Quick but Not

I bought 3 skeins of varigated yarn a few months ago.

After finishing the orange lacey nightmare of a scarf (sorry no pics on Christmas of R with it)

I pulled this out..

 

 

Looks are deceiving but pretty right?

Starbella

I was thinking a chunky scarf.

Note to self- self you should def read labels.

I could not cast on because it actually looks like this...

 

It opens to lattice work with a tighter band or ribbon at bottom.

I was stumped.

Again note to self- self read label NOW.

I did and you don't "cast" on you weave through the upper row of lattice work to begin

then turn and knit using loops pulled through another opening as you knit.

Get it? I didn't so I read again then Eureka!

 

Look it's a Beethoven era cravat fall type of scarve.

Fast but annoying.

I didn't have bamboo needles in this size 7 and the metal ones slipped yarn quick.

I had a hard time holding it together.

I could have finished in 1 day but I took 3 because it was Christmas Eve morning

when I started . I knit maybe 3 hours.

Christmas day maybe another hour and today another hour.

Pretty quick results I thought.

 

 

LN was happy.

 

She tried different styles.

After present openings she has begun her 1st day back to school outfit designs.

Not sure if this will make the cut but it should make the 1st week back choices.

                                                  

                                                     I now have to decide what's next???

 



25th part 2

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.
Except in LN's case it was ...
The stockings socks were given in CHEER.
She received 13 pairs of cheerful socks this Christmas.
She is the Queen of Socks!

 

The 12 and 13th  (if you're counting) is 2 pairs of Bright NEON Green soccer socks.

Here's a few close-ups.

 

These are mis-matched Christmas socks. Don't you love the toe icons?

 

Thick sports socks as well as crazy colors

 

I think these came with the Partridge Family bus, do you agree?

 

LN said she doesn't even need shoes with these.

 

Aztec anyone?

                                           Boo or should we say Hoo with these 2 pairs?



 

Always have room for sheep feet. I'm trying to talk her out of this pair.

 

Goose was unimpressed by the activities.

We ate enchiladas and MIL brought pretzel salad with her.

A few things were not cheerful today.

One of the young goats went into premature labor and I had to pull 2 dead huge kids.

We gave her meds and hope she lives.

I hate that part of animal husbandry and it is someones fault for breeding such a young goat.

She seems to be drinking and nibbling and seems to have turned around in the pen I put her in.

I came inside from that fiasco and had to shower from well you know ...

I went down to kitchen to wash dishes and start dinner prep.

A few dishes into it the water cut off.

Great so S goes into pump room in basement and he hears water flowly loudly.

Seems sink supply pvc pipe broke in 2 pieces and flooded corner of basement.

That required stopping S's project of cutting small goat door in side of barn wall and becoming plumber right quick. After hour of cleanup and repair prep continued.

In the chaos and mental frustration of remainder of day I did not take any pictures of R & Z's visits.

R was happy with her 3 scarves, book, & TOMS shoes.

Her hubby S2 liked his hunting underduds.

S received a new truck seatcover, his is in bad shape and overworked on deliveries.

Z accepted his money gifts and talked awhile with me and LN (a rare occurrence).

He doesn't take to attention directly or accepting gifts but he tries with me.

It seems he is trying to qualify for a mortgage as a 1st time home owner and purchase a small starter home. He is only 22 yr old but if he can he will.

He said he can pay mortgage as well as rent.

We'll see what plays out but more power to him and I'll help as I can.

All and all not a bad day.

I received clothes from R she's the best at stocking me up.

LN & S gave me Amazon cards as well as a friend so I'm set on my Kindle and otherwise. 

25th 1st part

Merry Christmas

from Mine to Yours

 

LN never stop smiling. She got up and went to feed all her animals

then came upstairs to get us up.

So dang thoughtful she was.

 

Even happy about the  requisite books.

 

Her squirrel necklace thats a watch :}

 

Owl shirts are banging I'm told.

 

I'm so not impressed, I could be napping.

 

LN made and decorated butter cookies yesterday. She's the only one who eats them.

Hope she's hungry!

