Prayers Are Appreciated

Millie was taken into surgery about 4 hours ago. The spine surgeon is rebuilding her entire neck, from C1 through C7. The whole procedure should take 7-8 hours. The older boys are in school and we have the two little ones. Please pray that she sails through this. The surgeon is very skilled and trusted by the family, so our assurance is that God is in control and she will have an end to the pain and numbness.

Millie is very much a take-charge person and it's hard to think of her submitting to a doctor for such a long time. We'll be caring for her for a change.

Update: Just after I posted this, Millie came out of surgery, about 4 hours earlier than anticipated. Jim said the doctor was happy with how it went, there was good bone for the transplant, and she is doing great! God is good.

My Mother's Day

Saturday Millie and Jim brought me this beautiful potted flower:

It's called "Gazania." The petals close at the end of the day. Very pretty. Then Steve called Sunday morning. (They were in Billings where Kat was bowling in the Women's State tournament) Then late in the afternoon, David called from Austin and we talked for at least an hour. Stan gave me a digital picture frame, and we went to Bar 3 Barbecue for their brunch buffet.

A lovely day indeed.

Pincushion

One of my pincushions has been featured on an ETSY Treasury page! Exciting! Maybe this will generate some interest.

How Time Does Fly

Four years ago, the day before Mother's Day, the kids happened by. In the warmer months, we always seem to gravitate to the yard. This picture of Gracie and Sydney in Poppa's garden cart was taken that day.

Today Jim and Millie and their two littlest came by with a flowering plant for me, and I got this shot of Gracie and Sam in the same cart.


Good grief, where did that time go? Sam wasn't even born in that first picture and he's now taller than his older sister and cousin!

I Finally Finished the Overnight Bag!

This bag was born in my head after our cruise. We had spent most of two days rambling (or racing) through various airports and all three of our bags are the Pullman style. That's OK until you have to collect the big bag from baggage claim and there's only two of you to carry bags. If you have a bag with two handles, you can loop them around the Pullman handle and drag the whole thing through the airport. Also I couldn't stuff my smallest bag under the seat or in the overhead in the smaller planes because it's hard-sided.

It turned out a bit bigger than I had anticipated-I'm always making things too small so I guess I overcompensated.

I used upholstery fabric and backed it with iron-on fleece. I put tabs at both ends of the zipper-I thought maybe it would extend the life of the zipper. I know, I should have used a heavy-duty zipper, but I was too lazy to go all the way out to Jo-Ann's to get one. (The closest Jo-Ann's is 20 miles away) We'll see how this one holds up.

Pockets at both ends:

Pockets all around inside:


The distance thing factored in to what I used to make the handles. Using the cotton I lined it with, I cut the strips 4 1/2 inches wide, and cut fleece 2 1/4 inches wide. Then I fused the fleece to the center of the handle. I folded and pressed the fabric excess on each side over the fleece, then folded the whole works in half and pressed it. Topstitched, it made nice handles. I wanted something a bit thicker than usual.

My plan is to make a couple of zippered square bags for lingerie and incidentals, and a small purse with a long strap that I can either pack in the suitcase or carry criss-cross over my shoulder so I can reach my passport quickly. I might figure out something to insert in the bottom of the bag for stability. Time is running out and I have Grace and Sam next week while Millie has her surgery so I'd better get cracking.

Birthday Sewing

I had to sew some things for the Princess' birthday. It started because every pair of pants she owns does not cover her little bum. I think this is the way most girl's clothes are manufactured these days. So I made a pair of pants with cows on them. Well, there was enough fabric for a top, too.

I tend to get on a roll, so I made the same top with the actual capris that came in the top pattern. This piece of seersucker is compliments of my neighbor. Her hubby hates to see leftover stuff-he's kind of a neat freak, so she gave me a couple of pieces that she had already used and had a lot left over. It worked out that it perfectly matches the sweater I made her.

She loved her new clothes, in spite of thinking the cow outfit was pajamas! Whatever-as long as they're worn!

A Pattern

I have a couple of teapots, cheapies that I got at the Dollar Store. They make fine tea, though, so I needed a cozy to keep my tea hot. After perusing the Net for something quick, warm and knitted, I became frustrated. I found a couple of patterns, even a nice crocheted one, but I am a knitter first even though I do enjoy crocheting. So I decided that it shouldn't be too terribly hard to make up my own pattern, so here it is. My teapots aren't very big, and the spouts are kind of short, but this pattern would work for the longer spouts, probably even better than the short.

Warm and Cozy Tea Cozy

Materials:
Small amounts of two different skeins of knitting worsted. I used a solid green and a brushed green, which made a nice look. About 2 ounces of each.

Equipment:
US #9 knitting needles
yarn needle
bodkin
Size H crochet hook

Gauge: 3 stitches per inch with 2 strands held together, but gauge isn't very important.
Cozy measures about 9" across and 7" high

First panel:
Holding two strands together, cast on 28 stitches. Knit 2 rows.
Pattern:
Row 1 *K4, P4* repeat across, K4
Row 2 *P4, K4* repeat across, P4
Row 3 *K4, P4* repeat across, K4
Row 4 *P4, K4* repeat across, P4
Row 5 *P4, K4* repeat across, P4
Row 6 *K4, P4* repeat across, K4
Row 7 *P4, K4* repeat across, P4
Row 8 *K4, P4* repeat across, K4

Repeat rows 1-8 three more times
Knit 2 rows
Bind off

Second panel:

Holding two strands together, cast on 28 stitches. Knit 2 rows.
Pattern:
Row 1 *P4, K4* repeat across, P4
Row 2 *K4, P4* repeat across, K4
Row 3 *P4, K4* repeat across, P4
Row 4 *K4, P4* repeat across, K4
Row 5 *K4, P4* repeat across, K4
Row 6 *P4, K4* repeat across, P4
Row 7 *K4, P4* repeat across, K4
Row 8 *P4, K4* repeat across, P4

Repeat rows 1-8 three more times
Knit 2 rows
Bind off

Sew panels together: for spout sew up one side 2" from bottom, leave a 1/2" hole, sew to the top. For handle, sew up other side 3/4" from bottom, leave a 3 1/2" hole for handle, sew to the top. Make sure you match the checkerboard pattern. Weave in threads.

With crochet hook and one of the yarns, make a chain 28" long. Thread chain on bodkin and weave through cozy about 1 1/2" from top. I used the checkerboard pattern as a guide, which looks very nice. Tie a knot near both ends of chain and trim tail to 1/2".

Enjoy! (I hope I didn't make any mistakes on this pattern. If I did, let me know and I'll fix them.)