Little Hats Big Hearts

Every year I try to do a crochet project for a charity. It just makes me feel happy inside. God has given me the talent of crochet. This is my way of giving back. 

One year I crocheted 50 tiny hats that were taken to a hospital in Haiti. Last year I donated crochet hats to my local hospital NICU. 

I was thinking and wondering what I could do this year. 

It was an ordinary day. I was searching around on the internet when this ad popped up. 

“Little Hats, Big hearts” Charity drive. “Thats it!” I can crochet some tiny red hats. This had my name written all over it. I immediately emailed the American Heart Association and asked if they were still needing hats. Within minutes I received an email back saying they indeed were still in need of hats and gave me all the instructions.

What is Little Hats, Big Hearts?

To celebrate American Heart Month, volunteers around the country will knit or crochet little red hats to give to each baby born in February. Thousands of babies from several participating hospitals will get a hat to honor babies and moms. This also empowers Moms to live heart healthy lives in themselves and their families. 

The “Little Hats, Big Hearts” charity also provides resourses and raises awareness about Congential Heart Defects.

So I got busy. 

A couple skens of yarn, several hours and a couple days later, I had a stash of hats ready to go.

They had example styles of hats to make but I chose to use my own pattern.

 

These little hats are crocheted with a ribbed texture for extra stretch. I left the tops open and added a drawstring making them, not only cute and adorable, but also venilator friendly just in case. 

Sometimes babies will need special care that cause them to have tubes or wires coming up from their heads so, this will insure none are left out. 

They were fun to make and I’d gladly make more if needed. I think they have several other volunteers to help make enough hats to reach their goal. 

When I crochet for charity, it is more rewarding than any sale I can make. It makes me feel like I've made a little difference in someones life. 

If you crochet or knit, here is the link to where you can help. 

The deadline for this one is January 15, 2018. 

They will wash them and pack them up to be delivered to a hospital neareast to the donator. 

Autumn Christmas

We went out walking the other day and I noticed the trees are still holding on to their leaves. Though it’s now Christmas season, nature still looks like the beginning of Fall. The temperatures in the mornings have dipped into the low 30’s creating frosted lawns but the temperatures during the day are warm as they are still reaching into the 60s most afternoons. I think the trees are confused.

This time last year, we were bundled up in our thermals and reaching for mistletoe on the naked trees. 

Those trees have remained covered with leaves, keeping the mistletoe hidden. It’s ok. I will gladly trade the mistletoe for this warm weather. 

I’ll still get my kisses

We spent the end of the day decorating the outside of our house for Christmas. Nick hung the bells and bows on the windows as I was hung some lights around the big bay window. The lights frame the Christmas tree that sits in front of the window. To finish it off, Nick wanted to use a green bulb in the front porch light. I wasn’t sure about it at first but it actually looks pretty neat. It’s growing on me.

I am one of those that like the look of just all white lights. I have mostley white, red and silver decorations through the house. Though Nick likes how everything looks, he is more into the colored themes. If it were up to him, I think he would prefer multi colored lights. 

But its not up to him. Ha.

So, I compromised and let him do the green porch light. 

Up the road we waved to the other neighbors as they all were putting their decorations up as well. Now it looks like Christmas in the neighborhood. All but two houses are decorated. 

We joke with the other neighbors as we pass by. “Hello Griswolds!”

As for Nature? Looks like shes gonna keep those leaves for a while as she too has her own lighted tree.

Oh Christmas Tree

The past couple years, we have been using an old vintage aluminum tree for Christmas. It was actually my husbands when he was a small boy. It’s small and fragile. You can see it here.

I came in from work and was just about ready to settle down and start decorating for Christmas. My husband asks, “What do you think about a white Christmas tree this year?”. I replied “Yes, that would be nice”. He could have said “what about a blue tree or purple tree” and I would have said the same thing. Anything but the vintage tree. Don't get me wrong, I liked it and it was pretty with the color wheel and all, but I could not add any of my ornaments to it. “Well come on, lets go to Walmart and look at them” he said. I dropped the broom right there and grabbed my pocketbook. 

