WEEK 4

 

Greeting everyone.  Another week as gone by.  I managed to stay out of the ER this past week!  HOORAY!  I am feeling fantastic and had a blessed week.  Things go accomplished too.

DIAMOND ART

So glad to have this one done.  It was very involved with all the color changes.  Now to find a frame for it and get it hung in hubby's office.  

Bookmarks!  I need to seal these and then put their tassels on them.  These are great for the days I go to Josh's.  I have 4 more of them to do.  

I just started this yesterday.  It is a BIG one.  It measures 16" X  34".  Not a traveling project.  It has 37 different colors in it.  That is the most colors I have ever had on one project.  It will be well worth it when completed though.

KNITTING

Hubby's RCR is my constant companion.  I am very close to the starting the toe.  

My fingers are itching to cast on either a baby hat or a dishcloth.  I am trying hard not to do that as I really want hubby's socks to be 100% completed.  If I were to cast on, they would go to the back burner and languish for who knows how long.

CROCHET

Again, I am itching to start another shawl for the cancer ministry.  If I finish the first sock and cast on the second, I may allow myself the joy of starting a shawl.

READING

I finished 'The Women' by Kristin Hannah

I loved it!  Having lived during the Vietnam War, this book really took me back to my high school days and all the feels of that time.  It was so good I managed to finish it in 3 days time.  

I am still reading 'The Mapmaker's Apprentice'.  I did pause reading it so I could read 'The Women' since I had placed it on hold back in November.  I didn't want to delay my hold and end up waiting another month or more.  

PUZZLES

Nope.  Starting one has been on my mind but there are only so many hours in the day.  

SEWING

Nope.  I do have several items That need hemming up.  Not sure when I will get to those.  They are not for me but for Jaxon.  My issue is they are super stretchy material and have a tendency to pucker when being sewn.  I know there is a way to make it work, I just have not taken the time to really work on it.  I bought the machine from JoAnn's and since they are no longer in business, I will need to find out who can help me with my Husqvarna machine.

CROSS STITCH

Nope.  I don't know why I don't pull one of the two pieces out and put in a few stitches each day.  Both of them sit right beside my chair.  It's not like I need to go scrounging to find them!

LEGOS

I did purchase a new legos kit.  It was on half price and one on my wish list.  It will stay in the box for a while though.  Notre Dame is still unfinished.  I would work on it but...........hubby said he made a couple of mistakes and needs to undo some areas before continuing.  Since I have no idea of where those mistakes are, I refuse to touch it until corrections have been made.

LIFE

The rest of last week was pretty quiet............for a change.  I did need to get blood work done for my Rheumatologist but that was easy.  I spent one and a half days with Josh.  He is spending more time in bed and becoming more confused about timelines and things that happened IRL.  It can be quite entertaining at times. 

Here is what made me laugh this week

 

My dog would attack me if I tried this with him.  He won't even let me put a sweater on him in the winter.

Until Next Time..............................Happy Crafting!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WEEK 3 OF YOP 15

 

Hey there!  Time to talk about my past week.  While there was not a lot of crafting going on, there was a lot going on.

I finished the last eyeglass case.

They have all been sealed and are waiting to go to their new homes.  

I have started another Diamond Art project.

I am almost half way done with this one.  Hubby fell in love with this so it will probably go in his office area when completed and framed.

I also worked on his RCR sock a bit this week.

I added about 20 rows to it.  The color keeps calling to me which makes it easy for me to pick it up and add a few rows now and then.

The best part of the week is the new crafting area we now have for our legos and diamond art.  WARNING!!!!!    Crappy photo coming.

You can not really see it in the photo but, this table has 2 drawers under the wood top.  The drawers span the entire length of the table.  I am able to store my lightboard and stand as well as my tools used for the Diamond Art in one drawer. The other drawer is for hubby's crafts.  The table raises and lowers so it is comfortable to whoever is using it.  I can sit there and still watch TV with hubby.  I had been working on a TV tray and it was a challenge to say the least.

