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.

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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

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

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