Thursday, May 31, 2018

Cookie Fail/Save, and a Handmade Birthday Card

I made a batch of Snickerdoodle Cookies today. But, the dough wouldn't stick together very well. So, after trying for the (only) second time to get one ball to stick together, I said I'm just going to put all the dough in a pan...  So that's what I did. I greased it really good. Sprinkled the cinnamon sugar on top...  And guess what? It turned out pretty good.

So I saved the cookies...   Eon cut them. :)

Well this is a long story behind a card I made. I used to sponsor a girl named Tia through a group (I think Crafting for a Cause, I don't know..)  Well the group closed. And after we moved to Oregon, I lost touch because every time I sent her a card with my new address, it was returned to me. And when we moved here, same thing. So, I went on Facebook to see if I could find her. (I did.)  I eventually sent her a friend request, and she accepted it.  Long story short, she has two kids and their birthdays are in June and July. The girl is turning 3.   So, another long story, we have no money so I made a card.  It ended up being two cards.  I saw this online to decorate the front. Not that exact card, but there isn't a link to the actual card I used.  

This was how I started the card. It's actually a Christmas Card. But, it's a present. So...  I don't know. I just wanted to do something fun for the little girl.  Now I have to try and think of something for a present...  Since we are broke.  I saw a really cute doll/backpack pattern and am entering a contest to try and win a free copy of the pattern: Dress Me Dolls Set. That would be a lot of work, though..  And right on the heels of making that, I would have to do something for her brother. (He is turning four.) And Tia is turning 23.  So, that's three birthdays...

Sunday, May 13, 2018

A Really Old WIP...

I was so happy after finishing the Tomten Jacket, I got enough courage to get the Central Park Hoodie out to try and finish it.  I should change my username to The Cowardly Knitter. I don't have very much confidence in myself to knit. I made some mistakes on the Tomten, and there are mistakes on this...   But, maybe no one will notice them unless they have knitted one themselves. :P   I finished the hood, and seamed it. Now I am knitting the edging on one side.   I started this sweater in January of 2008.  :0   I didn't plan the matching outfit.

Something is wrong with Cosmo's paw...  I kept noticing he smells. Really bad. We (Eon) gave him a bath right after we brought him home. Then yesterday I asked him to give him another one, because he smells so bad. Eon said one of his claws is bent and won't go back in. I looked at it, and smelled his paw. It's that paw.  SIGH....    I don't know what to do. Hopefully the shelter may be able to help.    Problems just keep piling up...   Nothing is working... Stress levels are super high..   At least my knitting needles still work. 

Saturday, May 12, 2018

The Tomten Jacket Is Finished

Yay!! I am so proud of myself. I might even have enough courage to get my Central Park Hoodie out and finish it, now. :D

Friday, May 11, 2018

The Cookie Jar


                                                    The Cookie Jar
                                                    by Edgar Guest


You can rig up a house with all manner of things,
The prayer rugs of sultans and princes and kings;
You can hang on its wall the old tapestries rare
Which some dead Egyptian once treasured with care;
But though costly and gorgeous its furnishings are,
It must have, to be homelike, an old cookie jar.

There are just a few things that a home must possess,
Besides all your money and all your success—
A few good old books which some loved one has read,
Some trinkets of those whose sweet spirits have fled,
And then in the pantry, not shoved back too far
For the hungry to get to, that old cookie jar.

Let the house be a mansion, I care not at all!
Let the finest of pictures be hung on each wall,
Let the carpets be made of the richest velour,
And the chairs only those which great wealth
     can procure,
I'd still want to keep for the joy of my flock
That homey, old fashioned, well-filled cookie crock.

Like the love of the Mother it shines through our years;
It has soothed all our hurts and dried away tears;
It has paid us for toiling; in sorrow or joy,
It has always shown kindness to each girl and boy;
And I'm sorry for people, whoever they are,
Who live in a house where there's no cookie jar.

Wednesday, May 09, 2018

Quick Post

I finished the edging (and all the knitting) on the Tomten Jacket. I have since this picture, sewn up one sleeve as well. :) I am so glad I stuck with it, I really love it now. (I did not love it while I was working on it, sometimes..)  

