Tuesday, March 19, 2024

PLEASANT PUTTERINGS

I did sew the rows together and cut the borders so I could sew them.  I didn't make too many mistakes (the brain is still very slow! lol) until I did something dumb!
I poked the pin to hold a piece straight into my pinkie finger---boy did it bleed!  I had to leave the piecing for the day because I  didn't want to bleed on the quilt!
After washing, I trimmed the loose ends from the fabric and then pressed it!
There is much variation in the handspun yarn and I love the shading and shifting that results!  
I was glad to see the fabric didn't shrink too much and my fabric pieces will fit!  I will be cutting out the skirt pieces another day because I am heading out to our first day of The All Florida Shop Hop.  I only have to drive the 25 mins to my friend's house and she will do the rest of the driving!  We are going to the closest and the farthest shops today with a pit-stop to JoAnns' in between!  


 

Monday, March 18, 2024

PLANS AND REVISIONS

I knit the sleeve (top up) and realized that I would prefer the sleeve line up with the same color of the body.
See how the shading of the  sleeve is graded in the other direction?  I ripped it back and will find the right place for it to match the body and work from there!
On another front, I liked the color of these pants but with the few pounds I've gained, the pants dig in at the wrong place below my natural waist and give me a muffin top.  Not attractive.  I watched a YouTube tutorial to rip off the waistband and sew the two sides one on top of the other to add 2" to the height of the band. 
 I then cut out a facing out of a cotton fabric and then resew it to the pants.
Since I never wear belts, I didn't bother to sew them back in place. All I had to do was to add buttons to the waistband and enjoy the more comfortable and attractive pair of pants! 
 Fun to make an adjustment like this!
 

Sunday, March 17, 2024

WOVEN WITH LOVE

I reached the end of this warp! 
 I so enjoyed each pick a long the way.
Lena was glad to share some bonding time when I finished weaving.
Twelve feet of cloth;  now ready for washing, drying and pressing.
  I will get it done soon so that I can do the cutting
 and stitching to make this fabric into a skirt!
Lena gave it a good snuffle but I stopped her before
 she could pull any threads with her nails!
 

Friday, March 15, 2024

SLIPPING BACK TO LIFE

So even impaired, a grandma answers the call to babysit!  Dad and oldest son were off to a school field trip so Bill and I went to spend the night to be there for younger son.  Unfortunately, he spiked a fever and couldn't even go to school let alone get up from the couch and play!  So we had movie and story adventures right on the couch -- just being together all day!  Once Dad got home, we hugged all, listened to their adventures and then said our goodbyes!
Look what was in glorious bloom when we pulled in the driveway!  
Such beauty!
And the cardi did get done up the the armhole separation;  I've started on the left front!  It's been a very good knit and I look forward to getting the first front done and trying to match the color strip on each of the other front and back!!!! lol
(the kitties sure were glad to see me--they didn't think much of us disappearing again!)

Thursday, March 14, 2024

PRETTIER THAN I EXPECTED!


 I only have another 1 1/2” and it will be time to separate fronts from back!  The yarn looks so dark from the outside of the skein, I had no idea it would have so many shades of denim!  The two strands of yarn are easy and soft to work;  I am enjoying knitting this so far!!

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

JUST BREATHING

Moving at slow-motion but at least I am seeing better each day.  Lena, sunshine, warm temperatures and listening to the birds
 was very good therapy yesterday.
I made four more dishcloths--they look distorted here but they are all 6=8' square.
We have one pool screen panel out (still on the waiting list for repairs!) so all kinds of insects are finding their way into the lanai but they can't seem to find their way out! 
 This beetle was about 1/2" long--very pretty! 
(Rainbow Scarab beetle; Phanaeus vindex)
There were four butterflies just like this one (quite dead) but 2 were still alive and Bill managed to net and release them!
  Heroes come in all sizes!
(Giant Swallowtail or King Swallowtail; Papilio Thoas)
 

Monday, March 11, 2024

COME ON, BLINK

Stretched out on my recliner.  I went to the ER yesterday; my eyes are dilated again and won't spring back to normal.  The pain/pressure in my eyes is a bit extreme.  I am off to the eye Dr today.  The thought is that the Prednisone has caused the pressure in my eyes increase too much causing the pain and the dilation.  Did I ever tell you that my health is always a precarious balance without much wiggle room?
I'm feeling the weight of the last straw....


