Where've I Been?...On The Pineapple Express!

     Yes, I waited until French Open tennis time to do another blog post......sorry. :-)) And yes, I 'AM' still alive...and well! ^_^ I just haven't been in the mood to blog. Go figure!...ME....not in the mood to talk my head off?!! LOL It's true. 
     I was busy though...crocheting...reading two Jane Austen books.....crocheting.....napping.....crocheting! You know, the usual stuff! ^_^ In fact, the photo you're looking at is a blanket I finished recently. It was a LARGE project!
 

     If you look at it closely you'll see that it's actually a whole lot of crochet pineapples ...106 to be exact!...all sewn together. And then another blanket too...all blue (very detailed too, which you 'can't' see from my photo-taking! *shaking my head* Yeah, some things, like my photo-taking skills {or lack thereof}, haven't changed!), as the backing. 
 

     And each one of the pineapples had to be sewn onto the back blanket!!! YIKES! It was a lot of work!!...But I was paid very well for it, so it made it well worth it in the end. :-) But ask me if I want to make another one...and watch me squirm and go into a mental jerking spasm!! LOL
      So, that being the case, you might be surprised to know that I started another blanket a couple o days ago! ^_^ I'm making a wedding ring blanket...Shhhhhhh!...for a friend, as a wedding gift. And after I finish it, I might be starting ANOTHER one, for another friend's wedding gift!! ^_^ 
     In between I've been making lots of crochet slippers. FUN! ^_^ But, right now, meaning this third week of May, 2016, I'm all about tennis!! ^_^ Yes, it's French Open time again!!...So, now you know. Not much has changed with me!! ^_^ New England weather here in Holyoke is finally heading into Spring-like, robins are flitting and pecking all over the backyard, my hummingbirds are flitting and sipping at the feeder, my hubby is flitting and darting on his bike, and all is well!...except for a few 'flies in the ointment', so to speak, here and there. ^_^
     I'm hoping to get back to a more regular blog schedule. I miss it! :-] If you're still along for the ride, tell me what you've been up to. And in the meantime how about a little poem! :-) Have a good day Y'all!! ♥

French Open 2012, Week One

I can hardly believe
that a whole week is through!
It's been seven days.
WOW! How the time flew!

Tosses and serves,
swings and close games,
grunting and nervousness,
"That was in!" claims.

Very long sets,
(Thanks Isner, Mathieu)
A first round upset
when Serena was through!

A ball-boy mistake,
and Andy's bad back.
I've watched with enjoyment,
whack after whack.

The basketball Playoff's
distraction complete,
with the Celtic's first win
against Miami heat.

And baseball chimed in,
with it's fans all a flitter,
when Johan Santana
pitched the Mets' first No-Hitter.

This may be Sharapova's
and Sloane Stephen's best year.
Whatever the case, one more week,
I'll be here!

(Of course, the details aren't the same with this year's French Open, but guess what?...I'm still here!! ^_^)     

A Quick 'Virtual Friday' Check-In!

      Hello Y'all!! ^_^ I know...I know! It's been a while since I posted on the blog...AGAIN! ^_^ But I had a few days of 'busy, busy, busy'...'sick, sick, sick'! So here I am, AFTER all of that, ready to do a quick 'check-in' with you! :-)
      And since I couldn't remember what I showed you already, and I was too lazy to go back through my recent blog posts to find out, :-) I decided to just do a quick 'Did-I-Show-You-This'!! ^_^ Sooooo...did I show you the mint scarf and gloves set?...
       

      Did I show you the red tote bag, with the big crochet flower sewn on?!...

 

      If I didn't show it to you before, well now I have! ^_^ And if I did show it to you before, uhhhhh....now you've seen it again!! ^_^ That's what you get, trying to 'check-in' with a semi-menopausal lady, with a memory like a sieve, and not enough time on her hands to look up from her crocheting!! LOL

       There is something I didn't show you though! It's the finished 'Ugly Wuglyee' hooded child's sweater! :-) ...

