A word of thanks

Occasionally, much too often, I have occasion to be disappointed in people. Sometimes I find people, (FRIENDS!) that have never learned how to say THANK YOU!. Sometimes (not always) it involves something that I have put forth a great effort to do something for a person and surprise of all surprises!! there is no thank you.

I tell you all that to show you a very tiny thing that I do for a very small thank you for something nice someone has done for me. This morning I told you about the chickens someone gave Becky. I took a small gift bag to the lady who offered the chickens. In it were four pot holders that I had made. I keep one in the making all the time. I very seldom throw away anything. When I am knitting or crocheting, if there is a small strand of yarn that is at least 3" or longer I tie it onto the potholder I am making. It is a fun thing to do because it is a mind numbing thing to do when I don't want to think and it takes no finishing because all the ends and knots are tucked inside and never seen. (Makes more padding for the potholder)

The first picture is the beginning of the potholder. You just crochet a chain as long as you want the pot holder to be square and then single crochet all around and around and around...you get the idea. Don't add any stitches to the ends, just keep going around.


Pretty soon the piece will begin to cup (turn into a boat.


When the sides of the boat meet each other you sew or crochet the sides together and VOILA! you have a potholder.

Caretaker Me

I am now the caretaker of 1 rooster, 3 chickens and a baby chick! I didn't set about to acquire chickens. Last Sunday, after church, I was chatting with some people I had not met (other people knew them, they came to church years ago before I moved here), one thing led to another and the lady ask me if my small time farmer daughter wanted more chickens and I replied YES! Yesterday my daugher and I went to their house in Becky's convertible truck to bring home the chickens. You have to know that I call her truck a convertible because it is a small old pickup truck that has no AC and in the summer one must go everywhere with the windows open to keep from getting cooked! At any rate, on the way home we decided to put the chickens in my garden. I have grown dis-interested in my garden because it is pretty well overtaken with bermuda grass and is much too hot for me to care to go out there and tend the garden. I have a completely enclosed 2000 sq. ft. garden to keep out the larger preditors like little Kit foxes, coyotes and wild rabbits, then it is covered around and overhead with a web of netting to keep the birds away from my tomatoes, etc. It is a good place for the new chickens for it will keep the long time chickens of Becky's from "beating up" on the new kids on the block. Chickens are mean beings and will peck the new ones unmercifully. Also, the garden space will keep the hawks away from the new chickens (she has a dog to keep the hawks away from the chickens over there). There is so much for the chickens to eat in my garden I am not sure if and when she will have to feed them. That will be up to her. The bugs are plentiful, there are cherry tomatoes and some nice new bean plants they are welcome (and will) to eat. I think I am responsible to keep them in water. One drawback to having the chickens in my garden: How will we ever find the eggs they are bound to lay???? It may prove to be a continual Easter egg hunt for the grand kids!!

I've missed you all

I have not been able to get onto the internet in many days and it sure puts a hole in my day. I have been used to getting up, turning on my computer while the water heats for the coffee, sharing my Carnation Evaporated Milk with the cat and then commence to wake up and start my day with YOU. I sure have missed that. I am just going to put on a tiny bit tonight just to let you know I am among the living and start my day with ya' all tomorrow.

For now, it is almost 9 p.m. and time to hit the sheets. See you tomorrow.

Always in a hurry

Alison Boon of "Born to read and knit" made a comment on my creations. She ask me "What's next?" I went into a bit of detail on the last thing I knitted and future projects. One of the things I replied was about the jacket I just finished and the desire to make another one. The reason I enjoyed knitting the jacket so much was because it filled the good ol' U.S.A . compulsion for NOW! Fast food, fast cars, fast, fast, fast. We want what we want and we want it NOW! I wonder how that came about??? I read a comment in a knitting magazine about knitters in China that said the Chinese are simply not in a hurry to finish what they are knitting quickly. They are content to knit with fine yarn, small needles (and I am sure they do a fine job). I, however, am always in such a hurry to get to the next project I always have UFO's sitting around. As I have said, I always finish what I start but sometimes it takes a while to get back to it and finish it. I receive two knitting magazines in the mail. While I was perusing the latest one that my BB brought home I commented: "Life is too short". I had to explain to him that receiving those magazines are sometimes not a good thing for me. There is always something new in them that I want to start. I have a mitten almost knitted and want to finish the second one to get the jacket, scarf and mittens in the mail NOW even though all that heavy covering cannot be worn NOW. Much too hot all over the U.S. right NOW.

Sadly I have to leave home on an errand or two today. Just think of the stitches I could finish if I didn't have to do errands!

Below is a bit of "eye candy" for you. This is a picture of "Picacho Peak" seen from my kitchen door.


!

