Back to School

Well, school has started again. I am thankful for the extra things to do, like making sure the kids are happy, working on projects for our room and just meeting a whole bunch of new kids and new people!

Coats and Clark picture

What I have done

So far, our year has started off to a good start. Not too many kids are "difficult" and seem to be easing back into the school year. A couple of them do seem to need some more adjusting, but otherwise the rest of them have fallen back in line with their classes and are working hard for all the adults in the room.

Ana Rimioli's pciture

On the home front I have started making a afghan for my sister-in-law Allison. I had this pattern in one of my afghan books. It is an old Coats and Clark pattern. It will be a lovely orange-pink and brown.

I also have finally started a few of the penguin appendages. I'm sure once I start the rest of the body they will quickly be produced. They are of course from Ana Rimoli's Amigurumi World. 

finished penguin parts

Otherwise project making has alomost come to a standstill. But there is lots of time for things to be completed!

It has been a bit hard trying to get back in the swing of things, even though I'm glad that I'm busier. And with working at the school there is less time to work around the house and working with my yarn.But everything is fixed in time. It is just getting used to what needs to happen and when.

Well, I'm rather out of words. But I want to write tomorrow. So you may hear from me then! Hopefully this tiredness that I have suddenly felt will not be a hindrance tomorrow. Until next time!

Updates

Hi all! It's been a century at least in blog terms since I've written. But a lot of my hooking has been completed and/or started. Also, before I could sit down for my blog today I felt the urge to make a salad, specifically potato salad.



Containers



I have know idea why I felt the urge, but its fun to try new things, especially things you have never done before. So this morning I searched the net for some potato salad recipes. I fell upon one that was in two different versions, but the same recipes. The main ingredients were the same, bacon and ranch. The recipe I decided on is called "Texas Ranch Potato Salad."

I found this recipe on allrecipies.com which I have found has great recipes no matter what you are looking for.  The website came in especially handy while my husband and I were in France and we had not brought over any cookbooks with "American" food in them. With allrecipies.com I have made cookies, made a salad and have made many appetizers from the site and from the cook book I own.

So getting down to it, I boiled potatoes, mixed mayonnaise, green onions and Hidden Valley Ranch mix to make the "sauce." After the potatoes were boiled I cut them up and put them in a dish to mix all the ingredients together in, after waiting for two hours for them to be cooled enough to mix the bacon and the "sauce" in. Well, I'm still waiting. So in another post I will have to tell you how it tastes.All in all, making the salad has been easy. I look forward to seeing how it will taste and if it fits with our soon to be grilled pork chops.

In the world of crochet I have finished several things. Four of which I wasn't planning on making. Two of the four are containers. You can make containers with crochet!! It's a bit crazy, but I had this new yarn that needed to be used. It is Sugar n'cream Scents. With this scent filled yarn I made two nice bowls/containers that will make someones bathroom smell delicious.

The other two are monkeys! I had one monkey started a long time ago. So I decided I was going to complete him. He was quickly completed in two days. Being silly, I didn't want the stuffed toy to be lonely so I made him a daughter. They are so cute and my husband had a blast playing with the "Daddy." Thanks to Ana Rimoli's patterns they are sitting in my living room now.

Monkeys

Lastly, the one  project that needed to be finished, the yellow monster was quickly finished a couple of weeks ago. He is quite a character! His eyes got rather big and my husband thought it would be funny if he walked on his eyes instead! It's so nice to have a husband to test out the toys for the little ones.

Well, I still need to make my penguins, which are on their way. I have completed eye roundies and a beak for one. I am sure once the rest of my supplies come in the mail, they will easily be completed as well.

Last weekend while visiting my in-laws I was "commissioned" to make a blanket. One that didn't allow for little toes to get caught. Through great debate I have decided on a pattern to follow, one that didn't have too many holes to get caught in. Unfortunately I need to buy more yarn for it cause after trying a different pattern, for the same project, I don't have the right amount of yarn for the new pattern. The old pattern just had too many holes. I hope this new pattern will work better. It will be a Christmas present, so I should have plenty of time to finish it.

Yellow monster

Ah, some other news, well the last time a wrote I thought I had two weeks before school started. Nope I start back tomorrow. Luckily I have had a little time to think about it and I'm ready. Enough of this boring summer stuff! So hard work here I come! I hope this year will be a good year, that all the students will get along just fine, no matter what hinders them. And I hope the adults will get along too. We have a couple of newbies, but so far they seem like they will fit just fine.

I wish you all the best! See you next time!

Halfway There!

Last night I attempted to make biscuits. My family is not known for their bread making, but I thought I would give it a whirl. I used Ree Drummond's recipe for buttermilk biscuits in  The Pioneer Woman Cooks book. Her pictures, explanations etc. gave me confidence that they would turn out alright!

I read the recipe carefully, double checking things I was not sure about. Toward the end of creating them, my mix looked a touch dry, at least compared to Drummond's picture. So, I added some more buttermilk. But that is common sense in baking, if it looks dry add more wet ingredients. Sure enough, golden biscuits came out of the oven.

