Giveaway Goodness

I'm sending a BIG HUG to Susanne at Forget-Me-Not!  To my delight and surprise, I was a winner in her recent giveaway.  I received her package a few days ago and am so happy to share it with you.


A pretty mug imprinted with pink knitwork.

 I love the inscription.  An appropriate motto for knitters, I think.

And this was an added surprise that Sue tucked inside the mug...a pair of little ladybug magnets! 

There's no other way to describe these, except that THEY'RE SO CUTE!  I've been accused of being way too sentimental, but I have to say that the ladybug surprise means more to me than anyone can know.  Sue, how did YOU KNOW?!  Of course you didn't realize when you added these that ladybugs bring me back to a place in time that was so special to me.  And for this I thank you :-)

Please visit Susanne's blog where she shares her love of yarn crafts, sewing and family life.

Before signing off today, here's a look at what I'm hooking right now...

This is another granny blanket in the works for a dear friend who just turned 50 (shhhhh).  She's partial to a softer color palette so I'm hoping this will please her.

The pattern is Lucy's Summer Garden Granny Square and the yarn is 100% acrylic Patons Canadiana.  It's a new line for Patons and feels like a soft, fine merino.  What a joy it is to work with this yarn and pattern.

Wishing you a good week with opportunities to craft :-)

A Shout Out To Terrie :-)

Hello everyone.  Hope this finds you well wherever you are in the world. 

Today I'd like to acknowledge the thoughtfulness of Terrie ~.~ smiling, who was sweet to bestow this award upon me a couple weeks ago.  My huge apologies, Terrie, for taking so long to post.  I've fallen behind on things, but nonetheless very appreciative for your kindness!  Please visit this lovely lady's blog to see all of her crafty talent and life in Hong Kong.

With this award, the following applies:

Post link back to the person that gave you the award.
Share 7 random things about yourself.
Award 15 recently discovered bloggers
Drop them a note, and tell them about it!

Random things about me:

• My favorite sound is children laughing.
• I miss when my boys were little and it was all about 'butterfly kisses' and 'pinky promises'.
• If I could live in a different time and place, it would be Victorian England.
• My childhood was not a rosy one, but one fond memory is how I spent summertime...my sister and I would escape outdoors to collect ladybugs in our jars and chase butterflies.  Every summer day...dawn till dusk.
• In my 20s, I was a Sunday School teacher for 8 years. 
• I rarely curse, but when I do it's because you're a bad driver and you've cut me off.  My go-to words start with F and S.
• Guilty pleasure...McDonalds french fries.

I've been enjoying my current blogroll and haven't had much time to surf for new ones.  There is one however, that I found recently.  And so I pass the Stylish Blogger Award to...

MeMe Rose

Pay her a visit and see what lovely crochet work she's done.  There's a neat lampshade cover you'll love!

Hugs all around :-)

Earth : Wind : Fire : Water

The elements are upon us in my neck of the woods.  Water and wind particularly, have been presenting themselves in abundance today.  Call me crazy, but I love stormy weather since we don't get much of this in southern California.  All this rain gives me the perfect reason to light the fireplace, pour a glass of wine and settle in for some cozy comfy hooky time.
 
But first, a post about the baby blanket I finished for my friend, the lovely Ms. M.  She delivered a precious baby girl two days ago.  I absolutely cannot wait to meet this sweet little bundle of joy!!!

It's not a traditional baby blanket in pinks or blues.  However, let me first say that Ms. M is definitely not a traditional sort of gal.

She's an amazing yoga teacher, mother, wife and free-spirit.  But you want to know what's really amazing?! She decided to have a second child in her mid-forties.  Isn't that amazing?!

Being well into my forties myself, all I could think is...O : M : G

Ms. M is a brave one alright. 

She also decided, against doctor's advice, to deliver the baby at home with the help of a midwife.

I mentioned she wasn't the traditional sort, but as I think of it, giving birth at home is still a mainstream occurence in many parts of the world. 

After all, isn't this what women have been doing since the beginning of time?!

 

If you ask me, 'traditional' means giving me that epidural the minute I arrive at the hospital

parking lot...

Thankfully and blessedly, all told, Baby and Mom are doing very well.

 So here's the completed blanket, which I've named

Earth : Wind : Fire : Water

Apologies for the blurriness (wine...hee hee), but hopefully you get the idea.  Initially, I randomly chose the colors from my existing stash and didn't give it much thought.  I usually obsess over color selections and play around with color combos until I'm happy.  This time I kept it simple because I had a short time frame in which to complete my gift.  Little did I know how these particular colors would come to symbolize the elements which Ms. M holds dear.

Earth = Green, Beige

Wind = Cream

Fire = Red Coral

Water = Aqua

It turns out I did good on the colors!  This becomes clearer if I tell a bit about her baby shower. 

It was a unique one, to say the least. 

Did I mention she's a free spirited kind of gal? 

This whole thing was her idea, so what do friends do but comply and oblige her. 

One doesn't mess with a lady who's 38 weeks pregnant.

It was an incredibly gorgeous day at the end of January.  We gather on the beach to express our gratitude to Nature:  Earth, Wind, Fire and Water.  Flower wreaths adorn our heads representing colors of the elements.  That's me on the left, reading a short passage about Mother Earth, feeling the sand at our feet.

Ms. M is in the middle along with her daughter and we walk toward the water...

  

Moving forward until the water rushes to our feet, reflecting on Water's life-giving qualities.

Lighting candles to symbolize Fire's energy and touching feathers to represent Wind's power. 

At the end, we join hands to send all our positive energy and support to Ms. M for a smooth birth.

I realize how weird and possibly crazy you may think we are...like Ya Ya Sisterhood crazy.  And for those who absolutely think so, count me in!

Three words...Only In California.

Let me leave you then with this little photo to prove that we haven't entirely lost our minds.  We topped off the day with a lovely dinner, opened gifts, and left Ms. M with lots of love and good wishes.

Have a silly, crazy, wacky weekend, all :-)

How Do I Love Thee?

Flowers...it's a given...you always hold a special place in my heart.

A single stem or the fullest bouquet...a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

Yarn and hearts...some of my favorite LOVE things.

 

Playing and creating with yarn brings me contentment and serenity...

A heart garland to celebrate my yarn obsession...
 

Each day I long to steal a loving glance, a touch, a feel...



Oh the wonderful power you hold over me!

Hope your day is filled with people and things you love :-)

Kindness

Thank you so much for your kind comments when I had my flu bug.  I'm much better now and it's great to be plugged in and back in Blogland.  You're such a thoughtful bunch :-)

Speaking of thoughtfulness, I walk into the office this morning and what do I see greeting me at my desk... the most delightful explosion of deep pink blooms.  Camelias.  And I know exactly who left them for me.  Wonderful Ms. Z who quietly comes in after hours to tidy things up.  She loves flowers as much as I do and surprises me every so often with cuttings from the office garden.  Such a kind and simple act that not only brought a smile to my face, but total joy to my entire day!  I set my tea down and was doubly delighted that my cup was a nice visual complement to the flowers.  Yes, it was wonderful to sit at my desk today :-)

 

These camelia bushes are 8 foot hedges that border the courtyard at our office.  Dare I say it...that's a peek of our clear blue sky today.  It was a beautiful and sunny 70 degrees in my patch of the world.  I feel a bit sorry for even mentioning the weather given how many of you are in freezing cold and snow areas right now.



More of these beauties in all their glory this time of year...bushes loaded with open blooms and buds that will reveal themselves in due time.

Wishing you kindness and sunny days ahead :-)