Chat Thread

[#1]

Here you go. Private and all.

[BabyFantasyCrochet]

Hubby is sick so I get no relief of sleep at night. He was at least helping Friday and Saturday nights but now can't risk hi getting baby sick. So tired! He just had his two week check up and he's 9lbs 13oz 99 percentile. Doc said he's already the size of a two month old. Got a big boy on my hands!

Deb- yeah I saw on FB you were relaxing for a bit. Scenery looks nice in your pictures. Hope your shoulder gets to feeling better.

[HowCuteAreYou]

Good Morning!

Melissa ~ Hope hubby gets well soon and back to baby duty. So hard when they are young, no sleep for the weary. Baby is big!! He must be adorable.

That was a photo of my backyard at sunset. I live at the very edge of town and behind my house is a park that leads into the everglades. We get spectacular sunsets since nothing impedes the view. I am back to working just a bit, I got bored out of my mind. I worked up a couple of pairs last night and today and am only doing ready to ship from now on so it's going to be much easier than custom orders. Plus, I now get to experiment with new yarns and styles instead of always doing the same things. Shoulder is still very painful and I have to have an MRI, doctor thinks its more than tendinitis and probably a tear. Don't want surgery so I have been putting it off.

It's been very cold here, for us, and can't wait for it to warm up tomorrow. We are such babies in south Florida! It's actually funny since no one I know comes from here, we're all from the midwest or east coast, so we should be able to handle 60 degree weather.

Have a good day ladies, hope everyone is doing well. Enjoy your weekend.

[hooknsaw]

Melissa, I hope you are getting some rest! I think back on my kids being little and it seems like a blur ... I was always sleep deprived working full time and taking care of 3 little ones. Plus I always had extra kids too.
Hang in there, hopefully Tobias and Winter will get on the same sleep schedule soon!!!

Debra, I hope your shoulder is feeling better and you get good results from the MRI. Have you tried varying the way you crochet? I have to keep my crochet on a flat surface for the picture part and will work part of the day on a blanket on the floor or sitting at a table. I will move position if any body part starts to feel fatigued.
I have only noticed I have issues if I go several days without crocheting at all, then I start having some hand cramping.

I'm pretty burned out with doing any more custom work. The last couple I had agreed to, turned into way more work than they were worth. And we always seem to get busy with some of the made to order at the same time we get custom requests.

I saw a news feature on the bloom and the desert was absolutely gorgeous. Surprising that the seeds can sit dormant for 10 + years just waiting for the right amount of rain.

My Dad is doing okay now and I hope your parents are well!

I hope everyone is having a good weekend. We are taking it easy and not doing much of anything.

[hooknsaw]

Sue Ellen, I hope you are having a good weekend and that your leg problems are better!

[HowCuteAreYou]

Good Afternoon Ladies~

Hope everyone is well and the new babies on the team, Melissa's and Lucille's are doing well.

I've been very busy with family matters this week, all is well but it's time consuming. I figured since I can't give 100% to my shop right now that it's better to just offer my patterns. I have a bunch of ready to ship, the first time ever, but don't have the will or energy to even package them up. Anyways...shipped my last order today and closed my schedule book. Hopefully I will be back up and running again soon. Burn out is not easy to deal with.

Lisa ~ My brother has been sending photos of the desert bloom and it's so beautiful. Must be tough on allergies but it's a pretty sight.

I've tried different positions with my elbow to help my shoulder. I think if I keep a pillow under my elbow I do feel some relief. I did a lot of crocheting over the weekend and the pain at night had me almost in tears. I really need to get my butt in gear and get the MRI!!

Wishing everyone a wonderful first week of Spring!!

[BabyFantasyCrochet]

I think I'm getting use to running on fumes. I have an appointment next week to get checked out so I can go back to work early. The nurse thought teachers get paid while out! Lol! I wish! Told her that's why I have to cut short two weeks since I've been out in January on bedrest and no income. I mean hubby makes nothing but gas and food. Stressful if anything.

