It's Monday! What are you reading, watching, and/or listening to?

 I finished this book which was excellent!!!  For once Oprah's pick did not disappoint.  I couldn't put it down as it was fascinating.  There were some 'ugly' parts but it was written with sensitivity and the facts that were part of being 'owned' by someone else....she may have woven fiction into it but it read like a memoir about 6 generations of her family with photograph's and family trees spread throughout the book.  I highly recommend this book and give it 5 stars! 

I'm still reading this one...just a gentle story each night until I finish..........no rush....I want it to last

For my next fiction book I found this one at Walmart last week on sale..........I thought I had read all her books but somehow I missed this one.........you can't go wrong with this author....she's marvelous!
Although, I must admit my favorites were her first three books...which were Big Stone Gap, Cherry Hollar and Milk Glass Moon.  I bought her first book when I was in the Appalachian's at a small local store where they were selling her book.  At that time she lived in that area and was a local.  She had not 'made it big' yet.  Do I know how to pick them or what? LOL!

I also picked up this little gem.  I don't often buy magazines anymore and I have no subscriptions but it had me at 'vintage'!  Be still my beating heart!

As for watching.......I buckled and subscribed to Brit Box for $7.00 a month...........I had watched Season 1 of Cranford and went to watch Season 2 and I could only get it if I subscribed to Brit Box on Amazon.....I couldn't help it....I so enjoyed that show.  In my defense, I did wait 24 hours before deciding...so now I am watching season 2.  I'm still watching Father Brown also on Netflix and I'm on Season 3 of it.  That's all for this week.  I hope you have been enjoying whatever you have been reading, watching and/or listening too.  BTW, I am almost finished with chapter 3 in the Bible...Leviticus and I'm still listening to Daily Hope podcast of Pastor Rick Warren which I highly recommend! 
Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #15

 One of three I Spy quilts is done except for washing and drying which makes it so nice and 'quilty' looking.  I never pre-wash my quilting fabrics as I like that little bit of shrinkage.

I just finished the heel flap on sock #2 and hope to do the heel turn this afternoon.....

I finally got the giraffe legs stuffed with poly pellets in the 'hooves' to give it a little weight and fiberfill in the rest of the legs.  They're stitched closed and ready to sew onto the body....I need to wrap this project up!  There's one more giraffe after this....the most time consuming part is the sewing it all together.

  Did I tell you I wanted to make a sweater?  Did I also mention I had tried to make one awhile ago but ended up frogging it?  Well, I am a better knitter now then when I tried before so I am giving it another go especially since I have all the yarn for it!  It is a Mary Maxim pattern but I bought my own yarn for it....I am using Paton's Classic Worsted Wool in the color Black Tweed.  I was going to wait until after the Christmas gifts were done but I was chomping at the bit and a little tired of knitting only socks for myself.  So far so good!  But I better be careful and not jinx myself!

That is the collar and it is all top down, no buttons....I may get a shawl pin for it but I wanted it easy for my first sweater and another gal recommended it.   She made it as her first sweater and said she enjoyed the making and the finished product.  I just separated for the sleeves, left and right front and the back which is the middle portion.  I am really enjoying it so far and the bigger needles give you lots to show for your knitting time!  Last time I used a lifeline and it still messed me up so I am not using one....what are your experiences with life lines?  Do you use them or not and if you do, do you use floss or yarn or what? 
I got my snowflake buttons for my cross stitch in the mail and the frame so I need to work on finishing that project up.
I've been toying with the idea of some little felt Halloween ornies for the grands and already have some 'pretzel ghosts' chosen as a sweet treat to make for them.  Probably a book for each of them and a card and that should do it!  We love Halloween in our family.
Sam and Grayson sent me the cutest postcards, that they colored, in the mail.  Sam's letter was very nice and he asked how I was and told me what he had been doing.........Grayson's just said "Grandma can you please get me some Legos?"  He didn't sign it so legally I don't think I'm obligated because I don't really know it came from him....lol!  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
I hope you had a great week and that all your fiber dreams come true!
Happy Trails!!!

Books, Cleaning and Organizing and Decorating...all is one post! LOL!

