Thursday Tidbits

 

Nothing really exciting happening here other than Harvey will be getting his first jab on the 31st, and the way the booking is dropping I should get mine sometime the first or second week of April.

I also got to talk to Kurt and Kris tonight and both will be home for Easter. Kurt a bit longer than Kris, but since Kris will be home the weekend before, I will take what I can get. 

It seems that Kurt's stalker is trying to make trouble for him once again. There are wheels in our justice system turning, mind you they do turn exceedingly slowly so this could be an on going problem until the stalker spends some time in jail.

Other than those items, things have been grinding along slowly. I think Harvey is getting tired of doing all the housework. I do what I can which isn't much, and I do the cooking, he does the dishes and gets things off the higher shelves for me. I think I may have to rearrange things once I am given the go ahead.

I have been doing my stitching.

It is moving right along. But I plan on putting it away tomorrow and working on a sewing project or two. Mainly the masks for Kris and the blocks for the scrappy quilt top.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

Thought that I would share some of the projects I have been working on since my surgery.

I made two of these triangle prayer shawls.

Then I pulled this out a couple of days ago. I forgot to take a picture of what it looked like when I started up again. But hopefully this shows you how far I managed to get today.

This is what it looked like by the end of my stitching yesterday.

This is how I ended today. Not as much done as I would like, but enough to see a bit of a difference. Hopefully even more will be completed tomorrow.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Clutter, Clutter, Clutter

As I have mentioned before I am on a quest to get things straightened up an reorganized in the sewing/craft room. Since I can not do more decluttering of fabric until I get my sewing mojo back (hopefully this weekend I will be able to look at the patterns I have cut out and get at least one or two finished up), I decided it was time to go through the binders of patterns for crafts, knitting and sewing I had saved over the years.

Two days later I had removed all the double patterns I had printed out (at least I hope so) and managed to cut out 6 binders. Yea me!!!

Then I looked at all the cross stitch pattern books I had bought over the years. Lovely magazines just filled with patterns that I was going to do. Did I do them? Not a chance.

So I pulled them out of the bookcase and put them in groups of 10 listing them on our garage sale site. No takers as of yet, but I will leave them up for another couple of days. Then if they still not taken I will load them up and take them to the Salvation Army.

I thought I would share a picture with you of the miniature that Kurt brought back from the UK for me many years ago.

I went a bit cross eyed completing it.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

A Couple of Goals Almost Completed

I promised you all some pictures tonight of my completed quilt tops. I had thought I might be able to have the third quilt top done, but I still have a bit of work to do on it.

So here are the two that are finished. I have some threads to clip, but that will be done once all the tops are finished. The way things are moving along, I may just get 4 tops done this month and use up all those 2" strips. That will clean out another drawer in that set of three. Two drawers cleaned out and one left to go.

Then there were those finished cross stitch pictures that have been laying around for a number of years. 

Still have four to get mounted and framed. Hopefully sometime this weekend I will have those all finished as well.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

A few long awaited goals and projects were finally completed today. So nice to be able to cross these off the goal list. Still there will be a few things carried over next month as I just can't seem to get everything completed.

This quilt has been in the making for well, almost 4 years.

It was way too large to fit my machine so I hand quilted it. This is something I have not done for a number of years. Mistakes were made, but all things considered I am happy with the result.

The above cross stitch has been featured here before. It languished in a drawer for about 3 years. I finally figured out that foam board bought in the school supplies section along with some spray adhesive could take the place of regular mounting boards. It is now hanging in our bedroom and I am ready to start another. I just hope it does not take as long as this one to be up and hanging.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thursday Tid Bits

I promised you all pictures of my finished projects for this month.

First off my cross stitch projects.

 

 

The evenings were spent knitting, and I finished two more blankets for the nursing home. I will be donating 4 blankets in total.

I finished the striped one yesterday.

The bottom blanket was finished earlier this month.

I hope to deliver these blankets to the Nursing Home in the next day or two.

I forgot to get a picture of the shawl I finished, and will do so sometime over the next couple of days.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

God bless.

Day Two

Remember when I said I didn't know if March came in like a lion or a lamb??? Well this week it is definitely lion.

We are on day two of a blizzard.

This is a picture of the main street in my small city as the storm began yesterday morning. Believe me it got much worse with zero visibility and lots of very large snow drifts.

This is a picture out my front door during one small lifting of the storm this afternoon.

At times today we could not see across the street. Really not much snowfall, but the wind whipped everything up causing large drifts and wind scoured ice. Highways have been closed and people are stranded on those highways.

So for the last two days Harvey and I have stayed in the house, watching the snow pile up and hoping the power does not go out (it has in some areas of the city). This has done wonders for not spending, but both of us are getting a bit of cabin fever. After much discussion neither of us could remember the last 2 day blizzard, we just figure as far as we can remember it was when the boys were young.

I did a bit of mending today. Harvey had a pair of pajamas that needed some seam repairs done. Used up the leftovers from previous meals for lunch and supper as well. Those are my thrifty's for today.

