Almost the Weekend

Almost the weekend. Yep, after a week of illness, I am so ready for it to be over and go do something fun. We are still coughing and still just trying to breathe and not be so completely worn out. We are slowly getting better and after a week, we just want to do something fun. I did finally finish reading Tess Gerritsen's, "The Surgeon." I love the show "Rizzoli and Isles" and I could definitely see some elements of the book in the tv show, but then given how shows and movies change books to make them something they can show on tv or in theatres, I can see it. It was a pretty good book. I could so empathize with Rizzoli in the book and the difference of her brothers in the book vs tv show was evident. I am looking forward to reading, "The Apprentice," also by Tess Gerritsen. I also am reading "All the Light We Cannot See," by Doerr. It is a really big book. I borrowed it from the library and it was a 7 day loan. I was not able to finish it in time, but I was able to get it for my Kindle. I now have 2 weeks to finish reading it.

I originally sat down earlier, and was going to go through my emails, but I ended up looking through my books on Goodreads, to see which book in the bookseller's mysteries comes 1st, which book in the Rizzoli and Isles books came 2nd and just to find out where I had to stop in the actual book copy of the Doerr book. Then I started doing other things. I won't work on this for very long as I want to get Part 1 of the Groovyghan CAL. I was probably going to get it finished before Part 2 came out, but then the illness won. Part 2 came out last night, but it is only 2 parts and it will be 2 weeks before Part 3 comes out. I know that there are people who are complaining that they are coming out too slow and would like new portions every week instead. It is a really popular CAL and people from all over the world are participating. It is fun to see what their color combinations are and how they are connecting the pieces.

Tonight my goal on the email is to get below 1800. Tomorrow, I will try to get to about 1750. But a little at a time. It will get finished.

Afghan - Stained Glass - granny squares
Afghan - Loco for Cocoa
Afghan - Spiral
Afghan - Crochet Multicolored Throw

Baby - Jester Hat
Baby - Uggs
Baby - Snuggle Sack and Hat

Bags - Crochet Tote
Bags - Errands
Bags - Easy Mesh Market Bag
Bag - Melon Pocket Bag - folds up small for carrying and then opens up for market day.
Bags - Green Grocery Bag

Dishcloth - St Patrick's Day
Dishcloth - Bloomin' Flower

E-Reader - Cabled Cozy

Easter - Bunny with Candy pouch
Easter - Bunny Buddies
Easter - Peeps

Flower - Knitted Tutorial

Hats - Starbuck's Mandala
Hats - Happy
Hat and Scarf Set - Hugs and Kisses set for kids
Hats - Blue Slouch Beanie
Hat - Crochet Sun Hat
Hats - Cute Hoot Hat
Hats - Teal Hat with Brim
Hats - Crochet Scandinavian Hat
Hats - Grey Slouch Beanie
Hats - Garden Goddess Hat
Hat - Secret Garden Hat - could be referencing the book "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Headband - Anthro Inspired Braided Headband

Mittens - Easy Crochet
Mitts - Easy Wrist Warmers
Mitts - Lace
Mittens - City

Scarf - Easy Striped
Scarf - Cabled
Scarf - Meaning of Life
Scarf - Belle Fleur Scarf

School - Pencil Case
School - Backpack

Shawl - Amazing Mitred Shawl
Shawl - Prism free download on Ravelry
Shawl - Aeolian
Shawl - Big Triangle
Shawl - Popcorn free pattern from Red Heart Yarns
Shawl - Cyrcus Rectangular free download from Ravelry

Socks - Creta Lace
Socks - Easy Toe Up
Socks - for Father's Day

St Patrick's Day - Shamrock and Leprechaun

Toys - Blue Bunny
Toys - Year of the Tiger
Toys - Leprechuan free download from Ravelry
Toys - Rainbow Bear
Toys - Crochet Owl

Another Snow Day, Illness and More Illness

The week is almost over and Wednesday, the schools closed for a snow day. First, our school district called a 2 hour delay and then moved on to closed. I can understand why. As hard as the snow plow drivers worked, they were not able to get some of the areas the buses would have to travel before they had to go out. My kids think it is unfair that they have to go to school when the other kids are off for the day. But I pointed out that they get days the other kids don't, they get field trips while the others are in school. They have more freedom, but they still have to work. One day they will celebrate this freedom, but now they just don't see it.

I know that my emails are going down, but when I take a day off from clearing them out, they go back up. I just need to work on them one day and get more out of the box and keep it going down. Well, starting on Thursday, I ended up getting the flu. Slowly and surely my family has been going down with me. The whole house is going down. Poor dog thinks she can pull a fast one on us as we are just feeling so bad. She thinks she can get 4 or 5 meals a day during this. The cats just keep going from sick person to sick person. They hope they don't lose us as they are considered too old for adopting. Of course, the number of emails just keeps going up as I am just trying to get better and I have to keep going to store to buy more juice and popsicles. Fluid, is fluid, no matter what kind at this stage. The good news, I lost 20 lbs in 7 days, granted 15 of them in 3 days.

