GranMama's Box

I have hit that age where many of my friends are already grandmothers or are just having new grand-babies. And I admit...I am completely jealous. My son may never have children, and the girls all still have to finish high school and college before they even think about having babies. That means I have years to wait and drool enviously over my friends lil angels. It is one of those horrible in-between stages of life.

My solution to making this stage more bearable and preparing for the time when the girls all procreate at once is the GranMama Box.
I have started including baby clothes and toys in my knit/crochet projects and as I finish them they go into a special box for the future grand-babies. This allows me to have fun picking out wonderful little patterns and yarns, and creating sweet little things. The girls have even started "claiming" certain items for their particular future children. (They tease me about it, but I know they enjoy the thought of Mama making stuff for their kids.) It has become a fun way to share my pastime with them too. The idea is that when the time eventually comes I should have a huge box of handmade items for each of the girls to use with their children and I won't be rushed to make them all at once. Or, God forbid, if my arm continues to deteriorate, and I can no longer knit/crochet well, they will already be done.

I wonder if anyone else has a GranMama Box?

Long time no blog...

Wow, it is already 2012 and over five months since my last posting. Things got pretty hectic around here with all the girls activities, D2's boyfriend going off to Air Force basic training (3 more weeks till he graduates), my father coming to visit and, of course, the holidays.
I have been busy with the yarn projects as well. I need to take some pics of the FOs I haven't given away already and put them up. I also managed to learn to knit...really, I can do it now. That was my goal for 2011, and my goal in this new year is to learn to knit with circulars and at least attempt the dreaded DPNs.
I still have my schooling on hiatus until I can work out a way to do an internship and still pay my bills. Then I have to figure out how to actually get a new job that pays enough to quit grooming dogs, lol. Someday.

HOT, HOT, HOT...

That is how these past couple weeks have been. Hot, and busy.
On the homefront, D3 has had band camp for color guard, D1 and D2 are finishing up summer assignments and trying to get in as much BF time as possible. I have been working and lots of homework for this quarter. Personal Finance is the MOST boring class ever! The squirrels have managed to eat every single pear on the tree, and there were literally 100+. And the kittens are almost ready for their new homes, yeah!


Craftwise, I finished Jenny's shawl in time for the wedding, but forgot to get a pic of the FO. I also finished the Woodland Shawl with the same pattern but I did a heavier edging on that one. No pic yet.
Also did a cute little flower coaster for the monthly CAL/KAL. And my knitting is coming along. I won't be making sweaters any time soon, but I can garter and stockinette :<) .

I also finished Sierra's handwarmers. I felt she needed a matching scarf so worked one up in the same stitch pattern. Love it! Very simple pattern. Only took one skein for both the handwarmers and the scarf!

Sierra's Scarf

Caron Simply Soft in Dark Sage

approx. 1/2 Skein

Size G hook

Chain 31

Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook (counts as first dc), dc in next ch, skip next 2 ch, **dc in next 3 ch, skip 2 ch**(repeat 3 times) dc in last 3ch, turn

Row 2: ch 5, **3dc in next ch 2 spot, ch 2**, repeat 4 times, dc in third chain of ch3 of last row, turn

Row 3: ch 3, 2 dc in next ch space, **ch 2, 3 dc in next ch space** to end, turn

Row 4-91(or until desired length): Repeat rows 2 and 3, finish off and weave in ends.

Independence Weekend

So, it is the 4th of July weekend and I have feel I have done very little in the way of yarncraft projects this week. Of course, it is the first week of another quarter at school. I am so ready for school to be over! I just want to work on my projects and enjoy the beautiful outdoors, not deal with homework, housework or dayjob :/. Anyway, we had a great time last night with the "family" and some fireworks, steaks on the grill at home tonight and the girls will be off to watch the fireworks on the river with their boys and I will enjoy a little peace and quiet.

Back to the stitching...I did start two new shawls. The first I started for a crochet along and realized I like the love knot so much I am making Jenni a shawl for her wedding next weekend with the same pattern. I found some nice soft bamboo/acrylic blend yarn and will be sewing some crystal beads in the wedding colors onto it.

I also have been working on my learning to knit. I actually am not doing too bad, I think. I can't tell enough of a difference between the stitches yet, but I hope I am knitting and purling.  I suppose I need to go to the LYS and have them grade my progress :D lol.

No finished projects this week, but I guess it has been a productive and busy one.
Happy 4th...I am off to play with some yarn and eat steak.

This Past Weeks Finished Projects

I actually did quite well in getting a lot of things done this week. I made up my Christmas 2011 List and started working on this years gifts. So far this week I finished Olyvia and Scottie's stocking caps and three of the five Homespun Scarfs for the girls at work.

I also joined the Block a Month Crochet Along 2011 on Ravelry.com and managed to complete the January, February and March squares. So I am on my way to catching up :)

The big accomplishment for the week, though, has been my attempt to once again try my hand at knitting. I have tried time and time again over the years only to become so frustrated I couldn't "get it". I am bound and determined not to let it get the best of me. I think this time I may be getting the hang of it, finally. I took a tip and purchased some bamboo needles...way easier to hold onto the thread with these. I also tried a number of different yarns. I can only do the basic knit stitch, and its not yet beautiful, but after 30 years of failed attempts I am happy with it. I will keep practicing and maybe go take those lessons at the LYS. I will prevail!

Just the Pears

I need to catch up on this last weeks projects update. But for now just sharing the baby pears on our tree. I hope the squirrels leave enough to ripen and  be canned :)

Rituals of the Evening

I really love my house. The very best part is the peaceful time after dinner. I take my stitching and a cup of coffee to the front porch and sit back to experience the evening ritual. I listen to the wind rustle through the trees, the birds singing and chattering away, while the squirrels scurry around and steal the little pears off of my tree. Occasionally the breeze kicks up enough to get my wind chimes to play their tune over some one's mower humming in the distance. Today Mr. Owl came to hoot perched up in the big oak tree. So there I sit stitching on the night's project and sipping on my coffee as the dusk settles in. When the walk lights start to glow it is the warning sign to finish that row or round, put my project back in the bag, and sit back as the squirrels take their last treasures home and the lightnin' bugs come out to play. When it's over and night has fallen, I may have dishes to finish and homework waiting...but for a little while I get to just enjoy the peace of home and the blessings God has given me.