Books and Baking.....Food and Friends

I broke down and went to the library yesterday.  I needed to go to the store and the post office and so I decided to stop by the library while I was already "out and about".  I was trying to stay away as I have so many books to read here at home.   I'm SO glad I went as they had Sue Monk Kidd's new book and I've read her others and love her writing.

 Some of you will not believe this but I have never read any of  Jane Austen.  I even have a set of "classics" and none of her books are among them.  I picked up this one and I'm looking forward to reading Miss Jane.

I've been watching this series by Janet Oke on Hallmark on Saturday evenings and love it so I thought I would look into the author and she has written several series that I plan on reading.  I love her style and settings for her books as she was raised in rural Canada in the 30's.  These are the types of stories that are warmhearted like the Mitford books by Jan Karon.  If you read before going to sleep, as I do, these books will give you pleasant dreams for sure yet they keep your interest.

I came upon this one and had to take it home with me too.  It's a journal by a woman raised in New Mexico in the 1800's....a true pioneer woman.  I can't wait to delve into it as I love journals of real people "back in the day".

Wish me luck on the next one...lol!  I would be "hurtin' for certain" if I tried that cover pose right off the bat.  I hope there are some easier ones to start off with although it does say "weekend".  Well, if you don't see me on here next week you'll know I'm probably in traction or laying on the floor yelling "Help, help...I've fallen and I can't get up".  Maybe they were doing yoga when they fell? I've always wondered as they sound pretty pitiful.  Should I get "Life Alert" before I try this?

I'm making a 7-day weight loss soup today although I just think it looks healthy and sounds tasty.  I'll let you know.

I'm making hot spinach cheese dip for tomorrow's Superbowl party with me, myself and I.  Whenever there's something to celebrate I give myself carte blanche on the edibles.  

I wanted to make a bunch of other yummy dishes whose recipes I grabbed off the internet and Facebook but I already had done my grocery shopping so I held back.  Maybe I'll try them for Valentine's Day. 
   Last night I worked on the Valentine's Day bookmark for Sewing With Friends...I'm really enjoying getting back into cross stitch especially with smaller, "doable" projects.

Enjoy your Saturday night....it's cozy and raining here....a good night for soup.
And later some tea and peanut butter cookies that I made.

 Happy Trails!

Clouds on the horizon..........

I should have taken it as a sign when I saw these clouds rolling in yesterday morning...........

 

The vet called and said the biopsy showed that Nitty's breast tissue was cancerous but it had not metastasized and they were very sure they got it all.  But how do they really know?   What now?  I was supposed to take her back to have her stitches out today but they were leaving to go to a seminar in Hot Springs so it will be Monday instead.  I'll discuss it with her then but Nitty seems healthy and happy and strong and living in the moment......my girls continually teach me how to live.  So, we all had a "treat" and celebrated the fact that we are all here together, now and happy and healthy and warm and safe and full.....much more than many in this world have.  We are grateful.

Happy Trails!

Trying to do it all...........

I've been busy as a bee lately and might I add it's about time.  I'm experimenting with all kinds of changes to diet, exercise, projects, schedule,...you name it I'm changing things up.  Some of it has been very positive.  I watched a PBS show with Dr. J. J. Virgin and her 7 foods to avoid  I stopped eating my homemade toasted bread in the morning with my yogurt and now..no dairy, no bread and just oatmeal in the morning and I seem to have more energy and not that tired feeling.  I'll keep switching things around but I am all for more energy!

I've been cleaning and organizing and found this book.  I love Mary Engelbreit and I'm always so inspired by her art and decorating.  I still have all the issues of her magazine when she had it.

I found this little bird planter when I was cleaning the garage.......it's like an archaeological dig around here!

straightening up my dining/sewing room and organizing so I can just sit down and start sewing one of these days............

I uncovered my cutting board and even found a new blade for my cutter...........

The plastic container holds patterns of things I need to do!
The other day I was over visiting Kim at Camp and Cottage Living
 and she had a picture of the cutest embroidery of one of my favorite sayings....

 It's actually a pattern you can purchase at Sarah Jane Studios and she has so much more ....I fell in love with her artwork and patterns and....well, you get the drift.  I  haven't bought it but I'd better before I regret it down the road.  This saying has been passed down from generation to generation in my family and many others families too, I'm sure.  I love the bright colors and red frame.  I think Kim was impatient and decided to paint one for herself.  She blogged about it a few days ago so go take a look and see what she did.  She's redoing her kitchen with lots of RED and don't we just love us some red with some yellow and maybe turquoise too? 
Before I start doing any embroidery though I need to order Alicia Paulson's book since it's been years since Ive done any actual embroidery.  And remember that HUGE embroidery kit I bought for Christmas?  Yes, I need that book and maybe I'll do Sarah Jane's pattern for a "warmup" before I dive into the huge village and farm scene.

Speaking of turquoise...........I've started my giraffe class with Susan B. Anderson!  I'm on lesson #3 and loving it.  I learned kfb (knit front and back in the same stitch) which is an increase which I had never done before....decreases yes, but this was the first increase, can you believe it?  I'm actually further along than the picture as I took that picture yesterday and I can't seem to stop picking it up.  I work a bit then sit down and knit 1 round...just one.  It's my "dangling carrot" reward for getting work done around the house.

Happy Trails until we meet again!

YOP Sunday

 Getting ready for Valentine's Day, Pro-Bowl and Super Bowl....not much knitting this week but I did manage to get a little done........very little.  I need to just sit down and finish this.  These are in my "hat" category and also "gift" category.

After I got the above off my circular needles I cast on another hat for my son, Ben. 

I started crocheting a heart granny square I found on Ravelry.  This is part of my Holiday decorations category.  This is for me so I'll make some squares and see how far I get.  Not even sure what I want to make with them but each square will have a tan outline with a different colored heart in the middle.  This is my Valentine's Day present to me and it's also using up some "stash".

Nitty (the Rottweiler) is doing great after her "mastectomy".  She's done taking her pills which we are both happy about although she's the best at taking them.  The biopsy won't be back for another week and maybe we'll know something when I take her next Friday to have her stitches out.  I'll be praying it's not cancer but I have a good feeling it isn't.  I sure hope I'm right!
Nitty hates to have her picture taken...Orphan Annie, on the other hand, is a little ham! LOL!

I've had my eye on a Susan B. Anderson class on Craftsy and the other day it was 1/2 price from $29.99 to $14.99.......I snapped it up!  It was her Not So Itty-Bitty Giraffe class.  I'm on lesson 3 and now have to get the yarn....I have some in stash but not sure the stash is the color(s) I want to use.  This will satisfy some of my "toy" making goals for this year.  I want to make them for the grands for their birthdays in July.  I've followed her blog for several years. So far, I'm enjoying the class and she is an excellent instructor and so personable.  I checked and it is no longer on sale but if there is a class or classes you want to take you should keep an eye out because they do have sales quite often and on yarn and supplies too.  I didn't know that Susan also writes the blog for Spud and Chloe.

 Susan was a teacher before she left to make knitting her full-time career.  I think this is something that I am going to really enjoy.  I hope you have a great day and a great week. I still need to pick my charity to knit/crochet for so next week hopefully maybe I'll have some new yarn, a charity project and maybe even an FO!  How exciting! LOL!
Happy Trails until we meet again...........