No power yesterday............

for most of the day and then when it came back on it was only for about an hour and then it went back off again for a couple hours.......thus....no blogging for me.  I was lucky to heat up some supper in the microwave! LOL!  But the roof is still on and we're all fine but there were many in AR, MS, and IL that didn't fare as well.....my prayers go out to them.  My old metal lawn chairs were tossed down the driveway and they have  never moved during a storm so it must have been pretty wild.  I can't hear much in this house it is so well insulated plus the girls are too feeble now to go down the basement steps.....I'm afraid they would fall.  I left the basement door open and the girls I stayed put in the family room which is in the middle of the house with no outside walls.  There were 70 mph winds evidently which took many power lines down and trees.  I saw quite a few downed trees and the power company still working on lines when I went out today.  
Today was Walmart and I treated myself to a few items along with supplies.......first of all.....I could not resist some Spring bulbs on sale and then herbs and lettuce for salads....

 and I treated myself to a few magazines which I have not done in ages..........but I was looking for a little distraction and inspiration as I have frogged 3 knitting projects this week and I am not going to be knitting for a good long time if ever again.  I love it but I cannot seem to be very successful at it so I am taking it as a 'sign' for now that I need to be doing something else.......

I have learned over the years that rejection is protection and/or direction so I am trying not to view myself as a failure but rather that I am supposed to be devoting my time and effort to something else and I think I know what it is.  Although, I was not sitting for hours knitting, just to take a little break inbetween chores but that might have been the problem too.  Maybe, I needed to 'focus' on the knitting more...remember my word of the year this year?  FOCUS.......and so I am but not on knitting...it is on moving forward with selling my house, clearing and cleaning.
Don't get me wrong...there will still be handwork and projects as I have gifts to make and a quilt for my bed and projects to finish but it just won't be knitting.  I spent too many hours knitting only to tear it out and start over again and again.  I can't afford to waste time right now as I have too many irons in the fire.  

So, tomorrow I have 2 appointments and then it is carpet shampooing time with the Big machine!  I wish I could clone myself but unfortunately that's not an option right now.  What I want to do is buy a house up North, move and then have an estate sale here and then put the house up for sale....it would make my life so much easier!  We shall see.  I hope you are all fine and dandy and I hope, if you are knitting, that it is going much better for you than it has for me! LOL!
Oh, I also got some Spring stickers for my bullet journal but there were no St. Patrick's Day stickers!  Dang!  I guess I'll have to use my own artistic attempt at some shamrocks.

 Happy Trails!

Productive day but Spring is ramping up with some storms!

My fabric came today!  Woo Hoo!  Here it is!  I can't wait to start the QAL (quilt along ) over on Brooklyn Knitfolk's Ravelry group.....it's for beginners and first time quilters so if you've ever "hankered" to make a quilt, here's your chance! 

I have never heard of Boundless fabric but it had great customer reviews on Craftsy and get this.....inside my package they sent me a 40% off coupon code on my next order of Boundless fabric....oh yeah, that's what I'm talkin' about!
I got busy and worked on my dining room which had really turned into a big mess my sewing room.  But now I am moving it to the middle bedroom which will be my sewing/craft room.  This picture is AFTER I organized some things....lol!  There's a lot of work ahead of me on this project!  Also, getting ready for the Spring City-wide Garage Sale.  I need to call City Hall and see when it is....I missed the one in the Fall.  My theory is to divide and conquer while at the same time grouping like items together.....is that possible?

 This is a very old  hand painted Chinese desk that belonged to my grandparent-in-laws...is there such a word?  Anyway, my ex gave it to me for a wedding present.  The chair did not come with it.  There's a drawer and the doors open in the middle and there is a writing surface that comes down and little cubby holes for letters and there's a light inside too.  It's like having your own little post office! 

 I made lemon bars this afternoon as my sweet tooth was starting to get to me...........I'm cutting back on the sugar in these old recipes though and I added twice the lemon rind and twice the lemon juice...it just can't be too lemony for me! LOL!

See the stainless steel cannister and the old hand sifter?  The cannister belonged to my Mother and I remember it when I was little.  I'm sure there was a whole set at one time and how I ended up with this one is beyond me.  I've had it since my children were little......I'm sure it dates back to the 50's.

  I think my daughter got me the sifter in an antique store and it's great for sifting powdered sugar onto things...........you just shake it back and forth and that little thing inside goes back and forth....I have to be careful though as I can get a little carried away and the powdered sugar ends up all over!

