February!

Happy February my friends. It's my birthday! I'm officially a senior citizen now. 65! Wow! When did that happen? I remember 50 years ago like it was yesterday, but I can't remember what I went into the kitchen for ten minutes ago. Ha! My back has been spasming like crazy since we went to church yesterday to set up for a funeral dinner today, Saturday. I've been weaning off of the medication that I take for spasms for a couple of months now. I was within a week of being off of it completely, but the spasms came back today with a vengence, so now I'm not sure what will happen. Oh well, many are worse off than I am and at least I can still do my crafting from my chair.

Since I haven't completed anything except a sock since I last posted, I thought I would show you around our condo since I took down Christmas and put away the snowmen on Wednesday. Now, it's Valentine's month!

The cards are for my birthday, on the left is from my friend Jenny and the right is from Connie at the "Far Side Of Fifty" blog that you'll find on my sidebar. Both are beautiful, but Connie's is handmade in purples, My absolute favorite color. I also got a beautiful card today from Pam at "Closed Doors, Open Windows." Thank you ladies. I am so thankful for my blog friends.

The little statues are from Mom's house. I just couldn't bear to part with them. I think they look kind of cute next to the fireplace don't you?

The kitchen sink. I just purchased a new bottle for my dish soap as the last one had a crack in it. That drainboard/sink cover is the greatest thing. One came with our camper and I used it so much, I bought one for the house. You can drain veggies, dishes, whatever you need to. I use it a lot for pots and pans that I don't like to put in the dishwasher.

The Scandanavian Heart garland that I made years ago from my dear blog friend Teresa Kasner's pattern. She designed the pattern and although she passed a few years ago, her husband has left the blog up and the pattern is at the top right on her home page. They are quick and easy to crochet and always make me smile and think of dear Teresa, a very talented lady and good friend. Dennis and I used to drive to Portland, OR to have dinner with Teresa and Dayle at various places. The last one was shortly before Teresa died. We met them on the Oregon coast in Lincoln City at a nice restaurant right on the beach at D'River. D'River is the shortest river in the world where fresh water meets up with the salt water of the Pacific. I sure miss Teresa. We had a great phone conversation the afternoon that she passed. Right after we hung up she went to the hospital. Such a sad thing and a loss for the crafting community.

My orchids are loving this diffused morning sunshine. I'm still waiting for my violet to bloom, but since it was just a dried up shrivel of a plant when I found it in the trash at Walmart, I figured it would take awhile. They even gave it to me free because as the worker said, "it's dead, I don't know why you want it." Well, it's not dead, but it still hasn't flowered either. The sweet little card is one that Araignee, (Debbie), sent with some soap a couple of weeks ago. I really, really like her homemade soap. It's wonderful and easy on the hands. She puts such care into wrapping, providing an ingredient list and even a little card with each bar. Thank you again Debbie! She's at the "Araignee's Tangled Web" blog on my sidebar.

I cross-stitched the bunny tray about 36-37 years ago. I also made one for one of the Mom's I babysat for. We have a kissing booth all set up here in our kitchen. Do you want to come visit and get a hug?

Here is a little wider view showing the china cabinet. This week I cleaned some things out of it that I've had for years and taken them to the thrift store. After moving Mom out of her house of 47 years, (and she never threw anything away), I've promised myself that our kids won't have to sift through a ton of stuff when we're gone. Actually, it feels very freeing to get rid of some "stuff" we don't need. Except yarn, I'm afraid they'll have to go through yarn when I die. :-)

One of the things like like most about this condo is the laundry right next to the kitchen/living room/ dining area. It makes it so easy to do our laundry that I don't mind it at all.  Our newest purchase is the little rolling can storage cart on the bottom left. We don't have much of a panty here at all, so this has come in very handy. I had the extra cans in rolling plastic bins under our bed, but it was just too difficult to get down on my hands and knees and drag that very heavy thing out every time I needed some canned food. I try to keep things we eat often on hand just in case. I don't think I'll ever forget the empty grocery shelves during covid. So I keep a month or two of groceries on hand. (And toilet paper!) Ha!

My first pair of mittens in over two years! They actually took longer than I thought they would, considering I've made hundreds of pairs in this exact size. But I had to keep referring to the pattern as a refresher course. Now, I think I've got it in my head again and will get rolling faster. I'll try to make at least 3-4 pair a week, as I can usually make a pair in this size in about 3 hours or so. I'm going to check with my friend and see if they would like larger sizes too, so they would have them for all the elementary students that need them, not just K-2 grades that these normally fit.

