Braving the bigger world

Last Wednesday, Rick and I ventured farther afield than we had to date this year – we flew to Omaha, Nebraska! Our alma mater in Lincoln had asked The Down Home Boys, the college bluegrass band Rick played in, to come back to do some weekend music. Rick wanted me to go along, of course (he always wants me to go along), but even though my sister and some old school friends live there, I told him I didn't want to go. Between arranging care for all our animals, the risk of COVID-19 exposure, and my strong homebody bent, I just had no desire. Next thing I know, he said we had tickets. 😳

I proceeded to stitch together animal care; shouts out to our new neighbors, who offered to keep Poppy (playmates for days!!!), and other friends who shared onsite farm chores. My sister sent me a link to this article that made me feel much better about flying, and I kept my fingers busy with spinning and knitting and even got to watch a free movie that I loved. (Hitch. Yes, it's 15 years old. No, I don't watch many movies.) We got a rental car at the airport and then drove to campus, where we stayed in an on-campus guest room. Then Rick proceeded to practice a lot until their first program, Friday night vespers, while I visited with my sister and a couple of my old high school/college-and-beyond buddies.

This building is new since we last visited

The distant building houses the swimming pool where I taught kiddy swimming lessons my last summer

My sister and family are being UBER-careful during the pandemic, as they all have underlying conditions. We visited in her open garage, sitting on camp chairs with masks on. It had turned cold in Lincoln (as it did here), and believe you me, I was thankful to be wearing a mask for the bit of added warmth it gave! I was also thankful that my sister's French bulldog wanted to sit on my lap for the same reason....

On Friday we did go to my sister's and nephew's favorite craft store, Makit Takit. I had eyes only for the yarn side of the store, and even found two pretty skeins in the half-price bin – which my sister promptly snatched and paid for.

One of my friends took me around a small corner of the much-changed city of my college years. Scheels was a destination in and of itself, a combination of sculpture garden, Cabela's/athletic goods/gift/home decor store, and amusement park. Just inside the entrance there is a giant aquarium made up of three huge columns with connecting archways;  the Ferris wheel is beyond that (not operating in COVIDtimes). My friend thought I "would like the animals;" I just smiled and didn't say I prefer my wild creatures alive and free.

I loved this clever, customizable wall decor!

The 'Boys' provided a musical program for Friday evening vespers, followed by musical selections for both church services at the college church the next day. Masks were supposed to be worn for both; after a little kerfuffle over Friday evening's masklessness, there was compliance on Sabbath (they sounded just as good with masks). This is the church, minus the pipe organ, in which Rick and I were married over 36 years ago (installation started the week after our wedding).

Sunday we got out of Dodge just in time, as snow was forecast for that afternoon. In fact, our airplane picked up some ice on the way into Omaha, so had to be de-iced before we departed:

On the way home I spun and knitted some more, and we got to watch another free movie, one I've really wanted to see – A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. I was not disappointed; what a wonderful film about the wonderful Fred Rogers.

We picked up Poppy from the neighbors on our way home Sunday night, and promptly built a fire to warm the chilly house. While waiting for that to happen, Poppy found a cozy place to wait:

The weekend was not all pickin' and grinnin', though. I got a text message from my parents Thursday morning letting me know that my 100-year-old aunt had died. She had just been admitted to the hospital the night before for the second time in a week; the first time she had been diagnosed with COVID-19. I'm so thankful she passed quickly; I'm so sad for my dad that he has not been able to see her or visit in person for many months. Then on Friday morning, Rick started experiencing symptoms consistent with past cardiac events. From then until now, he's been on edge, obsessing over every little sensation, but has not yet decided he needs to go to the doctor or hospital.

That's the travelogue from . . .

Rollercoaster in review

Uh, I mean 'Week in review' – a rollercoaster week!

Last Sunday morning Brian left for a full day of labor – his usual Sunday gig working for one of Rick's clients, followed by some chores for his grandma (who in exchange is donating towards his mission trip), followed by a one-time job helping a friend's family pack up for moving. Around 7:00 p.m. he called to tell me he was headed home. At 7:43 he called again, shaking and breathless. He had taken a little (unauthorized) side trip on a gravel road, swerved to miss a deer (while probably going a little too fast), drove up the side of a bank – and landed like this:

Fortunately he was wearing his seat belt and other than a sore back, is perfectly fine. The truck, however, is most likely totaled.

When I texted the above photo to my folks, I found out that my step-brother, who lives with them, had fallen asleep that night in his room while warming his legs with a space heater (he has neuropathy from diabetes). When he awoke, he bad burns on his shins but wouldn't go to the ER.

The next day, Monday, my dad compelled my brother to go to the ER, not because of the burns but because there were signs of infection at the site of his recent surgery to repair a broken ankle. That night Brian had a basketball game. I spun an appropriately colored turtle while watching:

On Wednesday, I got a Christmas gift in the mail from a friend that 'sheep built' (she and her husband bought some fiber pets from me years ago and we've been friends ever since). She's a quilter as well as a spinner and knitter and made me the most gorgeous set of placemats! (I think the Laurel Burch horses bear a striking resemblance to my antique salt shaker.)

By Wednesday my brother was scheduled for surgery to remove his infected lower leg, but it had to be postponed until Thursday, which was also the day my BIL and nephew arrived for an overnight visit. Unfortunately my sister couldn't come with them for my BIL's uncle's funeral, but it was still good to see her husband and this little guy:

My nephew was jonesing to see ALL the animals and ride a horse, ALL BY HIMSELF, WITH REINS. We visited the chickens, sheep, and Chuckie Thursday evening,

and saved the riding for today (he rode twice, in fact).

Kudos to my big red goober of a horse who took good care of the boy while fulfilling his dream!

Now the Sabbath has begun. I am trying to rest from my rollercoaster week, resist a certain teenager's pressure, and pray this familiar prayer:

Good night from . . .

Nifty gifties

Since I enjoy what others share, I'm overcoming my awkwardness about "showing off" gifts to share my highlights from this Christmas season.

A close friend got me this Carhartt sweatshirt and embellished it. When I put it on Christmas night, it was so soft and cozy that I didn't want to take it off!

Besides making the gate and nest-boxes, my guys have me great, useful gifts. My work-issued FitBit died (several of them, actually; I went through all the ones no longer being used), so I asked for a new one. Rick got that for me and Brian got me a 32oz. HydroFlask:

I'm not sure anyone knows me better than some blogpals, or shows more love. Who else would know how much fiber/spinning and yarn/knitting, and sheep and horses and chickens mean to me?

Sisters are pretty special, too. My sister turned me to on to Penzeys Spices this year, which was a blessing in and of itself, and then gifted me some. She also got me a handthrown mug and saucer, perfect for work.

A dear friend who has seen me through thick and thin for over 20 years gave me a most appropriate plaque:

After work on Wednesday, I stopped by a favorite shop and scored some Christmas gifts for next year, plus a new ornament for myself (getting a little use until we take down our Christmas tree):

I was also inspired by these star ornaments made out of cabled fabric:

I'm going to keep my eyes open for cabled sweaters at second-hand stores to make some for myself!

Finally, the award for best new recipe goes to . . . Rosemary Slices.

A friend gave me this recipe probably a year ago. It was finally pressed into use this season because I wanted several distinct tastes for my cookie trays (which never got assembled). I have four rosemary bushes that need serious pruning, but I hate the thought of throwing away 'food.' I think I may be making a LOT of these buttery treats from now on!

That's a wrap for Christmas 2018 from . . .