Let's make this a happy space!

So, there has been a lot of things going on in my life that are outside of my control and are frankly making me feel a manic. For anyone looking in I suppose they can see the sources of stress, but to really understand why the stress is effecting me like it is, might be a whole different ball game. So, in an effort to destress, and find a change to this surreal floating in time pace, I have given my self a project. One where no one else is effected but me, and that ultimately will give me a place to go and unwind.

So, I'm redoing my bedroom!! We don't really have a style right now. I have a few really nice antique pieces, but not that all match or that are flowing together nicely. I love French Country decorating, so I am going to start there. The best part of French Country is that it meant to look like you collected it over time and made it match as best as possible. Frequently furniture is painted white, then sanded and light and quickly stained on the sanding to give a "loved" look. Easily done, even in the winter in Maine, because I have a very large master bathroom in which I can paint in, and an extra one to shower in.

I have been roaming through "junk" shops, Goodwill, Salvation Army's, TJMaxx and stores like that. The finds have been great! Lots of wrought iron accessories and candles! All a girl needs to relax and unwind. Mom thought up a great idea, using birdcages as plant-holders, which I love more then I can say.I have two in mind from TJMaxx, they are supposed to hold wine bottles and glasses, but I thought they would be great double-decked planters! I found a little square candle holder, to put a glass in with a few little stones to start new plants!

I still need at least one painting or picture. I was thinking of trying to get a few botanical prints, the ones with all the parts labeled that look like they are from the Victorian era. I really want a garden gate bedroom.

I also can't seem to find a nice cabbage rose fabric. I found one or two, but mostly they are in tapestry fabric, which is two heavy to make a quilt to cover the comforter. I still have a few places to check for sheets. The great part is that I have access to a surger so quilting is much easier.


UPDATE: while I was typing I got a call - looks like we are going to be moving in the summer, into a wonderful, fully stocked place, with everything this place is missing.....so, redecorating will not be going on the walls. um, I'm happy but nervous, I'll finish this post after I digest all this....

Accomplished!

i have finally finished Lynda's two shawls! I have also finished my Mom's mittens, and Kendra's bag! I am hoping to have Hannah's mittens done soon, and Mom's hat! If I could finish these things before the 1st I would be really really happy!! then I need to finish my cable curry mitts, redo Dad's hat, and do Cynthia's fingerless mitts and at least one - probably two stockings (but I love doing the stockings!) and then I can do whatever I want to do! I will be out from under the HILL of projects that have been sitting there half done. I think I will work on a baby blanket to use up scraps and the blanket for Nanny for her bday!

ok - now to just sort trough my spices, get dinner started, shower, drop off the baby, and get ready for people to be here! Tomorrow we are going to be cleaning out the trailer and seeing what needs to be done before we can paint and move in! Hopefully it will be easy, but on the other hand, if the carpets are in bad shape, we are going ot get new floors, which would be nice! Then there is going to be tons of packing to be done - lots of clearing for the garden, and putting in the duck pen! busy busy busy!!

Motivation and Moving

I have been so busy and not busy at the same time this week. I have a ton of knitting that I really need to get done, but, I have a new ereader and that makes me really want to read instead. I know that I am smart enough to read and knit, but all my projects need a little more attention then that. Other then maybe the market bag for my little sister.

I've also no been feeling well for about 4 days now. I don't know what is going on. I am going to sleep super early, and aleeping HARD. I have a little bit of a headache and a really good body ache going on. I am going to see the doctor this week if it doesn't let up! Anthony has a really sore stomach too, and it looks like the baby might be starting with it this morning.Let's hope it passes us over quickly.

its rainy off an on today, so I need to just get done a few things here at the house and then I AM going to knit!! I have 6 things I can do, and three assignments from Hogwarts that I can do too! I think I need to find a series on Netflix and get going.

It looks like we will be moving very soon! My FIL offered us a trailer for only 100 more then we are paying now, and that will be paid by what we save in gas!! We will have a nice secluded yard, and will be able to have animals and plant whatever my little heart desires! I'm very very very excited! He has tenants there right now but they have a court date this week to evict them, which has been going on for awhile. then they are going to have 14 days to get out. We are going to have to go in and see what the damage is, but hopefully there won't be a ton of work that needs to be done. I also just found out that there is a Jacuzzi tub in the master bath (there are TWO bathrooms!!) and I will do ANYTHING to save it! I really need to have a huge bath, I have been too long without a nice soak! I'm really hoping that this means that we will be moving in by the end of the month! I am willing to be there everyday to help clean and get things moving if it means we can move in sooner! I want to be there when the leaves change on all the maples in the back yard, and make soap out on the deck! Also, its just up the road from my FAVORITE apple orchard, so we will be able to go there all the time!I have so many plans for this place already! I think we are even going to be getting a dog this fall or next spring! I'm so so happy!!! :-)

well, off to do some chores while the baby is still sleeping! Hope everyone reading is having a fantastic weekend!!

Morgan

Crochet Market Bag pattern

Hooks : G & K
Worsted weight cotton
Gauge along bottom = 4dc X 2 rows is 1”

Starting with the G hook, ch 4, sl st to the first ch to form ring. ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), dc 11 in ring (12 dc total)

Round 1: ch 3, (dc,ch2,2dc) in same sp. dc in next 2 dc, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in next st 2x more, dc in next 2 dc, join with sl st to beg ch 3.

