Crochet Me Crazy

Well, everyone but Michael went to town today to get some groceries. Michael stayed home and did "deer duty". When she saw us leaving, she made her little deer noise at us. That was pretty much it for me today. We came home and put up groceries, did our nightly chores and then tended to Grace (the deer's name). It is astonishing how much she improves every day. Today, she was really starting to get around a lot better. She needs some help with that leg still. She's funny ...she'll move all her legs but that one and then try to move it a little bit...and then look at me for me to help her. Tonight she was took her outside again to stand and we decided to take the splint off to see how she did. She manages the leg better without the splint and she'll put weight on it and it doesn't seem to bother her...we don't know if it's okay for her to put weight on that joint when it's bent. It automatically bends. It's really looking like she is definately going to walk by herself very, very soon. The problem is that we can't let her go off until she can get up all by herself. If she falls, she's toast out there. We'll see what our boss says when he gets home tomorrow. He knows about the deer and was concerned about her. He even suggested to take her to the vet. He's a big animal lover so maybe he'll have some ideas. If we could put some wire on our fence, she could walk around in the yard and be safe to walk around. Oh well, we'll just take it one day at a time and see what happens I guess.

Well, the good news is that I did find the Simply Soft yarn I needed at Wal-Mart to get going on the Prairie Star Afghan again. I only bought one skein...should be enough...I hope -- lol! Well, there's more where that came from if it's not. Luckily, it's a "No Dye Lot" yarn and I couldn't tell any difference from my sample I brought with me. I think I'm going to try to stick with working on my shawl before I get back to the Prairie Star though. I'm close to finish on the shawl and I'm afraid I'll lose interest if I leave it now. It's not the most exciting thing to make.

Well, our little Axis deer is still doing good...she's a little spoiled though! She sat outside again today but we brought her in again for the night. She is really quite funny...she doesn't like the dogs. She will nip at them if they get too close so the dogs have learned to leave her alone -- lol!

Today we got our Christmas decorations up except for the Christmas tree! It's a bit over-kill for our little small living room but Alison loves our decorations...and I have a lot! She insisted on finding a place for everything so it looks a little like a "Griswold" Christmas around here. The owner's wife said they wanted to give us a real Christmas tree so I didn't get our fake one out of storage. I'm a little bummed about Christmas though. I really love giving gifts at Christmas and it really is going to be difficult for me not to be able to. It will be the first time ever...even last year we managed a modest Christmas for the kids. I know Christmas isn't about presents but it still brought me a lot of joy to do so. Oh well, you never know...you never know what's in the store...maybe Jeff will get a job and it will change.

I've made some decent progress on a shawl I started. I'll try to get some pictures taken soon.

I've been searching for a really quick and easy shawl pattern. I've never made a shawl before because I just don't have much use for them personally. I have a friend that is a big Ebay seller and she told me she can get a lot for a crocheted vintage looking shawl with fringe and if I made one, she can sell it for me. So I figure, what the hey..it's worth a shot. I found one that I've started on so I guess that's what I'll work on while I'm waiting to get the yarn to finish my Prairie Star Afghan.

There's no time for crocheting today though because of our little Axis Deer. She tamed up very quickly last night. She takes great comfort in us now. She is soooo sweet. She loves to lick and be scratched. She ended up staying in the house last night...yes, we are suckers. It was really cold last night and we figured it's easier for her body to concentrate on healing itself when she's not wasting energy on shivering to stay warm. Michael slept on the couch in the living room and she slept on the floor. Someone needed to be there in case she tried to get up because she falls down. Then you have to get her situated back in a comfy position. Michael said he woke up about 4 times when she tried to get up. It is encouraging because she does seem better and stronger today! I really would like to see a happy ending for once in one of these endeavors! We took her outside today and let her try to stand. She actually stood for a little while by herself once we got her back feet situated right....she seems much better than she did yesterday.

