Sunday, January 10, 2021

I’ve been away...

I’m sorry I’ve been away from here for awhile.  I have had emails from several people asking if I was OK. You are all so good to me! Thank you so much and I appreciate it. Everything is fine. After posting nearly every day for two months, I think I was just tired. I don’t know how those of you who post every day do it.  Also, the events of the last week has completely worn me out. I have to admit, I never thought I would see people in our country acting the way they have this week. It’s purely ridiculous.  I also have to say that I just didn’t have the heart to post. I know that none of you are like that, but it’s just so sad to hear people tarring every democrat or every republican with the same brush. The thing is, both sides are acting badly in different ways now and it’s so sad. We are all Americans. And that’s all I will say on the subject.

Now, for something more pleasant. Many of you gave me some very good advice about my wrist. I have been wearing my brace to bed every night and I also started taking vitamin B6. Dennis has taken it for almost 30 years for carpal tunnel. I know that if he goes two or three days without it he can barely use his hands. He’s on the computer for 12 hours a day, five days a week.   I still can’t believe that I didn’t think of it myself.  I believe Val is the one who mentioned it to me. That seems to have really helped a lot. I still haven’t done any knitting but, I have been doing cross-stitching and a little crochet.

I brought the “Sheep Virtues” out of hibernation. They were just waiting for me! I started and finished “Simplicity.”

And “Patience.”

And “Friendship.”

I only have two left to go. I’m thinking I may outline all of the sheep with a single strand of gray. They seem to be a bit hard to see. What do you all think?

I also started crocheting the “Rainbow Ripple Baby Blanket,” by Celeste Young. I’m using Lion Brand Cupcake yarn in the Forest Path colorway. This is the yarn that was sent to me last week. I just finished the first cake and I’m getting ready to start the second one. This will make a very nice sized baby blanket. I have one more cake in a different color that will make a very nice preemie blanket. Both will be donated to the hospital NICU.  I did fold the blanket over in order to take the picture because I didn’t have enough room to get the entire thing in without standing on a chair. 💜

We have some news! Yesterday we took a virtual tour by FaceTime of a house in Omaha. Mandy met the owner’s son and walked through with us. She also sent some photos. I don’t feel like I should post any right now since we don’t know if it will ultimately be our house. It is next-door to Dennis‘s mom. We will be there to do all of her yardwork and help her with anything she needs. It’s a three bedroom, two bathroom house and will fit our needs very well. We were hoping for a ranch style home, but there just aren’t very many of them available in the areas we want to live in.  There is a place we should be able to store our trailer not too far away. We are hoping to take some trips, especially in the winter, away from snow! We still don’t know a timeline of when we will be moving or even if we will get this house. We’re hoping it will all work out. No one has lived there for a couple of years but we know the owner very well. She now has dementia and is in a nursing home and her children need to sell the house. They have even offered us most of the furniture if we want it, which would be a big blessing, since we gave most of our furniture to the refugee family who lived next-door to us here in Spokane.  We are praying for God’s will. If we are supposed to get the house it will happen. If not, we’ll find something else. This would be so handy though, to be so close to Mom.

I took this picture over a week ago one morning when I woke up to see heavy frost everywhere. I’ve left the poinsettias outside for some color and they were very delicately frosted. I thought they were kind of pretty.

I have a few new readers who don’t know our story about living in the RV and I had said I would tell that story in my next post, but I had no idea that it would be such a long one. I promise I will tell it next time.  I’m surprised you’re all still here reading this anyway! (If you are.) I’m wishing you all a wonderful Monday, full of God‘s peace and love. Remember, ultimately I think we are all on the same side.

Blessings and love,
Betsy

25 comments:

  1. I think we all have a politics fatigue to go along with our pandemic fatigue. Makes it hard to write sometimes.

    Glad you are doing okay. I'll be sending good wishes that the house thing works out the way it should.

    As for the sheep, I think the outline is a good idea. A light grey would be just enough.

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  2. It is rather difficult to go along our merry way when chaos reigns all around. I wish we were all on the same side but unfortunately there are too many people feeding into false narratives and fueling themselves with anger and hatred, believing in outright lies and conspiracies. It's truly unbelievable that a bunch of fools thought storming the Capitol was a good idea. You reap what you sow and they all deserve criminal prosecution. There's way too much hypocrisy in the system and that certainly needs a major overhaul. I love the cross-stitch you are working on. Good to know you are able to still do that along with crochet. Each hobby works our hands in different ways and sometimes we need a break from one thing so it's nice to be able to switch things up. I got some unexpected yarn so have been working on a granny ripple. No plan for it, just something to do, using what I've got. The poinsettia doesn't even look real with that layer of frost. Sure is pretty. Fingers crossed the house is meant for you. Take care. Stay safe and warm.

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  3. So nice to see your post Betsy, hope you are feeling a little better you have been in my prayers. Hope you do manage to get the house, it would be nice for you to be so close to family. The blanket is adorable, love the colours. The sheep virtues are a delight, it would be wonderful to outline the sheep in grey to give them more emphasise. Take care dear friend.

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  4. Good to hear you are ok Betsy! I knew you were taking a little break after posting so regularly for so long, but it is good to "hear" your voice again. Hoping the house comes through for you in Omaha!! Your cross stitch is so pretty. I would outline the sheep as you suggested.

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  5. I had to blink when I saw The Sheep Virtues! It was like deja vu. I have forgotten how adorable they are. I really need to get mine framed.
    Your little blanket is so sweet. I have to confess that I have tried and tried to get a baby blanket out of your patterns but they all look ratty and limp. I think it is the yarn I am using. It's a Knit Picks cotton and it's terrible. It's too slick and shiny as well as being very splitty. I need to go stash diving again and see if I can come up with something with more body. It will be summer before I get this figured out...lol. At least he's been getting some use out of the one I quilted for him.

