New Beginnings

I want to begin by saying I had a marvelous time at the “Knit Away” day that Marie and Cherrie hosted at the American Bear Cottage in Glenn.  There were about 20 people there on and off all day, many prizes given out, great food shared and lots of laughter.  Kudos to you girls for thinking up the idea and promising the Second Annual for next year.

Exciting news on the home front.  We have been looking for an apartment to rent in Grand Rapids, with rising gas cost and the treacherous winter roads and actually found one really liked.  God had other plans for us, though.  A business card that I had from last year when we looked at modular homes fell off my desk, which, when I picked it up, reminded me that this may also be a possibility.  So, I set up an appointment with them on Wednesday last week, we viewed about six homes in the community and found two that we liked.  We explained to them that everything hinged on whether we could trade our single wide mobile home in for the new home.  That evening…….they called and asked to look at our home that night and much to our surprise….are you ready for this?……they offered to pay off our home in exchange for buying theirs.  That’s right!  No negative equity involved to tack onto the new mortgage.  So we are in the process of getting financing squared away and we should be moving soon.  Oh, yes, we still have our rented home in Allegan but that will eventually sell or be paid off.  Not sure which one will come first, but it will work out!  Praise God for the many blessings he bestows upon us.

Now the next new beginning concerns my son Derrick and his bride-to-be.  They have decided to forgo the wedding and are being married by a judge in Holland on Wed. May 14th.  No, she’s not……(I know what you are thinking).  They are so cute together- like two peas in a pod.  So life is good at the Campbell house but it always is……I wouldn’t expect anything less.  So, I’m off to watch Desparate Housewives and then off to bed.  Hugs to all.

I’m off to Cursillo

I’m scrambling like a mad hatter tonight trying to remember everything.  I have had all day but somehow I’m still at it.  Well…..I did have a pedicure so my toes look nice and we had choir practice and instrument practice tonight.  Keep me in your prayers Friday 8:30 am as I give my talk (rollo) on Ideals.  I’m sort of relieved to be the first one so then I can sit back and relax for the rest of the weekend.  I’ll be home late Sunday night and then begin another week at work. 

My daughter gave me some early palance.  She found a picture of some Alpacas (could be lamas) but at any rate, it’s cute! 

I can’t knit so I’ll probably go crazy for 3 days without needles in my hand.  Hugs to all!

Sunday @ Thread Bear

Today I had a most awsome day!  Kat, Sandy and I went over to Thread Bear for a book signing of the new “more big girl knits” book by Jillian Moreno and Amy Singer.  Jillian is on the right and Amy on the left.  I had a fabulous time just sitting and listening to all the ladies there and I also sat next to Corinna from Battle Creek and we got to know each other better.  She is on Ravelry ad Bina.  Anyway, the girls had all of their finished sweaters there for us to look at and try on.  Rob and Matt also had the most fabulous cupcakes too.  The book is awsome and honestly speaking I saw plenty of stuff in there I would love to knit so it was definetly a well spent afternoon.

I am also going to attache a couple of pictures of our family outing at Circle R Ranch to visit Avalanche.  My children and grandchildren absolutely loved it!

My oldest son Derrick posing for a shot with Avalanche and me.

And below adding Aimee and 18 month old Hailee who was absolutely awe struck!

So there we have it!  I’m caught up so far with pictures and what’s happening in my life.  Hugs to all!

 

I’m back

I didn’t really go anywhere except life has been really hectic.  For the past 8 weeks or so, I have been getting ready for Cursillo, which will begin this coming Thursday.  We had 4 practices, every other Saturday or so, I had my Lay talk to write and give as a practice and then just deciding what Palanca I was going to make to give.  I know to most of you, these words are pretty foreign so let me give the “Reader’s Digest” version.  Cursillo is a weekend retreat for spritual renewal that was started by the Catholic Church.  The Episcopal Church has been granted permission to also have Cursillo weekends in their denomination.  It is a very spiritually uplifting experience.  Other demonination have something similiar i.e. De Colores and Walk to Emmaus to name a few.  The team gets together 4 times to plan the weekend because it is a big deal to house and feed 75 people or so.  Their are 14 Rollos (talks) that are given over the course of the weekend and mine is on Ideals.  Now mind you, this is a religious retreat and I can’t mention God or the Bible, so it is a challenging talk to give.  It is the first one given at the weekend.  So, I would appreciate some prayers around 8:30 am this Friday.  Palanca are gifts we give.  Sometimes they are just notes of love and encouragement, pins, WWJD bracelets and that sort of thing.  I should be spiritually recharged and pooped by next week.

