Crocheting so I kill anxiety??? Not people.

      It's been to long since I picked up a crochet hook and became a dedicated hooker again.  I figured out the streets weren't for me, sitting at a desk, watching a T.V. show and mindlessly keeping my hands occupied.  Honestly, it's been helping me with a lot of anxiety, just being able to accomplish something (anything at all).   I decided to make a shawl/wrap and it just kept going after that.  I've made shawls upon shawls.   I am even thinking about making one for my dog lol. 

I will post a picture of my dog if I do make her one (what am I kidding myself, I will)!!!
 

 

Somewhere over the rainbow bridge, the Daisy blossoms!

 

Somewhere, over the rainbow bridge,

there my little Daisy blooms.   In the

midst of the bright blue sky, where

the clouds pass her by!   

Oh what a paradise,  free of the

sorrows only this world can 

bring.   

     Daisy came into my life when I went on my journey of independence as a young adult.  I got her at four months old, she was found by a trash dumpster.   The little cat won me over by purring the first time I ever held her.  My heart melted and I couldn't leave her behind.   I promised to take care of her to the best of my abilities.   These little creatures have such a profound impact on your life, your mood, your mental health.   I still sleep with my arm outstretched, because she used to curl up in my armpit and sleep.   I still remember how when I used to crochet, she would constantly attack the yarn.   She never bit me either, and I will never forget how she was such a good pet.   

     My husband and I moved to a new apartment, three years later.   We had a balcony with a big sliding door and she would love to watch the birds.   In fact, she would come out of nowhere, and would try to attack them through the window.  Thus the name "Catalope" was given to her, and I loved it so much I made it my user name for just about everything I do on the internet.   

     Unfortunately, due to the recklessness of some people in July, a huge fire broke out in our apartment complex while we were away with family.  Fortunately, she was not harmed, but she was not the same after all of that.   She wouldn't come out from hiding and we decided it was best to move her to another home.   My mother took over care for her, and that is where she remained until her last day here on earth.   

     I just wanted to tell her story here, because even though she was just an animal, she was a blessing and I will still think about her for the rest of my life.   My sweet little Daisy.

New year, newish hobby.

 

Not really into some of the things I used to be into!

     I really don't understand people who can continue doing the same craft/hobby for years on end. I think that is why I am on burnout with crochet. It's been several years, but hey, I still love the craft. I've been trying other things over the years. Hair, makeup, adult coloring books, and my latest obsession, diamond paintings.

Diamond Painting

     Yeah, I am crazy enough to spend hours sticking dots to a canvas. It isn't any differen than painting by numbers. I was just thinking about the above statement and decided that I am going to embrace all the things that bring me joy. 

     If you want to catch me on TikTok, check out the new link on the left side bar!!!

Hello Strangers.... I didn't die.

     So it's been a couple years since I posted anything on this blog.  I don't even know where to start, besides the fact that two years ago I went through this weird transition in life.  Do you want to call it a midlife crisis?  Go ahead, I was 36 and trying to accept myself and not hate myself.   I started with nail polish, hair dye, new clothes, etc.   Then I mysteriously started to lose weight, and I thought it was great.   I was getting all these compliments, but I wasn't even trying to do it.  I wouldn't know why for another two years.   

     My church decided to shut down and the pastor's moved out of state.   I began to hate the apartment that I had been living in since late 2007.   It changed owners so many times, they lost their standards, let in the rift raft.   I got no sleep because all I could smell was marijuana in my apartment.  Had constant battles with sinus issues.  Not being able to freaking sleep well every night, because people were doing weird crap in the parking lot or loud music or getting in fights.   That last year, I had to call the police atleast every other week.  It was getting real old, and my depression was raging.  Then I had an epiphany, nobody is going to make me happy but by my choice alone.   Covid-19 only made the time alone  in my apartment worse.   

     So I started to look for homes to buy.   It was a tough process, because  it was a seller's market.  Houses would literally be listed and bought the same day.  That is how we got ours.   We bid on more than one house, but ultimately we got the house that suited our needs.  We did all this amid a pandemic and it wasn't easy but we got it all done.   I wasn't pregnant this time either.   HAHAHA.  We moved into the apartment when I was pregnant with my son.   

