Fun Fridays!

Who doesn't like to have fun?  Of course, each of us has different definitions of what "fun" is but here is mine and then you can share yours with me, okay?
You might have guessed some of them........but there are more...so many more I can't get to all of them...probably in a lifetime!  But I've done a lot of them already and some of them I can't do anymore because of resources, lack of funds or location or physical ability.  But that's okay, because one of the gifts God gave me was the ability to enjoy myself no matter what I was doing or where I was.  From the time I was very young I had a lot of responsibility placed on me.  At the time, I felt more like a hired hand for my parents than their only daughter and child.  But it was good because that's how I learned to enjoy myself no matter what I was doing or what was going on around me.    I could make a game out of anything and pretending was also a great tool when I had unpleasant jobs to do.  I was an only child so there was no sharing of the responsibility for chores or of parental problems.  I learned to depend on myself for everything.  I'm sure my parents didn't look at it as a "gift" to me...in fact I know they didn't! LOL! But it was one of the greatest gifts I've ever received because it taught me at a young age how to cope with whatever life threw in my path.....and there was going to be a lot!  But through it all, this gift helped me to persevere, climb up and over problems and disappointments and made me the happy person I am today! LOL!  The problems were brief and the happiness ongoing!
So, I will share some of what makes me happy, presently and also some links to others who share that happiness and joy.
CROCHETING:  This week I am so enjoying this little pillow project and I have learned that there are several types of this crochet...intarsia which is actually reversible, fair isle where you use only 2 colors per row and there are "floats" strands of yarn on the back and also tapestry which is similar to fair isle and intarsia as they are all crochet methods to make a design but tapestry you cut the threads in between each and it does not look as neat or defined as fair isle crochet plus there's all those ends to weave in!  Little Doolally called this intarsia but in reality it's fair isle.  Here's a wonderful gal who has a blog and wonderful tutorials on You Tube  Crochet Ever After 

Here's another sweet blog with lots of free patterns and tutorials Poppy and Bliss

 Some of my favorite crochet designers are:
Cherry Heart
Attic 24
The Patchwork Heart
Little Doolally
I know there are more but I can't think of them right now but as I come across them I will add them to my sidebar.  I am getting ready to redesign my blog so I can separate my favorite bloggers and their specialties into categories and also start listing podcasts that I watch.  Eventually, I would like to share all of everything that I learn, discover or make during the week on Fridays.  I run across so much great information and I've been writing it all down so get ready!  Fun Fridays are here!
Any suggestions for books concerning these hobbies/crafts/ joys will also be shared. 
Happy Trails!

A quick post.........with something yummy at the end!

I did back up my template and my posts but have yet to figure out how to get the data from XML format to PDF so I can print it out.  There are over 6,000 pages!  It will be a slow process.
Here's what I did on Blogger:
I went to DESIGN then TEMPLATE and clicked on BACKUP/RESTORE in the upper right corner and clicked on DOWNLOAD FULL TEMPLATE
Be sure and write down where your file is being downloaded to on your computer.  This will download an XML file of your template.
Next, I went to SETTINGS and then OTHER and then IMPORT AND BACKUP and then BACKUP CONTENT.
This will backup your entire blog!  From the beginning!  At least mine it did or maybe it was just because I had never done it before.....not sure.  This takes awhile so don't start it if you need to use your computer.  I started it and came back later.
There is a way to transfer your XML document into a regular word file which I also did but it is still in XML so there are programs you can download to change an XML file into a PDF but that's as far as I got today! Whew!  I will keep you informed.  Most of my info I got from Google and Ehow.
As for something a little more enjoyable............

Muskotsnittar (Nutmeg Slices)

These nutmeg slice cookies appeal to everyone. Whether you are a lover of Biscoff cookies in general or Disney's Frozen and are hoping to taste something authentically Swedish, these muskotsnittar cookies fit the bill for any type of fandom. The buttery brown-sugar batter is packed with warming spices, but don't let that fool you into thinking these are holiday-only cookies. These bite-size treats ought to be made year-round. Store leftovers in the freezer, and enjoy them cold with your cup ...

This description was taken from the blog Pop Sugar
where you can find the recipe.  I've never had Biscoff cookies and I haven't seen Frozen but these cookies are delicious!  A few tips....
I used parchment paper on my cookie sheets and tried "rolling" but that did not work for me so I just pressed them out on my parchment paper covered cookie sheets with my hands and that worked fine.  This is definitely going in my vault of  treasured recipes!  Enjoy!  Let me know if you make them....you will not regret it one bit!
Happy Trails!

