(Caron Yarn) Cakes, anyone?

Michael's had a sale on yarn cakes last week.  I had a great idea to get two as identical as possible (for some double-stranded slippers I want to knit).
In the middle of the night it occurred to me that yes, the strands would "color out" about the same; but each slipper would be different and wouldn't look like a matched pair.

I laughed at that one and don't really know how to remedy it. Sigh.  The perils of the imagination....

 





Around the corner

It's really hard to believe that 2017 is around the corner. If I didn't know that God wastes NOTHING, I would bid 2016 good riddance.

However, I also have seen His faithfulness, especially in some periods this year where I felt very alone and afraid.

How marvelous to face the new year with anticipation (winter can't last forever, right??) and goals!  Only attainable ones, at that...

I had a lovely Christmas with Faith.  Below is the gift I received from a dear staff member at the Cancer Center.  With the very rough beginning of 2016 the sentiment in the mug has very special meaning to me.

 

 

    Many things to do before next week.....some holiday packages did not get sent due to severe temps and icy roads.  Cleaning is in order.  I'd like to embrace the KondoMari method of purging (my abode).  Sigh, all the wonderful possibilities of 2017!

 

A very blessed and fruitful new year to you and all of yours.  :)

 

 

My best to you, Dear Daughter----may this year bring everything good and fine and lovely to you.  love, Mom



Only in Indiana? Maybe not...

I had a really odd encounter today.  Faith and I went out to spread some goodwill. Actually, I was just the driver; Faith does all the spreading.

We had to visit the local Credit Union because the ladies that are tellers adore Faith.
Even the manager loves it when I bring Faith in; she begs to see her.  So even though banking was unnecessary, we went in and she got passed from one teller to another.  Faith is so patient, bless her.

Then we went to the local gas station where I tend to get LARGE unsweetened iced teas.  I haven't had one in weeks due to the weather but wanted one today.  I'd stopped in earlier and Erica said, "Where is that dog?"  So I went back home and got her.
I love living a mile from any place I need to be! (Except the Cancer Center, of course.)

I was waiting for Erica to be finished waiting on customers.  I noticed a man at the ATM.  He had a fiberglass prosthetic arm.  I went up to him and said, "Excuse me sir, but is that supposed to be camo (as in hunting camouflage)?"  He answered that it was but that he'd had it only for a short time and it was fading.
The prostheses went from above the elbow; he had no hand.  He had a claw for picking up things.  I told him it looked like camo to me.
At this time he reached up, took the "arm" off, and then pushed it into Erica's face and said, "Look!  My tissue is bleeding into this thing!  That shouldn't be happening."

All I could do was pray he didn't thrust it into my face; I don't think I would have handled it well.  I assume Erica has seen worse things, working at a gas station???

He then said, "My previous one lasted 10 years----you'd think this one would be good at $17,000!" to which I commented that things aren't made as well now as they used to be.
He then said, "Look, if you'd just bought a car for $17,000 and drove two blocks down the street and it started leaking, you wouldn't be happy, would you??" to which I responded "Certainly not!"
He then turned to the Pepsi guy (who drives the Pepsi truck and delivers to the gas station) and asked the same thing.  The Pepsi Guy didn't miss a beat and said, "Of course not."
The Camo Man then went merrily on his way.  Erica and I looked at each other and shook our heads in amazement.

I tell this story because of the aftermath.  I mentioned it on the phone to a friend in California and she said "Oh, I would have just walked away, and not talked to the man."
I told her it was ME that started the conversation!!  Besides, he seemed like he needed to talk....and Hoosiers (though he had to be from southern Indiana, or from the south) are FRIENDLY folk. 
Daily encounters like this are what make up the spice of life in the Midwest, you know?

Brave on my birthday

My good friend Loretta and I went out on my birthday to celebrate both our birthdays.....and braved a blowing advisory......isn't it a cold looking day?

Fortunately, the weather held off.  I was able to run into the Cancer Care Center as well and saw some of my favorite people.  Even got a birthday card from my doctor!

Now that's public service! (Just kidding, Nikki----I loved the sentiments and did so appreciate the card.)

