Feels so good!

It feels so good to have yarn back in my hands.

I'm about 7 rows from finishing the white shawl.

Christmas Continues

I know it is now the middle of January, but my side of the family was going to have our Christmas celebration on Old Christmas.  Mother Nature kind of put a few kinks in our plans.  Of course, as things have gotten busier we have had a hard time getting us all together.  We’ll keep trying, but for now we are just exchanging our gifts as we see each other. Mama bought me a beautiful apron with a Christmas design on it and  she also made me a beautiful red rose doily.  I love red and this fits perfectly on the stand in my entryway.  In fact, it couldn’t have fit any better if she had measured and custom designed it.

Purple Lover

This bag and matching wallet are my early birthday present from my husband and daughter.

(My birthday isn’t until November.)

I carry so much stuff in my bag — epi-pens, blood sugar monitoring “stuff”, glasses, wallet, a juice bottle, etc.  that I need a pretty large bag.  This fits the bill.

Finished Shawl

I've finished the skull shawl for my best friend's birthday gift.

In fact, I think it will make it to her a little early, which is fine with me.

She loves to collect skulls and Steampunk type items so I am hoping she will love this.

Last Week's Frugalities

We were spared from the wrath of hurricane Irma, but prepping for her turned last week into a less frugal than planned kind of week. I spent right much on supplies, but I was careful to only buy things that could be rotated into our meals.  The only exception was a few disposable plates, bowls, and silverware.  If we had found ourselves having to treat water or use what was in storage I did not want to have to use it on washing dishes.  Technically even those items will be used for future things -- perhaps another hurricane, a spell of sickness, or even an impromptu gathering.  

 We also opted to run the dryer to speed up the laundry process just to be safe, which is not on my frugal list.

 However, I did do some frugal things:

 1.  We cooked from our food storages and I cooked enough in the evenings to cover lunch for the next day.

 2.  I bought 13 books at the 50 cents book sale at our local library.  One was the cookbook I referenced and the rest are pleasure reading.  I'll read these, pass them on to Mama, who will send them back to me, and then I'll redonate them to the library.  An amusing cycle, but a great way to support the library and to introduce myself to some new to me authors at a low cost.

 3.  I did our stock up supplies at Aldi, with the exception of some extra water I purchased at Sam's Club.

 4.  I ordered two cushions I needed online.  Target was advertising them on sale, but the local store didn't have them.  I ordered them online and managed to get a 10% additional discount on the sale price.

 5.  I continued to entertain myself with my research project and the shawl I am crocheting.

And my shawl is growing:

The End is in Sight

Those three quarts of purple hull peas represent the last of my quart jars.

The concord grape jelly is finished and cooling.

I'm down to about 20 hodge podge smaller jars that I will fill with small batches.

One of the perks of canning -- for me anyway -- is that I have to stay with the canner.

I'm finding lots of time to crochet as a result of that.

These still need the ends worked in, and I am out of starch.

I'll get those things done and these will go in my Christmas gift pile.

The blue/white combination is for my brother.

I think I am going to keep the red, white, and blue for myself to use in July.

Busy Hands

Pretty much everyone knows the saying about idle hands.  Well, I've been doing a good job at keeping out of trouble.  

I've crocheted and lightly starched a Victorian Fans Collar.  

I have my pearl buttons ready, but my eyes are tired so I am going to sew one on tomorrow.

When I finished crocheting the first collar, I hopped right onto a second one.

This is a "Daisy" patterned collar.

It has been starched and only needs a button as well.

This collar is going to my pen pal, who lives in Rhode Island.

This beautiful lady and I both share a love of Victorian things.

Since I was up extremely early today (Monday), I had finished all my chores today by 9:00 AM.

Needless to say after I finished starching and shaping my collars, I still had some time on my hands.

Another darling lady (and pen pal), who lives in Pennsylvania, has been on my mind.

I wanted to send her something, but I was kind of tired of crocheting.

I pulled out this beautiful shaded pink thread and tatted her a cross bookmark.

It is starched and ready to go.

I have one more thread project going -- a bookmark for my penpal, who lives in Texas.  

We all met via a group for ladies who love Victorian history.

Friday Fun Day

Friday started with me dropping my daughter off at the university.  I had to wait around for her, but couldn't park on campus so I took off to the library.  I found a few books -- a Victorian romance, a fashion book, and a sewing hints book -- that I am looking forward to flipping through.  After a lunch of leftovers, she left for class and I spent some time in my craft room.  I sewed this cute little summer dress for my youngest niece.  Her parents had mentioned to me that she needed summer play dresses.  I'm waiting to hear if this is similar to what they had in mind.  Everything for it came from my stash.  It was a fun sew and if they like it, I want to make another.

Toddler Friendly Minnie Mouse

It has taken some work and some alterations to make a toddler friendly Minnie Mouse, but I think I have captured her essence.   The original pattern is more of a decorator piece.  It calls for wire in the ears, wire eyebrows, eyes glued on, and other things like that.  So totally not safe for a two year old child's toy.   I think the resemblance is near enough that my niece will recognize her and hopefully she will like her gift.

