Original Design Basketball Afghan

Finally finished this season’s basketball afghan! The afghan is raffled off by GMHS basketball parents and 100% of proceeds goes toward the basketball program to help with the end of season banquet. It is completely reversible and super thick. Finished size is approximately 46″ x 46″. This is an original crochet pattern that I designed and I am really happy how well it came together 🙂 I think I’ll call this 5 Man Basketball Block. I wanted to make sure there were 5 basketballs the size of actual basketballs to represent the 5 players on the court. This is a twist on my Grand Slam Baseball afghan pattern that incorporated granny squares. The Grand Slam Baseball afghan pattern is for sale in my Etsy shop and Ravelry shop for only $6.00. If you have that pattern, you just change the stitching of the large balls to single crochet and attach to the large circles to create the Basketball stitching. If looking for a very unique basketball pattern, check out this post on my blog and the Basketball Block pattern is also sold in my Etsy shop and Ravelry Shop for only $6.00. And I might as well throw up a link for the Touchdown Football pattern that also is on sale for $6.00 in my Etsy shop and Ravelry shop. My raffled, crocheted afghans have raised close to $1500.00 altogether for the football, basketball and baseball program. Use your God-given talents and find a way to give back. You can give more than just money (and for some, money is not an option) and nothing is more rewarding than going to a football game and seeing any of the so far 10 afghans I’ve made and donated to be raffled being used in the stands by Cruiser fans. In the end, it’s all about the kids!

Baked Parmesan Crusted Melt In Your Mouth Chicken

Steve made this the other day and it was gone in no time! Loved by both kids! The flavor explosion is unmatched and the chicken literally just melted on your tongue. Definitely don’t need a knife to cut this up! Your fork will do just fine. Super good and you need to try this! You’re welcome because you will be thanking the Packs later, lol! The pictures show a double batch being made…we just knew everyone would want 2 pieces of chicken, lol!

Printable Recipe: Baked Parmesan Crusted Melt In Your Mouth Chicken

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (the ones found frozen individually in freezer that have been thawed)

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise

• 1/2 cup grated, parmesan cheese

• 1 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, parmesan cheese, seasoning salt, black pepper and minced garlic.

In a metal or glass baking dish, lay chicken pieces in one flat layer.

Dollop the mayonnaise mixture evenly on top of the chicken.

Spread the mayonnaise mix evenly across the top of the chicken breasts.

Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until chicken is cooked throughout.

Blessed with Friendships

In a few days, I will be another year older. I am reflective by nature and this rings true especially today. When I think of where I came from to where I am at now, it only makes me more hopeful for my future. I am truly blessed with a marriage made in Heaven with the love of my life and my very best friend, Steve, and I am blessed twice over to be the mom of two amazing boys. On top of that, I have the greatest friends. As I leisurely travel down my own memory road, I can see around every corner there is a true friend walking beside me through every stage of my life. Friends who were there for the good times and crying with me during the worst of times…from Vivian who is the oldest friend I have (we’ve been friends since I was 8 years old) to Shawnee who gave me a home when I literally didn’t have one to my friends now who almost a year ago today, literally dropped everything to be my side. Almost a year ago I was told I had three masses in my abdomen, one on my pancreas and two on my ovaries. I could see in the physician’s eyes how bleak this news was as it almost seemed certain I had cancer that metastasized. I was in shock and dazed when my husband picked up the phone and called one of my friends early that morning around 7:00AM. In less than two hours, not one but five of my closest friends were around my hospital bed holding my hand and crying with me. Just like that, they dropped everything and rushed to be at my side and I know that every one of them was at work or on their way to work that morning. With their prayers and the Grace of God, every mass was benign. Each of my friends have fought along side me against pulmonary hypertension. Together, we are beating the odds. To my friends, old and new, close and far this post today is dedicated to you. Thank you for crying with me, lifting me up when I was down, listening to me when I was being unreasonable, ignoring me when I was being cranky, laughing with me till we cried and for loving me not only at my best of times but at my worst of times. People wish for one true friend and I know I am blessed with several. I may not talk to you everyday but it doesn’t matter. Our friendship is etched into my memory and housed in my heart. There are many more than those pictured below. From the very depths of my soul, thank you for being my friend and I only hope I have been as good a friend to you. The photos below are of some of my dearest friends (not all of them) along with quotes about friendship. In a few short days, I will be celebrating another year on Earth and please know, I am celebrating because each of you are an important part of my life. Thanks for making my life so much better. I love you guys.

Thank you to my dear friends

for leaving your footprints in my heart.