Happy Birthday Kimmy

Fifteen years ago I was blessed to sit in a rocking chair and hold newborn Kimmy because everyone else in the birthing room was too busy.

We ignored the business around us. I smiled at her through tears of joy and she grabbed my finger. At that point we were totally bonded. She's been one of the best things in my life ever since even though now that she's a teen with a full life of her own we don't see each other as often as when she was younger.


Last night we celebrated her birthday eve with a four generation dinner at Chili's.

Kimmy is driving now. Even in Kalamazoo on Westnedge, the biggest, most congested street in town complete with road construction lane changes. Kimmy's Mom, Heather, in the passenger seat is a bit nervous about the whole thing.

Kimmy thinks Mom/Heather should just close her eyes and relax. Mom/Heather thinks it was wise to only have one child. I just laugh.

Happy Birthday Kimmy!! Hope you have a great time with your friends today.

Cousins

Ten years apart, but happy in each others company. These are my two lovely granddaughters.


Kimmy, my daughter's daughter, drove from Battle Creek to Kalamazoo. She's two weeks short of fifteen and I admit to doing a double take when I spotted her behind the wheel.


Sydney, my son's daughter, is ten years younger. Her idea of driving is to hop on Great-grandma's rocking horse.

Sydney Was Here Today

Son John, DIL Anne, and Granddaughter Sydney are visiting from Idaho. What a joy to see them after a year and a half.


I had two little bags of cut up turkey dog for them to make friends with the dogs. It worked well.

Once the dog bonding was done, I remembered to grab my camera.

After a nice visit, John and Anne headed out to the Paw Paw wineries and Sydney and I headed for Mickey D's for lunch. On the way home, we stopped at the Fish Hatchery and had fun feeding the fish in the Show Pond. I forgot the camera.


When we got home, Sydney wanted to pick up acorns. Who can guess what kids will want to do?

As mentioned in yesterday's post, the acorns were easy to find and she quickly filled her bag.

Tomorrow it's famiy gathering and pizza party at Great-grandma Monette's apartment. I'm going to put my camera in my purse right now, but that's no guarantee I'm going to remember to pull it out and use it. Playing with granddaughters is more fun than taking pictures of granddaughters.

Why We Can Never Return to Mason Michigan and Birthday Socks

Happy Birthday Bob!!

Many many years ago a cute brown eyed baby boy was born in Mason, Michigan. His family moved to Battle Creek and Mason was forgotten until 32 years later when he married a woman who was living at Michigan State University in Lansing. Me.

We went to the Ingham County County Courthouse for our marriage license. The Ingham County County Courthouse is in - - - Mason, Michigan, population ~ 5,000. We got lost going and returning, but it was a pretty drive.

Anyone familiar with the song The Three Bells? It starts out with the first ringing of the bells when little Jimmy Brown is born "in a village hidden deep in the valley", followed by the second ringing of the bells when Jimmy Brown is married, followed by the third ringing of the bells when Jimmy Brown dies.

That is the song that popped onto our lips during our Bob's second visit to Mason, Michigan. We agreed there would never be a third visit.

Of course, there are birthday socks.


Bob likes his socks thick and heavy. He wears them like slippers walking around the house, so I knit them with Opal, the most indestructible sock yarn I've ever encountered.

This pair (above) is Opal 6 ply in one of the Rainforest colorways knit along with a strand of Slackford Studio Stalwart Sock in Dorothy's destiny, a bright Kelly green.



This is also a 6 ply Opal Rainforest colorway knit along with a strand of Slackford Studio Stalwart Sock in Steelyarn Blue.

The combined yarn created a heavy worsted weight. Both pair were knit with #5 needles on 48 stitches in a basic k3p1 rib.

Mom's Birthday

Yesterday was Mom's birthday. When I picked her up to celebrate with a lovely lunch at Bravo, she showed off her new Opal necklace made by Brother Dave who does gorgeous lapidary work in addition to making the world's best trumpets.

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Now that I'm home and blogging I'm sorry I didn't try to get a better picture of the colors in the opal although I'm not sure I could capture their beauty. They are amazing.

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Mom also got some hand knit socks.

Sock details here.

