Things I have learned this year ...

 Probably the biggest lesson I've learned so far this year is that Mother Nature can be really mean. ... and unpredictable.

Seriously ... 

Here we are, at the end of April, and there's still snow on the ground.  Granted, not as much as there was a couple weeks ago, but still. 

All the plans I had for gardening for this time of year were based on last year, when grass was starting to grow and the snow was gone.  

I've slowed down on the seed starting because I am out of room in the house.  

I recorded a garden vlog at the end of last week and uploaded it yesterday.  

You'll see how big everything is.  All my plants are *so* ready to go into the garden. 

If only Mother Nature would cooperate. 

As I'm writing this blog post, I'm about five weeks away from my last anticipated frost date. There are so many different flowers I want to try starting.  I need to get going if I want to see them bloom this year. 

This past weekend I planted some flower seeds, and some more broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. The weather was supposed to be sunny and nice. 

Well, they got the sunny part, part-right. 

I was making soil blocks while standing in snow and the wind was blowing just enough to make the whole experience miserable. 

I had hauled out all my plants, thinking I was doing them a kindness. 

I don't think my tomato plants have forgiven me. 

My hollyhocks are *so* ready to be in the ground.  Why did I start them so early? Craziness! 

I'd say the only thing that really liked the weather was my lettuce plants. 

Now I should tell you what flowers I planted. ... I'm trying to recall them all.  I planted a few different types of marigolds and zinnias. Coleus, on of my favorite plants ... Dahlias ... Without getting up and going to look ... I can't name them all off the top of my head.  So much for my notes taking this year.  

Another thing I've learned this year is that you really shouldn't plan your projects. 

I have so many things I wanted to make/create/craft this year.  Things have gone so much more slower than I anticipated.

A few weeks ago I noticed my eyesight has really gone downhill and now I have an appointment to see an eye doctor in early June.  Why so long? There is an optometrist shortage in my area. 

With my near vision in the tank, cross stitch and knitting has come to a standstill.  I'm going to attempt to continue work on my crochet blanket, and pull the spinning wheel back out, dust her off and get to some spinning up some wool. I've already tried cutting up fabric for quilting, but it's hard to see the ruler marks.  Too blurry.  Blurry vision sucks. Specially when you are a crafter. 

If there are any typos in this blog post, now you know why.  Please forgive them. 

Until next time ...

Works in Progress Wednesday #4 for 2023

 Back in January I was so full of piss and vinegar, and it included plans of doing a WIP post once a week.  

January I had vacation time and thought "Oh, I can do this, and this, and this, and it won't be hard at all. 

I was so young and idealistic! 

March feels like a wash. With all the snow moving that was going on I did not feel like doing much crafting in the evenings. 

Things are starting to slightly pick back up, however. 

First on the WIP parish is my crochet blanket

Project Name: Inspired by Joy

Started: Dec. 26, 2022

Finished: 

Designer/Source: The Crochet Crowd

Yarn:

Color A - Red Heart - White

Color B - Caron One Pound - Rose 

Color C - Caron Jumbo - Rosewood

Colors: white and rose colors with hints of green.

Required Amount: I purchased two skeins of each color

Needle/Hook Size: 5.5 mm /  I/9

Gauge: beats me ; pattern calls for 13 dc x 6 rows = 4″ [10 cm]

Made For: Myself, maybe

Dye Lots: Will find that out later.

Crochet ... why do you hate my wrists so?  The last part of part 4 was rough.  I had double-crochet shells and there is so much wrist twisting.  Is there a way to make shells where I'm not constantly twisting my wrists? Or is this a thing for everyone?

I am very pleased to say that I am done with part 4. 63 rows down, eight more rows to go! 

When I started the section with the shells I discovered I was making more shells than what the row called for. It was about halfway through when the ruffling became noticeable, and I decided it was going to become a design element. No WAY was I going to rip it back.

Next is my vanilla socks.

Project Name: Vanilla socks

Started: Jan. 7, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: My own pattern

Yarn: Patons Kroy sock yarn

Colorway: Mexicala stripes

Colors: oranges, red, purples and a smatter of blue and white

Required Amount: Two skeins of sock yarn. 100 grams

Needle/Hook Size: U.S. 1 (2.25 mm)

Gauge: beats me

Made For: Myself

Dye Lots: WL238520

I haven't touched my sock in ages. In fact, I forgot what project bag it was in. It took me a while to track it down. 

The project is now back in rotation. Maybe this one sock will be done by the end of the month? 

