A Perfect Sunday

I had the perfect Sunday yesterday.  I love going to church, but have such a painful, slow start every morning, taking a long time to limber up and get moving, so, since they changed the time to 8:30 and I have either a 10-mile or a 20-mile drive, it makes it tough sometimes to find the motivation.  So I struck the deal with God that I described in an earlier post:  If it's good for me to be there, wake me up in time, if You let me sleep in, I know that's what You want for me.
Well, yesterday I woke up quite energetic at 6 am.  I saw the sign.  Had a leisurely breakfast (my favorite kind), time to play on the computer a little bit, then off to church, wonderful weather, lovely service, awesome fellowship afterwards.  Hurried home, did a bit of knitting, was very happy because the newlyweds were coming for lunch:

The wedding had been three weeks ago.  So I made a lot of lamb chops and her favorite, fried green tomatoes, and his favorite, rice (not his way of making rice--I made Rice-a-Roni from scratch--he liked it), and had made a blueberry dessert yesterday.  We were chatting and chatting and learning about the Fijian culture, when our "dingaling" went off (infra-red sensor that let us know someone is driving into the yard) and the dogs started barking.  I checked who it was, didn't recognize the car, but the passenger that alighted--couldn't be--is it?--no--yes--it IS Eleanor--and the driver--it's Bob.  WOW!!  They were our new neighbors when we bought our first house in 1967.  Our kids played together--Our kids got into mischief together--our kids had birthday parties together.  We moved away in 1982, but they stayed in the old neighborhood until just recently.  We shared wonderful, happy, sad memories, Eleanor and Bob knew all about other neighbors and were still in touch with some--a wonderful blast from the past, and a resolution to visit more often.  And woo hoo--Eleanor and I are now friends on Facebook.  I'm so impressed that they headed into the countryside, to find us--they did know about the greenhouse, since we had met on a few occasions, while shopping (I still sometimes shop in the old neighborhood, and my last 12 years of teaching were in the old neighborhood) and I had also met Bob and their little grandson while I was supervising the playground at recess.
I hated that we had to cut our visit short, because we had made plans to go off to Vegreville (Kubota Man and I and the newlyweds) since DD3 was having a birthday supper for DGD2, Kayla.  So off we went on that trip.  There we had a wonderful supper, a lovely visit with more family members on that side, and my last-week's prediction at the Kubota dealer came true.

New story:  My DH's alias is Kubota Man--he loves orange equipment. We bought our first Kubota a number of years ago, a 24HP with big mower, rototiller, bucket and pallet jack.  That kept him happy for a couple of years.
Then it became harder and harder to unload the semi-trucks that came with bags of dirt for the greenhouse and trees and shrubs for the nursery.  So we decided he needed a 70HP with a bigger bucket, and pallet forks.  All was good.  Another new toy.  A couple of years later, it got too hard to switch implements (I needed the rototiller on, he wanted the mower on, etc.), so we decided that a 29HP was needed.  this one has a pallet lifter on the front, and generally holds the mower, so the rototiller stays on the original machine for the summer so I can maintain my berry patch and the neighbor's fallow garden.  The summer we bought that one, as we were waiting for it to come in, we couldn't mow, so the dealer lent us a 25HP tractor that was set up just for mowing--a belly mower, with grass catcher and a hydraulic dumping system--perfect for feeding the grass clippings to the sheep.  I was the first to use it, and, since it can almost do 360 degrees around corners and trees, I fell in love.  Kubota Man saw the enchanted look on my face and said, " Call Tim, ask how much, and if it's affordable, buy it--after all, we can't take it (our piggy bank) with us".
So, in this situation, I considered that an order-- it was expensive but affordable, so I bought it.
Last year we bought no new toys, so when I was at the dealership picking up maintenance parts, I bought him a real miniature toy implement instead, the $6.95 size.  That was the 2013 "toy".
Over these years, we had added more toys (attachments that would make our work around this big place easier), an auger head with different size augers for fencing and planting trees, a dozer blade for snow removal, etc.  This spring he ordered a quick attachment so he can put a bigger blade on the front of the 29HP for snow removal, and I insisted he buy a removable cab so he would be out of the wind when pushing snow.

