YOP Week #41

 I missed last week but I had nothing much to show and what I had was a surprise for some so I couldn't show it anyway, lol!  But I am back with a vengeance this week!
A finish finally and you can probably guess what it is............

I haven't washed or blocked it yet and  I need to order the backing fabric which be a dark brown minky dot fabric.  The little guy this is going to is big on texture so I think he will like both sides.
Here are my 2015 Limited Edition Easter Eggs...........

The grands each got one and I still need to make one for my son and myself but we are older and more patient....I think.  I'm not sure by which end I should hang them.  The wider bottom actually looks better with the loop on it but then in actuality that is upside down.  Oh well, the kids won't notice nor will they care! LOL!

I need to keep a supply of this yarn in all different variations...I love it and you never get bored like you do when you're working on a solid.  The Noro is constantly changing before your very eyes!  It's magic!
I'm still not caught up with the preemie hats but I am almost done with March so it won't be long but I am needing some variety as I don't want to get tired of making the hats so.....

inbetween I will be dragging out this old project.  Do you remember it?  Stay tuned next week and maybe you will be able to tell........

Now that I've finished the blanket (knitting for someone else), I get to do something for me now...a WIP for sure.  I know you'll remember this project...please don't gasp at the fact I am still not finished!  At least it is the 2nd sock!  It shouldn't take me long now and I discovered a dropped stitch and fixed it myself!  First time!  Remember how I would tear it all out and start over? 

Unfortunately I noticed another dropped stitch but this one I am not sure how to fix and I am hoping against hope that one of you expert knitters will be able to help me.  

See where the orange marker is?  I just found the dropped stitch and I'm quite a bit down the road now.  I know how to pick it up with a crochet hook but how do I knit it back in at this point?  If I have to tear it out just tell me....I'm used to it but I don't want to if I don't have to.  Has this ever happened to you?  How did I not notice?  I would certainly appreciate any help you could give me on this "dilemma".

Yesterday I mowed the yard for the first time, cleaned out the garage (there's more to do), filled 2 garbage cans with brush and weeds and was still able to get out of bed this morning!  I was thrilled!
Today I'm going to try and get some paint on the shed as more rain is coming and of course, eventually it will get REALLY hot here but Spring is perfect temps so far so I need "to make hay while the sun shines".  I hope the sun is shining where you are.
Happy Trails!

Pinterest Progress.....I tried to publish yesterday but blogger and I were not getting along so here it is..a day late!

If you remember from last week's post, I was going to take 5 pins from my boards on Pinterest and do them and here is how that worked out along with the next 5 pins for this week.

1.  I wanted to start using my crock pot more in order to free up more time for other projects and also so I wouldn't have to stop in the middle of the afternoon to start fixing supper. 

PIN #1 - Pinned to my slow cooker board.  I want to do more slow cooker meals as I have the garage sale and organizing I'm doing and it seems like just when I'm getting going it is time to stop and make supper so this should fix that!  Indian Butter Chicken Naan Pizza with Lime ; Peanut Slaw Naan serves as the crust for our Indian Butter Chicken pizza. We slow cooked the toppings and then added tangy slaw on top. Recipe by Jessica Walker    This went in the crock pot this morning although I would highly suggest to myself and others that you prep all the ingredients the night before if you want to eat at a decent time! LOL!  I still have the side dish to make and the naan bread for the pizza base. REVIEW:  This meal took more prep work than a gourmet meal! I ended up  having a can of soup that night because there was still the naan bread to make!  REALLY? It was alright but I will never make it again.....ever!  It wasted more time than it saved and it wasn't that tasty. Here's a picture of mine.  Mind you, I am no food stylist! LOL! PIN #2 - These are pinned to my Organization board ~ aren't they darling? REVIEW:  These are just as darling as they look and I did download the fonts and the labels but there are some supplies needed that I don't have.  I need to order printer paper that has adhesive so you can peel it off your labels and they will adhere.  Also, there is card stock involved which I don't think I have but I might.  I think this will be a winner when I get done but for now it is still a WIP so stay tuned!    PIN #3 - This is timely...in fact I had better ensure I have supplies and I am ready as severe weather season is here.....like tonight! This is on my Self Sufficiency board or my Preparedness board...I should probably combine those 2.  REVIEW:   This was not very helpful as I was really looking at what you need to have on hand to be prepared for any storm where as this was more what to do and not do when there is a lightening storm.  Still good information but I already knew most of it.  PIN #4 -This is on my Organization board...are you seeing a theme here? LOL! REVIEW:  This is an excellent idea but I just don't have time for this right now but I will be implementing some time.  I will be printing off her labels and again there are supplies I need.  She uses a laminating machine but I don't think I'll invest in one...about $50.00, I think.  I'll see but right now I'd just be happy  to have a one word label on them.  She empties all hers, organizes by size and items and then laminates an inventory sheet onto the bin.  Good for her! LOL!  And I thought I was anal! LOL!  I'm not giving up on this one, I just have bigger fish to fry right now.!  PIN #5 - This is on my Food board......I have never made these but I remember them always being around at Easter when I was growing up.  Let's bring those "good ole days" traditions back before we lose them.  Do any of you make these during the Easter season? REVIEW: Here are my pictures of my hot cross buns and I used a Martha Stewart recipe instead because this one was in metric. I learned it is an old English custom. I followed the directions but they ended up like mini hot cross buns which was fine with me but I also did not "pipe" the frosting on as it was pretty "drippy"...maybe next time.  I did end up with lots of leftover dough which I froze.  I've been eating them with tea in the morning for breakfast and at night for a dessert.  They're tasty and the frosting has lemon in it.  Just what I like....a little something sweet but not too sweet.  These buns are just right! Now for this weeks picks! PIN #1 - I better hurry...more storms on the way!   PIN #2 - A monthly budget minder

