Happy New Year

 I think I am stuck in a rut. 2016 is coming and I need to change my habits. I finished a scarf yesterday and decided to start another one. This is a simple one, but it will keep somebody warm.

The  color on this one is like hot coco. It is the same knit on both sides. so scarves are only textured on one side. I have more of this yarn that a hat and maybe finger less gloves could be made to match.

I read a post on Facebook the other day that light a light bulb in my mind. In this post a person decided to make Christmas more affordable for herself she bought gift cards through out the year to use later by the gift recipient or to buy actual gifts for her family. I took it a bit farther and decided to try making scarves hats and mittens each month all year long and give them to a homeless shelter in our community. As of now my family has all they can use.

The thought of spending extra money on gift cards so you have them on short months is a good idea. If you have a grocery store or a big box store you frequent it out be a great safety valve for people with fixed incomes. Some gift cards are re loadable also. So I think starting in January I will try and do this.

Hope you all have a safe and healthy New Year. Chris

Stitching happened today

Got up started laundry and decided today was the day. I was going to sew since it was snowing out. These are the scrappy blocks with the denim squares in them. This is really long panel. I might change that. Take a section off and add more to make it wider. This is a fly by the seat of your pants plan. No really I didn't have a plan for this top other to go for it.

This is a fun top because it is all scraps and recycled denim jeans. Use it up is my theory. I have cut scraps and thought what am I going to do with them. Well late one night while trying to get over with a coughing spell which I have a lot of those lately I came up with this idea. 

It is generic, but will be a good scrap twin bed sized quilt. I made it long because my guys are over 6 feet tall. If they pull it up to their shoulders then their feet stick out. Not sure what I will put on the back of it. Maybe some flannel I have.  

I have many other ideas floating around in the hollow gourd I have for a head. I have lots of 4 and 9 patches stitched up with the hopes I come up with a neat finish. Have to see what I have that I can put something pleasing to the eye together with these 4 and 9 patches to make a top or two. 

The rest of the stitching is in process for the above quilt top. Need to dig out more denim, but I do know where the tub is thanks to my granddaughter and her working like crazy to help me. I wound 8 bobbins this morning so off to try and get some more stitching done before I need to cut the denim pieces.

In the mean time I am going out to clean the driveway off. We had about an inch of light snow this morning. Stay war, Chris

Still learning this Windows 10

This is what I bought. It is a Windows 10 with plenty of storage and memory. It has Office which most laptops don't have anymore. 

also it has a CD ram, HDMI port and three USB ports. All the things I really need.

I am still trying to get all the things personalized. I like to read Bloglovin and having trouble getting that to come up. I have Picasa 3, Blogger, and Google Chrome installed already.

No sewing done, but I think maybe some tonight . I like some of the shows on TV , but I am not impressed with all the reruns already.

The Windows 10 seems to be easier to use than the Windows 8. My old computer was Windows 7. Windows 10 is a cross between 7 and 8. Much more user friendly.

This was on sale. End of the year sales. Very affordable. You might be able to upgrade for just a few dollars and stay on top of the tech world we live in. Chris

Bought a new computer.

Well it is a laptop. It is an HP with Windows 10 in it.

Still setting it up and getting use to using it. My birthday is in February so my husband told me it was my birthday present. So getting use to it will be a challenge, but I got a really good price on it.

So bare with me I will be back tomorrow and try and figure out the rest of this and see if it makes it easier for me.

Trying to do a post from my phone. My laptop died. So I will have to purchase another one soon.  Posting will be a little more difficult until the purchase is made.  Starting to improve health issues. Take care Chris

Freezing rain

I won't have another post I am sure today. We are getting freezing rain and could loose electricity.

We are prepared with the gas fire log  so we have heat and I have hand sewing or knitting I can do. The one thing we have to do right off is get water right away because we are on a well. I usually get a couple pans out for water and a couple buckets for flushing the toilets.

I have a gas stove so I can manually light the stove to cook with. I lived in the country for many years and these are essential items in case you loose electricity. We also have a gas grill. Be prepared is what I say.

The weatherman was saying it could be an accumulation and we have a weather warning out for our area. I have food and the bare necessities to stay warm.

