Blocks and Bowling

Crochet blocks, that is.  Between traveling to Ohio for grandpa's birthday, and traveling to a bowling tournament this past weekend, I've had a little bit of time to work on my CIPs. 

A few weeks ago, Dad and I bowled in the Central Shenandoah Valley USBC Hall of Fame Tournament and didn't do too badly.  We placed 7th in Doubles, I placed 7th in Women's Singles, and I placed 6th in All Events (which takes your scores from Doubles, Singles, and Team and adds them all together)! I don't know exactly how many doubles/singles there were since the results haven't been posted to the website yet, but I'm still quite pleased.  Now the Virginia State Mixed Tournament in Richmond Saturday and Sunday was a completely different experience. Double/Singles weren't too bad, but Team was a nightmare! The lanes were not very forgiving, we couldn't get anything to carry, and we bowled lousy - about 300 pins BELOW our team average for the day. It's impossible to win anything that way. The tournament goes through the end of the month, so we won't have any results before the middle to end of March, I'm sure. At the end of the day we were still laughing and smiling so I guess it wasn't so bad. Plus, we went to Dairy Queen afterward, and ice cream makes everything better!


I did make some progress on the Red Heart Checkerboard Textures Throw while traveling. Woohoo! I'm using Lion Brand Pound of Love yarn in Antique White #099. The squares are so soft, and measure roughly 12x12 10x10. They're close enough that I think once it's pieced together it'll be ok. The next textured square doesn't come out until next week. Boo!
 

Cross-Stitch Square

 

Granny Square

I made a decision about the other crochet alongs...after looking at the Moogly crochet along more closely, I realized that the squares were much more intricate than at first glance, so I decided to only join the 2014 Block-A-Month Crochet Along. I am really enjoying the squares, and they make quick work. I've gone with Red Heart Super Saver in Buff #0334, Soft Navy #0387, Aran #0313 and Cafe Latte #0360.

There is one main square a month, one filler square, and one 6" square, so the choices really are endless. I've decided on the Lemony Lime Citrus Square, the Frostbloom 12" Afghan Square, and the Flower Tile Afghan Square so far. I've learned something, too. Squares aren't so bad afterall.



Lemony Lime Citrus Square

Frostbloom 12" Afghan Square




I love the texture of this square! It makes you just want to run your hands across it, doesn't it? So ruffley and soft! I'm really liking the the colors, too, and I just happened to have them on hand so I didn't have to make any special trips to the store before starting. That makes me and my pocketbook happy!

Frostbloom 12" Afghan Square

 

Flower Tile Afghan Square
 

The downside to these two crochet alongs is that the afghans won't be completed until December! AAAHH! Waiting is so hard! I may have to add some 6" squares to fill in the time. Or, um, I could just work on the CIPs that are anxiously awaiting my crochet hook...

Time really does fly...

Wow! It's been over a year since I posted anything. Seriously, where does time go? Oh yeah, I'm a full-time working mother...that explains it, at least a little.

The first thing I need to do is introduce you to my granddaughter, Karli.  She was born November 22, at 3:30 p.m., weighing 5 pounds 15 ounces and measuring 19 5/8" long. Perfect and healthy in every way! Oh, and mom recovered GREAT from her c-section (after two and a half days in labor!).

About 3 hours after birth:



Here she is at 6 weeks old:

And one more at two months:

Isn't she gorgeous?!?!?!! I think I'm starting to get the hang of this whole grandma thing, and I think I'm really going to enjoy it, too!

We spent this past weekend celebrating my grandpa's 95th birthday. It was great seeing my sister and my Ohio family again. Sadly, the visits are few and far between. With the addition of Karli, it made five generations - again! My oldest daughter (aka Karli's mom) made five generations on my dad's mom's side of the family. My great-grandma was 94 when my oldest was born, and my grandpa (dad's dad) was 94 when Karli was born. I think that's kinda cool.

 

On a different, but related note, I have started crocheting again. Related because I picked up my yarn and hook when I found out I was going to be a grandma. I have a few projects under my belt, and a few CIPs (crochets in progress). Karli has a beautiful blanket; my son-in-law and youngest daughter have scarves and I made one for myself, too; one lapghan for Soldiers’ Angels; an OSU afghan for my son; and, an afghan that I started years ago and lost the pattern for.

Last week, I was cruising around looking for patterns and discovered The Checkerboard Textures Throw Crochet Along at Red Heart. I fell in love and have finished the first square. I am really pleased with how it turned out, except for the fact that it is definitely NOT a 10x10 square like it's supposed to be! What do you think? I'm hoping that all my squares will turn out the same size and the afghan will still come together like it's supposed to.

My problem now is that I have found two more crochet-alongs that I am smitten with. First, the 2014 Block-A-Month CAL and then the Moogly CAL 2014.  I’m not even a huge fan of Granny Squares, but I do love a good challenge so I’ll probably be making three blankets (in addition to the other CIPs I have going) this year. You can never have too many projects going at once, right?? The BAM CAL only does one square a month, while Moogly does two, and Red Heart does four! Hmm...decisions, decisions...