Thursday, November 06, 2008

New Baby Name

FOX news reports newborns and namesakes

a baby boy born in Florida has Obama as his middle name

and a mother in Maryland named her baby girl after his daughters

I’m gonna have some interesting Roll Call readings in a few years

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

When I opened the door this morning

this is Mahalia’s view (her whiskers touched my hand while I pressed the shutter)

and here’s mine while I kneeled beside her

we were going out to fetch the paper
saying Barack Obama is now our President Elect
something I already knew from looking at online websites

I’m home today, waiting for the furnace maintenance guy, catching up laundry
and probably knitting a couple hats on the small peg loom

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Sunday, November 02, 2008

Um, there’s an elephant in the parking lot

During the month of October, our local Great Harvest bakery had Pumpkin Scones as a special a couple days a week.
I made sure to drive over a few times to make a purchase, once even getting a couple extra to drop off for son Chris and his roomie to enjoy.

On the last visit, in the parking lot of the same shopping plaza, I spied an elephant.
A fake elephant, thank goodness, but still. . . .

I didn’t have my camera with me right then, but when I mentioned the elephant down the way, the clerk said it had been there awhile because of another tenant in the building.

This morning, what with the time change giving us an extra hour, Husband and I decided to go out for the breakfast we didn’t get to have together on Saturday because I was being a volunteer at the church blood drive.

The restaurant is only a couple blocks from the elephant in the parking lot, so I made sure to have my camera handy.

Knowing Husband is much better with lighting and angles than I am, I asked him to get these pictures.

We just never know what’s gonna be seen in the land of the free

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Knitted hats done in middle of week

There were no classes at schools on Wednesday, due to Parent-Teacher Conferences.  Being a TA Sub, I have no responsibility for such events, so I stayed home for fun.
Really, my car did not move, and the only time I went outside was to get the mail.

Kinda wrong somehow, the weather looked like a perfect Autumn day.

I did take pictures Sunday, from the end of the driveway.

click on that one ^ to see neighbor’s decorations

Here’s what I did Wednesday during my solitude

peg loom knitted hats of 4-ply acrylic
two newborn for donation to the hospital nursery,
and one in Pittsburgh Steelers colors for a dear friend

My life seems real nice when I have time to be sitting in the breakfast nook with the sunshine coming in through the windows, sipping tea, while listening to my new Darius Rucker CD, purchased from Amazon, but I’m too inept right now to provide a link.

This morning, I’m waiting for the maintenance guy to come check over the treadmill.
It has developed a noise for undetermined reasons.
Might maybe be cat hair stuck in a gear, who can say… .

Update:  the treadmill guy says that the trouble is in the motor.  I didn’t quite catch exactly what, but it is under warrantee and the company will reimburse for labor.  The part should be in early next week.  I hope by Wednesday, since I’m already Unavailable for a job then because the furnace guy is coming.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Didn’t Break the Camera

The chip in my camera has been declaring FULL ever since Women’s Retreat and Hurricane Ike back in September.  By looking at photos of the little screen on the back, I would delete a couple that were blurry or otherwise unsuitable, then I could take another one or two.
It was getting annoying, doing this, and I missed a prime afternoon for taking Fall colors photos of the maple tree.

This afternoon, Husband and I are driving by car an hour across the prairie to see son Lucas and to meet his sweetie’s parents.
Major social occasion here.  I’m not sure exactly what happens when his parents meet her parents and there is a wedding to begin planning for Summer, date not yet set.

I needed to deal with the camera chip to be ready for this definite photo op, so this morning I went to a store and spent time with a machine ordering prints of memories.

The words on the screen said a file could not be displayed, so I skipped it.  When I got home, I put the chip in the card reader and looked around on my own screen.  The computer was going a bit nuts, with pop-ups saying something I already knew.
You probably have similar stories to tell.

Anyway, after awhile of futile attempts to DELETE already,
I went and pestered my In-House Computer Support guy,
who took the chip, put it into his camera (which is just like mine) and re-formatted the chip, bringing up a delightful No Images.

In order to prove that all is well, he took this photo of me wearing my hometown hoodie, which was purchased last summer when I went back to the Valley for high school alumni reunion.  Fall is first weather comfortable to use it.

perhaps I should go gel down my cowlick

Our weekend is off to a great start, and promises to get better.

