Crochet Post! #247 - 250 and 251-254

Back to it - heading to the beach today and running around like crazy!  The past week I have been working on different projects and trying to decide which ones to take with me!  It is always hard to pare down and choose!  It's a little crazy that my project bag is larger than my clothing bag :-)  But I think most yarn addicts will understand :-)

Anyway - this is it for today - I think my favorite is the Pansy cloth this week.  Remember that all these patterns are from Maggie Weldon's 2011 Dishcloth Challenge and are located in the September archives at www.bestfreecrochet.com  Go grab a pattern and join me in the fun!


#247  Popcorn & Stripes Crochet Dishcloth  pictured below on the upper left.. I enjoyed doing this one - once I figured out what I was doing!

#248 Pansy Crochet Dishcloth - below on the upper right - LOVE the way this one turned out!!  Not too hard to figure out and looks exactly like a pansy :-)  I would definitely do this one again simply because it's so pretty :-)

#249  Who Knows? Crochet Dishcloth - pictured above on the bottom left....  a very basic easy pattern with some stitches added on top at the end.  It is a technique that adds some interest to the final product!

#250 V-Stitch Variation Crochet Dishcloth - above on the bottom right.  Like most of these patterns, it was pretty easy to figure out and fun to do!

The next set of 8 dishcloths are pictured below:

#251 - Lavender & Spearmint Dishcloth - pictured below on the bottom left.  I apologize for the lighting in the photo.. you can't really see how pretty it turned out!  But I do like the round patterns because they work up so quickly.  I'm not sure how this will do as a dishcloth but I am certain that if I made another one and stitched them together, it would make a really pretty and useful hot pad for the table.

#252 Striped V-stitches Dishcloth - on the bottom right.... this one is a basic v-stitch, works up quickly and shows off variegated yarn nicely :-) 

#253 Flat Rose Dishcloth - pictured above on the upper right.  I am already smiling thinking of using these pretty flower cloths while doing dishes or cleaning.  What a joy not only to create but also to use!  I am already plotting to start over with the patterns I had fun with so I can use up the many different colored scraps I have left from this big project.

#254 Nascar Dishcloth - uh.. I feel certain you can guess this one!  I had fun doing this cloth - but will have to hunt for a racing fan to give it to :-)  I do think it is pretty in it's own right though!

Big Goals!

I've been stalled for a few months.... not really sure why.... maybe because all my little goals are boring!  I mean, if they interested me, I wouldn't have to work so hard creating new habits, would I?

Little goals are important - but for me - these little goals are more about building habits.  And why would I want to create habits??

Because I want some things in my life to be on auto-pilot.  I do not want to be fighting with myself forever about things that would make my life easier.....  like routinely cleaning things out... or working down the debt and not creating more....  like eating more fruits and veggies than anything else.  These are things that are not my easy habits now - BUT would make my life infinitely better if I just did them....  these are small things that will build a life that will make me happy and bring me closer to the person God intended me to be.

I do need to look farther though.....  I never want to have to say what I hear so many people my age say....  "I CAN'T because I'm too old..... too sick.... too tired.... too whatever"

I want to be in a position where I can say "I CAN"  or "I can TRY".  Being ready to participate in new experiences.... go new places.... add thoughts and ideas to my life-long cache of mental treasures - oh yes, this is what I want my life to be.

To that end, I've been thinking lately of adventures..... of "what would I like to DO?"  My husband chuckles at me... he is pretty happy with the status quo.  But for some reason, I am always itching for a little bit more.

A friend is talking about celebrating her 60th birthday at the end of the Appalachian Trail... (having hiked the whole thing beforehand).  And you know what?  I am seriously considering joining her.  I will turn 60 that year too..... I will turn 60 a few months later.....  I had also said to my husband some time ago that I would like to participate in the Honolulu Marathon (because sometimes it is held on my birthday)... oh yes, you guessed it - the next time it is on my birthday is that same year.

So it's kind of rolling around my head that I have 2 big challenges/adventures to prepare for in a few years... how to turn a 'never camp' kind of girl into someone who will spend a few months walking from Georgia to Maine.... and then come home to train for the marathon (walking!).. BIG goals....  I like it...

And in the meantime, my hubby will turn 60 first and has responded to my diea by talking about New Zealand....  I can practice hiking there, right?  

Sounds like I have a purpose for any money I can raise selling stuff :-)