Some new favorite products!!!

 It's been a busy week already but the Advent gifts are off in the mail and should arrive tomorrow.  My SIL's gift is coming on the 10th and the boys want the Disney channel again.  I still want to give them something to open and Amy is going to send me some suggestions.  Grayson loves pickles so I found "an emotional support"  pickle for him....

A really nifty product I got for my cross stitch works in progress that are not presently being worked, are these.........they could be used for many things and they are reasonably priced.........they are on Amazon.  Now I can hang them in my closet....

  I also noticed that Pillsbury has come out with all sorts of new products like muffin dough, banana bread dough and apple and cherry crescent rolls.....I've had the apple ones and they were very good and now I'm going to try the cherry ones........

You can keep them in your frig until needed....maybe even for a last minute gift or potluck.  They are quick to make.  Actually you could make  your own from regular crescent rolls.

Did I tell you about my new neighbor?  He and his wife live around the corner from me and I think they've lived there about a year maybe.  Anyway, my mailbox has been missing a door for quite awhile.  It was the contract mail person that works once in awhile.  I can't hire anyone for little jobs like that so it's sat like that for several years.  Well, this new neighbor stopped by to introduce himself.  People around the corner have to drive by my house to get to town.  I always wave but I really don't know any of them as I never drive that way.  Anyway, I was getting my mail one day and he stopped and said he wanted to install a new mailbox for me.  I told him it wasn't necessary.  He said it would make him happy to do it for me.  I told I would pay him but he said no.  A few days later I went out to get the mail and there was a brand new mailbox....with a door!!!  I tried to take him a thank you note and some cash but he wasn't home.  Then I saw him again and he said they were going out of  town.  The other day he was back and stopped and brought me a beautiful poinsettia plant!  I was flabbergasted!  I have lived here over 20 years and have never received such kindness and generosity.   Needless to say, I made the apple crescents and took them over with a Christmas ornament and a card with $100.  It was such a great feeling to have such a friend like that and he was a stranger to start with.  When I first offered to pay him he said  "just pass it forward". There are "angels among us"!

Santa's workshop is still busy and probably will be until Christmas Eve!  Are you ready for the big day?

Here's so much cuteness I can hardly stand it!     

Happy Trails!!!

Great Thanksgiving!

 I hope yours was as well if you celebrate Thanksgiving. I had good food and watched some great football and worked on cross stitch and my crochet blanket.  This is Sandra Paul's free pattern on her Cherry Heart website or on Ravelry.  It is 28 squares across and 24 down.  I have 2 more squares to go and I will be finished with row #1 of 24 which are all joined together.  I am  using the Join As You Go (JAYG) method that she has instructions for.  I've used several of her knitting and crochet patterns and they are very well written and super easy to understand.

This is a picture of her finished blanket since I can no longer upload photos from my camera.....I had to order several yarns but she used Style Craft Special DK and I had many of them already.  A few I substituted for other DK yarns to get the right colors.  It's very enjoyable, easy to memorize and just the project I needed for when I watch t.v.  

Yesterday, I got all the lights up and decorations for Christmas.  I've always wanted to get the decorations up the day after Thanksgiving but this is the first time I actually got it done!  Yay me!

I also got in on some Black Friday online deals and watched the Chiefs win again!!!  Yay!

Today, I am putting the Advent gifts in order and wrapping.  I have one more gift that is to arrive Tuesday but I can get the rest ready.  How are you doing on your decorating and gift wrapping?  It's a good time to do it as there are plenty of leftovers and no cooking required for a few days at least!

Happy Trails!!!

Turkey Day...or not...

I made the pumpkin pie yesterday and I got up early this morning to make the other sides.  The game starts at 11:30 so I will put the turkey in then.  I get a Butterball turkey breast which you don't have to thaw first unless you want to.  I'll make sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, and a lime pear jello salad.  It rained yesterday afternoon but the sun is shining this morning.  It's supposed to get to 53 today.  

I hope you all have a great day whether you have turkey or not!

  Happy Trails!!!
 

I'm thinking I am not supposed to blog anymore.....

 I have not been able to load pictures to my pc and I have spent hours with tech support which I  pay for and then found out they were sold to another company and they are awful!  They were rude and said I would have to reinstall Windows.....really?  They used to be able to log on to my pc and fix any problem I had.  This guy was Chinese and I couldn't understand him.  I asked him to speak slow and he asked if there was anyone else there that could help me....help me  understand him?.....like a Chinese translator?  Don't get my wrong, I've had the other company for years and they were Chinese and I never had a problem understanding them and If I did they would repeat it slower and they were never rude.  So, I will be getting another software and kick these new guys to the curb.

So, I have no photos except I can post downloads and email pics that Amy sends me.  The last one I had is of the grands on Halloween and don't ask me what they are dressed up like! LOL!  I haven't a clue! Sam is on the right, and Grayson is in the middle, and the last one on the left is a friend of Grayson's.

I can't remember the last time what  I've posted about and what I haven't so if this is old news, I apologize.  The blood thinner is working evidently as no more double vision or feeling like I am on ship in a storm...lol!  No word from the cardiovascular surgeon.  Evidently there must be a lot of people worse off than me.  I've been walking every day unless it is pouring rain or high wind warnings.  With all the woods that I walk through it would be just my luck to be hit by a falling limb.  

I was working on the border of my Hawk Run Hollow fall cross stitch but had to put it down so I could get busy on the annual Christmas  ornaments.  The grands loved the Halloween ornaments.  I stole this image from Melissa's blog, Pinker and Punkin, of her Barnyard Christmas Cat since I can't upload photos of mine....I haven't fully finished it yet but I have one of 4 done........one will go to Sam in remembrance of Grace, my cat that they took in and she loved Sam....we would tease him that it was his girlfriend....she followed him everywhere and could never get close enough to him.  The other one will be for Grayson as he loves Miss Peeps.....he never asks how Grandma is but the first thing out of his mouth is "how is Miss Peeps"? LOL!  They will have the 2024 year charms and a tag with all the information.  Isn't it cute?  She has so many beautiful FREE patterns for quilting, embroidery and cross stitch.  She is so talented and generous.  So much eye candy with all her decorating too!  BTW, the other 2 will be for my tree.

Other than that I have all of the Advent gifts in house to mail to Amy after Thanksgiving as it starts the 13th of December through the 25th.  I have all my groceries for Thanksgiving dinner for me, myself, and I plus my Chiefs will be playing that day too!  I'm still doing the Swedish Death Cleaning and it's going really well.  I have gotten rid of so much but there is more!  This week I am cleaning the family room and cleaning and prepping the fireplace for the first fire of the season on Thanksgiving, if it's not too warm.  We had our first frost night before last but it gets into the 60's usually by afternoon.

Oh, I fell the other day too....I'm fine and it wasn't my fault.  I was getting ready to go to bed and I had my pj's on and my Birkenstok sandals which have a rubber sole.  Well, I was walking through the family room and although there is an area rug, underneath and around that rug is linoleum flooring.   There was a puddle that could only have been caused by Miss Peeps urinating although she has never done that before but there was no other reason for any water to be there.  Well, I went down like a rock!  I was afraid I broke something since they say my Osteoporosis is so bad....but lo and behold, I got up and I was fine.  I scraped my elbow and the next day my shoulder and my wrist were sore but no worse for wear and tear!  I am so blessed!

I hope you are all well and if you are in the U.S. that you are getting ready to celebrate Thanksgivng!

 Happy Trails!!!
   

   
 

Happy Halloween!!!

 

I put these decorations up awhile ago and good thing because it is storming today!  What a cozy, creepy Halloween!  Supposedly it is supposed to clear off by afternoon and the sun will come out just in time for the Trick or Treaters!  We don't get trick or treaters anymore plus I'm in bed early..lol!  Last night I watched Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney and tonight I plan on watching Practical Magic on Prime Video.