I knitted on my shawl during my 'work breaks' but thought I had dropped a stitch twice and so I got my crochet hook out and picked them up only to discover at the end of the row I had 2 extra stitches!  Tomorrow I will try and tink back but it really looked like a ladder stitch was laying there just as if  I had dropped a stitch....I have no idea how I do these things!

Here's the error of my ways!  Not sure you can see it but it's there.....and I was making such good progress too....oh well, I will attack it tomorrow when I am fresh out of the box!  If anyone has any hints for how I do these things please let me know!  Would that happen if I went under the entire knit stitch instead of just the front loop?  Maybe I need glasses?

I'd better go eat supper as we are under a tornado watch and who knows if we'll loose power.  So far it's quiet but they predict quite a wild night and last night it hailed and there was quite the wind and lightening and thunder.  It didn't last too long and there were no big warnings but when they say tornado I get the weather radio out and it is all charged up and already on!  I hope you are safe and cozy where ever you are tonight!
Happy Trails! 

Spring blooms and a bullet.....journal that is!

They can say what they want but plants don't lie!  It's Spring in The Ozarks!  LOL!  This is my old Bradford Pear tree/bush.  It got hit by lightening years ago and it's never been the same....I wouldn't be either!  But I still love it.

The forsythia is blooming too but my pictures were blurred because there's a bit of a breeze today.  Here's what some call a weed but if you look closely it looks like a teeny tiny orchid or lady's slipper or lipstick vine or something.......

The hyacinth are blooming and I love, love, love the smell of them but I can't get my nose down that far anymore so I guess I will have to start forcing blooms in the Winter just so I can get a whiff! LOL!

Of course, the daffodils are still putting on a show too...........

On other plants, the clematis is leafing out along with the rose bushes and my lavender never really died back much or my other perennials.  It just never stayed cold long enough this Winter.
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I'm still reading the same books this week so I didn't want to post about them....what's the sense but I have moved onto the 2nd chapter in the NLT Bible....Exodus.  Also, I watched both movies that Connie from the Far Side of Fifty recommended (she's on my side bar)......The Great Alone and Harry and Snowman.  I loved both of them as one is about the Iditarod dog sled race and I love dogs and the other movie is about a man and his horse and I love horses!  True documentary style movies that I love.  I always think real people are so much more interesting than made up ones.  Everyone has a story and is interesting to me whether they think so or not.  Thank you, Connie, I really enjoyed them both.
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I finally got going with my bullet journal after looking on Pinterest and watching videos on You Tube about them.........here's what I have so far and it is so much fun too!  It combines my love of planning and list making with my love of colors and coloring...I really am going back to my childhood!
This is what it looks like after I glued some pictures and quotes on the cover of my pink composition book.....

The first several pages you make into an index which means you can make each page or pages whatever you want and the index will help you find them again...very important! LOL!
 I tried to 'gussy' it up but failed miserably but I will get better with practice I hope..........

 This is my 'future log' (I am using a tutorial and a quick reference sheet to get the basic page layouts in place).  I only did one page today....tomorrow I'll be working on the monthly log and task list.......
I used some colored pencils I got for Christmas (Crayola Twistables....no sharpening involved!) and my Prisma color pens which I love but I need more colors.  I also want to get some Tombrow (sp?) brush markers.....the You Tube videos give you a list of the supplies they use.....it will take time to build up but did I tell you how much I love art and office supplies too?  Bullet Journaling and I are a match made in heaven especially since it is 'homemade' too.

I put some washi tape at the bottom..........

I was pleased with how it turned out.........

I'm no artist and some of these people have beautiful journals but it is darn fun and that is what I am all about now a days! LOL!
As for my day so far......I've cleaned up the house, washed, hung, picked and folded 2 loads of laundry, went to the store for some ground beef and chips for Sloppy Joes tonight, worked a few rows on my shawl, read some blogs and ran the Spotbot in about 3 places.....Annie had some 'hacking' accidents after her surgery.  I think it was the tube they put down their throat for anesthesia but she's fine now.  I also looked for a homemade recipe for Spotbot detergent and I found one, where else?, Pinterest!  I need to make that, iron my fabric to the interfacing for my project bag, make supper and if I have any energy left I would like to work on my front closet....remember when I started painting it many moons ago?  Yep, another WIP!  I hope you are having a great Monday!
Happy Trails! 

