Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts

Monday, April 6, 2026

Holy Week Adventures

It was a busy week for the pups. Dusty had to get his teeth cleaned on Wednesday, and a couple of benign lumps removed from the back of his neck and from between the toes on his left front foot while they had him under. He wasn't going to be able to have a bath for a while after the surgery, so we moved his grooming appointment to Tuesday. The surgery went seamlessly, and the lump that was between his toes was sent off for analysis to make sure they got it all. He was so good during it all, they gave him a Certificate of Bravery.



We took the cone off for him to be able to eat. We left it off because he was mostly not bothering with his foot. He can't reach the incision on the back of his neck.


Dusty went back to most of his usual activities, like lying in the sun on the dining room floor. Sandy joined him, in solidarity.


The pups like to hang out on the couch when nothing much is going on.


Sandy's grooming appointment was on Friday. Now both dogs are looking nice.



Friday was pretty busy. After dropping off Sandy at the groomer's, I stopped at the grocery store and then went on to Trinity Episcopal Church for the noon Good Friday Service. Members of the choir were encouraged to attend, even though we weren't singing officially. I think there were four of us there. I got this photo before the service, when not too many people had arrived. I love the stained-glass windows and the architecture of the church. 



The pews filled up when it was almost time for the service. I went back for the 6:00 PM service because the choir was singing for that one. It was a longer service because there was more music. Saturday we had the Easter Vigil service. It was even longer with lots of music. I didn't get home until after 10:00 PM and had to get up at 5:30 AM to be at the church again by 7:15 AM to go over music for the 8:00 AM Easter service. We weren't done yet! We moved over to St. Helen's Hall for the 10:00 AM service, because more people were expected than would fit in the much smaller Trinity Church. The Hall was packed, and they even opened the balcony. The view from the balcony is somewhat restricted, so they projected a better view on the wall of the sanctuary. We sang the same pieces, and I think we did better, having practiced it one more time at the early service. We had some additional singers for both services. They sat with the congregation and then came up to sing the anthem with us.

If you want to hear us sing our anthem, you can watch it here. It's at about 51:30.



Sunday afternoon, I crashed on the bed and took a long nap.

The Summer Sorrel top is coming along. When I got to the end of the first chart, I put half of the stitches on another circular needle, so I could try it on. I think it's going to be OK.



Here's a look at the progress so far:


Although it was a busy week, I managed to rework some stories that might go into the new book.

I managed to find time to make bread on Saturday.


I'm going back to Wisconsin later this month, so when I cook for supper, I put one or two servings of whatever it is in the freezer for Charlie to have while I'm gone. Anything left over after I get back can be used when we go camping.

I have some more medical adventures coming up this week.


I have a lot of difficulty responding to comments to my blog posts because of technical issues beyond my control (my lack of understanding of how things work). Message me on Facebook, Ravelry, BlueSky or Spoutible if you need information.


If you have a few minutes and are willing, please go to Amazon or B&N and search for Billy: Stories from The Doll's Storybook by Peggy Stuart". Every click on the page for the book makes it more likely they will keep a good supply in their warehouse and stores. If you are outside the US, you may have a separate website for these retailers. If you have a copy of any of our books, including Emil, Mariah, Classic Tales RetoldOur Favorite Verses, More Classic Tales Retold or Billy: Stories from The Doll's Storybook, please leave an honest review on the websites, especially if you bought from them.

Where's my blog: If you want to follow my blog, go here and sign up to follow.

What's on my needles: Making progress on the Summer Sorrel Tee.

What's on my iPhone: Just finished The Strange Case  of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss on the AudiobooksNow app. Picking out a new book to listen to.

What's on my sewing machine: Put away until the next project.

What's in The Doll's Storybook: The story for Friday was Mandy, Why Do Stars Twinkle. Emil and Mariah listen to Charlotte playing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and wonder why stars twinkle. They look for Mandy to get some answers.


What's my tip of the week: I use small amounts lime juice (about 2 tablespoons or the juice of one lime) in some of my recipes, so I like to keep it on hand, but I don't like the kind that comes with preservatives. I've found bottled lime juice that is only juice. It will only keep for 60 days after opening the bottle, so I pour 2 tablespoons in each compartment of an ice cube tray, freeze the juice and then pop the cubes into a plastic bag for storage in the freezer.

