Happy official first day of Fall!!!

It's official!!!!  It's Fall!!! I'm still waiting for the rain they keep talking about but it is in the 60's and I have been decorating and I have soup on the stove!

No fire in the fireplace but I'm ready for that too when it gets cooler.  Meanwhile I lit some candles....
 

I dug out my Fall mug to use!

and I baked some bread this morning........

I hope you are  thoroughly enjoying the first day of Fall!

Happy Trails!!!

Craziness!!!

 See this beautiful gentle Miss Peeps sleeping quietly?  Well, inside hides a monster! 

I had just turned out the light and laid my head down and she jumped on the bed above my head and went over my pillow.  I thought she'd settle in but all of a sudden she attacked me! She hit me hard with her paw and cut my lip and scratched my face up.  I was bleeding like a stuck hog and was so shocked.  I got her out of my room and shut my bedroom door while trying to stop the bleeding.  I was really hurt that my sweet Miss Peeps would do such a thing.  I've had lots of cats and many were feral farm cats and never did any of them ever do anything like that.   If I had been asleep I may have thought it could have been a bug on me but I had just laid down so I don't think that was the case.  I googled it and it is not unusual evidently.  Well, Miss Peeps is now spending her nights in the basement again and from now on.  I won't let her on my bed in the morning or on the back of my chair when I am sitting.  I won't let her anywhere near my face.  Live and learn.  I'm lucky she didn't get my eyes!

On another strange occurrence, something has been eating my tomatoes but just parts of them....well, I just happened to be looking out the window and saw 2 birds go into my tomato "bushes"!  Sure enough they were eating my tomatoes!  I googled it and yes....birds will eat tomatoes and other garden vegetables too! I never knew that!  When I had my farm I had 2 dogs that ran free and cats outside and never had a problem except with raccoons in my peach trees but here I have no dogs and no outside cats so I am a sitting duck for all these animals.  But I managed to get some beans that the deer didn't and some tomatoes that the birds left alone!

 

The squirrels are gathering their nuts and the spiders are making lots and lots of webs!

As for Book Date........I can't remember if I told you I finished 50 Acres and a Poodle.  It was very good and different than what I expected.  I truly enjoyed it!

I'm still reading My Grandfather's Blessings but like I said,  each chapter is like an essay and it is so full of wisdom that you need time to digest it before reading more.  I'll be getting her other book or books for sure!

  I started reading another fiction Nancy Drew..........so far so good but I do wonder how an 18 year old girl can get the police to follow her orders?  LOL!

I'm also listening to an audio book that was a good deal on Modern Miss Darcy.   She sends me emails about bargain books that she gives her seal of approval to and she has good taste in books IMHO.

This is great to listen to while knitting my Brill Shawl............

I've been listening to podcasts again and the weather channel when there are live reports.  The podcasts are Kitten Stitcher and Celeste Creates and some new ones which I tried but didn't care for.  So that's all for this week!  What have you been reading, watching and/or listening to?

Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #12

 I  missed YOP last week and actually hardly blogged all week.  I was tired, busy and feeling a bit overwhelmed with all I need to do before the short Fall season is over.  I also had 2 finishes but cannot find them....woe is me!  I've been cleaning and organizing and that always causes a problem!

But I am here this week!  I had another finish for this week except I couldn't get it done because it required some beads and sequins to be put on.  No problem, except the beads are so tiny and they won't go on the needle that came with the kit!  So, I guess I will have to order a beading needle!  Anyway....it is done except for that......the black dots are where the sequins and beads go.  This is Mr. Cat by Satsuma Street on Etsy.  I'm going to check the instructions again.  Maybe she said you needed extra supplies.

I have worked on quite a few things....some more than others...........I finally got all the stitches picked up for Brill and started on the body of the shawl.  There are 2 colors...the blue and a pink.  There is 20 rows of each before you switch colors.  I am decreasing so it should get faster to finish a row as I go along. 

I love this project!  I love Prairie Schooler patterns.  

I finished the top banner and I'm now working on the words and the moon......very enjoyable stitching

I also worked on this one, just a bit though.........

I'm up in the left hand upper corner so you can see this is a long term project!

Remember when I said I wanted to try and work on linen again but not black and use a hoop?  Well, I found a kit that a gal gave me and it included everything except the needle!  It had a 30 count linen which is better than 40 and I loved the pattern and it also had hand dyed floss!  Blackbird Designs too which is a favorite!

I started it and have had no trouble whatsoever working on this linen!  I am so happy!!!  I have linen that was given to me and kits that have linen and I hate to not utilize it so now maybe I can!  Yippee!

For new stash/haul I got this pattern book by Blackbird Designs.........

 

and this sampler pattern...........

the pattern from the booklet that will be the first one from the book that I kit up is this one.......another Halloween one.........these are future plans and may not get worked on until next year but I have discovered that some patterns go out of print especially Blackbird Designs so it's best you buy them when you see them although that can be dangerous too! LOL!

