A Little of this and a little of that

Truly, I do not know how Susan Anderson does it. Last week as I was feverishly trying to finish the last 5 squares of this blanket, she started and finished a blanket that is the same size. ARE YOU HEARING ME? Susan's is done. She knit the 25 squares, sewed them together, and the border is finished. Good Grief! If I am lucky, I will be done in a week. The one thing I will say in my defense, I have never knit some of the stitch patterns that are in this blanket, I have never sewn squares together, let alone with the mattress stitch, and I have never picked up 150 stitches per side of a blanket to add a border. This doesn't come easy for me. I probably need to take some basic classes.

I don't want to bore you with more photos of the blanket, since they all seem to look the same, but this one shows the one side of the blanket with the border started.

GUESS WHAT ??? I started and finished Project #5 in 5 hours. Thats right, 5 HOURS. I wanted to make one of the reversible toys from "itty bitty toys" for an upcoming birthday gift. I figured at the rate I knit, I better get started now. To my surprise, I made "egg to bluebird and a little nest, too", on page 161 in 5 hours. I REALLY love this little guy.

In case you are following my projects closely, you are probably thinking Project #5? What happened to Project #4? If you remember, I started knitting The New Sock Monkey (project #4) while I was waiting to purchase more yarn for Project #3. The little monkey is almost done. I still have to make his arms and legs. WOW, if this doesn't sound like a pyramid scheme, I don't know what does.

Did I mention to you that I started Weight Watchers 2 weeks ago? I am loving it. 13.6 pounds gone so far. I can't wait until I can post the before and after photos. Those, however, won't be posted for some time.

Quickly posting a photo of progress

Just a fast photo of the squares sewn together.

This is the front,

This is the back.

I will fill you in tonight on details. Springtime means the kids are outside more than inside. We are headed back out, AGAIN.

No time to talk

The 3 girls are begging to go outside and play, so, I just have time to post the latest photo of my progress on the Baby's Texture Blanket. I have the 25 squares sewn together in each of their rows. Hopefully, I will get the 5 rows sewn together tonight at the Scrapbook Night at the Salvation Army. We knitters have mutinied and now it is an all crafts night. DON'T MESS WITH THE KNITTERS!

These rows aren't laid out in their final order.

Had to post this picture of Mia. Is she adorable or what? I love dress-up day.

Project #3 ~ The REAL work begins

I am SO impressed with Susan Anderson and her eye for colors and textures. She truly is an artist.

Now that the 25 squares, I use that term loosely, are completed, the real work begins. I tried to make the squares in the same color tones that Susan used, but as I was laying mine out, a few needed to be switched. The colors didn't compliment each other like I had hoped.

So, now the sewing begins. One row down, four rows to go.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1............THE SQUARES ARE DONE!

I am SO excited, all 25 squares are finally finished. I am dying to start sewing them together. However, I really need to go to bed. Tomorrow is a busy day. So, I am going to post photos of the completed squares and I will talk to you tomorrow.

By the way, none of my squares are blocked, so don't grimace. Later.

Is housework REALLY that important?

Ok, I have a choice to make. The breakfast dishes are done, the dining room table is cleared and clean, the baby is happy in his bouncy chair, the 4 girls are laughing and coloring, and the dogs are all sleeping in different nooks and crannies, away from me. I can either clean the bathroom, dust the house, polish the mirrors and windows, OR, I can do that when all the kids leave and work on knitting the next two squares. Hummmmm.........what shall I do? GET REAL, the housework can wait. I have 4 squares left to knit and I want them done by Friday.

I finished the two (2) red Stockinette Stitch squares and

the Stripey Garter Stitch square.

I am getting ready to start the white Square with Rings. It looks fun. I hope Sarah, Joe, and Leslie aren't reading this blog today. I am bribing Weeza, Ella, and Mia with fudge bars so I can get my supplies together. Grandmas are allowed to do that, aren't they?

