Quilting Baking and Flowers

I baked some cupcakes for my uncle for his birthday. I was racking my brain trying to think of what to do for his birthday.... He can't really have a bunch of stuff where he lives. I thought "cake"... But, it wouldn't be very nice or practical to bring him a whole cake... Then I thought "Duh, cupcakes..." Then I could bring some for everyone else, too...  There are 11 residents there. Plus the nurses for the day.  I bought the "Happy Birthday" cupcake pokes at Hobby Lobby...  I got a big box to transport the cupcakes in the car because I really didn't have anything else...  I put my uncles' on a plate. He has a little fridge in his room. My other uncle got him. 

I had done a bunch, I don't know how many pans. Then I just put the rest in a little pie tin. I used the Best Chocolate Cake recipe (my go-to birthday cake recipe)....    It would have been my Dad's birthday, too. (They were twins..)

We have been getting more flowers come up in different areas around the house. And different colors. Some pink Hyacinth.

White Hyacinth.

And purple Hyacinth (my favorite ones). 

And yesterday I noticed these little purple violets. I am not an expert on flowers. I just have an app and you put the picture in and it "diagnoses" what flower it is... It's called "Leaf Snap".

I got another square finished the day before yesterday. I thought I have enough blue to do a scrap quilt! Um... No, I don't really...  I was racking my brain trying to think of what strip to do next...  

We had gone to Walmart Wednesday night for something...  I can't even remember what for, now. But I went straight to the fabric. I was really disappointed. I was able to find three different blues. That might work. But, I don't really love them. It was all Disney fabric and kids stuff... Or solid colors. LAME.  Then yesterday, I went to Hobby Lobby to see if they had anything......  (Sigh....) They didn't really have much of a selection, either. What the hell...   I miss my old quilt group. 😢 I miss the stage where you could take what you wanted for free, or leave what you don't need... There was always free fabric.  Sigh...   Well, I have a few more blue options now.  I saw some garage sale signs yesterday. Maybe someone will have some fabric at a garage sale.

I also started some Amish Friendship Bread Starter on Wednesday. I have been wanting to try my own starter for this, forever. I don't know what it's supposed to look like. But it doesn't look right to me.... 👀 Shouldn't it puff up, and get air in the bag? It just looked like this basically, yesterday. I guess I will find out. I didn't use any metal. I used a glass bowl, and a wooden spoon.....  I don't know what I will do if I have too much extra, but I don't think I will.  I don't have anyone to give extra starter to...   Today is Day 3.

 

I Got A New Sewing Machine!

My husband surprised me and bought me a new sewing machine! It got here last Saturday. I came home from visiting my Uncle, and it was on the porch. 😁💓I don't know what happened with my old sewing machine (which wasn't that old, makes me mad...) I would push the "back" button, to reverse stitch. And it would get stuck, and go super fast then all the thread would get bunched up....  Well, then it just died and wouldn't even sew at all. I have no idea where to take it to get it fixed. And, for what they charge you to fix your sewing machine, you could buy a brand new one... (From past experience...)

Does Eri look like a little Gremlin there, or what? 😹

Well, I got it out of the bags and set it up yesterday. Actually, I started to iron and cut fabric first. Then I said "Oh yeah. Duh.... I still have to set it up. Ughhhhh".  Sewing is fun. All the problems with the sewing machine are NOT.  And I 1. Feel like I forgot how to sew....  Even how my quilt group taught me to cut the fabric...   😔 Maybe there's something in my quilt class book. Anyway. I watched a video on my specific machine, and used my phone camera to see if I was doing it right....  I tried to do the threading mechanism but I doubt I will ever figure that out. Okay, and 2. I miss my old quilting friends. 😭  I have looked for new quilt groups in my area. In each area that we have lived in, since we moved back here, actually. And there are a few. But, I feel like I will never find a better quilt group than my old one. (Even though I was stressed out a lot, the good memories over ride the bad).  

~Anway~

See what I mean? I forgot everything...   My first square and it was already messed up. Oh well, I sat down and ripped out that whole side. 

😁 I had to use a different piece for the last corner. See the blue flowered piece in the bottom right corner? I actually like it better than what I originally had there, anyway. That was the only piece of that fabric I had left. 

I put it on the sheets to see how it matches. 😄 Only 71 more squares to go! LoL....  

I was looking for all my scrap blue fabric, and I found some things that I had started. Like this string quilt I started with scraps from the stage in my old quilt group...  

