hand eye crafts

 You can occasionally wake up not knowing who you are÷ OR You can frequently wake up not knowing who anyone else is Hello to October.  Although it is marginally cooler here, it still doesn't feel like Fall.  You'll get a slight whiff of it some mornings, but that goes away.  Thankfully(?), Tap still needs air conditioning every now and again to cool him down, so I can slip on a hoodie or sweatshirt and pretend. ÷This one.

Would you rather: Eat the same thing every day for the rest of your life OR Never repeat a meal for the rest of your life* One of the glow-in-the-dark booties is done: You can tell where I held it on the back of the heel to take the picture.  Tap is very slightly interested in the smell.  He absconded with this when I left the room.  One fun thing is that my fingertips would glow a little after I worked on it for a while.  Dye transfer, obviously, but disconcerting when I saw it the first time. *Never repeat a meal for the rest of my life.  Variety, plus, the pressure to even choose what the same thing might be would be immense.  Just don't serve me liver.  Or turnips.

Adventures with wild horses  OR  Adventures with wild dolphins?* Cross-stitch-wise, Santa is done except for backstitching.  Now on to a snow-covered tree and kittens on the sled.  (Or "sledge," as the English designer calls it.) The fabric is light blue, though it looks dirty grey in this picture.  Santa has little chicken legs, which is kind of endearing.  There are loads of snowflakes, which I may freestyle rather than strictly following their placement on the pattern.  As long as it's snowing, right?  The fabric is 18-count, the first time I've used it in a while, and I'm having occasional trouble seeing.  I have one of those light sets that goes around your neck, and it's helping. *Horses for me, due in very large part to the fact that I can't swim.

 Have you seen this film? Eerily possible these days.  I used to play selected parts in my classes, particularly the breakfast scene where Andrew has been learning about humor and jokes. Today's question: Would you rather have a robot to clean your house* OR a robot to cook your meals? I finished my pastel socks: I'm happy with them.   *CLEANING ROBOT.  Don't even need to see the other choice.  CLEANING.  ROBOT.

This one's interesting: Friendly aliens offer to show you the galaxy, but you can never return to Earth OR Aliens abduct you for a week of medical experiments, but then you go back to your regular life* Got some work in on my little Santa this afternoon.  The count stitch is off in a couple of places,but I'm trying not to sweat it.  I'm about to pick up my cashmeres stripes scarf while I watch Sunday Night Football.  I'm also struggling along with my glow-in-the-dark footies.  The yarn is stiff and tough to work with, which I assume is due to the luminous dye.  It hurts my fingers --- dead ones and fine ones ---- to work on it very long.  I still promise to show it to you one day. Oh.  Yeah.  I'd pick puppies.   *I, suppose once you see even part of the galaxy, you'd want to see it all.  If you go with the week, you'll never get anybody to believe what happened.   If the aliens' ship is large enough to keep me from being claust...

 Would you rather be in a room full of puppies OR kittens?* &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& or I never promised easy, people.  I just promised choices. *Nope.  Not gonna give my answer 'til I see some of y'all's.

My knees have been been giving me no end of trouble lately.  Salonpas patches, ibuprofen, creams and sprays and ointments, ice, heat...  Nothing works for more than than a couple of hours.  Standing after sitting is the absolute worst.  Once I start walking, things are okay.  Very, very bad knees are a genetic gift from my father's family. This time of year, Saturdays without a TV are awful.  Radio is a fun throwback, but only for a while.  Oklahoma is in town to play UGA, and traffic out there has been bonkers.   Have I mentioned the unfinished roadwork ALL OVER TOWN?

Would you rather hear colors OR taste colors?^ Have you ever tie-dyed anything?  I remember dyeing a t-shirt, which may have been for a Girl Scout badge.  My mother would never have let me freely "waste" dyeing on something so "tacky."   The heels are turned on the pastel socks ...AND the whole thing looks like a uterus. This is, perhaps, an added perk of sock knitting on straight needles.  Check out the pretty stripes that are the heels.  This one should be done tomorrow. ^Hearing them would be so overwhelming, I'll go with tasting them.

Therapy today, as my therapist has another commitment Friday.  That is making me feel like tomorrow should be Saturday.  So weird how your mind plays tricks on you like that.  Would you choose  Being fluent in every language OR Having the ability to talk to and be understood by plants and animals* <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< I got a couple of new plants yesterday;  this is my favorite: I've named it Nakatomi.   The little babies at the base even look like frames for a front door.  I considered naming it Hans Gruber, but it doesn't look much like a Hans. A cloudy, windy day here today.  I got to break out my first pair of boots of the season --- pale blue denim.  I'm about to go make myself some hot chocolate --- from scratch --- and call it an early night. *A trick question?  If you're fluent in all la...

