Alive and Kicking

Hi everyone, Sorry about the long hiatus. Well, I have been poked and prodded, scanned and biopsied and they didn't find anything so got a clean bill of health. Well, let's see what has happened since my last post. Been working steadily on Christmas gifts. Finally got everything done by the last week of November. Packages have been sent and received and are under the tree, they tell me, waiting to be opened on Christmas day. Had a nice Thanksgiving dinner at our daughter's house with as many family members as could make it. Got the news that another baby is on the way. Another great-grandchild. Almost have the blanket and matching cap done. Baby due in spring so no rush, thank goodness. Well, as you see, nothing exciting or even intertesting, but I wanted to wish everyone a very happy holiday season and nothing but the best for the New Year.

Long Absence

I haven't been blogging for some time, and it may be even longer before I pick it up again. I just got out of the hospital, and while they took care of the problem for which I was admitted, they found several other troubling conditions so I am now in the midst of doctor's visits and tests that seem endless. Doing pretty well, but I will not be adding anything to this blog until all is settled and back to normal. I am leaving it up so you can access the free patterns. I will be back soon with some new stories and designs.

Finished at Last

I promised you a new doll and finally have her finished. It was fun to do, but I am afraid I got sidetracked by the holidays and then health concerns. However, finally have her done and listed at both Etsy and Ravelry. Her name is Little Lisa, little because she is only seven inches tall. She come with clothes and a wig making technique that may be new to some knitters. It is thoroughly explained in the pattern instructions. Here is Lisa's picture.

The doll is knit in the round using DP needles. I chose this technique because seaming such small pieces can become tedious. You can find further details at Etsy or Ravelry.

Knitter's Dilemma

I promised you a new doll, and I am working on it. However, I am afraid I have been sidetracked. I ran across an e book at Knitting Daily that has captured my interest,and I couldn't wait to start on one of the patterns. The book is Knit Kimono by Vickie Square. The book contains the history of kimonos and drawings of different styles as well as eighteen patterns that are simple but will knock your socks off. Well what is one to do? Be responsible and finish the project on which one is working or download the book and immerse oneself in the designs? I, of course, did just that and have even started one of Vickie's lovely patterns.

I have, however, completed the following for the little doll. A dress, shoes and socks, nightgown, slippers, sweater and play suit. She also now has a leotard, tutu and ballet slippers for those trips to dance class. So you see, I haven't been entirely remiss.

The Harried Housewife

Had to have the repairman out to fix the fridge. Drain was clogged and the defrost water was going into the fridge instead of in the pan as it should. Nothing big, and quickly fixed. However, it started me thinking of ice boxes. When I was young and newly married we had an ice box. For those unfamiliar with ice boxes it was a wood cabinet that sat on the floor with a compartment on the top for the ice. It drained into a pan under the ice box. The pan had to be emptied on a regular basis. This was no easy job. I don't care how careful you were as you walked to the sink carrying this heavy pan of water, every step created a ripple, then a wave, and finally it slopped on the floor. So pan emptying day was always floor mopping day as well. Where did the ice come from. The ice man, of course. You had a card you put in the window when you needed ice, and he stopped and carried it in depositing in the ice box. These were sturdy guys. All day going up and down stairs carrying blocks of ice on their shoulder.

Looking back, getting rid of the iceman was a good thing. Not such a good thing was the demise of the bakery truck. When I was a young housewife there was one car in the family which the husband took to work. This left his wife without transportation Since we couldn't come to them, the tradesmen came to us. The bakery truck, in our neighborhood it was Helms, came on a regular schedule with a full array of bread, rolls donuts, cakes and other goodies. He would stop and we all went out to the truck and made our purchases.

What ever happened to the Good Humour man. He had a truck stocked not only with popsicles and ice cream bars, but pecan rolls and other treats you seldom see anywhere anymore.

When I lived in Hawaii an old, frail Japanese gentleman came by every week with fresh produce from his farm. He stopped at each block, and woman from both sides of the street came out, chatting with each other as we shopped.

Home delivery of milk, eggs and butter was nice too. You left your bottles out on the back porch with a note saying what you wanted. and it was there in the morning. Stores delivered. You placed your order by phone, and it was delivered that afternoon by a schoolboy on a bicycle.

Don't get me wrong. I am all for women's lib, but sometimes I wonder with a job, responsibilties at home plus all the running around she does if the average woman has more time for herself now than she did fifty years ago.

New Pattern in the Works

I have been thinking for some time of trying to come up with a little doll and wardrobe. After some experimenting I have designed a doll only seven and one half inches tall. Big enough for little fingers to hold on to but small enough to go anywhere.

She is knit in the round using DP needles. The only sewing is attaching the legs and wig as the arms are jointed. Clothes are next.

I will post when the pattern is available, but I am also working on a wedding afghan for a great-granddaughter so it may be awhile. This afghan is one of those projects that never seems to get any bigger no matter how long you've been working on it.

Yarn Convert

Now that the flu is over, cancer scare resolved, and all the holiday chaos is over it looks like life in our household has returned to normal letting me get back to designing, knitting and, of course, blogging

Had a pleasant surprise the other day. I have tried to get my kids interested in sewing, knitting and crocheting, but to no avail. Hadn't brought it up in years when out of the blue a daughter calls to tell me she is crocheting. She has been making scarves and beanies and is getting raves from friends. She starts a pattern and if she runs into something she doesn't know how to do she goes to You Tube and watches a video until she gets it. Hooray for technology. I, of course, have an endless supply of yarn leftover from other projects which I am now getting rid of, thank goodness.

I knit a beanie for the daughter of our doctor's receptionist. Her mom couldn't find what she wanted. My daughter loved it but doesn't knit so I came up with something very similar in crochet. Here is a picture. The pattern is now listed in the free pattern menu.

As I posted earlier, we had a lovely Christmas and are now looking forward to a healthy and happy New Year.