Kubota Man loves mowing rocks in the rougher parts of the farmstead, so the original 55" mower is getting somewhat beat up.  And we have a lot of grass to cut where the land is smooth, no rocks, but it's too far to drive to dump the grass catcher, and mulching is good fertilizer, so he decided it's time...for a 72" finishing mower that would only be used for "good grass", he told me to talk to the dealer.  My conversation with Tim went something like this:  I know you sharpen the pencil for us, but keep it sharp, because (although he hasn't said anything about it yet), now he will need another tractor (I said that with tongue-in-cheek, but for some reason it had a ring of prophecy).

Back to the lovely Sunday--as we're driving home, he says, "talk to Tim about a new small tractor for the new mower", I almost choked laughing, but I was driving, so I had to keep controlled--we have distracted driving laws in Alberta, and I'm sure insane laughing with eyes flooded with tears of laughter would qualify as distracted.  It turns out, the mower brochure offered an optional quick rear attachment (quick on/off), but this invention had more problems than what it was worth, lots of breakdowns and repairs, so the dealer doesn't offer it any more.  So we were back to manually switching implements, so my orders for today are to get another tractor--something in the 24HP range.  We can't take it $$ with us.  I had to agree, because my rototiller would have been on the chopping block since it is not used as regularly as the mowers. So now, with tongue-in-cheek, I wonder when we'll need an addition to the Machine Shed.

C'est la vie in Kubotaland.

Today it is supposed to hit 30 degrees C and my goal (after talking to Tim) is to see how many greenhouse trays I can get washed (outside, since the greenhouses will be like ovens) before I pass out from heat exhaustion.  I'm hoping to get about half done, thanks to my new blue toy--a pressure washer.

Life is good.
Keep an eye on this post, because when I find the camera, there will be some photos of orange things edited in.

Kubota talk is about as inspirational as I can muster this morning, so have a great day, everyone, stay healthy, be safe, and most of all, enjoy life!!  You can't take it with you!!

What kind of blog post do you like best?

I looked at the blog and was aghast again at how much time has passed.  I don't have much time to look at blogs either, but realize that there are different kinds of blogs.

--One kind posts everyday things, every day and there are not always pictures.  
e.g.Today it's raining so I am  going to knit (no picture), or a wee post with maybe a picture  (today it rained so I knit this sleeve).  This kind of blog makes me think it's a journal for that blogger, not so much for others.

--Then there are the blog gurus who post regularly, with pictures, and their blogs always have something new and fresh and usually interesting to say--it almost seems like they structure  their lives in a way to have an exciting, vibrant blog.

--then there is I--I do what I do, forget to take pictures; my life, while busy seems very ordinary, and every few weeks or months, the guilt sets in and a super-entry is put together with pictures, commentaries, etc. Maybe it's the notion that ordinary activities when seen like a marathon, somehow become more interesting or inspiring.  That's what I do.  This kind of blogging makes people say "How do you do all that?" (reading it like a marathon lets the reader forget that this is over a time frame of many weeks or months).

My judgement of different blogs is totally an opinion.  When I have time, I read all types of blogs, mainly because I have gotten to know some of the bloggers virtually (and in real life) over the years, so am personally interested in how they are doing.  But I must say that some are more inspirational than others as a model for "interesting" blogs.

What kind of blog do you like best? I'm wondering if I should post "ordinary stuff" with or without a photo more often, or keep doing it the way I have been:  marathon blogging less frequently.

Life goes On and On and On, and that is Good

Must update so everyone knows I'm alive. Still so busy with chores and stuff, so no photos and nothing inspirational.  My apologies.  My resolutions list--won't even go there.
--Mandala:  no progress.
--Master Knitter Level 3--no knitting progress, only writing.
--Tech editing:  been editing some patterns for some designers/friends.  I like tech editing better than I like test knitting--must be that I like Math and I like pattern writing.
--hardly any knitting at all.
--Mascot costume for our Public Library:  they had a contest in the school for a logo/mascot--the one that won was an apple with a worm in it.  So I sewed the costume--just finishing the hat tonight.  That process is worth its own blog entry when I get some photos.  Because the worm has to be animated, I can't take a picture--will ask for some photos when the costume appears in the country parades this summer.
--Greenhouse has kept us busy of course.
--The garden finally got finished a couple of days ago.
--The hospital complex grounds and flower pots have all been planted.
--my weeds and flower beds as well as my own flower pots are not yet done.

