The Decemberist, Fun with Friends, and Good Advice...

The 2017 knitting has started on a roll!  Ha!  Two weekends in a row I've finished shawls... big shawls.  This one was quick because of the size of the yarn and the needles (though I do find it hard on my hands to use such big needles).

The pattern:  The Decemberist by Melanie Berg (all info here).

It is BIG. BOLD. And, SUBSTANTIAL!  I love it!

Along with the knitting, there's been fun with my golfing buddies!  Last Tuesday the SUN finally came out and we could hardly wait to soak it up!  It's sunny now, too... guess where I'm heading.  ;) (yes, I'm the one whose head is turned turned talking).

My Beloved and I enjoyed Sunday Gospel Brunch at LOVE and WAR in TEXAS with framily (friends who are family) then enjoyed soaking up more sun on the deck for the rest of the afternoon!  Good times.

This is a piece of good advice... I remind myself, too.

Wishing a wonderful week to my peeps...

blessings ~ tanna

Heart Songs

I spent most of last week with The Little Men & Co.  Have I mentioned how I adore these little peeps??  ;)  Amanda and I found these fun Valentine wreaths at Hobby Lobby while I was there.  They make me smile.

Other things that make me smile... snuggle time with Roo while we were in the pick-up line waiting on Alex to get out of school. 

And, the sweet treasures that were bestowed on me... Heart songs...

"You give but little when you give of your possessions.  It is when you give of yourself that you truly give."  ~ Kahlil Gibran

I so deeply appreciate the pieces of themselves they give through their creativity and love.  I am blessed beyond measure. 

The Big Easy II crossed the finish line Saturday evening and was blocked on Sunday!  HAPPY to have a replica of my old favorite.  ;)

I hope each of you have a wonderful week... and find a place to give of yourselves... I'm on the lookout for my spot, too. 

blessings ~ tanna

Gray Days...

It has been very, very gray lately.  I'm convinced that God gave us seasons to teach us that 'this too shall pass'.   And... that the Light will always come...

The signs of that are all around us...  A spot of brightness in the gloom.

Or... perhaps my very favorite plant... cuttings from Mom's sedums.  In the most bleak days of winter they BEGIN to emerge.  A herald of hope.  I know the beautiful plant they will become... as they press forth from these dark days.

It comforts me when I see a loved one struggle with dark days to know that God is always at work... a.l.w.a.y.s. at work.  Under the dead leaves, new life is pushing forth.  It will be beautiful.

In the cold gray, I've snuggled under a blanket and begun work on the border... binding off The Big Easy II.  It's a long way around...

But, I'm making good progress...

Not quite halfway yet... But, it's coming!  ;)

For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. ~ II Corinthians 4:6

May you feel the Light around us this week...
blessings ~ tanna

Progress, Basketball Players and for Elaine...

So far, so good.  I'm progressing along nicely on this year's first project, the Big Easy II.  Only one more repeat until time to begin the lace border.

Saturday morning, we enjoyed receiving photos of the Little Men from their basketball games!

I don't know what I'd do if someone told me I had to give up my phone... no text photos... no facetime... Can't imagine it.  Just makes life so much better!

This is MY baby ( I guess two babies... Zack, my youngest child... though he is far from childhood, and Ruby, the scooter.  Something new for 60...learning to ride a scooter).

Elaine, the Christmas Ornament Hat pattern is free and can be found here by Sarah at Repeat Crafter Me.   It is well written and easy to follow.  You can whip out a hat a day (or more if you are fast)!  LOL!  The only thing I did differently was to add silver pipe cleaner to the hangers to make them stand firmly (just single crochet around the pipe cleaner).  Hope you enjoy yours.

And the pink shawl you asked about is:  The South Bay Shawlette.  It is also a free pattern from Lion Brand Yarn found here.  Easy and relaxing.

Hope everyone is having a joyful and productive week!

"The 'how' thinker gets problems solved effectively because he wastes no time with futile 'ifs'."

~ Norman Vincent Peale

blessings ~ tanna

Snapshots of 2016

You may just want to click on to another spot... this is LONG.  Since I missed most all of 2016, I'm saving a few memories in snapshots here.  Early 2016 found Miss B and I enjoying our art time as the packing to move was commencing.

 We closed on our new home in early February.  There were four LARGE trailers of leaves and dead shrubs that took days to haul off.  My brother and sister-in-law, Jeff and Brenda, and son, Zack were our lifesavers during this move!  We couldn't have made it without them.

