Oh the weather outside is frightful...

Seriously. It’s like a broken record around here for the month of February. We’re in another winter storm advisory. We could have up to 12 inches of snow by tomorrow afternoon. That’s as in, “new snow.” We already have close to 30 inches in our front yard. One of the newscasters was saying last week that we have had a more severe winter than Anchorage, Alaska with more snow, almost twice as much, and colder temperatures.

I’m supposed to drive up the hill again today for physical therapy. Once again, I’m not looking forward to that drive. Oh well. What can you do?

I took this picture of my car this weekend. Since then we’ve had about another 5 inches of snow if that gives you any perspective.  I just realized that this kind of looks like an ad for a Honda CRV doesn’t it?

I do have some wonderful snow tires and haven’t had any problems yet. I’m praying that continues as I’m out driving around today.

I finished Pipers sweater and mailed it off to her yesterday. Once I got into the body of the sweater, the pattern just repeated with a few increases thrown in here and there, so that wasn’t too hard. She asked for a short-sleeved sweater and this pattern came with both short and long sleeve options. However, the sleeves are a bit wonky and I’m pretty sure I followed the pattern to a “T.” If I hadn’t, the lace repeats would not have worked out. We’ll see if she can wear it. If not, I’ll make her a new one.

Front view

Back view

I started a crochet baby blanket for the Babies of Homelessness. I forgot to take a new picture today, but I’m putting the border on right now.  This photo was from yesterday morning.  I’m just using some yarn I had left over from other projects. The pink is what I used in Pipers sweater and the multicolor is left over from another baby blanket.

There isn’t a lot else going on right now around here. I’m staying pretty close to home because it’s so cold and icy. I’ve been watching a lot of podcasts on YouTube and crafting. That’s about it. I know that most of you are having the same strange weather we are. Spring is only a few weeks away and that gives me hope.  I have to admit though, it’s starting to get me down a bit. We have only had two days of sunshine in the last three weeks.

Take care and keep warm everybody! 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23

I think I need to work on several of these. My joy, peace, patience, and self-control are being sorely tested with this weather.

Blessings,

Betsy

And it goes on and on...

More snow is predicted for tonight.  It sounds like a broken record. Sorry about that.  The weatherman says we’re stuck in a pattern off of the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska that brings us snow every two to three days.  We did have gorgeous sunshine yesterday though, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.  This was the view off of our deck yesterday.

And this was from about a block away.  Look at that beautiful blue sky.

This is what we’re driving on.  This is the street in front of our house.  Solid ice about 6 inches deep.

I have made some more mini socks.  They take just under 2 hours and I have the pattern memorized so I take these to doctor appointments.  I have about 20 done already.

I made a couple more hats for the Veterans and delivered the blankets and hats on Tuesday.  Thy were thrilled with everything and said they could also use some “twiddle mitts” so I may be making some of those too.

Miss Piper got a new pet this week.  His name is Sam as in “Sam I Am” and he is a beta fish with a beautiful pink castle to live in.  She says he really likes his castle.  In this picture Sam was still in his bowl from the store while the new fishbowl came to temperature.  She really loves him.  She has missed Polly so much since she died.

She outgrew the hat I made her last fall so I sent her a new one.  I think she likes it too.  I also sent her a new eraser for her dry erase board that she uses to play “teacher.”  Look at that face.  I love, love love this little girl. Dennis says she’s looking like a teenager already.

My newest project is a short sleeve sweater for Piper. It’s looking pretty small but I thought that about Dennis and Alex’s sweaters too. I’m making it in a size 6 but I don’t know....

The pattern is called Olinda by Georgie Hallam.  It is a paid for pattern that I bought on (Ravelry). It has both short and long sleeve options and fits sizes newborn to 12 years. It is NOT an intuitive pattern and every row is different. It has been challenging. I sure hope it fits her. If not, we have two great nieces that are just a bit younger than Piper that live near to her, so she can share with her cousins and I’ll make her a bigger size.
The pattern calls for DK weight yarn and I am enjoying it even though it takes a lot of concentration. All of those strands of yarn on the sides are waste yarn that I have the sleeves on for now.

I had 10 more injections in my back on Tuesday. I’m really not sure if they are helping or not. It seems I can only be up and about for an hour or two before the spasms start. I try to remain upbeat about it, but it’s hard not to get discouraged. I wanted so badly to be better by spring and camping season and I’m not sure that’s going to happen. I appreciate each and everyone of you who think of me and pray for me.  I know God has a plan for me at this stage in my life and I’m trying to accept whatever it maybe. At least I can still knit/crochet and read your blogs. 

:-)

I hope you all have a lovely weekend and stay safe and warm if you’re up north and cool and dry if you’re down south.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Blessings,

Betsy

Sunday

Just a short post today.  It’s still snowing.

This was yesterday...and it was a SMALL pile of snow in the Michaels parking lot.  There were several much, much higher but I couldn’t get close.

This was this morning on the way to church.  The weatherman said last night that the forecast had changed and we would not get snow overnight. Ha! We woke up to about five fresh inches on the ground. No time to shovel before church so Dennis just finished snowblowing after we got home.

Whee!  This tiny little hill is notorious for people sliding through the bottom of it.  I don’t know why it’s always so icy.  And wouldn’t you know? That car you see ahead of us slid sideways into that fence at the bottom just before we got there. We stopped to check on the people and they were fine. Unfortunately their car had a few dents and scratches all over the side of it.  I am so proud of my little car. So far this winter I haven’t slid once with my new snow tires.

This is what I woke up to this morning. Mandy sent me this text this picture along with the text, “Piper after “helping” daddy snow-blow! Soaking her feet and drinking hot chocolate!”

That looks good to me.

And finally, Dennis bought me this cart yesterday at Michael’s. We had looked at them when I took the picture of the snow pile above, but I decided that I didn’t really need one. He went out to run a few errands later in the day and look what he came home with for me.  I truly have a wonderful husband and I feel so very blessed that he loves me. This will be nice to keep the majority of my yarn supplies in by my chair, and then when we have company I can just wheel it into the office to get it out of the way. I think I’m going to love it.

Lest you think that is all the yarn I have, don’t worry.  I have a closet full in the office. This is just holds my current projects.

I have made 14 of the little mini-stockings and I used one full skein of the green sparkly yarn and some of the white. I’m starting a sweater for Miss Piper today.  The camping project bag holds my sock yarn nine patch squares.  The pink bag holds a pair of socks.  I have a box in the top that holds stitch markers, tape measure, row counters, etc.  It’s nice to have everything handy.  

I hope you’re all having a wonderful Sunday.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Blessings,

Betsy