Jenna's Birthday, Boy's Fishing & Crochet Ripple

Today is the 7th birthday of my firstborn grandchild - Jenna - my daughter's first child.  *H*A*P*P*Y* * *B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y*!*!*!* to you!  I talked to her on the phone and she was very excited about all the new toys she has gotten.  You have to love technology - she picked out what she wanted on Amazon and they sent me the links, I clicked and paid and had her gifts sent to her new home all in the course of 5 minutes. :-)  She loves her new school!  My daughter and her husband are putting a lot of effort into finding their new home to buy as they're in a rental that is not working well for them.  I'm sure the girls will enjoy having a new and bigger home.  Below is one of the last photos I took of Jenna with the sock monkey I made her.  I miss the girls terribly. 

This is Paige with her beloved pink piano in their new home in Ohio.. she missed it terribly during the packing and moving.  How cute is she?  She is really enjoying being in pre-school and has grown up a lot in just the last month.

Below are our two older grandsons.  Grandpa and Shawn (our son) took them fishing yesterday at Mt. Hood Community College's small lake which had been recently stocked with trout for a children's fishing day.  Grandpa bought the boys a new fishing pole and tackle on their way to the lake.  The big guys taught the boys how to fish but let the boys reel them in.  They got some nice ones!  Shawn told the boys he was going to show them how to clean the fish - at which the boys were not too excited - but grandma told them it's part of learning to be a "man". :-)

7 year old Gabriel caught a nice big one!

11 year old Michael and one of his - the boys got 2 each!

I've begun a long planned "neat ripple" afghan from a design by Lucy from Attic24.  Here is a basket of the yarn I'll use for the multi-colored blanket.  It's Stylecraft Special DK from England made in Turkey.  It's nice and soft and "squishy".

Below is my beginning.. following along on Lucy's excellent tutorial.  Once you get going it's easy.

Below is a shot of the yarn and the colors so far.  It's really a neat pattern.

Last, I had to show you the cat and dog photo I got yesterday.  Lucy the cat is on my lap, and Buddy (Cairn Terrier) the dog is up on the footrest on my recliner.  He's *not* happy about the cat being on my lap and is giving her the vibes of.. "Move it sister!".  They crack me up.

Thank you for the get better comments about my gout.  I've gotten some good suggestions - I'm drinking lots of water to cleanse the uric acid out of my system and to relax and crochet. :-)  It still is hurting but getting a bit better.  I'm taking a medication to relieve and reduce inflammation.  

I hope you're all enjoying your weekend!!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)