Willy-nilly Random Stuff: Fending off the Devil…

1 - They say that idle hands are the devil’s workshop.  I’m not sure I agree with that completely.  I believe that it is good for the soul to take a little time off now and then and just do nothing.  But I must say that it is difficult for me to watch television if I don’t have something to do with my hands.  I’ve quilted in the past, but these days I’ve been crocheting.  It’s just a bit easier and more portable than quilting.  I’m going to show off some of my latest projects here.

  2 - This is a scarf made from Red Heart Boutique yarn.  The color is "Parrot."  I like this yarn quite a lot.  It’s soft and comes in wonderful variegated colors.  This particular scarf is done in the alligator or crocodile stitch.  It’s a fun, easy stitch and goes together quickly.  I’m donating this project to an auction in May.

3 - A little while back, I picked up a book called Contemporary Celtic Crochet by BonnieBarker because I love the look of Aran knitting, but I don’t knit.  This book has some great projects in it and the instructions are clear and precise.  I’ve only managed to finish one project so far, but I had a great time doing it.  I used Caron Simply Soft yarn for this project.  This one I’m keeping for myself.

4 - Now and then, I go with my daughter Carrie to Webs Yarn Store in Northampton, Massachusetts.  OMG!  If you like yarn and you’re ever in Western Massachusetts, you have got to go to Webs.  Of course, you can order from them on line and here’s the link, but being there in person is just a yarn lover’s dream.  The colors alone knock me out!  And, of course, I have to touch everything.  The problem for me is that I can’t afford a big project with the yarn they sell there, so when I’m in there, I buy a few balls of something for a small project.  The last time I was there, I picked up this gorgeous Plymouth Yarn Monte Donegal to make yet another scarf.  It feels like heaven and it’s hand-dyed, so the color is fabulous!    I will continue to have the warmest neck in town next winter.  I decided that I would do it in a Tunisian stitch.  When it gets long enough, I will stop and go on to something else.

5 - Sometimes I think that Olive, the pug, sheds enough that I could probably make a blanket or something out of her leftovers.  She thinks I’m full of soup!

Linking up to A Rural Journal's Random 5 Friday!

And Around Roanoke's Willy-nilly Friday Five!

Willy-Nilly Friday Five…

1.  I actually got something done this week and here it is:

It was my first real attempt at Aran Crochet.  I enjoyed doing it and it turned out well.  I can see more of this in my future.

2.  I went out to visit my daughter Carrie who lives in Northampton, Massachusetts yesterday.  She was proudly carrying her “new to her” orange purse...a gift from her dad.  It is a pretty sweet bag, I must admit.

3.  After Carrie and I had lunch, we did a little antique browsing.  I do love poking around in antique shops even though I don’t really need or want anything much.  But I did find something yesterday that called out to me.  And it’s this:

I’m planning to repurpose this old ashtray as a fondue fork holder for our annual Christmas Eve fondue do.  I think that it will give it a much nicer second life.  I am rather enamored of the shape and color of the piece.

4.  After we left the shop, we saw this little fellow tied up waiting for his alpha.  Dogs tied to poles always look so lonely to me.  It’s like he’s saying to everyone who passes by, “Are you my mother?”

5.  Got up this morning to our first “snowfall.”  I am putting that in quotes because it didn’t amount to anything and by the time I was taking the dog out around 8 am, it was bright and sunny and sounded like it was raining out because everything was melting at a precipitous rate.  Other parts of the country have gotten hit a lot harder than we have.  But it’s early days yet.

Linking up to Tanya's Willy-Nilly Friday Five!

Random day…

1)  Have you ever noticed that many people don’t know to use an apostrophe?  There is a restaurant we go to often and like a lot.  The food is good and reasonably priced.  The wait staff is friendly and efficient.  In general, I have no complaint.  They have a specials menu that they print weekly.  Whoever puts it together just doesn’t know how to use an apostrophe.  I’ve been collecting these little gaffes.  Today they were serving a “French Dip sandwich with fries & a side of auju’s.”  One day not long ago, they had “Spinach & Artichoke Rangoon’s.”  They’ve also served “Korean Taco’s (5) served with Pineapple Dipping Sauce” and, on the children’s menu, they have “Virgin Colada’s; Daquiri’s and Shirley Temples.”  Oh, my…

2)  Yesterday, I went out in the yard to find something for my Flickr 365.  I found a few dead and dried up flowers.  I am not sure what is so appealing to me about such things, but I managed to use them two days in a row.

3)  It’s apple season here in Central Massachusetts.  Here is what I did to celebrate.  These beauties are Honeycrisps.  They are a good apple to eat with cheese.

4)  Well, who am I kidding?!  I would probably eat darn near anything if there were cheese involved.

5)  We are having a nice warm spell right now, but I am prepared for the winter.  I just finished crocheting this warm shawl.  I have found over the years that if my neck is warm, I am warm.  This will help.

LINKING TO A RURAL JOURNAL'S

RANDOM 5 FRIDAY!

Scavenger Hunting through my brain and house…

This week’s prompts were all the same…five Photographer’s Choice.  I thought about it for a few minutes and then I decided to do five still lifes of regular things.  I think this will be good practice when I start on my 365 project on my birthday.  All these photos are of stuff I just have laying around the house.  I wanted to see what I could do with them.  Hope you like some of what I’m posting…

LINKING TO ASHLEY SISK'S 

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY.