05:00

whirly~curly~swirl

2011-04-18T22:41:00.000-05:00

I am taking a short break from the flower~afghan, so decided to try my hand at crocheting a whirly~curly boa. This is not following any specific pattern, tho I did review a few, each more different than the next with names like potato~chip scarf, boa, swirly~whirly, etc. I incorporated some elements and added my own and here is the almost completed project. The section on the right is finished, the majority of it lies to the left and I am working from right to left, so it is the area yet to finish.

I started with a no~chain foundation, then did two double crochet stitches per chain, turning the work so that both sides of the foundation were included {such that the foundation is the center with the rest of the stitches being round and round}. On the next round, I did three treble stitches in each double crochet. That is what I am currently doing to finish it. So basically, it's the foundation, a round of double crochet, and a round of triple crochet. That's it!

Click on the picture if you want to see more detail.

2011-04-17T19:45:00.000-05:00

This is my wonderful husband of a year and a half. Click on the picture for an enlarged version so that you can fully see his awesomeness. We just spent the last week in Wisconsin, which is why he is wearing a hat and hoodie with Green Bay Packers motif~~~that and it was his birthday a couple weeks back {56!}.

But at heart, he's an MSU fan, as you can see by his shoes. In this case, MSU is our very own home team, Mississippi State University~~go dogs!

Our lil chiweenie, Sophie, is a wonderful traveling companion. She's just six months old, and is just too damn cute. She was so very good for the trip, traveling in the car, staying in the motel {Motel 6, pets stay free}, meeting and staying with our bestman and his wife and their pooch.

We're glad to be home. Yesterday, when we left Wausau, Wisconsin, it was snowing/sleeting and driving in that slush was ... fun...not. We are now unpacked, laundry is done, mail is sorted, bills are paid, etc. I'm looking forward to sleeping in our bed, a nice wide bed. sigh.

Does not my husband look smashingly wonderfully good? And to think just ten months ago he had been involved in quite the nasty wreck that fractured his leg in a couple places, among other injuries. Sigh, he's my fabulous man. allllllllllllllllll mine. sigh.

taking a break

2011-04-09T16:09:00.000-05:00

Well, I just wanted to post that I am taking a break, for about a week; so nobody get all worried and alarmed. Have a great week, and see ya soon, grins, Debra

happy birthday, to my husband

2011-04-06T21:02:00.000-05:00