The Gift of a Quilt

My biological father and his wife came down for Easter dinner today.  Dee gave me a surprise gift of a king-sized quilt that she made for my bed.  Big C tried to take a photo but couldn't get everything in it, so this is the best he could do.  Dee hand-quilted this whole thing.  It's so lovely and I'm so lucky to have it!

Doodle

Small T was doodling this morning at the dining room table.  She said this picture is titled "Happy Day".  :)

Update - Granny Stripe Afghan

The Granny Stripe Afghan is growing by leaps and bounds!  I didn't realize it was getting so big.  But, then again, Small T isn't even five foot tall, so it's still got a ways to go before it's finished.  I have to make the afghans to fit the guys in the house too!  lol  I've just started the third pattern section and I've planned five sections if I have enough yarn to do it.  Small T said she really likes this blanket so that's like a "high five" when it comes to her.  She also said that if the Super Fast & Easy Throw disappears it's because she's laid claim to it.  She seldom wants anything I make, so that's like another "high five".  I'm on a roll here.  lol

Sorry...Another Post About My Flowers

I'm loving my flowers SO MUCH!

 The tulips are just GORGEOUS!  In case you don't remember...I love purple.

And the Hyacinth smell WONDERFUL!  So very fragrant!

New Do

Yesterday I got my hair cut and added some highlights to cover all the multiplying grays.  I like it!

Update - Knitted Baby Blanket

I had to get up early this morning and get Small T off to work at the flower shop, so I had plenty of time to sit down and knit.  I knitted 25 rows and finished up the 3rd skein of yarn.  I've added the 4th skein now and knitted one whole row with it.  lol  But, I'm getting closer to finishing this blanket up now.  I think I've given the wrong color for the yarn I'm using.  I'm using Fruit Punch (not Fiesta) in the Red Heart With Love yarn.  I have no idea why I keep calling it Fiesta.  I must be losing my marbles lately.  Anyway, I'm really loving this yarn, as I've said many times before.  lol

Bird House

Big Daddy made a new bird house for the front yard and put it up today.  I'm not liking the green color and I  had picked up a barn red color for him to use, but...he made a management decision, so I'm told, to go with green instead.  *sigh*  Men never listen.  I swear.  Anyway, this bird house will replace our normal feeder that usually sits in this spot.  So now I'm wondering where the feeder will go.  Hmmm.....

An Explosion of Color

I've got an explosion of color on my dining room table today!

 The vibrant purple tulips are opening up nicely!

The light pink of the Hyacinth is looks so pretty and Easter-y today!

Granny Stripe Afghan

This is the current state of the Granny Stripe Afghan.  I managed to add 22 rows to it today.  Not too shabby.  I'd like to have added more though.  That's me...never satisfied.  lol

Today...

 the Hyacinth are starting to bloom....

 and the Tulip buds are starting to open....

and I've managed to work 10 rows on the Granny Stripe Afghan.

Not bad for a Wed. morning.

Pattern

I have the first pattern piece finished for the Granny Stripe Afghan.  I'm estimating that I will work 5 of these pattern pieces for the afghan.  The only color change will be the middle row...the row between the 2 off white rows....and that color will change in each of the pattern pieces.  There are 17 color stripes, 2 rows of each color, for a total of 34 rows per pattern piece.  The color sequence (from the bottom up) is Coffee, Off White, Cafe Latte, Medium Thyme, Ranch Red, Warm Brown, Coffee, Off White, Dark Sage, Off White, Coffee, Warm Brown, Ranch Red, Medium Thyme, Cafe Latte, Off White, and Coffee.

WIP's

Just wanted to share a bit of eye candy.  These are my WIP's.

 The Granny Stripe Afghan.  I'm on row 27.

The Knitted Baby Blanket.  I attached a new skein of yarn yesterday.  I worked 10 rows today (so far) and 5 yesterday, so I'm meeting my daily goal so far.

