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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

House lovers enjoy this pic...

While enjoying the sights in Italy one of the squares we walked through had many artists set up showing their work and I couldn't resist capturing this picture ... I'm a fan of the show House and for all the other fans out there I thought you'd enjoy seeing this too :)

Monday, September 29, 2008

You will be missed Uncle Bud!!!

It is with a sad heart I write that my father's last sibling has departed this earth. I didn't realize that I had been holding on to my uncle's existence as a comfort in my dad's absence (my dad died Dec. 18th 1997)... but God is gracious and while I was admitting to myself that I had been holding on to a piece of my dad in the comfort of my uncle's living, He (the Holy Spirit) washed over me during our church service yesterday morning and wrapped me in His love. Reminding me that my Heavenly Father hasn't left me nor forsaken me and will always be with me. It was very powerful, extremely emotional and cleansing. The experience allowed me to be refreshed and renewed.
Aunt Shirley my prayers are with you and the rest of the family (as always) but especially now in your time of sorrow.
So I share with my readers the loss of my uncle as way of explaining that posting about my fun filled time in Italy will wait for a few more days. The funeral is this Wed. morning. And as much as I would love to share with you some great photos and tell you all about my adventures I simply don't have my brain wrapped around those things at this time. I'm really blessed that God saw fit to remind me of His presence and His love while I sat at His feet at the altar at church. It really did help me to unburden myself there in His presence and to be able to walk away confident in the fact that His love will sustain me.
I needed that extra love showered on me at the church's altar yesterday since I had no idea I was holding on to my dad emotionally through the knowledge that his brother was here for me.
It was almost like losing my dad all over again ... not fully but close.

I thank you all for your patience and your understanding. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Before I leave again...

Hi again everyone ... someone besides me does read this blog right? I know my friend Connie does because she told me but come on people if you like my ramblings or have ?'s for me please leave a comment or two! I'd really like to know if I'm wasting my time here or not. Wasting my time in the sense that I try to write as if someone is really reading about what I'm sharing and if no one (besides you Connie) is reading then I might as well simply update Connie by email directly than taking the time to share my thoughts, experiences & joys & frustrations here.
When I first started my blog here I had no idea what colors or template would look best or best reflect me so I picked what I thought might be easily read ... I looked at my blog this morning & was totally not into it at all the white type over the black background. It seemed harsh & glaring and I just couldn't leave it like that any longer ~ so change this & that & voila` a whole new look ... so speak up if there is anything you really don't like about it (yes including my writing) doesn't mean it will change instantly but I am open to suggestions for improving my blog so more people can enjoy it.

I share all that but must warn you I leave in a few hours for the women's conference & I won't be back for a couple of days. When I get back I promise to share my photo's and comments on my trip & my crocheting (yes I did crochet all over Italy!) and Loved it. In fact one very nice comment about my crocheting ... while we were staying with family they came to know very quickly that I crochet a lot ... by the end of the week they had actually come to say what have you made today? What are you working on now? While there I made 6 scarves and gave them all away as gifts. ~ I even managed to work on my shrug while there!!!

So speak up ... let me know you are out there reading so I know if I should bother to continue. Thanks if you are out there!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

The tours

We were on a Gate 1 tour ~ their 8 day classic Italy tour to be exact. We flew into Venice and we were met at the airport by our tour coordinator. She was pleasant and helpful right from the start and she remained pleasant & helpful throughout our entire tour package. In fact as we neared the end of our tour and my mom & I would soon be "on our own" as per the plans we set up through the travel agent I was most concerned about how we were going to get to the bus station and get the correct bus that would bring us to Pescara so our family members could get us. Our coordinator spoke with our cousin to determine which bus company she expected us to use (that way we would be sure to be on the correct bus), she also spoke with the staff at the hotel to get information on the bus schedule for the Sunday buses going to Pescara so we could get on the right one, and she arranged for a boxed / bagged breakfast since we were entitled to breakfast but would be departing before that service began in the hotel. From some of the negative reviews I read before traveling with Gate 1 I wasn't entirely sure we would have such care given to our needs once it became clear we were "on our own" for the remainder of our time in Italy. I am most happy to state our experience was not like any of the negative reviews I read prior to our travels.
In fact as I wrote yesterday one of my mom's biggest complaints was all the walking & talking. The talking referred to was the informative guides that showed us the sights and gave us the history & brought to our attention the details that made what we were looking at so important. Several times I felt like asking why they didn't just hand us a brochure so we could spend more time "seeing" the sights rather than listening about them. This was never more true than in Rome when we were ready to see the Sistine Chapel. We spent so much time outside of the chapel where the guide went on & on about every detail of the ceiling ... of course she did this because we aren't allowed to speak inside the chapel and she wanted to make sure we all understood all of the details that went into the workmanship of the Sistine chapel. When we finally got inside I felt cheated on my time I could have spent the entire time we were outside "listening" about the important details inside just staring at the ceiling & walls. I can always read about the details she went on & on about! So yes that was a negative however you pay for an informative guide you expect that they will know their history and share it with you not just talk for a couple of minutes & send you on your way.
So many things words fail to give the full beauty or impact the actual being there in person and seeing with your own eyes does. For example I've watched on television the way glass is made at the Murano Isle in Venice Italy. I saw how it was handled, the processes the glass master went through to yield the end results. But being there in person & watching first hand the way the glass looked as it was processed was incredible & far outweighed the feelings evoked from watching it on t.v.. Nothing compares & honestly reading about it would not give the same emotion as was evoked in the first hand viewing of the process.
Our tours happened in a what seemed like a whirlwind. And yet I managed to have gelato every where!! ;)