My doctor appointment Monday went well.  I am now taking Plavix, a blood thinner and so far no more "episodes"...PTL!  My doctor also called a cardiovascular surgeon for me to see for a consult.  So, all is well and I feel great.  I'm in good hands!

I'll be back tomorrow to show you some crafty goodness and a new crochet project!

I hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween!

Happy Trails!!!

Takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'!!!

 Okay....my favorite month has been taken up with events other than Fall festivities!  This week I was up and going to take my walk when all of a sudden I  had double vision.  It finally went away after about 10 minutes and I thought of going ahead and taking my walk but then I thought to myself....."Sam....you're 75 years old and at that age you need to pay attention to things that are telling you something isn't right"....so I thought better of taking my walk and called the doctor instead.  The nurse told me it might be a mini-stroke so I should go over to the hospital because my doctor was on duty there anyway.  I went and had blood tests and a CT scan of my aorta and my brain.  Anyway, I was there a long time and in the end my blood tests were fine but my blood pressure was over 200 and my heart was fine but the double vision was caused by a blockage of blood to my brain.  So, I dodged a bullet there but not getting blood to my brain is not a good thing.  So, I am to take a baby aspirin daily and it's funny as I used to for years and then my other doctor told me it doesn't do any good and to stop.  I go back in Monday to see if I need to go on blood thinners.  Friday night I felt off-balance like I was on a rolling ship...not dizzy.  I went to put something on my closet shelf and fell backwards against the wall and scraped my arm on the door frame.  But nothing broke....I am a lucky son-of-a-gun.  Now I know why older people talk about their illnesses and operations.....that's what getting older is all about!  But in my case, it could have been worse.  The gal next to me in the hospital did have a stroke and thank goodness it only affected her speech and that was returning. 

But other than that I had a productive week.  I've gotten all my shots now including RSV.  I had my regular doctor appointment, and went grocery shopping and dropped off a load to the thrift store.  I finished the Halloween ornaments for the grands and forgot to take a picture of them and the cute treats I made them but here are the ones I made for my tree...........the treats were just rice krispie treats with edible eyeballs on them.........

    

I also finished my hat but that project was a hot mess.....lol!  I used circular needles thus the reason I didn't have purl bumps on both sides and then somehow I switched and started knitting on the wrong side....not enough blood to the brain evidently....that may be why I forgot your birthday Connie!

Anyway, it's done and just in time for the cold weather...it's just for me so I don't feel so bad about the mistakes.....it's really not that bright of a red....and it has other shades of red throughout.......

My Fall/Halloween project is Autumn in Hawk Run Hollow......I've just started it and it is HUGE!!!

I've only got the top border outlined so far.......I'll show you the progress on my other projects next week...

The colors this Fall have been gorgeous and the weather too.  We finally got some rain on Friday and it was needed and appreciated!  There's more rain coming the end of next week.  I don't like it to get too dry around here with all the woods and the dry leaves but so far so good.

The birds are having a hay day at the bird feeder...downy woodpecker and the BIG woodpecker,  cardinals, sparrows, chickadees (my favorites....so cute), several others that I don't know what they are and purple finches.  I haven't seen a gold finch yet but they usually come around too.  Of course, there are the big birds...like the Blue Jay and crows but they rarely come to the feeder....I think they're too big.

 

I'm reading the last series of the Ann Hazelwood books about Missouri Wine Country and in addition to  news and needlework podcasts, I'm watching Doc Martin.

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying this beautiful time of year.

Happy Trails!!!
 
 

Busy, busy, busy and I'm slow.........

 What a month so far!  Lots of excitement but not all the good kind.  First of all Sam had Homecoming......this is his junior year already....this is his girlfriend, Lanai.  They make a cute couple and they are both really good students.....

