YOP Week #40

It's a slow boat to China but I have a few finishes and progress has been made!  I finished another washcloth............

and my ironing board cover...finally!

There are a few things I would do differently......I might use elastic instead of ribbon as it is difficult to get it tied tight.  I also might get some of those elastic clips that you clip underneath the board to keep it tight similar to the old "idiot mitten'" clips of yesteryear.

But all in all I am happy with it and I really like the fabric!  Now I need to get some ironing done!

I did work quite a bit on my Miss Marple scarf as you can see by my progress keeper....

Isn't it the cutest and just perfect for this time of year!

There are so many colors in this yarn and it changes depending on how the light hits it.........

I have to go take my walk and then it's plan my week, order some supplies and write some letters.  I hope you are all staying well and safe.
Happy Trails!!!

Cozy rainy day......

 It was a good day to stay in and fix some French toast for breakfast...........

Momma bird has been busy with her nest building and I think she's done...it's a good one and out of the wind and rain...............

I spent a great deal of time trying to change my email and then after I did I couldn't access my Kindle books on my tablet....woe is me!  I do have them on my pc but who wants to sit in front of their pc to read a book?  After several hours I gave up and started back working on my ironing board cover.  I finally have all the pieces cut out and tomorrow I will sew them together, hopefully. 

What did you do today?  Here are some "tidbits"..................

Just for the cuteness factor...............I think I'm  in love!

I need to make a stack of these!

and for a little humor....very little............

Happy Trails and keep your distance!!!

New tire and tired.........

 Mr. John Deere came this morning and fixed my tire.....it is a new one for $130....$100 for the tire and $30 for labor.  He is so good and so fair....thank you Mr. John Deere man!  We kept our 6 foot distance too and I left the check under a weight by my garage.
Here's the new tire....pay no attention to my dirty garage and mower.  I did finish mowing too.

The bread dough is ready so I'll be baking that off after I publish this post.

I finally got my St. Patrick's Day present to myself and although she didn't charge me shipping and she included some free patterns there is still one of the flosses that are back ordered.  She said she was behind because her husband had eye surgery and I felt really bad about that but it has been over a month and still I don't have all of the order.  I am sticking with Etsy from now on!  But here is this precious little cross stitch.............isn't it just too cute?  Now, I need to get one for Easter and Spring!

I have 2 loads of laundry on the line outside and it is a gorgeous day with a nice breeze for drying the clothes.  I took a bath, washed my hair and cleaned up the house.  Now, I need to bake the bread, make some more spaghetti and fill my water bottles.  Then I think I will be done for the day.  I've been up since 3:00 or 2:30?  I started watching Doc Martin from the beginning last night on the Acorn channel and I am on the decreasing side of my knitted dishcloth.
Here are some "tidbits"...........
These are reusable "jar" bags......so cool.  I would look on Amazon.....not sure about this vendor but check out the ad at least.

Here's the link

 

This is also very cool!  A slipcover for your desk chair! Here's the link for this one

and a little lightheartedness for today.........

Happy Trails and remember.....keep your distance!!!

Busy time of year!!!

Well, the mower started!!!  Yay!!!  I got all but one little piece of lawn done when one of the back tires not only went flat but almost came off the rim!  So, it sits out by the drive until the John Deer man comes probably tomorrow.  He works on farm tractors too so it is a busy time of year for him also.
The first mowing of the year is usually pretty rough looking and the armadillos have been through it digging holes which means I have grubs so I need to spread grub killer or they will dig up my entire lawn. 

I also got my old farm bench painted.....2 coats!