We got a new kitty. It was "Maddie's Pet Adoption Day" at the shelter here. I was just going to go look...  (Famous last words.) I wanted a kitten. But all the kittens they had wouldn't be available for another couple weeks.  So, after (driving the volunteer nuts) staying for about an hour and looking at and holding each cat, and leaving, and coming back, we got this kitty. :D His name was Hippo. But, we re-named him Cosmo. There is a story behind his name.   I was looking at the papers, to see what all it said. Well, his birthday is the EXACT same day and year as Bagheera!! That just blew me away.  I couldn't believe it. I started googling words for "meant to be".  The only things that came up that I would consider naming my cat were maybe Kismet. But then another word came up, that I knew was going to be it. Cosmos. Which I shortened to Cosmo. Because 1. My husband worked on the Cosmopolitan hotel when we first lived here. 2. It used to be my favorite drink and 3. I could not think of any other names I liked...  :D  He is VERY lovable. And him and Bagheera seem to get along good. Bagheera has been wrestling with Cosmo, which I don't know if Cosmo really likes... Steve says they're just playing. But I will break it up if it seems like Cosmo doesn't like it.

Every time I come in the door now, this is what I see.  :P

Cosmo on our bed.

Both of them on the counter when we first brought Cosmo home.

I crocheted them both mice, since I cannot find the one Natasha sent for Bagheera, anywhere. I think he has a secret hiding place. They don't really seem to like these. Bagheera will play with them if I show them (one) to him  Anyway, that's it for today. I have to go get Eon from school.

Oh, one more thing. Las Vegas broke a record yesterday for 100* first time in 2018.

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Tomten Jacket Progress

I finished the hood on the Tomten Jacket...  I started picking up stitches for the border. But... I am going to need a longer circular needle. (SIGH.....)   I was looking at buttons, trying to think what kind of buttons I should get. I king of want some "wooden" (or fake wood) toggle buttons..  Or similar to that. I have about three hundred ends to weave in on this, too. I did weave a bunch in already.  I just want it to be done.

Today is my husband's company picnic, or "Family Day"... What is it called, anyway? Whenever my Dad had something like this, it was called a company picnic. They have a semi-truck load full of things to give away as raffle prizes. TV's, bikes... I don't know what else.  I think it will be fun for Eon. We're trying to talk Eli into going too. He doesn't want to.  I will try to get pictures.  

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Some Really Old Projects

I was laying in bed last night, trying to go to sleep. I was thinking about some of the old projects I used to crochet. And so this morning, I went through some old pictures (one box, lol-- I still have a lot more).  This was pre-digital camera, and pre-computer days (at least for us).  Also, pre-Amigurumi days. :)  I crocheted the two older boys some "Floppy Dogs" from an old "Crafting Traditions" magazine. They wanted puppies, too. :D  They actually wanted a whole litter. Each. O.o  But I did make them each a puppy. :)

I also used to crochet "Bed Dolls". From Annie's Attic. I used to crochet these, before our oldest son was even born. But I didn't have a camera, even to take a picture of them then. I crocheted two for my younger sisters. One I know was "Miss February, 1992." I don't remember what the other one was..   This one I gave to one of my nieces.  Steve's late Great Aunt Steffie had given me three or more big skeins/balls of gold polyester thread. I used some of it (I still had more when this was done, that's how much she gave me) to crochet this dress.  I don't even have the patterns for these bed dolls, any more. They took a long time to finish. I think I made three all together. I used to love crocheting doll clothes; which was unfortunate for me since we had three boys. :) But I would make them for other people..  I still have a bunch of clothes, and doll patterns. But none of the bed dolls.

And this was the picture I kept thinking about, for some reason... I don't know why. We had that ugly old couch... (Ugh!!) That was when I let a stray cat into our house, and he peed on everything, our bed, our couch!... We had to get a new mattress, and throw our couch away- and get this ugly one from the Salvation Army/Goodwill.  Anyway.  I was crocheting Eli an afghan. And he was sticking his tongue out. :P

These were the Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies I was talking about in my last post, I think.  And this is the recipe. I got more chocolate chips, and caramel pieces to make more, this morning. They're yummy.

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

A Pattern I Tested and Cookies I Baked...

I tested a sleepsack pattern for someone in a group I am in on Facebook. I made it to the pattern instructions.  It does measure 22 inches from top to bottom. But, the front panel only measures 15 inches.  So... I think it is too small. The next one I make, I will make the front panel 22 inches long.  I asked about it on the Bundles of Joy group. (Where I would be sending it..)  I still need to get buttons and sew them on the sides. The only place to get buttons here is Walmart (which, I am glad we have-but, they don't have a huge selection of buttons.) So I will have to either order online or drive 67 miles to the nearest craft store, Michaels or Hobby Lobby..   I do like this sleepsack. The back part of the front panel is not bumpy like the front, it's soft.   I saw a sleepsack that I really liked in a magazine recently (I can't remember what the magazine was). The style was like this one though.   All you basically would do is crochet a straight piece, put a border on it, then sew it up. Sew buttons on the sides... 

