Stormdrac's Crochet and Such...

Thursday, January 26, 2012

2012-01-26T07:02:00.002-05:00

http://alifefulloflaughter.com/2011/12/finish-it-friday-introduction.html

This is a great idea... think I'll participate. How about you?

Yesterday nothing got done, played Fallout: New Vegas and silly little facebook games all day. Today Going to find a worsted weight layette set to do for soon-to-be grandchild.

Jan 24, 2012

2012-01-24T07:47:00.000-05:00

January 24th, 2012
Up at 6:00 this am and by seven was working on my third cup of coffee, had watched the weather several times and was anxious to begin searching for a jacket/sweater/layette for my grandchild-to-be to wear home from the hospital. It will be August so it will have to be something light and comfortable, possibly cotton. I have so many boxes of yarn in the rented storage container in Dad's yard that I will never have to buy yarn again, but getting to it is the challenge. Mom is out putting mail in the box and probably worrying about the snow sliding off the roof. The warmer weather we are having makes the snow dangerously hang off the eves. Having said that I think I will go and check on her... This was the first pattern I saw shared this morning on the crochet groups, and I might choose this for the first pattern... http://www.geocities.ws/crotiques/tunisian.htm

these pictures are directly from her site. not my work. though I will post my work if and when i make it.

Catalog of Our Lives

2012-01-23T09:34:00.001-05:00

Today is January 23, 3012. I am the Caregiver for my Mother who was just a month or so ago, diagnosed with Alzheimer's. At that point we started her on a medication to slow the progression of the disease. It has been up and down with her because the drug has a lactose coating on it and she is lactose intolerant. I have found that taking a couple of tablespoons of Stonyfield Farms French Vanilla Yogurt with the medication at night, makes for a more pleasant following morning for her.

This Picture was Taken in 1992 or 1993, Chris was 21/22, I was 23/24,

Cassandra was 2/3 and Michael was 10 to 18 months old.

As those of you who are my facebook friends now know, I was told a couple of weeks ago that my darling firstborn, My daughter Cassandra, is making me a grandmother this coming August. I am excited and scared, worried and ecstatic. I have found just begun the search for the best crochet pattern for both boys and girls... just in case. This blog will catalog both the progression of my mother's disease and my work with crochet. I hope that this will help me and others to be better able to deal with the hardships presented in both issues.

You can access my facebook pages by clicking here.

2011-11-24T07:26:00.001-05:00

To one and all, I have copied a poem from this site (http://www.poemsource.com/thanksgiving-poems.html) that I think we all should remember. Eat, Drink, Enjoy and Remember to tell your loved ones that they are loved.

More Than A Day

As Thanksgiving Day rolls around,
It brings up some facts, quite profound.
We may think that we're poor,
Feel like bums, insecure,
But in truth, our riches astound.

We have friends and family we love;
We have guidance from heaven above.
We have so much more
Than they sell in a store,
We're wealthy, when push comes to shove.

So add up your blessings, I say;
Make Thanksgiving last more than a day.
Enjoy what you've got;
Realize it's a lot,
And you'll make all your cares go away.

By Karl Fuchs

and As a side note I have received calls from both of my children today, so what I am thankful for is Cell phones and the ability to speak to my loved ones even though they are far away. I love you both, Cassie and Mike.

2011-11-23T18:31:00.001-05:00

"You may not be her first, her last, or her only.
She loved before she may love again.
But if she loves you now, what else matters?
She's not perfect - you aren't either,
and the two of you may never be perfect together

but if she can make you laugh,
cause you to think twice,

and admit to being human and making mistakes,
hold onto her and give her the most you can.
She may not be thinking about you

every second of the day,
but she will give you a part of her

that she knows you can break - her heart.
So don't hurt her, don't change her,

don't analyze and don't expect more than she can give.
Smile when she makes you happy,

let her know when she makes you mad,

and miss her when she's not there."

