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!! ^_^)     

The Hooded Baby Blanket Saga Continues......!

     As you can see, I'm in the mood to change colors on my hooded baby blanket now. :-)) I just COULD NOT crochet another row of pink!!!! This kind of shell/popcorn stitch is taking FOREVER to crochet! O_O
     I was suppose to keep going until I had 28 inches of this pink, and then make a pink hood also. Uhhhh.....NO!! ^_^ I'm an Ugly Wuglyee kind of girl. I just can't be 'NORMAL' on every project, can I?!! ^_^ So, there's a lot of pink, a bit of white, some accent lilac, a touch of coral,......
 

     ...and I added a smidge of brown, and a dollop of dusty wheat.....SO FAR! ^_^ 
 

     Hopefully I'll have it all done by the weekend, and if I can get 'Baby Wuglyee' to model it for me, I'll show it to you when it's all done! ^_^ Unfortunately, 'Baby Wuglyee' is not that happy with me these days...after I organized everything and had to find a new 'HOME' for him too! LOL
 

     I told him to talk to Peter Walsh!!! :-)) Oh! If looks could kill....'Baby Wuglyee' would have me 6 feet, and a NEW HOME, underground by now!! LOL

     I don't look in his direction anymore!! LOL Instead, I just look at the beautiful smile on the face of my satisfied customer's face! :-) ...
 

     Wasn't that nice of her to send me this photo?! :-) I love my customers!!...few though they may be these days! ^_^

     Okay, I have a meeting tonight, so I'm off!! See you tomorrow! ♥

 If you don't have time for a poem

If you don't have time for a poem...
(not to write one, I mean to emote)...
then you don't have time to be sitting
and reading this short little note.

And you don't have time for a 'breather',
to pause for a small bit of rest.
No time for a moment's reflection.
No time for a giggle and jest.

No, you don't have the time some are wasting,
with schedules that they have to keep.
No time to be spending on verbiage,
whether shallow or thoughtfully deep.

If you don't have time for a poem,
Then you don't have time for me!
So get up and get yourself going,
there's somewhere that you ought to be!!

This 'Wug' Is Out Of The Bag!!

     Hello Strangers!! :-) It's been so long since I posted a blog!!!...Frankly, I haven't even been reading blogs...or even been online that much! Don't even ask!!!! UGH! O_O But I felt a bit better today, and I had some new bags I wanted to get your views on, so I decided to make some time for ME!!!! (GET BACK, LIFE!!!! Grrrrrr!)
        I'm not gonna get into the numerous things that have kept me off-line. None of which are 'smile-worthy', or even 'talk-about-it' worthy!! But I am gonna tell you that...Oh YES!...I still found time to crochet...even with a painful 'wing'! {I threw something out in my shoulder/arm, and have been dealing with it for a while now.}...Okay, so I told you about one of the things anyway that has kept me off line! ^_^
         ANYWAY!!! :-)) I've been using up a lot of my random colored leftover cotton embroidery thread, making tote bags!! :-) 
 

      Don't look at the colors too close...You might go blind!! LOL Besides which...if you look at the tote bag too close you might start trying to figure it out!! Ha! Ha! It would be a massive waste of your viewing time!! :-)) It has five different colors...the handles are not matching...there's a ribbon...and a lining that I did myself! *Blink, Blink!!* O_O YES I DID!!! LOL
 

      And, even if I do say so myself, the lining didn't come out too bad...although actually it's not really lining material. It's made from a pair of curtains I had laying around, not being used. Now.....they are being used!! ^_^
 

      The bag below doesn't have a lining yet. I like the bag so much...even with all of the wacky colors...that I'm gonna wait and buy some material to actually match the bag. CUTENESS, HERE WE COME!! ^_^

     And NO!...I didn't stop there! ^_^ In fact I've made about seven bags since I saw you last. And I'm in the midst of another one right now! :-) The problem is that I like crocheting them more than I like listing and marketing them!! :-)) So, if you're interested in taking one of my bags off of my hands for about $25.00, just let me know. Then you can save me some trouble with all of that listing and linking and stuff!! ^_^

      My favorite of these bags 'IS' actually online!!...
 

