Southern Blueyedquilter

Summer's here, I'm knitting socks, and there's a pattern here for a baby hat!

2011-07-13T00:55:00.007-04:00

It is so hard to realize just how quickly time passes...that is, until I check my blog and see how long it's been since I last updated a post. Yikes! One might think that retirement would lend more time for keeping a blog post current, but oh no. Not this "one" anyway! Of course, I spend a lot of time being sedentary because my body betrays me, but my mind is as active as always!

One of the things that has kept me extremely busy for the past eight months is the injury of my parrot, Quillie. He lost the toes from his right leg on November 13th, 2010, finally came home and then suffered a severe infection in his "good" leg about 12 weeks later. This involved countless trips to the vet's office, which was 100 miles round-trip, sometimes for several consecutive days. It was not only exhausting, but took its toll physically most of the time rendering me too tired to sit at the computer for the long period of time I need to adequately blog as I wish. I am thrilled to report that Quillie has made a complete recovery and is fully back up to baseline. He has adjusted beautifully to the loss of his little toes and is happy, healthy and well-adjusted.

Undoubtedly, summer is here with a vengeance! The heat index at our house today was 105 degrees. Yesterday, a trip to the grocery store at around three o'clock left me wilted into a puddle (and I NEVER sweat!) and totally exhausted. There's something about this kind of heat and humidity, coupled with being in my 50's, that completely depletes whatever energy I might have left at that hour of any given day.

Whatever the summer heat steals from me is beautifully replenished by the loveliness of my garden and the birds of spring whose families are growing and showing new adult plumage daily. Baby feathers are now replaced with the full regalia on the Cardinals, their big eyes now surrounded by brilliant red feathers and black masks. There is a young family of four visiting our feeders every day, nearly all day. So precious. I even have a purple finch this year who is enjoying the syrup from the hummingbird feeder just as much as the hummers are! They are so cute and sweet, and such a splended reminder of how good God is to me in the unexpected as well as the "norm."

This summer, I broke down and replaced a beloved Hibiscus I'd lost three summers ago with a new braided Hibiscus this year--a sort of tropicana color, rich in orange/red hues. When it first landed in my garden, I thought my former misfortune would be repeated because the leaves began to turn yellow and dropped like confetti almost immediately. I was apparently over-watering it. So, I backed off with the watering and fed it Miracle Grow...it is gorgeous, having celebrated its beauty yesterday with four blooms at once!

It is full of budding promise and I am enjoying its beauty immensely!

I always enjoy a hanging basket in the flower bed in front of our house and it's full of pink petunias and fuschia-colored verbena--so sweet and soft in its presentation. Every day, I enjoy the process of dead-heading the petunias and other plants, affording me a piece of gardening in lieu of what I'd really love to spend hours doing if only my body would comply. Any amount still brings me peace.

Each year, it seems the winter reduces my 15-year-old Peace Lily to a nub, so I routinely must attempt to resuscitate it in a new pot with new potting soil with great results. This year was no exception, but the difference is that I covered the "nubs" of peace lily with Vinca and Celosia....beautiful! I fight to keep the Peace Lily alive because it was given to me by a dear friend when my grandfather transitioned into Heaven and I do cherish it so. The Peace Lily is alive under the flowers you see below.

I also have a Bleeding Heart (cuttings from my friend, Faye) that are on the south side of my house (no photo). My trusty front porch planter maintains its spot with Vinca and Marigolds.

I haven't been spending ALL of my time on a sofa. I've found a wonderful lady, Carol, a sister in Christ who knits, quilts, sews and crochets. She is teaching me to knit socks, and it's so exciting to think that I could possibly learn such a feat (no pun intended, regardless of the spelling). This project has been on my "bucket list" for years. Thus far, I have learned how to do a provisional cast on and knit the socks from the toe up on two circular needles (no DPN's), which affords me the opportunity of sizing the sock as I go. This is especially helpful because of the swelling in one foot over the other. I will soon have a pair of custom made socks by none other than myself. Exciting...at least to me! As the socks progress, I will post more photos and current updates. If my friend, Carol, permits me to, I will post her pattern for you upon my completion of the socks.

I had a lot of graduates this year, so I made purses for the females. I really enjoyed making these very simple yet cute little clutches!

The above, bluish-colored bag was made out of Raffia, flower and all. I made the flowers so that they are detachable via a pin on the back of them. This is easier for laundering and having the option of wearing the flower on a garment. I lined the bags with 100% cotton fabric and put a pocket in some of them. It was a lot of fun, and I will definitely keep that pattern near my sewing table!

I have dear friends in Lake Junaluska, NC and his mother broke her hip recently. She just now was able to return home, so I made a walker caddy for her to tie to her walker for the convenience of carrying her things wherever she goes. This was made with denim fabric and lined with a nice floral print, and the flowers were made from Raffia with pins on the back for easy removal and laundering.

My above-mentioned friend, Carol, recently began a knitting and crocheting group called "Chicks with Sticks," and we gather together every Tuesday night for the sole purpose of making items for charities. We are making hats, scarves, and fingerless gloves and mittens for the local homeless shelter in Kingsland with plans to reach out to other organizations in the future. On July 5th, Carol shared a precious knitted baby hat which she was given from a lady at her church. It was so sweet and yet simple, and left such an impression on me. My mission for last weekend was to learn how she did this, so with the collaboration of other patterns on line, I figured out how to knit the hat. Now, don't faint, but I am including the pattern (finally after over a year of promises) for the hat. I truly hope you enjoy making it and, if you have questions don't hesitate to contact me.

Straight needle baby hat with garter stitch cuff

Size: 10” circumference

Materials:

Sport Weight (or baby) yarn, ¾ oz.

Size 8 knitting needles (or size required for gauge)

Darning needle to sew seam

Gauge: 20 sts = 4” in Stockinette St

Instructions:

Cuff: Cast on 48 stitches. Work one inch in garter stitch.

Crown:

Row 1 (right side): Knit

Row 2 (wrong side): Purl

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 5” from cast on edge, ending with a wrong side (purl) row.

To Shape Top:

Row 1: *K2tog, K2; rep from * across: 36 stitches

Row 2: Purl

Row 3: *K2tog, K2; rep from * across: 27 stitches

Row 4: Purl

Row 5: *K2tog, K1; rep from * across: 18 stitches

Row 6: Purl

Row 7: K2tog across: 9 stitches.

Finishing: Cut yarn leaving long end. Thread yarn into darning needle and draw through remaining stitches on needle at top of hat. Draw up tightly and fasten off securely, tucking in ends. Sew side seam of hat. Turn up cuff if desired.

I know I've shared health issues in the past, but I don't enjoy dwelling on that subject. However, I feel it important that you know I am having foot and ankle surgery on July 21st and may be incapacitated for a while. A complete recovery takes 18 months and I must be non-weight bearing and in a cast for a minimum of four months. I know the Lord will see me through this and I look forward to feeling better at the end of the recovery and able to do more things in my daily life and ministry for Jesus.

Until next time, be blessed and to God be the glory!

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. I Thessalonians 4:11-12

We make plans...and God just laughs...

2011-03-31T19:28:00.000-04:00

I have often said that we make plans and God just laughs. Although I have few followers, there are those who are faithful to continue checking now and then to see if my blog has been updated since...swallow...July of 2010, as I squint my eyes, bunch up my shoulders and let a a huge "sigh!" So much has happened since that time and not much of it has to do with quilting, sewing, knitting and/or crocheting. I am therefore hesitant to share all of the details, for I know you do not visit my blog to read tales of woe, but to be enlightened, to be shown something pretty, and perhaps to maybe...someday... see a free pattern! I had such designs for the coming fall and winter, especially Christmas, for making this a better blog, but I guess the Lord had other things on the agenda. I will do my best to make you want to return again to read future updates.

There were things on my horizon in July of 2010 that I knew of, but there were also things I didn't see coming. Those are always the things that I believe shape our lives into what they truly are, not always what we would want them to be. When I last posted, I was preparing to undergo a total knee joint replacement in early September, which was very successful but sometimes challenging. The Lord was so precious to me in that He did not allow great pain and suffering, nor did it take me long to get back up on both feet and proceed on with life. I did, however, require much more physical therapy than anticipated and this continued into January of 2011. The first six weeks involved home physical therapy with a wonderful lady whom I miss a great deal. It looks like I'll see her again soon, though, because I'm facing another surgery on my left foot. More--and I promise only a little more--on that later.

On November 13, 2010, it was to our shock and heartbreak that we found our 21-year-old parrot, Quillie, perched and bleeding in his cage. He apparently had caught his foot in something, which we've never been able to determine, and ripped his foot open causing him to lose the toes of his right foot. He was hospitalized for three weeks until early December, as well as intermittently since then several times for a week at a time. His complications have included an infection, which has been quite daunting, in his only good foot, for which he is STILL undergoing treatment. For three solid weeks, I went to see him every day for 100 miles round-trip each time. As many of you know, we live in a remote area of southeast Georgia and most amenities require driving great distances. Those who do not live with parrots do not often know how very relational they are. In their hour of need, they can require the same attention as a two-year-old child on a perpetual basis without demanding a thing other than the most basic of needs, such as eating and being kept clean. Still, this requirement leans heavily on their "person" and the stress can be tough.