Where are my books: The stories in each book first appeared in the blog, and they are reproduced in print with a few changes.

The stories in Billy: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Talking About Boys, ChangesShhhhh!, Staying After and Money in a Jar.

The stories in More Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Welcoming a StrangerThe RescueUnmaskedFuzzy Town––A Play and Sky Blue.

Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll's Storybook. Poems included are Valentine's DayKeeping PetsBack to School, Victor the VultureThe Week Before Christmas, Insomnia and Veronika's Vocabulary Verses.

The stories in Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Little Green GreatcoatThe Boy Doll Who Cried Wolf and Lost in the Woods.

The stories in Emil: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Best BudsGetting What You Want, and The Boys Cook Dinner.

The stories in Mariah: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Being LittleBesties, and Distraction.

If you don't get free shipping from Amazon or B&N, buy from the BookBabyBookshop, because 50% of the price goes to St. Jude. Other booksellers pay much less, only 8%, because the vendor gets a cut. My author's page at Book Baby is here. Scroll down and click on any of the books that interest you. Find my books at Barbara's Bookstore as well, or ask your local library to order the books.

Note: This blog post was produced on the iPad and the MacBook, using the iPhone for some photos and some photo processing. No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for, cleaned or broken. No animals or dolls were harmed during the production of this blog post.

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Monday, April 21, 2025

Pacific Hiking, Camping and Easter

What a week! We stayed at Sunset Bay State Park Campground for four nights and had a great time. We hiked each day, usually about 2 miles or more. The dogs wanted to stay up with Jim, but we didn't want him to trip over them, so we kept some distance.


We stopped from time to time to enjoy the views or eat lunch.


The dogs really enjoyed it, especially Sandy.


We didn't go to the lighthouse, but we could see if from several vantage points, and we could hear the foghorn all the way to the campground.


We tried to get down on the beach at the end of the point, and you can do it, but we had the dogs with us, and the last 10 feet or so requires hanging on to a rope. Charlie and Jim made it down, so Charlie could check out the rocks. The person you can see on the beach is Jim. Charlie is down there somewhere.


The pups and I waited above the point where you need to use the rope. There was a bench to sit on, and we ate our lunch.


Jim had tried out his new r-pod during an overnight trip previously, but this was the first time he had used all of the equipment and features. His r-pod looks like ours, except that we have a big window in front. This was his campsite. Ours was behind the trees in the middle of the photo.


The pups fell into their usual routine when traveling with the trailer. 


We had full hookups, so I got to use the microwave/convection oven a number of times. I had found some refrigerator cinnamon rolls with all natural ingredients made by Annie's, and I baked them for breakfast one morning. I heated up food, baked biscuits and pizza.


We ate dinner together each night in one of the r-pods. We alternated providing the main dish or salad and dessert. We had some nice chats over dinner.


We accidentally had the water heater element on with no water in the tank, so it burned out, but it still works on propane. The toilet got clogged just before we were leaving to return home. We decided to drive a bit and then check it, and that worked. We must have been using the wrong toilet tissue. 


On the way home, we didn't go through Florence. It was shorter to go back through La Pine, to the south of us, so we said goodbye to Jim as we drove through North Bend. We got home in time to unload the pod during the daylight, which is nice.


On Saturday there was a combination protest and party organized by some of the clergy in Bend. They felt that people who were distressed by the happenings in DC needed something to do that would not just help them feel as if they were taking action but also to bring a little joy back into their lives. It was a good idea. Drake Park was packed. We had a couple of musical groups play and sing. A group called "Good Trouble was made up of folks of Boomer age and older. They led the crowd in singing some of the old protest songs of the '60s to the music from acoustic instruments. The group passed out kazoos so some people could play along. A few people had received little song books, but I don't think they realized how many people would show up, so they ran out of everything. I remembered a lot of the words to the songs, so I sang what I could.



It was a good warmup for my voice for the Easter Vigil service at Trinity. At 8:00 PM that night. A fire in what looked like a little barbecue provided the fire to light the Pascal Candle. We started the service in darkness. Then, midway through the service, the lights went on and we began to celebrate Easter.



