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...........

Friday Night Sewing With Friends.......

This is only once a month but for me I am doing it every Friday night and I am making progress!  There is no knitting or crocheting that takes place on Friday  nights....only sewing and embroidery and applique.  Most evenings I'm tired and it's just so easy to pick up the needles or hook and I never get any of my other handwork or sewing done.  FNSWF solves that problem!
I spent the first couple hours cleaning and organizing my dining/sewing area so I can actually find my supplies and sit right down and sew when I want to.
I printed off the templates/pattern for the Hexie travel kit I'm working on, listed the supplies I don't have and finished my 2 hexie flowers that are needed for the kit.  They are both the same size but the angle I took the picture makes the bottom one look bigger.

 After that I spent the rest of the evening working on my cross stitch bookmark for Valentine's Day and part of my VD project list.  I also got my list made for the supplies I need for all those projects.

Have a great Saturday....Happy Trails to you!

Baking Day..........

I baked some cookies  and it is my own recipe .  I am a crisp cookie person but these are what I call Blueberry Cakies and I love them!  They're like eating nut bread in a cookie and for a cookie recipe they're rather good for you too.  I've been experimenting with different recipes as I wanted a blueberry cookie but not a purple cookie.  This is what I finally came up with and they're not purple!  Yay!!!!

Here's the recipe if you'd like to try them.  They're great with a cup of tea.

Blueberry Cakies:     Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes
--------------------------

1 C dried blueberries
1 C water
3/4 C butter, softened
1 1/2 C sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
2 1/2 C flour (I used a white/wheat combo)
1 t soda
1 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t ground cloves
2 C oats
1/2 C chopped nuts

 Simmer blueberries and water over medium heat for about 15 minutes. ( Watch so the water doesn't dry up....if it starts getting low add some more.)  Drain, reserving the liquid.  If necessary, add water to make 1/2 C.
Mix softened butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla.  Stir in liquid.  Blend in remaining ingredients.  Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls, 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Cook until light brown if using white flour (mine are a little browner since I used half wheat flour).  Remove to a wire rack to cool.
Let me know what you  think if you try them.
Happy Trails!

Finalists of my Valentine Projects

Yesterday was GORGEOUS here!  67 degrees and I was outside like a shot.  I got my car cleaned out and the garage swept up and the steps from the garage to the kitchen washed.  They were so dirty that when I washed them it looked like I'd put a fresh coat of paint on them.  Works for me!
I called the vet to see when the biopsy would be back and they said a good week.  I asked about walking her and they said okay but not the hikes we usually take so I decided to just work outside and let her bask in the sunshine. Although, she did run a little bit with the neighbor's dog (puppy) Missy who looks at Nitty like a mother and to Nitty it's the child she never had.
This morning was 24 degrees C and it hasn't gotten above 30 all day and windy as all get out.
But I did finalize my Valentine projects and here they are with one addition you haven't seen......

 Projects Picked:

1.       popcorn candy treat with vintage label on bags for all

  2.    giant Hershey Kiss of Rice Krispie Treats for the kids

 

3.       heart shaped rice krispie treats for adults

   4.  homemade cards but each will be different.........this is just a sample

  5. Mason jars with doilies on them for me

    6.   Crocheted granny square with heart in the middle for me for now anyway......maybe if I make enough they'll be for someone else next year...who knows...but I REALLY like them myself

  7.  Felt heart ornaments for my Valentine tree with lights too.........

8.  Painted Mason Jars for me

 

9.   Cross Stitched Bookmark for my daughter...below is not a bookmark but a little pillow that The Primitive Hare made.  (This is a free pattern that you can find on her website under"Freebies".  She has many wonderful patterns if you are a cross stitcher.)

I found some pre-made bookmarks at Walmart ready to cross stitch and VOILA....the design fits perfectly on it.  I'm pretty sure my daughter doesn't read my blog...she's a teacher with 2 little ones so...no, she's not reading my blog. LOL!  I'm thinking I might tea dye it after I'm all done...I'll see.

Now I need to make a supply list for all of it.  Mind you I considered the cost of supplies and the cost of shipping when I made my choices.  The planning is so fun but now I have to get to work!  What are your plans/projects for Valentine's Day?

