Welcome to DreamChallenge

Having a dream to share my knitting creations, cooking adventures and caregiving stories with others is now a reality. I bet you know someone right now who is at home taking care of someone they love. A phone call, e-mail, note card or some food would all be appreciated. Sometimes an offer to stand in for that person is a wonderful gift. Think about getting a hair cut, what if there is no time or person to sit with your loved one? What can you do to help someone else, or if you are that caregiver, how can you get people to understand you would like to see them or have their help? Knitting helps me stay calm. Knitting helps my blood pressure stay normal. What helps you? Cooking is an adventure for me. My husband is a dedicated 'clean-up' person. Join us on this part of our life's journey.

Choosing to send out cards is one way I stay in touch with others. I address cards on Sunday and my husband puts them in the mail on Monday. There is always someone who needs a card.

After several months of blogging there is a reality that lots of people really enjoy this activity. Positively delightful people, living life to the best of their ability. There is such fun in hearing from others who have ideas, stories, crafts all to share with those who choose to read. Thank you my new friends in this unknown world/way of communicating.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

And The WINNER Is:

Thank each and everyone of you who visited Dreamchallenge so far during the Grow Your Blog Party.  The notes you are writing lifts my heart and gives me reinforcement in the knowledge that there are so many wonderful people out in our world, if we but give them the opportunity to share our life's journey with us.
I am a private person by nature and sharing with all of you has given me such unexpected joy. Knowing that many of my new followers actually read what is going on in my life was a revealition to me.  I am visiting each of my new followers and it is great fun.

Part of Grow your Blog was a gift, if you wanted to participate.  Of course, Ms. Vicki, makes everything so very fun.  Thank you Vicki.  Here is the WINNER of my lovely knitted scarf:

Derrith, from Ridgefield, WA.  Congratulations new friend. Here is Derrith's blog:
http://tiedupinribbon.blogspot.com/  Derrith, please e-mail your address to me at riverview@zoominternet.net 



If you made the decision to follow along with me, please give me time to come visit you.
Blessings to each of you. 
Jan

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Grow My Blog

GROW YOUR BLOG PARTY
WELCOME
 
The love of my Life, dedicated Christian, cancer survivor (10 years and counting), bed partner (most nights), gardner, shopper, geologist, hiker and dry sense of humor husband, Bob.  He and I both love to read and be outdoors.  We live in Ohio on a family owned piece of property that used to be our "camp" and summer retreat. 
This is what we call the Front Entrance.  Bob has collected all those stones from our river bank.
Here I am enjoying two of my favorite activities:  knitting and sitting near the Ohio river in the sunshine with my Vera Bradley bag of knitting accessories.  Our host, Ms. Vicki, gave me the Vera Bradley bag years ago and it has literally accompanied us all around the world holding my project of the day.  
I Appreciate all my followers and will be happy to follow you as we
'Grow our Blogs' together.   
Most of us really enjoy owning items that others make with their 'labor of love", so here is mine.  Its a lovely soft washable neck scarf.  If you want to loop it, I have knitted a button hole on one side so you may loop one side through and keep the scarf in place.  The ladies (girls) may want to add the flower.  It simply ties onto the scarf. 
Now for you guys out their in blog land, you may want to untie the flower and wear the scarf without the flower.  (Then where you get tired of it -because it will not wear out for many years - you may retie the flower and give it away.)
We have a glass factor near our home, Blenko, in Milton WV.  The little orange Blenko vase is holding my treasure of pheseant feathers from North Dakota.  One of our neighbors brings me one feather each year.  They are so soft and comforting.
Another neighbor has an active little two year old.  Another love of my life.  She will be picking the winner for this lovely scarf.  Just leave me a note and you will be entered. 
So how did I get into knitting???? Well, my bed partner was diagonised with lymphonia in 2002.  What????he is a runner.  I cook healthy because nutrition is my professional life work.  Not possible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Of course, the biopsy and test don't lie and we began the battle to overcome this dreadful cancer. 
A friend came to the hospital as I sat by Bob's bedside, she sat with me and taught me to knit.  Yes it took a couple of days, so she came back.  This hat and the previous scarf were both for those in the battle.
Items I love include my life long baby dolls.  This little girl has the most beautiful eyes and she is wearing her original dress.  What??????????? That's right.  OH yes, she and I spent many hours together, but she had lots of home made clothes (Thanks Mom) and this little dress was her "Sunday Outfit".  The hat goes with the sweater below.  One of my favorite sweater patterns.  Our host also gave me the pattern.  I love that woman and her gardner and you will too if you do not already.
Bob was enjoying the sunshine and newspaper on Mom's patio.  See "her kitty" (its really the neighbors, but don't tell.  Mom feeds her).  Bob is holding a pull- over sweater I made for our nephews first birthday.  Love the yarn.
I made this little creation for our neiighbor's granddaughter.  The same one who will be drawing one of your names for the lovely scarf.  The ruffle on the bottom is the only difference between this one and the gray sweater.  We are LONG STANDING MARSHALL UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL FANS.  Thus the green and white color.
Red, one of my favorite colors and about half of my closet is filled with red items.  The sweater was made for a friend who waited years for her boy to arrive.  This is the most difficult sweat I have ever made, but worth the hours.  I prayed so much for this child.  He is now a healthy young 'get into everything' two year old.
Our girls!  Love them.  Intelligent, happy and they love us.  Daughter both educated with Master's degrees (yes, as an educator, thats impt. to me).  Granddaughters are such fun.  This picture was taken at the Biltmore in Ashville, NC.  They met Bob and I their for my birthday lunch.
Bob and I both love gardens.  He plants and I cook.  These peas were delicious.  The little girls like to eat them right from the pods.
Going home from the hospital.  Yes, little Sophia was a healthy big baby.  Honoring me in this way was such a blessing.  As you can see, she will be able to wear the sweater as she grows.  The sleeves are rolled up.
Here she is:  Mom.  The woman in my life who taught me that life is not always easy, but sure worth the effort.  She loves life.  Knows more news that I do on an everyday basis.  She loved to garden, cook, can, sew, crochet and play BINGO.  She is wearing a scarf I made from yarn I purchased in Russia.  Our host and I found yarn in Russia.  Are you surprised???  My nephew gave this beautiiful creation to his girlfriend.
Making baby cacoons was a phase.  That's over, but I still have one left in my Etsy shop.  Stop by if you have time or need a lovely hand made item: 
 
Thank you for traveling with me through my pictures.  I wish for you happy blogging.