YOP Week #29

Finishes:
1) The cowl is done....this is the 2nd one....the first one was a gift for someone.............again this is a free pattern from Fiber Flux....I crocheted it  using 2 different skeins of Red Heart Unforgettable held together.  Easy and fun to make.  I'll be stockpiling these too...........

2)  I used up all my remaining Red Heart Scrubbie yarn and so it's a finish for now....I have more than 10 of them..........again this is crocheted

3)  I accomplished Our Happy CAL Place (group on Ravelry) week #1 CAL which was a pot  handle cover.....there was a knob cover too which I totally did not see......I'll have to go back and do that.....this a nice practical project which is quick and easy and uses very little yarn so it's great for leftovers.  I love that group and there is also a monthly CAL and I was going to do that too. I got all my materials together for it.  It was a shawl.  I got it going last night and felt so good about my progress and the fact that it was a project I had the yarn for and had frogged a while ago........until this morning...... when I realized it was knitted not crocheted! LOL!  I am nuttier than a fruitcake!  I guess I'll just have to start another project....what's a girl to do?   These would also be great for the 'gift stash'.............

WIPs (works in progress):

1)  C2C Blanket -  I did remember to move the progress keeper...........it's getting too big to try and fit in the picture plus it all looks the same anyway...lol....it is dark and cloudy today and the lighting is terrible...I apologize.........

2)  You could call this a finish but it needs to be blocked...badly..........I had no trouble with the kitchener stitch but it is a little noticeable! LOL!  It's for me so I guess it's okay.  I'll not make this again but if I do it won't be with silk yarn!  It is really flimsy and slippery.   It turned out quite small for a scarf.  Maybe it will stretch to a decent size with blocking and maybe the 'seam' won't be so noticeable.  I think maybe I did it too snug.  The stitches look fine otherwise.  I really did learn a lot with this project so I'm happy I did it.

3)  Here's the knitted shawl I started.  I frogged this a while ago and so I had the yarn....it's Malabrigo or what's the other yarn that starts with an 'M'?  Anyway, it is a yarn color called dachshund so I had to have it as I have a miniature dachshund and my Rottweiler is the exact same color as the dachshund.  It is fingering weight and you only need 1 skein for this shawl!  But don't trust my memory...it's on Ravelry.  It's an easy pattern to memorize and I could barely put it down last night...very satisfying knitting.........I still can't watch t.v. though....lol!

4)  Here's another new cast on for Ben's birthday......the Bankhead hat which I have been wanting to make for quite awhile....both this pattern and the Multnomah shawl have stories with them and I am all about meaningful names and stories to go with my handwork and recipes.....it just makes it so much more enjoyable to know the history and inspiration behind them.  There is orange yarn also as this will be in Chicago Bear's colors.  It is Knit Picks Mighty Stitch which is 20% Superwash Wool and 80% Acrylic worsted weight.....machine wash and tumble dry and oh my is this yarn ever soft!  It's luxurious!  Where have I been?  I've never heard of Mighty Stitch before.  I highly recommend although it has not been machine washed and tumble dried yet but so far I am loving working with it.
 I am also enjoying the Bankhead pattern......

5)  I did not stick to my cross stitch schedule this week as I was busy 'de-cluttering' and working on Ben's hat when I took a break but I did manage to work on Fall Friday and just have the mirror image of the top border to do..........

6)  I worked on Santa Sunday last Sunday and did the red on his outfit..........

Acquisitions:  My new A Year in Hawk Run Hollow chart arrived so I need to kit that up. Just January for now.........

I watched the Yarn Hoarder's most recent podcast and she was trying to use up her stash so she decided to use clear plastic containers to 'kit up' her next projects she had planned........I had just freed up the exact same containers after 'de-cluttering' this past week (using the Konmari Method) so I decided to do the same with my WIP's.  Once a project is done and the container is empty I can fill it with another project.....hopefully another WIP to finish.  Plus, everything is together...yarn, pattern, needles etc.  No hunting or searching plus Miss Peeps can't get at my yarn.

