Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Still knitting!

Good morning my friends! Once again it’s been a while since I’ve visited you. I’m going to try very diligently to get back into the swing of visiting all of your blogs again. My hope is that life will start slowing down a bit now. We had planned to go camping for the last time today and come back on Friday. We were going to spend the time winterizing and cleaning out the camper before we left the campground. However, the winds are predicted to be in excess of 40 miles an hour for the next three days. Pulling a camper on the interstate in conditions like that is not fun at all. Plus we knew we would just be sitting inside the trailer and not be able to be outside much with winds that high. We did have about 2 1/2 hours of a nice gentle rain during the night last night with lots of thunder and lightning and today is much, much cooler. Yesterday we spent most of the day working on the camper and got home just in time to shower and change then go to Chaela and Tim‘s 10th anniversary dinner in the Old Market. Tim planned it all as a surprise for Chaela and it was a wonderful evening. We haven’t been to the Old Market area of Omaha in over 30 years, since before we moved to Spokane. It’s a very touristy part of town, close to the Missouri River with lots of restaurants and little shops. We did have a fun time and the food was delicious too. I had my favorite, fettuccine alfredo with grilled chicken. It is a diet food right? Ha ha!

I thought I would share Lizzie‘s Halloween costume with all of you. Any guesses as to who she is? Well, of course she is Marie Antoinnette! πŸ˜‚ Piper is also going to be Marie Antoinnette. She just finished reading her biography and feels that she was just a very misunderstood lady! Her words, not mine. 😍 Piper’s costume is really sweet and I’ll have to get a picture of her in it too.  But Lizzies cracks me up. She is the most patient and long-suffering puppy. Zoey is just trying to figure out what’s going on with her.

At Mandy’s church on Sunday they had this cute little area for people to get their photos taken. Aren’t these both great pictures of Piper?

She has the most beautiful smile. I’m not exactly an impartial Grandma am I?
I took this photo of the tree across the street at Dennis’s cousins house this morning. The sky is such a gorgeous blue today after the rain, thunder and lightning last night. Leaves are changing all over the neighborhood.

This one was taken as we were leaving the campground last week. Zoey loves to ride as a copilot in both the truck and the car, but I truly believe she prefers the truck. She sits up higher in her little dog car seat and can see everything. She doesn’t miss a thing. Lizzie tends to lay down and sleep when she rides in the car with us, but not Zoey. She doesn’t want to miss anything. If you all remember, she was supposed to be my dog. Nope. She is a Daddy’s girl. Not that she doesn’t love me and she sits on my lap a lot, but if it came down to a choice between the two of us, it would be him every time. Lizzie is the same way with Brad. These two guys are hilarious with these dogs. Neither of them really wanted them and they both preferred bigger dogs, but these girls can get them to do anything now. 

And who wouldn’t do anything for the two of them? They are the cutest little girls.πŸ’œ

I hope I don’t offend anyone with this following photo. I saw it on Facebook and just cracked up. It’s true. Isn’t this what we all want to do? It may be knitting instead of crochet, or even cross stitch or quilting, but the idea is the same.πŸ˜‚πŸ€£πŸ˜‚

I do have a couple of things to share with you. First of all I finished another pair of socks but I can’t show them here. They are a Christmas present as you can guess. These two are gifts also but the recipients won’t be looking at my blog. One of these sweaters is for baby J in London and the other one is for her cousin who was born just three months later, but wears the same size clothes! They only live a couple of blocks from each other and are together a lot. I thought it would be cute for them to have matching sweaters. I just finished the second one late last night so they haven’t been blocked and I still have to get buttons for them. Today I’m starting a sweater for baby H’s older brother who wears size 4. I thought it would be nice to give them new sweaters for Christmas too.

I usually have a dish cloth on the needles and I just came to realize that my gift stock is almost completely depleted. So I cast this one on this morning and before I start the new sweater I’ll finish the dish cloth. I will try to keep one on the needles until I have another basket full for gifts. I really like this color. It is Hobby Lobby’s “I love this cotton” in the periwinkle colorway.

