Favorite Friday.......or the Friday Finale

I say that because when I worked for a living, Friday was my favorite day!  It still seems to be although every day is special in its own way.  I've been watching the Olympics as much as possible.  How about you?  Did you watch the women's hockey game between the U.S. and Canada?  It was quite the game.  It was U.S. 2-0 for most of the game then Canada scored twice and it was 2-2 and then overtime where Canada scored and won 3-2.  What happened U.S. ? LOL!  Congratulations to all my Canadian friends.

I haven't been accomplishing much around here as I do love the olympics and watch them as much as possible.  Therefore, I am also staying up later at night and not reading as much as I normally would but I did manage to finish another book in the Canadian West series by Janet Oke...book #2 When Comes the Spring and now I'm reading book #3 When Breaks the Dawn

Oh gosh, I just thought of something!  You don't think I jinxed the U.S. Women's Hockey Team by reading Canadian books by a Canadian author during the Olympics, do you?  One can't be too careful when it comes to these things.

 

I did manage to finally get some supplies for The Preemie Project when I was at Wal-mart the other day.  I need to wash the material first but I can get started on the preemie hats.  They have patterns in 4 different sizes....small preemie 2 lbs, medium preemie 3-4 lbs., large preemie/small newborn 5-6 lbs and then newborn 7lbs +.

The hand print material is flannel for a sheet and the yellow is fleece material for a blanket.  I'm going to try and make one of each item they have listed on their group page in Ravelry.  Maybe eventually I'll make color coordinated sets.

Worked on another washcloth and it's already finished.

I started another one in crochet that I can work on while watching the games although they're almost over. 
The other night there were clouds rolling across the full moon and I just had to try and capture it as it was so beautiful.  As a photographer I did not do nature's beauty justice....but I tried.

Below are 2 pictures that to me look like a girl or woman holding a candle or light....a side view of her facing left.  But behind that and to the right it looked to me like a woman's lips and nostrils.

Maybe I'd just been staring up at the sky too long but I have always seen things in clouds and nature.  Regardless, it was a beautiful evening.
Happy Trails.

Goodbye satellite.............Hello Roku!

I don't know about you but I've had it with my Dish satellite provider.  They've raised my bill continuously for the last 3 years.  I was getting local channels for $9.00 a month. (You'd have to have a huge aerial here to get over the mountains/hills and without an aerial you get static...that's it.  Even bunny ears won't help.  I can't even get radio without extreme static except in the car which is satellite and no cell phone reception either.)  Then they raised it to $16.00 as they said they had "no choice".   Then it went to $20.00 or the cost of their lowest package and they said "I had to" in order to continue to get local channels.  Last year they sent me a big, fancy, glossy "Thank You" for being such a good and long standing Dish customer (over 20 years, I think) and in that thank you card they told me they were raising my bill $5.00.  I called and they said "they had to" as programming rates went up.  I told them what the heck kind of thank you was that?  Also, it must have cost them an arm and a leg to send out that glossy, big, thank you card....couldn't they have saved that money and kept the rates down?  This year...same thing..."slam bam, thank you ma'am" we're raising your rates another $5.00!  So, I'd been hearing about this Roku where you can get t.v. through the internet...I decided to investigate.  I did my research and for about $100.00 investment I could get t.v on my t.v. using the internet and no monthly bills at all unless I choose to subscribe to certain channels...no packages....just what I wanted!  Goodbye Dish...I'm sorry but "I had to"! LOL!
  I went to my local Walmart and here's what I purchased.......

I bought the least expensive one for $48.00

I needed a wireless adapter because although I have a wireless router my new pc was not wireless (duh...I assumed any new pc you bought would be wireless capable nowadays....NOT!)  You may not need this if you are wireless already.  This cost me $39.97

