Hurry on over to Ruth's blog. She's having a "Be Kind to Animals" contest. The prizes are some yummy yarn and several knitting patterns. I'm donating one lace pattern and 2 toys patterns to the contest as prizes. The winner can choose which of my knitting patterns they would like.
To enter, post a comment about what you have personally done to make life better for animals on her blog.
Don't tarry, the contest ends August 31st.
Monday, August 25
Friday, August 22
Visitors
The month of August is flying by and it will soon be Labor Day. Even though the temps are still warm, we'll soon turn our attention towards fall and cooler weather.
Right now, it's hot here with the temps hovering near the 90 degree mark. We're about 6" under our normal rainfall. We're watering regularly to keep our garden going. Our tomatoes are finally ripening. We finished harvesting the sweet corn last night. Some of that golden goodness went into the freezer for later eating and some of it was consumed by us. Yum! If you haven't had sweet corn that's just been picked, you don't know what you are missing. It is so sweet, tender, and delicious! We've had a running battle with the critters over the corn. Hubby discovered an old method that seems to have kept them out of the patch long enough to harvest the corn. I'm not saying what it is, but it does work! LOL!
Our pear tree is drooping under the weight of the pears. I had to tie up some of the branches to keep them from breaking. Some of that harvest I may turn into pear jam. I found a recipe for it in an old cookbook I have called Make Your Own Groceries. It has recipes in it for making from scratch items that you now to buy in packages at the supermarket. I'll skip the additives, preservatives, chemicals, and such and make my own, thank you. The author also has a second cookbook called More Make Your Own Groceries. I love old cookbooks like this that don't call for using packaged mixes and such to make them.
Hubby's cousin Sue from Colorado was in town visiting last week. She came over with my FIL for dinner on Tuesday night. She's a vegetarian and that's what I cooked. Though we do eat meat from time to time, we eat vegetarian more often than not. For dinner, I served white bean and sage crostini, sweet and sour cucumbers, and a summer squash and rice salad. We finished up with slices of banana bread, zucchini bread, some very sweet canteloupe, and coffee. Yum! There wasn't much leftover when we were done. Now that I've teased you with the menu, I'll post a few recipes.
White Bean & Sage Crostini
1 baguette
3 tb olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
4 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped
1-15 oz can of cannellini beans, drained & rinsed
2 tb water
salt & pepper
1 ripe tomato, seeded and diced
Slice the baguette on an angle into 1/2" thick slices. Brush one side with olive oil. Place on a baking sheet; bake at 350 for 5-10 minutes until hot and crispy. Meanwhile, in a skillet, heat oil. Add onion, garlic, and sage. Cook for a few minutes until onions are translucent. Add beans and water; salt and pepper to taste. Cook for a few minutes until hot. Mash the beans to make a rough puree (some will still be whole). Top each piece of bread with some bean puree and diced tomato. Serve warm or at room temperature. Note: You can substitute other herbs or spices for the sage. (The four of us ate almost the entire loaf!)
Sweet & Sour Cucumbers
2 cucumbers
1 small onion, sliced into rings
2 tb vinegar
2 tb sugar
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper or a pinch of red pepper flakes
1-2 tb olive oil (optional)
Peel cucumbers, if desired. If seedy, slice them in half lengthwise and use a small spoon to scrape seeds out. Thinly slice cucumbers and onion. Layer cucumbers and onion in a bowl or a jar with a lid. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle over a little olive oil. Combine vinegar and sugar in a glass measuring cup. Microwave until hot. Carefully stir to dissolve sugar. Pour over cucumbers. Cover; let stand for a bit. Shake it up or stir to blend flavors. (Sometimes I will pour the dressing back into the cup and reheat it to speed the pickling process along.) These fresh pickles get better the longer they stand. Serve at room temperature or cold. Store leftovers in the refrigerator. Note: You can add chopped green peppers to this if you like. Serves 6.
Summer Squash & Rice Salad
olive oil
4 c diced summer squash or zucchini, unpeeled
2 c fresh sweet corn kernels
salt and pepper
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tsp ground cumin
2-3 tbl white or cider vinegar
2 c steamed rice, cooked and cooled (I used more than this.)
