Adorable Beetles

While the weather was bad --

I tried to stay busy by reading, knitting and drinking tea.
In other words, I was entertaining myself!

This is a pattern I found on a Caron Cake label.
Caron calls it a "scarf/shawl" and made with one cake.
I made one earlier in autumn colors and thought this color way
looked more like winter.

I can depend on my kitties to supervise.
Mina is reminding me that I have ends to weave in
and Oliver thinks he should play with those ends first. 

I saw the cutest crochet project on FB and wanted to share it with you.
When I looked for the post, I couldn't find it!
I had to wait until the pattern book arrived from Amazon so I could share.

Isn't this fun?!
All these adorable beetles, bugs and butterflies.
Did you ever think the word adorable and beetle would go together?!

Fun patterns written using US terms.
One of the things I like the most,
it is a great kids book, too.
It follows the insects as they grow up and transform from tiny bugs
to beautiful butterflies, ladybugs and beetles.
You can crochet a complete life cycle of a butterfly or a snail.

I think this will be a great stash buster, too!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Amaze Me Monday

Mosaic Monday

Keep In Touch

Little Things Thursday

Share Your Cup Thursday

SaveSave

This and That

Outside my window the sun is shining and it's going to be another hot day.
Fall made a very quick fly by and summer has returned.
Record heat by this weekend.

ARGHH.

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I'm still trying to fool myself into feeling cooler by knitting!

I finished one shawl in cotton.

I liked the pattern.
Over the Sea to Skye pattern and cotton from Craftsy.

It wasn't difficult.
I do have to think about what I'm doing ... no multitasking while knitting!

So I started another one in this pretty blue wool.
Asymetrical shawls seem to be the in thing. 

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I added a scarecrow to the entry way.
I found him at Michael's and could't resist bringing him home.






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With the outdoor Halloween decorating done,
I've moved inside.
A few Halloween goodies have made their way beside the fabric pumpkins.




This is a painting by Ryan Conners - Kilkennycat Art.
She has an Etsy shop.
I'm not sure my Siamese, Cassie, 
would be willing to deliver pumpkins by broom!

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Mr. Bones (I found him at Ross) has joined the sunflowers.




He makes me laugh. 

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Just in case you need some Pumpkin decor help.
Design Love Fest has some great ideas for pumpkin lanterns.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Willy Nilly Friday

Five On Friday

Mosaic Monday

Monday Social

This and That

I love this time of year.

There is a promise that the days will cool and wonderful walks are in the future.

Last year, because of the drought, the acorns were few and far between.

This year the squirrels can't collect them fast enough before the acorns cover the ground.

I love Halloween and love to share Halloween fun!

This is a reproduction of a vintage Halloween postcard.

Isn't he quite clever!

Yes, we *auto* have a Happy Halloween.

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It's that time again.

Classes have started at Rice University.

The Boys are Back!

Time for Fall Ball.

I walked over to watch the action.

So many new freshmen.

There's just nothing like the sound of the bat hitting the ball!

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Walking home from Rice I spotted some Halloween decorations.

This Halloween man made me smile.

His head turns from side to side.

I don't think this Ghost is going to scare anyone!

What a great welcome he'll be to Trick or Treaters.

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Finally, I finished the last black cat square.

I went to Michaels and found a gray yarn that was very close to the original.

This is what the afghan would have looked like.

It is huge.

I'm glad I decided to make four lapghans instead.

I did do some tweaking of the pattern when I decided lapghans were the way to go.

I can't put anything on the floor without having a cat or two check things out.

Now I have the kitty seal of approval for the lapghans.

Thank you to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday each week.

Wishing YOU well and much joy! 

This And That

It's been a wonderful week.

Cool mornings -- finally!

Hot afternoons, but very little humidity -- Yay! 

Good walking weather.

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My follow-up visit with the eye surgeon went well.

Getting used to the new lens.

My sight changes a little daily as the lens settles in.

Life is so much brighter -- literally!

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Mail Call brought this lovely postcard from China.

