The long and tall of it

April 26, 2014

I'm not sure what my dear grandmother was thinking when she made this afghan . . . 


My mom gave it to me while I was out in Colorado a couple weeks ago, and how I fit it in my already full carry-on, I'm not sure. I thought I might have to wrap it around me in some bohemian-hippie-pashima get up and wear it on the plane.

This was probably made in the early 70s, and has never been used. Too narrow for a twin bed, and way long for an afghan. Perhaps it is good for a two-person cuddle on the couch.


I have a feeling that grandma, being thrifty, was using up yarn. The outer panels are definitely 70s colors; I'm happy for the pink and burgundy in the center panel. Regardless, it is a family treasure I will use. Folded in half it does make a warm and comfy lap blanket for reading and snoozing.


That was the long. Here is the tall . . . 


Four of us went to dinner last night and had a fabulous meal. Stuffed lobster tail and beef tenderloin. So delicious. But we thought we'd each like a little bite of sweet. So we ordered one dessert to share. After cutting this up four ways, we each felt as though we'd had a whole serving. Can you believe this?

A couple more tall things. (I feel like Mr. Rogers . . . "can you spot the long thing? the tall thing?").

I've heard that the hummingbirds are back. Can't believe those little guys are okay in our still-cold temps, but I made some sugar water for them and hung up the feeder. Can't wait to see the first one.


You can see how barren things still are here in Michigan. But once things begin to green, it always feels like Birnam Wood in Macbeth. Every day the woods seem to creep closer to the house. It happens quickly, too. One day this, and four or five days later, everything is green and full, and we'll be unable to see any of the ground.

The Official Blog Cat is posing with one more tall thing.


Have a lovely day, friends.

19 comments

  1. Such a treasure from your grandmother. My grandmother used to quilt and some of the fabrics weren't my favorite, but she was frugal and that's what she had to use. Now I adore them- all of them. They've aged beautifully and are SO soft. Whenever anyone is sick or injured we lay a "Nana" blankie on them.:) Looks like you had a fabulous time on your trip! Lori

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  2. OK, this is hilarious...I have an afghan my grandmother crocheted in the 70's...long and narrow, JUST like yours!!! Hope all is well - I haven't been keeping up on my blog reading like I should - hopefully May proves a little less hectic! XOXO

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  3. I don't remember long and narrow afghans from the 70's but would think they might be for people having a nap on the couch. Now the cake, that is decadent ,and TALL.
    The hummingbirds should make it to our part of Ontario within a couple of weeks if they're in Michigan now so I'll get my feeders out and cleaned up.

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  4. Great treasure - I love handmade textiles of any kind. That would be a great one for in the garden on a cool day/night. My husband's a tall guy and always complains the 60" throws are too short. He'd love the longer length. He'd also love that tall dessert . ;)

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  5. I love the afghan! But like you, I wonder why she made it so long. There's probably a good reason! Your dessert is killer. Thank goodness you didn't each order one.

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  6. LOL...this is a funny one, my friend! I think is probably for Reading or napping in the couch to cover her 'knees?' Anyway, it's a treasure because it was done by your grandma, plus I love the colors!
    Hope you are having a nice weekend.

    FABBY

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  7. Oh my that dessert! It looks delicious but definitely suited to split between 4 people. :o) What it is?

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  8. Oh, what a treasure to have your Grandmother's afghan! It is very striking with it's graphic design and colors. Maybe it was made to drape at the foot of a bed? That desert is amazing - it's a good thing you decided to only order one! Love the blog kitty and her pretty shoe. xo Karen

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  9. I used to crochet afghans like that when I was first married- that was the seventies and early eighties. I still have one of them and every time I look at it I wonder what in the world I was thinking to make it so long. Have a blessed Sunday!

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  10. That looks like a dessert worth sharing - what a size it must have been before being cut four ways!

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  11. Wow Deborah, the afghan is so colorful and it has so many color changes in it! Your grandmother did a beautiful job making it and back then I think everything bright and colorful was popular. I have 3 afghans that were in my husbands family and we have now and they have a lot of bright colors too. I use them for laying on the coach and in my bedroom when I'm cold at night in the winter. The dessert is huge and so glad you all got to share it. I bet it tasted delicious. Have a nice Sunday.
    Julie

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  12. OK...I'm going to date myself now and tell you I KNOW how those kind of afghans were used. ;>) They were designed to be used over the back of a sofa, just like you show in your picture, or as a bed runner across the end of a bed. I'll even wager that your grandma's afghan was purchased as a kit(I worked for a craft company back then who sold stuff like this) as the blue is used throughout the afghan. These were all the rage in the late 60's early 70's

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  13. Simply lovely and so colorful :) And your meal sounds divine! You have my mouth watering :)

    Hugs to you, sweet lady!

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  14. That's a beautiful blanket! She seems to have a pattern of color even if she did use leftovers! It would also look pretty folded at the end of bed like a throw. It's amazing! xoxo

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  15. I'll bet that she DID make that to fit over / cover everyone sitting on the couch in the evenings. It's beautiful! I know that they are durable ...my grandmother made one as a Christmas gift one year and it covered us / little boys every winter for years. I still have it. It's been washed a bazillion times and is still going strong :)

    That dessert is amazing!!!

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  16. Your kitty is adorable! Hummingbirds back already? I don't have anything with nectar yet (unless the daffodils fit the bill) so not expecting to see them. The Baltimore orioles have returned, though. I read once that they come through our area in April and they're looking for their delicacy of grape jelly, so I put my feeder up a couple of weeks ago and indeed they came!

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  17. Such a sweet memory of your grandmother. My husband's grandmother made white crib blankets for each grandchild, and they are precious to all of us.

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  18. Isn't it fun when a commenter provides an answer? We had one similar that I am ashamed to say was tossed. Enjoy yours!

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  19. That's a very interesting yarn piece -- it has great texture from a distance, and an interesting stitch. I'm glad you have it. It does look good on the back of the couch, and is the right length for that. What a dessert! Yummy!

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