Look.........

.......... at what Poppa made for me!

It's a little abacus.  It is about seven and a half inches long and 4 and a half inches high.  As you can see there are three rows of beads, with 10 beads in each row.  Such a simple little thing which makes row and stitch counting so much easier.  Instead of having to put needles down to change the count, as I do on regular counting devices, I just use the free needle to nudge a bead from one side to the other.  There are similar devices available out there, and when I mentioned it he said he could make me one!  Then, he ....

........ made a smaller one for me to travel with!  Aren't they adorable?  On top of that, after listening to me complain about measuring socks while they are on the needle.......... my dear creative husband came up with this.......

.......... clever little ruler.  It is round and has one rounded end.  Since I knit socks inside out (unlike most people?), this enable me to stick the little ruler into the sock and get an accurate measurement from heel to current length - making the foot length more precise than an ordinary tape measure.  He started at three and went all the way to 12 - which means I can make socks for little feet (like Curtie's) to BIG feet (like Uncle Brian's!) with more ease. Thank you Poppa!  After all that (and of course a few other things)....

....... he settled into his chair to read the paper, while.........

Squeegie and Snout watched TV - well, maybe Squeegie took a nap - and, of course........

......... Taffy chilled out and talked on the phone, while Mikey and Minnie snuggled under their blanket and watched TV too.  What did I do??  Well........

......... I got Friend all knitted, stuffed and sewn together.  Unfortunately, I then realized that I didn't have the proper eyes..... so the poor little guy still doesn't have a face.  I made a trip to several of the craft supply stores in town - only to find that the one store that does carry them, had none available.  So I went to my favourite teddy-bear-making website - www.discojoints.on.ca - and ordered some eyes.  If you make toys check out this website - they have some great things there!  And....

........... I got a picture of Lucy's dishcloths.  Now I still have to get pictures of dishcloths for Mommy, Auntie Melissa and Becky - soon!  Other news of note..........

  I got an HP Omni 10 Windows 8.1 tablet.  I am quite pleased with it, but I must be honest about my reasons for purchasing it.  When I was looking through my stash of un-read books, I found one called Dragonfly in Amber by an author called Diana Gabaldon.  I had not read any books by this author before, but the blurb on the back cover sounded interesting so I chose it as my next book.  By the time I got to Page 86 (the end of Chapter 5) I decided that it was definitely a book that Auntie Colleen would enjoy.  So - on the Tuesday of that week, when we picked her up for our visit to Gramma Grace - I asked her if she had read it.  She immediately and vehemently told me to STOP READING!!!!!!!!!!!!  After she had repeated this instruction several times, she continued to tell me that it was book 2 in a series that began with The Outlander, and that I should read them in the correct order to understand and follow the story properly.  It appears that there are seven books in the series!  So, I went to Amazon.ca to see if I could procure The Outlander.  While browsing there it was obvious that I could save a couple of $$ by getting the Kindle version - which I could read on my computer, but that wasn't really very convenient for the throne room where I usually read..... which led me to a Tablet - one with Windows 8.1 so I was familiar with the OS (though it is a little different on the Tablet) while acquiring the convenience of the Tablet.  The rest is history....

......... Kindle is installed and I am about 1/2 way the The Uplander - and I must admit, I am enjoying it.  Speaking of Auntie Colleen..........

....... I was thrilled to get this photo of her with Gus.  He weighs 90 lbs and I'm really glad that Uncle Shaun didn't throw a stick into the lake while she was holding the leash!!!!

And so on....

,,,,,,,,, it goes.  We've been doing our usual things.  Poppa.....

........... has been washing his truck - notice how he has to stand on a little stool to reach all the way across the roof.  He has recently discovered.....

......... that he now needs the stool to reach the roof of our new vehicle too!  Nevertheless, both vehicles are looking shiny and clean now.  Of course,

................ he has been out with Squeegie cutting grass, and they have been golfing each morning.  Taffy....

............ has been spending a LOT of time on the phone.  She was supposed to be helping me with Auntie Colleen's blanket!  Eventually .......

........... she got tired and was using Snout for a pillow, until Squeegie noticed and informed her in no uncertain terms, that Snout was NOT a pillow!  As for me.....

.............. I'm always looking for a yarn I've only met online, but I'm also happy with the yarn in the store!  This is obvious....

........ when you take a look at Auntie Colleen's blanket which is taking shape nicely (Taffy actually did get off the phone long enough to help me assemble it.  I am working now on the edging and the finishing to make it special enough for a special person!  It measures about 41" x 75" and is entirely made with leftovers from my yarn stash.  Strangely I really can't notice much of a difference in the yarn closet though - weird hey?  It is also rather apparent when you take a look at.....

... Lucy's dishcloths which were also pieced together with parts of skeins from my cotton drawer.  Auntie Melissa also asked for some, and Mommy wanted a bunch.  More pictures once those gals have received theirs.  I also have..........

