Haggatha's Cauldron

Didn't work

2011-12-14T05:54:00.004-05:00

Well the toviaz didn't work and changing the frequency hasn't worked yet. So now I have to go back and change the frequency again. This is getting to be a pain in the ass. LOL That's funny considering where the interstim is located.

Just upped the dosages on my meds. Seems I'm more of a bitch than usual and that's all part of my illness. Well, I guess that's not too bad considering it's been years since they had to be adjusted. Hopefully I'll be nicer to my poor DH, he seems to take the brunt of my illness.

I started a new diet Monday and still exercising. We'll see if I do better. I so need to lose this weight. I should be walking but it's cold out and I'm just to lazy. I need to get motivated. I'll try.

Well, Christmas is almost here which means another B-day for me. Yup getting up there in numbers. Sa La Vie As for Christmas shopping, I still need to get more gifts. I don't mind, I kind of like shopping. I just don't like the people. I tend to spend too much but I have fun doing it. LOL

My New Year resolutions this year consist of making my self thinner and healthier, and spending more time with my mom. Last years resolution was to exercise and lose weight. Well, I stuck with the exercise even if I barely lost weight. I mean really 15 pounds in a year is shit. Let's face it, I love to eat. So if I have to only complete one resolution, I would say spending more time with mom.

I'm a crummy daughter and need to show her more that I care. She's not gonna be here forever, so I need to enjoy her now. I mean she's a pain in the ass and a bitch to boot, but she's still my mom. I kinda ignored her this whole year which is making me feel like garbage. So maybe her and I could go to the movies, out to lunch, shopping, or whatever once a week. Not only would it be good for me, but I think it would be good for her.

Well, that's it for now. try to come back next week, to keep progress on my dieting and the saga of the pee problem.

Battle of the Bulge

2011-10-09T12:15:00.002-04:00

I didn't weigh myself today, I forgot before I ate and I never do it after I eat. So it will have to wait til next week. I think I did this subconsciously. I mean last week I totally screwed up and I'm still a little scared. Oh well, I'll wait. I did walk Thursday and today. I'm a little sore, but feel good otherwise. I didn't walk Friday because I went to the Urologist instead. I need to get fixed. I am sick and tired of peeing the bed every night and having accidents during the day sometimes. I told him the interstim isn't working any more and he needs to do something else. He gave me Toviaz to try for a month and we're going to change my frequency on the interstim. If that doesn't work, we'll find something else. He promised not to leave me hanging, but explained that my bladder is where it belongs, so it's something else. I feel like a reject.

I think I'll talk David into buying some fish to cook for supper tonight. I feel like fish, I am actually sick of chicken and pork, so maybe a good piece of fish with a salad would be nice. I think that I'll look up some recipes on the computer to find a good one to cook tonight.

I've been crocheting my afghans again. Boy, are they going to be pretty. They're the same style and similar color schemes just one is dark and the other is light. One is for my bedroom and the other for the living room. Can't wait til they're done. I also started on a shawl for myself for sitting in the living room when watching TV, it's lavender and I made up the style. Coming along nicely if I say so myself. Oh yea, I am. :) Not planning on making any tops for a while with the weight loss going on, so when these items are done I think I'll try making some sox. I mean feet stay pretty much the same. LOL

OK, I'm out of here. til next week

Fell off the Wagon

2011-10-05T19:42:00.002-04:00

Well I didn't write on Sunday because I was down on myself for not losing any weight. In fact I didn't even weigh myself this week because all week long I ate out. I didn't follow my diet and I know I either gained or just stayed the same. I am so disappointed in myself. I know better. I was doing so good. Well I'm back to dieting and exercising and trying harder than ever not to go out to dinner. I am just so sick of cooking. I know there is food out there to eat for dieters but when I get in a restaurant I never think diet, I just think food. I can't get too down on myself or I will give up and that is a no no. I need to do this. I want to do this. I can do this.

With the weather getting cooler, I will be walking more. I plan to walk tomorrow. Not sure about Friday, but probably will as I won't be walking on Saturday. Sunday seems like a good day to walk too. I just don't want to over do it but I don't want to sit on my lazy butt either. Why do I make this out to be so hard when in all reality it's not. Well, not that hard. It sure as hell isn't easy. It took me 2 months to talk myself into exercising and now look at me, 5 days a week and I'd go nuts if I miss a day. Now, if I could only be like that for walking. :) I just want to fit in my clothes again. I have some awesome clothes.

I guess, I'll be back on Sunday and have a loss or at least be where I left off. If not, I'm just gonna mark the last week to a giant screw up. And in all reality I know there will be more of those. LOL I am human after all.

two posts in one week

2011-09-28T09:59:00.003-04:00

Wow, two posts in one week. What's up with that? First I don't write for months, then I'm dropping in weekly, and now twice in one week. Something freaky with that. Don't get used to it, eventually I'll forget again, LOL. I just thought I'd share some news. I started walking yesterday. You would have laughed if you could have heard me talking to myself. Thank goodness for my ipod, it looked like I was singing. :) First I started with, "I can't do this, it hurts, I need to stop". Then I'd say; "shut up, you can do this, just keep going". This was just until the end of the road and it's a short road. LOL. I finally made it to the end of the road I was gonna turn around and go back home, you know start small short trips until I could walk longer and farther. Well I kept walking, and walking. I ended up going around the block which is about a half a mile. So it turned out to be a long walk. it was hot so I was sweating like a pig too. I finally got home and wanted to just die, actually felt good, from heat stroke. Well last night I started with mega leg cramps and I still have them today. I think I pushed it just a bit too much. But I don't care, I'll be doing it again on Thursday. I figure I'll walk every other day to start, then go to every day. When that becomes comfortable I'll add more distance. Eventually I'll be walking to and from exercise every day. I should then be dropping the pounds just a bit faster as well as toning up. I so am on a roll right now and even with the winter coming I'm not giving up. I'll just dress comfortable. Yesterday I was weighed and measured at Curves and I've lost 15 pounds and inches. My legs and arms are thinning out. My stomach is going down. Finally I'm starting to get a shape. Well, I had one before, round, now I'm going toward an hourglass. A big one, more like a three hourglass but eventually I will be an hour. OK, I had to add that info, will be back on Sunday.

new week and 2 more pounds

2011-09-25T11:08:00.002-04:00

Well it's another week and 2 more pounds, and I am feeling great. This week is the week I get weighed and measured through curves. I find out exactly how much I've lost for the month and how many inches. They say the inches are the most important, but let me tell you, if you're not losing pounds, you feel like you're just stagnating. I know I did. I was exercising but not dieting and was dropping inches but no weight. I felt awful. But now, I feel great. Now if I was walking I'd feel a lot better and would be dropping more. I just don't seem to have the energy to do that. Also, I'm scared of the pain it causes. I know eventually I'll feel better, but the pain to start is just unbearable and irritating. Maybe I'll try today.

Went to the doctor found out my stupid asthma is turning into copd. Lucky, lucky me. Maybe now I should quit smoking. Got my flu shot and my pneumonia shot. So I'm all set for cold and flu season. Now if the allergy season would just end, things would be great. Well, not much to talk about, so I'm off to start some laundry and go take a walk, or at least try. That's all I can do, is try a little at a time until eventually I can walk a mile or so. Wish me good luck.

more weight loss

2011-09-18T21:08:00.003-04:00

Well I came back. I lost another 2 lbs this week making the total so far 13. YAY, doing the happy dance. I definitley am doing something right. Oh I feel so good. I also reached another goal of mine, I got into a pair of jeans. Yup, I haven't been able to wear any of my jeans for a year. and I refused to buy new ones in bigger sizes so it was mostly sweats for pants. Needless to say we hardly ever went out. But now I fit in a pair of jeans. Soon I'll be in the 18's and I have a ton of those because I was that size forever. well no more. I am going down. No more fat nana with the soft pillows. Nope not me.

We played pool in a tournament this weekend and it sure felt great to wear my jeans and be comfortable. They weren't too tight where I couldn't sit down, but I did notice the legs are really baggy. I must be losing in my legs faster than my stomach. Oh well, who cares where as long as I lose, right. I'm gonna run now be back next week and hopefully I'll have more good news.

Let's try this again

2011-09-13T08:35:00.002-04:00

Again it's been a while since I was here, and I think it's time I came back. So much is going on and I am so excited right now I need to share. I'm dieting through weight watchers online and exercising through curves. In 8 weeks I've lost 11 pounds. yup, 11 pounds. doing the happy dance. Now the good thing about WW online is that I track my food, my exercise and my weight. the bad thing is, no one to talk to. so when it steals a point because I'm not losing fast enough, I swear at the computer. I look like a mad woman cursing away at something that can not curse back. LOL. DH asked what the hell I was doing, but after explaining he really didn't understand. LOL. Now Curves is great. I go M - F @ 7 am. perfect for me as I'm an early riser. starts my day off perfectly. I can then do any appointments I have or cleaning that needs to be done. whatever, it's great, and I feel great. It takes all of 1 hour. Sunday is weigh myself day, so I think that will be blog day too.

