Lucy …

… the sleeping ladybug.  My third cousin, Lucy Michaela, must’ve had too much sugar for her first Halloween!  lol

 

 

November 3, 1962 …

… is the day I was born … or so they say. 

Here is a photo of a scarf I’m knitting:

I went to HobbyLobby with my aunt, Dottie.  After that, we went to Golden Corral for some great food.  I’m generally not a fan of cafeteria-style food but I’ve heard a lot of good reviews about this particular Golden Corral.  All the reviews were correct.  I had the absolute best bar-b-que I’ve ever had.  I had lots of other foods as well but the bar-b-que was the star of the show.

I was sorely disappointed with the selection of fibers at HobbyLobby.  I usually shop in the knitting/crocheting section and love to touch each skein of yarn.  They had a few nice skeins but nothing to write home about.  I purchased a set of purse handles, curtain tie-backs and a package of soft peppermint sticks.  The peppermint sticks remind me of Granny, so I always purchase a box when I see them … usually at Cracker Barrel.

I miss Granny.

Makin’ apple butter …

I went to a friend’s house today to make apple butter.  I’ve ordered it from her for the past four years but have never seen it made.  I learned a lot: it’s costly and time-consuming to make apple butter … and quite enjoyable.  The copper kettle, which holds 25 gallons of the rich, creamy, cinnamon-brown goodness, cost $375 in 1982!

 

It probably would be three times that now.  The stand to set it on, in 1982, was $100. 

The process of taking the apples from sauce to butter took approximately eight hours.  That does not include purchasing the 10-plus bushels of apples from the orchard; cleaning the apples; peeling, coring and slicing the apples; cooking the apples the day before in large kettles to soften them; storing the 35-plus gallons of cooked apples overnight and then transporting them to the apple-butter-making-spot.  I watched as individuals took turns stirring that pot for almost six hours.  It cannot be ignored for even two minutes or the butter sticks to the bottom of the pot and it’s ruined.  Everything.  Even the $375 (1982 prices!) kettle!!  You’d think after paying that kind of money for a kettle … it would at least be “non-stick”.  I know the purpose of the copper … and that copper is NOT “non-stick” but for $375 (1982 prices!) I want a kettle that I won’t have to worry if I need to think of something else in an eight-hour period other than stirring apple butter.  That’s why I’m not going to purchase a copper kettle.  I’d be very upset if anything stuck to the bottom and my $375 (1982 prices!) copper kettle ended up being a water bowl for the deer and stray dogs!  Luckily for everyone involved … I didn’t take a turn at stirring.  I ate a hot dog and kept the conversation going.

Happy Halloween!

My good friend has opened her daycare center.  It’s not complete yet, as far as decor, but the children are enjoying it, nonetheless.  A friend of hers painted the walls with a variety of themes.  I made some Halloween-decorated cupcakes so I’d have an excuse to visit.    While there, I took a few photos.

This is one wall in the play area.  It’s a farm-scene, as is obvious.  I’ll have more photos when the other scenes are completed.

 This is the reading area:

 

Her one-year-old daughter, Aubrey, was anxiously awaiting the time for “Trick-or-Treating”.  She wouldn’t take her afternoon nap and I’ve not spoken to Mama yet, but  I’m guessing she fell asleep within the first five minutes of the car ride.    She was dressed as a peacock.  Here she is, strutting her stuff: 

This video says it all …

The holiday season …

I can’t believe it’s almost November!  Time flies when you’re getting older!

I still enjoy the pumpkin pie, cranberry salad, turkey and dressing just as much as I did as a child, though.  Makes my mouth water just thinking about it!

My MSN group, Hooks and Needles, is having a Christmas ornament exchange.  This will be probably the last of the group activities we’ll have as a group with MSN.  MSN is closing is groups area.  I’m very disappointed with that because I love the set-up of MSN but … that’s the way it goes.    I don’t know if we’re going to try another group/social networking area or what.  We’re a small group but we’ve enjoyed being a group.  I know some have learned new things in crocheting and knitting.  Some have felt things were too difficult and didn’t want to try.  I like pushing my abilities and learning new things.

The weather is beautiful today.  Very sunny.  VERY cold.  It was “spitting” snow last night.  Southwestern West Virginia doesn’t usually get snow this early in the season unless you’re in the mountains.  I hope this is not a sign of a bad, snowy Winter to come.

Have a great day!

My evening ritual …

The weather here is termed ”moderate drought” by the weatherman.   I’ve been keeping the bird bath filled and every evening between 5:30 and 7:00, I sit in my lounge chair and watch the birds bathe and drink.  They have such a great time.  I’ve counted as many as twelve male and female bluebirds at one time; four blue Jays and various birds.  My photos aren’t that great but I hope you can enjoy them a little.

 

Farewell, Paul Newman …

You will be greatly missed.

 

 

 

Exquisite is finished …

I finished the baby afghan for Lucy Michaela. She will be born “soon”. Her momma is my second cousin, Jacqueline. I believe the due-date is 27 September 2008 but we’ve been very impatiently waiting for weeks now! lol Jacqueline has had Braxton-Hicks contractions since June. What do you think of the afghan? It’s called Exquisite and the pattern can be found in The Best of Terry Kimbrough Baby Afghans.  It can also be found in Heirloom Afghans for Baby.  I used Caron Simply Soft in off-white and an “F” hook. The pattern calls for sport weight but I really wanted to use the Simply Soft. It worked well. I really hope Jacqueline and her husband, Michael, will like it. As you probably guessed, the “Michaela” name is in honor of her daddy. The “Lucy” name is in honor of my late Granny, who would be Jacqueline’s great-Granny. Her name was actually Lucinda, but she preferred Lucy. Granny went to Heaven in 1986. There is not one day that passes that I don’t think of her, if even for a minute. I’d not have survived a life-altering motorcycle crash had it not been for her. She was and still is my foundation. I’ll post more about her along with a photo at a later date.

Hello again …

I finally started the afghan I talked about in the previous post. I am a member of Team West Virginia in the Ravelympics 2008. My event is the Afghan Marathon. I started while watching the XXIX Olympics opening ceremony on Friday night. Well, I tried to begin anyway. The opening ceremony was so interesting and amazing that I couldn’t take my eyes off the television! If you didn’t see it … you really missed something. Hopefully, the closing ceremony will be just as fascinating. I don’t agree with China’s political agenda and had reservations about watching the Olympics because I‘d talked with others who were boycotting it. Then I began to think about the people … the human beings who have worked for years on their talents … and decided that by supporting the people of the world, I would not necessarily be supporting the political decisions of a country. I was truly touched and happy that I decided to watch. There was not a face shown on television that wasn’t full of pride and joy no matter the country from where they came. The Olympics is the only time that I know of where every country on this planet sets aside their differences and, although competitive, enjoy the camaraderie of one another without political influence. I hope everyone there has the times of their lives.

In addition to the afghan mentioned below, I will be making a second one for Baby Lucy. I love it. It is from the same pattern book: The Best of Terry Kimbrough Baby Afghans, titled Playtime. It is made with Bernat Satin Sport, taupe in color. The color is not one normally used for a baby but this is no ordinary baby. She’s going to be a baby of impeccable taste. lol  Photos coming soon.

The Block Afghan-along is going well at my MSN group, Hooks and Needles. If you’re interested, please apply to join and mention where you read about the group.

Have a great week!!