Pinky Ring - Memories - June 11, 2012

                                         This is not my pinky finger, just so you know.

It's just that kind of day.  Sort of melancholy.  You would think that it would be all of last week with all the rain, thunder, and lightening we had.  And we did get it good.  We needed it so bad. Hopefully this will keep the fires at bay.  And it is hurricane season.  Dang.  There was one clap of thunder yesterday that honest to pete, made the trailer shake.  Scared the you know what out of me.  Beulah had already been there since she sensed it coming.  I don't do storms very well.  It just brings home the feelings of being alone.  Oh well..

I started to knit.  Yeah for me...  ha ha.  Well, that may be a gross exaggeration of knitting.  I have learned to put the stitches onto the needle.  ha ha...  And I like that part so far.  ha ha...

I am trying to do some of the things on my so called "bucket list".  I think it's more of a "I'm bored I want to do.......". ha ha.  I have always wanted to learn to really crochet, knit, and quilting.  I am on my way with crocheting, and I love it.  My hands aren't always cooperating though.  With my carpal tunnel and arthritis, they get sore, but oh well, that just lets me know that they are still there. The saddest part of all that is that I have had to take off my pinky ring.  I just about cried.  I have had that on my pinky for 43 years.  I got it as a gift from my mom and dad for my 16th birthday, along with a great sweet sixteen party.  It was my initials DJB with a tiny diamond.  I always thought it sort of looked like a U instead of a J, but I loved it then, and I love it now. Wish I could find those pictures.  Anyway,  I will keep trying to get it on.  The strange part is how strange my finger feels without it.  Over the years my fingers have gotten fatter along with the rest of me, but it still fit.  Now old age is doing it for me. 

Well this was short, but need to take my baby girl out in this insufferable heat.  At least it's not storming.

Until next time.

Crocheted Baby Booties - Start of TS Beryl - May 27, 2012

I am so proud of myself.  I am actually learning to crochet and it feels so good to make things.

As you can see from the picture, I made baby booties.  I was beside myself.  I grew up never thinking I could do much, and so to be able to do this makes me very happy.  And I love my crochet buddies. 

We are making baby booties, hats, and afghans to donate to a Pregnancy Center locally.  It feels good to be part of a community and to be think that tiny little feet will be filling my booties..ha ha.  As I've said a hundred times, it doesn't take much to make me happy.

I will post the directions at the end of this.

We are in the midst of waiting for Tropical Storm Beryl. We have had lots of wind, wind gusting pretty good at times, rain bands that are heavy when they happen, and thunder.  As I am writing this it is bright and sunny out there right now.  It is sort of raining about every half hour or so, then the sun shines.  Beulah will need to learn to walk between the raindrops.  ha ha.

Here is the baby bootie pattern and the website

Bev's Very EASY Newborn Booties
www.bevscountrycottage.com/bevsbooties2.html

Newborn bootie size measurements
Foot Length = 3 1/2 - 3 3/4"
Height from sole to top of bootie is about 4 - 4 1/2"
Instep (from sole to ankle bone) = 1.75" - 2.25"

Size H hook ( For preemies I used G hook)
1 oz of soft 4 ply worsted weight yarn (Simply Soft works great!)
Bottom of bootie foot -- Ch 26(for other ones I used 30 chains)

ROW 1: HDC in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (25 hdc) Ch 2 (counts as a HDC on next row), turn

ROW 2 - 3: HDC in each hdc across row (25 hdc). ch 2, turn.

ROW 4: (you can change colors here if desired) DC in each hdc across row (25 dc) - do not chain 3 at the end, just turn

ROW 5 (top of bootie) : slip st in the first 5 dcs, ch 3 - in that 5th st- (counts as one dc) dc in the same st and then in each dc across leaving 4 unworked at the end.. (17 dcs) Chain 3, turn

ROWS 6 and 7 : (change colors back) DC in each dc across the 17 sts being sure to DC into the very last stitch, ch 3 and turn (17 dcs)

ROW 8: Girls top: Sc into 1st st near hook, ch 3, sc in next st, repeat across to make a ruffle on the top.

ROW 8: Boys top: Alternate making a *FPDC and *BPDC across row, working the stitches in the front or back of the sts in the row below.

Finish off. ~Fold piece in half and whip-stitch up using yarn and big eyed needle - this is the wrong side of the bootie. Flip booties right side out and shape them with your hands to make them more puffy and rounded. FOLD TOP DOWN.

~ * ~ IMPORTANT: Weave a length of ribbon in and out of the row above the heel to tie booties. Or crochet a contrasting colored chain of about 60 chains. ~ * ~

* FPDC = Front Post Double Crochet. Meaning you go down into the stitch below, in the front and make a dc in that stitch
* BPDC = Back Post Double Crochet. Meaning you go down into the stitch below, in the back of the stitch and make a dc in that stitch

**As I stated above I used a G hook for the preemies

**For the other ones I used the H hook and chained 30 and adjusted for it.  Like in row 1 it would be 29, In row 2, 3, and 4  it would be 29, 5 I did the same, etc.  Any questions, just ask.  I am learning, but I know what I did.  ha ha

Until next time....

GOOD MORNING

Here it is the 3rd day of the new year, 2012, and my second day of blogging. Let's see how long it will last??.. ha ha

Beulah woke me up at 6 and I did NOT want to get out of bed. For us here in Florida it was cold. Only 34. Brrrrr... And blustery, which is not a word we use here very often. I did not want to get out from under the electric blanket where it was nice and toasty. But Beulah had a different idea. ha ha..

I love this picture and Danielle will go nuts over the owl. Me, I'm all about the coffee. Wish I had me some Dunkin Donuts coffee. Mine is not very good. I just do not make good coffee. I do like Maxwell House the best. Even buying Dunkin Donuts coffee does not taste the same as getting it there. I put cinnamon in with my grounds. Heard it was good for diabetes and it adds a little something something to the experience. Love Love Love the Italian Sweet Cream creamer. Just makes it all the more an enjoyable.

So much to do today. Doctor appointments to make, crocheting group, have to go to the library and pick up and take back books, go to the post office, and the dreaded paying of the bills. And here I sit, on the computer enjoying my coffee. So, if you happen on here, join me with your morning cup of joe, java, and just plain ol coffee.