Granny 183 and 184; bye bye old Ford.

183

184

After #183 and #184 I am not only officially caught up on this year long project, I have finished all the red white and blue squares for the July 4th afghan.  I think it's reasonable to assume I won't be completely done by July 4th, since it is tomorrow.  But, just think of the huge jump I have on getting it done by Labor Day!

So tomorrow, it is back to the land of color!  Not that red, white and blue are not colors...but they are somewhat limiting to one who leans toward the saturated and even better, gaudy.

I have a plan for how the blanket should go together.  Crossing fingers that it looks as good in reality as it does in my mind :)  Wait did I say that yesterday?  Oh well.

Speaking of yesterday...spent a large part of it taking Ramona to the gynecologist for a consult.  Poor girl has many problems there and it looks like she is in for some surgery.  The doctor needs to talk to my geneticist (to see how far we should go), and to Ramona's cardiologist to see if it's ok for her to have surgery at all right now.  Sigh.

Just had a knock on the door, and it's time for me to go down with my neighbors to the department of motor vehicles.  I'm signing over my old Ford to them as a gift, and I'm happy that someone who has skills to fix it will be using it.  I had been thinking that I would donate it to one of the organizations that takes old cars, so donating it directly to someone that is in need is even better.

Granny 180, 181 and 182; Welcome to Mauritius and El Salvador

180

181

182

With another day's worth of square production, I'll be ready to start putting this afghan together.  I visited JoAnn Fabrics today and purchased Caron One Pound in red, white and blue, so I am ready and supplied.  I have ideas about the eventual design, and I really hope it turns out the way I see it in my mind's eye.

Red and white squares are from '99 Squares to Crochet'.  I particularly like this popcorn design, and I think solid squares should have some architectural interest.  The blue square is from 200 Squares, and to be honest I am not completely happy with it.  I may pull it out and use the yarn some other way.

Welcome today Mauritius and El Salvador!  To be honest, they arrived a few days ago...I just wanted to spread the welcomes out a little bit so I'm keeping a list.

Have a great Monday, everyone ~

Granny 177, 178, 179; Welcome China and Croatia; Southbound

177

178

First things first:  Sorry about the dentally inspired whining the other day.  I'll figure it out :)  Earlier today I was musing:  If I could get 20,000 people to send me $1 each, my dental woes would be over, LOL.

Anyhow...

All three of these squares are obviously all the same design, which came from the ubiquitous 200 Crochet Blocks.  These three and the last three represent the fact that I need some solid squares to balance out the tri-colors.

I do believe I've caught up, and it didn't take me all year.  Since I really need to go for it if I'm going to finish this afghan before the 4th, I'll be pulling ahead very soon.  Only briefly, however...I'll need a squares break to finish the afghan :)

179

The band "Southbound' performing at the Freedom Festival at Everett Naval Station today.  Fantastic Southern style rock!

Lastly, welcome to China and Croatia, from opposite sides of the globe.

Grannies 173, 174, 175, 176; Welcome Bulgaria and Malta

173

174

175

176

These squares came from 200 crochet Blocks.

I'd have more to say about it all, but I have serious dental pain and no possible way to pay for the work I need.  I'm sure I'll figure it out, but right now I just want to beat my head against the wall.

Right now I can't even get a dentist to see me, because although I could pay to have it pulled 'You too young to lose that tooth.  You need root canal.  You can't afford root canal, I will not treat you".  Exact words spoken as I sat in the chair.  And then charged me $40.00 for the time I took.

I'm going to have to the emergency room route, and I HATE that.

If I didn't have crochet to keep my hands busy, I'd have chewed my cuticles off.

Oh, and by the way, all the yarn came from a giant bag I got for $1.00 at a garage sale.  So I'm not spending money I should have saved for the dental work.

Rant over.


