Hexagon Baby Sweater

I have seen this sweater created in the US and Over Seas. Both patterns equally beautiful. I took a little of each and put my hand in it. This is my version of the sweater. I hope you like it.

Testing Patterns for SmoothFox

I replied to an open add for testers and was lucky enough to be picked. Here are the 2 blocks that I made. These both belong to http://smoothfoxlover.blogspot.com/ .

She has wonderful free patterns and some that you can purchase. I know as I have bought a few. That is how I originally found this little slice of heaven. I can tell you, for those who know me, they will vouch I never liked squares. I DO NOW!! Thanks Donna You have officially converted me to a square junkie !!

Visit With Grandson

I miss him so much. He is still in foster care. Today was my first visit and it has been 3 months since I saw my precious little man. He has gotten so big. I just had to share a little video of him with you

Oval Headphone Replacement Covers

I was in need for covers for a set of headphones and could not find a pattern anywhere so I decided to try my hand at writing one.

Oval Headphone Replacement Covers

Size E Hook

I used Sport Weight yarn, but you can use 4 ply Baby Soft. Any lightweight yarn will work. The Idea is to be able to hear as well as have comfort

Note: chain 2 counts as a double crochet

1. Chain 20 , slip stitch to form a ring

2. Chain 1, sc around , slip stitch into chain 1 (20sc)

3. Chain 2, double crochet in chain 2 space, *back post* double crochet in next 6 single crochet, 2 double crochet in next, 1 double crochet in next, 2 double crochet in next, 1 double crochet in next, 2 double crochet in next, 1 double crochet in next, 2 double crochet in next, double crochet in next 7 single crochet, slip stitch into chain 2.

4. Chain 1, single chain around in both loops, slip stitch into chain 1.

5. Chain 2, double chain in chain 2 space *back post* double crochet in next 11 single chains, 2 double crochet in next, 1 double crochet in next, 2 double crochet in next, 1 double crochet in next, 2 double crochet in next, double chain in next 9 single chains, slip stitch into chain 2.

6. Chain 1, single chain in next 5 stitches, decreases 1 time, single chain in next 5, decrease 1 time, single chain in next 5, decrease 1 time,single chain in next 5, decrease 1, single chain in next 2.

Fasten of. Weave in loose threads.

created by Gayle Aikens (flametide@aol.com)4/2010

Behind the lines: Killer Unseen

I am truly sorry that I have not written in such a long time. The best way to describe it , would be unwell. For almost 5 months now there has been a silent monster living in the midst of our household. It has been attacking me slowly killing me.

I can hear you say " what does she mean Killing her?" I have been diagnosed with pseudo seizes.They are not like epileptic seizures. They do not attack the brain like those do. Pseudo's are related to long term stress ie: post traumatic syndrome, sexual abuse, mental abuse, physical abuse, beatings, drug abuse.

Those are just a few to name, of course those are of course the top layers of what I have been through over the years. I have been walked on by my children and other family members and currently still am. It has been explained to them all that if this doesnt all stop and disappear I will simply fade away into dust. They didnt show a hint or tinge of concern and went right back to bickering.

Joe has been a help mate, since it has begun. I am not allowed to drive he has been taking me everywhere. Ron cared enough to send me on a retreat for 6 day which meant another cruise for me. It was cold and damp. YUCK. But I did get away.

Now if only I would/ could get away again for a little while longer. I really need it. Bad

Last night was one of the worst of my seizures. In my opinion I would say it was THE worst.

GAYLE

A Little of This and That

Therapy as it is called these days has brought me to my newest creations. Enjoy and as always they are for sale.

Few More Items

Been Busy Crocheting

As you can see I have been very busy making items. Though they seem random, I enjoyed making each of them. I have a couple more pictures to add and will do so shortly. Thanks for looking .

Dear Angelina

It seems like endless time has passed since the day I carried you home. Now you have become a mother yourself carrying a son into this world. How proud of you I am, but you never heard me say it. How beautiful you have become, but you never listened. Now you have run , run from what we tried to call a home into a vicious world, unprotected from the realities of life.

