I'm Still Here!

Believe it or not, I'm still breathing. I took a nice long break from civilization as I was not fit for human interaction. Work has been more than brutal - not in a good "I'm working hard" kind of stress, but in a "you've been taken over by another company and even though we pontificate about how much we value people, know that we speak with a forked tongue" kind of stress. There it is and that's all I'm going to say about that.

So in honor of coming up for air from all things stupid and ugly, and in an attempt to bring a little whimsy into both my life and yours, I have a new pattern for all of you dog lovers out there! And here it is:

Mini's Cheaper-than-the-Pet-Store Poop Bag Holder

Yes, a poop bag holder. For those of us that live in a city and take our dogs for walks, we must pick up the poop. Now if you've been to a chain pet store (e.g., Petco, Petsmart), those little poop bags and holders are expensive! I was in Petco and needed to pick up refills and a bag of 4 rolls of poop bags was $11! And the poop bag holders started from $5 on up (mostly up.) So I pashawed all that and went to Target where I found a package of 8 poop bags for $6. Still pricey for small plastic bags to me. And wouldn't you know, they were a teeny bit larger than my poop bag holder. Just a teeny bit, but since my holder was hard plastic, it was enough to not fit.

So here you go. This poop bag holder will hold all sizes of poop bag rolls, and if it doesn't, you can easily make it longer without breaking the poop-pickup budget!

Materials Needed

Small amount of Sport weight Cotton Yarn
E / 3.5mm hook
Self-locking clasp


Rnd 1: Ch 2, 8 sc in 2nd sc from hook.

Rnd 2: Ch1, 2 sc in same st as join, 2 sc in ea sc around, join. (16 sc)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, 2 sc in same st as join, *1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join. (24 sc)

Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, working in back loops only, sc in ea sc around, join. (24 sc)

Rnds 5-18: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in ea sc around, join.

Rnd 19: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, *ch1, sc in next 3 sc; rep from * around ending with sc in last 2 sc, join. (6 ch-1 spaces)

Rnd 20: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in ea sc and ch-1 space around, join. (24 sc)

Rnd 21: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in ea sc around, join.

Rnd 22: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, *ch 1, sc in next sc; rep from * around, finish off and weave in all ends.

Drawstring

Cut a length of yarn approximately 2 yds long. Fold in half and attach folded end to a stationary holder (I use a binder clip tied to a doorknob.) Holding ends of yarn together, hold taut and twist until the strand wants to twist onto itself. Place finger halfway up the strand, bring both ends together and allow to twist onto itself. Tie each end securely.

Finishing

Thread clasp onto drawstring and weave drawstring through the ch-1 spaces on rnd 16. Insert bag roll into pouch and pull up a bag. Tighten drawstring and tie into a bow. Clip the Poop Bag Holder onto your dog’s leash to keep handy during your walk!

Have a great Sunday!

Vacation FO's

I managed to crank out a few projects during my wonderful week off from work which helped to substantially bring down that Christmas gift list (YAY!). I now feel comfortable that I can finish everything on time and maybe, just maybe, have some time for crochet just for fun :)

First up, a couple of Puffy Slouchy Hats in blue:



The first hat was done with Red Heart Soft, the second with Berocco Geode. The Geode was fun to work with :)



OK, not actually an FO, but most of the pieces are done for two felted purses. I still have 10 flowers and flower centers to make partially thanks to my cat Buster who thought I was making cat toys. I'm using Gourmet Crochet's Natalie Collection pattern for the purses. I'm using the rectangular pattern for both.



I then tested a slipper pattern for a lovely lady at Ravelry.



Worked out the adjustments I wanted to make to Sandyfroglegs' Fingerless Glove pattern, so I can kick out 4 pair for gifts :)



And made up a different afghan for my uncle as the round ripple had just gotten too boring to continue (for now.) So I went surfing through my pattern stitch books and found a stitch that would work well using 2 strands of yarn and a large hook so I could finish it quickly. So quick in fact, I'm making another one in different colors for my cousin. You'll find the pattern here.


Close up of stitch

And so ends another week ~ back to the grind tomorrow :o\ May your crochet hooks fly like the wind!

Catching Up

It's been a while since I did a proper post, so let's catch up!

I've been madly working on Christmas gifts. I should have kept up with Cris' One-a-Month-a-Long at the beginning of the year :P But you know how it goes, you make a list, then do it over and over again until the last bleeding minute. You're just not inspired until you're inspired, ya know?

Being off work this week has helped a lot. Clearing the mind of all of that 'work clutter' helps tremendously with inspiration and keeping focus. So my pared-down list is as follows (no sense in killing oneself, eh?):

Afghans - 2

Fingerless Mitts - 4 pairs

Slouchy Hats - 4

Slippers - 1 pair

Of course, that list can still change! LOL I've made up the pattern for the afghans, I'll post as soon as I finish one. The Fingerless Mitts are a slightly modified version of Sandyfroglegs Fingerless Gloves pattern. Although I haven't officially picked the patterns yet, the Slouchy Hats will likely be the Pretty Puffs Slouchy Hat pattern and the slippers, Priscilla Hewitt.

On a non-crochet note, we have adjusted to life without Jose. Paco tries to play with the cat, but the cat hates him. We'll have to get him a new buddy, but we'll wait until we find the right buddy :)

That's about it for today. Oodles of toodles and enjoy your Halloween!

Happy Halloween

Grab a cup and let's kick it!

