I have been busy....

I have been very busy this weekend. I have been working on my sister's birthday present. I will be giving her.....wait for it.....dishcloths. I know very exciting, but this way she gets something she can use. The crocheted dishcloth is for me. I hate to waste yarn. So I always take the scraps and use them. I sometimes use them in afghans and give those away. Other times, I make something and keep it here for me or my family. So I just had a lot of fun with this. I am thinking of using this pattern for a prayer shawl. So we'll see when I get there if I use that or not. But it made a nice dishcloth.

I also finished a clown this weekend. This clown was given as a gift to a young girl from my church whose birthday was last Sunday. She didn't care that it was late, just that she got something very special. She was so cute with the clown, she hugged and didn't want to let it go. She is a very cute little girl, but then the whole family is beautiful.

Well, below let me give you the patterns for my dishcloths.

1. Size US 7 Knitting needles Cast on 35 (yes it is smaller, but more manageable), knit back and forth until you have a square (mine measured 8x8").

2. Size US 7 knitting needles

Cast on 42 (I am still uncertain at long tail cast on and ran out of yarn).

Knit 6 rows

*Purl next row

Knit row

Purl Row

Knit 5 rows

Continue until you have 8 groupings of ss and garter stitch.

3. Size F Crochet Hook

Chain 40

1st row: sc

2nd row: hdc

3rd row: dc

Continue until it is a square.

Enjoy.

Things that I have finished and other happenings

Sunday, my middle daughter became ill and was vomitting. The first time was in her bed. I had to strip her and her bed and do an extra 2 loads of laundry. Then she vomitted on herself again. Then she did it again. She refused to go to the bathroom and vomit into a toilet. She refused to vomit into a bucket, held for her. So after the 3rd time of having to strip her and change her clothing and clean up vomit from where she was sitting, I banished her to the bathroom. 1. To clean herself up and 2. to make sure she was close to a toilet and in a place that would be easy to clean up (easier than a carpet or a chair or a sofa). So she finally got the message that she needed to get up and vomit into a toilet.

I also finished some items: I finished my oldest girls snake scarf. She loves it. But I think the weather is going to stay nice and she won't get to use it until next winter.

My friend Marilyn has lost her mother and the funeral was today. So I finished making her prayer shawl just in time to get it blessed for her and to give to her following the funeral. Her cousin, who is a Catholic priest, blessed the shawl for me so that it would be even more special for her. Today, was a very long, hard day. My heart and my prayers are going out for my friend and her family. Her mother passed 1 year, 1 month and 1 day from the day her father passed away. This I think made it harder for her also. But she does have a very good support network. She has a wonderful husband, an awesome son (who has become quite the young man) and her 8 siblings and their spouses and children. She will make it through this, but it will take awhile for her. I have known my friend since I was in college. She was so much fun in college and she is only 3 years older than I am, so in a way she was my friend and my sister. Her parents were so loving and kind. They welcomed all visitors to their home and made you feel that you were always so welcome.

My oldest girl, also has started her latest request....she wants a bluebird. I spent several hours searching through patterns for a bluebird. I found a dodo bird...very funny looking bird and a few very interesting birds. Maybe I can convince her to go with that instead. I know that once I make it for her, her sisters will join in the quest of I want one too. This is how I ended getting on the kick of making socks. Once I turn a heel I will be on my way, but right now I am stuck on heels. Wish me luck.

I also found the funniest picture to symbolize my youngest sister. It is a squirrel balanced with his back feet betweeen two trees eating a nut. It is captioned: Awesome Ninja Skills I has dem. It so fits my sister. She is an awesome young woman and I am very proud of her. Just wish we had more contact, because my daughters are missing out on their aunt. But she has promised that she will go to the Columbus Zoo with us this summer. Should be a lot of fun, for all of us.

Recipes

Recently, I received some new recipes to use and I know that there are those who would like a copy of one of them. So find your favorite and then have fun.

Yeast Doughnuts

from Barbara Leising

1 cup Hot Water

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tbsp salt

1 tbsp Crisco

Mix together and let cool to lukewarm. Add 1 pkg yeast.

Beat together: 1 egg

1/8 cup warm water

1/2 tsp sugar

Add to the above mixture.

Add flour gradually until a dough forms.

Break off small pieces and roll between hands to form doughnut holes. Cook in hot oil until brown. Remove from oil and put in a paper bag filled with powdered sugar and shake until coated. Place on a plate to cool.

