Yarnbox Post

Here it is, the anticipated yarnbox blog, and we all know that the anticipation is more than half the fun! It's like Christmas in your mailbox!  Imagine how excited I was to discover a yarn of the month club!  Ok, well those of you who know me well don't have to imagine - LOL  Talked about it quite a bit while trying to make up my mind I guess, thank you guys for listening : )

 

It's here!

Too funny!
 

You had better believe it
 

The first peek.
 

Ta-dah!
 

Hubby is a good sport about winding into balls.  Maybe one day there will be a swifter in my future.
 

Here it is as the beginning of a circular staircase shawl. 
 

I am also working on another cable knit hat.
 

And for those who asked, here is the sky scarf I began on Jan. 1st. Yes, lots of rainy days.
 

Not sure I will do another box, but I crunched the numbers and it does work out close to what I spend a year in yarn.  Sigh.  Such a luxury.  It is a deal though.  The skeins I received retail for $27 each.  I received 2 plus 2 patterns that retail for $6 each online.  I believe it read, a $65 value for $40 : )   I believe I can get one shawl, one hat and one pair of fingerless gloves out of the two skeins. Sigh.  Such happiness.   You can visit my online store at : www.ETSY.com/shop/Danielsenfiberart

Colossians 2:1-3

Blessings, Beth

Tuesday tie ups

Happy Tuesday y'all! Just clearing off my camera after a full week-end of activity.  Making way for more non-stop fun here in middle Tennessee and posting more ETSY goodies.  Thought I would share a couple of my favorite end of week=end/start new week items with ya.

 

Twin daughters flowers she received after both her dance recitals.

 

You know it is cold out when the cat falls asleep on the heating vent!
 

Finished my first cable knit hat. 

 

Working daughter couldn't stop petting my cables!  LOL
 

Lastly, spring is in the air - new Mary & Martha spring catalogs are here!
www.mymaryandmartha.com/BADANIELSEN




 

Thanks for checking in with me and keeping me company.  The rest of my week will be busy with school work, two, count them, two different bible studies I am doing and as always COOKING!  (You thought I was going to say knitting!  I wish - LOL) 

Will post some yummy recipes later and my new knitting/stitching projects later in the week.

Blessings, Beth

Standard Saturday Chaos

Do you wanna build a snowman?  That is the catch phrase that no one can escape and the first thing I heard this morning.  Yes, we got a dusting of snow in the night and it must not be wasted!  Children who can't seem to be ready for church at 10:35 a.m. were up, dressed and outside by 8 today!

 

Our back yard/carport

These two little beggars came up to the backdoor with 2/3 of a snowman

All joking aside, it was a wonderful way to start a busy Saturday; kids playing in the snow, Bre making hot cocoa, and hubby making pumpkin & spice pancakes with maple sausage - YUM!

Then a mad dash to get ready for twin daughters double dance recital.  One of those hurry up and wait deals.  I would like to thank my friends who came to support us and make the waiting a little more enjoyable.  I mean I have to be there, they don't.  Great friends and a great time.  It was a wonderful show and everyone shined = literally - there were light up wands for the grand finally!

Here is the little ballerina now, and some sunshine as well!
 

She has come so far and is so beautiful



Now the first show is over and it is time for dad and big sis to take a turn warming seats.  Then our first semester of dance will be done, and so will the insanity and our Saturday!  LOL  Never a dull moment when you have children.  Must be why empty nest syndrome hurts so bad.  Even when there are still kido's at home, you still miss the ones who are gone and flying on their own. 

Blessings, Beth


















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Little town, little people, big difference

I live in  a small town.  I love it.  I grew up in a small town. Hated it.  Before I start sounding like a John Cougar Melloncamp song let me be clear, there is no right or wrong, just personal preference. 

 

Even though I live in a small town, it is still larger than it was when we moved here 13 years ago.  We are now considered commuter distance to Nashville and a sleeper community to Murfreesboro, which is the largest growing city in the Untied States (again probably because of it's proximity to Nashville).  So in short, I feel we have the perks of being in driving distance to anything we want/need in under an hour while still being able to have a small town atmosphere and no traffic jams.

