Progress...........

Yesterday was a productive day which always makes me feel good. After the stormy weekend I was anxious to get outside and see if the pool  had drained sufficiently and yes it did!  Yay!  I painted it some more on the inside and I am calling it done.  You can still see some of the green through the cream color but from a distance it looks fine.  I just didn't want my backyard to look like a permanent daycare center....lol!

Today I will fill with dirt and hopefully have enough of it to plant my plants which are flourishing..........

the cucumbers are taking over............

Remember how I cut the hydrangea down this Spring?  Well, obviously it didn't hurt it...in fact, it is bigger than ever and has really bushed out...........

I found my grass trimmer and had it charged and ready to go.  I trimmed and weeded this area and put my newly painted bench there with some  coreopsis and an elf/gnome statue I got at a garage sale.

One little area of my yard under control........the tiger lilies are especially beautiful this year and so far the deer haven't bothered them...

 The daisies are starting to bloom.........see that pretty little white flower?  It turns into a million burrs!  It's everywhere and I will be going out again today to work on eradicating it.....I think it's called cowslip but not sure and someone said it is what inspired the inventor of velcro....I wouldn't be surprised!  I already have them stuck to my socks and shoelaces.....what a pain!  Wish me luck on this mission!

After I had sufficiently exhausted myself outdoors I came in.  One of my priorities before YOP this coming year starting July 7th was to organize my knitting needles and cables plus my crochet hooks so I could easily check to see if I had the tools necessary for the patterns I was choosing.  This is before.........some are fixed and some are interchangeables...............

This is after...........I found a 3 ring binder and I already had see through plastic sheet protectors that I use for patterns and recipes.  I put them in the binder according to size with the fixed needles in the front and the cables for my interchangeables in the back of the notebook.  I labeled them with my handy dandy label maker.  I put the US size and the length of the cable.  I probably should have put the mm size also but I can always go back and do that later.  I put the cable length on it too.  Supposedly the length of a circular is measured from point to point and I found that not all are equal but close enough for me.   I have my needles organized finally.  I'm sure I will fine tune it as I still have the points for my interchangeables and the crochet hooks but this was my biggest problem.

At the end of the day I worked on my Monthly Monday project.........A Year in Hawk Run Hollow by Carriage Street Samplings.  I am separating the months and doing them individually.  I'm still on January! LOL!  I hope it's done by next January!  I do love it though......I did the champagne glass and bubbles, her hands, shoes and started on some lettering.

I hope you had a great Monday and that the rest of your week goes well for you.
Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #52

 This was totally a cross stitch week as I am busy gathering patterns, supplies and ordering for YOP 2019-2020 and I don't want to start any knitting, crocheting or sewing until then.  

 FO's (finished objects):
1. I finished Stitch Maynia project #5 of 19.......it was a strange pattern and it is not an FFO (fully finished object) just the stitching is done.  Now I have to do something with it! LOL!

   WIPs (works in progress):

1)  I worked a little more on my Quaker Flag..............one red flag stripe done and now a white one is starting.

2) Sew She Did .....I learned that if you outline areas first it goes much faster and no 'counting' as you just have to 'fill in' the outlined areas....brilliant!  When I was little, I loved coloring and I always outlined the pictures first before coloring them in so it makes sense to do it in xs too.

3) I worked on the black cat for Witchy Wednesday and he now looks like a bandit!  I can't believe I am stitching on 40 count....not well, but I'm doing it.  Probably won't do it again though.  I think it's the linen more than anything.  I prefer Even weave....as the name implies.

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4) I worked on Monthly Monday which is Hawk Run Hollow months of the year.  As you can see I am still on January.  I am not a fast cross stitcher or fast anything for that matter.  Her face looks like a skeleton...I need to go back and check the pattern.

5)  This will be a tea bag holder but again.....some of these free designs are a bit strange like why do designers put one single stitch out in the middle of nowhere?  What's up with that?  I have a bit more to go but not much.  There's a tea cup and kettle to stitch.   Next year I won't need to resort to free patterns.  By then I will have gotten my Stitch Maynia legs underneath me and be ready with projects I love!  Plus, all those wonderful patterns people sent me.

Acquisitions:  none but there will be!

 New Starts Planned: they're all secret! LOL!  There is planning a foot!

