Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Love to all my blog friends!!!  Wishing you much to be grateful for!

Happy Trails!!!
 

Pictures won't upload!

 Who knows what's wrong.  I tried 3 times.  My pc probably needs a reboot but not right now. Anyway, I'll tell you a few things I  have been working on and some miscellaneous tales.

1)  I'm taking too much time to organize but I've tried the "just stuff it all in a closet or container" bit with company coming and it just makes a bigger problem later on so I am doing what I can and it seems to be working.  It's making more room and I'm getting rid of lots of "@#$%".  

2)  Yesterday I went uptown to the pharmacy to pick up my prescriptions and they told me that Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield wouldn't let me have my meds without coming inside for a blood pressure check.  I always do the drive-up.  I was furious, and I don't get mad very often but of course that made my blood pressure rise! LOL!  Then I had to wait and calm down until they could take it again...it was still high but not as high.  I'm usually totally normal like 129/60 with good oxygen level and pulse.  I take it at home and keep a record.  I was still furious when I got home and called BCBS and gave them what for.   I was nice to the employee...she's just doing her job.  But BCBS has pestered me with phone calls asking me if I am taking my meds and saying that their records state I haven't been picking up my prescriptions.....this has happened twice.  They've also called me several times wanting to make a home visit which I absolutely refused.   So, this was the last straw!  The gal told me I could file an harassment report on them and that way the higher ups would see it.  I told her to tell them if I get any more calls or can't pick up my meds I will be changing insurance companies.  I told her they have my records from my doctor visits twice a year so whats up with "Big Brother"?  Christine at the pharmacy apologized and she said there are lots of people complaining.  I called Christine and told her I filed a complaint and that other people should too.  My mantra has always been..."don't complain...do something about it"!  Who knows if a complaint will actually get filed but one thing I do know is re-enrollment is coming up and if they hassle me one more time we're done.

3)  I get deliveries from Walmart and they use brown paper to pack things.  I am ironing the paper and  using it for wrapping.  If I was really on top of my game I would stamp  the paper with red and green Christmas designs but I don't have time.    

I can't upload pictures but I can download!

Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #20 Year 13

 Well, it's time for the 2023 Advent Gift showing before I wrap them all up.  There should be 13 gifts at the very least.  We start opening on the 13th and the biggest/best gift is opened on Christmas Day.  I have them in no particular order at this time but I will order them from the least to the best before I wrap and number them.

So here goes.........I cross stitched this little ornament since she is a teacher........... 

 

an orange wallet since her  favorite color is orange..

a wool coaster that I rug hooked.............

She loves true crime and at one time was going to go into criminal justice.  I'm not sure if she reads it or watches it but I got this book and I read it and it tells you all the details of the crimes that you don't hear on the news.  It's pretty horrific and I will warn her not to leave it around for the boys to pick up....it is really awful, and of course, most are crimes against women. This author was highly rated and has written a whole series of these books....it's sad that he doesn't run out of crimes to write about.........

A lavender sachet to put in her knitting bag.....

Dulche De Leche means candy from milk and it is a Latin American caramel like sauce used on many things.  Amy and I love anything with Dulche De Leche on the label.  One of my favorites is Hagan Dass Dulche De Leche ice cream.....yum!!!

Some pumpkin and maple leaf battery operated lights for Fall.........

a pair of holiday socks and no, I did not make them............

This is a cup for her watercolor brush when she's painting ......

See the indentations where she can lay her brush?  Genius!

a book of vintage stickers........

She loves the Mexican sugar skulls................

These are Pioneer Woman scented wax melts in the shape of roses....3 different scents.....love the tins they come in..........

Amy has a small Keurig in her classroom so I got her some of these individual cleaning cups.....

a reversible bag for "stuff".........

I counted 14 so there will be a bonus gift this year!

As for creating this week....I have discovered that the first picture I take on my camera...when I download it never shows up.  I took a picture of the Cherry Basket XS and it didn't download but I did get work done on it this week.  I also worked on the Pilgrims...........

I worked on Prism but it just looks bigger.  Amy and the boys are arriving next Saturday and after that my cousin and his wife are coming down to help me get the house ready to sell.  So awfully generous of them.   Especially my cousin's wife, Laurie.  My other cousin, Kay, says that's why they call her Saint Laurie! LOL!   So, needless to say I probably won't be creating or blogging for awhile...several weeks.  I'm so dreading moving but it will be nice to be in my last place and never having to move again!

