Day #3 NaBloPoMo

 This is how I felt all day today...........(this is Annie getting her beauty rest)  I should have taken a nap because I  have been yawning and dragging all day.  It's supposed to be my craft day but I just couldn't get myself going.........

I have been following my 15 minute de-clutter though every day and it is making a big difference!
You may think this looks cluttered but you didn't see it before! LOL!

I'm not cleaning much just sorting and getting rid of stuff and organizing so it doesn't look like a tornado went through my house.  It'd be just my luck that after I get it all straightened up a tornado will come through! LOL!
I listened to the Iowa and Purdue game and worked on my Stars and Stripes Saturday project.  It was all I could manage.  I hope you had a more energetic day than I did!

Happy Trails!!!

Day #2 of NaBloPoMo

First off, this is exactly what our weather has looked like the past 3 days except just a moment ago the clouds broke and lo and behold....sunshine and blue skies!

  I am here but not without a few problems with my camera!  I took pictures and they aren't showing up on my pc when I upload them....huh?  Bad sd card? Oh well, so I have uploaded some pictures that are already on my pc for Fall projects I have on my wish list.  I'm not even sure where I got these pictures so you'll have to search for patterns and such as I have no clue! LOL!
Just some Fall inspiration..........
This is a fall farm scene from my hometown in Illinois........wish I was there!

 I love this cross stitch...I must find it!

 It's not  easy to find 'turkey' items for Thanksgiving but I am loving this one.........."May the bounty of the season fill your heart and home".............

 I have wanted to make one of these for years now....I think this might be the year!  And yes, that is cream cheese frosting in there............

 This was on my list for this year and they might still get done..............

 I have the yarn and the pattern for this but have not done it!  I started it several years ago and couldn't follow the directions but later I made a corner-to-corner blanket and a light bulb went on in my head.....I'm pretty sure that is how this one is done just in individual squares  .....now where is it? LOL!

 I also got a Christmas present today!  My son Ben, called and he's a whiz with cars and anything mechanical.  He always asks how my car is and I mentioned a blower part went out and I had to get it in to have it repaired before the cold weather hits.  He immediately said "Well, there's your Christmas present!"  He called my mechanic and said he would pay for it and did over the phone plus an oil change when I needed one!  I couldn't believe it!  So, the part will be in Monday and I will take it in Tuesday!  Great because I will be  needing the heater soon! LOL!  What a thoughtful son and his son, Uriah is just like him....very thoughtful and considerate.....I am blessed for sure!
I also went and did an 'early vote' today at City Hall.  It was the only day to early vote here in town otherwise I would have to drive to the county seat which is 45 minutes away.
Happy Friday and Happy Trails!!!  Now I have to go see if I can figure out what's wrong with that camera!?!?

Day #1 NaBloPoMo 2018

 

 Marsha reminded me it is National Blog Posting Month.  I missed it last year but not this year!  Just in the knick of time!  The idea is to post daily for the month of November.  My friend Connie over at The Far Side of Fifty has done a daily post for years.   She should win a prize!  So, I am going to try and see if I can do it and if so I will continue to post daily.

I was right....there were no Trick or Treaters last night.  It has been a steady rain for over 24 hours now and still going.  There were a few times when it slowed a bit and I ran out and got the mail but mostly it has been steady if not pouring.  So, I had a very cozy Halloween.......a fire going...

worked on my Button Eyed Cat which hopefully will be done by next Halloween....I'm actually getting pretty good at this 40 count.....amazing!

I also made some seasoned popcorn with Italian and parmesan cheese but it was too salty.  I followed a recipe on Pinterest.....I should know better.....All Recipes is much more trustworthy!  When I find a good one I will share.........

I am left with a lot of candy........oh well, someone will have to eat it....and the animals can't have chocolate so I guess that just leaves 'you know who'!  LOL! 

This is what it looked like out my kitchen window......

