Newest stocking

I needed to make a stocking for grandson, Grant, who used the Santa last year. I finished his stocking a few weeks ago. I still need to make one for his new little brother, Cory. Then there will be another new baby next Christmas!! This is Grant's stocking.

Christmas Stockings

I started making Christmas stockings for the family about 35 years ago. Since then I have made one for myself, Keith (husband), our 2 children, their spouses, and our 5 grandchildren. Last Christmas the family came to Michigan. Here is a picture of all of our stockings. There are also stockings for our 2 dogs, but I didn't make those.

Pumpkin hat

This is Elise wearing her pumpkin hat that I made for her. She wears it every day.

I am working on a Christmas stocking for Grant, knitted. I will post pictures as I make progress.

Sebastian's 6th birthday is Friday and his party is Sat. He also has soccer practice/game on Sat. so it will be a busy day.

I am also still training for my walking marathon which is in 4 weeks. They have some wonderful places to walk here in Boise, but it is much warmer than Michigan.

Idaho

I have been in Boise for a week now. The grandkids are great. They do wear out this grandma though! Here are some pictures of the kids and things I have made for them. This is Cory's announcement we created . We had help from Craig's friend Todd who was visiting from L.A. (thanks!) The other picture shows Cory in his candy corn hat. Isn't he cute?
The top picture shows Cory in his bear hat that was made for him by my internet friend Sandy "Froglegs"! He loves his hat--thanks Sandy.

Purse for Haley

I made this purse for Haley as she goes into 8th grade. The pattern is from a kit from Maggie's Crochet.

Introducing Cory

Here is our newest grandson, Cory Andrew Driver, born August 7, 2005. I will get to hold him for the first time in two day!!

Hats for grandkids

I am leaving for Boise, Idaho in 2 days. I made these hats for the grandkids. When I get there I will take a picture of them wearing them.

Pumpkin hats for preemies

More hats for the Preemie Project

Preemie Project

These are items made for the Preemie Project.

Halloween hats

I've been on a "pumpkin hats" kick lately. I made these for lil' trooper babies at Ft. Knox.

New grandson

Cory Andrew Driver was born today, August 7, 2005, at 8:00 a.m. MDT in Meridian, Idaho. He weighed in at 7 lbs., 11 oz. and is 20 inches long. Brothers Sebastian and Grant, and sister Elise are very excited. Mom, Kelly, is very tired and Dad, Craig is very proud. We welcome our newest blessing from God to our growing family. I will post pictures as soon as I can!!

Donated hats

These hats and booties were donated to newborn babies at Ft. Knox. The babies were born to military personnel. I am part of the Yahoo group lil_troopers@yahoogroups.com.

Things I have been making

Here are some of the projects I have completed lately. This is the poncho and hat I made for Elise (3 yrs old). My camera was dying at this point and the picture is fuzzy. I got the pattern here: http://emeraldmooncreations.tripod.com/id15.html. Her patterns are great!

Camera broken

I have not been able to post any current pictures because my digital camera is broken. I have been knitting lots of dishcloths, crocheting and knitting lots of baby hats for charity and working on many other projects.
We were in Grand Haven, Michigan for a week (wonderful vacation) and I left my project bag there. The owner of the cottage we rented is going to mail it to me, but it has been 2 weeks and I'm still waiting. I had my tools in that bag and I'm lost without them.
Hopefully I will get a new camera this week.
Also, grandchild #6 is due any time now.....

Haley wearing her poncho.

Spring poncho made for Haley for her birthday using Lustersheen yarn and a pattern from Maggie's Crochet.

Knit dishcloths made as gifts and for exchanges. The varigated yarn is Peaches and Cream "gumdrop."

Charity blankets donated to military hospitals

Mom and Nina

Clark and his Grandmother

Nina and her Greatgrandmother

Mom got to meet her youngest great grandchild, Nina

"Lost month"

On May 4 I went to PA to help my brother and Mom after my brother was in a car accident. I was there for 10 days, then I brought my Mom back to Michigan for 3- 1/2 weeks. It has been crazy here, but she is now back home. I did get a lot of knitting and crocheting done and will post those pictures.