Quillie hatched in my hand the day he was born, and I was blessed to be able to hand-feed him into his adult life. He has moved with me from Virginia and made a wonderful transition into life in Georgia. He accepted my husband as his "daddy," although it took him a few months, and seems to be the apple of everyone's eye to include those at the Exotic Bird Hospital in Jacksonville, FL. In fact, I was beginning to feel a little nervous in leaving him there much longer as an in-patient for fear he would be "adopted" by one of the veterinary staff on board! Quillie is quite the celebrity there. He does have a way of wrapping those little "toes" around your heart, I must admit.

Quillie just three days prior to November 13, 2010

As evident, he is a gorgeous little guy and I can tell you that he remains to this day as happy as...well...a lark! While he was found in shock and had nearly bled to death, he recovered enough in just three days after we prayed and trusted the Lord for his life, to the point where he was responding to us by dancing and chirping. It was not our desire to see him suffer, nor did we wish him to have any less a quality of life than he had lived his 20 years leading up to that fateful date. The vets kept assuring us that Quillie would be none the worse for the wear and that he would adapt to and adopt his new way of life as though nothing had happened. They were right! Quillie required about a week and a half of recovery before surgery could be done to remove the already necrotic toes of his right foot. He tolerated the surgery quite well and we visited him faithfully, finding him improved a little each time as we prayed and trusted God with his life.

Quillie post surgery

Quillie wore an Elizabethan collar for several weeks after the injury for fear he would chew at his surgical site. When the collar was finally removed and he was allowed freedom, he showed no signs of chewing at his wounds and was released home to us. We took him back for several post-op visits and he was seemingly fine.

On Valentine's Day 2011, we awoke to blood spattered all over his cage. Again, the fear that gripped our hearts was gargantuan! We rushed him in to see the vet. Come to find out, the blood was coming from his "good" foot where he had knocked the callous off the foot while climbing all over his cage. Further examination revealed a very bad infection in the foot. Back to square one. He has been on antibiotics since then, three of them oral, and one intramuscular--yes--that's two shots daily into his breast muscle. What an amazing trooper he has been! He is now down to one oral antibiotic and several other medications for inflammation and pain, and maintainence of his good blood count (at least the red blood cells for now are good). We are looking forward to another full recovery for Quillie and pray that God will restore a quality of life to him that will render him a happy little guy once more!

Quillie being hand-fed his favorite formula!

We have trusted the Lord with him thus far, and we'll continue to do the same until such time as Quillie is fully healed and leading a happy and normal life. Many of my blog readers and friends, family, etc., have prayed for Quillie and us as we've walked this path, and we are eternally grateful to all of you for it! God bless you!

As you can imagine, Christmas was a solemn time for us and we just sort of stayed close to home and praised the Lord for His birth and for the re-birth of our little bird. I did make one thing I adored and enjoyed very much for our Christmas tree. I try to make a hand-made ornament every year for our tree. I crocheted a sweater and made a hanger for it as well.

As far as other needlework is concerned, I am honing up on my knitting skills a little more this year, while trying to meet the requests of those who have asked for things to be made for Easter, or just in general. I knit a lot of dishcloths for our church basket ministry and try to sew a few things here and there for that as well. I have studied, whenever possible, Elizabeth Zimmerman's teachings and writings and also received a gorgeous set of knitting needles that are interchangeable for Christmas! What a delight to never have to worry about going to Michael's in Jacksonville or on line for every knitting project. I have the perfect size needles at my fingertips! I also decided to try and spin my own yarn, so this year I received a beautiful spindle with which I have managed to muddle through some Alpaca wool. I haven't yet plied the yarn, and that's the next step. I haven't really had adequate time to sit and do this properly, so I'm not really investing in the time as I would like to right now. I have too many other priorities at the present time to pursue this as thoroughly as I'd like.

Two commission scarves and the spindle (right)

I had been working on three commissioned scarves (two are above) when Quillie first had his accident, which really slowed me down, but I finally finished them. The one on the far left has pompoms for "fringe" and the middle scarf was made with the Noro yarn that I fell in love with. The spindle is to the far right and there's a little Alpaca wool to the right of the spindle. I think I will find spinning as comforting as knitting...no doubt!

My other projects have been few, but I have a few photos of them. My sister asked me to make a sweater set for a little baby girl (left). I also about that time finished up a little purple dress for our basket ministry.

I did manage to get a few other miscellaneous items done in the meantime, most of them crocheted.

Baby boy ensemble

Baby girl bootie

I am going to be having major foot surgery soon and will be non-weight bearing for a minimum of three months. I dread this, but it must be done or I may not be walking much longer. This is why I have done so many small projects and no quilting. I cannot stand to bear weight for long periods of time. I am praying that I will be able to quilt again in the coming years, for I miss it dearly!

I do have a few projects to finish on commission and then I plan on knitting a pair of socks. I've located a lovely lady through a website called http://www.betterfly.com/ which helps connect people looking for help in several areas to include knitting, crocheting, or even piano lessons, etc. I highly recommend it to you! It is very user-friendly. You simply type in your interest(s), and then your zipcode, and...voila!...you are in touch with those in close proximity to you having those skills. If only birdie toes were available on that site...I would surely conjure up a pair for my Quillie!

Thursday...already?

2010-07-15T11:08:00.000-04:00

I know it seems I keep repeating myself regarding the lapse of time between new posts, but life keeps getting in the way of my wanting to sit and write something meaningful, reflective, fun, and informative. I may not hit on all of those topics, but I do try. To me, this is my communication to you, and I take it personally. Therefore, the posts may be further apart than I would prefer, as I would like to do it daily, or at least weekly, but right now it seems I'm destined to just be here when I'm here. Make sense? I hope so. I would truly rather there be some content than just a bunch of meaningless, forgotten words to you. You are that important to me!

Let's see if I can catch you up on my ever-so-exciting life!!! LOL!!! My husband returned from a 26-day stay in Diego Garcia, a tiny little island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, some 16,451 miles from here! I have to say that his being away was a true learning experience for me. What I mean is that I learned a lot about myself in that I am capable of more than I realize at times. Having a bum right leg and a very incooperative left foot/ankle, ambulating has not been my favorite activity of late. However, when there's only you, then you do what you must. While I tried to schedule my walking for the minimal route, there were times when I walked further than I knew I could. The pain was the price, but I had no choice. Again...there was only me...and the Lord. He is the One who brought me through this, and strengthened and enlightened me regarding my ability to handle life without a daily partner doing the grunt work. Wow...did I ever appreciate Tom more when he returned home!

Tom returned on the 1st of July and had the remnants of a wisdom tooth removed the next day, and I also visited the rheumatologist that same day to determine the type of arthritis my body seems to embrace. Tom's tooth was a remnant because he had the dentist on the island attempt to remove the tooth. She was not an oral surgeon and shouldn't have attempted to remove a wisdom tooth, for she was not properly trained to treat a patient with a tooth that can break off at the root during removal. But, the truth is, she did do it and he walked around with this root in his jaw for about nine days. Tom got along fine until his return. The root removal was a breeze and the post-op course unremarkable. God is so good!!!

Tom's middle son arrived from North Carolina the very next day with his family of five. They stayed for five days and we enjoyed our time with them. This was somewhat all-consuming in that it was difficult to do much else and I was too tired to write, so I am glad to say that today affords me a little time to update the blog and at least let you know I havent' abandoned you.

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In the meantime, I have had several family birthdays which of course necessitates the knitting and/or crochet needles to come out so that I can make something "homemade" for them. I have often made hand-made items for them, as they seem to like it, and I love doing it! It keeps me sane. The following is my latest baby ensemble, which is for my next-door neighbor's new granddaughter, Hailie. I decided to use yellow yarn this time. Hailie is a little "California girl," and yellow seemed very fitting for her.

As you can see, I chose black ribbons for embellishment, and I crocheted a pansy, without a pattern, because I had no pattern to follow. I just began crocheting and prayed a lot! This is what I got:

This photo (taken with a cell phone) doesn't really compliment the true colors used for the pansy, but I chose black yarn and yellow cotton thread to make the flower.

The back of the dress was detailed with a little white button for closure (I couldn't find black buttons) and a black bow to match the bow on the front of the dress, as well as the bows on the hat and booties.

I suspect her mother will send a photo of little Hailie donning this ensemble, and when she does so I will share it with you.

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My garden continues to thrive, and a couple of things have been added: a hydrangea from my friend, Faye, which has yet to be planted because I cannot decide the perfect spot for it. Right now, it is loving the front yard because it gets morning sun and evening shade. She gave me some cuttings from her other hydrangeas, which are currently being rooted in my front yard garden too. We'll see how that goes. I added some petunias and portulaca to my front porch planter, which is nice and colorful (purple, white and yellow--happy colors).

