Hat #3 for Red Andrews Dinner – Cross Skull Cap

I really don’t know why I procrastinate as much as I do.  This hat, The Cross Skull Hat, was started on March 11 and was probably completely finished, except for that final run the needle through 8 stitches, on March 12.  But I waited until today to do that and weave in the one end.

Regardless, I do like this hat.  It looks good and there was enough happening in the pattern that it wasn’t totally boring to knit.

Once again I used Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn in Dark Country Blue, though it looks kind of like an electric blue here.  The yarn is nice to knit with and I know will be good for many washings.

Hat #2 – Hurricane Hat
Hat #1 – Classic World War II Watch Cap

Linking to Get Your Craft On!  It is a large weekly event with all kinds of crafty things.  After visiting a bunch of these posts I’m always ready to create!

Friday’s Fave Five - #80

This is a week that Friday is most welcome.  Not even that it’s been a bad week, just that I’m glad to wave goodbye and to look forward with pleasure to weekend plans!  And a blog post that looks at the past week and finds the pearls.  To see more posts, or to join in yourself, visit Susanne’s blog at Living To Tell The Story.

1. Greeting Cards – This week I’ve gotten a couple of greeting cards from family and friends in the mail.  Again I say, there is really nothing like getting a card in the mail.   You see it in the mailbox and smile, because the size, weight and usually a brightly colored envelope give away the fact that it’s a card.  You see the return address and smile big thinking of the person that sent it to you.  You walk inside anticipating opening it.  You sit down, gently holding the card and still smiling, almost not wanting to open it so that the feeling will prolong.  And then that moment when you open the card and read what the person wrote – ahhh….bliss. 

Let us never forget the power of sending happiness through the mail.

2. Greeting Cards – Last Saturday I visited a friend’s house for the first time as she had a lunch and card workshop and we had the best time.  We made 4 cards and a little Easter treat basket that are DARLING!  I see that the sun is *finally* out today so I’ll get pictures taken and posted soon.

In the midst of everybody hurrying around it’s nice to slow down and take the time and linger over lunch together.  We enjoyed each others’ company and nurtured our creative side all in one day.  Happiness!

3. Greeting Cards -  Seeing an unintended theme here?  :D  At last Saturday’s get together two of the ladies were talking about the greeting card ministry at their respective churches.  Can you believe God’s timing – I got an email yesterday (to all the ladies at church) asking who would be interested in being a part of a new greeting card ministry at our church?  I replied quicker than lightning and then grinned at how awesome God is.

4. The Weather – I am *so* loving this gorgeous spring weather.  And the funny part is that last Saturday we had a snowstorm in the Dallas area and parts of the ‘burbs got 7-10 inches of snow!  :O  It was beautiful to see and on Sunday the temperature was warm enough that it all melted away.  Then earlier this week we had our first spring storm, complete with thunder and hail.  As long as they don’t get dangerous I do enjoy a good storm.

5. Babies – My word, another person I know is pregnant!  So much joy to hear this and such affirmation from God that it is good.  The downside, if you could call it that, is that people are getting pregnant faster than I can knit blankets!!!  :))  Of course that also means I get to spend time looking at knitting patterns and picking out yarns and such and that is a GOOD THING!

Friday’s Fave Five

Ahh Friday.  A day that needs no explanation and is filled with smiles.  And a blog post that looks at the past week and finds the pearls.  To see more posts, or to join in yourself, visit Susanne’s blog at Living To Tell The Story.

1. With a blog there is a fine line as to what to tell and what to keep quiet.  But I have decided to share somewhat of my last week.  Five years ago I had an official diagnoses of “Borderline Ovarian Cancer” and it was just reconfirmed this week after not having any problems.  At this moment I don’t know if there will be treatment or not, but it’s amazing to me how much that word “borderline” is a blessing.