On the brighter side we're looking to open our own school. This way we can actually get to see each other and make our own hours to spend with the kids. Perfect idea for two teachers.

Deb hopefully your MRI isn't bad. Don't blame you with the ready to ship items. Less stressful in itself.

Babies crying... see you all soon sorry to cut it short!

[mzbellz]

Good afternoon all.
Hope everyone is doing well. Especially you Melissa. That's a great idea about opening your own school. Good luck. I hope it works out for you

Debra. Did you have your MRI. What were the results? Last night my right shoulder was really hurting. It came on all of a sudden and when I laid down to sleep, I could feel throbbing. I took 2 aspirin and slept for awhile but then woke up and still felt the pain. I was thinking about you and I said I wonder if this is crochet related. I did crochet practically all day yesterday. So, perhaps that was it. I don't have any pain now. So maybe that was it. Old age sucks

Well I thought I would have time to write but my granddaughter just came home from a party so I have to go.

[HowCuteAreYou]

Good Afternoon!

Melissa~ I know the feeling of running on fumes. Just grab sleep when you can. My mom use to tell me, and it helped, when the kids are napping you nap. Grab the z's when you can. Good luck with your own school idea. Might be perfect for you both and the kids. Would it be a grammar school?

I still haven't had time for the MRI. So much family stuff this week but plan on scheduling an appt on Monday.

Mary Alice ~ Sounds like tendonitis of the shoulder. It's a killer when you lie down. I have no idea why it hurts more when lying than standing but something to do with the muscle and the support of the bones.

At this point, I think I have a tear and it might have been cause by carrying an extremely heavy bag on my last few trips. I pack a lot of stuff into this carry on bag and the last time I used it the pain in my shoulder started. I think the crocheting is aggravating it. I do know that on days when I crochet more than I should the shoulder is extremely painful.

My advice...stay away from crochet for a few days, aleve if you can take it and heating pad. Ice can help the inflammation as well but I don't care for it, makes my bones cold.

Today is a quiet day at home. I worked on some booties and made some cute crochet mice which are just for my own amusement. I got the pattern from Hectanooga here on Etsy. I love her patterns since they are very quick and easy and she always has tutorials on youtube.

Have a good rest of the weekend ladies and I hope everyone is well.

[KnitAndCrochetPalace]

Hello Everyone, Hope everyone is doing well. I'm back!! I just spent 7 days in the hospital and today is the first time I felt like getting to the computer. They said it would take awhile to get my strength back. I opened my shop just now because I have some bunny dolls and it's not that long before Easter.

[hooknsaw]

Melissa, I hope you get some rest! I also thought you would have more time off (being a teacher). I have a friend that started her own school and operated it for over 30 years for the same reasons (to work and be with her children). She was very successful as a private pre-school academy.
I kind of fell into the dairy-calf farming for the same reasons ... I could work at home while my kids were growing.

Debra, I hope all is well with your family and that you aren't running yourself ragged! Whenever I can, I crochet with my elbow propped on a pillow, it seems to take the pressure off of my shoulders and forearm.

Mary Alice, getting older does suck! Stuff that was easy (even a few years ago) isn't now! I hope you are well and Olivia isn't keeping you too busy!!!

Sue Ellen, I hope you are feeling better! What had you in the hospital (if you don't mind me asking)?

We had a busy day with the kids and granddaughters. Izzy announced that she was going to stay at my house for a slumber party. Thank goodness Izzy was ready to go home with her parents later in the day ... I don't think I am ready for sleepovers. I much prefer the spoil-them-rotten-and-send-them-home-with-their-parents!

Wishing everyone a good rest of the weekend!

[BabyFantasyCrochet]

Hubby was better so I made him take a night shift Friday and Saturday so I could catch up on sleep. Yeah since I've been out of work since mid January I have had no income so I've got a doctors appointment this week to see if I can go back two weeks early. Got to get the money rolling in before summer!

