On a Walk

On a walk 7 years ago today I saw this plant in all its springtime glory. The exuberance of spring is always amazing to me. In our yard now the yellow flowers are coming out in the Palo Verde tree and the bees are loving it and the hibiscus in the backyard is blooming.

Most exciting to me, maybe because I am easily impressed, is that our lemon tree has fruit on it for the first time since it was planted. I am so looking forward to having fresh lemons just outside the door. Maybe I'll even have enough to share. 

I'll be busy in other places for a bit so I will try, note to self - please do it, to get pictures of all this good stuff when I have more time for such activities in a couple weeks. 

Over on X I am posting wildflower affiliate links from Amazon today. You might see something you like there.

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb

Always Something New

I finished a baby blanket recently, the teal one that I showed you here in this post. By finished I mean the knitting is done but the ends need to be woven in and I am considering a steam block too. I am a little afraid of trying that but you only live once, right? 

The new start you see above is a bold and cheerful red. Another baby blanket and I have yarn and patterns for a few more because I don't know how to stop making stuff. The pattern is called Making Plans. I am very pleased with the pattern and my knitting of it so far. If you want to check about more patterns like this, the designer, on Ravelry where I bought my pattern, is Fifty Four Ten Studio. I bought 3 patterns because at the time I am writing this, if you buy 3 or more patterns you get 15% off your order. To make up my 3 I also got Stay On The Ridge and Piece of Home afghan patterns. The nice thing about these besides the lovely design work is that you get information to make these afghans in multiple sizes from very small baby to large blankets. I love having this when I am looking at afghan patterns! And if blankets aren't your thing check out the pillows, small things or hats, scarfs and shawls patterns.

Hey, if you are starting or finishing or even thinking about making a great pattern from a Ravelry designer share all about it in the comments. Let's inspire each other!

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb

On This Day

On this day in 2011 I got my first ever up close view of American Bison. At the time I was living in an area that was on the migration path for elk and bison. These animals would flow between Grand Teton and Yellowstone Parks and the National Elk Refuge. They went to the parks in the spring and to the refuge in the winter.

We did not approach the bison that day. Just a hint, you should never get in their space on purpose. That is considered harassment and is dangerous. Stressing winter weary animals by doing that is not cool at all. They came to us and flowed around our stopped car. We just stayed in place so they could safely go on their way.

Isn't he majestic?

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb

This Weekend

Following a week of coming home from a sister visit, planning for a trip later this year and in my head packing for another trip sooner than that, this weekend looks blissfully empty. I will fill it up with something of course but what will that be? Who knows.

Jim is starting to make sense of the software that runs his laser machine. That is good. We have found that if he works inside the ventilation needs to be top notch. Yesterday he set off the smoke alarm a couple times. Learning as we go.

I like to have pictures with my posts but today I don't. I have been slacking off on my intention of writing daily. This is my attempt to get back in the habit because the writing and not necessarily the pictures are the most important part of the process of having a blog to me. It is part of my brain training for old age and I am now less than 2 years from 70 and in my mind that is old.

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb

A Cochet Memory From Long Ago

16 years ago, in 2008, I was working on this afghan. It was being made for a young lady in Utah. Her mother had contacted me to see if I could create something pretty and girly for her. I found a pattern for a flower centered granny square. I edged the blocks in pink and white. Each of the flowers was different. I think I did a layout of 5 by 6 squares so that is 30 flowers with no 2 alike. I had quite the stash of baby weight yarn back then and this project helped use a lot of it up.

The only reason I have pictures of it is because I emailed them to the mom for final approval and payment and they ended up being backed up in my Google Photos. So much of what I have made over the years is not in pictures anywhere. I do hope that this project lasted long enough through childhood that is served its comforting purpose well.

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb

I Wonder...

Sometimes we stay in hotels. If you follow this blog you know that. I like and am sure it is reasonable to think it is not too high an expectation, for the room I check into to be dusted. I know hotel housekeeping is not an easy job. I assume the list for each room would include scrubbing the bathroom, made up the beds, vacuum the carpet and dust the furniture and appliances in the room and maybe more. 

This is the top of the coffee maker in the room. The lamps here look much the same. The bathroom does look clean thank goodness. 

I wonder when the last time was someone wiped off the coffee maker in our room for the night. Hmmmm?

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb

Christmas Thoughts in April

I am in a never-ending mission or so it seems, to use up what I have accumulated over the years in my craft insanity supplies. I found a partial ball of a discontinued color of South Maid crochet thread. I looked everywhere for more of this red, white and blue thread I could think of and couldn't find any for sale. This is it for my stars in this theme and it should be something you won't find anywhere else. This red, white and blue told me it needed to be stars for a patriotic themed Christmas tree. Does your yarn tell you what it wants to be or is that just me?

Distractable me with many other WIPs all over my craft tables in different project bags had to start the idea right away. I have found 2 star patterns in my stash of Christmas ornament patterns. What you see below are my first efforts.

I found some other colors to make my stars in and they can be made into sets of ornaments to sell at craft shows later this year. Now I have to get stiffening supplies to finish them up and little boxes to put them in for protection and maybe some tissue paper to make the boxes pretty. Getting more stuff to help use up stuff isn't that crazy, is it? 

Back with more again soon.

Take care and stay cozy!

If you shop on Amazon you can use the affiliate link below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you!

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb