Friday, March 24, 2023

Late again.


Hello everyone. Once again it's been almost two weeks since I posted. Life has gotten in the way. Doctors appointments for Mom, lots of things going on here and well, just life in general. It is gorgeous today, in the mid 50's and sunny. Zoey is laying in her bed in the sunshine on the balcony. We just got home after five hours of errands and taking Mom to lunch. Yesterday my snow tires were taken off. Watch us have a blizzard now! :-) 

Last Wednesday was a hobby sharing time downstairs. We had everything from foreign dolls to an original Barbie collection. Lots of diamond paintings, some quilts, stamps, coins, lego flowers and piano and photography.  At 3:15 we have a video of the last five years here at The Grand Reserve that a resident has put together. He used to be a movie producer for commercials before retirement and he has made some amazing videos of their travels. We've seen several and the quality of the videos is outstanding.

Yesterday a tour company came to the building and had a presentation about 20 tours, both day trips, overnight trips and week long trips, to various places including Branson, Missouri for Christmas concerts, Amish areas, fall tours, etc. They pick people up right here at our building because apparently, we have the most participation in the tours. I have no idea if Dennis and I will do any of the tours but it has given us some ideas of places to go see. Even growing up here, there are some places we've never been to or even heard of!

I hung up Easter decorations the day after St. Patricks Day. There's not a lot of time between the two holidays, so I thought I better get them up.  On St. Patricks Day we had a band here in the evening that performed 50's and 60's music. It was so much fun. People were dancing, singing along and moving to the music. 

Once again, I couldn't get all of the decorations in one photos. 

I started a new shawl for the Medical Center. I'm using yarn I bought at the Hobby Lobby clearance sale. I didn't buy much and only spent $25.03 and ended up with $99.27 worth of yarn at the original prices. I think I bought 4 skeins of I Love This Cotton, 4 skeins of baby yarn, 2 each yellow and gray. Six variegated skeins of I Love This Yarn and 5 skeins of sport weight in cream and golds. Some people had their entire carts full and overflowing. I only bought what I know I'll use soon and not a lot of extra. 

The yarn I'm using for this shawl is Yarn Bee, "Urban Chic" in the Denim Days Colorway. I'm also using a 5.5 mm, (I) crochet hook.

And a TA-DA moment too! After about three years, I finally finished my sock yarn, Cozy Memories Nine Patch Quilt. I made each small square with #2 sock yarn and joined them together into nine-patch quilt blocks. Then I used a #2 knitting needle to knit a garter stitch border around each nine-patch square. I then crocheted the blocks together this week and crocheted a single crochet border around the entire blanket. Each nine patch square is about 12 inches square so the blanket is approximately 60 inches by 72 inches. 

I would go months without picking these squares up when I had other projects going, which is why I took so long to finish it. I am very happy with it though. I have debated putting a backing on it of soft flannel or something else, but I'll probably leave it as is. What do you think?

Don't we all have these days as parents? I saw this cartoon and I think it's hilarious.

I'm so sorry it took so long to get this post done. We had some illness in our extended family this week which occupied a lot of my brain power. All is well on that front now though. I was with Mom all day Tuesday with doctor visits and we have more next Tuesday. There seem to be so many distractions in life right now. I know you're all just as busy and I'm just making excuses. I have been trying to get to all of your blogs though, and if I'm missing your blogs, please send me an email so I can add you to my blog list. Thank you for all hanging in there and visiting me. Please try to stay safe out there with all of the storms. The weather seems to be a bit insane this year doesn't it?

Blessings and love,
Betsy


20 comments:

  1. Hello, my friend. Your Easter decorations look great! I only have a candle out so far, but hope to have the rest out this weekend. I best get going! Easter is coming up!! Have a cozy weekend. Hugs!

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  2. Your Easter decorations are lovely. Your complex sure does have a lot of things to entertain/keep you busy! The thing I miss most about retirement is the socialization. Your nine patch quilt turned out great! It looks very cozy and warm. I hope that your mom is feeling better. Have a great weekend!

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  3. So glad you're back, Betsy! I just love that colorful quilt you made. Those bus tours sound like such fun, but I know you guys like to travel on your own. I love your Easter door decor too. Our house is all decorated for Easter too. Take good care.

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  4. I used to work for a company that organized those type of bus tours! They went all over the place - including places in the states like Branson. I've been trying to convince Dave's Mom to check out something like it. I think she'd really have fun (and make some new friends - now that we're out here and Grandma is gone, she's a little lost).
    My brother occasionally goes on some with his uncle-in-law. They go to the casinos. My brother (who is in his mid-40s) says he loves hanging out with the "bus seniors" because they know how to have a good time!
    Love your Easter decorations and that sock yarn blanket! Gorgeous!
    That "adopted" joke makes me think of the things my Dad used to say to me. Mostly that they found me in a pumpkin patch... but he also like to tell me he picked me up at the circus... and my favourite... that I was actually twins, but they could only afford one, so they decided to keep the "funny looking one".

