Crochet Instead

Randomly and thoughtfully mailed to me by the NVO's sis. She wrote in the word crochet to replace knit (someday I will knit). I love it when people know the difference.

It keeps me laughing...look at the length of her knitting project...

This card came from http://www.oatmealstudios.com/

Heart Angel

Petit Jolie Blon

A birthday gift for our granddaughter (Petit Jolie Blon) via #2 (Jolie Blon).

A lovely young lady that will be turning 12!

Heart Pattern can be found at The Easy Makes Me Happy Blog .

The heart ornament was crocheted to match the ornament that this angel is holding.

If our "Petit Jolie Blon" angel holds the ornament...just so...she will look just like this angel,
hmmmmm....except that "Petit Jolie Blon" is blonde.

Joyeux anniversaire!!!

Flower Angel

A Birthday Gift For My Sis-in-Law

Crocheted flowers that match the flowers the angel is holding.

An angel for the angel that takes such good care of her family and our Mama Corky. :-)

Lazy Daisy and Apple Blossoms in pale yellow from Leslie Stanfield's
 "100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet".

The rose...my own concoction.

Happy Birthday, Sis.
Here's to a day that blossoms with lots of love!

Crazy Heart- Part 3 TA DAH!!!

The Afghan is Finish-e-ode!!!

Much to my delight and perhaps to the delight of a few others this should be the last post on the Crazy Heart Afghan as it is done, done, done!

280 hearts, 70 squares, and a 3 row edging later...

In keeping with the heart theme I chose this border as I thought it looked like little tiny hearts. It's from Edie Eckman's "Around the Corner Crochet Borders" and it's border #112.

Oh my goodness, I blogged about this darn afghan here, here, here, here, here and here.
It's a wonder that I have any followers left. ;-)

Eggs Benedict

Saturday Morning Garden Deck Breakfast

with our 5 Star Friends!

Check out the Martha Stewart inspired rose napkin fold.

What do you think? Snappy, eh?

The NVO whipped up his famous Eggs Benedict for our friends "K" & "L".

Served with Lemon Tarragon Asparagus, Potatoes O'Brien and Strawberries Romanoff.

A truly delightful visit.

"K" brought me a luscious low-carb milk chocolate bar.

I can't wait to try this thoughtful treat!

"L" is the giver of the *above promotional copy of "Muskrat Love" 45.

This is a gift that touched my heart like no other.

I had mentioned to "K" that "Muskrat Love" was my all time favorite song and would be played at my funeral. Shortly thereafter, "K" arrived bearing this most endearing gift from "L".

"L" was a morning show DJ on the station that ALL the kids listened to
 when I was in high school ...

 ... in the 70's.

It brings with it lots of good memories.

Next double date we are hoping to play a "What's that tune?" game orchestrated by "L".

It was such a nice time!!!

*It cracks me up that me and the camera are reflected in this photo and that the photo is blurry AND that I even posted it. Oh well, sometimes, good enough is just simply that, good enough!

Especially when I feel a Eggs Benedict induced Saturday afternoon nap coming on. ;-)

"50" - A Good Reason to Crochet

Numbers Divisible by Five are My Favorite Numbers

 My co-working buddy "E" is "50" today

I am "50", too. Not to be confused with "50" two. :-)

The NVO and I have boycotted purchasing gifts until our home is paid off
 and maybe even after.  ;-)

"E" has black and white tile, set on a diagonal for her kitchen floor.
She loves black and white and her taste is immaculate; this is one classy lady!

Her accent colors are the citrus colors.

In keeping with the spirit of boycotting purchased gifts, this is my gift, along with lots of love and best wishes, for her, on her best numbered birthday ever!

Happy Birthday "E"!!!

"Gentlemen start your engines..."

I seriously doubt "E" is into car racing; however, these were the first words that jumped into my head when I saw this photo.

You can find the tutorial here.

Mermaid Morning Memories

A Wonderful Start to the Day

Working From Home...

That's Where the Heart is...

This beautiful mermaid wine stopper was a gift from my longtime friend, Minderella.

We enjoyed coffee together often...now she is in London. :-) for her, :-( for me.

Added to my morning coffee was a dollop of frozen heavy whipped cream sweetened with xylitol and flavored with real vanilla extract. An idea from my friend, K. (My low-carb buddy)

Warm thoughts of gratitude and fond memories being sent your way, my lovely lady friends!

Afghan Redirection

WIP Update

This is the first time I've used the "WIP" acronym - I feel like a real blogger now!

 

Two rows and the edging remain for completion.
Thats 14 squares and 56 hearts.

The blanket is short two rows, at this point. I think I will turn the pattern and add two rows the other direction in order to create a more rectangular vs square shape. I thought the dark in the middle fading out to lighter colors would look better than it actually turned out. I may add the darker color for these outside rows in hopes for balance....always seeking balance. :-) But once again, this is dependent on the colors of yarn that I still have.

Hmmmm...already thinking about what to do with the leftover yarn once this blanket is complete...and I got distracted and tried one of Lucy's hexagons.

Have a wonderful weekend y'all!!!