YOP Goals from last week:

1. cut fabrics for Pickle Dish #6
2. measure Grayson's blanket and work on
****4.  finish stitch Maynia #5
5.  work at least 4 square inches on Diamond Painting
6.  work on Frida Kahlo basket
***7.  finish plan for YOP 2019-20
****8.  finish planning gifts for July birthdays and Christmas
*****9. SAL for Sew She Did
10.  final finish a xs item
*****11.  get back on schedule with XS days


YOP Goals for this coming week:
1. finalize projects for YOP 2019-2020
2. finish Stitch Maynia #6
3. list supplies needed and order if budget allows
4. keep up with XS 'days'
5. prep for sewing pillowcases for the boys
6. work on sewing Amy's basket together!!!

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)  C2C blanket for Grayson (July birthday) 
6)  Monthly Monday - HRH January
7)  Witchy Wednesday - Button-Eyed Cat
8)  Fall Friday -
9)  Santa Sunday -Old St. Nick - done but needs 'finishing' work
10)  Turkey Thursday
11)  Seasonal Sunday -Summer
12)  Santa Sunday - new house ornament

 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
22.  Kathleen Tracy doll quilt
23.  Pumpkin Spice Farm xs
24.  Spring xs
25.  Blueberry Socks
26.  4 scrubbies for a friend


Miscellaneous Trivia:
 It's been a rough week without Nitty but it's getting better...there have been some more 'barks' which always makes me feel better.  I stay busy so it keeps me from constantly thinking about her and missing her. 
 Annie has had a rough week...she's eating fine (nothing will ever stand in the way of Annie eating! LOL!  The girl has food issues!) but she hasn't been her usual happy go lucky self.  I usually take my other dog ( I've always had 2 dogs at a time) with when one is being put down so there is no wondering where they went or why but I couldn't take Annie as I was  having enough stress getting Nitty there.  I think she knows she's not coming back now but I feel bad because she must wonder what happened to her.
Anyway, I received 2 beautiful cards with heartfelt sentiments on Nitty's passing.  One from Betsy and one from Connie who lost her Chance not too long ago.  Chance was a beautiful border collie and he and Nitty were about the same age.

I think this is a card Connie made as she takes beautiful nature photos.........

Thank you so much, both of you and all of you who posted and expressed your condolences.....it was much appreciated! 
There have been some pretty birds in my yard.  I don't feed them but my neighbor does and it gets crowded over there so they hang out in my yard until it thins out! LOL!  I am so lucky!  Not sure what they are but maybe one of you could tell me?  I think the blue one is a blue bird?  But not sure about the brown one....grossbeak?  What do I know?  Nothing!

The peas are done for the year..........it got way too hot for them!  So I let them dry and picked the rest for seeds for next year..........

We had a nice thunderstorm this morning and then there was a respite and now we have a real humdinger going on!  Severe thunderstorm and flash flood.  It's what they call a "frog strangler" down here.  I love a good storm so I am going to go do some relaxing and enjoy the storm and pray the power stays on! 

 Please stop by and see all the other fantastic projects that other YOP'ers are working on.
I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and I wish you all a happy, productive and creative week ahead!
Happy Trails!!!  

Happy first day of Summer!

Personally, I am not happy about Summer in the South...it's the pits!  It will be so hot and humid from now until November at least....ugh!  You won't see me celebrating...lol!  I have been staying busy which is the best thing for me when I am grieving or dealing with a problem....it seems I work harder which is good as there are "miles to go before I sleep".
I've been doing a little of this and a little of that..........some cleaning but not nearly enough........and pulling out a few summer decorations.

some gardening...........remember those "snow peas"...lol!
They weren't, they were real peas I just didn't let them mature long enough.....patience is a virtue Sam!  One I need to practice evidently!  I was so thrilled.  I have never grown peas before as no one ever liked them.  That's because we grew up with those horrible canned peas...army green and mushy....yuck!  But look at these babies!  I have about 2 cups which I will cook up tonight and savor!

