Where did October go?

Can someone please tell me where the whole month of October went to? Is it really the last week of this month already? Trying to think what all was accomplished, if anything, in October. Let me think....the Jacob's Ladder afghan is still in progress. Yoyoghan #11 has been completed. Working on a travelghan for the infusion center. The church asked me this past Sunday to make more hangars to be sold next Sunday (Major YIKES!). And I think there may have been a dischloth and scarf in the mix too.
The knitting is so slow going. The knitting needles may have to be returned to my friend Patti. Just cannot seem to get the right tension and the right way to hold the yarn and needles.
The bump in road I spoke of in my last post has become a hill. Trying not to have it turn into a mountain. All I can do is put this problem in God's hands. He has a plan and I am just going to have to follow what He tells me to do. Until then, I will be working on hangars the rest of this week - then back to the travelghan.
Oh, has anyone purchased yarn from Angelicrafts? I ordered $36 worth of RH millends from them. This yarn is perfect for my charity crafts. I am still going to buy from my fav online yarn store when I need to make an afghan for a present.
Tah Tah for now.

Life's LIttle Bumps

What's the saying? "Sometimes life throws you a curve ball"..I think that is it. Well, life threw one at me and I think I am playing dodge ball with it. Just as long as the ball doesn't hit me, things will be fine. (not medical, just personal) So, between the crochet slump and playing "ball", I haven't felt like posting at all.

After a weekend retreat with some friends, I have come out of hiding and am here to give the crochet up date. Really didn't think there was much to report on, but my hooks saw more crochet action than I thought. Another yo yoghan was completed (#10) and another afghan (Jacob's Ladder) is on the hook. Trying to use up what is in the stash. 2 more dishcloths have been made to go in the box heading to the women's shelter on the reservation. 170 something 5" grannys were sent to one of CFAC's collector of squares (sure hope you have room for them Monica). Those used up quite a bit stash. 5 hangars were completed. And a coaster/small doily was made for my best friend. 10 bookmarks are completed - 40 more to go. These will be going to the infusion center.

Now I am off to see what you all have been up to.

Stuff

Been awhile, I know. Just have been in a crochet slump. This is a lapghan that took forever to finish (thanks to the slump). It is a pattern called July 4th Fanfare (or is it 4th of July Fanfare?) Mom calls it a basketweave pattern.
Yo Yoghan #10 is a little over half way completed. Also, I have been trying to work thru my stash making granny squares. Have over 60 completed. Once the box is full of granny's then they will be mailed off to another CFAC member to assemble into lapghans/afghans for one of the causes we support.
Earlier in the year, I challenged LuAnne from CFAC - for every stuffed toy she made for the Infusion Center, I would make 5 bookmarks. WHOOPS! The crochet slump could not have come at a worse time!! lol She has commited to making 10 toys - and I think I just need to be comitted!!! I think I have 7 done. Sooo far behind.

Mesh Bag

Just wanted to share this mesh bag with you. CFAC is doing a tote CAL this month and this was one of the patterns to choose from. Once they are done, we are asking that they be mailed to a women's shelter we help out. Gonna try and make a few and fill them with toiletries, crossword books, reading books, etc. So far this is the only one that I have done. They are really quick and fun to make.

Knitting Lessons!!!

Late Friday night, I checked my messages and there was one from my on-line friend, Patti (who lives locally, but have never met) inviting me to join her and her knitting group the following morning! I was so excited. Went and found a tote bag that I could put some yarn, scissors and crochet hook (just in case I was all fumble fingers) in. I had no knitting needles, so I e-mailed her asking if she could bring some for me to borrow. Oh, how I hoped she would get the e-mail. I was so anxious to learn this new yarn craft.
The knitting group meets a the local bread store. It is such a great place to meet friends, come read a book or just hang out and relax. We met upstairs where there were big comfy chairs set around coffee tables. There were 2 others besides Patti and myself. They made me feel like part of their little group right from the beginning. I haven't had a day like that in so long. (I stayed for 3 hours before I had to take off to do errands.)
Patti is a great teacher. She was so patient with me and my fumble fingers. And, yes, she did get my e-mail. I have never seen so many types of knitting needles in my life! She is letting me borrow some until I finish up the dishcloth I started.
The stitch she taught me is really easy - if only my finger would quit getting poked by the end of the needle. Once I figure out how to hold the yarn and needles in a comfortable way for me, then I am sure things will go a lot faster.
Thanks Patti, Bonnie and Chris (??- I am no good with names!!) ~ you girls are the best!

Knitting Lessons?

For a while now, I have been reading on friend's blogs about how fun it is to knit socks. The temptation has been there for me to learn the art of knitting so I too can try to make some (even tho they won't go well with my flip flops and sandals). Yesterday, I think I finally got the final temptation. Story goes....the owner of the company I work for told his wife - who knits - that I knit also (poor man doesn't know the difference between a hook and knitting needles..lol). For her mother's day gift, he paid to send her to the yearly Knitter's Convention. He told me how much fun she was having up there and how I needed to go next year. Yesterday, his wife shows up with a goodie bag for me! I was speechless! And she knew I was a grandma, so she gave me a pattern for baby socks/booties along with the yarn needed to make them. Now, I think I will have to find out when the next beginner's knitting class is at my LYS and make sure I have seat reserved in my name.
Earlier this week, YoYoghan #9 was completed. This week sometime, a box will be mailed with 2 yo yoghans heading for The Hartwyck Brain Trauma Unit in NJ. Also was able to finish up another scarf and several squares from the 99 Granny Square Booklet.
In the past I have mentioned my Aunt Mable who crocheted over 300 afghans for Project Linus. Tomorrow is her 98th birthday!!! She is my idol. In honor of her birthday and her many years of crocheting for charity, the afghan that I hope to start tomorrow will be given in her honor to a CFAC cause when completed. Just got off the phone with her and she is as spunky as ever. She finally put down her hook several months ago due to her eyesight. She told me how much she missed it. Tried to get her to try bigger hooks, but she said no. (Told her she is a stubborn, old Norwegian..lol)
Enjoy your weekend!

Yo Yos, Yo Yos Everywhere

By the end of this weekend I should be able to complete the 2nd yo yoghan for the month. This pic is of the earth tone one I was working on. Put the call out to CFAC members that I needed more of these colors and boy did they pull thru! I think there is almost enough of these colors left to make another one in earth tones. The one on my hook now is more bright colors - and it is yo yoghan #9. After this one is done, the count will be 2,916 yo yos connected! The majority of these made and sent to me by CFAC members. I can't say enough about how great these girls are.

Making dishcloths and potholders is the CFAC challenge for June and July. So far I have made ONE!! Someone mentioned using 2 strands of doily thread, so I had to try it. Not sure how it will work with washing dishes, but it sure looks and feels nice.

Many years ago mom gave me a book called 99 Granny Squares to Crochet. This week I decided to try and make as many of these as possible. They will be sent to one of our members who collects and assembles them into lapghans for our charity causes. So far there are 5 sitting in a box waiting for more to join them. Been using up the yarn I had left over from the Tulip Afghan - white, burgundy, pink. Been having fun doing this.

Tuesday is Sea World day! Meeting Vicki (from our CFAC group) is going to be so much fun! And we are taking Little Aubrey with us!!! Hubby and I are really looking forward to this day.

Time to get off this puter and get myself together. Will be at church all day today for a "new members" informational class. I am a member at the church, but thought this would be a good refresher course for me. Plus it gets me out of the house since hubby is at work. Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!