I also need to make another pair of socks because I miscalculated how many I had finished. I need one more pair for Christmas. Happily I have a lot of sock yarn, so it will just be a matter of choosing another skein and getting started.

I’m truly hoping that life will begin to slow down a little bit for us. We have been going back-and-forth on listing our house for sale. We have tried to talk to various experts in the area and also watch the world news to see what’s predicted to be happening. There is a condo building between Mom‘s new apartment and Mandy and Brad‘s house that we are very interested in. Almost all are owner occupied with no stairs in the units and an elevator in the building. I think that’s important as we are growing older and I have problems with my feet and back. However, they rarely come up for sale. Until this morning we were considering putting our house on the market and moving into a 55+ building until a condo became available. However, the apartment is very expensive and we would have to sign a year lease. With the economy as it is and all of the uncertainty going on right now, we’ve decided it would probably be better just to wait. Our plan had been to sell our house so we would have the cash to jump right onto it when a condo became available. However, although our neighborhood is not the safest place in the world, we feel it’s wiser to remain here for the time being even though housing prices are sure to fall and we won’t get as much for our house later. It has truly been a very difficult decision. We both feel a peace about staying here, at least through the winter unless something happens with a condo. And honestly? I don’t want to move twice again in just a few months. 
After moving from our house in Spokane into the camper for a year, then into this house last spring. Moving mom last month and all of the work with her house, we are both exhausted. We’re still trying to get her completely settled into her new apartment with the caregivers that are taking care of her there and it just seems almost too much to add one more thing.

Thank you all for being so understanding with my sporadic appearances here for the last month or two. You are all such blessings in my life and I hope that I can be a bit of a bright spot in yours. May God bless each and everyone of you throughout the coming days. I hope you all feel just a little bit of the love that I have felt from each of you. Take care of yourselves my friends. I’ll be back soon.

Blessings and love,
Betsy 


22 comments:

  1. Oh, it is a rough time for you. Being up in the air is a hard place to find yourself! I'm glad you are deciding to wait right now---that is a good decision on a lot of levels. We understand what you are up against so don't worry about being 'out-of-touch'!

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  2. BENDICIONES DULCE HERMANA, QUE ALEGRIA SABER DE TI, CREO QUE ES UNA BUENA IDEA ESPERAR PARA MAS ADELANTE LA VENTA DE TU CASA Y COMPRARTE OTRO LADO PARA IR A VIVIR, LA ECONOMIA MUNDIAL ESTA CAYENDO, HE LEIDO INFORMES DEL FMI QUE DICE QUE LA ECONOMIA MUNDIAL NO CRECERA Y LOS NIVELES DE INFLACION SERAN MUY ALTOS, HAY PAISES EN RIESGOS COMO EL MIO, DONDE NOS AUGURAN UN 2023 MUY DESASTROSOS, PERO SABES BETSY, DIOS TIENE EL CONTROL DE TODO, EL NO DEJA DESAMPARADOS A SUS HIJOS Y ESO TU LO SABES, SOLO NOS RESTA ORAR Y CONFIAR PLENAMENTE EN NUESTRO PADRE CELESTIAL QUE EL SE ENCARGARA DE TODOS NUESTROS ASUNTOS. TUS TEJIDOS SON HERMOSOS Y MARIA ANTONIETA ME HA HECHO REIR A CARCAJADAS, TE NIETA ESTA CRECIENDO9 MUY RAPIDO Y ES UNA HERMOSA SEΓ‘ORITA. TE ENVIO UN ABRAZO A LA DISTANCIA Y TE DECEO PAZ A TI Y A TU ESPOSO. BENDICIONES¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

