I'm Back In Action
Yes, I'm Back In Action
The past several weeks have been both busy and difficult. However, I am now happy to report that I'm back in action!
Since I've been away, our daughter and son-in-law have bought their first home and are almost completely settled, our puppies have grown like little weeds, the farm has turned completely green and now requires regular mowing, the blackberries have ripened, the Eastern Bluebirds, Carolina Wrens, and Purple Martins have laid eggs and babies have hatched, and I've continued knitting ... and even worked in an Intarsia knitting class at Sealed With A Kiss.
On the Knitting Front
My latest completed knitting projects included the 2 vests below for CIC.
The blue vest is from Kathleen Day's *Who Who Loves You Baby?* vest pattern. This pattern and more can be found at Fiona's Friends patterns. All these patterns were designed by Kathleen Day. Kathleen has been a big supporter of charity knitting efforts for many organizations and is a true inspiration. I have been blessed with being able to become online friends with Kathleen and enjoyed every minute of it. Please read more about her here. Kathleen, you keep me energized for CIC knitting!
Kay and I also enjoyed attending the Intarsia knitting class together at Sealed With A Kiss. Our instructor was Sherry Steuver, intarsia knitter extraordinaire. The class was wonderful....and intense. I think I need more practice before I would choose a complex intarsia pattern to knit. : )
Here's Sherry, our faithful and patient instructor:
My friend, Kay, (near) is really concentrating during our class and was avoiding having her picture taken...but, I finally caught her in a picture.
Puppy Update
Two of the female Dachshund puppies went home with their new parents today! Bev and Jim will make wonderful parents for the two girls. I believe they've named the girls *Allie and Kate*. Those are precious names for two precious little puppies!
Here's a picture of the two girls with their new parents:
We met Bev and Jim at a local Cracker Barrel restaurant for the puppy exchange. Since we live in a rural area and they weren't familiar with Norman, it made for a good meeting place....and afterward Kim and I enjoyed lunch. : )
At Home
I'm sorry I was absent for quite a few weeks. In all honesty, I was battling a severe depression that was caused by the lowering and discontinuation of the steroid dosages that were necessary. Evidently, since I was on an extremely high dosage of steroids
(necessitated by the investigational drug protocal in which I am participating), I had a side-effect of the lowered dosage that caused a severe and dark depression.
When the steroid dosage finally got very low, the depression subsided. All I can say is that I don't ever want to go there again! I am hopeful that the investigational drug will prove beneficial to many people, but I sure hope the high dose steroids don't remain a necessary part of the picture.
Another side effect of the high dose steroids has been a *significant* weight gain. We're talking almost 40 lbs.! And that's 40 lbs. I certainly *didn't* need. So, I'm happy to report that I'll be rejoining Weight Watchers this week! I'm excited and looking forward to getting back to healthy eating and cooking habits. I also enjoy the meetings and leaders...and Rosemary is going to join, too. We're going to be Weight Watcher buddies. : )
What I've Learned Lately
I have once again had it refreshed for me that *feelings* aren't what love is based upon. Love from our Heavenly Father, or from my husband, or from my family isn't based on my *feeling* of that love every moment. Their love is present by commitment, actions I may or may not see, and in their minds and hearts....whether I *feel it*, or not.
Our Heavenly Father is always present with unconditional love...whether we feel it, or not. We must trust, believe, and allow our hearts to be touched by the Lord, and others dear to us, even when we may occasionally fall into the pit of despair.
NIV
Psalm 5:11 & 12
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Have a wonderful week, my friends.
Your Pal,
Shelly
The past several weeks have been both busy and difficult. However, I am now happy to report that I'm back in action!
Since I've been away, our daughter and son-in-law have bought their first home and are almost completely settled, our puppies have grown like little weeds, the farm has turned completely green and now requires regular mowing, the blackberries have ripened, the Eastern Bluebirds, Carolina Wrens, and Purple Martins have laid eggs and babies have hatched, and I've continued knitting ... and even worked in an Intarsia knitting class at Sealed With A Kiss.
On the Knitting Front
My latest completed knitting projects included the 2 vests below for CIC.
The blue vest is from Kathleen Day's *Who Who Loves You Baby?* vest pattern. This pattern and more can be found at Fiona's Friends patterns. All these patterns were designed by Kathleen Day. Kathleen has been a big supporter of charity knitting efforts for many organizations and is a true inspiration. I have been blessed with being able to become online friends with Kathleen and enjoyed every minute of it. Please read more about her here. Kathleen, you keep me energized for CIC knitting!
Kay and I also enjoyed attending the Intarsia knitting class together at Sealed With A Kiss. Our instructor was Sherry Steuver, intarsia knitter extraordinaire. The class was wonderful....and intense. I think I need more practice before I would choose a complex intarsia pattern to knit. : )
Here's Sherry, our faithful and patient instructor:
My friend, Kay, (near) is really concentrating during our class and was avoiding having her picture taken...but, I finally caught her in a picture.
Puppy Update
Two of the female Dachshund puppies went home with their new parents today! Bev and Jim will make wonderful parents for the two girls. I believe they've named the girls *Allie and Kate*. Those are precious names for two precious little puppies!
Here's a picture of the two girls with their new parents:
We met Bev and Jim at a local Cracker Barrel restaurant for the puppy exchange. Since we live in a rural area and they weren't familiar with Norman, it made for a good meeting place....and afterward Kim and I enjoyed lunch. : )
At Home
I'm sorry I was absent for quite a few weeks. In all honesty, I was battling a severe depression that was caused by the lowering and discontinuation of the steroid dosages that were necessary. Evidently, since I was on an extremely high dosage of steroids
(necessitated by the investigational drug protocal in which I am participating), I had a side-effect of the lowered dosage that caused a severe and dark depression.
When the steroid dosage finally got very low, the depression subsided. All I can say is that I don't ever want to go there again! I am hopeful that the investigational drug will prove beneficial to many people, but I sure hope the high dose steroids don't remain a necessary part of the picture.
Another side effect of the high dose steroids has been a *significant* weight gain. We're talking almost 40 lbs.! And that's 40 lbs. I certainly *didn't* need. So, I'm happy to report that I'll be rejoining Weight Watchers this week! I'm excited and looking forward to getting back to healthy eating and cooking habits. I also enjoy the meetings and leaders...and Rosemary is going to join, too. We're going to be Weight Watcher buddies. : )
What I've Learned Lately
I have once again had it refreshed for me that *feelings* aren't what love is based upon. Love from our Heavenly Father, or from my husband, or from my family isn't based on my *feeling* of that love every moment. Their love is present by commitment, actions I may or may not see, and in their minds and hearts....whether I *feel it*, or not.
Our Heavenly Father is always present with unconditional love...whether we feel it, or not. We must trust, believe, and allow our hearts to be touched by the Lord, and others dear to us, even when we may occasionally fall into the pit of despair.
NIV
Psalm 5:11 & 12
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Have a wonderful week, my friends.
Your Pal,
Shelly
posted by Prayerful Knitter - Shelly at 6:38 PM
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