Pinterest Priorities.............

I don't know about you but I can spend hours lots of time pinning away on Pinterest.  I'm so inspired by the work and creativity of others.  I have pinned thousands of things and have quite a few boards with new categories popping up all the time.  But wait....why am I pinning all this stuff?  Because, for most of it, these are great ideas or places or things I don't want to forget about and also, just maybe, want to do myself.  But alas, I keep "pinning" but not "doing".  Although, I must admit I did a few things for Valentine's Day and  even Christmas  and that's what got me to this great idea.  I'm going to  pick 5 items per week from different boards of mine to accomplish in whatever way that means for that particular "pin".  Anyone want to do this with me?  I've already chosen my pins for this week....I haven't accomplished them yet but I'm getting there....quickly as it's already Thursday!  "Yikes Batman!".  Just let me know when you have your picks or your finishes and I'll put a link to your post on my blog here.  
To show you what I'm talking about here are my picks for this week:

1.  Digital Wallpaper for projects on my DECORATING board
2.  Research Oyster vs Scribd, the new Netflix of books in my BOOKS WORTH READING board

      3.  Make streak free window cleaner in my CLEANING board.

      4.  Make little felt bunny in my CRAFTS board. 

      5.  Make amigurumi gumballs in my CROCHET board.

 To give you an example of a "finished" item - 

   #2 -  I researched Googled Oyster and Scribd and they ARE  like a Netflix for books but I saw a lot of older books out there and plus I don't have an e-reader (a prerequisite) but I satisfied my curiosity and I can cross that one off my list or delete it from my pins or both.

   For #1, I had been "pinning" some favorite wallpapers I liked and thought maybe I could print them off and use them somehow.  Not to wallpaper a wall but maybe something?  I guess I was wanting a change and some color somewhere.  So, I printed these off as full pages...........

  I decided I would affix one of them (I chose the blue one with the branches) to the glass doors of my bookcase to not only hide what's inside but to add a splash of color to my room.  I had to print off 16 of them to cover the glass.  Here's the before.........

   

                      And here's the after.......

        Do I like it?  No.  Did it turn out like I thought it would?  No.  Would I do it again?  No.

It did add some color and hide the "innards" of the bookcase but here's the thing.  You would have to glue the entire sheet of paper to the glass in order to get it to lay flat, double sided tape is like $2.50 a roll and I used almost 3 rolls.  I used all my colored inks in my printer...that about $40 right there $60 max.  So, if I were to do it again I would use fabric and make a gathered curtain on the inside of the the bookcase doors.  Live and learn, really.   But this is exactly what I wanted this "5 Pins a Week" project to do....stretch my creativity boundaries.  If I only ever copy others ideas I will never have any of my own.  Granted, this one didn't work out too well....LOL!  But one of these days there will be one that does and it will take the internet by storm!  Ok, maybe I exaggerate a little but like a photographer that keeps snapping pictures in the hopes that one will be a great shot.....that's what I'm doing with my Pinterest pins.   Of all the hundreds, thousands that I've pinned....some of them are bound to be great!     

                   3 more to go before Sunday!  I'm off to "pinterest"....I've just made it  into a verb.  Happy Trails!

Best Crockpot Recipe ever!

Here is by far the best crock pot recipe I have ever come across.  It's easy, and if you planned ahead you could always have the ingredients for this on-hand.  I love crock pot meals as then I don't have to break away from what I'm doing to make dinner...it's already cooking!  Unfortunately, it's been my experience that good recipes for the crock pot are few and far between.  I was bowled over when I tasted this one....superb!  This is a permanent recipe in my collection now.

Crock-Pot Chicken and Noodles

Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (I used frozen)
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 stick of butter
2 15 oz cans chicken broth
24 oz. frozen egg noodles
Directions

Cook chicken, soup, butter, and broth in crock-pot on low for 6-7 hours.

Take chicken out and shred.

Put chicken back in; add noodles and cook on low for 2 hours. Stir a few times while cooking.

I served this over mashed potatoes, with a side of green beans

I copied this recipe and I did not use frozen chicken breasts (mine were thawed) and I did not make mashed potatoes to go with it but you could as there is lots of gravy/sauce.  I just had green beans with it. I did not get tired of it at all.  It was wonderful!  I'm sure it's not the healthiest recipe around but on a cold, wintery night with the wind howling outside this is the best comfort food you could ask for! 
P.S.  Do not use anything but those frozen noodles in the freezer section or it won't turn out nearly as good if at all.  I love those frozen noodles and never use anything else when noodles are called for.
Happy trails and good eatin'!

YOP Sunday

 I saw this on Facebook the other day and copied it so I could include it today.  It made me smile and I hope it does the same for you

I spent quite a bit of time updating my project page on Ravelry and here on my blog.  I couldn't believe how far behind I was!  Part of it was when I was without a computer for awhile there and then I think I spaced out when Nitty got ill and I lost some pictures when I transferred my backups to my new pc.  Oh well.  From now on I am entering my projects BEFORE I start them....much easier that way then trying to find the yarn label and the pattern and the pictures I took months ago.
I really haven't gotten much done with the Olympics being on.  I can't watch them and try to do anything it seems.  I truly admire all of you who can do it all at the same time.  I think I used up all my "multi-tasking" skills when I was raising my children and had a career.  Now it seems I can only do one thing at a time and even then sometimes I have problems. LOL!
Here is my Not So Itty-Bitty Giraffe by Susan B. Anderson.  It's been stuffed and ready to close up the body portion and then on to the "appendages".

I did mange to knit another wash cloth while watching the Olympics but as you can see....there's something wrong with it on the lower right hand side and I haven't a clue but it is proof that I cannot watch t.v. and do much of anything.  I will keep this one for myself.

I then started a crocheted one thinking I could easily tear it apart if I messed up.  This is a new stitch or combination of stitches that I haven't tried before.  So far I like it but I was forced to use a larger hook as I didn't have the one called for.  I do have a set of ergonomic hooks but the hook part does not allow for smooth crocheting for some reason.

  My old hooks do hurt my fingers though so I "jury-rigged" my own solution.........I just took a big old rubber band and wrapped it around my hook and it works great although not too attractive.  Someone said to use those rubber pencil grippers and I have some but a pencil is thicker than a crochet hook so they slide right off.

I did start on my Preemie Project items.  I have material for a sheet and blanket which I haven't started yet and I got yarn so I did start on a little crocheted hat for a 2 lb preemie.

Do you see how small that is?  Oh, those precious little ones.  I remember the first picture I saw of my grandson who was a preemie.....he had a needle stuck right in his little head.....not exactly the "newborn" picture you're expecting.  But they took such great care of him and my daughter and he is now 6 1/2 and has no repercussions from it at all.   It does my heart good to work on this project.

 

I also started designing my own crochet wash cloth....I know!  Me, the designer?  But it's only on paper so far.  The real test will be when I try to actually crochet it into a wash cloth.  Stay tuned for further developments!

I know it doesn't look like much here and it may not look like much after I get done crocheting it. LOL!  But it's fun to push the boundaries once in awhile.
Now that the Olympics are finishing up tonight  maybe I'll get more done around here.  Thank goodness they only come around every 2 years.  Tonight is also the finale of Downton Abbey for the season.....boy, those "seasons" are short but it's such a good show I wouldn't want to rush them to production as it might spoil it.
I hope you all enjoyed your past week and have a wonderful one ahead of you!  Happy Trails!

Favorite Friday.......or the Friday Finale

I say that because when I worked for a living, Friday was my favorite day!  It still seems to be although every day is special in its own way.  I've been watching the Olympics as much as possible.  How about you?  Did you watch the women's hockey game between the U.S. and Canada?  It was quite the game.  It was U.S. 2-0 for most of the game then Canada scored twice and it was 2-2 and then overtime where Canada scored and won 3-2.  What happened U.S. ? LOL!  Congratulations to all my Canadian friends.

I haven't been accomplishing much around here as I do love the olympics and watch them as much as possible.  Therefore, I am also staying up later at night and not reading as much as I normally would but I did manage to finish another book in the Canadian West series by Janet Oke...book #2 When Comes the Spring and now I'm reading book #3 When Breaks the Dawn

Oh gosh, I just thought of something!  You don't think I jinxed the U.S. Women's Hockey Team by reading Canadian books by a Canadian author during the Olympics, do you?  One can't be too careful when it comes to these things.

