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......