New Robins

The House Finches fledged last week, so I am waiting on the next batch. However I found a Robin's nest out front carefully hid.  I saw Mom and Dad feed them over the weekend, but not sure how old they are.  So exciting to have bird nests in my yard. 

Hobby Lobby Yarn Sale

About this time every year Hobby Lobby here puts some of their unpopular yarn on sale 75% off.  I went in and stocked up. This is about half of what I got. I will take it to knit group and use it for charity projects.  They also have Christmas ribbon and Fall picks out already.  Really?

Week 16 Life Skills

What stood out as something you'd like to take on in your own life. Will you knit an apron? Read or write a short story? Comb through your personal kit and caboodle to weed out the unnecessary and only keep what you love? Watch a bulb grown in water on your kitchen bench? Plant some herbs? 

This week's reading is about being able to bake a cake, grow some plants, knit a pair of socks, make an apron, etc. 

I always wanted to write children's stories.  I had all these ideas but never really go them into a story.  So one day last year I sat down and wrote that story. I can't talk about it because I need to finish the characters I am sewing for the book and give it to the person it is meant for. Maybe later in the year I will share it.  Maybe even one day it will be published. But if not, I can check this off my list of things wanting to try.

When I was young my father felt it was necessary that I learn to do everything he and my mother could teach me.  My paternal grandmother taught me to crochet and knit as she thought they were life skills I might need some day.  Boy was grandma right.

We also had Home Ec in school and the boys had shop. After I graduated HS the girls were finally allowed to take shop and auto mechanics.  I can honestly say I have never made a cottage cheese pie, but I did supplement my learnings at home into my learnings at school.

It is easier to just go to town, throw down some money and buy whatever you want. That is why there are so many small businesses today, people have got lazy and don't want to take the time to make things themselves.  I am not a fan of eating out cos I like to create my own flavors and there are things like onions and basil that don't like me and I don't eat salt or pepper either.   I prefer to bake and sew and knit and grow my own flowers and some herbs.  My generation was taught to be sort of self sufficient.

Recently I read the series One Second After.  That scared the life out of me and made me realize I need to become more self sufficient should we lose all power some day.  What would you do?  Could you take care of yourself and your family and neighbors?

I feel sorry for kids today because they don't know how to do anything.  They can't do laundry, the dishes, cook, or even sew a button on.  They have been raised in a throw away society.  They have also been taught to just go buy it.  Imagine when my generation is gone and they are on their own, well I don't want to think about it.

I make my own stuff because I like the satisfaction of making my own things.   There is that good feeling when you finish a pair of socks, make a new apron, embroider a new tea towel, bake a loaf of bread and have that first slice right out of the oven with lots of butter, growing my own herbs to use all year long.  I am glad I was raised when I was to be able to learn how to take care of myself.  

If you always wanted to learn how to do something just do it, if you mess it up it does not matter, try again. If is not your thing, find your thing and enjoy it. 

We all need a little laugh

I love this little girl. She is a hoot.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=673596049740101

The Irises are really beautiful this year and yes I only have purple, would I have any other color?  The catnip is more than any cat could imagine and my neighbor found the dreaded poison ivy.  I itch just thinking about it, need to get rid of it and hope it goes away permanently.

 

A Little Help

I had the neighbor boys for breakfast on Wednesday and walked them to the bus.  We had a little help on the way. These 2 were on the corner across the street from the bus as their lookout was on top of a house down the block. As I walked back home they flew off.  The kids wanted to pet them and I said no way they are mean and will bite you.  So no catastrophes that day.

 

Baby House Finches

I posted earlier the House Finches have built a nest on my front porch. Their egg shells are blue like a Robin and this morning there are 4 fuzzy heads poking up over the nest looking for breakfast, new baby birds, will be fun to watch them learn to fly.

 

RIP Doris Day

 Doris Day one of my favs. Not only was she beautiful but she had a beautiful voice as well.  Please Don't Eat The Daisies and Pillow Talk are my 2 favs.  I loved the clothes she wore.  Thank you for all the great movies you did.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUw125JMVFI

Week 15 Repetitions Within the Domestic Life

Let's consider repetition in a gentle domestic life this week, so with that in mind share in the comments below (or in your own linked blog post) the challenges and delights you have found as a homemaker.

Sock Knitting,my favorite thing to do.  I can get lost in a pair of socks going round and round until they are done.  Once I start I don't want to quit until I get done. Sometimes life gets too hectic and I just sit down and cast on a new pair of socks. They calm me, they push the world away so I can re-center.  Perhaps there is a reason I have 2 tubs of sock yarn waiting for those days when I need them.  What color and what pattern will I choose.  I don't want mine symetrical, like my house I like to be a bit off center.   I will often place tables, kitchen island on an angle, just to shake things up.  

Taking care of the house and yard is repetitive so much so that I don't know that I really pay attention to what I am doing.  Many will tell you they think I knit socks in my sleep and I bet I can.  There is a certain peace to the rhythm of a clean house and all the laundry done and put away.  Cleaning out the flowerbeds week after week makes them look good for just a day, but I will be at it again next week.  I have come up with certain tasks each day so I get time to sit and work on those socks or any other craft I may want to work on.

Week 14 A Patchwork Allotment

Does the abundance of nature around you inspire creativity?  In what way?  Have you visited somewhere in the world or even within your own city, that birthed a creative idea (such as Jane's Vilandry quilt) which you followed through on?  What was it?

The author talks about plots of land where mostly men plant gardens, the colors are all different in every plot. Kind of like flying across the country, when you get to the midwest you can see the different farmer's crops, the colors, the squares outlined by highways.  It is very pleaseing and calming to look at the land as you fly across it.

She took a quilt class from Kaffee Fassett.  I love his stuff. His colors speak to me, some are kind of gaudy but the brighter the better. I have a knitting book of his sweaters, and someday I need to make one.

She talks of knitting socks and going round and round.  Eventually you have a sock.  I think some of my weeks are like that, I continue to go round and round and think I am not getting anywhere but all of a sudden it comes to an end and I can move on to the next one.  Socks are my fav things to make, which reminds me, I best get busy on my niece's birthday socks.