Communion Rounds

from RLC

3 cups Gold Medal Wheat Blend for Bread Flour

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

1 1/4 tsp salt

1 tbsp + 1 tsp oil

3/4 cup + 2 tbsp very hot water

3 tbsp honey

3 tbsp mild molasses

Sift dry ingredients three times.

Cut oil into dry ingredients after sifting.

Combine water, honey and molasses. Add to dry ingredients. Mix well. Dough will be sticky.

Divide into four equal parts. Roll each into a 1/4" thick circle.

You can score the round into eight, pie-shaped segments, but it's not necessary.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 8 - 10 minutes (depending on how hot your oven is). Remove from oven. Brush rounds with light coating of oil. Bake an additional 5 - 8 minutes. (Bottoms will be slightly golden brown around the edges). Cool.

Don't grease pan and use a bread hook on your mixer.

Garlic Soup

from Nancy Morgan

1 clove garlic (or to taste you can use less)

3-5 cans of chicken broth

3-5 cans of water

1 jar Great Northern Beans

1 box Farfalle (or bow ties)

1 tbsp olive oil

Cut up garlic into small pieces. Then put into pot with olive oil and brown the garlic. Add chicken broth and water. Add beans and pasta. Let cook for about 1/2 hour or until pasta is soft. Serve with biscuits or bread. Enjoy.

Carey's Sugar Cookies

from Carey Embry

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup cake flour

pinch salt, sifted

1 cup sugar

mix well

1 egg (beaten)

1 stick unsalted butter (cut up into small squares)

table spoon vanilla.

Mix all together to form dough.

Refrigerate for half an hour then bake at 275 degrees for about 15min or until golden around edges.

Enjoy the recipes.

A Prayer Shawl

I am presently the group leader for the Prayer Shawl Ministry at my church. I have been making a lot of prayer shawls for church because we have had a need. A greater need than we have had for awhile. Many serious illnesses and many deaths. So our Ministry had an empty box. We took care of this problem, I made a plea that everyone who knew how to knit or crochet, please, please, please make a shawl. I even moved the boxes with yarn down so that people could get some out and make one. At present our coffers are full (we have 7), but I am still encouraging people to continue to make shawls. I finished another shawl this week. Here are some photos of the shawls I have made recently.

I can also easily provide the link so that you can go to this site and get your own pattern for this wonderful shawl. It is very simple and lovely. It suggests that you use Homespun yarn, but in the one photo I used ribbon yarn (it is a little heavy, but if the person is young it is not bad), and a polyester that is a lot of fun (very light weight). Here is the site: http://www.debbiemacomber.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=nnp&pageID=196 Check it out and have a good time.

If you want to see some other wonderful patterns from this site check out: http://www.debbiemacomber.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=knitting&pageID=2 This is Debbie Macomber's site. She puts up some wonderful patterns. So far these haven't changed, but she does have one that changes every few weeks.

My Daughter...the Comedienne

My middle girl is quite funny. She comes up with some one liners that she just delivers without guile and makes you laugh so hard your sides hurt. One day she wanted to go swimming and while her Dad was trying to get them into his car (so he could leave me my car in case something happened and I had to take my other daughter, who was ill to an urgent care), she looks at him and says, "No Dad. Your car is too dirty for me." My husband felt the need to go to a car wash and clean his car last night.
We also have been dealing with toilets that have been leaking, finally one just stopped working entirely and I told the girls they were not allowed to use this bathroom until the toilet was fixed. So very obediently they have been fighting over the two remaining bathrooms. I bought the parts and my husband used them to repair the toilets. My daughter (comedienne) is battling with me over the use of this bathroom and I told her that "Daddy has fixed the potty and you can use it." Finally, she goes into this bathroom and uses the toilet and then flushes it. With a great deal of surprise she says, "It worked?!" What do you do? Me personally, I laugh.
This is the same child that will put on a show for her classmates, read to her classmates from her favorite book (somewhat memorized, somewhat reading). She will sing in the car with me and throughout the house.
She is very different from her sisters, who love to paint and draw. But, she is herself. She wants me to make her so many pairs of socks, that I will be knitting until she is in college, so far. She will be our star and keep us laughing.

