Thursday...............these are TOO CUTE!!!!!!

Yes, once again, instead of doing my housework (Ha! Ha!) I was out strolling the internet....AGAIN!  Surprise, surprise! LOL!  But I came upon this wonderful gal that crochets the cutest darn things and has tutorials for FREE!  She's amazing!  Her website is Annaboo's House and she has three versions of this cute crocheted little critter and she has wonderful instructions for all 3 of them.  Above is the kitty........ and below is the monkey.............

and finally the dolly................

I just LOVE them!  Now, I know some of you are going to be thinking...."didn't she say she was going to finish an old project before she starts a new one?" ........and you are exactly right except for one little "gotcha".   I am finishing my wool applique quilt..........BTW......here's some progress.......

See?  I finished all the blanket stitching and now I have some embroidery to do on it.  There are also embellishments that go on the blocks but that will be done after it is quilted which makes it easier for the machine quilter and the machine!  Since this block is almost done I need to plan the next one and get out my wools and see if there are any colors I need to dye.     
But that is in the category of wool applique.  If you remember, in the category of crochet, I just finished the Ripple blanket/throw.  What does that mean?  It means I get to start a new crochet project!!!!!  Yay!  Hurrah!  You see there are THE CATEGORIES......and they are 1) crochet 2) knitting 3) wool applique 4) sewing 5) quilting and 6) embroidery which would include crewel, cross stitch, needlepoint, and any other kind of embroidery.   So, you see, I didn't break any rules and I was SAVED by the CATEGORIES!!!!!  You didn't REALLY think I could only work on one project at a time, did you?  Heavens no!  LOL!
But I need to order some cotton yarn which the dolls above are stitched  with.  I'll keep you informed with "up to the minute" progress reports so stay tuned!  Thanks for your comments, encouragement and inspiration....y'all keep me going!

I was on a roll yesterday...........

I finally finished the family room yesterday.  It's been an ongoing project because I was also going through a lot of paperwork and my desk and books etc.  This room is where I spend most of my time.  Just about everything but bathing and cooking takes place in this room therefore it's hard to stay on top of it and keep it organized.  But finally yesterday I even got to the point where I could cut the magnetic strips to lay down for Edna's "boundaries (my robotic vacuum) and I "let that pony run"!  That Edna is a whiz and I do love her so!  If you're wondering what's on the telly....it's The Walton's!  They are my dream family!  I love that show.

I was on the internet and the phone yesterday more than normal.   I needed to order candles before it gets too hot to mail them.  I'm almost out so I ordered a bunch.  I love McCalls and then I found some called Aunt Sadie which had some interesting scents like fresh cut grass so I had to order that!  I like candle scents to match the seasons like I do decorating and cooking as much as possible.  I think the seasons are God's way of keeping us from getting bored and complacent.  It works for me!

I also had some problems with my insurance as my rheumatologist had not called them back and they could not get a hold of him.  I'm concerned now as he is from Syria and the last time I talked to him (before all the turmoil there) he was trying to get the rest of his family over here.  I have to call today and I am so afraid of what might have happened to him and his family.  He went back about every 3 months.  It's a small country and there are few there that this horrific violence hasn't touched.  I still find it hard to believe that we and the rest of the world allow these awful things to take place.  I don't understand all the "how or why" but I do know that killing innocent people is WRONG.  Maybe more people need to watch The Waltons.  I know...I shouldn't complain but try to do something but I'm older and sick and back in the day I DID do something; I marched for Women's rights and equal pay, I participated in fighting for black rights and equality, all peacefully.  But now it's time for the next generation to take the baton and I pray they do because I'm tired and disappointed and sometimes it almost looks like we've regressed.      
I apologize that this post is not very "uplifting" but as The Queen says....."Keep calm and carry on!".  Have a great day!

Monday musing about a great organizational tool!

Can you tell what this is?  Have you ever seen one before?  It's a product I love almost as much as my Edna (my NEATO robotic vacuum).  It is made by Discgear and it hold discs.  Simple but amazing.  They have all kinds of models but this particular one holds 50 discs and has an album that will hold the disc paper covers so you still have all your information.  This is not a new technology as I remember phone listings like this when I was a child but it's new for holding discs.  When you press the button it opens like this and very gently I might add.....

 Can you see at the top that one disc is being held up?  Where ever the lower lever is positioned is what disc will be picked out for you to take....it practically hands it to you.   Below is a slim drawer that pulls out from underneath and it holds a paper copy of all your discs and where they're located in the Discgear holder.

 You can write them in manually or..........

 you can use their software to fill in and then print a copy for your drawer.

I apologize for the pc screen photos but that's as good as I could get.  Suffice it to say, there are all sorts of categories and drop down menus to organize your discs any way you want.  I thought I would use this one for pc software discs and educational discs.  I'll be buying another one for music and one for movies.   

 You can print this out and put it in that drawer underneath your Discgear and it will also get backed up on my pc when I do my weekly backup.   They come in all different sizes and colors.  This model holds 50, it's plastic made to look like burlwood and it comes with the album (which of course I couldn't seem to lay my hands on now that I'm blogging about it...dang!) and the software.  They have a website www.discgear.com although I had a hard time with this link in blogger I was able to use the same address and access it from Google search....whatever.

