Friday Stuff

 Good Morning!

It is grey and damp and overcast here and...drumroll...we have flurries!!  Yesterday was so raw and bone chilling.  Only around 46 as a high and pretty much rainy all day (which we desperately need).  I saw snow north of us on the radar map, but figured we would not get any.  And, this won't amount to much or stick or anything, but it sure is pretty to see.  Another pretty thing:

Happy plants!  The Christmas Cactus on the right actually has two plants in the pot - one red and one pink.  The one on the left is a single red plant.  Not pictured is my Christmas Cactus from Vermont.  Still small buds, but this morning I counted a dozen of them!  They seem to be very happy in the office room (which is pretty chilly - I rarely turn the heat on in here).

I want to thank you all for your kind words and well wishes.  I'm beginning to feel much better and - importantly - sleeping much, much better.

Now, in the vein of it's always something, our latest "something" is that we need a new water heater!  Yup, our current one has started to leak a bit and we noticed that we needed to keep moving up the dial for hot water in the shower.  The one we have now was installed in 2004, so not a bad life and I guess we got our money's worth (I don't remember what we paid).  Anyway, we have someone coming out Monday to install a new one.  I'm thankful we could get an appointment so quickly.

Today will be a baking day for me.  I plan to make 4 loaves of cranberry pumpkin pecan bread.  One for us, one for C&M and two for friends.  Whatever your plans, I hope you have a good Friday and a lovely weekend.

Unraveled Wednesday 11/20/24

 Good Morning Friends,

It was actually raining last night when I went to bed around 10:30!  I don't think we got a whole lot of rain, but any moisture is welcome.

I'm happy to FINALLY have an answer as to why I have not felt all that well for a number of weeks and why I am tired ALL the time and haven't felt like knitting or stitching and even reading has been a chore at times.  Not fun.  Well, turns out after several cultures, etc., I tested positive for C-Diff!  YUCK.  I am now on a very strong/powerful (and quite expensive) drug that will hopefully correct my problem.  I have not been able to get out and walk for several weeks and I am definitely looking forward to doing that again.  But, slow and easy.  I only started the med yesterday afternoon and will be on it for 2 weeks.  Already though I am feeling better (sometimes just knowing what's wrong can make a huge difference too).

That may be a little TMI for you, and if so, I apologize.  Now we are at Wednesday and it is time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk making and reading.  My making has been slow, but there is progress on the latest sock.  I am through the heel flap and ready to turn the heel (so magical!).

Hopefully the balance of this sock will move along and sock #2 will be started.  These will be for Colin and I'd like to have them done by his birthday (12/11).

Reading has been a bit slow too (hard to stay awake at times).  I did finish Sandwich but it never got better for me. I just didn't like it and I didn't care for the writing.  I am now mid-way through Finding Margaret Fuller and am finding it wonderful!  I had never heard of Margaret Fuller, but she was a real person and this is a novel based on her life.  She "hung out" (I can't think of another way to put it) with the Trancendentalists - Thoreau, Emerson, Bronson Alcott as well as Melville, Hawthorne and others.  I'm excited to get to the point where she travels to Europe.

And that's a wrap for me.  The only thing I have on my docket today is laundry which should not take too long.  It's kind of grey outside, so it will be a good day to curl up with some knitting, stitching and reading!  Hope your Wednesday brings you joy.

Tiny Needle Tuesday 11/19/24

 Good Morning!

It is still a little dark here, but the sun is starting to come up.  It's also a little chillier this morning than yesterday or over the weekend.  Did anyone else watch Part 1 of the DaVinci piece pulled together by Ken Burns?  What a mind!!  We'll see Part 2 tonight.  

It's Tuesday, so time for a TNT update.  I'm pleased that the door is now the correct width on the house.  There is still a bit to do at the top of the door (more dark color), but the width is now right.  Whew!

There is STILL so much to stitch on this piece.  I'm hoping that I will finish this before the end of the year, but all bets are off.

A week ago I showed one of my Christmas Cacti with numerous buds.  Well...some of them have now opened.

And, we counted at least 19 more buds!  My other two plants are sporting buds as well, but they are not as numerous or as far along.  So pretty!

We have a (shelled) peanut feeder hanging from the edge of our patio roof.  The birds all love to come and dine - sometimes even while we sit on the patio.  I decided to get some peanuts in the shell to put out for the Jays and crows (and the squirrels).  Guess what?  We discovered that deer love peanuts in the shell as well.  Here is the scene from yesterday afternoon.  Snack time!

Mabel and the deer are friends - the deer don't run off when I open the door to let Mabel in or out and they will approach each other (cautiously).  The deer have also become accustomed to Fletch and me.  I know they can be destructive, but I do love having them around.  (I also discovered they like roasted almonds!!  I had a bag of roasted almonds that just were not very good, so I put them out thinking the squirrels would like them...the deer chowed down before the squirrels had a chance!)

I need to remember to go out and harvest some of the French Thyme from our garden.  The other night I used the last of the garden peppers in our dinner and we had the last garden tomatoes at lunch one day.  Fletch said the Swiss Chard in the cold frame is doing well and some of the lettuce (some of the lettuce plants were hit hard by the cold weather a few weeks ago).  I'm thinking a quiche with some chard might make a nice dinner one night!

Here's hoping your week is off to a wonderful start.  Have some fun!

