~ My Goings On ~

Hello everyone!!!
I am so glad to be back to a [normal?]
routine.
Ever since my return from my mini Chicago vacation it's been a strange kinda time. First, there was Thanksgiving, then missing my family gets me down for a few weeks. I also had to deal with a broken finger, which made life a bit difficult for a while, but all in all I managed to get a few projects completed.
I'm sharing just a few today because I haven't yet taken pics of everything.

Lately I have been a bit "Cowl Crazy".
I just love making and wearing this very odd accessory. They knit up quickly in thick yarn, and are very much in vogue these days. The orangy one I made for my daughter from just one skein of homespun, the other, cest pour moi, that one from just one skein of loops and threads charisma.

I've also had time to whip up a cardi for my granddaughter Milla. This pattern is so cute, and oh so easy to knit!!! (I am not a knitter)
"In threes cardigan" you can find it on Ravelry.com
I made a second cardi for the little granddaughter but I'll show that later.

And last but not least, a quick and easy pair of slippers for the little one of course, at her request, mind you.
It hasn't been easy to knit or crochet lately, but where there is a will or a special request, there is a way.

As I write, I'm sitting on the floor surrounded by my yarn stash, man how it has multiplied!! I think I have gone overboard buying yarn lately, so one of my New Years resolutions is to use up all the yarn in my stash before I make any more purchases, ya think???

NOT!!!!!
I am already looking into some baby alpaca which I will order directly from Peru. Yes, I have the Peruvian hook ups ( no pun intended ).

Well my dears, I will stop for now.
(You can tell I've been gone too long huh?)

I hope everyone is having a calm and happy pre holiday week.
In the hustle and bustle of this joyous season pease remember to hug your loved ones a bit tighter, and smile at the stranger that passes you by.


Hugs and hugs for all!!!!

:: Newtown Ct. ::

There isn't much that anyone can really express but sadness, anger, frustration, and a very deep sense of loss, after the
horrible tragedy which took place today at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Ct.

I can only hope that we can all as a nation get on bended knee and ask the Lord to bring comfort to the families of all the victims during this difficult time.





Anna E. DeSoto

Hiya!!!!

Hello everyone!
I've ( this blog) been experiencing a few technical difficulties lately, so if you are reading this that means that the problem has been fixed, and I will soon return to my wregular writing wroutine. :). Hehehe

Bye for now!!! Have a great day!!!!

:: Chicago bound, and Roses from England ::

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. :)
I know I know, my posts have been very few and far between lately. I'm still in sort of a slump, but maybe what I need is a change of scenery.

This week has been sort of bitter sweet,
For one I've been fighting a flu since Sunday (bitter)

On the other hand, I've been in total grandma bliss, my granddaughter has been visiting us from Arizona. (Sweet).
I have had a lot of hugging and playing to make up for. It's been almost a year since I last saw her ( custody battles are always heart breaking), but I'm taking full advantage!!!!

And to add to the sweet part, this week I received a beautiful card from my friend Lory all the way from England. It is always nice to open ones mail box and find a hand written envelope.
Thank you so much Lorybelle for your sweet and thoughtful words. They really brought a smile to my face. :)

Now, for that change of scenery, well, next Wednesday, I will taking a much needed trip to the Windy City, I have been preparing for about a month or so, you know trying to lose a few pounds, crocheting warm things to wear and things like that. But the only thing that worked out is my oh so simple neck warmer. After looking through my stash and feeling all the wonderful alpaca, wool, silk, cotton, and yes, acrylic blends, I decided to go with this humble 100% cotton, yes, you know the kind we make wash cloths out of. It's very simple, easy to care for, and just the right shade of taupe, it goes with my Chicago wardrobe.
Anyway, about my trip. I will be attending a family wedding on the 20th, but in order to spend precious time with my parents and family I'm leaving a week earlier then my husband. I'm hoping to get in a bit of the museums, stroll Lake shore drive, a little shopping on Michigan ave. and soak in a bit of the local color. My parents live in an awesome neighborhood called Bucktown/Wicker Park. (Don't know how to link on my smartphone, but you can google it if you like) And of course I will visit a few of the LYS. All in all I hope to have a good time. Even if I don't get to do all of the above mentioned, it will be enough to just be with family.

I guess I'll keep prepping for my trip. See y'all soon!!!

P.S. I do make my blog rounds, I'm amazed at how many of you keep up.
It's great to read all your wonderful posts.

:: Autumn ::

" Autumn, the years last loveliest smile"

William Cullen Bryant

Have a wonderful first day of autumn. :)

:: A Boho bag and a Baby blanket ::

Hello everyone!!!

Yes, I'm still here!!! But lately I've just stayed away from anything having to do with yarn. Why? You ask.
Well, it seems as though summer will never leave Southern Cali. We have had almost two whole months of over 100 degree weather. 😓

Last week temps. Reached up to 108 here in the Inland Empire. Yuk!!!!
So, I just kinda sat around inside my air conditioned house and did a lot of reading.
I managed to finish two little things that were almost done anyway. But that's about it.
I had started the baby blanket a while back, so I pushed myself to have it ready before the baby arrives. I chose autumn colors because he will arive in October. The border kinda reminds me of candy corn 🎃.
And the bag was a fun project which was also just sitting around waiting to be finished. ( my daughter nabbed that one)
All in all, I guess I did get some craftiness done.
My next big thing is.....
Well, I'll save some for next time.

Have a wonderful week everyone!!!!
Hugs and more hugs.
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

:: Last week ::

Wow! August is almost over, and with that the last few days of summer are going by very quickly. Even so, we have still taken advantage of the warm days to spend some precious time with our grandchildren.
Last Wednesday we took our oldest grandson Oliver to visit his cousins in Dana Point. We spent the afternoon walking with them, running with them, talking and laughing with them, and getting all nice and sticky eating ice cream with them.
While I waited for the slower ones to pick flowers, look for crabs and just take their time, father and daughter got to catch up on whatever it is that fathers and daughters talk about.
And by the end of the day after all the questions were answered, all the little arguments settled, all the running and chasing was done, I was happy, exhausted, but happy to have that very special afternoon with these very special little people.

Julian and Amelia started school a week ago, and Oliver will start tomorrow, and so a day like this one will not happen again for a while. But tonight, as I remember last week and my beautiful grandchildren, I am thankful for them, their parents, and the love of family.

Have a great week everyone!!!!!