Uncategorized

Alison

Vicki3 Comments

I’m not sure how it’s possible that my middle child was born 39 years ago, but here we are.

A father cradles a newborn baby while a toddler sits next to him, sipping a drink through a straw. The photo includes handwritten notes with ages and dates.

Sigh.

A group of young children wearing chef hats and aprons posing in front of a small blue house.
A creatively decorated bunny cake made with frosting, sprinkles, and candy is displayed on aluminum foil.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALI!!!

Three young children playing at a kitchen table, one holding a toy figurine and a spoon, another smiling with a spoon, and the third holding a small toy. Various cups and bowls are visible on the table.

It’s birthday season around here. Kate’s is on Wednesday — she’ll be celebrating in Edinburgh! Maddy’s is a week from Saturday. Rusty shared this photo in our family group chat the other day, and we all noted the BEST TEA canister, which is in use as a sugar canister now as it was then, though almost all of the paint has worn off. And our COFFEE MUGS! I have a replacement, but Rusty’s is original and still in use, though also devoid of paint (except for the heart). We still use a Depression Glass butter dish in that design (behind the tea/sugar canister), but that green one broke a long time ago, and the same coverless green sugar bowl as a spoon jar. The dish/bowl that Maddy’s oatmeal (?) is in was part of a set that I was given when Katie was born… and, yep, it’s still in the cupboard & used regularly. My mom sewed Ali’s flannel nightgown — and one for Kate (in fact, this might be Kate’s handed-down) — and matching gowns for their Cabbage Patch dolls! My mom did so much sewing for Sharon, Karen & me when we were around this age, but I think those nightgowns were her last hurrah.

Lots of memories in 39 years… and here’s to many more!

Unraveled Wednesday / Knit & Read

Unraveled Wednesday: Under the wire (but not underwater)

Vicki6 Comments

We’re experiencing epic rainfall here in NE Wisconsin. We have a little water in our basement for the first time in my memory (which, arguably, tends to be selective, especially regarding unpleasant stuff). There are SO MANY people with water in their basements… so much water! The entire Village of Shiocton, 20 miles NW of us, has been ordered to evacuate today, with no determined return date, as have portions of other cities & towns near us. There’s a small creek that flows a little ways from our house & the sound of rushing water woke up Rusty early yesterday morning — he was compelled to get dressed & go down to check it out! We’ve seen record rainfall for April — and we’re only half-way. Crazy spring!

I’m joining Kat & the Unravelers for Unraveled Wednesday!

KNITTING:

I finished the second Farfalle sleeve last night.

Close-up of two knitted sleeves with a rich plum and multicolored pattern, featuring geometric designs and hints of green and orange.

Then I cast on & got started on the ribbing for the back. 1×1 Ribbing is a slog.

I’ve been otherwise occupied this week with the upstairs bathroom. Rusty finished the surround — a few little things to do yet, such as installing grab bars & a new shower curtain rod. Now my part has begun…

A panoramic view of a partially renovated bathroom featuring a vintage freestanding bathtub, toilet, and sink. There is a mirror and a cabinet displaying towels and toiletries. Sunlight filters through a window covered with white curtains.

I’ve started stripping the wallpaper. The first (plastic-y) layer has been peeled off, and now I’ll go at it with a steamer to scrape off the paper/glue. It’s been ages since I’ve done this, but every single room in our house had ONE WALLPAPERED WALL when we moved in… all of it different — this bathroom had flocked foil wallpaper. Anyway, no more wallpaper. With assistance, everything in this room will be repainted except for the floor (I hope). I’m waiting to hear from the tub refinisher about scheduling, but have to get everything in the tub area finished before he arrives (no stools or ladders will be allowed IN the shower after refinishing).

READING:

It’s a short book, but y’know… I’ve been busy! I’m still reading The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey and still enjoying it.

Uncategorized

Eye Candy Friday

Vicki6 Comments
A close-up of a blooming orchid flower with reddish-brown petals and a light purple center, alongside unopened buds, set against a soft background.

We have a re-bloom on this little orchid. There are plenty more flowers to come, as you can see!