Anyone for Dessert?

 Good Morning!

A quick Thursday morning post just to say I made a new dessert yesterday and it was good!  So I thought I would share it with you.

I found the recipe on a vegan site on IG that I sometimes look at.  I only copied out the ingredients and instructions, but no name.  I'm calling them Oatmeal-Pumpkin-Peanut Butter Bars.  Here's the deal:

Mix together:

• 2 Cups rolled oats
• 1/2 Cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 Cup milk
• 1/4 Cup peanut or almond butter (I used peanut butter)
• 1/4 Cup honey or maple syrup (I used maple syrup)
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Mix all of the above together and press it firmly into a baking dish.  I just lined an 8x8 pan with parchment paper.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until edges are golden brown.  Let it cool.

Once cool, melt 1/3 Cup of chocolate chips with 1 tsp coconut oil.  (Just melt in the microwave in 30 second intervals till melted and smooth.). Spread this over the cooled bars.  Chill in the fridge for 15-20 minutes until the chocolate sets.  Cut into bars.

Some notes:  

• I tasted more peanut butter than pumpkin - I may try increasing the pumpkin puree and decreasing the peanut butter next time.
• I don't keep pumpkin pie spice on hand, so since the recipe already calls for cinnamon, I just sprinkled in some nutmeg and some ginger.
• I would increase the melted chocolate.  I had a difficult time covering the entire pan with the melted chocolate.  And honestly, there is nothing wrong with more chocolate!  LOL
• Fletch and I both thought they would be a little firmer or crunchy, but they are moist and still very tasty.

I hope you enjoy if you make them.  They were quick and easy to make, that's for sure.

Unraveled Wednesday 11/13/24

 Good Chilly Morning!

Yup - 25 degrees here this morning.  It is chilly!  I turned the kitchen heat on early (5:30) when I let Mabel outside, just to get the downstairs a bit warmer.  It was tough to get out from under the covers this morning...I just wanted to burrow down further.  But, eventually I did decide to get up and put the coffee on.  Now my first cup has been poured and I feel like I can type out a few words.

It's Wednesday which means it is time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to chat about making and reading.  After finishing Fletch's Tapped Maple socks I did not pick up any knitting needles for a week!  I just wasn't interested or inspired or whatever.  Finally though I looked through my stash and wound up a skein of handspun from Sarah.  Thanks again Sarah for this beautiful yarn!

My picture did not capture the colors very well, but the yarn is gorgeous.  It is 100% wool and I did start to knit a sock for Colin, but it just didn't feel right. I think I need the nylon when making socks.  So...I am thinking about using this gorgeous yarn to make a Musselburgh!  I have yet to knit one and I know the start can be rather fiddly, but I've done that start before (when I made my felted bag)...took me several tries, but I did get it.

Meanwhile, I did pull out a skein of Regia to make socks for Colin.  I always give him socks for his birthday or Christmas, so I thought I'd best get moving on the process.

Just plain vanilla - something that will go quickly so as to be finished in time.

Onto the books!  I finished Brooklyn and enjoyed it a lot.  I'll definitely look for "Long Island" (the sequel) but will take a break first.  I still kept thinking of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" while reading this.

Next up, I had been in the queue for quite some time for Sandwich and was excited when it became available just as I was finishing Brooklyn.  Well, count me under-whelmed.  I've read about half of it and I can't say that I really am liking the book.  For me, the writing is too gimmicky (I can't think of another word to use) and so far I am finding the story to be tedious and not very interesting.  I'll finish it (it's not a very long book), but I sure am disappointed in it.

Fletch and I are continuing to listen in bits to "The Mind of the Raven" by Bernd Heinrich.  There is a lot of humor in this book even though listening to it at times feels like being in a college lecture.

So tell me, what have you been making and reading this past week?

Tiny Needle Tuesday 11/12/24

 Good Morning!

Hope everyone is doing well.  I've been battling some kind of a stomach bug.  Thankfully I have an appointment with my doctor this afternoon...hoping to get something/anything to clear up this mess.

And...drumroll...we had some rain Sunday night.  Not a lot (nothing measurable in the rain gauge), but we actually had moisture!  I honestly can't remember when we last had any rain - it's got to be over a month.

And now it's Tuesday and time for a Tiny Needle update.  Initially I wasn't going to bother to post...not much has happened, except I learned that I can't count.

The right side of the house has been completed and I started across the bottom of the house to the front door.  I was outlining the door in preparation for filling it in when I realized my outline was way too narrow...yup, about 7 stitches short.  So, I ripped out that second side of the door and partway across the bottom and I have not picked it up since!

In some positive news, my Christmas cacti are budded!!  I have three.  The largest (and oldest) is from the giant plant my Grandmother had in Vermont.  My offshoot has one or two buds just barely forming.  My other two plants are from Peggy in Virginia.  One of them has several buds and is showing a bit of color.  The other one though - WOW!  Over a dozen buds with many showing color.

Time for me to get moving.  I need/want to clean out the frig before we go grocery shopping a little later.  I hope everyone is having a good week.

Friday, At Last 11/8/24

 Good Morning All,

It's (finally) a bit chillier this morning (low 40's) which feels more appropriate.  I think it will be a sunny day, but it's a little hard to tell right now.  I've been encouraged to wake to very cloudy and overcast skies, but so far, no rain.

