It's Cold Outside and Busy Inside!

We have very cold temps. in OK today! Thankfully, we've also had precipitation. Although our precipitation was in solid form, any amount is appreciated since we have been desperately dry with wildfires abounding.


The ground covered with ice has certainly brought lots of great birds to our many feeders. Although lighting outside was poor, and I was shooting through a window, I got a few pictures worth sharing of our feeder visitors today. Among our usual visitors were Dark-eyed Juncos, Harris's Sparrows, American Tree Sparrows, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, American Goldfinches, House Finches, Carolina Wrens, Downy Woodpeckers, Northern Cardinals, Grackles and Red-winged Blackbird females. We can't fill our feeders quickly enough to keep them all satisified.


The birds are also enjoying the heated birdbath. In this type of weather accessible and unfrozen water is equally important to adequate food supply.


I can get lost watching the birds. Their many colors and behaviors never cease to amaze me...and I am just amazed at God's creativity and imagination. : )


I did get my Grandmother's Faroese shawl soaked in Euclan, rinsed, and have put it out for blocking. It was almost too large to block out on the twin bed in the back bedroom, but I got it to *just fit*. I've tried several options for blocking the shoulder shaping...padding in that area, not padding in that area, etc. I finally decided to just let it block out naturally without padding. If it doesn't look OK when dry, I'll reblock.

I really love the way that Eucalan makes a finished garment smell fresh and sweet. The Alpaca is divinely soft and I'm anxious for the drying process to complete. Then I plan on wrapping in a good amount of tissue paper in a nice box and Priority mailing it to my Grandmother....hopefully on Monday!

Currently on my knitting needles is a size 4 woolen vest for CIC. These CIC vests are simple and quick to knit, and a balm to the heart of the knitter. There's just nothing better than knowing you're knitting an item for a child to stay warm and enjoy...and that many prayers are included in the stitching. I'll also be knitting some fingerless mitts for the caregivers of CIC soon. Many free patterns have been posted and shared on the CIC Yahoo List. Please consider joining. I promise you will enjoy every project and challenge. : )

A Praise Report -

I do have an update on a previous prayer request that I posted on my blog. A couple of weeks back I posted about a young family man named Will that had undergone an 11 hr. surgery for possible liver cancer. The pathology report came back this week, and Will does *NOT* have cancer. The tumor was benign! He is now home and recovering. Thank you sincerely to each of you that thought of, and prayed for, Will and his family.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Your Friend,

Shelly

HCSB
I John 3:16-20
16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has this world's goods and sees his brother in need but shuts off his compassion from him--how can God's love reside in him? 18 Little children, we must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth; 19 that is how we will know we are of the truth, and will convince our hearts in His presence, 20 because if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knows all things.