My newest prize, though, is the "bleeding heart" that Faye also shared with me from her garden last year. She gave me a cutting last summer, which I never planted. I kept it alive all winter in water and planted it in a pot this spring. It is gorgeous! Making this all the more special is the fact that the cuttings came from her father's plant. She, like me, is a total daddy's girl, so we share lots of things regarding fathers and gardens.

This is a close-up of the full bloom of the bleeding heart:

The plant is hanging full of these blooms and it is a delight! Every time I approach our front porch, I marvel at its beauty!!!

I don't have a recent photo (this was taken a couple of weeks ago), but it is now about four feet tall and hanging full of these gorgeous blooms! I think I will plant it in front of my living room window, as it will eventually require a trellis and provide me with much beauty through the entire summer!

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I do have a better camera with which to take photos, but being digital and barely used, it requires a new battery in order for me to use it. I am blessed in that my husband usually gives me his hand-me-down camera when he buys a new one. This hand-me-down camera is no slouch! I just need to get my confidence up to a point where I believe in myself enough to use it. When I do, I promise you better photos.

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Finally, here is an aerial view of my shamrock, which is faring quite well in spite of the heat.

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I'll be adding a few new websites and/or blogs for you. I hope that you'll enjoy them as much as I have and find inspiration in your creativity.

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I wish you joy, peace, happiness, goodness, and kindness! It is a privilege to write about my life, mostly to share it with you...my on line friends...who are gracious enough to read my blog. I have a lot of things planned for the blog that will have to come later, but once I have had the necessary surgeries to heal my knee and foot, I'll be good as new! I am praying for all of you!

Father's Day

2010-06-20T21:33:00.006-04:00

Today, I celebrated a quiet day. My husband is still 16,000+ miles away. My father is in North Carolina. Still, all is well. Our church service was amazing today, with a special speaker from our church who serves the Lord with all of his heart! James spoke about the "king" in all of us! His sermon was fantastic, and I cannot wait to get the copy of it so I can listen again to his awesome wisdom!

The nice surprise I received today was my husband's twin brother, Mike, visiting our church. He's here from New York, checking on his property and his father. We all had a nice lunch together after church. Mike and I will definitely talk before he returns to New York. He told me that he would be here when my Tom returns, and that's always a treat because of the way they spar between one another! They are just too funny!

It seems that everyone is taking vacations somewhere this year...and not just one, but several! I am very happy for them, and think it is amazing to be able to go and see new places. Hopefully, when my broken body is completely healed, or at least somewhat repaired, I will be going too!

I'm going to keep this short tonight. My sweet little dogs are with me, one in my lap and the other snoring on the floor, and they deserve to have their snacks before bedtime. They know their routines so well!

They truly keep me going...okay, running...or at least as much as I can run. They are my joy, and a treasure to love and care for. Quillie, our bird, is also a great comfort to me.

I pray that your Father's Day has been a wonderful and warm day, and that you had fellowship with one another, if you were in fact close enough to do so. Hopefully soon, I'll be further north where I can drive to see my Daddy once again, not just for days such as this, but all of the time!

In closing, I want to post my favorite photograph of my father. This was taken while we were walking the lane leading to his house, approximately five years ago for his 70th birthday. The way the morning light captured his face is so lovely, though it may not show here. But, given the day and the celebration, I truly find it an honor to post this photograph of him!

Thanks, Daddy, for your unending love and for showing me that the true measure of a man is not who he is or what he has, but how well he is loved by those who know him.

I've posted a few new links (blogs) for you, and I'm working on writing my patterns to post here. This is a bit more daunting that I'd originally thought, so please bear with me.

I wish you all an awesome week, and I ask that you lift me up in prayer so that I can perhaps finish the needlework projects I began several weeks ago! I have to have at least three projects (and books) going at all times, you know, or I'm never content! God bless you!!

Sunday...my favorite day of the week!

2010-06-13T02:13:00.000-04:00

As you can see, I've made a few not-so-subtle changes to the blog. I was growing tired of the prior image and felt it needed lightening up, so to speak. I've been blessed with so many gorgeous flowers from the yards of my friends, so rather than shower you with my latest stitching projects, I would like to share some of the beauties I've received in the past two weeks.

One of my dearest friends, Faye, surprised me with a gorgeous hydrangea that I would describe as somewhere between mauve and fuschia. It is truly one of the prettiest colors I've ever seen and one that only our Lord could create, for it is perfect in every way! I won't be able to plant it until my husband returns, as the digging would do me in physically, so I am truly looking forward to planning it's "home" in our yard and enjoying its beauty and the memories it conjures up of my grandmother's yard full of hyrangea bushes. Every time we visited her, she would load me up with a bouquet from her hydrangea collection. I couldn't wait to get them home and into a beautiful vase to enjoy for the coming week!

It's really late or actually early, nearly 2:00 a.m. Sleeping is not coming easily since my husband has left the country, and I find myself staying up and, rather than going to bed, actually falling asleep with some form of handwork in my lap. When did I grow old?

I will not post an encyclopedia tonight, but would really enjoy sharing these gorgeous flowers with you, my friends. May they bless your heart as they have mine!

This is the color I remember most from my maternal grandmother's yard over 40 years ago.

This is the color that Faye chose for me. I love it!

And this is one I've never seen before...such a delicate and pristine color!

Faye grows calla lilies, and they are sturdy and quite long-lasting. Last year, she brought me one that was nearly a burnt sienna color that was stunning! I really enjoy these delicate pinks, though. Once a girl, always a girl, huh?

I am embarrassed to say that neither myself nor Faye can name these flowers. If you are able to tell me what they are, please write and let me know. Thanks!

Faye grows the most beautiful lillies I've ever seen. This is a favorite of mine!

This dahlia is actually in my garden, having been given to me last summer by Faye.

And this ends the walk through my faux garden for this morning. I must try and get some sleep because tomorrow is my favorite day of the week...the day I go to worship my Lord in the fellowship of other believers. I wish you all a blessed day...until we meet again!

Finally...

2010-06-08T21:27:00.005-04:00

Time is such a strange element. In and of itself, we are dependent on it and no one is exempt from this strange and nearly co-dependent relationship. In my mind, I will assess a time frame and suddenly realize that I've run out of time. I've heard it said so many times, "We have all the time in the world," and yet there are days when I wonder where the time went! I remember when I was a young child trying to assess time in my mind and thinking that there was such a wealth of time that I would never see the age of 13, 18, 21. And then it was there, like a flash of lightening, and just as powerful in its arrival. I was 13 and beginning junior high, 18 and graduating from high school, 21 and married, working in the medical field and loving my "young" years and life. Then, I was 25, 30, 40, and 50! A decade is beginning to seem like the lengthy, yet short, commercials we see between segments or scenes in a favorite television show. I remember thinking that I would surely remember being 17, riding in my boyfriend's car, when I turn 40. It seemed like lightyears away that the 40th birthday event would take place...and then I blinked...and there I was...and here I am. Time...a precious commodity...something none of us really possess enough of...and we pray for more...and sometimes less...depending on our comfort levels. It is yet difficult to believe that not all of those things on my "Bucket List" will be accomplished, for I have begun the painful realization that I haven't enough time to complete the list before my life is a vapor.

Since my last blog post, Mother's Day came and went, my husband's birthday was celebrated, and we've had a guest or two wander in off I-95. We are conveniently located near the Interstate going south to the fabulous Florida. Mother's Day was once again not easy, but this year I was prompted to honor my mother in church on that Sunday. I prepared a three-page presentation to honor Mom and just knew I would be fine...I would not fall apart...I would honor her with dignity and pride, and mostly with love. Yeah...right! When I arrived at the paragraph where I received the phone call telling me she had died...I totally lost it! By the grace of God and through my sobs, I got through the presentation and the congregation was compassionate and loving. I was so thankful for this, for I am by no means a public speaker, and I truly felt like I was going to melt on that stage! I managed to remain in one puddle, and I honestly don't remember much after that until I was on my comfy sofa and napping, which is my usual m.o. on Sunday afternoons.

I finally felt like I would get the chance to sit down and share my projects with you and then before we knew it, it was time to begin getting Tom ready for his one-month sojourn to Diego Garcia. There was medication to order, clothes to either purchase and/or launder, and prepare for packing, and all of the tasks that accompany the usual preparations for a long trip. Tom has been gone since June 6th, and after resting and attending a doctor's appointment and my usual Tuesday morning Bible study, I made up my mind that nothing was going to get in the way of updating this blog!

Happily, in the interim, I have been experimenting with some new patterns, wanting to beef up the inventory for the Ladies Basket Ministry at church. I find that if I am able to keep a few items made ahead of time there won't be 20 babies born in the same month or day and catch us empty-handed. I have found some luscious patterns, and made booties, sweaters, hats, and even a bear for the Mother Bear Charity, which is listed in one of my newest gadgets, Favorite Charities. I hope you will find time to visit some of these sites and learn of the wonderful things being done for those who are less fortunate than others. Making charitible items is not everyone's preference...nor...ahem...do they have the time, but for myself it is perfect. I often find myself buying into feeling like I'm useless because of being disabled and not working any more, so being able to do something like this blesses me more than the recipient! The Mother Bear Project is dear to my heart, especially after seeing the brochure that accompanies the purchase of the pattern(s) for the projects. For most of these children, the bears are all they have in this world! To be a part of that is humbling and yet exuburant in it's aftermath. There is something so special about making a child smile.