I finished a book this week.  The Watchmaker's Daughter.  It was an enjoyable mystery and #1 in a series.  I started the second book in the series on Thursday.  The Mapmaker's Apprentice.  I get all my books through the Libby app.  So much easier than heading downtown to our library and trying to find a book there and then needing to take it back after 2 weeks.  This way I just find the book I want, check it out and read it on my kindle app and return it electronically.  I have read 14 books so far this year.  There are 5 more I tried to read but could never 'get into' them.  I go through spurts where reading is all I want to do and then times when I could care less about picking up a book. GASP!

Hubby and I just finished up watching all 5 seasons of 'The Chosen'..  We also watched the first season of 'Ballard'.  Hopefully they will do a second season of that.  Now to find another series.  Any suggestions?  

In other news................I ended up in the ER again this week.  I had mentioned, last week, I was having some tachycardia from the meds they gave me for my pleurisy.  Well, it did not improve over the weekend.  I headed to my primary Dr office Monday morning and was told I was in Afib again.  Luckily, I had hubby with me.  So we went to the ER to get fixed up.  They did an electrical cardioversion to get my heart back into normal sinus rhythm.  And, before you ask, they knocked me out for the procedure so I felt nothing.  I went for a follow up with my cardiologist on Friday and everything looks good.  Seems the steroids I got at the hospital as well as the ones I was given to take at home, caused the issue this time.  It took me a couple of days to bounce back from everything but I am back to my normal onery self.

Hubby and I did not have any days of being with Josh, last week.  Our youngest son and his wife took all the times needed to give us a little break.  It was greatly appreciated.  We go back to splitting shifts with them this week.  Those days are when I get the most of my knitting done!

Here is your chuckle for the week...............

Until Next Time.....................Happy Crafting!!!!!!!!!!

WEEK 2

 

Hello to all.  It was a busy and productive week for this crafter.  Let's not dawdle.

I have finishes again.

#1

I finally finished up the first skein of the Sugar Wheel Cotton yarn with this dishcloth.  I got 6 clothes out of the skein.  Since I always wait for Hobby Lobby's 30% off yarn, it comes to less than $1 per cloth.  I do have another skein but have not started anymore since then one came off the needles.

#2

Shawl We Wear is completed also.  This think is really long.  I did adjust the width of it before I even started.  It will be perfect for someone to keep the chill off while sitting in the cold infusion room.  Yet it is light enough not to over cook a body.  I did like making this.  It also is more unisex than the other shawl I make for the cancer ministry so it might need to go into rotation.

#3

 Our Lady of Grace Diamond Art is done and sealed.  Now to find the perfect frame for it.  The photo is a bit dark as I took it early this morning.  She was a joy to work on and this was normally my evening project while hubby was watching baseball on TV.  

#4

Diamond Art glass cases.  I am doing these for the ladies in my life.  (Granddaughters, daughter and daughter in laws)  I actually have completed 5 of these but Josie already claimed hers.  I have one more to complete and then will let the rest of the ladies choose theirs.  Doing these little projects is like making dishcloths.  A real palette cleanser.

Amazon days just ended and I was able to stock up on many more Diamond Art projects.  Between the yarn I got from JoAnn's close out sale and the DA I got from Amazon, I have enough projects to keep me entertained for many years.  I haven't even mentioned all the puzzles I have acquired from a good friend.  She has given me over 20 puzzles that went with my already 20 puzzles I had.  Guess I need to get one of those going too.  So many things to do and so little time in each day to do it.

I did cast on a new project,

Another RCR sock for hubby.  This is wool from Leading Men Fibers in the colorway Anne with an E.  I started this on Tuesday to work on while taking care of Tiffany after her procedure.  The heel is completed and I am on the long boring foot part.  It is being done with magic loop this time.  It is easier on my wrist than DPN's.  Although, DPN's are my all time favorite way to do socks.  Hubby was quite excited to find out a new pair of socks were being made for him.  It has been a while.

