Home Again

Hello My Friends!

I made it back home safely yesterday afternoon.  On Wednesday, Mandy, Piper and I walked along the bay in t-shirts and jeans, no coats.  We painted all day with all the windows open and the high was 72 degrees.  Yesterday I came home to 10 degrees.  What a rude awakening!  I woke up about 3:00 a.m Eastern time, which was midnight here in Spokane.  Brad took me to the airport and I saw all of the monuments in D.C. lit up during the dark drive.  So pretty!  

I arrived in Spokane a little after 3:00 pm and Hubby picked me up.  I had just enough time to unpack my suitcase before preparing for a potluck dinner here at our house.  After the dinner and a bit of visiting, everyone was preparing to watch a movie and I excused myself andwent to bed!  But...just as I climbed into my bed, Alex face-timed with me.  We  talked for about an hour and I so enjoyed visiting with him.  He is going to Harvard University in February for a few days for work but said it wouldn't make sense for us to fly there to see him since he has to work the entire time.  That's disappointing.  Here he will be on U.S. soil and I still won't get to hug him.  :-(  That's hard on a Mom.  After we talked I finally fell asleep and slept very well until 5:30.  Not too bad.  I was afraid I would be awake really early until I adjusted to the time change.  All told, I was awake about 23 hours yesterday!  I'm getting too old for this!

A few last pictures of Mandy's place.  These next three pictures are of The Londonton Pub, (I think hat's the name).  It's one of the original settlements in the country and is about 2 miles from Mandy & Brad's house.

The old buildings are beautiful.

Just look at the fences.  I didn't get to go inside and explore.   Maybe next visit.

A last vew of the Bay Wednesday afternoon during our walk about a block from their house.  Isn't that gorgeous?

Piper decided to try on Mommy's Ugg boots.  They're a bit big for her don't you think?

Mandy said Piper looked all over the house for me yesterday and kept asking for me.  I had tried to prepare her as best I could that I was going home to Papa and Chloe and she kept saying, "No Gamma.  Sit and stay!"  I'm not ashamed to say I cried several times on the way home yesterday.  I love, love, love this little girl.

When I got home, look what was waiting for me!  A package from Helen at Moonstruck Creations.  I'm sorry the picture is turned.  Try as I might, I cannot get it turned the right way.  I had sent Helen a bit of doily thread and sweetheart that she is, she sent me a package back.  

There is a doily button!  How cute is this?  I love doilies.

Pure British Bluefaced Leicester Wool.  Isn't it beautiful?  I have to find something very special to make with this.

Cadbury chocolates.  Yum!

And little foam shapes.  I sure wish Piper were still here, we would have a fun time making something with these together.  Thank you so much Helen.  This was so sweet of you and completely unexpected.  Blog friends are the best!

I finished the socks I was making in my last post and left them with Mandy.  Now I'm making a pair for myself.  Maybe.  They always get given away before I finish a pair and I have NEVER gotten to keep a single pair of the dozens I've knitted.  I finished the first sock on the plane yesterday and started the second.

This is very nice pure wool yarn.

By 8:30 this morning I had been to the grocery store and washed two loads of clothes.  I've gone through two weeks of mail and filed lots away.  I put a roast into the crockpot for dinner too.  I think I need to give up on catching up on blogs and just start fresh today.  I hope that's okay with all of you.  I love your blogs and hate to miss even a single post but I have so many committments this weekend.  Starting with knitting group this afternoon.  I've missed 5 months and am determined to go today!  Tomorrow is the church craft morning here at our house at 10:00.  I should bake something for that.  Sunday is our church's annual Thankgiving dinner.  We do a traditional turkey dinner for about 300 people every year.  Usually I volunteer to roast a turkey among other things, but this year I took the easy way out and I'm just making a few side dishes.  So it's a busy weekend.  Hopefully Monday will bring a more relaxing time.  Oh, that's right!  Monday I have to take my car to get the snow tires put on.  Okay...maybe Tuesday will be quieter.

Nita is bringing little Sophie over today and we'll be puppy sitting for a week while she and Larry take a cruise somewhere in the Carribean.  Lucky people.  Just as it gets cold here they leave.  

Such is my life.  Busy, but I like it.  It was SO WONDERFUL to see Dennis again yesterday.  I miss him so much when one of us is gone.

Okay.  I've rambled enough.  I hope all is well with each one of you.  Have a lovely day and weekend my friends.

"Yours, Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.  Yours, Lord is the kingdom: you are exalted as head over all."

1 Chronicles 29:11

Blessings,

Betsy