Couple of projects finally done.

Well I got 2 things done. A dinosaur bib and the whodunknit skein swap project. I'm really happy about it because I've been feeling really out of it the last couple of weeks. NOt up to par since starting the diabetic medication. I took it for 3 weeks so far and my sugar is still way up and with it making me feel so bad I just stopped taking it. Now I'm waiting for the doctor to call me back and tell me what is next.

The bib is the photo above. I think it came out really cute. just have to block it a bit and then give to baby cole.

I won a skein of sock yarn on the Whodunknit group so am going to use it to start a pair of sock for myself later this week. wooooot

A Squirrly surprise!!

Yesterday morning I was just getting ready to make some coffee and was standing at the sink when a little squirrel jumped from our porch gate to the little window above the sink. It startled me so!! But I didn't squeal like I normally would have. I'm just glad that the window was closed or we would have heard me squealing all over the place! lol. This guy really tried to get in and when he couldn't he just sat back on the gate and looked around for a long time.

We have lots of squirrels around here, I see them everyday, and also have ducks that live in the creek in the back of us. It's like a mini forest around here, I love it.

I think I will name this squirrel Squeaky. Hubby took a few photos of him for me.

Javie's 6th birthday

Yesterday was my gs's 6th birthday. Javie had a super great day. He had fun in the jumper all day and had snowcones and a pinta and candy and barbeque and gifts. what a day. You can see how happy he is in the photo. He's getting ready to blow out the candle.

Progress report

Let's see, first of all Happy June 1st!! I can't believe that half of the year is here. wow.

Ok I'm 2/3 of the way done with my Who Dun Knit project. I like the way it's looking. just think I really do need to make it longer but I was only sent one skein to work with.

And on the ripple scarf I haven't worked a stitch in a few days.

It seems like I can't get much done this last week. My new pills for my diabeties is making my tummy hurt a lot and giving me the runs most days. So between thinking I'm hungry and then realizing it's a tummy ache instead and running to the bathroom I'm not very energetic. Today I spent most of the day laying in bed watching tv.

I did work on the whodunknit project so got something worked on but that's all.

No one came over and it was real lonesome here too. Usually the gks will come over but their Mommy was resting so I didn't bother her by asking her to bring the kids over.

The photo above is of the ripple shawl I'm making for myself except I'm doing mine in Redheart Linen.
Going to bed now. Oh I lost another lb at last thursdays weigh in at my weight watcher meeting and daughter Rue lost 5!!!

A New Beginning

I had gone to the doctors last month and had blood work done. It came back that I might be diabetic. So I thought about it for a while and then talked my daughter Ruthie into going with me and we joined weightwatchers.

My thinking was, if I am diabetic, losing weight will help out with that, a lot. And if I'm not diabetic, well I am finally ready to change my life around enough to commit to working hard.

ANyway, last test came back and yep, I'm diabetic. Started taking a pill, which by the way, has my tummy in an uproar. Next week will go to the nutritionist and get the low down on what I really need to do for the diabetic diet. Going to take my weightwatchers books with me and see what we come up with.

But you are asking, how have I done so far in the last 2 weeks at weigh in????? Well I've lost 6.8 lbs so far. over 3 lbs each week. I think that is too much so I have to step up my food intake a bit. I guess 1 to 1 1/2 lbs a week is the goal.

You guys already know what I look like so will wait til I've lost like 50 lbs before I post a progress photo of me. hahahahha yeah like I can wait that long. lol

Camp Okizu

We, meaning my daughter Ruthie and her 3 kids and I, went to Camp Okizu last weekend. It is in Santa Cruz, a place called Kennolyn . There is a conference center and then further down the property is the many cabins and swimming pool, rec hall and dinning room. It is a peaceful, beautiful place and I enjoyed myself.
3 days of no tv or phones or computers, just relaxing time on your hands.
I hung out in the dining hall rec room and played a lot of Apples to Apples with the people that would come and go. ANd I talked to peeps, real conversations too!! I even layed down one afternoon while kids were swimming and finished a book. It was fabulous.
First photo is of the kids in the pool. second one is of the deck off the dining hall, the girl with the towel standing in the middle of the photo is my gd Olivia, see her kool ade smile. Thats me standing on the porch of the cabin, you can see my wheelchair. Next is Javie sitting on bed in cabin. and the last one is of me pushing my wheelchair up the hill and gd Monica following behind.

