Happy Anniversary, and happy leggings!

Today would have been our 14th wedding anniversary. Miss the man like crazy!

I have become addicted to leggings.  It's really too cold to wear only leggings this winter, but two pair at once isn't bad. Or one under my jeans, but that sort of defeats the idea of wearing the beautiful patterns.  I won the above in a contest the Lularoe dealer has each week.  Would not have bought that design, but do really love them. I have a red tunic and a black tunic that goes perfectly with them!

I have a few skeins of gradient yarns that I am thinking about making into a scarf that would be entrelac.  I took a class here where the lady used someones design to do the entrelac but going back and forth so that one way would be the right side TSS and the fabric is turned and the other side has the TSS.  It sort of makes the fabric look like a true entrelac, but isn't.  I'll probably dig up her pattern instructions. The iPad cover I made below was using the oft used entrelac pattern in Tunisian.

There has to be a way to use crochet in a similar method to knit to make entrelac the "real" way.  I have seen where designers are FINALLY using the stitch holders to make cables, so it won't be long before they use them to make entrelac…just can't figure out how to make the yarn work! Hah!

Started decorating my St. Patrick's Day tree.  Looks pretty much like last year except I have more silver and gold decorations with the green.  I shall make a couple of green crocheted decorations to add, but need to figure out WHAT I can make.  Maybe shamrocks?

I'm also putting together squares for a friend who can't do it for herself right now.  My yarn from Joann's takes forever (as usual) to make it here so only have had time to lay out the squares in the order that they look good to me.  Can't believe I actually had to ORDER Vanna's Choice yarn. I do have a couple of boxes in the garage that I can't get to….will have to hire someone to straighten it all out so I can bring it to my Diva Den!

Happy crafting!

Scarves, scarves, scarves! Well, at least two...

I'm am not in need of more scarves. I am just trying to use up skeins of yarn as fast as I can.  Am also going to be shipping some off to my lucky relatives!!

This one is in Chroma. Just like the other one in Chroma, it was missing a color stripe. That irks me. This colorway is called Carnival.

This is a simple stitch, sc and dc on an even number of stitches. Each row starts with a sc and ends with a dc.

It wraps nicely around twice and is comfy and light.

This on his heavier (worsted weight) yarn, but the scarf is shorter and not as wide. It is sc, ch1 on an odd number of stitches, always starting and ending with a sc.  The yarn is so thing and squishy that you can't tell it is full of spaces, and that way I was able to make 200 yards into a nice sized scarf that also will wrap twice. Makes more of a cowl then.

This is Madelinetosh, Tosh Vintage in Taaffeite.  It looks black, but it is a very dark purple.

Both are joined using the Kitchener stitch in the infinity fold.

Have started ANOTHER scarf with a new yarn…feels like it is worsted weight. Will post more later. I'm using the top stitch, but not as wide.  OH - and these were made with an I hook.  I think the Tosh could have been made with a J and would have been fine.

Valentine is over

I had to let Maggie go live with her daddy and brother and sister in heaven….she just finally quit eating and was feeling pretty awful.  Brodie and I have been feeling down, and out of sorts. We are both coming out of it as people always seem to do, but for now it's not just dark and miserable outside, but inside too. Our hearts are broken.

These are flowers my vet sent and they are super cute.  My DDIL and DSS sent me a lovely plant, too. I appreciate their thoughtfulness.

These are the Valentine and one Birthday cards that I sent to my kids.  I just love them!  They are called LovePop, designed by a group of young people in Boston.  Look them up and buy a few! They are a tad pricey, but if you aren't buying a gift this might be just the ticket for someone you love.

My granddaughter decided to build her favorite instead of a snowman…a Narwhal!

A tad creative I would say

Here is the finished scarf.  I was able to figure out the way to finish it up using the Kitchener stitch which has generally been used in knitting. Took some doing!

Chevron Scarf for Valentine's!

💓

So, I have been working on a scarf with RED in it to go with some of my outfits.  I added PINK and GREY and a deeper CRANBERRY red to mix things up.  Chevron, of course.  While watching TV and worrying about my dog, I sit on the couch to crochet.