PIN #3 -  I am not ready to do this but I am researching it.  Plus, my big question is "do you have to hire a mover to get all the furniture out of the room and then back again?" PIN #4 -  I have an old farm glider that is about in the same shape that I want to paint this Spring if it ever stops raining long enough.    PIN #5 -  I'm really wanting to get things organized and/or get rid of things!  "Use it up, make it do, throw it out or buy it new!"   Wish me luck on these pins and the weather!  We just got our first warning for the evening ahead. Happy Trails!

Surprise! Surprise! Day 2

 The dogs starting barking and I went to the door and "and what to my wondering eyes should appear?".....the UPS man carrying a long box to my front door that said F L O  W E R S!  I couldn't believe it as it is rarer and rarer these days! LOL!  My youngest son, Jim, sent them and are they ever gorgeous!  There must be about 18-20 pale pink tulips and about the same amount of Iris.  They took my breath away!

 They came with a pretty purple vase and very clear instructions which I have never seen before.  They said to cut off an inch on the bottom (which I always do that), they said to leave the plastic cone/sleeve around the flowers and mix 1 of 2 envelopes of flower food in room temperature water in the vase provided and let them sit like that for 3-4 hours which I did.  They said in 3 days give them fresh water using the 2nd envelope of flower food.  These pictures are after the 3-4 hours of sitting in the water with flower food.  None are open yet which is nice as they will last longer which means more enjoyment for MOI!

 On top of that they came with a small box of chocolates.....it brings a Mother to tears!  Tears of joy and thankfulness for such a thoughtful son. Although, I always tell them they shouldn't spend their hard earned money.  (Not that I don't deserve it...lol!)  But I know how expensive flowers are.

 This morning I awoke to this...........

 The irises are open and the tulips are getting ready.  Yesterday they were slanted over and this morning they were standing strong and beautiful.

These are from Pro Flowers and coming from a woman who has had many over the years these were the prettiest and healthiest I've ever seen.  Another bouquet that I got from my daughter a few years back were gorgeous too.  They were a big bouquet of meadow wildflowers from Martha Stewart and came in a mason jar.  She and Jim both know hot to pick 'em!  Literally! LOL!
Thank you, Jim....Mom loves you with all her heart...flowers or no flowers.  (He doesn't read my blog but just in case).  This has been a very good week so far and it's only Wednesday!
Happy Trails!

Surprise, surprise!!!

 I got a surprise in the mail!  I won a drawing over at Betsy's 
and she had to email me to let me know....I swear, I've been in "la-la land" lately.  Too many things going on for my poor old brain to keep track of! lol!  Thank goodness she contacted me as everything is so awesome!  Starting with the cute little pack of Kleenex with the Easter message.
 Then a sweet card with a handwritten note inside that warmed my heart!

 and what about this too cute little owl on the front of a journal?  He's so darling or she.

 But wait!  That's not all....I saved the best for last...........a hand knitted wash cloth and an absolutely gorgeous hand crocheted bookmark that I will cherish! 

Betsy, thank you SO MUCH for your thoughtfulness.  I know it was a drawing but the time and effort that went into these gifts along with your personal touch made it very meaningful to me.  You are a very special lady!

Happy Trails!

Monday books!

 I finished Deep Down True and it was a real surprise.  I loved it! It was a young female author and I thought maybe I wouldn't connect with her and it would be all about some romantic drivel where a guy shows up and solves all the problems that the last one left her with.  Not so!  It was extremely well written and heartfelt and to be honest...I couldn't put it down!  I will be reading her other 2 books for sure!  I highly recommend this book!