Then I spent the afternoon working on my cross stitch.

One leaf and the backstitching left. I am hoping to be done this little project by Thursday and can then pull out another.

When the lighting gets too bad in the evenings I pull out my knitting. Right now I am using some Baby Cake yarn from Caron and knitting this bright wrap. Slowly but surely I am making my way through the skein, or should I say "cake".

I don't think I ever posted a picture of my last blanket. This one is also made from leftover bulky yarn.

Well off to visit you all.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

All has been quiet here, we have had almost a full week of lovely weather (the lowest temperature being -12 C  and the highest 0 C in the morning). I loved being able to get out and walk. Today was not quite as nice as it has been, not that it was cold, more that a heavy freezing fog moved in. While the trees look lovely covered with hoar frost, it felt damp and because visibility (even in the city) was bad I stuck to an area around my home. Hopefully I can get a walk in tomorrow with no fog to keep me contained to this area.

As far as projects go this week.....

The finished lily cross stitch. I found some orange fabric that might just enable me to make this into a pillow. Then again I do have some green fabric that could be used as well.

Evenings are spent knitting, curled up in my favorite chair and watching various programmes on the television. This is going to be my new shawl/wrap. I call the pattern my dishcloth shawl. Mainly because it is fashioned using the same pattern as the first dishcloth I made. It is on a bigger scale though.

I have picked my next cross stitch kit out and sorted the threads. I am hoping to make another flower based one and turn it into a pillow also. I can perhaps recycle two of the older pillows in the living room.

I have also gathered together all the partial skeins and wound balls of yarn. I think I will make a blanket of many colours for my next knitting project. Just have to figure out how to combine all the strange colours together so the darn thing looks decent.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

What To Do

I have often spoken of the inherited craft projects from my Mom. I am slowly but surely working my way through them all. I do have to mix in a few of my own projects, but the end of the cross stitch kit projects seems to be in sight.

The following are the ones left from Mom's stash.

So a whole 8 kits left to work my way through (please excuse the yellowish pictures, for some reason the flash on my camera is acting very strangely).

I figure that doing the easy ones first will give me the most satisfaction, and perhaps the most bang for my time.

After these are done, I must get the stamped embroidery and the sugar bag tea towels completed. My mom always seemed to have something on the go, and it looks like she had planned to be busy for another 10 or so years.

At least now I will have room for a few of my own projects.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

Once again temperatures plummeted. In fact it was the coldest day of the year today. When I woke up this morning the temperature was -36 C and the wind was blowing, which means the wind chill made it feel like -48 C. Not fit for woman or beast.

The sun did shine however and that helped to heat our house for a few hours.

I  promised you all some pictures of various gifts.

I always make our sons a gift or two and this year is no different.

This is for Kurt, our Lovecraft fanatic.

Kris on the other hand has always loved dragons. I started this a number of years ago and this year in my mad dash to get all those unfinished projects completed got this one done right after my angel (which needs to be washed, press, mounted and framed still...).

 

Pretty sure he will like it.

I also finished up a scarf, headband, cowl and mitts for myself.

Here are the mitts and cowl. I could use another pair of mitts, and I do have a partial ball of yarn that needs using.....

Tomorrow is another day, and it is supposed to be warming up. Sure hope so as I could use a bit of a walk.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Warming Up

Today was a bit warmer than the previous couple of days. The high for today was -17 C and the temperature when I got up this morning was a balmy -20 C. Of course there was still a bit of a wind chill, but nothing near the bone chilling gusts we suffered through.

I managed to get a bit of baking (or should I say candy making done).

The caramels are cut and wrapped.

Peanut butter cups made into squares this time around. Don't think I will do them this way again as for some reason they just do not want to come out of the pan in one piece.

I also managed to get two more decorations cross stitched.

This means 4 down and two left to go. Hopefully the stitching will be completed this week, and I can finish them up on the weekend.

The countdown to Christmas has begun. Our youngest son Kris (plus our rather large grandcat  Ray) will be home this coming Saturday. Means I will need to cook bigger meals again.

Kurt won't be home until the 24th as he teaches until the 23rd.

So looking forward to having both of them home for a bit. It will be nice to have all the hub bub of them being here. Kind of miss the noise and all the activity.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

Today our Gospel reading was the Prodigal Son. Father Brian said that we were to focus on the father and his forgiveness of his son. That both sons were separated from their father physically (in one case), emotionally and spiritually much like we are separated from God at times. We need to focus on how God loves us and always will love us.

I took a few pictures of my stock up shopping.

I got all this material for at least 50% off. The first one is a knit fabric that I plan on making another skirt from. The second is a cotton that just may become a dress for summer, and the third is a stretch corduroy that eventually will turn into a jacket and skirt. The thread was all buy one get one free. Not too bad for my first stop.

