Moves Like Jagger?

That post title is misleading. 

Neither Pop Pop nor Pretty "got the moves like Jagger," but we are moving.

Yes, in a little over a month, Pop Pop and I are planning a move. It will be a local move, with little to no dancing (maybe singing though...), to a condo in a neighboring town. I am overwhelmed by the process, and I honestly wish it were over already, but I suppose that is pretty normal. The outside will look something like this rendering:

It will be shiny and new, and we will no longer be responsible for snow removal or lawn care, which is good. Our little starter home of 26 years is paid off, so we won't list it until we have moved out, which will make it easier on the real estate agent and the cats. Cats hate moving and people parading through their place!

To be perfectly honest. Pretties hate having people parading through their place, too! I mean, you never know what someone will touch or see, and keeping a place clean enough to "show" while you are still living there is difficult at best! So, we know we are blessed to be doing it this way...but the waiting is tough! I mean, everything is not yet shiny and new at the condo...

But it is getting there! I hear that counters and cabinets will be installed soon, and this will start to look more like our new living space, so that is pretty exciting! This is what the model looks like, from an angle similar to mine above (fun to imagine with furniture!):

While we wait for buildings to be finished and loans to be closed, we will continue the great cleanout and start our packing...which explains all the boxes in my living room, lol! And we will spend time loving some of our favorite people, who will live just a little bit closer after the move. 

Happy Baby! I love a happy baby!

"Build house, Gee!" This kid loves to build and climb!

Yes, that will be good indeed! I will also be a little closer to work, and less commute time means more knitting time! Speaking of knitting, I finally put a lid on my 7-year Beekeepers Quilt, that I've been working on since 2013! 

That means that I can finally take down that counter on the side bar of the blog...I got up to 243 hexipuffs (though I only put together 233). I may use the other 10 for something else, but I may not. Either way, I am so excited to put this piece in my craft room as a pop of colors!

Prayers and moving mojo are greatly appreciated as Pop Pop and I navigate the next few weeks! If you have moving tips and tricks, please share. It's a little surreal, and 26 years is a lot of history here, but we are ready. New beginnings are good things, and every knitter could use a good excuse to knit some new dishcloths...so that's where you'll find me while we wait!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Making Fun!

It's been a week of making around the Pretty family. Making space by cleaning out things I don't need, and taking time to make glorious messes with my favorite people! I've had a Sock Puppet boxed kit in the attic for years, just waiting for the right time to come out and play...and it finally happened last Sunday!

The girls and their Mom and Dad were in town to pick up some things we are getting rid of (baseball trophies, yearbooks, other assorted fun things) and sooo...Pig Puppet!

...and whatever this is!

...and Barbie bags!

Our eldest granddaughter, the one who dubbed us Gramma and PopPop nearly 10 years ago, learned to sew...

...and her puppet became a Dalmatian!

...and the dog was not really that impressed. But Gramma was!

Even the littles helped Mommy make a giant cookie. I think she said, "Just sprinkle some on the icing...like this," as she carefully sprinkled both white and red sprinkles over the edge of the cookie. Then, as she started talking about making an icing heart in the middle, this happened...

...and I laughed and laughed! Mommy made this face!

...and we all laughed and laughed, and hugged that little decorator!

Even the littlest of the littles was busy making smiles!

...and making everyone around him smile, too!

It has been a very good week. All this making has made me happy, and I love putting it all down here for us to share! What has made you happy this week? Drop a comment and tell me what brings you joy!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

No Raindrops on Roses Here Today

 Happy Valentine's Day to you! 

Yes, tomorrow is the day of love, and although I don't expect that there will be much mushy-mushy for me and the hubs, it is a great time of year to celebrate the things and people we love! (See photo above...the cats DO love each other, from time to time.)

Here are a couple things I have found recently that I love, and I will not be parting with them in the Great Cleanout of 2021:

On the left is a washboard, actually a portable washboard, from my grandmother's house. Back in the day, if you went on a trip, you likely had to do washing while you were away. Travel was not as efficient as it is in the 21st century, so you might be gone quite awhile! According to this washboard, it is the perfect size for you suitcase, and one side is for "delicates" while the other is for your sturdier fabrics. All I have to say to that is that I am glad to live in a time of quick travel and washing machines that do not (generally) damage clothing!

