NaBloPoMo Day #5

Another beautiful Fall day here and 60's F...perfect for outdoor work and painting............
the white is gone!  Like I said...more coats are needed but at least it's better than it was and I'll get done what I can as long as the weather holds.............

My oak trees in front are slow to lose their leaves....like the last ones in the neighborhood!

The Halloween decor is gone but the harvest/Thanksgiving  items are still going strong...........

Miss Grace wanted to come outside so badly..............

I came in and made my Raisin Bran Muffins.....a retro throwback to when my kids were little.......link to the recipe
These are called 6 week muffins because you make a huge bowl of batter and then it can stay in the frig for up to 6 weeks and you can bake as many or as few as you want.  They're great for breakfast, tea time and I like them with soup or anything! LOL!

I just made 6 muffins for me for today...........disclaimer........I have not tasted these yet so maker beware.....there are many recipes out there for these............

I managed to get a couple solid Blaithin squares done....the green one still needs a black row but it will get finished tonight most probably.........

I hope you had a good day......I have the windows open again.......heaven!
Happy Trails!!!

NaBloPoMo Day #4

It's a gorgeous day here so I was able to get a little more painting done..........and evidently while I was out there a spider crawled in my hair!  Yikes! He started crawling out down my forehead while I was doing this blog and he was not a gentle looking spider either!  I swiped him to the floor and killed him...yes, it's probably an unfounded fear but I am allergic to some and one landed me in the hospital one time so.....he's a goner now.  Most of the time I try to take them outside but this one was too close for comfort!  Anyway, I did get some painting done...........the other section of the door on the right.....next will be the white and it will all require 3 coats in the end.

Today I emptied and relined the garbages in the house and got the garbage can out to the street for tomorrow's pickup.  I called in a prescription, went to the library and picked up my medicine.  I've done a load of laundry and gotten all the Halloween stuff packed away and in the basement.  Walmart was supposed to deliver my groceries Saturday but they said on my tracking that it would be Monday....well, here it is Monday and still no groceries but I noticed they took the money out today and they don't do that until they know it is on the truck.  That's what I get for bragging about them!
I finished my 4th and final Ragwort square.  I have some ends to weave in and I still have the 4 solid squares to do...........

I've got the yarns ready for the first one......in my fancy Ziplock project bag! LOL!

I did manage to find a box to put my finished squares in.....I think it is for photos but it will do........

Evidently the Christmas season has started because I got 4 catalogs in the mail today!  The Play Together catalog is from Amazon!  I didn't know they were sending out catalogs?  It's news to me!

My soup turned out good last night and I'll be having it again tonight!  Now I need to go do some clearing and cleaning and then there's Monthly Monday cross stitch to work on.
I hope you are off to a great start this week!
Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #18

Not a lot of crafting this week.  I've been trying to organize said crafts and materials.  I did manage to get some Ragwort squares done for the Blaithin CAL..........still not caught up though

 I also got a knitted rectangular scrubbie done except for weaving in the ends.

I'm very tired this weekend but my sinus infection has cleared up...at least my teeth no longer hurt.
I spent some time window shopping online yesterday for some quilt books I've had my eyes on for awhile and Connecting Threads had their craft books on sale for 40%-50% off!  I'll probably be purchasing a few tomorrow.  I'm off to make soup now for supper.  My favorite....Penzey's Beer, Brat and Cheddar Soup......5  stars!!!  I hope I stay awake long enough to make it!  What is wrong with me?  I think I'm like the bears....I go into hibernation mode when it gets chilly!
Happy Trails!!!

NaBloPoMo Day #2

 I decided, like Becki from Field Lilies blog,  I would try and get rid of things...well, I remember why I stopped going through things.  I had Jim's things to go through so I stopped for awhile but I did some today.  I had paperwork of his and insurance papers etc.  So, I got through that and then found some treasures of mine that I had buried overlooked..........
Do any of you remember these?  They were popular awhile back for decorating.........I might use them still.........

sewing patterns for the kitchen........these haven't gone out of style...........I'd really like a toaster cover and Kitchen Aid cover too...............

 and LOOK!!!!  I knew I had some watercolor pencils!  Here they are!  I'm so glad I didn't go and buy more.....have you ever done that?  Knowing full well you have something but you just can't find it?  That's a sign for sure......time to clean up and clean out.....I'm trying!

 I also found the first three alphabet letters for the cross stitch Calico Alphabet............I need to order the material for it...............after I finish a few other pressing projects...lol!

 I just noticed my camera date is one day off......hmmm...........I took these pictures today November 2nd............oh well............
I got this cross stitch pattern years ago when I visited Split Rock Lighthouse on the North Shore of Lake Superior near Duluth, Minnesota.........beautiful area!  I need to stitch this!