Here’s hoping yours does the same  
~~love and Huggs, Diane

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Busy Elsewhere II

I had just reached the top of the basement steps, after putting in a load of laundry.  Husband called me over to where he was stretching his calf muscles, prior to getting on the treadmill.

I’ve some ups and some downs the last few days.
Today, along with the dark gray rainy weather, was especially down.

Youngest Son Chris is having apartment problems, but he says it is his story to tell, so I can’t write about it for my blog.

Husband wanted me to come across the room so he could wrap his arms around me and mention that fretting does not bring out the best in me, and to tell me that these things have a way of getting sorted out and getting over.

Then he kissed me, lips then forehead.

It’s a good thing, sharing LIFE with him.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

ps Tomorrow, I’m working a day in Kindergarten.
I hope that Play Dough is not on the schedule.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Dollar$ Many for Maple $yrup

The school job was done a couple hours early today for Homecoming.

I thought I would take advantage of an afternoon free and do grocery shopping before the weekend.  Actually we only needed a couple items I could remember from the list under a magnet on the fridge, and I wasn’t sure if we have enough milk, but I stopped at a store anyway.

One of mine and Husband’s habits to do together is going out for Saturday breakfast.
One of our guilty pleasures is real maple syrup on our pancakes and french toast.
Yes, I do carry a bag with a bottle of maple syrup and one of Cholula sauce to use at our table in the restaurant.
If that is bad manners, I’m gonna shrug and tell you to get over it.
One of the items I remembered from the list was syrup.

At the first store, I misjudged how interesting might be the Clearance aisle, and used up 20 minutes there.  So much for an afternoon stretching out and teasing me with possibilities.
I put a book bag into the cart because I could not miss out on its 90% off = $3.49 price tag.  It looks like it will be good for carrying my large peg loom.

The shelf had a big empty place where Mahalia’s favorite can food flavor should be.  Oh, dear, she won’t eat other brands, or even other flavors by the same brand.  Yeah, I do spoil her.

Into the cart went the 32 ounce jug of maple syrup.  I looked at the tag hanging under it, with the price saying $9.99, and yes, indeedy, that is a good one.

At the checkout, I was just about to swipe my card when I noticed a price of $22.39 on the screen.  The cashier said it was for the maple syrup.  Um, no, I checked the shelf tag said much lower.  So she paged somebody to go verify.

Well, it seems the $9.99 was for just a bottle of syrup, the jugs had been moved too close.

I told her to take it back off, sorry to make her work harder, but that is a whole lot higher than I paid late last summer at SAM’s for the same size jug.

Then I went to a different grocery store which would have the proper flavor cat food.  There were two cans on the shelf, then empty space behind them.  I sure hope the company is just behind in production, not discontinuing it.

I bought those, and some cans of a different flavor that Oscar is willing to eat.  It will be a pain at 6 in the morning, this keeping track of whose is whose bowl of food.

Even though I wasn’t at SAM’s, I still needed maple syrup for tomorrow’s breakfast date, so I went to get some.
The 32 ounce jug had a $21.49 price, which means it is 67c an ounce.  The bottles beside it were 81c an ounce.

I didn’t save much by driving down the street, cat food or no.

Maple syrup is an odd item to judge hard times by.
We earn our money, live frugal with so many other things.

Doggone it, folks can complain about the price of a gallon of fuel for a car, but that ain’t even close to $21.49 for a quart of maple syrup.

Husband says we now have it in hand, it will last through several weekends, so enjoy it.  Our breakfast date is much less expensive than events he’s heard other couples like to do for fun.

Golly, this has been a long day.  I think I’m gonna put on some soft music and crochet a potholder.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Just sitting still is a type of work

My schedule book said that Oct 17 is West High’s Homecoming, so all ‘feeder’ schools into it would be dismissed early.  Devious me accepted a T A Sub job in a 5th grade classroom done at 1:15 pm.  At an elementary school, I sign in at the office to work as either All Day or Half Day.  Payday shows results.

Well, I’ll tell ya, we might have had a shortened day time-wise, but it sure did feel hours long enough.
All the students in my Social Studies tutoring group have aged a grade level since I had them last Spring, so I pretty much know their quirks.

One kid kept picking at a cuticle.  It’s the same thing I did at that age in similar situations, so I tried to ignore it.  Finally, when blood dripped on a paper, I handed him a tissue and told him to go to the nurse’s office for a cover.  I have a ready supply in my school bag, but this kid needs a change of scenery all too often.

