Reasons I Love Abbie

~~~~~~~~ because she will model anything I knit with leftover yarn

~~~~~~~~~~~~~because she just has that face and eyes that tell me she loves me

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~because she never tires of being held even with a needle moving up and down

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~because she will wear anything I finish making

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~because she can totally be the sweetest

~~~~~~~~~~~because she knows what I'm thinking and listens

~~~~~~~~~~and listens more

~~~~~~~~~~~and shows me how comfy home is to her

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~almost too comfy even in an Easter dress

~~~~~~~~~~~~because she is my right hand assistant blogger

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~and never misses an opportunity to give me a kissie kiss

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~because she always seeks out the light

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~and seeks out the attention matter of factly

~~~~~~~~~~~and even covertly (if that is a word)

~~~~~~~~~~because she enjoys the sunshine

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~and the night time

~~~~~~~~~~~~~and will travel with her love as well to share with others

Love Is All We Need~~sampler freebie!

  This past week, has been quiet and I've been working on some goals I set for 2014 that include:

• simplifying my life in all areas
• learning new knit stitches
• reading, reading, reading at least a book a week
• organizing while I'm simplifying
• paying it forward with donations of "too much stuff"
• being more mindful of my morning devotionals
• practicing yoga more often AND learn more from You-tube videos
• learning more about frugal living
• researching more about the products I put on my skin and going more organic
• pulling out my cross stitching I designed to stitch the models
• pulling out my WIPS I have already going and finish some
• start writing a book

So, as you can see, I set some big goals but all in all, so far, it's February and I'm doing as well as I can.

Folks, there are some intelligent, talented writers in the blog world and I really didn't realize the depth of the free education and movies on u-tube that we have available!!!

For example, I've been wanting to learn to use cables in my knitting but it just looks so hard. I'm going outside my comfort zone and found The Casting on Couch series of English knitting on u-tube and she taught a braided cable scarf! It looks quite much easier than I had thought but I will have to get those needles out and work it.......work it baby, work it......

Here is her site for freebies. I highly recommend her tutorials on You Tube. She is great at explaining.

http://www.thecastingoncouch.com/

I have knitted the Chunky Lace pattern on the end of a garter scarf and it turned out well.
I really want to try the Cabled scarf pattern.

For simplifying, I set this goal because I'm at a middle age (huhum) point in my life where cleaning the chaos, having fewer things, promotes a better environment for less stress. I've read a couple of books and found some blogs I really like and without identifying myself a hoarder...........I do tend to cling on to things longer than need be. I don't know if it's the mentality of "some day I'm going to need that" or what. I think I mentioned the book I read that was free on Pixel of Ink about organization and decluttering. I have since found and stashed a couple more on my Kindle. Speaking of that, doesn't Kindle save space for books!!!!  I've got 265 books on my Kindle, most of them from Pixel of Ink freebies.

I started with the down stairs bathroom and took out all that was in the cabinets. Threw away an entire trash bag full of expired or junk. Then, I organized using baskets I already have for different things. I have WAYYYYYYYY too many lip products. :O
But, I'm very girly, so to part with them is hard to think about.
I have gone through the baskets once and taken a week off of that and now I'm going to go through them again. My goal is to have minimal things in my bathroom. Minimal. Less stress. And this is just one room. In January, I finished selling or donating toys that my adult kids didn't want and feel a load is off there. So, still have many rooms to go but by the end of this year, I hope to meet my goal.

The knitting bug has had me for a while now, but I'm digging into my cross stitch WIPS again and going to pick this up more. I do love samplers! I think knitting has just been such a repetitious therapy for the mind and also useful finishes, with Winter being the best time to knit.

Yoga is now a mindful part of most days in the week and I like it best when my hubbie and I find a lesson online and practice together. It's really quite balancing. I've practiced yoga for about 2 years now, maybe 3. There was a time I didn't practice and I could really tell the difference when I started back.

Recently, I've started substituting natural oils for many beauty and cleaning products and I'm really, really enjoying coconut oil. Just Google Coconut Oil and uses and you will find amazing things. I really didn't realize how good for you this is. Make sure if you get coconut oil, you get, Extra Virgin Cold Pressed, Unrefined Coconut Oil. I have replaced my shaving cream, my night cream, day cream, cleanser, makeup remover and body moisturizer/scrubs with it. It's solid at 76 degrees or below and liquid above that. It lasts forever! It is antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties so you can use on acne, dry skin, sensitive skin and eczema. In fact it's GREAT healing for eczema and psoriasis type conditions. This also ties into my more simple and wholesome living goal! You can order this online but I just picked it up at a grocery store. I prefer the glass jar brands instead of the plastic.

One of my goals in life I set many years ago is to write a book. I officially started and have a publisher already in the ready. It's in it's baby stages of formulation right now and that's about all I can say at this point. But! When my writing mojo begins, I write a little more. My goal to finish is by the end of this year. I know that sounds like a long time but I want to make sure it's right before releasing. The publisher is supposed to call me again early Summer to check on progress.

My camera is really on the blink. I hope to get it to squeeze a few pictures of the snow we are getting. The most of this storm, Pax is hitting our area in the mountains with prediction totals of 9-12 inches by Thursday morning. Folks, that is ALOT of snow. I'm concerned about the icing conditions as well. But for the most part, hubbie and I are huddling inside until Thursday.

 Louie the outside cat, has checked in the Lodge at Fox mountain through the end of the week! We already have had constant snow since 5am. He is ever so glad to curl in the back of the bathroom cabinet that is open and hibernate. Can't wait to see what he does when I turn on a blow dryer.


I designed a freebie offered for a short while here for you!!!  I want to thank you for all your support and taking time out to read my blog. Valentine's Day is just around the corner so I was inspired to design this one. I will have it out free for a couple of weeks. Again, if you stitch it up, please, please, please send me a pic. I will put it on the blog here and especially adore the different ways you finish it.

 

Love Is All We Need

designed by Jennifer Fox, Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2014

 

I'm humming the Beatles song now in my head...........................................

 

Use colors of choice and linen of choice! From muted pinks to bright pinks, this sampler can take many décor options. I would love to see this in a primitive sampler.

Please keep pattern as is except changing the initials to suit you and your sweetheart!

To enlarge to print, just click on the picture and then print in your computer software.

 

I can't wait to see some finishes! You really do make my day. I hope this makes someone happy at least and if your heart is happy, then so is mine.

 

I have two knitting projects on the needles. A shawl and a Spring light airy scarf.

Stay-tuned for pics and progress.

 

And finally, this creature that was stealing all of Louie's food outside on the back porch is not around anymore. He actually growled at me and hissed. Scared me to death.

He met his demise at the end of last week.

 

 

I failed to use the Opossum Pie recipe that is in one of my cookbooks......YUCK.

 

Now this is a much prettier furbaby. Yup, she is a B.A.B.Y

 

 

So on the needles I went from this:

 

 

 

 

I have another one, a thick cranberry shawl in another pattern on more needles but at this time my camera has met it's demise. I will have to get hubbie to take a pic of it for the next post.

 

 

This red headed woodpecker was seen prior to the snow coming. I guess he was "going to the grocery for milk and bread before the storm".

 

Stay tuned. Soon some snow pics today with hubbie's nice camera!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Knitting warm and cozy,

Jennifer

 

Spring/Summer Stitching and Such

             One, beautiful, Easter-basket green, peachy-pink and yellow peep, and egg-dying blue colors all wrapped in one skein of mercerized 100% Italian cotton. I wish I could give you the name but the label is hiding. I'll find it one day as I try to keep them.

I held on to this little skein (about 100 yards) for a while now but knew I would make something for the warmer months with it. The feel of it is like soft and shiny, with more luster, yet definitely a cotton. The width of the strand is probably a bit bigger than Perle Cotton floss but not as big as regular yarn.

I read up a little about mercerized cotton and found it to be a process in dyeing that is used to enhance the absorption of the dye more, and give the cotton a slicker finish without the "fuzz" of regular cotton yarn.

It sat in my yarn basket for enough time now, meeting and greeting all the other Wintery, thicker acryllics and wools and said goodbye this weekend as it's taking a new life to make another Lacy Keyhole Scarf. Yup, I'm guilty of making almost 4 of those now, mainly for a little gift or treat to my friends.

I finished the first part of the scarf this morning and while listening to 4 sessions of Joyce Meyer Ministries sermons online for this week, got much progress for the second part.

 I think I can.

I think I can.

 I think I can.........................am I stuttering? 

No joke, I think I will finish this up by tomorrow morning and it's looking great! The mercerized finish gives the purl ridges and lace much more definition and the color is so yummy almost.

Mr. Darcy says to me last night while I'm knitting with it, that it reminds him of Birthday Cake Ice Cream and he craves it everytime he sees it. :P  Methinks I will keep this one and wear it this Summer.

I love all the shades that are overdyed in this skein, especially the blue which is so accentuating to turquoise jewelry if worn with a bright T-shirt and jeans.

and counting my purls and knits and ridges and lace is alot easier with this counter.

And this is another fiber~~~ softest evah!  Alpaca and silk blend. In pink. Pink. PINK!!!!

I'm trying a free pattern for a different light lacy scarf on Ravelry.com.

I'm lovin' lace.

This one is on hold though until I finish the first one in pics. I'm so close to finishing it.

Gentleman.

That leads to reflections.

Exactly 2 years ago this week, I took these pics and now as I rode by the church this week, no blooms are out at all yet.  It's interesting how God's timing is different year to year but the end result is still the same promise and He never dissapoints when it comes to nature or anything that we seek in His will.

I put those in my kitchen cupboard that my dearest husband so carefully refurbished for me. For one year ago this week, we said special prayers in this church and my pictures I took of it previously, remind me of God's promises and how He certainly keeps them.

I'm sure in the next few weeks, those azaelas will bloom again as they have for years and years and will again for more years to come.

 I will again be reminded of that special week in 2012 and cherish it for the rest of my life.

Pictures.

 

Colors.

 

Scriptures.

 

Love.

 

Warm breezes.

 

Sunshine.

 

Long hugs.

 

Hand-holding.

 

Prayers.

 

Tears of joy.

 

Miracles.

 

