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?

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

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

I Wonder...

Sometimes we stay in hotels. If you follow this blog you know that. I like and am sure it is reasonable to think it is not too high an expectation, for the room I check into to be dusted. I know hotel housekeeping is not an easy job. I assume the list for each room would include scrubbing the bathroom, made up the beds, vacuum the carpet and dust the furniture and appliances in the room and maybe more. 

This is the top of the coffee maker in the room. The lamps here look much the same. The bathroom does look clean thank goodness. 

I wonder when the last time was someone wiped off the coffee maker in our room for the night. Hmmmm?

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

Christmas Thoughts in April

I am in a never-ending mission or so it seems, to use up what I have accumulated over the years in my craft insanity supplies. I found a partial ball of a discontinued color of South Maid crochet thread. I looked everywhere for more of this red, white and blue thread I could think of and couldn't find any for sale. This is it for my stars in this theme and it should be something you won't find anywhere else. This red, white and blue told me it needed to be stars for a patriotic themed Christmas tree. Does your yarn tell you what it wants to be or is that just me?

Distractable me with many other WIPs all over my craft tables in different project bags had to start the idea right away. I have found 2 star patterns in my stash of Christmas ornament patterns. What you see below are my first efforts.

I found some other colors to make my stars in and they can be made into sets of ornaments to sell at craft shows later this year. Now I have to get stiffening supplies to finish them up and little boxes to put them in for protection and maybe some tissue paper to make the boxes pretty. Getting more stuff to help use up stuff isn't that crazy, is it? 

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

So, Yesterday an Eclipse, Did Ya Hear About It?

I spent a couple hours yesterday like many Americans looking up at the sky. I will add with proper eye protection. With cataracts already started I don't need more eye problems! We were in our own backyard with comfy chairs, cold drinks and phones that took crappy pictures of the event, which was at 70% where we live, in the sky so you get what I took pictures of on the ground instead.

My husband had not heard of using a colander to get images of the eclipsed sun. I had done this once before at an elementary school where I was a teacher's aide. You can see it works. Check out all those little crescents in the box. I brought the box out so I could have a smooth surface to put the image on since it eould be harder to see just on the grass. 

So, did you watch? What was it like where you were? I would love a relevant comment about your day of the eclipse since most of what I get lately is spam that I delete so normal commenters don't have to read junk or have bad links put in their face. Wherever you are and whatever your day has in store for you I hope it's a good one!

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

Vintage & Halfway to Antique

I just looked it up. Vintage is from 20 to 100 years old. Antique is over 100 years old. My pitcher is nearly 50 years old. I bought it at a Tupperware party on Guam in the first year of my marriage. Our 48th anniversary is this summer. I use it to make big batches of iced tea. My current blend is a mix of black tea and hibiscus, both without caffeine and very refreshing. I am looking forward to making some peach iced tea when the weather starts getting hotter.

The design has evidently stood the test of time. I found it on Amazon in the Tupperware store in some new colors but the same style. 

The mint green is so pretty and the other in a color Tupperware calls papaya is so vibrant and cheerful looking. In my day everything was harvest gold or avocado green or the red like you see in my old faithful one.

I am an Amazon associate, and you can go shopping for one of these new and time tested designs with my links and I may earn a commission from your purchase. This post however is personal to me. I have used my pitcher through all these years, and it still works exactly as it is intended too. I don't know how you could get a better recommendation that that.

Find the green one here>> https://amzn.to/4aND8vk

For the pitcher in a color called papaya click here>> https://amzn.to/3PYE2NF

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 Progress

Not a whole lot of excitement around here and that's okay with me. Jim submitted paperwork to have his Navy disability evaluated again. Don't know if anything will change but we'll see. 

Jim's back is painful right now. Of course, he won't take any advice on how to feel better, so I just leave him alone to get through it. He also got a prescription for Wellbutrin from his doctor to help with cravings to quit smoking. I am not seeing much difference in his behaviors so far. Oh well.