When he got back, it was time to move to another room for a Homecoming Spirit Day celebration, including something called a Pig-Out Plate.  Quite a potluck spread of snacks laid out.
I had the assignment to keep the various bags and boxes from toppling off an overloaded table while the students filed past and loaded their plates.

I noticed the kid with the band-aid kept tugging on it.

Sigh.  If I had the time, I would teach him what to do with a hook and yarn to keep those fingers busy.

As it was, I decided to put my own hand between his finger and his eyes and tell him to leave the cover on to do its work.

He looked upset and said that “A Band-aid doesn’t do any work!“

So I asked him why he had bothered to go to the nurse and get one if it doesn’t work?  And then I asked “What does it do while it is wrapped around your finger?“

“It keeps the blood from dripping onto the paper.“

“Ah, yes, then it is doing good work. Leave it alone!“

The expression on his face said he was perplexed with word uses, but he left the band-aid on his finger.

He decided he didn’t want anything to eat, just some pop.

At the end of the hour, I snapped up a scotch chip cookie, wrapped it in a paper towel, and tucked it into my school bag.  It was all I had time to do, what with supervising and trash pickup.

One kid had been with the Speech Therapist, so a teacher had filled a plate and put it into a zip-grip plastic bag for him to take home.

When owie finger kid protested about food on the bus, he was reminded that Dad comes to get this kid, and so he can take food with him.

More confusion noted.
People have different ways to get home.
The way our brains work is a wonder.
Some folks take longer to make connections than others.

Sitting on our back porch, I ate the cookie, and I found it to be wonderfully yummy.  Usually homemade goodies at school functions are forbidden for health code reasons, but I’m so glad somebody decided to bend the rules today, and I got to taste it.

I’m sure ready for the weekend.

And no, I won’t be going to watch the parade or the football game.

Although any excuse to get out of school early is fine with me.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Thursday, October 09, 2008

At least it wasn’t a page from a catalog

Well, first I will explain why I call tissue paper on a roll “potty paper”.

It was not always thus, and I surely did not grow up saying it.

However, after I got married, the tale of potty paper was told to me at various times, separately and without prompting, by my own husband and a few in-laws.

It is family lore at its finest, yet I still mix up details.
I’ll bet someone will make corrections and updates as needed.

It seems that young George was attending Kindergarten, as most children are expected to do in our society.
The classroom had its own little rest room, and the teacher would give permission for the students to use it.

Young George was next, but came rushing back out very soon, telling the teacher that he couldn’t use it because “Somebody left a WHOLE HERD of potty paper in there!!!“

As soon as possible, the teacher called his mother, laughing so hard that she could barely make herself understood over the phone.

Even my somewhat fastidious father-in-law was heard to say potty paper when one of his grandsons called from the bathroom.

Over the years, I have potty-trained my baby brother, our own 3 sons, as well as many children in daycare.

This morning in the church nursery, we had 2 youngsters on ‘accident’ watch.

Potty paper was foremost in my thoughts.

In the afternoon at Yarn Group, the subject of toilet tissue was brought up by someone else.
Really.
She was telling about how often she makes a purchase, and explaining that she has several rolls of toilet tissue close at hand in the bathroom of her apartment.

Now, Now, I know you are jealous that you were not sitting at the table whilst we talk about shopping trips and storebought items, chatting over our hands working with yarn and tools.

As she was winding down the story, she was almost apologetic about how she had gone into detail about a need for having enough toilet tissue, saying that maybe somewhere in her youth she had run out or something.

Well, this triggered a memory for me I must have squashed down and stained black in my memory.

When I was a kid, Dad was always taking his offspring (and any buddies he could fit in the truck) out of town.  With or without another adult to help, we went fishing, berry picking, gathering nuts from wild trees.

Tappan Lake Park wasn’t fully developed in the 1960s.  Looking at that website, I can tell ya that improvements have been made in the last 40 years.

I remember the rest area was a smelly pit in the ground with a building over it.  In the Women’s side was a wooden bench with two holes, one had a white toilet seat, the other seat had been broken off by vandals.
My youngest sister was barely old enough to be potty-trained, and she was already scared in an unfamiliar place, so I let her use the hole with the seat.

After we both did our business, I discovered there was no potty paper.  I yelled out to dad our situation.