I checked Walmart as I need 1 more skein of that Hometown yarn to finish my crocheted scarf....they have it and they also have all-purpose flour but no tp!  I better start sewing some "wipes" or get some baby wipes! LOL!  They're probably out of those too!  I made bread dough this morning which  I'll bake off either tonight or tomorrow.  I'm pretty tuckered out right now.
I joined a book club on FB.  It's really part of a craft group called Toad Hollow out of New Jersey.  They are starting to read The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah.  I already had it on my tablet but hadn't read it.  We're supposed to read chapters 1-10 this week.  No problem!  I already read 3 chapters!  It's very readable right from the start.  I think it's going to be a good one!  Have any of you read it?
Here are your "tidbits"............
 I love colcannon so colcannon soup is a no brainer!  Here's the recipe

 Here's the link to this...........

 It might come in handy!

 No directions but I thought these were pretty............

 Oh!  Rifle Paper Company Keds!  I wonder how comfortable they are?

 Here's a little humor for you.............

Happy Trails!!!

 

Planting Day!!!

Finally, I got outside and started planting...........all tomatoes today...........4 different kinds....3 of each and about 3 plants in each pot

I bought these seeds last year and planted them but I had to leave for Jim and by the time I got back,

they were all dead.  They are organic seeds from BH&G that I bought at Walmart.  Hopefully, I'll have better luck this year.

This is Cherokee Purple tomato; an Arkansas heirloom variety if I'm not mistaken..........I'm probably late planting these but oh well....better late than never............

 These are San Marzano tomatoes; great for sauce and canning.............

 This is Brandywine; another old heirloom variety...........these are not hybrids so I think I can save the seeds from year to year on all of these.........

and last but not least...........Red Cherry tomato...............

I know these produced last year because when I came home there were gobs of rotten ones all over the dead plant.
Do you garden at all or plant anything?  I have to use containers because of all the critters.  Do you have any favorites that you like to plant?  I'll be planting every day from now on! 
Here are some "tidbits".............
I have not tried these but I want to as they prevent you from having to vent your jars every day when you are fermenting things like sauerkraut etc........Here's the link and recipes

I've not tried this recipe but you can hardly ruin any recipe for minestrone soup and it is so good for you!  Here's the recipe

I don't know about you but at my age I am starting to feel my hips giving me 'twinges' so maybe these will help me stay limber.....some of them I may not be able to do........we'll see! LOL!  Click on picture to enlarge.

and for a little bit of humor...........

I hope you are safe, well and enjoying your home.  Happy Trails!!!

Beautiful day yesterday!!!

 It was so nice yesterday.  I  tried to stay outside as much as possible.  I took a walk and overnight the redbuds had bloomed (after the big storm)..........I walk every day so I notice!  What's so strange is that they all bloom at the same time even though they are all spread out in the woods.........

My big oaks in the front yard are sprouting as you can see that hint of green...........

I found this blooming in the woods and I have no idea what it is.  I think it's too early for honeysuckle and it didn't have that wonderful smell so not sure...........

A little closer to home.....like my yard....there were these blossoms which are so fleeting..........

I finally came in and made some Doll Face cookies..............

Here are some "tidbits" for you.............
This site has all kinds of easy crafts to make for gifts or to sell.  I thought this was so sweet.........Here's the link

 I love these color pallet inspirations.........I have a board on Pinterest with them and I swear the next blanket I make I am going to use one of them for my color scheme of the yarns.............

Hope you are all doing well.....here's a little something to make you smile.................

 Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #39

I missed last week as I was tired and I really had nothing much to blog about.  This week saw some progress and I was much more energetic!  I am trying to stay monogamous on my projects although I did start a washcloth this week.
My crocheted scarf is coming along but I still may need more yarn.  I am on row 6 of 10.  The yarn I got is not the same dye lot and you can tell but it looks more like a gradient color change.  I can live with it.

 My knitted Miss Marple scarf is a pleasure to work on!  I think I'll be making more of these if all goes well............

A little cross stitch on Prim Village............

and a washcloth..............

 The birds are busy singing, pairing up and making nests.  This little cutie pie was out there this morning............anyone know what it is?

Last night  I fixed BLT's with a side of mac n' cheese and some potato chips.....yum!  It tasted a bit like summer..............

 That's all for this week!  Stay well and Happy Trails!!!