 

Our small town has a dance studio, strictly small town, don't send an email on this.  But still nice to have and the people are wonderful.  As a homeschooling family we knew the twins could benefit from this, especially since Ely is a diva that the world hasn't seen since Susan Lucie made her daytime debut  on All My Children!  just needed to find the funds and take the plunge.  I could make this story longer but will try to nut shell it. Took the plunge last summer with Ely and she loved it, naturally. She even ended up having emergency appendectomy and missed no dance classes, no other girls could say that!  Then fall classes started and they added a couple classes for boys.  Elijah decided to give tumbling a-go.  I wasn't sure this was the best fit.  At the very least he is uncoordinated and award.   But what the heck, he need something to call his own.

 

Now here is something I almost never talk about and not to many folks.  Eli has very mild ASD, OCD, and SPD.  All on the Autism spectrum, EXTREMLY mild, but it still rears it's head and most people think he is a immature child.  I still haven't even mentioned it to the wonderful boy who took my son on.  I think he knows.  Doesn't matter. The benefit of a small town is small class sizes.  Eli adores it.  He isn't as good as the tiny little girls in his class who flip everywhere, but he ALWAYS tries, ALWAYS smiles, and NEVER gives up.  As a homeschool mom, these are the real things my child needs to learn.  It isn't about a perfect back flip.  He is learning obedience, team work and  self determination.  That is who I want my son to be. 

 

Not sure where I am going with this but just wanted to share .  He had his end of semester review last Tuesday and he did great.  Definite improvement over when he stated and knew nothing.  He just has to work harder and longer.  All the little girls get it in like  3 - 4 classes, he is still working on it. And he is ok with that.  Which I guess means I am too - LOL  Funny how when you get down to the youngest of your children you get more flexible.  With that said, he will be back hard at it this spring.

 

 

Elysha modeling her recital tiara

Eli and his crew
 

All about balance
 

It takes a village
 

Wish he had remembered to wear his t-shirt : )

Oops, try again

working on a bridge
 

spot on

 

Big finish
 

Elysha and friend on the sidelines cheering!

 

No matter where you are, bloom where you are planted and take root in a firm support system.

Blessings, Beth

Celebrate Good Times

Yesterday I saw something I hadn't seen in quit some time, the sun!  Didn't get to enjoy much of it however as I was in a giant gymnasium at working my first vendor event of the year.

 

However I did feel blessed that a new friend of mine (meet at my first show last year) had included me and almost treated me very well indeed : )  That was one of the big lessons I learned last year doing events.  It is not about what you make or maybe even spend, God brings people into our lives for a season and or a reason.  I can say that I have meet two outstanding ladies that have my best interest at heart, and at least another handful of lovely ladies that make my vendor life a better place for knowing them!  I can honestly say that I believe God brought my family here for a reason and that I never had or would have had the relationships there that I have here. PTL

 

It was a warm sunny day full of fun and friends, old and new.  I love my life!

 

It also happened to be my hubbies birthday, the 18th anniversary of his 29th.  So there were more good times when we got home.  One of his best buddies made a special trip to drop off some b-day wishes and there were a ton on Facebook, which is pretty good for someone who doesn't even have a FB account!  LOL  It ended with a bang when army son called at the end of the day, with a very heartfelt conversation that almost had hubby in tears.  So happy for my hubby and best friend for the past 14 years : )

 

CELEBRATE!  One of the Mary & Martha best sellers.

Cup cozies, a new category for my fiber art.

Working on a new pair of fingerless gloves.

Twins prefer loom knitting, here Elysha is working a flat panel.

Elijah finished a toddler hat on his loom and we got it tagged and out for sale ASAP!
 

Working daughter was in charge of the birthday cake - yummy!

