Sunday, August 26, 2018

YOP Week #9

I didn't get much done this week...I'm starting to sound like a broken record!  Also, I forgot to set goals last week.....could that be part of it?  Anyway, here's what I got done...........I am on to the foot of the 2nd sock...........in the homestretch now!  My next sock will be using Sockmatician's toe up tutorial and I already have the yarn for them.
Merry Monday saw some work done...............more trees
Witchy Wednesday saw a cat's ear appear!
Fall Friday didn't get too much attention...........just the K and the I............

Stars and Stripes Saturday is one of my favorites!  I love the scroll lettering...........
Santa Sunday is being worked on as I speak but here is what I have so far..........this is a Prairie Schooler pattern that is no longer in print.  I have looked everywhere for it to buy but to no avail so I printed a picture and thought I would try and "read" the stitches as best I could..............it is from a pattern called Button Up...........
 moving right along..............
I had to go to Mountain Home this week to say farewell to my RA doctor who I adore........so sad...he asked me if I had found another and I said no....none are taking new patients.  He was so sweet, he gave me his new address and phone number and said if I needed anything to call him.  He will be missed but I am in remission and hope to stay that way forever.  I'm praying that the people who are in the 'throws" of RA were able to find a doctor.  I didn't lose any weight....not that I was trying but my blood pressure was 106 over 58.......in the doc's office.....they were amazed at how good it is.....retirement and steering clear of negativity in all it's forms is so stress free!  LOL! 
Meanwhile, while I was in 'the big city' (12,000 people...lol!) I stopped at Hobby Lobby and got some cross stitching supplies......no yarn needed but I did look!  Here' s what I picked up...........
   Some 'O' rings for project floss holders, some plastic floss holders as my old cardboard ones are really old and worn, some 24 and 26 size XS needles and some number adhesives for the floss holders.  I am sticking to my budget!  I also went to TJ Maxx and Lowes but all were things that were allocated for so I felt good about my purchases.
Okay....so...........
Here are my goals for this coming week:  (no more than 10 per week as I usually don't even get those done!)
1)  Merry Monday XS
2)  finish sock #2
3)  Finish the next pattern repeat on the Falling Leaves scarf (20 rows)
4)  Cut material for next pickle dish
5) work on Witchy Wednesday x-stitch
6) work on Fall Friday x-stitch
7) work on Stars and Stripes Saturday x-stitch
8) work on Santa Sunday x-stitch
9) work on hexies for Pickle Dish block #3
10)  look for sewing pattern for pajamas for me (I looked at TJ Maxx....yuch!  Satin and slinky....I want cotton or flannel and a top and bottom that match not a t-shirt and bottom.

That should do it for this week folks!  I hope you had a wonderful week and enjoyed working on your projects.  Please stop by and see all the other fantastic projects that other  YOP'ers are working on.Happy Trails!!!

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Pushing ahead!

 I got this card in the mail yesterday and thought it was so pretty!  I thought it was a photo but on the back it said it was a painting....I laughed so hard at myself......did I really think they could get all those animals to sit like that for a photo?  I am getting batty in my old age but I have lots of laughter  at my own expense....lol!
The inside of the card had drawings from Grayson and Sam and Amy..and it had this verse which I adored............."Sometimes I just sit and ponder on how you're doing way off yonder"...........isn't that the cutest?  I think that about a lot of people.  It certainly made me smile!
 Okay...so it's Tuesday..........but I have a few 'finishes in the book department...........did I tell you about this one?  Tales of Beetle the Bard by J.K. Rowling...........
Amazon states: "
All profits from the sale of this eBook will go to Lumos, a charity founded by J.K. Rowling to end the institutionalisation of children worldwide.As familiar to many Hogwarts students as Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty are to Muggle children, The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a collection of popular stories written for young wizards and witches.

Translated from the original runes by Hermione Granger, they include fascinating additional notes from Professor Albus Dumbledore, with intriguing glimpses into his life at Hogwarts, as well as illustrations from J.K. Rowling herself.

For wizarding and Muggle readers alike, this is a must-have edition, featuring fate-seeking witches, a hairy-hearted warlock and the tale of the three brothers who tried to cheat Death . . .
By buying this unique and special book, you are helping Lumos to make sure that, by 2050, no more children live in institutions or orphanages around the world, and that every child is able to enjoy their right to grow up in a family.
All profits from the sale of this eBook will go to Lumos. The Lumos Foundation is a charity registered in England and Wales with registered charity number 1112575."

