Assembly... it's a tough job.

I do so love this serious little face.  His Momma said he was very intent on assembling his bugs.  It's hard work!  =)

I also received photos of the Big Boys wearing their Puppy Hats.

 

Sure do miss these two... As they told me on FaceTime earlier... their house is a LONG way from mine.  (And, they hardly have time to talk... the iPhone is needed for games! Busy lives.)

 

 

Last week, Laura helped me put the 96 Noro blocks in order to assemble into an afghan. You would think it would be easy to just randomly choose a block and join it with another... not so much. There is just a little too much OCD livin' here for me not to just freak out! It is so nice to have friends who can help you when you hit a wall! The assembly has begun! 

 

And... I started another assembly project this weekend.  I'm to the point I need at least one more pair of hands... Can you guess what it is?

 

A new chandelier.  I hope to finish getting this together and hung sometime this week! 

 

And, that's the story of ASSEMBLY around here!  Ha! 

 

"The individual is capable of both great compassion and great indifference.  He has it within his means to nourish the former and outgrow the latter."

~ Norman Cousins

 

blessings ~ tanna

More Fun...

A $2 bag of beads from Walmart, a leftover button, and some scrap yarn plus a FREE bracelet pattern equals more FUN STUFF!  Just gotta love it.

Pattern:  Wrap Around Crochet Bracelet by Yuli Nilssen.

I can tell there will be other experiments with this one, too.  ;)

Early morning caught me driving into the sunrise to pick up Miss B.

We have had such a fun day so far... Snacks: ALL my Littles love their peanut butter and Ritz and clementines! And, don't forget the "fresh regular milk" as Roo calls it.  ;)

We worked puzzles, did projects, read stories...

Miss B also worked really hard to cook lunch for her baby and the Teddy Bears. Everyone loved it I might add. Then, we played outside for awhile... until those beautiful eyes were starting to droop. My little angel is napping away right now. We have plans to hit the park when she wakes up. So. much. fun.

Starting the weekend with a bang!  Hope you are as well!

"But when there is love and beauty, whatever you do is right, whatever you do is in order.  If you know how to love, then you can do what you like because it will solve all other problems."
~ Krishnamurti

blessings ~ tanna

Fun Stuff!

Pammy Sue of Scotty's Place introduced me to this FUN PROJECT!  I loved hers and I can see many more in my future.  Ha! Thank you, Pammy Sue!

Rustic I Cord Wrap by Elizabeth Murphy (link to the pattern on my Ravelry page)

This one was specially made for Ryleigh from spring colored sock yarn.  The beads and buttons were from Joanne's Fabric.

And, here is Miss B sporting her puppy hat.  While this is a very serious look, there were MANY wild and laughing ones that just could not be captured... well, they were captured, but they are just a blur!  Note she is playing with the tractors and bulldozers.  ;)

Another happy text from Zack... he is in his element!

And, a Mommy and Me selfie text of my Alex showing off that missing front tooth!

"The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another's, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual spiritual exercises."
~ Leo Buscaglia

blessings ~ tanna

Birthday Fun and Entrechat

We had two birthdays to celebrate this week. Gracie turned 15 and Miss Karsyn turned 7. And, Alex lost his first front tooth. Too quickly... time flies.

Karsyn is so fun. She gets the most excited of any of our grandchildren (maybe anyone I've ever seen) over a gift... and is always so appreciative.

I would highly recommend this little pattern:  Entrechat by Lisa Chemery.  Done here in Noro Taiyo colorway #60.

Not a seam one. And, a really pretty bit of stitching, too...

Karsyn had requested a black, short sweater a few months ago... and I knit it in black per her request... the first time. Then, could not resist a bright spring one when our LYS got in a new Noro colorway.  ;)

The black does show the stitch design a bit better... and it WAS her favorite. But, I SURE enjoyed the bright Noro.  hee hee ;)

THE SUN IS SHINING!! I'm off to enjoy it!!  Hope you are, too!

blessings ~ tanna

Random Tidbits... and More Rain

Big Boys having fun... My son, Zachary, in a recent fishing tournament.  This child of mine has LOVED to fish since he was as young as Alex and Roo.

Big (shhhh... Little) Boys having fun... Roo and Alex working a Kiwi Crate Project Kit.  They love working these (available in Target).

MORE RAIN.... So weary of it.  I know.  I know.  All you folks in the PNW think I'm telling Noah about the flood, but we are just not used to it!!  ha!  I am not a wimp in the sweltering summer heat... but, this.... well, okay, I'm wimping!!

One more of the little Puppy Hats for Miss B (who drew a FISH the other day!  Daddy's girl.).

We had two glorious days of sunshine!  Feeling that warmth on my face was good medicine!!

"A human being has a natural desire to have more of a good thing than he needs."
~ Mark Twain

Hoping you are having some good medicine in your life... whatever that may be for you.

blessings ~ tanna

The Sunday Shawl Addiction

So a few weeks ago, my friend, Laura stirred up this first little burst of a frenzy with photos of The Sunday Shawl by Little Bee... Then, she started hers and it was so bright and cheerful... and summer-like!  I tried to stay focused on projects I already had in the works...

But, dreams of long, hot summer days... and wearing flowing, gauzy cotton... Well, it just became an obsession; and, I remembered that I had a summer outfit that I did not have a shawl to match... Justification was born.