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It's notable now that her children are in their senior years, we're back to giving Mom handmade gifts.

I also gave her a five book set of Honey Driver mysteries by J.G. Goodhind.

Sock details here.

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These socks will make eyes pop out at Mom's exercise class.

Sock details here.

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Lunch was completed with a birthday baked Alaska. It was flaming when presented.

We shared. It was yummy.

Sprout in Action

Early last evening I headed east to granddaughter Kimmy's choir concert at Pennfield High School northeast of Battle Creek.

On the way, I picked up Mom and asked her to snap a few Sprout pictures while it was still daylight. Thanks Mom.

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I'm not broad in the shoulders. If I had it to knit over, I would shape the set-in sleeves more so they fit my shape better.

Pattern: Cultivated Vines by Sara Louise Harper in the May, 2010 Creative Knitting

Pattern Modifications:

• Knitting lower two-thirds of sweater in the round instead of separate front and back.
  
• Pattern goes from size 38 (too small) to size 42 (too big). I'm knitting a between size, size 40 on 240 stitches.
  
• Used neck shaping for size 38 and sleeve shaping for size 42.
  
• Shortened sleeves so they'll end just above my elbow.

Yarn: Knitpicks Cotlin, a DK weight 70% Tanguis cotton 30% linen yarn.

Color: Sprout, a summery green.

Needles: Options #4, 3.5mm.

Gauge: 6 stitches/inch, 8 rows/inch in stockinette.

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Kimmy and her Great-grandma Monette after the concert.

The concert was very entertaining and impressive. Kimmy had a small solo belted out clear and on key. We were all very proud of her. She's ending her freshman year. It will be fun to see what she does with her singing talent as she progresses through high school.

Heather's Birthday Socks Finished

Daughter Heather's birthday socks were done in plenty of time for our 4 generation Louise Lunch on Saturday. She loved the color and did all the proper admiring, making me happy to have made her happy.



Pattern: Little Shell Rib stitch pattern
Multiple of 8 stitches, 4 rows

• Row 1: k7, p1
  
• Row 2: k7, p1
  
• Row 3: k1, YO, p1, p3tog, p1, YO, k1, p1
  
• Row 4: k7, p1

Yarn: Stalwart Sock from Slackford Studio. 75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon 4 Ply Fingering Weight Sock Yarn.

Color: Woodgrain.

Needles: Options 2.50mm circulars.

Gauge: 8 stitches/inch, 10 rows/inch in stockinette.

The Wisdom of Brother Dave

My brother Dave, the world famous trumpet maker, called me to chat a few days ago. Here's a snippet of our conversation.

Dave: One of my clients just played for the Obamas at the White House.

Me: How could he do that? I'd be so nervous I couldn't get a note out.

Dave: Playing trumpet is his life. He lives for it. He wasn't nervous at all.

Dave: Would you be nervous knitting a sock at the White House?

Me: Well, no. I'm willing to entertain the Obamas with sock knitting anytime they want to invite me.

Flashback Friday - Happy Family Reunion

On the second (or third) Friday of each month I go back five years to pick out one of my favorite blog posts for that month and repost it here on Flashback Friday.

August 2004 was so wonderful I couldn't stop at one post, so here are three posts from that month.

Note: Granddaughter Kimmy starts high school in two weeks and we NEVER dress alike anymore.

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Arrival of the Tall People

Friday the 13th was a great day for me. My son John and his wife Anne arrived in SW Michigan from their home in Idaho. They are here for John's sixteen year high school reunion and a family visit.

It's been over five years since we've seen each other in person. That was the wedding in Las Vegas, Anne's home town. John and I keep in pretty close touch with blogs and email so I didn't realize how much I missed his presence.

Now I know I have to fight the inertia that keeps me in Michigan and learn to take that plane to Post Falls Idaho. I never want to go five years without seeing my son again.

Anne and I don't know each other very well, but I know her well enough to say I'm a very fortunate mother to have my son married to such a fine woman. They make a perfect couple and it makes me smile to see them together.

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My Baby is Going to be a Daddy

This is my son John when he was nine months old. He's over thirty now and here on a visit with his wife Anne.

Remember back on July 30 when I posted about finding two four-leaf clovers?

