Sayin' Bye to October

Friday Fave Fives... in a hurry because Younger Daughter and I are off on a 'date' to have dinner with a friend who is visiting Ohio from Oregon!!  I've linked up HERE to join others in celebrating a week of blessings.

1.  On Saturday morning at fiber arts group, I was greeted by a young girl who immediately informed me that I needed to attend church Saturday evening (it was in our plans) because she (Kl) and her friend L were both being baptized then.  Of course, we were there to cheer them both on.

2.  That young girl's big sister, Ka, loaned me the first book in a series that she owns and loves.  Yes, I've already read it and requested the next two books in the series to borrow.  Don't you love it when a young child recommends a book to you?

3.  After some downpouring rain over the weekend, our weather turned warm and sunny.  Until today.  Now it's raining again.  Truly, I am thankful for rain.  But I am also thankful for those warm sunny days.  Even at the end of October.

4.  Because of the warm weather, I was able to clean up quite a bit in the garden.  All that is left in the vegetable beds are some herbs like parsley and a row of carrots.  The flower beds look much better.  I am thankful for the weather and stamina to work outside.

5.  We had a lovely walk around the local arboretum with Younger Daughter and the puppies.  The autumn leaves were stunning.  I am thankful to live in a place where autumn glows.  (photos will be uploaded when I return later this evening, so come back over to feast on fall colors).

And... here they are!

An Afghan for a Sweet Baby Girl

 I love knitting.  And I love knitting for babies.  A mama at my church is due to have a new little GIRL within the next week.  Obviously, I had to knit an afghan for her.

All. The. Colors.  The little one will have so many options to learn to identify the colors.  Red. Yellow. Blue. Turquoise.  Purple.  Pink.  Orange.  White. Magenta.

• Details:   Caron Simply Soft Yarn.  All the leftovers from various projects.
• Needles:  US #6.  I used circular.
• one stitch marker

The pattern is super simple.  I cast on 80 stitches, placing the stitch marker after 40 stitches.  *Knit one row.  Next row:  knit until two stitches before the marker, knit two together, slip marker, knit to end of row.  Follow this same instruction until there are two stitches left, then slip the two stitches together.  You have one large square.

        The second block is started by picking up 39 stitches along the front left edge of the first block.  Place marker, then cast on 40 stitches.  Then repeat the instructions beginning at *.

I made four blocks, then I started at the top of the first block and cast on 40 stitches, set a marker, and then picked up forty stitches along the top of the first block.  The second block is created by picking up stitches on both the first block of the second row and the second block of the first row. Are you confused yet?  Think about it.  You are simply adding another block above the first row.  I made this blankie four X five blocks.

You can change yarns any time you want to create wildly colorful blankets.  Or you can choose to make an afghan using only one color.  Your choice.

I hope these instructions are clear.  If you have any questions, or if you are confused, feel free to ask me for clarification in the comments.

Beautiful October Faves

 Another week has flown by.  How does it happen so quickly?  I really need to stop and take a breath and reflect on what happened this past week and delve into the beauty and blessings that are so abundant.  Here are Five Favorite Things from this week that I want to share for Friday Fave Fives.

1.  Autumn colors.  The leaves are turning all the beautiful fall colors.  I'm loving it and amazed as always at God's creation.

2.  Wednesday evening, The Professor drove me to the home of a friend who was filling in to host a Bible Study I am in.  The drive was beautiful and again full of fall colors!

Can you see the deer grazing in the field?  We spotted at least thirty deer in various fields.

3.  The birds are still at the feeder in our back garden.  This cardinal and her male companion are regulars as are a flock of wrens.  Again, I marvel at these beautiful winged creatures.

4.  This morning, I was at another Bible Study, and a friend shared apples from her tree.  Oh my!  I love Honey Crisp apples.  They are so delicious (I may be chewing on one right now).  I'm so grateful for my friend's generosity.

5.  This weekend The Professor is camping IN THE RAIN at a Trail Life Daniel Boone Camp Out with Little Warrior and The Tall Boy.  I love (and am so thankful) how he is so involved in the lives of his grandsons.

What has blessed you this week?

A Week Home

 hmmmm.... it's Friday afternoon!  It's time to focus on what has happened this past week.  Mostly I've been skating along, trying to catch up after being on that road trip for more than two weeks.  What has blessed me this beautiful week in mid October?  These five things which I am naming my Friday Fave Fives (the link takes you to Susanne's blog where you can read about many more blessings from other people)

1.  Beautiful weather.  There was even a rainbow!

2.  Walks in nature, mostly under the changing leaves of autumn

3.  Evening by the firepit

4.  Dinner with friends here at Willow's Cottage

5.  A finished afghan

Bonus:  This we celebrated birthdays for both grandgirls!  Happy Birthday to ZG and PAL!

Seventeen candles!

Arggh!  PAL was a pirate at her homeschool co-op park day on her birthday.

Five Faves From the End of a Road Trip

Friday Fave Fives.  Again, I'm on the road, but we're almost home!  Whether I am traveling or sitting at home sipping my coffee, I always stop and think about my week and then post Five Faves of how I am blessing and am thankful for what has transpired in my life during the week.  (The link takes you to Susanne's blog, our host for Friday Fave Fives.)

1.  The Professor caught that nasty virus the day after we arrived, so he was incapacitated and isolated most the time we were in Phoenix.  That is certainly not the fave here.  I am thankful that he was not particularly ill.  I am thankful I stayed well.  I am thankful that we were not staying at Chaplain Dan's house but were in an Airbnb, so it was easy for him to be separate from others.

2.  I am thankful that I was able to attend PAL's choral concert.  (photos did not turn out well; this is the only reasonable one I got)  Waiting for the concert to begin...

3.  The birthday gift we gave PAL was a hit!  A pioneer era sun bonnet which we found at one of our stops on the Santa Fe Trail.  Plans are being made for a dress to go with it.

4.  The last evening we were in Phoenix, Chaps and the family brought a meal to share outside in the back area of the Airbnb.  It was truly a blessing to celebrate dinner with them.

5.  I am thankful that we have been able to finish our goal of following the Santa Fe Trail.  On the way home, we drove the auto route for the Cimarron Trail Cut Off (the more southern route).  (and one of these days, I'll get all the photos uploaded!)

Bonus:  our last morning in Arizona, we had breakfast with an old college friend and his wife whom we had never met.  Bill and I sang together in choir and small group called Reflections.  It was great to catch up!

Bonus2:  we'll be home sometime today!!