Day #10 NaBloPoMo

Day #10 and I'm still here!  I need to get ahead and do it the day before for the coming day which would make it easier. 
I got a wonderful surprise in the mail today from Connie (Far Side of Fifty on my side bar).  Connie, that was not necessary but I love it!  I hope you don't mind me sharing it here.  First there was a lovely card and note, hand made by Connie.........

She also sent this cute little post it holder that she made.......what a great idea and so cute!

She said she always keeps one in her purse......I will do that...

 and then she sent me one of her hand carved ornaments!  I love it and will cherish it always!  Thank you, Connie...you are too sweet.

That's all for today,  I'm listening to Northwestern at Iowa, 3rd quarter and it's Iowa 10 and Northwestern 7.....I just hope they can keep ahead to the end of the game!  It is cold here today (23 F this morning) and they are predicting S N O W for Monday!  I am so excited!!!  I have never heard of snow this early in the season here and some winters we don't get any. 
 I just seemed to play 'catch up'  today since I did Walmart yesterday.  Pizza again for supper, some knitting, a few podcasts, a good book and that will wind things up for today.  Enjoy your evening!
Happy Trails!!!

Day #9 NaBloPoMo

Just barely squeezing in under the wire here.  I went to Walmart today and so I'm not good for much after that.  It was beautiful here today but a bit windy and colder....high of 47 F.  Tonight is supposed to be our first freeze and it's going down to 23 F.   I think the change in the weather is making me tired.  I yawn for the first half of the day and then right about now I start it up again.
After putting the groceries away I worked on my Fall Friday cross stitch.....Pumpkin Spice Farm.............

I dabbled this afternoon as I was too tired to do anything else............I looked at Pinterest for some Thanksgiving decorations to make and found a few 'turkey' items but no patterns available and I also found this which I thought I would share...........a new to me dishcloth pattern and yarn suggestion....
 I might try it tonight for a little something different and hopefully mindless.  She also noted she really likes Herschner's cotton blend yarn the best.  I've never tried it have you?  This pattern is crocheted and the link to it is here
It's a free pattern on Ravelry............

 I'm having pizza for supper...store bought too.....that's how tired I am! LOL!  It's a Totino's Macaroni and Cheese pizza with bacon.....oh baby, oh baby......who knew they had 'comfort' pizza?  I'm all over it!  I'll let you know how it is.  I hope you have a great Friday night...relaxing or exciting...you get to chose.  You know which one I'm going for! LOL!
Happy Trails!!!

Day #8 NaBloPoMo

 Day 8 and I'm still managing! It was another beautiful Fall day here and I tried to get a picture of the leaves fluttering down from the trees but I.m not that good of a photographer...........it's still pretty though...........my date is off on my camera and I just set it...........oh boy...............

I washed my kitchen windows today inside and out but I don't have to go outside to do it which is nice.  I also put up fresh curtains (actually dinner napkins on a tension rod with cafe hooks)........

I make my own window cleaner which I really like and it's so cheap to make........

I have the recipe right on the bottle so I don't have to go looking for it. 
Here it is:
1/4 Cup vinegar
1/4 Cup rubbing alcohol
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 Cups warm water
You do need to shake each time before you spray because the cornstarch settles out but it gets to be a habit and it cleans so great!

 I worked on my button eyed cat which I did not work on yesterday...........Witchy Wednesday......I think I might be picking up speed as it seems I get more done each time.  It was hard to get used to 1 thread over one on  40 count fabric but I'm doing okay.  I still do not care for it but I'll finish this piece..............

 I started de cluttering the dining room yesterday and today I got about halfway done!  Just my 15 minute de -clutter!  I do make sure I put everything away that I might have gotten out while moving things around so I may go a bit longer than 15 and if I'm on a roll I just keep going!

 The table is clear!  It hasn't been clear for quite some time...............

I still have to attack the top of this desk...............and the bulletin board really doesn't belong in there........I just hung it there temporarily about a year ago! LOL!

 This is a hutch that was my Mother's.....if you see stuff that is fancy it was my parents....if you see more junky rustic stuff....that's mine! LOL!  I am not a fancy person at all.............. There are 3 or 4 sets of dishes in here with  accompanying glassware etc.  If anyone knows a good place where I can get some money for this stuff please let me know as I have no use for it but I know it is good stuff and probably very expensive china etc.  I was thinking maybe that replacement china place?  Later....after Christmas probably.........
 

That's all for today folks....I am tuckered out!  I get up about 3:30 so I call it a day about 4:00 for supper and putting my feet  up.  Of course the girls get fed first and then their meds.....I'm last don't ya know! LOL!  Have a pleasant evening.
Happy Trails!!!

