a gorgeous day...

blog under construction...

I am currently revamping my blog. I think I've decided on this template, but still need to add more links, widgets, blogs...

Sorry for not updating often enough. I find myself quite busy these days.

HUGS to all!!!

~P

The San Diego Nacrelli's...

Don, Sheryl and Nick came for a visit this past weekend at my folk's house. It was so good to get to see them. I miss them so very much. They were down scouting out colleges for Nick's lacrosse scholarship.

Porter is HOME!

He got release from CHKD yesterday afternoon, since his platelets went back up to 73.
He still has a plehthora of Doctor appointments and blood checks, but he's home and looking great. He has a little cough, but he did in the hospital as well.

Thanks to everyone for all the cards, well wishes, prayers....we appreciate it all.

photos from the hospital...

Porter got very sick last week...Wednesday, to be exact. Vomiting, high fever...then by Sunday he aquired red spots all over his face.

This is Porter 2 days ago...starting to feel a tad better, but still very sick. They had him on a nasal canula for breathing issues. The spots are called petechiae.







Tracey came to visit Porter yesterday and gave him a cool board book....and so, he painted his nails with the markers when i wasn't looking. And he had tons of fun!





Today, Bethany stopped in for a visit and brought him 'Franken-Socks', a pumpkin book, tons of fun coloring items and such...more fun (and she brought me teas and treats):





Porter is looking much better today....but his platelets keep dropping, so they are keeping an eye on them and if they continue to drop, they will wind up having to do a bone marrow test to check for Leukemia. We are trying to keep in good spirits though...and so glad he is looking and feeling better.

it's that time of year again...

I spray painted my wreath black, added orange mums, dark brown tule and a black crow....looks awesome on the front door! Decorated the entry way console and mirror....ooohhhhh...the kids love it! Next is the counter top/bar.

Something about this time of year that makes me content. I love the cooler air, smell of fireplaces, colors of turning leaves, wearing sweaters, and making everything out of pumpkin to eat.

Carson already has her Halloween costume...it's her brother's costume from last year-the Grim Reaper. She looks so cute in this black outfit, sucking her thumb and her cute little face sticking out of the hood. No mask. We'll just add some makeup and make her a pretty reaper instead.

Porter's costume has yet to be determined. We were thiking Charlie Brown...just need that zig zag shirt and he'd be all set, bwhaha!

The Pugs will more than likely just wear last year's costumes too.

Cameron has decided he is done with trick-or-treating and wants to stay home with older brother, Brig to watch scary movies.

Halloween will be here before we know it. In the meantime, we all enjoy planning and prepping for all the holidays coming up in the next several months ahead.

OK...time to plan on making these next for the bar area...Science experiments...eeewwwww!!! (from mixmingleglow.com):

fun with felt...

I taught Carson a few easy sewing skills, so she could sew an Owl out of felt. I showed her how to make felt roses and then made her a 3-pocket travel pouch for the trip on Monday. This pattern was super easy to make and hold a notepad, scissors, pens, gluestick, 12 crayons and 2 stampers:

made this today...

and the L.A.M.B. hat is finished....

Gwen Stefani Inspired L.A.M.B. hat...

Yarn--one skein(8oz) is moooore than enough
size H--5.00mm hook (b/c thats what I had-again if you want it floppier I'd go up to a 5.5mm)

ch. 4, join with sl. st to make a ring.
Row 1: ch 2(counts as first dc here and throughout), 10 dc in ring,join(10sts)
Row 2: ch 2, dc in same st, *2dc in each st* around, join(20sts)
Row 3: ch 2,*2dc in every other st* around(30sts)
[^this probably want the best way to write it, should be *dc in first st, 2dc in next* around, but of course, the first time, the ch2 counts as the first dc]
Row 4: ch 2, *dc in first 2 sts, 2dc next st* around (40sts)
Row 5: ch 2, *dc in first 3 sts, 2dc in next st* around (50sts)
Row 6: ch 2, *dc in first 9 sts, 2 dc in next st* around (55sts)
Row 7: ch 2, *dc in first 10 sts, 2 dc in next st* around (60sts)
Row 8: ch 2, *dc in first 11 sts, 2dc in next st* around (65sts)
Row 9: ch 2, *dc in first 12 sts, 2dc in next st* around (70 sts)
Row 10+: 1 dc in each st around
[this is where I added stripes]
continue until desired length( I did 8 rows), then switch to sc for 10 more rows(or until you meet desired length)

so if you want it longer, just add more dc rows after Row 10. If you want it bigger, I'd go up to a 5.5mm hook or just add one more increase row
(ie.--row 10: ch 2, *dc in first 13 sts, 2dc in next st* around, join--then continue on with 1dc in each sts until it is long enough)

"Love, Angel, Music, Baby..."

'unschooling' in progress....

...so today, we made Chunky Crayons (aka: color cakes, big fat crayons, melted crayons.....you get the idea. We melted them in vintage Jell-o molds, so the bottoms have 'Jell-o' imprinted on them.

We made: 'Blues-Berry, 'Cha Cha Cherry', 'Pinky-Dinky-Do', 'Green Machine' and 'Yurple' (a mix of yellows and purples).

We will do Leaf Rubbings with these tomorrow (and also teach Carson to Loom Knit).







I was also adventerous and premade dinner and dessert (since I knew we'd be at PMan's 2 hours of Therapy this afternoon). I made Tomato-Basil Quiche and Homemade Peach Cobbler (w/ fresh peaches from Trader Joe's).






....and yesterday, Brig made the ever-so-yummy Pumpkin Muffins (which are almost gone now)...TIME TO EAT!!!!

5 on tuesday...

Click on names for links:

1. KnitPicks Circulars
2. Pretty Vials
3. Wooden Clothespin Doll
4. Shabby Chic Frame
5. Pretty Layered Apron

things i love about FALL...

found a list of juices PMan can drink...

at least i sure do hope so...

List of legal commercial juices:

-Tropicana Pure premium Orange Juice in refrigerated cardboard container, bottles or jugs or refrigerated six pack "minis." NO CALCIUM
-Dole canned pineapple juice
-Heinz and Campbell's canned Tomato juice
-ONLY the Knudsen's *Just Juice* line (not the rest of their products):
Just Black Cherry
Just Blueberry
Just Cranberry
Just Pomegranate
Organic Just Concord Grape
Organic Just Tart Cherry
-Kedeem Organic grape juice
-Welch's 100% Grape juice (Red, Purple and white) in glass bottles or plastic jugs
-Freshly pressed, pasteurized refrigerated non sparkling Apple Cider with no added sweetener.