I got some quiet knitting time in yesterday afternoon. I have finished the first section of lace in my Serafina afghan. I have also nearly used up the first of many skeins of yarns for this project. I am feeling more comfortable with the process now but the next section is a new lace pattern so we will see how that goes. The good thing is that both patterns are over 10 stitches and I have markers in place now so I don't get too far off track in any row as long as I can count to ten. 

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

National School Librarian Day

I love libraries. I love and admire the people who work in them. School libraries are a special place for students and I am so glad that nearly all schools have one. I don't spend enough time in libraries, and I need to do something about that. That said, what I want you to know today is that it is National School Librarian Day. 

I am sure that showing your appreciation for your school librarian would be welcomed any day, any time. I found a couple of book related gifts on Amazon (affiliate links in this post) that you might like to check out.

The shirt is right. There is no such thing as too many books.

This quote from Plato sums up how I feel about books and what school librarians can give to students through the books in their collections.

These items come from the handmade category on Amazon. Have you checked out that category lately?

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 Personal Favorite for Coffee and Tea

I recently ordered some whole bean coffee and some loose leaf tea. They came to me from my favorite place to order these things, CoffeeBeanDirect.com.  I buy my coffee, decaf, house blend in a 5 lb. bag each time. I don't get anything fancy because the House Blend is so nice.

For my tea I got decaf black tea, 2 lbs of that, and for summer iced tea I got some peach flavored decaf black tea, 1 lb. of that. When I brew my tea I tend to blend the flavored and the black teas. I don't miss out on any of the flavor and it lets my special teas like peach and earl grey last longer. For frugal folks I ask you to compare the price per ounce between CoffeeBeanDirect.com and whoever your current favorite loose leaf tea provider is now.

These are personal recommendations, not affiliate links although if you would like to add a bit to my yarn fund you will find my Amazon link below. I have been a Coffee Bean Direct fan for nearly 20 years and will keep ordering from these great folks as long as they are in business. Also know that just because I am a decaf drinker does not mean that is all they have. Go browse, you won't regret it, I promise!

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

Books Read March 2024

My reading is a daily habit. At least 10 to 15 minutes on my Kindle each night before bed. Somtimes I read while eating breakfast or lunch. In January I read 5 books but remember that included lots of travel time with nothing to do but read. In February I read 3 books and in March just two.

• The Watson Girl: An absolutely addictive and pulse racing crime thriller (Tess Winnett) by Leslie Wolfe. I've remarked on this before and I do so here again, why do writers feel the need to write a paragraph long, ok I exaggerate, subtitle to their books. It does not add a thing to my willingness to choose or not choose my next book and it is irritating! 
• The Antagonists by Ernest K. Gann

That's it for the month of March. We'll see how April goes.

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

Jim's Lasered Gifts

Learning the ins and outs of the laser machine software seems to be both rewarding and frustrating for Jim. I currently have 2 gifts that show some of the progress made. The very first was my slate "Navy Wife" coaster and the second was a keychain with my name on one side and a hibiscus flower on the other. I love them both.

I have waited such a long time for this man to get a hobby. I am determined to encourage this in every way possible. I thanked him enthusiastically. I also have made a silent pledge to myself to ever do to him but has been done to me and maybe to you too. Have you ever shown someone a handmade creation and they proceeded to tell you how you could have made it better. Choose a different color, size it differently, and on and on? I hate to say it but my mother did that to me all the time. I also heard from her "I saw this and you should make it too.". If like me, you have a very creative brain, I am sure you have a back catalogue of ideas, enough to last the rest of your life. Is it just me? 

Anyway, I will be encouraging each and every step of the way along his creative journey and never tell him how to do anything. This is not my hobby and I desperately want him to enjoy it.

I did choose my flower because I was asked to pick one, but he did all the rest.

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

10 Years Ago Today

Just a short and simple post today. 10 years ago today I was at my mother's house. I took a couple pictures in her garden. My guess is that I was there with my daughter and her children during their spring break. I only know from my search on google photos that I took these pictures.

Do you know what you were doing 10 years ago today?