--Bob Marley

Just to let you know, the wonderful man from Wales sent me this, isn't he a darling, Thank you Kevin.

2011-11-23T06:37:00.001-05:00

In my search for interesting things to write about, I ran across this site: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

I never was a history buff but I find this site intriguing. Today is November 23, 2011. I have been out for less than two months. I am still looking for work and crocheting but have spent a lot of time online as of late, talking to a wonderful man from Wales. He seems to be my soul mate, but I will tell you more about him as I learn more from him.

On the crochet front, my baby blanket, quilt-like though it may be, is taking forever to finish. I have only one triangle left to finish and put together. Then it will just need to be bordered. I am using a variation of Pricilla Hewetts pattern linked here:

http://priscillascrochet.net/freepatterns.html you will have to scroll down to the Baby section and look for Homespun Baby Afghan.

It is a wonderfully easy pattern and works up quickly when using Homespun, which I am not. I will add a picture when it is finished. This is the last one I finished, done with the Diagonal Box Stitch. A wonderful tutorial can be seen here:

http://www.crochetcabana.com/stitches/diag-box-st.htm

The above picture is my version of the blanket.

Have to share the weather up here with you...we have about 4 inches of snow on the ground and more coming down I will add a picture as I can. Weather forecasts predict it will get much worse before it clears up; sleet, freezing rain, all the fun things winter brings. So to all of you who are traveling in this wonderful New England weather: be careful, allow extra time, and remember to drive for the weather conditions.

2011-11-18T06:58:00.001-05:00

Love does not consist in gazing at each other,
but in looking outward together in the same direction.
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery ~

Today's Blog is a combination of several days, I have been lax in blogging.

This morning as I smoke, before 6 am in the morning, I listened to the neighborhood cows lowing as they were milked or waited to be milked. There was no sun yet just a general lightening of the sky. Mom's dentist appointment was that afternoon. Some mornings I beat Dad's alarm clock in getting up. I read a bit in the morning, insipid romance novels. I usually finish them quickly. Found a flower pattern that is most intriguing and looks like something I will want to use for a blanket. The pattern can be found at this link:
http://isitatoy.blogspot.com/2011/08/crochet-doodle-flowers-free-pattern.html

I must finish the baby blanket that i have in the works so I can do one with flowers. Veteran's Day has past and with it my friend Larry's Birthday. Saw another friend at Friendly's where I listened to the Beach Boys song "Groovy Kind of Love". Ate the Vermonter Super-melt, bacon, cheddar, and egg on toasted sourdough bread, served with home-fries of course, and coffee. West Lebanon, NH was still relatively quiet in the early morning hours.

2011-11-14T10:00:00.001-05:00

Today's Quote I take from an email I get from a Self Help site Called Inner Kiddies:
"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." Scott Peck
Now Who is Scott Peck, you may ask. He was an American psychiatrist and best-selling author, best known for his first book, The Road Less Traveled, published in 1978. This information and much more can be seen on Wikipedia at the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Scott_Peck

2011-11-07T11:03:00.003-05:00

Sunday, November 6, 2011
Today we went to Eaton's Sugarhouse and had breakfast. I have had mixed experiences there so it was with some trepidation that I ordered the Sugarhouse Special; which consists of two eggs, bacon, home-fries, and your choice of toasts. I chose English muffins and had my eggs over medium. It was delicious, and the service was superb. I highly recommend their Sunday Menu for all ages.

We then rode around through Bethel by way of the back roads, to Randolph, coming out on Stage Road by the Three Stallion Inn. Although the road has been fixed there was still a lot of damage along the river from Irene's visit. It was eye opening to see all the trees that had been plowed down and all the farmer's corn fields that had to be left standing for fear that feeding it to cows would make them sick. My hopes are that the government has given or is going to give these farmers help. We came back through Randolph so we could go to Central Supply and pick up a piece of plywood, for rebuilding the roof over the fuel tank. Dad and Mom worked on that when we got home while I tried to get the printer working. I failed miserably. oh well...!

