MONDAY, MONDAY

Monday, Monday…..

One finish knit, a pair of socks for Gus, Rainbow Socks as he calls them, ( they look funny in pic. but fit him and they make him happy).  I used left over yarn and I still have left over yarn!  Yarn, I believe like fabric scraps, reproduce in the bag. I try to use ‘left overs’ up and always end up with more ‘left overs’. Pondering this phenomenon is like pondering the Chicken and egg question, just put the scraps in a bag and walk away!

Second on the needles- is a pair of socks for my son who wears a 12-13 shoe..what am I thinking, except that he is knit worthy and I love him dearly.

Third, a sweater, Marcel for my husband. He picked out the yarn color from Harrisville Yarns. This yarn is lovely to knit with, feels like ‘real’ wool, a little sticky but not scratchy. The colors available from Harrisville are yummy. 

While I have been knitting, I have been watching:

Podcasts:

Stitched in Sweden- excellent. Covers both knitting and garment sewing.

Knitting By The Sea- excellent

Movies:

Chicago 7- very good with many parallels to politics we are seeing in 2020.

Chicago 7 is about the trial of 7 defendants vs the US government  and their right to engage in peaceful protest. The protest is during the 1968 Democratic National Convention that turned into a riot, in Grant Park, in front of the Conrad Hilton, where then Democratic nominee Hubert Humphrey and the entire DNC Headquarters were located. 

Crazy thing, I was there! Not a protester, but in the Conrad Hilton at the DNC headquarters. My Dad thought it would be great for his children to watch history in the making. Took us all down to the Hilton, where we met Mr. Humphrey, ( I sat on his lap…weird), and several other DNC mucky mucks. We were up on the roof of the Hilton watching the protest, very peaceful, when to our horror all hell broke out. I remember it being difficult to get out of the city and being very frighten that we were going to be hurt. It was one of the few times I ever saw my mother truly scared. Dad got us out of the city by driving down more alleys, zigzagging our way through the loop. It was a history lesson I have never forgotten.

Remember 

VOTE

 

FIRST SNOW

my oldest son and his beautiful wife! aren't they amazing!

First Snow is always magical for me! Getting the outside tucked in for winter, cooking in the kitchen a great cold weather meal, and most of all, no anxiety about driving on ice roads, ( I get to stay home all day and everyday now.) Mercy though it was COLD and WINDY along with snow. The Front Range had the biggest temperature change in years, 50 degree swing! One afternoon it's 80 degrees and the next morning it's less than 30 degrees. One notices that shift and runs for the sweaters, wool socks and slippers. 

The day before I pulled more veggies from the garden and apples from the tree. Oh my, those carrots are unbelievably sweet and we ate several in a chicken soup-stew dinner. 

The bread is a recipe from the New York Times-no knead bread. I believe it's a Mark Bittman recipe. I let it rise for about 18 hours, the rich flavor is over the moon.

I have a new project this month, cutting my food bill by about 800 dollars a month. This includes  no, to very little eating out  and using up left overs. We get lazy around here about 4pm daily and often that laziness leads to restaurant meals. I may not meet my goal but sure will decrease the food bill this month. So far:  Week 1 - Cosco=243.00, (grr), but it will be our only Cosco visit this month.

I have been staying up later, a deliberate act, watching movies.

Mary Queen of Scots (2018)- excellent

Midway- always good

Operation Finale-excellent

Plans for my weekend? Not sure, but  I am sure it will include knitting, reading and a movie, (oh, and cooking dinner!")

2-7-2018 YARN ALONG

Hello YA friends! I love this day, checking out what fellow knitters and readers are doing in their lives. 

Well, being retired and having time, I continue to knit and quilt and what fun it is for me. Did you see the knitter and quilter ground hog cartoon? Both saw their shadow so its needles and peddles to the floor-6 more glorious weeks of knitting and quilting! 

KNITTING #1: Green wool sweater Petite pattern-Wilhum Sweater.

Knitting with DALE Heilo yarn that was dug up (a deep yarn dive) from stash.

