It is taking an earthquake to get me to blog.

How crazy is this ???? An EARTHQUAKE was felt in my area. I, however, did not feel it. With the girls running through the house, the Great Danes chasing after them, and the baby in his "Johnny Jump-up", bouncing and swinging in the doorway, I felt nothing. Apparently, the quake hit in Cumberland, Ontario and was felt in Michigan. YIKES !!!!!!! Lets not make a habit of this.

I am so happy, I finished my scarf that smells like a musty canvas army tent ( for an explanation, read a few entries back ). I love it. If I can't wash the smell out, I will wear it around my neck, sitting on my lounge chair in the backyard, and daydream that I am at the Pinery Provincial Park in Canada, sitting outside my uncle's musty canvas army tent. Ahhh, memories.

I am starting Project #8 ~ Lion and Elephant Reversible doll, page 143 of " itty bitty toys". I am not sure if I am going to be happy, I am using Lion Brand, Vanna's Choice, acrylic yarn. I was unable to get the beautiful yarn that Susan Anderson used to knit her doll. I am starting with the lion and will see if I can live with this yarn. If so, I will make the elephant. If not, I will be forced to go in search of that perfect skein of yarn. If I must, I will go to every little yarn shop in the lower part of Michigan. I will suffer for my craft.

School is out and summer is here. YIPPEE!!!! I am trying to get into a summer schedule with the kids. Luiza and Ella are going to day camp. Every morning we have been so UNorganized. I need to be out of the house by 9:40 in order to deliver Luiza to camp by 10:00 am. Ella gets a ride there. The 3 little ones arrive between 8:30 & 9:00 am. I have to make breakfast and get the 4 fed. (When I say breakfast, I don't mean cold cereal, toast or bagels. I mean a full breakfast. The girls usually want 2 "dip-dip eggs or oatmeal, soy sausage, toast, and ice water. Once a month they like either french toast or pancakes and soy sausage). I then remember I forgot to brush and put Weeza's hair in a ponytail. By now it is 9:30 and I have to change 2 diapers and load the stroller with the little ones and all their supplies. 9:40am, out the door so we can walk Luiza to camp. We arrive at 9:56am. YES! Mia, Neve, Nolan and I walk back home and now our day begins. It consists of coloring, playdoh, puzzles, outdoor play, and PBS. Praise God for PBS. 2:40pm, I load the gang back into the stroller and we walk to get Luiza. Once back home, the kids spend the remainder of the day in the pool. Ahhh.....

I just had to share this photo with you. This is my Eli. There is something about him. Special boy. If you look close, he has pasta sauce on his chin. He STOLE the ravioli from the plate on the picnic table.

It has been so long, should I re-introduce myself to you?

I can't believe how long it has been since I last visited with you. Like I mentioned before, summer is killing me, and it officially isn't here yet. Trying to juggle the last month of school, all the field trips and adjusted school hours, with the 3 little ones I am watching, let me just say, I can't wait till school is out for the summer. How can schools expect parents to rearrange their work schedule by 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon? I have been walking with Neve and Nolan to the school to pick Luiza up, 3 days a week. There is no way Sarah could take the time off work to do it.

I FINISHED PROJECT #7 ~ Rosebud Hat. This hat was SO easy. I knit the 32 roses and the 27 leaves in 2 evenings. The hat should have been done in a couple days, but, as usual, I got sidetracked and ended up reading "Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter", by Seth Grahame-Smith. Loved the book. For some reason I didn't see the end coming.

When I finished reading this book, I was on a reading roll. I decided to glance at "Foxy" by Pam Grier. I thought I would peek at the pictures, but before I knew it, I had read this book, too.

Here I go again, getting sidetracked. Back to the hat, I made it in the largest size. It fits my 6 year old granddaughters. However, try to get 6 year olds to sit still long enough to take their picture. So, these models will have to do.

This week I hope to finish my scarf, knit with the Banana Silk. This is the yarn that smells like an old musty canvas army tent. Reminds me of camping with my family. I am half way done. It is only 14 stitches wide. This pattern is fun, K1 *(yo, k2tog)* K1. *repeat until last stitch. Once this scarf is finished, I will start the Lion and Elephant reversible doll from "itty bitty toys", page 143.

I am sure ready for WINTER!

Rebecca, I am back. Thanks for checking on me.

Most people wait, with anticipation, for summer and the warm weather to arrive. And, for most, summer is their favorite season. Not me. My favorite season is fall, followed by spring, winter, and finally, summer. I don't complain about the winter's cold days, deep snowfalls, having to shovel sidewalks, or wear thick clothing. I don't complain about winter, so I CAN complain about summer. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy waking up to the birds singing, I love BBQ's, I love sitting in the backyard visiting over the fence with the neighbors, I LOVE camping, I even like to mow the lawn. What I don't like, filling the pool, only to have the kids tattle they are being splashed. "HELLO, YOU ARE IN A POOL!!!!" Oh, sorry. And speaking of the pool, try getting the 3 older ones situated in the bigger pool and the 2 year old in her little pool. Then, add the 2 little boys from the neighborhood, who will NOT listen to me. I AM READY FOR WINTER! And my house, oh my gosh. What a mess. The girls are in and out, 10 times each, for a potty run. That is fine, but my floor is full of puddles. You would swear I have a leaky roof. AND DISHES!!!! I don't have a dishwasher, so my sink is full of dishes until all the kids are picked up. I can't wash dishes and still be a lifeguard at the pool. Maybe it isn't that I don't like summer, maybe I just need a maid. I still think I will make a list of the pros and cons of summer vs. winter.

Ok. Enough ranting.

I am working on Project #7 ~ Rosebud hat. I decided to start with the roses. They took no time to complete. Now I am knitting the leaves. This hat would have been done days ago, if it were winter ( pro ). I would imagine it will be done by the weekend. I am going tonight to get the yarn for the actual hat. Can't wait.

Last week I was thrilled to take my Mother's Day gift certificate to "have you any wool?", my favorite LYS, and buy a folder/pouch from Brown Sheep Yarns to hold my circular needles. It is wonderful. Also, I got the greatest coffee mug from Black Sheep Co. What fun.

Tonight is weigh in at Weight Watchers. I feel better, lets hope the scale feels the same way.

And finally, I just joined a book club. I don't know what will suffer, knitting or reading. I need to set aside 2 hours a day for ME. That isn't gonna happen this weekend. My 2 granddaughters are spending the weekend, along with my grandDOG, Abraham. So...we will be: 2 adults, Sarah and me, 3 kids, Luiza (6), Ella (6), and Mia (3), and 5 dogs, 2 Great Danes - Eli & Quinn, 2 Yorkies - Dillon & Sipsie Rose, and Abe the Bulldog. Oops, got sidetracked, back to the books. I am so anxious to start reading. The one bad thing I do on a regular basis, I read in the bathtub. Normally that wouldn't be a bad thing, but, I fall asleep and when I wake up, my book is floating in the water.

Everyone have a wonderful Memorial Day. I am going to the local parade and then a BBQ afterwards. Keep our service men and women in your prayers.

LOVE Project #7 ~ Rosebud

First off, can you believe it, 3 posts in 3 days. Yikes! I am on a roll.

All I can say about Project #7 ~ Rosebud is that I SO love this pattern. The little rosebuds are so easy to make. I was actually able to get a dozen done while watching the second hour of Grey's Anatomy last night. DID ANYONE WATCH IT? Oh my word. I was on pins and needles the entire time. Great season ender.

For those of you who asked, I lost 1.6 pounds at Weight Watchers weigh-in. I am happy for a loss, but, I should be losing more than that in a week. I guess I actually have to exercise. Starting Saturday, I take to the streets. WALKING, I will start walking. Oh, thank you for asking. Total weight loss: 21.2 lbs. Amount left to lose: 60 lbs.

