BETTER LATE THAN NEVER UPDATE!

Well, it was my intention to write in my blog every few days but the beginning of August turned into a busy middle of August to……. coming to an end August!  The spring and summer birds have already left (robins, orioles, wrens, swallows etc.) and the winter birds are moving down from the mountains (chickadees, cardinals and nuthatches).  The leaves are losing their brilliant various shades of green and are starting to turn pale and on their way to starting the colorful fall show.  Apples are almost here.  Pears are here.  Peaches are halfway to being gone and grapes need a little more time.  Corn is at its peak – juicy and sweet and comfort food is slowly starting to come back on the menu. 

We had Vacation Bible School last week –  I was exhasuted every night from working and doing that as well.   In another post I am going to share about my weekend in Hershey PA at a Joyce Meyer conference.

 As promised, here is a picture of my sock.   I took this a couple weeks ago, so I am already down to the heel and working that.  I love the wool and the colors.  We are going back to Michigan in early Sept. so I will have to stop at Mary Maxim again on the way home!

I started a pair of tube socks while on the way to the Joyce Meyer conference and have been working on them as well.

The other photo I wanted to share is of my Raina.  That is the back of my chair that she is resting on.  When it is hot she doesn’t want to be touched or bothered.  She looks so comfortable!

Thanks ladies for welcoming me back.  I am still not quite in the groove, but I am okay and I am on my way! 

 

REALLY?

You have no idea (well, maybe you do!) how very frustrating it has been these last six months. I have been working so hard to get myself out of a knitting funk that has been going on, well, almost a year. It has been very frustrating.

I will search for some tiny, quick project and I am not exaggerating here… I get about two days into it and BOOM!   I drop it like a hot cake.   My various starts would then lay in this messy little pile all around “my” chair.   I don’t know what “inspired” me, probably just totally ashamed as how my “personal space” looked, but on Saturday I did something progressive.

I took all my piles of started projects and ripped them all out.  (Yes, you read that right.)   Put away all the wool, needles and accessories.  If felt good to have a clean personal space again.   Maybe the clutter was just starting to effect my thinking process.  Don’t know.

In the quiet of the morning I sat in my chair enjoying my decluttered personal space and sighed.   Then sighed again. 

“Socks.”

What was that?  I looked around.  No one.   I sighed again.

“Knit socks.”

Okay, I stood up so I could get a better look at the clean space behind my chair.  Nothing.  This time I didn’t sigh after sitting back down.   I started thinking.  Thinking about socks.

“Knit a  pair of simple socks.”

I headed to my craft room, feeling like I needed to heed this “command”.  I opened my sock yarn tub and my eyes went right to the last batch of wool I purchased TWO YEARS ago while on my trip to Michigan.  It came from Mary Maxim (on the American side).    This is what I bought:

I had never worked with this wool before.  The colors were stunning. 

I dug around in my needles and found my #2 (US) 32″ circular needle to do it with the magic loop technique.   Down the stairs I went.   In my pattern book was the very first sock pattern I used from Cat Bordi – classic.  Nothing fancy.  

I sat down in my chair, cast on 60 and started in the business of K2P2 ribbing.   Deciding to do it all the way down the leg to the heel.  I sighed and thought ..”was this going to last?”    I waited for the next instructional “voice”.  It never came, even the whole time I sat for a couple hours going round and round on my simple sock.   The colors are so cool!  (I will take a picture tonight and post it.)   I am pressing on and trying hard to push back the knitting funk that lasted way too long!

After a couple hours I decided that I should get busy with my house cleaning, very pleased to have that warm and fuzzy knitting feeling back again!  

“Blog.”       What?

“Write in your blog.”

No use in fighting with that voice!   Here I am!

 

 

 

I AM STILL HERE…. I think I have said that before.

It is really hard to believe that the last time I wrote was in the beginning of Jan. 2013.   I pledged to change my terrible blogging ways etc.    As you can see, it didn’t happen.

My Dad passed away on 3/17/2013.

He had been on comfort care in the hospital for two and a half weeks.   That is a long time to watch someone fade away.   He is with Jesus now and there is no more pain or suffering.

Still hard to believe he is gone.   My Mom is handling things well.  She has always been a strong woman.   They would have celebrated their 67th wedding aniv. in August.  Isn’t that awesome?

I have been reading everyone’s blogs – you are all such wonderful writers!  Thank you for doing some really cool stuff!

No knitting for me….. still in my funk.

 

 

WHAT IS IN HERE?

So, what do you think is in here?  