We do think she may have a break just above one of the back hooves because it bends the wrong way when she tries to stand on it. So we made a splint and put it on it. Maybe the little girl will be able to walk even if with a limp. Tonight, she's even more calm and relaxed in the house. She seems quite content and happy in my living room! Ha! She just sits there and looks around...eats and drinks. She's hardly trying to get up now. We can do whatever around her tonight and she doesn't seemed phased by it.

Today is my birthday ... I, um, got a REAL LIVE DEER for my birthday from Michael! LOL -- No, really though...Michael got me a padded Chef's Mat to put in front of the kitchen sink. It was a really busy day today. The ferrier came this morning and the owner's are out of town so Jeff had to move horses from the pasture next door. More horses than normal to deal with today. He was supposed to have Jury Duty today but he called and they had cancelled it! Good news but he had to go to Kerrville instead to fill out applications for two jobs he's applying for. We're hoping one of the two will pan out... gotta do what we gotta do.

Tonight, the kids surprised me with a cake after dinner!


Apparently Alison stayed up late after I went to bed last night to bake the cake. Alison gave me a gift...some really pretty iron horse head book ends.


I love my family....

Look what Michael brought home this afternoon! Ahh...another hurt animal. She is an Axis Deer so she is not regulated by game laws from what I read online. She's actually pretty big! I hate it because I don't like it if they die. Well, this little girl is really strong and alert. She's eating and drinking but she has a hurt legs. Michael found her hanging and tangled in a fence. So now she's in the living room. We bandaged up her leg. We don't know how bad the leg is but I guess we'll just wait and see what happens. That appears to be the only thing wrong with her. She's actually pretty big! We're going to put her in a horse stall for the night.

Okay, so I have made lots and lots of slippers in my lifetime but I have never kept a pair for myself. I made these with myself in mind. I get cold "feetsies" sometimes but I wanted a pair that was washable and dryable so I made these using Patons Voo-Doo yarn. I wanted a dark color so they don't get all stained. So here they are! And just in time too...it's supposed to get really cold Saturday night. I just hope I don't slip down the stairs...they are really slippery on our wood floors...I'll have to keep that in mind.


So it took my daughter less than 2 days of practicing to teach herself this. Now, she wants to learn the second part....If I know her, she'll do it. I hope the video works...

I'm running into a problem with my Prairie Star Afghan...I ran out of the cream colored Simply Soft. This is very bad. I hope I will be able to find this color. Like I said, I have been using yarn out of my stash and I had two pretty full skeins of this and thought it would be enough but apparently not. This really stinks...I have to halt progress on this until I can find some. I hope Wal-Mart has it or else it might be a long wait! One positive thing out of it is that I have been reduced to weaving in ends on my Fisherman Afghan I had finished. We've been using it and its on the couch with all my loose ends hanging out! lol -- Not my favorite thing to do but it *does* need to be done....sigh....

My daughter never ceases to astonish me!! Alison taught herself to play Beethoven's Fur Elise on the piano yesterday! First, she figured out the right hand by ear and then she went on You-Tube to see how to add the left hand. I really am amazed...she's still practicing but it sounds so pretty. I'm going to have to video it and upload her playing it here on my blog. I just can't believe she did that! I could never do that.

Jeff & Alison were having a pretty busy day up at the stables today doing trail rides do I went up there to help 'em out. Glad to have the business...it means another day of pay for us! Hopefully, the business will hold out through the weekend. It was kinda chaotic today because we had a lot of "visitors"...just extra people everywhere. All the grandkids who were *helping* and when they help it actually slows us down...not really good on such a busy day. Then, we had some people we met in the park stop by and they stayed awhile...then Alison's friend with her dad and sister. They were still there when I left to come home and feed our horses here at our house. We have 16 riders on the board already for tomorrow so unless we get RAINED OUT, then tomorrow is starting off to be a good day as well. It is supposed to rain tonight...yes, rain...something we haven't seen much of here so either way, there's something to be positive about. I love those horses at the stables...I miss them when we don't have trail rides...