YOP Sunday

What a difference a day makes!  Thank you all for your kind words of support.  I felt so much better just reading your comments and Connie, thank you for trying to help my long lost posts!  Tomorrow, I will share what I have learned about backing up and saving your posts but I want to experiment and make sure it works before I pass on the info to you.  So, check back here tomorrow for blogging backup, restore and printing!
Meanwhile, I have turned my self-pity into productivity!  I vegged out and did what I wanted and threw self-discipline out the window for this weekend!  Well, I did feed all of us and I did change the sheets this morning....okay, I have a hard time ignoring things around here even though it looks like I do all the time! LOL!
Remember these?  My Canadiana socks?  This is the first sock and when I last worked on it, I had turned the heel and was ready to work on the foot.  I found them this week and was able to finish the first sock!  I have definitely become a faster knitter and without making mistakes every 2 stitches it's amazing how much progress one can make! LOL! 

 Instead of starting on the 2nd Canadiana, I decided to work on sock #2 of this pair...........I've finished the ribbing at the top and have actually started knitting the cuff.  Now I understand why it's nice to have several socks cast on...or more.  It gives the knitter a nice break in monotony from working on the same yarn.

 Another washcloth waiting for edging.............

And this week I learned crochet intarsia!  I am obsessed with it!  It took me a bit of time and tearouts and start overs but I get it now and I can't stop!  I got a free pattern for this cute pillow from Little Doolally

 which is still available over on her blog.....I have other projects to do using intarsia but wanted to do something simple to learn on and this pattern fit the bill!  When it's finished it will say "Happy Hooky".  I'm just using some old Red Heart acrylic worsted weight but I am loving how it's turning out!  The words are done with a variegated yarn while the background is cream.  Amy (Little Doolally) has a great tutorial for doing the intarsia work and the pattern for the pillow includes the back also.  Thank you, Amy!  

 I made bread yesterday too and although it is "fiber"....I'm not sure it counts for a YOP update...lol!

I slice it all up and put it in my Lock n' Lock for safe keeping!

I haven't planted my lilac bush yet but it couldn't wait to bloom! What a little trooper!  I love lilacs.

Happy Trails!
P.S.  I saw my first hummer the other day and I had the feeder out already...just waiting for their arrival!
P.S.P.S  This week I have been watching Susan B. Anderson knitting podcasts.....LOVE that woman!

Blew it! Books I've been reading..........

I just started a new post and wanted to go back and see what books I had already posted about and so I deleted the "empty/just created post" and voila...it deleted everything back to January 16!!!!!  Ahhhhh!!!!!!  I lost it all!  So, that brings up a good topic.  How do you back up your posts?  I have almost 8 years worth.  After all that time invested I would hate to lose it all.  What do you guys do?   I can't afford to have books made out of it all.  I think that is pretty expensive.  I know, I should have thought of this a long time ago!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch.......my grandson, Grayson, was in the hospital this week with the Rhino virus.  The poor little guy is a live wire but when he gets sick he can't breathe and ends up in the hospital.  I hope as he gets older he can outgrow these issues.....meanwhile, it's scary!  He's home now and doing much better.
 I can't seem to keep up with anything anymore.  Is this what getting older is like or should I have had my "ducks in a row" a long time ago?  I was going to do a garage sale but it's cold and windy and I can't haul the stuff I want to sell so there goes another "missed opportunity", someone ran into my mailbox which is already missing the door, the propane truck drove their big truck on the lawn to fill up the tank right after it rained big time and I about break my neck taking the laundry out to the clothesline the ruts are so big and on top of that every Spring the water department comes and digs up my front lawn.....they always say they're trying to "find a leak" but where?  I 'm not having a problem and no one else around me gets their lawn dug up so where is this "leak"?  I hate to feel paranoid but golly gee whiz!  Maybe God is just telling me to pack my saddle bag and move on down the road.  Oh well, things could be worse and for many in this world they are so I guess I'd better shut up! LOL!
As for books I've read and been reading...........I was going to check back on my old blogs to see where I left off but I can't do that now so I guess I will "wing it".......

The Violets of March
by Sarah Jio is the first book I read by this author and it was excellent!  I think I told you about that one but not sure.  I just finished her 2nd book, The Bungalow  and again she wrote a winner!
The links will take you  to Amazon and a synopsis of the books as they do a better job than I could.

I finished an audio tape (old one) by Gloria Steinhem but wasn't too impressed.  Of course, it's old news now but she read her own book and sometimes that doesn't work out too well. 

I'm back to one of my favs...Agatha Christie...........actually I'm almost done with this one!  You can't beat this woman when it comes to a good mystery!  It's an audio tape.

I finished these 2 books (one volume) but she's a bit wordy for me.....I have lots more of them but not sure I want to waste time on them.  I'll try one more maybe but they're all rather thick books because she's so wordy and the sarcastic humor is a bit overdone I think.  I shouldn't be reviewing anything after the week I've had!  LOL!  I think my "good nature" has been a bit strained.