#2:  EZ Gurnsey sweater. I love this sweater but, am going oh sooo slow with it. It's so hard to trust my own numbers and yikes, this sweater will be cut with scissors (side seams). So if I screw this up all I will be able to salvage, will be maybe, two pairs of felted mittens.

#3: Finished overalls for Gus and they are a perfect fit that will take him all the past spring snows here in the Rockies. Used Quince&Co sport weight yarn.

The picture of Gus in car seat, well, those beautiful knits were done by Julie. They are well loved by Gus and Caitlin! Thank you Julie!

I haven't been reading much ;-[, but I have seen more movies in 4 weeks than I have ever seen in 4 years.

HOSTILES- great

12 HORSEMAN-great

DARKEST HOUR-very good

THE POST-great

Looking forward to visiting other YA knitter and readers today....

28 JAN. 2018

(sorry about the blurry picture)

And the beat goes on…..

Lots of knitting going on, unfortunately I always forget to get finished pictures of completed knits. I’m talking about the vest (Shoreline Vest), I knitted for my youngest. Let me just say she was pleased with the vest and sported it all day…it looked great on her!!!!

Also, moved to the finished list, is a pair of overalls for No fuss Gus. They turned out great!, and much needed for the Women's March we all attended in Cheyenne. Let me just say the March was great and it was COLD, COLD!

I am moving forward with my EZ Guernsey sweater but have concerns. It looks big, too big. Will recheck my math and compare sweater to an already knit sweater. Any other suggestions will be gladly welcomed and appreciated. 

Somehow in all the activity of the past week, I completed a book! The Longmire series is one of my favs. Always interesting with twists, turns and a shocking end, now the wait begins for his next book.

Amazingly, I have five days with no young kids and I plan to sew! I have on the docket, little pants, hopefully a dress for me and borders to complete a quilt. A little hand quilting will be thrown in the mix for a well rounded weekend. 

My youngest ( here from Minnesota last week, she is one amazing lady and so good to see her), husband and I went to the movies. I am not a theater fan, love movies just not theaters. We saw the POST and it is well worth the time and money. I  must admit, more money was spent on Little IKes ( I think thats what they are called) and popcorn than any adults should eat in one sitting. The show stopping line in the movie for me :The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.

TODAY

She is the most perfect baby on the planet!!

She took to life like her Mom, laid back, "I got this down" attitude. Both Mom and Betty are just naturals at their respective roles. Thumbs up all the way around!!!

Eric has been gone all week fishing the Bighorn. The first 3 days on the Bighorn were less than optimal, cold and rainy,  but the worst was the wind. If you haven't fly fished, know that casting out into a river in wind is most difficult and frustrating. It would send me back to the car each and every time. Fly fishing is relaxing, wind and fly fishing is miserable.

Yesterday, Eric reported that fishing was good. He had caught 20 good size trouts and the wind was mimimal. So glad, when you are on the Bighorn only once a year it's disappointing to have a bad week.

I, on the other hand a great week getting things done. Of course not over doing it since I was on my last week of vacation. I sandwich a BIG quilt together and starting quilting the monster, planted flowers, vegetables and then planted some more. Made some non-patrolium jelly from scratch and love it!!! Have a jar for Little Betty, she is pealing like a chameleon, (and yes chameleon's shed their skin). Also, the never ending knitting projects got some attention. I have 3 sweaters and 2 dresses on the needles at present time.

A little cooking and baking were accomplished, plus one full movie watched.

Bridges of Spies

Good movie, well worth the 6 dollars to have On-Demand.

WHAT A DAY

i woke up this morning very early feeling tired and dull. 

i decided to watch a movie..

out of africa 

was on 

and i did some hand sewing.

the red work was relaxing but out of africa 

was really depressing.

if not for the beautiful clothes and hats on the show i would of thrown my head in a towel and cried the morning away.

and no not because denise dies in the end

but because denise was such a selfish man.....

all about him.

i loved karen !

she was strong

a survivor!

she just had stinky men in her life.

well i couldn't stay in this grey mood so i went and finished a quilt top...yeah!

and did a 45 minute work out on the treadmill.

it worked--now i'm too tired to be even in a grey mood.

i think i will knit the afternoon away now...