YOP Sunday

Not much handwork got done this week with my dog having surgery. She's doing great BTW! And have I mentioned she hates having her picture taken?

  But I did manage to get a few things frogged (my sock and a hat) unfortunately.  Not permanently though....I think I was just tired and not paying attention but they weren't that far along so it will be alright....more experience!  Or maybe it was that full moon?

Anyway.....I have the Dubliner to finish today while watching football..........

I did start some things in other arenas...a present for someone.........

A "hexie" travel kit which you can find tutorials over at The Zen Of Making   Be careful though as "hexies" are addictive!  She's also got an in depth one on how to oil and clean your scissors in case your interested.

Have you seen the new dolls from Susan Anderson that she made for Quince & Co.?  Too cute!  I know Kepanie saw them because she left a comment there.  Kepanie, do you think I could handle these or should I take her class on Itty Bitty Toys first?  Anyway.....I love them.......the pattern is on Ravelry for purchase.

One of my blogging friends, Melody 
who has links to fabulous free patterns daily and is the Queen of hexies, proclaimed the other day that in 2014 she was going to 1)make something for a gift then 2) make something for charity and 3)make something for herself and rotate that throughout the year.  I thought that was a great idea!  I am now looking for a charity to make for and there are quite a few groups right on Ravelry.  If anyone has one they are involved with and would recommend please let me know.  One I found interesting was a group that makes things for a charity in each state in the U.S. and then they start over again. 
Also, if anyone has any suggestions as to how I can narrow my interests down that would probably help me too! LOL!
Happy Trails to you until we meet again.............

Nitty's home and resting...........

She had her surgery this morning and the one thing I felt good about was the fact that because she gets monthly allergy shots she knows everyone there and they know her.  In fact, whenever we go in they say hello to her first and then I get "Oh, hi Miss Licher"...too funny.  She is the social butterfly of the family.  She gets so excited when she sees all of them....although that might change after today.  She was happy to see me and definitely wanted to go home!  The vet said when she went in it looked "clean" and that hopefully it was just an infected mammary gland or cysts.  The biopsy will be done...I forgot to ask when but I'm just so happy she's back home and hopefully is comfortable.  I was fortunate also to have a ramp for her to climb to get in and out of my SUV.  I got it when my Abby girl started getting older and it was getting hard for her to jump that high.
She's got antibiotics to take again but we got it to the point last time where she was practically swallowing them right away as she knew a treat was coming as soon as she did.  At first I had to stuff them down her throat but she's a smart girl and knew if she swallowed I wouldn't stick my hand down her throat!  I didn't raise any dummies! LOL! (BTW...if you are a first time reader of my blog, Nitty is my Rottweiler.)
After I dropped her off I went to Walmart as it is fairly close by.  I got some "supplies" for the Valentine's Day projects............oh, and did I  mention a couple books? 

Can you guess which projects I'll be making with these?  The bookmark is cross stitch fabric.  If I like it I will make my own bookmarks but it was only $2.50 so I thought I would give it a try.  And since I won't be getting a Kindle any time soon I broke down and got myself some books I spotted the other day and passed by.
  I am a book fanatic lover so I had to get The Book Thief .  It is now a movie but I always read the book first.

and look at this interesting book by Nora Roberts........
I don't read many of hers but this is about Ireland and an Irish family so I couldn't resist!  It is book #1 of The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy.

These are both larger paperbacks that I found at Walmart.

 I'm also joining Friday Night With Friends.   I know, I said I wasn't going to join anything or make any commitments but this is only the first Friday of the month (I've already missed the first one) and I need to get some serious sewing done......sew so, hopefully Friday nights will be my nights to sew and then once a month I can show my progress.  I am hoping I will get more sewing done this way as the projects are stacking up in the sewing arena.  You can check out this group here and see what they're up to...LOTS!  It doesn't have to be sewing either...anything is fine. 
I hope you have a great Friday evening.  I'll be sewing and watching Hallmark's new series and playing "hover mother" to Nitty all weekend.  Happy Trails!

