YOP Week #2

I started off week #1 with a finish and I have another one for week #2!  I hope I can keep this up for the whole year! Yeah, right! LOL!

Here's my second finish for this year..............the cell phone cover for my daughter as one of her Advent gifts.  I think it turned out cute.  It was easy and quick so if any of you are looking for gifts to give this is a good one.  You wouldn't have to use those colors.  It was in the Boho Crochet book.

I started Candy Kisses (on Ravelry) only about 7 times!!!  I found the pattern and even her tutorial to be very confusing but I must be the only one as all the comments were how easy it was and how clear her instructions were! Huh?  Betsy Queen took a stab at them and she had no  problem either so it must be me!  I finally rewrote her instructions in a manner I could understand and tried again.  I know there are mistakes and there is a little buckle in the middle but I'm forging ahead.  I love the yarn but the only problem is that when I tried to undo my crochet to start over it kept knotting and I couldn't undo it so much yarn was thrown away.   Hopefully, I'll have enough to finish.  This is not a pattern I would use again.

Now, on the bright side, I am LOVING the Brill shawl.  I love the Quince yarn for sure and the pattern for the edging is adorable!  I am really loving the knitting even though it is not T.V. watching knitting but the process is very enjoyable.   When this is done I am going to do more of the edging to tack to my shelves.  I love it that much!  I have 5 complete patterns out of 33 to complete the border of the shawl. So, I have 28 more of 14 rows each to finish.  Wouldn't that make the cutest shelf edging?  Another rabbit hole I would like to go down right now but I won't.  I promise!  I am enjoying having some finishes and I already have one lined up for next week!

    For Jolly July I have been working on Chicken Joy................a free pattern by The Real Housewives of Cross Stitch........

I did work on a few other projects but not enough to photograph.  I ordered some needed supplies for the Mexican tray project, and I cut fabric for Amy's Frida Kahlo basket only to realize I didn't have enough so I was able to find more and I ordered it.  

I did get some "treasures" this week.................some Stylecraft Special DK acrylic yarn

The first pattern of 12 in a mystery SAL through Fat Quarter Shop by Lori Holt................

Some undyed sock yarn for me to dye!

My 4th of July sock yarn.........these are both from Knit Picks

and then these beautiful minis from Hue Loco........slowly accumulating minis for a project way down the road.....

That's all for this week.  I had a good, balanced week with regular chores, some outdoor progress and indoor too.  I hope you had a good week and stay safe!

Happy Trails!!!

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Working on secret projects so there's not much to show until Sunday

I did get my loppers ordered and some other "supplies" for various projects.  I got my walk in this morning and did some raking of grass to use for mulch.  It got hot fast but it's like a greenhouse for the plants and the tomato plants and beans are growing like crazy even though I got them planted late.

I also got 2 more tomato plants transplanted and that was the extent of my outside work today.

I did get another treasure delivered last night............

My Hint naturally flavored no sugar or carbonation water!  I got 36 bottles for $1 each and free shipping and a free sunblock stick SPF 30!  What a deal!  I got 3 different flavors; watermelon, clementine, and peach.  So far, I like them but I probably will flavor  infuse my own after this but it's a nice refresher for the summer.  I'm actually fine with plain water.

Today I have been crocheting  on about 3 different projects and hoping to finish 2 of the 3 but we'll see.

I hope you've had a nice Friday!

Happy Trails!!!

Ran into 3 brick walls!

What a day but I did, like Edison, discover how not to do some things.  First, I discovered my Black and Decker Alligator, which is like a chain saw in scissor form, would no longer charge its battery.  So, I tried looking for a new battery only to find out they no longer make that model or its battery!  So, I did find a pair of loppers I will replace it with.
Next, I tried to work on a sewing project and discovered I didn't have enough material.  Thank goodness I found more of the same so I ordered that.
Then, I got my yarn order from Deramore's...........only to discover it wasn't the right color blue I needed to finish a project! ARG!  So, I had to order more yarn, and to make it worth crossing the pond I ordered some sock yarn too!  Whew!  But I am blessed to be able to replace the items and  "move on down the road"!

I also received a pattern for a SAL with FQS and it is a mystery so this is just the first one by Lori Holt........love the first one!  You can either do them all separately or make them into one big picture.  I'm doing them separately.

I did take my walk this morning and although they predicted rain this afternoon, I watered outside anyway as they're usually wrong.  Plus, if I didn't water it would for sure not rain.  So, it did rain this afternoon and it was a nice little storm with wind and thunder and driving rain.  I always like it when it rains after I mow.  It just seems like it would be soothing to the lawn.
I baked bread this afternoon from dough that I put together last night.  Now, I'm going to go clean something and then I'll probably call it a day!
Happy Trails!!!