I did spend time organizing my fabrics by color and I cleaned out a dresser and closet in the craft's room so that was progress!

 

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate it.

Happy Trails!!!

Past peak?

 I think we are just past peak colors for Fall here.  It was and still is a beautiful Fall here.  One of the prettiest that I remember.  

It's gotten warm again.....it's been 80 the past week which if my back wasn't hurting I'd be out painting.  It is getting better though!  Yesterday I took a load to the thrift store and picked up groceries.  I got the garbage out, cleaned the litter box (that's a back killer!), and cleaned up the kitchen, filled water bottles, watered plants and worked a bit on guest room.  It was a full day.  I did some XS on breaks, watched some podcasts and The Good Wife on Paramount Plus after supper, and worked on my Prism blanket.

Today I was able to change the sheets!  Yay! I did some cleaning and washed a load of clothes and now I'm blogging and it's already 3:30!  Where does the time go?

That's all that's fit to print but the back feeling better is going to help a lot!

Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #19 Year 13

 Well, I haven't blogged since last Sunday and that may be the way it is going to go from now on.  My back is still healing and although I am ambulatory there are certain things I cannot do, as of right now.  I can make my bed but not sure if I will be able to change my sheets especially when I need to shake out my mattress topper.  I can't bring the salt in to put in my water softener and there are several other things that are off the list for right now.  But I have managed to gather more thrift and put it in the car.  I totally cleaned out the dining room buffet and packed up all my holiday baking supplies...ready to be moved when the time comes.  I've cleaned and when I needed to sit down I did my cross stitch.........so here's what got done this week when I took a break............

my morning stitch......The Cherry Basket although I haven't stitched the basket yet....stay tuned for that!

Afternoons I switch to my Thanksgiving stitch....the Halloween Witch will only be worked on the 13th and the 31st or 30th of each month.  The pilgrims are a free pattern from The Primitive Hare......the outside scallops are fabric scallops which I think is a very cool idea!

There are Blackbird Design weekends too but since The Cherry Basket is a Blackbird Design project I am exempt from that rule...lol!  

Most of my time is spent trying to get the house ready to sell.....it may take until Spring!

I do have all the Advent gifts taken care of and I am waiting for one more to come in the mail and then I will show them all next week.  Then I will need to wrap them.  This week I will also be starting on the Annual 2023 Christmas ornaments and some other projects for the Iowa gang.........such as....these mug cozies..........

and this Iowa Christmas ornament...........
 
 

and if I have time....there is this XS to do for my SIL...........but it may end up for his birthday at the end of January...we'll see....it's the Iowa Hawkeye (University of Iowa sports) insignia.......

Oh, I also worked on my Prism blanket (pardon the sun shining on it).....it's getting so big I can't get it all in the photo.  I've been working on it in the evenings and I am so glad I stuck with it as it is really looking nice and so fun to crochet.  I will work on it until I run out of the big Mandala "skein".

I also did some mending which has been staring at me for quite awhile.....my Princess pillow and my really old Teddy bear!  He's not as old as me but almost!  The Princess pillow my daughter got me after I had eye surgery in Tennesee and we had a long drive home...she was doing the driving.  I love that pillow and it has come in handy many times!  Great for a stiff neck too!  Although, in reality, she is the Princess and I am "The Queen of Everything"...lol!  I need to get a little outfit for "Teddy" to spiff him up a bit.....

I hope you all had a great Halloween...I'm afraid it was not so great for this poor guy...............

Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #18 Year 13

 Well, I've been getting a lot done around here but yesterday I evidently pushed the envelope.  My bed is on wheels and on carpeting so I moved it so I could vacuum and put the headboard behind it that I painted probably last year.  The headboard isn't attached I just put it behind the bed and the bed holds it there.  Well, I couldn't get it to stay while I  went to push the bed against it, so I pushed the mattress and then I went to shove the entire bed and I heard or felt or both....a crunching sound from my back.  Yep, I hurt my back but I think it will heal.  I hope so anyway.  I've been taking Tylenol and I have a hard time getting up and down.  That is when it really hurts but it will heal.  I'm pretty strong but I guess at my age I should be careful but who else is going to do  it?  Now I can't so I may call my yard guy this week and see if he could stop by and move my bed under the mattress completely.  Anyway, cleaning and clearing is what I've been up to this week and not much else.  I found my bin of photos and there were pictures in there that I never saw before....wonderful old pictures that I will share another day.

