Edgar Has a New Sweater

On Christmas Day Susan came over with her Dog Sweater Book and told Edgar she was going to knit him a sweater. Frank and John were there and said "Uh, wait a minute. A sweater for Edgar, what kind of a sweater?" Susan showed them the patterns and designs in the book and assured them that Edgar's sweater would be very fitting for him.

Look at Edgar. He loves his sweater.

Susan knit him a fair isle sweater and he loves it. He so kindly posed for us so we could take his picture and show everyone how handsome he looks.

He told me I had to take a close up so you could see the lovely fair isle design in his sweater.
He walked around and showed off his sweater to all of us ...
and then he decided he was ready for a nap. As we all know, Edgar loves to sleep.
And he does it so well.

This weekend Susan and I came over to Edgar's Acres for a lovely knitting respite. We came over on Thursday night because of Friday I had the Karsten Homes guy coming over to do some final finishing touches. Then Casey, the deck guy, came over in the afternoon to give the me bid for the decking we need done at Edgar's Acres.

Friday night Susan and I went through the seed cataloges to finalize what we are going to plant in the garden patch and then I hooked up and ordered the seeds and plants I wanted from Johnny's Seeds and Territorial Seeds. I always order my seeds from these two companies since they both primarily feature seeds specifically for a northern climate such as Edgar's Acres.

Saturday we ran errands and went to visit Nora and Jean at A Dropped Stitch. Love those ladies and love their store. I picked up some lovely Alpaca With A Twist to make a pair of gloves with. Katy came over Saturday to spend the night and we had a great visit. Since Katy is not a knitter we waited to make our trip to the lumber store until she got here. We then went and I got David's anniversary gift. For once I'm ahead of the game.

Yesterday we went over to Fort Hadlock to see Sandy at Textile Fiber Arts and had a wonderful visit with her. Even Katy went with us. It was the first time she had ever been in a yarn store, but she was a good sport. I picked up some more yarn for this project ...

I started this project the week after Christmas. I just couldn't do any more socks, hats or sweaters. I also needed to knit something in COLOR since all of the knitting I had done for three months was in the male range of colors ... black, brown, gray. I have had this idea for an afghan in my head for quite a while and decided this would be the perfect project. It is. I can't put it down. I have become obsessed with garter stitch segments, picking up stitches, and casting off. This block of the afphan now looks like this.

It measures 35 x 25 inches. It is now too cumbersome to drag along when I'm traveling so I started another block.

I'm thinking four blocks will be enough for a good sized afghan. Now, if you feel like tilting your head, here's what they look like next to each other (can't figure out how to rotate on this Blogspot).

I am having fun with this. I don't need to count. Don't need to worry if I have enough yarn. Best of all, I don't need to worry if it is going to fit.

Last night Susan and I made paper dolls for our Fit and Flatter class with Sally Melville at the Madrona Knitting Retreat. Only for Sally.


Well, the lovely knitting retreat is coming to an end. Susan and I promised Louie that we would let him take a sunbath on the deck this afternoon before we head back to Bellevue. He was taking a lovely sunbath yesterday when we told him we were heading over to Sandy's (she won't let me in the place without Louie).

TTFN

Sue

As the Holiday Season Comes to an End

As we head into the 12th day of Christmas I reflect on what a wonderful holiday season this has been despite SNOW, SNOW and even more SNOW. Christmas 2008 is the only year I can remember where we had SNOW on Christmas Day. A lot of SNOW. Fortunately, Frank and Dennis both have four wheel drive vehicles.

Frank and John were able to drive up from Portland to our place the Tuesday before Christmas between storms. David and I had prepared ourselves to spending Christmas without them because of the weather and hazardous road conditions. Fortunately, there was a window of opportunity for travel.

Christmas Eve we headed up to Cynthia's for a feast and celebration with friends and family. Frank was able to get all of us up to Cynthia's house with his truck, making two trips.

Christmas Day Frank was able to get Susan to our house, and then Dennis got Cynthia to our house, and then got both Cynthia and Susan home. We had 18" ruts on top of ice on most of the streets in our neighborhood so needed high clearance four wheel drive vehicles to travel.

It was wonderful having Susan, Cynthia and Dennis come and share Christmas day with us. We also had Bella and Disney join us. After all, our doggies are part of our families as well. The prime rib came out beautifully, and was so good. Christmas dinner is generally a very simple affair, just the prime rib, stuffed baked potatoes, and home grown canned green beans. Edgar was hoping the prime rib was going to be put on the table, and would be unsupervised.