As for what I'll be working on this week, it will be more of the same.  I did watch a tutorial for a tomato pincushion by Celeste Creates podcast so I'd like to sew a few of those for gifts.   But I have so much painting outside and mulching and trimming and burning that unless there is rain, I doubt I will get to it.  Rain is not forecast for the the next 10 days so I hope I get lots done outside!  Wish me luck!  BTW, the weather is just gorgeous here.  I have been waiting for this all summer! LOL!  No AC needed and the windows are all open all the time! LOVE!!!

Happy Trails!!!

Beautiful Friday!!!

 I hope it is nice where you are.  I took my walk this morning and it was in the low 60's!  Oh yeah!  I wore a jacket.  I fertilized plants inside and outside.  Yesterday I got treasures in the mail from Thrift Books...

I'm finishing baking some Potato Chip cookies that I started baking last night.  It's a Paula Dean recipe and very good.  I had some leftover tortilla chip crumbs and I used those too.  Waste not want not. 

I also started cleaning my linen closet which is a real mess!  I got the top shelf done and I'm working my way down......it's really fun because I find so many things I didn't even know I had! LOL!  It's like going shopping and not having to pay for anything!  I'll show a picture when it's all clean and organized.  I'm waiting for supplies before I start more outdoor projects but never fear there's plenty to do inside my house too! 

I hope you are having a wonderful Friday!

Happy Trails!!!

I'm still alive!!!

 I'm sorry I haven't blogged or even read blogs.  Fall arrived here or at least the temperature dropped and I was able to get outside and get some work done!  Here in Arkansas, Spring and Fall are short lived.   It is either too hot or too wet or too dry.  But there is a short window of opportunity to get outside work done.  So, I'm trying to take advantage of it.  I hope you are all fine.  I got the lawn mowed and got groceries yesterday.  I've placed some orders too.............I have Fall projects and maintenance to do.

Walmart stops carrying mulch in July and plus with Covid I wasn't going to go to their garden center.  But I lucked out big time!  I checked Amazon and I could get my favorite mulch with free shipping!  I ordered 10 bags as my few nice beds have gotten strangled with weeds because I didn't get any mulch put on this year.   I love this mulch because it doesn't discolor!  It still looks great from last year if you push the weeds aside! LOL!

I also broke down and ordered another Keurig coffee maker.  I am very disappointed in the Nespresso.  I find their coffees bitter and it was definitely not worth the price.  I ordered this Keurig and my favorite coffee.....Carribou

I also ordered paint for my eaves, outside doors and garage door........it can also be used inside.  It is semi-gloss Kilz Paint and Primer in one.  The color is cupcake frosting and I think it will look nice with the orange brick.  I got it all through Walmart except the mulch which is coming from Amazon.

If any of you remember, I have been struggling with cleaning my grout in both my bathrooms that have tile on the floor.  I've tried different methods and I got some of it clean but what a mess.  Well, there just happened to be a You Tube video from This Old House on that exact topic.  I haven't tried it yet but those guys are experts!  

Here's the recipe if you are interested....

pour vinegar on the grout lines (a section at a time)

mix some baking soda and water in a plastic drinking glass

you scrub with a grout brush (something fairly stiff)  I happen to have a grout brush and it makes it easier without banging your knuckles!)

It was live on my pc screen and I saw it work!  Then you seal it with grout sealer every year.  I have never liked tile but it was already here in the house.

Here is the exact sealer they used and I can get it on Amazon when the time comes.  It was highly rated too!  It has a little brush in the tip to apply it.  This is only good for floors as it will drip on walls but you could use the sealer but just not the applicator.  If you want to do walls you should put some in a bowl and use a sponge brush or something  that won't run or drip.  These are screen shots from Amazon and Walmart so I apologize for the blurriness.

That's all for today folks!  I'll try and catch up with all of you as soon as possible!  Now, it's back to work!

Happy Trails!!!
 

 
 

911 Who can forget..............

 

Happy Trails!!!

Thursday grillin'!

 Hi there!  I've been busy and trying to get my Big Rocks done but it is slow going because I still need clean clothes and meals cooked and general cleanliness which doesn't leave a lot of time left over.  I am walking each morning and watering outside.  Today I also checked my oil and tire pressure on my SUV.  I have to get a step stool out to check the oil! LOL!  I also marinated some chicken with a recipe my daughter gave me and I am going to grill it on my indoor grill on my stove top.  I rarely use that grill but I'm going to start.  Here's the marinade all set to go!

and the grill is waiting............

I also made a dessert............Christmas Crack which I usually only make at Christmas but I am making an exception because I had all the ingredients..........

I also cleaned out a cupboard and looking at my Pinterest boards I discovered a good use for my slide out drawer..............everything fits perfectly in here and no more looking in the cupboard with all kinds of things piled on top of them.....this is awesome! 

I also saw a cute trick to use in the bathroom.  When you go to put a new roll of toilet paper on the holder....put some essential oil on the inside of the cardboard and every time you unroll there will be a fresh scent released into the air.  I haven't tried it yet but I'm going to!

I hope you had a good day!

Happy Trails!!!