And my it has been a long week hasn't it?  I've just wanted to sleep a lot.  And I have napped each day which has been a wonderful escape.  Yesterday morning I decided to bake something.  Fletch had seen a recipe in a magazine for a baked apple bread so I set out to make that.  I was surprised that it called for not peeling the apples.  There are chunks throughout the bread and also slivers of apple all along the top.

Really it was just ok.  Not great.  We both found it drier than expected.  I found the flavor to be a bit bland (despite cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom).  I also think the apple slices on the top are not necessary - with plenty of apples in the batter, no need to put more on top.  Bottom line?  I will not save the recipe.  BUT, it was fun to bake and nice to have something different.  We took half of it over to C&M's last night.

C&M are doing well.  We did not see Mailing - she was at a work dinner.  Next week is her last week in the office - she will be working from home after that.  Things are coming together - they received their first order from Dyper (the diaper service they are using); the crib has been set up, the dresser/changing table is in place and all is really ready for the big arrival!!  They have a futon in the room that is the nursery and Talbot was happily sitting on top next to a giant stuffed lion:

Talbot seems to have adjusted well to life without Marcel.  I'm glad of that.

The framed piece on the wall is a cross stitched piece that was made by one of my sister-in-laws for Colin when he was born.  Fun to see it up on a wall again.

No plans (so far) for today.  I still feel pretty worn out from the week, so taking it easy will be a priority.  Wishing everyone a wonderful, easy weekend - enjoy!

Unraveled Wednesday 11/6/24

 Good Morning!

Despite Fletch having CNN on last night, I have not watched any of the returns.  Head in the sand and all that (don't judge - there is comfort in that).  When I went to bed (early - like 10 p.m.) Fletch said that things were looking good.  When he came up to bed around 1 a.m. he said things do not look good.  Count me as being a bit dumfounded this a.m. and I sure as hell hope I am wrong.  Enough.  

It's Wednesday, so time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers.  I don't have a whole lot to show or talk about BUT...my Tapped Maple Socks are finished.  Woo-Hoo.

I finished the second one on Sunday and they are now tucked away in Fletcher's sock drawer.  I have not picked up a needle since then (knitting OR stitching!).  Life has been busy.  Or I have been scattered.  Or something.I have things to work on - my Semplice Shawl and my Hitch on the Move are just two of them.  I had also chosen yarn and put it in a project bag with the needles to make a Baby Vertebrae, but that has not been started.  And, for once, I don't feel like making socks!  What is up with me???  This could all change in an hour or two, time will tell.

As for reading, Fletch and I are continuing to listen to "The Mind of the Raven" by Bernd Heinrich.  It's good, though at times it sounds like a lecture rather than a book.  I did finish "You are Here" by David Nicholls and enjoyed it very much.  It's a charming and funny love story.  Now I have started Brooklyn and am enjoying it a lot.  I'm roughly a third of the way through it and already know I will be requesting "Long Island" which is the sequel.  As I'm reading, I keep remembering reading "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" and how much I loved that book.

Well, time for me to get moving.  I have an appointment at 9 with the audiologist (just a follow up where I will most likely be scolded for not wearing my hearing aids on a regular basis).  I need to dry my hair and put something in my stomach.

Take it easy today and be gentle with yourself and others.  We will get through this.

Tiny Needle Tuesday 11/5/24

 Good Morning!

It's Election Day!!  I'm preaching to the choir, but if you have not yet voted, please do so.

It's also Tuesday which means time for a Tiny Needle update.  I thought I stitched a lot during the past week (and, maybe I did), but the picture doesn't lead me to think that way.  Yes, the house has grown a bit and there is now the beginning of a tree to the right.

I will admit to the house being a bit boring to stitch, but it's good to have that as an option when I am tired.  One of my favorite parts of this sampler has yet to appear.  It's a big ol moon above the new tree.  Bonus:  black birds in flight against the moon.  I may need to start that part this week.

It has been warming up here again.  Yesterday when I let Mabel out at 5:30 a.m. the temp was 28.  This morning when I let her out at 5:30 it was 46!  Our roller coaster weather continues.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Tuesday!

Weekending

 Good Morning!

Whew!  I slept over 9 hours last night (and around 10 on Saturday night)!!  I'm still in the waking up phase, but it felt so good to sleep in.  I must have needed it.  It's a chilly morning here, but the sun is out and I have some laundry in the machine - will hang it to dry on the lines.

Colin & Mailing were over for dinner on Saturday and it was great to see them.  The baby is only a month away!!  I keep wondering what we can get them (they keep buying everything they need/want themselves) or getting stuff from friends.  I finally asked Saturday night and Mailing said the best thing would be meals that we could bring over for them to have after the baby is born.  Easy enough since I love to cook.  I'm already dreaming up stews, soups and various dishes I can make and take to them.  As they said, they do not really need "stuff" and their house is small - they don't want to overload it with baby things.

Yesterday I made a new-to-us vegetarian dish that was so yummy!  It is Lemony White Bean Pasta With Sun Dried Tomatoes and Walnuts.  Here is a link:  https://www.lastingredient.com/pasta-baby-greens-beans-walnuts/

My friend Leslie had sent me sun dried tomatoes from Italy that were amazing!  Different (and so much better) than anything you can get here in the States.  I used both baby spinach and baby arugula and did not put the cheese in it (of course I didn't).  Fletch sprinkled his with parm, but said it didn't really need it.  We both agreed that no harm would be done by adding a bit of cooked bacon or crumbled sausage.  LOL. Anyway, definitely a keeper and one I will make again.

