The News From Lake Wobegon...Where the women are strong, the men are good looking, and all of the children are above average

A few things to report...

I received email notification that I had been accepted into the fiber RAOK ring and invited to join the group on Yahoo! That was pretty exciting. Too bad it has come at a time when I can't really be a RAOKer. But, things will change. I adore this concept. I recently shipped out my first RAOK package via Crochetville. That really gave me the warm and fuzzies. The recipient said that it really made for a bright ending to a rather crappy week of dealing with loved ones in the hospital. I totally know where she's coming from and I'm so glad I could do my little part.

My mother-in-law somehow inherited a bunch of 100% wool yarn a few years back. She isn't sure what to do with it and has offered it to me. Of course I jumped on it! I should be able to get my eager hands on it the next time they visit which should be in May...I think. The yarn has a really interesting history. Apparenty, someone bought it in Greece or Italy for a pretty little penny years ago. Of course this story came to me via my husband who isn't quite the fiber enthusiast that I am and I'm not celar on all the details. Stay tuned as the story unfolds.

Speaking of fibers and my inlaws...Jill (the mother-in-law) sent a nice birthday package for me a few days ago. In it were 4 skeins of yarn! It came a few weeks late because they thought my birthday was the 24th instead of the 7th! It's the thought that counts, right? I wasn't upset, after the 21st birthday what else is there to look forward to besides retirement? Anyhoo, I got 2 skeins each of TLC Essentials yarn in "Ranch Red" and "High Plains". These are the missing pieces to my future afghan puzzle. I didn't have enough complimentary yarns to make an afghan until now! It will give me something to keep myself busy while Nathaniel is away.

I really hate to be a party pooper. My mind has been a buzz lately. I'm glad...VERY glad Nathaniel has found work but I'm not looking forward to his time away from us. I feel like I'm in mourning. The optimist in me can see all the good things, but the realist in me sees the hard times ahead. I don't like to babble about my personal life on this blog. However, I feel that I owe it to my reader(s) to explain any past or future failures to post. If your interested in reading about my little pity parties visit my other blog

...Moving Along...

I was perusing Amazon this morning searching for any and all things related to doilies. If you remember, in a previous post I stated that I'm currently obsessed with the little thread creations. I came across a cute little book called Crochet Jar Doilies. It is a book of patterns to make toppers for canning jars. My husband and I are big canning supporters and I'm really excited about being able to personalize some of the jars we will give away. Plus it really put me in the mood for Spring! We've already got some tomatoes and carrots in the ground. Mmmmm mmm mmm t-o-m-a-t-o-e-s!!

And so, dear reader(s) I will leave you with a lyric from one of "our songs" for my husband and me...

"There's nothing in the world that I like better than bacon and lettuce and
homegrown tomatoes....Only two things that money can't buy and that's true
love and homegrown tomatoes."

~Homegrown
Tomatoes by John Denver

Happy St. Valentine's Day!

My Valentine was super sweet to me. I don't expect anything special for Valentine's Day simply because I think that love should be expressed throughout the year. However, yesterday, my husband handed me some money, took my son, and said those words every fiber addict/tired housewife loves to hear, "GO BUY SOME YARN!!" While I was away he cleaned the entire house, did the laundry, washed the dishes, and when I returned he had a 4 course dinner ready! Yes ladies, I am lucky and I know it! I ended up at AC Moore where I purchased 8 skeins of Patons Classic Merino Wool (on sale!) 2 skeins each in Leaf Green, Royal Purple, Rich Red, and Black; size D & E hooks, and 2 skeins of Lion Brand Magic Stripes in Denim Stipe. The Patons will be made into a bag which will then be fulled. The Magic Stipes is trying to become some socks, but we're not getting along too well at the moment! It's a beautifully rainy day here...I know what I'll be doing!

I Have Angel Droppings All Over Me!!!

I'm on a good crochet vibrations high!! Yesterday I posted my to Later that day, my Fairy Godmother gifted me with a gift certificate to Adagio. The most amazing thing is that I hadn't put that on my wishlist, but I was secretly wanting some. I have never had gourmet tea before and I certainly don't know how to brew loose leaf teas but by golly I'm going to learn. THANK YOU SO MUCH FAIRY GODMOTHER!!! Honestly, the generosity and kindness that I have encountered at Crochetville is absolutely breath taking. Seriously. So often these days people in this society expect the worse from others instead of the best, I'll be the first to admit that I do it myself. That is really sad. Just another reason why...

I CROCHETVILLE!!