2011-11-06T20:59:00.002-05:00

I'm Back... and ready to go, Saturday November 5, 2011...

Hours for Interstate Tire, on Saturday, are 8 to 12 noon, sharp. We got here before eight and already there were several cars in line ahead of us. Soon enough the morning sun had peeked over the hill and shone straight into the waiting room windows. The frost is burning off except for places still in the shadows, like behind the signs, bushes and trees. The air is crisp and clean no pollution here, in rural New England. The shop is still on the fringes of civilization; near the Connecticut River and across the river from White River Junction. This side is West Lebanon, NH. The historical district of West Lebanon, which I always think is mispronounced, is still small and quaint; with its old buildings along Main Street. Businesses along the street level and apartments above. I resolved when my children were young never to get an apartment here, there would have been no place for my children to play.

The tiles here on the floor are nice, they are a mottles brown with lighter tans in it. The grout is an off white tan color. The molding around the ceiling and doors are what I affectionately call Welfare Brown, and the walls a lighter blend of the same color.The windows here look like they have used for some sort of target practice. Not bullets assuredly, but probably rocks or something.

A couple of women are discussing some sort of teams and one of them repeats the phrase Team Gary and Larry several times, it stuck in my head. People come in knowing what they want, knowing that they need winter tires but not knowing the time frame here. I always come to these sorts of places with a crochet project, a book or better yet a notebook and pen, like today. I would read but already I feel my eyes wavering and trying to close. One cup of coffee was definitely not enough, we will get more at breakfast, which is where we are going after this.

I love watching the traffic drive by; seeing the diversity of people, most of whom are squinting as they drive up the hill into the sun. The colorful flags or pennants hanging from the building set off the showroom tires, displayed in the windows; more than one of them broken or cracked in some manner. The shiny new tires never have touched the asphalt. There are fine little nubs of rubber sticking out of each, like hair, caused by the molding process I expect. A lone Pepsi machine offering your choice of cold beverages graces an alcove set between two windows where you can watch the hard working mechanics as they change your tires. Advertisements pepper the walls, trying to up-sell and remind you how and what you should have done to your car. A rack of magazines hold a diverse array of periodicals, suited to the diversity of customers. A Mormon preacher studies his bible, while a couple with three cars discuss how the two of them will jockey the three cars to reach home.

Finally, we are finished and are off to Friendly's for breakfast. Two Frenchman, Canadians I am sure, are speaking to each other at a table off to my left. It makes me wish I had learned more French in High School. I can catch a word here and there, Maison - home, is one I remember, Pourquoi pas? - why not is another one. However, I do wish I were fluent in French. The ceiling in here is an old appearance with few sparkling white tiles where something happened and one had to be replaced. I sit with my back to the traffic which is more exciting then the view from the windows of Interstate Tire was. All three of us, Mom, Dad and I ordered omelets, them ham and cheese and I a western. Near where the ice cream case sits there are several balloons, pink, baby blue and yellow. The colors look good together. There is a group of three behind me, and the father and daughter have loud unrestrained voices, but from the look on my Mom's face, the mother is looking at her apologetically.

After breakfast, we went to staples and then to the airport. A tradition that began when us kids were little; before they installed picnic tables and garbage cans and continuing now that we have all grown up and mostly moved away. I am now old enough to appreciated being able to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Town, and enjoy the relative quiet of the airport. Other families bring their children here too, to eat their lunch, or just to watch and marvel at the small planes taking off. After this we drive home and my Father, Mother and I put up a fence to keep the chihuahuas in a specified area this winter. It is fun to work with my dad, helping him with anything he feels needs doing. Towards the end of the fence it was getting a little chilly and my hands were cold, but it was fun and I felt like I had accomplished something.

a lot of things going on....including crochet.

