Playing tourist with my sister

My older sister came for a visit.  We usually only get to see each other once a year.  We talk and text all the time so the distance doesn't seem that far.  She lives in Arkansas and I in Northern Virginia.  I am always so excited for her visits.  Before she came we talked about all the crafting we would accomplish.  We both have several unfinished projects.  The plan was to sight see one day and mostly craft and relax the rest of her stay. The problem with the plan is I live in the Washington D.C. area and there are too many interesting things to do.  We've been trying to go to places she hasn't visited on previous trips.  This time she wanted to see Mount Vernon.   It is such an lovely place.  The view from the house is stunning.  From the rear you see the Potomac River. The grounds and flower gardens are so peaceful.  My only complaint was the tour through the house was almost at a dead run. I know they have so many people to shuttle through the mansion but I enjoy looking at all the details of things.  The weather was perfect, very low humidity. We could not have asked for a better day.

A view from the front of the house

George and I

We were so inspired by our trip to Mount Vernon I suggested we visit Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  We went from the American Revolution to the Civil War.  Gettysburg was very fascinating.  It is a massive sight. We bought an audio tour for the battlefield.  I highly recommend doing that.  You get a guide book with CD and drive the battlefield at your own pace.  It is very overwhelming.  It's hard to comprehend the battle that took place.  Of course I think I would feel the same at any battlefield I would visit.  And we did visit another battlefield.  We went to Antietam Battlefield in Maryland.  It is the sight of the bloodiest one day battle of the Civil War.  On our way home from Antietam we drove through Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.  John Brown, a white abolitionist, tried to initiate an armed slave revolt at Harpers Ferry.  After our trips to the battlefields my sister and I decided we needed to learn a bit more about the Civil War.  We are starting with the book "Gods and Generals" by Jeff Shaara.  We want to read "Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara and "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe.  There so many Civil War books we can read.  These are the ones we picked first. We also came away from the places we visited with guide books.  I wish you could order these books before you visit the sights.  They have a lot of interesting facts in them.

My sister -Sarah- in front of the Arkansas memorial at Gettysburg

Dan, Darren and I at Antietam

An observeration tower at Antietam.  

Looking up into the tower as we climbed the stairs.

We could have done something historical or museum related everyday.  We are already planning things for the next time she visits.  Even with all our day trips to historical sights we did manage to do a little crafting.  We both worked on these small hexie blocks.

Christmas in June! A project from Wild Olive blog.

Avi and Binxy using Sarah's hat as a bed.

This week has been back to real life.  There have been dentist and doctor appointments.  My husband had a trip to California.  I went to work for a few hours.  We've had not well kitties.  I am tired of the trips back and forth to the vet.  I know the cats are as well and so is my bank account.  It's hard when you can't pinpoint what is wrong other than they don't feel well.  They are finally on the mend.  It is nice to have our silly kitties back to normal.  

Thank you for stopping by for a visit.  Have a lovely weekend, Lisa

Yarn along - granny squares, old magazines, and a new project

I'm joining Ginny with this weeks Yarn Along.  This is my first time linking with out my tech support (Dear Husband).   I hope all goes well : )

The school library I work at is doing some summer renovations.  New carpeting will be installed and some of the reference shelves will be shifted.  Time is limited and there are many other things to do before the students return in late summer.   I was cleaning an out of the way shelf and found a fun little treasure.  There was a dusty stack of old Women's Day, Family Circle, McCall's, and Bon Appetit magazines tucked in a back corner.  Since they were headed to the recycle bin I asked if I could have them.  I love looking at magazines, even old ones.  The dates range for 1976 to 1983.   They are almost like a time capsule.  I can't wait to delve into them.  One article is "Today's New Breed of Husbands." I'm sure I'll find loads of helpful information in that one!

There are crochet patterns!

Look at how young Tom Selleck is!   

I'm trying to work daily on the granny square blanket.  One of my problems is my mind darts off to other projects that I want to make.  The purple/plum colored ball of yarn in the first photo has hopes to be made into a Spring Kisses Infinity Scarf.  The pattern can be found on Ravelry.  I would like a take-a-long project. I haven't let myself start this project. I want to be finished with granny squares. I'm sure everyone is tired of hearing about me either working on it or not working on it.   If I ever finish this blanket it will be a while before I start another long term project.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit.  Maybe one day I'll post about my granny square blanket completion!

