YOP Sunday

Goodness gracious I struggled with loading my photos!  But I finally figured it out and used the SD card instead of the camera.  Beware of Windows 8!  So, here's what I've been up to since 2014 started.  First...look at this gorgeous yarn.

  It is by Cakewalk Yarns, an Etsy shop which has since closed and I have no idea why as she had been highly recommended by Susan B. Anderson  on her blog.  I actually got to see the socks made up in this yarn so I was sold.  I can't remember the name now but since she's no longer open I guess it doesn't make much difference.   I'm also using Susan's "go to" sock pattern which she has for free on her blog and/or Ravelry..  Oh those needles are tiny...from using a 7 to using a 1.  I hope my eyes are up to it, lol!

I spent one evening just rewinding the yarn and it doesn't look nearly as pretty as it did in the skein but I still love it.   I'm actually almost done with the cuff but after all the trouble with uploading pics I wasn't going to try again.

I also finished another hat....this one for one of my sons.  I'm glad to be working with some color after all that solid stuff.

I used Knitpicks Brava worsted weight and I really like their yarns plus they're reasonably priced.  This was another Purl Soho Basic Hat pattern.  I did use circular needles for this.
 Yesterday was my 65th birthday and I made an orange cake with a recipe I got from Ruth and it was delicious!  Thank you Ruth, and thank you Benjamin for choosing such a great cake for your birthday.  Mine didn't turn out nearly as pretty as Ruths' so I didn't include a picture but if you go to her website there is a picture of the Orange Cake and the recipe.  YUM!!!!

 I hope you made it into 2014 with lots of inspiration and project ideas to start off the new year.  Have a great week and "Happy Trails to you 'til we meet again."

My 2014 all-inclusive planner...........

Every January I get all "hyped up" with plans and goals and "bucket" lists.   I was making lists back when I first learned to write, I think.  When I had my career I used a Palm Pilot and synced it with my pc at home and my pc at work.  I was always on the "bleeding" edge of technology as those of us working in the tech industry called it.  But, alas, I have simplified and do not want any more electronic leashes.  I am simplifying my life and my lifestyle. 
But I still love planning,  I love a clean house, a pretty yard and garden and just an ordinary well kept life to put it simply.  So, I was out on Pinterest and pinned an organizing article which led me to another website called Clean Mama and bingo, I learned something new and non-technical (no app involved here).  A HOME binder/notebook.  Remember when I organized my knitting and crocheting patterns in notebooks?   I like her system as she has EVERYTHING in her notebook; budget and finances, blogging section, Holiday plans and gift giving.....she's got it all!  You can download quite a few free printables but the majority of her system is in her Etsy shop and you have to purchase it.  I doubt if I will as I thought it was a bit pricey for my budget but she gave me the jumping off point. 

 I gathered my notebooks (I'll need more than one as these aren't giant binders)....

 lots of notebook paper, and dividers, of course.

My old stand by...sheet protectors

and some project files I've had around for awhile.  These are accordion and open to hold quite a bit.  I'm thinking like files for each room for decorating and it would hold paint chips and fabric swatches etc.  I want to make design boards.  I think they would also be great for gardening projects as they could hold seed envelopes, etc.  I got them at Staples.
 

Clean Mama has a monthly "chore" chart to get you started and most of it I already do but it's the other chores I need to get to like cleaning closets, cleaning the garage...big projects that need to be scheduled and broken down into pieces.

Another great website is Organize and Inspire   which has "tons" of links to all kinds of organizing from small like organizing your cords and computer wires to big like your garage or basement.  If you think you might like Clean Mama's tools and kits they are 25% off but only today so don't dawdle! LOL!

I'll touch base with you and let you know how it goes.  This is what I'll be working on tonight and in the coming days.  Today I spent quite a bit of time on the phone doing financials, 2 loads of laundry and cleaned both bathroom toilets.  Plus all the "daily chores" in addition to giving Nitty her antibiotics 3 times a day.  Tomorrow I need to go get pet licenses and renew my driver's license.  I told you it's been busy and expensive and I wasn't kidding!  I hope this organizing helps me as I could use all the help I can get. LOL! 
Happy Trails!

