Good People

Sometimes people come into your life at the most unexpected times.  They leave you with such a good feeling that you know you're going to be friends.  

It's when those people do something so nice for you, that you feel you must show them in a personal way, just how much you appreciate them being in your life.

I made this scarf for just one of those kind of people.  Thank you Christine G. for your kindness and sweet spirit.  You have been a breath of fresh air.  

I call it Pink Confetti.

New Blanket for Another New Baby! (To be determined!) :)

I had surgery in July and my surgeon's nurse Crystal is probably one of the sweetest people you'll meet.  She's always smiling, kind and very caring.  She's pregnant with her first baby and is due any day now (Oct 24, 2011).  When I saw her during my first followup she told me she didn't know what she was having as she and her husband wanted to be surprised.  I was so taken with her and her decision because I always thought the same thing.  We agreed there aren't enough "fun" surprises as we get older, so why not wait til the little one gets here. 

Since I didn't know exactly "who" is on their way, I decided I would go with the bright rainbow of primary colors.  I found a granny pattern similar to what I made here and adjusted it to what colors and yarn I had chosen to use.  I call it "Stained Glass Baby Blanket".

When I had my 3 month follow up appointment a couple of weeks ago, I gave her the blanket in a bright red bag with primary colored tissue papers.  She was so surprised and so genuinely happy.  She kept saying "I love it" and 'snuggled' with it and saying how soft it was.  She even said I'd made her day.  

And I can tell you, her reaction certainly made mine! 

Riley's Ripple

I'm finally posting the pics of  "Riley's Ripple"  the Pink and Brown Ripple I posted below.  Miss Riley Elizabeth was born on August 30, 2011 @10:45am.  She weighed 8 lbs. 6 oz.and was 21 inches long.  Her mommy and daddy are both police officers and I've been friends with her grandmother since we met 11 yrs ago. 

I found this ripple on a website after doing a search for a 'baby ripple'.  Bev's Baby Ripple Blanket 
I wanted something different for Riley because of the colors her mommy chose.  Instead of going with light pink, pink and brown I went with a total of 5 shades to keep it from looking like a slice if neopolitan ice cream. 

Although I did have to keep fighting the urge to grab a spoon!  :)

Precious: adj \ˈpre-shəs\ of great value

Simply precious.  

Miss Riley Elizabeth Robertson swaddled in her new pink and brown blanket.

A Dream, Yellow Rose Sunday

Early Sunday morning, the blues on public radio, coffee, newspaper, and a little bit of early morning crochet.  My 'dream' Sunday.  Griz and I were both up early, having coffee together while watching some DVR stuff, when Griz offered to go to the grocery store to get a few things for our lunch/dinner that day.  When he returned with the groceries he also came in hand with 1 1/2 dozen beautiful yellow roses.  They are, quite simply, gorgeous.  My dream Sunday came true, thanks to my dream husband. 

Happy 65th Birthday

One of my favorite co-workers just celebrated her 65th this past Tues, the 9th.  I've known this lady for over 11 yrs and have worked with her for most of those years in one job or this one.  I couldn't let her 'special' day go by without giving her a very hard time over it all. 

She's going to be a grandma for the first time in about 2 weeks to a precious baby girl, (Riley Elizabeth) so we're all very excited for her for many reasons!

Enjoy the photos of our little "Old Age" tribute!  LOL!!  Happy Birthday Sherry!  We love you!

Sherry's 65th Celebration

Dreaming of New Mexico - My WIP

The not so neat beginning of my version of the "Sonoran Desert"

Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm a HUGE fan of the New Mexican desert.  Especially the central/southern New Mexico desert and mountains.  The rocks, the mountains, the colors, the striations.  The beauty of its canvas runs along the backdrop of a blue sky that never ends.
 
I was on Amazon one day doing a crochet search of some kind and ran across this book. 

Big Book of Scrap Crochet Afghans by Carol Alexander 

I fell in love with the afghan on the cover the second I saw it.  It reminded me so much of the colors you see when you're driving through the deserts and mountains of New Mexico that I just had to have it.  Unfortunately it's out of print and only available from resalers.  I was shocked to see what sellers were asking for the book, but I persevered and waiting patiently.  I finally found it at a price that I didn't have to break the bank for and ordered it.  I've had it for quite some time now, but I'm finally taking the time to make it.  

I used the colors given in the book as a guide as I went to my stash closest and found 10 colors along the same path of the pattern.  I don't have quite as much of the red/orange in the picture, but my 10 colors are above.  The top strip of dk purple is the first color of the next section of colors.  

I can't wait to finish it and have it as my "go to blankie" for the winter!  I seem to always have one afghan or blanket each winter that I covet more than others.  I don't sit in our living room without one.  Especially if there's a roaring fire in the fireplace.  It's such a 'comfort' feeling for me.  The colors are so soothing to me, because I can't help but think of my favorite places in New Mexico.  

Oh, and the name of the afghan?  Quite appropriately, it's called the Sonoran Desert.  :)

Ahhhh, Flowers!

I just have to post these two bouquets, because they were both so very beautiful.  I had surgery on July 1st and the top bouquet was delivered to our home the week after.  They were from Julie and Randy, Med's boss and her husband.  They truly were gorgeous.  The colors were so soothing and the scents?  Well, let me just say that the combo of the hydrangeas and the roses, as well as the orchids, was something you just had to experience. 

The roses from Med were some of the most beautiful I'd ever seen.  They were all gorgeous but the lavender and orange ones really caught my fancy. He never ceases to amaze me.  He loves to bring me flowers!  I know, I know!  Poor me!  :)  And get this!  He does it, "just because"!!  He does it on all of the "must" days, which is huge as some of my gal pals tell me.   But he also does it 'just because' it's Thursday or 'just because' it's sunny that day.  He never has to do it and he knows this, so it makes it that much more special to me, because I know he 'wants to'.  

The third week I was recovering at home, he brought home another awesome bouquet of white roses and stargazer lilies.  He knows these are my favorite flowers of all time.  They were the flowers in my wedding bouquet way back on March 4, 2000. I've always loved them, so it was a natural choice to pick them for our wedding day. 

I just had to snap some pictures to remember their beauty and grace.   

It's been exactly one year!

Wow, it's exactly one year ago since I've posted here.  Very long year.  Lots of things happening and culminated in my having major surgery.  That's perhaps for another post. :) 

Two of my co-workers are having grand daughters this summer.  One is actually already here, a whole month early.  Mommy and Kaylyn Alyse Victoria are perfect.

Mommy chose "gerbera daisy" colors of yellow, pink, orange, green and purple.  When the yarns were delivered, it was soooooooo much fun opening the box!  All those colors were simply beautiful!

Below is the blanket that resulted from the array of bright and beautiful colors.  I got the pattern from Attic24's website.  Yes, another one.

Once I completed her bag My version of Attic24's bag  (see older post) I knew I was going to make this pattern.  Attic24's Granny Stripe  Her version is multicolor w/no pattern.  I thought about doing that w/these colors as well, but for a brand new baby, I wanted some "form" to the blanket.  I hope to go to the craft store tomorrow and get some matching ribbons to weave into the ending, hopefully to hide a few knots that I absolutely hate, but they weren't avoidable.

I hope you like it at least half as much as I had making it!  Gerbera Daisy Baby Blanket - July 2011