YOP Week #17

Hi everyone!  I was going to blog earlier as I was up REALLY early this morning but then I laid down for a bit and now it is 3:30 p.m.!  I  never nap but I made an exception today.  It's been another busy week around here.  I knew it was going to storm this weekend so I worked trying to get outside chores done this past week.  I did get grub granules spread on the lawn (I need more) to keep the armadillos from digging up the lawn.  I mowed the lawn and got my sidewalks swept, brought some plants in and put out the last of the Fall decorations.............

 a few more in the house........

and one of my favorites..........my fiber optic scarecrow!  Creepy huh?  He changes through a rainbow of color and at night he really looks creepy, lol!

I worked on my sweater on breaks but it is almost 400 stitches in one row so progress has slowed.  I only have 4 more rows before I split for the sleeves...........it's all bunched up on the needles......you can see my progress keeper there and it looks like about 3 inches since last week.....so far so good............

Most of my time was spent getting the grands Halloween box ready...........here are their 2017 Halloween collectible ornaments...LOL!  I saw a picture and tried to recreate,,,'nailed it'! NOT!  But they are pretty scary looking.  They're made of wool and my blanket stitch was really rusty.  I  made one for myself but couldn't finish it as I couldn't find the iris for the eye so I guess I'll have to cut out another one.  I made my own pattern too...can you tell...lol!  I think next year I'll order a kit...I am no artist!  They're supposed to be primitive and they truly are....ha! ha!  But they'll be added to the other ones I've made them over the years for their Halloween tree.

They're also getting books..............this is Grayson's..........

Uriah's...he loves Goosebumps....looks pretty scary to me!

and for Sam, I thought I would introduce him to The Hardy Boys.....book #1....we'll see how he takes to a good mystery...............these were all from Thrift Books...Grandma's on a budget! LOL!

I got these coffin boxes at the Dollar store to hold the ghost pretzels which I haven't made yet...........the 2 bigger boxes are for the adults..........

 But I have all the ingredients including the eyeballs......I'll show you next week how they turn out........what would a Grandma do without Pinterest?

and of course, I had to have orange wrapping paper................

I had wanted to finish my 2nd sock this week but that did not happen but I did get 4 squares done on my Cozy Memories Blanket...........those top 4 squares..............

I got some fabric in the mail that I ordered to make a mug rug for my daughter and a project bag for me but that hasn't happened yet either..............but isn't the fabric adorable?  I got it at the Fat Quarter Shop online............ 

This will be the back of the mug rug and the lining for my project bag............

I also got some stitch markers and a progress keeper from Maker's Haven that I ordered but they are pricey so I will have to make my own from now on but I needed an example anyway.........I do love hers....jewelry for your handwork!  There's another stitch marker but it is on my sweater as I was desperate for them!  I wanted some Halloween ones but didn't see any I liked really............so I got some fall ones with an apple and fall colors..............does anyone know of an Etsy shop or someone that sells great stitch markers and progress keepers?  I thought they showed up pretty good on my tablet with the back lighting.............

That's all for this week...hopefully next week the Halloween crafting will be done along with my sock and I will have 'sleeves' or the start of them on my sweater.  Tomorrow is Walmart shopping, more outdoor work and maybe some window washing.....the storms today brought in a cold front and it really is the end of summer now.....no more 80's even.....now it's low 70's or high 60's....perfect for working outside and the rain has been so cozy.  Great candle burning weather!  Have a great week!
Happy Trails and Happy Crafting and Happy Fall!!!

I've waited for this ALL YEAR LONG!!!!

The weather and temperature is perfect, the sky is so blue it looks unreal and the girls and I are in 7th heaven!  I'm sorry I haven't been visiting much but this is a short lived window I have for getting my outside work done.  Today I put soup in the crock pot and out the door I went.  

A 3rd coat on the shed and it could  use a 4th but that's all for this year!

I mowed....for the last time?

Another pumpkin ripened and is now on the stoop...........

There are a few more.............

The trees are losing their leaves but the color isn't great here...yet..........

but the flowers are going gangbusters.............

The jack-o-lantern is in the window...........although he is much scarier after dark!

 I still need to bring my plants in but it is not freezing at night yet so I threw some Halloween lights out there among them but still need to get my 'harvest decor' on my bench..........

Nitty is really liking the cooler weather....like me...she waits for it all summer............I let her stay out as long as she wants....last night she didn't come in until 9:00 p.m...she loves laying out there on the grass.............

but she hates having her picture taken!  She turns her head every time!

 

Got her this time!

 Annie, on the other hand, is a little ham!

It seems like we just got done shedding the winter coat and now we're shedding the summer one........See those white spots on Nitty?  That's shedding hair...I can pull it out by the tufts!  I need to brush her tomorrow for sure or it will be all over the house....it is already............

I did get some cleaning/organizing done too............I made a 'pet pantry' in my laundry room.........

All the cat food, dog food, litter, meds and treats in one area!  I just need to get brushes and leashes in here and my 'pet pantry' will be complete!  I really like it because my cupboards couldn't hold it all in one place and I was running out to the garage for things.  One glance now and I can tell what I need to order from Walmart.....yes, I am ordering all my pet food and it is free shipping because it is always over $35 and they really do deliver it in 2 days!  Their Pure Balance dog food was approved by my vet and said if you can't afford Science Diet this is the next best thing!  Who can afford Science Diet?  Not me! 

I really stirred up the dust and leaves today and my eyes are really allergy eyes tonight....so, I'm signing off!
Happy Trails!!!

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

I have had the strangest experience in reading this week..........I am reading and loving this book....

Amazon states: "
Adriana Trigiani, the New York Times bestselling author of the blockbuster epic The Shoemaker's Wife, returns with her biggest and boldest novel yet, a hypnotic tale based on a true story and filled with her signature elements: family ties, artistry, romance, and adventure. Born in the golden age of Hollywood, All the Stars in the Heavens captures the luster, drama, power, and secrets that could only thrive in the studio system—viewed through the lives of an unforgettable cast of players creating magic on the screen and behind the scenes.
In this spectacular saga as radiant, thrilling, and beguiling as Hollywood itself, Adriana Trigiani takes us back to Tinsel Town's golden age—an era as brutal as it was resplendent—and into the complex and glamorous world of a young actress hungry for fame and success. With meticulous, beautiful detail, Trigiani paints a rich, historical landscape of 1930s Los Angeles, where European and American artisans flocked to pursue the ultimate dream: to tell stories on the silver screen.
The movie business is booming in 1935 when twenty-one-year-old Loretta Young meets thirty-four-year-old Clark Gable on the set of The Call of the Wild. Though he's already married, Gable falls for the stunning and vivacious young actress instantly.
Far from the glittering lights of Hollywood, Sister Alda Ducci has been forced to leave her convent and begin a new journey that leads her to Loretta. Becoming Miss Young's secretary, the innocent and pious young Alda must navigate the wild terrain of Hollywood with fierce determination and a moral code that derives from her Italian roots. Over the course of decades, she and Loretta encounter scandal and adventure, choose love and passion, and forge an enduring bond of love and loyalty that will be put to the test when they eventually face the greatest obstacle of their lives.
Anchored by Trigiani's masterful storytelling that takes you on a worldwide ride of adventure from Hollywood to the shores of southern Italy, this mesmerizing epic is, at its heart, a luminous tale of the most cherished ties that bind. Brimming with larger-than-life characters both real and fictional—including stars Spencer Tracy, Myrna Loy, David Niven, Hattie McDaniel and more—it is it is the unforgettable story of one of cinema's greatest love affairs during the golden age of American movie making."

I am entranced with the story of Loretta Young and Clark Gable.  Now grant you, I was aware of these 2 but not in conjunction with each other and I paid little attention to either as it was before my time.  Although this novel is fiction or so she says, I can't stop thinking about these 2 and I have been researching on You Tube on both of them.  I cannot get them off of my mind.....it is so weird and I am so sad about their loves and losses.  I think I am getting overly sentimental in my old age but I have never ever had a book affect me like this and I'm not even half way finished with it!  Have you ever had a book that you couldn't get out of your mind, or it's characters?  I have never considered myself a romantic either but this book and their real lives have brought tears to my eyes. 
As for my non-fiction (which I have basically ignored because of my one track mind when it comes to Adriana's book), I have just started this one..........