Silly little something

Well, durn! The picture didn't turn out very well. The little purse/bag that I crocheted is something I did to keep my hands busy while I gave them a rest from knitting the big heavy jacket. I like it a lot. It has very nice colors but doesn't show well in this picture and I am too lazy to try again. The handles are hard plastic of some kind and are a pretty pearl color. I purchased the handles at a garage sale for .25 cents. Who knows where the crochet thread came from. Another thrift store or garage sale. It is so satisfactory to me to get something from nothing...so to speak.

Memories

I suspect this is going to be a ramble. So many thoughts going thru my head on the way home. I will try to get them in order.

I am a 70 y/o widow. My husband of 40 years died in Jan. of 2000 when he was only 61 y/o.

Today I received a phone call from a long time friend (I dated him in high school.) He was the last fellow I dated before my intended came along. I say "intended" because my dad ran almost all the other fellows away and let my future husband stay. Dad DIDN'T run the last fellow away, my future just appeared and as the old saying goes, "...and that's all she wrote!" It was a done deal.

Anyway, Bill, the long time friend who called today (he and I enjoy each others company when we are in the same state, he lives in N. Calif. and I in Southern, VERY SOUTHERN, AZ) called to tell me a man (another fellow I dated in high school) died last Sunday. I looked that old "boyfriend" up on the computer and read his obituary and also remembered another fellow I dated, looked him up and found that he had died also.

After that, I decided that I didn't want to stay home for the rest of the evening. I don't believe I was indulging/muddling in sad memories, I seldom, in my whole life have ever gotten depressed. I simply decided that instead of staying home, I would go out and celebrate life. Mine. I once, after my husband died, was feeling very sorry for myself and was looking in God's word for comfort. I found comfort in the following verses in Psalms.

Psalms 116
I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. The I called on the name of the Lord: "O Lord, save me!" The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. the Lord protect THE SIMPLEHEARTED; (ME) when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul for the Lord has been good to you. For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. NIV

Now, even though I am not a good Bible student, I know that there are different meanings to the above words that were, perhaps, not intended for MY need but, I went out tonight and CELEBRATED LIFE!

For knitters only.

Becky (only the middle child, sigh.....as she is fond of saying) agreed to model this jacket and scarf/neckwarmer, VERY BREIFLY, (it was a great favor considering that it was close to 100 degrees outside). On, off, very quickly.

I thought I would make another jacket in a different color right after I finished this one because it came together so quickly but...my thumb, clear up my wrist is still suffering from over work. The jacket is made with four strands of yarn throughout. Hard work. I tend to knit much looser than everyone else, including what the pattern directions call for. This jacket called for size 17 needles so (after checking the gauge once again, I HAVE LEARNED THE HARD WAY TO ALWAYS CHECK THE GAUGE) I once again had to choose needles two sizes smaller than the pattern called for.

I was very unhappy with the collar. (If you look closely you can see the collar, it is white and lays under the scarf) It rolled from the edge toward the neck. Very unattractive. I took it out twice and finally decided to ignore the directions. I knitted the last 3-4 rows in a size 17 needle and in a garter stitch and I WON! Now it stays where it is supposed to stay. The sleeves are also too short for the size so I believe I will knit mittens or gloves in the blue with long cuffs to cover the wrist. I might even knit the jacket again when my hands are rested. It is great fun to see what I can get out of my stash and not have to go to the store or order online for the project.

The jacket continues on down below and ends in all blue just as the sleeves end in blue. It should be pretty warm for the one who enjoys receiving surprises in the mail. Hummm. I wonder who that will be?

Just a little something

I don't have much to share today. Just can't believe how fast this week went by. Old age? I had a very young grand child tell me one day that time was zipping along for him/her? also. Tuesday just simply disappeared. I had a friend/neighbor come by and share some of her time with me (muffins also) and therefore that shortened the week. I was away from home all day yesterday doing errands and appointments so that day disappeared also.

I DID finish the jacket and stole/neckwarmer. When I can get someone (Becky or Danica) to model it for a picture I will show it to you. It is so heavy that I can't imagine that either of them would be willing to put it on even for a picture or two.

Below is candy for your eye. Monsoons are still around. Love 'em.

I'm back

We are perhaps, sadly, toward the end of our Summer Monsoon Season. At times we have pretty severe weather involving thunder storms. A lightning strike took out the internet for several days until it was repaired. Meanwhile, I always find things to keep me busy. The first two pictures are an almost finished jacket. Another garmet that can't be worn here in my desert. It is made with 4 strands of yarn through out which makes it knit up mighty fast. I got it completely knitted in a weeks time. It is in the process of being blocked. I may even make another one because it was so satisfactory to make, having come together so quickly. I have errands to do today and can't wait to get back home to put it together.




