Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Rain, rain, and more rain!

But yesterday was 65 and sunny with blue skies so you bet I took advantage of the nice weather and went to Wally World.  Of course, I was pretty tired after all that but I'm refreshed today.  I don't think I ever showed you the cards and letters I've been receiving from my "fan club"....lol!  I thought I would share some of what I have been sent and/or gifted.....in the order received....
My birthday back in January......the Snoopy card is from Sam and Grayson and the animal card is from my daughter.......she doesn't pick out the card from them, she let's the boys choose which always makes it special.
These are the cards I got from my other 2 son's and grandson Uriah............they made handmade cards....can you tell which one is from the grandchild?  Okay, here's hint.....it's the one with the picture of me in the glasses.....I think that's me anyway as I'm the only one that wears glasses! LOL!
Next is Valentine's Day........again....Sam and Grayson's card is on the left and Amy's card is on the right............
Here's where they customize it just for me............I love that part!  I have no idea where Grayson got  the idea for the monkey but then he's full of "monkey business" so that could be it! LOL!  I am so fortunate to have such great grandchildren and so thoughtful.
Next, I received a card from Betsy Queen (she' s on my sidebar).  She sent me a get well card and one of her handmade DPN holders!  What a surprise!  Thank you Betsy.....you are the Queen of generosity!  Thank you also for your prayers and good wishes for Grace and for me.  Isn't that DPN holder just the cutest?
Then......the "feast de resistance".......Connie (Farside of Fifty on my sidebar) sent me a beautiful card she made herself (this woman is so talented....she never ceases to amaze me with her knowledge and her creativity)....I want to be like her when I grow up!  Sorry about the lighting but it is so dark here with the rain even in the middle of the day.  Her card is all glittery but you can't tell in the picture.  I need to get me some of those glitter pens.....too fun! 
But that's not all.....feast your eyes on this....she made me all these stitch markers!!!  Can you believe it?  They're beautiful!  Absolutely gorgeous, Connie!  Thank you so VERY much!  I was so surprised and now I think I have plenty for life....although that means I can cast on more! LOL!
It makes me feel very special and I am so lucky to have found my blog friends!  It still amazes me how you can feel so close to someone without ever having met them......it's wonderful!
Last on the list is my Valentine's Day project bag I ordered for myself...........
when I saw it I thought it was perfect for V-Day....it's a lined drawstring bag from the UK.  It does not have interfacing but that's fine with me as it is a small one for socks..........
I love the lining too...............
She/He....the name was Sam so who knows....sent me their card and a little stitch marker......I've gone "from rags to riches" at least in the stitch marker category! LOL!  Now I have to get some V-Day colored sock yarn to put in that bag!
I've been a very fortunate gal so far this week!  Thank you to all of you thoughtful and generous
people!  I hope you get a pleasant surprise or 2 this week that makes you feel special! 
Happy Trails!!!

Monday, February 26, 2018

YOP Week #35

"The best laid plans of mice and men" and Sam!  Well, let me tell you.....it seems I temp the fates when I set myself goals.  Maybe that is why I stopped doing it.  But I did get some things done just not what I planned.  Grace got sick again so it's pills and feeding every 2 hours during the day.  I was exhausted yesterday.  I just laid around, sneezed, coughed and yawned all day.  I didn't even wash the dishes.  But I feel like a new woman today so here I am!  This past week we had over 10 inches of rain, flood warnings, severe thunderstorm warnings and tornado warnings.  The weather radio was going off every 10 minutes!  Plus, of course, I had to keep emptying bowls and containers out on my leaky porch and Annie refused to go out in the rain so when I wasn't looking she left me several presents!  It was a trying week to say the least.  Gee, I wonder why I didn't get much crafting done?
But on the bright side, we never lost power so my sump pump kept working PTL!  The tornado dissipated before it got to HSB and I'm not ill I think it's Spring allergies!
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FO's ( Finished Objects) - I have 1
I did make myself a dishcloth...the first one will always be a prototype even if there's a pattern which there is.  I'm sure I won't get 52 done like some but I have people I want to make for and I've got gift giving on my mind again!  It's never too early you know!  This is Gramma's Dishcloth Pattern on Ravelry and I've made them before but I have none.....they were all given away! LOL!  I also make mine bigger.  The pattern calls for working the pattern until you have 44 stitches across but I go to 54.  I used Knit Picks Dishie 100% cotton worsted.  I don't think they have this colorway anymore which is a shame as I love it.   
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WIPs (Works in Progress) -
WIP #1
Anyway...here's what I did get done............the first sleeve on my sweater. But I needed to go down to a size 6 DPN's for the cuff.  Now, I had all my supplies when I started this sweater...or so I thought....evidently I mistook my size 9 DPN's for a size 6.....must have read it upside down!  So now I have to order them....and I think it may be the only size I don't have!  Wouldn't you know.
WIP #2 -
 I finished all the star points for the tree topper ornament.......
I went to put it together and even made a drawing as her instructions confused me last time and I don't want to make the same mistake, or any for that matter.  But the weather radio kept going off and I couldn't concentrate so I decided maybe it wasn't a great time to do it.
WIP #3 -
 I didn't even get 2 whole squares done on my CMB!  The light blue and the half of the next one.....sad performance this week.  And deep cleaning?  Forget that one too!
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Acquisitions:
There were none this week but there will be by next week I hope!
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What's in the Queue -
#1 - Land of Sweets Cowl
I have to get enough mini-skeins to do the different colors.  I'll be starting on this very soon and probably ordering some minis this week
#2 - Some Valentine's Day socks - I'll be on the look out for VD appropriate yarn
#3 - Something for St. Patrick's Day...socks or cowl...not sure.  I think I found a cowl pattern with a Celtic design but I would like socks too!
#4 - Gathering supplies for some scrubbies and some felted slippers I want to make....again...prototypes for gifts later on.  The slippers may the theme this Christmas if they work out for me.
#5 - More washcloths as I have plenty of Dishie worsted cotton
#6 - The next ornament after the star tree topper
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 What I'm "wishing upon a star" for -
#1 - Alicia Paulson's Spring cross stitch design!  (She's on my side bar Posie Gets Cozy)
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Advent Calendar:
They won't necessarily be given in this order but just as I accumulate them I will post them here.
#1 - from Little Sheep in the Big Wool - a little notebook that states "Know your own happiness -Jane Austen
#2 - another gift from Little Skein in the Big Wool, a pin in the shape of a " little house" that states "It is the sweet simple things of life which are the real ones after all - Laura Ingalls Wilder"  My daughter and I both love The Little House on the Prairie books and our farm was on Plum Creek (not the same one, I don't think?  It was in Iowa.) but when my daughter was little she thought it was the same creek and took to heart many of the wonderful stories and adventures.  I think it meant even more since she lived on a little farm with a creek.

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Podcasts:  OMG, I just found Yarn Hoarder  and I have been binge watching!  She is so funny and delightful and how does she afford all that yarn and have the time for all that knitting?  She's Wonder Woman of the knit scene for sure!  She also home schools...amazing.  I have to catch up this week because she has amazing drawings!  Plus, get this....she's from Illinois (my home state) and she and her family are Chicago Bear's fans and she makes Bear and Cubbie items!  LOVE!!!! We have so much in common!  I must write her!
That's all for this week!  Here I am playing catch up again with blog reading, cooking, reading, crafting and deep cleaning!  But I felt great today and got a lot done.  Tomorrow is Wally World since the rains are coming back on Wednesday.  The grass is green now and I suppose I'll be mowing before you know it! LOL!
Happy Trails!!!