Singing, Dancing, Cats, Growing Old....Neglecting things!!

I originally started this blog to keep a sort of record of my past and to put up the designs I crochet.  But I never did keep it up.  I have had the stomach flu for 8 days.  Wow.  Bo-ring.

Trish and I entertaining.  What fun!!  Trish has a voice that is so wonderful!  And mine is more jazzy/throaty.  Now when you add Sue!!!  We do good.  Smile.

I have been singing karaoke more.  And am now crocheting a girl's top.  I have wanted to do this pattern for ages and am now working on it!  Proud of myself, me.
Want to wish everyone a Happy and Blessed New Year.  Gotta stick more with my promises to myself.
Emma

Oh Wow....Getting Old isn't Easy!! But I'm not aloooonnne!!!

Yikes.  Aches, ,pains, hard of hearing, unable to carry things for long distances, etc etc.  Is this a complaint?  Probably. I wanted to share my latest things I have crocheted for Christmas gifts.   The above is three cardigans I made for  my dil and granddaughters.  I am hoping they will have their photos taken in them.  I think they will be so great!  Very simple.  The basic pattern is from an old 1973 McCall's Crochet Treasury book and I changed it a bit to update it.  The yarn is #3 weight yarn and it was hard for me to hold on to it, however, I persevered.  Ta-da.
It is raining today...the kind of rain that we used to love to play in when we were kids...wet, lots of it, big puddles.  So much fun.  I loved walking through it today.  Thank you Mother God and Father God for the rain.  I love it as I love You!

Here is another work of crochet:   It is from the 100 Hats book and it is a guy's cap. I kind of like it.  I made them for my sons and grandsons.  They are warm.  I also made the felted handbag below.  My friend lined it and I gave it to her.  It was fun to make and used up a wool yarn the color of which I didn't know what to do with....terrible grammar, but you get the idea, I think.
 I have been doing a lot of farmville on FB.   It is kind of neat to socialize with people while I am working on the "ole' farm."  I am in touch with my friend Patricia, friend of 60 years!  And it is a relaxing way of spending a little time socializing.  I also crochet while I am on farmville.  Sometimes it is slow that I crochet a whole scarf.  Hm.  Internet, gotta love it.  I don't have much else to write except I pray every day for my son Shawn, Brendan and his family, Kevin and Jenn, and Timothy and Julie.  I love them.  I hope they know it.  Mistakes be darned.  I have always loved them!!  He who is without sin may cast the first stone..... and that stuff.  Blessed Be!!

A Lifelong Fear of Cats and Dogs

All my life I was deathly afraid of dogs and terrifically nervous about cats.  Whenever my family and I were going to go somewhere, I had to realize that I might spend the whole time in the car or hiding because wherever we were going there might be a dog or cat.  It is a lousy way to spend your life as a child but even lousier as you become an adult.

I couldn't sleep in a house with cats unless I had control over the door of the room in which I slept so I could be sure where the cat was at all times.  I ran into my house when I was a teenager because the man nextdoor had a dog who might be unleashed.  What a lousy way to live.  I walked to our church and went in the back door and spent hours teaching myself to play the piano.  On the way was a German Shepherd and he barked and barked...but one day he was out and he bit me.  It speaks to my love of piano that I kept walking to the church and played anyway, however, I now had to find a different route to the church.  Life was scary!
People were always telling me that their animal wouldn't hurt me.  Didn't matter what they said, I didn't TRUST animals.
Then, when I was 55, I was staying with my goddaughter and a stray cat left one of its kittens (about 2-1/2 weeks old) and she brought it into the house.  I feel instantly and totally in love.  This cat had HUGE feet.  Smile.  And lots of fur.  And I took the kitten to the vets and got all the info I needed to raise him.  I named him Regan, after one of my son's friends, because I liked the name, and proceeded to raise and train a cat.
I didn't get over my fear instantly (although it is totally gone now with only a healthy watchful eye when I meet new dogs and cats).  I waffled about keeping Regan.  One thing that helped me was that I made the decision to keep Regan as an indoor cat and when he was neutered, I also had his front claws removed.  I know there is a lot of controversy over that and I myself feel guilty once in awhile but it has worked just fine.   Regan is a Norwegian Forest Cat/Maine Coone type and has a wonderful personality and demeanor.  He still acts like he has claws.  We have been a very good and loving team for 8 years now.
Then came Bearli.  When I moved where I am living, there was a stray cat who had kittens and was instantly killed and a lady here rescued the kittens.  The first one was gray and it was only 12 hours old.  I was able to keep it alive until it was 4 days old and then AJ (April if it was a girl, June if it was a boy) died.  We buried it here under a beautiful marker.  Then I got the brother that was by this time 2 weeks old.  All black, tiny, bearly formed, covered with bugs, mites, and walking dandruff (my vet kinda laughed a little when his computer spit this info out as he had never seen it before) and skinny.  I pulled out my little bottles, got the formula and went to work.  Named this little tyke Bearli (after "bearly formed" and Bearli the goat from "Heidi" because this little kitten looked like a little bear cub).  And today Bearli is 2 years old and has a bit of a wild and jumpy streak in him but by the same token he will sleep in my lap for hours, very relaxed.
I have gone over in my past why I was so afraid of cats and have spoken to my sister.  She is the same way.  My paternal grandfather was quite mean to animals and used them for things better not discussed here and I think that is why we both reacted so badly.  But I am over it.  Yay!!  What a lifting.
I just wanted to share this with whoever. 
I am thankful to Mother and Father God for all that I have, all that I am, all that I will be.