Feta or crumbly cheese and diced tomatoes, optional
Place the rice in a big heatproof bowl; set aside. Put 2 tbs of olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add squash and cook, stirring often, until lightly browned and slightly soft. Stir in the corn during the last minute or so of cooking. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the squash mixture over the rice; mix well. To make the dressing: add a little more olive oil to the skillet over medium heat. Add the onion; cook until translucent. Stir in garlic and cook briefly (do not burn!). Stir in the cumin and vinegar; let cook for 1-2 minutes for the flavors to blend. Remove skillet from the heat. Pour the dressing over the squash and rice. Mix well. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Serve warm or refrigerate until serving time. You may serve with feta cheese and diced tomatoes if you desire. Serves 4-6.
Right now, it's hot here with the temps hovering near the 90 degree mark. We're about 6" under our normal rainfall. We're watering regularly to keep our garden going. Our tomatoes are finally ripening. We finished harvesting the sweet corn last night. Some of that golden goodness went into the freezer for later eating and some of it was consumed by us. Yum! If you haven't had sweet corn that's just been picked, you don't know what you are missing. It is so sweet, tender, and delicious! We've had a running battle with the critters over the corn. Hubby discovered an old method that seems to have kept them out of the patch long enough to harvest the corn. I'm not saying what it is, but it does work! LOL!
Our pear tree is drooping under the weight of the pears. I had to tie up some of the branches to keep them from breaking. Some of that harvest I may turn into pear jam. I found a recipe for it in an old cookbook I have called Make Your Own Groceries. It has recipes in it for making from scratch items that you now to buy in packages at the supermarket. I'll skip the additives, preservatives, chemicals, and such and make my own, thank you. The author also has a second cookbook called More Make Your Own Groceries. I love old cookbooks like this that don't call for using packaged mixes and such to make them.
Hubby's cousin Sue from Colorado was in town visiting last week. She came over with my FIL for dinner on Tuesday night. She's a vegetarian and that's what I cooked. Though we do eat meat from time to time, we eat vegetarian more often than not. For dinner, I served white bean and sage crostini, sweet and sour cucumbers, and a summer squash and rice salad. We finished up with slices of banana bread, zucchini bread, some very sweet canteloupe, and coffee. Yum! There wasn't much leftover when we were done. Now that I've teased you with the menu, I'll post a few recipes.
White Bean & Sage Crostini
1 baguette
3 tb olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
4 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped
1-15 oz can of cannellini beans, drained & rinsed
2 tb water
salt & pepper
1 ripe tomato, seeded and diced
Slice the baguette on an angle into 1/2" thick slices. Brush one side with olive oil. Place on a baking sheet; bake at 350 for 5-10 minutes until hot and crispy. Meanwhile, in a skillet, heat oil. Add onion, garlic, and sage. Cook for a few minutes until onions are translucent. Add beans and water; salt and pepper to taste. Cook for a few minutes until hot. Mash the beans to make a rough puree (some will still be whole). Top each piece of bread with some bean puree and diced tomato. Serve warm or at room temperature. Note: You can substitute other herbs or spices for the sage. (The four of us ate almost the entire loaf!)
Sweet & Sour Cucumbers
2 cucumbers
1 small onion, sliced into rings
2 tb vinegar
2 tb sugar
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper or a pinch of red pepper flakes
1-2 tb olive oil (optional)
Peel cucumbers, if desired. If seedy, slice them in half lengthwise and use a small spoon to scrape seeds out. Thinly slice cucumbers and onion. Layer cucumbers and onion in a bowl or a jar with a lid. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle over a little olive oil. Combine vinegar and sugar in a glass measuring cup. Microwave until hot. Carefully stir to dissolve sugar. Pour over cucumbers. Cover; let stand for a bit. Shake it up or stir to blend flavors. (Sometimes I will pour the dressing back into the cup and reheat it to speed the pickling process along.) These fresh pickles get better the longer they stand. Serve at room temperature or cold. Store leftovers in the refrigerator. Note: You can add chopped green peppers to this if you like. Serves 6.
Summer Squash & Rice Salad
olive oil
4 c diced summer squash or zucchini, unpeeled
2 c fresh sweet corn kernels
salt and pepper
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tsp ground cumin
2-3 tbl white or cider vinegar
2 c steamed rice, cooked and cooled (I used more than this.)
Feta or crumbly cheese and diced tomatoes, optional
Place the rice in a big heatproof bowl; set aside. Put 2 tbs of olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add squash and cook, stirring often, until lightly browned and slightly soft. Stir in the corn during the last minute or so of cooking. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the squash mixture over the rice; mix well. To make the dressing: add a little more olive oil to the skillet over medium heat. Add the onion; cook until translucent. Stir in garlic and cook briefly (do not burn!). Stir in the cumin and vinegar; let cook for 1-2 minutes for the flavors to blend. Remove skillet from the heat. Pour the dressing over the squash and rice. Mix well. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Serve warm or refrigerate until serving time. You may serve with feta cheese and diced tomatoes if you desire. Serves 4-6.