I have to go with an answer by default on today's query. Would you rather ...remember every little detail of every day of your life OR ...remember your dreams vividly ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ My dreams stay with me, sometimes for days, so the little detail remembering choice must be mine here.  How about you? Every single morning, I wake up with a song in my head.  It might take me a minute to hear it, to realize what it is, but it's always there. I decided last month to write down each song each morning.  What surprised me was how little repetition there was --- two songs showed up twice.  Weird stuff happened: the theme from "Star Wars?"  Then some days began wonderfully, like with this one: Man, I love the Everly Brothers.  One of my musical weaknesses is good harmony, and theirs has never been bettered.  (Equalled, yes, not bettered)  During a trip to Nashville once, I saw Don Everly, and I still get stomach butterflies thinking about ...

You can only read the first page of every book OR You can only read the last page of every book^ ÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷ Last night, I tried starting the second sock, but utterly screwed up the ribbing.  My frustration with the TV is oozing into other life areas: instead of trying to fix the mistakes, I just ripped the whole thing back. A brutal rainstorm blew in here yesterday afternoon.  Fortunately, there were only a few branches down in the front yard.  There was flooding in some parts of town, and several traffic lights were out.  Me, I just backed my car out into the driveway and got real cheap car wash. ^Last for me.  First might intrigue me and be hard not to turn.  Last, I have closure --- literally and figuratively.  You also sound vaguely cooler if you're able to say, "How about that ending, though, huh?"

Which is it? You can never cut your fingernails again OR You can never wash your hair again* ================================== I turned to a jigsaw puzzle today to pass some time.  Radio is being surprisingly interesting --- both the amount of stations Simple Radio provides and the things I can listen to. I also spent time on the phone canceling my debit card due to fraud.  Two weeks for a replacement?  Yikes. What if I NEED TO SHOP?!   *Piece of cake --- I cannot never wash my hair.

I just got one of those "after dinner"* card games, called "Which Would You Choose?"  It seemed like it might be fun to share with you, and you can answer if you'd like, or if the questions interest you.^   I'll play along, too.  Be warned, though, there are 50 cards, so we'll be at it for a while. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To begin, would you rather:  Always have to say what you're thinking OR Be frequently compelled to lie for no reason¤ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Last night, I frogged the horizontal scarf.  It was not going to be long enough.  The replacement cast-on was for a boring ol' vertical one. Fantastic Vandy game this afternoon.  I found the VU flagship station on the Simple Radio app, so I could keep up without pictures. I did all my superstitious things throughout, changing shirts, listening, not listening, knitting, not knitting, sewing, not sewing.  I won't take credit for the win, I just do stuff that I think w...

The books are done.  I finished them this morning before going to therapy.  It's a nice little piece;  wish I had a bookcase to display it in.  (My bookcase, you'll remember, is full of boots.) Still weirdly quiet here.  Without the TV on, I'm hearing every little pop and groan the house makes.  This afternoon, I heard a loud bang-thud, and thought for sure something had hit the roof.  To the contrary, something had come off the roof.  A squirrel had jumped from there to the deck, making its way to the fig tree.

Another mostly sleepless night for me.  😳  So, at 3:30 I put down my craft things and baked a loaf of "Extra Buttery Bread." It is just that;  very good. I finished the sock, but decided to wait until today to seam it up, because "...surely I'll get sleepy soon."  Nope. I did finish seaming a few minutes ago. But those two aren't the biggest news of the night  morning.  My television is broken.  There's sound, but no picture.  I went through every suggestion for getting the picture back that I could find online.  Nothing.  I've called around for some estimates on getting it fixed, and buying a new set is about the same price.  Some of the repair shops have a backlog of a couple of weeks or so.  Rush jobs put the pedal to the price metal.  So, buying would also be quicker.  My Medicare premium was due this month, therefore, I'm looking at several days TV-less. 😵‍💫😡

Sandhill Crane babies are called "colts."  I don't know anything else about Sandhill Cranes, other than I guess they nest in sand hills, but I do hope all colts are as cute and spunky as this one.  You know how human babies (called, I think, "babies") discover their hands? It looks like Sandhill Cranes colts discover their knees. I don't know how many --- if any --- of you have access to the streaming service canopy.  You get it through your library, registering with your library card.  It's an excellent source of not-really-mainstream films and documentaries.  Today I found "The Trojan Women," which features my favorite Katharine Hepburn performance. I'm trying to get this one sock finished.  Maybe another inch before I can start shaping the toe?    Pretty, pretty pastels.  Prettier than the picture shows.

Wow --- more actual cross-stitch from me!  This is a piece printed on sort of stiff canvas. Oddly, the print is not color-coordinated to the floss.  If the ink for the pattern is darker than the floss, it shows through (see the leaning book on the right.)  It's a kit that actually came with a frame, so destination settled already!

🏳️‍ I officially give up on crochet.*  I have tried and tried and failed and failed.  I bought one of those Woobles kits.  (Lion, of course.)  I started and ripped out so many times that it all went in the trash.  With quite a bit of force.  No matter the amount of tries, no matter the number of times I watched the videos, the correct number of stitches never, ever appeared. All I wanted was a lion friend. And to know how to make a blanket that's one giant granny square: Once again, I'm that old dog who can't seem to learn something new. *Except for long chains.

    (This would be me.)

