Looks like almost 2 months have flown by since I've posted.. I'm sorry it's been so long!
In October we had some wonderful friends visit from New Jersey.  We had planned to take them to downtown McKinney and wander all the antique and rare book shops, but they had to leave early.  Maybe next time.. ;o)

 I decided to try once again .. sigh ... to do a houndstooth weave on my Kromski rigid heddle loom.  This time I actually got it..lol  This only makes the 3rd time I've tried.. I love it.  And once I figured out the warp it was super easy. 

This is the finished scarf.  I used my fringe twister that I bought at  Leef's  for the first time.  It really surprised me how much easier it was to make the fringe.  










It's amazing that Thanksgiving is almost here. 
We've been having rain for last couple of days, but we've had cool enough weather over the last month that using our fireplace has been a treat.

I'm hoping you will have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with comfort and warmth. ;o)  

September 2006... Crocheted Slipper Patterns

I was wandering back through my old Fabric Follies blog from September of 2006 and came across a pattern that I have used several times over the years. It bears re-posting since it's coming soon...ta da... the Holiday Season!

These easy and quick house slippers are a great stocking stuffer.  They are called Abi's Slippers and the crocheted pattern for them is on her website.. Crotiques.com .  Hers do not show a tie, but I found that with the kind of yarn that I used the slippers were a little too stretchy and required a little help to stay on my feet. (Never let it be said that I would just crochet them a little big...;o)

I found another pattern in my look back to 2006.  It's one that I came up with in an effort to re-do some slippers that I had years ago.  I'm not sure it's exactly the same, but I liked them anyway.  Here's the original blog post from September 2006.  And here's the pattern.  (This pair is truly ugly, but I got that Homespun yarn at the thrift store...tons of it for about $2.00 and I thought I would never get it all used up. ;o)

Well...that's my "Blast from the Past" for today.. ;o)  I think I'll start doing this more often just to see what's been happening over the years..

Have a wonderful day.  They say our 100° days will be back soon, so I'm going to enjoy these cooler days while I can.. ;o)

This Day In My Life.... September 8, 2011

Today is: Thursday...  September 8, 2011

I got up this morning:  wondering why in the world I spent half the night dreaming about spinning cotton...!!  Could it be the Akha and Tahkli lessons (wonderful, by the way) that  Pat and I took at Apple Leef Farm?  If you ever have a chance you should absolutely stop by and visit with Leef and Les.  Look around the shop.. you'll be glad you did.

This is the Akha and Indian punis that I just love.  This has become my go-to project for taking with me almost everywhere I go.

As I look out my windows:  I am loving this respite from 2 months of upper 90s but mostly 100-111° days.  It's 63° out there right now and we are loving life..;o)  Grass fires all over the state have taken their toll, including several smaller ones around here. (One burned 1,000 acres .. another burned 3,000 acres).  I suppose this is not much when you consider that the fire around Bastrop, TX  killed 2 people, burned nearly 800 homes and blackened 45 square miles (33,000 acres).  NOAA says that in some areas of Texas it would take 20 inches of rain in one day to stop the drought.  ;o(  Surely this Long Hot Summer will end soon.

I am thinking:  that I have an almost free week coming up next week.  A very good time to get some arranging done around the house.  I'm thinking that would be a good thing.. ;o)

One thing I've learned over the past week:  is that if you keep a pad and pencil at hand beside you're chair when you're trying an original knitting pattern.... it's really easy to write it down row by row as you are doing it... instead of trying to go back and figure out what you did when you decide the pattern is one you want to keep... duh  ;o)

This is the pattern that taught me ..lol  These are wristlets that go with the Old Shale scarf I knitted.  The free pattern for these wristlets will be on Fabric Follies Two in a day or two.

Creatively:  this last month has been one of overwhelming thought processes...lol  A Tahkli, Akha, and Charkha class, a Card Weaving class, and an Intermediate Spinning Class all in one month..  wow... a lot to absorb.. ;o)   But fun.. thanks to Leef Bloomenstiel at Apple Leef Farm.   No more classes for a while.  Must spend some time practicing the 1/2 of what was taught that I actually remember.. lol  Thank goodness Leef gives lots of good handouts!   And nothing makes these more fun than going with a friend.. Thanks, Pat.

