The Heart Hat

In her book, Knitting Workshop, Elizabeth Zimmermann shares a cute and quick heart hat. I passed it over time and time again as I looked through this book. The other day....it really struck me so I did a quick practice knit of the heart and I was 'off to the races'. It is such a cute hat when finished....I just don't have a small cranium handy for modeling. Of course the hat and heart can be the same color.

The directions call for longer I-cord tie, but I chose the 'fold it over and hook it to a button' method. :)

The pattern also says that the heart, when knitted as is, can be used as an elbow patch on a beloved's sweater. How cute.
If you are on Ravelry check out the EZ Heart Hat for different variations.

Until Next Time.

Losing Power Has It's Perks

We were quite fortunate when the recent sneaky little snow storm came through last Tuesday that our power was out only a little over 3 hours. Others had to wait for a few days. :(
During those three hours...Margaret serenaded Molly and I with non-electric instruments. The cello and piano.

Hallelujah Chorus -Quinhagak, Alaska

SNOW vs TREE

The Hat is Finished.

I really like the large cream colored alpacas, but I love the little brown ones...can you see them?

Thanksgiving

Granny, Lou, Margaret
we three ate roast,potatoes/carrots/gravy and homemade chicken fettucine alfredo. Pumpkin pie.

Wordless Wednesday-Inside Out

American Red Cross Museum

While poking around Ravelry this morning I ran across this link. If you are interested in WWII, knitting or vintage, you might like this page.
Go HERE.

Our Saturday

Saturday we three (Chris came home from NY for a couple days) had a busy day.
A birthday and swimming party for some 'littles', funeral home viewing, and a wedding!
Events seem to always happen at the same time so we would have to choose which one to attend, but these three were spaced out just right so we could attend all three (well I did anyway).
We all attended the first two, Margaret and I attended the wedding and I attended the reception.
After the party/funeral viewing Chris went home to rest before leaving at midnight to drive back to New York. That left Margaret and I to drive to the wedding. I had never been to Gaston before...and now I know why. You just can't get there from here!!!!
Well really you can but it is kind of touch-n-go if you can really make it or not.
Our directions were not strong enough for my intellect. But by the grace of God, stopping to ask for directions and a whole lot of laughter, we made it...with 10 minutes to spare.
After stopping to ask for directions at a gas station and putting the laughter on pause, we turned around to find this sign staring at us.
Have I missed something in the news about Hank? What's going on? To see this sign after driving on windy, bumpy, ill-paved roads made me wonder!

Or maybe it has something to do with the sign below it....'they sell real Tennessee moonshine".

Or maybe they just love Ol' Hank.

Until next time.

Oh and remember, anytime you need an "L" you can always use upside down "7's".

Well, I have since been brought up to speed on this issue. GO HANK!

History of the land our home sits on.

The land that I sit on today came from a land grant to a Miami Indian chief named Jean Baptiste (Wildcat) Richardville. He is number six on this list.

The 'land grant' came from President of the United States, James Polk. This site list more information about him. It states he owned more than 20 square miles of choice land. There are 640 acres in a square mile ( at least that is what I got when I googled it) That is a lot of land and this little piece I write from today was part of it. Kind of cool. But if you think about it all of this "Northwest Territory" was someones before the government came along. Must have been an early version of 'eminent domain'.

As I hold these documents, I think about how things were back then...peaceful? serene? beautiful?.....maybe/maybe not....you see people are the same in every generation.....

The Hat Continues

Sandwich Bread

Our first loaf of g-free bread. Not sure why it went down instead of up, but it is actually quite tasty. Margaret is thrilled.

Blueberry Muffins G-free

My daughter eats gluten-free.
We have struggled to find yummy g-free delights.
The boxed mixes are pricey and not so delightful. :(
We checked out a book from our library titled, "Cooking Free" by Carol Fenster
It has a flour blend that you make up and keep for general g-free cooking.
We mixed up a blend of:
1 and 1/2 C. of potato starch
1 and 1/2 C. sorghum flour
1 C. tapioca starch/flour
1/2 C. almond flour
Stir it really well and stored it in a lovely Tupperware container.
Then.....

we made blueberry muffins. (squeal)

2 and 1/3 C. flour blend
1/2 C. sugar ( we used raw sugar)
2 and 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. xanthan gum
1 tsp. unflavored gelatin powder
1 tsp. salt

1 C. milk (cow, soy or rice) we used cow-whole milk
1/4 C. canola oil
2 large eggs or 1/2 C. soft silken tofu ( um...we used eggs)
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 T. grated lemon zest-from a real lemon :)
1 C. blueberries- fresh or frozen.

Preheat oven 400° and grease 12-cup nonstick muffin tin. (we used 10 muffin cups)

Mix the dry ingredients together in a mixer. Mix the wet ingredients together and add to the dry ingredients. Gently stir in the blueberries. Scoop into cups and bake for 20-25 minutes (add 5 minutes extra if you use frozen berries).
Remove from the oven and cool on a rack.
While muffins are cooling, combine 2 T. powdered sugar with 2 T. fresh lemon juice (you saved it when you zested your lemon-I hope)
Drizzle this over the warm muffins.
Cool for 15 minutes.
Serve.

