Let's Talk Turkey & Crochet Hotpad

As the weather cools and the leaves turn, I appreciate the warmth and coziness of our little farm house in the countryside even more.  My little maple tree that I planted near the top of our "creek" is turning from it's dark red to a bright red.  The yellow weeping Birch leaves carpet the ground and deck.  

Dayle was having trouble getting the pellet stove going for the year.. he took it all apart, tightened all the wires, cleaned the inside and glass and fiddled and fretted, it still wouldn't work.. so I say.. "Honey, do you think it's the dead bird in the chimney?"  He goes.. WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT BEFORE???  :-)  So, he cleans the chimney and finds a dead bird in there.. and VOILA!  It works now.  He'd forgotten that a bird had gotten stuck in the chimney pipe last Spring and finally passed away.  Poor bird.

Our wild and crazy landscape.  

Let's go in now and warm up.  While I was gone swimming yesterday hubby put away all my Halloween decor and brought out a few turkeys.  So, I tidied up the dining table and arranged my little flock of turkeys and pumpkins.  Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving in a few weeks, it's a favorite holiday of mine - to remember to be thankful for what we have and for our country where we are free.  Oh, and the lavish dinner doesn't hurt. :-)

My Scarecrow that I made is always smiling and he makes me smile. 

The glass turkey is something I found last year at an antique store, it opens up - I think it's a candy dish.. and would look good with some candy corn in it, don't you think? 

The 2 Majolica turkeys are glazed ceramic ones I got at a home decor store.  They had one that was almost life-sized, but it was way more money and so I settled for 2 little ones.  I also have a pair of little orange glass turkey candleholders. 

Hubby put a light in the chicken coop to encourage the chickens to lay eggs on through the winter.  It's on a timer so it comes on at dusk and stays on just a few hours longer.  Buffy has been laying eggs almost every day since!  He brought in the mail and this egg yesterday.  I got some neat things in the mail! 

I got a catalog from Tiffany -- I'd ordered a few little charms from them, so now I'm on their mailing list.  Think I need this little bit of bling on their cover?  LOL!!   

And THIS!  It's a print by Rima Staines from Dartmoor, UK.  If you haven't visited her blog, you need to, she's amazing.  Click HERE.  I just had to buy a piece of her artwork and this one spoke to me as I'm completely in love with the vintage shepherd's wagons pictured in this print.

Lastly, a pair of hot pads that my son Shawn requested.  I crocheted both of these while we were at their house yesterday.  These are great as they come out doubled and I used cotton so they can be washed.  The first one came out small, so I did a bigger one.  If you make one, make the beginning chain a lot longer than you think you'll need as they come out a lot smaller when done.  I found it interesting that the first one came out striped and the second one came out with color blocks.  

Crocheted Cotton Hot Pad/Pot Holder

2 ounce ball worsted weight crochet cotton

size H crochet hook

(NOTE: You'll want to sc in the back loops to get the ridged design)

Begin by working 37 chain stitches.

Work 3 single crochet (sc) in 2nd chain from hook.

Sc in every chain until one chain remains.

3 sc in last chain.

Work 1 sc into the other side of each chain stitch.

Work 1 sc into first sc and continue working 1 sc into each stitch for 18 or 19 rounds, until the two ends of the top round meet when folded towards each other.

Stop crocheting at a point half way between two ends. Work 15 chain stitches for loop and join with slip stitch into same sc as last stitched worked. Cut yarn, leaving a tail about 1 yard long, and draw tail through loop. Using the long tail, whip stitch both sides of single crochet to each other forming a flat square. Secure end, weave into the inside of the hot pad, clip tail and you're done!

We are heading off to collect my copper bucket pendant today and do our Costco shopping.  I hope your day will be wonderful.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)