Sometimes...

 

 

 

 

 

 Sometimes soft yellow and gray do grow on you, especially when you've spent so much time with them. 

 

Sometimes home baking doesn't need to be beautiful or extravagant when little people just need a really chocolatey pick me up.  And who am I to argue over a bit of chocolate?

 

Sometimes we are a little tempted and we just give in and get our paws wet. 

 

Then we just wipe the chocolate off our faces, dry our paws, and pick out a new, inspiring color and head into tomorrow. 

 

xo

 

 



Enjoying Summer Crochet

 Good morning. 

It's been a lovely, (although strange), summer here in the valley. Normally by this time each year we are very dry and brown with loads of heat. This year has been much cooler and instead of heat, we have had loads of rain. I mean gully washer, downfall kinds of rain. It's really made it nice to spend more time outside, when it's not pouring, of course!

 

See this lovely chair?  Our wonderfully kind neighbors gifted us not one, but TWO sets of this wrought iron patio furniture.  I didn't know what to think when Hubby came home and unloaded all this furniture into the yard.  It's nice to have good folks who think of you, isn't it?  Major thanks are headed their way.  I only wish I knew what to give them in return.  What do you give people who have everything? 

 



 

This sweet pillow was found at a local consignment shop.  Another handmade goody full of gorgeous colors!  It looks very at home in this outdoorsy setting, don't you think?  I wish I had a set of these.  Maybe, just maybe, if I was really good with needle and thread I could make a copy of this beauty...  I can assure you I'm not all that good with needle and thread, but if time allows I may take a chance.

 

 

However, yarn is a different story.  I know exactly what to do with that!

 

 

I adore summery crochet apparel.  Sometimes I make things up as I go along, but very often I find a pattern that has something about it I love. 

 

Then I tweak it a bit to make it more 'me'. 

 



 

This is the Airy Lace Shell from Lionbrand. 

It's a free pattern, but you do have to sign in to access it. 

 

 

In pure Christina Fashion, I added a border all around to give it a little something more.  This is just an alternating scallop and 3dc cluster. 

 

I made it using Knit Pick's Comfy yarn.  It's a very soft, cottony yarn that feels wonderful!

 

 

So today, I hope to grab some time for patio crochet.  I need to work on a baby blanket for a nice couple's first baby.  I think I'll sit out by my lavender pots with my yarn and enjoy my cracked paint.  I love to make a hot cup of tea and snip a bit of lavender to pop in my cup.  Divine!  And then I sit there sipping and smelling the most amazing, calming aroma.  Yeah, I need calm.  And I think about how if this cracked paint patio were in Europe, it would be very fashionable and romantic.  Lol.  Thankfully the house does NOT have this paint problem, but whoever did this particular courtyard did not quite get things right in this area. 

 

When people come over and step out onto this patio I often hear comments about how they feel they are in Italy or some other lovely place.  Yes, it does have a slightly different feel due to the softness of this old look...  Funny how most folks would be running to buy paint to cover this up immediately, yet I hesitate and enjoy it.  No, it's not Italy.  It's just a tiny spot in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.  But it's pretty special, too.  In fact, it's kind of a big deal to me.  

 

Happy weekend, folks! 

 Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

 

 

 



The Summer Scene at the Hearth Room

 

 

 

 

Birds and blooms, playtime and puzzles, swimming and summer food eaten outdoors are some of my favorite things. 

 

Just add some evening patio crochet and I'm all set. 

 

Since I did not take the time to plant seeds this spring, I'm thrilled that the birds helped out with the sunflowers and zinnias that are popping up all over!

 

The kids are really enjoying some reading and puzzle time outside, too.  There is something special about the warm, summer nights.  I think we feel like we're getting away with something by staying up past our bedtimes while it's still light outside!

 

Woody is getting loads of exercise and is showing off his handsome lack of aging.

 

Everyone gets to have their favorite pancakes on slow weekend mornings.  Peach and strawberry pancakes topped with confectioners sugar and chocolate filled crepes (ok, they're only once in a GREAT while...). 

 

Grilled chicken atop healthy greens and roasted sweet potato fries.  Yum.

 

Seriously, peel and cut up those sweet potatoes.  Toss them with olive oil and garlic, sea salt, or whatever grabs you.  Roast them for 30 or 40 minutes.  Instant happiness.

 

Summery, beachy colored yarn taking on the shape of a triangle for a new blanket. 

I'm hooked.

 

xoxo

 

 

 

 



Granny Halter and Deer Hugs

 

 

 

Oh, you addictive, little granny triangles...  What else can we do?  These little triangles were transformed very quickly into a sweet halter for Sweet P.  I felt like it was a tad short for her, so I went back and added a row of shell border to the bottom and it did much better.   I kind of think she's starting to like my creations.  I can only hope. 

 

 Oh, that reminds me...  Young Man actually ASKED me if I would make him a new sweater for Christmas this year!!!  Good golly, each time I think of it I'm filled with elation.  My tween, of all the things he could ask for, wants a crocheted sweater?!  He's very smart, though.  This could be a tactic.  You know, as in, 'hey, if I can get mom so over excited about my wanting her to crochet me something, she might just be excited enough to throw in a new ipad...' 

 

I don't know.  He's a good kid.  I'm just sayin'.