In my email inbox this morning was the latest issue of I really like some of the projects in there. I always like something that they have to offer. It is a most excellent publication!! (<--did you catch my ode to the 80s?)

Last night, out of the blue, my husband handed me a credit card and demanded that I blow 40 bucks!! I accepted his challenge without hesitation!! What a sweetheart, no? I've decided to buy yarn. Now here, dear reader, is where I ask for your help. Do you know of a place either online or a chain store where you always get oyur money's worth of yarn? What is your favorite yarn? I found this site viathis site via the latest CrochetMe issue. The prices seem to be really good, plus you get a BAG of up to 10 skeins. Is this a good deal? What's your opinion? I'm still a newbie and I'm not yet clear on yarns (ie, quality, what a good deal and what isn't, what's so bad about acrylics, etc.)

Well, I guess that's all for now...

Holy Pillowghans Batman!!!

Ok, so I've been going about my life like usual, but today was different...today I saw the light!! Yes, dear reader, I have discovered PILLOWGHANS!!!! I've heard of them before but never thought to investigate. This was the beacon of enlightenment that I followed!!

Go ahead, click on it...you know you want to!! Ok...for those of you who didn't click, I'll tell you what a pillowghan is. A pillowghan is an afghan that can be folded until it "disappears" into a pillow. I'm thinking of adding a pouch to the one I foresee myself creating so that it is tucked away and makes a real pillow. I feel so free!! Geez, I'm a dork! At any rate, I think this is such an ingenious idea and I cannot wait to start on a few.

In other awesome crochet news... I recently posted to my local Freecycle group that I was searching for yarn...here's my post as it appears on the message board...

" Do you have an old stash of yarn that is just in the way/weird colors/out-of-control? Is your grandmother drowning in a sea of yarn? Well then, I'm your girl! I am in search of yarn...any size, color,or amount. Thank you for taking the time to read this...hope to hear from you soon!!!"

I thought it was fairly catchy and cute. And guess what...IT WORKED!!!! I received a lovely email from a fellow crocheter who has put down the hook to focus on a candle making business. She said that she had patterns, yarns, etc. all taking up precious space!! I told her that I would be happy to give any unwanted items a good home. We're supposed to set up a time this week for the handing over of the goodies. I am in crocheters heaven!!!

What else might make this day totally kick ass?! Today is my son's 2nd birthday!! I LOVE birthday's and I love spoiling my son...well, at least one day out of the year!! He is a real sweetheart and I am totally in love with him!! I mean who wouldn't be...look at those eyes!!

Back In The Saddle Again

So, my crocheting has slowed a bit since Christmas. I'm sure I am not alone. I'm starting to miss it so I figure it's time to get back in the saddle again. Today I started on a ripple afghan. I like it pretty well but it's eating more yarn than I'd like for it to. I'm going to frog it and go with a pattern that looks really nice in my head and shouldn't eat up too much yarn. It's cheap-o yarn (gasp!) but that's all my budget will allow. We've got to eat, too...not just have pretty afghans to look at! HA!! Oh if I had a million dollars... ...I'd probably still think that the grass was greener on the other side!! Besides, it's nice to treat myself. Of course, I haven't been crocheting very long at all and I just recently discovered that there were different "classes" of yarns out there. I always thought that yarn was yarn. Then I went to AC Moore and saw that there are yarns out there that cost more than $20!!! Yes, I saw the light that day. Whoa, now I'm drooling...I am truely a yarn addict!

sweaters peas and nostrils

So I've been taking apart a sweater that I purchased from Express several years ago. It's very bulky and makes me look pregnant. In fact, I was very pregnant when I bought it. Anyhoo, I like the yarn, so I'm recycling it...how very cool of me, no? It's a slow process, but hopefully it will be worth it. I think I may crochet myself a poncho. Or not. I'm not sure. If I had a digital camera I'd post a pic, but I don't, so I can't, therefore I won't.

...IN OTHER NEWS...

I realize that this next piece of news has nothing to do with crochet, however, this is my blog!! Today I became the proud owner of a classic "Things Little Boys Do" story. You see, lately my son has discovered his nose and the holes in his nose and he's become quite fascinated with it all. This afternoon at lunch he figured out that fingers are not the only things that fit nicely in those holes. My son stuffed a pea into his nostril!!!! We aren't sure if there was only one, either. He hasn't had any difficulty breathing so we haven't taken him to the doctor or anything like that. I always knew growing up that any kid of mine would probably be the kind that did weird stuff like that. Not that I ever did....but I knew that's how karma would work. At least there's never a dull moment around here!!