Read a book!

Day 246

I am thankful for books!  Lots and lots of books!  I updated my "read, read, read" page today.  Oh my, I didn't realize I had so many new books on my Kindle.  I am also thankful for free and very inexpensive books.  They are now alphabetized and updated. 

Shivers has a new favorite place to sit during quiet times.  7-10 p.m. is not quiet time.

The yellow scarf is moving along.  I'm learning how to hold things and how long I can work.

Figuring out a thumb.

Day 245

I am thankful for trying something new.  I am learning how to put a thumb on a mitten.  Well, it's really a fingerless mitt but I've been wanting thumbs.   The only loomed thumbs that I've seen stick straight out from the mitt.  I wanted a "gusseted" thumb that gives more ease of movement.   I think I have the basic shape and how to knit it on the loom at the same time as the mitt.  Now I have to figure out how to attach it as the rest of the mitt progresses.  Nothing like a good puzzle!  No pictures yet.  Maybe as I construct the second mitt.

For today's pictures....yet another rose bud and another puppy pic.

Shivers has only been here two days but he patrols the yard like it's his.  He barks at the neighbor's dogs but the big golden retrievers in the house behind seem to intimidate him.  They have big barks.

And this is a surprise from my dear niece!  I have a growing collection of these on my backyard fences. 

A yard is a good thing.

Day 244

I am thankful for the yard guy.   Things get done that I don't know need doing and when I ask for something that gets done, too.  Yay!

From the yard, the rose that doesn't quit

This is my little charge for the next 3 days.   He reminds me that I do not want to have another dog anytime soon.  He's a good little guy but not what I want for myself. 

Don't forget to brush

Day 243

I am thankful for the dentist who catches the problems in my teeth when the problems are small and fixes them so they don't get worse.  I'm not so happy about the headache afterward but it's gone, too. 

This is the last of my hats for Malawi:

Here are the four sets.  I went to Walmart this morning and bought four more receiving blankets since they request specifically mentioned a lack of lightweight blankets.  We are so abundantly blessed to be able to pay so little for so much.

Summer's bounty

Day 242

I am thankful for fresh berries in a smoothie.   Yum.

Breakfast:

The last of the baby sets:

The cool of a summer morning

Day 241

I am thankful for summer mornings to go grocery shopping.  I always miss morning shopping when school starts back up. 

Yesterday's hat-finished!
I'm so happy to be knitting.  :^D

Time together

Day 240

I am thankful for a good weekend with my Sis.   Just an ordinary weekend spending time together is so enjoyable.  Thanks, Sis!

I've finished the yellow premie set and started with a blue set-not premie:

Sisterly

Day 239

I am thankful for Sis coming over to warm up in our hot summer sun.  We took a couple of bulky items to Goodwill and ran a few errands.

One rose bush working hard in the heat:

Handy

Day 238

I am thankful for continuing recovery of my hand.  I can lift heavier dishes in and out of the sink.  (darn it!)

Yellow premie bootie:

Today's rose:

Wordle Post

I haven't done this in a while:

It's relative

Day 237

I am thankful for cooling temperatures-relatively speaking.  We have a few days of under 100 coming right up.

Today's knitting, finished premie hat:

More rose buds:

Out and about

Day 236

I am thankful for the pharmacy.  It's especially nice that it's inside a grocery store.  I was happy to get out and about this morning and run a few errands.   Then it got too hot and I came home.

Mini roses: 

I'm on to my next little knitting project.  It's another premie set for donation:

Set 1

Day 235

I am thankful for little occupations.  Today I finished the premie booties to go with the hat from yesterday.  They knit up remarkably fast.

Same ole....

Day 234

I am thankful for little projects.  Here's the finished premie hat.  Matching booties in a couple days.

A friendly gathering

Day 233

I am thankful for the gathering of the faithful.  It was fun to see friends at church this morning.   I stuck around long enough to greet folks coming in to second service so I saw a lot of friends.

It is still hot.   I'm looking forward to some relief this week and I think the yard is, too.   Here are two of my roses morning (left) and evening today (right):

I am able to knit a little more but I have to remember to stop before I get tired.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner

Day 232

I am thankful for my crock pot.  I had a yummy chicken dinner with no work but clean up.  I also went to the friends of the library book sale.  Grocery bag stuffed full for $10.  Not that I needed more books but when I'm done they can go back in the bag to donate to the next sale.

Here's the 2nd Kindle Cable Sock:

Summer Snack

Day 231

I am thankful for corn on the cob.  It made for a yummy afternoon snack.  I finished The Shadow and Night and my problems with free will were mostly resolved only to turn into problems with works righteousness and grace.  Still, I enjoyed the story quite a bit.  I went back to Amazon to see what else might be available by Chris Walley to find out that this is a series.  I put the next two books on my wish list.  If the price drops I should get an e-mail alert.