 

      I made it from a lot of my leftover bits and pieces of yarn. And don't you dare say: "We can tell!!" LOL ...
 

      The truth is...I'm not that fond of the colors. ^_^ My girlfriend is making the same sweater for her son, using some gorgeous creams and blacks and so forth. Hers is looking FABU!! In fact, I'm almost tempted to make it again, using some 'proper' yarn! :-) The only downfall is that I don't have a little one to make it for!! ^_^
 

      I'll try to get a photo of her sweater being worn by her little boy when she's all done...which may be quite a while, considering the fact that she hasn't even finished the back of hers yet, and has a front, sleeves, and cuff and bottom line gathering to do on it! But when she's done...!! :-]

            While taking a break from 'virtually-packing' for a 'virtual trip' to Nepal later this evening, I'm working on my latest project! ^_^ It's a multi-colored circular cowl scarf. I'm using the rest of that leftover yarn I have in my bag. {No!! I will NOT waste yarn!! ^_^} It may be too ugly to wear with pride, but just ugly and warm enough to wear tucked inside a coat! ^_^ Hey! Winter is gonna be here sometime soon, right?!!

      Speaking of winter coming...Or, rather, should I say Fall (Autumn)...I'M NOT READY!!!! :-) I'm still mourning the 'Bye-Bye' of my hummingbirds!!...***a little tear just fell***Yes, they're gone! :-( I've been staring at a half full feeder full of nectar for almost a week now, trying not to let the reality of their disappearance sink in. But the chilly temps, and the different look of the sky, is fighting with my sense of un-reality!! I just keep reminding myself, like the words to George Benson's song, Everything Must Change.***another hummingbird tear just fell.*** ^_^

      Okay, click on the Youtube link above and enjoy George Benson. :-) I'm off to get my 'virtual packing' done....And, Oh Yeah!, My sister's coming by this weekend!!!...And I have to make a couple of cheesecakes too!! O_O I almost forgot about that!! YIKES!! O_O The cheesecakes are for a cheesecake exchange that's happening this weekend!! My friend wants me to make her one of my cheesecakes, and she's making me one of hers! :-) It's too bad we don't have 'taste-O-blog', so I could share them with you!! ^_^ My sister may get a piece now though!! ^_^

      Have a good weekend, Everybody!! ♥

Catching Up

I see life from my perspective.
And it's always a full cup.
I rarely see the glass half empty.
I don't let much interrupt.

But now I find this needs a change.
I have some catching up to do.
I have some things that need updating.
And some family bonds to glue.

Some things have lagged unmercifully.
They need some tweaking, not too much.
Just need to get back some perspective..
Get some family lines in touch.

This catching up will be wide ranging.
Out with the old, in with the new.
But when you're catching up with people,
there's still some old when you're all through.

Catching up sometimes is tiring.
Maybe that's why I've been waiting.
And, besides, when I'm all done,
there seems there's more that needs updating! 

I've Missed You!! :-)

 (Handmade and painted wooden Teddy Bear money box by RAVERETRO)

      Hello Bloggers!! ^_^ It feels like forever since I posted! I've been very busy, crocheting my fingers to the bones...I wish!! :-)) No, my fingers aren't boney yet! LOL But I have been doing an inordinate amount of crocheting!
      Hubby's salesmanship is much better than I thought! :-) I asked him to 'hawk' my wares for me...at least my $10, 'gotta-get-them-outta-HERE' scarves!! And not only is he selling my $10 scarves, but he's been getting me custom orders like crazy!!
      I've made...Oh, I-don't-know-how-many...hooded wrap scarves now!...and also some crochet tube hats!...Speaking of hats, arent these Etsy finds (below) cute?!!!...
 

