Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Christmas at my mom's

This past Saturday my mom had the family Christmas party at her house and there were 22 people, 5 of which were teens on down to a 2 yr old. We enjoyed good food and had fun playing Dirty Santa. My mom always gives my brother, his wife, 2 children and us (my dh, ds and me) our gifts that day as well. My hubby had asked for money which my mom gave him $200 and my son wanted a certain game for his PS2 which he recieved plus a sweater and pj's and $50 in cash. I got a top, a christmas turtleneck, a sweater, a fleece top, a Tommy Hilfiger (sp?) purse and a rolling bag to organize my knitting stuff. Do you say a little spoiled???...LOL. I can't wait till Christmas morning to see my son's face when he see's what he's getting this year and I can't tell yet in case he finds and reads this. I still have some wrapping to do and will work on that tonight and tomorrow. I have already wrapped dh's and ds' and they are all under the tree. I will be spending most of Christmas day at my mother in laws cooking and enjoying my dh's family (I love them all as well as my own). We will go and visit with my dad and his wife Christmas Eve day for a little bit and then to visit my dad's baby sister. This is the time of year that I truly miss a lot of my family but have very fond memories of Christmas' past.

When I was growing up we used to go to my grandparents (The Hale's) on Christmas morning where we would eat breakfast which consisted of eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, gravy, biscuits, fried apples and then after all that we would have homemade cinnamon rolls with homemade icing. After breakfast we would gather round the Christmas Tree and open gifts. I miss those days and my grandparents.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Knitting

I was just reading a past blog of mine and realized that I haven't updated the progress of my friend who had the stroke back in May. She is now doing much better and can actually knit some with needle size 7 or 8 which is fabulous.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Life in general

Well geesh I just realized I haven't written since June and I have a lot to tell and some sad news too.

I am now the Warden for the Rebekah Assembly of Virginia which is the ladies lodge of the Odd Fellows to find out more go to http://www.ioof.org . Warden is like a Jr. Vice President and part of my job is to visit lodges in the state of VA and share with the members the different programs that the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs support. I will serve next year as Vice President and then as President.

I am no longer Convention Chair for Rising Star but am still serving as an advisor to the ConChair and as Dealers Chair. I am also Dealers Chair for Technicon 26. You can find out more about these at http://www.rising-star.org and http://www.technicon.org.

The week of Thanksgiving was a very stressful and sad week for my family and friends, my mother in law had open heart surgery the Monday of Thanksgiving week, one friend lost his grandmother and another friend lost his mother in law. My mother in law is home and doing great and will make this a great Christmas.

I have been spending lots of time with family and friends celebrating Christmas the past couple of weeks. My husband's family celebrates on the first Saturday of December with a pot luck dinner that is enough to feed a small army and a gift exchange, then the Monday following I celebrated with my International Association of Administrative Professionals chapter, we had good food and did a gift exchange. On that Wednesday the office had a luncheon and that night the Campus Scouts had a supper.

Then on Saturday December 13th my hubby, son and I went to WV to celebrate with friends from our StarFleet chapter where we have lots of good food and exchange gifts and one of the fun things we do is a dollar exchange where everyone who wants to join in the fun brings a dollar gift and we put our names in a pot and someone draws out two names and those two people exchange their gifts, I enjoy going and picking out the little dart guns or something that you can shoot or spin or drive. Sadly on the Sunday after this event one of our friends from this group passed away and will be missed by us all.

This Saturday is my family Christmas at my mom's home and I can't wait to see all the family, 25+ people will invade my mom and her hubby's home (she remarried) where we will get to spend wonderful time together, eat good food and play dirty Santa, you put the packages in the middle of the floor and then everyone draws a number, the person with the number 1 goes first and opens a gift of choice then the person with number 2 can take the opened gift or open another if person number 2 takes the first person's gift then the first person gets to open another gift and then the person with number 3 can take person number two's or one's gift then that person can take the other person's gift (3 takes 1's and then 1 can take 2's) or 3 can open another but a gift can only be stolen 3 times and this can get right down funny and is lots of fun after the last person has gone the person with the number 1 can keep their gift or trade with someone else. There are 6 children (2 teens, 2 almost teens, 3 yr old and a 2 yr old) which most of us buy for since the game is really for the adults.

My son who is 14 yrs old has only asked for video games this year and some accessories for his video camera maybe getting an electric guitar and maybe if I can find an affordable Ipod one of those as well, he is very deserving of this items as he has been a big help to his grandmother (my mother in law) and granddad not to mention he has been a big help to me as well. My hubby deserves a good Christmas too and I hope to make it so.

Wishing all a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. May you be safe as you travel and may your time with family and friends be great.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Purl Jam

Ok it's been a week since Purl Jam and let me tell you I had a blast and was very tired this week.

I got to meet Cornelia Tuttle-Hamilton, Annie Modesitt and Jared Flood (Brooklyn Tweed). What a great group of teachers they are. Each has their own style and ideas which made it fun and extremely interesting.

