Poor Edgar

Our Big Brown Dog Edgar had to have surgery yesterday.  Our mellow boy, who loves to race like a greyhound (which he is partially), and who loves to check everything out had to have knee surgery.  For the next four months he will have to just chill.  It's a good thing it's winter because he prefers the couch in the winter.  By the time the early warming sun of late February comes around he will be able to do his favorite thing...sunbathe.

To quote the vet, Edgar had a "complete decompensation to the left crainial cruciate ligament and a significant tear to the medial meniscus."  Roughly translated, a torn knee ligament and torn cushion in the knee. 

Right now he's feeling no pain because he is stoned on sedatives to keep him quiet.  He's standing up swaying back and forth with glassy eyes.  Edgar is generally a very graceful and well coordinated animal.  Not so much right now.  In this picture he is wearing a pain patch. 

Edgar has 18 metal stapels in his knee, and will have to be on a lease for at least two months.  If things go well, he will start his physical therapy at that time.  We've had a talk with Abby, and with Louie and Johnny, no chasing, wrestling or wild doggie parties for a while. 

I am sure all of you are wondering what this has to do with knitting.  Well, nothing really, except Edgar likes knitting.  He's a good knitting dog. 

TTFN

Sue

The Stockings Continue to Come In ...

The stockings continue to come in.  I love to take my time and look at each stocking and see the care and love in each one.  It means a lot to know that there are people who do support our troops, even if the troops are involved a war no one talks about anymore.  I remember the enthusiasm in 2005 when we gathered stockings for our troops.  In two weeks we had over 1000 stockings and well wishes and prayers for our soldiers.  In each succeeding year the number of knitters, crocheters and sewers dwindled, along with the various service groups, but the core group was still strongly supportive and involved.  We made a promise to send these stockings until our troops were out of Iraq and Afghanistan.  I have a feeling we will be doing stockings for a while.

To be honest, I wondered how we would manage 500 stockings this year, and prayed we would make our goal.  There is power in prayer.  So far we have OVER 500 stockings, and knitters and quilters, along with service groups and sewers making stockings, collecting items to put in the stockings, and donating cash for the postage.  I'm in awe of these volunteers, and am overwhelmed with the love they put into each stocking. 

Our troops do appreciate these stockings, if not cherish them.  I was conferring with one of our knitters in Oregon and she told the story of a soldier who received one of our stockings four years ago.  He said it was so heartwarming to know people back home cared, and that some one person took the time to knit a sock for him.  He is going to be deployed next year, and yes, he is taking that stocking with him. 

One interesting thing this year, however, is the lack of soldiers nominated to receive stockings.  I know our troops are in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in other dangerous places, and I know we need to let them know we haven't forgotten them.  If you have a loved one who has been deployed and would like us to remember them, please contact us. 

Last night I went to the Eastside Knitting Guild and came home with more stockings.  These knitters are amazing.  



We also got stockings from Mary in Wisconsin through our Ravelry group, Operation Holiday Stockings.



Which now brings us to a grand total of 509 stockings.  We also received stocking stuffers and donations for postage. 

As you can see, we still have a lot of room on this table.



Now if I could just figure out this "improvement" on the blog, I'd be a happy camper.  In the meantime, we are all centered and balanced (?). 

Knit, quilt, sew, and crochet on!

TTFN

Sue

65!

Today is David's birthday.  He's hit a milestone birthday at 65.  I love this man so much, and thank God each day for bringing David into my life.  He is my best friend and soul mate, and the Best Dad in the Whole World to Frank and John.  He is always there for his family and friends. 

Last night we had a party for him and we had a wonderful time.  I didn't get any pictures because (1) I forgot to bring out the camera and (2) I forgot to put in the memory card.  I had planned on a grand picture of David in a silly hat while we all had our hands raised in a cheer, but it didn't happen (the silly hand, raised hands and picture). 

Happy Birthday David from all of us, including Edgar, Louie, Johnny and Abby.  They think you are the best person in their lives.

Love you so much!

Sue

Stockings Are A Comin'

 The stockings continue to come in.  We are now up to 402. 

Cathi of Edmonds got her sewing machine out and starting sewing away.  

Linda in New Jersey got to knitting and crocheting and sent in these lovely stockings.  Love the colors.

Then there is Diana in Washington whose been sending in stockings for six years now.  She said she had a few to send in and look at this. 

Thank you ladies for your support.  I have total confidence and a lot of faith that we will be meeting our goal this year.  I've had to rely on both each year, and each year I'm not disappointed.

In case any of you are wondering, the blog program has added some "improvements" and so I have to figure stuff out all over again.  Oh well. 

I've been busy working with knitters, crocheters, sewers, and quilters this year, and am so gratified by the support out there for our troops.  God bless all of you, and God bless our troops.

If you need to reach me, and don't have my personal email, make a comment, and I'll get in touch with you.