Yes it would be a grammar school. We've already spoke to our church about using their facilities so we're putting together the proposal currently. I'm already feeling burnt after four years in public school and I can honestly say my first year was my best and it just gradually gets worse every year. If for some reason I can't begin with my husband this year I'm still transferring schools. I need a change.

Deb- let us know when you get your shoulder checked out!

Lisa- My mom babysits for us while we work. She has the same philosophy about sending mine home LOL

[HowCuteAreYou]

Good Afternoon~

Sue Ellen ~ hope youre doing okay. You had quite a long stint in the hospital. Let us know how you're doing.

Melissa~ Good luck with the school proposal, sounds like such a perfect idea and especially since it will be at your local church. People who are church members will feel comfortable with the environment.

Lisa ~ I have no grandkids as of yet but I can imagine it's all fun and games until the sleepover part.

How the views in your shops? Mine are way down. Must be a lull before Easter shopping. Oddly enough, when I have ready to ship items do not sell as fast as when I have custom. What's the deal with that?! Not going back to custom, can't even handle the thought, but I haven't heard a cha-ching since Saturday.

Have a good day ladies. Off to take my daughter to the dr. She has been not well this past week, very stressed with work and her husband and his off the wall family. She's been staying with me for a few days to chill out and regroup. Always good to go home to mom for a few days.
I've been making all of her favorite foods and letting her rest.

[KnitAndCrochetPalace]

Hello everyone,

Thank you Debra. I am doing better. Tired today from going to an early doctors appointment and then this afternoon a physical therapist came.

Melissa, congratulations on your own school. That must be exciting.

Lisa, I would think most grandparents would feel the same way. After raising your own, it's good to have them for fun times but then it's time to go home to parents. At least that is my opinion. Except in emergencies of course. I learned today that a lady I used to bowl with became the grandma of triplets the end of the year!! Can you imagine triplets!!!!

I don't know.....I guess I would rather have triplets instead of being April, the giraffe who is having a 150 pound 6 foot tall baby!!!! LOL!!!

[BabyFantasyCrochet]

I've been advertising on Etsy and Facebook Thai past week to up my views. I've been adding new items each day too. Some days are still low.

I think they like the idea of a custom
Being able to choose. Plus some people click on one listing and never go to the shop to look for other options.

[HowCuteAreYou]

Good afternoon.

Melissa ~ Good point about giving customers more choices. I should have said made to order instead of custom since I haven't been doing custom in quite a while. All the items in my shop are now ready to ship and they are my most popular items in the colors that are the most requested. Customers will beg to have them shipped quicker when they are made to order and now that they are ready to ship they are just sitting there!!

It's okay though since I am as busy as I want to be for now. Just can't understand the reason behind less customers with ready to ship over made to order. Odd!!

Hope all is well with everyone.

Sue Ellen ~ How are you doing? Do you have someone to come and help you with daily living now that you are home for the hospital? It's so not easy getting back into any kind of routine after the hospital.

I crocheted a pair of booties this morning and added some large buttons. Took about 30 minutes, the photos took about an hour!!

[KnitAndCrochetPalace]

Debra - Just checking in for the day. Very tired so need to take a nap. No, I don't have anyone who helps with daily living. A home health nurse is coming every other day to change the dressing on my legs but they tell me I am going to have to go and be taught how to do a "lymphatic wrapping". I really don't know how they expect me to wrap my own legs. They are telling me I have to do things I haven't been able to do in years. All the appointments I have to go to are exhausting. I am using a transportation agency for that. I do have a friend who gets my groceries once a month for me. She has been doing that for about five years. She can't help with daily living problems as she commutes 50 miles each way to work and has a young child. I so appreciate her getting my groceries and other occasional things she does for me.

[HowCuteAreYou]

My compter is really acting up!! I typed a whole reply to Sue Ellen and poof it was gone and the screen switched to something else!

