EXERCISING BRAIN CELLS

I've done a pattern similar to this but this time I am using short rows.  After a few rip-outs occurred, the lightbulb went off 

and I went to town!  I am using some more of the dishcloth cotton, ( I Love this Cotton brand) 

which I have found makes a very good way to test out a pattern and have something useful when I'm finished!

 

A FINISH

I cut and applied the binding onto the table runner finally. 

 I bought enough fabric to bind this and the latest QOV quilt which I will bind today!  This runner is 23" x 54".

I'm still enjoying the two color dishcloths;  I am making the Center Double Decrease Square or the Mitered Square in the orange and blue variegated, carrying the yarn at the right side. 

 

JUST ONE STEP

I picked up wooden needles to knit some dishcloths-the basic patterns required the least amount of thought.

 

DISHCLOTHS

Pitiful but proof that I am still alive. 

 Pain is such a creativity-cancellation.

 

HERE'S HOPING!

I managed to finish the dishcloth my Mom had started , made another one and then did an old favorite, the corner to corner dishcloth yesterday.  

Bill bought two folding screens at Ollie's recently and made a change in the hinges to one section so I could have them as a privacy screen on the corner of the pool patio facing a long driveway on that side of our property.  There are new homeowners back there and I felt the need for some changes.  The large plant in the blue pot is a lemongrass plant--yes, each leaf when broken smells delicious!

The other plants from left to right ( I double-checked my words here for accuracy! lol) are a Plumeria, Buddha plant and ponytail palm.  The outdoor temp in the sun read 118F--not a day for hanging out by the pool !  I did go to the doctor's and am on a 'script of anti-biotic so I should be feeling better in a few days!!!!  I'm ready for that!
 

I WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS!

A very Merry Christmas to you today! 

 We've put a dinner in the oven and are off to church, 

then home for a nice dinner for the two of us! 

Yesterday did indeed mean bitter Florida temperatures of 24*--we had to run a trickle of water from our faucets to ensure the pipes wouldn't freeze.

On the way to visit our son, we saw one of the reindeer on the road--it just might be Rudolf!

These nuts had fun with me on the trampoline--I never let go of the pole but did have a tons of laughs!

(yes, it was cold out still!)

 I learned how to make a double layered dishcloth on the Sentro 48--it sure is pretty and is about the size of my opened hand--just right!  There is more of these in my future--with a color change to make it look more like a flower

 that the designer had in mind!  

I hope you have a lovely day today!

 

TWO STEPS BACK

I did manage to cut all the pieces for the dolphin quilt on Saturday.

Only 40  or more pieces left to make!  At least it is simple piecing units!

Yesterday, I only made a dishcloth. 

(Thanks for the idea, Dee)

 Today, I will use up time heading to the doctor's because I have broken out with a rash.  It itches.  I'm feeling down.  I have laryingitus still and Bill can't hear a word I say so I am not saying much unless I get right next to him!  

Someday it will be funny....

 

MORE LOVE

A few days ago, I finished the lizard dishcloth--it's a bit hard to see unless you are really looking for it but I know it is there~

It's been too long but  we finally are all feeling wells enough to visit again!  The boys built 'sailboats' out of thick styrofoam and added mast, sail and crew and off we launched them!

The windward side of the pond was pretty clear but soon...

the end of trip ended in the dreaded slime! 

 We had fun with each trip.

He's proud of the sail he and Grandpa built!  

The boys  headed to the pool to swim and cool off

 but the slimy boats were not invited!   

MELLOW MONDAY

When I am in bed *sick, I like to knit dishcloths 

because I can lay flat on my back to do so!

I tried to make a new idea but it didn't work out 

and I ripped it out--it was seed stitch

 and some partial rows to make it color blocked. 

 It worked almost but the seed stich was a misery. 

 I will try it again when I can think better.

 *we are thinking the omicron virus.  I feel like I have a head cold /sore throat .and am running a fever. I've already had Covid so I am not terribly ill but just not up and out of bed.  A few days of rest and I should be bouncing back, Lord willing.

A NEW WEEK

We started the day heading into the eye doctor's-isn't their office pretty?!  The dr is onboard with the others about the new meds so that is 100% agreement--fantastic..  Did you know that Psoriatic Arthritis affects the eyes, too?  Strange but true. 

 In a few months, I will be experiencing much less pain-something to look forward to, right?!

When we got home, I played a bit with a chunk of wood, a burl actually.  I had to remove most of the bark which was too loose to save.  More on that later this week.

I did some weeding in the front gardens--my flowers aren't the only plants that are growing from all of the rain! 

 This is a thunbergia.

I have completed the camphor bowl.  It is 6" across and 5" high.

And yes, it has a flat spot from the shape of the log I used-it is cool when you see it in person! lol

The grain is fantastic!

And I still have to graft the beginning to the end but the pretty swirl dishcloth is completed!

I will be playing in the studio today!

 

Two More

 Count is up to six now.  

