That time already.

Well first I'm making a baby hat (done) and blanket for my neighbor who is having a baby (duh) in October. A little boy. Then I'm thinking it is time to start making those Xmas gifts if I want them done on time. Got a whole list this year.
Also, trying to figure out how to tell my dad I won't be coming up this summer. They live out in the country and the bus doesn't stop there now. No planes either. I don't know who can come to pick me up several hours away....dad can't. So maybe over the holidays. Sure is tough when loved ones live away from bus, train and plane stops. LOL UGH, it costs more than going from California to Minessota. What is with that.
Got an email from the White House about the "Health Care" speach, no TV so didn't watch it. I did send them my feelings on the matter and on Social Security policies. Now there is something that needs revamping. I don't mean taking away from either. LOL

Updating Ravelry, blog, Fibro Foggers Forum and other stuff. Over did last few days plus fell yesterday and paying for it today. Not unusual for us Fibrofoggers or for Fibromyalgia suffers.
Didn't get hurt on this fall thank goodness, just a little bruised. Doing o.k otherwise. Doctors are happy with progress, did add meds for sleep. Something I don't get a lot of or well.
Off to choose projects. Have a great day and happy knitting or whatever.

Vacation/Crochet along

I'm back from visiting my daughter in MN and we had the best time ever!!! I'm going to post pictures of the lovely area, family and the things we made. We would have made more but we had some problems interpeting the pattern for the tunic we made. It is a Drops tunic,
they have lovely patterns but are hard to understand. At least some of them.
We would sit on her patio, or go to Carabu Coffee, Star Bucks to have coffee a treat and crochet. It was so much fun to sit and talk, sip our drinks, laugh and crochet. Something we will not soon forget.

I had lots of fun with the boys too. Seeing them graduate was such a thrill. They have grown so, I can't believe these are the little guys I use to play with. We use to setup tunnels made of paper towel holders and run match book cars off the living room table. My daughter said I was worse then them because it was my idea. LOL The fun thing is they remember it and Luke was only 3. What a nice memory!
They have a new dog. A Golden Doodle, it is part Golden retrevier and Standard Poodle. He was a riot! Very smart and learned fast but he had these streaks of being what my daughter called a "monster" just before he would crash for the night. So they would take him to the dog park and wear him out so he would be nice and go to sleep. LOL He would greet us each morning with kisses...I miss that. Or if we went any where he would greet us so sweetly.
My son-in-law and I got to share morning coffee and chat. We went shopping together too. It was so nice. He can be a real funny guy, he loves his family and my daughter that makes him the best in my eyes. :D
Enjoy the pictures.

Some of the Best Times.

My son and his new family are moving into their house next week. They won't be starting with much in the way of household goods and furniture. They just bought the house and since he lives and works on the road as a truck driver he gave up most of his things about two years ago. She is keeping it light so the move doesn't cost so much. My son and I have started over more times then we care to think about however, some of the best times I remember was when we had very little.

My youngest daughter was conceived while sleeping on the floor because we wanted the kids to have beds. Doesn't sound so important but "9" doctors had told me I'd never get pregnant again. Hmmmm, guess they don't know every thing. This was during the time when people thought it was important to tell everyone how their homes were decorated. Was it Early American, Contemporay, Modern, extra well we use to tell everyone we had "Early American Cardboard Box", I had taken large boxes and made a table, chairs to sit on, coffee tables and when they wore out we just went and got more....at no cost. I put dollies, scarfs and table cloths on them. It looks real nice and homie.

They were good times, we laughed alot, was healthy, had a roof over our heads, food in our bellies and plenty of love. What more could one have....stuff just stuff. We were happier than most of our friends and family who thought they had it all.