We discussed that we would not spend a lot, but maybe we can find one cheep. “Don't get too excited now” he said. “Just a tree. Not a bunch of balls and stuff”. I agreed and began flipping through my Walmart app to get ahead on what to expect. I found a 6.5 ft white tree for 25.99.” We found the tree on the shelf and tossed it in the buggy. It was not a pre-lit tree, but lights were cheep. So we walked over and grabbed some stringing lights. I convinced him that red balls would look nice. So we threw some of those in the buggy too. Three boxes of lights and a bundle of ball and other “stuff” later, we were at the check out. 

Cha Ching! The tree tree rang up as 40.00. I stepped in and showed the cashier the exact same tree on line for 25.99 and free pick up. She said we would have to buy it online to get it for that price. I put on my sassy pants and said “So you mean to tell me that I can go online and buy it, then come back and pick it up? “Yes, but if we have it in stock (which aparantly they do), then you still might have to pay 40.00”. That didn't go over well with me so we left the buggy there and headed to the other Walmart across town. 

The next walmart had the same tree. We asked this time before we lugged it off the shelf. “Sure we match online prices” said the manager. Bingo! We got a new tree. I have never had a white Christmas tree before. I secretly always wanted one growing up but we always had the same ol tree stained with silver tensil for years of decorating. 

Our daughter was in for Thanksgiving and we did some decorating. I am now all set for Christmas. I have all my decorations up, tree decorated and stockings hung with care. 

“In the eyes of a child, all Christmas trees are 6ft tall”

Black Friday

Hope everyone had a great big happy Thanksgiving. I don’t know about you, but I am stuffed! I had to eat two Thanksgiving dinners. I always say “Ill just eat a tiny bit”. Nope it never works that way. The food is so good and the mountains of desserts are too tempting. I have to do it again next weekend when we have Moms side of the family meet for a Christmas dinner. 

I’m at the point of craving veggies. Seriously. 

Today is Black Friday. I never do the whole black Friday shopping frenzy thing. Not this girl. I do not need or want anything so bad that I have to go out in the cold at wee hours of the morning just find myself fighting my way through the doors. If people want to put on their sponge bob pajamas and fight the mob at Walmart just to save ten dollars, then let them at it. I’ll wait and shop on Cyber Monday from the comfort of my office chair. 

I’m happy to say that I have most of my Christmas shopping finished. I usually start the first of Novemeber and try to knock it out so I can enjoy the season in other ways. However, I will keep grabbing little things here and there just for extra fun. 

Today I have to work while everyone is out shopping or taking a Thanksgiving break. I somehow think this will be the safest place for me to be. 

Do you shop on Black Friday?

Thankful

It’s that time of year where everyone talks about how thankful they are though we are thankful everyday of the year.

I can’t hardly believe It’s Thanksgiving already!  But I also can’t believe I have actually gottten 80% of my Christmas shopping finished and I haven't even had any turkey yet! This means I can spend less time shopping during the holidays and more time reflecting on the things that matter, such as family time, dinners, trips to see Christmas lights, and gatherings with friends.

I am thankful for so much.

I am thankful to have Jesus in my heart and soul. I am a believer, I am saved. 

I am thankful for for my daughter. While the doctors told me I would most likely never have children, I had a perfect one (well almost perfect to me). Shes has never given us a problem other than a little back talk. I am blessed. I am thankful.

Though I complain about work and the type of people I have to work with, I am thankful that I have a job. I get a paycheck thats big enough to get me to the next paycheck. 

I’m thankful I have a husband that loves me unconditionally. I never want for anything. I am also thankful that he fixes my coffee each morning for work and makes sure my car is warmed up before I face the cold roads.

I am thankful for my loving Christian family. We all get along, go to church and pray for each other. I have a mom, dad, two brothers and a sisters. 

I am thankful I have a nice home. Its not much but its not little. We do not have fancy things and most of our furniture was given to us. But It’s warm, it’s cozy and the refrigerator is full. 

