No, Hades has not Frozen Over

Yes, I am posting twice in a week.  That's because I have something to show you.  The days are the usual garden/yard/farm/nursery work, since we are having a fall with lovely weather.  And I've made time to knit, and knit, and a bit of crocheting.  Daughter #2 's Aran Hoodie is finished (for Christmas).  The front looks a bit rough because I haven't got the zipper yet, and its just pinned.I also finished 2 more Rainbow Baby Shawls for the prayer shawl ministry at my Church.

The family is coming tomorrow for Thanksgiving, so it's been busy cooking since yesterday.

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian Blogger friends.

Till next time:  You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart,your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world, but a world lives in you.  (Fredereick Buechner, Telling the Truth)

Just Checking In

I know it's a cliché, but time does really fly.  We're so busy with fall work, now that the weather has improved.  Garden is cleaned, flower beds in progress.  Deck is still messy with dead flower pots.  I emptied the compost from one of our 4 compost heaps onto some flower beds.  They look beautiful with the weeds covered up (pictures to follow).
Kubota Man Jr.'s Aran sweater is finished, and Daughter #2's aran hoodie is almost finished.  I also did 1 1/2 more  Rainbow Baby shawls. 

Trying to sneak in some work on the Fair Isle Design Challenge.  When I turn 65 in January, our Health and Dental plan is gone, so I've been spending lots of time finding a new plan.  Today we made our decision--good feeling.  Also had to apply for my Old Age Pension--done.

In November I'm getting 4 implants into my lower jaw to better hold my lower denture--I've had my dentures for about 40 years, and the lower ones are now hard to fit properly, since the bony ridge is disappearing.  That will require some surgery to put the base of the implants in, then in several months, another bit of surgery to insert the posts--and new dentures $$$$$$$$.  But I don't have to look forward to eating baby food and jell-0.

I took 5 lambs to slaughter last week.  We have never had lamb, so I'm collecting tried-and-true, delicious recipes.  I'm told that with lamb it's a love-it or hate-it relationship, and also depends on how the animal was fed and how it's handled and cooked.  My priests are from India, and they love any kind of sheep meat, even mutton.  So, if we don't like it, "Merry Christmas, Father James and Father Francis".  Also daughter #3's boyfriend is from Fiji,of Muslim heritage, and he likes lamb.

Welcome to my newest follower!

Till next time:  You have powers you never dreamed of.  You can do things that you never thought you could do. There are no limitations in what youcan do except the limitations in your own mind as to what you cannot do.  Don't think you cannot.  Think you can.  (Darwin P. Kingsley)

Second Thoughts

I would never phone a friend to whom I hadn't spoken in a long time, and say, "Hi, I'm alive and well, and busy. Goodbye." and hang up. And that's exactly what I did in the earlier post. So, I hurried through my work and made it a point to show you what I have been doing.

Renovations: That sort of went on hold over Christmas, but right after Christmas, I did the suspended ceiling in my basement kitchen, while waiting for the plumber and electrician.

Behold:
It was really easy, took only a couple of hours. After I had completed it, and one of the flourescent lights went out, I realized that I hadn't dropped it low enough to work on the lights easily, so, this is what I did. (Remember, the ceiling grid is suspended by wires, and supported around the edges by an L-shaped track) I drew a line all around the edges, 1" below the track. Then I lifted up the panels and released the screws and rescrewed them along the new lines. Then I released the wires and lowered it to the right depth. Voilà, 30 min. later, the ceiling is in its new place. Light changed. Fini.

The cabinets are coming in on Monday. I bought more of the same wall tiles as upstairs, since I had to open a new box of grout to use only 1 out of 10 lbs. I love those tiles. Will post later about upstairs.

Knitting/Crocheting/Embroidery

Madli's Shawl from Knitted Lace of Estonia, for my cousin's wife (Germany) who sent me a batch of lovely sock yarn for Christmas. I will be making a pair of socks for him, too.

Rainbow Baby Shawl. Although crocheting is not my favorite pasttime, I love making this shawl. Two evenings of work. It's for a very special young lady who is expecting at the end of February, it will be blessed at church--it is a joyful prayer shawl.

Cross-stitch Christmas Tree Skirt: before I retired, I made up my mind to give each of the kids a Christmas tree skirt. While I still had a paycheck, I assembled the materials. So far I have one all finished, and have been working on this one in 2010. I want them all finished by the next Christmas. I also want to have a cross-stitch Christmas Stocking for everyone. The four grandkids got theirs last Christmas. Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures.

Wedding Update: The wedding plans had been all finalized for Labor Day Weekend, then my daughter got the news that the groom's mom, who is a radio announcer in Fiji, could not get the time off work, due to some special event for the Muslim population. So we tried August 14--the caterer wasn't available; Aug 7-- the hall wasn't available; July 31--Maid of honor can't get time off work; Aug 24--no caterers available, local town's 100th anniversary; so now everything is (I think) all set for July 17. Keeping our fingers crossed.

Till next time: You can't wrap love in a box, but you can wrap a person in a hug. (Author unknown)