Books, cleaning and knitting...........

Yesterday was Walmart again.  It seems like I was just there.  I probably would have waited until Friday but it was supposed to rain again today, tomorrow and Saturday.  It is raining right now.  While I was at Walmart I picked this up...........I have never bought one of these coloring books for myself.  This one intrigued me because after you color the picture it is 'peel and stick'.  I could use them on envelopes, stationary, a picture to frame and who knows what else.  Fun times ahead!

 I also had to drop off some books at the library so I picked up a few more as long as I was there! LOL!  Actually, this one I got last time but haven't read it yet.  Mama Pea have you read her?  She's wonderful if you like 'the old days' and pioneer times.  There's no order to reading them; they are all unique stories and so good!

Mama Pea (BTW she is A Homegrown Journal on my sidebar) also mentioned Nancy Thayer who I had never read so I picked up the one and only book they had by her.  I can't wait to try a new author.  I love recommendations from friends as we seem to travel in the same circles and usually enjoy the same things.

I have heard of Ann Patchett for years but have never read anything of hers so I decided it was about time.....

and then this book caught my eye............I read the first chapter and it's accompanying recipes last night.  This is a great cookbook to read as it is based on Southern food that is brought to funerals.  She includes actual obituaries too.....some are hysterical.  The author is from Memphis and most of the obits are too.   Great recipes although there were no cookie recipes.  Southerners seem to be cake eaters.  I can't wait to read the next chapter.

 It was nice to stay home today.  It seems like lately there have been outings of some type of errand every day. I finally got the kitchen and laundry room floors vacuumed and washed.........my step-father built this house and there are big rooms with lots of floor....same in the kitchen but hardly any countertop space and designed by someone who did not use a kitchen!  I think he was a wanna be architect.  That's Annie eating her supper.  The girls eat at 3:30 and then when the time changes they will eat at 4:30.  I really wish they would stop that time change business.....who ever thought of that.....it's crazy.

I sat down a few times to knit.  I had made a mistake and had to tear back so I put in an afterthought lifeline and it worked!  I was so proud of myself  and then I did it again as I misunderstood the directions for the gusset.  Hopefully I am doing it right but this toe-up has me confused.  That doesn't take much though.  The stripes really made the tear back easy.

 I hope you had an enjoyable day.  I am off to warm up some supper, get my jammies on and curl up in bed with books, handwork and the remote! LOL!  Oh, and my coloring book.  It's a cozy rainy night so I'll probably light a candle too.
Happy Trails!!!
P.S.  Thank you for the prayers.....they worked!  Amy and Uriah both went back to school yesterday but now Sam is sick.   Isn't that the way of it?

Book Date a day late....again.................

Okay, I know, it's Tuesday but I am still behind so please forgive me.  I have not blogged about any books in 2019 yet so I have to catch you up.  I wasn't sure if I was going to do the Good Read's Challenge this year but if anything it is a nice journey through my reading adventures.  Last year I said I would read 75 books but only got to 69 but that was better than the 53 out of 52 the year before.  I decided I would once again try for 75.  Here's my start.

I started this book before Christmas but finished in 2019 and although good it didn't get to their Christmas until after mine.  I like to read "holiday" themed books during the appropriate holiday but this one didn't really fit the bill.  It was a delightful story though.  

 Lots of Janette Oke books.  I'm so glad she was such a prolific writer as I love her books and there are lots more to read!

I also read this book on the Pandemic of 1918.  I was very interested in it since my stepfather's parents both died in it when he was only 3 years old.  They were immigrants from Italy and had other children who all got farmed out to relatives after their death.  Very sad but a very enlightening book.

I read this as I bought it years ago when it was a best seller........his childhood was terrible and very sad but I didn't care for it as he gave intimate details that I thought detracted from his memoir.  TMI

Last but not least there was this little gem!  A great graduation present and just a wonderful book to be read by anyone and everyone..........

Right now I am reading this non-fiction....very interesting although it seems a bit far-fetched in places but what do I know?  They're making a movie out of it if that gives it any credibility...probably not.

For my fiction I am reading another Janette Oke book.....what can I say...they are such delightful books and calm, gentle stories...what better way to end the day and drift off to sleep.

I finished reading this magazine and they are entertaining magazines.    They're old magazines but the stories are still interesting....I need to go get my next magazine to read.