Speaking of Tuesday......I went to bed that night all fine and dandy only to wake up at 2AM with severe chest pains & shortness of breath.  It hurt so bad to even try and catch my breath.  I woke up hubby who called 911.  They came and took an EKG which was normal but could see I was in extreme pain.  I went by ambulance to the hospital and after 5 hours and several tests they discovered I had pleurisy!  What a joy that is!  I have had it one other time and it is not a fun gig.  I was put on steroids which in turn has caused tachycardia (fast heart rate) and elevated my blood pressure.  Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease, right?  I am just about done with the meds so things should settle down.

I spent the day on Friday with Josh.  I had not seen him in a week!  He was in such good spirits that day.  We had lots of laughter and really enjoyed our time together.  Those days are getting farther and farther apart.  While I was there I got the sweetest photo,

Josie's little kitten all curled up in his condo.  He is so cute and is very friendly.  Almost too friendly.  He really likes to be in your business, especially if food is involved.  

On Sundays, Hubby works with Jaxon on Geometry.

This was last Sunday.  Notice he is smiling, her not so much LOL.  Math is not the strong suit of any of our granddaughters.  He has tutored almost every grandchild we have in some subject.  So glad I married a brainy guy.

That about covers my week.  Here is my humor for you today.  This goes for knitting too.

Until Next Time.............................Happy Crafting!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WEEK 1 OF YOP 15

 

Welcome to my 15th year of being active in the Ravelry group, 'Year of Projects".  I choose the July 1 - June 30 year.  This being the first week, I am posting my 'wish list' below showing the categories I will be filling in over the next 51 weeks. 

My 'wish list' has been set up a bit different this year.  First, there are more categories than in the past because my interests have expanded.  Secondly, each category will contain everything pertaining to that specific craft in it from beginning to end.  Third, each item in the category will be one of three colors and the legend for the meaning of the colors is at the top of the page.  Why did I change?  Boredom LOL.  I felt like I was getting into a rut and needed to spice things up a bit.  That being said, here is a look at my wish list for this year.

LEGEND

WIPs

COMPLETED

FROGGED

KNIT

MKAL Gnome 4/20/24

Dishcloth x 2 6/26/25 - 7/5/25

CROCHET

Shawl We Wear 6/2/25

CROSS STITCH

Madonna & Child 8/7/20

Madonna & Child 6/18/24

DIAMOND ART

Our Lady of Grace 6/13/25

Perpetual Calendar 7/2/25 - 7/2/25

LEGOS

Notre Dame 6/1/25

PUZZLES

SEWING

BOOKS

Through a Glass, Deadly 6/22/25 - 

There are not any 'planned' projects as of yet.  We all know I will continue to make shawls for our cancer ministry at church as well as newborn hats for the hospitals.  But, right now, I have plenty of things on the go that need to be completed.

I did complete 2 more dishcloths this past week.

I also completed a Diamond Art I had received for my birthday.

The dishcloths and Diamond Art were great take along projects for this past week as I was helping out with my son, Josh. 

This past week Hubby and I went to a Diamondback Baseball game with our youngest son and his wife.  We lost the game but had a great time with the 'kids'.  Last night we had a little pizza party with Josh and his family.  Our daughter was there as well so we have managed to see all our local kids this past week.  Always a joy for me.  

Today I plan on taking my kitchen apart and cleaning it.  I had a sewer roach show up late last night and had to use the bug spray on it to kill the nasty thing.  So, sanitizing the counter tops is top priority for me today.  We normally get several of these critters each year.  Usually they come up in the bathrooms from the drains.  Luckily, this is the first one we have had in well over a year.  May it be our last one too.  They give me the creeps!

This coming week I am busy again with caring for members of the family.  I have 2 days scheduled with Josh, one day with our daughter in law, Tiffany and possibly one day with our daughter, Jenn.  I knew I should have gone to nursing school! LOL  Luckily, I have plenty of projects I can take with me as I go from home to home.

