Tuesday, December 5, 2023

On the Road

 

I had to climb out of what felt like my death bed yesterday morning to get The Mister to his surgeon's for a check up. By the time I shook off all the sleepy, thank goodness, that monster headache was gone. The doctor's visit did NOT go well. The knee is not doing what it is supposed to. The Mister is scheduled for another procedure in January if he can't get it right through therapy by then. He's NOT happy. I'm not happy either. He still can't drive so I have to haul him everywhere. The doc gave him a super duper pain killer, an anti-inflammatory and a steroid. This should be fun. I spent hours in the car waiting with Pup and I am happy to say that Riddari does indeed make good car knitting. That sleeve is almost done. 



After the Doctor's visit we had a grocery pick up and I did NOT get any of the stuff I needed to make some last minute fruitcake. We went straight over to The Mister's noon therapy session and afterwards we stopped by our little Mom and Pop grocer and they had just what I needed. I guess making fruitcake is back on the list for today. 




We left the house at 9 and got home at 3. It was a long day. Poor Pup got walked to death. She was out like a light for the rest of the evening. So was The Mister. No card making yesterday.  I did get the Santa puzzle started in the quiet. We've been putting this together every year since 1995. I've even got a back up that I found on Ebay a few years ago. It's the one holiday non-negotiable-and I'm off to a very good start.


As for Tiny Needle Tuesday, I did get all the green fill done. Gobble Gob is now packed away until next fall while I work on........




....last year's winter start: Llama Lump. Believe it or not I have MORE green fill to do on this one. Is there no end?







Monday, December 4, 2023

Simply Celebrate

 

Simply Celebrate Winter is the name of the stamp set from Lawn Fawn that The Mister picked out for his cards this year. Simple you say?  Look at this mess we made.



He's got a ton of relatives and former co-workers that he likes to send cards to. Me not so much so he does the coloring and then I put his work into card form for him. 





They are simple and cute but there are still a lot of different things going on. We only got a handful completed yesterday morning and then I bailed and went back to bed and slept the day away with a VERY sick headache. We've had a cloud sitting on us for two days now resulting in a dense fog that isn't playing nice with my sinuses. It's not often I take a whole Tylenol AND a whole Motrin at the same time but it was that bad. 



I did sit up long enough last night to work on Day Three of the Advent stocking. The whole time thinking I had rocks in my head for taking this project on. I suppose I better hold judgement for a better day. It is beginning to look promising. 






Sunday, December 3, 2023

Light Up the Town

 

Friday night was cold and rainy but we had a parade to go to. 



It was the official lighting of the town for the holidays. In spite of the rain folks went all out with their floats. 




This year's theme was Christmas at the Movies and there were a lot of Grinches riding by. 





There was a marching band, a chorus, baton twirlers and........The Mandelorian? I just had to yell "this is the way" to him and he rewarded me with a pose. 




For the grand finale Santa rode in on a very loud fire truck. Pup was not amused. 




Santa had the honor of throwing the switch on the tree. 





The tree is okay but it's the pier I look forward to being lit every year. I think it's so pretty. We would have walked out there but we were cold, wet and very hungry.  Two hours of standing in the rain with an unhappy dog shouldn't have been much fun-but somehow it was. 









Saturday, December 2, 2023

Dribs and Drabs

 

Day One of this year's Arne and Carlos advent stocking KAL looks like this. Not much to see here yet. Getting 6 rounds of colorwork done is very doable-unlike those little sweaters. There's no way I could do one a day like some folks did. 



I did get those little sweaters hung. I thought about taking one down a day but I can't bear to. They are just too cute all together and the next 24 days will be the only time they see the light of day for another year. 





I've had my Day One advent tea light going all day. I did go out and do some wood. 3 loads. That's my limit. Thankfully it started to rain so The Mister couldn't talk me into doing more. 




