Yarn a Plenty, I'll Drink to That!

Started another scarf.  I really love this pattern. This is my 3rd one.  The first one I actually made for myself........something I rarely do.
Love the colors of the one I made for myself, but it's tucked away now until fall, as it's finally gotten to nice to want to wear a scarf/shawl.

The 2nd one I made for a friend, who likes gray as she says it goes with everything.

This 3rd one, is for another friend, who loves everything Buckeye.  This is made with sock yarn, so it's going a bit slower and will be smaller when finished, I think.  The two previous scarves were a bit easier to work with due to using size 8 needles vs the 4's I'm using with this sock yarn (that has lots of silk in it).  Currently 17 points.  With the other yarn (which the pattern was written for, 25 is about what you get for the full cake of yarn.  So, will see how this pans out with the sock yarn, which is slightly less yardage.

This is yarn I purchased while in the Pacific Northwest on a recent trip with my daughter.  Love both colors and am trying to decide if I want a scarf from each one, or ........I want to double the base and make one larger with both cakes?

Thoughts?  It too is a lighter, more like the current weight yarn I'm working with.

I spotted this the other day, and thought WOW...someone is really good with photoshop, thought it worth a share...with all the talk of late about Sarah leaving her position.  Seems appropriate she leaves, she certainly didn't do her job anyway.  No real question and answer periods, no regular briefings etc.  And the others ...it would be funny if it weren't all so sad to have such lack of appropriateness in our government.

Wine Country.  A fun and funny movie I just watched while on said trip with my darling daughter.  We really enjoyed it, as we toured several wineries there in Sonoma...so this seemed very timely.  You no doubt notice several characters from Saturday Night Live!  If you watch, let me know if you liked it.  Be sure and pour a glass while you're at it.

After above post, I visited all 29 blogs on my blog list (plus one extra that was suggested by one of the 29).  I would like to encourage bloggers to check their settings to allow name and url instead of just google....truly folks it's a HUGE time saver.  All explained in previous post.

Oh Deer, Where are my Classmates, we Have Yarns to Share!

--I'm participating in Slow Stitch Sunday, please come join us.
Jeweled Lines is growing, but it seems to be at a slow point right now for me.  It's 43 ish inches.  I'm a bit over half way through the largest turquoise section and next up will be a small gray strip followed by the amethyst.  I've not been knitting quite as much as I've begun working hard at finding lost classmates.

My high school class reunion for 50 years (egads how did I get that old) is next year.  I'm the person that finds people and maintains the database.  It's a job.  With those who've passed on (surprising how many), those that have moved, women who divorced and therefore have a different name etc.  Anyway, because of that, I've been on the computer more and therefore knitting less.

This is a most unusual view from our windows this am.  Seriously you can see we do not live in the country or a wooded area.  We are in a very developed, long standing neighborhood.  These two Deer (one has a reasonable size rack, and the other has one starting), spend a good amount of time cruising around in our yard, (non fenced), then hopped the fence behind us where the blue house is, then came back and jumped the chain length fence to our neighbor to the right of us.  In front of blue house is a major road...one of the most major in our community that connects 2 neighborhoods and 2 freeways.  They need to get across that road to get to safety.  About 1/4 of a mile on the other side of said road and to the right is a golf course......perhaps that's where they came from?  Down the busy road or any of our roads on this side takes them to the river in about a mile.......but then have to cross a 4 lane extremely highway to get to the river. 

Last week I shared a cross stitch I made years ago (scroll back to previous post), so today I thought I'd share one of the quilts I made a good number of years ago.  I do do other stitching besides knitting and crocheting.......just not as much.  I have some lovely blog ladies visiting who do really intricate cross stitch and or make very involved quilts...with real quilting patterns.  I'm a dabbler.  But, this quilt was fun as it's made from flannel nightgowns.  In my younger years we had a group of friends who skiied every year and we  woman would have "team" nightgowns for lounging around at the end of the day.  Nothing warmer or more comfy than a flannel nightgown after skiing in the cold all day.  So, this quilt was made for a very good friend from those nightgowns with cross stitched squares that have memories from our various trips.  I had planned to make one for the other lady in the group and myself........somehow, that never happened.