Things I am thankful for:  my sweet DH who supports all of my interests and never says a word.. ;o)  Except to really enjoy it with me... I love you, honey.

Plans for the rest of the week:  do NOT include more classes.. ;o)  Must get some things done around the house.  Sooo looking forward to visits from special friends this fall. ;o)

I'm hungry.. ;o)  Time to get around and fix some breakfast.  And... speakin' of... I'll put up my try at making granola in a couple of days.. turns out really good..;o)

Have a wonderful day... and don't forget that hugs will make you live longer...!!  ;o)

Today in My Life... July 11, 2011

 








Today is:  Wednesday, July 11, 2011

I got up this morning:  early.  4am.  It's not that I mind getting up early... it's that 10am letdown and sleepy that gets me. 

As I look out my window:  the sprinklers are sprinkling.  There's a street light on our corner and the water makes all the plants out front glisten like tiny stars.  Pretty enough to go sit out and watch... but it's already 82°F out there at 5:30am....

I am hearing:  my sweet DH wandering around the kitchen getting coffee and asking me why I was up so early... ;o)

I am thinking: that the air conditioning in our new house is wonderful...but I'll be right back...after I've slipped on the shawl that Karen made for me!  Cool on my back this morning!



 One thing I've learned over the past week:  is just how much fun it is to share brownies and cups of tea with friends.  This is not a new learning experience.. ;o) .. it's just that it's been such a long time since I've been able to that it SEEMS like a new one... ;o)  Hopefully all the major hubbub with the move is about over... ;o) 

 



 Creatively: I've learned a bit this week.  You don't have to use vinegar to set the dye for Kool Aid (unless you are worried about the blues being colorfast).  Kool Aid has citric acid already in it ... therefore it will be colorfast without any other additive.  And... I feel totally set free now that I've dyed roving in the microwave and it didn't come out a felted hot pad.  Thanks, Pat, for all the tips last Friday. 

Things I am thankful for:  Visits from sons John and Phil over the 4th of July... Life can't get any better than that... ;o)


Plans for the rest of the week:  include (finally) the installation of the storm doors today... yes! this morning!...yayyyy!  
And the RRFA meeting on Thursday.  Really glad that Mercy may be able to continue coming even tho she's moving. 

It's hot.  And doesn't look there's much chance for any change in temps for a while.  Not even into August yet and the temps are now what the usual high for the year is... ;o/

But... the grass is green, the sky is blue, the flowers bloom and it is a lovely day.  Hope yours is too... ;o)

Today In My Life... May 8, 2011

Today is:  Mother's Day... May 8, 2011

I got up this morning:  at 4:30am, made coffee and emptied the dishwasher.  Normal stuff.  Turn on the computers, listen to the clock tick.  The peace of the morning makes me wish for an all day early morning... ;o)  Just normal stuff... a gift.

As I look out my window:  the sun is just lifting over the horizon.  It's 6:10am.  I look out over the backyard and the meadow and think of how I have loved just gazing down there...the trees, the flowers, the squirrels, the birds.  I'm glad I've taken pictures over the years....

I am hearing: very little traffic this morning.  It's Sunday.  An occasional car or truck.  But mostly just sounds of the thoughts rolling around in my head.  Some good, some bad....  just normal stuff.. ;o)

I am thinking:  that it's very nice to have a friend who knows that she is cared about even when things become hectic in life and there is not always the time or frame of mind for a call... or a visit...

The one thing I've learned over the past week:   is this.... If you pack all of your dishes, pots and pans there will ALWAYS be a snag and instead of a couple of days...it will be another 2 weeks before you can move...