I don't feel guilty if I skip a day because of late night pool. like last night we didn't get home until 1 am, so we didn't get to bed til after 2. no way did I make it to exercise. I needed my sleep. I have a main goal on what I want to lose and a few small goals so that I don't get disappointed. my main and big huge goal is 129 pounds. yup, I'm a big woman. my first goal is now 29 pounds, the next goal is 33 pounds, then 33 pounds, then 34 pounds. that should do it. I can do this, and I will. I look for no miracles just hard work. my health is fine, so I shouldn't have any worries. If things go according to my plan, I should loose the 29 lbs in about 3 to 3 1/2 months. so by the end of this year I should be looking good. I can do this. I will do this. soon as more weight comes off, I will start walking. It's just right now is really really hard.

I haven't been crocheting for a while, been babysitting all summer for the grandkidz. it was interesting to say the least. but with the seasons changing I think I will be getting back into it. there are some things I would like to make. I still need to take some pics of things I've made and download them to the computer. which now that the computer is working right, I crashed it as usual, I can.

well I'm off for the day, be returning on Sunday.

Snow, snow, and yet still more snow

2011-02-01T10:42:00.003-05:00

Just like the top says, it's snowing again. Like we really need more snow. There's no place to put anymore. We have been buried for the past 2 weeks. Seems like the norm is a storm a week with at least a foot if not more. I mean the snow is pretty and all, and it is winter, but let some of it melt first. :) Oh well, good reason to stay in and crochet.

Not like I need a reason, but it makes it simpler if I do have one. :) I don't need to have hubby complaining that I'm being lazy or anything. I need to stop procrastinating and get some of my projects done. I just have so many things going at once again, and not just crochet. I have ceramics to finish, items in crochet that need buttons or elastic. One piece even needs to be lined it's only a year old). I've also got a house to clean, which is normally easy with only 2 of us here, but I have carpets to shampoo but winter is really not the time for that, and the rest of my cabinet downsizing. At least the cabinets are half done. By the spring they should be fully done. I have to wait until then so that Tiffany can take what she wants and then I can offer up the rest on freecycle or craigs list.

I need to downsize my yarn stash. I need to get pics of the yarn I'm gonna sell on eBay, (again another spring project it's way to cold to clean the back room and attic) so that I can re-organize my craft projects. I also do exercising 3 days a week, and pool 2 times a week. Damn, I am a busy bee. And let's not forget my computer time. E-mails to read and answer, surfing the Internet (for cool new patterns), and playing games. I need to get organized better.

Now to top it all off, my lichen planus came back, and this time it's on my head, face, and in my eye. I can control the itching with benadryl, but the pain is irritating as all hell. My fibromyalgia has been acting up as well lately, but I deal with it. I'm lucky that I'm not as bad as some people with it. Went to the eye doctor Friday, and there is no running away now, I need bi-focals. So, I will be getting my glasses special made from New York because they have a discount price for veterans and their family members. And with hubby being a disabled vet, I qualify. I should do fine the doc said because I wear reading glasses now on the edge of my nose so I'm used to a line being there. I hope so. Hubby thinks I don't wear my glasses because I'm vain, and one thing I'm not, is vain. I just hate the adjustment period you have to go through to be comfortable with them. I just have to admit it, I have no patience. LOL

I'm done with computer time now, at least til dinner time, so off to work on some projects. Until next time.

Been away a long time

2011-01-29T11:59:00.005-05:00

Wow, it's been almost a year since I was here. So what's happened in that time? Not too much. I went to the concert and it was great. Carrie put on a fantastic show. Went to another concert in May, this one was Sugarland and that was great music. Then 2 days after the Sugarland concert I had knee replacement surgery. That wasn't too bad, I think the worst part was the gaining weight from not getting around like I was used too and losing muscle strength. Now I'm going to curves 3 days a week for strength and weight loss along with dieting. I'm not expecting a miracle, but I sure would like one. :) So I've given myself a year to lose weight and get stronger. As soon as the winter is over and spring is here, (I dislike the cold), I will add walking to my routine as well.

Speaking of winter, wow what a snowy one this is. I mean a storm a week. we have so much snow on the ground right now you can't see anything but mountains of it and in some places it's taller than people walking down the street. And they say a little more coming next week. It's gonna take the whole spring and half the summer just to melt it.

Went to the doctor the other day and I need bi-focals, (well, I knew that), but I found out I'm borderline diabetic and borderline for glaucoma. Lucky me. I think the dieting and weight loss will help with the diabetes, but eye screening is all I can do for the other. Most people that wear glasses go to the doctor every year to every other. Not me, I go ever 6 months. This is what I get for getting older. LOL

As for crocheting, I finished 2 tops for me, and a hat for David. Now I'm working on 2 afghans, sox, and curtains for the kitchen. The afghans are identical except for color and they are made up of octagons, the sox are for me (I always wanted to make sox), and the curtains are in thread for a change of pace. Just something different to work on.

Well, that's it for today. I'll get some pics of the tops I made and as each item I'm working on gets done, I'll take pics of them as well.

WHOO HOO HOO, I WON CARRIE UNDERWOOD TICKETS

2010-03-07T15:05:00.003-05:00

Damn I can't believe I won Carrie Underwood tickets last night. It's funny cause yesterday in the morning Tiffany called and asked me what I was doing at night. I told her nothing but crocheting, reading, etc, all my everyday stuff, and asked her why. She told me that our local country station WKLB 102.5 was gonna be at Indian Ranch in Webster, (couple of towns over), and they were gonna have free gifts and such and did I want to go. It's been so long since I've gone out for an evening, I said sure. I mean I love any reason to dress up. :) So, we talked a bit and I suggested asking a couple of our other friends to go with us and make it a girls night out. So, I called Beth, and she said yes. Tiffany called Paula, and she said yes. Great!!! Now there was 4 married ladies going out for a night out. We got there about 7:30 and the music didn't start until 8, and the WKLB DJ wasn't on until 9. They were giving away free tickets to Clint Black, Jo Dee Messina, cd's, and Carrie Underwood tickets. We filled out a ton of slips, then had a few drinks, (I love my coors lite), and danced a bit. The end of the night was when the tickets for Carrie were given away, and I had my finger crossed, and kept repeating "Tiffany, Tiffany," over and over. When they said Sandy Brown, at first I said "no, Tiffany" then with my daughter screaming it clicked, "hey, I'm Sandy Brown". DUH!!! I am so excited I am taking my daughter, Tiffany, and the concert is March 21. OH I can't wait. We found out that WKLB will be doing this again in April and again in May. All us girls decided we're going to those as well. I mean we would have had a great time even if I didn't win (but I did). It's not all about the win, it was just 4 friends having a blast. Best part was no one got drunk. We drank, we danced, (I'm paying for the dancing today with lots of pain), we talked, we just had an awesome time.

Yay, back to Crochet

2010-01-02T23:30:00.004-05:00

Wow, I guess I was down a bit, but with the holidays over and me feeling better, (ya I do feel better), it's time to show the crochet I've got done, and the list of all the crochet I'm planning for the year. YA!!!

Well for Christmas, I crocheted 14 Bath Mitts for the kidz, 7 sets of Bath Sets for the women, and 5 Willy Warmers. Those went over really big. The guys all laughed, some said they weren't big enough, some said they were too big, and some offered to model them. NOT!! LOL But everyone loved their handmade gifts. Best part was a few of the women thought that the bath sets were a pot holder, and a strange dish towel. I laughed so hard, I almost peed my pants. I also finished a project and added to my mom's gifts; that was the hooded scarf from hooker-bear (Peter Franzi). He's such a great designer and I love his stuff. The patterns are easy to follow too.

So, now I'm finishing projects, and starting new ones. In fact last night I finally got to finish the nightie I was making for myself, (started last year), all I need to do is take a pic an upload it. I finished a pair of slippers for myself, I had to re-do the soles as the first time they came out horrendous. Now, they're done and look better. Not perfect, but they work. Will need to take a pic of them as well. I need to finish my cottage sox, (I had one almost completed and I have to frog it. it's too small). No biggie, will do that next. Got T's ghan to finish, then it's off to new items.

I've got 2 ghans planned for myself. One for the living room and one for my bedroom. Oh yeah, I ordered the yarn to make DH the Fisherman's Crochet Pullover (free pattern here: http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/jan_crochproj.html), and I'm making it in Paton's classic wool in new denim. I think he'll like it. As soon as it's finished I'll post a pic. I want to make some ami's. In fact I have one chosen to start, but I'm gonna try it in thread. The regular size looks to be bigger than I want so, I will try #3 thread and go from there. I have a set of curtains I want to make for the kitchen. I found I love Clea thread, and I buy it here; http://www.paraguaythreads.com/tienda/catalog/. It's so so soft and easy to work with. The curtains I have planned for the kitchen are done in a square and most are plain and a few have crochet apple appliques on them. I have 4 kitchen windows that I have to make the curtains for. Will put up a pic, when done.

