Lots of pictures!

I’m sorry it has been a week since I posted, so now I have way too many photos to share with you. I will try to keep the words few so you can enjoy the yarn and the fall photos!  

Sophie has come to stay while her mom and dad are gone for two weeks on a Caribbean cruise. She sits on my lap and keeps me company while I knit and watch yarny podcasts.  The one you see on the television now is “little drops of wonderful.”  That is Allie and she lives in the UK with her husband and two daughters.  Many of my favorite podcasters have been putting up videos every day for the month of October. It has been wonderful!

We had to make a trip up to the lake last weekend to finish winterizing a few things we had forgotten on the new trailer. It’s a whole new learning curve when you get a different trailer!  The trees were absolutely stunning although the skies were gray.

There was some beautiful crimson color on the still green grass.

Gorgeous, and one of my favorite places on earth.

Tiny little Johnny jump-ups were still trying to bloom even in the almost 0° weather.

Everything looks sad and forlorn with the trailers all closed up for the winter and Pine-needles everywhere from the wind.

Then, the next morning we went from bright sunny skies on one side of the house to this happening on the other side. Completely unpredicted.

The rhubarb was trying to send up some new leaves before the cold weather hit again! Happily the snow didn’t last long this time and was gone within an hour.

I took the next three photos last night from the Hobby Lobby parking lot. An absolutely stunning sunset!

Now for the knitting. I made eight more pairs of mittens for next fall. I am ahead of my self-imposed goals for each week with 10 pair already finished.

I found some of my favorite dishcloth cotton at Hobby Lobby. That looks like a taupe color in front, but it is actually gray. The light is not very good this morning. These are the last two Christmas gifts I need to make and then we are all done with Christmas shopping! Hurrah!

I also bought this scrubby yarn yesterday. These will also go in a Christmas gift. I can’t decide if I like the poofier scrubby‘s better or the flat one. The flat one is double thickness although it doesn’t look like it. Which do you prefer?  By the way, all of Hobby Lobby‘s yarn is on sale this week for 30% off if anyone out there NEEDS more yarn!

These were the other two colors I purchased.

I have also started a new baby blanket. This is actually a lavender yarn, although the light makes it look pink.

I also finished one of my lace socks, although I have put them aside to finish some things that were more time oriented.

Whew!  That was a lot wasn’t it? I always think I don’t have anything to share with you and my life is boring and then when I start looking at my photos I discover I have more than I thought. Please forgive me for the photo overload but I didn’t know what to leave out.

Dennis’s sister Karen is supposed to be able to go home today after almost 2 weeks in the hospital. She will have to return in about a month for a very serious and involved surgery. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.

I did receive 17 more Botox injections in my back yesterday. Time will tell if they help. Thank you for all of your good thoughts about that too.  Right now my back is very tender and sore today so I’m going to take it a bit easy.

Wishing you all a lovely, lovely day. I appreciate each and everyone of you very much and I thank you for hanging in here this long with all of these photos.

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.”  1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Blessings,

Betsy 

A few finishes and a start...

I delivered a big bag full of mittens to the school on Tuesday and they were completely thrilled to get them.  In fact, one of the secretaries began crying!  Oh, that made my heart feel very good.  I didn’t have as many as in past years, only 76 pair, plus Sherries amazing gift of 10 pair, so 86 in all.  I have worked out a plan and written it in my day planner, yes, I actually use one of those, to make 2 pair per week for the next year.  That’s doable isn’t it?  That way there shouldn’t be a huge rush to try to make as many mittens as possible like there was this year.  Fingers crossed that I stick with the plan.

Here are my two “seed” pair that I made yesterday.  I really don’t like the orange and multicolored ones, but was trying something different and using up some scraps.  I’m guessing a first grader may actually like them.

I also finished a baby set for the couple at church that I told you about.

I also won a wonderful book of patterns from my friend Kim at “Naturally Kim’s Knitting” Utube channel.  I’m looking forward to trying some new baby knits from this book.  The babies photos alone are worth buying it.  Such precious faces.  Look at those eyes!!!

There isn’t a lot happening here.  I’ve still been sitting with Jenny a lot. Her progress isn’t what she or her PT want and neither can  figure out why.  We’re re-watching the last season of Downton Abbey together  in preparation of seeing the movie very soon.

I haven’t felt “up to snuff” since my flu shot last Tuesday.  I have had a weird humming in my ears that just won’t  stop, along with a general run down feeling.  I’m sure it will right itself soon.  Next Tuesday is my next scheduled botox injection in my back. Yikes!

Most importantly I would like to ask you for prayers for Dennis’s younger sister, Karen.  She has been in the hospital for a week now with some VERY serious issues.  I don’t want to go into any detail right now, but we really would covet your prayers for her right now.

And now, I’m off to Jennys’s.  Take care everyone.

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”  Hebrews 10:23

Blessings,

Betsy

Sunny or Cloudy?

From where I sit in my recliner as I type this I see sunshine out the windows facing west and I see big black clouds out the patio door facing east! I wonder which it will be today?  When we lived in the Midwest our weather almost always came from the southwest. If you looked that direction, you pretty much knew what was in store for you. Here though, I have learned that the weather can come from any direction at all. Since we live in a valley between mountain ranges, we kind of create our own little weather climate. Anyway, it’s always a surprise what will happen. I’m hoping for the sunshine myself!

This sweet package arrived early this morning from Sherri in Nevada. I love how she decorated the box. :-) I have removed her address for privacy reasons.

Inside were these two Christmas wrapped rolls.  And inside of those were.....

10 beautiful pairs of mittens for the school children! Sherri, they are perfect and thank you so much.

She also included a little surprise gift for me. Bath elixir, temple balm, hand cream and soap along with the prettiest crocheted wash cloth.  Sherri, this was so sweet of you. I appreciate all of your hard work on the mittens and the gift is beautiful.  Lavender is my favorite color! 

I started a new baby blanket yesterday. We have a couple at our church who have been married for many years and have never been able to have a baby. They have adopted four siblings from the foster system. One is a set of twins and then, as the mother had two more babies over several years, they also were placed with this couple and adopted. She was shocked and overjoyed to discover that she is now pregnant herself!  There is a baby shower planned at church the first week in November. As you can see, it’s a boy! I also want to try to make her a sweater, hat and sock set to match if I have time.

My carry along project has been this sock. I am truly enjoying this pattern. The chart is so simple that even I can read it!

Our sweet Chloe has been falling down the stairs over the past couple of weeks. She did this last autumn too with the arrival of the damp cooler weather. I think it is her arthritis that is causing the falls as she goes down the stairs. I tried putting throw rugs at the top and the bottom of the stairs but she still slipped on the stairs themselves. We ordered these treads from Amazon and they arrived last night. As you can tell, they still have to relax from being in the box. Honestly, I don’t like them at all but if they make it easier for her to navigate the stairs I will get used to them.

I’m heading to Jennys in a little while to help her with her exercises. Apparently the physical therapist gave her some new exercises yesterday that she can’t do by herself. We are enjoying all of our chatting time and I know that when she goes back to work I will barely be able to see her.

I hope you’re all having a great week and have exciting fall plans for the weekend.  I’m not sure yet what We’re going to be up to. It’s supposed to be rainy and cool so we may just hunker down at home.

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 2:5

“Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.“   Colossians 3:12

Blessings,

Betsy