Yarn Miracle's The Swap of Discontent

Just over one year since I posted last-- WOW -- I wonder where the time went.  I hope I enjoyed at least some of it!

Participated in a fun knitters swap with the Yarn Miracle gang and I received my box of goodies today.

Pleasant surprise after a long day working on quarterly tax returns.  I'm excited, wouldn't you be !?!

I commented over at Yarn Miracle that my swap partner must have been lurking in the corners  at my home; if she wasn't how did she know exactly what to send me??   Quick rundown -- a variety of tea and cocoa, cider and cappuccino packets, skinny cow chocolate snacks, Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup recipe, knit bookmark, Chicken Run movie, pattern for a cowl - Quilted by Kiwiyarn Knits and Sunrise Fiber Co. Cloud DK in Amethyst and a lovely stitch marker.

I'm not a coffee drinker.  I drink hot cocoa but tea is my warm drink of choice.  Purple is my FAVORITE color. I  love to read and said to someone just last week--"You can never have too many bookmarks."  I went to see Chicken Run at least twice at the theater; I laughed more each time, loved it.  I have three crock pots and use one at least once a week, especially this time of year.  I've been trying to get in better shape, treadmill walking only, at this time--skinny cow is certainly appropriate :)  The pattern reads nice, I may start this weekend as we are planning a trip to Pittsburgh.  The yarn is 40% baby alpaca, 40% wool and 20% silk and did I mention I love purple!!!

The excitement of the evening has me totally worn out, I need a cup of tea and the book beside my chair.

Thanks swap partner, I'm totally overwhelmed <3

Today is better

Whew, my last post was a 'bit' dreary; sorry about that, it just came out.  Feeling 100% better today.

Getting ready to make dill pickles...first time!  Husband loves dill, I'm a sweet girl myself, so for him, I'm giving them a try.  We've had a productive holiday weekend.  We finished a couple of OLD projects...a great way to improve your outlook on life, I highly recommend it.  I ironed all of Marty's fall shirts that have been hanging in the back bedroom taunting me for months!  I always vow to iron them right after I wash them but for some reason, I don't, so I end up with an ironing marathon day....thank goodness for the SVU marathon :) that sure helped.

Life passes

My sister and I traveled to Illinois yesterday for a funeral today and we will travel back to PA early tomorrow morning.  My Dad thinks it's silly for us to drive 1100 miles to attend a funeral but we do not because there are other benefits.

My sister and I are both in our mid fifties, relatively healthy and capable of making this trip; we drove.  Aside from paying our respects to our stepmother's dear aunt, we also have a bit of time to visit with our family here in Illinois.

Death of family and friends can impact our lives at any moment.  We don't know if this visit with our father, or 2 of our brothers or our stepmother will be our last; we pray that it won't be; but the realization of that possibility  looms larger with each passing minute at this point in our lives.

It is a bit sad that we wouldn't chose to make this quick trip, just because, but, time spent with family, for whatever reason, is not time wasted.