NO PHOTOS

 

It has been an unusual day for me.  I am having a few side effects from the flu shot I got yesterday.  It doesn't surprise me since it has been almost 40 years since I have had one.  My muscles are sore.  Like I had done rock climbing.  I am sure they will be gone by tomorrow.  I am also very tired.  I was warned by the pharmacist I could have this happen so I was not alarmed by it.

I did manage to get 5 mask liners made and 2 masks completed before my back told me to quit.  The other three should be completed tomorrow.  Right on schedule.

Hubby and I made a grocery store trip.  I love going to the store during the week in the middle of the day.  No one is there!  We picked up the few items we needed, very quickly.  I even managed to get more COTTON CANDY grapes and GUM DROP grapes.  They are my go to snack in the middle of the afternoon.  Better than grabbing junk food.

Just before I started this post, I spent 46 minutes on the phone with Medicare.  My old Doctor's office billed them for 2 visits after we left their practice!  Medicare paid them too!  Luckily my secondary insurance did not pay them because they were no longer contracted with them.  A fraudulent claim has been made with Medicare and they will now start the investigation.  I was ticked off!  The practice sent me a letter in January letting me know they were no longer going to take our secondary insurance and we needed to find another Doctor.  They gave us less than 30 days notice.  When I got my Medicare EOB today, I saw the fraudulent charge and called the Doctor office.  Guess what.................they are not taking phone calls because they are in the process of moving their practice.  Really?  

I worked in the medical field from 1974 to 2015 and when we moved a practice, there was still someone available to answer phone calls from patients.  They were accepting messages and said they would call back when they were able to.  Believe me, I left a message for them.  When they call, I will be happy to inform them that the Medicare fraud division will be contacting them shortly.  You. do. not. want. to. mess. with. MEDICARE!  

Now, I am going to kick back and work on one of my projects.  Not sure which one yet.  Do not think it will be the beaded shawl as that requires a lot of movement that does not feel good right now.  Maybe my sweater or one of my cross stitches.  Who knows.

Until next time...................happy crafting & stay well! 

Just a Typical Day

 

Yuppers, it was just a typical day here at Casa de Noce.  

Hubby had a Doctor appointment this morning for a follow up to last weeks blood work.  There is nothing wrong with him but, since we have a new PCP he is making sure everything is going well with the two of us.  While hubby was there he got his flu shot.  Not to let him be the only one, I slipped over to our local pharmacy and got my flu shot too.  This is the first flu shot I have had in almost 30 years!  Being over 65 and with a compromised immune system, it was the right thing to do.  Not to mention, our new PCP TOLD me to get my pneumonia and flu shot ASAP.  

After I got home, I got a loaf of bread going in the bread machine.  It just got done about 20 minutes ago.

It is a beauty and my house smells delicious.  We have been slowing down on our bread eating and this loaf will last us for a week.  It used to be, I would be making at least 2 loaves a week.

While that was baking, I pulled out the Fodhla shawl and worked on it for a while.

I got 16 more rows added to it.  It is such a slow process with putting beads on it.  Yet, I love the looks of it and will suffer the slowness because, I know what the finished product will look like.

I pulled out an languishing WIP yesterday.

My "It Really Fits Cardigan" came out of the WIP closet yesterday afternoon.  I would say it is halfway completed.  It has been almost a year since I have worked on it.  Here is one of the reasons why:

The sleeves!  Because I like my sweaters to be loose, I am making a size that is actually at least one size bigger than I need.  In fact, it is probably 2 sizes bigger.  That means these sleeves are HUGE.  I already have knitted 12 inches of sleeve.  The pattern says to decrease 2 stitches every 10 rows until you get to elbow length.  I have been decreasing 2 stitches every 5 rows and that sleeve is just now at elbow length and is still 18 inches wide unstretched.  I was in quite a quandary deciding what to do.  I finally came up with the idea to go ahead and continue decreasing 2 stitches every 5 rows and when I get to the length when I need to do the cuff.................................do a HUGE decrease and just make it a bit of a puff sleeve at the wrist.  If it looks nasty..................well, I will worry about that when the time comes.

That has been the extent of my day.  

For dinner tonight, I am making this:

It is pepperoni pizza pasta in the pressure cooker.  (Ninja foodi)  This will feed us for at least 2 days as it makes up to 8 servings.  This was supposed to have been made last week but things got all messed up.  That means, I have plenty of recipes leftover from my last menu planning that will be cooked up this week.  

I am now getting ready to head into my craftroom and sew up a couple of the masks I have cut out.  They just need to be completed by Thursday evening.  That is when I will be delivering them to the college student's parents.