And I found a square from the quilt I made for Eli. 😢  It mad me sad.... That quilt is gone. I don't know what to do with this square. But, I am thinking about taking it apart and using it for my quilt I am working on now. The pieces that are too little (and the burgundy center) I will put in my crumb quilt bin.  I thought I have enough to do a quilt with. But, I might need more. I found a big piece (I was so excited), I thought it might actually be enough for the back. Then I notice a stain on the fabric. Well, I washed it (the stain came out, yay) and dried it. And it isn't big enough. I don't know what I will do with it now. Sighhhhh.....  But, I did find enough muslin for the backing pieces! Which I also had to wash because it had a bunch of cat hair on it (I don't know how that could have happened...)

😹😹😹

(Yes I do...) I went upstairs for something yesterday. When I came back down, Eri was sitting on the cutting mat. So cute.

Then I went back upstairs and when I came down again, Cosmo was on it. So funny....  

They're the Quilting Kitties...  

I realized very quickly I cannot cut fabric on the floor anymore. 😒 Since my surgery...  And, the floor (under the carpet) is cement. Very hard.  So, I cleared all the fabric off the table and set up a spot there.

You can see the post about the first string quilt I started, and Eli's quilt in this post.

Computers...

I tried to blog a few days ago, but the pictures I uploaded were coming up as really old pictures... I couldn't even find the ones I uploaded. I don't know. Moving is causing all kinds of weird things to happen....    Anyway, I crocheted a few Easter things. I wasn't going to do so many of these Easter Bunny Pockets. But, I did... I sent them to someone for Easter. 

And, I don't know why, but I crocheted two of these Bunny Worry Worms.   

I think I have talked about the downstairs bathroom, but I didn't post any pictures. My husband got a vanity cabinet from a remodel job he did. It was black. It was the right width-the same as the one that was in the bathroom down there. But, he did have to cut off a few inches from the back. And get a pipe for the plumbing? I don't remember...   We went to Lowe's and I brought a washcloth with me to get some paint that matched. 😁 And my husband painted it.

He put the old counter from the other cabinet on there. Because (I know I posted this picture before, but...) I love the little clamshell soap holder built into the counter. 

                  It's just a little thing... But, the little things are sometimes the biggest. 😍

 I finished the four corners dishcloth. 

And, I crocheted a glasses case for my glasses. 

I don't know why. I just did. I'll have to find the pattern I used. Here it is: The Happy Daisy Crochet Glasses Pouch.

Our computer might not work sometimes, but my crochet hooks always do. 😁

We went to see our son and get my bird feeders at our old house on Sunday. And my husband got his grill. We took Jaxson to see Elsie. He knew...  I kept saying it to him all week. Because when Eon brought Elsie over on Easter Sunday, Jaxson was depressed for two days after they left. (I mean, so was I .... But...)  I said "We can go see Elsie next weekend". Well yesterday when we were getting ready to go, Jaxson walked into the kitchen and sat and looked up at his harness and leash! Dogs know....  He was soooo excited, he was shaking in the car. Look at him smiling here. 😍 They went out in the back yard and played with the ball. I think Jaxson is getting out of shape not having a big back yard to run around in. We have a big back yard here, but it's not fenced in. So he has to go out on his tie out chain. Or I have to take him for a walk. There's soooo many leaves here, there's probably ticks everywhere. I want to give him a bath. But I'm afraid to hurt myself again. Well, that's all for now. 

 

Sunday Fun Day

I had bought two skeins of dishcloth cotton to knit a dishcloth for the basement kitchen. I messed up the first time knitting it and I ripped the whole thing out. I can't watch things on TV or the computer and knit anymore (unless it's the same thing over and over..) Anyway, I restarted it. And although I don't like how big the spaces are, it turned out all right. I got one I knitted a few years ago out to see if there was such big spaces in it (they're not as big as this). I think this cotton is a little thinner than regular peaches and creme.   

I finished the second corner yesterday. The yarn is Peaches & Creme "Stripey", and the color is "Denim". 

Yesterday my husband came home from work and he gave me an Easter basket. 👀 He said "I thought you might like one since you never got one as a kid." I do like it. But........ I don't know what I will do with it. Maybe use it for storage in my craft room. 😁

These flowers were inside (he poured the water out). They had a big purple wrapper around the flowers. They're so pretty. 

And this candy inside...   Chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate..   

I don't know what we are going to do today. Probably go to Lowe's for one thing. My husband got a bathroom vanity from a remodel he did, and it is exactly 36 inches wide. (The size of the one that's in there.)  It is a little too tall though. It's black. And so we were going to go pick out paint to make it work, with the colors we have in the bathroom. That's our "fun", going to pick out paint... 😊 It will be fun having a bathroom that looks better, though! I don't like that ratty looking cabinet..

It's Time For Finish It Friday Again

I was unpacking a little more this morning, and I found this dinosaur (which was so close to being done- only one more spot left to sew on..  👀 Why didn't I just finish it? I don't know..)  