Today I've got things to take care of - received a doctors bill for a co-pay that I already paid when I had my visit (back in July), so I need to follow up with them.  I'm reviewing Medicare Advantage options this afternoon (I really dislike that this needs to be done each year).  And, I'm hoping that a couple of books will come in for me at our library - I had started a Barbara Pym novel from my own bookcase, but am having a bit of a struggle got get into it.  And, of course, I'm hoping for some "making" time (stitching and knitting).  Anything to keep myself occupied if you know what I mean (and I know you all do).

Take care my friends and be gentle with yourself.  Have a very good Monday.

A BIG Tree! 11/1/24

 Good Morning!

And Happy November!  There is a rosy tint to the sky this morning and...drumroll...our cars are wet and there is rain on our windows!!  Woo-Hoo!  No measurable amount, and nothing falling right now, but it was wonderful to see.

Can anyone guess how many trick or treaters we had?  Exactly None!  Happy I didn't go overboard on buying candy.

Yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous day.  I set out a little before 10 a.m. and went to a section of the Perkiomen Trail that I had not walked previously.  I parked off Route 113 and then walked toward Schwenksville.  Very soon I came upon a magnificent tree:

A swamp White Oak which I have never heard of.  The tree's diameter was measured at just over 5.5' in 2021!

The trail itself was rather nice, though it veered away from the water and closer to the road than I like.  There were a lot of folks out walking and biking, but it did not feel crowded.  A little bit after the tree I came upon some small railroad tracks:

Turns out it is the track of a "live steam" rail.  Their "run days" are only the 4th Sunday of June, July and August from 10-3.  Might be fun to check it out next summer.

This was the first time I had managed to get out to walk in quite a long time.  I managed to go a little over a mile and by the time I got back to my car my back was screaming...I need to build my strength back up.

Today I need to tackle laundry, the kitchen floor and the bathrooms.  Not as pleasant a day as yesterday for sure, but needed.  Here's hoping that your Friday...and your weekend...are filled with good things.  Enjoy!

Thursday Stuff

 Hello All,

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

It is so dark these mornings, but I think it is this weekend we "fall back" and turn our clocks back, so the mornings won't be quite so dark (at least for a little bit).  Afternoons, on the other hand, will be darker.

Yesterday was super warm and I think there will be more of that today.  Fletch and I sat out comfortably and then he grilled steaks for our dinner.  Yum!

Today I'll share some things with you - a miscellaneous 3 on Thursday (copying Carole) if you will.  First up, I did make both cranberry relish and cranberry chutney yesterday.

The relish (on the right is just cut up/ground up cranberries and oranges.  And a boat-load of sugar.  The chutney is a ground up orange and cranberries (not ground up) cooked on the stove with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, apple cider vinegar and sugar.  I don't process these as they keep FOREVER in the frig.  I made enough to give a jar of each to C&M and I even have an extra jar of the chutney for Fletch to take to a former client.

Because Fletch is going to visit his former client, I had to bake some cookies.  Connie and David LOVE cookies.  I made a batch of chocolate chip with the addition of some cut up uncrystallized ginger.  I think chocolate and ginger go so well together.  Fletch sampled one last night and pronounced it delicious.  I was too full from dinner to try one...but I will today!

Between the cranberry relish and chutney and the cookies, our house smelled like a combination of Thanksgiving and Christmas!

The last thing to share is wine!  You all know that at times I buy wine by the label and the other day was no exception.  I have not heard of Cult Wine from Napa previously, but I picked up a bottle of cab to try.  For some reason, my pictures are not loading...or I can load one but it won't show when I preview my post.  But here is a LINK to what the front of the bottle looks like.  The wine is just ok - not great, but it went well with our steaks.  The label though?  That just cracks me up!

I have no idea if we will get any trick or treaters this evening.  It's always a crap shoot.  Sometimes we get some and many years we have none.  I was remembering that years ago my aunt in Vermont would bake chocolate chip cookies to give out.  She used to have kids (little and big) come from miles around for her cookies.  Today, of course, no one would let their kid have home-made cookies which is kind of sad.

Hope everyone's Thursday is spooky!  Have a good one.

Unraveled Wednesday 10/30/24

 Good Morning!

It is looking to be a fine Wednesday morning here.  Milder than yesterday.  And yesterday ended up being SO busy!  Running around and doing stuff all morning and into the early afternoon.  I really was feeling like a nap would be the BEST thing, but seeing all the tomatoes and peppers on the counter I decided against that and instead buckled down and made sauce.  We had it for dinner and it was quite yummy.  All that is left now on the counter is a small bowl of little green tomatoes.  Not sure what I'll do with them, if anything.  They are too small to make fried green tomatoes and there is not really enough to chop up for any salsa verde (which I know is made with tomatillos, but...).

Today I was going to make a new recipe for baked apple bread, but I think I'll wait on that till Saturday when the kids are coming for dinner.  Today I may focus on cranberries and make some chutney (Fletcher's Mom's recipe) as well as some cranberry orange relish (my Mom's recipe).

And maybe, just maybe today will be the day I get to explore a new trail.  Time will tell.