I was asked what pattern I use for the mittens. Here is a photo of the pamplet that I bought on Amazon. It has patterns for both the pointed tops and the rounded ones that I prefer to make for the children. I've done both and I have mittens for Mandy, Piper and I with both pointed and round. The cute hat patterns are also included. I'm not sure if the leaflet is still in stock or not. Let me know if you can't find it anywhere.

A larger view of the leaflet number. It's Leisure Arts #391.

Well, that's it. Not much else happening here. It was another gorgeously sunny day today, but tomorrow is supposed to be cloudy. Sunday is predicted for 56F! I can't believe the weather this past week. After Sunday, it's supposed to cool into the 30's during the day and teens at night. That will be more like January in Nebraska!

My doctor sent me a message this afternoon that he has referred me to an endocrinologist. Did I spell that right? Anyway, he wants another opinion on the mass, growth or whatever you want to call it on my adrenal gland, that showed up even clearer in the CT scan this week. I feel like I'm living the book, "If you give a mouse a cookie." I had the MRI to check my back muscles and joints because of the spasms. They found a cyst on my spine, so now I have an appointment next month with a neurosurgeon. Now an endocrinologist too. I don't think I want any more tests, if they're just going to find stuff. :-) Ha! It's all part of growing older, right? 

My heart was already breaking over the plane crash in DC and now, there has been another one in Philadelphia. From what I've heard, it sounds like no survivors there either and possibly people on the ground too. Two doctors, crew, pediatric patient and a family member on a medical flight. How tragic. It makes one wonder, doesn't it? How can all of this be happening?

I'm so glad to have Jesus in my life. I don't know how people can cope without Him to give comfort, peace and love as only He can. I pray that all of the people on these flights knew Him too. I pray they are now safe in Heaven, walking the streets of gold, completely healed of everything. I'm truly looking forward to my turn to go home and see Him and those who have gone before. I want to sit and talk to Ruth, Mary and Elizabeth and ask them how they did the things they did. Now, understand, I'm not in a hurry, I'm just not afraid. I know where I'm going. I've been there before, when my heart stopped for 34 seconds, just days before I got my pacemaker. I was lucky to be in the cardiologist's office doing a tilt-table test when in happened, or I may not be here today. Heaven is AMAZING! God is good. And I know He was with the people on those flights when they must have been so terrified. We serve the Almighty God in this broken, sad and sometimes terrifying world we live in. 

And now, "May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and give you peace."  Numbers 6:24-26

I'll be back again soon. Love to you all, my dear friends.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

SINCE JESUS CAME INTO MY HEARTl

What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
Since Jesus came into my heart!
I have light in my soul for which long I have sought,
Since Jesus came into my heart!

Refrain:
Since Jesus came into my heart,
Since Jesus came into my heart,
Floods of joy o'er my soul like the sea billows roll,
Since Jesus came into my heart.

2 I have ceased from my wand'ring and going astray,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And my sins which were many are all washed away,
Since Jesus came into my heart! [Refrain]

3 I’m possessed of a hope that is steadfast and sure,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And no dark clouds of doubt now my pathway obscure,
Since Jesus came into my heart! [Refrain]

4 There's a light in the valley of 

death now for me,

Since Jesus came into my heart!
And the gates of the City beyond I can see,
Since Jesus came into my heart! [Refrain]

5 I shall go there to dwell in that city, I know,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And I'm happy, so happy, as onward I go,
Since Jesus came into my heart! [Refrain]

Text: Rufus H. McDaniel

Music: Charles H. Gabriel

Baby It’s Warm Outside

Hello everyone. It is such a gorgeous, amazingly beautiful "spring in January" day here in Omaha, It's bright blue sky and 59F outside right now at 3:55 as I begin typing this post. Last week it was -19F. What a change! It would be nice if it was like this the rest of the winter, but I know that isn't going to happen. However, I will enjoy every beautiful moment that God has provided today and deal with tomorrow when it comes.

Mandy and Piper have been really sick since Thursday with Influenza A. Piper got it first and Mandy was sick by Sunday morning. They were both vaccinated but it must be a different strain than the vaccine covers. I'm taking homemade chicken and noodles over to them for dinner tonight. It will be a porch drop-off because I don't want to get sick and neither does Dennis! So far Brad's okay and I hope it stays that way.

I finished another baby blanket for the Open Door Mission. I used Hobby Lobby's Baby Bee in "banana." It took exactly two skeins, I was playing yarn chicken and starting to get worried. :-) I don't have the name of the pattern, but it is free on Ravelry.