Today, the 18th. Update

Updating blog, other things I belong to like dish cloth club, ringnet, checking emails, waiting more instructions on new cloth for the mid-month project. Hands are very shaky today, I guess it could be the cymbalta but it causes my cursor to jump from where I want it. LOL That takes getting use to since I have been on computers since 1978. Always something new to get use to but guess that is life.
I really like the new pattern we are doing. I want to use it on my son's afghan. Nice pattern for a man or anyone. The instructions were a little confusing but once I worked it out it is lovely. I will put pictures up when it is completed. I have other pictures to share as well.

I got a new camera so the pictures will be more clear and larger. If it isn't clear it is due to my shaking hands and I can't help that. Sorry.

I sent my daughter the yarn for our knit along for my trip to her house. We have several we want to do but probably will only finish one as I'm only there 3 weeks. She wants me to help her learn the stitches for a crochetted tunic. Click on link on the right for these patterns they are free.
http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/visoppskrift.php?d_nr=99&d_id=4&lang=us#

we also want to do http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/visoppskrift.php?d_nr=65&d_id=9&lang=us#

Another one we want to do and I plan on doing next is:

http://www.elann.com/ShowFreePattern.asp?Id=227024

It is so pretty!!!
Well happy knitting/crochetting and have a great day.

Is it FMS, Arthritis or what?

I saw my rheumatologist Friday my knee has been bothering me and he has been giving me cortisone and torridal shots in the knee to help with the inflammation and pain. However, since this shot only lasted a couple of weeks he is having an ex-ray taken and will more than likely send me to an Orthopedic Surgeon for consultation. The rheumatologist said I may have to have ultraskopic surgery or a knee replacement. I told him my hands had been hurting me more than usual too. They hurt when I do my needlework and use the computer or play the DS games. Using the computer or knit/crochet never bothered me much before. I thought it might be the arthritis but he said he thinks it may be the FMS. I looked at him and said, “You know I can’t tell any more if my problems and pain is from the FMS, Arthritis or my spine. He said most of the time he can’t either he has to just treat one and if it works we got the right one if not we try one of the other treatments for the other problems.
I should be use to this but I am not. They waited months to do my last back surgery because I have so many problems in my spine they needed to know which was causing the most problems because they can’t Fix it ALL. UGH. Of course, now I also have problems with scar tissue as well.
I have felt better these last few weeks than I have felt in months probably years. Even my family notices the difference. Now this. I kind of knew or suspected this would be the case with my knee one day but not this soon. What I didn’t expect was the urologist telling me I had to have a 3D cat scan of my kidney to see if I have more stones or scar tissue for the last stone and blockage. It will also tell him if the kidney has gone to normal size or not. Back in Oct of 2008 I had a 10mm kidney stone that had to be removed. Apparently I had had it for a while but because I have back pain never felt it until it was way low. The stone had blocked the kidney so it had swollen past normal size. I guess they are thinking since the kidney didn’t go to normal size after the stone was removed it may have scar tissue blocking it from draining normally. Now I wasn’t prepared for that and could feel my whole demeanor change. I was very cranky the next day. I decided I’m not going to worry about it and I won’t let them do anything until I return from my trip. PERIOD!! I haven’t seen my daughter, grandsons and son-in-law in at least 4 years. So I’m’ going. I need to go.
My weekend was good. I watched my other grandson’s all weekend and they were prefect. Yes, they seem to feel o.k. LOL It was very nice and we enjoyed each other. They took turns playing a game they all like, then one played on his computer and the other is building a Lego tower. I worked on this mid-month dish cloth and played on my computer, fixed the lunch and laughed with them.
I’m not looking for sympathy I just want people to know that those of us who look perfectly healthy may not be. I’m not. I’m not dying but I have problems even though you can’t see them. I even have a handicap placard I don’t need people giving me attitude for using it or moving slow, crossing the street slow. I do the best I can and if you can’t see it I can’t help you. After all stupid doesn’t show either.

Newest Dish Cloths

The newest dish cloths from Monthly knit along. I like the lips.