Cross stitch fun is next!

Project Name: Month to Month - February

Started: Jan. 15, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: https://www.etsy.com/shop/stitchinghousewives

Fabric: Aida cloth 14 count Hobby Lobby Zweigart.

Floss: Using called for Classic Colorworks fancy floss

Colors: Black, pink, red, teal, green

Needle Size: 26

Made For: Myself

I started out *so* strong with this chart.  Then I lost steam with all that dark text.  It didn't help that I wasn't going to finish by the end of February.  I think the next Month to Month chart I'll do is the August one. 

Last thing is my snowflake

Project Name: #723 Snowflake

Started: Jan. 1, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Tiny Cross Stitches

Fabric: Aida cloth 14 count Hobby Lobby Zweigart. Aida has silver threads running through it. 

DMC floss in called for colors

747 ; 964 ; 995 ; 996 ; 3756 ; 3761 ; 3843 ; 3846 ; B5200

Colors: blues

Needle Size: 26

Made For: Myself. Maybe. I haven't decided yet if I want to give this away. 

I have made a lot of progress on my snowflake.  Then it hit me that this is *way* hard and I didn't have the headspace for it.  I will love how it will look finished.  Whenever I get it finished.  So ... no progress on it since my last WIP post. 

Weekend catch up

 Back on Friday I did a thing.  I made a delightfully awkward video of myself showing off my seedlings!

I loaded the video up on Saturday.  If you've viewed it already -- Thank you! 

This entire weekend had mostly nice weather.  Thank goodness! 

I'm looking at things in my Facebook memories over the last several years and see that it's not unusual to have snow on the ground at this time of year.  I think I'm in denial about it.  However, the area I live in usually doesn't have feet and feet of snow on the ground at this time of year.

The snow is starting to recede.  It makes my little heart happy to see patches of shingles on our roof. We've had a few snow flurry storms over the weekend and today. Not enough to stick around. 

Anywho ... enough about the snow, right? 

Saturday I had a lovely and leisurely morning.  In the afternoon we ran to town and took care of errands. 

I was cruising around Menard's and spotted their bags of onion sets, asparagus, and strawberry roots. 

Yup, you guessed it, I came home with a 10 pack of strawberry roots. I'm going to give those a try. 

Sunday I spent the morning up potting seedlings and my tomato plants.  

I used a pair of embroidery scissors for thinning, and a small pampered chef spatula for cutting the soil blocks apart.  You know, the appropriate tools for the job.  (I'm so funny)

Last week my husband picked up a second 4 shelf greenhouse for me and these plants are in there for now, until I can start having stuff outside. 

Sunday afternoon we went to a local feed store and picked up some BABIES! 

I'm mamma to 10 more cornish cross birds and 5 barred rock chicks. 

As you can hear, my Furby June was NOT happy at this invasion of *her* home. 

She caterwauled for most of four hours. 

My husband said Furby was doing her best to let us know what a horrible mistake we made. 

When I was looking at my Facebook Records I saw that *today* is the one-year anniversary of when we brought chicks home last year, and Furby was just as miffed last year. Hilarious!

I moved Furby's tote over by my husband, since she now seems to be a daddy's girl.  She still wasn't happy and continued to vocalize.

In a last ditch effort, my husband put on a song we know Furby likes. 

It did the trick. 

In the evenings this weekend I worked on my blanket. I was mindful of how fast I was crocheting and how long I was working on the blanket.  Sunday I was happily crocheting on it, thinking how I was almost done with the section I was on, and would be done with working a seven double-crochet shell.  

How disappointed I was when I realized I wasn't as far along as I thought.  I still have a whole side to go! 

After I finish this row I will have ten rows left! I haven't read ahead on the pattern so I don't know what the last bit includes. 

This weekend I discovered a new-to-me Youtube channel, and I LOVE it! It's called Sprout. It's all gardening shows. 

I also found Gardener's World on my Britbox subscription. 

Yeah, I might be a wee bit obsessed.  I'm a bit burned out on the few regular Youtube channels I've been watchings, and seeing all these beautiful gardens is hitting the spot!

Works in Progress Wednesday #3 for 2023

 It has been a hot minute since I last posted a works in progress post.  Just shy of a month. 

Working on my projects has slowed down dramatically. My hands. I do so much work with my hands that I need to give them a break. 

First up is my crochet blanket

Project Name: Inspired by Joy

Started: Dec. 26, 2022

Finished: 

Designer/Source: The Crochet Crowd

Yarn:

Color A - Red Heart - White

Color B - Caron One Pound - Rose 

Color C - Caron Jumbo - Rosewood

Colors: white and rose colors with hints of green.

