The Death of my Sister

My heart is heavy today. On Thanksgiving Day, my sister chose to end her life. She had battled leukemia and other cancers since 1994. For some reason she decided it was time to go. We are left with so many unanswered questions......why now? what triggered the final resolve? We had been making plans to do things the next weekend, she made me a QUICHE!! What happened?????

We knew so little of her pain and her inner struggles. I pray that she is at peace now...no more pain no more struggles, no more fighting with family. But regardless of the disagreements we had, she was my sister and I loved her. I will miss her antics and most of all her.

Broken Ankle Update

I got my "boot" off last week and am now using an ankle brace. The guy who fitted me with the brace said I could expect swelling for up to a year!! My left buttock is still numb and will be addressed by the physical therapist. I have my first physical therapy appointment next week. I have discovered another interesting phenomenon. I have permanent "hair stubble" on my left leg! It is the most bizarre thing. The hair "pores" remain raised like a little rash. Not sure if that will go away or not.

I am finding this break is very unlike my previous one 4 years ago. I will be having lingering after affects of this for quite some time. Makes me even more angry at the BOD and the member who alleged I did this on purpose. If I was a litigious person, I would be looking for an attorney!!

Why is there so much apathy???

Between the letters and emails we sent out 1200 + letters to owners. Only about 25% returned them! So hard to believe. Because of the apathy of so many I lost the election. Even though I had the most votes among the owners, WM voted all 659 shares to the incumbents. So WM won, not because of their power, but because the owners let them!! I am not sure I will ever understand.

It makes you wonder......

Sometimes I have to wonder about life. Why do things happen? I fell on Sept 19 and broke my ankle while trying to walk down to the beach. The route to the beach was being taken because the BOD at my timeshare voted to remove the beach stairs because of "liability". The insurance company made no mention of the stairs being a hazard, but one member of the board pushed and pushed and pushed till they were removed. (the board was very aware that I was against the removal of the stairs) Now one of the board members had the AUDACITY to say that I broke my ankle on purpose to "prove a point". Can you believe anyone would be that stupid/ignorant to make a comment like that? He obviously has never broken a bone or he would never have said that. I just don't understand the man's mentality/lack of mentality.

I am SO running for the board of the association. The same men have been running things for several years now and they are certainly not representing MY interests. There needs to be someone on the board who will represent the best interests of the "individual" owners, not some big corporation. Most own "points" in the corporation so that is a direct conflict of interest in my opinion.

So I sit here at the dining room table trying to address and stuff 1200 letters that need to be in the mail TOMORROW all by myself. All the help that was promised has gone by the wayside, except for my DH who put labels on envelopes last night. I have been at it since 11 this morning, 6.5 hours, and I am TIRED...but I know I have to keep going. My poor foot was liek a fat little sausage last night after spending 8 hours on the mailing list etc.

This too shall pass...................

More handicap parking

This week we had a wide range of "excuses". I share these for their absurdity that someone would believe they were going to get away with it.

1-Lady admitted not having a permit but said she should have one because she has a broken toe. (BTW--she mentioned several times that her son is a cop....guess that gives her the right to break the law)

2-Lady using her dead husband's permit and did not have any ID cuz she "was not organized".

3-Well dressed couple driving a Lexus. He first stated it was his permit, then when asked for his ID card, did not know what we were talking about, then wife produces ID card and the permit is the daughters!! When asked "where is she?", Dad says..."well she is obviously not here". We called security because this guy was getting a bit aggressive.

The judge found the 2 people guilty that I went to court on this week. One lady had a permit so we requested lowering the fine to $20.00, the state mandated minimum. And the other guy admitted his wife was not there, but that he was "doing errands for her". He now knows he cannot use her permit!! Lowered his fine to $190, because he was not qualified to have a permit of his own.

Getting creative again!!

First purse I loomed on my own. Kind of made it up as I went. Just wanted something patriotic!!



Shopping bag taught in loom class



Swiffer cover. The pattern called for making this in 3 pieces, but I like things more simple, so I adjusted the sides and length, made it all in one piece and slip stitched around the whole thing to seal the edges. I needed to mop the floor and I was so please how well this worked!! And to know I don't have to buy those expensive refills -- I can just rinse this out after use and toss in the washer when it gets too grimy!!




