Scarves for Jennine

A few weeks ago I met my friend Jennine for a 'London Fog' (Earl Grey Latte of awesomeness).  It was early January and I needed some artificial sunshine provided by my hot pink bomber jacket and my hand crocheted pink scarf with assorted crochet flowers.  It makes me smile.  Jennine, a true friend, did not laugh at the pink jacket, make jokes that I was stuck in the early 80's, pretending I still got it.  No, she looked past all that and commented on the scarf.  She said she would like one.  Being addicted to crochet, I was only too happy to make her one.



Blue-Grey Scarf with soft pink cherry blossoms



I had to find just the right colour, tasteful, unique, perfect for Jennine.  I came across some smokey blue wool and knew that this was the right wool for a scarf.  I made it up right away; it was a simple pattern easy to put together. I had promised a scarf with flowers and a scarf with flowers my friend was going to have.  I found a ball of soft pink that would be awesome for cherry blossoms.  I made a stack and sewed them to the scarf.  What do you think?

Like any addict, I can make excuses for indulging in my addiction.  What if she did not like the blue grey scarf? I would HAVE to make her another one; just in case.  I made my 'usual',  a long variegated scarf with scallops that I can make with my eyes closed.

Jennine and I have a lunch meeting schedule and the weather reporter has called for even more snow for the next few days.  What better time to hand over the scarves and visit the stash of wool in my closet to plan the next round of crocheting.

Just a Bit Intimidated

Just before Christmas I was totally done with the holidays.  I did not want to look at anymore red and green anything.  I wanted home decorating.  My challenge has always been, make my house look great with less than a beer budget.  Mostly, I had settled for clean.  It was a few days prior to Christmas and I was searching for something new to look at.  I ended up surfing the blogesphere and discovered a whole bunch of home decorating blogs.   Blogs posted by mostly 'amateurs' who manage a blog, run an etsy site AND create wicked cool crafts. These ladies are incredible.  More than one of these bloggers are stay at home moms.   I am so not worthy.  surfing through their sites is like looking at high end magazines.  Every few days there is a new post.  Something wonderful like reusing large ugly picture frames and turning them into over sized black boards or gluing some candleholders together to make hurricane lamps.  And don't even ask me about the coffee filter wreath! I could not wait to start that one.  The pictures they post are stunning, they have these creative minds that I totally am going to steal their ideas.   I am inspired.  I consider myself creative, but in these instances, I am going to thank them for their creativity, share some links and copy, copy, copy.  I promise to post some pictures  of my takes on their projects in these ladies honour.

Can you guess what this beauty is made of? 

Check out my updated links for cool, creative decorating blogs.

94 and a quarter

Grandma and Grandad on their anniversary

My grandmother would always say that she would live until she was 94 and a quarter.  When my mom casually mentioned that my uncle was considering throwing a party next year because Grandma would have been 94 and a quarter, it sucked the air out of the room and it took everything to not cry. Grandma was special. She was a funny little woman who loved her many grandchildren. She had a unique ability to connect with children and what seemed like unlimited patience. I adored her. Time stood still when you were around her, she listened, genuinely interested in every banal thing a young kid  has to say. 

My sister, brother and I were fortunate to know our grandparents as young people, they were vibrant, kind and wanted to be in our lives. We saw them often, not the occasional visit where we felt we had to dress up and behave. We could be who we were and Grandma and Granddad reveled in it. They retired to an old school house in Port Elgin and many a summer, Thanksgiving and Christmas were spent there. It was awesome. They were awesome. 

My children will have a similar experience. Ian and I had occasion to move 'home' when our two older children were very young. My mom graciously stepped in to help with the after school care, picking them up from school and then dropping them off at home for me. What began as an obligation, turned into a beautiful friendship that I know they all treasure. Now, it is rarely a quick hand-off at the door, often it is a trip to Grandma's to have some nuggets and see the variety of dogs she has (another story for another day) or it is a trip to Tim Hortons. I have watched this relationship unfold, knowing full well the magic that is being created through benign interactions almost daily. The kids will know their grandparents as people, grandparents who will teach them things, spend time with them. They are lucky. I know.