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  6. Nice to get such an uplifting update! How exciting to perhaps have the house!
    The poinsettias are gorgeously frosted! take care.

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  7. Somehow my days slip away without a post, too. I will be sad when you leave our state but sure understand the desire to be close to family. We've not seen our IL family since we were all in CDL in 2019. Fortunately though, two of our kids are local. It sounds like you have found a good, well located house! I hope it works out for you!

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  8. I'm glad you are well. :)
    Ooooh, I just LOVE those sheep virtues patterns. It's on my to-do list foe a looong time. I'll have to treat myselg, some day, but those shipping costs to Belgium are really doubling the final price :(
    Keep safe, and enjoy your stitching !
    xoxo

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  9. Happy to hear you and Dennis are well and have the prospect of a house so near family in Omaha. Outlining the sheep is a good idea - back stitching always makes designs standout.

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  10. The Virtues. That is a good thing to focus on these days. I haven't been watching the news. I only hear a bit here and there and try not to. Beautiful red flowers, Betsy! Thank you for sharing them with us.

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  11. Oh those sweet little sheep are calling my name. I love them! They look awesome. Your stitches are perfect! I might have to look into getting them. They really are adorable. I am glad the B6's are helping you. Knitting always hurts my right thumb and after the huge shawl, I realized it sort of messed with a nerve in my hand, too. The poinsettias are so pretty, they have always been one of my favorite flowers. Will pray for God's will about your house, as you said, if it is meant to be He will make it happen. I send prayers your way sweet friend. Wishing you many blessings as well. ((hugs))

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  12. I love all your projects. You are so talented and I love that you use your gift to gift others. Best wishes on the house. We know God pulls the strings and sometimes things that seem so right aren't the right choice. And sometimes things fall into place so quickly, you know they are meant to be. Prayers! And nice to have you back.

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  13. Yes I would backstitch in grey or brown, they will pop then! The house sounds like a perfect fit for you! I hope you get it!! :)

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  14. The Rainbow Ripple Baby blanket is so pretty!! I love the colours.
    The frosted Poinsettias are so perfect I thought they were not real.
    The house next door to Dennis' mom's house does seem just right for you. Time will tell.
    I'm glad you mentioned the B6 because DH has joint pain that may also respond to that. It's worth a try.

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  15. I agree with Tammy that as citizens we have to watch what is happening in our country and be informed. I also have seen right-wing people who are believing lies and conspiracy theories and are getting upset about things that aren't true. It's those people who listened to trump and believed everything he says and who are angry and rioted at the Capitol Building. They trashed it, they urinated and spread feces around our Capitol. They went in with restraints and nooses - they chanted to "Hang Pence!" and even built a wooden gallows. Those of us, Dem and R, who are good people need to denounce this behavior right now or we are truly lost.

    On a happier note, I love your cross stitch. And I have to admit to being glad that you won't be blogging every day, it was hard to keep up with the commenting. :-)

    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  16. Oh I am thrilled for the idea of this move! You are wise not to get too excited. House moves are always complex. But , the fact that you are heading in the direction of Piper is amazing! Love that blanket

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  17. Betsy, I really like your blog and how you write. I went back and read all of your november entries and enjoyed them all. You are a real dear heart! I love the lamb pics you have sewn...they're lovely. Are you going to frame them and hang them up? Your possible house in Omaha sounds great....wonder if I should pray for you to get it? Yes...politics are pretty weird lately but God has chosen us all to be living here at this time so we must do our best and always pray! All the best to you and Dennis.

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  18. I'm glad to hear the B6 is helping.
    I hope the house works out for you. It sounds wonderful

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  19. I like your counted cross stitch items. Sheep would look better gray around it. 🐑 wouldn't look too
    baaaad ☺! Hopefully you can move to be with your family and get the house that's available to buy now. Were you thinking of a smaller house? I'm glad your wrist is better and stays that way soon. Hugs and prayers my sweet friend of mine😍🙏🌈🇺🇸💜

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  20. hello,
    I think outlining the sheep in grey would be lovely. I will begin praying that a move will be in your near future. Thank you for all you have done for me.
    HUGS
    Kim

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  21. We're praying about the house in NE -- that would be so great to have it at that location! I absolutely love the Sheep Virtues! I agree, perhaps the sheep need a little bit of gray outline. They sure are cute! My heart hasn't been into blogging lately, either. Oh well, sometimes we need a break. So glad all is okay with you guys! Much love and many blessings to you, my friend!

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  22. Betsy, the house sounds fantastic, I am praying it all works out for you. You are right there are bad Democrat's and Republican's and plenty of nice ones on both sides, but as for this election, the lies and falsehoods about the election results and voter fraud, and storming our capitol, well that was not Democrats. I pray that our country can come together, but before that happens there has to be accountability for all that has happened.

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  23. Hi Betsy, That sounds exciting. I hope everything works out for you. Nancy

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  24. Oh, I am so thankful you mentioned that about B6. I had no idea, but I think Kevin and I should try it to see if it will help with our pain. That is such a pretty picture of the frost on the poinsettia. I hope your plans work out the way you want them to and hope this means you would live close to little Miss Piper. She must be over the moon excited at the prospect of having you near her!

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  25. So glad your wrist is feeling better! I admire your stitching as it is but can imagine that outlining the sheep in gray could help them be better defined. I am excited to hear about your possible new home and join you in trusting the Lord to provide what is best for you. 💜🤗🙏

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