Thursday, August 14
A tree frog and my toe up sock cast on
We have an unusual visitor hanging around our yard--a tree frog. Aren't these usually only found in the tropics or very hot climates? We don't have a clue where it came from. Hubby has seen it hanging on the side of our house in the evening. Last night, I saw it for the first time. I had the kitchen window open and saw something move outside. I took a closer look and saw this! The tree frog had jumped into the wisteria outside the window! Can you see the green frog in the middle of the picture? It's almost the same shade as the leaves. We've had a number of brown toads around this year but this is the first green or tree frog I've ever seen. We welcome toads in our garden as they help keep the bug population under control.I'm busy designing and knitting a new shawl pattern. This one is a Faroese style with beads. Progress has temporarily ground to a hal
t while I wait for more yarn to arrive. Shame on me for starting this project, knowing that I didn't have enough yarn to complete it. :-( I couldn't help it. This shawl wanted to be knit up in some Miss Babs Bamboo Baby yarn that I bought at the Midwest Fiber & Folk Art Fair. Too bad it was only a 400 yard skein.In the meantime, I finished a pair of Regia toe up socks I started in March. Yipes! Where has the time gone? I decided to start another pair. Cold weather will be coming ba
ck one of these days. In my stash, I found a partial ball of a wild Opal colorway from a Ravelry trade. I'm lucky that I can knit a pair of socks for me with about 200 yards of yarn. I have a small foot.I divided the yarn into 2 balls and cast on for toe up socks. I've been using 6" Crystal Palace bamboo double points. This time I decided to use some Chiao Goo 5" dpns that I purchased recently at Threadbear. I love these needles!
The first sock flew off my needles in only 3 days! (The other pair took about 3 months! LOL!) I started the second one last night. See how far I am already? These 5" needles are much easier for me to knit with than the 6" ones. They're making it a joy to knit socks instead of a chore.
I've also "uninvented" an easier way to start my toe up socks. For me, it is much less fiddly than any other cast on for toe ups that I've tried. I used to start my toe ups with a crocheted cast on using a piece of waste yarn. When I picked up the stitches on the cast on side, I had to carefully unravel the waste yarn and place each stitch on my needle without dropping any of them. I found it to be slow, fiddly, hard to see the stitches I was working with, and very aggravating if I dropped one of them or had to start over again.
Here's my new twist on a toe up cast on.
With my sock yarn and a crochet hook, I crochet cast on directly onto a dpn. Cast on about 1" worth of stitches. (For me that's 10.)
Knit 5 rows in stockinette (knit 1 row, purl 1 row).
Next you're going to pick up stitches in the crochet cast on. Take another dpn needle, place it under both loops of the first stitch of the crochet cast on edge and pull through a loop of sock yarn. This creates 1 stitch on your dpn. Repeat until you have as many stitches on this dpn as are on the other one. This method pushes the row of crochet loops from the cast on to the inside of the toe where it won't be seen.
You do not pick up any stitches in the end of the rows. Pull the first stitch or two tightly to close the gap around the end between the two dpns. Trust me, this works.
Divide your stitches evenly between 4 dpn needles, if you're using dpns. Now you'll begin knitting in the round. Start with a round of toe increases. Alternate with a round of plain knitting (no increases) until you have enough stitches for your sock.
If you don't know how to do a crochet cast on. You will find pictures and instructions at this link.
Tuesday, August 5
SquiddyCat -- a cat toy to knit & crochet
My name is SquiddyCat. I'm a new cat toy for you to knit and crochet.The toy is knit sideways in garter stitch beginning at the head. It starts with a provisional cast on, is shaped using short rows, and ends with a three needle bindoff. Crochet the legs for a fast finish!
This is a quick and easy knit that should take less than 30 minutes.
Don't be intimidated by the advanced techniques used to construct this toy. I walk you through each technique.
You do have to know how to crochet a chain and slip stitch to make the legs.
Rated: Intermediate or advanced beginner knitter with some crochet experience
Supplies needed:
Size 7 (4.5 mm) knitting needles
1 double point size 7 (4.5 mm)
Size G or H crochet hook
18 yards worsted weight yarn
Large eye tapestry needle
Poly fill or stuffing of your choice
Catnip
The 3 page pdf file contains written instructions and many pictures showing you how the toy is constructed.
