Balloon Festival

We got up this morning at o-dark-thirty and picked up M.'s boyfriend to go to the Colorado Balloon Festival. They hold it every Labor Day weekend, and we try to go every year. It was a nice, brisk morning, about 53 degrees, and the skies were crystal clear and the winds were nowhere to be seen -- perfect weather for a balloon launch! Of course, right after the first wave, both K. and S. had to go to the bathroom, and since there were no portapotties to be found (thanks City budget cuts!), we headed off to the car, and made our way home. Just as well, Kari was waiting for us patiently in her crate. It was a nice morning - here are a few of the pics, I'll load them up on our shutterfly family site.

I know I take the same pictures of the same balloons every year, but they're just so amazingly colorful and beautiful, I just can't help myself! :-)

KNIT A SQUARE for AIDS orphans in South Africa!!!

There are an estimated 1.4 million orphans in South Africa, many of them as a result of losing their parents to HIV AIDS. The number is growing - over 500 children a day become orphans. This is a terrible and mostly unrecognised human tragedy.

Knit-a-square.com has been recently set up to ask the knitters and crocheters of the world to send an 8 x 8" (20 x 20cm) square or more to specified charities in South Africa, and soon Zimbabwe, where they will be made up into blankets for these children.

The orphans live in terrible poverty. They need love, shelter, food, education and warmth. Many charities are working hard to provide the first four. The knitters and crocheters of the world can provide the last.

For more information on Knit-a-Square, check out the Official Site www.knit-a-square.com

 

Japanese Amigurumi Books

Ok so have I told you that I am absolutely smitten with Japanese amigurumi patterns?! I had first bought Amigurumi Collection 6 from Saucy Louise in Okinawa, and as a birthday present to myself, I've bought five more (Dad's birthday money helped to fund my latest shipment!). The diagrams are easy enough to follow, once you understand the Japanese writing -- had to google that one, lol. I would love to have a translation of all the step-by-step instructions that go along with. I was looking at Japanese dictionaries at Borders yesterday, and they are quite thick and pricey, maybe next time...

So far, I've made a ladybug, dinosaur, and squirrel from #6, and K. wanted a purple chihuahua out of Ami Ami Dogs 2, so I finished that one last week.

The legs are jointed, so the pup can stand, sit, or lie down, and K. just loves that.

The squirrel is our dog Kari's. :-)

My goal is to make one of everything in each of the Japanese books, we'll see if I can pull that one off, Julie/Julia Project-style! In between everything else I've got going, of course...

Knitting and Crocheting for Charity

I have been blessed with so much in my lifetime. Sure my family struggles sometimes like everyone else does, but overall, we have so much more than many others do in the world. I'm working on some charity projects, and I'm hoping to encourage others to do so, as well. If everyone gives a little of their time and talent, the world would be a better place. Come on, we all have yarns we bought and didn't end up using, wasting away in our stashes -- they could be used to make preemie blankets for newborns in the NICU in the hospitals, or hats for the needy who will really need them this winter, or simple knit or crochet squares that will be made into blankets to warm the abandoned children in Africa.

I've found Stitches from the Heart and His Hands Ministry thanks to the generous folks at the Lion Brand Yarn website, charity search page. While looking for some knit and crochet hat patterns, I found Knit-A-Square. Coincidence? I think not! God works in mysterious ways. We just need to listen to Him.

Check them out, or Google for other charities that call to you, search your heart, and take the time to make a small difference. Even one person can help change the world! :-)

Waiting impatiently for Julie & Julia!

I'm almost done reading Julie & Julia, the book by Julie Powell that's based on her blog. I'm exhausted in the morning from staying up late in the night pressing on! I admire her guts and tenacity to cook her way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking. It's something I'd never have the nerve to do myself. I thought for a moment about doing something similar with Martha Stewart's Cookies, and then Martha Stewart's Cupcakes came in the mail from The Good Cook and omigosh, there are recipes in there to die for! Maybe I'll get up the nerve someday. We'll definitely have to try some of them out, as M. has to bake every week for the football player she'll be assigned - another one to fatten up this year, lol.

I cannot WAIT for this movie to come out on August 7th! I know it won't be a literal translation from the book and blog, but it will be close. Close enough to smell the eau de potage parmentier wafting from the movie screen.... yum!!! Love you, Julie!

KARI OUR NEW TOY FOX TERRIER!

Our Father's Day gift this year was a 9 month old toy fox terrier named Kari. She's a bundle of energy and very good with our three kiddos.

Yes, I've already started crocheting for her - working on a bed for her crate, as well as a sweater for the chilly mornings. I also have patterns for bones and toys that I want to make for her.

The kids are already planning Halloween costumes, lol!

Cakes for tea time

I saw LionBrandYarn's pattern for frosted donuts a couple of months ago, and knew I had to make some for KJ's tea set. She also wanted me to make a piece of cake, and when I was googling for a pattern, I came across these patterns for mini cake sachets - so I made one, added a bottom, stuffed it, and voila -- a two-tiered pink icing topped cake. Of course, KJ wants all the cakes on the site, so Mom's back to work on those... I'm still looking for a good pattern to crochet a slice of cake, but I might end up giving it a go on my own... Yummy!

Lucy's crochet bags

One of my very favorite blogs to visit is Lucy's at Attic24. I love her love of color, and she has amazing patterns that she has posted for us crochet-aholics. I had to make her crochet bag for myself, and our youngest KJ wanted one in pink and purple (have I told you they are her very favorite colors yet?!), so here are both.

Some schmuzzies are peeking out of KJ's bag, those little devils ;-)

Mew

Our son S. just turned 9 years old, and his gift choice was for Mom to make him Mew. Of course, he wants me to make him EVERY Pokemon, but I asked him to prioritize please! Thanks so much to Biz for sharing her pattern!

Gotta make 'em all!

Hello Kitty!

Here's my first Hello Kitty for little KJ! I love the blog patterns posted by Armina, I'll be making probably every one she has on her blog.