Another Unexpected Hiatus

I didn't mean to have another hiatus.  I really didn't mean to.  I just checked and my last post was in September!  Again my dad is the one that has been hounding me to update here.  He likes to see it.  He claims I have "readers."  I give him a look and say, "really?......really?"

I guess the best I can do is try to go in order.

The last you saw our new puppy, Jimmy, he was really little.  Here's both of the pups in their bicycle baskets in August.

Jimmy was still very little in September and just being so cute.

Both my boys are adorable. (October)

Look how big Jimmy is now!  At times I think he is bigger than Toby.  Most people can't tell them apart anymore.

Anyhow, back to my timeline.  I'm in a group on Ravelry.com called The Chittery Chattery Swappery Swappers Group.  Essentially a ton of nice women (a few guys) who love to swap.  I decided to take part in a partner swap.  As soon as I got the name of the person I was sending a package to, MissMatheMagic, I looked at her questionnaire and I zeroed in on the words "fingerless mitts."  I immediately cast on Podster Gloves.  Once I had the cuffs done, I was reading through posts and I suddenly realized she lives in Arizona!  She didn't need the mitten portion of the Podsters.

So I finished these mitts sitting in the hospital, while my sister was giving birth to my nephew.

They turned out a little big, but you'll see in a second that it actually worked out.  The yarn used was Fibernymph Dye Works Bounce in color Forest Green.  I used less than half of the skein.

I then wanted to cast on a pair that were a little bit more girly.  I posted a question in the swap group of which yarn to use, so MissMatheMagic picked out the yarn for her mitts without her knowing they were for her.  The result was a set of Zig Zag Lace Fingerless Mitts in Dream in Color Smooshy in color Raspberry Blaze.

Genevieve (MissMatheMagic), loved what I sent her.  The Podster mitts ended up fitting her husband perfectly.

She loved and told me she uses her zig zag mitts.

If you noticed above, I said that I finished the podsters while my sister was giving birth.  My nephew, Owen, was born October 9th.  

They used my blanket for the hospital photos!!

He is just so stinking cute!  Here he is with my dad, who is an elated first time grandfather, and a certified baby hog.

In November, Dave wasn't feeling well and he ended up back in the hospital.  We found out that his cancer had returned and it was aggressive.  I worked on a shawl while sitting in hospital rooms that was for a coworker of my dad.  She was going through breast cancer treatment.  I thought maybe a shawl hug might make her smile.

I made The Lonely Winter Tree Shawl using Berroco Vintage™ Chunky in the color Mochi.  I love how it came out and I really enjoyed this pattern.

While he was in the hospital, Dave decided he didn't want to wait any longer.  He proposed!

We went down to the family waiting area.  I knew something was up because he was acting strange.  Amazingly, this is the view from that particular waiting room.

I know what you are thinking....SHOW THE RING ALREADY!  Here is a photo from right after.  You can see the wheels of his IV pole in the photo.

Here's a photo I took a few days later.  I was trying to show how sparkly it really is.

The center stone is a blue diamond.  I didn't even know diamonds could come in blue.  I love it and it is very ME.  After he asked and we got back to his room, his mom was just sitting there with a grin.  She flew up from Florida to be with us throughout the week.  We heard a lot of scary information and I'm so glad she was there.  She actually had to sneak into my and Dave's room at the house to get the ring and bring it to the hospital.  She said it made her so nervous!  By the time Dave proposed, he had been in the hospital for over a week.  All of his nurses were coming in asking to see the ring.  The doctors knew about it.  The whole floor knew before me!  Everyone on that floor was amazing.  We couldn't have asked for better teams to help us through all the information they were telling us.

My friend Dianne made a hat for Dave.  He wore it to his first new chemo treatment.

Dave's family came to stay with us for most of December.  This is what I got to come home to.  Puppies not in their crates.

This is the first Christmas in our new house.  We got a tree that was almost 8 feet tall!