Afghans - Chevrons and Ladders
Afghans - Dublin
Afghans - Tapioca Pudding
Afghans - Color Block
Afghans - Celtic Weave
Afghans - Red Crochet
Afghans - Peaceful Lapghan

Bags - Little Granny Bag Tutorial

Basket - Crochet Neon Baskets
Baskets - Stash Buster

Charms - Funny Charms for Kids

Granny Square - 4 Heart Square
Granny Square - Shining Star
Granny Square - Aztec Stripes
Granny Square - Magic Spike Mandala
Granny Square - Chinese Puzzle
Granny Square - Hexagon Square Tutorial
Granny Square - Heart Square
Granny Square - Prince Protea
Granny Square - Rainbow Squares
Granny Square - Enough Love to Go Around

Handwarmers - Smitten
Handwarmers - Rolling Thunder
Handwarmers - Diamond Leaf
Handwarmers - Thumbs Up
Handwarmers - Walden's Wood Mitts

Hats - Cupcake
Hats - Rock Candy - these make me think of the hats worn in the "Grinch Who Stole Christmas."
Hats - Ear Flap  for Kids
Hat and Scarf - Cabled
Hat - Downton Abbey
Hat - Universal Slouchy
Hat - Reversible Crochet Brioche
Hat and Scarf Set - For Men
Hat - Big Blue Beret
Hat - Smurf

Headband - Lace uses left over sock yarn
Headband - Anthro Inspired
Headband - Easy Lacy

Links - 12 Crochet Flowers

Moogly 2013 Mystery CAL - Fish Pouch - Very cute when finished.

Needle Case - a place to hold yarn needles, stitch markers for crochet.
Needles Vase

Scarf - Pink and Purple
Scarf - Reversible Cable from Lion Brand and requires sign in, but free.
Scarf - Braided Loaves Cable
Scarf - Crochet Snow Bear Hoodie
Scarf - Peacock

Shawl - Butterfly Prayer Shawl (another technique I want to learn).
Shawl - Lavender Blooms

 Toys - Bunny Peep
Toys - Pokemon - Pichu
Toys - Teddy Bear
Toys - Sleepy Owl
Toys - Bubby Bear
Toys - One seam Teddy

Valentine's Day - crochet Hearts
Valentine's Day - Valentine Amigurumi Heart
Valentine's Day - Baby Hearts Mobile
Valentine's Day - Stripes and Hearts Scarf
Valentine's Day - Crochet Valentine TableCloth

Wash Cloth - Rainy Day

Tuesday

Yesterday, I took the girls to their TAB meeting and the oil light came on, on my car. This light comes on before you have an issue, but when you need an oil change. So today, I get to sit in a waiting room at the garage waiting on the oil change. This is going to be a very busy week and it is going to be a very cold week, too. Yesterday dawned at 5 with a feel of -6! Brrr! Cold and I don't like each other. But the girls and I got a lot of school work finished and they will be left with a list of things to work on while I am gone, that I can check when I get back. Motivation is getting better, but they are still not as motivated as they used to be. Grandma's death and illness and all the other death's, have taken a toll on them as well.

Today, I need to get some more of the emails cleared out my email, but I am making progress and I am making things again and there are people asking for things. My nephew asked for socks! I love making things and I love that there are people who like what I make. My sweet nephew saying he really wants me to make him some socks and then asking how long will it take and saying that he has always enjoyed the gifts that I made for him, made me feel like things would be good again. The things I made, made him feel special.

This year had been a hard year for all of us. So many deaths, so much illness, so much stress, so much disappointment, things that didn't happen, things that did. So we ordered some sock yarn (his choice) and as soon as I finish my middle daughter's socks, I will begin working on his socks. But I also have an order for hotpads. I have an orders for baby blankets. I love when the orders come in, that means I can donate money to things that I want to donate to. I donate to Dawn's Light, I donate to Warrior Backpacks.

Life is good and I have work and children to teach. I am improving my mood and taking care of my family. That is what is important. Hopefully, I can get more of the emails off the account and just keep that momentum. Oh, and we got rid of cable! What a relief! We have just what we need and nothing extra. We can borrow movies and tv shows from libraries, we watch movies on Hoopla and books, lots of books. Love to read and so do the girls. It is nice at night we play games or work on puzzles.