Day #7 NaBloPoMo

Woe is me.............I called to see if my car part came in and Jimmy said Bobby had gone to pick it up and to bring the car in around 9:30..........I did and sat and read while Jimmy worked on the car.....after a while he came in and said it was the wrong part...not only that but the 'right' part would cost considerably more.  Since I didn't have the additional money he had to put the car back together and I didn't get out of there until 11:30.....Jimmy is honest and reasonable so I don't worry about that but it was a waste of a morning for both of us.  I'll take it in next week when I am more 'flush'.
I came home and did dishes and cleaned up the kitchen and had some lunch.  I worked on a Christmas present on breaks but I was a bit sluggish.  If I go out in the morning and come home I seem to lose my energy...why I don't know but later I did do some de-cluttering and I am done for now with the living room and moving into the dining room.
Here' s a few pictures..................
 This got all cleared off and cleaned and rearranged....

 I have yet to go through this coat hanger with a zillion baskets on it...................

My favorite lamp that Miss Peeps knocked over a while ago and it needs a new shade...........at least she didn't break the lamp..........

I thought I would be able to stay home tomorrow but I just noticed Nitty needs dogfood.....oh well.....
I hope you got everything done you wanted to today!
Happy Trails!!!

Day #6 NaBloPoMo

What a busy day...again!  Today was 63 F and partly sunny so I took off for a day of errands.  I baked some bread in the morning that I had let rise overnight...the picture is not good but it is a harvest loaf..........whole wheat and a little white and with nuts and chopped dried prunes.  It called for dried cranberries but I didn't have any so I used prunes.  It is so nice with a cup of tea or coffee.  I like it toasted with a a bit of butter.  A nice breakfast with some fruit.

The next thing I knew the Propane man was there to fill my tank so I had to move my car and wait until he left then I left but not before doing some laundry too.....chores don't end when you retire.  I think a nice retirement present would be maid/butler service for the rest of your life!   Then after cleaning the litter boxes (3) I was able to straighten myself back up (slowly) and get in the car! LOL!
I went to the bank, the pharmacy for a refill of mine, B&J's auto so they could order the part for my car and schedule me in, then on to the library then out to the highway to fill up my car and then off to Ash Flat to the vet clinic to refill the girl's meds.  Whew!  I'm home now and after I feed the girls I'm going to recline and watch the returns come in.
I hope you took the time to vote today or sooner!

  Happy Trails!!!

Day #5 of NaBloPoMo

It was a busy day....Monday's always are as I try not to do too much 'work' on the weekend so it's waiting for me come Monday morning.  But I digress........it's time for........

Last time I posted about books and the Good Read's Challenge, I had read 54 of the 75 I challenged myself to read this year..........as of this moment I have read 58 of 75!  I know!  I amaze myself although I did go back to listening to some audio books which helped as I can listen to them while doing other things.
I finished this audio book which was very comforting especially for someone battling a disease or nearing death....which is many............

 This book was very good and I plan on reading all her books....very uplifting and strong women!

 This book was great and it truly was "unexpected".....great thriller, mystery and humor thrown in!  Highly recommend!

 This was interesting and makes me curious how presidents and others in our government are "vetted".  He would never have made it through some of the interviews, security clearances and psychological tests I went through to work on corporate computer systems.  I guess when they say 'anyone can be president' they're not kidding! 

I have yet to pick out my next reads which I will have to do so I have something to read tonight! 
Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #19

and Day #4 of...........

 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.

There were no finishes this week but a few starts...........which I guess qualifies them to be WIPs now...


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

1)  I did not finish my Falling Leaves Scarf...still..........

2)  Pickle Dish - I did finish Pickle Dish #4 but didn't take a picture.....this is it but now it has the 2 hexies on each end..... 

I also got my materials chosen for Pickle Dish #5.............

3.  Cubs ornament for Uriah: This is my Merry Monday project - I stitched a bit more of the white but that was all........

4.  Santa Sunday Cross Stitch project: I finished this vine at the top...........

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

6.  Fall Friday: almost finished with the top garland then another one at the bottom and it will be done

7.  Witchy Wednesday: Made some progress on this one

8.  Grayson's Iowa Hawkeye hat for Christmas..........I got the brim done and then some and now ready to change to black..........hopefully this will be a finish for next week with more hats to come....

9.  And this is an old WIP  that I put in a big timeout because I could not understand the directions....things like "put a DC in the designated place".....huh?  I have never seen directions like that before but I ran across a picture of it the other day because it was on my Fall board on Pinterest and I wanted to make it so bad plus I had bought the yarn for this blanket.  Anyway, in looking at the picture I realized it was a corner-to-corner blanket and I know how to do that (well, to be honest I had to rewatch the video and it took me most of the afternoon to try and retry but I think I might be on my way!)  I have only the photo to go on as her directions make no sense to me at all...........

They are blocks which will be nice because if I figure out one block and crochet it successfully I should be able to do the other 11, right?  Here's my start and yes, there are ends to weave in..........

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