Livestock show and tears, baby afghan

Oh my!! It's been almost a month since I posted anything! I must admit I have been in a funk, or depressed, or really busy. However you want to word it. I am now only working part time (not my choice but I am over the bitterness, mostly). But my dad is loving it and I have been home less in the last month than in the entire almost 11 years of marriage. I have been going and going and going with my dad so much that I haven't seen my house in the daylight unless you count the sun breaking in the morning. Sigh. It's been good for him but not so great on my checkbook.

Now onto the great stuff! This week is the fair and my niece and nephew were showing goats last night (along with Taylor's aunt and uncle). Taylor and Brittani got last place with their goats and they did not make the sale. Emily and Gus (aunt and uncle) made the sale. Emily also showed a lamb and won showmanship for the lamb. Here's Brittani and Taylor with their goats:

                           

Jess (my baby who's graduating this year and who was participating in her last show) only showed a lamb b/c her goat died. She won first in her class, grand champion lamb, and senior showmanship. Okay, here come the tears again. After the show she was so excited and I went back to the pens to hug her and tell her how proud I was for her. Then I was crying while hugging her (I had warned her and her grandmother that if she won showmanship AND grand champion I was going to leak). She asked if I was crying and I told her yeah and then I asked her if she was crying and she said yeah but only because I was crying. As if she has not had enough practice being around me this year and me leaking all over  the place. I don't understand it. Her mom's not crying. Her grandmother is not crying. I am bawling at all the lasts that are coming this year. Who knows?

Jess and the guy she bought the lamb from and her belt buckles from last night:

Jess and her mom:

Now, onto other things that don't make me cry. My SIL asked if I would do a baby afghan for her for a friend of hers. I said yeah if she would buy the yarn. The soon-to-be mom is doing the nursery in lady bugs and my SIL brought me red and black yarn. So, this is what I came up with.

Scarves finished!

  

Finished!! Well, with three of them anyway.

I finished three curly scarves. A red one trimmed in black fun fur, a purple one trimmed in white, and a red one trimmed in white (it's Christmas, what did you expect?). I made the purple one smaller b/c it's going to a 4 year old. I wore the red and black one in to Wal-Mart this morning and people were just staring. As if they had never seen someone wear a scarf before!!! Okay, I'll admit, it is East Texas. Even though it was cold this morning, they may have never seen someone wear such a GORGEOUS scarf before!!! hehe! I am now working on a cream one trimmed in brown for a lady that works with Will. She wears scarves all the time and a lot of brown.

Christmas stuff

I am aspiring to make Christmas gifts this year instead of the all out gorgefest of shopping that usually happens about this time. Ugh! You know what I am talking about. At the beginning of December you realize that Christmas is a few days away and you have nothing!! So you run out in a rush and buy something for everyone you know. A few days before Christmas you realize you either a. forgot someone or b. they have completely changed their lifestyle since last and are no longer into that. 

This year I am making kitchen sets

 for the 2 SILs (the black/white one on the left belongs to Jackie b/c her house is done in zebra prints, cheetah prints, peacock feather, etc.) and my MIL (I am safe saying this b/c they don't read my blog and wouldn't know how to find it if they knew about it—not a computer literate one in the bunch!) that include two towels, two dish cloths, two sponges, and some coasters. I will make a Santa hat toilet paper topper for each one of them if I get the pattern in time (they will get it next year if not this year). Why? Because they all go all out decorating for Christmas and this would be the perfect gift!! hehe!

For Jamie I am making the throw in sunburst colors. Her mom is getting a couple of Christmas trees because she also decorates and the ones I am making are perfect for a table topper. I'll have to post a picture when I get finished.

Pumpkin jelly jar covers. . .

I altered the pumpkin candy pattern (Marlo's Crochet Corner) to make these!!! A couple of women from the office came and got me and took me back to my car last Friday when I locked myself out (seeing as how my husband, who was on vacation, was not willing to help me and I had to call a locksmith). So, I made these bags to hold half pint jars of homemade blackberry jelly as a thank you. (I always make a few half pints when making jelly for just such an occasion!) Funny enough, they thought they were candle holders so I have a brilliant idea for Christmas gifts—these in red with fuzzy white trim around pint candles!! I will also make one in black/white variegated yarn for Jackie who likes zebra and cheetah prints! Oh the possibilities are endless and my fingers are itching to get started!!!

It is finally Friday and I am thrilled for this week to be over! Not that I am doing anything spectacular over the weekend—VB game on Sat. and church on Sun.—but the time to rest and sleep is gonna be wonderful!!

Finished WIP's

Two photos, one is Jess's afghan (took me stinking forever and she said "eh.") and the other is Jamie's pumpkin candy bag (too adorable not to make!!!).