Approaching Glory

The Beginning of Getting Ready

This is the day where the enormity of the next month hits me.  And I wonder why I don't start Christmas in August. Perhaps the day after Christmas would be better.  None-the-less, the countdown days begin now.  So - it is make the list, see who gets what, probably create an online Christmas page with family news (that seems to work well and is liked).  Let's see what we've got:

1. homeschooling
2. karate
3. Jbird's job
4. rehearsal and performance of CFAF Christmas program
5. Christmas formal
6. a graduation on the 15th (nephew/Berry College) - whole family going from all over (even Hubby's grandmother who is 94 or there abouts)
7. birthday
8. guests maybe arriving from out of town (heavy on the maybe)
9. shopping, buying, wrapping
10. buying, baking, eating
11. my painting classes
12. knitting, painting, sewing

Meanwhile, I did alot of thinking (procrastination) today.  I got the child to his karate lesson and I wound a ball of yarn while I was waiting on him.  At that rate no one will get a thing ......

Out Into the World

Everyone was getting a little stir crazy here so I informed the guys last night of my plans.  Sounded good to them - for the most part - and we all got up bright and early.

First stop was IHop.  I got a twenty percent discount coupon for the restaurant at the grocery store last week.  Sounded good to me.  I got the two x two x two - cute name and a good deal.  Hubby got a big breakfast meal with his favorite hash browns and Jbird got the Phillysteak with onion rings (for breakfast - ugh!)  Good service and a great meal.

Off we headed for Dick Blick's.  I informed my guys that my birthday (December 18th) comes before Christmas so I got what I wanted first.  Hey - it sounded good to me.  I picked up some needed colors in oils.  I also got the brush cleaner that I like.  I've spent more on other brands and have not been satisfied - back to the old standby.  Then I splurged and got a couple of museum (think wide edged) canvases. (they were on 50% off - and still expensive)  But my big surprise came when my son paid for my goodies and gave me a kiss!  I just about lost it right there in the store.  I told him it was WAY too expensive for him to pay.  He told me I was worth it.  Yup - he was a keeper that day - if you know what I mean.

Then we drove to Kohls - cause I had a 15% off one day coupon.  Hubby informs me he dropped the iron and it's busted.  Cute.  So we got a new iron (which Hubby dropped to the floor tonight by bumping into the board and then Jbird did it too - thankfully no damage done to new iron and the board will be moved)  Jbird got some much needed v neck tshirts and a hat for lifeguarding.  The best find was a jacket, hat, and shoes for Hubby.  The man is SO hard to fit.  Wide feet and he needs a XLT size in jackets.  Now this man has had the same sad jacket for over 15 years - Jbird and I are SICK of it.  So it was definitely time for a replacement.  He says he's keeping the old one for outside jobs - fine by me - just don't make me look at the old one all the time!  We were all pleased and saved a bunch to boot.

Got home and worked on the current painting some more.  I think I'm just about finished with it.   This is the big experiment where I took a picture of fall leaves and then solarized it using Paint Shop pro.  Then I decided to see if I could possibly paint it.  Let me tell you - it was tough and I don't know how well I succeeded.  Please excuse quality of shot - doesn't do the pic justice. There are shades and shades upon shades of colors in this picture.  It is much brighter up close and personal.  Haven't figured out how to best shoot my paintings yet.  I think the best you can do is really outside (wet here today).  But I think the big culprit is my camera.  The batteries you put in seem to get less and less time of life.  I think the newer models have addressed that issue.

Maybe Santa will bring me a new camera.

Thanksgiving Day

This was probably one of the nicest Thanksgivings we've ever had.  Can't really put a finger on what made it so special - cause we had a repeat of characters.  There was just a restful, relaxed spirit about the whole thing (which is amazing since we got a late start on all the preparations).

Judy came over early to be our "taster".  She was going to her daughter's for dinner, but she hadn't had anything to eat  (we eat our formal dinner early) so I told her to come over and see if everything was okay for our crew.  Jbird and D were busy trying to get the Macy's parade in on our tv - no go.  Hubby was trying to help me get all the last minute details done.  Judy declared the food delicious and then she took off.

My SIL and niece arrived and everyone assumed battle stations.  Fill cups with ice, pour drinks, set out the serving utensils, put already mixed veggies in microwave to reheat whilst I popped the rolls in the oven.  You know all those last minute "pull the meal together" routine.

After stuffing ourselves with the main meal, we played a game of Golf.  Jane (another SIL - I've got four now) introduced us to this game and we love it.  The only problem is some of our "old" minds have trouble remembering our cards.  If you all start talking - like we do - it becomes even more of a challenge!  Jbird won the championship on that game.  Then we moved to - Fargle (which I've discovered is called Farkle online)  Our house rules are slightly different but we've been playing "our" way for over twenty years so NO one is going to make us change our rules now - lol!