I made mitten ornaments for my and family members trees.

I took both puppies to see Santa, same place I took Toby last year.

My sister had some family photos taken for the holidays.  Owen was just too cute!  This time they used my navy Pine Forest Blanket that I made him.

My sister is so unbelievably photogenic, its not even funny.  Look at the hat they had on Owen!  Both hats!

I can't get over him, too cute!

Later in December, right before Christmas, it was decided that they were going to do surgery for Dave's cancer.  He wasn't handling the chemo treatments well at all.  They were sending him to the hospital.  So on January 3rd he had his 3rd cancer surgery.  This one was the biggest yet.  It was an almost 12 hr surgery.  He was in the hospital for 2 weeks.  He has 48 staples.  The nurse counted when she removed them.  My comment for 2 more for an even 50 was met with the stink eye and a "very funny."

Throughout that hospital stay, I worked on a scarf for my mom.  It is the pattern Shallows using Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere in color Electric Mauve.  I used every last bit of that skein.

Owen's baptism was two Sundays ago.  I am his Godmother.  He was adorable in his white suit.

I finished a sweater that I started in November and gave that to him then.  The pattern is Greyson and I used Berroco Vintage™ DK in the very descriptive colors of 2117 (green) and 2105 (khaki).

Dave is back on the hospital.  He essentially got really dehydrated.  During this current stay, I made a had for myself.  It is the Wurm pattern.  I used two colors of Dutch Girl Yarns.  I had to make some changes since I was using worsted weight yarn instead of sport.  The photos were taken in Dave's hospital room and my hair had been in a pony tail all day, so sorry for the icky photos.

I love my hat.  I've been wearing it for 3 days straight it seems.

And that ladies and gentlemen is what I would call an up to date blog.  Do you hear that dad?  It's up to date!  I had to write a book, but its up to date!

I'll leave you with a photo of Owen that my sister sent me a couple of days ago.

SO STINKIN' CUTE!  

I'm going to try and at least post on Wednesdays and Fridays.  We'll see how it goes!

Sam <3

FO Friday

I have two things to show you today.  I forgot to get pictures of my Happy Street, but tonight I went to dinner with Dave, my parents, sister, and brother-in-law.  When we were leaving the restaurant and walking to the ice cream place next door it was really chilly.  I stopped in my car to grab Happy Street and my sister says, "You have another one of those?"  I told her no, but she could use it because she had short sleeves and I had long, but she's also pregnant.

She wraps it around her then looks down and asks, "Did you make this?  This is nice."

That is the last I saw of my Happy Street.  My sister borrowed my mom's Burberry purse years ago and my mom hasn't gotten it back.  It's a running joke.

I also finished a baby girl sweater last Friday for a friend.  I loved working with pink and lace for a change!

Pattern:  Lilianna
Yarn:  Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino
Needle:  US 5 - 3.75mm

I've linked up with Tami's Amis.

Have a good weekend!

Sam :-)

WIP Wednesday!

Woohoo!  I remembered to do a WIP Wednesday!  I only have two projects that I'm working on right now.  Both projects are ones that I've pulled out from being snoozed.

First up is my Mini Granny Square Scarf.  I got the inspiration two years ago from http://cocorosetextiles.blogspot.com/.  Here scarf is shown in here post here.

My colors have changed slightly, but here's where I am:

Its nice to have a project that is very portable.

The next project I have been working on is my Dad's blanket.  Hear that Dad?!  I worked on it!  You still won't get it though for another couple of years.  You're just too tall!

My gauge has changed as I have been working on this.  It should block out fine though.

I've linked up with Tami's Amis!

I'll try to show you my finished items on Friday.

