Sunday, January 25, 2015

A New Year & I'm Back to Blogging


My dear, dear followers and friends, those of you who remain faithful to me throughout these past 2+ months in my absence, being patient even with my silence. I have thought of you daily during this time. I guess I should explain because I owe you that much. This 2nd year of my widowhood has been more difficult than the first. For some reason by the time November hit I was having an emotional meltdown. It starts on the 20th, my husband's birthday, and then continued throughout the Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year holidays and ends after my birthday January 18th which was the 2nd anniversary of his death. I am sure there are some who think "she needs to get over this", but believe me, unless you have experienced this first hand you just don't know the emotional roller coaster one goes through when you have lost someone you loved for about 45 years. I was married when I was 19, and now I am 64. You don't forget. Starting over is not an option for me. I am learning to spend my life alone and being resigned to sharing time with my family and a few close friends. I know I have been blessed and still am. So I will leave it at that and hope not too many of you are rolling your eyes and thinking "enough already".


I have not been idle during my absence. The first 3 pics I am sharing is just one of the 4 afghan/blankets I have made in the last 6 months. This one is from the Leisure Arts book AFGHANS FOR ALL SEASONS published in 1993. The pattern is called STITCH SAMPLER and it claims to be a good pattern to use up scraps. Personally that might be true for the first several rows, but when getting to the longer rounds you better have plenty of yarn or you won't be able to complete rows. Nothing worse than getting almost done with a row and coming up short. I tried to follow the color scheme as close as possible but concentrated on using up my scraps and refusing to go buy more yarn (yeah, right). 


This was fun because you learn some new crochet stitches. It was actually a fast project because I never got bored with it. There is a lot of counting and more than once I found myself a bit frustrated when I came up a little off. If you decide to make it don't be scared, there are 81 rows of instruction. I didn't measure it, but take my word for it, it is large, heavy and warm. The perfect winter project.


Of course I could not let this winter come and not make my little guy a new cap and matching scarf. The cap is a free pattern is from ChemKnits.com and is the Wide Brim Skullcap pattern. Holden has so much curly hair that even though this pattern is for the adult-size head it fits him. The ribbing makes it stretchy. I made his daddy one too, same size, using the same size circular knitting needle and it fits Chris perfectly. For both I used knitting worsted weight yarn and US size 6 circular knitting needle. Holden's is made from Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn color Moss Creek, and the gray one I made his daddy's was the variegated gray but can't remember if it was Hobby Lobby yarn or Red Heart. The color was called Dove I believe.


Then the first Saturday in December my sister-in-law Faith and I planned a surprise retirement party for her husband, my brother Michael. I volunteered to get the cake(s). I have a friend down the road who does a great job of cake decorating. I gave her a pic of Mike when he was a student in Columbus at the Academy and I found a die cut collector replica of the exact patrol cruiser he has been driving for years, a Crown Victoria.


He is so young in that pic, so handsome. I am so glad we gave him this party but even though we planned for it to be a surprise (he had told his wife he did not want a party) she had to let the cat out of the bag because he had planned to go deer hunting that day.


Of course when Faith told me that Mike had told her he didn't want a party I told her, "Too bad, we want a party, and if he doesn't want to come then we will have one without him." LOL. When it was all done and over he was so glad we gave him one. He got to see several people he hadn't seen in years.


There was probably a good 50 people there. I didn't get around to take but a few pics and actually there was only a few people I knew. The gentleman sitting at the table, with his hands folded is a childhood buddy of Mike's, his friend Foxy.


Above is my brother Mike (on the right) chatting with another friend.


Then came Christmas Eve when 3 of the brothers and their wives and we go spend the evening with my mom. Those of you who follow me know that way back during the summer I was busy making Christmas presents in my spare time for my sister-in-laws. Above (from left to right) is Mike's wife Faith, John's wife Pawnee and Ralph's wife Sharon. They were so happy and surprised with their scarves and ear warmers.


I went through the whole routine showing the gals just some of the ways to wear their scarves. Can you tell what their favorite colors are, lol. I had to ask their husbands and do you think any of them knew what their wife's favorite color was, of course not, heavens!


Mom, what can I say, what do you give an 84 year old woman who claims there is nothing she wants or needs? I racked my brain on what to do for her. I had some yarn that was not suited for much else when it came to garments. It was so impossible for garments so I thought to make her a tissue box cover, add some flowers with cloth yo-yo centers. She loved it! This woman is hard to please, a stubborn German woman, very old school, she had a hard life back in the day when she was young growing up in Hitler's Germany, her father, who was not a Jew, but a business man,  having been taken by the Russians to die in a concentration camp in Russia, her mother and younger sister losing all they had but the clothes on their backs, walking down the streets of Berlin while it was blown to bits and burning, no food to eat but boiled grass. For all her stubbornness I do love her.


Then of course Christmas morning with Holden. I got the biggest kick out of him. He must have been waiting for me because right there he was as I opened the door. He had a smaller wrapped present held up in his right hand and the first words out of his mouth was, "MA MAW, "do you want to open presents?" I told him, "Well I sure do!" His mommy told me that as soon as he got up he had gone into the living room and opened a present while they were still in bed, bless his little heart. Of course I had to snap a pic of every gift he opened, but I won't post them all.


I will include Holden's buddy, the family pet, Jasper. Oh, he is such a good dog, very lovable, faithful and loves being around his people. He was so good, watching his little guy open presents.