Loomed picture cloth - you can almost seen the sun if you look close.

Fun in July

The kids and I arrived back in Oregon June 30. Had 2 wonderful weeks with them before mom & dad arrived. We took them out to the property and had a great July 4 weekend.

Diana arrived July 10 with her 2 boys; Eric & Beverly arrived with Benjamin on July 14. We have taken the kids to the zoo and Discovery Village twice. Eric bought them a "play pool" and they have had lots of fun in it. Some random pictures from July.....

Pictures of the new grandson!!

Eric and Benjy - Day 1

This reminds me of Madalyn

Such a sweet little guy

Finished projects

Second loomed purse. I lined it and found some very cute old metal buttons with sailboats on them for the closing straps.

Another hat for Karen--I will probably have to make myself one of these!!

Grandbaby #13 has arrived

Benjamin Eric Jewell arrived this morning at 6:25 am PDT. He weighed 7 pounds and is 20" long. Mom, Dad & Baby are doing great. I will be traveling to San Antonio in 2 weeks to visit. Pictures posted as soon as I get some!!

More firsts!

Hats for Karen.
A friend from church has been going through intense chemo therapy so I have been working on making some "Chemo hats" for her. I am trying to do varied patterns and colors so she has a lot to choose from.

Loomed purse and then felted it. First felting project on the looms!

New projects

First ever afghan square made on the Looms



Clutch purse made from Lion Brand pattern to match my dress for nephews wedding

Cammo afghan made for brother and his wife - both hunters

First loomed scarf....learned 10 new stitches

First afghan put together from 12" squares. Gave to nephew for wedding.

Link added for crochet hook caddy

Several had asked for a pattern for this cute caddy. It was originally posted on AOL Hometown, but that site shut down. I did a search by author and located it....

http://priscillascrochet.net/free%20patterns/Needleworkers.pdf

Teatime in Spring Placemat Set

This is my first designed project. I wanted to create something in Spring Colors for a Crochet Exchange I am in. I made a set of 2 placemats, 2 coasters, 2 napkin rings and a centerpiece. The pattern is listed below. Please let me know if you have any questions or the pattern is not clear. It is the first pattern I have ever written.

Teatime in Spring

Gauge-Not important to over all project. You can adjust to fit your needs.

Materials-
Lily Sugar ‘n Cream 4 ply cotton in Lavender Ice (or color of your choice)
H hook.


Placemat –

Ch 40
Row 1 – DC in 3rd chain from hook and each chain across (38 DC) Ch 4 (counts as DC & ch 1 throughout) Turn
Row 2- DC in 2nd DC, ch 1, *skip DC, DC in next DC, ch 1*, repeat from * to *, DC in last DC. Ch 3, turn
Row 3- DC in first ch 1 sp, *ch 1, sk DC, DC in next ch 1 sp*. Repeat * to * across to last sp & DC. DC in last ch sp and top of ch 3 (this was the ch 4 from row 1) Chain 4 turn.

Repeat row 2 & 3 for pattern ending with row 2 for as wide as you want your placemat.

Last row, DC in each DC & ch space across.

Finish off. Weave in ends

Centerpiece-

Centerpiece is made the same as the placemat. I made the following changes to mine. I made it a few rows wider than the placemats. At the end of the last row, I did a border of DC all the way around (3 DC in corners) and then another row of *sc, sk dc, 3dc in next dc, sk dc, sc* around with 3 Dc in each corner.


Coaster-

Start with magic circle.

If you do not know how to do magic circle, here is a tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLuSVyKvoUg

Row 1-Ch 4, (counts as DC +ch 1) DC, ch 1 in circle 13 times. End with ch 1, sl st in 3rd ch of ch 4. (14 DC, 14 sp) Ch 4 TURN
Row 2- *DC in next DC, Ch 1, DC in ch 1 sp,* Repeat around join with sl st to 3rd ch of ch 4– 28 DC Ch 3 TURN
Row 3 – DC in each dc & ch sp around. Join with sl st to top of ch 3. (56 DC)

Finish off weave in ends.