In this photograph, the bear is shown nearly completed and will be seamed together and stuffed. The organization furnishes you with a tag for each pattern which the knitter/crocheter ties on the wrist of the bear before shipping it. This is the first project I have knitted that wasn't just straight and flat, although it is sort of like a scarf. There was a bit of shaping and a lot of praying during its construction! I am going to crochet the next bear and I'll let you know which I prefer.

As I mentioned, I have been experimenting with booties because they are always a nice little gift to have prepared in case someone slips up and has a baby without me knowing it, and of course they are perfect items for our basket ministry. They have been such fun to make and at times maddening mainly because I am often dysfunctional when it comes to reading and actually working a pattern correctly. Often, I will later find something on line where someone has wondered the same things I have wondered regarding a particular pattern, so maybe I'm not the village idiot I think I am!

I obtained this pattern from one of the charity sites but didn't copy down the name of the person. As soon as I locate the name, I will publish it.

This is a little pair of moccasins that I sort of woke up in the middle of a rainbow while crocheting them...and...voila! The pattern is from a book entitled First Crochet Projects For Beginners. I have made this pattern for several friends and they love them! The wonderful thing about these is that you can experiment with different yarns and colors, and the ribbon possibilities are endless as well. Also, both boys and girls can wear these.

These tiny little wonders are fun and easy to make, and so delicate and feminine. There are buttons on each side to fasten the booties. These are precious with a pair of baby socks on those sweet little feet before donning the booties. This pattern came from the magazine, Crochet World, Volume 28, No. 3, copyright 2005. I obtained the pattern from the Internet. It appears somewhat vintage.

I am still in the process of designing a pattern for a pair of booties I have made in the past for which I cannot find the pattern. They are precious, easy, and work up very quickly. I will add my own touch to make the pattern mine and publish it by the next blog (hopefully....but no more promises!).

Currently on my needle(s):

What you're seeing is a yellow baby dress from the May/June 2010 issue of Crochet Today Magazine. I haven't attempted a lacy dress before, so please pray for me. The yoke is what you are seeing on the right and it looks so much larger because of the photograph in the magazine being so small...but you get the idea, I'm sure. I will post the finished product before it goes to my neighbor for her granddaughter.

On different note, I have been blessed with so many beautiful flowers. On Mother's Day, my daughter, Dessi, blessed me with a beautiful bouquet of roses which lasted nearly two full weeks! She surprised me with them the Thursday before Mother's Day so I was able to enjoy them early. What a joy and sweet surprise! She blesses my life in ways unimaginable! Her mother, Sashka, will be arriving on July 23rd, and I am eager to see her again. What a lovely woman!

There's the upright table view, one of the "sterling silver" roses, and then an aerial view of the roses blossoming into full blooms literally before my eyes! I enjoyed these so very much and the colors and fragrance were incredible. Thank you, Baby Girl!

Shortly after Mother's Day, my doorbell rang one day and there stood a man on my doorstep with a bouquet of flowers that I surmised were likely for one of my neighbors who were not home. I am home most of the time, so I am happily the "go-to" person for deliveries belonging to neighbors. I was mistaken. This time, the bouquet was from the Yildiz family, a wonderful family of people from Turkey who own OPS Pizza Kitchen and Cafe. We frequent their place often because we enjoy the food, but more importantly we love and enjoy the owners! By the way, we were told by the owners that "OPS" is the Greek symbol for prosperity. It is truly so for them, for they are loved and their restaurants are frequented often by the people of our small community. I was in tears at their kindness and generosity. I often sit and marvel at God's beautiful mercy over my life in the area of friends and their loving kindness. I just cannot believe it at times!

Fast forward to May 29th and we have our "cell group" meeting, which is group of people in our church who meet independently to worship the Lord and learn of His messages to us through His word and through each other. This was nearly like a family reunion, in that my daughter, Dessi, was in town that weekend from Athens, Georgia, and my friend, Kai, who is now attending our church, along with a young man who has recently moved to our town. They all gathered at our house before going to the home of the cell group hosts. Kail brought us a gorgeous bouquet from her garden, consisting of hydrangeas and gardenias. Mmmmmm...is there any other fragrance on earth sweeter than a gardenia or magnolia? Not in my humble opinion. The funny thing is that Kai brought to me the very flowers from her garden that I had used to make my wedding bouquet just five years previously. She was gracious in allowing me to take a few cuttings for a bridal bouquet. It was truly a sweet gesture on her behalf, and I have appreciated the flowers greatly!

I have a dear friend, Faye, who also is an avid gardener, and this is the time of year when I never know what I'll get, but I can bet on getting something! Last week, the bouquets began and you will see the lovely surprises I received.

Faye and Kai both know that I am unable to spend as much time in my garden anymore, so they adorn me with the gifts of beauty grown in their gardens. Only a true friend would do this for me, and I realize that, although I love the flowers, their friendships are far more valuable! Thanks, girls...and you know I love you!!

To top it off, Sunday night in church, Faye brought me the most gorgeous hydrangea I'd ever seen! The color is luscious, and I know that only our Lord could produce such perfection! Faye did not identify the flower in the middle, so I apologize for this.

I am blessed to have friends who adorn me with the gifts from their garden. The peace these blossoms bring to me is immeasurable. I say this because I was brought up "playing in the dirt" with my grandfather--a master gardener. His vegetables, flowers, shrubs, trees, and the gift God gave him to grow them were amazing! They nourished our bodies and our souls. I remember once, after planting a vegetable garden in my deep back yard, him praying and asking the Lord to bless and increase what he had planted. He possessed a beautiful baritone voice that resonated like none other I'd ever heard, and he could be heard all over my neighborhood! We had an unbelievable garden that year and it fed us and many other neighbors who were less fortunate.

I look forward to updating this blog soon when projects are completed and new opportunities arrive into my always surprising life. God bless all of you!

Hang in there!

2010-06-08T02:19:00.000-04:00

I'm feeling horribly guilty about the lag in my blog posts, in my promise to post patterns, etc. I have no idea why humans make plans because life will happen and the next thing you know, you are apologizing for things like a sloppy blog schedule...yikes!

My husband has left the country for a month, and the days surrounding his departure became crazier and wilder by the minute. Now that he's gone and has safely arrived after a 30+hour flight, I'm going to have more time on my hands to get this blog updated and post some new photos of all things crafty and lovely.

So...hang in there with me and remember that I promise to keep my promise this time! I promise!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

2010-05-09T01:33:00.000-04:00

GOD said, "Build A Better World"

And I said, "How?

The world is such a cold, dark place,

And so complicated now,

And I so old and useless.

There's nothing I can do."

But GOD in all of his wisdom said,

"Just build a better you!"

I was going through a little basket which belonged to my mother. It was on her dresser, but most of the contents used to be on her desk years earlier, before she retired. She'd see a poem, quote or story and clip it out and put it with her little basket. I am going to be speaking tomorrow morning at church in honor of Mother's Day. Since my mother went to Heaven, I have desperately wanted to honor her before my friends and family. Tomorrow is my opportunity to honor the woman who loved me so much that she sacrificed so that I could have the things I wanted. Based on what I wrote, which is about three and one-half pages, I should be at the podium for five minutes or so. It seems like such a short tribute to this larger-than-life woman. Nevertheless, I think she would be proud for what is being said about her and how much she is truly loved and missed.

I am including a little craft project I completed several months ago. I saw this on another blog in a photograph. There were no instructions for the project, so I copied it as best I could from the photo. It turned out very well, all things considered! ...Certainly well enough for me to complete a mouse!

This is my Knitting Kitty!

The original project was a mouse, which I made, but did not wish to publish out of respect for the artist. The knitting needles were made from fancy toothpicks (fun!) and then I attached yarn and cast on a few stitches and knitted a row so that the Kitty would truly be a "Knitting Kitty."

I have a photo of the two side by side, and the comparisons are cute! The reason I made a kitty was because all I could think of was "Cat & Mouse." I figured the little mouse needed a companion and I didn't want him to be lonely. Ergo, the Knitting Kitty.

I met a very kind and Godly woman on line. Her name is Marie. She has a blog and I am going to include her url on my blog so that you can visit her. She is amazing and has lots of beautiful yarn and wonderful prices. Let's support this very special woman of God!

*************************************************************

My beautiful daughter, Dessi, sent me a bouquet of roses last Thursday that are simply elegant and refined. Their colors are white, deep red, mauve and pink. I know most people wouldn't think those colors would work, but when you use the rose as its' medium...LOOKOUT!

Arent' these heavenly? I have enjoyed their beauty immensely!

A friend of mine from high school stopped by Friday on his way home to Florida. We hadn't seen one another in five years! He is like a baby brother to me, only he is several feet taller than I am at this point!

Doug is on your right-hand side. His friend, Cary, is on the left. They had made a business run up to our nation's capital and stopped by our house on the way home! It was such fun to see Doug, as he hadn't been to our home before. He is so complimentary, kind, loving and committed to me. Friendships like that are few and far between. Thanks, Dougie, for coming by and adding to the special events of my week!

And finally, I leave you with a photo of my Amaryllis that was given to me in 2008. This is its second year blooming from my garden. I truly enjoy it and am prepared to separate blubs soon, as i it is beginning to multiply.

I wish you all a wonderful Mother's Day! I thank you so much for your support and understanding when it comes to my blog. It is something that I am experimenting with and enjoying completely!

Wishing you blessings!!!!

2010-05-04T21:26:00.000-04:00

I feel so slack for being unable to update this post these past few weeks. I have two Yorkies. In truth, one is mine and the other belongs to my dear friend (in my heart he is mine, though). The one whom I own has diabetes and pancreatitis and is considered a senior dog (age 8). Two weeks ago, he became very ill and, of course, this meant immediate attention to his needs. Pancreatitis, when ignored, usually ends their lives. Therefore, as in-love as I am about my baby boy, off he went to the vet's office and subsequently into the clinic's hospital for observation. Sammy hates being away from me. He is very co-dependent when it comes to me. This is a nature of their breed, not a behavior I enjoy nor encourage. The stress he feels from being away from home magnifies his diabetes and pancreatitis conditions. Therefore, we were able to bring him home after two nights and three entire days. His blood sugar monitoring is extremely important. For some reason, his vet will not allow me to check his blood sugar, although I am sure I could with no problem with my medical background. Nonetheless, Sammy is doing much better and seemingly adjusting to the addition of probiotic powder on his food (yum!) and his new insulin dose. He has to go back for a full day next Monday (May 10th) and hopefully after that he will be home-free for about 2-3 months. Rajah, our little boy who comes daily for daycare, suddenly developed gastroenteritis issues this weekend and today he was sick enough that he stopped eating. Last night, I was up with him just like a little child for nearly the entire night. His vet makes house calls, so she saw Rajah around 12:15 p.m., and by 12:35 p.m. he was back in the house having had his treatment for what she feels is a "little virus." He has eaten for the first time in about 16 hours and is resting in my lap. Okay...that's the Yorkie update and part of the reason for my absence.

This is my Sammy

And this is tiny Rajah...don't let his size fool you!

I have begun to notice that the bone in my left ankle has shifted. What I thought was swelling is actually the result of osteoarthritis. The bone has shifted and it is incredibly painful. So, now along with my other maladies, I am dealing with crippling arthritis...yet another surprise in my life. But, I will deal with it like I have dealt with all of the other things thrown at me. One day at a time, and through my faith in Christ Jesus, along with His eternal grace and favor, I am living my life regardless of the physical threats. It may be different than I had planned and certainly more painful, but nonetheless I don't give up easily!

Sadly, all of these circumstances cost me time at the computer, and it takes a lot to keep posts up-to-date and photos current. I will make no more promises regarding this blog, other than doing my best to keep it more current until my knee surgery happens in September, when I will undoubtedly be away for several days/weeks. Thanks to all of you who follow me and understand. I ask for continued patience with me, for this will become a much more interesting blog as my body heals and is relieved of some of this pain.

For the past few weeks, I have at least been able to crochet and knit. As most of you know, this brings me great pleasure and joy. The ladies of my church have developed a "basket" ministry. This involves making custom gift baskets for people who have celebrated a new baby, a new marriage, a new home, or on the down side, perhaps a health issue, a death in their life, or an ongoing need in their lives. This has been a pure joy for us as women of our church to bless others. In so doing, the blessing is truly ours. My part in this has largely been crocheting or knitting baby items. Since the blood clot in my leg has been an issue and I have been prescribed to rest, the needlework has been a real blessing for many reasons, mainly being able to bless others, but also the pure joy of creating something beautiful for a baby boy or girl to wear. I plan also to knit some dishcloths for other baskets if people ever stop having babies!

I have been diligently working on my friends' scarves and it is obvious that they will not use these until next fall/winter, but they are gorgeous and are a pure joy for me to work with and eventually complete. Two of the three are nearly done.

I do hope that this post finds you all blessed and happy, healthy and whole, and again I am so happy that you give me the time I need to heal and recover without being so critical of me. This has taught me a real lesson in being judgmental, such that when I see blogs that are not updated I have been frustrated by this; however, I now realize that sometimes there are circumstances beyond our control that dictate how much time we can afford at the computer and therefore designing our blog information.

You are all so special to me, and I adore the opportunity to pray for you. Blessings and joy to all of you who read this!

Spring Fever

2010-04-10T10:07:00.000-04:00

Good Morning to all of you! I have to admit that not a great deal of progress has been made toward getting photos posted, projects finished, etc. I have been feverisly searching for the perfect bootie pattern (crochet preferred, but will take anything at this point!). I have spent literally hours researching my patterns, online patterns, etc., and have tried perhaps five different bootie patterns to no avail. Either the pattern is incorrect and I have to figure out what to do (which I don't really mind because I always learn from that), or the yarn and needles instructed are rarely spot on in terms of gauge. This can be very time consuming! I have completed another sweater (will post photos soon), and wish to complete booties and a hat or bonnet. I have until the end of the month to do this. At least the sweater is done. If anyone has an easy peasy pattern for booties that you love, please feel free to share with me. I am grateful to you if you choose to share!

Health Update: I have seen four doctors in two weeks, and I'm exhausted from the process as well as the travel. Ugh! I am grateful to God for providing these professionals and do not in any way minimize their importance to my situation. The knee surgery has been rescheduled for September 7th...Happy Birthday to me! No matter..I am so eager to have this done that I would likely do it on Christmas day (not really)! The vascular physician's assistant said that my left leg would never be normal and the swelling would never subside. I told him that he has his medical reasons for stating that, but I have my personal and spiritual reasons for believing that God can and will change that curse spoken over me! I have chosen to believe for a miracle and I believe that God will manifest my healing in His divine time.

I plan on getting to my main computer (this is my laptop) soon in an effort to post some photos I've taken of projects that have been ongoing for several weeks and some that I began and finished in a week. People are having babies and getting married, which means out comes the yarn stash and the appropriate needles to complete the joyful task of creating something original for someone I love!

Spring is alive and well here, and the pollen is rampant! I've never seen it like this in all of my 53 years! Indeed, my sinuses are living proof of the pollen count, but nevermind that..I am in love with the cool weather and the birds singing, flowers blooming, etc. God's amazing works are so evident in all of the little buds on the trees and shrubs, plants and flowers. All of my plants are waking up and have been properly pruned for their new growth for this year's summer season. How I love working with God's beautiful nature! The rewards are priceless!

I went out on a limb this week and made homemade Rosemary shampoo. I love it! It is mild, fragrant, and my hair is as soft as silk. I have a multitude of Rosemary growing in my herb garden, and because it is a perennial and an evergreen, I will continue to host a ton of it unless I give it away. I have harvested it and cooked with it, and now the shampoo. I've done so much with it that I feel like I should change my name to Rosemary!

I will return soon with a newer post and some photos. Until then...be blessed in all that you do. You are in my prayers!

2010-04-03T02:52:00.000-04:00

I thank you so much for showing an interest in this half-hearted attempt at blogging! I find myself almost embarrassed at telling folks about my blog, but I am slowly but surely sharing it.

Each day brings me closer to healing and I am believing God for the miracles I need in my body. I thank all of you who are praying and have prayed. You are my blessings!

I wish for you all a blessed and awesome Resurrection Day as you remember what Jesus did for you, how He died for you, and how He rejoices in knowing that you love Him!

There is no other God before Him, and there is no God like Jehovah!!!

An Exciting New Web Site!

2010-03-29T16:18:00.000-04:00

Today is the birthday of my very dear childhood friends, Robin Stahura. Those of you in the S.E. U.S. area may not know her, as she lives in Virginia. Portsmouth to be exact, which is the town where I was born. She is an amazingly creative woman who makes jewelry that is unique, one-of-a-kind and very beautiful pieces! I have included her web address for you to refer to on my blog. For quick reference, it is http:\\relicsbyrobin.com. Be sure that you visit her web site. It is still in the early construction phase, so please bear with her and know that it will be worth the wait! Robin is one of the hardest-working women I have ever known and her ambition is matchless. She has a beautifully creative style and mind. I haven't seen a match for it yet, and I have lived 53 years! Be sure you let her know what you think of her gorgeous creations.

Not much going on in my world except trotting to doctors and knitting and crocheting when I have a chance. I love doing both, so it is a joy when I must travel to Jacksonville for a medical appointment. Tom usually drives and I get to work on my current projects. I always take a bag along with me that is equipped with yarn and needles, and a current project, on which to spend time working.