Until next time................happy crafting & stay well!

WEEK 12

 

Hello again.  I am excited to show you my latest finish.

Hubby's socks are DONE!  I finished them last night.  Never have I been so glad to get a pair of socks off the needles.  This yarn was not nice to knit with.  It was splitty, and scratchy and did not have any kind of stitch definition at all.  Hubby loves them and even wore them today to Church.  

My DPN's are now naked.  Will I cast on another pair of socks?  Of course, but probably not for a few days.  I have so many other projects I really want to pay attention too.  The Fodhla shawl saw no love at all this week.  That is my main project I want to work on this week.  I have also pulled out my "It Really Fits Cardiagan" from the WIP closet.  It needs to get completed also.  So, those two projects will be my main focus this coming week.

The other items done this week were:

Thirteen masks were made for my son, grand daughter and myself.  These were done on Monday.  Never again will I do that many masks in one day.  I do need to make 5 more for a friend of mine who is heading to college the end of this month.

I made this dishcloth on Tuesday to try and get my knitting mojo going.  It worked as you can tell from the finished socks.  

That is all for crafting today.  This was a crazy week as we had control over our Grand Daughter on Thursday and Friday.  She is involved in several activities as well as has a busy social calendar.  Seems like I spent those two day just running her all over.  The nice thing about that is, it gives me a lot of time to just talk to her while we are in the car alone.  I have a rule in my car........No cell phones or ear buds when riding with me.  WE WILL HAVE CONVERSATION!  I usually let her pick the subjects to talk about and that keeps me up to date on her interests and happenings.  Even when her friends ride with me, they all put their cell phones away and we talk.  

Today I was going to make a loaf of bread but...............I forgot to set the beer out last night for it to get flat.  Guess I will make it tomorrow then.  So, my to do list is pretty short today.  I will cut out the masks for my friend and start on them.  There will be knitting time while hubby is busy watching golf and football.  I have an audio book I am listening to and will put that on during that time.  It is so easy to listen to the book while I am knitting and sewing.  We have leftovers for dinner tonight so that makes my life even easier.

How was your week?  To see what other crafters are up to go HERE.  

Until Next Time...........................Happy Crafting & Stay Well!!!!!!!

Friday

It is a beautiful day today.  The sun is shining (through the hazy smoke), there is a gentle breeze and our daughter is coming to visit us tonight for dinner.  Last night we had the privilege of having our teen grand daughter spend the night.  Her parents are on a mini vacation and she has school so we have her for a couple of days.  She will be going on a little get away this weekend with her BFF.  

Thank you for all your comments on my last post.  I finally picked up hubby's socks again and have been working on them for a couple of days.  I will have photos on Sunday of my progress.  The Havana is still in time out.  Good thing I don't need it for another 2 years LOL.  

The one WIP I do need to pull out of the closet is my cardigan I started last year.  It will be sweater weather here in a couple of months. I really would like to have it completed so I can wear it.  Must put that on my to do list so I don't forget.

Speaking of forgetting.....................I took the teen to school this morning.  While I was on my way, her dad sent me a text asking if I had filled out her COVID form online.  DANG!  I completely forgot about that.  If not filled out each day she goes, she will be sent home.  Lucky for me, her dad filled it out while I was transporting her.  PHEW!  Hey, I made her a nice breakfast and even packed her a yummy lunch along with snacks.  Also, last night, I helped her get ready for her evening out with her BFF.  It was her BFF's 16th bday.  They went to a very nice Japanese restaurant to celebrate.  Here is how she looked.

She did her own make-up and I did her hair.  The hair was not what either of us wanted but her hair was not cooperating with us so we did what we could.  The dress is one her mother wore for a dance in her freshman year of high school!  

Since I had to get her to school by 7:45, I was up quite early.  I spent some lovely time outside in the cool morning air. (Cool for us)  I was gifted with seeing the sunrise.

As you can see, we are still being affected by the wildfires on the west coast.  It sure does make for a pretty sunrise though.  The sunsets are just as pretty too.  

Almost time for us to leave and go pick up the teen and get her to her swim practice.  Then we pick her up from there and take her to her BFF's house.  From there she will be heading to the mountains with that family plus a few friends.  Hubby and I are staying home and enjoying a quiet weekend.

Until next time......................happy crafting & stay well!

 

Wednesday

 

Happy Wednesday to all of you.  I got up earlier than usual this morning.  Doing so, I made a discovery.  The sun is rising in the sky later than it did a month ago.  

It is also setting much earlier than a month ago.  In the summer we have full sunlight by 5:30 and it stays light until almost 9.  Does this mean fall is heading our way? 