Funniest thing ever was LN cleaning up the crumbs and icing under the racks on the table and she bumped a tray . It ended in the floor and I about peed my pants laughing.

It make me rethink my bad mood and ended up laughing and happy.

 

My pathetic decorating skills after a frustrating baking attempt seen below.

Cinnamon rolls that were an epic fail.

 

I know why, I didn't let mixture cool off enough and yeast didn't set or take well.

I also think the whole wheat flour was dense and strong.

I baked 4 dozen , they didn't rise much and were chewy.

I'll attempt again later and will master it.

I'm stubborn , remember?

 

Be back with other 2 youngins and updates as they occur ;]

Enchiladas for Christmas supper, yummy!

 

Have a Wonderful Christmas.

 



a few more

 

here's a few more of my favorite ornaments

 this is LN's new giraffe with a touch of sparkle

 

I cross stitched this toy soldier many moons ago

 

LN cross stitched this sign 3 yrs ago

 

This was a fair project for LN this yr in latch hook

 

the drum was made using toilet paper tube and match sticks as a homemade ornament

when my kids had a recycled tree for a 4-H contest 

 

R made this for me 15 yrs ago

Gosh I'm old

 

the picture doesn't show how vibrantly red Santa is

he's made of wax

each yr I cross my fingers he doesn't melt in the heat of the storage area under the roof eaves

 

It's a rainy blah day in DE.

I don't wanna move.

Can I go back to bed?

Yea I didn't think so.

 

Oops it's end of the world day.

I forgot.

I'll let you know tomorrow how I make out.

LOL

A little Mayan humor

20th

Umm I just realized it's the 20th of December.

I'm slow like that.

I need to find all the gifts I hid from LN.

She's a tad upset that nothing is under the tree but the gifts she bought and wrapped for us.

I have never allowed my kids to believe in Santa and that crap stuff.

I was raised in the church and it was not an option then or now.

I remember Christmas being on a Sunday and being allowed to open my gifts but I was not allowed to play with them because it was a day to worship Christ and we had to adher to that.

I do not do that to my kids but I never started make believe with them because I don't like when the bubble/lie bursts wide open and kids are mad and hurt about it.

If I am nothing I am brutally honest with people like it or not. My sister doesn't like it but if it's a spade it's a spade. I've raised the kids the same way and they are just like me in that respect.

Sometimes I have to call them back or temper what they say because of it.

I still believe if you don't want an honest answer don't ask the question.

Sometimes my sister starts a conversation with me by saying, "ok don't talk, just listen and don't say I told you so. I know your opinion".

Back to Christmas

I just believe in it being Jesus' birthday period.

We give gifts to kids and they have always known that with no ill effects.

We give them gifts to celebrate Jesus' birthday.

I collect santas and snowmen just like I collect sheep and livestock things.

It fun but not real.

Am I a meany? Maybe, probably but that's fine with me.

This world is too gray and pc for my liking.

Make a stand and stop straddling the fence or you'll have a sore you know what.

 

 



Uhhh

Maybe MamaPea infected me?

I have the no posting flu.

I have lots to say ... always!

I just don't feel like posting.

 

Guess I am posting right now though.

LOL

 

My muscles ache and I'm tried.

I'm not ready for Christmas with gifts or meal preparations.

It'll just be 4 of us on Christmas Eve and MIL requested Ham and I'm out in freezer.

I don't wanna pay for processed ham crap that I can't or should not eat anyway.

I will though , she doesn't ask for much and at 87 she could and should.

Christmas evening I'll make Enchiladas.

There may be 5 or 6 people so fairly small cept one eats for 2 but that's fine as well.

I won't be working with trainer from Saturday to Tuesday so I have to police myself.

He can be a crutch ...that makes me sweat and body burn but still...

He remeasured me yesterday it had been 21 days since 1st time.

I only lost 2 # but 5 % body fat and gained 12# muscle wt.

Weird and I don't get it.

At least all the numbers I want down did go down.

He warned me not to expect much wt loss in pounds and I honestly don't give a darn what number scale says. I care about how I feel and how my clothes fit.

 

 

I'm still feeling sad and odd about CT incident.

I really don't get why or the ensuing aftermath the media is doing.

Let the families mourn in privacy please.

I have views too on gun control and school safety but now is NOT the time to spew them.

Nothing will bring those children and adults back.

I am refraining from furthur comment on those issues.

I wish more would do the same.

 

 

Community

LN had two 4-H community service events on Saturday.

Her club filled 25 baskets for the elderly with homemade goods.

This meant we needed 25 donations.

Hence Friday I baked 225 small loaves of Lemon-Blueberry Bread.

It took all day.

I made the same recipe 7 times over.

7 sticks of butter

7 cups of sugar

about 9 cups of blueberries (I added extra)

a dozen lemons

alot of stuff, so much I ran out and had to go for supplies 2/3 of the way through

 

 

LN wrapped them after they cooled. I hope the recipients enjoy a bit of Christmas cheer.

This cheered me...

It's ceramic and heavy and fun.

Keeps my tea warm alot longer. Yes it's regular black but I drink alot of green tea as well.

Working out and diet modifying is continuing.

I walk as fast as I can on treadmill (w/o running-knees) for an hour and do cardio exercises each day

 if I don't go to the gym with my trainer.

So far so good.

Food stinks. I don't care for chicken breast or fish but I eat it.

Still yuck!

A few family members are opposed to my working out.

Seems it interferes with their expectations of what I should spend my energy and time on.

Not gonna stop me just pisses, yes I said piss, me off and makes me work harder.

I may never be bikini ready or win Mrs. America but that isn't my goal.

I'll go till I'm ready to say, "I like me".  

 

 



I'm trying

I'm trying to adjust after Connecticut.

It's devastating news and brings things into perspective clearly.

I will try to never seperate from my children while angry with them.

I'll get mad and yell cause I do but I will remember to make it ok when we part.

They have to always know I love them and will try to do whatever I can to protect them.

I may not be able but I'll try.

 

Life does go on albeit with great sadness.

 



Love your child

On this sad day I would like everyone to love your child tonight.
Hug them long and hard and don't let go for awhile.
Every child deserves love regardless.
It won't bring back the 20 children and 6 adult Connecticut victims
but it will re-enforce your love for your child.
They need to know...
I wish I knew.
It's a hard time for me because of my parents but
 In NO WAY as hard as the families in Connecticut will have to deal with as they grieve.
No sense at all
No excuse
None

Hopki

I love older people, ie. my parents age or older.

They have so much to teach s if we listen.

I try to listen.

Hence... Hopki!

Hopki is a Japanese citizen living in the US since about 1970.

She is in her late 70's .

She is so interesting to talk to if I can understand her.

She met and married a US serviceman in Japan where he was stationed in the late 60's.

He tried to re enlist and stay in Japan as long as possible but inevitably he had to come home.

Hopki came with him against her wishes but she loved him.

Her husband passed away about 12 yrs ago.

She remained her all alone with no family or children here.

She says it's familiar now so she isn't going back since her parents and siblings are gone.

She loves animals and will spend her money to feed all of them very well.

She feels that each opussum, racoon, shunk, squirrel, bird and dog needs love and feed

She brings our dog biscuits and bones by the pound.

I remind her that we are a feed and livestock business and sell those products.

She brings us food like shrimp chips, candy and peanuts in shell.

Again I sell 50# bags of peanuts in our business.

She is so generous and thoughtful now I  just said Thank-you and accept.

She lives alone and drives herself.

She needed her license renewed to the federal type.

At DMV they gave her the requirements and she told them she was born in Japan.

Again they gave her the requirements, ya know your 1st born and multiple copies of everything?

She again told them I was born in Japan.

They insisted so...

Miss Hopki brought her Japanese birth certificate all 6-7 ft of it.

Written in Japanese and never translated.

DMV actually went and hired a translator to authenticate she was telling the truth.

They eventually gave her the federal license.

If you could have heard her heavily Japanese accented story you would have busted a gut like I did.

I wish I would have been there to watch the bureaucracy being given their comeuppance by a 4'6" Japanese lady who just wants to drive to buy animal feed, bird seed and dog bones.