Grocery Challenge - Week 12

March 19 through March 25

Trip #1:

2 (24 pack) bottle water $2.98 (special text message deal $1.49 each today only)

Total (with tax) $3.11

Trip #2:  (unexpected Parliamentary Procedure meeting at the house for FFA contest)

2 liter Dr. Pepper  $1.69
Pace Salsa  $2.50 (on sale)
2 bags of Santitas White Corn Tortilla Chips $4.00

Total (with tax) $8.56

Trip #3:
3 cans of Cinnamon Rolls $5.37  (on sale for $1.79 each)
3 pkgs. of Kraft Singles  $5.67 (on sale for $1.89 each)
4 pkgs. (8 oz.) Kraft Shredded Cheese  $6.00 (on sale 2/$3)
Choc. Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream $2.50  (on sale 2/$5)
dozen cookies from the bakery  $3.50
2 pkgs. Hamburger Buns $1.76 (on sale 88 cents each)
4# bag of sugar $1.98 (special buy)
3 (2 liters) diet Mt. Dew $5.07 - ($1.69 each)
6 bottles KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce $5.94 (on sale for 99 cents each)
2 bottles Kraft BBQ Sauce $1.58 (on sale for 79 cents each)
Era Laundry Soap (150 oz. jug) $6.99 (special buy)
2 bag bundle of Charcoal Briquettes $6.99 (special buy)

Total (with tax) $56.16

Total for the week (with tax) $67.83

Menu

The past week's dinner menu:

3/19 - Meatloaf, Mac & Cheese, Peas (recipe to follow)
3/20- Breakfast Casserole in the crock pot  (recipe to follow)
3/21-  Frozen Pizza Hut Pizza (from a recent school fundraiser)
3/22- Pulled Chicken Sandwiches, Oven Fries, Cole Slaw  (recipe to follow)
3/23-  Fend For Yourself Night (we were all in different places)
3/24-  Cheeseburgers
3/25-  Grilled Cheese and Tator Tots in the oven  (the kids are off at school functions)

Meatloaf
3 lb. Boston Burger (half beef, half pork)
2 pkgs. cornbread stuffing mix
2 cups water

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Put dry cornbread stuffing mix in a large bowl.  Add 2 cups of water.  Mix it up with your hands.  Add the Boston Burger.  Mix well.

Put a little bit of water in the bottom of the broiler pan and spray the top tray with non-stick cooking spray.  Place the Meatloaf on it and spread it out in a big loaf.  I cook mine for about 1 1/2 hours.  About half way through the cooking, you may need to  cover the top of the meatloaf with foil if it's browning too much.


Breakfast Casserole in the Crock pot
http://www.allkindsofyumm.com/2011/10/crock-pot-breakfast-casserole.html

1 bag frozen hash browns
12 eggs
1 cup milk
1 lb. sausage
salt and pepper
1 lb. of shredded cheddar cheese

Spray the crock pot with non-stick cooking spray.
Spread the hash browns in the bottom.
Crack the eggs in a bowl.  Whisk them.  Add milk.  Whisk again.  Add salt & pepper.  Whisk again.
Brown the sausage.  Drain.
Add the sausage to the crock pot (on top of the hash browns).
Then add the cheese.
Mix it all up.
Pour the egg mixture over it all.  Spread it out evenly.
Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.  After 6 hours, check it to see how it's cooking.  You can always turn it off or turn it to warm so it doesn't over cook.


Pulled Chicken (like Pulled Pork) Sandwiches - Crock pot meal
4 to 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 bottle BBQ sauce
1/2 to 1 can of cherry coke
1/2 c. brown sugar

Spray the crock pot with non-stick cooking spray.  Place the chicken in the crock pot.  Mix the rest of the ingredients together in a bowl and pour over the chicken.  Cook on low for 5 hours.  Remove chicken to a bowl and use two forks to shred it.  Place it back in the crock pot.