It's slow going here on my little 'homestead'.....cold again, I made some peanut butter cookies yesterday and I'm putting my budget into a spreadsheet which should save me some time each month.  My daughter, the teacher has been sick with a flu bug since Saturday and she had a flu shot.  Then my grandson, Uriah called me and he is sick with the flu but has not had a flu shot.  I wish I could be there to take care of them all but then I would probably catch it.  I have had a flu shot.  I hope you all stay healthy and say a little prayer for my daughter and my grandson if you get a chance.
Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #36

Finishes:
1) 5 tissue box covers (sung to the tune of 5 Golden rings as in the 12 days of Christmas) -  all finished and all my tissue boxes in my house are covered and no longer 'naked'!  I feel so much better and I think they do too!  I think I may make some for Christmas gifts as I still have lots of leftover yarn!  The first one I made was all solids but the next ones I altered every other round with a variegated as I have lots of those yarns too.  I also added one extra row as the first one was just a wee bit short on my tissue boxes which are Great Value from Walmart.  They are each unique not a one of them is the same.

WIPs (works in progress): 
1) I got about 2 rows done on the pink C2C blanket

2) I did work on the Button Eyed cat on Witchy Wednesday

3) I worked some more on Hawk Run Hollow January.  I've renamed Merry Monday to Monthly Monday so I can work on monthly items and there is now Thanksgiving Tuesday for Thanksgiving items.....not sure what I'll do for Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day........ 

4)   I dug out my toe-up socks and plan on working on these this week plus I need to plan knitted items for when I move up North....I have not knitted any hats or mittens for myself and I have a feeling I will be needing them!  These are toe-up socks and I am using a tutorial on You Tube by Sockmatician.....so far so good!

Future Plans:

1) a new Holiday ornament pattern.....but I can't find that cute polka dot fabric.....yet!  LOL!  Or I could just paint some dots on the fabric after I'm done.

2)  This is the next patriotic xs I'll be working on and it is the very first SAL that Priscilla and Chelsea had on their podcast "The Real Housewives of Cross Stitch".  I have a long way to catch up with those 2!

Miscellaneous:

These are my project containers.  There are nine there but I'll dig up another one and as I finish a project and empty the container I will then choose another project to fill it.  I find that having a closed container (especially with Miss Peeps around) is much safer and none of my supplies go 'missing'.  Everything that I need for that project is in the container so no running around the house looking for supplies when I'd rather be 'doing'.  Trust me, these containers do not reside on my bed.  I was organizing my projects and ensuring they each had what they needed. 

This was the weather this morning...snowing like crazy.  Then it stopped and was melted in about 10 minutes then the sun came out and it was about 46 then it went away and clouds came in and the temperature dipped down in to the low 30's!  Huh?!?  Crazy, crazy weather!

BTW, for those of you who do not read my blog except on YOP Sunday....Nitty is back home safe and sound!  Someone had picked her  up and taken her to the animal shelter which was closed but you can put  a dog in the outside kennel.  The employees didn't find her until Monday when they came in.    You can read my past blog posts if you want all the details.  It was a MIRACLE!!!!  Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes!  She is doing fine and is not allowed outside 'unsupervised'! LOL!

TOP 10 (or more) WIP's:

1)  Pickle Dish
2)  Stars and Stripes Saturday - America x-stitch - done but needs finishing
3)  Amy's Frido Kahlo basket (July birthday) - done but needs to be sewn together
4)  Pin's embroidery
5)  Toe-up socks
6)  C2C blanket for Grayson (July birthday) 
7)  Monthly Monday - HRH January
8)  Witchy Wednesday - Button-Eyed Cat
9)  Fall Friday - Pumpkin Spice Far
10)  Santa Sunday -

 Finishes so far in 2018-19: 
1.  4th of July cross stitch pillow/ornie
2.  Hitchhiker shawl
3.  Felici Hibiscus self-striping socks
4.  Felted wool loafer slippers with leather soles for me Sam
5.  washcloth (extra large) and back scrubber for Christmas or birthday for SIL
6.   Iowa Hawkeye hats for Sam and Grayson
7.  Techniques learned so far this year: a) knit cast on, b) reading a knitting chart, c) lace work, d) inserting and using a lifeline e) charting a graphghan
8.   dishcloth(s)...I need to count them
9. Cubs hat for Uriah
10. 12 days of Christmas Advent gifts
11. Cowl for Ben
12. Cowl for Tracy
13. Cowl for Natalie
14.  # 2018 Collectible ornaments for the grands
15.  Cowl for me or gift basket
16.  11 scrubbies for gift basket
17.  1 pot handle cover for gift basket
18.  Ben's Bear's hat
19.  Falling Leaves Scarf
20.  Tissue Box Cover - 5 of them!
21.  Granny Square Shawl



Please stop by and see all the other fantastic projects that other  YOP'ers are working on.
Happy Trails!!!