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

Eat the Cake First

There is a fun place in Apache Junction that encourages you to eat the cake first since life is short. We will be going there 2 times this week. Dinner there isn't bad either considering they are serving a fixed dinner to a couple hundred people at a time. We are going twice this week because we bought 4 tickets to Barleen's Dinner Show earlier this year. The plan was to bring guests that we were looking forward to spending a few days with. That plan fell apart when I managed to get a case of Covid, again. That makes 3 times, dammit. 

Anyway, we kept putting off using the tickets, as procrastinators tend to do thinking there is always tomorrow, and their season ends in April. The best we could do this close to the end of their year and see different shows since no one is around right now to use the other 2 tickets is this Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday we will see what is called the Season's Best Show and on Saturday we will see Rockin' and Rollin' Through the Years. It should be fun.

In other news around here, Jim is making progress on learning how to use his laser. I am so happy this guy has found a hobby to putter with. It makes me happy because it makes him happy. 

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

Upstairs Knitting

Yesterday I shared my downstairs, easy on the brain, TV watching knitting project. Today I am showing of my upstairs, I have to concentrate project. This is the Seraphina Afghan from Herrschner's.

I am getting more comfortable with it now that I have gone through a couple repeats of the first section of the pattern but it still needs to be an upstairs project. This one is for me and I have a place planned for it to be in my home. I'll share that here later when I am ready to show it off in its new room. Not much else new around here. What's up with you?

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

New TV Knitting to Share

I have started a new project for fairly easy TV watching knitting. I work on these types of projects typically after dinner while watching something with Jim. I could also call projects like this one downstairs knitting because my upstairs projects are the ones that need more attention and I do that better upstairs alone in my craft room or the family room that Jim rarely uses.

This pattern is the Sunny Baby Blanket and is a free pattern that I have made a few times. You can find it by clicking here. It is all knits and purls and easy to do. I bought the yarn on sale at Joann's and also have red and gray waiting to be made in this pattern. I have some more delicate patterns planned too. One of those will be white for a christening or baptism blanket and another in pink for a new little lady. I'll share those later.

I worked on this last night while we watched "Mending the Line" on Netflix. Such a good movie! We both loved it!

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 Done and I Learned Some Things

My TV watching knitting of a hat is complete. I learned a couple things with this project. First, I learned that I need more practice with the Italian Cast On. It looks sloppy to me, and I don't like that. 

The second thing I learned was how to use my pom pom maker gadgets. Mine is from Clover and I have two sizes. I found a YouTube video to show me how useful this is. Is there anything you can't learn from a YouTube video. The wonderful world of creators on there seem to have answers to everything.

The third thing I learned to that that last inch or so of plain stockinette seems to take forever and I was more than ready to start the decreases for the top of the hat. I do like this hat and may just keep it for myself since it was a bit of an experiment and doesn't look as presentable as I would like for a sale item.

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

Organizing is Good, Right?

I quit doing craft shows when I found Etsy. After going through all the growing pains and changes there I am doubtful I have a place in the market that Etsy has become. With that in mind and working with my sisters we are teaming up to do in person craft markets again.

I have missed talking to people in person who consider buying my creations. I haven't missed setting up and tearing down. All things have pros and cons. One thing I do know is that the easier it is to organize your set up and tear down the better the time in between can be enjoyed.

I bought some zippered bags on Amazon (affiliate link) and found some storage cubes to go in them at Dollar Tree. Two cubes will fit in each bag. Each cube can hold a category of items to be put on display and can go right back in the cube to go home. If I am lucky enough to sell out of something the storage bags and cubes can fold flat until when they are needed again.

Next, I am waiting for the hang tags I ordered to be printed and arrive. That should be soon. I already have a tagging gun that allows you to attach the hang tags to the items. Look at the 3 Busy Sisters getting all professional.

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

Just An Ordinary Day

I have good intentions of writing here daily. I have failed that, but each day is a fresh opportunity to do better than before. When I travel or when we have overnight guests, I just don't manage writing here daily at all. It is what it is.

As my title today says this is just an ordinary day. We went shopping at Sam's Club this morning. After that we had some lunch here at home. Lunch was a tray of sushi bought at Sam's. 

Now I am writing this post, after that I will be doing reposts on X for those that reposted me and after that I will post a link to this post and also do some Amazon affiliate links. Today's theme for the Amazon items I will share is mirrors.

