Secret Santa & My Itsy Bitsy Gift from Karen

Well, I signed up for two Secret Santa swaps and am having a dickens of a time.  It isn't the small "stuff" that worries me - I have to have a hand made item, and THAT is what is kicking me in the rear!  I don't knit, so it has to be crocheted. My ladies excel at making things for themselves, so I have to come up with something special that they don't make, and there lies the problem.  They make everything.  For everyone.  Phooey.

The photo is of the Itsy Bitsy Swap on Ravelry - called "The Cloth Swap" and we chose face or dish.  These two most beautiful came from BIG (Brooklyn Irish Girl), Karen.  What beauties!  The cactus cowboy magnet is just darling and handmade (if I could do that I would make something for my giftees!)  The idea I have is to use the pattern she sent for pincushions and see if I can crochet to the pattern and make one of those.  Seems like that would be different, no one would have made one like that, AND cute.  Maybe - if I can pull it off.

There are always potholders, but can't make those in VC as it is acrylic.  Well, could, but won't.  Any other ideas???

By the way, although not the coldest place in the US, I took the dogs out this morning and it was 22 degrees.  It will drop another degree or two before getting warmer.  However, we never had snow as predicted.  Rain.  Should be crisp and clear for about a week at least. Hope it lasts and is clear for all of us during Thanksgiving week!

 

Too Good Not To Share

I hope that someone tries this! I think I will try it when the kids get here for Thanksgiving. It really looks like it would be a great treat!

Using "leftover Snickers bars" from (assuming any would actually be leftover!) Halloween make a delicious dessert. 


1. Simply chop them up with the food chopper. 
2. Peel, core and slice a few apples. 
3. Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples.
4. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes!!!  
5. Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream. Yummm!



I haven't tried it, but I might want to test out cooking the apples a bit longer first before spreading the mixture on top - however, slightly crispy sounds good!

Hello and salutations!  I was feeling sorry for myself today due to pain in the lower back pain and my arthritis acting up all over my body.  Nothing seemed to relieve it all.  When I do feel bad for little ol' me I think about someone who didn't just feel bad due to back pain, but who had an operation because of it, my BFF, and that seems to put it all inperspective.

However, today was a one of the worst days for pain I have had since the trip, so was really feeling puny and sorry for me. ;o(  This time I went to a Ravelry friends blogspot to see what life it really like where pain is concerned.

Have you ever heard of Chiari?  It was not a word in my vocabulary until last year when I met Keesha.  You should take a look at what she has to go through on a good day.  Prayers of love and respite should be sent her way on a daily, hourly basis.

Check her out here.  I suppose one of the many things that she amazes me with is that she still crochets!  What a lovely lady, indeed.  I would hope that I could be as courageous!  Time to say a prayer or two for her and others with like afflictions.  Who's the patron saint of backs, anyway?