Oh...and welcome to Bulgaria and Malta.  Please come back!  I'm sure I'll get my nice back once I feel better :)

Granny 169,170,171,172

169

170

171

172

All four squares today are from 200 Crochet Blocks, as they have been all week.

#170 is a square that I skipped over when I looked through the book some time ago, because I thought it looked too complicated.  Well, it's not complicated, it is a pain!  There are 8, count them, EIGHT yarn changes, with the accompanying ends to weave in.  While I really like the look, I don't know that I have to patience to use this square again.

2 1/2 squares were done last night, and the remainder done today, a few stitches at a time.  I woke up at 5:00 am with the mother of all migraines.  I have not had one like this for a while, and it actually might turn out to be a toothache...it's a little hard to tell sometimes.  But, because I was going to do four per day until I have enough for the blanket, I just plain was going to get it done.

I'm not planning to make a huge blanket, but since they are all 8" squares, I think 20 should do it.  I have some great plans for putting them together and making a border.  I sure hope it works out the way it looks in my mind's eye :)

Grannies 167 and 168; welcome Nicaragua and Cyprus

167

168

122

 The first two squares are from 200 Crochet Blocks and were made today.

The following four squares were originally posted HERE.  I'm reposting them again today just to have them all together on one page.

Welcome to Nicaragua and Cyprus, my two newest visitor countries.  I wonder how long we can keep up this pace?  There are 257 countries in the world, and 80 of them have visited so far.

123

124

125

164, 165, 166; Grow Your Blog Party; Welcome Sri Lanka and Switzerland

164

165

166

I started this blog as a way to chart my progress as I keep working at my 366 granny squares in a year.  I find that posting each square challenges me to learn new techniques, research relentlessly, and try yarns that might be new to me (you never know what you will get at a garage sale ).

Along the way, this means that I've picked up the camera more frequently, and am seldom without it as I ramble around.  Each week I try to find a couple of parks or just very cool places to go and explore with the camera.  While the economy has turned down for us (although we're getting along), this keeps me looking for the beauty around me, and having this space to put up photos makes me happy, as well as stretching myself in a new way.

My biggest Photographic problem is that I prefer to take pictures in natural light...but I live in Seattle where we have had very little sun so far.  Oh, the transit of Venus, or a partial eclipse?  Good thing we have websites from which to view these marvels, because we were clouded over here.  I'd rather not have to invest in more gear (must not exceed the budget), but I'd love to take better indoor photos of the grannies and of course, other things.  Any advice?

You know what I love?  Visiting all the blogs around the world and see how much alike we all are, regardless of our differences.  I've picked up bits and pieces of Portuguese, Spanish (ok I already knew some Spanish), French (ok, I took French in High School so many years ago), Dutch and German.  It's another thing that stretches the mind.  I've read that learning a new language, or to play a musical instrument stimulates the growth of new dendrites in the brain, and speaking as a person of a certain age, this is a very good thing.  Blogging has provided opportunities in many and varied ways.

With that in mind, Vicki, in her blog Two Bags Full, is hosting a 'Grow Your Blog Party, and we are all invited to get involved.  Go on over to her blog and sign up!  Who doesn't want more readers?  I know I value the followers that come to my blog, and follow quite a few myself.  We'll all grow together!

Today's squares are all from 200 Crochet Blocks.  Starting tomorrow, bring out the red white and blue!  My goal is to have enough squares for an afghan, by July Fourth, the US Independence Day.  Who thinks I can do it?

And last, welcome to Switzerland and Sri Lanka, recent first time visitors.  I look forward to your return, and hope to learn more about your countries and cultures.

Granny 160, 161, 162, 163; Welcome Dominican Republic and Estonia

161

162

163

When I first challenged myself to 365 (366 really, it's a leap year) different and individual grannies in a year, I got quite a few designs from 200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws and Afghans by Jan Eaton.  This is mainly because it's the book that I had taken out of the library the most often.