YOP Week #35

I almost didn't post today because I have so little to show but then again....I so enjoy other's posts that I figured I would anyway.   I'm not discussing my 'cursed' socks.....maybe next week I can relate the sad tale but this week it is too fresh! LOL!
So, I got out a project that is on my list but was languishing...my Multnomah shawl.......it is in the Dachshund colorway by Madelinetosh.  I love this yarn and how it is working up.  I may become a yarn snob yet! LOL!  If you notice, I have some floss there in the picture because I had just finished putting in a lifeline.  I'm not taking any chances with this baby!  It's fingering weight yarn but this pattern only takes one skein which is budget friendly in my book!

 I did cut out material for a project bag out of my old pajamas......remember this fabric?

I'm using a free pattern and tutorial by Hue Loco.......
I also splurged and bought material for a quilt for my bed which I got for 1/2 price on Craftsy so that was a real win!  It hasn't arrived yet but this is what it looks like........all reproduction prints from the 1930's...........LOVE!!!!!  I've made quilts for everyone but me almost so when I heard that Jaclyn of the Brooklyn Knitfolk podcast was hosting a QAL (quilt along plus tutorial) I jumped right in!  It hasn't started yet as we are just gathering our supplies so there is still time to join in.  She has a group on Ravelry and you just need to join and then print off the supply list and she has exact fabric amounts for all size beds.  Mine is a double/full.  I have had the sewing bug lately so this will be a great project for Spring.  BTW, Craftsy has some great deals on fabric!

 The other item I've been working on is my bullet journal.  I thought my planner was going to work but there is no room for all my zillions of tasks, projects and to-do lists.  So, I have been looking at starting a bullet journal where you basically create what you need as you go and you have an index.  There is no limit with a bullet journal!  I printed off a 'craft' page today........and a few others........

I'll just cut them out and paste them in mine.  Do any of you do bullet journaling?  Pinterest has all kinds of ideas and pages....it's really amazing what you can keep track of and you can do as much or as little 'decorating' as you want......I'm really into it right now and it is like the answer to a prayer!
That's all for this week folks.  Are you watching the Oscars tonight?  I'm not sure I can get it without satellite but I'll try.....after all, I got to watch the Superbowl! LOL! 
Have a wonderful week ahead and Happy Trails!

The busy life of a retired gal!

I did not mention that Tuesday my little Annie girl had dental surgery so that was part of my "busy".  She's doing great and had blood work and her nails trimmed while she was "out".....I can't hear her 'click, click, click' across the floor now and she sneaks up on me!  She's 14 so I can't say I wasn't a little concerned but she did fine.  She has antibiotics to take twice a day but we're managing that part too and she gets a treat after she finally swallows it.  I've given meds to dogs before and I just stuff it down their throat and hold their mouth closed until they start sticking their tongue out and I know then they've swallowed it.  I don't mess with trying to hide it in a hot dog or anything.....they're too smart for that!  Mine are anyway.

  I took their beds and Annie's blanket to the laundromat yesterday.  I try to wash them monthly.  I could wash them in my washer but I don't have a working drier and they need their beds.  They're so thick that they won't dry completely outside so to the laundromat I go.

I did make something yesterday that I had never made before.....English Muffins. Katrina from Pioneer Woman at  Heart (she's listed on my side bar) made them the other day so I used the same recipe she did.  It was an all day event or part of the day at least but since I'm home all day it's not a big deal.  One thing I did not realize is that they are not baked.....at all!  They're fried...lightly but they're fried..........no wonder I like them so much.  They are really easy though and although I didn't get all the 'nooks and crannies' like Thomas does, I still really liked them and will make them again for sure. 

When all was said and done, I was really pleased with the result!  Thank you, Katrina, as I have been wanting to make them for a long time.  Next up.......homemade crackers!

What 'new' thing have you done or tried? 
Happy Trails!

I missed my Monday book date!

I swear....wasn't it just Sunday?  Well, better late than never.....I haven't gotten all that much reading done but what I have has been enjoyable........I did finish this one.........I enjoyed it.  She has the most unique story lines with a little magic thrown in!  I highly recommend her books!

 

 I'm still reading this one...about 1 chapter a night is all I can take...there's a few interesting parts but most of it is pretty dry.......what do you expect from a guy who spends all his time in the woods?

My newest fiction that I am reading is the 3rd book in the Harry Potter series.......... I'm about 150 pages into it and it is very good as always!

 I am doing well with my goal to read The Bible all the way through.  I'm almost done with Genesis and now I know why my Mother always told me to not read the Old Testament!  Whoa Nellie!  It would be X-Rated if they made it into a movie!

