We all know about good intentions

I had an adjusted work week and ended the week with being off Thursday and Friday.  I had such good intentions for those four consecutive days off.  My plan was to have Thursday as my do what I want day and work on my crafts.  Of course I had plans to finish ALL of my current projects.  Then the other days would be equally as productive with things around the house.  I would get tons accomplished.  I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Once finished with ALL my current craft projects on Thursday I would then cook a homemade dinner, tidy up, read and go to bed.  After a wonderful night's sleep I would then rid my house of ALL unwanted clutter, weed the flower beds, wash and fold ALL laundry, do every last item on my to-do list, and cook another homemade dinner. Then on Sunday I would run errands, get groceries, make some homemade chocolate chip cookies, and cook yet another amazing home cooked meal.  Well all I have done is successfully paved that road to Hell with my good intentions.

Our kitchen as of Sunday morning.   It is obviously NOT de-cluttered.  Yes, that is a jar of chocolate pecan turtle in front of the box of Cap'N Crunch.  We are messy and we eat sugar!

I still haven't put away all the little piles of things in the dining room.  Some days I feel like the queen of the piles.  I know none of this is extremely terrible.  I just prefer a more tidy home.  That being said I made very little attempt to change my surrounding.  And for the record, only one load of laundry was washed.  I did not take any picture of those piles because after all that would be airing my dirty laundry.  I'll show you my messy kitchen but I draw the line at somethings.

Not much may have been accomplished over the past four day but I did take a nice nap on Saturday. I also spent some of my time working on the Cozy Stripe blanket.  Although I didn't manage to finish this Crafting Thursday I have made progress.  I have run into one of the hazards of using up yarn from the stash - not enough on the skein.  No need to worry, my stash is rather substantial.  I had another skein that was close enough to match.

I hope your weekend was productive!  Thanks for stopping by for a visit.

Lisa

Winter Project Link Party

I am joining in with Jennifer at her Winter Project Link Party.  Since the granny square blanket is finished I thought it would be nice to have a blanket to crochet during the colder months.  I've had it in my mind I would make a Spice of Life Blanket.  That is such a pretty pattern.  I printed the pattern but for some reason I hesitated starting it.  I did a ravelry search of crochet blankets and saw the Cozy Stripe Blanket from the blog Attic24.  I am hoping to make this blanket for my son and the Cozy Stripe seemed more of his style.  I would also like to use up as much stash yarn as I can with this project. That being said I'm already thinking I might need to purchase and eggplant purple color skein of yarn.  I am really going to try and NOT buy any other yarns for this project.

I have been putting out a few Halloween/Fall decorations.  Even though the kids are older they still like to have the house look festive for the different seasons and holidays.

I made this scarecrow a year ago.  The pattern called for a sculpted face.  Being rather lazy mine has a non-sculpted face.  I like him as he is and so far the cats have not bothered him.

My mom made the witch years ago.  She's not such a scary witch.  I do think she is having a bad hair day but I can totally relate to that situation.

My craft corner of the family room has some fall and Halloween flair.  I bought a new fleece throw with autumn leaves and I my Jack-o-lantern project bag has a Halloween project in it.  The big question is will I finish this project before the end of the month???

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.  Hopefully next post I will be able to share exactly what my Halloween project will be.

Year of Projects Week 13

I have finished the granny square blanket!!!!  I actually finished almost two weeks ago.  Well, almost finished it.  I still needed to cut the yarn from the skien and sew the ends.  This project has been in the works for so long I think I needed to let it sit and get used to the idea it was complete.

I could not spread the blanket over all of the bed due to the cat.  Avi loves napping in Lindsay's room. It was nice to be able to take the picture in her mostly tidy room.  I cropped the laundry out of the shot. No need to air our dirty laundry here : )

The other project I have been working on is a Squidge.  It's an asymmetrical scarf/shawl pattern from Ravelry.  The pattern is by Glenda Howell.  I'm using one of the Caron Cake Yarns.  I had a tough time getting the pattern started.  It was a little confusing to me.  There is a graph and that was very helpful.  Once I got it started I'm finding is very easy. 

I am really enjoying this yarn.  It is so soft and squishy.  I have two more skeins, one pink and one rainbow.  I do wish I would have bought one more skeins of the rainbow color.  The shawl I would like to make with it calls for more yarn than the one skein.  My Michael's store has already sold out of this yarn.  It was quite the craze!  

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.  Lisa

What to start

I have finished the granny square blanket.  Well, at least I think I have.  It's been in the works for so long I hesitate to say it is complete.  I don't have any pictures to post of this monumental finish.  I hope to photograph it on my daughter's bed.  I say hope because as her room sits right now you wouldn't notice a granny square blanket.  I fear all you would see is the complete disarray of a teenager's life.  It is her room.  I TRY to keep my mouth closed.  That is not easy.

Now to decide on the next project.  I have a few things that are still in progress.  I knit a round or two on my cowl each day.  The Christmas hexis should move to the front of the list.  It would be nice to have them finished.  But I keep thinking of all the new things I want to start.  A chevron or Spice of Life blanket would be fun and would use up stash yarn.

I also bought three Caron Cakes.  They were so pretty and I have zero self control.  Thanks goodness for Micheal's coupons.  Each skein has a pattern on the label.  There is a triangle shawl, a kerchief scarf, and a textured scarf.  They all have possibilities.

My son has asked for a crocheted basket for his room or I could make a fall doily.  I have too many things I want to make and my mind is not so focused.  I think that describes my state of mind, not so focused.  Craft projects are not the only things swirling around my head, so is everything else I need to do.  I get overwhelmed and then I don't do anything, so frustrating.   Sometimes picking one project and doing one task seems greater than swimming across the ocean.

I hope to accomplish something today, wish me luck.   Lisa

Year of Projects 9/04/16

It's been a while since I last posted in the YOP ravelry group.  I almost forgot how!  I went through a slight lull of not working on many projects.  I still crocheted and knitted but it was very minimal.  My daughter asked me to make a crochet basket for her.  That is one complete project.  The pattern is the Chunky Basket by Elizabeth Pardue on ravelry.  I've made this before an it is a great basket.  I used Wool-Ease Chunky, the color is Wheat.

The granny square blanket is still in progress.  If I'd just find some focus and motivation it would be finished this next week.

My last finish is a Wooly Sheep from Attic 24 blog.  This is such a cute pattern.  I think mine needs a few flowers to make it a little more spiffy.

I'm still working on my knitted cowl.  It should be finished very soon.  Then I get to pick my next knitting project.  I'll probably go to the yarn store and see if they have any good suggestions for another easy project.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.  Lisa

It all started with an Instagram picture

At the end of August on what I think was a Thursday evening the family was off doing their own thing.  I was taking full advantage of the last days of summer vacation and happily crocheting and listening to a pod cast.  I typically have my iPhone with me and check Instagram from time to time. I saw Tammy from T's daily treasures post on Instagram a picture of my local sewing and yarn store. I knew from her posts she was traveling but had no idea she would make it to my area.  I couldn't believe she was so close. I hated to ask if she wanted to meet.  I wasn't sure how much time she had and didn't want to encroach on any of her plans.  Of course I was secretly hoping we could meet. She was gracious enough to ask if I'd like to get together for coffee. I was thrilled!  I love reading her blog so the chance to talk with her in person was something I didn't want to miss.

Leesburg has a lovely historic down town area perfect for meeting a friend for coffee and to chat. A little bit of history, the Declaration of Independence was kept in Leesburg after Washington D.C. was burned by the British during the War of 1812.

We met at a quirky little coffee shop-restaurant that was once the town cobbler shop.  It has shoes and boots as decorations giving it a great eclectic feel.  

Talking with Tammy was so fun.  It was interesting to hear how she ended up in Kuwait and how long she has lived there.  I grew up in Arkansas and moved to Virginia when I was 27.  I'm a little in awe of all of her travels.

Of course no meeting of blog friends is complete without exchanging a few gifts.  The above goodies are the lovely things she gave to me.  I can honestly say I feel like I made out like a bandit!

I hope if she is returns to the area again she would be up for another coffee and chat.

Hello back to school time

It's our first week back to school.  This year I am truly sad to see summer come to an end.  It's not that it was a wild and exciting time.  It was a typical summer.  We tried to stay ahead of the To-Do lists. We tried to have fun and to relax.  It's not that I don't want the next season.  The beginning of school, the routine this time of year brings.  I've always loved fall and the cool weather.  The heat of summer has never been what I crave. I wilt and complain when the temperature goes above 78 degrees.  This school year is my daughter's senior year.  I'm trying hard not to think of it as the beginning of the end. I know this will be an exciting time.  I remember that excitement, the possibilities.  When she started kindergarten I worried, will she make friends, will she be okay but I didn't cry.  This year is different. Independence is slowly creeping in on us.  For once I was thankful for a chaotic morning.  The craziness of getting everyone out the door kept the tears away.  I look at the beautiful young lady that stands before me and I still see my sweet chubby cheeked little girl.

However, I'm quite sure this young man will stay my baby forever!  He'll never want to leave his mommy, right?????

Here's to a great school year!