Wednesday, December 28, 2022

The Week In Between

Does anyone else find this week in between Christmas and New Years is kind of strange feeling? I don’t know why I’ve always felt that way. A bit of sadness that all of the festivities of Christmas are over, yet anticipating the new beginnings of another year.

OK, the first thing I have to do is apologize for the photo below. My elbow is in the way and I couldn’t back up far enough across the hall to get everything in the picture and it’s crooked to boot! But this is the doorway to our apartment all decorated for Christmas! People love to decorate their doors here and one of my favorite things do do is walk up and down the halls looking at all of the pretty things hanging on the doors.

Here is Miss Piper wearing her current “Wonderful Wallaby” sweater that I made her for Christmas. She had picked out the color of yarn which is a dark hunter green a couple of months ago and I think she had forgotten about it, so she was pretty excited when she saw it in the box. It has a hood and a pocket on the front. She’s also wearing her new ring that she’s been saving her money for from Hobby Lobby and the Black Hills gold necklace that Papa and I gave her for Christmas. We bought it when we were in the Black Hills last summer. We also bought her three books from her favorite author while we were in London last spring. There was a book fair along the South Bank of the Thames river. I was so excited to find the books that I knew she would love.

And Mandy’s “Portage” sweater is what I was working on when the knitting cable broke. She had requested another sweater in this pattern in gray. She already has one in a marled blue yarn color. This sweater is actually her birthday present, but I knew she could use it now so I gave it to her a little early on Christmas. I have a brown sweater in the same pattern and I’m very tempted to make myself another one. I’ve been wearing mine as a winter coat, even in those -45F windchill‘s last week. They are amazingly warm. I love the big pockets on them too. 

And these two. They have been together every day since last Wednesday for at least a few hours each day. They are going to be totally lost without each other when that stops. They are the cutest puppies and we love them both so much. All you have to do is mention the other one’s name and whichever dog you’re with goes absolutely crazy. Running to the door and looking for them. I have never seen two dogs love each other so much. This is how they sleep. Basically on top of each other.  Zoey’s head was laying on top of Lizzie‘s just before I took this picture. But I must have disturbed them when I reached for the camera, because they both turned around and looked at me. Such sweeties and they add so much love to ours lives.πŸ’œ

This morning we had to be at the church by 9:30 to start setting up for a funeral dinner at 12:00. It was so sad. It was a lady that Dennis grown up with in the church. She was two years older than him. Basically she went to take a bath two days before Christmas and her family never heard the water shut off in. When her husband went to check on her, she had passed away in the bathtub. Apparently it was a heart attack. She was a very healthy person with no known issues. I guess that’s a good way to go though. No long and lingering illness. The service was very well attended, full of love and memories and we were able to see some of her family that moved away years ago like we did, that we haven’t seen in a long time. Dennis and I’ve been enlisted along with another couple, to take care of all of the luncheons after funerals. I know I’m getting old because it was always the old, retired people in charge of those luncheons. Ha! Now I am one.

Tomorrow I’m going to take down the Christmas decorations and for the first time since we’ve lived in this apartment, put the regular decorations out. When we moved in, it was fall, so I had the Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations out. Then it was Christmas. It will be nice to find a place for all of the regular things.

Take care and have a safe and happy New Year.

Blessings and love,
Betsy

17 comments:

  1. How sad about the women who died. Praying for her family and friends now. I'm sure it made for a very sad Christmas, but then again, a joyful one in knowing she was celebrating Christmas in heaven with Jesus! Oh, I LOVE the sweaters! You are very talented indeed! Those are amazing!! What a blessing to be able to create such beautiful things! Wow. And your door decorations are so cute. I like that idea of the apartment doors all being decorated. What fun! The puppies are so cute. Are they litter mates? They remind me of our "grandpuppies", Sugar and Spice, who are Pekingese, and they are littler mates, and they love each other too...but they also love to fight with each other at times...rough housing mostly. But they are good doggies and we always enjoy it when our kids bring them to visit. Thank you for your beautiful post, and the Scripture at the end is a wonderful one. Have a Happy New Year!!

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  2. Those are such beautiful sweaters.
    I can't imagine being that talented.
    Such adorable puppies!