Snow is in the forecast but the robins are here!!!

I went to Wally World yesterday and got the rest of my gardening supplies.  Although, you're never really done with buying gardening stuff....it's ongoing throughout the Summer and into the Fall...for me anyway.  This is for my trough which will have some veggies this year..............

ans then there's the seed trays.............

and guess what I found at Walmart?   Organic heirloom seeds from BH&G..........I got the collection packets which included a carrot mix, sugar pod peas, Blue Lake Bush bean which I've grown before, and Genovese basil.

Then there's the herb garden which has a slow to bolt cilantro, more Genovese basil, dill, and Italian flat leaf parsley.  There's the butterfly garden which includes milk weed, calendulas fancy mix, cosmos sensation mix and linaria fairy bouquet.  Last but not least, there's the tomato collection which inludes San Marzano, red cherry, cherokee purple and brandywine.  I'm sure I will be going back for some of their individual packets as I need so much more!  Beets, squash, melons and more!
I got a big garbage can on wheels to hold my mulch as I am always using it and I always have bags of it laying around the garage.  This will be a nice repository for it and I can wheel it around the yard wherever I need it.  I'll be able to tell when I need more just by looking in the garbage can.  This is a cheap one, not the heavy duty one that I have for my real garbage.

I did go to the Dollar Tree and got some of the baskets with the handles.  This was the only color they had but I don't care as it will be inside my cupboard.  I only got 3 but if I need more I know where they are! LOL!

But guess what I forgot?  The small mouth jar lids!  Dang!  Oh well, I'll be back there next week.  Now I need to get planting, organizing and cleaning!  Plus, I have a dinner and dessert to make and some bread.  What are you up to this weekend?
Happy Trails!!!

Moving right along!?!

It doesn't seem like I get much done in a day and something always suffers........but I feel good about what little I did so I won't complain.  My son got back from his trip to California and he got me some real sea glass from the sea!  Us land locked folks don't see much sea glass around here! LOL!
I spent a lot of time perusing seed websites today and I am trying to finalize my orders.  If I don't hurry I'll have to wait for next year to start them. I have a Baker Creek Heirloom Seed catalog but their seeds are a little pricey although they have free shipping.  There's a more reasonable site called MIGardener and they are only .99 a pack and are also heirloom but charge shipping.....I'll probably end up ordering a little from both but the furnace bill really took my 'gardening' money.
I also cleaned another cupboard today............I forgot to take a picture before I emptied it but trust me it was stuffed full!  Here's all of it that I took out of it................

Half of it was expired so that made it easy...........here's the after................I put my dried fruits in jars and labeled with my new medium point white paint marker...........

I also started filling and labeling the 1/2 gallon mason jars but my cupboard shelves are too short and not adjustable so they will probably go on my book shelf under the window which is another mess item I need to clean............

Next time I go to Wally World I will be getting the small mouth jar lids and I will be going to the Dollar Tree and getting those baskets with handles for items that come in envelopes like onion soup mix or salad dressing mixes etc.  Right now I'm using a cardboard box with no handle.  I have a long way to go putting things in jars but I really like it and it is so much easier to organize and spot things.
On breaks I worked on my 5th tissue box cover!  That should do it for me but I may be making more later on.  For now, I want to move on to something else.
I hope you had a great day.  It was in the 30's here and cloudy today but tomorrow is supposed to be nice so errands and outside work for me!
Happy Trails!!!
 

Spring has sprung in the Ozarks!

Here's the 'runaway'......no worse for wear and tear.........I tie her up when I'm not out there with her.....I don't trust her now...........