Creatively:  I have been at a stand still... My creativity is just buried so far behind thoughts of my children and the move that I found myself back to knitting garter stitch dishcloths last night.  Could not concentrate on any pattern enough to make it work, so the dishcloths were a life saver.. ;o)

Plans for the rest of the week:  include 3 days of chiropractic visits.. and here I have to give a plug to Dr. Ryan Knight of Denison, TX..  The pain in my back and shoulders is so much less that I can actually breathe now and make it through the day.
Note to self:  Must buy shelf paper by the mile... and soon...

A shout out and huge THANK YOU... to Amber DeHay  for all the help packing and carrying boxes.  And speaking of Amber.. pop over to her blog Knit My World  and take a look at her new pattern for a knitted scarf to match the lovely wrist warmers I had the pleasure of test knitting..









Today is Mother's Day.  I cannot think of any mother I know that is perfect.. or even the perfect mom.  But the thing about Moms is this... They have a perfect love ... Happy Mother's Day!

Cooking... hmmm Recipe for diabetic "Almost Mince"

My sweet DH and I have decided for health reasons to change our diet to eliminate as much meat and sugar as possible.  Counting carbs (diabetes) and also counting cholesterol and fats (heart) means having limited choices.  Yesterday I found that I had a couple of apples that I needed to either eat or cook.. I also had a package of   3½ inch squares of phyllo dough.  So.... here is what I did..  I call it "Meatless Almost Mince"....

2 medium Delicious apples
1 cup chopped pecan/walnut mix
2 tsp. cinnamon (I did this to taste... )
1 tsp. cloves  (I did this to taste..)
1/2 tsp. nutmeg  (I did this to taste .. also.. ;o)
4... 1grain Necta Sweet saccharin tablets 
1/2 cup water
36... 3 1/2  inch phyllo dough squares

I cut the apples (unpeeled)  in quarters and cut them into about 1/2 pieces.  These I placed into my tiny little electric chopper  and chopped until about the size of large grains of rice.  I also chopped 1/2 cup of pecans and then 1/2 cup of walnuts.  I crushed the Necta Sweet tablets between 2 spoons. All of these I placed into a large stainless bowl.  While mixing everything, I added the spices.. a little at a time and tasting as I went to see if I needed to add more. 

I placed the finished mixture into a medium size pan, added 1/2 cup of water and simmered over medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.  When it was finished cooking, I set it aside for a bit to cool slightly and laid out single squares of phyllo dough on a plastic cutting board.  I moistened all edges of the phyllo square, placed a really heaping teaspoon of mixture in the center and then folded the phyllo over the mixture into a triangle.  I used a fork to press and seal the edges.

I placed the triangles in a Baker's Joy sprayed baking sheet and baked at 350° oven for 10 minutes or until golden brown on the edges.  ( I could only use one piece of phyllo because of the carbs.  If you don't have that worry, you can use 1/2 cup sugar instead of the NutraSweet, add butter to the mixture and use 2 phyllo sheets that have then brushed with margarine to make a more golden, flaky crust.)

Now... what we found.  He could not eat the triangles because of the carbs in the phyllo.  But... he can eat 3/4 cup of the apple/walnut mix as a side dish for chicken, turkey, fish or just plain Eggbeaters and toast!  (I think next time I will add some Rum or Brandy to the mix and a little lemon juice.  That will give it a more Mincemeat flavor than it already has!  And I LOVE mincemeat! )

Today is Easter and I am wishing for all of you a really lovely day...whether you can be with family or not.  ;o)

Today In My Life.... April 7, 2011

Today is:  Thursday, April 7, 2011

I got up this morning:  and it was 4:40 am.  My back and  shoulders have hurt so badly over the last 10 days that I find it difficult to go back to sleep after I wake up.... so here I am with a cup of Apricot/Peach tea, my buddy laptop and you this morning.  ;o)

As I look out my window:  it's quite dark out thanks to Daylight Saving Time.  The light of the cars shine bright red as they recede down the hill out front.  I have always loved DST because the evening is so much longer and my children had more time to play in the summer.  That was before they moved it up so much that now kids have to stand at a bus stop in pitch black to get to school.  I don't like that.  At all.