     This house has been a fresh start we needed, a lot less stressful, and the best decision we have ever made.  We were finally in a neighborhood that I could feel safe walking around in.   Which is what we did.  Well, until this past Oct when I rolled my ankle off the sidewalk and fractured my bone.   I heard it, and it sounded just like a branch being snapped.  Shivers.   I had to walk home on that foot, we went to Urgent Care, and eventually I ended up in Orthopedics.  Thank God it wasn't to bad, didn't need a cast.   In November, we had Thanks Giving.   It was nice, but we still could only have one person over.  December rolls around and the three of us contracted COVID.   

     All these people who preach that it's just a "bad flu" have never had it.   It sucks, it plays mind games with you.  My husband never got back all of his ability to smell.   Oh and back in May, I am pretty sure my grandmother died from it.  I was also hearing of friends losing their spouses.   It broke my heart, especially when they had been with them for decades.   Sometimes I wonder why I cry for people, but I have empathy I guess.  You hate to see people suffer.  

     In November we decided to add a dog to the family.  Her name is Dot, she's a pitbull and has the most sweetest personality.  She's most definitely, fit for us.

   I started having this issue where my feet would burn and itch, and at night they would feel like they were wrapped in ice.   I finally went to get it checked out.  I had diabetes type 2.  Thus the reason for the sudden weight loss, high blood pressure, high blood sugar.   I was going to appointments every other day for awhile.   It made me so depressed, and I could hardly stand myself.   My husband was there for me, and I don't know what I would do without him.  It was scary, because they told me, that based off my medical history, I've been like this for two years unchecked.  They checked my heart, my kidney, and put me on all these meds.

     I feel much better now.  Just felt the need to write it all out, so I could stop thinking about it.  

 

I crocheted a thing! It's been awhile lol.

New egg.

I crocheted this egg, to replace the one below.  Don't let the fresh looking egg below make you wonder.   It has been on my fridge for almost nine years and was nice and dirty!

Old egg magnet.

Pinkhairdontcare!

So I decided to try something crazy.   I bleached my hair and then I went pink.  I actually kind of really like this!  :)

Nothing much has been going on in my life.  I seem to have taken a very long break from crochet.   I have been trying other hobbies, like nail care and hair dye.   I have found the joy of actually making myself feel good by choosing to do things for myself.  Even if they are as simple as coloring my hair.

I don't even mind getting stared at in public anymore.  It's as if people have never seen a person with colored hair!  Hah.

Purple is my favorite color!

So I dyed my hair lol!

It took two attempts, but I got it.

What did I learn?  It's silly to be afraid of doing something different, because you might find that it's incredibly satisfying to do!   

Diamond Minecraft Sword (Knitting Pattern)

Chart at bottom of pattern!

BS = Border Stitch
K = Knit
P = Purl
CO = Cast On

Size 5 or 4 knitting needles 

Cotton Yarn

CO 46 Stitches (BS is included in count)
*You can use whatever border you like, just make it 4ST wide.* 

Rows 1-4: K4 rows of any BS (I used K,P and P,K for alternate rows)

Row 5: (BS4) K38 (BS4)

Row 6: (BS4) P38 (BS4)

Row 7: (BS4) K38 (BS4)

Row 8: (BS4) P29,K6, P3 (BS4)

Row 9: (BS4) K3,P6,K29 (BS4)

Row 10: (BS4) P29,K2,P2,K2,P3 (BS4)

Row 11: (BS4) K3,P2,K2,P2,K29 (BS4)

Row 12: (BS4) P15,K4,P8,K2,P2,K4,P3 (BS4)

Row 13: (BS4) K3,P4,K2,P2,K8,P4,K15 (BS4)

Row 14: (BS4) P15,K2,P2,K4,P2,K2,P2,K2,P7 (BS4)

Row 15: (BS4) K7,P2,K2,P2,K2,P4,K2,P2,K15 (BS4)

Row 16: (BS4) P17,K2,P4,K2,P2,K2,P9 (BS4)

Row 17: (BS4) K9,P2,K2,P2,K4,P2,K17 (BS4)

Row 18: (BS4) P19,K4,P2,K2,P11 (BS4)

