A Bit of Everything

Another week has gone by and I’m not sure where it went! Doesn’t the time seem to be flying these days? I did manage to get all of the Christmas presents wrapped on Friday. I would wrap a few and then sit in my recliner for 20 minutes or so, then wrap again. It took me all day, but I got everything done. Sunday after church, I ensconced myself in my recliner and proceeded to spend nine hours addressing and signing Christmas cards. I think I am officially finished preparing for Christmas. It’s a good thing, because Alex and family will be here next Monday and we will celebrate our Christmas with them the day after Thanksgiving.  Although it makes me have everything ready fairly early, I like it this way because then I can enjoy December. I love every minute, from the Christmas songs to church services and Bible readings. I try to focus my thoughts on the real reason we’re celebrating the holiday. By doing this and getting all the busyness taken care of earlier in the year, it’s easier to be calm in spirit. 

Last Friday Dennis and I took mom out to lunch at Village Inn. She loves their biscuits and gravy. Afterwards, I took her to get her haircut. She loved it. It’s a real treat to have someone else wash your hair for you isn’t it? Although, we did pay for the excursion over the weekend. Whenever we take her out of her familiar surroundings, the next few days she’s very confused. We had lots of phone calls and lots of emergency trips to her apartment to reassure her that everything was fine and she was right where she was supposed to be. 

My orchid is getting ready to bloom again I think it was late last spring when the last bloom fell off this one and my other orchid plant completely died. This one however, still showed signs of life so I kept watering it and put it in a sunny window with diffused lighting. It must have liked it, because it’s doing pretty well. I expect the buds to open in the next few days.

The other night we had a fairly chilly evening. We had had the balcony door open all day and then all of the sudden it turned very cool. I think the condo was down to about 62° so we decided to turn the fireplace on for a little while. It was so cozy. Unfortunately, I cut off Zoey’s face. 😯

I finished Baby J’s cardigan yesterday. Can you see the huge mistake I made? I forgot a button hole. I’m so irritated with myself, but I wasn’t about to rip out half of the sweater when I didn’t have much time to re-knit it. I’m consoling myself with the thought that a two year old doesn’t stand still long enough for people to notice buttonholes! 🤣 At least I hope that’s the case. See my toes peeping out of the bottom? I should have edited those out, but I just saw them! Yes, I go barefoot all year long inside.

I started this blanket yesterday afternoon and it’s coming along fairly quickly. The pattern is the Baby Shower Blanket by The Crochet Crowd and it’s free on Ravelry. The yarn is big twist from Joannes in the color ivory. I have been making it for a lady at the over 55 building where we used to live. She’s expecting her 10th great grandchild! Daisy is a war bride from World War II. Her husband met her in France where she was part of the resistance. She asked me if I could make a blanket for the baby, and said she didn’t think she would be finding out if it was a boy or a girl until after it was born so wanted me to make a plain color. Well today she told me that they informed her yesterday that it’s a girl! I gave her the choice of this one or I could make her a pink blanket. She prefers a pink one. I may keep this one for myself in case we have a baby at church or I may donate it to the Mission. I haven’t decided yet. 

I think I told you a while back that I was thinking of trying English Paper Piecing or EPP as it’s called. I have gotten this far in getting organized, but I’ve had so many projects going on that I haven’t had a chance to do anymore. See my one hexie there in the box? I still have a sweater to knit for Piper and the other baby blanket to make so I guess this will be put on hold for a while again.

That’s about it. My sister found a 22 pound turkey for me last week while she was out shopping. It’s not quite as big as I would have liked, but will have to do. I paid her back for it so now I think I’m pretty much set for Thanksgiving, except for produce. We will probably pick that up Tuesday or Wednesday. I can’t believe it’s time for Thanksgiving, even though I know it’s late this year. And then the next Sunday is December already! Craziness! I haven’t even gotten used to writing 2024 and now I’m going to have to switch to 2025. Does anyone else have a hard time dealing with that?