You might think the “thing” is bigger than the picture shows, so I will give you a little hint and tell you the dimensions.  It is 5×7.

A mini photo album?

It has a cute zipper that has two little charms at one enclosure. 

Hmmmm, what else could it be?

One of those super super thin Bible?  (the reason for the tiny FAITH charm) 

A crochet hook case?

A double pointed needle holder case?

Wow, I am running dry with ideas.

Okay, time to let you know just exactly what is inside this little zipper case.

Here we go:

TWO  – (yes, TWO) Bibles

TWO – (yes, TWO) dictionaries

FOUR (oh my yes, FOUR) books

All of that in this little black case?  It’s a miracle! 

Nope………

IT’S MY NEW KINDLE PAPERWHITE!

I love it!   I use to carry a tote bag everywhere I went – and it was filled with at least one of my Bibles (I love having different versions, but my fave is the NKJ.) a devotional I am doing and just a regular reading book.   My arm would hurt hauling this stuff around and also in that tote would be my knitting.    I am in a knitting funk right now so I am getting a little break.

Not so with my kindle!  Wow, I just feel so free and liberated!    My dear sister in the Lord and I meet just about every morning before we both head off to work to share the Word, friendship and pray for each other.  She has an ipad and it is loaded with Bible apps etc.   I was glad to pull my big old faithful Bible out of my bag, but I would always be so curious to watch that ipad pull up the text so fast etc. 

I could not afford to get an ipad – and the Kindle Fire HD was a little out of my reach, but my dear Momma gave me money for Christmas and my wonderful husband chipped in the balance and I ordered my kindle paperwhite right after Christmas and it arrived last Friday.

I can lay in bed with NO LIGHTS ON and because of its features I can read as if all the lights were on and not strain my eyes or bother my husband.   My arms don’t get tired trying to hold up a heavy book.   This honey is as light as a feather even in the case!  

Do you have an Ereader?  Knook?  Kindle?  Do you read on your ipad? 

We are un officially in a January thaw.   The days are getting a little longer every day.   I am starting to get excited now that Christmas is gone past and the decorations are put away.  Hurry spring, hurry!

Maybe soon I will start to knit!

HAPPY NEW YEAR -MOVIN’ ON IN 2013

It was just my hubby and I “ringing in the New Year” last night.   The adult children had different places to be other than sitting with the old folks for New Year’s Eve!   That was okay with us.   We rented a movie from the local REDBOX (Premium Rush) which I slept through a lot of it.  (I blame all the shoveling of over 6 inches of snow for the reason of my exhaustion!)  It was a quiet night.

We (my hubby and my daughter Jessica) took in a late afternoon showing of The Hobbit.  We are HUGE LOTR and Hobbit fans – this movie did not disappoint.

I especially liked the music/sound track.   I think I will have to order a copy of that!

I have been giving my 2013 goals/resolutions thought all day long.   It is now 10pm and I think I better set  a few down “on paper”.

1.  To fill my heart, mind and soul with more of God.  When those things are filled and I am walking in His will, all things promised will fall into perfect place and I will have eternal peace and joy.    More of His word, prayer and serving others.

2.  To be more faithful in entering in my blog.

3.  To pick up my knitting needles and knit.   At this point, I don’t care what I knit, but I would like to get back to knitting socks or knitting items to felt.  I am deep in a  knitting funk and I just can’t seem to see to the other side it’s end.   Hope it comes soon.

4.  To read more – as soon as my new Kindle Paperwhite arrives.  (Which I am waiting impatiently for the holidays to go away so the postal system and delivery systems will hurry along and bring it to me!)

Thanks for sticking with me in 2012.

Happy New Year!

GOODBYE 2012- PARTING THOUGHTS

12 THINGS I LEARNED IN 2012 ALLOVER AGAIN 

 

1.   Anything is possible

when you believe in God’s power.

 

 2. Your team is paramount to your success (friends, family, staff, church,associates).

 

3. The impossible becomes possible when you start believing.

 

4. God has plans for your life that you haven’t tapped into yet!

 

5. A bad decision doesn’t have to become a bad habit. 

 

6. When you focus on your goal/work you can’t be stopped.

 

7. You can make some things matter more than they really do.

 

8. When you create momentum with quality work the wind brings traffic to you. 

 

9. Fear isn’t always

 apparent sometimes it’s subtle.  And can be deadly if left unchecked.

  

10. God gives you the plan but you determine whether or not it’s executed.

 

11.   You won’t make it to your goal if you don’t hold your course.

 

12.  You must fight to

stay positive in the face of negativity. That’s the only way

to get things done.