Sunday alll day

I'm just sitting here waiting for Rue to pick me up. Grand daughter Olivia is doing her Confirmation in church today. Then we all go out to eat and back here for cake.

I'll post a few photos later on.

May 2 was my son in laws bd and I'm making him a special quilt. It wasn't finished but he got to see it in progress. I"m going to put two more rows on each side and then will add batting and backing and binding. then quilt it.

I think he likes it. He loves Jordan stuff. wears it all the time so I thought it would be a great gift for him.

Coffee cup cozy

I belong to the Whodunknit yahoo group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WhoDuKnit/) and am reading a book by Patricia Wentworth called Wicked Uncle. Since this group requires you to read a book and then knit an item associated with the book, I knit this: Reason bieng that the books are called cozies and this is a tea cozy, but since I don't drink tea, it's a coffee cozy!!

Cole in his wallaby sweater

Wow Cole is getting so big. He's only 6 months old but is wearing 12-18months size clothes. I was hoping this sweater would last him for at least 6 months but who knows with the way he's growing. Well he does have a Grampa that is well over 6 ft.!!

His Mommy says she would like one ok these sweaters in every size! Does that mean I done good? lol NOw it's time for me to make his sister Mia Bella something. Maybe a pink wallaby!!

Whodunknit

I recently join the group called Whodunknit on yahoo. This group readys mystery books and then knits something that relates to the book just read. Cool idea huh?

This month is a Patricia Wentworth book and since her books are called cozies we have to knit a tea or mug cozie or something related to that. I've chosen to make a cup cozie as I don't have a teapot but do have lots of coffee mugs.!! This is the one I'm going to do above. I'm just going to be using it on a mug instead of what it shows above.!! I got the pattern from Ravelry.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/knit-tea-cozy-3

2 baby hats for charity

I just finished these 2 baby hats for Nancy, a member of my group<>. She makes and donates baby hats to her local hospital. She just sent them 25 hats that she made all by herself. I thought she could use a bit of help so challenged my group members to help her out. will post later on how many hats were sent to her.

one hat done

I have challenged my group members (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Myknittingcircle/

to make at least 2 baby hats to send to member Nancy. Nancy had a group of ladies that made hats for local hospitals and the new babies, but all the other members dropped out leaving Nancy working all by herself. Not fair I say. So that's the reason for my challenge. I have one little tiny hat make an going to cast on for the next one right now.

If you'd like to make a hat for Nancy to give to the newborns, just let me know and I will hook you up with her address.

Hugs Patt

Wanderlust quilt pattern

Here is my quilt top. I got this far yesterday. Now I have to wait until I get to a fabric shop to get the batting and the backing for it. oh also need small border fabric and big border fabric and binding as well. So actually, I am like 15% done on it. lol
I used Sweet Treat fat quarters for the fabric, The Asian Breeze collection. Love it. I love all the fabric from Sweet Treat
http://sweettreat.com/
Now I have a few more projects I want to make. Think I'll cut out the panels for a tote bag. I'll use the bag later for more quilt projects. wooooot

It's Gettin' Hot in Here.....

Whew, where are my shorts??? Just looked at my thermometer and it says 83 degrees. Holy Spring??? Batman!! I was thinking of working on my log cabin blanket but just changed my mind.

Think I will go take a shower and then work on my quilt top instead. Whats' the weather like in your neighborhood?

Little Wallaby Sweater Done

Here it is. Done and ready to go. I am very happy with it. What do you think?

Cole modeling his sweater and hat

Here is my happy Cole. He loves his sweater and hat. His Mommy said that her and daddy think the sweater is kick ass!! That's what she said I think or at least something like that. lol
ANyway it made me happy that it was appreciated.

What happened to Friday???

I swear I just got up and had coffee and read the paper and here it is 7 pm. All I've done today is put a few quilt squares together and finish up the little hat that matches the raglan sweater and make some Mema tags and sew them on. Took a few pics and watched only one movie. then the grandkids came over and they're still here, play fighting right here next to me. HOpe they don't kill each other. lol

here is the tags I've made and the top of the hat. It is just so cute. I probably can't do that again.

Row counter for knitting

I was looking at some Esty shops the other day and I ordered a couple of sets of stitch markers from this woman. Pretty stuff there. Anyway she had some row counters she had make and I liked them so I made myself one. It's only for a 5 row pattern but it's easy enouhg to add more links when needed. Just thought you'd like to see it.