Here's all the spots.

I think I know why I only crocheted one of these. It doesn't even stand up like a dinosaur, unless you hold the head up like this. In the picture in the magazine, it's head is up like it just ends up like that. They must have propped it up somehow for the picture. I don't know what I will do with it. Maybe put it in the pile of things for a future grand baby...  

Finish It Friday

Yes, I know today is Monday. But on Friday someone posted a "Finish It Friday" thing. Don't start any new projects until you finish ones you already started. I thought "Oh no... I have a lot of those." The Easter Egg Potholder has been sitting in a bag by the computer. I just had a couple more ends to weave in, and crochet it all together. So, I got it out and just started on it.  Ta-Da, I finished it. 

And then I thought "I have that purple hotpad upstairs, too." Which, incidentally. Or is it coincidentally. Was two rows away from being done. LoL. It's Mielke's Double Thick Diagonally Crocheted Hotpad. I don't know if I ever posted the one I found going through all of my uncle's things when I was cleaning all the cupboards out here. I said "No way, I've crocheted a bunch of those..."

It was dirty and stained. I washed it. It's still stained. But I thought I would keep it. I wonder who crocheted it. My uncle has dementia I don't know if I want to even go there by asking him...  He gets confused easily. 

My husband did a couple more things to the house over the weekend. Put a new wax ring on another toilet (accessed through the bedroom). It smells sooooo much better in there now. No more how much I cleaned or candles I burned...   Then, he took the cupboard out and installed a dishwasher in the kitchen.

This is the floor underneath the cupboard. 😦 Look how white the grout is...  

 Ughhhh... It is so nice not having to wash all the dishes by hand. Then if you drink something or use a spoon or anything, you can't just put it in the dishwasher..  I hate dishes just sitting in the sink. 

The dishwasher. 😁My husband can fix anything.

Then on Sunday, our youngest son came over for breakfast and we were planning on going to an antique mall here. But, it doesn't open until noon on Sunday. So, we ended up going and getting a latte. Then, going to a real outdoor mall. Then we went to the gas station and got snacks. Then sat in the parking lot until they opened. By the time they opened, there was a bunch of people. When we came out, the parking lot was FULL. Sheesh.  It is a huge antique mall. I'm not even sure I saw everything. I kept getting turned around and lost. I saw a few Shelley tea cups. (I saw a few tea cups, but they weren't Shelley tea cups..) I saw one just like the one I already have. And another one that was also pink flowers but it was pretty plain. And a green one. Which I didn't like. But I kind of liked this one. And it's kind of purple....   And it was only $15. So I walked back to try and find it again. (Ughhhh... it was impossible.) Someone that worked there must have saw me walk by a couple times or something, and she asked if I needed any help... I told her I saw a Shelley tea cup I liked but I can't remember where it was I saw it, I keep getting all turned around in here. :P  I said I have a picture of it.... Well thank goodness I did. She looked at the tag, and said it's back here somewhere, and showed me the numbers on the floor in front of each "booth". Oooooohhhh... 😀Well, it wasn't in section 175. Ughhhhh.... I was about to give up and I saw it!! It was in section 125. I don't know if someone was carrying it around and just put it on a random shelf. or what. But I was glad I found it again.  Now I have two Shelley tea cups. I have two or three other little tea cups. One is a regular size one, and two are miniature ones I got in Central City.  

Well, that's all for now. I have laundry to do. 

~Until Next Time~

 

Happy Birthday Cosmo and Happy First Day of Spring

 You don't even know....  I hate winter SO. MUCH. Whyyyyyyy we moved back here....  Well we will have a few months of no winter now. 

And today is Cosmo's 10th birthday!! I can't believe it. I will have to look at his papers. Because one paper said he was the same age as Bagheera (it would have been Bagheera's birthday today, too. 😭) And another paper said he was a year older. Okay I looked at his papers and I do have the right date... 

Eri says "Leave me alone I'm taking a nap"...  Spoiled kitty.

I think I mentioned that I frogged the shawl and started a vest. I am farther along than this, I'm at the neck now. I haven't worked on it in a while.  

I made a pot pie a couple night ago. My "Pot Pie" (or soup) tub was full (7th picture down explanation of pot pie tub), and I had three pieces of leftover chicken. This pie pan was my uncle's. I think it's my new favorite pan, it's a deep dish pan. Mine are more regular, shallow pie pans. 

This was before I put the egg wash on, and baked it. I had a picture of it after I took it out of the oven but I am so tired of trying to upload pictures.  My husband said "This is good." And he ate two and a half pieces. So I guess it was good. (I thought it was, too.)  Now that it's just us, I can make things that the kids didn't like, but we like... 😉