My Son, The Unknown Comic

My son has an unusual sense of humor.  Usually he's pretty quiet and keeps to himself.  He has a form of autism called "Ausberger's".  He is highly intelligent, highly creative, but socially under developed and has trouble communicating.

Every now and then he pops in the room where I am working on something or in the kitchen while I'm fixing a meal for my mother and drops a one-liner on me that has me rolling for days to come.  Recently he dropped on me something I have to share, it tickled me so much.  Hopefully it's not one of those "you-had-to-be-there" funny moments....

We had a LOT of rain here in southern California, so much so that the streets flooded and roofs leaked all over the place.  Well, my boyfriend was enjoying the pouring rain (which we rarely get here ) outside on a couch we have under our patio cover.  It's a very nice place to sit and enjoy the rain when we get it.  My boyfriend who works very hard everyday, fell asleep on this couch outside, snoring loudly he was sleeping so deeply.

My son came to me in the kitchen and says, "Mom, outside it's raining and pouring... And there's an old man snoring".

I looked out and saw my "old man" laying there on the couch snoring so loud our animals were afraid to lay near him.  I laughed so hard at my son's observations that I woke up my boyfriend and, of course, promptly told him what I thought was so funny.  Heh, heh.  He didn't laugh but I know he enjoyed rather than be annoyed by my son's humor.  Off the wall, spontaneous, and not often shared, my son's humor is truly a joy and relief in this home of confusion and stress. 

(Lord, help me to enjoy the simple, funny things in life, especially in my son, and thank you for giving me such a special child that brings that joy to me seemingly when I need his comic relief the most.)

A Bit About Inflammatory Breast Cancer; SNEAKY AND DEADLY

I have to mention IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer), a type of breast cancer that does not show up as a tumor does in typical breast cancer.  In fact, when my mother had a mammogram the radiologist sent us a report that her test was benign, showed no malignancy.  Not visually seeing the affected breast he had no clue that is was, in fact, malignant with a type of cancer that is a particle form and is not revealed by a mammogram or even an ultrasound. 

When we received the radiologist's conclusions in the mail that stated "no malignancy present" we were joyfully relieved and accounted the deformation of my mother's breast to a blocked milk gland.  We left go of our fears of cancer and accepted that blocked milk gland theory - for a while.  When giving Mom a shower I asked her if she had any pain in that deformed breast and every time I asked, she told me "No, no pain at all".  This made me curious because I know from experience (having babies and nursing them) that if the milk glands were indeed blocked there were be some pain, and the way her breast looked, I would have expected quite a bit of pain and tenderness.  The fact there was no pain prompted me to take her back to our g.p. for further examination.  We saw our g.p. about three months after we got the all clear from the radiologist. 

When he saw Mom's breast - deformed with a crusty discharge, he was shocked and saddened and obviously highly concerned that his office hadnt' followed up with this condition sooner.  He immediately sent us to see an oncologist for further evaluation.

The oncologist (cancer doctor) took one look at Mom's breast and told us to cancel all the tests (MRI, Ultrasounds, Mammograms, etc).  He said none of that would be necessary now, that she definitely had advanced stage breast cancer and that it was in her breast lymph too. 

My heart saddened, and knowing at her age (83) she wouldn't be able to tolerate any conventional means of treatment such as chemo and radiation or even surgery.  The cancer was so widespread (it had moved up into her pectoral muscles too) and was very pronounced.  The oncologist said it was too massive for surgery and the complications from surgery could cause her more harm than good.  He said at her age, healing would be so slow that infection could easily set in and take over and finally kill her before the cancer had a chance to. 

My heart hurt for Mom.  She was such a good mother to us kids all our lives.  She was always there for us and now it was her turn to be needy.  Being the only of my siblings who didn't have a regular job to report to everyday, and having some nurses' training, I was the elected child of Mom who would be taking care of her at her home so she wouldn't have to be put in a convalescent hospital.  (Mom also has Parkinson's Disease and due to potential falls, she needs someone to be with her 24/7.) 

