A finish!

Happy Monday everyone. We have brilliant blue skies today although it’s still fairly chilly in the low 30s. The sunshine makes all the difference. I went to the mall this morning and walked four laps around it to get some exercise inside where there was no ice on the ground. Then, after running a few errands I came home and have spent three hours shredding documents. Right now I’m waiting for the shredder to cool down because I’ve overheated it twice and had to stop.

My back doesn’t seem to be much better after the injections. I’ve tried stretching exercises the last two mornings to see if that would help, but no luck so far. The injections I get are Botox, not the normal injections you get in the back for pain. I have had the other injections and they do nothing. I have also had two years of physical therapy and another two years at a pain clinic. The problem is, it’s not normal back pain.  I have spasms where it feels like someone is sticking a knife into your back and twisting it.  For some reason the nerves are signaling the muscle to spasm and no one knows why.  The only relief I have is sitting in my recliner. I honestly don’t want to spend the rest of my life in this recliner. I see the neurologist again in six weeks and if these injections haven’t helped by then he said he may have some other tricks up his sleeve. I certainly hope so.

Meanwhile, I finished my crocheted rectangular blanket. I was standing on a chair and holding the camera over my head to take this photo. It’s big enough that it hangs down a little bit on both sides on a queen size bed. I love it!  The colors look a bit muted here.

This is a more accurate representation of the colors. It’s big enough to wrap yourself up in and be nice and cozy.

I finished four more pairs of mittens and I’m one week ahead on my schedule so hopefully I will have them all done on time next fall.

Does anybody remember the sheep virtues that Debbie, who is “Araignee” on my sidebar, finished last year?  I absolutely adored her sheep virtues as she was stitching them and look what I’m starting to stitch now!  I have the wisdom block almost finished. There are 12 blocks in total.  The poor little sheep still needs his head!

Becky, who is “GrandmaBeckyL” on my sidebar sent me this beautiful gift of teas for my birthday. Wasn’t that sweet of her? I am not a coffee drinker, but I do love a good cup of tea in the morning.  She even sent the beautiful tea strainer too. I’m not sure what the little silver dish is for. Does anyone know?

Saturday evening I made a homemade chicken pot pie. I have made this recipe ever since we got married using my own piecrust. The recipe is out of the Betty Crocker cookbook. Because now it’s difficult for me to stand in the kitchen long enough to make and roll out piecrust, we hadn’t had it for a couple of years. About a month ago I broke down and bought two frozen pie crust’s at the grocery store. I made my homemade filling and put it in the one crust and then I just upended the other pie crust over the top. It works perfectly and oh my goodness it’s good. These are the store brand piecrusts and I think they’re better than the name brand.  It may not look like much but oh my goodness it sure did taste good!  I should learn how to do some of those fancy venting designs for piecrusts.  I just use a knife and cut slits all over the top!  It sure looks messy.

If any of you are interested in the recipe just let me know and I will post it next time. I also have a recipe for French onion crockpot chicken that I made last week and it was delicious too. I plan to put it in my next post.

I hope you’re all having a wonderful Monday and that your weekend was relaxing and that you had time to do something that made you happy.

I’m continuing to pray for everyone around the world who is impacted by the coronavirus. What a scary thing for the people who live in the areas that are highly affected.

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double–edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and the attitudes of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12

Blessings always,

Betsy