This is just a little entry to say I'm not crocheting much lately because I'm having problems with my arms and hands aching. It hurts to move them much. I have to go back to the doctor to have Xrays done but haven't made the appointment yet. I was there about 3 weeks ago to have Xrays, but the machine broke. You've heard of people being so ugly they break the camera, well, I guess I'm super ugly because I broke the Xray machine when they tried to take Xrays. I hope they can do something to take this pain away so I can get back to crocheting again. I really miss it.

Gracie's still living with us. She's gone to her mother's this weekend, but will be back on Monday. I was very worried the first time she went to her mom's for a visit, but she came back so this arrangement seems to be working very nicely. I love having her here with us, she's such a ball of energy.

Easy slippers, measure foot from toe to heel, make a chain that long and crochet until you have a square. Gather one end tightly to form the toe, stitch up a few stitches to cover the foot part and then stitch up the opposite end for the heel. Add a couple rounds of sc around the foot opening and sew on pom poms and you're good to go. These are actually green and yellow, but the camera doesn't like green. Click the picture to get to the pattern.

Beth's Little Star Afghan is very easy to do and works up pretty fast. This one is made with Caron Brites in 4 colors. You can stripe it any way you want or make it solid. I actually made this one twice because I had a black row between each stripe that was thicker than the brites used so the blanket puckered badly. I frogged it and started over and like these results so much better. Gracie absolutely loves it and that's what I was aiming for.

Gracie insisted she needed a bag with black in it. I didn't think I'd like it, but I do. I made this bag by turning at the end of each round. Something I hate doing, but it makes a straight seam and I like that.

I didn't make a closure for this bag because I don't think it needs one. If I carry it, my hand just fits through the handles and keeps the bag closed. I plan to use it as a wrist bag when I make mine. The pattern is posted now, click the picture to get to the pattern.

One thing I didn't count on was Spike being jealous of Gracie. I should have expected it though. I'm always comparing his antics to those of a 2 year old child. He's exactly like that. If I'm on the phone, he gets right in my face trying to get me to pay attention to him. If I'm talking to my son, Spike is all over the place trying to get me to play with him. He loves Gracie to death and wants to be with her everywhere she goes, but he doesn't want her interacting with me. That's his job. When she's sitting behind me, he's right there beside her, tapping on my chair with his paws trying to get me to turn around and play or scratch him. It's really hilarious, but annoying. Dogs and kids...you gotta love em!

Please, anybody. Can you tell me where the off switch is for a 4 year old. This child is non-stop talking and bouncing off the wall with energy. Her favorite place to be is right behind me at my computer so she's jabbering in my ear continuously and jumping up and down and wiggling around.

I hope you know I'm just kidding. I'm loving every minute of it, but she can sure wear on my nerves. Her (half) brothers are coming to spend the weekend so she'll have someone besides her granny to play with her.

My great grandson was born this afternoon at around 4:30. He weighed in at 8 1/2 pounds and is 21 inches long. Mom and babe are doing fine and everyone's resting.

In case you haven't noticed, I've posted the last few patterns on a different site than usual. I did this in an attempt to make it easier to print the patterns with less clutter.  I'll be posting the pattern pictures and a little information about the pattern here, so If you have questions or comments about the patterns, you can use that post for comments.

I've copied all of my patterns to PATTERNS BY DOT on blogger, but I still plan to maintain my blogs here. I just thought you might like a cleaner pattern to print.

Not so important: I posted the zig zag shells hat pattern so if you want it, just click the picture in the previous post and it should take you to the pattern

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: I'm going to be a great granny by the end of the day. My son called and said my granddaughter is in the hospital and they're going to keep her until she has the baby. Well, now that I typed that out I can see how funny it looks. I certainly hope they keep her until the baby comes. Anyway, I'm going to officially be an OLD woman in a few hours. lol 

Gracie came to live with us night before last. It was kind of sudden and I'm still not sure all that transpired for her to come, but I'm just so glad she's here. It seems it was her mom's idea, she asked my son (Gracie's dad) if he would let her (Gracie) live with us. Like he's only been trying to get her to do that for the last 3 years. From what I've been told, Gracie will be with us through the summer at least and visit her mom every other weekend. I hope this is what will really happen, but this child's mom is not very reliable and may change her mind at the drop of a hat. I hope we don't get our hearts broken again.

Gracie's birthday is Saturday, she's going to be 4 years old.