I'm SO tired!

I helped out all day at the local thrift/consignment store and as much as I love it....I'm exhausted!  So, I came home, fixed supper, folded a load of clothes, ran the dishwasher and Googled Mary Engelbreit which sent me into "la-la land" for who knows how long?  Do you ever do that?  Get on the internet and look up and  hours have gone by? AHHHHH!!!!!  It was inspiring but I am too tired to do anything about it! LOL!   So, I am posting my finished crocheted and felted wool tote bag which will probably be used to hold my knitting and then I'll have to make a knitted wool felted tote to hold my crocheting! Ha! Ha!  I'm going to bed now.  I think I am fighting off a cold as I keep bumping up the thermostat.  I'll get my jammies on, curl up with my ME decorating books and make plans for when I have more energy!  Hope y'all had a great Saturday!

Spent the day outdoors....70's....almost had to turn the ac on (not really)

Okay...who could say "no" to these 2? Not me!  So we grabbed the leashes and off we went!

It was a gorgeous day in the Ozarks to "take a hike"!

Unfortunately with this warm weather the plants are getting confused I think.....these are  daffodils (I think)  coming up in the woods.  They grow wild around here.  There were daffodils here last year so that's why I think I know what they are.  Not sure what will happen if Winter really does show up now.
After we got back I took down the Christmas decorations outside and spent time cleaning the garage.  I know, it's not a very interesting post but I was happy!

Did I have a Happy Birthday? Oh yeah!

No, I did not make that cake....although I have made my own birthday cake before, I chose not to this year.  I bought a Pepperidge Farm Birthday cake...vanilla cake and frosting.  It's something new I think.  Anyway, I bought a quart of Butter Pecan ice cream (MY FAVORITE)  to go with it....yep!  That's what I'm talking about!  The girls and I had a party....they did not get cake but they did each get some ice cream...they love it as much as I do!  No candles....we're not licensed for that big of a fireworks display!  This picture is from last night BEFORE the party! LOL!

Today was off to Wally World for supplies and I spotted these rugs and snapped up  3 of them at $10.00 each.  They are the half circle kind; 1 for in front of the frig, the sink, and the stove.  I really needed them as my old kitchen rugs are starting to fall apart.  It's funny because my old rugs are apples too that I bought at Target (back in the day when I lived near a Target) and they lasted about 10 years!

I also picked up this little gem!  I love books SO MUCH....I just can't help myself!  I  heard a very postivie review on this book and it is a NYT's best seller but of course that doesn't mean "MOI"  will like it but the photography and the title grabbed me and all though I was never told I was peculiar as a child there were other adjectives they used so I thought I might find the tale intriguing!  I'll let you know.
Now, I'm off to have some din-din, the girls have been fed and gone out already and sit down to do some knitting and watch Grey's Anatomy.  I hope you all have a lovely evening!

Wednesday - January 4, 2012.

I'm having a little trouble with my blogging alignment.  They've changed it since I last blogged or I've forgotten so please be patient while I "experiment"! LOL!  Today is my 63rd birthday!  I cannot believe I have made it this far!  But here I am...still breathing!  It's been a beautiful birthday so far and I'm getting ready to sit down and knit for awhile.  I ran out to the quilt shop and got some "knitting advice" earlier and I'm ready to go again.  I also took "the girls" for a 3 mile hike in the woods as it is 60 here today and just gorgeous.  

What I'm posting is a project I did a few weeks ago and almost a challenge to myself.  I bought the book below and loved every project in it so I told my craft group that I was going to make all of it; every project in the book.  Of course there was much laughter because I am not known as a good "finisher"....."starter" yes but not too good on closure.  I told them I was turning over a new leaf!   I wanted to pick the easier projects first to build up my self confidence so I chose these fabric berries with wool stems.  I made 6 large and 6 small and they are tea dyed also.  The only thing I did not do was sew on seed beads all over them.....REALLY????  That was a bit much I thought but maybe someday when I'm bedridden and desperate for something to do I will but for now I like them as is.  In fairness, I also polled the craft group first to ensure I wasn't NOT finishing a project but thank goodness they agreed that it would take forever plus I didn't have any beads that I could use.  I can be a bit anal at times though so who  knows what might happen to those berries down the road.

Here's the berries in a too large bowl but I wanted you to be able to see them individually.  I usually have them in a smaller bowl mounded up.

Here's the Need'l Love pattern book that I made the berries from.  I love all their pattern books!  So, check in to see if I get everything in this book done by the end of the year!  Oh boy...what have I gotten myself into?  I think next are those little woolen pumpkin coasters on the front.....like I said, I'm going for the easier projects first to build my confidence muscle for finishing projects.  Oh, I have also made a "resolution" to work on an old project simultaneously so that there are multiple streams of finished items!  This is my dream!  P.S.   Sorry for the glare on the book...I need to learn how to take pictures too.

