Sunday, July 5, 2015

YOP Week #1

This is the first week of the Year of Projects 2015-2016 season on Ravelry!  I am participating again but this year will be a little different for me as I am "cleaning house" both literally and figuratively.  I am planning on moving back to my home state of Illinois hopefully before Christmas therefore I am focusing all my efforts on "downsizing" and getting this house ready to sell.  The only projects I will be working on until then will the the ones I didn't finish from previous years! LOL!  Plus, gifts for Christmas and birthdays which I can't always show.  I did have a good year but I've noticed the more finishes I have the longer my list gets too ie; there's no way I will ever finish all the projects I would like to make unless I clone myself. 
I have lists for each YOP year on the right side of my blog that I try and keep updated and that is why I don't list them here each week other than what I am currently working on.  I will have some new projects listed but they probably won't get started until after the New Year.  I have not published my YOP 2015-2016 list there yet but it will be out there later this week.  I have some deadlines for birthday presents that I need to meet.  July is almost as bad as Christmas in my family when it comes to birthdays....busy month!  So, until my list is up, here is what I am working on (not counting secret presents I can't show as my daughter (3 birthdays and 1 anniversary right there)  reads my blog now!) LOL!  I will post them after they have received them though.
An apology to my usual blog readers also as this month has been "something else".  I think Mercury is in retrograde which might account for some of it but I've had car troubles, my dryer broke and then the air conditioning went out and the modem and the internet!  Plus, I had some financial business which required some special bank signature which I spent a week just trying to get that taken care of.....it's been nuts!  On top of that hanging clothes in the basement and taking care of a new kitten has definitely taken up any free time I might have had to do other things.  That being said, I will try and get "back on track this week". 
Here is one of my sweet "time consumers" who has now been wormed, went from 7 ounces to 14 and has had her first shot of a series.  Oh, she is now called Miss Peeps since Mr. Peeps didn't really fit HER! LOL!
 She's in the house now too and wreaking havoc!  The girls are all very tolerant and Nitty (the Rottweiller) has pretty much adopted her...she's the "cat herder".  Grace (my other cat) doesn't really want anything to do with her....I think her nose is out of joint about not being the only cat in the house now so I have to spend time reassuring her.  Annie, the miniature dachsund has been extremely tolerant as Miss Peeps takes over her bed, jumps on her back and bites her tail!  They're all getting their exercise that's for sure and I made the mistake of wearing crop pants one day and now I look like I have leprosy!    I'll be wearing long pants this summer!  But we love her and she gets better each day.  She's sure given me a lot of laughs with her antics.  I wish I could have gotten a video of her "riding the dachsund"! LOL!
Here's what I am working on presently when I get a moment............the preemie hats!  I need 52 by the time my daughter comes next month.  I need to corral them, count them and see where I am.
I love how my Hudson Bay Blanket socks are turning out and my sock skills have definitely improved this year big time!  I have actually turned the heel and am working on the gusset since this picture was taken.
I'm hurrying towards the finish line on this quilt and finally got the quilt trimmed and the binding sewn.  I started sewing it to the quilt last night and the seam in the binding ended up right at the corner and corners are hard enough so I ripped it out and will redo it today when I am "fresh".  I should know better than to try and do anything in the evening....I'm toast by then.
My Sunday chores are usually change my sheets, do laundry and iron and now without a dryer I am doing laundry much more often as it has to line dry in my basement and there is more ironing.  I may have to put out the $400 for the dryer as line drying indoors does not get rid of "fuzz" on anything and it's driving me crazy when I dry my face or hands etc.  Where does "fuzz" come from anyway? LOL!
I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday weekend if you are in the States.  I watched The Capitol 4th on PBS and that was my 4th of July celebration. 
Happy Trails!




30 comments:

  1. Where did you get the Hudson Bay Blanket sock from?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mona, I got it from Fishknits on Etsy and it is a special order but she didn't charge me any more for the special order which was really nice. Susan Anderson made a pair and I loved them but by the time I contacted Fishknits she had sold out. If you Google Susan Anderson Hudson Blanket you will see hers finished and I used her free sock pattern. Let me know how it goes!

      Delete
  2. Good grief, lady. You have had a time of it, haven't you. Yet, you still have made progress on your projects. Look forward to seeing you new YoP list. Miss Peeps is a cutie and I am glad everyone seems to be getting along so well.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good grief, lady. You have had a time of it, haven't you. Yet, you still have made progress on your projects. Look forward to seeing you new YoP list. Miss Peeps is a cutie and I am glad everyone seems to be getting along so well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will get my list up A.S.A.P. It is a top priority on my "never-ending" to-do list! LOL!

