To Market to Market

To buy some more yarn??? I made this crochet market bag yesterday. I haven't crocheted in quite a while and have forgotten how much I enjoy it. It's fast, easy, and I can watch a ballgame while I do it too! The pattern is basically Turtlegirl's Beginner Crochet Market Bag A Ravelry download. Cristi's felted bag pattern has been a favorite of mine for a long time and I've made many versions of it. I think this one will be a favorite too. I changed the beginning round and the handles a little bit. As you can see, it holds quite a lot of groceries. Imagine how much yarn it could hold!!! I'm working on another one - this time I'm making the bottom bigger and the sides shorter. I used Bernat Handicrafter cotton naturals in a natural tweed and think I can get two bags from one of these (680 yard) skeins.

Back from Vacation

We stayed here, at Mineral Springs Resort in Vernon, NJ for a few days. It has 5 pools - this one (a view from our balcony) was a hot 90 degrees! A little vigorous exercise LOL
And then of course I had to rest for quite a long time. I knit washcloths - very mindless knitting and read Vanishing Act by Jodi Picoult and Trap Door by Sarah Graves and Tears of The Giraffe ( No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series) by Alexander McCall Smith.

Then I jumped off a cliff well - okay - that's not me, it's my 8 year-old granddaughter who finally got up the nerve to do it and was very proud of herself. That's her brother in the water encouraging (daring) her to do it, and then swimming back with her to make sure she was okay.

Click to view video
We also spent a few days at my sister's house on Lake Hopatcong, visiting with friends and family, a day in NYC, and lots of relaxing!

Bags are Packed

And ready to go! Hope you all have a great week . I'll be back next week with pictures!

Meme

If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, even if we don't speak often, please post a comment with a memory of you and me. It can be anything you want -- good or bad. When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people remember about you.

Summer Vacation!!!

See that timeline ticker up on top of my blog? Whoo Hoo! We have a tradition at our school. On the last day (which ended at noon for the kids today) we always go out and stand around the flagpole and wave to the kids as the buses go by on their way out the dooryard. As soon as they buses are gone, we whoop and holler just like the kids. Summer vacation has officially begun!
On Sunday I'm driving down to New Jersey with my daughter and grandkids. We'll be staying at Crystal Springs in Vernon for a couple of days and then at My sister's house on Lake Hopatcong. We hope to visit with lots of friends and relatives while we are there. I may even bring my knitting along LOL.

Wordless Wednesday

Isn't this the cutest?

It's actually crocheted and then brushed. I really think I'm going to have to try this. You can find the link to the PDF download here.

If that link doesn't work - try this http://littlegreen.typepad.com/romansock/tutorial-pomeranian.html There is also a brushed crochet tutorial here.

New Wheels

I finally traded in my Buick (the one I threatened to give away as a prize on Whoduknit!) for a 2004 Subaru Outback - love it!

Pay It Forward - Knitting Style - Round 2

I played this last year and it was so much fun I'm going to go around again. I promised Delores on The Knitted Zebra that I would "Pay it Forward" to three other people. This is how it works:

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don't know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week.. but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. There is one stipulation - if I 'paid it forward' to you in the last round, you aren't eligible for this one - sorry!

Additionally please send your private information to me via email at: grammieknits@yahoo.com

with the following information:
1) Color(s) you like
2) Color(s) you do not like
3) Your mailing address ~ international knitters are welcome to play
4) Your blog url
The first three people to comment here and then email me will receive a confirmation from me letting you know the "fun has begun"! Once you receive the confirmation you will need to post the Pay it Forward challenge on your blog so the fun can continue.