I love reading the scriptures that pop up everyday on my sidebar...sometimes they are fitting to me at the time. Well, my son typed this one up for me on my computer....he said he thought it might help us...now that was sweet. (It's a pretty long)

MATHEW 6:25-35
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

We all have plenty to be thankful for today no matter what life might be throwing our way! I try to stay in a state of thankfulness to God all the time for what he's given us, but I am glad for a day to be set aside to really ponder just how many things we all can be thankful for everyday.

Besides the obvious things that are at the top most people's lists of things to be thankful for which are ....
Jesus, my Lord and Savior!
My beautiful family!
Friends and so many good and kind people in my life!
Our Health!

I am very thankful to have all of these things. Then there are the things that I might not have thought to be thankful for last year..things I really am glad to have back, at least for awhile!

A roof over our heads

A full size stove and oven

A shower with good water pressure
A comfy couch
Surprisingly, something I really missed in the RV...My kitchen sink sprayer!

My Coffee Press!

Cute dogs to keep us company


The horses in our life, for their strength, grace, and beauty

I'm also thankful for my yarn stash...I'm glad I saved up all that yarn because it now enables me to keep on enjoying my hobby of crocheting.

Also, I am thankful for all of my blog readers and online friends! Thank you so much for your comments and encouraging words over the years! Even if I don't always comment back, please know I enjoy your comments and thankful for you all!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Well, Jeff took off this morning to work at the stables. I said I wouldn't post this week but I'm sticking around here today to start cooking for tomorrow. I've made an apple pie and boiled the chicken and the cornbread is baked for the dressing...now, I'm sitting down because I'm tired from standing! I'm about to start mixing up the dressing but I decided to take a break.

Alison brought home 3 friends to spend the night last night....her friend, Phoebe, and the stable owner's two grandkids, Morgan and Serenity. Morgan spent the night in the RV with Michael and the girls slept in the living room on the couch and pallet on the floor. It was a very loud night last night here. They played games and then I had a hard time getting them to be quiet last night while they were watching a movie and trying to settle down. They all had to get up early this morning to go back to the stables. They woke me up before my alarm did this morning!

I thought I would post a picture of the progress on my afghan. I took this picture in a hurry so it's not the best. Making decent progress on the white despite not being able to work on it much for the past couple of days...

It was a busy day today and we will be really busy for the rest of the week this week so I doubt I'll be getting a lot of crocheting done nor blogging. We had trail rides today and there will probably be rides the rest of the week except Thanksgiving day. Alison still has dance except Thanksgiving Day....so, between all that and taking care of the animals at home, I don't expect to have a lot of time. Of course, I will start cooking on Wednesday for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. So, I wish everyone a blessed Thanksgiving!!!

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~ Ernie says Happy Thanksgiving and he hope someone drops a piece of Turkey! ~

Today was a trail ride day so I went up there to hang out with Jeff & Alison while they worked at the stables. That may phase out after Thanksgiving which is really bad for us since that's a little bit of money to go towards our monthly income needs.

The kids went to the Corn Maze with the Church youth group tonight so it's been a quiet evening around here. Jeff has been sleeping on the couch and I've been updating my Picasa Web Album with completed crochet projects. It was long overdue.

No crochet photos today so I'll introduce you to Andrew instead. He's the colt here on the property we live on. He's 6 months old.

I started on the 4th and 5th colors of my Prairie Star and I don't like it. I went to my stash to see if I had something better to use but there is just nothing. I wanted to use a hunter green but I don't have enough of that color in my stash so I just continued with it. Maybe it will look better after I add the next color. I am really enjoying making this afghan though.
First picture is without the flash...

Second picture is with the flash... I still can't get the colors to look right in the pictures...


Michael's taxidermied deer is now on our wall and the pins are removed. He said that he still needs to paint the nose and he's going to gloss the eyes. It still looks great!

Still working on my Prairie Star afghan. It's the perfect mind-numbing project for me while my husband is walking around depressed and not talking much. I learned one thing...don't try to work on this before you've had your coffee! LOL! I sat down to do a diamond this morning while waiting for my coffee to brew and I kept messing up.