      Delete
  4. Love the quilt and socks. Hope things start to settle down now so you can make good progress on your house.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Lucy. I am behind on the packing and clearing but I must get the grandboys gifts done and several others and then I will "catch up" (yeah, right! LOL!).

      Delete
  5. It sounds like Miss Peeps is fitting right into the family. Love your socks. I saw a free quilt pattern from Connecting Threads that mimicks a Hudson Bay Blanket. I may have to put it on my to do list. Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great minds think alike! While I was knitting the sock I was thinking of knitting a Hudson Bay Blanket or sewing one would be lots faster! I love the look of them but could never pay that much for a blanket. They're $100's of dollars! I'm going right now to Connecting Threads...thank you!

      Delete
  6. Love the socks! When one thing goes wrong it just seems to cause a cascade. We lost our dishwasher, washing machine and water heater all in one week. Crazy. I feel your pain.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, although I'm sorry for your losses too!

      Delete
  7. I like the pictures of your current projects - and am looking forward to seeing your list for 2015-16. If you have time to make one! :^)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Becki! I'm hoping to get to it today as it's already Wednesday now! AHHHHHH!

      Delete
  8. Miss Peeps is adorable. I love imagining her antics from your posts. As we just moved, I totally understand the downsizing. It's a lot of work and you have to do it on your own. Please be careful. I always love seeing your preemie hats. What comfort they'll being to anxious, new parents. The sock is terrific.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Kepanie! How's the new house going? If I could just get there I would be so happy and then I could live like a sloth (tee hee) as it will be my last home...I hope....my little dream cottage/farmhouse. I'll stop by to see if you have posted....with a family I 'm sure you are very busy!

      Delete
  9. I hear you with the finishing projects from last lists... Lots spilled over from my past years too... De-stashing is the theme of my year five too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad I am not the only one! Thanks Christine!

      Delete
  10. We also watched "The Capital 4th" since I'm not allowed to go to the lake until after the pacemaker goes in on Wednesday. It's causing quite an inconvenience in my life. :-). I laughed out loud at the thought of Miss Peeps riding the dachshund! Quite a picture in my mind. You're making wonderful progress on your projects despite all of the "stuff" going on in your life which I'm sure is causing you so much stress.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A pacemaker? Oh, I hope it works for you...you look awfully young for a pacemaker but if it keeps you healthy that's all that counts. I don't do "stress" anymore and of course, living alone really helps! LOL! When I tire out I rest and although I love to make progress I have knitting/crocheting to do when my legs get tired out. LOL! Good excuse, huh? I hope all goes well and you are back at the lake in no time!

      Delete
  11. You really have had a time of it haven't you! I really hope things improve and even through all of that you've made progress on your projects. I love how the stripes are coming out on your socks and the quilt is gorgeous. I wish you the best of luck with your move and hope it goes smoothly and quickly. Ruth.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Ruth. We're in the same boat, so to speak.....you with your business and me with my move. It's all exciting but lots of work! LOL!

      Delete
  12. That kitty is so cute. As always, I love seeing your projects you are working on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Christina......I always love to see yours too...gardening, crocheting and all your wonderful self-sufficient and frugal projects!

      Delete
  13. Love that Hudson Bay Yarn! You have been busy and I am glad Miss Peeps has made friends with almost everyone...poor Grace. Nothing worse that a cat in a snit! Illinois must be closer to your grands good for you! Hope your place there sells fast! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Connie. Illinois is my home state and my hometown and the grands are in Iowa but only about 2 hours away so it will be lots better than 10 hours or more. I hope it sells fast too but either way.....I'm going! LOL!

      Delete
  14. All that and cute little kittens too! Lucky you. Good luck with the tidying!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm going to need lots of luck if you saw all my junk! LOL!

      Delete
  15. I am astounded at all you do! Your energy is amazing! Love the socks, so cute. I feel bad about your dryer. Don't you hate writing the big checks for something like that? We are replacing our furnace OUCH!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the vote of confidence as when I look around me it doesn't feel like I've gotten much done at all but one foot in front of the other as they say. I am more the tortoise as opposed to the hare! LOL!

      Delete
  16. Goodness me, you have been busy, both with knitting and otherwise. I love the socks!

    I quite like your idea of a 'cleaning house' kind of a year. Although I'm not moving anywhere I think I could probably do with something like that!! I think I may borrow your idea of a focus on finishing WIPs. I still have a couple of ancient WIPs lying around somewhere and it would be lovely to finally get those done.

    Also, Miss Peeps is adorable. :)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for stopping by and for commenting. Comments are "grist for the mill" and I appreciate each and every one of them!