The purpose of this post is mainly to make people aware of IBC, a sneaky, silent, and swift killer if not detected as soon as symptoms begin.  There is a case of a sixteen year old girl who, embarassed to tell her mother or doctor about the deformity in one of her breasts, let it go on until it was too late to save her young life.  She died of this cancer needlessly, had she only known thet symptoms and signs, maybe she would have gone to her doctor sooner.  She died about six months after she did finally go to her doctor and was diagnosed with IBC. 

After ruling out any other agressive treatments for Mom's cancer, the oncologist presribed Arimidex to fight off the cancer cells.  He said there was a fifty-fifty chance that it would work for her and if it did work, that she would have some painful side effects from it. 

After only two weeks of taking Arimidex, I could visually see that Mom's cancer had disappeared by about fifty percent.  Her appetite was far improved, as were her spirits and energy.  It was a miracle, for sure, as was the fact that Mom suffered none of the painful joint side effects from this medication.

It was explained to me how Mom most likely aquired this cancer.  A blood test shows that Mom's estrogen uptake is at 90 percent where most people's estrogen uptake is around five percent.  This type of cancer loves estrogen, it thrives on it  (sort of eats it to sustain it's life and growth).  the Arimidex inhibits estrogen uptake, essentially starving the cancer cells that depend on estrogen to survive and reproduce, so the cancer cells start to die off and new ones don't have a chance to develop or take over the good cells. 

My suggetions, after the experiences we had with this fast growing cancer are :

1. If you think something is wrong (deformed breast, discharge, etc) don't depend on a mammogram to give you a malignant free test result.  Pursue it with the doctor you see regularly, the one who actually sees you with his own eyes.
2. Don't put off going to the doctor about a concern you have about yourself, this type of cancer is very fast moving and once in the lymph system, is difficult to treat - although can be sucessful.
3. Get a second opinion.  Don't assume it's something simple and non-life threatening just because a doctor writes it off as such.  You know your body, listen to it and to your intuition.  

Mammograms are fairly good for detecting the most common, tumorous breast cancer but are not sufficient - not able to detect this type of breast cancer.  Use common sense.  If something looks funny to you, make sure to find out what it is.  Don't write it off to something simple.

IBC is treatable, at any age.  Even if it's only a pill to take everyday, it CAN do wonders (miracles) to get rid of the cells that are trying to kill you. 

MOST IMPORTANT:  Keep a positive attitude, think healthy, visualize or meditate on your good cells taking over and eating the bad cells (Like a pacman game, chomp chomp!)  Think good thoughts, avoid stress as much as possible, and take good care of yourself.  See your doctor regularly and don't give up.  Giving in to a diagnosis of cancer lets the bad cells win and end your life - not without some suffering first.  You don't have to die of IBC, it is treatable and you can win the fight if you don't give up. 

Two words to sum up the fight against cancer?  STAY POSITIVE!

Saw The Oncologist Yesterday

Mom kept her appointment with the oncologist yesterday.  I knew she didn't want to go so I was proud of her for getting up, showered and out the door on time.  (She was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer over a year ago.)

After taking a look at Mom's blood work results and visually checking Mom's left breast, the doc said everything looks very good.   That wasn't enough for me, of course. 

Since Mom started taking her miracle medicine Arimidex, her cancer shrunk about 50% within the first two weeks.  I was so happy the medication worked so well for her and so was the doctor when we saw him in a follow up appointment a few months later.  He did say, though, that the cancer was in her lymph and those words rang in my head ever since they came out of his mouth and fell on my ears - and my heart. 
Having had some nurse's training I am aware that usually when cancer enters the lymph nodes, the patient doesn't have much hope for recovery because it is then spread throughout the patient's body and can attack vital organs. 
I've been worried and stressed because I don't want my mother to die suffering but deep down in my heart I just knew she wouldn't.

