Focus, focus, focus!

And I am.....to the exclusion of almost everything else.  The craft room is getting there but oh boy! I did manage to clean up the kitchen and do a load of laundry but the rest of the time is spent in that room!  I  haven't even reached the closets yet and now the desk is covered and there is stuff in the middle of the room on the floor.  But in all reality sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better right?
I unearthed an old typewriter I got at a garage sale.  Can you get tapes for these old machines?  Does anyone know?  I would love to use it!   I need to get a Swiffer to dust it.

I've gathered material up and the big pieces and yardage are in this container and then I have another smaller container for fat quarters and charm packs and then another for scraps. 

I'm bushed and calling it a day!  I'm getting ready to make some salmon patties for supper with corn and sweet potato.

Happy Trails!!!

More treasures/stuff!!!

First, let me apologize...I have been having fits and starts replying to your posts on your blogs.  I have a feeling I may need to re-follow you all using my new email or something as it lets me input but when I go to publish it I get an error from Google.  I'll figure it out eventually but sorry for my 'no comments'.
I found this little guy hidden away but he is now back in the kitchen where he belongs!  Another antique....really.

 I'm about halfway around the room now and you can walk through.....a miracle! LOL!

 yes.....I have a lot of stuff!

 This is a true treasure!  This is my rug hooking that I finished but needs final finishing....this is primitive rug hooking and so primitive you can barely make out the "Welcome Friends" on it. 

This was what I was working on when I first came to Arkansas and then my eyes went flooey and I couldn't see very well for a few years.....it reminded me of my dog Abby and she was still alive at the time but has since passed so I really want to get back to it now.  I belonged to a guild and took several classes too. I used to buy old wool clothing at the Good Will stores up North and overdye it and cut it to use for hooking.  I loved every bit of the process...I know I have more so hopefully, it will turn up.  I did lose some things in the move so some may never turn up.

That's all for today folks....I'm bushed with all this 'going through things' and organizing.  Don't worry, there's some in the Salvation Army box and also in the garbage so I did get rid of a few things! LOL!
Happy Trails!!!

Cleaning a crafts room is fun!!!

Look what I dug up today!  Treasures from the past and kits I've never started!  Imagine that!?!?  What do you call projects that are never started but in your possession? PNS's?  Projects not started?

 Here are some PNS's I found today.....I'm sure there's more! This is a beautiful embroidery that cost a pretty penny and it has not been touched!

 I think I bought this to make for Uriah who is now 10 or 11?  Bad Grandma!

 This reminded me of my farm dog, Abby but she was no princess and she wasn't a chihuahua but medium sized with that face.  She was tough and very protective.

 This was a rug kit and a toothbrush one if I remember.....

 Now, I have 2 WIPs.....remember this one?  I crocheted it, made it into a pillow, got the pillow form, sewed it together and then.......

Never got the buttons for the back!   Can you believe it?  There's the button holes and everything ....pitiful Sam...just pitiful!

This WIP is eons old....anywhere from 20-40 years old or older!  It's a scarecrow..........

So, there you go, a little walk down memory lane!  Stay tuned as I'm sure there will be more tomorrow.  BTW, I was up at 3:00 this morning and while I was waiting for my coffee I checked my pc for the weather.  Whoa Nellie!!!!  There was a freeze warning and it was 33 F!!  I threw on my coat over my pj's and ran outside to bring in all my seedlings,  I made it and they all seem fine and 15 minutes later I checked and it was 31 F!  Thank you Lord!
Happy Trails!!!

Big Easter/Covid-19 Care Package!!!

Look what my daughter and her family sent me............Happy Easter to me!!!  I'm set now for awhile!  There were even some snacks (I already ate the pomegranate cashews...YUM!)  and some great body creme!  I am the luckiest!!!  Thank you dear daughter and family!!!

 I worked most of the day on the crafts room..........straightening, cleaning, and organizing...

I moved some things around and tried to gather "like" things together........

It's not done but I made a big dent in it today!

 I also found a few more old finishes which I put in a container with all the rest so I know where to go when I want to final finish them..........

I took my walk today and prepped for my dinner tonight...........chicken strips, roasted asparagus, and baked sweet potato.  I hope you are all doing well and staying healthy!
Happy Trails!!!

Stormy night....

No terrible warnings here just a severe thunderstorm which kept me up but was also great for reading in bed.  I finished a book; first in a series called The Constable on the Hill about the adventures of an English policeman in the rural countryside.  It was enjoyable but there are 36 in the series and I'm not sure I want to continue on with them.  So, because of the storm and the reading, I got a late start this morning. 
I did pay a bill and mailed it up at the mailbox in town. I went outside and was surprised to see one of my clematis blooming with lots more buds too!

I received some wonderfully illustrated cards from the art teacher and her offspring!

This was from Grayson.............

This was from Sam and he signed his name in cursive!  YAY!!!! I cannot believe they do not teach cursive anymore...next thing you know they'll stop teaching reading!

  and last but not least....a card from Amy....the original tiny drawings artist!  What joy to receive these!  Thank you, daughter and her offspring! LOL!

 This afternoon I made my first chia pudding.....I only made one, for now, to see how I like it but it seems to be popular.  It's 2 T of chia seeds to 1/2 cup of any kind of milk....I used almond.  1 t honey or sweetener of your choice.  Stir and let sit for 3 minutes and stir again.  Refrigerate overnight and in the morning put some fruit on top and there is your breakfast!  Chia is supposed to be very filling and healthy.  I cut up some kiwi and in the morning I will cut up a banana too.

 Here' s the milk bread recipe that some of you have asked for....this bread is easy to slice, wonderful toasted or plain...just a great all around white bread.

White Milk Bread or Rolls
-------------------------------------
You can make this as one loaf or shape into smaller rolls like hamburger buns or hot dog buns although I haven't tried that yet.  You can easily make and freeze for later.

Ingredients:
--------------
1 cup warm milk
2 1/4 t yeast
1 t honey
3 2/3 cup bread flour or regular which is what I had
1/2 t salt
1 egg lightly beaten
3 T butter, melted

Put the milk, yeast, and honey in a small bowl, and stir until the honey melts.  Leave it for about 10 minutes, or until it begins to froth a bit.  Put the flour and salt in your Kitchenaid bowl if you have one.  Add the yeast mixture, the egg, and butter and mix well with your mixer attachment.  Change to your dough hook and knead for 10 minutes or so.  Cover the bowl with a cloth and leave in a warm, draft-free place (I always sit it on top of my frig) for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until it has puffed up well.
Lightly grease a 12 x 4-inch loaf pan and dust it with flour.    Punch down the dough to flatten it and shape it into a rough loaf to fit the pan.  Cover with a cloth and leave in a warm place for another 45-60 minutes or until it puffs right up in the pan.  Preheat the oven to 375 F.  Put the pan in the oven for about 25 minutes or until the top is firm and crusty and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.  Remove the pan from the oven, knock the loaf out of the pan and cool it on a rack.
Makes 1 loaf or about 15 small rolls.

This recipe is from the cookbook Apples for Jam by Tessa Kiros 

Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #41

 I have had this reproduction of the Pieta by Michelangelo for close to 50 years.  The first time I ever saw it, it brought tears to my eyes and still does.  I was thinking of my son Jim who was born on December 15, just 10 days before Christmas.  It made me relate to Mary and her journey and the birth of Christ.  Now that my son has passed away, I could imagine the pain and sorrow that Mary went through.  How prophetic was that sculpture that I got so many years ago.  But today is a day of rejoicing!  Happy Easter!!!

I got these eggs when I lived in Iowa from a woman who made them by hand.  So beautiful and such craftmanship. 

 Here is my little Easter display.............it is stormy and dark today so I had to use overhead lighting.....

 I finished the length of the scarf and now it's time to decrease and make the end of it..........still enjoying it so much..........I love me some garter stitch!

 I worked on my Prim Village a bit now that I have the floss!

I went against my own rules and started another cross stitch but in my defense, I wanted to do something to commemorate this time in history.  It is a free pattern by Hands On Design and you can get it on her website..............I happened to have the hand-dyed (by me) fabric and it was a perfect size and already zigzagged around the border.  I chose my own colors from my DMC stash and away I went!  I have discovered I really enjoy doing lettering.  Maybe that is why some people enjoy alphabet samplers so much? 

 

This was the inspiration photo!

