Category Archive: Life

2015
08/17

Category:
farming
food
Life
spinning

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

My cousin has been cleaning out items she thinks she no longer needs and has sent me several doll clothes books. Interestingly enough not a one of them has been a duplicate of what I have. Now I need to get busy and trace patterns so I can make clothes. Christmas will soon be here and I want some little girls to be happy.

Today, the plan was to go to Seattle (an hour drive) to get some organic peaches. I got about 5 miles from home when the car shuddered, started shaking, and sounded horrible. So I called DH – cell phones are wonderful – and he came to my rescue. We took it to our mechanic fearing the worst. However, a spark plug had worked loose and that bill was only $70. As long as the car was there, we had the annual service done, so now I’m ready for the winter and nothing should go wrong. I do like to have the car trustworthy as there is no other service here in case of emergency.

We did get the peaches while the car was being serviced. After coming home, we took my computer in for a new hard drive. The technician argued that he didn’t think it was a hard drive problem, even though the Geek squad did think so. He talked me into leaving it there for a week so they can check it out. I nearly had a heart attack over being without it for a week I have this little laptop, but if I save any messages on here, I can’t get them into the proper folders when the desktop comes back.

We went to Panera’s for lunch after taking the computer in. This was the first time they really scrambled our orders. When I asked the manager if they had new help, he said several were new and offered us a free meal next time we come in.

My days always seems so full and I wonder why. Maybe it’s just all these little interferences. I was able to do a bit of sewing and spinning which I find relaxing. But nothing was finished. I’ll get some photos tomorrow when I figure out how to load them on this computer. I have some really terrific sticky stuff to show you – stay tuned.

2015
08/16

Category:
Life
spinning

COMMENTS:
Comments Closed

If you don’t raise your own fiber and you want to spin, you can purchase wool this way. It is called roving and is the top 1% of Merino wool, which makes it very soft.

It is so collapsed when you purchase it, that it must be opened and then

the fibers pulled apart from top to bottom – so they separate somewhat, but are not pulled apart.

Then I elongate them so that I have a fairly small diameter in my hand while spinning.

A two foot piece of roving can keep me spinning for a long time. I did not measure before I started, but I bought a pound which is enough for a sweater. I’ve been spinning on this in odd moments and have about 6 feet of roving left to spin. Then it all needs to be plied. At some point, I will be choosing a sweater pattern.

The news had a bit of weather forecast from the Old Farmer’s Almanac. In the PNW, I’m supposed to gear up for snow from mid Dec through mid January and then again mid February until the end. I so hope it is wrong. But I find that it is usually more on than off. For the rest of the country it is forecasting a lot of snow and cold unless you are in California. Then you get early bad weather followed by drought again. I really think the weather for most of you could be improved upon.

IMPORTANT

This computer is going in to get a new hard drive tomorrow. I’m hoping to be up and running by tomorrow night, but if not, that is the reason. I spent about 6 hours today, making sure that everything was backed up and it is possible I still missed some.

2015
08/14

Category:
Life

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

The girls have decided they need new dresses. So that was today’s project. It takes just as long or longer to make one of these little ones, than it would for a human child. Someday, I’ll have to make them some shoes.

2015
08/12

Category:
food
Garden
Life
spinning

COMMENTS:
3 Comments »

Lisa, who is very thoughtful, brought these beautiful roses and lilies when she and Christian came to visit yesterday.

Today Mary and I drove him to a half way point, which was about an hour and a half drive, so Lisa wouldn’t have to come so far. We let his mother take him south to lunch and we went north to Subway. That way we could all get on with our day. He complained that the child’s menu just wasn’t enough food. Maybe at 11, it is time to move up menu wise.

When we got home we took a look through the greenhouse and somehow missed these.

When I went back out to water, I found 7 cukes. I brought in these 4 and left the other 3 near the top to grow a bit more.

Then back into the house as it was time to finish mixing up the dyes. There were 9 powder packages which must be opened underwater and then simmered for 30 minutes. So it takes about an hour to process each of them. I managed to make that take 3 days by doing a bit each day. However, they are now ready to be used to dye the wool. Sometimes, I can just make something drag out.

2015
08/11

Category:
Life

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

It seems that last night’s post did not go through so am trying again tonight with a different post. Our oldest daughter and her son came to visit for awhile today. So I thought I’d share with you a photo of us.

and with Christian, her son, and his aunt Keri.

For lunch we had a 3 bean and rice salad, potato salad, and a green salad. However, we dived into them before I remembered to snap a photo.

It has been a good day and she was thrilled with her quilt.

2015
08/09

Category:
farming
Life

COMMENTS:
Comments Closed

Yes, we do have a garage. And yes we have been able to park the cars in there, but we have had so much “stuff” here, there and the next place, that it is sometimes difficult to find things.

Since my son purchased this shelf unit and didn’t want to take it apart, he gave it to me. And more shelves are usually good. All my extra bee frames are in plastic bags and the boxes fit 2 high, there is a place for the tops and the bottoms. I am one happy person with these all in one corner.

we cleaned more of the garage, but if I could just let go of the fish tanks that I think I still want to use someday and the bikes that the boys have outgrown, I’d have even more room in the garage. I need to find just the right family who needs the bikes – someone who couldn’t afford them otherwise.

2015
08/07

Category:
Life
quilts

COMMENTS:
1 Comment »

Little Joys Christmas table topper

This simple little Christmas table topper is quilted and bound. At 34″ square it would be the perfect size for a tiny baby blanket as well. It’s a bit before Christmas, which gives me time to decide what to do. This is a great time to start looking at patterns that will go together quickly for the holidays. The Fat Quarter Shop has a good supply of free and simple ideas.