Lisa

Looking for the good things

It was been one of those weeks filled with life's tiny disappointments.  On their own they are no big deal.  When they come one after another you want to scream ENOUGH!   Nothing large or major small things that add up and gnaw away at my usual mostly positive attitude.  Most of the week has been a bit off kilter.  So today I decided it's time to find the Good Things that surround me.

Family! My beautiful daughter all dressed up for Junior Prom.  This was the last photo I was allowed to take.  She is smiling but on the inside she is screaming ENOUGH!  Maybe I should have titled this post ENOUGH!

Receiving Making magazine in the mail this week was definitely a Good Thing.  This is my new favorite magazine, so lovely.  It is packed full of amazing projects.  The knitting patterns are stunning.  I MUST learn to knit.  It is more than knitting projects.  It has sewing, recipes, journaling, and a variety of crafts.  I am making the tiny crochet flowers necklace, although I may use mine as a garland.  There is so much crafty inspiration between these pages.

A silly dog that wants to know what I'm doing is another Good Thing.  There is nothing like a pet to make you smile and sometimes yell not so nice words.  Luckily for me Bru was being a good dog this week.  The summer tote bag full of yarn is not so bad either.  All yarn was pulled out of my own stash.  I'm counting yarn hoarding as a Good Thing.

A mostly clean dining room table is Good Thing in our home.  I am guilty of using this table as my own personal holding/dumping area.  A few months back I challenged myself to keeping it clear. Besides Avi, it has my daughter's artwork and the granny square blanket.  I've been making granny squares and another row has been added.  Progress on the granny square blanket is a Good Thing.

The screened porch is clean and ready for me to sit and stitch or sit and read.  The weather has been wonderfully mild.  These are such Good Things.  Summer heat is due to return next week.  I will make good use of the porch before it becomes too hot.

I could go on and on of all the Good Things in my life.  It's nice to share a few and in the process remind myself how many Good Things do surround me.  It helps take the sting out of those tiny disappointments.

I think I'll go make a granny square.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit.  Lisa

Mad dash toward summer

The end of the school year feels like such a mad race to the finish line.  Projects due, concerts, tests, soccer, and the excitement of the up coming summer chase us to that finish line.   My kiddos have two more weeks of school and it will be jammed packed.  The school I work for had graduation on Friday.  It's always bittersweet, the end yet the beginning.  I have one more week before I go to my summer schedule.  During the summer I work one day a week or more if needed.  I'm ready for a slower pace.  I say that but I'm already making my list of all the things I want to do this summer.  I just can't help myself.


I have finished my sister's chickens.  I ended up not using the variegated yarn.  Three chickens is more than enough.  If she does want more I'm very happy to oblige.  They were very fun and easy to make.

One of the things I'd like to do this summer is work with posting better photos.  I have lots I'd like to do with my camera and photos.  We have pictures that need to be put into albums and ones that need to be digitalized.  This project alone could take up all of summer.  But of course I have crafty projects on the list and house ones too - continue to declutter.  The one thing we have hired out is the yard clean-up.  Right now our flower beds are more weeds than flowers.

This was a very low photo week for me.  I take way too many photos of our pets.  My sisters and I text silly pictures of our animals to each other almost daily.

Bru and Binxy reluctantly sharing a bed

Avi sleeping on my chair while I work on the granny square blanket.  I have started working on this again.  I'm not going to set any deadlines for a finish.  I will work on it as the motivation strikes me.


I made a red, white, and blue Starflower mandala on Friday.  It turned out very well and so patriotic!

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Memorial Day.   A heartfelt Thank You to all who have served our country.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit and have lovely week.

Yarn-A-Long

My older sister would like to own a few chickens.  Actually she would enjoy a small homestead. However, she currently lives in town.  So she is starting small, growing beautiful flowers, cultivating her backyard bird population, and starting to compost.  I'm sure she will add a few vegetable to her garden as well.  Since I can't supply live chickens for her I thought I would crochet her a few chicken pot holders for her upcoming birthday.

It was Sunday when I decided to make a chicken.  Of course in all the yarn I own there was not one skein of rust red cotton to be found in my stash.  I didn't want to wait so I used yellow.  I wanted to see how well I understood the pattern.  The pattern is great, very easy to read.  After a trip to Hobby Lobby Monday evening I now can make her a red, white, and maybe a multi color chicken.  She may end up with a whole flock.  The smiley face bag is a reusable bag I picked up at Michael's.  It will be her gift bag.  I'll see what other goodies I can gather for her.

