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? 

The Ginger-what?

I know you've been waiting, and here is the post you will wait for no more:

Welcome to the Ginger Hood!

Despite the fact that I have a job that gives me a decent break for the winter holidays, I am feeling the pressure to do all the things before Monday, my first official day off. (More about that later.) For now, let's just say that this has been a productive week, from the baking (last Saturday) to the construction phase (on Thursday) 

to the decorating that we did today, 

it's been another, banner, Gingerbread House Year, and the 2025 Ginger Hood is officially in the books! Which is your favorite?

Whichever house is your favorite, I think my favorite moment of the day was when my daughter tried to draw a tree on her own tongue, for fun...does it look like a tree???

Except, when you ask that question with a tongue-ful of icing, it sounds more like, "Huz ick houk yike a heay???," which I did not understand at all, lol!!! I made her eat the icing, ask the question and re-draw the tree for that photo, and I am not sorry!

After the candy was all on the houses, we sent that sugared-up crew home, with their houses, plus a house and candy for their cousins that they will see over winter break. All I have left now are a few, tiny, starter homes displayed on the table. 

Very pretty, and if you visit me in the next week or two, you may even go home with one!

I'm preparing to have more visitors than usual in the next few weeks, because I'll be sidelined following a medical procedure on Monday (I said I'd get back to it, didn't I?). A little back surgery...as little as back surgery can be, I think, because I should be home the same day...and it boggles my mind a bit! But they say that there's no place like home for the holidays, so it should be all good!

I know that God is in control of this, and of all things, so I am as calm as can be expected in the face of a procedure that requires general anesthesia. Still, if you are the praying kind, or the "sending good thoughts" kind, I'd welcome all you've got. I'll also welcome visits in January, as long as I am up to it. I anticipate being off of work for the month, and on limited activity...so if you're coming to see my clean house, please make an appointment for some time in March. (Sweetie will be my housecleaning hero, but he will also be busy caring for Pretty!) But if you're coming to visit and maybe watch a Hallmark movie, I will welcome that warmly from my recliner. 😘

That's about all I've got, except to wish you a Merry Christmas! The next time we talk will likely be December 27, just 5 days post-surgery! I hope you are surrounded by love and finding joy in this winter holiday season, friends. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

PS - I've finished another pig...we have pigs in abundance at Pretty's house!

Oh, What a Week!

What a week this has been! This week included Thanksgiving (there was a very brief post on Thursday), and then a sleepover with the boys last night, so I am just a smidge worn out this afternoon! But it was so good...from the dinner table

to the tree decorating and football

(Yes, I had to fix it...which I'm not proud of.)

to the failed and successful photo attempts...

Our holiday was made complete by the people we shared it with. We have a great family bunch, to be sure, though there is not a photo of the whole bunch...but I did get a shot of the beautiful snow that fell! 

I was not expecting more than a dusting, but we got enough for the boys to make snow angels 

and snowballs yesterday, 

and even their first (Pop Pop powered) sledding of the season! (FYI, Pop Pop is also a little tired today...) So much joy is often followed by so much Ibuprofen...

All in all, it was a lovely week, and now I knit...because knitted pigs do not knit their own sweaters! 

Awww, the little house pig was sooo excited! But the boys have gone and hidden my pig once again. At least I know she's warm, wherever she is! I hope you're keeping warm as well, in body and spirit this holiday season! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

That'll Do, Pig.

We come to you this afternoon from the corner of crochet blanket (now finished) and knitting Christmas socks

to bring you news of the newest, Pretty Knitty FO (thats knitting jargon for "finished object," IYKYK), a hand-knit Mommy Pig.

Mommy Pig has joined the ranks of Gramma's little house pig

and Grady's bedtime, snuggle pig

as the newest member of the Pretty family, so e thought it would be lovely to do a quick pig-interview for today's post, and Mommy Pig agreed. 

Pretty: Good afternoon,  Mommy Pig! How are you today? 

Mommy Pig: Oh, (snort), I'm fine, just fine. 

Pretty: Would you care to tell us how you came to be? 

Mommy Pig: Well, (snort), you know that Pretty Knitty! She likes to knit random animals and toys! I suppose she just decided one day that she needed more (snort), you know, pigs in her life! 

Pretty: I see, I see. Well, I heard that Mommy wanted a pig of her own, after Grady received a pig on his last birthday? 

Mommy Pig: Oh! (Snort), that's right! So Pretty started to knit me (snort)! I sure was a roly, poly thing at the start, you know...

Pretty: Yes, I do seem to remember that! I had to snuggle you up between things to keep you from rolling off tables before you had legs! 

Mommy Pig: Yes, and I was always so cold... that's why I (snort) requested a something to wear!

Pretty: Remember what I gave you to wear? LOL...

Mommy Pig: I do, and it was not as funny as you think...glasses do not warm a Pig, and they gave me a headache! Snort! What is wrong with your eyes anyway? 

Pretty: Hahahahaha! It was funny...and I did start a sweater soon after. 

Mommy Pig: So you did. It's a pretty good sweater, too...(snort) keeps me warm. 

Pretty: I'm glad! And then you went to Mommy's house with a cupcake for her birthday...

...and lived happily ever after!

Mommy Pig: Well, actually (snort), I live in constant fear of a beagle and three small boys. The dog nips, amd the boys always take off my sweater (snort)! So cold... You know, maybe you should knit a pig for each of them, so they won't all be so very focused on me...

Pretty: What's that, Mommy Pig? You seem to be breaking up, and I have a lot of Christmas knitting to get to...

Mommy Pig: I said, (snort), you should knit...

Pretty: Oh? You have to go, too? Well what a shame that our interview couldn't be a bit longer. But I'm so glad we had this time together, and we now return our readers to the regularly scheduled blog post...

My goodness! That reminded me of the times the cats would blog for me...you never could tell what they would say either! That Pig was fun, though, and perhaps there will be more...in the new year...and maybe not. You never can tell with Pretty!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Another Big Finish (or 3)

Least week, we took a break from the big project for a tiny forest of crochet pines. This week, I added a beaded version to the mix. 

Then, I finished the afghan...and it's a big one!

I'm really pleased with how this came out, and I think my Minecraft-loving little buddy will love it as well! But, as you can see from the title, I've finished THREE things this week...may I present the Birthday Pig?!?

Ohhhhh, my gosh! I think I could not love this pig in a green sweater more! The birthday boy felt the same, but declined an official photo...lol. The party was a blast, tho!

What's bringing you joy this week? It may not be knitted pigs 🐖, or crochet afghans and trees, but I hope there's something. Feel free to drop a comment and let me know what your joy-maker is. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!