Yarning Stylish...

NOT....NOT....NOT

Gosh these are about the ugliest styled slippers I have ever seen. (they are not be worn anywhere outside our house). They are actually square at the TOE! *huh?* The seam goes down the middle & across the bottom of foot. I chose this pattern because it was an easy crochet project. I do not feel that my knitting skills are up to socks // slippers patterns. But I guess I really need to try a knitted sock pattern out. How else will I ever get better??? LOL

So the other brothers are now requesting the same ugly slipper...the littlest brother says they are quite warm...so I am off to make one more pair of the uglies. This pattern will not fit the oldest son's foot...I may try to make the oldest with a larger hook...that may help.. & I will also crochet intentionally looser.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

My husband always had a special tradition begining October 1st (his birthday) & ending March 17th (St. Patricks Day). He grew a full beard during those months. Man...& he grew a nice full beard...I always loved it the 3rd week in...so nice & soft, if was. He kept it nicely trimmed & it filled his face right up to his cheeks. Also helped to keep his face warm in those cold, windy winter months. The last time he grew it there were streaks of white mixed in with the red. He didn't like it, but I still loved it! He shaved everything off St. Patricks Day. Now, understand before we met, St Patty's Day was a big drunk fest for him & his buddies...starting early in the morning & going for...well, I am not really sure for how long. To tell you the truth I am not really sure when he even shaved on the day during those years.... But I do know that after he shaved, he always looked so younger. Younger looking, few(?) beers, drunken college girls, soft, sweet talk..ummm... I am pretty sure he never went home alone on St Pat's Day unless it was his choice! He can no longer grow a beard due to the side effects of radiation treatments he received 5 years ago. We all do miss the beard.
Today was a special day for the youngest guy in the house AKA.. The Blonde Frogger.

Yup, it was time to cut the hair & make his donation to the Locks For Love Program.

He looks so different to all of us. My oldest son is trying to get used to seeing him with short hair. He does look quite a bit younger. And tonight...we did NOT NOT NOT buy hair conditioner when we went to the grocery store!! LOL.

The back of his neck is so WHITE. Holy cow...that part of his body hasn't seen any sun in almost 2 years. It is almost disturbing to see. He has a cute hair cut that will be perfect for his first wrestling season which will start the begining of December.









I doubt The Blonde Frogger will grow his hair again for sometime.
It was not as easy to manage as he thought it was going to be.... brushing everyday, shampoo, conditioner, finding one... just one of the hundreds of head bands we have bought over the past year. (Obviously, soccer fields or maybe the Ref's just LOVE head bands, because we enter the field with one on, but by the time we reach our house, it has disappeared. Strange. Mighty strange). But the girls loved his hair. ummmm...

Following Directions

This is a story of a parent offering advice to a young teen boy & then wishing she'd just left well enough alone.

The players -- Maple Leaf Red -- the Mom & "Direction Giver"
-- Stewie -- the young teen boy

Place -- back yard & front yard at home

Time -- span of 4 days

Props -- leaves, leaf bags, rakes, shovels, youngest of Maple Leaf Red's offspring, rubber ball, porch steps, house & leaf blower

Day 1

Well, the front & back yards were covered in leaves. The boys had 2 days off of school. My only request -- "Please rake front & back yards before you go off galavanting with your friends. We don't ask you to do much around the house, so please be sure you do this for us."
I get home from work -- job well done by boys!!

Day 2

Rained overnite; need to do yards again. Stewie is now in charge of leaf blower in back yard - I am quite sure Big Brother was in control of it yesterday. Fine. Get going. Into the house I go & start a load of laundry, fold the load that is in the dryer, etc., etc. Outside I go 15 minutes later. Not really sure what happened in the 15 minutes I was gone. Well, I take that back...I can only guess.

1. Youngest brothers hair was blown all crazy like with leaf blower. How do I know this? I just do!!! Now please understand that child has lots of hair -- he is growing it to donate to "Locks For Love" program & it is just about ready to be cut. "Honey, please stop at store & get MORE hair conditioner on your way home!" not a phone call I wanted to make...cause then there are just questions I have to answer that I'd rather not..arggg.

2. Leaves have been blown around the yard but not in any kind of pile so we can bag them. arggg #2.

My suggestion to Stewie. Blow all the leaves toward the fence instead of trying to make a pile in the middle of the yard. That way the leaves have a place to stop. Make sense? Yes, leaf blower operator admits. Very good. We finally get all leaves bagged. BTW...Front yard we raked...far smaller area.

2 days later yards are full of leaves again. I hear leaf blower outside. **bells are thunderously ringing in my head & stomach is tightening & brain wondering where Pepto Bismol is** Young teen, Stewie, has decided to clean up front yard for us. I take a quick peek outside...all is going swell. Front yard is looking a lot less leaf cluttered. **bells just chiming now & stomach does not feel need for Pepto**

I am paged to the front door. "Mom, check this out. This is amazing." Leaf Blower Acrobat is performing quite a trick for me. He has found an old rubber ball & is keeping it the air with the leaf blower. That's quite a good trick son. NOW PLEASE STOP GOING UP & DOWN THE STAIRS WHILE PERFORMING!!! **back in house looking for Pepto & Pepcid & wine bottle opener**

All is quiet outside. I go check. Now this is when I just want to slap myself against the head & just duct tape my mouth shut forever. Hardly a leaf to be found on the front yard any where. Remember my advice about blowing leaves to the fence to stop them? Leaf Blower Operator actually filed away that thought, took it out & used it! Bravo, young teen. Good, right, you say? Wrong Wrong Wrong, I say! All the leaves are now against the house...wait there is more.... in the shrubs!!! OMG. Hubby is going to kill me. **forget the wine, where the h*ll is that whiskey?**

Yarning It Up

Well, it's been a while since I have written anything. Mostly finishing up soccer season & getting ready for cold weather & Christmas.

I've been dabbling with yarn over the last 2 months. Thought I'd show what I've made. All are easy basic items.

This is a cute easy little scarf. The second one of this type I made using red yarn. The first one I gave to Suzietoots for hosting a Gather we attended in October. I like this design because of the shell stitich edging. A nice finishing touch. I used 2 different kinds of yarn for this pattern. It is not holey & should keep neck of recipient quite warm over the next few months.

This is another scarf made of same pattern as the one above. Different yarn. Far softer to the touch and yet once again, will keep recipient quite warm while out in the cold.




This is a Popcorn pattern...at least in my eyes. There appear to be little balls throughout the pattern giving a nice texture to this scarf. I think if I make this one again, it will not be as wide. Aslo, for you better crocheters out there...yes I did drop a stitch, but was just tooo lazy to rip out, again!! :)

The picture at the top of the page is a book mark. It is about 6 inches long. It is made from Crochet thread & a very fine hook. I made it in less than a couple of hours one morning. It did not take long, but I think I really should make an appointment with the eye doctor, if I want to continue to do such delicate work!!! :-). It is really quite pretty & I sure do hope the recipient will use it!!



Someone on AQ talked about a yarny site located at http://www.ravelry.com/. Whoever that was, I should want to strangle you -- I have spent many hours combing over that site looking for patterns -- but instead I will thank you for showing me a great reference. There are some very talented people out there in this world. Most of the items on that site, I will never attempt to even try...whoa!! Very complicated patterns. But ohhhh so nice to look at!!!

More art eye candy for Maple Leaf Red.