Afghan - Checkered Knit Blanket
Afghan - Entrelac
Afghan - Diamonds from Squares
Afghan - Geometric Crochet Afghan
Afghan - Circles in Rectangles
Afghans - with Sleeves
Afghan - Cinnamon Twist
Afghan - Log Cabin Scrap

Bag - Trio Knit Tote Bag
Bag - Chinese Waves Pouch - I have a purse that just dumps things around inside. So now I need a bunch of different things to hold groups of items. So if I make this in different colors it might help organize my purse.
Bag - Waves Tote

Block - Passion Star Flower Afghan Block

Christmas - Crochet Santa Gift Tag
Christmas - Roly Poly Santa Doll
Christmas - Santa Ornament
Christmas - Snowman and Friend
Christmas - Snowman Family
Christmas - Snowflake Mitten Holiday Ornament

Dishcloth - Flowerburst
Dishcloth - Year of the Dragon

Fingerless - Fetching

Hat and Scarf - Astrodome
Hat - Piggle
Hat - Valentine
Hat - Denver
Hat - Blooming Purple Beanie
Hat - Slouchy Hat

Hot Pads - Candy Daze

Lapghan - Neutral Cluster

Links - Knitting Pattern Central

Mittens - Oyster
Mittens - Maplewood
Mittens - Ombre
Mittens - Bella
Mittens - Mocked Cable
Mittens - four needle
Mittens - Texting

Socks - Serendipity

Toy - Crochet Owl
Toy - Cute Bee

Tutorial - Soccasins

Hello, Sunday!

Sunday, a day of rest, of visiting and football!

Visiting: We visited church. Church for us is wherever we can get to on Sunday morning. Today, we went to Incarnation Catholic Church again. Came home and visited with nephew. He is old enough to drive himself and go wherever he wants, when he wants (he is an adult, so he doesn't ask permission).

Day of Rest: No rushing around. No major amounts of work. Some laundry, but easily accomplished. Reading, writing, games played (nephew came up to play games with his cousins), crafting. All things that provide enjoyment.

Football. My husband loves to watch football, so he is happily ensconced in front of the TV with football with Seattle Seahawks vs Carolina Panthers (and the Panthers ate on the Birds).

While all this happens, I am running a load of laundry. I am going to empty out some more of my email (leave it alone too long and it grows, but it is below 1950).

Afghan - In a Pinch

Baby - Manly Bib

Bags - Market
Bags - Shopping
Bags - Thrifty Market

Christmas - Mini Mittens Ornament
Christmas - Elf Stocking Ornament
Christmas - Winter Snowman Dishcloth
Christmas - Pinwheel Garland
Christmas - Tiny Toque Ornaments
Christmas - Scrooge
Christmas - Snowman Stocking
Christmas - Reindeer Ornament
Christmas - Little Knit Stocking
Christmas - Noel Knit Sweater Ornaments
Christmas - Snowman Mug Hug
Christmas - Polar Bear Hat for kids
Christmas - Holiday Balls Throw
Christmas - Holiday Hearts Throw
Christmas - Starry Night Stocking
Christmas - Mr and Mrs Snowman
Christmas - Bells Wreath
Christmas - Bull's Eye Ornaments
Christmas - Decoration PotHolders

Dishcloth - Christmas Tree

Fingerless - Striped Gloves
Texting - Colorful Texting Gloves
Mittens and Scarf - Chunky
Mitts - Diamond Leaf Fingerless
Mitts - Entrelac Fingerless

Hats - Top Down Chullo
Hats - Simply Spring Beanie
Hat - Elf Pixie
Hat - Ombre
Hat - Jingle Jester

Kindle - Rainbow Cover

Scarf - Cabled
Scarf - Cabled from Lion Brand
Scarf - Football
Scarf - King Me
Scarf - Double Fun Potato Chip
Scarf - Fiery Dragon

Shawl - Icelandic Sunrise
Shawl - Prism
Shawl - Demalangeni

Socks - Anastasia
Socks - Cable for Men
Socks - Cable Yoga
Socks - 52 stitch
Socks - Candy Cane
Socks - Guitar Man
Socks - Trail Mix for Men
Socks - Blueberry Waffle

Washcloth - Leafy

At quitting time, today, I have less than 1900! Tomorrow, I will get some more off, but now I want to knit and make some hand warmers. My hands are cold.

Christmas Tree Hotpad

My friend, Amy, said she had a friend who wanted me to make her some hotpads that look like something her mother-in-law used to make her. Unable to find a pattern, I am winging it. So these are my notes for a Christmas Tree Hotpad.

Size H Crochet Hook
Mercerized Cotton (any color)

Abbreviations:
Ch = Chain
SC = Single Crochet
DC= Double Crochet
Rnd = Round

Make 2: A front and a back. Since this is to be used as a hot pad, it will need to be double thick.