2. Music – As I pulled into my doctor’s office parking lot last Friday morning this song came on the radio – He Loves Us by David Crowder Band (unable to embed the video, so I’ve linked to YouTube).  What an amazing song to hear at a time when you’re worried.  It’s also a song that we sing in church, so when it came on the radio I was able to sing along.  And earlier this week as I was in the radiology department of the hospital waiting for the IV drip to be far enough along that they could slide me into the CT scan, this song popped in my head again.  So much more peace this time around than last and it’s all because He loves me.

3. Last Saturday Keith, Lynne’ and I went to see the Dave Ramsey Live show and were blown away by the awesomeness.  It was held in a church in south Dallas and there were 8,000 people in the auditorium!  So great to be there and hear words of financial wisdom and get fired up anew.  We’ve followed him for many years and his ways really do work!

4. Facebook again.  I haven’t been on nearly as often as I used to as I gave up the games for Lent (might sound like a silly thing to give up, but I knew I was spending way too much time playing), but I still love it.  I’ve recently reconnected with several girlfriends from a LONG time ago and they had a get together over the weekend.  I wasn’t able to make it this time (it was out of state), but we’re planning to do it a lot more often.  So interesting to me to see how these girls grew up to be wonderful women.

5. My Family.  Keith has been amazing to me through this medical mess and I know that also has a lot to do with why I haven’t broken down emotionally.  Every time I start to feel myself become upset he’s there with a hug.  My daughter has done a lot to help keep things upbeat and happy, daughter-in-law texting photos of Brooklyn (who always makes me happy, even when she doesn’t know it!) and my son just talking to me.  My mom, aunt, sister-in-law – always there with supporting words and texts.  Seriously – I am very blessed.

Brooklyn’s Silly Grin

I honestly feel so blessed having the daughter-in-law I have.  She really is good at sending me texts with Brooklyn pictures and that does so much to brighten a grandmother’s day.  And even though we only live 45 minutes apart, sometimes it’s hard for us all to find the time to get together.  Everybody’s lives just get so busy.

So last night we were sitting and watching tv when my phone trilled to announce a text.  This is what I saw:

This is what little Miss B does now when you tell her to smile for the camera – big cheesy grin, squinty eyes and a scrunched up nose.  Cute as can be!

Shortly thereafter I got this text:

She really is not a fearful child at all.  It reminds me so much of her aunt when she was about the same age.

And through the magic of Photoshop, here’s a little closer view of her big smile while on the swing:

I sure do love my family.   :)

St. Patrick’s Day Cupcake Fail

When a potluck sign-up sheet goes around at work I love to bring cupcakes.  They have all been such good sports about my efforts and even the ones that don’t turn out perfect are ok with coffee at work.  Because really there’s not much that a cup of coffee and a sweet bit of cake with a mound of frosting on top can’t help.

I’ve been dreaming up a new recipe to try and was actually looking forward to a culinary experience last night.  I was set to make a white cupcake – with green food color of course – with white buttercream frosting.  BUT…my ingenious plan was to bake Junior Mints inside the cupcake and also use on the top as a decoration!

Each pan of cupcakes had a slight difference in the way they were baked, all the while I took copious notes.  The frosting went on beautifully, with an almost perfect swirl on each cupcake.  I did notice that the warmth from my hand started causing the frosting to melt a bit, so I put every cake on a platter to set inside the refrigerator a bit before decorating.

And then…….disaster struck:

I tilted the platter just right and they all came tumbling down!  Poor Keith was in the kitchen with me when it happened and I think time froze as he waited for my tears to start.  But I just looked at it and said “Huh.”  And then I laughed.  And he joined in.  And all was right.

And this is my little buddy Joe, who is always right next to me regardless of what I’m doing.  Fortunately he is a very well trained dog and I had him “down” and “stay” while we took pictures and then cleaned up.  I did let him take two licks of frosting, but he grabbed a cupcake to carry around (after all, he IS a retriever!).  I made him “drop” and he did obey, though he looked disappointed.

I was able to stop at a grocery store on the way to work and buy some cupcakes to fulfill my part of the potluck.  And I showed the Joe picture to everybody and we all got good laughs.

I’m thinking I might try these cupcakes again next week, because I really think I’m on to something with the flavor combination.