I hope your week is going well and you are creating things....beautiful things...with your hands. Remember to send me photos of your recent projects, as I am inspired by the work that others do.

God bless you!

Finally...an update!

2010-03-27T00:56:00.002-04:00

You have been so patient with me, and I appreciate it. These past few weeks have been a trial to say the least, and there are more doctors getting involved over this little blood clot than I could ever have imagined! I am on blood thinners and that has been an eye-opener, especially with my diet. I have to pretty much eat the same foods and amounts of them every day, or it can affect the Coumadin levels in my blood. The good thing is that it makes me want to eat healthier. The one thing that patients on blood thinners must avoid is foods rich in vitamin K. I knew this before with my medical background, but what I didn't know is that one may ingest foods rich in vitamin K as long as these foods are eaten pretty much on a daily basis and one does not deviate from that eating schedule. That's good news for my brother and step-father who had their aortic valve replaced several years ago.

I am probably going to be absent more than present in the coming weeks, but hopefully this clot will dissolve and I'll be good as new in a few weeks. Let's pray...okay? I have been knitting and Georgia's scarf has grown leaps and bounds! I have nearly finished her daughter's scarf too. Yay! Then, I will start on Jon's, who is Georgia's son. In the meantime, there is a wedding and a few babies being born, so I may have to sideline a couple of quick gifts in that regard. That will keep me entertained!

My sister visited me and stayed for nearly three weeks while my husband toured Italy. She was here long enough for me to teach her how to knit on a kntting loom, and really loved it! I sort of thought she would because she likes to do latch hook rugs. I sent a loom to her home upon her departure so that she can have one of her own and begin making some blankets, scarves, etc. Her projects are only limited by her imagination.

I am going to post a new website and blog with this post. I was looking around for a baby bootie and sweater pattern when I ran across a site that makes acrylic eyes for Amigurumi figures. This site is called "Suncatcher Eyes." These little eyes are the most beautiful, haunting things I've ever seen to be used as eyes on critter projects. While perusing this site, lovingly created by a nice person named Michelle, I discovered free crochet patterns for enchanting little Amigurumi creatures. The eyes are really what give them their personalities. The boundaries are endless in terms of creativity, so I encourage you to visit her site and purchase the eyes she makes. You won't be sorry, especially if you enjoy creating little "babies" for your children or grandchildren, or even a niece, nephew or cousin! Let me know what you think. My mom used to tell me that the eyes are the windows of the soul. Seeing these creations makes me think of that phrase.

I will keep this shorter than usual tonight, as I am growing tired and need to get some rest. Thank you all for reading my blog, for being patient, and for tolerating my lack at this time. I promise to make it up to you when I have recovered. I won't be having knee surgery until some time in September now that the clot is present, so I have some time to research and share sites, patterns, etc. Until next time, be blessed!

Miracles and other things on the horizon

2010-03-04T02:45:00.001-05:00

I went to see the vascular surgeon yesterday. He explained to me that I had experienced a pulmonary embolism and lived without the aid of blood thinners...pretty much unheard of. He also said that I was the only patient in his entire medical history who ever experienced this without the aid of blood thinners and lived to tell about it. He then went on to tell me I was lucky to be alive. I had to tell him that it wasn't luck, it was God! There is no way I can sit here in the wee hours like this and not give God the glory, honor and praise for saving my life...thank you, Lord!!!

My sister arrives tomorrow from New Jersey. She will get a little break from the snow and shoveling. It will be in the 70's while she's here, and that delights my soul! My husband is going to Naples, Italy on Saturday, and he felt I should have someone with me while he's gone in case this clot decides to travel any more, which is highly unlikely. I guess it just eases his mind to know I'm not alone in his absence. I am never alone, though....as I have a Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to accompany me through my day!

I have been knitting away. Georgia's scarf is now over 30 inches in length! Only 54 more inches to go! Yay! The completed scarf will have over 15,000 stitches in it. I think that is amazing.

I am going to pick up my sister in the morning, and then we are off to my orthopedic surgeon's office for me to speak with him about the DVT, and address this horrible pain that is in my left ankle. I am so hoping it wll not be a surgial issue. I spend half of my life waiting, but I have no choice. The doctor is afraid of putting me in the operating room this close to a DVT and pulmonary embolism. I agree with him and admire his candor in telling me how close to death I could be in a surgical situation, and also that he is planning on waiting six months before even considering the surgery. He has never lost a patient to a blood clot in his life and I don't think he wants me to be the first loss. Neither do I.

I wish you all happiness and fun this weekend, and I encourage you to tell people you love them, smile often, speak to a stranger with kindness, and love like there will be no tomorrow. I know I am going to practice this advice because I was closer to death than ever before, and I value having the opportunity to improve someone else's day. I'm starting with you...you are all amazing, and I appreciate your reading my blog and being my friend! God bless you!

Surprise, Surprise!

2010-02-27T18:41:00.000-05:00

I know it's been a while since I posted anything, but I'm a little under the weather. I discovered last week that I have a blood clot in my left leg. There's been a lot of swelling and pain in that leg, and my orthopedic surgeon who will hopefully perform the total knee joint replacement in May referred me to a vascular surgeon. I had some testing last Thursday and lo and behold there was a little friend hiding in my popliteal vein! Since I have a bevy of diagnoses, they did not know exactly how to handle this. Protocol is hospitalization (yuk!) and blood thinners. The jury is still out on what they will do with me, as I have to see the vascular doctor Tuesday. He happened not to be in the office last Thursday, and I received the news from his physician's assistant. Needless to say, I am on bed rest and compression, which I have basically been doing and which likely has attributed to the fact that this clot didn't throw (that, and Jesus being on my side!). I am sharing this with you because the new posts will be sporadic for the next few weeks. I ask your forgiveness and patience with me. I know that the blog is not getting a lot of hits now, but the few I recieve I appreciate greatly! You are all such warm, friendly people. I am so pleased with the comments that have been left by you all. I have always said that crafters are the nicest people in the world, and you all are living proof!

In my current situation, I haven't let knitting or crocheting pass me by. I am not finished with Georgia's (slip stitch) scarf, but I would say about 1/3 of the way through...yay!!! I have almost finished the scarf for Gabby that I mentioned in an earlier post. I offered to put pom-poms on her scarf as an embellishment, and she liked the idea. I am going to have lots of fun making those while I'm resting...thanks, Gabby!!! I will begin her brother, Jon's scarf and work on that as soon as her scarf is finished, and I promise photos. Here's a photo of Georgia's scarf in progress:

The following photo is the public and wrong sides of the scarf.

The colors in this yarn are amazing, and it's such fun to keep knitting to see what unfolds!

I have lots of new ideas running around in my head for patterns that I hope to post before my surgery in May..so hold on...I promise to give you more than just updates, photos and links. I don't want to lose the followers I have because of boredom! I've actually got a list of things I want to create and finish so that I can post the patterns here, many of them I will store up for after the knee surgery. I promise to have something in the coming weeks, though.

I have one more photo of my Yorkie to share with you, and I know you've seen him before, but I love looking at him. His beauty and sweet company never cease to amaze me. Thanks for indulging me.

And, we cannot forget Sammy's little friend, Rajah, who stays with us quite often.

It's hard to believe that March is on our heels, but indeed it is. When I married my husband, I learned that his mother was a wonderful crafter. She had a thimble collection, many of which my husband purchased for her during his travels. Last year, I found a shelf for the thimbles, and was then able to clean them and display them with great pride. I would like to share them with you in the coming months. This month, I am going to show you the St. Patrick's Thimble. It's ceramic. I have no idea the age of the thimbles, nor their worth, but I know they are priceless to my husband and me.

My sister, Kimberly, will arrive this week from New Jersey, and I think she'll be glad for the respite from all of the snow (15 inches last Thursday and Friday). She's coming to stay with me while my husband travels to Italy, and to help me recover from surgery. She will stay through the end of June, as my husband will be traveling to Diego Garcia again for most of that month. I have no idea when I'll be back to post new information, but I will definitely try to be back soon. Thanks for all of your kindness, prayers, and loyalty to me!

It's Wednesday Already

2010-02-17T15:53:00.000-05:00

Time...such a precious jewel in the crown of life. There never seems to be enough of it. Already, I find myself fretting over the holiday season of 2010! Is that a hoot or what? I have so many creative things running through my brain, and I know I haven't enough time to even begin to carry them to completion. I've decided my best approach is to start at the beginning of my priorty list and hope and pray I achieve all the things on that list. Already, the middle of February has passed, and there are only 28 days in the month. Before we know it, it will be Easter, then July 4th, and...well...you know the drill.

Today has been a day of rejoicing for me. My sister had a biopsy last week and the results returned as "benign!" I have thanked God all day, as well as my friends and family who included her in their prayers. Truly...this is a day to rejoice!