A friend at church is a school nurse for a low income elementary school here. Many of the children are refugees through Catholic Charities. She said mittens are very needed there, so I'll start making them again. I enjoy making them and have missed it. They use up lots of worsted scraps too.

I think I have some new readers so I thought I would show you how I store my yarn. This is the majority of it on these shelves. I have used a LOT of what I had two years ago. Do you remember that big score of yarn I found on Facebook marketplace right after we moved? I had kept much of what I bought then in bins and bags. The top right cubbies are baby yarn #3.  Most of the rest is worsted #4 except the third bin from the left in the top row where you see the big peach skein. That is sock yarn. The bottom bins on the left hold cotton that I use for dishcloths. 

The pretty crocheted medallion is from Amanda who used to blog who lives in the mediterranean. The three stitichery projects are ones that I made years and years ago when I was still in junior high and high school. The embroidered deer picture is the very first crewel embroidery that I ever did. The little sheep felted bookmark was made for me by Lorraine. She was a blogger who lived on the Isle of Lewis who died a couple of years ago. Dennis and I spent a day with her and her husband in London the summer before she passed. We had such a great time together and she was a wonderful person who was a very talented crafter in many things.

After I wash them, I keep finished projects in bins in the closet until they are donated or given away as a gift. The bottom two bins have leftover balls of sock yarn that I try to use up, but it just seems to multiply. The purple bag has my yarn swift from Paradise Fibers in Spokane. The bags underneath have projeccts in them that I may or may not get to. They've been in those bags since before we moved from Spokane. I should just frog them and put the yarn to better use.

Now for the recipient of the sweater that I made earlier this month. She told me that I could share her photo. This is Pamela from the "Closed Doors, Open Windows" blog. She is an amazing Christian woman, encourager. wildlife lover and friend. I am blessed every time I read one of her posts. God put it into my head to maker her a sweater. I've never done that for anyone besides family, but when God tells you to do something, you do it! And do you know, Pamela lives in Florida where it was so cold last week? She got the sweater just before it got so cold. God's timing is perfect. He knew Pamela needed a sweater and told me to make it, and it got to her just when she needed it. Look at her beautiful smile. I LOVE it! And who knew? I had no idea of her size, but it fit her perfectly. God is amazing!

And she likes the pockets as much as I do on mine. Now she matches Piper. I want one is this color too. I'm just so happy that she likes it.

I better finish that chicken and noodles to take to my sick kids. Please pray for a swift recovery and that Brad doesn"t get it. As I said, Piper is much better, but Mandy is still pretty sick. Hopefully the chicken and noodles work their magic and they're completely well tomorrow.

I'll be around to your blogs soon and I hope you're avoiding all of the "stuff" out there as much as possible. May God bless your homes with peace and joy.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

In The Garden

Text & Music by C. AustinMiles

I come to the garden alone.
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me,
And He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own.
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing.
And the melody that He gave to me,
Within my heart is ringing.

And He walks with me,
And He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own.
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

I'd stay in the garden with Him,
'Tho the night around me be falling.
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe,
His voice to me is calling.

And He walks with me,
And He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own.
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

Baby It’s Cold Outside

Right now at our house. Better than yesterday but still cold. Brrrrr. What is it like at your house? A warm up is supposed to begin today and I sure hope so.

I thought I would share a few more of my snowman collection with you this morning. I made this diamond painting last year. I hang him up after Christmas to welcome people to our home. I really like how diamond paintings sparkle in the sunshine. Because although it’s cold, the sun is shining beautifully here.

A good friend in Spokane made this quilted wall hanging and sent it to me a couple of years ago. She is very, very talented. For years, she displayed and sold her works of art at craft shows, but has stopped doing that.

If you look very closely in the tray by the word,”blessed” there is a little wooden snowman that my blog friend Cindy from the “Delighted Hands” blog, made for me on her wood lathe. I couldn’t believe it when it arrived in the mail one day and I treasure it.

A happy little snowman family! The rotating photo frame was a Christmas present from Alex and “T”. Both Mandy and the two of them, remotely upload new photos often. We absolutely love it! It sits right under the television, so it often catches our eye and we’ll both say at the same time. “Look a new picture!” Such a great invention. I know they’ve been around for a while, but I don’t know if you’ve always been able to upload remotely. That’s really nice for Alex and family being so far away.

If this looks familiar, and you think I’ve already posted it, you would be half right! It is the same pattern, “the baby diamond’s blanket”, and the same color, but it’s a different blanket! We have another baby girl that is expected at  church soon. The baby shower is this Saturday, so I quickly made another blanket for this new little girl. This is such an easy pattern that once you get going, you don’t even have to look at the instructions.