My husband loved them! Since it was supper, we had it the traditional way with sausage gravy. But my husband happily went back for seconds, when the gravy ran out he simply put some jelly on one and ate it up. I followed suit this morning by having two biscuits with jelly. They were tasty! I hope I can make them again, just as good or even better.

On the crochet side of things I finally finished my ignored scarf. Instead of a light scarf as I initially wanted, it came out as a a thick wintry scarf. It will still look good on coats and maybe with a turtleneck.

My two baby blankets are completed! I can check that off my list. This last one looks awesome! I really love the colors. I can't wait to give it away. The Red Heart "Baby Checks" pattern was really easy to follow and easily manipulated to make it your own. On this baby blanket, instead of using all four colors around the blanket, I used the green and blue in layers. It makes it look more boyish, for I found out my sister in law is having a boy.

Detail of the edge

Now to the toys....well, the toy. My yellow monster is well on its way. It's body is nearly completed. I foresee it only taking a couple more weeks. One week to crochet the feet, one more for the eyes and half a week to sew on appendages. Then it will be penguin time. I am way too excited! I hope I can crochet fast enough to keep myself content with the projects I have lined up. Hmmm, how is my initial list coming?

1. Green monster-check

2. Baby blanket #1-check

3.Baby blanket #2-check

4. Triangle scarf-check

5. Yellow Monster

6. Penguins

That is nice to look at....more than half done. Though I suppose I could add a few things. 7. Snake. I need to see if I can freehand a snake. I think my nephew would love it.

Summer is coming to an end. Only two more weeks (I think?) until I head back to my teacher's aide job.Summer has felt long. But I guess my days haven't been too busy...each day slowly passed by. Hopefully these last couple of weeks will remain slow. So, I can wrap my mind around going back to work. Well, until next time my friends, keep smiling!

Body of Monster

Knitting vs. Crochet

Knitters, what is all the fuss about? Except that you get great yarn and most of the shops besides those big name ones like Michael's and Hobby Lobby. I admit I am jealous. So fear not my friends, this is my take, comparing those oh, so awesome fiber arts.

The definition of knitting is to make (a fabric or garment) by intertwining yarn or thread in a series of connected loops either by hand, with knitting needles, or on a machine (thefreedictionary.com/knit).

The definition of crochet is to make a piece of needlework by looping thread with a hooked needle (thefreedictionary.com/crochet).

Both involve needles of some sort, given one is hooked (crochet) and one is not (knit, of course). They also both involve some intertwining or looping. Basically connecting some sort of fiber. Thread, yarn, wool etc....

I also have noticed, looking through magazines involving both or one or the other, you pretty much can make anything with either craft. You can make a sweater with both, a dishcloth with both, and felt with both.

Darn knitters get the world though! Every yarn shop that I adore, that have the prettiest yarn available is aimed at knitters! And a website that I just found out about, Jimmy Beans Wool is also aimed at knitters. But you know what, I do already know that "knitting" yarn can be used for crochet. I made a scarf using Araucania yarn and it turned out splendid.

Shucks, I guess it depends on what you grew up learning and keeping in touch with. I have spent a small amount of time knitting, very beginner. It would be interesting to pick it up again. I know a knitter who probably wouldn't mind helping me out, but I might just have to stick to crochet, for now.

Oh, I forgot one thing. I think knitting is more "in" than crochet is at the moment. Cause I'm pretty sure not long ago it has been said that those wonderful Hollywood movie stars were making things by knitting. Us avid crocheters just have Vanna White. She has a plethora of things from patterns to yarn.

Win, win. You can use knitting yarn for crochet and I'm sure it goes the other way. But what knitter wants to knit with Red Heart?

Thanks for allowing me to stand on my soap box. I think the issue is resolved. More relaxed things to come. Keep smiling!

Blanketed Boredom

Yesterday I had a wonderful conversation and visit with my good friend Amy. Though she lives nearby it is hard to find time to get together. Besides my wonderful visit with Amy, my phone, which hardly rings, rang off the hook. The one day I had plans, everyone wanted to talk or get together.
I don't mind talking or getting together with people, it just was ridiculous, because at this point I am not busy hardly at all. I try to keep myself going by doing the typical house keeping. You know, the washing dishes, putting them away, doing laundry and picking up. That can only get you so far, especially if you have the WHOLE day 7:30 to 6:00pm to keep yourself busy and occupied. For me, that means boredom comes at me like a heat wave. No stopping it.

In attempt to stop  the dreaded boredom, I attack my projects with all that I have. So one baby blanket is complete! It looks great! I can't wait to give it to the teacher in my classroom. I hope it will fit whatever baby (boy or girl) that is born. My other baby blanket is nearing the end as well. All the blue squares are finished and I have twenty-eight squares more to go to complete the square part of the blanket. I think I will have it finished by the end of the summer. That is my goal. To have both blankets done by the end of summer.

