week five

Week five has been posted for this year's Alzheimer's CAL! I had to release it a little early (next week as well), so you have it already!

The pattern is FREE with coupon code - and any one who buys it has my thanks, as the money at the end of the CAL will be donated to my family's Alzheimer's walk.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/2015-alzheimers-cal

week two

 I mentioned before I'm participating in the mystery lapghan - I have one design due out in September, and I'm also trying to crochetalong - this afghan, and the around the bases cal as well. I'm hoping to manage a few lapghans so I can donate them to my local nursing home, so I'm making extras of the squares when I have time, and adding a few of my own as well.



So after the first two weeks, with six squares released, I've added to my pile:




 

posy wheels- my favorite color combos of the bunch

more posies - not sure I like the solid version (which I changed up a bit, using fpdc instead of a regular dc as written)

borderline squares - I liked this one

I have not done today's square yet - on my list of things to do today!

I also managed to stitch up on my own

quad color square - one of my other stand-by favorite squares I often make as "fillers" for my charity afghans

Next up: two squares of my own design. The pattern is in testing - it's a sideways/bias stitch square afghan worked in 'seed' stitch (though the particular stitch has many different names in the crochet community) - the pattern will be released shortly. The directions include making the pattern in any size, using any weight of yarn in any gauge, and you can make anything from these little squares, to a full size, rectangular afghan

Week four has been posted for this year's Alzheimer's CAL!

It's not too late to join in - you can start with this week's directions, and make the first two weeks whenever you have a chance.

The pattern is FREE with coupon code - and any one who buys it has my thanks, as the money at the end of the CAL will be donated to my family's Alzheimer's walk.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/2015-alzheimers-cal

week one

I believe I mentioned before I'm participating in the mystery lapghan - I have a design due out, and I'm also crocheting along - what fun to participate in someone else's cal for a change (I'm also doing the around the bases cal, too!)

I'm under no illusions I'll be able to keep up, but I'm hoping to make most of the squares. I'm hoping to make enough squares to make a couple of lapghans to eventually donate to a local nursing home, so I'm making extras of most of the squares (when I have time) and I'm adding in extra squares as well.

So after the first week, with three squares released, I've managed to make:

Lacy Crimson Square - easy version

Diagonal Box Square

 

Petite Purple Square

I also managed to make:

chain stitch square - one of my favorites for using up bits and bobs of scrap yarn

traditional granny

"solid" granny - sorry for the blurry photo

sampler lapghan CAL

I'm super excited to be a part of this VERY fun crochet along - which actually starts TODAY! I am designing one of 36 squares, which together will make an amazing sampler lapghan. I have a date in September which I'm looking forward to! I'm also making an afghan, but I am making extra squares - and using some of my own favorite 6" square patterns - to make a much larger blanket.

You can join in anytime and the group is having a ton of fun! For more info go to crochet memories

week 3

Week three has been posted for this year's Alzheimer's CAL! It's not too late to join in - you can start with this week's directions, and finish last week's whenever you have a chance. The pattern is FREE with coupon code - and any one who buys it has my thanks, as the money at the end of the CAL will be donated to my family's Alzheimer's walk.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/2015-alzheimers-cal

My newsletter

I have a little newsletter that I only send out so often, but I just sent out a new issue this morning talking about the latest Alzheimer's afghan cal, which I mentioned last week. If you aren't a subscriber yet, you can sign up on the sidebar on the right, or just read it here

2015 Alzheimer's Afghan

The 2015 Alzheimer's Afghan CAL is ready to begin!

Living with Intent: My Somewhat Messy Journey to Purpose, Peace, and Joy by Mallika Chopra

Living with Intent: My Somewhat Messy Journey to Purpose, Peace, and Joy by Mallika Chopra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I requested this book from netgalley to read on a whim, and I was glad I did! I don't normally read books like this or really, self help books at all, but I've been struggling lately with being more organized, better planning, where do I want to be in a year or ten years and how do I get there? This book is a roadmap, and is constantly asking you questions that make you think about those very same issues. I've written down many of the questions Chopra asks so I can think about them more in more detail.

I like the fact that Chopra repeatedly admits how her own life can be a mess, that she's not perfect, that she too is striving to make sense of her life, and gives you the sense that if she can create order from chaos, so can you.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review. I was not paid for my review

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Drink the Harvest: Making and Preserving Juices, Wines, Meads, Teas, and Ciders by Nan K. Chase

Drink the Harvest: Making and Preserving Juices, Wines, Meads, Teas, and Ciders by Nan K. Chase
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked this book up on a whim from my local library, and fell in love. I've been dabbling with the idea of making my own wine, looking up the occasional how to when I come across a post on pinterest that looks interesting, but this book pushed me over the edge, and I now can't wait to try making my own wines & meads (I'm researching sources of local honey now in preparation!) I discovered wild grapes on my property, and not being a big fan of grape jelly (which is what I made last year), I'd much rather turn them into wine!

The book has gorgeous photographs, is very well laid out, explains all the steps (and most important to me, doesn't just tell you what to do, but explains why doing something this way is so important, so instead of just telling you how to make wine, it educates you). It's a must for any gardener looking for alternate ways to preserving their crops.

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