The vanilla socks are progressing nicely. I have turned the heel and I’m getting ready to begin the foot. I only work on these during Sunday school or when I’m waiting at doctor appointments, so they don’t move along very quickly. 

I am really enjoying this baby blanket. It is the “Grace” blanket and is a free pattern on Ravelry. I am using Hobby Lobby‘s Baby Bee Sweet Delight in the bare blue marled color way. The first 20 rows are each a different stitch and then you repeat rows 9 through 20 as many times as you wish, until it’s the size that you want. Since each row is different and I have to check the pattern, it is a much slower blanket than the pink one above, but I’m sure enjoying it. 

This blanket will go to the Open Door Mission. I have only four blankets ready for Dennis to take tomorrow when he volunteers at that location. I’ve been busy making blankets for baby showers and have fallen down on my donations! Today he is volunteering at the location nearer to us and I’m sure hoping they have the door shut! Usually they have the dock doors open so they can go out and get the donations from people as they drive up. It is so cold today, though. Last Tuesday he came home half frozen.

I spent a few hours crocheting on it yesterday while I watched the inauguration of President Trump. I missed seeing it when Ronald Reagan was inaugurated indoors so many years ago and had to have the ceremony inside. I was working then and you couldn’t rewatch things as easily as you can now. I thought this was a beautiful location chosen when the ceremony had to be moved indoors because of the cold.

I have so many odds and ends of sock yarn that I’ve started crocheting little three round hexagons and then I single crochet around them in a cream color. This is a very, very long-term project. I have baskets and bags of little balls of sock yarn that I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with. I have already knitted two blankets with scraps. I’ve started keeping a small bag of little scrap balls next to my chair. When I remember, I can grab it and whip out a couple of these hexagons. When I get a stack of them, I will attach them together. I’ll just keep going until I think the blanket is big enough! I want to get more variety of colors made before I start attaching them together. This is my progress so far. As I said, this is a very long-term project.

In other news, the Portage sweater I was knitting and mailed last week has found its way to its new home. I sent it to a friend in Florida who received it just before the cold snap hit, so she is very happy. I’ll have to ask her if she minds me posting a picture of her wearing it on my blog for the next post. 

The neurosurgeon‘s office called yesterday and changed my appointment from April to the end of February! It will be nice not to have to wait so long to be seen and find out what, if anything, can be done.  Next Tuesday I have a CT scan on my adrenal gland. It will also be nice to see if that is anything I should be concerned about or can just be ignored. I guess this is what happens when you put things off until you get new insurance. Lots of doctors appointments all at once!

I am very relieved to finally have the election and inauguration behind us with none of the horrible attacks that so many were afraid would happen.My prayer is that we can put aside our differences and learn to work together again as a country. We are so divided and nothing good can happen when there is so much anger and hatred. What makes the United States different from many other countries is the peaceful transition of power. I was very happy and relieved to see that take place yesterday with nothing horrible happening around the country.

Well, my friends, I need to close and get a few housekeeping chores done this morning before I go to my crochet group where we make sleeping mats for the homeless. I guess it isn’t technically a crochet group since only three or four of us know how to crochet. The other ladies fold the plastic bags, cut them and roll them into balls called “plarn”.

I’ll be back soon. Always know that I’m thinking and praying for each one of you.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

LIVING FOR JESUS

Lyrics-Thomas O. Chisholm

Music-C. Harold Lowden

1. Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Refrain:

O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

2. Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
Bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.

3. Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

4. Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

Doctors, doctors and more doctors!

Hello my friends! It has been a whirlwind of doctor visits around here. Dennis has had several since the first of the year and because I put everything off until I started on Medicare on January 1, I have had several also. Last week I had an MRI and a couple of things showed up on it. Apparently I have a cyst on my spinal column that could be contributing to my back spasms and pain. I’ve been referred to a neurosurgeon for that, but I understand the appointments are about six months out just to get in for a first visit. I’m waiting for a callback from them. And the MRI also showed a nodule or growth, on my adrenal gland and I’m waiting for a callback from my primary care to see how he wants to follow up with that. It’s great getting old! You go to the doctor for one thing and they find three others! 🤣

In other news, I have started another pair of socks for the Christmas basket. I love these socks! They are so bright and happy. It’s Paton’s Kroy Socks in the “sweet stripes” colorway. I did a K2, P2 ribbing for 20 rows and then the plain vanilla. I’m getting ready to turn the heel and I’ll use the Eye of Partridge heel.

