Life's Updates......

Well, today is July 31, 2015. I haven't blogged in years. I thought this would be a good time in my life to start as I am now an empty nester. Yes, an empty nester. I'll get into that in a minute, but I first have to say, this empty nester stuff is for the birds! I have been feeling lonely lately, sad, and a bit depressed. I guess that's all normal when your children leave the "coop". Now, onto the update. Elizabeth, my 20 year old daughter, who will be 21 in September, moved out of the house last year to an apartment here in Las Vegas.  In January, of this year, she moved to Austin, Texas, and is now attending The University of Texas at Austin. This is her 3rd year in collage, but first year in Austin.  Although I am super, super, super proud of her, I sure wish she lived closer to me, and secretly, wish she enrolled at The University of Nevada,  Las Vegas (UNLV). But, wherever she may be, I support her choices 100%. She is also engaged to her fiancé, Evan. The wedding is set for October 10, 2015. The picture below is of Elizabeth that she snapped of herself a few days ago. I thought this picture was terrific, I had to share with the world! 

Now, onto my son, Brendan. He's 18 years old, and just graduated high school in June. My other child I am so proud of.  Brendan has made great progress with his social anxiety, and even went to his senior prom with his friend, Roxane. He sure looked dapper that night! Elizabeth came down for his graduation, and took Brendan back with her for a few weeks. Well, here we are, almost 2 months later, and he's still in Texas with her and her fiancé. He just broke the news to Paul (husband) and I, that he wants to stay out there to look for a job, and start college next semester. Again, although, I'm proud of him, right now I have to say, I'm a little upset. I know he's an adult, but I feel selfish and feel like I should still be making his plans for him. I planned on him getting a part time job here in Vegas, while attending college here in the state. That would have been easier for him as he cannot afford to pay for out of state tuition, and I sure don't want him burying himself in student loans/debt at such a young age. We shall see what the future brings. The picture below is of Brendan on his prom night. 

I sure as heck miss my children so much! They are all I've ever "known" these past 20 years. That's half my life. So, now that Paul and I are empty nesters, you'd figure we'd be busy with each other, and travel, and do what we want, but life for some reason doesn't work out like that, or the way you think it should. We do have plans to travel, but that's months away. We have been fixing up the house, and trying to get used to being alone. As of last week, July 26, I am officially unemployed. My employer eliminated a few departments, and my department happened to be one of them. I feel lost without working even though I wished for years I would get laid off so I can have time to craft and bake and clean and.........you know, all the domestic stuff. On a positive note, I have been cooking more, and started Weight Watchers. I have so much weight to lose, which is another contributing factor to my depression I'm feeling at the moment. Since starting only 5 days ago, I can honestly say, it's easier getting around, and my feet and ankles aren't swollen anymore. I know I've lost weight, I can feel it. I will see on Monday's weigh day. Below is a picture of a healthier, low carb pizza I made for Paul and I. I need to watch carbs since I am now pre-diabetic.

Cooking healthier sure is fun once you get into it. I will blog about the pizza and recipe another day with an instruction video. So, stay tuned for that!

That is my life update for now. I'm hoping to join a few groups with other mothers who are newly empty nesters in my area, or a crochet group. Now is the time take care of me, and have fun. Just need to get over this hump first. 

Until next time,  enjoy yourself and be well.....

Learning to Make Picture Videos

I just learned to make picture videos in Microsoft Movie Maker, and upload them to YouTube. I made my first movie using a few of my finished crochet projects. I plan on making lots more. These projects in this video are mostly potholders I made in the last year. I have many more, but didn't want to make the video longer than it is already. I didn't want to bore anyone.

The last time I blogged (New Year's), I said I was going to blog more. Well, it's been 7 months, and I haven't blogged once!

Click to enlarge

Let's see, what have I been up to? Well, of course, crocheting. I am working on some dishcloths right now for a swap on Ravelry. This is another swap that takes place once a year. You make 5, send them in and receive 5 from people around the world.  I have a really cute pattern, that's turning out really good. I have 3 down, two more to go. I don't want to post it yet because I want to be the only one to use it, and don't want someone else stealing it, haha. I was going to go with this pattern ->

that I have used before when making dishcloths and potholders, but then wanted to try something different. I will post them once I'm done.
Other than that, I've just been working and hanging with the family.

The weather here in Vegas hasn't been too bad this summer. It was actually cold for a few days in June, which is really weird. We've also had some major thunderstorms and flooding around the valley. When it rains, my kids love to play out in it with their umbrellas and love to get soaked, even though they're (almost) 17 and 14 years old.  They act like little kids, ha. I took this picture of  Elizabeth and Brendan standing in the middle of the storm last Sunday while my husband and I lounged in the garage.  I don't know if you can see, but Eddie, our dog is under the umbrella with them.

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 Rain is really cool, and it makes us all feel calm and happy. We hardly get rain here, so when it does rain, it's like breaking news on CNN.






