Sunday, June 11, 2017

Sunday, Sunday

Happy Sunday!  It's a beautiful sunny afternoon here in Spokane.  It's 65F and so beautifully calm and serene here.  Dennis is outside mowing the yard and I'm inside doing laundry so tomorrow I can go back to the lake!  Yesterday we were woken up again by the carbon monoxide detector in the trailer.  We knew there was nothing wrong, as the same thing had happened earlier in the week and we had all of the windows open.  Upon further investigation we found that the devices are programmed to sound the alarm intermittedly after 60 months of use.  We've had the trailer since 2012...it's now 2017 so it was time to buy a new one.  Dennis called around and the only place we could find one in stock was in Post Falls, Idaho, so off we went.  We drove to Spokane and dropped Chloe off at the house and then drove to Idaho to buy the detector.  There was no putting it off because it's hardwired to the electrical system.  We couldn't just disconnect it because then nothing worked, apparently it's a safety feature.  **sigh**  Then it was back to the trailer to install it.  I'm so glad I have a handy husband.  It did take the majority of the day though, and of course we had to take some time to look at the new trailers while we were there. :-)  He also did all of the mowing and trimming for our lot and four of our neighbors last night after the other repairs.

Now everything is working again...did I mention the shower knob didn't work when I tried to take a shower yesterday morning either?  At least we were already going to the parts store, so we bought a new one.  Everything is made of plastic to keep the weight down in these trailers and since we spend so much time at the lake, it all gets used a lot.  We do try to take good care of everything and do routine maintenance.  In fact, just last weekend Dennis spent all day Saturday washing the roof and resealing around all of the vents and skylights just as a preventative measure.  He is such a hard worker.

Now to reveal my Amulet Shawl.  I finished it last week and wore it to church last Sunday.  What do you think?  I absolutely love it.  It's hard to see the beads in these pictures, but it has over 500 beads knitted into it.
In fact, I loved the pattern and the way the author wrote it so much, I immediately cast-on for another Helen Stewart pattern, the Asana Shawl.  Here it is in it's beginning stages.
This was it last night just before I put the first row of beads on it.  I can only work on it when I'm alone because now that I'm past the garter stitch section each row is counted and needs to be completely accurate.
Friday I woke up to a flat tire so off I went to get it fixed.  Dennis was already at work so it was up to me!  Here I am in the waiting room of the tire shop while the tire is being fixed.  I finished another pair of mittens while I waited.  There was a nail in my tire!  I have no idea where that came from but they fixed it at no charge so all is well.
That made two pair for this week.  I need to up my game on these mittens. I find I am very distracted by all of this shawl knitting and I don't want to make mittens anymore.  :-)
On Wednesday I was wandering around our local yarn shop, Paradise Fibers, which many of you know of since most of their business is online.  I saw a lonely skein of 75% merino/25% nylon undyed fingering weight yarn on a shelf all by itself.  Needless to say I bought it and promptly dyed it.  It was my first attempt at dying yarn and I must say I really enjoyed it.  I used a very easy method using Kool-Aid.  This was Mango-Mango flavored Kool-Aid that I had had in my cupboard since our kids were little!  Who knows how old that stuff was but it worked for dying yarn!  I love the pretty peach color it turned out and the tonal qualities were exactly what I wanted but I never thought I could end up with.  I don't know if I'll ever dye yarn again, but I sure have fallen in love with this skein.  It will make a nice pair of socks or a shawl, I haven't decided yet.
I bought new curtain panels at Shopko today to make curtains for the trailer.  The ones that came with the trailer are just plain icky and I've never liked them.  Would you believe they are GLUED to the valances?  I was going to buy material at JoAnn's and make the new curtains, but then, when we went to buy the curtain rods I saw these.  The perfect color for the trailer to match the valances and on sale too.  Normally $21.99 a panel, on sale for $7.99!  You can't beat that price.  I bought all they had and hope it's enough.  Worst case, I have to make a different color for the bedroom as I think this is plenty for the living room/hallway.  Much less expensive than the material I was looking at, they're room darkening to block sunlight AND most of the seams will be done for me already! ( I will be cutting them up to fit the trailer windows.)
We got new gravel on the road by our trailer at the lake last week.  It's very welcome as the dirt was making lots of dust when cars drove by.  Please ignore the trash cans across the road, it was garbage pickup day when I took the picture.
The maintenance staff has been very busy getting the cabins all gussied up for the summer crowds.  This winter was a hard one for everyone and everything, including the buildings on the grounds.
Here's my handsome Hubby replacing the outside shower hose on Larry & Nita's trailer.  He does most of the maintenance on their trailer too since they are somewhat older than we are and have a difficult time doing it.  This guy is amazing.  He works 12 hours a day/five days a week without complaint and then does everything else he does for me and everyone else too.  I am blessed to have him as my husband and I never, ever take him for granted.
I think that's about all of my news.  I'm still trying to adjust to my medication and find myself exhausted a lot.  We're planning to drive to Omaha at the end of June to spend a week with family and friends.  It's a 25-26 hours drive each way, so please pray that it is doable for me with my back, etc.  I'm determined to go because Mandy, Brad and Piper will be there by then too.  I can't wait to see everyone.  My sister, my brothers and Dennis' family all live there too. 