So was A.J.

And Bella. When Bella saw the prime rib was going to be very much supervised, she went looking for something or someone else to handle.

She decided John needed some kisses.

Dinner was wonderful and we all ate until we were full.

Later David and I, and Frank and John played Monopoly until 1:30 a.m. As you can see from the look on John's face, we got pretty "silly."

Meanwhile, Edgar slept. And I mean slept. He didn't even notice Louie on top of him. In fact, in the Winter, Edgar loves to sleep.

He believes in comfort too when he sleeps. This is Thursday night up at Edgar's Acres.

Early Friday night...

and later on Friday night. This time Johnny was trying to get Edgar up.

And last night, Saturday. He loves to sleep. Mom once made the comment that I should write a book about Edgar sleeping. He loves his special couch at Edgar's Acres, and he loves his winter sleeps.

Well, we need to get ready to head back to Bellevue and reality.

TTFN

Sue

We've Got Mail!

We have received some correspondence and notifications that our stockings have been delivered and I wanted to share this with you. In receiving the letters and emails, I am reminded why we spend so much time and love on Operation Holiday Stockings.
My step dad wanted me to let you know they got the stockings. He said he was really surprised and they enjoyed everything. He said something about really enjoying packages of Taco Bell??? I'm not sure if that's something you sent with the stockings or something he dreamed up. LOL! Anyways, thanks so much for doing that. Things are rough over there for them and I know that receiving those stockings brought much needed cheer and comfort and a reminder that people are thinking of them. Thanks again!!!! : )
Matt said his group at the outpost (25 or so guys) got their stockings. There are so appreciative!

When he was home I asked him what he wanted for Christmas. He said "The fact that you did all those stockings for the guys is all the present I want." What a sweetie.
Sending our Thanks from Iraq. Thank you for your support and the box of goodies. We hope you have a wonderful Holiday Season & New Year. Soldier Overseas.
We received the box of stockings your group sent to us recently and we would like to thank you from the bottom of our heart. We will use the stockings to decorate the clinic and keep them with us when we leave as a reminder of the support we get from our friends at home. We hope that this holiday season will be a blessing to you and your family. We have much more to be thankful for than we can fully comprehend. When I am placed in situtations like these it reminds me of just how lucky we as Americans are. Take care, God Bless you, and Thanks again.
I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you and all of the volunteers for your thoughts, prayers and generosity. It is due to the dedication of people like yourself and those you work with that many deployed service members get a reminder of exactly how important the job they do is to those at home. The box of stockings was a big hit and every member was a proud recipient of a stocking during our small Christmas party. On behalf of the men and women that I have the great pleasure of leading and serving, I want to thank you again for your thoughtful gifts.
Please pass our thanks on to all that made the wonderful Christmas stockings. Everyone in the unit thought they were fantastic. Thank you again.
Thank you so very much for the wonderful holiday stockings for the guys. There were so darling and so much love and care was put into them. We put them by their doors on Christmas Eve and it was like being Santa's helpers. They just loved them. Thank you a million times over for thinking of us.

A big thanks to all of you who contributed to this project.

And yes, Virginia, there will be an Operation Holiday Stockings 2009. In fact, we've already received some stockings...

Sue B. sent these and we are now on our way for next Christmas.

And we got these from Sue P. (Many Sues, I know!!!).

You can send stockings anytime you want, and remember to collect those hotel samples when you travel.

TTFN

Sue

Merry Christmas to Those So Far Away

A soldier dear to my heart asked that I post this. He also asked that we remember all of the soldiers in our prayers. Christmas is hard for them being so far away when everyone at home is getting together. Well, my dear soldier, it is also hard for the families at home. They may be getting together, but part of their hearts are in the war zones with their soldier. God speed to all of you men and women in harm's way, and may your angel stay tight on your shoulder.

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone

In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.

I had come down the chimney with presents to give

And to see just who in this home did live.I

looked all about a strange sight I did see,

No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand,

On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kind

A sober thought came through my mind.

For this house was different, so dark and dreary,

I knew I had found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly.

I heard stories about them, I had to see more

So I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.

And there he lay sleeping silent alone,

Curled up on the floor in his one bedroom home.

His face so gentle, his room in such disorder,

Not how I pictured a United States soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I’d just read?

Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

His head was clean shaven, his weathered face tan,

I soon understood this was more then a man.