Saturday, March 9, 2024

BACK IN TIP TOP SHAPE!

My home, I mean!  I have done a ton of cleaning and tossing to streamline areas.  I enjoy that kind of work! 
 This jade plant has a story;  I had one that was started from a leaf from my grandmother's plant.  I had it for decades but a few years ago it croaked.  I was devastated!  My Mom has a big plant from her Mother's original plant and so she started one for me.  As it grew, she gave it to my daughter to bring to me eventually....and at the visit last week, I finally received it! 
 I will be putting it in a special pot
 but for now it is in my bedroom window getting to know me!
I cast on for the new sweater and the 5" of garter at the hem is a slow go on #5 needles but I don't have to think at all (no increasing or decreasing or specialty stitches!)  instead I am just enjoying the pleasure of this very soft combination of yarn
 to slip through my fingers.  
Therapy! 
 I ended up leaving the two strands of yarn to feed separately because I didn't want to cake it up 
and have to have more breaks in the yarn. 
 It is working just fine much to my relief!
Look what came in the mail yesterday!  I don't usually manage to grab one of the deals from Fat Quarter Shop but his time I did-a Layer Cake at half price! 
 I am hoping to spend some time sewing today!   

Friday, March 8, 2024

SETTLING IN WELL

It was a perfect day yesterday--cleaning, unpacking, puttering in the flower garden all while the sun shone and the humidity was completely absent!  A new project is ready to cast on;  the lace weight yarn and the strand of yarn from the 'shawl in a ball'  are to be used doubled for this sweater
 (I will make it short sleeved, though) 
so I am thinking , it might be easier if I wind them into a cake together first.  
You know how much I love the moss stitch lately for dishcloths (and more) I saw this C2C pattern using moss stitch and had to try it! 
 I used scraps and it wasn't hard at all!  
I'm also trying it in a solid color.  
The YouTube tutorial uses this construction for a scarf but I found it worked just fine for a square!  I do like a success story!
 

Thursday, March 7, 2024

CONSOLATION

Lots of construction and if you never guessed where you were---the red soil would surely give you a clue!
The Bradford Pear trees are all in bloom-oh, so pretty!
I made four dishcloths on the way home-did I mention it is an 8 hour trip?!?!?!  And I worked on my crochet shawl but I kept on running into thread breaks in 1 or 2 of the 4 plies and then would have to cut 8-10" out so that the ends would like up....too frustrating while in the car! 
Here is the consolation of having to leave, goodbyes and all of that.....

I started to unpack but my kitties and I decided a snuggle fest was better for all of us!  

I will unpack first thing and touch all of my house and settle myself into my life again--I kinda lost my grip on it for the last month or so!

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

SO LONG GEORGIA!

Our visit was timed just right to enjoy the red winged blackbirds which are flocked all around the yard/trees!  I had never seen them at feeders before so thoroughly enjoyed their raucous calls!
  The catbirds must travel with them because we never saw one without the other!
Even though I missed the best photo today with at least 15 different species at the feeders at once, I enjoyed the never-ending parade of appreciative birds! 
 I need to up my game when I get home!
I made two new dishcloths (top ) and had the pleasure of teaching how to my daughter and she picked it right up-she only has about a yard of yarn left which she is finishing as I type this!

We head home today so I am hoping to be back to our usual routine very soon!  It is so hard to say goodbye.  I will concentrate on saying hello to my cats by dinner time tonight instead...
 

