Sunshine!

Good Morning!  It's a beautiful day here in Spokane, WA.  We have some clouds and some sunshine, but the weather girl has promised us mostly sun by the afternoon so I'm holding her to it!  We've had rain every day this week except Wednesday which dawned beautiful and bright.  It also made it into the 60'sF for the first time this spring on Wednesday.  There is hope!  It was my best friend Jenny's birthday on Wednesday.  We ate a very healthy lunch at Taco Bell, (ha ha, it was her choice), and then took a long walk around a local park.  It was a fun and relaxing way to spend the afternoon, just catching up. 

I received this sweet Easter card from Becky (GrandmaBeckyL on my sidebar).  It was so thoughtful of her to send it to me.  Thank you Becky!

And I ordered this hand dyed yarn from Kim Napier at Napiersknits Etsy shop.  I really enjoy her podcast and this yarn is just wonderful.  I'm still trying to decide if it should be socks or a shawl. 

This came in the mail from Kim too!  I was the lucky winner of one of her Craftalongs in her Ravelry group.  Have you ever heard of C.C. & Dami?  They are a mom and her 17 year old daughter originally from Texas who live in Edinburg, Scotland while their husband/father finishes seminary.  They design knitting patterns together and this book is full of gorgeous patterns. My copy is signed by the two of them. And yes, C.C.'s hair is PINK!  It's her favorite color. :-)

Here is a sample of what's inside, socks, fingerless mitts in three lengths, and a shawl.  The socks are unique in that each pattern includes both the toe up and top down versions so you can knit your preferred way!  An E-book is also available.  C.C. & Dami also have a podcast called "Geeky Girls Knit", where they share their love of fiber, books, T.V. shows and movies.  They podcast faithfully each and every week and I've been watching them for quite awhile now.  It's one of my favorites. Thank you Kim, C.C. and Dami!

Holy Family Hospital here in Spokane let me know that they really needed some micro-preemie hats for the tiniest little ones.  These are about the size of a goose egg although the photo makes them look a bit bigger.  I crocheted these in about 2 hours Wednesday night and dropped them off yesterday.  I do need to find a knitted pattern with a ribbed border to use instead of this one though, because these don't have quite enough stretch at the brim for the sensitive skin on the babies.  As I made them I was a bit concerned about that and although the nurses didn't really want to sound critical, they agreed more stretch would make them work even better.

I made a few pair of mittens on Tuesday when the rain was pouring down.

And a pair of toddler socks for Miss Piper to match some I made for myself.  I had 42 inches of yarn left when I cast off!  Whew!  I don't like playing yarn chicken at all!  :-)  Both pair of socks from one skein of yarn is pretty good though. :-)

And a pair of wrist-warmers for Miss Margie who has been a very good friend to Mandy and Piper while they have been on the East Coast.  Miss Margie is about my age and walks at the mall with my girls several times a week and they go to church together.  Yesterday Piper showed her some wrist-warmers I had made for Mandy several years ago, (they were in the glovebox in Mandy's car and Piper found them while they waited for Margie.)  Piper asked her what her favorite color was and told her Grandma would make her some for herself.  Piper didn't know what color turquoise was, but told me that Margie liked that color.  Quite the generous little girl and apparently she believes I can make anything and everything she requests.  I confess, I do try to make anything she asks me for.  What's a Grandma to do?  I whipped these up this morning from a pattern I made up and I'll mail them out with Pipers socks as a thank you for being there for my girls when I couldn't be.  It's very warm there already, but she'll be able to use them next winter.

And my grand Tah-dah!  I finished my "Portage" sweater.  I love, love, love it.  I've been wearing it everywhere.  I love the pockets.  One of the nurses at the hospital yesterday asked if I made my sweater and wanted to know if I would sell her one!  Nope.  For the time it took to make this sweater it would cost hundreds of dollars.  Plus it takes the enjoyment out of it for me.  I would rather make things and give them away.  This sweater is SO comfortable and it was easy to make.  I would highly recommend the pattern if you want to make a comfy sweater.

I got this sweet card in the mail yesterday from Piper.  She must be a busy girl because Debra, (Araignee on my sidebar), received one from her too and shared it with us yesterday on her blog along with a hilarious bra story. I suggest you read it for a good laugh!

She dictated a  note to her mom to write and then signed her own name.  For a 4 year old, I think she did a wonderful job.  I love this!

A back update.  Yesterday my PT was a very happy man.  I don't know what's different, but he said I can do all of my exercises again and even begin vacuuming and doing some cleaning, etc.  Still no lifting over 10 lbs. but that's an improvement over 2 lbs.!  He said we're moving into the strengthening portion of PT and hopefully I can be done soon.  It's crazy.  Last week he said stop everything.  This week it was go, go, go!  It does hurt quite a bit and I'm having back spasms, but apparently that is the muscles getting used to doing things again and I'm not to worry about it, just take pain relievers if need be.  So finally some good news!

We're heading up to the lake tonight and home tomorrow to have a birthday dinner with Jenny and her family.  It's a new restaurant downtown that we haven't gone to before so that should be a lot of fun.

I hope you are all having a lovely week and can enjoy the weekend ahead.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4

Wouldn't the world be a better place if everyone did this?  Just a thought and something I need to work on more.  Putting others ahead of myself.

Blessings always,
Betsy