Featured in a Magazine!!

The architecture of our new church building is 

featured in a magazine!! 

Click here to check out the 

picture slide show:

It doesn't show what J does. 

There are pictures of the outside and the mix of textures inside. How cool for our church to be featured!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Finished for Friday - Husband Hat

I did it!! 

I finished a hat for my husband in time for a big snow 

fall scheduled to arrive this weekend!

After making a hat for his brother, J asked me to make one for him. We went to JoAnn's together and J picked out the yarn. It was fun to share JoAnn's with him. We've been to Hobby Lobby and Michael's together, but this was a first.

I had some problems getting started, so MAM helped me out again, last Friday, when we met up at a cafe for some fun time together. Have I told you how much I really like MAM? I made this hat a little different from the last one, as I added 2 rows of double crochet stitches at the end, instead of higher up on the hat.

J said he liked it. 

But he wasn't willing to model shirtless again...

Be sure to head on over to Lit and Laundry, 

the Home of Finished for Friday

Now, for the pattern.

HUSBAND HAT CROCHET PATTERN

Pattern Rows 1-10 adapted from Lion Brand Yarn Easy Stripes Hat #70731AD, minus color mixing.

Note: I tend to crochet tightly so if you have problems, it could be that you are not crocheting tightly enough.

Hook Size: H

Yarn: Lion Brand - Bulky in Charcoal

HAT


With A, ch 4, join with sl st in beg ch to form a ring. 


R1: Ch 1, work 6 sc in ring, join with sl st in beg ch. 


R2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc, join with sl st in beg ch, 12 sc. 


R3: Ch 1, *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 18 sc.  


R4: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 24 sc. 


R5: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 30 sc. 


R6: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 36 sc. 


R7: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 42 sc. 


R8: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 48 sc. 


R9: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch, 54 sc. 


R10: Ch 1, *sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch, 60 sc.

(Note: Measure the head this is designed for. Increase or stop increasing as necessary to fit your intended adult head. My husband has a big head.)

R11: Ch 1, *sc in next 9 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch, 66 sc.

R12: Ch 1, *sc in next 10 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch, 72 sc.

R13: Ch 1, *sc in next 11 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch, 78 sc. 

R14-19: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in beg ch. 


R20-21: Ch 1, Double Crochet in each sc around, sl st in beg ch. Fasten Off. Weave in ends.

Join Ravelry.com, the new yarn community of choice!

 

More details on hats below....

UPDATE:

My husband lost his hat on the train last year so I made him another this year. I actually made six of these hats following this pattern for Christmas 2012. It's a versatile pattern and I mixed it up a bit - did some double crochet, added flowers, etc.

I'm not sure why some people in the comments below had a hard time with the pattern. I'm thinking that perhaps they may be crocheting too loosely - I'm pretty tight when I crochet.

Or, they may not be measuring the recipient's head as they go along. I measure to make sure it's not too loose. Once it seems like it will fit snugly, I stop increasing and just crochet the rows until i measure to see if it is long enough to cover the ears and hair of the recipient.

It is really important to measure the crown of the head and the length. I've used this same pattern for my kids and three different men. Some hats I make a little longer or bigger or shorter or narrower.

Have fun!

Mommy Note

Here is yet another reason why I didn't want people to know my kids are adopted. Because adopted mommies don't get included in "Mommy Surveys". We aren't included because people don't want to hurt our feelings. But when we find out about it, it just brings up all of these feelings we have to live with. I love my kids and they each have great adoption stories. I don't regret that. I do miss some of the other stuff.

But I am a writer. And good at editing.

Here is my online editing debut...

Here you go mommies - a different kind of survey for a change - it's all about your first born! Just copy and paste it in a new note for yourself!

Let's see how much you remember!

1. Was your 1st adoption fast or slow?

FAST! We thought it would take 6 months to a year of waiting, but within 3 weeks of turning in our book, we were parents.

2. Were you signed with an attorney, private agency, foreign agency, or state agency?

Yes! LOL!! We were signed with DHS, Cherokee Nation, had contact with a private attorney, but it was a private agency that made it happen first.

3. What were your reactions?

Scared.

4. Was abortion an option for your birth mom?

No. She never wanted to abort. She was going to parent until she learned about open adoption.

5. How old were you? How old was your birth mom?

I was 33. She was 16.

6. How did you find out you were chosen?

Cell phone call from the Birth Mom.

7. Who did you tell first?

My husband who was in the car next to me. Then J's parents.

8. Did you want to find out the sex of the baby?

J did - he wanted to decorate!!

9. Due Date?

May 2nd. He came 10 days early!

10. Was it a closed, open, or semi-open adoption?

Open. Doesn't get much more open.

11. Did you meet the birth mom before or after the birth?

Met her about 2 weeks before the birth.