Checking in

I have been ill and not able to design anything so have not been on here in a very long time.  I am not an important site so I think it is okay.  I thank you who have signed up as my followers.  I have been dealing with a minor stroke and new insurance.  I'm getting old.  If you don't know what that feels like (yet), it isn't for the weak.  Yikes!!  I look in the mirror and I see my grandmother.  I skipped my mother entirely!  Where has the time gone.  I know many many people write that but I am now just getting the heartfelt-ness of it. 
I think my job now is to relax, meditate, stay in touch with My Mother and Father God and look at people...really look at them.  I am enjoying it and find that life is so serene.  wow.
I have been crocheting though.  I have an old crochet book named, MCCALL'S CROCHET TREASURY from 1968 which has a really nice Shell-Edged Blouse on page 57.  I am on my third one and have adapted it and updated it a bit.  I have made them in darker colors and they look classy, without the collar.  I love the old books.
I have set up my patterns on ravelry.com and here.  I hope that you all have checked out ravelry.  It is a marvelous resource.  I love Lionbrand the best though, especially because all the patterns are free.
I hope you are all crocheting, learning about life, and have blessings many.
Linda

WONDERFULLY EASY BOOT SOCKS

Designed BY Linda Graimm, emmalemmon47@msn.com
**If you make the sock, please let me know if there were any errors.    Thank you.

Knit OR Crochet!! (Knitting directions with crocheted heel and toe are at the end of the pattern.)

This soft sock pattern is very adaptable. I made an adult pair and felted them, a change of hook size and/or yarn size could make a pair for a toddler. They work up SO quickly. I am the only one who has tested this pattern so, if you make them, please let me know if there are any problems or you have any questions.

MATERIALS: Worsted Weight yarn (I mostly used scraps so the socks don’t take a whole lot of yarn)
Size ‘I’ Hook = Women’s Size up to 8
Sized ‘G’ hook for toddler’s socks

GAUGE: Size ‘I’ hook = 14 hdc and 4 rows is 4”; ‘G’ Hook = 15 hdc/8 rows is 4”

NOTES:
1. The felted socks pictured were made with Patons Classic Wool and a Size ‘K’ hook (orange and gray).
2. The smaller knitted socks were made with doubled sock yarn.
3. Be sure to do original chain LOOSELY.
4. There is NO SEAM on bottom of foot so no discomfort from that.
5. Chain 2 does NOT count as stitch.
6. ALL BODY STITCHES ARE DONE IN BACK LOOP ONLY.
7. I wrote the pattern in Sections, as opposed to rows. It is easier to read (according to me tic).

Section 1: Chain 40 (loosely!), work hdc in 3rd chain from hook, and hdc across chain. Turn, chain 2 each row. (38 hdc)

Row 2-5: Working in back loops only, hdc across, chain 2, turn.  (38 stitches)

Section 2: Row 6: Work first 23 hdc, turn, chain 2. Leave remaining 15 stitches for now. Chain 2, turn. (23 hdc)

Row 7-11: Working in back loops only, hdc across, chain 2, turn. (23 hdc) Mark last stitch with scrap yarn or stitch marker. Fasten off.

Section 3: Attach yarn in same stitch as last stitch of 23 sts on Row 4 (where 23 worked sts ended), --Chain 2, work 1 hdc in back loop of next stitch and back loops of 14 more hdc. --Then Chain 2, turn (15 hdc), work 15 hdc in back loops for 5 more rows. (thus matching the first 6 rows of 23 sts). (15 sts) Fasten off.

Section 4: Turn Work. (See Photo B.) Attach yarn in marked stitch on 23-sts section, chain 2. Hdc (in back loop only) in this stitch and each stitch across 23 sts and 15 sts. (38 sts)

Note: I am calling the stitch that is between the 15-st section and the 23-st section a “Hinge” to make explanations easier.