2009-11-23T10:51:00.001-05:00

A lot of things have happened since my last blog. I have been out and about for the first time in years...I went to Burlington with a dear friend. We stayed a couple of weekends up there and then he came home with me for a week or so at a time. He is a bright spot in my life right now. I am still drowning in debt and my stash has taken over the bedroom walk-in closet. I will try to list a couple of my projects for you.

carry with me: round ripple in turquoise, lavender, and white .
crocus shawl in regia sock yarn.
diagonal Patricia Hewitt afghan in baby clouds

I will have to finish this list later...can't remember any more.

ok...I am back from hiding.

2009-07-17T10:50:00.002-04:00

I have been noticeably absent on the blog scene for a couple of months...trying to work out new depression meds. I do feel better and wanted to let everyone know what I am working on. I am writing again. I have a book in my head that wants to be shared so I am obliging it.

On the crochet front, I am working on 2 baby blankets, blue/green/white boy blankets, for friends who's wives are with child. I still have to do another boy one but want to finish at least one of these first...too many projects in the works = not finishing anything I have discovered...I have a facebook page now, if you want just look for Michele Storms in VT and invite me to be your friend. The more the merrier, I think.

Next blog will include pics of the two baby blankets I am working on and where to find the patterns...and it will be sooner than 3 months...thanks

National Craft (Crochet) Month

2009-03-16T15:18:00.002-04:00

I have decided to learn two new-to-me techniques. With that in mind, I have joined two new Yahoo Groups. The first is for Tunisian Crochet(run by Kim Guzman and Arnie Grabowsky) and the second is for Tapestry Crochet (run by Carol Ventura). As far as I can tell, these Ladies are the best of the best in there respective fields...If I can't learn from them...I ain't gonna learn. So....wish me luck.

New Finished Object

2009-03-09T12:27:00.003-04:00

I finally finished something. I made a shawl from the book "Vogue Knitting on the Go: Crocheted Shawls" the pattern I used is Called Flamenco Flair, and in the book, is done in Lace-weight mohair...So I used Bernat Softee Chunky and a L hook. (I never could be called a conformist) I posted it in my projects at Ravelry if anyone wants to look. OK.OK. I will post it here too...

New Year's Resolutions - Successes and Failings

2009-01-24T15:11:00.002-05:00

My resolutions this year were simple to make. not so simple to keep.

quit smoking in 2009
lose weight
communicate more with like minds
finish my wips and ufo's

I am working on them all but the first two weeks of not smoking has fallen by the wayside. I have all year to complete that one.
I am trying to do weight watchers, not easy when you work at a restaurant, and are high up the chain to get free food.

I have begun organizing my yarn and my wip's, pigs and ufo's.
I have tried to reply to my groups more, instead of just thinking a response I actually post it.
I am anxious to communicate more with other crocheters and people to whom the craft is more than just a hobby. Let me know how you are doing with your resolutions.

Happy New Year!!!

2009-01-01T10:23:00.007-05:00

I feel old!, when I was younger I could stay up all night and keep going through the next day with full energy. Now I stay up a little extra (to watch the ball drop with my son on TV) and I am less than useless today. I left puppy at home as I don't think I can handle the extra distraction at work today. Today is Day one of Non-Smoking. I am working on several crochet projects. I brought with me a Tiramisu Blanket in Victorian Christmas colored Crochet Cotton, the pattern for which can be found at this site if you get a chance check out the rest of Alicia Paulson's site. It is fascinating and awe-inspiring. She has such a wonderful eye for color and composition in her pictures...I love it anyway. Well enough for now...post more later.

The Latest Happenings...

2008-12-01T13:03:00.003-05:00

A clip from Monty Python keeps running through my head. A cryer with a cart going through a mideavil city, shouting"Bring out Your Dead." Then someone brings an old man out slung over his shoulder. The old guys lines are something to the affect of "but I feel much better, think I'll go for a walk later" (said in a weak unconvincing voice). That is how I feel today...

