Zucchini

Now I know why I don't bake a lot ... look at all the dishes and this didn't even include the baking pans!! But, from one zucchini, I made 18 muffins and 2 small loaves of bread. OK, OK, I know there are only 16 muffins in the picture. Well, a cook has to taste you know! We have several good friends that have supplied us with fresh veggies. I thought I would return the favor with fresh bread.

So, what else have Fonzie and I been up to? Nothing really, just playing with floss and yarn. And taking walks. We are getting pretty good at climbing the hill in our subdivision. I thought I should really get some leg practice in as I will be at the Appalachian Fair for 2 weeks running around like a nutcake. You know, you hate to poop out on the second day there!

Something furry!

Something furry showed up at our house. Seems our neighbors are on vacation and this little fellow got lonesome. After several attempts to take him home we just gave up and let him stay. He took up residency on the living room window ledge. Talk about an upset Scottie dog!! I thought Fonzie was going to stroke out! How could we possible have another cat as we already have two. But in a few days Fonzie and Sammy are friends, sort of, and tolerate each other. Now, Tipper and Beamer are another story totally. They do not want a kitten hanging around ... at all!! But, since the little fellow lives next door, they might as well get use to him.
Have not knitted one stitch in a month! July seems to be my cross stitch month. I finished another little piece a few nights ago. I'll try to get a picture and post soon. I have now started on a dish towel which has four little squares with pictures in each. And, I bought all the stuff for the new Prairie Schooler July. So, I need to get busy!

Friends

I had a nice chat the other night with my good friend from high school. We talked for over an hour. Talking with us comes very easily. We met the first day of high school. My mom ask if I made any new friends. I replied, oh yes, there is this one girl with big brown eyes that talks all the time!!!! And today, x number of years later we still talk. And it is a wonder that she talks to me at all as I introduced her to her husband ... see photo!! This picture was taken in February of 1971 in my mom's living room. As memory serves, D and I plotted to have a Valentine party to lure the boys over!! Anyway, D got a special gift of jewelry that night from D. I was so tickled for her but secretly wished I had a boy friend that liked to buy jewelry. And do you know, he stills likes to buy her jewelry after all these years!! Yes, they really are a great couple and compliment each other nicely.

Blueberry Pickin'

Just real spare of the minute we decided to drive over to Greeneville and pick blueberries. It was warm but there was a nice breeze. We picked 4 gallons in 2 hours. Then we traveled on to The Farmer's Daughter for supper. When we got home we visited the neighbors that were home and took each family a bag of blueberries. This morning we had blueberry pancakes with blueberry topping. Talk about delicious.

Finally got some time ....

to work on this blog!!!!!! But not for long as swim lesson time for our grandson is approaching and we will have to leave in a few minutes. Actually, I allow 30 minutes (the pool is only 4 miles away) as we must use the bathroom one last time, apply sunblock, fiddle with the swim trucks one more time, put the Fonz outside, lockup, go back in for towels, use the bathroom again, lock up, go back for Mamaw's book, lock up ... you get the picture!!

This is a picture of my girls. It seems like only yesterday that I was taking them to swim lessons!

Hello!!

We are still around. It has been a very busy Spring. I have 17 more work days until retirement. I am soooo excited. Fonzie and I have big plans ... sleeping late ... playing on the computer ... sleeping later ... drinking coffee ... sleeping late ... I'm sure you get the picture!! Actually, we have a bunch of house projects that are screaming work on me first!!! More later and soon, I promise.

Not Knitting

OK ... Fonzie and I have not fallen off the face of the world!! I finally had to bite the bullet and have surgery on my right hand thumb joint at my wrist. The surgeon (who is GREAT) had to remove bone, move a tendon, create a blood clot to fill in a space and cut and reattach a tendon in my arm to my thumb. I can move my thumb without pain. But, this is a slow healing process and it will be several months before I have "normal" use. And on that note ......

KNITTER'S BEWARE
Please be gently with your hands and treat them nicely. The hand surgeon told me that now I will have to perform a task for about 15 minutes and then move to a another task so my hands can work in a different pattern. For those that know me, I am the kind of person that if I start something I work until it is finished even if it is hours. So, I have over the years just worn my joints out. The left hand is headed toward surgery. Hopefully, by being very careful, I can keep that hand from getting worse. So, from sewing, to washing dishes, to sweeping to knitting, take care of your hands!!

There is going to be a new baby in our office. We are all excited. When I got the news my first thought was I need to knit something pink! Now, I'm not one to try to "guess" and be all knowing. But, every time we have talked about this baby, we have all talked "pink". So, in cruising around, I have found the most darling site, Little Cotton Rabbits. This person knits bunnies, monkeys, elephants, teddy bears, and they are all precious. Precious beyond belief!!! So cute that I have taken her advise and ordered not one but two of Debbie Bliss knitting books ... Knitting Bears and Knitting Toys. The books will be here March 25Th and I can't wait. Only trouble is ...I still can't knit for a few months. Bummer. But, this little babe won't arrive until October. So, hopefully I can get at least one little cutie knitted.

The Process

I don't ever set a goal and say something like, "I'm going to knit or stitch a complete whatever every week this year or every month this year". I know some folks always have a stitching goal. Well, I have a goal and it is to just enjoy the process. I don't really need to knit or stitch (heavens forbid that I said that). But, think about it, we are not crossing the Plains in a covered wagon. Everything I need can be purchased. So, why do I knit?

It has to be the process. It has to be the colors of yarn, the feel of the material slipping through my fingers. The process of taking a string and making fabric that is soft and warm. The process of getting comfy on the couch with Fonzie cuddled up beside me. Yes, it is definitely the process.

Make a snow flake

I am so glad our oldest daughter was born in January as we get to have another celebration in the middle of the winter. I have her knitted birthday item almost finished. I'll post a picture after her b-day.

Make sure you go to the side bar and create a snowflake. It is really neat to see the results. Speaking of snow, will we get snow tonight??

I love the knitting needle containers shown on Knitting Souls Together. I think I will rearrange all my needles. That should take several hours (or days)!!!

And why am I posting this in the middle of the day in the work week? I came home yesterday with a whopping sinus infection. So ,after the trip to the DR, two shots and a handful of meds ... Fonzie and I settled on the couch for a long snooze. I feel some better today but thought I needed a rest to knock this out.

Friday we start knitting at the H.B. Stamps Library in Rogersville. I can't wait to see everyone and start on a new project. Or I could work on a UFO. Heaven forbid if I actually got something finished from years ago!!