TOP 10 WIP's:
1)  Falling Leaves scarf - needs blocking
2)  Pickle Dish
3)  America x-stitch - done but needs finishing
4)  Amy's Frido Kahlo basket (July birthday) - done but needs to be sewn together
5)  Pin's embroidery
6)  Heart bookmark for V-Day - done but needs backing
7)  Toe-up socks
8)  Scrubbies - done so here's a container freed up! This will now be Ben's hat
9)  Christmas cowl - done another freed up container! This will now be Multnomah shawl
10. C2C blanket for Grayson (July birthday) 

NEW STARTS:
1)  Ben's hat
2) Multnomah shawl
3)  a crocheted shawl project for CAL

 Finishes so far in 2018-19: 
1.  4th of July cross stitch pillow/ornie
2.  Hitchhiker shawl
3.  Felici Hibiscus self-striping socks
4.  Felted wool loafer slippers with leather soles for me Sam
5.  washcloth (extra large) and back scrubber for Christmas or birthday for SIL
6.   Iowa Hawkeye hats for Sam and Grayson
7.  Techniques learned so far this year: a) knit cast on, b) reading a knitting chart, c) lace work, d) inserting and using a lifeline e) charting a graphghan
8.   dishcloth(s)...I need to count them
9. Cubs hat for Uriah
10. 12 days of Christmas Advent gifts
11. Cowl for Ben
12. Cowl for Tracy
13. Cowl for Natalie
14.  # 2018 Collectible ornaments for the grands
15.  Cowl for me or gift basket
16.  11 scrubbies for gift basket
17.  1 pot handle cover for gift basket


I have a question for you all.........I want to make a blanket using wool but how do you keep them clean?  You can't throw them in the washer or dryer right? But they would be way too heavy wet to wash in the tub and who wants all those chemicals from the dry cleaner?   A curious mid wants to know how you maintain large wool items like blankets or throws.   Thank you for any light you can throw on this subject.  
 Please stop by and see all the other fantastic projects that other  YOP'ers are working on.
Happy Trails!!!

Konmari progress............

Don't worry...I won't blog about this over the weekend....I take weekends off! LOL!  But I did work on it today and my clothes are back in the closet.....this is the left side of the closet....

Here's the right side..........with lots of space in between!

Granted there is still a basket full of ironing but all the clothes are done for the closet...a good ending point for the weekend.............

I have 2 baskets for dirty clothes but they take up so much floor space I am looking at a rolling hamper or laundry sorter that I could wheel to the other end of the house where the laundry room is.  Any suggestions?  My Birkies are my 'house slippers'.
Here's the thrift store donations.........although there are some clothes on hangers too........

  So next week will be some more shoes and the drawers.  I've also been looking at the little boxes Marie Kondo uses in the drawers.....you can get them for $90......are they nuts?  $90 for cardboard boxes that will sit in a drawer that no one will see?  I'm sorry but that seems a bit over the top and a waste of good money to me.  Wait until you see what I'm going to use....lol! 
I did work on Ben's hat again....I'm about halfway done with the brim.  I also forgot to show you this....
A cover for pot handles.....I joined Our Happy CAL Place, a group on Ravelry, where they have a weekly and a monthly CAL.   I have wanted to make these for a while now and it was a free pattern and takes very little time or yarn.  I'll be making more of these like the dish cloths and the scrubbies!

I did some laundry and vacuum sealed chicken tenders, breasts, and thighs for the freezer.  We were supposed to get snow from all the blue on the radar map but all we've had is rain.....just so it doesn't freeze!  That's what takes the power out.
I think that's all the news that's fit to print.  What are you all up to this weekend?  Today is Fall Friday for my cross stitch so I'll be working on that this evening after supper.
Happy Trails!!!

Konmari Method Step #1

Okay, this is not a 1 day venture...just so you know.  It takes most couples 6-8 weeks and I am giving myself 3 months so I can hopefully put the house up for sale come Spring.  That being said.....actually the clothes will be one of the easier categories for me as I am not a clothes horse.  I  used to have nice clothes for my corporate job but that was years ago and when I was slim.  I was going to sell them to Thred Up but I've heard bad reviews so they will go to the local thrift stores.
You're supposed to take everything out of your closets and drawers and pile it on a bed (I used the guest bed as I wanted to be able to crawl into mine tonight.  I don't dress up at all...I don't go to weddings or funerals so I have no need for any 'nice' outfits or shoes BUT...I have a son who keeps talking like he might get married and I would hate to have to go out and buy everything new.  The clothes I'll get rid of as they don't fit anymore but the shoes.........ahhh....I did love a great pair of shoes!
Here' s the pile so far and I have not emptied the drawers yet.....

 Someone said to take pictures of those items you can't part with but that you will never wear again....I wish I would have known that sooner as the black cocktail dress that went with these shoes was a stunner!  Ahh....those were the days!