I changed out the door wreath and got out my twinkle lamp. I do Christmas in dribs and drabs. I get bored with it all if it sits around too long. The little tree never makes it appearance until my birthday on the 16th. 




Now about that mystery KAL I am doing....I am VERY wary of them as a rule. Years ago I was all excited to do one with a famous designer (I won't name) who was hosting it on Ravelry. I bought the recommended yarn and it cost a small fortune. I knew it was just a hat so what could go wrong? 


Look at that hat. Would you wear that out in public? I took these photos of it and then threw the hideous thing in a drawer. I have no idea where it is now and could care less. $80 and all that wasted time for this monstrosity. I did win a $30 gift certificate and a skein of yarn but that doesn't make up for the ridiculousness of it. You've just got to laugh. 







Friday, December 1, 2023

December

 

I got up at 5:30 yesterday so I could make the most out of the last day of November. I got the fall placemats finished-and packed away until next year. 




I also finished Number 24 so I'd be ready to start this year's Arne and Carlos advent KAL today.



It now joins its advent siblings. It took me 2 years to finish this KAL and it was a lot of fun. I'll be putting them on the line today even though I don't have hangers for the last four. I had to order more. I'll have to figure something out.





Speaking of Arne and Carlos, I treated myself to an early birthday present and bought their new needle collection. There are 3 circs and a pattern for a cowl. I really need a new cowl and I also actually do need the size needle that are included. I have a million size 1 and 2 circs but nothing much bigger than that.




As for that wood, I didn't get too far. I spent the morning vacuuming and scrubbing the floors on both levels and then had to get groceries and walk the dog. When I got back I did three big loads of wood in the wagon and called it a day. I didn't make a dent in that big pile but I wasn't going to kill myself. I'd like to see my 70th birthday that's coming up in a couple of weeks.  


 









Thursday, November 30, 2023

Wood Work

 

On this last day of November I'll be out doing yard chores. Yesterday I got the last of the leaves up. The trees appear to finally be bare.



At least I hope they are the last of the leaves. There are a few pretty stragglers here and there but nothing the wind can't take care of and we've had plenty of that. 




What made it so much harder this time were these guys. I don't know what they are or where they're coming from but there's like a billion of them all over the place. Half of them are in my house and when you step on them they hurt. 




I was feeling pretty good about everything I accomplished....until, against my better judgement, The Mister had a truck full of wood delivered. You know he's not going to be hauling it all around back on our unlevel ground with that knee. That would be me today. Sigh......







Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Wednesday WIPs

 

I had to drive down the county to this ominous building yesterday morning. I was dreading it. I had to re-new my driver's license and it was always an awful experience. Not this time. I was in and out in 9 minutes. I timed it. The one good thing about Covid is that no one wants crowds anymore so you have to make an appointment. I was the only person in the place and they couldn't wait to get me out the door. 




I was TERRIFIED that I wouldn't pass the eye exam. I have a retina condition that can't be fixed and I am pretty aware of the fact I can't see well anymore. At first I couldn't even find the row of letters I was supposed to read. I was panicking until I realized I was trying to read in the unlit portion of the screen. Once I could find the row, I was okay and passed. The Mister knew how worried I was so we celebrated my victory with a Panera take out for lunch. He even bought me a baguette and some mini scones. 



Going blind or not...this old dog did learn some new tricks this week. I've been double knitting the front bands of The Big Gray Blob. I had to learn the Italian cast on to do it. It took me a lot of tries to get it right and it's not something I am terribly comfortable with but it's getting done. 




I also had to learn the Closed Toe cast on. I don't do toe up socks but if I wanted to particiapte in this year's Arne and Carlos holiday KAL I had to figure it out quick. It starts on Friday and you needed to have the toe done by then. That also took me a lot of tries but I got it done. 





I would like to have Number 24 done by then and I'm getting close. I started joining all the pieces yesterday so now I only have the yoke and the turtle neck to do. Those necks always do me in but knowing this is the very last one might just be the thing that gets me going.