Another project that I’ve wanted to take on for a long time, and have just begun is taking my favourite recipes and putting them together in one place. At the moment they are often on various scraps of paper in a folder, or in certain cookbooks. But I usually have to sort through the whole folder or take a couple of my cookbooks to the couch, because I don’t know exactly which one it is in.
About a year ago Apple came out with a program called iBook Author – to help make it easy for people to write their own books. And so I have started my recipe collection. But it isn’t fast! I have three recipes written out so far. I have a long way to go.
A new year already! How did that happen? I haven’t posted since September — the fall has been so full! But I will try to do some “backward” posts – updating my various projects.
Today’s project – making a coat for Q. Q (short for Quasar, my mother’s/brother’s Shitzu puppy) loves the snow! In fact, he has so much fun bounding in it he forget what he went outside to do until he is too cold to do his business. Jim was able to get two doggie coats from a friend, but they are too big for a 4 month old puppy. I decided to use the one that fit him best as a pattern.
A raincoat for a small dog
I used scraps of purple fleece that have hung out in my cupboard for a lot of years. I made the coat in two layers of the same fleece. In the end, it fits not too badly. Q is likely to grow out of it pretty quickly, but it won’t be too hard to make it bigger.
Quasar in his new coat
Billy got a new coat this fall too. Again, I bought a raincoat for her that fit well then used it as a pattern. Her coat is a light blue fleece and the purple fleece for the lining. In between the two I put a layer of nylon, cut from an old coat no one had worn for years. This coat is easier to put on than are Billie’s sweaters.
Billie’s fleece coat
Mina loved Q! Not so sure Q felt quite the same, but he was amazingly docile with her.
So I had my eye surgery today. The hard part was sitting around in the hospital for three hours before surgery. The actual surgery took 10 minutes. It was uncomfortable, but not painful. I could tell immediately that I am no longer seeing double. That is good!
my eyes with a new lens on my right
When I took Billie outside this evening all the lights had incredible “petals” of light coming out in all directions around them. It was quite distracting!
Unfortunately my vein didn’t heal very well when the IV was removed. I removed the bandage in Dr Jellie’s office this afternoon and within an hour had a huge bubble of blood under my skin.Note to self: next time leave the bandage on for a few more hours!
Mina and I have been having a lot of fun with the story of the Three Billie Goats Gruff. I found a picture book at Barnes & Nobles. We like to act the story. We can use My Little Ponies or other toy animals for the goats. But I wanted a better troll — so I crocheted one:
Mina loves Lalaloopsie dolls. She already has two “little sisters” and will be getting another “big sister” and a “big brother” for her birthday on Saturday.
On a trip to Daison I picked up some crochet thread and cotton. I made a dress for each of Mina’s “buddies”:
Mina’s buddies in their new crocheted dresses.
Trina is making her new dolls clothes – much more sophisticated that what I would make. Mina tried so hard to make the new pajamas fit on her buddy. I finally helped by putting some tiny hair elastics on her arms and legs so they would stay on. Mina particularly like the “party dress.” I think the fact that it is a long dress is what made it a party dress. When the new clothes disappeared overnight the poor girl was heartbroken. So I decided to make her ‘little sisters’ new party dresses. I used scraps from Trina’s makings to hand sew the first one. I decided that, for me, crocheting was much easier.
Mina’s buddies get party dresses
I hope Mina has as much fun playing as I had making!