How do I decide on my daily affiliate link theme? I keep an eye on NationalDayCalendar.com to see if anything strikes me as being sharable. Yesterday I did fragrance because today is National Fragrance Day. I also keep a big list of words that I think with an Amazon search could turn up interesting things to share. Today from my list I spotted mirrors. That sounded good to me and my search turned up some really nice 5 star items. I typically share 3 of this type of link on X. Choosing my 3 for today will be tough. One of the mirrors I found (<affiliate link) was this one. I love this look! Do you?

By the time all the writing, sharing and affiliate link posting is done it will be about time to start fixing our evening meal. Any spare time before and after dinner will be spent finishing my hat. I have started the decrease rounds at the top of the hat. I will be finishing it off with a pom pom. 

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

Days Are Busy But Not Necessarily Bloggable

Lots going on. We spent time last week in Bullhead City at my sister's home. Jim was getting mentored for his new hobby. He is going to learn how to use a laser to design whatever crosses his mind. It lives in his office space. A vent will be added to the window and a steel topped table is coming for it to be on. Learning how to use graphics and new software are part of the fun. At least I hope he finds the challenges fun. That is the point of a hobby isn't it?

As for me I am spreadsheet building, project planning, inventory organizing, all for the chance to get some things out of my life and into the life of others. We, my sisters and I are officially a business named 3 Busy Sisters LLC. We have decided to try selling at a place in the Bullhead City area. We just have to find a time when so we can reserve a space for a month of weekends to see how it goes.

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

Netflix and Chill Knitting

Yesterday I mentioned I would be looking for some new after dinner, tv watching knitting. I found the perfect projects. I am going to make a couple slouchy hats with a pattern from Knit Picks. The pattern uses an Italian cast on. That was a new skill for me. I found instructions on YouTube from Bill Souza. < The link goes to his channel. His videos for left-handed knitters are done very well. Any time I come across something in knitting patterns I don't understand I always look to see if he has a video on it. My edge does look a bit sloppy and I am not sure why, but practice makes perfect. It does seem to make the perfect cast on for hats and bottom up sweaters with ribbing, maybe even top down socks.

I got my 1 1/2 inches of 1 x 1 rib done last knit. Next is lots of plain knitting in the round until it is time for decreasing at the top. I'll share more again soon.

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

New Knitting

Yes, I did. I have started a new project. This is the first of a pair of yoga socks. No toes to make or heels to turn. I haven't ever made these before. The pattern is from Stitchcraft and Wizardry and is called Knitting is My Yoga Socks. You can find it on Ravelry and you don't need an account to check it out. 

Since I am in a stash busting mood I have decided to knit some hats during movie time after dinner. Nothing is cast on yet but when that happens I will let you know. The yoga socks will be worked on upstairs where I can concentrate on the pattern without distractions.

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

I Sewed a Thing!

I haven't sewn anything in quite a while. With my sisters here last weekend I sewed. My younger sister was showing me some inspiring videos on YouTube and I started planning things in my head and pulling out fabric from bins. This project was from a design by Debbie Shore who you can find on YouTube. I adjusted the size a bit and created a project bag with an 8 inch square bottom. I love the combination of the stiff bottom and the drawstring top. The outside straps make it easy to close up the bag and carry it wherever you wish.

I have plans to use another of her patterns to make an organizer insert to hold small scissors, stitch markers, a tape measure and yarn needles. In other words, all those little tools you like to have handy when you are working on a knit or crochet project. With an insert I could move it from bag to bag because I have never been a monogamous creator. If you asked how many projects I have started at any given time I wouldn't be able to tell you.  I need to come up with a pretty solution to the drawstring too. Right now, I just have a strip of old fabric in the casing to see how well it worked. 

For the lining I remembered what the woman on the show "What Not to Wear" used to say. Remember that show? Anyway, Stacy(?) used to say it doesn't have to match, it has to go. I found a fabric lighter than the outside of my bag for the lining that I though fit that statement. The lighter color of the lining should make it easier to find things in the bottom of the bag, in the organizer that I need to make next.

