2026 Projects at the Ready, Hitler, New Years.

 

2025 is coming to an end, so I was organizing some of my project bags for the afghans I'll work on in 2026.  As some of you know, we leave Ohio for the winter, so I need my yarn goods organized to go take with me.  If you've visited my blog before you know I always name the afghans.  My daughter suggested Red Stone for this one.  Rarely are the squares I work with the same size, as they were made by so many different people, some are knitted, some are crocheted.  I don't remember what color yarn I tossed in this project bag to size and join these squares, so it will be a bit of a surprise when I open the bag.  Normally I take a picture with the yarn I plan to work with.

This one I've named Popuri.  I've included blue, yellow, green, and dark red/marron in this project bag, but once I start working on it we'll see how much of what I use..  

Most of these squares are knitted corner to corner/mitered...so for lack of a better name, I'm currently calling it Mitered.  But, if you have a suggestion with the colors in it, please sing out..........in tune of course!  I've added burgundy and gray yarn to this project bag.

I'm totally without an idea for a name for this one, so please give me some ideas.  From the time I had put this project bag together til the other day when I was double checking everything, the mint green yarn was no longer in the bag.  Perhaps I nabbed it for a previous project?  I can't say I remember.

Calling this Peppermint/Spearmint?  This project is a bit unusual, in that the squares are all the same size, probably made from the same person except the for right 2nd row on the top.  Again, I didn't photograph this with the yarn to work with, so will see what I end up with.

Lots of sizes in this primarily purple group of squares.  Purple Rain?  Purple People Eater?  What are your thoughts.

I only have this labeled currently as Everything.........surely one of you has a much better idea for a name?

#8 is a project bag with blue and green squares.  I must have lost the picture I took when I designed it, so this will be a true surprise to me.  Darling Daughter suggested Sea Glass perhaps for the name.  I had written Marine on the bag.  Will see what it looks like when I start working on it.

Because we still have to laugh in these crazy times, a few meme's I thought you might enjoy.

I'm 94% through this book, "Hitler's First Hundred Days" by Peter Fritzsche.  It's taken me a while, not an easy read.......and not a light read.  With Darling Daughter being home and Holiday Celebrations this has been peacemeal.  As I often say, the people we need to read this book, to see what's happening in our country right now; won't be the people to read it.  <sigh>

Let's hope 2026 is a good year, a better year.  I know it's been a tough year for most of us.  If you're traveling for the holiday, please be safe.

Christmas in Pictures, Colorful Veggies, and The Free Store

 

When Darling Daughter was home over Thanksgiving, we made a run to the Free Store.  Believe we had 13 afghans, a spread, duvet, drapes, and personal care items.  Normally I've made Homeless Families Foundation as our primary charity to support; but a friend was telling me about the Free Store, they serve a very underserved population of folks in need in a different area of the city.  They were appreciative of the donation.  I encourage you all to see if your local has a Free Store.  You've seen the pictures of the afghans throughout the year.  I generally make deliveries in the fall or early winter when things like that are in need.

The veggies I took to the family Thanksgiving gathering.  Always think they're so colorful before you cook them.  They loose some of their brightness after cooking.  Brussel Sprouts, Butternut Squash, Cranberries, and a tart apple make a really cook mix.

Gearing up for Christmas, no doubt many of you are as well.  Many of our ornaments have been purchased during our travels, so it's always fun to remember our trips as I unwrap and place them on the tree.

A Christmas long ago, when both hubby and I had full heads of dark hair, and our Darling Daughter still believed.

Still pictures from the way back machine.

We're getting older

Mother and daughter sweaters on Christmas morning.

Christmas quilt I made for Mom, many many years ago.  She's been gone a long time, I now put the quilt on the sofa back during the holidays.  She loved Poinsettias.  

The photo's aren't in date order, obviously.

And in the truly way way back machine.  Check out the old tv in the background.  I'm not sure how old I was here, but maybe 3.

Merry Christmas to you all.  And if you're traveling for the holiday, safe travels.

A New Project, Reading About the Past to Understand the Present!

 

Started this corner to corner project a few days ago, and I currently have 83 stitches on the needles and it measures 26 inches across.  LOVE the colors.  Have had this yarn probably 2 years?  My favorite local yarn shop was going out of business, so I purchased a fair amount of yarn with guesses about how much I needed and or what I would make with it.  It's called Marble.  I bought 3 large balls of this and 2 that seems similar to me, but darker in colors.  My initial thought is to start and end with this and use the darker blend for sections 2 and 4 and this lighter for section 3...so every other section.  But, I'm not sure if there's enough yarn to make an afghan, given the yardage on each ball.  Sooooooo, I'm knitting this to see how much I get from 1 ball, and may continue with that plan and or once I see how far this goes....it might become a trainangle shawl.  The colors and textures would well for a shawl, as well as an afghan.  Only time will tell.

Snow number 2!  This is about 4.5 inches, and as luck would have it this hit the day we left town for a couple of weeks in Hilton Head, just after the Thanksgiving weekend!!  I'm a happy camper to have missed it, since I'm not a fan of snow or cold or winter for that matter.  My neighbor across the street took the picture and said......you got out at a good time.  She knows me.

A fascinating read.  I had no idea we, the USA smuggled books into The Soviet Bloc during the Cold War to help mold descent among the peoples of the U.S.S.R.  The brave people involved were incredible.  10 million books were smuggled in.  To read about this when here in our country currently the far right is banning books every single day is extrodinary.  Please put this on your to read list.

A backward island,, a dysfunctional family, an alcholhic actress and hiden treasure linking the present with the past.  LOVED this book, very entertaining.  Oh and let;s not forget a love story!

Wow......a long book.  The audio of World Enemy No 1 is 17 hours.  A very interesting look at WWII and how Nazi Germany, and The Russian Bolshevik's manipulated their own people, as well as the rest of the world about who was the aggresor, who was the victim in WWII, who suffered more and who gave more.  Very insightful.  Quite a lot of history to absorb.  After reading this, I did some googling to understand better what I read/listened to.  Highly recommend this book.  trumpie dump is trying very hard to use the same playbook about manipulated public opinion.

84 Years ago yesterday.  A day to pause and remember!

Still standing with Ukraine.

Blogging about my French Adventure HERE!