2015
08/06

Category:
Life
Sewing

COMMENTS:
Comments Closed

Patterns, patterns, and more patterns.

I had to interrupt cleaning the desktop (no photos of before, because all you have seen were piles of paper) that I started last night to run to JoAnn’s and purchase some doll patterns because they were $.99 and every sewer knows that having too many patterns is not possible.

Then it was back to putting a lot of these papers that have been in stacks and in envelopes, but cluttering the desk into notebooks where they can actually be viewed and used. In cleaning I found that I have purchased another kit. I had totally forgotten about this one. So that makes the 4th. 2 of them are done, and these two are still not started. Also I broke the punch that I was using to put them into the notebooks, so still have more to go and then find room for the notebooks. I’ll get a new one tomorrow as I think this one has served for over 40 years. It appears I need another bookcase, but there is no room for that, so will have to find plan B.

Maybe after all of this gets organized, I’ll be able to find patterns that I want to make and not spend so much time looking for them. (I do have an apple box of discarded papers as well)

2015
08/05

Category:
Life
Sewing

COMMENTS:
Comments Closed

My cousin sent me another “care” package. It’s always a surprise when she sends something as she will tell me something like “I’m sending you some fabric” which doesn’t tell me anything. Here is today’s package: 2 lovely pieces of flannel each 2 yards, a brocade type and a silky type fabric , each just over a yard plus some doll buttons and other misc., some ribbons, some pellon and a doll pattern with a dress from each of 4 countries. What fun this will be!. But this will go into my doll items and not be counted with my quilting fabrics.

And after mopping the floors and watering the greenhouse etc. – just what has to be done – I don’t get carried away there, I have another little dress done. I probably should go find some fabric to do a third one for gifting, but I’m anxious to try another pattern first.

2015
08/04

Category:
crochet
Life
Shopping

COMMENTS:
1 Comment »

A busy day

Today I took the day off to shop. First I wen to choose some countertop for the master bath. Then came home to get Bill and we went to Joann’s

for a “N” crochet hook – which is large and then to lunch. I took him home so he could go to the lake and then went

Off to Goodwill where I found this doll to fix up for a Christmas gift,

this kettle to make up some dyes for the wool.

Then it was off to Walmart for a two more balls of yarn I needed. They didn’t have what I wanted, but that didn’t seem to stop me from buying. So I came home with these 4 balls of dish cloth yarn that was on sale.

And while I was there, they were having a “back to school” sale on T-shirts. so I choose some from 4 different companies. I’ll try them and see which fit the best and return the rest. That was enough shopping for today. However, when I got home, I received a call from the first place and she told me, the product I chose was marble and would be a lot more work, so I need to come back and choose a granite. Ah, the joys of remodeling.

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Category Archive: Life

The car failed me

We went to Panera’s for lunch after taking the computer in. This was the first time they really scrambled our orders. When I asked the manager if they had new help, he said several were new and offered us a free meal next time we come in.

Spinning the blue roving

If you don’t raise your own fiber and you want to spin, you can purchase wool this way. It is called roving and is the top 1% of Merino wool, which makes it very soft.

It is so collapsed when you purchase it, that it must be opened and then

the fibers pulled apart from top to bottom – so they separate somewhat, but are not pulled apart.

Then I elongate them so that I have a fairly small diameter in my hand while spinning.

IMPORTANT

This computer is going in to get a new hard drive tomorrow. I’m hoping to be up and running by tomorrow night, but if not, that is the reason. I spent about 6 hours today, making sure that everything was backed up and it is possible I still missed some.

A new dress

The girls have decided they need new dresses. So that was today’s project. It takes just as long or longer to make one of these little ones, than it would for a human child. Someday, I’ll have to make them some shoes.

Dyeing pots

Lisa, who is very thoughtful, brought these beautiful roses and lilies when she and Christian came to visit yesterday.

When we got home we took a look through the greenhouse and somehow missed these.

When I went back out to water, I found 7 cukes. I brought in these 4 and left the other 3 near the top to grow a bit more.

Family day

It seems that last night’s post did not go through so am trying again tonight with a different post. Our oldest daughter and her son came to visit for awhile today. So I thought I’d share with you a photo of us.

and with Christian, her son, and his aunt Keri.

For lunch we had a 3 bean and rice salad, potato salad, and a green salad. However, we dived into them before I remembered to snap a photo.

It has been a good day and she was thrilled with her quilt.

A garage?

Yes, we do have a garage. And yes we have been able to park the cars in there, but we have had so much “stuff” here, there and the next place, that it is sometimes difficult to find things.

Since my son purchased this shelf unit and didn’t want to take it apart, he gave it to me. And more shelves are usually good. All my extra bee frames are in plastic bags and the boxes fit 2 high, there is a place for the tops and the bottoms. I am one happy person with these all in one corner.

Little Joys Christmas table topper

Patterns, patterns, and more patterns.

I had to interrupt cleaning the desktop (no photos of before, because all you have seen were piles of paper) that I started last night to run to JoAnn’s and purchase some doll patterns because they were $.99 and every sewer knows that having too many patterns is not possible.

Maybe after all of this gets organized, I’ll be able to find patterns that I want to make and not spend so much time looking for them. (I do have an apple box of discarded papers as well)

A package and a dress

And after mopping the floors and watering the greenhouse etc. – just what has to be done – I don’t get carried away there, I have another little dress done. I probably should go find some fabric to do a third one for gifting, but I’m anxious to try another pattern first.

A busy day

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