This was a small delightful book that my daughter gave me and I enjoyed it!
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I finally finished this one...it was alright but I would just read a chapter a night.  It was mostly about commencement speeches he gave at colleges from a celebrity's point of view.
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I finished this little book and it packed a punch for it's little size.  Very good and very heart warming....love these kinds of books.  A tender subject treated with much tenderness. 

From Amazon:"A little book with a big heart!

“I read this beautifully imagined and moving novella in one sitting, utterly wowed, wanting to share it with everyone I know.” —Lisa Genova, bestselling author of Still Alice

From the New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, and Britt-Marie Was Here comes an exquisitely moving portrait of an elderly man’s struggle to hold on to his most precious memories, and his family’s efforts to care for him even as they must find a way to let go.

With all the same charm of his bestselling full-length novels, here Fredrik Backman once again reveals his unrivaled understanding of human nature and deep compassion for people in difficult circumstances. This is a tiny gem with a message you’ll treasure for a lifetime."
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I'm still reading this so obviously it was not "unputdownable' for me but then I  have other things to do in my life...lol!  It is good and interesting but I get tired at night and no matter how good the book I cannot force my eyes to stay open.  I'm hoping to finish this week.
From Amazon:"
“What if what you did mattered more because life happened again and again, consequences unfolding across decades and continents?…A relentlessly paced page-turner and a profound meditation on the meaning of life.”
—Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan Train
What happens to us after we die? What happens before we are born? At once a riveting mystery and a testament to the profound connection between a child and parent, The Forgetting Time will lead you to reevaluate everything you believe…
What would you do if your four-year-old son claimed he had lived another life and that he wants to go back to it? That he wants his other mother?
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 I got this on my Kindle app and it is hysterical besides having great advice for those of us who are not prone to being able to manage our homes, our belongings and chores...........she has a blog too..........here it is

 I am almost finished....now this is an "unputdownable" book LOL!  I am in the throes of cleaning and decluttering and trying to move forward even though the elder care here is taking it's toll on me and the house.  This gave me hope, made me laugh and her tips are working although I did do some of her first tasks already but I highly recommend it....it's a hoot even if you don't need the advice.
From Amazon:"
Bring your home out of the mess it’s in and learn how to keep it under control.
“The dirty little secret about most organizing advice is that it’s written by organized people,” says blogger, speaker, and decluttering expert Dana K. White. “But that’s not how my brain works. I’m lost on page three.” Dana blogs at A Slob Comes Clean, chronicling her successes and failures with her self-described “deslobification process.” In the beginning she used the name “Nony” (short for aNONYmous), because she was sharing her deep, dark, slob secret. Now she has truly come clean—with not only her real name but the strategies she has developed, tested, and proved in her own home. She has learned what it takes to bring a home out of Disaster Status, which habits make the biggest and most lasting impact, and how to keep clutter under control.
In How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind, Dana explains that cleaning your house is not a onetime project but a series of ongoing premade decisions. Her reality-based cleaning and organizing techniques debunk the biggest housekeeping fantasies and help readers learn what really works. Chapter titles include
  • My First Step: Giving Up on the Fantasy
  • The Worst Thing About the Best Way
  • Just Tell Me What to Do
  • Conquering Laundry
  • Get Dinner on the Table
  • Putting an End to the Never-Ending Weekly Cleaning Tasks
  • Don’t Get Organized
  • How to Declutter Without Making a Bigger Mess
  • Fighting the Perceived Value Battle
  • But Will It Last?
With a huge helping of empathy and humor, Dana provides a step-by-step process with strategies for getting rid of enormous amounts of stuff in as little time (and with as little emotional drama) as possible."
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 I never really finished reading this book as I got 'stuck' on the budget chapter but I am back reading it again from the beginning and getting even more out of it this time.
From Amazon:"Do you have too much month at the end of your money? Is your credit card screaming for relief? Are you tired of robbing Peter to pay Paul . . . whoever they are?

Meet Steve and Annette Economides. They’ve been called cheapskates, thriftaholics, and tightwads, but in these tough economic times, Steve and Annette have managed to feed their family of seven on just $350 per month, pay off their first house in nine years and purchase a second, larger home, buy cars with cash, take wonderful vacations, and put money in savings. Without degrees in finance or six-figure salaries, Steve and Annette have created a comfortable, debt-free life for themselves and their children. In America’s Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money, they show you how they did it- and how you can do it too.

