Another Bonus-Family Abounds!

 Late Sunday night....while some of us had a hard time waiting for cousins...

Marsel and kids rolled in just in time for bed!

Not a happy occurrence after such a long trip!

but a rendition of Let it Go helps!

 Monday morning we took a drive to the beach!   It was very brisk and invigorating!

 The colors look good for a skein of yarn!

 Abigail was the first one in~

 Some of us stayed farther away!

 The waves were spectacular!

 But so were the dune huddles!

 We ended up going up by the cars in the parking lot where there was some protection from the wind-it was a LOT warmer!  Ella had fun with her little pile of sand!

 Kids find fun anywhere!

 We actually warmed up in the sun for a bit!

 Abigail had fun feeding the gulls even if it was a bit intimidating!

Alicia and David enjoyed tossing the football!

 I finished Ella's socks on the drive home.

She put them right one-she had been watching me knit so I would go faster!

Weekend Bonus

 A happy surprise in two of my favorite color combinations!

 I saw the pattern for these hearts on FB and knew just what to do with it for a friend's birthday!

 Hmmm, may I suggest you try a recipe for English Muffin bread loafs.

 I finished a ribbed hat for David.  This is just the color of his eyes...

 Caleb is sick with the flu but he brought his family to stay with us this Saturday-Ella puts on her crown and keeps it on the whole time!

 The little prince is a very benevolent ruler!

 We had a campfire to take off the chill.   Good stories and laughs abound...

Yes, it is so good to fill my arms with this bundle!  (he has a pink back-up blanket because he ruined three in the night and they were in the laundry!)

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes...

 The Coronet hat is off the needles!   What a great knit.  I did have to change the height of the hat, the pattern calls for 8.5" of knitting before the decreases which I did.   The hat was so long it covered my nose.  I did rip it out and knit it 7" and started my decreases-voila!  A perfect fit!
I called Mom so she could do likewise.

 We got the pillows stuffed and arranged on their sofa-so satisfying to get a job done together!

 Here is the dining room curtains both hung.

 And the kitchen window.

 Here is a photo of both of our hats!   So pretty.  No reason or destiny planned for them-just because it was a very good knit!

 I also have Cassandra's socks off the needles!  She likes shorty socks, too.   Which isn't as much fun cuz the knitting is done too soon but there is enough to make a pair for Ella now!

I did my own take on the VanDyke stitch up the center of the socks for a bit of fancy!

(I went to the doctor's again today and they put me on a slew of meds for bronchitis and ear infection....I should begin to win this war-- finally!  It does feel good to be able to breathe better already, the steroids are kicking in!  I might not sleep tonight but I can breathe!!!!)

Project Assembly Line

 I got out the dye supplies and transformed this skein of Bare fingering weight yarn so it can be knit into a cowl by Mom.

It is all wound and ready for the needles!

 As long as I was making a mess, I pulled out some Shetland roving and camouflaged it!

When it dried, the roving is just right;  just what I had in mind!

 Mom and I put a new pattern on the needles after raiding the stash;  it is Coronet from Knitty.com
for a hat.  It is so fun to knit the band of cables for the brim.  We got to sit outside in the sun and knit which was the first time since they arrived.  It was wonderful!  (Nyki is guarding a pair of lace socks I am working on also but I got sidetracked by this hat pattern!)

 Today, we did some work in the sewing room!  Some more chapstick keyrings for the coming company!  Mom joined right in the assembly line work and we had a few good laughs!

Then four new pillows were assembled for her new couch-they need pillow forms which she will be picking up tomorrow!   It is so nice to be working together again!

Curtains And Panels

 Recipe for some finishing touches:  do a series of measuring and match so you can cut some cool border print fabric into appropriate size chunks, do a bunch of pressing and straight stitching then,

 press it again!  It is beginning to get exciting now.  We made two sections of two panels each for each window-both are very long!  Mom and I work well as a team;  she even learned how to use the serger for the hems!

 Once you hang them onto their spacious rods, you have a very spiffy new valance that fits the wonderful new dining room!  I will give you a picture of the other window and the kitchen window next time!

 The last tile went up on the ceiling Friday morning and now the furniture is back in place.

 Everything is so wonderfully clean and shiny;  it is very inviting.

 Even the little bedroom looks bright and comfy!  It has been a month since they arrived and the house has been in 'remodel' mode the whole time but Mom and Dad are ready for some down time!

 After a nap, I made some lavender and rice hand warmers!  It is just chilly enough in the mornings to appreciate this extra perk!  It is a fun and easy gift, too.

My King Orchid is going to do her thing again!  I am very excited to see the blooms plump more and more every day!

While we were creating curtains, Bill was at work increasing the number of solar panels from 7 to 10.  He has two more to put up at a later time.  We are trying to get the pool temp up for my sister's visit next week!

He is a good Jack-of-all-trades kind of guy!

FO FRIDAY

It's nice to be able to play and have a finished object on this scale finally!  I started this quilt in 2005 and just completed it in 2015....10 years!!!!   I can't believe I did that.  But it is completely finished and ready for us on a spare bed!   I ended up sewing the binding on by machine;  I can't believe I even considered sewing it on by hand, it just isn't on my skill tray anymore!  So what!  I can still make a quilt!  (Just don't be in a hurry to see it done! :')

Consistent Time Investments (CTI's)

 My parents taught me that a minute shouldn't be wasted if you want to finish a particular project.  Too many times people waste a 10 or 15 minute block of time thinking it isn't enough to really count towards their goals!  You couldn't be more wrong!  (My parents teach by example-still, they have never been big on lectures but always by their own actions.)

 I have the quilting done on my flower basket quilt all because of many little time investments. I just can't stand (or sit) there for hours any more so I just work for 15 minutes at a time.  And now it is done!  Granted, it isn't as speedy this way but I have a finished quilt !

 I cut the binding strips and got them pressed.  I will be sewing them on today.  I have to decide if I will be able to do the binding in the two-step, hand sewing way or all by machine.

 I used another short time slot and loaded the next quilt onto the frame.  I have to decide how to quilt this.  I am thinking a pantograph this time.

 I finished the socks for Caleb-a nice pair of size 12/13 socks!

And even a wee pair for Elijah so he has a pair like Dad!  What grand things will you accomplish this week, little steps at a time!?

A Celebration!

Today we celebrated Dad's birthday by going out to lunch to a new to us restaurant, Musselwhites.
It was a huge success!  Back home, we played games and had birthday cupcakes!  Happy Birthday, Dad, and many happy returns!  <3 p="">

Cowled and Cornered

 I finished the second cowl for Marsel this time.  It is made with Hobby Lobby's brand of yarn, Yarn Bee in Sandfrost Effervescence .  (2 skeins)  I am able to get out a little bit each day now so I know that I am recovering from the flu.  I do not recommend this to anyone.   I will be getting a flu shot next year-be sure and remind me how awful I have felt next Fall in case I procrastinate!!!!

 Dad and Mom have been finishing their back bedroom project.  Dad is working on the ceiling tiles-he is 3/4 of the way done!

 The boxes come like this and he has only a few left now!  I will be posting a finished project in a few days!  (Just in time for my sister and niece to come and visit!)