So, I sewed a thing and want to make more.

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

Books Read in February

I finished three books in February. One was nonfiction and two were fiction. I enjoyed all of them.

• Storm's Fury (Amelia Storm FBI Mystery Series Book 1) by Mary Stone
• Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney
• Don't Forget to Write: A Novel by Sara Goodman Confino

The pictures above are affiliate links directly to the book's page if you want to read them yourself. If you have read any of these I would love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment.

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 Morning Surprise

I probably told this story here a long time ago. Since I am sharing hot air balloon products on X from amazon today, I remembered something from the summer of 2011. I very nearly had a hot air balloon land in my backyard. It certainly wasn't a planned landing. The folks in the basket were looking forward to floating along looking at the Teton Mountains and the Snake River. That changed and for them it may have been a bit scary, but no one was hurt. The balloon was bundled up and put on a trailer and the tourists were loaded in a van and taken away I hope to get refunds but who knows.

Check this out...

Those trees were in my backyard. The fence posts you see marked the edge of my yard. The drop was controlled and the landing soft. I kept hearing the burner going off. Evidently it was able to slow the descent but not keep them in the air. 

I was amazed at how fast the situation was taken care of. As the balloon collapsed the trailer and van showed up. The whole event was over in less than half an hour. 

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

National Polar Bear Day & Other Stuff

It is national polar bear day. No matter what you think about climate change (and I believe we have f***ed things up and I hope it's not too late) you have to admit these are some majestic animals. They are having a hard time in a place where life is always hard anyway. I am thankful that there are people and organizations looking out for them.

The other stuff? Jim and I spent 3 hours getting to and from the nearest military base so that I could renew my dependent's ID card. Evidently this was the last time I will ever need to do this. My card is now indefinite. Driving was the longest part of this. The actual time at the desk of the friendly guy who helped me was about 2 minutes. It is done. I am registered on the DEERS system which means my Tricare for Life Medical Insurance is active. This is such a wonderful benefit. Without it our retirement could be very different. It makes 20 years of military service worth it.

My sisters are coming for the weekend. We have some tentative plans. Will share more about the visit 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

Head in the Clouds

The image above is from Bing's Image Creator. It fits my thinking today. My sisters and I are considering forming a company to sell what we make. We all make things using different materials and styles and techniques. We are thinking of finding venues to sell in person. We are creators, all three of us and it gives our lives purpose and meaning that sometimes our significant others don't understand.

I am wondering if I have my head in the clouds thinking that we could make enough money to make it worth our time. The link is from a site giving the history and meaning of the phrase. What I wonder is if we sisters are being delusional? Can in person sales give us what we need to keep making? I have pretty much decided that for a small time hobbyist like me that Etsy is a waste of time. It has become a wasteland of POD t shirts and resellers with thousands of items who don't spend time and heart and soul to bring a customer hand crafted works or vintage treasures. 

I am also considering a web site for myself and maybe selling on eBay which doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is unlike Etsy. Head in the clouds, maybe. I guess we won't know until we try. 

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

Sunday's Stitches

I am not the greatest with making and keeping schedules but I want to try a new thing here. I am always making something. That is a big part of who I am and what gives me purpose every day. I want to start a series here on Sundays called as you can see by the title above Sunday's Stitches. Sometimes there may be a lot to talk about and sometimes, meh. We'll see how this goes.

This Sunday I am sharing an afghan I have started. Started twice and had to tink a row also but I am determined to get this right. I put makers in to guide me through the 10 stitch repeat so I can stay on track. With each trial I feel more confident. I even figured out how to undo a S2KP (slip 2 knitwise together, knit one, pass the slipped stitches over) double decrease. Figuring that out lead to the makers to help get all the yarn overs and double decreases in the right spots. I feel more confident about it now.

As you can see, this is the Serafina Afghan. I bought the kit when it was on sale from Herrschner's. I have the pattern now and if this comes out as pretty as I think it will I may order the yarn when it is on sale and hope for free shipping too and have some lovely afghans to sell online or with my sisters as we get started with our own hand maker's company we want to start.

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