More things from the heart..............

More eye candy from Pinterest "pinners"!  I love these mason jars and these might be my pick for home decoration this year...what do you think?


 The felted hearts are both from Purl Soho

 The ones below have little pockets where you could tuck in a bag of tea or some lip gloss....something small.  Candy or those message hearts.  I'm going with the tea myself.  The puffy ones would look nice as ornaments on a Valentine tree with some pink, white and red lights!  Oh yeah!  You know me and lights...the more the better!

 Now these hearts are more meaningful.  These were done by some children whose mother let them string a heart each time they did something kind for someone else.....I thought that was a wonderful way to teach them the meaning of the day and also to speed up their kindness AND the decorating! LOL!  

 I love this vintage valentine wreath....I want to make this if my printer ink holds out

 Oh, Helen Philipps made the heart below with with all her cute embellishments and a sweet little paper sewn gift package.

 These are a hoot!  And I saw the sticks for them at Walmart today in all different colors and designs.  I think they're by Wilton...at least that's the section they were in.  Too cute!

 Last but not least I found this wonderful site through Melody over at House on the Side of the Hill
 It is The Little Stitcher and she has some beautiful cross stitch kits and several free patterns also.  What I love about her site and her patterns are they are small!  Thus, the name, The Little Stitcher
.But beyond that, there's a history and story to each of her needle artistry projects.  I am definitely going to be patronizing this amazing woman who puts words to the pictures and feelings to the handwork.  Here are a few of her free patterns.  Lovely little items that would make lovely gifts any time of year.

Melody stitched this one with just the words and the cup of tea and then slipped a bag of tea inside....take a look over on her website to see how cute hers turned out....she used different colors and it is just precious.

These could be used for any number of applications but if you use them please stop by and thank her.

Well, I need to wrap up my choices by tomorrow.....have you picked anything out?  Please share with me what you are doing to celebrate Valentine's Day.
  Happy Trails......."til we meet again".

Nitty is having surgery, pondering projects and staying busy

Yesterday I took Nitty back to the vet as her nipple is still seeping and she's still scratching and licking it.  She finished her antibiotics last week so I was worried as to what he would say and it was the "S" word.  I keep praying it will heal and she will too.  Maybe a miracle by Friday?  I've lost 2 dogs and a horse that went into surgery and never came out so I'm a little nervous around doctors/vets etc.  Plus, the cost after an already expensive month.  But I would do anything for the Nit girl and this way there will be a biopsy and we'll  know if it's cancer or not.  He still doesn't think it is and I'm praying it isn't also but I've had 2 Rottweilers that have had cancer and died from it so it's 50/50.
Please say a prayer for her if you can find it in your heart and busy schedule.

  Meanwhile, in order to keep my mind off of it and not worry about something that hopefully will not even come to pass.....I went on the internet searching for Valentine's Day projects.  Nothing can get a girl's mind off her troubles more than a little "shopping around" on the internet.  I shop for inspiration which is pretty much free unless there are supplies involved.  Here's what I've found so far.....

A sweet (pun intended) label for some treat bags for the grands........

and some treats to put in those bags........

of course there must be cards........

some decorations for the house

Not sure I have time to make this into anything this year but I love these squares with the different colored hearts so this will be my Valentine's gift to me...a little sweet for the sweet. LOL!  The pattern for this is on Ravelry and in my "favs".  My Ravelry id is Saminar.

 these look quick to stitch up for a little gift............ 

 If you're interested in any of these projects and more please check out my Pinterest account.  I checked these out to ensure there were directions as many are "dead ends".  Please give credit to the creators of these treasures.....I'm only leading you to them.  I need to figure out how to put a button/widget on here for Pinterest and Ravelry.  If anyone knows please share.  My id is Saminar or Sandra Licher....either one should get you there.  Most of my ideas here are for things that are lightweight and will ship easily but if your "valentines" are close by then you have more options.  I'll be posting more and let you know when I pick my final projects by the end of this week.  Please let me know if you're going to make any of these.  The day of love (and kindness, which should be every day IMHO) is a month from today!  We must all get busy spreading the LOVE! 

Happy Trails...........