January mid-month post (I can't think of anything clever for the title)

 My first week back in the real world (aka not on vacation) has been ... something.  January is a tough month. The major holiday hoopla is all done with and now it's just snow and cruddy weather to look forward to until Valentine's Day.  Though a column I just read would talk about all the saints days that could be celebrated if you aren't quite ready to settle in for the winter and wait until it's time to start seeds.  Or is that just me that is watching the calendar until seed starting time? 

The weather has been typical January weather. The last few years we haven't had much, if any, snow in December. Over the weekend we got snow.  Enough snow that my hubby got to pull out the atv and push the snow around a little bit. It was not enough snow to warrant pulling out the tractor and using the plow and snowblower implements. What did we buy that tractor for again? *scratches head* It must have been to admire it's looks. Ha! Seriously, though, we have found plenty of uses for it. We just haven't had to use it for what we originally bought it for. Actually, I don't know whether to be happy or disappointed about that. 

I had taken a few photos of the snow in the front yard. Then decided the Sunday sunrise in the backyard would be better. 

The fiery sun trying to overcome the cold that was hanging around.  The snow was super fluffy and it sparkled like diamonds at night when I went out to tuck the birds in and had the flashlight. 

Winter and snow is here to stay. It also brought in some sub-zero temps.  The weather forecasters are predicting more snow Friday. The timing is good if it's going to be on the weekend.  No rush to get things cleaned out before going off to work. I think I've said every year for the last several years that I would be fine with one snow storm and that would be it. Clean it all up once and call it good. 

A girl can dream, right? 

A fun thing from the weekend was seeing a flock of wild turkeys near the house.  I haven't seen too many turkeys this year, except for a few times when I was sitting out in the hunting blind.  There is one spot close to town where the turkeys flock in HUGE numbers. I love seeing turkeys around the house and hope to one day have a flock of at least 50 birds in the area. 

Really, though, things have been quiet. Earlier this month I was out in the she shed and decided "I want to knit _____" and I saw a skein of yarn and thought "I wonder what that would look like knitted up as _______" so I grabbed the yarn, found my pattern and got to it. 

What did I make?  Well, I decided Furby Jr. needed a boyfriend. 

Don't they make a cute couple? Yes, he is a bit smaller than her. Remember, Furby was a big fluffy girl. 

He doesn't have a name yet. 

Furby Jr.'s Boyfriend

Project Name: Furby Jr.'s Boyfriend
Started: Jan. 3, 2025

Finished: Jan. 13, 2025

Designer/Source: Emotional Support Chicken 

Yarn: Red Heart "Favorite Stripe

Colors: Rainbow colors

Needle size: U.S. 5 (3.75 mm) 

The next morning, when I went out to the living room, those two birds were caught in a compromising position. I said "Furby! You naughty girl!"

She didn't look embarrassed.  I think she is thoroughly smitten with her new boytoy. 

Speaking of chickens, I have a chicken story. I thought it might be better told verbally than trying to write it down. 

Checking in

Hello, dear readers and friends.

It's been a minute since I last wrote a blog post. 

This afternoon I saw Chris of ChrisXrossStitch post an update video, kind of checking in, and I thought maybe I should do the same over here.  

I'm still here.  Unfortunately so is whatever has been ailing me.  I got sick in February.  Then developed an infection at the start of March, and it's still with me.  I thought I was better, and started to write a blog entry last week.  This past weekend I started feeling poorly again. 

So, while i'm doing better, I'm not 100 percent back to my old self.

My seed starting is no where near what it usually is. 

At this time last year my seedlings were overflowing and I had them in two bookshelf greenhouses. 

Crafting is still going at a much slower pace.  I'm plodding along, taking it easy and resting when I need to. 

I've shared a few projects and works in progress on my social media.  My heart hasn't really been in sharing. 

I did finish my Emotional Support Chicken. 

Isn't she adorable? 

Yes, I do call her Furby June.  Currently she has a prominent spot on the couch.  Sometimes when I'm talking to my hubby I crack comments about Furby approving or not, and then make the chicken noises. Yes, I'm hilarious and I crack myself up.  It doesn't hurt to not take yourself so seriously sometimes. 

Project Name: Emotional Support Chicken
Started: Feb. 13, 2024

Finished: April 12, 2024

Designer/Source: Knitting Tree LA

Yarn: Scrap yarns in my stash and Red Heart

Colors: Brown and Saffrom

Needle Size: US #7, 4.5 mm

Made For: myself. 

I would like to make at least one more. 

I've completed other projects but I'll save those for a different blog post or video. 

Which brings me to Youtube.  I have not been up to making a video.  Hopefully soon, but I make no promises. 

So, this is what is going on with me and why I've been quiet. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 Happy Valentine's to all. 

My husband and I celebrated with a meal at home.  He cooked filet mignon and I made a salad to go with it.  Homemade ice cream for dessert. 

My man can cook a great steak. 

