Friday, February 22, 2013

Back to the Blocking...

I've fallen behind with getting my snowflakes and stars blocked.  Imagine that!
So...a little bit ago, I got in and starched 10 more snowflakes and pinned them out on a piece of purple plastic stuff that Big Daddy found in the garage for me.  With this bigger piece of plastic stuff, I should be able to finish the rest of the snowflakes and stars in the next batch of blocking.  Woo Hoo!

Today's Stash Busters

Since we had that big blizzard come through yesterday, I have enjoyed 2 wonderful snow days here at home.  In fact, they are the first 2 snow days of the Winter for my kids and they have enjoyed not having to get up and go to school.
Today, I found a partial skein of Caron's Simply Soft yarn in Sunshine and decided to make another Everyday Beanie with flower embellishment.  
This would be listed on Stash Buster Project #9.
I also made another Chemo Cap with the partial skein of yarn. 
 This would be listed on Stash Buster Project #10.

Starting Over

 Remember this?  It's the Baby Love Diagonal Baby Blanket that I started.
Well...Tuesday when I was subbing at school in the ISS room (In School Suspension Room), it died a horrible death.  I won't go into details, but the only thing I could salvage was the circular knitting needle.  I was very heartbroke at its demise.  I thought and thought about whether I could possibly save it and no matter how hard I tried, it wasn't working.  So...it's gone.
However, I didn't let that stop me.  I have 2 more skeins of this scrumptious yarn and I restarted the baby blanket again.  :)  It would appear that I'm not one to let it get me down.  :)

Something for me...

I seldom make anything for "me".
Yesterday, I decided it was time to make myself a new hat and scarf.
 For Valentine's Day, Big Daddy bought me some absolutely fabulous yarn that I've been mooning over for a month or more.  He bought 2 skeins each of Caron's Simply Soft yarn in the colors Stick & Stones and Sunset.  I used the Stick & Stones yarn yesterday.  I love the muted colors of it and it's sooooo soft.
 Here's the hat I made.  I used The Every Day Beanie pattern but changed it up a bit because I have a "big" head.  I also added the flower embellishment.  It's not showing up very well in this photo though.
 Here's a better look at the hat.  I just look like "crap".  Oh well.  It's not about me, it's about the "hat".
 Then I made a Curly Fries Scarf to go with the hat.  I LOVE this pattern.  Seriously.  I wore my original Curly Fries Scarf to school Wed. and I was tickled pink to be wearing it.  :)
Here are the scarf and hat together.  The lighting is so bad this time of year.  Sorry.  Crummy photos again.  I even tried using my good camera as well as the camera on the phone.  Nothing was turning out right.  Oh well.  I love these two items anyway.  :)

Last Game

Tuesday night was Big C's last ball game.
Not only was it his last game of the year, it was his last game of his high school career.
In a way, that's sad, if you think about it.
They ended up losing, and his feelings were pretty out there after the game.
It was one of those situations where you just don't talk to him until he can be civil.  Ever have your kids act this way?  It's fairly common for us.  Or at least it happens enough that we are aware of what to do when it does happen.  It's called "keep your mouth shut until he cools down a bit".  lol
 The battery was dead in my "big" camera so I had to resort to the camera on my phone.  Thus, the very "shaky" photos.  Sorry.
Out of the dozen or so photos that I took, only these two were good enough to share.  *sigh*  Such is life sometimes.  Anyway...now that Basketball season is over, it's time to prepare for Track and Spring Baseball Season.  Baseball and Softball are my favorite sports to watch, so I'll be a happy camper again.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Grocery Challenge - Week 8

I've got to get my husband on board with this Grocery Challenge.  I went shopping Tuesday and while I was gone on Wednesday, he went shopping.  So...we are really stocked up on groceries now.  I stocked up due to the approaching blizzard........and so did my husband.  LOL