The grands are not coming down this summer and they have outgrown these pools plus this one has several holes.  I was going to throw them out but then a light bulb went off in my head.....a raised bed!  So I am painting it.  It needs more and then the inside....the littler one will get the same treatment.  See the orange paint on the grass?  The fiber optic people are in the neighborhood and instead of leaving breadcrumbs to the electric box from the pole.....they spray painted orange paint.  They had done it in between my trips out to paint the pool.  I never heard them and imagine my surprise when I came out and saw orange paint when I was using a cream color!  It took me a few minutes to figure it out.  Maybe it was National Spray Painting Day yesterday?  I have 4 bags of dirt but I don't think that is going to do it.  There may be a trip to Walmart for more paint and more dirt.

After shelling the peas I moved ahead to toasting the spaghetti squash seeds I had saved.  I found a new recipe I wanted to try at www.eatingwell.com
I only had about 1/4 cup but it was still worth it.  They were delicious!  I wonder if I could freeze the seeds until I have more?  I never have very many at a time.  I only had 1 squashes worth so I cut the recipe in half but they were so good! 

  My son Ben's girlfriend sells Norwex and I had never heard of it before.  They have all natural products..............I looked through it but it is very expensive...........

She also sent me one of the their Enviro micro fiber cloths.  I've used microfiber before and I didn't care for it but I tried this little cloth to clean my microwave and whoa Nellie.....it was amazing and I had the microwave cleaned in no time!  Ben told me to pick out what I wanted and he would get it for me......he has their mop system and raved about it.  It's very pricey though.  I might get a few of their silicone lids as that is something I've wanted in order to stop using plastic wrap.  These cloths contain silver which kills germs right on the cloth from what I understand....no wonder they're expensive!  If you can afford it I recommend  their microfiber...I was amazed.

I've been trying to get back to my cross stitch "days" and I did work on Witchy Wednesday and today is Fall Friday.  Yesterday I decided to work on my Quaker Flag which will actually be for Stars and Stripes Saturday............one 'stripe' of the flag is done.....I love this design and it is very relaxing to work on.

Today is more painting and maybe a trip to Walmart.  Bread is baking in the oven and then I need to shell the rest of the peas.  I want to make mango and corn salsa and a blueberry sorbet.  I went to the doctor in Mountain Home for a "wellness" checkup (ie; the insurance companies aren't making enough money so if you want your prescriptions filled you have to go....racketeers!) and the doc said I was in "tremendous" good health.....happy about that but I was not happy with what the scale said.  I do not believe in diets but I do believe in eating healthy and I was never overweight in my life until they messed with my thyroid.  I went on All Recipes and looked into their low fat recipes that were highly rated so we shall see.  Lots of things change as you age so I am trying to change with it.  
I hope you enjoy your first day of summer!
Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #51

 FO's (finished objects):
1. No FO's this week

 WIPs (works in progress):
1) The little fox is coming along but it is not enjoyable and is very fiddly for me.  I'm not sure if I'm going to get through 2 more of them....maybe it will get easier?  I still have the arms, the legs and the tail to do...............

2)  I worked a little more on my Quaker Flag..............

3) Sew She Did is coming along but my thread broke and I had to take out a section and so I didn't get very far...

Acquisitions:
1)   The rest of my floss came in for Sew She did.......

and a couple other patterns I've had my eye on.....
2) this will be for Jolly July...........

3)  This is the beginning of a longer range project that I saw Vonna Pfeiffer working on (The Twisted Stitcher blog and You Tube channel).  I liked her colors she chose so I am torn.......she did all her letters in a hand dyed steely blue/gray and it was gorgeous..........It's a big piece and I'll need to order fabric.  This is only the first 3 letters of the alphabet.........

4)  I picked these up at Walmart....new cross stitch project bags...........these are the biggest I've seen...2.5 gallons!

5) I finally received the 2 patterns I won from Priscilla and Chelsea...The Real Housewives of Cross Stitch.........LOVE!!!  I posted about them earlier in the week but in case you only visit on Sundays for YOP, I thought I would show them again.

 New Starts Planned: they're all secret! LOL!  There is planning a foot!