The chickens gave us 6 eggs yesterday! The egg production was really low there for awhile but the past couple of days, they've been giving us more. Today, I'm going to try making some pie crusts to see if they can be frozen to use to make quiche with. Even though our grocery bill is already LOW for a family of 4, I'm thinking we can lower our bill a lot more if we plant a garden. We have a large garden space here that we are able to use. The problem is that I'm clueless about gardening. I know it's probably too late for a winter garden but we need to start planning and figuring out when and what to plant for a spring garden.

Alison is getting ready for her December ballet! I believe this ballet is going to be the best one yet! It's scripture reading and dances to Christmas songs. She will be doing her first dance on stage on Pointe this year to "Carol of the Bells" Yesterday, we went to the barn for her to practice her Pointe. There's plenty of space and they horse pads work great for dancing.

She put socks on over her Pointe shoes, so they wouldn't get dirty. I need to order her a new pair of tights and some gel pointe shoe pads before the show. Not a good time to bring up that I need to spend that $20 though.

Oh, and can I tell you something really scary? I won't say who but, it's pretty sad when you see one of your relatives on www.peopleofwalmart.com

Still just trying to work through the shock of our new reality. I woke up this morning praying and asking God what is going on here? I know I must keep my faith. Jeff getting this job had so renewed my faith that God was taking care of us...so now that it's been taken away, does that mean he's not? NO WAY! I know it's not true so I'm just trying to sort it all out and hoping God will show us what to do. It's a strange feeling to for us to be so happy but so sad at the same time...I love our life but I feel like crying.

This was the verse on my blog today:
You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone
by.
Job 11:16

I had started preparing the following blog post about my Prairie Star afghan yesterday, before I got the bad news....so this was actually going to be yesterday's post..........................................................

I had a little bit of trouble with joining my first 6 stars last night and I actually cheated a little bit! You can't tell that I didn't do it *right* though so I went ahead. Then, I looked at the pattern and realized it says it is for "Advanced Experience" crocheter. I told my husband that I'm about to find out whether I am an advanced experience crocheter! The pattern really doesn't go into a lot of explanation on how to join. It just helps you through the first two and then says do the rest of them the same way except watch your placement. Well, I got through that and then decided to do a little search just to make sure I'm doing it right before I ventured further. I found this nice little YouTube that gives you an overview of the joining process:
Prairie Star Afghan joining overview - YouTube
This video is a general clarification but she also has some step by step videos if you need more help. I was able to confirm the process by watching this one.

However, I don't really think the Simply Soft yarn that I am using is a great yarn to use for this project. It's a very limp yarn and I think this would look better in a sturdier yarn. I'm in too deep to pull out now though plus I'm enjoying making this so I will carry on and perhaps I will make this again. I'd like to do one with the varigated yarn included like the pattern calls for.


~SLIPPERS~

Here are the two pairs of slippers, modeled by my lovely daughter, that I had finished before the Prairie Star inspiration overtook me.

Well, I don't really know what to say except that Jeff found out today that he is not getting the job. The higher ups in the company decided they want to do the hiring for a different area now. It really makes no sense that they wouldn't decide this BEFORE they hire someone! And he heard it from the recruiter too! Well, there's really nothing more to say...we are still pretty stunned and devastated right now. Jeff is really upset. I'm not really sure what we are supposed to do now. At least we have a place to live and can buy food with the money we make here where we live.
:(

This is not the final photo of my afghan but it's completed enough for Alison to try it out for snuggle quality! Picture is kinda dark, I know but the final picture will be better. I have oodles and oodles of loose ends to weave in! Yuck! It's the bad part of a project like this but I shall get it done! BUT, I have somehow started on another afghan!! How in the world did I do that so fast this time? Well, I saw a picture of this afghan called the Prairie Star Afghan Pattern by Red Heart

You have probably seen this pattern. It's been around for a long time and I have loved it every time I see it and think that someday I'm going to make that! Well, I just decided to check my Simply Soft yarn stash and picked out some colors and took off with it this morning. It's a join as you go afghan. My colors will be different since I want to use my yarn stash. Here is what I have picked out....