MONDAY BOOK DATE:

Yes, I missed Monday Book Date as I didn't think I had much to show but I will...........I finally finished The Memory Keeper's Daughter and the second half of the book seemed to go much faster.  I think sometimes when you read in 'fits and starts' that it takes away from the story line and for the last half of the book I actually sat down in the afternoon and read for a good solid hour at least instead of my usual 15 minutes with me nodding off to sleep in the evening.  I truly enjoyed this book and I would recommend it...4 stars for sure and although sad, the writing and the characters became very real....almost like it wasn't fiction...I wonder how close the author is to a situation like that as her knowledge and story were wonderful.  There is sadness but there is also much joy.  When fiction becomes as real to me as non-fiction...I call that a good book!

For my new fiction book.....I chose a book I had already owned for awhile..............yes, I used to buy "Oprah's Picks' until I noticed a common thread of abuse running through all the books she picked for her book club.  This one is very good but that's because I love history and although it is fiction....it is historical fiction and based on the author's real family history.  "LALITA TADEMY is a former vice-president of Sun Microsystems who left the corporate world to immerse herself in tracing her family's history and writing her first book, CANE RIVER."  There are even photograph's and documents from her family's history as slaves.....very interesting...what a strong courageous family she came from.  I don't think this one will take long to get through!

Still reading this one in which each chapter is a different story so it's not like I can't put it down...I'm almost done with it but it is a nice book to pick  up at the end of the day....really enjoyable!

As for watching...........I caught up with Maker's Haven and Brooklyn Knitfolk podcasts and I also started watching a new podcast by Crochet Cupcake which is a mother and daughter team from Puerto Rico and now I am concerned about them and their entire island of course.  It was very strange that I started watching their podcast at that particular time.  They even mentioned that they had just survived Irma but that Maria was coming.  I pray for all of them and hopefully they are alright and will be back soon podcasting!  I watched the Doctor Thorne series on Amazon based on a book by Anthony Trollope and produced by Julian Fellows of Downton Abbey fame.  It was 4 episodes and very good! Now, I want to read all of Anthony Trollope and there is plenty out there and they are mostly all FREE on the Kindle app!!!  I downloaded several.  Terra of Terra's Garden (on my sidebar) has been praising his books for a long time now and I did have him on my book list...but he just got promoted to the top of the list!  Usually the book is even better!  Now I'm watching another great series.....Cranford also on amazon Prime video but these were both on PBS too.
(Bible reading.........I'm on Chapter 3 - Leviticus)

TUESDAY  CLEANING and ORGANIZING:

This was the big 'mama jamma" folks!  The twice yearly garbage pickup of practically anything and everything and I scored big time on cleaning and organizing...take a look at this!  My garage is practically empty....okay, maybe not empty....I still have that back wall to clean and clear but it looks a sight better and I did a happy dance when I saw them come and take every bit of it away!  Even those ugly blue garbage cans!  Yay!!!!!

WEDNESDAY DECORATING:
 Tuesday was also when I went to Mountain Home to the RA doctor (just for refills....you have to show up or they won't refill your meds).........so while I was in Mountain Home I stopped at Hobby Lobby and got a Fall mug for my Pumpkin Spice Latte's which I will be making as soon as things cool off down here....................

 and a frame for my Frost is on the Pumpkin cross stitch.  This is mint green and I am thinking I might paint it orange or red or teal......we'll see..............

   I also received the snowflake sequin/buttons in the mail that I bought on Etsy..............she sent me a little packet of smaller ones too.....so nice!

So there.............I think I'm caught up!  Today my new termite person is outside drilling holes in the foundation and doing a real termite protection job which Terminix never did!  He is very nice and has been at it all afternoon!  I'm so glad I switched companies. They are diligent, professional and less expensive too!  It rained here yesterday and this morning so I feel better now....it was getting pretty 'crispy' around here!
I hope your week is going well!  Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #14

Moving right along.....with the same old projects but by next week you will probably see some new ones or old ones that I am finishing....lol!
I have a 'pretty much done' project...........my Frosted Pumpkin cross stitch!