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Atom.com: Funny Videos | Funny Animations | Upload Video Clips

Atom.com: Funny Videos | Funny Animations | Upload Video Clips

Atom.com: Funny Videos | Funny Animations | Upload Video Clips

Atom.com: Funny Videos | Funny Animations | Upload Video Clips

Atom.com: Funny Videos | Funny Animations | Upload Video Clips

Atom.com: Funny Videos | Funny Animations | Upload Video Clips

Atom.com: Funny Videos | Funny Animations | Upload Video Clips

Sadly, Joe Sparks left Shockwave and was not allowed to continue the series. But, at least we have Episodes 1-8 to enjoy as long as the internet is up and running!

Happy Halloween!

Heartbroken

I got home late last Wednesday night. Hubby was outside watering the front yard, I was busy doing all that stuff you do when you walk through the door after a long day at work. Jose was out in the front yard helping hubby. When no one was looking, he crossed the street. By now, it's dark out and hubby couldn't see well. He called for Jose. A big truck hit him as he was trying to come home. I heard him scream. The truck never stopped.

We scooped him up and drove as fast as we could to the animal hospital. It seemed that the truck might have just clipped him and maybe all that happened was a broken leg. We were adjusting ourselves for possibly having a three-legged dog. I didn't care, I'd take his sweet precious heart any way I could keep it. They stabilized him, put him on an IV and morphine drip and we were to wait until the next morning when the surgeon could examine at him. We kissed him good-night and started for home about midnight.

The next day, I'm calling every hour until I get the surgeon. He had examined him and studied his x-rays. There was much more damage than what the vet on emergency staff had indicated. Long story short, after somewhere between $6,000 and $9,000, there would be no guarantee that Jose would have control of his hind quarters and that his pelvis would heal properly enough for him to be mobile even on 3 legs. Needless to say, we had to make the most difficult decision to euthanize him. Jose was put to rest yesterday a little after noon.

The tears are almost dry now. I still break out at the drop of a hat, but at least the frequency is finally starting to slow down. I haven't been this sad in a very long time. Jose had one of the most sweetest and gentlest hearts I've had the pleasure to know. We will always miss him.

Good-bye my sweet little angel

A Test

Now this is kinda cool! How many times have you wanted to post a document? I stumbled upon this site in my wanderings. If you have files you'd like to post, you might want to check it out :)

Scribd

MinisPuffFlowerSpaCloth - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: MinisPuffFlowerSpaCloth

First Bulb Flower!

I love spring :)



I don't remember the name of this flower, but it's from the daffodil family. The greenery of the bulb flowers have been up for about a week. This is the first bloom!

# 3 in the Revolt Against Plastic

Same pattern, different color :o)

Secret Project shhhhhh

I'll be posting a new pattern next Sunday. But until then, it's a secret - shhhhhh.

Tax Me Will You?

I know I haven't posted in a reeeeallllly long time. Haven't had much to say or share. Same old thing for the most part. I've saved you from boredom. Really. Really, really. But today you are lucky! Not only do I have something to share, you get to read me rant!

Now I'm not a tree-hugger. Wasn't one in the 60s/70s, am not one now. I believe man has been given dominion over the earth and if a home needs to go up, I could give a flying squat about the kangaroo rat or the fairy shrimp. Yep, I said fairy shrimp. Now that's not to say I picture myself as irresponsible. Lawd, no. I believe we should occupy the buildings we have before we build more. I believe we should save the rain forests because, quite simply, I like to breathe and there's good medicine in them thar trees.

I even hate the plastic bags you're forced to take home from the store. I always ask for paper. Yes, it takes a tree to make a paper sack, but we can grow more trees. We can't save the soil and water tables, however, from the poison those plastic bags emit as they "don't ever rot". But I, like everyone else, would pile those darn things into the trunk of my car every weekend as I ran the shopping errands. Until...

Some idiot legislator out of L.A. county decided it would be quite dandy to add a 25 cent tax to every plastic bag you take out of the store. If he was proposing it for environmental reasons, I would have probably bought into it quietly. But he's not. He's just scrounging more revenue for the state on top of the billions of taxes that have been collected from cigarettes, gas and other assorted high-taxed items that they haven't even spent! It hasn't passed as a new tax law yet, but if it doesn't, someone else will keep singing the song until it does.

But my real problem is that I've seen far too many people in the grocery store or at the local Wal-Mart with their calculator in their hand punching in those numbers as they add things to their cart so they know they'll have enough money when they get to the register. Now, they'll need to factor in that unknown quantity of plastic bags into their calculations. Because we all know how many times you're forced to double-bag because they tear. So don't buy that extra box of cereal or gallon of milk. You have bags to pay for!

Can you tell this chaps my hide? So the revolt begins... I am vowing to never take home my purchases in plastic bags again. Join me, won't you?

Market Bag #1



A HUGE market bag fit for Farmers Markets and Swap Meets. The enormo-bag was made with Lion's Market Bag pattern using Sugar 'n Cream. I could run away from home with this bag.

Market Bag #2



This is the one I'll make over and over for those bi-monthly trips to the grocery store. I found this pattern at Nancy's Crochet. I modified the pattern a wee bit, but the nod goes to her. Basically, wherever the pattern called for 2 rows of dc, I made 3 rows of hdc. I also made the straps lengthwise to reduce some of the stretch. I made the bottom the size of a paper grocery sack (which is smaller than the pattern.) Other than that, the only customization is the leaf button I added for pizzazz.

There are many free patterns for knitted, crocheted and sewn market bags out there on the net. Just include "market bag", "shopping bag" or "grocery bag" in your search.

Now join me in the Anti-Plastic Bag Tax Revolt of 2008!