Into 2016

Onward and upwards.  Yesterday was quiet on the home front and our activities included an 8 AM Mass to start off the new year, followed by a Mexican food lunch at a quick food place that uses fresh ingredients.  My all time favorite salad is Cafe Rio's sweet pork salad with a cilantro and lime dressing.  HERE is a link for this recipe, a copy-cat one, but it looks like the original.

Julie was quarantined to her room yesterday with the noro virus. She had her first symptoms while visiting us on Thursday, and had to be immediately taken back to the Manor (her nursing facility). A quick phone call a moment ago says the entire Manor is now under quarantine, so I will not be visiting again today. All the halls are closed and patients must stay in their rooms. She said she felt pretty lousy yesterday, so hope by today she is improving.  We are so thankful the Manor is on top of this crazy bug and that she is well cared for.

"Look for the presence of God in your life," Pope Francis says on New Year's (LINK HERE)  It is a good message, and I will be on the lookout for His presence.  Take a look at the homily if you have a chance.  Gene and I are enjoying our new church home at IHM. This is my new app for my phone: The Pope

January 3-17 are the dates our parish will host homeless men overnight, providing food and shelter.  This is the link for the sponsoring shelter.  I am looking at all recipes to make inexpensive but nutritious trail mix, stored in give-away zip lock bags.  Please email or comment on this post if you have a recipe your would recommend that would make 25 or so cups of mix.  Here are a few I found: link

OK, today's update must include a new knit I made from left-over yarns.  It is the Interrupted Striped Cowl by Gretchen Tracy.

It is my first 2016 knit project, made to go with my new Eddie Bauer flannel shirt:

Although colors are not accurate on my monitor screen, the colors really DO coordinate!

My Year in Review

Always a favorite: a review of the year.  Looking over photographs, here is my summary of 2015 alphabetically and by blog category.

ART

Wall Panels (gifted) link here

(August Fence art link here)

CLUBS

Brush & Palette

I won Ten Bucks: link here

Path to Writing (started another blog) link here

(A Party in July with "Path to Writing" students and teacher)

Scrabble

February Tournament in Tempe (link here)

JULIE

Julie and Jack's house

Boarding the AeroJet going back to Colorado from SC, May

Electric Assist Chair, June

Julie and Cindy and Charley in December

KNITTING

NATURE

Ollie the Owl came to live with us for a while in Feb.

We grew a few vegetables and herbs in August

PROJECTS

Completed a few needlepoint pieces in Jan. and Feb.

Path to Writing Workshop in January in Redstone, CO

Yarn Bowl

Painting at the Manor

Started an Art Group on Wednesday mornings at the Manor

Journaling

Fabric Bowls

Eggs with Nail Polish

Dyeing Australian Wool with Natural Dyes

RCIA (Immaculate Heart of Mary)

Gene and I attend RCIA sessions and I became Catholic in December, 2015 with first communion.  Gene and I had our marriage convalidated by the Church on December 19 at a morning Mass.

Those Lost to Death

We are reminded of who we lost during the year.  CBS Sunday Morning always puts the Rich and Famous on their last television show of the year.  It reminds me of close ones whom I lost this year.

Jack Heniford York, SC) (1947-2015)

and

Lynn Pillman, Helena, MT (1950-2015) link to photos here

Gone but never forgotten.

Hope your year was good, and that 2016 is even better!  God Bless You, Every One!