Finished the trip by going to Staples and buying a computer chair; it has all the bells and whistles and sure has improved the arthritis in my knees.  Thanks, Sis!

 

 

 

 

Speaking of which-----my sister asked for the recipe for the holiday bread we grew up with. (She was driving down to our mom's in FL and wanted to surprise her with the ingredients and make it with her.)

 I distinctly remember having to knead this bread, which is very stiff and dense----my brother David and I were often "blessed" with the job...

It is not really very sweet; in fact I'm not that fond of it but oh, when you cut it into 1/4" slices and slather it with butter, the memories it evokes!

I think I'll do some tomorrow.  The smell will be superb....

 

 

The Seven Cow Wife

In a small, rural town in Africa, a young man decided to get married. It was the custom in that area that when a young man sought a woman in marriage, he would pay the bride’s parents a dowry in cows. If a woman was of average appearance and ability, the dowry might be two or three cows. If less than average, fewer cows. And if a particular young lady was extremely beautiful and talented, a young man might pay as high as four cows. In rare situations, he’d offer as many as five.

How many cows a man was willing to pay for his wife became a bragging point for the women. As the story goes, George found a young lady who struck his fancy but who was rather plain and ordinary. George approached her father and offered to pay him seven cows for her hand in marriage. Seven cows! No one could ever remember anyone paying that much for a wife. The whole town mocked George for being so foolish. Well, the wedding day was set, and everyone in the town was there. The bride’s father put on quite a party, but the conversations all day revolved around how foolish everyone thought George was for having paid seven cows for such an ordinary and plain wife.

Several years later, a traveling missionary came to town and began hearing all the stories about George and his seven-cow wife — how this young man had paid so much for such an ordinary woman and how the whole town had mocked them to the point they had moved away. The traveling missionary decided he must see for himself how this story had played out. When he knocked on the door of George’s house that first evening, he was impressed with the appearance of the entryway. George’s face lit up when the missionary introduced himself at the door and quickly invited the visitor into his home. He introduced the missionary to his four young children. All handsome young boys, and very well behaved, thought the missionary. He was also impressed with the cleanliness and order in the home. After entering the living room, George’s wife carried in a drink from the kitchen, where she was preparing dinner. The missionary was taken aback at her beauty, poise and grace. He thought to himself that George must have gotten another wife, as this woman was anything but plain and ordinary.

George invited the missionary to stay for dinner. After a lovely meal, the two men retired to some chairs on the front porch. The missionary complimented George on his beautiful wife, great family and immaculate house. “But what happened to the woman you had paid seven cows for?” George replied that this was the same woman.

The missionary marveled and said that he had heard the stories from the other village about the plain, ordinary wife George had married. “What changed?” he asked. George replied that he had always wanted a seven-cow wife, that she knew he considered her a seven-cow wife, and that she had risen to the bride price. She believed in her worth.

"The value we put on other people greatly affects the way they value themselves."

Pendants

These pendants are made of copper and antiqued. 
Left-click once on each picture to get a close-up view.

 



Volunteer work ideas.....

     I have been kicking around some ideas for volunteer work at the hospital.
I plan to make patterns then work up the donatable items.  Here are a few things...

Three inch crocheted amigurumi ball

 

Three inch crocheted amigurumi owls

 

Woodsmen Gnomes, made from branches

 

 

Hehehehehehehehehe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk1uT8lwq4w

She sure has some good ones-----You Don't Know Garth Brooks is great as well....

Winter, anyone?

This. Is. Brutal.

We are having a cold spell (which means windchill of 2 at the moment)...I grew up in the Midwest so this shouldn't bother me.

Oh, but it bothers me.

Since my surgery in June I have not been able to warm up. 
Really.

When visiting my Mum in Florida, I was amazed to find I was warm for the first time in five months----then saw the reason why.  Her thermostat was set to 82 degrees.

I used to not function with temps above 70 indoors......nor below 70 in the winter.

I just can't seem to get warm.  If I go to bed fully bundled up, I awake a few hours later and have to discard much of the bundle.

I know I am griping. I'm sorry------visions of spring are now dancing in my head; I will be the happiest of all when the thaw starts.

Ha, the freeze is just beginning!

Spring will just be all the sweeter, no?

Comfy in the Snowstorm

Faith does not realize that it was a winter snowstorm over the weekend....though she very much was interested in watching it.  What can you do with a face like this?

Pinch her cheeks????

She's my little bear.

 

Very rare to be able to get her eyes to show up in a photo.....

 

 

Her dental chew toy----she goes through one a month!

I must keep her molars tartar-free if I want to keep her few remaining teeth....

 

She worries that toy to death!  Sometimes I imagine I see her

fling it off the daybed just to be able to retrieve it! ha ha

 

 

Front side of her chew.  It is "bacon flavored" filled and she is nuts for it.

The best thing is that she will push it back to her back molars to chew on it.

It's about 3" long and is from the local grocery store.

 

 

 

 



Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Dear Daughter....
Many happy returns of the day.
I wish you well!
Love,
Mom

I raise a glass of sparkling white grape juice in toast to you!

All Things Relative

I had the best time the other day in the Cancer Center.  I brought in all of the scarves, miscellaneous, and bath bombs for the staff who has watched closely over me the past 7 months.

The scarves were a huge hit-----and arrived at the Center the day before our first coldfront.  Before I left, after my examination, the staff who got scarves were already sporting them.

This was my Christmas.  Faith and I will have each other on Christmas Day, but to the best of my knowledge we won't be with anyone else.  I have worked on the scarves and various projects for much of the year as time and money would allow.  I was committed to make this a Christmas that I would remember fondly.  I am not disappointed by the fruit of my efforts.

No matter what Christmas brings this year, I am blessed by the joy of giving, which is my love language. 

Maybe Faith and I will just stay in bed----me nursing hot chocolate with Faith curled up beside me. 

Not bad, that.

Hi---I am.....

Maybe because my surgeon is from Poland; I love this....

http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Allegro-Christmas-Ad-Make-You-Cry-42815653

Hey Nikki---you payin' attention? ha ha ha ha ha----from your wildest patient....  :)

Out of the Box

This is over the edge, even for me-----but I have wanted to do some knitting for the Cancer Center and this need keeps arising.

The pattern for these prostheses if from Knitted Knockers. I'm not sure if the item itself or the name makes me blush more....ahem.

In the U.S., silicone prostheses breasts can cost upwards of $500 and insurance doesn't always cover the cost.  These knitted ones are provided free to anyone who needs them.

All they need do is contact knittedknockers.org and they can get in touch with the people who will send them what they need.

Mine are being made in conjunction with a local yarn shop for the Center for Cancer Care.

I signed up today as a volunteer knitter with the Hospital.  I hope my arthritis cooperates so I can have many opportunities to make needed items, from these prostheses to knitted toys for children who enter the ER.

The pair at the bottom are size A.  The one on top is a size D.  They are given to the patient without being fully closed in the back so she can add or remove stuffing for a fit to her liking.  They are knitted out of cotton yarn for comfort against tender and scarring skin.

working on pendants

JoAnns provides the nicest large beads on sale!

 

 

Still having fun with copper wire...this is 20 gauge.

This and That

While in Florida visiting my Mum, I went to a thrift shop and found this little guy:

 

He's about 2.5" tall.

I looked under the price tag at the bottom and saw "Goebels, West Germany". 

To the best of my knowledge that means he is a Hummel.

By the way, the price tag was 25 cents.

Needless to say he is here with me!

 

 

 

Faith likes to boldly steal balls of yarn from me as I crochet or knit from them. I decided to crochet a few small stuffed balls for her.  I was amazed to find that she loves to play fetch!  She will fetch about 10 times in a row and only stops when she has exhausted herself.   Here are a few of her 2" balls:

 

They were supposed to be Christmas gifts for her but she keeps rolling them under furniture that makes them hard for me to retrieve.  Ha ha, I'll just have to keep crocheting them.  If I ever move I reckon we will find a dozen or more balls?







Thanksgiving Surprise

     I had a lovely surprise this Thanksgiving---I went to Lakeland, FL, to visit with my 91-years-young mother.  I was so glad I made the trip, and was none-too-surprised that I went since I am very unfond of flying.
     The trip went smoothly except for an unexpected bout of asthma.  Fortunately I had the inhalers with me so all worked out well in the end.  It was so lovely to spend the Thanksgiving meal with my mother!


