It's Official...

I have become a Bag Lady!!!! I made this one with a "Lazy Girl Design" pattern and I absolutely LOVE it!! and I have gotten many compliments on it! I highly recommend it and would give you a link if I could only figure out an easier way to do it! Any help out there, Ladies???
These I crocheted while we were up North, and they are all gone, the "Pool Grannies" all wanted some, and the lightest one ended up as a shower gift filled with what-nots and tied up with a rag bow. Lorraine bought it and is now pushing for a few more in reserve, since "green" is in with the young crowd and the bag was a big hit.
So, I am making more, and have orders for two made out of camo colors (???)
My swap partner, Rachel, is such a sweetie, and I received her box today when I got home. Above is the package I sent her, and below is the wonderful box I received. The card is covering the name of the chocolate,,,Lindt, my favorite, and the perfect little doll from the thrift store, and best of all, the polka-dot kitty...perfection wrapped in cotton!!! I'll have three grand daughters wanting to make quilts for her! tee hee.... Wonderful goodies, all over the place!!

We have been trotting the state, hither and yon, visiting and hiding. Then we run back home and work our hineys off catching up on yard work. In between we caught the nastiest "ick" I've ever had, and it lasted days...and days...I still have bags under my eyes. Could we have eaten a bad tomato??? or two? EEEK

Now we are under a severe storm warning, and it is raining sideways, so I"ll take the rest of the night to get caught up with all of you, How have you been?? I've missed you and thought of you many times!

Hope you all get to cuddle pink polka-dot kitties!

lyn

I am one big Swapper

I have joined a swap, a Sweet Goodness Swap, to be exact, and they have given me homework...so I will show some pics of Jakey to entertain you while I answer a few questions: (His little shirt says "Little Guys Rule")

Let's Get to Know Each Other And Play 20 Questions!







1. What is your favorite Summer Drink(s)?

I love Lemonade with Diet 7-Up added, even the Crystal Light is good to me




2. What is your favorite Summer Activity?

swimming and geocaching, maybe walking, too



3. If you could spend a lazy afternoon reading, what would be in your hands?

Some fiction, but I love any non-fiction, right now I'm reading Eden's Outcasts (The story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father) by John Matteson, people's lives are so interesting to me


4. What is your favorite type of craft/art medium?

it would have to be fabric, I love the feel of new fabric





5. What is one art/craft supply you absolutely have been dying to have or try?

I think I've tried just about everything, at least once, but I would like to try braiding rugs again, now that I have the patience to finish one.





6. What are your favorite colors in our 'rainbow sherbet' theme? Pink, lime green, yellow, orange, aqua (or blue)

pink, yellow, and blue





7. What is your favorite sweet treat?

oh, easy...milk chocolate



8. Are there any craft or art supplies you would NOT be interested in receiving?

can't think of any...I'm easy





9. What is your favorite song today?

I cry every single time I sing "How Great Thou Art"





10. How do you 'pamper' yourself during the hot summer days?

I stay in the cool house and I eat ice cream cones



11. Do you have any kidlets or pets?

I have two of the best dogs in the world, and I have 8 grandbabies ranging from 1 to 18 that come to play with the dogs.



12. What is your best potluck dish for summer get togethers?

Usually, everybody asks me to bring my cheeseball and my cherry chocolate cake



13. If you could take a summer vacation anywhere, where would it be?

I would go back to Martha's Vineyard, I just love the slow, summery style there, it is a little like my small resort town, only on a much grander scale





14. Describe your decorating style. Does that say anything about your personality?

I'm not sure I have a "style" ...and I think that says everything about my personality...I am a "collection" of all that I love





15. What are your initials?

LSH





16. Why do you like to join swaps?

I have always loved to "share" things and get to know people



17. You have 25 dollars to spend just on you for a little treat. What do you buy? ((you can list more than one thing)

I would spend it junk shopping, (my favorite) we have a little store called the Junction, and all proceeds go to fund church camps, so I spend a lot of time there.


18. What's one craft supply or art supply you absolutely can not live without?

I would shrivel up and die without my sewing machine, it grounds me.




19. Who's the last person you hugged?

I just hugged my daughter good night




20. What's your favorite number and why?

I love 8, obviously, but don't you think 3 is just a pretty number? both in scale and in appearance.

So, there you have it! More snippets of the secret life of Old Fat Grannys!!

Hope all your treats are chocolate-y!
lyn

Marshmallows, Hobo Pies, and Kids, OH MY

I have come to the conclusion that the best part of camping is the food, and the unlimited caloric availability. S'mores,
and can you just smell the cherry pie in this little baby here? HMMMMM life is good.

And then it's off to the pool (16 thousand times a day when the kids are with us) and my beach bag was drenched after two trips. I pulled out my crochet hook, gave up on the idea of a basket, and made a better bag, one that would dry faster....