This is a baby blanket I am working on. It is knit on size 15 circular needles and goes very quickly. It will be a donation blanket when I finish it. I got the pattern at Crafty Lady, free with the purchase of yarn (Plymouth Encore Colorspun), used double standed.

More flip flops I made recently.

Fun fur flips flops I made for Elise (3 yrs. old) and Kelly. I am making more for Haley and Jenny.

An angel made for Angels of Hope. This group sends angels, butterflies, or smiley faces to those need encouragement.

The deck and furniture are covered with almost 8 inches of snow.

Snow

It snowed all day Saturday and Sunday, April 23-24. Some of the trees have started to flower and bud. It was a beautiful snow, very wet, but a bit of a nusiance for the end of April. I am more than ready for spring to stay.

From the back of the house.

Butterfly dishcloth I made for an exchange. I enjoy knitting dishcloths while watching tv.

This is the fleece blanket and hat made for the baby shower. It received lots of ahhs!

Baby gifts finished

I solved the problem of making a quick baby shower gift. I sewed a cute baby hat for a newborn. Then I made a no-sew fleece blanket. Since it is spring I made the blanket with one thickness and just fringed the short ends without tieing them together. They turned out cute and I am sure the mother-to-be will like them. Bonus: I finished them 2 days early!! Pictures will be posted ASAP.

Baby gift

Friday night DH tells me he needs a baby shower gift for someone at work. He needs it for Thurs. He did say that if I couldn't make something in time, he would buy a gift. Well, that did it, BUY something--no way! I spent the evening looking though my patterns. I think I will make a tied fleece blanket--single layer--since I do have some adorable fleece that will suit a baby boy. I may even knit or crochet some booties to go with it!

Afghan finished

The donation baby afghan is finally finished, mailed and received. I used ww yarn, and a P hook. It was made holding 2 strands together. The pattern is from Leisure Arts leaflet #3009, More Double-Quick for baby and is large enough for a crib size afghan. If I make this again I will use one strand of yarn and an I or J hook. It was quite heavy, which is good for winter. It would make a great floor blanket for when you want to put the baby down.

This is the baby afghan I finally finished. It is crib size.

April arrives!

With April here it must mean that spring will finally come to Michigan. The grass is still brown and the trees are bare, but the snow is gone and the temperatures are rising. Time to get outside and get physical. I have set up a challenge for myself after reading an article in Prevention magazine. I am training to WALK a marathon in October. I want to do the one in Columbus, Ohio since it is relatively close. So I have been walking 4 times a week and riding my bike twice a week. So far so good! I am up to 4 mile walks.
I am getting frustrated with the baby afghan I am crocheting. It is easy, but I have found I can't work on it if I'm tired. I did 3 inches last night and now I have to frog all of them because of a mistake. Maybe I will do that after I walk so I will be more relaxed.
Good things about April: baseball season starts up!!
flowers bloom
warm woolie sweaters and sweatshirts can get put away for 7 months
daylight savings time
my birthday
my granddaughter Nina's birthday
Time for that walk with the dogs!

Chemo cap

I have known my friend Marcia for almost 40 years. We were neighbors in Ridgefield, Connecticut. She now lives in Mesa, AZ and I am in SE Michigan. We have visited numerous times over the years. I was caught by surprise when she told me she has breast cancer. Then the chemo treatments caused all of her hair to fall out. I made this chemo cap for her to wear. I wanted it to be bright and cheery and also soft. It is crocheted using a P hook and Fancy Fur yarn.

Chemo cap made for Marcia March, 2005

This is my blog!

Today I'm starting my blog. I have been fascinated by other blogs and decided to plunge right in with my own. It may seem haphazard at times, but that is my life! Today I will continue my walking marathon training by "strolling" for twenty minutes. I will take our two golden retrievers (Chester and Oscar) for a walk through the subdivision. Michigan weather is finally warming up and the sun is shining today (this is not always the case in SE Michigan) so it should be a good walk. I am also going to try to get a lot done on the baby afghan I am crocheting. Then we have church tonight, so I will be busy today!