Let me leave you with a little chuckle.  I think we all can relate to this:

Until Next Time............................Happy Crafting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT'S A WRAP OF YOP 14

 

This is it!  The last post for my 14th Year of Projects.  This year saw me missing several weeks of blogging.  Something I had not really happened in prior years.  But as we all know, life does happen and sometimes a person just needs to regroup and recharge.  However, I did continue to craft in many areas even when I was not blogging about it.  So, to wrap up this last year of projects I need to start out by posting a photo of my last finished object of this year.

My RCR (rose city roller) socks were completed this past week.  I cast these on in March but lost interest in them for a while and then had issues with my wrist.  But, finally they are completed and in my drawer.  They were made with Cascade Cotton Sox yarn.  It is a bit thicker than standard sock fingering yarn so I had to go down 8 stitches to make them 'snug' on my foot.  They will be perfect this summer to help keep my feet dry while in sneakers.

So, how did I do this year?  Here is my Wish List.

WIP CARRY OVERS

Madonna and Child XS 8/7/20 -

Rolling on the River 3/20/24 -FROGGED

MKAL Gnome 4/20/24 -

Madonna and Child XS 6/18/24 -

Felt Christmas Ornaments 10/18/22 - 

GOALS

Find ways to use up a plethora of fingering weight yarn!!!!

Mainly focus on the WIP's that are begging to be completed.

Enjoy the process of what ever craft I decide to focus on at the moment.

COMPLETED ITEMS

Habitation 5/20/24 - 7/17/24

To The Point Shawl 8/8/24 - 8/15/24

To The Point Shawl 8/19/24 - 9/6/24

Wee Sherlock 9/27/24 - 10/19-24

Basic Baby Beanie 10/19/24 - 10/22/24

RCR 4/23/34 - 11/16/24

Toe Socks 11/8/24 - 11/15/24

Toe Socks 11/20/24 - 11/22/24

Baby Sea turtle throw 10/28/24 - 11/27/24

Toe Socks 11/23/24 - 12/6/24

Toe Socks 12/7/24 - 12/21/24

Azel 11/28/24 - 12/21/24

Simnia Cardigan 1/8/25 - 1/25/25

Quick and Easy Baby Hat 1/24/25 - 1/31/25

Half Granny Square Shawl 1/27/25 - 1/30/25

Quick and Easy Baby Hat 2/2/25 - 2/4/25

Simnia Cardigan 2/5/25 - 2/20/25

Mehujaa 9/14/24 - 3/3/25

To The Point Shawl 3/4/25 - 3/8/25

RCR 1/2/25 - 3/12/25 (one sock)

Quick and Easy Baby Hat 3/13/25 - 3/17/25

Lapghan 3/12/25 - 3/22/25

Quick & Easy Baby Hat 3/23/25 - 3/31/25

To The Point 4/2/25 - 5/1/25 This is the 44th one of this pattern!!!!!

RCR 3/13/25 - 6/25/25

 Lapghan 5/8/25 - FROGGED

Dishcloths X3 6/9/25 - 6/15/25

NEW WIP

Shawl We Wear 6/2/25 - 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I did acquire quite a few skeins of yarn this year.  Two of them were cotton sock yarn of which I already have used up one of them for my latest RCR socks. I bought copious amounts of Caron Simply Soft yarn for prayer shawls and lapghans. This was all purchased from JoAnn's going out of business sale.  There were 2 skeins of Sugar Wheel Cotton purchased for dishcloths as well as several skeins of Sweet Delight DK weight for baby items. (Those were from Hobby Lobby and on sale too)

If asked which was my favorite make.......................The Mejuhaa is still my favorite to make.  It is time consuming but is such a gorgeous shawl and so easy to wear.

 After that, it would be baby items.

I made several baby items but this cardi was my favorite.

My plans for next years YOP are already in progress.  Again, they will be vague as to what will be made.  I will also be including ALL of my different crafts I am involved in this year.  So stay tuned for that to appear in next week's post.

This past week saw so many things happening.  We have a guest staying with us until Monday evening.