Sue Ellen ~ sorry to hear about what you are going through after you came home from the hospital. It's very difficult if you have to do it on your own.

Even for my mom and dad who have 3 of their children living within a half our it was difficult.

Do you have a community outreach with your church or some organization to help with transportation and shopping? I know some insurances will send someone for a week or two but without long term supplemental care there is not much help.

If you need help researching anything in your area let me know. I would be glad to find out any information that I can. Not promising any results but let me know.

I spent a quiet day at home. My daughter is back in her home and hopefully things will be going smoother for her, poor thing.

I tried to learn how to make little felted mice, Emi from Hectanooga sent me and adorable youtube tutorial. Here's what I now know about myself, I can't sew for crap and I don't like it!! The mouse is kind of cute but looks like frankenmouse around the seams.

I am trying to get my sister involved in Etsy and I now think she can make the mice, she sews really well and I can make little crochet wraps.
I tried but am not a good crafter!! No patience for the small stuff.

[BabyFantasyCrochet]

I guess it helps to add numerous items to the shop each day. I went from 89 views to 12 yesterday from not adding anything.

I was running around all day. Got the doctor to approve for me to go back to work two weeks early. Tobias will turn one month old Sunday and I'll be back to work Monday. Sucks so much. Not having a paycheck the last two months has been rough on poor hubby.

[HowCuteAreYou]

Melissa ~ I try to add something everyday. As one item sells out I will make it again and then relist. I use to have 200 plus listings and am now down to around 30 but it's as busy as I want, for now. I don't even know how I use to work as hard as I did.

Will your mom be watching your babies or do they go to daycare? So hard to go back to work when they are so little. Thank goodness you will have summer vacation at the end of May. Did your district have spring break yet? We just had it in Palm Beach and Broward is this week.

[BabyFantasyCrochet]

Yeah our spring break was last week. We're doing the last push this week because testing starts the following week. Turns out we have a testing calendar that's a month long. We'll be testing until the second week in May.

My mom watches Winter so we'll just add Tobias on lol! My husband has spring break the week before Easter and then is done the second week of May at his school so she's got less time than I do until her summer break. I'm kind of dreading how hubby will do with both babies by himself. He hasn't yet had that pleasure lol!

[mzbellz]

Good morning all!
Hope everyone is having a relaxing day so far. The house is quiet. Just the way I like it. I do have some house work to do but I will do it after I finish here. The weather is nice. Sunny not to cold not to warm.
Debra: Hope all is well with your daughter. I know what a worry that can be.
Lisa. Hope all is well with you and yours.
I've been back to making bags. I get in these moods where that's all I want to make till I get bored and then I'm on to something else.
I have so much scrap yarn left over that I want to use it all up so I don't have to look at it anymore. I counted the bags I've made so far and I have 45. When the weather gets warmer I will go to some craft fairs and try to sell them. I also have some baby dresses I will try and sell. Will see.
Befor you know it it will be summer. I can't believe how fast the summer will be upon us. Crazy.
Well before I get too lazy and don't want to do anything I better get my butt in gear and start some house work. Talk again soon.

[hooknsaw]

I hope everyone is well ... or as well as can be expected!

Debra, lol, what views? Our shop has died as far as views are concerned, but sales are up from last year, so whatever?! I have noticed over the years that when etsy is "playing around with the site" that views are bad. We are not getting very many search views, but we still get views from outside of etsy.

I hope your daughter is doing better and that the off-the-wall family is under control. How sweet that you could spoil your daughter! I love spoiling my kids when I can!

I hope your parents are well, I am in a constant state of worry and exasperation with my Dad.

Melissa, hubby will do fine with the kids!!! Lol, I laugh at my son when he has to watch both girls AND how quickly he gets off the phone to take care of them when Mom is unavailable!

Mary Alice, are you going to list more bags on etsy? Enjoy your quiet moments as you get them.