Then the guys went downstairs to play PS2 golf and us gals stayed upstairs and played another round of Fargle.  Lots of chatting took place.  All in all - it was a super Thanksgiving day.  Oh - and lest I forget -

I got this in my email late that night - it is a picture of my friend Sandi wearing the shawl I made her.   She told me she wore it all Thanksgiving day.  You know?  It's a blessing when someone really appreciates your gift and the work that went into it.  Besides which - she looks great in it - don't you think?

The Baking Day

I'm a day behind my normal holiday schedule.  Thankfully, Jbird help me.  We had two mince meat, two pumpkin, and an apple pie to bake.  Actually that doesn't sound too bad - that is until you add up all the crusts you have to make.  (8)  Jbird mixed the ingredients and I did the rolling out and pie innards.  The house smells wonderful.

Hubby came home from the grocery store with a 24 pounder.  I do believe that's more than enough.  The mad dash to make the house presentable has begun!

The Shawl for a Friend

After the success of the Forest Canopy shawl in Jaeger Zephyr, I started a shawl in Skacel as posted here.  I must say the second time around was much easier.  Of course the problem was I could barely see due to the allergies with my eyes.  However, I was determined.

So I have a Finished Object:

Pattern:  Forest Canopy Shawl

Yarn:  Skacel Merino Lace

Needles:  size 7 (up two sizes from the Zephyr - 15 repeats of the pattern

Started:  November 2007 - completed November 2007 (about a week)

The good:  The color is beautiful and is exactly what I hoped for. 

The bad:  This yarn does NOT block as well as the Zephyr.  The yarn is not as elastic and therefore the shawl was not as large as I would have liked.  However, I didn't realize that this was the yarn that the cat had gotten into (a year or more ago) and therefore there was a substantial amount of yarn that was missing.

I have another hank of this yarn in a teal.  I will make the next one with at least 19 repeats of the pattern for a larger shawl.

Oh - I finally have my account with Ravelry up and going.  I even have two projects listed.  I created an account with Flickr so I could post pictures on Ravelry easier.  Let me say, I really enjoy Ravelry.  It is so nice to look up a pattern or yarn and see pics and specs of what others have done.

She is Not Gone She's Just Away

T died early this morning - quietly in her sleep.

' But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” ' 1Cor 15:54,55 New American Standard Bible

With Hope - Steven Curtis Chapman

This is not at all
How we thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
We had so many dreams
But now you’ve gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you

And we can cry with hope
We can say good-bye with hope
‘Cause we know our good-bye is not the end
And we can grieve with hope
‘Cause we believe with hope
There’s a place where we’ll see your face again
We’ll see your face again

And never have I known
Anything so hard to understand
And never have I questioned more
The wisdom of God’s plan
But through the cloud of tears
I see the Father smile and say ‘well done.’
And I imagine you
Where you wanted most to be
Seeing all your dreams come true
‘Cause now your home
And now your free

And we can cry with hope
We can say good-bye with hope
‘Cause we know our good-bye is not the end
And we can grieve with hope
‘Cause we believe with hope
There’s a place where we’ll see your face again
We’ll see your face again

We have this hope as an anchor
‘Cause we believe that everything
God promised us is true

We wait with hope
And we ache with hope
We hold on with hope
We let go with hope

Pour a Cuppa With Me

Well, I wrote this long lengthy post and it got eaten by the Byte Monster.  I will attempt to write it again.  It has been a rough four weeks here at the hacienda.  I've had a list of things going on:

• poison ivy and the steriod reaction
• Hubby got the crud, J got the crud, and the guys shared it with me
• the "wake up your a monster" allergic reaction thingie bob
• winning the "taxi driver of the month" award and thanking God for His mercy over my drug-induced driving
• getting pulled-over by an officer in the dark of night - in front of my house with the full flood light in my eyes - because "did you know you didn't do a full stop at the stop sign?"  He gave me a warning and my record for no speeding or moving violations continues to stand!  J says it's a miracle.
• my friend's mom died.  Evelyn was one of the best biscuit makers that God ever created. She made countless cakes, biscuits, etc. for church gatherings and for friends. She was a fine Christian and her children and family loved her very much.
• T is home.  After fighting to get her back in remission since August, the doctors are at a loss as to what to do for her.  I can not describe the hurt in my heart for her family.  Remember them all in your prayers: T, Tim, and the three children (7,5, and 3)
• I had another friend go into the hospital and I never got there at all.  I was out under the power of the crud and just when I started feeling better I got this eye thing - must get in contact with her.
• they cancelled my colonoscopy and stomach thing due to my poison ivy (I don't know if this is a blessing or what lol)
• and how can I forget the broken pinkie?  It is healing but will take two or three more weeks to be healed