He learned that the hand pump for water had also been busted by vandals.  He asked if we could drip dry, but I told him I had done #2 and needed cleaned good.

I heard him searching through the truck, then his footsteps going away from us.

The two middle sisters were getting anxious waiting their turn over the hole, but without dad we weren’t sure what to do.

He came back, sloshing lake water in the bait bucket.  He came into the Women’s side of the restroom, took his handkerchief out of his pocket, and wiped my sister’s bottom with it.
Then he dipped the cloth into the bucket, wrung it out a bit, and proceeded to bend me over and wash my backside.

Then he dropped the handkerchief into the hole, turned to help my sister adjust her clothes, and told me to make way for the other girls.

I was so shocked by what had happened.  I was about 8 years old or so, and I knew about germs, and touching personal parts.  I think my middle sisters decided it would be okay to just get to it, then pull up their pants without wiping or saying anything to Dad.

To this day, whenever I use a restroom, before I drop my drawers, I make sure there is potty paper or I have a napkin in my pocket or purse to use at the end.

Lake water from a bait bucket didn’t kill me, but it did make me more cautious.

People should always appreciate a custodian who does the job well.

So I was recalling this at Yarn Group, and maybe some of the folks are thinking this is way too much information.

On the other hand, we keep getting together every Thursday afternoon, cuz nobody wants to miss out on what other tales might get an airing.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Sunday, October 05, 2008

A Week Away Already?

cajole—to urge with gentle and repeated appeals, teasing, or flattery; wheedle

promulgate—to make known (a decree, for example) by public declaration; announce officially

teachable moment—moment of educational opportunity: a time at which a person, especially a child, is likely to be particularly disposed to learn something or particularly responsive to being taught or made aware of something

What’s that? you say…
Why are those words and definitions written there?

Those are the words that come to my mind about jobs done in this week just past.

I worked 4 days, in 4 different buildings, in 5 different Teaching Assistant situations.

Each needing a pertinent piece of paper with my name and numbers, going in for the Payroll department to sort out.

Some of the reasons I like being a Substitute in the school system.

In the Pre-K room, I earned my wages by playing with Lincoln Logs with 4 year olds.  Not as easy as it looks to the untrained eye.
And goodness me, they sure can get loud during Free Play!

As a classroom assistant at a junior high, I circulated through the room keeping students on task during Math and problem-solving, sharpening all the colored pencils for the Art table, holding two things together while duct tape was cut and placed during a Science project.

As an Academic Coach one-on-one at a different junior high, I followed the same schedule as my 6th grade student who has physical disability…getting books from the locker, writing notes as a scribe when hands got tired, helping with the rest room and PE clothes.  By the end of a long day of walking the halls following a motorized scooter, my feet were screaming to be put up on the coffee table for a nice evening’s rest.

Thursday I went shoe shopping.  SAS Shoes were on sale this week at Murray’s (as if $10 off can be called a Sale), so I went with the idea I would get some new shoes for work, and walking the treadmill.  I did not like any of the styles of athletic shoes, but I fell in love with a different pair of SAS, so I ended up buying those instead.
I figure I’ll make my current treadmill shoes last until next pay, going to a different store to shop.

And then Friday there was Job Coach for high school students in the Work/Study program.  Getting LD teenagers to stay on task, oh my.  I don’t think I could have done this job before I raised sons of my own.
Finally, the custodian of the building said the grounds needed to be free of litter, so outside we went on a lovely day in Autumn.  For the rule being No Smoking on School Property, they sure found plenty of cigarette butts.

Other than work and new shoes, I’m not telling any more news.  I have some, but son says I am not at liberty to share yet.

Husband is getting over his cold enough to be doing some house repairs before winter comes along.
In fact, the whole neighborhood seems to be in Property mode.  We have been hearing pounding, and machinery, and pick-up trucks all weekend long.

here’s a picture of the bookmarks gone out in the mail for the Third Graders of the Sunday school to place in their new Bibles

favorite colors were 4 blue, 1 turquoise, 2 orange

Gotta go now.  Husband turned on the tv and the program sounds interesting.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

ps if you are ever wondering why the mouse does not seem to respond quickly enough with drag-n-drop, turn it over and see if 4 cat hairs might be caught between the laser reader and the mouse pad

Monday, September 29, 2008

Caffeine and the Calendar have overlapped too much

When I got home from a TA Sub job in a Pre-K room, I made a white chocolate latte in the blender, using a mix.
I just wanted something cool and yummy for my sore throat.

