Nothing But Net

My father controls the television 99% of the time. This time of year it's all about college basketball and little else. My ordered list of least hated tv sports:

1. Professional Baseball

2. College Basketball

3.College Football

4. Professional Football

and my least favorite by far

5. Professional Basketball

I'm sure the list could be more exspansive......if he actually watched anything else.

The local team, Rutgers is doing well. Kinda like that big kid from Iowa, Garza. Not gonna quote any stats here. That would be going a bit too far.

I busy myself while the tv is on with various knit and crochet projects. For some reason cross-stitch has fallen off my radar.

Mel with my latest giant cactus crochet. I am obsessed with crochet/knit succulent plants. I found a bunch of patterns on Pinterest and purchased some patterns on Etsy. Planet June has some amazing stuff.

My knitting skills continue to improve. This is my Shadow Cables Sweater. A lovely new yarn from Lion Brand called Basic Stitch Anti-Pill, in Steel Blue(teal). The floral fabric will be a coordinating skirt.

This little guy was created for my sister-in-law for Christmas. For those who live under a rock, like me, he's Baby Yoda.

Another sweater finish from the Summer. Displayed on the balcony of The Flagship Resort in Atlantic City. The Vanilla Bean Sweater

Today is finally Thursday. I look forward to Thursdays more the Fridays, as Thursday is knitting group day at the local library. A chance to chat with people my own age (although I'm the youngest of the group!!!) and share ideas and laugh. Anything other than gymnastics. 

I'm in the midst of a 14-day-straight run of no days off from the gym. It's Championship season. All work, no play and a big competition on Sunday. Travel.....in New Jersey....on crowded highways....

But all about that next post.

Under A New Roof

The roof project has been completed for several months, but just digging this post up from the "drafts" file to finally publish it.

 My best guess is the previous roof was put on in the 1950's! What a collection of miss-matched wood piece and rusted metal. They had to make do with what they could afford or find as scrap. And the heaps of straw/nests/carcasses and droppings found underneath it all!! YIKES!

But Joe did a marvelous job of leveling out the grade.....

with a bit of help from Ollie and Sparky

.

The finished product became the subject of my first painting in over 20 years. It is displayed as the blog title photo above.

While I continue to live under my father's roof, I know this shiny new green roof waits for my next visit.

So, This New Year's Thing........

My least favorite holiday EVER. Because:
1 It's association with copious amounts of drinking.
2. Anything after 10p.m. I find completely exhausting
3. Resolutions and unrealistic expectations
and
4. Those incredibly depressing "look back at the year" lists of all the death and destruction rendered upon this Earth.

Not a very perky 'Welcome to 2020' post is it!?  I don't even like the look of those numbers all run together. Now, 1920, there's something I could relate to. I am lucky enough to be spending New Year's day at my beloved house in Ohio, with my beloved Joe. We lost our sweet cat Mocha on 17 December so the house is just not the same. Sparky, Ollie and Ellen and still with us here. Ollie and Ellen have moved inside completely. Just can't seem to get Sparky to come inside though.

Mocha April 2003-17 December 2019

Busying my mind (and hands) with the usual knitting and stitching. If you notice the new header picture, I've also returned to my drawing and painting. Joe has taken up drawing too! On our 9 hour ride here from New Jersey last week I had the profound moment of listening to Tchaikovsky on Spotify while Joe was sketching in the passenger seat. About as close to a Victorian romantic moment as I'll ever get!

So no resolutions for me. Getting back to blogging (and away from Facebook) is about a committal as I'll get in that department. I'm fat and old and most like will continue on that path!!

The Big 300

The Big 300.

 My 300th blog post. Didn't think it would take me this long to get to this point. I started out strong, posting on a regular basis. Then several factors slowed me down. The big culprit was Facebook! There are many great groups for dolls, knitting, cross-stitch and gymnastics on there. But there's also a ton of crap on there that's taken up far too much of my time.

It's far better to spend REAL time with REAL people, like my new- found friends at the local library knitting group. A diverse group of lovely ladies that meets every Thursday at 1:30pm. We share knitting of course, but also stories, recipes, patterns and of course yarn. I am the youngest one of the group. It's a nice break from the daily monotony of living with my father. A bit bittersweet, since my late mother was a leader of this group years ago, before Parkinson's robbed her of her ability to get out of the house.

From the "yarn bin" I acquired four skeins of fingering weight cotton. They were natural cream color until I dyed them with a tye-dye kit from Wal-Mart.

My dad celebrated his 87th Birthday in style at the end of June. I made him a baseball themed party and I think he really enjoyed his  special day.

Filling my days with a bit of crafting....

.....and some much needed exercise.

Now for that 300th Post thing.

I suppose a give-a-way is in order!

But what exactly to give??

I'll let you decide. I'll read the comments on this post, draw a name and send you something that matches your hobbies and interests.

Hot and Cold

Dad is happy. Cats are happy.  My heart aches. No insult to those readers from New Jersey, but if I never leave the house again to shop I will be OK with that. Maybe I've just hit a bad spell. Every store is crowded. Every cashier either angry or indifferent. Fellow customers are pure rudeness bordering on the criminally insane. I've had enough.

Hello Esty, Amazon and insert-store-name-here.com

As I "detox" myself from my overwhelming need to buy new stash, I dive head-first into my WIP collection. Some have not even gotten to the "IP" stage and are just kitted up and ready to go.

I started and finished "Hannah Colby" last week.

Oh my, a stitchy finish at last!!

Last Thursday my nephew Dylan graduated from high school. It was surreal to be back at that school for the first time in 36 years. Four years of anxiety, eating disorders and mean girls was enough for me. I was done there in 1982 and never looked back.

My niece and nephew on the other hand were smart, stylish and popular high school students, enjoying their four years to the fullest.

The cats become more comfortable here each passing day.

Timmy

Deuce

Rusty

Do you ever get the feeling that someone is watching you?

After many years in and out of the WIP  bag, back and forth from one state to another, running hot and cold with my feelings for him, Mr. Seahorse is nearly finished!

Many, many shades of peach, coral and orange. He keeps my head spinning. But I have such a need to accomplish something... ANYTHING at this point in my life.

He does have such a lovely face, don't you think?

I pin my hopes on you, Mr. Seahorse. Keep me focused and at peace.

The Garden State

Awkward, lonely, restless. Creativity has drained from me. Hard to find or define my purpose here.
When Joe visited last month Spring finally arrived. We visited the nearby Presby Iris Gardens. Joe patiently endured my touristy endeavors.

Missing my sweet kitties left at home in Ohio. Joe loves them and takes such good care of them.

Ollie

Sparky

Mocha


And Pepper has made friends with the 7 cats here with me at Dad's house. Here she is with her minion, Timmy!

Will I ever manage to put needle to thread again in any meaningful way? Will the knitting needles clatter away in this house like they did with such grace when my mother was alive? 

Everything is in some mysterious holding pattern....waiting for something. The season is about to change again soon. I try to hold it back. Or should I press fast-forward? Such indecision, as with everything I do lately.

Springtime Sweetness