My mother was the best any kid could ask for.  She and Dad adopted all four of us kids (as babies from different families) and both raised us as you would expect perfect parents to raise their very own children.  They loved us and let us know that.  A fireman for many years, Dad died from injuries sustained while working.  Mom was left with four young children to raise by herself.  What a handful we were (are!).  She's an angel on earth, never did anything bad to anyone, and I think she comes close to Mother Teresa in the Never Told A Lie competition.  I know in my heart God would not let this woman suffer anymore than she has already and that Mom would probably die in her sleep, peacefully, when God is ready to take her Home finally and be with my Dad (who was only forty five when he died.).

Still though, the words stuck in my head and I wondered like crazy what was happening inside her body, where I couldn't see the bad cells going away like I could see on the outside of her body. 
I questioned this doctor about the cancer inside her lymphatic system and if the blood tests indicated anything about that. 

I almost cried when she said it appears all of the organs are functioning perfectly and there's no indication of cancer affecting them so she's going along with my hope that the cancer in her lymph is also being killed off by the way Arimidex works for her.

The second huge blessing in this is that Mom has no side effects from the cancer medication.  The prescribing doctor said she would probably start having major pain in her joints and to make sure she's getting calcium and vitamin D to supplement her diet.  I was already giving her those supplements so I think that helped Mom because she has no pain whatsoever.  Once in a while she gets a back ache that one lonely asprin knocks right out of her.  Knocks her out too!  ha.  She falls right asleep when she takes one asprin!  ha.


So we have a clean bill of health in the cancer department.  (Thank you Lord for taking such good care of my Mom.  Help me do my very best and more than my best for Mom now that she needs me so much.  Keep me patient and help me remember how well she took such good care of me all my life.  Help me show her how much I love her and appreciate her in all that I do.  And please, Lord, since you are such a giving God, could you send a burglar to our house and let him break in and clean it for me?  I'd really appreciate it.  During the night when I'm sleeping would probably be the best time for us.   If he came during the day and saw the commotion here it would scare him off before he gets to the pile of dishes in the sink .  Thank you Lord.  Amen.)

My "12 Year" Chevron Stitch Rainbow Afghan

This is a variation of the chevron stitch, notice it widens and shortens along the width, I tried to get a photo that showed the larger and smaller "v"s in the row and I'm not really sure I accomplished that. Sorry.

I began work on this afghan when my son was a toddler. I saw a photo of it somewhere and decided to make a bedspread for my son. He got the afghan (notice key word afghan, not bedspread!) from me for his birthday when he turned 16. It took twelve years to get this project to a point that was suitable for gift giving. It never got close to becoming a bedspread, here's why..

I purchased the beautiful but very expensive yarn at a local specialty yarn store that went out of business. The brand of yarn and colors were impossible to match exactly anywhere else, and I'd only purchased one ball of each color because I didn't have the hundreds of dollars the sales lady told me I would need to get all the yarn required for the bedspread. I figured I'd be back to get another set of the colors when I had the money for it. Well, that never happened because the store shut down unexpectedly before I got back to it.

I'm not sure why it took me so long to complete what I could, maybe I was discouraged, knowing it wouldn't be the bedspread I started it out to be. It is 60" wide, and the stripes in the rainbow run the width rather than the length of this which I didn't really like either. I put it up somewhere and didn't look at it again for years.

Now I'm glad I finished the afghan for my son. He loves it, says it keeps him warm when he's sitting at the computer. If it had been the huge bedspread I thought I was making for him he wouldn't really have been able to wrap it around while working on his fan fic or artwork and he'd be Freezing Boy instead of Happy Warm Boy.
Oops. I mean MAN (he's 27 now!).