Going in to organize the hand sewing so I can grab it if the electricity goes out for something else to do. Stay warm and safe Chris

Did some sewing

I machine quilted for about an hour and a half. Any little amount gets me closer to getting the top done. BUT... with coughing so much my ribs hurt and I found out my core muscles are aching so bad after sitting there moving the queen size top around.

I am just a wreck. Hopefully I beat this crap soon. It has been to warm and the germs are not dying off in this warm weather.

A lady at the store the other day said she had it for two weeks. Well I have had it for almost 6 weeks. We just about get well and the babies come to visit and we get it all over again. They have been to the doctor numerous times and they keep saying it is a virus. So I am sure we were getting better, but daycare exposure has gotten them sick all over again and we got it.

The joys of being grandparents.

I did sit and get some more knitting done.

I forgot to tell you we bought new flooring for our kitchen and my sewing room floor. It is a waterproof vinyl plank flooring. I have ugly country blue carpet in the sewing room and I want it gone. It gets delivered tomorrow. Not sure how soon we will start. Can't wait to take everything out of the sewing room again. I think we are crazy, but it will be nice when it is done.

Have a nice evening. Chris

Not sewing, but busy hands.

Ok this is what I should be working on. It is partially quilted. I found other things to do yesterday like three naps. Still don't feel 100% yet. 

 This is a Wonky Wishes block with a 9-patch. It is scrappy and easy to make. It is going to be queen sized when finished. This is the center of the quilt. I have wide borders to go on after the center is quilted.

This is what I have been doing instead of quilting. I found a buy on bagged yarn at Joann's so I bought three bags so I had some variety to work with. For scarves and hats or mittens it was a good deal. I like to knit while watching TV. I have knitted since I was 8 years old.

All the sweaters I had in Junior High and High School  were hand knit. I made matching colored skirts to go with them. When I went to school we had to were dresses or skirts. No pants were allowed. I know I am dating myself. 

I hope all of you are recovering from the Holiday and you find some time to relax and do the sewing, knitting or crocheting or quilting you enjoy doing. Chris

Merry Christmas today is my day

I walked out in the kitchen at 4 am and found this poor pathetic looking doll sitting there in a deflated position and I had to laugh. This is the way I feel. Autumn was carrying this baby and she left it on the table. It is one that stays here because it was Taylor's when she was little. Poor baby! 

4 dozen cinnamon rolls were made and they were all surprised they were getting them for their breakfast this morning. I made icing and sent it home with them to apply this morning. 

6 loaves of Italian bread were made and then sliced and made into cheesy garlic toast and garlic toast. Then I made two pans of pasta crock and four pizzas. Well the kicker in the whole thing was one of the pizzas leaked all over my new oven and smoked the house up. So windows came open and ceiling fans running like crazy, but it all taste great. The oldest son had never had my pizza and he was shocked at how good it was. They even texted me on the way home how much they enjoyed it.

They each had a to-go bag of leftovers. The gifts were a hit, but one didn't fit so I will return it and they can take the money and see if they can find the right size.

Today is my day. After I do some dishes I am going to sew. Even if it is to machine quilt. I need some me time. We have been on a roller coaster with so much to do and we need to turn the page on the fast pace life we have been experiencing and do something we want to do.

We had a puzzle out, but put it up before it was done. Maybe I can get it out and Jeff can start it again. Or try another one. Normal would be nice.

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year. Chris

Up since 4 am

Up since 4 am. Got my coffee out of the way. Did my computer browsing. Now onto serious stuff.  This is two batches of Italian bread rising. The third was in the mixer at the time. I still have two big batches of cinnamon rolls to make and also pizza crust from scratch.

This will make two loaves. I plan on cheesy garlic toast out of part of this. The kids love garlic toast. Nothing better than fresh made too. 

Look at this mess. I need a maid to follow me behind. I am awful when it comes to sloppiness. The first batch of dishes are cleaned up and getting ready for the next batch of dough to be assembled. The cinnamon rolls take much longer to rise over the bread. 

I still have to brown off the meat that goes on the pizzas so all I have to do it assemble the pizzas as soon as they get there. Assembly line type stuff. We never have a traditional Christmas dinner with the ham and all the sides. 

The kids have so many places to go and it is always the same meal for them. So we are going Italian. I should go buy some more throw away pans to have enough so I don't have tons of dishes to clean up. Lazy I know. I bought foam plates too. Doing dishes from 12 people isn't fun. 

Hope all your cooking is going well Chris

Closer to being done

Some of the baking is done. This is a Texas Sheet cake but white. It is yummy. Tomorrow I will give you the recipe. 

Chex Party Mix is made. I think I did a triple batch. Big eaters in my house. 

The last of the presents arrived today. I got them all wrapped and the paper is all put away. I haven't bought presents for the kids for a long time. I would give gift cards or give them cash. This year the two little ones still like to open presents so I bought for everyone. 

I did the last of it this morning on a trip to Walmart for last minute things. Then I drove almost all the way home to realize I forgot onions. I need them in the last three dishes I am making. 

Menu is homemade pizza, pasta crock, also Italian bread and garlic cheese toast. Four different pizzas. One with everything on it, one with just cheese, one with hamburger and sausage, one with pepperoni. 

I am making homemade cinnamon rolls for them to take home for Christmas morning. They will be in throw away pans and they can warm them up and frost them for Christmas morning breakfast. 

I can't wait to get back to my sewing. This last couple weeks have been busy and also not feeling well. I am finally feeling more myself. It was 60 degrees here today and not hard frost to kill off all the germs that are everywhere. 

I go to the store and wipe off the carts and wash my hands until the skin on my hands is dried out. Plus Granddaughters going to daycare is killing us all.

We had tornadoes within 60 miles of us tonight. Lots of hard rain and the rivers are starting to flood in low lying areas. This isn't December weather, but this time of year not having all the heavy snow is a blessing with families on the road for Christmas. 

I hope each and everyone of you have a Merry Christmas. We are having ours tomorrow.  Merry Christmas Chris 

Today is another day

Feel a little better, but now have different issues.

I wrapped packages, did some of the cleaning. Made another list. Going to go take a nap.

Lists, Lists and more Lists.

List #1

Clean house. Check ceiling fans and bathrooms

Check groceries for the last minute things.

List #2

Wrap presents

Make sure I have enough for each kid [I think I need a couple more things]

List #3

I have to make cinnamon rolls for them to take home for Christmas morning.
Partially bake them and freeze. Finish baking Christmas morning. Also make the icing to ice the rolls with.

Italian bread needs to be made for cheesy garlic bread. Can make that the day before.
Cut up onions and peppers for the pizzas and I can brown off the meat I use on them.
Prep the pasta crocks. I am using aluminum pans so I can get them ready.

List #4

Find time to unwind after having two little ones for 5 days. I need to recover my house and wipe off door handles and counter tops of kiddo germs. They both have been sick. The baby I think is teeth. Stomach and eye teeth can cause havoc with little ones.

I am sure I am missing something. Oh yes I am I have a white Texas sheet cake to make. One more thing to do. Oh great. Chris

I think I am lost

Looking through picture of sewing that is done, but not made into tops and I think I need to find myself and get some sewing done.

Today I haven't felt real good. The babies are coming back tonight, but it will be the last night. I have to wrap presents and cook for Christmas eve. I still have a couple things to buy yet to to finish out my budget for each grandkid.

I need to go look for a basketball. Not just anyone, but a leather one. If I can't find one tomorrow I will have to order one. Hopefully it will get here in time.

Hopefully after the first of the year I can gt my act together. This year is almost gone and it was busy, but not the type of busy I wanted. Chris

I can't believe it

I am sick again. I got the little ones on Wednesday night and they left this afternoon. they both had runny noses. The baby ran a fever today also.

Daycare is wiping out the entire family. Grandparents included. Little ones have their hands in their mouths all the time and pass things around.

Mom and Dad went to Florida and will be home on Monday. They went home with their sister tonight and we get them back tomorrow evening. Maybe I can rest tonight. We will see.

I have done nothing other than wipe runny noses and change diapers and cook a meal or two. Grandma patrol is getting harder the older I get. Chris

No pics today

I am up and not sure where the day is going to take me. I think it is suppose to rain all day.

I got myself in gear and did some stitching. I set up the other machine I have been doing machine quilting on and did some machine quilting on a 9-patch with a star block that was started when my Mother was sick.

I have about a third of it quilted.
I have a TV in that room so I can go in there and watch a show when my husband watches something else in the living room.