I have sunk into a depression since you left, a dark desolate hole. Deep where no one would be able to reach me. Closed off from the world I decided it would be better for me to remain aloof then to actually rejoice in the life you have given or the spirit of you spreading your wings.

It is now almost 2 months past and my heart still aches, I wish daily that you would come home. Yet part of me knows that you should not. It is "Your" time now not mine. Make your choices well dear daughter, live, love and laugh often. Bless the little boy you have and tell him constantly that you love him. He is a precious gift!

No matter who or what becomes of his father .. makes no difference to me. Your son Mally is a joy in my eyes as are you and I Love you both. Just listen when it is said and never forget the good things in life.

I woke up this morning and I had to write this to you, here for all to see. It is a formation of my love to you so you will always remember, and can always come back when you forget.

Now I lift my head from tear laden eyes and start a new day with hope. Hope that for myself it to will be a new life filled with joy and triumphs and love.

With all my heart,

I Love You,

Mom

Been A While But Not Forgotten

So much has happened since I last wrote to you. Like time had warped and just a couple weeks passed we woke up. Joe, Jennifer, AJ and I took a 5 day cruise. It took us to Cayman Islands and Cozumel. I would say that for the over all we had a really great time. Hardest part of the trip was the drive up and back. This occured Oct 9-17th.

Angel went into labor around 4:16 am on the 22nd, or what was thought to be. The doctor put her on Morphine and planned on doing some tests in the morning. Well that did not happen as he had planned. She retched,broke her water and out came baby at 9:25 am. He was named Malakai Anthony weighing in at 7.4 pounds, 19 inches long.

I guess that would be everything all wrapped in a nutshell. I will be posting pictures for you to see as they are taken.

Something to Say About Ignorance.....

A pondering thought for you to chew on... It has been almost a year that we have lived in this house. Our fence, rotted from weather, was partially taken down. We had not decided when to put one up. Ron down from injuries, no income from Joe... you understand.. there just has not been extra cash to put up another fence. Our neighbors, bought 6 panels and we thought well that was nice of them to help out. Boy were we wrong! They dug out several holes off our posts, did not cement them in and started to hammer the fence up. It has one panel partially stained dark brown. Of course this is the first one that is closest to the street and facing our house. I went out and told the gentleman he would use out posts to put the fence up. He told me our posts were no good for them. Mind you , our posts are cemented in and are sturdy. Anyhow, Joe, Aj and Ron somehow managed to tear down what was left of our rotted fence that was covered with poison oak/ivy. Aj has been nursing a mild case of poison oak. My neighbors who are Mexican and do not like "white" people ripped all the fence they had surrounding the rest of their house down just to fence OUR line . This morning at 6 am we were awoken to pounding. Can you believe it 6 am!! I opened the door and said "must you!". They continued for an hour making sure we were all awake, then stopped. They have about 4 more panels to put up. I suspect they will wake us up again tomorrow to finish the job just to be ignorant. By the way, they have not cemented the posts and the fence is old and uneven. It looks awful. I will get pictures of it to show you.

It's Been a While

Long gone but not forgotten, I have not really been here yet I have been. Does that make any sense? I spend a lot of time playing that game still " Mobsters " , I am rather good at it. It takes from the everyday stress and channels it in other directions.
I have seen a couple doctors since I last wrote. I have ovarian dysfunction, am a high risk for breast cancer and have also been tested for cervical cancer. On top of that I need to have surgery for a damaged nerve in the groin area. This came from a drain tube that was inserted for 5 weeks when I had my tummy tuck in 06. Oh I am sooo looking forward to that. Still go through the everyday aches and pains and anxiety. I have been waiting for a call back for the past couple days from one doctor on a medication change. So ... this is what is happening..
Jen has been away for about 3 weeks. We are picking her up on Sunday, then she leaves again next week till the second week of Aug. ..Everyone else has been here doing the same ole stuff just a different day..
I am off to tend to my 5 ft tomato plants now. Have a good night everyone!