Sue Ellen, I hope you are feeling better! That is a lot to tackle by yourself. Don and I both have health issues and limits, but between both of us, we manage.

We have had a quiet week after a busy weekend. Don and i went out for lunch today (which was a great quiet get-a-way). Tomorrow I am having a 'girls-day' with my daughter-in-law, granddaughters, dil's mom, and my daughter. We are going to see Beauty and the Beast.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Chat soon.

[HowCuteAreYou]

Good Morning!

Melissa ~ Your husband will do fine. Mine always did with the 3 kids but he never cleaned up after any of them. I would go out for a few hours and come home to a hurricane. BUT...I think he did it on purpose, if he cleaned up I would have gone out more often.

Mary Alice~ Definitely take your bags to a craft fair and since your area has so many you might do well. Last week I was bored and started making little crochet mice. I made 3 and then a felt mouse and got over that real quick. Just needed something new and quick to make.

Spring and beautiful weather should be making it's debut very soon! Your area is so beautiful. Do you get to town often?

Lisa ~ I can't compare shop numbers to last year because I have cut way back. I have under 35 items in my shop compared to over 200 last year. So views and sales are quite different. Though some days the views are over 300 and some in the 100's so I have no idea why the difference. Seems like something is going on because it's not consistent at all.

Enjoy your girls day!! I have been talking about seeing Beauty and the Beast, looks wonderful. What a fun outing you will have.

My parents are well, knock wood, thanks for asking. They are back to eating out and going to shows in their community. Mom is back to playing canasta twice a week and Dad is playing on the computer and working a bit in the yard. They are troopers!

But... like you, I am in a constant state of worry. My mom has issues with her bladder and if she doesn't like the meds she just stops taking them. She was in the hospital for very serious complications from a urinary tract infection that was in her blood stream but she still has difficulty following orders. My dad is fine with his walker but has taken to using a gentlemen's cane, not even a medical one, for walking around the house. So not good since they have slippery tile floors!!

Like Neal says, we have to live our lives and just pray for the best. I am trying!!

My daughter's in-laws are low lives. So not sure her situation with them will ever change. I didn't want her to marry into that family but not much you can do when they are adults. Hopefully she will realize that she shouldn't be with that group but who knows. Her husband is a good kid but he stresses her our by always being with his mom. He's a big baby. I can't fix everything but I can pamper her once in a while.

Well....I am off now till Monday. Packaged my last open order and now I am stepping away from the hook. Weather has been beautiful here, mid to high 70's and I have Spring Fever!

Have a wonderful, worry free, stress free weekend!

[KnitAndCrochetPalace]

Lisa --sounds like you are in for a fun day. Hope you all enjoy Beauty and the Beast. And, thank you!

Debra-- enjoy your days off. Sometimes it helps to take a break.

I am taking it easy. I don't seem to be getting my strength back. It doesn't help with all the doctors appointments. I found out today I have to go to a lymphatic specialist twice a week plus all the other doctors I have to see. Getting ready to go anywhere totally exhausts me. I suppose it will help if I ever start feeling any better. I am very discouraged that I don't feel any better. Oh well, enough of my complaining. That doesn't solve anything.

Hope every one is doing fine and things are going the way you want them too.

[HowCuteAreYou]

Good Morning!

Sue Ellen ~ Sorry you aren't feeling your strength yet. I think it takes awhile after a hospital stay. Dr appts are so exhausting, it's hurry up and wait. I think that's why I am so not good at scheduling appts. The waiting in the offices and the paperwork is so annoying.

You can complain all you want, this should be called the Venting and Crochet Team, we are here for each other. It's not easy being ill and especially if you are going it alone. Sending you a ton of hugs and well wishes!!

No plans for the weekend so far. Just going to have my morning coffee and relax for a bit. Hopefully this weekend will be quiet and no fires to put out.

Wishing everyone a good weekend!! Happy April Fools Day!