PW’s Perfect Pot Roast

Seriously – I have never made a pot roast I was more proud of.  The recipe is in The Pioneer Woman Cooks and nothing could be easier.  It took 20 minutes from the time I walked into the kitchen to putting the pot in the oven, then just ignore it for hours.  This meal could not be easier

She recommends serving it with her Creamy Mashed Potatoes and since I am definitely a rule follower I did as she said.  You might notice this picture is slightly out of focus – I think that’s because I had already taste tested the potatoes and was swooning from their creamy goodness.

And now I believe I’ll head to the kitchen for a bowl of Cheerios, because this has made me hungry. 

Slow Down – and Be Still

We went to the lake today, a fast trip to check on things.

And as often happens when I am there, time slows down, and stress slides off my shoulders.  It’s at those moments that you really notice things around you – and are thankful for the experience.

The berries on this bush were noticed as we drove by, so I set out on a short walk with camera in hand.  The red was so vibrant and it made me smile.

We drove down to the shoreline to see how things looked after the winter months.  Rounding a corner on the curvy road I saw a site that took my breath away – 9 deer were coming across the road into the field across the way.  We startled them…and their eyes became alert, tails quivered and they took hurried steps away.  But not before we had stopped and watched them for those brief seconds.

My heart sang as I watched them – and I rejoiced in the experience.

“"Be still, and know that I am God;
       I will be exalted among the nations,
       I will be exalted in the earth."   Psalm 46:10

AMEN!

26 Years and an Hour Ago….

A wonderful son was born.  :)  We all went out to dinner tonight to celebrate James’ birthday.  I just love it when all of us are together and enjoying each others’ company. 

  We went to a barbecue restaurant and they had the cutest thing – a trash can combo!  All of this food was served on the lid of a small galvanized trash can lid.  It was too much for the 5.5 of us and the kids took quite a bit home.  A fun way to try a lot of different foods.

Unbelievably I forgot my camera tonight, but luckily did have one in my phone.  When they brought out the trash can combo Miss Brooklyn’s eyes lit up and she started saying “Corn, corn!”  I asked her if she eats it at school and she nodded and smiled.  I don’t know why really, but I think it’s very cute to see her eating corn on the cob.   :)

And thank you for allowing a grandmother to show a video of the cutest granddaughter ever.  :)  After we ate we stood and chatted a few minutes before everybody headed home.  Brooklyn thought this was way better than sitting in a restaurant.  It’s fun to watch her do things like balance on the curb and hold her arms out.  It’s at those moments that I realize she’s no longer a baby, but turning into a wonderful little girl.

Ravelympics Gold Medal – Charity Curling

The Olympics are over…and sadly, so are the Ravelympics.  For the non-knitters that might be reading, let me explain.  Knitters and crocheters have the most awesome site ever to keep track of the projects we complete, find patterns, see what others have done, etc.  called Ravelry.  For the Ravelympics we were to choose a pattern that would challenge ourselves, cast on during opening ceremonies, must complete the project before the Olympics flame was extinguished,  and could join teams of like-minded individuals.  I was on the Charity Curling team as I was knitting for the afghans 4 Afghans team.  They send items to Afghanistan a couple of times a year, including mittens, vests, sweaters and socks.   

I chose the Classic Mitten pattern and used Paton’s Classic Wool Merino with Lion Brand Fun Fur Prints held with the wool for the cuff.  I am enormously pleased with how they turned out!  And I did actually finish in time, in large part because of the gold medal hockey game on Sunday afternoon between the US and Canada.  It was a very exciting game and the gold medal match that we were hoping for from the beginning.  Unfortunately the US did not win the gold, but we did get silver and Canada getting the gold did make us happy.

AND….this was my gold medal award from Ravelry!  The dog on the award is Bob, he’s the mascot of the Ravelry site.  :)

This was a lot of fun to do and I now know that knitting mittens is not difficult.  I kind of think I might be knitting a pair before next winter rolls around – for a certain adorable granddaughter.