Finished!

It's done! Finally I finished Mimi's blanket. She loves it. I hope it keeps her warm this winter!

Now I am working on new projects. I will update later with pictures!
***
We had a great T-day! I fixed salmon, cous cous, butternut & acorn squash stuffing, and spinach casserole. We ate like royalty! It was fun.

Have a great week!
Karen

If I can avoid going to a store, I do it. I prefer online shopping. So, when we decided to purchase a new toilet, I did some research and found one I wanted based on reviews. Yes, there are oodles of toilet reviews. And there are toilets that cost more than a thousand! Finally, we decided on this one: the Toto Drake

It arrived without incident in a massive box. I opened it and found another box! Here it is:

The instructions were easy, and Kevin installed it rather quickly. It is a good toilet, so if you are ever in the market, consider a Toto.

I've ordered a refridgerator and a washing machine online.
***
Mimi has been reading a lot these days.

She will be 5 soon. I can hardly believe it. She is so grown up & smart. I can remember the day we took her home from the hospital like it was yesterday. Kevin said he couldn't believe they let people take home people without even taking a test!

Crochet Projects

Crochet projects are addictive...especially when there is no pattern involved. I like to make my own design, and see what I can create. The process is a love/hate relationship. In the beginning I am excited to get it going, and I can visualize the end project, but by the time I am half way done I get discouraged. But I crochet on closer to the finish line. Towards the end of the project momentum builds and I become excited to finish. All in all it is a rewarding process, and it allows me to express my creativity. I love to think the things I make live on and may even out live me.

This is for a dear friend:

Here is a new project I am working on:
It's Mimi's birthday gift from me. She picked out the colors. I have to make 20 squares, and then I will connect them, and make a nice pink border around them. I can't wait to put it on her bed.
***
In other news (the bad kind), I broke a tooth in half early in the weekend. :(

Have a great week!
~Karen

I can't believe it's mid-November. My work station shows it. I have 5 different projects going on. I know. 5. That is too many. Look at my space:

Hopefully by 2010 my junk will be reduced as the supplies get used up!
***
Here is a blanket I am working on. It is killing my hands. I should have opened it up to show you, but I was too lazy!

***
Here is Ralphie. He is getting bigger.

I can't resist saying "Fly away!" when I see him. Look at those ears!

***

I finished The Bastard of Istanbul. I really enjoyed the book. It didn't have this perfect Hollywood ending either, and I can appreciate that.

What book are you reading?
and
Are you making most, all, or none of your holiday gifts?

~Karen

Fred, the beta fish, is the newest member in our family.

He requires very little attention. The perfect pet!
***

Remember one of my favorite things?
Look at it closely:

Yep, it broke. It broke the day we had the new heater installed. Just a clumsy move on my part was all it took. It may sound really weird, but I think I may like it more now. Not that I like having broken things, but it reminded me to enjoy things while you have them, and not keep them aside for someday.

It inspired me to properly display some favorite pottery pieces:

So, now we can enjoy it!

***
I've been crocheting

I love this one:

I'm thinking it will be a pin....still a work in progress!

Another baby blanket:

Off to do laundry! Have a great week!
~Karen

We Should Listen:

The Right Thing: Healthcare for ALL

It's War

My neighbors have lost their minds. It is Fall and the leaves are falling, and this must have triggered insanity because they all spent the entire weekend attacking leaves, bagging leaves, mulching leaves, etc.

WHY?

Who cares?

I say let the leaves be, and enjoy life with your loved ones instead.

My 2 cents, Karen

I Spy Kylie Parry Art!

I have a lot of Kylie Parry's pieces. I admit I look at her shop a lot! I love everything in it! Here is a wall in our bedroom:

Yep, that sweet little key plaque is by her!***
In our kitchen:
The sweet star around the pitcher!
***
Here is another piece I love. I love the colors.

***
This one is on our bathroom.

***
You may see a pear...I see my favorite food in the world: the butternut squash.

*Yummers*

Yeah, I may never take this thing off.
***
Love the pins too. Beautiful!