See that furry thing?  That is our daughter's dog, Celeste.  Mom and dad are in Minnesota for a family reunion and we offered to take her for them.  They have 3 dogs but this one is the only one our dog gets along with.  She is extremely quiet and sleeps most of the day.  Yet, when it is feeding time, she is alert and prances around like a puppy.

This also happened.

Josh and Stacie's plumbing when haywire.  The plumber has been out twice and it still is not fixed.  They have hot water but no cold water.  Only 1 out of three toilets works and their washer won't fill for laundry.  Josie and Joe are looking to see if there is anything they can do to help.  Nope!  But at least they tried.  The next step is for walls to be opened up to see where the plumbing comes into the house to find out where the plug is.  Not something they needed.  They are wanting to sell their house and move into something all one floor that Stacie can manage on her own once Josie moves out and as Josh's terminal cancer progresses.  A few prayers are needed for them.

Then there is this little monster.

This is Meatloaf.  Although, I do not think any of us have used his given name yet.  He is so cute but so much a kitten and into everything.  He is very friendly unlike her other cat that stays in his 'room' 90% of the time.  He is about 3 months old now and will soon be going in for his little 'surgery'.

Here is your chuckle for the week.

Interested in joining in on the fun with the rest of us crafters?  Here is the link where you can join.  It is free and open to all no matter what craft you enjoy.

Until Next Time.............................Happy Crafting!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't Faint! Week 51

 

Don't faint.  I know it has been a month since I last posted.  Life has been very busy for this family.  I will update family life at the end of this. 

Let's talk about what my hands have done over the past month.

I did complete my Eagle and Flag Diamond Art.

It has been sealed and ready for me to find a frame for it.  I want to hang this in hubby's office area.

I started another Diamond art after this one.

And finished this one too.  Of course I started another one.

It is still a work in progress.  This one will go in my craftroom.

For a little palette cleanser I did a few coasters my daughter got me for my birthday.  Yes!  I am another year older.  This is my 72nd rotation around the sun.

Poor lighting on this shot.  This coasters are so nice and quick.  I still have 3 more to do plus she got me a perpetual calendar to add sparkle to.

I finally have picked up my crochet hook again.

A prayer shawl in progress.  It is a little over half done.  I was tired of my standard "To The Point" shawl so found this and decided to try it.  I had to adjust the pattern as it is originally 30 inches wide by 77 inches long.  Way to wide for someone sitting in a chair receiving chemo.  I will keep the length though so it can wrap around a body.

I also made these.

Dishcloths!  I gave the last of mine away when Jaxon moved to her apartment.  I like to keep a few back ups for gifts.

I even picked up the RCR socks and added a few rows on one of them.  They may get completed sometime.  I am in no hurry for them.  It is in the 110F (43C) here so socks are not really a thing right now.

I pulled out my 2 cross stitch pieces this week and looked at them.  Yup, still not done.  For some reason I do not have little elves coming in at night and working on them.  I may pull one of them out soon and add a bit to it.  I could actually use them as a take along project on the days I am with Josh.

Which leads me into my personal life...................................Well............................

As of May 30th, Josh (our son) was placed on Hospice.  It is not that he is at deaths door.  It is to give Stacie (his wife) the help she needs with him.  He has a nurse that comes in once to twice a week to check on his vitals and see what areas of his life have deteriorated (if any) since her last visit.  He also gets an Aide come in twice a week to give him a shower and help with shaving and anything else he needs as far as personal care.

Stacie is still working.  She does 2 days at home and 3 days in the office.  On the days she goes to the office one of us (mom, dad, sister, brother and sister in law) will go and stay with Josh.  We make sure he has good food in him as well as any medications he needs while we are there.

A couple of weeks ago, Stacie and Josie (their daughter) took a little trip to Seattle.  They both needed the get away.  During that time we all took turns taking care of Josh 24/7.  Our daught spent all the nights there with him and the rest of us took the day shifts.  It all worked out quite well.