I don't remember if I posted the first photo or not, but it shows the colors a little more true to my way of thinking. You can never tell these days with the computer screens.

I have about four more rows and then will hook it together. I tend to wear the infinity scarves more often as they stay on, and stay in place. You can wrap them or not, and that makes them versatile.

My problem is going to be the area when I began the scarf. It doesn't match the rest, so will need to take out all the red and the two rows of pink, then join it.  I saw a pattern where the designer used a knitting method of starting a pattern to then join it in the round when your are finished.  I'm going to need to cut the scarf before the new "first" row, and see if I can do the join from that pattern…once I find it!  

❖

Someone asked me about the chevron. It is the same one I use in almost all my scarves.  I don't count out how many chains to use…when I get the amount of chevrons I want I go back and cut the chains off and weaving the end.  

I just chain what I think I will need plus a "bunch" more. That way I can decide as I crochet exactly how wide I want the scarf.  Yarns are different, and I never know what hook I will use.  

In my pattern I just turn at the end of the chain, chain one, single in the first chain and then in 

next four.  According to the pattern I want I either sc 3 in the next chain or sc/ch2/sc.  Either of these will work for the top of the chevron.

Then I just sc down four chains, sk 2ch, sc "up" the other side 4 times. That's the gist of it.  When you are ending your row, try to do it on the down slope…and then you will sc5 times down the side.

Turning you will sc in the first stitch, skip 1 sc and sc in the next stitch (this is a one stitch decrease). You just sc three more times (5 stitches on that side always), then do the peak with whichever increase you chose.

The valley's will always be the 4sc, sk2, 4sc to the peak.

The deal is you are adding two stitches (one each side of the peak)  and at the bottoming the valley you are decreasing two stitches, so it always looks the same.

❖

You can have 6 or 8 or whatever you want, for each side which will decide just how large you want the scarf to be.

I don't explain well, so if you have a question let me know!

Afghan for DSD, my scarf and Maggie

I love this afghan.  Donna made this for me for my step-daughters birthday which is today…Valentine's Day.  Isn't it great!  I'm in awe! Did not think she could actually make the template from the photo, but wow, she did and it is better than I thought it would ever be! She is amazing!

I made this chevron scarf for me….and I actually am wearing it as am getting ready to go shopping.  It is pretty comfy! No pattern….just an ordinary chevron and different colors.

I'm using Molly B. for my model. She was given to me by BFF Bev Matheson.  I had her on the deck for sort of a garden decoration, but decided she would appreciate it if I brought her in and dressed her up.  She can also be a "he" if I make the right clothes! LOL!

Maggie….my heart is broken. She is in kidney failure but thanks to CBD/THC oil she is pretty happy! It is killing off any pain which is amazing. You would not know she is super super sick and she isn't limping either, but she isn't going to make it much longer. 

Her numbers were much much higher, even after all of those expensive treatments. The vet wanted to put her down yesterday, but I wasn't ready, and neither was she.  My vet is about as kind as anyone could be and she hates seeing dogs suffer. She felt that it was better to do it while she can walk and isn't miserable, but since I had started the drops she is pretty happy.

She isn't really eating a lot - lost 3 pounds in one week - but she is eating.  I have an appointment for Friday to test her again and perhaps let her go.  I am really really not happy.  Just like any one of you would be, and probable have been, under the same or similar circumstances.

This is MY Valentine Heart……...

I have finished weaving in the ends on my first sea side colored chevron scarf.  Looks really good! As soon as I get it blocked and dried I'll post a photo.  I did join the ends and twist it so that it stays sort of flat on the chest.  

I'm liking the Valentine scarf, too.  That one should not take toooooo much longer to finish.  I think I'll make a similar one in Vanna's Choice in a light pink and a light silver.

Took Maggie to the vet's this morning for her second day of fluids.  They give her meds in her fluids, too.  

Last night after I was nearly asleep she started throwing up.  I jumped out of bed and cleaned it up and she went out to drink some water (I keep a bowl on the deck outside my bedroom door as well as on the deck outside the dining area).  I heard her throwing up more out there. She just looked miserable.  Since it was four hours after she ate I am assuming it was from the 1/2 pain pill I gave her.  She had been limping so much I thought she might like that. Nope. I guess she can't tolerate it now.

