a regular christmas elf

Last night I was getting the sleepy eyes from the puppy now known as "Trouble." It was raining outside on my still-torn-up patio and the time seemed just right to do a little work on a blanket I started specifically to keep my hands busy while watching crime shows on TV.

I forgot that the moment I pull out neato things like yarn and scissors, sleepy eyes wakes right the heck up. She could be in a deep sleep and the moment yarn comes out of the drawer she's on her feet.
I don't know what I'd do without her "help."

Good thing I probably won't have to worry about that anytime soon.

Let's just say, the blanket isn't finished yet.

spring flowers = crochet?

Spring is officially here! This morning it was warm enough for me to sit outside and have my morning cup of coffee and everywhere I looked things were blooming.

Like this tree full of little white blossoms starting to open:


All this spring weather and the pretty colors popping up everywhere have got me crocheting granny squares for a scheme I am mulling over in my skull.


Oh this is my favorite! Is this a tulip tree? It is so darn pretty! And the blossoms... the blossoms are as big as my fist!


I can hardly contain myself when I wake up in the morning to sunshine and flowers! In the evening I work on these little buggers and wonder if my project will work out the way I see it in my head.


And well, I just can't help but post one last gratuitous shot of those gorgeous blossoms!

Happy Spring!

12 months, 12 goals

This next goal is one that has been brewing in my head and heart for a while now.

Goal 4 - contribute to a cause.

Forgive me for this, but I'm going to take a moment to share why this is important to me this year. During the year I spent in the Middle East I met a lot of Iraqis who were good people. I tried to make an effort to be the kind of American who left a good impression, rather than a negative one (I was in the position to do so) and so was lucky enough to get to know a few of these folks on a slightly more personal level. I shocked me to see first-hand the devastation of the country and the life of a people. Especially the women and children.

I feel that in many countries where large amounts of the population are suffering, it is the women and children who bear the brunt of the pain. I won't go into my personal thought on religion and patriarchy, but I feel an intense need to help others who are less fortunate than I and to focus my attentions especially on women and little girls. The other day my father sent me this story and it finally solidified the necessity of doing something to help.

So, this year I plan to find a way to help these sisters of mine. I plant to start with contributing handmade blankets to Afghans for Afghans. I'm just going to do small ones, as they have to be made of wool and let's face it... wool ain't cheap! But, my goal is to knit or crochet one each month for the year. Twelve total.

I'm starting with this pattern by Alicia Paulson, the Tiramisu Blanket. (photo from tamsi on Ravelry)


I've added a tab on the sidebar to Afghans for Afghans if anyone reading this would like to read about them. I will also start a flickr slideshow thingie to keep me honest on this. As I go through this year I have another organization planned to contribute to financially, but will speak more on that later; once I am able to actually start getting involved.

look what i found

This last weekend I hit up a HUGE thrift store not terribly far away from my pad. It seemed high time I checked out the second-hand stores in the area and this one did not disappoint.

Look what I found!

They had so many crocheted blankets in so many colors I could hardly contain myself! I left with three of them, and they now live on my couch. I love the thought that someone put a lot of time and thought into these afghans. I know from experience how much time and yarn it takes to make these! Every time I wrap one around me I think of the love and care that went into the creation of them.

It was the perfect time to pick up these "vintage" suckers too. It's really cold and windy outside (especially at night) and all I want to do is snuggle under these babies and read through the growing stack of books by the couch. It hibernation time.

new project

Ok, new project. The Shivaree Throw and Feather and Fan Shawl are still in progress, but I needed something with a bit more color to it to work on. And so, I'm starting work on a blanket for my bed. Pretty excited about the whole thing, really. It has been getting cool enough at night to need a blanket halfway through over the top, but not quite cool enough for a permanent, full-time blanket under the quilt. And so, I think I'll make this colorful blankie to pull over me at night (or for a quick nap in the afternoon) and it will give me a much-needed break from that white blanket I've been working on. Whatever made me think I would want to knit a blanket in white??