in Vest ment

I spent hours making this vest to find that I'm not sure if I like it. Keep in mind that I have not knit any adult sized clothing articles in years. I mean many many years, maybe 25. Anyway, first of all, I never wear horizontal stripes. I'm big enough without pronouncing it. Second, the actual arm openings are tucked under. I followed the pattern to gauge, but it still turned out too big. Now what do I do? I guess I will remove all the crocheted trim on this knit vest and do it right or it will be yet another item unworn in my closet. I love the colors but not thinking, the variegated yarn made the design horizontal, whether it was knit or crocheted. It feels wonderful on, very warm on my back and very lightweight and comes down around my bum nicely disguising my many body flaws.

Am I disappointed? YES

Will I fix it? YES

Will I wear it or give it as a gift? ???

Will I make another one? YES

Will I alter the pattern? ABSOLUTELY

Why? Because I really DO like the vest, just not the way the arms fit or the variegation. I will use a solid color next time.

It actually knit together in less than a week if I kept after it...even quicker than that, if I had kept track of the actual hours I put into it.

So

Such is life at the end of MY knitting needles.

It has a crocheted trim all around the neck, arms, and bottom with a gusset opening on the sides and neckline. I like it.

So, back to the drawing board.

Until the next item is complete and satisfying...

Blessings Be Yours

Spring, Summer, Bring It On

Just Dreamin' again of warmer days ahead,

Of Beeing in the Delphiniums,

Of Volunteer Poppies in my garden,
Of plentiful Peas to pick.
Yauntsum?

Patiently awaiting warm sunshine.......til then,

Blessings Be Yours

Spent Time

I don't know what to share tonight., so I will share parts of my day.

It's always 'early-up' at my house. For 30 yrs. I have gotten up at 5:15 a.m. with my dear husband, packed him a lunch pail while making him a hearty breakfast. We sit and have coffee together and watch the early local news and weather, sometimes letting the weather determine our outdoor plans. We do not mind a good warm rain or the heat. The cold we have had to endure lately tho, has been another story. It just may mean we pull out the longjohns yet again and change into heavier woolen socks.

This morning was no different except I had to take him into work this morning because I needed the truck. Of course that meant I had to put the woolies on cause tho the temperature was more agreeable this morning, the wind was not. One thing I no longer can tolerate, are cold feet. Another story, another time.

I still had an hour to kill before hitting the road, so I slammed another cup of coffee with toast and homemade apple butter while knitting a few more rows on my vest. It sure is going to be a nice warm vest, something else I appreciate now that my joints and body is aging and desiring 'heat'.

Mom rode along with me this morning, a 45 min. drive to the east for yet another appointment. We always have the nicest visits on our travels, no matter how long or short they be. Today we talked about Grandma B. and how life was different in her time, how she was a tough-love lady, and how different it would be today if she were rearing her family now versus then. Another story, another time.

Time enough before my appointment meant a quick stop at Walmart to pick up a few things for Bill, and bananas. LOL

I laugh because one thing Grandma B. always did whenever she got to town, was buy 3 things, white bread, white thread and bananas. Lo and behold,?, here's my Mom, buying the bananas. She had white bread in her hand but put it back, too expensive, she said. And we just did not have time to look for white thread. I couldn't help but tease just a little of Mom's resemblance to her Mother.

After my responsibilities with the Doc. was over, we stopped at Tula's Restaurant for lunch and another nice visit over meatloaf and mashed potatoes. The conversation was about a comment my uncle made to Mom about how she was doing. His concern was because of Dad no longer being with her since his death 2 yrs ago. She said she got the feeling that he thought she would be so lost and lonely, depressed. She said she told him, You go on with your life. Death is a part of it. I guess it must have surprised him that she was managing so well., even tho he knows she is tough and knows God has a plan for her just like he did for Dad. I'm sure he misses his brother very much just like she misses her husband, but she's right, You Go On.

Our ride home was more chit-chat about my family and all the changes and how we deal with each change. Mom said she worried that she would not be able to help each of us when 3 of us kids were going through changes in our lives years ago, at the same time...would she have the heart and energy to help each of us?. She did, and I do, even when we think it is unbearable or impossible. One thing at a time. Tiny steps, one at a time. All things work out.

God has a way of seeing to that, a funny way sometimes, but 'a way'.

Finally home. My brother was sitting at Mom's table reading the paper. He looked up and said, bananas, and we laughed and said, Ya, but no white bread or white thread. A short visit later, a quick round for a few groceries, time enough to put them away before having to pick Bill up at the papermill, and back to town. I'm many times thankful for town being only a 5 minute run.

By time we finally got back home, I needed a power nap, having fallen asleep with my knitting in my lap.

Supper was sesame sauteed' salmon filets, baked Yukon Gold potatoes, fresh tomatoes and cucumber spears with iced tea.

And that's enough of today........the rest of my evening will be spent knitting. I am anxious to finish this vest.....I can feel the warmth on my back already. So until next blog........