That's all from the 'archealogical' dig going on here at the homestead.  I am washing linens today and I tried filling more Wet and Forget in my garden sprayer and guess what..........I cannot get it unscrewed again.........
The grands all got their Halloween presents before Halloween and they loved them!  Well, I better get back at it!  What are you up to this Saturday?
Happy Trails!!!

NaBloPoMo Day #1

Okay, ready or not here I come!  I am attempting to post a daily blog every day in November.  Some people do this all the time but I can never seem to do it every single day....we'll see now.
Today is take down all the Halloween decorations inside and out.
I got a sweet surprise yesterday and one last week that I forgot to post about.......
a card from my good friend Tammy...........thank you, Tammy.....it really meant a lot to me...........

 and a card from the grands and their Mom and Dad.  BTW, Dad is in a rehab center since he has to have iv's and can't walk but he's doing as well as can be expected.

 and the best surprise......school pictures of the grands..........this is Grayson.............

 and this is Sam his older brother..............too cute!!!  And such good boys.  They helped Grandma so much when I was there and Sam took really good care of Annie.  They're extremely good with animals and a big help to their Mom....well, most of the time! LOL!

 I've got 2 of the Ragwort squares done for the Blaithin CAL.....still behind but enjoying it none the less.

 We had our first frost last night and I had 4 trick or treaters.  I have a bunch of candy left  too.....hmm....good thing I bought the kind I like! LOL!
I hope you had a fun Halloween if you celebrate and now onto Thanksgiving!
Happy Trails!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

 Monday I woke up to a toothache.  I tried to find my dentist but evidently she had retired.   Tuesday I asked my friends at the pharmacy if they could recommend a dentist and they did!  I called and they could get me in at noon so I went.  It is 3 female dentists and all the support staff are females too.  They were so nice and she thinks I have a sinus infection that is causing the pain so she put me on antibiotics.  I'm still taking Tylenol for the pain though.  When I got home I was exhausted from running all over and so I thought I would veg for the rest of the evening but there was no internet, no t.v. and no phone!  What?  I was too tired so I figured I'd go to bed and it would be fixed my morning.  It wasn't......that got me to thinking.....had I paid the new fiber bill?  NO!  OMG!  They turned it off! LOL!  I am such a dunce!  I was still working with the email and my old phone company and I completely let it slide!  So, I had to go to Mountain Home yesterday and I would drive right past the electric company on my way so I stopped and paid the bill!  She said it would be back on by the time I got home from Mountain Home.I need a "keeper"! LOL!

It was raining the whole trip but not pouring so it wasn't bad.  I went to Hobby Lobby first and got some treasures and a Christmas present that I can't show you.
 I got more doily cotton yarn........

   some stickers for my bullet journal............

a stamp...............

some sparkly yarn for holiday scrubbies................

and some much needed black 310 floss for my button-eyed cat cross stitch..........

 I then went off to the eye doctor where I got my eyes dilated and all is great with my eyesight! PTL!  Since it was raining I wasn't worried about bringing my sunglasses for the drive home but I should have been!  Everyone had their lights on and what are those new bright white car lights with some purple?  They are SO bright!  It was not easy and then I got behind a truck with those flashing lights all over it.....whoa Nellie!  I was blessed to get home alright!  Before I left Mountain Home I made sure I got a Pumpkin Spiced Latte....the biggest one they had! LOL!  It made the whole trip worthwhile...it and the 'treasures'............ plus the colors here are at PEAK for sure and it was absolutely beautiful!

  Are you all set for Halloween tonight?  It was supposed to rain but now it's not so that's good for the trick or treaters!  I'm ready! LOL!

 Happy Halloween and Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #17

This was a busy but cozy week!  It rained towards the end of the week so I had my first fire in the fireplace.............it was perfect....just enough  to take the dampness out of the house.

Meanwhile I "baked and maked"............I tried using my Instant Pot for the first time and was making bone broth but it wasn't working right for me so I ended up making it on the stove.  I'm not sure if it's the IP or the novice operator.  I was using a recipe off the internet but I think I will use a recipe out of the book they give you for my first time.  I hope there is nothing wrong with the IP............

Now that I bought this one they have come out with a beautiful one by Pioneer Woman...if I'd only known!

Here's my burner method bone broth......

 I got 6 cups of broth from one chicken carcass.........I lay the bags flat in the freezer and they don't take up much room that way.

Miss Peeps was supervising...........

I also made pulled pork in the crock pot, coleslaw and cinnamon crisp cookies.  While things were cooking I was sewing!  Finally!  I made 3 Halloween pillowcases for the grands..........

 I also made 2 more mini-pumpkins but they need the ribbon put on them still.........

 I have not made the gloves yet either but today for sure as they are being mailed tomorrow!

I did finish all 8 of Nature's Walk CAL step #2 and I have started on Blaithin CAL step #2

I still have a few ends to weave in.............but not too many............

I did very little cross stitch this week except some work on Stars and Stripes Saturday.........

 That's all for this week folks!  I hope you are enjoying your Sunday!

Happy Trails!!!