This is one of many pictures that I took from our recent trip. Click on http://picasaweb.google.co/loutuller and it will take you to my albums with Google. There you will find more pictures from this trip. Plus other trips and memories.

We have spent all summer home this year due to doctor appointments and gas prices. So we were finally able to get away for Marshal to do some fishing and me just to get away. We decided to go to Cub River south of Preston, Idaho for several days. There is a National Forest campground there and in previous years, some darn good fishing. Marshal decided on Saturday the 13th for us to hit the road on the 14th. So I had one day to get the stuff into the motorhome. I was pushed for time, but as we was not gonna be in a hurry the next day to hit the road, I was able to get what we needed loaded.

Was able to make the 52 mile trip just fine with no problems. Arriving on a Sunday, figured that most of the campground would be empty. And that is how we found the campground. Most everyone had already left, leaving very few still there. And most of them left after our arrival.

The weather was pretty good, even though it is autumn. The nights did get cold, but having enough bedding on the bed helped. Plus a good furnace in the motorhome. Days were really nice. Layering clothes was the best way to dress for the days.

The leaves on the oak trees were shades of reddish orange and a lot of them have changed. The aspen were just beginning to change to yellow. And very few aspen were even starting to change. But there still lots of colors. The willows along the river were just also starting to change to yellow. I am sure that the rest of the month will see more drastic changes.

On Monday, Marshal told me that I could take the ATV and go riding while either he was fishing or resting. So I opted to take it while he was resting and go for a ride. Also, Angel wanted to do some riding. We had seen a new trail the Forest Service had graded by the river and up over the mountain. So guess where I went??? Yuppers, away Angel and I went with the camera for pictures. The trail would have made a good Jeep trail if it had been wide enough. If I manage to go more than 5 miles an hour in spots, I was making good time. Most of the time it was much slower than that. And in several places, I had to go down to low gear and 4 wheel drive to get through the bad places. I was in seventh heaven to be able to do some 4 wheeling!!! We both had a good time doing it. After a couple of hours, I was just guessing the time, I figured that we better head back to the motorhome. We could have kept going on the trail, but decided that Marshal might be freaking out if we were gone too long. But I made the decision that when we go back to Cub River, we will do more exploring on those trails. Didn't see any wildlife, unless you count the cattle.

Marshal fished most of the time, but he only managed to catch 3 fish for two days. Always before, he would catch his limit for the day. There just wasn't any fish to catch. I think that it had been fished pretty hard that weekend and that most of the fish were gone.

We did some discussing on Monday night about staying longer. Decided that it really wasn't worth it as he wasn't catching fish. So decided to leave the next morning and go to Deep Creek reservoir close to home. After arriving at Deep Creek, really couldn't find a place that we could even get the motorhome close to level. So went onto Devil Creek. Found one site that could work, but since we were so close to home, just came home a day early.

At least we did get away for a couple of days. Can't wait until we get away again, even though it may be next spring.

One of my ongoing projects is making a set of books with the alphabet, numbers, colors, and a busy book for the two youngest grandchildren and one of the great grandsons. So far I have finished up with the alphabet books and now am working on the number books. I am doing the books with plastic canvas and yarn. They are pretty durable books. Each page is pretty simple and can take some time in stitching, but they can work up quickly if I don't have to put them down. And on our recent trip, I took this particular book with me to work on. I had completed all the pages and was working on the bag that holds the book.
What I will do is give two books to the first granddaughter that turns 3 next August and the great grandson will turn 3 in November. They will then receive the last two books in the set at Christmas time. So this takes care of their birthdays and Christmas for next year.

I made a set of the books for one granddaughter several years ago for her 3rd birthday and the following Christmas or vice versa. She loved them.

Here awhile back this pattern was a free daily pattern at Annie's Attic. I fell in love with the pattern started thinking about how this would make a perfect birthday gift for one of the granddaughters. I am sure she will fall in love with it. And the colors will go perfectly in her bedroom. I do believe that if she can keep her little sister's hands off of it, I will have to make one for her also. I used double strands and it went quickly. I didn't have to have it ready until March of next year, so that is one birthday down for next year.

Yes, another project done with. I have all this left over lavender thread in my stash and decided that I wanted to work a pineapple doily with it. So here it is. This doily was designed by Priscilla Hewitt and is a free pattern on the internet. I love pineapple doilies and had made quite a few over the years. I have a plastic storage crate that is almost empty. I have a few doilies in there for gifts when needed. My thoughts are to fill this crate with all kinds of doilies. That way I would have lots of gifts when needed or to use through out the house.

I have been told that my great grandmother would be proud of my work. Well, she is a hero of mine. She lived to be 93 years old. And she crocheted with thread until her death, even though she had trouble seeing. For my marriage to my first husband, she crocheted a thread edging on a towel. Which I do have in my cedar chest to hand down to my son. Most times she would make her great grandchildren tired just trying to keep up with her. She was 16 when she had my grandmother and was bringing children into this world for the next 28 years. There for awhile, she and my grandmother were having children the same years, just months apart. And my great grandmother took care of my father's family when my grandmother couldn't. So she helped to raise my dad's family.

Marshal came to me today and says, he and a friend are headed to the mountains on the ATVs. And was I staying at home???? He finally decided that maybe he better find out if I wanted to go with. Good thing!!! So we went after the friend, loaded up Angel in the basket and off we went. Marshal decided that he wanted to go to a small place south of us called Cherry Cheek. At one time there was a small community there, but as time has gone by, most residents have moved to town or some place else. There is an old cemetery still there and he wanted to visit the cemetery. We both like checking out the old tombstones. And I make sure that I have my camera with, so that if a name stands out, or a possible genealogical connection, I have the picture.

We wanted to go down the frontage road along side the freeway to Cherry Creek. Well, that didn't work out, as we found a very locked gate. So backtracked several miles to Two Mile Canyon road and headed back over the mountain. We have been on Two Mile Canyon several times in the past and it is a nice drive. From Two Mile Canyon, we took the Ridge Road to the turn off for Mud Springs, Cold Springs and Cherry Cheek. Having never been down that road, I went slow. Good thing. In several spots it was rough, even for the ATV. Finally after going back over the mountain, we arrived at the Cherry Creek cemetery. Saw some interesting tombstones that were quite old. One, not real sure on this one, but the man was buried with a wife on each side. Possible that he had both of those wives at the same time.

While at the cemetery, I took these pictures of Angel in the basket. The blanket is for padding and to help keep the wind out of her face, if she would use it for that. Plus we are able to put our water and the camera in there with her.

After being gone for several hours, we finally got back home. It was an enjoyable ride.

Another free pattern on the Annie's Attic Free Pattern for the day website. Saw this and thought it would be just right for that special boy this coming Christmas. It is made out of plastic canvas and yarn. Worked up fairly good. With plastic canvas, I find that the cutting out of the individual pieces usually takes up most of my time. I missed the handles at the top of the container that a child can hold onto.

Here about 2 weeks ago, I found a pretty pattern for a centerpiece doily on the internet at one of my free pattern sites. I fell in love with the pattern. I couldn't think of any reason to make it, as I have been involved with other projects lately. Then it hit me. I could make this doily as a birthday gift for someone. So I went to my stash and there was plenty of one shade to make it. So I started on it with a passion. It only took me a week to make the doily up and that includes some frogging (unraveling) a couple of rows. I was working on one on of the rows that had a lot of stitches in it and it was taking me forever to do that row. Got almost done and realized that I had made a mistake in the previous row. I tried to correct the mistake, but wasn't able to. I ended up tearing out one whole and almost a finished row to get back to the mistake and correct it. What was surprising, I was able to get those two rows done in no time at all. I finally finish this doily last night. It is 30 inches in diameter. The recipient loves it and knows exactly where she is gonna put it.

Now to my next project. I found another free pattern at Annie's Attic for a learning tool made out of plastic canvas. Was looking for similar project to make for my grandson. Has the different shapes with a container with corresponding holes, so the shapes can be put in. It is called a Primary Shape Sorter. Want to have it done for grandson for Christmas.

As ya'll can see, it was his first birthday. A milestone for the guy. He looks so much like his mother. So he probably has his father's temperament. Oh I do feel for my DIL if he does. That means she lives with two of a kind!!!!! LOL

Recently my DIL took some pictures of my guys and here they are. Yes, I am very proud of both. Especially the little one.

I haven't done anything on the blog for quite some time. Been pretty busy around home, Senior Center and church. I did do some work on another State Square afghan. It is closer to being done, but not quite. As I use this project as my fill in project when I have nothing else to, it goes slowly. I am working on projects for future Christmas and birthday gifts for the grandchildren. I have found a couple more projects that I do want to work on in the future. A rug for the floor in front of the kitchen sink, a rug for a little girl's room and maybe something else for the house.

I have bookmarked several sites on the Internet that feature free patterns and check them daily. I have managed to collect quite a few patterns that are either crochet, knit or plastic canvas needlepoint. I do know that these free sites have saved me hundreds of dollars.

I have also been busy with a serious cleaning on my house. It was and still is needed in some rooms. But am getting them done slowly but surely. We do want to do some traveling close to home this summer. Husband wants to get out and do some fishing. So hopefully we can fit a short trip into the budget this month and another next month.

One project that I have been working on is plastic canvas. This is a set of books for toddlers and pre-schoolers. It is a set of four books. ABC's, Numbers, Colors, and Activities. With a bag for each book. I have finished up the first book of the series. They are fairly easy to do, the hard consuming part is cutting the plastic canvas into the shapes that are needed for each book. And it really isn't hard, just time consuming. I have included some pictures of the ABC book and bag that I have recently finished up.

A few days I finally finished the first of 3 knitted states afghans. Each square is a different state. The squares measure like 8 by 8, with five squares across and ten down. So it is long and narrow. I started it as a project to use up some of the extra yarn that I have. Also thought it would make a nice gift to grandchildren when they are studying geography of the states. This is a project that I will work when I am not working on other projects. I still have two more to finish, and each one has only 3 more rows to do. And the border. The squares work up fairly easy, most in one day. That is when I have the time to sit down and work on them.