Using magic loop method, put 10 sc in the center. Pull tight. (this is rnd 1)
Rnd 2: Connect. Place 3 chains (this will act as the 1st dc) in 1st stitch, then 1 dc. Then 2 dc in each stitch, connect. (20)
Rnd 3: Place 3 chains in 1st stitch, then 2 dc in next, 1 dc in next, repeat the pattern of 1 dc and 2 dc around. Connect.  (30)
Rnd 4: Place 3 chains in 1st stitch, then 1 dc, 2 dc, Repeat following pattern 1 dc in next 2 stitchs, 2 dc in next.(40)
Rnd 5: Place 3 chains in 1st stitch, then 1 dc in next 2 stitches, 2 dc in next. Repeat following pattern 1 dc in next 3 stitches, then 2 dc (50)
Rnd 6: Ch 3 in 1st stitch, 1 dc in next 3, 2 dc in 4th, then 1 dc in next 4 and 2 dc in 5th, repeating this until end of rnd. (60)
Rnd 7: Ch 3 in 1st stitch, 1 dc in next 4, 2 dc in 5th, then 1 dc in next 5 and 2 dc in 6th repeat this until end of rnd. (70)
Rnd 8: Ch 3 in 1st stitch, 1 dc in next 5, 2 dc in 6th, then 1 dc in next 6 and 2 dc in 7th repeat this until end of rnd. (80)

Make 1 Christmas Tree (Fir Tree)

Using H hook
Mercerized cotton

Ch 4
Row 1 Put 2 dc in 4th chain from hook
Row 2 Turn, Ch 3, Put dc in st nearest ch, put 2 dc in each remaining stitches
Row 3 Turn, Ch 3, put dc in st nearest ch, put 1 dc in each stitch until last stitch, put 2 dc in last stitch.
Row 4 Turn, Ch 3, put dc in st nearest ch, put 1 dc in each stitch until last stitch, put 2 dc in last stitch.
Row 5 Turn, Ch 3, put dc in st nearest ch, put 1 dc in each stitch until last stitch, put 2 dc in last stitch.
Row 6 Turn, Ch 3, put dc in st nearest ch, put 1 dc in each stitch until last stitch, put 2 dc in last stitch.

For Trunk:
Go to 3 center stitches of bottom row, Put 3 dc in center. Turn and continue to put 3 dc for 4 rows.

After the tree is made, attach it to the center of one square.
After the tree is on the one circle, put the two together and begin sc around the edges. As you go around you want to increase evenly so you have 10 extra sc.  Then hdc in each sc around. You also want to increase evenly around for 10 extra hdc. These extra stitches allow the piece to lay flat.

A copy of the item I am trying to recreate:


What mine looks like finished:

Friday, Friday! It is Friday!

Friday dawned warm and wet. Very wet. But it was warm! It was so nice outside. No coats, not gloves, no hats, no scarves. Yeah, I know that bulk of my links are things you wear in the winter, but I am not doing cold well. So I am happy when we get a warm day. We ran errands and saw my dad. Came home and overall had a good day. But now, I just want to get some more of the emails off my account. I figure once I get it completely empty, I will keep it that way. We were singing along with this song: The River. Also, I love little packages that have fun things in them. Survival Kits are fun. I also have three girls and they are getting into puberty and that means PMS Survival Kits!

So for know, more knits and crochet links.

Afghan - Dogwood
Afghan - Christmas Star
Afghan - Log Cabin Scraps (whatever is leftover)
Afghan - Bear Claw
Afghan - In a Pinch
Afghan - Entrelac
Afghan - Wreath

Amigurumi - Little Hoot
Amigurumi - Crabby the Crab

Animal - Cat Hoodie Free Ravelry Download, but it was a laugh out loud knit. I saved it because it made me laugh. It is an actual hoodie sweater for a cat!

Basket - Chunky Crocheted

Christmas - Baubles
Christmas - Moose
Christmas - Tree Coaster
Christmas - Angel Tree Topper
Christmas - Knitting Wreath
Christmas - Crochet Wreath

Dishcloth - Suncatcher
Dishcloth - Flowerburst

Halloween - Bewitching Hat

Hat - Rick Rack Braid
Hat - Everyday
Hat - Deathly Hollows Beret

Mitts - Granite
Mitts - Hocus Pocus Wristlets
Mittens - Ombre

Scarf - Entrelac Tutorial

Shawl - Silver Semi Circular
Shawl - Easy Sideways
Shawl - Cora

Socks - Random Tracks

Toy - Huggable Happy Colors

Back to the Grind Stone

I have goals. I imagine many people have goals. I want to get my girls out of high school and into college. I want to learn new things every day. I want to get the email cleared out, so that I don't have to work on it almost daily to keep it manageable.

Yesterday, I was able to get the number below 2000, but today, it is back to 2000. This is a daily task to get the number down and I know that my next goal needs to be under 1500. I figure if I go by 500, I can manage getting it finished. The reason I look at it that way is because I do teach my kids daily, I do laundry every day, I do cook every day, I do the dishes every day, I also want to read daily and I want to knit/crochet/counted cross stitch daily. I also have errands to run and I have to take my girls to their activities, daily. When you have things to do, you can't spend whole days on the computer. I spend a few hours whenever I can get on the computer. Also, right now, I am working out a pattern for a friend. So that will be fun to get together and get that posted. All things happen for a reason. I know that I am happier.