OH, I forgot to tell all of you about the conversation on Easter. WONDERFUL day at my cousin Marilyn's home. Sarah and Marilyn were talking about something I was knitting, very sweet, very nice. Then one of them said one word and they both got all giddy, in a kinda evil way. One of them brought up that I am always knitting and they both went crazy saying I have dumped them for yarn. That all I want to do is knit or talk about knitting or go to yarn shops or blog about knitting. CAN YOU IMAGINE? Oh wait. I bet it didn't help that I took my knitting bag to Marlilyn's and sat there making a washcloth will we were visiting. LISTEN, I am not an alcoholic, a drug abuser, I'm not even a yarnoholic, but I guess I forget not everyone loves knitting and crocheting. So, Marilyn, if you are reading this, when we go to Eastern Market on Saturday, not a word about knitting and I won't have any yarn hidden in my purse. Promise.

Busy, busy, week.

I can't believe it has been 12 days since we last talked. Someone needed to #SLAP# me. How RUDE that I haven't been on the computer. Just know, I not only neglected you, I also didn't check into ravelry, I didn't chat with Lisa, only checked email once a day, and I played NO games on Facebook. So what was I doing, you ask? TONS !!!!!!!!!!

Of course the days were filled with the 5 grandkids and the 4 dogs, all who had spring fever. Our temperatures reached 82 degrees on Thursday. We broke a record. I am sure most of you would love these warm days. I, however, am not ready for this weather yet. Until school is out, I can't juggle breakfast, which is ALWAYS "dip dip" eggs and toast, feeding Nolan his bottles, putting him down for his morning nap and still take the kids out before Luiza has to get ready for kindergarten. SO..............I am ready for winter to come back. It is just easier. Oh, all of you, stopping your yelling!!! Just cuz' I want it, doesn't mean it is going to happen.

I have had a very busy 12 days. A week ago Saturday my cousin, Marilyn, and I went to Detroit's famous Eastern Market on Saturday. The flowers are starting to come in. Tulips and pansies were everywhere. I bought the best olive herb bread, ginger tea, vegan mushroom barley soup, fresh farm eggs, and produce, of course. I feel so fortunate that I live close to 2 huge farmer's markets. Now that the local farmers crops are starting to come in, we will be heading down every Saturday.

Last Sunday, Sarah (daughter) Luiza (granddaughter) and I went to the DIA ( Detroit Institute of Art). What fun. I hadn't been in years. I love all that Detroit has to offer. You just have to take advantage of it. ANYWAY, the museum has been renovated since the last time I was there. It was wonderful. Take a look, but don't touch!

I love this mosaic fish.

This is my favorite painting in the museum. I am so mad we didn't get a great photo of it.

Creepy eyes,

but look at THIS!

These shoes are in the wall with vellum over the hole. I would love to do something like this in

my house with my favorite Tracy Gallup dolls.

This is the only object in the museum you are allowed to touch.

After a great weekend, I spent the week knitting 4 more squares for the Baby's Texture Blanket, 2 each of the Twist Stitch square and the Smocking square. I am currently working on the Stockinette Stitch square. 18 down, 5 to go.

I made a Catnip Bunny for Murphy Brown, Lisa's BIG KITTY. For those of you who remember, Murphy is the cat that fell in love with my New Sock Monkey toy, Project #4, which is still OTN. For those of you who have cats, this was a super easy / fast toy to make. You can find it on a great blog, Coffee and Cream 2010.

Last, but not least, I made 8 articles of clothing for Ella and Mia's (granddaughters) American Girl dolls and a skirt for me. I swore I was done sewing, but, I DESPERATELY needed something to wear to church. Of course you can never tell the granddaughters you won't sew for their dolls.

Today, great day. As usual, wonderful church service. Marilyn had everyone over for Easter dinner. Fantastic. She made the most delicious parmesan crusted dinner rolls. It was so funny, after we finished our dessert, fresh strawberry shortcakes, EVERYONE ate more rolls. Then, we retired to the family room and bowled, played tennis, golfed, and played some baseball. I am addicted to Wii. Wonderful day with family.

Happy Easter.