There was also another big swap on Ravelry in April. It was the Annual Potholder Swap that a couple of members host, that has been going on for a few years now. I missed last year's, and was glad to be a part of this one. These are the ones I sent in with the Las  Vegas postcards. On the back, I wrote the name of the pattern, the type of yarn/cotton I used, the hook size and care instructions.

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And...these are the ones I received.

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I guess that's it for now.  Will be back in a few days to post my dishcloths.

New Year 2011

Wow, can you believe the year 2011, is here? My, my, my, how time flies. Today is January 5th, 2011, and I had planned on blogging every day starting on January 1, but you know how that goes. I had a monthly visitor that just so happened to arrive on the freaking 2nd, and you know before that visitor comes, how it can make you feel. Tired, lazy, depressed, anxious and have insomnia. I'm feeling better now. I just love PMDD.

My mother-in-law, and her friend Rita, came for Christmas, and are still here. They arrived a little late due to the airports being closed down in the UK. They got here on Christmas day. We had a really nice one. I made lots of food, and the house was decorated really nice. We had dinner, opened presents, and relaxed a bit before going over to my grandmother's house to visit her and my mom. They were unable to come as my grandmother is in a wheel chair now, and rarely wants to leave home.

On New Year's day, we stayed home, as we do not party or drink, and hate crowds, so mum-in-law, just bought lots of finger foods, and boy, were they good. We also had some (fake) champagne, haha. apple cider. The kids, had a good time. When it was time to ring in the new year, we drove down the street to the park to watch the fireworks that were on the strip, just as we do every year. They were actually pretty boring zzZZZzzzZZZzz.

Since I last blogged, I have made a few more crocheted items, which of course, I will post pictures of. I made my mom and my mother in law two lovely blankets, and made some potholders as usual.

Well, that's all for now. Will blog more later. I know no one is reading this, but this is actually for my own personal use. For some kind of therapy and a relaxer sort of.

Enjoy the pictures.

Potholder Swap Group

I received these potholders a couple of weeks ago from the ladies in the same group I'm in on Ravelry. We swap 4 times a year, and I can't wait for the next one, as I'm learning new patterns and not just making the double thick crochet. pattern I have been using for friends and family.

These are the ones I sent.

My Gehaekelte Topflappen (potholder) interpretation

Pictures can be clicked on to make picture bigger. If you just want the written out directions, scroll down, pass the pictures.

Tools:


Starting: Ch 6*
*Correction! Picture shows 7, but should be Ch 6

Join

Row 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc throughout pattern)
11 Dc into ring = 12 dc

Join

Row 2: Ch 3

Make dc into same stitch

2 dc into next dc, continue to end = 24 stitches


Row 3: same as row 2 = 48 dc, join


Row 4: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and 1 ch)

Dc into same stitch

*Sk 2, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc*

Repeat from * to end join


Row 5: sl st in ch 1 sp

Ch 3

1 dc, ch 1, 2 dc

2 dc, ch 1, 2dc, in next ch 1 sp. Repeat * to the end

Row 6: Sl st in ch 3, sl st in next dc

sl st in ch 1 sp.
ch 3, 1 dc, ch 1, 2 dc in sp. 2 dc, ch 1, 2dc, in next ch 1 sp Repeat to end in all ch 1 spaces.


Row 7: sl st in ch 3, sl st in next dc, sl st in ch 1 sp. Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc.

*3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc into next ch 1 sp. Repeat * to end.

Row 8: sl st in next 2 dc & ch 1 sp. Repeat row 7.

Row 9: 8 dc in each ch 1 sp, join.

Finishing: ch 1 sc in next 7 & in space between shells, ch 1

Sc down, toward center. Ch 1 before solid part of potholder, take hook out, insert upwards through solid part.

Pull up loop, ch 1, repeat going up. Sc in next 8 dc of shell. Repeat


Ch 6, join
Row 1: ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), make 11 dc in ring = 12 dc.
Row 2: ch 3, make dc into same stich. 2dc into each of next, join to ch 3 = 24 dc
Row 3: ch 3 same as row 2 = 48 stitches, join to ch 3.
Row 4: ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1), dc into same stitch, sk 2 dc, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc into next. Continue to end, join.
Row 5: sl st in ch 1 sp. Ch 3, 1 dc, ch 1, 2 dc. In next ch 1 sp, 2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc. Continue to end.
Row 6: sl st in ch 3, sl st in dc and in ch 1 sp, repeat row 5.
Row 7: sl st in ch 3 sp, sl stich in dc, sl st in ch 1 sp. ch 3, d dc, ch 1, 3 dc. 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc into next ch 1 sp Continue to end. Sl st in ch 3.
Row 8: Sl st in next 2 dc, repeat row 7.
Row 9: 8 dc in ea ch 1 sp, join.
Finishing: Ch 1, single crochet in next 7 dc and in space between shells. Ch 1, sc down towards center, ch 1 repeat just before reaching solid part of potholder. Take hook out, insert upwards in solid part of potholder, pull up a loop, sc. Ch 1, repeat going up. SC in next 8 dc, and repeat to end.