January 24, 2016

For this past couple of weeks I have completed a really simple hood that I can tuck inside my winter coat.  I tend toward earaches and covering up my whole head helps to prevent that.  Anyway, the pictures of it follow.

This is a very simple knit piece done in a long piece with a seam up the back.

Since I don't reverse my work when I knit it is rather difficult to explain how I made this.

Simply decide how wide you want each side, I used 58 stitches.  

The first three rows were in garter stitch, knit 1 row, perl 1 row, knit 1 row.  

Row 4 is perl 2 stitches, knit 2 stitches, repeat until the end with 2 perl stitches ending.

Row 5 is all knit.

The rest of the rows are 4 and 5 for as long as you want it.

The last three rows are knit, perl, and knit.

Sew up the back and you are done.

I also managed to make a doily and a couple of coasters for one of the grandkids hopeless chests.

Last Friday I shipped off the slouch hat for my daughters birthday.  I also shipped the hat/basket that was the first one I made.

This is the slouch hat and the Mad Hatter Basket follows.

My next project is as follows:

I hope to use up my leftover #10 thread in assorted colors.

Last week I completed only a few projects.

I made a crochet table mat with two coasters for one of the hope chests:

They haven't been blocked yet but that is the next step.

I am now finishing a pair of pillowcases for Christmas 2016.

And I have finished a pair of pillowcases for my aunt.

Pillows that came with the cross stitch pattern already on them.

This is the detail for the crochet edging.  An old pattern from the late 1800's.

I am also working on a knit hood that is made in a long panel, folded in half lengthwise and sewn up the back.

Have to go get my treadle sewing machine.

Ta-Ta for now.

THE MAGIC BANK ACCOUNT
THE AUTHOR IS NOT KNOWN. IT WAS FOUND IN THE BILLFOLD OF COACH PAUL BEAR BRYANT, ALABAMA, AFTER HE DIED IN 1982
The Magic Bank Account
Imagine that you had won the following *PRIZE* in a contest: Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 in your private account for your use. However, this prize has rules:
The set of rules:
1. Everything that you didn't spend during each day would be taken away from you.
2. You may not simply transfer money into some other account.
3. You may only spend it.
4. Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400 for that day.
5. The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say,“Game Over!". It can close the account and you will not receive a new one.
What would you personally do?
You would buy anything and everything you wanted right? Not only for yourself, but for all the people you love and care for. Even for people you don't know, because you couldn't possibly spend it all on yourself, right?
You would try to spend every penny, and use it all, because you knew it would be replenished in the morning, right?
ACTUALLY, This GAME is REAL ...
Shocked ??? YES!
Each of us is already a winner of this *PRIZE*. We just can't seem to see it.
The PRIZE is *TIME*
1. Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds
as a gift of life.
2. And when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is Not credited to us.
3. What we haven't used up that day is forever lost.
4. Yesterday is forever gone.
5. Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can close your account at any time WITHOUT WARNING...
SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds?
Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars. Think about it and remember to enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you think.
So take care of yourself, be happy, love deeply and enjoy life!
Here's wishing you a wonderful and beautiful day. Start “spending”....
Have a blessed and happy new year.

Today is the first Sunday of 2016, January 3 and I am starting everything fresh.

I have set up my planner for the year and decided what I hope to accomplish personally and for others.

I don't believe in "New Year Resolutions" because they set you up for failure.  After all, a goal without a plan is just a wish.  so I set up my plan.

Personally, I plan to grow as a human and in spirit.  Enough said about that.

Helping others includes my family and some volunteer work when I figure out what I want to volunteer for.  I will be adding to this weekly so will record what I decide and what I actually do.

For the grandkids Hope Chests I have several projects in my planner...Christmas linens, bedding, etc. along with cookware, flatware, and the like.  Even if they never get married they will still have the necessary items to set up their own homes.  Even my grandsons, because EVERYONE should be able to take care of themselves.

I will put up pictures of my projects as I get to them.  I will include directions as well as the finished projects.

Currently I am working on table runners and placemats for Christmas.  This is what they are supposed to look like when I am finished.

These are the directions from "The Great Christmas Crochet Book" published in 1981.

This is where I am on the table runner.

I am also going to crochet a slouch hat for one of my daughters' birthday.  I will also post that when I get the yarn and begin it.

The planner that I have decided to use is found at - http://www.theconfidentmom.com/weekly-household-planner/.  I have printed it out and am using a 3" pressboard binder as my cover.  I have several of them and use them for many projects, including my pantry inventory, my library inventory (we have over 1,000 books), my preparation information as well as miscellaneous other books and projects. Being organized really helps keep you on track and that is one of my major plans for this year; to stay on track.

Next week I will have created a more organized layout for this.