in the heat of the moment...

I quit my job!

 

No single reason...

just a lot of little things

 that have added up over the years.

 

 

Ten and a half years of being a self taught

 newspaper journalist hasn't always been easy.

 

I'm probably not retired...

I will definitely miss my paycheck every other week.

 I do have a few bad habits to support...

namely fabric and yarn.

 

~b



dinosaurs and turtles

 

I have so much fun making these bibs.

 

 

They take such a small amount of fabric.

 

 

And I love the fact that you don't match prints....

 

 

 and raw edges are allowed.

 

 

There is snow coming down here again today

with more in the forecast next week. 

Snowy days call for more bibs

don't you think?

 

~b

 

 

 



fresh air

Is anyone else craving some fresh air?

 

 

I opened a couple of windows.

I don't care...

go ahead and fight with the furnace.

 

 

The Mr. and I are likely to arm wrestle

 for that first lawn mower ride.

What a winter!

 

 

I finished up a few pink projects.

 

 

Today I am working on blue.

But first I am going to take a book

out on the patio to read for a few minutes

Maybe I'll take my walkman with and

listen to John Denver's

"Sunshine On My Shoulders."

~b



somebunny

I tackled a new project this weekend...

at daughter knit and pearl's suggestion.

 

 

A blanket buddy...

or a blanket bunny buddy.

Super chunky yarn in what I like to think is

a robins egg blue color.

The head is meant to be stuffed

and eyes and mouth embroidered on it.

But my bunny just may be Amish.

 

 

"Jelly Bean Bunny"

 

 

 

~b

 



sounding off

With the birds chirping and other signs

 of spring popping up all over...

I'm beginning to feel the urge to throw open the windows

and start pitching!

How do we accumulate all this junk?

Moving every ten years used to take care of the STUFF...

but we have been in this home for 13 years.

Some of this stuff is sitting in the very same spot

we put it when we moved in.

What does that tell you?

Time to move...

~b



pitter patter

The pitter patter of little feet in our family

 has my knitting needles smokin' hot.

 

 

The elephant planter is vintage.

My grandmother, who was a florist,

gave it to me from her shop in the 1950's.

 

 

Which means I have been safekeeping it for over 50 years.

I can remember her giving it to me.

 

 

I don't know if I asked for it...

or if she just gave it to me.

 

 

I love it when the granddaughter's ask me for things.

They know I can't say no to them.

 

 

It will be spring tomorrow.

Aren't we all ready for a change?

I resigned my winter coat weeks ago.

I thought I might have to buy a new one before this winter gave up.

~b

 



Good morning

The top of the morning to you...

 

 

There is no luck except where there is discipline.
-Irish Proverb

 

 

Don't give cherries to pigs or advice to fools.

 -Irish Proverb

 

 

The back must slave to feed the belly.
-Irish Proverb

Hope it's a lucky Monday for all of us!

~b



circus

Can you detect a reoccurring theme to my projects lately?

 

 

Daughter Knit and Pearl has declared a circus theme

for the nursery.

 

 

Sounds bright and cheery doesn't it?

 

 

We took our kids to Baraboo, Wisconsin one summer to see the

Baraboo Circus World Museum.

 

 

 

At one time, almost one hundred years ago, the Ringling Bros. Circus had their winter quarters on the north bank of the Baraboo River. The area was known as Ringlingville. The Ringling Bros. Circus last wintered here in 1918.

 

 

Did you read this book as a child?

 

 

 

I mean really...

who can resist a circus?

 

~b



spring

Spring has arrived in my little sewing room.

"Lana"

The backs of my bibs are always fun too.

ribbit...

puppy dog tails...

A trio of bibs for springtime.

~b



museum

While the guys remodeled a bathroom this weekend

the girls got to visit the children's museum.

A fair trade I would say.

 

 

What cuter than a little girl in a pink tutu

 changing a tire at the local filling station?

 

 

"Could you check my oil while you're under the hood please?"

 

 

What's a museum without an art gallery?

 

 

They loved playing with the puppets.

 

 

The food at the cafeteria was a little rubbery but

the service was exceptional.

 

~b

 



Blues

It seems as though I've been working on mostly blue projects lately.

 

 

A blue denim jumper for daughter knit and pearl...

She will need to grow into this I'm afraid.

 

Of course all this blue fabric got me to thinking about blue sayings...

 

Out of the blue...

What in the blue blazes...

Black and Blue...

Blue in the face...

Blue collar...

Into the wild blue yonder...

Talk a blue streak...

Feeling blue...

Cuss a blue streak...

True blue!

 

Help!

Stop me already

 

 

 

I was glad to finish this bag...

nothing went right on it from the start.

was it the pattern writer or pattern follower?

Some of both I think.

But it is a cute bag...

I love the beetle bugs on it.

 

 

This little pacifier pouch was a challenge also.

Definitely different construction than I am used to making.

 

I was informed yesterday to put the brakes on blue baby projects...

It's all pink from here on out.

I can handle three granddaughters...

I don't know about grandpa?

~b



good morning mr. quaker

Wednesdays are my day off to sleep in...

usually until 7:30...

 and enjoy a late breakfast.

I have been wanting to try 

McDonalds oatmeal

 at home for awhile now.

 

 

Copycat McDonald's

 Maple Brown Sugar & Fruit Oatmeal

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon raisins
• 1 tablespoon golden raisin
• 1 tablespoon dried cranberries
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons half-and-half
• 1/4 apple

Directions

1. Place oats, dried fruit, sugar and cream in jar and cover with one cup of water.
2. Screw on the lid and shake to mix.
3. If you’re using a bowl, stir it with a spoon and then cover with a plate before microwaving.
4. Dice the apple and store in a plastic bag.
5. When ready to prepare remove the jar’s lid and microwave the jar for one minute, and stir the contents.
6. Then microwave again for about 1minute and 5 seconds.
7. Stir in the apples and you’re ready to go!
8. Of course, you don’t have to use apples at all. Nuts are a great addition, as are tons of other mix-ins.

 

Don't be put off by the calories...a whopping 332! It's a large helping...eat half and save the other half for tomorrow at work.

 

It's very good, I like oatmeal and fruit, but it lacks the maple taste of McD's. Substitute a little maple syrup instead of all the brown sugar?

 

 

Yes, I'll definitely be making this again.

 ~b



layette

We got a little closer to spring this weekend.

 

 

That's a GREAT feeling.

 

I found the pattern for these booties on Ravelry.

Thank you Ravelry for providing me with lots of inspiration

 and countless free patterns.

 

 

They are called...

My GrandMa's booties by Nathalie Gueniche

 

 

I chose to add the crocheted edge in a dusty rose.

You can knit these up in a couple hours while you watch

the final season of Breaking Bad.

 

 

All ready for the layette.

There's an old fashioned word for you to look up.

Baby's probably don't wear booties anymore either...

but grandma's just keep knitting them anyway.

~b