I'm planning on making a lot of things just not sure where to start. But, I'll keep a log of that which I am working on, and those that are done I will put up pics. I'm even thinking of creating my own patterns. I have some ideas of things I want to make, and figure it's time I create them myself.

well, I'm off to explore before bed, but will be back soon to show my finished or started items. :)

TOTALLY, IRREVOCABLY DEPRESSED

2009-12-07T18:56:00.002-05:00

Oh how I hate this time of year. I don't really understand why. I mean I should be happy. I have my family, mostly my health, I'm alive, etc. etc. It seems that lately as the holidays approach, I'm excited. I make lots of presents, and I truly enjoy doing that. I love to make things for people, and watch their faces when they get their gifts. But as soon as December rolls in, I start to go down hill, and it's going down hill more and more. So many reasons. Let me list them all, maybe if I do, I'll think they're dumb and can move on.

first, this is my birthday month. Oh whoopie. I turn 52, and that sux, cause I still feel 25. I don't look it, but I sure feel it. OK, not all the time. I sometimes hate my birthday, and it's been like this for years. I mean, 5 days before the big holiday, and I get screwed. It's not the presents, it's the party, the fun, the friends taking the time to think of me. When I was first married 32 years ago, I got screwed super big time on my birthday. I would get money from people to go and buy myself something special. Then we'd be short a gift, and there goes my gift. Oh promises of you'll get it back after the holidays. Yeah right, never happened. I wish I could make it all go away.

second, This is the month in 1989 that my dad passed. sometimes I really miss him, even when he acted like a jerk. He had so many sweet moments about him. He and I always butted heads. Maybe I was like him too much. This was his favorite holiday.

third, my mother's second husband died on my birthday 3 years ago. let's hear it for that one. So mom gets sad & blue, and I have to try and keep her sane. pretty hard to do when I can't even keep myself sane.

fourth, I'm poor. no need to explain that further. I mean it is what it is.

fifth, it's cold, raw, and gloomy. I don't want to leave the house. I just want to crawl into my nice warm bed and hibernate. All alone.

Holy shit do I sound pathetic. Oh woe is me. Ok, I don't really know what's going on. I just know that I am not myself. And I really wish the holidays were over and spring was coming. I'm so glad no one reads this but me. I like being anonymous. besides, I will look back to today and say, my gosh girl, what is wrong with you.

I think it's time to go, I don't know. but I gotta stop my whining. It's not making it better. In fact it feels worse. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

ok, not better. well, off I go to bed. Yay, it's only 7:15 pm.

Crochet, Crochet, and more Crochet

2009-11-14T10:45:00.006-05:00

Only 41 more days til Christmas. That's still plenty of time for making some awesome gifts. I'm proud of myself, I've got 7 gifts already completed. I decided this year to stay away from long drawn out gifts, (because I get bored easily, and they take too long), and figured I'd make small things. But I didn't want to make stupid things either, I wanted them to be useful. Well I've got 8 women, that are friends and family that I like to make for. So, for all the women I made bath sets. I purchased one bath kit from http://www.elmore-pisgah.com/ (which is peaches & cream), and then purchased 7 other sets of colors to make for everyone. Then I thought I'd add bath and beauty products, put them all in a basket and voila, Christmas gifts. I really have to say, they came out awesome.

There are 9 children to make something for, 5 girls and 4 boys. Now the ages range from 8 yrs - 2 mos. So, I figured I would make the 2 older girls who are 8 & 7, bath sets similar to their moms. The 2 girls that are 5, and the 4 boys, 4, 2 yr old twins, and 20 mo. old, will all get a set of bath buddies. These are all puppet wash mitts from the book; Annie's Attic Fun Time Bath Mitts. And of course the 2 month old, a girl, is getting a sweater, (almost done, only needs putting together), a Christmas bib in thread, and booties in thread.

Now that leaves 6 men to crochet for, and they were the hardest to figure out. I mean really, there aren't many choices of things to make for men. So after considerable thought, and being that we all joke around, tease, and have fun together, I decided each man, (DH included) will all get a Willie Warmer. LOL. I've made one of these before and they crochet up pretty quickly. And I know that being the smart asses they are, I will be hearing things like; "this won't fit, I'm bigger than this" and so forth. MEN!!! If I have the time, I'll make hats for all. I love making gifts for others, and having them proudly use them. I think that's why I went with more practical gifts this year.

I've already started making my list of what Ill be making when the holidays are over and it's cold outside. :) Most of what I'll be making will be things for myself. There are a few tops, a shrug/shawl, maybe an afghan. I do know that I have 2 patterns running around in my head that need to be made, as well as written up. I can actually close my eyes and see the finished items. One is going to be somewhat of a freeform item, but not to weird looking. Anyway, once I make them, and write them up, I will definitely be putting the patterns up here. This way if anyone likes them and wants to try them, they can.

Well, gotta run, hopefully I can come back and write more about what's going on, and maybe add some more pics of things done. Grandkidz are here and starting to drive me bonkers.

Crochet, Crochet, and ATC's

2009-09-18T19:43:00.002-04:00

so, I have been away for a while. been crocheting like crazy. I found a new past time, I love making ATC's. I like trading them as well, but I think I would like to be greedy and keep mine too. :) I have so much fun making them. I find a topic, or I am told one from swap-bot, and then I research anything and everything to do with the subject. then I just sit and create. I have to admit, I make many changes while creating that I think maybe I'll start making more than one. LOL one as the original idea, and one for the final idea. this way I can see exactly how much difference there is. take a fly over to my flicker pics and check out all that I am making.

I am still into making ami's. just love those little guys & gals. I have to slow down for a bit on swap-bot so that I can get my x-mas stuff done. I've got lots to do, but most of it is small items. this way I am not killing myself rushing to get everything done on time.

My stupid computer got messed up for a while took about a week to fix it, but I lost tons of pics of all the things I've made. one good thing is that I made a lot of it for swap-bot, so I am asking all of my partners to send me pics of what I made them so I can get them back. Speaking of which, I need to ask my BF if she can take a pic of the awesome little dress I made for the baby (who happens to be late). I think she like mama too much and doesn't want to come out. LOL

Hey remember that top I was making way back when? well, I finally finished it. another friend of mine is sewing in a lining for the bust, (they don't want my boobs to show), I could care less. HA HA HA. so I will be taking a pic of that soon. right now my projects are a pair of gemini twin cats - these are half done, 3 skulls - all they need are the eyes, nose & mouth, a shopping bag, 3/4 of the way done, and a nighty 1/2 done. not bad. I need to make 4 pink x-mas ornaments, and I think I'll do them in thread. something classy.

I crochet every day for hours. I enjoy making things, but I need to organize my back room. It has all of my, (well, 90% of my) stuff for crochet and beading. I keep buying yarn cause I can't find any colors. then when I crochet something I go into the back room for something and find the color I couldn't and had to go and buy again. I have way too much yarn. Yeah, right. NOT

I finally painted my office. it is lavender walls with blood red trim. then I painted the furniture, every other piece is blood red, and the other every others are dark purple. looks really cool. Next up it to finish the bathroom. it's gold walls, sage tiles (1/2 way up), and forest green trim. I'm putting in a mural that is a bird bath with fairies, dragonflies, butterflies, & humming birds. then hubby can put in the new floor and ta da, it will be done. at least until I start a new room LOL.

Surgery on my knee is on hold. doc said I'm too fat to have the surgery. so, I am back to trying to lose this weight. I've dropped 12 pounds, and I have started walking. they gave me a new brace that helps with the pain. so, maybe I will lose the weight faster. Haven't quit smoking yet, that will happen as soon as I get my exercise routine down good and strong. about a month, I'd say.

Well, it's 8 time to kick DH upstairs and go watch some tv and crochet.

by til later

Crochet, crochet, and still more crochet

2009-07-23T21:54:00.002-04:00

I am just having so much fun crocheting. I am doing a lot of smaller projects so that I am getting a good feeling of accomplishment. I work on my larger projects in between, and I am happy to say, I have finished my first top. OK, not quite finished, my bf has to help me sew in an elastic. But the crocheting is finally done. Only 5 frogs, and a year to make it. Not bad. HA HA HA I have really fallen in love with 2 things lately. Swapbot and amigurumi's. I am on swapbot everyday checking out swaps for bookmarks, crochet, ami's, and ATC's. I will also be hosting my first swap and it is a thread bookmark swap, woo hoo. I am addicted. totally. I made an awesome ami from crochetkitten.com. He is one of her zodiac cats. And he came out awesome, if I say so myself. Oh right, I am. :) Well, I'm off to crochet some more, got lots to make. With my bf having a girl in September, I am finally going to make baby girl clothes. I am so psyched. I told her it was about time she and her dh finally gave me a girl to dress. LOL. I spoil her son to death, now I will have a little princess to dress. OOO. Anyway, off to upload my pics of items made, and to go make some more.

keep smiling

2009-07-08T13:42:00.003-04:00

Well, I've been working my crafting fingers to the bone. LOL. I've been swapping like crazy on swap-bot. I have tons of pics to show of lots of stuff I made. Also, I created a really awesome bookmark. Could be used for other things as well. It's a corset. I crocheted it in #3 thread. Came out pretty awesome, if I say so myself. Oh yeah, I am saying so. LOL I was in a bookmark swap for Lolita's and it was for a Hime Lolita. I couldn't find anything to use in the patterns I have so I decided what the hey, and made my own. I'll have to put a pic up and then write up the pattern and share with anyone that would like it.

I made my second amiguruimi. This one was for a swap. It is awesome. I totally love making these. I like getting them better, but I do like making them. :) I checked my partners profile and she loves cats. so crochetkitten.com has some really great patterns for the zodiac cats. So I thought what the heck, I'll make my partner a cat, and I'll make it a zodiac cat. Go figure, her astrology sign is Leo. Duh, it's a cat. I decided to make it anyway. I changed mine a bit, I added paw pads to the arm paws as well as the leg paws, and I added fur to the tip of the tail. I mean to me a lion has pads on all their paws and I remember from the wizard of oz that the cowardly lion used his tail to wipe his tear stained eyes. LOL I know, weird. I used chenille yarn for the paws, and fur. It gave it a more velvety feel and look.

