Yopping Update #34 - What's with all the baby sweaters?

I finished knitting the striped jumper and then I had to contend with this:

omg...all those ends to weave in

However, I picked away at it and....ta-da!

Then I moved on to creating the leather soles for my crochet slippers.  We own a leather punch but I was too weak to use it successfully (plus it hurt my arm), so I went to Michael's and for eight dollars I got a punch that you use by striking with a hammer.  Much better. 

Now I just have to felt the in-soles and they will be done and I have punched out the pieces for the second pair and just need to sew them on. 

I even repaired a pair of twenty-seven year old moccasins I have so I can wear them again. 

I was at a loss as to what to cast-on next and got out some scrubby cotton to make some dish clothes but it was so annoying to work with that I put it in the give-away-to-the-thrift-store basket and got out some nubbly cotton instead.  I have made two so far: one for me and one for my sister.

Last night I cast on another Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Surprise Sweater.  I have made two already and they are easy and fun to fold up and put together.  I only have two rows done so a picture will be forth coming next week. 

I went for a whirlwind trip to the island Friday, returning Saturday, to see a concert with my sister.  It was beautiful for both ferry crossings and I even saw orca whales on the way over.  The company, concert and food were all delicious.  A day and a half well spent!

I finished reading "The Art of Racing in the Rain".  It is a beautiful book.  I cried at the ending, and I can see myself re-reading it one day to enjoy it all over again. 

My novel edits are coming along, although I am a week or so behind on my one chapter a day commitment.  Life just seems to have the habit of getting in the way of things I want to do.  I am taking an on-line course on the history of the Indigenous People of Canada with my son and daughter and I am enjoying it very much - learning a lot of history that I didn't know.  Then the three of us can have discussions about it on a Whatsapp group chat.  It is a great way for us to learn something about our country and stay in touch between our three far corners of the world.

I did quite a bit of yoga this past week.  Unfortunately I have been in a lot of pain this week with both my arm and my hip/back.  Sigh.  Some days it just seems a bit too much, but I am soldiering on.  We took advantage of the sun earlier in the week to get some more cedar boughs cut up and binned for pick-up tomorrow.  Progress is marked in wee baby steps these days.

I also, finally, got some picture hangers and hung up nine pictures that have been leaning against walls and windows for far too long.  Lol. Maybe after living in this house for thirty-seven years I am finally ready to settle in!

I made a vision board of things my hubby and I need to do around the house and yard, and we are trying to pick away at it one thing at a time.  It is raining today so I have taken on starting our taxes. 
Oh joy.  Oh rapture.  (Not).

Spring keeps trying around here, and while out in the yard last week I saw this merry little clump of crocuses.

And, my Valentine's lilies have bloomed

My sister and I went to a museum yesterday and they had this amazing spinning wheel on display.  I can't quite figure out how it would work, but I am going to do some investigation on Ravelry to see what I can learn. 

My orchid continues to delight me:

And my amaryllis bloomed!

Okay, I think that is all I have to report today.  Well, except, of course this:

artsy black and white shot!

Yopping Update #33 - One done, one in process

I got the buttons on (easy to find with my organized button jars). 

For my next project I looked over my stash, and my patterns, and it seemed I had the right yarn in three colours that would work.  The pattern comes from Simply Knitting Magazine issue 187 - child's striped jumper.  I have already done the front and back and today will start the sleeves.

making size 2-3

I started to get the leather soles together for my slippers.  I cut out the leather, and sewed one piece on. 

My leather punch isn't working very well, and it hurts my arm to do it by hand with a nail so hubby says he will help me with an electric drill this week.  Stay tuned. 
I have also decided to either needle felt or water felt some insoles to make them extra warm for those Croatian floors. 

On a video chat this week I swear my granddaughter said 'Gramma!'.  That is my story, and I am sticking to it. 

In other news:

Otis is stretching out

my orchid is blooming

my amaryllis is taking its sweet time to bloom

On the health front I had a second echo-cardiogram on Wednesday morning and I see the doctor on March 2nd for all the results.  More waiting.  Sigh. 

But hey, this week included Valentine's Day which meant flowers and chocolates so win-win.  My daughter also told me about a recipe for oatmeal and banana cookies (that's it - oatmeal and banana), and they were yummy and a great way to use up bananas that are getting too ripe to eat. 

especially yummy warm out of the oven

I will leave you with this little guy.  Sloth is my familiar and this little guy made me chuckle.

hang in there, Mary-Anne