Everyone is responsible for their own happiness. But it is fun to spread happiness, too. We have cats and they love to watch out the windows, but what do cats like to watch? Birds! At least my cats, do. So we started getting bird feeders. We started small. Just a little one here or there. A suet feeder. Today, we now have a bigger feeder for woodpeckers, etc. We have a large feeder with wild bird food. We have a small feeder with sunflowers, a small feeder for finches, and a small feeder for wild birds. The birds congregate in our yard. The cats are going crazy! There are so many birds and one cat wants to hunt. We have a deal, though, we only feed the birds in the winter. We feed the birds that didn't go south. They are the ones that would starve. But come spring time, we stop buying the feed and the birds are on their own. But the birds hang out in our garden, because we grow things that have seeds. We do that intentionally. We also grow things that butterflies like and hummingbirds.

Now to spread the happiness of patterns from my email. Patterns that will allow me to make things that maybe others would enjoy.

Afghan - Bright Ripple
Afghan - Ripple
Afghan - Chevron
Afghan - Flower Squares
Afghan - Persian Tiles
Afghan - Log Cabin
Afghan - Wobble

Bag - Little Knit Tote
Bag - Autumn Backpack very pretty colorwork bag.
Bag - Uptown Tote

Christmas - Santa Gnome Ornaments
Christmas - Partridge in a Pear Tree
Christmas - Santa Minion
Christmas - Mini Tree Ornament
Christmas - Classic Stocking
Christmas - Lights Ornament
Christmas - Pudding Scarf
Christmas - Knitted Bells
Christmas - Sock

Cozy - Cabled E-Reader

Dishcloth - Gingerbread
Dishcloth - Snowflake

Fingerless Mitts - Basketweave
Fingerless Mitts - Nereid Mitts

Halloween - Hallowig
Halloween - Costume Hats for kids
Halloween - Candy Corn - free Ravelry download
Halloween - Spock Ears
Halloween - Mustache

Hat - Smurf for kids
Hat - Newsboy
Hat - Winter Ponytail
Hat - Aang for kids
Hat - Three Colored Cloche
Hat - 14 Cable Knit
Hat - Men's Cable
Hat - Jekyll and Hide
Hat - Rainbow - for kids
Hat - Sunset Slouchy
Hat - Fall for Me Spiral
Hat - Sea Breeze Summer Slouch
Hat - Chemo
Hat - Luxury
Hat & Mittens - Grandma's  another Ravelry free download


Mittens - Flying Pigs - So perfect! I have friends who run this and this would be such a fun gift for them!

Scarf - Asymmetry
Scarf - AZ Dusk
Scarf - Harvest
Scarf - Autumn Garter Stitch Entrelac
Scarf - Tigger
Scarf - Cabled from Lion Brand. Free site, but has to be signed into.
Scarf - Men's Combo Cable
Scarf - Wave Cable
Scarf - Thick Textured
Scarf - Rainy Day
Scarf - Campfire Nights
Scarf - Berries in the Snow
Scarf - Palindrome

Shawl - Sunset

Socks - Toe Up

Stitch - Ripple Tutorial

Thanksgiving - Turkey Wreath

Toys - Pomp Poodle

Back to the Email

So, after taking a few days off from looking at the blog, the emails or too much else, time to get back to work. Today, I am starting at 2147! It is a good number, especially as this is about 500 less than where I started! I now have the goal of getting it below 2000 by the end of this week. I have also made 2 dishcloths, while I was off the computer. One was just a plain, use up the left over from the Halloween Cat dishcloth. It was a really pretty yarn and smelled so nice while I was using it. But you couldn't see the pattern. Have to remember that for future dishcloths. But right now, I had a friend give me some ends that she wanted used up. So that is what I will do and then I will give the final product to Dawn's Light. This is a great group of women who knit or crochet or sew. Things are made and given to people in need, through groups that the church supports.

Afghans - Autumn Leaves
Afghans - Baby Giggles - for babies
Afghans - Color Block Crochet
Afghans - Christmas Tree
Afghans - Christmas Noel

Bags - Summer Clutch
Bags - 30 minute purse
Bags - Asthore

Christmas - Star Ornament
Christmas - Snowman

Dish Cloths - Leafy
Dish Cloth - Little Garden Boy
Dish Cloth - Purl the Phoenix
Dishcloth - Awareness  - listed as breast cancer, but can change colors to make for other types.
Dishcloths - Links for Dishcloths
Dishcloths - States!

