Here is Laken's Ombre Afghan hot off the hook! I mean seriously, I just finished it in time to write this post to publish by midnight!
First, I wanted to show you a picture of the finished afghan with the recipient, Laken :) She picked out the yarn and watched me throughout the year-long process of making the blanket.
Of course, I didn't work on it constantly from start to finish. I worked on MANY other projects before finally picking it up as a WIP from my project pile.
The colors are from the Red Heart's Ombre line as well as Soft White for the bordering.
I finished off the blocks with a simple border followed by a final row of scalloped edging.
My original plan was to make it 5X5 but I decided it was plenty big enough at 3X5 with bordering. I used some of my favorite CAL blocks from Ravelry and some solid blocks to set them off.
We sat at her table, stabbing plastic forks into Chinese take-out.
Page 56
You--my tired, beautiful friend--are you cranky? Drained? Stretched to the point of snapping and resentful of the people who demand you time, your attention, your blessings?
Q. Did you go shopping on Thanksgiving Night, Black Friday, or on Cyber Monday? If so, did you buy any books? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)
A. I plan on shopping on all the above! It will be an added bonus if I get to buy any books :)
Here are some things that made me smile this week:
~Happy Thanksgiving! This year for Thanksgiving my Mom is handing over the cooking reins to my SIL, Kelly. She's a bit nervous but I keep telling her it is just "US"! No need to worry! Mom and the girls are still making homemade noodles to take along since that is a big tradition with them. We'll also be making pies, probably on Friday. Mom and I usually do ALL the cooking so it ought to be a nice, leisurely Thanksgiving. Hope you have a good one!
~2020 Pen Pals! I mentioned this last week and wanted to let you know that I have 5 participants so far! And the sign ups don't end until December 20th! I'd love you to consider being a Pen Pal this coming year. Click HERE to find out more :)
~Lunch with Kaylee! Last Friday, we met Kaylee after her college classes for lunch and some shopping. We went to Chick-fil-A and then Kaylee and I went to Wal-Mart to check out the clearance racks. Kaylee got 3 new pair of jeans and I got 2 pairs of jeans. We both really needed some new ones. I also picked up the cutest knit quarter sleeve shirt for $5! It was nice to spend some quality time with my oldest girl :)
~Christmas Exchange! In case you missed it, I signed up for a Christmas Exchange over at Slaters' Funny Farm. Carol still needs people to sign up and the limit is only $10 so if you interested, please head over and join in :)
~Christmas Schedule! This week my Mom and I sat down with our calendars and coordinated our Christmas Schedules. We do this every year! We made sure everything is planned and scheduled so that it doesn't get too super stressful. We planned when to make Christmas Cookies, get our Christmas Tree and don't forget the Christmas Concert! We also wrote down our Church events such as our Christmas Dinner, Christmas Caroling and Christmas Play. I'm getting exited!!!! Are you? :)
Peanut Butter Fudge is my nemesis. I have a LOVE/hate relationship with it. My mom made a batch last week and I couldn't stay out of it! Other than that I did so good being on the Green Option of MyWW.
I was really intrigued to see how my weigh in would go with the new options. I lost, but only 0.4 lbs... Just imagined IF I HADN'T eaten the fudge!
I've been using my treadmill and am enjoying it because I can crank MY music up and go to town on the treadmill.
So, I guess I was happy that I didn't gain, but I do wish I had lost a bit more.
I really want to get my 25 lb charm before Christmas. Only 3.8 lbs to go!
Now,
On to the weigh in:
Starting Weight ~ 7/27/19 ~ 290.8 lbs
Last Week's Weight ~ 11/16/19 ~ 270.0 lbs
This Week's Weight ~ 11/23/19 ~ 269.6 lbs
This Week's Total: -0.4 lbs
Grand Total: -21.2 lbs
I'll be weighing in on Saturdays and posting my results on Wednesday. If you'd like to join in on the journey, I'd love to have some weight loss friends!
Colletta
P.S. I'm putting together Pen Pals for 2020. If you are interested, please check out THIS post :)
Keep It Shutby Karen Ehman explores how to better control your tongue, knowing what to say and how to say it, and realizing when it is best to say nothing at all.
