Devastating

Sometimes in our lives we are faced with obstacles we aren't sure we can survive. We are pushed to our limits, yet keep on going. Halloween night, I was met with one. It was a life changing experience. I was pushed well beyond my means and each day after, has been a struggle. I have gotten through each day and each night since, with much surprise to myself. We truly never understand how quick life can be taken from us. Some of us that have faced death and have learned from it, know how precious it is. Each moment, every sight, touch, smell, every breath you take, is a gift. None of us can say we know for sure what happens after we die, and that is the scariest thought ever. What we need is faith. I have faith in the human spirit. Through the kindness of others, I have learned a lot. It is amazing how much love people have to give if you just ask. It is amazing how we are all similar in many ways and don't even know it, until we ask for help. Now, it is my turn to give back. Even though I know for sure I will never be the same, I do know it has changed me for the better. It is so hard to see at first that everything is a learning experience. But, to be able to learn is also a gift. The best gift of all is love.

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This is a gift for a very special person who helped me more than she will ever know. Nurse Christine, who works in the CCU Unit of Memorial Hospital, is such a wonderful spirit.

This is what I can give to her. Warmth and love in every single stitch. We have to remember to always thank the people that go above and beyond, and don't even realize it. Thank you Christine, from the bottom of my heart.

Halloween

Halloween 2008

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We like to decorate a lot for Halloween.

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Mr. Frankenstein

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Who is this masked pirate?

Sugar Bears!!!!!!

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And this awful skully jester?

Kailen of course.

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Bat Winged Girl.

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All my loves together.

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Trick-or-Treat Time

The first year the kids went alone in a large group.

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But Sugey Bear had to come with mommy.

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He was kinda sad the big kids left him.....BUT.....

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Was quite pleased with his stash.

Carving and Baking

Yesterday, we did some baking, roasting, and carving.

Oh, and please ignore the big spot of missing paint in the back wall. That's one of the many lovely advantages of having a macaw.

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So, we started this adventure around 3 o'clock.

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This is what my son did while we were decorating.

Video Games.

Besides eating all the cookies as soon as they came out of the oven.

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These are all the cookies that we had left after the rest were devoured.

We almost baked 150.

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Then came the pumpkins.

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Sugey really enjoyed the guts this year.

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What's the best part of pumpkin carving?????

The roasted seeds of course.

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Here's the recipe we used.

http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/001438toasted_pumpkin_seeds.php

Boil them first with salt. Always works great.

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Can you guess which one is mine?

Sinister Jack, of course!

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How about the kids?

Daryn did the cat. Ryan did Bowzer, Kailen did the skull and Sugey did Lightning Mcqueen. If you look close enough, you can see the cat. (:

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9 o'clock

Who knew that all of this activity would be so tiring.....

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Guess what I did while the kids went to sleep.

Knit, Knit, Knit.

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Pumpkins and Mango Delight

Pumpkin Patch Day!!!!!!!!

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It was actually nice to get cool weather.

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Why is it the older kids always want the bigger pumpkins?

It must be all the seeds we roast.


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I think Sugey liked to ride in the pumpkin cart the best.

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For some reason, I really like this picture. They weren't really posing and those are always the best.

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Little gourds always make good alien guns.

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I wonder if the bumpy ones have more seeds?

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When we got home we made caramel apples. Thanks to my secret spoiler!

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Sugey really liked rolling the apples in the toppings.

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After the apple making, I went outside to watch the kids on the skate ramps and spun up some mango-y goodness.

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I am amazed how much of a difference my spinning has improved.

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Finished product.

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Woke up this morning to some odd looking birds in my yard.

Swappity Swap

I got my second package from my secret spoiler yesterday!!!!

How amazing is this??????

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For the past two months, I have been sleuthing to find out who my secret sister is. She's a tricky one!!! Before I received my package, I had "favorited" her Amigurumi Zombies. I had no idea it was her, my spoiler, until I received her package. The funny thing is I had many guesses to who she was and none were right. BUT, I had been admiring her work in our group and reading through her blog, never putting it all together. When I opened my package all I saw at first were the two dolls. I cried and laughed at the same time. This has been one of the best knitting experiences I've had. Not only have I gotten really cool stuff, I have made a friend forever. To me, that is the most important thing. I can not thank her enough and she always seems to come through at exactly the right moments in my life. Thank you Jo Anne. With all my heart.

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My favorite little Zombies.

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Some of the softest sock yarn ever!

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Look at all my wonderful goodies.

The kids have been dying to get ahold of the apple dipping kit. She loves to include my whole family. I am so grateful (:

Earthy Giving

This week has been all about giving. Sort of. (: You know I had to go yarn shopping too. But first, I shall talk about being earthy. One of my best friends in the world was annoyed with me last night for counting while I was knitting. I couldn't answer her call at the moment, I HAD to finish one of the Christmas presents I was making. So, in her annoyance, I often tell her I would teach her how to knit. Her response was " That stuff is for grannies" (mildly put). My friend is a very very earthy type of person. She has taught me a lot about the world whether she knows it or not... I told her knitting was as earthy as you can get. She laughed. Some people just dont get it.
( I LOVE YOU ANNETTE) (;

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This is one of my first handspun yarns.

To be able to spin your own yarn is as earthy as you can get.

One day, I shall teach her...whether she likes it or not.

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YARN SHOPPING

I must stop!!!!!! (:

But look how beautiful.

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This is what I was making while on the phone.

A pretty dishcloth. I plan on making sets of these in different colors for holiday presents.

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Another holiday present. A Coffee Corset.

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This is what Sugey does when I get most of my knitting done.

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Random kitten love.

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This week has been very stormy. But I love it.

Yesterday, wasn't so bad. But, the palm trees were swaying.

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And this is what my house looks like when it is raining.
All the neighborhood boys congregate in the back room to play video games.