I really wish I could get true colors on my camera. The colors don't look as vivid as they really are in real life. It's a deep dark blue, a maroon, a beige, a dark mauve and a dark country blue. I had to pick from colors I thought I have enough of so this is what I came up with. It was either this or a mixture of bright colors like hot pink, aqua, yellow, etc which would be a completely different look. I might use those for a granny ripple at a later time. Anyway, this project just sorta barged in on me and took precedence over the Christmas project I had *planned* on doing next. Oh well, when the inspiration strikes, you take it and run with it!

I tried a new recipe tonight that was a big, that is soo good, can you double the recipe next time, hit with my family!

Ultimate Twice Baked Potatoes

4 large baking potatoes
8 slices bacon
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
8 green onions, sliced, divided

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Bake potatoes in preheated oven for 1 hour.
3. Meanwhile, place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly
brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
4. When potatoes are done allow them to cool for 10 minutes. Slice potatoes in half
lengthwise and scoop the flesh into a large bowl; save skins. To the potato flesh add sour
cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup cheese and 1/2 the green onions. Mix
Ultimate Twice Baked Potatoes (continued) 3 of 3
DIRECTIONS: (continued)
with a hand mixer until well blended and creamy. Spoon the mixture into the potato skins.
Top each with remaining cheese, green onions and bacon.
5. Bake for another 15 minutes.

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I've got my blanket sewn together! I have a whole lotta ends to weave in though! I'll post a picture of the afghan tomorrow. I'm a little weary tonight to get that ambitious. I also have a couple more slippers completed. I'm ready to move onto a couple of Christmas projects I have planned...some cute and whimsical stuff. Check back tomorrow for the pictures! Goodnight all!

In the meantime, I leave you with a picture of a horse in my yard....Michael thinks it's real cute to open the gate and let the horses into our yard.

Hello, Magic!

We got up this morning and decided we better drive to Kerrville to get groceries today because the next available day we could go wouldn't be until Wednesday. I'm too low on food to wait that long so we loaded up and went. It's always a long day when we go because we go around to a lot of stores just for fun really. by the time we get home late and unload groceries...I'm tired, which I am right now. I bought the yarn to finish my afghan though! I'm anxious to finish that up but for now, I'm off to bed!

With the upcoming Thanksgiving Season, I'll leave you with a poem that I read and liked by Helen Steiner Rice .... We all have plenty to be thankful for!


TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED

Take nothing for granted,
for whenever you do
The “joy of enjoying”
is lessened for you…
For we rob our own lives
much more than we know
When we fail to respond
or in any way show
Our thanks for the blessings
that daily are ours…
The warmth of the sun,
the fragrance of flowers,
The beauty of twilight,
the freshness of dawn,
The coolness of dew
on a green velvet lawn,
The kind little deeds
so thoughtfully done,
The favors of friends
and the love that someone
Unselfishly gives us
in a myriad of ways,
Expecting no payment
and no words of praise…
Oh, great is our loss
when we no longer find
A thankful response
to things of this kind,
For the Joy of Enjoying
and the Fullness of Living
Are found in the heart
that is filled with
Thanksgiving.

Helen Steiner Rice

I came across the requested recipe! However, it's not called what I originally referred to as "Ritz" chicken. I called it that because of the Ritz crackers that the recipe calls for. The actual recipe name is "Chicken Supreme". In any case, here it is...

Chicken Supreme

1 cooked chicken (I did not use a whole cooked chicken) I just used 4-5 Chicken breasts
1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Cup Sour Cream
20 Ritz Crackers
1/2 cup of butter
2 tsp poppy seed

Layer bottom of pan with chicken. Mix soup and sour cream and pour over chicken. Crush crackers into melter butter. Add poppy seeds, and spread over chicken. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.

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I spent some time this morning adding some new blogs to my Blog List. I like to read blogs that are updated regularly. Every once in a while, I go through that list and remove the blogs that haven't updated in a while. In any case, I've added some new ones that piqued my interest at some point in time or another.