Round 2: ch 3, dc in next dc, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in ch 2 sp. dc in next 6 dc (2dc, ch2, 2dc) rep 2x more, dc in 4dc, join

Round 3: ch3 dc in next 3dc, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) dc in next 10 dc, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) rep 2x more, dc in the next 6 dc, join.

Round 4: ch3, dc in next 5dc (2dc,ch2, 2dc) dc in next 14dc, (2dd, ch2, 2dc) rep 2x more, dc in next 8dc, join

Round 5: ch3, dc in next 7dc (2dc, ch2, 2dc) dc in next 18dc, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) rep 2x more, dc in next 10 dc, join.

Round 6: ch3, dc in next 9dc (2dc, ch2, 2dc) dc in next 22 dc (2dc, ch2, 2dc) rep 2x more, dc in next 12 dc, join.

Round 7: ch3, dc in next 11dc through the back loop only (here and throughout) 5dc in ch2-sp, dc in next 26dc, 5 dc in corner sp rep 2x more, dc in next 14 dc, join.

Switch to Larger Hook

Round 8: ch 5 (counts as first dc and ch 2) sk 1 dcdec, ch2, sk 1 around to last st, 1 dc in last dc, join.

Round 9: dc in each dcdec and sp around

Round 10: ch3, dc in next dc, ch 2 dc in next 2dc, ch 2 around, join.
Rep round 10 ro desired length.

Next Round: ch 3, dc in next st, ch 2, dcdec around, ch 2, join.

Dc in each dc for 3 rounds.

ch 3, dc in next 9 stitches ( 10 total)
(ch3, turn, dc in 9 stitches) rep to desired length.

Attach to ten stitches in you perferred method, directly across the rim of the bag.

New Blog!

I am very excited to bring you my new blog! I have had one before but it became muddled and I was so frustrated I didn't know what to do with it anymore. So, we leave behind the past, start fresh and start posting!

Things are starting to even out here in the Grey household. We are looing forwrd to next month and getting things dealt with around here for the summer. Mr. Grey has some trees to cut down, which I am personally hoping he does this week end. There are two cedars on the side of the house that are nice enough, but have not been cared for in ten years and have over taken the garden. His father (owns the property) would like those down because they are becoming a threat to the power lines. He also said I can feel free to plant whatever I wish in the garden on the side of the house. In the back yard we are cutting down a few trees that are mostly dead and dealing with the underbrush that has been allowed to grow up around it. Mr. Grey also has to restring my clothesline since he broke the metal pole while beating out some rugs! It was an old pole, but I still have had three good laundry days at this point which I haven't been able to take advantage of!

I'm thinking I would like to plant roses in the side garden. I love wild Victorian style roses! I love that they smell good, I love how they look. Plus rose hips are always a bonus! I would like to make jelly and tea this year with the one's at Mama Grey's. I would like to dig up a plot in the back year where the undergrowth is and plant some Chamomile and other tea related things.

Baby Grey is doing well, however today she is being a bit of a fuss. I don't know what's wrong, but she isn't running a fever, she just isn't eating well, and is very thirsty. So I'll keep an eye on it but hopefully she will just sleep it off.

I have been making Market Bags like crazy! They are fast and easy and I love them. Everyone does! They have been requested like nothing I have ever seen among my friends and family! So far I have to make about twenty or more. Some of that is Christmas, others are people that are asking for them as soon as possible, plus I would like to have some for here at the house! I go to Sam and the Natural Living Center a ton, and I would like to make sure I have bags because I don't like to have bags about and Sam's does have any. At least that way we can just make one trip for the small things!

I also have a few projects on the needles that I need to finish ASAP because they are mostly past do. So I am going to list them here in hopes it will kick me in the butt to do them!!

1. Mom's mittens - last christmas - 1.5 done

2. Lynda's lace shawl - paid for - hate it, but mostly done

3. Lynda's dk shawl - Bday was July 2 - 4/5 done really just one, maby two good days work

4. Hannah's mittens - christmas - .5 done

Then I only have a set of fingerless gloves for Cynthia and I have no more projects for other people. I would like to have all these things (list) done before August 18th. Then have all the Christmas market bags done before September 1st. That is the hope anyway!

Now, I desperately need to organize laundry and sort through the knitting supplies so I can get a handle on this situation.

Lacy Motivation

I am in desperate need of some serious motivation, I have been asked by my mother in law to make her a lace shawl for temple, and I am dragging my feet like a crazy person!!! I NEED to get it done, buut I seem to keep finding other things to work on, and I feel like a terrible person! I have to fight with myself to not start another project and it is really really getting to me. I need to just sit down and bang it out, so, without further ado, I am going to go fix my nails and then work on it (I have a chip and it will catch, and with my luck break, the yarn) then going to work on it!

Baby

We had our little girl on Sunday of last week!! It's weird to think she is already a week old, but at the same time, I don't really remember what life felt like without her. We have gotten really lucky because she is an angel of a baby, and makes Anthony and I's life all the better for being in it. We had to get a hold on the sleep thing, but I think we have it figured out, and are going in the right direction!! Plus, I just went out on a limb and tried to put on my pregnacyjeans, and they fit!! There is a little bit of a bulge, but nothing that wasn't there before, and can't be hidden with a nice long tunic sweater like i have been wearing anyway!!! It's only been a week and I haven't started my diet yet (after thanksgiving) I'm so happy!!!