Snow Anyone?

This is what's happening at my house right now.  It IS pretty but I'm tired of shoveling.

This is what it looked like yesterday after our predicted "snow flurries" became about 5 inches.  Our snow blower has decided to not cooperate this year.  I was not happy with it when I finally got it started yesterday and the auger thingy that scoops up the snow and throws it out wouldn't turn.  Out came the shovel.

Not long after I finished outside and then took my shower, I decided to sew a bit on my 9 patch quilt squares.  I hadn't been sewing long at all, maybe 10 minutes when I noticed jagged lights in my vision. Oh oh.  I've only had three of these octicular migraines in the last twenty years but I knew what was coming.  The lights flashing is an unmistakable sign.  I grabbed my phone and a glass of water and headed for my comfy recliner. Within five minutes I was completely blind.  That lasted about an hour and a half and then the pain came.  The headache lasted all day and night and is still lingering this morning.  I feel for people that have migraines regularly.  The first time I lost my sight, it scared me to death.  Now I know what's coming and I've luckily been at home each time except the first.  I was at work then and terrified.  I was completely blind for over four hours and all alone, my bosses were both working out of town that day.  I just sat at my desk and didn't move.  Hubby was in Egypt on business and the kids were all in school.  Luckily I could see again before it was time to leave to get them from school.

The pattern for the doily I was working on was horrendous.  I got to row 15 and could not figure it out so I went online to see if there was any errata.  Nope. And everyone had the same problem at row 15.  Mind you, it was horribly written up to that point, lots of guesswork, but doable if you've made doilies before.  I ended up ripping it out back to this point and finishing it off. It makes a fine smaller doily too don't you think?

I finished two dishcloths from Knit Picks Dishie.  I really like Dishie for dishcloths and it wears very well.

I've found a similar pattern and tried it...so far, so good.  I've finished the middle and one end and am getting ready to start the other end.  This one is written SO MUCH better and it's been fun to make.

This will be a newborn sleep sack for a newborn.  It's being made for Cooper hospital which was the charity an online crafting friend donated to for years. Ginden passed away last week and several of us are making things to donate to Cooper in her honor.  Teresa, I'll include your name on the sleep sack when I send it if that's okay, since you and Dayle bought the yarn for the mitten project.

These are all of the squares that I've cut in the past few weeks. There are a lot of them!

Here are the squares that I completed before being sidelined with my migraine.

My plans, as I said before, is to try a quilt as you go blanket.  I'll sew up some squares and then cut a backing square of fabric and batting to match.  This way I can take them with me anywhere to quilt individually.  When you have them done, you put them all together.  It should be interesting!

Tomorrow we're having dinner with Neal & Jenny for our monthly "date night".  Saturday Hubby is taking me out somewhere for my birthday and Sunday I'm heading to Portland for a week to play with Piper. Next Tuesday lunch is planned with Gracie, Taci & Teresa.  Fun times are ahead. I NEED to get over this headache!  Hubby has also had a horrible head cold all week so I need to pray I don't get it.  That would put all of my plans to go to Portland on hold.  The last thing I should do is go make everyone there sick.

Have a lovely weekend my friends. I think it's time to get my shovel out again.  It's much easier to clean it off every inch or two than wait until there is lots and it's heavy.  :-)

Blessings,

Betsy

Busy Weekend

Goodness it was a busy weekend here at the Queen homestead.  I had my class Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm on Friday but we did get out early on Saturday at 3:30.  I hurried home and got Hubby and we met some friends at the Spokane RV show.  We had a great time looking at all of the campers and RV's.  It amazes me the things that are in some of them...and how people can possibly afford to buy them!  Afterwards we went out to dinner and had a wonderful time visiting.

I'm not sure what my plans are with CASA. I have been sworn in and have officially completed the training. I could get a case as early as today, but I'm not sure it's for me. I want to talk to my supervisor and discuss my options as to what I can do in-house with the program.  I don't think "on my feet" very well and that is needed as a CASA.  The situations you find yourself in can be unusual to put it mildly.  I also tend to be emotional and when attacked verbally, (which is guaranteed to happen), I cry.  At 54 years old I know this about myself and I also know it isn't likely to change.  That would NOT be a good thing to happen on the witness stand and it would undermine anything I had done on a case.  So....I'm praying and asking God to lead me where He wants me to go.  I so appreciate the comments and emails of encouragement from all of you.  I am blessed indeed to have friends like you.