Catching up to Monthly Dish Cloth group. We have 2 a month. I joined the end of April. Blue is mid-month April, orange is solid same one and then first one for May. I have Jan. done but have to take pictures. I really like this group it is fun and the particapation is excellant. I'm learning new stitches, techniques and patterns. A fun fast way to learn and make new friends.

May 5th How I'm celebrating.

Now that my garden is done and my gate is up, thanks for my grandson Brenton I am now ready to finish my spring cleaning. So today I will clean house, put up photos, return cable box and work on dish cloths for the club I belong to.
I joined the Monthly Dishcloth Kal club on yahoo. I love this site as everyone works hard to do the patterns and help one another. We learn a lot of new stitches and so far haven't repeated a pattern. We do two patterns a month, the first usually has something to do with the season or holiday in that month. I can't say enough about this group how much I like it. Yes, I know you are thinking what will you do with all those dishcloths. Well, I crochet a box and put several of the dishcloths in it along with hand lotion, or bath products and give them as gifts. My family and friends love them. The dish cloths are wonderful; I sware they are almost imposible to wear out. In this economical time where we want to save money, well they cost very little to make and you won't need very many or have to replace them any time soon. They are not only good for the kitchen but bath as well. I have friends and family who refuse to use them for the kitchen but like to remove makeup or use them in the bath or shower. I used an older one along with other products to clean the apartment I moved from, I was tired of that one I had it for 6 years. I couldn't wear that cloth out, I still have it and use it for a cleaning cloth. Hey, I used it with bleach and other hard chemicals one can barely tell it, it is only a little faded.
The other great thing, learning all those cool patterns and stitches. I already have some I'm going to incorporate into afghans. Some of the characters worked into the patterns made me laugh, they are so cute.
I will be including pictures later. I got a new camera, woohoo! Clear pictures and video! Got to love that, my old camera and my phone camera do not take good clear pictures and the video is to dark and blurry as well. I need the holder for the scan disk that goes into the computer so I can put the photos/video onto the computer. It is always something it isn't?
Welcome to Ravelry friends who are watching my blog and twitter sites, also to dishcloth club members/friends as well as my family and friends. :D
Since I woke up at 3am I either need a nap or coffee. So I'm off for now. Happy Knitting and have a great day.

Sunday May 3

This morning I welcomed my upstairs neighbors and gave Varone a bottle of bubbles and taught him to say bubbles. His parents invited me in for Arabic Coffee and chocolate which was very good. I taught them two new words and they taught me two words: give and slow.
Later my grandson and I put together an Arbor with a gate for my patio. While we rested we watched a movie then I took him home. I finished my rose garden by adding manure, banana and bark. Was a very good day pictures to follow later.
Now I'm going to knit the newest dish cloth from the dish cloth club and watch TV.

Sunday April 26-2009

Just enjoying a nice Sunday at home. Had the boys awhile, crocheting and now updating blog and other stuff. Thought I'd share picture of my organized yarn...I like this better than the tubs. Looks nice and is easier to see the yarn, color and how much I have.
Also, finished my first discloth for the knit-along dishcloth club I belond to, it is the Mid-April-2009 called April Showers. A solid color would show the pattern better.

Her is a close up hope it shows o.k.


Took the boys to the park to ride their scooters and a young lady asked me what I was making. We talked for awhile. It is so cool when I'm asked about my needlework and love it when it is someone younger.
Have a great one.

Sunday April 26-2009

Just enjoying a nice Sunday at home. Had the boys awhile, crocheting and now updating blog and other stuff. Thought I'd share picture of my organized yarn...I like this better than the tubs.

Update

Spring cleaning and decorating apartment. I've been very busy and had no time to update the blog.
I have been trying to find a way to keep kids out of my yard so I can decorate it and not get my things broken. Just a little guy, mom should watch him better but she is to busy listening to her music or yelling at hubby. Kids having kids what can I say. Can't talk to them as they don't speak English. Poor kid starts school next year, maybe he will teach them how to speak English? I can't speak their language. Aribic. They are nice we just can't really communicate even though we try. UGH.

