Am I a Hoarder?

I went grocery shopping this morning, and along with the food, I bought the silliest things...

Do I need them? No. Do I love them? Youbetcha! The storage bags are already full of fun, 

and using them cleans up the toy bin at Gramma's house a bit, too!

Then I got to thinking about how many little things I've acquired in my 58 years of "collecting." While I don't think my habit has reached the "televised-hoarding" level (yet), I sure don't want it to get out of hand! I'd better start using or giving away some things! Let's start with these 10, paper egg cartons...

Hey, local chicken friends, gardening friends, crafting friends...any immediate needs in your world? I'm happy to bring them to you for the price of some friendly conversation!

I am not, however, ready to give the yarn away, so I'd better start using it! What should I start (or finish or photograph)? Here's one I finally took modeled photos for, though I finished the knitting 2 or 3 weeks ago...

...and here's a pair of fingerless gloves using leftover yarn from two projects! 

I still had a bunch of the dark pink, silk blend left, and this light speckle, so now I have half of a second pair! 

I have lots of other ideas for the yarn stash, but another opportunity sounded like fun this weekend. It started with a box of melted gummy candy, left too long in the trunk on a hot day, looking like this: 

I took a shot at re-melting and molding the candy with the small, silicone molds I keep in my kitchen. 

I really thought it was going to work, and the resulting gummy cars looked good at first, 

but they were wayyy too sticky! After coming to room temp, they juste became sticky, green, sour apple blobs with cornstarch all over then. 

Oh, well. You win some, you lose some, and i can always go back to the knitting! 

Before I go, seriously, Amy takes on those egg cartons? I hate to throw them away, but I'd hate being a hoarder more! Drop a comment here or on FB if you'd like any or all of them! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

My Summer Vacation

My summer vacation was so much fun. I got to see my friends,

and I played with a lot of yarn.

I also got to ride many roller coasters at Cedar Point. I rode with my family,

and I rode with strangers,

and I rode with friends. It was so much fun.

I also did some knitting at the beach, 

and I even finished a sweater this summer.

I went to a fiber festival with my friends.

I taught classes and gave away ducks at a knitting retreat,

and I finished a 5K walk/run.

My family had a fun 4th of July party!

My sweetie and me went to Nashville. We walked down Broadway, and we had dinner at the Chiefs bar. 

We did not throw any chairs off the roof, because we are not Morgan Wallen!

I treasured 5 cousins on a couch, 

and at the zoo, 

and some of us went to the movies too.

We mostly went to Cedar Point, which was so fun,

and we went fishing.

We also flew kites

and watched a lot of baseball.

I am glad that I had a good summer vacation!

Thanks for stopping by to read my essay. I hope I get a good grade. 

Knit in Good Health! 

Grounded

No Cedar Point for me these last few days...because of both air quality from the wildfires (these are screen shots from a couple of the CP live video cams on 7/16; we are praying for those up north who are way closer to the relentless smoke than this...)

and because I had a steroid shot to a tendon in that sore hip on Thursday, so I needed to rest 24-48. Grounded, medically...adulting is fun! 😜 Ultimately, I am glad that these things lined up, because I would have been sad if I couldn't go to the park and the weather was beautiful! Still I did get some knitting, done, including casting on for a test knit!

I'll only need 2 or three of these contrast colors to go with, but other than the pink, I'm not yet sure what else will be making it's appearance in the final project...

Also, after the girlies left, I officially finished and blocked that sweater (Yay! No more Sleeve Island!) Pictures of me wearing the blocked sweater will be coming soon, I hope!

This week has been an emotional one, so I am glad for the garter stitch bottom of that test knit, to help regulate me. Saying good-bye to the visiting granddaughters, having medical stuff, and the sudden loss of a good friend have me feeling raw. None of it is super bad, but some was certainly unforeseen, and I often have trouble turning corners on the pivot. 

I went to my hip doc on Tuesday for a follow up, since the back surgery didn't seem very effective at relieving the hip pain, and he referred me for the injection. I expected that would come in a few weeks, but there was a cancellation, so I jumped on it. Won't know for a week or so how effective it will be, but my fingers are certainly crossed! 

The biggest feels I have felt this week, though, have followed the sudden passing of a good friend and mentor on Monday. My sweet friend had a massive stroke on Saturday, following a big family event, where I hear that she enjoyed herself immensely! The two are not related, and I might find the association tragic, except that I know her...and I know that she left with her eyes on Jesus, praise God! 

Before she died, she danced at a wedding and held her newest great-grandchild...and I think we could all wish for exit-prep as lovely as that. Hugs and love, cake and dancing, then celebrating with Jesus and all those who have gone before her...yes, lovely.

This is where it hits me in the feels: 

• I can never have coffee or lunch or dinner with Bobbie again, here on earth.
• I will never again hear her laugh, here on earth.
• I will never again get a card in the mail from Bobbie, like this last one she sent after my surgery. 

This is where I review the reasons my feelings, while valid, are not the most important thing:

• Bobbie is HOME in heaven, where she has planned to be for most of her life.
• Bobbie is at the feet of Jesus, worshiping and praising God with the angels and all who have gone before her, and one day I will be there, too. 
• Unlike earth, God has promised that there are no tears, no pain and no suffering in heaven.
• God sent his Son, Jesus, so that all have the opportunity to follow Him and one day live with Him forever in heaven...regardless of anything that has happened before. Jesus has willingly taken our sin on Himself to make a way, because there is no other way, as John 3:16 proclaims. 

I suddenly realize that I have grown into a grandma (complete with grandma hobbies, like knitting, right? Look! Another pig!)

I've graduated out of the "mostly weddings and babies" season of my life into the "mostly reunions and funerals" season. All of those life events involve family, friends, joy and love. The latter season often doesn't look quite as joyful, especially when I am unsure of a loved one's heart condition. And, although I cannot know anyone's heart as God does, I believe that He keeps making that offer of Jesus until our final breath. 

No pressure here, but I do want to say that I hope you have found Jesus already in your life. The Christian life, here on earth, is not always better or smoother...but it changes your perspective, in the view of eternal life (eventually) with Jesus. If you have questions, I'd love to have a conversation, because I'd like to see you in heaven with me someday. 

If you're not ready, I get that too. We can certainly still be friends, and I will keep loving you. But it does make me a little sad to know that I may not see you in heaven, and you may never see Jesus up close and personal. Again, no pressure. What I want and feel is not the most important thing. 

If you're still reading, thanks for letting me say my piece. I am glad that you are here, and I hope we have many years to be online and/or "in real life" friends, whether you knit or not. The world is full of wonderful people, and I count you among them.

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

Not the best photo, but
can't you feel the joy?