Catching Up

I'm going to catch up on the needle crafting first. Current WIPs.

I am making good progress on my Feather and Fan afghan. It's been a joy to work on.

It's been a very nice break from the really complicated stuff I've been knitting. I really like the yarn too. It's very good quality. It is Mary Maxim's Maximum Value.

I ordered a Bucilla Felt Stocking kit to make for my daughter-in-law. It occurred to me that her stocking has Frank on it, instead of her new name. So I've set Zoey's stocking aside for the time being. The new stocking is a picture of Santa riding a train. It's pretty cute. Here's where I am with it. 

This is the first kit where the name comes first. I find that interesting. There's a lot of tiny pieces in this kit too. It's going to take some time.

Next is the counted cross stitch project I'm making for Christmas.

The picture is 24 by 9 inches in size in 14 count, which is rather large. The train, though, doesn't have a whole lot of detail so it should go quicker than my usual projects. The fabric is a pale gray. I gridded the fabric, as you can see, using leftover thread from the finished stocking of last month. It took me 3 days. Worth it though. It makes counting the stitches so much easier.

I have good news. Hubs and I decided to apply to start collecting our Social Security and we both have been approved. I got my first payment 2 weeks ago. Yay! Yarn money! We're talking about buying me a new Prius and using my SS to pay for it. 

There have been a lot of changes in the Prius the last 3 or 4 years. It's now a fancy sports car and they go for $40 Grand. I don't know if I want to spend that much on a car. 

In the meantime, my car needs some minor repairs. A couple sensors have gone out. Doesn't prevent me from driving it, but if I want to keep it that way, I need to get them fixed. By the way, if we do get a new one, it won't be red. I want blue. So far, our local Toyota dealer has only had silver, grey, and dark grey ones. Last week they had 12 in stock, all in those colors. Ugh. They sold quick.

Looking around town, I have to say the economy is doing better than the media and government have been saying. There's lots and lots of new cars on the road. I can't believe how many Tesla's are around now.

Remember when I was sick around Thanksgiving and ended up with a cold and a cough? I had just found the solution to the chronic cough I'd been living with for 8 years. I had all of what? 3 weeks of peace? I kept hoping the cough would go away, but it only got worse. Last Monday I saw a doctor. I have a bad case of bronchitis so he's given me antibiotic, cough medicine, and prednisone to help with my breathing. The cough is going away. I'm looking forward to it being gone.

I got myself a new plant, which is living on the bathroom windowsill. It's an Echeveria "Perle von Nurnberg" which is a succulent that will get purple as it gets bigger. Right now it's just a baby.

The weather is cold and snowy. Winter started snowing on us about 5 days ago and we've got almost a foot out in the yard. It's been snowing all day long. The days of the coming week are going to drop in temperature. Highs in the low to mid 20F's and lows to -7F. Now we'll find out if the new furnace is worth it.

That's it for now, except I took a selfie. Yes, that's me.

Live long and prosper. \\//

Under The Tree - Bucilla

 I have finished the current felt applique stocking! Hurray! It's titled Under the Tree and is from Bucilla. I think they have the cutest felt applique stocking kits.

I made it for me. You're supposed to put the name on the back of the big ornament hanging on the upper left corner, but I didn't like that, so I put it on the stocking itself.

Here's a close up of the toys at the bottom.

I lined it. I used some cotton quilting fabric I found in my stash. I used the stocking itself to make a pattern. I traced around the outside edge onto a piece of newsprint paper. Then I drew a quarter inch seam allowance around that.

I cut two pieces, sewed them together on my sewing machine, then installed the lining in the stocking, carefully hand stitching around the top edge. I am very very happy with this stocking!

While I was stitching the lining into the stocking I had a thought. I got to wondering if there are people who enjoy doing this as much as I do and if they've created a group. I decided to look on Facebook and I found one! Actually, there is more than one, but I just joined one of them. It's been fun looking at all their finished projects. Someone asked the group to tell us all how many kits they have and whatnot. I have 6 kits in my stash. I thought I was a bad girl for having so many! I'm an amateur! Some of the group members have over 200 of them. I feel so much better about myself now. Heh heh.

I already started another one. It has a snowman on it. I plan to put Zoey's name on it. I've also ordered another kit to make for Opal. It has Santa driving a train on it. 

I've been working on the ripple afghan! I've got the first set of stripes done. I'm using 3 shades of purple and white. I'll take a pic later as I progress more on it.

We have had sunshine the last couple days. It's been so nice to see, even though it's friggin' cold outside. They're predicting snow for the coming weekend. 

Finally got all the Christmas decorations down and put away. I feel pretty good about getting that done. I haven't been feeling all that well the last few days. I've been coughing a lot. This cough feels like a possible lung infection. I should go see a doctor before it turns into pneumonia. Ugh. I hate winter.

Live long and prosper. \\//

WIP WEDNESDAY 1/8/2025

I'm trying something new today. I have installed the Blogger app on my phone. It's supposed to make composing posts on my phone easier. We'll see.

I've been working on Clapotis. I have actually finished the knitting and woven in the ends. Blocking is next. I took this silly picture with it draped over my arm.