So, the only time I worked on anything was when I took a break.  I did finish an old WIP (work in progress)...........this was a free pattern from somewhere commemorating the 20th anniversary of September 11th.  You could make it into a little pin but I'll just finish into a little pillow or ornament for my patriotic tree..........

Now, this next project is a case in point.  The floss they recommended were over dyed but they had the DMC equivalents which is what I used...........here is the photo on the pattern that I fell in love with and next to it you will see mine using the DMC flosses.................very sad..........

The bird is gray not blue and the yellow beak and breast are bright pink not golden.  Yes, I did notice it before I stitched the beak but I decided to just go ahead and after I finish it I may order the over-dyed colors and see if that would come close to the pattern picture.  I'd heard that some of the "old" colors were changed....why?  Why would DMC change their colors when they know there are 1,000's of patterns out there with those older designated colors in them?  I have been thinking about organizing my flosses by color as opposed to brand and name or number.  I will ensure that the colors I use will match the colors on the pattern!

I continue to work on and enjoy Sally Spencer...........

There was no haul except one book from Thrift books which is a quilt pattern book that I have wanted for quite a while....even though I won't be making it anytime soon..........it includes a cd with all the templates.   The book also contains letters by farm women during the great depression.........

I think we had peak colors last week and now it has been raining for the past 2 days.  I picked some flowers and leaves to bring in before it rained......

I may have to go take a nap now as I didn't sleep very well last night....TTYL!

Happy Trails!!!

Prettiest Fall ever!

 Every day is just beautiful with blue skies and a nice breeze and 70's...perfect!  I've been trying to take advantage of it because  it won't last forever.  I've finally got my plants planted; a rose bush, a lilac bush, a mum, and an azalea.  They all seem to be doing well.  I think they are thrilled to be out of the pots they were in all summer as it was too hot to go out and plant them.

 

I guess I forgot to take pictures of the lilac and the mum..oh well....

The colors are amazing this year.  We have a lot of oak trees here but even they are pretty this Fall......

This is a sassafras tree that always turns very pretty...........

We're not at peak yet but every morning when I look out there is more color....the flowers are doing really well since it's cooled off............

I've been trying to hire a handy man but there are none to be found down here!  As usual, I'll probably have to do it myself.  Yesterday I had the termite guy come for the annual inspection on the house and in the morning I spread 6 bags of mulch.  I thought I'd be sore today but I wasn't.  I've been cleaning and clearing.  I loaded a bunch into the Tahoe to take to the thrift store and I am cleaning the dining room hutch and buffet so I can sell it...along with the table.  There is a guy in Salem that buys stuff and turns around and sells it in his store so I'm hoping I can get rid of some of this furniture of my folks.  Taste wise we were as different as night and day.  Although, I'm sure their stuff is more valuable than mine! LOL!  I like old beat up antiques....rusty/crusty is my style.

That's what I've been up to and yesterday was garbage day and I had lots for those guys!

A little Halloween humor............

 

Happy Trails!!!

YOP #17 Year 13

 From now on there will mostly be cross stitch on my YOP posts as I am packing up my fabric and yarns except for Prism which I will continue to crochet.  When I get tired out from cleaning and clearing I sit down and do a little cross stitch and then it's back to it!

I got started on my 2 new cross stitch pieces.....my new Halloween start...The Quilted Witch by Lori Holt....  

Here's my progress.......I'm starting to stitch that big pumpkin she's holding....

I've worked on Grayson's wolf..........

more progress on Sally Spencer which I love working on......

and then  there's my new small that I started.........Basket of Cherries by Black Bird Designs.......

here's my progress.....I work on this a little bit in the mornings.....the lighting is bad because it was just getting light out when I took these pictures...also there is a hand dyed floss list or you can use DMC which is less expensive.  I chose DMC but in order to come close to the hand dyed floss they sometimes  have you combine 2 different colored DMC threads.  I've never done that before but the effect was really pretty..........you can't tell from this picture......the pink was a combo floss.........and so is the thread hanging down....for the berries.........   

When I ordered my floss for the above projects, I ordered the 2nd chart for the Anniversaries of the Heart series.............

and then because the rule is that "no pattern should travel alone".....I picked up this Lizzie Kate pattern of the 2 pilgrims....so cute!  Miles and Priscilla Standish..............

Here's a little Halloween humor...............

Happy Trails!!!