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  3. Lovely post today! I think your door looks wonderful! So festive! Have a cozy day and Happy New Year!

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  4. Your door looks so inviting--elbow and all! lol Sorry about the funeral but it is a common affliction the older we get! Looks like a great job on the sweater knitting!

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  5. Mandy and Piper’s sweaters are wonderful. I especially like the style of Mandy’s sweater.

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  6. Your door is so sweet! I just took down all my Christmas stuff today. It's almost 60 degrees out and I've got the windows open. All the dust flying around the holiday decor was making me crazy so down it came with a good cleaning.
    I love those sweaters. Portage looks like a perfect pattern. I'm always looking for a pocket to shove stuff in and there never are any on anything I wear. That's going in my queue.

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  7. I love Piper's Wallaby. That is a perfect color for her.

    Yes, the week between is just .............odd. We still have Stephen here so we are enjoying that. I'm not ready for him to leave, but I'm kind of looking forward to getting back to our normal way of doing things.

    Giroux has really enjoyed having his "big brother" here.

    Your front door looks very festive. Steve's dad lived in an assisted living facility and most of the residents had something on (or by) their door. A lot of times it was something that showed who they were and what they enjoyed.

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  8. Looks like your hard work is very much appreciated! Piper is growing so fast!
    Merry Christmas and a very happy new year!

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  9. What lovely sweaters! You live in such a fun place. I bet it is very fun to visit all the doors! Just like looking at store windows, only warmer.
    I'm sorry about the woman from your church. It is a sad season to lose someone. It sounds like you have become a real part of your church. I bet you are really looking forward to your trip!!!

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  10. Beautiful sweaters you made, Betsy and I love the pic of Piper with all her new Christmas things! Those pups are so darn cute, I can see how they would add such fun to your lives. We will be keeping our Christmas decorations up for a few more weeks, due to late-arriving friends! Just saw Season 3 episode 3 of the Chosen....wow....so good. A very Happy New Year to you and Dennis and all in your family,. God Bless!

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  11. Lovely door decorations and cozy looking sweaters you made. No fun losing a friend you have known for years. Older ladies do memorial service lunch as well at our church. I used to make dessert for them years ago. We went to one in November for a friend that goes to our church. We have rain now after all the storms have disappeared finally. Still chilly outside even though Phil and I went on a walk before dinner. Have a blessed and happy new year πŸŽ‰ ✨️ πŸ’– my friend, Becky

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  12. Dear Betsy.
    I actually love the time between Christmas and New year as its a time I use to treat myself in doing things I love to do, swim and walk on beach one day.. and then read and doo some binge crafting or streaming.

    Books are rarely read during year so really a treat.
    This year it is also special time with LORD as so much to pray for in our sad world.. and lots of reading favourite parts of bible and devotional books and doing extra prayer with fasting getting ready spiritual.

    When you write it all down like that it sounds a lot but not all fun. Yesterday was the dentist, shopping, gardening getting ready for bin day so not quite fun but all necessary! 😁

    YES, we are all aging, but every day is closer to heaven so that IS good. Your knitting is lovely especially love Mandy's sweater. I'd knit myself another too. ✅

    Thanks for sharing, and may God bless you and keep you and all whom you love safe and well.πŸ™πŸ€—πŸ˜
    Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz. X

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

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  13. I think both of the sweaters are so lovely but if I had to choose I'd say Mandy's Portage sweater would be #1. It looks so very cozy and comfortable.
    Happy New Year to you and Dennis!!!

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  14. So sweet to come and visit with you tonight, my friend. I am still not getting notified when you post, so I just have to rely on my very absent memory to come by now and then to see if you have posted. It was wonderful to catch up. Those puppies are just adorable! And so is Miss Piper. I love the sweaters you made for her and her mama. May the Lord bless you!

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  15. The place where my mother in law lived had decorated doors too. Some of them were very elaborate. My MIL wanted something simple so I made wreaths for the different seasons and holiday for her to hang on her door. I did love walking thru the halls and checking out other people's doors. You are such an amazing knitter! The sweaters are just beautiful. Happy New Year!

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  16. You are so talented. I can't believe you make those beautiful sweaters! Well, I do believe it. :) Those doggies are so adorable. I would love to play with them. Happy New Year to you all.

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