Queen Anne's Scarf

Isn't this purty?

I love to crochet. I am self taught and my skills are limited (that short attention span thing). Patterns that require anything more than chain, single crochet and double crochet is pretty much out for me. I okay with that. I still have trouble reading patterns and keeping track of my stitches (pathetic, I know) so I rely on patterns that are fairly repetitious but definitely not boring.

I should admit one thing, though. I'm good at starting crochet projects but not so good at finishing them. I get in the mood for crocheting, start searching for The Perfect Crochet afghan pattern, agonize over yarn color selections and begin the project with gusto. Then I get restless. My attention span begins to wander and I work on it less and less to the point where I just give up and pack it away with promises to finish it "soon."

I hate that.

I know, I know, I am not the only one that does that but, still. I have two giant granny square afghans that I have been working on for 2 years and still haven't finished either one. And they're really cool, too.

So, I've recently decided to change all that. It is part of my new Bucket List of Things To Do: to finish one of the afghans and to crochet a scarf. This makes sense to me now. Rather than being a random abstract goal floating around me without any real purpose - it is a more concrete and tangible mission. I'm good with that.


Now, about this Queen Anne's Lace Scarf. I love, love, love this pattern. It's gorgeous and impressive and looks complicated to make.

But it's not.

It's just a bunch of chains, single and double crochets per motif and you do the same motif over and over until you reach the scarf length you want. It's all about repetition. I like repetition in a pattern. It makes me happy. You get into a rhythm and go on autopilot. I like rhythm and autopilot. Not only that, this pattern is fast, addictive and hard to stop once you get going (okay...gonna stop for the night after this motif...oh, just one more...seriously, this is my last one...").

I'll admit that this pattern might be a bit daunting to figure out at first. I'm not sure I would have been able to do it with out the wonderful picture tutorial I found on http://thisdomesticlife.blogspot.com. At some point a light bulb goes on and you suddenly "get" it and off you go.

This just might be my first crochet project that I will actually complete from start to finish!

My Secret Garden

Sigh. We are now in the waning days of summer. Soon it will be time to start cleaning up the yard, put the swing away, toss out my tired flowers and veggies from their containers and sweep up the deck. As much as I like Fall, it's always so sad to me to have to say good -bye to my pride and joy.

My Secret Garden.

The front of the house shields a secret full of vivid color, glorious blooms and an abundance of produce that lies behind the house. A private oasis created solely from container gardening, hope and a prayer.



The ironic thing is, I really don't know much about gardening. All I know to do is to make sure they get sun, water, the occasional feeding and to pluck dead blooms and yellowed leaves. Oh. And I also talk to them. Every morning I peer out the windows and greet them. Out loud. "Hi, flowers!" I chirp. Steve thinks I'm nuts but I don't care. When I am puffing and fluffing and plucking at them I murmur sweet nothings and tell them how they are making Mommy so happy.

I ignore Steve's mutterings about "crazy lady pantyhose."


Such beautiful color basking in the sunlight.


Hi, flowers!


I fuss over my strawberries, encouraging them to make big, sweet tasting berries. At least I think they're sweet and tasty. The squirrels seem to like them judging from the chewed up remains on the stems.


I marvel over my tomato plant producing juicy, meaty tomatoes. I love the tomato-y smell of the leaves. Is that weird?


Who knew that letting lettuce go to seed would produce happy little blue flowers?


Don't ever let anybody tell you that you can't grow full sized cucumbers in a container!



My prized swing.


A place to sit and swing in the summer breeze, sip iced tea and read a favorite book.
I like to tilt my face up to the warm sun and listen to the birds and laugh at my fat cat as he rolls around in the grass after eating some catnip.

I am not ready for summer to end.