On Monday, November 24, I started to get a sore throat. By Wednesday afternoon, I had full blown strep throat. I saw a dr., got antibiotics and went home to sleep, then discovered that my laptop had crashed. I reformatted and repartitioned the hard drive then reloaded Windows XP which was a total bust because I couldn't hook up the the internet to get any of my drivers and couldn't find my dell disk anywhere. I kinda slept through Thanksgiving, as we had decided Wed. evening to postpone our actual celebratory dinner until Saturday. I did install the Windows Anywhere copy of Vista Upgrade in between naps. I went to work on Friday then came right home and crashed pretty early. Woke up on Saturday to discover my computer had crashed yet again, cooked and cleaned, and roped the kids into helping get dinner on the table. It was wonderful, Just the three of us with turkey and all the fixings, Including 2 different pies for dessert. Then my children disappeared. Oldest left the house and youngest fell into chair in front of the TV and became couch potato. I went back into my room and finally got the laptop up and running (knock on wood) and tried to check my one million emails only to find out that the fair access policy on my Satellite Internet Service had been breached....AAAAGGGGGG!!!

So!, between all the problems I haven't been able to keep up with all the emails from my crochet groups, or the fly-lady.net site or anything, (let alone sit down and crochet anything...) So! I need to go back to work on my xmas gifts now. Keep hooking :)

Suki, The New Addition to the Storms Family

2008-11-20T10:17:00.003-05:00

This is Tsukiko. She is a Bichon Frise / Pug / West Highland Terrier mix. Suki was born on September 22, 2008, so at the time of this picture she is about 8 1/2 weeks old. She is tiny, considering our other dog is a husky-collie mix and is about 75 lbs. She is almost paper trained and working on crate training. She goes every where with me, even to work. I have a box under my desk where she sleeps (which she seems to do most of the time) and some news papers in the corner. One of my boss's even brought her some toys that his dog used to use. (he had a Jack Russel that got hit by a car about 7 years ago) I have had her for almost three days and I have fallen so in love with her. I will post more pics of her and the things I plan on crocheting for her when we get more settled in and I can actually crochet again. Wish me luck....

2008-10-21T10:38:00.000-04:00

I know it has been a while since I last posted, I have been trying to get anti-depressant dosage fixed as well as dealing with various household crisis avoidance manuvers. I am still working on too many crochet projects at once, but I will post pics soon of all the partial projects I have going. I have recently started reading the Flylady.com site and signed up to receive her household (and sanity) helping emails. (I LOVE FLYLADY!!!) I still have a long way to go to get rid of all the clutter but I feel better about what I can and am doing about it.

My current carry around project is Brogi's blanket. It is the "Arctic ripple" from the 200 Ripple Patterns to Knit and Crochet Book, I am doing it in three shades of green, white, and burgandy red, will post a pic later tonight.

After about 16 years

2008-08-31T22:18:00.000-04:00

I finally decided to try doilies again. I haven't worked on a doily since my daughter's second Christmas. My Husband was out of work that year so I made doilies for everyone for Christmas. I had my second child about two months later and my time to crochet was cut down to a minimum. I actually didn't crochet again for several years. I actually joined a couple of crochet groups on yahoo that are pretty much for doilies. One of the groups, Crochet_Gatherings, turned me on to the book "99 Little Doilies" by Patricia Kristoffersen, published by Leisure Arts. (isbn: 1-57486-233-2) I started with doily #23 in Bernat Cool Crochet Rosewood and a size 0 hook. What do you think???

2008-08-15T23:11:00.000-04:00

I have finally finished my dad's Blue LB Suede afghan. I will be giving it to him this weekend. I have spent the last two weeks trying to work on something, anything, and failing. My best friend, and the Accts payable person in my office was on vacation for two weeks. I, as the controller, got the privilege of filling in for her and doing my work too. So the last two weeks have been stressful and tiring. I actually went to bed at 9:00 two nights in a row. Now she's back so Saturday is my first day off since August 2nd. But... today was the first day of my payroll guy's vacation. (big sigh) but fortunately payroll is significantly easier than AP.

