A CHRISTMAS/BIRTHDAY TRIP

We drove up to Fernandina Beach 

to spend an overnight visit with youngest son and family.

It was Ella's 12th birthday, too.  

She requested this pumpkin and cream cheese rolled cake--it was superb!  In fact, we all decided 

we want that for our birthday cakes this year!

Caleb bought Cassandra this Peace rose 5 years ago 

and it was blooming in all of its beauty!    

                                   

And this little guy is the foundling that Caleb bottle fed (they received her at 10 days old!) for weeks.  They named him Moose which was funny bc he was so tiny but he is growing into his name.  I have never met such an affectionate cat who is sure that everyone is his friend!  It was a joy to snuggle him!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2024

Simple but full of love for this morning's Merry Christmas!

COLD FOR CHRISTMAS!

Yup, a cold snap already which I hate for my flowers' sakes 

but the fire sure makes a good consolation!

 

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS!

I had special guests for my birthday-there is  nothing

 like family to make your day bright!

We are ALL December birthday people-it was fun to open our cards and gifts together, too!

Today was the first day I was able to stay out of bed all day--

I did lounge on the couch some but I stayed out of bed

 and that is PROGRESS and the best birthday present. 

This plan of action to decimate the chronic migraine is beginning to give relief-- I just might recover after all!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!

Lena and I share down time before bed-she does love to be brushed!  She is now 8 years old and I am 69! 

And just a throw back to our first days--she was rescued from our garage when  she sought sanctuary after an animal attack during a T-storm.  (she still hates storms!)  

She has been a joy to me.

A SOCK

The new meds are NOT working.

 I am nauseous all the time 

and the headache is alive and well and undiminished. 

 I do not have a very good outlook about it at this time. 

 I do nothing most of the day and feel like doing even less.

 On occasion I knit.  This is the first sock from this skein. 

 I am surprised by the pooling and not impressed at all 

but it is interesting that both sides of the sock look identical. 

 I'm just going to ignore the pooling and keep knitting. 

 My eyes are closed most of the time anyway. 

 Sorry I am not blogging;  I just can't think of anything.

SOON TO BE TWO

The first hat turned out just right and now I am on to the second.  These are for  older babies in church.  I had hoped to have them both finished for today but it didn't happen.  Such is my story.

 

AUTUMN IN DECEMBER

The front yard looks like this;  we have had several days  that have started in the mid 30's.  We try to spare the brunt of the cold from our favorite flowers. This morning was much milder and we should be able to remove all of the blankets. Another frosty temperature isn't expected for the next 4-5 weeks now!

The cooler temperatures finally give beautiful oranges and reds to the maples and to this one, a black cherry tree.

And at the same time, the farmers are cutting their last hay fields for a few months.  It sure does look beautiful to see a freshly baled field.

 

A COLD SNAP

Means we need some baby hats!  This one is for a little girl at church who is 6 months old.  A perfect way to use up some Christmas yarn!  I have another partial skein I will be knitting up, too.

This is the newborn hat I was working on yesterday.  It's hard from the pics to see the size so----

here they are next to each other to compare!  

The Christmas one is knit over 90 sts in sock yarn, the blue one with 66 sts in baby yarn but both on #3 needles.

I'm headed in this morning to give more blood.  

It's my youngest child's birthday today so I will be calling 

but not seeing him. 

 

ROUND AND ROUND

Some more baby hats are being made--using two colors and the helex method of color changing.  They go pretty quickly. 

 #3 needles, baby yarn, 66 sts.

All around the house Bill placed blankets to protect against the frost threat!  The sun came up at 38* so I am hoping it didn't actually hit 32* or below!  The yard will remain blanketed until tomorrow morning because tonight should be the last night of the threat of frost.  Each day it is sunny with a high of 67*

 so it promises to be another nice day.

DECEMBER STARTS

What does she do?  Nyki encourages me to do  something while I just lie around all day--2 dozen dish cloths to give away! 

After a (stationary) bike ride, 

I hope to do a little decorating for Christmas around here!

 (emphasis on a little but it is better than none!)

 

On the way to church yesterday, we saw this car, 

a '49 Chevy Fleetline!  Pretty cool! 

 We have a lot of car shows the day after Thanksgiving in our area and so we had fun just viewing some from our car window

 as we came and went!