Tolentreasures

            Continuing to finish items.  I had these started before the New Year, but managed to finish them yesterday. I always have a bag with unfinished hats. They are ready for riding in the vehicle.  Another one finished.        So the tally 6-12. boards 13. Hat   Now lets see what today brings!   

  The Linus Project   http://projectlinus.org/       That has me rapidly crocheting since Shelby informed me she is doing that project with her students BEFORE Christmas.  Me, thinking of calm January nights in front of the fireplace...     Guess not! So, here I go.    And how it started?   With this little boy who is turning four today!   http://tolentreasures.blogspot.com/2010/11/update-thanks-and-prayers.html   There are chapters groups of  the Linus Project Everywhere!    Blankets can also be mailed!   A very worthy cause!      

Not hemorrhoids, steroids!   After putting off a trip to the doctor as long as possible for this stupid cough, last week I finally broke down and went in.   I do not like the call, leave a message and wait for someone to call you back process. I do not like the drive to the doctor, I do not like the waiting in the outer office, I do not like the waiting in the inner office, I do not like the weigh-in, I do not like the blood pressure check, (always elevated because of the preceding events)   Most of all, I think that cure is going to kill me one of these times. Antibiotics and Steroids, and the subsequent, pie-eyed, no sleep nights!   However, on the bright side, I do get a lot done. Steroids must be like buying time or adding extra hours into your day, or maybe the drug Speed.   Because while I don't function at top performance on concentrating while taking them, I sure c...

  I know, I know. Every year I try to stash bust and vow not to buy anymore fabric, yarn or wood.   And every year, it is broke before the end of January.   This is the year. I have to. My sewing room is being moved to a smaller room. Therefore, I must reuse, reduce, condense, eliminate!   So, yarn projects are being finished, the stash of t-shirts cut up, and all that fabric...   String quilts.   Even the fabric to piece them together and back them is going to wait until I use up and organize all the scraps.   And there are lots!  Over the past week, a huge garbage bag of junk has left the sewing room. That's progress, right?

Giving my obsession with the health care fiasco a break, I needed something else to jam into that space in my mind. It is not really working yet, however, I am really trying to make them all think it is working. So, I am taking up some other obsessions. Crazy quilt blocks for one. Since having to give up all the wool or live with the itching, I needed another stitching project. These fit the bill! Creative and fun. Collecting and planning for the trip to Haiti. I leave for Haiti on the 17th of November. Hopefully and Prayerfully, a promise kept. Six years ago, I promised to return and teach calligraphy to the students at the EBAC orphanage. Why would I do that?   Make that promise? Life has been in the way since and I did not know if I would be able to keep that promise. So, the door is opened and I am sewing dresses and skirts and shorts to take with me, collecting formula to take along, some baby clothing an...

Well, to start it was going to be just a post about knitting,  however, as usual, other things are going on. So, while I am knitting away, scarves for the Open House,   Stop over and like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FallOpenHouse   now on to the rest of the story.   First of all, my paternal grandmother lived next door to my aunt. My aunt started with two boys, Paul and Dan. (later she went on to have 6 more children) but those two boys were just a little older than me. I was next in line in the grandchildren and then my cousin, Patty.   So many times, I have watched Tyler and Logan and drawn similarities to my cousins, Paul and Dan.    Paul was all busy and wild, getting into everything. Dan was a little more quiet and sensitive, following Paul in a lot of antics, but always the one to be concerned if someone got hurt... and usually someone did.... or something broke...

Well, this has been way harder than I thought it would be. I guess I didn't plan on how difficult it would actually be for me to lose so much independence! Another thing that I did not realize is the energy and athleticism and grace that it would take to do simple tasks like....go to the bathroom, put on a pair of pants or get a drink of water! Muscles hurt that I never even knew I had! Mentally, I spent a few days actually feeling sorry for myself and well just generally not being a very nice or fun person. At one point, I actually started contemplating inflicting mortal harm on JWS for several reasons, not the least of which included not flushing the commode or carrying the dirty dish towels to the basement. I think I am coming around. Coming to grips with the fact that I might not be the most pleasant or obedient patient and owning it has helped a lot. All that being said, the I Spy quilt is in the frame, the VBS houses are ready, and I have several scarves, a to...

  My new friend Charlotte, http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=tn_tnmn#!/romalandwoodcrafts?fref=ts posted a pic of a little girl with one of these phones, the one on the left, that is.   It inspired me to take this pic. I found this phone at a yard sale a few years ago. I think that I paid less than a dollar for it.   They are really fun all painted up, But before it went into the stash, I set it on my painting counter and plugged it in. To my surprise, it worked! And even better, because of it's weight, it didn't fall off the counter when I propped it on my shoulder to talk. The headphone seemed to fit between my shoulder and ear better also, and there were no annoying "chin pushing the buttons" moments. Perfect! So that is where it stayed. And I used it, only to answer for over a year. Then the thought... wonder if you can "dial" it? And you can! Funny thing, it will only take seven num...

What a Saturday!  Finally, I picked up the paintbrushes and got productive. I have had three of these wine barrel lids in my basement for quite awhile now. It was time to get at least one of them finished. And some folk art painting, Helen Cavin inspired. That book is dated 1989, only about six  years after I started painting. It was time to use the book for something! Another new project is this scarf. This is fun yarn to work with. Mom wanted some scarves for gifts for Christmas next year. She bought yarn, how about that for getting a jump on things?   Under the category of Old Projects is this baby afghan. I need to get it done. Always good to have them finished BEFORE the baby is born. And Retiring Projects. I am putting these away for now.  These nine were all made today.  That's over 25 of them and for now, that is it   They are fun, they are addictive, but re...

Apparently, Dad has been way more productive on the winter hat projects than I have been! I made two! This is what he handed me yesterday. And, he said he had more, but dropped some at a local charity before he brought these to me.   Way to go, Dad!     Now I have to get them to some cold heads!   Could this little girl adore her new cousin any more?   She is now asking her mom for a new baby of their own.    Hmmm. And, We managed to pile them all on Great Grandma for a quick photo shoot! Not an easy task with the squirmy ones on the left.  

See this face? That about sums up January for me! This is Garren's excited face.  Mine looks the same, but maybe not for the same emotion.   I always look forward to January. Slow at work, lots of days to come home early. Lots of big projects to complete. Well, let's just say, January didn't quite shape up that way.    I had high hopes of getting lots of stockings finished for next year, some painting orders done, and some rest.   Instead... I got a lot of these done.   Quick and easy. Instant gratification. Not a whole lot of thought.   Projects anyway. Welcomed this new little boy.   Did a little thrift shopping. Spent some quality time with Kendall   So did Papaw. A little more thrift shopping....   And even managed to make curtains for Kendall's room. (Well, Mom made the pinwheels, I just sewed them together)   All in all...