Jolly July 1st.....

This is the first day of the SAL for Fat Quarter Shop for 31 days of ornaments sort of like Stitch Maynia.  It' s not so jolly for my Annie girl though.  She threw up 3 times yesterday.   I withheld food then and I had my Spotbot going all day.  I gave her water but no meds on her tender tummy.  In the evening I crushed up some saltines and poured some vegetable broth over it.  She ate a little and kept it down.  This morning when she went to get up out of her bed she fell over and couldn't seem to get back up again.  I helped her but she was definitely unsteady and went back to sleep for most of the morning.  I'm not sure if she's had a stroke or what but she doesn't bark anymore either and she is a barker.  She barks when she wants in all the time but I found her just sitting outside.  She also seems disoriented like she's not sure where she is but this afternoon she seemed to come around a bit and walked around the house like she knew where she was.  Who knows what's going on as they can't tell you.  She has an appointment the 9th.  I did feed her breakfast of her regular food and she kept it down so I pray she is on the mend but at 14 you never know.  I don't think she can see  or hear well but she manages.

I did manage to kit up most of my Jolly July starts and got off to a great start with Prairie Schooler Santa pattern....they come out with a new one each year.  I forget what year this one is 2005?  It was gifted to me by a friend along with 2 other Santa patterns and many more.

I'm making homemade pizza tonight.........it's on it's 2nd rise for 2 hours...should be ready to bake off about 6:30

 I'll be using my fresh basil and the last of my organic cherry tomatoes.......I have a feeling I will be having some of my own pretty soon!

I need to find a way to preserve my basil as I have lots and I need to cut more.
I hope you had a nice weekend.
Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #53

 



Have you wondered why I haven't been around since last Tuesday?  My monitor finally bit the dust...so, I had to order another one from Walmart as they didn't have one in stock and it just arrived yesterday afternoon!!!  Whew!  I thought I was going to miss the "wrap up" post and so much more!  Once again I have catch up to do with all of you.
Once I installed the monitor I spent the rest of the afternoon using Pic-Collage making monthly collages of all my finishes for YOP 2018-19.  The photos aren't very good but it is what it is.  It could be this monitor....it's very small.  So here goes.......bye bye YOP 2018-19 and next week we will welcome in YOP 2019-20!
I will catch you up with what's been happening here on the homestead at the end of my wrap up.

 JULY 2018

AUGUST 2018

 
SEPTEMBER 2018

OCTOBER 2018

NOVEMBER 2018

DECEMBER 2018

JANUARY 2019

FEBRUARY 2019

MARCH 2019

APRIL 2019

MAY 2019

JUNE 2019

and that's it folks!  If you can't see the picture very well you can click on it and it will enlarge.  Also, if you think you are seeing some items twice it is either because I made duplicates or I showed it when I finished stitching it and then again when I sewed it into the finished object.

Now, for a recap of what's been happening since I went offline! 

I finished "the pool project" and have 1 spaghetti squash planted in it.....it will spread for sure!  A lot of work for one plant but I will be using this planter again...unless I move...hopefully!

After the peas had produced I planted 2 zucchini squash in the horse trough..........

 I have tomatoes!!!  Babies but they are coming along....these are cherry tomatoes.........right on my front porch!  I pray the horn worms(?) stay away!  Last year I came outside and the entire plant was stripped overnight and they had the gaul to continue to chomp away while I stood there!  They are huge green worms............yuch!

Yesterday  I finally got around to making my baked tortilla chips and they are great! Today I hope to get the mango salsa made.  The mangoes weren't quite ripe yet. 

I got more weeding and trimming done outside but when I went to Wally World there was no more mulch and they said they would not be getting anymore in this year!  So now I have to drive all the way to Mountain Home to get it.  At least I can get the kind I prefer which is the Scotts that doesn't bleach out in the sun.  It's worth a little extra to have it look nice longer.
I had some adventures working in the yard.  I go out early while it is cool but it's also very wet so my feet get soaked plus it seems that the animals have the same idea.  I ran into 2 copperhead snakes but little ones....one was a baby and one was a juvenile...I just don't want to run into "mama"!  The juvenile tried to go in my garage so I raked it down the driveway as much as I could before it went off in the grass.  I have never seen a full grown copperhead in my yard and I hope I never do!  I have seen one killed on the road and they are big!  It was only a block away so I know they are around here.  I went back to my trimming and raking and I spotted something in the drain that goes underground to drain water from the gutter away from the house.  It was yellow so I thought some plastic something or other had fallen in the drain.  I went to grab it and it moved....Whoa Nellie.....I had to back up and figure out what the heck it was.....it looked like maybe another snake but then I realized it was the back end of a turtle!  It had fallen headfirst into the drain and was stuck!  The poor thing!  I put my gloves on and got her out and then she wanted to go in the garage!  What's up with my garage?  I picked her up and took her across the street and headed her in the direction of the lake which is where I'm sure she came from.  They come over here and bury their eggs and then go back.  I hate to tell them but the armadillos dig them up and eat them.  So, that is my 'brush with nature' this week.  I hope that's the end of it!  I love nature and animals but the poisonous snakes and spiders around here I can do without and the poison ivy, oak, etc. 
I've kept up with my daily cross stitching for the 'days' and tomorrow Jolly July starts....31 days of ornaments!   I have all the patterns but I may need some supplies.  I'll be working on that today. 
Next week starts YOP 2019-2020!!!  So exciting!  I love planning!  I had started but when the monitor went out I could not access Ravelry or even my patterns that I have on my pc.  I will be doing much of that today also and of course, this coming week.
Oh, on top of that they ran the fiber optic to my house and in 7-10 days they will be coming to install it inside and hook up my router and t.v. to it.  I'm looking forward to that!
I think Annie has finally realized that Nitty is not coming back and my happiest family member has been "down in the mouth" all week.  She's eating and drinking and going out and her nose is cold and wet but she is not herself and it breaks my heart that she doesn't understand.....or maybe she does.  Yes, we are still missing Nitty and every time I think of her the eyes start watering again.  She will always be loved and always be missed.
I just want to thank all of you for letting me be part of a great YOP group and year.  You are all such an inspiration to me and I always look forward to your posts.  Here's to another great year ahead!
Happy Trails!!! 
  

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!!!