I tried to get some other things done, but I was dragging my feet. I did do grocery shopping. For Christmas Eve we are going to have homemade pizza, Cheesy garlic bread and a dish I call pasta crock. It is a macaroni or what ever kind of pasta you like. Spaghetti sauce, sausage or hamburger, and also mozzarella cheese. You cook the pasta of choice and add the browned meat, add the sauce and mix together. I place that into a greased or sprayed 9 X 13 pan. Then I place the cheese over top and place uncovered into a 350 degree oven for 30-45 minutes until the cheese is melted and starting to turn brown. Serve it will Italian bread. Even good as leftovers.

With this recipe you can change the pasta shapes as you like. I have used penne, macaroni and also medium shells.One time I had only parts of three different kinds of pasta so I mixed them. It is your dish.

The other thing I was requested to make was a white or vanilla Texas sheet cake. It is easy to make and it will be a dessert I can make the day before.

I make my own pizza crust and Italian bread from a recipe I have had for several years. I also promised my daughter-in-law homemade cinnamon rolls for  Christmas Morning. She wants to learn how to bake,but I will do this for her. She is so busy with all the kids she hasn't had time to come and learn.

Well have a great day. Chris  

32 blocks finished

I didn't set the date on the camera right again. Oh Well! I got up and decided since this was sprawling all over the sewing desk I needed to get this done.

Sixteen blocks of each of the settings. Now I have to do a layout to see how this is going to look all together. Looking at it in the picture I see I am going to change my mind on what I thought I would do. I thought about sashing the blocks and now I think just sew them together because a secondary star forms.

I procrastinate so much the thought of it hurts my mind. I wanted to cut yesterday. Well that didn't happen. Still hasn't yet this morning. I am not sure what will happen the rest of the day. Didn't get everything done with the shopping yesterday and one thing has to go back. Not the right size.

I used up a lot of already cut fabric in this project. Also the denim that I used up. So this is a project I would do again, but nit with as heavy a denim pieces. The pressing was a little difficult. But press it into submission is my theory.

I plan on laying thins out today and stitch the rows together. I also need to wind bobbins for two different machines and pin baste a top. Tonight I plan on doing some more quilting on a top that is started.

I need to collect trash. I have cut off corners and thread all over. The vac should come out also. Well we will see what gets done. LOL Chris.

Went shopping

The girls just needed matching outfits. Right! Well Grandma thought so. They are velour zip hoodies with matching pants. Also new white long sleeved shirts new socks.

Also little matching slippers for the girls. I only had a son so dressing little girls are a treat for me. Grandpa didn't object either. Hope they look good on them. Chris

What is stash good for?

Yes this is the question I am asking myself. Why do we have stash and do nothing with it? I guess I really don't have an answer other than I need to get some of this cut and used up. Some of this is backing fabrics and other pieces are just yardage. 

I have tubs with fabric in them. It just sits there and looks pretty all folded and protected in the tubs. Well that needs to change. I think I am going to unstack the tubs and take three pieces of each color out and cut them up today.  Gotta start someplace with getting a plan to use some of this up. 

Suppose to be nice and sunny today and I maybe will take off for an hour or so and get some more of my Christmas shopping done. I still have a few things I need to get for the grandkids. 

We have had a decent Winter so far and not sure what the rest of it is going to be. So I have no excuse. I have "Stash" and thread and batting. so why am I procrastinating???? Chris

I really am here

I think I told you I have been sick with cold crud. It is improving, but still hanging on. On Monday we went for a followup appointment on my husband and he was fine.

Yesterday we went to my son's to correct a couple electrical problems and other than that we have not accomplished a whole lot.

Today the two little ones come for a couple hours while Mom and Dad get some business done. They need to go to the cellphone store and that takes for ever to get things done there.

I need to get in and get a shower and go to the store and get some snacks for the kids and some juice. I have juice in the fridge, but it has been open since before Thanksgiving so I think it is time for a new bottle.

I haven't even been knitting. I still need to get out and get some more shopping done, but haven't felt up to it. Still don't know what to get for the boys. I have bought some for them and need to figure the rest of it out. Time is getting away from me.

Bah Humbug I guess. I think if I felt better it would make a difference. Chris

The second one

This is a pattern I found on Pinterest. It was a free pattern. It has a diagonal look, but it is knitted straight. 

The good thing about it is both side show on the diagonal so when it is tied or draped it looks the same. It is a counting pattern though. Ir has twelve rows to it and if they are not right it shows.

I have almost half of this one knitted. No I haven't sewn today, but I did knit. Chris

Still sick. I hate it!

