Monday, June 13, 2016

Knitter in Limbo

I have to admit, I haven't picked up a pair of knitting needles in ages, the only time I did pick them up was to knit my oldest sister a pair of socks and that was some time ago.  I did try to knit my niece some socks but, the yarn wasn't the color I liked so, I ripped them apart. Now I am trying to decide if I need to knit her socks right now or not.  I think I am going to paint her some yarn for her socks, I don't like what I have around here right now. 

I know the hubby is shaking his head thinking...you have 4 roomfuls of yarn, you crazy woman!  Yes, I do but, it isn't right for what I want to knit.  As any knitter knows, this is a perfectly sane answer and our reasoning is sometimes skewed! 


I haven't even wanted to sew.  I am in limbo right now where crafting is concerned.  Then I discovered some new crafting ideas.  Yes, something bright and pretty has caught my eye, just trying to find the time and the money to craft these ideas, that is the big issue.  I haven't even beaded in ages. 

I want to make myself a dress to wear over my swimsuit, I have to cut the pattern out and get it ready for serging and sewing.  Hubby bought me a beginners serger for my birthday.  I am no way an expert on sewing since I am self taught but, I decided I wanted to try out a serger to see how it worked and how it will help me with my quilting.  No, I haven't had time to finish all of the ones I started.  I have a few left to finish. 

Monday, March 14, 2016

Yeah, Well....

Yes, it has been a while once again since I have sat down and posted.  I am in the middle of the million pillow case challenge.  I entered in my DAR chapter and we are sewing for a great cause.  I am working on my pillowcases. 

I do have something on my knitting needles, a scarf for one of my many nieces, I haven't had time to sit down and work on it.  Other things have occupied my time, a swimming pool that is green, slowly cutting down a pineapple guava bush that has long since worn out it's welcome, and then a crepe myrtle that needs a nice hair cut.  Plus doing my chores. 

I have taken the time at night to sit down and bead, it helps me relax and be able to sleep.  I was noticing my sleep was being disrupted by life and I can't have that, I need that sleep.  Plus, my stress had more than doubled and my doctor changed my bp meds to another one which gave me a nasty rash.  I am back to my old meds. 
One of my pillowcases that I have been sewing for my charity. 
We are also changing out all the cfl bulbs in the house as we can afford to do it, we are changing to LEDs since I read an article about how bad those cfls truly are for the environment and for us as well.  Out they are going.  We are planning on recycling them at the local home store where they have bins for them.  Two boxes need to go.  I guess next pay check will include getting another box and the pricey ones will be for all of the recessed lighting we have in our home. 
 
I had bought a Ninja 4 in 1 cooker and I love the thing.  Thank goodness for ez pay.  I love this item, it saves me from cranking up the stove and heating up the whole kitchen.  I have noticed I am cooking more since I bought the thing.  I also have been making more salads for us.  I buy the items I need from the store and make my own, so much cheaper than the local salad restaurant that charges about $20 for a salad, I kid you not. 
I guess if people are willing to spend that much on a salad and also on coffee they will keep charging it.  I won't pay that for a cup of coffee, I have Honduran coffee in my house.  I had brought some back with me from our trip to Roatan and I fell in love with it.  So good!  Best cup of coffee I have ever had. 
 Me snorkeling on the reef in Roatan, my selfie.
 Some of the locals enjoying a day on the reef.
 A starfish, I happened to spot as I was going into the water. 
 My smiling fish friend, he went wherever we went while we were snorkeling.  He is smiling for the camera. 
One of the reef channels and some brain coral off to the left. 
 
Will I go back to Roatan?  Yes, in a heart beat.  We are going back this year on vacation. Have you ever found the only place you ever want to go back to?  We did.  It was so beautiful and so relaxing.  Very nice people, too.  If you scuba dive or snorkel, this is the place for you, if not, you won't like it.
 
 

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Happy New Year!

I know it has been some time since I have sat down and posted anything.  Loads of changes in my life.  Number one on the menu is that I am rethinking Drooling Over Yarn, the business.  Etsy is way over crowded and nothing sells.  So, I am thinking of what to do about this.  I might end up going rogue and getting my own website.  I have been thinking about this one for a while. 
Then there is the problem of I am not really interested in yarn right now.  Nope, don't want to see it, don't want to dye it, don't want to paint it. 

The last thing I made was a pair of socks for a niece.  She loves them.  She tells me about them all of the time.  I like this attitude of hers about her socks.  I have no patience or the will to knit anyone a pair of socks and then find out they have given them away.  Excuse me?  I spent all my time and effort for you to give them away.  I don't think so, they are permanently off the sock list. 

Anyway, I am not interested in yarn right now. 

What have I been doing with my time?  I have been quilting.  I made myself a quilt about a year or so ago and I realized that I really like making quilts.  I had been wanting to make one ever since my first gift of one by my Aunt.  She made me and my sisters one to share.  I have that quilt upstairs.  It is mine.  I love it.  Then in came the requests as soon as I finished that first one and I ignored them until I made my second one.  I showed it off to my sister, and then she tells me that my nephew will be going away to college this coming fall and I knew I had to make him something from home.  Then I decided his little brother needed one, too.  I have a pile of tops that have to be finished.  I am currently working on one.  I even sold my first one recently.  I was shocked!  It was a custom order but, I did it and I was paid for it.  It wasn't much but, it gave me inspiration that my craft can pay.  I am not doing it as a job, I am making quilts because I love it.  I would love to be able to make a king sized one but, I do not have the cash for a long arm quilting machine.  I would have to go into business to pay for one.  I do not want to do that. 

Mostly I have been dealing with Percy, our Schnoodle, or Total Nightmare doggy.  My Napoleon had to be put down and then my Bootsy had to be put down. Their doggy bodies just couldn't go anymore so, we knew it had to be done.  So, we put them down within months of each other.  Ody was lost with out both of them so, we knew we had to go and get another dog.  We rescued Percy and now we know why they didn't ask for background information, they wanted to get rid of him.  He has his moments of sweetness and then he becomes Destructo, the dog that destroys everything.  Our back yard is littered with crap he has destroyed.  We have to take the trash can back there and just start picking it all up.  My fire pot, destroyed, my pool tools, destroyed, he is destructive. 

He even caught and killed two rats in the back yard.  So, he is earning his keep somewhat.  Gary had been trying to catch the one rat for about a year or so and sure enough, Percy managed to get 2 and we didn't know about the second one.  He is a puppy, yet.  I am impressed by this.