YOP Week 1

Premier Yarns: Deborah Norville
Serenity Garden Sport in Grass

My main goal for YOP (Year of Projects) is to use yarn that's been lingering in my stash forever.  If it is still there after many years, it is because I actually do love it but haven't found the right pattern yet.  What is this yarn going to be when it grows up?  I think it is at least 7 years old.  

I have a vague memory of seeing this yarn in the store.  I fell in love with it because I LOVE green.  I just didn't know what to make with it since it is a sport weight yarn.  I decided to just buy one...groan  and I could kick myself.  I used to do that a lot but now I've learned my lesson.  When I went to get more it was all gone and it was discontinued.  I even tried to buy some on ebay a couple of times but someone else outbid me.  I am determined to turn this into something and it has to be for me.  

Here is a link to my goal page which I will probably be adding to.

Meet Ms. Frizzle

Tradescantia Callisia repens 'Pink Panther'

This is a newish plant for me but it really makes me happy to see above my sink each day.  I think I got it in April and it has really filled in that container.  I really need to divide it and put it in a pot with better  drainage.  This is just an old canister that I removed the hardware that holds the lid.  I used the lid to put underneath a different plant.  I love that shade of green.  It is very close to the color of my kitchenaid mixer and tea kettle in pistachio. The lighting isn't very good so the colors are off.  There's more pink and the pot is lighter.  I tweaked the color a little but I can't lighten the color of the pot or get the pink to show like it really is without washing out the plant too much.

I had such a good Saturday.  I had looked through the Costco flyer and checked prices to see what items would be good to get and save us money.  I check the prices on the grocery store websites and compare.  I noticed there was a Ninja Deluxe Kitchen System (blender/food processor with 2 nutri ninja cups) for $40 off.  I got it for $139.  I added a link to it on Amazon but there's not a price for it there.  I really needed a new blender since mine old one was leaking. It was such perfect timing.  I was looking at another small blender on amazon and this thing with all the extras is somehow cheaper.  I've been making a lot of fruit/veggie smoothies and it's helping me lose weight.  It's also really good for when it's really hot outside too.  This thing can also shred cheese, grate/slice etc.  It shreds cheese better than the cumbersome attachment for my kitchenaid mixer.  I made a Frappuccino this morning for breakfast and added protein powder.  I'm super happy.  I think the sale runs through July 20 so if you have a Costco membership you might be able to still get the deal on this.  

Isn't it weird how we can get all excited about mundane things sometimes?  I'm mean, it's a blender.  I do remember my mom being super excited about getting a Kirby vacuum cleaner.  I thought she was crazy but I was a kid.  Now I get it.  I have so many plans for things to try out with this.  My main goal for today was to find it and all its parts new living quarters.  That's easier said than done.

I also went out for dinner with my husband and some friends Saturday.  We went to a sushi place and it was my first time trying it.  I had a california roll and it was good.  I really suck at using chopsticks but I kept trying.  Eventually I will get the hang of it.  

I need to go dig around in my yarn and find something I can make for next week for YOP week 1.  

~D

  

Latest book purchases

I bought the top two books when I was in Palmer, AK at Fireside Books. The first one is a book of short stories.  The other one is a twist on the Titanic story.  

The other two books I got at the farmer's market from a local author - Laurie G. Robertson.  I hope to enjoy all of these books.

Fun things I found in Denali

So here are the things I picked up when I was in Denali.  At Denali Rocks I picked up this butterfly that is made of carved Fruit Jasper.  If you google that and look at some more pictures of it you will probably realize, like I did, that it is named that because it resembles fruitcake.  I love butterflies and I thought this would look good with my fairy figurines.  There were so many neat things available in this store that it was a daunting task to pick what to buy.  They had guitars, ukuleles and other things covered in beautiful mosaic that were hung on the walls.  Those were expensive.  There were rings, necklaces bracelets and so many pretty display pieces.  I also bought a couple of cute mushrooms to go with my fairy figurines.  I love the one made of Lapis Lazuli.  I'm not sure what the green one is. 

I have a collection of trinket boxes so I like to have small things to tuck inside of them.  I picked out this tiny skull carved out of red gold stone.  It is so glittery in real life!  It is mesmerizing.  I also bought a couple fossils.  There were little baskets filled with them of all different types and sizes.  

 The woman that worked there, I'm not sure if she was the owner, was a cool lady.  She patiently told me what each thing was so I could learn more about them.  I wish all the people that worked in stores were so friendly and willing to supply information about things.  I enjoyed watching her work on assembling things to put out in the store.  Outside the store, around the corner a bit, there was a large block of concrete with some good sized pieces of pure white quartz that people had been breaking up into smaller pieces.  I picked up a few small pieces to take home.  I found one that kinda looks like a chicken and I'm going to paint a few details on it to look like an all white chicken.  My sister loves chickens.

