11-16-2014 Beaded Flowers

Gift from our Realtor

after a recent property sale:

2 small vases

with 2 small Gerbera daisy flowers

that had a beaded stick pin in the center.

Lovely?!?!?

11-15-2014 600+ Yards

... of soft, yummy alpaca yarn...

what to make, what to make?!?!?

I'm thinking a double thick hat with earflaps,

or a nice warm shawl

for these cold Iowa winters.

I won this as a raffle prize

at the recent knitting retreat. :*)

Woo hoo!!!

11-14-2014 Clarks

Time to replace my 20 year old Clarks slippers.

The old ones (on top) are literally falling to pieces!

I was happy to find that they still make the same style.

Merry Christmas to me!

11-13-2014 Ironic

Today DH & I went to the library.

He went persuing the stacks for a book to read this weekend,

and I went in search of a specific book that my daughter recommended.

When we came back together at the 'check out' counter

we had a good laugh...

...does anyone else see the irony?!?!?

(My book was on the right. Even though I've already 

successfully potty trained 2 babies, I wanted to

familiarize myself with the method my DD wants to use

for my granddaughters.)

11-12-2014 Honeycomb Cowl

Starting to knit a new cowl

using this yummy malabrigo yarn

that I bought at the knitting retreat last weekend!

11-11-2014 Pi Bench

While I was away at my knitting retreat this past weekend

DH finished (sanded and varnished) his "Pi Bench,"

I love it!!!

11-10-2014 Knitting Retreat Projects

I started and finished these slippers

at the knitting retreat

and now have to felt them down to size.

I also started and finished the 

horseshoe cable mittens

to go with the hat (11-5-2014 post)!

So, I should be nice and warm this winter...

head, hands and feet are covered!

11-9-2014 Dinner Winner!

Dear Daughter

texted me this picture

of the Dinner Winner plate she purchased

for my 2 year old granddaughter.

What a brilliant idea!

Why didn't WE think of that?!?!?

Granddaughter LOVES it!

She gets to pick out and 'hide' her dessert treat

and then eats all her foods until she reaches the treat.

11-8-2014 Knitting Retreat!!!

Where we spent the days knitting

and the nights sleeping...

A prepared 'camp' breakfast, lunch and dinner

were a 5-10 minute walk down this road...

...in this dining hall/activity center...

At the end of the retreat

we had "show and tell"

of the projects we completed...

(this is a pix of only half the room and half the ladies).

This knitting retreat was just what I needed

after this past stressful week!

11-7-2014 Each Separate Day

I have this saying

(found in a fortune cookie long ago)

taped to the window above my kitchen sink.

It never fails to lift my spirits

when I am having a bad day.

11-6-2014 Scarf done!

Finally finished the scarf for this little guy

and have decided to leave his eyes red.

11-5-2014 Horseshoe Cable Hat

Today I finished this 

Horseshoe Cable Hat...

from a kit that I purchased in Galena, IL

at the Fiber Wild Yarn Shop.

I hope to start (and finish!) the mittens 

at this weekend's knitting retreat.

The wool is absolutely yummy...

50% wool and 50% super fine alpaca!

It's like knitting with butter!

11-4-2014 Red Band

Was in the neighborhood

of the Red Band coffee shop today

so stopped and treated myself with a decaf latte.

Mmmmmmm!

11-3-2014 Future Chef in the Making

"Dis soup needs mo spices!"

Every Monday

my dear granddaughter

helps me make a big pot of soup for the week.

Her job is to scoop the cut up veggies 

out of the bowls and into the soup pot,

then go the the spice drawer

and pick out ANY 3 spices she wants

and add them to the soup

(and taste each one with her finger as she does so!).

Then, while the soup simmers away,

we head to the library and exchange books

(so baby sister can take her morning nap at home),

sip a lemonade in the library's coffee shop,

and finally walk over to the house next to the library

to look at all the yard ornaments

before heading back home for some soup for lunch!

11-2-2014 Finger Puppets

Recent snail-mail brought this adorable Halloween card

from my dear Sister-In-Law!

The Owl, Ghost and Black Cat

are all finger puppets

which have been played with each day since

by the little fingers that 'haunt' my house!

Thanks so much, my dear...

you are the "cute card queen!"

11-1-2014 Heart of Stone

I found this rock.

It looks like it has a heart of stone in it.

It reminded me of the scripture:

God says to His people...

"I wil give you a new heart

and put a new spirit in you;

I will remove from you your heart of stone

and give you a heart of flesh.

And I will put my Spirit in you

and move you to follow my decrees

and be careful to keep my laws."

Ezekiel 36:26-27

I pray this scripture for myself,

my family,

and all people.

10-31-2014 Missed Halloween

DH & I were on the road home

on Halloween evening

so missed handing out treats

to the 'trick-or-treaters'...

granddaughter made a cute bee, yes?!?!?

Thanks for texting me this pix, DD.

10-30-2014 Another Road Trip

Another Road Trip

to see mom.

She loves looking at pix of the family

that my DH loads onto the tablet.

10-29-2014 More Gingerbread Boys

After decorating some felt gingerbread boys

during 'quiet time' (baby sister's morning nap time),

big sister decided that she and Oma should make some

REAL gingerbread boys.

 She gave them almond shoes,

ginger buttons,

a heart (or two)

and cranberry eyes...

and AFTER she ate her homemade soup for lunch...

...she ate 2 of her gingerbread boys.

Mmmmm.

What a good cook and baker!!!

10-28-2014 Turkey for Raffle

Made this Turkey

for a raffle prize

at the upcoming Knitting Retreat.

10-27-2014 Where's Waldo?

 GD#1 has fun playing in the leaves!!!

10-26-2014 First Haircut

Grandson's first haircut!

10-25-2014 Autumn Colors

 ...in my backyard...

10-24-2013 Monkey Around

Finished knitting this little sock monkey today.

It is supposed to have black eyes

but since the eye placement falls on a navy blue stripe

I didn't think black would show up very well

so decided to try the orange.

Not sure I like them?!?!

May switch them out with white ones,

or maybe store-bought googley eyes.

Still working on the scarf.

10-23-2014 DDS

Today, GD#1 was very brave

during her very first visit to the dentist!

She's growing up so fast.

Tear.

10-22-2014 Mums!

Love this pix of my granddaughter!

Thanks for texting it to me, DD!

10-21-2014 Fall Colors

DH & I drove to Castle Rock Park

and Black Hawk Park

to enjoy the beautiful autumn colors today!

Wishing my dear daughter a very happy birthday today!

Wish the photographer could have incorporated

some of the beautiful fall colors

into your family pictures.

10-20-2014 Jack

Today I knit up this "Jack" pumpkin

(inspired by the Tim Burton movies).

'Jack' had fun hangin' with his sisters

before jumping in a box and going to the post office

for a trip to Chicago!

10-19-2014 Drywall

DH & Son

did some electrical work and

hung drywall in the basement this weekend...

finishing off a playroom for the boys.

Any chance my son can text me a picture of the progress

so I can swap out this picture for that one?

10-18-2014 Fun In Chicago

Happy 4 month Birthday, dear Grandson #2!!!

Among other things,

Oma had fun making 'backyard soup'

with Grandson #1 this weekend!

I think we successfully tuckered him out by day's end!

I love my Chicago family!!!

10-17-2014 Elf on a Shelf

Finished this "Elf on a Shelf" today.