I stopped at my first rummage sale of the year yesterday. I love the ones that start with Thursday evening hours! I found a couple of 100-pc Ravensburger puzzles for the kids, which is perfect since I’ll be seeing them later today for an overnight.

I also went to my first-ever quilting guild meeting last night — my first-ever guild meeting of any kind! I was never involved in any knitting/fiber guild, though some of my friends were, and I don’t think there is an active group around here anymore. (I seem to recall some dust-ups & personality/leadership/vision clashes in my periphery.) Anyway, I just happened to Google it yesterday & there was a quilt guild meeting that very evening with a presentation on “scraps” given by guests from a shop in Fond du Lac. Since I have a growing collection of scraps (really can’t seem to throw out any but threads), it seemed a no-brainer to get some tips on managing, classifying, sorting, and using them. They had so many scrappy quilts & projects to show… very inspiring — as was the regular show & tell that closes every meeting. I didn’t actually join, but it’s likely that I will; the investment isn’t that much & there are some pretty good benefits. I saw a couple of familiar faces from other areas of my life, and met some new people; everyone was very friendly. I’m looking forward to their quilt show coming up in October!

Unraveled Wednesday / Knit & Read

Unraveled Wednesday

Vicki8 Comments

I’m joining Kat & the Unravelers for Unraveled Wednesday!

KNITTING:

We hit 64F yesterday afternoon! For the second or third time already, I cracked a window & the sunroof on the way home from work.

A close-up of two knitted pieces and two skeins of yarn on a concrete surface. The larger piece features a gradient pattern of deep colors with star-like motifs, while the smaller piece has a similar design at the bottom. One skein is a deep burgundy color, and the other displays a mix of vibrant colors.

And took my knitting outside for photos on the sidewalk. I knit the rest of that second motif last night & am ready to start the third. I’m considering throwing a random fourth-row farfalle in there, too.

Close-up of a knitted fabric featuring a maroon background with colorful geometric patterns, including greens, yellows, and oranges, currently on a knitting needle.

The color progression of the Noro Ito is similar on both sleeves, but not identical. Just going with the flow…

READING:

I finally finished No Time on My Hands by Grace Snyder. There was a bit more about her quilting toward the end, but not as much throughout as I expected… or wanted. I rarely had any sense that it was happening, some vague references to bits of fabric here & there, and all of a sudden there are hundreds of hand-stitched quilts & she’s winning awards. It was an autobiography with her daughter assisting & it was interesting in many ways, if not a literary masterwork.

I’ve started reading The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey — recently mentioned by both Bonnie & Kym. It’s hard to describe, but I’m really enjoying it.

Uncategorized

Weather delay

Vicki6 Comments

I’d hoped to take a photo of my knitting this morning but it’s not as bright in the early a.m. as I was (wishfully) thinking, compounded by the fact that it was also gray & raining this morning. My phone does pretty well in low light, but the best light was outside & I’m not putting my knitting on a wet sidewalk. All that to say, Unraveled Wednesday is postponed until Thursday this week. heh.

A spotted hen foraging among colorful flowers in a garden, with a wooden structure in the background.

One of the first things I saw this morning was this photo by Maddy of their chicken, Dottie, who died yesterday. I was talking to Maddy on the phone the other day & she was going to help Viv & her sister with their sick chicken when she hung up. She was a pretty one, and I love that photo!

Katie sent me this for-the-record photo yesterday, and Rusty sent the one below it…

Bathroom undergoing renovation with a bathtub, toilet, and construction materials scattered across the floor.

We have a little project underway in the upstairs/apartment/Airbnb bathroom. Eventually, I’ll be removing the wallpaper & repainting almost everything, but Rusty is currently working on re-doing the tub surround & shower plumbing. I’m really excited about the built-in shelf that will go in the area where the clip-on lamp is shining. This is happening to get ready for the tub refinisher!

A partially renovated bathroom showing a clawfoot tub, wooden framing, and unfinished walls with floral wallpaper. Tools and construction materials are scattered around.

They’re penciled in on the 20th-21st to redo the interior of the tub, which needs it badly — it’ll have 2.5 weeks to cure & harden before my next guests arrive. I have a few other decor things I’d like to do up there, but this is obviously the priority!