Granny's got a brand new bag! All the other "Pool Grannys" were ooohhing and aaahhing over my bag! I have orders for at least three more!
So, we played Strawberry Shortcake, we colored, we dodged raindrops, and we sang till our voiceboxes were raw, and we just about gave up and went to town to rent some movies, when all of a sudden, the skies became clear, the Lord smiled down on our campsite, and three nice little giggling girls (and a most hilarious boy) ran up the hill and asked Liberty if she wanted to play...(my Lib is on the right)
We were truly blessed with these kids, and they had such good Moms!

Now we are home, and Libbee is back with Mom and Dad, and Granny and Papa are rested, looking forward to Elly's turn!

Hope all your weekends were full of giggles and catapillers!

lyn

What season is it?

All our spring blossoms are "past their prime" like me, but it is not quite summer yet... at my house, we call that Helicopter Season, translated, that means I am sweeping the deck and sidewalks daily and it looks like it's snowing when the wind blows. The good news, is that in a week and a half, Mr. Wonderful can put down his cedar shavings and make all the flower beds look gorgeous!

My "Ethnic Stars" are coming along slowly but surely, they are kinda finicky because I picked the stripes,,,forethought is a wonderful trait that I know nothing about. But oh, girls, look at how ethnic it looks!! How fitting for today!

It is Liberty's turn to go with Granny, Papa, and Auntie Leash to the Creek, and her last day of school is today, so tomorrow we will be off! That means S'mores, Hobo pies, Hot dogs over the fire, and Pop, I always drink Pop (Diet 7-Up) when I'm out in the wild,,,call me crazy!

So, we are packing the Strawberry Shortcake Game, coloring books, and Granny's bag has some new balls to play with....

Does this look like a basket to you? I'm gonna figure out how to make one using the rug theory. Think it will work??? I cut up two old valances from the 80's and some left over black from the rug. I think I can...I think I can...

So I will be gone all weekend, back (dirty and sore and tired) on Sunday, so you kids behave while I'm gone!

Hope your weekend is "Campy"

hugs, lyn

As a Bee....

As I'm veeerrryyy slooowwwly working on my Ethnic Star, I have been pecking away at some other things,,,,I am done with the rug, and I love it!! How scrappy can you get? I am so glad I pulled it out and started over! It is flat now and the black-ish stripes just give it a little definition, don't ya think? And the outside has been calling my name, large cuts of lilacs make my kitchen table feel like a garden,,,
and cut roses fill a vase on my computer desk, and, oh....girls.... I think this must be what Heaven smells like?
Liberty was sick, running fevers, caughing, poor baby. It was just a bad nasty virus going around... so we took Elly home with us for the week, and had a ball with her! She had the three of us going non-stop. It is so wonderful to be able to have a "tag team" with the kids, I get worn out and pass her onto Auntie Leash, then she passes her onto Papa, then back to Granny, whew, time to rest!
The holiday weekend was wonderful, with cookouts and bar-b-q's and family and friends.

My prayers and thanks go out to all the families who have sons and daughters, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, who are fighting for our freedom, God bless us all!
lyn

Cuttin' a Rug

Getting the strips together is the most time consuming part of the process. I started sewing them by hand while watching TV, and crocheting them as I went. Tread a needle, sew strips till the thread ran out, attach strip to the last one on the rug, crochet the strip, sew strips. I got a little rhythm going during Desparate Housewives and Dancing, and I added a black stripe to contain all the scrappiness of it all. (sorry about the rotten pic)Then, I got to really looking at it, and decided I could do better, and I had a major bump in the middle that I tried to stretch out, but it always came back. So, I gave up and ripped it out, started all over, and this time it is going so fast because I (finally) followed Finns advice and sewed the strips on the machine. And now look, even Cubby likes this one better! She can't wait till I leave it on the floor for good, she thinks I lay it down just for her.

In between, I tested a theory. I wanted to put a flannel backing on the Ethnic Star, but I wasn't sure how it would wash. I had visions of the flannel shrinking and getting so soft, and the front, not shrinking as much, so it would be wrinkled, puckered, and old looking,,, sounds wonderful to me. What a wonderful, warm, cozy effect that would be, right?

So I cut a square of flannel, and a square of cotton, put a simple grid on it, and bound it. Threw it in the washer and dryer, rubbing my hands together the whole time, thinking how clever I was, I was going to make this quilt look a hundred years old! Pleasure oozed out of my pores.
Until I pulled it out of the washer. It did not look a hundred years old, it did not have the wrinkled, softly aged look at all. It just had the puffy look of the 70's & 80's. I was so disappointed. I hung my head as I brought it up to show DD#3. I handed it to her and tried to explain that I had other theories we could test out......She didn't hear a word I said, she was squeeling with delight! "OH, That is exactly what I wanted!! Look how old that looks! It's perfect!!! Oh, Mom, I"m going to LOVE it! Thank you so much!" Needless to say, I (like any of you would have done,) pretended that was exactly what I wanted it to look like.

Why is it, I think the 80's are out of fashion, and now my daughter thinks of the 80's as "retro." Go figure...

Hope your day is wrinkled and sofly aged!

lyn

I am going to have to start a Support Group

I have neglected my family, my dogs, and I cannot concentrate at work, this drug is so powerful.
These habits need a stronger will than mine to be conquered. I need therapy and rehab. But it's not my fault...Blame the pusher!

