Sorry I have not blogged much. I couldn't get into my blog, for starters, and I had a very busy summer.

Between my youngest's graduation, my husband's family coming in for said graduation, and then two of my my brothers and sister in law coming in the following week to bring me and my oldest some things from my later mother's estate, going through the boxes of crafts and clothes said brothers and sister in law brought; before I knew it the new semester at college was gearing up to start.  I got to see some family that I hadn't seen in years and it was a wonderful, and way too short, reunion. And Just So was my summer.

I've started classes again last week. Both of my classes are online so I shouldn't have too much trouble with getting them done....once I can get the books. My Pell Grant has been delayed to get more documentation from my Dr about my Leukemia. Apparently the letter I provided from my Dr wasn't good enough. So it is what it is.  I'll have to do the best I can. :)

I have seen so many other creative and fancy blog pages out there that I sorta feel inadequate here with my 'plain' one. One of the goals I have would be to learn how spiffy this up just a little bit before Christmas. We shall see.

I have picked up practicing my guitar again. I had also let that go for wayyy too long. Poor thing thinks I forgot it....but I didn't. Now I have to build up the touphness in my fingers again, but hey, it's a process. It's all a process.

I did find a great website for crochet patterns and ideas, #Dearest Debi , she has some very cute patterns. I especially like her Flower Lattice shawl and baby bonnet! She is offering a giveaway for someone to win a free copy of one of her patterns she has posted for sale on Etsy. I like the Tunisian Roses bag, too. I know, I know, it says "roses' in the title but to me they look more like sweet little tulips.....Much more distinct and chic than the plithera of roses I've seen on almost everything this summer.  The tulips say "I'm different, I am aware there are more flowers than roses and sunflowers in the world."  Teehee!

Anyway, here's the link if you want to enter the contest, (I recommend you do! Her stuff is just too cute!)
https://www.facebook.com/allaboutdebi?sk=app_228910107186452

I have been through all the lovely yarn that I got from Momma's estate. At first it was sorta hard to get started. Not because there was so much, or that it was not organized in anything like a fashion I would have organized it, but because it was Mom's. After three false-starts I got into it and found some real treasures. I found an old tin of buttons...the tin used to be my Grandma Stone's (my mother's mother). There was also some tools, hooks and needles that were Grandma's, then Mom's. It's hard to not think back to sitting at Grandma's knee learning how to hold a stick for another purpose than to chase my brothers down with it.... I was fascinated watching Grandma crochet and knit, and later watching Mom crochet.  Seeing the very same knitting needles that Grandma taught me on made me wistful.  It was like receiving a legacy all over again.  I don't usually get sentimental about things, but I put these away in a special place so that when I see them I am reminded that eventhough I can't work, it doesn't mean I can't earn.  Daddy told us like a gabillion times to "Learn a Trade! Get a Skill! And for God's Sake, go to college or a trade school! Even when the economy gets touph, if you have a Trade, a Skill, you won't have to worry so much about finding work that pays." He was right. But when I became unable to work, I thought "Sorry, Dad. I didn't finish my degree yet, and now I am sick." but when I saw those old, sorta beat-up knitting needles (Ok, so somtimes I DID chase my brothers down with them...but I knitted with them too!) I remembered that I DID learn a skill...several, as a matter of fact. And now was the time to put those skills to good use.

I also got a wonderful blocking board. The pins are long gone, but the board also belonged to my Grandma and then to Mom. I am looking for something else I can use as pegs. I am thinking the colored 'light pegs' from a Light Bright toy might do the trick. I'll have to investigate that further....but it is an honor in two ways to have received this board. First, because for it to have lasted this long it had to be cared for, and second, because I have not found another one like it ANYWHERE, not even on the internet.

I discovered that Momma's tastes in fiber arts was about as diverse as my own. She had embroidery and quilting (including a wonderful full-size floor frame!) and some ribbons and silk flowers, crochet thread and different weights, colors, styles, and colors of yarn.  Now I know where I get it from! I found some scrapbooking things in there too, but I think those belonged to my eldest when she and her husband moved to Momma's for a year to look for better work and to help Momma out with stuff, so I gave those to her.

I also got Mom's sewing machine. I learned to sew on that machine and it still runs like clockwork. They don't make them like that anymore!  I see my youngest getting to use this machine, too.  That will be three generations!

The yarn was plentiful and varied. Some colors there is enough to make a sweater, others were obviously random purchases she made because she liked a color or texture or, most likely, a price she saw. This has been lovingly wound into center-pull balls and wrapped in knee-high stockings to protect them from dirt and unravelling and have been added to my stosh. The unfinished afghans and doll clothes and doilies I will attempt to finish. That way my kids will get something Grandma Donna made.  The other yarn is destined to help me hopefully generate some money, since I still don't have any income.  I know Momma would be proud of me for turning to my talents to overcome this lack of funds. :) Momma's stash will make it even more so possible. :)

The clothes were helpful, too. Momma told me it was good luck to wear clothes that belonged to someone now deceased. One day, after Daddy died, I asked her how wearing clothes from someon who'd dead supposed to be good luck. Her answer, in her true Irish/Polish manner, was "It's lucky for you they fit and you didn't have to buy them." Well, I won't have to buy clothes for awhile. Maybe pants a little down the road, but that's all. :) Thank you, Momma!

And a special THANK YOU is due to my eldest brother, Andy. He took on the daunting job of dealing with Momma's estate. I don't think I would have been strong enough physically or emotionally to do it. Momma was very wise for selecting him for this job. And his darling wife, Sharon, gets extra kudos just for putting up with everything Andy had to do..... <hugs>.

Some of the yarn I got is baby yarn and sport-weight...which is ideal for baby bonnets, especially for newborns. I would DEARLY LOVE to win Dearrest Debi's giveaway so I can get the bonnet pattern and make some for newborns! Or maybe that wonderful handbag pattern. That would make a lovely Christmas gift for Sharon. She's the one who held it all together for Andy when Momma passed. She deserves something made especially for her to 'hold something all togther' for herself.

Alas, homework calls. I shall strive to post more often, now that I have my password back. This was something I started at the suggestion of my Oncologist and I think I am finding it to be a very helpful tool, after all. Eventhough I started out as a skeptic. So, until we can visit again,

Always remember
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Relax. God's in charge.