Time Flies

Hello and Happy 2018!  Wait. What?!  You mean today is the LAST day of January?  How in the world did that happen?  I am really starting to believe that old saying that time goes faster the older you get.  I can't believe that January is over already.

But wait again!  That means that tomorrow is my birthday!  And we're finally having our Bible study Christmas potluck and gift exchange tomorrow night.  Yes, you read that right.  It was supposed to be the week we returned from Omaha, but people were sick.  Then last week Dennis was sick.  So it's tomorrow.  We're still celebrating Christmas, even if it will be in February and my birthday.

Even though it's a Christmas party, I have the kitchen decorated for Valentine's Day.  These are the Scandinavian Hearts pattern that is free on Teresa's blog.  She's over on my sidebar.  They are lots of fun to crochet with cotton thread.

 I'm being brave and letting you see my entire kitchen.  It's not a kitchen with nothing on the counters as you can see.  It's cooked in and used every day.

 The hoosier cabinet is also ready for springtime with it's silk flowers in spring colors.

 I just had to show you this bouquet of flowers.  Although the roses are beginning to droop this morning, this arrangement was bought at Trader Joes on January 15th.  That's over two weeks and most of it is still looking beautiful!  You really can't beat TJ's flowers.

Piper sent us this sweet little thank you card she made for her Christmas presents.  She told me that it was Papa, Piper and Grandma.  She used the glitter pens that we gave her as one of her gifts.  I love her artwork.

I've mainly been knitting on mittens this week, although I did finish a baby blanket and gave it away without taking a picture. (oops!)  Eight more pair done!

 I also began a pair of socks for Dennis.  These are my "carry-along" project for when I'm not home.   The yarn is "Tiger Eye" by Knit Picks.

I had an appointment with the foot doctor this morning.  She's fairly certain that the increasing pain in my feet is from arthritis.  She also said there is nothing to be done about it.  Some days I literally have to go up and down our stairs on my rear end because my feet won't bend to walk the stairs.  That's one of the reasons we're planning to move to a one level home or into our trailer in a few years.  I don't think it's going to get better.  Oh well, she just confirmed what I was thinking was the most obvious conclusion.  I know a lot of people have a lot worse problems than that so I will try not to complain.

I also have a dentist appointment this afternoon for my regular check up.  Might as well get everything done in one day and be done with it!  I actually don't mind going to my dentist.  They are so sweet there and they have never hurt me.

It's one of the reasons why it's hard to think of moving when Dennis retires.  We really like our dentist and I have a lot of faith in the Heart Institute that takes care of my pacemaker.  Lots of decisions to be made in the next few years.  The plan right now is to move back to Omaha to be near Mandy and Brad and the rest of our family.  We want to travel in our camper a lot too, but would like a "home base," so we shall see what the future has in store for us.

We have had a few days of lovely warm weather.  In the 40's and party cloudy.   Most of the snow is gone. Yippee!  I do know that it's still winter and there is more snow to come, but I'm enjoying each day that is nice and being cozy at home when the weather isn't so nice.  With weeks like this though, I'm wanting to go open up the trailer and enjoy the lake!  Silly me!

I hope all is well in your world and I think I've gotten caught up on all of your blogs.  I hope you have a  lovely Wednesday my friends.

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding going or a clanging cymbal."  1 Corinthians 13:1

Blessings always,
Betsy

Better....

Hello my friends,

I thank you all for your well wishes and prayers for Dennis.  He seems to be on the road to recovery and has been back to work all week.  He is really tired at night but hopefully that will pass soon.  I'm still not sure if it was the flu or just a particularly nasty virus but I don't wish it on anyone.  Today I'm washing all of the bedding AGAIN in the hottest water I can and on hot in the dryer.  I'm hoping by doing so will kill any lingering germs.

I have to admit, the turning point seemed to be when I started using some essential oils recommended by a friend.  I diffused them and put some on his temples for his headache.  The headache was gone in less than 10 minutes when none of the medication had helped at all.  I think I'm becoming a believer.  After all God gave us plants and the Bible even talks about using them.  I've always thought of it as "ooga-booga" stuff, but hey, if it helps why not try it?

Anyway, life is returning to normal around here.  Dennis started teaching another class of Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey last night at church.  We've been teaching it for about 10 years now and it's amazing the difference getting out of debt makes in people's lives.  I'm also always amazed at the predicaments people get themselves into when talking to the people attending the class.  (Shaking my head.)

Some goodies arrived in the mail this week.  Debra made some lotion bars for my best friend who tried mine and loved it.  She has very sensitive skin and is so grateful for these bars of lotion and soap!  Debra, you are the best with such a huge heart to do this for someone you don't even know in the midst of lots of  "stuff" happening in your own life.  I thank you so much my friend.  I'm sorry the photo is sideways.  I tried to correct it but it keeps turning it back to this view.

