Updates

I thought I'd post an updated pic of our puppy (not much of a puppy any more!) He still has some growing to do. He's just a little over six months old. Also, a couple weeks ago I posted that hubby found a lizard nest in his compost pile and accidentally killed the mother. We took most of the eggs and put them in a tub with compost. I really didn't expect them to survive, but hubby checked on them today and discovered that we had baby lizards! So we took them outside and turned them loose in the garden. I'm very happy that they survived, because it was completely unintentional that we disturbed the nest and killed the mother. So I'm doing the happy dance!!

Third Set

This blanket was in a shell pattern. Now I'm working on my fourth.

More Preemie Items

This set is in yellow worsted weight yarn. The blanket pattern was a thermal weave.

Crochet Ministry

A few weeks ago a gentleman contacted me after finding a notice online about my crochet group. He needs crocheters to make gowns and blankets for stillborn babies. These items are donated to a local hospital and provided to parents free of charge to dress up their little angel. I was touched as he told me about this ministry and that they became aware of the need after experiencing a stillbirth in their family. I could tell this was close to his heart, and I wanted to help. My ladies have responded enthusiastically and the gentleman has provided the yarn, we just provide the labor. The gown is only six inches long, and ties are needed in the back for ease of dressing the fragile little body. I have been very pleased to be able to help out in this way, that something I enjoy doing can have such a meaningful application. This was my first set I made.

Tunisian Lace

My favorite stitch is the Tunisian lace. It is so light, open and airy. Very soft and dainty. It makes a perfect spring shawl or throw. These pictures are of a shawl (blue) and a baby blanket (purple). The last picture is an up close pic of the lace stitch detail.

Around the House

I love stuffed animals, especially mice and sheep. I have loved mice since I was a little girl. I even had pet mice in high school. I convinced my parents to buy me a mouse at a pet store. I would pick it up, let it run in my hand and on my arm. The most fun was while the mouse was in the palm of my hand I would flip my hand over and it would cling there, it's little tail going around in circles. In a couple of weeks my mouse seemed to be gaining weight. It was soon obvious by the lumps that she was expecting. This really bummed out my brother. He had gotten a gerbil the same day I got a mouse. Well, we put a barrel in the cage, and started putting toilet paper tubes and cotten in there so she could make her nest. She had that barrel stuffed full. One evening, after watching her expectantly for a couple weeks, I saw her running around her cage and she was skinny! I started pulling the cotton out of the barrel to get a look at them, and then I had a lucid moment -- hey, mothers are protective! So I got a little stick and starting pulling the cotton out with that, and sure enough, she attacked the stick. But I did get a glance at the tiny little pink things wiggling around. When the babies came out, they were adorable! Tiny little mice. I do have to say that about two weeks later, early one morning, my Mom discovered little pink things in my brother's gerbil cage, and that was one morning she had no trouble getting him out of bed. Anyway, I digress....

So, I have this little mouse, and hubby uses him to harrass me while I'm crocheting. The mouse is always wanting whatever it is I am making. So I found a little jacket and hat patterns and made my mouse an outfit (see above)

This morning hubby was turning the compost pile and unearthed a lizard's nest. Unfortunately he killed the female. So we have taken the eggs and put them in compost in a container and are trying to incubate them. We are hoping they will hatch, but since we have no idea what we are doing I'm not holding my breath. We are at least trying, though. We weren't sure if the male would care for them or not. Both the male and female were in the next, but the male scampered away. I am hoping we can get them to hatch, it would be a great experience for our son.

Scrap-a-nator Completed!

I'm done. I had put it aside twice to work on other projects with deadlines. I used a hook that was larger than called for, so the stitches are more pronounced. I will try it again with the right sized hook, because hubby finally made it for me. My son said he liked it, but wanted one in blue, so I'll have to work on that :)