Blessings Be Yours

Dreamin', BRRRRRR and Busy

It's Soooo Cooold out that I cannot help but Dream of Waterslides

and Wild Raspberries


Brrrrrrrrr...Baby, It's Cold Outside

It is so nasty cold outside and no way to start a new year. We had 15 below this morning with a windchill of nearly minus 30 degrees F. That's bitter, nasty, stay inside, cold.

None the less, if you live in WI, you soon learn to deal with what Mother Nature has dealt you.

I actually bit my upper lip, bundled up enough to shovel a path to the bird feeders to keep our feathered friends fed and warm. The little peepers did not even want to come out. I could hear the chickadees that snuggle together in the birdhouses by the corral. They were thanking me for the meal but it was even too cold for them to flit by and eat. The sun was shining but not enough to warm the air.

As long as I was out in the elements, freezing my nostrils at every breathe, I decided to burn the paper garbage from yesterdays project. After all was said and done, my organizing turned into an all day affair. Ya see, while putting Christmas decor away and undoing the tree, I decided to take a run to town first., buy half a dozen totes of different sizes and do the storage room up right.

Well, knowing how one thing leads to another, it also meant going through the Grandkids toy corners and giving them the 'once over'...which led to 'thinking', notice I said, 'thinking' about starting the craft corners, counters, cubbies, shelves, Room......thank goodness I was just 'thinking' about it. That will surely take weeks to accomplish.

Back to the bitter cold. Somewhere within my busy yesterday, I did two large loads of laundry, paid the bills, kept the fire going (hubby still is under the weather), baked marinated chicken and squash for a late supper, cleaned up the kitchen and washed all dozen of my gas lanterns (Again) before returning them to their resting places on the fireplace mantel, vacuumed and swept up the trail of tree needles from its trip out the door, finally got around to eating supper with a hot cup of tea,.........at nearly midnight.

Somewhere in there I think I took a look at cyberspace, can't remember tho....so forgive me if I commented and did not make any sense....a might tired by then.

I was still up at half past midnight when my son came in from ice fishing in all that bitter cold.

Thank God he and his buddies fish out of the comfort of a heated ice shack.

Did they get any fish, you ask?...of course not, too cold for the fish to even bite. They 'hunker down' just like we do and grab a blanket of mud as deep as they can go.

Anyway, long day, cold day, much done yesterday, not much done today.

A girl's gotta get some rest sometime...

Have a great New Year everyone

Blessings Be Yours

Change of Plans

Due to the bitter cold weather we have been having in North Central WI,

some plans had to be changed.

One of my dear grandsons wanted to build a snowfort, but we settled for

tunneling inside the house instead. This red collapsable tunnel is going on

its 5th year of fun.

When Aunt Mel came for a visit, we were working on PaperPlate Art, and of course, Aunt Mel pitched right in with this three minute landscape of the snowman that Syrus also wanted to build.

Instead of a snowman, he made a fish....to warm our day. Isn't it the cutest little fish you ever saw? He is so proud of his work.
Nothing beats a tub of markers and paperplates, good company and a cup of soup to while away an afternoon on a blustery day. Thanks for the fun Syrus and Mel.

Longing For Spring

Bill has been having to weigh down the bucket to plow our heavy snows

We are 'so' longing for spring but winter has just begun
We long for leisurely swinging in the hammock with our Wee Ones

In this 'oh so comfortable' one I made years back
And times shared with Teddy Bears and Puppies on the tire swing

With Ryele's loves
We long for green grasses and flats of flowers waiting to be potted
But these icy cold 8 below sunrises is what we have been blessed with

It is accepted only by it's awesome beauty at 6 a.m....

The fire in the woodstove feels warm and welcoming,

And the hot cappuccino my son just poured in my coffee cup warms

my thoughts for the day
So, my goal for this day, is to pour over the seed catalogs,

place some orders in the back of my mind,

keep the fire stoked,

do another 300 piece puzzle with my grandson,

bake some black cherry muffins and just stay warm.

It's our last day for awhile with my grandson, so we will play lots of games, read to each other and just 'cozy up'. Hopefully the day will warm enough for some fun in the snow. He wants to dig a fort in the snowbank....

You all stay warm wherever you are and

Blessings Be Yours

Jesus' Birthday Cake

Happy Birthday Jesus

The little ones eyes light up when Jesus Birthday candle is lit.

They all gather to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and learn the true

meaning of Christmas shared by their Great Grandma O.

Great Grandma then artfully cuts the cake in the shape of, ' The Star' that

shone bright that night of Baby Jesus birth.
No one ever wants to take the first piece. It usually is started with the youngest hungry child., this year, it was Ben and Maya.
Same Jesus Cake, different year., but same message, loved by all.
This has come to be such a wonderful tradition on Christmas Eve, that I know,

I, for one, will continue it for my Grands and GreatGrands. For now, it remains a tradition at the farm where I grew up learning all the important bits and pieces of

a good wholesome life.

I hope your Christmas was as wonderful as ours.

Blessings Be Yours