My next stop was Micheal's and I managed to get all these balls of yarn for $1.00 each. Should keep me out of trouble for awhile. The embroidery floss was full price, but considering I can not buy DMC floss here in town, and Coates is twice as expensive here I did manage to save a bit.

Pork chops and chicken divided up into meal sized portions and vacuum sealed for the freezer.

A whole pork loin cut into three roasts and a rather large beef roast made into two roasts. Sealed in Zip Lock bags and ready for the freezer.

I seem to have missed taking a picture of the ground meat, sausages, and salmon that were portioned out into meal sized vacuum bags. Oh well, perhaps I will keep the camera a bit handier next time.

The dratted embroidered quilt. I have managed to get a bit more done. I still have the eye of the rabbit to back stitch and the back stitching on the yellow ribbons but I do see an end in sight. I am so thankful that a few more days of work should see it all finished and put away until I get a name to embroider in one block.

I picked up a day of subbing this week so this project may take a bit longer than I hoped. Yet it will be completed and I can move on to something else.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

Today started off just lovely. The sun was shining, the temperature above freezing and joy of joys, no wind. However by the afternoon that changed to overcast skies, falling temperatures and very gusty winds.

I thought I would update you all on how far along my unfinished projects have come over the last week.

First my sewing.

The corduroy dress that Harvey keeps thinking is a nightgown.

A simple, light weight dress. This is more a wear around the house or to run out shopping dress.

A medium weight jumper/sleeveless dress.

A light blue knit split skirt.

All these have some hand hemming to do, so that will be done tomorrow afternoon while I am watching Little House on the Prairie episodes. The corduroy dress needs some snaps and buttons as well. I see a relaxing day ahead of me.

The only pattern I have left to sew is the dreaded coat/jacket. So many new techniques to master in doing this one. I am thinking that I should be able to get a really good start on it the beginning of next week. Don't know if it will be finished by the end of the week, but I will at least give it a try.

Now I will show all of you how far along the embroidery is.

I work on this for an hour or so each night and every day I see more and more of it being completed.

Slowly but surely some of those unfinished projects are being completed. It does mean, however, that not all of my goals will be met this month. But there is always next month!

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty Tuesday

It has been a snowy day here on the old homestead. I did manage to get my walk in so free exercise and lovely fresh air. Mind you I looked a bit like a snow woman when I got back home, but I dried out quickly.

Leftovers were made into a lovely shepherds pie type meal. Harvey really liked it and I got to use up a few items in the fridge, the remainder of a bag of beans, remainder of a bag of corn, and a small bag of frozen carrots from the freezer downstairs.  I also used up 4 small potatoes making the mash to go on top as well as a bag of frozen leftover roast pork. This will definitely be made once again.

Yesterday was laundry day, but because things are hung on the lines downstairs I don't usually finish until today. Saves at least three loads going into the dryer.

I also did some more decluttering, working towards that 100 items out of the house by the end of the month.

The two bags on the right are what I have found this month. January's total was 289 items. So far this month I have found another 9 items to join them. These will be put in the back of my car and dropped off at the Salvation Army tomorrow on the way home from work. Combining trips to save on gas and driving time is my way of cutting expenses.

I started the Dragon cross stitch project and can see why it has sat idle for so many years. The stitches are extremely tiny and I go cross eyed working on it. I can only do a few stitches at a time.

I will however get it completed, if not this month, next month.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Playing Catch Up

I have fallen a bit behind posting so first off I will post some pictures of my on going projects.

My cross stitch angel is now finished, I just need to hand wash and press it. Then comes the framing which Harvey will do for me. Matting will be left up to me.

Two more pairs of tiny mittens.

Three pairs of slippers. Two x-small and one small.

I have a pair of pink slippers on my needles now.

Moving on.......

This will be an update on my goals for last month.

1.     Organize kitchen. I have to move things around to have room to store my new appliances.  Partially done, will continue once Harvey gets the cupboard doors up in my new storage area.

2.     Work on unfinished projects (this seems to be a reoccurring theme).  Worked on the angel cross stitch and completed it.

3.     Copy and organize more recipes. Slowly but surely all those binders of recipes is disappearing and a nicely organized recipe shelf or two is evolving.  Done.

4.     Work on scanning all those loose pictures in containers and files.  Not even started as painting seemed to take up much of the space I needed (the scanner was not hooked up).

5.     Work on at least one quilt. (notice the "at least one", gives you a hint that there could be a few more that need working on.... More of those unfinished projects).  Worked on during the cloudy days, but need to continue with this.

Hmmm, not to good this month hopefully next month will be better.

Goals for February are as follows.

1.   Scan those pesky pictures.

2.   Declutter at least another 100 items from the house.

3.  Work on dragon cross stitch (another unfinished project from many, many years ago). There really isn't that much left to do and I got all the floss ready to go. Except for the white, I may need to purchase this as for some reason I used it all up on the angel.

4.   Work on quilt and get the top finished.

So there you have them. I hope to get everything completed this month. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.