November 25, 2008. The pattern is now available as a free download in my Ravelry pattern store.
Friday, August 1
Walden Pond -- a lace scarf to knit
Announcing the debut of my newest lace pattern -- Walden Pond.The leafy motif and rippling waves in this design remind me of the serene tranquility of Thoreau’s Walden Pond retreat. This “no purl” lace scarf is easy enough for a beginning lace knitter. There is no right or wrong side to the scarf–both sides look exactly the same. Only one skein of fingering weight yarn (150-200 yards) is needed to knit this project. This will make a scarf about 6" wide x 60" long when blocked.
The pdf pattern is 3 pages long. It includes lace knitting tips, line-by-line written instructions, and a lace chart.
I hope you use my designs as a stepping stone. Knit more repeats to make it longer, use a heavier or lighter weight yarn than specified, or add beads to the design. Let your creativity reign!
I knit the original (green) scarf with straight ends. After blocking it, I thought it looked a little unfinished or needed something. Adding points to both ends finished it very nicely. :-)
Here are pict
ures of the scarves knit by my Ravelry test knitters--Karen (purple), Victoria (pink cashmere), and Sunni (1) green hand dyed wool and 2) gray handspun Pygora with beads). Thanks so much for your help! They all told me the pattern was an easy knit and not boring. Sunni has already knit two. All three have told me they will definitely knit it again. Several knitters who have seen this scarf have asked if I would
Taleah suggested the name for this sca
Wednesday, July 30
Octopuss--a free cat toy pattern from Zoe!
Here's a new free cat toy pattern to try out. Zoe Stevens-Lavigne is the designer. She contacted me recently about Octopuss which she says was inspired by my cat toy patterns. Isn't it cute? Zoe doesn't have a blog or a webplace to publish the pattern so she asked if I would host it for her. I'm very happy to do so. Have fun knitting this! Let me know if you have any problems or find any errors in the pattern.
Octopuss — A Cat Toy
Skills:
Knitting in the round on dpns
I-Cord
Picking up stitches
Increases (kf&b)
Decreases (k2tog)
Materials:
~15 yards worsted weight yarn
4 or 5 DPNs, size 6 (4.0 mm) or 7 (4.5 mm)
3 stitch markers
A yarn needle
Poly fill or yarn clippings
Catnip
Cast on 7 stitches using Emily Ocker’s circular cast on. If you don’t know how to do this visit this site.
Once you have knit several rows, pull the cast on yarn tail to close the opening. Secure, weave in tail, and cut off end.
Head:
Round 1: K2, insert marker, k2, insert marker, k3, insert marker (use a different color for the end of round). (7 sts)
Rounds 2-12: Knit, increase one stitch (kf&b) in the stitch before each stitch marker (increase three stitches each round). (40 sts)
Rounds 13-21: Knit, decrease (k2tog) on the last two stitches before each stitch marker (decrease three stitches each round). (16 sts)
Tentacles:
Remove the stitch markers as you go. You will be knitting the tentacles from the 16 sts remaining (2 sts per tenty) in I-Cord. You could also crochet them if you prefer.
[Crochet instructions: Use these in place of Steps 1-6 below. Use 2 sts per tenty. Place both stitches on a crochet hook. Crochet 12 chains. Turn and slip stitch back up the chain. Join to starting 2 sts before starting next 2 sts. Continue around until all stitches are used up.]
Step 1: Re-arrange the sts on your DPNs so you have two stitches on one of the needles.
Step 2: Knit 10 rows of I-cord on these 2 stitches. You can make your octopus tenties longer if you’re so inclined.
Step 3: K2tog at the end of the tenty. You will have one stitch left. With your right needle, pick up 10 loops along the underside of the tentacle onto your needle plus one stitch between the tenty you just completed and the next one. The 11 picked-up stitches are after the last stitch at the end of the tentacle. (You will knit that stitch first).
Step 4: Knit up the leg, binding off as you go. When you are done knitting up the leg, you will have one stitch left on your right working needle from the last stitch you picked up.
Step 5: After knitting your first tentacle, there will be 14 stitches left on your DPNs (plus one on your working needle). Place the next two stitches on a free DPN. Knit 1 onto your working needle. Pass the previous stitch over the stitch you just knit. Knit 1 more stitch so you have 2 on your needle.
Step 6: Repeat steps 1-5 until you have 8 legs and only one stitch left.
