Way too long!!

Warning!!! This may be lengthy. I feel like writing and attempting to explain how long it's been and why.

April was a beautiful month and shortly after my last post we flew to Las Vegas to visit my brother and mother. Mom had broken her hip 6 to 8 weeks earlier and was just about to leave the nursing home to return to the assisted living dementia home where she lived. She seemed pleased to see us and seemed to recognize a familiar face, even if she didn't know who I was. I got to hug her and tell her I loved her for 3 days. It was nice, needless to say.

Eventually she did return to Loyalton, where she lived, and seemed to be doing ok, from what my brother said. In mid-May, she quit eating and was gone in about 5 days. My sister flew out to try to see her on the day she actually died. I felt so awful for her. It took us until mid-July to have her ashes buried with Daddy's at Arlington National Cemetery. It was a hot afternoon, but it went well and didn't rain on us, fortunately. Chrissy was there and was our angel.

I think I'm recovered enough to begin to post again. We've been to Delaware to spend Chrissy's first birthday with her and her mom and dad. I'm working, but am retiring in September. My last day will be Sept. 11th, which is Mom's birthday. Her death was the impetus that helped me decide to retire, so it is only appropriate that I retire then. David and I have booked a cruise to Canada and New England for the last week in October as our beginning celebration. We can hardly wait.

I've not been doing much knitting, but have been working on a needlepoint stocking for Chrissy and several dresses for her in English Smocking. I'll post pictures, etc. soon.

;-)

Long time no see!

This is the final product of my lovely granddaughter, Chrissy, in her smocked dress. She really is this beautiful and this happy, too. I almost cried when my son-in-law sent me the picture on Easter Sunday.

This is the pattern from which I made the next pictures for Chrissy. You can find it here. I have to admit that I copied Alison from the Blue Blog. She had done this in the most beautiful lavendar shade for her daughter and I fell in love with it. This is Knitpicks Shine sport yarn in the plum shade. The first and third pictures following this are truer to the color than the middle one. I had lots of fun knitting this and even followed Alison's advice to use the smaller needles on the yoke areas. I'm in love with the yarn and pattern, obviously. Thanks, Alison!

I just happened to have these kitty buttons. Don't they look sweet?
If I get a picture of Chrissy wearing this, I'll be sure to post it!

My knitting lately has been simple, because my stamina from my January surgery just hasn't returned the way I want. I had to leave for almost a week to go to a Public Library Association conference in Minneapolis a couple of weeks ago and it really exhausted me. Then I was home for a week of work, barely, when my husband and I flew to Las Vegas for 6 days. We spent time seeing my brother, helping him with things from Mom's house, visiting Mom in the nursing home 3 times and we did get some gambling done for fun. I broke even, actually, which is amazing for me. It sure made the trip more fun, though!!!

It's finished!

Here is the brick doorstop all finished! Isn't it pretty? Mom really did do a good job. Anonymous asked if it was to be a doorstop and, yes, that's correct. Thanks for asking! I'm really pleased with the end result. I sure do hope Helen and Chris will be, too!
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This is my project for this afternoon. My daughter and son-in-law picked this brick cover from a group of completed projects from my 91 year old mother. Mom did this many years ago and it was never put onto a brick, so when Helen chose this to have in her home I said I would finish it for her. We are going to Helen and Chris' for Thanksgiving and I will take this to them all finished. It isn't too hard and they will get a lot of use out of it in their new home.
I'm happy to be able to put some of Mom's things into use. She knitted a lot, but I got her started in cross stitch and needlepoint many years ago and she did a beautiful job with her needlework. She never sewed much, so I did most of her finishing anyway. I have a couple of cross stitch items to do for myself, too. Should be fun and bring back some good memories.
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