***
More little wall ornaments waiting to find a home!

Check out her shop! Find some holiday gifts. I 'll understand if you can't quite part with them after you get them. I feel the same way!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/kylieparry

Pattern, Shmattern

Hit or Miss???

I tried. ;)

Mimi picks out her clothes now. She doesn't pick them out when I buy them, but she certainly is opinionated about what I do buy. She wears mostly skirts these days, and she always wears some stripey tights with them. She will throw clothes around like a teenager when she is searching for the perfect ensemble. Look at her dresser, and this is a good day!
***

Ralphie is all better now. His favorite place to sleep is here:

***

I've been making jacket/coat pins.

They are fun! Let me know if you want one!

***

These days Moe is all about computer games :
He got a hair cut. I think he looks so grown up now! My baby is no longer a baby! And Mimi will be 5 soon! How did that happen so fast??!

I want life to slow down so I can enjoy each moment more .

Tomorrow will be pure chaos! We are getting a new heater installed. It will take 5-8 hours!!! And Moe has a dentist appt for another filling.

Maybe life can slow down after tomorrow?? I hope it goes quick and pain-free!

~Karen

Silly People!

We have a lot of time on our hands. And Halloween is over, so costumes are 75% off.

Have a great week!
~Karen

Watch! Hilarious!!!!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The 11/3 Project
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

We've been busy bees making things!

Moe made me a self portrait:

I love it. I think it is impressive! He is reports he is not happy though. Mimi asked him why, and he said he has a rash. He doesn't have a rash, so I have no idea where this came from.
***

Mimi made her friend Brendan a picture. Brendan happens to LOVE Thomas the Train.

She did all the writing herself. She did ask how to spell Brendan's name. She is becoming quite the reader and writer.
***
I've been crocheting gloves and scarves.

I hope the recipients enjoy them.
***

I got some books the other day. Books make me happy.

I had mixed feelings about Spark's The Notebook....The movie made me cry crocodile tears. And it has death in it too. As mentioned before, I don't like death books. But the book was a quarter. I figured someone would read it if I didn't.
***

My mom bought Ralphie this shirt. It is weird having a dog in clothes. I guess we will get used to it.

Isn't Ralphie so cute? He has grown so much and looks so mature now. He used to be the size of a hamster. :)

Happy Wednesday!
~Karen

Stream of Consciousness

I have made all sorts of things, and I wanted to share them with you, but my camera's battery died. I need to find the charger. It is in one of our many junk drawers. I have had dreams of being killed by clutter. I really hate it. I bet those of you who know me didn't know that. I actually love getting rid of things. I do have a lot of crafting supplies. That is one allowable source of clutter, but all other sources I despise.

I made the mistake of looking at a decorating blog today. Everything was so neatly organized. Everything had a place of its' own. What a nice thought. I also realized my house breaks about every design rule out there. That is fine by me.

I stopped by the local goodwill yesterday and scored some good books. I am excited. I am reading The Magician's Assistant. It is good so far, but it has a lot of death in it, and death is not a subject I enjoy reading about or even thinking about. In fact, I would like to not die ever. In fact, I would like all the people I love to live forever.

Moe had a filling today. The dentist was super nice. He drilled it out and filled it without giving him a shot, and it worked wonderfully. Moe was out of there in 10 minutes or less. It was a great experience. He is going to need two more fillings. He's been on lots of antibiotics for ear infections. He has taken more than his fair share of medications in the last several years. I like that the dentist did not restrain him and that he allowed me back in the room with him. Some local ones restrain the kids and won't allow parents back there.

I have made zero progress on the quilting. But, I am crocheting a lot. I am trading some fingerless gloves and scarves with an etsy store owner. I am excited! If anyone else wants to trade, let me know. I am up for it! I hope to either make or trade all the gifts I give this year.

Hope everyone is having a great week!
~Karen

Halloween Fun!

After about 5 houses they decided they'd had enough and wanted to come home and eat their goodies.
:)
~Karen