Okay lesson learned:  Cyndi, if you're planning a project, get all the yarn you need for it at one time so this doesn't happen again!   Especially if you're making a sweater.  It was easy to turn this into an afghan but a sweater would be a bit more difficult to morph when you run out of yarn.  (Picturing my daughter running around in a sweater that is too short and has only one sleeve and half a collar.  She would be telling her friends "Mom made it for me, she told me it's a designer sweater that no one else in the world has one!"  (poor kid).

FOUND: Beautiful Irish Lace Pin Cushion to Crochet; Free Pattern

I found the most beautiful pin cushion to crochet on KnittingDaily.com, of all places.
I can't wait to start this but I think I'll use the free pattern to make a sachet rather than replacing my good old little Babe stuffed piggie that I've been using for a pin cushion for so many years. (Poor piggie, all stuck with pins and needles!)

This is a free pattern for crochet, called "Irish Lace Pin Cushion".  It uses crochet thread and a small hook and is very intricate in design.  This link is to the page where you can find the PDF download button.  Make sure you have Adobe Reader for the PDF file (it's free for Mac and Windows too)

As soon as I get started on this lovely project I'll post my own photo but for now you'll have to visit the pattern link to see what this beauty looks like and appreciate why I'm so excited about it.

Let me know if you make one of these.  If you don't have your own blog or site you can send me the photo and I'll post it on this page with your internet handle, etc., if you like.  

Happy Hooking! (Would that make us Happy Hookers?) ack.

Put One On The Shelf, Started Another

Well, after trying my best not to get frustrated following the pattern for the Lotus Flower Bag, I decided to put it on the self even though my fingers were still itching to crochet something pretty. My mind was not cooperating in deciphering the instructions. Not that they were difficult to follow, it's just my head is full of stress and too many things to think about plus all the usual daily interruptions, I kept losing my place and had to give it up for a bit. I only got to round 8, and can tell it's going to be a beautiful bag when I finally get back to it. Ravelry calls it putting something in "hibernation". I like that.

I picked up another ball of crochet thread and a size 7 steel crochet hook and started... What? I dunno. Maybe a sachet. It's tiny and hard to see and hurts my hands to work with this tiny needle and thin thread but something is finally emerging from my yearning to create and here it is, the beginning anyway.. I think this is going to turn out to be a soap holder for underwear drawer or a sachet. We have many vintage Avon soaps laying around that still smell wonderful and this would be the perfect way to put those soaps to use, finally after all these years.



I can't wait to finish this now that I made up my mind what it's going to be. Don't you just hate it when you're crocheting out in public somewhere and everyone asks you "what are you making?" I always want to scream, if you can't tell what it is maybe I shouldn't even BE crocheting! What do you mean, "what is it?" can't you tell???? ha. just kidding. I don't go bolistic, I promise. I just smile sweetly and say the most bizarre thing that pops in my head...
Like, well, "It was going to be a sweater for my daughter but I think it might be too small for her, what do you think?" when the project I'm working on is actually for a Barbie doll. ha. Yep. I'm a bitch sometimes. tee hee.

If I can keep track of the stitches I work as I go along, I'll post the pattern for the soap holder asap. Granted it turns out as pretty as I intend it to be, that is.

Blue Scallops and Shells Crocheted Doily

I need your help! If you recognize this doily pattern and have the information for it, please let me know what the name of the pattern is, who the designer is, and if possible, what book it is in! (Just add a link or the book info to the comment section on this page)
My boyfriend's mother wants me to make her one after she saw this one and I can't for the life of me find the book it is in!

Thank you thank you thank you!

Pretty Valentine's Day Crocheted Choker

I have a lot of thread and yarn left over from projects past so I'm always trying to figure out what to do with all of it.

Today I picked up a partially used ball of DMC 10 white thread and a size 3 crochet hook and made this simple, fast Valentine's Day choker. Instructions for making your own are here too. It only took me about an hour (including breaks for bathroom, a cigarette, and answering the phone!) to complete this project. One thing I didn't do was string pearl beads on my thread before I started the project. Looking at it now, I can see it would be pretty with pearl beads at each ch 3 along the edge although I do like it as it is, too.

