Hari Krishna Festival of Colors

Today's the day! I went last year to photograph this awesome festival - but this year I'm totally happy to stay home. These pictures really show the coolest part of the festival (for anyone not interested in getting in the middle of the huge crowd.) So for those who'd rather stay home and not get lost in this crazy crowd - here are some pictures to make you feel like you've been at the Hari Krishna Festival of Colors in Spanish Fork Utah.

Angel Baby headband pattern

You'll want to make these headbands using the no-foundation stitch. This link will show you were I learned how to do this. But I'll explain it here too.

No Foundation Crochet Stitch

Chain 3

Loop yarn over like for double crochet.

Go in first chain.

Bring yarn through the first chain - this creates your chain

Then do a double crochet. (loop over - through 1 loop - loop over - through 2 loops - loop over - through 2 loops)

*Loop yarn over like for a double crochet.

Go in the chain you made in the last stitch (just one loop).

Bring yarn through to create the chain stitch.

Then do a double crochet.*

Repeat * to * as long as needed.

Essentially you will be doing a chain one and then a double crochet directly on top of that chain rather than chaining a row and then double crocheting on top of that. You can use this method often and it gives you a nice loose first row.

Headband

You'll need 24 of these stitches to make a headband. This pattern is written for a 20 week sized baby with the Caron Simply Soft Yarn. To make a longer headband just add more stitches. You'll need an even number.

Row 1: 24 no foundation stitches. 1 sc in the middle of the stitch (just to help you turn around)

Row 2: In first loop of the chains you just made do the following: 1 sc - 1 ch - 3 dc - 1 ch - 1sc (1 shell - sh - stitch). Skip next stitch. Sh in every other stitch all the way across. 1 sc in the 2nd chain you originally made.

Row 3: SH stitch in every other stitch all the way across. Should be pretty close to lining up with the sh stitches in row 2 but on opposite side.

Tie off.

Fold extra piece of yarn in half. Should be longer than the headband.

Thread the extra piece of yarn through the headband. The fold should be at one end.

Now you have an adjustable headband.

For more Angel Baby patterns and info click HERE.

Angel Baby hat pattern

Here's a pattern for nice stretchy hats. Angel Baby hats should be stretchy and not have big holes. See this website for more information about making baby hats. If you go to the homepage of this blog you'll see more Angel Baby info too. See this website for the original pattern for the hats - I just modified it to work for the Angel Babies.

Note: These hats look kind of funny inside out.

Chain 4 - attach with slip stitch to make a ring.

Row 1: Chain 3 (to make a double crochet) - 1 dc in ring - 1 ch - * 2 dc in ring - 1 ch * Repeat * to * until you have 8 dc in the ring. Sl stitch to the beginning of the row. (This makes a hat the right size for a 20 week baby if you use the Caron Simply Soft yarn. To make it bigger just add more * to *)

Row 2: ch 3 - 2 dc around next back post - *1 dc in ch in previous row - 1 dc in next stitch - 2 dc around next back post* - repeat * to * until you get back to the beginning. Sl stitch to the beginning of the row.

Around the back post looks like this - do this twice on this row.

Row 3: ch 3 - *2 dc in next stitch - 1 dc in next stitch* - repeat * to * until you get back to the beginning. Sl stitch to beginnin of the row.

Row 4: ch 3 - *1 dc around back post - 1 dc in next stitch* - repeat * to * all the way back to the beginning. Sl stitch to beginning of row.

Row 5: ch 3 - 1 dc in each stitch around.

Repeat rows 4 and 5 until you're done. Finish with a row 4. Without brim = 8 rows. With brim = 10 rows. You'll want to turn it inside out to check to see if it's long enough becuase the hats look very different inside out. Just add more rows to make a bigger hat. Sc around. Tie off.

Inside out hat above - might kind of look like a Christmas tree.

Right side out hat

For more angel baby info and crochet patterns (including best yarn types and colors) click HERE

March

March comes in like a lion.

For us that means...

Working hard on rolling over

Learning to laugh

Going bald (this patch fell out one day when I gave him a bath. I was rather distressed but he didn't seem to care at all.)

Seriously - it all fell out in one day. I looked like I needed a lint roller.

Making sure we all take turns wearing the red bowl on our heads.

(Even if it makes baby look like an alien)

Letting baby watch everything we do. The trick is getting the 2 year old to keep doing the same activity in the same place for more than a minute.

Introducing our new favorite game - Rainbow Rice.

Loving the dinosaur puppet we got from the library.

And getting mauled by such dinosaur. Perhaps March comes in like a dinosaur?

