Wedding Weekend

The wedding was beautiful and we had a great time. We arrived Thursday evening to Crane Point Lodge in Blue Mountain, NY in the heart of the Adirondacks. The foliage was in full color and the lodge was nestled on Blue Mountain Lake. We enjoyed the area on Friday and Saturday morning while also preparing for the wedding. I made a grievous error and booked my son's air travel to Albany, GA instead of Albany, NY so spent a good part of Friday rearranging his travel to NY instead of from Atlanta to Albany, GA and it was expensive!!

Friday we went to Old Forge to do a little walking around, shopping, eating, and all round having fun. I bought some yarn at the General Store--they have a bona-fide yarn store inside the general store. It's in the back in front of the book store. Heaven! I bought hand-dyed fingering yarn that is variegated to knit a shawl. I'm gonna love it. While there I finished reading The Land of the Mango Sunsets by Dorthea Benton Frank on my Kindle.

The wedding was in the backyard of the Lodge. We had gorgeous flowers in Adirondack Packs that were stunning---fall flowers nestled on Adirondack chairs and flowers and fall leaves everywhere. The ladies had fall flower bouquets. Laura was beautiful in her navy beaded gown. Jonathan was handsome in his light brown suit. They are a good looking couple and are very happy with one another. The ceremony was short but really sweet. We come out into the yard to "Wouldn't It Be Nice" by the Beach Boys. Then after the ceremony we had drinks and appetizers until the dinner was ready. We had toasts and kind words all around, then enjoyed a scrumptious dinner and wedding cake. We stayed up late sitting around the table talking. I enjoyed hearing young people talk about what interests them. Jonathan's brother has a cutie-pie toddler Zoe who was delightful. She is almost a year and a half and jibber-jabbers and laughs and is fun to be around.

After this great weekend it was a letdown to come back to the real world. But we persevere.

One of my book clubs is reading The Book Thief this month and thankfully I've finished it because the other one is reading Look Homeward Angel by Thomas Wolfe--our classic for the year. It is LONG and I'm slogging my way through it.

Knitting--- an entrelac scarf, a sweater, two pairs of socks that have to be finished pronto, and other scarves that I've put off finishing but now it is time. The entrelac scarf is in Boku and I think really needs to be lightly felted so I'm making it as long as the yarn lasts so that it won't be shrunk too short. I may give it to Laura for Christmas. I need to finish some other gifts and items for the auction at church, so I've got a lot to accomplish.

LOVE CAPS Gathering is coming along--enough said. More after it is finished on Oct. 18.

In the meantime next weekend is the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville--got to go to that!

So, a lot is going on and I'm working on it furiously, well, sort of working on it while trying to get back in the swing. We spent so much time anticipating the wedding that we are in that "after Christmas funk." However, we will get the pictures soon and that will pump us back up.

Meanwhile---it's cool here and the air is crisp in the early morning--it might be fall soon.

That's the way it is................

Time Flies.

This coming weekend my daughter will marry her fiance in a "destination" wedding in upstate NY on a lake near a lodge with the fall foliage in full bloom. Tonight at dinner her dad and I discussed how, even though she is in her mid-30's, it seems like yesterday she was just a little girl. We are thinking about the toasts we will give and the memories came flooding in. I remember the evening she was born and everyday since then. And now she has chosen such a great young man to be her mate. We are pleased for her and thrilled with her choice. He is good for her--smart, good looking, reflective and a great listener. They have a lot in common and yet are very different people. I have always wanted her to choose a man who will challenge her and be her champion and I believe she's found just the right one. It will be a great weekend.

Before that rolls around I still have a lot to do planning for the Love Cap Gathering.

I've been furiously knitting a cap, a sweater, scarf, pair of socks and am planning on doing some knitting to felt as soon as the wedding and Love Cap "do" is over. Christmas is looming. And a new great nephew is on the way--the needles will be clacking. Time is fleeting!

My two book clubs read Olive Kitteridge this month--it is a great read. I've finished The Book Thief for next month's book club in the neighborhood and the other one is reading Look Homeward Angel--got to get started on that one and it will take a while. My Kindle is loaded with several books I'm anxious to get to--South of Broad, Lush Life, Sarah's Key, and Oprah's new pick. I'm going to have to buy the new thing from Amazon that lets the Kindle stand up on a table so I can read and knit at the same time!

Time is flying toward my next birthday, one of the big ones--60! I cannot even fathom it as I see myself as still in my forties. Where did the 50's go? I've lived in four cities this past decade and three states. I quit working at 51 and yet it seems like yesterday I was teaching school. I felt my four years in NH were slooooowwwww but now am busier than ever. And this summer seems to have gone by in a blip despite all that happened. Yes, as my daughter's marriage takes our little family of four to five and as I soon reach the decade of becoming eligible for Social Security (OMG!) I can say for sure that.....time flies. That's the way it is.....

Healthcare

Well, the Pres did a great job on the healthcare speech. I guess my main feeling is that the poorest and the richest deserve the best health care available, if indeed we are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I believe health care is a right not a privilege of those who can pay for it. I also feel that if we who have are true to the teachings of the Bible, it is our responsibility to help pay for those who don't have, so if my family has to pay higher taxes so that others who can't pay get health care, I'll gladly do it. It's not about government being in my life--they already are and that's NOT going to change, so let's do the right thing. I do not like the idea of insurance companies dictating how and who gets what kind of healthcare and I do not think they have to make such enormous profits. We live in a time of such greed. So, I do believe it is our mandate from God to take care of one another and if we can't do it without the gov't. then let's get it done WITH the gov't. There are other things involved, like how so much of health care now is defensive medicine and that is a huge issue, how we have become a nation afraid of intellect and constructive discourse. and worse than that, we are a nation of people so concerned with protecting our bank accounts that we personify greed. And that breeds meanness. And, yes, I am very biased, mostly because I believe my mission is not to accumulate things but to do for others and accumulate friends and good memories. I don't mean that to sound lofty and egotistic. I have a lot and am grateful for all that we have, but in the end that's not what satisfies. So I guess I seek satisfaction for the long term.

Knitting--whoowee. That's not too productive, still working on the sweater and a string bag. Need to be doing some Christmas stuff.

Reading---finished The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and am now reading light--Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen but can't remember the author right now. It's about a small town in the south where two young girls are growing up with their widowed daddy who is a preacher at a Baptist Church. They spend a lot of time at the Dairy Queen. It's cute and easy reading.

I'm not too into concentration right now as the daughter's wedding is two weeks from this coming Saturday!!

My most busy time right now is with my volunteer job--Love Caps. More about that later.

Got to go do a little reading now, so, thank you Pres for getting on that healthcare thing, and thanks to friends and family who fill my life with joy. That's the way it is.....

Catching Up.

People, we have to discuss this school lesson from the President thing. It is embarrassing to me that we are questioning this at all. Please. The President wishes to encourage students to study hard and take responsibility for their studies. Listen to teachers and parents. Write a letter to him about how they can help him--you know work hard, study, help others. The craziness that has come from the crazy talk show host is astonishing---he is just making up whatever he can to 1. keep himself in the news, 2. make money, 3. make sure he has a following so he can do 1. and 2. We have become a very stupid people to even give this more than one second of our time. So, I will be listening to the President because as a former social studies teacher I taught my students to learn about the government, to repsect the president and the presidency and most importantly, to think and use discernment about what they hear.

We are moving forward on the wedding. Twenty days from today!

I've been busy working on Love Caps, my new favorite volunteer job, and knitting and reading. I've been reading The Book Thief about a young girl in Germany during WWII who steals books and lives with a foster family who harbors a Jew. Good stuff, written to appeal to young adults and in a different style--the narrator is the Grim Reaper!

I have 12 books presently downloaded on my Kindle and really need to speed up the reading. I've got Rebecca Wells new book; two by Dorthea Benton Frank; Sarah's Key, also about the Holocaust and the one I'm most looking forward to---South of Broad by Pat Conroy. I'm saving it for when I can savor it.

I also plan to read Absalom, Absalom by Faulkner and Look Homeward, Angel by Tom Wolfe. I also want to make my way through the new issue of the Oxford American about southern lit. It recommends the Faulkner as the quintessential southern must read. So, it's on my list, too. Both book clubs are reading Olive Kitteridge that I read this summer so I'll review it next week, too.

Knitting--well, I've been cranking out the finishing of some recent projects--a sweater vest, several shawls, some hats for Love Caps, and socks, of course. I've just started a cardigan out of Knit Picks City Tweed DK. I'm using the raglan cardigan pattern in the Handy Book of Sweater Patterns---am just about the the underarm.

I'm working my way through my stash of lace, sock, Koigu, Blue Mountain, etc. yarn. I'm still determined to use up some of that stuff. I'm also working on an acrylic afghan and a cotton baby blanket. Still working on my toe-up socks that I do not like, but will get the second one finished one of these days.

It's been beautiful here in Memphis--a cool August and early September. The knitting and the reading are good, what can I say. Life is good, today, and that's the way it is......

Happy Times

This past weekend our family came together to celebrate the engagement of our daughter, Laura, to Jonathan, who will be married on September 26, 2009 in Upstate New York. It is a private wedding for immediate family so we took the opportunity last weekend to introduce Jonathan to our family. We also had several members of Jonathan's family present. We had a group of about 60 ranging from four months old to ninety-three years old. We had food galore. My sister was the hostess and chief cook and a fine one at that.

As we get to know Jonathan we are really pleased that he and Laura found each other---on an internet dating site! It's a joy to watch how smitten with one another they are.

It was such a pleasure for me to have so many family members there--aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews, the grands and such. Some I hadn't seen in a long while.

Now we are preparing for the upcoming wedding. Excitement all around.

I've been busy blocking shawls--four so far. One favorite, the Thanksgiving Shawl from the Elegant Ewe in Concord, NH. I believe it was designed by the owner. I used Mountain Colors yarn and made it larger than the pattern. I think I'll wear it for Thanksgiving!! Oh, it probably won't be cold enough here in Memphis as it's made of 100% wool, so maybe some cold day I'll get it out. I'm knitting another from a Knit Picks pattern for their lace yarn sampler. It's on their website. I already had another earlier lace weight sampler so used that. I'm going to make the one skein scarf, too. I have two cotton ones that will get the most use.

Now, the project coming up---a sweater using Knit Picks City Tweed DK in plum. Going to knit a cardigan from it.

I have so many projects in the knitting closet that I could go a long time without buying any yarn, but what's the fun of that?! Seriously, I am trying to use up the stash as best I can before the urge to buy more yarn comes crawling in. I have so much wool that I really need to do some felting projects for Christmas.

Reading. Well, I've read Elizabeth Berg's Home Safe. Good enough. Started The Book Thief this week. It looks good. Both book clubs are reading Olive Kitteridge this month---GREAT choice!

I have downloaded several books for the upcoming days--Pat Conroy's new book, Rebecca Wells new novel, too. Since the President is reading Lush Life, I downloaded that, too. Then there's always Dorthea Benton Frank's new novel. And, Sarah's Key about WWII and Shanghai Sisters by Lisa See. I'd better get busy.

So, we have been having some happy times and for now, that's the way it is......

Celebration of A Good Life

Last week was difficult and yet quite moving for our family. We were called home to KY on Monday following the news that my husband's mother was failing fast. She had had Alzheimer's for over 12 years that we knew for sure. Her life had been up and down and eventually she was placed in a nursing home for her own protection and safety. Yet during it all she maintained her sweet humor and love of life. Although she continually asked to go home (either it was her parent's home or her own home, we never knew for sure) and asked to see her mom and dad who have been gone many years, most of the time she was content and loved to play jazzy piano for the residents, who came to depend on her for entertainment.

She was a breast cancer survivor and had a chronic form of leukemia so her health was in constant jeopardy. But it was a fall and thus a broken hip this past spring that began her swift decline. Because of such poor cognition, she could not do rehab and that contributed to her decline. The surgery to pin her hip also caused some changes.

When we reached KY, she was definitely in her last hours and indeed, passed away peacefully on Tuesday night. It was a transforming experience to watch as she breathed slower and slower and then she breathed no more. This was in part due to the good end-of-life pain and breathing management she received.

By Friday we had a funeral and burial with all her family in attendance. Family members spoke and some of her piano playing was played as well. It was a good home-going for a woman who always wanted to be home.

Now back in Memphis, we are tired and it is getting hot and humid again--a good time to take it easy. That is, until Aug. 22 when we travel to KY again for the engagement party for our daughter and her fiance. Celebration for sure!

But today, that's the way it is......

Common Ground remembers with Riley's Gift

Today was an awe inspiring day. My Common Ground group sponsored a shower for three refugee moms-to-be who are newly arrived in the US. None of them has been here more than six months. One has already gotten a job and received a promotion. She is from Somalia and arrived from Kenya. Another is from Somalia and arrived with her husband and six other children one month ago. The third is an Iragi refugee who met the man to become her husband (also Iraqi) the day she arrived in Memphis. All three are beautiful women of amazing strength and determination. They brought friends and translators with them who are also refugees. We had food aplenty and so many gifts it was amazing. Lots of the gifts were donated by friends of our Common Ground-ers. It is astounding what these women manage to do when they get here--although sponsored by an organization they receive help for such a short amount of time and then they are on their own.

Today's shower was in memory of Riley Jane Lawrence who died one year ago today at the hands of an habitual criminal who killed Riley, her companion Claudia and injured Claudia's mother. The two girls, 4 and 5, were innocent victims of a system that allows criminals to live in violation of parole for way too long. But today was a day of remembrance, so we had a baby shower to celebrate the upcoming births of four precious babies--yes four, as one of the mother's is having twins! Today was called Riley's Gift.

Just spent a week in KY with Mother, who is 87 and really becoming more frail, but hanging in there. Hub is there now seeing about his mother who is a victim Alzheimer's, that horrible disease.

Plans for daughter's wedding continues---flowers the topic of today. There is something called an Adirondack basket pack--florists use them to make beautiful flower arrangements which will look beautiful in the Adirondack chairs next to the lake where the wedding will take place.

Next week looms with lots to do but for today that's the way it is here in Memphis town. Will the mayor REALLY leave office this week--we will see!

Cool Spell

Wow, it's been a cool three days, especially for Memphis. The days are in the low 80's reminding us of our years in New Hampshire. Of course, it's bound to heat up again like it was in June when we were scorched.
It's been a long time since the last post and a lot has happened. We took a trip to New York to New Jersey to attend our daughter's graduation from graduate school. She earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the New School in NYC. We also got to spend some time and get to know her then boyfriend, now fiance. They got engaged soon after graduation and are getting married in September. The wedding will be in the Adirondacks on a beautiful lake. A destination wedding!
Because her fiance has not met the extended family we are having an engagement party in KY in August--it's turned into a very busy summer.
Other good news. Our son moved here from LA and has secured a new job. In this time, that's a good thing.
I have taken on two new volunteer jobs that are taking time but I am enjoying them. That is in addition to the other two or three things I already do.
Knitting has taken a back seat but I've just finished a lap blanket and two hats for charity. I knitted the Sampler Shawl from the book Folk Shawls. I also knitted the Adamas Shawl by Mimknits, an online site. Both are in blue though of a different family of blue. The Adamas Shawl I will probably give to charity and I hope to wear the Sampler Shawl at my daughter's wedding. I already knitted her the Sampler Shawl in an olive shade that turned out beautifully.
I have several projects in the planning to knit now. I ordered a lace yarn sampler from KnitPicks that included a pattern. I will start that soon. I need to finish a sweater vest that needs to be put together and I have a few other little things going that don't seem to be interesting right now. Socks of course are in the project basket and those need to be worked on asap. I have one toe up pair--my first--and one pair of cuff down socks that are about finished.
Reading--slow going too.
I have read several good books but not as many as I like. I loved "Help" by Karen Stockett and have enjoyed Dorthea Benton Frank's "Bulls Island". Now I"m reading The Girls from Ames about 10 midwestern life-long friends. I have enjoyed my Kindle and love, love, love the prices of the books and that they can be downloaded in a few seconds, literally. I'm really looking forward to reading Pat Conroy's upcoming "South of Broad" about Charleston.
This next week I'll be in KY helping Mother. Then back here to host a shower for three refugee women who are expecting very soon. This is something I am doing as a favor for a friend in my Common Ground group. I took this series of group meetings back in the spring and it was about the best thing I've done in a long time---learning about racial issues in our city and what I can contribute to improving them was quite eye-opening. More about Common Ground later.
The title of this blog I lifted from Walter Cronkite's last words at the conclusion of each broadcast. He died this last week and it is very eye opening to remember how much his career mirrored our growing up--from the 50's through the 80's he was our source of the way it was. RIP Mr. Cronkite and thats the way it is....

Memphis is especially beautiful in April. It's still cool and everything seems to bloom around the middle of the month. There are many neighborhoods and gardeners abound. Here in our yard we have azaleas, dogwood and several other bushes I don't know the name of yet. We have peonies working their way to blooming, too. Our yard was landscaped before we moved in so we are enjoying the bounty of someone else's design and hard work. My husband is the yard man and he works hard to keep it looking good.
I was able to purchase a Kindle in February and really enjoying reading my book club choices on it. I really didn't know that I'd like it as much as I do. Good thing, since it's still a steep price. Fortunately the books are usually $9.99 so that's a savings.
Knitting has slowed down as I try to finish some baby gifts--just finished a sweater and blanket and am 2/3 through another blanket. Then I have two or three baskets of started projects to finish and a box of things that need to be steamed/blocked, etc.
This is the Easter season. Its the best time of year for us who believe in the resurrection. For all of us and the C&E attenders (Christmas and Easter)we love the freshening up of the church, but mostly the glory of the day.
I love the children with pastel colors and baskets and eggs and rabbits and chocolate, etc.
I'm so pleased with our President. I love watching how he is calm and thoughtful and has the attractive smile and laugh. He is working so hard for us--I cannot imagine the burden of bringing us back to some level of prosperity. I laugh at the FoxNews crowd who act so offended with the Pres. while the public is still almost totally in his camp. For fun, watch Hannity's outrage every night--you'll be reminded how glad you are you voted for Obama.
May is coming with Number 1 daughter's graduation. I know, I know, she's the only daughter but always number one to us. She graduates with an MFA and we are so proud.
No. 1 son--again, the only---has moved to Memphis and we are loving it. I'm sure we like his presence more than he does, but it's fun to have him around. He still eats everything in sight and is still skinny as a rail, so no matter how much older his is, some things aren't changing.
Goal for the year--read more, eat less, spend less, move more. Enjoy what I have and be grateful for it all. I'm subscribing to the get rid of 50 things idea, too.
I just had my 59th birthday--don't feel that old and facing 60 is daunting, but we move forward a little each day. And that's the way it is......

Message to President Obama

Everyone is talking about what they expect or want from you during your presidency. Anna Quindlen has a great article in Newsweek and she is right--keep writing and making speeches that inspire us. help to bring some positivity back to this country. I have a suggestion, too. Stay in touch with the people--you know, Tom and Jane Everybody. Read some local newspapers regularly, call people on that Blackberry you want to keep and ask them what they think about certain issues--don't just take the word of you staff, seek out people in towns and communities across the country. Maybe people won't get it at first but if you are actually in touch with people you won't become jaded as most Presidents do. I know you have staff and friends and family who will be honest and forthright with you, but you have spent the better part of two years meeting people--continue to do that and then you will continue to get the sense of the mood of the country. Take some time and read emails and phone messages and letters to the editors. Call people who least expect it and just talk about what's really going on.
I know, I know, they will say it can't be done--why can't you stay in contact with workers and professionals, and mothers and fathers, and teachers and students by actually talking with them, off the cuff and in the moment? You ARE the President and you can do just about whatever you want. Don't isolate yourself.
So, I agree, please, please keep making speeches that inspire and motivate us to be the best we can and to work together. But also, you do the best you can by actually knowing the feelings and concerns of us out here in the country who have your back and really want you to succeed. Really be the Leader of the people.
I know this sounds so simple--sometimes the most simple ideas are the best. At least I think so.
That's the way it is, here in Memphis where it's unusually cold but ever sunny.
See y'all.