Fun in Nashville

We had a lot of fun with Helen, Ben and William this week. And the weather cooperated too.

On Tuesday the 3rd of January it was VERY cold but the sun was shining so lovely and warm that we bundled William up. See what he has on his hands? Poor darling doesn't have gloves or mittens so Helen had the bright idea to use the new wooly socks I had just finished. He doesn't mind.

 He doesn't mind as long as Grandpa takes him on a walk.

James and I took him to the Library again ... Mother Goose on the loose at 10:30 am.

William has fun and so does Grandpa, haha.

You can watch a short video if you click here.

On Wednesday we all went to Longhorn Steakhouse in honor of Helen's birthday coming up (since we can't be there on THE day). William is very good to take anywhere but at the end even he got a bit restless and we had to find something to play with. Did you know that the advertising things on the tables make nice frames to peekaboo with when you take the advertisement out? Sorry, Longhorn, we might have made the paper a little bent ... but it was a Christmas advertisement anyway.











Peekaboo, Mommy!
















Friday was our last day for now in Nashville. Helen had time for us all day. It was such a lovely warm day. We were out in t-shirts on the back porch talking with the neighbor. Grandpa was trimming the edge of the carpet (which Omi should have done a long time ago).
William loves being outside. You can see it when you click here.

After lunch we went to Centennial Park.

William loves that playground there.

Even if his hair stands up on end in the (plastic) tube.












You can see a short video
here and
here  and 
here  and 
more here.

After we had walked around the lake with William in the stroller, we had to make one stop at a shop. William was "out" as soon as he was in the car seat.

Back home Helen worked on her Block Lotto square of the month. Cutting and sewing curves! Helen does such a great job. 

We had worn William out. He was not quite his usual happy-self. But I have to post this photo anyway ... see those curls?
















Saturday ... on the road again ... and back in Virginia.

No cold feet

Remember the socks I was knitting in my October blog "Autumn starts off busy" standing in front of the Tourist Center (waiting for it to open)?

 Well, they are done. Since William is outgrowing socks faster then I can knit them, I decided to knit tube socks ... no heels. He can wear them turned over a little ...

 ... or knee high. Helen is excited and exclaimed they were the best ones I had done yet.

Saturday. Helen volunteered to help with the READing Paws table at the "adopt a pet fair". I went along. It was quite an impressive event. Several rows of stands. Probably hundreds of animals. Many friendly people. Free lunch.

William and I circled around and around. Here we met Biscuit the dog.

 Biscuit and Mittens came to the READing Paws table later.

William was not afraid at all. Rather the opposite.

For a while he helped his Mom folding flyers.
Helen has been involved with this program for several years. I am so proud of her (and her dog Silvi) because she has changed a lot of children's lives for the better this way.

And more Biscuit visit. They are actually children books caracters.

When we left (before it was totally over) 69 dogs and 10 cats had been adopted.

Autumn starts off busy

Yes, it has been a busy week. It makes me happy when I feel I am accomplishing something.

Tuesday and Thursday I had two of my three golf lessons I have signed up for. I decided it is time to take it more seriously. I really would like to play well enough so I can count, record and don't have to be embarrassed.  If you want to play in Germany you HAVE TO HAVE a handicap. They take that very seriously there. James and I like to play together. I have walked with him in different countries but they don't allow you everywhere.

I like the golf pro Leighann very much. She gives me homework. I practice 'flipping tees' in the back yard. I can feel that it helps.

Worked a lot on Chrismons this week. Here are 3 of the 7 angels I made. Somebody wanted some from my 'charity shop' as gifts.










James had made an appointment to see his eye doctor at 8 am on Wednesday morning. Wow, that was early.
He needed a driver for afterwards (the dilating!). He was told it would take two hours and I thought instead of sitting there waiting I will take care of something.


Unfortunately the Tourist Center at the Capitol doesn't open til 9 am. So I just walked around and enjoyed it very much.

It was a glorious morning.








The sound of the birds.
The sound of the traffic.
People watching:
ladies heading for the office in business suits and sneakers.
Lovely old buildings. Lovely old trees. What they have witnessed?

The Bell Tower, home of the Tourist office.

Completed in 1825, the Bell Tower replaced an earlier wooden structure and served as a guardhouse for the Virginia Public Guard. The bell was rung hourly and as an alarm for fire, military attack, and other emergencies. Since 1934, it has been rung to call the Virginia General Assembly into session, and it announces special commemorations.

I stood right there at the bottom of the steps and took out my knitting (for William). The steps were too wet to sit on. So I had to do it standing ... for 40 minutes. The good news: I accomplished what I had come for and went to pick up James again.






Today, Saturday, lovely Autumn day. Took care of a lot of things.

Went to Sarah's to give Edy some attention.

Needy Edy !













Living up to her nickname. More, more ...

And here comes the funny part. It's Saturday evening, we turned the TV on and the game VA Tech - Clemson had just started. Well, that's were Sarah and Wade are. When the camera started panning the stadium I texted her: "Wave to us. We are watching" She texted the picture on the left back. May be I am simple, but I think that is super.




O.K. what else?
Bought the fabric for the back of William's quilt. Pleased with that.
Since there was such a good sale, had to buy more for the 'stash'.
Didn't win the Block Lotto.
Bought plums (package said prunes, Zwetschgen in German) and put them in the freezer ... for crumble. Aahh, mmhh.
Went to the church and printed the quarterly statements. Now I have to fold them and stuff the envelopes. Get to it, Christa!

This and That

Somehow I don't feel really productive these days. So many loose ends which all take time but nothing really to get a sense of accomplishment.

Oh, well, I finally did finish this pair of socks. I need the needles to knit socks for William. The poor boy has cold feet ... because they have grown!

The sock yarn had a little shiny metallic thread in it which I thought Sarah might like. Weather had turned so cold (for a few days) that I almost wanted to keep them.

Sarah and Wade had invited us for dinner. They like using their green egg. I took a picture of the chicken but then forgot to take more pictures of our hosts. Makes me wonder how important food is in my life, sigh.

We still can sit out on the back porch and just love it. This is my view from my seat. My hibiscus loves getting more water these days. This is the most blooms it had at one time. Too bad they only last one day though. But then there always more the next day.

Last night we had dear friends (which happen to be neighbors) over for dinner. We had a good time and I forgot to take pictures again. Did take a photo of the flowers I picked for the dining room table though. The vase is only about 4 inches tall but somehow flowers are such a wonderful creation. The Lord sure knows how to make people happy.


And now ... I think I will tackle my hobby room again. How can I accomplish anything if I can't find anything?