Making a fort on a Sunday afternoon.

And making green rice for dinner.

Crocheting lots of Angel Baby outfits. I made 14 in the last month. My friend made 18 so we had 32 to send down.

A friend got me started on these and now I've become almost addicted. I love project that actually will help someone. I've been posting patterns on the public blog - HERE for anyone who is interested. Angel Baby website

Also, March means

Bryce is home!!!

And we are so excited to go see him this weekend.

Shell Heart Crochet pattern

Chain 62

Row 1: 2 dc - 1 ch - 2 dc in third loop of chain row. Skip 3 - *2 dc - 1 ch - 2 dc (all in one stitch) - skip 3* Repeat * to * all the way across.

Add in next color or chain 3 at the end of row 1 and turn.

Row 2: *2 dc - 1 ch - 2 dc* all the way across in the chain stitches between the 2 dc in the previous row.

Continue till blanket is the size you want it.

Here is where I got the idea for this pattern.

Baby does the blogging

Hi everyone!

I'm 3 months old now and smiling more than ever.

My big brother is my favorite person and I smile the most for him. I always watch him and I'm sad when he leaves the room. I've rolled over twice, but haven't done it since.

I love to be entertained. I love to be held and played with. I don't often like to play by myself.

I love to be wrapped up to sleep, but not too tightly. However, I do love to lay out on a blanket, but only if someone plays with me. I've only slept through the night a couple of times, but last night was one of those nights. Today while Mom was giving me a bath a huge chunk of my hair came out of the top of my head. Mom was quite upset, but it didn't bother me even a little bit.

That's probably about it for now. Time to find someone to play with.

What makes a Mother

I saw this today and it seemed so fitting with the Angel Baby project I've been working on. You might need tissues though.

"What Makes a Mother"
I thought of you and closed my eyes
And prayed to God today.
I asked what makes a Mother
And I know I heard him say.
A Mother has a baby
This we know is true.

But God, can you be a Mother
When your baby's not with you?
Yes, you can, He replied
With confidence in His voice
I give many women babies
When they leave is not their choice.
Some I send for a lifetime
And others for a day.
And some I send to feel your womb
But there's no need to stay.

I just don't understand this, God
I want my baby here
He took a breath and cleared His throat
And then I saw a tear.
I wish I could show you
What your child is doing today.
If you could see your child smile
With other children and say:
"We go to earth to learn our lessons
Of love and life and fear.

My Mommy loved me oh so much
I got to come straight here.
I feel so lucky to have a Mom
Who had so much love for me
I learned my lesson very quickly
My Mommy set me free.
I miss my Mommy oh so much
But I visit her each day.
When she goes to sleep
On her pillow's where I lay.
I stroke her hair and kiss her cheek
And whisper in her ear.
"Mommy don't be sad today
I'm your baby and I'm here."

So you see my dear sweet one
Your children are okay
Your babies are here in My home
And this is where they'll stay.
They'll wait for you with Me
Until your lesson is through.
And on the day that you come home
They'll be at the gates for you.

So now you see what makes a Mother
It's the feeling in your heart.
It's the love you had so much of
Right from the very start.
~Author Unknown

How to color rice

I tried a couple ways of doing this. I think this is how to do it the easiest (and it smells ok. If you use vinegar it smells like vinegar.)

Things you will need:

1 plastic container with lid (I used an old spaghetti sauce container)

1/2 cup water

A few drops of food coloring

1 cup rice

First I had my husband punch some holes in the lid of my container.

Put water in the container. Then add food coloring. Swish it around till it's mixed nicely. The color should be fairly dark at this point. It will end up looking a lot lighter on the rice than it does now.

Add rice. Shake/swish until the rice is all covered in color. Let it stand about 5 minutes.

Drain out extra water. This is where the holes in the lid come in handy. Screw on the lid and you can drain the water out without having to have a sieve or any thing else. Make sure to shake out as much extra water as you can.

Dump out onto napkins on a cookie sheet (or paper towels or newspaper - just something to collect the extra water)

Spread rice out over napkins. Cook in the oven on a low heat (warm or 200) for 10 minutes. Take the napkins out. Spread the rice out over the pan. Cook another 10 minutes. If your rice is dry at that point in time you're done. If you let it soak a while it might need to cook another 10 minutes. I think if it's warm outside when you do this you could just leave it out to dry. But here in Idaho in March - it's not really warm enough for that.

Note: The rice gets kind of sweaty in the oven. So if you're not sure if it's dry or not, take it out of the oven for 5 minutes and see if it still feels wet.