I'm also getting into make ATC's and my next one should be done any day now. This one is intitled "Zeus". It's coming along really good. I'll just keep my fingers crossed and hope it comes out great.

Started my left knee injections of suparts which is this gel stuff that will act like cartilage for my knee. Hopefully it will make my knee last a lot longer than the right one. The right one is supposed to be replaced, but unless I can drop my extra, extra weight, then no go. I'll probably end up dragging it around. LOL. I just can't seem to drop this weight. I start out great on dieting and then 2 weeks into it, I give up and go back to my old ways. It's not that I eat a lot, it's just that I eat all the wrong foods, and I eat once a day. All the wrong ways to eat. I'm an old dog, and can't learn any new tricks. HA HA HA

This weather is so horrendous lately. All it's doing is raining. I am so sick of the rain. The last time it rained for the whole month, (well seemed like the whole month), of July, was in 1978. I lived in FL then and came back up here to MA to visit family for the month of July and it rained almost every day. Gee, maybe we'll end up with a blizzard this winter like the one they had in '78. Damn, my mom sent me pics of that storm. The roads were closed, the city and towns were closed down, and the snow covered the cars. I was on the beach, tanning and swimming then. LOL Oh I wish we were back in FL. I loved living there.

AJ had a birthday, he is now 4. Gosh, he's growing so fast. And he's smart. Got a bad temper though and when he gets mad, he tries to beat the person up. He will throw things, hit with things, punch, kick, and scream. He doesn't do it to me. I told him, whatever he does to me, I will do to him. I will, and he knows it. But the other day I was cleaning their toy area, and did something and swore the F word. He looked at me calmly and said, "Nunna, don't say F, say freakin". I appologized and repeated it the right way. Damn, he's quick.

crocheting, life, planting, reading, and dieting

2009-05-18T09:54:00.007-04:00

Wow again I am lacking in the updating of my blog. Kick my butt. :) Well this has been a very busy time for me. I am making lots of items for swap-bot, and I love it. I love making the squares, 6, 8, and 12 inches, because it gives me some color ideas as well as trying new patterns. I have found quite a few that I really like and think they would make great ghans. I am so into making bookmarks. I love working with thread, and they are really quite quick to make. I will be making a few for xmas gifts to add to all the regular things I will be making. It's funny about the bookmarks, I think I might be the only one who crochets mine. All of the ones I have received are made of paper-stock. Don't misunderstand, I love all that I have gotten. some of my partners are very talented. I think I am going to have to make a box of some sort to hang on my wall to display my bookmarks. I want everyone to see them. I know, weird.

My daughter, Chrystal, graduated on Saturday May 16, from college. She got her BA in Bio-technology. I am so proud of her, I had tears in my eyes when she received her diploma. This girl has worked her butt off to be able to do something important with her life, and now she can. This girl who quit high school at 16, went to hairdressing school, and hated the work. Moved to Florida until she was 19, then came home and finished high school. The regular way, not GED. Graduated top of the class, and then went to work full time as a bartender and took college courses on the side. And now she graduated. YAY

I have been busy cleaning up my flower beds so that I can start planting my spring/summer flowers. I love digging in the dirt, it is one of the most relaxing things in the world. I love the smell of the dirt too. I spend hours weeding, prepping and planning my garden. I also get the benefit of being outside, and getting lots of sun. Which is great for me cause I love to tan. NO I do not use any sunscreen, never have and never will. Lately though I have been trying to talk DH into allowing me to put up a fence in the front yard. I want a 3 ft fence and want to paint it black to go with the house. It would be my version of the "white" picket fence. LOL

My diet has gone down the tubes. I haven't weighed myself in weeks. I am no longer counting the calories, it's just not worth it. I still eat 6 small meals a day, and the foods I'm eating are a lot healthier with less fat and such. I do feel as if I have lost weight, and clothes that weren't fitting so well before, are fitting now. I think a lot of that has to do with being more active as well as cutting out the soda, practically no fattening foods, more fruit, (and I am not usually a fruit person), and a lot more water. As for the walking, my daughter and I are planning to start walking the high school track together. This way we will have someone to walk with and I will definitely shape up better then.

I'm starting to worry about DH. I need to check with his doctor to see what he thinks, but either DH is having problems with his meds, or he's starting to show symptoms to either dementia or Alzheimer's. He really is forgetting a lot of stuff. Stuff we have just finished discussing, stuff that he shouldn't be for getting. Like the other day we were driving down the street to run an errand, and he forgot where we were going, I had to remind him. He's like that in the house too. He starts out to go get something, talks to me for a minute, and then forgot why he was in the room to begin with. The reason I worry so much about Alzheimer's is that his father had it and he died at a very young age, in his early 60's. DH is gonna be 59 on May 30. I used to tease him when we were first married and told him if he got Alzheimer's, I would make believe I was someone new every day. You know just screw with his head. It was funny then, but now I really am getting worried. I don't want him to forget me. OH well, no need to worry until I'm 100% sure.

Well it's chilly today only in the high 50's. I think I'll go crochet for a bit, and then read later on.

BB for now

Dieting, Crocheting, & Reading

2009-03-25T08:51:00.003-04:00

Well, I've been on this diet now for 13 days and I will say at first it was easy. Now it's getting tuff. I mean, I started out so good and gung ho, I was satisfied. I was eating 7 times a day, I know it should be 6, but I don't sleep well and I don't go to bed until 2 or 3 am., then I'm up around 8 or 9. So, I tend to have an extra evening snack. First 5 days was great, and then I got bored with the snacks and got so busy cleaning and such that I forgot to stop and eat. So when I did eat, I was way hungry and nothing would really satisfy me. Before this diet, I was drinking cans of sprite all day long. Now I only have one sprite at dinner time and water all the rest of the time. That's great because sprite has 140 cal. per can, and water will help flush me out. But there are times I really want my can of sprite, and I have to talk myself out of it. I love yogurt, but I am getting tired of it. I'm not much into fruit so that's not much for snacking. I think part of my snacking problem is, I'm not getting anything to sink my teeth in so I don't really feel like I'm eating. I need to find more snacks that are low cal and chewy. LOL. I've lost 8.5 lbs since I went to the doctor and switched from soda to water and am watching my cals and that should be incentive enough, but I don't think so. I want chips and cookies. I know, I know, bad for me. I know that there are sun chips that are not as fattening and low in cals, so I'll pick some up for the real bad cravings and some cookies aren't fattening either so I'll have to get some of them as well. I've kept the cals around 1500-1800 except for one day (I am supposed to eat no more that 1934 per day), and that was St. Patrick's Day. Do you know that one slice of corned beef is 803 cals. my gosh that's almost the total of some of my meals. LOL. And you'd think cabbage that is a veg would be low in cals but no way, damn stuff is fattening. Oh well one bad day out of 13 isn't all that bad.

I can't wait until it warms up so I can start walking. I love to walk and google has a pedometer map so you can map out your miles. Because my knees are so bad, I'm not going to do more than a mile at a time, maybe 3 times a week. Then when I'm feeling like I can do more I'll add more. Don't want to kill myself. LOL I will lose this weight, I am tired of being fat. My BF is going to let me make a copy of her DVD crunch less Abs and she said it's not hard and really helps. So, I see her today when I go to clean her house and I will talk to her about getting the copy this weekend and start using it on Monday.

I have been crocheting like crazy. I have a fridgie swap and I made two awesome fridgies. I will post pics later today in my flickr folder. The first fridgie I did was a crab, and the other is a bunny photo frame. The reason I chose those is that the girl I have as a partner loves crabs and her favorite color is orange so this one is orange and a crab. She is also way into photography and just had a child not too long ago and I thought Easter, and this one seemed perfect. I also have 8 more squares to do and these are pink and light green. I looked around for some different types of patterns to use and make them special. I also have to make 4 bookmarks in a spring Easter design, so I'm thinking about pastels and maybe an Easter egg or two. And I have been finishing up Tiffany's place mat sets, those are coming out awesome. I also am working on a poncho for Miss Tatiana and it's so cute, and easy it will be done this week end. All this and I've read 2 books in 2 days. Damn I'm good. :)

I read Laurell K. Hamilton's, Swallowing Darkness. I just couldn't put it down until I finished it. Then I decided last night to start another book, new writer for me, Blood Magic by Jennifer Lyon, I figured I read last night for a bit and then finish it today. No Way. This book is awesome. I was up until 4 am by the time I finished it. And she has a sequel to it. Can't wait for that to come out. :).

So, in about 45 mins I will be going to my friends to clean and babysit, then I will come home, shower, take a nap (yeah I need one, I'm old), and when I get up, I will crochet some more and download pics to flickr. Then I will go and play pogo. I am a member of pogo so I have to get my badges for the week and today is the day for the new badges to come out. So, I am gonna go have breakfast and get ready for work.