 

So since I'm still hooked on making triangles, it looks like there may be a whole new blankie made up of them in a very soft, beachy, color scheme.  More to come.

 

Have you hugged a deer lately?  I am over-the-top in love with this critter.  Ok, I get carried away about almost any critter I come in contact with, but this deer was amazing!  My family raised a deer when I was a kid and it's such a wonderful experience to be around a (should be/kind of still is) wild animal that you wouldn't normally be able to be so close to.  It was super special that my little people were able to visit with this sweet girl.  Oh, and when you have a chance to hug a deer, please make sure you work in the lecture on the benefits of NOT drinking soda.  Very important.

 

Ah, summer.  Finally, we are able to relax a bit and enjoy the yard and the kids.  Well, the yard has been work, but more on that later.  The kids are enjoying being outside and when the heat gets to be too much, we come in,  flop down and read something good.  The Homeschool Mom part of me is still somewhat in panic mode trying to grasp the reality that we don't have anything we HAVE to do...  Simply enjoy our books and puzzles.  I'm reprogramming myself.  I should be good to go by the time school starts again.

 

I'm finding that if you pour anything (like Moscato) over fruit in a Ball jar and throw in a handful of mint, you can't go wrong.  I had a moment when I was longing for one of those lovely glass decanters you see in all the big stores and magazines...  You know, the really fat ones with a spout?  But then I remembered when you have a canning jar you really don't need much else. 

 

Also, I'm very happy to report that Sam the Budgie is thriving!   We did have one small incident with a solar system model in Young Man's room.  Fortunately, we don't believe in letting him fly alone, so we were there to pull him out of the stars unharmed.

 

Have a happy day!

Thanks for stopping by the Hearth Room!

 

 

 

 

 

 



Granny Bunting Triangles Can Lead To...

 

 

Oh, it is nice to have yarn time...  It's so enjoyable to have a break from the routine, isn't it? 

 

While heading off to visit the beach I decided it was time to make another blanket, but this time with water and sand inspired colors.  However, another armful of very colorful yarn happened to get tossed into the bag, too.  I'm so glad it did, because as I was finally able to do some catch-up reading in blogland, I found that Lucy was wanting some Granny Bunting Triangles made up for Yarndale.  Oh how I would love to visit that festival!  But at least maybe I can ship a few pieces of bunting over and feel that I was a teeny, tiny part of it all. 

 

Anyway, after making a few triangles I couldn't resist the urge to make some up for a bikini.  Now, I would not be at all interested in wearing a bikini, but making them seemed like a great idea!  So I scaled down the hook and size and set off on a much smaller triangle.  It was great fun and seemed to fly off the hook!  It's so much fun to just make something up as you go.  So I have now finished this one and can't wait to start another. 

 

So the Granny Bunting Triangles led me to a bikini top and that ended up becoming a sweet little halter.  I'll be back to share the end result!  Now I'm off to start the next and ponder the making of some matching bottoms...

 

Just a note:  These triangles are seriously addictive.  Try a few!  I added some picot edging to a couple and a flower to one.  They have so much personality.  Gin:  I seriously recommend you make some bunting!  I'm so excited you've picked up a hook!

 

Happy Friday to you all!

 

 

 

 

 



Cherry Blossom Scarf

 

 

 

Happy Monday!

 

I have to say that this scarf came about because I was thinking we were all done with winter here.  I was eager to finally pack away the hats and gloves and all the big boots and snow pants.  I had finally given up on winter weather and was actually looking forward to the shiny days of spring.  In fact, we went to the St. Patty's Day Parade last week and it was quite warmer than expected!  Like, peeling-off-layers warm, almost 70 degrees!  Well, I was moving on, changing seasons...  Came home and took the feather bed off the bed, tucked away clean heating blankets for next year, and started decorating for Easter.

 

Then, don't you know, it decided to be frigid at night again.  Two days after removing the feather bed, it was put right back on.  Extra blankets were brought out and more fires built in the box.  Yep, spring came on the calender, but it didn't show up outside.  So, I felt the need for a much springier-feeling scarf to protect me from the persistent cold.  I did NOT want to pull out those bulky, wintry, thick scarves that I so associate with ice, boots and hot chocolate.  No, I need to be warm and still feel like I'm moving forward. 

 

So, images of sweet flowers came to mind.  Cherry blossoms in particular seemed to sing S-P-R-I-N-G to me!  With image-in-head, I began to rifle through the yarn stash and reflected on past patterns I've used and pulled it all together in this very happy, springy, cherry blossom scarf. 

 

And just in time, I might add...  If you note the end pictures there with me in my new scarf...  There are a gazillion little flakes swirling about my head and quickly accumulating around my feet.  Just look at the little Easter eggs and baskets on our Easter tree, all piled up with the white stuff. 

 

It is beautiful out there.  Still snowing this morning.  We ended up with about 6 inches of gorgeous snow, although we were not expecting it.  Yep, snow pants are out again.  The kitchen floor is full of soggy boots and mittens.  So I guess I'll be giving in to the kiddos and will whip up some hot chocolate today, too.  And then I'll sit down and look through all those spring patterns and decide on what comes next.  Well, after school, of course... 

 

Maybe I'll be back with a Cherry Blossom Scarf pattern, too. 

 

Happy winter spring to you! 

 

xoxo