I hope you’ve all had a wonderful week so far. Take care of yourselves in the midst of all of the world’s uncertainty. Remember, there is someone who you can always turn to and is ready to listen and be there for you. His name is Jesus, and all you need to do is ask Him. He’s waiting just for you. 💜

Blessings and love,

Betsy

This Is My Fathers World

1 This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world;
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

2 This is my Father’s world;
the birds their carols raise;
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world;
he shines in all that’s fair.
In the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.

3 This is my Father’s world;
oh, let me not forget
that, though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world;
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King, let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad.

Rainy days, but not Monday.

Hello my friend. It’s a rainy, rainy day here in Nebraska. Around bedtime last night we started having thunderstorms that went on through most of the night. It was a gentle rolling thunder, not the loud claps. And it was a gentle rain all night long. I absolutely love these kinds of storms. it has continued to rain throughout the morning, but no more thunder. Although I appreciate the thunder, Zoey doesn’t. She spent the night cowering under the headboard of our bed. She’s terrified of it. 

I just returned home from our ladies Bible study. I’m doing the BSF study, (Bible Study Fellowship parentheses), again this year. We are studying the book of Revelation and my goodness, I feel like we’re living in those days right now.

I did finish Baby J’s sweater that she requested. I don’t think it turned out too bad. Although the photo shows the colors a bit washed out, they are really pink, lavender and gray. That’s what she wanted and that’s what she got! It was a fun knit using JoAnn’s big twist yarn. It’s a very soft yarn that washes and dries very well which I think is important for a toddler. The pattern is the wonderful wallaby pattern.

I have now begun a cardigan for her that is taking a long, long time. The needles are sized two and three and it’s sport weight yarn. I have another 10 cm to go on the body before doing the ribbing and then I’ll need to knit the sleeves. I think this will be nice for her to wear with her school uniform. The pattern is by drops design and it is the Little Bee Cardigan, which is free online. There are directions to embroider a bee onto the yolk of the sweater, but I won’t be doing that.

Photo of the front page of the pattern. Just look at that baby’s face! 😂 I wouldn’t want to get in an argument with this little one. It looks like they have a mind of their own!

And because I don’t have much other news, here’s a blast from the past! That’s Kyleigh on the left, me, Piper and Caleb. Kyleigh is now in her second year of college in Bozeman, Montana. You all know Piper, and Caleb is a senior in high school. Where does the time go? How I would love to get these days back. And being that skinny again would be nice too!

I hope the week is going well for all of you. I think our summer like, fall weather is finally gone. I guess it couldn’t last forever could it? I was trying to find a 20+ pound turkey for Thanksgiving, and after visiting several stores I was having no luck. My sister was able to find one that was 22 pounds so I asked her to pick it up for me. I’ve gradually been buying the fixings for Thanksgiving dinner that could be bought in advance. These prices are enough to strangle anyone aren’t they? 

I cannot wait to see our kids in about two weeks. We’re planning a trip to the Kansas/Nebraska state line to visit where most of my family on my Dad’s side is buried. Alex is very much into the genealogy and he’s asked us to go visit the cemetery that is right on the state line. I’m hoping for good weather and no snow because it’s out in the middle of the open plain where the winds will truly get you.  We also would like to go to the zoo while they’re here. That’s become a family tradition. 

Take care everyone and remember how much Jesus loves all of us. He bled and died to buy our pardon so we can someday live in Heaven with Him.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

I’ve Got A Mansion 

I'm satisfied with just a cottage below

A little silver and a little gold

But in that city where the ransomed will shine

I want a gold one that's silver lined

I've got a mansion just over the hilltop

In that bright land where we'll never grow old

And some day yonder we will never more wander

But walk on streets that are purest gold

Don't think me poor or deserted or lonely

I'm not discouraged I'm heaven bound

I'm but a pilgrim in search of the city

I want a mansion, a harp and a crown

I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we'll never grow old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold

It’s Over

Hello and happy day after the elections! It’s over. Finally. We have had an entire day with no ads in the mail or on the television. Hallelujah! Now, to get on with the business of living our lives.

