doing things by hand

If there is one thing that I have learned since I have taken on the hugely rewarding task of caring for an older person -- it is the art doing things by hand.

And yes, I am convinced, it is an art.

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~~This lovely, tenacious woman (that I gleen all sorts of information from) is celebrating her birthday today. 

Ninety two years of being on this earth -- and she has finessed the art of doing things by hand.

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Because she does not have a dishwasher I must wash/dry & put away her dishes by hand. 
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But you know what? there is something almost soothing about that whole thing....it reminds me of my sisters & me standing at a sink full of dishes, giggling about some of the most dorky things ever as we rushed to get them all done.

And so now -- much to our kids' chagrin -- they are learning to do the dishes by hand (even tho our dishwasher is less than 10 inches away, ready to be loaded).  They are now standing next to a sink full of sudsy water, learning to do things by hand, wondering if their parents have completely lost it & loving every moment of it.
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So what better birthday gift than to crochet Ruth some dishcloths?

I added crochet edging to hand towels that I bought from the store; used Lily Sugar 'n Cream ;  my g or h crochet hook;

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...and got all of the stitch patterns from my new, favorite book:

So Ruth will be getting some new crocheted dishcloths & towels.

And I have learned of how to do things by hand:

Skills I Have Learned So Far

1.  How to stand still with hands in sudsy water and just enjoying the quietness of scrubbing some glassware & silverware.

2.  How to fold a fitted bed sheet. Perfectly. (Can you all do this? Sheesh, this skill seemed to escape me entirely! But now?! Thanks to Ruth --I show off how I can do this -- and yes, it is always met with complete eye-rolling.)

3.  How to make the fiercest bowl of home-made frosting.  (And I'm not talking about powdered sugar with a little milk added in.  Ruth gave me her grandmother's recipe from the old country that is made on the stove with flour, milk, butter, shortening and sugar...more than yummy!  Bye, bye store bought frosting in a plastic tub!) 

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Thank you, thank you Ruth!  And happy birthday, sweet lady.

sideways, of course!

If you  know me -- I have hit you over the head about a billion times you know that I have all but turned myself inside out to make some wearable socks. 

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Go ahead.  Peruse previous posts of  mine and you will see sorry, little crocheted socks that are ill fitting and collecting dust on my I-will-never-wear-that! shelf.  I have even dabbled into that forever-confusing world of knit & purl, just to maybe get some yarny socks with needles instead of a hook.

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Nah.

But just when I thought all was lost...

...I found a pattern for socks that are crocheted sideways!

Interweave Crochet Accessories 2010

My hugest complaint with crocheted socks has always been ---> there is. no. give. whatsoever when trying to get them on.  They just don't stretch.

But holey moley!  Brenda K.B. Anderson the designer of Sydney's Sideways Socks has shaken my world in the most wonderful of ways.  Sideways, of course!

Just look at those delicious rows of stretchi-ness....

I used my C hook and this very soft, very lovely yarn:  Deborah Norville Collection SERENITY Sock Weight in Paprika. 

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(Shhhhhh! --  I broke the #1 rule of sock-making and only made one....

...but I love these so much, that I am going to make some in every color & size to fill my dresser drawers to overflowing.)

elegance

I love all things elegant.

Definition of ELEGANCE

1a : refined grace or dignified propriety  b : tasteful richness of design or ornamentation c : dignified gracefulness or restrained beauty of style : polish d : scientific precision, neatness, and simplicity
2: something that is elegant


But step into my house and you will see:
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 a brand-new puppy keen on chasing crabby kitties

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homework that seems to be geared heavily toward stupifying the smartest of parents

 

a dryer & a Jeep that pick the most inopportune time to stop working

 

a prognosis of acute cabin fever,

 

yadda, yadda, yadda.....

 

 

 

And...my life is anything but elegant.

 

How to remedy that?

Simple.  You crochet something that is elegant.

First off ---->My Cascading Elegance pineapple doily from : Crochet Pineapple Centerpieces from HouseWhite Birches. (I have had this book forever & don't know if it is available to purchase anywhere.)

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And you know --there is something so elegant about a crochet pineapple pattern --- and of course, this Aunt Lydia Bamboo Cotton thread is still my fAvOrItE!! The drape alone is more than sumptuous.

And then on to this book.  My sister purchased this for me and not only does she know me oh, so well, she learned  how to knit!--drat her...but that is a whole 'nother post for a whole 'nother time...ahem.

In her book, Linda Permann shows so many delightful stitches and one that I have always wanted to do is: Catherine Wheel.  Every time I have tried to crochet this stitch -- ugh, let's just say it never resembled the pattern. 

Ever.

But man! her directions were clear.  The diagrams were clear...

....ta-da!  A Catherine Wheel Washcloth.

Love this so much, that I am trying two totally different colors.

Okay.  Now it's onto my very sagging inbox...

doing w/o

Stepping away for a bit...........

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wintry cowl

Wintry weather is always welcome here.

Huge snow drifts. Huge snowflakes.  Huge prayers for at least 22 inches of the stuff.  Huge hopes of major snow accumulation that will somehow exceed the roof line of our house.

Now that winter has indeed made its frosty entrance -- well....one must have a gorgeous, wintry cowl, right?

And I found just the one!  Crochet today jan/feb 09  has a super easy cowl pattern that works up beautifully.

Using leftover yarn and my M hook, I fell in love with the ease & look of this stitch pattern.

It's a simple v-stitch that can be done almost mindlessly.  And with a big hook...

....well, a mere 31 inches later a luxurious cowl has formed.

roses in the snow

I'm taking a break --- remember?

Plunging myself into a whirlwind of pre-Christmas obligations -- not having time to get any type of thready/yarny things done.

Uh. huh.

That worked....

....until I saw Teresa's fabulous video tutorial for her crocheted Christmas ornament.

So, pushing aside the pile of Christmas cards that need to be addressed; the cookie dough that needs to be mixed; the online ordering of Christmas presents that  m.u.s.t. get done; the menu planning for Christmas eve....I went and hunted for hooks I had hidden & thread I intentionally put out of reach.

And made a roses in the snow ornament.

*thread is size 10 DMC Cebelia
*the hook is my # 7
*and I changed Teresa's flower to the flower from motif #114 from this book:

The tiny green leaves I crocheted from here:

Hmmm.  I think I will give this ornament to Ruth.  She is a special 91 yr. old lady ( and I do mean, lady!) that I have the pleasure of taking care of a few days a week. 

I have learned so much from her! 

Some days I wonder, 'Exactly who is taking care of whom?'

~

She has taught me that being strong is more admirable than being whiney.  

She has taught me to say thank you even in the smallest of incidences.

She has taught me that when you fall down, you stand back up.

She has taught me that obligations are opportunities.

She has taught me that if you are still drawing breath  -- you still have plenty of things to do.

~

"This is Christmas:

not the tinsel,

not the giving and receiving,

not even the carols,

but the humble heart

that receives anew

the wondrous gift,

the Christ."

-- Frank McKibben

Merry Christmas, everyone!

quietness of mind

~

Bless us Lord, this Christmas with quietness of mind. Teach us to be patient and always to be kind."

--Helen Steiner Rice

....a bit of a holiday break.
 
I'll be back soon.