Answering Questions

Heidi asked a bunch of questions that I thought I'd answer publicly instead of sending her an email.

1. How is DH doing? Do you always take along something to work on when he has to go to the hospital?

We had great and bad news about Phil this week. The good news is that he is off dialysis. He'll be monitored carefully for six to eight weeks, and if he's still ok after that time, they'll pull his catheter. However, the bad news is that the latest tests for the cancer showed a jump in the numbers. We do not understand why this is happening - it's the same scenario we had with the last drug he tried; namely, that he responded well at first, then the numbers started to climb. We see the doctor on Tuesday, and we have a lot of questions. Another bad thing about the cancer is that it was what caused the kidney failure in the first place, so if we can't get it under control, Phil will end up back on dialysis.

We have a Caring Bridge site where I do updates, if you're interested. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/philipingram You can sign up to get an email whenever I post updates so you don't have to remember to visit the site.

2. My cat loves to sit on my lap when I use an afghan. What do you do with yours?

With my cat, or with the afghan? I use the lap blanket I made when I sit in the recliner at night and read blogs and email. We set our thermostat to 58 degrees F at night, so it gets cold when I'm up, uh, late. As for the cat, she spends time in Sarah's room at night (Sarah bought her a little kitty bed, which she loves), but when she ventures into my room, she'll sit on the back of the recliner and sleep until I get into bed.

3. How can you choose which [purse] to use?

Usually my latest creation is the one that's currently in use. Other times I try to match my purse to my outfit. I have a few that are distinctly seasonal - one made from snowman fabric, and another that has delicate pink flowers on an off-white background.

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Thanks, Heidi, for your questions!

99 Experiences

Lori challenged readers of her blog, Musings of a Proverbs 31 Wannabe to share the things they've done from the following list. Here it is; I hope it helps you know me better! (The things I've done, I've put in bold letters.)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band/orchestra
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill (does doing that in high school count?)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Gone without food or water for 24 hours or longer
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Stayed up for 24 hours with NO sleep at all
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Changed a lightbulb
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Mowed the lawn
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (I think so, as a child)
85. Read the entire Bible (I'm ashamed to say I haven't)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Another "Miranda Day Bag"

The sewing bug hit me on Sunday.  Or rather, the desire for a new purse caught up with me, so I sat down to finish my newest Miranda Day Bag. (You can see my other versions here.)

I found the fabric on one of my trips to Hobby Lobby.  As so often happens, I had a picture in my mind of what I wanted, but couldn't find fabric to fit my image. 

Although I've made this bag twice before, some of the instructions made little sense to me today.  I guess I was just tired.  The one part of the bag I am not pleased with at all is the flap.  I'm now thinking that on the other bags, I used interfacing instead of batting, thus eliminating the bulk that I couldn't sew through very easily.  Once I stitched it, though, I didn't want to do it again, so I just left it.  After the bag was assembled, I decided to take another look through my button box for some accent buttons, which you can see I did indeed find.  I think it adds a nice finishing touch.  (I was just thinking that, with advance planning, machine embroidery could be done on the flap, too.)

Here's a shot of the inside.  I've been having problems with the stitching on the pockets ripping out, so I made sure to stitch back and forth at the top of each pocket section several times.

I'm looking forward to using my new bag when I take Phil to his doctor's appointment on Wednesday.  Until then, I'll try to stay cozy and warm at home.  I think there are more dishcloths in my immediate future . . .

Please Pray for Naomi

A young woman in our church was involved in a serious car accident on Monday. Her name is Naomi Hannah, and she is the daughter of our associate pastor and his wife. Naomi is in serious condition with a head injury, internal injuries, and a broken pelvis, and at this time, the doctors are unsure of her prognosis and actual condition. Please keep Naomi and her family in your prayers.

The Hannah family has set up a Caring Bridge page for Naomi. Please read more of her story at http://caringbridge.org/visit/naomihannah.

Callie At Play

A couple of nights ago, Callie decided to "help" me with my crocheting.  I was able to shoot this video of her . . . Enjoy!

