Summer of Change and Re-discovery

This has been a very different summer for me.  I decided that I wouldn't have any summer classes this year.  Also, in the fall I'm only going to have a Monday morning and a Tuesday morning class.  I'll still have private lessons, though.

I'm writing a new book!  I'll tell you more about it when I've finished it.  I started writing it after finding an old journal that I kept a few years ago.  Writing the book has brought back a lot of memories, both good and bad. 

Working on the book has provided me the opportunity to look through a lot of old photographs. Here's one photo that I found:

I have some wonderful memories of my brother when we were teenagers.  Take a look at those "spiffy" saddle shoes!  This picture also brings back good memories of the house that my brother Bill and I grew up in.

A few months ago, I taught my youngest knitting student ever!  This little 2 year old knitter doesn't stay still very long, so we are able to only accomplish a few stitches at a time.

 But, he's definitely learning to knit!

Speaking of knitting, I'm going to post a pattern for this lovely scarf:

The yarn I used is called "Bamboo Bloom Handpaints".  (you can see their website here: http://bit.ly/1AsmZ8i  )  I bought it at Amazon.com  : http://amzn.to/1l6VEF4   .
I had enough yarn left over from one skein to also make a neck warmer:

and a little pin to use with the scarf or neck warmer:

You can download these patterns here:
 http://bit.ly/19xWtdc


 In early July, I broke my hip.  I've never broken a bone in my life and this sure wasn't a good one to "pick"!  I spent about a month in the hospital recuperating and getting physical and occupational therapy.
While I was in the hospital, I had a wonderful roommate, "roomie Jo".  We formed a special relationship and hope to keep in touch.

Now I'm finally home and walking with a walker.  Instead of "lounging around" and recuperating as I had hoped, I am kept very busy with a great physical therapist, a very dear home health aide, and a really knowledgeable nurse.  They all come to my house several times a week.  I still get tired easily and am limiting my visitors to short visits.

Dear readers, take a few moments and think back over your summer and see what changes you have found in yourself.

Beginnings and Endings-November 2013

Summer has ended and autumn is here.

 

Vacations are over and school and classes have started.

My fall knitting classes have begun, which is always exciting for me!  My classes are “full to the brim and some of them are overflowing!  Some new students have joined…it has been fun getting to meet them.  Some of the “newbies” are beginning knitters, so I’m not sure that class is “fun” for them yet…but they are “hanging in” and doing very well on their “Beginner Scarves”.  The Beginner Scarf is a pattern that I designed to teach my beginners basic stitches, how to increase, and how to decrease. 

It is always such a blessing to greet and hug my returning students!

Here are some pictures of a project that Joyce, a “returning student” finished over the summer (It's a shawl/shrug that I designed):

 

Here are some pictures of some of the projects that the fall students are making:

Denise is making this pretty scarf from the book Knit Scarfs!

Patti is making this cute baby sweater called “Phoebe”, a free pattern from Lion Brand yarns.  Their website is: http://www.lionbrand.com

Joyce is making a lovely shawl called “Evening in Venice.  She bought the yarn and pattern at

http://www.lovelyarns.com/http://www.lovelyarns.com/

  

Some new beginnings in my life are also happening:

•     “Baby William" (as Charlie calls him!) had his first birthday!  He is my twin brother Bill’s grandchild.

• Our Charlie is not only walking, but also running…it’s hard to keep up with him sometimes!  He loves taking walks through the autumn leaves.  PopPop is one of his “heroes” and he often tries to imitate what PopPop does:
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  • • I published a book!  I will tell you more about it in my next post. 
     
     
    
    
    

    Halloween was fun with some clever decorations in the neighborhood:
  
  
  

We had some “hauntingly” special Halloween visitors:

Projects that I have been working on:

This is a free pattern called “Wedgie”, an interesting cap designed by Franklin Habit.

You can download it at: http://bit.ly/17VCGed

 

 

  

Chunky Knit Cowl With Hidden Pocket Tutorial. This is a free pattern that you can download at: http://bit.ly/17VCGed

Here is mine “in progress” with notes I took as I was working on it:

Beginnings and endings mean “change” and sometimes that can be scary.  But it can also mean new doors opening and new opportunities arriving.    I love this quote from http://www.dailyinspirationalquotes.in/

Fondly, Mary--

who is enjoying “crunching” through the autumn leaves…