 (Pop Hat Crochet Pattern by BallHanknSkein)

      As I was saying :-) ... crochet tube hats!...And yesterday hubby came home with an order for another extra large hooded wrap scarf. A colorful one. And 2 regular size ones, in black!! O_O He also mentioned something about a lap blanket for someone!...So, as you can see, my busy stretch apparently isn't over!! :-)
       I wish I had three or four hands, or a couple million dollars in the bank...so that I could either crochet faster, or tell some of my customers...in my most loving 'Grey Poupon' voice..."I'll get to it when I get to it"!!! :-)) But I have neither extra hands, or extra dough (money)!!!...Therefore.....I crochet night and day, like a crazy 'we-gotta-pay-the-bills' fool!! LOL...Speaking of dough, though! ^_^ ...
 

 (FOLK FLORAL pattern embossing wooden rolling pin, laser engraved by BoonHomeware)

      How fabulous are these rolling pins!! :-) Imagine the lovely crusts on my pot pies, or apple and cherry pies, with these beautiful 'babies'!!!
 

      And just visualize your home-made cookies with a message across the top!! :-)

 (PERSONALISED name embossing rolling pin, laser engraved by
BoonHomeware)

      Speaking of which, as soon as my hands un-curl from all of this crocheting, I'm gonna make a batch of my peanut butter chocolate chip coconut cookies for a dear, dear friend of mine. ♥ She's been cooking like a crazy woman herself, and sharing it all with me and hubby!! :-) And WOW!...we've been eating so good!! ^_^

      In other news:...

         --- my mother-in-law hasn't come to live with us yet. But we still have the room ready...just in case!...Apparently, she's gonna be moving straight into her 'new diggs' soon!! ^_^ I almost wish she was already there, considering the fact that we have a nor'easter on the way!...In fact, the roads are full of ice already this morning! O_O
       --- We are still without a car! UGH!!!! It appears to be either the fuel filter, or the fuel pump, that's gone. Hubby has had a time trying to get the fuel filter off, to test it first!! O_O Oh, if only we had those couple million in the bank!!! I would've called an auto repairman by now...to come and haul this piece of junk away!!! Ha! Ha!...Okay, 'nice car, pretty car', it's not a COMPLETE piece of junk!! LOL
     --- I'm without my personal assistant at the moment. She's on vacation in a hot climate, away from my 'get-me-this, get-me-that' cries! :-)) 
    --- My printer is out of ink...completely!!!...due to my amazing discovery that it will download photos from my computer!!...Uhhhh...somebody could've told me that it uses up all of your printer ink to do it though!!!! ^_^

     Okay, that's almost too much talking for one post!! ^_^ I guess I missed talking to you all this time! ♥ So, let me share a few more Etsy finds with you, and get myself outta here!...back to the crochet grind! :-)

 (Stamped Footprints Necklace by CKleinOriginals)

 (Ceramic Black Sheeps Bowl by ClothnClay)

 (Ceramic Cow Mug by ClothnClay)

 (Your Child's Drawing on a Pendant- Personalized- Bigger size- Made to order by mujoyas)

(Hand Knit Wool Infinity scarf with embroidered windflowers by PlexisArt)

 

      Of course I had to end with some flowers on something!!! ^_^ Have a good Tuesday, Everybody!! And hopefully I'll see you tomorrow!....Don't hold your breath though...just in case another crochet order comes up! ^_^ ♥

Busy As A Beaver

I've been waiting for this moment,
where my crochet shop's involved,
to be busy as a beaver.
Now that problem has been solved.

I've been doing custom orders,
(Every customer had a tip)
Writing notes and tying ribbons,
readying packages to ship.

Yes, I know that things could change,
I could hear crickets any day.
But for now I'll just enjoy it.
Beavers pat their tail this way!

This Is Why I've Been Missing!

      Sorry Y'all...*head down, circling the ground with my big toe, and with my hands clasped behind my back*...I feel bad that I haven't had time to do my blog. But every time I said to myself: "Okay, go throw up a post!"...then something would happen that would let me know that I didn't have the time to spend posting, and it would take me away!
      Yes, I admit that my 'Virtual Friday Date' with my hubby yesterday was one of those things! ^_^ I felt like I needed to pay some attention to him, since I've been in full crochet mode for days. :-) But we couldn't go out of the country on one of our 'fancy' dates. So we had an 'In-Town' pizza date instead! ^_^
 

      It was an early afternoon date yesterday though, because I had to get back to work! I'm all about a custom order right now! :-] The pizza was so good though that we brought some home...which I proceeded to 'warm up' for dinner...to save me some time. Ugh!...and you can see the crust on my 'warmed-up' pizza in the photo above. LOL
      I got a little side-tracked with my crochet hat and...well...O_O...found out that slightly burnt 'UNO'S' pizza crust......is just as good as fresh out of the oven UNO'S pizza crust!!! LOL 

      Anyway!!! :-)) ... Here's the yarn I'm working with this time...

