Wordless Wednesday

For an explanation of "Wordless Wednesday" visit the blog "My Little Room" on my Blog List--last Wednesday's post.

This picture was sent to me in an e-mail.

I Have Come to the End of the Petunias!!!

Things for which I am grateful:

-- finished transplanting petunias,

-- tomorrow I expect to finish transplanting the last wave petunias and other pot stuffers,

--except for one seam, the first group of wedding alterations are done,

--we are healthy,

-- and many, many more.

Things that make me want to tear my hair out (but I don't, I just dwell on the above, and get myself to add to the above list ) :

--the weather. It is still below freezing at night, alternating rain and snow in the daytime. Even for us in the "Great White North" this is unusual, (+ we don't have volcanoes or hurricanes, and we have a comfortable house)

--slow business in the greenhouse because of the weather' (+ we might be able to catch up with our other work; don't count our chickens before they're hatched)

--we accidentlly locked a cat in the greenhouse (plastic covered, 2 layers inflated with air, $500+ per sheet. He/she clawed its way through both layers, a ragged 18" diameter hole, lost inflation, found it in the rain, lay in the mud to make temporary repairs, just before dark. Without inflation, the heating costs are much higher (+ we found it before dark so the repairs could be made. DH and I make a good team working under pressure. We rarely see mice. There are no rats in Alberta)

--DH gets cold at night, but his body radiates a lot of heat--I'm too hot. He snuggled up to get warm, didn't give me enough room to even turn over--I'm exhausted and grumpy, but he works so hard, I didn't say anything. (+ we have each other. When I don't feel well and get cold, I get to snuggle, too. While I couldn't sleep, I found the inspiration to solve a problem with the last dress alteration)

--the house is such a mess because we are busy in the greenhouse all day except for some hurried meals on the run, no energy left to clean at 9PM when we close (The joys of having your business in your yard) , and I am frustrated because i have no time to knit (+ we are productive in our senior years, our eyesight is good enough to notice the mess, we have a good house)

--test knitting a new sock pattern for a friend. Don't have appropriate yarn at home, won't get to the city for another week or so, dying to start, (+ will really appreciate that "me" moment when I go to my LYS again. I'll really be eager to start the project. The project can't distract me from other priorities)

--2 years after a car accident, I still have severe nerve pain in my feet and ankles. Neurologist ordered an MRI of the brain and spine since he is puzzled by the nature of the problems. MRI date not until Aug. (+ Considering the severity of the accident I could have been dead or crippled--considering these alternatives, I guess I got off easy. ++ We have a universal (though slow) health care system)

I just found another Prayer Shawl Ministry picture in my collection for future posts. That is inspiring to me, and reminding me that I have a white worsted lace Prayer Shawl to finish. It's not for anyone in particular, but we never know when it will be needed. (see one of the first posts where I share this ministry with my readers. ) I am on the left, and my friend and co-founder or our Church's Prayer Shawl Ministry--Jeanet, is on the right.

The crowning touch of my day's blessings, is the discovery of a new blog http://stitchingunderoaks.blogspot.com/, one of whose best (among many) features is the inspirational scripture verses and quotations that are posted there (the recipes aren't too shabby either). The Spirit works in miraculous ways.

Till next time: Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal. (Thomas Moore, "Come Ye Disconsolate")--found it in The Shack

BRRRRR--Again

This is the view from my dining room window this morning at 7 am. The temperature was just at the freezing mark. Two days ago in my post I said: "Are you listening, Lord?" I've learned over the years that I shouldn't ask that question. He's listening, he just has a different plan.

It turns out that there's probably no serious lasting damage to the trees. The native poplars are leafing out--in their time, not mine. I'm thinking that it's a sign from Him that I need to remember that things go by His time, not mine--I tend to be impatient.

Perfect timing for another event in my life. I've been too busy to read much lately. But a friend recommended the book I'm going to tell you about. I started reading it in the bathtub and finished it in three soakings (evenings). Just couldn't put it down.

The Shack by Wm. Paul Young

Since I'm not good at paraphrasing a book I love without giving too much away, I'll copy the blurb from the back cover:

Mackenzie Allen Philips's youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later, in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend.

Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry aftrnoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.

In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant THE SHACK wrestles with the timeless question: Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain? The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book!

Yesterday I did finish the marigolds and got a good start on the petunias, but I had an unexpected trip to the city this morning, then my regular visit to my Mom (Alzheimer patient) in the Nursing Home, then I taught religion for 1/2 hour to an active Grade One class of 21 students--topic was Baptism, and the descent of the Holy Spirit. Upon my return I made tortellini hamburger soup for supper and worked on the wedding sewing. Blog time, then bed time. Maybe another soak with a challenging Sudoku puzzle.

Till next time: (Quote from The Shack, instead of my usual Grandmothers book) An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one he gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others. (A.W. Tozer)

BRRRRR

Got up this morning to -10 C degrees (20 F degrees) and a skiff of snow on the ground. The wind was really howling last night, so I didn't sleep, worrying about a tree nursery full of budding and newly-budded (expensive) trees and shrubs. (Lord, are you listening?)

Hi, ho, hi, ho, it's off to work I go--hope to finish ALL the marigolds and most of the second crop of petunias today.

Till next time: Time has taken edge of vision, ears' perception, hands' precision yet how can any feel bereft when wonderment and love are left? (Pam Brown)

Will Spring Ever Really Spring?

Yesterday, I went to the city for a Dr. appointment (Dr. Randy Gregg, former Edmonton Oiler NHL player, during the Wayne Gretzky era). Since we are so busy these days, I make the most of the day and run a lot of errands. These consisted of:

--post office for mail and a parcel.

