New Year's Resolutions

You have already read about my look back at 2009.  Now let's take a peek at what I have planned for 2010.  Some of these includes links so you can join me in my resolutions.  If you decided to join on any of these, please leave me a comment and let me know that I am not alone!!!

First, a closer relationship with and better understanding of God.  I plan to accomplish this by reading though the Bible chronologically.  (To be honest I have already started this one, but you can still join in.)  You can join my by clicking this link. or go to www.ewordtoday.com/year/ to chose your own preferred version.

Second, I want to see the me I see in my head start to appear in the mirror.  I plan to start this goal with Sparkpeople's Spark Your Body Bootcamp Challenge and Contest.  I have talked about Sparkpeople on here before so hopefully you have picked up on those posts.  If not, check it out.  It is completely free, they help plan your meals, count calories for you, free exercise plans, and exercise videos.  I lost 40 lbs last time I sparked and I plan to lose even more this time.  If you do join up, please look me up...I am sunflowers4me on Sparkpeople.

Third, I plan to start charity crocheting again.  Now that baby A is starting to entertain herself a little more and I can find some time to crochet some, I really want to start making things for babies again.  I primarily make items for God's Tiny Angels, and have off and on for years now.  I have a lot of respect for the woman who organizes it all as she does so with no financial compensations.  If she doesn't collect enough to mail packages out she covers the cost herself.  She really has a heart for these babies and children and for serving God using the talent He has provided her.  I plan to donate 50 items to GTA in 2010.

I have many others, but I really think that I will follow through on these 3 so those are the ones I am sharing.  chicken? Yup!  don't want to post it if I probably won't follow through with it!  Happy New Year's Eve to all!

Love,

Earflap Hat

I really love the look of the earflap hats!  I wanted to make one for baby A as I think that she may actually keep one like this on her head, but have had a really hard time finding a pattern that I like.  I finally came across the Speed Hook Earflap Hat on the Lionbrand website but I didn't have the right yarn or the right hook.  So I passed it over and spent quite awhile trying to find something else only to keep coming back to the Lionbrand pattern.

After about the 100th time, I looked at the pattern and decided to modify it for what I had.  At first I tried an N hook and 2 strands of WW yarn together, but I really thought it would be to bulky for my little one.  Then I switched to a smaller hook and one strand of yarn.  After some trial and error (read this as making 2 gauge swatches and completing all but the ear flaps only to discover that my gauge was off and the circumference was 2 inches to small so I had to frog it and start over!) this is what I came up with.  This fits an 18-19 in head circumference.

Earflap Hat
You will need:
WW yarn (I used Red Heart Super Saver in Buff Fleck)
size H  5mm hook
optional size I 5.5 mm hook
darning needle
piece of 3 inch cardboard


gauge:  (This is REALLY important!)  14 stitches and 14 rows equals 4 inches

Pattern begins here

with I hook (or with H hook just be sure to work loosely) chain 68.
R 1: work sc in second chain from hook and each chain across. ch 1 turn (67 sc)
R 2: work sc in first sc,* ch 1, skip next sc, work sc in next sc.  Repeat from * to end.  ch 1 turn. (34 sc, 33 ch 1 spaces)
R 3:  * work sc in next sc, ch 1, skip next ch 1 space.  Repeat from * across.  ch 1 turn
R 4 - 14: repeat R 3

R 15: sc in first sc, *sk ch 1 space, sc in next sc, ch 1, sc next ch 1 sp, sc in next sc.  Repeat from * across.  sc in last sc, ch 1 turn.  (34 sc and 16 ch 1 spaces)
R 16-17:  sc in first 2 sc, * ch 1, sc in each of the next 2 sc.  Repeat from * across.  Ch 1 turn.
R 18: sc in each sc across, skipping every ch 1 space.  Ch 1, turn.  (34 sc)
R 19:  sc in each sc across.  Ch 1, turn
R 20:  sc in first sc, * ch 1, skip next sc, sc in next.  Repeat from * across ending sc the last 2 together.  Ch 1, turn.  (17 sc, 16 ch 1 spaces)
R 21: *sc in sc, ch 1, skip ch 1 space.  Repeat from * across ending with a sc in the last sc.  Ch 1, turn.
R 22: repeat R 15.  (17 sc)
R 23 sc in first sc, * ch 1, skip ch 1 space, sc in each of the next 2 sc.  Repeat from * across.  ch 1, turn.
R 24: sc in first 2 sc, *skip the ch 1 space, sc in next 2 sc.  Repeat from * across ending with ch 1, skip the ch 1 space, sc in last sc.  Ch 1, turn.  (17 sc)

R 25: (sc 2 together) repeat all the way across, sc in last sc.  ch 1, turn.  ( 9 sc)
R 26:  sc in each sc across.  Ch 1, turn.R 27:  repeat R 25.  (5 sc)
R 28: sc in first sc, ch 1, skip 1 sc, sc in next, ch 1 skip next sc, sc in last.  (3 sc and 2 ch 1 spaces)  Fasten off leaving a long tail (at least 12 inches).  Weave tail through top loops of the stitches on this row and gather tightly.  Fasten this securely leaving the remaining tail to sew the seam together later.