I think I got my love of shoes from my Aunt Alice.....she had a closet full and she would let my cousin and I play with all of them.......she had no children so she really spoiled us big time! 
These were the shoes I wore to my daughter's wedding..........no more heels for me after I got RA!

But the hat was killer............

I wore a beautiful hot pink silk Liz Claiborn outfit with flowery black organza blouse and hot pink silk jacket with matching skirt and there were slacks to match that I bought also but I wore the skirt, I think.....not sure as it was a long time ago! LOL!
But at least I have pictures now.  I'll keep the low heels in case there's another wedding and the hats.
But I got rid of a bag of shoes and purses.........there will be more as this is just the first day........it's a start..........

I did not throw my ironed blouses on that pile...evidently I must be the only person on the planet who irons but I like cotton blouses and I like them ironed along with my pillowcases.....here's my closet after Day #1............I still have to go through those clothes on the bed tomorrow.

I ended up with all these containers.....they'll be going to the crafts room where they will get used for sure!

I did take breaks and worked on my son, Benjamin's Chicago Bear's hat to match his jacket.  I got the yarn from Knit Picks and it is so soft and new needles, wooden ones called Sun Struck.....love them too!   The pattern is called Bankhead and it's on Ravelry.  It's the first time I am using this pattern and so far so good!

I hope you had a productive and satisfying day.....I feel good about mine.
Happy Trails!!!
   

Treasures, birthday and fiber optic!

I didn't blog yesterday and I had planned on it but you know what they say about the best laid plans...lol!
It all ended well though...first there was a meeting in town about our local electric coop putting in fiber optic...I left home at 11:00 a.m. and didn't get back until 1:30.  It could save me some money and I would have unlimited long distance calling. T.V. would be extra but the t.v. wouldn't go out every time it rained like satellite.  Not sure I need the t.v. as I'm pretty happy with what I have for $5.00 a month....Roku and CBS All Access and Netflix(gift).
After that, I came home and there was a package for me!  From my daughter and her family for my birthday..........look at this beauty!  I have been wanting one of these pans for awhile now..........

Isn't she gorgeous?  I washed it and made my Frito casserole in it last night!
I also got a birthday card from Diane at Lavender Dreams............it said it was for a Princess....can you be a princess at my age? LOL!  I'll take it Diane and thank you so much for thinking of me.

 After the package opening I went to check on Nitty (who has never gone out of her yard since she was a puppy).....she and Annie are trained not to but I do check on them and this time I couldn't find Nitty.  I called and went around the house twice.   The propane guy stopped his truck and said he saw her down the street quite a ways.  I ran for a little bit but I am out of shape and old so I slowed down and kept calling her but I couldn't see her anywhere.  I got to the corner and looked towards the lake and up the other way and no sign of her.  I thought I would go back home and get the truck and go looking.  I told the propane guy she never leaves her yard without me and he said she looked disoriented like she wasn't sure where she was or how to get home.  As I walked towards home there she was!  I was so happy she was alright.  We walked home together but she kept stopping and looking back....I'm not sure what was going on in her mind but she seems fine today and I am keeping a close eye on her!  It's hard as they can't tell you what's bothering them. She's over 14 years old so who knows.  After that I was exhausted and was laying in bed later when I remembered I hadn't blogged!  Mercy!
So today, I went to Walmart and got lots because I hadn't been since before Christmas which of course wore me out again...lol!  But it's all in the house and mostly all put away and look what came in the mail today!  I got my yarn for Ben's Bear's hat and some Blueberry speckled yarn for the Blueberry Waffle socks (free pattern on Ravelry) I want to make!  I'll start the hat tonight as his birthday is the 18th...so I had better hustle!  I hope your days have been peaceful and you aren't as tired as me! LOL!

 Happy Trails!!!
P.S.  I'll try and catch up with everyone tomorrow inbetween my first day of The Konmari Method of 'tidying up'....it's clothes!  Stay tuned to this mini-series of my journey using her method.  Scary committment but it's time.  Say a prayer I don't fail or get overwhelmed.

Guess what I made today..............

Salted caramel corn...........yummmmm.  I've been wanting to make this for awhile and finally the stars aligned with the heavens and it happened! 

Here's the link for the recipe from The Chew...It's easy and fast but I seemed to dirty a lot of items in my kitchen which will have to go in the dishwasher.....caramel is messy but oh so good!
I hope you had a great Monday!
Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #28

Finishes:
1) the 2018 Collectible Ornaments are finished..........