SwapMeet and more

Well, we got up really early on Sunday, got coffee from the 7/11 headed for the swapmeet. I think we did alright. No not hundreds but we did o.k. and it was worth it. We had fun as well.
We humans never stop amazing me. :D My daughter took a whole lot of books, most brand new never read and people still wanted them for 50 cents. What? I took some knitting needles, straights and a very old set of circular in a case. Now we weren't expecting to get a lot for what we took but wasn't looking to just give them away either. For example: one lady came by and was looking at the needles and ask how much they were. I asked are you asking about one set or all of them? She said all of them. Now I had almost all sizes in the straights; I told her 3.00 for all. Can you believe she walked away?? In the thrift store they want 50cents to 1.00 a pair. I must have had 10 to 12 pair plus the circular. Then a man came by and I watched him as he carefully picked up one needle looked it over, then another. About the fourth time of his doing this I told him I just wanted $3.00 for them all. He said he was interested in knitting but knew nothing about it. I asked if he had a computer/internet, of course he did. I told him about youtube.com and others, game him my email address and told him if he needed help to contact me. He bought them telling me how his wife cross stitches, we shared some stories and as he walked away I GAVE him the circulars. The beaming smile he gave me: Priceless!
A Lady came by and asked my daughter about some of her books, she was selling them for 50cents to 1.50 (1.50 for the ones in sets that were new). Lady bought $30.00 worth and never complained. Others just walked away. No problem she will get more than that as credit at used book store. :D Others thought it was a good deal and she sold about half of them. She had 3 big tubs of books. Woohoo, out of the house.
A young woman and her mother came by bought some things then the mother spotted a doll I had recondioned/repaired. As she gently handled the daughter asked me what I wanted for her explaining her mother never had dolls as a child so she loved them now. I looked at the mother and as I smiled at her our eyes met and we connected instantly when I said "me too". The mother didn't speak english so I explained to the daughter we were poor when I was a child and I had only two dolls during my whole childhood. Now my house is full of them. I GAVE the lady the doll. Again her smile was priceless. Now I have to share a story:
In my 40's I decided to take a course on how to repair dolls. Everyone has always assumed it was to fix collectables and precious dolls. NOT so. When I was a child/teen and adult it uses to break my heart to have a doll break or see someone elses dolls break. Nothing more sad then to look in the eyes of a child just as their doll breaks and no one can fix it. I had only heard of one doll doctor in my whole life. So I took the course and learned to fix all kinds of dolls. My roommates surprised me by fixing up an area in the house just for repairing dolls, they put tools, materials and exam table. :D Then hung a sign saying "The Doctor is In". :D Then nicknamed me "doc4dolls".
OK I'm now older and premitted to tell stories and get off the subject. LOL :D
Back to the swapmeet.
One never knows what they will see there or who they will meet. One may always meet new friends of see old ones. We saw an old friend who obviously didn't remember us. She is getting on in years and I think the memory is going. It was nice to see her either way.
I think the most interesting thing I saw was a man in one of those electric scooters pulling a wagon with another man riding in the wagon. Hmmmm. I wouldn't have thought of that.
Now the big decision: Do I buy something for my apartment since I'm trying to fix it up. I need furniture and nicer storage for needlework, do I buy yarn (woohoo) or something nice for myself. I made my daughter promise to spend hers on herself as she is always buying for the kids. Time to spoil herself a little. :D
That was my Sunday at the Swapmeet.
Happy knitting.

 

This is for a crochet pattern.
Vst= (2trcl, ch3, 2trcl) all in same st.