Meanwhile, it's Wednesday - the last one in October (gasp!) and time to link up with Kat (and Franklin!!) and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk about what we are making and reading.  My Tapped Maple sock #2 is progressing.  Kind of a snail's pace, but progressing.

I took that picture last night after dinner and the foot is roughly half knit.  I managed to knit another 10 rounds, so I'm getting even closer to the toe decrease point.

The mail brought my November Sock Squad yarn from The Farmer's Daughter:

Once again two half skeins and a mini.  I prefer one regular skein, but whatever.  The color way is "Mourning the Abundance" (which I don't get).  I like the purple mini with the silver but not with the other skein and I do like the two half skeins together.  No idea what they will become, but eventually something.  Only one more shipment to come for the 2024 Sock Squad.

Reading has been good.  Fletch and I are listening to The Mind of the Raven by Bernd Heinrich after dinner.  There are lots of funny parts to the book and we are both enjoying it.

On my own I am reading You Are Here by David Nicholls.  I've enjoyed this novel quite a bit - thought I would finish it last night, but with only 40 or so pages to go, my eyes would not stay open.

Well, time for me to pour another cup of coffee and attempt to wake up more.  Here's hoping your Wednesday is filled with delights!

Tiny Needle Tuesday 10/29/24

 Hello, Hello,

Another chilly morning, but gosh!  Yesterday was in the mid-seventies.  We've had snow on Halloween in the past, but that certainly will not happen this year.  Though any moisture would be appreciated.

Well, it's Tuesday which means time for a Tiny Needle update.  The last for this month of 2024.  Progress seems to be slow, but it is steady:

Fence construction was completed and construction on the house has started.  Part of the right wall and one window has been installed.  There is so much solid stitching in this piece that it is slow going.  Thankfully I'm still enjoying it (and hoping no one has gotten too bored with it by this point).

No definite plans for today other than grocery shopping and hopefully making the sauce from the last of the garden tomatoes and peppers.  If time and the weather allow, I'd like to get out for a walk - there is an area of a trail that I have not walked previously...would be nice to add another option to my choices.

Time to pour the coffee.  Have a wonderful day!

Weekending 10/28/24

 Hello My Friends,

There is a bit of a nip in the air and mornings have been quite chilly...but it is supposed to warm up again and possibly even hit 80 by Thursday!  What??!!??  That is crazy weather for the end of October.  It is also terribly dry.  Between the dryness and the wind, our township now has a Burn Ban in effect, so no fires in the pit for us.

How was your weekend?  Ours was good.  Lazy, but good.  We went to CVS on Friday for our Tdap shots.  Amazingly neither of us had any reaction to the shot - not even a sore arm!  I actually felt pretty lousy over the weekend, but that feeling had started Thursday night before we got our shots.  I think I must have had a touch of a little bug, but I'm feeling much better as of this morning.

Fletch spent most of Saturday and some time on Sunday dismantling the garden  taking down trellis pieces, pulling spent plants (tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.). He also did a bit more work on the cold frame.  And, he gathered the last of the tomatoes and (maybe) peppers (pepper plants are still standing and offering some green foliage in the otherwise brown garden).

I guess I'd best whip up some sauce or something with those tomatoes - and add in the peppers as well.

We have a little round metal table at the end of our picnic table and that is where I put peanuts in the shell for the jays and squirrels, etc.  Sunday morning I spotted a raccoon at the table!  By the time I turned around to get my phone for a picture, he had scurried off into the hedge between us and our neighbors.  Mabel went outside looking like she was going to defend our property, but I guess thought better of it - she ended up huddling on the patio by our door (smart girl).

It's been decades since I've seen a raccoon on our property.  We used to have them regularly when we were feeding some feral cats.  Once Cheech and Chong (the ferals) disappeared, we gave up that practice.  I enjoy having them around - and possums, skunks, etc., but I don't want to encourage any of them to be around regularly!

And that's a wrap for moi.  Hope your week is getting off to a wonderful start!

Things From the Past 10/24/24

 Hello Out There!

Still plenty mild here...not sure when the temp will drop.  Yesterday I did manage to get my laundry done (dried on the line - a great breezy and warm day for drying) and switching out tank tops and shorts for warm sweaters and turtlenecks.  While doing that, I also opened a treasure trove of memories.

In my closet there was a plastic bag (the kind you get from the dry cleaner after your comforter or quilt has been cleaned) filled to the ripping (literally) point with things from 35 years ago!  Things that I had saved hoping that one day Colin would have a child.  Ands, that time is nearing!!

First up, a little hat that I knit for Colin when he was a wee one.

I cannot get it to rotate...sorry.  This yarn is so soft.

There were also a few things I sewed for him:  a pair of pants and two overalls.

And then there were two sweaters I made him when he was in day care.  How he hated having these sweaters put on him!  LOL

Again, I cannot get this to rotate.  Blue with nibs of color and cables!!  My first cables ever.

I so remember knitting these sweaters.  Colin was just a toddler and I started going to a yarn shop (no longer in existence) in Chadds Ford.  It's a bit of a drive (an hour each way), but I used to go one night a week to knit with the shop owner and her daughter.

Also found, but not pictured:  5 or 6 hand-knit or crocheted blankets.  They have been washed and dried and folded for Colin to take back home.  Colin's Cub Scout shirt, cap and scarf.  Hahaha - he probably will not want those.  A pewter plate with the alphabet and numbers 1-10 around the outside.  Also a set of Winnie the Pooh dishes - divided plate, cup and bowl.  They have been washed and I hope he wants them.