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    1. BLESSINGS SWEET SISTER, WHAT A JOY TO HEAR FROM YOU, I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO WAIT FOR LATER THE SALE OF YOUR HOUSE AND BUY ANOTHER PLACE TO LIVE, THE WORLD ECONOMY IS FALLING, I HAVE READ REPORTS FROM THE IMF THAT SAYS THAT THE WORLD ECONOMY WILL NOT GROW AND INFLATION LEVELS WILL BE VERY HIGH, THERE ARE COUNTRIES AT RISK LIKE MINE, WHERE THEY PREDICT A VERY DISASTROUS 2023, BUT YOU KNOW BETSY, GOD IS IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING, HE DOES NOT LEAVE HIS CHILDREN HELPLESS AND YOU KNOW THAT, WE CAN ONLY PRAY AND TRUST FULLY IN OUR HEAVENLY FATHER THAT HE WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL OUR AFFAIRS. YOUR FABRICS ARE BEAUTIFUL AND MARIA ANTONIETA HAS MADE ME LAUGH OUT LOUD, YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER IS GROWING9 VERY FAST AND SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL LADY. I SEND YOU A HUG FROM AFAR AND I WISH YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND PEACE. BLESSINGS¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

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  3. Gramma's are not expected to be impartial... lol. The photos are very good and Piper looks soooo much older than her years. I'll be anxiously awaiting her appearance as Marie A. // When I get home, the first thing is -- the bra comes off! LOL! Ugh, I can't stand those things! And with my fibro and skin issues it's doubly annoying! // We finally have some cooler air (78° haha), but it's nothing but dirt and dust flying around down here. The state governor signed an emergency drought thingamajig, the farmers are really hurting, and if someone tosses a match or something our state will go *poof* ... 😳 πŸ˜’ // Hugs and blessings to you, my friend!

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  4. It is obvious that Piper is a natural in front of the camera. I love her vintage hair wrap.

    Hugs,
    D

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  5. Betsy, so good to see your post. Wow...you are doing really well at completing your Christmas gifts and they are so beautiful too. I laughed when I saw the pic of Lizzie as Marie Antoinette.....can't wait to see Piper's costume too. I can understand your qualms about moving again so soon. We were even talking about a possible move to our favorite part of Florida....Fort Myers! YIKES! So here comes winter and we sit and watch what's happening in this crazy world. Lord have Mercy. Take good care and God Bless.

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  6. Miss Piper is very correct, poor Marie was quite misunderstood... Lizzie does an adorable impression of the royal

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  7. Your life certainly sounds very busy. I hope things ease up soon.
    Lizzie's outfit is so cute and I can't believe she just lets Piper dress her and never protests. The picture of Piper is lovely. I wouldn't be surprised if you had it made into an 8X10 and framed it.

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  8. Oh my! The puppy in the costume made my day. :) Thanks for your comment at my blog! Before writing it I tried to find a photo image of a similar lavender bathroom, but could not spy the right one out of a couple hundred. I knew you liked lavender so I tried extra hard! <3 I know what you mean about moving. We've decided to stay here until we have peace about moving in the future and so in the meantime, we do have a special peace about staying. We often remind ourselves of that James 1:8 verse about a double-minded man being unstable. We even start teasing each other if one of us gets all double minded about moving. Ha! Thanks for sharing!

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  9. I know just what you are going through. We would love to finish the house and get the heck out of here but the only thing we can afford is worse than we have now and we are just not up for starting over with a remodeling job.
    Those little cardis are adorable! So is the pup in the dress. What a look on look on her face...lol. I hear you with the bra. The only good thing about the pandemic is that I haven't taken mine out of the drawer but a handful of times in three years. That's a win.