Earflaps
Beg on opposite side of beg chain skip first 7 chains, join yarn in next ch with a sc.
R 1:  join yarn with a sc, sc in each of the next 13 sc – 14 sc.
R 2-3: ch 1, turn.  work sc in each sc
R 4: ch 1 turn, sc 2 together, sc across to last 2 sc, sc 2 together.  12 sc
R 5: sc in each sc across
R 6: repeat R 4.  10 sc
R 7: sc in each sc across
Repeat R 4-7 once
Repeat R 4-6 once more.  You should now have only 2 sc
R 15; ch 1, turn, sc 2 together.  Fasten off and weave in ends

Skip next 20 sc of the foundation row after the first earflap.  Repeat from Row 1 for second earflap.

FINISHING
Edging
Using 1 strand each of A, B, C, and D held together, join yarn at edge of opposite side of beg ch, sc in first 7 ch; *work 14 sc evenly along the side of the earflap, ch 6, sl st into 2nd ch from hook and remaining ch, work 14 sc evenly along next side of earflap**, sc in next 20 stitches of the foundation chain; repeat from * to **, sc in remaining 12 ch. Fasten off. Sew back seam. Weave in ends.

Tassel (make 2)
Using 1 strand of yarn, wrap it around a 3 inch piece of cardboard 15 times. (or you can cheat like I did and wrap it around 4 fingers of your hand!) Cut a 10 in.  length of yarn (if wrapping yarn around your hand be sure to do this first as it is REALLY difficult to do with yarn wrapped around 1 hand!) and thread into large-eyed blunt needle. Insert needle under all strands at one end of cardboard. Pull tightly and knot securely near strands. Cut yarn loops at opposite end of cardboard. Cut a 10 in.  length of yarn and wrap tightly around loops 1 in. below knot to form Tassel neck. Knot securely. Weave tie ends into center of Tassel. Trim Tassel ends evenly. Sew a Tassel to end of each Earflap.

 Hope you enjoy the pattern!  It hasn't been tested so if you find a problem please let me know.

Love,

Monday Musings

I can't believe that this is the last Monday of 2009!  It seems that this year has gone so very, very fast!  In the span of a year I have seen baby A learn to crawl and then walk.  I have heard her learn to vocalize and then talk.  I watched K adjust to high school, J adjust to middle school, and H adjust to being in a school all by herself for the very first time in her life.

My husband and I began the year with him laid off of work (almost a year total), to begin a job making a phenomenal amount of money but we both hated it, to being offered his job back with a company we both absolutely loved.  He took the job and started back working days only to discover that he is now (and for the next year) on nights.

The year started with us trying to find a place in our church and ended with both of us serving faithfully in capacities that we really feel called to.

We have grown closer as a family, closer to our church family and closer to God.  It has truly been an amazing year of growth for all of us.

And I have to admit that it has been a wonderful experience sharing my life with you, my reader.  I feel that I have grown close to some of you.  I have had the privilege of sharing your experiences as well.  You have at times encouraged me with wonderful words of praise, you have lifted me up at times that I needed to hear a friendly voice, and you have at times even validated me.  Thank you.

I look forward with eager anticipation to what He has in store for me and my family in the coming year.  I know that like this year I may not always like the situation that I will be in, but I also know that God will provide for me and that everything will have a purpose.

So Happy New Year to each of you.  Hug your families, let them know how much you love them, and most of all remember to thank God, especially when things get difficult, because His plans are such that will prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

as always, you can download a better resolution of this by clicking here

feel free to share it in it's original form but please, give me credit and include a link to my blog.

Love,

Christmas Eve Eve

Hello readers!  It is Christmas Eve eve and I am (believe it or not!) finishing up my very last handmade item!!!  YEAH!!!

At the last minute I found out that the gift I had arranged for my mother was not something that she wanted (even though I told her I was doing it almost 3 weeks ago).  That left me in a quandary as to what to get/make for her as a gift.  I finally decided to buy her a candle (which she loves) and a puzzle (which she also loves) and make her a simple puzzle keeper.  Problem  solved.