 

I did manage to finally get some supplies for The Preemie Project when I was at Wal-mart the other day.  I need to wash the material first but I can get started on the preemie hats.  They have patterns in 4 different sizes....small preemie 2 lbs, medium preemie 3-4 lbs., large preemie/small newborn 5-6 lbs and then newborn 7lbs +.

The hand print material is flannel for a sheet and the yellow is fleece material for a blanket.  I'm going to try and make one of each item they have listed on their group page in Ravelry.  Maybe eventually I'll make color coordinated sets.

Worked on another washcloth and it's already finished.

I started another one in crochet that I can work on while watching the games although they're almost over. 
The other night there were clouds rolling across the full moon and I just had to try and capture it as it was so beautiful.  As a photographer I did not do nature's beauty justice....but I tried.

Below are 2 pictures that to me look like a girl or woman holding a candle or light....a side view of her facing left.  But behind that and to the right it looked to me like a woman's lips and nostrils.

Maybe I'd just been staring up at the sky too long but I have always seen things in clouds and nature.  Regardless, it was a beautiful evening.
Happy Trails.

Goodbye satellite.............Hello Roku!

I don't know about you but I've had it with my Dish satellite provider.  They've raised my bill continuously for the last 3 years.  I was getting local channels for $9.00 a month. (You'd have to have a huge aerial here to get over the mountains/hills and without an aerial you get static...that's it.  Even bunny ears won't help.  I can't even get radio without extreme static except in the car which is satellite and no cell phone reception either.)  Then they raised it to $16.00 as they said they had "no choice".   Then it went to $20.00 or the cost of their lowest package and they said "I had to" in order to continue to get local channels.  Last year they sent me a big, fancy, glossy "Thank You" for being such a good and long standing Dish customer (over 20 years, I think) and in that thank you card they told me they were raising my bill $5.00.  I called and they said "they had to" as programming rates went up.  I told them what the heck kind of thank you was that?  Also, it must have cost them an arm and a leg to send out that glossy, big, thank you card....couldn't they have saved that money and kept the rates down?  This year...same thing..."slam bam, thank you ma'am" we're raising your rates another $5.00!  So, I'd been hearing about this Roku where you can get t.v. through the internet...I decided to investigate.  I did my research and for about $100.00 investment I could get t.v on my t.v. using the internet and no monthly bills at all unless I choose to subscribe to certain channels...no packages....just what I wanted!  Goodbye Dish...I'm sorry but "I had to"! LOL!
  I went to my local Walmart and here's what I purchased.......

I bought the least expensive one for $48.00

I needed a wireless adapter because although I have a wireless router my new pc was not wireless (duh...I assumed any new pc you bought would be wireless capable nowadays....NOT!)  You may not need this if you are wireless already.  This cost me $39.97

This HDMI cable connects my Roku to my t.v. and you need an HD capable t.v. to use this cable.  I'm not sure what you need to get if your t.v. is not HD capable but just go to the Roku website and they will tell you all you need to do.  If there are technical terms or equipment you aren't familiar with just Google those terms and you will get all kinds of information explaining it to you from You Tube to Ehow to Wikipedia.  You can learn anything you want on the intenet if you just keep searching and reading until you understand it all and then you can make an informed decision.
I am not getting paid by anyone to promote Roku and there are other "streaming players" out there but this one seems to be the top choice right now from what I could see.  I have not canceled my Dish subscription yet as I want to experiment with Roku and find out what I can and cannot get.  One nice thing is, it won't go out when it rains (like satellite) unless you lose power! LOL!
I'm not sure there is any football on Roku but there is lots of sports...including baseball, hockey and soccer.  I haven't seen the Olympics on there though.  There is PBS but not live, it is recorded so you can go back and watch anything you've missed and lots more when you want to watch it!  And you can rewatch it whenever you want.  I need to see if Doc Martin is on there.  I know I saw Sherlock and Downton Abbey.  I watched Downton on Sunday night so I need to go see if that episode is out there now.  And Sherlock I haven't watched at all because I don't stay up that late.
I'm also a big fan of Hallmark channel and especially their new Canadian West series on Saturday nights.  I need to see if I can get that or if it's subscription. 
I guess what I'm trying to say is, do your research first, I figured I would try the Roku and see what it's like before I unsubscribe to Dish and then if I don't like it simply return the Roku and get my money back.  But I'm thinking this is exactly what I want, so far.  I may miss a few things but there is SO much out there....literally 1,000's of channels for free....that the Roku will pay for itself within 2 months for me.  I also like news, unbiased, about our country from other countries...like BBS and there are others without a political agenda to further.
I won't blog about this again other than to tell you if there are channels I particulary want to recommend or tell you about and vice-versa.  If you have one of these "live internet streaming" gadgets please let me know what your experience has been, channels you enjoy or programming you've found interesting.  I'm wondering if there are any specific craft or fiber related channels out there?  That would be truly awesome...and if there isn't why not?  How about a channel on cleaning house and de-cluttering....how-to and motivation is MY kind of reality T.V.
Happy Trails!