That's right, you know who you are,,,finn!!!! (finn has a wonderful tutorial on her blog, she is so patient with us) You lured us into your trap so smoothly! You knew how addicting your drug was, and yet you taunted us all with your innocent looking crochet hook. All along, you were plotting to get us hooked, so you could laugh at us with your scraps!!! Well, your trick worked, I am hooked, and I know others who have fallen under your spell!
I am never going to be able to do another thing with my hands, I will grow old sewing strips together!

....What have we here??

ok, I might be able to put the strips down for just a moment ot two, but then I'm back to the guilty pleasure of ragging a rug.

Actually, this is not that far off, I am really loving this process!! I have loved rag rugs forever, and now I am addicted!

thank you, again, Finn, for the wonderful lessons!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, mine will be a little "ragged"

lyn

Ps: Carolyn at http://ohioquilter.blogspot.com/ has an awesome give away, go "dream" on her blog!

We were off to see the Wizard!

The wonderful

"Wizard of Oz"

My "Good Little Witches", Elly and Liberty, were absolutely awed by Dorothy and Glenda, and after the play, they had to talk to all the characters.

I am soooo proud of our little town production of "The Wizard of Oz"

the witches flew like professionals! And even Toto remembered his lines.
Nobody gets paid, nobody gets awards, the ticket sales go toward keeping the little theater open, and all the actors get is a little bit of fame in the local paper.
Eight weeks of four-nights-a-week practice, grueling study of lines, sore throats from saying "I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too" 26 times a day,

But, after the last bow, all the actors came down into the audience and signed autographs, posed with children so old fat grannies could take pictures, and were the picture of patience while the flash wouldn't go off,,,now THAT, my dear friends, is acting!

This is a sneak peak at my "Ethnic Star"

Can anyone guess who it's for?

I hope you all have a "Wicked" evening,,,

lyn

Home again, Home again...

Jiggety Jig!!!!!

Mr. Wonderful and I went to Whiskey Creek just south of Scottville, MI. It is a lazy creek that is serene and beautiful and fresh,,,I can't type all the adjectives for this place. We found it by accident,
When we were first married, we planned a trip to Hawaii for our Honeymoon. Lo and behold, a "Club Package" was pitched to us, a condo club which cost about $1000 base fee and $57 a year dues. The package saved us about $3200 on the trip to Hawaii so we signed on the dotted line and figured we'd not pay the dues the next year, and still would have saved a bundle. After that trip, the next year we used the club to go to Cape Cod, then Long Island, then Stratford, then Aruba, then Orlando, and with each trip we saved at least $1200-5000! Never could we have been able to afford the trips without the club, since the airfare and everything was included.

But then, one year hit us pretty bad, I lost my youngest son, Mr. Wonderful had to have back surgery, developed neuropathy and had to retire, my job got downsized...Our heads were still spinning, we could not afford to go, and really didn't have the gumption to skip all over the globe, anyway.

The next Valentines day, I was looking for a little two day get away for us, and since Mr. Wonderful had just had foot surgery, we couldn't go far. On my club plan, I searched for a cabin. "Whiskey Creek Resort" came up, and with our club plan, it was only $10 a night, so I jumped on it, one of the luckiest things ever!

We bought a camper trailer, and we leave it up there all summer, so it is like a cabin in the woods, only with all the comforts of home, yet a getaway, with the trickling of the creek, birds, deer, turkeys, and no phone! We can still get Good Morning America, but the Mr. turns it off after the news, (wow, very different than his usual habits) and we cook desserts on the fire, and drink our coffee in the morning by the fire. There is a club house with an indoor pool, hot tub, little restaurant, and on the weekends they have a band, or bingo, or something. On one side of the resort, you can buy your own lot, like we did, or there is a campground, and little log cabins scattered all over. 655 acres of vacation.

And the smell of apple blossoms add to the headiness of the resort. It only rained one day, so we went to a little bookstore in town, and the owner had missed us over the winter! We spent the biggest part of the day there, sitting with our tea, and looking over magazines, and catching up with the computer.

So, we have had our little piece of heaven, up on a little hill, surrounded by trees, I've read a whole book this week, and now it is back to work, and I missed the kids, and of course, all of you's.

Happy Mother's Day to all of us tomorrow, may our hearts be filled to the brim with love and goodness!

I hope you all have your little piece of heaven,

lyn

Going,,,going,,,,

Almost gone! Mr.Wonderful and I are taking the RV up north to our very favorite little spot in the woods.
Here are the Ethnic prints I'm drooling over, I'm planning a wonderful suprise for my DD#3. The photo is not letting the yummi-ness show through, but I'll keep you updated on the progress.
These are going to be for my dear friend, Loydie, (short for Loydell, named after her father) and she is just as unique and special as her name.
Life is a "whirlwind" these days, so it will be a nice time to get the "wheels" on the road (sorry, I have fits of corny now and then)
These pin wheels are made from the generous gift of scraps from the generous and giving Finn, thank you, Finn!

Hope all your weeks are "deer" (geez, I am getting bad)
lyn