With that goal in mind, that should allow me some time to complete the "little" projects I had in mind to do. If you remember, from so long ago, a yellow monster and four penguins. Now that I think of it, if this blanket leaks into the middle of August I will only have a month in a half to finish the monster and at least three penguins. Maybe I could attempt the snake instead. I don't know.  As the saying goes "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it" and that is what I have to do.

As I was saying at the beginning, the visit with my friend Amy was nice. We caught up with everything, confessing how are lives were going so far (at least since we'd last seen each other). Then we explored downtown Iowa City, in hopes of finding Home Ec. We did not find it with our first adventure in, so we stopped for lunch at the India Cafe. A neat little restaurant that serves authentic Indian food. They had a fairly nice buffet that gave you a taste of everything. Though I didn't see curry, which I prefer, but it was good nonetheless.
Our lunch was tastefully consumed and it was time to head out to the sauna outside. We walked back to my car and headed to Home Ec. pointing the GPS to another restaurant that is near to it. We got to Home Ec without a hitch. Amy enjoyed it as much as I thought she would, I refrained from buying more yarn, as I had purchased some recently. But it is always fun to take a look.
Our get together came to an end, but it was nice to catch up and explore the city. I returned her home and headed back to mine.

A Little Reflection

Tick, tock, tick, tock. The hands steadily go around the face of the clock. You look at it, not too concerned at the time and your hook just keeps moving. Moving on its own....when will the madness stop? When will the project become an item? Then you look at what has happened...every single square has been completed! Oh, but those ends, those ends need weaved in. So you pick up your yarn needle and begin yet another long process of weaving ever so carefully. Then Viola!

Aw shucks, now they need to be crocheted together....you look at the pattern and carefully crochet your squares together. It goes faster then you think...so fast you continue until there are rows...then the makings of a blanket...then it is a "blanket."

 I must say, I have never been so happy to crochet something together. I was ready to get up and dance because it was nearly finished! I believe this has been the longest process EVER for me to make a blanket. Past ventures with granny squares were light occurrences. I mean, the project I did so long ago in High School seemed like a pleasure and a delight to create. This project on the other hand seemed to weigh on me.  I wonder if it is the deadline that I was so confident in completely blowing out of the water and the fact I was going to make ANOTHER one ALSO on a deadline. Looking at how fast it was assembled and with the border well on its way to be complete, I think I will be just fine in finishing two blankets on deadline.

There is the problem of wanting to make more items. More delightful projects even though you already have a line up clear till next winter. I found a neat necklace I want to try to make. It is just a touch harder than what I have done before..its ranked in the intermediate range. Yet, I still have a scarf waiting to be finished and a monster still to crochet.  Of course, I have another blanket before all that can be completed.

I think I need to slow down and take a look at what I NEED to get done. That is one way to say it. I want to complete these projects and give them as gifts. I can't wait to see the faces of those who will recieve them! I hope they will be as delighted as I was to make them. Well, its good bye for now. See you next time.

Happy 4th!

The fourth of July brought a busy weekend for my husband and I. On the third we spent the day at my family's cabin, enjoying the pond and all it had to offer. Ben was able to fish and my Dad was able to try out his new boat (complete with hook). He caught a large catfish with it. It was so large that it pulled the poor boat all around the pond, the only way for my Dad to get it was for him to get out our paddle boat and chase it down. Ben and I also caught some fish, the traditional way, with a line and pole. I caught three bluegills and Ben caught an assortment of fish.
It was a hot day at the pond so several men enjoyed the cool and warm waters of it. My brother, dad and Ben all enjoyed it. So much so, they took a jump off our dock into the deep murky water to come up smiling and refreshed. My mom on the other hand decided it was good to lay in a blow up boat and float joyfully around the pond. I took a spin in the paddle boat with my husband. I took time taking pictures of the pond and the outside of cabin to show other family members.
Next to water activities, my older brother, Trevor's girlfriend brought badminton and we played several practice games and one real game. The game got so competitive Ben took another dip in the pond in efforts to get the birdie over the net. Unfortunately the ball did not get over and we called it quits.

No fourth of July event is complete without fireworks. Again the boys took charge, blowing off as many of the assorted fireworks as they could. We had noise makers and fountains that seemed to last forever. It was fun to hear all the sounds and look at all the brilliant colors. It was a pretty good display, despite the long length of it.

On the fourth we went to Ben's family's house to enjoy good food and family we had not seen in a little bit. We had a relaxing time there. Ben and I got really full on lots of excellent food. We  played ladder ball with his family. We also got to spend a little time with all our nephews. Each one growing into cute little boys and cute little personalities. All in all a eventful, tiring weekend.

I only did some hooking in between events, in the car. I was able to finish the yellow and am now working on the blue. I hope to finish this blanket very soon! I admit it seems to be taking WAY to long to complete. What are you guys working on? Anything more exciting? I realize summer is a busy time, but sometimes its good to "break" and crochet a little bit. Well it was nice seeing you all again, take care.