Required Amount: I purchased two skeins of each color

Needle/Hook Size: 5.5 mm /  I/9

Gauge: beats me ; pattern calls for 13 dc x 6 rows = 4″ [10 cm]

Made For: Myself, maybe

Dye Lots: Will find that out later.

This weekend I completed part/chart 3.  Finally.  I've got 12 rows left to go, or thereabouts. 

I spent hours on it on Sunday, while watching Louisiana Law. Then decided to go one row in on part 4.  Then I had to call it quits. Crocheting that intently just trashed my hands. 

My last progress photo

Next is my vanilla sock.

Project Name: Vanilla socks

Started: Jan. 7, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: My own pattern

Yarn: Patons Kroy sock yarn

Colorway: Mexicala stripes

Colors: oranges, red, purples and a smatter of blue and white

Required Amount: Two skeins of sock yarn. 100 grams

Needle/Hook Size: U.S. 1 (2.25 mm)

Gauge: beats me

Made For: Myself

Dye Lots: WL238520

I've made quite a bit of progress on this sock. 

I did something different when I picked up the gusset stitches and you can see them on the outside of the sock. 

This shot shows the progress markers from the last time I shared progress. 

Yes, I knit my socks inside out.  That is what I am most comfortable with. 

My next project is something that has been languishing for a while. 

Project Name: Stars and Stripes

Started: July 16, 2022

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Eszter Marjanovic of SubRosa Design Pattern out of Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher

Fabric: 14 Count Aida by Zweigart, in "toast."
Pattern originally called for 36 count linen, in a light mocha color

Floss: I'm using the called-for colors in DMC

Stitch count: 74 x 122

Size: Too lazy to do the math right now

Needle Size: size 26

I had to make some mods to the project. I should have had the aida going the other way. There was no room for the border. Once I realized this I put the project in a time out until I wanted to decide what to do for a border. 

Bummer because I really liked the original border. 

I decided to go with a simple border all around.  I will turn this into a pillow.  The photo above shows the fabric I pulled from stash to make the back of the pillow.  Pillows aren't hard.  it's just a matter of me getting in to the craft room and taking care of it. 

Next is my snowflake. 

Project Name: #723 Snowflake

Started: Jan. 1, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Tiny Cross Stitches

Fabric: Aida cloth 14 count Hobby Lobby Zweigart. Aida has silver threads running through it. 

DMC floss in called for colors

747 ; 964 ; 995 ; 996 ; 3756 ; 3761 ; 3843 ; 3846 ; B5200

Colors: blues

Needle Size: 26

Made For: Myself. Maybe. I haven't decided yet if I want to give this away. 

I'm still trying to get the sparkles to show in a photo.  Can you see them? 

Last progress photo. 

A couple weeks ago I started a small quilt project.  It's a quilt pattern I received in a a Fat Quarter Shop sew sampler box last year. 

Project Name: Daydreams lap quilt

Started: Feb. 5, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Fat Quarter Shop

Fabric: Beautiful Day collection by Corey Yoder

Made For: Myself. 

I'm making the lap quilt size. 

I haven't made it very far in the fabric cutting. It's a start. 

I have grand plans of hanging it up in my bedroom. 

Finally, we have my sweet Furby June. 

Now that I consider her a work in progress.  Though I suppose she could be. She's currently hanging out with the hubby, listening to Everlong by the Foo Fighters.

I know I've mentioned that she's been behaving different the last little bit.  She looks out her window a lot. 

I'm pretty sure a squirrel comes and cruises by every day.  Maybe that is what she's looking for. 

Here's when she heard the camera click.  "Are you taking my picture?"

She doesn't have much of a view.  Currently she sees the wood wagon and a snow bank. Well, some snow falling, too. 

She definitely has a charmed life.  

Works in Progress Wednesday #2 for 2023

 I haven't worked on as many things this past week. 

I worked on my Inspired by Joy blanket.  

It's at row 44 or 45, in part 3. 

Progress has definitely slowed down.  There's a stitch in particular that takes me a while.  It's where you skip a stitch, do a treble crochet, and then do a double crochet in the skipped stitch. 

I put a marker where I last took a progress photo. It doesn't show up well in the other photo.  

Last week's image

Project Name: Inspired by Joy

Started: Dec. 26, 2022

Finished: 

Designer/Source: The Crochet Crowd

Yarn:

Color A - Red Heart - White

Color B - Caron One Pound - Rose 

Color C - Caron Jumbo - Rosewood

Colors: white and rose colors with hints of green.