I"ve Been RAKed!!

WOW I was so surprised and happy today when I got a package from Holly Whipple. I was puzzled as to what she was sending me as we had not spoken of anything.

When I opened the package this is what was in it. Stitch n bitch nation and a journal to go along with it. and a sweet pumpkin dishcloth. One that I don't have either!! wooooh ooooo.

She didn't send a note with said package so I am assuming that Dear Holly is a member of the RAKed group on ravelry.

Thank you so much Holly, you have made my month for sure. I am going to have a good time with this book.

Hugs to you

Love Patt

Happy Easter!!

Today I am off to dd#2's home in Napa with the rest of the family to enjoy a day of fun. Hiding eggs, hunting eggs, watching the kids play, eating and talking and enjoying family.
I hope that you all have as nice a day as Im going to have.
Hugs Patt

Wooohooooo my yarn is here

Finally finally I got my yarn in. Now I can finish the raglan baby sweater. Knitting Warehouse was so good about all of this. And UPS really tried to pull a fast one on both of us. Bad UPS company!!

Ok gotta go knit

Hugs Patt

Log Cabin progress

Just started on the 3rd block using my 3rd color. LOVE it.

Just thought I'd post a baby afghan pattern that I designed way back when, lol. I love this pattern and have made at least 40 of these over the years.

Patt"s Basketweave Baby Blanket-copyright 1972


This pattern is very versatile as using different yarns and different color combinations can create entirely different looking blankets, as will using different edgings.


Materials needed:


Crochet hook size H or I


5 skeins Red Heart Yarn or your choice of yarn (30-40 oz yarn)


ch 125.


row 1: dc in 4th chain from hook and in remaining chains. 122 dc. ch 2 turn.


now and in remaining rows chain 2 and turn is first dc in next row.


row 2: front post dc in next 4 dc, back post dc in next 4 dc, repeat across ending with 1 dc in last st. ch 2 turn.


rows: 3 and 4 : repeat row 2.


row 5: back post dc in next 4 dc, front post dc in next 4 dc, 1 dc in last dc. ch 2 turn.


rows 6-8: repeat row 5.


repeat rows 2 through 8 for pattern. ending with row 7, which will give you 95 rows altogether. For the edging: ch 3 and dc in each st around. Sl st to ch 3. Ch 1, reverse sc around entire blanket and finish off. weave in end.


Another good edging for this blanket is the picot edging or a simple 5 dc shell edging.

Raglan Baby Sweater Progress

I'm on row 83 of my baby sweater but am running out of yarn. Gonna go visit my LYS and pick up another skein for the sweater and also a skein or two more for the hoodie my son in law requested me to make for Cole. And then I want some sock yarn to make a few pair of socks. This sweater I think is looking pretty good but is taking me a long time to finish because my shoulder and wrist joints have been really hurting bad this winter. hate when that happens. have to break out the icy hot and Motrin every day now!

It's sunny out today so I plan on warming my shoulder in the sun.

ummmmmmmm feels good.

Premie items done

A member of my knitting group on yahoo, Hi Lily!!. has a new niece. She is a premie and Lily mentioned that she was going to make the baby something because none of the baby clothes fit her. So I decided to make a little hat and socks for her as well. Then a few other members joined in and pretty soon the baby will have a few more pretty things to wear.

Here is what I made for her. I love to make baby things.

Happy Birthday Dennis!!

Today my oldest grandson, Dennis, would be 18. Happy Birthday Dennis.

He's been gone for 4 years now and we miss him soooo much.

We found out he had leukemia AML M7 in July of 2003 and 6 months later he was gone.

I only wish and pray that no other child ever has to suffer from this disease.

If you ever want to donate to a good cause please consider the Leukemia-Lymphoma organization.

http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/

Even a $5 donation will help. Research is our only hope of curing leukemia.

The Make a Wish Foundation is also a good place to donate.

http://www.wish.org/help/donate

They sent Dennis and his Mom and Dad and sisters and brother, to Disneyland for a week. That is what Dennis chose as his wish but there are a lot of things that the kids can wish for and get to do. I and my other daughter Tina and her hubby drove down to Disneyland and met up with Dennis and family and we all had a wonderful time there. We made some great memories of Dennis having lots of fun even while he was so sick.

