Friday Felines on a TGIF

 Good Morning!

I'm happy to report that our roof is still on the house and, in fact, the house is still standing.  I was wondering about that in the middle of the night when the wind was whipping around at a fierce level!  It is still windy this morning.  The good news is that the wind blew all the clouds away and the sky is a gorgeous blue.  It's a little cooler than previous days, so perhaps a walk this afternoon (I've got a conference call at 10).

This was the scene last night:

The kitchen table in all its messy glory.  Piles everywhere (including on the chairs).  I was working on the Beekeeper sock and Tyg jumped up to keep me company,  And then he took the DPN protector/cozy I had been using and tucked that right under his head like a little pillow!  The lilacs are droopy.  I cut them yesterday but they have not perked up in water.  They might just be too heavy.  The scent is divine though.

The silk threads I ordered for my next stitching project should arrive today!  I'm looking forward to getting started on that.  Once the threads arrive, I can pick out which fabric I want to use, get it ironed and then start in on the project!

My second Beekeeper sock is progressing nicely and I now have 200 stitches on the French Market Bag.  From here out (for a little bit anyway), it will be straight knitting around and around and around.  The thicker yarn and the #7 circular needle give my hands a workout and at times I need to put it down and just rest my fingers.

Bottom line:  there is no lack of projects on which to work - LOL.  Looking forward to a productive day and weekend.  Enjoy!!

What's for Dinner?

 Good Morning!

It's a bit grey out there this morning and almost a little foggy/misty (or it could be that the window upstairs I was looking out of is really, really filthy!).  The temperature climbed into the mid-eighties yesterday and it felt like summer.  In between bits of work yesterday I managed to change to a lighter color pocketbook (pale pink instead of winter brown) and moved my summer shoes into an easier place to grab them and shoved my winter boots into the nether reaches of my (very small) closet.  Still to be moved are my wool sweaters...didn't want to tempt fate too much...but I may tackle that project today and get out some shorts and summer shirts.

Meanwhile, it's Thursday, so lets talk food.  Here was dinner last night:

The first corn of the season (which was really, really good!!).  I don't know what you call the other things on my plate, but here is what I do.

• Asparagus - trim and steam or boil for only 2-3 minutes, then drain.
• Slices of Italian Bread - brush with EVOO and put under the broiler for a little bit
• Pull the bread out and layer on bruschetta (in the summer I might make my own, but yesterday I just bought it at the grocery store) and top with asparagus
• Fletcher's had parmesan cheese sprinkled on top...I wanted mine plain.
• Stick it back under the broiler (in this case till the cheese on F's was nice and melty...and you could use mozarella or provolone or even cheddar...they are all good!)

A quick, easy and delicious meal!

And, a bonus recipe for a chicken dish we had the other night - delicious!!

Another dish that is so easy to make and really tastes great.  We had this with steamed green beans, some cherry tomatoes roasted with EVOO and Agave Syrup on them (just threw them in a separate pan in the oven while the chicken baked) and some rice.

The other day we noticed a hummingbird coming to our lilac bush and also to the petunias.  And now look what is beginning to bloom:

Wisteria!  It is so fragrant - really overpowering in scent.

The Towhee was back yesterday afternoon while Fletch and I were sitting on the patio.  And this guy kept us company:

A handsome fella for sure!  Have a great day!

Post #2 on 4/28/21 - Cross Stitch Charts Free for the Taking

 Hi All,

A quick 2nd post today.  As I mentioned yesterday, I came across some cross stitch charts that I have already stitched...and I will not be stitching them again.  I know there are more, but this is what I found on Monday.  These are free if anyone wants them.  I'm happy to send them out (and free up a little space in my stash pile!!).  I just took very quick pictures and all but one are sideways and I can't flip them...at least I don't want to take the time to do so.

If there is anything you would like, let me know.  I'll hold them for a week or so and then will donate.  If more than one person wants the same chart, I'll use the random number generator.

Here they are:

Hoping someone will find something they would like!!

Unraveled Wednesday April 28, 2021

 Good Morning Everyone!

The last Unraveled Wednesday of April 2021.  Unbelievable!!  Also unbelievable is the fact that it is supposed to hit 85 degrees here today.  It's gonna feel like summer for sure!  I'd best find some shorts and lighter weight clothes to wear rather than the flannel shirts I have been living in, along with jeans or pajama pants (I'm telling you, I am quite the fashion plate these days!!).  Along with that, now that I'm fully vaccinated, I NEED to find a hair salon and get my hair chopped (I'm talking a major reduction).  But first there is a bit of work today and also some more laundry.

As usual, I'm linking up with Kat and friends to talk making and reading.  There has been some progress on the knitting front.  Beekeeper Sock #2 now has a heel turned and gusset stitches picked up...on the downside now.

I won't hazard a guess as to when this will be done...whenever I do that I tend to jinx myself and get into a stalling mode - lol.

The French Market Bag is also moving along.  There are now 152 stitches on the needles.

I need to get to 200 stitches and then it will be straight knitting for a bit.  I'd like to get all the increases finished on the DPNs (easier that way as the increases are after the first stitch and after the last stitch on each needle).  The DPNs should easily hold 50 stitches each.  Again, no guesses as to when all this will happen - hahaha.

I haven't finished any books this week.  Fletch and I are still making our way through "Radio Free Vermont" and I've started reading Mudbound which is excellent.  Barbara Kinsolver on the cover states that Hilary Jordan writes with the force of a Delta Storm!!

On a final note, we had a beautiful visitor to our yard yesterday!  Fletch and I were sitting on the patio sipping beverages before dinner when suddenly this bird appeared.

