Blue Skies, Smiling at Me! Nothing but Blue Skies....

 We have had the most outstanding weather with blue skies. We had a little skiff of snow a few days ago that was gone in a few hours. The weather has been unbelievable for January, but I'm not complaining at all. We're even supposed to have a few days next week in the 50's and maybe even 60F again. So nice!

I've been enjoying being home and in my cozy place again and actually have some crafty things for you today. First of all I want to say another Happy Birthday to Dennis who turned 70 last Friday, the 9th. Brad, Mandy and Piper took us out to a sports bar we all like for dinner. It was packed! We got the last available table and there were several groups waiting when we left. We didn't sit around and visit so we could leave the table and let others eat. Instead, we went back to their house and shared a cheesecake that I had made and dropped off at their house. The dogs played while we went out and we were all happy to be together. Miss Piper sat next to me and cuddled a bit. I love that at 13, she's not afraid to show her old grandma affection, even in public. I got to brush her hair while we were at her house. We both enjoy that. 

I took this photo last week for Mandy who had bought Dennis this shirt for Christmas. I wanted her to see how well it fit him. He looks pretty good for 70 doesn't he? I love this guy. Tomorrow he's driving up near S. Dakota with his cousin Curt and Jeff our pastor, to disassemble bunks at the church camp. Someone has donated all new bunks to the camp for the new season. That was so incredibly generous. Tuesday and Wednesday he'll be at the Mission all day. Retirement? What retirement? Ha!

These were what I found with my orchids when we got home from London. There are two more buds ready to open. This plant has done better than any other orchid I've had in the past.

I finished my Christmas socks the day after Christmas, so they'll be put away until next year. I threw the label away, but I believe it was Opal sock yarn. They were doing very well being twin socks until the end of the heel turn. I think the section of white at the bottom of the heel must have been different lengths for each sock because I measured so carefully when I began. Oh well, they're close enough and most don't see the foot of the sock anyway.

I began these in London and they were my flying home socks. I finished the first sock on the flight from London and started number two sock flying from Dallas to Omaha. I haven't touched them since we got home until this morning during Sunday school, when I turned the heel.  These are also using Opal sock yarn bought while in London on my last visit. The pattern is Petty Harbour which is a free pattern on Ravelry.

Because I love Opal sock yarn I ordered more during this last visit. I ordered it on a Monday and it arrived from Denmark on Wednesday. I got all of this yarn for 36 pounds. I'm not sure what the exchange rate to dollars was, but it was worth it. This yarn is so hard wearing. "J" told me yesterday that her Mommy wears her new Christmas socks whenever she is at home. She has to wear business attire to work so no hand knit socks there! :-) I'm so glad to know my kids love the socks I make them.   

If you remember, we spent a few days in the Cotswolds with Alex and "J" when we were visiting. Of course I found a yarn shop in Cirencester where I bought a tote bag and a skein of beautiful yarn. The bag shows some of the different villages in the Cotswolds on the front and back. Isn't that skein of wool gorgeous? It's made from Cotswold sheep. Yummy. It's so soft. Seeing the sheep in all of the fields as we drove around made me wonder if one of them provided my beautiful new yarn?

The back of the yarn label.

The front of the label.  It says, "Colour's of the Cotswolds."

I started this blanket last Monday. I'm trying very hard to clean up my stash a bit and use up some scraps. This was a valiant attempt at using worsted balls. However, the basket the balls hide in still looks just as full. I don't understand it. Are those yarn balls reproducing in the basket? This will be donated to the memory care unit at Parsons House where Mom lived. I have three or four blankets made for them so I'll probably deliver them next week. I have found that the dementia residents really like these colorful blankets and often choose them to use even when more solid colors are also available. Maybe the bright colors trigger a memory?

I also began knitting a matching Christmas Stocking on Tuesday for the new baby due to be born in April in London. We know it's another girl but that's it. I'll finish the stocking by adding the name once the baby is born. Alex, "T" and "J" all have stocking identical to this one.  I hope to begin the counted cross stitch birth announcement very soon. I have the pattern here but need to find the time to get all of the materials together and begin stitching.

My plan while Dennis is gone during the day this week is to get some sewing done. I have had the fabric for three new dresses since before we moved from Spokane. I washed the fabric this afternoon and will cut them out tomorrow and hopefully begin sewing too. 

I also have to shorten some jeans for a single gentleman at church. He's super short and rather round. I do a lot of shortening of sleeves and pants for him. I tell him every time that I'm not a professional and they won't be perfect, but I'll do the best I can. He's fine with that. We both grew up in the same small town in Iowa. I remember being terrified of him when growing up. He was a member of a gang. A REAL gang. Drug dealers, guns, etc. He was actually shot in the head and left for dead. His fiancé was shot and killed. He never married. The bullet is still lodged near his brain. But it completely changed him and his life. He turned his life over to God and is completely different. He spent years in jail and you would never, ever believe that he lived like that before. It's amazing what God can do if you just surrender you life and your will to Him.

Well, this turned into a letter didn't it? I'll stop babbling now and let you get back to your life. But first I have to tell you what "J" said to me yesterday on Face Time when I asked her how soon she was going to bed. Her answer? "Grandma, I'm going to go to bed straight away after I go to the loo and brush my teeth." It amazes me her vocabulary. Straight away? And of course, the loo. Our son is becoming British too, using words like bin for garbage can, lift for elevator, boot for trunk, biscuit for cookie and on and on. I love our conversations. :-)

Take care my friends and I'll be back soon.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS

Text: Daniel W. Whittle            Music: James McGranahan

    1.        There shall be showers of blessing:
  This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
  Sent from the Savior above.

 

Showers of blessing,
  Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
    But for the showers we plead.

2

There shall be showers of blessing—
  Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
  Sound of abundance of rain.

3

There shall be showers of blessing;
  Send them upon us, O Lord!
Grant to us now a refreshing;
  Come, and now honor Thy Word.

4

There shall be showers of blessing;
  O that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
  Now as on Jesus we call!

5

There shall be showers of blessing,
  If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
  If we let God have His way.