12. Did you breast feed or attempt to breast feed?

Tried but I had to go back to work for 4 days after his birth and that put an end to that. I feel l lost some valuable bonding time. I did have a friend who had too much breast milk give us her surplus for at least a month. God bless her!

13. What was your first child's sex?

Boy

14. Did you wish you had the opposite sex of what you were getting?

No I wanted all boys. I didn't know what to do with a girl. J would have loved a girl but was happy with a boy, too.

15. Did the birth mom have any input in naming the baby?

We let her give options for the middle name.

We chose 1 out of the 3 she gave.

16. Did you have a baby shower?

Yes. 3. After the birth.

17. Were the baby showers a surprise?

I knew. Work. Family. Sunday School.

18. Were there any complications with the pregnancy?

She got pre eclampsia at her last doctor's app't. She was taken to a labor & delivery room where she was strapped to monitors. We thought we were going to have a baby on our lunch hour!

19. Where was your baby born?

Hospital in Tulsa

20. How many hours did birth mom labor?

18 hours total if you count the part where she didn't realize she was in labor. 12 hours from the time her water broke. It would have been shorter, but the epidural slowed down the contractions.

21. Who drove you to the hospital?

My husband

22. Who was in the labor and delivery room?

Birth Mom, her house mom, me, my husband, my mom-in-law, doula, some nurses, Dr. Meyers. I cut the umbilical cord.

23. Was it natural or c-section?

Natural.

24. Did you give your birth mom a gift?

Birth Mother Bracelet made by Kathy Short.

27. How much did your child weigh?

6 lbs 12 oz

28. When was your child actually born?

A perfect Sunday in March at 2:10 pm

30. When did you hold your child for the first time?

2:12 pm the day he was born.

31. When was the adoption finalized?

December of same year.

32. How old is your first born today?

He is 6 years old.

Family Fun Night - Kid Style

It seems my kids really miss our Family Fun Nights. Motor Mouth and Mini Me set this display up on Motor Mouth's bed and put Wall-e on his TV. Then they called me to come watch because it was Family Fun Night!!!

Okay. Okay. I get the hint. 

We'll start back soon.

Promise.

To Honor Ashleigh

My friend over at Lit and Laundry had to put their beloved cat, Ashleigh, down yesterday, after a brief illness. Ashleigh was a part of their family for 13 years. I didn't know of her long, but she sounded like a really special cat. 

In honor of Ashleigh, I am not posting today

because there is more important stuff 

than what is going on in my life.

Please head over to Lit and Laundry

to give her some hugs.

You Do WHAT????

We were stuck in traffic on Saturday morning. There were 4 charter buses with the Gatling Chapel name on them. 

Gatling CHAPEL. Is that a church? With 4 charter buses???? Wow! Or maybe it is a wedding chapel. That would make sense. What a great idea. Buses for the wedding party and for the guests. Hmmm...That doesn't really make sense. Why would they need 4 buses and that would be expensive.

I called the phone number on the back of the last bus.

"Gatling Chapel. How may I help you?"

"Hi. Is this a wedding chapel?" I asked.

"No, Ma'am. We are a funeral chapel," she replied.

A WHAT?? A funeral chapel with 4 charter buses?? I mean, it makes sense. Can you imagine 50 cars trying to get across a big city like Chicago, to get to the burial site? Great idea. My mom's family would rent the charter buses. They do big, high dollar funerals. 

I was so curious, I checked out their website gatlinchapelinc.com. Not only do they do funerals, they have a floral shop, limousine and charter bus rentals, print shop, travel agency, recording studio, radio broadcast, and a 445 acre development (the largest black owned development in the world) with a senior home community, gated estate home community, Loews movie theatre and a complex with Wal-Mart, Applebee's, and about 15 other big name chain stores. I actually went to their Wal-Mart Supercenter last weekend.

WoW!

Surprise......!

J's parents stopped in Chi-Town on a layover

We didn't tell the kids. Instead, we went to the big McDonald's downtown. Grandma and Grandpa walked in. Motor Mouth turned and saw them!!

It was great.

The joy in Motor Mouth's eyes made this such fun!!

It was a short, 24 hr layover. But it was so worth it.

The kids really needed to see their grandparents.

Knowing Me, Knowing You - Feb '09

The Fairy Blogmother announced a new feature on her little corner of the web: Knowing Me, Knowing You. She posts the questions around the first of the month, and we are welcome to answer them on our own blogs. You might remember The Fairy Blogmother as the Home of What's Cooking Wednesdays which took off like wildfire.

#1 What crafts/hobbies are you into?

Currently, I am into crochet. I really want to get into quilting. I've wanted to get into quilting for many years. Life keeps getting in the way though.

#2 What is your laundry status?

A week ago, there was a thin path to my bed. Now, it's all wood, baby!! All the clothes, sheets, and towels are where they belong. WhooooHoooo! Happy, happy dance!!

#3 You walk into a bank and there are people waiting ahead of you for an open teller. You step into place behind the last person waiting...here's the question...are you waiting in line or are you waiting on line?