Napkin rings-

Ch 18
Row 1- DC in 3rd ch from hook and each ch across. Ch 4 Turn

Row 2- DC in 2nd DC *ch 1, sk DC, DC in next DC* across to end. Ch 3 Turn

Row 3. DC in 2nd DC and each DC & ch sp across. At end of row, bring the opposite end over and join the 2 ends with slip stitch over all 3 rows to form a ring. (or use the stitch of your choice)

(c) 2009 by Carol Williams. Please do not post as your own. Do not post on any other website. You may link to this post.

My First Court Date

I attended my first court appearance as the citing officer. The guy pleaded not guilty to parking in an access aisle. I had photos showing he was parked in an access aisle next to a marked & signed handicap spot.

He was a class A jerk. He kept interupting the judge, he brought copies of building codes and said they were the ORS (Oregon Revised Statutes). He brought pictures that purposely excluded the handicap marking. When the judge found him guilty, and before the judge could tell him what the fine was going to be (he was going to reduce it to $190) the defandant said "I appeal". So the judge told him he would make it worth his time and leave it the base fine of $360. The "gentleman" kept mouthing off and when he found out the fee to appeal was a NON-refundable $270, he got more upset and a deputy had to be called. Finally he said he was not going to appeal, the judge reduced the fine to $190 and the guy left! What a first court appearance!! Should make all the rest a cake walk!!

Another first

For the first time ever, I made an afghan out of squares. I was always so nervous about putting them together and thought the seams had to be "invisible." Once I realized they don't, I decided to give it a try. I have been in several exchanges and received many r/w/b squares. I added a few and a dear friend sent me some pineapples, and here is the finished product.















completed with border

Too Many Projects, not enough Time

I am feeling stressed today. There are SO many projects I want to do. I just got a new book with designs by Doris Chan. All of them are GORGEOUS. There just does not seem to be enough time to make the things I want to make for ME. I am so envious of those who can knit/crochet FAST and get so many projects done!! I know I am slower because of the arthritis in my wrist combined with the tendonitis. But I truly do not see those things changing. I think it is just a part of getting old. It is a situation I am learning to live with.

The second anniversary meeting of our local CGOA group, Always in Stitches, meets tomorrow. We are doing some fun things, raffles & door prizes. A group free form project. I enjoy getting together with these gals monthly. Online groups are really great, but I enjoy the fact-to-face meetings also.

I am in an international exchange this month. (Scotland!) I am designing a Tea Time in Spring set that includes, placemats, a centerpiece, coaster and napkin rings. I will post pictures and pattern when I get it completed!

OK, break over, back to crocheting! :-)

First knitted scarf

My first knitted scarf done on knifty knitter loom. All of these stitches were new to me so it was a great learning experience. Thanks Robin!!

Wide rib







Waffle rib


Simple slip stitch





Ridge stitch



Mock rib

Garter Stitch rib

Broken rib w/twist

Basketweave rib

2 x 2 ribbing

1 x 1 rib

Tapestry crochet bag

This was my first project in tapestry crochet. I have found the ability to create designs exciting but in using 2 yarns, my fingers get very tired in carrying yarn and keeping my tension tight.

For those interested, here is a link to the free pattern.

http://www.tapestrycrochet.com/KittyBag.htm

Parking Enforcement update

I made my 2nd trip out to enforce handicap parking this week. I wrote 6 tickets. The funniest were the 4 young guys who had pulled in "for just a minute" to run into the bank. They "do this all the time", so thought they should just get a warning because this was the first time they had been "caught". LOL They got a $360 ticket!

I have received my first subpeona for a guy pleading not guilty to parking in an access aisle. Not sure what he is not guilty of as I have the pictures of his illegal parking, but it will be my first time testifying so it will be interesting.

It is is so gratifying to hear the positive comments from people that appreciate us enforcing the handicap parking. They really appreciate that we are trying to have compliance so the parking spots are there for those who truly need them.

Spring Sweater

I started this as a cardigan, but the weight of the yarn was not conducive to a cardigan so I added a few rows of single crochet along the front, stitched it closed and voila a pullover. It is SO soft and cuddly. It is also a VERY forgivig yarn so mistakes (yes, there are a few) and seams are not visible!!

Afghan for exchange

First time making this pattern. Loved the way it turned out.

Newest projects

Packer dress, moebuis & shawl.