............ a few odd looking little pieces which will soon be Munchie's newest bear.  He seems to have a never-ending desire for these critters!  Or - for that matter - anything else he can think of to get me knitting for him instead of other people.  Speaking of Munchie - he is coming with the rest of his family to visit us for a couple of days!  They are heading further north for a little vacation and stopping here for a couple of days on their way!  So, I'd better get busy and finish that bear - whose name, I've been told, is going to be Friend - since he will be a friend and a brother for Buster.  Of course, besides all this knitting....

......... I did manage to catch up on the latest news on CNN and squeeze in a bit of cleaning too!  Here is a newer picture of Auntie Colleen's blanket...

......... you can see I've added a row on the bottom.  I'll get back to it as soon as I finish Friend off.  I don't think she needs it quite yet anyway, it has been very warm lately........

....... Gus couldn't resist the call of the cool water - besides Uncle Shaun threw a stick away out there, he had to go and get it ... didn't he???  I love the tail sticking up out of the water!  :o)

OMG!

Taffy is off the phone! ............

.............. anyone wanting dishcloths........... I only have a few left...........Auntie Colleen took this lot.....

...........  I haven't got pictures of the others yet.  I did get this terrific picture.............

of Auntie Colleen's two favourite guys!  Remember the little puppy they got and called Gus?  He is now just over a year old - and he's not so little any more.  He sure looks happy with his new parents!

What's new????

Well - not much really.  I have been busily tidying and organizing....

.... I started with my desk - so that I could actually find things when I needed them - not to mention, I can now actually use the desk as a - well - as a desk!  Imagine that!  I also did the furnace room, but it's still not nice enough to post a picture!  I'll continue in there.  I am on a mission to get through all the drawers, closets and storage areas.  Next on the list is the filing cabinet - I'm quite sure there is old stuff in there that we no longer need.  I decided to write a blog first and then start - does that sound like procrastination?  No way!  I know you are waiting for a blog!  Squeegie is busy having...............

........ a butter tart for lunch.  Poppa is busy out at Kev-Inn's lot, cutting grass and raking up pine needles and taking stuff to the dump.  Taffy is busy.....

..... keeping an eye on Snout and the growing pile of zig-zag strips for Auntie Colleen's blanket.  Well, she is supposed to be keeping an eye on them - I see she is actually still on the phone!   I have been busy....

............ organizing the stuff in this closet, which you may have already guessed is....

.......... where my yarn stash hides - out of sight so as not to scare Poppa - who thinks I have way too much!  Really???  Well - it may help you understand why I am knitting blankets in many colours!  I really want to eliminate some of this, so that I can get some nice new yarn!  Because....

........... there is a whole other side to this closet.  The small set of drawers in the center is my sock yarn stash, and there is actually one drawer that is empty!  So, of course, I am watching and waiting for some good yarn sales on-line!  Also, while I was going through my stash I discovered a whole container of.....

........... dishcloths.  I'm not working this year, which means I can't afford to "give" them away, but anyone who is wishing for dishcloths, they are available for $2/each Cdn.  Just contact Taffy (taffy.robert@live.ca) and let her know.  In the meantime I'll get pictures ready for you to check out.

Munchie's Visit

On Wednesday (the 2nd of July) Mommy and Munchie came for a short visit!  It was nice to see both of them, since it seemed like a long time since we were there - even though it wasn't that long ago!  Munchie got to spend......

...... some quality time with Poppa and Squeegie, while Mommy..............

............. spent some quality time with her coffee and her electronic gadgets.  On Thursday Mommy, Munchie and myself went to A&W for breakfast, while Poppa was golfing.  Then ......

........ we went to see Aunt Peggy for a few minutes, as well as.....

....... a stop to visit with Gramma Grace - since they are both at the same retirement residence it was really convenient for us.  That bright light bothered Gramma Grace's eyes, but we needed it to get the picture.  After a quick stop.....

...... at the grocery store to pick up a few of Munchie's favourite things for supper, we headed home to play with Poppa again.  I was coerced into knitting........

........ a very small pair of socks for Buster, and then, just in case he didn't already have two knitted bears, Munchie requested a new bear, so Buster could have a friend and a brother.  He wants a small bear, just like this Buster only a different colour and brown eyes - hmmmmm... kinda like his own brother!  Cute! Munchie chose colours from my sock yarn bin - I have one leg made... pictures when I get  a little further advanced.  Mommy headed home shortly after supper on Thursday.........

..... and was really glad she was heading south - she took this shot of the traffic going north for the long Canada Day weekend!  This was the reason she decided to come for a visit on a week day - it is a lot like this every weekend coming from her place to ours!  Now, the reason I've only got one leg done of that new bear ............

......... might be this other project!  I am making a blanket for Auntie Colleen, and this is the first few pieces.  They aren't sewn together yet - I just laid them out to see the effect.  What do you think?????  Oh yes....

....... Taffy is still on the phone!