I also ordered the snowflake buttons that will really be the finishing touch....they should be here this week.  I think I should wash it and press it before I put the buttons on and also look for  a frame for it.  I think it will have a special place in my new alcove (used to be front closet).
I'm working away on the 2nd sock and I actually knitted in public while waiting for my neighbor at her doctor's office.  A woman came over and sat next to me and we had such a nice conversation about knitting and crochet.

Yesterday I spent the day bonding with my new sewing machine and we are best buds now!  I cut and sewed the binding and sewed it on the quilt and now I am doing the hand stitching.  I need to work on my mitered corners and I made a 2 1/4 inch binding but I may use a 3" on the next one simply for the corner mitering.  I've also heard of a magic binding that I want to look into.  I think it's magic because there is no hand sewing but I could be wrong.  This is the part that I sewed last night.........

  I have about 3 more sides to hand sew...........

I have a busy week ahead.....another trip to Mountain Home, a trip to the Thrift Store to drop things off (my car is still loaded with it), Tuesday is our twice a year city garbage pickup where you can put anything out on the curb and they will take it......boy, do I have a lot to drag out there!  It's great to actually see progress in quite a few areas of my life right now.....I just hope it doesn't come to a dead stop when they take my steroids away!  I think the elderly should get free steroids for life!
Some new sites I visited this week that you might be interested in........
Timeless Reflections  (a sewing blog)
Madam Munch (a knitting blog but it is in Danish so you have to use Google translate)  If you like color work this blog is gorgeous!
Humble Quilts a quilting blog

To see what other YOP members are working on and be totally inspired by them check here

I hope you had a great week and saw progress in your world too!  Happy Trails!!!

Thursday - Cooking and baking just 2 days late!!!

What a week this has been...all good but fell behind again.  I worked really hard cleaning, painting and doing laundry and cooking on Thursday so I thought I could blog on Friday but at 7:30 p.m. (right before my bedtime) my neighbor called and asked if I would drive her to Mountain Home the next morning to a doctor appointment. (Needless to say Fun Friday was put on hold.)  Of course, I said yes so we left at 10:30 a.m Friday and didn't get back until around 4:30 so I was so tired that I didn't blog last night either.  But I owe you some recipes! 
Remember the flour tortillas I made this week............here's the link to that recipe

Best Ever Homemade Tortillas

Another AWESOME recipe I made this week that I am now addicted to are salads in a jar.......I gathered 5 jars about pint size...........yes, I save jars so it was no problem for me! LOL!

then I made fillings...........whatever salad fixings you like....I used onions, hard boiled eggs, cherry tomatoes, pumpkin seeds and baby spinach.............

you put your dressing in the bottom and layer your other ingredients in...I did 2 layers and then the lid and refrigerate.....5 salads ready to go!  When I get hungry in the middle of the day I don't want to stop and fix something as I am usually 'on a roll' by then doing something.   These are so easy to grab and you turn them upside down and shake them really good and the dressing disperses throughout the entire salad!  I love it.  I've already made a second batch! 

I also made tortilla pizzas with my homemade tortillas........from this recipe
unfortunately that is a picture before I put it under the broiler and my batteries went dead when I went to take the 'after' picture but trust me....it was crispy and delicious and just right with one of my 'jar' salads!  I just used some pepperoni, basil and provolone cheese drizzled with some olive oil.  It was what I had on hand but you could put anything you wanted on it.

 I also made this for Sunday breakfast..........a Dutch Baby pancake in my iron skillet......the recipe is on All Recipes but I could not get into the site...evidently it is very busy right now...it's supper time! LOL!  But you can find it easily enough on their website............

I had mine with some delicious pork and bacon sausage that Farmland makes...who knew?  It is wonderful and I will be buying it again!  I had my pancake with lingon berries and powdered sugar with some grapes on the side.   I'll be making this breakfast again for sure and the pancake is very simple to make.

Another recipe (that I used to have but cannot find my original) is Butterscotch Snackin' Cake.  I found a similar recipe on All Recipes but it wasn't the same....it was drier....the one I used to make was very moist but I will keep looking!  I ate it though! LOL!

That' s all the 'cooking and baking' I did this week...I hope you find some recipes you like or might want to try!  Happy Trails!!!
 

Wednesday...........decorating? Hardly!

