Finally! Got some batteries for the camera!

Remember the battery charger I told you I bought from QVC?  Well......it's going back!  I charged batteries all day yesterday, twice in fact and they didn't work but 1 minute either time.  They were Energizer's, had only been used once before, I followed the instructions on the charger to a "T" and they charged for like 5 hours, it stated they were fully charged and nada.....they were not!  So, back it goes but meanwhile I had no batteries for my camera so I couldn't take any pictures and what's a blog with out pictures?

Meanwhile, I had baked bread............

 

made more yogurt...........

This recipe was the "crockpot" variety with a gallon of milk and 3 cups of powdered milk and stated that it was foolproof and turned out just like Greek yogurt WITHOUT straining it.......not....it was thicker than the last recipe but it was NOT Greek style yogurt and there was the added expense of powdered milk.  It tastes good but it's soupy and I don't like soupy so it will have to be strained.  Maybe I should just make cheese and be done with it! LOL!

 I also finished a book that I loved.  It may not be for everyone because I like "outdoor" nature books and gentle...no violence or sex or horror so some may find my choice of books boring but I truly enjoyed it and had wonderful dreams when I went to sleep!  I also like "older" books and maybe the 2 are connected because I think it's easier to find these "gentle" books in the older generation of books written.  This book was published in 1967...the year I graduated from high school! I pick them up at the thrift store, garage sales and library sales much of the time.  This book is about a young boy being raised by his Grandmother after his parents are killed and covers his entire youth growing up in the wilds of British Columbia.  The author was born in New York but after marriage moved to the Northwest where she raised her family.  She herself loves the outdoors and you can tell by her writing she is very familiar with it.  The story was good and the characters were well developed......I wish there was a sequel!  

I also crocheted another row on my Blackberry Salad blanket.  This is a fun project for sure!   

I'm going to be changing my blog and organizing RECIPES, BOOKS and REVIEWS and I'm going to be adding buttons for all the groups I've joined and a list of all my blogs that I enjoy.  If you have any suggestions let me know and I may be asking some of you how you accomplished those things on your blog! LOL!  Once I get that situated I will be having a drawing...I know, FINALLY!  I was waiting to have 100 followers but I may not live that long! Ha! Ha!  I think I have 97...close enough!  So stay tuned for further developments!  Thank you all for your comments and visits....I so appreciate you all!

 

We had snow today!!!!!

 Yep...once again and the town up North where I am from was warmer and sunny.....go figure!?!?
Yesterday was laundry and ironing..........

I started my blackberry salad blanket/throw......oh, look at the heart!  I didn't notice that until I downloaded the picture....honest!

And lo and behold my Gerbera Daisy is blooming in the house!  I drag all my annuals in every year and try and keep them alive...I know...why?  It's probably cruel but I can't help myself....I have a hard time letting go!  LOL!  So, I place them in a sunny window and look at that gorgeous flower!  Plus, there are more buds! 

I finished a funny, funny book by Garrison Keillor.....Leaving Home.   I loved reading it because I always read before going to sleep and I swear I went to sleep smiling every night I read it!  I laughed out loud many times and the girls looked at me as if to say "settle down, it's bedtime". LOL!  Each chapter is from his Prairie Home Companion radio broadcasts specifically his stories about his hometown (fictional?), Lake Woebegone in Minnesota.   I used to listen to him every Saturday night on the radio when I was up North.

Sorry for the lousy picture...it has a pretty dust jacket but do you think I could find it for the picture?  I take them off when I read the book.
Today was pay bills and I made bread and a big pot of rutabaga and turnips for supper to go with the rest of the corned beef I have.  I had more pictures to take and then the camera batteries went dead and of course i haven't used my battery charger yet so I'm out for now!
I've got a nice fire going in the fireplace and plan on watching a PBS special and doing some crocheting.  I need to learn the new "bobble" stitch (dc5tog) for my throw and one of these days I need to learn how to read crochet charts too as the You Tube videos aren't always specific enough for me.  Wish me luck and I hope you had a wonderfully productive and cozy day whatever you did and where ever you are!  Hugs!

YOP Update

Busy week here....vet for Grace (my new cat I adopted...just booster shots), storms in 2 installments and NFL playoffs yesterday and today.....I turned around and the week was gone!  But here's my update for what it's worth.  I did finish my covered stones and now have my 2 smooth stones covered in crochet.  The first stone I used a thread type and this one was a Rowan cotton thread but it was much thicker and harder to work with considering the hook size I had but I managed.

Okay, now I spent a lot of time trying to pick my next project.....first was going to be this cowl and I downloaded the pattern for $9.00 from Spud and Chloe.....

 

But when I read the pattern I discovered it would cost me $70.00 in yarn!   I didn't like it THAT much!  So, I went and looked at my other projects for this year.........