It's hat making season!
If you have spent any time online looking for free patterns, you may have already come across this site. I just ran across it again while I was looking for an ear flap hat pattern --- which reminded me what a great hat pattern site this is! I have made the "Crochet Ridged Hat with Rib Cuff", the "Front Post-Back Post Brim Cap", and the "Loving Georgia Lee Tyler" hats. All are well written and make some great looking hats!

Head Huggers: Patterns List

It was a beautiful day here today but even the sun didn't warm us up enough for me. Alison had her friend, Phoebe, spend the night last night and they stayed up too late and slept too late today. Then, they were doing their school work together and it took them all day to finish. The finished with only enough time to ride the 4-wheeler for a little while, feed the horses and cows, and now Jeff has taken them into town to go to the store. They are vowing to go to sleep early tonight so they won't be tired at the stables tomorrow....we'll see how that goes!

I'm starting to plan my Thanksgiving dinner. It's been so long since I've made Thanksgiving dinner that I forgot what I used to make other than Turkey and Dressing. It'll just be lonely old us out here but at least we'll have a Thanksgiving this year.

Presenting the next pair of slippers I have finished. I love the colors in these.
They are really soft, too.



I'm working on a pair for myself right now. I sure needed them last night! It was really cold here!


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Quote of the Day:

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."

-Thomas Edison

Michael has had these finished for some time now but I'm just now getting a picture of them. He made these for my sister and I have not gotten them mailed to her yet. If my sister reads this, sorry -- it's my fault it's taking so long because I haven't mailed them!

One side of the wallet...

The other side of the wallet...

Well, it seems to take less than a ball of this chunky yarn to make a pair of this style slippers.

I had made the soles of another style of slipper and I ran out of this yarn so I undid the whole thing and made these instead. I still have a little bit left so I guess it'll go into my scrap blanket.

My computer has been having major issues with running very slow and taking forever to start-up. I did a little searching on the internet and ended up running this free program called Advance System Care on it. It is still running now and has been literally running ALL DAY to scan my computer. It checks for Malware, does a registry scan, cleans junk files, defragments and does a whole bunch of other stuff. I seriously hope this helps...apparently my computer is very fragmented. That is the part that is taking forever. I thought I was using a defragmenter already but apparently the program I've been using, or attempting to use, was aborting the process before it was finished and I have no idea why. Anyway, hopefully this helps!

Except for the part of waking up before the sun comes up and then not being able to go back to sleep because of this time change, which I hate. My body is still trying to adjust to it. I get up and put my water on to boil while I go throw some clothes on and bring my computer downstairs. By then, my water is boiling so I pour it into my french press (which I LOVE, by the way!) I leave my coffee to steep while I walk to the chicken coop to let the chickens out and throw their scratch. I actually enjoy doing this. The chickens are always happy to see me because they know I'm going to throw that yummy stuff on the ground for them. I come back in and my coffee is ready. I sit down to drink my coffee while I read my emails and check my blog, etc. By now, I'm either going down to the barn to feed the horses or I might start to see another person in my house start to rouse to go feed the horses. This morning, Alison got up to do it because she's planning on riding today. I know other people are starting to wake up too because usually the owner's dogs coming running down to our house to say "Hello". Now, sometimes I cook breakfast and sometimes I don't...today, I believe is a "don't" day. I think I will be sticking around here today. Alison doesn't have dance and I would be taking her to see her horse, Princess, but I think Jeff is going to the stables today anyway to do a job for Mr. Stable so I'll let him take her. It's cold outside today and I feel like staying in. I'll just do some domestic things around here today and work on the slippers I have on my hook. I finished a pair of slippers last night...
Here they are:

I made these out of a yarn called "Voo Doo" by Patons that I got at a Dollar Store years ago. I absolutely hate this yarn. It is extremely hard to work with and there is very little you can use it for but it works well for slippers. I am disappointed that after making these slippers that I still have several balls left in this color and I also have some more in brown. I will force myself to make another pair of slippers with the brown. I really want to use all this stuff up so I can quit looking at it taking up space.

Okay, so it's very annoying to be waking up at 6 am in the dark and not being able to go back to sleep. My body is going to have to take some time to adjust to this time change which I hate.