Anyway, on to the next wip on my list.

2008-07-25T10:02:00.000-04:00

For anyone keeping track, I finished one of the items on my wim/wip list: Finish pink round ripple, weave ends and border, for Samantha, I just have to remember to bring it into work to give to her mom, my best friend and coworker (Allison). I have been trying to make a shawl/wrap for Allison too, but haven't found the perfect yarn to do this with, so instead I have been working with some Berlini London yarn, 100% merino wool, color#387 lot#199 I think the pattern I have been playing with is called the Easy Lacy Shells Scarf By Sandy Marshall on Ravelry. Here is the link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easy-lacy-shells-scarf

When I get done with it it will be a shawl or wrap, I will of course post pictures when I am done.

2008-06-23T10:07:00.000-04:00

I meant to blog about my Peaceful and Restful Saturday, but got tied up with this shawl I was making, Sweet Pea Shawl from the S&B book. (I started it and finished it on Saturday). I bought some new yarn on sunday while waiting for the kids to meet me for lunch. I will update later with the brand and color name for now a description. It is a cadet blue and brown mix worsted weight I think...and it is screaming at me to make it into a shawl. I didn't really get to work on anything on Sunday (crochet wise) because after work the kids met me for lunch at 99 restaurant, kinda a late Birthday celebration for my 18 year old and then we went to Borders, The Lebanon Pet & Aquarium center (where we all got to hold a snake) and then to the Powerhouse Mall, where my daughter got some Ralph Lauren perfume and Some UGG flipflops (I thought they only made boots???) Then we went to see the Movie The Incredible Hulk, which was fun... after we got takeout at KFC and went back home.

Project Linus Pattern

2008-06-21T09:31:00.000-04:00

Sideways Shell Baby Afghan (aka: Newbie Shell Afghan)Copyright 2000 by Donna Laing

I made this blanket from Donna's pattern in only two or three evenings. I made it with Joann Sensation Rainbow Boucle, that I got for 5 or 6 dollars on sale. I think I am gonna use the pattern for a shawl I am going to make for Nana, my BF's mother. She doesn't know she's getting it, but when asked what color she wears mostly she said Sage green. I am almost done with my father's afghan and that will knock one of my wip's off my list. My daughter graduated last Saturday and turned 18 on Wednesday... a lot for a single mom to deal with in one week. lol. Her father actually showed up to the graduation. His first attempt to attend something that is important to her in the whole 18 years she has been alive. (long story) She glowed when she saw him there so it was worth having to deal with him just to see her happy. And yes, I am bitter. lol. I have some pictures but decided not to include them because there are too many crazies out there and I don't want them looking at my kid. She was beautiful and happy, that's enough for me. The above blanket was for her bf's cousin who is having a baby girl. I tend to do that a lot. I make things for my loved ones to give to people that I will probably never meet. I take great joy in just the making of the baby blankets, I know they will be well received . Now I have to go look at my wip list and see what comes up after the LB blue suede ripple for my dad.

link to more pics

2008-06-05T15:04:00.000-04:00

http://jmccrochetblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/as-promised.html

This is a link to Joyce's blog with another picture of the 9 point Solid Center Round Ripple. I just love green and her color combinations are wonderful. Be sure to leave her a comment if you like it as much as I do.

In other news...I am also on Ravelry, ("stormdrac" again) and am working on My dad's LB Suede in Blue Ripple Afghan. Straight ripple this time, not round....imagine how long those final rounds would take trying to make a round ripple big enough for a 6 ft. man.....hours and hours. Anyway, I went with straight ripple and I think I am about 1/2 way through it. I will of course post when I finish it...pics too.