My Favorite Things from A-Z

My favorite things from A-Z are:

A- Authors-Jane Austen, Beverly Lewis,
B- Books-
C- Coffee-Iced Decaf Mocha Latte
D- Dessert-homemade apple pie, Texas Cake
E- Elegant Object You Own-None
F- Flowers-Wild
G- Guests for Tea-each with own personal-sized tea-pot and cup, with a wide selection of herbal teas.
H- Home-is where the dog and cats are
I- Inspirational Authors-CS Lewis
J- Jane Austen book-Mansfield Park
K- Kitchen Gadget-manual food processor
L- Laundry Help-Lestoil
M- Musical-Annie-The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow
N- Naptime-is wonderful.
O- Organizing Tip-Organize your closet by clothing item then color then by pattern
P- Pride & Prejudice Character-
Q- Quote-Be Kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle ~Plato
R- Recipe-Thanksgiving: Pumpkin Bread; Christmas: Cranberry Orange Bread
S- Scent-Spring Rain
T- Tea-African Autumn by
U- Underwater Creature-Manatee
V- Voyage You’ve Taken-Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland, CA.
W- Water Feature; Lake, Creek, Ocean, etc.-Waterfall deep in the woods
X- X-tra Special Treat for Yourself-Dinner out
Y- Something About YOU!- I'm just starting to live
Z- Zoo Animal-don't like "caged" animals

Silent but not idle

This blog has been silent for way too long. Please note that does not mean that I have been idle. Let me see, I have been reading tons of Beverly Lewis books about the Amish community, which I have come to love and respect. I took up spinning. Nora sold me her Mother Marion's Kick Spindle. and I started a Christmas present. Below is an afghan square I crocheted. 34 more to go. They are fun and easy!

I've been attending Maple Grove Mennonite church in New Castle. Cheryl Vanatsky is the pastor. She is a very passionate and compassionate speaker. I am making some good friends and am enjoying myself with this fellowship of people.

The Mining Disaster is absolutely horrible. The owners of Massey Energy Co. should be given life sentences for the death of the 29 miners. Just had to speak out on that.

Afghan is Finished

Here is my completed afghan crocheted in Marble Chunky Arcylic yarn that I got at Knit One in Squirrel Hill. I am very pleased with it. It is the perfect size. Stacey, the owner of Knit One, looked up in a handy dandy chart to see how many skeins of yarn I would need for an afghan. It stated 7 skeins. She had exactly 7 skeins of the Marble yarn in the color I wanted: Blue. What other colors are there? Yellow, green, purple, tan, ... all colors I find in nature when I go hiking.

Snowing Again!

I like knitting; I love crocheting.

I'm crocheting a simple single crochet afghan with Marble chunky 100% acrylic yarn.

Happy Saturday!

Yesterday was Happy Friday. I did not blog about it, but it was a happy Friday. Because of President's Day on Monday I am off work until Wednesday. Almost a full week. Yea!!!

I started a new sock yesterday using Autumn House Farm Merino Wool sock yarn. I'm knitting the "twin rib" six stitch pattern from the Sensational Sock book.

I made brownies yesterday. An influence from mom. They are delicious.

Yes, It is Still Snowing

I'm crocheting a "top" onto a kitchen towel. I made everyone in my department one of these for Christmas. Someone asked me if I was tired of doing them. I told them No, I was addicted to them. I love doing them. They are so relaxing.

Angel (feline) & Chloe (canine)

I'll try to get pics of the snow later today when I take Chloe out.

What is Your favorite Season?

Good Morning!

Good Morning, Everyone! Friday mornings are always beautiful mornings for it starts my long weekend.

Up bright and early this morning with Chloe. Took her for a short walk. Brrrrrrrrrrrr. It is cold. It does not seem to phase Chloe. She would stay out there forever. Sniffing every little footprint in the snow. Some made by non-domesticated critters.

Smile! For the weekend is here.

Happy Friday Happenings

My day started out knitting with friends at Barnes & Noble. I noticed a mistake in my knitting several rows down. I asked Celeste what she would do. Would she fix it? She said Yes. So I attempted to fix it. I undid two stitches back several rows to the error. I reworked it several times unsuccessfully. Then I finally got it right. But in the process the yarn became fuzzy. I think I will leave it, but it does bother me a bit. But the error is corrected, with the only evidence the fuzzy yarn. I learned how to intentionally drop two stitches and correct the knitting error. It was a learning process. I'm glad I did it.

I finished this book tonight. It was a delightful book which takes place at the end of WWII. It was educational and entertaining. I rate it a 4 on a scale of 1-5. We will be discussing the book at our Book Group meeting this Sunday which will be held at my place.

I've found a sock pattern I love from the Sensational Socks book. Both these pairs of socks are for me. I also made a pair of socks for my sister, Pam, in what other color than blue. I forgot to take a pic before gifting them to her. The tan socks are knit with Opal merino wool and nylon yarn; the blue socks are knit with Trekking merino wool and nylon yarn.

Saturday was knitting at Nora's for Connie and me. Nora did not want to be photographed without her hair done and her makeup on. I am never shy from the camera. I don't have to look pretty for anyone. I am always taking pics of Connie and putting them on my blog, so I spared her today.

I'll never be a classy "girl." I love blue jeans and a sweatshirt in the winter. This is a favorite hooded sweatshirt from the campground where I go camping in Cook Forest State Park.

Meet Gwen, Nora's new stray kitty. Gwen it truly lucky to be found by Nora and Mark. She is a beautiful cat, but a terror to their other two resident cats.