Sam <3

Owen's Room

I feel like I'm constantly go go go, when I'm really not.  Dave and I have been getting a lot done around the house.  We finally got a bed in the spare bedroom.  As soon as we pick the comforter up from being laundered, I'll take pictures.  I got my craft room organized with cute colorful dorm storage solutions.  The perfect option for my current budget.  I'll also get some pictures of that soon.  Dave's family is coming for another visit in a couple of weeks.  This is the first time that they will visit when we have the house.  I'm so excited for them to have their own rooms.

My sister posted some pictures of the baby's room all finished. 

What is that peaking out in the above picture?  It's the blanket I made!  It matches perfectly!

My sister, Missy, has utilized all the space she has in the small room.  Everything is organized in baskets and everything has its place.

In other news, I made another baby item, but this one is for a friend.  She just had a little girl a few days ago and I finally got to make a baby item that's PINK.  I'll show you the cute sweater on Friday (if I remember haha..).  I've also finished my Happy Street, but I need to take pictures of it.

I'll post tomorrow with what I am currently working on!

Sam :-)

FO Friday! Owen's Little Square Baby Blanket!

I know I was supposed to show you this blanket last week, but I forgot.  Simple as that.  At least now though you can see a few pictures of my sister opening it up at her shower, right?

Well let's just get right to it!  I managed to finish this blanket in about 1 month!  I worked on it nonstop!

So here it is!

I love how it turned out! 

I added some navy in the border and finished it off with the light blue.

Here are the details in case you want them:

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in colors 505 Yellow, 071 Pool (the light blue), 018 Citrus (light green), 047 Bright Green, 068 Peach, 008 Navy, 023 Sienna, 005 Cream, and 048 Brown.
Hook:  US G 4mm
Size: 28"x33"
Pattern:  I made up the pattern for the squares.  It is pretty basic.  This is what I did:

Ch 4 join with a sl st 
chain 3, 3 dc into center 
ch 2 4 dc into center 
ch 2 4 dc into center 
ch 2 4 dc into center 
ch 2 join with sl st in top of ch3

ch3 dc into next 3 st, dc into ch 2 space 
ch 2, dc into same ch 2 space 
dc across the 4 st 
dc into ch 2 space 
ch 2, dc into same ch 2 space 
dc across the 4 st 
dc into ch 2 space 
ch 2, dc into same ch 2 space 
dc across the 4 st 
dc into ch 2 space 
ch 2, dc into same ch 2 space 
join with a sl st into top of ch 3

I joined the squares together using the method from this pattern 124-1 Crochet blanket in ”Delight” and ”Fabel” and I also used most of the border from that pattern. Instead of using those shells, I did reverse sc.

I didn't take very many pictures at the shower, but my cousin got a couple of my sister opening my blankets.

Overall they were a huge hit!

Hopefully I have my Happy Street finished soon!

I've linked up with Tami's Amis.

And I'll end with a picture of my puppies stealing my pillow.

Sam :-)

Crazy Hectic Week

I know all of you out there must have been dying to see Owen's Little Square blanket all finished.  I finished it on July 28th.  So the next FO Friday would have been August 2nd.  Well, a lot happened around August second.  I'm going to make you wait until Friday to see the finished blanket. 

Two weeks ago Dave and I decided to spend our bonus money from work on bikes.  We thought it would be fun exercise.  Trek was having a huge sale and we found a bike that we both liked.  The only problem was that they were out of the grey color, so Dave and I would have to get the exact same bike in the exact same color, awesome blue by the way.  Dave wasn't too happy about that.  He test road practically every other bike in our price range and kept coming back to it.  He finally resigned himself to it.  We didn't pick the bikes up until Wednesday because it took us a while to get a hitch put on our vehicle.

Then I decided that I needed a basket to carry Toby.  Most of the time we would want to bike ride it would be nice to take the pup with us.  Dave said the basket had to go on my bike because it was definitely not going on his.  I don't have a picture of Toby in it yet, but I promise you he likes it.

Then on Thursday, I saw this add on

It was for this little dog they had named Roger. 

This little man was only 10 weeks old and had found himself without a forever home.  He came into the rescue covered in pee and poop and all sorts of stuff.