The chicken pattern is in the Ultimate Book of Pot Holders.  There are more potholders in this book I'd like to make.  My list of things I'd like to make is ever growing.  I've been reading "The More of Less."  It is a very quick read.  With all my clearing out clutter this book is definitely helping me stay motivated.

Now to decide if I will crochet chickens or clear clutter??  I'm leaning toward growing the flock.

Doing a little of everything but no granny square progress

The granny square blanket has come to a screeching halt.  I finally give myself permission to set it aside for a while.  I was making myself feel too guilty for not working on it.  The motivation isn't with me right now.  I will finish it but I needed a break.  So I moved on and finished a spring wreath.

I saw the wreath and link to the pattern on Stitch and Unwind.  The pattern is very easy and works up lovely.  I like how the flowers are large enough to be seen from the street.  I will definitely make these flowers again.  The only thing I'm not so pleased with is my placement of the flowers.  I wish I would have moved the two pink/purple pink away from each other.  I know, I'm never satisfied!

My other snafu was another of my own doing.  The flowers do need to be blocked.  I thought I would be so clever and press them.  I ended up with a purple pancake!

I quickly went back to flattening them with heavy books.  It worked much better for me.

I like the above photo because it includes Binxy.  She is always with me in my craft room.  She's my little crafty helper/comic relief.  It also has a better shot of my new ironing board cover.  The ironing board has been with me forever.  The cover that was on it was pitiful.  I kept thinking I would make my own but as I can't even finish the granny squares blanket it's probably better I bought one.  The work table isn't too messy.  There are still magazines waiting to be sorted.

Besides finishing the wreath, I've also been working on a very old quilt project.  It's from the blog Wild Olive.

All the many hexies flowers have embroidery centers.  I have finished all the embroidery and all the individual hexies.  Given how I bounce around in my crafts I will be making hexie flowers from now to possibly the end of time.

Other good things that have kept me occupied are watching sports, cleaning out clutter, and I've started crocheting a birthday present for my older sister.  The last two are rather typical for me.  The sports has my family baffled.  I have never been much of a sports person.  For some reason soccer and hockey have been very entertaining.  I used to watch the news.  Now I can barely stand it.  The local news is fine but the national is so YUCK!  I like listening to the weather.  I think I might be turning into my grandpa, sports and weather.  If I start watching professional wrestling we'll know I'm channeling his spirit.

This is the next pile of stuff to leave the house.   We all went through our closets and I cleared off my book shelves.  The crafting books stayed ;-)

 There will be more things added to the pile and more things listed on Craigslist.  I'm in such an "It's all got to go" mood.  It does feel good to let it go!

It's been a busy morning and I still have what feels like a million things I'd like to do before dinner.  I think I'll make a cup of coffee and see what else I can get accomplished.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit.  Have a great day.     Lisa

Mother's Day

I've enjoyed a very nice, relaxing day.  After a week of almost constant rain the sun has been shining.  The most exerting task today was using the leaf blower to remove the sand, artificial turf, and general crud out of the garage.  That was accomplished first thing this morning so the rest of the day has been all about crochet.

The boomerang scarf has been the project of choice for the weekend.  I love this pattern.  It's easy but the results are beautiful.  I can't wait to make another one.  The next one will be in a less striping yarn. I think a tweed look would be pretty or even a solid.  The pattern can be found on Ravelry.  It is call The Boomerang for Hookers by Gail Hovanec

The back of the scarf is more like a shawl.  I like that it's asymmetrical.  It should keep my neck toasty for the cool weather.

I made a mandala/coster for our kitchen table.  The pattern is by Lisa Clarke at Polka Dot Cottage. I now need to make at least three more for the rest of the family.

It matches the placemat perfect!

coffee cup matches too : )

Now for random picture from my day.

The cats are having a stare down with a squirrel.  They sat like that for over five minutes.  If you zoom in on the corner of the fence there is another squirrel.  These two squirrels often run on top of our fence.  Actually, they run all over the trees, house, fence and deck.

Avi and her own personal safari.  The violet offers a great disguise for bird watching.

A Mother's Day rose my son gave me. Based on the number of pictures of the coaster it is safe to say I really like it.

A slightly horrible picture of me.  I have one side of my hair pulled back because it was in my eyes when we were working in the garage.  It's me and that's life.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit.  Have a lovely week.  Lisa