Closing the Bottom of the Head:
Pick up approximately 19 stitches around the inside of the octopus head with your DPNs. With the 1 stitch left from working the legs, you will have 20 sts.
Rounds 1-3: k2, k2tog around. (10 sts)
Cut yarn, leaving a 6" tail. Place yarn end through a needle. Run the needle through all the stitches on your needles removing them from your knitting needles.
Stuff the head with poly fill and catnip through the opening. Pull yarn tail tight to close, fasten securely, and cut off yarn end.
If you like, you can embroider a face on the toy.
© Zoe Stevens-Lavigne
June 2008
All rights reserved.
Octopuss — A Cat Toy
Skills:
Knitting in the round on dpns
I-Cord
Picking up stitches
Increases (kf&b)
Decreases (k2tog)
Materials:
~15 yards worsted weight yarn
4 or 5 DPNs, size 6 (4.0 mm) or 7 (4.5 mm)
3 stitch markers
A yarn needle
Poly fill or yarn clippings
Catnip
Cast on 7 stitches using Emily Ocker’s circular cast on. If you don’t know how to do this visit this site.
Once you have knit several rows, pull the cast on yarn tail to close the opening. Secure, weave in tail, and cut off end.
Head:
Round 1: K2, insert marker, k2, insert marker, k3, insert marker (use a different color for the end of round). (7 sts)
Rounds 2-12: Knit, increase one stitch (kf&b) in the stitch before each stitch marker (increase three stitches each round). (40 sts)
Rounds 13-21: Knit, decrease (k2tog) on the last two stitches before each stitch marker (decrease three stitches each round). (16 sts)
Tentacles:
Remove the stitch markers as you go. You will be knitting the tentacles from the 16 sts remaining (2 sts per tenty) in I-Cord. You could also crochet them if you prefer.
[Crochet instructions: Use these in place of Steps 1-6 below. Use 2 sts per tenty. Place both stitches on a crochet hook. Crochet 12 chains. Turn and slip stitch back up the chain. Join to starting 2 sts before starting next 2 sts. Continue around until all stitches are used up.]
Step 1: Re-arrange the sts on your DPNs so you have two stitches on one of the needles.
Step 2: Knit 10 rows of I-cord on these 2 stitches. You can make your octopus tenties longer if you’re so inclined.
Step 3: K2tog at the end of the tenty. You will have one stitch left. With your right needle, pick up 10 loops along the underside of the tentacle onto your needle plus one stitch between the tenty you just completed and the next one. The 11 picked-up stitches are after the last stitch at the end of the tentacle. (You will knit that stitch first).
Step 4: Knit up the leg, binding off as you go. When you are done knitting up the leg, you will have one stitch left on your right working needle from the last stitch you picked up.
Step 5: After knitting your first tentacle, there will be 14 stitches left on your DPNs (plus one on your working needle). Place the next two stitches on a free DPN. Knit 1 onto your working needle. Pass the previous stitch over the stitch you just knit. Knit 1 more stitch so you have 2 on your needle.
Step 6: Repeat steps 1-5 until you have 8 legs and only one stitch left.
Closing the Bottom of the Head:
Pick up approximately 19 stitches around the inside of the octopus head with your DPNs. With the 1 stitch left from working the legs, you will have 20 sts.
Rounds 1-3: k2, k2tog around. (10 sts)
Cut yarn, leaving a 6" tail. Place yarn end through a needle. Run the needle through all the stitches on your needles removing them from your knitting needles.
Stuff the head with poly fill and catnip through the opening. Pull yarn tail tight to close, fasten securely, and cut off yarn end.
If you like, you can embroider a face on the toy.
© Zoe Stevens-Lavigne
June 2008
All rights reserved.
Monday, July 28
Endings and memories
Yesterday, was a day for endings and remembering.
I read in the paper that Randy Pausch died. For those who are not familiar with the name, Randy was a 47-year-old professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September 2006. His "Last Lecture" (Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams) is great--both the You Tube video and the book version. It's hard to comprehend how a man so full of life could be gone. He leaves behind a wife and 3 small children.