BB for now

New Crochet, New Diet, New Me

2009-03-17T08:33:00.007-04:00

Well I've had some interesting things going on. I joined a place called swap-bot.com. This place is awesome. It's not just for crocheters, it's for all types of crafters. If you love any type of crafting & sharing your crafts, then this is the place for you. It's free to join, so that was a total plus for me. :) As a new member you are only allowed to join 5 swaps at a time. Well my first swap was a quickie one, and it was bookmarks. I had 2 partners that I had to make 3 bookmarks for each, and then mail them off by a certain deadline. So, I crocheted 6 bookmarks and they were cool. Then my bookmarks came in and my partners worked with paper, and omg, they were beautiful. I will get a pic of them as soon as possible and put it up on my flickr page. So now I look for bookmark swaps. This way, I can get any kinds and styles of bookmarks, and they are really nice. The only problem is, I don't know if I want to use them or just collect & protect them. :) My second swap was granny squares. Again 2 partners, but this time 4 squares each, and the colors were listed for this one, purple and white. Unfortunately, one of my partners only likes soft wool or 100% cotton, and I didn't have any of those colors in either type of yarn in my stash. So, I was gonna go shopping to get some, but we had a nasty storm. I was lucky my partner agreed to accept off white as I had some in my stash. I received 4 of my squares so far and am still waiting on the others. It's so exciting. You get to see what styles others like to make and you get presents in the mail.

I also joined a group for an ATC swap. I had no idea what an ATC was or how to make one :) but it was for Beltane and I really wanted to do it. So on to google I went in search of ATC. All I can say is WOW. For those that don't know, ATC stands for Artists Trading Cards. These cards are handmade by any type of artists, and the only rules on them is;
a) they must be 2.5 x 3.5,
b) they are created by you (thru the computer, hand painted, drawn, any way, etc)
c) they are never sold only traded with other artists.

So, I made my first ATC, and if I say so myself, which I am, it came out awesome. I will upload a pic of it on flickr page. I received mine and I love it, again uploading the pic later. I will make more ATC's, but I know I won't become addicted to them. HA suuure. LOL

So the next new thing for me to happen is I went to see a new arthritis doctor. I have been having so much trouble with my knees it's ridiculous. Well this guy tells me after looking at my x-rays that the only thing left for my right knee is to replace it. He's not the first to tell me this, and he even showed me the x-rays and explained them out to me really good, even this old broad understood. He must speak old broad, LOL, or is it dumb broad. Whatever. My left knee is just starting to erode away. To help with that he recommended sinvisk. I've had that before for my right knee and it does help. It will work anywhere from 6 mos. to a year. So, between that and the injections of cortisone, I will be fine. But the right knee needs replacement as soon as possible. Only problem is, I need to lose 20 lbs. because of health risk factors. I know I'm overweight and I have tried losing weight even tried those stupid pills and stuff. I can't really exercise because of my knees so it makes it tuff for me. He recommended weight watchers or the local hospitals nutritionist.

Well those are out. First weight watchers is $65 to join for 3 mos. Way out of my league. And going to a nutritionist weekly or whatever is out, as I hate to leave the house. It's not that I'm lazy, I just don't like to go out. So, on to google I went and searched diets. About.com has way tons of info. Between that and all that google pulled up, I have a page that tells me what amount of calories I am supposed to eat each day even without exercise. I guess when you exercise you get to eat more. LOL Good incentive.

I also learned a while back that eating 6 times a day small meals and snacks will help. So, I created a type of diet just for me. I eat about 6 or 7 small things a day. I had a problem with drinking cans of sprite everyday because I have a overactive bladder and water made me have to go more. But at 140 calories per soda, I have cut myself down to one can of sprite a day, and water, 0 calories, all the rest of the time to drink.

I also know that even though I have a long term goal, I had to break it down to small goals as well. If all I had was the long term goal, and that is 90 lbs total, for 11 mos to 1 year, I would get discouraged because of the length of time. So, if I break it up into smaller pounds and smaller time frames I will have a better chance at success. Like, 8 - 10 lbs per month. Even smaller would be 1 -2 lbs per week. Now I also know there will be weeks where I will lose more, and weeks where I will lose less. But because I know this ahead of time, I won't get as discouraged. Or at least I hope I won't. And I also know that the beginning of this diet I will lose more and quicker, and then I will stabalize and lose slower. But that's ok too, cause one of my goals is to get more energy to at least walk a few times a week. I know because of my knees I have to go short distances and not too fast, but I can do it. Google has a pedometer map that will actually help me map out a walking plan for myself. Way cool.

So all in all on the right side of this screen where I keep track of my crocheting, I will also keep track with my major goal, and all my broken down smaller goals. This way I can actually see my progress. Now even after I lose that 20 lbs for the doctor to do the surgery, I ain't gonna let him touch my knee until late fall. No way am I gonna be unable to go swimming, or what have you for the summer.

So if anyone reads this besides me, and you want some, if not all of the info on swap-bot or my dieting, or a buddy to diet with, drop me a line I'll be glad to share all info with you and I wouldn't mind having a buddy or two to help keep the hungries away. :)

Well by for now. OH and Happy St. Patricks day to all.

What Crafty things have I been doing?

2009-02-24T16:48:00.003-05:00

For the past month or two, I have been working slowly on Tiff's place mat set. This set consists of 14 squares each mat made from # 3 thread. The squares are finished all that's left is to put then together. The design is called Christmas place mats, but instead of making them in red and green, I am using the colors to her kitchen, red and black. Also, I won't be putting in the ribbon to make it look like a wrapped package. I decided to fix the slippers, after I take a pic of them, I will be pulling them apart and redoing the soles. I'm also working on a pair of cottage sox, one done and one to go. I'm making myself a granny square coat. This is a pattern I purchased from Maggies Crochet. I am doing it in red, purple, and black chenille. Oh feels so soft. I just joined a group called Swapbot.com seems like a fun thing to do.

I have been reading a lot lately. I have a very mixed genre of books that I like. I love reading books in series. Here is a list of writers and the series that I read:

Laurell K. Hamilton ---------------------------- Marjorie M. Liu
Anita Blake Series ------------------------------Dirk & Steele
Merridith Gentry Series

Kelley Armstrong -------------------------------Lilith Saintcrow
Women of the Otherworld-----------------------Jill Kismet series

Keri Arthur------------------------------------- Kim Harrison
Riley Jenson Guardian series--------------------Rachel Morgan Series

Christeen Feehan--------------------------------Nora Roberts
Dark Series --------------------------------------the Hollow Series
Shadow Walker
Drake Sisters------------------------------------ Rebecca York
Leopard Series-----------------------------------Moon Series

Other Authors
John Sandford, James Patterson, Patricia Cornwell, Sue Grafton

As you can see, I love to read. That's why I belong to paperbackswap.com. I trade books with other readers. I am all caught up on my series that I am constantly searching for new ones to read. So it's safe to say, if I'm not crocheting, I'm reading. :)

Well that's it for an update, gotta go cook dinner for DH.

What have I been up too!!!

2009-02-05T12:41:00.006-05:00

Wow look at this, I'm back here sooner than I usually am. LOL Oh I have been having fun entering contests. It's the bloggy carnival, gets me every time. The best part is that I get to see other bloggers sites, read some new stuff and try and find like minded people. I love the Internet, it connects with so many people and so many new things.

I haven't been crocheting much as my hands have been bothering me. Have been bad too, haven't been going to photo-therapy. Not really all my fault though, the car was broke. In fact hubby finally fixed it yesterday. Also haven't started our Tai Chi classes yet, for the same reason. But we're going tonight.

Getting 2 new computer screens. 19" LCD flat screens. As I said in my last post my 17" LCD flat screen died. So because I love to shop on ebay, (I really have a problem buying on there all the time), I went and purchased the 2 new screens. Got a great price and the seller is sending them free shipping through FedEx. I got 2 cause DH wanted one as well. His screen is a 13" fat Dell.

I said in my last post that my BF is prego. Well, we were all at cards Friday night, we play texas hold em, and she was laying on the bed with her son, Brae, (she had just changed his diaper and got him in his pj's), when my grandson, AJ, went in and started wrestling with Brae. I told him to be careful of Beth and asked if he knew why. He's only 3, but a smart cookie. He said yea she has a baby in her belly. Then he proceeded to ask her if she knew if it was a boy or girl. She told him she didn't know yet. He says if it's a girl I won't play with her, but if it's a boy I will. So cute. There are 5 couples, Mark & Michelle, Bubba & Paula, Beth & Mike, Dave & me, and my daughter, Tiffany, (her DH works), that play. Along with this group is 6 kidz. Amanda (7) & Kristen (5) belong to M&M, Lexia (5) belongs to B&P, Braeden (1) belongs to B&M, and Tatiana (6) & AJ (3) belong to Tiff. As you can see AJ and Brae are the only boys. Well Brae is only one and can't play the same as the others cause he's a baby. So when the other kidz play, the girls say things like, lets play the girls against the boys. So not fair. Poor AJ gets left in the cold. For the longest time he would do mean things to the girls, like hit, pull hair and such because they always teased him. But then they'd come and tell the grown-ups and AJ would get punished. He wizened up to that a bit. He will go off and play on his own. Besides, I told all the girls the if they tease AJ and then come and tattle, then Tatiana was not going over any more, and I would be very upset. All the kidz love me. So, no one teases him anymore.