From Bible times to modern times women have struggled with their words. What to say and how to say it. What not to say. When it is best to remain silent. And what to do when you’ve said something you wish you could now take back. In this book a woman whose mouth has gotten her into loads of trouble shares the hows (and how-not-tos) of dealing with the tongue.
Beyond just a “how not to gossip” book, this book explores what the Bible says about the many ways we are to use our words and the times when we are to remain silent. Karen will cover using our speech to interact with friends, co-workers, family, and strangers as well as in the many places we use our words in private, in public, online, and in prayer. Even the words we say silently to ourselves. She will address unsolicited opinion-slinging, speaking the truth in love, not saying words just to people-please, and dealing with our verbal anger.
Christian women struggle with their mouths. Even though we know that Scripture has much to say about how we are—and are not—to use our words, this is still an immense issue, causing heartache and strain not only in family relationships, but also in friendships, work, and church settings.
My Thoughts:
I love the title of this book as well as the subtitle: "What To Say, How to Say It, and When to Say Nothing at All"!
I snatched this book up at Ollie's because I had been struggling with something I had said to friend about another friend that could be considered...GASP....gossip! Chapter 7 was particularly enlightening to me in this respect.
The author did a wonderful job of giving constructive criticism while still encouraging.
I enjoyed her real-life examples throughout the book to emphasize her points and topics for each chapter.
The book is also chock full of Scriptures, of course, many of them were from Proverbs but there were also Scriptures from throughout the Word on how our speech should be full of grace.
I thought of adding my favorite "snippet" to this review, but to be fair, there were so many great thoughts and ideas that I had a hard time deciding on one. You'll just have to read the book!
It rained all night long with some flurries this morning. At the moment, it is just cold!
On my breakfast plate:
English Muffin, Vanilla Chai Tea
As I look around the house::::
I still haven't decided how I want to arrange the furniture/exercise equipment in the Family Room. I'm starting to get a bit claustrophobic with it though and need to figure out something soon!
On today's to do list::::
I need to create a menu and grocery list for this week and sweep the floor. I also need to exercise and it is my turn to make supper.
Happening this week::::
Devotions: I started reading Luke this week and also studied "Potiphar's Wife" for Ladies Bible Study Group. Takeaway: Keep my eyes on my man and my family and not on what someone else has!
WW: I had another loss this week although minimal. I started the new Green Option of the MyWW Program. BUT...my mom made fudge. Peanut Butter Fudge. I might as well have smeared it on my hips!
Exercise: I met my Fit Point goal for the first week in a long time, thanks to my treadmill :)
Housework: I want to work on both the Family Room and Our Bedroom. They both need a good organizing and the Family Room needs rearranged.
Bills: Pay Day is on Thanksgiving. I'll need to make our budge for the pay period and write out bills, go to the Bank and go to the Post Office.
Doug: The hubby's OT slowed a bit. He'll be on vacation Wednesday through next Tuesday for Thanksgiving break and Deer Season. I love this time of year!
Kaylee: Kaylee is done with her Computer Lit Class for the semester and only has 5 more days of her other classes. The Saturday after her last class she has plans to veg-out the whole day with her boyfriend, Shawn. It has been a big adjustment for her and I'm very proud of her work ethic.
Laken: Laken goes to school Monday and then is off until next Tuesday for Thanksgiving Break. She's bemoaning the fact that she has to go on Monday! I told her it could be worse...
Currently reading::::
I finished "Keep It Shut". Yay! It was such a good read. Come back tomorrow for the review :)
Currently I'm reading "Made Well".
I'll probably come back to "Taming the To-Do List" next to finish it.
On the TV::::
Steeler Football!
Home & Family
All the NCIS's
All Rise
Bluff City Law
Stumptown
New Amsterdam
"We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."
I've been so busy lately working on items to list in my etsy shop that I've neglected a few "WIP"s. I decided to pick up Laken's Ombre Afghan to work on and possibly finish sometime soon!
I apologize for the pictures. Tthe lighting wasn't very good. Such a dreary day...
Here it is in a ball...
Here it is all laid out... The floral blocks are blocks I made in the beginning of the year when I when trying to keep up with a Block-a-Week Crochet Along. The "Solid" blocks are granny squares made out of RH Ombre yarn in Spearmint, Coral Reef, and Violet.