This HDMI cable connects my Roku to my t.v. and you need an HD capable t.v. to use this cable.  I'm not sure what you need to get if your t.v. is not HD capable but just go to the Roku website and they will tell you all you need to do.  If there are technical terms or equipment you aren't familiar with just Google those terms and you will get all kinds of information explaining it to you from You Tube to Ehow to Wikipedia.  You can learn anything you want on the intenet if you just keep searching and reading until you understand it all and then you can make an informed decision.
I am not getting paid by anyone to promote Roku and there are other "streaming players" out there but this one seems to be the top choice right now from what I could see.  I have not canceled my Dish subscription yet as I want to experiment with Roku and find out what I can and cannot get.  One nice thing is, it won't go out when it rains (like satellite) unless you lose power! LOL!
I'm not sure there is any football on Roku but there is lots of sports...including baseball, hockey and soccer.  I haven't seen the Olympics on there though.  There is PBS but not live, it is recorded so you can go back and watch anything you've missed and lots more when you want to watch it!  And you can rewatch it whenever you want.  I need to see if Doc Martin is on there.  I know I saw Sherlock and Downton Abbey.  I watched Downton on Sunday night so I need to go see if that episode is out there now.  And Sherlock I haven't watched at all because I don't stay up that late.
I'm also a big fan of Hallmark channel and especially their new Canadian West series on Saturday nights.  I need to see if I can get that or if it's subscription. 
I guess what I'm trying to say is, do your research first, I figured I would try the Roku and see what it's like before I unsubscribe to Dish and then if I don't like it simply return the Roku and get my money back.  But I'm thinking this is exactly what I want, so far.  I may miss a few things but there is SO much out there....literally 1,000's of channels for free....that the Roku will pay for itself within 2 months for me.  I also like news, unbiased, about our country from other countries...like BBS and there are others without a political agenda to further.
I won't blog about this again other than to tell you if there are channels I particulary want to recommend or tell you about and vice-versa.  If you have one of these "live internet streaming" gadgets please let me know what your experience has been, channels you enjoy or programming you've found interesting.  I'm wondering if there are any specific craft or fiber related channels out there?  That would be truly awesome...and if there isn't why not?  How about a channel on cleaning house and de-cluttering....how-to and motivation is MY kind of reality T.V.
Happy Trails!

Not sick but that's only because I won't admit it.....

And I'm not really...no temp, but tired, listless, eyes watering, headache.  I was fighting something over the weekend.  One of my little grandson's has been ill up North and maybe Grandma thought she could take some of it off of him?  Regardless, I never lay down or nap but I finally did over the weekend and then last night only could sleep 3 hours.  Crazy, but I am slogging through whatever it is because the sun is shining and it is in the high 60's here!  Hallelujah! 
I will be around to catch up with everyone and meanwhile here's what I've been up to in between naps and blowing my nose.

Yep...accomplished one of my Valentine Day objectives....I made homemade cards and envelopes.  It was fun but I am a novice especially at the cards.  I hope everyone had a happy Valentine's Day/weekend.

Cleaned my closet....almost..still working on it.......

I started cleaning my closet yesterday and I am proud to say I have a clean closet and 2-3 bags of clothes to donate and/or sell. I should have taken a before picture.  I took everything out and was just going to dust off the shelves and rod "when what to my wondering eyes should appear" but soot on everything!  Soot, you say?  In a closet with no vents or windows?  How could that be?  Well, let me tell you........candles!  Yep!

I burn candles all the time and love them especially to mask the "animal" smell that might be lingering in my home.  I had to get Dawn (the grease cutter) and scrub down the shelf and rod and also my plastic containers.  So, first no fireplace and now no candles.  I guess beeswax candles don't have soot but I've used soy and they still have soot.  I'm thinking it might be the perfume/oils in them rather than the wax itself but what do I know?  Not much, except there will be no more burning in my house.  I'll be using my little warmers and my little crock pot with simmering potpourri. 

I have 1/2 closet empty except for the shelf  as I put my containers back.....and some supplies that were in the hall closet.  Some of these containers will be emptied too as there are heels in there that I will never wear again as long as I live. LOL! 

  

 This is a better place for the tp and kleenix as it is right next to the "mistresses"  bathroom. Those notebooks are my journals...each one holds a year's worth but those are only the ones I've organized...I have over 15 years worth of journals!  I need to get more notebooks when I go to Staples next time.

The shelf and rod are not bowed but they sure look like it in the picture.  I have plenty of room on the floor now too but I want to replace my laundry baskets............

with something like this..........

reason being, the laundry baskets with the holes all around them tend to let in pet hairs and I have to wipe them out every time before I put my clean clothes in them.  Plus, the rectangles are awkward getting in and out of the closet and I've banged my knuckles more than once.  So, it's settled....I'll be getting 3 of those bucket type tubs for my laundry and they won't take up as much space either and I like the handles better. 
I'm thinking of putting a small dresser or bookcase in there too for shoes or miscellaneous items such as scarves, belts, etc. as those are all taking up drawer space right now...well, not the shoes.  I've sorted through my hangars and I have a whole shopping bag full of those to take to the thrift store too.  My Spring/Summer clothes are in the guest room closet.
Hmmmmm......now what to do with this stuff?  LOL! 