Required Amount: I purchased two skeins of each color

Needle/Hook Size: 5.5 mm /  I/9

Gauge: beats me ; pattern calls for 13 dc x 6 rows = 4″ [10 cm]

Made For: Myself, maybe

Dye Lots: Will find that out later.

I had visions of this cross stitch pulling together a lot faster than it is.  I haven't touched it since this past weekend.  I was holding the q-snap in my hand, and stitching.  Then I decided to set it up on my Hope stand and started stitching with two hands.  That was a lot faster. I was hesitant to use my Hope stand because it was set up just right for a different project that is on lugauna. 

Last week's photo: 

Project Name: Month to Month - February

Started: Jan. 15, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: https://www.etsy.com/shop/stitchinghousewives

Fabric: Aida cloth 14 count Hobby Lobby Zweigart.

Floss: Using called for Classic Colorworks fancy floss

Colors: Black, pink, red, teal, green

Needle Size: 26

Made For: Myself

The first Sandpiper quilt square is complete.

I am happy with how it looks. I thought I would not starch the fabric for this quilt.  Now I'm wondering if I should have. There's a bit of waviness to some of the fabric that I know wouldn't be there if I starched. 

In progress shot: 

I'm using my new Janome Memory Craft 6650. I didn't purchase a quarter-inch foot for this machine.  I'm still debating on if I should get one. In the meantime, I've got painters tape. 

There was one boo-boo that resulted in my ripping stitches and reassembling.  I accidentally put the center bit on the wrong end of one of the pieces. I have started  shortening my stitch length to 1.5 so it was a bit of a pain to rip those stitches out. I thought I took a photo of it before I realized what I did.  Turns out I did not accidentally record my mistake. 

Project Name: Sandpiper quilt

Started: Jan. 21, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: It's Sew Emma / Fat Quarter Shop

Fabric: Fabric from the Solid Fat Quarter Club

Colors: A different color palette each month.

January 2023 is blue (Blue Jay)

Made For: Myself

My vanilla sock.  I've made it down to the heel flap and I've got six rows in, I believe.  I've been trying my hardest to not be tense or feeling stressed when I work on them.  The last few pairs I've made I've had an issue with ladders on the sides because I've been pulling the yarn too tight. I learned a LONG time ago that when I'm feeling really stressed or anxious that I shouldn't knit socks.  

Project Name: Vanilla socks

Started: Jan. 7, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: My own pattern

Yarn: Patons Kroy sock yarn

Colorway: Mexicala stripes

Colors: oranges, red, purples and a smatter of blue and white

Required Amount: Two skeins of sock yarn. 100 grams

Needle/Hook Size: U.S. 1 (2.25 mm)

Gauge: beats me

Made For: Myself

Dye Lots: WL238520

Well, that's all that I've been working on since the last WIP post. I decided to take a break this evening.  It's been snowing and I know I've got snow moving/removal in my near future.  It usually wreaks havoc on my hands and wrists. Not to mention the wood I carried in to the house yesterday.  My wrists need a break. 

Holiday homestead share, day 3

Day 3 - Cup of cheer

Well ... people who know me know that I love a good cup of coffee. 

Now that it's wintertime and snow on the ground and all that, I love a good cup of cocoa.  A dash of cinnamon, a splash of cream, and some whipped cream on top. Yum! 

******************

Today was our coldest day of the season. When I woke it was zero degrees out and reached a high of 12 degrees. 

I spent some time today making wee little baby hats for Make Bundles for Babies. 

The yarn I'm working with is Lion Brand Ice Cream in the blueberry colorway.  I think I'll get two hats and blankets out of this skein. 

Episode 08 - Getting back into the swing of things

Welcome back! Thanks for visiting and letting me chat at you today. Grab your favorite drink, and come sit a spell. I have a lot of crafty things to chat about. 

Works In Progress

Vanilla socks on 9-inch needle

Needles: U.S. 1 (2.5 mm)

Yarn: Knitpicks Felici

Colorway: "Eclipse"

Finished Objects

Crochet blanket
Started: Oct. 25, 2018

Finished: Dec. 2018
Hook size: 9 m.m.
Yarn: Red Heart
Colorway: Black and the "Favorite Stripes" colorway.
Crocheting two strands together. 