I'm posting some new photos and keeping you up to date on Georgia's scarf. I mentioned her in my last post. Her scarf is coming along nicely, and I am enjoying the process of knitting it. Let's face it. There are some projects, no matter what they are, that can be boring and cause longsuffering, but this is not a pattern of that nature...at least not to me. As a beginning knitter, I find this a true joy to knit. I included the link in my last post, and it is for the pattern I am currently using to make Georgia's scarf. It's called the Noro slip stitch scarf, or the Noro Striped Scarf by Jared Flood. By either name, it is an awesome pattern, quick to work up and lovely in its results. I hope you'll check it out and try it. I think any new knitter and even the accomplished knitter may find it enjoyable. The following photos show its progress to date.

I tried to get as close as possible so as to show you the "weave" of the pattern. I do not have a battery for my good digital camera, but its on order. I have to use my phone camera instead. So, please bear with me.

I am also making scarves for Georgia's children. I started her daughter's scarf a couple of nights ago when I was watching the Olympics and needed something that didn't require as much attention as the Noro scarf. It is nearly finished. It is located on the left side of the photo:

The longer scarf is made of two different colors, shades of teal and lavender, and is very lovely. I will begin Georgia's son's scarf as soon as her daughter's is complete and photograph it as well.

I don't know where you all live, but I do hope you are getting a reprieve from the winter weather. In my opinion, being in the deep south and deprived of snow, it is quite lovely to watch, but I am not fond of navigating it. I know that those of you who have recently endured several snow storms in a row have likely grown tired of it. Of course, I picture all of you sitting by a warm fire, sipping hot cocoa and stitching away as the snow softly falls, blanketing the earth with purifying beauty. Yeah...right, huh?

It seems I had so many other things to say but they are escaping me at this point and it is getting late. Thanks for endulging me in my prattling. Until next time...Happy Stitching!

Another Saturday Night..

2010-02-14T00:45:00.000-05:00

I survived another day of sniffles. This thing appears to have set up residence in my body and either really likes it or has lost its way home! I've tried everything: Benadryl, Thera-Flu, Tylenol, Netty pot, Vick's Vaporub, chicken soup, cough drops, and the list goes on and on. Oh well...at least I have been able to work on the undecorating of Christmas in my house this weekend. This project has been delayed since right after New Years, and between my husband's injured back and my maladies...it never began until yesterday. I am not one to linger on my health issues, but I guess this time it's neccessary in order to establish awareness on the part of my "followers." Most who know me are aware of my spinal cord surgeries and subsequent disability (oh how I hate that word!). The addition of kidney disease two years ago was a brick right up side my head! I never saw it coming and have struggled with that ever since, along with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia...and blah, blah, blah, right? Right! There is a point to this: I simply won't be going to a lot of places to shop or find the good sales and new notions in the local area, nor willl I have much to share with you in the way of excitement; however, I have committed myself to blog research of late and have lots of goodies in store for you in the coming weeks. One more health-related thingie I need to share is that my upcoming total knee joint replacement is tentatively scheduled for May 3rd. Since my husband will not be leaving the country for a month, as was the earlier plan, I have called to see about rescheduling my knee surgery earlier. That being written, I may be gone in a finstant...and that's faster than an instant! So..if something should happen that you do not see me for a while, you'll know what is happening. I'm a walking soap opera!

I found a magnificent blog that I believe will help and affect many of you. It is called "The Modern Roots Arts & Crafts Community." Every possible interest you could imagine is respected on this site with many ways to share your information about your current project, recipe, gardening tip, knitting/crocheting patterns (or theirs), embroidery, rubber stamping...you name it! It is very similar in format to Facebook, and I think you'll really like it. I had a sweet little note from Miranda, the blogger who originated this idea, and appreciate so much her interest in my blog as well as upcoming input from her followers! The link is as follows and will also be included in my blog list: http://modernroots.com/ I do hope you will peruse this lovely site and give yourself the gift of sharing your creative interests with others, and the pleasure as well of receiving their information!

Another personal but precious aspect of my life: My Yorkie, Sammy. He is going on 9 years of age, but still has a puppy face and is the sweetest, kindest, gentlest little dog I've ever seen. I love him so much and would give my life for him. Today, Sammy was groomed for the first time in four months. He looks so lovely. Here's his latest photo:

Don't mind my husband in the background; he is deeply engrossed in the Olympics! Isn't Sammy the cutest little guy? He couldn't have posed any more perfectly that this. I am intensely proud of him and I thank you for indulging me.

Another amazing person in my life is my nephew, David. He will be 24 in May and decided after attending college to become a police officer for the city in which he was raised--Chesapeake, Virginia. I have some recent photos of him in uniform and I am just bound to post them (what more is there to say?)

So...now I've bragged, I've blogged, and I can say "nite nite!" I appreciate each and every reader of my blog and I pray that you will find other blog links to tickle your fancy.

I wish you a deliciously happy Valentine's Day, filled with laughter, love, joy, peace, and fulfillment! May God richly bless you now and when we meet again!

What a week!

2010-02-13T03:45:00.000-05:00

It is my belief that, what goes around comes around, and apparently it was my turn to have the flu this past week. The sad part is that it isn't even over yet...I'm still doing the watery eyes, stuffy nose...well...you know the drill. That is why I've not posted anything new this week. I hope you'll forgive me, as it has driven me a little batty to be away from my blog, even though I haven't that many followers.

A nice thing happened today....okay, yesterday (Friday)...and it made my day! My friend, Georgia, who is living in my home state of Virginia, sent me some yarn that was chosen by herself, and her two children, Gabby and Jon. The yarn Georgia chose is by Noro, and is quite possibly the easiest yarn I've ever knitted with to date (sadly, my knitting career is much shorter than my 30+ year crocheting history). The pattern is on the Internet and is called the "slip stitch scarf" http://ribbedforyourpleasure.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/the-noro-slip-stitch-stripe-scarf/. I had played with the pattern a few weeks ago before mentioning it to Georgia, showed her the link, and...voila!...the yarn is here, and the scarf has begun!

The pattern is quite easy and knits into a "woven" effect. There are only four rows to the pattern and they are repeated to the desired length of your scarf.

I encourage you to try it if you'd like something to do while watching the winter Olympics these next couple of weeks.

I'm going to keep this short, as I've lost so much time in the past week, and I hope to see you back here sooner than later!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Friday Night, February 5, 2010

2010-02-06T00:39:00.000-05:00

I'd say this has been a long week. I had a few medical appointments, and most yielded good results. This is so tiring, though, and I will be happy after May 3rd, when I find myself recovering from knee surgery and hopefully gaining a new thread in this life of mine!

I have an issue with Wal-Mart. Two years ago...maybe three...the powers-that-be for Walmart decided to remove fabric from their stores...not all of them at once, but certainly the one in our one-horse town. I am not a fabric snob, but I must confess that I use only heirloom-quality fabric in my quilts. My rationale for that is, if I am going to spend hours creating something that may possibly last a century, why would I put anything less in my quilts that heirloom quality fabrics? Yet, when I need to throw together the occasional craft project, I enjoy having the choice of spending less on the fabric. Consequently, I used to go toodling off to Wal-Mart, but not any more...oh no...this isn't possible because some executive with cranial flatulence decided to remove all of the fabric and most of the yarn from their craft department. There was one redeeming factor: fabric would remain in a store about 25 minutes from my house for "about six years." I received a generous gift card for Walmart this Christmas and decided that, since I was in that area tonight, I would go over to purchase some fabric. I arrive there limping, with the lovely sciatica that decided to take up residence in my right leg three days ago, to the back of the store only to find that the fabric was gone! Rage is not something I often afford myself as an emotion, but I could sense my blood pressure rising. There was no warning...no newspaper announcement, nothing. To top this, the yarn supply was actually smaller than the one in my local Walmart, so at this point I was bordering on feeling livid. I did not allow these emotions to overcome me, however it was not the easiest thing I've ever done to resist the temptation to let out a good primal scream smack dab in the middle of the store! I somehow doubt that I'd have been heard over the screams of the unsupervised children that seem to set the stage for "Fridays At Walmart." I ended up purchasing a Valentine card and a bead board, and limped out of Walmart with a lot less enthusiasm than upon my arrival, feeling my dignity bruised because I went that far to buy their less than optimum fabric.

Perhaps next week's events will yield a happier post for Friday night. Hope springs eternal!

I am hoping to make it to an Alpaca Expo. In addition to seeing the Alpaca's, there will be yarn vendors there and perhaps even a few spinners who might shed some light on that intriguing craft. I'll keep you informed. Here's their link in case you'd like info on the show: http://www.flalpacas.com/

Have a wonderful weekend!

Here's a photo of my Christmas Village for 2009

Wee hours of Wednesday

2010-02-03T00:53:00.000-05:00

I want to welcome KT as a new follower! Thanks for your interest and remember to leave your input...I am very green at this!

I've been researching a lot of blogs and finding that, as my excitement grows perusing the contents, some of the dates on other blogs go back sometimes several years! So...I figure maybe I don't feel so bad if I miss a day or two updating my posts. Honestly, though, I prefer to update at least 4-5 times per week because I'm bursting at the seams to share the exciting things I've found.

