324/366: My Poor Camera

I just went to see what pictures I had taken to show you tonight.

It is blank.

Not one picture.

I even looked through my files.  I've shown you everything.

How about a picture of a pony?

 

Source: flickr.com via Sandi on Pinterest

I'll be back on picture duty soon.  I've been spending my days of late putting zippers and snaps and eye glints on my purses for the show.  I have half of what is made completely finished, for that I am grateful.  But there is one problem.

I think I'm allergic to wool.  Ever since I started finishing these bags, which includes trimming, I've been sneezing and stuffy and adding "b" to the end of every word.  How can this be?

The problem seems to arise when I trim the wool.  The fibers float under my nose, past my eyes and in my mouth. 

I recall saying thinking I was allergic to wool a couple years ago when I was doing this very same task.  Trimming more than two purses at a time, kicks my allergies into high alert.

Off to take another allergy pill and power through the remaining six bags...

Where are my tissues?

323/366: Mayans

My husband and Mother-In-Law have been talking about the end of the world for quite some time. Perhaps "end of the world" is a bit extreme, but some substantial change. No one knows what it is. Environmental, societal, or perhaps the fall of some great fixture in our American life.

Hostess...are you of Mayan descent?

322/366: A Bargain...if You Like Them

That's $50 per BOX, people!

If you want to make some quick cash, go buy out the Hostess shop.  Many times on eBay sellers will list stuff at crazy amounts.  Guess what?  This one has 28 people bidding on these twinkies!

That's crazy.

This is why my Learning Didj Game isn't selling.  The Twinkies are a hot commodity.  Who needs to learn when there is a Hostess crisis?

Even though I can't eat these things and I don't buy them for my kids, I think the Ho Ho is being gravely underestimated.  That Ho Ho is a gem!

321/366: Morning Solo

Last night, the boys (all three of them) went to the Zoo Snooze.  Catching some roars and Zzz with the animals.  Sleeping on air mattresses in the building, with the animals. 

They went with the Cub Scouts.  I stayed back.  It was costly, but mostly because I'm a snorer.  I snore louder than the lions roar.  Or at least that's what Tom makes me out to sound like.

I also wanted the boys to have some time together.  Luckily, Tom worked some magic at the pharmacy and was able to move his work days around to make this happen.

And me?  I went to my parent's house and hung out for a while.  Attached two snaps on purses, then went to Wegmans.

Yup.  I grocery shopped when I had a night to myself.  I live a crazy life over here!

320/366: It's Beginning to Look...

Source: ullamaijahanninen.net via Marta on Pinterest

...like Christmas.

I love the steering wheel on the sled.  I think a tree like that would be perfect some year.

Source: magicalnaturetour.tumblr.com via Marta on Pinterest

This is the cutest outhouse.  I bet the seat is chilly, though!

Source: millashem.blogspot.com via Marta on Pinterest

The simplicity in this vignette is superb.  I only wish I could pull a rusty lantern, old ice skates and a pine bough and make something this inviting.

I am looking forward to the start of holiday decorating on December 3rd...if I can hold the boys off that long.

319/366: German Love

I received my very first Christmas Gift today!

I have a very special friend that happened to be on her way to Germany to visit family.   I had expressed my love for the German Christmas Pyramids and how much I've wanted one.  I asked if she could find one for me that wasn't too too expensive, I'd gladly pay.

Unfortunately, it was a bit too early for the Christmas season over in Germany...apparently we Americans are so fond of Christmas we decorate in October.  However, she was able to spot this adorable little pyramid in a department store.

I love it.  And I love her.  Well, her lack of technology prowess disappoints me a bit, but that's okay.  She is old school.  Phone and letters.

Just the way it should be.

Merry Christmas!

318/366: Hash and Bread

Both these food photos are the same hue, so you get a double dose today.

Last week I made another loaf of my gluten free banana bread.  This time I used cup for cup of Bob's Red Mill Gluten free flour, and added 1/2 cup of Chia Seed.  I usually use Chia flour, but that messes with the flour blend.

