Two More Sleeps

That's what we used to tell our kids when there was something exciting planned. Vacation, Birthdays, Holidays, Grandpa & Grandma coming, etc. Well, we have two more sleeps before we leave for London so I decided today that I should pack. Dennis got the suitcase out a couple of weeks ago and put it on the guest room bed. I admit to having placed just a couple of things on the bed next to it, but that's it. I didn't really pack anything until today. I decided I should probably start to pack something. Well...it's a good thing that we each get a free checked bag on this flight because by the time the gifts were packed, there was room for a couple of pair of underwear and that was it in that first suitcase! Ha! 

I'm also taking Papa's favorite sugar cookie recipe and cookie cutters so I can bake cookies with "J". I'm really looking forward to that. Alex has made reservations for us to stay in the Cotswalds for a few nights which I'm really looking forward to. 

On Saturday evening we had our 2nd annual gingerbread house decorating party at our friend Amanda's house. She has her place decorated so beautifully. She's an avid quilter, crocheter and does gorgeous embroidery. She is the lovely lady that we went to Kentucky for her Masters Degree graduation last summer. I thought I would share a few photos of our masterpieces.

Everyone was concentrating deeply to learn construction techniques. Amanda had a huge selection of candies and glitter for us to choose from.

Here are the finished products. Aren't they something else? This is the group of people that Dennis rides his bike with in the summer. 

We all decided this was the winner! Angie is the artist.

From left to right: Dennis, his cousin Curt, Curt's wife Barb, our paster Jeff, Amanda and Jeff's wife Angie. These are also the people we camp with a LOT in the summer.

Jeff made the broken down old truck. He owns GMC's and Dennis has a Ford. It's a running joke between the two of them as to which is best. So Jeff says this is a broken down FORD truck with last years Christmas tree in the back!

I think Dennis did a great job on our house. My hands were shaking a lot that night, so he did most of the decorating and I took pictures. We had pizza beforehand and spent a lot of time laughing and making messes. Good friends are wonderful!

I'm sorry that we won't be here for a lot of things that are happening at church this month. The children's Christmas program. A caroling party for church members that are not able to get out and about. The Christmas Eve service and a few other things. But I also know that we're going to have a wonderful time with our kids and experience the holiday for the first time with our sweet daughter in law's family. Her parents are wonderful and I'm looking forward to spending time with them.

I'm not sure how much I'll be online in the next couple of weeks but I'll try to check in now and then. I hope you all have a blessed Christmas season, always remembering the Christ child and the reason we celebrate this day.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

It's December!

 How can it be? It was just Friday two days ago! The days are flying by. Only 4 more days before we fly away and I haven't even begun to pack, but I did finish wrapping gifts for our family here, so I can call that a finish.

I thought I would show you some of my snowmen decorations that I've put out since we'll be gone for Christmas. I'll leave them out for most of January too.

Below is a blanket I made a few years ago. and on the island is a snowflake garland that I crocheted about 25 years ago.

Below is a wooden replica of Jesus's tomb with the stone rolled away. It was made by the son of my blog friend Pamela from "Closed Doors, Open Windows" on my sidebar. Benton does beautiful work.  He also made the tray that sits on the island that Pamela sent to me for my birthday. I just received the tomb a couple of weeks ago and was going to pack it away until Easter, but then I thought about it. Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birth, Easter of His death. Without one there isn't the other. And we wouldn't have salvation without that empty tomb. So I decided to leave it up as a reminder, every time I look at it. Thank you Benton! It's beautiful!

The quilted snowman picture was given to me a few years ago by a good friend in Spokane right after we moved back to Omaha. She used to make lots of quilted items for craft fairs for years.

I cross-stitched these snow bunnies about 40 years ago! I actually made two of them and gave one as a gift. 

I have lots and lots more snowmen still packed up with the Christmas decorations. I'm not getting everything out this year since we'll be gone until almost New Years.

The view from my chair. The orchids just began blooming again a couple of days ago. There are seven more buds ready to open up.

Zoeys favorite spot on these cold winter days. I'm sure going to miss her when we're gone next week. Of course she's staying with her favorite people, next to us. Piper, Lizzie, Mandy and Brad.  It's been so cold here. Yesterday was 0 F when we woke up!

I'm working on this prayer shawl for the University Med. Center right now. I have about eight more rounds to go and it will be done. It will be 70 inches long and 22 inches wide. I made 8 granny squares, joined them together lengthwise and have just been crocheting round and round.

These socks will be my airplane knitting and I hope to finish them by Christmas. I started them but won't work on them until we leave. I've switched to my Knit Picks dpn's because TSA has never confiscated them. I'm not sure if my metal signature needles would pass through security.

Below is a finished prayer shawl that still has to be washed and blocked. 

Last week we ended up with 8-10 inches of snow depending on where you measured. More is forecast to arrive tomorrow. These two characters had their winter coats of snow on them and were peering into the condo like they wanted in. :-) On the left is the cast iron squirrel and on the right is a little cast iron bunny.

I'm taking Dennis's favorite sugar cookie recipe and cookie cutters and I'm planning to make cookies with Baby "J". I've never had the opportunity to bake with her before, so I'm really looking forward to it. Lots of good memories to be made in the next few weeks.

Hopefully I'll be around, but if I disappear for a bit, don't worry. I'l return soon. I want to enjoy every moment I can.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

Happy Day After Thanksgiving

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving. I took two days away from the computer. Wednesday was spent cooking and yesterday was with family. It was wonderful.

The actual meal was at Brad and Mandy's home. Brad's parents, siblings and families, my sister, her daughter and husband and another niece and her boyfriend were all there. It was a houseful for sure and a wonderful time. Everyone contributed toward the meal. We took the turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy and deviled eggs. I forgot the cranberries in the refrigerator at home but there was so much food we didn't miss it at all. 

Dennis was at the food bank at the Open Door Mission on Wednesday. It's his normal Wednesday volunteering there, but because it was the day before Thanksgiving, the news stations were there filming. We started getting texts, emails and phone calls telling us that he was on the news. A friend took this photo on her TV and sent it to us. Not the most flattering pose, as he was talking to the gentleman and his mouth was open, but it's proof he was there. :-) That's Dennis on the left and his cousin, Curt, in the back on the right with the bag in his hand. They were there almost ten hours on Wednesday after 8 hours on Tuesday. He was exhausted, but he'll be back next Tuesday.

We had a wonderful time yesterday and ate too much as usual. Today has been spent at home. I put away all of the fall decor and set out my snowmen. I'm not going to decorate for actual Christmas since we'll be gone most of December. The snowmen can stay out for January too, so it will be done when we get home.

Tonight and tomorrow we're in a Winter Storm Warning with a possible eight inches of snow. The forecast has changed from 1-2 inches to 2-4 inches and now 6-8! As usual, the weather people are covering all of their bases. It went from the 60's to the teens in a matter of a few days. It's that damp cold outside now that just permeates your bones.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday if you celebrated yesterday and are looking forward to the coming festivities during December. We're anticipating some events that will be new to us when we arrive in London. At least there shouldn't be as much snow as there is here! I'll leave you with my favorite Bible verse. I'm patiently awaiting the return of my Lord and Saviour. 

Blessings and hugs,

Betsy