SUNDAY'S

it's sunday and a day after a small snow storm came through northern colorado.

it is cold, cold and between yesterday and today being cold and windy we hunkered down in the house.

i knitting and watching ken burns world war II documentary.

starting chart E on my leaves of grass...

oh joy.

continue to be smitten with this knit.

finished the first sock and casted on for the second.

the first one fits like a glove or as a sock should.

oh and i am so close to finishing this sweater !

but the other two knits keep calling me and i set the sweater aside.

i wanted to sew this weekend and i did...

a little, very little !

knitting keeps calling me to the chair

and netflix !

watching my phone for any texts from daughter #2 who has found herself this past weekend in new york and in the center of 

nemo, the nor'easter that barreled up the eastern sea board.

even in the mist of a storm she was able to get herself 

a true new yorker ruben sandwich.

how has your weekend been?

MISS MARPLE

i am in love with this series from netflix, it is  on instant play. and jane marple is a knitter! i hope to find time this weekend to fix my header picture. just one small pic of a flower sure is boring.

MOVIES

As you all know that when a body can do nothing but lay around it is best to keep the mind occupied.

I did this last week by watching some GREAT BBC films.

Land Girls was wonderful. Love the story line and looking at all the vintage fabrics, kitchen wears and china.

This is a 4 star show.

Island at War is a rather intense story about the Channel Islands off of England and France. These islands were occupied by the Nazi's during WWII, something I never knew. So of course I had to do some research on the subject matter. The islands were occupied for 5 years, the only English ground the German's were to get a foot hold on.

4 stars.

Bleak House is a story of an orphan who wins her love and lives well in the end. The usual Dickens story but done very well and worth the time to watch.

4 stars

And who can not love Downton Abby? 

I am all caught up with the show and anxiously awaiting the next episode. I must say it is getting rather intense.

Mary telling her husband to be her secret !

No good can come of that secret out of the bag !

Maggie Smith makes me laugh, she is sooo dry and to the point.

If you have not seen any of these shows they are well worth your time!

4 stars

This is so wonderful. Enjoy!

THINGS I HAVE BEEN UP TO

The winds have been out of control here in Colorado. The back fence blew down...again. This is not our fence but Honey will fix it . Need to keep the puppies in one yard.....OURS!

Just liked this picture. Love those alpacas. 

Walking the puppies or better yet, puppies walking me.

Baking bread

Peanut butter cookies

Watched Prime Suspect and Unstoppable while knitting these socks.

HEXIE WEDNESDAY

Three hexie flowers done this week. Actually they were done on Monday evening while watching TV. I am not an evening TV watcher but the History station had some interesting shows on.

I also just LOVE, LOVE this series. The English solve murders without allot of muscle, banging people around and general violence as oppose to American crime solvers.  It feels good to solve an English mystery murder, the crime being solved with dignity extended to the victims, criminals and the detectives.

 

I have been taking some Photo lessons online and here a picture for today.

 This cup belonged to Eric's grandmother....Love it!!

And of course, one of my sweet boy. I have no idea where the energized girl is at the moment. Better go find her I am sure she has found some trouble. 

CHRISTMAS

Are you ready for Christmas? 

Is your list ready for Santa?

Mine sure is, as a matter of fact I am almost all done with gift buying. The last purchase will be mailed out tomorrow.....  HO HO HO!!!!!

This gives me time to watch the Christmas tradition movies in my house.

Little Women is at the #1 spot.

# 2- The Walton's

#3- Christmas Vacation

#4- All the Christmas episodes of Little House On The Prairie

I finished the last season of The Tudors

Well worth the time, but you must start at the very beginning

Here is a map of The Tower of London.  King Henry 8th had a boat load of heads rolling up in the tower.

Hope all of you are getting your plans for Christmas done. Lets remember to enjoy the season for the REASON. JC .