 And then I won this beautiful skein of yarn from Kim Napier at Napier's Knits and it arrived Monday.  Isn't it beautiful? It is hand-dyed by Kim and is 85% Superwash BFL, 15% nylon. She  called it "Partly Cloudy."

Has anyone wondered what my "mystery project" was in November?  It was a "Portage" sweater for Mandy for Christmas.  She loved mine when I visited in the fall so I made her one for herself out of a blue marled yarn, where mine was a brown marled.  Isn't she beautiful and the sweater fits perfectly.  I think she likes it.  The pockets are a great favorite of both of us.  Piper took this picture a couple of days ago because I forgot to while I was there.  I think she's a budding photographer.

 I finished the "Beautiful Shells" toddler blanket that I started last week.  A free pattern on Ravelry, it's 38 inches square and made with Caron Simply Soft yarn in brown, blue and cream.  This one will also go to the Crisis Nursery.  I wasn't sure about the colors, but really liked the way it turned out.

 I started the Beachcomber shawl that I bought as a kit last fall from Knit Picks.  I don't know why, but I wasn't enjoying the knit much, so I've put it in time out for awhile.  The colors aren't "my" colors and it uses Cot-lin yarn, but I don't know if either of those things were a factor in why I wasn't enjoying it.  I'll drag it out again before too long and give it another try.

 A better picture of the finished object, or at least what it's supposed to look like if I ever finish it.

 I made a pair of mittens last night but still have to finish the thumb on the second pair.  I just couldn't keep my eyes open long enough to finish them.  I've decided I really need to focus on making some mittens for awhile.  I let myself become distracted on making other things and I'm way behind my monthly goal of at least 10 pair a month.

Isn't this cute?  Brad and Piper were at Home Depot last Saturday and she was building a firehouse.  She adores her Daddy.

Last Friday was pajama day at school.  Here she is in the jammies that Papa, (Dennis), bought her while we were there a couple of weeks ago and the Princess Jasmine slippers I bought her when I visited in October.  She is such a sweetie. 

She also came down with a cold yesterday.  She was so worried about Papa last week.  She face-timed with us daily, doctor kit in tow.  She told me I needed to go to the store and buy Papa grapes because it would feel good on his throat and make him better.  Lots of other advice too, all of it good.  You can tell she's been listening to her Mama, the nurse.  The next day she called to see if I had bought grapes! :-)  She didn't forget one word of her advice.  She even had a clipboard that she "wrote" all of her orders on!

We sure love this little girl and I'm sad that she's sick again.  She had the flu when Mandy did a couple of months ago, but there are so many germs out there in pre-school land.

I'm going to make some deviled eggs today for our ladies lunch at church tomorrow.  I made them last month and was surprised at how popular they were, so I'll make them again.

We also have a ladies retreat on Saturday and dinner with friends Saturday night so I'm hoping Dennis continues to improve and that I stay healthy.  I wash my hands A LOT!!!!

I hope you're all well and having a wonderful January.  We've been having a rainy week but that's fine with me.  It's not SNOW and that's a plus in my book!  :-)

I just want to thank you all again for the prayers for Dennis.  I truly believe they helped him recover so quickly.

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." 1 Corinthians 13:1

Blessings,
Betsy

Sickness

Hello friends,

Dennis is home sick.  He came home Tuesday at noon with a horrible headache, nausea and stuffed up head.  I called the doctor to see if he could be tested for flu so we could start Tamiflu if positive but was told no fever/no flu.  He worked yesterday but he got up this morning and showered, dressed for work and then and went right back to bed because he's so lightheaded.  Still no fever.  I sure wish they would have just tested for flu so we could put that fear to rest.  Please pray for him.  He NEVER.  And I mean NEVER misses work.  39 years married and I can count on one hand how many times he's stayed home from work because of sickness.

Also, please pray that I don't get it.  One of us needs to stay healthy for grocery runs, etc.

So this post will be short and sweet.

Two finished items.  A blanket for the Crisis nursery.  This was made from the ends of the skeins that I use to make mittens. The border was put on last night but it hasn't been washed yet so it's still a bit stiff and wavy.

I also finished Alex's socks last night.  They are going in the mail to him this morning.  Knit with Knit Picks Felici yarn.  And look!  Perfect matches.  I love when that happens.

Miss Piper fell asleep in the car after they dropped us at the airport on Saturday.  Mandy sent me this.

Oh to be able to sleep like a five year old. :-)

And this one of her this week wearing a sweater I made her.  She is a very knit-worthy person as she loves everything I make for her.  And I love her. :-)

Okay ladies.  I have to go.  It's weigh in day at Weight Watchers. I won't stay for the meeting, but I missed last week while we were gone and who knows what next week will bring, so I better check in. Then to the post office to mail Alex's socks and back home to take care of a sick Hubby.

Please keep us and everyone else with these horrible illnesses to be better.

"I can do all this through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

Blessings,
Betsy