Monday, March 13, 2017

No Snow To Report!

Hello and happy Monday morning to you all!  Can you believe it?  Now, when the east coast is finally starting to see some of the winter we've had since November, we finally have no accumulating snow this past week!  Now, mind you, it DID snow here.  But it didn't stick to the ground and it's actually been in the 40's for the first time since November, so what we had on the ground is melting quickly.  It was even 53 on Saturday!  Oh my goodness! Hubby and I went and looked at campers just to get out of the house. People were outside in shorts and no jackets and working around the snow left in their yards.  We are all so excited to have warmth that it feels like a balmy summer day when it's 50F!  However, all of that snow laying on the grass for so long has left what is called "snow mold" and the yards look pretty yucky right now.  No pictures as it's ugly!  :-)  I'm happy though.  No snow!!!

Here is my only nod to St. Patrick's Day.  Not much but a little green.
I made these cute crochet shamrocks a couple of years ago.
Becky, who is "Grandma Becky" on my sidebar sent me this sweet little package as a combination Happy Birthday and Get Well package.  Wasn't that sweet?  I use those crochet scrubbies all of the time and love them.  The dishcloth is beautifully made and I love the sweet little bracelet.  Thank you Becky!
A pair of shortie socks virtually flew off of my needles.  This is Knit Picks speckle sock yarn and the "Hermione Everyday" sock pattern.
Ten new baby hats for the hospital.  I did make a couple of pairs of mittens, but forgot to photograph them.  These are so fast and only take an hour or so.  I apologize for these photos.  It's very rainy and cloudy today so I had to have the lights on and it created a glare in the pictures.
Another baby gumdrop blanket for the Crisis Nursery.
Remember the white blanket I had started last post?  I didn't like it at all, so it was ripped out and I started again with this ICE yarn.  It was given to me a few years ago from a sweet lady at church's stash when she moved into a nursing home.  This yarn is working SO much better for this pattern.  The other one was a worsted weight yarn and much to thick for a blanket.  It was very, very stiff.  This is a cross between baby yarn and DK yarn and much softer.  I love the colors for a little girl too.  I'm making this a bit small for the hospital and will be perfect for a preemie.
Look at those stitches.  Such an easy pattern too.  Chain one, single crochet.  Over and over again.  Do you like my hook?  A few years ago I took some extra hooks laying around and used polymer clay to make them.  You can buy them online but they're pretty pricy.  These fit my hands perfectly and were so cheap.  I think I made handles for 6 hooks for about $2.00!  Not bad.  They're much easier on my hands than when they were just plain skinny hooks.
This was our camper on Saturday.  Friends went up to check on things and sent us this picture.  Now, this is only 25 miles from our house but look at the snow that's still there, and that's the lake behind it. Still frozen over.  The elevation is that much higher than at our house that there is still lots of snow.  The past two years, we were already spending weekends at the trailer by mid-March.  Obviously not this year.  It's definitely been one for the record books.
This is how I would prefer to think of the lake.  I took this last summer.  Nice!  We're hoping to be there by next month if it finally is done with winter here. :-)
My physical therapy is going well.  He wasn't happy with the progress last Tuesday so he lowered my activity level once again and that has seemed to help the pain significantly.  I'm going to the mall to walk most days and am much more active now.  I still can't lift over 2 lbs.  That's 2 bottles of water!  I went to the grocery store after my physical therapy last Thursday.  I had to put 2 cans of soup, or one block of cheese in each bag.  When I got home I had to carry them into the house one by one.  Such a pain.  I think I had about 30 bags!  Next time I'll just go with Dennis so he can carry them in!

Since I'm out walking more, it's cutting into my crafting time so I don't have as much to show you.  It is frustrating to me, because I want to clean and declutter this house.  My goal was to start getting rid of LOTS of stuff this winter in preparation for retirement.  I haven't decluttered one closet.  Oh, well.  I still have a couple of years to work on things.

And now I'm off to drive to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to drop some papers off to our financial guy.  My first "big" car trip by myself.  It's a whole 30 miles away do you think I can do it?

Have a lovely week my friends.  I hope it's sunshiny wherever you may be.

"Be joyful in hope, patients in affliction, faithful in prayer."  Romasn 12:12

Blessings,
Betsy











19 comments:

  1. I was just thinking of those scrubby things. I need to make one. I never can believe how much you manage to get done. What is your secret!

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  2. It sounds like you're making slow but steady progress in your healing, which is a good thing. You'll get there. I know it's frustrating but you're doing great. You've done quite a bit of crafting and it looks very nice. I'm so impressed with all those hats, nice work. I hope you have a safe drive!

