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 and 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 iton 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 possible 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 an 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