I took the Aimee, Mike, Derrick, Beth and grandchildren, Alex, Hailee and Hanna out to meet Avalanche a couple of Saturdays ago.  I wanted to post some pictures of our visit but just haven’t had time, which is also why I haven’t blogged because I thought I had to post pictures.  Hello!  I enjoy reading everyone else’s blog without pictures!  So, I’m sorry I have not been faithful about blogging.

I’m sure your dying to know what knitting projects I am working on or have completed.  Well……the sock monster attacked again!  I finished my Tidal Wave socks, wore them once and then Bruce washed and dried them!  Fortunately, they can be dried but they do look a little askew and a tad bit smaller so I borrowed some sock stretchers from Kat and I’m going to wet them and leave them on the stretchers. 

I have completed the 4th square of my Manos afghan that is a square of the month at Country Needleworks.  I’m in pretty good shape because we are supposed to be just beginning it.  I picked up my Elizabeth Zimmerman jacket again and am plugging away at it!

I’m looking forward to the Knit Away Day on the 26th at Marie’s house.  So, if you are reading this Marie, sign me up!  I won’t see you until that day probably. 

One more thing.  I have been doing Physical Therapy for the past 6 weeks or so and I’m happy to say that I have graduated!  My shoulders were giving me fits.  So I’m working on getting my shoulders back and thinking about the best way to attack losing weight that will stay off for good.  I haven’t quite figured that out yet but I’m working on it.  Hopefully, I will snatch a few minutes again before this upcoming weekend.  Love to all.

A period of long silence

doesn’t necessarily mean that nothing is going on in my life.  I took my picture of Avalanche, that I posted online, with me all week long wherever I went.  I had to show, even strangers, my new boy!  Work has been very busy and weather has made some days challenging get to or from work.  Adding additional time onto my almost hour drive makes for a very long day.  I have best of intentions to get things done after work but never find the “steam” to even start them.

Yesterday, we had our second Cursillo practice and two of the three rollos that were given were absolutely awsome!  I was bummed to find out that we can’t knit, so for me, it will be very very long weekend.  I think if I had known that was going to be an issue, I would not have applied to work.  I find it extremely difficult to sit very long without having something to do with my hands and knitting has been a wonderful outlet for me in many ways.  Well, we live and learn, I guess.  I was also quite insulted by a comment made by one of the other team mates, that it was rude.  So, the insecure side of me was quite hurt by the comment. 

On a more pleasant note, I spent the evening with my children and was able to see Aaron, who I don’t see very often.  I was so thrilled when he was setting at the dinner table eating and he turned to me and said “I love you Grandma”.  Wow……he is 3 1/2 years old and I was so touched by that.

Today, I have not felt very well, so I have been pretty low key.   Some of my coworkers have had the flu, so I only went for half of the church service and then came home to rest.  I haven’t eaten much today for fear of upsetting my stomach.  I don’t dare get sick because I don’t have many extra days to use with all of our vacation plans.  They won’t let us go into the hole with our time so I need to stay healthy. 

Tomorrow, after work, I have an appointment with a Mid-life women’s doctor and I’m really lookin forward to it.  I have been off my hormone for about 4 months and have been pretty miserable.  Hopefully, she will give me some hope. 

Well, I’m off to watch tv for a little while.  God bless!

Adventures at Circle R Ranch

I’m the proud owner of a 9 month old male Alpaca, Avalanche.  Alice and I went out today and made it official.  Rita was ready for us as she put a halter on Avalanche so that we could hold him better while we got aquainted.  The first picture is just before we were getting to leave and the halter is off.  I’m so excited about being able to spend some time out there getting to know all of the Alpacas better.  They are such curious creatures, yet very shy and skittish if they don’t know you. 

 

 I was lucky enough to get quite a few kisses from Avalanche today.  After he had settled down, he was quite content to stand there and let me touch him.  He has halter on in this picture but was still able to nibble on my face.

 

 And of course, Daisy was not to be outdone because she was in right in there for some smooching action!  She is the herd’s ombudsman.  Rita told us that a family came out at Christmas to have their picture taken with the Alpacas and Daisy was more than willing to participate.

Shearing day is May 10th and all my friends are invited to come out and watch or participate.  I think I will be sure to include my grandchildren so they can see it first hand.  Avalanche will be staying at Circle R Ranch, where he can be with his friends and where they are obviously well taken care of.  We will see how this goes and I might consider a second one, maybe even a breeding female.  I better start saving up now because they are 10 times what I paid for Avalanche.

This Saturday

Alice and I are going out to the ranch and I’m finalizing the purchase of my Alpaca!  I will be sure to take my camera so I can get some Kodak moments with Avalanche and me!  Until then……………….

