I'm back!!!

 I'm back in the land of tech and the proud new owner of a Lenovo All-In-One along with the learning curve that goes along with it.  I'm utterly amazed at what the tech guy could do - I no longer have umpteen-dozen cords running all over the place (everything is now wireless).  No longer do I need to have a router which makes the internet far faster (who knew?!).  No longer do I need a separate camera to use for video-chatting - it's built in.  No longer do I need a separate anti-virus program - it's built in.  No longer do I need a box full of CD's for various and assorted programs - everything comes with it, including a non-dinosaur word processing program (I was running Word 2007).  No longer do I need a shoebox full of manuals/CD's/how to's.  I have entered the current century!!

I will be publishing your recent comments but won't take time to respond to them and will start again from now (so I will respond to the comments on this post, but not the previous ones) and I have been managing to read your blog posts on my phone but haven't been able to respond.  Next 'up' on my dance card is going to be replacing my phone but I'll leave the dust to settle a bit before I undertake that new adventure.

Onwards....

UPDATE!  Well,that didn't last long.  Finally got the computer up and running (with the capable assistance of 'my guy') and then the provider for our cable tv/landline/internet went down  for several hours.  The upshot of THAT issue is that it's left the tv not working and it's telling me I have to go in and reset everything back to the beginning which I have NO clue how to do.  

Toast

 I will be off the computer for a while....my computer fried after several power disruptions yesterday.  It appears the router is toast too.  Not only that but my tablet and my cell phone aren't working either...both are refusing to turn on.  They say things happen in 3's and seems it's my lot right now.  Call is in to a computer repair guru but of course he's on holidays.  I will return when I can 

Some progress

 There's been some progress on the landscape.  You might notice that the bottom edge has changed because I decided to add some 'sand' and that there's been a tent and what I thought was a canoe but now I'm thinking it's more like  a rowboat.  Not sure if it will be staying because I really had been planning on a canoe.      The Resident Chef informs me that the 'canoe' is actually a dory and therefore would not be transportable into this sort of setting.  So...the dory is gone and it's been replaced with something much more the shape of a canoe.  Phew, disaster averted!

Question - is anyone else having difficulties either making comments, or responding to them, on blogs?  I periodically have issues it seems and am wondering if it's just me or if it's a universal issue.

- THESE would make cute therapy chickens!

- THIS looks like it would be a fun process albeit a bit messy!  (scroll down for the how-to)

- I found THIS article quite interesting and something we all should beware of when buying patterns.

- Have a peek at the varied creations of THIS artist!  I love her use of colour and raw materials.

Today's quote is from Martin Luther King Jr....."We have flown the air like birds and swum the sea like fishes, but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the earth like brothers"

You knew it, didn't you

 Yes, a new landscape is underway and this is where it stands now...

- Joy has announced a fun new quilt-a-long and you can find her introductory post HERE.

- Although I don't have the necessary 'base' to make any of THESE I must admit I am intrigued.

- Although there are no instructions for THIS I think it's so pretty!!

- Sometimes it IS the little things as you can see from THESE.

And - I would like to wish all my friends in the US a very happy July 4th!

Today's quote..."A narcissist wants the authority of a king while having the accountability of a toddler"

Happy Canada Day!

 I am going off schedule with this post but I wanted to wish all my Canadian friends a very happy Canada Day.  

This short You-Tube video says what I feel about my country 

A wee finish

 Here is the little knitted project I was telling you about last time....

My friend is expecting a new grand baby so I want to make a couple things to welcome the new addition.  This is the toy I often make for babies and the pattern can be found HERE.  I used sock yarn for this one but I have made it in other weights of yarn as well.  It measures about 12" from the tip of the hat to his/her toes.

- THIS is a cute project for summer use.

- Depending on the colourway you choose, THIS would be a nice addition to your decor (and would use up scraps too).

- You could use THIS pattern to make all sorts of things.

- THIS would be a fun project and wouldn't it make nice gifts too?

Today's quote..."If Plan 'A' didn't work, the alphabet has 25 more letters"

Almost, but not quite

 I'm working on a small knitting project that I had hoped would be done in time to show you today, but it's not quite done.
So, just for fun, I had to show you this.  There was a call for help from the RC and I arrived on the scene to discover this...

The Great Exploding Kefir Bottle

We make our own kefir and sometimes you risk an explosive escape from the bottle when you take the lid off.  Such was the case and the RC needed me to get him a bowl to collect the overflow.  Good stuff, obviously!

- The quilters among you might find THIS tool invaluable.

- Be sure to have a look at what THIS amazing artist does (and what he uses for raw materials)

- THIS looks like a fun project that would result in something really pretty.

- Never let it be said that there's not an eclectic element to this blog - go HERE to see what I mean!

- Sometimes it's the little simple things that are the best (see HERE)

Today's quote..."The oldest computer was owned by Adam and Eve.  It was an Apple with very limited memory.  Just 1 byte and everything crashed"

An experiment in upcycling

 I've been wanting a 'new' summer-weight housecoat but they are extremely rare at the thrift stores and I refuse to pay full price.  So....enter a thrifted bed sheet.  I really liked this one when I saw it and the price was right (under $10) and I thought there might be enough fabric to make a housecoat using a pattern I've used to make them for our boys years ago (McCall's 9638 - no doubt no longer available).  I felt confident tackling it because it doesn't have to be a thing of beauty - just functional.

Well then, THAT was a Debacle of The Grande Scale!!!  Talk about a disaster of the first order.  I don't know why I keep thinking I can sew clothing and make it fit...or even come remotely close.  All I can say is good thing that bed sheet cost less than $10 or I'd really be upset.  Needless to say, my efforts landed in the receptacle-that-one-keeps-next-to-the-sewing-machine and there will NOT be a picture to show you today.  Obviously I don't need a summer-weight housecoat.  Sigh.

- I think THESE are awww-worthy.

- THIS is a simple little project that even kids might like to do.

- I doubt I'll try THIS but I'm definitely curious to know if it actually would work.

- Although THIS is just a picture with no instructions, I think it's a great idea (good use perhaps for old knitting needles?)

- Have a peek through the galleries of THIS artist!

Today's quote...