Start with chaining the length you need the choker to be, measuring around the neck you're making it for. (Everyone's necks are different sizes and for this to set on the neck properly it ought to be measured in order to do so.)

After determining length and chaining as many as you need, ch 2 and work 1 dc in each chain stitch across.
Chain 7, and working along chain stitch edge (don't turn to work along dc edge), sc in first ch stitch and in next.
(*ch 3, sc in next 2 ch) across without skipping a ch because it will leave a space where you don't want one and the chain 3 wouldn't make a loop but a square space.

At end of your work, chain 7 and attach with slip stitch to the top of first dc made. This will give you a hole to use for a button or rosette closure.

I weaved some craft satin ribbon through the dc across, although you don't have to do this. Also, I left the ends of ribbon long and hanging but they could be trimmed and sewn in place, if desired.

Finally, attach a rosette or small button to one end, weave in loose ends, and you're done!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Lacy Neck Wrap With Heart Button

I had one skein of soft pink yarn (for which I no longer have the information about) and decided to make this for my mother. She's always cold and we found that wrapping her neck keeps her entire body warmer.

The design for this neck warmer was inspired by a pattern I can't find right now, probably by Vogue's Knitting in a book called Crocheted Scarves On The Go

I improvised the heart button for a closure in order to keep the warmer in place - not that Mom is very active or anything, but once in a while one of the kittens will climb up onto her shoulder and wrap itself around her neck and underneath her hair. Too bad they don't stay there long, I wouldn't have had to make this for Mom, the kittens would keep her warm like that. lol.

Mom loves this one but only uses it for special occasions, thinking it's too fancy to wear to the store or hair salon. lol.

Here's a photo of Mom, she's 83 and absolutely lovely, isn't she?

Dainty Daisies Lacey Crocheted Collar

I made this collar for my mother and one for my sister too. It went along easily, the pattern was easy to follow and I finished it in a very short amount of time. I don't take time to block my work (which is dumb, all of it would look much better if I did) so it's not as neat looking as it could be.

The collar can be worn on the diagonal so the points are at mid breast and mid back or square so there is a point at each shoulder, front and back and a straight edge across front and back. If I can get my mother to model the collar I'll try to post photos to show it's versatility.

I would like to make this collar again and add beading to it sometime soon. I would also like to try weaving a ribbon through the inner-square stitches and adding tiny rosettes to the outer perimeter. What do you think?

I Found It

I am happy to say I found the yarn wrapper for the Open Fan Stitch Scarf I made for my mother. I don't recognize the brand and am sure we got the yarn at a specialty shop that no longer exists...

Here is the details I can read on the wrapper...

It is a metalic gold paper that says
"Velveen" and right below that it says 'fit for a queen'

78% wool 22% rayon
net weight 2 oz (56.5 grs.)

On the back it says
(now I know the shop no longer exists)
Super Yarn Mart! Los Angeles Ca 90015

If anyone knows of a Super Yarn Mart still in existence, please send me the link to their site or a phone number for the company. I would love to get my hands on yarn of this quality again.

(In case you didn't see the page Open Fan Stitch Lacey Scarf, this yarn was a bit left over from a sweater my mother knitted for me over twenty five years ago.)

Mom Getting Excercise

At her age (83) Mom needs to do anything at all but just sit in order to keep her muscles from deteriorating. Today she decided since the pounding rain stopped for a few days it would be a nice day to go outside and walk up and down her ramp for some exercise. Well, she did. Mom walked the ramp (about twenty feet top to bottom) up and down three times. My boyfriend, who was Mom-sitting at the time, told her she should walk it another two times, making the total route up and down complete five times. Now she's complaining about soreness in her legs.