Great news!! Our youngest daughter is getting married on July 5--she wants very simple since she and her fiancé have been together for a long time--her philosophy is that it's about the marriage, not about an expensive show.  They bought a home in February, and they want to go visit his family in Fiji, so she is being very careful about the $$$$$.  So in the next week or so I will be altering her wedding dress--a very casual lacey, beach-y kind of style.  I got DH a black leather vest, since he never wears a sports jacket--and his eyes lit up when I brought it home.  He will get a lot of wear out of that piece.  I've become too plump for a nice dress--hate trying them on--will likely wear the nice little shift I got for our granddaughter's grad.  It's comfortable, and in that style I look a bit trimmer.
--need to finish the hat for the apple costume so I can deliver it tomorrow.  I might even be able to plant flower pots on the deck tomorrow, since I broke my record of last-last-minute, and will actually finish one day earlier than the deadline.

Till next time:  keep safe and healthy, and God bless!!

Early Spring Update

New Year's resolutions:
--post more often on this blog.  so so
--finish Master Knitter Level 3--or at least most of it.Started April 8
--continue with year 3 of the yarn diet (I'm loving shopping in the stash). Doin' really well.
--fitness and weight resolutions ehhhh
--get back to sewing
--get my last bit of renos finished
--lots of unfinished projects finished (maybe 1 per month).
--added:  to read and comment on my friends' blogs more often.  so so
--added on Jan. 21--work on my sewing room--goal is to finish all the UFO's there, too, as well as the mending and ironing.  I also plan to sift through my knitting magazines and get rid of those that I know I will never knit from, and that don't illustrate some interesting techniques.
--Jan 21--this year I have to finish the cross-stitched stockings (2 out of 6) and tree skirts (2 out of 4).

I have a huge thing to share even though progress on other things is minimal. The magazine with my sweater design is out, so I can share with you.

The pictures are pretty, but don't do justice to the way the wrist ribbing comes to a neat point on top of the hand.  I can't wait to submit some more designs, but the next time I'm going to have most of the pattern done and a prototype knit ahead of time.

How can I argue with that?

In my church, it is a sin to miss Sunday Mass unless there is a valid reason (except we can go on Saturday instead).  I, personally, don't agree with the sin rule, since  I really enjoy going to church--most of the time.  I listen attentively, participate enthusiastically, so I always get something good from the service, and I enjoy the fellowship with my fellow-believers.

Except....I'm not a morning person at best of times.  So when the services were changed to 8:30 am, and I drive 20 miles on 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays and not so quite as far on alternate Sundays, and we have had a brutal winter, with -30 C and wind chills, and considering I have to drive over many  miles of uninhabited country roads, with very poor cell service, I'm more reluctant to be so "faithful", and rely on reading my scripture at home.

My leg issues--difficulty walking, and unlocking myself after sitting, only increase my fear of heading out alone.  Add to this the fact that the leg pain often deprives me of sleep, so I'm not as alert and strong as I'd like to be.

My personal view on church attendance--for me--is:  God has been so good to me, my life has been so blessed, even when there were hard times, so how can I not give him an hour a week?  I don't think for a minute that God is enriched by my presence, or harmed by my absence--the gain/loss is all mine, but it's a gesture of gratitude.  I don't usually need a "law" to get me there.

So I've begun making a deal with Him.  Last night I was exhausted from a long day of organizing an all-day meeting, and, tired and sore,went to bed early and set the alarm.  At 5:00 I awoke, grumpy and sore, and turned the alarm off:  as I turned it off, I said a prayer:  "Lord, if it's good for me to go to church today, please wake me up in time--if you let me sleep, I'll know that's what you wanted for me".  Well, I woke up at 6:55--5 minutes before the alarm-set.  Not only that, I was feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, raring to go, with much less pain than normal.
How can I argue with that?
This is a beautiful link:   God Whispers

May God bless you all today!♥♥♥

Happy update:  At the beginning of Mass, our music minister Mike made an announcement that his oldest daughter was in labor with her 4th child, but the baby was breech, so he asked that we all pray for a good outcome.  At the end of Mass, he went up to the lectern, pulled out his cell phone, and said "Michela can you hear me?". From the phone through the microphone we heard:  "Titus George Michael has arrived safely".  Mom sounded strong and supremely happy!!

The Mandala Saga

I ♥ the Mandala Sweater.
I ♥that it's knit in squares from the outside towards the center.
I ♥ the rustic yarn and the colors.
But I don't like the very wide sleeves, so I plan to try to knit them to shape.  I also realized that when I started this it was OK to wear a sweater with 6" positive ease, but that has changed, so I will be re-knitting the body squares that are already finished.  I ripped the first one out quickly and re-knit it quickly to ease the pain.  I won't be ripping the sleeves till I'm positive that the shaped form will work.  So that means I will be making the 8 body squares first to make sure I'll have enough yarn to make a third sleeve.