The book you hold in your hands is the distillate of a quarter century’s teaching. It is my attempt to answer, ‘What next?’ for students who are embarking on their ‘second act.’”
—Julia Cameron
Amazon states:
"Julia Cameron has inspired millions with her bestseller on creativity, The Artist’s Way. In It’s Never Too Late To Begin Again, she turns her eye to a segment of the population that, ironically, while they have more time to be creative, are often reluctant or intimidated by the creative process. Cameron shows readers that retirement can, in fact, be the most rich, fulfilling, and creative time of their lives. When someone retires, the new found freedom can be quite exciting, but also daunting. The life that someone had has changed, and the life to come is yet to be defined. In this book, Cameron shows readers how cultivating their creative selves can help them navigate this new terrain. She tells the inspiring stories of retirees who discovered new artistic pursuits and passions that more than filled their days—they nurtured their souls. 
This twelve-week course aimed at defining—and creating—the life you want to have as you redefine and re-create yourself, this book includes simple tools that will guide and inspire you to make the most of this time in your life:
-  Memoir writing offers an opportunity to reflect on and honor past experience. This book guides you through the daunting task of writing an entire memoir, breaking it down into manageable pieces.
-  Morning Pages—private, stream-of-consciousness writing done daily—allow you to express wishes, fears, delights, resentments, and joys, which in turn, provide focus and clarity for the day at hand.
-  Artist Dates encourage fun and spontaneity.
-  Solo Walks quell anxiety and clear the mind.
This fun, gentle, step-by-step process will help you explore your creative dreams, wishes, and desires...and help you quickly find that it’s never too late to begin again."

I read her Artist's Way and The Artist's Way at Work years ago and loved them.  In fact, her daily pages were what started me journaling and I have been doing it for over 20 years now.  She calls it the 2nd act but at my age I think I may be on my 3rd and final! LOL!  I'll let you know what I think after I've read it.

I'm reading my Vintage Christmas magazine...an article a night as I want to savor it......

  I just read an article on those little glittery Putz houses that originated in Germany.....I have always loved them and would like to make my own.....in my next life! LOL!  Until I found this book on Amazon.........ummm.....maybe I could do it in this life after all.........

In my Bible reading I am now on Chapter 4 - Numbers........moving right along......although the difference between God in the Old Testament and God in the New Testament is like night and day!
Whoa Nellie!
I have listened to Daily Hope pretty regularly and his latest 4 podcasts I really enjoyed.  Crochet Cupcake from Puerto Rico is still not online and I am so sad about all the islands that are not getting the help they need.  I pray for them daily.
As for watching other programs.......I watched the 1935 episode of Call of the Wild with Loretta Young and Clark Gable...it was free on You Tube.....I couldn't help myself....I told you, I am obsessed with these 2 and then also Carol Lombard which is another whole story!  Has anyone else read Adriana's book and has it had this affect on you?  I think I'm a bit nutty but then you know how I love real life compared to fiction.
I also have been watching Father Brown mysteries on Netflix, I caught up with Cranford on Brit Box and last night I started watching Miss Marple on Brit Box.  I've watched a new podcast called The Knit Show and you can get free patterns on their website/blog The Knit Show.  That's all for this week...I think.
Oh!  I ordered my Halloween book from Thrift Books...it's this one..........

 Amazon states:
"Stranded in a gloomy medieval fortress, an orphaned heroine battles the devious schemes of her guardians as well as her own pensive visions and melancholy fancies. Generations of readers have thrilled to The Mysteries of Udolpho, one of the most popular of the early Gothic novels, and considered a landmark in the realm of psychological fiction.
Set in 1584, the tale unfolds amid the secret chambers of a chateau in southern France and a castle in the remote Apennines, populated by pirates, brigands, ghosts, and specters. Emily St. Aubert, imprisoned by her rapacious guardian Count Montoni and his sadistic wife, struggles to reconcile her father’s teachings of reserve and moderation with her own reckless passions. Emily’s attempts to control her emotions and resolve her suspicions and self-doubts offer a haunting and hypnotic pre-Freudian exploration of the psyche.
Sir Walter Scott proclaimed author Ann Radcliffe “the first poetess of romantic fiction,” and this thriller became a bestseller upon its 1794 publication. The novel exercised a powerful influence on the Marquis de Sade, Edgar Allan Poe, and other mystery writers. It achieved further renown with a satirical treatment in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, in which an impressionable young character is profoundly affected by the dungeons and crypts of Castle Udolpho and their scenes of bloodshed, mayhem, and terror. The Mysteries of Udolpho continues to enchant modern readers with the fairy-tale elements of its suspenseful plot and its dreamlike, surrealistic portrayals of human consciousness."

It's an old book but it must be good to have been around this long.  I just hope it doesn't scare me too much!  It sounds like it has everything in it so that is my Halloween story for this year.  Do you have any favorite Halloween books you enjoy or have enjoyed?
So, that's all for now and I hope you are enjoying whatever you are reading, watching and/or listening to and share it here with the rest of us, please.
Happy Trails!!!