      And I did the lining in this one myself too!! ^_^ And YES...that's a good thing!! ^_^ I watched a couple of Youtube videos on putting linings in crochet bags! Also "how-to" videos on putting zippers in! (But, so far, no zippers have inspired me that much!! LOL)

      In other news, my mother-in-law has started her move into her new home! YAY!! ^_^ She's doing it a little at a time. And she LOVES it!!...She is also a Bible student of mine! ^_^ [It has been a joy sharing my love for Jehovah God with her, and seeing her light up as she learns new things! :-)]
        Also, I am the 'UNO' card Queen of our household!!! ^_^ Just saying!!!...Hubby and I have been playing almost every day lately...to pass the time, and help me not think about my arm pain...and OTHER stuff!! So far I play and just wait for the inevitable exclaim: "ARE YOU SERIOUS?!!!! UGH" LOL...Being the Queen, as I am!, it makes me giggle every time, and exclaim in reply: "OFF WITH HIS HEAD!!" LOL...Not really, but still!!!! ^_^
      Okay, off I go! On a good day you'll see me again. It could be tomorrow. It could be...Uhhhh...let's just play it by ear, shall we! ^_^ I do miss running my mouth here though!! :-)

Butterfly-ish

I'm feeling butterfly-ish.
Wanna flutter...move real slow.
Wanna wander...mind and body.
Not be fast, and 'on the go'.

I'm feeling like I need
a some quiet time to hang around.
Have everything wrapped up,
and just block out surrounding sound.

I'm feeling butterfly-ish.
Wanna lay in bed till noon.
Wanna have some time to morph.
Need a tree and a cocoon.

Tomorrow they'll be time
to change and modify.
To spread my wings, add color,
like a brand new butterfly.

Pretty..............Ugly?!

 (Black Butterfly Headband by kaang)

      Hi! ^_^ I'm not here for a long drawn out conversation tonight...*and you can stop hooting and clapping at any time! LOL*...but I did wanna share some pretty things, and some ugly...*scratch that*...some 'not so pretty' things that I made myself! ^_^

      The header photo is showing one of the pretty things! I love pretty butterflies on a headband, don't you?!!...And the only thing they have in common with my 'Ugly Wuglyee' style bedroom slippers is that they both have black coloration included on them!

 (Crochet House Slippers, Gray, Black, and Olive Green by wuglyees)

      Of course, my slippers also have other colors! Some charcoal gray and black print, and olive green soles! :-) ...

      They're like some 'throw-back' colored slippers from my favorite generation...the 70s!! ^_^ *♫ Staying Alive, Staying Aliveeeeeeeee! ♫ :-)) ... What can I say?!....Oh! I know what I can say! I can say that what they lack in 'pretty' they make up for in 'comfortable'!! ^_^

     Moving on to the other 'pretty'! :-) ...
 

 (Crochet Chocolate Strawberry Coaster by MonikaDesign)

      I love Monika's coasters!! :-) They almost look like real chocolate-dipped strawberries!...but..like...chocolate-dipped strawberries that you can eat your peanut butter cookies and milk off of!! ^_^

      Speaking of peanut butter cookies! :-)) ...

      These are my other 'ugly'! :-] They were a quick meal for some desperately 'desserty' bakers! ^_^ Me and Mr. Wug I mean...of course!! LOL...

      Our cupboard was kinda bare, but we found a way to make some deliciously ugly cookies anyway!! ^_^ There were only three ingredients: a cup of peanut butter, a cup of white sugar, and an egg! Seriously...that was all!!!
      We had to preheat the oven to 350 degrees, mix the three ingredients until they were smooth, and put them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper for 6 to 8 minutes!! :-) (Our oven took a little longer, so I guess that old adage about a watched pot never boiling has some truth to it!!...at least it does when it comes to watching ovens for cookies to brown!! LOL) 
      They weren't 'pretty' when they came out, and they weren't as crisp as I like my peanut butter cookies to be, but they sure were good!!!! ^_^ Our dessert craving was thoroughly satisfied!!

