No more winter for us!

Well, at least that's what the Spokane marmot said last Friday when he didn't see his shadow!  And, for the most part, the sun has been shining here ever since then, with some clouds thrown in now and then.  Here is my hoosier cabinet this morning with the sunshine pouring in from the patio doors.  I thought the shadows were so pretty.

I know that a lot of the country is having terrible storms and ick, but I'm so thankful for the mildness that has been February so far, after the nasty December and early January that we had.  And I'm not really fooled into thinking that winter is over for us.  After all, it's only early February, but I am enjoying it while I can.

We took a drive up to the lake on Saturday.  It was such a pretty day and temperatures in the low 50's!  Yes, really!  However...the lake is still frozen over as you can see below, although I wouldn't trust the ice to walk on it.

 The camper still has about a foot of snow around it, although we haven't had snow here in town for several weeks.  The elevation makes a huge difference. We've been here in the past when the snow was up past the doors and we couldn't get into the trailer. Here Dennis is unzipping the cover so he can crawl into the trailer to check for unwelcome guests, (mice and squirrels.)  Thankfully it was just as we had left it in October with no signs of visitors, although there was a squirrel chattering at me from a tree behind the trailer.

 Lots of snow and a very different view than in the summertime.

This is our road that we had to hike up to get to the trailer.  It is unplowed and is gated in the wintertime.  Look at that beautiful blue sky.

 Snowmobiles had used it though!  The snow was so soft from melting that it was hard to walk in.  It surely made my heart start pumping!  Oh how I miss this place and I'm anxiously awaiting spring.

I thought I would share a photo that I took this morning of my Trader Joe's flowers almost 3 weeks in!  I've had to throw some blooms away, but I'm pleasantly surprised at how pretty they still are.  All for $3.99!  Aren't they pretty?  That's a picture of our sweet Chloe that a friend took during Bible study a few weeks ago.  She's such a good dog.

It may look like I haven't done much of anything to these socks for Dennis since last post, but actually, I ripped them out and started them all over again, so you're looking at the work of almost a completed sock! Ha! I decided I didn't like the size they were turning out to be.  They would be way too tight on his instep, so I started over.  I think I may have finally hit on the perfect number of stitches and pattern just for him.  He loves to wear them with his cowboy boots.  Yes, we live in the west and my husband really does wear cowboy boots.  He has worn them since before I started dating him well over 40 years ago and we still lived in Nebraska.  I guess Nebraska is the west to some of you isn't it?!  :-) Would it be TMI if I told you I still love how he looks in his blue jeans and cowboy boots?!  Anyway, he really likes my hand knit socks so he gets them whenever he wants a pair.

 Here's the label if any of you are interesting.  I couldn't remember the name for sure when I last posted.

And this is what I've been working on most of the week.  It's a "Child's Smocked Cardigan" by Jessica X. Wright Lichter and is free on Ravelry.  Guess who it's for?  Yep.  Miss Piper.  She is so knit-worthy.

I was sorting through a bunch of patterns last week that I had printed off but I've never used.  I'm trying to declutter the house a bit.  At the same time, Piper and I were face-timing. I think we talked for close to 2 hours that day.  She was going through the patterns with me and I was playing with her dolls and cars with her.  All by my Ipad of course, but it's still fun!  She loved this sweater and I don't know why I had never made it for her.  She's into the largest size of the pattern, so it's now or never!  Then we went to the yarn closest and she chose the yarn.  It was almost like taking her shopping with me!

The garter stitch and stockingette stitch bottom part went very quickly, but the smocked part is REALLY, REALLY slow.  Lots of fiddliness and counting.  Oh, my goodness!  The counting.  I've had to rip it back several times because my smocking was off by one stitch because of decreases in the row.

 However, I know it will all be worth it when Piper wears it.  I'm just hoping it will fit her!  It looks a bit small to me.  I still have the back to finish, then the other front, the sleeves, the neck and the button band.  Hopefully it will be done by next week, but I'm not promising anything with all of this ripping out!

So,  not lots of knitting to share this week even though I've been busy with the needles.  Sophie will arrive again today for 11 days.  Larry and Nita are leaving on another cruise.  This time to Jamaica.  We always enjoy having Sophie, she makes a nice lap puppy while I'm knitting and she loves to snuggle with us.

Jeremy has moved in and we're enjoying having him for a couple of months until their house closes in April.  Alicia and the boys drove over from Moses Lake yesterday and took me to the inspection on the new house.  She is staying in Moses Lake until the closing so that the boys won't have to change schools, otherwise they would stay with us too.  Their new house is wonderful, and only 5 years old, but built like a country cottage.  It's on 10 acres with an  option to buy another 10.  It's literally up in the mountains about 30 minutes north of us.  From the front porch they have a view of the ski runs at Mt. Spokane.  They are lighted at night for night skiing, so I know that will be a beautiful sight.  It was so peaceful there.  Not a sound to be heard.  The house comes with an in-law suite that they are determined that Dennis and I will move into someday.  That will most likely not happen, but it's nice to be wanted isn't it?  :-)

Alicia worked for me years ago.  Dennis baptized both of them and performed their wedding.  We're adopted grandparents to Kale and Hayden and we just love their little family.  They've lived all over the country for Jeremy's job, but their end goal was always to get back to Spokane and now they've accomplished that. We're so happy for them.  I took some photos yesterday, but until the house actually closes, I don't feel I should share them.  Here are are a couple from the outside though. This is the view from the front porch.  This is pasture is the optional ten acres they can buy.  Most of the ten acres that come with the house are timber. It is SO peaceful.

 The nearest neighbor is waaaay down that road.  But, they have six children so the boys are thrilled!

I guess that 's all I have for you today.  I hope you're all staying warm and enjoying February.  Spring will be here soon and I'll be back to visit soon too.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?"  Romans 8:35

Blessings to you all,
Betsy