One food that I haven't made in a while is pork hash with sauerkraut.  This is a dish that I learned from Tom, my mom would never eat sauerkraut, let alone cook with it.  So I sear the pork tenderloin, then put it in the crock pot with a can/jar of sauerkraut and a dozen chopped potatoes.

That is a good meal on it's own.  But the leftovers are better.  Adding some butter to the pan and salt and pepper, I chop up all the leftovers and put them back in the pan.  Getting some pieces nice and crispy is my favorite part.

It's so delicious.


Making anything good lately?

317/366: Sunny

If these past two weeks are any indication of how procrastination works with me, I'll be in good shape for the Open Studios Show in less than three weeks.

This bag marks number 15 in the purse category. I still have three more bag foundation parts made from the knitting machine.

Tomorrow, it's sewing time. All those vintage fabrics I've picked up in the last two years are finally going to see the sewing machine. In the evenings, I'll still have time to put the finishing touches on the purses.

Until next time...happy yarning!

316/366: Curly

I'm definitely getting faster on these bags when I use the knitting machine.

This is Curly. Why Curly? No reason, except that it sounds less scary than RipJaw, which was the suggestion of Little Man.

What a beautiful day in Buffalo, NY. Temperatures in the low 70's. November 11th-Buffalo-70's! Good stuff.

315/366: A New Place

Last week, after we cleaned the carpets, I decided it was time for a furniture rotation.

The bar that my Dad made from old wooden pallets was displaced by our new 65 gallon fish tank. The bar was used once per year as an actual bar. The other 364 days it was used as a shelf for crap.

So, the crap shelf was out. But out wasn't as easy done as said. It's always been a part of my parents' house, or my brother's house, and now mine. I had planned on giving it back to my parents. My Dad then said he was going to throw it away. No! Then we thought of moving it into the family room...eh.

As I was cleaning out the dining room to wash the carpets, I pushed and shimmied this monster across my carpet to a short wall in our living room.

Not only did it fit, but it's as if it was always meant to be there.

What I have found out by this small adjustment, is that I've opened up three seats that were highly underutilized, which in turn has created a cozier space for my family where we hang out and have "family time".

It's amazing what moving some furniture can do for the family unit.

314/366: New Do

I may have gotten a little color happy and just said, "yes, very red."

It looked so pretty on the little loop or fake hair, not so much on me.

It's a little too fake red in the front. I love the top. After a couple more washings, I think it will fade nicely.

And... It's only hair.

313/366: Off the Hook

The picture isn't all that great, but you get the idea.

Really happy with this one.  I think I have finally mastered the shrinkage percentage horizontally and vertically (they are different!).

I was hoping to have small ornaments with vintage lace patterns imprinted on them, but they just don't seem like me.  I'm not happy with the quality and so I'm sticking with what I know.  Fabric and yarn.

Setting up the knitting machine for four more bases for bags and maybe do a few more small purses, then on to Blanquilts and Stockings. 

I really enjoy the pressure of getting ready for a show.  I feel exhilarated and feel that I'm using my time wisely.  No falling asleep on the couch...unless it's with a hook in hand (which happened last night at 11:38pm), no sitting around watching tv without a hook in hand.  

This has all reminded me of what I love to do.  Not having to report to a desk every day has made me so happy and fortunate.  I'm loving these past weeks and the next couple to come.

Christmas is coming...I can feel it in the air! 

312/366: Catch Up

I missed another day!  Oops.  This Postaday is tough, but I'm almost there.  I remember the night I decided to do it...Gretchen, why didn't you talk me out of it?

I would have done it anyway.  I love the challenge.

Yesterday, I cleaned the living room.  Today I did the dining room and moved the furniture around in the living room.  I really like it.

It makes me open to other improvements in the house, like our baseboards.  We never painted them when we painted the walls seven or eight years ago.  Sad.  They are still boy's locker room blue with scratches all over.  One task at a time.

What I wanted to look up was this picture I took November 23 of last year.

My strong Christmas Cactus, aka Thanksgiving Cactus, is at it again.  The tiniest of buds are forming on the tips of the leaves. 

I showed the boys, "What?  We have a cactus?  When will it look like a cactus?"

I'll turn their thumbs green eventually.