Gizzy in Heaven!

Gizzy in Heaven!
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Sunday, January 16, 2011

Home on the Range and Hearts

I have been spending on the average about three to four hours outside each day, walking, enjoying my Gizzy, the ducks and just communing with Mother Nature, thankful for being alive. Soon it will be hot again and I'll be confined to the indoors with artificial air...something I do not look forward to.

Wednesday I'm going to the Valdosta Allergy and Asthma clinic for an Asthma test and see what can be done about my coughing so much. I've had this cough for four years now and it's time to get to the bottom of this. Obviously it's not going away and now I lost my singing voice - I'm fed up!

Meanwhile, I enjoy being outside. It's been so nice and warm the past few days that the honey bees have been very active. They were buzzing around, you'd almost have to duck out of their way. Here's one that landed on my walker and I managed to get a decent photograph of her:


One of our resident strays, Smoky, who was altered during our spay/neuter fundraiser, follows Gizzy and me half-way down to the lake. Here he is hiding in the shrubs as we walk by:


(you have to look twice to see him)


(a bit closer up)

He is my next dilemma when/if I move. He's too tame to be wild and too wild to be tame...he latched on to me and now I allow him to spend the night in the bedroom on top of the big pile of comforters (sigh!) Maybe this allergist can help figure out a way for me to stay here, because honestly, I am not looking forward to moving again, but my health has to come first! I can't go on like this!

On Friday night I had my own, private crochet-along with Teresa on her You Tube channel. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this. She shows how to make the cutest little hearts, the super easy way! You should really try it. She has so many other patterns that she crochets on her videos, awesome!

This is the tutorial I used for the smaller hearts (very easy!):




I used this tutorial for the larger hearts that would also make excellent coasters, especially if you used cotton yarn.

Easy crocheted hearts
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2YzJOuSnJ4&feature=relmfu

I made this lot just sitting here watching Teresa of Art of Crochet show me how and it was so much fun. A nice change from looking at patterns PLUS, she also shows the left-handed crochet version:


I love the way she explains things, so nice and calm and best part is, you can just hit "pause" and "play" at your pace. I will try some of her other patterns she offers in her tutorials. I signed up for her channel. Between her and Maggie Weldon, one could learn how to crochet without ever leaving the house.

Last night, I crocheted this little hanging picture frame for my mother. I purchased some plastic child's heart shaped bracelets from the Dollar Store and just crocheted around it and then crocheted a separate heart that I sewed onto the back to the frame so that a picture can be inserted. I think my mom will love this:


Since using the digital camera, I don't have many recent photos of myself on hand, so I just used an old one of Gizzy and me in younger days (about 10 years ago) and put it in there. There is no pattern for this. I just made it up, but I've seen similar frames before, so it's not a big revelation on my part.

Here's the back:


You get 12 bracelets in a pack for $1.50, so I'll be making more in different colors and offer them for sale in my Etsy Shop and give some away to a couple of friends/neighbors so they can put their own photo in there.

I'm also in a Heart Swap, so that might be a good one to give away, either that or my crocheted potpourri heart (I'm torn) - what do you think?


My Swap recipient lives in England, so would she like this potpourri pouch in cotton better (that's about 7") or would she like the picture frame hanger (about 4.5") for her own photo. I'd like to hear your opinion, please!

17 comments:

Sharon said...

I love those hearts! I used to crochet but don't know if I remember how now.

AkasaWolfSong said...

Good Morning Doris!

So good to hear you are spending time out in Mother Nature...it is very cold here today, but I keep popping my head out of the door watching the birds fly, lol!
I so hope you get some resolution with your Asthma...that has got to be a bummer! Let us know what the Doc says, eh?
I love both hearts you've done...I'm partial to potpourri so that'd be my pick but honestly they are both wonderful! You are just so talented...I don't have the patience to sit and learn from You Tube...I guess I just don't get it. I'm one of those that have to sit next to somebody else that is doing it, lol. Yah, I know, right?
Have a wonderful week ahead and I love that pic of You and Gizz!
You're both Stars in my book and I love you!
xoxo

Ginny Hartzler said...

They are both beautiful! If it were me, I would prefer the picture hanger. Moving, doctor??? I didn't know any of this! You have asthma, right? I'm extremly familiar with that, my mom had to drop out of school in thrid grade, and spent her life in oxygen tents and hospitals. Way back then, doctors didn't know much about it. She used an "asthma spray" all her life, plus many other drugs. I can still rmemeber it's powerfully sweet smell. But enough about that, please write and let me know what's going on with you!!! I have inherited allergies, and the fall is my worst. Had two E.R. trips not too long ago, one we had to call 911. Great bee pic!!!

