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Sunday, March 30, 2014

Comparing Spring ~ 2011 to 2014

Time has really gone fast the past 4 years!
I've been taking pictures every March 27 to see how things have changed.  This year was a windy, low 50°F cloudy day.  




 We did lose part of a tree last year in a not so strong wind.  The tree was on the neighbor's side and did fall on the neighbors side.  Thank-you.





         We did have far more snow this past winter.  As agonized as we have been about the winter lasting forever, really it is not much different than last year.  As you can see the pictures comparing this year and last year show little difference in height of flowers and greenery.  Both years were pretty bleak.  Matter of fact, both years we had a snow on March 25!  The snow did go away faster last year and warm up much faster.  We've only had maybe 4 days that have reached the low 60°F mark.  Next week promises to kiss the 70 mark. 
 You might want to check out the previous year's posts:
Really enJOYed that 2012 March with the 70°F avg!

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Thanks to the FREE programs:
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GIMP for cropping & other digital effects
 Photoscape for downsizing & watermarking photo
PicMonkey creating collages used on this page
 

Friday, March 28, 2014

Friday Foto #8 ~ I Feel Like Dancing or Running!

 In the land of Basketball known as Kentucky, is this Cardinal dancing or running?  Since I live so close to Lexington, I think he's running!!!
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I'm going to party @:
Give me your best shot at Better in Bulk      PhotoStory Friday       Also: http://www.findingserendipity.com

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Thoughtful Thinking Thursday ~6 The End of Taxes

 Find the picture above in the picture below.
 I use to shred documents with sensitive information, but I've watched too much CSI where, it seems, if someone wanted too bad enough they could spend forever putting the pieces back together.  So recently when I had tax copies to get rid of, I had a burning session.  How do you get rid of sensitive documents you don't need anymore?


Just think about it..........
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Might share at some Linky Parties.
Thanks to the FREE programs:
possibly used for this post
GIMP for cropping & other digital effects
 Photoscape for downsizing & watermarking photo
PicMonkey creating collages used on this page

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Wordless Wednesday #90~ Calming Focus?

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 Attending these Linky Parties:
 Better in Bulk studio waterstone Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday   NanaHood.com
Also:
 
 
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Thanks to the FREE programs:
possibly used for this post
GIMP for cropping & other digital effects
 Photoscape for downsizing & watermarking photo
PicMonkey creating collages used on this page

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Swedish Weaving & Huck Embroidery

Roughly 2 years ago, I was introduced to a 3rd cousin, Dawn. We immediately found out we had a lot of the same interest, and what was different we were both interested in learning more.  On our Route 66 trip last fall, we came back by her town in Colorado which strangely has the same name as my town here in Kentucky! Dawn knew I liked to sew and showed me a baby blanket she had weaved using the Swedish technique.  We came up with the idea that I would take it home and sew on the binding.  I recently, finally, mailed it back to her.  
       Dawn wrote and provided the following information about this art, and I wanted to pass it on to you as I showed you her blanket.

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 The weaving technique was found in linens dating back to the 1600s. Height of popularity in the 1930s and 1940s in the US… mostly huck kitchen towels and linens.
Some say this faded when the advent of the dishwasher made kitchen towels unnecessary. Today, I feel there has been a resurgence in both Swedish weaving and huck embroidery methods.
      In the Swedish style of stitching, the larger Monk’s cloth is used for Afghans, blankets, table runners, placemats and baby blankets. I’ve even used it for curtains.
    The huck or Swedish weaving is different because it is worked completely on the top of the fabric, so that thread is rarely seen on the back of the fabric. Mine is never perfect. 
           To weave, pick up the vertical threads (floats) on the front of the fabric so the stitching does not show on the back. Good luck on that one. Good for either left or right hand people, stitches are done in a repeating pattern that is easy to follow. Using a blunt yarn needle, I thread the yarn. Find the middle of the cloth, put a safety pin in that float and start the pattern.
(Dawn found the following video on tube that provides easy to follow instructions as well.) 
 
           By stitching alternating sides, it keeps the cloth from stretching unevenly.
        Monk’s cloth is an even weave fabric. 100% cotton usually 60” wide, 7 count per inch. The floats go evenly in both direction Best to pre-wash for shrinkage. Machine zigzag the edges to keep it from unraveling. 2½ yards for an afghan, 1¾ yards for a baby blanket.
 Finish by hemming, fringing, single crochet, bound, or lace. (Yours truly, zig-zagged the edges and ironed a strip of interfacing on both sides of the edges and then I cut off the excess yarn.) 
      Colors that I personally like to use are white, ecru, black, but there are other colors such as turquoise, lime green, hot pink, and red. I’ve only used 4-ply worsted yarn, but I know others have used #3 pearl cotton, multiple strands of #5 pearl cotton, or ribbon. There is also a Swedish weaving technique that is done on a loam. I’ve never done that.
        (Yours truly chose to zig-zag the binding as well because of the lose weave.)

     Yours truly hopes this blanket ends up with a family baby as we claim this piece of art with our names.
....and carries on our interests in the fiber arts.
Update:
10-25-2022- In doing an image search to find this pattern, I found at "I Hold All the Cards."
She called it "Tree Design."
 
It looks like lots of websites offer patterns now. Just use your favorite search engine.
I had to delete the one I offered, because it showed to be corrupted. Good thing I had a virus program. 

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Thanks to the FREE programs:
possibly used for this post
GIMP for cropping & other digital effects
 Photoscape for downsizing & watermarking photo
PicMonkey creating collages used on this page


Friday, March 21, 2014

Friday Foto #8 ~ Only My Hairdresser Knows

      People my age remember the commercial that declared only your hairdresser knew if you colored your hair. I believe it was a Clairol commercial?
     Do we need to ask this character's hairdresser if she's dyed behind her ears?
 I guess I'll call her Clairol.
 
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I'm going to party @:
Give me your best shot at Better in Bulk      PhotoStory Friday       Also: http://www.findingserendipity.com

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Thoughtful Thinking Thursday ~5 Taxes!

Why can't something so complicated, just be simplified?
 
Just think about it..........
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Might share at some Linky Parties.
Thanks to the FREE programs:
possibly used for this post
GIMP for cropping & other digital effects
 Photoscape for downsizing & watermarking photo
PicMonkey creating collages used on this page