I hope you're all enjoying your summer, (or winter if that's the part of the world you're in.)

Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment."   Matthew 22:37-38

Until next time!
Blessings,
Betsy










36 comments:

  1. Your husband is a wonderful man and a hard worker. I can tell you are very thankful and blessed to have him, and I am sure he feels the same about you. I enjoyed reading about all your trailer updates. I would love to have a trailer someday. The curtains will be very nice. I always try to make curtains myself when I can. Fabric has gotten so expensive, though. I have definitely altered my share of premade curtains instead! We just had a problem with our smoke/CO detector too. It went off at 3 in the morning for no apparent reason. I guess it was just its time to go. It was a real pain to deal with in the middle of the night, though! I hope you have a good week ahead and that you're feeling well, Betsy. Take care.

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    1. You're right about fabric prices. I couldn't believe the cost so I was thrilled to find the drapery panels on sale. I hope you get a trailer some day. We certainly enjoy ours.
      Blessings,
      Betsy

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  2. Betsy, first off I hope and pray you will be able to make that trip. Yes you are blessed to have Dennis but he is blessed to have you too. YOu are wonderful, kind and loving and you two make a great pair. Love that shawl, oh my goodness it is gorgeous. Well done my friend. Have fun at the lake.

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    1. Thank you Meredith. You are too sweet. I forgot to tell you in my comment on your post that I'll be praying for a swift recovery for you from your colds. Summer colds are definitely no fun.
      Blessings,
      Betsy

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  3. You live in Spokane? My parents lived there for many years. My sister moved in to their home after they were both gone. I was there I 2015 taking care of her and in 2016 taking care of things after she passed. Love Spokane and miss parts of it and my friends there.

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    1. Yes, we've lived here in Spokane since 1993 but we're born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. I wish I would have known you last year and we could have met. I love meeting my online friends and forming true friendships. If you come back, please let me know.
      Blessings,
      Betsy

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    2. I will most definitely let you know.

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    3. Until then, would you mind taking a stroll through Mount St. Michael's for me? I'm not Catholic but I love that place!

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    4. Yes! I will definitely do that!

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  4. You have wowed me again, Betsy! Thanks for letting us admire the stunning shawl you made. It is a beautiful work of art! You and Dennis are a well matched, accomplished couple, and I feel blessed to know you. Thanks to our visit to Paradise Fibers, I can envision your shopping trip for the yarn you purchased and dyed with ancient Kool-Aid. ๐Ÿ˜ƒ I love the colorway you created, and will enjoy seeing what you make with the yarn. Cheers for your mitten and curtain making, as well.
    I just got back from happy camping in the kid's RV trailer for a week and am keeping the washing machine busy washing out campfire smoke from clothing and towels. Although their trailer is just a year old it has given them some challenges like having a faulty battery indicator that reads 2/3 charged when in fact it needs to be jump started! I am hoping all will go well for your NE trip. We are still planning our trip back East and plan to drive toward NE starting on the 18th of July. Blessings on you and yours now and always ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿค—๐Ÿ’œ

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    1. Aww! Thank you Gracie. I'm glad you had a good camping trip, but I'm sorry to hear the tale of woe about the RV. Things like that can really put a damper on an otherwise fun trip. I hope your trip east goes well. We'll be home long before you leave. You are more than welcome to stay here if you need a "hotel" for the night. We would absolutely love to have you and anyone traveling with you stay at Hotel Queen.
      Blessings,
      Betsy

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  5. The shawl is lovely. Nice finish. I'm thankful you have a caring husband who helps other people as well. Hurrah for a trip to Omaha to see your sweet grandchild and family. Prayers for u and safety. We're having warmer and dry weather today. Rain on Sat. Glad you found your carbon monoxide detector. We have them at our hardware store!! Haha! Take care and feel better soon, my friend!!

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    1. Thanks Becky. You have RV CO2 detectors? I didn't think of hardware stores since it is built into the RV. That would have saved us many, many miles of driving.
      Blessings,
      Betsy

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    2. I'm not sure if they are rv CO2 detectors though...maybe. Was it as far as where I live, really? Glad you found it though! I think there are ones that are hardwired. I'd have to check though. "-}

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  6. You really amaze me how fast you can make a pair of mittens! Your shawl is magnificent and I'm glad you're keeping it for yourself. I know you will love it. I adore all my shawls. The alpaca ones are too warm for summer, though and I'm glad I have a cotton one in the works. When you do your drive to NE just be sure to stop often and get out of the car and stretch and walk around a bit. I really love the peachy color of the yarn you dyed.. I bet you'll want to try other colors! I am so glad you married such a wonderful guy. You and I both lucked out. Enjoy your time at the lake, my friend. I know it's your "happy place". ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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    1. Well I "cheated" on the mittens. I had one almost done so there was only a little more than one mitten to make while I waited. :-). Thanks for the advice, I know walking often will be a necessity. I really was surprised how well the yarn turned out. It would sure be a more economical way to get sock yarn...by dying it myself. Have a great Monday my friend.
      Blessings,
      Betsy

