therustycupboard

 I have had a hard time crocheting because I broke both wrists in August.  After the bones healed I had a lot of nerve damage and a swollen elbow from the fall.  I have had to do physical therapy and with it I decided to crochet again. Our son is a chief of the Orofino fire department and his son is a fireman.  So I have access to a lot of fireman gear.  I asked for grandson's hat for this picture. I folded it up and used one of our lawn chairs to take the picture.  The red and yellow sure make it stand out. The throw measures 45"x60". It can be machine washed and dried but we always recommend you laying it flat to dry.  As with all crocheted items this throw will stretch just a little as the stitches find their place.

Went to the thrift stores yesterday to get out of the house...it was so cold the wind was coming right off the North Pole....(just me saying)....anyway....picked up these two cute little chairs....I love little kids chairs...then I usually give them away but...I got the green one and brought it home and was excited to start painting it and forgot to take a picture first....but it matches another chair I have for the grandkids when they come to visit and I wanted to give both a matching paint job....the other is the cutest little rocking chair...yes I have give all my daughter in laws and daughter a little rocking chair...and I have 4 in my house right now that I use to decorate with....got both for $5.49 each...

  Today I have been working in the basement trying to organize after the holidays....I came upon an old chicken feeder that a friend sent to me years ago and I used a lot doing my vender shows...I no longer do them so I just put it away in the basement...now I think I will make a display like this one using succulent plants....I think I will enjoy it for the next few months...

  Been working on a couple patterns...these are the rustycupboard designs...no pattern used.....I had plenty of time when both of my wrists were broken to figure out just what I wanted to do with these...one is a fireman blanket/throw with an axe and the other is a barbie doll gown....neither is finished but when done they will both be in our SHOP.....I have to go slow when crocheting due to pain with the nerve endings.....my bones are healed but I still get electrical shocks from the nerves and trying to build my muscles back up....enjoy the projects....will post more pics when I complete these....

  Been out shopping since 7:30 am so many good buys....walmart has all their christmas gift bags at 75% off....I got some for $.14.....I always purchase the ones without any saying or definite designs...then I can use for any holiday or gift and add my own designs....also check out the stores they are getting in all their lawn and garden items....I picked up a lot of garden seeds...last year I waited to late and didn't get many....here's a tip...stop at the dollar store and purchase a small photo album...add the garden seed packets and label with the date...now you can see what you have and how old they are.... Seen by 24 Like Comment Share

Every year about this time daughter and I decide to take all our leftover yarn pieces and make up as many hats as we can.  We use a simple pattern but make different sizes and get them ready to donate.  We try to make at least 50 to give to a group that takes them to schools, missionaries or etc. We also make up 50 that we donate to hospitals to give to the newborn babies.  This year was a little stressful because we wanted to donate but so many rules out with the covid going on.  So we called around and asked each place what they would like us to do to prepare them for donation.  This is something we love to do.  Not trying to be something special just want to give and also make use of our yarn.

                                We have always wanted to volunteer for the Salvation Army during Christmas.  So we finally made all the right connections and got our stores assigned out to us.  We were so excited.  They give you a little bell to ring, a locked pail on a stand, aprons and told to go bring them in.  We tried to play jingle bells with our bells all we got was a lot of laughs.  It was so cold out we jumped to keep our feet warm and ran in circles.   People were all just great to us.  As they passed us by the ones we figured would surely leave a good donation would drop in a few change or a couple dollars, but the ones we figured had no money would pull out MONEY and drop it in.   Shows you can't tell a book by it's cover.  Our shift was to last 4 hours we were so proud of ourselves and all the ones who donated.  But then we found out most bell ringers do a 8 hours shift. We would recommend anyone doing this.  It does help out the church that is out to help others a