On this Saturday morning, I’m attempting to work on my bouquet of flowers blanket, and watch tv, but this cat has other plans. It seems like I’ll just have to sit and pet him instead. I have to wait till he moves as this blanket is worked in the round which is not easy to do when the pets are resting on it. Yesterday, it was the dog that craved attention while working on the blanket. Until I can continue to work on this blanket I will enjoy the pet cuddles.

So, we decided to hit the beach a bit earlier today. It was way less crowded compared to yesterday, probably because it’s Sunday and Mother’s Day. We took the little cutie, Blue, for a stroll on the beach. Then, a few of us hopped into a golf cart and cruised along the shoreline. While we were driving, a bird swooped in and landed right on Jill’s back! (I couldn’t capture the moment with my phone, but it was hilarious.) After some fun in the pool and a refreshing shower, the 9 of us headed to dinner at the Trout Street Bar and Grill. The view was cool, with fishing boats in the background. We had a great time sharing stories and laughing together. I started with a refreshing Hibiscus Margarita and shared some delicious Crab Hush Puppies. They were a bit spicy, but oh so tasty! For dinner, I opted for a hearty Chicken Fried Steak with mashed and mixed veggies. And to end the night on a sweet note, I indulged in a decadent Banana Foster’s Pie. The waiter was a bit aloof at first, but overall, things went pretty well.

Day 4 was fun, lots of walking and relaxing. After my morning cup of coffee, aunty and I went for a walk around the Village Walk. There were so many adorable houses, each with its own unique name. Lots of plants and birds. After breakfast, we made three trips on the golf cart to reach the beach. The water was incredibly warm! We spent a few hours there. I went for a swim and took a leisurely walk along the beach. The beach was packed yet it was not crowded. As soon as we arrived, the group next to us came over said they’d be leaving and returning. If we wanted to use their space for the shade we were welcome to. Aunty made a friend with the man’s wife as she too was in real estate. Took a shower when we got back. Worked on the puzzle we are all working on and read my book.

We took a long drive, about 3 hours, from San Antonio to Port Aransas for the weekend. To keep myself entertained, I worked on a crochet project during the road trip. It’s a charming place. We were the first three of a group of nine to arrive. This house can accommodate up to twelve people. It has a very beachy appearance. We were starving because it had been seven hours since our last meal. It was now about five in the afternoon, so we decided to go out and get something to eat. We ended up at Virginia’s on the Bay. The drinks and food were delicious. Once most everyone had arrived we took off for what was a very short golf cart ride. This ride we did get to experience the sunset.

Our first full day was a blast! We explored the vibrant River Walk in downtown San Antonio and even visited the iconic Alamo. It was an absolutely beautiful day! We went on a boat tour, and our guide, Roberto, was hilarious! We learned a lot about San Antonio and saw some really cool-looking trees and buildings. Afterward, we strolled a few minutes to the Alamo. I didn’t spot Pee Wee Herman’s bike. I’m a fan of old buildings, and I found it fascinating to see the historic structure. It was intriguing to see the diverse array of countries and states that were part of the revolution. After exploring, we relaxed at Auntie’s house. Then, we headed to the Alamo Cafe for dinner. There, we ate the best tortillas and tortilla chips I’ve ever had.

I’m on a vacation with my mother in law. We’ve come to San Antonio Texas to see her sister and family. I’m preparation I knew I wanted to crochet while waiting and on the flight, so I looked up something that would be easy and quick to make. Located these cute floral bouquet coasters. Tested it out before packing it up for travel. Gave the first one to my mother in law.

Cancer sucks! My son’s high school hockey team is playing a game on January 25th, 2025, to support Hockey Fights Cancer. My mom passed away from brain and lung cancer in 2020, so this cause is incredibly personal to me. All funds raised during the game will go directly to cancer research. In honor of my mom and others affected, I’ve decided to crochet cancer ribbons. I’ve finished three colors so far, with several more to go. My goal is to make at least five of each color, and I’ll keep making more as time allows. Each ribbon takes about 15-20 minutes to make. I’ve got this!