I wrote that even with the clover I still wasn't expecting the good fortune that came my way when I learned that son John and daughter-in-law Anne were coming to visit the middle of August.

Well after we greeted each other and settled in for a chat, John asked what good luck I got from the second clover. A rather strange question. I couldn't think of anything better than his and Anne's visit from Idaho, so I told him I didn't know.

That was the right answer! He told me the second clover worth of good luck is due to make me a grandmother around April 4 in Idaho.

What a surprise! But a very welcome surprise.

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Family Fun Day

Tuesday was "Family Fun Day" with Uncle John and Aunt Anne visiting from Idaho. We spent the day at the Binder Park Zoo. What a wonderful memorable day we had together.

The last time eight year old Kimmy saw her Uncle John and Aunt Anne in person, she was only two years old. It didn't seem to matter. John and Kimmy took up like they'd been playing with each other for her entire childhood.


This old Jeep is parked in the Wild Africa area of the Binder Park Zoo. The kids love to get in it and pretend they're driving.

Uncle John, the passenger, wishes Kimmy would watch where she is going. Heather, outside the window, is enjoying a good laugh over Kimmy's driving. In about six more years, Heather won't think Kimmy's driving is so funny.

Kimmy had her face painted at the zoo compliments of her Uncle John. Yes, that is a spider in the middle of her forehead. Those are spider webs on her cheeks. She liked the paint job, but it itched so much she decided to wash it off before we went out to dinner.


After the zoo visit, Monette treated us to dinner at Applebee's. The waitress was so nice. Taking our picture was her idea and she even shut the blinds so it would turn out.

It was a day I want to remember for the rest of my life - to have my children together and enjoying each other's company. Because we live so far apart, these are indeed rare and precious moments.

Going around the table left to right:

• Me - Monette's daughter. Heather and John's mother. Kimmy's grandma.
• Heather - Monette's granddaughter. My daughter. John's sister. Kimmy's mother.
• Kimmy - Monette's great-granddaughter. My granddaughter. Heather's daughter. John and Anne's niece.
• Anne - John's wife. My daughter-in-law. Mother-to-be of my second grandchild.
• Monette - My mother. Heather and John's grandmother. Kimmy's great-grandmother.
• John - Monette's grandson. My son. Heather's brother. Anne's husband. Kimmy's uncle. Father-to-be of my second grandchild.

Tuesday night is kid's night at Applebee's. Kimmy got dinner for free plus she got a balloon and a red flower painted on her cheek. It was the perfect ending to a day that was as perfect as a day can be.

Kimmy and I didn't plan to dress alike. She knew I had a shirt like hers and she thought I might wear it, so she wore hers. She was pleased to know that I'd thought the same way.

This is so special. It makes it even sweeter because I know the time is coming soon when she will not want to be dressing like her grandma.

Tomorrow (Thursday) morning we are meeting for breakfast before John and Anne drive off across the state to the Detroit Airport. It's going to be a sad good-by for all of us.

Family Updates

Thanks to everyone who has prayed and/or sent good thoughts for my family, both human and canine. Here is a brief update for all who have asked.

DH Bob
The first step in his treatment was successful. We're in waiting mode to regain some strength and regulate drugs.

Our next appointment to see a doctor is August 11, but meanwhile we are making numerous trips to the lab for blood draws.

Mom had a heart attack shortly before her 87th birthday. On her birthday she had four stents inserted, and now feels like herself again, young and peppy and dancing twice a week.

Yesterday we had the followup meeting with the cardiologist. He discontinued most of her heart drugs and said he'd see her in a year.

We celebrated with a caramel sundae.


Glory, our 13 year old lab mix, loves to roll around in things, the stinkier the better.

At her last grooming appointment, the groomer claimed she couldn't bath the smell off Glory. We thought Glory smelled much better, although not perfect. The groomer suspects Glory has a skin infection causing the smell, although she couldn't find a rash or any other physical evidence to support that theory. Glory's ears are OK.

If any of my dog loving readers have ever heard of such a thing, could you leave me a comment? I've spent a fortune at the vet office lately and hesitate to take a dog who has nothing wrong except a smell, especially when I know she rolls in gross things.