I finished the sweater I’ve been working on since the beginning of the month. It is another “Portage Sweater” that is a paid for pattern on Ravelry. I used Hobby Lobby’s I love this Yarn in “Ivory Tweed”. I love this pattern too! As most of you know, it is the sixth sweater that I’ve knitted with this pattern. This one is for a gift, but I’m thinking I would love to have one for myself someday in this colorway. I just dropped it in the mail about an hour ago, so it’s off to its new home. I can’t wait to find out if the person receiving it likes it as much as I do.

And I just started this little square. It will be another baby diamond’s blanket for a baby shower at church. The shower is in a little over a week. We seem to be having all girl babies at the church lately and no boys. At least the girls will have close friends to grow up with.

I thought this was a neat picture and reminds me of what a lot of our homes may look like. Doesn’t she look very content in her room full of squishy yarn?

Not too much else is happening here lately. Dennis had a birthday last week, Mandy‘s birthday is next week, and mine is the following week. It’s been very cold. This morning when I left for my doctors appointment it was a feels like temperature of -12°F. Would you believe I was wearing flip-flops and a sweater? I still get so hot. I think I’ve worn real shoes only twice this winter so far. It’s supposed to be a little warmer Thursday and Friday and then be back below zero for the air temperatures by the weekend. I guess that’s winter in the Midwest. We would much rather be down south, where even though it’s cold to those of you who live there, it would be positively balmy to all of us!

Please remember to pray for all of those in California affected by the horrible fires, those in Tennessee and North Carolina that are still suffering from the hurricane, and of course, the people in the Middle East and the Ukraine, who have so many wars going on. The world seems to be spinning out of control these days. I get my peace through the Lord Jesus Christ. Without him, I’m not sure what I would do. I hope you have the same source of peace in your heart.

Take care and I’ll be back again soon.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

Great Is Thy Faithfulness 

By: Text - Thomas O. Chisholm

       Music - William B. Runyon

1.        “Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,
             There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
             Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
             As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

 

“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
  Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
    “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!

2

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

3

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

A New Years Start

Hello Everyone. A short post today because I don't have a lot. I did finish this baby blanket on New Years Eve. It's for a couple at church who are having their first baby. The shower is Sunday after church, but we're supposed to have ice and snow tomorrow and Sunday morning, so I don't know how many will be there.

I also started another Portage Sweater as a gift for someone who might be reading this, so I'm not saying who. It's made with the same yarn that I used for Piper's last sweater, but it's my favorite pattern. It has BIG pockets and I love them. I just started it New Years Day and have divided for the sleeves so there is a lot to go yet.

Since I don't have a lot of other fun things, I thought I would show you my view right now. My orchid is blooming again in front of the window. It likes the east facing window.

When I took Christmas decor down, I replaced it with my snowmen collection. I think I'll leave it up until Valentine's day.

On the mantel is a swedish ivy plant, bamboo that Alex gave me 22 years ago, a Christmas cactus I bought on clearance last week and repotted and a philodendron I got from a slip from Mandy a long time ago. The two snowpeople I found at Goodwill two years ago. I think they were $3.00 for the set. And the Thomas Kincaide print is one that the kids and Dennis gave me for Mother's day when they all still lived at home. A long time ago. It's not the usual ones you buy, but it's a numbered collectors edition from an art gallery. But far from an original! We saw one of those on Maui a few years ago. It was half the size and over $80,000! Whoo-ee. Not in our budget at all. But this one is special to me because the kids knew how much I love his work.

This morning I went to the cardiologist and had my pacemaker interrogated and a chest xray and an exam. It was all for getting the all clear for an MRI on Monday for my back. I sure hope it shows what's wrong and that it can be fixed. I would like to do some hiking & biking this year and I haven't been able to do that for a long time. If they can take care of my back and I can do some exercising before spring, there's a possibility that can happen. But as the scripture says, God fills me with joy and peace, because no matter what happens, He knows what is best for me.

I hope you're all enjoying a few slow days to begin the new year without a lot of responsibilities and rushing about. I''ll be back soon.

Blessings and love,

Betsy


GRACE GREATER THAN MY SIN

By Julia H. Johnston

1. Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
   Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
   Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
   There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.
   • Refrain:
     Grace, grace, God’s grace,
     Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
     Grace, grace, God’s grace,
     Grace that is greater than all our sin!
2. Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
   Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
   Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
   Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.
3. Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;
   What can we do to wash it away?
   Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
   Brighter than snow you may be today.
4. Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
   Freely bestowed on all who believe!
   You that are longing to see His face,
   Will you this moment His grace receive?