Another Spud and Chloe pattern which I also bought for $9.00 and then  discovered it called for #9 DPN's which I don't have....hmmmm...........so last but not least I chose this project next..........

 

Free pattern and I have the yarn already.....now we're talking!  Meanwhile, I can slowly gather the supplies for the other projects.  Is Spud and Chloe yarn that good?  $15 a skein?  I love great yarns but at this rate I'll go broke! LOL! 
Needless to say I spent so much time trying to figure this all out that I didn't get it started yet but by next week hopefully I will have some progress to show you!
P.S. I'm also casting on a second pair of socks like my first ones before I attempt to make a pair using really nice sock yarn in a more regular type sock pattern.  A second pair was not on my YOP list but I need to keep going so I don't forget how to do it! Ha! Ha!
I did finish the middle design on my cross stitch....now I just need to do the little side flowers.

  Hope you had a great week and good luck on this next one!

Rain on the way and larder full............

I went to Wally World today and though I didn't need much the girls needed food and supplies so while I was there I picked up these 2 magazines.....honestly I haven't bought any magazines for months but I needed a little pick me up so I splurged.  Seeing the waffles there reminds me of that recipe I made awhile back of the white chocolate blueberry waffles.....oh my!  It was Michael Wurmer's recipe and it's on Pinterest and also somewhere here in my archives.   Those were so good!  Maybe this Sunday I'll make myself some.  I want to get in the habit of making my own broth too and not buying the cans plus growing herbs indoors.

This is an Interweave Crochet magazine and I can't wait to get under the covers tonight with a hot spot of tea and browse through these magazines........heaven!  My reward for going to Wal-Mart, lugging all those groceries to the checkout, out to the car and then into the house! LOL!

 I also got this in the mail the other day.  I odered it from QVC as a TSV (Today's Special Value) and I have been wanting one for awhile now as I go through a lot of batteries around here and so I am hoping it will pay for itself in the long run.  I haved used it yet but I will give you a review when I have.

It's not very big either and comes in a range of colors....of course I ordered red....I think they even had purple if I recall.............I put the keenix box there so you could see the size of it.

I got these pillowcases on Ebay several years ago and I just love them.  They were never used and sold from an estate sale from what they said.  They were wrapped in tissue paper and tucked away in some house and probably made by the owner or received as a gift but they were definitely not something you see everyday.

The main design was done separately and then sewn on the pillow case.  The edging was crocheted directly on the edge after stitching a blanket stitch to crochet from.

The variegated colors of the basket don't match the edging but I love them...they are my favorite pillowcases.  Actually they're my only handmade ones but I am wanting to make my own.  Have any of you seen anything like this before or know of where I might find a pattern of crocheted appliques?  Also, do they even make the variegated threads anymore?
The actual case material is a very thick cotton weave ie; very good quality and they're big enough to use a queen size pillow which amazed me how big they were.  They didn't have queen size back then but I think our pillows were bigger then.....and now we pay more for smaller ones! LOL!  Look at the drop on it with my standard pillow inside.  Or could it be so you didn't rub your face on it?  They cost me $15.00 for the 2 but that was a bargain in my mind as they are such great quality and beautiful workmanship.

Well...I'm off to get my "jammies" on and "cuddle up in the blankies" as I used to say to my children when I put them to bed years and years ago.  Have a cozy and comfy evening my friends!

YOP Update

We're halfway through the YOP year!  I better get a "move on"!  Where did the time go?  I did spend an inordinate amount of time on those socks and learning to knit but I think I'm good to go now for the rest of my projects this year except for the moolah for all that yarn! LOL!  This group has been very good for me and so inspiring!  Thank you all and I hope we are all off to a great 2013! Wait until you see my list for next year...it grows while I sleep, I swear!

I finished my socks...finally....not the best but they're done and I have the yellow pair to do but I'm thinking I only had one pair on my YOP list but I have to keep practicing my sock skills so I'll probably make the yellow pair too.
My next project was the crochet covered rocks/stones......I can't believe how nice it turned out....sometimes I actually amaze myself! LOL! 

 I have one more to do...........(I only have 2 smooth rocks and that's enough for now)

I've already started the second one so by next week I will  have another project underway from my list.  I'd tell you what it is but even I don't know what I'm doing next! LOL!
Have a great week everyone!

Happy Birthday to me....Wow am I getting up there! LOL!

Yep.....I turned 64 today.....I know, I can't believe it myself! You'd never guess it...take my word for it.  Ha! Ha!  Other than that it was just a normal, joyful day...........
I drained my yogurt and it's still draining...now how the heck am I going to get it out of the muslin  lined colander and into containers?  Will I have anything left? Making it was easy but it's the LOGISTICS!

 

Here are 2 of the books I read over the holidays.......loved them both!  If you like memoirs of normal every day people who lived in the woods....you'll love these 2 books!  Living off the land and self-sufficiency back in the day.....they were right up my alley!