Working Wednesday!

Today was a great day as I got out early and walked and mowed the lawn!  It was wet grass but considering it was going to be in the 90's and feel like 100 degrees.....I mowed anyway.  I never used to mow if the grass was wet but down here.....I don't care! LOL!  I am not going to be out there when it is really hot!  I finished at 10:30....the grass was still wet and it was 87 degrees F.  Not bad!
I came in and did chores and then went uptown and got my prescriptions.
There are no pictures today and now I am going to go take a nice bath and wash my hair and get my jammies on and relax in the AC!  Hopefully tomorrow will have something worthy of getting the camera out! LOL!
Happy Trails!!!

Tired Tuesday.......

I got 2 phone calls last night AFTER I was asleep.  By the 2nd one, I was up and disconnecting the phone!  By then I was wide awake so I read and I read and I still wasn't sleepy so I got out some knitting and worked on that.  Finally, I was ready to lay down again and it was 10:00 p.m.  I had to be to Walmart by 7:00 a.m.  I woke up about 6:30 but I have been behind all day.  I did get all the groceries unloaded and disinfected and put away.  I also got my daily chores done and I painted another coat on the kitchen door to the garage.  I'm making it into a blackboard but not sure if it will need another coat or not.  It's very dark there so I wore my headlamp but painting black is hard to see.

I also made Cheesy Egg Wedges that is a recipe I got from A Home Grown Journal on my sidebar.  It's delicious!  Just search for the recipe on her blog and it will come up.  She used to own a restaurant so all her recipes are really good!

 I'm going to call it a day now.  I hope you had a good one!
Happy Trails!!!
P.S.  The grands got their birthday present today.....I bought them a pool.....not big enough where you need a fence but hopefully they can keep cool!  They're in the 90's in Iowa too.  Since they can't go too many places this summer and they love coming down here to the lake I figured I'd combine their presents into one for both of them.  They're busy clearing an area on their patio and putting a tarp down underneath it.  Amy said they were really excited!  That makes me happy! 

Books and more!

 I finished  this book........very good!  Her mysteries are very intriguing and not formulaic like some series.  These are really different.  I'll have to order #4 now

I'm still reading Cider with Rosie and it is good........

I'm still reading National Wildlife Federation magazine too....I am so tired at night I don't get much reading done....I guess I'll have to go to bed earlier! LOL!

I did start another fiction book...........it's a goody!  My favorite series!  This is book #9 but she has like 27 I think so I have plenty to read yet.

As for t.v. I have found another series on Acorn T.V. that I adore!  The Yorkshire Vet who is a modern day James Herriot working in the same area and town and whose partner used to work with James Herriot.  It is spellbinding to me as I wanted to be a veterinarian at one time.  He is exactly the type of vet I wanted to be too...taking care of "all creatures great and small".  Don't watch if you're squeamish but other than that it is excellent!

I'm still watching Miss Fisher but I am truly taken with the Yorkshire Vet right now.

It is summer here; 90's every day.  I went early and got my walk in. I then raked some and burned and mulched with weeds and trimming.  No nice mulch this year.  I was going to transplant another tomato but the pest control guy showed up so I went in and he sprayed the outside.

I got treasures in the mail today!!! 

Some very pretty minis from Hue Loco.  I am saving up for a future project.  I can only afford them every so often so it will take me awhile.........

Then some things from Knit Picks......my 4th of July sock yarn,,,red, white and blue!

Some plain sock yarn for dyeing............naturally..........

and my needles so I can start my Brill shawl!  Be still my beating heart!

Not much to see yet but so far so good!

I hand wound the ball and I am using Quince yarn for the first time and it is wonderful!  I think it is a reasonable priced yarn for the quality.  This will probably be the yarn I buy for sweaters and more.

I spent the afternoon making my menu and grocery list and now I need to order my groceries so I can pick them up early tomorrow morning.

I hope you had a wonderful Monday!

Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #1

Here we are...another YOP!  So exciting as always!  Every year I think I will get more organized and get more done and this year is no different.  Hope is a wonderful thing!

I have categories and a long list of projects I want to make in each one but for now I am only listing 1 or 2 projects for each category and then as I finish them they will be replaced by a new project which could be an old WIP and most probably should will be!  So here goes....get on your mark, get set and GO!!!  Happy YOP 2020-2021!

ADVENT  (12 or 25 gifts that my daughter and I exchange, we haven't set the rules for this year yet) 

     1.  Dahla Horse pin cushion - This was part of Stitch Maynia 2020 so it is a WIP  It is a purchased pattern from Helen Philipps on Etsy.  My daughter has a collection of Dahla horses

    2.  Cell Phone Cover - This is from the book Boho Crochet published by Martingale Press featuring a variety of designers.