No bracelets for me this weekend until the Texas / Ohio State game kicked off. Thinking I'll stick with rubber bands tonight. I've gone from craft to craft today, quilt pieces first.  Not sewing them right away, but cutting them.  All of the hexagons I've worked with so far came to me pre-cut.  I found some little pieces of fabric the other day, and decided to cut some new ones.  Out came the sandpaper for the template, and I managed 4 or 5 pieces from each fabric design. During the Vanderbilt game (2-0 on the season!), I mostly knit. The turquoise on top is part of a horizontal scarf.  You can see the coordinating variegated there to the right.  I can't tell you the yarn brand (sorry), only that the yarns are part cashmere and are called One Hit Wonders. The other knit project is the ribbing for a pair of socks.  I'm sick of the ribbing already.  Thankfully, there's only about another inch to go until the heel can start.

Up watching the NFL game last night, things got to the point where it was too close to the game's end to continue with any involved projects.  I looked over at a few sheets of "wood paper" that was out for me to do something with, and saw some things in the grains: Hey, it was something to do.

 I remember smatterings of my high school Spanish.  Phrases, mostly.  Words.  My favorite was always "Escuchame" --- "Listen to me."  In part it was because of what it means, but mostly because it's fun to say. ANYway...  Here's the latest addition to one of the Pinterest boards I mentioned, an example of my love of the old:   I honestly have no clue why this kind of thing appeals to me so.  It just does. I did finish the panic room sampler last night.  Today I've been working mainly on the hexagon quilt pieces.  A few knit rows have been thrown in, too.  Last night, I woke up and went back to bed three times.  During the second one, I cast on some bootie socks.  The twist?  The yarn is glow in the dark!  There aren't enough stitches yet to test the glowability --- I'll keep you posted.

Yes, I have put my fingers to work on some cross-stitch.  Though it isn't finished, the message is most likely clear.  (Hint: it's from  Subversive Cross-Stitch , so you know it's a little saucy.) The issue with my fingers being the fingers they are is that, on most things, I lead with my middle finger. (That is NOT meant to be saucy.)  Gripping a pencil/pen/marker/crayon, the pressure is with that finger, with the index finger "only" second.   (Writing tools lay on my ring finger, with my middle finger on top.) Same with a crochet hook, or any kind of stitching needle.  Knitting, I wrap with my index, so the middle bears all the weight of a needle.  My middle finger, therefore, gets quite tired and painful, and my index finger doesn't have as much strength with which to back it up. At any rate, that's the cross-stitch, I finished my garter stitch snood, and cast on for a pair of socks.  I spent quite a bit of time Saturday making bracelets;...

Ooh, strong reaction to Moose in Equine Alley.  (Sounds like a series of children's books.)  Perhaps these moose (meese?) can serve as a palate cleanser. (I liked "Fractured Fairy Tales.") (We had a stuffed Thidwick around here at one time.) (Mr. Moose is OVER IT.) So the species list in the alley is equine feline  bovine leporine cervine

I teased it a few days ago.  He's here now. Equine Alley has welcomed a moose.  As one does.  Now, the question, of course, is exactly where said moose's back half is.  The shabby chic couch and old, worn wallpaper and floor sold it for me.  Distressed wood, signs of age on and in buildings --- I love that.  I have Pinterest boards titled "Weathered Wood" and "Old Doors." During a filter change some time ago, the HVAC technician told me that burning candles badly clogs filters.  I like some ambience and Ifragrance in the house, so I've turned to 1) batteried candles and 2) aroma diffusers.  This is my favorite of the latter:  I do like a fireplace fire, so the flame effect entranced me.  I'm currently enjoying "ocean and bergamot," which is so very nice.  In the "flame," I see a ladderback chair in front of an open window, with long curtains blowing on either side. Not so nice: Man, I hate this stuff.  Decide your upcoming medi...

I made the banana bread, but it isn't what I wanted.  By accident, I picked up baby food bananas and carrots instead of plain bananas.  It isn't sweet enough at all.  When I realized what had happened, I shrugged it off, thinking it would be a cross between banana bread and carrot cake, which didn't sound bad in theory.  In reality, though, the loaf is drier and less sweet than I wanted. Live and learn.  Pay attention when you're shopping. It was 102 degrees here today.  The air conditioner has run without pause.  Just miserable. It would seem that miniature dachshund are the hot dog (!) of the moment.  You can understand why: Move over, French Bulldogs.  You've been supplanted.  

Haircut time.  The stylist played a little.  She had to use "taffy" to get my thick, wavy mop styleable.  Not mousse, not wax, not spray.  Taffy.  You can see it in the photo.  The challenge comes when I have to do something with it myself. More sewing last night. Done with what reds I have. Some blues Shades of purple The baby blue is my favorite. I'm itching to make some banana bread.  Looking up bread machine recipes online, I'm seeing sour cream being used in a lot of them.  Never heard of that myself, but sour cream is a favorite ingredient of mine just on principle.  Unfortunately, I don't have any sour cream on hand, so it'll be plain ol'  plebian banana bread for me.  I've done a surprising amount of knitting on my garter stitch snood today, without my fingers screeching for mercy.  Quite a relief, I tell you.