Row 19: (BS4) K11,P2,K2,P4,K19 (BS4)

Row 20: (BS4) P17,K2,P4,K2,P2,K2,P9 (BS4)

Row 21: (BS4) K9,P2,K2,P2,K4,P2,K17 (BS4)

Row 22: (BS4) P15,K2,P6,K2,P2,K2,P9 (BS4)

Row 23: (BS4) K9,P2,K2,P2,K6,P2,K15 (BS4)

Row 24: (BS4) P13,K2,P6,K2,P2,K2,P2,K2,P7 (BS4)

Row 25: (BS4) K7,P2,K2,P2,K2,P2,K6,P2,K13 (BS4)

Row 26: (BS4) P11,K2,P6,K2,P6,K4,P7 (BS4)

Row 27: (BS4) K7,P4,K6,P2,K6,P2,K11 (BS4)

Row 28: (BS4) P9,K2,P6,K2,P19 (BS4)

Row 29: (BS4) K19,P2,K6,P2,K9 (BS4)

Row 30: (BS4) P7,K2,P6,K2,P21 (BS4)

Row 31: (BS4) K21,P2,K6,P2,K7 (BS4)

Row 32: (BS4) P5,K2,P6,K2,P23 (BS4)

Row 33: (BS4) K23,P2,K6,P2,K5 (BS4)

Row 34: (BS4) P3,K2,P6,K2,P25 (BS4)

Row 35: (BS4) K25,P2,K6,P2,K3 (BS4)

Row 36: (BS4) P3,K2,P4,K2,P27 (BS4)

Row 37: (BS4) K27,P2,K4,P2,K3 (BS4)

Row 38: (BS4) P3,K6,P29 (BS4)

Row 39: (BS4) K29,P6,K3 (BS4)

Row 40: P38

Row 41: K38

Row 42: P38

Row 43 - 46: BS

Cast Off.


CHART PATTERN IS WRITTEN FROM:

Click to enlarge.

Dishcloths, dishcloths, dishcloths.. and more dishcloths! :)

One day I got bored and as I stared aimlessly into my yarn stash, I saw that I had many odd balls of cotton yarn that were not being used!   So I turned them into a franken-ball of yarn!  Ultimately, it lead to my marathon dishcloth knitting extravaganza.

And now I have a tower of dishcloths, made of scrap yarn and I am not ashamed of myself...... *sigh*....  Then I went to the new Hobby Lobby that opened up on my side of town.   Did I mention that they had nice 40-50% sales!  So what logic did I do?  I bought more yarn of course!  I wanted to try out their brand of cotton yarn.  The only thing that pisses me off about this yarn is the difference in yardage between verigated yarn and non-verigated.  You get less yarn if you buy verigated.  BOOOOOOOOO!

Unlike Michael's (SHADE SHADE SHADE) this sale extended to the coloring books, so I picked up this book for roughly $7!  :)

Then I began knitting another dishcloth with the Hobby Lobby cotton!  It feels less dry then Lilly's Sugar and Cream.

Here is my stitch porn.... hahahahaha.

Well, I have nothing else to say.  Enjoy.

Got these for V-Day 2018, from my husband!  

And this is from the kid!  I can't believe he's a third grader now! :(

Fails at Knitting and Fish Friends

I knitted a hat, and it turned out like this! 

It was an attempt to match a scarf that I made the year before.  

So instead of just having a misshapen hat, I decided on just eliminating the entire mistake!

And now I can start all over!   This should be enough yarn, because the hat turned out way to big, so I should technically be fine.  

My betta fish has survived through a quarter of the year, and I am so happy I bought a heater for his tank (we live in Ohio).   I used to buy the tank and decorations, but I got him a heater, and it most definitely has prolonged his life.  The temperature is regulated and he's not getting sick all the time.

Homemade Lemonade

Mixed Berry Lemonade - Red, black, blue, and strawberries.

1C. White Sugar (or diet if you like)
1 1/2C. lemon juice (I just get the pre-squeezed stuff)
8-10oz. of frozen fruit (Strawberry, Mixed Berry, Cherries, etc.)
8c. Water

1. Mix 2c. of water with 1c. white sugar in a microwave safe dish and microwave for one minute.  Or if your fancy, melt the sugar and water mixture on the stove top and let cool completely.  