Even though Mom does the Parkinson's exercises Physical Therapy gave her, I can see she needs to get up off her butt more often and just DO something. Even doing something like scrap booking would be better than just sitting and sleeping. At least she would be exercising her mind and hands. I tried to get her into something like that or back to the knitting project she started for my son when he was a toddler (he's 27 years old now) so she could finish the Mickey Mouse sweater and give it to one of her great grand children since all of the grand children are obviously too grown up for it now. It's an adorable sweater and I wish I knew how to knit so I could help her with it but I am the worse knitter in the world. I've tried several times but just couldn't get the hang of it. Mom says she doesn't remember how to knit anymore. I doubt that. I think she's depressed and simply doesn't feel like it. Same with scrap booking. I put all the supplies and photos in front of her at the table and she just sat there and stared at it all, not making any attempt to start a page for her scrap book.

It is sad to see Mom like this. I try not to let it get to me unless I'm in the bathroom or the garage with the door shut so no one will see me cry.

Pineapple Swirl Crocheted Collar

Collars are fast and fun to do. I don't get bored, crocheting the same stitch over and over again as I usually do when making a blanket or scarf. They are a challenge sometimes, especially if there are a lot of distractions that make me lose my place in the directions. Keeping a pencil nearby to mark my spot in case of such a distraction is most helpful.

If I find the pattern for this collar I will post the link and / or information for it asap.

Grapevine Runner; First Filet Project

Fillet crocheting was brand new to me when I decided to take on this Grapevine Runner by Rita Weiss in her pattern book "Crocheting Doilies". (I wasn't able to find a pattern link on line but the book on that link starts at around 8.00 for a used book. It has many beautiful placemats, doilies, and runners in it including filet butterfly placemats).

When I started this project I had no idea what I was doing and it looked as though it would be very difficult. Not! I found as long as I kept track of my progress by marking off rows with a pencil, the project ran along smoothly and swiftly.

I think it turned out pretty darn good and my mother loves it. But she's my Mom, what else would she think about something her daughter made? lol

I would like to try another filet project, there are so many beautiful patterns out there, I just can't make up my mind which one to delve into. Any suggestions???

Zebra Stripe Leg Warmer Experiment FAIL

I bought the last two balls of Lion Brands' black and white angel hair yarn at Joann's and upon the request of my daughter, proceeded to make leg warmers to give her at Christmas.

I used a size "N" hook and started out by chaining the width I wanted the "ribbing" to be. Then I sc back and forth, working in only the back loop of stich, until I completed the ribbing long enough to go around my own ankle.
I figured if it fit around my large (fat) ankle, it would fit anyone!

I then slip stitched the ends of the ribbing together to form a circle of ribbing.

Next I started my rounds working the first round on the edge of ribbing. I only made 22 hdc around which was my mistake but having only the two small balls of yarn to work with, I hoped it would suffice. I was wrong. The leg warmers turned out beautiful and soft with somewhat a zebra stripe pattern to it and with the lace edging in black I added, they were not only soft and zebra but they were also unique and special for her.
My daughter liked them but when she tried to wear them I guess they proved to be too tight, or small. (sigh). Being a dancer, she can't have anything restricting like these were.

A few days after Christmas her little dachshund mix puppy (the one who bites chunks out of our furniture like a pitt bull might) decided to snack on the leg warmers I made. No great loss except I can't get ahold of anymore of that yarn. I guess everyone likes it and buys it faster than I can get to it.

Anyway, here is a photo of a piece of a leg warmer I salvaged to show the pattern of this variegated angel hair yarn.
As soon as I get to Joann's I am going to buy up all of this yarn, there are so many things I can make for my daughter (she loves the softness of it!). I might leave one ball of it in the store but probably not. lol.

BTW I did finally find a good leg warmer pattern on line, and will use it's format for the next time I attempt this project. My daughter requested the "over the shoe" style vs. the typical leg warmers that are too tight to go around the shoe.

Crocheted Double Pineapple Doily

This is from the same pattern book as the "Roses" doily, in the Leisure Arts Pattern Leaflet # 702 by Margaret Rost.