Granny Stripe Blanket

I've taken bin of yarn that I separated out of my stash and started a Granny Stripe Blanket.  After plotting out several stripe patterns and hoping that I have enough of a couple colors of yarn, I have come up with a possible pattern for the blanket.  I'm hoping it works out, if not...oh well.  This photo shows what I had done    on the blanket as of about an hour ago.  I have started another color since then.  I'm using the Granny Stripe pattern off the Attic 24 blog.  You can find the pattern by clicking here .

Update - Knitted Baby Blanket

After taking a couple of days off from my knitting, I picked it back up tonight.  After attaching the third skein of yarn, I knitted five rows on the blanket.  I've set this as a goal for myself....knit five rows a day.  Hopefully by setting this goal, I will get this blanket done in a timely manner instead of having it lie around waiting on me to pick it up again.  Besides that, I'm already planning the next knitting project for when I get this finished.  :)

Some of my yarn stash...

Speaking of digging through my yarn stash, I sorted out the colors that would go with my living room furniture and put them all in this mesh bin.

I ended up with:

2 full skeins of Cafe Latte

1 1/4 skeins of Ranch Red

3 full skeins of Coffee

3/4 of a skein of Warm Brown

2 full skeins of Medium Thyme

1/2 and 3/4 skeins of Dark Sage

1/4 of a skein of Carrot

3 full skeins of 3/4 of a big skein of Soft White

and 3/4 of a skein of a mystery green color (I think it's some sort of Sage color)

These are all Red Heart Super Saver.

I'm not sure what I'll make with these yet, but I'm leaning towards some sort of afghan for the other part of the sectional sofa.

Touchdown Wristers - Stash Buster Project

I was digging through my yarn stash this afternoon, looking to see what all I had, when I came across the few skeins of Hometown USA yarn that I have.

 There are 2 skeins of Billings Chocolate, 2 skeins of  New York White, a little bit of Virginia Beach (variegated), and a tiny ball of Houston Cream.

 I found out this pattern called Touchdown Wristers from my big pattern pile.

 And made these.  It took me a couple of tries because I have big hands, but this is what I ended up with.  I had to tweak the pattern a bit, but basically used the same pattern instructions.

When I was finished, this is what I had left.  I only used one skein of the New York White. 

Now I need to find another small project to use this yarn on.

This project counts as a Stash Buster Project for me!  Woo Hoo!  :)

It's Finished!

I added the 6th and final skein of Homespun and was weaving in the last "end" as Tony Stewart was hitting Joey Lagano.  I tell ya, Nascar has been good for my crocheting this year already.  :)

 Here it is.  The Super Fast & Easy Throw from the Lion Brand website.  It's doubled over on the back of the sectional sofa.  I think it looks good!  I like the specks of green and red in with the blue.  It can really see these specks when you are close-up to it.

A view from a little bit farther back.

As to the particulars, I used 6 skeins of Homespun in the color "Mission" and a size N crochet hook.  The Homespun was a gift from a friend, so I can't count this as a Stash Buster Project since I didn't already have it in my "stash".  :(  But that's ok.

Update - Super Fast & Easy Throw

What do you do when the Nascar race is on?  You crochet.

I've added a 5th skein of homespun to the Super Fast & Easy Throw.

Woo Hoo!  Get 'er done!

Tulips

Look what Big Daddy bought me!

 I have never seen Tulips grown this way before!

The bulbs are half immersed in water.  That's it.

Wow!  I'm in awe that they will grow like this.

And I can't believe they are going to bloom "Purple".  Love it!

They are a great addition to my little flower garden on my dining room table!

The Eye

See this eye?

Looks ok, doesn't it?

Well, it's got a blind spot, burns, and feels like it's bulging.

After a visit to the doctor and then to the specialist...the diagnosis is....it has the measles.

No kidding!

*sigh*

Will it ever end?

Not for at least another 2 or 3 weeks according to the eye specialist.

Just shoot me.

Girl's Day Out

Yesterday, Small T and I had a Girl's Day Out at our favorite beauty salon.

