Another project finished

Its been rainy and cold the last few days. Even had some snow which didn't stay around, but it was snow. Haven't been outside. Just huddled in my great-room with my fake fireplace on, and finished these......

My first attempt at knitting cables. I am pretty happy with them, so happy I am wearing them today!

 

I attempted to take some pictures of birds at my feeders this morning. Yes, that is an oriole on the wire of the seedfeeder. He's looking at the empty hummingbird feeder on the tree beside them. Flickers are fun to watch

as well as the downy woodpeckers and little goldfinches here.

I also had male and female cardinals visit, but the pictures did not turn out at all. The bluejays left before I could even grab my camera. Yesterday I snapped this photo of the little hummer outside my window.

 

and the jay up in the treetop

Supposed to start clearing and warming up today. Good day for a walk...

 

Feeling Better.....

I haven't done much except lay around and sleep alot the last couple days. I set up to get Netflix on my 'puter and watched a couple movies. One I really liked was  a story about Michael Angelo painting the Sistine Chapel, starring Charlton Heston. I also watched Penn of Pennsylvania, an old black and white movie.

        Other than that I knitted some on my latest pair of socks although sometimes I barely had the energy to hold the needles.This yarn is Chroma fingering yarn by Knit Picks and the color is "Mesa".

 It was a Christmas present from Daughter #1.



I got up this am feeling like myself again, so I stumbled in to brother's house and got a shower. Washed away all those yucky flu germs! So thankful to be feeling better!
This afternoon we went to a farm/feed store to get seed for the birds and I got a dog brush for Curley Joe, who insists on rolling and scratching in the dirt, and brings half of it in the rv with him. Up until now, the comb I had for Izzy also worked for him, but not in this sandy soil.We also stopped at a Michaels store so I could get more 4" x 5' canvases to finish my "painting challenge" paintings on.

Other than that, there was a nice sunset out last night I was able to get a couple decent photos of it from my doorway.

 

Hope you all are having a nice weekend! The weather should be great here in southern Arizona!

On My Way ......Yay!!

By the time you read this I should be on my way
 (I hope.... finally.... whew!)

 

I just didn't realize how much *stuff* I thought I would need to take with me to last the extent of the trip, should I decide to stay the full time. Loading up for the first time is enough in and of itself, but for an extended stay, it seems like it takes forever!

I loaded up several misc. tools including a power drill/screwdriver, hammer, wrenches, hand screwdrivers, battery cables, extra heavy-duty power cord, duct tape (a must have!) a two-step ladder, gas cans for the generator, etc, etc, etc.I won't bore you with pictures of all the packing. I am sure most of you have done enough of it yourselves.

I have gone through my clothes twice and cut down both times, trying really hard to be reasonable. Food items, supplies, vitamins, meds, and personal items is another story. Never know when there might be a run on certain needed items. So.... all that food I dehydrated this summer? It's going with me, plus my winter squash, a peck of apples, onions and more potatoes.I also am taking a 7 grain bread mix, yeast and a bread pan. I am so spoiled with good home-grown food! You can take the girl off the homestead but can't take the homestead out of the girl ;-)

 

I used 2 1/2# ground beef from our last cow and made into little meat loaves, with an onion, the last green pepper, and some chopped celery, seasoning , eggs and oatmeal, plus BBQ sauce for flavoring.

They fit neatly into these 9.5 oz food keepers. Just the right size!

Well..... after I cut off a couple slivers to taste.

I also fried up some apples I had that were starting to wither just a little. Sometimes I like this southern dish rather than applesauce.

I  roasted the last 2 rabbits (oh, my goodness, YES! they are a wonderful meat!) that I had doubly packaged and frozen. These were some of the last from our commercial rabbit raising business.

Pulled out some canned food I wanted to take, as well as other store-bought dry food products.

 

Several movies have been packed, including the new 10 or 15 (I forget) DVD set on the civil War. I have also many books, including my Bible, Ten-Second Rule, a devotional based on the book of Proverbs ( I need all the wisdom I can get) and my recently purchased RVing books. There are also several music cd's. Of course there's my computer, camera and batteries, cell phone, and bluetooth so I can talk hands-free.

 

Then there is the knitting..... oh, dear, which yarns shall I take?? and needles?? Could not make a decision on that so I took the whole yarn stash!!!!