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  8. OH, that shawl!!!!!!!! Oh, my goodness!! It is just BEAUTIFUL! You are SO talented!! It is so nice to hear you sounding so excited about your summer at the lake and all of your upcoming activities, sweet friend. Oh, I do trust Jesus to bless you and allow the trip to not go hard on you at all...that you can enjoy every, single second of your precious time with your family. I am praying for you often and SO very thankful for your prayers for dear Kristen. You will just never know how much we appreciate it. God bless you abundantly and heal you and keep you always in His care. :)

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    1. Thank you for your sweet comment Cheryl. I am excited about plans we have, but my boys doesn't always cooperate! :-). We are continuing to be in prayer for Kristen and appreciate your updates.
      Blessings always,
      Betsy

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  9. HicBetsy,
    I just popped over Ravelery to check out Helen's wonderful shawls ....
    I also looked to see why it was called an amulet as an amulet is a kind of good luck charm so it puzzled me, till I read the origins.
    In spite of its unhappy name, I thinks it's a stunningly beautiful creation from loving hands .... also don't think it would be an amulet in that sense that Helen describes, our Lord is that, in every single way, and in Him we are very blessed.
    Our smoke alarms do that too, very annoying always happens in the middle of the coldest night I find ๐Ÿ˜
    I think you and Dennis are beautifully matched by the Lord, you are blessed in each other, and it's a joy to see dear sister. Makes my heart very glad.
    Well done on mittens, and know you'll persevere, it may help to pray for each of the little hands that wear them as you knit them, they might be hands that do good and follow God and not into sad ways.

    Sending hugs and prayers dear sweet friend thanks for letting us into your life.
    Thanks for sharing your blessings... and trials, resting in Him as you go!
    Shaz in Oz.x

    {Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

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    1. Thank you Shaz. I didn't even think about checking on the origin of the name. I just saw it as a beautiful shawl. Thank you for your diligence. Yes, I do pray for each child as I make the mittens. And it's not that I don't enjoy making them, it's just that I'm finding myself fascinated by the shawls right now. :-). I do believe the Lord blessed me mightily when I met Dennis at such a young age. I am ever thankful to Him.
      Blessings my friend, Betsy

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    2. Mm understand you on not checking origins, I guess it was cos knew the name, but not in this context.
      I was really sad when I read what Helen wrote about her designs, beads are included because they give more power to the luck you get, how sad they don't know Jesus, our true Protector, Provider of His flock and how He loves these dear folk. I pray Helen might find a friend who will point her to the greatest Friend of all.
      Glad you pray for those little hands as you knit, I'll start to pray for them too when I see them on your blog dear friend :) xx

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  10. I can't imagine 500 beads on a shawl. Amazing! You sure have much more patience than I do. Sounds like you've had a lot going on. Good thing Dennis is such a handyman. My husband is a hard worker, but when it comes to work at home, forget it. He's not so handy. Continuously keeping you in my thoughts for healing. Have a great week.

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    1. Thank you Tammy. I really enjoyed making this shawl. The beads were even a joy to add each one as I watched the shawl grow. Thank you for your thoughts of healing. I appreciate them more than you can know.
      Blessings, Betsy

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  11. You will be in my prayers Betsy so that you can make the trip, I know how excited you will be to little Miss Piper as well as all the family. You are certainly blessed with a wonderful hardworking husband. The shawl is a delight, beautiful work the perfect addition to any outfit. Take care.

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  12. I send prayers that you will be able to make the trip and that your back will heal. Your shawl is lovely. So very pretty. Sounds like you are having a blast at the lake. Blessings to you always sweet friend. ((hugs))

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    1. You know how I appreciate each and everyone of your prayers. Thank you so much my sweet friend. Blessings, Betsy

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  13. Your shawl is stunning! Well done.

    Oooh, be careful: dyeing yarn is addictive! I love the skein you dyed.

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    1. Thank you! I did enjoy it. However, after such beautiful results the first time, I'm a bit afraid to try again. Ha!
      Blessings, Betsy

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  14. Well Betsy, that shawl is just amazing. And for your husband to work all day keeping yours and the neighbors places in check is just awesome. We are so lucky and blessed with good husbands!

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    1. Thank you Kathy! yes, I think we are very blessed.
      Blessings,
      Betsy

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  15. It is great that you have a talented hard working husband that can do all those things! Your shawl you made is just simply gorgeous! I love the color of that yarn you dyed. I think a shawl that color would be so pretty! Have a wonderful trip the end of June visiting with your family. I pray your back will be okay. Nancy

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  16. Thank you Nancy. I was very please with the color of the yarn too. It was a total surprise as to the color outcome! I truly appreciate your prayers.
    Blessings, Betsy

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  17. Your shawl is gorgeous! Nice work.

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