I have visions of the vet staff laughing in the back room, "Doesn't that woman know what horse sh*t smells like?"


Sunny, our 8 year old, 14 pound, third generation (or more) designer dog, has advanced osteoarthritis of the spine. She recently had a painfull, crippling spell that required almost two months of steroid treatment.

The vet wasn't sure she would ever be without steroids again, but she has been without for two weeks now.

Final words from the vet were something like this: "Everything she does is a risk, but you need to let her be a dog."

How helpful is that?

Then he said, "You can let her run, but don't let her bump into anything or turn sharp corners."

Even more unhelpful and impossible. Sunny herds.

Least I give the wrong impression of the vet, he was totally helpful and supportive during her treatment. He kept in touch by phone and carefully monitored the tapering off of her meds at the end. He just doesn't know what to say now.

There are no easy answers and no cures. Everything she does is a risk and we worry about her daily while we're trying to let her be a dog.


Pappy, our 11 year old (or older) rescue Papillon, had ten loose teeth removed July 15th.

I've heard this is a common thing for older little dogs, but it's the first time one of our dogs has needed it done.

Once his mouth healed, he had no problem learning where he could still chew. He's actually able to eat better with the loose teeth gone.

Where Am I Now?

Dear Friends and Readers,

DH Bob went into the hospital last Friday.

Respecting his privacy, I don't write about his medical problems but I will say they are serious and chronic.

Right now I'm driving back and forth between the Kalamazoo hospital and home in order to take care of the dogs. If the dogs were young and healthy, I'd kennel them for a few days. Instead they're old and/or ailing and it's a comfort to Bob to know they're being cared for and loved by me at home.

As for knitting, I seem to be incapable right now. I tried knitting a simple little footie in the emergency room Friday and it has so many mistakes I think I'm going to toss it in the trash. I don't ever want to see that project or that yarn again.

I plan to return to blogging again when things are a bit more under control. Surely that day will come? There's a beautiful pair of Sunshine Socks finished in gorgeous sunshine colors to show you and some bluebird eggs ready to hatch.

All your good wishes and prayers are so welcome and appreciated, especially the prayers.

Why Is the Barn Wearing A Wig?

Thursday night while trying to get some sleep after a tense day in the hospital while Mom had surgery, Mother Nature decided to deliver a whopper storm with much thunder (all the better to freak out the dogs), wind (all the better to blow down branches, trees, and take the power out), and lightening (all the better to light the house after the power went out.)

When we got up the next morning and looked outside, there were (still are) sticks and branches all over the yard and the barn was wearing a wig.


A walk behind the barn disclosed a huge old willow tree blown over complete with root ball.


Since the hospital half promised Mom could come home that morning, I packed my clean clothes in a bag (no power = no water = no shower), picked enough branches out of the driveway so I could drive to the road, picked the large branches out of the road so I could head for Kalamazoo.

Most of the debris in the road I could drive around. This tree I drove under, but not before seeing another car do it successfully.


Mom was in fine spirits and ready to walk the halls to prove she could go home.

She's rolling her eyes because I just told her how lovely she looks in her blue hospital gown with the lovely heart monitor wires poking out of the pocket.

That classy bracelet makes the outfit, don't you think?

Mom's Birthday

Wednesday evening, the eve of Mom's birthday, brother Dave and I had a mini party for her. Dave brought all kinds of yummy Indian food and a fantastic carrot cake that we were all too full eat.


Her birthday socks are a perfect fit and just the color she requested, the blue of a summer sky.

This is the Sunshine pattern from Sock Innovation by Cookie A. knit in Opal UNI-Solid 27 with 2.5mm Options circulars.



Early the next morning, the morning of Mom's 87th birthday (June 18th), we were back in the hospital for a seriously needed heart cath and four stents. The most welcome birthday present she ever could receive.


Thank you for all your kind thoughts and prayers this past week. Mom is home this evening and very tired (it appears they don't allow sleeping in the hospital) but looking good and doing well.

Quick Update on Where Am I?

Only my Mother could look this good in a hospital bed dressed in a hospital gown three days after having a heart attack.

Do I need to say more about why I haven't been blogging this week?


Brother Dave from Oregon arrived last night to help. Can't remember when I've been more glad to see someone.