YOP Goals from last week:

1. cut fabrics for Pickle Dish #6
2. measure Grayson's blanket and work on
4.  finish stitch Maynia #5
5.  work at least 4 square inches on Diamond Painting
6.  work on Frida Kahlo basket
*7.  finish plan for YOP 2019-20
****8.  finish planning gifts for July birthdays and Christmas
*****9. SAL for Sew She Did
10.  final finish a xs item
11.  get back on schedule with XS days


YOP Goals for this coming week:  (yes, they are the same as last week)
1. cut fabrics for Pickle Dish #6
2. measure Grayson's blanket and work on
4.  finish stitch Maynia #5
5.  work at least 4 square inches on Diamond Painting
6.  work on Frida Kahlo basket
7.  finish plan for YOP 2019-20
8.  finish planning gifts for July birthdays and Christmas
9. SAL for Sew She Did
10.  final finish a xs item
11.  get back on schedule with XS days

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)  C2C blanket for Grayson (July birthday) 
6)  Monthly Monday - HRH January
7)  Witchy Wednesday - Button-Eyed Cat
8)  Fall Friday -
9)  Santa Sunday -Old St. Nick - done but needs 'finishing' work
10)  Turkey Thursday
11)  Seasonal Sunday -Summer
12)  Santa Sunday - new house ornament

 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
22.  Kathleen Tracy doll quilt
23.  Pumpkin Spice Farm xs
24.  Spring xs
25.  Blueberry Socks
26.  4 scrubbies for a friend

Miscellaneous Trivia:
Also, if you don't read my blog during the week....I had my 14 year old Rottweiller put down on Friday so I didn't feel much like 'crafting' yesterday but I did go through an entire box of kleenix!  Friday was bad, yesterday was pretty bad and today is a bit better.  I think I've run out of tears and I'm probably de-hydrated.  I will miss her forever.....she was a gift to me from above and I swear she was my guardian angel.  I feel like those people who lose a limb yet still feel like it's there....I have to remind myself she is gone as I catch myself thinking like she is still here.  Deep breaths and prayers for healing my heart...that's what I'm focusing on right now.   This is my Grace girl and that  picture epitomizes  how I feel.....like a worn out dishrag...emotions are much more tiring than physical labor IMHO.

I am starting to put together the patterns etc. for YOP 2019/20 and making a list of the supplies needed  for the various projects so I can get started right away...if the budget approves....we'll see.
Which dates are the yearly roundup and then when is the first Sunday we post about our new projects?  I got confused last week.  Is the roundup on week 52 or 53 and then post the projects on the first Sunday in July?  Dates would be appreciated as the week thing is messing me up.  Thank you!

 Please stop by and see all the other fantastic projects that other YOP'ers are working on.
I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and I wish you all a happy, productive and creative week ahead!

Happy Trails!!!  

Nitty is gone but not forgotten..........

