Again, it's been ages since I've blogged. Good thing I never promised you that I would blog daily! John and I are leaving on Saturday, way too early for most normal people, to drive to Utah for Christmas with the kids. While I will have access to a computer, I doubt I'll have time to blog much. For that reason, I'd like to take this time to wish family, friends, and even strangers who happen by the most wonderful of Holiday Seasons and a prosperous 2008. Take care of yourselves, rest, be merry and I'll let you know how the holidays went when we get home.

Holidays are Joyful!

Happy Holidays to you all! I've been knitting up a storm to get ready for the trip to Salt Lake City and the family. Finally got everything done this past weekend. I only need to wrap gifts and I am golden! John still needs to do his own shopping but that's his problem! Mine is done, done, done, DONE!

We had our first 'storm' of the season yesterday. Cold, cold, cold (below freezing) and rain = ICE. I went out about 1/2 hour before I was due off work and scraped off about 1/4 inch of ice from my windshield...then another layer once I finished work. The drive home that normally takes 6 minutes took 15 minutes to allow for slippery road. But all is well today - temp is in the mid-40's. A heat wave! While it is cold, it is also dry! Might rain a bit later today but the temperature will keep the ice away.

Am making sugar cookies with John's sisters tomorrow. They get together each year to make cookies together and this year they invited me. I think they had to invite me so they could use my kitchen! Not really, folks, they love me. My house is kinda centrally located and it's big enough to accommodate all 4 of us, plus plenty of counter space to hold cooling cookies.

Sorry this doesn't have any pictures this time....I've been knitting and not taking pictures and NO, I'm not posting pictures of the Christmas knitting projects - at least not till after Christmas.

Happy Holidays to you all if I don't say it later. Ho, Ho, HO!!!

Having no computer is no excuse!!!

My home computer is toast, thanks to an electrical blink 4 weeks ago. John is trying to fix it and it's taking an eternity! Add to that, my computer at work is also toast, thanks for a software glitch that crashed my hard drive. Someone mentioned they might be ordering me a plastic bubble to live in if another computer goes south. Needless to say, I'm gunshy around electronic things this week! I'm at work, at the front desk, and they are trusting me to use the computer there....hah! Silly people!

Fall has fallen here in the Ozarks. John and I were looking out the window toward our grove of trees on the north this morning...what should calmly walk out but two male deer with beautiful antlers (albeit small ones). First time I've seen antlers on the deer on our property.

Gilligan is now a gentleman! He had his surgery yesterday and is walking a bit drunkenly and gingerly but at least he gets to live inside for the next 5 days. He currently lives in our bathroom and bedroom...sleeping during the day on the dogs' pillows near our bed...drives Carson nuts to smell a cat on his pillow at night...not sure where that cat is! Haha - cat is sleeping in our bathroom, behind that closed door!

Happy Thanksgiving to all our family and friends. We miss you all! Hugs,
Sally, John, Carson, Briscoe, Gilligan, Ruby, Tippy, and Huevo!

Knit a Tit!

Saturday was the most wonderful day. We had about 35 folks show up to knit tits! So far we have around 50 boobs to donate to the American Cancer Society. And more are coming in. One ball of yarn will knit 4 boobs and some of the ladies took leftover yarn home to finish knitting. We are so blessed here in the Ozarks (and frankly, everywhere I've lived) to have such giving folks. Thanks to everyone who participated. Our T-Shirts said "Save Second Base". Appropirate, don't you think? Lisa (the owner of One City Market, my local yarn shop and favorite hangout) said she never wants to do another fund-raiser like this again....but until they find a cure for breast cancer, she will do this each year. I told her I'm with her! I've donated several Longaberger® baskets for door prizes and will do so again next year.

Back home again!

I'm back home again. That is such a great feeling. Now, don't get me wrong, I love my grandchildren and my mom and my kids. The trip to Utah was wonderful and I'd do it again....after I wait 3 months to nap and regain my strength! In the meantime, home is where I want to be.

I'm frantically knitting some things for the grandkids for Christmas...obviously, I won't tell here what they are cause their parents read this blog. But I will say that the things I'm knitting are neat!

I keep a list of the things that I want to make for the Utah family....mostly quilted or knitted items. Jill occasionally adds something to the list. My list was down to a measly 3 things before I left for Utah. Now it's up to 10. Emily even added something - a smaller version of the purse I made for Jill a couple of months ago. Even Jill's neighbor got into the act...she's in line for a purse as well. I'm absolutely NOT complaining. Isn't it wonderful to have folks value you and your skills so much that they clambor to be the next in line to receive something you've made? I love it!!!!!

I'm participating in a fundraiser for Breast Cancer this weekend. It's called Knit-A-Tit. My favorite yarn shop is sponsoring it. We will be knitting breast prostheses for women who have undergone mastectomies and are unable to afford the prostheses. These are knitted ones. They are so cool! I've done several and have been designated a Tit Tutor for the event. We have prizes for the most knitted during the event, a Booboku Puzzle, food, drink, music, neat t-shirts....it should be a wonderful event. I'll post pictures if I get a chance to take some.

Thank you to everyone who reads this silly little blog. I wish I could remember to post more often, not that I have anything to say!

Reading as a family

It seems one never gets too tired to be read to, or to read out loud. Emily is off-track for this week and the following 2 weeks but is required to read at home each night. She spent the weekend at her dad's house so didn't get a lot of reading done. So, Nana instituted nightly reading. Most of the time, Emily reads to my Mom for 30 minutes while I am getting the two younger ones ready for bed. Last night we all sat down so Charlotte could read to us. Notice Will is enthralled! We are having a wonderful time with them. Charlotte is a typical 2 year old and Emily is 7 going on 30 and Will is a wise old soul! John and I are truly blessed!

I'm Sleeping

Well, I arrived in Utah on Friday, Mom was already there. Jill and the two youngest grandchildren met us at the airport. It will be a full week taking care of them while John and Jill are in Hawaii. By the time we get the baby down after his final feeding of the evening, we are both ready for bed! Today, both of the younger ones were down for a nap and Emily was on the floor coloring with my mom. Evidently I fell asleep in the chair and this is what Emily (with my Mom's encouragement and help) came up with. The sign says: "Go away, I'm sleeping and I'm grumpy! " and then under it says Emily made this with Grama Betty! They were giggling so hard it woke me up! That 10 minutes sure did revive me. NOT! Anyway, Mom and I are having a terrific time with the kids. They are delightful. John and Jill have done a wonderful job of raising these children! We are so proud! More later.