Movies

While at home recovering from surgery I have a lot of time to watch movies. Here is a review of some of the movies.

Juno - good movie. I wish the childbirth scene would have been more painful. I recommend this, it was funny, sad and pretty realistic, except most boys do not stay in the picture when their teen age girlfriend gets pg (hopefully sweet daughter is reading this).












On Golden Pond - one of my and dear hubby's favorites. We both love the cabin on the lake and would love to have a place like that someday.





The Waitress was a really good movie. I don't like all of the choices that the waitress made but the movie was unpredictable and who can resist pie?













The Family Stone was also very good. It was again unpredictable, a bit of a tear jerker and I loved the house that the story was filmed in.














I did not like Duchess. I tried to watch it with my daughter, thinking PG-13 would be OK for a 15 year old but found out fast that it should have been rated R not PG-13. I did not like the ending. The costumes were really great though.















Skip the movie and watch reruns, there is no difference.













I loved this movie. Anne Hathaway was great. Unpredictable, great fashion and just fun. Meryl Streep is perfect at being a horrible boss.

Knitted Thorpe and poncho for American Girl doll

My very sweet little great-niece had emergency brain surgery on the 13th of January. Please keep her in your prayers as she continues to improve. Her 7th birthday is today. I knitted these little gifts for her while waiting for my back to heal. The package arrive just in time for my beautiful sister to bring it to the hospital for her birthday. I think when she is feeling better she will enjoy having some new clothes for her American girl doll and a hat for herself.

I knitted the Thorpe hat for her American Girl doll and a matching one for her. THe AG hat was knitted out of DK weight with size 6 needles. I used worsted weight, double stranded for dear sweet niece and size 8 needles in the size small. The poncho was simple, cast on 36 stitches, knit back and forth for 30 rows, make two and join.

Sweet daughter was kind enough to model the hat for me, it is a little small for her.

on the mend

I've been unable to blog for the past week due to back surgery. I had a herniated disc operated on January 19th. An unattractive pictures of my life the past week.

I am unable to drive for 2 weeks, off work for 2 weeks and then some 1/2 days until I am back to 100%. So far, I can tell the surgery was a success, the pain I have felt going down my leg for the past 6 years has faded. An occasional ache is still there but I think that is from the surgery.

Some very nice friends and neighbors dropped off food and goodies. I think dear hubby and the kids are eating better now than when I am healthy!

The good news is my pain is almost gone, I've been able to spend some cuddle time with Wrigley and it is possible to knit while reclined or laying down.

Dear hubby gave up his recliner for me to rest in. Sitting is the worse thing for my back right now so reclining, laying flat or walking is about all I can do.

I watched a couple movies last week, neither were worth repeating. Dutchess was predictable and Sex in the City was like a rerun, I turned it off before it was over.

Any suggestions for a good rentable movie? Leave me a comment if you have a recommendation.

Prairie Middle School - Winter concert

The Middle school was finally able to hold the winter concert. Due to weather, it had to be rescheduled a couple times. So we listened to Christmas music on January 13th. Dear son introduced the 2nd song that the band played. I am including that video here. We were very proud of him. The band sounded great too. This is the new concert hall paid for by bond dollars.

felted clogs

I knitted my first pair of felted clogs! I used all stash yarn, when you see the next post you will realize I have enough for a few pair of scrap felted clogs. Anyway, they were very fun to knit and I want to make a pair for dear Hubby next. I don't like the cuff yarn that I used and I learned a few things.
Here is the before picture.

And here is the after, I might need to felt one more time as they didn't felt as much as I had hoped but they fit pretty good so maybe I will just wear them as, is.

Got Yarn?

I really need to organize my sewing room, I started with my yarn stash.... Oh my! How can I have so much yarn and not have enough to actually knit anything?!

silly puppies

Wrigley is getting bigger and cuter.

Annie is still in denial and sure we do not have another dog.

Kodi plays very nice with Wrigely even with Wrigley is being a pain in the neck!

Wrigley is going to the door to scratch and barks when he needs to go out!!!

Caleb still loves Kodi best but is taking a shining to Wrigley

As are Bailey's friends but Kodi showed them he is a lap dog too.

Wrigley loves running to the refrigerator whenever someone needs to get ice out of the ice maker, he runs from across the house with his ears flying and we give him a piece of ice and he thinks he has the best treat!

Little knitted hat

I made these little knitted hats in Hawkeye colors for the neighbors, some went on Chex Mix and this one on a bottle of wine. They were fun to make.

A new recipe

This recipe is from The Pioneer Woman

There is a secret ingredient that I bet you can't guess. You have got to try these, they are sooo good.

Also, I have included it here Apple Dumplings

Fingerless mitts

I finished a pair of fingerless mitts for sweet daughter this week. We decided to layer them with a pair of Target knit gloves for extra warmth during the bitter portion of the winter. I think it is really a cute idea. The pattern is out of One Skein Wonder and they were quick and fun to make. The yarn is Dream in Color Classy.

Question - I am toying with the idea of a projects only blog and to not intermix family info on the same blog. What do you think, would you prefer to read either one or the other or do you like them mixed?

Christmas in Maquoketa

Christmas for dear hubby's side was held at my sweet SIL and BIL's house last weekend. The kids had some much fun and SIL and BIL are great host and hostess.









After a wonderful meal of soup and chili, they served grasshoppers. They were delicious. It had been many years since I've had a grasshopper and I forgot just how good they are.

This sweet gingerbread house was the center piece on the table.

We all had an enjoyable day and made some great memories.

Christmas at home

We enjoyed a quiet Christmas. Sweet daughter sang with the choir at 10pm mass at St Ludmilla's. We spent Christmas day at home, visited my family the day after and dear husband
s on Sunday.

I made a Swedish Tea Ring
for Christmas morning, it turned out really yummy,










Kodi enjoyed laying in the Christmas wrap.

I made a few goodies. My Dad gave me this Spode 3 tier serving set, I just love it.

We enjoyed a small scale turkey dinner on Christmas day. Everything turned out really good and the kids had a quiet but happy Christmas day.