A Finished Project....and Texas

 

I tried to find something different to post today....but for some reason....nothing attracted my eye.  Then I remembered this great photo of the most recent scarf I finished knitting.  I LOVE finishing something!!  And, I thought this photo was really good.  Taken on my iPhone.  The colors look so vibrant.  And, this photo illustrates what my friends and I were thinking when we said we should have a needle in our hands at least once a day.  It doesn't matter what kind of needle.  Shown is a needle weaving in the yarn ends of this scarf.  And, I finished that border in one day...so there you are!  A good day!

 

This is the same scarf.  The photo was taken with my camera...in a different room, different time of day, different light, etc.  Not so vibrant...but ok.  You can see the border...crocheted in a knit every row pattern and fun to do.  I like it...you don't have to THINK!  It's like meditation....

 

Here is the actual yarn I used.   The color is "Echo."  Art. E793, 3940.  After knitting the scarf, I crocheted five or six rows of single crochet around the edge, then, I did a little scalloped edge....sc, ch three, sc, repeat all the way around. End. Easy Peasy.  Do three sc in the corner st.  As you can see on the photo above this one...the border IS variegated as I used the same yarn for the whole project, but in this photo, the scallop looks like one continuous color.

Now....the Texas part.  I am going to visit my sister and two brothers.  I am now the oldest in my family.  There are four siblings.  Me.  Then, my brother, Mike.  He is sixteen months younger than me.  Next is my sister, Debbie, she is ten years younger.  Then, there is Robert, who is thirteen years younger.  I have seen my sister this year, but haven't seen the brothers in several years.  My daughter, Kelly is driving me there...somewhere between eight and ten hours, depending on traffic.  She hasn't seen her uncles in many years.  It will be interesting.  

I wanted to post something tonight, so this is what you get...but, hopefully, I will have something different when I come back next week.  Wishing you a lovely week with good weather and good fun.

And, til next time, take care.  ♥ pat

Sharing this Day

 

Sharing my day with you...

My brother-in-law, Don Eaton, in Birmingham, Alabama, had a stroke on Monday.  He is the old navy man's older brother.  My heart is in Alabama these days and with him and his family.

Don is an artist...he painted this bird nest and eggs watercolor for me.    I have been enjoying it this Autumn season.  ♥

 

These flowers arrived at my house on my birthday.  From my favorite son.  Beautiful, aren't they?

 

Here is the card that came with them.  I had to Google the French, as I don't understand a word of it.  I just think it is beautiful on the page.   I went to Google translate and this is what I got:   "You are my mother, preferred."  How cute is that?

 

 

 Here are close-ups of the flowers.  LOVE THEM! 

 

I like to dry the roses and have several around the house that I have saved over time.  I  will save these too.  Visual memories, so to speak.

 

 He also sent me this lovely bird book.  He said I mentioned one time wanting a children's book about birds, in French, so he found this one on amazon.com.    Who knew?  I love it....I can't read it, of course, but I can enjoy looking at it.  Actually, when I am out scouting the flea markets, I always look for books in French.  Not much chance of them turning up in Arkansas, but it gives me something to look for!  My dream is to find a vintage French book on needlework....well, yes, I DID say DREAM!

But, you never know.....and I do like a challenge!

 

 The artwork is just gorgeous in this book....makes me want to take another stab at doing more applique and embroidering of birds.

 

  

Just lovely.  Wouldn't a kid enjoy these? 

I will enjoy this book for a very long time...inspiration is always a good thing!  Thank you, Scott!

I hope you all have a safe and wonderful day!  

Until next time, take care.  ♥ pat

  

I voted the first day of early voting in Arkansas.  PLEASE vote!  People died so we would have the privilege of voting.

My 70th Birthday Giveaway

Today, my 70th Birthday, has been a lovely day!  I heard from my children, siblings and friends and friends of my children I don't even know, along with a visit from my sweet friend, Kelley,  and Brenda, another Hall Monitor of the Universe.  Something she and I both share.  So, while I am another year older....it was a happy day....bittersweet, but beautiful.   I will also have another birthday,  I guess you might say, as tomorrow I will spend the afternoon over at my daughter and son-in-law's house.  We will be making pizza and watching the Cowboy game.  Something a displaced Texan still likes to do.