      I had to do some research to find some yarn that was light-weight, and stretchy enough to hold the shape of the hat after numerous wearings, but also was soft and in pretty colors! :-) Phew!! It wasn't as easy as I thought!! O_O 
      I 'did' get an education about yarn though! An education that I'm ashamed to say I hadn't had before!!...I found out that the regular yarn I use...my beloved 'Caron Simply Soft' is a favorite for a lot of crocheters, but NOT for hats or fitted items! O_O
      The 'scuttlebutt' is that Caron is the softest and nicest to work with, but when you make hats with it...it doesn't hold it's shape as well after washings! O_O I must admit that I wasn't thinking about numerous washings when I made my hats. I was thinking about 'soft'!...and 'pretty'!...which it is!! ^_^
      And, truth be told, I'll still use 'Caron Simply Soft' for my hats!...well...MOST of my hats! :-) The reason is because most of my hats aren't made to 'snap-back' after washing. They're not 'fitted' hats. They're pretty hats! ^_^ But now that I know about the 'stretchy, snap back' thing, I'll make a few hats for the shop in the 'snap-back' kinda yarn too! :-]
      Speaking of which!...
 

      Hubby wasted a whole morning for me, going to every single yarn shop in our area, trying to find a light-weight, stretchy, non-wool, yarn! O_O Four hours later...this is the yarn he found!...
 

      And where did he find it?!...In the first shop he had gone to! LOL...It was one of those 'Ugh! I can't find it!! Let me look in that first shop again' kind of things. :-))))
 

      Thank you, Honey! ♥ ... These are the two news boy cap hats I made out of it...so far! (above) Only one is going to my customer. The other one will be in the shop soon. :-)

      Today I'm working with some 'Vanna White' yarn he also found!... 

      In case some of you don't know who she is...she's the lady that turns the letters on 'Wheel Of Fortune'! :-) Crocheting and knitting has been her side hobby for many years. I have books of her patterns...they're great!! :-]
      I'm gonna make a different kind of hat for my customer in this 'Vanna's Choice' black yarn, and then a totally different kind of hat in some hot pink! ^_^ So, as you can see, I'm busy!!! ^_^
      
      By the way, I finished the thread wedding shawl too, except for tying on the tassel threads...which I'll get to some time next week I'm sure! :-) ...
 

      I would normally try to enlist my 6-foot helper into doing this tedious tying of tassel strings, but I'm laying off of him for August. He's got 'bigger fish to fry'...so to speak! :-)) He's focusing on people, and their knowledge, and trying to add some Biblical components to it this month. :-) August is a very active month for us, as Jehovah's Witnesses, this year. Special! :-)
      So now you know why I've been missing...in case anybody noticed! ^_^ Have a good weekend, Everybody! ♥

Busy As A Beaver

I've been waiting for this moment,
where my crochet shop's involved,
to be busy as a beaver.
Now that problem has been solved.

I've been doing custom orders,
(Every customer had a tip)
Writing notes and tying ribbons,
readying packages to ship.

Yes, I know that things could change,
I could hear crickets any day.
But for now I'll just enjoy it.
Beavers pat their tail this way!      

What I Did Yesterday

 (Bronze Time Clock Metal Dangle Earrings by artemisartdesign)

        What did you do yesterday?!...Work at a secular job all day?!...Have lunch with your girlfriends or guy friends?...Do some crafting or needlework?...Mow the lawn?...Etc....? Was it a good day?!