Life with Sick Kids

Well we have moved on to another week with illness in the house. I gave up counting how many weeks it has been since we had everyone healthy all at once. Let's just say that 5 months ago was the last time everyone was healthy. My oldest girl has some illness that has caused her a sore throat, so bad she only whispers, a cough that prevents sleep and causes vomitting and last but not least a fever, getting higher every day. What does this mean...no sitting without someone sitting on me. Two children demanding my attention and last but not least, another child exhibiting symptoms that she is also now starting to get ill. This really cuts into time that I need for other things. Laundry becomes a challenge because I end up doing more than 2 loads a day. I also start laundry a lot earlier in the morning on these days as well. I know that this too shall pass, but I wonder what next. Well, the children are finally sleeping (including the sick one), so it's time for a little knitting/crocheting. Too much to do, too little time to do it in.

Novenas

In this time, I thought it would be good to share some Novenas that bring hope to those who pray these prayers. For those who may not know some of the prayers that are supposed to be recited with the Novena:
Our Father
Our Father, Who art in heavenHallowed be Thy Name;Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread,and forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us;and lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil. Amen
Hail Mary
Hail Mary,Full of Grace,The Lord is with thee.Blessed art thou among women,and blessed is the fruitof thy womb, Jesus.Holy Mary,Mother of God,pray for us sinners now,and at the hour of death.
Amen
The Glory Be Prayer
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

To the Holy Spirit:
Holy Spirit you who solve all problems. Who light all roads so that I can attain my goals. You who give me divine gift to forgive and to forget all evil against me and that in all instances of my life you are with me. I want in this short prayer to thank you for all things and to confirm once again that I never want to be separated from you even in spite of all material illusions. I wish to be with you in eternal glory. Thank you for your mercy toward me and mine. Amen. The person must say this prayer for three consecutive days

To the Sacred Heart:
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude, help of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer nine (9) times a day. By the 8th day your prayer will be answered. Say it for 9 days.

To the Blessed Virgin:
Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea, help me and show me here you are my Mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth. I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make prayer request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh Mary, Pray for us who have recourse to Thee, (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands (3 times).

To St. Jude:
Most Holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Make use I implore you, of that particular privilege given to you, to bring visible and speedy help where help in almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly (make prayer request here) and that I may praise God with you and all the elect forever. I promise O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen.

St. Anthony Saint of Miracles:
O Holy St. Anthony, reach down from heaven and take hold of my hand.
Assure me that I am not alone. You are known to possess miraculous powers and to be ever ready to speak for those in trouble.
Loving and Gentle St. Anthony, reach down from heaven I implore you and assist me in my hour of need. Obtain for me (mention your request here).
Dearest St. Anthony, reach down from heaven and guide me with thy strength. Plead for me in my needs. And teach me to be humbly thankful as you were for all the bountiful blessings I am to receive.
Amen.
Novena of the Twenty-four Glory Be to the Fathers
The Twenty-four "Glory be to the Father's" novena can be said at any time. However, the ninth to the seventeenth of the month is particularly recommended, for on those days the petitioner joins in prayer with all those making the novena. The "Glory be to the Father" praising the Holy Trinity is said twenty-four times each of the nine days, in thanksgiving for all the blessings and favors given to Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus during the twenty-four years of her life. In addition, this, or a similar prayer may be used:

"Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, I thank Thee for all the blessings and favors Thou hast showered upon the soul of Thy servant Theresa of the Child Jesus, during the twenty-four years she spent here on earth, and in consideration of the merits of this Thy most beloved Saint, I beseech Thee to grant me this favor, if it is in accordance with Thy most Holy Will and is not an obstacle to my salvation."
After this Prayer, follow the twenty-four "Glory Be's," between each of which may be included this short prayer: "Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, pray for us."

I hope that anyone who reads these is able to find the help they need.
Don't forget to Thank God every day for all the blessings he has brought into our lives.

Train Ride and Knitting (crocheting) in Public

I live near the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad and I have a friend (who also goes to church with me) who works on the train. I was talking to him about a day geared towards those who knit or crochet. He loved the idea and he wanted to get an idea of how much interest it would garner. So now I am posting all over the place trying to get people interested in this. It would probably be best if we could do this on Knit in Public Day...a train ride dedicated to Chicks (and Guys) with Sticks. People sitting around Lebanon, Ohio knitting in the public squares while waiting for their ride on the train. A nice country train ride and a chance to meet others who enjoy this activity and lives near by. If you read this and would like to see the LMMRR follow through call 513-933-8022.

