Tulip Meets Daffodil

April - Almost May

Well I am long overdue for a check-in here, but wanted to do so to let you know that yes, I am still alive and healthy and happy and thinking about my dear blog!

I have to admit though that I haven't done ANY crocheting since my last post. Work just completely overwhelmed me this past month, and at the end of the day and on the weekends I was completely fried. And just wanted to veg. In front of the TV. And do nothing. Hopefully this weekend I'll be able to pick up my hooks though, and get my creative mojo back!

Let's see... what else (besides work) happened this past month. It's a real blur...

I had my 42nd birthday, which was very happy. My husband took me to my favorite restaurant, and even though it was on a Monday, I still managed to take most of the afternoon off. (Hurray for small favors!)

Buford is doing well and settling in here. Although we are still working on walking, and he does shed a lot (!), we love him to death and he literally couldn't be a sweeter, gentler boy. He had a birthday on April 7th, (six years old...), and we had a great time eating McDonald's Happy Meals and playing with new toys.

Spring is in full gear here which is wonderful, although our new house has close to zero flowers, which is a shame! I also have about 12 empty pots on my patio which I may fill this weekend. I love our house and property... it just needs some LIFE outside! Here was a flowering cherry tree in our front yard, which I was able to enjoy for a week or so.

A few weeks ago I also had the pleasure of watching our friend and neighbor cat Maryland while her family was away. She is a real sweetheart, and it's nice for me to have some "kitty time" since I can't have my own. (Patrick would so not appreciate that!) Maryland's mom Trudie brought me back this lovely handmade bowl as a thank you. (The artist's name is on the bottom, I'll have to go look for it and add it to this post!) I just love the color and I think the "dots" on the outer edge is so interesting and unique.

I keep my hooks in it!

Well that is all for now, my friends.I hope everything is well wherever you may be. ♥

Granny Square a Week : Week Ten

Happy First Day of Spring! I'm so glad spring is here - and with it all the daffodils and tulips I can handle. (Well, I can always handle more, actually!)

Here's my latest granny. I was probably a little inspired by St. Paddy's Day - and the green and orange on the Irish flag.

I also realized today that my stack of grannies is getting pretty heavy. I still have some yarn ends to weave in - but I feel good that I am still plugging away at the pile. I'll have to just be a big girl and set aside some time this weekend to do so weaving in so I don't get too far behind.

I do try to weave them in as I go as much as I can - but sometimes it just doesn't happen. :)

Ready for Spring and Patrick's Birthday

Ooh I am SO ready for spring! It actually smells like spring outside today. I do have to work (so wrong...) but I am definitely planning on taking a long walk with Patrick later. (Buford is still getting used to taking long walks, so he'll stay home today. :)

Although I really can't complain, we've been very lucky as far as bad snowstorms go lately. Just a few dustings this year. These shots were taken yesterday morning. All the snow was gone by afternoon!

Our bluebird house...

Just a cold dusting of snow...

Last Sunday was Patrick's birthday, and he and Buford had a great time with a special Happy Meal feast, and presents (of course). He is 10 years old! We are so lucky to have him.

Here he is with one of his new birthday toys...

Worn out from the excitement.

♥

Infinity Scarf In My New Favorite Yarn

When we went to West Virginia for our ski weekend, I didn't actually go "skiing" per se... (no coordination = no thanks, I'll stay in the condo!), so I spent a LOT of time crocheting. I actually made two scarves that weekend. One I already gave to a friend, and have no pics of it, but I used the wonderful Surreybelle scarf pattern - which is quickly turning into one of my faves - and Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick yarn in Oatmeal. I made it mega long (well, not mega, a little over 5 feet), and it worked up in just a few hours.

The other was an infinity scarf, using this pattern. I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick yarn in Constellation. It's a charcoal grey color - with silver metallics running through it. I love this scarf, and I'm keeping it for myself - in fact, I've already worn it many times. It is warm and snuggly and not too itchy.

Here's a close up of the yarn. Just enough sparkle...

Now back to my grannies. ♥

Meet Buford

A week and a half ago we welcomed another member into our family. Another four-legged, warm, loving, furry one. It was not the easiest day. I was terribly sick, but tried to rally - showered and got dressed because I knew Buford was headed this way.

Buford had been on our minds for a couple of months... ever since my hubby first saw a frantic flyer on the fridge at work asking if someone could take Buford in. His mom (dog mom, not human mom) had started attacking him in the past year. There was no explanation as to why this started happening to poor five year old Buford. His mom Ashlie was found and adopted while she was pregnant with him, so god only knows what her history is. Sadly, it just started happening. Buford's owner tried everything - behaviorists, separation, etc. None of it seemed to solve the problem.

Two weeks ago there was a new flyer on the fridge at work. There had been another attack on Buford. My hubby called me and it was a quiet understanding between us that we would be taking Buford into our house and family.

Buford is a sweet, loving, and gentle soul. And a good fit here. But it's not been very easy for me. We lost our beloved Zoe girl almost two years ago, and I've not recovered from the loss yet. I still can't really think of her for too long without crying. She was a life force in our house, and she's been missed beyond words or comprehension. In some ways, I still can't believe she's really gone - even after all this time.