 Yesterday I picked up my groceries at Walmart but there was "No ham for Sam" and I was counting on it!  Oh well, I am not going hungry like some.  They have it when you order but then it is 2 days before you pick it up and by then they are out of things so it's a coin toss!  I was able to get 2 more skeins of yarn so I can finish my crocheted scarf!  I am letting it 'detox' for 24 hours as I can't really wipe it down to disinfect it. 

I also went through my cross stitch supplies and organized things so I can start kitting up projects for Stitch Maynia.  I am still missing some patterns I know I have....somewhere!  Once I get my projects lined up I will be ordering supplies!  There was also a free pattern from Helen Stewart on Ravelry for her Habitation shawl which is so lovely!  It will be on my list for down the road.  I love Helen's patterns as she gives you a checklist and I so love lists and checklists! LOL!  This is knitted.

I hope you are all snugged away safe, well and cozy on this Easter Sunday!
Happy Trails!!!

Good Friday....I've never understood why they call it "good"

Considering what happened on that day in the Christian faith....I would not call it good.  My father died on Good Friday and I came back to this house which was my parents at the time.  My mother had already passed the year before.  I did some laundry and went to hang it on the clothesline outside. It was a beautiful spring day and the sky was blue and the sun was shining.  They had a little cherry tree in the back yard that was blooming.  As I walked past it....it snapped in 2!  I kid you not!  I turned around and it was bent in half......almost completely severed.   I took it as a sign.....I've had lots of them in my life.
Anyway, it was a beautiful day this Good Friday also.  I hung a load of laundry outside, took my walk.  I did a little cross-stitch. Prepped for my tilapia dinner tonight and did a little cleaning.....very little! LOL!
I did find my Easter eggs and some other items I think my daughter gave me years back.......I just tried to download my photos and no go!!!  See, I told it wasn't good friday!
Anyway.....here' s your "tidbits" for today............

This doesn't mean you won't struggle or have hard times or get sick, or suffer and one day die.  But I do believe that you will never be alone in the struggle.  Happy Easter!

I thought these were so pretty and made from scraps!   Here's the instructions

Okay, I am not a donut person but I LOVE crullers!  Here's the recipe

Here's your cutie pie for today..................peek a boo I see you!

and a little humor..................

Ha! Ha! Ha!
Happy Trails!!!




   

Groceries ordered and even some TP but no flour

From my Amazing Grace box that held my body butter.............

"Amazing Grace Philosophy..........
     with every act of grace, the world gains a touch more love.  grace is compassion, gratitude, surrender, faith, forgiveness, good manners, reverence and the list goes on.  when we extend ourselves to others with grace, we not only lift them up, we inspire them to be graceful. a world full of graceful people is a world full of goodness and love."

How are you doing?  Fine, I hope.  I made my grocery list and menu yesterday and tried to order but there were no time slots for pickup at Walmart.  So, I got up this morning at my early rising 3:00 a.m. and got a time slot for Saturday 3-4 p.m.  I also got my ham so Easter dinner is on!  There were a few items they didn't have but for the most part it was good. 

Last night about supper time we had a humdinger of a storm with a tornado watch until midnight and 4 different warnings!  There was nothing all day and only 20% chance of rain but it started getting really dark so I checked the weather and lo and behold....a storm was coming!  It lightening, thundered, hailed and poured down rain!  It was a good one but it didn't last long.  I was worried about my little seedlings but they were okay this morning.  The hail was about nickel-sized.  The weather radio never went off in the night so I slept really well!

Today I cleaned my desktop...........

 It was a mess with papers and receipts and patterns.....papers everywhere!    Now it's better....

 I also found more of my cross stitch to organize...........patterns

 Remember this............I finish them and then don't "fully finish" them....that's going to stop!

 Look at all these  that I've finished and done nothing with!  Shame on me! 

 I got my patterns in one container, another has my FO's,  and another for cloth.  I want to organize my patterns by season and/or holiday.

Oh, my grandson, Grayson, wanted me to share a joke with you...."Why did Sally Ride cross the spaceship?   To get to outer space!"  He's pretty clever that Grayson boy....thank you, Grayson!
    
What have you been up to?

Here are some "tidbits" for today.................
Here's the link to show you how............. 
I've been wanting needing to do this for a while now................

Here's your cuteness factor for today.......... I can hardly stand it it's so cute!

This one's for you Connie!  Here's the recipe

And here's a joke for Grayson..............

Happy Trails!!!