I'm not currently reading any magazine or listening to an audio book other than Pastor Rick Stevens Daily Hope.    I am listening to the I Make audio podcast and my regular video podcasts of Brooklyn Knitfolk  and Inside Number 23, HueLoco and Stitching the High Notes for this week.....my regular news programs and that's about it.  I have been watching some You Tube videos for sewing and I finally watched Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone DVD that I got myself for Christmas.......

 It was excellent!  My only suggestion would be to watch each movie right after you read the book and before you start the next book in the series.  I found myself getting confused watching the first movie and reading the 3rd book.....I still have the 2nd movie to watch probably this weekend.

I have downloaded several books to my Kindle also which I will share as I read them.  That's all the book news for this week!  What have you been reading, listening to and watching?  I love all your recommendations so 'keep em coming'!

Happy Trails!    

YOP Week #34

Although this was a busy week for me, I seemed to make progress on my handwork.  Most probably that is because it keeps me grounded along with prayer.  I was able to finish the leg on sock #1 of Hermione's Everyday Socks by Erica Leuder (a free pattern on Ravelry). 

 Did you notice the mistake design modification right beneath the end of the cuff?  Although I have had lots of troubles with this sock (all my own fault except maybe a little bit the yarn) I have learned much!  That little raised area beneath the cuff is what results from either reversing the pattern or staying true to it but executing it on the inside of the sock instead of the outside.  Not sure where my head has been.....no comments, please! LOL!  But I have realized that somehow I can turn magic tricks with my sock knitting and things get turned inside out and needles get turned around with the lead yarn in the back and then the front.....I think there might be some leprechaun involvement here too.  They start practicing their shenanigans so they will be ready for the big day!  St. Patrick's Day is less than a month away!  Anyway, I let it go and decided that I would replicate it on the 2nd sock........

and I did!  So now it truly IS a design 'feature'.....you heard it here first folks!  What surprises me is that the picture on the pattern is a shorter version of the leg as when you do 72 rounds (18 repeats of the 4 round pattern) it is quite a lengthy leg or maybe it just seemed that way. 

I did get the 3rd leg of the giraffe done but still need to do the foot/hoof and 1 more leg!  I hope I have enough yellow yarn....we shall see!  That is all I have left of the yellow.

Not much done on the 2nd of 5 blocks for the Frida basket but it's a start and sometimes that is all you need to move ahead..........

 This is actually called Frida's Flowers Project Bag and it is a free pattern I got on Crafternoon's website.  I need to update my Ravelry page too!  So sorry for those who wanted to know.  Here is the link to the tutorial
As for stash enhancement....no yarn but a couple of patterns...like I need more! LOL!  But I actually totally missed Valentine's Day although I will still probably send something....the grands are getting used to their wacky grandmother and the fact that I persist in celebrating Christmas every day...at least the meaning of it although I may be taking it farther as I still have some decorations floating around here....I have an issue with 'letting go'......lol!  I printed off this free pattern from Susan B. Anderson....so cute!  Little knitted and felted wool hearts but I need the wool in all those colors too!  Oh yeah...any excuse to buy fiber and Susan has her own yarn company now.....Barrett Wool Co. and I'm pretty sure I need to try some.....

Then she came out with another pattern which would be perfect to slip into Easter baskets or little pockets or a project bag just for inspiration...........these little itsy bitsy sheep!  Darling!  This is a 'pay for' pattern but it is on sale (last day is today, I think) for $5.00 and it includes 7, I kid you not, 7 videos showing every step of making them by Susan herself.....for $5.00.....what a deal!  I couldn't resist even at the regular price of $7.00 it's a bargain!  Her classes are way more than that!

As for pod casts and other tidbits relating to the fiber and crafty universe........I found a wonderful podcast from a gal on Guernsey Island (did you read that wonderful historical fiction book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society?  Same place......)  and she explores all kinds of crafts and handwork and she is awesome!  Her voice, her projects, her descriptions (it is an audio podcast) and her show notes and pictures are wonderful and so inspiring......here is the link....I Make
Her name is Martine Ellis and she can be found on Ravelry under I Make.....such a great gal and such a great podcast.  I was getting a little bit tired of all the knitting pod casts...don't get me wrong, I love them but I, like other "craftsy" people do not just knit....I have a zillion other interests and evidently Martine felt the same way.....she found a niche that was not being served and hopefully there will be more people that will start doing pod casts for all kinds of miscellaneous crafts and handwork.  Thank you, Martine....so happy I found you!
I also found through S.B.A. ...........Spin Cycle Yarns
Their yarn looks like hand spun!  They are out  of Portland, Oregon and although pricey to me... $32.00 a skein...they have 2nds!  Yes, for like half the price and they don't sound bad at all....I may give their 2nds a try but if you can afford it their yarns are absolutely beautiful.  Sometimes I think it would be worth starting a video podcast just for all the free stuff they get! LOL!
Well, I have droned on for long enough and I am sure you are yawning by now.....I apologize but I had so much to share!
Have a wonderful crafty, happy and homemade week!
Happy Trails!  

