Where did June go???

 I can't believe it's over.....and tomorrow July starts!  But good things are coming in July....like my daughter and my 2 grands!  

Meanwhile, I have been trying to eat healthier and more Mediterranean.............I made my own flatbread crisps ....I couldn't get them just right until the last batch...........I may try pita bread next time........

Then I made homemade hummus and what a difference from the store bought!  It is very good!

I roasted a big pan of vegetables.....

and then made a fresh salad with chard, chick peas, kalamata olives, cucumber, and feta cheese......

I watch Kylie Flavell's podcast.....and she lives in Italy.  (She just got married and if you want to see the  most romantic courtship, and marriage you should go watch!) She said that she tries to ensure there are 5 elements in her salads.........1) something crunchy (cucumbers, bacon etc), 2) something creamy (cheese, avocado, roasted eggplant), 3) fresh items (chopped tomato, bitter greens), 4) something sweet (sweet potato, roasted red peppers) 4) something salty (olives, bacon), and 5) something filling (lentils, chick peas, sweet potatoes).

For mine I roasted red onions (easier on digestion when you use red onions and roast them), broccoli, 3 whole cloves of garlic, 1 lemon quartered, red and orange pepper, summer squash, eggplant, and tossed with olive oil and salt. It was delicious and filling which is sometimes not the case with salads.  I'll be making more!

 The cutest picture of the day....Simone and her "kids" visiting Patrick Conley's home......they visit regularly and he posts about them.  He does not feed them but they visit and he is sitting right there!  He lives in Ashville, NC.  So cute!!!

 

Also, if you want a smile take a look at the cutest Rottweiler video....

 https://youtu.be/laWB64yvVrc

 

Happy Trails!!!

 

YOP Week #52

 "It's a wrap!"  Week #52....where did the time go?  So here I go trying to document the entire year in 1 post! LOL!

YOP Week #1:  The Plan 

YOP Week #2:  A cell phone cover for my daughter which didn't fit! LOL!

YOP Week #3:  This was an old WIP I dragged out and finally ordered the yarn to finish it....

YOP Week #4:  no finishes

YOP Week #5:  a doily from my Boho Crochet book

YOP Week #6:   2 finishes but not final finishes.......

YOP Week #7:       This was a final finish on an old WIP

YOP Week #8:  not a final finish but a finish!

 

 YOP Week #9:  My Candy Kisses shawl!

 

YOP Week #10:  my first sampler finished....

 an old WIP final finished........

 

 

 YOP Week #11: nada

YOP Week #12:  finished except for beads...I need a beading needle evidently.........

YOP Week #13 and #14:  nothing

YOP Week #15:  Annual Halloween Ornaments for the grands

YOP Week #16: some final finishes..........

 YOP Week #17, #18, and #19: no finishes

YOP Week #20: 1 annual Christmas ornament for the grands

 YOP Week #21: no finish

YOP Week #22:  Yes!!!The Frida Kahlo basket is done!

YOP Week #23: final finishes..........

YOP Week #24, #25, #26: no finishes

YOP Week #27:  my first project bag!

 

YOP Week #28, #29: no finishes

YOP Week #30:  Chicken Joy!

 

YOP Week #31, #32, #33, #34, #35, #36, #37, #38:  I think I was in a coma....actually I worked on lots of things but there were no finishes

YOP Week #39:  a final finish of my first sampler

 

YOP Week #40, #41, #42, #43, #44:  no finishes

YOP Week #45: The Giant Granny is finished!  I love it!  Who knew that old ugly acrylic yarns could look so good? LOL!

YOP Week #46: nada

YOP Week #47:  a final finish of some Irish Luck!

 

YOP Week #48: nothing

YOP Week #49:  a XS finish........

 

 YOP Week #50: no finishes

YOP Week #51:  a XS finish

YOP Week #52: I have a finish and 2 WIPs.....this is Stitch Maynia project #3

this is SM #4.......

and of course, my 3rd Giant Granny Square blanket........I think I got about 5 more rounds on it....

That's all for YOP Year 2020-2021..........I was actually amazed at how much I accomplished!

Now, for the plan for 2021-2022!  Enjoy!

Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #51

 I have not blogged all week and I almost didn't blog today.  But I  managed to take a few pictures so here I am!  I am tired and have been working hard all week on the house, cooking, gardening, and taking care of my neighbors cat while she is on vacation.

I  have a finish...............Stitch Maynia #2

and now I'm working on Stitch Maynia #3 which is February both from A Year of Celebrations by Hands on Design.................I think I'm about 2/3's finished with it and if I work at it I might finish by next week

I did work on the Giant Granny Square blanket a bit.............and wove in ends

Other than that I've been working on guest bedroom...........I took down (with much fortitude and brute strength I might add!)  these horrible vertical cloth blinds with so much hardware it was ridiculous!  I only have one more set to take down and out to the garbage they go.  I know you can remove the cloth parts and wash but what a pain!  Plus, IMHO they are ugly!

As for cooking this week: I made a crock pot dinner of a pork loin roast and sweet potatoes and green beans on the side.  I  made chocolate chip cookies from the Tate's bakeshop Cookbook.........they were good but no better than my usual recipe.........and I made blt's with my first tomato from the garden, and macaroni salad.

I tried cooking bacon in the oven and it is very easy and frees you up for doing other things.  It's good for large amounts like when the grands come but I thought it was a bit greasier for some reason.  I think a rack raised above the cookie sheet would do better.  I'll try that when the grands come.

I also tried a method of cleaning cookie sheets using a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide and spreading it all over the cookie sheet and letting it sit for 2-3 hours.........don't bother!  It didn't work and I scrubbed it too but it's better than it was.  My daughter said she had tried the same thing except with baking soda and vinegar and that didn't work either.  I think I will look for some better non-stick cookie sheets.

One thing that I got in the mail were some battery powered pet clippers.  Grace, my cat, gets very matted and I used to have her groomed and they would give her anesthesia to make it easier on her, and the groomer but our vet is gone now so there is no one.  These clippers are noiseless and rated very high with people that have had similar issues with fur matting.  I have watched several videos and I am hesitant to do it as I don't want to cut her.  I may practice on some furry material just to see.  Wish me luck!  Have any of you  used clippers before?

That's all for this week.  I hope you had a good one!

Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week # 50

 Only 2 more weeks?  Ahhhh! I'm not ready! LOL!  I never am so what's new?  I didn't do a lot of crafting this week as I am on a roll with the cleaning and organizing.  I have company coming in July too.  The grands and my daughter!  After the dining room I started working on the guest bedroom for them.  It's such a "catchall" for anything and everything.  So far, I've cleaned the closet and a bookcase and the top of the dresser.  I have a ways to go yet.

I was fairly monogamous this week......I worked on Stitch Maynia #2 and will keep on  until I finish it.......it's not a small but rather a medium..........its the January stitch from A Year of Celebrations

Here is how much I have done...............I'm hoping to finish this coming week

In the evenings I worked on my Giant Granny Square blanket............

No haul this week except in cleaning I found 2 books I don't even remember!

I must have gotten them at a garage sale or a library sale...I have no recollection!  It's scary getting old because my daughter will say "remember when...." and I have to tell her no....I don't! LOL! 

I did some more planting....squash this time..........

and here's my first red tomato but it's a bit hard still so I am letting it "vine ripen".

My Asian lilies are blooming along with a little plant I picked up...........

That's all for this week.  I hope you all had a great one!

Happy Trails!!!