 Part way through, we were joined by Kelsi.  :)  My favorite girl!

 Small T has a pretty French Manicure.

Small T also picked out the colors for my nails.

I'm sporting a pinkish red color with a sparkly coat on top.

I'm not usually one for color on my fingernails.  I keep that for my toenails in the Summer!  lol  :)

Ruffle Rose Pillow - Stash Buster Project

Yesterday, I finished the back piece (minus the last three rows of the side) to the Ruffle Rose Pillow and started joining the two pieces together.

 This morning, I stuffed the pillow and closed it up.

It's HUGE!

And my kids LOVE it!

Small T used it for hours while watching part of the 1st season of Vampire Diaries.

So...it's a wonderful addition to our household.

I ended up finding 3 skeins of yarn in my stash.  I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn in Frosty Green.  I had enough to do the front piece (it took 2 skeins plus part of the 3rd just for this) and the back piece but not enough to do all the rows of the side.  I'm ok with this because the pillow is really, really big.  I used a whole bag of stuffing to fill it up too.  And it was a 50 oz. bag of stuffing.

I'm proud to list this as one of my Stash Buster Projects!  I'll definitely make more of these pillows.

Guess What....

Yep.  You guessed right.

We woke up to snow this morning!  

*sigh*

And we're sure that Spring is here???

Update - Ruffle Rose Pillow

I finally completed the front piece of the Ruffle Rose Pillow.  By the way, I LOVE it!!!

 I ended up finding a third skein of this color of yarn yesterday in my stash but there isn't a fourth skein available anywhere.  I looked at the Dime Store and at Wal-Mart yesterday and they do not carry this color.  So, I have a couple of options.  First, I use a different color for the back piece.  Second, I use 2 colors for the back piece.  I'm not sure what I will do yet, but I will definitely be using another color of yarn.  I've got to look through my stash and see what I can find.

Hyacinth

Yesterday afternoon, after picking Small T up from school, we took her to the clinic in Brookfield since we couldn't get her an appt. at the clinic here in town.  She had a problem that needed to be seen.  Anyway, while we were in Brookfield, we stopped to pick up her prescription and Big Daddy found this cute Hyacinth.  I've been wanting to buy some bulbs but I would like them already started.  We haven't found any like that yet.  The first thing that has been even close is the Hyacinth.  Needless to say, we bought one of these.  I'm not sure what color it will be but I'll be more than happy to be surprised.  My only hope is that I don't kill it before it blooms!

Bunny Planter

Yesterday, Small T (and the school band) participated in District Music Contest.  On the way back home, they stopped to eat lunch and also had an hour to shop.  When we picked Small T up from school, she said "close your eyes, Mom".  When she told me to open them, I saw this cute little purple bunny planter with the sweet little flowers.  She bought it for ME!  What a sweet girl!  I sure didn't expect her to buy me anything.

Meal Planning (And Grocery Shopping) Made Easy

I have been thinking about writing this post all week.  I'm sure everyone already knows how to do these things, but just in case they don't, I'm going to share how I do it for our household.

