Sisters

I don't have a biological sister.  I always wanted one.  My favorite book is Little Women.  I loved the television shows The Waltons and Sisters.  

About a dozen years ago my mother lost a dear friend and vowed to be her daughters adopted mother.  Soon after that this daughter started to join us for family vacation and holidays.  I now refer to her as my sister and only very close friends know that this sister bond is not biological but chosen.  A friend upon  being introduced to her as my sister, commented recently that we "have the same eyes." I have referred to her as " my sister from another mother."

Like many sisters we are very different in many ways and alike in many others.  Sometime in the last decade I realized that she was the sweet baby I played with when I was 8 and she was about 6 months old.  She is the daughter who relocated to Florida after "our parents" retired and now lives a short walk from them. Two blocks?  Close enough that should they need help she is there.  A comfort to all of us that she is so close.

She left here yesterday after a visit of 11 days.  We did a lot of knitting and talking.  We experimented with yarn dying.  She helped at the yarn shop.  She played with and enjoyed Time with all my "boys,". John, Riley, and Ozzard, the beast.  She happily ate my cooking and helped with meals.  We miss her!  

Come back soon!

Here are a few quick pics from recent days.

Playing with new Legos.

Enjoying a picnic.

Pretending to sleep with lots of noisy snoring.

Driving his train.

Wearing his red sweater to be a fireman.

Yarn Dying

Last night we gathered in my backyard for a potluck dinner and yarn dying.  I received a gift of a yarn dying kit so I invited several of my "yarn obsessed friends" to bring some yarn and a dish to to share for a fun girls night.

Mostly we sat and chatted and ate and knitted and waited for water to heat.  

Not as difficult as I thought.  Grill, Hot water, a candle making thermometer, powdered dyes, citric acid and yarn

We did 2 pots on the grill so our first batch was sunset orange and ruby red ( fuschia), the second batch was amazon green and coral reef aqua.  

Orange is on the right.

We worked late into the night.  Set up a drying rack using 2 old ladders and battered boards.  Things II found in my garage and basement! 

So this morning we started some water heating and now we have amethyst purple and sunshine yellow.

It is cloudy and looks like rain so we moved our drying rack to the back porch.  The purple is a nice deep eggplant.  

This is close but darker.  Still steaming and dripping, but we are hooked.  I need one more thing to do!

The first batch is still drying this morning.  Yes I did bring it into the house late last night afraid someone might steal our treasures.  

Tracy said "i wish I had more yarn."

Someone might be driving to the yarn shop right now, in her pajamas to get more yarn.  Luckily we have a connection and can do "drive up" service!!  

Meanwhile Little boy is a great helper!  (Mostly by playing happily while we boil water.)

We built a zoo with a tall tree for the giraffe. 

We now have 4 pots simmering attempting some multi colored sock yarns.  We have flame red and river blue and the purple and green.

Kitchen has shifted from yarn dying shop to lunch room!

Our mornings work!  Ready for lunch and nap!

101 and a half

We attended a funeral today for a woman who was 101 ( and a half, as her daughter repeated several times.)

I met Grandma once several years ago and vaguely remember a bossy old lady who had her family dancing about to do her bidding.  

I cleared my schedule for the day out of a sense of obligation for her grandson, Dane who is an old friend of my husband.  I grumbled a bit as I laid out appropriate funeral attire.  I had read the obituary several times.  "Graveside service at 1pm. ". On a weekday.  In 95+ degrees.  Seriously.  He is a very good friend.  And a lawyer.  This large bear of a man who greeted John with his usual warm hug and the words "thanks for being here, brother. ".  Truly this relationship of nearly 4 decades is more than your average friendship. 

As a catholic school grad as well as Manhattan attorney Dane is an eloquent speaker.  We laughed and we cried with him as he spoke of Grandma.  She was a party girl until the very end.  Her daughter   (Dane's mother), Jean talked about searching her closet for her mothers final outfit.  She eventually settled on a "blue silk party dress,  trimmed with silver beads.  Granddaughter-in-law, Renee found a pair of sparkly silver dancing shoes.  Dane added a corsage to prepare her for her biggest dance yet.  

There were some tears,  but mostly laughter as they shared stories about Grandma.  None of her peers were there.  101 and a half years.  Most of those in attendance were half that age.  Friend of Dane and Renee.  

Dane spent much of the afternoon taking videos and pictures.  There were many group pictures taken at the graveside and later at a Mexican Restaurant.  Anyone observing would assume we were celebrating a birthday, reunion or other happy family event.  The men in the photo above?  Danes support system.  Lawyers, doctors (traditional and holistic)  Japanese television actor (second from right)

and a foundryman.

I carry my knitting wherever I go.  I never even pulled it out today.  Lots of lively conversation, happy talk and love.  It certainly is what I want to see from my friends and family when I am gone. 

Happy dancing, Grandma!

A Grand Heat Wave

Temps are expected to hit mid and upper 90's all week.  We were busy outside early.  Weeding, hanging laundry on the line and painting.

I found a cute little boy sized chair.  It was dirty but definitely pink.  Riley and I painted it a lovely shade of blue.

We also built a gas station.

Too hot for much activity so planning a quiet afternoon and evening. Hope to finish this today.

Five Minutes Peace

Many years ago I found a book at the library called "Five Minutes Peace".  Cute photos of a mama elephant trying to sit for a quiet cup of tea while reading her paper. Three elephant children needing her  constant attention while she just wanted "five minutes peace from all of you!!!"   I pulled it out to read to Riley last week.

I just reminded him of this story so I can have a few quiet minutes to sip my tea and blog.  With a promise of a snack in 5 minutes he happily made a "nest". " I am snuggling. Ozzard come snuggle with Riley."  There was much running and shrieking as he tried to entice Ozzy to come for a snuggle.  

Photos are dark because curtains are drawn to keep heat out.  I found this grocery cart in a neighbors trash pile.  Filthy but in good shape.  After much soaking and scrubbing it is almost like new!  Between snuggles in nest while calling for Ozzy he is happily shopping around the house.  Twenty minutes peace!!

I worked all weekend at the shop.  Much reorganizing and tidying on Saturday between customers.  Some quiet knitting time with friends.  Made a cotton sunhat and two little hedgehogs.  Possible classes for fall.  

Looking forward to a quiet holiday and weekend.  This my weekend off and holiday falls on my work day.  I work Wed. Evening then off until next Wed.  Hopefully i will get some knitting and sewing time.  Planning to watch Season two of Downton Abbey!  

Thirty minutes of peace!  Time for sweetie boys snack!