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  10. That is quite the point in life as to what to do...move or stay? Buy this or not? But there are good things you shared as well with Piper and adorable dogs and sweaters ❤️ 😍 πŸ’œ 😊 πŸ’• we've had warm days lately low 80s but not as hot as summer. Hopefully rain will appear soon as we've not had much lately except a bit from fog last week. I went through all my yarn and need to donate some of it to prayer shawl ministry at church. Have a blessed day and I appreciate your comments on my blog. I'm glad you were able to go to a Casting Crowns concert years ago. Jeremy is good too. 🎡 hugs πŸ€— Becky

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  11. Lovely post. You are always a bright spot in my day. I enjoy reading your blog and seeing what you are making, reading about all your adventures and seeing such sweet photos of all your loved ones. The pups are adorable, by the way. Wishing you a day all of many blessings my dear sweet friend. ((hugs))

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  12. OH MY GOODNESS, that Halloween costume is adorable! I can't wait to see Piper's too. I'm sorry you couldn't take the camper out one last time, but I am glad you are safe. I am sure your little friends across the ocean will love the sweaters, you are so thoughtful to think of Baby J's friends. I think you are right to take a break from moving. I have a friend trapped in a lease now. It is so hard to know what the future will bring. But it sounds like you are interested in the condo so maybe just wait for the pieces to fall into place. Do you know anyone who lives there? Maybe they could be your "ear" on learning if someone is considering selling.

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  13. Piper is growing up and yes, The costume on Lizzie is a hoot! They are both so cute!
    I think you are smart to rest this winter and gather up your strength for your next move. I pray you find exactly what you want.
    The sweaters are darling and I too love that periwinkle yarn color! Take care of each other and get your rest!

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  14. Nice photo of Piper and yes Lizzie made me smile! Isn't that they way with dogs...Chance chose Far Guy too over me...every time:) Oh well good thing they like us part of the time:) More than likely a good decision on selling the house...moving twice should be avoided! Wait for a condo that you really want!! You will know when the time is right! Those are awesome sweaters!!! :)

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  15. Dearest sis Betsy,
    Well, my heart felt for you as I read the decision you’ve come to make .. and it’s understandable in the circumstances, our Heavenly Father knoweth and He careth for you.
    He sees what we cannot and peace in His will and purpose for you both is important.
    I pray it’s a mild winter for you, I’m not sure if it snows there but won’t be fun driving across town in winter weather, so praying much.

    He’s gone ahead and cleared crooked paths before so I’m sure our great God will do it again.
    I’ve not been well hence no craft blogging only a little in Christian blog.
    I don’t like Halloween and it makes me sad the way the world is going ..
    … though Piper has dressed her puppy up very cutely … as you said Lizzy has patience indeed!

    Thanks for Sharing, God bless and keep you safe, and all those you love, hugs Shaz in Oz.x

    {Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
    {Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

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  16. You and Dennis ae still so very, very busy. I hope you can find some time to relax and take it easy. The dogs are adorable as is Piper. What a smile!!

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  17. Good morning. So nice to have a cup of tea and read your blog - just like chatting with a good friend at the kitchen table. You and Dennis will know when the time is right to list the house and to move.

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  18. Piper is such a cutie! I hope things will fall into place when you are ready to take the plunge into a new home. It's so hard making all these life altering decisions. Keeping you in my prayers!

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  19. Piper is such a cutie! I hope things will fall into place when you are ready to take the plunge into a new home. It's so hard making all these life altering decisions. Keeping you in my prayers!

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  20. Adorable photo of Piper, Marie Antoinette (aka Lizzie dog) + Zoey! Too cute. I pray that God gives you wisdom on what to do re: where to live. It is a difficult decision nowadays with all that’s going on.
    I remember going through your state at about this time of the year and how peaceful it was with the cornfields, waterways and such. I truly loved it!
    Peace,
    Aimee

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  21. I love that scripture, Betsy. The sweaters are so sweet. The girls will look adorable in them. Zoey is, indeed, patient. I had a little dog like that once. She let our pastor's three year-old daughter dress and undress her in doll clothes and never made a peep. I understand the conundrum with housing. Ugh. I'm glad I don't have to face that at this time. I know God as guiding you. The fall tree is gorgeous against that blue sky. Enjoy this season! Hugs.

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