2.  While the sugar mixture (some fancy chefs call it "simple syrup," but I am not simple) cools, put another 2c. of water in a blender along with your frozen fruit and blend until it is a pulp (if your feeling fancy, strain that so the seeds are out, I personally don't care).

3.  Pour the fruit puree into the pitcher you will store your lemonade in.  Combine that with the sugar, remaining 6c. of water, and lemon juice.   

4. STIR THAT LEMONADE!!!  Then you taste it, and if you don't like it, add more of whatever you like, because it's your lemonade not mine.  :)

Mr. Peaches, a coloring page.

This is my latest coloring page, a betta fish, in honor of my betta fish!  :)

I don't know what else to say.  Crochet has kind of taken a back seat, and I am not really into it as much as I used to be.  It is still part of my life, I love making things, but there are other ways to make things too! :)  

Wally The Whale TP Cozy

Wally the Whale TP Cozy

Designed By Ivory Herman

© Ivory Herman 2010

Notes:  Fits toilet paper roll with measurements 4.5”W x 4.25”L

Materials:

·         Worsted weight blue, white, black.

·         Size G Hook

·         Tapestry Needles

SC  = Single Crochet	ST = Stitch
DC = Double Crochet	SC2TOG = Single Crochet 2 Together
MC = Magic Circle	BLO = Back Loop Only
BEG = Beginning
CH = Chain
SLPST = Slip Stitch
W/ = With

Body:  With G Hook and Blue Yarn

Row 1:  Ch 3, 12 DC in 3^rd CH from hook, join to the top of the starting CH 3 (Do not count CH3 as 1^st DC). (12)

Row 2:  CH3, 2DC in each ST around, join to beg CH 3 (24)

Row 3:  CH3, (DC, 2DC in next ST) around, join to BEG CH3. (36)

Row 4:  CH3, (DC2, 2DC in next ST) around, join to BEG CH3. (48)

Row 5:  Ch 3, in BLO DC around, join to top of beg ch 3. (48)

Row 6:  Ch 3, DC around, join to top of beg ch 3. (48)

Row 7-12:  Repeat round 6. (48)

Row 13:  Ch 2, sc around, join to ch 2, fasten off and weave in the ends. (48)

Tail Fin:  With G hook.  3sc in MC.

Round 1:         2sc in each ST around. (6)

Round 2 - 3:   SC around. (6)

Round 4:         1SC, 2SC in each ST around. (9)

Round 5 - 6:   SC in each ST around. (9)

Round 7:         SC2, 2SC in next ST around. (12)

Round 8-9:     SC in each ST around. (12)    

Round 10:       SC2TOG (3x) sc in rest of ST. (9)

Round 11:        SC2TOG (2x) only and then fasten off first part of fin.  Repeat Round 1-11, and fasten off.

Sew two fins together.

Tail:    6SC in MC.

Round 1-3:      SC in each ST around. (6)

Round 4:         1SC, 2SC in next ST around. (9)  Fasten off.  Sew the fin to the tail and sew tail to back of TP cozy.

Front Fins: 

Row 1:  Ch 3, 1 sc in 2^nd ch from hook and in 3^rd.

Row 2:  Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in each st across (4)

Row 3:  Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in 1^st st, 1 sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in last st. (6)

Row 4:  Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in 1^st st, 1 sc in next 4 st, 2 in last (8)

Row 5:  Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in 1^st st, 1 sc in next 6, 2 in last (10)

Row 6:  Ch 1, turn, sc across (10)

Row 7:  Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 6 st, sc2tog (8)

Row 8:  Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 4, sc2tog – fasten off, leaving a tail. (6)  Repeat second time and sew to sides of body.

Eyes:   With white yarn 6SC in MC

Round 1:         2SC in each ST around. (12)

Round 2:         SC around. (12)  Repeat for second eye.   Sew right above the front fins.

Iris of Eye:     6SC in MC, slpst to 1^st, fasten off.  Make two, and then sew to whites of eyes.

Embroider a mouth on front.  Insert toilet paper roll and enjoy! J

Just showing off some Whales in different colors.