YOP Week #42 Year 12

 Holy cow!  We're heading towards the end of Year 12 of YOP!  Where has the time gone?  I didn't get a lot done this week as there were lots of other priorities.  One of my skylights broke during  the last storm so I had to get that fixed before the next storm which I did!  Whew!  It stormed last night and no leaks!  Yay! I also needed to get grub killer spread before it rained and I did that too (otherwise the armadillos come and dig up your lawn looking for them) There were other things too; like arranging to get a ride to and from the car place as my Tahoe has to go in for an entire day.  She's 21 years old but still doesn't have 100,000 miles on her.  I'm hoping to keep her in good running order.  It is expensive but still lots cheaper than buying a new car!  Plus, I did my taxes and paid bills.

I did do some "making" this week.  Two things I worked on but will not show, as there isn't that much difference from last week, are Blackbird Design's Midnight Ride cross stitch that I work on Saturdays, and my Sabbath Stitch which hasn't changed much either.

I did finish sock #1 of my Christmas socks....finally and I started sock #2...........

My focus piece for the last 5 days was Kittens by The Cricket Collection....it's a big piece and will take years I'm sure but I got a healthy start anyway..........I'm working on the  middle kitten at the moment.......

I started working on Lori Holt's panel project bags but you have to watch her video and running back and forth from the video and my sewing machine is a slow boat to China.  Hopefully, if I can finish one it will make the rest of them go faster and easier.  I find she contradicts herself sometimes which can be confusing to me anyway.  People rave about her and I like her but these bags are way more complicated than I think they need to be but then what do I know?  Here's my progress and I am hoping to finish this one today.........

I had another unidentified bird at the feeder....is it a purple finch?  This looks a lot more red.....

This morning I made Taste of Home's Cinnamon Crescent Twists...so tasty with a cup of coffee.....I've learned to add some flour to the filling so it doesn't run out onto the cookie sheet and I also add more powdered sugar to the glaze else it is too runny.  I've been able to add mashed sweet potatoes, bananas, and the cinnamon twists to my diet.  These were all foods that I did fine with before.  I still only add one at a time though just to be on the safe side.

Well, I best get to sewing so I can finish that project bag.  I also want to cut out blocks 3 and 4 for my BOM quilt, finish practicing some embroidery stitches and give some love to my Sabbath stitch.

Happy Trails!!!
 

Thursday.........

 Getting lots done around here....finally.  I took all the brush I had cut down and put it across the street.  I called City Hall to tell them and they put me on hold so long I finally hung up.  The heck with it.  I shook rugs and vacuumed and tomorrow I'll wash the floors.  I paid bills and I put away some clean clothes, and then washed a load of rugs.....there will be 2 loads. 

Today is the 13th so I worked on a Halloween XS.....I will work on it again on the 31st.....

Remember the pansies I planted last Fall?  Well, they are hardy because they are up and blooming!  I want to press some so I found a pattern on Home Depot for how to make a flower press and it's a beginner woodworking project...just what I need!  Woodworking is something I've always wanted to learn.  Here's the pansies.....

I also got an Amazon order........I hate dragging my ironing board out for just pressing quilt blocks or pieces or a cross stitch finish.  I tried using a towel but it's too squishy and it doesn't press well.  So, I finally ordered a wool pressing mat which will be great........... it also comes with a silicone iron pad.....  

I got some lavender scented crushed walnut shells and emery for filling pin cushions.....

and last but not least...this is the bees knees.....self-adhesive clear sleeves that hold an index card.  I'm going to use them to label  plastic bins.  You can remove the card and change it and/or remove the plastic envelope.  This is a game changer!  I can put an inventory of what's in the container without having to rifle through it.

The reason I blog about these things is that I find out about them from podcasts and other bloggers or I wouldn't have known they even existed.  So.....I figured I should share the info just in case it is something you might find useful in your life.

 Here's a little funny for today although where I am it is in the 70's and beautiful...no humidity so far!

Happy Trails!!!

Wednesday....or as we used to call it..."hump day"

 It's amazing how productive you can be when you're feeling good!  Today I took a load to the Thrift Store and picked up my grocery order at Walmart.  I was even able to buy some socks with my grocery order.  I was going to knit some shorty socks but who am I kidding?  I'm still working on my Christmas socks! LOL!  These were only $6 for 10 pair and how cute are they?  I hope they fit!

I got all the groceries put away and made some jello.  I worked on sock #1 as I am almost done with it.  I also practiced the quilter's knot for the embroidery class and I think I have that down pat.  Her tutorials are excellent.  I'm so glad I signed up for this class. 

I also got some grub killer as the armadillos are digging up the lawn for them.  I haven't seen one robin this year.  They must  have flown right over here in a hurry to get North evidently.

I'm done for the day other than maybe placing a Thrift Book order.  I hope you have a good day!

Happy Trails!!! 

Monday........

 Mondays are always busy here.  Are they the same at your house?  It's garbage day in the early morning on Tuesday so I  need to get that out to the street.  I went to the bank to pay the annual safe deposit fee.  I came home and called around trying to find someone to fix my skylight before the next rain arrives.  I think I have someone coming to take a look.  They said I may have to replace the whole skylight.  Then I finished up my taxes after several other phone calls and finally I made some more potato soup.  I think I'm done for the day.  I worked a little bit on my Kitten XS which will be the focus piece for the next 5 days.  Now, I am going to go practice "the quilter's knot" for my embroidery class.

Another beautiful day here.  I finished reading Spare, about Prince Harry.  He has totally screwed up his life!  I think he has allowed his wife to destroy his relationship with his family just like she's destroyed hers.  Very sad, and I think he will live to regret it someday.  I am now reading The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas.  I think you read this one, Connie?  I've read some of  her other books and they've all been good.