I don't understand the question. Not sure about what 'on line' means. Personally, if I can't do it on the computer, I do drive up tellers, not in the lobby.

#4 Do you facebook?

I love facebook. I'm trying to pull back though. Not check it as many times each day.

#5 Where would you like to have a shopping spree and what would you buy?

The Container Store. I would get everything there.

I can't even say Macy's in Chicago because to say it may cause me to covet they neighborhood department store goods - Shoes, purses, watches, jewelry, clothes, perfume. Kids clothes. Clothes for J. Oh my. Oh my. Oh. don't get me started.

Head over to The Fairy Blogmother to play along.

Finished for Friday - Brother-in-Law Hat

My sister-in-law, FaithChick, sent an 'easy' crochet pattern and asked me to make a hat for her husband. Well, I tried. And failed.

I tried again. And again. Finally, I had to get MAM to help me. Turns out, I have been crocheting all wrong!! The amigurumi technique may have messed me up, or in my amateurness, I just missed a few things. At any rate, MAM set me straight. 

Marine Man in his new hat!

I didn't do the original pattern, instead opting for a modified pattern all my own. Crochet is absolutely beautiful when done properly...

And now my husband wants one...

Please head on over to Lit and Laundry, 

home of Finished for Friday. 

It's pretty amazing what she accomplishs in 1 week!

WIDNEY CROCHET HAT PATTERN

Pattern Rows 1-10 adapted from Lion Brand Yarn Easy Stripes 

Hat #70731AD, minus color mixing.

Gauge: 12 sc = 4 in.

HAT
With A, ch 4, join with sl st in beg ch to form a ring.
R1: Ch 1, work 6 sc in ring, join with sl st in beg ch.
R2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc, join with sl st in beg ch – 12 sc.
R3: Ch 1, *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 18 sc.
R4: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 24 sc.
R5: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 30 sc.
R6: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 36 sc.
R7: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 42 sc.
R8: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 48 sc.
R9: Ch 1, *sc in each of next 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, join with sl st in beg ch – 54 sc.
R10: Ch 1, *sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch – 60 sc. 

(Note: If your gauge lines up, stay at 60 sc to R14. Otherwise, increase to fit adult head as needed.)
R11: Ch 1, *sc in next 9 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch – 66 sc. 

R12: Ch 1, *sc in next 10 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch – 72 sc.

R13: Ch 1, *sc in next 11 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch – 78 sc. 

R14: Ch 1, *sc in next 12 sc, 2 sc in next sc; rep from * around, sl st in beg ch – 84 sc. 

R15-19: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in beg ch – 84 sc.
R20-21: Ch 1, DC in each sc around, sl st in beg ch – 84 DC.
R22-27: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in beg ch – 84 sc. 

R28-29: Ch 1, DC in each sc around, sl st in beg ch – 84 DC.
R30-31: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in beg ch – 84 sc.

BORDER
With B, ch 1, sl st in each sc around, sl st in beg ch.
Additional Row: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, sl st in beg ch. Fasten off.

FINISHING
Weave in ends.

Mini Me = Hellion

Mini Me has been a hellion recently.

First, there was the haircutting incident.

Mini Me cut 2 chunks out of her hair!!

This would be why Motor Mouth was 

developmentally delayed in scissor cutting.

Motor Mouth LOVES pigeons. 

Mini Me has started 'shooting' pigeons.

Just to piss him off.

I think her Grandma had something to do with it!!

And then Mini Me ate a cookie out of the trash.

It was moist from sitting UNDER

Motor Mouth's WET pull-ups for 2 days!

Ahhh...the contortionist incident at Starbucks

Iron Princess should be her new nickname

I would offer her free to a good home.

But they would only return her...!!

And what would I have to blog about?

We'll keep her. 

After all, we just couldn't survive without our precious, baby girl!! Ooops! Not allowed to call her a 'baby'. Our precious 'big' girl, then.

WidneyWoman Moving Soon...

I know it is hard to believe. But we may be moving sooner than planned. I was all settled here and didn't think I'd move for another forever lifetime. But, sadly, it appears 

WidneyWoman may have to move ah-gain!

You would think I'd be accustomed to moving. Between the ages of 18 and 27, I moved 20+ times. I know!! But you know how it is when you are young and in school. You move from one place during one semester to another. Then, when you are moving up the corporate ladder, you move from one place to bigger and better. Then you get a job transfer to a whole new city or even country!

Anyhoo, I just wanted to let you know I may be moving again. Moving with kids is a whole new ball game. Last year, I moved from Multiply.com to Blogger.com. And I loved it. I still love it. Only I noticed I am getting full on the photo side of things and if I keep going at the rate I'm going, I may max out of my storage soon and have to move to Typepad or someplace like that. 

Will you follow me if I move or will I lose you? 

Please comment and let me know.

For all of you followers that don't comment...

This is your chance to have a voice.