Vanilla Socks
Started: Around Oct. 22, 2018

Finished: End of Dec. 2018.
Needle: US 1, 2.5 mm 
Yarn: Knit Picks Felici
Colorway: Lost Lakes

Ashville hat (ravelry link)
Started: Early December 2018

Finished: End of December 2018.
Needle: US 9 needles 
Yarn: Knit Picks Brava bulky
Colorway: Solstice Heather

This was a test knit for my friend.  Proceeds from hat sales will go towards buying items for her angel bags, which go with the hats. Many thanks to my friend who sent me bulky yarn. 

Cabled Tassel Hat (link to Lionbrand)

Started: Early December 2018

Finished: End of December 2018.
Needle: US 13 needles 
Yarn: Lionbrand Hometown USA
Colorway: Azalea colorway

Still trying to decide if I should put a pom pom on.  Is one better than the other? 

Forbidden Fiber Co Mystery Advent KAL

Started: Dec. 2, 2018

Finished: Dec. 31, 2018.
Needle: US 7 needles 
Yarn: Forbidden Fiber Co DK weight yarn
Colorway: variety of colorways

I've spent entire days with this lovely draped around my neck. 

Yarn Talk
I got new ChiaoGoo shorties. There was a learning process for me. 

I also signed up for a year of BluPrint (Formerly Craftsy)

I got a weaving loom for Christmas.  It's a 32-inch Kromski Forte Harp. Thanks to my friend who sent me a warping peg. Major thanks to my husband for finding the deal of the year. 

My first project ended up being a table runner. I used Red Heart acrylics. 

My second project was a set of tea towels. Yarn used was Peaches and Cream dishcloth cotton. I don't know the name of the colorways. 

In Stitches

I got the itch to quilt. Two summers ago I started a quilt for my son. I completed it Jan. 12, 2019. Hooray!  My son is thrilled to bits with it and has slept with it every night. 

Here's the diagram my son made, to show where he wanted the different squares. 

Book Chat

I did finished listening to "The Rosie Project." Such a fun book!  

I'm almost done listening to "A Corner of White." This is my second time listening to the story. 

Coop News

Nothing too exciting going on with the girls.  They aren't too happy with the cold weather.

From the Hutch

News about Shadow. She's no longer itty bitty and sweet.  She's large and in charge!

Barefoot in the Kitchen

Not much has been going on in the kitchen. The busyness of the holidays has thrown me off kilter, a bit.  I'm slowly getting back into routine. 

I did make a banana cake recently.  Very good!  I got the recipe from Sugar Spun Run. 

I did make one modification to the cake recipe, and one to the frosting recipe.  I reduced the sugar by one-quarter cup. I do recommend using the tin foil, to prevent browning and drying out. 

This is the recipe, with my modifications. Follow the link above, to see the original recipe.

The Best Banana Cake

Ingredients

3/4 cup unsalted butter softened

¾ cup canola or vegetable oil 

1 cup light or dark brown sugar 

1/4 cup sugar

4 ripe bananas, peeled and well-mashed (this is about 2 cups mashed)

2 large eggs lightly beaten room temperature

¼ cup buttermilk

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz cream cheese softened

1/4 cup unsalted butter softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup powdered sugar

1 Tablespoons heavy cream

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and spray a 9x13 pan with baking spray or lightly grease and flour.  Set aside.

Combine butter and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl and use an electric mixer). Beat until well-combined and light and fluffy.

Add oil and beat to combine.  

Stir in mashed bananas.

Add eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract and stir until well-combined.

In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

Gradually add to wet ingredients until completely combined.  

Spread batter into prepared pan and bake on 350F (175C) for 45-55 minutes* or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with few moist crumbs.  Allow to cool completely before covering with frosting.

Silky Cream Cheese Frosting

Combine cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, and salt in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until creamy.

With mixer on low-speed, gradually add powdered sugar until completely combined.

Add heavy cream and gradually increase speed to high.  Beat on high for 30 seconds.  

Spread over completely cooled banana cake.  Top with chopped walnuts (if using).  Slice and serve!

Notes

*Important -- keep an eye on your banana cake as it bakes.  30 minutes in, check your cake to see if it's becoming too brown on top (pay attention to the edges, if they're getting darker in color and pulling away from the edges), if so you may lightly tent with foil before baking the remaining 15 minutes.  I had this issue when baking in a glass dish but not in a metal one (which was opposite of what I expected).  

Nature Notes

It got cold out.

My Happiness This Week

Jayme Closs was found! 

Or, after almost two years, I finally completed the quilt I promised my son.  He's thrilled to bits with it.