Below is a way I figured out and erected in my sewing room to store my "feet" for my Bernina sewing machine. I ask about a way to store them at the Bernina store and they basically had NOTHING!. What you don't see is the rest of the peg board which has all sorts of usful things hanging from it.

THIS IS ME TODAY

Finished!!!!!

A few days ago I told you I was almost finished with Sammies hoody and a quilt. I finished both yesterday. HOORAY!. I can never finish projects fast enough. There is always something that excites me that I want to start next. I have already started knitting a heavy coat even though I will probably never wear it because is will be way, way to heavy.

Below is the back of the jacket I knit for Sam. He wanted me to knit him a hoody that had many colors in it. The first picture is of the back. The second is of the front. It may not have turned out the way he imagined it and he may never wear it but I had a nice time knitting it for him. It looks like the hood is way to small for the jacket but actually it is just laying funny but is the right size for the jacket.




This is a quilt for my baby Beth. Of course my youngest baby will be 39 y.o this December. Oh boy, am I ever getting old!! But I digress. The quilt---it took me several weeks to make it with a couple of months vacation in between. The sewing room got cleaned up and all the scraps put away and it was out of mind for a bit. This quilt is very heavy, one of the reasons is because it has a bazillion seams in it. It will take a trip to Tennessee this fall for Beth. I am sure she will get more use out of it that I would here in my desert.

I have already started another quilt. This one is altogether different than the ones I have already made. I AM NOT A QUILTER. Quilters are very precise and do such perfect work. I would not like for a QUILTER to inspect this quilt.

Needle pouches

Yesterday, as I was choosing needles for yet another project (I am almost finished with Sammies hoody/hoodie? and the crazy quilt but a coat pattern kept putting itself before me and my mind wouldn't leave it alone) I pulled out my needle pouch and thought you might like to see how I store my needles. I made pouches for my crochet hooks, my knitting needles and also one for my dp needles. I marked the size of the needles on each slot. A much more convient way to store and find my needles. As you can see, there is a flap that can be closed and then the pouch can be rolled up when I am ready to put it away.

New babies

Becky brought over the newest members to her family. New twin baby goats. Goats are such social animals that they will follow her anywhere and she doesn't have to worry about herding them.

As usual I have the pictures out of order but will try to comment on the ones that need a comment.

The babies are only 3 weeks old but they are still tiny.


Suck, suck suck, they will try to suck on anything. One of the babies simply didn't know what to head for and still is a little "dim" on the whole eating thing. Becky milked the mama and the dim baby seemed to do a little better drinking out of a pan. I told Becky that if that baby was in a whole herd of goats and didn't have the attention she gives it, it would have simply starved to death.




In the window of the door you can see my cat, "Kat" taking a great interest in what is going on. You can also compare the size of the baby goat with the cat.


Becky "loving" her baby.


I suspect that the goat is trying to eat Becky's shoe


This is the picture I wanted to show you first. It is of Becky bringing the goats for a visit.


And this is of the whole "herd" heading home.

July 7th is the date of a celebration in our family. On Friday we all were able to get together for the celebration and three of the men in my family LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Sushi and frequently go to a Japanese restaurant where they order the "all you can eat boat" that is in the first picture. The get together was great. I love my family and miss the TN part of my family but I have had enough Sushi now for another 5-10 years and I didn't even partake of the all you can eat servings. I enjoy most food and can eat almost, ( you will note that I said ALMOST) any food but there are other choices that I make most of the time.

The boat below is intended to serve 4 people. That is not counting the salad and soup that automatically comes with the meal. BB said he was not going to do the all you can eat anymore. He "hurt" himself. Way too much food.



In the picture below you can see grand daughter struggling with the chopsticks and if you look closely you will see that Michael has a little spring device connected to his chopstick to make them work a little easier for us non-Asians.



Below, Uncle Carl (BB=baby brother) is the only one aware of the camera. Must be that he is/was a pro photographer.

Going, going,...

Because of the monsoon season and the dust in the air, we have some very pretty sunsets. I always thank God for His good work. The first picture is a closeup of Picacho Peak (it is perhaps 10 miles from us as the crow flies, alias "Piggy Mountain", as my TN daughter calls it. If you use your imagination you can see the mama pig looking Heavenward. Heading toward Phoenix while on the highway you can see a smaller peak facing the mama piggy that looks as if baby piggy is also looking up.

Tricks

It runs in the family. Playing tricks on other people. I remember old family stories about tricks played. Some a bit mean, some funny. My grandparents on boths sides of my family had porch swings. Good memories come with those old porch swings. Sadly, I don't have a place to hang mine anymore so it is out in the "South Forty" hanging in a tree that no one swings in anymore. The porch swing story: My dad took an old telephone generator? (hope that is what it is called. It was what was used to crank the phone to ring up the operator) and connected it to the metel chains that the porch swing was hanging from the porch roof with. When my my uncle (his brother) sat down in the swing and put his hands on the chains, my dad cranked up the telephone generator thus sending an electrical shock raging through Uncle Lloyd that caused him to lift him and the two who were sharing the swing high up into the air.

