Hearts Afghan - First project for 2007

This afghan has been on my "to do" list for over two years!!

It was promised to my dearfriend Sandee in Atlanta, GA for that long - and finally I made myself start it!

There are three panels with hearts on, intersected by four plain panels with a popcorn on - I am crocheting it in some worsted weight yarn that I bought on ebay a couple of years ago. The original pattern is in white with blue hearts, but Sandee loves burgundy and cream together.

It is not hard to do but a bit fiddly that's all - trying to make sure the contrast colour for the hearts doesn't show through the cream too much.
I think it will be OK when it is finished. I have done the four intersecting strips, and am now on the second hearts panel. I think if I was to do it again in this type of yarn I would definitely use a bigger crochet hook to make it drape a bit - at present it is a bit "stiff" - but a wash and dry should fix that.

Here's a close up of the stitch - double crochet (single crochet to my American friends) for the background and treble clusters (double crochet clusters for the same friends) for the hearts.

I think I should like to see this done all in one colour - without the contrast, sort of white-on-white effect.

The sewing up of the strips is tedious matching every row precisely.

I think I would most likely re-write the pattern so that it was all done in one big blanket! I mean if I want to sew strips of fabric together, as a friend of mine said recently I would - well , sew strips of fabric together!!

Snow in New Mexico

I received these pics from Helen in New Mexico - lots of snow!!! Had to print these because they are such great pictures!!

The pink light on the snow which looks so spooky comes from the special street lighting - Helen says even the snow when it is falling looks pink!!










The cat's name is Dude - and yes he is on a leash - taking a "wee" moment!!

This is a fantastic effect - weird sort of fog during a snowstorm - looks like an illustration for Stephen King's "The Mist" doesn't it??

2007 Came In With A Bang (Or two!!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I never tried to take pics of fireworks before - these were taken from the beach at Scarborough - the fireworks were actually set up on two boats in the sea - if you look carefully at the first two pics you can see a line of reflection on the water!!

It was a fantastic sight - there were literally hundreds of people there - picnicking on the beach in the dark with all sorts of glowing lighted thingies on their heads and round their necks!!

The local restaurants did a roaring trade.

The atmosphere was extremely festive and happy - no problems with drunks or anything - even though the police were present they had little to do except watch the fireworks!!

So dear Readers - we start another Year - I vow not to buy another ball of yarn for nine months till 30th September!! My last purchase for 2006 arrived on 4th January - so that doesn't count as I paid for it in December!!!

Hope all my friends in OZ and elsewhere in the world have a wonderful year in 2007.