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  3. Good job on your socks, hats and blankets! I'm glad your snow is finally melting. What a winter you've had. Our winter was bad in that my two big koi froze to death. Bravo on your mall walking.. even when you're having health challenges you still outdo me. :-) I hope you get all better fast. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  4. YOu are showing improvement! i love your charity hats and your socks are the best!!!!! Drive safely. I laughed when you said you went to the camper show just to get out. Fireman is going koo koo inside right now. Please spring.....show up soon! He needs to get out on his bike!

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  5. Maybe the worst of the bad winter is OVER for you all this year... It's been a crazy winter all over the country. We have had almost NO winter this year. BUT--now that the plants/flowers are beginning to bud/bloom --we are going down to 17 tomorrow night and Wed. night. That will do HUGE damage in our yard... Very sad...

    Hope your little trip to Idaho worked out well.... Glad you are beginning to get out some.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  6. Sweet gifts from Becky. You wish you had more crafting to show? You accomplish so much ... blankets and mittens and hats and socks. I have been home the past couple of days because of the dust storm and made one dishcloth. I made some shamrocks a few years ago but have never done anything with them. My New York boy isn't happy at all with the snowstorm expected there. He's in Long Island staying with a college friend for Spring Break, but they are unable to do anything because of the weather. I'm hoping I'll wake to clear skies tomorrow. Maybe then I'll get my mojo back. Take care!

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  7. Dear Betsy, sorry you and Dennis were ill this past weekend. I am glad you are making progress with your back, slow and steady wins the race. Be careful in the snow, and wet. I think you have been very busy with all you have gotten done. I am way behind where I was last year at this time, not that it is a race or anything. Still I wonder where all my time has gone? Take good care of yourself.

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  8. you get more done in one week knitting wise than I get done in a month......like the others have said take good care of yourself......

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  9. How nice to see all the good knits that have come about since you have been down, though. I hope you keep feeling better!

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  10. Hope you had a good trip to Coeur d'Alene; I love that place. Love all your newest projects, especially the gumdrop blanket! Glad you're feeling better and able to get out. Thanks again for the pattern; it came while we were gone. (I hope you got my email.)

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  11. Lovely knitted and crocheted projects and you are so generous to made donations of so many sweet things. Yes, it is wonderful to see what a single crochet can look like. Love your home adapted crochet hook. Clever!

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  12. Hi Betsy, I see your needles are still cranking out lots of goodies even though you don't think you have done as much! To me it is a lot! So glad you are well enough that you could get out with hubby and look at campers. We had to go to New Jersey for a funeral. I took my new yarn for the hat you shared but it did not fly off my needles! Still in the bags. Guess I am hopeless! Hope your first trip alone went well! Nancy

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  13. I am glad you are up and about. I pray you will heal soon and can get out there and do all the things you want to do at the lake. Your projects are all so lovely. I really like that blanket, very pretty. Sending prayers your way sweet friend. Blessings always. :)

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  14. Love all your projects! So much accomplished! Only 30 miles from Coeur d'Alene? Mary Jane Butters lives their from Mary Jane's Farm! Have you visited her Mercantile Store? I used to get her magazine. I have most of her books too. Are you going to move someplace warm when Dennis retires? Have a great week!

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  15. Great news Betsy, God is answering our prayer, He is merciful. I smiled when you said you didn't get much done because of exercise... but oh how needful it is for you sis, for your body to be strengthened in little steps ... and also although you are chaffing that the spring cleaning hasn't been done, your hands are most definitely not idle, look at all that handiwork, glorious indeed!!!
    Sooo much created, as other say above, it's amazing how much you make in short time.
    Was fascinated by the addition to the crotchet hook, what a clever idea, I love it... might look at copying it one day, I found a pretty purple pearl colour in the polymer, wouldn't that be nice too. 😊
    Thanks for sharing your inspiration! Praying on for more and more healing, softly patiently waiting on the LORD one day at a time.
    Shaz in Oz.x

    {Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

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  16. Oh, I am so sorry the doctor wasn't pleased with your progress...it must have been so frustrating to have to bring in those grocery items one by one. I do trust you will be healed soon, my friend. I am praying for you. Your creations are so beautiful, as usual! God bless you in a special way. :)

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  17. I bet the snow will be gone soon and you two can get back to the lake. We have plans to camp in May, depending on how my mom is doing. Her PT seems to be helping her a bit..mostly in motor skills. Have a blessed Sunday!

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  18. I enjoyed reading your post this morning.☘🌼☘

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  19. Yay for your healing progress, your lovely stitching, and the better weather you are enjoying! I especially admire the stitch you described for the baby blanket, and want to try it one day. Becky sent you such a sweet encouraging gift. I am still playing catch up and trying to recover from all my traveling, but you are regularly in my thoughts with love. I'm praying the Lord will bless you and yours. xx

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