Sunday, February 24, 2013

Vintage Crochet Doily Pattern and Baby Booties

It has been a fun week here at Lilly My Cat.  Thank you to everyone who visited my blog.  As I mentioned, I'm new to this blogging and there were a few glitches with those who wished to comment.  I think I have it figured out now - hopefully!

This is a project that I have been working on for awhile (when I'm not knitting).  One day I was rummaging around my yarn closet and I came across this pattern in my Grandma's knitting bag (my wonderful, Danish grandma passed away back in 1992 at the age of 97!)  Since I love to crochet I thought this would be a fun project to do.  Grandma had used the pattern as a pin cushion hence the holes in the paper.


I tried to find the pattern online but was not able to come up with any clues.  I believe it's from the 1950's or before since there is no zip code listed on the address of the company.


 I finished the doily itself in a couple of days.  However, I am still working on the leaves and I haven't even started the berries!  

So, at this point, it's still a unfinished product.  But, one day it will be finished.

My good friend Nadia asked me if I had any baby booties - she wanted some as a gift to a new baby.  So, here's what I have been working on this weekend:


The pattern is taken from an old Swedish pattern.  I added some beads to one of the booties.  I love to knit with beads.  I need to finish the ties and she will have three pairs to chose from!  Remember to check out Handmade Monday here at Handmade Harbour.  There are so many wonderful ideas.

Lilly is such a creature of habit.  Each morning she wakes up, gets a little "wake up" snack and then wants to take her walk outside.  She really gets unhappy when it's wet and cold outside and I won't let her out.  Outside means the back of our home which is fenced. Luckily for me, she is too large (not fat!) to get through the fence.  She loves to sit out there and watch the birds and hunt for geckos.




As you can see, Lilly is my baby and I love her dearly.  She is such a joy to have in the house.  I wish each of you a wonderful week and look forward to chatting with you.  Thanks again for taking time to visit Lilly My Cat!

  




Sunday, February 17, 2013

Historic California Mission & Avocado Guacamole Recipe

It has been a great week here at Lilly My Cat.  Thank you to everyone who stopped by for a visit.  It was lovely having you see my blog.

I love history and California is home to many historic missions.  Two missions are close to where I live; San Juan Capistrano Mission and San Luis Rey de Francia Mission in Oceanside, CA.

This is a picture I took of my visit to San Luis Rey Mission this week.  The mission was founded in 1798 and built by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order.

 

This is a photo of the interior of the church.  It still functions as a church and for special events  like weddings.  

                                                  
Each time I visit the mission, I enjoy not only the history but the tranquility of the setting.  Here are the pictures of the garden and the beautiful succulent garden.                        

It was so much fun to roam around the mission's grounds and see all the beautiful plants. If you ever visit California, there are numerous missions scattered around the state.  Each one is beautiful and a joy to visit.

On the way home, we stopped at a roadside fruit stand and bought some "just picked from the tree" avocados.

Here's my recipe for fresh guacamole:

Peel avocado and place in bowl.  Cut the avocado in small pieces (small or large, whatever you like).  Add in 1/4 cup chopped white onion, juice of 1 lemon, 1 T oil, 1 minced tomato and some fresh cilantro and mix well.  Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.


I'll end this post with a wonderful link to Handmade Harbour.  Please take time to visit this site.  There are links to wonderful blogposts where you will get tons of creative ideas.  Here's my creative idea for the week.....

It's a whirligig crocheted doily that I am crocheting from fingering weight wool yarn.  Please check back to see the finished product.  And, remember there's going to be a giveaway on this blog.  Be sure to sign up so that you can enter the giveaway.

Have a great week!