Then Grayson went on his first canoe trip to Minnesota and loved it.  But when he got home he and Sam went fishing and this happened...........a fish hook in his eyelid.....missed his eye PTL!!!  He had to go to the University of Iowa hospital for surgery but all is well and his eye was never touched....whew....that was a close call.  Sam felt terrible but Grayson admitted it was his fault....he knew better than to be behind someone casting.....

Then my washing machine (only 1 1/2 years old) started washing for 1 hour and 36 minutes instead of the usual 53 minute cycle.  So they came out but couldn't fix it and had to call Whirlpool and would come back.  Then the dishwasher finally bit the dust after about 50 years!  It was a Kitchen Aide and wonderful. I got a Maytag (still owned by Whirlpool along with Amana).  They brought it out, and tried to install it and said I needed a plumber and he might as well install it when he came.  They reimbursed me $54 as I had already paid them to install and take away the old one.  When the plumber came, I told  them what I was reimbursed and the plumber said (trying hard not to laugh)..."I can tell you this is going to cost more than $54!" which I knew it would.  I am waiting to get the bill to send it to the appliance vendor but I'm sure I won't get my money back. When the plumber installed it I was making supper so I never tried to use it that night.  I never even touched it.  When I got up in the morning the dishwasher was beeping and flashing an error code.  Now don't ya know it is Saturday.....I call the appliance store and they are no help whatsoever even to just get the beeping stopped.  They couldn't come out until Monday (as it ended up they didn't show up until Wednesday).  I fixed the beeper by finding the electrical outlet under the sink and  unplugging it (not easy for an old lady with a bad back!) They finally fixed the washer and the dishwasher but what an ordeal! This went on for 3 weeks from the time of purchase and calling them about the washer. 

During that time I got my Covid booster which laid me low for several days. I then got my flu shot and today I got my RSV shot.  The hummers left about the 10th and the last 2 days I spent scrubbing and disinfecting the bird feeder and then painting it.       

I replace the hummer feeder with the bird feeder and it hangs outside my kitchen window so I don' t have to go outside to fill it and it's under the eaves which keeps it dry and the birds safe.

We had our first frost last night and the lake was all steamy this morning...........
          

Also, last week we had junk day where the garbage people come by and pick  up anything you put out.  So I spent several days lugging out old broken appliances etc.  They never used to take electronics and it seemed that's all I had.  So I took out vacuum cleaners, a printer, a breadmaker and more.  I was exhausted but despite the back injury, I was able to get it all out there.  I just have to take a lot of breaks.  I was also able to get rid of my riding mower.

Hopefully, things will calm down now and I can relax a bit.  I still have a few appointments and I haven't gotten that plumber bill yet.....but I am still walking daily and enjoying the beautiful Fall we are having here.    

As for crafting, there has been little with the appliance problems and appointments etc. but I have gotten 3 books ahead on my Good Reads Challenge

I worked a bit on this stamped cross  stitch......

and this September project although it just says Fall to me.........

 

I hope you are all well and I can't wait to catch up with you all!

Happy Trails!!!

  
 

I'm alive!!!

 I didn't feel like it for a few days....3 exactly.  I got my Covid booster and it laid me low.  I had chills, and was SO tired.  I took long naps every day.  One day I went back to bed at 10:30 in the morning!  I'm okay now but little got done.  Then my washer went from a 53 minute cycle to 1 hour and 36 minutes so the repair guys came yesterday.  Now, the dishwasher is not cleaning so I'll probably need a new one.  We had lots of rain  and wind from Helene so now there are branches everywhere I need to pick up but at least we didn't have the damage that others had.

I did manage to get my freezer organized finally.....here are the tools I  used...all from Wally World.......

and these Rubbermaid freezer containers.......they're plastic but clear....
                 

here is the before picture...

and after..........

I discovered I have way too many waffles and chocolate covered banana slices!  But now I can see what I have.  I may get a couple more of the larger freezer containers but overall it solved my problem of avalanches when I tried to find things and knowing exactly what was in there!

I did make some molasses cookies before I got sick........unfortunately I didn't have much of an appetite...

Miss Peeps asked to be on the post so here she is in all her glory................