I had to have lights on all day it was so dark out..............definitely 'cozy weather' for November so far... last night I couldn't find Hocus Pocus which I usually watch on Halloween so I watched a Netflix Original Series about true stories of hauntings.  The first one was The Woman in White.  I didn't have bad dreams but it was pretty creepy!  I hope you had a safe and happy Halloween.

Happy Trails!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

 It is raining and thundering here today....very cozy and dark and creepy!  Perfect for Halloween!  I got a scare this morning as I opened my curtains there was the Sheriff's truck at my neighbors with another black car.  I was worried something had happened to her or someone had tried to break in during the night.  I waited until they left and then I called her.  Thank goodness she answered!  Evidently she had been 'scammed'....financially I am assuming.  She said she didn't want to talk about it as she was embarrassed.  I told her she shouldn't be as it happens to a lot of people.  She wouldn't elaborate which is sad as it could warn others but I was just glad she was okay and let it be at that. 
I swear there's never a dull moment around here.  Just last month we had the 3 escaped prisoners wandering around our town! 

I made the 15 bean soup last night and the Iowa cornbread with honey butter.........it is perfect for this weather and this time of year.  It was delish!  The Iowa Corn Bread recipe is in Susan Branch's Autumn book.  What are your plans for Halloween?  I will be ready for Trick or Treaters but whether there will be any will probably depend on the weather.  I will watch Hocus Pocus which is one of my favorite Halloween movies.  There's the soup and cornbread and some Pumpkin Ale in the frig.....and of course.........Halloween candy for dessert! LOL!
I hope you have a delightfully spooky Halloween!

 Happy Trails!!!

Arrangements made.....

I had to make some phone calls to arrange for Nitty in case she gets sick or dies and I need to get her to the vet.  She can't do stairs and even the ramp is not something she will do any more.  I called the vet and they said there was nothing they could do. I even stated that I can't be the only person that's run into this predicament but then again maybe I am.  So, I called the local moving company.  I know, it sounds strange but there is really no one else around here strong enough to lift her.  Who do you call?  I can't call 911 for my dog, unfortunately.  I talked to the owner who happens to live just a few blocks away from me and he said not to worry and to give him a call when necessary.  So, I feel better but it left me tearful most of the day.  It was a beautiful day and I spent most of it outside with Nitty.  I brushed her and we sat outside letting the wind blow the leaves all around us.  Today was better and again I spent time with her outside.  She's eating and drinking fine but I know it is just a matter of time.....how much time, I don't know, so I want to spend as much time with her as possible.  She hates to have her picture taken too! LOL!  I zoomed in on this one otherwise she would have turned her head! 

  It's been absolutely gorgeous here....the prettiest fall I can remember........usually it stays too hot for too long and we have fire danger but this year is perfect!  I think the colors are at peak right now.....or close. 

The wind has picked up the last few days, as Mother Nature is cleaning house and blowing the leaves around.  These yellow ones are from my Rose of Sharon...........

I sat in my Adirondack chair and leaned back and looked skyward.............so beautiful..........that's a big old oak tree over my head

We are supposed to get storms tomorrow for Halloween and all day long and into Thursday so that may take care of the 'peak' color and lots of the leaves.........we'll see.

Today the city came and re dug out my culvert!  So wonderful as it was plugged up and there was gravel that traveled down from somewhere and landed in my driveway.  Amy tried to shovel it off this past summer when she was here but gravel is heavy!  She did good though, bless her heart.

He did a wonderful job and now it should be clear sailing when the rains come! 

I didn't call them or anything.....he said he noticed it.....how sweet is that?  Here's the machine that made it all possible..............I think the good Lord whispered in that man's ear!  Thank you!

This is what's for supper......ham and bean soup!  With some Iowa Corn Bread to go with it!  It should be a cozy night with the storms moving in....it's already starting to cloud over...........

Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #18

 YOP 2018-2019

Finishes so far:
1.  4th of July xs pillow
2.  Hitchhiker shawl
3.  Felici Hibiscus self-striping socks
4.  Felted wool loafer slippers with leather soles
5.  washcloth (extra large) and back scrubber for Christmas or birthday for SIL
6.   Iowa Hawkeye hat for Sam
7.  Techniques learned so far this year: a) knit cast on, b) reading a knitting chart, c) lace work, d) inserting and using a lifeline.