I was asked for help with the following:

I chained 240,
Rnd1: Ch4, in 5th ch from hook work (tr, ch3, 2trcl, (Vst) twice) all in same ch, skip next 4 ch, (Vst in next ch, skip next 4 ch) 46 times

I was asked to help with these instructions for a mile a minute pattern. I don't know the pattern name but here is a picture presentation and here is my interpetation of the instructions

I believe the extra ch4 is to be your first tripple, not sure why they didn't just say chain 244 but o.k. in the 5th chain from the hook you will, (after chain 240)
Ch4 (counts as a triple) make one triple crochet in the 5th chain from hook leaving the last loop of the triple on hook, make another triple in the same chain, you now have 3 loops on hook, draw yarn thru all 3 loops. When you have completed 2trcl, ch3, 2trcl it will look like a V

best of luck and please let me know if this helped.
Doc4dolls

Sunday Swapmeet

Very busy getting ready to go to the Sunday Swapmeet with my daughter. We have both been cleaning out our homes of stuff we don't need or want any more. I really needed to do this and I'm letting go of things I should have a long time ago. Guess I'm ready now. Also, finally feeling good after a change in medication. No more side effects or very little. Woohoo!!! The new meds are working better.
It was hard to let go of my beautiful suits but I won't be wearing them any more and am ready for things I can actually wear. Get the things I can't or won't out of my closet.
Letting go of some crafts I don't do any more either and won't. I think that was the hardest to let go of. One always thinks I may go back to it. But in this case I haven't done these crafts in years; Punch embrodiery, making doll cloths. I am thinking of getting rid of some of the sewing as well. My feet cramp up when I sew due to the nerve damage in my back so I don't do it much now. Maybe the new meds will change that; we shall see.
I also started a V-neck Shell sweater in a pretty pink. Nice for spring. Finished Tissue roll holder, container for the bathroom
and working on a container to hold my dishcloths . Containers and TP holder are crocheted and the sweater I am knitting. Very cool. The containers make great gifts as one can put dishcloths, wash cloths, creams and lotions for birthdays extra.
Have a happy and safe day.

Painting Dressing Table and More

Well, I finally painted the dressing table given to me by my parents. This table has history at least for me. When we moved into my parents home in 1959 this table had been left behind. I can remember brushing my hair, 100 strokes, each night. My sister and I use to do our hair and makeup at this table. I was nine when we moved in and am 60 now so it is a bit of an anitque. I enlisted the help of my nine year old grandson to help paint it and we had a lot of fun. I only have to finish a small area on the mirror. I want to put a mosaic on the top. No it won't ruin the anitque of it as it is only worth something to me. It was made of many types of wood so I doubt it has value other than memories for me.
My six year old grandson was upset he didn't get to help so he and I painted a little box he and his mother had bought at the craft store. He just loves boxes and puts his little treasures in. He thought it was great to be able to paint his box whatever color he wanted. I mostly watched and did a little touch up. He was very proud. I will post pictures later.

My Premie Hats and my other patterns.

Last year I began making premie hats to donate to charity, well I decided to try my hand at making my own patterns.
Once I figure out how to add a pdf here I will post the patterns.
I also created a breast form for cancer patients but that is still in writing works. Please be patient.

Love Knitting!!

I'm a needle crafter!
I have been knitting for 46 years and love it. I make all kinds of things and have been learning how to do multiple double point knitting. I love the new yarns that are available. Most are soft, some fluffy, colorful and one can make all kinds of things with the new yarns there is always something new to learn and/or to do. New yarns, new patterns are always coming out as well as new techniques, styles and materials. I tried the new needles that light up. Great for in the dark, car or outside on a dreary day but the ones I love are the Harmony wood needles. Yes, they are beautiful but oh my what a delight to knit with. I have to try the crochet hooks now. Thanks to my son I have straights and circular knitting needles...I only use the 14" straight other than harmony because I don't have those...yet.

I also like to crochet. I've made hats, purses, bedspreads, scarf, shawls, shrugs and slippers. I also like to do other things such as: Sewing, I've turned old jeans into vests, sewn clothing for my family, made household decor.
Crafts are fun and therapeutic. It can chase the blues away, help one forget physical pain and you have something wonderful to keep or give away. I'd love to say I make money doing it but so far that is not the case. I love it anyway.