I think I am averse to regimentation....I am self disciplined but each day the priorities shift and no matter how I plan it something gets in the way.  I was planning on painting today and even had the shelf set up and then the Terminix guy called and wanted to stop by and do my service.....at their convenience.  I said yes but then I have to bring the girls in and the garage door has to be open and I have to move my car.....there went my painting in the cool morning.  I also had to ask him about my termite protection of which there has been none....ended up that I am done with Terminix....long story.  So, I called around for another service and they have to come out and give me an estimate and do an 'inspection'........an inspection?  That word makes my blood run cold....like 'unexpected company'! LOL!  So, I ditched the painting and started cleaning up the house!  I ran the Spotbot which I have been meaning to do and put things away at least in the rooms they are supposed to be in.  When you live alone it is a very slippery slope when it comes to a clean house!  After all, these are supposed to be 'The Golden Years' not the cleaning years!
I was all ready to paint my shelf............

but then got the Spotbot out and started taking care of business...........

Of course, I had to make my Spotbot detergent...one thing leads to another...........I use an old juice container and I have the recipe on the side.  I got it on Pinterest awhile ago but I don't put it on my blog unless I've used it and it does the job! 

 I also put a line on the container where it is 1 1/2 quarts so I can just fill it to the line with warm water and add the other ingredients and shake it  up.  Much cheaper than the 'official' Spotbot cleaner they sell for an arm and a leg.

So that was the 'cleaning' for the day...now on to finances.........calling around getting prices for termite and pest control was definitely part of it but I also managed to print off some budget sheets but that's as far as I got..............

 Ive' budgeted before but it was always by hand on a piece of notebook paper and I wasn't very 'regular' about it.....hopefully with a nice printed out sheet like this I will do better!

 As for cooking..............I made homemade tortillas for pizza tonight.............this is before you roll them out...just hand flattened and left to rest for about 15 minutes.  I used my Kitchen-aide with the dough hook and I'm glad I did..............

Then you roll them out with a rolling pin......mine were either heart shaped or kidney shaped...I could not get them very round or consistent but I'm alright with that..............

then into the pan..............

and voila! 

16 tortillas for me....oh, except for the one I ate.....I had to taste it! LOL!  Much better than store bought if I do say so myself.  I'll put a link to the recipe in my post tomorrow.
The only decorating that took place around here today was Mother Nature............

Happy Trails!!!

Tuesday organizing and cleaning.........

Well....the pictures aren't pretty but it's proof that I have been 'cleaning and organizing'.......this is what the garbage men faced today.........all from my garage!

  The new 64 gallon black can did not go.........but it was full!  There was a long piece of glass in the left hand box so I put a sign on it for them to be careful.  The blue can was supposed to go and to ensure it I put a sign on it too but unfortunately the wind blew the sign inside the can and they didn't see it....oh well....there's always next week!
I also loaded up my car for the thrift store.................

I didn't take it today as I had 2 prescriptions to call in and pick up, a trip to the bank to get a copy made of my taxes so I could mail them and I also drove to the next town to get stamps (no, we don't even have a post office here).  I tried to order stamps online but they keep telling me that my userid is in use....well, yes, it is...by me!  They had shark stamps and jack 'o lantern stamps online and I thought the grands would love them!  But alas, they had none of those at the post office.  But the taxes are mailed....sigh of relief! 
For my 3 things that need to get done each day; the taxes (finances); besides the garbage to the curb and the car loaded, I also cleaned 2 toilets (cleaning) but I didn't think you wanted to see a picture of that! LOL!  I need to install the new toilet seat but not sure that will get done today.  I picked up my prescriptions and baked a butterscotch 'snackin' cake (cooking) which I will share with you on Thursday...the cooking and baking day! LOL!
I finished the cuff  of sock #2 and and I'm working on the leg now.....I can watch t.v. while doing that part....yay!  I also had a funny thing happen right in the middle of the day today.....I have a black 'floater' in my eye!  I've never had this before and it is quite the distraction.  I'm not concerned but I will call my eye doctor tomorrow as I have eye problems from my Grave's disease and the new RA medicine can cause (rarely) eye problems and he is monitoring it every 4 months.  Not sure if they are connected but I'm not taking any chances and it is almost 4 months since my last appointment anyway.  Never a dull moment in the 'aging' department! LOL!
Oh, I also ordered canned and dry dog food and litter from Walmart and got free shipping to my door!   What a treat!  At the store they load those bags with the cans that actually tear my bags!  Now, I can just open the box and take out what I can carry from the front door and those litter boxes are no fun either or the salt bags!  Don't they realize that us baby boomers are getting old? LOL!  They need to package smaller quantities that old people can manage to carry.  I still manage the 40 pound salt bag but it's not easy!
Anyway, I don't mean to complain as I am feeling really good and I hope you are too but I do have lots of original parts.
I hope you had a great day!
Happy Trails!!!