But to make the day worthwhile, in a different sort of way, I made some homemade bread in between my bouts with the closet.  Carbs are helpful when you are letting go of so much.  Goodbye career suits and high heels and clothes you will never fit in again........ever!
 So here's a before and after........
 BEFORE:

 AFTER:

YUM!
Happy Trails!

Cold Tuesday but the "warmup" is coming tomorrow!

I didn't get off to a very good start this morning....my kitchen t.v. "bit the dust" and I'm afraid my printer did too.  Hmm....they're plugged into surge protectors but why both at the same time?  Then, the phone rings and it's Dish Network wanting to know if my Dish is working alright...coincidence?
I did manage to find out that I can take old electronics to the recycling center "when the white truck is there".....so am I supposed to ride around with all my old electronic equipment in  my car until the "white truck" arrives?  Thank goodness the Recycling Center is not too far so when I take my other things if I see "the white truck" I can run back home and load up the dead t.v.'s and other members of my electronic graveyard.

Meanwhile,my girls always lift my spirits...............this is Grace...for some reason she REALLY believes we can't see her behind this curtain....

I finished a few books and I think I forgot to tell you about some of them..........
Town in a Blueberry Jam is a great new "cozy"mystery series with recipes and a great plot and storyline.  This is the first book in the series and I plan on reading more!

This book is old and written by a minister who lived in the woods in Michigan.  He believed the spiritual was all around us in nature.  He had his own church where he was pastor but these writings and his own pen and ink drawings came from his walks and experiences in nature.  This is a "keeper" and will go in my "keeper" bookcase.

This is  my next non-fiction that I'll be starting tonight.  It's a pioneer woman's journal.  I love these types of books.  This is a library book.

I made 15 bean soup yesterday...I love this picture of all the different beans while they're soaking...... 

 Here's the 15 bean soup package.......it might be a Southern product but I'm not sure.  It's very frugal and very tasty.  I always add a ham bone or ham meat to it and serve it with cornbread.

I found that an empty Coffee-mate container is great for sprinkling ice melt. The lid screws on and off for filling.....

and the pop-top is great for the sprinkling.

Well, time for some of that soup and then an evening of watching the Olympics.  Stay warm and safe!
Happy Trails!

YOP Sunday

What a great week this has been to be trapped inside! LOL! It's icy out there and there have been no sand trucks or plowing done here.  The garbage hasn't been picked up for a week and I don't think they've delivered any mail either.  It's beginning to melt now as we are finally above freezing but meanwhile I've been getting things done and the Olympics are on too!

I started off the day with some cinnamon rolls to give me energy to blog! LOL!
I finished the cross stitch portion of the book mark.  Now I need to sew a backing and tea dye it. 

I washed and blocked the scarf for my daughter and it's ready to send off.

This is the giraffe in progress....I'm up to the neck now and ready to close off and stuff and then the appendages are after that........

I finally pieced together the backing for my grandson's wall hanging/grow chart and I'm ready to "sandwich" and pin baste next.

My one son received his hat in the mail and loved it.....what's not to love when it's -10 F.  I also included some O'Keefe's hand cream and a bag of 15 bean soup.....sort of a Winter Warmup package.
The hat for my other son is on the decreases now so it will probably get done by today and then I can send his package off later this week as tomorrow and Tuesday we are supposed to get more snow!

I need to do some crochet for a change or in conjunction with the knitting and I found just the project!  Not that I need another one but when you see something that takes your breath away you just have to give in.....it's your soul speaking to you! This came by way of Faith...as in the person....who posted about this last week.........(be still my beating heart).  This is her version and after researching others I still think hers is my favorite.

 

 This is Emily's version.........

This is the original version...........

And this is the book "from whence they came".............the pattern is by Doris Chan but came out of a book by Kim Werker.

So, "needles" to say, I need supplies!!!  So this week I will be placing an order (and putting a second mortgage on the house....no, just kidding) and I do needs lots!  I have nothing in the baby yarn category or baby fleece category to make anything for the Preemie Project.  Since way before Christmas I've only been working on gift items it seems but hopefully once I get supplies in I can balance projects better as in my "round robin" plan of  making something to gift, something to give and then something for me.
I hope you are all doing great and the warmup is coming....it really is!  Happy trails until we meet again..........