Waiting for Spring

This is what will keep me going through winter--spring is coming.  Much to my chagrin I did not go camping after I adopted Chloe because I was worried about how she would do.  She was not as good a camper as Molly was.  

Nature absolutely soothes my soul.  I stopped going hiking also because Chloe and I often ran into dogs off-leash and Chloe is not good with other dogs.  I will need to start making a point to go hiking without her, because getting out in nature-any time of the year-soothes my soul. Just looking at old pictures from camping brings back the good feelings.

Christmas is coming.  My radio station has already started playing Christmas songs.  Yes, I will call them Christmas songs even though the station calls them Holiday songs, which is ridiculous because we all know they are Christmas songs.  What is this world coming to if we cannot politically correct wish someone a Merry Christmas?  Evil is prevailing.

Anyway,  I am going to decorate for Christmas this week.  The Christmas season is too short, so why not start early?  I feel very sad and regretful that I did not not start planning for my gift giving this summer.  I want to make my gifts like the olden days, but I am running out of time.  One of my favorite things to make is socks.  One pair of socks takes me 2-4 weeks to complete.  Do you know how many pairs of socks I would like to knit?  Many.  Maybe I will submit coupons in the Christmas cards for an I.O.U.  

This is the last year our department will be together for the Holiday season.  People usually exchange gifts.  One year I made cookies for my "gift."  Last year I did not do anything.  Money was too tight.  This year I think I will make something for everyone.  I don't want to say what because I may make several of these items and give them to many different people.  People who read my blog.  The cost for materials is about $1 for each item.  Affordable.  I am told it takes about 5 hours to make one item.  A friend is teaching me how to make them today.

This is Sophie's favorite place to sleep: in Chloe's crate in the back right-hand corner.

Life is really good when you let it be.  I had an off afternoon and slept most of it.  But tonight I am feeling great.  Relaxed and rested.  I've been reading Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy for my book group.  Maeve Binchy is one of favorite authors.  She is from Ireland.

All my EZ (Elizabeth Zimmermann) books arrived.  I have a treasure.  If you are a knitter and have not read any of her books, I would highly recommend it.  I'm off to knit a hat, the first project in Knitting Workshop.  It lets you design your own fair-isle design for the hat.  Can't wait....

The Christmas Cactus I bought two years ago at Giant Eagle has several nice size buds.  Can't wait to see it in bloom.  I will take pictures and post them.

Happy Belated Halloween

I believe you can celebrate Halloween without indulging the evil aspects of the holiday.  I love custom parties and scary decorations.  Mandi and Ted threw a wonderful Halloween party, complete with roasted pumpkin seeds (a first for me) and plenty of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.  I should have taken pictures.  Mandi was a queen bee, her two little children were small bumble bees, and her husband Ted was the bee-keeper.  It was very cute.

I did not dress up.  I did not get my act together soon enough to come in costume.  Next year I will.  The party is hosted annually.  A cute  couple in costume was a devil and angel duo.

Several houses in my neighbor would decorated very cute for Halloween.  It was fun to be out and around yesterday.  In the afternoon was the Halloween parade and in the evening the trick-or-treaters were out.  I think Halloween is a fun Holiday.

Happy Halloween!

Booooooooooooooo! 

Life in a Week

Sparkles knitting her scarf.

We like to "showoff" our knitting.  Master knitter Connie is showing off her toddler sweaters.  The yellow and pink one was knit with one self-stripping yarn.  She took special care to start the first yellow stripe after the smocking and she lined up the pink stripes on the sleeves to match the striping of the body of the garment.  Like I said, Connie-the Master Knitter.

Celeste and Pam at  Friday Morning  Knitting at Barnes & Noble.

Chloe stretched out on the couch as I am folding clothes.

Knitting Friday

 Today is knitting Friday at B&N.  I always look forward to this day.  I will try to get some pics of my friends.

Chloe had an accident the other day.  I don't know for sure what happened but I came home to limping, sad dog.  I rushed her to vet.  No broken bones or fractures.  Thank goodness.  She was given an anti-inflammatory med but it made her throw up in my bed this morning at 3:30AM.  Poor girl.  I think she will do fine without the medicine.  She is bouncing back quickly.  Chasing Sophie around the apartment.  Jumping on and off the bed.  She is not suppose to do stairs or jump for two weeks.  What a joke, considering I live on the second floor.  How do you keep a dog from jumping on the bed.  I moved my mattress to the floor, but she still wants to jump on the board on the frame.  As a friend at work said, Dogs are like children, very resilient, they recover much quicker than their parents.

More Pics

Chloe and Sophie playing on the bed while I am trying to make it.
Chloe laying in her favorite chair.  She can look out the window from this chair, but the chair is not so close to the window that she could go flying through the window when she see a dog outside.

Happy 50th Birthday Jude!!!

Sunday, October 4, 1959 Judy Ann Miller was born to George Albert Miller and Patricia Ann Birkmeier-Miller.

I invited my friends and mom to Hartmann's Waterhole restaurant in Harmony, Pa.  The restaurant was rustic with wooden beams in the ceiling.  The food was delicious with reasonable prices.  Vivian brought the birthday cake.  Chocolate cake with strawberries.  Oh so delicious.

From left to right: Jude, Nora, Connie, Vivian & Flo.

From Left to right: Connie, Vivian, Flo, Celeste Pam, Mary Ann, Vilma.

Vilma and Mom

Pam and Mary Ann

Vivian and Flo, the dynamic duo.

Happily cutting the cake.  I was nervous about cutting the cake, but it went fine.  We had two pieces left over.  Two people due to physical illnesses were unable to eat cake with us.

These are my 9 most favorite people in the world.  I invited my most favorite people and they all were able to make it.  Pam Logan ( my bestest ever friend)  from Arizona was invited but could not make it because of the distance.  

Watching Main Street

Chloe is resting her head on window ledge.  Both are at their favorite pasttime--watching Main Street.