Steve and Annette share many down-to-earth principles and the simple spending plan that they have used since 1982. They have taught this economizing lifestyle to thousands of people worldwide through seminars and their newsletter, and they include lots of real-life stories to make you feel as if you’re having your own private coaching session. Not only will you find solutions to your financial dilemmas, you’ll also discover a whole new way of life.

You don’t need to be a CPA or a math wizard to learn their revolutionary system, which will teach you:

- hundreds of ways to save money on everyday household expenses, including groceries, clothing, and health care
- how to save in advance for major purchases such as homes, cars, and vacations
- how to stop living paycheck to paycheck
- how to eliminate debt . . . forever!

America’s Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money puts meeting your financial goals- and living well at the same time- in reach for every family."
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I was reading this and then realized I had the library book to get back so once I've finished that book I will get back to reading this one....very good.
From Amazon:"
A moving, exciting, and heartfelt American saga inspired by the author's own family memoirs, these words belong to Sarah Prine, a woman of spirit and fire who forges a full and remarkable existence in a harsh, unfamiliar frontier. Scrupulously recording her steps down the path Providence has set her upon—from child to determined young adult to loving mother—she shares the turbulent events, both joyous and tragic, that molded her, and recalls the enduring love with cavalry officer Captain Jack Elliot that gave her strength and purpose.
Rich in authentic everyday details and alive with truly unforgettable characters, These Is My Words brilliantly brings a vanished world to breathtaking life again."
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That's all for Book Date this week.  I finished my last National Geographic and will start a new one tonight.  I hope you had a great day today and always!
Happy Trails!!!

Monday, August 20, 2018

A couple of young bucks came to visit me today!

There were actually 2 of them and I'm sure this is their first year of antlers.  I think they were brothers.
This one was a little shy..........
But his brother was right out in the open...........
I didn't see them today...... we had some big storms in the area last night so if they were like me they probably slept in this morning.  I hope they're okay.........I always think of all the animals out in those storms.
 Today was Merry Monday and also Monthly Monday.....I did work on my x-stitch but didn't get the monthly chore for today done which was to wash all the pet beds/toys etc.  There's tomorrow.....
 I had a dinner to make and I have been munching on part of it while the pork loin roast cooks.  I made roasted asparagus with parmesan and garlic and also roasted red potatoes..........so crunchy and good..........I will share the recipe tomorrow.....my roast will be coming out soon.  These were the potatoes before they went in..a little olive oil, thyme, cayenne and salt and pepper.....delish!
 I'll have to catch up with Book Date another day...........I'm ready for supper and bed! LOL!  I hope you had a great Monday and that all is well in your world!
Happy Trails!!!

Sunday, August 19, 2018

YOP Week #8


These were my goals for this past week:

1)  Continue working on Merry Monday cross stitch - this got some 'love'..........


2)  Finish cuff and leg down to heel of sock #2 and more - and I did...........about halfway done with the heel flap...........

3)  Finish the next pattern repeat on the Falling Leaves scarf (20 rows) - accomplished this also........it's time to move up the 'lifeline' again.......
None of the following got worked on...........
4)  Cut and sew up my daughter's Frida Kahlo basket
5)  Sew soles unto slippers
6)  Cut material for next pickle dish and get started sewing it
7)  cut binding for Sampler quilt
8)  cut pillowcase material
9) work on finishing letter "P" on pins embroidery


10) work on Witchy Wednesday x-stitch - I did work on this............we have part of a cat ear!


11) work on Fall Friday x-stitch - made quite a bit of progress on this one..........letters are fun!


12) work on Stars and Stripes Saturday x-stitch - worked on this yesterday.......


13)  Santa Sunday - I finished this one but need another one to work on today!  Simple and small...just how I like them......it does need to be 'finished' finished as in a pillow form......

14) work on hexies for Pickle Dish block #3 - I am going to cut material for this this afternoon for sure!  Hold me to it!