Week 8:  Feb. 19th thru Feb. 25th


My shopping trip:
1/2 Gallon 2% Milk  $2.41
2 loaves of Whole Wheat Bread  $3.18
Creamy Peanut Butter  $1.79
4 cans of Crushed Tomatoes  $4.76
2 cans of mixed fruit  $2.00
4 cans of Peaches  $4.00
9 (2 liters) of soda  $13.50
Kraft Singles  $2.19
Green Onions  59 cents
Celery  59 cents
2 packages of generic pop tarts  $2.00
Welch's Grape Jam  $1.69
Jumbo Hot Dogs  $1.00
Baby Carrots  $1.00
Head Lettuce  $1.49
Produce  $1.00
Boneless Pork Chops  $5.83
Butterfly Pork Chops  $5.03
Country Style Pork Ribs  $6.55
Pork Loin Roast  $5.52
Pork Loin Chops  $3.46
Pork Loin Chops  $2.97
Boneless Rump Roast  $4.74
Boneless Rump Roast $6.84
2 gallon Freezer Bags  $2.00

Total (including tax)  $93.18

My husband's shopping trip:
18 pack eggs  $2.07
2 pkgs.  Kraft Singles  $4.38
2 containers of cottage cheese $3.00
2 pkgs.  Toaster Strudel  $5.00
Steak Sauce  $1.00
2 boxes saltine crackers  $2.78
Apple Juice  $2.39
Blended Veg. Oil  $1.99
Brown Sugar  $2.99
Coffee Creamer  $2.59
6 (2 liters) of soda  $9.00
2 Lay's Chips  $5.00
Cereal  $1.79
Cereal  $1.79
Maxwell House Coffee  $7.99
Bread  $1.69
Country Style Pork Ribs  $6.39
Ground Chuck  $7.45
Ground Chuck  $8.01
2 pkgs. Oscar Mayer Bologna  $1.96
Boneless Pork Loin Chops  $3.96
Boneless Pork Loin Chops  $3.07
Boneless Rump Roast  $6.60
Boneless Rump Roast  $6.01
Whole boneless pork loin  $17.55
10 lbs. potatoes  $1.89
1 1/2 lbs.  onions  $1.83
Tall Kitchen Trash Bags  $3.27
Paper Plates  $4.23
Trash Bags  $10.99
Dawn Dish Soap  $2.79
???????  $2.59

Total (including tax)  $151.20  Wow!  Wow!  Wow!  $169.38 over budget  for the week. *sigh*sigh*


Menu Update

This should have been posted days ago.  Sorry it's so late.  I really need to sit down and figure out my menu ahead of time (like I used to).  I'm so off-kilter these days.

Sat., 2/16 -  Soft Taco's
Sun., 2/17 -  Leftover Night
Mon., 2/18 - Chicken Nuggets and Potato Wedges
Tues., 2/19 -  Ball Game Night - we ate at the Burger Bar
Wed., 2/20 -  Roast, Potatoes & Carrots in the crock pot
Thurs., 2/21 - Hamburger Steak & Baked Potatoes

Grocery Challenge - Week 7

I'm sorry that I'm so late in posting this.  I took my husband shopping with me on one of the trips and my budget suffered for it.

I also want to add that I normally don't buy all these bags of chips, snacks, etc..  The kids have had a lot of company lately and I felt the need to stock up on quick snacks that they can grab and take to where they are watching movies.  I also bought some individual snacks for Small T to take in her school lunches.  The Gatorade is also something I never buy but with the stomach virus's that have been going around, I figured we could stand to have some in the house.

