Happy Homemaker Monday

Good morning and welcome to Happy Homemaker Monday! Being sick half of last week put me behind on so many fronts. According to my doctor, my immune system is at an all time low because of the food allergies but as I am not eating the offending foods, it should get better. Right now I am catching everything that flies by in spite of taking Airborne and lots of vitamin C:( I did get over it pretty quick so maybe that means things are getting better??? I can always hope!

Happy Homemaker Monday is initiated each week by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Be sure to pop on over to see what she's been up to. She always has a lot going on!!! So let's get started!

Weather...Cold, cold, cold!!! It is 20 degrees (F) and we have had freezing fog for a week or more:( Our deck is like an ice skating rink and it's covered!

Right now I am...Curled up in hubby's extra large recliner with a cup of Yerba Mate tea and for the first time in several days, I am dressed before noon:)

Thinking... of all that must be done today since I haven't done much for nearly a week!

On my reading pile...All the same books as last week:( When I don't feel well it's hard to read--can't concentrate! Sooo, I watched movies and knitted (slowly) instead.

On my tv...Downton Abbey (last night) plus some Hallmark Hall of Fame movies on SpiritClips. I love having SpiritClips:) I will be watching Cash Cab and The Chew while walking on the treadmill.

Favorite Blog post this past week (mine or other)...I have really been enjoying Sandra's Five Senses Saturday! But it's also hard to beat one of Carla's sewing tutorials!

Something fun to share...Do you knit or crochet? Do you know about Ravelry? I have found some of the best free patterns on Ravelry. Many of them I saw on Pinterest and followed the links to Ravelry. Check it out!!!

On the menu this week...
Monday--leftovers
Tuesday--Pasta and green salad
Wednesday--Mizidra (it's a weekly thing)
Thurday--not sure yet
Friday--Potato Corn Chowder
Not sure about the weekend yet.

On my to do list...Everything I didn't get done last week! Looking back it looks like I did get a few things done that were on my list but still need to do:

• Thank you cards--make and send (it's starting to get embarrassing)
• Declutter 50 items since I didn't declutter at all last week.
• The Cupboard Trilogy DT project
• Happy Stampers Swap card
• Dust
• Clean the bathroom
• Send one handwritten note via snail mail:) I am going to try to send one per week. 

What I am sewing, knitting, crocheting or creating...

• Finished knitting a Center Row Lace Headband/Neck Warmer from a pattern I found on Ravelry by Rewind Knit & Crochet. I am knitting another one for a friend.
• Cards, cards and more cards! Will show you soon:)
• Itching to start some granny squares
• Gift for a friend (will have to wait till she gets it to reveal)--working on this week!

Homemaking Tips...Ah, this is a tip I need to start working on again. Several years ago I read about cleaning out one cupboard or closet or drawer a week for an entire year. I did it and it was AMAZING! I am going to start this again this week!

Looking around the house...Dogs everywhere! Seriously, we only have three but one of them is HUGE! Seems like I am stepping over dogs all the time! Also dust everywhere! On Friday when I cleaned house I pooped out before I got the dusting done so it must be done today!

From the camera...

ice buildup on our trees

On my prayer list...

• Hubby to get well
• My brother just going back to work after knee surgery
• My mom--health issues

Bible verse; Devotional...

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

I hope you have a great day! I am hoping to get some fun things done today to be able to show you this week. Tomorrow I will update you on my January No/Low Spend and Declutter Challenge plus show you one of our Happy Stamper's projects from last week! 

Kat

Weekly Money Check-Up

It's time again for the Weekly Money Check-up! This post is originated by Ginna at My Pretty Pennies.

1. The most I spent this last week was on groceries! Hubby and I went to Costco yesterday and it was a whopper! Plus I had an eye exam and purchased new glasses--also at Costco. Got a new pair of shoes at Costco too but that will be another post:) My brother says "if you can't buy it at Costco, you don't need it!"
2. Today I am thankful for the fun town day I had with my husband yesterday.
3. Money can't buy happiness. One free thing I did last week that made me happy was blogging! I had a great time blogging last week and "playing" along with Carla's Sunday Night Chit-Chat; Ginna's Weekly Money Check-up and Sandra's Happy Homemaker Monday! Now we need a Wacky Wednesday and a Friday Finish! Anybody game?!!!
4. I will consider this week a success if I finish the doll dress I am crocheting; finish making my new clothes pin bag and get the cards made that need to go out this week.
5. One craft I would like to master is knitting. I knit I have never tried to knit garments. I would love to have a sweater knit with my own two hands.

Well, that's it for today. Have a great Tuesday and I hope it's warm and sunny where you are. We have rain and it's 46 degrees F (brrr!). Kat

Newest Knitting Project

One of my resolutions for 2011 was to knit a simple pair of fingerless mittens. I got to December 30 and had not even attempted to make a pair so decided to search Ravelry.com for a pattern and find a pair of size 6 double-pointed knitting needles in my stash (most of which was passed down to me from my Grandmother via my Mom). Well, I got my first mitten finished on January 1 but because I hate to check gauge and I knit loose, it was too big (see it's NOT a waste of time to check gauge). 

So I am calling this my practice mitten:) Off to my stash I went to find smaller needles--didn't have size 4 which I thought I needed so decided on size 5. The needles are so slick and the yarn is so soft I kept losing my stitches off the ends of the double-pointed needles so ended up using guards on the points to keep my stitches on. 


Yesterday my dear husband was out and about so I asked him to stop into a locally owned yarn shop in The Dalles called The Whole Ball of Yarn to purchase me some Bamboo knitting needles in sizes 4 and 5. Bamboo feels smooth but has a bit of tooth to it so the stitches don't slip off but it doesn't snag the yarn--helps keep the stitches from falling off. We'll see if I can get a pair knitted now.

The second picture shows how far I am with the first mitten knitted on size 5 needles--this one felt right when I tried it on. Beside the mitten is my new package of bamboo needles that I will be switching to on the next round. 


When I finish this pair of fingerless mittens, I think I will knit the second sock to a pair I started about 10 years ago. I have always been able to say I could knit "sock" but never been able to say I could knit socks! Who knows, maybe everybody on my list will get socks and fingerless mittens for Christmas next year!


That leads me to one of my "goals" for 2012--to make or purchase two Christmas gifts and one birthday gift every month. I also want to wrap them, tag them and put them where I can find them when I need them.


I will update you on how I did (or didn't do) with some of my 2011 resolutions (goals) in a future post. I also want to share more of my goals for 2012. Doesn't "goals" sound better than "resolutions"? 


Thanks for stopping by today. Kat