Ok............. you know what day it is........... it is......

Make Me Smile Monday!

So........ here we go.......... here is your smile for the day.............

Two elderly women were out driving in a large car, both women barely large enough to see over the dashboard.

As they cruised along, they came to an intersection.

The stoplight was red, but they just went right on through.

The woman in the passenger seat thought to herself, "I must be losing it, I could have sworn we just went through a red light."

After a few more minutes, they came to another intersection, the light was red, and again they went right through.

This time, the passenger was almost sure that the light had been red, but was also concerned that she might be seeing things.

She was getting nervous, and decided to pay very close attention.

At the next intersection, sure enough, the light was definitely red, and they went right through it.

She turned to the other woman and said, "Mildred! Did you know we just ran through three red lights in a row? You could have killed us!"

Mildred turned to her and said,

"Oh my goodness! Am I driving?

Have a wonderful day my friends!!!!

Well, my goodness........ how in the world did I do that?

I actually missed my own first "Make Me Smile Monday"!!!!!

Oh, my........ I am sorry........ well, I have been busy.......... hmmmm........

well, I hope you are smiling anyway.........

I am.........

I am smiling because someone sent me this picture:

Now, honestly, isn't that just the cutest little ball of fluff you have ever seen?

And............ I am also smiling because of this:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5123187

Wishing you all a lovely weekend!

Oh my........how things change.

We all think about it.... we all say it... "remember when"? .... "when I was a kid" ...."those were the days".....

come take a trip with me, down "crafters memory lane"........

The year: 1979 ~~~

Do you remember this magazine?

I'm not sure I appreciated this magazine then, as much as I do now, but I did look forward to getting it in the mail....

The first issue of Workbasket was published in 1935, the last in 1996.......

This little magazine had just about everything........

sewing, knitting, crochet, tatting, recipes, and even gardening tips!

I think my favorite thing of all was the free transfer pattern in each issue..... they were so cute..... and they always gave you different ideas for using them.....

I found this issue while sorting through some things yesterday, and looking through it just brought back some sweet memories........

and I had to smile at this, which was written in a section titled "Women Who Make Cents"... it was apparently for ladies to write in about what they were making and selling, to give tips to others......

Pen and Pencil Holder

Save and clean out any size soup can. Some construction paper (wrapping paper works well also) is needed. Measure the height and circumference of the can. Cut a piece of construction paper to fit. Write on top PEN AND PENCIL HOLDER and decorate, if desired. Wrap paper around can, secure with 3 or 4 dots of glue and/or a piece of tape. These sell for $1.50 to $3.00 depending on size of can and decorations.

Oh my......how things change........

You make me........

"better"

did you know? You make me better...... better at noticing and better at appreciating the little things in life. I see your pictures.....and I read your words... and I look at your families.....and all the lovely things you make...... And, it makes me "better"........ there is simply no other way to put it.

Because of you, I look at things closer, I can find beauty in a flowering weed in the garden.... or a bird perched upon the fence. I take the time to watch now, and to listen..... I stop to watch the sunset, and I don't worry about how long it takes, or what I should be doing instead.... I just do it..... I see the simplest things now, I mean really see them..... and find myself running for the camera to catch that dewdrop, or that glistening spiders' web....

I appreciate my gifts, my talents, and my abilities much more now...... I see what you have made with your two hands, and I know I too can work magic whether it be with thread, yarn, paper or paint.......

never before would I have thought to take a picture of a cake, unless it was on a birthday, but I will now...... just because I find it pretty........

you make me slow down, you make me think, you make me create, you make me smile.........

and you make me .......... "better".........

Mondays........ somehow, they have gotten a "bad~rap" over the years..... "blue Monday"...... "I hate Mondays"........ hmmm.... why is it do you suppose? It could have something to do with the "let-down" feeling after a really fun weekend maybe........ or not wanting to get up early to get back to work after enjoying time with the family over the weekend....... It's a bit of a shame, I think, because I believe every day should be enjoyed...... So, if you don't quite like Mondays, for whatever reason, you have come to the right place! I hope to "dispel" the Monday Blues here at the cottage........