For I realized the families that I saw that night

Owed their lives to these men who were willing to fight.

Soon ‘round the world, the children would play,

And grownups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom each month of the day,

Because of soldiers like this one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone

On a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.J

ust the very thought brought a tear to my eye,

I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The solder awakened and I heard a rough voice,

“Santa don’t cry, this life is my choice;

I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more,

My life is my God, my country, my Corps.”

With that he rolled over and drifted off into sleep,

I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.

I watched him for hours, so silent and still,

I noticed he shivered from the cold night’s chill.

So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,

And I covered this Soldier from his toes to his head.

And I put on his T-shirt of gray and black,

With an eagle and an Army patch embroidered on back.

And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,

And for a shining moment, I was United States Army deep inside.

I didn’t want to leave him on that cold dark night,

This guardian of honor so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over, whispered with a voice so clean and pure,

“Carry on Santa, it’s Christmas day, all is secure.

”One look at my watch, and I knew he was right,

Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night!

Winter Solstice In all It's Glory

Yesterday was the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. Personally, I like the 22nd better. It's the first day the daylight hours start getting longer.

Since Thursday we have had a total of 13 inches of snow pack dump down on us. By Saturday morning we had 6.5 inches and a break in the storm. David and I were able to run some errands, get some groceries, and do a little bit of Christmas shopping. By the time we got home at 1:30 it started snowing again. The snow on the table had packed down to 4.5 inches. The snow stopped around 7:00 this morning leaving us with 11 inches. Now that's a lot of snow for the Puget Sound area.

The dogs love the snow. Edgar is the only one, however, you can really see in this deep snow. The fluffs are up to their little necks in snow, which means their little bottoms are hitting snow when they need to poo. Early this morning I put on David's big boots while still in nightgown and robe, and stomped down a path for the fluffs to go down under the deck to do their business.
The roof project has been put on hold until we get decent weather. Hard to do roof work with 13 inches on snow on it. The final part are the new gutters. Consequently, as the snow melts a bit, it is dripping, and freezing, making icicles.

Reminds me of the frozen palace in Dr. Zivago.

Yesterday David shoveled the snow off of the deck to remove the weight. Good thing considering we got 4 inches yesterday.

There's plenty on the deck as it is. It did warm up a bit this afternoon so some of the snow has started to melt. Tonight, it's cold again, and we have ice all over the place. "Who knows what tomorrow will bring."

TTFN

Sue

Snow and a Cold

'Twas a dark Thursday morning, when all through the house; nothing was stirring, not even the house.



While me in my flannel, and David in his sweats, we were sleeping soundly with no regrets.



When over the house there arose such a clatter, I got out of bed (too old to "spring" out of bed) to see what was the matter.



When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but thunder and lighting, and a blizzard so near.



Yep, at 5:30 this morning the infamous convergence zone settled over our house and the snow storm hit. It's been a steady snow since then and we now have over 6". It is beautiful and so we might as well stay inside and enjoy it.



David and I decided to put up the Christmas tree (now that the roof, thank God, is done) and put the house in order for Christmas. Edgar helped.

Each year we wrap our ornaments in tissue, so I was piling it on the loveseat not realizing Edgar was napping.

I looked around and asked David where Edgar was and there he was all nice and cozy under tissue. You can't see it in this picture, but the pile of tissue is moving with Edgar's tail.

He finally pulled his head up to look at me and promptly went back to sleep.

The snow is beautiful, and does make everything seem serene and clean.

Last weekend David and I went to Edgar's Acres and moved into our new house. We love it. The dogs love it. It was so good to be back home.

This is the family room. All of the old furniture looks good. Mind you, all of this furniture is hand me downs, cast offs, and finds at a second hand store. When we moved in five years ago, we cleaned out storage units, basements and garages, of all of the "stuff" from Mom, Mother and Marguerite. Amazing how it all came together.

Note Edgar is right at home. His couch is back!

We even put up a little Christmas tree!

The living room will need a few more pieces, but that will come later.

And here is my kitchen. This is an 8 butt kitchen. The kitchen in the old house was a one butt kitchen, and the kitchen in our Bellevue house is a two butt kitchen. I LOVE this kitchen.

It's bright and has lots and lots of counter space.

And the house is warm. None of the snow melted off of the roof on this house.

Well, I'm going to go knit. I can't post what I'm working on right now. Too close to Christmas.

TTFN

Sue