Week 7:  Feb. 12th thru Feb. 18th

Trip #1
Mild Salsa  $1.98
Mild Taco Sauce  $1.78
Sugar Free Individual Lemonade Packets  $1.74 x 2 =  $3.48
Fat Free Refried Beans  $1.25
Ortega 40% Reduced Sodium Taco Seasoning Packets 4 x 68 cents = $2.72
Regular bagels  $1.48
Onion Bagels $1.48
8 pack Gatorade 2 x $5.48 = $10.96
Lunchables 4 x $1.58 = $6.32
Shredded Lettuce $1.58
Philadelphia Cream Cheese $1.98
Philadelphia Fat Free Cream Cheese $1.98
Lipton Onion Soup Mix  $1.28
Kraft Simply Sour Cream  $2.00
Kraft 2% Singles  $4.28
Flour Tortillas $1.96
Peaches & Cream Instant Oatmeal Packets $1.62
8 pkgs. SF/FF Jello  $4.00
2 cans Fruit Cocktail $1.96
2 cans Pineapple $1.96
2 cans Peaches $1.96
Onions 75 cents
Tomatoes 91 cents
Tortilla Chips  $1.50
Doritos  $2.98
Ruffles $3.98
Individual Packages of Goldfish Crackers $4.48
Individual Packages of Cheez Its  $4.50
24 ct. Bottled Water  $3.28
3 pack of SF Spearmint Gum  $2.00

Total (including tax) $86.68

Trip #2
2 packages of Taco Shells $4.18
Ground Chuck $6.54

Total (including tax)  $11.20

Trip #3 (I didn't know anything about this until my husband confessed that he went shopping without me.)
French Onion Dip  $1.50
1 pkg. Ore Ida Crispy Crowns  $2.50
1 pkg. Ore Ida Texas Crispers  $2.50
2 pkgs. Ore Ida Crinkle Fries  $5.00
2 pkgs. of cookies $7.00
Cheese Curls  $1.77
Hamburger Buns $1.25
2 (2 liters) of Diet Soda  $2.38
2 (2 liters) of Diet Sierra Mist Natural $3.00
Doritos  $2.99
2 (2 liters) of Dr. Pepper  $3.00
2 (2 liters) of Diet Mt. Dew  $3.00
Lays Chips  $4.29
Ruffles Chips  $2.99

Total (including tax)  $45.10

Grand Total for the week $142.98.  Wow!  That's $67.98 over budget.  *sigh*

Stash Buster Project #15

I started working on a few granny squares yesterday.  I used 4 smallish sized balls of yarn out of my stash.  They are all Red Heart WW yarn and the colors are Light Blue, White, Delft Blue and Bright Yellow.  I used a size I crochet hook.  The pattern is just a basic granny square but I only worked 2 rounds.  I cut up an old white t-shirt for the inner cushion, sewed the edges together (leaving an opening for stuffing), turned it right side out and stuffed it with fiberfill, then sewed it closed.  After that, I used a single border of sc sts to sew three sides of the crocheted pieces together, inserted the cushion, then finished sewing the pieces closed.
 Here's the front.
And here's the back.
This cushion makes the 15th project of mine in the Stash Buster Challenge.  :)
It's one of my "stay inside and watch it snow" projects that I finished today.

Snow

Yes, we have snow.
 View off my front porch.
 Same view, just a bigger area.
 I have 2 kids out in the country at a friends house.  This is a photo of us coming BACK into town.  Can you see the snow coming down?
Our main street through town.  Yes, it's been plowed.  Multiple times, in fact.  It's just drifting so quickly that the road doesn't stay clear.
This is why we didn't have school today.  It was our FIRST snow day of the school year.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Blizzard Coming...

If you don't see me for a couple of days, don't worry.  We've got a blizzard coming in.  Up to 12 inches of snow by tomorrow afternoon with some sleet and freezing rain thrown in as well.  School has already been cancelled so hopefully we'll keep the cable, internet and phones as well as the electricity and gas working.  I'll check in as soon as I can.  Until then, have a happy Thursday everyone!