Time is Flying (and a Sewing Project)

We had a great weekend visit for my grandson's fourth birthday.  I can't believe how fast time is flying.  It was a whirlwind weekend. The trip up took us over 6 1/2 hours.  Somehow we made it back in 5 -- thanks to less traffic on I95.

Then Monday I worked at my husband's office.  I pulled a 14 1/2 hour day.

We left in pouring rain and the drive home went along at 40 mph at times.

It was well after 1:00 when I got to bed this morning, and I am soooo not a night owl.

I went back to sleep after my husband left this morning, but since then I've managed to get my chores finished in record time.

With some free time on my hands, I worked on a sewing project for my youngest niece.

I've got to finish her Minnie Mouse and get a package out to her by the beginning of next week.

The pattern, fabric, and all notions were from my copious stash.

 

Operation Minnie

Operation Minnie has commenced! My youngest niece will be two in April, and she loves Mickey and Minnie Mouse.   This project is one of my goals for this month.

The plan is to make her Minnie for her birthday and then to make Mickey for her Christmas present.

I'm hoping to find the gumption to go ahead and also make Mickey this month to put aside.

Time will tell.

What do recylcing, knitting, and thrifting have in common?

A while back I picked up a yellow cotton sweater from a yard sale.  I didn't pay much for it, but it was in pristine shape.  I wore it once or twice, but to be honest, yellow just isn't my color.

I had put it aside with other items to take to the thrift store and when I was gathering them I took a second look at it.  The sweater was a nice name brand and because it was a more expensive sweater it the pieces had been finished and joined together.  Some sweaters do not lend themselves to unraveling because they have been cut and sewn....the end result is just a bunch of single strings and nobody wants to knit or crochet with that many knots in their thread.  At least, I sure don't.

I decided to invest a little time into unraveling the sweater.  I wanted a project, but didn't seem to have the concentration to work on any detailed.  This seemed to fit the bill.

I had a little waste, but I still ended up with this much yarn.

I've knit two dishcloths that are going in Mama's Mother's Day basket.  She loves bright colors and her kitchen is yellow.  I think she will love them.  (Two dishcloths only used up one ball, so I still have yarn left to use up.). My plan is to fill a small basket with dish detergent, scrubbies, etc.

Victorian "Valentine's Day"

My husband and I don't normally exchange Valentine's Day gifts, per say.  This year we ordered three books I've been wanting to read.  Our local libray doesn't have them -- not even in the branches exchange.  

Their arrival coincided with the day of chicken prep.

I was sorely tempted to sit and read after I had finished, but I had promised myself I would finish Eeyore.

Now that those obligations are met......

I'm looking forward to settling in with a cup of tea, my favorite fuzzy blanket, and a book!

Eeyore -- The Finished Product

Eeyore is a pretty big guy.

He has 274 strands of hair (more or less) in his mane.

I love the details -- a pink bow for his tail, a tack to "hold" his tail on.

He's just adorable.

Wednesday's Work In Progress

One of my nephew's has his 5th birthday this month and he loves Winnie the Pooh.  I'm working on this Eeyore for him.  It seems slow go because the stitches are tight and I can only crochet a while before my wrists start to bother me.   I am trying hard to have it ready by the end of this month so my goal is to do some on it everyday.      

I am making progress, but I still have a ways to go.

The original patterns are tiny, but I am using worsted weight yarn and a size H hook.

My Eeyore is huge!

Sam's Club and Where the February Grocery Budget Stands

I'm very fortunate to live literally 5 minutes from a Sam's Club.  I find the store to be invaluable for certain items that I like to buy because of either personal preference and/or allergy issues.  I prefer their Member's Mark brand dishwasher tabs.  I like to buy the POM toilet paper and paper towels.  Their fruit prices (for the quality they sell) are excellent and I've never had any trouble with any of the produce I bought there.  Sadly I can't say the same for some of the other stores in my area.  I also like their meats.

 This month they had some great sales and I actually bought items for storage that will stretch on into June.  We are covered for toilet paper, paper towels, dishwasher tabs, Clorox 2, food saver bags, and deodorant.  After a careful inventory I made a list of items we needed to go into our food rotation to round out what we have.  I'll also be picking up an order of chicken breasts from Zaycon later this month and it is reflected in my totals.

 For tracking purposes we divide these purchases (except the chicken) out over how many months we will use them and subtract them from those individual months' budget.  This accounting method and our "convenience" fund helps us balance things out. I budgeted $500 for food and household supplies.  When everything is added and the household supplies are portioned out, I have $158 left for the month for incidentals like milk, eggs, etc.  We are well stocked on everything and should be able to carry on into the next month with no problems.

  (This order includes two gifts -- a box of coffee pods for my son and a bag of chocolates for my daughter in law and grandson.  Their cost is not part of the grocery budget, but if I include them I would still have $122 left to spend if I need it.)  

"Sits and Thinks"

  My husband's favorite quote (or one of many) ---  "Sometimes I sits and thinks and sometimes I just sits." That seems to sum up my day yesterday.  

