Crochet 501

This is certainly not going to be my shining hour, just fair warning.
The challenge for the week at EIM is crochet. It's something I'm crazy familiar with, and if you've visited with me before, you may know that already. If not, check out my "Woobie" page for the lowdown.
I made a blanket earlier this year that I was exceptionally pleased with and I gave it to my parents. I had reason to visit them last week and I took a photo of it, not realizing I could put it to good use! This is what it looks like:

Woobie 501

The reason for my visit brings me great sadness as I share the news that my "baby" brother died of a heart attack last week. Craig was 51. He leaves a wife, Rose and her children, Sarah and Willy; his son, Damon and Damon's mother, Judith; our parents, Allan and Grace; our sister, Deborah and her daughter, Justine; my children, Terrance and Erica.
That's my compact little family; both of our parents are only children, so that's it.
The evening sky has one less star to light it up; his light gone all too soon from his earthly vessel. Damon wrote an amazing tribute that any parent would be so honored to have bestowed upon them. I have copied it here, as a reminder that I, too, could live to this standard.

Though not a huge fan of speeches, there is something needing to be said that comes straight from the heart.

You were honestly the one person in my life that I could always turn to when something was wrong or I needed someone to talk to. Some people have to choose to only remember the good parts of someone when they die, but I don't. Even when you were alive I could say nothing but positive things about you. You were one of the few people I could say 'I love you' to and mean it with all of my heart and soul. Nobody in the world will ever be able to replace such a wonderful man, a man that only ever wanted one thing: world peace. I hope one day your dreams will be achieved and that you'll have a birthday in which I can actually say your wish was achieved. 

You were always there for me and I'll always be there for you. You taught me everything you knew, you taught me about being passionate about peace, you were the best person to ask for anything math related, and you were one of the easiest humans on earth to naturally feel love for. I still can't believe you're gone from this earthly plane of existence, and although you were never a religious man, there is something inside me that continues to hope that you're looking down at all of us, probably making your wonderfully corny dad jokes. I miss you so much and there's nothing I wouldn't give to see you again, even for a moment.

You will always be an amazing person, and more importantly the best father I could have ever asked to have. Rest in eternal peace and I hope with all of my being to see you again one day.

I can only wonder what my kids will have to say about me when the time comes? I have vowed to myself to use the good china, drink the champagne instead of waiting for the "right" occasion, to hug my children a little bit longer, to love Gil with all my being and to find the light again on Earth. 

Have a brilliant day!

A Blankie for Charity

It's saying something when the desert Southwest is experiencing a heatwave. Phoenix proper boasted record triple-digits and overnights of over 90 degrees! That's hot, hot, HOT! We're not quite in the thick of it, but still VERY warm. And still, no rain!
And what am I doing? Crocheting wool blankets.
I've been called crazy before, and I guess I've earned the title!
I proudly finished a blanket I believe I started at least two moves ago, maybe four....designed to match a sofa that no longer exists. It's mostly wool, about thirty colors and full-sized. After 12 years, it's finally finished! YAY!

Boy, am I glad that's done. It was hot under all that yarn. 

Emboldened by my success and a will to clean out some clutter, I put some woobies up for sale on a little Internet concern. Maybe you've heard of it? Ebay? 

And I put one up for charity!

The listing, for now, can be found here. So, spread the word--I want that one SOLD!

And speaking of spreading the Word, with a capital, "W," my entry for today's EIM. For "lamp" I have chosen the everlasting light that breaks the darkness, the great I AM:

(AND I'm getting it in on Monday! HA!) 

I thank you for stopping by, I appreciate the company. I have been blessed this past year with meeting such lovely folks all over the planet! I am feeling much more philosophical than time really allows me today, but my life is richer because of you! 

Thank you!

Thistle Bee Good, I promise!

I'm settling into some of this weeks challenges. At the Diva, it is a LGBT theme: I'll be getting to that, just not right this minute. For now, I'm focused on a cause that's more to my heart--October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I love to watch football with all those macho NFL players wearing pink gloves and athletic footwear. And if anyone is interested in supporting the cause, send money directly to something you feel deeply about. (really, that applies to any cause whatsoever--the closer to the matter, the better. Buying pink "stuff" doesn't really get the $$ where they need to go). So, for the weekly Twinchie, I had to go with "cupcakes." A local group, which did the 3-day cancer walk, used to be called the "Cupcakes." Their husbands wore pink t-shirts that said, "I'm here for the Cupcakes." That's what THAT's all about.

For the Inchie, I pulled out a photograph I took that I call "Thistle Bee Good." Har-dee-har-har. I peeked at some of the offerings this week at EIM and there is some beautiful embroidery and drawing. For whatever reason, it's all women who "do" the inchies and every one of them is super talented. Check out their thistles. It'll be good, I promise.

And I had to include a picture of the woobie I finished over the weekend. Not your typical 'baby blanket,' I hope the child can use it for many years, she's an autumn baby after all.
Thanks for taking the time to view my work and for the wonderful comments that you all leave behind. I really take them to heart.

Ode to Commode, etc

On the Every Inchie Monday, this week's challenge was "throne." I drew mine up on Sunday after debating how to go about it. I was not going to shy away from the inference to a toilet, my boyfriend works for a plumber, after all (and if you're ever in need of one in the Phoenix--Arizona--area, I can tell you I know of a couple guys you can trust!). I first went to his stack of trade magazines and they were woefully deficient in potty pictures. Cool faucets, lots of fittings and fixtures, but really only one good johnny and it was, as they are, without a lid or seat. Pooh! So behold, my throne with my royal sceptor and crown. For more serious attempts on this challenge, be sure to visit that blog, there is some beautiful work there.

 

I also am trying to keep up with the weekly twinchie challenge. The word for last week was "circles" and I've been drawing the pattern "Sez" a lot. I did these with Sakura glaze pens, including white for filler circles. They're barely visible, but I liked the white-on-white effect. This week's challenge word is "purple." It's a color that either you like it or you don't and I fall squarely into the latter category. My daughter, who is struggling with the income from being a teacher paraprofessional, has a baby shower to go to next week. I offered to make a blanket for her friends baby and now I have a new challenge: to get the woobie finished by Tuesday! (See the movie Mr. Mom for where the word woobie comes from. It's what we call blankies). It will also be number 496 of my all-time woobies. When I get to number 500, that'll be a story unto itself. Stay tuned.

 

And don't forget: a Royal Flush beats a Full House anytime. Whoosh!