   

YOP Week #16

My goal last week was to finish the heel and gusset on sock #2.........Done!

and finish my pumpkin cross stitch...Done.....

except for framing.................I should have pressed it before I sewed on the plastic snowflakes but I will use a pressing cloth at a low temp and hope they don't melt! LOL!  I still have to frame it but dang...those snowflakes took a long time to sew on!
My 3rd goal was to sew the appendages on the giraffe....alas....that did not happen.........but I did get a lot done on my sweater............(not good....I need to be working on the Christmas presents!!!!)  but I am really enjoying knitting the sweater.....it's addictive!  About 18 more rows (it is knit back and forth on circular needles) and I will be splitting for the sleeves.

I apologize for the lighting in some of the pictures....storms rolled through this morning and it was so dark I had to turn lights on in the house.  We needed the rain and it brought a cold front through!  Yay!  It was 90 F yesterday and today it's in the 60's....plus, I heard geese way up high yesterday going South so 'Good bye Summer"!  It is breezy and the leaves are floating down from the trees....I love it!
As I mentioned last week this sweater had been frogged....twice actually but this time it is pure enjoyment.  I was thinking what the difference was and it really wasn't my 'knowledge' of the stitches or the techniques as I  knew them back then.  What dawned on me was now I 'understood' my knitting and this sweater in particular.  There is a difference.  This time I understand the logic, the math behind it, and the structure of the garment itself.  I have a feeling that 'understanding' your knitting goes a long way towards your success.  At least I hope so!
I am getting ready to organize my crafts room and yarns and supplies and in doing so I ran across some things.........like this little cross stitch I did years ago.........love these tiny projects...I need more like this...........

 I also found my leaf garland that I crocheted several years back and which I adore.....I  made it with Noro yarn and purposely chose 'fallish' colors to make them.....one skein of yarn and each one is totally different!

 And my felted wool and cotton strawberries I made also which aren't really 'fall' but they're in fall colors........

I ran across this sock yarn...only one ball so far but it's enough to get started on my next pair when I finish the Paton's Kroy socks.  I noticed Hobby Lobby is carrying quite an array of Paton's Kroy sock yarn now....much more than the last time I was there although I didn't buy any.

And last but not least I dragged out my Cozy Memories blanket using my acrylic stash of worsted which is 'never-ending' it seems.  It will make a nice washable and serviceable blanket some day.  I needed a project for watching t.v. that requires little concentration and if I do make a mistake is easily rectifiable and this project fits the bill!  Right now, my other projects require devotion and attention with no t.v. or audio interference.

  I haven't decided to make it as a topper the size of the top of my bed or as a blanket that hangs down and gets tucked in like a regular blanket.  Have any of you made blankets for your beds and which size do you make?

That's all for this week!  Next week I hope to have giraffe done, pumpkin cross stitch framed and sock #2 finished and next quilt pinned and next giraffe on it's way!  The weather is supposed to be great his coming week....sunny and cool so I have lots of outside work to get done.  Happy Fall Y'all!
Happy Trails too!!!
P.S.  To see other's YOP Projects check out our group here and join in!

Tuesday - cleaning and organizing with some decorating thrown in...........

I can't help but redecorate when I clean as it is that time of year to 'switch things up' to Fall and all things Halloweeny!  I spent my cleaning energy on the North side of the family room.  I dusted polished and brought out the Halloween decorations..............

I refilled the batteries for my lights and candles except for the 2 on the right....I need some C size batteries.  I have to look for my crocheted leaf garland that I made a few years ago too.  Here's a closer look....... a Dollar store pumpkin box, a glass mosaic pumpkin candle holder that I've had for years and a cute Halloween bag/card my daughter gave me a few years ago.

This wreath I got a long time ago at a Cracker Barrel restaurant...they always have the neatest things in their gift shop.........

The big orange pumpkin is a 3 wick candle and it is BIG!  I only burn it on Halloween.......and the 3 cats I  made several years back out of old black nylons....it was a craft in a Leisure Arts book I have....

and finally..........one of my favorites...........a soft sculpture of MOI!!!!   LOL!

I think I mentioned I'm triying to clean, cook and do something financial each day.......so I made my jar salads again today...I think I'm addicted to them!  This time it was spinach, ranch dressing, radishes, pumpkin seeds and tomatoes.........

As for financial.....I need to make out my bill list tonight.........I hope I don't 'cave' and not do it....I really don't like financial stuff but it's a necessary evil.
I hope you had a good day today...it cooled off this afternoon and I have all the windows open...it was 89 earlier and now it's dropped at least 20 degrees!  Maybe Fall is finally here in the Ozarks!  Yay!
Happy Trails!!!