As was the Roses doily, this one went along quickly and the instructions were easy to follow. This was one of the first doilies I attempted and the one that got me hooked on crocheting something other than scarfs and blankets.

Crocheted Elegant Open Fan Lacey Scarf

This was something I made with a very expensive yarn left over from a sweater my mother knitted for me. I wish I had more of this yarn, it crochets into a very elegant work and is easy to use. I am certain Mom got this yarn from a yarn store that has since closed down years ago. In fact, Joanne's aside, there are no stores to purchase quality yarn anymore. We drive quite a distance to get to Joanne's (in the Fashion Square Mall Torrance Ca).

I found the Open Fan stitch in a sampler booklet I have and just started crocheting this on a whim. It turned out so beautiful I had to give it to Mom for Christmas one year. I liked this one so much I made another with the same yarn for my boyfriend's mother and used several different stitches from the sampler book... Neither scarf took very long to make. They aren't very long due to the amount of yarn I had left to work with.

(photo of sampler scarf coming soon)

Crocheted Doily "Roses"

I loved making this doily for my mother. I used a rose pink for the flowers and light green for the little leafs around the flowers. This pattern was easy to follow quick to complete. It is very beautiful in photo and more beautiful in real life. Our cat Bella loves it too (as you can see). She loves to lay on it, I wonder if she can feel the love that went into when I made this for Mom and that's why she lays there? Hmmm.

This pattern is from the Leisure Arts Leaflet Number 702 by Margaret Rost.  

Some Project Photos

These are projects I've crocheted over the years. When I started them and finished them I can't remember. (Stroke)
I'll link to the pattern or pattern book whenever possible.
Some items I made from left over thread or yarn and I don't have the specifics for you.
Some items I made up out of my head and didn't write down my stitches as I went along (darn!). I wish I did but have learned my lesson. Whenever I pick up yarn and hook, I make sure I have paper and pencil close by. No more laziness! (yea, R-I-G-H-T!)
*** Visit frequently to see newly added project photos ***
1. Crocheted Doily "Roses"
2. Open Fan Stitch Lacey Scarf
3. Crocheted Double Pineapple Doily
4. Pineapple Swirl Crocheted Collar
5. Leg Warmer Experiment FAIL
6. Grapevine Runner, My First Fillet Crochet Project

New To Ravelry

Okay. I'm finally doing something for myself - mostly for myself. I've joined up on a site I just discovered called "Ravelry". It's a community of diverse needleworkers who knit or - as in my case, crochet. So far I've come across hundreds of beautiful crochet ideas I'd like to try. There are thousands of free crochet pattern links and photos of projects that are unique and challenging. The site has inspired me to pick up my crochet hooks again (I've got dozens of them!) and to get together my barely used skeins of yarn that have been laying around for years.

I first learned to crochet when I was a little girl, about seven years old, I think. It was my great Great GREAT Aunt Daisy who taught me how to chain and sc (single crochet). I remember working very hard to please my wonderful Aunt. She was about 85 years old, had silky white hair up in a bun, and bright blue eyes. Her head used to shake a lot, I remember. She probably had Parkinson's Disease but I didn't know it at that age. I loved her so much I remember trying to make my head wiggle back and forth the way hers did. She was an actively practicing lawyer, the first female to pass the bar in her day I believe, and at the age of 85 she was still flying back and forth from L.A. to New York working for a prestigious law firm. She was an awesome lady and I wanted to be like her when I was her age. I'm no where near that goal though. I don't think anyone could be like my Aunt Daisy.

I'll be posting some of my work (past and present) here and on Ravelry. I hope you enjoy, I hope you are inspired and motivated by something you see or read. My project blogs will be mixed in with the blogging about taking care of my mother. She's a kick now that she's dependent upon others for her daily needs and I want to keep some account of the caretaking we do so I don't lose any memory of her -- good or not so good. Since my stroke a few years ago my memory is terrible and this is a great way for me to store the stuff my brain won't.