This stash hamper contains yarn for MANY pairs of socks, a hat, an afghan I have started, a doggie sweater for Izzy, and a *shrug* for my daughter. It fits nicely beside my bed on the side I won't need to get in on. These baskets below, hold the 3 pr socks I am presently working on, and lots of dishcloth yarn. Go ahead, you can laugh now :) but I find I need to keep my hands busy, and no, I won't use it all, but I can at least have choices  :D

 

Oh yes, and then there is my painting supplies; 2 easels, palette tray and disposable palette tablet, LOTS of canvases of all sizes, and all the paint and brushes I own! I also included my sketch pad, pastels, and other misc. supplies.

I do hope to get some things done while I am out in this beautiful country!

 

This is actually what it looked like at home before I left. I am surprised at how many trees have lost all their leaves already. These oaks will hold their leaves much longer.

My garden will be ready and waiting for my return.

 

 I will be back on when I get wifi down the road. I know some of you snowbirds are already at your winter destination. I may be slow, but I'll get there!



Yuck!

Got up today with flu-like symptoms.... headache, tummy rollin' and slight dizziness. Some of the neighbor gals were supposed to meet at my house tonite for knit-night but I had to cancel out on that. I had finished one of a pair of socks that had the reinforcement yarn in the heel and toe, and I wanted to show them, so I was disappointed. They will meet at Norma's house while I am gone.

I ended up spending the day on the couch with hot tea, almost dry toast and later some of that instant hot apple cider mix.

No packing today, although I did pull a few things out of the closet and put by the door. Hoping I can get back to it tomorrow.

 

Last night I ran over to my daughter's house who had just driven back from visiting her son in NC.... with a broken ankle! Daughter, not my grandson. They were walking in a park on Sunday, her last day there, when she stepped in a hole and down she went. Grandson, Tim, took her to get it looked at. Fortunately, a clean break and nothing displaced. She is in a boot and on crutches, with pain meds and orders to follow up in 10 days with her doctor ............ but, she had to do a 10 hour drive home by herself on Monday, and couldn't take the meds while driving.

 

Well, there was the car accident my grandson was in in May, then my son 's logging accident in July, and now Tina's ankle. My, oh my!

And they all wanted me to move back to PA so they could look after ME  ;-)

 

 

 

Footnote for those who have asked;  My grandson is almost back to normal, his shoulder is healing since the surgery in August. My son is gaining in strength, and adjusting to his limitations, but as yet no leg movement. Thanking the Lord for His goodness inspite of the circumstances!

I found myself! (haha, I wasn't that far away)

I finally feel like I am finding the real me again. I was able to do the dishes and run the vaccum in the LR on Tues. before my knit group arrived that evening. I am using the cane full time now instead of the walker ...... when I don't walk off and leave it also :-/

This morning I awoke to a beautiful Kentucky sunrise! It was prettier before I took the picture but this one isn't bad either.

Yesterday was the first day I was able to sit long enough to get at some painting. I started this for my "homework assignment" for the online 'Painting Skies' class I am participating in. I hope to finish it today.

Then a friend stopped by to visit me while her children were at youth group. She happened to see my knitting project on the coffee table and said she wished she could knit .... I told her about the winter knit group I had started and she was very interested. I left my painting sit and we got out some needles and cotton dish-cloth yarn. I showed her how to cast on stitches and do the regular knit stitch. She took to it like a duck to water. She had several rows done before having to leave so I sent needles and yarn home with her until she could get to W*M to get some. She was so excited! She will be back next Tuesday :)

This is what I had been working on while recuping. A French Slouche' hat and knit-in-the-round matching scarf out of yarn I got in PA last fall.

I originally had trouble pulling the yarn from the center of the skein because these skeins are very short and fat, and it would squoosh together and get tangled near the end of the skein. I thought about how to remedy that and came up with the idea to use my paper-towel-holder to slip the yarn ball over and instead, use the yarn from the outside of the skein. Works for me!

Today I had a back-to-my-old-self lunch. Looks good and healthy don't you think? Half an avacado, a hard-boiled egg, green olives, baby carrots and ranch dip, and a couple slices home-made cheddar cheese from the neighbor Amish farm ...... yummy!
Also, in the background you can see the little crocheted coasters I made up this week. I now have a slate coffee and end tables and they always feel cold. When I set my cup of hot tea on it in the mornings it doesn't stay hot very long, so the coasters will delay the cold transfer.

Besides all this I am making more solid plans to get back in the RV asap and get to AZ. I have several stops along the way, and I am sure looking forward to it. Praise the Lord for health and healing!!

I am still trying to catch up on all the blog reading I have fallen so far behind on. You all be safe! Do something good for your neighbor , or even a stranger. It will bring happiness to you both!