I Spy, Out The Window, Yarn and Needles, and Other Sorted Affairs

Since I'm still not very mobile (broken foot if you've not been reading my blog previously), I've spent a fair amount of time looking out the window, watching spring happen in the neighborhood.  Took this photo out of my bedroom window.  Two little girls, one from next door and one from across the street like to set up in our yard.  It makes them feel more private I think.  LOL  Seriously, how cute is this!  It took them a while to get all set up and inside their umbrella fort.  Reminded me of when our daughter was young and we would travel.  She would put up a towel between the two front seats of the car...that way her space there in the back seat was private...she was in her reading fort.  She was an avid reader even when quite young and we traveled lots of miles out west to camp and she'd read a book a state basically...all in her private fort.

Having finished the previous afghan (Learning Logs..previous post), got something else on the needles.  Picture looks a bit mauve, but the color really is more purple-violet.  This is yet anothe afghan.  Not using a pattern, so guesstimated and cast on 202 stitches.

After all the color work in the previous afghan, and counting for texture, and the constant binding off and picking up stitches, wanted something truly mindless.  Doing basic stripes........probably all garter stitch to just let it flow.  Started this ghan a few days ago and have already added the above two colors to it.  Since it's all a guesstimate...I'm not yet sure if I'll need to add another color in order to have enough yarn.  I have the one gray as above, and 2 of turquoise and 5 of violet.  8 skeins of washable wool.  Violet skeins are 197 yards each, turquoise is 277 yards, and the gray is 277; for a total of 1816 yards.  That seems a bit shy of enough to me.  Thoughts???  When I can get to the basement to check my stash, I might have more yarn of the appropriate weight etc that could get added to the mix.  For now, I'll play through.  

Latest British Series is Upstairs Downstairs.  A bit more rambunctious than Downton Abbey, perhaps with some similarities of personalities.  A much shorter series, only 2 seasons.  Focused more on the torment before The War in England with regard to Hitler...and how divided The English Government was about doing something about it.

Quite an ending!  Fun to see Claire Foy (who played Queen Elizabeth in The Crown), be so very different in this roll.  Would have enjoyed the series more I think if Edmund Stoppard as Sir Hallam had been played by a different actor.  I've just never liked him, and don't find him at all attractive or sexy...so seeing him a roll where that's an issue was less enticing.  But, with that said.......the series was indeed enticing and I do recommend it.

A YEAR in Review

Today is January 1, 2018.  Happy New Year to you all.  We stayed in last night, had a good dinner, then popped the cork at 12 mn, watched a bit more tv as we were enjoying the bubbly and called it a night.  I hope if you were out and about you were safe and warm.

That's the last completed projected, emphasis on the word completed for the year 2017.  This knitted afghan wasn't yet laundered or blocked in this picture, thus it's not laying out super nicely.  Once blocked it will be added to the donations for the homeless through my blog, Bridge and Beyond.

This afghan was completed just prior to the one above.  Was pushing hard at the end of the year to get them done.  The center pink was a small square someone had donated to Bridge and Beyond, and I added to it, to make an afghan.  It too was laundered, blocked, and donated.

This was a cute ferry garden we saw while traveling in Ireland in the fall.  The trip truly being a highlight of the year.

You can talked about Ireland and Scotland without thinking about Castles!  WOW and then some.  I've posted some, and will continue to post about Ireland and Scotland on my travel blog, Traveling Suitcase.  Please enjoy traveling virtually with me.

In some respects this has been a good year, I traveled to Ireland and Scotland, as mentioned above.  I returned to a favorite spot, Hilton Head and Park City in Utah for vacations both with hubby, daughter, and girl friends on different trips.  I love to travel.  But, it's also been a difficult year.  I've lost a cousin rather suddenly that took me by shock.  Somehow we all think we have endless time and can do tomorrow, or call someone tomorrow.  Just isn't always the case.

Politically, I am extremely dishearten by the person occupying the White House when he's not playing golf at one of his private clubs and charging The American Public for it.  

I hope 2018 holds some improvements for people suffering from illness.

And tomorrow, will be another day, January 2, 2018

Hope you noticed a new badge I added to this blog to join a blog linky party that focuses on yarn!  Oh lovely yarn.  Check out the badge upper left, Ginx Craft.

Celebrate the Small Things!

• Celebrating fun yarn delivery...the purple,black and green are lightweight bamboo (meant to be a shawl, though reading the pattern has me scratching my head)
• Celebrating the fact I FINALLY got started with stitching this together (been on my to do list too long).  I blogged about how this came to be ...HERE

• I'm celebrating that I've got my step goal Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday of this week.  So far everyday this week except Wednesday where I got a little over 6,000 steps of my 10K goal.  Looks like rain again today, so getting them today could be a challenge.  Might be inside walking in between knitting and blogging

What are you celebrating today for Celebrate the Small Things?

What Should Your Future Look Like

Another blog challenge, another blog prompt.  Todays prompt, How You Hope your future will be like.

Join us at Paula's for the challenge, click badge.  Today's prompt reminds me alot of Day 2 prompt, Where would you like to be in Ten Years.  Here's the post to give the feel of what the future would be like in my dream world.
In addition to that there should be ample time for pedicures during Girl Time with Darling Daughter.

Lots of good food and wine.

 Time for party dresses

 Oodles of yarn and craft time

 Memories from Long ago

 Pretty flowers

And above all Loving Families

**If you missed, scroll back and join the fun for Memory Monday.  Get some Linky Love**

Rainy Monday, Got Yarn?

Next ghan to be assembled from donated squares through Bridge and Beyond for Homesless Families Foundation is Blue Jay.  The variegated squares, dark blue, and medium blue required 1 row of single crochet as an edging, while the light blue required one row of double crochet.  I managed to get all the edging done in the car ride as we traveled back from St. Louis yesterday.  This needs to be tied together so crocheting it together can begin and I think will need a substantial border to bring the size up a bit.  Currently it measures 43 x 43.  Should be able to add several inches to it once it's assembled, bordered, and blocked.

Sorry gang, I'm a day late with my Sunday, YOP post.

My Year of Projects List for July 2012-July 2013

My Afghan Goals:
To complete 12 afghans:
10 from donated squares (9 down and 1 to go)
1.. Summers End
2.  Sandbox 
3. My Granny
4. Christmas Time 
5.  Buckeye Blitz
6.  Box of Crayons 
7.  Arapaho
8.  Desert Rose 
9.  Iris and Lillies 
Complete Candy Corn Afghan (longest work in progress project EVER)
Finish the Feather and Fan Afghan (knitted), that finally has a name, Sea and Sand
  **Sea and Sand in the works
SO, BLUE JAY WILL BE MY 10TH AFGHAN MADE FROM DONATED SQUARES.  IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF I'M GOING TO MANAGE TO COMPLETE SEA AND SAND, AND THAT LONG TERM CANDY CORN TO COMPLETE THIS PORTION OF THE LIST.

Other portion of the lists are not coming along as well as the afghan list.  The project for Darling Daughter got switched after I made a scarf that the colors weren't right, and switched that project to a sweater, which is in the works, but only have a portion of the the back piece done.  Need to rip out a few rows, and so have put it on the back burner.

Cable knit skirt for myself.....no hope of getting it done, though I did get part of my goal completed.  I learned how to knit cables, by knitting a scarf with cables, which is still in need of a good soak and blocking.

Cotton cloths for myself, has gotten switched to 2 Pay it Forward Gifts, and a gift for a friend who's husband has been very ill, in and out of the hospital.  Sadly, mostly in the hospital and she's in need of a pick me up.

Here's one cloth in the works, have completed a couple of others, which have previously been posted.  Hoping to get a few more done.  Worked on this some in our recent travels from Cols, to St. Louis.

YOP badge and link in meme tab across the top of the blog.

It Pays to clean?