Jared is a very talented and bright young man who taught us how to make seamless sweaters. Jared also taught us how to do cables without using extra needles.

Cornelia was a very gracious and lovely lady who I truly enjoyed talking with and having dinner with. Cornelia taught me how to measure for better fitting socks and I wish I could've taken more of her classes.

Annie Modesitt was a blast full of fun and she taught us her little tips and tricks plus how to read a chart while starting a lace scarf.

I really wish that my friend who had, had a stroke could've been there with me for the whole weekend since she paid for it and was looking forward to it as much if not more than I was. She did make it for lunch on Saturday and got to meet the instructors which was great and she had good time. On the good news side she is able to hold/pick up a size 35 knitting needle and I look for her to be knitting again soon.

Gina (owner of Mosaic Yarn Shop in Blacksburg, VA) did a great job and we look forward to the next one.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Babies

Ok so I haven't been faithful to writing but here I am. My honorary granddaughter was born on June 4th, 10 days early and I haven't finished anything for her or seen her yet but will soon. We have been puppy sitting a 7 month old miniature dochshound (sp?) this week and the puppy will go home tomorrow evening. She has been a joy and full of energy. She will be missed but we will enjoy getting back to our normal lives. I received a phone call Monday from my dad's wife (married when my son was 3 yrs old) she had baked me a cake with chocolate icing that she makes and a loaf of sourdough bread that she also makes from scratch plus she gave me a beautiful necklace that has a single line of 4 CZ's going down to a large light blue square stone on a silver chain and my dad gave me money. My in laws gave me a very nice outfit. Next week is Purl Jam (knitting retreat) and sadly my friend s unable to go with me even though she is doing so much better, she will not be out of the hospital till the day it starts and feels she will not be up to it. My friend has donated her classes to someone who wanted to go but couldn't afford it.

May all have a blessed day.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Birthday

Tomorrow (June 2nd) will be my 44th birthday. I have to work tomorrow, oh fun.

My mom took me, my hubby, son and one of her sisters out to brunch today to celebrate my birthday. She gave me a $100.00 and a pretty little necklace. The $100 will go toward the yarn and knitting supplies that I will need for Purl Jam (knitting retreat). My hubby and son have given me a brief case & day planner (things I wanted) to use for my next three years in office.

I went to visit my friend today and she is now able to stand without help for a few minutes this is a big improvement and I am praying that she will continue to improve.

May all be blessed today.

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Odd Fellows & Rebekahs

I am member of the Odd Fellows and the Rebekahs which are a wonderful group of people who do a lot of good in the world and of which I am a proud member of both. We just finished with the Grand Lodge and Rebekah Assembly meetings this week. I worked hard to make a few dishcloths for my mother in law to give as gifts to those that she wanted to give them too (I tried to make enough for each of her officers but didn't quite make it). My mother in law for the past three years has served as Warden, Vice President and President of the Virginia Assembly. I was elected this past Wednesday as the Warden for 2008-2009 and will be making visits throughout Virginia over the next three years. I am looking forward to visiting the lodges and meeting the members and meeting new members as well.

My mother in law's emblem was the butterfly and that is the design of the dishcloths that I made for her.

At this time I am working on a baby blanket for the honary granddaughter that is due in June. The blanket is from the book "Knit along with Debbie Macomber, The Shop on Blossom Street" and is called "Only the finest for Amelia". I am of course doing it in pink. I am hoping to get a hat, booties, sweater, bib, washcloth, burp towel and mitts done as well.

May you all be blessed.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Picnics & Dances

Here are a few pictures of my son before he went to the dance (he didn't take the gun :) ) http://s295.photobucket.com/albums/mm141/Windwalker523/

The pictures were taken at a friends house during the picnic right before my son left (he changed clothes while there). The suit is all black. No girlfriend to take to the dance but he did meet a few friends there and ended up dancing with one of the girls.

My friend was able to move her leg and her shoulder some at my last visit so that is a great motivator and a big step toward recovery.

Friday, May 16, 2008

A Rough Week

Ok so not the whole week but it sure feels like it. I lost an aunt Wednesday night and learned about it last night. My friend who taught me to knit and who is supposed to be my buddy at Purl Jam (knitting retreat in June) had a stroke last night and is in the hospital. She is paralized on one side of her body but still has feeling so that is a good sign of being able to recover. I will go by the funeral home tonight and then we will head to the hospital (30 + minutes away) to visit with my friend.

I have on my needles at this time a lace ribbon scarf found on knitty.com, a baby blanket for my honary granddaughter due in June, a dishcloth and a sock.

Purl Jam information can be found at http://www.mosaicyarnshop.blogspot.com sign up quick as the classes are getting full.

My favorite yarn shop is of course the most local shop to me and that is Mosaic. If you get the chance to visit Blacksburg, VA (VA Tech) and you are a knitter then this is a must stop and shop.

My son has his first semi-formal dance tomorrow night. It is the 8th grade dance and so we went shopping for his suit last night and ended up with a black suit, black shirt, tie, socks and shoes. I can't wait to see him in it and will post a picture.

Happy Knitting all.