Holidays and Worries

The time has been flying by this month. Spending Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Mohave Trading Post and then trying to stay creative and productive the rest of the week makes the time go quickly. Our sales have been okay. Karen's woodwork has been the biggest hit and her suncatchers are our number 1 item according to our Square sales reports. Number 2 are Kristi's bowl cozies and my potholders are number 3. My sales have been okay, not great but okay.

I am adding hanging kitchen towels to my group of products. I have resisted making them for years but several people have asked recently if I make them. I caved, found some nice looking towels at Ross and Walmart and a topper pattern that crochets up quickly. I found clear acrylic buttons on Amazon (affiliate link) so no matter what colors I use the buttons match.

In other news, I have been worried about my DH. He is having some health issues and because of the sales we are apart right now. He is at one house and I am at the other. We were supposed to be together for Christmas here but I am thinking plans may be changing. He went to the emergency room earlier this week and has a doctor's appointment this morning. I hope we know more after that.

The picture below is of the last full moon of the year. I took it at Katherine's Landing last weekend. I was there with my sister Karen and her husband to see the boats all lit up for Christmas. It is a poor picture of a beautiful sight.

For any readers out there. I hope your holiday season is happy and filled with good memory making moments. 

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb

Decorating New Spaces for Christmas

Yes it has been awhile but I am posting now. It may be awhile again but who knows. I am at our Laughlin house so that I can take part with my sisters in weekend vending at the Mohave Trading Post. That has been fun, and sales are okay. Could they be better? Of course, but I am satisfied with how it is going.

Back to today. This was my first chance to putter in my own new house and get it looking like Christmas. It pleases me to have the tree up, the lights on and the ornaments placed with care. The tree holds a mix of my own handmade, some of Jim's laser cut ornaments, and commercial ones from years ago and our travels.

Since we don't give gifts anymore, I put some stuffed animals and tins under the tree. Those things fill the space very nicely. This is the only thing I have stuffed animals for, never anywhere else at any other time. For under the tree, they please me.

I put out for the first time in many years a large garland that we bought to go on the mantle in our Utah home. I just haven't a good place for it, but I do now. It fits very well across a console table in my dining area of the great room. I think it looks good there along with my favorite lamp and a nativity scene.

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb

Knitting, Feathers and Fans

My sisters and I have formed a group we are calling 3 Busy Sisters. We plan to do craft shows together and all 3 of us are starting to get things made to make this possible. So far I have tagged and ready to go dishcloths, hot pads, market shopping bags, headbands and some prequilted baby blanket panels that I put a crocheted trim on. 

Next up to prepare to be shown off and sold are some baby/toddler afghans. I have 6 done in red, teal, 2 yellow and one pink and yarn ready for 2 more in white and gray.

The most recent finish is the pink one in a very traditional pattern of feathers and fans. I am pleased with how they all turned out. Now I just have to spend some time taking care of the dreaded ends needing woven in.

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb

Scotland, Kilts and Pants

Jim and I took a tour of Scotland recently. It was one of the best trips of my life. Bagpipes, castles, haggis (which I discovered I like), men in kilts, the best tour guide, breathtaking landscapes, great companions in our group and more, so very much more. 

The best laugh on the trip and I hope I can make you smile if I tell it right. It starts with a beautiful soul who was our bus or coach as it seemed to be called in Scotland, driver. He went a long way to add joy to our trip. The first few days he wore a different kilt each day and looked very handsome in them. We all were looking forward to seeing what he wore each morning when we met the coach to start our days excursions. On our last day with this driver, he wore pants instead. One of the lovely ladies in our group came out of the hotel saw the day's outfit and said, "JP, I didn't recognize you with your pants on!" The laughter among us set the mood for the rest of the day. 

Gonna load this up with some pictures now. Glimpses of what we saw over the trip in no particular order.

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb

Going North and Higher

Earlier this month we took a trip to Flagstaff. The purpose was to try and escape the heat at home. It was warm in town but we did find a place to actually be outside and cool. We rode the Arizona Gondola at Snowbowl to the top of the mountain. We found some chairs and just sat for nearly an hour enjoying the view and the cool mountain breezes. It felt so good!

