Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!


We hope you had a very nice day, we did. We made turkeys...


Two years ago we learned from Ceekay, over at http://thinkinofhome.blogspot.com/, how to make these little cookie turkeys and it has since become a tradition for my Little Companion.


She also was in charge of napkin folding for the table.


She did a very fine job.


It was just Little Companion and me for this Thanksgiving dinner, the roads were not safe today for the group in Minot to travel out.


We are thankful for the family that loves us, the friends who remember us with fondness, and the savior who gave his life for us so we can live eternally with the most high God.

Wishing you peace.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

WIP Wednesday - green doily

Well I finished my Afternoon Tea green doily. 

The pattern is in the Leisure Arts Tea Time Doilies book. I used a #6 hook and it turned out to be right about 18 inches which is not too far from the pattern at 17-3/4 inches.


I ended up having to re-do about 6 rows toward the end because of a couple of careless errors. Don't you just hate careless errors?!


In the end it was well worth the re-do.

I have to say this is one of my favorite doilies so far. It will go well with my Old Country Roses.


This week I plan on creating a fancy cardboard blocking board ...


and using it to block these ornaments for a little tree I picked up not long ago. 

I am joining Marie Anne for Work in Progress Wednesday.
 
Please go over and visit her at http://macrochet.blogspot.com/ and see what everyone else has been up to.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Blue Monday - Outside


I am joining Sally today at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/ for Blue Monday. Please go over and visit her to see all the other wonderful Blue Monday posts.

Driving to and fro here recently there have been enormous amounts of birds in migration.  At times the flocks nearly fill the visible sky.

This weekend we saw some resting in the Blue water along the way.

And when I say some, I mean a lot!


When they are in flight and the sky is lined as far as the eye can see
you feel as if there is something ominous just over the horizon 
and you are the only thing that does not know the danger ahead. 

You are pushing forward as they are escaping in the other direction, flapping their wings with determination and desperation as if to say...


flee now, flee now! 



Ha! Of course it is winter just over the horizon and no matter how brutal it may be I have to thank my lucky stars...
I am not a bird!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Work in Progress Wednesday

I am joining Marie Anne at http://macrochet.blogspot.com/ for Work-in-Progress Wednesday. Thank you for hosting this event, Marie Anne!

My current project is a doily from the Leisure Arts Tea Time Doilies book.


So far, so good!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

This and that

Yesterday I had to put aside my hooks and bust out ye olde sewing machine.

We had found some material that I thought was very much in line with the cottage style. We found this material for $8.00 at Goodwill, yards and yards, and in very good condition. 

Of course we washed and dried the material first. I don't think it had ever been washed, just stored. Tape measure and pencil in hand... sewing machine and iron at the ready... we began.


Through the magic of blogging ... we are now finished!


The curtains are really more red than pink. Think we need some red hand towels now?


I also made these ties to coordinate. 


Okay, see how they appear to be going up hill?

Looking right the same thing appears to be happening.  This is called an "OPTICAL ILLUSION" and really the ties are all approximately the same length. (But I am sure you knew that. Be sure to use your fingers and make the quote signs when you say "OPTICAL ILLUSION" it can be quite entertaining.)


See, all approximately the same length. Also made the little mat on the floor.

SWITCHING GEARS...

On a very different but totally exciting note, I received the boots we had ordered in the mail yesterday. I am quite excited about this.

I don't know if you remember the old rain boots that you would stick your shoes into but these are the same concept ... on steroids. These overshoes are Stabilicers by Neos.


They are exactly what I wanted. I don't like snow boots because when I pull my foot out my sock will come off, or the inside comes out, and causes me intense irritation. These I can put on with any of my shoes or boots and take them off once safely inside.


They open very wide and Velcro almost all the way down for secure fastening. There is also a strap that attaches and detaches to secure the overshoe around the front.


On the bottom not only does it have great tread there are also little bolts sticking out for traction on ice. There is a little tool in an inside pocket for removing the bolts if you don't want them attached.  I'm thinking with these babies, this year I won't land face down on the concrete sidewalk again!!!!

So there you have it. My daughter once told me I was like the character Nicole Kidman played in Cold Mountain, ladylike and yet competent in tough situations. I like that description.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Blue Monday - Town Murals


Once again it's Blue Monday hosted by Sally over at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/. Please stop by and check out the other wonderful blue posts today.

As you meander through Harvey, North Dakota you will notice, here and there, some wonderful murals. Not one to just appreciate the art and not investigate a little further, I found that a now local artist by the name of Chris Wakefield can be credited.


Chris Wakefield moved from Alaska to Harvey to have a starting point to travel and do more art shows in the lower 48 states; however, the family decided they liked the area enough to make it home. (Minot Daily News.com, November 9, 2009)


(I am sorry about the quality of pictures but these were taken this morning on the way home from taking Little Companion to school and it was wicked foggy outside!)




This huge mural is titled Koi Pond. 
The city pays for the paint and Chris donates the work. 



Isn't this one sweet?

I'll share more later, hopefully I will be able to snap some pictures on a day that is not so wickedly foggy!

I want to give you his website in case you would like to see more of his work: http://www.wakefieldarts.com/index.htm.

Thank you for visiting me today. Wishing you a wonderful week!


Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Oh look, a doily!

My most recent completed doily...


As soon as I had finished this I tossed it over to my daughter and said, "there, I finished your doily." Ha, ha. Had I actually meant that? Well, whether I did or not daughter claimed it and she now has a new doily!

Okay, so here is my daughter's finished doily. I also have this doily in blue, which I had crocheted back in April (http://travelingthrough2.blogspot.com/2010/04/doily-day.html ).


This pattern is from The Complete Guide to Thread Crochet
by Leisure Arts and is the round doily.

Hope you are having a good week!

Monday, November 1, 2010

Halloween just past

We had quite the busy Halloween day yesterday. A 70 mile drive into the city, a morning filled with worship, a fine Chinese lunch, a little shopping, back 70 miles and then... Halloween!


Our Little Companion went as a girl from Little House on the Prairie.


Have you ever heard of or participated in a trunk or treat? (Blue car)



With this one you registered your trunk and fancied it all up, then congregated with others in a big parking lot where children then trick or treated around.  (Blue trunk)


Very fun seeing all the creative ideas.

I thought this truck was really cute with the farmer giving out treats. (Farmer's blue shirt)


Look at all the blue!


As we moved on to some of the houses, Little Companion recognized a friend from school with her puppy and little snow white sister. (Blue coat and part of little sister's costume)


Don't eat all that candy Little Companion!! She says she knows, she knows.

And in closing I just wanted to say I am so glad I am not ...


that guy!
On with the week.

 I am linking up with Sally at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/ for Blue Monday. Lots of wonderful blue posts to experience over there!