Keith starts 10th grade and Tara starts College!

Here is my handsome some son, Keith! He started the 10Th grade on Aug. 10Th. Ever since my oldest daughter started kindergarten I have taken a picture of my kids every year on the first day of school. It started out with only Amber in the picture. Then the pictures were of Amber and Tara. Finally the pictures were of Amber, Tara, and Keith. Then when Amber went off to college the pictures were only of Tara and Keith. This is the first year that the picture was only of Keith. Doesn't he look sad not to have his sisters in the picture with him? It's sad to think I only have two more years of taking pictures of him the first day of school and then he will be in college:(
Aug. 15th was Tara's moving day to college. Below is a picture of her getting in her car for the trip. Amber rode with her and Keith and I went in my car. We had both cars loaded down with her stuff! We got to the college and got the cars unloaded. We were so glad that big, strong Keith was with us! Tara's room is on the 2ND floor and Keith carried all the heavy stuff up to her room for us. Then we all went shopping for some things she needed and some groceries for her. Her room is an efficiency apartment and so she can cook in there. That is good. It will save her money.
Here she is sitting on her bed. Her roommate is a girl that she has been friends with for about 7 or 8 years. Can you believe they got the exact same comforters for their beds without knowing that the other was getting that one! We could not believe it. So their beds matched which I think is nice.
It was really hard to leave her there. I cried coming home. I really miss her so much. She is only a little over an hour away so will be home often. She says she is coming home this weekend. I just miss having her here every day. I cried a lot yesterday, too. I am doing better today although I have cried a little.

I have to tell you what she did last night. You have to understand that Tara has no sense of direction whatsoever. I printed her out a map and highlighted the way to Wal-Mart. Now all she had to do was leave campus, turn right on the road that runs along the campus, go up a couple miles to this other road, turn left, go a few blocks and there is Wal-Mart. Still I was worried about her going there in the dark for the first time without me. She called me about 9pm last night and told me that she and her friend were going to Wal-Mart. I asked her if she knew how to get there and she said she thought so and her friend said she knew. In just a little while she called me and said they could not find Wal-Mart and almost didn't find there way back to the dorm! I had to laugh. I told her she should have taken the map I made for her. She told me she could not read the map and drive! I told her that her friend could read the map while Tara drove! I am worried about her driving home by herself this Friday. I know she can make it once she gets on this certain highway as it is a straight shot from there. It is just getting her out of the city and to that highway that worries me! Of course the map I gave her shows her the way to go, but who knows if she can read it and follow it. I did not have time to go over it with her before we left her as the guy she is dating came to the school to take her out.

She was really nervous about getting to her classes today, but she did just fine. I told her she would get the hang of it soon.

Sunday Amber and I spent the day getting a lot of her stuff moved into Tara's room. She still has more stuff to get moved in there, but it is nice to get her out of the den. Our den was overflowing with her stuff. And I know she was tired of pulling out the hide-a-bed every night and having to make it up. Plus the frame on that thing was falling apart and hard on her back. When Tara comes home she will sleep in the bedroom with Amber.

Crochet & Trip

I have still been working on crocheting baby booties. Below is a pair I finished up today for a baby boy.
This is cute little pink and white pair for that sweet little baby girl in someones life.
Be sure and check out my ETSY Store to see all my booties and bonnets!

My dad and I went to Meridian this past weekend to visit relatives. My cousin had called and told me that my dad's younger brother, who lives in Miami, Florida, had came up with his son to visit. My dad and him have not seen each other in over a year and I have not seen him nor my aunt and cousins in over a year. I was so excited to go! My dad was really worried about going as he has dementia and can't stand to be out of his little world. But I finally convinced him that it would only be for one night and I would take everything he needed with us. So I packed up all his juices, crackers, bananas and everything else and we went. He really seemed to enjoy himself while we were there.

I had a blast! It was so fun being with my cousins again. We all grew up more like brothers and sisters as we were over at each other's houses all the time while growing up.

