More Knitting: Toddler Socks

 Our great-grandson turned one year old recently. I wanted to knit him some socks so I did.  I had to search Ravelry to find a pattern which was a bit of a picnic, but one pattern came up!

 These socks were fun to knit.  I did the "two socks on two circs" method of knitting socks.  They turned out just fine.

One note is that these were cuff down socks.  When I got to the first heel flap, since that was a back and forth project, I had to knit the first heel flap then switch the socks on the needles so I could knit the second heel flap.  No problem.  Just took a bit of thinking.

These were not ready for his birthday due to too much other stuff to do, but we "sweetened the late deal" by also sending him a few Richard Scarry books which our children (his grandfather) loved.  I expect he will love them, too.  He already loves books.

Newest Knitting Completion: Diana Sullivan Citrus Washcloth/Dishcloth

 Knitting a dishcloth or washcloth is very enjoyable.  The projects are usually one or two days in the making.  They are very useful.  They look pretty nice.

Diana Sullivan has just published a book with 11 knitted dishcloths.   I have been greatly blessed by Diana's YouTube videos covering many machine knitting projects.  I like to give back when I can and this time I could.  

This is her Citrus cloth.  I really like the pattern and I like the way it turned out in this variegated cotton yarn.

Some Things Just Make You Happy!

 Today just a short message to say that some things just make you and me happy!  Some time ago a good friend gave us an azalea plant that did not suit her garden plan.  After a couple of weeks I did get it into the ground.  Now it is blooming!!!  Such a joy.  I am so grateful for friends who share so many things with me.  In this case it was a beautiful plant.

You can see it is just beginning to bloom and has many buds just waiting to grow a little more. I am so happy today!  I hope you find things to make you happy today, too.

Munchie Monday: Green Juice!

 This morning a small miracle took place.  Hopefully the beginning of bigger miracles!  When I went to bed last night I had in mind to wake up by 6:00 so I could go to Piggly Wiggly grocery store to get some spinach and a few other items to make green juice as a wake-up-begin-a-new-and-healthier-lifestyle-forever plan.  Plus I needed some mushrooms to use in Creamy Wild Rice Soup.  Then I went to bed.  I was pretty bushed after an 8:30 meeting before church, church, rushing around after church to make lunch for Dear One before going to a funeral, etc etc etc. I was tired.  So I set the alarm for 7:30 which would give me just time to get up and get to the doctor appointment at 8:30.

So the small miracle?  Heavenly Father woke me up at 5:54!  And I leaped/crawled out of bed, did the regular routine, showered, and hopped into the car.  Went to the Pig, purchased some other things, too, and came home.

#LifeIsNoYoke Green Juice is now made and partly consumed.  Dear One drank his right down.  He is not a real fan but it is not nasty so he did drink it. He wants to be healthier, too.

Here is the Vitamix with water, apple, orange, banana, ginger thumb, chia seeds, spinach, and ice.  (Go to LifeIsNoYoke for the specific recipe. It is easy.  It is mild.  Even babies love it.) It blends for 90 seconds so you have a nice smooth drink.  No chance for spinach leaves to get caught between your teeth and embarrass you!

Here is the green juice in my Yeti travel mug ready to go to the doctor with me. I meant to eat my usual oatmeal breakfast as well, but did not get it done.  Because it is uncooked it takes a little longer to chew up than cooked oatmeal. I like cooked oatmeal which apples, raisins, walnuts, flax meal, and cinnamon but that takes even more time.

So I am feeling happy. And virtuous on several fronts: getting out of bed when I woke up, performing my morning ritual which today included listening to a General Conference talk on Miracles by Elder Howard W. Hunter, actually getting through Piggly Wiggly without stopping at their hot deli to collect some freshly cooked sausages which I am trying to avoid at all costs, making the green juice, and all this in time to head out for the doctor appointment ON TIME!  What a great day!  I hope it continues in like fashion.

When I get home I think I will address the kitchen a little bit, the workroom a lot, and even get the Cream Wild Rice Soup made for supper.  This will make the whole day a day of miracles.  Here is hoping....

Food Friday: First Strawberries of the Year

 On Sunday S and I went to Columbia for the annual Relief Society Presidency Training.  It was a glorious day for a drive and the training was just plain fabulous.  On the way to the meeting there were signs for the Cottle Strawberry Farm, saying they were "Now Open"!  I was so very thrilled.

So on Wednesday when we drove away from the temple we stopped in. I suggested to Dear One that we purchase a quart.  He, on the other hand, said we needed a large box!  That is what we did.  It turns out the large box is a gallon.  Lots of nice strawberries.  They are pretty good but will be much juicier in a couple of weeks.

Today when I was out doing some errands I noticed that the table and tent that Cottle Strawberry Farm sets up in our town is already in evidence, though they did not have any berries there yet.

Nature's Beauty

 Earlier this week we were at the temple. As we passed the garden in front of the sacred edifice the daylight shown onto some drops of water on some of the plants.

One of the things I really love is to see either dewdrops or raindrops on plants.  I do not know what this is but I love to see them.  A great start to the day!

Wednesday Wildlife: Cardinal

 It always makes me happy to see birds come to the window feeder we stock.  Today I walked into the dining room and found Pierre, the cardinal, in the feeder!  I call him Pierre in memory of my mother-in-law who had a beautiful male cardinal come to her feeder in Barre, Vermont.  She called him Pierre, thus Pierre is our cardinal's name.

This is not an ideal photo but I think Pierre is clearly visible.  He makes me happy.