 

Christmas is over.   A deep winter has settled in.  Tomorrow is 2013 and I am ready to start another year!   

 

I am waiting patiently for my new Kindle Paperwhite to arrive.   This will be my first experience with the ebook/ereader and I am sooooo excited.  Feel free to give me book suggestions etc.   The first book to be loaded on my kindle is going to be a New King James Bible!

 

My father continues to linger/shut down – refusing to eat and not aware that we are even in the room.   I bought with my Christmas money one of these:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is called a Survival Strap and it is made from parachute cord.  Since my Dad  was in the 101st Airborne in WW2 it is my HONOR to wear this for him.  

 

Sorry I have been so slack on my posts.   I am going to start with a new commitment for 2013.    I do read your posts – they are so wonderful and inspired.

 

 

NO DOUBT IN MY MIND!

There is no doubt in my mind that without the Lord in my life,  I would be so messed up!   The silence in my blog is for the reason most people cringe and hang their head without words.    My 87 year old Dad is very sick and the family is taking one day at a time.  The decision is his as to whether he wants to get better (by eating and drinking and taking his meds) or by refusing all services and passing from this earth – probably feeling that enough is enough.   I don’t really blame him! 

Thank goodness I started early on the decorating and tree hanging etc.  The last thing to go up was the manager that came from Germany in the late 1800’s through my husband’s side of the family.   The manger characters  are very tender plaster casts – fragile is a more accurate description!    It is always a joy to put this tradition filled manger up.

Pause.

Have you ever seen a live manager?

Like this one?

Or maybe this one?

You are all animal lovers, so possibly you have.  

This is Misha – and she believes that this manger was set up JUST FOR HER!

I love her boldness and her Russian Blue shaped face! 

The tree (not a real one – my oldest daughter almost was put in the hospital the last time I wanted and got a real tree for Christmas) stand is screwed down to a large board and the top of the tree is tied in two different places to make sure that those  silly sisters don’t pull it down.    No sentimental or precious glass ornaments are on this years tree!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE?

Mine, hands down, is WHITE CHRISTMAS – the Irving Berlin movie staring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since I grew up watching the 1940’s musicals (and adoring them!) most of my favorite  old timer movies are the musicals.  Irving Berlin’s are the best!  

It would not be Christmas to me if I didn’t see this movie and get all warm and fuzzy watching the “boys” doing their interpretation of the song “Sisters”.

Danny Kaye was such a talented man – singer, dancer, comedian – I loved almost every movie he was in.   Another fave movie of mine ( but not Christmas ) starring Danny Kaye is Hans Christian Andersen.   LOVE IT!

White Christmas was released  in 1954 but the influence of WW2 was still very strong in the early 1950’s movies…… it was after all, a world war and there wasn’t a family in most any country that was not effected by  WW2.   So there are some touching moments where Bing and Danny honor their commander.

Makes me always think of my Dad when I see these scenes.

And of course, everyone loves the closing scene with the full cast and Bing Crosby singing “White Christmas”.    I get goose bumps when they swing open the huge barn doors to expose the falling snow!  

 

 

Have you see this movie and do you enjoy it too?

What is one of your fave Christmas movies?

 

 

SUN WORSHIPPER MISHA

You already know that sunshine is a HUGE factor in how I “take on the day”.    If it is dark, gray and gloomy (especially in the winter months) it has a tendency to send my mind heading  down a gloomy  kind of day road.   If the sun is shining, the sky is bright blue then no matter how cold it is, I am in a much better frame of mind.

Here is Misha – another sun worshipper.

She follows the sun throughout the house – sometimes we “fight” for the same small spot!  She always wins (her claws are sharper)!

Does the sun have the same effect for/on you?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABBY!

Today is my baby girl’s birthday.   I introduced you to her a  little while ago with a picture of her and her student from their music recital.     She is 22 today.   

I thought that I would share a picture of her when she was a baby.

And then to show you why everyone says we look alike – here is a photo of me when I was older than her but still…… can you see the likeness?

(I am sandwiched in between my two older brothers!)

I want to wish everyone reading my blog a Blessed Thanksgiving.   (Sorry dear Canadian readers- you already had your Thanksgiving!)   Though some are going to gather with lots of  family and friends and others will have quiet meals with a tiny circle of family and friends…….  it is all good.  Blessings abound and it is easy to have an overflowing heart of gratefulness as my eyes go round and round the table.     God is good and is faithful in all He provides.