I am thankful that I can say I’m thankful. 

I know there are so many out there without any of these things. The things we take for granted would be like gold to them. Some are struggling beyond what we can imagine. I pray that they can find something to be thankful for and know there is hope. 

What are some things you are thankful for? 

Hand Raiser

I was looking around on Facebook. You know, that place where everyone airs their dirty laundry.

Anyway, I came across a friends post that struck a nerve. First let me say, this person and her family are wonderful, loving, Christian people that I adore but something she posted did not sit well with me. 

She said something in the nature of praising God in church with praise songs. She shouted out that she could not see how a person can just sit in church without raising their hands in the air and rejoicing in praise. Basically stating that you just ain't got Jesus in your heart if you can not enjoy the music and show praise.

This made the little Southern Baptist in me fume a little. 

I love praise music. I love church. I love to see people praising God weather they have their hands in the air or folded in prayer. I would never question someones relationship with Christ by how high their hands are raised. 

Even though I seen where she was coming from, and glad she is feeling it, I think she was wrong in throwing her words out like that. She could have done more harm than good.

This is why....

• There could have been someone planning to attend church for the first time and now think they would be out of place or have to participate and fake an act just so they are not judged by other church goers. 
•  Everyone has their own style of worshiping. "There is no wrong or right way to worship. It's who you worship that matters".
•  It's people like this that some call “Holy Rollers”. or “Bible Thumpers”. They come across to others as “pushy” in making you believe its their way or the wrong way. 
•  People are weak. Someone that read her post may sit in the next church service and wonder the whole time if there is a member of the church watching and judging their actions not really knowing whats in their hearts then eventually refuse to attend. 
• I would never go to the same church as the person that stated the obvious. I wouldn't want the stinking looks from across the pews.

I’m not against other people shouting and praising. In fact I love it! It gives me Jesus bumps. My daddy is one of them, but I haven’t ever been a "hand raiser" (or hell raiser for that matter). I'm not saying I never will, but until now, I didn't know people thought less of my faith by the way I worship.

 "I'm pretty sure God will not judge how fast I ran down the isles or how far I jumped with my hands raised but rather how many times I fell to my knees in prayer". 
.

fortune Cookie

We decided to have Chinese food the other night. We didn’t have any idea what to make for dinner. The weather was gloomy and cold so we didnt feel like dressing up and going out, so Chinese pick up was the perfect solution.

I’m sharing this story because an odd thing happened.

During dinner we talked about our day, and our future. The same ol things we chat about over dinner often. During our table talk, my husband started complaining about the weather and how it just makes him feel lazy and all he wants to do on days like this is eat and lay around. 

He likes to be active. He works hard keeping up a couple yards a week and when its raining hes stuck inside and after a day or two, he just looses his mojo.

He said he doesn't feel like he can get anything done.

Winter weather makes him feel depressed and lazy.

Yea me too.

As we were finishing our dinner and complaining about the lack of energy we have been having, we tore into our dessert fortune cookies. 

Now, let me just add, I do not believe in that fortune telling mumbo jumbo, but we have fun reading aloud our fortune. 

Mine just said I was smart and good looking or something like that [grin]. 

But when Nick cracked open his fortune, we laughed at what it said....

Now isn’t that just a coincidence? 

Vintage Mugs

Happy Sunday yall! Guess what I did today after church.....

Absolutly nothing! It’s cold and damp with a pesky drizzling rain. It's just iky. 

I told my husband it was a great day to snuggle on the couch and watch Hallmark movies and he screamed, “no please! Dont put me in Hallmark hell!” So, now im alone in my recliner, he's flipping the channels and im trying to blog. Hes hyper and will not be still over there on his couch.  Im fixing to take my ipad to the other room if he doesn’t settle for a nap soon. 

Ok, let me back up a bit. 

Last night I mentioned to my husband that I’m looking for a couple of the old metal vintage mugs. No reason really. I just wanted a couple. They remind me of my grandmaw. She was always seen drinking coffee from her metal mug. I always called them camping mugs.

