We sure seem to have a lot of geese here in Fort Collins. They fly overhead in the mornings, honkinghonkinghonking trying to figure out who is supposed to be at the head of the V formation. They waddle up and down the sidewalks in different spots. And they swim in the local lakes and ponds. Paul (WH) took some great photos that I wanted to share with you. (Does anyone cook a goose for Christmas dinner? Never mind. I probably don’t want to know.)
And just so the ducks don’t feel left out:
We have had two Loopy Elf parties in the past two weeks. The first one was a dinner that included spouses, and that was a lot of fun. Then we had a fun lunch with everyone bringing something, earlier this week. Cathy brought a warm beverage called Cranberry Bog that we all enjoyed. I’m going to have a pot of this simmering on the stove on Christmas day. Yum.
Cathy’s Cranberry Bog
3 cups boiling water
2 tea bags
2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup sugar
Steep tea for 3 minutes in the boiling water. Combine all other ingredients and heat. Serve with cinnamon sticks.
It’s time for our final RAK Reporting day. Did you do something fun for someone else this week? Leave a comment and tell us about it below and I’ll draw the winners and will announce them on Monday’s blog. If you need ideas so that you can squeeze in a Random Act of Kindness before I draw winners on Monday, check out our first two blog posts here and here. The randomly drawn winners will receive a skein of The Loopy Ewe Seasonings Series of their choice. Thank you for all of your participation this year in our RAK’s!
Do you have guests arriving this weekend? My mum-in-law arrives today and we always love having her here with us for the holidays. I really lucked out in the mother-in-law department. Have a great weekend!
Sheri hopingyougetallofyourlastminuteknittingdone,too
Today when I finish work, I will do my grocery shopping. On the last big trip to buy food before Christmas I separate my stuff in the cart. One section is the stuff that I need for at home, and the other part is where I put treats, extra goodies, and, of course, some necessary items. When I check out, I have the baggers put the one section of the cart with all the extras into the big bin at the entrance to the store for the local food pantry. They have lots of staples, because the people who run the food pantry shop at the store where I work. I like to add some special things to the bin this time of year, as treats for the Christmas season.
I try to be helpful & polite, so RAKs are normal for me, but this time, I’m sharing one that happened to me this past week at a very crowded Walmart store. Normally, anyone being kind or polite is kind of a rarity here, but I was very gratified to have this happen. As I left the store with a very full shopping basket, I headed up the parking lot towards the back in what I was sure was the line where my car was. And, as usual, I was wrong. It was in the next aisle, across a stretch of grass that was contoured so that rainwater would collect down the center and flow away from the cars. Rather than walk back to either end of the line, I decided to just go across the lawn to the car. The grass was fairly dry, and not to difficult to push the cart across, but at the far side, there was a four-inch curb that the basket would catch on. As I pushed and struggled to lift it over the curb, I heard a call from a woman close to my age (mid-60s) asking if she could help. At that point, the cart suddenly gave up the struggle, and popped over. I thanked the woman who was willing to be so helpful in the cold, windy weather, and we both agreed that it was very common for our cars to move themselves to a different aisle while we shopped. How wonderful to think that helpfulness and kindness happen even in a crowded parking lot!
I cleaned at work today (when business was slow) so on Monday (we work half day then) the old man who cleans for us part time – won’t have to do so much after our Christmas luncheon (he left early after he ate) and from our regular business mess too from today.
I hugged a stranger. She was crying. I knew it was a lie when she said it was nothing. I made the time to hear her story. I feel certain God put me in her path today. I could not solve her problem so I gave her the only thing I could. A hug.
Please be kind to one another. You don’t know the burdens that carry.
paid for the person behind me’s coffee aT THE DRIVE THROUGH. oops caps!
I just stumbled across someone on Ravelry looking for 200 yards of a specific color of Wollmeise in Twin base. Her husband had lost a handknit sock (Seriously? That happens?) and she wanted to knit a replacement. I dug around in my stash and found exactly what she was looking for and contacted her. I also found out her birthday was a few days ago. The skein will be on its way to her on Monday, a belated bday gift from a stranger. Anyone who is willing to knit a replacement sock deserves a bit of kindness.
I buy bagels for my team on Wednesdays at Einstein Bros. Some of the retirees come and hang out there to socialize. I ended up buying the four gentlemen behind me their coffee and breakfast. You could tell they were a little shocked. All wanted to know why I did it. I just said, “Why not?” They asked me to stay a bit. I figured why not. 🙂 It’s the best fkirting I’ve had in a while!!!!! Hahaha
I let a young woman with 2 kids check out before me in line during a shopping trip. I also cleaned my mother’s house from top-to-bottom so that she would have one less thing to do when coming into town to host Christmas.
I love your RAK blogs. It just reminds us that there is infinite goodness around us – we just need to see it.
I live in Kuwait where people think it’s always hot . . . but winters get pretty nippy. This last month I’ve been knitting wool caps from whatever skeins I can find in my stash and/or on sale in our only shop that sells superwash wool in Kuwait. As I finish one I find a security guard at school or the apartment complex and present a warm cap for the cold nights they’re on duty. I’m always greeted with a warm smile, a huge thank you, and a surprised expression that they received something handknit since each one always thinks that nobody knits any more. They all have a story of a grandmother, mother, or aunt who “used to knit”, but that I would knit something for them (instead of just my grandchildren, I guess) they find astounding. Maybe I’ll have to start on some of those “convertible” fingerless gloves next for them.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all of you, your families, and your readers.
Salam wa sa’aadah LInda
Yesterday when hubby and I were at Costco, I let an older gentleman who only had a few things go in front of us at the register.
This isn’ really a RAK, but I have to share. I taught my step daughter how to knit when she visited us 4 years ago (she made a felted Lucy bag) and I sent her home with some needles, etc thinking she would never touch them again. Imagine my surprise when she posted on her Facebook page yesterday that she was finishing up some knitted gifts for Christmas! Made my day.
2feet of snow so helped shovel porches
My daughter and I went Christmas caroling at a nursing home this week with a group from our church.
Every other Sunday I go out to breakfast with my aunt after church. The last time I was there I heard our regular waitress talking to one her friends about her Charlie Brown Christmas tree. She just got married over the summer and this is their first Christmas together and commented on how few ornaments she had but with $$$$ being tight with the wedding and all “maybe next year it will look better”. Long story short I brought in two of the beaded Christmas ornaments I have been making and left them with the tip.
I mailed out surprise packages of cookies and one package of yarn to online Ravelry friends. What fun!
I sent a person a pattern in their queue for another Random Act of Pattern(ing).
But this story I was not expecting.
I have a 85(not sure exactly) year old neighbor and she loves my pug Henry. She looks forward to see us out on our afternoon walks. We usually stop by and visit her on her porch. She really enjoys when we visit. Over the years we have gotten to know each other.
She lives alone. Her son and husband have both passes. I check on her when the weather is bad or if I have not seen her in a while. We have not seen her much since the weather is cold. So I suggested that maybe Henry could visit some time she thought that was a great idea. I had not realize how happy this would make her. Yesterday Henry spent the afternoon watching football and cuddling on the couch. I visited for a bit and relized that Henry’s visit had made her day. Henry and I will be visiting her again soon 🙂 Sometimes you don’t even realize what you can do for someone until you see the effects.
Sheri and Elves, just wanted to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all, many hugs, Theresa
At about 3:00PM on Christmas Eve, a man came to purchase holiday flowers. He seemed distracted and I could tell he had been crying. In chatting with my customer I discovered the Poinsettia was going to the cemetary and so were the pink roses I was wrapping in tissue. I was so touched that he rembered his grandma and said ” I miss her so much,” I gave him the flowers for free. His teary ” thank you” was my best holiday gift!
I am making Cranberry Bog TODAY! Happy Holidays, lovely ladies 🙂