This picture was taken when she was 17.  It went into the navy with my Dad during WWII, as well as the Korean War.  I love this picture...

 

 

Thanks, Mom, for a lovely time.  It was so great to see you. xoxoxoxo

Odd Recipe 1

Here is the recipe I've made up for homemade toothpaste.
I love how clean it makes my teeth as well as breath.  The coconut oil is antibacterial and I'm not using anything that will harm my teeth, mouth, or body. Hurrah!

Homemade Toothpaste

Put in a sterile short jar:

1 TB unrefined, virgin coconut oil (that means it will smell like coconuts)
1 TB baking soda
2 TB granulated xylitol
1/4 tsp. peppermint Essential Oil, the kind you can cook with (do NOT USE EXTRACT)

Mix well in jar with sterile spoon.  Put a clean lid on this.
Half pint mason jars work well for this.

I can't understand why some would just stick their toothbrush in the jar to get some of this out-----what about the germs on the brush????
I use mini craft sticks (popsicle sticks) that are cheap and take some out of the jar with a stick.
Do NOT let any water get into this mixture; it will create mold. That is the way it is with any mixtures.  Since this doesn't have water in it, it will keep for a long time.  I've been using mine for about a month, trying to do twice a day. This is cheap, handy, and healthy!

I looked up xylitol before buying it....oddly enough, research shows it's only advantage is it seems to be good for oral health......works for me!

Corner-Turning

     Due to various circumstances in the past few weeks I feel as though I've turned a much-needed corner.
Those who know of my past year will be glad to hear that much of my deep grief and pain have abated; I feel lighter and more hopeful.  I am very grateful for others' prayers and TLC during the murky waters I have just traveled.  I still covet your prayers.

I have been making copper jewelry the past while and have really found it enjoyable.
Dead soft copper (my favorite gauge is 20) works nicely into rings.  Size 18 gauge is harder on my arthritis.  Dead soft starts out very pliable but the more you work with it the harder it is to work with.

Here are some rings I've made.  A ring mandrel helps me size them.
The ring on the left is gauge 20, with two wraps as the band.  The one on the right is gauge 18 with four wraps.  They have been antiqued to a nice patina with LOS (liver of sulfur) which indeed makes the place smell like rotten eggs. Ugh.
There is no "slimy penny" feeling though----probably due to the fact there isn't a ton of diverse DNA on them....ahem.

Liz at makingiteasywithliz.com has scores of YouTube tutorials that are not only helpful but fascinating.  A big shout out to her for her help.  I've posted a link to her shop/site in Blog/Links I Like to Follow. 
She is in Canada which makes her raw products cost prohibitive for me; but her videos are accessible at her site as well as on YouTube.  Thank you again, Liz!

 

 

 

Another pic of various rings once they've been patina-ed...

 

When Thankful is a Choice

It seems so easy to be thankful when life trucks along without potholes, detours, bumps, or random unexpected wildlife (I'm talkin' deer and such, folks).

This has been a hard year for me, relationally, physically, and "heart-ly."  But I've always loved November 1-----the day that marks my favorite month.

The weather is by now certainly changing.  This year I feel colder than most--perhaps it is the ongoing recovery from surgery and all that entailed.

The leaves are gorgeous.  One sad note----when we moved in here ten years ago there were about a dozen trees that gave fantastic shade, one being outside my bedroom window.  I loved to see the leaves dancing by shadow through my blinds.

Last week all those trees were cut down, a necessary evil due to a foolish choice of someone to kill weeds by the trees-----with the wrong pesticide.  For the past four years or so these trees have been non-leaf bearing at the upper half of the trees.
I get furious thinking about it-----I mean, who'd want to kill a TREE?
I believe I know who did it.  He was just trying to do his job but was in over his head regarding husbandry.

I told the manager of the complex that while I am still saddened by the loss of the trees (those years ago), I can see the wisdom of having them cut down.  Everything looks shiny and airy now.  Best of all, the "deadness" is gone.  Yes, I miss the leaves----but not the constant reminder (via dead limbs) of what was once beautiful, green, and lush.
Some things must be cut out, I guess.

