Dearest Odie, I took the time away from everything tonight and crafted the blanket!! I can't beleive how beautiful it turned out and was a quick project. I live in the south, and getting fresh greenery is pretty much out of the picture, but today I found some beautiful Christmas garland with wire in it. I bought two so it would be extra full, laid them on top of each other, secured with wire, then added the bow. My little angel is secured with wire, as well as the glass balls. I am hoping to take it out to the cemetary Wednesday, just in time for my neice and nephew to visit the cemetary. I am going to craft a tag out of an old Christmas card, and cover it with the clear packing tape, then trim around the edges with scissors. They will know it was from me, better than them trying to figure out who would have brought it. Thank you Odie for the inspiration, my ribbon is silver wire, with pale blue sparkling snow flakes on it. I am so proud of how it turned out, if I were better informed, I would zip out a pic so you could see it, but I am challenged!!!! Merry Christmas!!!!!!

orch, here is the pattern I used for the crocheted preemie blanket, and I used a size F hook.. just worked the colors the way I wanted them.. you can do the same.. and I surely can not remember where I put the hat pattern , but I will find it. I did not put any fringe on the baby blanket..and I just used yarn that I had gotten from Wal-Mart a little while back and this was left over from that project.. you could use any color combination that you wanted.. I think even lite green and yellow would be pretty.. or pink and white. pink and green also.. or just all white and edge with what ever color you wanted. Baby Ripple Afghan Lion Brand® Terryspun GAUGE: Each repeat = 5 inches (13 cm) wide; 4 inches [10 cm] high. BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes you fewer stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles. STITCH EXPLANATION: Beg dec Pull up a Ip in first 2 sts, yo and draw through all 3 Ips on hook. End dec Pull up a lp in last 2 Sts, yo and draw through all 3 Ips on hook. NOTES: When changing to A, B, or C from MC, first row is worked through both loops. AFGHAN (multiple of 13 sts) With A, ch 77. Row 1 (RS) With A, sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in each of next 4 ch, 3 sc in next ch, 1 sc in each of next 5 ch, *skip 2 ch, 1 sc in each of next 5 ch, 3 sc in next ch, 1 sc in each of next 5 ch; repeat from *. Rows 2-4 Ch 1, tum. Working in back loops only, work beg dec, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, 3 sc in next sc, *1 sc in each of next 5 sc, skip 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc, 3 sc in next sc; repeat from *, end 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, work end decrease. Rows 5 and 6 With MC, ch 1, tum. Working in both loops, work beg decrease, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, 3 sc in next sc, *1 sc in each of next 5 sc, skip 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc, 3 sc in next sc; repeat from *, end 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, work end decrease. Row 7 With B, repeat Row 5. Rows 8-10 Work as for Rows 2-4. Rows 11 and 12 With MC, repeat Rows 5 and 6. Rows 13-16 With C repeat Rows 7-10. Repeat Rows 11-16 keeping to MC as established on Rows 11 and 12 and alternating colors on Rows 13-16,2 times more Fasten off.

First, my heart goes out to you. I am so sorry for your loss of your loyal friend, Cutter. Our dogs that have passed have been cremated as they are just too large to bury. I recently lost my old gal and her ashes are in a beautiful box placed on on one of the shelves of a bookshelf in my office. She has entire shelf to herself. A picture, her nametag, a glass heart dish with hair they cut for me when we had to put her down, a footprint, two different Christmas card pictures from years past. I have a memory candle and some other things friends sent me when I was grieving, a literal entire shrine. Sounds crazy, but I love the shelf and it helps me honor her. We have buried two cats in our back yard as we too live on a wood property and have a creek that runs past our property. Like some of the other posters, we had family ceremony. They were both buried in wooden boxes (friend owns a liquor store and was so kind to give them to us). My daughter was very young when both passed, so they were wrapped in a blanket and placed into the box along with a favorite cat toy, one was buried with a piece of the door trim DH has to replace because Tig had shredded it.)). Any event, we mark the spot with a stone purchased at the local garden center. Many of the homecenters and garden centers now carry the markers. I planted dyanthis (sp) which comes up every spring/summer so we know where they are buried. I can relate to not wanting to accidently dig and disturb a dear friend who has already been buried.

NewHomeBuilder, Thank you so much...that was so sweet! "I would chuck it all and just concentrate on the true meaning of the season, if it were not for the kids." Oh NewHomeBuilder, Do I EVER know what you mean! Six years ago I announced "No Gifts" for adults. I decorate a large box in Christmas wrap and put it by the front door. Anyone who comes to the house during the season, can't bring a gift but must bring the item I've selected for that year for the L.A. Mission and homeless. First year it was mittens. Second year it was socks. One year, Blankets. Last year I went out on a limb and asked for coats, never thinking I'd get a big response. WHOA....it was the biggest haul ever! Before the New Year we make the drive and distribute. Then go have lunch and talk about and count our blessings. Do our kids (yours and mine) have a little of the same DNA? They notice if I've skimped but I sure don't see them knocking down our front door to come help put it all up or take it down! LOL OK, confesssion time: Beaded Icicles.....Bought those about 7 years ago when Big Lots was closing it's doors in our neighborhood. A huge bag of continuous beaded garland, white or gold for $3. Don't know what I was thinking....I bought 10 bags. I could wrap my whole neighborhood in those continuous strings of beads. Did I mention each bag was a continuous string of beads? :) After a few years of fighting them, trying to get them untangled no matter how neatly I wrapped them after the holidays, I gave up. I cut them into long strands, 3 to 8 inches each, and now use them as Icicles all over the house and tree.