Hugs

I Did It!

 Welcome to the Campbell Family…..Avalanche!  I finally got off the fence and decided that it was time.  My determining factor was putting the picture of Avalanche in with my new granddaughter’s pictures to share at Knit night.  So, I emailed Rita and told her I wanted him.  She sent me this picture and said she is looking forward to working with me.  I will board him at their ranch and may eventually buy another one but not until I have had some experience with Avalanche.  I asked her for the shearing date so I can be there and also when he should be neutered.  I have a lot to learn about Alpacas but one thing I know for sure is they are darn cute….don’t you agree?

 

Today I met Alice for breakfast in Jenison and then we proceeded to our afghan square of the month class.  I guess there are a total of 75 people taking this class over 3 different days.   It’s not wonder, though, because the class is free.  Only requirement is to buy the yarn and attend all twelve classes and at the end, we each get a $50 gift certificate to use in the store.  What a deal and everyone in the store is so nice and helpful.  The yarn is Manos  del Uruguay yarn, hand died Merino and Corriedale wool.  No two skeins are alike.  There are twelve blocks and I chose to use a verigated in each row with corresponding colors of purple, green, yellow and pink.   

Another great accomplishment is that I tidied up my rollo (short talk) on Ideals for the upcoming Cursillo in April.  Our first practice is next Saturday and I have to give my rollo as a practice and be critiqued.  Hopefully, I hit the mark.  The talk is about 15 mins and has some humor in it, so hopefully no one will fall asleep.

Well, enough rambling for tonight.  My daughter and family are here.  Tomorrow I’m going to Mary’s to use her knitting machine to knit a shawl.  Hugs to all!

The snow’s a blowin!

Today is my normal day off and Bruce and I had decided we would go to the gym today.  Once we got there it was pretty cool.  We worked out for 45 minutes or so and then into the pool for an hour.  After that we had some lunch, mailed my Australian friend, Roseann, yarn swap package and eventually got back home.  It has been a very busy week for us.  Tuesday night I treated Bruce to a very nice dinner at Charley’s Crab in Grand Rapids ($114.00 worth of nice dinner) and our friends Larry and Sue joined us to celebrate. 

Here is a picture of the new baby, Hanna, with Mike, Aimee (my daughter) and Hailee the morning I left to come back.  I know, I know……it’s not a recent one but trust me, she hasn’t changed that much yet.

I had big plans for today but seems like the older I get, the longer it takes to get going and the time just flies by!  Our Ash Wednesday service was cancelled tonight but we didn’t see that until we drove to church.  Fortunately, we only live about a mile from there so it wasn’t too hairy of a drive.  They were having a potluck inbetween services and we were asked to bring a main dish, so we ate it for supper at home instead.  Bruce makes wonderful Chicken/Turkey Curry.  He uses whatever fowl we have at the time and we had some frozen turkey from the holidays to use up.  It was yummy.

I was talking to my friend Kathy askatknits@wordpress.com and realized how lucky I am to have my Thursday night knitting group.  We have formed a bond, some of us closer than others, but for the most part we all care about each other and support each other through our life situations.  So, to all of you……I love you!  I look forward to every Thursday night and prioritize it in my busy schedule.  I have made some wonderful friends that I know I will have for the rest of my life.

Well, it’s time to watch “Days of our lives” (I recorded it today, like I do everyday).  For any of you that watch that show……OMG it’s getting good!

Hugs to all!

Baby it’s cold outside!

Wow, what a change from yesterday @ 40 + degrees to this morning.  I thought Bruce was kidding when he said he couldn’t get the door open this morning.  It appears the wind blew lots of snow and ice against it and we are trapped!  He is going on a crash diet to try and make it through the small opening that only KC, our Yorkie, can fit through.  Now where is my knitting friend Barb when you need her?  She crawled through a doggie door this past summer to get her keys she left inside.  We just roared at another one of her adventures at our Thursday night knitting. 

I slept in this morning (7:30 am) and am enjoying my day off in grand fashion.  I am so pleased that I have accomplished so much this morning and I’m still in my nightgown (12:42 pm) but I don’t think it really matters at this point.  Choir practice is cancelled so we don’t really have an agenda at all today except doing what we want.  I have one of my Tidal Wave socks done, which is knit in Tofutsies.  I am down to the kitchner to close the toe and I’m going to do that tomorrow at FOW when I can have someone walk me through it again for the 12th time!

Well, I’m off to put some warmer clothes on and dig out the vacuum.  I hope everyone is staying warm.