I got a lot done yesterday surprisingly.  I went to the bank and got some checks and paid the last bill of the month.  I dug out my stickers for my bullet journal which I had 'misplaced'....every time I clean and/or organize I cannot find things!  What's up with that?  I got the Kilz from the basement to use on the headboard I'm painting as the stenciling is bleeding through. I washed the parts to the Instant Pot and prepped for my next meal.  It's that time of year to start eating out of the freezer to clear it out so there's room for 'the harvest' including Spring/Summer berries.  I also printed off a chart that tells you how much of each vegetable you should plant per person in order to make it through a year. I cleaned Grace's 2 litter boxes.  I felt like some progress was made along with Nitty being home...that's probably what motivated me.  I worked on my Hawk Run Hollow January cross stitch last night.  Oh, I also baked the rest of the package of corn tortillas which is mindless but takes a while.

   Here' s the proof that Spring is here and coming to a neighborhood near you!  Actually these were blooming 3 days ago but with the Nitty issue I could have cared less. 

The birds are singing and buds are popping..........these are on the Bradford Pear tree

I don't think this is the first dandelion as I think they are year round here....all the weeds are!

I worked outside this afternoon as it was in the 60's perfect 'working outside' weather.  I weeded the trough.........

and weeded and mulched a wash tub with bulbs in it..........hyacinth opening up..............

 I started weeding the NE flower bed but didn't finish as my back said "enough"............

 I cut back my hydrangea...not sure if you're supposed to but there was a lot of old dead wood..........
 It's on the far left against the brick...........

 I came in and baked a roll of refrigerator cookies and now it's time for my supper.........the girls have been fed already.  I even sat in the sun and did a little crochet on a break....that sun felt good!  Never fear though they have snow showers in the forecast for Sunday here! LOL!  This evening I'm working on garden plans and seed order.  I made a gardening notebook today so I can keep track of everything.  What have you been up to?  Any signs of Spring where you are?
Happy Trails!!!

It's a miracle!!!

Nitty is alive and well!!!  I can't believe it!  I got a call from Animal Control that she had a message over the weekend (they're closed on the weekends) that a woman spotted a Rottweiller one street over from me.  The animal control gal went looking but of course, that was several days ago...no sign this morning of her.  She said she would keep an eye out and call me if she saw or heard anything.  About 20 minutes later she called back and said..."We've got her!"  I about fell off my chair!  I said really, a Rottweiller?  "Yes" she said.  A man had spotted her and put her in his car and brought her out to Animal Control and put her in one of their cages over the weekend and gave her food and water and left them a note.  She didn't see her until she went out back to check on the other animals!  OMG!!!  They brought her home to me and she is safely ensconced in the garage.  I have her leash and collar and plan on getting a 'tie-out' for her in the yard so she can lay out there when the weather is nice.  I sort of wondered why she would go off to die as she's eating, drinking and eliminating just fine and doesn't seem to be in any pain.  It could be dementia though or she's just at an age where she doesn't feel the need to follow the rules anymore.  I can understand that! LOL!  I'm going to ensure we go on walks again however short lived they might be.  Everyone needs a change of scenery. I am so blessed to have her back and I thank you all SO much for your kind words as it gave me much comfort.
Thank you all for your prayers....I know it helped.....it is still hard to believe but she's home!!!
Happy Trails!!!

And then there were three...............

I knew I would have to write this post someday but I didn't think it would end this way.  Nitty is gone..........my sweet Nitty girl who was my guardian, my protector and my best friend........

 