That's all for now...hopefully I can get back on track and I pray nothing else breaks around here...especially me! LOL!

Happy Trails!!!

Tis' the season!!!

 The season for Fall everything!  I have molasses cookies and spiced cider on the menu.  Cross stitch has been put aside for some holiday gift making and knitting.....it's quite the exciting time of year! Again, I haven't blogged for 2 weeks.  My only excuse  is the  time-consuming Swedish Death Cleaning!  I have so much junk stuff!  But I will conquer it all...if I live long enough.  I am ahead of the curve on a couple things or staying even.  On my Goodreads Book Challenge I am only 2 books behind schedule now.  I'm almost done with the Halloween ornaments.  I had to wait for the 2024 charms before I could put the back on them.  BTW if anyone needs 2024 charms just let me know your address and how many and  I will mail them to you.  I had to buy a pack of a zillion!

Here are the ornaments...done and beaded and now that I have the charms I can finish them.....

  

 

I've also been knitting since it is the season!  I need a hat for when I walk as I don't have any except for a loose hood on my coat which is normally enough but not for a 45 minute walk.  I found a free pattern from Lion Brand, beginner friendly and I'm about 1/2 way finished.......I'm using Malabrigo Rios worsted in the Cereza 033 color.  It is 100% Superwash Merino Wool which should keep me warm....

 

The only question I have is the photo shows purl bumps on both sides but it is garter stitch throughout and the brim rolls up but you can't have perl bumps on both sides as in the first photo.  There will be perl bumps on one side and knit stitches on the other as in my photo.  So.....how did they do that?  There is  nothing in the instructions that explains it.....hmmm....it's a mystery to me!  Anyone else have a clue?
It was also time to get out my handmade wool socks!  I was bad and did not wash them this past Spring but I did this week........they are all ready for the Fall/Winter season.......

as an aside..........
 

Happy Trails!!!

Yay!!! September!!!!

I'm so excited for Fall!!!  Yesterday I found a red leaf....only one but it's a start!  Its raining so there was no walking this morning.  There has been a little cooling off but it's so humid now it doesn't really make a difference.  I'm still waiting for the "cold front".

I got a convection oven! It's an Oster 10 in 1 and it does everything.  Lefty Crafter got one awhile ago and loves hers so since my wall oven was having a hard time pre-heating I decided to go for it.  I found a place for it on top of my antique gas oven.  I used it this morning to air fry some hash brown patties and it worked slick.  It cooks much faster than the regular oven and I'll have to decrease the cook times on things.  But I love it!

I was praying it would be fine and I wouldn't have to return it as I had enough trouble getting it in the house, unboxed, and lifted onto it's resting place....me with the fractured spine! LOL!  But I managed thanks to the good Lord up above and the saying "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".....at my age, I say that many times during the day.   

I've been mostly cleaning in the kitchen this past week and several garbage bags got filled so progress is being made.  While cleaning I've been listening to "old" music from the 30's and 40's mostly on You Tube.....

I finished another Halloween ornament except for the beads which I hope to put on this afternoon....you can see where the beads and sequins will go by the black holes....

I finally finished reading The Distant Hours by Kate Morton.  I slogged through it and I usually love her books but I think I put it aside too many times.....
 

right now I'm reading The Tannenbaum Christmas Quilt #3 in the Door County series..........these are easy enjoyable  reads with great characters and kind people..............

I also started another series that is supposed to be similar to the Mitford books by Jan Karon which are one of my favorite series.......so far this one is good.......

That's all the news that's fit to print here.  I'm just continuing to clear out and keep my car packed to drop off at the thrift store and the garbage filled with...wait for it.........garbage.

Oh, it's FOOTBALL SEASON too!!! I listened to the Iowa Hawkeyes "skunk" Illinois State 40-0.....that had to hurt (Illinois that is).  Plus, those types of games are boring.  Next week the NFL starts too.  Another sign of Fall!

Yippee!!!  

Happy Trails!!!