Two weeks after the move found us in Cabo San Lucas on a YES trip with new friends.  Part of me hated to leave the mess we had at home; part of me was glad for the break!

We had a wonderful time!

I enjoyed lots of TLC from this incredible little chef.  Our Miss B does love cooking up delicious meals!

She also helped her Noni plant a herb garden!  Such a good little helper!

Easter fun!

Lots of park time...

LOVE notes from afar.  Be still my heart.

We enjoyed craft times here...

And celebrated receiving photos of art work from Virginia... Our Roo is quite the little artist.  This is Lady "Li-bra-tee" on display at his school...

Along with the "Bold" Eagle and American Flag.

Our most amazing news of the year was that the Little Men & Co. were returning to Texas in the summer!  This was my LAST trip to Roanoke... to celebrate the boys' birthdays.  I will miss visiting Roanoke, but I am so happy that they are only two hours away now.

Our precious Roo and his dear, dear friend Savannah.  I can't begin to tell you how sweet their little friendship was... such encourage-rs to one another.

This was our last Virginia hike.  Roo was a beast of a trail leader this day!  ;)

Meanwhile, back at home... repairs and work were still in progress...

Then, in Ft. Worth, the house hunt with Little Men & Co. ended here.  My car has more miles since July than it had the year and an half before.  LOL!

There was lots of golf lady fun all year!

And, more Little Men fun!

 And, first days of school...

Miss B had her first day of Pre-School this year!  She loves it.  =)

There were great times with these two as we fed our yarn addictions and solved life's problems... or at least made them better in the sharing.

And, another FIRST DAY... I love getting these photos... if you can't be there, it's the next best thing.

Then, we were off again for a little fun with Jeff and Brenda in Ruiodoso, NM.  It was sooooo cool compared to the Texas heat.  Now, that was a burger to tell about!

Breathtaking views...

Golf at Inn of the Mountain Gods... Gorgeous course.  There's a story to this one.  A young man saw fit to play through and to choose my ball when he did.  Brenda may still have nightmares about the chase and retrieval of my ball that ensued.  LOL!

My Mom turned 80 in October.  She's here with most of her grands.

 And, then the great grands.

The State Fair of Texas... everyone wants a picture with Big Tex.

Oh, the fun they had...

Too cute... and you'll notice our little sweet addict enjoying some cotton candy.  No trip to the Fair is complete without that!

Love to see those smiles...

My favorite Halloween decoration with two of my favorite Trick or Treaters!

Pure sweetness!

Post Fall Festival dinner... Mummy dogs and monster teeth... LOL!  They're looking pretty tired at this point!  LOL!  My motto is wear 'em down.  LOL!

There was even more golf fun...

And, porch gatherings...

And, requests from the Little Men: "Could you put this on Instagram, Noni?"

And, the beginnings of Ornament Hats...

Such cute Ornaments! 

Gifts of the Spirit... Peace Award to our Alex.  Thank you, Father.  Such a precious one.

About to celebrate the Peace Award at Chipotle... Alex's go to choice for celebration!  Roo was not AS EXCITED about Chipotle.  ;)

Be still my heart once more... The note I found on my boots the morning I was getting ready to come back home... Love this child and am so very, very grateful for his precious love.

My little crusader.  Can't tell you how proud I am of her... She's a one woman army of service (though growing her forces)... Spreading kindness and appreciation... God's love.  Let it flow, girl.  Let is flow!

Yep, that sassy little one in the middle is ours!  Miss B's first Christmas program... Soooo sweet!

Amanda sent me this photo of Alex... he said the yarn bombing reminded him of Noni... Once more... be still my heart...

Christmas from my Mom... My favorite part was the cedar she had put in the box from home.  Perfect.  And, my chocolate lover, Alex, visited Santa SEVERAL times to enjoy a treat.  ;)

The Ornament Factory...

My girls making our Christmas candy... The ones our family has made for generations... I hope one of them will remember... and keep it going.

They did an awesome job!!

 

 

Now, this is another good looking bunch of Ornaments!  We do Griswold here.  ;)

Christmas night... This was the first time in many years I had not read these two The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve... They had Christmas at their own home this year and came after Santa had visited.  We enjoyed stories Christmas evening on the back porch... it was perfect.

We couldn't have Christmas holiday without a visit to the Dinner Bell!

2016 was a wonderful year... I am FULL of hope for 2017!  Thank you, Father for the blessing you have bestowed.  Help us to shine Your Light.

blessings ~ tanna