I guess his Christmas gift was getting to remain in the chair without someone shooing him out of it. I can't remember what he got for a gift, but they usually get him something. He is an English Springer Spaniel. They are hunting dogs but the only thing he gets to hunt are the squirrels in their back yard. You don't dare say the word "squirrel" or off he goes to fuss at the back sliding door, wanting out.


Then came my birthday a week ago and my girls, grandson, son-in-law Chris, brother Mike, his wife Faith, and Meghan's boyfriend Chris. We went out to eat at the Chinese Restaurant The Golden Dragon in Fremont Ohio. I got the General Tsao's Chicken. What you see in the above pic is my doggie bag, half the meal to take home. Yes, they serve you enough for 2 meals. You will not go home hungry. The pics that follow were just some quick snapshots I took in a hurry. Only one person was prepared......another looking like a deer caught in the headlights. Good thing it was my birthday or I am sure someone would have killed me there on the spot, lol. I didn't give anyone a warning, I just started snapping pics, snap, snap, snap, snap snap.....and snap......oops, let's me get a pic of that take home Styrofoam carton, yep!








The End.

As you can see, in my absence I have not gained any real photogenic skills. I am truly lacking in any proficiency where picture taking is concerned. I am more a person who takes pictures as an after thought instead of sharpening my abilities. I even surprise myself when I actually remember to grab my camera. I suppose my family would choke me with my camera strap if they saw some of my photos I have posted of them on here. I have never been photogenic. I actually shy away from cameras, now who would guess that about me. 

I have done more afghans/blankets and need to get pics yet. I am going to try to post once a week or at least once every couple weeks. I am sorry to say I have not been reading but a couple blogs so that is admitting to being so far behind. I also should be ashamed about promising the pattern for the slippers. Meredith and Linda were interested in it. I have Meredith's home address and need Lindas, so girls if you still want the pattern I will get it to you in the mail, pinky swear. Linda if you are reading this please send me your address in England to my yahoo address which is located in the upper right column of my blog. I have missed you all and will try to do some blog reading. God Bless and keep you all. Love you ♥

11 comments:

  1. Hi Susanne! Long time no see! It looks like your family is very close and what a good looking bunch! I enjoyed seeing all your crocheted creations - my fave is you grandson's hat and scarf. I'm sorry you're having a rough time. I hope it gets easier.. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  2. Don't ever apologise for grieving! Once you loose someone there is always that gap in your life. You take as much time as you need. We all grieve in our own way and in our own time.

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  3. So lovely to hear from you! I love all your photos, Susanne..thank you for sharing some of your family with us. Holden is getting so BIG...I remember when you told us he'd been born...it doesn't seem that long ago either! Glad your SIL liked their gifts and the tissue box cover is a great idea for an 84 year old who doesn't want or need anything. {{hugs}} xo

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  4. Nice to read your status again and your lovely families. You're always in my thought. Know that Jan is a tough month for you. I hope you have your mind engaged with all the happy moments. Will visit you again.
    Hugs,
    Terriea

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  5. I am so glad you posted and we could all get caught up on your last few months. Your family is beautiful and look like they are all so full of love. A close family is a special gift. No one expects you to get over the loss of your husband, no one is rolling their eyes. We all love you.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  6. Happy New Year and nice to see you back. My you have been a very busy lady haven't you.

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  7. My dear Susanne, I can't think of a single person out here in blogland that would be rolling their eyes or saying you should "just get over it." I certainly am not. Bless your heart. I know it must be hard and hurt so deep sometimes (or all the time). I won't say I know what you are going through because I don't. Unless you've gone through it, you just don't know, I suppose. But I do think the world of you and am sorry you have been hurting. Your sampler blanket is gorgeous. I have that book and have stared at that picture before thinking about making that blanket, but I never have. It turned out great! Hope it gave you a little therapy and/or relief while you worked on it. Your grandson is too cute, and that dog is gorgeous. (Of course I would notice and focus on the dog!) Glad you decided to let us know you were still going to be blogging. I've missed you, and I'm sure many others have too! ♥

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  8. Belated happy birthday Susanne, what a lovely post so full of interesting things. Of course no one is going to say enough already to you, it's so hard to loose someone you have loved for so long and anniversaries and Christmas are always the hardest times. I love your blanket it looks so cosy and comfortable, I love projects that have different patterned rounds it's much more interesting. I nearly cried when I saw your cute grandson and Jasper he looks exactly the same as Rover the cocker spaniel I had when I was growing up the same colour and markings I loved that dog so much. Have a good week. :) xx

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  9. Your crocheting/knitting is beautiful! Love all the colors! And thanks so much for sharing so much of your family with us!

    I know a *little* of what you're going through. About 3 and a half years ago, my father passed away (cancer, alzheimer's) and 2 weeks later, my younger sister (she was only 48) passed away unexpectedly and I moved in with my mom, who also has Alzheimer's. It's been a rough time for all of us, but we're making it! Hugs to you!

    Your grandson sure is a cutie!

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  10. A very belated happy birthday Suzanne!!!

    I'm glad you're back, and I understand a little of how you have been feeling! We all grieve differently, I sure did when my Dad passed away.

    Well you sure have been busy with family and friends. I think that was the best medicine for you. Your crochet work is beautiful and you seem to have been very productive. God Bless You. Hugs

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  11. Hey Sue, I just caught up with your blog posts. Beautiful afghans! You have given me so much inspiration. I actually have a "Claudia" scarf almost finished. It is fun and so pretty. I might just keep this one for me LOL. I'm so glad the holidays are over, and I hope you are feeling better. I'll write you soon.

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THAT THE ONES YOU LOVE ARE LIFE'S MOST PRECIOUS GIFTS~