During our trip we stayed at Twin Arrows Hotel and Casino which is actually about 20 minutes east of Flagstaff on I 40. The rooms were clean and nice. The casino let Jim come out ahead. The restaurants at the hotel were okay but Flagstaff wasn't far away, and we had some of our meals in town while being tourists. The lobby was beautiful, and I enjoyed quiet moments there while waiting for Jim to meet me.

How has your summer been so far? Are you somewhere that has had problems with extreme heat? If so, I recommend you find the easiest way you can to get to a breezy mountain top if only for a little while. It was so worth it for me.

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb

Making Progress

My Wild Horse Cardigan is moving right along. It seems a rumpled mess now because the fronts and neckline are gathered on my needles to work the shawl collar. I do love the soothing rhythm of many rows of garter stitch and the squish factor of the humble stitch. I have tried it on after the sleeves were done and they fit well and were the perfect length. I am pleased with the length of the body too. I haven't actually knit a sweater since the early 1980's. I am not sure why I waited so long to do such a rewarding project for myself.

The rag rug project continues too. I switch back and forth to help my hands not get so worn out and sore from repetition. Maybe I get some pictures of that next week.

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb

Of Course I Started a New Project

I always have multiple projects going at any given time. Over the last few days after looking at my scap bins and realizing I have more than enough to make what I had in mind I got started. What I had in mind was rag rugs done with two ply fabric yarn. To make my yarn I need one inch wide strips that are at least 12 inches long to be useful. I spent time sorting scraps and piles of old sheets and other fabric given to me by my sisters. I set aside any scraps not good enough to make strips but could possibly work later in scrap quilts. 

Here's where I am so far...

A pile of fabrics waiting to be made into strips.

Strips waiting to become fabric yarn.

Yarn beginning to become a rug.

The method is simple. To start I get 2 strips and put a knot very close to the end. Remember I am left-handed for this next part. Imagine the strips being upper and lower. I twist, with my right hand, the upper strip away from me and then bring it forward and down. I now have a new upper strip and I do the same thing. Twist it away from me and then bring it forward and down. To add a new strip overlap old and new strip about 4 or 5 inches. That will make sure your yarn doesn't easily come apart. Try to stagger the joins so you don't have that double layer thickness in both your upper and lower strips at the same time. There is a lot of twist in my new yarn so after I have made several yards of yarn I stand up and run the yarn through my hands from the old to new end to get the excess twist out.

Next step is to crochet the new yarn. I use a very big hook and single crochet. I find it is easier on my hands to make some yarn and then crochet and go back and forth so my hands get a break. I have made 3 of these rugs so far and plan on making more, that is as long as I can give scrap fabric a life extension before it ends up in a land fill. In some of my first rugs I used some of Jims old shirts that were stained and frayed at collar and cuffs so they weren't donatable. Any lightweight woven fabric will work. 

I love these rugs. I kept the first on for myself and it is holding up very well after a few years of use and machine washing and drying. The rugs I make are heavy and cushion your feet very nicely when you stand on them. I plan on having a couple of these at the craft shows I will be doing with my sisters later this year. I wouldn't ever put them online because shipping would be too much.

In other crafting news I finished one sleeve and started another on a top down raglan cardigan I will be finishing to take with me to Scotland later this year. I also put some more rows on a red baby blanket.

I am looking forward to, while being a bit anxious about, the presidential debate later this week. I don't know if these things ever change minds. I know my mind can't be changed and I am now and always will be a democrat, so I am rooting for Joe. To me the choice is clear between a crazy wanna be dictator and the man who actually cares about the middle class and doesn't want it to disappear.

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb

It's Been a Minute

Yes, no blogging since April. Since then, we have gone to a wedding, took a trip to Hawaii with a granddaughter and considered and then dismissed the idea of a second home in a cooler place.

The wedding was an enjoyable day and I wish the couple well. They seemed so young to be taking on all the grownup possibilities that life can throw at you. Maybe that is just because I am so old. (I turned 69 last week.)

Our trip to Hawaii was wonderful. We went to Oahu. Our activities included a Pearl Harbor visit, a tour of the island including the Dole Pineapple Plantation, horseback riding at Kualoa Ranch, a luau and of course a beach day. Granddaughter would love to go back and said she would even like to live there. Who knows, maybe she will.

