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Saturday, May 12, 2018

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.

Sunday, May 06, 2018

British TV, World War II, Knitting, and Fashion Icon...

You really have to keep a sense of humor about life.  In so doing, some have suggested this could be a new fashion trend, lol.  The Ortho Boot, and the hiking boot are as close as I can come to the same height.  It causes me to walk lopsided, but would be far worse if I wore a decent looking shoe.......so there you go. (was making my way to plug in my ipad when hubby snapped the shot).


 99.9% of my walking is here in the house.  Truly not very mobile and since I can't drive anywhere.......have continued to watch shows on my ipad from either Netflix or Amazon Prime. This was a very enjoyable show about strong women in England during World War II.  
I watched this one on Amazon Prime.  It first aired in May of 2015, and the last episode was May of the following year, 2016.  LOVE the period clothing, and the history of how women did so much while men were off fighting.  I think it's only been in recent years they've gotten more credit for all they did.

You probably recognize the actress on far right in the first picture and left in the 2nd pictures as Samantha Bond played Rosamund in Downton Abbey.  I also read that she played Miss Moneypenny in James Bond during the Pierce Bronson years; though I didn't recognize that.

I'm continuing to work on this afghan, Learning Logs.
And am currently working on what I believe will be the last section.  Already thinking about what to work on next.  Perhaps I'll start putting this together?
It will take some work to get things to be the right size and fit together.  

Though perhaps that's too much up and down as I'm enjoying this series that I started just yesterday.
Anyone watch Home Fires?  If you did, were you left up in the air as much as I was at the end.  Soooooooo disappointing it was cancelled after that.

Anyone watched The Grand?  Takes place in the 1920's in Manchester with lots of lust, greed, and gossip..........AND cool period clothing. 

Wednesday, May 02, 2018

Knitting, Master Piece Theater, Romance and Physical Therapy

Making headway with The Learning Logs Afghan.  Have added about 10 sections since the last picture.  This afghan has what I call 3 zones.  The center...zone 1 where colorwork was done.  Knitting with 2 or 3 colors at one time using the slip stitch method.  I did this square as a class project.

Zone 2 has lots of texture with the solid colors represented in the color work in zone 1.  Zone 3.......is strictly garter stitch to help the whole afghan lay flat, and I  continue to use colors represented in zone 1 and 2.  Closing in I think.  Last I measured it, believe it was about 53-54 inch square.  Have probably enough yarn left for 2 more sections.  Imagine the finished ghan will be 56-57...maybe close to 60 inches after it's laundered and blocked.  The colors are more vivid than the pictures shows.  This seems a bit light to me, not sure why.  But, if you scroll back to the previous post the colors look more natural to me.


Just finished watching Victoria, on Master Piece Theater.  Season one is included with Amazon Prime Membership, but season two requires a membership to Master Piece Theater.  I joined and got a 7 day free trial.  I was able to watch season 3 of Poldark (see previous post for pictures and info), and then season 2 of Victoria with my 7 day trial.  Need to see if there's anything else I want to watch before my free time ends.
This photo seems to show quite a resemblance between the real Queen Victoria and the actress.  Was surprised to see this, as other pictures I've seen of Victoria didn't show her to be a very handsome woman.  Quite a love story.  She and Alfred were very passionate, and their marriage was't really an arranged marriage which is a bit unusual for Royalty.

Started physical therapy yesterday for my broken foot and will be going twice a week for maybe the next 8 weeks.  Therapist informed me that the bone I broke is the slowest healing bone in your foot.  So, apparently it's good I spent time today updating my watch list for both Amazon Prime and Netflix.

NETFLIX:
A Promise
Tulip Fever
The Dutchess
Serena
The Patadise

Anyone watch and recommend any of those?

Amazon Prime:
Elizabeth Virgin Queen
Home Fires
The Forsyte Sage
Jamestown
Last Hope
The Grand
Ekateriana
Cranford

Same question, anyone watched any of these or recommend them?

Saturday, April 28, 2018

How to Occupy Yourself with a Broken Foot, Poldark and more

Spotted this picture a couple of weeks ago on Facebook and saved it to my computer as a reminder.  The cute bright colored lady bugs are painted rocks.  I thought it was a cleaver idea, but knew I would not remember it without a picture.  I don't think I'll do this in a flower bed, as my flower beds are too large and far from the house so I wouldn't really see them.  But, perhaps in flower pots on the deck where I could enjoy them?  


Am continuing to work on this afghan, Learning Logs.  This picture isn't absolutely up to date, as this was several sections ago; but you can see it's considerably larger than the last picture I took of it.  I'm having a problem in that I may run out of the right colors.  I actually think I have some down in the basement in my stash, but with my foot still in the boot and limited mobility; I can't go searching through my stash.  I had put what I thought was enough in the project bag long ago when I started this in the class on Crafty's to learn how to do the drop stitch work for multiple colors.  I was able to have hubby get me more of the yellow.  I sorta remembered where in my stash it was, so he found it easily; but.......didn't have much luck when I asked him to see about the rose color.  Soooooo, we'll see how this goes.  I may have to put it aside until my foot is healed and I can go back down the stairs.  I do have another project bag of yarn that I could start another project (but not sure there's enough in there either, as I planned to add to it when I got the original idea of putting specific colors together.


 I've mentioned several times lately how much tv I'm watching while elevating my broken foot.  This is Poldark.  If you've not watched this series, I highly recommend it.  Firstly, ladies...take a look at the main character.  WOW!  The scenery is captivating and reminds me of what I saw touring Ireland last fall.
 There's lots of love stories, intrigue, suspense and good guys vs bad guys.
And did I mention, the main character is sexy!!  I watched seasons one and two as part of my Amazon Prime Membership.  I'm currently using a 7 day free trial of Master Piece Theater to watch the 3rd session.  It's my understanding from a google search, that a date for season 4 will be announced sometime early summer of 2018.  Not sure how or where that session will be available, so am keeping my eyes pealed.

What are you working on?  How many work in progress do you have?  Are you out doing gardening things yet?  Spring has been fickle around the country.  Have you watched Poldark?  What did you think of it?  

Friday, April 13, 2018

Walking 4 Fun, Treadmills and an Empty White House

Walking4Fun Trail Badge

 Well, barely hiking it should say.  Since I'm still with the broken foot, wearing a boot and using the aid of a walker.  But, I do still wear my fitbit...haven't hit goal in AGES.  The pictures of Walking4Fun are truly awesome.  If you've not checked out the site, you really should.  You can link your fitbit and or other electronic devices to it so your steps are automatically attached to a virtual trail.  Or, you can manually add your steps.  


In truth, this more accurately shows my current level of activity.  LOL, though I can't drive the car to the gym to do this; so continue to knit.  Making good headway on the afghan in the previous post.  Scroll back please if you missed it.


Started this series yesterday, after finishing Downton Abbey.  Juries out so far.  It seems odd to me that the man character, the priest is involved in solving crimes and is extremely friendly with females.  Have you watched it?  Did you like it?  Did you find it believable?  I've watched just 2 episodes of it so far on Amazon Prime.


Some have quit, some have been forced to resign, some have been fired: David Shulkin, H.R. McMaster, Rex Tillerson, John McEntee, Gary Cohn, Hope Hicks, Rob Porter, Omarosa Manigault-Newman, Dina Powell, Tom Price, Sebastian Gorka, Steve Bannon, Anthony Scaramucci, Reince Priebus, Sean Spicer, Mike Dubke, James Comey, Mike Flynn, and Sally Yates.  MASS EXODUS from our White House.  That list is NOT complete, there are more names that could be added to the list and that doesn't include those who've decided not run again....  It seems to me even if you're actually in favor trump, you ought to be very concerned, very upset about the fact that he can't keep a staff.  Having people who know what's going on, having some consistency is important in any place of employment.  NEVER is our history has the swinging door been on on such high speed you barely can keep track.  There are 19 names above and I believe the current count is close to double that.  To keep track of soap opera, you need flash cards.  Truly a sad state of affairs.

Link for credit for the last picture, showing how empty our White House is
https://www.google.com/search?q=empty+white+house&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjLs6rSurfaAhUNYK0KHWp-A_AQ7AkINg&biw=1536&bih=759#imgrc=kIRetgfhzJMEQM:

Friday, April 06, 2018

Broken Bones, and Downton Abbey

Current afghan I'm working on for Bridge and Beyond.  Called Learning Logs.  Started it some time ago to learn how to use multiple colors/stands at the same time.  This was through a lesson I purchased on Crafty's.  The lessons were flawed, as was the pattern and through lots of complaints it was removed from Crafty's, along with the instructor.  However, I did actually learn how to slip stitch and use multiple colors.The pattern was 6 large blocks all with these different patterns and colors.  FAR too busy, I think for one afghan.  So, am adding to it in solids with some texture at the moment.  I may decide to add some additional color with stripes as it's grows; but will try to keep the center the busy part.
You see me wearing the boot in the afghan picture.........here's the reason why.  Fractured 5th Metatarsal Bone on Right Foot.  
Watching this, courtesy of a friend has helped pass the time while I sit with foot elevated.  Never had the chance to watch it when it was on, so have been enjoying her collection of the entire series.

Am so very tired of winter.  We've been wetter and colder than normal.  How are things for you all?