Here's what I do each week:
1. Check out what you have in your pantry, freezer and refrigerator before doing any shopping.  I take note of what I have and what I'm running low on or are out of.  With this knowledge, I will be able to plan my meals using some of the items I already have on hand plus it will make it easier to fill out a grocery list as you plan the weekly menu.
2.  Keep a running list of items that you need from the grocery store in a easily viewed place.  I keep my list on the refrigerator door.
3.  Check out the grocery ad. I plan my meals around what I have on hand as well as what is on sale this week.  If it's not on sale or I don't have it, we aren't having it as a meal this week.  Even if it's an item I am out of.  Also, I won't buy an item to restock the pantry, freezer, etc., unless it's on sale.  (This does not apply to the basic staples though.  If I need milk or bread, obviously...it has to be bought.)  I should also add that I have been out of bacon for several weeks now.  But, the sale on bacon has not been a good one.  So...I'm waiting to purchase it until I can get a better deal.
4.  Do you have any coupons for the items you are going to purchase?  If so...I make sure you use them.
5.  If you really don't need much in the way of groceries this week for your meals, are there items on sale at the grocery store that are really good buys?  If so, I try to stock up on those items for future meals.  For instance, Easter is coming up and our store is having some great deals on hams.  I have 2 hams in the freezer, but...I'm going to use one next weekend.  Therefore, if I have the money to buy one, I will do it.
6.  Know the basic meals that you make on a regular basis.  I have a file of recipes that I use over and over again.  I can easily pull this file out when I'm planning my menu and this also makes it easier to add items to my shopping list because I don't have to wonder what I need to make something as I have the recipe right there to look at.
7.  Keep a file of any meals that you are dying to try out sometime.  When something is on sale for one of these recipes, I am more apt to buy it then and try out the new dish rather than buying the items for it when they are more costly.  I've tried out 3 new recipes this week using items already on hand as well as items I had to purchase.  But, the items I had to purchase were a can of cherry coke, a box of stuffing, and a bag of hash browns.

That's pretty much it.  It sounds more complicated than it is.  Really.  Once you get in the habit of doing these things, planning a menu is nothing and grocery shopping is easy.

Ruffle Rose Pillow

Last night, I started making a Ruffle Rose Pillow.  I'm still working on the front of it this morning.  Here's a quick shot of what it looks like so far.  It looks a bit like some alien flora creature or something, doesn't it?  This is going to be a pretty good sized pillow (for my sectional sofa).  I'm using Red Heart Super Saver yarn in Frosty Green.  I'm on the 2nd skein of yarn already and I'm not even finished with the front piece.  I do not have a 3rd skein of this yarn, so I'm hoping I will have enough to finish the front as well as the back piece.  The pattern for this pillow is on the Red Heart website but you can also find it by clicking here .  By the way, I chose this pattern because I liked it's vintage look.  It says that this is an intermediate pattern, but I think it's actually easy to work up.

Basketweave Pillow - Stash Buster Project

Last night, I started making a Basketweave Pillow.

 I finished it this morning.

(here's a close-up view)

I used this pattern by Marty Miller http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basketweave-pillows.

The yarn I used was plain old Red Heart Super Saver in Burgundy.  It took about 1 1/4 skeins of it.  I also used a J hook instead of a K.

The only problem I have with this is that it is NOT a 12 inch square pillow.  I ended up using a 12 x 16 inch pillow from the dime store to stuff it with and it was the perfect size.

Other than that, I love it!  It's going to have a permanent place on my sectional sofa!

This is a Stash Buster Project!!!  Woo Hoo!

Update - Knitted Baby Blanket

I have worked and worked and worked on this blanket today.  I've worked at it so hard that my pinkie finger on my right hand is cramping horribly, but I finished working up the 2nd skein of yarn.  :)  That was my goal for the day.  I'm so glad I made it.  I still had about half of a skein of yarn to work in when I woke up this morning.  But, getting up at 5 am to wake up a kid does have it's perks.  I had 10 rows done by 7 am this morning.  Then, in between household chores, etc., I worked up rows whenever I had a few spare moments.  I think I'll say it again....I'm thrilled with my progress today.  LOL  :)  I'll probably take a break from it tomorrow though and rest my fingers.

Update - Super Fast & Easy Throw

I have added a fourth skein of Homespun to the throw.  :)

Woo Hoo!

Now...as to the quality of the photo.  I was initially upset over the fuzziness, etc., until I realized why it was that way.  It was due to SUNLIGHT streaming in through the living room window.  It's been so long since we've seen actual sunlight like this that I really don't care how bad the photo turned out.  I'm glad that we were able to see some sunshine on this 1st Day of Spring.  Because we had snow flurries this morning and it was 27 degrees when the kids left for school.  Parts of Missouri are getting hit hard today with snow, but luckily we are escaping the worst of it here where I live.

