Change Of Seasons

 Change of Seasons

Winter changing into spring here in East Tennessee means you never know what kind of weather the day will bring.

Last Monday I woke up and made a loaf of bread before going into work. Once I arrived at work, I logged into my computer only to realize that we were under a tornado watch,

Which made for a very interesting Monday morning at work. That being said the bread was delicious and when I got home from work I found the 2025 Mahjongg cards in my mailbox. 

Just taking it one moment at a time ...

Strawberry Jam

 Strawberry Jam

One of the quilt kits that I purchased last year. This quilt project isn't one of my favorites, no matter how I look at this quilt top it doesn't look right to me.

Basically, the strawberries don't look like strawberries to me. I checked and double checked the pattern and my construction of blocks in the pattern and I have followed the pattern correctly. Still it just doesn't look right to me. 

😕

March Flew By And April Snuck Up On Me

 March Flew By and April Snuck Up On Me

Time absolutely gets away from me. 

March A Blur

 March A Blur

March flew by in a blur ... lots of birthdays to celebrate, a bit of sock knitting, quilting, a little doll making, watercolor painting, and spring cleaning.

😀

It Has Become A Thing

 It Has Become A Thing

I have to say that so far my 60's have not been as enjoyable as I had anticipated.

I was reading the back of an over the counter pain relief tablet that I have been taking for the pain in my wrists, and it basically says if you are 60 do not take without speaking with your physician. So that's a thing now ... I need to consult my physician before I do any thing. Try a new exercise regime, take a pain relief tablet, change my toothpaste or deodorant ...

I am not a fan ...

That being said, I've been experiencing a lot of wrist and hand pain in both of my hands but especially in my left hand. I'm assuming carpal tunnel but again I will have to consult my physician ... UGH!

Recently, I purchased a compression glove and wrist support wrap. By the end of the day, work day or sewing room day, my left wrist is really weak and painful.

The wrist support wrap stabilizes my wrist in one position and helps with the pain. I have a Doctor's appointment at the beginning of April and I will be consulting with him about my wrists and hands. Hopefully a little physical therapy and I will be as good as new.

fingers crossed 🤞

 

Rainy Sock Knitting Weekend

Rainy Sock Knitting Weekend

Our weather has been unpredictable ... I wasn't expecting a rainy weekend but I took advantage of the time the rainy weather provided sock knitting.

It was nice to be able to finish two pairs of socks in one weekend.

I make these cuff down socks for my sister for her birthday. Or at least I have made her these socks for her last two birthdays. These socks are more like house shoes, thick socks to be worn around the house when your toes are chilly.

I have been working on this toe up pair of socks for awhile.

I love this pattern and make it quite a bit.

The self striping yarn is Felicini by Knit Picks

www.knitpicks.com

I've already started another pair of toe up socks but I'm going to use a different knitted pattern for the leg of the sock.

Temperature Blanket 2025

 Temperature Blanket 2025

At the new year I began noting the temperature high for the day. Initially I began doing this as part of my journaling.

Above are the yarns that I chose for my temperature blanket.

It has been so cold here that I will need to stock up on the first 4 colors of yarn already!

I used masking tape to mark the temperature range on each color of yarn.

White will be used to begin and end the blanket. I will also be used to divid the months.

The temperature ranges are as follows

0 - 19 degrees

20 - 29 degrees

30 - 39 degrees

40 - 49 degrees

50 - 59 degrees

60 - 69 degrees

70 - 79 degrees

80 - 89 degrees

90 - 99 degrees

100 + degrees

When I began noting the daily temperature, making a Temperature Blanket was not my goal but now it is. Temperature blankets are not my idea by any means. People have been making these for years and years. Quilters are also making Temperature Quilts.

Curly Girl

 Curly Girl

I have spent my entire life straightening my hair.

Via Chemicals, hot rollers, and tons of different hair products. Last year I decided to give up the fight and embrace my curly hair.

I'm still getting used to the curly look. Surprisingly it's such a different look for me that I can't decide if I like it or not.

I like the ease of my naturally curly hair but there are years of styling my hair that is hard to let go of. There is a comfort associated with the process of styling my hair daily ... a process I feel I have perfected over all of these many years.

Puzzled

 PUZZLED

I love games and puzzles and coloring in coloring books. I feel very fortunate that I grew up before iPhones, computers, and social media.

I have been enjoying working on a puzzle in the evenings as of late. Relaxing my mind one puzzle piece at a time.

No internet, computer, or iPhone required.

Just brain power and the pleasure of simple relaxing play.