I'm at a loss as to what to do.  For now I think I will just see if I can get her to eat, not give her pain meds, and see if she is "happy enough" after all the treatments are complete.  I don't see that she is hurting or feeling bad except for the limp and, of course, her tummy issue. If either gets worse I guess my baby will have to be sent on to be with her daddy, and brother and sister.  That's all three of them below. Sami died of cancer and Chuckie was 17 and just got old….three months apart.

Not looking forward to the rest of this year knowing what it will bring at some point.

PS:

Picked her up at the vets. Her numbers are down quite a lot, so I'll take her in again tomorrow to see if it will go down more.  Her one number is actually normal, and the other two are still high, but 1/3 to 1/2 of what they were.  This is all a stop gap method, as eventually the kidney disease will get her, but for now there is hope she can live happily for another year maybe.

Here is a toast to better days ahead!

Sid and baby Maggie.

Yucky Day

I was able to make one of the hearts over the weekend.  It's pretty huge, though.  When I mentioned this in FB my niece said no, it was just right.  Then I posted a photo of the whole tree!!!

As you can see it is pretty large! Her idea is to make a bunch more and hang on the tree and they will all look just right!  Maybe.

Maybe not!

I started a Valentines scarf for myself.  Unfortunately until I was into the grey, I had no clue what I wanted it to look like!  So before it is all said and done I am going to cut off the bottom red and pink rows and leave the three rows of just red. Or something along that theme. Haven't decided exactly.  It's time to stop and weave in the ends.  I am almost finished with the ends in the other chevron scarf.

The other day when the nation was going to be looking at the Blue Blood Moon the next morning, I took this photo of the Blue Moon!  I was so happy to see it so bright in a dark sky. However, the next morning brought clouds so I was unable to see the expected eclipse.

Maggie is at the vet's today getting an infusion of liquids.  It turns out that she is on the throws of kidney failure. Although I honestly don't expect this to work since it is usually for a acute kidney problem, not a chronic one, I figure it is the lease invasive protocol to try and it will at least make her feel better for a few days. I made the mistake of giving fluids to my favorite cat for a couple of months and he was so miserable!!!!!  I won't do that again, no matter how much I will miss her. She deserves to go in peace…not kept alive like a zombie for my gratification.

As long as she is happy and not miserable I will do all I can for her. Then she can go up and visit her sister Sami and brother Chuckie who are with Sid.

Brodie and I are chilling at home feeling sad.

Valentine Tree

I'm in the process of making additional decorations (hearts) for my holiday tree. I found a lovely pattern a couple of years ago that seems would really spice it up. Its called Granny Sweet Hearts and is super lovely. Designer is Nancy Drew (no not of the mystery Nancy!). Aren't these gorgeous!?!? These are hers, not mine! Hopefully mine will be as nice.

I honestly think that you could also use them for Christmas if your tree is colorful….or you could make up a specific set.

I finished yet another puzzle. It was a fast one….Raining Cats and Dogs by Eric Dowdle. This was not one of my most favorite pictures…I got the impression some of the cats and dogs were terrified from their wide eyed look!  Could not shake the feeling…however some of them looked like they were having fun.  Like the dog chasing the tennis ball or the one going after a dog treat.

My little Maggie still isn't doing well. I think if she doesn't pick up the pace on her consumption by Monday I will take her into the vet for X-rays and see if something else is at work here. She would not eat even the cottage cheese tonight and had a hard time giving her the much needed meds.

Not too long ago I was able to go with my kids to Victoria, Canada.  We went right after Christmas and were able to be there at night and see all the beautiful Christmas displays in Butchart Gardens. It was awesome.  The photo below is of my granddaughter Alice….who looks like her namesake Alice in Wonderland - she was watching the butterflies in the Butterfly Garden which is located several blocks before the gardens. Could not resist a photo of those beautiful locks.

Have a great weekend!  If you are into sports and football, enjoy the game!