A Towhee!!  We see them occasionally, but they are fairly rare in our yard.

Happy mid-week!  Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Tiny Needle Tuesday April 27, 2021

 Hello and Good Morning!

Yesterday ended up being such a nice day - hoping yours was too!  I managed to do 3 loads of wash, cleaned two bathrooms (including floors on my hands and knees!), picked up books from the library, wound 2 skeins of yarn, knit a little, read a little, went through stitching stash and between all of that managed to do a little work.  Ha!  I keep thinking how much less I used to accomplish in a day (Monday through Friday) when I had to go to the office every single day.  Working from home is the best thing ever!  It is my Pandemic Silver Lining.

Anyhoo, on to the stitching since it is Tiny Needle Tuesday, or TNT.  I managed to get quite a bit done.  First I finished the border motifs at the bottom and stitched in the last creature - a bird of prey!

Love the beak on that bird.  Then I decided to continue and stitched my middle initial (E) in a color different than the other letters.

There was still time, so I stitched my other two initials (V, L) and then added the year which I stitched over one,

And before I knew it on Sunday I had finished this piece!!!  Woo-Hoo!!

I truly love this piece.  I am also truly happy to have it finished.  The last two border motifs at the bottom (yellow and green) gave me such "problems!"  I had to rip back on both of them due to being just one thread off.  

Here are the details:

• Pattern:  Autumn Forest Quaker by Stickideen von der Wiehenburg.
• Linen:  36 count vintage Pecan Butter by Lakeside Linens
• Threads:  DMC

And that is why some of yesterday was spent going through my stitching stash.  I've picked out two pieces and will work on one or both...but I had to order some threads which hopefully won't take too long in coming.  One piece will be done in Crescent Coulours Belle Soie silks and the other will be done in a combination of Gentle Art and Weeks Dye Works overdyed flosses.

When going through things, I discovered I still have some patterns that I have stitched.  Believe me, I will not be stitching them again!  Once done is enough.  I'll be doing a post listing various charts that I have and no longer want.  I'm happy to send them off to anyone - more to come on that another day.

Today I am going to the office.  My boss, Bill, is also going in and yesterday I cut a bunch of rhubarb from the garden to take to him.  He and his wife Sue love rhubarb so I always share the bounty from our garden.  Then I have that pesky conference call at 1:30.  I actually may be able to knit during this one!

Time to fix another cup of coffee, wake up Fletch and gather my things to take to the office.  Have a great Tuesday!

Weekending

 Good Morning!

How was your weekend?  Mine was good.  Nothing major to report on, it was just a very nice weekend.  I did some knitting, some stitching, some reading.

Our weather was beautiful on Saturday.  It actually got pretty warm.  My car has been looking yellow from all the pollen around and I was going to wash it, but I didn't.  And then we had rain all night on Saturday (I know it was ALL night, because I was awake ALL night...).  Even though sleep alluded me, the rain sounded so nice on our patio roof (metal).

Tyg was fairly busy keeping track of everything going on at the front feeder.

Our meals were good - shrimp stir fry on Saturday night and stuffed mushrooms last night.  Sunday breakfast was blueberry pancakes with pecans added in.  Yum!  I tend to buy items (mostly we are talking meat/fish here) when they are on sale...but I need to do a better job of taking inventory.  Over the weekend it was revealed to me that we have 4 lbs of XL shrimp (16-20 count) (this is AFTER I made the shrimp stir fry) and 8 (!) T bone steaks in the freezer.  Also about a dozen chicken thighs...some of which will be dinner tonight.  Definitely time to use up what we have.

Our apple tree has really popped with blossoms in the past week.

It is looking healthy again after a few iffy years.  I hope we get a decent crop of apples.  Those pretty blossoms were coming down in yesterday's wind.  I looked out at one point to see Fletch walking across the back yard and it looked like it was snowing, so many petals raining down around him.

I thought about going to the office today and then though better of that idea - lol.  I'll go in tomorrow or Wednesday.  Today I am hoping for a quiet day work-wise so that I can get some needed chores done around here.  Towels and sheets need to be laundered and the bathrooms need to be cleaned.  Some vacuuming should be done.  And let's not forget the knitting and stitching that is waiting for me!  Hopefully I can do a little bit of everything.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!  Hard to believe we are already at the end of April!

Friday Felines

 Hello and Welcome to the Weekend!!

This is my "Friday From Hell" but today it is not.  Every other Friday I have 3 conference calls in the morning:  one at 8:30, one at 10 and one at 11.  But today both the 10 and 11 conference calls have been cancelled.

In the realm of stupid things, yesterday I received an Outlook invite for a conference call next Friday from 4-5 p.m.  I emailed the person setting up the call and basically said that was ridiculous!  Who sets a conference call for 4 p.m. on a Friday?  It has since been changed to Tuesday at 1:30 (and I was tempted to reply again saying 1:30 is my nap time, but then I thought better of it - lol).

We need a few groceries, so Fletch and I are going out after my 8:30 call to do that so that the weekend is free and open!  Hopefully with a tad bit warmer temps.  35 here this a.m.

Moving on to Friday Felines.  You may recall that I told you all that Tyg has been hanging out in the office with me, ever since Fletch put up a bird feeder at the front window.  Here is a White Crown Sparrow sitting in the lilac bush waiting to come in for a snack (sorry you get the benefit of the window screen...)

And here is a Purple Finch at the feeder:

And the sweet Tyg.  He was breathing heavily here:

And finally, hoping that the window would somehow open up:

And then, after pawing the window and the bird or birds scattering, poor Tyg looks so dejected.

His antics sure provide me with a lot of chuckles!

Have a great weekend everyone!!