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

PLEASURABLE AND COMPANIONABLE

I am having a wonderful visit;  just being with my daughter and son-in-law and seeing my first grandson is beyond medicine for me! We get the chores done together, sit on the porch swing and watch her birds, run errands and even sit and crochet! 
We tried another watercolor because it looked easy!  Do you know that when you don't paint everyday and that you hate not being an expert just naturally it became very funny right away!  We had a number of laughs while trying to create!!!  You know that alone frustration would've mounted but together it was grand fun!

Here is the new haircut--so easy to dry and style, I am enjoying the freedom of shorter hair especially as temperatures will be climbing by the day!  I mentioned that my face looks so puffy to my daughter and she said."Mom, you are on steroids!" 
 I think I need to keep my sense of humor going!

(I am wearing dark glasses because something has caused my eyes to dilate and be irritated.  Have I mentioned that when one thing messes up, I run the risk of setting up a domino trail on the health front?!)
 

Sunday, March 3, 2024

SOCKS ON SUNDAY

Oh, these were real fun to knit! 
 I will dig through for other scraps of handspun!  I weighed the yarn and knew I had enough for shorty socks and I ended up with maybe two yards left over-not bad figuring! 
 I think I stated the wrong number of stitches the other day; 
 there are 48 stitches using a #5 needle throughout
 with short row heels.  
A very satisfying knit and they are nice and toasty!
 

Saturday, March 2, 2024

CROSSING THE LINE

First thing in the morning yesterday, my daughter and I went and had our nails done and then went 3 doors down and had my hair cut!  It feels so good!  (pictures later, I promise!)
  On to the art--we filled out palettes with watercolor paint,
spread out on the art table and played. 
 I picked line and wash and tomorrow we will pick another style of painting.  What fun to relax and just paint!
And I was gifted this sketching journal from my daughter--there are prompts for each day--fun things like what are you looking forward to today  or  what makes you smile? 
 It will be a wonderful way to get lost in the joy of art!
 

Friday, March 1, 2024

GRAND-FUR BABIES FRIDAY

I did make them each a crocheted mousie to have but like any other brothers, they fight over one instead!  Felix, on the left, is almost 11 and new boy, Olliver, is almost 1.  They romp and play and keep me from missing my kitties too much!

I am using up the rest of the Superwash handspun yarn for a pair of socks--I am using #5 needles over 52 stitches with the DK yarn.  It sure works up faster than fingering weight! lol

And guess what?!  I am almost me again;  the steroids are really helping me get back on my feet!
 

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

 
 Oh, I love to see these throughout daughter' yard!  The prednisone has been great to give me a boost;  a boost so good that I haven't been able to unwind to sleep more than a few  hours at night--I don't do well with staying up all night, you know!  I never did when I was young and that was a long time ago! 

We are going to tackle watercolor time today;  I am very excited to have a partner for inspiration!
 

BON VOYAGE

I think it was the easiest trip we've ever taken to visit daughter and family!  Travel was light the whole way.
I managed to finish the knitting on the shawlette/scarf from the superwash wool I had spun.
We always approach Atlanta with much trepidation but it was also light traffic!  Hooray!
We used the EZ Pass from Florida and stayed right in the pay lane and passed by the 6 lanes of crazy traffic heading north out of Atlanta and laughed at the ease of the 8-hour trip for us!  It was so good to hug my daughter and family in person--
I haven't done that in over a year!!!!! 
 Today, we will hang out, talk laugh and rest up !


 

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

HEADING NORTHERLY

After Bill took me to the doctors again....I am put on a high dose of prednisone which got me out of bed and upright!  We decided to head off to my daughter's 600 miles away because I had to cancel due to this Covid!  Upright is so much better!
I was able to finish these socks last night--just in time to wear on the way up!
 

PLEASANT PUTTERINGS

I did sew the rows together and cut the borders so I could sew them.  I didn't make too many mistakes (the brain is still very slow! lol...