Easter Sunday was busy. We sang for both services, so the choir had to be at the church at 7:00 AM. I had missed choir practice on Wednesday, due to the camping trip, but I had managed to find some time to go over my music, so I was prepared for the Easter Vigil and both Easter services. The little church was packed for the 8:00 AM service, and so many people showed up for the 10:00 AM service in the big sanctuary, they had to open the balcony. I've never seen that before. (That empty seat in the front row was for me, so I could sit there and hear the sermon better.)



I got a lot of knitting done during the week, especially during the driving time. I'm almost ready to bind off the second sleeve. Then on to blocking, weaving in the ends and sewing on the buttons.



The buttons were coming from an Etsy shop in the UK. They were two weeks overdue, but they arrived on Saturday, so I'm all set.

I have a lot of difficulty responding to comments to my blog posts because of technical issues beyond my control (my lack of understanding of how things work). Message me on Facebook, Ravelry or Spoutible if you need information.


If you have a few minutes and are willing, please go to Amazon and B&N and search for More Classic Tales Retold or Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll's Storybook by Peggy Stuart". Every click on the page for the book makes it more likely they will keep a good supply in their warehouse and stores. If you are outside the US, you may have a separate website for these retailers. If you have a copy of any of our books, including Emil, Mariah, Classic Tales RetoldOur Favorite Verses or More Classic Tales Retold, please leave an honest review on the websites, especially if you bought from them.


Where's my blog: If you want to follow my blog, go here and sign up to follow.

What's on my needles: Almost finished with the Field Cardigan.

What's on my iPhone: Finished listening to Jan Karon's These High, Green Hills, which is the third book in her The Mitford Years series. I need to download a new book. While driving we finished listening to The Vision by Dean Koontz, which we had started during our trip to Portland for the Rose City Yard Crawl.

What's on my sewing machine: Still waiting to do some repairs.

What's in The Doll's Storybook: In A Bigger Footprint, Part Two, Jolena and Mandy have a snack while Mandy reassures the younger doll she doesn't need to give up being on the ski team to save the earth, but there are some things she can do.


What's my tip of the week: I don't know if this applies to all cell phones, but the iPhone has a function that keeps the battery from overcharging if it's left plugged in past reaching 100%, That mechanism can wear out if the phone is plugged in for too long. I tend to forget I've had it plugged in, so I set the timer for 30 minutes, so I can check it. 

Where are my books: The stories in each book first appeared in the blog and they are reproduced with a few changes. 


The stories in More Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Welcoming a StrangerThe RescueUnmaskedFuzzy Town––A Play and Sky Blue.

Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll's Storybook. Poems included are Valentine's DayKeeping PetsBack to School, Victor the VultureThe Week Before Christmas, Insomnia and Veronika's Vocabulary Verses.

The stories in Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Little Green GreatcoatThe Boy Doll Who Cried Wolf and Lost in the Woods.

The stories in Emil: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Best BudsGetting What You Want, and The Boys Cook Dinner.

The stories in Mariah are Being LittleBesties, and Distraction.

If you don't get free shipping from Amazon or B&N, buy from the BookBabyBookshop, because 50% of the price goes to St. Jude. Other booksellers pay much less, because the publisher gets a cut. 

Note: This blog post was produced on the iPad and the MacBook, using the iPhone for some photos and some photo processing. No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for, cleaned or broken. No animals or dolls were harmed during the production of this blog post.

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Monday, April 1, 2024

The End of a Chapter

Daphne's quilt top is done. On Thursday, I'll drop it off with the quilter.

Zachary's quilt arrived safely his home. I had bought extra insurance, because I didn't feel safe about sending all that work off across the country without it. I haven't had the Post Office lose anything yet, though.

I finished a few more inches of the Oregon Autumn Cardigan this week.

Now that Daphne's quilt is finished, I have her new doll to dress. I'm knitting her a nightgown, but I have to downsize from the pattern, because the doll is 70% of the size, so I'm using smaller needles and lace-weight yarn.

