It’s Thursday, Let’s Catch Up!!

Hello and happy Thursday. How has your week been so far?

I am backing up to last week. I did get the three extra days off last week. On Wednesday I took my sister to Knoxville to UT hospital to have a procedure done. We arrived early and got out before lunch so that all worked out great.

I will have to say, for most of my time off, I have been a knitting fiend. Well let me add crocheting to that as well. I worked on my nephew’s afghan, a pair of socks and another cap. I also googled how to make a daisy granny square and did a few of those. So as usual I was all over the page. I did spend one day cleaning my house and then another day cleaning my mother in laws house. This house now belongs to us so we are responsible for it. It needs some improvements so we will be working on it as we have the time.

Look at all of this. The yellow is the cap I am working on. The red and gray is the sock and you can see the trial granny square I did.

This is the daisy granny square. This was my first one. I have some different colors. I plan to make several and use them for a pillow. I used these colors just to experiment.

This little bag I use to put small knitting or crochet projects. I used it this time for the cap I am knitting. These are actually make-up bags but they fit so well into my purse and I can take my knitting anywhere. People are always curious when they see you knitting or crocheting and want to know what you are making. I am always happy to share and even teach them a stitch or two if they are game.

I finished an entire sock on Sunday. I started the second one, which is never as much fun, and I will wait until I have completed the pair to show you.

We haven’t done a lot of Christmas decorating around here. We actually ordered a new Christmas tree and it should be here tomorrow. We did put life sized Santa at his post in the upstairs window. Kitty Kitty loves him and she loves to stand beside him. Crazy kitty.

Outside view of Santa in the window. I love coming down our driveway and seeing him in the window.

On Monday I left work early and took my car to Knoxville back to the dealership to have that dark window tint removed. If you missed an earlier blog post where I bought a new car, the story is I didn’t realize how dark the tint on the windows actually was until I drove it at night. It took about three hours to remove the tint and they gave me a tiny loaner car to use. I did a little shopping to kill the time. I was so glad to be able to see through the windows. The tint on my new car was just too dark for me. It made me very nervous driving in our rural area at night.

This loaner car seemed very small to me luckily I only had it for a few hours.

Tuesday night at dusk we looked out the window and couldn’t believe this beautiful purple hue. The clouds cast a purple reflection onto the water. I have never seen the lake this color. It had been cloudy all day and at dusk just a tiny bit of light was trying to shine through. It was just beautiful.

I hope your week is going well and you are gearing up for a great weekend. I am off to work on some knitting. I don’t know what is wrong with me I just feel the need to knit or crochet. I better take advantage and get some projects finished before Christmas.

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!!

Hello Monday

Hello and happy Monday!! I was gone all last week on a work trip to North Carolina. Well most of the week anyway. I am so glad to be back to a regular routine. I was even glad to get back to work today. What???

I did take a couple of days off at the end of the week to sort of rest and rejuvenate. I did some work outside in my yard, and trimmed shrubs and some overgrown hedges. I still have a lot to do. I was just reading that and I was thinking, where was the rest? If you are like me working outside is restful. The temps have cooled a little and will be even cooler this week. I am loving it!!!

I stayed home most of the weekend. On Saturday, Mark and I drove to Knoxville with my niece and picked up her kayak from a friends’ house. It was in an area I had never been to before. I just love looking at homes and yards in places I haven’t been.

We also worked on the house a bit and it seems so clean and shiny. Too bad it won’t last long.

I thought I would show you some of my projects I am working on. You know it isn’t me if I don’t have several going at one time. Sorry for the wrinkled comforter. The color is a great background for my projects.

***This is the granny square afghan I am working on for my nephew. This is Tennessee Titans colors. One of his favorite teams.***

***My Hats off to Halloween cross stitch. I really need to get to work on this one. I want to get it finished, framed and out before Halloween.***

This is a shawl I started yesterday. It is sort of a trial and error. I am going with a pattern as I go along. I’m not sure if it will work out. I used an inexpensive yarn so if it doesn’t work out, it’s no loss. I just realized it looks sort of like candy corn. You see where my mind is. There’s several other colors as well.

***This scarf. I love the pattern and I love this green color.***

I am also reading a couple of good books.

***First Lie Wins. I just started this one on my Libby App. It is already full of secrets and suspense. I will let you know what I think of it.***

Isadora is a University researcher. On her 30th Birthday she reads an article about 31 ways to be happy. Being the researcher she is she tries to prove the article may not make everyone happy. A lot of things happen for Isadora along the way. I have heard a lot of good things about this book. I can’t wait to read it.

That is pretty much what I have been up to. A little boring I know but just the way I love it. I have a sister trip coming up in a couple of weeks and a work trip in October. So for now I am just going to hang out at the house and enjoy some quiet time with my husband and the kitties. Speaking of kitties, I will leave you with a picture of Kitty Kitty. She was very cool to me when I returned home. I think she was mad that I left her behind. She’s starting to come around. Silly kitties.

How is your week? Do you have lots of plans and fun things to do?

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!

Sunday Morning Coffee Share

Hello and happy Sunday. I haven’t had a chance to share coffee with you in quite a while. Come in and I will make you some very strong coffee, the way my husband likes it, or a light roast, that’s for me. Or we can have tea, water or a big Diet Coke. Let’s catch up.

