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.

Miracles of Spring

There has been a lot of snow this winter in the Baltimore area.

But under all of that snow, new life has been waiting to burst into our world with color!  This is such a Mystery and Miracle.

Another Miracle happened in February. My cousin Leigh, who is like a brother to me, had to have brain surgery in January. 

His recuperation from the surgery has been wonderful.  He spent a few weeks in the hospital and a few weeks in a rehab center.  He is now home, walking, talking and ready for visitors. 

He lives about 2 hours away in Virginia.  I desperately wanted to go to see him, but neither my husband Max nor I could drive the 2 hours there and then the 2 hours back.  We prayed about it and God answered our prayers when his wonderful sister Patricia offered to drive us down.  Our visit was such a blessing!  Leigh and I shared so many memories together, laughing and asking each other , “Do you remember when we did…?”.  We had so much fun!  His sweet wife Leslie had invited us to lunch where more sharing of memories continued. 

We’re hoping we can visit him again very soon.

About a month ago, I discovered to my horror, that I had forgotten to re-new my library books.  By the time I realized it, the fine had grown to $54!  So, I have decided to “take a break from the library” and read my huge collection of books that were given to me as gifts or purchased by me.  Some of the books that I’ve been reading recently:

Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber is delightful and light.                                                                                              

Cross Roads is William Paul Young’s latest book. I haven’t quite finished it,  but it is funny, sad, and deeply meaningful.                                    

  William Paul Young’s first book was The Shack, which changed and opened my heart to God’s love in a new way. 

 

I just love this Poster:

That’s definitely ME!

What’s on my needles:

“Room To Grow Baby Cap”  This is a cap that I designed. You can change the height of the cap as a baby grows.

Pull on both ends of lower cord to gather tightly and tie in a secure bow.

As baby grows untie the bottom cord and stretch out the cap circumference so that the yarn end balls are just slightly dangling.  Then pull on top cord to gather tightly and tie in a secure bow.

Another project that I have just finished knitting is a free pattern from LionBrand.

It is named Drop-Stitch Wrap.  You can download the free pattern at: www.lionbrand.com  It’s a fun pattern because you get to “dis-obey the rules” and drop stitches on purpose!

I changed the one that I made by leaving off the collar and making it about 50 inches long which is shorter than the pattern calls for. Here are some pictures of my “wrap”:

Watching our grandson Charlie grow, learn, and explore is a daily miracle!

Charlie turned 2 in January 

and is growing taller and taller!

He loves being outside to walk in the grass and he explores everything:

He still enjoys coloring with crayons and creates wonderful “masterpieces”!

His favorite toys are trucks and puzzles:

His favorite “toy” of all is our kitty Izzie,

but Izzie’s favorite toy is definitely not Charlie! 

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Dear family and friends, be sure and look for Spring miracles that are only visible when you slow down and LOOK….

Fondly, 

Mary