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  5. A flannel back would make it extra cozy. Not sure how well they would wash together though. I have read others have done that and it keeps the blanket more "squared up" and even along the sides, but the wonky sides on mine don't bother me much.

    I'm leaving mine "as is".

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  6. QUE BUENO QUE ESTES DE VUELTA, ME ALEGRA SABER QUE ESTAS BIEN, TU MANTA ES TAN COLORIDA Y SE VE MUY CALENTITA, CREO QUE ASI ESTA BIEN, PERO TU TIENES LA DECISION. TIENES RAZON, CREO QUE EL CLIMA MUNDIAL ESTA BASTANTE LOCO, GRACIAS A DIOS LA TERRIBLE OLA DE CALOR QUE SUFRIMOS POR VARIAS SEMANAS YA PASO, ESTAMOS EN OTOÑO Y YA SE COMIENZA A SENTIR UNA FRESCA BRISA OTOÑAL. BENDICIONES DULCE HERMANA Y QUE DIOS LOS SIGA PROTEJIENDO.

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    1. I'M GLAD YOU'RE BACK, I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU'RE WELL, YOUR BLANKET IS SO COLORFUL AND LOOKS VERY WARM, I THINK IT'S FINE, BUT YOU HAVE THE DECISION. YOU ARE RIGHT, I THINK THE WORLD WEATHER IS PRETTY CRAZY, THANK GOD THE TERRIBLE HEAT WAVE THAT WE SUFFERED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS IS OVER, WE ARE IN AUTUMN AND WE ARE BEGINNING TO FEEL A COOL AUTUMN BREEZE. BLESSINGS SWEET SISTER AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO PROTECT YOU.

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  7. Pretty blanket! The bus tours sound wonderful: I’d definitely go on one or two if they were offered here.

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  8. I think a flannel back would be nice and warm. Its very pretty. I'm crocheting a cowl using Lion Brand Comfy Cotton Blend. I want to wait until I've gotten farther along on it before I post pictures. I hope we are done with snow but it looks like a little is coming next week. Our weather here has been crazy too. Have a blessed weekend!

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  9. What a pretty afghan, I love flannel backs on quilts ...so cozy:) Hope you have a good weekend!

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  10. I love the nine patch! So cute and all the different stitches. I know busy, it is crazy around here too. I hope to get back to blogging soon. Then a new fire pops up and I get distracted with that. Trying to prioritize the grandchildren, you know how that goes! Have a wonderful Easter, my friend.

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  11. You sound busy but happy. Your nine patch afghan is so colourful; I can only imagine how many hours you put into it.
    Pretty Easter decor... I especially like the little stuffed bunny in the middle of the door hanging. Granny M

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  12. I still have my St Patrick's Day stuff up. It's been so gloomy and wet here I just don't have the will to drag out my Easter stuff. Hopefully tomorrow.
    That blanket is amazing. I thought it was a quilt at first glance.

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  13. As usual yarn has been a soothing activity for you! The decorations are so pretty. I am so glad you've adjusted quickly to all of the changes in your life! Hugs and prayers.

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  14. I'm glad you're doing good and knitting nice things. I like the quilt you knitted. It could be good that way or with with flannel on other side. Make it cozy. We've been having some issues on internet as the weird weather we've had this week. Sometimes Megan's laptop 💻 won't work and she's now using Hotspot she checked out at library and it works for her. I have problems on my cellphone due to problems. I was at Hobby Lobby last Tuesday to get a few things but I didn't get any yarn. I did go through those aisles though. Nice decorations. Hugs and blessings, Becky 🌷

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  15. What a fun place to live!! You have so many fun things happening. Going on a tour sounds like something I would enjoy, hope you get to go. Your door decorations look great, and you are so right, not much time between St Pats and Easter. I've done my three tier just haven't got the pictures posted yet.

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  16. Wow, sounds like a lot of fun activities/tours to participate in. Sounds like a very active community, which would be a good thing for us as we age and get too sedentary. Oh, I love that quilt! That is amazing! What a lot of work!!! It is really beautiful. You are very talented. Your Easter decorations are cute and fun. Yes, Easter is right around the corner and I am not quite ready yet. I will do some decorating this week. Thank you for visiting my blog post last night. And yes, we all go through spells where we just have so much going on in our "real lives" that can't quite keep up with our wonderful friends here online. I try, but sometimes life just gets in the way. I pray you have a blessed and beautiful week...stay warm and cozy and safe!

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  17. I love your cozy sock yarn quilt and all the colors. It really does look like little stitched patches. Lovely! Sometimes life just gets extra busy -- no reason to apologize. It's really so nice to hear about all the wonderful opportunities to share and participate in activities in your community. Sounds like such great living arrangements surrounded by like-minded people. And wow! Your yarn haul will certainly keep you busy for a while. Take care.

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  18. What a pretty blanket Betsy. You sure do keep busy - so much to do where you live now and, of course, just busy with Dennis' Mom. Be sure to take care of yourself!

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  19. Look at all your Easter decor. It is so cheerful. Take good care as care-giving can be exhausting. Your residence sounds like it has lots of great activities. Listening to 50's and 60's music would be right up my alley.

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