YOP Week #7

This was a good week...more for crafting than cleaning but I had to get started on some projects for Christmas and other holidays.

I do have one finish......my little mini quilt....I'm sure you're tired of seeing it but it is done!

 Then it was on to my bed quilt and I am still cutting out fabric for it...............I'm about 1/2 way done with cutting the 6" squares......

This is what is left to cut.............

Celeste Creates on You Tube came out with the 2nd video for the Quilt Along Tutorial so now I need to press and cut the materials for it............I chose my 8 fat quarters from the bundle I purchased...............but I still need to order batting and backing..............

I was trying to cross stitch 1 star each week but it looks like it will take 2 weeks............I didn't quite manage to get that 4th star finished.............there are 16 altogether.............

I am approaching the finish line for the Giant Granny Square blanket.........There are 11 rounds for the border and I have 5 or 6 left to do.  Hopefully, I will be able to wrap it up before next week.

I did cast on a Christmas gift..............a sheep pillow for one of my grandsons.........

this is as far as I've gotten so far....I need 16 inches for the body............I have about 2 so far! LOL!

As an aside, I would like to wish my friend, Vickie, a very happy birthday today!!!   I am still cleaning and de-cluttering.  We had a nice storm Friday night that cooled things down a bit.

This coming week will be more cleaning and de-cluttering (the story of my life), I want to finish the 4th star, finish the Giant Granny Square blanket, and finish cutting out the squares for my bed quilt.  I'll definitely be knitting on that sheep too. 

I got a couple new recipes I want to try out  from Far Side of Fifty, and e-i-e-i-omg!   As for reading; my fiction is 13 Little Blue Envelopes, my non-fiction is Tell Me More and for a magazine I'm reading National Geographic ( I have a stack of old ones I got from the free bin at the library a long time ago).  As for t.v.,I watch several podcasts; Simple Living Alaska, Northern Seclusion, Celeste Creates, Lori Holt and Svalbard with Cecelia.  As for series, I am still watching Heartland and Virgin River both of which I highly recommend.  The books right now are okay....I'll see what I think when I finish them.  That's all the news that's fit to print for this week!  Stay safe and get vaccinated if you're not!

Happy Trails!!!

Tuesday...........

 I finally got to start working on the quilt for my bed today.  In the morning I did my regular chores and watered outside before it got too hot.  It's 97 F right now..."feels like" 104 F!  There are heat advisories for sure!  I ran uptown and picked up my prescriptions, got the mail, and brought in the garbage can.  I've been inside ever since.  

After lunch I ironed and then I got out the fabric for my quilt.  I bought it from Craftsy when they were still in business.  They had great fabric and yarn deals.  This fabric was  6" wide and 45" long so I am cutting it into 6" squares for the quilt.  This quilt is just squares sewn together, nothing fancy. Craftsy is out there again but I won't join as I had classes I bought on the old one and when they went out of business  I lost the classes. Some I hadn't even taken yet.  There was no email or warning at all.....pouff...they were gone!  This will take me awhile to cut all the squares but the fabric is so pretty I don't mind at all except for the bending over...another back irritant but I just go sit and cross stitch  until it stops hurting and then I go back at it.  Eventually it will get done!

On another topic.....I've been trying to eat healthy and I pretty much always have but lately it seems these "healthy' foods are upsetting my stomach.   I realize that as you age you can't always handle foods that never bothered you before.  So, I researched foods that are hard to digest and lo and behold....all the foods that they tell you to eat that are so healthy are also the hardest to digest!  So, I'll be backing off from many of those "healthy" foods! LOL!  They are good for you but maybe when you're younger as it seems I just can't tolerate them anymore.  Unfortunately they are all things I love!

It was 1 year ago today that the derecho went through Iowa and many are still recovering from it.  There was massive destruction and you can still see evidence of it....so sad.  My daughter and her family were fortunate other than tree limbs but some lost their homes, cars, etc.  There were so many trees lost too.  There are lots of You Tube videos out there if you want to see a full-fledged derecho. It's also called a "land hurricane".  It lasted for hours too.  My daughter and her family live in Cedar Rapids but it went though the whole state.  

I hope you are staying cool or warm depending on where you're located. 

Happy Trails!!!

 

Monday Mania!

 Mondays are always busy!  Are they busy at your house too?  I did get quite a bit done though...I love that pleasant feeling of having made the most of the day.

For  one thing, I finished the mini-quilt...finally!