Ann said...

good luck at the allergist. I hope they figure something out for you.
Those hearts are really pretty. I like the little pink one that looks like it has a ruffle around the edge
As for your swap, I think either one would be a good choice. I like them both

Pfiffigste said...

Da schaue ich gerne mal hin, wenn ich so hübsche Herzen sehe. Ganz toll gehäkelt.

Leider weiß ich gerede nicht, was "SWAP" ist, ist aber auch bezaubernd geworden.

Liebe Grüße von Pfiffigste

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

I love to crochet. I just wish I had the time to get involved in some nice projects. That YouTube channel sounds wonderful. I am going to bookmark it and see if I can't do something with it. The hearts are really nice. Great coasters.

Good luck with the asthma visit - hope it produces some ideas for you.

Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

Anke said...

Doris ich hoffe das dir der Doktor wegen deinem Asthma weiterhelfen kann. Stelle ich mir schlimm vor staendig von einem Husten geplagt zu sein.
Deine Herzen sind alle sehr schoen schoen geworden, das mir dem Rahmen war eine tolle Idee.
Liebe Gruesse,
Anke

glor said...

Doris, sending prayers to you that you feel better,the coughing stops! You are such a gift, you watch over all God's creatures. Such a blessing. Your crocheted hearts are so pretty. Your mom is going to just love the heart and picture of you and Gizzy. Take good care.

*Ulrike* said...

I'd love to crochet a few hearts, thanks for showing where to look. It is nice to see a honeybee out, we lost another hive this winter, but I'm hoping the others will make it. So much snow for us here in the south, and we still have quite a bit on the ground a week later. So much for calling this place hot 'lanta!
Hope the dr can figure out what is going on.

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

The hearts are all wonderful. How special and such a treat to be able to see someone explain so well. My daughter has been wanting to learn to crochet. This could give her a start. Thanks again, Linda

Marion said...

Liebe Doris,

zu erst...ich wünsche Dir das allerbeste für den Arztbesuch und hoffe von Herzen das Dir dort geholfen werden kann - Viel Glück!!!

Dein Fotorahmenherz ist wunderschön geworden und ich finde das eine so tolle Idee. Auch die anderen Herzen mag ich gerne, Du warst sehr fleissig.

Hab noch eine schöne Woche und alles, alles Gute für Dich.
Viele liebe Grüße für Dich und Gizzy,

Marion

Unknown said...

Hallo Doris... Love the hearts .. so cute and simple.. Isn't it great when you can go out doors and spend time there without getting sick from the heat.. I understand how that is. Summertime is horror for me. locked inside and only come out when I have to . Another reason for the move to Indiana.... oohh can't wait...gotta run more to read..Glad to hear that Gizzy is well and can enjoy all this lovely weather with you..... Hugs from South Texas...Birgit

- said...

I really like the potpourri one.
My daughter has asthma and your coughing sounds very familiar to me. It becomes a real strain so I am glad you are being seen to. It is a very good idea to start a journal marking down when you notice you have flare-ups or when the coughing is worse as eventually you can see what triggers it. I hope all works out for you.

sprinkles said...

You always do such excellent work.

I don't think I could learn from youtube - I'd prefer to have someone sit with me and show me so that if I didn't catch on to something right away or had a question, I'd have someone to help me.

I hope the doctor's appt is successful and that they'll be able to figure out what's causing that cough. I've been noticing a bit of an increase in allergies lately but probably nothing compared to what you're dealing with.

Chatty Crone said...

I heart your heart - you are so talented.

I didn't know you were going to go to the doctor for yourself this week. Good luck I hope they can find something for you to make you feel better.

Don't get stung by the bee and that cat is cute - big, but cute.

Love,
sandie

Su-He-Tra said...

Hallo Doris,

die Herzen sehen ja super süß aus! Wirklich passend zum Valentinstag. Und es werden viele Herzen hüpfen...

Ich hoffe Dir geht es schon besser mit deinem Asthma?

Viele Liebe Grüße und gute Besserung

Su-Tra

laurelei said...

Hi Doris! I love cats. Your beautiful friend Smoky just warms my heart. When an animal that avoids humans choose to participate in a relationship with one...that has to make you feel special.
I absolutely love the heart ornament, but I'd probably send the potpourri sachet to my swap partner. The stitching detail has a big WOW effect.
Please let us know how it went with your doctor. We all hope for good news!