 So, the process went something like this:  The chart shows the original square sleeve, with the tapered modification drawn in:

These are the original big-square sleeves:

Completed, smaller, body squares, some blocked, some rumpled, the beginning of a seam:

The first part of the sleeve modification, worked with short rows:

Till next time:  Nothing profound to say, just have a nice spring!!


 

New Resolutions and projects

 I've decided to start each post with my resolutions or to-do list.  That's accountability (just like Brenda said in her post)-- say it in public--maybe it'll make me more accountable.

New Year's resolutions:
--post more often on this blog.
--finish Master Knitter Level 3--or at least most of it.
--continue with year 3 of the yarn diet (I'm loving shopping in the stash).
--fitness and weight resolutions
--get back to sewing
--get my last bit of renos finished
--lots of unfinished projects finished (maybe 1 per month).
--added:  to read and comment on my friends' blogs more often.
--added on Jan. 21--work on my sewing room--goal is to finish all the UFO's there, too, as well as the mending and ironing.  I also plan to sift through my knitting magazines and get rid of those that I know I will never knit from, and that don't illustrate some interesting techniques.
--Jan 21--this year I have to finish the cross-stitched stockings (2 out of 6) and tree skirts (2 out of 4).

 I just finished a Prayer Blanket for a  sick little girl in our community.  She wasn't well, not gaining, and it turned out she is allergic to gluten, dairy, eggs and nuts (that's what I remember).  Her mom has adjusted the family's diet, and the little girl often refuses to eat.

Did I mention that I have had a sweater design accepted by Cast-On Magazine?
I submitted some sketches and some scans of swatches, and got the news on Dec. 20.  The deadline for submitting the multi-sized pattern, charts and schematics, as well as the sample sweater which will be worn by the model for the photoshoot is:  Everything at the office in Ohio on or before January 24th.  They ordered the yarn, which didn't arrive until Jan. 3. The holiday season and an extended family party on Jan. 11th--I think I was crazy to accept this.  BUT--I sent the sweater away on the 15th (it arrived today), and I e-mailed all the paper work on Friday, the 17th.  I had to re-do the schematics to be print-ready.  She told me she is editing the pattern, but haven't heard of any changes.  Here's a little glimpse:

I already have 4 more ideas for design submissions, but this time, I'll have more of the work done before I pitch my idea.  (Lesson learned).

I have a bridesmaid's dress to alter--I took it apart, but it is navy and black, so I'll have to re-assemble it in daylight.  Will finish it on Thursday, since tomorrow I am going with the Handi-Bus to take some Long-Term care residents to the city for a "Wheel Chair Dance"--that is a hoot, and they do so appreciate the opportunity to get out and hear some good old fashioned music, and dance, and tap their feet and clap their hands.

 The first of my UFO's (unfinished objects) that I resurrected will now be worked on till finished.  This is constructed all in squares.  The sleeves are bigger squares than those of the body, and, while I don't mind the boxy body, I don't like the huge bottom of the sleeves.  I have already finished the sleeve squares and two body squares.  I entertained the idea of using the sewing machine and serger to taper the  sleeves, but then I decided to try to re-knit them to a proper sleeve shape.  This will involve some back-and-forth stranded knitting, but I don't mind purling stranded.  Also short rows will come into play.  BUT I will not be ripping out the original sleeves until I'm sure the alternate plan will be an improvement over sew-and-cut.

 --The next UFO will be the Brennan Cardigan.  This has stockinette stitch main parts knit separately from ribbed side panels, which are then seamed together, so I will try the knitting machine for the st st, and hand-knit the ribbed parts.

After 2 UFO's I will knit something new.  I think it will be Blish by Nora Gaughan.  I have a nice grey/natural white
 Briggs and Little Heritage for that.  Interesting, since I don't like ponchos and I don't like batwing sleeves, but I am really attracted to this design.

Before I can carry out my intention to read more blogs, I will have to tidy up my blog lists--many of them haven't posted over a year, so I will reluctantly delete these.  It's interesting how you can enjoy reading a blog, and yet not have much to comment. But I will try.

At the end of March, my Catholic Women's League Council is hosting the annual Zone Meeting.  As a gift to the attendees, I have decided to make about 25 of the Pocket Crosses.  I give these to the children who receive First Communion each year.

This isn't getting at my resolutions, so ,
Till next time:  The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. (Honore de Balzac)