Crochet Tip

I have been crocheting since I was a kid.  I learned through 4-H when I was approximately 10 years old.  I've been through periods of time when I didn't crochet anything, and then periods of time where I crocheted something every single day.  Through all of this, I have learned a few things.  But I still have many, many things to learn.  One of my most useful tips came about just a few months ago.  I've always read where you should use a tapestry needle to weave in your ends.  I've never done that.  Nope, never.  I always worked over the ends as I was crocheting or wove them in with a crochet hook.  A few months ago, I picked up one of my bigger needles and used it to sew something on one of my crochet projects.  Then, I used it to weave in one of my ends.  Ever since then, I've been hooked.  I use it to sew in each and every yarn end now.  The finished product looks so much better and it's way easier to hide those ends.  Not to mention, it's a lot easier too.  This is a very simple tip, but probably my useful one.  Use those tapestry needles!  :)

Grocery Challenge - Week 11

From March 12 through March 18

1st Trip:
18 pk. eggs  $2.24
Margarine Quarters 49 cents (on sale, limit 1)
1/2 Gallon 2% Milk  $2.37
Hashbrowns $3.09
Corn Chips $1.77
2 boxes Saltine Crackers at $1.39 each = $2.78
2 boxes Cornbread Stuffing Mix at $1.69 each = $3.38
Sandwich Bread $1.39
2 (2 liters) Diet Mt. Dew $2.50 (on sale 4 for $5)
2 (3 liters) Generic Soda $1.38 (on sale for 69 cents each)
Maxwell House Coffee $5.99 (on sale for the big can)
2 (24 pack) bottled water $5.38 (on sale for $2.69 each)
Pork Sausage $2.99
2 pkg. hot dogs $1.38 (on sale for 69 cents each)
2 pkg. lunch meat (bologna and cotto salami) $1.98 (on sale for 99 cents each)
1 pkg. gladware containers $1.00
5 lb. golden potatoes $2.00 (on sale)
2 bags Greener Select Salad Mix $3.00 (on sale 2/$3)

Total (including tax) $47.15

2nd Trip:
2 containers Prairie Farm Cottage Cheese $3.38 (on sale for $1.69 each)
1 container French Onion Dip $2.21
1 pkg. Ore Ida French Fries $2.50 (on sale)
1 pkg. Ore Ida Tator Tots $2.50 (on sale)
Lay's Chips $2.50 (on sale)

Total (including tax) $13.68

Total for week $60.83  

Update - Super Fast & Easy Throw

In between laundry, errands and putting dinner in the crockpot, I managed to add a THIRD skein of homespun to the Super Fast & Easy Throw.  :)  I have to add....this skein was a bugger.  I pulled the end out to get started and a HUGE knot (over half the skein) came out with the end.  *sigh*  It took me over 25 minutes to get it all untangled and rolled back up into a ball.  Oh well.  It turned out well in the end.

Knitting Tip

In case you don't know, I'm a beginning knitter.  I'm teaching myself instead of having someone else teach me.  Sometimes this works out ok, and sometimes it doesn't.  This leads me to my "Knitting Tip".  Whenever I have a question about how to do something, I go to You Tube.  I swear, there's a video on there for everything.  So far, this has been working out great for me.  I can see someone else demonstrate how to do whatever I am stuck on and even watch it over and over until I feel comfortable with doing it myself.  In the past month or so, I have looked up the following knitting questions:
1.  How do you "yo" in knitting?
2.  How do you add a new skein of yarn in knitting?
I know that these seem like very basic questions but honestly...I had no idea how to do these things and looking at my "How to Knit" book and reading the directions just wasn't doing it for me.  I couldn't find the answer to either one of these questions in the two books that I have.
So...there's my very first "Knitting Tip".  Hope it helps someone else out.

