Cleaning Extravaganza Week #2 is done!

 Beautiful winter..........in my dreams..........

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I did it!  There are now "3 bags full"!  No more heels, only 1 purse and I think there is some more that might go next round but I'm very satisfied with all I got rid of.
On the left on top, those containers contain shoes and one container contains weights for lifting and some stretching straps.  I keep my ironing board, iron and sprays in the closet because I iron in my bedroom....where the t.v. is! LOL!  I have an emergency lantern and the next container has my one the only purse left.  I really don't use them anymore. I have to keep my Asics on the shelf because Miss Peeps chews the laces.  The far-right container has shoe polishes in it and saddle soap for my saddles (yes, I still have my saddles in the basement).

My Birkenstocks are my bedroom slippers....I keep the screens in the closet after I take them off in the Fall and wash them. 

Look at all that room!  Do you think I could become a minimalist?  No way! LOL! 

There's always laundry to do...........

But the closet is done except maybe for a good vacuum which I will do Monday when I start on my bedroom!  I'm not sure if I'll be able to get the bedroom done in 1 week but I will try!
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Here's your "tidbits" for today.............
This is made with newspapers!  Here are the directions

This looks mighty tasty to me right now.............salted caramel mocha.....oh yeah!

and here's the recipe direct from Starbucks 
  Of course, there has to be something to smile about............

Happy Trails!!!

I think I wind down at the end of the week.........

 Not much to show you today.  I cleaned the frig, froze the remaining Italian beef, cleaned up the house and took a walk.  I took more Christmas items down to the basement and that's about it.  Where did the day go?  I did get up later than normal but really?
I'm behind on XS too so I worked on Monthly Monday and it's Friday!
We had freezing rain this morning and it's been dark all day and now more rain is coming.  Just so we don't lose power!

This kind of weather puts me in hibernation mode.
That's all for today.......here are your "tidbits"...........this is so cute and it's a pay for pattern but follow this link   and she has all kinds of cute patterns for sale

Soak lemons and ginger in honey and add a tablespoon to a cup of boiling water

Here's a little something to make you smile............

I hope you have a relaxing Friday evening!
Happy Trails!!!

Making and baking........

 Winter beauty.............art not photo

I made corn chowder in the crockpot today........

 I saved out some extra bacon for on top of the bowl of chowder and I'll probably make some garlic bread to go with it..............comfort food

 I did some cleaning and laundry and took a walk........on breaks I worked on Scrapghan CAL and finished week #1 except for weaving ends in............

I'm also working on baby bib straps.....I wish I had something the size of a babies head to test the opening.......a musk melon?   Their heads are pretty large in relation to their bodies.  Any ideas?  The strap will go around and connect to the other side and then just slip on and off the babies head from what I understand.   Mine is only 7 " wide...supposed to be 9" but I should know better as I crochet tightly evidently.

I don't think I ever showed you what I got for myself for my birthday............it is a lap stand for punch needle.  I also ordered a pattern and punch needle but they have not arrived yet.  The pattern comes with the material but you have to transfer the pattern to it.  You use embroidery floss to do the actual punch needle. 

That's all the news for today..............here's your "tidbits"............aren't they just too cute?  Here's the link to the free pattern and tutorial

I've not read this but it looks like a good "winter read"...............

I'm pretty sure this was at Walmart too........

Happy Trails!!!

Uh oh...I'm slowing down..............

I didn't seem to get much done today but maybe it was because it was stuff you couldn't see....like pay bills, make some phone calls, go for a walk and try and burn brush that refused to cooperate.  I did pick up a lot of sticks in the yard.  I worked on the closet and got a bit more done.......other than a few coats this is all that's left...........

More in the bag and some things that are ironed so I'll leave them on hangers...........If I would buy some new clothes I would probably get rid of some more....I really don't like clothes shopping........

Since you asked..........here is the Scrapghan I started.  It is a CAL by Hooked on Homemade Happiness      I know, I know!  I have more than enough projects going but like I said yesterday....it's a sickness....I'll be calling the doctor if I don't recover soon.  This is definitely a good way to get rid of stash and I must admit that participating in these CALs I have learned things I've never even heard of in crochet before.  She issues new directions each week so I'm going to try and stay current.  Plus, I do well with rows and they go well with watching t.v. too.

 Now for your "tidbits" for today...............just in case you wanted to know...........here is the link
that will show you how to prepare plastic bags for knitting or crocheting.

I've had this before and I like it and want to make it myself....I think it is fairly simple.......here's the recipe

and a little something to make you smile............

Happy Trails!!!

I caught a bug...........startitis! No cure!!!

I did make my 'parcel' breakfast without the foil and it worked just fine!

The closet got worked on a bit today and that resulted in another bagful for the Salvation Army and 2 loads of laundry.

I still have more to go but it was a pretty big dent!  Remember the last time I cleaned this closet....I got rid of stuff but this time, despite Jim's things, I got rid of things of mine that I wasn't ready to let go of last time.  It's refreshing! 

And yes, I have caught Startitis....I may need to seek help.........look away...there's nothing to see here!  It has been a good day though and I took a walk too and made progress in several areas....

Here are the 'tidbits' for today..........."blow into the bag and seal it tightly.  The CO2 will keep it from becoming soggy."   I've got to try this one!