Hats - Happy
Hats - Embrace the Waves
Hats - Pumpkin Pixie for Toddlers
Hats - Tilting Block
Hats - Jovie the Elf
Hat Scarf Mittens - Cable Set
Hat - Chemo Cap

Hot Pads: Woven Circles Trivet
Hot Pads - Fanciful Flowers
Hot Pad - 10 Point
Hot Pad - Starburst
Hot Pad - Pinwheel
Hot Pad - Crochet Flower
Hot Pad - Christmas Bulb - Can use this with a Christmas Tree accent or maybe this Tree which is a free download on Ravelry.
Hot Pad - Octagon
Pot Holder - Hexagon
Hot Pads - Links for Pot Holders

Mitts - Texting Mitts
Mitts - Entrelac
Mitts - Links for Knit Mittens
Mitts - Alethiometer

Red Heart: Christmas: Free Patterns Links
Red Heart: Free Pattern Links
Red Heart: Christmas: Bear Ornament
Red Heart: Christmas: Nordic Holiday Balls
Red Heart: Christmas: Wise Owl Ornament
Red Heart: Christmas: Keepsake Stocking
Red Heart: Christmas: Yule Tree Throw and Pillow

Scarf - Winter Snowflake
Scarf - Poinsettia
Scarf - Winter Family
Scarf - Football - free Ravelry download! I can't wait to make some of these for my husband and his brothers.
Scarf - Reversible Cable
Scarf - Hooded

Shawl - Escapist
Shawl - Starstruck
Shawl - Icelandic Sunrise
Shawl - Oaklet

Socks - Fireside

Stitch Pattern - Serpentine Can be used for most anything, but think more likely for scarf.
Stitch Pattern - Irish Trace Cable

Sugar N Cream: Links for Patterns

TV Shows - Dr. Who - Jelly Baby

Woohoo! The email is now below 2000! It is now 1998! I have found some more patterns and lots of duplicates (you'll see that happens on few times on here, as well, but it is my blog and I must really like some of those patterns). Have a great night!

Facebook and Email Cleaning

Well, I have spent a good deal of time cleaning off my email and have ignored the patterns and homeschooling links on my Facebook page. Yeah, I know that you can save things on Facebook, but when I tried to find them later, they weren't available. So, I started moving them here. Much easier to find and put into some kind of order. I hope that this helps anyone looking for patterns. I know that it has helped me. I am finding patterns that I had wanted to make (why I had saved so many of the old emails) and why my email filled up so quickly.

Cooking - 33 - 3 ingredient Slow Cooker Meals

Homeschooling: Music: Carrot Clarinet
Homeschooling: Science: Bone Anatomy
Homeschooling: Science: Fair Ideas
Homeschooling: Science: Rock Candy
Homeschooling: Note Taking: Study Tips
Homeschooling: Science: Drinking Water
Homeschooling: English: Worksheets

Afghans - Temperature Afghan
Afghans: CAL: Groovyghan
Afghans - Peppermint Candy

Amigurumi - Blue Kitty

Gloves - Colorful Texting Gloves

Halloween - Scary Muffins
Halloween - Bug Infested Bowl
Halloween - Dog - Blooming Dog
Halloween - Candy Corn Banner

Kindle - Cover from Sock Yarn

Mittens - Maplewood
Mittens - Norwegian
Mittens - Zig Zag
Mittens - Broadstreet
Mittens - Sweetheart
Mittens - Skeleton

Scarf - Arrowhead Lace and Cable
Scarf - Rio - looks like it uses the crocodile stitch.

Shawl - Rainbow Afternoon

Socks - Staggered Stripe

Toys - Woodins
Toys - Grass
Toys - Perching Pigeons

TED Talks - What Makes You Happy? This is very important....you are responsible for your own happiness! But here are some talks on Happiness.

Book Update for 2015

Last year, I started a new reading challenge. I didn't do as well as I had hoped, in that there are several categories that I just didn't accomplish and even if I double dipped, they wouldn't be finished. But, that is okay, last year was a hard year for all of us, but I just wasn't able to get to all the categories. I do think that I did an admirable job. So, I will again attempt this challenge. But here is what last year's reading challenge looked like:

Category	Title	Author
A book with more than 500 pages	The Help	Kathryn Stockett
A classic romance
A book that became a movie	Holes	Louis Sachar
A book published this year	Ranger in Time: Rescue on the Oregon Trail	Kate Messner
A book with a number in the title	In the Secret Place: A 30 Day Devotional	Adam Hogue
A book written by someone under 30
A book with nonhuman characters	Cat Pay the Devil	Shirley Rosseau Murphy
A funny book	Llama of Death	Betty Webb
A book by a female author	The Silence of the Lamb's Wool	Betty Hechtman
A mystery or thriller	By Hook or By Crook	Betty Hechtman
A book with a one word title	Loot	Jude Watson
A book of short stories	Gingerbread Cookie Murder	Joanne Fluke, Leslie Meier, Laura Levine
A book set in a different country	The Puffin of Death	Betty Webb
A nonfiction book	As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of the Princess Bride	Carey Elwes
A popular author's first book	Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone	J.K. Rowling
A book from an author you love that you haven't read yet	Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon	Donna Andrews
A book a friend recommended	Welcome to the Dark House	Laurie Faria Stolarz
A Pulitzer Prize Winning book
A book based on a true story	D-Day A Very Brief History	Mark Black
A book at the bottom of your to read list
A book your mom loves
A book that scares you	Rule of 3	Eric Walters
A book you can finish in a day	Matilda	Ronald Dahl
A book with antonyms in the title
A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit	Anteater of Death	Betty Webb
A book that came out the year you were born
A book with bad reviews
A trilogy	The Testing Trilogy	Joelle Charbonneau
A book from your childhood	Charlotte's Web	E. B. White
A book with a love triangle	Devil's Food Cake Murder	Joanne Fluke
A book set in the future	Agenda 21	Glenn Beck
A book set in high school	Trapped	Michael Northrop
A book with a color in the title	Blueberry Muffin Murder	Joanne Fluke
A book that made you cry	A Fool and His Honey	Charlaine Harris
A book with magic	Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West	Gregory Maguire
A graphic novel	Amulet Vol 1: The Stonekeeper	Kazu Kibuishi
A book by an author you've never read before	Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library	Chris Grabenstein
A book you own but have never read	I Shall Not Want	Debbie Viguie
A book that takes place in your hometown
A book that was originally written in a different language
A book set during Christmas	Sugar Cookie Murder	Joanne Fluke
A book written by an author with your same initials	Death of an Obnoxious Tourist	Maria Hudgins
A book more than 100 years old	Sherlock Holmes: The Red-Headed League	Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
A book based entirely on its cover	A Murder with Peacocks	Donna Andrews
A book you were supposed to read in school but didn't	White Fang	Jack London
A memoir
A play	Twelth Night	Shakespeare
A banned book	Hunger Games	Suzanne Collins
A book based on or turned into a tv show	John Doe	Tess Gerritson
A book you started but never finished	Murder in the West Wing	Elliott Roosevelt

On another note, I did read over 140 books last year. While not a personal best on reading, not bad for someone teaching her children for a school year, going back and forth to KY, keeping house, and taking kids to events.