Counting your Blessings

As we look at what is happening and more people get laid off, we need to remember that God is with us and watching out for us. So today and everyday we should count our blessings and Thank God for all the blessings he has bestowed upon us.

My Clown

Pattern for Clown: Mary’s Clown
Items required:
F hook G hook H hook 1 skein white yarn 1 skein “inside color” usually a lighter complimentary color - 1st color 1 skein “outside color” usually a darker complimentary color - 2nd color
Hat:
Use 2nd color of yarn. Using an F hook chain 5 connect the chain and chain up 3 and then double crochet 11 in the circle, connect and chain up 3 put 2 double crochets in each double crochet, continue for 6 rows. Connect and then switch needles to G hook and put 2 double crochets in each stitch. Connect and switch needles to H hook and the put 3 double crochets in each stitch. Finish.
Arms:
Use 1st color of yarn. Using a G hook chain 30, skip to 2nd stitch and put 3 double crochets in each stitch to the end of the chain. Finish. Then using 2nd color of yarn in 1st stitch chain up 3 and then put 2 double crochets in 1st stitch and 3 double crochet in all other stitches to the end. Finish.
Legs:
Use 1st color of yarn. Using a G hook chain 45, skip to 2nd stitch and put 3 double crochets in each stitch to the end of the chain. Finish. Then using 2nd color of yarn in 1st stitch chain up 3 and then put 2 double crochets in 1st stitch and 3 double crochets in all other stitches to the end. Finish.
Collar:
Use 1st color of yarn. Using a G hook chain 25, skip to 2nd stitch and put 3 double crochets in each stitch to the end of the chain. Finish. Using 2nd color of yarn in 1 stitch chain up 3 and then put 2 double crochets in 1st stitch and then 3 double crochet in all other stitches to the end. Finish.
Head and Body:
With white using F Hook, chain 4, sl st to join in ring. Work in rounds and do not sl st to join unless specified.
Round 1: 6 hdc in ring, sl st to join. Mark beg of round. Round 2: 2 hdc in each hdc = 12 hdc. Round 3: hdc, working 2 hdc in every 2nd hdc = 18 hdc. Round 4: hdc, working 2 hdc in every 3rd hdc = 24 hdc. Round 5: hdc, working 2 hdc in every 4th hdc 30 hdc. Round 6: hdc. Round 7: hdc, working 2 hdc in every 4th hdc = 37 hdc. Round 8 - 10: hdc. Rounc 11: hdc, working 2 hdc in every 5th hdc = 44 hdc. Round 12 - 14: hdc. Round 15: hdc, working every 4th and 5th hdc tog = 36 hdc. Round 16: hdc. Round 17: hdc, working every 3rd and 4th hdc tog = 27 hdc. Round 18: hdc, working every 2nd and 3rd hdc tog = 18 hdc. Round 19: With desired body color (primarily 1st color) work in hdc, working 2 hdc in every 3rd hdc = 24 hdc. Round 20: hdc. Round 21: hdc, working 2 hdc in every 4th hdc = 30 hdc. Round 22 - 25: hdc. Round 26: Change back to white, hdc. Round 27 - 29: hdc. Round 30 - 31: hdc, working every 3rd and 4th hdc tog. Round 32 and 33: hdc, working every 2nd and 3rd hdc tog.
Stuff body, work 2 hdc around until opening is closed. Fasten Off.
Stitch hat to top of the head. Stitch collar to the “neck.” Stitch arms and legs to sides and bottom of body.
If making this for a small child(ren) then use fabric paints to paint on a clown face. If you are making for an older child or adult decoration you can attach “googly” eyes and pompom nose and felt mouth with glue gun. But it is much more fun to paint on a face.

Welcome

I have been trying to figure out the best way to share recipes and patterns with friends. It seems that the best way to do this is to have a blog. So welcome to my sharing space. I hope that you are able to find something that helps you.

Below is the first pattern I feel like sharing. It is simple to make and easy to carry along.

Book Worms:
Crochet Hook I
Any yarn (best is nothing fancy)

Chain 55
Place 3 dc in the 3rd from the hook and then each after this. It will curl. Stop when you have placed 3 dcs in 20 chains. Tie off. Make a pom-pom or a tassel (whichever you like best) and attach to the the end of the chain. Hide the tie offs.

You have just created your first book worm. You can make quite a few with one skein of yarn or you can just use leftovers from other projects. This can be given to anyone or use it for yourself.