I have a dear friend there on a Fulbright doing research to complete her

PhD in Art History.

This is Peking University where she is taking some classes.

It used to be part of the Emperor's Summer Palace.

Woot!

School in a palace!

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How about a little needle and hook news?!!

This is a close-up of a shawl I completed for a friend.

 This is a free Red Heart Pattern called Romancing The Shawl. I did not use the yarn that was suggested. Instead, I used Red Heart Boutique Changes in the Granite color (6 yarns in one) and still achieved the wonderful texture. It was an easy pattern to follow and I may have to knit one for myself!

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Finally finished two squares in the crochet Halloween afghan.

Except, I decided the afghan would be too large for me!

So, I decided to make four lapghans.

I've completed two Jack-O-Lantern squares and started another black cat.

I was happily putting rows together when I realized I had put them together 

basakwards (as my Granny would say).

Well.

What to do?

I have plenty of black yarn, but not a lot of the grey.

Taking it apart is next to impossible. I'm afraid I'm a really good put them togetherer (!!!),

but would really make a mess taking it apart!

I decided to put things away.

Let my new eye rest.

Start again another day!

The Halloween Afghan was designed by Martha Brooks Stein and the pattern has

a copyright date of 2008 by DRG.

Thank you to Beth for Postcard Friendship Friday and Liv Lane for the Little Bliss List.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

This and That

It's time for a little This and That.

One of the churches in the neighborhood has a Sticks and Hook group.

This knit and crochet group would like to make 400 scarves to distribute

to the homeless during the holidays.

I thought that was something I could help with and hit my stash.

 

There are no rules for the scarf -- just that it be 6 ft in length.

They didn't care about pattern or what kind of yarn.

Here are my first three ... one skein of Homespun in each scarf.

Each is a little different in pattern -- to keep me from getting bored!

I think this one is my favorite.

A girl can't live by scarves alone, so I took a little break and am

making 14 of these.

Fourteen before I can go on with the pattern.

Hmmmmm ... what is it going to be?!

(A big thank you to Mr. Brown for being the model. He is my grandson's

lovey when he visits.)

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I am sure at least one of these is in my future!

Who knew there were so many Amineko fans on Flickr?!!!

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I wanted to share with you my very FIRST color pencil sketch.

Mr. Robin at the bird bath in Musashi's Garden.

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A little story.

Mr. Dragon always bought a teddy bear for me --

on my birthday, our anniversary (we had two).

On February 1st this year, he looked at me and said he was

sorry he didin't have a bear for me on our 30th anniversary.

To be sure, when it was all over, to get a bear.

I promised him I would ... a very special bear.

I'd like you to meet Holland.

He arrived yesterday.

He is the perfect -- very special bear.

Holland came from Ginger.

She is a wonderful bear artist and has a delightful blog.

You can visit her at Bearbits.

Wishing YOU well and a wonderful weekend.

To my friends on the East Coast ... hunker down and please be careful.

Hurricanes are no fun. 

I know. 

One World One Heart Giveaway!

The winners have been announced! Please go here to see who won!
Thanks for playing and I hope to see you next year!

Today is the day for the One World One Heart Giveaway. Use the link above to travel to the gypsy caravan to see the exciting goings-on!

I'm giving away (insert your own drum roll here) a hand-knitted (by me) spa set. The set includes a bath mitt, wash cloth, soap holder and soap. It is knitted in 100% cotton thread. There will also be a few surprises included! You must leave a comment here on this post by midnight February 11 to be part of the drawing that will be held at noon CST on February 12. Winners will be announced here. Just one comment please per person. Please make sure I have a way of contacting you if you are the winner! I won't go searching for you! If I don't hear from you in 72 hours another name will be pulled from the hat.

Spa Set

But that's not all! There will also be a drawing for a wash cloth and soap holder (with soap).

How's that? A chance for one of three prizes with one comment! Can't beat that! But more than anything, visiting One Heart One World will lead you to other blogs, new to you blogs, a chance to meet other folks and see what they are up to. Enjoy!