I thought you might enjoy some of my favorite things outside my kitchen window.

These are my Japanese Iris

More Iris

I grew up with a plant like this in my grandma's garden. I love the memories I have of my grandma in her garden. She was such a special lady. Everyone who met her, loved her.

MORNING GLORIES..........You can't kill them. They have taken over my entire fence line.

I saved the best for last.

Luiza and Mia

Ella

Neve

Nolan

It is time for an itty bitty hat

Good Morning. What a glorious day in Michigan. It is sunny and almost 70 degrees, heading to 80. One baby sleeping, 2 little girls playing outside, 3 birds fed and napping, 4 dogs exploring the new pile of dirt, and a happy grammie getting ready to start Project #7.

Did I ever mention how many projects are in the itty bitty books? Itty bitty hats has 36 projects, itty bitty nursery has 24 projects, and ittybitty toys has 26 projects. Total=86. Some projects actually have multiple parts, but I am still counting those as one project. Example: the Cupcake Tea Set, in "itty bitty nursery", has 22 PIECES to it. As usual, I am blown away by Susan Anderson's designs and her eye for detail.

I have been trying to decide what to knit next. I had such fun making the Egg to Bluebird and a Little Nest, Too. I gave it to Neve for her 2nd birthday. I really need to make another for me. My grandchildren love to play with the reversible toys. I bought the yarn to make the Lion and Elephant, but, I am thinking it is time for an itty bitty hat. I haven't made anything from the "itty bitty hat" book, yet. So......drum roll, please......Project #7, Rosebud, from the "itty bitty hat" book, page 78. I am going to make the wreath version. I love the colors of the flowers.

So, tonight I weigh in at Weight Watchers. Lets hope I lost the 1.2 pounds I gained last week. I made sure I drank water this week and not diet pop. I always stay within my points, so, I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Project #6 ~ Bear Sweater......DONE!

Do you believe it ? ? ? I didn't even post what Project #6 was going to be AND IT IS DONE !

I decided that the Grumpy Old Bear needed to have his wardrobe expanded, so, I made him his sweater. I do have to get to the fabric store to buy a more appropriate ribbon. I have dozens of spools of ribbon from scrapbooking, but, none as elegant as the one in the book "itty bitty nursery", Bear Sweater page 21.

I seem to be a passenger in cars alot lately, so, I decided to make a decorative scarf, mainly to have a portable, brainless pattern that I can take with me. I had purchased this yarn on ebay, Banana Silk, and didn't know what to do with it. I bought it over a year ago. When it arrived and I opened the bag, it smelled like my uncle's old canvas army tent. That old tent is about 60+ years old and smells of musty canvas. The yarn smells the exact same way. I LOVE IT!!! It brings back 50 years of camping memories. I have kept it in the same bag it arrived in, closed tight. I didn't want to lose the "memories". ANYWAY, I think I am liking the way the scarf is turning out. Funny, I have chosen to make a decorative scarf out of yarn that smells like an old canvas army tent, that will be worn around my neck. Interesting perfume, "Musty Canvas". Look for it in your high end department stores.

I GAINED 1.2 POUNDS!!

I am not happy. I ate all the right foods this week. I didn't go over my points. I even made Cabbage Soup. I wrote everything down. I did everything I should and GAINED 1.2 pounds. I really can't get discouraged, I have gotten control of my food choices and my portions.

WAIT.........you know what I didn't do this week? I didn't drink water. I had coffee and lots of Diet Coke. Funny thing, my favorite drink.....water. Oh well, next week I should have a big loss.

FYI......I made the vegan spare ribs and a Twice Baked Potato. It was good. I made a cheese dip. Ate very little, but it was delicious. I made a new coleslaw, YUCK! Had a small piece of chocolate cake with chocolate mousse filling. Threw half the slice away.