I love the block shown below! It was probably my favorite :)
I'm currently working on the border using the Coral Reef color.
I finished up the Coral Reef border and am now going to be working on the Violet, Spearmint and Soft White border rows with a scalloped edging to finish it off.
I'm hoping to be finished with this blanket/afghan by the beginning of the week and move on to my next project.
My Mamaw died in April as they were painting her toenails. It didn't matter if she was ever getting out of that bed again or not; there would be nail polish and perfectly primped hair.
Page 56
Experiencing healing and being made well are not the natural by-products of pain. They are by-products of a decision--a choice--to be made well.
Q. Excluding the Bible, name one book that makes you feel thankful and happy. (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)
A. My answer is pretty broad and not just one book, but I would say Children's Books. The reason Children's Books make me thankful and happy is because it means I am spending time with a little one. Sharing my love of reading with up-and-coming readers brings me great joy :)
"I would like to get 10-20 people that are interested in doing a secret type gift exchange on here. It can be homemade, store bought or even just something nice that you no longer want. The price should be around $10, if possible. I will write down all names and then decide who will give to who. You will not be aware of who your gift is coming from until the gift arrives."
So head over to Carol's to join in and let's have some fun :) Spread the word!
Here are some things that made me smile this week:
~2020 Pen Pals! I'm excited to let you know that I'll be putting together another round of Pen Pals for 2020! I did this back in 2017 and had a lot of success with participation. I'd love you to consider being a Pen Pal this coming year. Click HERE to find out more :)
~Aunt Mary and Dolly! I mentioned last week that my Aunt Mary and my two cousins, Dolly and Nikki, were flying up from Florida for the weekend. Well, Nikki ended up chickening out on flying... I can't say that I blame her, really. I've only been in an airplane once in my life and that was almost 20 years ago for our Honeymoon. We did get to have a nice visit with Aunt Mary and Dolly. For that, I am thankful :)
~New-to-Me Treadmill and Bike! A work friend of the hubby's sold us a very gently used treadmill and exercise bike for $100! I had been hinting to the hubby that I wanted a treadmill for Christmas so this came at just the right time. Now I can crank up The Message and walk away on the treadmill :)
~ I went Green! WW (formerly known as Weight Watchers) is now MyWW and gives members 3 options to pick from. Green, Blue and Purple. I picked the Green option! To read more about this see my Weigh Post from this week. It should be the post before this one :)
~I Finished Mark! In my efforts to up my Bible reading time, I picked the Book of Mark to read. I finished reading through Mark yesterday! Any suggestions on which Book of the Bible to read next? I was thinking maybe Luke, but we're studying Luke at Sunday Evening Services. What do you think?
So much exciting news to share with you this week!
First, I was nervous about my weigh-in because I hadn't been exercising regularly. However, when I got on the scale at Workshop I was down 2.2 lbs! I was very excited about this loss because I had a gain last week!
And...the new program MyWW launched! There are now three options to choose from: Green, Purple and Blue.
Green apparently is what used to be PointsPlus. Blue is Freestyle. And Purple is what used to be SimplyFilling.
So...which one did I pick?
At first I was going to stay on Blue as that is what I knew. I've only ever done Freestyle. But after some investigation and looking at our new program information we received at Workshop, I decided to GO GREEN!
On Green I get 38 daily points and 42 weekly points. But...the only foods that are zero points are fruits and veggies. I'm OK with this as I didn't eat very many of the zero point foods on Freestyle as it was.
I think Green is going to be much easier for me to maintain. I'll see how it goes.
The good thing about having three options to choose from is that if one doesn't work for a person, it is super simple to change another option. "They" suggest giving a change 2 weeks to really see how it is going to work with your body and lifestyle.
So exciting!
Now,
On to the weigh in:
Starting Weight ~ 7/27/19 ~ 290.8 lbs
Last Week's Weight ~ 11/9/19 ~ 272.2 lbs
This Week's Weight ~ 11/16/19 ~ 270.0 lbs
This Week's Total: -2.2 lbs
Grand Total: -20.8 lbs
I'll be weighing in on Saturdays and posting my results on Wednesday. If you'd like to join in on the journey, I'd love to have some weight loss friends!
Colletta
P.S. I'm putting together Pen Pals for 2020. If you are interested, please check out THIS post :)