I am hearing:  the slight noise of the very first clock my sweet DH made.  It's a pale country blue. I have painted roses on it and it hangs in the kitchen.  It's one of my favorite things.

I am thinking:  that it's a wonderful thing to know that things are much better for my sweet DH.  His cardiac cath showed an almost 100% blockage in one of his coronary arteries.  The stent was placed and there could be no better news than that!

Also: exactly one month ago I posted here that I was very grateful that Steven was coming home from Iraq.  Today.... well, see for yourself. 

This can also rank up there with the best of the best that I am thankful for.  It was such a joy just to put my arms around him (on tiptoe, no less) and hold him.  We went  to IHOP and were going to sit in the same seat that his brother Jeff and  I would sit in years ago... but the smoke was wayyyy too much for both of us.  So we sat somewhere else and talked.

I love you, Steven.  It's so good that you're home.

The one thing I've learned during the past week:
It's much easier to be the "patient" than it is to be "waiter" .  My sweet DH had a CT scan this week for reduction in blood flow to his feet.  This comes only a couple of weeks after his coronary cath with stent placement.  Now... being a nurse one is aware that for the most part all is well...but being a wife is entirely a different thing.  Not fun being the "waiter".....

Also.....Even if you are near crying with pain, a new chiropractor will not adjust your back on the first visit.  That's why I'm still in pain.  While I really liked her, we are having to wait for the orthopedist that cost a fortune and did no good about anything to send my MRI results to her.  May have to go and hand carry them from him to her... ;o(

Creatively:  all things have just come to nil.  I've tried knitting, card weaving, crochet.... nothing seems to work out just right.  Couldn't be pain related, could it?  I've spent more time frogging and just plain ripping out than accomplishing anything... ughhh

But I have to say that our Red River Fiber Arts group continues to grow and is more fun with each meeting.  We are planning to have a booth at Arts Fest this September.  So far, there is not a web site for this year, but there is one for last year.   Here it is and we can only assume that it will be very much the same this year.  Everyone is working on projects and we have built up quite a lot already.  Should be great fun!

Plans for the rest of the week:  include buying all the little things to finally finish up the new house.  Had to buy a couple of lights yesterday that we had missed on our first trip to Lowe's.  Things are finally finishing up, but even though I've said "should be done in a couple of weeks"  at least 3 times now... what was supposed to be done mid to late March will now be done about late April or early May.  But considering the winter weather that's not too bad ... even if we are in a hurry... ;o)

Just a thought:  Unless I did something very wrong, I've found that I cannot paint the tile to go behind the stove in the new house.  I did a quick and dirty painting on 4 of the tiles, cooked them in the oven like the instructions said.  I then waited overnight and washed them.  The regular wash was great, but when I tried the scrub with a mild abrasive it scrubbed off.  I decided not to paint them after all since the replacing of tiles in 4 or 5 years is not something I wanted to look forward to... 

I hope you all have a really good day.  And I hope some part of it is filled with a great bit hug!  ;o)

Today In My Life... March 7, 2011

Today is:  Monday, March 7, 2011

I got up this morning:  not really ready to get up.  Went back to bed for few minutes, snuggling in the warmth my sweet DH had just left.  And then the clink of cups being set on the cabinet spurred one thought ... COFFEE!

As I look out my window:  it's overcast and a little breezy.  The daffodils have continued to bloom until it is a full mass of yellow. The red bud beside them is beginning to bloom with little purple buds popping up all over the trunk and limbs.  As I stepped outside to take pics it didn't take long for me step back inside and grab a long, fluffy and warm robe to go wandering in.

I am hearing:   my sweet DH .. "Better bring your coffee cup.."  which means the toast is in the toaster, new coffee has been made and it's time for breakfast.. ;o)

I am thinking:  that I am more grateful than can be expressed that our grandson Steven will be home...tour over ... from Iraq in just a few hours.  Left Ireland yesterday and should be at home in Oklahoma this afternoon.  What a gift!