TTFN

Sue

Confusion

In the past three weeks I've been suffering from a mild case of confusion, convinced it was caused by medication I'm taking for the stupid bug bite.  It's like the brain is two steps behind on some issues.  I noticed that on my last blog I said we had a "bit" fire, when it should have been a "big" fire.  Today I was giving a knitting lesson so Jenn can knit her darling baby boy a hat for winter.  It's a good thing she has a sense of humor and is patient.  The first time she "joined without twisting" under my direction, she ended up with a lovely mobius.  The second and third time I "showed" her how to join the stitches for the circular hat, I had us doing straight knitting..  The fourth time was successful.   So much for being the teacher.  (By the way, the hat is going to be darling, and Jenn is coming right along.)

Tonight when I got home I took a good look at our Anniversary Rhody.  We call it the Anniversary Rhody because it blooms early February around our wedding anniversary. 

Well, here it is October 11th, and our Anniversary Rhody is blooming again. 

It's not the drugs ... it's the crazy weather.  It's our Dear Lady La Nina. 

In the meantime, I've heard from knitters in New Jersey, and quilters in California.  I had a nice conversation with a new knitter in Oregon, and another knitter that's been knitting for years.  All of these lovely folks have contacted me to help out with Operation Holiday Stockings.  The support, love, kindness and concern for our troops is wonderful. 

For anyone who is participating this year with stockings, stocking stuffers, or money for postage, thank you for being who you are.

Well, the spaghetti sauce I'm cooking with the last of this year's tomatoes is about ready, so off to finish getting dinner ready.

TTFN

Sue

P.S.  If you come across any typos, or sentences that don't make sense, it's the weather.

Ready for Winter

When we put up the new house at Edgar's Acres we opted out not to put in a woodstove, with plans to do so later on.  We decided the woodstove was classified as a "cash" purchase rather than a mortgage purchase.  For the past two winters we have been cranking up the electricity to stay warm. 

Well, the money was finally saved up and we ordered our woodstove.  Rumor has it that this winter is going to be a cold one so it was the right time to get the woodstove.

We came over to Edgar's Acres last night because the stove was coming early this morning.

We started with a blank wall at 9:00 a.m.   

At 11:00 this morning we were half way through with the installation. 

 At 1:00 pm we had a woodstove.

At 3:00 we had the second fire going (you start with a small kindling fire, then a kindling and one log fire, then a bit fire) 

Ahh, we did the big fire, and the whole house was a nice toasty 69 degrees.  All set for winter. 

I'm ready.  I've got knitting and heat. 

TTFN

Sue

Stupid Bug

I HATE MOSQUITOS, but they love me. As long as I can remember they have zeroed in on me just to suck up my blood (thirsty females) and leave me with bites that itched like fury.

I really hate the blood sucking females. Because of one bite, I have been out of commission for almost a week. Last week I spent three days with my leg elevated with warm compresses. The bite became localized but I ended up with a bug bite gone bad. I was able to do some work from home, and over the weekend Susan came over to Edgar's Acres to help out with the harvesting and processing of produce from our garden (thank you Susan). My doctor put me on antibiotics last Friday and things were going well until yesterday evening. I had a bad reaction to the antibiotics for the bad bug bite. I seem to be reacting badly to things lately.

Again I had to stay home and tried to work remotely. Notice I said "tried." The internet connection kept cutting out on me, and Abby finally said "enough is enough." She told me to go take a break and rest, in her very persuasive manner.

"The connection is cut. Quit."

"And you say I'm stubborn. Quit, the Internet is down. You're staring at a frozen page."

"What more do I have to do. Stop Woman!"

Abby won. I went into the other room and knit a bit on a very, long overdue baby present. I can't show pictures yet, but I will say the final project is going to be cute.

Stupid Bug!

TTFN

Sue

Happy Daughter's Day

Happy Daughter's Day to all of you adult daughters who have been there for your families and your parents. We thank you for who you are, and appreciate what you have done, or are doing, or will be doing, to take care of your aging parents. You are awesome. I would have posted some links for Daughter's Day but couldn't find anything that honors daughters in the way we should be honored. I did find a link for "Daughter for a Day" which is a in-home service for the elderly.

Susan and I spent Daughter's Day harvesting and preserving food from the garden at Edgar's Acres. The garden is beautiful in the fall, with the fall colors, which provide a brilliant contrast when the sun is out, and even when it isn't. In the garden this year we have a "focal point." Totally unplanned. It's a Swiss Chard plant that sprouted early this Spring that I just let grow basically to just see what it would do.

We won't be harvesting that plant, it's huge and I am sure very tough and bitter. It's beautiful though with the scarlet stems and deep green leaves.

We started out this morning thinking we would be picking zuchinni and maybe some beans and broccoli. Well, we kept picking and picking and ended up with (as Susan put it) an embarrassing amount of produce.

We got Arikara Yellow Shelling Beans, russett baking potatoes, swiss chard (from a much smaller plant), pak choy, little Patty Pan yellow squash (which sell for about $6.99 a pound at the grocery store), Blue Lake Bush Beans, spinach, zuchinni, broccoli, beets and beet greens, and finally strawberries. We spent three hours cleaning, blanching, chilling and freezing most of this produce and we will be eating good this winter.

Now is the time to listen to the dryer dry clothes and sit and knit, while David is reading the newspaper to Johnny.

TTFN

Sue