June 2008 Archives

Recently added to my pattern collection:

• 300 Classic Blocks for Crochet Projects
• Casual to Classic Fashions to Crochet (a few lovely sweaters / cardigans)
• Crochet Embellishments
• Kitty Knits: Projects for Cats and Their People - OK, so I don't knit much (other than practice over a year ago!), but if I do ever get into it, I would want this book - too cute!

Annie's Attic has done it again! In December 2007, I learned they had re-released the Cathedral Rose Window Afghan pattern, and today I learned they've re-released the 6-Pointed Star Afghan pattern (leaflet 885044) for $6.99 $5.99 [as of July 3, 3008]. This is the very much sought after Six-Pointed Star Afghan pattern originally published as leaflet 87A50 and designed by Sandra J. Smith - and now you can get it at Annie's Attic!

Back by popular demand! An Annie's Original! This perpetual favorite will make a stunning focal point in any home. The generous, intricate-looking 69" diameter throw is made using simple single and double crochet stitches and worsted weight yarn.

[Update July 3, 2008 - Also available at e-PatternsCentral.com for $5.99!]

There's no need now to hunt around for the original Six-Pointed Star Afghan leaflet 87A50 to get the pattern!

I don't have this pattern in my collection, but I did, however, create my own version of a 6-point to 12-point to 24-point Round Ripple Afghan (instructions are here).

22 years ago right after we met, Bill took me to New Hogan's Lake in Calaveras County to go jet skiing. He got hooked on jet skiing a few years earlier and had bought 2 used ones. Wow! They were great fun!

We were very frequent Hogan's visitors for quite a few years, until we got busy, the kids got older, the jet skis wore out, and we sold them (the jet skis, not the kids!).

We still go to Hogan's on occasion to spend a day together in the hot sun and the cool fresh water - which is what we did yesterday! We definitely didn't go last year, and I'm pretty sure we didn't go the year before either.

We were curious to see just how low the water level was since there is a drought here in California this year. One website says the water level is at 43% of capacity. As you can see, the water is low - but it isn't as low as it was for 1-2 years in the 1990s! Then, we drove quite a ways down to reach water and lots of thick mud.

We don't have the jet skis anymore, but Bill took one of his two kayaks for his entertainment. I, the less energetic one, read a book, watched Bill kayak, watched the group of jet skiers who also had a water ski boat next to us (Bill figured there was about $100,000 worth of toys in the cove!), and enjoyed the fresh air. Thank goodness for the cool water - it was hot hot hot!

Earlier this week, Bill brought home the Thailand Coca Cola can. It is 2 of 5 in the Coca-Cola Olympic Games Collector Series for the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

Plane dropping red fire retardant on the fire on the hillside of Eden Canyon in Castro Valley on June 19, 2008.

I was doing a bit of web surfing and found these!

Tony Stewart Cake Kit (includes race car) at ShopBakersNook.com.

TY Beanie Babies NASCAR Bears - including Tony Stewart The Home Depot Beanie Baby Bear at BBToyStore.com.

Tony Stewart #20 Quick-Shift Dart Set at The Pit Stop.

Tony Stewart Chunky Racing Rig at Target.

Kyle Busch's flight map for this weekend! He's racing in 3 different states! The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on Friday in Texas; NASCAR Nationwide Series yesterday in Tennessee; and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series today in Pennsylvania. Plus flying back and forth for practice and qualifying. And, he participated in the Prelude to the Dream dirt track race Wednesday at Tony Stewart's Eldora Speedway in Ohio! Whew.

Bill brought this odd can of Coke home today! Koka-Kona Koka-Kora Koka-Kola [see Kat's comments below] is Russian for Coca-Cola.

When I thought the spelling was Koka-Kona, I of course immediately thought Kona, Hawaii!

The can is 1 of 5 in the Coca-Cola Olympic Games Collector Series for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. I'm interested to see the other 4 in the series! I didn't take a photo of it, but the regular Coca-Cola logo is also on the can (as seen on the right side of the second photo).

[Update] In Russian, it is still Coca-Cola. A Russian cursive lowercase l and uppercase L looks like a lowercase n in our A-Z alphabet. The HTML character is л which is л.

As I mentioned previously, I cleaned out my closet Friday. The 3 piles of clothes turned into 8 bags of clothes. The box of hangers will also be donated.

The helpful cat (my girl Cleo!) stays.

Bill went to a swap meet Saturday morning and brought back a Tony Stewart 20 cap for me!