I am thankful for:  the small glimpses into the lives of family, friends, old classmates and best of all.. my children's every day lives through Facebook.  (I know... that terrible Facebook.. but in reality the ability to communicate almost every day with the ones I know and love outweighs all of that... ) 

The one thing I learned during the past week:  My sweet DH becomes a little less sweet when he feels that I am not taking care of my hurt back.. ;o(  But believe me.. I am a fast learner..lol

Creatively:  is all about my friend Amber DeHay of Knit My World.  I am so proud that she has released her first knitting pattern on Ravelry as a true designer. She is also working on a matching scarf to go with wrist warmers.

Plans for the rest of the week:   Boy... that would take a list... and a long one at that.  Today will be spent with Sharon packing, packing, packing.  Tomorrow will be spent preparing for the Thursday's Red River Fiber Arts group.   The newspaper came last week to do an article on our group and was a bit overwhelmed... ;o)  She asked if she could come back this week with a real photographer and do another interview for a full page spread.  We are about to pop all our buttons...lol  I thought I might also warp up my Kromski Harp and my small card weaving loom for the event.  Will have to see just how much time I have to prepare.

Before I go I want to say how wonderful it is to have friends who pop over and glance through my meanderings.. ;o)  I received a couple of comments from last weeks post that made me realize how much I enjoy this blogging thing.. lol  Thanks... your comments mean more than you know..

Have a wonderful day... spend it with people you care about and doing things you enjoy.. live is short.

Hello, again.....

Spring is springing and I have to say it cannot come too soon for me.  The snow was lovely, the cold temps made eating home made soup wonderful and the warmth of sitting with DH watching tv was great... but ....  the sight of this lovely yellow as I look out the office window almost made my heart flop...lol







The work on our house can finally regain a little momentum and possibly we will be able to move the last of March...or not...   Now it all depends on the rain..  We REALLY want to keep Mother Nature happy right now.. ;o)

Just wanted to leave you with kisses.. ;o)... that would be TEA KISSES..

I hope you have a wonderful day.  It looks like it will be a warm, sunshiny day here in North Texas.  Hope it is for you too. 

Today is:  Wednesday,  January 12, 2011

I got up this morning:  with a runny nose, raspy voice and feeling like I've been run over by a truck.  Have been taking NyQuil at night for the last couple of nights trying to nip this in the bud, but looks like it's going to take it's own good time leaving.. ;o(

As I look out my window:  I see the snow has stayed in it's perfect blanket of white across the yard.  Not even any footprints from birds or squirrels.  This is the third day for this snow and the weather forecasters are telling us the temps will remain below freezing for at least one more day... maybe more.  Temperature this morning was 19° when DH looked. (Yukkk... my coffee's cold!)  When I stepped out the front door the sunrise almost took my breath away!  Pictures just don't do it justice.

I am hearing:  just the ringing in my ears and the sound of the keyboard as I type.  It seems this blanket of snow subdues everything.

I am thinking:  that building a house and moving must surely be meant for younger people.

I am thankful for:  new found friends... ;o)

The one thing I learned during the past week:  is that my sweet DH will worry himself to death in an effort not to hurt any one's feelings even when he knows what is best. 

Creatively:  I finished the gloves that I started early last week.  The Red River Fiber Guild decided last week to do a Knit-A-Long using the pattern shown here.  I'm using the same hand spun merino that I used in the mittens and size 6 needles. 

Plans for the rest of the week:   Trying to clear out a lot of the redundant things we have collected over the years so there won't be so much to move... or to find a place for since we are scaling down.  So far we have totally trashed both bedrooms and filled the dining room table with tons of dishes to be given away.... didn't know we had so much stuff "stuffed" in the cabinets..lol

I am now taking my cup of cold coffee... refilling it with "hot" coffee and heading to my chair with my Harry Potter book, my Puffs, and my blanket to spend the day trying to throw this off so I can attend the meeting tomorrow of RRFA group... sigh

Have a wonderful day.. ;o)