Apple Pie Re-Mix

Dessert For The Ones Who Fear "Certain" Carbs :-)

American-French-Greek-Low-Carb
Apple Pie

Preheat oven to 350 degrees C

Mix the following, by hand, in a bowl:

2 large apples (peeling is optional - these were not peeled)

     Granny Smith is probably best, Royal Gala were used as that's what we had.

     I bet pears would be good too, or maybe even blueberries.
     (Oh yeah, blueberries...yum!)

3/4 cup chopped nuts:

     Pecans are probably best, walnuts were used as, once again, that's what we had.
     (Hmmmmmm....I don't know if nuts would be good with blueberries, though.)

1/4 c. brown sugar splenda

1 T. lemon juice

2 T. warm water

2 T. almond meal (Could use whole wheat flour, but that will up the carbs)

2 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. sea salt

1/4 t. nutmeg

Spray a pie plate with cooking spray or grease with butter. (We do not fear olive oil and butter - just certain carbs and trans fats. ;-)  )

Place three phyllo dough sheets brushed with butter on bottom of the pie plate.

Place mixture on top of sheets.

Now here's the pièce de résistance...

Layer with brie, YES brie, glorious brie!!!

Remember the old saying:

"Apple pie without the cheese is like a kiss without the squeeze."
Well, it's true!

Top with three additional sheets of phyllo dough (brushed with butter):

Bake for 30 minutes:

Voilà!!!

And there you have it:

International Apple Pie!

Flag Day

Today is Flag Day in the USA

I Love The Flag

I Love Flag Day
(For one reason, because it is a non-commercialized holiday;
 hence, there is no marketing pressure to purchase gifts or spend money ;-) )

Oops, I spent a little bit of money:

This shirt will be worn

(Isn't it cute? $5.99 at Kohls - love those bargains!)

These "Target Dollar Bins" pencils (another bargain at $1) will write something patriotic.

The napkins will accompany an all American dinner: hot dogs, hamburgers and apple pie.
I must mention that this meal will be sans buns, and the apple pie crust will be a thin layer of phyllo dough.
We are making every effort to reduce certain types of carbohydrates that have been bad, bad, bad to us and trying to make the best of it :-).
(Hey "K" are you proud?)

Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue!!!

(My cheers to the Norwegians, the French, the English and the Australians
 on this red, white and blue day, as well.)

Colorado Apple Blossom

Road Trip Find

This week I have been fortunate enough to join the NVO on a business road trip to Colorado.

A "fuel and potty" stop led us to vineyards in the most unexpected place: Palisade, Colorado.

A vineyard stop led to "St. Kathryn Cellars Apple Blossom Wine", an irresistible purchase due to it's name.

I find the contrast of the rock formations and the grapevines quite intriguing.

I've never seen anything like it before.

In any case, this means lots of hooky time in the car, perhaps the afghan will see the "end of the road" sooner than expected. ;-)

Crazy Heart - Part 2

The Joining of Hearts

These sort of look like Norwegian waffles, except there are four hearts instead of five.

What could be more appropriate than that for a Norsk crocheting maniac who is hungry for vafflekaker?

Now it's time to join the hearts.

Just like when these hearts were joined together, hehe.

(This is to gross out the kids once again.)

<3 <3

Okay, back to business:

Sew in the end in the middle of each heart (the beginning end) and leave the last end out and leave it pretty long.

Using the last end sew the hearts together. Be sure to leave room around the top of the curvy part of the heart for 8 stitches. This will make more sense when you crochet around the hearts. (You will need 4 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 2 tc for a total of 8)

Now to crochet around the edge of the hearts:

Count four stitches in from where the two hearts are sewn together and slip in other color. This will be your first sc. (Work in back loops)

4 sc

 1 ch, 4 sc
the chain is the dip in the heart

 *1 hdc, 1 dc, 2 tc, 1 ch
This and the next step are worked where the hearts are sewn together.

2 tc, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 4 sc, 1 ch, 4sc 1 ch 4 sc repeat from* all the way around

 ss to join first row of new color

sc all the way around in the back loops, but when you come to a corner do the following:

 3 sc, 1 ch, 3 sc

Join with ss with first stitch of 2nd row

Leave a long end to sew the squares together

 Should look like this...not exactly square but they end up pretty square once the squares are joined together. (I am so open to any suggestion or rework of this part, I struggled and struggled with it as a rooky granny square maker.)

Join the granny squares together:
I prefer joining these hearts by sewing them together through the back loops with the leftover long end that is still attached.
Another option would be to crochet them together.

I like the little ridges made by working in the back loops.

These are the materials I used:

Encore Worsted 75% Acrylic and 25% Wool.

The colors are luscious and so many to choose from....

....and I chose these to match the bedroom decor.

Oh, and a size J hook. :-)

Stay tuned for more updates as the afghan grows and the pattern takes form.

Part 3 - will be the edging...that should be fun but I have no clue as to what I will do or when that will be.
I would like to try something different from the standard picot that I use everywhere.
The color of edging will be determined by what color is leftover - that's the thrifty me. :-)