My Journey through Life

Everyone's journey through life is different. You may like where you see another person's life, but you do not know the journey that got her there. My journey through life has been relatively easy the last year. A few bumps in the road here and there, but no major complaints. I'm going down a bumpy road right now as I work on Chloe's barking problem. I cannot imagine my life without Chloe. To lose her due to old age or a terminal illness is one thing, but lose her because of excessive barking is another. This is a bump in the road. We are meeting with a dog trainer this weekend who is going to help us with the problem. Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated.

Happy New Years!

2009 was a good year for me and I hope that 2010 is even better. I adopted Chloe July 2, 2009. My life is much improved. My hope for 2010 is that I can lose weight and get my cholesterol levels down with an improved diet and exercise. That is all I want out of 2010.

The Love of my Life

I am so happy I could burst.

Merry CHRISTmas

Merry Christmas to the Christian believers. Happy Holidays to everyone else.

It was been a wonderful Christmas season for me this year. One of the best. I made kitchen hand towels for everyone at work, knitted a beautiful pair of socks for my sister. Baked Christmas cookies. Passed out Chocolate candy canes at work. It has been just wonderful. I get so much joy from giving gifts to people I love. I bought mom a set of flannel sheets, a boxed book set by Beverly Lewis and a set of Long johns. She was pleased with all her gifts. I received a Garmin from my wonderful sister, a lovely thick waled cordoroy shirt, mixer and kitchen towels and washclothes from mom. Many of my co-workers gave me lovely little gifts. It has been a wonderful Christmas season of giving.

I gave Chloe a pink stuffed squeeky pig. She absolutely loves it. It goes everywhere with her. Roxy, a friend's dog, gave Chloe some milk bones which she goes crazy over too. Poor cats, they got left out of the Christmas celebration. I feel bad about this. I will go to Petsmart tomorrow and buy each a catnip toy. I showed partiality this Christmas which I feel very remorseful for.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Christ is the reason for the season!

Love ya

One bloom

Merry Christ-mas

I have one bloom on my Christmas Cactus. I have a couple other buds. Hopefully they will go into full bloom also.

I've been busy knitting and crocheting Christmas gifts. I gave most my kitchen towels away. I get eager and cannot wait to give them to people. I have three more to make and then I will be done for Christmas. I have two towels left over (which makes 4 kitchen towels) which I will bless friends and family with later this year.

Merry, Merry Christmas!

Christ-mas is here

I don't like that this is the "Holiday" season and not Christ-mas time. This is the Christmas season no matter what people may say. Without the present of Jesus Christ there would be no Holiday season. I think that the Exchange of Christmas presence has gotten way out of hand. It is ridiculous that people go way in debt in order to buy gifts for their children. Often greedy, unappreciative spoiled children. Don't get me wrong I don't dislike children and it is not their fault they are spoiled. But it turns my stomach to see children who get everything they want and then they want more. It is not healthy.

I'll try to get some current pics up soon. Chloe is going to start training classes. I want her to be a well trained, well-behaved little girl. First thing, she needs to be trained to not bark and charge other dogs. After that she will be able to go into any obedience class.

Chloe is absolutely the love of my life. With her my life is complete.

Waiting for Spring

This is what will keep me going through winter--spring is coming.  Much to my chagrin I did not go camping after I adopted Chloe because I was worried about how she would do.  She was not as good a camper as Molly was.  

Nature absolutely soothes my soul.  I stopped going hiking also because Chloe and I often ran into dogs off-leash and Chloe is not good with other dogs.  I will need to start making a point to go hiking without her, because getting out in nature-any time of the year-soothes my soul. Just looking at old pictures from camping brings back the good feelings.

Christmas is coming.  My radio station has already started playing Christmas songs.  Yes, I will call them Christmas songs even though the station calls them Holiday songs, which is ridiculous because we all know they are Christmas songs.  What is this world coming to if we cannot politically correct wish someone a Merry Christmas?  Evil is prevailing.

Anyway,  I am going to decorate for Christmas this week.  The Christmas season is too short, so why not start early?  I feel very sad and regretful that I did not not start planning for my gift giving this summer.  I want to make my gifts like the olden days, but I am running out of time.  One of my favorite things to make is socks.  One pair of socks takes me 2-4 weeks to complete.  Do you know how many pairs of socks I would like to knit?  Many.  Maybe I will submit coupons in the Christmas cards for an I.O.U.  

This is the last year our department will be together for the Holiday season.  People usually exchange gifts.  One year I made cookies for my "gift."  Last year I did not do anything.  Money was too tight.  This year I think I will make something for everyone.  I don't want to say what because I may make several of these items and give them to many different people.  People who read my blog.  The cost for materials is about $1 for each item.  Affordable.  I am told it takes about 5 hours to make one item.  A friend is teaching me how to make them today.

This is Sophie's favorite place to sleep: in Chloe's crate in the back right-hand corner.

Life is really good when you let it be.  I had an off afternoon and slept most of it.  But tonight I am feeling great.  Relaxed and rested.  I've been reading Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy for my book group.  Maeve Binchy is one of favorite authors.  She is from Ireland.

All my EZ (Elizabeth Zimmermann) books arrived.  I have a treasure.  If you are a knitter and have not read any of her books, I would highly recommend it.  I'm off to knit a hat, the first project in Knitting Workshop.  It lets you design your own fair-isle design for the hat.  Can't wait....

The Christmas Cactus I bought two years ago at Giant Eagle has several nice size buds.  Can't wait to see it in bloom.  I will take pictures and post them.