So, having Buford here with us has been a bit heartwrenching. I sometimes feel as if I am "replacing" Zoe, (literally impossible I know, but grief is a slippery slope). And Buford's poor owner is also devastated. I had no words to console her as she left that day. She tells us that she couldn't have found a better home for him, and I am so thankful she feels that way - but can you imagine giving your dog away to strangers? What sacrifice. I honestly don't know if I'd have the strength.

Not everyone has been supportive of our decision to take Buford in - we don't "need" another dog. Of course we don't. But we have the room, and the resources, and the love to help another living soul who was in desperate need of a safe place to land. And Buford has already given us more love than we could have ever hoped for, so it's been a fair trade so far.

Edited to add: Patrick is adjusting to being the "big dog brother" too. He pretty much largely ignores Buford, and struts around like he's the man of the house. It's been an adjustment for everyone - but a happy one.

Granny Square a Week : Week Nine

Three new granny squares for your viewing pleasure.

The good thing is - I still love granny squares. Also, my pile of grannies is slowly but surely getting bigger. The bad thing? I am kind of behind on the "square a week" thingy. That's OK though. I'm going to try to get better at keeping up with it and... if you look at total weeks and total squares well - I am only a few behind!

So I am going to keep granny-ing.

The past couple of weeks have been a bit of a blur, as I've been sick and very under the weather. Also, we added a new (four-legged) member to the family! More on that to come... :)

Valentine Tulips and Snowshoe WV

Happy end of February! Where on earth did this month go...

I've been staying busy - and actually doing a lot of crocheting which has been wonderful. (Helps my stress-level!) I've made a lot of progress on my seafoam afghan. It's still a beast, and growing, and I keep plugging away at it. I started it originally to give away as a gift, but I am wondering now whether it's actually too large to give away - it's well beyond a simple lap throw at this point. We'll see. I also might just be too attached to the thing at this point to give it away!

I had a very sweet Valentine's Day. My hubby, even though he is "anti-Valentine's", brought me two boxes of chocolate (heart-shaped, of course!) and some lovely pink tulips (how did he know? :) They lasted a long time, and I'm hoping I can transplant the bulbs this spring.

We also went away for the weekend last week to Snowshoe, West Virginia with some friends. I made two scarves with Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick yarn - officially, my new favorite yarn ever. (Well, for this week at least.) I am dying to make a whole afghan with this yarn - it is so warm and snuggly - but I really have to make progress on/finish some of my other aghan projects first.

Here are some pics of where we stayed, Soaring Eagle Lodge. Our condo was on the top floor and the views were wonderful.

Sunset from our room (no photo filter and no editing)!

More February pics to come soon. I have some crochet projects I want to show off.

♥

February Daffodils

Is this really my first bloom picture of 2013?

Why, yes... yes, I think it is.

Picked up these lovely mini daffodils at Whole Foods. I splurged on two bunches (like, crazy, too much money - but they smelled like spring, they truly did). I even put some by my bedside. Trying to brighten up this dreary, cold winter!

Please note Patrick in the background. He's wondering what the heck I'm doing and when he's going to get his next cookie. :)

Granny Square a Week : Week Eight

OK, yep, I missed a week! Maybe more than a week. Yep - that's a fact.

It happens! Yep.

Not to be an excuse-aholic, but I've been busy with work (for real) and I've been suffering with migraines. We're talking like a couple a week for like days at a time (so does that make it one long migraine, or many, or what?) Anyhoo, I've had this square done now for a while, and the pic was taken last week - but I'm just now getting around to showing y'all.

 

I don't really have anything planned this weekend (except for maybe being a big girl and getting our taxes together... but - on second thought - nah, probably won't happen!) so I'm hoping I keep my migraine(s) at bay and get some good crafting in. And when I say crafting, I mean crochet. Oh - that and about 30 loads of laundry. (I'm sadly serious...)

I have my eyes on my seafoam afghan this weekend (aka: The Beast :)

♥

Crocheting With Wire and Keeping My Goals

Productivity at work this week: good.

Crafty creativity this week: not so good.

Also, my father in law has been visiting, and while he's a wonderful houseguest - very chill and laid back - and we love having him here... it's thrown my schedule a bit off. Not enough granny square time - too much eating out time! (Note: not complaining. :)

Before my dear FIL arrived, I was in a wire crochet jewelry frenzy. Well, maybe not frenzy. More of a dabbling. But I'm growing to love it, really. And I think I'm also developing a bit of a bead addiction! (Trying to control myself though, for my pocketbook's sake.)

I think my favorite so far is crocheting with copper. I also made a wire-wrapped necklace, which turned out neat (albeit a bit lopsided), but - it didn't make my heart flutter like crocheting with wire did. Looking forward to making some more pieces. And more practice, practice, practice!

And... I also didn't want to get completely off-track with my granny square a week goal, so I did start a square last night. See?

Not done yet, but - I'm really trying to stick with this goal. Really and truly. :)