Visits and All the Fun!

Now that they have moved to Michigan, we can expect more popup visits from the girls, like this one! They got in last night, while we were at an Indians game...

...trying to stay dry in the downpour! 

We did not wait out the rain delay, but came home to all the love!

Today we have so many fun things to do...like bread making,

legos, and blogging! 

The girls are sitting with me right now, helping...they say, "Hi!," by the way...lol! Consequently, this post is bound to be short and a little discombobulated! What a fun day this is so far! Hahaha! 

I hope that you have some fun planned for your Saturday, and that you also have some time to knit. My knitting time may be limited, but my granddaughter time will be extended...super yay!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Kitten Cousins

I knit a thing. Not surprising, I know. Also not surprising, it is another requested toy for my granddaughter. Shockingly, the cats are not impressed.

As I was watching my grandson play this week, I noticed that he loves the toys that rattle, and I thought it would be fun to knit the thing again, adding some noise-makers on the second round. And so, friends, I present to you my striped Kitten Cousins!

As you can see, the rattle and squeak kitten (on the left) is quite unfinished. Although it is very cute, the personality really is in the details. A face, a tail, even ears will give him that beckoning look, and I think the baby will like him quit a bit with the rattles! Even without the details, this one has a personality that drove him to squeak past his cousin...

...rattling toward the window to see what might be outside. Of course, without eyes and ears, it was pretty discouraging for him. Poor guy...

You know what they say about cats and curiosity? Well, apparently it is true, because when the finished kitten regained her composure, she fairly tossed her cousin aside to get a better look...

...which piqued the interest of White Cat (naturally).

White Cat: Pretty, what IS this thing?

Pretty: It is a stuffed cat, of course!

White Cat: Are you sure? It does not smell like a cat... I can't even tell if it is a boy or a girl!

Pretty: Well, silly, it is NOT a cat. It is a toy.

White Cat: A toy for a cat?

Pretty: No. A toy for a granddaughter.

White Cat: Oh. I see. Is that a bird outside?

Black Cat: Can everybody puh-lease keep it down??? I am trying to nap over here!

White Cat and Pretty: So-o-o-r-ry!

Now it's time to say goodbye so Black Cat can go back to sleep. I am glad that knitting is a quiet activity, and it is time for me to make a tail and a face for my poor, discouraged, rattle-and-squeak kitty toy.

Thanks for stopping by, friends, and Knit in Good Health!

Little Nugget says, "See you next time!"

You Never Know

You just never know, so be ready. 

You never know when a smiling, sitting still baby...

...is gonna really start moving!

So be ready to grab those cheeks, even if you miss the picture!

You never know when lots of things are going to happen. 

This week, something unexpected happened, and a friend passed away suddenly. He had just turned 58 and buried his own father just days before. I grieve for his family and friends, and for myself...and the thing that really struck a chord with me was that you just never know which moment is going to be your last. If I knew for sure when that moment was coming, I could rest in that knowledge. "I don't have to be ready for 32 years, 6 weeks, 3 days and 47 minutes...I have time," I might think to myself. But I do not have that luxury...or would it be a curse? I mean, would I actually prepare, or would I put off the things I need to do for 32 years, 6 weeks and 2 days? I mean, we all procrastinate, right?

I try not to put things off, but each time someone I know is plucked from this life sooner than I think they should be, it is like a splash of cold water in my face followed by a punch to the gut. What if that was my husband? My child? Or me? Am I ready? Have I done what needs to be done, said what needs to be said, loved who needs to be loved? I am fond of saying, "I could step off a curb and be hit by a bus tomorrow. The information you need is in the green folder," but there is so much more to it than that, isn't there?

One more hug. 

One more I love you.

One more conversation.

One more phone call or text.

One more shared meal.

One more vacation.

One more prayer.

At some point, there will be no more me. At some point, there will be no more you. Are we ready? Probably not. Maybe we are never totally ready for that final goodbye, especially when we are the ones left behind. But you can be ready to go all the time, if you know where you are headed. Do you?

You know where I am going with this, I know you do, and I can never force you to believe what I believe. I would not try to force you to believe, because I know that I will never be powerful enough to change your mind if you disagree...and I will continue to love you, even though you may continue to disagree with me. But I believe that what I believe is the absolute truth, and I believe that you should at least consider it. Have all the details before you throw away the idea that God loves you, and that he sent his Son as the Way, the Truth and the Life...so that we can be forever connected with that love. 

If you have not read the book, read it. 

See for yourself. Ask questions...all the time.

It is a long book. Start soon, because you just never know, friends.

::Steps carefully off soapbox now, looking both ways for buses.::

Here I will say that you just never know what Pretty will say or do next, but you can be fairly certain that there will be knitting. After all, this guy is moving around, so we need to fill his world with all the pretty knitty toys and things!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Goodbye, Fiesta Lime Squeeze

Back in 2011, right around my birthday, we bought a new car. There is absolutely nothing noteworthy about this...we buy new cars all the time. I have lost count of how many new cars we have owned through our marriage, but I can only count two that I really, really loved to drive. The first was a sentimental Chevy Lumina minivan in the early 90s, and it held a special place in my heart as the first car that I picked out all by myself (because Sweetie was deployed, and we really needed the van with the kids!).

The other car that I loved was a Ford, which is super weird, because I am traditionally a Chevy gal. But this little Ford Fiesta was my favorite because of the color name: Lime Squeeze Metallic. I was once in a tiny fender-bender in this car (not my fault), and as the officer was taking my info, he asked, "What color is your car?" 

"Lime Squeeze Metallic," I answered, tipping my chin, lifting my eyes and gyrating my brows up-and-down-up-and-down. 

"I'm going to write 'green,'" said he, after a considerable silent stare. (That stare said, "Your car is green, Lady. Green. Settle down now.") Ahhhh! Memories! What a party car!

You've seen that car in many blog photos throughout the past 8 years, sometimes as the star, other times as a prop or photo-bomber, but this right here is your last view (and mine, unless I happen to see it tooling around town with another driver...), which I snapped as we drove off the lot in our new ride this past Tuesday:

Goodbye, Lime Squeeze Metallic 2011 Ford Fiesta, and thanks for the memories! You will be missed, but we are looking forward to having at least one car in the driveway with All-Wheel Drive this winter. So, hello Sparkling Silver 2020 Kia Sportage...I hope we also make many happy memories together, and that we can get out of the driveway on a snowy day when we need to!

What do you drive, friends? And why do you love it? I would love to hear all about your car memories (as long as they are G-rated)!

Whatever, you drive, I hope that your weekend is good! Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Picture of knitting, because...you know, it's a knitting blog!

How Can You Tell?

How can you tell when our grand kids might be coming for a visit?

Well, it could be the knitted toys that start showing up, like a beagle with dangly legs...

...or a tiny window kitty.

Or it could be that the cats are getting nervous...

Maybe it is the heart-shaped ice I've been making?

It could even be the sign by our back door.

But I think the most telling tell, when the girls are on their way from a faraway state, is the soap. 

The gummy bear soaps have arrived, and the kids will be here soon! We are all so excited, and the 4-year-old may or may not be looking to see what kind of "trouble" she and Pop Pop can find on this visit...

With a house full of love for the next few days, I am going to cut this short, friends. There is still so much to be done! But I hope that you are having a good weekend so far, and that you are finding joy where you can.

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Wow! What a beard! Looks like trouble...