So this is how the conversation went with Dave on Thursday through email.

Me:  Look at Roger
Dave:  Cute!  Kinda looks like Toby.
Me:  Did you read his story?
Dave:  So sad.  :-( Do you want to get him?
Me:  You'd have to get a basket for your bike!! ;-)
Dave:  Oh no....maybe I could do the wagon.
Me:  Having the basket on the rear of the bike doesn't look too bad.  See?


Not my dog, just a picture of how the pet basket looks over the rear wheel

Dave:  That's not terrible.
Me:  Wait, did you just agree to get a second dog and a bike basket?
Dave:  Yeah, let's get him.  He needs a forever home and Toby needs a brother.
Me:  Squee!!!!!!!

On Thursday I put in an application for Roger.  On Friday (I had taken the day off work, and Dave is always off, he works Sunday - Thursday), I was taking Toby for his annual vet visit for booster shots.  While we were in the waiting room I got an email saying that my application had been approved and when could I pick him up.  I immidiately went up to the front desk and asked to make an appointment for my soon to be puppy.  The receptionist laughed and said, "Oh that was about you!!  They just called here."  The rescue had apparently called the Vet to check that I take Toby there regularly while I was sitting in the waiting room.

Dave and I were both shocked that we were approved so fast.  I was so excited that I went shopping at the pet store to get the new pup a collar, harness, crate, etc.

When I got to the house where the puppy was being fostered, I was shocked at how little he was!  I completely forgot that Toby was about 16/17 weeks old when we got him and about 7 or 8lbs.  This little guy is only 10 weeks old and under 4lbs.  He makes Toby's 13lbs look huge.

Now I love people names for dogs.  I grew up with Max, Eddie, and Georgie, and I have Toby now, but we really didn't like Roger.  We needed to choose a name that day because of his appointment at the vet the next day.  Finally we decided on Jimmy.

So everyone, meet Jimmy:

So far they are getting along and adjusting well.

Another good dog in the car who just curls up and goes to sleep.  Toby needs a haircut, so maybe Jimmy will get his first haircut in the next week or so.  The hair on Jimmy's one side is stained because of how he came into the rescue, so a good haircut should help him too.

Unfortunately, Dave started to feel sick Sunday night.  We went to the ER and we told them that Dave was fairly certain it was a kidney stone, as he's had them twice before.  We were there all night before they believed us.  He was admitted and needed to have surgery to remove it.  Since I was at the hospital yesterday and exhausted from no sleep, my parents volunteered to take the pups for the night.  This is the picture I got last night:

Apparently playing with my parents' neighbor's dog Tootsie got them both super tired.  I'm going to pick them both up today after work.  Dave is doing well and should be recovered in a couple of days.

This means that there will be even more cute puppy pictures on my blog.  I hope you can handle it!

Sam :-)

WIP Wednesday

Lately I've been really gung-ho with getting Owen's Little Square Blanket finished (I had to look up how to spell gung-ho and I learned a bit of history, wikipedia page here).

I am almost finished with it!  I ran out of yarn on the border.  So I'm going to have to wait until I can get to the yarn store on Saturday.  The shower isn't until August 11th, so I'll be done in plenty of time.  Here's a sneek peek:

I still have a whole bunch of ends to weave in!  Thankfully they are just from the seams and border.  Otherwise those ends would be over 300!

Since I have to wait for the yarn I started a baby bib.  You can't see the pattern yet, but here it is so far:

I also managed to get an updated picture of Dave's socks this morning.  I haven't worked on them in a while, but the picture I showed last week was way out of date.

Anyone recognize the bag that my sock project is in?  It's my Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock box bag from Jessalu.

I love The Big Bang Theory and this bag is so cute.

It even has scientific fabric on the inside!

I really want another JessaLu box bag, but I can't decide!

I've linked up with Tami's Amis for WIP Wednesday!

Sam :-)