Anyone addicted to yarn, like myself will relate to this I know. Moving a few things around the other day, and found a bag of something soft. Hum, wondered what it was. When I opened it, I found booties! Had completely forgotten I made these. Not even sure when I made them (maybe on the plane when hubby and I went to Florida?), but was thrilled to find them. They're mostly FO (finished objects for my non yarn friends). I'll be able to add these to the current hats and booties I'm making. Got 2 sets finished, and 2 partial set's going...so hopefully can get these all finished and in the mail soon.
*Found objects are the 2 pair of patriotic booties, the multi-colored wee little preemie booties, current items are the yellow hat and booties-multi-colored hat, aqua hat & booties, and the light blue booties. Plan to make booties to match multi-hat, and hat to match light blue booties.

Soooooooo....go clean out something and see if you find a treasure too. Let me know if you do.

Hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving with family, and hope you'll check out my posts about being Thankful, here and here.

2 Chest Tubes, ICU...Day 15

We got another surprise yesterday in ICU. Got there wanting a report on the callopsed lung and expected to hear update regarded the possible removal of the respirator. Instead we got news they wanted to insert a second chest tube for the other side of the lung. Apparently, even though puncturing her lung was a mistake and not what anyone wants the upside is that things were draining well. They felt draining the other side with chest tube rather than another needle extraction was needed to remove as much fluid as possible to increase her ability to breath when respirator was removed and to improve her vitals. So, another painful day for Mom. They pulled off quite a bit of fluid during the procedure and even more after by way of the tube. The got her situated, medicated again after the procedure and I think thats the most restfull I've seen her in this long 2 weeks. We all left, as visiting hours were over. Hubby and I headed back when visiting began again at 9 pm to tuck her in. I like to stay until I know she's sleeping and as comfortable as possible. Last night is the first time she was asleep when we got there and remained so. We checked on her 3 times before heading back home.

With any luck at all the next post will be that she's improving, and things are looking up. I thank you again for your support and prayers.

Knitted 2 pair of booties yesterday during our waiting time. Will toss some more yarn in my bag today as I prepare to head back to the hospital.

**Favor to ask
I posted a mini new post on my travel blog (it's nice to post something unrelated to the hospital, something I already have pictures edited for etc.), please stop in look around, post a comment or two. I'd really like to improve traffic on that page. Thanks!

And so it continues.

Candy corn has gotten further along. Though more stitching has been done since this picture....it might get frogged. I'm seeing a different vision now in my head..........sometimes I hate it when that happens.

I have 4 of these green squares/rectangles...shapes. Use 2 to make this pair of slippers, I think they would work for a boy....probably grade school age? Unsure where they will be sent. Need to check my charities and see.



Had a stack of 10 little blue squares and have used 8 to make these 4 pair of booties/slippers. Newborn and older (each a little different sized)



These bright bright rainbow type colors were 2 granny squares. Can you imagine trying to put these 2 squares in a ghan of other colors? The lone pink square was knitting, so I unraveled it to use the yarn for the trim on these slippers for a little girl...grade school age. Though I normally like slippers to be solid, I think these will still be nice when one takes off shoes...even if worn over socks feet will be warmer.





Probably sending the booties to Marine Corp Kids, but need to check on the green and multi colored pair to see whats the best spot.

Been working some crazy hours, and so haven't knitted and crocheted as much as I would like this week. Been busy rolling yarn though. A box of mill ends was sent to me, before I can determine what to make, I need to know how much I have and thus the rolling is taking place. To date 185 balls, some smaller than others, but most are about 2-3 inches. I'm not yet done. This is I believe Berroco's Comfort yarn, 50% cotton 50% acrylic. It has a wonderful feel. I might do a group of chemo hats because of the softness? Still got my thinking cap on. Takes time to do the rolling, tangles....but what a lovely donation. I will make use of it; I always do when folks donate things they want to go for good causes.





No additional work done one the mutli colored ghan with Sensations yarn, or the 2 strand yarn (ice blue and dark green) shawl.

Today is the first day in several weeks I didn't get 10,000 steps at work....though if I'd put the pedometer here at the house before hand, or left it on afterwards......am sure I was well above my 10,000 steps a day.

Happy Hooking and Knitting One and all