Hubby and I attended a funeral visitation for the BIL of a work colleague of my husband's. Patrick Sawyer was only 40. He was hit by a car while riding his bicycle about 5:30 in the morning. It was a hit-and-run accident. The 21-year-old male driver of the car turned himself in 30 hours after the accident. (Does it make you wonder why he didn't stop at the time of the accident or turn himself in sooner?) Patrick had gone back to school as a nursing student after work related injuries forced him out of his previous profession. He, his wife, and 4 small children were living with their parents while he finished his degree. He would have graduated in August from IUSB's School of Nursing. (Donations for the family may be sent to: Benefit of Patrick Sawyer Trust Fund, c/o Key Bank, 202 S. Michigan, South Bend, IN 46601.) This is a senseless tragedy. It shouldn't have happened. Please, when you drive down the road, be more mindful and careful of the increasing amount of bicycles and other vehicles sharing our roads due to the rising cost of gasoline.
I also met my two SIL's at my FIL's house yesterday for a somber ceremony. Eleven months after my MIL died, my FIL was finally ready for us to go through her jewelry boxes. She had left behind explicit instructions on how to dispose of some of her possessions. That her DIL's go through her jewelry and take what momentos we wished was one of them. She loved wearing jewelry.
As each box was opened, memories unfolded. We laid the items out over her bed and carefully considered them. Some were things we remembered gifting to her on Mother's Day, her birthday, and Christmas; others brought memories flooding back of occasions when she had worn them. She treasured inexpensive costume jewelry as much as costlier pieces. I had come thinking I wouldn't take anything or maybe just one or two. I don't need objects to remember her by. My mind changed as we quietly talked. I pondered over what each object may have meant to her.
We found an old locket containing a picture that may have been her mother. (Her mother died of strep throat when she was very young. This was before antibiotics. She and her sister were raised by their father and grandmother.) I finally chose a small, flat, white jewelry box with golden tracings on the lid that I filled with memories of my MIL---small bits of inexpensive metal in the form of earrings, necklaces, and rings. I found myself feeling a bit guilty(?) for taking them, even though she had given her permission and no longer had a need for them.
For now, I will not wear them. The box will go in a safe place until I can bear to remove its content from their dark resting places and bring them once again into the light. I now have a better understanding of why it took so long for my FIL to let these things go. Too many memories...
I read in the paper that Randy Pausch died. For those who are not familiar with the name, Randy was a 47-year-old professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September 2006. His "Last Lecture" (Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams) is great--both the You Tube video and the book version. It's hard to comprehend how a man so full of life could be gone. He leaves behind a wife and 3 small children.
Hubby and I attended a funeral visitation for the BIL of a work colleague of my husband's. Patrick Sawyer was only 40. He was hit by a car while riding his bicycle about 5:30 in the morning. It was a hit-and-run accident. The 21-year-old male driver of the car turned himself in 30 hours after the accident. (Does it make you wonder why he didn't stop at the time of the accident or turn himself in sooner?) Patrick had gone back to school as a nursing student after work related injuries forced him out of his previous profession. He, his wife, and 4 small children were living with their parents while he finished his degree. He would have graduated in August from IUSB's School of Nursing. (Donations for the family may be sent to: Benefit of Patrick Sawyer Trust Fund, c/o Key Bank, 202 S. Michigan, South Bend, IN 46601.) This is a senseless tragedy. It shouldn't have happened. Please, when you drive down the road, be more mindful and careful of the increasing amount of bicycles and other vehicles sharing our roads due to the rising cost of gasoline.
I also met my two SIL's at my FIL's house yesterday for a somber ceremony. Eleven months after my MIL died, my FIL was finally ready for us to go through her jewelry boxes. She had left behind explicit instructions on how to dispose of some of her possessions. That her DIL's go through her jewelry and take what momentos we wished was one of them. She loved wearing jewelry.
As each box was opened, memories unfolded. We laid the items out over her bed and carefully considered them. Some were things we remembered gifting to her on Mother's Day, her birthday, and Christmas; others brought memories flooding back of occasions when she had worn them. She treasured inexpensive costume jewelry as much as costlier pieces. I had come thinking I wouldn't take anything or maybe just one or two. I don't need objects to remember her by. My mind changed as we quietly talked. I pondered over what each object may have meant to her.
We found an old locket containing a picture that may have been her mother. (Her mother died of strep throat when she was very young. This was before antibiotics. She and her sister were raised by their father and grandmother.) I finally chose a small, flat, white jewelry box with golden tracings on the lid that I filled with memories of my MIL---small bits of inexpensive metal in the form of earrings, necklaces, and rings. I found myself feeling a bit guilty(?) for taking them, even though she had given her permission and no longer had a need for them.
For now, I will not wear them. The box will go in a safe place until I can bear to remove its content from their dark resting places and bring them once again into the light. I now have a better understanding of why it took so long for my FIL to let these things go. Too many memories...
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