APPLIQUE

     1. This is a Buttermilk Basin pattern that I have had but have not started......

                              CRAFTS

     1.  Mexican metal tray - you'll  have to wait and see what I do with this!  I have 5 of them so if it works out I may make more.

  I picked these up at a garage sale a few years back as I loved the bright colors.

CROCHET

     1. Candy Kisses Scarf (Ravelry) plus there is a free pattern on her website and a You Tube video

CROSS STITCH

    1.Jolly July - Chicken Joy This is  a WIP leftover from last Christmas

    2. Stitch Maynia 2020 #1 -  The Luck of the Irish; another WIP

EMBROIDERY

     1.  This is a WIP also........

GIFTS

     1.  Amy's Frida Kahlo basket - WIP

KNITTING

     1.  Brill Shawl from Pom Pom Quarterly, Issue 8: Spring 2014

PUNCH NEEDLE

     1.  I finally have all my supplies for this endeavor so I should be all set to go on this new project!  I love the pattern!

QUILTING

     1.   I know and you know that I have other quilting projects on the go but I am desperately in need of a quilt for my bed.  The one that is on it now I won in a raffle about 10 years ago and it is falling apart.  I have made quilts for others but never for my own bed!  Duh!  I think it's time and I have all the materials.........this will be a summer quilt and hopefully I can make others for the different seasons but for now this one is enough.  Lots of 30's fabrics which I adore!

RUG HOOKING

     1. This is a WIP  that I am sure some of you will remember.  I need to sew more strips together and get busy!  I also need to start cutting more strips.  I love this rug and how it's turning out.

SEWING

     1.  Cobblers apron like this one and need to make my own pattern

SOCKS

     1.  Rose City Rollers on Ravelry

Surprise, surprise!  I have a finish for this week too.  Now, don't laugh but I started this 4 years ago and all it needed to be finished was 3 buttons sewn on the back!  That's all and it sat there waiting for 4 years!  Shameful! In my defense sometimes things get "buried" around here.  But here it is!  Some of you will remember this too......it will be the first make to go into my new crafts room whenever that is done! LOL!

That's all folks!  I've got to get busy on all these projects!

Happy Trails!!!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Just wanted to drop in and wish everyone a safe and happy 4th of July!  It's been sunny and then stormy on and off all day.....I'm inside cooking so that's fine with me!

Here's the rain........pouring down!  I'm glad I didn't plan on grilling out!  LOL!

Happy Trails!!!

Frying Friday!!!

Whew!  It's hot!  I got out early and took my walk but the mornings are really humid and then the heat of the day dries some of it up but then it is so hot.....give me cold and snow any day!  I was able to finish trimming and raking up the base of the tree.  I still need to trim low-hanging branches but I have some more to burn first.  I was able to burn quite a bit this morning and I transplanted another tomato plant or 2.  The one yesterday was either a Brandywine or Cherokee but the stick went missing somehow so we'll have to find out later.  The one I planted today is a San Marzano.  A good paste tomato.   Once again the camera lens was fogging up! 

 After my outside work I came in and did regular chores and started gathering my projects for YOP 2020-2021.  I don't have everything but I have a good start.  I'm still waiting for things to come in but I have enough to move ahead.  This is the fun part; the planning and looking ahead to this next year's projects.....I'm trying to keep all of them together as much as possible so they'll be easy to grab and work on.  Be sure and stop in Sunday to see everyone's plans or join up and show us yours!  It's the Year Of Projects Group on Ravelry and it's all free!  Even the incredible inspiration you get from everyone else's projects!  Plus, there are gobs of rabbit holes to go down! So please join us!  All crafters and crafts welcome!

Happy Trails!!!

Outside early before the heat!

I got my walk in this morning and then got the trimming done around the tree I was working on.  It still needs some low hanging branches trimmed.  I picked up a lot more twigs and branches from the storm yesterday too.  I transplanted a tomato but I only have one more cage left and still lots of tomatoes to transplant.  I better just plop them in where ever I can at this point!  It is humid even when I'm walking early....ugh!  So humid that when I go out my camera lens fogs up!

This afternoon I worked on YOP plans and I made some grape nut cookies with oats and cranberries in them too.  Very good!

I ordered some HINT fruit waters.  If you go to their website they have all kinds of offers for free shipping and big discounts!  I got 36 bottles for $36 with free shipping. I got watermelon, clementine and peach flavors but there are more.  They are natural flavors with no sugar.  They do have sparkling also and some with a little caffeine but I got the plain.  I have some recipes that I was going to try for flavored waters but I thought I would try these at such a good price.  It will probably be just a one time purchase especially if I can make them myself.
I worked some more on my Chicken Joy for Jolly July..................

  I hope you had a good day!
Happy Trails!!!