We are facing another very hot summer here, possibly record setting and the thought of a cooler place up north sounded very appealing. We considered properties in Mayer, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside, Snowflake and Payson. We were very close to putting in an offer on a lovely home surrounded by towering trees. After a pretty much sleepless night spent discussing our values and needs and crunching numbers we decided 2 homes just was not a good idea and we love the home we are in now.

If you read here much you know I like to collect pinecones on my walks. On our house hunting trip I picked up a couple to bring home. I have these sitting on my desk where I can see them every day. I just put them on the laptop for their photo shoot. Aren't they pretty?

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb

On a Walk

On a walk 7 years ago today I saw this plant in all its springtime glory. The exuberance of spring is always amazing to me. In our yard now the yellow flowers are coming out in the Palo Verde tree and the bees are loving it and the hibiscus in the backyard is blooming.

Most exciting to me, maybe because I am easily impressed, is that our lemon tree has fruit on it for the first time since it was planted. I am so looking forward to having fresh lemons just outside the door. Maybe I'll even have enough to share. 

I'll be busy in other places for a bit so I will try, note to self - please do it, to get pictures of all this good stuff when I have more time for such activities in a couple weeks. 

Over on X I am posting wildflower affiliate links from Amazon today. You might see something you like there.

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb

Always Something New

I finished a baby blanket recently, the teal one that I showed you here in this post. By finished I mean the knitting is done but the ends need to be woven in and I am considering a steam block too. I am a little afraid of trying that but you only live once, right? 

The new start you see above is a bold and cheerful red. Another baby blanket and I have yarn and patterns for a few more because I don't know how to stop making stuff. The pattern is called Making Plans. I am very pleased with the pattern and my knitting of it so far. If you want to check about more patterns like this, the designer, on Ravelry where I bought my pattern, is Fifty Four Ten Studio. I bought 3 patterns because at the time I am writing this, if you buy 3 or more patterns you get 15% off your order. To make up my 3 I also got Stay On The Ridge and Piece of Home afghan patterns. The nice thing about these besides the lovely design work is that you get information to make these afghans in multiple sizes from very small baby to large blankets. I love having this when I am looking at afghan patterns! And if blankets aren't your thing check out the pillows, small things or hats, scarfs and shawls patterns.

Hey, if you are starting or finishing or even thinking about making a great pattern from a Ravelry designer share all about it in the comments. Let's inspire each other!

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb

On This Day

On this day in 2011 I got my first ever up close view of American Bison. At the time I was living in an area that was on the migration path for elk and bison. These animals would flow between Grand Teton and Yellowstone Parks and the National Elk Refuge. They went to the parks in the spring and to the refuge in the winter.

We did not approach the bison that day. Just a hint, you should never get in their space on purpose. That is considered harassment and is dangerous. Stressing winter weary animals by doing that is not cool at all. They came to us and flowed around our stopped car. We just stayed in place so they could safely go on their way.

Isn't he majestic?

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Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb

This Weekend

Following a week of coming home from a sister visit, planning for a trip later this year and in my head packing for another trip sooner than that, this weekend looks blissfully empty. I will fill it up with something of course but what will that be? Who knows.

Jim is starting to make sense of the software that runs his laser machine. That is good. We have found that if he works inside the ventilation needs to be top notch. Yesterday he set off the smoke alarm a couple times. Learning as we go.

I like to have pictures with my posts but today I don't. I have been slacking off on my intention of writing daily. This is my attempt to get back in the habit because the writing and not necessarily the pictures are the most important part of the process of having a blog to me. It is part of my brain training for old age and I am now less than 2 years from 70 and in my mind that is old.

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb

A Cochet Memory From Long Ago

16 years ago, in 2008, I was working on this afghan. It was being made for a young lady in Utah. Her mother had contacted me to see if I could create something pretty and girly for her. I found a pattern for a flower centered granny square. I edged the blocks in pink and white. Each of the flowers was different. I think I did a layout of 5 by 6 squares so that is 30 flowers with no 2 alike. I had quite the stash of baby weight yarn back then and this project helped use a lot of it up.

The only reason I have pictures of it is because I emailed them to the mom for final approval and payment and they ended up being backed up in my Google Photos. So much of what I have made over the years is not in pictures anywhere. I do hope that this project lasted long enough through childhood that is served its comforting purpose well.

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb