Sorry, I have been so long without a post. I got three new crochet books and got started on some new projects and just couldn’t stop. One book was “Vanna’s Choice: easy crochet Critters” Once I started on these I just couldn’t stop. I made the elephant.
Not a very good picture, he is really much cuter than this. Then I made the Hippo
The kids loved these new animals. They are a good size and so cute. Then 
I got a monkey. My first monkey and I loved it so I did the giraffe.
I have two other giraffes but none are as cute as this one . One of the favorite of the boys is the alligator. 
My first alligator. And everyone’s favorite is the lion.
I almost skipped the lion because I said “that doesn’t look like a lion but I am glad I made this one. He turned out to be so darn cute. 
This is the baby seal. 
This is the walrus .
Nothing could be cuter than the snowy owl. James watched me make this one. He is not a talker but this one made him talk!!
Last but not least is the penguin. I was sorry to see this book end. So I started the new book right away and did the chicken. It came out alright but after these little ones I was not happy with the new book and moved on to one I had to get on my computer. I could not get this book in book form so I had to put it on my Kindle Cloud Reader. It is free but I have to copy the patterns out by hand as it does not print. I spend a couple hours each morning getting the patters copied out and in about a week more I should have it done. Afternoons and evenings I spend making the things from this book. Dhyana was coming on Friday of this week so I wanted all the halloween items done so she could take them home with her but Dhyana was so sick Friday she could not come. I took the puppets and halloween toys and put them all in a box and sent them to her. She will get them on Monday and hope they ease the pain of missing the trip to Florida. These are the ones I sent to her. 
The ghost
the pumpkin
the candy corn and I added a witch and black cat. I also gave James a set of the halloween toys to decorate his house with. I made Colby an eye ball.
Now I am working on other items in this book. I have a book “Two Naughty Mice” In this book the two mice get into a doll house and try to eat the play food they find there. I made the mice but didn’t have the food. This book gives me all the food I want.
I made some strawberries. 
I made several gold fish crackers, 
And of course cookies for desert. I still have about a dozen foods to make for the doll house. I also made this little guy.
He is called the Silly Tulip and is so cute. There are many more of these types too, jelly fish, coral reef, sea horse etc. The last one I have to show you was Gina’s favorite. 
These are the Parakeet Finger Rings. I gave Gina one of these and her mother wanted the Owl finger ring. I am now make several more of each of these. They sit right on your finger and keep you company all day.
As for me, we are both in great health and keep very busy playing. Retirement is great!! I have no idea what I will do with all these toys I am making but am sure I can find a home for them some Christmas when my house gets too full. Norman says that is happening now but I still can find a corner to hid them in. Have a great day.
Oumapetts's Blog 
Hello, Carol, I have been wondering if you found it too hot to type!! I see what you have been doing and they are all as cute as can be. Our daughter, Karen, has discovered crocheting and has been making afghans and other things. Someone tried to teach me to make a chain once but knew it was hopeless! I am glad you have found time to type again and I did miss you.
Rosemary
Hi Rosemary, So glad to hear from you. Things have been happening here so fast I just could not keep up with it all. Norman’s brother died of cancer, our daughter Patty went back and forth to New Hampshire for over a month to take care of all the details as we don’t travel any more. He was the last of our close family in New Hampshire so we had not been back there for more than ten years. Then I heard from Nancy. If you remember her mother died of heart problems stemming from a valve transplant. Nancy knew she had the same problem, and it seems she has been watching it for a long time and two weeks ago she went to Boston for open heart surgery. She didn’t let me know until she was out of the hospital and on the road to recovery. She is with her son right now, trying to get her strength back. When she can she will go back to Keene with Pete but for now she needs more care than he can give her, he is older. He spent the week in Boston so he could be with her every day in the hospital and now he will visit with her at her son’s house every day. She will write when she gets enough strength to email but she doesn’t like to write letters. We had a big hurricane here but we were lucky and no one had any damage. Only Shirley lost power for three days and her son brought a generator over for her to use so she didn’t have to leave her house. All in all we are very lucky. I have promised not to stay away so long again. How did the crops make out this year? We now have three blueberry bushes on our patio and if those do well this year we will add four more next fall. My beans smell ready to eat so will go get supper on the table. Love Carol