I am pondering my next project....I'm a little frustrated with my yarn organization right now and it's stifling me. When Jeff starts working, I'm getting me some yarn bins. I gave the ones I used to use in my house to the kids to use in the RV. When I can *see* my yarn I have available, it helps me. I was wanting to make the bearded hat but I don't have the right yarn for that...that I can find anyway. I do have a large box of what I call "specialty" yarns that I got out of storage.



These are all very fuzzy or furry yarns. There's not a lot you can do with these other than hats and slippers. I did make a hat yesterday of some fuzzy yarn that I had only one ball of.



Now, I'm beginning to think "slippers" again. I had made tons of tons of slippers a few years ago and had a big box of slippers. I have made a significant dent in that box now. I sold some but mostly gave them away. They do make a nice gift so I think I'll try to make a dent in this box of yarn by starting some slippers. They are good to have on hand as gifts.

I had a scare today when someone in town if I had heard that the man that owns the stables (I call him Mr. Stable on this blog) had a stroke. I was shocked and said "NO, I didn't know that!" So I went directly to call Mrs. Stable to find out if he was okay. I didn't get her and spent the rest of dance wondering and concerned. I was smart enough to think...this is a small town and maybe someone mistakenly thought it was Mr. Stable when it was actually his brother. I do know that his brother is doing very poorly health-wise. Keeping this in my mind, I even told the source of this information that but she seemed convinced. So...anyway, Jeff did get a hold of Mrs. Stable tonight after I got home and it turns out Mr. Stable IS fine and it was his brother that had the stroke. Glad to hear that was not true!!


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"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.."

Albert Einstein

My son did this today! I think he did an amazing job!





He is still drying right now...all the pins and stuff will come out once he's dry. I'll post more pictures once he's dry and mounted on our wall! Ever since last hunting season, he has had this deer waiting to get with the Baptist pastor to show him how to mount it. He spent the whole day over there today and came home with this tonight. Pastor said he did 98% of this without any his help. I think it looks great. Michael says he can do the next one by himself. Michael has been so blessed with his creative and artistic ability!

Today, Jeff & I went to a "Tour of Homes". It's something they do around here every year but I've never done it before. There were 6 local homes that open their house up for a period of hours for an open house. Grandma Bev gave us tickets. We dropped the girls over at Phoebe's house and Jeff & I went to that. There were some really pretty homes and we saw a lot of familiar faces. We're starting to know a little more people around here now.

Well, I have one tired little girl tonight. After two nights of sleepovers and getting up early both mornings, she's tired tonight. She wants to sleep in tomorrow morning. It was a good weekend for her though. I think her and Phoebe are going to be very good friends and I'm happy about that. After having to leave two very good friends in Houston, she hasn't made any good friends out here.



These are 3 very sweet girls....

Oh my goodness...I got about 5 panels of my afghan sewed together and I RAN OUT OF YARN!!! I was soooo close! Now I have to wait to go to town to buy more yarn before I can finish it! Well, the good news it that I don't have to worry about dye lot so much since I only joining the panels with it so if it's off just a tad it won't be very noticeable.



I'm have really been hankering to make these yummy, yummy cookies that I just snagged the recipe for. The dance teacher brings these every time they have visitor's week at dance and they are so great I finally asked her for the recipe. I've kinda been waiting for a cold day and a day I have time to come along at the same time because the oven helps me warm the house up. I decided to make these this morning and bring them to the stables today for them while they are working so I was making cookies at 7:30 this morning!! I took a big container of cookies down there and I can't believe how fast they devoured that entire container! Now there were a lot of kids there today...the stable owner's 2 grandkids, plus my two kids and Alison's friend.
Here's the girls on their horses...

They had a ball today. They rode and rode the horses around and groomed horses. Alison's friend, Phoebe, was there with her all day and asked to stay longer when her mom came to get her. Alison wanted to have slumber party tonight with Phoebe and Serenity (the stable owner's granddaughter) so they are both spending the night tonight. I just got finished making them a big bowl of popcorn and they are going to watch a movie.