And though I don't understand the correlation in my life, I choose to be thankful, for One wiser than I is not finished yet and alone can breathe life into what seems dead.

Here are a few new pics...

Finally caught Faith with her mousie----she really worries that toy at times.

 

 

Knitted and felted (fulled) mice, incomplete, for a friend's son.

 

Catching up

My little bear

 

She does the "why can't I have just one bite?" look quite well.

 

 

Are we gonna play??

 

 

 

KnitPicks Stroll Finger Weight Tonal

being weaved into a scarf.

 

Scarf on the Ashford Sample It Rigid Heddle Loom.  The Loom is a piece of art. I'm glad I sanded it laboriuosly.  My dad would be proud.  It is glorious to run my fingers over it.

 

Left over yarn in my "knitting bowl" (garage sale find).  Faith has taken to running off with my balls of yarn when I'm not looking.....can I spell C-A-T?  Ahem.

 



Ten Years!

     I am celebrating ten years today of no Diet Coke.

     That sounds rather unimportant----but it isn't to me.  I was really a Diet Coke fiend.
I once gave it up for two years but then walked by the soda machine at work and bought one and BAM!-----I was hooked again.

So it has been ten years since I have had one. I don't like Coke, so I haven't had that, either.  I can't stand Pepsi, so none there.

I  have probably had 2-3 dozen sodas (root beer, ginger ale, Dr. Pepper) during this time.

I wish other food items were as easy to give up...though those initial "getting off sodas" headaches were massive.

Hurray for me.  I am happy about this.

2017 Knitted Washcloth free pattern (mine)

Knitted 2017 Washcloth

Copyright, 2016, M.A. Winters

All Rights Reserved

 

Materials:  Hobby Lobby “I Love This Cotton” dk wt. 100% cotton yarn

 US size 3 knitting needles; darning needle
 

Cast on 41 tightly.  Work 6 rows of garter st.

Now work as follows:      Row 1:  K    Row 2:  K3, P35, K3.

Repeat these two rows five more times.

It will be helpful if you put a pencil checkmark to the left of each row number after you complete it (if you print this out).  Erase when you are finished with the washcloth so you can reuse the pattern.

Date pattern:

Row 1(RS):  K10,  p2,   k2,   p4,   k3,   p5,   k3,   p6,    k6.

Row 2 and all even rows(WS): K3,  P29,  K3.

Row 3:  K10,   p2,   k2,   p4,   k3,   p5,   k3,   p6,   k6.

Row 5:  K9,   p2,   k4,   p2,   k3,   p2,   k3,   p2,   k5,   p3,   k6.

Row 7:  K9,   p2,   k4,   p2,   k3,   p2,   k3,   p2,   k4,   p3,   k7.

Row 9:  K8,   p2,   k5,   p2,   k3,   p2,   k3,   p2,   k3,   p3,   k8.

Row 11:  K8,   p2,   k5,   p2,   k3,   p2,   k3,   p2,   k2,   p3,   k9.

Row 13:  K7,   p2,   k6,   p2,   k3,   p2,   k3,   p2,   k2,   p2,   k10.

Row 15:  K7,   p2,   k6,   p3,   k2,   p2,   k3,   p2,   k2,   p2,   k2,   p2,   k6.

Row 17:  K6,   p6,   k3,   p3,   k3,   p5,   k3,   p6,   k6.

Row 19:  K6,   p6,   k3,   p2,   k4,   p5,   k4,   p4,   k7.

Row 20: K3,  P35,  K3.

Row 21: K

Repeat these two rows FOUR more times.  Yes, this is two less rows than the rows of st st at the beginning of the washcloth.  The eye sees it as more centered if done they way I’ve written it.  Trust me.

Now garter for 6 rows.  Bind Off tightly. Cut tails; weave in ends.Block with pins onto an ironing board; wet steam and leave to dry.  When you give as a gift, suggest that it be machine washed and dried to soften (it has sizing in it until washed) before first use.

You may make and sell this item; you may NOT claim the pattern as your own nor alter it in any way and claim it as your own.

