May 2022 Be The Best Year Yet - Right.

I am in TROUBLE!!

It’s January 1, 2022, so first, may this new year for all of you give you everything you need and most of what you want!! But since we say 2022 as “twenty twenty too,” I think we’re in trouble just on that line of it!! All of you should know I’m a vaccine and mask proponent, and since viruses love to mutate and Covid has certainly done that, with each new one that pops up, we could be in worse trouble than in the beginning. Nuff said there.

Here’s the trouble I’m in (first part.) Fell on the ice and broke my shoulder three weeks ago come tomorrow, Sunday the 2nd. Ow. Really OW. Broke the ball in two directions, but as long as it stays in the socket, no surgery is needed. But it’s a twelve-week long healing process at the minimum, then physical therapy. This is for the long haul and I’m an impatient bitch, so I keep trying to do things when I shouldn’t, or because I’ve got no one to help, such as opening jars, stuff like that. Back when it first happened, a good friend and her grandson came and got me caught up on most house stuff and I’m managing to keep it okay, but not all the way. Even bending over, keeping the arm folded and tucked close, hurts. I do have pain meds but I have to take them only when I can’t take it anymore because I have a permanently installed pain med pump attached to my spine. It gives a constant trickle of morphine there and keeps my spine pain much lower than it used to be, but it makes it really easy to OD on other pain meds, so I have to take as little as possible. Pain is a 24-hour life partner right now. But I’ve figured out how to crochet and type two-handed, but it is short with a lot of rest in between. I’m not a patient person, so I’m overdoing, which I really need to stop or the healing will take longer. I’d appreciate good thoughts and healing energy over it!! Nuff said here too!!

The second part of trouble I’m in is the BOOKS part of Books & Hooks. Yesterday, the last day of the year, I saw a commercial for Airbnb where the guests were Bigfoot type of people, the fun they had there, then leaving and reverting back to human. Nice commercial and… what if some guests staying in Airbnb homes were murdered?? ZING!! Then it went on… what if a host of an Airbnb home is murdering the guests? Sorta zing. And then I put the idea to my plot editor, Nanci, and she even suggested that an apartment house is a whole Airbnb site and clients there are being murdered? Another possible zing!! I jumped on the internet to ask about Airbnb info and got sent to a Superhost named Bill, who loved the idea – just the basics, ma’am – and sent some links. I looked through all of them, and one site had even more links, so I’m getting a great idea of what being a host is like. I’ll look at reviews and see if I can figure out how to contact people who’ve been clients and get their stories. And the pandemic will be included, as this is going on right now, our present time. I’ve got a new series to do!! Problem is, if I don’t act on this right now, I’ll lose the whole thing, and I don’t want to. But it means that my working on the tenth book of Earth Maid will be stalled some – again. I was trying to slowly type to put in more story, and I did get some done. I’ve also gotten two more short Earth Maid story ideas as well, and it being close to impossible to type fast enough is causing problems there too. Even working on this column is painful and I’ll take another break at the end of this sentence. I’m back… even managed to get my brain to slow a little, petting my MewMew kitty. So while this trouble of a new book series is good as well, I’ll have to reconfigure my abilities for now and how to keep the ideas flowing for the writing I’m working on.

Now for the HOOKS part of Books & Hooks. While with my injury, I have been able to work on the product catalog I’m making. I’ve learned to note down what I’m working on with pattern name, yarn type and color (if it’s known… I have a lot of yarn I bought with no wrappers on it, so I can only go by color and feel.) I spent a lot of Nov. and Dec – even with the break – on the Xmas hats I had orders for. So far everyone loves what I made. The last pages of the catalog are pics of those with their orders, no names, of course, just that they’re happy clients. I can slowly crochet, taking breaks, so I’m still working on stuff. I can still take orders as well. I’ll be able to start sending the catalog to potential customers who want something, they just don’t know exactly what. I even have home décor! My favorites so far are hangings with cuss words on them, hung on dowels with a short chain for hanging. If I ever get to move to a new place, the ones I made will be hanging on my wall! I also treated myself to a huge load of new yarn, that will arrive in three weeks. By huge, I mean a LOT. Maybe enough to need a new plastic bin to put it in. Lots of new colors, especially. I think I deserve it, LOL, with all I’ve been through. As a friend told me, if not for bad luck, I’d have none at all! Each item is labeled and bagged in a Ziploc, and I can sell that one if it’s wanted, or remake the pattern in the color you want. I’ve done a lot – especially hats – over the months, most of those I never kept track of what pattern they were, and I’ll give those away to the homeless organizations. I’ve also figured out a tag with my Books & Hooks logo on it, a permanent one, I hope. Used fake leather, ironed on the tag writing and sprayed it with waterproofer and a layer of clear nail polish. So far, the item I keep rewashing, the print is staying on so far. While these items won’t need a lot of washing, I’m trying to see how long the lettering will last. Hopefully it’s gonna be pretty permanent. I’ll also finish off sorting stuff out and seeing if I can combine some storage. It’s keeping me busy, at least.

Last month I asked if a recipe share would be good. Got no remarks on it, but I’ll start it anyway. If you want to share your recipes with me to post here on my blog, I’d be glad to get them!! Include your name and any little comment you’d like to make on the food, okay? I look forward to them. This recipe is a long-time favorite of my family, a candy one. You can, if you want, go through the rolling the pieces and dipping, but I prefer the easy method. Pat it out flat and pour melted milk chocolate on the top, freeze till set, then cut. Make sure you have enough teeth to chew, and if you’re allergic to peanuts, create your own nut blend! I use my Kitchen Aid to chop the nuts first, then add everything except the powdered sugar next, then add the sugar a cup at a time until it’s too thick for the machine. Give it a couple good hand kneads to ensure it’s all mixed. On the S & W milk, I prefer the regular kind, not the low fat. Doesn’t seem to taste right. I hope you enjoy it!

Martha Washington Candies

2 lbs pwd sugar ¼ lb butter, softened (1 stick) 1 T vanilla 1 can sw & cond milk 3 – 4 c fine chop nuts combine, press thin, freeze. Melt milk choc, spread on top, let harden. Cut into pieces.

May 2022 treat you well!