Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Ever Closer...

Are you ready?  I think Christmas is almost here whether you are ready or not.  It has been a very low key preparation time for me.  For the most part, I finished everything pretty early.  I just have the actual food to make on Christmas.  We're having a very easy meal of ham, mashed potatoes, green beans because I can make nothing that has gluten in it because of Kyleigh and Caleb having Celiac's.  It does simplify cooking and you go back to the basics.  It seems gluten is in everything.  I did buy an Apple pie for them at a gluten free bakery.  I'll pick that up on Friday so they can have it all weekend, not just for Christmas.  They arrive Saturday and the fun will commence!

We have received about 16 inches of snow since I last blogged.  Yes really!  And then yesterday it was 40F and poured down rain.  All around us people got snow but we had rain and it melted a lot of the snow away.  Now it's supposed to be very, very cold through next week.  As in single digits cold!  Brrrr.  Here are a few photos for you snow lovers after the first round fell last weekend.  Merry Christmas!


The dots are more snow falling as we drove home from church on Sunday.  The first two were taken as we drove down our street and the last is our house.  We just keep shoveling the stuff, or to be more exact, Dennis shovels.  He won't let me touch the shovel this year after last years fall.  Yuck!

The next photo is an ornament that has been on our tree every year since I was five.  I don't think I've shown it to you yet this year.  It was given to me by my kindergarten Sunday school teacher and has been one of our favorite family ornaments.
Can you believe it still has glitter on it after 52 years?  Yep.  I'm 57, at least for another month or so.

Piper was in a program at  her preschool last week.  Mandy sent us a photo of her ready to take part at school.  Brad's parents were there too.  I'm so glad that she has family close by now to celebrate all of these fun events with them.
We also had our children's program at church on Sunday.  It was wonderful.  They enacted the traditional Nativity, down to a 3 year old innkeeper!  It really was wonderful!  I laughed and I cried.
There is nothing like children telling the greatest story that has ever been told.
We lit the third candle on the advent wreath at home on Sunday.  I've always wanted to have a wreath at home and Dennis and I are really enjoying it together this year.  Each night for the month of December, there are scriptures we read, reminding us of why we are celebrating Christmas.  Even though Christ's birth wasn't really on Christmas, it has been the day chosen to celebrate this wonderful day.  Three candles were lit last Sunday.

I finished this cross stitch earlier in the year and have decided to leave it out all year long as a reminder.  It looks small but it is framed in an 11x14" frame.
Through the week I have managed to finish some things.  First up is Marilyn's blanket.  I love, love, love how it turned out.  It's almost big enough for a twin size bed and the yellow color is so soft!
I just did a single crochet border and then some chain stitches.  I think it was a nice finish.

I also finished another Pimpelliese Shawl made with Knit Picks Stroll tonal yarn in fingering weight.  I plan to give it as a gift to a co-worker of Dennis.  I've known her almost 24 years and I know she will appreciate it.  This is a free pattern on Ravelry if you're interested.  I've made lots of them over the years.  I played "yarn chicken" and lost.  That has never happened to me before.  See the right edge of the shawl?  I had weighed the skein before I began, but I still ran out. I only needed about a yard more to complete it properly.  I don't think it will be noticeable when she's wearing it and it would be a LOT of work to rip out clear back to where the decreases began.  What do you think?  I haven't given it to her yet.  Should I rip it out?  Now I'm second thinking it all! :-)  I hate giving things away that aren't right.  Let me know in the comments what you think please.
With some of the mitten scraps I have, I made a simple toddler sized granny stripe blanket for the Crisis Nursery.  Nice, mindless crochet to use up little bits of yarn.
I also finished a doily I had started in November and then let languish in the basket.
I received a gift in the mail from my friend Becky in Portland.  She takes the most beautiful photos and she sent me a calendar with some of her photos and a beautiful ornament.  She's "GrandmaBecklyL" over on my sidebar.  Thank you so much Becky!
I hope you are all ready to celebrate and are not too stressed.  Slow down and take a deep breath.  The day will come and go just like any other whether you are ready or not, so I hope you can enjoy it and be thankful for the greatest gift ever given.

(Edited to add that the hospital just called and I have a CT scan of my head scheduled for 7:00 tonight. Please pray that answers would be found...finally. I have had a headache for almost 2 weeks and swelling around my nose that hasn't gone down at all.  Both sides of my nose and the doctors don't know why.  Sinus xrays have been clear.  The antibiotics I've been on for 8 days now have done nothing. Thank you all.)

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes." Romans 1:16

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21

Merry Christmas and many blessings to you all.

Betsy









18 comments:

  1. I a ready just need to do some baking for fellowship at church after the carol service on Sunday. Betsy the shawl was made with love, it looks beautiful. Love the ornament and the lovely memories attached to it. Take care and hopefully you are feeling a little better.

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  2. You do such beautiful needlework! You shouldn't worry about the shawl ... she will love it just because it's from you! Praying for your upcoming scan and that our Lord will give you renewed health. May you have a merry and blessed Christmas!

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  3. Boy, you've sure finished a lot of projects! On the shawl, you could order another skein of the same yarn to finish it, I'm sure you could use the rest of the yarn for something nice! I hope they figure out why you have that headache and the swelling! Have fun with your son and grandkids. I'm so happy for you that he's bringing them to spend time with you. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
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  4. Your snow pictures are gorgeous! Send that snow here to Chino Valley! We want snow! Have a Merry Christmas!