 

Recovering

Well I had an unexpected surprise...Faith had a dental cleaning done on Tues.  I had been forewarned by the vet that she would need a few extractions.  I suspected this because she had a lot of tartar as well as really bad breath.

This veterinarian clinic has always been more than fair with me; they have often given free and lifesaving advice to me on the phone in the past.  I do trust them completely to deal honestly with me.  They are worth traveling over 20 miles for, even though there are other clinics within ten miles.

Imagine my surprise when I got the phone call, after the cleaning but before any extractions----Faith needed SEVENTEEN teeth pulled.

I was a bit gobsmacked. Would that leave her with any teeth?  The vet assured me that dogs have over 40 teeth, and tho Faith had already had some teeth pulled before I became her owner she would still have some left.  One of the teeth was fractured and several were so loose they could easily be pulled with fingers.  (Gotta love those purebred tiny breeds.)

So here is my Pretty recovering from her dental surgery.  I asked the vet if she had been miserable prior to the extractions.  We determined that it would be near impossible for her NOT to be.  That does explain why she didn't want to eat much.
She is on the mend and has decided she rather likes me. 

Loopy and cuddly the night of the extractions. She did moan a fair bit even though she was heavily medicated.  She had developed a cyst between two teeth. (One of her pre-adult molars never broke the skin and her body created the cyst to try to expel it.  So she lost two teeth over that.)

 

The next day she slept most of the day, on her back. What a goober-dog.

 

She made me laugh when I looked over and saw that she had wormed her feet behind one of the pillows on the daybed----using it sort of like a featherbed.

 

Getting shaggy in the coat

 

Pretty chipper today though she doesn't want to drink. Pad training is going okay (she was used to a doggy door) but she doesn't go much----doesn't follow any sort of routine.  I guess routine is my job!

 

 

I found several YouTube tutorials on dog slings.  This one is ingenious; very simple to make, takes two yards of fabric and about 30 mins. from start to finish. Faith LOVES being toted around in it.  I get tons of comments, most of them favorable.  I also get snorts from people but I don't mind cuz the dog is happy.  





Little things revisited

 I found these two mice the other day in a soaping supplies drawer. (Go figure.)
They were a lot of fun to make.
Faith has a larger version that she treats like a puppy----or cat, as she tends to throw it in the air and then grabs it and runs and hides it.  Poor mousey.

 

They are about 2.5" tall and are made of sock wool.





New Member

There's a new little lady at my home.  She is a four-year-old retired breeding Pomeranian.  She weighs 6 lbs. and had three litters, two delivered by C-section.  After that time her breeder had her spayed and waited for the right home to come along.
That home is me!

She came with the name Faith.  Her AKC papers show her full name as "Leap of Faith."  After my past year I found it fitting to keep her name.  She answers to it very well.  She is quite mellow, very socialized, and doesn't bark much----at least yet.  She does the "Pom mumble" which is hysterical to hear. It's as if she is arguing with herself.

She is quite the cuddle-bug which suits me to a tee.  The vet has given her an all-clear.  She is getting used to a quiet home after being amidst many Pomeranians at her breeder's.  She pulled a fast one at the vet-----she favored one back leg and he decided to manipulate her leg to see if her patella was in place.
After which she lifted the other leg.....and the front two as well. We all had a good laugh over that one.  She is a sweet diva as well as a trickster.  She helps keep me mellow for which I am grateful.
Enough talking---now for the pictures...

Queen of the daybed

 

Do I have to travel in this?

 

You could get that camera out of my face and I wouldn't mind...

 

Finally crashed, first night.  She loves this position and if I stroke her chest she will be asleep by the third stroke---honest.

 

 Another "tummy-cuddle" photo

 

 



She learned the steps quickly with six little treats of cheese.

Now she is the step-diva.

She was acting a bit blue one evening.

 

Faith, the breeder, and me-----for size comparison.

Such a personality for such a little dog.

 

 

She has a teddybear face.....

 

Or, at times looks like a cat.  Ahem.

 

Oddly enough, if the temp. is 70, she will start to shiver.

I got this fleece sweater at the festival last weekend.

 

Frisky, ready to play.

 

Playing's done---good night.