I made more cookies today. It hasn't even been one week. I baked Snickerdoodles last Wednesday.  These are Butterscotch Cookies. I added what was left in the bag of salted caramel chips from some cookies I made a while back. I don't think I posted them, I will try and upload a picture of those and post it. They were yummy. Anyways, these were even yummier with the chips in them.  I doubled the recipe, because usually it only makes one or two dozen.  This made four dozen exactly. 

Close up.. 

I always put some in baggies and stick them in the freezer, for lunches. Otherwise they all get eaten, it seems- before I even pack a lunch the next morning. 

So you can see how big I roll the balls.  I like doing this while I am waiting for the cookies in the oven. Then I just have to put them on the cookie sheet, for the next batch..


Sunday, April 08, 2018

Spring Break...

Eon has been on Spring Break all week (well, last week, since today is Sunday). And, we have been completely broke. So... What do you do on Spring Break when you are broke?  Well, my plans were to do nothing. Except, sleep, knit, eat. Bake, read...  Eon had other plans. He wanted to have a friend over. Soooo.... I had to clean. And bake (which I was going to do anyway. But it isn't as fun when you HAVE to do it..)  I made some Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells for dinner. And baked Snickerdoodles. That was two days of cleaning/cooking.  I did get to relax and do all the things I wanted to do, too...   I made a card for one of my pen pals..  It didn't turn out as cute as I thought it would.  A bee, and "Happy Bee~ Lated Birthday".  I put a flower on it and what is supposed to be a honeycomb..    I won't be able to send it out until this week. So it will "bee" late.. I also baked banana bread. I was mashing the bananas, and started singing "mashed banana, mashed banana" to the dogs... (From The Wiggles, kids' show...) LOL. I think I am losing my mind..

I tested a sleepsack pattern. It's done, I just need to get buttons for it, sew them on and take a picture.  Then I got the Tomten Jacket out, to try and work on it. I didn't want to. But once I started working on it (after I got everything out and figured out where I was on the sleeve...)  I did enjoy it.  I also found the yarn skein wrapper for the green yarn. So if I need more (which I think I will), I can get more.  I thought I couldn't remember so I was glad I found it. I also did write it down in my notebook. Which I am glad I kept. I think I will just use that whole notebook for all my projects. I always try to go in to my Ravelry projects to see if I kept notes ("Oh, what did I do here last time?"...)  and only half the time do I "write it down"... 

I crocheted a cross bookmark for another pen pal who wrote me she just got confirmed (?? is that what it's called ??) as a Catholic. She converted.  So, even though I am NOT religious, I like crosses (even though I don't have any), angels...  (I do have those.)   So I got her a confirmation greeting card and am sending this with it. Nothing big, but like I said, we are broke.

Then I got this in the mail yesterday. :D  It totally made my day.  Another one of my pen pals, Barbara, sent them to me. She said "Since we are both kitchen towel junkies".  I love that. And, I am one..   When Eon had his friend over, I was cleaning like mad and trying to make everything look perfect. (We even hung pictures up -- I took a picture, I should upload it..)

We hung pictures in the living room. So the house looks more lived in. :)  I think that is a record for us, hanging pictures in two and a half months! It took a year and a half to hang them in our old house. And I didn't even hang any in the apartment before that..  It feels more like "home" with pictures up. :)  We might add to that wall, but I like it for now.

A recent picture of Jaxson... :)  He is taller than Jetta now (slightly), and weighs 47.5 lbs! Jetta weighs 30 lbs. Always has..  

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Some Things I Have Finished...

It seems like I have done a lot more, but I must not have taken pictures. Or I can't think of anything right now. I did a bunch of squares, but this was the only picture I could find on the computer (I know I took more pictures, two at least of all the squares I did.)  I sent them to Pam for Afghans for Pine Ridge. 

I finished this sweater a couple of days ago, for Pine Ridge also. It's the Patti Cake Cardi, free Ravelry download. For the OST/CPS Small Fries drive. 

This is the same drive, too.  A size 12 months (not sure about the hat, though..)  I got a long sleeved onesie and pants, too. I need to take a picture of them.

This was a while ago, right after we moved in. For Eli's bathroom downstairs. 

The shelf...

I started a new baby bunting today. I kept seeing a magazine I wanted, but kept talking myself out of buying. The only pattern I liked in it was this. So I didn't want to pay $10 for it... But, I finally broke down and bought it a couple days ago.  I am using yarn I have. So... Hopefully I have enough. (Story of my life, I won't..)  Not like I need to start another project right now; I already have two sweaters going. 
Link to the magazine the pattern is in.