They have bigger models, ones without albums to go with and other colors and styles. I happened to get mine through QVC when they had it as a special value.  Not only do i love the fact that I finally have a way to organize all my discs but it also protects them from getting scratched, lost and I can get rid of all those plastic cases they come in which saves lots of room.  They take up much less space in the discgear than they do in those cases.   I always like to hear from REAL people who get a product they love and so I try to do the same here and spread the word about a great organizational tool! Hope you're having a marvelous Monday!

Time to take a Sunday spin aound the country................

This is our first stop.............Nancy Jo's house in New York state.  Nancy Jo was the first blog I ever knew about I think and she introduced me to the wonderful world of blogging through getting to know her on Mary Jane's Farm chat room.  Nancy Jo has a knack for decorating and all things "homey".  Look at that porch!  Don't you just want to walk up there and sit down?  I wish she was my next door neighbor!  And I know she'd serve us some good coffee and something sweet as she's always baking up goodies.
Nancy Jo also collects buttons and don't we all LOVE us some buttons!  She has LOTS of them! 

On top of that, she's always having drawings where you can win wonderful vintage things that she generously gives away!  Look at that cute stuff!  This was her most recent one.

...

 In addition, she's an excellent needlewoman and embroiders beautiful linens, towels, pillows and pictures.  Here's just a sample.........

 Did I mention she's a thrift store junky too?  She's an expert at that and gets the best bargains of anyone I've ever known!  She also has a knack for displaying her items beautifully throughout her lovely home.  

 

Nancy Jo also has many beautiful antiques she's inherited from both sides of her family and her heritage runs way back....I think her relatives were here before the pilgrims but I could be wrong.  Please stop by and visit her.  You will be inspired by her talent and ability to make a house a home.

Next stop is..........some Mennonite girlfriends  I made...........

These gals are amazing!  It's all about home cooking and many recipes that have been passed down for generations.  They even have their own published cookbook (in the center above) which you can get on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.  They're also always coming up with new recipes too like this Tuscan soup recipe which is just like the one at Olive Garden!  YUM!

  
Or how about these salt and pepper chicken wings............just in time for grilling season!

 Some rhubarb chantilly cream pie for dessert?  Oh be still my growling tummy! Their blog is done as a group with each one taking turns each day for a post.  They also have posts on cooking for a crowd with recipes scaled for that and tips on their favorite kitchen tools, etc. 

On Sundays they always have a post called "Bread for the Journey" which is always inspiring and meant to give you spiritual sustenance for the coming week.

These gals are not only great cooks but wonderful women who "walk their talk" and it is always a delight to visit them and see what they've been cooking up!  Thanks gals for all you do!

Next is Jennifer from Town and Country Living.  I came across Jennifer and discovered she lived in an area where I had spent many years, in the Fox River Valley in Northern Illinois.  Come to find out, her husband went to school with my sister-in-law!  Small world this blogging community!  Jennifer is pure delight!  She lives in a beautiful area and shares her love of homes and heritage with us like her recent visit to a neighboring town where she took photos of beautiful old homes like this one................  

 Did I  mention she's a fabulous decorator too?  Her home and decorating skills rival some of the best magazines out there!  Who needs to subscribe to magazines when you have blogs like hers?

Jennifer is also a "makeover" artist as evidenced by this sweet piece she redid.  How precious is that?  I swear, there isn't anything this gal can't do!  She made those curtains too.....of course! LOL!

 

 And for the "feast de resistance"...how about her bathroom?  I can't stand it!  I have always wanted a claw foot tub and I don't think you could surpass this one!  Of course she did the blue cupboard on the right....need you even ask? LOL!     

Thank you to all my inspiring friends that we visited today.....now if I could only get my act together and absorb some of their talent!  Have a great and inspiring Sunday everyone!  Thank you to all of you who stop by and comment.  It means the world to me! 

Picked up my wool applique again..........

This is the center block of my felted wool applique quilt.  I made a resolution this year..well, I've probably made it for several years.  The resolution was to not start a new project until I finished an old one or as we like to call it in the business....a UFO (Unfinished Object).  I also have divided my "crafts" into sewing, crochet, knitting and quilting and needlework which would include handwork such as my applique and embroidery.  I just finished my crocheted ripple blanket so according to the rules I have set down for myself,  I could have started a new crochet project.   Instead I chose to do some handwork/needlework and finish an "old" project that I put down...a UFO.   So, in front of God and the entire blogging community, I hereby promise to finish this folk art quilt before I start any other handwork  or needlework.  There, I said it! Oh boy...that wasn't easy! 
There is the center block and 12 surrounding blocks plus 4 appliqued and embroidered borders.  I have completed the center block and 8 surrounding blocks so I have 4 more blocks and the borders remaining.
Some of you may remember me having posted about these blocks awhile ago.

And block #8 that I am presently working on..........

Hope you're having a great Friday and are planning on having a wonderful weekend!  What are you working on?