      There was only enough milk for one of us to get a glass to sip on with their cookies...You'll just have to guess which one of us drank it...and shared a sip or two. :-)) No...those kind of manners are not 'pretty'!...I'll have to work on that...tomorrow!! Ha! Ha!...Goodnight, Y'all!! ♥

Cooking

Flipping, Frying,
Flambeing, Filleting,
Burning, Browning,
Paring, Pureeing.

Boiling, Baking,
Mixing, Making,
Simmering, Scaling,
Sifting, Shaking.

Cooking, Crackling,
Cutting, Coring,
Sprinkling, Spattering,
Patting, Pouring,

Broiling, Battering,
Steeping, Steaming,
Timing, Tossing,
Cubing, Creaming,

Slicing, Scrambling,
Turning, Toasting,
Melting, Measuring,
Rinsing, Roasting.

Dipping, Dicing,
Skimming, Sauteing,
Poaching, Peeling,
Mincing, Microwaving.

Gathering, Grilling
Basting, Barbecuing,
Hacking, Heating,
Scoring, Skewering.

Standing, Stirring,
Rough, Tough,
Kitchen, Ditching,
Had Enough!

Cookies Are Pretty Things Too, Right?!

 (Rush Listing - Level 2 by decadentdesigns)

      I love pretty things! And it doesn't matter what kind of pretty thing it is. :-) I even found this rushing blue stick man to be pretty when I saw him last night! :-) He seems to be telling me something...like..."Hurry up, Wug! Let's go get 'em!" ^_^

      I'm kinda sorta in a hurry up mode these days anyway. I'm hurrying up to do everything! Why?....Uhhhhhh....I don't know. LOL I think it's a leftover mode from doing all of the crocheting projects I've been doing lately. :-) But now that my schedule is slowing down, who knows why I'm still in 'blue stick man' hurry up mode!...but I am. And so it goes!! ^_^

      I'm also in 'let's look at pretty stuff' mode. Thus, today's pretty Etsy finds! :-) ...

 (Handpainted set of 4 OOAK Rainbow Explosion Ceramic Tile Coasters by LDphotography)

      If you've followed my blog even for a minute one thing is probably very clear to you....I LOVE COLOR! :-) And those coasters above have color in spades!!! ^_^

      Another thing that would be clear to you is that I love a good nap...any time I can get it!! :-) That's why this little guy caught my eye!...

(Crochet Penguin Pillow by peanutbutterdynamite)

       A penguin pillow seems like it would be a good nap-buddy! ^_^ {Not as if I really needed a nap-buddy! ^_^ I can nap anywhere, any time, with or without a nap-buddy!...just saying. LOL}

       Pretty music is always a good thing though. I'm listening to some right now, in fact! {Kingdom Melodies, Volume 4} :-) There may even be a french horn or two in there somewhere! :-) ...

 

 (French Horn Cufflinks by timemonogram)

      And you know I LOVE flowers!!!!! :-) Especially pretty jewelry shaped into flowers!!!...

 (18K white gold Flower Rose Diamond Engagement Ring by BeautifulPetra)

      Well, if it's wrong to like a lot of different pretty things...especially pretty flower jewelry....then I don't wanna be right! ^_^

      Okay...enough about Etsy. Let me tell you what I created last night!...I finally finished the other black hooded scarf I was working on. YAY! I'm making a black flower brooch pin for it right now.
      And I also created some more of these! :-) ...
 

      My famous...because I say they're famous! ^_^...peanut butter chocolate chip coconut  almond cookies!!!...

      I made about 5 dozen of them last night! :-) It almost turned into a 'dough-disaster', because about half-way through the cookie caper I realized I only had half of the butter I needed to make them!! O_O
      Thanks to a couple of good neighbors it didn't turn out to be a disaster. And, in fact, I built some stronger bonds with the neighbors! ^_^ One loaned us butter, but it wasn't in a stick. It was a tub. And it was 'light' butter. O_O Thank you good neighbor, but uhhhhhh...'light' butter in my cookies, and me trying to figure out how much 'light' butter to measure into how many 'light' tablespoons......No!!!! LOL It was too much figuring for this tired cookie-craving brain to do!! LOL
      I had to borrow a 'stick' of 'regular' butter from another neighbor...in exchange for a dozen cookies to all neighbors involved!! ^_^ 
 

      It worked. And we all have cookies this morning!! ^_^ I was too tired to take pictures of the cookies after I sugar-forked the top of them, and after they were done a baking. But trust me...it was done!! ^_^ I only wish you could smell my house this morning!!!!