This is one of the sweaters I have going... (I have finished the shoulders, and one sleeve on this sweater and started the second sleeve, since this picture was taken.) It's the Tomten Jacket from The Opinionated Knitter, by Elizabeth Zimmermann.  The other sweater I am doing is a Character Sweater (click on "Baby's Day Out", and scroll down I think to the Character Sweaters.

Monday, February 19, 2018

Celebrating Eli's Birthday a Month Late..

...But better late than never. We were kind of moving in January. So..  I had been googling cakes to make (I wanted to do something different than the usual), before we moved. I saw a DIY "number" cake, how to do a two. I thought I could do a one easily.  So... That's what I did. I made one round and one square. 

Cut the round one like this. (I ate the little round middle piece.)  :D

Then assemble it like this. I had to make another square pan, but the recipe was easy. It's from Jenny Can Cook.

All frosted (my husband brought canned frosting home, I was about done after three cakes..)

Added the candles I had bought before we moved.

Eli with his cake..


And a picture of Jetta and Jaxson. He is almost as big as her now, and weighs more than her. 

Saturday, February 03, 2018

We moved again. Back to Nevada. That is the very, very, very shortest version of it. I am just glad it is over with and we are out of Oregon. What a bad dream.. 
This is a view of Mt. Charlelston, down the road from our house.

And we have a view of mountains from the kitchen window, too. I don't know what mountains these are.

And, we got a new baby dog. This was the day I adopted him, last year. 

And this is him today. We named him Jaxson. He's six months old today, and weighs 35 lbs. He's almost as big as Jetta. (And weighs more than her.)  He is very lovable. But, he doesn't quite have the housebreaking thing down. I think he is trying, though.
I will try to be a better blogger...

Thursday, October 19, 2017

R.I.P. Duke

Yesterday we had to put our best fur buddy down. For two months he had been limping. I thought at first he hurt his little Corgi leg, going down the back steps. But when I took him in, the x-ray showed no break. Well a month later, it seemed to get worse; he was not walking on the leg at all, and was hopping around on three legs. I took him back in she did x-rays again. She referred me to a Vet who specializes in muscular/ skeletal type things...  I went in, hoping he could just operate and fix Duke's leg. But knowing in the back of my mind it was probably due to his cancer... It was.  All our options were not good. Remove his leg, chemotherapy and radiation.  More pain. He has been whining and moaning for weeks, even on two different pain pills.  I felt so awful for him. So I did the hardest thing I have ever done.  And put him out of his misery.  He was only four years old. I don't think another dog will ever replace him. He was the best fur buddy I've ever had.
R.I.P. Duke
6-2-2013 ~ 10-18-2017
Forever in My Heart 

Sunday, September 03, 2017

Hello, It's Me...

...I'm still alive.  I haven't been blogging very good... I don't know if I posted about all the problems we were having with our youngest son.  Not that he is a bad kid. He was just depressed and acting on it... Being bullied at school and the school would do NOTHING.  I won't get into it.. But long story short, I think he is doing better. Although I am always "on the watch" for things...    I have been crocheting but I will only post the "major" things I've done since my last post.  This is a blanket (I did two of these exact same ones, I think) One was for my cousin who had a baby girl. The other one was for my husband's co-worker and his wife. They had a girl, too. She had her on Father's Day. Although, he was already a father from a previous marriage. 

This is the sweater set I crocheted to go with my cousins' baby blanket. I also did a hat. I don't know why I didn't take a picture of it...

I got a Santa cookie jar and some Christmas tree plates at Goodwill. They have one shelf that is all Christmas stuff. 

I actually just did this today, start and finished. I re-potted the Christmas Cactus, too. I kind of modified the pattern, it is the Poinsettia Flowerpot in the Handmade Crochet Holidays magazine by Crochet World.  I hope my cactus gets lots of blooms on it this Christmas.

A granny square baby blanket I recently finished for the OB Ward and sent last month. The square was from the 200 Crochet Blocks book by Jan Eaton. I think it was square #101. But I don't remember.

Some of the zucchini from our garden. (Sigh...)  I don't know what I am going to do with them all. I have two freezer bags full of shredded zucchini. My husband is already complaining about no room in the freezer... UGH...  

I have baked a lot with the zucchini, too. Lemon Zucchini Bread, (so yummy!) Chocolate Zucchini Bread, Spicy Zucchini Oatmeal Cookies. They were all so yummy. Plus my husband has grilled zucchini a few times, and put some in pasta salad.