You know what that means?  I  can start ironing and cutting for my bed quilt!  Yay!!!  I've only had the material for 3 or 4 years....maybe longer! I got all the garbages emptied and relined but I still have to take it out to the street.  I called the contractor that I use to see if he can install a new garage door opener but he has been unwell and is semi-retired.  I may have to call Home Depot or just forget it as I've done without it for years and just open and close it manually.  I am trying to make things easier on myself though.

I got treasures in the mail today............yarn supplies..............

and I ordered this book thinking it was quick and easy recipes for quilters so they would be freed up to quilt more.......silly me............they were recipes alright.....recipes for quilts!  There are a few actual recipes but not necessarily quick or easy.  Since then I've found just what I was looking for on Thrift Books. It is truly a book of recipes that are quick and delicious so you can have more time quilting!

It was meal making day.  I made an Oriental Chicken Salad...........it was really fairly easy....I cooked the chicken in the oven but you could buy a rotisserie chicken.  then I used my KitchenAide mixer to shred the chicken....so quick and easy with the paddle attachment.

I also cheated by buying a super blend of kale, cabbage, carrots etc., a can of mandarin oranges, Chinese noodles (the crispy ones in the can), some green onions and sliced almonds. The hardest part was the dressing!  

That's supper for the next few days.  I watered outside early this morning so now all I need to do is take the garbage out to the street, wash a load of clothes and do some ironing.....especially my quilt materials!

Happy Trails!!!
 

YOP Week #6

 Not much progress this week as I've been gardening, grocery shopping and waiting for supplies to come in for projects.  I was able to get that skein of DMC floss in with my Walmart grocery order!  PTL!  So, now I can finish up the R.I.P. Halloween ornament.  Meanwhile, I pulled out a favorite that I have neglected...........I finished the 3rd star.......only 13 more to go!  It is a really fun project.

I did get my mini-quilt trimmed with my new Fiskars Rotary Cutter and it is so nice!  I never realized they could cut so nice!  My old one was not that good.  So glad I bought a new one and plenty of blades.

I also received my Celeste Creates QAL fabric in the mail.  I can't wait to start!  It's vintage Christmas fabric for my first Christmas quilt.

I bought Lori Holt's Farmgirl Vintage quilt book....the first one.....you can do so much with all these blocks.............I've got my eye on the pumpkin and the maple leaf and then there is a chick quilt that is so cute...

I did finalize my Christmas gift list and ordered some supplies for that which should arrive this coming week.  I finished the Giant Granny Square blanket and I have 1 round of 11 done on the border.  

Hopefully, this week I will be able to move ahead on some of these projects.  

I fixed a nice breakfast this  morning.....bacon and my sourdough pancakes.....yum!  I didn't even like pancakes that much until I made sourdough ones.  It takes pancakes to a whole new level!  I hope you  have a wonderful, creative week ahead!

Happy Trails!!!

Harvesting!!!

 Who knew I would have this much luck with my container gardening?  It's going really well!  I've gotten lots of tomatoes, 1 eggplant so far and lots of banana peppers. I'm watering every day as it is hot!  91 F right now.  I water in the morning when it is still 70's or 80's.  No humidity though.  Evidently the high temps burn it up! LOL!

I have more peppers in the frig.

I also vacuum sealed all the meat I bought the other day.  I split everything into 1 lb packages which is easier for recipes and for me..........I sealed up 3 lbs of chicken breast tenders, and 3 1/2 lbs of chicken thighs....yes, I  use this old scale of mine all the time............the vacuum sealer is one of the best investments I ever made!

I got this big box of Smartfood snack popcorn in the mail from my daughter!  There's 3 different kinds; Kettle Corn, Cheddar and regular.....perfect for a mid afternoon snack and low in calories too!

Since the dogs are gone, the squirrels are moving right in!  This little guy/gal was too cute....you could tell it was a young one as his tail was really scraggly.....not bushy yet. 

That's all for today.  I'm roasting some tomatoes with garlic and oil which I'll mix with some spaghetti and fresh basil for supper.

I hope you're enjoying your weekend!

Happy Trails!!!

Things are going pretty well...............

 On the 24th it was 2 years since my son passed away.  I had company that week so I didn't blog about it.  Sometimes it amazes me that I have come through it all but then there are days when I am right back there as if it just happened.  I  have realized that there are moments in life that you never get over.  You may seem like you're okay but all it takes is a memory or a reminder and your heart cracks open.  It never really heals over.  I have a picture I drew of my heart....trust me I'm no artist...but at my age my heart looked like swiss cheese! LOL!  I guess when we live to this age there are bound to be scars from life.