Work four more rows in pattern (Ch 2, turn, hdc in back loops only across row). (you will have 8 “ridges” on the Right Side and 8 indentations on Wrong Side.) (38 sts)

Section 5: Chain 1, turn work and with 8 ridges on inside, slip stitch last row to original chain LOOSELY. This is wrong side of work. Fasten off. Turn sock Right Side out.

You now have what resembles a tube with a slash in it.

Section 6: TOE Attach choice of yarn color for the Toe anywhere on short end of sock nearest heel ‘slash’ (the 15-hdc side), I attached yarn lined up with the middle of what will be the heel.

--Ch 1, work 26 sc evenly spaced around toe opening. Join in 1st sc. Do NOT turn work, you will be working in rounds.
Row 2: Chain 1, sc in each st around, join. (26 sc)

Row 3-8: Flatten work with heel ‘slashes’ on side, Chain 1, decrease one stitch each side, join. (24, 22, 20, 18, 16, 14 sc)

Fasten off, leave long end for sewing. ON WRONG SIDE OF WORK, Flatten toe section so that heel slash is centered, sew seam. Check out Photo C.

Part 7: HEEL From Right Side, attach your choice of yarn color in end of first row just after “hinge” of heel slash. Work 26 sc evenly spaced around, join. (26sc)

Row 2: Chain 1, work 1 row of sc even, join. (26 sc)

Row 3: Slip stitch in first st, ch 1, sc around, placing a 3-sc decrease on each side (to 3-sc dec: pick up a loop in each of next 3 sts, pull through 4 loops) and join. (22 sc)

Row 4: Slip stitch in first st, ch 1, *sc in each of 4 sc, dec over net 2 sc* around to last 4 sc, sc in last 4, join. (19 sts)

Row 5: Ch 1, repeat Row 4 with only one last sc, crochet in last sc, join. (16 sts)

Row 6: Ch 1, *sc in 3 sts, decrease over next 2 sts* around, join (12 sts)

Row 7: Ch 1, *sc 2 sts together, sc in 1 st* around, sc in last st, join. (9 sts)

Row 8: Repeat Row 7. (5 sts)

Fasten off, leave a long end of yarn for sewing heel closed.
Flatten stitches and sew heel closed from Wrong Side. Weave in ends. 

KNITTING DIRECTIONS:

Size 10 knitting needles with worsted wt. yarn (The darker blue-variegated sockon the Left in the picture is knitted.)

--Follow directions above, substitute K2,P2 rib for Parts 1-5.

Ex: Cast on 40 sts, work in K2/P2 ribbing for needed amount of rows. Slip stitches not being worked to a stitch holder. Follow directions for crocheted heel and toe.

Swing Sweater addition ++

I had earlier made my doctor two sweaters and this is the third one.  She wears them so well! 

This is sans buttons as the doc didn't pick them yet.

Here is a picture of a car coat I made for my granddaughter (no head to keep the innocent protected!) from a designer pattern.

This next sweater is the famous "Sue's Hexagon Sweater" pattern which I got from http://www.ravelry.com/.

I have been working on a teddybear of odd colors and eccentricities plus a toddler's sweater with great bead buttons:

And I have finally finished designing and testing some crocheted socks.  I have had this silly pattern forever and worked on it from time to time and am happy to say it is now ready to be put up and I will do that in my next posting.  
Blessings on your day!!

I have been MIA for awhile...where has the time gone!!

I had designed an easy and soft pair of boot socks that could be crocheted or knit with a crochet heel and toe.  I came across it about 6 weeks ago and have been immersed in wonderful boot socks.   But they aren't done yet.  I have been testing it myself and due to brain fog (fibrofog?) [I very seldom use that excuse but it is the only one I could come up with at this time...:-) ].  Frustration.   So anyway, if anyone in the universe sees this and wouldn't mind testing this sock made with worsted weight yarn and size I hook, please let me know.  Thanks.
So I shall be back soon with or without the finished design but with pictures! 
Yesterday my son Brendan, his wife and their three children came to visit me.  I roasted chicken and potatoes with a greenbean vegetable.  And greatly enough, my dil, Julie, and other granddaughter showed up and we had a nice time!  We ate, hugged a lot, looked at little gifts.  Youngest granddaughter was all excited because she finally got her pez toy.  grin.
I am playing Farmville and Treasure Isle on Facebook.  Harmless and kind of fun.  Keeps my mind occupied when I am worried about things (like money).  SS cut my check by $110 and it was not even anything before that but now it is even less.  I am looking on this as a challenge to my organizational skills.  The GREAT NEWS is that I have lots of yarn from past endeavors to keep me busy as I am getting ready for a craft show in November.  Last year's fair was a dud because 7 other groups held their craft stuff on the very same day as ours.  Better research this year, what do you think???
Blessings to you all.  May Father and Mother God show themselves to you in small miracles.