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Free Pattern - Curly Fries Scarf - Stash Buster Project #14

Ok...I have to admit it...I love Curly Q scarves but it is so hard to find one that I look good wearing.  You see, I'm a plus-sized woman and very picky (and sometimes, self-conscious) about what I wear.  After the previous FAIL in making a Curly Q scarf, I reworked the scarf yesterday and now I LOVE it!
 This is my favorite way to wear it.
If I'm going to wear it like this, I need to make it a bit longer.

Here's how I made the scarf:

Curly Fries Scarf

This is a tightly curled scarf that has a smaller curl circumference.

Simply Soft yarn (or any other Worsted Weight yarn) - I used the color Grey Heather out of my stash  ((I used less than a whole skein of it...about half or so))
size I crochet hook

ch 200.
1- Hdc in 3rd ch from hook. Work 2 more hdc in same ch. *work 3 hdc in next ch, repeat from * across. ch 2, turn.
2- Work 2 hdc in each st across.  Finish off, weave in ends.


Update - Baby Love Diagonal Baby Blanket

The Baby Love Diagonal Baby Blanket is coming along nicely.
I currently have 90 sts on my circular needles.  I need 207 before I start decreasing.
I managed to work 15 rows on it this morning.  :)
I love the name of this blanket, but boy...it's a mouthful when you try to say it.  :)

Black Posh Poncho (stash buster)

Last night, I finished another Posh Poncho.  This is one Black.  I used Simply Soft yarn and an F hook.
The Watermelon Posh Poncho was Project #13 of the Stash Buster Challenge that I'm doing.  This poncho was made with yarn out of my stash as well and therefore, is a Stash Buster too!

Monday, February 18, 2013

My Crafty Weekend

Even though we were busy over the weekend, I managed to do a few things.
 Friday night and Saturday morning, I worked up the flower embellishments for the Every Day Beanies that I have been making.  I sewed the flowers on and added a pretty button to the middle.  I had Small T and Erica take some photos of themselves wearing the beanies, but they were messing around a lot and the photos aren't that great.  Oh well.
By the way, this is how I make the flowers:
 For the roses, I chained 40.  Then, sc in the 2nd ch from hook.  Ch 2, sk 1 st, sc in next st, all the way to the end.  Then, *ch 3, in the ch 2 sp work (5 tc, sl st), repeat from * all the way across.  At the end, leave a really long tail of yarn for sewing the rose together and then sewing it to the headband.  When you put the rose together, just start with one end and keep curling it around until you like the way it looks.
This is a horrible photo but at least it shows Small T modeling the green hat.
 Yesterday, I started a knitted baby blanket.  I'm using the Baby Love Diagonal Baby Blanket pattern off of the Lion Brand website.  You can find the pattern here.  The yarn I'm using is Simply Soft in the color Sunshine.  The knitting needles are a size 9.
I also started another Posh Poncho yesterday.  I'm using Simply Soft yarn in Black and a size G hook.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

(((FAIL)))

I've been working on a pattern today.  For a Curly Q Scarf.  Then, disaster strikes!
1)  I ran out of yarn.
2)  Small T said she HATES it!  And that I should rip it out ASAP.
So...this scarf has been frogged.
*sigh*
There went a lot of work.
If anyone does like the scarf, here's what I did:  ch 200.  DC in 3rd ch from hook.  Work 2 DC in same sp.  Work 3 DC in each ch to the end.  Ch 3, turn.  Work 2 DC in each st to the end.  Fasten off.  Weave in ends.  ((I used Caron's Simply Soft yarn and a size F crochet hook.))