Not sick but that's only because I won't admit it.....

And I'm not really...no temp, but tired, listless, eyes watering, headache.  I was fighting something over the weekend.  One of my little grandson's has been ill up North and maybe Grandma thought she could take some of it off of him?  Regardless, I never lay down or nap but I finally did over the weekend and then last night only could sleep 3 hours.  Crazy, but I am slogging through whatever it is because the sun is shining and it is in the high 60's here!  Hallelujah! 
I will be around to catch up with everyone and meanwhile here's what I've been up to in between naps and blowing my nose.

Yep...accomplished one of my Valentine Day objectives....I made homemade cards and envelopes.  It was fun but I am a novice especially at the cards.  I hope everyone had a happy Valentine's Day/weekend.

Cleaned my closet....almost..still working on it.......

I started cleaning my closet yesterday and I am proud to say I have a clean closet and 2-3 bags of clothes to donate and/or sell. I should have taken a before picture.  I took everything out and was just going to dust off the shelves and rod "when what to my wondering eyes should appear" but soot on everything!  Soot, you say?  In a closet with no vents or windows?  How could that be?  Well, let me tell you........candles!  Yep!

I burn candles all the time and love them especially to mask the "animal" smell that might be lingering in my home.  I had to get Dawn (the grease cutter) and scrub down the shelf and rod and also my plastic containers.  So, first no fireplace and now no candles.  I guess beeswax candles don't have soot but I've used soy and they still have soot.  I'm thinking it might be the perfume/oils in them rather than the wax itself but what do I know?  Not much, except there will be no more burning in my house.  I'll be using my little warmers and my little crock pot with simmering potpourri. 

I have 1/2 closet empty except for the shelf  as I put my containers back.....and some supplies that were in the hall closet.  Some of these containers will be emptied too as there are heels in there that I will never wear again as long as I live. LOL! 

  

 This is a better place for the tp and kleenix as it is right next to the "mistresses"  bathroom. Those notebooks are my journals...each one holds a year's worth but those are only the ones I've organized...I have over 15 years worth of journals!  I need to get more notebooks when I go to Staples next time.

The shelf and rod are not bowed but they sure look like it in the picture.  I have plenty of room on the floor now too but I want to replace my laundry baskets............

with something like this..........

reason being, the laundry baskets with the holes all around them tend to let in pet hairs and I have to wipe them out every time before I put my clean clothes in them.  Plus, the rectangles are awkward getting in and out of the closet and I've banged my knuckles more than once.  So, it's settled....I'll be getting 3 of those bucket type tubs for my laundry and they won't take up as much space either and I like the handles better. 
I'm thinking of putting a small dresser or bookcase in there too for shoes or miscellaneous items such as scarves, belts, etc. as those are all taking up drawer space right now...well, not the shoes.  I've sorted through my hangars and I have a whole shopping bag full of those to take to the thrift store too.  My Spring/Summer clothes are in the guest room closet.
Hmmmmm......now what to do with this stuff?  LOL! 

But to make the day worthwhile, in a different sort of way, I made some homemade bread in between my bouts with the closet.  Carbs are helpful when you are letting go of so much.  Goodbye career suits and high heels and clothes you will never fit in again........ever!
 So here's a before and after........
 BEFORE:

 AFTER:

YUM!
Happy Trails!