{ahem}

That being said, may I introduce you to:

*Make Me Smile Mondays*

Each Monday, I will do my best to post something that makes me smile! It may be something funny:

Or it may be something so very cute, that it just makes me smile:

Whatever it is, it is my hope it will bring a smile to your face, and make you say:

"hmmm, you know, maybe Mondays aren't so bad after all" .....

If you would also like to have "Make Me Smile Mondays" on your blog, just drop me a note in my comments, and I will make a new category in my sidebar for those blogs who will be participating ........ so, whaddya say?

Did I make ya smile??????

Headed up north for a weekend visit today...... looking forward to it..... especially since I get to "visit" with this little one:

Isn't she just the cutest? My son brought her home just last week...... She is a miniature dachshund, 10 weeks old...... and her name is Lupita.... *Pita* for short....... I suppose this makes her my "fur~grandbaby".......... therefore, I get to go spoil her!......she is a cutie! Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

There is a sweet lady here in "blogland"........ she is very talented, she has a cute blog, and, she is a princess........ no, really......... look:

Princess Nimble-Thimble

Recently, she posted a tutorial for a cute dishcloth to crochet........ here:

Dishcloth

So, I decided to try one..............










Pretty cute, huh? I have to say, in all my years of crocheting, I have never tried a dishcloth........... I don't know why...........But, I gotta tell you, it was so fun! Really a fun little project that you can carry anywhere with you.............and, really pretty, dreamy colors! As you can see, I got the Peaches and Cream cotton yarn. It was only $1.27 at Walmart! Now, I ask you, where else could you get this much beauty and fun for just $1.27?!?! And, the pattern was so easy to follow......... I am really glad she posted it~ Thanks so much Dannielle!


And, I would now like to return the favor.......... I had so much fun doing this one, I decided to try a different one on my own.......... Here it is:

It is a basket-weave stitch............ here is a close-up for you:

Again, so much fun to do! Although, the whole time I was working on it, I kept craving one of those orange~creamsicles :-)

It was another fun pattern, but, if you are a beginning crocheter, you may need a little help........... If you have trouble or aren't sure about any of the stitches, you can do a "google" search for crochet stitches, there are lots of helpful sites with illustrations........

And So, if you would like to make your own bit of $1.27 fun............ here you go:

Basket Weave Dishcloth

You will need:

a 2 oz. skein of 4 ply worsted weight cotton yarn

Crochet Hook size H or J

{note: I used an aluminum J hook, I tend to make my stitches really tight, and my cloth came out to be about 7 1/2 x 8 inches}

Ch 28 loosely.

Row 1: (Right side): Dc in fourth ch from hook and in each ch across: 26 sts.

Note: you may want to loop a short piece of yarn around any stitch to mark last row as right side.

Row 2: Ch 2, turn; skip first dc, *work FPdc (front post double crochet) around the post of next 3 dc, work BPdc (back post double crochet) around the post of next 3 dc; repeat from * across, hdc in top of beginning ch: 26sts.

Row 3: Ch 2, turn; skip first hdc, *work FPdc around the post of next 3 sts, work BPdc around the post of next 3 sts; repeat from * across, hdc in top of beginning ch.

Rows 4 and 5: Ch 2, turn; skip first hdc, *work BPdc around the post of next 3 sts, work FPdc around the post of next 3 sts; repeat from * across, hdc in top of beginning ch.

Row 6: Repeat Row 3.

Repeat rows 3-6 for pattern until piece measures appox. 7" (end with row 6); do not finish off.

Edging: Rnd 1: Working 3 sc in each corner, sc in each stitch around entire square; join with sl st to first sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 1(do not turn), and working with right side facing you, work reverse sc in each stitch around, working 3 reverse sc in each corner. Fasten off yarn, and weave in ends.

So, there you have it, I hope you enjoy it and have fun!