Yarni Gras!: April 2015

Thursday, April 30, 2015

CAL squares!

This just in....as in seriously. I got these in just under today's deadline!

30 yellow solid granny squares for April! yay! I was so busy I didn't think I'd make it...but I did.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

While I was in Florida, I bought some "legong" yarn by Mango Moon. It is like the "chakra" yarn I used last month. This yarn is pretty neat. Recycled silk. In black and gold with little gold beads and charms on it.

Once worked up, it resembles the other Mango Moon scarves. I love it. It is sort of a cross between a thin scarf and a necklace. The pattern is so simple which makes it perfect for a beginning knitter.

Perfect for SAINTS games....so this one is mine!

I don't know WHERE the pattern came from but here it is:

Cast on 8 stitches (I did 9)
Knit almost to the end of all the yarn
Drop first 2 stitches, bind off next 5, drop last 2 stitches.
Pull the side two stitches out on the ends of each row and tie loops together. I did NOT tie the loops together, I liked it dangling more.
That is IT. took no time at all. The hardest part is untangling the edge stitches because of the beads!

Enjoy!!!

Friday, April 24, 2015

DIY treat dispensing toy

I hate leaving Osa alone for hours at a time. Mo and Ginger had one another, and the cats.....but Osa is pretty much on her own. The cats are trying but still haven't warmed up to her.

I was looking for a treat dispenser at the store but didn't like any of them so I found this idea on pinterest:

Genious! Pure and simple. Use an exacto knife to cut a hole slightly larger than the treat. Then fill it up and set it down. Osa LOVES it. I put an entire meal into the ball, along with a few soft dog treats.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

into the yard

Daddy would be so happy! He loved working in the yard, puttering around and seeing what nature brought him that day.

We have a "bumper crop" of hummingbirds this year. (I totally would have WON the contest.)

This little guy guards the window feeder and sits on this chair between visits. He is FIERCE and runs all the other boys away....ladies are welcome though. There are a couple that he brings with him...such a little Casanova!

The dianthus we planted last year is exploding...

My oxalis is super happy. I have this stuff everywhere....in pots, in the landscaping. Such a happy plant. Pink blooms, white blooms...doesn't matter, I love it all!

Even our nature trail is blooming, making our walks that much more enjoyable.

Oh, and I can't forget to share this.....tasty bruschetta. Nothing like clipping basil from your own garden for it.....so good!

"garden fairies greet the day, kiss the flowers then fly away..."

Monday, April 20, 2015

Kaela's art

Kaela doesn't bring her sktechbook home often....so when she does, I have to snap pictures FAST!

Some of these are class sketches she had to do to "fit" a quote the teacher had put on the board...others are for, well...others!

pencil for fun at home

ink and watercolor, a gift for someone

pencil for class quote

acrylic for local exhibit

colored pencil for practice at home

acrylic for class quote (my favorite!)

pencil for class quote

colored pencil and "liquid white out" for fun at home

Her work amazes me. Brings tears to my eyes. I hope all parents of gifted children tell them how wonderful they are. I hope and pray she never stops developing her gift.

"Art is not about what you see, it is about what you make others see..." -Degas

Saturday, April 18, 2015

April's challenge: Cherub Pod Hot House

This month's challenge is to repurpose something. I made (drumroll...)

"Cherub Pod Hot Houses!"

Our family loves tomatoes and we eat all types all year long. Lately we've been eating Cherubs brand in these cute little pods.

When empty, they look like little mini terrariums.

I hated throwing them away so decided to use them to start some sunflowers for Kaela...they are her FAVORITE flower and I just can't seem to grow them.

So here's how I did it....

I took some coffee filters and cut them to size.

and stuffed them down into each pod so soil wouldn't fall out the holes.

Then I filled each with a little soil and mixed in some seeds and watered them ALOT...had to let the water drain!

Then, I covered each pod with plastic wrap to create a little hot house

And set them on the warmest window ledge in the house.

In less than 8 days, I had to uncover them! I loosened the wrap so you can see but left it on lightly because the window gets chilly at night.

Once they got too tall for the pod, I replanted them into

a pot on the patio.

These worked so well, I did the same thing with 2 more varieties of sunflower. I didn't even bother putting these on the ledge in the house.

They've also been transplanted and are thriving!

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Happy Birthday!

He wears many different hats but husband, father and son are the most important to US!

To the man of the house, we love you...

Happy Birthday sweetie!

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Florida

The trip to Florida was a quick one but we still had loads of fun. We did things other just hang out with the dogs! We did a little shopping and the girls went to the pool and beach...

I dropped an owl outside a restaurant the first night there.

The next day for lunch, we had pizza...and laughter!

When we got back to Page's, this bottle of wine sat, in daddy's honor. So sweet.

Sitting on Page's porch.......what a view.

I finished a scarf and dressed up one of her cherubs for his close up. hahaha!

We did lots of sitting on the patio. Five dogs needing supervision will do that to you!

We had a great trip...

Friday, April 10, 2015

Socialization

We had a few days off for spring break so headed to Florida. We took Osa so she could meet her sisfurs and get some much needed socialization in. There was a lot of booty sniffing and jumping and bouncing around going on! (A little posturing too....but not much.)

Olivia and Annabell checking out the kid with the LSU bandana on....