I am almost caught up to Stitching the High Notes podcast and that's about it.  I haven't even done any 'dreaming' of future projects.  It was a busy and expensive week.  I took Annie to the vet and she put her on Vetprofin like Nitty and she is doing better but I have to carry her out and in as she also can no longer do the stairs.  So, the vet budget is about $100.00 a month now just for their meds...not counting mine! LOL!  That night the AC went out and I had to call the repairman.  They came out right away and fixed it thank goodness because it is still warm down here.  I worked on my budget and did some cleaning and de-cluttering which are all high priorities right now.  Caring for the girls is very time-consuming but glad I have the money and the time to do it but it is also very tiring and definitely puts me behind in other areas.    This week I travel to Mountain Home to see my Rheumatologist.....he's leaving for Little Rock and the only other RA doctor is 2 hours away so I am hoping my GP will just take over the prescriptions for him.  There's another RA doctor 1 hour away but it is in Missouri so I need to find out if my insurance covers him.  I hope so..it's BCBS so I would think they would but who knows.  My RA doctor is from Syria and very smart and up to date.....I knew he would be 'moving on up'.  I will miss him...he's a gentle soul and a great doctor!
  
That should do it for this week folks!  I hope you had a wonderful week and enjoyed working on your projects.  Please stop by and see all the other fantastic projects that other  YOP'ers are working on.
Happy Trails!!!

Sunday, August 12, 2018

YOP Week #7


These were my goals for this past week:
1)  Start on Merry Monday x-stitch - I got a good start on this one!


2)  Finish cuff and leg down to heel of sock #2 - almost but no cigar!  I think I have 4 inches of about 6 inches but this week for sure.....such great t.v. knitting!  Not so sloppy this week either....I'm getting back into my sock knitting mojo

3)  Finish the next pattern repeat on the Falling Leaves scarf (20 rows) - nope....didn't touch it
4)  Cut and sew up my daughter's Frida Kahlo basket - nada
5)  Sew soles unto slippers - nada
6)  Cut material for next pickle dish and get started sewing it - nope
7)  cut binding for Sampler quilt - nope
8)  cut pillowcase material- nope
9)  do finishing sewing on 4th of July pillow - Yes!  We have a winner!  It's my first little pillow and it's not my best 'closing' but hopefully I will improve with more projects.

 here's the backing material...little stars........


10) work on finishing letter "P" on pins embroidery - didn't touch it

11) work on Witchy Wednesday x-stitch - this one will probably not be done until Halloween 2019 but I did work on it!


12) work on Fall Friday x-stitch - did this one...my Pumpkin Spice Farm with a "P"!

13) work on Stars and Stripes Saturday x-stitch - yepper........


14) work on Santa Sunday x-stitch - working on this one today..........


15) work on hexies for Pickle Dish block #3 - nope

In my defense, I have 2 elderly dogs right now that are taking a lot of devotion at the moment.  First it was Nitty and she now lives in the garage but I keep the garage door closed and open the kitchen door so it gets the AC plus I have a fan out there and when she needs to go out I just open the garage door part way....it's a good system as she stays cool in our 90 + degree F heat and I also can talk to her and she is still part of the family.  Annie has had some back issues but this week it got so bad she can't do the stairs anymore either so I have to carry her outside which I'm sure isn't comfortable for her either.  We've had a few accidents in the house and she has an appointment at the vet tomorrow.  I just feel terrible as I think she is in pain but she doesn't cry or whine or yelp but then dogs are so much more stoic than humans.  Anyway, they come first and we're trying to cope with aging in all of us except the cats...they'll outlive us for sure plus they have those 9 lives...come on.
The Mediterranean crockpot dish I made yesterday is okay and I'll be eating it all week but I probably won't make it again.
I've been catching up with Stitching the High Notes podcast still and I am now watching her Vlogmas which is reminding me to get busy with Christmas presents!  Easy ones this year and not so many.....so I say now! LOL!  I also watch the latest episode of Priscilla & Chelsea on Saturday night....they are so cute!  The new baby's name is Cash but Priscilla calls him  'Casherole'....too funny those 2!  Also, looked at Pasta Grannies podcast.....yummo!
I was going to order some 'supplies and treasures' but I think I will wait until I see what the vet bill will be....last month it was over $200.00 not counting Nitty's Vetprofin at $40.00/month. See why I need that budget?