I've had this on my Pinterest board and I am wanting to try it.....so pretty and useful!here's the link

and last but not least a little something to make you smile............

Happy Trails!!!

Cleaning Extravaganza Week #2...the closet

Yessiree Bob, I am done with my bathroom and on to the closet! I filled 1 1/2 bags for the Salvation Army and a laundry basket of things to wash.  I always wash everything before I donate it.   I have other things to do today so I will spread it out over the week.  I did do a load of wash today and

 I chose a charity to contribute to....I'm making mittens for the residents of the Pine Ridge Reservation in North Dakota.....it's cold up there!   I found the group on Ravelry and there was a pattern and tutorial which is good because I have not made mittens before..........a small start.......I'm also looking into a few other suggestions that Farside gave me yesterday.  Check yesterday's post and Farside's comments if you're interested.........

 I finished reading ALL of Laura Mattox's Instagram Posts starting in 2015.....I binge-read! LOL!  It's taken me about a week but what eye candy and inspiration! She makes doll quilts and they are so precious plus her sewing room is lovely.  I also printed off some patterns and ordered more printer ink.
I don't think I've kept you abreast of my reading or watching since before Christmas.  I did not make the 75 book Goodread's Challenge for 2019 but there were weeks when I couldn't have read anything nor did I want to.  I think I read 40 of the 75 which was my goal.  I'll give it another shot this year.
Right

now I'm reading a great book....the first in a fictional series about quilters...........the first book in the Cobbled Quilt series...........this is my first read for 2020

I'm also reading the Pioneer Woman's new cookbook and a few leftovers from 2019. As for watching.......I am back on Netflix watching The Crown.....great series....love it! 
I got a lovely card in the mail from Farside today.  Beautiful sunflowers that she photographed....a real pick-me-up for these drab winter days!  Thank you, Farside!  It's frame-worthy!

Here are today's 'tidbits'............will you look at #3?  I am a woman ahead of my time I tell you!

I love citrus anything and a double bonus as they are slice and bake!...............here's the recipe

I have been researching how to organize my fabric scraps and this was a great graphic to pin on my sewing room wall!

I'm pretty sure this was why they said "here comes trouble" every time I walked into a room....even as an adult! LOL!

Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #28

Well, I survived the storms here in the south although quite a few didn't I'm sorry to say.  I think 8 people died and many houses were destroyed but not near me.  I think Mother Nature is pretty mad at us and can you really blame her?  We've abused her and the natural resources she has so selflessly bestowed on us.  We will all pay the piper eventually.

I made my first recipe out of Pioneer Woman's new cookbook and yes, it was delicious!  I don't know how she does it but they are always so good!  This was a 'parcel' breakfast where you make a sauce, cut up peppers and potatoes and throw in some chopped kale ( I had to use spinach as I had no kale) and then you unwrap the 'parcel' after cooking and throw an egg on top and stick it back in the oven for about 10 minutes.  Excellent!  I only made one of 4 parcels but it is ready to go in the frig.  I'm thinking I will use a little casserole dish instead of the foil as the foil is sort of difficult to deal with trying to get it out onto a plate. 

BTW, I don't know if you remember me talking about some sausage links that have bacon in them too?  I had them once and then couldn't find them.  Well, I found them...in the freezer section at the grocery store!  Who knew?  They are made by Farmland and they are so tasty and the best of both worlds!
Now, on to YOP..........I did make a few new goals for reorganizing my projects....I want to always be making a gift, something for charity, and something for me.  That being said I have not chosen a charity project yet.  In the past, I did premmie hats but I'm going to look on Ravelry and see if there's any other charities that are out there that might need some help.  Blankets probably would not be good for me, the slug! LOL!  Meanwhile, I actually have 2 gifts going....one is the blanket for the coming baby (not mine!) which is looking great but makes my hand cramp after 1 row and I will never get it done in time at that rate so......Farside started crocheting a baby bib and I have followed suit!  Here's the blanket....and I love it.....

Here's the bib............I just happened to have this cute yarn in my stash............

When I said gifts I really meant Christmas gifts and I forgot about the bib being a gift so I started a cowl for a Christmas gift.............this is a great and easy pattern by Love4Nails on You Tube..............I've made it before and it is a fun crochet plus I love mine to wear!

For me is the sock #1 I am working on........I'm about 4 rounds short of finishing the leg..........by next week I hope to be done with the leg and the next section

I worked on all my cross stitch 'days' except for Stars and Stripes Saturday..........here's Santa Sunday from last Sunday

Monthly Monday.......

Witchy Wednesday..............

and Fall Friday...........

I finished binding my towel and I washed and dried it............it looks much nicer.  Now I have many more to do! LOL!  But I should be an expert 'binder' after that!

By next week I hope to be done with the bib, onto the next section of the sock and finished with that section and a few more goals for my YOP projects. For the Cleaning Extravaganza this coming week I will be working on my closet where I stuffed a lot of Jim's clothes that need to be washed and gotten ready for the Salvation Army.  I did finish the bathroom last week and I am very pleased with all that I was able to clean and get rid of too.

Here are your 'tidbits' for today..........there are quite a few patterns besides this one.  Here's the link

It is slow to load so give it a minute.

here's some Hygge tips to help you stay upbeat in bad weather......

this should take the chill away..........if you're chilled that is.........I think I might add some sugar too?

and a little something to make you smile.........

Happy Trails!!!