A few weeks ago, right before the anniversary of his death, I was going through some VCR tapes from our family Christmas's etc.  I pulled one out of the sleeve and 2 pictures of Jim fell out.  They were his id cards from Junior High...I think he was reminding me he is still around.............

He was such a cutie and he had such a great sense of humor...he could make me and Amy laugh and when the 3 of us were together it was just a constant laugh session.  I miss him but God has given me strength and grace and I know I could have never gotten through it without him/her.  

I have been getting things done around here though....busy hands are happy hands!   I called the city and they picked up all the brush from all the trimming this past month.  I've got my grocery order in for tomorrow pickup and I made my menu for the next 2 weeks to a month.  I've been cleaning my bedroom and polishing the woodwork.  My quilting supplies come tomorrow and I have finalized my Christmas Gift list and ordered most of the supplies/gifts etc.  

There's been some great t.v. series (Netflix) that have come back since COVID stopped them last year.  One of my favorites is Virgin River which I started over again just to remind myself.....it's so good!  I also watch Heartland which has ended after 215 episodes.  It seems I've been watching it for years......and I have! 

I got my Celeste Creates quilt along material in..............

 

I think I am going to order the gold fabric for the backing.  I can't wait to get started.

Oh, I've been stitching on the Halloween ornaments and I ran out of a particular floss so for the heck of it I tried ordering it on my Walmart order and I'll be dipped!  I was able to order it and I'll pick it up tomorrow with my groceries!  That was awesome!  Otherwise I'd have to order from 123 Stitch and it wouldn't pay to order just one floss so I would have to make it worth my while and order more.....not that it would be a bad thing....lol!  I'll see if it shows up in my grocery order.  

I need to go out to the highway and get gas in the SUV now.  It's cooled off into the lower 80's.....nice!

I hope you are having good weather and enjoying yourself this summer!

Happy Trails!!! 
 
   

YOP Week #5

 I missed 2 weeks while I had company...so sorry but there was no time for much except cooking and washing dishes just to keep up with those boys! LOL!  I certainly had a great visit with them and my daughter.   Lots of laughter for sure!  But now I'm welcoming some creating time.

I did work on my giant granny square but you've see it enough.  Let me just say I am nearing the end as I am measuring against the last one I made.  I did finish the one washcloth but forgot to take a picture.  I also forgot to photograph the last Halloween ornament I finished.  I did get my doll and beading needles in the mail.  Unfortunately, the beading needles are just pieces of wire....not sure why they call them needles.  Here is the ornament I am working on now..........

I thought I would have a finish for you today as I was planning on finishing up my mini-quilt but I couldn't find my rotary cutter.  I ended up ordering a new one with extra blades and I ordered some plastic baskets to start sorting my fabric scraps like Lori Holt does.  She has a You Tube video where she shows you.  She is very  organized and that is what I am trying to be.  I also ordered her Farm Girl Vintage quilt book.     

Here is my little quilt that did not get finished....yet.       

This was my first time quilting using my sewing machine and I didn't even use a walking foot!  I was pretty pleased although I maybe should have used a thread color that would have blended more?
 

I found some green gingham fabric in my stash that I will use to make bathroom curtains.  It doesn't match the shower curtain but I think it will be okay....it's green gingham at least.and I have it in house without having to buy anything.

I made a "scrappy" binding for my mini quilt.  I've never done that before but they didn't send me enough material in the kit so I got creative.........I like it and it is already to go when I get my new rotary cutter in the mail!
 

I've been reading Lori Holt's blog archives and buying a few things to add to my quilt knowledge and my stash............this is a Moda All-Stars book by multiple designers and all the projects use 1, 2, or 3 Charm packs.  I have lots of Charm Packs so this will be wonderful!

I also bought some more charm packs....red must be the color for me this month............

Oh, I almost forgot to show you the Fox Scarf that I finished and that my daughter loved!  There's a tab under the fox's nose that allows you to slip the tail in so it stays around your neck.

I watch Celeste Creates podcast and she is having a QAL (quilt along) which I have joined and you can too!  It's for beginners and she just gave out the material list.  I ordered material but not for the backing yet.  I'm excited and definitely have the quilting bug!  I can't do any one thing for very long as Arthur(itis) gets irritated so it's good that I have a variety of projects.

Today, I am finalizing the Christmas Project/Gift List and ordering materials for them.....at least some  of the materials.  I'll keep you informed along with my YOP project goals.

I missed you all and hope to catch up and see what you all have been making and creating!

Happy Trails!!!