Here's a little light humor for your Monday..................

Happy Trails!!!
 

 

YOP Week #41 Year 12

Happy Easter everyone!  It is a beautiful day here and I hope you are able to enjoy nice weather where you are.  I have been absent from YOP because my diverticulitis made another appearance!  Dang it!  It took some antibiotics, lots of rest, and a liquid diet but I am recovering and avoided going to the hospital PTL!

I have started back with my crafts, and cleaning, and yard work slowly but surely.  I can't remember what I showed you last time so if it's a repeat, I apologize.

I have worked on my sock #1 and have finished the gusset and I am about halfway down the foot.  BTW, I have big feet! LOL!  I'm hoping to have the first sock finished and start on the 2nd one by next week.

I did bring out an Easter WIP that I started last year.  It's a pattern by The Real Housewives of Cross Stitch.......I'm pretty sure this will not get finished by today so it will probably get put away until next Spring now.

I finished the first 2 blocks of the Block of the Month quilt I am subscribed to.  The 3rd block has arrived so I need to get busy on that.........  

I worked on my birthday start on the 4th.  This is a full coverage large piece that will take a long time but I am enjoying it when I do pick it up...........

Grayson's wolf is part of my rotation of 5 projects for 5 days per month...it's not as easy as I thought as the colors are so close that it is hard to know where you are at.  There are like 4 or 5 different navy blues. I may have to start highlighting the pattern....

On Sundays I work on my Sabbath Stitch.......it's coming along...it's amazing how much progress you can make by just continuing to work on something even if it isn't for an extended period of time.  It makes me feel good because the older I get the slower I get but I keep plugging away on projects and eventually they get done....or I die...whichever comes first! LOL!

I did subscribe to another monthly club that I heard about through The Sew n' Sews podcast.  It is from Under the Garden Moon and every month you get a kit containing 2 pages of what will eventually become an embroidery book of stitches.  You get all the materials, the pre-stamped pages, thread, and there are videos online that are very clear in explaining everything.  I'm just starting as I received my first package yesterday.  I will let you know how it goes but I am hoping to learn all the stitches.  The Sew n' Sews really like it and they've been doing it for several months now.  Wish me luck!

I haven't even started my basket yet either!  Lots of wonderful things to look forward to now that I am feeling better.

I hope you are having a great Spring or Fall depending on where you live.  

Happy Trails!!!

Blackbird Saturday

 I have decided to work on a Blackbird Design cross stitch project on Saturdays.  Some people call it Blackbird Weekend but I have my Sabbath Stitch on Sundays so Blackbird will only get love on Saturdays.  I had this one started but not too much..........

I'm stitching on white 14 count Aida fabric and using all the called for colors.  I do not like white at all but it must  have been all I had when I wanted to start this project.  I will probably dye it when done which won't hurt the stitching as it is already pretty dark.  They show the finished design on a box with a little pin cushion to stitch that goes in the box.  I plan on doing the same type of finish.

Today was another beautiful day.  Yesterday I worked outside trimming and pruning.  My clematis had died off last summer while I was in the hospital.  It was too hot.  I thought it was a goner but in raking it away I found new growth underneath!  Oh happy days!  

During that storm earlier this week, when I got up the next morning I found a puddle on my kitchen floor but no leak in the ceiling but I have a sun skylight and I figured it  must have come through there.  It had never happened before but then it was a really strong storm.  I figured if it happened again I would call someone.  Well, in working in the yard I found a dome cover that goes over the skylight so I will have to buy a new one and get someone to install it.  Mystery solved!

Yesterday I made my cream of potato soup for the first time in awhile and had it for supper....so far so good!  

Today Luther and his wife came and did the lawn.  They are so nice and do such a beautiful job.  I am blessed to have them!  I also made vanilla pudding from scratch as I know I can tolerate that.  

I hope you are all fine and dandy!

Happy Trails!!!

P.S.  Miss Merry, please send me your email as I can read your posts but I cannot comment and I don't want to lose touch with you so I may just have to email you.  My email is saminil104@gmail.com

It will be kind of like the old pen pals....lol! 

I'm back among the living!!!

 It has been a long recovery and although I am just starting to wean myself off the liquid diet, I am feeling good.  I lost 10 pounds which is fine because I had started gaining weight again.  I really fell behind in everything; cleaning, crafting, blogging, reading blogs,....you name it.  I didn't do anything until just recently and now I have a ton to do but grateful to feel well enough to do it.  I also avoided going to the hospital....another plus.  I think I might  know what caused it and I will never eat either one again.  I had my favorite meal in the whole world....corned beef and cabbage but I think the real culprit was some turkey bacon.  I'll never know for sure but I won't be eating either again.  I've been on a totally liquid diet: broth, jello, and popsicles.  I had pudding for the first time today.  I'll be adding things very slowly.

I will also start visiting you all again!  I've missed everyone!

I did get out an Easter cross stitch that I started last year.  I hadn't done but a little bit......but it's in my rotation for a 5 day stint....only 1 more day to go ........this is a Real Housewives of Cross Stitch pattern worked on 14 count Aida fabric that I dyed myself using all the called for colors.....

I got a lovely gift in the mail from my daughter today...my favorite fragrance........it has a light clean fragrance as I am not into heavy perfumes but this just smells clean and fresh......thank you, sweetie.....you are so thoughtful and generous.....

That's all for today.  I did get some cleaning done and I am working on my taxes.  Hopefully, we'll have some nice weather now that the storms have had their way with us....everything is fine here but I spent time in the basement with tornado warnings.  Everything is really green and the red buds and the dogwood trees are all blooming.  Plus, the hummingbirds are back!

Happy Trails!!!