Blogging has been low on my priority list lately, but not forgotten.

Knitting hasn't been getting much attention, either. To have time to relax and knit sounds like a luxury right now.

Pomatomus socks were finished before the heart attack. I'll post about them when I have time and after I catch up on my sleep. It could be a while.

Cookie A. Sunshine socks are easy enough so I can pick them up and knit a few rows here and there even when sleep deprived and/or braindead. They're for Mom's birthday next Thursday.

Sunny gets a little better every day. She's still on steroids and Xanax. She's walking and able to sleep at night. She wants to snuggle, but it's not comfortable for her yet.

Granddaughter Kimmy's Poem

One of my Mother's Day gifts was A Celebration of Poets, Michigan and Ohio, Grades 7-9, Fall 2008.

Granddaughter Kimmy's poem is on Page 79 . . .


All I Want

All I want is someone to stop everything
Someone to connect everyone together
All I want is someone to stop everything
Someone to find something in common with us
Someone to stop the difference
All I want is someone to stop everything
Someone to forget the past
Someone not to care what other people think
Someone not to be afraid to say hello
All I want is someone to stop everything
Someone to take a step towards the opposite of them
Someone to find acceptance in everyone
Someone to listen instead of gossip
Someone to stand up for the right reasons
All I want is for everyone to fit in

Kimberly Casarez, Grade 8
Pennfield Middle School, MI

Fourteenth Annual Louise Lunch

The four generations of women with the middle name Louise met for lunch May 1996 to celebrate Mother's Day and Daughter Heather's birthday. Granddaughter Kimmy was a baby, so it was Heather's first Mother's Day as a mother.

We didn't know we were starting a family tradition, but after a few years we formalized it with the name "Louise Lunch".

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, especially Mom, Heather, and Anne. Love you!

We were having such a good time talking and laughing together that I almost forgot to haul out the camera for pictures.

This is Margarete Louise (aka Louise One, Mom) and Marguerite Louise (aka Louise Two, Me). Picture taken by Kimberly Louise (aka Louise Four, Granddaughter Kimmy).


Heather Louise (aka Louise Three, Daughter Heather) is always smiling and laughing except when she's trying to look normal in a picture.

It seems strange to see her looking so solemn. She always gets to pick the restaurant because it's her birthday as well as being Mother's Day. This year she picked Texas Roadhouse in Kalamazoo and we all enjoyed her selection.


Heather Louise (aka Louise Three, Daughter Heather) and her daughter, Kimberly Louise (aka Louise Four, Granddaughter Kimmy).

My Mother's Day gift was a book of poems containing a poem written by Kimmy. I'll be sharing the poem in a future post.

More Sydney Pictures

There was snow in Idaho. Thursday and Friday, my first two days there, we woke up to a white neighborhood with more white stuff falling. I took pictures and then deleted them. Idaho snow looks just like Michigan snow and there have been enough snow pictures this year.

Here are some non-snowy pictures of what I did in Northern Idaho on my spring break.

Sydney and I played lots of Hide and Seek.

We also read dozens and dozens of books.

Saturday morning Son/Dad John took Sydney to build a child's craft at Home Depot. This week it was a bird house.

There were two previous Home Depot kid projects to paint as well, bookends and a planter. DIL/Mom Anne hauled out the paint and we made everything colorful.

Sydney and I went to the Post Falls Parks and Recreation preschool Easter event. We colored eggs, decorated the basket, and made a bunny bag.

Then there was an Easter egg hunt in the cold rain.

We were the last ones to finish because once Sydney found all her eggs, she asked me to hide them again so we could start over.

Hunter's Mom, Christina, ran out in the rain and offered to take our picture. Thank you Christina!

Sydney's 4th Birthday

A week ago today I was two thousand miles away in Idaho helping to celebrate Granddaughter Sydney's birthday.

Early afternoon, the balloons arrived from Great-Grandma M. in Michigan.

They were a big hit.


Sydney dressed in her birthday princess outfit to greet her birthday guests.

Notice she's wearing birthday socks knit by Grandma B. (me).


Once the party got started, there were presents to open.


And, of course, there was a birthday cake. Sydney picked out the rainbow theme.