On the days I was not with Josh I was busy doing laundry, grocery shopping, cooking for 'the crew,', transporting family to appts, planning a Father's Day bash and entertaining my hubby's brother who came to visit Josh.  The brother is a Doctor which was fantastic.  He gave us several opinions and ideas to help out when Josh has one of his bad days.  We had a family dinner last night so everyone got to spend some time with 'Uncle Mike'. 

I am taking today off!  Hubby and I went to Mass and then out to breakfast.  He is tutoring Jaxon in Geometry and I am kicking back and looking forward to working on my different crafts after I finish this blog post.

Next week, I will do a wrap up on what I accomplish in my 14th year of being in YOP.  I have just found out one of our original  YOP members will be joining us for year 15.  Hi Kim!  Also, another member who has been absent for a few years is coming back for year 15.  Hello Ruth!  This past year, Becky came back and I was happy to read all about her beautiful doilies, cross stitch and gardening. I am so exited to see that this group continues to grow and we have people come and go and come back again.  We are located all over the globe which makes it even more exciting to me since my globe trotting days are behind me.  If you are interested in joining us you can find us here.

Here is your chuckle for the week.

 Until Next Time.........................Happy Crafting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WEEK 47!!!!!

 

I am alive!  Yes it has been a month since I last opened up my blog to post on it.  I have been reading all y'alls blogs though.  I may not always comment since, many times I am just grabbing a few moments to catch up with one or two of you while in waiting rooms or hospital rooms.

Anyone else have something like this in their home?  In the back are the Rose City Roller Socks.  Still waiting for me to work on them.  In the front is a ripple (chevron) lapghan I started the middle of this month.  My right wrist is still not able to do much yarn work.  Therefore, these sit next to me and get maybe one or two rows a week put on them.

However.......................I did finish the To The Point Shawl.

I did not get a photo of it before I whisked it off to the church for the Cancer ministry. 

To keep myself busy when I am at home I have been diving into my diamond art and legos.

Hei Hei from Moana was my Mother's day gift from hubby.  He was so much fun to put together.

We did finish the Milky Way Lego set.

It still needs the light kit put on it and then find a place to be displayed.

Hubby bought me Notre Dame for my birthday. My kids got me the light kit to go with it.  I have not started on that yet since my birthday isn't until next Sunday LOL.

I have finished another Diamond Art.

This one took a bit of time.  Lots of color changes not to mention I was a little busy with life this past month.

This is my current project.

I am hoping to complete it this weekend.  The flag is completed and his eye is done.  Now I am working on all the feathers and beak.

On the personal front..................Life has been very busy.  Josh has been in and out of the hospital again.  His short term memory is gone as well as his ability to make decisions and his thought process is getting bad.  He is now in need of 24/7 watching.  The family is taking turns caring for him while Stacie works away from home 3 days a week.  The Dr has suggested Hospice for him.  Not that his passing is eminent, but mainly to help Stacie out with his activities of daily living. (bathing, dressing, grooming etc)  So, that will probably be happening in the next few days. He will stay home and have Hospice come to him each week. That has been taking 90% of my free time.

Tiffany had ankle surgery and so I am also taking her to appointments as she has a hard time driving with this................

The cast finally came off this past week but she is limited to the amount of walking she can do.  I am still taking her to a few Dr appointments when her hubby is scheduled to work.  (We are all 1 car families)

One of Hubby's brothers had a stroke a couple of weeks ago also!  So, hubby has been in ready mode to head off to Las Vegas if needed.  So far, the rest of the family has pitched in and has helped out with his recovery.

So, as you can see, I have been a bit busy with life.  I am on my last week of PT.  I could probably extend it if I truly wanted to but..................I have all the equipment at home to continue on with what they have started.  With everything going on here, I do not think I will continue.  My attention is needed elsewhere.  

Today, I will catch up on laundry, mending, cleaning the fruits and veggies we bought on Friday, making Enrique's dog food and maybe even take a little time for myself!  

In honor of all those who lost their lives fighting for our American freedom.  We honor and thank you! RIP!

Until Next Time...............................Happy Crafting!!!!!!!!!!!!!