I'm currently reading Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear

This is her 3rd book in the Maisie Dobbs series and another winner for sure!  It's very good and I'm almost finished.  It's hard to put down and it's been great to read before bed to get my mind off of things.  She is such a great author! 

I have other things to show you but I best wait as this post is already too long and I have to eat supper.  I hope you've had a good week and I'll talk to you tomorrow!

Happy Trails!

Home Sweet Home............

I thought I would share some pictures....past and present of my "home sweet home" that I am working so hard to get back to............a little farm town in Illinois.............where all my ancestors settled when they came to this country from Ireland during the potato famine.  I was told they settled here because it reminded them of Ireland.

Lots of rolling hills dotted with farms and plenty of trees too.
This was a picture taken by the Illinois Board of Tourism where they called it "the best little town by a dam site"!   You can see the older bridge in this picture.

In this old picture you can see the bridge, the dam and "lover's lane".  The bridge then was an old iron trellis bridge which are still around in some places.

Here's picture taken back in 1923........when all my Aunts and Uncles and my Mother were growing up although they didn't live in town.  They had a farm about halfway between Hanover and Galena, IL off of Blackjack Road.  My Mother said they used to take the horse drawn wagon into Galena with their crops as there was a market there and also the railroad.

Most of the old pictures I was able to get from Terry Miller, a wonderful historian who works at Grant's Home in Galena.  The one below might be from my cousin Barb, who takes beautiful pictures of the area and who grew up there also.  Her photos of Hanover were published in Country magazine! Now can you see why I miss winter?  It's beautiful there any time of year! Oh, and Fall.....gorgeous!

This is the Methodist Church where I went to Sunday School as a child and also where every funeral was for every one of my relatives.  It is exactly the same as when I was little.

This is a covered bridge which I never even knew existed.  Probably because it wasn't there by the time I was born.
  I need to find out where this was.  There's writing on the sign above the entrance but I can't read it.

 This isn't my Aunt's house but she had Hollyhocks like this and that flower always reminds me of her.  I plan on planting many when I get there.

This is where I got the best Rainbow Ice Cream in the world and the man and wife that ran it were so nice.  This picture was taken long ago before my time and the cabins were gone when I was growing up or at least I don't remember them.  I had a one track mind for the ice cream!  I had no idea until I was older that he was actually the great or great-great grandson of the real Daniel Boone! I just thought he was named after him but not because he was related. Another ancestor of his and I think it was Daniel's daughter lived in Hanover and led a group of women to tear down the local drinking establishment back in the 1800's! They razed the entire building!   If I had realized any of this I would have been all over him asking questions!  I had no idea there was meaning behind it being named after Daniel Boone!  People in those days were so humble and never talked about themselves. Alas, now he's long gone but he gave many youngsters fond memories and we loved him and his wife regardless.

Here's a current picture with the new bridge they built last year....I like the old bridge better....but time marches on.  The old bridge was built in 1939 and was the one I grew up with and remember.
On the left is what used to be my cousin's farm where I played as a child and on the right, the white house is the one I was looking at to buy.  It would be within walking distance to town, library and country hikes.  From the vantage point of the photographer and behind the camera is a road that goes up the hill and Evergreen Cemetery is located there where most of my relatives are buried.  Some older ones are buried in the Old Log Church Cemetery out in the country.  The old log church burned down years ago but I have a picture somewhere from Terry.  Terry has been a blessing with all his pictures of the history of the area and he is loved and appreciated by many.
This is the Apple River and is a tributary of the mighty Mississippi.

Here's the most recent picture taken by a drone..........I feel like that country song......"oh how I want to go home".  I have never heard anyone who lived there complain and the ones that leave always want to come back.  It truly is "the best little town by a dam site"!

Happy Trails!

Budgeting is healthy but it hurts at the beginning!

I have been spending a lot of time looking at past expenses, averaging, projecting and writing out a monthly budget plan which will allow me to "make my dreams come true" or so I hope!  Mostly I'm trying to work in my medicines and other items that are never the same cost.  But, although grueling to sit down and spend hours pouring over financial documents, hopefully I will sleep better at night.
The book I am following is The Cheapest Family in America. and it is the best budgeting/financial book I have ever read.

In order to keep my strength up while going through this financial exercise I did some cooking and baking.....I made 15 bean soup which comes in a bag with the beans and a recipe and a flavor packet.  You can add ham or sausage and I did add ham I had in my freezer.   It is yummy,hearty and healthy too.

I soaked the beans overnight..............

perfect for these cold nights we've been having...........

I made some beer bread to go with it......

I also baked some gingersnaps form this recipe
This is their picture too compliments of Saveur...I did not have dark brown sugar or tubinado sugar to dust on top...I just dipped a glass in sugar and pressed the cookies flat....making 2 steps into 1.  Mine aren't as pretty but they taste great!  It makes 6 dozen so I froze several packages of dough so I can make a small batch whenever I feel like it. 

