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Plarn Outdoor Mat

May 29, 2013 by Mary Humphrey

diy plarn rug www.anniesgoathill.com

I am enthused with the early results of  my latest project, a crocheted outdoor mat made solely from recycled plastic bags cut into strips (plarn).

I’ve seen various instructions online for these types of projects, but I opted to be stubborn and begin this do-it-yourself project without a set pattern. You know how it is, instructions tend to confuse me. You too?

Materials needed:

  • plastic bags (grocery, bread, or shopping bags of fairly equal thickness)
  • scissors
  • aluminum crochet hook size N  – 9.000 MM

Steps:

  1. Cut the bottom off of bags
  2. Cut the bags into strips  (plastic yarn = plarn) 3/4” wide medium-thin plastic, up to 1 1/4” wide very thin plastic (cut one continuous strip from each bag  – picture an apple peeled in one spiral strip)
  3. Chain plarn (to desired length or width of rug)
  4. Single crochet in each chain
  5. Chain one
  6. Single crochet in each single crochet
  7. Repeat steps 5 -6 until desired length (or width) of rug is obtained

I plan to single crochet around the outer edges of the finished rug, and I might add a decorative fringe.

I’ll post updates as the rug progresses.

What do you think? Do you like it too?

Posted in DIY Personal Care Products and Projects | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

Love for Animals

May 27, 2013 by Mary Humphrey

Week Old

Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakend. – Anatole France

Can you imagine life without animals to love and care for?

Posted in Goat Care (and General Farm) | Tagged , , | 2 Comments »

Hand Made 100% Cotton Dish Cloths

April 28, 2013 by Mary Humphrey

dish cloth pattern www.anniesgoathill.com

I’ve picked up a hobby between book writing. So far, I have crocheted a stack of dish cloths.

They are 100% cotton, which I love. They are machine washable and dryable.

I appreciate the pattern because it provides texture, which is always helpful when cleaning up messes or hand washing dishes.

Did I mention, they are easy to make? Isn’t that a plus?

They make great gifts, which is why I’ve needed to make more since my prior post.

Here’s another photo of some of the color varieties that I’ve made -

hand made dish cloths #2 www.anniesgoathill.com

Materials

crochet hook, size H/8, 5.00 MM

100% cotton yarn, approximately 1.75 ounces per finished dish cloth, worsted, 4 ply

Gauge

13 dc and 6 1/2 rows -  ins (10 cm)

Stitch Types

sl st (slip stitch)

ch (chain)

sc (single crochet)

dc (double crochet)

Instructions

Ch 5. Join with sl st to form a ring

1st round

Ch 3 (counts as dc). (Ch 2, 4 dc) 3 times in ring. Ch 2. Join with sl st to top of ch 3.

2nd round

Ch 3 (counts as dc). 1dc in each of next 3 dc (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 space. *1 dc in each of the next  4 dc (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 space. Repeat from * twice more. join with sl st to top of ch 3.

3rd to 8th rounds

Ch 3 (counts as dc). *1 dc in each dc to next ch-2 space (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 space. Repeat from * 3 times more. 1 dc in each dc to end of round. Join with sl st to top of ch 3.

9th round

Ch 1. 1 sc in each dc around, having 3 sc in corner ch-2 spaces. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

You can also find these instructions inside the sleeve of the Peaches and Cream brand 100% cotton yarn -

handmade discloth www.anniesgoathill.com

Next, I plan to delve into place mats, followed by throw rugs. If you know of some great (and simple) patterns, let me know.

Posted in DIY Personal Care Products and Projects | Tagged , , | 4 Comments »

My New Book – Delilah and Jasper

April 22, 2013 by Mary Humphrey

The youth fiction book that I am writing is coming together nicely.

I am falling in love with the main characters, Delilah and Jasper, two young Nubian goats.

I never dreamed I would write fiction, much less a book intended for children. Before I started the book I found myself thinking about all of the goats that we have raised, all of the kids, and how I have loved farm animals from a very young age, as as far back as I can remember. At that point it became clear to me that I needed to tell my story.

The book is fiction, but it contains a lot of learning tips that children can pick up on, scenes from my own experiences, and it contains fun chapters where a child can wander  through the thoughts and antics of a very young goat.

With only a small story or two that I am still pondering on adding, I’ve begun editing the book.

I will soon announce a deadline. I am excited to place this adventure in the delighted hands of a child. I can see myself as a youth wearing the pages of the book out. My dream is to give that gift to another.

Posted in AGH Business News, Goat Care (and General Farm) | Tagged , , | 3 Comments »

Checking In With My Goals

April 7, 2013 by Mary Humphrey

floating along www.anniesgoathill.com

Why is it we seem to not recognize all that we do until we put it in writing? It causes us to question why we are not taking certain steps, or better yet, why we are still doing something that isn’t helping us reach the results that we want.

In all of our busyness, with an ever-changing world and business life, we tend to forget to check in with our goals.

Our goals – where we ultimately want to be at a specified time. We can get there without plans, but it may take us an enormous time to reach our destination. In fact, instead of getting there in any reasonable length of time, we may be floating along on a slow-moving magic carpet ride, not sure where we are going to land, and perhaps not caring because we are so involved in productivity each and every day. We get busy, right?

This is my personal reminder to set goals and outline the steps to get there. An outline includes concise steps and expected completion times. Anything completed during working hours, that is done above and beyond the outline is either 1) fluff (and takes me away from the goal) or 2) icing on the cake that is necessary for good results.

On a daily basis – be flexible, bend, bend and bend again, but keep the tasks that are imperative to ensure the books gets written, the soap gets made, the website is up and running, or whatever business goals that are set. If the goals shift, the outlined plans must shift as well.

Try it if you want. Imagine, someone has just asked you to outline a list of your sites, your social media addresses, and what your daily work schedule consists of.  What is your mission? What are your goals? Which, by the way, are two very separate things. Are you on track, or floating along? What steps (deadlines and actions) must you take to reach your goals?

Personally, I am facing the legal pad with pen and paper in hand, busily drafting an outline. Checking in with my goals.

Posted in AGH Business News, Women In Business & Life | Tagged | 2 Comments »

Just Do It – Can’t Worry About It

April 4, 2013 by Mary Humphrey

The most important thing is to just do it.

shining light www.anniesgoathill.com

If I work at a high level I have responsibility to do better than what I’ve done before.

Sometimes the best happens – beyond possibility.

Just do it.

Can’t worry about it.

Leroy Neiman

Posted in General Reflections, Inspirations | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Natural Dish Cloths – Easy

March 25, 2013 by Mary Humphrey

handmade discloth www.anniesgoathill.com

A few days ago I stared at my ragged dish cloths and contemplated purchasing new ones. I realized that I did not want just any “plain old” dish cloth. I wanted a product that was handmade, all cotton, and durable.

I ended up making the natural dish cloth that I wanted – just one so far. All it took was a few minutes short of an hour and the opening up of my memory banks. The real plus is that I didn’t have to pay someone to crochet the cloth for me.

For those of you that make handcrafted soap, or even those that have a back-to-basic creative yearning in life, I can guarantee you these are easy to make. And if you aren’t so perfect with a crochet hook who really cares?! We’ll just call it au’ abiance! Right?

Pssst…inside the paper wrapper are simple instructions.  All you need to do is learn how to crochet a chain, and single and double crochets.

Another pssst…I can see these as a colorful addition, in the right pattern and yarn hues,  to a gift set.

Posted in DIY Personal Care Products and Projects | Tagged , | 3 Comments »

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