By the way, a puzzle keeper is a great little gadget for anyone who works puzzles to have.  Basically you take an empty wrapping paper tube and cut it down to about 6 inches larger than the most common size puzzle that you work.  Then buy some felt ( the kind that comes on a bolt and not the little squares available in the craft stores) and cut it to the same height and the length should be about a yard.  Cover the wrapping paper tube in tacky glue or spray adhesive and then roll the felt onto the tube all the way around it until the felt meets.  Allow the glue to dry.  On the opposite end from where the tube is about 1/4 of the way from the top attach ribbon by folding a 24 inch piece of ribbon in half and crease.  Pin the ribbon about 1/2 inch in from the outside edge of the felt and sew in place along the crease.  Repeat for the bottom side.  Now the recipient can work the puzzle on the mat.  When he/she is done working it for the day simply roll it up (including the loose pieces) and tie it closed.  The felt keeps the pieces from sliding and shifting and you don't have to worry about losing pieces when little fingers or paws come exploring. 

So that just leaves my very last project, a crochet beagle dog for H.  Currently the body, ears, and part of the head are done.  I should have it completed tonight leaving Christmas eve open for baking cookies, making deviled eggs, candlelight communion at church, and our tradition of opening one present each.  And I was worried about getting it all done!  (Usually I am up Christmas eve trying to finish everything!)

Hope each of you have a wonderful and very blessed Christmas.  Please remember to take a moment and thank God for the first, and best, gift ever given...that of his Son.

Love,

Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas and all around me
There was unfinished crocheting not under the tree,
The stockings weren't hung by the chimney with care'
Cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
But I had not finished the caps for their heads.
Dad was asleep---he was no help at all.
And the sweater for him was 6" too small.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I put down my hook to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash.
Tripped over my yarn and fell down in my stash.

The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow
Reminded me how far I still had to go.
When out on the lawn I heard such a noise,
I was sure it would wake up both Dad and the boys.

And although I was tired--my brain a bit thick,
I knew in a moment that it must be St Nick.
Yet what I heard left me very perplex-ed
For nothing I heard was what I expect-ed.

"Move Rowan! Move Patons! Move Koigu and Clover!
Move Shelridge! Move Starmore! Move Spinrite! Move over!
Lopi, don't circle around, just stand there in line.
Pay attention you sheep and you'll work out just fine!
I know this is hard as it's just your first year
But I'd hate to go back to 8 tiny reindeer."

I peered over the sill. What I saw was amazing:
Eight wooly sheep on my lawn all a-grazing!
And then in a twinkle, I heard at the door
Santa's big boots stomping on the porch floor.

I rose from my knees and got back on my feet.
As I turned around, St Nick I did meet.
He was dressed all in wool from his head to his toe
And his clothes were hand crochet from above to below.

A bright Fair Isle sweater he wore on his back.
And his toys were all stuffed in an Aran crochet sack.
His hat was a wonder of bobbles and lace
A beautiful frame for his rosy red face.

The scarf on his neck could have stretched for a mile,
And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.
On the back of his mitts was an intricate cable.
And suddenly on one I spotted a small label:

"S.C." in duplicate on the cuff. So I asked,
"Hey, Nick, did YOU crochet all this stuff?"
He proudly replied, "Ho, ho, ho, yes I did.
I learned how to crochet when I was just a kid."

He was chubby and plump, a well dressed old man,
And I laughed to myself, for I'd thought up a plan.
I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,
And the next thing he knew, he was tied to a chair.

He spoke not a word, but looked down in his lap
Where I had laid my crochet hook and yarn for a cap.
He began then to crochet, first one cap then 2--
For the first time I thought I might really get through.

He put heels in the stockings and toes in some socks,
While I sat back drinking a sweet tea on the rocks.
Quickly like magic his hook it did fly,
Good Grief! He was finished in the blink of an eye!

He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,
And over his shoulder he looked back at me.
I heard him explain as he sailed past the moon,
"Next year, start your crocheting sometime around JUNE!"

~ Author Unknown

 Ain't this the truth!  I sit here crocheting on J's afghan.  I have 2 rounds each on 6 more blocks to go and then to assemble them and put a border on the whole thing.  I also have to make an ami beagle for H from a pattern off of By Hook, By Hand.  After than I need to make 1 more headband.  I did finish A's kitty to go with her Aristocats book using the pattern from By Hook, By Hand also. 

 In addition, we were hit by the snow storm and it dropped 8 inches last night knocking out our power.  Thank God we were blessed enough financially last year to be able to afford a generator that will power most of the house except things that produce heat.  My wonderful hubby went out today and bought a kerosene heater that is big enough to heat the whole house.  He is getting it started up now. 

 In the meantime, I crochet...and hope St. Nick will come early to lend a hand!

Love,