February things

Of course most of the photos posted here today are not even taken in February, but on we go anyway.

I started Groot in the previous post and here now he has limbs and leaves, still no mouth yet nor is he anchored into his pot, but he's mostly finished.  No really sure why he's not done yet, I guess I feel like he's missing something.  I do know he's fatter then the pictures on Twinkie Chan's blog where the pattern is posted.  I'm sure he'll get done soon.

Groot progressing

So the mystery yarn I started playing with in the last post turned into a bracelet.  I worked up a wrist sized swatch and added some embellishments and a button closure.  Simple enough.

bracelet made with mystery yarn

Friends of mine sent me a gorgeous yarn bowl of which the below picture does not do it justice at all!  It is stunning and makes me happy. 

yarn bowl with heart yarns

I started a baby blanket for the same friends who are expecting a little girl this month.  Had a lovely idea to do a simple pink and black blanket, wide rows of pink with 1 or 2 rows of black in between and then border in black and add a pink bow.  Easy and quick....or so I thought.  It has turned into a major undertaking.  I bought what I thought based on past blankets, enough yarn.  I was wrong.  Since the only pink I really liked was Simply Soft, I switched to an H hook.  Smaller hook equals the need for a longer starting chain....again wrong.  Now at 4 rows into this I felt the need to rip it out and start over.  Maybe a bigger hook and a shorter starting chain, but I persevered even though I really didn't feel it.  

new blanket

February brings hearts and I ran across an adorable and easy little crocheted heart in my Facebook feed on day.  (Flamingo Toe's on FB)  I thought that they would look cute strung across the fireplace since it's been looking so empty since removing the Christmas decor.  Made about a dozen or so in different pinks and strung them on white yarn, and done!  Below is my yarn bowl that I used to toss in the hearts as I finished them.  I have also made some for Katlyn to wear in her hair at work since she normally wears the flowers I make.

bowl of hearts

Oh here's an updated shot of the pink blanket, this was before I knew I was going to run out of pink yarn.  I do like the blanket, I know it sounds like I don't...it's just not how I saw it in my head, well it sort of is.

growing blanket

So we finally were able to take a road trip to see Brooke and the boys.  Really hard trying to get the days off coordinated with Katlyn's schedule over Christmas and Valentine's is going to have her working long hours as well, so when she had a scheduled weekend off, she was able to extend it and off we went.  The fog was heavy and thick nearly the entire drive, that's what we get for leaving at 3 am.  Katlyn drove and she didn't mind the fog as much as I did.  

a foggy drive

With Katlyn driving so I read while it was dark out and started crocheting once it got light enough outside.

hooking on the road

Now we've done this trip up to the Bay area a lot.  We know the exits for gas and where the rest areas are pretty nearly by heart.  We also know that the Richmond-San Rafael bridge has a $5 toll in the North direction...guess who had no cash!  Yikes, I forgot to get cash!!  I always carry a bit of cash on our road trips and for some reason I forgot to get some.  So my plan, since Katlyn had no cash either, was to gather change.  She was not keen on this idea at all.  I managed to get the $5 together, in mostly quarters even but the girl was not happy still.  Ok neither was the booth attendant, me I was hysterical, I mean seriously people, it's not like I did it intentionally nor will she have to see the booth attendant again and we had the $5!  New rule, emergency $5 bill in the car at all times!

Richmond-San Rafael Bridge

Arrived to a lovely Saturday in Windsor.  Everybody happy we're there and I got presents!  Christopher got me a crochet hook charm.  How cute is this!  I forgot my necklace at home, but it's flippin' adorable and on my necklace now.

tiny hook charm

I really wanted to go to the yarn store in Santa Rosa.  I hadn't been to the new location and was looking for red yarn. Christopher was not amused, but he went anyway.

Christopher not looking forward to the yarn store

So the red yarn....yeah the problem is that they carry so many lovely yarns and so many different reds that I didn't get any red at all, but I of course got some delicious Malabrigo. They will be a cowl as soon as the pink blanket is complete.

yarn purchases

I got to meet my Niece Danielle's son Titus.  What a sweet baby he is!  He had no problem with me holding him and even fell asleep for me.  We took selfies too!

Titus and I

The trip home started later then usual, since there was baby holding involved but it was a pleasant ride and I do love a good looking sunset!

Sunset on the way home

Superbowl Sunday, Katlyn worked, I went to my Sister's.  I found these little foam fingers at Target and had to get them as they were cute.  Made entirely too much food and worked on the pink blanket throughout the entire game.  

Tiny Foam Finger

Made these tasty treats with salsa and shredded lettuce on the side also did deviled eggs and brownie bites.  Much food was consumed by all and still had loads of leftovers!

taco cups

Car shopping is up next.  Katlyn has been using her Aunt's extra vehicle to get back and forth to work but of course being as she is 20, she really wanted her own car.  After a few false leads with other cars I called my Brother who I forgot actually works a car dealership.  Found out that he works for a Chevy dealer and that was that for Katlyn.  He ran numbers on different cars for her and found that with the down payment she had saved and a rebate, she could get a new car.  Monday morning we headed to Cerritos.  She test drove 2 models of the Cruze and they let her drive a Camaro (out of her price range but her dream car) and picked the Cruze she wanted.  2015 Chevy Cruze with 8 miles on it.  My girl is a very happy girl.  She paid for it all herself, I'm so proud. 

I took my yarn bag with me and hooked along while waiting.  My Brother laughed at me, thinking that I was silly for bringing yarn out but I got a lot done in all of that time sitting around.

while waiting

Here she is learning the radio and On Star before driving it home.  She is still ridiculously happy and can't believe she has her own car. 

girl's first car

So on now to a cat picture, because that's what we do.  Stein loves Katlyn, he will climb onto her lap no matter how she sitting or what else she happens to have on her lap, and plop himself down and get comfy.  

he loves her lap

I bought some orange cotton yarn to go with the red.  I'm thinking of making a Fire Demon...just have to work it out.  I'm trying not to crochet anything other then the pink blanket so I can get it finished up and shipped before the baby is born!  Katlyn just laughs and makes fun because according to her the pink blanket is still a rectangle.  It's now a running joke.  No matter how much I work on it, it is always a rectangle instead of becoming a square.  One day...one day!

something of an idea

And that's it for now, I'd really like to get a decent picture of the pink blanket, but it's kind of large for photos I think, though spreading it out on my bed would work if I could keep the dogs from traipsing all over it!  I'll try on Saturday.  I'm going to get new tires on my car Saturday morning so I will take the blanket to work on while waiting, maybe I can get it finished this weekend!

Listening to:  Love in the Midnight by Styx