Be happy!

I Like This Picture

The Hat

I am doing it!!!!

Proverbsv 3:27-30

These words touch me in so many ways today.

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,
when it is in your power to act.
Do not say to your neighbor,
"Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"-
when you now have it with you.

Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.
Do not accuse a man for no reason-
when he has done you no harm.

Andean Chullo Hat-Kit from KnitPicks

I have admired this little hat for quite some time. The fact that it has alpacas on it only adds to my giddiness over it. :)
Working all of that color intimidates me.
But how will I ever know if I can do it if I don't try???
So, the red socks are on hold-I will try to knit those around Christmastime.

So for now I will dig in to this neat pattern. It is a first for me.

Aren't the colors pretty? They say you can get at least two hats out of the kit. Hmmm. We will see.
I have to finish up the green socks I was knitting in the truck when we went to North Carolina and then I can start on this. They are almost done.

That is about the only thing new around here.
The weather is turning cooler. We turned the clocks back (I think). That's it.

Until next time.

It's not Indiana, but it'll do. :)

From the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina

Black Mountain, NC (Red Rocker Inn)

Paul Washer

Be blessed by this.

The Yarn

My First Real Yarn Shop Visit - Black Mountain, NC

When the time was near to leave on our trip to North Carolina, I googled yarn shops in the area. They had one! We have been staying at the Ridgecrest Conference Center and after the Saturday sessions were over, Chris and I jaunted into town for a little grub. Much to my "surprise" the yarn shop was in the Black Mountain Historic District...which was quaint and cute. My husband being the ever-kind creature that he is obliged my request to stop and off we ambled.

It just looked cute from the outside!

It was cute on the INside! It was really almost more than I could bear. Beautiful hanks of yarn arranged in little color-coded boxes lined the walls. A spinning wheel adorned the front windows and ladies were knitting and finishing garments as we arrived. There was excitement in the air. I asked the gentlemen who was there for sock yarn and he directed me to the softest and prettiest wool I had ever seen or felt. Awwww. He said one hank would make me a pair of socks. I had to wipe the drool from my mouth (well almost).

Have you ever seen the animated movie 'Jungle Book'? That mean ole snake was always trying to get Mowgli. At one point the snake was trying to hypnotize poor M. His eyes had twirly things going in a circle to help the process. Well, at one point I know my eyes were twirling like that. It was like I was hypnotized by all of the wool.

After I had picked my beautiful yarn I told Chris..."get me out of here"! I knew I would want everything I saw. So like the ever-kind obliging man that he is.....he got me out of there!

It is Well with My Soul

I had originally thought against posting our big trouble on my blog. I didn't want the blog to be a sad place for people to visit. I tried to keep my posts 'general'. But then I thought again. I don't always express myself well with the spoken word. Actually I tend to clam up when given a direct question. But when I can write it out I have more time to put down more precisely what I am feeling. I am glad I did. The kindness of my friends who have commented is so very heartwarming and encouraging.
My spirit is being renewed with great joy.
I know we all want to be on the mountaintop!
But let me tell you friends.....when the God of the Universe is with you in the valley....it seems just as good as being on the mountaintop.
My past has taught me that when I am havin' some big bad troubles....God is always there to walk with me through them.

So thanks again friends....I love you all.

Until next time......

The Bridge

Those of you who know me........know how scary bridges are for me. Riding in a vehicle is just as stressful. So.....combine a vehicle and a bridge and you get a real scaredy cat.
This was my last half-way calm moment before we hit 75 South. Rain and tons of semis and less than courteous drivers made me..........well........a little stressed. It finally stopped raining around Knoxville, TN, when we hopped on to 40 East.

Here is the creepy bridge over the Ohio River.

Hi Mom!

A Pretty Day

Molly riding the golf cart.

Cleaning out the Stuff

Cleaning out some things and I ran across my Carlos Zambrano bobblehead. He is looking for a new home. I posted him as FREE on my facebook page. They gave these away at one of the games we went to in Chicago. I lugged him around ALL day. Now look! I am getting rid of him.

When Trouble Comes.....and it will come. pt. 2

I suppose I should tell you what my current 'trouble' is. I say 'current' because all of life seems to have troubles. Each decade of my life brought with it its own decade of trouble. A lot of the trouble I experienced came about from poor choices that I made.
This particular trouble is partly due to poor choices( of trusting a 'friend') and to not being studied up on what certain procedures entail.
This trouble is minor compared to some, but it is a trouble nonetheless. At the same time I am a firm believer that God opens doors when others close. And when the God of the Universe opens doors for you....watch out! Great things happen. So as I tell you a little of my trouble, don't feel bad more me. I have have learned a huge lesson. Lesson Learned: Be careful who you trust. Know what "Sheriff's Sale" means.