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  5. I'm totally relaxed; leave the shawl as is-it is beautiful. Asymetric shawls are in-you are knitting modern!

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  6. Praying that all goes well with your scan and that the solution to the headache and swelling is painless.

    Your storm is headed this way and is predicted to hit tonight. Single digit temperatures here for the rest of the week.

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  7. I love your snow photos! As for the shawl, it's all the fashion to have the sides different so no one but you would know!
    Hope your tests find your problem. Not knowing is so hard. I am going through that with Daughter right now who has been so sick for weeks. It's breaking my heart to see her so upset and having doctors give her no answers.

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  8. You have had a VERY productive week. Sending best wishes that answers come with your CT scan tonight and that the resolution is an easy one. Hugs....D

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  9. Hi There, Goodness--hope your scan goes okay. BUT--they do need to find out what is going on. PRAYERS.

    LOVE your snow (you knew I'd say that).... Gorgeous --but this ole southern gal couldn't imagine driving in it..... I drove in some icy-snow once and slid into a ditch... Since then, it scares me to death to even think about it...

    We are having rain rain rain this week --but no snow around since it's so warm.... Doesn't feel much like Christmas here for sure as far as the weather is concerned.

    You have gotten a lot accomplished this week. When you showed the doily, it brought back memories of my mother --and all of the pretty hand-made things like that which I inherited from her. I never learned to do all of that creative stuff --even though Mom tried to teach me. I always just wanted to be outside running and playing... ha

    Merry Christmas, Betsy, and keep me posted about the scan.

    Hugs,
    Betsy--from TENNESSEE...

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  10. Oh, dear friend! I am praying for you and believing that ALL will be well in the scan results. I am so sorry you have to go through this, and I trust Jesus to heal you and bless you to enjoy this Christmas season. I cannot begin to tell you how very touched I was to read this morning of how Dennis came in and asked you about LD. To know you all are praying for him just means SO much to my family and me! God bless you both for your faithfulness to us!! The pictures of the snow and your beautiful home were so pretty! And, that little Miss Piper...how adorable she truly is! The cross stitch is so meaningful...I love that you will leave it out all year round. :) And, Marilyn's blanket? Oh, my! It is just absolutely beautiful! The shawl looks PERFECT to me...I wouldn't change a change, if I were you. :) I know she will cherish it dearly, and chances are, she won't even notice what your discerning eye sees. The granny stripe blanket and doily are so lovely, too...that is a really neat idea to use up a bunch of stray, leftover yarn. So happy to visit with you today, dear, sweet friend. Praying much for you, and I cannot ever begin to thank you enough for your prayers for us right now. :) Merry Christmas!!

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  11. dear sweet Betsy, I will have my family pray for you at dinner tonight . Im going to send you baby Jesus good health vibes! I want an inch of snow here. We may or may not get some. My growns are home and around me. Im so happy

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  12. Love your snow pictures Betsy (but then I'm not out trying to drive in it or clean it up!!).

    Hoping your CT results will reveal what the issue is and that it will be not a big deal. Sending prayers your way.

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  13. Praying Beccy, not quite time for CT over there yet... may our Lord bless and guide in all things and provide a wise accurate solution.
    Cannot for all my looking see any mistake of any sort in yarn in that shawl, we’re always most critical.
    Give it with joy.
    I love your 52 year old decoration, gorgeous nativity.
    Lord bless you and your dear ones this Christmas and give us all a most wonderful time with our precious families, and especially may our Lord comfort the hearts of those who maybe missing loved ones this Christmas time.
    Hugs and healing prayers especially dear friend for many mercies from our Father God,
    Shaz in Oz.x

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  14. Love all your projects, Betsy. Hope you have a wonderful holiday! It's chilly here on this side of the mts., but no snow.....yet. They are predicting snow tonight, and I hope it waits till we are home from choir. Merry Christmas!

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  15. Hi Betsy, It is after 7p.m. now when I read your blog. I hope the CT gives you some answers and that whatever is wrong can easily be taken care of. That beautiful crocheted doily reminds me of the crocheting my Mom did. 16 inches of snow! Wow! That is a lot. We have hardly any right now. I have missed naps a couple days and am struggling with fatigue. Part of our family arrives from out of town tomorrow night. Leave the shawl. She will really enjoy it. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Nancy

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  16. IT is now days after your post and I am sending prayers your way my dear friend. I was so invested in your writing, looking at your wonderful ornaments, wishing you had been with Piper then read about your scan. I pray you are fine Betsy.

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  17. I just saw this post. My week's been so busy. Hopefully good answers come from your scan. I don't like it when nothing shows up even though there's pain. Been thru that a few times. The shawl looks nice and I think it's fine. Very hard to notice and I'd not say anything. I'm a tough critic on myself too. Glad you enjoy the calendar. It was a fun thing to do for you and others for a gift. And snowflake won't add to others and create a mess to shovel that you had earlier in the week! :-} Piper is sweet and thankful she's closer to u in miles. Enjoy time with your son and grandchildren. Merry Christmas my friend! Hugs and blessings!

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  18. Beautiful makes from your nimble hands. How you get so much done is beyond me but what an inspiration you are! Piper and the children in the Christmas programs are so sweet. I miss that. I loved the concerts and Christmas programs at church when mine were little. Enjoy and I pray your tests come out fine.

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