Third time's charm!

This is my 3rd day posting!  They say 21 days and it's a habit!  Tuesday is my knitting lesson at the local quilt/yarn shop and I am making the oven mitts below.  The pattern can be found on www.purlsoho.com/purl/purlbee.  Anyway, I've knitted a few scarves but nothing complicated until now.  For most "established knitters" this would not be complicated but for me it is a learning process!

This is my Christmas present to myself...a complete set of Hiya Hiya  interchangeable  circular needles.  The red case has the bigger sizes and the blue case has the smaller sizes.  I BETTER learn to knit and do it well for what these cost!  But we don't live anywhere near a place that sells knitting supplies except the quilt shop does carry some yarn.  Every time you start a project you have to order new needles over the internet and wait for them to arrive so I decided to get these so I would always be ready for that "next project"!  I love knitting but I am not very good at it yet.  I have to concentrate and not watch T.V. and have the house quiet with no interruptions else I mess up and still sometimes I do!
Any of you knitters out there? 

January 2, 2012.  Monday
Well, I'm already behind the 8 ball here in my blog!  I'm not sure when to blog...the night before for the next day or in the morning from  the day before or maybe right now on what I accomplished or didn't accomplish this very day?  For now what you are reading and seeing is from today at 6:40 p.m. DST.  But see what I mean...today is January 2nd...you're supposed to make Hoppin' John on January 1st!
I don't know about you but I just do not get the amount of things done I used to when I was younger and before they "messed" with my thyroid!  I used to have SUPER energy and now I'm more like a slug.  But back in the day I worked myself too hard and got very ill because of it so I am now forced to go at a slower pace which I actually really enjoy but then I look around my house and think I may be in BIG trouble! LOL!
Do you have a schedule like those vintage kitchen towels depict such as certain chores on Monday, Tuesday etc?  I have a bit of one...Monday is change the sheets, do laundry and iron (yes, I iron but only 10 items at a standing but I like to iron), Tuesday is my knitting class and garbage day, Wednesday is recycling, Thursday is whatever and Friday too and Saturday I help out at the local resale shop, and Sunday our Craft Group gathers at the local quilt shop from 1-4.  After reading this I realize Monday is really the only day I have planned...hmmm.   Where did cleaning, watering plants etc all go.  I better get planning and FOCUS on a few other things around here!

Here's the "lucky" blackeyed peas

TaDa!  I added mustard greens which were not called for but  it did suggest  kale but I had none of that.   I did not have to go to the store either!  It has onion, green pepper, celery seed instead of celery and chicken broth, garlic, vinegar and ham pieces.  Now that I've eaten it I can tell you it is delicious!  Credit goes to Pioneer Woman as it was her recipe.   

I would like to someday make EVERYTHING from scratch but for now I am trying to accomplish my first goal which is to use up what I have in my cupboards!  Yes, Jiffy corn muffin mix!  Next time it will be from scratch!

This is my old 8" square pan which has some holes in it so I lined it with parchment paper.  I bought a new pan but it is 9" square.  Can you still find 8" square pans?  All my recipes call for 8" square.

Here's the finished dinner but as you can tell I am no food stylist! LOL!  But it tasted great and that was all that mattered to me! 

Long time no see...........

Yes, I'm back.  I apologize to my followers which I'm sure are zero now but hopefully you'll come back.  I went through a "life-changing" aha moment over a year ago now.  I think my last post was November 2010.  Okay...I'm slow getting back on my feet, I admit it.  But it was a period of questions for myself and my faith and the way I had orchestrated my life and my relationships.  Good to go now though!  I tore off the rear-view mirrors on my car too.....no looking back except to remember the lessons!
Enough about me!  I am thrilled to be back and missed you all SO MUCH and I apologize to some of you who sent me things that I never even acknowledged because I had nothing to give to anyone.   But I am happy and at peace with myself and my life and hopefully will be able to reconnect with all of you especially those who were so generous with their interest and encouragement in all my crazy forays! LOL!  My crazy forays continue...I'm starting off 2012 with a passion for felting wool!  Okay, maybe it's just a passion for wool, or maybe fiber? Oh, and fabric too! Regardless, I have crocheted a bag with embellishments that I felted today and it is still drying.  I need to sew the flowers, leaves and dangly tendrils on when  its dry.  So here goes to great food, great projects and great books in 2012 and most of all to the great friends I hope are waiting out there for me.  Happy New Year everyone!
P.S.  The pattern for the bag is free on   www.ravelry.com