I finally got this cable knit scarf finished. I had to make it long enough for an adult. Then instead of putting the large amount of yarn that was leftover away I started another scarf. This one you have to count rows. Well you did with the cable one also. 

I am still sick. I am sure my body can not create more of this crap and each day it is still there. I hate being sick. 

I did about 5 hours of off and on sewing yesterday. The last few days have been the first since we got it into a controlled mess instead of complete chaos. It felt good to be able to maneuver in there and also get something done. Well not done, but farther along then what it was. I still have plenty more to do on this top. 

Well up early again today so I just ate my lunch and going to go lay down for a bit. My ribs and stomach muscles hurt from coughing so much. I can take more drugs and it will last 7-10 days or take less and it will last 7-10 days. It is 7 days today and not a whole lot of difference. I did sleep better last night so I am improving or wore out. Who knows. Chris 

Passion or obsessed

Yes I have a problem at least I think I do. Is this a passion or and obsession? Piecing at 3:30 am is something most people wouldn't even think of doing, but I went to bed early last night. Since last Sunday I have been sick again. The girls had bad colds and so Grandma got it to. 

I stitched up the variety I had cut and then I cut for about 45 minutes more and made another pile of 2 inch squares. Back to pairing them up and running under the needle.

Lots of parts and pieces were handled and stitched. 

I have 100 3.5 inch square blocks made up with a couple hours of sewing, cutting, and pressing. So you maybe are asking what are you going to do with this round of stitching? 

I needed more for these blocks. I found the tub with the denim in it and I know I have to cut them yet, but at least when they are cut I can use the 100 4-patches to go with them. 

At my house it is all a process and yet I don't always get the process in the right order. I am using up a lot of small pieces to make a top. My mind is on overload with the other things I want to make with 4-patches. 

I am always looking on line for different ideas or parts of a quilt I can then change it up and make it look like something else. 4-patches and 9-patches made up in scraps are always usable. If really scrappy them the chances of them getting used is better than a controlled scrappy, meaning color themed. 

Well I have had my share of coffee and my meds are wearing off so maybe I should eat something and get some laundry started. 

Suppose to be 52 degrees today so I think I am opening a couple doors and airing the house out to get rid of some of the germs. Can't hurt. Chris

Leftovers

Still not sewing. Really hate to go in and mes it up again. But I am cooking leftovers to get them used.

We like ham and bean soup. I found a recipe in my Grandmother's recipe box  from the Chicago Tribune from the early 70's. It is called Senate Bean Soup they serve to the Senate during sessions during their dining room. The Senators love it. I have been making it for years after we have a ham dinner and have leftovers.

It has beans, ham, onions, celery, carrots and potatoes in the same pot cooking all together. I use the dried beans, but you can used the jarred beans also to make it quicker.  It has a lot of veggies in one pot type of meal. After everything is cooked tender add black pepper to taste and some like garlic cooked in with it. I make cornbread to serve with it.

So I still have enough ham that I will freeze and make cheesy potatoes and ham for another meal next week. Soup weather is upon us. Flurries today and we get a new furnace tomorrow so we will be with out heat for a few hours. Chris

Another errand day

It rained and I didn't get everything done. I have to go to the bank for my Mother's estate and finalize some of the paperwork. That job is getting closer to being done. It went fairly fast, but had some hiccups along the way.

We could see some snow flurries this afternoon and after my errands are done I plan on making ham and bean soup. Good dinner choice for a cold night.

While the soup is cooking away maybe I can get some sewing done. We are to get a new furnace by the end of the week. They came yesterday and decided it was undersized for our house. Also an A/C unit will be installed.

When you own a house there is always something that needs repaired or replaced. Hopefully no unexpected repairs for awhile. We know the hot water heater is the last pricey thing to replace.

I still have a couple things to move in the sewing room, but that will take minutes not days to do. The issues of it being totally finished and everything in place is not my way of doing things. I am organized when it comes to appointments and schedules to always be on time. Not ten minutes late. But the organization in my house is not always there. On the other hand my husband is OCD over certain things that drive me nuts and he can be ten to twenty minutes late all the time.

Did a little Christmas shopping for the little ones yesterday and still need to get them some new outfits and socks for Christmas. That is a Grandma thing new socks. LOL The days are running short to get everything done. Take Care Chris