Had to add this pic of twin son photo-bombing sisters big entrance with the cake! LOL

My family is amazing and I can't imaged even one of them not being in my life.  God choose the perfect mate for me (when I finally listened to Him), blesses me with ALL my children and I give all the glory to Him.  I deserve none of the credit, it is only with Him that they have all blossomed and bloomed into such amazing people.  Thank you God.

Blessings, Beth

Finding my joy

We are at the half way mark of the first month of a brand new year.  I made sweeping declarations in an earlier post about this was the year I would work on finding my joy.  I found it.  By day eight!  LOL  Let me explain, while doing my nightly prayers I made sure to keep adding my new recrimination - find joy.  Which would lead me to think back over my day and the things that I had enjoyed or had fun doing.  I began to quickly see a pattern, my family.  That's right, my joy has been under my nose the entire time.  It came without a fancy label, a bible study guide or a DIY blog.  It snuck right up on me while I was busy with life.  It started almost 30 years ago and crept up behind me on stealthy cat like feet.  With that said, it isn't always easy to see t which is why  I almost missed it.  Sometimes I get so covered in self pity or being a martyr that I have to physically remind myself  that I have been greatly blessed!  Everything I have, everything I know, everything I am is because of these blessings given to me graciously and generously from my Lord God                                                                                                                                                                                             Once again God heard my prayer and showed me I already had what I was looking for, now go onto something else to glorify Him! (silly girl)  Not yet sure what that will be for the year 2015, but with one child married, one engaged, and yet another one making noises about also doing so . . .  Could be the year of try to not be stressed and enjoy the remain time with the children still at hand.

                                                                                                                                                                                 

Here is a quick look back at my joy!                         

 

Twins age 10, last 4th of July

Working daughter, last May at her high school graduation.

Army son and twin son, my boys, last Aug.

The gang on vacation at the Creation Museum last April.

My best friend of 14 years, enjoying a break at the pumpkin patch last Oct.

Middle daughter, she is so beautiful, 2013

Oldest daughter and family last fall, I am a glam-ma!

Youngest daughter practicing her dance last Sept. , she is so full of life!

Look at that smile! Bre in the pool last Aug.

Youngest son and friend Christmas shopping last Nov.  He is a riot!

Even this pic of working daughter makes me say - aweeee, she gets so tired working the early shift.

Twin son once again cutting up with another friend, Nov. 2014

Army son and twin daughter, she adores him (all women seem too), Aug.2014

My oldest with my grand kids - good looking crew, 2014




Blessings, Beth













 

Let it go . . .

 

Finding my Joy in this new year is not as easy as it sounds and is exactly why I am making it my New Year 'resolution' per say.  For the past 8 years or so I have been working on obedience with very limited results.   I have to say that the one thing I learned was that I am not very obedient.  Not necessarily a good thing : (

But I have now reached an age where my children are older and I have to realize it is o.k. to focus on me some times, and NOT feel guilty about it!

So with that said, here is some joy I found the first week of January:

Thur. Jan. 1st. ~ First day of a new year and hubby was home to enjoy it with me!  My husband is such a blessing!

Fri. Jan. 2nd. ~ Grocery getting day and I had enough leftover in the budget for a yarnbox!
  Being able to buy food for the family is such a blessing!

Sat. Jan. 3rd. ~ Took down all the holiday glitter with the helping hands of my family.  Having children at home is such a blessing!

Sun. Jan. 4th. ~ Last day of my Christmas 'break' before back to the homeschool grind and I had time to organize my craft room (much easier with no Christmas tree) and do some administrative duties for my ETSY shop and prepare for my next vendor event in two weeks.  Having a craft room is such a blessing!

There are sooooo many other things to add to the list, like helping my middle daughter plan her wedding, or having friends to plan a bible study with or even just enjoying another great cup of my favorite expensive coffee I received as a gift this year.  So glad this year is off to a great start and looking forward to next week-end and defending my trivia champ crown with some fun friends and hubby!  Just hope to be able to keep the momentum going, seeing as how I just found out my local fresh egg source dried up : (

Blessings in the new year, Beth