Seeing that our temps are back up again this week, I don't feel like it is.  Hopefully this will be the last week with above average temperatures.  My pool has already cooled off to the point I won't get into it.   Come on fall and winter!  I am ready and waiting for you to show up.

September is the month I dislike the most.  It is the month I am ready for the heat to go away.  Each year I think "this is the year it will cool off in September".  And each year, mother nature just laughs and laughs at me.

So, what happens when September hits?  I sloooooow down in everything I do.  It is like I go into 'I don't care' mode.  But I do care.  Each morning I greet the day with a smile and think of all the wonderful things I can accomplish in the day.  I make a list of what I plan/hope to do that day.  I even step outside to feel the coolish morning air on my face and realize it is going to be a great day to make things happen.  But then something happens.  My brain just stops working.  

Case in point:

Hubby's socks are at the same place they were on Sunday.  I keep meaning to pick them up in the evenings to work on them but...................well, it just doesn't happen.  Usually by now I would have another 30 rows on each sock.  Nope, brain is not engaged.

Another case:

My Fodhla shawl has not been touched either.  Of all the projects I have going, this is my second favorite and yet, it sits in it's yarn bowl pleading with me to pick it up and work on it.  The brain ignores it.

Granted, I did make 12 masks on Monday and paid the price with back spasms Monday night.  (They were gone by the next morning)  Tuesday, I decided to try and cleanse my pallet and made this:

A dishcloth for my kitchen.  Did you notice the white corner? (Like you could miss that LOL)  If I had used a needle one size smaller...................well, you know.  I like using a size 8 on dishcloths that are 100% cotton.  That way, when I launder them, they are not Barbie washcloths when they come out of the dryer.  I have fairly large hands and like a large cloth to clean with.

But, did the dishcloth make me want to pick up my WIP's?  Nope, the brain just will not engage.  Maybe today will be the day.  It could happen.  Here is one issue that I know is slowing me down..................Havana blanket.  I love working on it and find it the most satisfying item I have worked on it quite a while.  Unfortunately, it has gotten so large, I can not sit under it to work on for more than about 30 minutes.  It is HOT!  Havana has been put away until the weather changes and that has made me a bit sad.  If you have any suggestions on how I can bring it back out to work on without melting under it, I would love the hear them.

Changing subjects now...............................

Today, I am taking Luna in to have her stitches removed.  It will be so nice for her not to be wearing a baby shirt anymore.  She has been a real trooper about the shirt and has not bothered her sutures even once.  I am very proud of her.  She will get a special treat today for all she has been through.  

After the Vet appointment, hubby wants to go to Costco.  I will go with him to make sure nothing comes home we don't need.  Maybe the trip out and all that walking will make my brain happy again!  

Changing subjects now again..................................

Grapes!!!!!  This is the time of year I love grapes.  Our Sprouts Market place likes to bring in different types of grapes in the fall.  This year they have Cotton Candy grapes as well as Gum Drop grapes.  Oh My!  They are like eating candy but much better for you.  They taste just like their name implies.  They are only available once a year.  I grabbed a bag of each of them yesterday.  They make the perfect mid afternoon snack.  Have you ever tried either of them?

Until next time.........................happy crafting & stay well!

Whatha Doin'?

 How was your day?  I spent 90% of my day in my craftroom.  But first thing this morning, I took my car to Discount Tire to get the back tire repaired.  Lucky for me they were able to plug it.  Phew, since there was only 6000 miles on the tire, I really did not want to replace it.  I was in and out in less than 30 minutes.

While I was there, hubby went to get some blood work done and then went on to his allergist to get his allergy shots.  I had just gotten home when he called to tell me he was at the car wash and it was not busy at all.  

Off I went to get my car washed.  It was sooooo dirty.  We had a couple of rain days and when it rains, all the dirt in the air gets plastered to the car.  It sure does look much better now with the wash completed.

When we got home, I called the appliance repair place our appliance store told us to call.  The seal on the fridge door is starting to shred.  The place I called was hesitant to give me a quote without sending someone out to look at it first.  I got a little hot under the collar and explained I was quite sure I could tell if the seal on the door was falling apart.  Their service call is $90 just to drive to my house!  They finally gave me a quote that was through the roof!  I immediately started looking online for recommendations for appliance repair people.  I found a gentleman with 5 stars and gave him a call.  What a difference.  He was happy to give me a quote if I would just send him the model info from the inside of my fridge.  He gave me a quote that was significantly lower than the first place.  He owns his own one man business and was so polite and easy to work with.  The part I need is on back order so it will be several weeks before the work can be done.  That is ok as there is no cold air escaping from the fridge at this point.  I just do not want it to start though.