This will give you an idea of what the doll looks like. She is supposed to be Elizabeth II as a child with two of her long line of Corgis.

Monday was Sandy's "Gotcha Day." It has been one year since we picked him up.

He has been a very busy boy this week, but he was always sleeping when I grabbed my phone to get a photo. (He's so cute when he sleeps.) He really enjoys the day bed in my workroom, where I have been spending a lot of time sewing.

We did manage to get a few walks in during the week, but we had a lot of rain, so we mostly stayed on the trails.

Sunday was Easter, of course. The choir sang for two services. There was one note in the anthem where they needed me. (I'm a specialist, like the triangle player, except that I can produce other notes.) The choir is a great bunch of people, and I enjoy spending time with them.

Our older son, Tim, sent this Easter photo of himself with his step-granddaughter. She's a cutie!

I did some cooking this week, as usual. One of our breakfasts was pancakes.

Ha! This wasn't the end of the chapter! April Fools!

I have a lot of difficulty responding to comments to my blog posts because of technical issues beyond my control (my lack of understanding of how things work). Message me on Facebook, Ravelry or Spoutible if you need information.

If you have a few minutes and are willing, please go to Amazon and B&N and search for "Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll's Storybook by Peggy Stuart". Every click on the page for the book makes it more likely they will keep a good supply in their warehouse and stores. If you are outside the US, you may have a separate website for these retailers. If you have a copy of any of our books, including Emil, Mariah or Classic Tales Retold, please leave an honest review on the websites, especially if you bought from them.


Where's my blog: If you want to follow my blog, go here and sign up to follow.

What's on my needles: Still the Oregon Cardigan. (I'll be on this one for a while), but now also the nightgown for Elizabeth.

What's on my loom: Back in it's corner, but not warped yet.

What's on my sewing machine: Daphne's quilt binding.

What's in The Doll's Storybook: In this reedited rerun from July 2019, Veronika Sews, we go to a quilt show and then the fabric store with Veronika. Then she lets Charlotte help her make a dress. Here, Veronika is teaching Charlotte how to thread the needle of the sewing machine.



What's on my iPad/iPhone: Finished listening to All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doer. Now listening to Jan Karon's At Home in Mitford. I listened to several from this series years ago and really enjoyed them. For my physical-book reading, I'm still reading Elfen Königin by Holly Black, translated from English.

What's in my wine glass: Bruno Pinot Noir 2021.

What's my tip of the week: When I sew borders on a quilt that's bigger than the width of the fabric, I cut the selvedges off at the same place on each piece, then I sew two pieces together end-to-end with a 1/4" seam. I put the quilt top down on the floor folded in half with the two edges that will get the border together. Then I measure with the border fabric I just pieced down the middle of the quilt top and mark where to stop sewing. I fold the end over at my mark and press it. Then I pin the fabric to the quilt and sew it. When I'm done sewing, I trim off the extra and use it to measure how much I'll be cutting off of the other border. The reason I measure down the middle is because the edges can get stretched, so the middle is a more accurate measure. I may have some easing, but by sewing with the looser side underneath, it takes care of itself. Both sides will be essentially the same length, too.

Where are my books: The stories in each book first appeared in the blog and they are reproduced with a few changes. 
Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll's Storybook is available from the BookBabyBookshop and other booksellers worldwide. Poems included are Valentine's DayKeeping PetsBack to School, Victor the VultureThe Week Before Christmas, Insomnia and Veronika's Vocabulary Verses.
The stories in Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Little Green GreatcoatThe Boy Doll Who Cried Wolf and Lost in the Woods.
Emil: Stories from The Doll's Storybook and Mariah: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are also still available from booksellers. The link for Book Baby is hereThe three stories in Emil are Best BudsGetting What You Want, and The Boys Cook Dinner.
The three stories in Mariah are Being LittleBesties, and Distraction.
If you don't get free shipping from Amazon or B&N, buy from the BookBabyBookshop, because 50% of the price goes to St. Jude. Other booksellers pay much less. 



Note: This blog post was produced on the iPad and the MacBook, using the iPhone for some photos and some photo processing. No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for, cleaned or broken. No animals or dolls were harmed during the production of this blog post.

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