There were an equal number of things that did not far well in the closet over the decades.  A hand knit outfit, another blanket, some other clothes (the Baby Gap stuff weathered extremely well!).  Tucked away were some things from Fletcher's baby time!  Stuff his Mom must have sent when Colin was born.  Also a toothbrush with a silver handle that Fletch's uncle and aunt sent when Colin was born - we never used it!

All of this, as you can imagine, ate up a good part of the day...but it also brought back a flood of happy memories.  Colin is coming over tonight for dinner and (hopefully) a fire.  Fingers crossed he will take some of these things home with him.

Unraveled Wednesday 10/23/24

 Good Morning!

Happy Hump Day and Happy Unraveled Wednesday.  Time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk making and reading.  Be sure to head over to Kat's place after you are finished here.  You will find loads of inspiration and, perhaps, even a bit of enabling!!

My knitting has been quite slow.  Despite taking projects (yes, plural) on my little get away, I only knit a few rows on my sock.  Since then a few more have been knit, but not a huge amount.

(I like the way this sock looks with my Fall tablecloth.). The leg of sock #2 is now complete and the heel flap has been started.  I'm not sure why this is taking me so long (except my retirement days are surprisingly full).  Usually I knit a second sock much faster than the first.  Oh well.  It will get done.  Eventually.

I had hoped to finish the heel and start on the foot last night, but Fletch and I ended up watching two episodes of Poirot.  I don't knit while watching TV...usually we have all the lights off anyway.  Surprisingly, one of the episodes was one that neither of us recalled seeing in the past (we were sure we have seen them all).

On to the reading.  Since I last posted two weeks ago, 3 books have been finished.  First, Fletch and I finished listening to Clear by Carys Davies last night.  Wow!  What a fabulous book.  I know some of you have already read this (more than once), but if you have not, I highly recommend it.  I may have enjoyed it a bit more than Fletch, but he did like it.  Very spare.  Very stark.  Beautiful writing.  When I woke in the middle of the night last night, this book was on my mind.

We are going back to an audio book (as of tonight) so that I can get some knitting done while listening.  Fletch and I both enjoy nature-type books and I think we've decided on a book by Bernd Heinrich.  I've read a number of his books and they have all been good.  The book we will go with is The Mind of the Raven which looks good - will let you know next week!

On my own, I read The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl.  This was not the food memoir I was expecting (hoping for), but rather a novel (duh she said...it's in the title) about someone going to Paris.  A lot of it seemed like fluff reading to me and not really all that believable, but the descriptions of food did get my mouth watering.

I also read The Stolen Child which is a fairly new novel by Ann Hood.  Again, this seemed a little fluffy and not all that believable, but it was the right book at the time for me to read.  I enjoyed it and would recommend it as just a fun, easy read.

Our temps are forecast to drop by as much as 15 degrees between today and tomorrow.  My plan is to get a bunch of laundry out of the way today and also put away tank tops and the like and pull out my warm sweaters.  And, of course, catching up with blogs at some point.  Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday - get out and have some fun!!

Tiny Needle Tuesday 10/22/24

 Good Morning One and All,

Another mild morning here.  The temps are steadily rising.  Crazy weather.  The tomatoes keep producing and ripening, but they are not really very good.  As far as I'm concerned, Fletch can pull the plants any time.  He has been working on improving the cold frame, so hopefully we will be having fresh greens into the winter.  And garlic will be planted this week.

Since it's Tuesday, it is time to check in on my stitching.  Not much was done in the past week.  I did NO stitching while I was away and only minimal knitting.  Oh well, as I always say, it's not a race.  Here is a picture of where The Blessing stands right now.

The roof is finished!  Time to start construction on the house.  Another sunflower was added and the fence is almost complete.  Still miles to go on this one, but I'm enjoying it (except for the silk thread catching on my very rough skin!).  I'm hoping to finish the fence today and maybe another flower...time will tell.

I have not knit a stitch in days!  Part of the issue is that Fletch and I have been reading "Clear" after dinner...which means I've been reading.  I cannot read and knit - especially read out loud and knit.  LOL. I think we will be finished Clear tonight, so I want to look for an audio book for us and that will allow me 15-20 minutes after dinner for knitting.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Back Home 10/21/24

 Hello My Friends,

I am back home again.  Actually I got back last Thursday as planned, but continued my break from computer land for a few more days.  First of all, I am sorry to report that Marcel did not make it.  Colin & Mailing had him put down last Friday evening.  He had stopped eating (again) and, as Colin said, he could tell it was time.  Hard, but time.  They adopted/rescued Marcel and Talbot at the same time.  Marcel was only 4 months old.  He was Colin's work-from-home companion - hanging out on Colin's desk or somewhere in his office.  He was such a good kitty and he is missed terribly.  I do hope that Talbot will be ok and not miss his buddy too much.

Meanwhile, my quick little get-away was very peasant.  Our AirBnB was lovely - spacious (3 bedrooms, 2 baths), a really nice kitchen and comfy living room.  We just hung around the house on Tuesday.  Wednesday we drove to a local bookstore and then walked down to the beach.  There were some jazzy skeletons along the way:

The day was gorgeous, but quite windy and I was rather chilly.  Carol walked down to the water and took some pictures.

