I'm not a quitter :)

Wow! I have not blogged in 2 years! It's no wonder I have 1 follower, lol

It's amusing to me, especially because of my blog's title, she never quits. I guess "she" quit blogging!

RIP Michael Jackson

I think I once knew all the moves, ha ha.

Best selling album of all time....you will be missed, MJ!

The beginning of something...I don't know yet.

I got the urge to crochet today, and decided to make something for the Fourth of July. How about a nice afghan to cover up with and cuddle while we're watching fireworks? Sounds great, but I'd better get busy!

Here's all I have so far:

The square pattern is inspired by one of my favorite crochet pattern books,

200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws, and Afghans: Crochet Squares to Mix and Match by Jan Eaton.

This afghan will be made from Caron Simply Soft yarn, in red, white and blue patriotic colors, using a G hook, and I'm not worried about gauge this time. Not at all.

This book is a must-have for any crochet library.

I love my zinnias!

30 Days of Giveaways: Day 10 – Giant Fortune Cookies Review and Giveaway!

Head on over to Miss Modern and enter to win a free GIANT fortune cookie! YUM!

30 Days of Giveaways: Day 10 ; Giant Fortune Cookies Review and Giveaway!

Hurry, ends soon!

Veggies to be picked!

Well, not enough to share with anyone, but I was able to pick the first pepper, cherry tomato, and a handful of green beans this morning! My little garden loves this hot and humid weather!

First cucumbers of the season!

WHY am I so excited?

The Indiana weather has been hot and muggy so far this summer, with lots of rain and intermittent sunshine. Our garden was planted, according to tradition, on Mother's Day. Every year I always plant tomatoes, for slicing and salsa (Mr. Stripey), and for making spaghetti sauce (Romas). We usually plant a few varieties of peppers, too (green bell, red bell, hungarian wax and cayenne). Beyond that, each year I like to mix it up and try new veggies I haven't tried to grow before.

Last year I had great success with growing cucumbers, so I'm giving it another shot this year. They did great and had very good yields until the end of July rolled around, and then the cucumber beetles invaded, killing off my plants. I will have to watch out for that this year!

I am growing a variety called "Bush Pickle" in a large deck box, with 6 foot stakes for them to grow up on. This variety is ideal for small gardens and containers, and the cucumber size is more ideal for pickling. As of today they are nearly 2 foot tall, and I picked the first 2 cukes! Once I get a larger yield, they will become bread and butter pickles. YUM! These 2 little cucumbers don't know it yet, but they are about to be made into Cool Cucumber Salad for tonight's dinner.

Here's my recipe, if you want to try it for yourself:

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Cool Cucumber Salad

Ingredients:

1 or 2 large cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced

1 onion, preferably a sweet variety such as Vidalia, thinly sliced

Salt and pepper (I like to use sea salt)

8-oz. container of sour cream

Thinly slice the cucumbers and onion and combine in medium size bowl. Salt and pepper, then stir in the sour cream and combine all ingredients well. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving, to allow the flavors to marinate.

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This is a traditional recipe, given to me by Mom several years ago. I have made it for hubby for many, many years. Goes great with anything you grill and is a summer favorite at my house. Enjoy!

Homemade Coffee Can Ice Cream

So easy and so delicious!
You'll need:
3 lb and a 1 lb coffee can
rock salt
duct tape
bag of ice


1. Put the coffee cans in the freezer for about an hour to chill before you make the ice cream.
You will be mixing ingredients in them, so they need to be cleaned very well.

2. Mix all ingredients together for the flavor you choose (vanilla and chocolate are both great!) in the smaller coffee can. Put the lid on and tape it tightly with duct tape. The tape will prevent any water from melted ice from seeping into your ice cream.

For vanilla ice cream:
2 cups half and half (or 1 cup half and half, 1 cup heavy cream for a richer ice cream)
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

For chocolate ice cream:
2 cups half and half
1/2 cup sugar
4 Tbsp. cocoa
1/2 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt

Mix-ins: chocolate chips, M&Ms, chopped up candy bars, nuts, strawberries, raspberries, cookie dough or cookie pieces, coconut, etc. These will be added in step 5.

4. Measure 1 cup rock salt and sprinkle some into the bottom of a 3 lb coffee can. Put a little ice on top of the salt. Now place the small can inside the large can. Pack ice around the smaller can, sprinkling in the rock salt as you go. Put the lid on the large can. You can seal the lid with duct tape if you want, but it is not necessary.

5. Roll the can back and forth between two people for 15 minutes. The agitation process is what makes the ice cream freeze and become solid. After 15 minutes, take the lid off the large can, remove the small can and pour out the ice and water. Dry off the small can and open it. Scrape the sides and stir. Now is the time to stir in any goodies or candy you wish to add!

6. Tape the small can again and put back into the large can. Pack large can with ice and salt as you did in step 4. Put the lid onto the large can and roll back and forth for another 10 to 15 minutes. Open the small can to reveal homemade ice cream in a coffee can!

PetiteMommy is giving away $250 worth of gift cards plus F-Secure 2009 on www.ContestforMoms.com

150 bags and counting

For the last few days, I've been making another ball of plarn for a craft project. For those of you unfamiliar, plarn = plastic yarn, a/k/a yarn created from recycling plastic shopping bags. I love to crochet them and recycle them into something useful, such as purses or rugs. At the end of this week, I'll have 2 balls created: one in white, and the other in tan. The tan ball is 100 bags large, and counting. I'm thinking that will be turned into a huge shopping tote. It will be perfect for taking to the farmer's market! Sorry, no photos today, as I'm headed to work.

Here is how it's done, if you want to follow along:
http://www.myrecycledbags.com/2007/02/17/instructions-for-cutting-plastic-bags-creating-recycled-plastic-yarn/

Summer is almost here!

I can't believe the boys only have 7 more days of school! Ah, to be a kid! I am excited for them. Summer vacation is just around the corner. Now I have to figure out how to keep them busy for the next 3 months!

Why Boys Need Parents

Happy Mother's Day!
I wanted to share this, as one of my favorite emails. I know it's been around the block a few times, but I still find it hilarious, and appropriate for Mother's Day.
Enjoy, L
**********************

This is for those mothers of boys, sisters of boys, and boys that have grown older. And anyone else who needs a laugh. Why boys need parents...

And you also find out interesting things when you have sons, like...

1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.

2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

3.) A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.

5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words 'uh oh', it's already too late.

8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

9.) A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36- year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.

10.) Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old Boy.

11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.

12.) Super glue is forever.

13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

15.) VCR's do not eject 'PB & J' sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.

16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.

19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.

20.) The fire department in Austin ! , TX has a 5-minute response time.

21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.

22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.

23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

24.) 80% of Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.

25.) 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.

Checking in!

Hi everybody, as you can see, I've been absent from my own blog for quite some time! I'm back, and hope to check in with you more often. I've been in home improvement mode lately. New photos coming soon.

Tag, I'm IT!

OK, here are the rules: Once tagged, you must link to the person who tagged you. Then post the rules before your list, and list 8 random things about yourself. At the end of the post, you must tag and link to 8 other people, visit their sites, and leave a comment letting them know they've been tagged.

Here I go!
Ummeyusef tagged me!

8 random things about me:

1. I hate bullies! Whether male or female, people who take advantage or otherwise pick on someone else, for benefit or for their own amusement, suck.

2. I'd rather drive than be driven. I am too much of a "back-seat driver" to just sit and let someone else take over. Besides, I get car sick very easy!!!!

3. I am not very coordinated...I'm the one in your aerobics class doing all the moves the opposite way than everyone else!

4. I pay close attention to detail, and can pick typos out of most printed publications. I try to overlook them, but they POP OUT at me!

5. I go to the mall about 2 times a year -- at the holidays for gift-giving, and to buy my boys school clothes. Other than that, you won't see me there. I simply shop AROUND it at all costs, and would buy everything online if I could.

6. I love really sour foods...steamed pork dumplings with rice vinegar, cole slaw, (OK, pretty much anything with vinegar on/in it), lemons, grapefruit, cranberry, etc. Maybe I am naturally very alkaline? I don't know?!

7. I have to plan everything. A Plan A and Plan B, really. I can't just "wing it"!

8. I'm an outdoor person, and a tomboy at heart, but if it all possible, please don't mess up my hair!


Now to tag 8 more people: (Some of my crochetville and myspace friends)

CrochetKitten
Holly
Theresa
Crocheted Dreams
Vicki
Jeanie
A Creative Spirit
Bxnygirl

Wake Me Up When September Ends

I've got 2 more weeks of super-intensive "boot camp" training for school, so my crocheting has nearly slowed down to a screeching halt!! I am a weekend warrior for the time being, and so, unfortunately I probably will be a woman of few words here at my blog. Please forgive me, but if I have only a few minutes here and there to spare, you know I choose crocheting over blogging. I will be back the last week of September, after I have completed the majority of my classroom training.

Here are some photos I'm sharing of past projects, completed yet forgotten:





I have 3 tests tomorrow, so back to homework. TTFN!

Like, Totally, You Know?!

Here is a sneak preview of my "Totally 80's" striped handbag:

And its coordinating, polka dot lining:

The top edge is a reverse sc. I will post more photos after I've (gulp) sewed in the lining and zipper, and completed the strap. Don't hold your breath, as it may take me awhile. I'm NOT the best at using my sewing machine. If you can picture lots of cussing and ripping out seams, then you get the picture!

Plarn is not a dirty word!

I finally got the recycled plarn tote done, and it is so chotchky.... I love it for the conversation piece it has become! This baby is durable, has a good stretch to it, and is able to hold everything, even a sweatshirt, water bottle, and yes, a couple of Nintendos ("Here Mom, hold this please"). I will be making others, and am envisioning one made with pink and blue potpourri wastebasket bags!

Hairpin Lace update

Well, here's what I've done so far. Made 3 strips, and it kinda resembles the design in the pattern photo, so that's good, I guess. My gauge was WAY off on this...when the first strip was completed it was 10 feet long!!! I made the others 200 loops apiece and it is much more of a reasonable size.

Here's a preview of the completed shawl, from the book I was telling you about:


Close up of lace design:

Lessons in Hairpin Lace

I've joined yet another CAL at crochetville, to create something in hairpin lace.


And here's a shot of it on my loom. I have absolutely no idea if I'm even doing this properly, but I was able to work up one strip of 300 loops (on each side), and pulled out some patterns I have.

There is a lovely lace stole, called Woman's Stole, from the Bates Book 17600, Discover the Excitement of Hairpin Lace - Beginners and Advanced Designs (from the 70s - unsure of publication date).

The stole pattern takes 5 strips of 300, and I will let you know if it turns out!

Beginning of Star-ghan #1

Saw this Star-ghan pattern recently on Crochetville, and I knew I'd have to make one for each of my sons. Got the pattern from Yarndiva, many thanks!

I have enough colors of Caron Simply Soft in my stash to at least get started on the first. I'll make them different so they can tell them apart (no fighting!), and they will be in coordinating colors to match their comforters.

Here's #1, 7 rounds in: