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!

Things That Make Me Smile :-}

Sweet Mary from Isabellas Closet did a post today about her favorite sneakers which make her smile..... and she asked about something that makes us smile..... well, here is mine.......

This is *Betsy*........ she is so named, because my Gramma named her car "Betsy", and she would talk to her car from time to time, especially when it was a little tempermental........ well, I don't have a car...... so, this is my *Betsy*........ she makes me smile :-) every time I see her........ She holds so many precious memories for me.........

She was my very first Christmas present from Steve...... Christmas of 1975...... and she and I have been through quite a lot since. She and I have spent lots of time together........ sewing Christmas presents for my family; and gifts of stuffed bunnies and bears and angels and pillows for my Mom; we sewed a Sherpa-lined vest for my Dad to wear to work ~oh, how many needles were broken on that project, not to mention the leather truck bed cover for him! We have sewn baby quilts, and hearts, and little girl dresses, and Halloween costumes. We have spent many nights alone together over the years, trying to get those last minute teacher gifts done before taking the kids to school, and sometimes we just barely made it!

And she has of course kept me company on many, many sleepless nights......

She has been sitting here in the hall at the top of the stairs for the last 6 years, though I have promised her a room of her own soon :-) and in those first long weeks after Steve was gone, she sat silent, but I am sure she knew I would be back, and she waited patiently..... and, now she will join me on the next path in our journey together, when I finally get serious about making and selling my things, as Mom and Steve had always wanted me to......... I know she's ready......... So, here we go girl, and here's to many, many more years together! Just you and me, kid.............

What a glorious Sunday evening........ it has been much, much too hot here lately...... of course, this is just my opinion, but I am certain I am not the only one who feels this way.......
So, it is always a delight to me when I am finally able to open up the windows because the sun has gone down, and Mr Moon has arrived...........
And, so, here I sit by the window, just me and him........ a slight breeze drifts in through the window.........ahhh, a bit of relief....... it is calm and it is quiet........
And, then suddenly.......... I hear him......... he starts out faintly, and then gains momentum........ and all I can do is sit back and enjoy it........
You see, there is, on the opposite corner from me, a sweet old gentleman, who, every evening........ honestly, every........ rain or shine........ steps out onto his porch......... and begins whistling.......... Now, it isn't whistling for a dog........ it is not, an attention-getting hey-you whistle........ oh, no........this is a wonderous sweet sound that fills the quiet night with a loud, vibrant whistle which echoes off the houses........ and it is beautiful........ Steve loved to sit quietly and listen to him, no matter how he was feeling, it would always bring a smile to his face......... It is just as beautiful in the Winter as the Summer........ You can hear him even amidst the raindrops........ Sometimes, you can tell he is having trouble sleeping, for he will be out in the very wee, wee hours of the morning......... but, no one minds........ no one complains........ This man has a talent not many know......... And, he will stay out there until his song is complete...... I don't know the names of his songs, but I do know, they touch my heart......... and they make me stop........ and listen....... and reflect........ and Thank God.......It has been a good day......... it is a beautiful night........ and, if only for a few moments......... I am being "serenaded" by one of God's "earth~angels"............ goodnight my friends........ May God Bless........