And also a great place to donate is your local Hospice

http://www.hospicefoundation.org/

In Dennis' last days the Hospice folks came in his home and helped his Mom greatly.

His last days were calm and peaceful and when he passed away he wasn't in any pain.

Writing all this brings back all those memories and my heart feels so heavy, like a big boulder is sitting on my chest.

So I will close this post with simply saying, We love and miss you Dennis, Happy Birthday hon.

With love from your Mema.

I love my groups

During the times that I am just relaxing here, I will read thru my groups emails and randomly click on someones link to their blog. I try to look at new ones. Sometimes I end up looking at the same ones over and over just because the post in the group is interesting. Today I found this one, http://kathleen-dakotadreams.blogspot.com/ and I fell in love with the stranded snowman mittens. I save the pages so I can make some for next winter. They are just the cutest things.

Progress on Raglan Top Down baby sweater

Here is my progress photo. This is a real easy pattern to follow. Mostly knit and purl with a few increases marked by stitch markers. I think everyone will enjoy making some sweet baby this sweater.

Hugs Patt

Got the dog neutered today. Ouch*

This is our Chihuahua Rayo. He's 16 months old and weighs 4. 6 lbs. And in the photo taken before his surgery he's smiling. hahahahahahahahaha

Isn't he the cutest?

Well got him fixed today. His testicals had not dropped so we thought it was the best for him to get him fixed.

He's in our bed under the covers sleeping right now. Poor little guy. But he will be fine. I have some antibiotics to start giving him tomorrow and I'm sure he will be fine in a few days.

log cabin started

So here is a photo of my Log Cabin progress. I have 18 ridges so far!!

Two more wips done!

Wow! I just finished 2 projects. I am on a roll now.

To celebrate my progress, I just cast on for my log cabin afghan. So now I just have to finish the flower power dish cloth, which won't take that long and then I'm going to frog the sock I started 2 yrs ago. I plan on doing some toe up socks with the yarn.

Anyway just wanted to share my joy with you all.

I love to knit!

Trying to get things done!!

I so want to start my log cabin afghan but I am trying to finish up the felted clogs and pink earflap hat before I start it. And I need to go to my yarn stash and get out the yarn I want to use for the baby sweater kal I'm starting in a week.

This month is way more busier for me knit wise than the last few ones. I do have a lot of things I want to try out.

Just look at the photo above and see the yarns that I bought last year and are still waiting for me to wind them up!! I want to finally make myself the exactly right purse for me. of course it has to be felted!! and I need one that can be closed at the top with out adding a zipper. Anyone have any ideas on that???

let me know if ya do. I have skoodles of purse patterns but not the exactly right one!!

Starting the year off right

IN my knitting group ( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Myknittingcircle/?yguid=255703101 ) we are starting a year long Log Cabin Afghan KAL. I won't be posting any lines of the pattern as everyone has the pattern we are doing. http://images.amazon.com/media/i3d/01/log_cabin.pdf

I plan on using solid colors but don't know what colors just yet. I do tend towards greens and tan or brown colors.

And in the middle of the month we are starting a baby sweater kal. This one I do plan on giving the lines every day or so. here is the link to the sweater we are doing.

http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/babysweraglangarterstripe.htm

I'm going to be making one for gson Cole. Then I'd like to make a bigger sweater for Mia Bella

she wears like a size 6.

Oh and I just joined our local quilting guild! It's called PieceMakers. I've never made a quilt before but I love them. Always have since the first one I got from my granma.

well that's about it for right now.

gotta finish the felted clogs for my sis Vickie and then get started on putting a quilt top together for the charity group the PieceMakers donate to.

Merry Christmas again

Hey Just wanted to share a Christmas photo of my kids with you all. Starting in front from left to right,
Baby Cole, Mia Bella and Javier,
middle row,
Tina and her hubby Dade, Monica, and Olivia and in back is Ruthie, mom of Monica Olivia and Jaive, Tina an Dade parents of Cole and Mia Bella. LOve my KIds!!
Photo was taken at Tina and Dades home in the Napa Valley. CA

new Rock Band "The Reapers"

Here are my 3 oldest grandkids. We got them the Rock Band xbox 360 game for Christmas and they love it. The one on mic is Olivia age almost 10, drummer is Javier age 5 1/2 and on guitar is Monica age almost 13! Give em a big hand. whoooeeeeeee. We gave them gifts early as they are on their way to Disneyland for Christmas. gonna miss them.