Soon, I was in the midst of this wonderful pattern.  It is so fun!  And, fast!  Mine is done in Cotton Fleece by Brown Sheep Company, Inc.

These photos were taken on one of our gray days... they do not do it justice. Can't say enough about how fun this was; I enjoyed it so much that I finished my second one Saturday night! Thank you, Laura!

EARLY this morning!  SUNSHINE on its way!  I'm smiling!!  Lots to do!  Hope you all have a wonderful start to your week!

blessings ~ tanna

I Give.

I give.  I'm over it!  I've tried not to complain... I've tried to remain grateful for the rain. I actually enjoyed it... a few weeks ago.  I mean we've needed it. Since 2011, so much of Texas has been in drought conditions. BUT. I. GIVE! 

I am STILL grateful for the rain; but even in that gratefulness, I am flat out sick of gray, sunless days... and rain, rain, rain! Yes, I'm complaining. Whining. B*%*^ing! Bellowing! Does that negate my gratitude?

I got so drenched earlier today that, when I reached my car, I just sat there... with the seat heaters on... eating chocolate covered almonds... like there was no tomorrow... because I wanted to SCREAM (you know I always park as far away from the store as the last buggy corral... and I was SO WET there was no real option to keep on with my plans... I was going to have to return to the house for dry clothes).

I am experiencing something kin to claustrophobia... this inability to escape the gray and wet.  It's starting to get to me.

Here are a couple of the "diversions" from the white sweater I've been enjoying.  Puppy Hat by Sarah at Repeat After Me Crochet was REQUESTED by Roo during his Christmas visit. If he received one, his big brother needed one, too.

I feel a little better getting my whining out in the open. It's embarrassing. But, real.

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.'"
~ Exodus 14:15

I need to move on now.  ;)

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend... and some sunshine!

blessings ~ tanna

STUCK...

People, I am stuck. stuck. stuck. on this sweater... the one that was supposed to help revive my knitting mojo. Ha!

I am frozen with fear that I will hate it like all the other sweaters I've made (most have found homes elsewhere).  I have LOVED working and holding this wonderfully soft yarn... Now, it's time to bind off the hem and start the sleeves... it's been that time for a couple of weeks now...  and, nothing.

I don't want to hate it when I'm through; but, I'm about to have to just "back my ears" and finish it!! If I hate it, surely this will be the last sweater I start (for myself). Please.

I did find a bit of Happy last week!!  And, I finished OTHER projects... Diversions!

Hoping each of you are making better progress with things you've started than I have!

"We will be victorious if we have not forgotten how to learn."
~ Rosa Luxemburg

blessings ~ tanna

Random Acts of Kindness - Week 4

This is the last week of Betsy's Random Acts of Kindness Adventure 2015.  An unintended consequence of doing RAKs for others is the blessings I have enjoyed in doing them.

And, I can see that this little act of making cards to leave in unexpected places could become a regular thing around here... That crazy old lady passing out cards in parking lots or mailboxes. LOL!
 

Betsy, thank you for bringing acts of kindness to the front of my focus these past four weeks.  There is a sign in my kitchen that reads:  Because Nice Matters.  I believe with all my heart it does.

As The Boys would say, we can be bucket fillers or bucket dippers.  The choice is ours.  Every. single. day.

May you fill lots of buckets today...

blessings ~ tanna

On the Receiving End...

I had been holed up in my "cloffice" (closet turned office) for HOURS working on taxes when my Beloved showed up at my door... with a package from Amazon.

I said, "I didn't order anything."

He said, " Well, it's for you."

I sat with tears (good tears) streaming down my face while reading every page.  ALL of my hand-making grandmother friends would LOVE this book, too.

But, more than the book... it was the thoughtfulness... and the time... and the words... and that this precious child of mine would believe so well of her imperfect mother.  I am blessed so much more than I ever deserve. I share this as an example how acts of kindness can so deeply touch the heart of someone you love... It can encourage them... lift their spirits... make them feel loved... make their day a whole lot better!
Let's take the time... and JUST DO IT.

I received this in an e-mail this week... don't have any idea who to credit , but I know every. single. mother. can. relate.  And, as for the Number 1... a LOT of the times, the tears were of joy and love and happiness and a kind of delight I cannot find words to describe.

We are cold again... but the SUN is SHINING now!!  And, I'm a happy camper about that!

"So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind."  
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (MSG)

blessings ~ tanna

Hardwood Magic... Vintage Apartment

So, this is how they turned out... you may remember the BEFORE we started with in this little vintage apartment.  I apologize for the darkness... it is GRAY and gloomy here folks!!

After sanding and staining... There is NO FLOORING as beautiful as an original hardwood, in my book. 

Oh, if these floors could talk.  ;)

We finished up the final details on this one yesterday... And, hope she gets the perfect tenant soon.

Original vintage tile flooring, tub and pedestal sink...

We did cave to the requests of the downstairs tenant and carpet the bedroom of this unit for quietness (should have vacuumed before this photo. we trampled it pretty good hanging new blinds).

We used Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray throughout and white for all the woodwork.  Still has the original sink and cabinets... The range will be replaced this week and that ceiling fan/fixture really needs to be swapped out.... probably next time.  Sometimes, you have to space out the improvements... there is a bottom to the budget!!  ;)

Now, back to taxes!!!  Arrggghhhh....

blessings ~ tanna