After three years of struggling with our mortgage company....the Sheriff's Sale finally came. Over the three years we applied for every program the bank offered. The bank is a Freddie Mac relative. :)
The bank either said we made too much or we made too little. Program after program-we were denied. My husband's 12-day stay in the hospital started the trouble. That was 3.5 years ago. Morphine, alternated antibiotics and a smart doctor saved his life. But after the hospital, more antibiotics, a long recovery time and loss of income due to being self employed. That is when we became late on our house payments.
My husband had MRSA and the two surgeries on his leg had to heal OPEN.....redressed and packed with medicated gauze every other day. A PICC line allowed him to have antibiotics after he left the hospital. Then when the PICC line was removed it became infected. More antibiotics.
It took a long while for him to work a full day again. Fast forward to NOW. Chris can out work anyone I know. Fast forward to NOW again and we are at the Sheriff's Sale. We didn't plan well for it. But just so YOU know, in case YOU ever are faced with this situation. I know we aren't the only home foreclosed on in the nation. So in case you know of someone.....tell them this.
After you have exhausted all avenues with the mortgage company and they say the words...foreclosure and the deputy brings a notice to your door of a Sheriff's Sale, learn everything you can about a Sheriff's Sale. Go to your county offices web site and find out...go to your courthouse and find out...go to a lawyer and find out. Don't trust anyone but yourself to find out. Do it!. You will be surprised to know that some homes can be purchased at a Sheriff's Sale for a fraction of the costs of the assessed value. The assessed value and the amount you owe the bank are different. In certain instances...the amount you can buy a home for at a S.S. is ridiculous. Our house assessed for $61,400.00.
To make a long story short the church we have attended and faithfully served for four years purchased our home at the S.S.( it is the church my husband put the steeple on). We offered to buy it back off of them...because we really didn't want to move and we didn't just stop paying our mortgage because we are lazy. They said their hands were tied and they couldn't sell it to us....conflict of interest and all. That is all fine and well. They have graciously said we could rent from them til June. We wouldn't have to stay if we found a place to move to before that.
So without further ado.....please know your Sheriff's Sales and foreclosures before becoming like us.....looking for a place to rent. As you know, we recently acquired Molly because the home she was in couldn't give her the attention they thought she deserved. So finding a rental home that takes pets(she is better behaved than some people I know) is going to be difficult.
The amount of money the church paid for our home, which has been in my husband's family for decades and decades...was $13,500.00 We offered them $14,000,000. Nope. We even offered $23,500.00 to buy our little shack back. Nope. But they did agree to let us have first chance at it if they ever do decide to sell it......at Fair Market Value of course. :)

So basically that is my tale in a nutshell. I thought it would take more posts to say this but I pretty much got off my chest what I wanted to say. I don't understand why the bank was so hard to deal with during the years and I don't understand why the church won't part with it. But I don't have to.
Proverbs says: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
So, ya know what? I think that is what I will do and I will remember His words more than the trouble. :)
I love you all my bloggy friends. Thanks for listening it just helps to write it out.


Until next time.

I like Richard Mourdock....go here for more.

I like Herman Cain. Go here for more.

Margaret Again

The last picture of M. for a while. (maybe)

To celebrate her 18th birthday we are heading out to North Carolina in a few days. She has been wanting to go to a conference for quite some time, so last winter Chris told her to pick one out. How convenient that the one she chose was in her birthday month....so a great present.
We are hoping for some pretty sights along the way.
We are also looking forward to some great speakers as well as meeting face book 'friends'.

We are also looking forward to just 'getting away from it all' for a few days.

When Trouble Comes....and it will.

No one I know is exempt from trouble. Before I share with you my trouble, I must share with you what the preacher said yesterday at a church we used to attend and have recently started to attend again. That is not to say we haven't been attending church, because we have. Another church. But this particular preacher-man was speaking on Understanding God when Trouble Comes.
Read John 16.
John 16:33 says this....Jesus is speaking "These things I have spoken to you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." KJV

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." NIV

Basically, in a nut shell, remember His words more than the trouble.

Over the course of the next few posts I will talk about my trouble. Even if no one out there reads this...it will help me to write it out. But, feel free to comment if you do read.

But in between my 'trouble' posts I will continue to post about other things going on with us. Life DOES go on even amidst the trouble.

In the end....I hope to remember His words more than the trouble.

Until next time.

THIS HAD TO BE DONE AS WELL!!!!!

Margaret trying on Dolly Parton shoes.

IT HAD TO BE DONE!

When I sat this pumpkin in the back of the Tahoe a little voice inside me said...."that's not a good idea Lou". I ignored "THE VOICE". After driving to Moms and then back through town I pulled over to alleviate the little fellas misery. He was rolling all around and bumping things causing grief to me as well.
So I pulled over and fetched him from the back and strapped him in.
We both felt better.

Margaret turns 18 today!

Margaret with her cousin Emily. Emily took these lovely pictures down at the river. I took this one.

It's All About Brown