When I came in from church, I noticed my sweet dear husband (which is over there popping his legs and stretching) had me two lovely little mugs sitting on the counter. “Perfect! I said with excitement. I was so thrilled.

 

He found them in some of his dads estate. 

After we ate some lunch, I put the dishes, along with the mugs in the dishwasher. I sat by the diswasher like a kid waiting on a teddy bear to get out of the dryer. They cleaned up well. They are so darn cute I wanted to share them with you. 

Oh for heaven sake....im going in the other room to blog...hes making faces at me now and I can’t concentrate! Gosh I love him though. After all, he did find me these adorable mugs.

I have now put in a request for two little hooks to hang these little stinkers over my coffee bar. He could be doing that right now but he just said its supper time....So I have chineese food to call in. 

I’ll blog more later. Right now, I can’t even..

New Brew In Town

There is an old Mill in town that's over 100 years old known as the Loray Mill. They have transformed the building into apartments while keeping the bottom floor open for retail and restaurant space.

They have recently opened a brewery in the basement area called Growlers. It was a neat looking place. With the the original structure and memorabilia, It has that artsy/vintage feel. They have over 100 different beers on tap. At night they have live music and entertainment. I'm sure its a fun place for the younger folks to hang out.

While we normally just make a sandwich on Saturday afternoons, we opt to go to the brewery for lunch. Me and my husband do not drink beer, but we heard they had a great lunch special so we thought we’d give it a try. Note: Lunch special does not include Saturdays

Nothing was happening and there were only a couple other people in there eating and drinking. The first thing the waitress ask is “what kind of beer are you going to have?” We both replied “just water”. Then we placed our order.  

Nick ordered a ten dollar BLT and I had the nine dollar beer brat slider appetizer as my meal. I don't know about you, but this is a little pricey. It was good but that’s just an outrageous price for a sandwich you can make at home then add some frozen tater tots.

I’ve always said “If the food is served on a square plate, its probably too expensove for me”. 

Next week, we plan to try a new Mexican restaurant opening up down town. Can’t go wrong there! 

HandMade Greeting Cards

I’m trying my hands at something new. I have recently been creating greeting cards using my crochet art as the main focus. I know cards are becoming a thing of the past, but it is always nice to get a little happy card in the mailbox.

I currently have a few listed in my shop. I want to see how it goes before I create too many. It was not as easy as I had expected. I thought I could simply stamp a few words on a card and run with it. Instead, I struggled with every letter to get them straight. I might have even said a bad word.

I learned that stamping was not meant for lefties. You have to work left to right as you line up each letter with the one before. Well, unless I go backwards, I have to stamp right handed. The struggle is real. It was fun for me though. I think with practice, Ill get better.

I admire anyone that can stamp in a straight line. Just how do you do it? 

Anyway, I left my cards as they turned out. They each have their own character. No two are alike. Some of them took several tries just to get them half way readable. The imperfections add a unique style along with the carefully crocheted tiny motifs that adorn them. I even have my little shop signature on the back of them. Just Hallmark! 

I actually sold one on the same day I posted it. This made me happy. I rely on my buyers, readers and friends to help spread the word. No pun intended.  

Below are examples of some of my greeting cards. You can find more by clicking HERE.
Be sure to look at my other things while your there. 

Arn’t they just so darn cute? 

I plan to make a few more with different sayings. You can help me out with ideas if you wish.

Do you have a reason to send a card?  If so, please purchase one from my shop. I could use the Christmas money. I'm not begging am I?

Now, I am currently crocheting a baby hat and diaper set by request for my baby nephew due in December. 

I also have an order for ten of my mug cozies to create.  This will keep me busy for a day or two as I'll be stamping in between.

Time Change

Well, the time has changed again. Just when I was getting adjusted to it. I have never understood the purpose of daylight savings time. I think it all started with farmers but I could be wrong. 

We can’t change the time the sun comes up and goes down but we can change the clock time of everyone on earth and call it a day. 

I do not like the shorter days, but then again who wants a long day of Winter, right? So I will not argue there.