Blue, blue skies.  Even though we were there in the off season, traffic was crazy.  I'd hate to see it mid-summer!!  But, parking was free at this time of year which is nice and we had a great seafood dinner Wednesday night at Fins and then, too soon, it was time to leave Thursday morning.

Friday I caught up on laundry and Saturday I cooked.  Colin & Mailing were coming over to get some furniture from us, so they stayed for dinner.  I made eggplant caponata in the morning and the guys grilled wings.  We also had Brussels sprouts and some winter squash.  I made a Nantucket cranberry and walnut cake for dessert.  

It was nice enough that we had a fire after dinner.

Sunday was a lazy day and then yesterday we saw our first frog on the patio this year!  Who would have guessed that one would show up in October?

Luckily Mabel was elsewhere when froggy showed up.

Now it's back to routines.  I need to pick up a prescription and there are a few chores that should be taken care of.  Whatever your Monday holds for you, I hope it's a good one!

Weekending 10/14/24

 Good Morning!

How are you?  I know it's a holiday for many folks.  Indigenous People Day...or as we always called it, Columbus Day.  This is the week that Fletch and I would often target to go to Vermont.  Typically you could count on it being peak time for the leaves changing.  I think that time frame may have changed.  Our leaves are finally changing and they are gorgeous!  I've seen some brilliant trees while out running errands (but too much traffic to stop and take a picture).

As it turns out I am going away this week...but not with Fletch and not to Vermont (sadly).  Instead a friend and I have rented an AirBnB for a couple of days in Rehobeth Beach, DE.  I am looking forward to getting away and am not taking my laptop.  I'll be away from blogging and reading blogs for a little bit.  I am packing knitting and stitching and reading.  I'm hoping for some beach walks, maybe finding a museum to wander through, etc.

Meanwhile, how was your weekend?  Mine was very nice.  Fletch and I headed out on Friday morning to drop our ballots off in Creamery (at the 4-H Center) and then we headed to Ott's to look for pumpkins and gourds.  I wish I had taken a picture at the nursery - there were TONS of all different kinds of pumpkins and gourds, but I was too busy filling a wagon with things we bought.

These are the two we bought for our front step.  I love the green "goose-like" one.

A good part of Saturday was spent cooking.  I discovered that one of our supermarkets now sells venison!  So, despite the warming temps, a big pot of venison chili was made.  (Bonny - I was thinking of you!!)  And, it turned out delicious!

There were no kidney beans around, but I had soaked overnight a package of cranberry beans from Rancho Gordo.  Plenty left over to freeze and to have some in the frig for leftovers.

This was Sunday morning!

So close!  Reminded me of our cat Maestro who was sure the deer were her friends.  Mabel doesn't seem too worried by them, though when this deer moved even closer, she got up and scooted under the picnic table.

Today I have some errands to run and I need to pack for my little get-away.  I will see you back here possibly at the end of the week, or next Monday.  Have a great week!

Unraveled Wednesday 10/9/24

 Hello Everyone,

Happy Hump Day and Happy Unraveled Wednesday.  I was up and out early this morning as Mabel had her annual physical at 8 a.m.  I'm happy to report that they found her not only beautiful but also very healthy.  She now weights 8.9 lbs...up from 8.7 lbs a year ago.  If only my weight gain could be as minimal!  LOL

Meanwhile, send your healing juju Marcel's way.  He had been throwing up a lot and having diarrhea and then not eating...turns out he has a cancerous tumor.  He is now on steroids and starting an anti-cancer drug (i.e., chemo therapy).  They will also be administering B-12 shots to help build up his energy.  He has already improved...is eating and a bit more active, but it's a long road ahead for him.  Luckily Talbot is doing fine.

And, I am pretty sure I pulled a deer tick off of my arm this morning.  There was a black "spot" on my arm and it would not come off with my finger...I got out tweezers and yanked it off...blood and all.  Yuck!  I'm waiting for a text from CVS telling me a prescription is ready to pick up.  I contracted Lyme disease a few years ago, so I will always test positive.  I don't want to take any chances with getting it again!

Meanwhile, as already mentioned, it is Unraveled Wednesday and time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk making and reading.  Fortunately there has been no unraveling.  On the other hand, not a lot of knitting.  BUT, Tapped Maple Sock #1 is finished and the second one has been started.

I'm a little more than a third of the way down the leg.  It's just plain knitting, but I have not had much time to devote to this sock.  

Reading has been good!  I finished Leonard and Hungry Paul a few days ago.  What a delightful book.  I know it will not be for everyone.  It is not compelling or fast paced.  Not a whole lot happens, but it is nice.  Everyone in the book is nice.  It is a book that, if you read it, will just make you feel good.  

A bunch of books came in for me at the library and I started The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl.  For some reason I was expecting another Ruth Reichl memoir with recipes, but this is not that.  Rather it is a novel (just as the title indicates...duh).  And, it is good.  A fun read and there are lots of descriptions of food.  I started this yesterday and read about 60 pages, so a fast read.  Which is good, because Intermezzo is another book I picked up.  I'm not sure what to expect (I've never read anything by the author), but I'm looking forward to getting into this next "Read With Us" selection.

Fletch and I finished listening to In True Face which was just ok...kind of boring in a lot of places.  But now we are reading Clear after dinner and what a great read it is!!  Has anyone read anything else by Carys Davies?  I'm so impressed with her writing.