Well, enough for today. I am off to play POGO.
Blessings

past the holiday blues & into the freezing new year

2009-01-25T12:29:00.005-05:00

Wow, it's been a while since I wrote here. With the holidays and all the work I was doing trying to get all of my items crocheted, and dealing with some health issues was so hectic. I crocheted quite a few things and guess what? I forgot to take pics of any of them. DUH. I was so excited that I had finished everything that I totally forgot the pics. Sometimes I can be a real airhead. :)

Today my monitor decided to croak. I had a nice lcd 17" flat screen and now it's gone. It decided to just up and die. I was so mad until I looked at the sticker on it that told me she was 10 yrs old. So, I realized I got a good amount of time out of her and now I can upgrade to a larger screen. But until I get my new monitor, I am stuck using my daughter's Dell fat 13". What a difference. This thing is huge and takes over my whole desk, goes right to the edge, and man is the screen small. Makes me really think I'm going blind. LOL.

The first project I decided to make for the new year was a pair of slippers for myself. HA HA did they come out funny looking. When I get a chance to take a pic, I will definitely be putting it up, just so I can laugh at myself. Then I made DH a ski mask hat. LOL that's a little funny looking too. I didn't compensate for using thick wool, I wanted to keep him warm, and it came out looking like a helmet from the day when men wore suits of armor. LOL He likes it any way. Gosh, nothing like starting the new year out laughing at myself.

I am now working on a butterfly shawl for myself from a pattern from the 70's. Taking my time on that cause I really don't feel like laughing over this one. :) I am also working on finishing up all the WIP's that I have lying around. I have 3 mittens missing their mates, a hooded scarf missing it's hood, a granny square afghan that just needs to be put together and it has been waiting for about 7 yrs now, and 2 slippers missing their mates. I think I'll also be working on a pair of sox, and something in thread. I like to do thread and yarn projects at the same time, this way my eyes don't go googly and my hands don't hurt too much.

Just found out, or I should say I guessed, my best friend is pregnant again. YAY. I just hope she has a girl this time. She has a little boy, Braedan, and he will be 1 on Feb. 9th. He is my little sweetie. But I really want to crochet some little girly clothes. I mean I make things for him and my two grandkids, Tatiana 6, and Ashton 3, but a baby girl would be so much fun. I am having fun searching out and making awesome little girl dresses, skirts, pants, tops, and such for Tati, and she loves it all. I made both grandkids a pair of mittens with a matching scarf just after Christmas, but Tati says she can't wear her mittens because they have holes in them. LOL. I tried to explain that those aren't holes just the way the stitches are made. She is just too cute.

Went to the knee doctor last month for him to look at my baker cyst and he didn't even look at that. NOOOOO, he said "oh look at that, both knees need to be drained of fluid" and then he never numbed it just jammed them needles into my knees, drained them, then shot them up with cortisone. Let me tell you, when in pain, I have a dirty, loud mouth. I screamed a nasty word, begins with F, in his office and he had a waiting room full of people. Then he told me I'll be walking like a 16 year old. Well, he was wrong. I still walk like I have a load of crap in my pants. LOL. He is expecting me back next month to do it again. NOT. I also started photo therapy for my Lichen Planus. I said cool free tanning. They make me cover my face. Some tan huh. My regular doctor thinks I'm in the early stages of COPD. I need to quit smoking, I tried, it's not an easy thing to do. I have not only an additction to nicotene I have an addiction to menthol. Someone told me that when I try again to suck on menthol cough drops. I just might do that as I didnt' do that last time.

DH and I started taking Tai Chi. Our goal is to become more flexible. I also think this will help me with my meditating. We did a 10 min trial and it definitely seems like this is perfect for us. We actually start this coming Tuesday. I'm psyched up for it. I hope we get the results we're both looking for. One of my new year resolutions was to lose weight, get physically more fit, and start eating healthier. This is step one, step two is using the dvd "no crunch abs", and step three is the food thing. That will be the hardest as we like to eat what ever we want. But now our bodies don't seem to digest like it used to. Ahhh getting old sux. :)

Well, that's it for today. I am gonna get the family members to take pics of their Christmas gifts that I made and email them to me so I can put them up in my flikr.

So, Blessings to you all, may you walk in the light.

crocheting, fall, life

2008-11-03T11:15:00.005-05:00

Been a long time since I've written. So today I thought I'd catch up on all that I'm doing, and have been doing since August. Let's see, I've crocheted a gorgeous baby blanket for my daughter's sister-in-law, (forgot to take a picture) as usual. It's just a plain old mile-a-minute in blues, cause we know she's having a boy. I was working on the gorgeous Blessed mother shawl by Kim Guzman. This shawl is gorgeous and it's made in filet. I've only made one other thing in filet crochet and that was a bookmark. This shawl was, and is a challenge to me as I've had to learn to read the chart. There are no instructions on how to do it, just a chart to follow. Well, I wrote it out in a sort of short hand for myself and was almost done when my husband said it looked funny. So, I examined it closely and he was right. I had the lips going out, instead of in. So, I re-examined my written out instructions and I was off by stitches. I frogged it all the way down to the fourth row, (there are 93 rows). I sat with a magnifying glass and rewrote all the instructions again, after I color coded each row. Now I'm happily back to crocheting it and am on row 15. I will definitely take a picture and post it when I'm done.

I'm also working on finishing a shawl that I started last year for Christmas for my mother-in-law. I ran out of yarn and there was no way I could afford to pay $15 a skein to get more. Money is tight for us as well as many others. So, I was shopping in Job Lot the other day and lo and behold there was the yarn I needed for $5. I bought 3, even though I only needed 1. You never know. So that'll be done for this year as well.

I've been so lucky this summer with finding tons of yarn at the Flea Market near me. I made my mother a great set of placemats and coaster that needed to be trimmed in lace. I found the lace at the flea market for $1. This was a roll that originally sold for $2.99 per yard and here I got 10 yards for a buck. I also got many colors of yarns and lily thread to make more sets for all the women in the family. My stash has grown so big, I had to reorganize a whole room to store it all. I have it all computerized as well so I always know what I have, how much I have, and if I need more. I know, I'm a list freak. :)

So pretty much, for the past two months all I've been doing is living and crocheting. Pretty boring to most, but what can I say, I'm housebound.

It's November now and getting mighty chilly out here. Not too sure how that makes me feel. I mean everything is dying now and that part makes me sad. The fall colors are beautiful, but you can smell the death of the earth in the air. Snow is not too far off, I can feel that in my bones. When I think of snow, I think of sitting by a fire all wrapped up, and crocheting, or reading a really good book. Unfortunately for me, if I was near a fire, I'd be complaining that I was too hot. And all wrapped up, totally out of the question. I am one of those people, (OK, maybe I am the only one), who wears tank tops all year long. I'm always hot. If I am ever cold, then look out, something's really wrong.

Well it's lunch time, and I have to eat and get ready for a doctors appointment so, gotta run. I hope I don't wait to long to write in this blog again. And, I hope the next time I do, I'll have something to show for all my hanging around.

Summers over and time to get Crocheting

2008-08-29T14:24:00.003-04:00

I can't believe that summer is over. It feels like it just flew by. We went on vacation the next to last week of August and it was nice. I enjoyed the fact that I was at the beach all week, but having the grandkids around that time was crazy. I think next year I will talk David into taking a week by ourselves. I think it would be much more relaxing for both of us. I got an awesome tan though, LOL. I took something to crochet with me, but never got the chance to do any.

Well, I am getting ready for Christmas, as in making my lists of items to crochet for everyone. I decided this year that I would make one bigh special gift for one person, and lots of little gifts for everyone else. This way I am not over doing myself and trying to do the impossibel. So, I chose my mom as my first big gift receiver, adn for her I am making the Blessed mother shawl by Kim Guzman. you can see a picture of it here: http://kimguzman.bravejournal.com/entry/20024 unfortunately the only way to get the pattern is to purchase it from someone else. My mom is a devout christian and I thought I would make this the same way a prayer shawl is made. I will sort of pray over it as I make it. I will put love, strength, health, and well being into it. As you can see by my blog I am not a christian, but my mom doesn't hold that against me. She's pretty cool about it, always asking questions, and comparing our religious beliefs. She will even send me and email that is religious in content and tell me to substitute the word "God" for whatever feels right to me. I truly love her for that.

For the rest of my family and friends I have decided all the women, (my 2 daughters, and 4 girl friends) will get kitchen & bath sets, and a hat & scarf set. Mom will get a kitchen & bath set as well. My grandchildren, Tati, will get doll clothes, and AJ will get a cowboy outfit, along with scarfs, hats and mittens. Now 2 of my girl friends have daughters that play with Tati, there are 3 of them and they will all get hat, scarf, & mitten sets. My other 2 girl friends, (one being my best friend) have sons. There are 3 of them as well. Twin boys, and my sweetie Braeden. the twins are 15 months old and Brae is 7 months old. for them, I will make a sweater set. Something cutesy. For the men, Hats, scarfs and hopefully sox. On my side bar I will have a meter that will show my progress as each item is completed. I think this will help me so that I don't get too overwhelmed. I have almost 4 months to complete all of this and I believe I can.

On my last post I talked about how much I loved making my top. Well, I have since then set it aside with the idea that I will work on it again after the holidays. I will frogg it and re-make it. If for some reason I can't, then it will be frogged a final time and I will use the yarn for something else. It will only mean that this top was not meant for me.