Blanket

When I did my grocery shopping last Thursday, I picked up some Simply Soft Eco yarn (Caron) in "Ocean", and made this blanket.  The pattern is called Little V-Stitch Blanket and is free from Lion Brand.

I discovered that, despite my best efforts, I still crochet too tightly.  It used to be I could use a hook one size larger than the pattern called for, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.  I'll be ordering some size L, M, and N hooks; I wish I could find them locally, but they apparently aren't popular enough for the stores to sell them.
The pattern calls for a picot edging, but I decided to do a shell stitch, an idea I got from checking out other crocheters' projects on Ravelry.  I think it was a much better choice.

If You're Tired of Dishcloths, Skip This Post!

Yup. It's another dishcloth. This one is the Little Starbursts Dishcloth, and you can get the free pattern here, and the yarn is another Sugar'n Cream, this time from their "Twist" line. The color is "Denim Twist."
For some reason, I had a lot of trouble with this pattern, despite the fact that it's quite straightforward.

You'll probably be glad to know that I'm running out of cotton yarn, so my dishcloth-making days are coming to an end.

Another Dishcloth

The pattern is Woven Stitch Dishcloth by Linda Bohm, and the yarn is Sugar'n Cream Urban Pastels.

Special Friends Award

Michelle has passed on this award to me. Thank you so much! Here's a description of this special friends award:

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbon's of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these kind writers. When you pass the award along please include these guidelines. I am to choose eight friends to share this with.

I would like to pass this award along to Jamie, Deby, Sarah (my daughter, but also my dear friend), Grace (my other daughter, and my friend), and Lori, and Mrs. R. I know that's only six, but it's too hard to choose any more!

I never should have picked up a crochet hook again. Now all I want to do is crochet! I completed my second shawl (sorry, I don't have a picture yet), and then started making dishcloths. I've completed four so far, and had the courage to start using one!
These are fast to crochet, and loads of fun, working with the variegated cotton thread.

I was at WalMart today and saw that purchasing a 14-ounce cone of their Sugar and Cream rip-off yarn is very economical. I think I could get 6 or 7 dishcloths from one cone. Or, I might make this cute Clothespin Bag, which I need since mine has fallen apart.

Sarah helped me go through my yarn stash and organize everything the by Standard Yarn Weight System. I'll be entering some into my account at Ravelry, and hopefully finding some ideas for using it, too.

Taste of Spring

When I got up on Sunday, this is what I saw out the front door:
And out the back door:
We haven't seen the grass since before Christmas (I think), so this is wonderful! Wednesday, it's supposed to be near 60 degrees!! I know it won't last, but I am enjoying this reprieve from winter.

Thank You

I always forget when I'm writing posts to thank all of you who leave such wonderful comments for me. Thank you! I enjoy sharing my crafts with you, and it's great having a record of what I've accomplished to look back at. Happy crafting!

35 Words

My daughter, Grace, challenged me to this meme on Facebook. I told her I'd do it here.


Questions to be answered with one word only - and no word can be used twice.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse

2. Your significant other? asleep

3. Your hair? barrette

4. Your mother? home

5. Your father? Pittsford

6. Your favorite thing? cat

7. Your dream last night? lost

8. Your favorite drink? Pepsi

9. Your dream/goal? heaven

10. The room you're in? bedroom

11. Your ex? none

12. Your fear? widowhood

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Henrietta

14. Where were you last night? bed

15. What you're not? wealthy

16. Muffins? Sweet

17. One of your wish list items? DVD

18. Where you grew up? Durham

19. The last thing you did? email

20. What are you wearing? jeans

21. Your TV? on

22. Your pets? snoozing

23. Your computer? laptop

24. Your life? difficult

25. Your mood? sober

26. Missing someone? no

27. Your car? driveway

28. Something you're not wearing? necklace

29. Favorite Store? craft

30. Your summer? hot

31. Like someone? huh?

32. Your favorite color? blue

33. When is the last time you laughed? dinner

34. Last time you cried? forgot

35. A verse? scripture