Here are my goals for this coming week:
1)  Continue working on Merry Monday cross stitch
2)  Finish cuff and leg down to heel of sock #2 and more
3)  Finish the next pattern repeat on the Falling Leaves scarf (20 rows)
4)  Cut and sew up my daughter's Frida Kahlo basket
5)  Sew soles unto slippers
6)  Cut material for next pickle dish and get started sewing it
7)  cut binding for Sampler quilt
8)  cut pillowcase material
9) work on finishing letter "P" on pins embroidery
10) work on Witchy Wednesday x-stitch
11) work on Fall Friday x-stitch
12) work on Stars and Stripes Saturday x-stitch
13) work on Santa Sunday x-stitch
14) work on hexies for Pickle Dish block #3

Here are some 'dream' crafting wishes I've had this week:
1.  Needlecase Goodies Etsy shop - cross stitch and punch needle everything!  Also, Down Sunshine Lane and this punch needle pattern

2.  Punch needle supplies on Amazon - yes, I'm going for it! I already have a punch needle but I would like the hoop for it.
3.  Together Shawl pattern on Ravelry - I don't look good in gold but oh how I love that yarn in the picture

4.  With Thy Needle and Thread - another Halloween cat pattern...it reminds me of Miss Peeps! LOL!  That is her face and expression...too cute!

5.  Blackbird Designs
 
That should do it for this week folks!  I hope you had a wonderful week and enjoyed working on your projects.  Please stop by and see all the other fantastic projects that other  YOP'ers are working on.
Happy Trails!!!

Friday, August 10, 2018

Friday - August 10, 2018.

Yesterday I cleaned and redecorated my family room for Summer....yes, I'm a little late.  I really wanted to start decorating for Fall but I thought that might be pushing it a bit.  Summer here seems to last forever.  I don't really have many decorations for Summer but I do have a lot of chickens so I used them...........
I love lights but had no 'Summer' lights so I found some pink ones....they'll have to do...........I have an old lid from a can I can't find but I love the cherries on it so I added that to my Summery decor.........and,  of course,  candles for that Hygge effect.........
Here are some of the 'flock'...............
I also added some 'canned goods' which are really candles..........and some 'blue' birds..............
Here's the rooster of all roosters!  My Aunt made this and it is beautiful!
There's a bowl of wool 'strawberries' on the white shelf and a garage sale lamp with flowers on it.  Come to think of it, most everything I own, including furniture, is either from a thrift store, auction or garage sale, or I made it myself or it was a gift! LOL!  I love my 'antiques' and treasures.
Here's the other side of the fireplace and mantel..remember the frosted pumpkin was hanging there?  He'll be back before long!  See that orange chicken on top of the books in front of the picture?  My daughter made that when she was in school and now she's an art teacher and mother herself.  I love that chicken....it was the beginning of my chicken collection.
And yes, that is a little lit up Christmas tree in the corner to remind me to keep Christmas in my heart each day of the year!
Today was Finance Friday and I did work on finances today!  Also, it was Fall Friday and I worked on my Pumpkin Spice Farm cross stitch............I cannot believe how much I am enjoying cross stitch after all these years apart!  I used to cross stitch years (30-40) ago but I don't think I enjoyed it nearly as much as I do now.   It could be the retirement! LOL!  
 It's also Fix-it Friday so I will be mending tonight!
  I have plans and ingredients to make Mediterranean Chicken with Pepperoncini and Kalamata Olives tomorrow in the crock pot.  I got the recipe on All Recipes.  I am trying to use what I have, eat as healthy as possible while still enjoying food and clear out my freezer too.  I only needed a lemon and some sour cream.  I have everything else.  It's supposed to rain this weekend so I think a crock pot meal is always cozy and you know I am all about 'the cozy'! LOL!
Have a great Friday night!
Happy Trails!!!  



Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Wednesday - August 8, 2018.

It's Witchy Wednesday so I pulled out my 'scaredy cat' and did some work on it...1 thread over 40 count and I can't believe I'm doing it! 
 Besides regular maintenance around the homestead here, I vacuumed some today and then made a Peach Cream Pie.........

Here's the recipe if you're interested..............another easy delicious one if I do say so myself.  Actually the name is :

Peaches and Cream Cheesecake
Grease bottom and sides of a 9 or 10 inch deep dish pie pan.  Put the following ingredients in a large mixing bowl (Kitchen Aid  if you have one)
3/4 C flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 1/4 oz package of Cook and Serve dry vanilla pudding mix (NOT INSTANT)
3 Tablespoons softened butter
1 egg
1/2 C milk (I used almond milk)
Combine all together and beat 2 minutes at medium speed.  Poor into prepared pie dish.
1 15-20 oz can of sliced peaches or pineapple chunks well drained. I used fresh peaches I had frozen but defrosted. Reserve the juice!
Place the fruit over the batter then using the same bowl mix together 8 oz cream cheese softened , 1/2 C of sugar and 3 tablespoons of the reserved juice.  Spread this over the top of the fruit and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.   Enjoy!

Happy Trails