Happy 2014! I almost didn't make it..........

I've been trying to blog all morning.  Actually I've been messing with my camera and the new Windows 8 picture importer.  I liked Windows the way it was before....this "app" hung up my pictures and I couldn't do anything.  Finally, I rebooted and that fixed it.  Their commands don't work...like "cancel".  But I finally got it. 
This has been a busy time between Christmas and today. The vet came back and I took Nitty in for her allergy shot and she has an infected nipple...just 1, thank God, as dogs have quite a few!  He thinks it's just an infection but it could be cancer and I have to keep an eye on it.  I did take the new (empty) bag of dog food Walmart is carrying now and he said it's great and he's been looking for a less expensive alternative for his patients who's dogs are allergic.  It's called Pure Balance.  It's still more expensive than Pedigree which she was getting but not nearly as expensive as Hill's Science Diet.  There is dry and canned in different varieties. I'm praying it is just an infection which I think it is.  Because of her allergies she was crawling on the grass outside trying to scratch her stomach and I think there was probably deer and/or rabbit dung out there.  She's already stopped itching and licking and the vet gave her the allergy shot and she's on antibiotics. 

I also had to take my car in for an oil change and they ended up keeping it almost all day as they were busy.  (I wish they would have told me as I would have postponed it.)  So, I didn't get to Walmart that day and ended up having to go yesterday on New Year's Eve and it was packed!  I needed supplies badly though so I went. 
I've been snagging my yarn when I knit/crochet because my hands are chapped and cracked.  I put hand cream on but it wasn't doing the trick so I bought some of this stuff.........

I've been hearing ads about it and it is for "working hands" and it has no scent.  I used it several times today as I was finishing up the hat I started last week and it worked.  They're not healed yet but it sure made them soft enough so they didn't snag the yarn.  So far, I really like it and it is made in the good ole U.S.A.
One of my "resolutions" this year was to make some clothes for myself.  I used to sew my own clothes in high school and also for my children when they were young.  The first thing I want to make is pajamas.  I like flannel in the winter and cotton in the summer but all I can find are the flannel pants with a t-shirt to go with or else acrylic materials which I do not care for.  Patterns have sure gone up in price! Whew!  $8-$9 but that should be the only pattern I need for pajamas.  I like my clothes big too.  I can't stand anything clinging or binding on me now that I'm "retired".

They had this cute fabric on sale for $1.73/yard and it is 100% cotton flannel.  They had some other cute flannel prints on sale too but I figured I'll see how far I get with this project.

  For several years now I have thought of having some sort of "uniform" for my retirement and my sloppy active lifestyle now.  I'm not an apron gal but I love the big pockets and I have lots of blouses to wear under them.  My figure isn't what it used to be and most clothes don't fit properly.  I was actually thinking of looking at maternity clothes but I never got that desperate......yet.  But comfort is of the utmost importance to me now a days.  I bought this pattern but I may use it as a "jumping off" place.

 What I really want is something more like a pinfore/apron........like this...........

 Of course I will NOT be wearing dresses with it........slacks that I will also sew myself so they will fit me.  These are made out of linen and cost around $75.00...can you believe it?  I love the back as there are no apron strings which I dislike and I would probably make it shorter.  I'm thinking turtle necks under it in the winter and in the summer I'm thinking more of cobbler aprons which Carol Wright
sells for like $5.00 each.  I also like the old "smocks" people used to wear.  My Aunt was ceramic artist and she always wore smocks with big pockets.  Anyway, this is one of my resolutions this year...to update/sew my retirement wardrobe and clear out all that corporate crap clothing I used to dress myself in.  Mine will be colorful too!  You can take that to the bank!

I hope you had a nice New Years and I wish you all the healthiest, happiest and most prosperous year of all!  Happy Trails!