Another trick: On April 1st, my grand dad situated himself, standing in the corn crib where he fed his cows, put a rope around his neck and simply waited until grandma came to find him, of course playing out the look of being hanged until dead, tongue hanging out, head canted sideways. That was a mean one. Meaner than the telephone trick.

These stories lead up to the picture below. My BB's youngest daughter, who lives and works in San Francisco, put tape on the bottom of a co-workers mouse to his computer and sat by enjoying his trying to get the mouse to work, tapping it, wiggling it, all the things you do to make it work. HE GOT EVEN! The next day she came to work and found her cubical FOILED! As you can see, her whole cube is covered with foil. I believe the only thing that was not covered with foil was the screen to her computer and Amanda herself.

Amanda: I didn't have anything else to share so you are the blog for today.

Just something for the blog today

When I reached age 70 I started to realize that life is way to short! I have way too many UFO's. (To you who are not into knitting or crocheting, UFO means UnFinished Objects). I always finish what I start but sometimes it takes me a while. There is so much yarn (and fabric) in my sewing room, so many books and patterns that I feel the need to hurry, and as one lady said on a blog, when she puts down one UFO and starts another project: "I can't help myself". I never use the word BORED but sometimes I can't wait to finish a project and get started on another exciting one. All that said, I posted a picture below of me knitting something I DID finish and now don't even remember what it was.

Now I need to clean up my kitchen, perhaps pull a weed or two out of my veggie garden (it rained yesterday and that task should be a bit easier, easier if I can whomp up enough energy to get moving) and then work on a sweater/jacket/hoodie my grandson as me to make for him.

Bowl, not blow

BOWL.......BOWL.........BOWL........EVERY SINGLE TIME I TRIED TO RETYPE THIS WORD IT CAME OUT BLOW...........IT IS NOT MY FAULT, IT IS THE FINGER. MUST BE THE ARTHRITIS!

More IBM pictures

My grandmother gave me a cream and sugar blow along with matching gravy boat many years ago. I believe she was considering "moving on down the road" and wanted to leave me something to remember her by. I ask her where she got those items and she said, "OH, don't ask me". She couldn't remember. At 70 y/o I am forgetting where I obtained some of the items I have. Below are more paintings we aquired along lifes way but I don't remember where we bought them. Now, they are just pretty pictures to hang on the wall.





I DO remember this picture. It was taken on our trip from CT. to Nova Scotia. It seems to me that the name of the place was "Peggy's Cove". The artist in Tucson painted the picture. She got the little boat floating a litte too high in the water but it is a good memory.

IBM

I----I've
B----Been
M----Moved

A long time acronym for the comapany of IBM. I don't know if it stands true anymore because my late husband retired after working for IBM for 30 years about 19?? (can't remember, over 15 years ago at least). At any rate, we started moving with IBM in 1975 and lived in 4-5 places because of IBM. We learned to enjoy the local artist where ever we moved and made it a practice to purchase a painting in each place we lived. I will show you some of the art work we purchased.





This picture is one of my favorites. My husband, early in life (high school) was a serious photographer. He took wedding pictures, working in a photo shop and earned spending money and did the same while working his way through college. He and I each had twin Suzuki 850 touring motorcycles (purchased while we were living in Danbury, CT) on which we took many memorable road trips. We took one trip from Danbury, CT to Nova Scotia. While we were there the Lupins were in full bloom and as tall as our thighs. He enjoyed taking pictures of churches. He took this picture and we had it painted from the picture after we moved to Tucson, AZ. The church in the photo was not a very picturesque church, being an old, old clapboard building so he gave the artist another picture of a prettier church and she painted it in.

This is the only picture my husband ever purchased w/out me. He had accepted a job in Boulder, CO and as typical of our moves, was there before the rest of us while we remained behind trying to sell our house. As you can see, it is a picture of the Aspen trees and a mountain river. It must have spoken to him.




This picture is one of the first oil paintings we ever purchased. We started in San Jose, CA (good ol' silicone valley). We purchased three paintings by this lady. Her name is Nancy Kaiser. She told us that she was in Spain when she saw the possibility of a painting in what she was seeing outside a restaurant window. There was a gardner tending the flowers in the old cart and when she approached him to ask permission to take a picture of the cart, not understanding English but seeing her camera, was very flattered and made a nice pose with a big smile for the picture. Of course, as you can see, she painted only the picture she had in mind, sans the gardner. It is a very large picture that I have hanging over my piano.


No more pictures for now, I have knitting to do.