I also have finished up one more of the beaded purses. Working on the last one of those that I need to do. At the same time, I am also working on a plastic canvas project. It works up in 4 parts. First part is the Alphabet Book, then Colors, Numbers and then How To Do. Each book is then put into it 's own bag. I am making three of these for Christmas and birthday gifts for the 3 youngest grandchildren. When I finish up with the first book, will post a picture or two.

At 8 1/2 months old, this is my pride and joy. He is absolutely the most handsomest boy in the world. He is doing a dry run in the big boy car seat. The pacifier is my son's answer to the boy not using his thumb. Which I think he should be allowed to use. Yes, it does look he has red hair. Hope so. If he does, that means he got it from his grandma. Can't wait until I get to see him again.

Here are my latest projects. These are several rugs that I knitted and crocheted. They are made out of cotton yarn. The blue shades and white are from a pattern from Aunt Lydia's free patterns. The pattern calls for two strands of Denim thread, but I used one strand of the cotton yarn. I have done this pattern before using the cotton yarn. Those two rugs we use in our MH bathroom for in front of the shower. And that is what gave me the idea for these two rugs. We will use them in the house, in front of the shower. There will be some shrinkage when they are washed, but not much. The knitted rug is just a pattern I found on the internet. I used a multi-colored yarn paired with ecru for the color. Have no idea what I will do with this rug. May give it away, or use it around the house.
Viewers will notice some blue toes. Mine. Got them when I was taking the pictures. Also you will notice a four legged boss checking out the rugs. My thinking, she was wondering if she would get them for her bed or would I let her stay with the blankets she already has in her bed.

My latest project was a football dishcloth. The pattern worked up fairly easy and I was able to do it like in one night. I decided that since it was just one picture, I would scan the dishcloth, instead of using the camera. The picture is dark, but the pattern does show up nicely.

I have built up quite a nice stash of different yarns over the years. Plus several years ago, a cousin gave me her stash, as she really can't crochet anymore due to a health issue. I have been working on 3 state squares afghans here and have quite a few smaller balls of different colors to use up. I got thinking that a log cabin quilt afghan pattern would be good for using up some of these small balls. This is the completed afghan. As to what I am gonna do with it. Don't know for sure yet. But it is nice to have it around handy just in case for a gift.

Yes, another dishcloth. I am building up my stash of dishcloths for gift giving, or just for my own kitchen. This I knitted along with a group on Yahoo that I belong to. This is called Heart and Bow. It was a fairly easy pattern to work up. Helps keep my knitting skills stay active.

I have several sites that I check daily for free patterns. Let me tell ya, the internet sure is nice for free patterns. I get an idea of what I want to do and then search for a pattern to fit. I haven't bought any patterns for several years now. Saves money, I think. I use the extra money for buying yarn and thread.

This pattern is from the JPF Crochet site. Julie Bolduc posts free daily crochet patterns and this is her pattern.

I happen to have quite a few pony beads floating around for using when making scrunchies. Thought that this would make a nice bag. And it does using a varigated cotton yarn and the multi- colored beads. I am thinking that a solid color yarn with beads to match would really be nice. Have to put that project in the list to make in the future.

The pattern worked up quite fast, even though I was working with the beads. It is a fairly easy pattern to work with.

Crocheted Socks

I was sitting here the other night with freezing feet. I was wearing my everyday thin cotton socks with my knock off Crocs. Wanted something to keep my feet warm. Now for a few years been fooling around with the idea of making me some socks. I do happen to have several pattern books for crochet socks. So decided to make a pair. Went to the pattern books, found a basic pattern to work on. Also, another requirement was yarn to come out of my stash. And it all came together. I now have this pair of socks to wear. But I haven't stopped there. I am now working on a pair of knitted socks. These are worked on two needles, not the double pointed needles. What I am doing, found a pattern on the internet, found a pair of size 2 needles, and some baby yarn. I work on them for about 10 minutes, then have to rest my right hand. The pattern I am using calls for 4 ply sock yarn, which is very thin and size 2.75mm needles. There is no gauge, so have no idea if I am close to what the pattern is. But, oh well, when I get done, if the sock is the wrong size, I can always pull it out.
I do have a pattern to make tube socks using double pointed needles. But I am gonna modify it some and use two needles. Have done that before with something else and it came out just fine. Other than I did have to seam the item. Will see how it turns out.

More pictures out front. My wind mill is not covered due to the wind blowing, but you can see how the snow if drifting. The other is looking to the house across the street.

It is now middle of the afternoon, and it looks like the snow is slowing down. May have to go out and move some snow. Been watching the kid that lives catty corner from us moving some snow out of his grandmother's drive. This snow is heavy and wet. He is having trouble moving it with an ATV.

These pictures show our front porch before it was cleaned off. Those bushes are my rose bushes and they are covered up by several feet of snow.