This Moment

"Helping" with the laundry!

Joining Amanda Soule at Soulemama for *This Moment*!

Yarn Along...Crochet & knitting!

Before I learned to knit I learned how to crochet. Years & years ago. Then I wanted to make sweaters & socks but I don't care for sweaters & socks in crochet. So I learned to knit and haven't crocheted in years.

I do love granny squares though and have always wanted to make a granny square blanket. A few weeks ago I came across the Granny Square Sampler along that Blair is hosting with a new assignment each week. Except I couldn't remember how to crochet! Last weekend I finally sat down and learned:

 I completed week 1

 And week 2

Within 2 days. Week 3 has thrown me for a loop though! Hopefully I'll figure it out and have some more to show you this weekend. Of course if I wouldn't try to figure it out with Ree around trying to "help" me and wanting to know if I have "another square done yet" I may have better luck!

I'm using this as a stash buster project hence the wacky colors. My husband asked me if all these squares were going together in one blanket. When I said yes he went a little pale. I told him it was his Christmas present (in jest). He brightened up & said "I'll love it then!" So guess what his Christmas present will be!

I've also cast on the Miranda Hat as part of a knit-along that Evelyn from Project Stash has put together with her new pattern. If you'd like to join along there's a Ravelry group too!

I can't find my size 6 circular needles (and am starting to wonder if I even HAVE size 6's) so cast on with size 7. It's going to be big I think. But the pattern is wonderful, very easy! I'd probably be done by now except for the granny squares too! 

As for reading (yes I've somehow found time for reading this week too!) I'm almost finished with Home Front. A beautiful, fiction book about a woman who is deployed to Iraq. I haven't cried this much while reading in a long time!

Stormy Monday

Right now the sun is shinning. After a morning of hours & hours of thunderstorms and rain.
At one point it was so dark it seemed like night!
Ree doesn't like thunderstorms.
So I knit while she sat in my lap & "helped". All morning!
We did laundry.

Ree then spent an hour "sleeping" in the laundry basket of clean sheets.
We then had a picnic. At first a pretend one, then a real one for snacks.
I finished up week 2 of the Granny Square Sampler assignments.

Now there are 3 loads of laundry to be put away and dishes to be washed. And I should start thinking about supper.

Except my knitting is calling. And maybe my book. I wish I could knit & read at the same time like Karen!

Weekending

A relaxing weekend of:

Thunderstorms!! A HUGE one. I haven't heard thunder that loud in a long time.

Ree still isn't too sure if she likes them.

She loved the downpours that accompanied them.

I loved the beautiful breezes that came through killing the massive heat we've been suffering with.

I grilled hamburgers; made potato salad; set the outside table;

then we heard thunder.

I decided the heck with it and went along with my plans.

We enjoyed a nice supper outside with beautiful blue skies and background music of thunder in the distance.

Ree spent countless hours outside at her water table & going through the "outside shower". 

Also known as the sprinkler!

I started a new hobby (except I don't really need a new hobby).

I taught myself how to make granny squares for a crochet along. More about that on Wednesday for Yarn Along.

A beautiful Sunday morning. The sound of the lawn mower; flowers planted; weeds pulled; a nice breeze.

A very pleasant weekend!

Linking up at The Habit of Being!

This Moment

First time strawberry picking....she loved "sorting" them!

Linking up with Amanda at Soulemama.

Quilting

My mom has always been a prolific sewer. (And knitter. And pretty much anything crafty). She used to make my sister & I's Christmas dresses. And Easter dresses. And flower girl dresses. And toys, blankets, etc.

About 5 years ago I decided I wanted to sew too. So I started with a quilt:

 Not the best of pictures but it's a small lap quilt and I love it because it's my first. I then went on to make at least 2 or 3 more of this same size & pattern (I think it's a Heather Bailey pattern but I can't be sure)

Ree & I use this one as our picnic blanket or sit in the back yard blanket to read, color etc. Except...Ree is getting bigger & bringing more stuff outside. And I always have my stuff too. And the other day she told me I needed to get another blanket for my stuff!

Then I remembered:

This was probably begun about 4 years ago. The only thing left is quilting and binding. I started hand quilting the other night. And while we're in the middle of a heat wave with no A/C hand quilting may seem a little silly....it really is the perfect size for our picnics and other things. And lemons and limes just seem to say "summer!"

My goal is to try and finish the quilting (just a simple running stitch around all the full lemons) within the next few days and then make my own binding. If I can find a tutorial that is simple.

As for reading, I finally finished up a few library books so have jumped back into Anne of Green Gables. It's taking me back to summers when I was younger. Anne just seems like such a good summer time read!

My girl

Due to the loss of a sweet little baby over the weekend I've been thanking God for the gift of my little girl extra hard. 

Yesterday we went out to the back yard for hours. We ate on a blanket; watched a butterfly land on the house; named as many birds as we could; picked dandelions & clover; made Ree her first clover crown; kicked a ball; pretended to take a nap & smelled all the flowers growing in the yard.

I so enjoy watching her grow and explore her world. It teaches me something too. To appreciate the wonder in the world around us. To stop, and linger in the present moment and see the beauty.