Menu and a recipe

Here's my last week's menu:

3/11 - Venison Stir Fry (I don't care for venison, so I had a baked chicken breast and a baked potato)
3/12 - I had a broasted chicken so I used the meat for Broasted Chicken Sandwiches and/or a Chicken Caesar Salad
3/13- This was a busy night for us.  We had a quick meal of Hot Dogs and Mac & Cheese
3/14- Take Out Night - Pizza (another busy night)
3/15- Tenderloin Sandwiches (and yet another busy night)
3/16- Kids were gone.  So it was fend for yourself night.  Big Daddy made a couple of corn dogs but burned them.  I had a Grilled Cheese.
3/17- Bacon Broccoli Pasta (recipe to follow).  I cooked.
3/18- Crock Pot Meal - Pork Roast, Carrots, Potatoes with Lipton Onion Soup Mix


Bacon Broccoli Pasta

16 oz. Angel Hair Pasta
1 bunch of fresh broccoli - cut into florets
1/4 pkg. of bacon - cut into pieces
3 tsp. minced garlic
1 c. parmesan cheese (I used fresh)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. margarine (I used light)

Cook the broccoli florets in boiling water until al dente.  Drain.
Cook the pasta in boiling water until al dente.  Drain.  Melt the margarine and add to the pasta.
In a large skillet, heat the oil.  Add bacon and fry until crisp.
Reduce heat to medium.  Add the garlic and stir fry for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.  Add the broccoli and pasta.  Heat for 2 or 3 minutes just to warm everything back up.
Remove from heat.  Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Note:  If the bacon is really fatty, you may have to remove some of the fat from the skillet before adding the garlic.  

Elise Shawl

Small T has her own Pinterest account and once in awhile she will pin a project that she would like me to make.  These projects involve a variety of crafting methods, but she does enjoy a good crochet project once in awhile too.  In fact, the project she most often asks me to make is called the Elise Shawl.  The pattern can be found here .  It's a free Ravelry download.

 I started this shawl last night while watching The Hunger Games movie with Small T.  It's a repetitive pattern and very easy to work once you get the hang the of it.

I finished the shawl this morning and still need to block it out, but it looks pretty good as it is.  (I am definitely blocking it though as she really likes the "points" along the edge.)  

I used a heavier yarn that specified (Simply Soft in Off White - 2 skeins) but it's not overly heavy.  I am actually thinking of making her one using some leftover fingering yarn I have (from a baby blanket project).

This project was another Stash Buster Project for me.  I like that I was able to make this for Small T AND use up some of my yarn stash at the same time!

The Weekend...

It's been kind of a crazy weekend, in a way.  I had unlimited time to crochet or knit, BUT I also had major amounts of itching and scratching going on.  I have to say that the itching brought out the creativity in me though.  It inspired me to work on a couple of things for myself (which I've been putting off).

 First, I took this scarf I made (and didn't end up liking) and ripped it apart.

 I used that yarn to make myself a Slouchy Hat and Curly Fries Scarf.  These will be perfect for the Spring Baseball Season (which starts this weekend).  I'm wearing some of the school colors while rooting on Big C.

 I guess I was acting pretty miserable during the day on Saturday because Big Daddy gave me a pedicure (for the very first time) and he did a great job!  I felt super pampered!  If I had known that all it took to get one of these was a bunch of spots, I might have considered the Three Day Measles earlier in our almost 19 years of marriage.  :)  lol

  Saturday night, I managed to complete another Slouchy Hat using the last of the yarn that Big Daddy bought me for Valentine's Day.  This was the Simply Soft yarn in Sunset.

And on Sunday, I made a matching Curly Fries Scarf to go with the Slouchy Hat.

 Then I made myself another (yes...another) Slouchy Hat using some Simply Soft yarn out of my stash.  The color is Dk. Country Blue.  This is not only something that I've been needing but it's also a Stash Buster Project.  Woo Hoo!

And finally, I was admiring the fading spots last night before going to bed.  I'm so happy to see the spots going away.  However...I'm still itching.  *sigh*  I will be so glad when it's over.  :)