As you see here....a reminder of the scarves and pin I am giving a reader of my blog.  As you recall, I like to give someone I don't know a gift on my birthday.  When I talked to my son in San Francisco this morning, I asked him to choose a number from the comments made on my Giveaway post, two posts back.  (A job the old navy man used to do for me.)  Scott gave me a number...and as it turns out, ERIN from Minnesota is the winner!  Maybe my scarf will help keep her warm this winter!  Erin, please send me your regular mailing address so I can ship your prize off to you....and I hope you enjoy it.

I think these photos are pretty good ones...taken on my iPhone.  I need to use it more often, it appears.

For those of you who didn't win...please know that I am grateful for your interest in my blog and I hope to offer a Giveaway again in the near future.  Thank all of you for acknowledging my return to blogland after an absence while I moved to a new home.  Your kind comments cheered me up considerably.

I'll post again as soon as I can and as always, I will appreciate your comments and emails.  Of course, you never know what I will be showing you and as it happens, I don't know what I'm doing until the minute I decide to post. 

  Y'all take care out there and until next time...take care!  ♥ pat

Autumn Leaves

I was born in Autumn and it has always been my very favorite season.  Now, why is that since I seem to suffer moods of melancholy the whole of the season?  I cannot be explained.  That's all there is to it. One of my favorite quotes is from Tallulah Bankhead.  She said, "No one can be like me...even I have trouble doing it."  Well, me too!

I'm always sad the leaves are falling...but glad they are so beautiful.  I went out the other day and found as many pretty ones as I could and brought them in.  Not many here this year.  In fact, the ones in these photos are not from this year.  The trees here this year are just not at all colorful.  Must be the weird weather we have had....or they are late changing, or something.  But, looking at these photos reminds me of Autumns past and I remember.  These trees are down at the end of the street I've just moved from.  And, these photos were taken two or three years ago.  Weren't they beautiful?

 

Not to be really depressing, at the moment, but to "just remember", I have to quote the lyrics from one of my very favorite songs.  The old navy man and I both loved it.  He could sing it and so could  

Nat King Cole.

 

AUTUMN LEAVES

Lyrics by Johnny Mercer

The falling leaves drift by the window

the autumn leaves of red and gold

I see your lips, the summer kisses

the sun-burned hands I used to hold

Since you went away the days grow long

And soon I'll hear old winter's song

But I miss you most of all my darling

When autumn leaves start to fall.

 

Much Autumn Beauty to you!

 (And, remember to comment on my previous post to win a scarf!)

Until Saturday, October 18th, take care.  ♥ pat

 

 

Weaving in the Ends: An Autumn Giveaway

Every year for my birthday I like to have a Giveaway on my blog.  Well, I didn't last year, but you know life here last year was not conducive to thinking of that kind of thing.  This year, well, I think it's a good idea and hope to continue on with these Giveaways once in a while and especially on my birthday.

So, what to give?  That was the question.  Around about the time I was thinking of this...(the end of last week)... some of my friends and I had decided to have a daily Challenge.  Not being all that productive lately and wanting to share some enthusiasm, we decided that we each should hold a needle in our hands for at least a few minutes each day and we would then email each other with the results...thus spurring us on to be more creative and accomplish something, even a little bit at a time.   I suppose filing a report makes you want to be productive and creative.  While doing "my own little bit" with a needle turned out to be weaving in the yarn ends of the eight scarves I have knitted over most of the last year, it was work with a needle and no one said what kind of needle!  Without going into details about why I had eight unfinished scarves around, I did have them and it occurred to me that weaving in those ends would require holding a needle and so my first Challenge project would be to finish the scarves.  Weaving the yarn ends in took me two days, working in a few minutes here and a few minutes there.

After finishing this little job...another thought occurred to me.  I had knitted two scarves from the same yarn.  Why, I don't know...but there they were calling out to me....Autumn Giveaway!!  The yarn is in lovely colors for this season...why not?  So....I decided right then and there to give the winner one scarf....and also one to share with a friend.  I love it when a plan comes together!  I also rummaged through my "junk jewelry" and found a Leaf Pin and thought it would go great with the scarf.  So there we are...my 2014 Birthday Giveaway!