It finally looks like I've used some of that yellow cone

 but weighing it shows it is only half gone!

 Look at all of the blooms on the African Violet!

I've moved it to my bedroom for two reasons;

it will do better in an east window

(it had been in the southern window and it was too hot!)

and it is in my viewing pleasure now!

 And speaking of viewing pleasure, Lena takes a bath....

and even did her toes!  

There is so much pleasure in the little things all around me!

Just an Hour

 

Some more sunflowers....

with a kitty for company.

 The dining room table has become my art studio.

I usually paint standing up but I have no endurance for that so...

This was great fun to paint,

while an area is drying I head back into my recliner

and knit some more!

 I am working on this picture my son sent me in the Fall.

It is a view of Mt Rainier.

I am now working on the foreground...

when I watch a YouTube video, things go so quickly.

I think it has been a good lesson in patience to paint again.

 I also made another face mask in Bill's chosen fabric so he will have two.

The length of the elastic had to be longer for it to fit him well-note to self, 

men need to have larger sizes for masks to fit them well!

Church by social media this morning....I am missing everyone so much!

Different Strokes

I finished this dishcloth first thing yesterday .

It has a dark olive green center that reads almost like a brown

which is fitting for the sunflower look.

 Then in early afternoon, I made a few of this kind of face mask for myself-it fits me best!

I made two that are subtle and the color of my eyes;  always a good color for a person to wear.

 Bill requested one, too;  he wanted it loud and wild!

He got it and loves it!  He is a neon kinda guy! lol

To each his own, right?!

Two for him and two for me.

Now to make plenty to hand out, finally.

And I rounded out the night with another starflower dishcloth that I call sunflowers.

I'm using up scraps for different colored centers--so far I like the blue best!

Walking a Mile

 Well actually only a tenth of a mile!  It felt like miles, though! lol

I used my walker and went to the mail box-400' from my front door;  

it is a slow grade downhill so the return trip was a bit more good labor!

I used two colors of cotton for this 'sunflower' dishcloth.

I will make another today.

 Lena shared my 'sewing in the tails' , arriving just in time for the finish.

She's a great encourager!

I had to do a bit of this--medical paperwork.

It was the phone calls to straighten up certain 'points' of discrepancy that were most exhausting.

Too bad I can't just text them!  I wish.

Only one bill left to take care of today-they were in meeting and out of office yesterday.

I hope you have a good day!

A Good Report

I had a doctor appointment by video yesterday, first thing in the morning.
Other than a few technical difficulties, it went well.
(routine MS appt)

I took several walks today both with my walker and without--
the new physical therapy for myself is working well.

Then in the afternoon, Bill drove me in for a face-to-face

(or should I say,  mask to mask!)

doctor appointment because it is difficult to listen to lungs by video! lol

I am glad to report, my lungs are improving and so is my strength!

On the way home, Bill bought us a stone oven baked pizza--

it was  torture for the olfactory sense on the drive

but absolutely wonderful to the taste buds once home!

We watched an old movie and I finished the garterlac dishcloth

and started the pinwheel one.
It felt good to sit in the living room like an adult!

I'm hoping to make some more face masks today;

I will be making the flat, pleated ones but using elastic instead of ties.

And Then There Were Three

I thought I had this set  up to launch at the crack of dawn 

but obviously I am still having trouble distinguishing between am and pm! lol

I worked the trellis dishcloth first and it was a bit difficult to do intuitively but it finally clicked.

The little one on the right has a heart in the middle of the basic tip to tip dishcloth.  

I have started a fourth in garterlac which I can almost do without looking and that is comfortable.

It doesn't look like the cone is any smaller at all!  I might be doing this longer than I thought! lol

Basic Stitches

A one row , 4 stitch repeat...

just what I need right now!

Yarn from the stash,

a free pattern on Ravelry and all the time in the world.

Just like a first-time knitter, 

I am waking up my knitting muscles with a dishcloth.

(Peaches & Creme yarn

#7 needles)

Playing with Threads

 After numerous attempts, I have worked the numbers for all of the different types of filet crochet used in this pattern--kind of like those math problems where you have to find all of the factors of a number! lol    (24 would have factors of 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 12 for example)

You have to use this kind of information when you are quilting, too, so all of the different geometric shapes must fit together in the same measurements! 

 ( a 12: square could be made of 6" or 4", 3" or 2"!)  

Practical math rocks!

 I added the gusset on the second sock, turned the heel and even started up the leg!  

I am sorry to say I haven't enjoyed making this sock because of the traveling stitches.

I am in the mood to knit a plain sock ---stay tuned;  I will have one on the needles soon!

 I also wasted a lot of time trying to make the linen stitch and while it was finally executed correctly but still didn't result in the look I was after.

I will have to give it a try with scraps--I thought of an idea

 to use up all of those scraps of dish cloth yarn!

'Look what Bill spotted at the pond/swamp out back!!!!

I can't wait to see them , too!

(Sandhill Cranes and child!  (new-it is very new!)