Another doctor's appointment today revealed that I may be receiving some help with the swelling in my legs, which only serves to liberate me more and prepare me for the upcoming knee replacement in May. This may also allow me to sit at the computer longer to find and share cool stuff. I realize that most of the blogs I post are nothing new to the seasoned blogger, but this is really like Christmas for me!

Speaking of Christmas...I've been photographing the special ornaments on my tree before I take it down...yes, it is still up! Between my inability to lift the boxes into which the decorations will live for the next several months, and my husband with an ailing back, Christmas lives on in our home, and frankly I love it! I find that two or three weeks once a year really are not enough for me to get my fill of the beautiful lights, the vintage decorations with such warm and lovely memories, the Nativity that took me 11 years to collect and complete...but I will soon part with them likely by Saturday. And then I will have a new, empty-feeling but clean house! Although we are nearing Valentine's Day, I want to share these photos with you in the coming posts because I think you may find them enjoyable. The photo below is of the mitten I wore as a toddler. My grandmother had this amongst her things and this was found when she died. Needless to say, it is priceless to me.

A lot of the details are worn, but it is 100% wool and has a little character on the mitten that is wearing what looks like red pajamas. Believe it or not, I actually remember wearing these! It's amazing what you remember when you sit and think of these memories. I can almost hear the snow crunching beneath my feet, smell the fudge my mother made every time it snowed, sipping her made-from-scratch cocoa! I remember these mittens on my tiny hands, and my mother's hands holding mine. Those were the days!

To wind this up, I am enclosing a link from the site Tipnut.com. It is a vintage pattern that was included on their site today and I thought it only appropriate to include this, given the content of my post. http://christmas.tipnut.com/

Wherever you are...I hope you have memories of warm woolen mittens.

A Winter Wish

2010-01-31T00:06:00.001-05:00

A very dear and special friend of mine and I have long shared the opinion that January is the longest month of the year. Something I've noticed is that the older I become, the shorter January seems to be! And, I find myself at the end of another January in a new year and, before I can blink, it'll be Christmas again! I know...you say..."Bite your tongue," right? I don't really mind it being Christmas again. I love celebrating the season! I do enjoy the diversity offered at different times during the year and, although I live in a fairly seasonless climate, there are certain things that only certain seasons can offer.

One thing I especially miss is snow. I called home today and learned from my father and sister that they were getting anywhere from 6-12" of snow! Groan....I want snow cream and snow angels, and freezing toes too! Well, you won't believe this. Then again, you probably will. As you know, I am no technogenius. I feel certain you are learning this by the size of my photos and the fact that I have a blog that is scattered like autumn leaves (but that will improve...I promise). I began searching for On Demand movies on my cable box and discovered screen savers with snow scenes! Not only one...but two! I had hit pay dirt. Many scenes are offered, lasting approximately 20 minutes: a fire place ranking second only to the wintery scenes with snow falling softly over wooded areas...mmmmmmmmmm...I was home once more! Of course, I snuggled under my fleece throw that I adore and positioned my head just right on the pillow to enjoy the "snow," and soon began to watch the inside of my eyelids. No worry, though...I have my trusty "wintery scenes" to welcome me back at any time of my choosing...even when it's July and with a 100+ degree heat index!

Something that emerged from my yarn stash!

2010-01-30T23:59:00.002-05:00

YO-YO Diet 100% wool yarn

2010-01-27T00:52:00.000-05:00

As you know, one of the blogs and links posted here is for http://www.darngoodyarn.com/. I knitted this scarf out of the YO-YO Diet, thick and thin, 100% wool yarn. This became what is one of the most amazingly warm scarves I've ever had the pleasure to place around my neck. Although I did not keep the scarf, I admire the comfort and warmth of it, and I highly recommend it to anyone who knits and crochets!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

2010-01-27T00:42:00.000-05:00

Good Morning!
This is a much better week, and I find myself trying new knitting stitches/patterns, which is always a boost to my morale!

I've posted a few more blogs that I realize are very popular and likely nothing new to you, but if you browse this blog and find at least one that brings you joy...then it will have been worth the research!

Thanks for being my reader and giving me the chance to share my life with you. I hope you have had a chance to donate your support to the recovery efforts in Haiti. What an overwhelming event...catastrophic to say the least...and how thankful I am to be here tonight, writing from my computer desk in a quilting studio that is glorious. I am blessed beyond measure...and I hope and pray that you are as well!

Sunday night, January 24, 2010

2010-01-24T20:44:00.000-05:00

This week has brought some unexpected stuff into my life, but with the time away from the computer, I have had a chance to hone my knitting skills...yay! Knitting is scary to me mainly because I do not understand how to correct a dropped stitch. If I understood how to fix this problem, I think my anxieties about knitting would disappear like a nice thin vapor. I keep thinking I'll find someone here in Podunk to help me with this, but finding a knitter here is (and please pardon the pun) is like locating a needle in a haystack. I knitted an approximately 6 x 4" swatch of stockinette with some acrylic yarn, and it actually was flawless this time. I was able to bind it off. I want to keep this and put it on my inspiration wall in my studio. This will keep my mind open to new adventures in knitting. I also attempted a pair of easy knitted booties, but didn't have the correct sized knitting needle for the project. I used a size smaller of DPNs, which was the closest number I had at the time. They actually turned out okay, not worthy of giving away, and way too much smaller (preemie) sized than I would like to give to someone. But, I saved that bootie, mistakes and all, so that I may learn from the experience and hopefully use the experience for future endeavors. One thing is for sure...I will not give up hope! I am not a master crocheter by any stretch of the imagination, but I am a moderately good crocheter, which came from years of practice and dedication to new ideas and books, Internet access to hundreds of free patterns and many ideas, as well as watching programs on PBS, such as Knit and Crochet Today. What a wonderful show, and so very informative, taking the fear out of many things such as knitted cables, crocheting in the round and knowing exactly where to put a marker, versus guessing. So, the silver lining in my cloud this weekend was that my infirmities allowed me some down time, and a good chance to experiment with things I've considered for a long time but never found the time to attempt.

I have added a new blog or two in recent days, so be sure to check them out.

I hope you all had an equally wonderful weekend and that your upcoming week is filled with blessings! Until next time...happy stitching!

Tuesday Post

2010-01-19T21:55:00.000-05:00

It's pretty late on Tuesday night and I've had some thoughts...sometimes pretty heavy...running through this blonde head for a few days. Haiti has me so saddened, and yet I know that God is going to help these people...has helped them...and I thank the Lord every day that I am aware of the blessings He has given me. Second only to the fact that this horrible disaster has taken place, I am saddened mostly by the fact that my health doesn't permit me to go and minister to this country. They are in need...such great need...of love. I have cried out in my prayers for them! I believe that this world has come together during this tragedy moreso than any other disaster in the history of man, at least from my viewpoint and what I see on television. I see many countries offering help that I would never have dreamed would come to the aid of Haiti. I've got friends who are merchant marines and their boats are heading for Haiti, bypassing some formerly planned ports. Amazing! This is the kind of love we're supposed to show for one another. My next prayer would be that this love for one another continue past the sadness of this disaster and into the future. Peace be still. I know God rejoices today to see His children banding together.

Exciting news! I actually have a follower!!! Thanks, Breezy. You're the best! I haven't really alerted many friends to the fact that I have a blog. I really haven't even told many family members. I just needed to get myself together and hopefully create some dialogue that would not have readers yawning by the third sentence. That'll take a while. Please forgive me!

My plans for the future are to include projects and patterns, and of course I'll keep sharing my heart with you. I spend quite a bit of time alone, so it will be nice to sit here and "talk" to you on a regular basis. Please, let me hear from you if you have things you'd like to share or post. I'm open to your ideas.

Okay...time for some more research and education on all things "blog." Nite nite!

Help for Haiti

2010-01-15T12:47:00.000-05:00

One of the links and blogs I love is from the www.darngoodyarn.com site on my blog post. Nicole, the owner of this fine business, is offering 5% of every sale of premium recycled silk yarn as a donation to the Red Cross. Please...reach deeply within your hearts and pockets to help the desperate nation of Haiti!

As an aside, Nicole is an amazing philanthropist in that she donates yarn to good causes (read her blog). I know, because she has helped me immensely with the scarves I have knitted for the ladies of the City Rescue Mission. Additionally, she purchases her yarns from countries where women are not exploited, but rather helped. Her blog is fascinating and filled with gorgeous yarns and products from all over the world, and information on her platform to help other women. Get a good cup of whatever makes you happy and check out her website and blog!

Friday Blog

2010-01-15T12:25:00.000-05:00

Finally...I have attempted to start my own blog. I am not a technogenius, but I can read, so I figured I may as well try this on for size. There are so many...literally hundreds...of blogs I adore and I wondered what in the world I was thinking. Then, it occurred to me that it might be fun to share ideas, blogs I admire, thoughts, crafts, recipes, music, patterns...life. Not an original thought, but one that justified me starting this blog...at least for me.

What I have to say may not necessarily be verbose each time I post, but it is sincere. I hope that everyone reading this receives a blessing. Have an awesome weekend!!