Summertime!

Hello my friends! The calendar may not say it’s summertime quite yet, but it sure feels like it here. We’ve been busy just doing things around the house for the most part this week. I took Mom to the grocery store this morning. We’re trying to limit our trips there to once every two weeks because of the distance we have to drive and the cost of gas. While we were gone Dennis trimmed, edged and mowed both yards. My teeny tiny garden is all planted, but out of an entire package of green bean seeds, only four plants have survived. We put a fence around it last week and and no animals have eaten off anymore of them since then, but I had lost several plants before the fence was put up. There are still a lot of rocks and every day I go outside and pick more out of the dirt. But considering the fact that they were 7 inches deep throughout the entire area at the beginning of last week, it looks pretty good. There are no rocks where things are planted. I have four hills of zucchini, one green pepper, one cherry tomato, one cucumber and three rows of green beans. Out of those three rows we have four plants. How disappointing. At one time there were about 14 little plants poking their heads through the dirt and the next morning all of them were gone. The fence was put up that afternoon! It’s not fancy but it works. I’ll keep working on the rocks and soon they’ll be gone.

Last Friday we took the puppies and went to Mandy and Brad‘s so Dennis could mow the grass. I took care of the fish and watered plants inside. The puppies sure had a good time running around the house and through the yard, but Lizzie seemed a bit confused as to why her people weren’t there.

In this picture they’re watching Papa go back-and-forth with the lawnmower.

I think it was love at first sight with these two when they saw each other. I’m sorry for having to mark out baby J’s face, but from what I’ve been told she and Piper definitely have a mutual admiration society going on. Piper is in heaven with a real live baby to take care of. How I wish they lived closer to each other. Piper would be a great babysitter in a couple of years.  Mandy just FaceTimed with us and when I started singing to baby J she started smiling and kicking her feet. I think she remembers me. 💜💕💜

Today they’re visiting the tower of London and they sent us pictures from there. It looks as though they are all having a very good time. 

And from the top of Primrose Hill. It sure looks as though they’ve had beautiful weather while they’ve been visiting both Paris and London. They ate at the Queen’s Pub. Very appropriate, wouldn’t you agree?

Last night we got a photo of them walking across the Abbey Road crosswalk in the classic Beatles pose. Our daughter-in-law was pushing the pram and Mandy, Brad and Piper were striding in behind her just like the Beatles.

Now, back to regular life. 😍

I finished four more baby hats for the hospital.

Also a pair of socks made with Patons Kroy socks FXin the “Geranium Colors” colorway. I just used a moss stitch for the cuff. I almost ran out of yarn for this pair too and I made the cuffs shorter than usual. I think Patons is putting a little less yarn in the skeins these days.

I have also started working on the Christmas cross-stitch ornaments for this year. I have two with the stitching complete and one almost done, leaving me four more. I have another grandbaby to make for this year, and the three sets of parents. I didn’t want to be stressing over them this Christmas like I did last year. I’m trying to get all of the things that are being homemade done early.

I have started another pair of socks and I have the cuff almost finished. I’m using the “Monkey Socks” pattern and Knit Picks Hawthorne fingering weight yarn in the “Willamette” colorway. It reminds me of the Oregon Willamette Valley. I don’t have a photo of those but will show you next time.

We’ll go back out to Mandy and Brad‘s tomorrow to mow for them and make sure everything is in order before their arrival back home on Saturday evening. The two weeks have flown by and I’m not sure what we’ll do without Lizzie here. She has been so much company for Zoey. Maybe we’ll have to see about shared custody of the both of them! Ha! One week at their house and one week at our house. I know the puppies would love that.

Take care everyone and remember that God is with each of you. Every minute of every day. 

Blessings and love,

Betsy