Blue Skies!

Although it’s been very cold the skies are blue today and a warm up into the 40’s is supposed to happen. Brad & Mandy are getting new flooring throughout their house so Lizzie has stayed with us all week and will be here through Monday. These two are exhausted with playing and are loving every minute together.

I changed the decorations on the door from Valentine’s Day to St. Patrick’s.

Once again I can’t get both sides in one photo.

Remember the socks I made while in London with the Paton’s Kroy? I ran out of yarn with both balls so I finished the toes with some leftover turquoise yarn. I kind of like them. A bit quirky.

Here’s my finished Portage sweater. It’s so comfortable and soft. Judy asked about the yarn I used. It is from Hobby Lobby, I Love This Yarn in the color “Fireworks Show.”

The pockets are my favorite part of the sweater. They’re so roomy and spacious.

This past week I made a shawl for the hospitals prayer ministry. It’s made with Impeccable yarn in the colors  Cream and Buttercup. I just did a simple granny stripe with a single crochet and half-double crochet border. The shawl is 2 feet wide and 5 1/2 feet long.

I also made an “Every Which Way” baby blanket for good friends of Alex and Tara who live outside of London. They are expecting a little boy soon.

I started another prayer shawl as a granny triangle. I’m using deep stash yarn that I’ve had for years. Red Heart in the color “Grape Fizz”. I forgot how stiff the older Red Heart is to work with, but once it’s washed it will be nice and soft.

I brought this jar home from London. It came with honey in it. Can you see the cute little bees in the glass?

More cute bees. I’m not sure what I’ll use it for but I couldn’t bear to throw it away. I even like the label with the little bee on it.

I still don’t have a voice and I’m also still coughing quite a bit. I had a telehealth appointment with my doctor on Wednesday and he prescribed antibiotics for bronchitis. Hopefully they will work and I’ll be better soon. There is so much sickness out there right now. Hopefully you are all well and healthy.

I’ve been following with interest the revivals and prayer meetings on campus’s around the world. May God be glorified and lifted up at each one and let no person seek to elevate themselves through it all.

Blessings and love to you all,

Betsy

Snow Day!

It looks like the weather people finally got it right for once. It started snowing a couple of hours ago and is supposed to keep going most of the day. I just took this picture, but it doesn’t show very well how hard the snow is coming down. Sometimes quarter size flakes are flying around. I think this is the most snow we’ve had this year. It IS nice not to have to worry about snow blowing or shoveling this year. ❄️❄️❄️

I’ve had this pile of yarn in my lap all week. All I have left to knit are the pockets. I’m looking forward to the finish, which should be today. 

This is where this little girl stayed for two hours yesterday when Dennis went to do his Moms laundry. She’s so pitiful when one of us is gone.

I still have something going on in my head! Icky stuff is still spewing forth from my nose and now a cough has been added, so I’m staying in the apartment and away from people. Covid test is negative. I think it’s a plain old sinus infection or head cold from the airplane. If it’s still around next week Dennis says I’ll be calling the doctor.

And now, I’m going to snuggle into my knitting chair in front of the fire, have a cup of tea and watch the snow fall. No school for Miss Piper as it’s conferences this week so she gets to stay home and warm too.

Blessings and love.

Betsy

Out and About

Gosh, it’s been awhile hasn’t it? I’m home! I started several blog posts while still in London but was interrupted each time and unable to finish them. The last week and a half was filled with a sick Baby J with tummy upsets and teething. Dear DIL had some sort of stomach flu too that lasted several days. I was busy, busy the entire last two weeks. I did read all of your blogs but sometimes it was at 3:00 am! I apologize. 

I do have a few highlights. DIL and Alex sent me these beautiful flowers for my birthday on February 1. They arrived in a 1x5x24 inch box that fits through the letter slot in the door! When you open the box they look DEAD. I though, “that’s a strange gift”. 😂 Then you put them in a water filled vase with this special little packet of powder that “wakes” them up. Three days later you put a different packet of powder in new water to prolong the life. It was amazing to see the difference overnight. I should have taken a photo of the “dead” flowers.

The nanny gave me this beautiful Cath Kidston notion bag. 

I’ve always wanted one, but would never purchase one for myself. Sorry for the blurry photo.

We also had some delicious pieces of cake and a tart to share. The squiggly frosted one is tiramisu.

And a candle to blow out! Our DIL’s father’s birthday was on the Saturday after mine so we went to their home where DIL made an entire meal for the family including her sister, BIL, nephew and niece too. She baked an incredible chocolate fudge cake with two layers. Crumbled on the frosting in the middle and on top were dark chocolate digestive biscuits that I adore. How did I not get a photo? Too busy having fun with everyone.

Many days, just to get outside for a bit, I walked to the Old Paddington Cemetery a couple of blocks from the house, where Michael Bond is buried. He is the creator of Paddington Bear. On the top of his headstone are always new jars of honey and little figures of the bear.

I love the inscription. “Please look after this bear. thank you.” So simple.



A few more figures in a bag and bottle to help preserve them from the weather.

One Sunday evening just before they got sick, Baby J, DIL and I walked to a neighborhood restaurant for dinner. It was nicely decorated.

We ordered several small plates to share. We both love truffles so we had truffle sauce wings, truffle fries, truffle Mac & cheese, kale salad, some kind of bread and truffle chicken croquettes. Oh, my gosh! It was all so delicious. We don’t normally eat this fancy but I loved it all. There are so many restaurants in this city and most are in neighborhoods so you can walk to them.

I was also asked to make my homemade chicken and noodles the night before I left. It has become a tradition for me to make this for the entire family the night before we leave to come home. I make my noodles from scratch and roll them out and dry them. I made two huge pots of noodles, garlic sautéed fresh green beans and garlic bread. There certainly wasn’t much left of anything after we finished eating! I may have to buy another pot next time, so I can make three kettles full. 🤣 Alex is always upset that there isn’t enough left over to freeze and have later. They all love these noodles, but I think Alex loves them the most because they remind him of home. I do try, but no matter how many I make, they eat them!

I think that’s about enough of my babbling on. I arrived home late, late Friday night. Saturday was spent doing laundry, grocery shopping and visiting mom. Yesterday was church, then we took my sister out for lunch for her birthday and after that Piper came home with us for the Super Bowl party downstairs. I haven’t had a spare moment to sit down since I got back to write a post. This morning I woke up with a sore throat and headache. I think it might be a sinus infection. I’ll spare you the details of what’s being blown from my nose!😁 The air was seemed to be even drier than usual on that long flight home and I overheard several people commenting about it. I’ll give it a day or two, but I think I may need to see a doctor for this. I’ll also do a Covid test later today, just to make sure.

Take care everyone. Today is my day to be able to talk to you all again on your blogs. Yay!

Blessings and love, 💜💕💜

Betsy