I am going to the Doc's next week and I am going to get answers to some questions I have. I was recently diagnosed with Lichen Planus it is a rare skin disease and they think it's linked to meds I have taken, but they aren't sure. I gave up my arthritus meds to help this go away, and that did not help me. I need some kind of arthritus medicine to help me. I am getting worse and can't stand it. It can take up to 2 years for this rash to go away. I'll tell you, it sux. I also have concerns about pre-diabetes. I know that is runs in my family and I have noticed some really strong changes that tip toward this. I also want the doctor to test my thyroid. Just precautionary, but my daughter has a slow thyroid and where I can't seem to lose weight even with diet and exercise somethings up. And the last thing, is I need to contact my knee doctor. I want my cortisone shots in my knees again. I can't stand the fact that I can hardly walk anymore.

Well until another day
Blessings to you all

AAAAHHHHHH Crocheting clothes SUCK

2008-07-13T12:57:00.005-04:00

Last time I wrote, I mentioned how I was making the "light & lively top" from Lion Brand. It is such an easy top to make. YEAH RIGHT. I am now giving up on it, and I will be ripping it out again, and this makes, what, the fourth time. I thought I did everything right. There are no mistakes in the stitches, everything looks perfect, and I only have a few more rows to go to finish it before adding the straps. Well, last night I decided to sort of try it on. It's too freaking big. Go figure. I even went with a smaller size down than what I am. I measured, and re-measured and followed the instructions, and the top is way too big. I don't understand. The yarn I am using doesn't stretch all that much, so that's not it. But this thing is not just a little too big, it's like 6 - 8 inches around too big. I don't know if there is a way to fix it besides ripping it out and starting over. I so wanted to wear this next saturday. So now I will just work on something else. I have way too many items I have to make for the holidays, that I can't keep playing around with this stupid top.

I think because of my frustration, I am going to make a few small items before I get into anything big. I mean, I need to feel like I've completed something. Maybe when the winter sets in, I can go back and re-figure, and re-crochet the top again. You'd think I wouldn't have so much trouble with clothes, because I can make Barbie clothes. I mean Barbie clothes are tiny, and people clothes are big. Same difference, right?

In fact I will be making some Barbie clothes for my granddaughter, Tatiana, for her birthday coming up, on August 5th. I also got some patterns to make Barbie furniture, so I think I will make some of those also. Maybe some regular doll clothes also. These are small items and I will at least feel like I've accomplished something.

While I was thinking about that stupid top, (that's all I do think about now), I came up with some ideas on making some other tops for myself. These will be my own design, so if they come out crummy or not at all, then I have no one to blame but myself. But in my head, they seem easy, so I'll give them a go after I get the holiday stuff done.

Well, I'm off to try and make something. I can't get this top out of my head.
Ciao for now

Summer crochet & Other things

2008-06-29T21:23:00.003-04:00

Wow, I can't believe it has been over a month since I last wrote, or maybe I can. I am a little slow on the upkeep of a blog (journal). LOL I have never been a good journal keeper. My first and only diary was when I was around 15, (way way back in the olden days), :) and I wasn't good with keeping that up to date either. So, what have I been doing for a month. Well let me tell you. I decided to crochet the "light and lively top" from Lion brand. I figured I'd use this awesome yarn I had in my stash, Reynolds Saucy in Purple Passion. Now understand, I have a large bust, so I had to alter the size a bit to fit me. First time I did the triangles I made them way way too big. It was so funny, it made me look like I was flat. LOL. So, I frogged them, but not until after I had added the under bust. Nooo it would have been too smart to frog first, less work, but I had to make sure. So, I ended up frogging the triangle and 3 rows of underbust. Now at this time I also realized I didn't have enough yarn. Ain't that always the way. So I googled the yarn name and color. I found it, but wasn't happy with the price. I'm cheap, what can I say. So, I decided I would make the triangles and the underbust the passion purple and then use a nice dark multi-color for the body then trim in the purple. Well wouldn't you know, I couldn't find a color scheme I liked. I love to buy on e-bay. It's so much easier, prices are usually cheaper, and the ease of it is great for me. Well, back to the color problem, I ended up buying a pinquoin yarn that was multi-colored in lighter colors. I thought, hey it's summer, let's go light. Well wrong. LIGHT LIKE THIS FOR ME IS WRONG. Ok, so let's see, I frogged the triangles and made new ones, they are perfect now. Then I added the three rows of under bust in a smaller size and it seems like it will fit. These I did in the purple passion. I then crocheted the body in the light multi, using up 5 skeins, and the switched over to the purple, and did 9 rows of that. I had maybe a total of 6 rows to go, then I would work on the straps and be done. HA HA, wrong. It was too short. The pinguoin doesn't crochet up the same as the purple, and the color made it hideous. So, yup, I frogged, rip-it, rip-it, rip-it. All the way down to the underbust. I have since found the purple passion from a seller on e-bay. They sell it a couple pennies less than the yarn stores online, and their shipping price is better. So, I just bought 5 more skeins to start, probably need more, and I have been crocheting with all the purple I have left. It's almost done, thank goodness, I really want to wear this. I was hoping to wear it on Saturday, July 19th. I have my finger crossed.

So, what else have I been doing. Ahhh let me tell you. I went fishing down the Cape Cod Canal, I am the only woman of the group allowed to fish. I am usually a better "fisherman" than they are. Not only with cutting my own bait, baiting my own hook, never complaing about having to go pee, or that I'm hungry; I catch the bigger fish. LOL Check it out over in my pictures. That was me, on a chilly day. Usually, I am wearing a bathing suit and soaking up the rays, drinking the beers, and splashing in the water. I LOVE TO FISH. Can't wait to go again. But they go on Saturdays, and I am usually stuck babysitting the grandkids. But let me tell you, when their dad is off from work, I am gone. Up anywhere from 3 am to 5 am to go fishing.

This weekend is gonna be big here. Being that it's the fourth of July. We live in the center of town and there is a carnival across the street in the park every year. All of our freinds come over, cook out, have a few drinks, take the kidz, (those that have them), to the carnival for about an hour or two, then set up the chairs on the lawn and watch the show. It's great, no fighting for a parking space, they park in our yard. And getting home for them is so much easier, they take the back roads, so no traffic. It's really nice. Everyone helps with kidz, food, and drinks. Next year though we are adding a yard sale to the list of things to do. Each person who wants to set up, pays $5 (that's for the ad in the paper and such), and then sells all weekend. We should do great, with all the people that pass by my house to get to the carnival. We'll see.

So, I am already thinking about the holidays. I have so many things I want to make. I want to make at least 2 afghans, 3 mens sweaters, a madonna shawl in filet, 4 boy sweaters, 4 girl sweaters, 6 sets of kitchen items, barbie doll clothes & furniture, baby doll clothes, saddle bags, and a few pairs of slipper sox. I have a bunch of yarn to start the projects so if I work one big item until it's finished and just do a few small things in between, (you know, when you get bored with the big item), I should do good. But I am not starting anything until I finish my top first. LOL

All's well on the home front. Kitties are doing phenomenal, and hubby and I are doing good. Well, I could be better. I have recently been told that this awful rash all over my body is Lichen Planus. Sounds really bad huh. Well, it's not. It just means I am having an allergic reaction to something be it chemical, airborn, or even my arthritus meds. So, to help, I stopped my arthritus meds. That does seem to help with the spreading and itching. But it is still there and UGLY. Some of it has turned purple, and anywhere that I scratched until raw is now scarred. It's totally gross. And my arthritus is starting to bother me agian. So unless they can give me something else for my arthritus I have two choices; I either have this UGLY rash and little to no pain, or I can be somewhat normal looking (cause we all know I'm not normal looking anyway), and pain. I once made a statement to a girl friend of mine how I wanted a new body, and she answered me with the best answer I have ever heard. She said "you are given one life suit in the time to wear, how you wear it is your choice, no replacements, and no exchanges". A very wise woman.

Well ciao for now.

Time for myself

2008-05-20T20:06:00.003-04:00

Time for myself, what a joke. I am laughing all the way to the laundry, dishes, vacume cleaner, dust rag, etc. etc. any old thing you can think of that has to do with cleaning. I am in my spring cleaning mode. Don't know where the heck that came from. OH yeah, it's spring, DUH. Well that's what I'm doing. Cleaning, and organizing and weeding out that which I no longer use, or even have ever used. LOL I am a packrat. I love to have things. Many things, different things, and shiny things. LOL I collect until there is no place to put the things I collect. So, I get rid of some things to make room for new things. I am a thing woman. :) Free-cycle people just love me.

So, between the cleaning and organizing I have had no time to really crochet or do anything creative. And man, those juices are flowing. I mean they are just gushing right out. My mind won't stop seeing creations in everything I am doing, I want to paint rooms, and I can actually close my eyes and see the rooms complete. I want to crochet tops for me, christmas gifts, (oops, sorry, I said the C word). I want to plant my flowers, I want to paint my ceramics. I know, I'll give up sleeping, cleaning (I wish), just plain give up on everything in my life and create. Even food!!! HA HA, like I could ever do that.

Actually, I am almost done with the cleaning. Three rooms left, and they will be done. YAY. Then, I think I will paint two rooms this summer. My bedroom, and the bathroom. I will make one top for myself, and then start some C word gifts. Make a ghan and smaller items at a time. I can do this. Let's see, I need to make 7 ghans, 17 hat sets, 10 pairs of slippers, 5 bath and beauty sets, 5 doilies, 5 mens sweaters, 4 tot girl clothes sets, 4 tot boy clothes sets, 1 infant boy set, and one filet blessed mother shawl for my mom. The only problem I see me getting into is the sweaters. I have never ever made sweaters before. It will be my luck, they will come out looking like they were made for an orangatang. HA HA HA. Oh well, my friends will love them anyway.