I haven't kept up with y'all's blogs as much as I have wanted to, and for that I apologize.  I was so saddened to read about Nuwanda's loss of her faithful pet.  Then I was so pleased to read how God blessed the family with a new dog.  I was shocked to read about Nuwanda's fall.  Thank God the baby is okay (she's pregnant) but I was so concerned to read she had badly sprained her ankle and broke (yes Nuwanda's Hubby a fracture is a break!) her elbow.  And then I was blessed again to read how her friends and family have displayed their love by the practical kind acts.  Read her latest post here - you'll be blessed.

I've been concerned about Clarence and Grandi.  They are being prayed for also - I need an update Clarence! Grandi promise you'll let me know what's going on with you.

I find this blog world a strange thing.  I love reading about your world - the books you read, the pictures of your family, the projects you create or knit....  I may never meet you, or hear your voices - and yet you all have entered into my world.  I pray for you.  I think about you.  And that's a good thing.  Love and prayers.

And Another Doctor Visit

Okay - this morning when I took a gander in yon mirror on the wall, I took note:

1. the swelling has diminished on the left eye - yahoo
2. the eyeballs are both a little redder
3. I now have a rash breaking out on my lower face and neck

Cute. So I break down and call my allergist.  What the doctor told me yesterday was that

• he would not give me the steriod shot because of the bad reaction I had
• if the condition spread I would probably have to go to the hospital for IV steriods

Needless to say, I really didn't want to hear that I would be heading to the hospital today.  And the thought of anyone putting steriods into my system for any reason scares me.  I was reading on the Web about steriod psychosis - a very real condition - which evidently I'm prone to having.

So - with great trepidition - I made my way to the Dr's office.  After going through the sad sordid story of my latest poison ivy bout, getting the crud from the guys, and now this cute breakout thing on my face, the doc decided I needed a conservative treatment.  She wanted me off the steriod cream that the Quick Care had prescribed.  Evidently, you aren't supposed to use it on or around the eye lids hmmmm.  So she gave me some samples of a gentler cream to use on my face and told me to just put some vaseline on my eyelids.  I'm to take loratdine in the morning and Benadryl at night.  (she thought the antihistimine the other doc prescribed was too heavy also) I have drops to put in my eyes.  And she doesn't have a clue to what I'm having a reaction.  I'm supposed to call back in three days with a report.

And then she wanted to know why I hadn't been around in four years and what was I doing for an inhaler?  Uh..... well....  Haven't you had any episodes with your asthma?  Uh.....well....  I was given a prescription for a new inhaler and orders to come back in about a month to check up on that situation.  UGH!

To top it all off the dumb thing cost $100.00 after the insurance (or maybe because the insurance doesn't pay for it).  You know what?  I was feeling so terrible at that point that I just didn't care.  Hubby will care - believe me.

Got some lunch and two movies and I'm going to sit and knit until I fall asleep - again.

Taken to Quick Care

Took one look in the mirror this morning and realized that I needed to go to Quick Care.  The eyes don't look any better and I'm itching terribly.

After hearing my sad tale of what happened the last time I took steriods (think October) - they decided they didn't even want to attempt that route of treatment.  They don't know what I have - althought they are sure it's an allergic reaction to something.  No duh!  So I was sent home with some stronger steriod cream and a hefty antihistimine.

Which means I slept a good part of the afternoon away but at least I wasn't itching.

Got to about here with the red Forest canopy shawl that I'm trying to get done for a birthday coming up.  Right - I'm crazy.  Two swollen eyes and a puffy face and I'm trying to knit up a gift.  Well, it's keeping my hands busy so I don't itch my face and make it worse.

Puffy Eyed Monster

I knew there was something super wrong when I first opened my eyes this morning.  I walked into the bathroom and took a gander at - "Puffy Eyed Monster Woman"!  My left eye was a real mess and the right one trying to be one.  We won't even discuss the black circles under my eyes.

I immediately tossed some antihistimines into my body.  I thought about going to Quick Care but decided to give the antihistimines a shot first.  Let's just say I spent most of the day itching, sleeping from the meds, and attempting to knit through pufferbelly eyes.

Hubby drove J to work and then picked him up.  The guys stopped and got a pizza on the way home.  They rightly figured that the cook was out of commission - again.

Let's just say that I'm totally disgusted with my body - enough is enough.