 Not gone in the usual way that I thought we would say good bye.  I was up early yesterday morning.....3:00 a.m. and I always let Nitty out before I make my coffee.  I gave her fresh water and her dry food which I pick up at night so as not to attract any 'critters' into the garage. She went out and came back in to the garage and I closed the garage door.  I took my coffee and went back to my bed where I journal every morning.  I was about halfway done journaling when Nitty barked so I went to see what she needed and asked if she had to go out again and she did so I opened the garage door again.  I figured she had eaten and now needed to do her business.  I went back to my bedroom and then I heard the thunder so I went back out to the garage but Nitty wasn't back in yet.  Sometimes she lays in the driveway behind my car so I went out in my pj's to get her back in but she wasn't there.  I called her as gently as I could as it was still very early.  She didn't come and it started to rain....I thought for sure she would come in as she doesn't like rain.  She didn't so I threw on some clothes and went out with a flashlight.  By now the rain was really coming down and on top of that we had dense fog.  I went around the whole yard and could not find her.  The lightening was really crackling so I went in as it would do none of us any good if I got hit.  The storm was a strong one and I was heart sick that she was out in it.  I got in my car and went looking...nothing and between the fog and the downpour I could barely see.  I went home and waited till the storm abated and went back out in my car but still could not see her anywhere.  How could she have gotten missed?  I then went on foot with my flashlight but still nothing.  I came back and thought I would wait until it got light.  I went out with the car again when it did and I thought I spotted her in someone's yard so I got out of the car but it was only a tree stump.  There was a woman outside with her dog and she said if Nitty was around her dogs would have been barking up a storm and they hadn't barked at all.  She said she would come over if she spotted her.  I drove all the places we used to walk but I didn't see her.  I came home and called the sheriff and animal control.  I Googled if dogs really do walk off to die and it said they do.  They know when their time is up and instinctively go to hide to avoid predators as they know they are vulnerable.  They say that even if you call them they won't come out from their hiding place and most times it is close by.  It said it is not personal and has nothing to do with how much they loved you but it is still hard to take.  So, armed with this information I headed out to comb the woods surrounding me, looking under bushes going into the bushiest parts of the woods......nada.  I was soaked because the rain had started again but not heavy.  The gullies were full, the land was swampy and the spring that feeds the lake was gushing into the lake.  Across the street the water had flowed over the road and was spilling into the lake.  My feet were soaked so I went home.  I should have seen the signs of her wandering off a few times in the past month but me , who thought she knew dogs....knew nothing.  She was out in that storm and later the sun came out and it was in the 60' s and no more severe weather.  I was grateful but this morning it is 36.  I have gone to the garage and windows 100's of times thinking I will see her but no.  I thought she might show up at supper time but no.  This morning I ran to the window but no Nitty.  The thought of her out in that storm and the cold makes me heart sick.  I am not afraid of putting a dog down as I never want them to suffer but I watched her and Annie closely and tails were wagging and Nitty was ambulatory since the Vetprofin was working great.  I monitored her eating and drinking and her elimination and everything seemed fine so far.  She was even playful at times.  I had made arrangements and if I had thought she was suffering in any way I would have had her put down.  I knew it was coming but this is heart wrenching and not the way I thought we would say goodbye.  To think of her out there wet and cold and alone makes me sick to my stomach.  I've had a lot of dogs in my life and never had one do this.  So, I cry and I pray and I keep looking out the windows.  I will never forget what a wonderful companion, friend and protector she was....I just wish I had been the same for her.  Please forgive me Nitty.                  

Here comes Spring....as in severe weather!

I wasn't going to go grocery shopping today but then my intuition told me to go.  Mostly it was for pet food and supplies but then I needed organic eggs too so off I went.  Well, so glad I did as they upped the rain forecast to this afternoon although none yet but tonight and tomorrow and Saturday they are predicting a severe weather outbreak that includes the whole state of Arkansas!  So, "batten down the hatches"!  I already moved up the car to as close as I can to the garage door to protect the door as much as possible because Nitty is in there and she can't do stairs so I pray all is well for us as there is no way I can get her in the house much less the basement.  I also watered my sprouts outside and covered them back up.

  While I was at Walmart I got some more jars but these are 1/2 gallon and I think my beans will fit in these...........

I got  some chalk paint in white and a chalk marker and a medium point paint marker in white and some dark wax for sealing the chalk paint......I am really in a refurbishing/re purposing/organizing kind of mood......

and guess what else I got.................yes!  I finally bit the bullet and bought it! 

I have been wanting this for quite some time but Walmart never had the model I wanted so I thought I'd order from Amazon eventually but it was there last week and still there today and I took the plunge!  I can't wait to use it!  If you click on the picture it will enlarge it so you can read all the functions.  I'll keep you informed about what I make and how I like it on down the road.......

 Last night I finished tissue box cover #2 and tonight or tomorrow will be done with #3....this is a great way to use up stash and so fun with all the colors.....I am definitely a scrappy, patchwork, boho kind of gal and not matchy/matchy at all.  It's nice to finally know yourself after all these years! LOL!

 I also worked on my Button Eyed Cat for Witchy Wednesday.......

Tonight will be a good night to have my tortilla soup and do some handwork and read through the recipe book that comes with the Instant Pot....I can't wait to read all about it and decide what I'm going to make first and what function I will use first.
I hope you have a cozy night and enjoy your evening!
Happy Trails!!!