Crochet Me Crazy

Yesterday, was a busy day. I cooked chicken and dumplings and we decorated the christmas tree and wrapped presents. I woke up feeling a little icky so I was having a hard time. We had a big mess all over the house and we had to get it all cleaned up.

Alison is so sweet. How many 16 year olds do you know that buy Christmas presents for all of her family and friends with their own money! And she buys good presents too! She was wrapping her presents. She's always so thoughtful.



She saw this Mickey Mouse hat for her "new" nephew and wanted him to have it early so he got to open it yesterday. He LOVES Mickey Mouse!



It was so fun and easy to shop for Brennan this Christmas! I think Alison ended up buying him 4 presents and I bought him 4 things and I crocheted him a Mickey Mouse Ears hat...speaking of which, I need to take a picture of that! It's fun having little ones around for Christmas! Mine are not so little anymore!

Today I got a big order from a friend for Christmas presents. Mostly of stuff I had already crocheted but I had to make another Cluster Stitch Cowl (just like the brown one I already posted). I'm also busy trying to get stuff made for Christmas presents.

I've got a scarf for my son's wife and the cowl I made today to get pictures of but I did get this Christmas gifts finished tonight and managed to get a picture before I head to bed. I'm going to try to get another one of these sets made this week for Alison's dance teacher. And I also have to get another scarf finished by Friday that is a Christmas gift.



I will put something in the mug...either some coffee or I'm thinking of making these Cream Cheese Mints...I vaguely remember having something like this as a kid and thinking they were wonderful. Anyway, worth a try since it can't get much easier!



Cream Cheese Mints

4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
exactly 1/2 teaspoon peppermint or spearmint extract
3 cups powdered sugar

Beat the cream cheese with a mixer until smooth,
add the extract and some of the powdered sugar and
mix until combined well. Then add the remaining sugar
and mix until well combined.

Shape into 1/2" balls and place them on a parchment
lined cookie sheet. Press flat with a fork and then
chill until ready to serve. Store in the refrigerator
in an airtight container for up to two weeks or
freeze for up to two months.

Recently, in November, a photographer friend of mine generously took our pictures. She took some amazing photos for us. I love this picture of Alison with her horse she posted for us today....depicts Alison and her horses bond beautifully.

Well, I got to try out my mug cozy today and I have to say, I like it! I think it really helps to insulate and keep your coffee warm just a bit longer. I made another one today:



Here is a tutorial for making one.
All About Ami - Cup Cozy Tutorial
She has lots of pictures and such. I didn't make mine exactly the same method, however, my finished product looks very similar.

Well, Sunday, which is basically the weekend all rolled into one day for us is over :(
Jeff was really tired this morning but we still got up and went to church. The kids wanted to go. I guess it's good when your kids are dragging you to church instead of the other way around. They were having a lunch after church so even though we really need to get home, we went to that and stuck around way too long. We still bowed out early. They were voting on a name for the church when we left. Jeff needed to get some hours in here at the ranch today. They were out moving brush piles to the road to be put in the chipper shreader. One of the park ranger we know from the park visited the church today. He was telling Michael they are already taking applications for summer jobs in the park so he needs to get his application in. Michael always wanted to work at the park but has only done so on a volunteer basis since we lived there. Good geez...that kid needs to learn how to drive. I don't know how I'm going to manage getting both kids to their jobs this summer and do the work out here too. Summer is looking more and more daunting to me!

It was rainy and cold today. The girls waited for it to stop raining and then went horseback riding again today. Can't keep them off those horses! We have one hurt horse out here right now. The girls noticed she was limping really, really bad yesterday evening when they fed. When I drove up they were walking her up to the barn to put her in a stall for Mrs. Grain to look at. She looked at her last night and she's still in the stall today. Not sure if this means a vet visit or not.

Want to see my $6.00 La-Z-Boy Recliner? Can you believe I only paid $6.00 for this? Jeff went and picked it up for me today.



I knew if I waited, something would come along! It's a solid piece of furniture and maybe later we'll sand down the wood arm rests that are a little beat up. It reclines and the foot comes out too! For now, it looks like its staying in the living room.

Well, tomorrow I have to get to town to go grocery shopping, then dance, then 4-H meeting. There goes tomorrow!

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

I woke up to a very chilly morning and took Michael to work goats again today. The girls had to get up and feed the horses for Michael since he was going off. They took a ride after the horses were done eating and then I took them (Alison) to see Princess at the stables. Then, they had to go to the church for a singing rehearsal for the Valentine's Banquet. I hung around town waiting for them to get finished. And hey, I bought a lazy boy recliner rocker for $6.00!! When I asked the price and she told me, I had to get her to repeat it. It's old and it's been recovered but it's a good solid chair and is comfortable and it's not terrible looking, especially for 6 Bucks! I'll either put it in my bedroom or see if we can fit it in the living room. When Michael called for me to pick him up, I had to make the trek back out there where he was.

My girl, Gracie, is more precious to me than ever! She seems very content and happy. Jeff said when he comes on the porch around 4:30 in the morning, she comes over to see who it is. When I get up and go outside on the porch to drink my coffee, she comes over and I've noticed she's been sleeping when I'm on the porch in the morning. I think she stays up "watching" at night a lot and she feels comfortable once we're up and about and the dogs are out. She doesn't pay the dogs any mind anymore. They run around and bark and chase squirrels right beside her and she just looks....

Here is her sleeping yesterday morning....


I would say she's the most spoiled deer on earth with her apples, carrots, grain, hay, corn and grass we feed her every day but I know she's not because I saw a You-Tube of some people that have a deer that lives in their house and has her own bedroom!!! Check this out....
Dillie, the Pet Deer
I have all manner of little animals visiting my yard now. They have figured out where the food is! I have a whole slew of squirrels and all kinds of birds every day and I've just noticed that we have a little gray bunny visiting every night. I guess they are coming for her grain and corn.

Well, I had fun making this coffee mug cozy yesterday.



I think I will make a couple more of these. It was fun to make and I like it. Once again, I didn't use a pattern. I just looked at a picture of some others....really simple to do. I did have to increase because my cup is tapered but I think I will make some for a standard coffee coffee cup. I didn't get to use it yet! My son apparently used it before I did and it is was already in the camper this morning when I drank my coffee.