Title	Author
Graduation Day	Joelle Charbonneau
Independent Study	Joelle Charbonneau
Meet the Dynasty Women	Pauline Bryn
By Hook or by Crook	Betty Hechtman
Food for Thought	Nicholas Appleyard
The Overton Window	Glenn Beck
Matilda	Ronald Dahl
In The Secret Place: A 30 Day Devotional	Adam Hogue
Silence of the Lamb's Wool	Betty Hechtman
Holes	Louis Sachar
A Wrinkle in Time	Madeline L'Engle
The Help	Kathryn Stockett
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library	Chris Grabenstein
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride	Carey Elwes
Death of an Obnoxious Tourist	Maria Hudgins
Agenda 21	Glenn Beck
Johnny Tremain	Esther Forbes
For Better or Worsted	Betty Hechtman
Cat Pay the Devil	Shirley Rosseau Murphy
The Illuminati: The Conspiracy Uncovered	Daniel Brush
Charlotte's Web	E. B. White
Amulet Vol 1 The Stonekeeper	Kazu Kibuishi
If Hooks Could Kill	Betty Hechtman
Acrylic Painting: The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Acrylic Painting for Beginners in 30 minutes or less	Jason Ferrison
Cartoon Characters in Well Know Paintings	Saki Osawa
Loot! How to Steal a Fortune	Jude Watson
Joanne Fluke's Lake Eden Cookbook: Hannah Swenson's Recipes from the Cookie Jar	Joanne Fluke
Twelth Night	Shakespeare
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone	J. K. Rowling
The Hunger Games	Suzanne Collins
Chromatic Blanket	Deja Jetmir
Daily Scripture Reading: 31 Bible Verses About Faith To Keep You Overcoming!	Gloria Coleman
D-Day A Very Brief History	Mark Black
Eggsecutive Orders	Julie Hyzy
Poke Cake Perfections	Frederick McCann
Hooked on Murder	Betty Hechtman
Blueberry Muffin Murder	Joanne Fluke
Devil's Food Cake Murder	Joanne Fluke
John Doe	Tess Gerritson
Good Cooking for the Kidney Disease Diet: 50 Recipes for the Renal Diet Cookbook	Gordon Rock
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West	Gregory Maguire
Rescue on the Orgeon Trail	Kate Messner
The VERY BEST OF BROWNIES Vol 1Over 101 Premium Style Brownies You Can Make in Under 1 hour	Dan Howe
Fudge Cupcake Murder	Joanne Fluke
Mondays with Jesus	Renee Andrews
Candy Cane Murder	Joanne Fluke, et al
Dark Tort	Diane Mott Davidson
Gingerbread Cookie Murder	Joanne Fluke, et al
Sugar Cookie Murder	Joanne Fluke
Plum Pudding Murder	Joanne Fluke
Rule of 3	Eric Walters
You Better Knot Die	Betty Hechtman
I Survived Shark Attack of 1916	Lauren Tarshis
Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loons	Donna Andrews
I Survived Civil War	Lauren Tarshis
Apple Turnover Murder	Joanne Fluke
Murder with Puffins	Donna Andrews
Murder with Peacocks	Donna Andrews
1100 Words You Need to Know	Murrary Bromberg
English Grammar for Dummies	Geraldine Woods
Basic American Grammar and Usage	Marcel Danesi
English Sentence Builder	Edward Swick
Vocabulary Cartoons	Sam Burchers
Murder in the West Wing	Elliott Roosevelt
Grammar Essentials for Dummies	Geraldine Woods
English Grammer DeMystified	Phyllis Dutwin
Grammar Girl's 101 Misused Words You'll Never Confuse Again	Mignon Fogarty
The Word Snoop	Ursula Dubosarsky
Grammar in 15 Minutes a Day: Junior Skill Builder	Learning Express Editors
Got Grammar? Grades 6-12	Jack Umstatter
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation	Jane Straus
The Grammar Devotional	Mignon Fogarty
I Survived The Nazi Invasion	Lauren Tarshis
We'll Always Have Parrots	Donna Andrews
I Survived The Destruction of Pompeii	Lauren Tarshis
No Nest for the Wicket	Donna Andrews
10 Minute Paleo Slow Cooker Cookbook	Derek Doepker
500 Worksheets - Identifying Smallest Number of 2 digits	Kapoo Stem
500 Worksheets - Identifying Largest Number of 2 digits	Kapoo Stem
Sherlock Holmes: The Red Headed League	Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory	Ronald Dahl
Mark of the Thief	Jennifer A. Nielsen
Killer Crust	Chris Cavender
White Fang	Jack London
Welcome to the Dark House	Laurie Faria Stolarz
The Tuskegee Airmen: The History and Legacy of America's First Black Fighter Pilots in WWII	Charles Rivers Editors
Duck the Halls	Donna Andrews
Hen of the Baskervilles	Donna Andrews
The Real Macaw	Donna Andrews
Some Like it Hawk	Donna Andrews
Girl, Stolen	April Henry
Double Fudge Brownie Murder	Joanne Fluke
Stork Raving Mad	Donna Andrews
I Shall Not Want	Debbie Viguie
Amen and Good Morning, God: A Book of Morning Prayers	Jo Huddleston
Six Geese A-Slaying	Donna Andrews
Drop Dead Chocolate	Jessica Beck
Swan for the Money	Donna Andrews
Cockatiels at Seven	Donna Andrews
Shakespeare's Christmas	Charlaine Harris
Shakespeare's Champion	Charlaine Harris
The Lives and Times of Great Composers	Michael Steen
Shakespeare's Landlord	Charlaine Harris
Last Scene Alive	Charlaine Harris
Poppy Done to Death	Charlaine Harris
A Fool and His Honey	Charlaine Harris
The Six	Mark Alpert
The Gourmet Detective	Peter King
Dead Over Heels	Charlaine Harris
Stupid Science: Weird Experiments, Mad Scientists, and Idiots in the Lab	Leland Gregory
Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles	Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Julius House	Charlaine Harris
Three Bedrooms, One Corpse	Charlaine Harris
Mockingjay	Suzanne Collins
A Bone to Pick	Charlaine Harris
Catching Fire	Suzanne Collins
Lord of the Wings	Donna Andrews
Cinnamon Roll Murder	Joanne Fluke
Real Murders	Charlaine Harris
The Nightingale Before Christmas	Donna Andrews
The Unofficial Recipes of the Hunger Games	John Chatham
The Good, the Bad and the Emus	Donna Andrews
Candy Corn Murder	Leslie Meier
Mary Poppins	P. L. Travers
The Puffin of Death	Betty Webb
Cornered by Cupcakes	S Y Robins
Book Clubbed	Lorna Barrett
Llama of Death	Betty Webb
Murder by Cheesecake	S Y Robins
The Dark Lady	Irene Adler
The Koala of Death	Betty Webb
The Anteater of Death	Betty Webb
Calculus Demystified	Steven G Krantz
Trapped	Michael Northrop
Shakespeare's Counselor	Charlaine Harris
William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope	Ian Doescher
Earth Science Made Simple	Edward F. Albin
Dr. Math Gets You Ready for Algebra: Learning Pre-Algebra is easy	Math Forum
Shakespeare's Trollop	Charlaine Harris
Ghost Hunter's Guide to Haunted Ohio	Chris Woodyard
Egghead's Guide to Vocabulary	Peterson's
The Best Poem's of English Language	Harold Bloom

It was a good year, I found a lot of really good books for the girls to use in school. I found things for them to do that keeps them happy and entertained. What will I accomplish next year? Who knows. I may read more or less, I may knit/crochet/counted cross stitch more. I may go more places, I may take the girls to more activities. I may actually finish the book challenge from 2015! The world is an exciting place and there is so much to do and so much to see and so much to experience. I may go on a fossil hunt with the girls! I may take a hike somewhere I haven't hiked yet (so many trails in Lebanon)! I may make something I haven't tried before and make it over and over and over again (I really want to make more socks and make mittens/gloves).

What do you hope to accomplish this year? Make this year a good one for you!