Chicago

Chicago! What a fun place to visit! You truly see all kinds of people there. And hear all kinds of languages too! Our train ride there was uneventful, and I knitted on my bright colored socks without getting motion sickness! We arrived at Union Station and caught a cab to our hotel, the Fairfield on Ontario street, just 2 blocks from Michigan and the Magnificent Mile. We had a nice room on the 13th floor, with a great view. We could even see Lake Michigan in the distance! Sunday was warm and alittle cloudy. Great walking weather, and boy did we walk! We had lunch at a Mall food court, where 3 boys tried to sell us stolen jewelry. Security was there in no time at all, and hauled them off. I could not believe the disrespectful language the boys used to the officers! Then we shopped, mostly window shopping and walked and laughed and people watched and laughed until we cried! We took a break and had cheese cake at The Cheesecake Factory. It was wonderful!! I had a dark chocolate-raspberry cheese cake. Out of this world!! More walking, and then back to the hotel to rest up. We had Chicago style pizza at Gino's East. Absolutely wonderful pizza. One piece was all I could eat, it was at least 3 inches thick!! Back to the hotel for the night. Yesterday we dodged rain drops and showers and ran from store to store getting wet and sillier. We looked like 4 drowned puppies, but then, so did everyone else! None of us bought much, but the laughs we had were great! On the train towards home about 6:30pm. The ride was good until we had to slow down for 40 minutes because the engineer could not get the signal it was ok for us to be on the tracks?!! It was alittle tense, but we made it to Holland about 10:00pm. Great trip!! Not much sleep, so it will be early to bed tonight! I did finish one sock and started the next! They are colorful! My sister told me they might glow in the dark! Now it is back to reality for the rest of the week. I worked 5 hours this morning, and it is pay back for having a day off! The next 2 days will be hectic! We will have to see Brendan tonight, as it is his 4th b-day today!
And, what happened to our warm weather!!! Fall is here for sure! Great knitting weather!

Happiness

Happiness comes in all forms. For me, this week was a rollercoaster ride on the health scene again. My semi-annual swishing of the boobs was Tuesday. The preliminary report looked ecouraging. This afternoon I met with my oncologist. He said the area of concern has gone down slightly in size! He believes it is scar tissue from my surgery 11 years ago. He wants to moniter it for 1 more year, if no changes, then he will release me back to my primary care doctor. Now that is happiness for me!!!
This fantastic weather is another source of happiness for me. I love the warm weather, and if not for my kids and mor importantly my grandkids, I could easily move south. Ah, year around summer, what a novel idea!
Knitting is a big source of happiness for me. To feel the yarn between my fingers, and create things is true happiness. I finished a baby blanket, just need to cut the long threads, and started a pair of very colorful socks for me. I couldn't wait until after Christmas, I need a small project to take on the train to Chicago Sunday, and socks work out perfectly!
So I guess today I am alittle giddy with happiness. Good health, sunshine, and yarn, what more could a girl need!! Knit on!

Weekends

Why are weekends so short? The best part of life seems to be in the weekends! Yesterday was absolutely beautiful outside. We took Connor to pick apples at Cranes in Fennville, and had a wonderful time with him. We washed both my car and Carl's truck. Then powerwashed the front of the house and our deck. Because we could not bear to be inside, we kayaked for a couple of hours with our good friends, Gary and Shari. Then out for pizza at Marios. A fantastic day!
Today we saw little Colin get baptized at church. Candi and Ken had us all over for lunch afterward so we got to see all 7 grandkids today! What a blessing! I am amazed at how many grandkids have popped up in just under 4 years! After a noisy, but fun lunch, we headed home to catch a short nap. What a treat..........napping! I have read a few more chapters in my book, The Other Bolyn girl, while Carl is gone to choir. A nice quiet evening, then it is back to the rat race tomorrow.
I have to get back to work on my niece's baby blanket too. It is coming along nicely in shades of yellow, green, and white. Then it is back to the Christmas projects to finish. And......After Christmas it is all about me! I need to knit for myself again. A sweater, scarf, gloves, who knows? But it will be for me! Have a great week, as we go into Fall officially tomorrow! Knit On!

Friday

Ah............the weekend is here. Why does the week drag by, but the weekends fly by? The weather is sure changing to feel like Fall. Carl covered the pool last night. That always is a downer. It's like admitting Summer is over. I would hang on to Summer forever if I could! But the cool mornings sure tell us Fall is coming. I really do not mind Fall, it is what follows that I do not like! I do not like the cold, gray days, and having to stay inside to keep warm. But, I do alot more knitting on those days. And a cup of hot chocolate by the fireplace is a treat! I am working on my 4th square of my sampler afghan. I need to put it away soon to concentrate on getting Christmas presents done. Only 3 1/2 months to complete all my dream presents! Have a great weekend wherever you are, and don't forget to knit awhile! It is so relaxing!

Labor Day!

Labor Day, how can it be here already? And why is it that summer and warm weather flies by, while the cold dark days of winter hang on forever?!!
My weekend did not go like we planned at all. Thursday night I came down with a bad vertigo spell that kept me on the couch through Sunday morning. At its worst, I could only try to sleep it out because the room was spinning around. No TV, reading or knitting. Bummer! Last night I finally pulled out the alpaca socks I am making for Carl and worked on them for a while. Still alittle shaky, but definitely on the mend. Just in time for the work week! At least I did not have to miss work, but am disapointed at missing the last official weekend of the summer. This coming weekend we have a big campout planned with my family so I need to feel alot better by then.
Also am working on my afghan, which is coming along nicely. Thanks to my friend Mary who shared the pattern!
Get out and enjoy the rest of your day! The weather is great!