--bank for a deposit--arrived 1 hr. before bank opens.

--hardware for DH

--a quick visit to another bride's house. This poor girl's wedding: the wedding was to take place in Mexico on May 23--airlines cancelled--re-booked for Jamaica in July (I didn't mention hurricanes to her). Then she got her wedding dress back from a seamstress who altered it, and it was horrible--butchered would be an apt description. My son, who is in the wedding party, called me. As long as the stitch holes are not permanent, I can fix the dress--It was taken in 3" too much--I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it; Praise the Lord that she didn't cut anything away--I know that this girl has not gained weight.

--a trip to a pastry shop called La Favorite to pick up a treat for a visit for tea with a high school friend whom I haven't seen in about 4 years. THe pastries were so great, that I bought some for home as well as for our tea. I can't believe I spent $32 on pastries--but I'm a sucker for anything hazelnut. We've been eating carefully for so long, and we work so hard--I'll ration them out over a few days...MMMMMMM

--a stop at Mark's Work Wearhouse (they have the neatest casual clothes) for a skort on sale, and a coupon--decided against it since have to wear big clunky shoes with orthotic insoles till the car accident injuries (2 years old) heal (I hope)--that's what the Dr. appt. was about.

--groceries

Got home at 9:30 pm, put away the perishables and crashed. (It's a 50-mile-one-way trip to the city limits) Had a horrible night's sleep--exhausted body, overstimulated mind.

But what I started to say is that it was sunny and beautiful--no jacket or sweater.

Today it's below freezing, the wind is blowing from the NW at 20mph creating a windchill. We spend more time carrying plants in and out than I care to admit. I'm not a cursing person, but I'm tempted. Words like "poop" and "darn" and "fudge" are on the tip of my tongue--but there they'll stay. (for now) I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but Thursday is expected to be even colder than today, yet the long weekend coming up is supposed to be lovely. I'm still transplanting.

Wedding alteration update: veil will be done tonight. Mother of Bride-done; Flowergirl-done; One bridesmaid-done; bride's honeymoon pants and top-done.

Left: 2 bridesmaids, shorten crinoline, bustle wedding dress, tuck in a cotton dress for the honeymoon. Phew--on the homestretch.

Knittin update: Cousin's baby due on May 28th--need to go to the storage container for buttons for the baby hoodie so I can ship the parcel to Germany.

No pictures today. My picture uploading time was spent adding pictures to my Ravelry projects.

Till next time: Grandmothers try hard, but they run out of puff. (H.M.E.)

Greenhouse and Sock Update

Well, here I am, working in the greenhouse. We're now officially open, one shipment of trees and shrubs has arrived, and I am still transplanting. Since most people don't plant sensitive plants till the 3rd week of May, or even the end of May, these late transplants will be needed later.

A view of one of our greenhouse alleys. That's almost 100 feet of plants you're looking at. My responsibilities are the seeding and most of the transplanting. DH looks after all the mechanical, repairs, "Honey-doing", and filling the pots for me. Even I can't believe that everyone of these plants was planted by my hands, in only 2 1/2 months. Actually, if I look at my hands, the cuticles, the nails, the dry skin--I do believe it.

Now that it's getting warmer (which translates into HOT in the greenhouse, we have to do a daily bug patrol--for aphids. Have to catch them and stop them before they super-multiply.

Here is the first leg of my first sock from the

Sock Innovation book. This pattern is called "Angee". I had to adjust the # of stitches even though I got the stocking stitch gauge--Added 5 extra stitches by working them into the continuous purl column. After the first pattern repeat I really began to enjoy it. I'm planning to get some solid colored sock yarn or subtle color changes to better appreciate the patterns, particularly the patterns that resemble Japanese knitting.

I'm yearning to work in the flower beds and the garden. I'm just dying to plant my sticks. (watch my other blog--this week I will reveal the secrets of stick planting).

Time to go. It's almost 7 pm. I've got supper cooking.

Till next time: My grandmother is very patient. She would have to be with me around. (H.L. Age 10)

New Blog; New Book

Am I excited!!! My new book Sock Innovations by Cookie A just arrived. What a gem. Well written directions. I immediately got started on a pair of socks--difficult choice, I want to make them all NOW. Then I discovered that I don't like knitting socks with stitch patterns in them. All my previous socks, the almost-100 pairs, have been plain-knit self-patterning socks; mindless, watching TV, quick turnabout, sense of accomplishment.

But I LOVE the socks, and I think my girls are also ready for something more exotic, so I shall persevere. (Of course, for the first pair I had to choose a pattern that could not be easily memorized). Will keep you posted. I don't mind charted patterns at all, and I love lace knitting, so I don't expect difficulties. Will have to keep a plain sock going at the same time for when I watch "House" and " Bones".

Am I excited again!!! My other blog "Weed it and Reap" is up and running. The reason for this move is that it is (or will be sometime soon) spring, and our greenhouse, then the garden, will occupy so much of my time that I will not likely have much knitting news to share. So, in order not to bore the non-gardening knitters, or the non-knitting gardeners, I decided to garden on one blog and knit on another. The site needs some work, but it's available.

Printing off the income tax tonight; assembling tonight; UGGH! writing the cheques tonight. ANOTHER THING OFF MY LIST OF THINGS TO DO!

New things on my to-do list? Alterations on a wedding gown, a flower girl dress, a mother-of-the bride dress and 3 bridesmaids' dresses. Wedding on May 23.

Till next time: We are "Just Mum" to our children. To our grandchildren we are possessed of magic, having lived in a time before time began. (M.R.G.)