Celebrating My Girl

Celebrating My Girl

My baby girl will be 33 years old on Wednesday! We celebrated her birthday yesterday.

We had lunch at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, then off to the Nail Salon for manicures and pedicures. Then we stopped by Joann's and the Dollar Tree, ending the day at the Euro Bakery and Market.

We had a wonderful day celebrating my girl.

Searching For Spring

 Searching for Spring

As winter continues, I look to my kitchen window garden for signs of spring, growth, and renewal.

This plant was recently given to me from a friend a play mahjongg with.

I rooted this little guy. I have no idea what kind of plant it is. At my office there is a plant that no one has been taking care of. It had several limbs that were drooping over the side. I trimmed all of those limbs and kept one root and plant.

I just repotted my jade plant. This little plant has flourished beyond belief.

For whatever reason, this jade plant love the kitchen window.

Strawberry Jam Quilt Kit

 Strawberry Jam Quilt Kit

Another quilt kit by Westwood Acres 

Cozy in my sewing room I decided to begin a new quilt project. 

I picked this project due to the theme.

Strawberries make me think of Spring ... and with all of this cold cold weather, I needed a little bit of spring. Or at least the idea of spring.

February 2025

 February 2025

Happy February, Happy Birthday to my daughter, and Happy Valentine's Day

Love to you all!

💖💖💖

Are you up to the February Monthly Challenge?

Denim and Lace

 Denim and Lace

The first finished quilt of 2025

💙💙💙

I love this quilt.

This quilt is made from a kit that I purchased from Westwood Acres

The beautiful machine quilting was provided by a dear friend here locally.

I love the patch work, the fabrics, and the pattern.

2025 Monthly Money Saving Challenges

 2025 Monthly Money Saving Challenges

I came across this list of challenges and shared it with my sister. She has agreed to do these monthly challenges with me so that we can hold each other accountable.

I won't lie, January has been a really tough one for me. I enjoy eating out. Also, for me, eating out is often more economical for me than buying groceries.

Especially these days with grocery prices as high as they are.

Sock Knitting Season

 Sock Knitting Season

Snowy weather and sock knitting go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Cuff down on double pointed needles, the first sock is complete and the second sock has been cast on.

Toe up socks in the round in self striping yarn.

Just beginning the cable motif on the leg of the sock. This is my second pair of socks with the cable. I was intimidated by this pattern because of the cable but cabling is surprisingly easy.

Sock knitting and my favorite tea in my favorite cup.

When HECK Freezes Over

 When HECK Freezes Over

4 degrees! This has been the coldest January in a long time. Now that the South has frozen over ... I have been searching the skies for flying pigs!!

As cold as it is, the snow is very peaceful, beautiful and quiet. Even more so when I am home from work and I don't have to get out and drive in the icy, snowy mess.

The neighborhood is quiet and oh so beautiful.

The snow is even more beautiful when looked upon from the comfort of my warm home.

We only got a little over an inch in my neighborhood but there is ice under all of that beautiful snow.

Red/White Checkerboard Quilt Top

 Red/White Checkerboard Quilt Top

My obsession with red and white quilts continues.

This scrappy red/white checkerboard quilt started out as a stack of orphaned 9 patch blocks, a few fussy cut motif blocks, and two other orphan blocks I found along the way.

I love being able to incorporate orphan blocks into my scrappy quilt projects. No orphan block left behind!

😂😂😂

The first quilt top finish of 2025

Childhood Memories

 Childhood Memories

My mom used to make orange juice from concentrate in a glass juice pitcher. As a person who lives alone I rarely buy juice of any kind because I never finish an entire container before it goes bad. Then I remembered that we always had tubes of orange juice from concentrate in our freezer when I was growing up. 

Mom would take one out of the freezer the evening before and put it in the refrigerator to thaw for the next morning. While grocery shopping I decided to pick up a few tubes of orange juice. I can happily confirm that it does indeed taste exactly like it did when I was a kid.

We had a juice pitcher like the one above ... actually, I think everyone had one of these juice pitchers. I remember my Aunt Marie had one and few other family members as well.

Next time I'm out thrifting I'm going to see if I can't find one of these juice pitchers, because I will definitely continue buying juice concentrate.

Preparedness

 Preparedness

I have a N.O.A.A. solar crank radio that I keep charged and close at hand just in case the power goes out. I have taken to filling up all of my water bottles (cups) with water ... just in case. I always have plenty of shelf stable pantry items.

I usually never have to use any of these items but I have them ... just in case.