FINISHES:
I have several 'finishes' this week.....I know...I can't believe it myself!

1)  First off the 2018 Halloween Collectible Ornaments for the grands and one for me..........the picture isn't very good as it was a rainy day and the light was poor.  I made these out of felt but there is a reason that people  use a blanket stitch on felt and don't try to 'seam' it......I  had a dickens of a time with it....but I managed and used what I had...button eyes and all.....also the felt is from old wool that I dyed a while ago...

and here is the rest of the Halloween stash that has already been mailed out to them with their ornaments...........
Solar pumpkins, light up bracelets, trick or treat pretzels, tootsie roll pops with new flavors, pumpkin bath bombs, and frightening paint sets of monsters.  Plus, my daughter got a pair of spooky socks. 

2)  My sampler quilt after lo these many years...........

 This was a class I took to learn how to quilt several years back and each block was a different technique.  I enjoyed the class and learned a lot.  I had it professionally quilted as I didn't know you could use your own sewing machine to quilt in simple ways or hand quilt.  I won't be doing that again as it cost a lot of moolah and I think that is why I stopped quilting as I didn't think I could afford it.  But then I remembered that's not what the pioneer women did!  So I am off and running and using what I have.  I machine sewed the binding onto the front of the quilt and then hand sewed the binding onto the back.  I used a tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co. on You Tube as I couldn't remember how to do it.  It was excellent!

 Here's the back of it...........perfect finish for fall with these colors...........

3)  I finished the cross stitching of Sam's Christmas ornament and once I finish Uriah's I will sew them into ornaments and show you when that is done.  That is really the true 'finish'.  But I want to do them all at the same time.  Not sure what's up with the color yellow on these pictures but in real life it is not showing up all yellowed....thank goodness!

WIP's (works in progress) for this week:

1)  I did not finish my Falling Leaves Scarf as I was busy with Halloween presents..this week for sure 

2)  Pickle Dish - almost done with #4 and will finish it this week and audition fabrics for #5

3.  Cubs ornament for Uriah: This is my Merry Monday project - I don't think I got much more done on this

4.  Santa Sunday Cross Stitch project:  no work was done on the new one as I was finishing Sam's....

5.  Stars and Stripes Saturday:  I did work on this yesterday.......

6.  Fall Friday: did the brown garland at the top..........

7.  Witchy Wednesday: I finally paid some attention to this poor thing...........filling in some of the yellow between the ears

Now that I've cleared off some of my projects it's time to start more!  Actually, I have more WIP's that need finishing and one of them is this............I plan on making (all?) the little quilts from this book and I had gathered 72 2" squares from mediums and darks and I need 96 light prints and I have 30.  So, I need to look in my stash for lights but if I remember correctly I didn't have any more so I may need to order some light prints to come up with the required amount.  I'll look into it this week.  I also have a 'flimsy' (a quilt top that is sewn but needs batting and backing) to finish.  Plus, I need to start a Hawkeye hat for Grayson and a Cub hat for Uriah and then hats for the adults.  It's going to be a hat year!  I need to rejuvenate my Hiya-Hiya interchangables as I am missing some cables.  It will be a fun week although we are supposed to get rain for Halloween and you know what that means!  I will have to eat the candy! LOL! 

That's it for this week!
I hope you had a wonderful week and enjoyed working on your projects.  I hope you have a great Halloween.  Please stop by and see all the other fantastic projects that other  YOP'ers are working on.
Happy Trails!!!

P.S.  The people who lost loved ones and family members in the horrific massacre in Pittsburg are in my prayers.  I also pray that our country will heal and hatred of all kinds will disappear from the face of the earth.  It reminds me of that song....."Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me".  I think the current generation of young people have seen enough and are bound and determined to make a difference and I pray they will.  God save us all.