~~~~~~~~My love is like a red, red rose

That’s newly sprung in June :

My love is like the melody

That’s sweetly played in tune~~~~~~~~~Robert Burns     Purl of Wisdom-----Everything blooms in it's own time.

Knitting away.............

Yes. Knitting away again. Did you know that knitting has the same effect as yoga on the body/mind as far as health benefits. It increases serotonin, the happy hormones in our brain. It decrease cortisol, which is a great benefit to the body's aging process.

It calms anxiety and increases the strength of our immune systems.

When I read that, I was convinced to finish this:

 I'm trying to finish this scarf and then onto cross stitching. I promised a close friend I would make her a scarf and she wanted pinks or greens. She hasn't seen this. I know she will love it. I hope to get this done by Valentines for her.

I made a mistake shortly after combining the second skein of which I couldn't figure out, so I carried it to a local town yarn shop and the sweet lady frogged out 4-5 rows and got it straightened out.

I was SO thankful for that. 

I hope to make some dishcloths with cotton as well, in fact while in her store I got this:

I only got one ball of cotton she had. She didn't carry Peaches and Cream so this one was pricey but I was just thankful she helped me out to finish the scarf.

No more sponges.

This is Italian cotton.

I use alot of blue, dark reds, golds and black in my kitchen so this will be nice.

I am looking at some utube tutorials for patterns.

I just want a functional cloth.

I've used handmade ones before and they are GREAT to clean with and very durable.

She said that one of these will make 2-3 dishcloths.

Back to Saturday chores and maybe some stitching time!

Hope you are having an AWESOME Saturday! Today in North GA it's cold but bright and sunny. The wood stove is drawing me near right now along with some English Breakfast hot tea.

 Mr. Darcy has split a second rack of seasoned wood and neatly put on the porch, ready to add to the stove.

Abbie is curled in a quilt for her morning nap and  in a one day flat completely tore off both ears of her new Valentine toy. :0

Chili in the slow cooker for dinner tonight with some homemade cornbread in the griddle.

With peace and love,

Jennifer

The Love Month

Hey sweet readers, the week has traveled fast in this spot on the map here in North Ga! February is upon us and I always think of the love month because of Valentine's Day; however, really, I know that we should show our love daily for we never know when time is up for us. So every day is Valentine's day for me. I especially am extremely blessed to have Mr. Darcy as my husband because God couldn't have put two people together as well as He did us.

It's quite refreshing to have a partner, a lover, a friend, someone that holds the key to my heart, just daily doing his best, guiding and leading in this homestead. I can't say I've ever had this kind of pure love ever in my life.

The sweet Valentine's I stitched a couple of years ago, and coffee stained are at the top and second below, from Primitve Betty's blogspot and the third on bottom, The Sampler Girl, Tanya.

My kids are also part of my heart and will be forever.

For my little bittie Valentine knitted cover booklet of smalls, I started thinking of redwork. An empty heart frame as well.

Enjoy your Friday evening with the one you love!

Jennifer