     

Crazytime U.S.A.

No, I'm  not talking politics although that is a whole other bag! LOL!  No, it's just been crazy in my life right now and remember my word this year?  FOCUS.....well let me tell you.....I am being severely tested on it!  But aside from that I am still luckier than at least 2/3 or more people in the world so I will keep my mouth shut which, if you know me, that is not easy! LOL! 
But Spring is in the Ozarks!  My workload has once again doubled with outside and inside.  I am hanging clothes outside again.......so wonderful!  There are the Spring rains but mostly at night.
The daffodils are blooming and all is right with the world...well, my little world anyway as long as I keep to myself, stay away from Face Book and the television and don't answer the phone! LOL!

 I have actually gotten quite a bit done this week considering and I had a couple days where I had boundless energy which really helped.  I've scrubbed and vacuumed and gone through gobs of paperwork and gotten some handwork done (tomorrow's YOP blog post will show it).  I'm wanting to do so much more but I do run out of steam.  Today, I wanted to sew but alas, that did not happen.  I did get chicken and noodles in the crock pot for dinner and I ran up to the local stores for some items and then the usual daily chores but that's all.  Where does the time go?  There were some phone calls from family and now that the weather is nice the girls are like kids....in and out, in and out...now I know why  people get pet doors!  They went to the vet this week for rabies shots and Annie (the miniature dachschund) is scheduled for dental surgery on Tuesday.   She will have some teeth pulled....they are getting old like me.
I think I caught up with every one's blogs today and I apologize for being 'gone' from blogland but my son's illness and issues are a logistic nightmare right now but thankfully he is being helped by many in one way or another and we will see this through together.  He's doing well and staying at my daughters until his appointments (multiple issues and multiple doctors) are all done and then he might be coming to stay with me until he gets on his feet.  My daughter has Spring Break and may bring him down then when she comes if all works out alright...thus the 'logistic nightmare' part. 
So, that's all the news that's fit to print and I hope you are all enjoying this early Spring! 
Happy Trails!

 

YOP Week #33

Not much progress this week on the handwork front but a little...........I finally finished both cuffs of the Hermione's Everyday sock...I have no idea why I've had so much trouble with these...I'm thinking maybe my mind is just not on socks these days............... 

I also made a couple progress keepers....this was a stitch marker I got but I made it into a progress keeper...........

and then this one..... as Mary Engelbreit says, I am "the Queen of Everything" and my daughter is "the Princess of All Things"..........

I did finish the first of 5 blocks for my daughter's Frida Kahlo basket for her birthday in July.....I still have ends to weave in and it definitely needs to be blocked!  Not a very good picture either.

No giraffe work this week but I did start taking a Craftsy class........Fearless Knitting by Lucy Neatby.....I think I need a class after all the troubles I had with those sock cuffs.....because I still don't understand what went wrong......it is not great yarn for sure but can you really blame the yarn?  I think maybe it's time to learn a bit more and understand the process.  I hope this class helps me understand what I am doing and especially when I do it WRONG! LOL!
I hope you had and will have a wonderful week!
Happy Trails! 

Just in case you forgot...like I did............

Valentines Day is Tuesday!!!  Wasn't it just Christmas a few weeks ago?  Dang!  So, I ran off to the Dollar General and got some junk things for the grands.  I'll make some heart shaped sugar cookies tomorrow and send it off Monday....no USPS though.....FEDEX all the way.....

I swear, the grands love the cheap stuff from the Dollar store....who am I to argue?  Bless them as Grandma's on a budget! LOL!
Here's a picture of Miss Peeps yesterday.....she is really so much better behaved and I can even knit when she's around but I don't dare leave it on the chair after I get up!  I saw her Mother the other day in my yard.  Almost, like she was looking for Miss Peeps.  I am assuming it is her Mother as it is almost the spitting image of Miss Peeps.  I'll always wonder what happened that they got separated.

 She's still a playful kitten but no more biting or scratching which is nice and she's stopped jumping on Annie and she knows she's not supposed to.   Who says you can't train cats....just watch me! LOL!
I hope you're enjoying your weekend!
Happy Trails!