Tonight my kiddo is away playing hockey… on a work day that ends at least at 5pm, and the game a 2 hour drive that starts at 6pm, I’m watching it online. While the game plays in the background I prepped my soup. I did go rogue in that I’m using the instapot vs. stove top…. Why, well why not! Truly it’s because I was not sure how long it would take the sweet potatoes to cook. And I didn’t have chicken broth so I used beef, no Thyme how about Italian seasoning. What it looks like before I close the lid on the instapot! Well the soup turned out good. I did add a little Parmesan and salt. Looks like lunch for the rest of the week. Anyone got some easy go to recipes?

Since I met my husband he has pretty much been the one cooking. As a result my cooking abilities have gone down the drain. He now has a job that will keep him away for extended periods of time. Choice’s had to be made either I eat cereal or toast each meal, have DoorDash deliver meals, use a HelloFresh or learn to cook. As someone that would like to become a more plant based eater for Christmas my husband got me a plant based cook book. As a just short of being a contestant on America’s Worst Cooks my mother in law gave be two beginner cook books. Which is funny since I already have many cookbooks! Actually purged who knows how many a couple years ago 😀 As I prep to learn I have chosen to go with breakfast as my first go at plant based. A recipe from the new plant based cook book… Chia Pudding with Fresh Berries. It’s got the first portion ready for the overnight setting. It is in a mason jar, recipe says it makes 2…. Hmmm. Guess I’ll see in the morning when I do breakfast. Hoping it tastes better than it looks!! It’s the next day and it seemed questionable in texture. I added in the ingredients the recipe called for: shredded coconut, slivered almonds and mixed berries (I used frozen)…took half since it said it made 2 bowls. Not sure what I’m missing but seems more like a single serve. Since I wasn’t sure about it half was fine. I will eat this again!

There’s a lot to get done today—laundry, exercising, and finishing this blanket—but I’ve decided to start my morning with coffee, my crochet project, and The Day of the Jackal,  all while relaxing with my feet up. This blanket has been such a fun and creative journey. It started with researching hockey terms, then choosing the colors and designing the layout. One challenge I faced was working with words of varying lengths and colors. Figuring out how to piece them together into a cohesive design took some trial and error, but I was determined to make it work. Today’s goal is to finish joining the rows, leaving only the border as the final touch.

On Monday morning, my day began with a trip to the dealership for my car's routine maintenance. The tasks on the agenda included the state inspection, oil change, and tire rotation. Knowing how busy the dealership can get; I decided to be proactive and arrived fifteen minutes early for my 8 am appointment. As I settled into the waiting area, I ate my breakfast (Dunkin's sausage, egg & cheese on plain bagel) and proceeded to take out my crochet project from my bag. Working on this project has been a labor of love for me. It involves creating a blanket adorned with hockey-themed words that I have been diligently crocheting. The purpose of this endeavor is to raffle off the blanket as a fundraiser for the high school hockey team. Since the words vary in length, the current objective is to achieve a uniform edging before proceeding to the next phase. I am currently in the process of meticulously adding edging to each of the 16 crocheted words before I start assembling the blanket. The soft yarn in my hands provided a comforting contrast to the sterile waiting room environment. With each stitch, I found myself immersed in a state of calm focus, the repetitive motion keeping my mind off of the potential repairs needed to pass the annual inspection. As I sat there, surrounded by the faint hum of conversations and the occasional sound of tools clinking in the background, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. The act of crocheting, with its blend of precision and artistry, served as a perfect companion to the anticipation of getting my car serviced. It was a moment of quiet productivity in the midst of a bustling morning, a reminder that even in the most mundane of tasks, there is always room for creativity and personal expression. While I was crocheting, someone inquired about my project, prompting me to show some of the loveys and blankets I've made. Returning to my seat and work, I observed another woman, also awaiting her car, engaged in crocheting as well. It seems that crocheting is a widely enjoyed hobby. After the team member came back and told me that only the front brakes needed fixing, I let him know that I would bring the vehicle to our regular mechanic for repairs. I put the project back in the bag and then went home.

This getting started is tough. The perfectionist in me keeps saying you can't do this until it is perfect. The other part of me says to just take action, that once you get going it will get easier. So here I am taking a chance on myself. I have been asked if I have a website or somewhere that people can reach out to me to see what I can crochet for them and buy something or request... so I am giving this a go. As a creative person, I don't want to keep my site just to crochet, so I plan to share some of the pictures I've taken, and any other projects. This space will share my journey on making projects. I currently have several projects that I am working on. One swear blanket, one hockey word blanket and trying to figure out how to make a support pickle that I like. Hope you will enjoy.