On the right is a cutting board that I never realized was a cutting board until I researched it in the last few years! This used to hang on my Grandma's kitchen door, and I loved seeing it when I visited. When she passed away, I didn't care so much about jewelry or dishes, I wanted this plaque for my home, and it has been with me since I was 16! Looking at the damage now, after years over my splashy sink, I wish I had kept it away from water, but I put it in a place that I would see it all the time on purpose...because I loved it...and I still do! At the bottom, the date for Watkins should read "since 1868," but the board was likely made in the 1940s. 

Here are a few things that I am finally ready to let go of, even though I love them dearly:

Books from when I was a tiny girl, learning to read. I read these books over and over, and they were my favorites. When I moved out of my parents' home to get married, I took them with me, and I read them to my children. My favorite L phrase comes from Bruno Munari's ABCs: "Left leg, lazy lion licks a lolipop." That's what I think of when I think of the letter L...well, that and this song from classic Sesame Street (originally aired in 1971): La La La La Lemon

As for the people, lately it has been harder to catch them on camera, so here are a couple of Christmas-time photos, the most recent I've got of these people I love!

The boys are harder to catch, for sure! As a matter of fact, it looks like I only flattering photo of Allen lately as been of his feet at Christmas...hahaha! 

There is much to celebrate this Valentine's Day, most of it less than "romantic," but that's ok. I hope you are finding peace and love in your life this weekend, even if it looks a little different than you once thought it would. 

Thanks for stopping by, Knit in Good Health and Happy Valentine's Day! 

Head 'Em Up, Move 'Em Out

Yes, I think the lyrics I took my title from are a little different, but going through all my stuff feels more like herding cats than cattle, so I'll just let it go...along with the junk! But I'm not letting go of everything, because one of the best parts of clearing out the junk in my house has been the great finds. Like this trunk, which sat in my son's bedroom for many, many years. I pulled it out of the attic recently, because Allen is planning a visit with his family, and it is time to pass along whatever he wants to keep. TMNT were certainly big in our home for a season!

In my bedroom, while clearing off a bookshelf, I found this and posted it to Facebook. It is a little difficult to read, so I'll give you the transcript at the end of this post, if you want to read that far. On FB, Allen mentioned his "poetic prowess" when neither his dad nor his sister remembered writing this gem. They did not always "get" me, but they did give a perfect gift for whatever occasion that was...I did love that watch, and the poem. 

While I was in the basement, I also opened a box of "goodies" from my desk at the first church I ever worked for. There are certainly some fun things here.

To be happy, don't do what you like...Like what you do!

Then, down the rabbit-hole of photos, look at all these pictures that have graced my fridge through the years, oh my! If you see your face in there anywhere, I'd love for you to drop me a comment! So many good memories right there, on my green ottoman...I'm sure I will find more as I continue!

Speaking of the fridge, do any of you remember when I sold Tupperware? It was a fun 9 weeks in the early 90s, when I didn't really know many people and I had two toddlers at home...so, yeah. I did not excel in my sales. But I did buy every piece of Tupperware that my little heart desired, and all the matching magnets, at quite the discount. All in all, I'd call that a win...lol!

Trash to treasure? Treasure to trash? Who knows, really? But it's been a fun game to see what's there, and to write about it here. Life is a funny thing when you're a collector at heart! Too bad I live in a teeny-tiny house...hahahahaha! 

Well, it's time for me to get back to the decluttering. Board games and books are next on my list, and I have more than a few of each! In fact, if I'm not mistaken, there are two Monopoly sets in my house right now...not like Monopoly and Monopoly Jr, but two full Monopoly sets! We don't even really like to play Monopoly that much, but I think I'm keeping those just for the photos I could create with them!

Still a collector at heart, I suppose, and I enjoyed the trip down Memory Lane. I hope you did too! What are your plans for the rest of this weekend, friends? At some point, I hope to sit and knit for a bit! (Maybe more than a bit, if I'm lucky!) 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Transcript of Poem, pictured above:

Time with Mom

It won't be ready in time

And I'm sure it will cost more than a dime

Have you ever committed a crime?

It's getting fixed at the shop

Perhaps it's taken one too many a drop

Do we have any pop?

We know how much you like that watch of yours

Much, much more than a bunch of wild boars

Our house has a broken door

This way you won't have to depend on a clock

You won't have to listen to tick or tock

We know a guy named Tak (pronounced "tock")

We appreciate the time you spend on us, mom

You're the greatest mom.com

Your love is more powerful than a bomb.

Dad

Allen

Jessica S