In my Facebook memories for this day a photo of us from one of our first Valentine's Day dinners popped up.  

I know we went to a supper club that is well-known for it's prime rib. 

My mother-in-law took the photo and told us to have a good time. 

We were such wee babes.  

Here we are, 27 years later. 

We first met when I was working at Wendy's. I'd say it was love at first sight.  Though it probably didn't seem like it, at first. We exchanged phone numbers and talked on the phone for hours almost every night before we went out on first date. Our first date was memorable.  The engine on the old Monte Carlo caught on fire and we had to pull over, by Pattison Park, and pop the hood and throw sand on the block to extinguish the fire.  Yes, we did continue with the date and went to a pizza joint in a town I don't remember.  

He said when he drove me back home I jumped out of the car so fast he thought he'd never see me again.  I remember being so excited that I couldn't wait to get on the phone and call one of my girlfriends to tell her how the date went. 

Happy Valentine's to my soulmate, and that we have many, many more. 

I can say soulmate because we've been together *forever.*

In other news ... I've been feeling a bit low the last several days so I haven't been writing or posting the #fiberuarychallenge posts over on Instagram. The recent weather kinda blows and I think the barometric pressure is sapping my energy.  Then last night I didn't get a good nights rest. 

And since I can't sit still unless I'm sick in bed, I've been working on my quilt blocks. 

The next set of my Dancing Stars quilt blocks

 The next block in my Sandpiper quilt

I also started my Emotional Support Chicken.

Project Name: Emotional Support Chicken
Started: Feb. 13, 2024

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Knitting Tree LA

Yarn: Scrap yarns in my stash and Red Heart

Colors: Brown and Saffrom

Needle Size: US #7, 4.5 mm

Made For: myself. 

I also finished my Harvest Cardigan.  I'm saving it for the next podcast I record.  You will just have to wait to see it. 

Spinning fiber also happened.  Not as much as I would have liked. I'm falling behind! 

Oh! I did have some fun mail today.  I ordered a floor lamp for my spot in the living room. I think it's going to work out. It's nice and bright and it is positioned such that it's not blinding anyone else in the room. The price is also very reasonable.  Less than $40. 

Earlier today I went to town, to pick up mail at the office and take care of one thing.  I swung up to Harbor Freight and picked up a generator. 

Guess you could say it's a Valentine's Day gift for the man of the house. 

Experiencing setbacks and setting this week's goals

 Sunday afternoon I started working on the second sleeve of my Harvest cardigan. 

I knit and knit, and knit and knit. I may have knit almost all the way to bedtime, with a small break for playing Animal Crossing with some of my friends. 

So ... no finishing my cardigan by the end of the weekend.  That's okay.  No biggie, right. 

Yesterday, after dinner, I settled in my chair and knit some more ... I was tempted to push through and knit the last five inches so all I would have to do today was binding off and attaching the button. 

This morning I finished the last decrease repeat and measured the arm.  It was at the correct length so I just needed to switch needle size and knit the cuff. 

I opened my needle case and the slot for the needles I needed was empty. 

I knit almost the entire sleeve with the wrong size needles.  

That has been my crafting life since the new year started.  I don't even get it.  When I'm crafting I don't  feel stressed, or really any pressure to get the project done. Why do I keep having these issues? 

So at 6 a.m. I ripped back 16 inches worth of sleeve. I did compare the two sleeves and there was an obvious difference in gauge.  I know I would have never been happy with it as it was. 

Tonite, after dinner, I picked up the stitches and knit a few rounds.  I decided to call it for the night. Give myself a break from it. 

 Sooooo .... my goals for this week is to reknit the second sleeve and finish spinning the fiber that I didn't finish spinning in January. 

I'm going to take a bit of a break from most everything tonite, though.  

Tonite, I'm going to toss on "Community" and sew together the leftoever squares from my daydream wall quilt.  

I'm short two white squares.  I have no idea how I wound up with extra half-square triangles.  They will be ripped apart and pieced together to make full white blocks.  I'm thinking mug rug? Small pillow? Still deciding.

In other news for the day I had to make a run to town and the office.  I made the rounds to the stores and found the yarn I wanted for making the emotional support chicken. 

These two colors are probably the closest I will find for Furby's colors. I can start knitting the emotional support chicken at any time. 

I also picked up a string of fairy lights for the she shed. 

They need to be adjusted still. I'm sort of wishing I had picked up a longer string.  Oh well.  It is a nice pop of color and sparkle. 

One of the ladies at my work building called me about noon today.  There was some excitement after I had left. 

One of the guys had just returned from the post office.  He came through the front door and a moment later there was a terrific crash of glass breaking.  Some lady was going through the area and smashing windows of businesses and houses.  She's been arrested.  That is all I know. 

Someone from my work building posted a photo online. I was able to see the damage. 

It's not the first time there has been "excitement in my work building neighborhood.  I'm sure it won't be the last.