Winter Semi-Formal

Tonight is the Winter Semi-Formal at school.
 Small T and Hayden.
 A full body shot of them.
Erica, Small T and Haleigh.
Big C and Kelsi are DJ'ing the dance tonight, so no photos of them dressed up.  They are very casual in shorts and t-shirts.  :[

Posh Poncho - Stash Buster - Project #13

Yesterday, in the early evening, I had Big Daddy take me to see my niece, Pattycake.  She's a real sweetheart and also a very willing participant when it comes to modeling my crochet items.  She LOVED the Posh Poncho and I took several photos of her modeling it.
 Here she is....in her first pose.
 A bit of a twirl.
 A small nod to the crowd.
And the grand finale.
The pattern for the poncho is a free one and can be found here .  
I used Caron's Simply Soft yarn in Watermelon and a size F crochet hook.  
(Pattycake wears a Girls Size 8 in clothing and this fits her perfectly. )
I used about half of the skein of yarn to make this, which makes it a good project to use up those partial skeins.  It was also a quick project and took about 2 1/2 hours from start to finish.
I used yarn from my stash to make this, which makes it my Stash Buster Project #13!  :)  I can see myself making a few more of these for the nieces.

In The Kitchen

This morning, Small T is in the kitchen (again).
This time, she's learning how to fry bacon.  
A useful skill, indeed.
Who says she can't cook???
Well, she's learning.  :)  LOL

Blooming Flower Cushion - Stash Buster - Project #12

Well, I finished the Blooming Flower Cushion yesterday evening.  My sister cut out two circles of black fabric (out of her stash) for me.  I sewed them together, stuffed it with fiberfill, and crocheted the two halves of the cushion together, and here it is.........all pretty on my couch.
I'm not much on the color scheme....Pretty N Pink (hot pink) and Black, but everyone else seems to like it.  The yarn is Red Heart Super Saver and I used a size I crochet hook.
The pattern is off of the Attic 24 blog and can be found here .
This is another stash buster project for me as well as being something I can mark off of my list of "want to make" items.  I like this well enough that I will probably make another one as well.  

Sugar Cookies

Small T has ventured into the kitchen again.  This time to make sugar cookies for her "not a boyfriend" as part of his Valentine's Day gift.  She started them on Thursday, but due to time constraints and extra-curricular activities, she wasn't able to finish them until after school yesterday (before the bus left for the ball game).  I think she did a really good job and the only thing I helped with was the icing.  I made that just because she needed to get ready to leave.
If you don't know much about Small T, let me say this....she's not had a lot of experience in the kitchen.  I try to get her in there, but she's not interested.  When she does take the notion that she wants to make something, well....we do it, no matter what.  I think she's able to bake chicken, make a grilled cheese, cook Ramen Noodles (sort of), bake a frozen pizza (if there's someone around to take it OUT of the oven), etc..  I ended up getting quite tickled at her yesterday when she was telling about some of the friends giving her heck over baking cookies for Hayden.  I guess it was a conversation stopper at the lunch table as everyone was shocked to hear that she was in the kitchen.  While she was telling me about this, she makes this statement, "I don't know why they were giving me heck.  In fact, I fancy myself as more of a baker, not a cook."  Now...this may not seem funny, but honestly, the way she said it, and the fact that she just doesn't cook (or bake), was hilarious.  However, my laughter was contained INSIDE my body.  I wouldn't want to hurt her feelings.  Nope.  No Way.  Anyway, the cookies were made and they were great!  I've even got the recipe out to share.

Sugar Cookies
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. powdered sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour

Cream butter.  Mix in powdered sugar.  Add egg and vanilla.  Blend.  Add flour, a bit at a time, until mixed in.  Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for 2 to 3 hours.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness on a floured surface.  Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut out cookies.    Place cookies on greased cookie sheets and bake for about 8 minutes.  You do NOT want to let these cookies get brown on the edges.  Remove to a wire rack to cool.

Icing
1 Tbsp. butter, softened
1 capful of vanilla
1 c. powdered sugar
small bit of milk to make it creamy

Mix it all together.  It makes a very thin icing.  If you want it thicker, just keep adding powdered sugar.

**We placed wax paper under the wire racks of cookies before icing them.  Then, Small T spread the icing on the cookies.  The extra icing dripped off onto the wax paper.  No mess to clean up.**

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Current Crochet Projects

Today, I'm working on...
 A girl's poncho...
and a pillow.
I have both sides of the pillow done, I just need to make an inner cushion for it.  I will be working on that either tomorrow night or on Saturday.  I will post a photo when it's completely finished.

