Talk about turning your life upside down. The bedroom I worked so hard to clean out and fix up is now the receptacle for everything that had been in the kitchen. For one week my bedroom stood in for my kitchen. I put the microwave and coffee pot in there so it was convenient to get to. Dishes were washed in the bathroom sink. Nothing new to some of you, I'm sure. I have started putting some things back, but I can't really finish up until the workmen are completely finished. There is just a little left to be done, but enough to hold up the return moving.
At the same time, I am de-cluttering as well. What is no longer used or needed, but in very good condition, is going to either Good Will or the Salvation Army. The "stuff" that is just that, stuff, is going into the trash. I have found things that in 22 years I don't remember ever using, and to be honest, until I emptied out the kitchen, I didn't even know I had the item. Specifically a very cute little Corning-ware casserole dish with lid. But I am sure if I didn't know I had it, and didn't need it over the last 22 years, I definitely can live without it now. Don't you agree? This is why I have not been posting. I will try and do better from now on.
On to something I have done.
Since I have no grandchildren, I am borrowing my BFF's grandchildren this year, and knitting them each a Winter set. Hat, mittens and Twisty Scarf. The hat is a generic 2x2 rib patterned hat, and a basic generic pattern for the mittens too. The scarf is Twisty Scarf by Natalie Wilson.
The wool is Patons SWS soy wool stripes,color 70312. I used a US 8, 24" Harmony Options needles for the scarf, US 4 for the mittens and US 6 for the hat. I also did not follow the scarf pattern exactly. The pattern is for a 16 stitch or 28 stitch wide scarf. When I knit to the 28 stitch pattern, I ran out of yarn. And the 16 stitch was just a hair too thin, so I modified it just a bit and went with 20 stitches wide, following directions for the 16 stitch version. I had more than enough yarn and it is wide enough for an 8 year old girl. I chose this pattern for a scarf because of the keyhole feature, making it much easier to keep it on and covering the neck as intended. I have a few more sets to knit, and then my Xmas knitting will be done.
A while back I had knitted the Multnomah scarf by Kate Flagg, as a grab-bag gift at our last meeting of the Woodland Weavers and Spinners Guild this past Saturday, Nov. 21st. Well, I got a little confused, it seems. It was suggested that for next year's final meeting that we bring a hand-made gift item for a grab-bag exchange. So I was just a bit early with my gift. All wrapped up too. So now it will sit on the shelf until next year, and I just hope I remember where I stashed it when I need it again. haha
Now to something more seasonal.
When my Xmas cactus decides to bloom, it really blooms. The first flower opened up the day before Halloween, as I mentioned a few posts back, and it has just opened more and more daily. It gets no special treatment. I water it once a week, year round. And it sits in the same spot year round as well.
The adorable little flying squirrels have continued to visit my little bird feeder by the window, daily, after the sun goes down. I guess it is quite likely they have been raiding my bird feeders for years, but I just didn't know about it. All of the other feeders are away from the house and It would be impossible to see anything feeding at them after dark unless I had spotlights set up on them, which I don't. I'm really glad now that I bought this new feeder to hang on my window, or I would have lived my entire life missing this wonderful little visitor.
I guess that is all for today. I want to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving. Take care and keep well. :)
7 comments:
Ha, kitchen renovations! I know ALL about it!!! I almost walked out on hubby some years ago, when we still had the old house, and we had planned a new kitchen, even ordered it, and then he sent me and the kids home on summervacation with my parents. A couple of weeks later I got a phonecall: We casn't put the kitchen here, the old wooden (timber)walls are just too pretty to hide behind a kitchen. So when we came home, we had a tiny bathroom,1.5mx1.5m, and no kitchen,no sink, the fridge was put in our living room, which was empty...no stove, no nothing!!! we eventually made a temporary kitchen under the stairs, and had to start all over again with kitchenplans...It turned out great in the end though!
What a cute set for the borrowed grandchildren!
Happy Thanksgiving.
Uh-oh--we are just about to start a major kitchen renovation. One of the things I keep thinking is, "I hope this doesn't take away my precious little daily knitting time!"
I know it will be worth it in the end, but I anticipate headaches to come...
What a good feeling to clean out the stuff, and good luck with your renovations.
Love the knitted set, how nice of you to adopt those kids and aren't they lucky :)
Good to hear from you and Happy Thanksgiving!
Glad you're back and well! Ick! Kitchen renovations; I remember them without fondness.. the results, however, are usually worth the distress.
The knitting looks great and I am totally envious of your Christmas cactus. Mine hasn't bloomed in years.
The set is adorable. I love 2x2 rib hats,they fit everyone. My old boss use to say if you plan any home repairs to go on vacation and let someone else do it! Oh if only it was that easy.
Have a great T-day.
I love the look of the paton's sws, but I can't knit with it. I tend to unravel single ply yarns.
I also feel for your kitchen renovations! I think the kitchen is the worst room to renovate. It feels like the most disruptive. When the dh and I were first married, we lived in his parents' basement. We had a fridge, a hot plate and a microwave. No sink. No bathroom. We had to go upstairs for both.
Oh and I thought of you when I was reading the local ads; the grocery store has Christmas Cactuses on sale. I think I need to buy one. Wonder if I can keep it alive until next year!!!!
I'm glad your back and I love the scarf. I'm going right over for the pattern!
Happy Holidays!
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