I did a little more knitting today...an inch or two on the scarf and I made a usb sock.  I'm getting too many cables to various devices and decided to color code the cables in their own socks. 

Here it is:

Summer days

Day 230

I am thankful for staying busy or not as the mood strikes.  I have housework and hobbies on another hot day.

First knitting project post surgery:

A few rows at a time ever watchful for twinges and such.   One homespun yarn scarf coming up.

One rose yesterday becomes three today:

Reads and Roses

Day 229

I am thankful for an interesting read.  I've been reading The Shadow and Night by Chris Walley.   It's set well into the future and after an extended period of societal peace and expansion.  Within the expansion are built in rigid norms.  Now the furthest settlement is isolated and both peace and the societal norms are threatened.  It's well written enough to keep my interest but the premise disturbs me.  The peaceful society is the absence of evil in a controlled, presumably Christian, theology.  I finally decided that up until now it's the lack of free will that is bothering me about the premise.  It will be interesting to see if what disturbs me is resolved or if the premise will remain in the background. 

Roses are among the few flowers still blooming.  Gotta love roses:

Yay phone!

Day 228

I am thankful for a surprise call!  My Dad and his wife called this evening for a short chat.  It was a great surprise and mood lifter. 

Books!

Day 227

I am thankful for books!   I'm enjoying a lot of reading.   Some are books I've picked out and some are freebie on the Kindle that I may not have chosen myself.  Freebies are fun because I don't feel I have to plow through something I don't necessarily like.    Kindle and refurbished Kindle prices have dropped quite a bit this summer.  I could wish I would have waited to buy one but then I'd have read 20 fewer books.  Or so.   If you haven't seen my "read, read, read" page check it out to see what I've been enjoying.

Listening

Day 226

I am thankful for God's call.  Or maybe calls for each of us while called by the great commission have also been called individually.  I've been feeling tugged for a while but haven't been able to identify what the tug is toward.  I think it's toward something with children but time will tell.  Our current sermon series is the book of Jonah.  Today's message was God's call to Jonah.  I look forward to clarity but I'm also willing to wait.  New directions can often be uncomfortable.

Chill

Day 225

I am thankful for air conditioning!  Hot day, no where to go, air conditioning.  What could be better?

Compression

Day 224

I am thankful for a new tool for my hands.  Isotoner brand makes compression tipless gloves.  The OT tells me they go a long way to relieve carpal tunnel symptoms and give good support for hands after surgery.  As long as I'm not in the summer heat I think they will be ok.  I have one right now.  I'll order a couple more later this summer.  The scar molder, on the other hand, is not so comfortable.  I think it might be a little early for it but I have it and can will work up to wearing it longer and longer.

Vroom

Day 223

I am thankful for a day of safe driving.  I had a great time driving a friend to the airport and a quick drive back home.  I am grateful to have been able to see her this week.

From Sis' yard:

Wrapping up a visit

Day 222

I am thankful for another day with Sis.   We puttered around, ran an errand, and enjoyed each other's company.  The treat of the day was lunch with family/friends at a local eatery.  Wonderful.

It's a beautiful day

Day 221

I am thankful for a beautiful day.  It was too hot inland, too cold on the coast, but just right in the Santa Inez Valley.  I am thankful for my sis-in-heart for joining us on our trip and taking the time to drive for us.  I am thankful to see my friend from Oregon.  I am thankful for beautiful early summer California scenery.

Sih and I in front of the winery where we were tasting, having a good laugh:

Escaping inland heat

Day 220

I am thankful for a great day with Sis and B-i-l.   I'm visiting for the holiday weekend and here in town to see a friend who came down from Oregon.   I am also thankful that my computer has decided it likes to connect with bil's wireless network.

Independence Day

Day 219

I am thankful for our country, for today's celebration, for the men and women who serve and protect, for the grace of God that we continue in our freedom.

Green, green, It's green they say.

Day 218

I am thankful for honest, hardworking, trades people.  I hired my yard guy to fix my sprinklers.   He came at 7 a.m. with a helper and finished by 11 a.m.  Everything works and I might get a bit of green back in the yard before the triple digits are back.  yay!

Everyday bits of creation

Day 217

I am thankful for the gift of medicine, doctors, nurses.   I got a pertussis vaccination today and I'm amazed to think about the amount of knowledge and time that went into preparing that little vial so I could get a shot in the arm and be protected.   Quite a gift God gave us of using our minds to explore and exploit his creation.

Then there are these:

Getting out is good.

Day 216

I am thankful for lunch with a dear friend.  We ate at a new favorite, Panera's, yummy fruit salad!  Quiet rest of the day-trying to be careful with my hand but wiggle it around a bit.  Only rarely do I give it an "OW". 

Sis and I hung these on my computer room wall this weekend.  Well, Sis did the hanging but I helped with placement.  :*D