I had her put down yesterday afternoon.  The day before when I mowed she had to get up to let me get the mower out of the garage and then again to get it back in.  It was a real effort for her to get up but she did.  That night she didn't eat nor that morning either.  I did see her drink water and she went out in the grass and urinated.  That night when I went to close the garage door and she was right under it.....she wouldn't move.  I tried to help by lifting her rear end as that is where she had no strength but she didn't even try to get up.  I ended up having to slide her out of the way so I could close the garage door.  The next morning she was in the same spot and had urinated right where she was so I knew that it wasn't going to get any better.  I took her water and food over to her but she wouldn't have anything to do with it.  She'd had enough and it was time.  I cried and spent the morning with her grooming her and giving her a 'shampoo' which is wet but all natural and you let it dry and then brush her.  I talked to her and explained what was going to take place and that she wouldn't feel a thing except no more pain or struggle.   I still hadn't called the vet or the moving guy but by noon I knew it had to be plus no one would be available on the weekend.  I called the moving guy but no answer and it said no mailbox had been set up yet.  I drove over there as he's only a few blocks away.  He was home and didn't know why his phone wasn't working but he said he would and to let him know what time after I talked to the vet.  I came home and called the vet and they gave me an appointment for 2:45 and so I tried calling the mover guy but still no phone so I drove over there again.  I told  him and he said he'd be over a little after 2:00 p.m as it takes about 1/2 hour to get there.   I waited and waited and he never came.  I was panicking so I called animal control and explained the situation and asked if someone could help me.  I offered to pay these people....I wasn't expecting something for nothing.  She said she couldn't lift as she's just had a baby but that she  would see if one of the police officers were free and if so she'd send one over.  Meanwhile I called the vet and explained the situation and they said not to worry that they were open until 4:00 p.m. and to try and get there before then.    An officer showed up and helped me get her in the car and I took off for the vet.  I told them when I got there but I went back out to the truck to stay with Nitty in the back with the back hatch open.  It gave me more time with her.  The bad part is she was bright eyed and very alert but then she would drop her head like she couldn't hold it up much longer and her breathing was heavy.  I kept telling her her friends at the vets would be there and she always loved them and was excited to see them.  Little did I know when they came out I didn't recognize a one of them!  There was even a new vet whom I'd never seen before!  I felt like I'd  lied to Nitty....there wasn't one person in that office that I recognized.  Dr. Mills must have cleaned house but I wish she would have sent out a letter informing her customers.  So, the new vet was very good and older....not fresh out of vet school thank goodness!  It went smoothly and Nitty was great as always even up to the end.....but you're still shocked when they're 'gone' and you almost want to say....'wait, stop, I've changed my mind' but you can't be selfish when you love someone....not if you really love them.  They will cremate her which I really don't like for some reason but I can't bury her so there's no real choice.  I paid the bill which was more than I remembered in the past but then everything goes up.....there went my budget! LOL!
I had planned on going to Walmart that day so I went ahead and went.  I didn't need a lot and I knew my eyes were red from crying but it's allergy season too so I wasn't too concerned.  I put on my sunglasses and got what I needed and came home.  I cried almost all the way home until I realized it was interfering with my vision so I pulled myself together.  It's funny,  when you lose someone you love you look around and see the world still going; people laughing, cars going places and you want the whole world to stop because yours just did.  I am devastated, even though I knew it was coming but I will miss her so much and the tears will be shed every time I think of her.  It comes and goes...you get busy and then all of a sudden there it is...she's gone and you can't get your breath and it's literally a physical ache in your heart thus the word heartache evidently.  I always pray for a sign that whoever has passed is alright and I've gotten those signs.  I slept like a log last night as I was physically and emotionally exhausted but this morning.....a bark woke me up and I sat right up in bed!  It wasn't Annie and my windows were closed.....I know it was Nitty letting me know she was alright.  Another thing happened that is so strange.  I love robins but they come here in early Spring and leave to go  up North and I don't see them until Fall again.  This morning when I opened my curtains there were robins all over my yard.  You may think I'm crazy and maybe I am....crazy with grief but it made me feel better that Nitty is fine and someday, hopefully we will be together again.  They say that when you pass over there will be people that loved you that will be there to greet you.  I have a feeling there will be more animals to greet me than humans and that's okay with me.    

Recap....where does the time go?

This week has been a blur but a good blur!  I haven't blogged much but I've gotten a lot done which gives such a  great feeling...to me anyway.
I've cooked of course.......pasta sauce of which some will get frozen in bags.  I put it in the jars to cool off.

BTW...........I tried the Earth Balance butter substitute and it is very good!  The sugar substitute........

is fine so far but I don't care for it in my coffee.  I might have to switch to something else at least for that.
I've also been cleaning and de-cluttering.
Today was out to the highway for gas for the truck and the mower and then I mowed but before that.....I made chicken and noodles in the crock pot.   The jello pudding is for peach cream cheese pie tomorrow.

 My daughter gave me the idea and I got the ingredients that I needed yesterday.  I already had the chicken.  I knew I would be tired after mowing so a crock pot dinner was right up my alley!

      Yesterday I was able to participate in the Fat Quarter Shop SAL of Sew She Did cross stitch...you can win prizes too but I'm not sure I will be able to keep up...I have gifts to make and yard work and gardening and housework and cooking.....I can't devote whole days to it nor would I want to but it's fun regardless!

I still haven't received the dark teal that the majority of the sewing machine is stitched in but it should be here soon.  What I did receive were my patterns that I won from Priscilla and Chelsea on The Real Housewives of Cross Stitch pod cast awhile back!  I love them!!!

Well..everyone else has been fed and medicated and they've been outside....now it's my turn....I've got my pj's on, I'm ready to have my chicken and noodles and then watch some podcasts and do some cross stitch.  Annie's all tucked in and ready............

 and the evening candle is lit.  I hope you have a great one!

Happy Trails!!!