Saturday, March 29, 2014

Busy Weeks



Just because it remains cold and the weather outside is so unpredictable it doesn't mean that you can't bring some cheer indoors. In my travels through blog land I have seen a few versions of afghans/blankets that sport rows of flowers. I spent a whole evening looking and ran across this one which is called "Flowers in a Row". It is a free pattern on the www.redheart.com site. I am way past due to donate to the Guardian Grandmas and so will be sending this to Debi.


The original pattern is for a full-sized afghan but I made it smaller for a baby. There was no hat to go along with it so I winged it and made one to match. I think it turned out pretty good considering there weren't any instructions.

 
I used the same color scheme but for the hat I put only 2 rows of antique white between the flower rows.


The border on the blanket is with the pattern. It is nice and simple and goes fairly fast. Heck, the whole blanket went fast. I only repeated the color scheme 3 times. The instructions are easy to follow.


The brim of the hat can be folded over twice for a newborn baby or let down to accommodate a bit older baby.


Would I make this again, yes I would. The over all design reminds me of rows of tulips. I used worsted weight yarn from my stash. I did my own color scheme rather than use theirs. I just went with the colors you would normally see in tulips. I am thinking a pretty variegated yarn would make a pretty change.What follows are just some pictures of the blanket as it progressed. I might add that it is so close to being reversible too, which is nice.








I am presently working on another crocheted baby blanket. It is a Lion Brand pattern and another freebie. I will share all that info with you when it is completed. I will also be sending that one to Debi.

Now for what else has been going on around here. The weather is warming up a bit and then we have a blast of more cold and snow flurries. Last week on 2 separate days we got an inch of snow and by late afternoon it was all melted off. A week ago Friday I got stubborn and went out to my 2 apple trees with a bow saw and I trimmed both tree branches to about a foot above my head. My brother with a chain saw would have taken all of 15 minutes doing a job that took me 2 hours. I got myself a nice fall in the mud when I got my foot snagged on one of the branches on the ground. I was not hurt, just my pride and as far as I know, no one was around to see me although I'm sure to someone it would have been a Kodak moment. Dragging the tree limbs to the garden (where they will eventually be burned) was gonna have to wait. I promptly went into the house and called my brother who has promised to trim those trees, letting him know that the job was done and he could cross that chore off of the "TO DO LIST FOR SUE". He did come the next day to help me drag limbs to the garden, but arrived when there was just one left to do. He started up the chain saw and chopped the limbs down to a more manageable state. They are too wet to burn now. Maybe mid summer will be a good time for that.

Then I finally got a hold of a local contractor to put new roofs on the out buildings. I am also going to have them sided so that I don't have to worry about scraping and painting at a later time. The shed will get new doors too. Basically both buildings will get a face lift and so I won't have to worry about them anymore while I am still able to live here. The entire cost is a pretty penny, but there is no price for peace of mind. I am also in the process of selling off my husband's wood working equipment, that is a tearful job. The wood burning stove in the wood shop is sold too. I would like to one day put a vent less propane heater in that building and set up my quilting machine. That is all in the future and right now in the dream stage. So, what is new with all of you? I promised not to get behind on reading blogs but I don't see much reading going on in the next couple of weeks. Although I do not like working on Sundays, the contractors plan on starting in the morning. The dumpster and the supplies were delivered this morning. I am still baby sitting for my grandson and have to have some oral surgery done on Tuesday. I have a full week and pray the weather cooperates so that all this outside renovation goes smoothly and can be done as time permits. Hope all of you are doing well. Bless you and yours ♥

7 comments:

  1. Hello my dear friend.. I am so impressed with your flower blanket.. I've seen a few out there in blog land and I'm determined to make one myself someday. You sure are busy doing things.. I'm excited for you to get that work done. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  2. You did great on that Flowers in a Row baby blanket! It's really cute with the hat. Someone will be grateful for it. I have started that pattern at least twice, but end up never picking it up again. I'm bad about that. I just used that pattern a few days ago attempting to make a new pencil jar cover. I used worsted, and the holes in the pattern were just too big and it didn't look right after I got it finished and tried it on. Hated it. I ended up making a plain old hdc striped one. Hope the weather holds up for you this week! Oral surgery? Bleh! Hope it goes well for you. Thanks for all your comments! I had fun reading them all a few minutes ago. :)

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  3. It must be very hard letting your dear husbands things go but your lovely memories will remain no one can ever take those away and they will always remain priceless to you.

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  4. Hellooooo Susanne! I have been reading and catching up with you! As you know, I have been gone for some time, to help my Mom. I want to first off, thank you for your prayers. She is doing great! Far better than any of us anticipated!!! What a relief!!!
    Your two recent afghans are beautiful! I love the tulip look of the most recent!!! And the sweet doll sweater...ah swoon!!! Now for your do it yourself tree trimming. I want to tell you, I am the same way. I am a hard working gal, and I still think I am 25 and can do anything! I fall all the time. I get hurt. I bleed, and sometimes get stitches! Also, I am a klutz. I fell walking to the car in my Mom' driveway on the morning of her surgery. Arms full of bags and coffee....down I went, arse over teakettle, rolling along the concrete. Coffee everywhere, scraped knuckles, and skinned knees!!! Geez!!!! We laughed, and laughed, though. I claimed to have done it on purpose to ease the nervousness for my Mom!!!!
    Good luck with your home improvements! Sounds nice! And your little one...oh he is a dolly. Handsome boy!!!
    Hugs,
    Kris

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  5. I absolutely LOVE that pattern! I made a hand warmer from it awhile ago...did you see that "a" hand warmer. Only one. Decided I didn't like the look of it on the hand...kinda thick and stumpy...and I was disappointed because I just love the look of the pattern! Your blanket and hat are wonderful, someone us going to be thrilled! All your yard work...you and I would be good neighbors...I'm a get it done girl...and get a little annoyed when a man shows up at the end to "help". Glad the roll in the mud didn't hurt you! Be careful, girl! Your contractor work is inspiring me to think about new doors for our shed...we sooooooo need to do that! You'll love that siding! Scrape and paint...thankless job in your neck of the woods with the weather extremes. Msg me is true here! The sun is out here this week with warm temps and I can't wait! I have about one third of the yard to clean up after the fall/winter onslaught...that's happening this week! I don't like mess on the ground, it gives the tics a place to hide and then they get on my dogs! No likeeeeeeee! Have a good week...you are a strong being, my friend. You're healing and moving forward, I hear it in your words...never forgetting...but living life...and that's a good thing. Hugs and love...A.

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  6. Beautiful africans, as my dear ole Grandmother used to say. No, she meant no disrespect, just couldn't get around the word afghans...after all, she'd heard of Africa but not Afghanistan. Trust me, it makes weird sense, somehow.
    Saw your comment at Maas and wanted to visit; you struck a chord with me. Dave died 11/11 and it's been a total struggle but God is called upon daily, sometimes hourly, and we've managed thus far. Not without, I should add, also a lot of whining and complaining but mostly prayer. Have to admit, I'm exhausted most of the time and the to-do list grows while I sleep.

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  7. these are sooooo beautiful! congratulations!

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