The Latest WIPs

I was finally able to wrestle DS3's birthday blanket away from him to shoot a photo. He sleeps with it every night.

I used the five colors of yarn that I chose last year when I was working on a baby blanket for a friend's nephew. Originally, I thought I would make this in a ripple pattern (see below) but then I decided to make an oversized variation of a granny square. DS3 and I both love how it turned out!

This is the next primo blanket, a griddle stitch (alternating sc and dc) in purple, green, and yellow stripes. It reminds me of pansies!

I also recently finished a top (for me!) in a soft bamboo-blend yarn. I hope to post photos soon!

Trying to Catch Up....

Well, lots has happened in the last two months. I have finished two blankets, one for my sister and one for DS3's birthday. I also started another one in purple, green and yellow for the primos. (It reminds me of pansies.)

Here's the one for my sis in blue, white and purple:

I'm also working on a top in a bamboo yarn in purple for myself. It's turning out so nice that I think I'll make another in yellow. Can't wait to share a pic of that one.

Spring has brought lots of changes to South Texas. Because we had such a wet winter, the wildflowers have been the best we've seen in years. (Unfortunately, the rain also brought an astounding number of potholes!) We even finally managed to sprout some bluebonnets in our backyard (the seeds were planted 3 1/2 years ago!).


And here's another backyard surprise -- Boomer's back! Apparently we grow the right kind of weeds! He stops by almost every night around 5 and sometimes we even see him in the morning.



But the best bluebonnets by far are on what I call Bluebonnet Hill!

Happy Spring!

Four Down, Seven To Go

Here's the afghan I completed this week (#2 for the primos, if you're keeping count):

If you think I'm counting incorrectly, there was a change (and a few additions). Afghan #1 went to the first primo; afghan #2 was kept by my mom for herself (her excuse was that it matched her bedroom perfectly); afghan #3 was for my sister; and this just-completed one is afghan #4 for the second primo. So although the original plan was to make seven afghans for the primos (cousins), somehow four more were added to the list (two for Mom, one each for my two sisters).

That makes the score: four down and seven to go. Sounds daunting, but on the upside, #5 is already started, and #6 is a repeat of #4 with a different color scheme (which went very quickly)!

These projects are all temporarily on hold while I complete a quick entry for the Etsy Texas Crafters February Design Challenge. Sneak peek -- I'm combining these two very different yarns:

Stay tuned for a pic of the finished project and a link to the Design Challenge!

The Winter Games

I just love the Olympics, but this year I really love the outfits the American team wore at the Opening Ceremonies, especially the moose hat:

J'adore!

And I absolutely love the cable knit sweater the athletes wore also (but I'll have to save up for that little beauty --$425 at ralphlauren.com!) Maybe I'll just learn how to knit....

Belated congratulations to the Jefferson Middle School theater arts group for their Superior (the highest possible) rating at the Middle School Theatre Festival! They did an awesome job!

And DS1 won a medal for All-Star cast! Here he is receiving his medal along with his classmate Justin (they are the two tall boys).

And a belated Valentines Day greeting to all -- we don't really celebrate Valentines Day (never have), but I brought home a heart-shaped balloon and that just made DS4's day!

That's love for you!

Finished One Project and Started Another....

I'm so glad I finally finished my sister's blanket! It turned out so nice:

And I started a new project right away, another blanket for the primos:

It's made of solid squares in aqua, ivory, and grey (a modern combination, to be sure). The squares are connected when you work the last row (no sewing! yay!). I love this pattern -- it works up so fast! After a week, I am about half-way done!

The pattern is free and available on redheart.com (search for the Square Upon Square Throw). I like this so much, I'm thinking of changing up the colors and making another one! (Turns out my other sister wants a blanket, too, so the second one just might end up being for her!)

Time to Get Blogging Again....

So much for New Year's resolutions: here it is, January 26, and I haven't blogged since Veterans Day. To describe my life is busy is an understatement.

To catch you up, Thanksgiving and Christmas were fun. My brother, sister-in-law and their three children came to visit. Adding their three with my four ratcheted up the activity/noise level by about 100 or so. But the cousins had so much fun playing and exploring at the ranch. Plus my nephew was happy to be with boy cousins for a change.

DS1 has been preoccupied with rehearsal for the one-act play. He has one of the lead roles. But he took time to head to the movies twice with friends during the holiday break. He used to be my anti-social child, so it's nice to see him hanging out with friends. Oh, and he won the spelling bee at his middle school! So it's off to the city bee for him!

DS2 just took the SAT as part of the Duke TIP program. It's a wonderful opportunity to get a sneak peek at the exam while he's a 7th grader, and it may lead to scholarship or other educational opportunities.

DS3 participated in the 3rd grade Christmas program at his school. They sang 5 songs, then for the last number, several of the children (including DS3) danced on stage. Oh my, it was hysterical. He is quite theatrical and obviously not shy at all!

DS4 is just a joy to watch grow up! His vocabulary is expanding daily. He told me the other day that flies "are disgusting." Big word for a little boy! Here he is swinging at the ranch:

Me? I've been trying to finish up some projects. I stayed up until 3am on Christmas Eve to complete DS4's stocking. The blanket for my sister is just about complete, just have to weave in the ends (ugh). I've already started two more blankets, one for the primos and one for my mom (and no, DS3's bookbag is not yet complete -- actually I can't find it right now, although I think I know where it might be.)

Oh, and my parents hosted an exchange student last year. Marina is from Germany, speaks 4 languages and is a sweet, engaging, and bright young lady. Sadly, she left to go home last week (she was afraid she would be behind in her senior year if she spent her entire junior year here). Plus, I'm sure she missed her family terribly. Here she is with the boys:



We miss her already, but now we are thinking of taking a summer trip to Germany to visit Marina and her family. That would be fun!

Happy Veterans Day!

Thank you for your service and sacrifice for our country! We live in freedom because of you! A special wish for a happy Veterans Day to my two favorite veterans, my father (USAF retired) and my DH (USN)! My thoughts and prayers go to the families in Fort Hood -- your loved ones are heroes!