Blanket/Afghan

This is so colorful and unique. I'm trying to duplicate the  pattern but my colors are not so striking. We'll see how it turns out!

Smile!

An early trip to the big box store for more yarn was on the schedule this morning. Lining up at the only register open near the entrance by our parking spot, I waited for a gentlemen who owned a lot of cats or perhaps worked for an animal shelter. Twenty-five pounds of dry and cans and cans of cat food plus about a dozen gallons of drinking water. My turn came and the young clerk seemed not to be enjoying her job. I said, "Good morning." Nothing. She told me the total for my yarn, $21.99. I handed her a twenty and two ones. She rang it up, closed the register and handed me the receipt and the bag. I waited and she looked at me. "Did I do something wrong?" "Don't I have a penny change?" She started to turn to the cash register and I said, "I don't want it! Just teasing you. That can be your tip for the day." She actually laughed. Trying to spread a little joy in Wallyworld.

It Is Finished

This is the longest afghan I have made. Guess I got carried away when I started chaining. It could be used to drape over the back of a long couch but hope it will keep a little girl warm this winter.

Mosquito Story

How to kill a mosquito in New Jersey when you are in Kansas...that should be the title of this blog. My sister-in-law and I chat via Skype daily. Sometimes twice a day if something exciting happens in our quiet lives. Yesterday while we were talking, I saw a mosquito buzzing around her head. It landed on her hair and I told here there's a mosquito on your head behind your left ear. Well, it flew away but a few minutes later it was back and landed on the left ear. I yelled the location and she swatted and wow! One less New Jersey mosquito. Technology is grand.

Weird Morning

I put the liner in the crockpot, placed the roast inside. Since I didn't want the roast to shrink, I set the control to low. About two hours later I thought maybe I should raise the temperature and let it cook for a little less than twelve hours! I glanced at the outlet on the wall and there was no plug attached. Of course, L. was worried that the meat was no good. I told him that many folks let meat come to room temperature before they broil or grill so we were ok. The meat has been roasting on high since noon, (about six hours) I believe it's done. Now to turn off and unplug. Some days are like that.

Applesauce

I had some apples that needed to be eaten or used for something. I do not ever remember making applesauce but I saw someone mention making it on the internet. I used Google and found a simple recipe (only four ingredients, R!)  Four apples, 3/4 cup water, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon.

Cook twenty minutes, cool and mash.

I ate some warm and it was worth all the peeling and cutting the cores.

There's a Bird on the Transformer

L. did not have his glasses on. He called me to come see the big bird on the transformer in the back yard. I grabbed the camera and he looked for our tiny opera glasses - sometimes called binoculars as a joke. It's part of the equipment says I. No, it's a bird says he. I'll let you decide. (The "bird" is on the right.)

Clean Carpets for a Short Time

Yesterday was carpet cleaning day. Service Master does a great job. It lasted till about midnight when one of the dogs christened the cleanliness. Why we put up with the dogs we love.....

Tut

I was looking forward to seeing a three part program called Tut on Spike TV. Well, I couldn't understand most of the dialog. Naturally, I thought it was my hearing loss. Nope. My husband couldn't "get" it either. Big disappoint.

Vine or No Vine

We love the look of our house with the vines growing. A wonderful neighbor offered to pull up the "dead" vines this spring and we said, no, no, no! Yesterday some window salesmen came to the door, trying to convince me that our old windows were either hard to crank open because they were a: painted shut or b: warped or c: old. However the first thing out of their mouths after the introduction and handshake was this: "Is that poison ivy growing on your porch?" I should have said, "Yes. Go away." But I did not. I stayed in the heat to hear about our window needs because they were in the neighborhood replacing someone's windows.To end the conversation, the asked me what our heating and cooling bills are. I lied and told them my husband writes all the checks and I don't pay any attention. I'm sure they decided I was an old grouch and subservient wife. The main thing they did was give the dogs a good barking work-out.

Throwback Thursday - The Hospital

Forty years ago our new hospital was opened in the fall of 1975. The merger of the two hospitals in town made sense and some wise people managed to get the Methodists and the Catholics to agree. I worked at Hutchinson Hospital South at the switchboard (PBX) and loved that job. We were so excited, watching it being built - way out east of town, on land donated by a nice local family. It has gone through several name changes: Hutchinson Hospital, Promise Regional Medical Center and now, Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. We old timers just call it Hutchinson Hospital. The area has continued to grow with several clinics, a dialysis center, mental health facilities, cancer center and care home. We are very fortunate to have forward looking folks back then willing to build on a new location and not try to modernize old buildings. Those buildings have been converted to offices in one and nice apartments in the other. At least they weren't torn down which has happened to too many places here in Hutch.