Here one is all tied up with some terrific ribbon I also found in my stash.  It's really cool and thought it would look good with this yarn.  So...do you want to win it?  If so....please leave a comment on this blog post.  Also make sure I have a way to get in touch with you should you be the winner!  This coming Saturday, October 18th, is my 70th birthday.  I hope to present this Giveaway to one of you as my gift to me....a Happy Day for You! 

Pictured below are some of the scarves I finished.  A project completed.  That's a good feeling!!  I hope to post again in the middle of the week or thereabouts.  Something pretty.  Something that goes with the season.  Meantime....please comment, you might win!

Take care and til next time,   ♥ Pat 

A Test Post

Having technical difficulties....will post asap!  pat

And the Moving is Over......

 

 After what seems to be an eternity...I can finally say I have moved into my new home.  My grandson came over today and helped me get the final few things I wanted added to the attic and it

 is done.  

Here you can see the new home of Bird Nest on the Ground.  It is just the perfect little place for me.  Of course, it does not have the lovely backyard studio, so I have had to be creative in where and how I have put all the million tons of 'stuff' I had in the Nest.  (Although I DID donate lots to local charities.) Ty summed it up pretty well when he said, "well, the whole house can be your studio now."  And, why not?  He calls it my 'doll house.'  Why, I don't know....but it's ok with me.  Anyway...here it is.  #315.  My first thought when seeing the house number was "Oh, I will have to have my tea at 3:15 each afternoon."  Where did that thought come from?

 

Here is the garage.  Only reason I am making a point for you to see it is behind this door is where a lot of my studio stuff is.  And, there is still room to park the car.  You will see it one day soon.  It's ready to see...but I'm not ready to let you see....if that makes any sense.  

  

This is the view from my mailbox looking to the left.....

 

And, this is the view looking to the right.  This street is not a thru street, making it a very quiet place to live.  I am liking it a lot.  AND, guys come and do all the outdoor work.  They arrive, do it all and leave.  I was most surprised yesterday when they came to mow and such and when they were gone, there was not one leaf left.   Beautiful. 

So...for those of you who have asked....I have to say I am doing pretty well.  I have bad days and good days.  It's not simple.  It's not easy.  But, I'm doing my best because the old navy man would want me to be ok.    I have not sold my old house yet and that is worrisome at this point.  I'm trying not to think about it, but it pops in my head often and without warning.  Eventually, it will all work out.  I'm told.  

I have been reading blogs...my favorites...there are a handful of them.  The writers of these blogs have no idea how much they have helped me the last months.  And, I appreciate them very much.  One of them is Colette Copeland.  She was widowed at a young age.  She works hard.  Her artwork is fun and colorful.  She posts a lot.  I admire that.  And, she often will say something that is quite meaningful to me.  As you know, I haven't posted in quite a while.  Not only was I working very hard...but I just couldn't decide what to say to you on the first post from my new home.  Then, the other day I was reading some of the posts in Colette's archive and knew I wanted to quote her in the first post from this new home.  I wrote to her and asked permission and she graciously gave me that permission.  You might want to check out her blog and her etsy shop too.  Here is the info (just click to visit):

Colette Copeland

Blog:  a-bird-in-the-hand.blogspot.com

etsy shop: colettecopeland.etsy.com

And, here is her blog post of March 28, 2014.  It meant a lot to me as it pretty much explains how I feel....she just says it better:

"The landscape is pitiful right now.  The spring thaw is uncovering all the debris of winter trapped under layers of snow and ice.  Looking at it, I know it will bounce back and start to go green and warm.  It's a good example of resiliency.  I believe resiliency is part of the reason why I'm still here and still (relatively) sane.

This past season, more than any other, I've felt jaded and tired, at times discouraged by the state of affairs, of my life, the world at large.  They say that you get less resilient as you grow older.  Well, I've decided to disprove that.  I don't hide or disguise my jadedness; instead I examine it and do something about it.  I start by looking at what is working in my life, the people I care about, the work I love, and go from there.

Quietly, in my own way."

My feelings.  Expressed beautifully by a beautiful person I have never met.  THANK YOU, Colette!

I'll post again soon.  I'm going to challenge myself to do it.  THANK YOU, those of you have stayed around to see if I actually would!  Take care out there.....♥ Pat