YOP Sunday

Here we are again!  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  The knitting angels have come and taken up residence here with me.  You'll understand when you see my pictures.  This one is off to that grandson who helped me with the kindling and cookies on Thanksgiving.

It feels like I've crossed a threshold of some kind in my knitting.  I know hats are a no-brainer to most of you but it's the quality of my stitches that has changed....it's like I'm a REAL knitter now....it even feels different...more relaxed and flowing.  I'm sure I'll have many challenges ahead of me in this "Adventure in Knitting" and before it was touch and go if I would continue but it is a sure bet now!

I also found these free printable tags on Pinterest  here

I printed mine on white paper and backed it with another printed paper.  The one on the website is nice as she used a tan paper. I only had cheap printer paper to use but card stock would be nicer.  I liked the way she wrapped the label around the socks or mittens.  It looked so "retail".  I also liked that it had a place for the care instructions.  You could probably edit the label and print the instructions but per usual I was in a hurry. LOL!

I was trying to do some projects I had saved on Pinterest and made these treats to send with....easy peasy with store bought Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies and I did some pretzel rods too.

I still prefer the old homemade Christmas cookies and I'll be baking some of those this week.  Here's everything wrapped up and ready to go.  I told you it was the 12 months of Christmas around here. LOL!

I'm already down the road on another hat....this one is for one of my sons...it matches the the scarf in color but the scarf is still going so I thought I would get this done and sent out and then finish the scarf.  The scarf hurts my hands so I can't work on it all the time like I can the hat.  No more bulky yarn for me!

 This is another pattern from the Purl Soho Basic Hat Pattern.  Just a roll brim in stockinette which allows me to watch all those Hallmark Christmas movies and still get knitting done.  I think I'm on a roll here!

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

YOP Sunday and more...........

In between storms I managed to get "finished" items in the mail, do some baking and get ingredients for Christmas food and frivolities.  They will have things for Christmas....just not everything.

 These are those 6 minute caramels done in the microwave....recipe on All Recipes.  They didn't set very well but it sure didn't bother the taste!  I put sea salt on them this year...yummo.

 Toasted up those pumpkins seeds too.......also made the original Chex Party Mix and mailed out. 

Yesterday we had torrential downpours and flash flooding and my sump pump decided to "retire" during that time.  The basement started filling with water and I called my plumber who I have since renamed to "Christmas Angel".  He was over in less than 30 minutes and put in a used pump until he can order me a new one.  There goes my Christmas and birthday wishes....I was hoping Santa might bring me a Kindle but it looks like now there will be a sump pump under the tree instead. 
But aside from all that.....the knitting angels HAVE been hovering over me big time!  Look at this.....

I still can't believe I knitted this!
  I know to many of you hats are easy but this was my first one and all those mistakes and frustrating moments of past knitting finally paid off.....I never once had to go to Knitting Help, I used circular needles and then switched to DPNS and never had a problem and I understood all the acronyms used in the pattern and the stitches.    This is really the first project that I am truly proud of and it makes me feel like I can finally and truly call myself a knitter!  Merry Christmas to me and my knitting angels. (There must have been a team of them helping me).
But wait!  That's not all...........

  I'm doing ear flaps and an I-cord tie with tassels on the end.  Remember the chair pad that was all I-cord?   Well, all my projects this year seemed to lead to knowing how to make this hat.  BTW, the Purl Soho Basic Hat Pattern I bought was well worth it!  Also, I have finally found a great knitting project that I can do while watching t.v.  I'm off to cast on a simple roll brim hat now...there are games to watch today and tonight the Bear's play the Eagles and I get to see it on t.v.  There's a Christmas present right there as I never get to see the Bears on t.v.  Go Bears!

I wish you all the merriest and brightest of everything now and in the coming year.....

Santa's Workshop is in full swing!

But where's the elves that are supposed to help?  

I blocked my first item.  Not sure I did it right but it looks better than before.

This is a gift for my cousin who doesn't read my blog. 

One hat for one grandson is coming along really well but obviously it will be the 12 months of Christmas here...not the 12 days as previously thought.

 

Another shipment of yarn arrived today....whew!   Mrs. Claus was getting worried!

 

Remember those Halloween/Fall pumpkins?  I finally got around to baking them today and I still need to puree and freeze and roast/toast the pumpkin seeds.  They'll make a nice healthy snack.

Had to run out quick and get a few special cards for some special people.

Of course, one can't really work in Santa's Workshop without having extreme Christmas spirit so there had to be Christmas music blaring throughout the shop.

There's hardly any room in the kitchen workshop for all the supplies to make all the "goodies"!

But we will persevere!  Please excuse me if I haven't stopped by....I forgot to make my own supper tonight! I better go make something.  I need all the energy I can get!  I hope all your projects and holiday wishes are coming to fruition.  Fa la la la la, la la la la!

YOP Sunday

I've been absent for a few weeks first preparing for company and then recuperating! LOL!  I had a wonderful time though but got a little behind on "projects".  I also need to update my blog and Ravelry projects.  It's "crunch time" ladies and gentleman but never fear as the knitting and crocheting angels are here!  I actually don't concern myself with any deadlines since I've retired so the presents will get sent when they're done....whenever that is.

No...the Irish Hiking Scarf is still not done.  I totally had to put it away while my company was here as it was for one of them.  Actually, I was going to make 2 of them but I've chosen another pattern in a non-bulky yarn which is not so hard on my hands.  But I am happy to report that it is 46 inches long and the finished size is 55" although I might be going for whatever ends up being able to swing over your shoulder and stay there.  I think I'm on the 4th or 5th skein of yarn now.  I've also ditched the idea of making a matching hat....not now anyway.  No more scarves in bulky yarn for me!
I mentioned in a previous blog how I ordered a hat pattern from Purl Soho....supposedly you can download but you can't so it finally came in the mail yesterday!  A week later and a week's knitting gone by!  What really irritated me was that I called and she said she would email it.  It never came so I called again and she said before close of business....that was last Monday.  I like this pattern because it has several styles and each pattern has the sizes for baby, child, woman, man.  Not sure what that equates to but I'll take it as I don't have the heads nearby to measure.

 

  Here's a grandson's future hat which will have earflaps and the long tie hanging down if I can manage it.

Next up are crocheted star ornaments meant to look like this when I finish....

I did green stars since I have red ribbon...they need to have ends woven in and be blocked and maybe starched a bit.  Does anyone know how you do that will acrylic yarn items?  So far mine look like this.  The pattern for these is a free tutorial from Jodie over at Jelly Wares

Then I made a few of these "twinkler" stars from another free pattern from Sandra over at Cherry Heart on her December 5th post.  The size differs depending on the yarn and the size hook you use.   Both these gals are on Ravelry.

While I was over at Purl Soho I ordered my Christmas present..........a crewel embroidery kit I have had my eyes on for several years and which they have in short supply and sometimes not at all.  There was one left!  I grabbed it.... virtually.  This will be the project that will get done but only if I live that long! Are unfinished projects handed down from generation to generation?  It's huge but it reminds me of where I grew up...yes....it was definitely an emotional purchase.

These are custom kits from Blanche Virgien from Connecticut.  There are many more on the Purl Soho website.

It's huge! 20" X 24" stamped design on linen and the instructions........

A booklet on Basic Crewel Embroidery and pages and pages of very detailed instructions for each piece of the embroidery picture.  So happy about that as I haven't done crewel embroidery since my children were small and the "baby" turned 33 today!  There's a needle included and of course all the yarn needed.

So, that's what's been keeping me "off the streets and out of trouble" along with cooking, cleaning, decorating, card writing, bill paying, sewing and crafting.  Happy Holidays and may all your projects be done and in the mail by December 17th.  You know mine won't be! LOL!