ABC Blanket

I am just getting started on an ABC blanket. I started last week and I have letters B, C, D, and M complete. Currently I am about half way finished with the letter E. No, I am not doing them in order, but there is order to my madness. When I started out I only bought one ball of blue and one ball of red, and only had a few letter patterns so I started there. Of course I had to chart out letters and colors first. I will be using blue, red, and yellow for the letters and numbers 1-4. I can get about 3 1/2 letters off of one ball of yarn, so I am looking at 3 yellow, 3 blue, and 3 red. The patterns for the letters are from Ravelry by Rhonda K. White. I am makings sure each letter has 36 stitches left to right and 57 rows up and down so they fit nicely together when I am done. I need to go on and find the number patterns. I have no idea which method I will use to connect this all together yet.
Yarn: Cascade yarns 220 superwash sport color numbers 813(blue), 809 (red), and 820 (yellow).
I am using a size 5 needle.
My Chart:

Red 1	Yellow A	Blue B done	Red C done	Yellow 2
Blue D done	Red E	Yellow F	Blue G	Red H
Yellow I	Blue J	Red K	Yellow L	Blue M done
Red N	Yellow O	Blue P	Red Q	Yellow R
Blue S	Red T	Yellow U	Blue V	Red W
Yellow 3	Blue X	Red Y	Yellow Z	Blue 4

I love that the letters are raised which will be great for learning letters for little ones! That is all for now.

Summer Reading Programs

So Charles and I are signed up for a summer reading program with our library. I enjoy reading so much. I hope to pass this love on to Charles. His program is rookie readers and is all about getting them to enjoy coming to the library and checking out books for us to read to him. He really enjoys going to the library and already knows exactly where to go in the library for his books. He will pick out a few books and go sit at the table and look at them while I gather a few to check out for him. My program is based on pages read during the summer. There are two goals 1,500 pages equals a gift certificate to a local restaurant, and 2,500 pages equals putting your name in a drawing for $100 chamber bucks that you can use in businesses in town and Carroll 5 movie packages. This is majorly exciting for me because I enjoy reading, so why not keep track of the pages I read in order to get a prize or prizes.

Here are the books I read in May: 4 weeks and 4 books for my book a week goal.
1.) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald; 189 pages. It is set in the 1920's. To see more information check out a recent post of mine.
2.) False Pretenses by Kathy Herman; 389 pages. This book is great. It is set around present day Louisiana. This book is about a young couple setting up an old family home into a bed and breakfast. The home is rich in history and thought to be visited by ghosts if you listen to the locals. Spoiler alert: The family finds out that this home has secret passages that were part of the underground railroad! I would recommend that you read The Sophie Trace series first so that you know some background about the main characters. You will not be lost if you choose not to read this series first but it will help.
3.) Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews; 416 pages. A group of old friends decide to quit just getting together for things like funerals and such. They decide to rent a house at the beach for a month in August. Each friend is going through something: a loss of a job, a marriage on the rocks, and a model that is ready for a change. This is a great book for the summer.
4.) Unashamed by Francine Rivers; 176 pages. This is the 2nd book in the lineage of grace series. This one describes the life and faith of Rahab. This book really makes you think about faith and trust without seeing.

Books that are on deck:
1.) Sweet Talk by Julie Garwood; 357 pages
2.) Dangerous Mercy book 2 in Secrets of Roux River Bayou by Kathy Herman; 408 pages.
3.) Relentless Pursuit book 3 in Secrets of Roux River Bayou by Kathy Herman; 392 pages
~When I finish all three 1157 pages for my summer reading program!!!

Just Like Daddy

Tonight before Patrick's game.

 Charles decides to stretch like Daddy.

Show Us What You Make Or Sell

Here are a few things I make:

 

 I made this scarf for my sister.

 A sweet baby blanket for a precious baby girl.

If you would like to see a picture of Charles' heirloom blanket click here.

This is one of my most recent projects.

 

Currently I am working on an ABC blanket. I do not have any pictures yet, but I will post them as soon as I get far enough along.

All Moms

As a little girl I always dreamed of being a wife and a mom. Those where my two biggest wishes and dreams. Sometimes it is hard to believe that I am living that dream. I feel greatly blessed to have Patrick and Charles in my life. I remember as a teenager and young adult praying for my future husband and children. God has blessed me more than I deserve. Thank you Patrick for getting up with Charles this morning and letting me sleep late! I also like the flowers you picked out. I love and cherish you both.
I am so thankful for having a loving mom. I know she has sacrificed many sleepless nights, has worried and nursed me from skinned knees and colds, and has listed to my hopes, fears, and dreams. I am so blessed to be able to call her with questions about teething, bumps, and other things about raising Charles. Thanks mama for always being there for me. I love you.
To my loving sister. You are a wonderful mom. I am amazed at how much you do and stay sane doing it. Thanks for answering all my questions and loving me through all the ups and downs. I will never forget the encouraging words while we struggled to have a child up to all the calls, texts, cards, ect after having Charles. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the cards that you asked friends to write after I had Charles to encourage me. I love you big sister.
To my Mother-in-Law: thanks for raising Patrick into the man he is today. I know he would not be who he is without you. Thanks for treating me like a daughter from day one. You are a blessing and an encouragement to me. Thanks so much for all that you do. I love you.
For all of you out there that have lost your mom. I am so sorry. I know today is a hard day for you. I am lifting you up in my thoughts and prayers.
To those that are moms in waiting. Please know I think of you and pray for you daily. May God grant you the desires of your heart.
Happy Mother's Day!

Gatsby

Is it just me or is anybody else excited about the new updated film version of "The Great Gatsby"?  Personally I loved reading the book in my junior English class. I had a wonderful English teacher that just made literature come alive. I doubt she stops by to read this, but thanks Mrs. Carey for sharing your passion and excitement with your students. In honor of the film coming out I am rereading the wonderful book by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I will say that I still enjoy the book but it was a lot more fun reading and discussing with a class. If you want a little more information about the book and some help check out the spark-notes, but please READ the book not just the notes! I really want to also check out the older version of the film with Robert Redford and watch that version again before going to see the new version with Leonardo DiCaprio. I would love to compare and contrast all three, and yes I know I am a NERD. I can't wait to see all the costumes and settings in the new film. I just love the clothing of the 1920's and would love to  be able to go back to those days and dress up for a big party.

For the Love of Reading

While on Pinterest is stumbled on a wonderful website. This site allows you to enter the title of the book you just finished, click enter, and then it shows roughly 5 or more books you might enjoy reading. I have created an account and can't wait to get started on finding new authors to read. So if you are like me and wondering what you will read while you are waiting on your favorite authors to catch up with your reading pace give this site a try. If you do let me know what you think. I am just beginning to play around and figure out all the features that are offered.

Words I Thought I Would NEVER Say

Today is May 2nd. On Monday we had a beautiful day in the 70's. I took Charles to the park Monday afternoon. Tuesday I wore a sundress because the temperature was 82 degrees with rain, hail, and thunderstorms in the late afternoon. Yesterday we experienced weather in the 30's and early 40's with wind and rain. Last night from roughly 8pm or so we started getting ice mixed in with the rain. After we went to bed it must have snowed. My guess is that we got around 5 inches of snow and ice. We were called at 5:45am with a two hour delay for school and by 7:30 school was cancelled. So here are the words I never thought I would say in May: snow day in May and no school because a snow day. As you can see we have experienced it all this week. I'm praying we don't get any more ice or snow. Patrick's last day of regular school was supposed to be May 23rd now it is moved to the 24th. I am so ready for SUMMER!!!

Pictures of the snow: