I'm still here

My brother reminded me a couple of weeks ago that I haven't posted for a looooong time. And now it's been even longer. Things have been a bit topsy-turvy here this summer. My granddaughter Sara and her three girls spent a few weeks with me. My house is not really big enough for that many people. A lot of their stuff is still here, but they are in a women's shelter in Mayfield now. Rose (almost 13) was pushing for that, because she realizes that her mom can get some help there that I couldn't give her - with things like employment and housing.

Rose is also glad to be at Mayfield Middle School where she knows a few people rather than Carlisle County Middle School where she knows noone. I don't think Lily (age 6) was concerned about where she goes to school. And Calla (age 3) is too young for school yet, although she went to Vacation Bible School with her cousin during the summer, and was very impressed that she went to school. I don't understand 3-year-old speech very well, but that word came out loud and clear. During the program at the end of the week, she turned a couple of somersaults while they were singing their songs.

Here is what Lily and Calla looked like on Lily's first day of first grade. Don't know why Rose was not included on her first day of seventh grade.

The following week, school started in Metropolis. Lexi is a senior this year, and Brady is in kindergarten. He's only 3 months younger that Lily, but the cut-off date is September 30 and his birthday is October 8.

For a retiree, I keep fairly busy. I have two fiber-arts groups that meet every week and two more that meet monthly. I really enjoy spending time with other people who knit, crochet, weave, spin, etc. I mostly knit, but I did weave a dozen placemats for my granddaughter-in-law recently. Now I'm working on 300+ (I hope) mugrugs for this year's Walk through Bethlehem. This event is something I've enjoyed participating in annually since 2008. I have 75 mugrugs completed so far, with a third 8-yard warp ready to wind onto the loom. I also have 350 2-inch squares for the Walk, and Rose has one of my Weave-it looms and some yarn to make more.

I recently joined the local Homemakers group and discovered that they put on a Fall Festival in late October each year. I've been here in Milburn 15 years (I think) and have never gone to it. I'm knitting and crocheting dishcloths and hotpads/pot holders for the Country Store booth, and little animals for the fishing booth. For the dishcloths and hotpads, I'm using up the rest of the second cone of Peaches and Cream cotton from the placemats I wove for Jaimee. Here are the little critters I've done so far:

Actually, I'm still working on the snake. I also have another fish on the needles, as well. Rose has the Owl Puff pattern and may get some of those done for me. They take me very little time, but then I've been knitting since 1963/64; she's only been knitting a couple of years.

I entered a shawl in the county fair this year; it had been several years since I entered anything. I got a blue ribbon on it, which is probably not a big deal, since it is such a small county.

I came up with this design a few years ago, and have made several like it.