I figure if you're going to work on some "grueling task" you need something to look forward to!
Happy Trails!

It's Monday...what are you reading?

I don't think I've done this for awhile so if I repeat myself on some of these please excuse me.  I've read quite bit actually...........

Here are the books I've finished........... this one was alright but only 3 ***.  

This one was very good but she did run this one on and on.  Her books are usually long but the plot on this one just kept going....still it's a 4**** because I love her writing and her stories.  A very talented writer.

This was a delight to read and if you love nature and/or gardening you would enjoy this.  It would also make a great book to gift someone. 4 ****

Remember The Drew Carey Show and Mimi, the gal who wore the outlandish outfits and loads of makeup?  Well, she wrote this book with her friend and it is good.  I've pretty much done this already but for those who haven't it is a "beacon in the night".  Everyone deserves to be happy but  so many women have been socialized by society and the church to "give until it hurts" and I have seen these miserable creatures with my own eyes! LOL!  So, if you're miserable...read this book!  These ladies are a hoot!

 4 ****

I have no idea where this book came from and it's not something I would have picked up I don't think unless I got it free at the library sale....sometimes they do that on the last day.  anyway, there it was and I was tired but needed something to read and it was a pretty good story.  I'm not sure I've read Alice Hoffman before and not sure I'll read her again but it was a fast read.  3 *** 

 Right now I'm reading the Mother Earth News magazine I got for Christmas.  I always love that magazine.

For my fiction book I'm reading the 2nd book of Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series.  LOVE!!!  Great writing and always a good mystery and it takes place in England after the first World War which is a time period I love.  I'm sure it will be a 5 ***** already.

For my non-fiction book I'm reading this which I picked up years ago but I'm enjoying it as so far I could have written the book myself! LOL!  And lest you think it is written by a "man-hater" think again.  This woman is a widow and was happily married to a doctor for years.  These are "the facts ma'am....just the facts".  LOL!

And for my audio listening pleasure...........

I read this years ago as a book but don't remember much of it so it's been like a new book in actuality.  I read a lot of Agatha Christie back in my 20's and lent  them all to a gal who never returned them.  I wish I had them all back as I love her books!

This was one of her classics too and I think it was made into a movie.  It will probably get a 5 ***** also when I'm done listening to it.

Many of these books/tapes etc. are also part of my "clearing and cleaning" and I'm actually trying to read books I'm pretty sure I won't keep so I'll have less of them to move.

Happy Trails!

Yop Week #?

 I have no idea what YOP week it is and I'm not going to stop and count right now but here's what I've been up and it's not all fiber.  I spent a lot of time this week on pc problems but got my files back and Outlook too with all those files!  Whew!  It takes hours and hours but it's not something I can post a picture of.  Also, this year I am getting rid of so much stuff.  My 2 goals are finances and moving and they are connected...go figure?!? LOL!
So, there will be fiber projects but only when I'm too tired to work on the other.  I have 2 gifts to make this month for birthdays.  One is a pair of fingerless mitts for my son, Benjamin.

Yes, little Miss Nosy Britches has to get in the picture........I have this one almost done if I can navigate the thumb opening and then whip off it's matching mate.  These are crocheted as I didn't have time to try and fail with a knitted pair.  I'll try them when I have more time.
Then there's another Iowa Hawkeye hat for my SIL (although after the poor showing at the Rose Bowl he may not want to wear it...lol!).  The one I made for him last year didn't fit so my daughter is wearing that one.

The blanket is coming along and is huge so I think I will start to "finish" it plus I want to make a nice edging/border on it and I don't want to run out of yarn.  It resides on my dresser in a big pile! LOL!  I highly recommend the corner-to-corner pattern....very enjoyable!

On the "cleaning and clearing" front, I have filled 2 garbage bags with papers that I have gone through...both some of my parents old documents and mine.  There's another pile that's pretty big that I have to burn as shredding would take me forever!   I've also gone through things and cleared off shelves and cleaned and have boxes and bags for the Thrift Store.
The Christmas Tree came down............the ceramic one my Aunt made was all I managed to put up this year...I am so focused on moving even if I have to "live in a van down by the river"...the Apple River that is that runs through my home town.

The mantle has been refreshed for Winter not Christmas........I cleaned out the firebox, brought in wood and cleaned the fireplace tools.

 I cleaned out this shelf unit and Grace and Miss Peeps had some fun playing Hollywood Squares in it! LOL!

I managed to find an old gym basket I've had to put on the shelf and I have a few more baskets to put there.  I wanted to put yarn in it but with Miss Peeps I don't think that would be wise.

Grace was watching me as I cleaned and I had to take a picture of her with her long legs crossed!

I hope you had a great week!

Happy Trails!