I thought you might like to see the completed sweater with Piper trying it on. It had not been washed or blocked yet, but I couldn’t wait to have her try it on. I adore her smile. 

Do you see the cute little pumpkins Mandy crocheted on the end table by the sofa? She made one for Grandma too, and she just loves hers. When I was there yesterday, she asked if I had made it for her and I reminded her that Mandy had. A little while later she said to me, “Oh did you see the pumpkin Mandy made me? I just love it.” lol

Now look at her hair in the photo below! Just two days later and she looks like this! Isn’t it the cutest? She was growing it out so she could donate her hair for wigs for children with cancer. She needed to have at least 8 inches to donate. Her hair is just so thick and fun to play with. Mandy took this picture yesterday for me. She has on the sage green sweater I made her that she just loves.  You can also see the pink and white granny blanket I made for her on the bed and the turquoise blanket to match her bedroom. Papa also bought her the comforter set a few years ago because this girl loves Paris! 

Mandy told me that today she wore her new sweater and a pair of socks that I had knitted for Mandy. Mandy told her that her outfit for school was a “Today’s ensemble was brought to you by Grandma Queen kind of day.” Yes, she can wear Mandy’s socks now! I guess this girl has graduated to getting her own pair of socks from grandma for Christmas, along with the adults. She ended up coming home from school early this afternoon with a fever and congestion. Please pray it doesn’t last too long. You can get behind in school so quickly these days.

I think I told you before that “Baby J” requested a sweater from Grandma, because she’s outgrown the ones I’ve already made her and not yet grown into the ones she’s received from Piper as hand me downs. She wanted a purple, pink and blue sweater, so this is what I came up with. This is the Wonderful Wallaby pattern, that was so popular some years back One pattern gives you six sizes for children and six sizes for adults. I have more than made up for whatever it was that I paid for this pattern, because I’ve made at least 10 of these “Wallaby’s” so far. It is a super easy pattern and these little sizes go fast. This is a size 4 and I just started it last night. I was gone quite a lot today, so I don’t have a whole lot of time working on it and I’m already beginning the sleeves.

And just because I think this is so cute…. here’s Lizzie! Piper took this picture yesterday after school and sent it to me. Lizzie will do anything for her. Isn’t she sweet?

I had stopped by there earlier to drop the sweater off for Piper and Lizzy wanted to come home with me so bad. She actually cried when I left and gave me the “sad eye” treatment. Before I got home, Mandy had sent me a picture…

Along with the caption, “do you feel bad?”  She was so pitiful after I left that Mandy made up a bed for her in her office right next to her desk while she was working. These dogs! They know how to get exactly what they want. What a life!

I had planned to pick her up tomorrow morning to spend the day with Zoey, but since Piper will probably be home from school sick, we’ll do it another day. That way she’ll have Lizzie for company while she’s resting. There is nothing Lizzie likes better than to snuggle.

Gosh, this is truly turned into a Piper and Lizzie post hasn’t it? Oh well, you can’t have any better subjects. We are so blessed to be able to see her so often. And looking forward to seeing our London family later this month too. I want “Baby J” to be able to wear her sweater while she’s here,  so I definitely want to get it done quickly and maybe have time to make her a cardigan too. We will see if there’s time.

I hope you are all doing well and not too stressed about the election. God has the entire thing in his hands, just as he has had for the last 200+ years of our country’s history. The best we can do is to be kind to each other and everyone we meet. Lots of love to each and everyone of you.  

Blessings and love,

Betsy

The Solid Rock

Edward Mote 1934

My hope is built on nothing less 

Than Jesus’, blood and righteousness; 

I dare not trust the sweetest frame, 

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand, 

All other ground is sinking sand. 

When darkness veils His lovely face, 

I rest on His unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil. 

When He shall come with trumpet sound, 

Oh, may I then in Him be found; 

Dressed in His righteous alone, 

Faultless to stand before the throne. 

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand 

All other ground is sinking sand, 

All other ground is sinking sand.  

Matthew 7 24–27