Menu

Tonight, we had French Toast for dinner.  It was just Big Daddy and I and that's what he wanted.  Simple and Quick.  I like those kinds of meals.

Tomorrow, we are having Pulled Pork Sandwiches (in the crockpot) with an undetermined side dish or two.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Christmas Baubles - Stash Buster - Project #11

Today, I've been working on busting some of my Simply Soft yarn stash.  
I made 6 colorful Christmas Baubles.  These are Stash Buster Project #11!  Woo Hoo!!!
 The pattern for the baubles is a free one and can be found here on the Greedy For Colour blog, which is one of my absolute favorite blogs.
I used a size F crochet hook for the baubles and a size B for the toggles.  My toggles were also made using a size 3 metallic string.  I can't tell you the exact name as I no longer have the label.  Sorry.
I enjoyed making these and that's one more project I can mark off my "want to make" list.  :)

A Stash Photo

I thought I would share a quick photo of my stash of Simply Soft yarn.  The bag is filled with whole and partial skeins as well as a gallon baggie of small balls of bits and pieces of this yarn.  I really enjoy working with it and just this morning I took it all out of the bag to organize (and admire) its loveliness.  I think it's wonderfully soft and some of the colors are just gorgeous!

White Knitted Baby Blanket

Within the last hour, I finished the White Knitted Baby Blanket.  Yep, the one that I've been slowly working on for over a year now.  I think it's actually the perfect size for a Lovey Blanket instead of being a bigger sized one.  This blanket has been claimed by Small T for her future children.  :)  Imagine that.  Probably because I seldom do any knitting and she had better latch onto it while she can.  
 Here's the blanket, all folded up, on my project notebook.
And here it is all stretched out on my carpet.  The color isn't showing up well, as usual, and that's probably because I used my cell phone to take the photo.
This blanket was made using Lion Brand Pound of Love in White.  I used less than half of the skein of yarn.    And I used size 9 circular knitting needles.  If I remember correctly, I cast on 100 stitches for this blanket.  Before adding the border, it measured 22" wide and 25" tall.  I added a crochet border of 4 rows of sc.  The entire body of the blanket was done in the knit stitch.

Ripple Baby Blanket

Last night, I finished the latest ripple baby blanket.  I had someone place an order for this, along with specific color requests.  This is made using Simply Soft yarn in Black, Blue Mint and Watermelon.  It took less than one skein each of the Blue Mint and Watermelon and one and a half skeins of Black.  I used an I crochet hook. The pattern can be found on Attic 24's blog.  It's called the Neat Ripple.

Menu

Last night, Big Daddy and I were the only ones at home for dinner due to an away ball game.  So, we had Toasted Tuna Salad Sandwiches (Big Daddy) and part of a frozen pizza (me).  The remainder of the frozen pizza was for school lunches today.

Tonight, we are having Hamburgers (baked in the oven), and Oven Fries.  We're also having celery and carrot sticks and/or peaches with cottage cheese.

Grocery Challenge - Week 6

Week 6:  Feb. 5th thru Feb. 11th

Last week's grocery shopping consisted of:

1/2 Gallon 1% Milk  $2.19
18 ct. eggs  $2.99
1/2 Gallon 2% Milk $2.41
2 cartons of Cottage Cheese (24 oz. each)  $3.58  **on sale for $1.79 each**
Frozen Orange Juice  $1.63
Peaches  $1.53
Pineapple  $1.79
10 (2 liters of Soda) @ 99 cents each
Wheaties cereal  $2.99
Onions 69 cents
Apple Juice  $2.00
Generic Pop Tarts 2 boxes $2.00
Slab of Ribs  $8.51  **on sale for $1.49 per lb.**
Slab of Ribs $5.49  **on sale for $1.49 per lb.**
1/2 of a Bone In Spiral Cut Ham  $8.75  **on sale for 99 cents a lb.**
Toliet Paper (24 rolls)  $5.00
Paper Towels (8 rolls) $3.99
1 lb. baby carrots  $1.29
10 lb. bag of russet potatoes  $1.69