WIPs (works in progress):

1)  Still working on refilling my gift basket with dish cloths and scrubbies.  I have used all the scrubbie yarn so I think that will be enough for now.  I'll check how many washcloths I have.  I definitely have dish cloth yarn.  I still need to weave in the ends which will be done today while I watch football.............I think I will set a goal for 10 scrubbies and 10 washcloths on hand at all times then maybe I'll do cowls.

 I also finished the cowl..........but it needs to be 'connected' and ends woven in....again during the game today...........

1)  C2C Blanket - I finally put in a progress keeper so you can see how much I've done from week to week and I can too!  I need to remember to move it today...........

Acquisitions: None of my orders have come in yet so I have nothing to show you.  But I have spent time thinking about my Top Ten WIP's that were stuffed away when gift making season arrived.  I have more than 10 but it gets too overwhelming so I will just list the top 10.
So for now here they are:

TOP 10 WIP's:
1)  Falling Leaves scarf
2)  Pickle Dish
3)  America x-stitch
4)  Amy's Frido Kahlo basket (July birthday)
5)  Pin's embroidery
6)  Heart bookmark for V-Day
7)  Toe-up socks
8)  Scrubbies
9)  Christmas cowl
10. C2C blanket for Grayson (July birthday) 

NEW STARTS:
1)  There will be one for Ben's birthday (this January) once the yarn arrives!
2)  I also ordered a big cross stitch project called A Year in Hawk Run Hollow which I will separate into months and each month will be an individual cross stitch.....here's a picture..........LOVE!!!

 Finishes so far in 2018-19: 
1.  4th of July cross stitch pillow/ornie
2.  Hitchhiker shawl
3.  Felici Hibiscus self-striping socks
4.  Felted wool loafer slippers with leather soles for me Sam
5.  washcloth (extra large) and back scrubber for Christmas or birthday for SIL
6.   Iowa Hawkeye hats for Sam and Grayson
7.  Techniques learned so far this year: a) knit cast on, b) reading a knitting chart, c) lace work, d) inserting and using a lifeline e) charting a graphghan
8.   dishcloth(s)...I need to count them
9. Cubs hat for Uriah
10. 12 days of Christmas Advent gifts
11. Cowl for Ben
12. Cowl for Tracy
13. Cowl for Natalie
14.  # 2018 Collectible ornaments for the grands

I have also started watching Tidying Up on Netflix about the Konmari method of de-cluttering and organizing.  I also remembered I have the book!  I think someone is trying to tell me something.  It will be the priority this year for sure.  I made a good start last year and need to get back to it!  I still haven't chosen a word this year but maybe it will be ORGANIZE.  Plus, there's also chosing the first book of 2019 and that will be the book by Marie Kondo titled The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up.  I also read Death Cleaning which at my age is no joke and very motivating! LOL!

 Please stop by and see all the other fantastic projects that other  YOP'ers are working on.
Happy Trails!!!

I survived my 70th birthday!

When I awoke January 1st I was grateful I made it to 2019 and when I awoke yesterday morning I was grateful I made it to my 70th birthday....lol! I had planned on sewing since I have been itching to get back to my machine after all the Christmas making but alas.......that didn't happen.....too many calls and well wishers which was much better and I'm not complaining!
The night before I got a BIG surprise when a package arrived and it was from my son Ben.........an Amazon  Fire HD tablet with 16 mgb of storage!  I was blown away!  In my favorite color too.....yellow!

He also got me the easel cover so it can stand on it's own and is protected when closed.  I love it!  Now I can Skype with my grandchildren!!!
I also received this lovely card from Betsy from  A Queen's Life on my sidebar...............thank you so much Betsy especially for the sweet sentiments you wrote inside.  It meant a lot to me.

Ben's significant other sent me this beautiful Yankee candle in Autumn Wreath scent............it smells so good.........I may save it for next Fall................

I did make my cherry dump cake and although the picture isn't great...I had it warm with ice cream and it was delicious...............

here's the recipe.....easy peasy...........

I cut mine in half to make an 8 " square pan but you can double it to make a 9 X 11 pan which was the original recipe.
heat oven to 375 degrees F
put 1 can of pie filling of your choice in the bottom of the pan (I use just a can of unsweetened cherries as I think it is sweet enough).  Sprinkle 1/2 box of yellow cake mix on top.  Cut 1 stick of butter into 16 pats and arrange on top then sprinkle with 1/2 cup of chopped nuts (I use pecans)
Bake at 375 for 45 minutes but check when it gets close depending on your oven.  Mine is more like 35 minutes.  Definitely have over ice cream while still warm!