All during my walk down the street, I was asking myself “Why didn’t I remember how much talking goes on with 4 year olds?  How many years did I work at the daycare center, yet I forgot such a vital part of classroom watchfulness?“

So eager was I to have deliciousness happening before JEOPARDY! came on, and because the coffee is already part of the mix powder, my whole memory of what happens with me and caffeine at 4:30 in the afternoon just zoomed away.

So here I sit at 10 at night hopping from one blog to sidebar for next blog, reading some of the most crazy stuff.

I would like it better if my hands weren’t so tired and I could be knitting a hat on the peg loom, but one of my duties this morning was cutting out laminated letters for the October bulletin board.

Now I’m getting all morbid on myself.  Awhile ago I was playing a David Lanz cd, which I cannot do very often anymore.  David Lanz plays music of the kind my oldest son and I shared a love for, and ever since he moved away, well, the memories get difficult.

I wanted to put the music on, tho, as a sort of tribute to the biggest life-changing event I have ever gone through.  September 30, 1979 is the day I learned I was pregnant, at MSU health services.  I walked the campus for hours before I went back to my bed in the dorm.  My roomies were getting worried.

So tonight is an anniversary of sorts, for life’s lost possibilities due to foibles of youth. I’d had suspicions of my condition, but they had not yet been confirmed.
A great expense, having a baby before a Bachelor’s degree and a wedding.

Here is a YouTube for a nice ‘cover’ version of A Whiter Shade of Pale as arranged by David Lanz.

and since the clock’s hands are nearing midnight, I had better get to bed

Morning brings a TA Sub job at a junior high.
Never filled in for this person before, so I don’t know what I signed on for.
I’ll give it all I can, considering I’m still getting over a cold.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Sunday, September 28, 2008

So many good things

You would not believe how much time I have used up today looking at this website

Lehman’s of Kidron, Ohio

I’m thinking of ordering the cast-iron griddles for my sons for Christmas, but oh my goodness, watching the video of the lady working the butter churn is soo cool.

Go on over and check it out.  Allow ample time, really.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Common Cold where it ain’t wanted

P.L. wrote:
How you’re feeling? I noticed your email that said you were going to work one day, sick & all.
Hope your head/and other body parts, will soon be feeling better.  It’s never any fun when you know you’ve got tons of things that have to be done (dishes/laundry/etc.) and you feel like crap!

Wishin’ ya well, friend;
Pammie :-D

Hello, Pam, and Thanks fer askin’,

This week, Yes, I wish all had been better.  I missed Monday and Tuesday as Sick Days, even though I don’t get paid when I lose Sub jobs.  I did call the medical office, but the nurse listened to my symptoms, then said I should “wait it out” take over-the-counter drugs for the common cold, and see if I would feel any better by the end of the week.

As promised, I did go to work Wednesday, taking cough syrup so that I wouldn’t sound too bad.
They needed me, actually any warm and able body.

Wednesday evening, I sat on the couch with a peg loom and yarn in my hands, and watched PBS- tv, a National Geographic Special about Stress.
I fit into several of the situations, both pro and con.  By the end of the show, I decided my lifestyle is pretty darn good

However, because watching the program was so interesting, the hat I made then has a couple mistakes in it.
Not enough for notice by the unskilled eye, but I will donate to a charity rather than real gift to a relative.  There is enough yarn left to make a whole nother hat.

Thursday is a good day of the week, and I got to be in the Nursery during the Mother’s Bible Study time.
The younguns were little angels, and I musta read 8 storybooks in a row.  My voice got a bit hoarse, but a couple glasses of water brought big relief.

I bought a sandwich meal for my lunch, then parked at a place with a picnic table under a shade tree and enjoyed a quiet 40 minutes watching a scene in a quiet part of town.

Needlework Group in the afternoon, and there was much for Show-n-Tell by the other friends.  We are getting ready for a Craft sale the end of November, so we want a good variety.

Friday, another pre-arranged TA Sub job at a junior high, in a classroom where the lead teacher is soooo organized, the assistant leaves detailed notes for her Sub,  and the students are expected to work to the best of ability.

Plus, being the last Friday of the month, there was a bit of a party for the last hour of the day.  I got to hold one end of a yardstick while Limbo music was playing.  The boy who went to the lowest height was amazing.  He might go on to the Olympics someday, he is just that flexible and athletic.