      Well, my day just flew by! It seemed so productive, but......but......! O_O Well, here's what I did!...

       I had a little breakfast...nothing special. Just nourishment.

 (Vintage Ephemera - Little Girl Eating Her Breakfast Illustration by thevintagemode)

  

        You know how it is. Sometimes it's got to be like that!...especially when the next day is 'Virtual Friday'...like it is today!! ^_^ ... the day when hubby and I eat something we've been craving all week, while we're on our date...somewhere in the world! :-) Tonight it's a trip to South Africa!! :-)

       After breakfast I needed a nap! :-) 

 (Taking a Cat Nap 8x10 Photograph by BrookeBPhotography)

     With my 'female' issues lately, I've been taking lots of refreshing naps! ^_^ The key word is 'refreshing'! Not 'sleep'...which would be 'restoring'. LOL Yes, people! There is a difference!!

       After my nap, I looked around at what some of my friends have been doing lately. I saw that my friend Cindy made another one of her cute necklaces for little girls! :-) ... 

 (Little Girl Green Yellow Flower White Glass Pearl Beaded Necklace by CinLynnBoutique)

       I love it!! :-) Of course I would. It's a flower, and it has colorful green in it!! ^_^ It's such a cute necklace for a little girl!!...Keep up the good work, Cindy! ♥

      Then it was lunchtime.

 (Lunch at the Market in Public Seating - Fine Art Print 8x10 print by BigBeanPhotos)

        But I wasn't hungry!...So instead of eating, I...

 ("Skagway nap" Colour Digital Photograph of a Dog Taking a Nap by RiaanVoslooArtDesign)

     ...took another little nap! :-)

     After 'that' nap I spent some time with hubby. We listened to some really encouraging public discourses, and talked a little about life...with a few giggles along the way. ^_^

       Then I did a bit of crocheting...

(Crochet Boutonnieres by Wuglyees)

       I still have a couple of backings to put on a couple of other boutonnieres I finished. I'll do that on the 'virtual' airplane out of the country later...if they don't give me a hard time about taking my crochet hooks! O_O 'Virtual' traveling takes so much thought these days! ^_^

      Then it was time for dinner!...and since I had missed lunch...I WAS STARVING!!! It required a little 'snacky-poo' while I was waiting for dinner to be finished cooking. :-]

 

 (Eat Dessert Before Dinner - Large Print on Recycled Paper by MyPaperDaydreams)

        And after another talk session with hubby, it was time for...you guessed it! ^_^ ...another nap!!

 ("Never Underestimate the Power of a Nap" Jiffy 2003 Counted Cross Stitch Kit by RonnieMarieArtist)

     The last nap was taken right before my meeting last night...which was wonderful by the way, even though I was 'low energy'. 

      "And wait! That's not all!!" ^_^ Sorry. The infomercial phrase came into my mind! Ha! Ha! After the meeting hubby and I talked about the talks that were presented. We especially loved the little ones' presentations. :-)

      Then it was a relaxed viewing of the NBA basketball final! :-) Congratulations to the Miami Heat on their repeat championship win!! 

    Can you see, from my goings-on yesterday, how 'exciting' of a day it was?! LOL Okay...so it wasn't that exciting. ^_^ I'm still not at 100% yet. But I'm working on it!...Still...

(I Already Feel Like Taking A Nap Tomorrow Art Print by PosterSavvy)

      *Yawn* ^_^ ... Have a good day...a good date...and a good weekend, Everybody!! :-)

Weekend

Weekend Folderol;
Lollygagging, having fun;
Makes working up to Friday
worth the paperwork you've done.

Your job, all week, came first,
but now it's time for a little jaunt;
or to lay around the house
and just do nothing, if you want!

A little this. A little that.
A bit of fun had out of doors.
A little weeding in the garden.
And a little bit of chores.

Some weekend folderol,
all alone or with your friends.
Or some chit chat with your neighbors,
new acquaintances or kin.

A Weekend that's all planned,,
or simply finding things to do;
Because every Monday will be back
and you'll need something to look forward to!