As I did more and more design research, I discovered a few more books, and began working through them.  (the list of books I use is in the Amazon box at left.).  I've done a lot of browsing on the internet and on Ravelry.com, as well.

But at the moment, I've come back to 200 Crochet Blocks, and have decided to work right through it, but in reverse.  And, I won't do any that are squares of straight across crochet, at least not on this swing through.  I just don't enjoy those as much (for now).

I'm at One Hundred Sixty Four grannies now, and have slowed down a bit at times.  As for the days I don't post, I'm putting extra in the next day so I don't fall behind.  I started this challenge in mid February and at this point, don't think I'll catch up to finish within this calendar year.  If I don't finish until February 2013, that's ok with me!  A little part of me just wants to keep doing it after than...but we'll see what I say when the time comes!

I may be having my knee replaced at some point this year, and that will slow me down, too (but will feel a whole lot better after it is done!)

Welcome to Estonia and the Dominican Republic, recent visitors to this blog.  Glad to see you here, and do come back again :)

164

Grannies 159, 160; Secret Beach; welcome to Cape Verde and Albania

159

160

I've become disciplined enough to weave in all ends immediately, but not enough to get them blocked.  Tut, tut.

Baby steps.

The center of 159 is from 200 Crochet Blocks, until the dark brown.  Then I free crocheted the rest.  I find I am enamored of those little arches covered smoothly with silky yarn.  I just love it.








160 is also from 200 Crochet Blocks, and I actually did this one a week or two ago when I was doing a block each out of variegated yarns.  It fell out of the bag in the back seat of the car and I found it when I cleaned the car out today.  It's all one skein of Debra Norville Every Day 'Red Rocks'.  I like it, but maybe not for a square, in future.  I could see a big, swingy shawl, something that one could twirl in while dancing to the Grateful Dead.  Who often played at Red Rocks Ampitheater in Colorado, and we've come full circle.

My newly discovered unknown (to most) beach.  I'm in love.

Blackberry Blossom

Welcome to Cape Verde, which is a group of islands west of Senegal in the Atlantic Ocean.  I knew nothing about Cape Verde until someone who lives there visited my blog, and I did a little research.  Very fascinating!  I like it when I learn something new.

Welcome also to Albania, which is on the Adriatic Sea right next to Macedonia and Montenegro (two of my favorite country names).  Albania, you have been through a lot and I dearly hope that things are looking up.  Welcome again.

Ornamental Poppy

California Poppy

View of Mount Rainier from the Beach with No Name.

Grannies 156, 157, 158; Welcome to Kuwait and Malaysia~

A picture of a rosa rugosa that I took on a cloudy day at a lakeside beach.  It has nothing to do with crochet, except that I love this photo and love to crochet.  :)

156

This square, #156, is based on 'Autumn Leaves' from 50 Fabulous Crochet Squares.

Any book that I name as a resource can be looked at by finding it in the Amazon.com box on the left.  You can click on the book and have a look at it, usually several pages worth.  Check them out before you buy them! 

157

158

#157 is also from 50 Fabulous Crochet Squares, and in this one, instead of using three rows of singles on the outside, I used one row of half doubles, and one row of singles.

















#198 is also from 50 Frabulous Crochet squares.  There are two extra rows of single crochet added, in order to bring this square to the same size as the first two.

The three brown yarns are Bernat Satin (my favorite for squares), and the variegated yarn used in 156 and in the edge of 158 is Bernat Mosaic.

A big welcome to Malaysia and Kuwait, the two latest new visitors to this blog.  Note to self:  Research how many countries exist now, and I wonder how often that master list changes..  More on that tomorrow, because I care.