Yesterday we were greeters at church, (we have been all month for January), so we had to be there extra early.  Our small group provided the hospitality lunch for visitors and we served 34 people.  Hubby and I then went right out to take communion to the elderly in the church and the people who couldn't come because of illness or the weather.  We finally got home at 4:30 in the afternoon and I collapsed into my recliner.  I didn't even pick up my knitting or crochet although I finished two baby hats during my few free minutes since Thursday.  I spent the evening watching HGTV and surfing the net on my iPad.  Some would consider it wasted time, but I needed the relaxation and mindless activity.

This communion kit was made for my husband about 27 or 28 years ago by his cousin.  Isn't it beautiful with the inlaid cross?  The side joints are also dovetailed with different woods.  It is very smooth to touch. You would think it was one solid piece of wood.

He also cut out a piece of foam that fits the bottle, bread holder and cups perfectly.  We can take communion to eight people with this beautiful kit.  Can you see the little nick by the clasp?  That was where Hubby fell on the ice about 20 years ago while carrying it.

I did get some squares cut out of my leftover fabric.  These are the squares that I'll use for my "quilt as you go" quilt.  I have lots more to cut-maybe a few today or tomorrow.

I love Knit Picks Dishie for dish cloths and started a new one Satuday night.  I gave all of mine away except two.  I WILL keep this one!  :-)

The doily hasn't changed at all, but hopefully I'll have some time tonight.

I have laundry in the dryer and I've been to the grocery store and to pick up prescriptions.  I also went up to the church and raked 3 big garbage bags full of leaves from the stairwell that blew in during the windstorms we've had lately.  Funny thing is that they were all oak leaves and we don't even have any oak trees around the property.  The winds were fierce and must have blown them in from a distance.

I'm heading back to Portland and my Piper next Sunday. Yippee!  I'll be there a week and I hope I'll get to see my "blogging girls", Teresa, Taci and Gracie.  It sounds like Brad & Mandy could be moving before too long, much farther away from us, so I need to get my Piper time in now.  Mandy has been asking me to visit so off I go!  It's sure nice being retired and having this freedom.

Have a lovely afternoon my friends and I'll be back soon.

Blessings,

Betsy

Busy Thursday

Hello my friends!  I loved all the comments on my last post and I thank you for all of the encouragement on my involvement with CASA.  I know several of you are in the professions of either social work or caring for children in foster care in some way.  Your words mean so much to me.  I've been out of the workplace for several years and haven't had to study for anything for ages so this is a giant leap for me.  So much to learn.

It's still cold and frosty here.  Remember the hoarfrost from my last post?  It's still here, only thicker now.  Many of you were concerned about my driving in it.  It doesn't seem too bad on the streets except in the outlying areas so I haven't had any problems.  The sidewalks and outside steps however, are a different story. Very slippery.

This morning I cleaned all three bathrooms, dusted and vacuumed the house and I have laundry going now.  I have to do my normal Thursday & Friday chores today since I'll once again be in class all day tomorrow and Saturday.  I also baked a Rubarb cake as you'll see in the following photos.  It is a time-consuming task as there are several steps, but it's oh so GOOD when it's done.  We'll have it for our treat after Bible Study tonight.  I usually do my baking on Thursdays so we can have help eating the goodies.  Hubby & I definitely don't need to eat a whole cake ourselves.

The first step. Read the directions. And there are lots of instructions with this cake.

Yummy rubarb from my garden last summer.

Butter

Even more butter!  You can never have too much right?  If you're paying attention it's almost 1 1/2 cups of butter total!

Yum!

The topping. It looks really dry and crumbly and that's exactly what it's supposed to do. :-)

Batter, then rubarb mix, then dollops of batter.  Looks gross doesn't it? Don't give up when you've come this far. Stay with me now!

Crumbs broken up on top.

And viola!  Baked perfectly.  It still may not look like much, but believe me, it's delicious. Even people, (like me), who don't like rubarb normally, like this cake.

Of course the kitchen was a mess, because this uses lots of bowls, spoons, etc.  but it's all clean now and back to normal.  Have I ever mentioned just how much I like this sink?  Big enough for the biggest pans and baking sheets.

This is my current project.  It's going to be a doily and it is progressing very slowly.  I finished the blanket and delivered it yesterday? Happy, happy.  Debbie loved it and was so glad to get it. I'm happy because I saw her true gratefulness.  That's always fun.

This afternoon I may get all of my cotton fabric scraps out and see of I have enough for a "quilt as you go" quilt. It will probably take years to complete but that's okay.  I've also been doing a bit of reading in the evenings in front of the fire but most of my spare time this week has been doing this....

Studying for this weekends class.  I think I may be too old for this. Teaching a old dog new tricks and all...but I WILL persevere, if only to earn the faith you all seem to have in me.  :-)

Stay warm, wherever you may be and I'll be back again soon.

Blessings,

Betsy