What I have been up to you ask? Work. My work load is always crazy in July because I work in tourism. July is our most popular month for visitors. Our hours have been long. I am usually too tired by the time I get home to do anything but eat some dinner and watch a little TV or read. I have been going to bed before dark. Yeah I’m that old. Ha!!!

The weather where I am? HOT, HOT,HOT. The humidity has also been really high. It almost feels like you are walking through warm water when you are outside. You can see that after today we might get some rain and a slight break in the temps.

What am I reading? In typical me fashion, I am reading two books at once. I don’t mean for this to happen but while I was in the middle of this book,

I actually own this book so technically I can finish it anytime. But it is such a psychological thriller it’s hard to put down.

This one became available on my Libby app.

I had been on the waiting list for this one for months so I had to grab it. It’s really long and I know it will probably take me the full two weeks to finish it.

What I am watching? As I mentioned, sometimes after work, I just like to veg out watching TV. I discovered this great cooking series called Zoe Bakes. I think it is on MAX. Zoe Francois is a self proclaimed dessert lover and baker. She loves to eat cakes, pastries and anything sweet, almost as much as she likes baking them. The recipes are very user friendly and she does them step by step. She has a very unusual way of doing chocolate chip cookies. It’s not in the recipe but in the actual baking. I plan to try them today so I will let you know how they turn out. I’ll tell you this much. She takes the cookies out of the oven halfway through baking and lets the pan drop onto a flat surface. This takes the air out of the cookies. She does it a couple of times during the baking process. Supposedly it makes them a little flatter and chewier. I’ll keep you posted on that.

***Isn’t she a cutie? I just love watching her. After a long day at work there is something soothing about watching people cook. As long as it’s not me.***

What am I loving? Well I have to tell you about my orchids. I now have eighteen. I know!!! Too many? Never. When my mother in law passed away last week. I received these beautiful orchids from my work family. There was three in this beautiful planter. All three are different sizes and colors. I thought that was just the sweetest thing because they know how I love orchids. I think our local flower shop was a little confused when several people called within a day or two to ask if they had orchids. They did not. My co worker had to buy these at a local grocery store. I thought she arranged them so nicely in this planter and she even added several bags of my favorite dark chocolates. So nice.

**Isn’t this planter beautiful? I’m not sure if I will keep all of the orchids in the planter. So far I have moved one out.**

What projects have I got going on? Well I finally finished the blue shawl. I washed it and blocked it a little, it really didn’t need a lot of blocking.

I also decided to switch to crochet for a minute and I started this little bo-ho bag. It is super easy and works up really fast. I needed something that didn’t require a lot of thinking or counting stitches. I will probably use this to carry some of my other knitting projects. I can’t wait to finish it.

What a nice visit we have had. Please come back soon. Oh and before you leave I will take you to see some of my other orchids. Several of them are blooming and so beautiful.

***I think someone wants to be in the picture.***

Have a wonderful week and always remember.

Love your day your way!!!

The Little Loomhouse in Louisville Kentucky

Several weeks ago I visited Louisville Kentucky. I had to go there for a work meeting. Because I work in tourism a lot of our meeting time is spent attending other tourism attractions. I was so excited when I heard we were going to the Little Loomhouse.

If you missed my recent posts about Louisville you can check them out here: A few days in Louisville Kentucky and Visiting Churchill Downs

The Little Loomhouse is a nonprofit, community based, fiber arts education center and historic site. This site offers both tours and weaving lessons and a fiber and spinning tour. The site is actually home to three cabins and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

This entire place came to be because of a woman named Lou Tate. Lou Tate was a master weaver and she invented the Table Loom also known as the Little Loom. This loom makes it possible to teach weaving anywhere because you can take the loom just about anywhere.

Lou Tate was born In Bowling Green Kentucky. Her interest in weaving began when she received five generations of weaving patterns from an elderly weaver, Nan Owen.

In the 1940’s, Tate started an experimental weaving group. This weaving business led her to her first love, teaching.

The Lou Tate Foundation took over the property in 1979 shortly after Tate’s death. A grant from the City of Louisville in 1983 enabled much needed restoration for the cabin, Tophouse.

For more information and facts about this fantastic place visit the website www.littleloomhouse.org

Our group arrived at the Little Loomhouse on a rainy morning. We were taken there by bus. We had to walk up a very steep hill to get to the cabin at the top, Top House, where we would have a weaving lesson. I was beyond excited.

We walked into the cabin and even though it was fairly small it was packed with tables and tabletop looms, beautiful bolts of thread and finished works that would take your breath away. We were told to pick a loom and have a seat. A lot of our crew looked around nervously like this was not their “cup of tea”. Although in the end I think everyone enjoyed it.

Our guide gave us a quick lesson and we were soon on our way to making a mug rug. I could quickly see how the rhythmic movements could be so soothing and relaxing.

We also went to one of the other cabins. A lot of spinning wheels and looms were on display. This was more of a museum with so much history.

And of course I just had to have one of the hand woven bags that were for sale.

I think their mission statement sums up everything Lou Tate would have wanted The Little Loomhouse to be:

We are a Louisville, Kentucky Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. Our mission is to continue the legacy of founder Lou Tate, by educating students of all ages about the history of weaving and textile arts through diverse programs, residencies, and community partnerships and ensuring the preservation of our landmark cabins. The Foundation serves students of all ages and cultures who want to learn about the history and practice of weaving, textile, fiber, and folk arts.

I hope you enjoyed this visit to the Little Loomhouse in Louisville Kentucky.

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!