Crochet

Thrifting the other day, I found this granny square lap afghan.  Someone did a really nice job on it. The last few years, grannies have made a come-back....one of those; what goes around...comes around things.  I first learned how to crochet grannies when we lived in Monterey, back in the 70's.  Lately, I just finished Dot's scarf, and have started back on the grannies Sunshine Day baby afghan for Violet (and another plain crocheted squares one for Ethan). Sometimes I get just way too many Works In Progress...things get way-laid.  If I want to get their baby blankets to them before they leave for college; I better get with it..

Dog Show

 At the hospital, when Liliana was born, I was telling Joel's mom about a certain 10 year old girl who was reading on-line about training dogs.  She had set up a little dog show with Bella, in our front yard.  Bella was excellent.....at doing EVERYTHING.... wrong.   It didn't deter the enthused dog show promoter.  She praised and praised Bella, and instructed us to do the same.  Joel's mom raises Bulldogs, and shows them.  She started taking the little self-taught Dog Handler, to actual classes, and this week-end, The new Junior Handler was in her first dog show.  The AKC show had soooo many dogs.  A friend of mine went to it, and commented on the dogs being more highly groomed than she was.  She wasn't sure how she felt about that!

The spots are "rolling."

 She worked really hard at keeping him "stacked".  They got a third place on Saturday, and again on Sunday. Tori pointed out a girl at the show that was in the Westminster Dog Show recently.  She is probably about 18 yrs. old, and has been showing since she was about 10, also.  She was so polished and did such a perfect job showing her dog.  I loved watching them.  It's so foreign to me, (the queen of casual) , this concept of wearing pearls and ballet flats and silk looking skirts and jackets.  Those girls dress waaaay fancier to magnetize dog hair, than I do for church!  The new Junior Handler was advised by Joel's mom, to shop the Dress Barn.  Whoa doggie!  The girl is going to be dressed way more "sophisticated" than me!

Happy Birthday Dot!

garnet hill

Dot had fallen in love with this scarf from Garnet Hill.  I wanted to make one for her, but I knew if I did all of those little hexies, that I'd never be able to complete it in time for her birthday.  Using sock yarns, I crocheted some medallions for the ends and found a yarn with a lot of their colors within it and knit the bulk of the scarf in a stockinette stitch.

Wear it in good health, sweet Sister.  I love you.

Love Letters for Violet

Sorry about the reflections in the glass.  Should've taken pictures before framing, I guess.
It's far from perfect, but was made with love.  The original design is for crewel yarn, and I think I would have liked it much better with it, but went with what was available...regular dmc embroidery floss.

Potato Rolls

Tuesday morning, we were talking with the little girls about school cafeteria food when we were kids.  How it wasn't just tacos, pizza, and chicken nuggets.  We had chicken and mashed potatoes, homemade rolls, cinnamon rolls, pigs in a blanket....  I decided to make some pigs in a blanket for supper, cinny rolls for breakfast, and crescents to have with clam chowder on Wednesday.
I love this potato roll recipe I got from Mom.  They are so flavorful and fluffy.  The only problem I have with them is keeping leftover mashed potatoes to make them with.  The little Farmgirl had thirds on 'taters the other night!

Pantry Purge

The room I loved the very most in this old farmhouse when we bought it, was the walk-in pantry.

It had built in cupboards, floor to ceiling, and counters to set baked goods on.  It was wonderful.  (Except when an abandoned little dog, we had taken in, jumped up and confiscated/ consumed/ annhilated...a wonderful Christmas cake I had made and stored there.)  The people we bought the house from, had left a new door (to go out to the deck) and window that they had bought for in there, and hadn't installed yet.  You know that saying about living in a house for a while before you make changes?  I wish we had.  We went with their plan, which meant ripping out everything.  If we had it to do over again, I would want the door to go out of the kitchen to the left of the sink, (like at my parent's house.)  Trying to make the best of it, I built old pantry cupboards that reminded me of my grandparents old fruit pantry.  Some people install a tambour appliance garage in their kitchen to hide all of their "helpers".  We went to Costco and bought a "multi-level appliance parking structure."  I really like having the heaviest appliances at waist level instead of having to pull them out from a lower cupboard somewhere.  This has worked out so well...except ever so often there are too many rush hours, and there's a traffic snarl of stuff causing a big jam in front of said structure.  So, a pantry purge is in order.

I have a dry erase board on the front of the freezer.  Great idea I picked up from a friend years ago, except I'm usually in a hurry when I'm pulling things out of there, and forget to correct the tally....so I can't believe a word it says.

Our Asian mini-mart.  I love going to the Fubon on 82nd in Portland.  Wonderful selection of goodies.

The stepstool to get to the really high-up stuff.  I covered it my fave fabric, and topped it with clear plastic.

Some of the really high stuff.  Labeled, and candy colored scrapbooking paper inserted in front to hide the messy look of the contents.

Powdered sugar (and a century's worth of clear-gel, from Jen) on the open shelves Jim bought from someone on his route.

And the colorful towel Jen got me at the coast.  It makes me smile when I see it, as I remember the crazy games of Catch Phrase, we played on that trip.

This latest pantry purge yielded quite a feast for the chickens.  Out dated squash pickles, canned cherries, and old oats and cornmeal,quinoa flour etc. cooked into a nice hot mash for them.  Yum.

Sunday Afternoon

Lovely.

Don't Blink!

They come home from the hospital.  You put a pretty quilt from Dot, down......

Bring out some toys for entertainment.....

They're crawling, and pulling themselves up to a standing position.

They're growing and learning.....

And before you know it they're skating through life, so quickly.....

Which is why this Christmas, I made wooden "grow charts" for the girls to use for each of their families.   A lot of people on-line have been making these "rulers".  The nice thing about them, is they can be taken from house to house to house when you move....unlike door frames.  :-)

Bunches of Love

Valentines Day, thinking of all of my dear ones, where ever they are.  Drinking from the mug from Dad.......He gave one to my Mom, and one to each of my sisters. xoxo, Dad.  Admiring the Valentine gift that Victoria hand made at school, for the Little Farm Girl.  Her "first time at stitching."  A shared simple dinner of Chicken with Portobello Mushroom Sauce.  Individual little strawberry laden cakelets.  How blessed to love, and be loved.