Starts and Finishes...some of both.

Hello!  I can't believe it's been a week since I last posted.  I've been busy, busy, busy.  I've put five blankets together for charity with mostly donated squares.  Some of the squares were made by me but not many.

The first two were taken to the Veteran's Home this morning along with two other crocheted afghans donated by Barbara in Oregon.

The last three were made with squares that Nita crochete and I took those to the local children's emergency shelter.

I haven't worked much on this because the blankets took awhile, but I did mange to get a few rows put onto it.  I don't know why it keeps photographing as brown as it is actually shades of gray.

Last night I began a sweater for Hubby at his request.  It's also gray at his request.  I'm not using expensive yarn for it as it's kind of an experiment with the pattern.  Once I know he likes the shape, I may splurge on something nicer than Hobby Lobby yarn although he would have an absolute fit if he knew how much yarn can cost in the nicer yarn stores and wouldn't let me make anything for him with it.  :-)

I think I've shown you my book holders before.  I have one for larger paperbacks or hardback books and a smaller one for paperbacks.  As you can see there is a clear band that holds the book open and you can read through it.  The back has a spring that folds up to turn the page and then flat so you can read it hands free.

This is the cover closed.  There is a built in ribbon bookmark.

With these covers I've read these books this week while putting the blankets together.  The TV hasn't been on at all this week.  Actually, Dennis read the book about Dallas and I read the murder mysteries by Maggie Sefton based around a yarn shop, Lambspun in Ft. Collins, CO.  I've read six books by her this week and have one more to go.  They're pretty good.

We've had more of this over the weekend but it is finally beginning to melt.

I made a pot full of beef barley stew on Friday.  And, as usual, I forgot to take pictures of the finished product.  Oh. My. Goodness.  It was really, really good.  I am not a huge fan of vegetable soups normally but this was amazing.  Yum.  We ate it for dinner three days in a row and I didn't get tired of it at all.  Highly unusual.  It must have been good.

I am planning to sit and knit on Hubby's sweater this afternoon while reading my next book.  I'm telling you, those book holders were the best things I've ever found at a craft show.  I just lay them on my lap and crochet or knit away.

I have to tell you a cute story from Piper before I say goodbye.  It's snowing in Maryland this morning and Piper doesn't like it.  She says the snow is NOT pretty.  She wants rain!  Mandy says, "you can take the girl out of Oregon but you can't take Oregon out of the girl!"  She has always liked rain, even as a little baby.   She is a Portland girl for sure.  :-)

I hope you all have a lovely afternoon!

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."  Philippians 4:13

Blessings,

Betsy