Lastly, I finally got to making sauce with our tomatoes yesterday afternoon.  We have not had it yet, but the house smelled wonderful and I did sneak a couple of tastes...yummy!  Garden tomatoes, peppers and garlic along with some mushrooms, onions and left over grilled sweet and hot sausage.

We will have some of this tomorrow night.  Tonight Colin is coming over to help Fletch with a couple of things and we will be grilling lamb chops.  I'm planning to make an apple galette as well.

Fletch has an appointment at 10 and I have some errands to run, so I'd best get moving.  I need another cup of coffee.  Hope your week is going well!

Tiny Needle Tuesday 10/8/24

 Hello Friends,

I hope your week is going well.  Mine is.  Though, Fletch came home from the dentist's office with a whopping bill!  (Plus the bill for someone else...). It seems that our Medicare Advantage plan is slow to pay dental bills.  It may also be the fault of the dentist's office.  Something for me to work on.  Later.

Meanwhile, it's Tuesday and time for a Tiny Needle update.  The Blessing from Examplars From the Heart is coming along nicely.  It's a big piece with a lot of solid stitching, but it is proving to be fun.  Here's a snap from yesterday:

The tree now has all of the leaves on it.  A second cat has been added as well as a pumpkin and a sunflower.  The beginnings of the fence on the bottom left can be seen and the roof has had a few more rows added.  Most importantly, the left side border and bottom border met up with no problem!  Here's hoping the other corners work out nicely too.  There's enough going on to keep this interesting.

I've a busy morning ahead of me, so I'd best grab a second cup of coffee and get moving.  Have a wonderful day!

Weekending 10/7/24

Good Morning One and All,

How are you this fine Monday morning?  I am doing well.  A bit groggy - not yet fully awake, but doing well nonetheless.  How was your weekend?  Mine was a nice quiet one.

Starting Thursday (because I'm retired, my weekend can start any time!  hahaha).  We put the final piece in the 299 cats and a dog puzzle.  

 It wasn't as hard as it looks.  We took it over to Colin & Mailing's that evening and I think they will try it without the border pieces which should make it a little more difficult.

I also baked some banana bread on Thursday - knowing we were heading to C&M's that evening I wanted to take half of it to them.

This was a new-to-me recipe that called for espresso powder in the batter as well as chocolate chips and walnuts.  It was finished with a maple glaze.  C&M and F all liked it.  I did not.  I now realize that I am not a fan of chocolate chips in banana bread (I know that is a scandalous opinion, but there you go).

Fletch and I got our Covid booster shots on Friday (no reaction on my part...Fletch had a sore arm for a few days).  Next up we need to get the Tdap vaccine.  Colin has been pestering reminding us that we need to get that before the baby is born.  My last Tdap was in 2013, so I'm due and Fletch last had one in 2006, so he is way over-due.

My weekend included reading, stitching and knitting, so that made it a good one.  I received notice that both Clear and Intermezzo are waiting for me to pick them up at my library.  When it rains it pours!  Intermezzo is the next selection for the Read With Us group and we will not be discussing it until January...so not sure I want to read it now...the way my memory is (or isn't) I may not remember it!  But, I can always get it again.

Fletch did a bit of garden clean up (taking down the cucumber trellis and spreading some top soil).  The large raised bed is ready for garlic planting.  Meanwhile, tomatoes keep coming in fast and furious!

I may make sauce today since there is left over hot and sweet sausage that Fletch grilled last night.  And, I will need to get out and pick some greens for a salad tonight (steamed mussels, salad and garlic bread is tonight's menu - YUM).

Enough rambling!!  Time to pour a second cup of coffee and see if I can wake up a bit.  I hope your weekend was lovely and that your week is off to a good start - enjoy!!

Unraveled Wednesday 10/2/24

Good Morning Friends,

Isn't that a pretty Mum?  Fletch picked that up on one of his outings the other week and as time has moved on the mum has changed a bit.  It kind of went dormant or something when Damon & Peggy were here.  After they left it perked right up again and now the colors are intensifying somewhat.  I love it!  Fletch picked up two others as well - a brilliant purple and a burnt orange, but the deer have munched on both of those...

Here we are at the first Wednesday in October and it is time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk making and reading.  Two subjects dear to my heart.  Once again my making has been more on the stitching side of things (see yesterday's post) and less on the knitting.  My poor Semplice Shawl has seen no love in almost 2 weeks.  I'm enjoying it...but I'm just not knitting on it right now.  The first Tapped Maple sock is almost finished.  About 15 more rows on the BIG foot and then I will start the toe decreases.

As for reading, I finished North Woods by Daniel Mason and absolutely loved it!  What a unique and interesting and fun book.  It certainly will not be everyone's cup of tea, but I thought it was great.  I picked up Leonard and Hungry Paul from the library and have started that.  As everyone who has read it says, it is just a nice book!

An interloper just arrived at the office front window feeder.  I heard a terrible racket - much louder than the normal birds flying in and this is what I saw:

Yes, Mr. Squirrel has come calling.  Mabel will not like this!  Nor will Fletch (as said squirrel was hanging on to the siding at one point).

He did not even move when I knocked on the window!!

Time for me to pour another cup of coffee.  Hope your Wednesday is a delightful one!