I am off to crochet and watch some tv.

Ciao for now

The Wedding is over, time to crochet for ME!!!

2008-04-29T11:19:00.002-04:00

Well the wedding is finally over and it went beautifully. The bride, my daughter Tiffany, looked like a princess as well as my granddaughter Tatiana, the flower girl. I finished the shawls without a hitch, and the girls loved them. It happened to be chilly out, and most of them are smokers, so the shawls really came in handy. I cried, which I knew I would. But my baby has flown the nest, sort of. She, hubby and the kids, are staying with us until their apartment is ready, which should be next week. I will still see her and the kids almost every day until she is back to work, but after she starts work, I will have the kids during the day, and they all go home at night. Peace and quiet. Sounds like a little bit of heaven to me. LOL.

I have so many CAL's to catch up on and projects I want to make, that I will be in yarn-a-topia for a long time. :) I've already started and almost finished one of the doily's I need to make, and I have a cat bed on my hook as well. Nothing fancy on the cat bed, just something nice for my fur babies to sleep in. It will have to be larger than I first thought because they are growing like weeds. Will have to post some pics of them soon.

I created my first pattern, and it was my daughters bridal pouch (purse), and it came out gorgeous. It was so easy and quick that as soon as I rewrite the pattern so that it is readable, I will post it all for any who would like it.

Well, make sure you check out my pics in the flikr site to see the beautifu shawls and purses, and hopefully I will have the pattern ready for tomorrow. I want to go crochet a little.

until later, Ciao

Finally pics to the shawls and other things.

2008-03-09T12:37:00.004-04:00

Wow, there is way too much going on here. There is only 48 days left until the wedding and all the final plans are being done. My daughter is driving me bananas. I still need to finish 2 more of the watermellon shawls and try and make another evening shawl for her mother-in-law to be, as well as make one for myself. Unless everyone in this house will leave me alone, I don't forsee that happening. But you never know.

I have Tiffany's shawl and pattern listed, no it is not my pattern. It is a pattern from Mary Maxim, http://www.marymaxim.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10054_3074457345616780242_-1_3074457345616693277_3074457345616693278. You must register with them, it's free, and you need to adobe because it is a pdf file. I did alter it a bit. Instead of single crochet, I used double, and I extended the width and length. I made the width 15 inches, and because I crochet so tight I tripled the beginning pattern stitches. I used Patons Brilliant in crystal cream and it is gorgeous if I say so myself. OH wait, I am saying so. LOL

Tatiana's shawl is in the same yarn and it's called the old fashioned shawl, and can be found here http://web.archive.org/web/20000619100725/www.craftown.com/cropat2.htm This is also the shawl I am making for all the bridesmaids. Theirs will be in Carons simply soft, watermellon. I just adjusted Tatian's size to fit her, she is only 5 and small.

The black shawl is made from a yarn I had, which I have no clue what kind it was. It's black knitting worsted with silver shot thru it. The patern can be found here, http://www.craftown.com/crochet/pat51.htm The stitches in this are gorgeous. In the first picture you can't quite see them, so I did a close up with white paper underneath.

Got my newest fur member yesterday. We had to drive about an hour and a half to get to the place, but she is so worth it. I have a picture of her as well. She's 7 weeks old and a little ball of puff. She's a grey tuxedo medium hair, and we named her Dusty. Lucifer thinks she's his toy and tries to kick her butt. But let me tell you, she is one tuff little cookie. She hisses at him and gives him more than he can handle. My family is now complete, or I should say, will be after Tiffany gets married. :) Well, I'm off to crochet some more and hopefully soon, I will be done with these and can make something special for myself. Yeah right, like that will ever happen. Somebody always needs or could use something, and I love to crochet that I just have to say, sure.
Ciao for now

another shawl bites the dust

2008-02-23T20:29:00.004-05:00

Yay!!! I am so excited, another shawl is done. only have 5 more to go. LOL. I took a break today, and went out and adopted a new kitten. It's my first boy as I have always had girls, but he is so cute. He is a heartbreaker. I allowed the grandchildren to name him and they named him after their favorite movie, drumm rolllllll--------------------the movie is, Cinderella. and the cat's name is Lucifer. Yes, I know. All I can think of is the mice saying Lucyfur. LOL. He's great though. Now, I have to find him a sister. I was going to have an all black cat, and an all white cat and name them Ebony and Ivory. But with a 2 1/2 yr old and 5 1/2 yr old around, that was not happening. I did tell the children that they got to name the boy, and it's my turn to name the girl, and I can't do that until I meet her, which I haven't yet. Lucifer is great he has already won over my hubby's heart, which really is not all that easy to do. Hubby likes to think he's this tuff macho man, and he isn't. Lucifer has claimed David, as his. plain and simple. Can't wait to take a picture of him and put him up on the site. You will just fall in love with him.

OK, so I finished another of my afghans and am onto the next. I can do this, 5 more and 64 days to go. It seems like I might be able to do it. but the last pattern, and the next 2 are really simple and quick to make. The next 2 are a little more involved. They are the evening shawl found here; http://www.craftown.com/crochet/pat51.htm I have made this before and it really is beautiful, I made this a really long long time ago, like about 17 years ago. So, the memory isn't quite what it should be. LOL Anyway, I'm off to protect Lucifer from Ashton, and try and work some more on the next shawl.

I will be putting up pictures soon as well as links to make these. I have some things that I have made with my own directions and will put them up as well. I love to get free patterns, and pay for some as well, and I would love to share mine with others of like mind.

Ciao for now.

2 Shawls done, 6 more to make

2008-02-17T13:07:00.006-05:00

Finally I finished Tiff's shawl 2 days ago and started and finished Tati's. Oh what a relief, the 2 most important ones are done and I only need to make 6 more, with 68 days left. Sounds like a lot of time, but in all reality it is not. I don't get to crochet for long periods of time because Ashton doesn't like it. Little shit. He seems to think that the world revolves around him. Oh wait, it does, he's only 2 and that is what all 2 yr olds think. LOL Now I will be starting on the brides maids shawls and when I get back from David's Bridal, yes we are going there today. FUN FUN FUN. I will then know what colors I will need and measurments. One thing I truly hate is a shawl that is not long enough. It can be a bit too long, but short shawls suck. I mean they don't keep you warm, or comforted, and they look retartded. So, this is what my day is about. Looking at bridesmaid dresses, listening to all of the complaining, "oh they don't have the color I want, I look fat in this color, this makes me look like a cow" and then, I get to feel like a cow. Cause to tell the truth, I am a cow. LOL I so desperately need to starve myself and drop a few. OK, maybe more than a few. Either that, or I am wearing one of my corsets, and having it laced so tight I won't be able to sit and eat at the wedding. That's it, I'll just walk around looking good, and being friendly no food will interest me. YEAH right, when has food not interested me. I'm doomed. LOL I really should be drinking my tea. This green tea stuff I bought called Wi Tea is supposed to help me lose weight, but I don't think it works if I don't drink it and only look at it. DUH. So, I will now go make a cup of tea, and get dressed to go shopping.
Ciao til later

2008-02-05T23:01:00.000-05:00

Just another day. Well not quite. I just started tanning with my daughter to get ready for the wedding. I mean really, we have to look good for this don't we. And nothing says I look good like a nice tan. LOL. Still working my butt off on Tiffany's shawl. I thougt I was done when I reach 60" but her being such a tall young woman, she's almost 6 feet, I decided to make this 6 feet long. So a few more rows and I'll be done. and it is beautiful if I say so myself. Hey wait, I am. :) I will be putting up pictures of my stuff very soon. The problem is, that I received a new camera for xmas and it came with no program so I can't download the pics into my computer. I tried getting a hold of the company, but no one is responding. So, for now, I will use my daughters and get all my stuff up on flickr.

Not much else happening around here so, I'm off to finish this shawl while everyone is sleeping.

ciao til later

Spring 2008

2008-02-03T17:13:00.000-05:00

So, today I start my blog. It seems so funny that I am blogging, but I want a place to show my crafts, share my life, and rant if needed. Today I will start with where I am in my life. I'm in my office. LOL No seriously, I am beginning a new stretch to my life. I am crocheting my ass off to get my daughter's shawl done for her wedding so that I can then crochet my own shawl. as well as one for my mother, my daughter's mother-in-law to be, and each of the 3 bridesmaids. All of these must be done before the wedding which is April 26, 2008. I can do it. At least I'm thinking positively.

So, what do I do. I am a homemaker, and I babysit my 2 grandchildren. Ashton Jamison, AJ, who is 2 1/2 and a boy from hell, and Tatiana, Tati, who is 5. I watch AJ six days a week and he is just uggghhh. I love him dearly, but he sure keeps me hopping. Tati goes to school, so I only have her in the afternoons. Of course they live with my husband and me along with their mother. But that is only until she gets married. Yup, you guessed it, she's the one getting married in April. Thank the Hallowed Halls of Hell. I love her dearly, but please, I need some peace and quiet in my old age. HA HA She says I'll miss her and the kid's so much, I'll just ramble around the house complaining that I miss them. Yea right. Not. I'm getting my motorcycle license this spring and I will be tooling down the road with hubby. Oh do people still say that? Whatever.

So this is it for now. Gonna go explore this blog stuff and add more garbage soon.
ciao til later.