Grannies 154 and 155; Welcome Philippines and Saudi Arabia

154

155

I've been playing with incorporating a new yarn into designs.  The yarn is Bernat Mosaic acrylic, color 'Envy'.  I ordered it thinking that it would be a very soft yarn, because I'm goign to be making a shawl for a daughter who is very sensitive to how things feel on her skin.  When I first tried this yarn I was thinking it would be rough when worked up, but it is not at all.  In these the squares, it is used in both of the second to outermost colors.  I have it in a third square that will be finished for tomorrow, as well.  I think it will work well for the shawl, now that I've used it.  I guess it would be termed a 'self striping' yarn, with enough of each color for a good block of color.  In 154, both the row of bright green and the next row of a sort of olive green mix are the same yarn.  Only quibble so far:  the spinning process approximates hand spun yarn to a point, but sometimes the yarn is too thin.  Also, in one place the yarn is fluffed out and loose enough that the yarn pulled apart and I had to cut the yarn and have a knot where one was not planned.

***The basic design for both squares can be found in 50 Fabulous Crochet Squares.  I slightly changed the outside edging for the sake of size.***

You would think I wouldn't like this yarn, with my liking for even, shiny type yarns, but I really do.  And it works well with the other colors used.

I'll be sticking with this color scheme for a bit.  I have an afghan that I've offered to donate for a silent auction, and am thinking about making it these colors.  Or not!

Welcome to Saudi Arabia and the Philippines!  Two countries that are so different and so many miles apart...both visited here yesterday.

Granny 153; Welcome Barbados and Luxembourg

153

This square is from 50 Fabulous Crochet Squares, still my far and away favorite granny square book.  A bit on the fence about all the pink here, because it's not a color I use much.  Therefore, I'm trying to use it (and some other colors, like bright yellow).  Broaden my own horizons a bit :)

And a big welcome to Barbados and Luxembourg, both of which visited this blog for what I think is the first time recently.

I wish my flags of the world gadget broke things down further.  For instance, everything in the British Isles comes through as Britain.  I'd like to know when Scotland visits here, being quite a bit of Scottish myself.  Apparently there is a paid version of the program that does do this...but again, I'm Scottish and can't bring myself to pay for what I clearly don't need.  It goes on the list of things to do when I win the lottery...

Grannies 151 and 152; Caturday; welcome to Netherland Antilles and Uruguay!

151

152

Square 151 is from 50 Fabulous Crochet Squares.  The interesting thing is that the dark yarn and the outer yarn are the same variegated yarn.  Very interesting yarn.


















This square started off being from 50 Fabulous Crochet squares, and then I started messing with it.    The turquoise yarn is really green, a sort of emerald green.  No idea why it photographed so very differently.

A very solemn Mr. Bernard greets us on this, our day of Caturday.  We're working with him to end some of his slightly aggressive behaviors.  After a lot of behavior modification, he's a bit better, but still exhibits a lot of anxious sorts of behavior.  I guess if he were a person,  what he has been through for the last few months before he came here would be enough to make anyone anxious and maybe even depressed.  I'm feeling a little conflicted about putting Mr. Bernard on Prozac, it just seems strange.  He is on a trial of Prozac, though, and so far I can tell you what it is doing:  he's less hungry (which is probably good since he needs to shed some weight._); he's hanging out under the bed a lot, when he used to be on the top of the bed;  and otherwise, is still biting me.  There are other behaviors taht I have not seen even once, though, so maybe....

Welcome to the Netherland Antilles and Uruguay!  Glad to have you visit here!

Now, if only feedjit would work properly....

Grannies #149 and 150; Welcome to United Arab Emirates.

149

150

Both of these square designs are from Priscilla's Crochet and are the creations of Priscilla Hewitt..  #149 is called 'Nordic Star', and here I really should have heeded the advice to use a smaller hook than my usual H.  It is rather large, about 12 inches.  I have made others that size, and it will be used with them.  #150 is called 'Spanish Tile', and came out the size I was expecting.  Sometimes you just don't know how something is going to work up...that's why it's called a Learning Experience.

Welcome to the United Arab Emirates, which is my new country of the day.  I look forward every day to discovering which new country has visited the blog.  Fun and enlightening!