Tag: creative pursuits

Crochet

Whitney’s Scarf

Amy3 Comments

Ok, I know.  To the naked eye, I look to be in a be bit of a rut.  But it’s just such awesome gratification when I complete a variation on this scarf.  Not to mention the fact that my dear, sweet darling daughter has been asking for one since the process began.  So this is the “Whitney” scarf.  She sat down with the rainbow of lovely Catania cotton and chose these colors.

You’ll note that the stitch pattern is very similar to the Spring Green scarf I posted last week. But the color variations bring it a little more into alignment with the Seascape version. Instead of chaining 308 to begin, I chained 208 to adjust for the ten-year old factor.

My child has an eye for color.  Always…all her life. This color pallet reminds me of Easter.  The pastels and gemtones of Easter eggs nestled in the grass.

Have a great Monday!

General

Catch and Release

Amy1 Comment

Last week was Spring Break for my kiddos.  We didn’t plan a trip or family vacation, but we did a little “stay-cationing”. We were looking for something to do on Friday and decided to check out the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.  Yes, I know, sexy right?  Not so much, but it was actually pretty cool.  I had expected a freshwater aquarium. I had heard that there was a pond where this kids could fish, but I didn’t realize that they had developed a small wetlands trail and preserve.

Or that they encourage wild life habitat as part of the preserve

It was beautiful and unexpected. And even though I did expect lots and lots of catfish.  I don’t know that I was prepared for these guys!

or these

You could buy fish food from a small vending machine for a quarter and it created quite the frenzy.  I had to coax the kids to go back over after they got splashed by some pretty fishy fish water. You actually did find yourself a little worried about the probability of fish obesity and the heart-health implications of the constant food….

But then when you get down to brass tacks, it’s really all about activities that, although not great for fish well-being, are all cosmic reminders of the interspecies food chain…Right?….Maybe not.

This was an awesome little “catch and release” pond situated in the middle of the center. Apparently, the fish were biting right up until we dropped our lines in the water… 🙂  Note to self: One has to catch in order to release.

Have a great weekend! Check out some of the natural beauty that may be around the corner in your neck of the woods.

Chicken Mission

Hey Chicks, Come out and Play!

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I wasn’t sure what to expect when I brought the Hogwarts’ four home.  So day one, I donned rubber boots and jetted out to the chicken coop to visit. What can I say? I was excited.  Upon arrival, I called out to them, clucked, cajoled…no chickens.  So I rationalized, hey, maybe they’re sleeping in.  Who knows right?  New place, long drive home, I’ll give them some time.  So I worked around the yard.  I have fire ants in my raised garden beds and I had some eradicating to do anyway.  Basically, I just wanted to give them space.  An hour or so later, back to the coop I went.  No chickens.  I called out to them softly, coaxing, finally decided I’d take a load off and wait them out.  So I opened the door of the coop and had a seat.  Once sitting, this is what I saw.

These ladies were not coming out. Only one of them was even remotely interested.  So I began talking.  I threw out a few leafy greens.  I waited. Finally, Jenny Weasley came through!

I knew I loved that girl! Finally, somebody was going to come out and play.Yo, Jenny what’s up? Hey girl…

Hey Lucy, where did you come from?

Wizard?  I didn’t see you were here too…

Pixie?  Back off a little babe…

Jenny, wait! Where are you going? Don’t go!

Hmmm…maybe we should just give them a little more space…

Chicken Mission

Chicken Mission Accomplished!

Amy2 Comments

We are “go”  for chickens!

I’ve been trolling Craigslist for weeks and quickly determined that given how little I know about chickens, buying my first batch of pullets from a state inspected breeder was probably the best route.  Fast forward to Tuesday of this week.  I took off work early and drove 45 minutes to Fowl Weather Farm, a not so distant breeder that seemed to fit the bill. The young proprietress of Fowl Weather Farm was helpful and professional and we ended the day Tuesday with four new friends and Chicken Mission accomplished!

I had intended to buy at least two Dominique (pronounced dominicker)  pullets and was open to the breed of the other two ladies.  I ended up with two Barred Rocks and two Black Sex Links.  Black Sex Links aren’t kinky.  A Black Sex Link is a cross between a Rhode Island Red Rooster and a Barred Rock hen.  You can tell what sex the chicken is by the coloring around its neck, hence the moniker of “sex link”.  And although their name shows a stunning lack of imagination, all should be great laying hens.  The Barred Rocks look just like a Dominique to the untrained eye, but apparently lay slightly larger eggs.  Eggs being the driving force behind this chicken mission, I was  fickle and opted for the Barred Rocks.  I have an egg dependency, you see. I’m not ashamed of it.

Crochet

Seascape in Catania

Amy4 Comments

 

A variation on Pierrot 29-31 that I posted here.  You can find the pattern on their site.  I love these colors! They make me crave the beach and all things reminiscent of the sea. I used Catania mercerized cotton and I’m experiencing a little mini-obsession with this particular yarn.

Perfect for a lacy all-weather scarf.  Let’s play hooky and go to the beach!

Get it…..hooky….?

Crochet

The Siren Call of Yarn…

Amy2 Comments

You’ve taught yourself a few stitches, maybe even made your first simple crochet item with from one of the “Learn to Crochet” resources we discussed earlier.  You’re starting to get excited and you’re ready to pick out something a little more substantial.

Here’s what I remember about those first forays to the craft stores.  Whether you’re at a Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, Joann’s, whatever, the patterns, yarns and books can be pretty overwhelming.  I had a terrible habit of buying yarn, and then trying to figure out what I wanted to do with it.  Not your best path forward folks.  You wind up with the wrong amounts, or the wrong weight yarn and you wind up going back to the store for more.  You’ll be better served to 1) look at what’s available online. 2) Make a decision about your pattern, and 3) then go in search of yarn.

I know, I know, it sounds like a no brainer, but the siren call of yarn can be a powerful thing.  I’m trying to save you some money and closet space.  Repeat after me…'”First pick the Project.”  Go ahead, repeat it…Now, “Then Pick the Yarn.”  Good.  Repeat it again. “First pick the Project. Then Pick the Yarn.” Say it to yourself about 500 times, and you will thank me.  Your spouse and children will thank me.

Your welcome.