We Do Have Ice

  Woke up early to ice falling, which it is still doing as I type this. It is suppose to "rain" ice all day and then turn to snow. So far we have a lot but not as bad as some areas in Missouri and other states. There is a dusting of snow on top of the thick ice.

  I wanted to feed the birds seed and their suet but the screen door is iced shut. 

I took a couple of the flag-frozen straight

At least the lake has not started freezing -that could be possible in a few days though with single digits coming in. That is always a concern for docks and boats praying that does not happen.

Early this morning I started filling up big pots with water-just in case. This is the first home in over 40 years that we don't have a back up. This is an all electric house-ugh. We always had woodstoves for heat and for cooking if needed. and my 10 burner wolf was an old one so did not need electric to turn the gas on.  So I am staying hopeful we do not lose our electric. I think we are in the middle path of this storm-much worse above and below us. The big cities in Missouri are getting hammered with more ice and lots of snow.

I got out all of my hand dyes and the gifted ones from my friend, and ironed them all-so will be ready to use on the next bags. This photo is a bit dark as it is a dark room.  And I have not taken the time to figure out settings for better photos. (These will enlarge for better viewing)

   I am finishing up my first bag, but was having trouble with it looking nice-I changed threads so hoping to get this one finished soon. I am not crazy about how much the pattern left open to sew after turning  (there is a lining inside)  On the next one will change that

Stay safe all of you in the path of this arctic storm

Recap of 2024 with Photos-Long

   I usually do a recap of the previous year but wasn't sure I had much to share being Larry's care giver still.  I thought I would take a look at my 2024 posts-and I am soooo glad I did.  I did manage to accomplish some things.

  January 

      I made soup ( I made a pot of chicken soup today too)

 February

   Oh this was fun I bought a huge huge box of  discounted buffalo fiber. This was sold to put into the garden for soil improvements  I like that the Buffalo Wool co works to use all the buffalo fibers they process.  I ended up sorting it and found a lot that could still be spun and some for the garden soil as well

and another Super Bowl win

I won a big box of wonderful goodies including these slippers-It was a huge lift for me at the time thanks again

March

 a surprise in the mail from one of my slow mail friends

blooms

I was still working with the buffalo fibers-this is roving that I spun up to yarn I had forgotten about this buffalo project-I really enjoyed that

April

 I made dandelion infused oil-so nice on the skin

I was writing many letters for Letters Against Isolation-I have since stopped doing this-it was getting to be too much for me

I was still spinning the buffalo fibers this  month 

May

  This was a surprise-the second bulb I have bloomed

I got back to blending and grinding some of  my own Gluten free flour

June

  This month I bought a few embroidery blocks to stitch up

I have since lost most all of my perennials sigh do to our water issue here  I think this one has survived though, and I saved seeds

July

I baked up a lemon meringue pie-yum

August

cornbread

First wolf block completed- I changed this up a bit-decided to go with the pattern design going forward

September

  Laying out the first bag slow stitch project. I am finishing it up now

I liked this version of the block better

October

Progress on slow stitch project

November

Pumpkin bread-gluten free

We got the smoker out-we did a duck and this turkey

December

  That slow stitch bag almost completed-hand sewing the lining to the front of the bag

We have really enjoyed watching the sea gulls and pelicans in 2024 and this year.as well

Notre Dame was so fun to watch-they only lost one game 

   They just won their quarter final yesterday, on to next week

I am so happy that I looked through my 2024 blog posts

    I totally forgot about some of the projects like the buffalo fibers. I feel better looking back that I accomplished some creative things. I do enjoy playing with fibers.

    It's been a long year still being my husband's care giver. (since October 2023) Larry will not get better sadly but I am thankful we are still together.

   I have been in the "dumps" lately-my car breaking down did me in mentally.. I checked today and they have not gotten to it yet. sigh  I have myself stressed out for sure. I have never driven Larry's suburban, I may need to get brave and try it.  It is too large for me and I am used to driving old simple cars. My Mountainer is 1998 with low mileage-the perfect size for me.

  Our nearby friends that help us out called to see if I needed to go food shopping (with this huge winter arctic blast coming in). So thankful we met these caring friends.  She will pick me up very early tomorrow morning-.Her and her husband are getting ready to stay in Florida for several weeks this winter, which will be very soon. I have been depending on them too much for sure-so that has me a bit stressed as well. . 

 Stay safe any of you in the path of this arctic winter blast