Monday was chores but today there was some progress!

 I got busy and did some wrapping, packaging and card writing.  I also got some decorating accomplished....just a little...........my  Aunt Alice made this Santa Plate....I used to fill it with Christmas cookies but now it is just me, myself, and I, so I hang it on the wall...........

I put her Christmas tree in the window........

and a wreath on the door.........the wreath is looking a little tired like me....lol!

I've been multi-tasking lately too....I thought I lost that skill but it's coming back!  Besides regular chores and Christmas to prep for I've also managed to clean some closets, pack up more boxes for the thrift store and work on the garage a bit.    It's a Christmas Miracle!!!

Happy Trails!!!

Yop Week #24 Year 13

 I can't believe how long I've been gone from YOP.  I thought it was just a couple weeks but it's been a month!  I hope I  have the week right.  I have been busy, packing, cleaning, and entertaining.  The grands were here for a week with my daughter and speaking of "grands" we had a grand time!  I did no handwork or sewing while they were here and the sewing is just for Christmas now.  The cross stitch I can pick up on "breaks" and the Prism crochet blanket I work on while watching T.V. in the evenings but the priority is packing, getting rid of things, and cleaning.

I did manage to make some progress on my Sally Spencer...........

 

and the Cherry Basket is worked on a bit in the morning.........

 

I've decided I am definitely going to redo the beak and chest in a more appropriate color....I can't stand the bright pink........

I ran out of black yarn again on the Prism crocheted blanket so I ordered 3 more skeins and it came last week.  It's getting big and I will keep  going on it until I run out of the big Mandela skein....I didn't care for this blanket at first and I almost put it aside but I'm so glad I didn't...I love it and it is really enjoyable to work on......plus it doesn't have a bunch of holes like some crochet blankets....

I'm working on the grand boy's 2023 Christmas Collectible Ornaments............they look a little rough but that's because they aren't pressed until done and  that makes the design show up better....I hope!  These are hooked with wool strips.........

As for "haul"...I got a few books...........this is a Blackbird Design book with stories and biographies of some of the women that served in WWII and there are quilt blocks representing them.......my Mother was an Army Nurse in WWII so I thought  this would be a fun project.  When  I had my little farm in Iowa, I had made a Memorial Rose garden with roses that were named for things from WWII but I had to leave it behind when I moved.  My stepfather and many of my uncles served in the war also so it was tribute to all of them.

I also got the 2024 needle workers Book of Days.  I paid extra to get it spiral bound, a plastic cover , and extra pages for notes and photos.   I want to get one of those little printers that print out 2 x 3 inch photos from your phone to paste in the back of the book of all my projects from that year.  I got it at www.coloradocrossStitcher.com

That's all for this week.  I hope to get back to blogging and visiting this week.

Are you all ready for Christmas?  I'm not....I'm hoping to do some decorating today and cards, and some wrapping.  Have a great one!

Happy Trails!!!
 

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!!!