Total Spent $71.75 (including tax)

Monday, February 11, 2013

Crochet Projects (One is a Stash Buster)

Over the weekend, I worked on a couple of different projects.
 Chemo Caps.  (These are Stash Buster Project #10) I used Simply Soft yarn from my stash in the colors Mango and Limelight.
A Ripple Baby Blanket.
This is a request from a family member.
She wanted Black, Bright Blue and Bright Pink in the blanket.  She's getting Simply Soft yarn in Black, Blue Mint, and Watermelon.
I had a little bit of this yarn in my stash, but not enough for the whole blanket, so this is NOT a stash buster project.  Darn it!  Wonder if it could be a half stash buster?  LOL  Just kidding.

Menu Update

Once again, I've been lax with posting my dinner menu's.  Here's what we had the past two days and what we are having tonight.

Saturday- Baked Boneless Pork Chops with homemade Rice A Roni, Peas and Spinach.

Sunday- Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes and Carrots.

Monday (today)- Creamy Broccoli Chicken with Egg Noodles.

Creamy Broccoli Chicken (crockpot meal)
boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I used a 3 lb. package of them)
1 bag of frozen broccoli
2 cans cream of broccoli soup (I used cream of celery since I was out of the broccoli)
1 c. lowfat milk
pepper
cooked rice or egg noodles

Spray the crockpot with non-stick cooking spray.  Put the chicken in the crockpot.  Add the frozen broccoli then the soup.  Add pepper to taste.  Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.  Add the milk 45 minutes before serving.  Serve over rice or with egg noodles.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

The Every Day Beanie - Free Pattern (Stash Buster Project #9)

This evening, I was working on a Chemo Cap for a friend and even though I like the pattern I was using, I wanted something a bit different.  I grabbed my hook, yarn, paper & pen and this is what I came up with.  

(My model is away for the evening so I was stuck trying to take a photo of myself wearing the beanie...it's harder than it looks!)  

The Every Day Beanie - Free Pattern
Simply Soft WW yarn (from my stash of yarn)
J crochet hook
yarn needle for weaving in ends

Ch 5, join with a sl st to first chain, forming a ring.
1- ch 3, 11 dc in ring, join with a sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch 3.
2- ch 3, dc in same sp, work 2 dc in each st around, join with a sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch 3.
3- ch 3, 2 dc in next st, *dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * around, join with a sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch 3.
4- ch 3, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, *dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * around, join with a sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch 3.
5- ch 3, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, *dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * around, join with a sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch 3.
6- ch 3, dc in next st and in each st around, join with a sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch 3.
7 thru 10- repeat round 6.
11- ch 1, sc in next st and in each st around, join with a sl st to beg ch 1.
12 & 13- repeat row 11.
14- ch 1, rev sc in next st and in each st around, join with a sl st to beg ch 1, fasten off, weave in ends.

**Edited to add.....Small T tried this on and says that it is too plain, or perfect for a boy.  So...I need to add some embellishment.  Maybe a flower.  I'll be hitting the drawing board later today to see what I can come up with.  (It's a good thing I have a fashionable teen in my house!)

Senior Night

Last night was Senior Night at the school.  During the last home basketball game, the seniors that participate in sports/cheerleading are recognized.  They have a flower ceremony, a power point presentation and then introduced with their parents.
 This year's seniors.  Yep.  All 5 of them.  We're on the far left.  Horrible photo of me.  Yuck.
 Big C gave the 3 girls t-shirts with their photo on it from "Meet The Wildcats".
 Big C and Coach Meyer.
The Whitney Family (minus Medium J).