Sarafia Finish and a Start

Sarafia CAL all done and here she is ...
washed, dryed and ready for delivery.  Forty-eight squares, two rows of edging with the first being just a double crochet, the second row consisting of  two single crochets and a shell of five double crochets, measures 67 X 48 inches.

I used Loops & Threads, Impeccable worsted acrylic yarn.  Most of from my stash with a few more purchases to complete.  Following the washing this is amazingly soft.  I really enjoyed this pattern and am thinking of making another for myself for the bed.  Maybe just one square; one great big square.

I was trying to decide what colors to use for the bed and realized I was looking at this pillow which I love and the colors in it.

 So I had to take a look at the stash and what do you think I found.  Pretty much the same colors ... here's the yarn against the back of the pillow.

Stay tuned for the winter project!

Hope your weekend is wonderful.

What's Doing Wednesday

The past few weeks have seemed to pass by even quicker then usual.  I noticed yesterday that the leaves are starting to really turn.  The evening are quite cool and sweater and sweatshirts are needed especially in the mornings now.

Happy to say that the crochet hook continues it dance.  My CAL of the Sarafia Afghan is nearing completion.  Forty-eight squares now assembled and the second row of the edging just being started.  Quite a few ends to be woven and it will be ready to go to its new home.  Will post a picture though before it leaves.

Its such a wonderful time of year to be working on afghans.  They provide such comfort and warmth during these Fall evenings.  Adding a cup of tea and all cozy.

Hope your week is going well. 

Blessings,

Finding Fabulous on Friday

Puttering, cleaning, washing, cooking ... all the sights and sounds and smells of home.  Spaghetti sauce simmering, rice pilaf made, lentils sitting patiently on the counter ready to become soup...mmmm, one of my favorites.  Preparing dinners or parts of to make the coming week a little easier.  One closet down this morning with the reorganizing.  Amazingly there's not much to be gotten rid of but I do have more space in the closet.  Love these baskets. 

A quick lunch break to be had shortly.  The open windows are bringing in the cooler, chilled breeze giving such freshness to the house.  In the quiet of the morning the rustling of the leaves on the trees outside, the distant humming tractor in the orchid bringing in the harvest whispers the gentle noise of Fall.  And its good.

In these moments I find Him and I am grateful.

May your day be filled

 with blessed moments.

What's Doing Wednesday

Last minute change of plans today so going from out and about and working to at home.  For me a chance to putter and work some on a reorganization I have started.  The Fall always invigorates me to do a little extra but my inspiration came from Old Grey Mare .  Just take a look at this set up ... so neat, pleasant to the eye.

So, for the past few weeks I've been using Michael's coupons and keeping an eye open for baskets on sale.  So far six baskets have been acquired and the organization has been kicked off.
 
Behind these doors is my first project to be tackled.  I had done some organizing not too long ago, but I like idea of the baskets which will give me reason to unload the closets (which are way too over loaded), decide what is to be kept and what is to be disposed of or given away.


Of course there has to be some crochet time, no?
My Sarafia CAL is humming along.  Actually, I will devote more time to that then my other projects at the moment.  Thinking three more rows to be added.  Unless I find another pattern I like more this may be going to a special lady who just started chemo treatments yesterday.  I was thinking this was bright and cheerful but I'm looking at this and seeing Spring, maybe this should be more of a Fall/Winter feel?  If you have any suggestions or other pattern that would be better, please let me know, I would appreciate it and I'm always looking for new patterns.

Ok, enough time on this ... back to my baskets and then to the hook for another square.  I love the diversity!  Silly, huh?

 

Happy Mid Week,

Autumn blessings.

One for the recipe box ...

A keeper recipe and oh so easy...

I found two recipes for spare ribs and sauerkraut and sort of combined them both.  As shown its a really quick dish to throw together and pop in the oven.  To the table with some corn, a green salad and fresh bread and it was a very tasty meal.  I hadn't this time but next time I may brown the spare ribs first, adding to prep time but still won't take too long.  In any event this will be made again (and again).

 

3-4 lbs. country style spare ribs

32 oz. sauerkraut, drained and rinsed

2 medium onions, sliced

2 teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoon caraway seeds

2 cups beef bouillion

2 cups chicken bouillion

In a large baking pan cover bottom with the sliced onions, cover with sauerkraut.

Add paprika and caraway seeds, chicken and beef broth.  Mix.  Put spare ribs in, cover with foil and bake for about 2 hours.  Remove foil, turn ribs and continue baking till ribs are tender.

Happy for the cooler weather rolling in turning the oven on...hope you enjoy this as well.

Crochet Time

The hooks are happily moving for the Crochet Alongs that I am doing with 8 squares almost completed for the daisy ghan and 22 squares for the Sarafia ... and ... I have to say that I've got another flower granny waiting in the wings.  A pink and black requested by my DIL ...  I think this will be part of her Christmas presents.  Will be on the lookout for lounging pajamas to match.  The pattern can be found at Mille Makes.  She found this on pinterest but with no pattern so figured one out and very generously has shared what she calls Something Pretty.  So very appropriate.

So now, I'll be back to three going at once again, but the Sarafia should be done in the not too distant future. 

So many beautiful patterns to crochet.  Will keep me and my hook(s) happy for a long time! 

Welcome to the weekend, blessings in abundance.

Thursday Thoughts

Guard well your spare moments.

They are like uncut diamonds.

Discard them and their value

will never be known.

Improve them and they will

become the brightest

gems in a useful life.

 

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Never Forget

Forever in our

hearts and prayers.

A Finish

The  Square in a Square blanket is done.  Thank you Debi (Dly's Hooks and Yarn) for sharing this wonderful pattern.  As I said before, it is fun to make and the pattern is very clear and easy to follow.   This one is for a baby boy due in November.  The next one is going to be done is all different colors to add to my have on hand lapghans. 
 
Sarafia afghan CAL continues with the twelve petal daisy ghan (also a CAL) now in the works. 





Very shortly a new table topper will be added too ... this is from Leisure Arts Exquisite Table Toppers.  I was fortunate to find the book as it is now out of print.  This is Vikki's (By Hooks 4U) Topper and as soon as I saw it I just had to find the pattern.  Thank you Vikki for your help in locating.    Didn't Vikki do an amazing job on this ... I hope I can do as well.

Here's to moving of the hook with yarn and thread.

Blessings and joy.

September Morn

 Started the day early, took a fifteen minute walk at 6:30 this morning.  Hoping I can work this into my schedule and continue.  I think it would be a good thing for me.  Just have to get disciplined and add a little every day.  As I said ... I hope ... its a beautiful time of year to greet the day in the early morning hours.  During the week it will have to be earlier.

Its hard to believe that the summer is done.  September here, Labor Day upon us, school to star.   Added just a little more autumn to the house and I'm ready for my favorite time of year - Fall.

After all these years no purchases necessary.  Just bringing out the storage boxes and setting out.   Amazing finds from Big Lots, Dollar Store and great sales over the years.

The plate was my mother's.  I don't remember where she got it from, just remember it always being there.  I think it has to be 50 or so years old.  It made me pause a moment, taking time to remember.   Some pleasant thoughts.

Hope your weekend is filled with pleasant moments.