 The book below was given to me years ago and I had never read it but I did this year and it was wonderful!  It really put me in the Christmas Spirit as it was filled with wonderful stories of Christmas's in the midwest from "the old days" when they used sleighs and there wasn't central heating.  There were cookie recipes in it too from each nationality and their Christmas traditions.

 This book will join the rest of my Christmas books that I drag out every year.

I hope you had a great day!  Now, where's my cake and ice cream????? 

Settling back into a routine after the holidays..........

I'm not sure if I properly thanked all of you for keeping me sane and slap happy this year but you did!  If it wasn't for you all keeping me inspired and interested in projects, books, DIY and of course needle and hooky work.....who knows where I'd be right now! LOL!  So, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your comments, your loyalty and your sharing.  You're AMAZING!!!! 

Here's my first batch of yogurt!  It turned out perfect....I was blown away as usually I mess things up the first time at least.   But it really turned out!  I'm still pinching myself as to how easy this was and cheap!  I got like 12 cups of yogurt for maybe $3.50 or whatever a quart of organic milk costs.  If I had bought it the price would have been $12.00 as even the cheaper brand of Greek is .99 on sale!  It looked really firm but on stirring I could tell it was more like Yoplait...........

which is fine and I ate it that way but I am so spoiled by the Greek style yogurt that I will definitely be straining it.  It is pretty though isn't it?  I am SO EXCITED by this but then I have always loved chemistry and eating! LOL!  But dang it if I wasn't out of honey so I tried some pure maple syrup and that was good but I do love my honey.  If you love yogurt and are trying to be "thrifty" you will really appreciate making your own and what a great feeling of accomplishment!  Next up..........granola!  To put on top of the yogurt of course!   There are other things you can do with the plain yogurt also and I can now stop buying whipped cream, sour cream and cream cheese. 

I finished my second sock and will publish Sunday on my YOP update and now I've started on my next project....

Yes, Tammy at T's Daily Treasures, you inspired me to crochet covers for my rocks!  My thread is a little big for my hook or vice-versa but I'm managing.....another bit of amazement.  The pattern is from Purl Bee and I've made several things from their website this year.  I print the pattern off and put it in plastic sheets that protect them and when I'm done I put them in a notebook unless it doesn't turn out and then I rip it to shreds and throw it in the garbage! LOL!
I hope you had a great day where ever you are.

Pictures Galore!!!!

A bunch of pictures I took over the holidays and never posted....here's Grace, all settled in and taking over!

Here's the blizzard on Christmas...the first time a blizzard warning has ever been issued for Arkansas and the last big snowfall like this was back in the 1800's they said.  I called it a true Christmas Miracle because it was my Christmas wish come true! (see the white tail in the middle....a deer friend leaving in a hurry when she spied me! LOL!)

I might have showed you this ivy plant but did I tell you I got it at Walmart discounted to $3.50????  Steal!!!!
  And it's still alive!

I've been getting better at the cross stitch....it's all coming back to me now...........

I've been doing a lot of cleaning and clearing........

after the snow the sun came out and left me a colorless rainbow in my bathroom.........

here's my little Christmas cottage..............I wish it was my REAL cottage............

 like Kris Kringle's below...............isn't it precious?

 

 The moon was out and full one night and I got a picture but not like some bloggers that get gorgeous moon shots..........

I was cleaning and watching the Hallmark specials over the holidays and there were some good ones!  I started taking pictures of the screen of houses and scenes I liked for my future old dilapidated farmhouse/cottage that I want to get in Illinois...dilapidated so I can fix it up just how I want....if it's too perfect I won't have the money or the guts! LOL!  You can tell I stopped what I was doing as my cleaning rag is laying there while I went to grab the camera...

I love the curtains in the big entry to the dining room and the ones on the door with the oval glass......
 There's a better shot below and I have an old floor lamp like that one in the picture.

 This is the best shot I could get of the outside of the house........there was a better one but I missed it....dang!
  I want a few more trees around though......and hills

 Now you're all caught up to the present except for some book reviews which I'll get to this week....there were some good ones!
Today I made yogurt for the first time but not sure how it will turn out..........

it has to sit in the oven with the light on in a pan of hot water for 6-8 hours and then if I want the Greek style (which I do for sure), I have to strain it through some muslin in a collander.

Tune in tomorrow to see how it went.  I was going to buy a yogurt maker (actually I had one I had picked up at a garage sale but when I left Iowa my friend convinced me I didn't need it.....).  A new one is about $40.00 so we'll see how the oven light procedure works....either way making your own yogurt costs a quart of milk for all that you see there instead of $1.00 or more a cupful when you buy it already made.  
A friend of mine stopped by (my book fairy) and she invited me over next Saturday to start learning how to spin on her wheel!  Woo Hoo!  I'm a learnin fool and off to a great start in 2013!!!  Hope you all are too!