Below is a picture of my cousin Sandra, myself, my Aunt Rachel, and my cousin Janet. Sandra and Janet were born on the same day exactly one year part. Sandra is 4 years older then me and Janet is 5 years older then me. My Aunt Rachel does not look so good as her health is not good at all. But I tell you we couldn't slow her down! She insisted in helping cook and can that woman cook! We ate so good that day. Sadly the day after we left she fell and fractured her shoulder. I just feel like crying. She is like my second mama. I just love her so much.
This is a picture of my dad, my Aunt Rachel, and my Uncle Goat (Jerry), who is my dad's brother.

Here is Uncle Goat, his son Darrell, and my Daddy.
Here is my cousin Darrell and me. Darrell is exactly 2 months older then me. When we were really little we did everything together. I learned to walk before Darrell and my mama used to tell me that we would be under the table and I would be walking and telling Darrell, " 'm on, Darrell". Which means come on Darrell. She said I taught him to walk! I used to have to cut his paper for him too as he had such bony fingers that he couldn't hold the scissors. Him and me still laugh about all this!
This is a little pouch I made to wear on my arm and keep my ball of crochet thread in so I can carry it with me and crochet where ever I go.
I love to use it at work.
Close up of my little crocheted bag.
Saturday is the big day. My baby, Tara, moves to college! How sad I am going to be. I will tell you all about it after we get her moved in.

Dolls & Booties

Things around here have been busy! My daughter, Tara, is getting ready to move to the dorm in a week and a half. She has been working at Wal-Mart part time and hates to quit her job. She loves making money! Hopefully she can get on at the Wal-Mart close to her college. My daughter, Amber, is still working at Wal-Mart and will begin her college classes in a couple weeks. My son, Keith, has been having football practice everyday and boy has he been tired! I sure felt for him today as it was 94 degrees out while he was at practice.

At work I have been getting the store I work in ready for the accreditation man to come and look at it and OK it. We have to have these accreditation's done once a year since we are a medical equipment dealer. The man came today and I was so happy when he told me my store looked pretty and he could not find anything wrong with it!

In between all this going on with all of us my daughter, Amber, and me have still been crocheting. She found these dolls on flickr that she just loved. They are modeled after the Blythe dolls. When she showed them to me I feel in love with them too. So we decided to make them together. As a mother-daughter project. I have been crocheting for 40 years and so am much faster then Amber. I have finished my doll and made two sets of underclothes for her. I am in the process of making a dress for her. These dolls were designed by Beth over at ByHook,ByHand blog. You can also check out her photos on flickr. She has a free pattern for the dolls, which she calls "Free Spirit Amigurumi Dolls". Beth has a fantastic tutorial for these dolls on her blog and some picture tutorials for them on her flickr. I hope you will all check out her sites!

Here is the doll I made. I had a hard time deciding on her name. I wanted something that sounded like a Southern Belle. I guess this might because Amber and I were watching "Gone With The Wind" while we were working on them one night and that has always been my all time favorite movie! So I finally decided on Annabelle. What do you think?
I made her corset and panties using a pattern provided by Beth, but adding my own twist to it.

This is a close-up of her face and clothes. My face is nowhere as good as Beth's. But then she has made a lot more dolls then me. Her work is fantastic!
Here is another outfit I made for her. Once again I used Beth's pattern and added a couple things of my own.
This is a picture of an old baby doll that I got out of my cedar chest last weekend. She is about 40 years old. I crocheted her the clothes about 35 years ago. They still look pretty good, don't you think?
Here is my old baby and Annabelle. Amber says my old baby needs some new hair! At least I hadn't cut it all off like I did some of my dolls!
These are some new booties I have made. The first pair of Alabama booties I made I did not put the "A" on, but then I got the idea to put it on this pair and I think it really adds something. I am still making booties and bonnets and such to sell and hope you all will check out my ETSY store. Remember I can make any booties in any color you want. I have other styles, too, that I am trying to get made and put in my store. As soon as I am finished with Annabelle's dress I am going to be making lots more booties and bonnets and bibs and such! So stay tuned!