Divided in Three Parts

We have a large television set. Why do so many stations use a format to deliver a video that is divided into three parts? I would like to see the whole picture. The center third is clear while the other two thirds on the sides are blurry. And why does it bother me that they do this? I think it's distracting to show part of the picture blurred. Just something for me to gripe about, I guess.

;Yogurt

All the ads for Greek yogurt on tv make me want to try it.

So today at the store, I was looking at the million flavors and found this one.

I decided to buy the one with the almond topping instead of the one with

lmn shtbrd crm.

That didn't sound tasty!

Times Change

In the 1930's my mother belonged to a group called Stitch and Chatter. On a tv program I just heard of a similar group called Stitch and Bitch. My mom would probably have laughed and might have been sorry that she didn't think of that title. The photo shows some quilt blocks that my mom had traced, basted and kept for a quilt. I was lucky enough to put them together into a quilt. She called it a dahlia pattern. I know there is a giant dahlia which is completely different. I like to think maybe she basted those pieces at the Stitch and Chatter meetings.

Quiet Walker

Last week I went to a local funeral home to pay my respects. This particular building is on a corner lot with a side door entrance in addition to the main front door. There was a large tree making a big blob of shade right outside that side door and that was the place I parked. I believe the temperature was a warm 100 degrees. As I entered the cool and silent vestibule, I heard some soft music playing. I walked down the carpeted hall to the main room, signed the book and noticed none of the family was present. The article in the paper mentioned they would be there from two to four but it was deserted at five. I noticed a room with a pitcher of water, glasses and a large plate of cookies. Across from that area was the office. I walked toward that area and a gentleman was reading with his chair turned sideways from the door. I don't remember whether I spoke or cleared my throat but the poor fellow was startled. He jumped and quivered - just like you see in the movies. I felt so bad that I had frightened him. Then he laughed and said I must be a quiet walker. We chatted for a few minutes and I apologized. He did mention that most visitors come in the front door which is next to his office so he is aware! I sat for a while in the room with the cookies (I didn't partake.) The family never returned so I left. Maybe they should put a bell on that side door.

An Indian/Bear Bank

The bank belonged to my dad. He was born in 1898 and he had it as a child. Imagine our surprise when we visited a restaurant in Emporia, KS, and saw the picture on the wall of the same bank. As I understand it, these banks were very popular in the early twentieth century and there were many designs available. This one can be activated to shoot the coin into the bear by the lever on the grass base or by pulling down on the bear's chin. I think I should have dusted it before taking the photo!

The Beginning of the Afghan

 

It's very quiet here with all the granddaughters, sons and wives gone. I have started an afghan for

Miss Lily. While she was here, she received a small one for her "babies." I was able to get a more

practical size finished for her sister, Miss Emma, and told Lily that I would make one for her.

I gave her a chance to choose colors but she liked the ones used for the dolls and for the larger one.

So, without a pattern and just randomly using the colors, the two afghans will not be alike.

They each have quilts that I made when I was quilting and there are many more here that they

can divide between the four of them when I am no longer using them.

And Judith is the one who inspired me to make this type of cover. She has made them for her grandchildren.

A Tea Towel

I received a gift when our family was here last week-end. We are a family that also includes dogs - two that live here, one that visits often and three that live 1800 miles away that we see only through pictures. So this towel is quite appropriate. I love it.

Grandpa, Grandma and the Grandgirls

We've had company to celebrate some birthdays - the United States, a granddaughter and a daughter-in-law. This was the first time in three years that we had all been together. Missing was a sister of Grandpa's in New Jersey and many nephews and nieces in Jersey and California - most of whom I have never seen. But - with Facebook and/or Skype we can "see" them. Anyway, it was a fun time. The first two days weren't too hot and the last night was lovely for a Kansas evening in the summer. We all had repellant on so the skeeters left us alone! I'm so glad they could all get here at the same time. . . and for all the help, from trimming trees, changing light tubes, help in planning meals (we didn't cook) and recovering wandering dogs. Thank goodness the dogs got loose only once.