I'm beat tonight...I think I'll go take a shower and go to bed early....I sure am glad I get an extra hour of sleep tonight because of the time change!

Oh, and here's the cookie recipe!

Oatmeal Rice Krispies Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup of brown sugar
1 cup of white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups of Rice Krispies
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup coconut
1 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 375. Beat butter. Add sugar and continue beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla and mix well Stir flour with soda & salt and then add to butter-sugar mixture. Fold in Rice Krispies, oatmeal, coconut & raisins. Drop onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake 10 minutes.

This is something kinda different and fun...a Crochet Quiz! I took it and scored all correct answers. Try it!

Crochet - Happy "Hooking"! Quiz - Needlework

Today has been a relaxing stay-at-home day for me. Alison rode Ellie Mae again today and her friend came over. They played the piano, messed with the horses, looked at pictures and Alison's scrapbook and rode the 4-wheeler. They seemed to have a good time and she ended up spending the night and is going with Alison to the stables tomorrow. I'm glad Alison has made a friend.

I made homemade hot sauce today and tried my hand at making Ceviche. Everyone said the Ceviche was good but it needed more tomatoes. I used all that I had.

I started sewing my afghan together but I have to get it all laid out again before I can do anymore. Should be a relatively quick task if I can just have time to do it!

We got our own internet! I'm so happy...no more walking to barn to use the internet. I was especially thankful for that today because it was COLD!! I love this house...I hardly even know it's cold outside...it's a nice change.

The cold weather didn't stop Alison from riding Ellie Mae again today. Well, the owner's want their horses ridden and Alison won't disappoint them! She's planning on a repeat of the same tomorrow.

Tomorrow Alison also has a friend coming over. A girl who I met her mom at dance and we've been trying to get the girls together. She just pulled her daughter from school and is starting to homeschool her. The daughter has been very unhappy at school because of all the drug use, promiscuity and cursing and has been wanting to homeschool. Her mom has been hoping she could find a friend who's not into all that stuff. Her step-dad is a ferrier and was shoeing a horse at the stables today so we arranged for them both to be at the stables today so Alison could show her western riding. She's only ridden English. They are both shy so they broke the ice today by riding horses today. Hopefully, Alison will make a friend. She hasn't made any friends to speak of since she's been here.

Well, I finished the last panel on my afghan tonight at dance. I start sewing them all together tomorrow! Now, I have to figure out what to make next. I got a big box of specialty yarns out of storage. I think I need to make some hats out of some of that...not sure what else I can use it for. I do have plans to make on of those bearded hats I'm starting to see online. Pretty cute and funny...also would do a good job keeping your face warm. I also want to make myself an ear warmer...I'm not too into hats but I'm thinking an ear warmer will do me good when I have to feed horses when it gets really cold.

Alison came through with her plan today and she rode off on Ellie Mae on this beautiful morning and of course, I'm following her around with a camera, as usual!

Grooming...


Saddling...


Ready and heading to the gate...


A few minor adjustments...


Mounting...this is a VERY big horse...she's a gentle giant...




I got a glmpse of her as she passed through the trees headed off...


I'm so proud of Alison...she's braver than I could ever be. There are risks involved with letting her follow this dream with horses but she's such a natural and it brings her so much happiness, satisfaction, and confidence. At least I know she's on a reliable horse. Alison has all kinds of plans to learn all this stuff here and then she wants to teach it to Princess. If I know her, she'll do it.

Well, it's a busy day today...Alison will go see Princess and then Jeff is going to take the kid's to youth tonight. They haven't been able to go for a long time because it's farther for us to drive. I ran into the pastor in Wal-Mart last week and he wants to get with Michael soon for his taxidermy lesson. He has a deer to mount and Michael can do his at the same time. I really don't want Michael to miss out on the opportunity for someone to teach him this skill. It can really benefit him around here. The opportunities my kids have had out here have been great for them!

Well, here is the *almost" finished afghan. I have one more cable panel that goes in the space. After that, I just sew her up and I'm done!