After all that, I headed into the craftroom and began mask production again.  I started at 10:30 this morning and finished at 6 tonight.  That included all the cutting and sewing and 1/2 hour off for lunch.  Here is what I accomplished.

Twelve masks completed.  The top 6 are for the teen, the middle 2 are for my son and the bottom 4 are for me.  Hopefully that is it for a while............... again.

Nothing else got done today so tomorrow will be busier than usual.  I have a couple of errands to run and laundry to do. Right now I am going to go and watch a little NFL Football while I knit on my shawl and hubby's socks.

Until next time.....................happy crafting & stay well!

WEEK 11 OF YEAR 10

 

Another week is in the books.  It was an unusual week for me.  I was gone from home 4 days this past week.  I was dog sitting and running a teenager around to her play practice as well as a swim meet and also school.  This meant my crafting needed to be something portable and dog proof.  

First up is some finishes.

Coasters!!!!!!  My daughter called me last week asking me if I would be so kind to make her some coasters to use at work.  It was the perfect traveling project for me.  None of the coasters are bigger than 6 inches.  She loves them and was so happy to have washable coasters.

I did work on hubby's socks some more.

The gusset is completed and there is another 30 rows added to each foot.  Not sure how this coming week is stacking up yet.  Hopefully it will be quieter so I can do quite a bit on these.  I really want them off the needles.  The yarn is very scratchy and splits horribly and because of that, I stopped the pattern and am just doing plain vanilla for the feet.  I have more of this yarn but am thinking I will be waiting a loooong time before I use it.

I did start a new project on Monday.  I don't know why I felt I needed to start something else.  In actuality, I started 2 new projects on Monday.

This is not a very big cross stitch.  I got the wording done and have not touched it since.  It is not travel friendly and definitely not dog friendly.  

The other project I started was the  Fodhla shawl.  This will be the second time I have made this shawl.  This shawl is the one I wear the most so thought it would be nice to have another one.

This is being knit in a skein of yarn I forgot I had.  It is Cascade Sorata which is a baby llama and silk blend.  So soft and what a lovely drape to it.  My favorite part is the beads being added to it.

I just happened to have these glass beads hanging around and they go perfectly with the charcoal gray yarn.  The beads are added after the stitch is made.  It does slow down the knitting process but is so worth it.  Plus, the beads add just enough weight to the shawl that it keeps is laying so nicely.

That is all for my crafting this week.  The Havana is in time out until it cools off here.  There is only so much heat I can take laying on my lap.  I have been looking at my WIP list and realize it is time to pull out the "It Really Fits Cardigan".  I only have 1.5 sleeves to do and then knit until it is long enough for my liking.  Add a button band to it and it will be complete.  Hopefully, I will have it done in time for sweater weather here.

IN OTHER NEWS:

When I came home Thursday, I found this sitting on my kitchen counter.

My husband is so thoughtful.  I sent him to the store to pick up a few items for our dinner that evening.  He ALWAYS looks at the flowers when he is there.  These are lasting quite while.  They have a lovely aroma too.

Speaking of aroma.................................The fires that are burning the western part of the US are just horrible.  We are being affected here too.

This is what our sun has looked like all week other than on Tuesday.  That was the only day we were smokeless here.  I have seen photos from places in California and Washington where you can not even see the sun.  When we left Mass this morning, I noticed the smell as soon as I took off my mask.

Speaking of masks..................the teen was told her face mask needs to be plain without any patterns on it.  Of course this was not told to them until the first day she went back to in person school.  So, guess who is going to be making masks today?  Yup, me!  I had to buy plain material.  Thank goodness I had JoAnn coupons.  I got a pale yellow (her request) and black (also her request).  I think I will make a couple of black masks for myself too.

Yesterday, hubby and I got our pneumonia shots.  Neither of us had ever had one before.  We will need to go again next year to get the final dose.  In two weeks we are going to get our flu shots.  We were offered the flu shot yesterday too but since we had never had the pneumonia shot we thought we would wait in case of a reaction.  That way we would know which one caused the issue.

Today's 'to do' items are; make a loaf of bread (it is in the machine now), plan menus for 10 days, make grocery list, do at least one load of laundry (probably will do 2), & make masks (aiming for 4).

Tomorrow, you will find me at Discount Tire.  We found a HUGE screw in my tire this morning.  It is not flat but the screw needs to come out.  I am hoping the tire can be repaired.  I only have 6,000 miles on these tires.  They are the ones that came with the car when I bought it last year.  

That is all for me today.

Until Next Time......................Happy Crafting & Stay Well!!!!!!!!!