A Tattoo?

 Hello, and yes-a tattoo. It was actually a cover up tattoo. 

Let's go back about 45 years or so. We were visiting Ohio and Paul's sister Sue asked if I wanted to go with her to get a tattoo. I thought, wow, I'd love a tattoo too! Now remember, this was back in the 70's, way before the internet. 

Sue knew what she wanted and as she was sitting there getting her ink, I was handed some 3 ring binders to look through at tattoo pictures. Well, if you know me, you know how indecisive I can be (or am). Example, I remember asking Paul if we wanted to go with me to JC Penneys to pick up a bedspread I had ordered and he said "no, I'll go with you when you return it". LOL! 

So, I'm having a hard time picking out a tattoo. I finally chose a butterfly on a flower with a flower next to it. I don't know. I had nothing in mind when we walked in and I was getting crossed eyed looking through these binders. So, that's what I went with. Here is a picture of it 45 years later...

So, it doesn't look much like a butterfly and flowers anymore. When Paul asked me what I'd like for my birthday, I told him I'd like a cover up tattoo. If I were younger I'd have lots of tattoos but because of my thin skin, I can't get a tattoo anywhere on my lower extremities. Nothing below my elbows or knees. Now, I could get one anywhere on my back, neck or shoulders. 

Having the time to browse the internet for tattoo pics gave me lots of options. I did find one that I thought was awesome with an octopus, knitting needle, crochet hook and some yarn. THAT piqued my interest. I love both octopuses and knitting. 

Then I had to find a tattooist. The first one I contacted was by online only. I sent all my info and was told he'd get back to me in a couple weeks. Well, almost 2 months went by when I finally heard from him and I wasn't convinced he was who I wanted to entrust this job too. So, the hunt went on. I came across a girl who did some great work. We set up a consultation and I came to the conclusion she was the one.  

Here I am getting my new cover up tattoo..

1st hour wasn't so bad 

it's starting to hurt

not too much longer and I'm ready to be done!

It's done!! No longer hurts, yay! 

She's done and I'm over the moon happy with how she turned out. 

Some knitting and a fail, sort of

 Hey! 

Welcome to my blog where I promise myself I'm going to post regularly 😆. 

I've been getting my craft on. Knitting, sewing, scrapbooking and I'm going to try my hand at blackout poetry in the next few days. 

Today's post is all about knitting. My title says fail and it's not really a fail since I consider anything not done or not done to my liking is a learning experience. I learned a lot with trying color work socks. 

These are the socks I made using the yarn I purchased last year in Sitka. I used a cuff from Summer Lee Design Co. cuff club I joined. I really love them. 

Not sure if posted pics of my socks I made using the Eclipse Yarn I bought. Here they are...

These socks with their basketweave design, were actually a lot of fun to knit. This yarn was from our Alaskan cruise. We flew to Vancouver and set sail from there.  I chose this yarn for my 1st pair of 2026 because the colorway is named "New Beginnings". 

Recently I decided to knit some socks using some yarn I purchased to represent my cats. The yarn is beautiful and I got a pattern to knit some colorwork cats. 

These are the fail socks. 

Well, to be honest, carrying the floats around the sides if using magic loop, was a pita!! I couldn't get the tension right. So I tried the small circular needles..9". Oh wow! If my hands didn't hurt before, they sure did using those. Anyway, here's some pics of the attempt at those. 

Pics of my cats for color purposes (RIP Toby Tobes)

The toes knitted up beautifully

Way too tight floats, ugh

I decided to give my hands a break from socks and finish the market bag I had started. I had fun knitting it but next time I would use a solid contrasting color yarn. This was actually made using 2 different colors and you'd never know it. It is beautiful yarn though. 

Usually I work on my Zik Zak scarf while we travel. It's such an easy pattern and I'm almost done with it. I wish my camera picked up the sparkles in the black yarn. I may have to video it so you can see. 

As always, thanks for stopping by. 

The Fiasco Cruise..

Hey!!

Paul and I went on a much anticipated 8 day cruise last week, to the eastern Caribbean. 

When we left to go to the Detroit airport, it was 6° in Ohio. We boarded Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas on Saturday in Ft. Lauderdale. 

On our way to the port with ships in the distance

exploring the ship until our stateroom is ready

A totally different ship from the Alaskan cruise. Being in the warmth enables the hollow center of the ship with pools, slides and rock walls. 

lots of shops and restaurants

a floating bar with fountains underneath.

The Boardwalk has 2 slides, a carousel, hot dogs and... 

an ice cream parlor.

So, since starting WW last year, I've lost about 20 lbs and haven't had ice cream that wasn't vanilla birthday ice cream in about 9 months. I decided to treat myself and got a 2 scoop, birthday cake, salted caramel cone. I realized quickly, a 1 scoop little bowl would have been a much better choice. Oh well. 

Evenings on the ship were beautiful with all the different colored lights and music etc. 

I love the decor we get to look at while riding the glass elevators. 

The metal gowns with all the sparkles were gorgeous! 

The photos just don't do them justice.

We spent a lot of time here in Central Park reading and knitting 

The food was amazing and the lasagna was THE BEST I've ever had. 

Lemon curd tart

Creme Brule

French onion soup

Paul got some kind of burrito

Salmon 

a mudslide

pecan crusted salmon

I'm glad I saved the magnets I bought for our 50th Anniversary Cruise to Alaska. I just got rid of any that had reference to our anniversary and they sure made it easy to find our room. 

Cruisers have fun with door decorations LOL! 

On the 3rd day, I was stepping out of the bathroom and the ship swayed only slightly but I lost my balance just enough to where my arm slid down the door jam and cut it pretty good in 2 places 😖. I'll spare you the gory detail pics. 

step

door jam

Since my skin is so thin, they put steri-strips on and the doctor said, absolutely no water (meaning no swimming) for the rest of the trip. Ugh! 

The next day, Paul's nose was running and he was coughing and feeling lousy. We went back to medical and..

Yep, positive for Covid 😖

We had to quarantine and let me tell you, we were so happy we got a balcony! We would sit in the sun with 80+ degrees with free room service and even got to watch free movies. I saw the Farewell Downton movie that I didn't want to go to the theater alone to see. 

Needless to say, we missed our excursions to St. Thomas, St. Kitts and San Juan, Puerto Rico. We did get off the ship when we got to Royal Caribbean's Island CocoCay. 

RC Wonder of the Seas is docked there already. 

I'm amazed these 2 ships can dock so close to each other! 

my phone camera had a setting wrong. super overexposed. 

that's better

I loved the plants and flowers in Central Park on the ship..

The same day Paul tested postitive, I was in the shower and a shampoo bottle fell from about 6' and landed on my toes...MAN DID THAT HURT! It actually was more painful than my arm! 

I did enjoy a couple of mudslides (and only gained 2.2 lbs!! the whole trip) and Paul spotted a ducky which I had been looking for. 

He will reside in my craft room 😊

On our last night of the cruise, I had one more appointment with the doctor to check my arm. She was so sweet. I gave her a thank you card and she got all teary eyed. God bless her-she took good care of me. 

Dr. Daniela from Columbia

Of course we were in constant contact with the kids when we could. Eric sent us this after saying we need to be kept in a bubble! LOL! 

looking out at the vast ocean in my opinion is very humbling. 

Of course I'm home for one day, feeling like I have a bad cold...

And now you know why I titled my blog post The Fiasco Cruise. 

As always, thanks for stopping by.