      Okay....no more pretty things, cookie-talk, or tea! But I do have tons of falling rain...and a poem.....and lots of milk! :-)) Have a good day, Everybody! ♥

Build

You can build a reputation,
build a fire, build a stair;
You can build a neighborhood,
build a table, build-A-Bear!

You can build a layered cake,
build some buildings, build a boat;
You can build a website business,
build relationships remote.

You can build vocabulary,
build up friendships old and new.
Build up globe-ular relations
if you really wanted to.

You can build upon your knowledge,
build a table, bridge, or train;
build a step into the future,
or just shelter from the rain.

You can build an awesome snowman,
and not waste him. Make a cone!
Or can build up folks around you,
so they never feel alone.

All this building talk,
shows the things that you can make
if you build a wordy poem...
and you also stay awake!

Etsy 'Cuties'........As Promised!

 (Fine art photograph of the Jardin du Soleil lavender farm in Sequim, Washington, in late afternoon light by klgphoto)

      As the weather men promised, the rain came in overnight....and it kept coming.....and coming! It rained all morning today, right into the afternoon. It's still coming down full-force right now, and is suppose to continue until after 8p.m.!!! O_O...Ugh! It's been dark skies and chilliness all day! Thanks, Mr. Rain!!! Grrrrr!

      That's why the beautiful beam of sun coming up over the lavender field in the header photo I'm sharing today caught my eye!...Thank you, Etsy shop owner! :-)

      Also, as promised, here are the Etsy 'cuties' I mentioned yesterday that I wanted to show you today!...

 (Owl Phone Case by GalaBorn)

      When I saw this owl case (above), my mind went into "You-Think-You're-So-Funny!' mode. Why?...Because the first thing I thought was: "How cute!! Now, with it in this case, if your phone rings, you can think: 'Who...?' and look at your phone and see: 'Hoo' it is!!" :-)) ... Okay!...so it wasn't that funny!! ^_^ But it 'is' cute!!

       And speaking of cute, below are the other 'cuties' I mentioned! :-) I'm not gonna do a lot of talking about each one...but you know I 'could'!! ^_^ Just enjoy!!...

 (Lace Crochet Shawl Pattern by PatternsDG)

 (Tweed Cat Wallet by RachelaPiras)

(Eastern Red Cedar Wood Soap Dish by RickysHandiwork)

      I finished a black scarf early this morning, and I'm working on a black hooded cowl wrap right now. Then it'll be baby hats galore! :-] ... 'Big Head' baby hats! LOL I found out yesterday that a two-year-old toddler's head is 90 % the size of what it will be as an adult!!! O_O AMAZING!!!!...And my facebook friends agreed with this!!! ^_^ ...Well... it explains a lot!.....For instance, the reason they're called 'toddlers'!! LOL The size of that head could be the reason they're toddling!!!!......well......I'll leave the rest of the conversation about that right there! ^_^ But.....you can continue among yourselves if you want to!!! LOL

      Me and hubby joke all the time about our 'wobbly-headed' children...children that we don't have now, but that we just know would be 'wobbly-headed' if we had any!! LOL...And don't you dare laugh at our would-be children's inheritance of our big heads either!!!! LOL...I'm just gonna put an extra inch or two on those crocheted baby hats from now on!! LOL

      Okay....carry on! ^_^ And have a good rest of the day, Everybody! ♥

Generosity

Generosity
is what the clouds give to the sky;
It's what a tear gives to an eye;
and why 'Spring' growth knows 'Fall' must die.

Generosity
is when abundance can be good;
and when you give more than you should;
because the world's your neighborhood.

Generosity
is what the flower gives to the bee;
It's what the waves give to the sea;
and it's what you all give to me!