When I signed out in the office, I told the clerk that was a good day to help me on my way to recovery.

Today is Saturday, and Husband and I went out for breakfast.  He is on Day 3 of his cold, about where I was Wednesday.  He wasn’t pleased that I shared my germs,
no not at all.

The obituary page of the paper has the name of a student from the Special Needs at the high school.  In some ways, I am sad, but I know that the kid is in a place where he can finally have some rest in peace.  Hebrews 13:2

I am feeling much better than I did on Monday.  Only an occasional, low cough, even without medicine.

I will be volunteering with a Fall Fest at a residential community this afternoon.

Now, I have caught you up on my news.  I still have pictures from Women’s Retreat and some of my latest yarn items to putter with, and will get to them in due time.

~~love and Huggs, Diane

Monday, September 15, 2008

Two Hats Gone in One Day

One of the cool events that happened at Women’s Retreat was the Knitting Center.  Due to Rain in excess, several events had to be re-worked for indoor fun, but the Knitting Center was just fine where it was, tucked into the corner of the dining hall.
I have pictures, but don’t feel like messing with them right now.

Suffice it to say that Yarn Work in many forms and abilities was taking place.
There was a “main” teacher/leader, several of us willing to demonstrate, some observers.

I worked awhile with the 36 peg round loom
the resulting hat was made from the dark teal and ombre seen here

I’ve gotten good enough that a baby hat takes only about an hour to knit.

then I went away for awhile, to the Drum Circle, which will need a story all its own

When I got back to the Knitting Center, some new ladies had come to sit awhile, so when I began a new hat of the light blue ombre, the tale of my loom had to be told all over again.

When I finished the pastels hat, I called down the table to a woman who had mentioned she would be getting a new grandbaby in early December.  When she turned, I tossed the finished hat down to her and told her to use it for the new little one.

By then, it was time for supper, so we had a nice break.

After we ate, I discovered our new minister’s wife and daughters visiting over at another table.  I asked if I could have the babies awhile, so soon enough, we were in the room behind the fireplace singing and dancing and pulling out toys with great abandon.
After a few minutes, in comes another little girl about 4 years old.  I’m not sure if she is a staff member’s daughter or who, but no child is ever a stranger for long when I’m around, so she made herself welcome.

She carried a Bitty Baby doll, from the American Girl line.  Obviously a well-loved friend, so something in my head clicked into place.

A different girl about age 10 came in, and I believe she is another child of camp Staff.  I asked her to watch the kids for just a minute, while I hurried out to my yarn bag and got the teal and ombre hat.

When I returned to the room, I asked the little momma if I could borrow her baby for a couple minutes.
She handed Biddy over, watching me carefully.  I placed the hat on the doll’s head, noticing that it fit ju-ust right.

The look on momma’s face was beautiful.
“Can I take it home with me?“ she asked hopefully.

Well, it had not been my intention for this, I had only wanted a model to make sure about the size of the hat.  And my mental response tells me that I have been away from the wee littles for far too long.
Once upon a time, I would have anticipated her question.

“YES” is what I told her.  I give away most of the items I make, and rarely do I know they would be so greatly appreciated.
For the rest of the evening, the child was going around telling everybody that Biddy had a new hat.
Unfortunately, my camera was not with me while the doll was wearing the hat, but I do have such a nice picture in my mind about a sweet little face, and little voice asking “Can I take it home with me?“
Somebody’s mom was working overtime about teaching good manners.

During the Saturday evening service, I used my peg loom to make another pastels baby hat, the one seen in the picture.  I have a request from a grandma for a dozen hats to be given as Christmas gifts.
And now I know they are the proper size.

After lunch on Sunday, a lady came over and asked about the teal and ombre hat.  She had not seen the doll model, but when I told her I had given the hat to a little girl, she seemed pleased.

What she had seen was when I had tossed the first pastels hat down the table to the new grandma.
She said that made quite an impression on her, that I sat and worked so long on it, then gave it away, just like that, to somebody I had just met that very day.  Which means actually, two hats were given away.
She told me she wants to get to that place in her heart, to be able to let somebody else have joy.

This is just one of the stories I wanted to tell.
It is quite wonderful how much fun and blessing can be packed into one short weekend.

~~love and Huggs, Diane