There is a Upbeat to Any Downside

It has been a while since I have posted. I am sorry. There have been a few things going on with myself as always that have kept me away. For one I got caught up with a game, another has been a drastic medication change and of course summer.

Now as for the medication.... The pain doctor, he is the one who has been giving me injections every 2 weeks in the groin area for nerve damage. After several months he had decided to place me on 2 medications. I have had known reactions to 1 and the other way to make me sleep more. The combination with these and my other medications that I usually take gave me a "drunk" effect. I spent several days on the couch and when I did walk it was more of a stumble. No driving, cooking or anything else. Just the couch.

My Psych doctor put me on an anxiety medication and another for depression at the same time as the pain doctors medication trial. Bad timing on their part. Either way it didn't go over well. Nothing worked right and it was ALL stopped. So I am back to what I was on in the beginning. I feel better that way. I still have nerve pain and anxiety but they are maintained by pain medication and a anxiety pill. OK so on we move.

As for summer, the younger kids have been busy with their own friends, hanging out, skateboarding.. helping out around here... We have also been fishing on nice days A LOT. Catching hardly anything to speak of mind you. But I do have a nice tan! Ron splurged and we have Six Flags season tickets and we have gone once already. Yep they are costly, not the tickets but the park itself. Sheesh.

Now I have a couple of pictures to share.. These are of my tomato garden. It had started off small and sort of BLEW UP. I mean really look at it. We planted only less then 2 months ago and my plants are almost as tall as I am. I also have loads of tomato's already growing. Somewhere in the mass's there are also peppers growing. Yes I am proud of my babies. I really can not wait till it is time to pick and eat some of what I grew. And no, I don't let anyone here at home tinker with my plants. It is my Green thumb that has created this magical mass. Mine and Gods hands. Aren't they amazing?

Where did she go??

I have disappeared, yep that's right! For several reasons I have sort of taken a sabbatical from my own reality. With my stress levels hitting way off the charts and medication malfunctions who could blame me. So I put down the crochet hooks and closed up the sewing machine again. I have fallin into what is known as MYSPACE HELL. There is a game there that I was introduced to called "Mobsters" I guess you could say it is interesting, no it is addictive. I have been entranced by it and so, that is where you will find me. myspace.com/flametide
Feel free to drop in but be warned it is one of those games that you will get hooked on. I did at least.... for now

Flower Scrubbies Revised

It has come to my attention that the original scrubbies I had made did not work so well in the kitchen. So I made a new batch bigger and thicker. Here is what I have now. It is 2 sided. One side is cotton and the other is nylon for pots.

Pet Exchange

Here is something I made to send for to my partner for our pet exchange..She has a small dog. It is a blanket and 2 scarves.

Baby Baby Baby

I am on a baby kick these days. With my daughter pregnant, I have been working away at different items. She is having a boy, but that doesn't keep me from making all these cute little items. Here are a few of my latest creations.

It's All About ME

Some of you have asked who I am, the lady behind the words. Have I changed much over the years. Yes actually I have, mentally and physically. These pictures are the most recent, taken in March while on my cruise. I would say they are the best as I was the most relaxed.

Come and Gone

Another day has come to a close and for the most part it has been a quiet one. I did some wash since the sun was shinning today. Weather man says that we are going to get rain for the next couple of days. Ran Angel on a couple errand with the Scooter. Gas prices rose to 2.39 a gallon. Right now I am searching for a crochet pattern. It is for a baby dress with matching booties. I have not found as of yet. Also watching the Travel channel and then off to bed to do it all again tomorrow.
I mailed out a few goodies today and a surprise to someone special. I can't wait till the mailman delivers it all. I look forward to the responses.
There are a few new patterns posted on the blog today for you all to enjoy. As I stumble on those that strike my fancy, I shall post those too.
In the mean time, have a great night

Pot Holder