The yarn store called Polychrome Fibers was also amazing.  There was a rainbow of beautiful yarns of all different sizes and types, kits, project bags, stitch markers. etc.  It was a small store but the selection was amazing.  I had such a hard time making a selection that I actually left with nothing.  I thought about the a few that caught my eyes and what I would want to make with it the whole time I was in Anchorage.  I made the decision just in time so I could swing in on our way back home.  I bought some beautiful yarn and I also bought a crochet hook that someone had crafted with a bamboo handle and glass beads on top.  I wish I knew who made it.  I got it in the size I use the most - H, which I think is 4.5mm.  A picture of the yarn I got is in the previous post. 

I also found these cute art prints in an art gallery in Denali.  They are painted by Christine Nethe.

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I had such a fabulous time on that trip and I can't wait to go on another adventure. Maybe I'll go to a different place in Alaska next time. ~D

Our Spring Trip to Anchorage

I had an appointment in Anchorage in May and we decided to drive.  It was so beautiful.  I stared out the window the entire time.  My husband drove the whole time so I could take pictures and enjoy the scenery.  I took a lot of pictures because I want to try painting some of them.  It was early spring when we left and the leaves were just starting to open and still small.  As we drove south we saw more and more green and fuller trees.  As we started going up into the mountains it got cooler again and the mountains were breathtaking.  I took so many pictures of them and what I call "mashed potato clouds".  I also want to try to paint those amazing clouds.  

Denali

We drove through Denali but didn't have time to check out Denali National park.  I have been through this way several times and have never gone into the park.  I definitely need to do that sometime.  I checked out some of the shops in Denali and founds some fun things.  There is a store there called Denali Rocks and they have a neat selection of neat rocks, fossils, minerals, crystals.... so many cool things.  I love rocks!  I bought a few things I'll have to show pictures of later.  

Another store I went into was called Polychrome Fibers.  I bought some beautiful yarn there that reminds me of the night sky.  It is finger weight sparkle yarn in black, blue & purple.  I can't wait to make something with it.  

In Anchorage, it feels like the mountains are so close.  It feels like they follow you wherever you go in the city.  They are looming all around and so huge and majestic.  They seem to curl around the city, except on the side where the cook inlet is.  We went to a few bookstores, coffee shops and just walked around checking out the different stores and restaurants we don't have where we live.  We ate at Applebee's and it was so good.  It was my first time going there.  It was so nice outside and I soaked up the sunshine that I'd missed all winter.

I really enjoyed Title Wave books & The Writer's Block Bookstore & Cafe.  I will be going back!

I had so much time I hated to go back.  On the drive back home, we decided to drive through Palmer.  I was looking on google and saw there was a cute bookstore there called Fireside Books.  I wish I had some pictures of the inside.  It was set up so cute.  The children's section was really a delight.  I did buy a couple of books there.  It looked like such a great little community and I'd love to go back.  I enjoyed reading about this old train engine #5.  It was a really fun trip and I hope I get to do it again sometime and explore some more.  

Sad day

Last night I had to say goodbye to an old fishy friend.  I've had Shade, a convict cichlid for 8 years.  I have been noticing since the beginning of the year that his color was fading and I wondered if he was okay.  He seemed okay otherwise though.  That is until he started to act lethargic and just wasn't his normal ornery self.  He wasn't chasing the other fish around and trying to eat them.  I had to put in various hidey-holes for the little fish to go to escape him and he was like a football player and seemed to use shoulders he didn't have to push heavy things around.  He would get so angry when he couldn't get the little fish and threw actual fishy tantrums.  Lately though, they could swim right by him and he didn't react at all.  I've watched him get steadily worse until last night he seemed to be stuffering too much.  Something in his side was hurting and he was flicking his body to the side like he was trying to get it off of him but there's nothing he can get off.  There's no wound, parasite or fungus although I did treat the water just in case.  I tried everything I could to help him and it didn't work.  I finally just had to help him die and it feels horrible.  He was a menace in the tank but I will miss his eyes following me around.  Bye buddy.

New goals for crafting

Spring is finally coming and it's time to come out of hibernation.  It is so nice to see the sun shining again.  I can't wait to see green grass again and get some flowers planted in my yard.  

I took a big break from every kind of crafting for a while so I want to get back into that.  I did make a few things recently so that's a start.  My husband fixed up a better area for my yarn in the garage so now I need to get in there and organize it.  I have too much for the space though so I need to use some of it up.  I am going to look at what I have and see what patterns I can find to make with it.  I'm thinking about doing YOP (Year of Projects) again.  I wish a had a little space for a chair or something in there but there's just not much space.  We have two exercise machines in there close to where my yarn is.  I did just donate a bunch of stuff so I'm going to try to find a little room there.  It just won't be anything really cosy.  

I have been reading a lot.  I have started to read more new books and mainly using kindle unlimited and books from the digital library.  In years past I've been really focused on reading the oldest books on my shelves and moving them out.  I still have a lot of books that I need to read though.  I really need to focus on finishing some series that I've started and just keep dragging around.  

I also started watching Doctor Who again starting from the very beginning (1963).  I love watching those old shows.  I even watched (or listened to) the missing episodes.  I'm now up to season 12 with the 4th doctor.  He is who I remember from when I was a kid and I love him and the crazy things he says and does.  

D