My non-fiction that I'm reading is still Pilgrim at Tinker Creek.  There are really insightful parts but then she goes off on these strange tangents like she's getting inebriated or "smokin' somethin'"..lol!  But there are moments of brilliance throughout the book about nature and I've learned things I never knew.  It is a Pulitzer Prize Winner and truth be told I usually stay away from them and Oprah's picks which are such "downers".  I'll finish it but I doubt I will keep it around or pass it on either. 

I finished this audio book of Agatha Chrsitie short stories called The Harlequin Tea Set and it was excellent par the queen of mystery writers.  I ran into a streak of luck one day at the thrift store and there were all kinds of audio books really cheap and I might have bought them out! LOL!  I think they were actually $1.00 each as I don't think I would have bought so many at $2.99 each....I am pretty cheap but even at $2.99 they would be a bargain as they are so expensive new.  I had never heard of these stories or read any of them so it was a real treat!

My audio book for this week is The Secret Garden and it is absolutely fantastic!  I knew the gist of the story or so I thought as my children read it and watched the movie many times but I was always running around not actually watching it.  This recording is on 2 cds and although there is no mention of the voices and who they are I recognize them as very well known British actresses.  It is more theater with sound affects and top notch performing.  I would love to get this for my grandchildren as it keeps you fascinated throughout.  Very well done.  I've just started the second cd.

 

I went to the library to take back my books and of course I always find others to read........I found this interesting book, Cold Comfort Farm, which was written in 1932 and has been re-issued.  Supposedly it was a spoof on the dramatic and overwrought English rural novels of the time.  It's a bit different but it has kept my interest because it is so odd and the characters are just that...REAL characters.  I'm only about 1/3 into it so I will let you know when I finish what I really think. It's about a single woman who doesn't want to get a job and in those days relatives were obligated to take in their female relatives who couldn't really be expected to "fend for themselves".  Flora, the single woman looks through her family and decides she'd like to go live with the Starkadders at Cold Comfort Farm and they are truly a strange lot.  Flora thinks she can change them and has taken them and their farm under her wings to "tidy things up a bit".  She's a force to be reckoned with but then so are the Starkadders! LOL!

 The other interesting titles I picked up at the library were....this next audio......

The Hurricane Sisters is about 3 generations of women buried in secrets living in the South Carolina Lowcountry.  It is "a tumultuous journey filled with longings, disappointments, and, finally, a road toward happiness".  Sounds like life to me and an interesting book!

 If you want to read a lighthearted book sure to make you laugh out loud then you need to read Karen Gillespie's Bottom Dollar Girl's books.  I read her first one and didn't realize there were more so I was thrilled to pick this one up at the library!

 The other one I read was Bet Your Bottom Dollar .  The Bottom Dollar is an "emporium" in a small town and the women ("bottom dollar girls") that work there.  "Funny, fast-paced, and full of quirky but lovable characters,  Karen Gillespie's A Dollar Short leaves you wishing you had your own Bottom Dollar Emporium to visit every day."

Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier came highly recommended to me several years ago so when I saw it I picked it up.  "Cold Mountain is an extraordinary novel about a soldier's perilous journey back to his beloved at the end of the Civil War.  It is a magnificent love story and a harrowing account of one man's long walk home."

These ought to keep me off the streets and out of trouble!   And tonight is DWTS's and Castle....good Monday night fare!  Happy Trails!

 

Happy Easter and/or Happy Passover!

I've probably got pollen on my nose from sticking it in this lily all day.  It smells heavenly which is so appropriate for today.  I hope you are all having a wonderful Easter or Passover or both for those combined families.  To me the important lesson is forgiveness, tolerance and love for all God's creatures.
Happy Trails!

Spring has sprung in the Ozarks!

 The girls and I went for a really long hike today to see what the woods were up to.........these buds looked like someone had gone through the woods and hung neon green ornaments on the trees

In some parts it felt like I was in a fairy woods..........so ethereal......
(it was an overcast day btw)..........

trees and bushes were beginning to blossom all around..............

the red buds were popping out their pretty pink flowers..........

I got here just in time!

you would never guess that those dead looking branches could come back to life with such glorious color...even on the ground there were teeny tiny little flowers that were so sweet and beautiful.........all that prettiness packed into a flower no bigger than a thumbtack

gorgeous forsythia as we got closer to civilization again..........

and then my own yard where I am reminded there is work to be done but still.....there is nothing like Spring in the Ozarks............
I even found grape hyacinth growing in amongst the grass...(not in this picture)...this is ajuga (sp?)...the purple flowering plant/weed

the sugar maple is "coming out" and the trees are beginning to flower............

I never really liked Spring that much until I moved here.....Spring in the Ozarks is one big beautiful celebration!

We got home just in time as it poured buckets right as we got in the door....someone was looking out for us.  It is starting to storm again now with severe thunderstorm warnings.....another sign that it is "Spring in the Ozarks".
Happy Trails!