Remember this 'flimsy' little quilt top?  Well, I found my batting and got some fabrics together for piecing the backing but I never got a chance to sew yesterday with all the birthday calls.  That was my first FNWF but I'll publish over there anyway to let them know I did something! LOL!

Here's my fabrics for backing..............

I took the day off from blogging as I simply ran out of day!  I'm trying to blog earlier so I hope that helps.  Thank you for all your good wishes!
Happy Trails!!!

Getting ready for THE BIG DAY!!!

Ha! Ha!  It will most probably be a day like most which is fine as I do enjoy my life every day as much as possible.  It will be Friday Craft Day and Friday Night Sewing with Friends and I will make the dump cake to have with ice cream so it will be a good day!
Today was good although I got a late start...I slept in until 6:00 a.m. and I've felt behind all day.  I baked off my bread last night...........

Today I got the ornaments finished and packed up to mail.............

I had some leftover cream cheese so before it spoiled I whipped up some cocktail sauce and poured it over the cream cheese to have with crackers.....it looks like 'the blob'...............but it tastes good! 

 I fixed a side dish of organic brown rice to go with the chicken..............I am amazed at how many  organic products that Walmart is carrying...more and more each time I go.

I didn't get much else done except some laundry and dishes......I worked on this C2C blanket on breaks and finally used a progress marker so YOP people can see how much I've done from week to week and me too! LOL!

Now it's time for the girl's meds and my supper and then recline!  I need to be rested for 'the big day' tomorrow! LOL!
Happy Trails!!!

 

Makin' and Bakin' Day!!!

I'm trying to get back on schedule AND remember what day it is! LOL!  Our garbage day is Tuesday but it was a holiday so it was today and I remembered..... PTL!  Relaxing over the holidays was nice although with 2 cats and 2 invalid dogs there wasn't THAT much relaxing.  I was behind on 'vittles' so I hard boiled some eggs and made some egg salad to have on hand.  It's different every time I make it but this time it was eggs, Hellman's Mayonnaise, curry powder, some cayenne pepper, celery, onions. salt, pepper and dill relish.  Yummo!
Aren't they gorgeous eggs?  Organic my friends!  Beautiful color, no green or sick yellow and they peel easily....just sayin'..............

  I also have bread rising...just the easy peasy no-knead bread...........

I was going to make a dump cake today too (not organic...leftover holiday menu food).....I try to eat healthy but I let myself eat whatever on the holidays.  I've been up since 4:00 a.m. and I'm starting to slow down so the dump cake may have to wait until tomorrow.  I made the roast chicken with carrots and onions yesterday.....very good for what felt like a Sunday dinner.  I was going to make some rice or potatoes to go with it but again.....it didn't get done.
But I am back on schedule with my cross stitch...it is Witchy Wednesday so I worked on The Button-Eyed Cat.....I did several rows of the black and the eyes are now in the picture...sort of.....I would say I'm about 1/3 done.....I hope I finish by Halloween 2019!

I need a new cross stitch for Merry Monday and I need to order one..........
Remember when I said I wanted to get into punch needle?  Well, I remember I had done it years ago and so I went 'digging' to see if I had the punch needle and what size...............I found it!  I guess I am going to have to order the pattern I want in order to know what  size needle punch to use and also what fabric.  I know I have a finished version of this pumpkin somewhere....I think the one below was my first attempt.  It looks like it is on muslin but I've heard to use weaver's cloth but that may depend on what cloth and punching material you are using such as floss or yarn.  Another learning experience!  If anyone knows about this please tell me in the comments...I am a novice here.

 Here's a funny for you.............Miss Peeps took this wool duster off the door it was hanging on and put it next to Annie while she was sleeping.....she must have thought she was cold....too cute these girls!
You can't see her in the picture but she was off to the side.  To be truthful, Annie doesn't really trust Miss Peeps since she used to 'ride' her when she was a kitten.

That's all for today folks.....it's cold and rainy here 37 F but at least it held off until I got the mail and the garbage can back in.....we're toasty now!
Happy Trails!!!

Happy New Year's Day!!!

I wish the best of everything to all my blog friends near and far!  Here' s to a wonderful , happy, healthy, productive and laugh filled 2019!
I think the postcard below is before they had laws about underage drinking.......

Happy New Year and Happy Trails!!!