Once I get home from work, it’s already getting dark. We have dinner and me and Nick try to get a walk in by 6:00. 

My walks look like this......

It’s spooky around my neighborhood at night. A lot kids are often out and up to no good. I was a nervous wreck during this evening walk. There was a high school ball game going on up the road and noises echoed over the trees. I was jumpy at every headlight and person I saw coming from the distance. 

I guess until the days start getting longer, I will be doing my walks on the treadmill. 

Flannel Recycled

The temperature is up in the 70's again this week but we had some cool days in October where the temperatures here in the Carolinas dropped down into the 40's. The leaves have begun falling and the smell of burning chimneys fill the air. This is a reminder to me that Summer is over, so I'm putting away my tank tops and flip flops and replacing them with long sleeves and boots.

I asked my husband to pick me up a couple large flannel shirts from the thrift store when he got a notion to visit one. So of course he did and I came home from work to see a couple flannel shirts in the pile of laundry ready to wash.

I do not wear flannel shirts. I do not like any shirt with a collar. But I wanted these shirts to wear another way. I wanted a scarf.

I cut the shirt in half from under the sleeves to make a warm, light weight circled scarf to wear. I left the buttons on and sewed a hem around the edges which was optional. 

Speaking of "sew", that's a story in itself. I can not sew and seeing me try to do it, is rather comical. I just can't do it. It took me all night to figure out how to lace the cotton picken sewing machine! I had to call mom. Shes a professional seamstress. Being that I am a vision learner, I had to eventually google it. Then I ended up jamming the bobbin. That did me in. I was getting ill and grumpy. My husband told me to move and he would fix it. Let me tell you, this man can do anything. He is the best! 

He was all into getting this machine in working order for me. I warned him that it was not a Ford. Long story short, he got the bobbin loose and all the other guts fixed that I had tore apart and I finally got it sewing. I even think I did a perfect seam. I finished the scarf in no time after that.

I like my little recycled scarf.

It’s like wearing a little hug around my neck.

The scarf goes well paired with the matching cup cozy.

You see what I did there?

Now I am ready to tackle the cold, but don't ask me to tackle sewing a dress any time soon.

Down Town Dinner

Today I’m gonna take you to a little place in down town Belmont. Belmont is a little town outside of Charlotte that has a southern charm.

I grew up in Belmont but rarely visited down town. If I can remember right, back in the 80’s, it was rather a ghost town. Nothing happening. The mall, skating rinks, arcades and mini golf were all in the next town over, so that's where I spent most of my time back then.

The town has since florished with restraunts, bars and shops.

Me and my husband had just left a visit to the chiropractor, which is in Belmont. It was getting past our supper time and we were thinking of a place to eat. We normally go back and forth on where to eat leaving the other to answer. Before that argument broke out, I mentioned a little place down town called Sammy’s Pub. It’s a nice little neighbor pub with a variety of foods and drinks.

(source)

We were quickly seated and the wait staff was friendly, chirpy and welcoming. They acted as if they had known us forever. Even the people and families inside eating were all smiles. The bar off to the side was full of people having fun with friends, laughing, meeting and having a good time. You can tell they had just gotten off work and wanted to wind down.  

Nick ordered the special- Grilled Salmon BLT.

I went lite and ordered the Southwestern egg rolls.

In no time at all, our plates were in front of us. The food was delicious. We were happy customers. 

During the drive home we talked about how good Sammy’s was and agreed to go back again soon. We also talked about how nice it would be if our current home town was as nice as Belmont had become. It felt good to be able to walk down the street, to and from our car, without being approached by pan handlers and drug dealers. Yes, the town I live in now is bad for that. Our city wants to improve things but there is hardly any way for the town to thrive as long as there is a homeless shelter in the center of it. 

We plan to revisit Sammy's and take our daughter next time. We also seen other eating places to try. Belmont is a great place to be with an inviting atmosphere whether its taking the kids to the park, a stroll down the street or going for a jog with friends. 

Now I want to live there again.