I'm not one for sitting for hours on end.  I'm forbidden to go up and down the stairs alone.  Forbidden to lift anything.  For someone who is a constant piddler, this is quite stifling. I'm spending an excruciating amount of time sitting and thinking.   The highlights of yesterday were limited.
I'm rewatching the Inspector Morse mysteries on Acorn TV.  

I also am working on a crocheting project.  I have three skeins of the variegated yarn and one solid gray.  When I mentioned Christmas gifts I forgot to add that my uncle gave me two skeins of yarn for Christmas.  The gray was the second skein he gave me and it seems to be going well with the variegated from my stash.  I am hoping the four skeins will produce a decent sized throw.

 

The second skein he gave me was a variegated yarn and I believe the color way was called Woodlands or something similar.  I crocheted a really cute bucket hat with it.  It used the entire skein except for maybe enough for the center of a granny square.

 

 

I also cooked supper with my daughter's help.  It was a simple meal, but it seemed to take twice as long as it normally would.

I cooked rice and soy curls stir fry.  I used the Instant Pot to cook the rice and made a double batch.  I also made enough stir fry to send lunch with my husband and have leftovers for myself.  

 

This was my first time trying the soy curls and I was pleasantly surprised by how good they are.  Since I wasn't sure about the yield, I cooked the whole 8 ounce bag.  It looks like a fourth of the bag will be enough for one meal for my husband and me.  I have the leftovers in the fridge to use in a different meal.  I'm leaning toward some kind of casserole or perhaps a "chicken" soup type dish.

 

 

Even with the soy curls, this was a pretty frugal meal.  I buy rice in bulk, the peppers were some I bought on sale and froze myself, the broccoli was an Aldi purchase, and I made my own sauce using corn starch for a thickener.

 

After dinner my husband took me for a short ride just so I could get out of the house.  I came home, he helped me shower, and it was back to my trusty recliner.  So I could "sits and thinks" some more.

 

Bits and Pieces

 

I can't believe how fast the month flew by.  We've made it through Christmas and had a lovely family time.  My surgery wasn't as simple as they were expecting and I will be down and/or limited for 4 to 6 more weeks.  (I've been down almost 2 now.)  Due to this I will not be taking any classes this semester and I've been left wondering if I will go back at all.  Time will tell I suppose.

 

These are just a sampling of some of the many things we've been cooking.

The eggs in the wrap are my first taste of vegan eggs and they were actually not bad at all.

Of course, chili seemed perfect for our recent snow storm.  I even baked the goodies to in tins to help get my family  through the housebound time period.  The casserole dish has a roast dinner of cauliflower, carrots, potatoes, herbs, and vegan kielbasa...all cooked in the air fryer. 

The noodle mixture is a cajun bean pasta over kale, which I served with "cheese croissants" and next to it is "sausage" stuffed buns.  The pizza was my first taste of vegan pepperoni and it wasn't too bad.

Soups, pastas, etc.  lots of comfort foods and my newest doily. 

Then the vegan shepherd's pie was what I had for Christmas dinner.  It was excellent.

 

I made a homemade seitan that is fabulous. 

top (left to right)

bbq "chicken" seitan, mashed potatoes and peas

Gardein "fish" sandwich and slaw

blueberry pancakes

"fish" dinner with red potatoes, slaw etc.

"chicken" casserole

fried potatoes

grilled "cheese"

orange "chicken" stir fry

beans and rice

 

 

I'm spending a lot of time in my recliner with my kitty sitting with me.

I've used up a cone of cotton making dishcloths.  My mom received the yarn for Christmas, but she doesn't like to work with it.  I made her 10 dishcloths and 1 scrubby.

The doily is for my dining room table.  It took more thread that I expected, but I used a free vintage pattern and I really like the way it turned out.

Just before my surgery I worked on piecing a new quilt together.  I've slowly started hand quilting it now.

I also placed an order for some vegan supplies from Amazon.

 

Life sounds kind of boring around here, but I promise it has been full.

 

I got a couple of great Christmas gifts.

2 12" pizza pans from my mom

(These fit in my toaster oven and I love them!)

5 thrift store find soup mugs from my son and daughter in law

(My request if she could find any and I love that they are recycled.)

2 Christmas music CDs from my daughter, who knows I listen to Christmas music all year

1 large purse -- a Vegan brand and big enough to hold all my medical supplies -- from my husband and daughter

2 pair of earrings from my husband

a wall hanging from my brother

 

I loved that everything was practical and so me.

 

I hope everyone is doing well and had a great holiday season.

 

Christmas Sewing

Lately my time has been very limited.  When I found myself with a few free hours and the urge to sew I pulled through my stash.  I found fabric leftover from a dress I sewed for my daughter years ago.  Possibly as many as ten years ago.  I'm trying to remember how old she was and cannot seem to do so.  I pulled out a toddler dress pattern and went through my zippers to make sure I had a matching one.  The results of my mornings efforts was a Christmas dress for my youngest niece.

He Loves Me

My husband attended a meeting last week and the local library was discarding books. He came home with this stack for me.  Nothing says true love to a girl like me more than a stack of books.  I've stacked them beside my chair and I've been reading in snatches -- a stolen moment here and there.