Squares and More Squares

As I've recently mentioned, I've just learned how to crochet. Or at least, how to read patterns and crochet in the round and...gasp...make granny squares (giggle). Long, long, long ago, my grandmother taught me how to make a granny square, and for the life of me, I'd forgotten it all. I tried once, about two years ago, with very little success, but later, when I had more time to sit and actually pay close attention to what I was doing, the steps just fell into place like it was the easiest thing in the world. And so, because it's fun and kinda' addictive...and pretty cool looking, I think...I decided to make an afghan for me, using some of my favorite yarn. Or, I should say, my favorite affordable yarn. Oh, I could happily pick out some nicer, more luxurious yarns...cashmere? lambswool? But I also didn't really want to spend $100 or more on my afghan. LOL Plus, I wanted something easy to throw in the wash for when, say, my sweet little baby throws up on it. (As all parents know will likely happen eventually.) I also didn't want to do the traditional little squares, so I'm doing a lot fewer BIGGER squares (note the hot wheel car for reference to size...they're pretty big.) in the colors of my living room. And I think it's going to turn out quite nicely. I plan on doing some sort of border, too, but I'm undecided on the color. In reality, it may wind up being whichever color I have the most leftover in the end. LOL

Oh, the yarn. Guess I could tell WHAT I'm using, huh? It's Lion Brand Yarn's Wool Ease in various colors. As I said, they match my living room, especially the wall quilt I made that hangs in my living room.





I'm quite excited about the whole thing, since it practically makes itself while I sit and watch TV at night with the hubby or ride in the car. I hardly have to even think about what I'm doing now, and since I'm the kind of person who can't STAND to sit and not DO something (watch TV while not sewing or something? Gasp! Are you KIDDING???), this is a WONDERFUL project to pull out or take along with me somewhere. Esp. since it's not big and bulky (yet. As they're still in individual squares). It's hard to take, say, a quilt in the car to work on. Anyway, I'll have to keep you updated on my progress. I also want to make Little Bit and me some new ponchos for this fall. We'll see how that goes, as well.

:) Happy Wednesday to all!

Soup and Blueberry Jam

Well, I've begun my preserving for this year, that is, if you don't count freezing, as I've already frozen quite a LOT of hand-picked blueberries from the farm nearby. But I managed 13 pints, if I remember correctly, of homemade vegetable soup and 7 and a half jelly jars (1/2 pints) of blueberry jam. I also put up five quarts of frozen fresh corn. I'm quite pleased with myself, though I am hardly finished. I plan to make some blackberry and strawberry jams, as well. Hopefully, in the next week or so, though this week I've a birthday party to plan. :)

Book Guilt

I love books. Books of all kind. Romance, Sci-fi, fantasy (my fav.), classics, history... And not just fiction. Not only do I love fiction, but those informative books that tell how people lived way back when. Life in a Mideval Castle/Village/City are some of my particular favorites. But I also love cook books, sewing books, crafting books. And it's not just the information, either. Sure, I can get loads of patterns, recipes, stories, etc. online. I could even go out and buy one of those Kindle reader things (which I'm sure is way cool if you do a lot of traveling), BUT I love BOOKS. I guess I'm a purist, because I love how they FEEL in my hand, the way the pages FEEL against your fingers and SOUND as you turn them in the middle of the night, when you're the only one awake in a quiet, dark house, everyone else having long gone to sleep. I just love books.

But here's the guilt. It's this little place on the internet. sigh. I've heard tales that most of the little privately owned bookstores, and even some of the larger chains, are in danger from a certain online discount store. And I feel for those other companies, I really do. I get so sad to see any store close, BUT...here's the thing. I'm not helping, because I, too, shop online. sigh. But what am I supposed to do when I can get my coveted cookbook for $10 cheaper online!!! (plus free shipping) And when I usually order two or three at a time, it adds up quick! And as a stay at home mother of three, I try to take stock of every dollar, to save where I can, to be thrifty. And so, what am I to do??? I can't afford to go buy my books at the local bookstores. Maybe once in a blue moon. (I always buy journals where I can see them and put my hands on them, not online). I feel guilty about it. I do. But I really don't see that I have much choice, that my hand is forced in the matter. Unless the bookstores find SOME way to make it more comparable, I can't do much to help them out...

sigh.

Anyone else feel my pain?