Monday Book Date!!!

 Mondays are always busy here on the homestead...how about you?  Still not reading so much.  A couple times it was because my eyes were irritated by nightfall and I just had to rest them.  Whether allergies or strain I'm not sure but that's my story and I'm sticking to it! LOL!
I'm still reading this one and actually, I haven't read much of it this week...........I really need to finish it!

I've been diverted by this gem of a book............these essays are so good and so well-written that I don't know why she bothers with writing her 'romance' novels but maybe they pay the bills?  Her real talent is in writing about her passions and her story.........but then I have not read any of her fiction books so I should not judge!  But this one is so welcoming at the end of the day...........

I finally finished this magazine....there isn't a National Geographic that I don't love and learn from....wonderful publication!

Now I'm reading the Fall issue of Pioneer Woman.............

 I'm also reading this magazine from Australia that I love and was able to download it to my Kindle app for a very reasonable price.  I especially love it because my friend, Helen Phillips, has an article and instructions on making her darling stuffed bunnies!  They are so cute.  Helen is on my sidebar and her latest post shows the bunnies and the magazine so I had to get it!  She is so talented!

I got this book in the mail last week that I ordered....it's been on my 'bucket list' for many years and I cannot tell you how many times I have started with the intention of reading it in its entirety and fallen short every single time!  But at my age it's now or never!  I have several Bibles and even a student Bible but when I ran across the text online I knew this was the translation for me....it is The New Living Translation Bible and it reads like a novel.....I was even able to get through the 'names' sections....if you know what I mean.  It was very reasonably priced, has a beautiful cover and comes in large print (which I probably should have gotten).  I had been reading it online but I really wanted a physical edition and I'm so glad I got it......I'm almost finished with Exodus which is the 2nd book in the Bible....I have "miles to go before I sleep"!

TIDBITS:
I don't know if you have Amazon Prime or not but if you do they have free Prime books you can download and free t.v.shows and movies and magazines!  I got Rachel Ray's magazine, National Geographic and Country Life or Country Woman...I can't remember now.  As if I don't have enough to read! LOL!  But they are FREE!!!  I like that!
  Also, Alicia Paulson, who is on my sidebar as Posy Gets Cozy, had a post not long ago where she asked people to recommend books to her that were not depressing and she put it together in a list which is several pages long!  I copied it to a file and printed it off.  If you, like me, do not care for depressing books you should go check it out!  It's an amazing list and thank you to her followers and to Alicia for taking the time to put it all together.  You might have to go back several posts as I can't remember where it was but it wasn't too long ago! 
As for t.v., I'm still watching Father Brown and I'm on season 3 now.  I've watched a couple podcasts of The Grocery Girls, Ruby Moss Cottage and Maker's Haven.  No movies at all so you can tell I've been busy!
For those of you who like to hear about the 'day to day' like I do from other bloggers.....here's what I was up to today......
cleaned 2 litter boxes
1 load of laundry washed, dried and folded
did some cooking
paid my annual property taxes
changed my sheets
cleaned my tub
checked bank balances
ordered snowflake buttons for my cross stitch pumpkin
 checked doctor appointment next week
 gave the dogs their monthly Frontline and Heartworm meds
listened to 3 episodes of Daily Hope with Pastor Rick Warren while working around the house
found some material for binding quilts
read some blogs
blogged

That's about it for today!  I'm trying to clean, cook, and do something in finances each day to stay on top of things........wish me luck! LOL!
I hope your week is off to a good start!  Happy Trails!!!