More when I can ... after all I leave Thursday morning for a women's conference & return late afternoon on Sat. ... then I'm home (busy to be sure but home) until Oct. 7th when I fly to NC to spend some quality time with my daughter & son in law. So my friends I will be gone almost all of October too.

Monday, September 22, 2008

I'm Backkkkkk.....

Whew! I'm home again. The trip was fantastic. I loved it! I can't speak for anyone else, only myself and from my point of view it was a great trip beginning to end.
I know you all are wondering what I liked best & where I would like to go again or perhaps some of you are really wondering what I crocheted while I was away or if I crocheted while I was away or maybe some of you are thinking she posted without pictures? How can she let us down that way??? Well my friends I have over 3000 pictures to go through to pick only the best of the best to share with you and while doing that I will need to be very selective so that you get the taste of the trip without overload or gasp dare I think it? boredom setting in from too many photos!

I don't know what I most enjoyed after all we spent time in Venice, Florence, & Rome before spending time with family in Francavilla (near Pescara) (near the sea). Each location had it's good & truth be told drawbacks too but the good far outweighed the negatives for me... perhaps my mom had a different opinion from mine ... I say that since she seemed to complain about the cost and the walking & the talking (I'll explain this soon) and over all she seemed to have some high points but her immediate expression all through the trip & on the way home seemed heavily pointed on the negatives with very little promoting of the positives.

We traveled via a shuttle service from Albany International Airport (just because that is the name doesn't make it a true international airport!!!) to JFK in NYC to catch our international flight to Venice, Italy. (non stop flight thankfully) My mom's first complaint was over the food (she had told the travel agent that she does not eat meat... which in turn made her food options vegetarian ~ ummm not all vegetarian food choices are that exciting when traveling by plane) she would have been better off not saying anything and making her selection based on the regular options since they weren't all meat options. On the way home was even worse (since I can't recall what we ate on the flight over but I can clearly recall the options on the way back I will share that with you). We were given the choice between chicken breast or a pasta cheese & spinach. My mom looked at that menu and was happy she could have the pasta since it didn't have meat. Oh wait she had a special food choice of vegetarian... her meal came & it was a rice with peppers and some spicy tasting sauce to make the rice not bland. She said it was okay but she would have preferred the pasta. Later on the flight our menu sheet said we were getting a personal sized 4 cheese pizza ~ (yes I'm serious here) ~ again my mom was happy to see that option since again it was meatless but no her food came & she was given ~ a roll with sun dried tomatoes, pesto, grilled zucchini slices (small) more roll then veggies & a package of crackers (nothing else) how unfair!!!! She certainly could have eaten the pizza choice & she could have enjoyed a cookie but no they handed her a roll with a very small amount of veggies on it & some dry crackers with nothing to add to them. She was most unhappy with that!!!

So all of that said to warn you if you don't eat meat and are going to be flying anywhere that will have the airlines feeding you you may not want to actually inform them you don't eat meat before you board the plane as your actual food choices may meet your needs better than if you request the vegetarian option.

So much to share and not wanting to overload you all at once so I'll leave you for now & probably write again (later today no doubt LOL) soon!
p.s. I did indeed crochet while with family!!!!!!

Friday, September 5, 2008

Re-packed and ....

now I believe I have it exactly as it should be... I had run an errand and while out & about I met a woman who has just returned from Italy. She told me that it was extremely hot there & when they close down for a rest in the afternoon to make sure I take full advantage of resting. With this now in my mind I was thinking my two options for my "travel outfit" would not be good choices at all as I tend to run hot to begin with. So that meant a change of outfit and going into my packed bags & rearranging things. Now I have my travel outfit all set and my checked bag weighed in at 48 pounds on my scale so even if it's off I don't believe it will be off by that much and I'm only allowed 50 pounds total in that bag. With that bag being rearranged I also rearranged my carry-on bag and now it weighs in at just under 20 pounds (the other day it was 20 even) so I am fairly confident that I will be very comfortable in Italy (added 1 full extra outfit and an extra top)... With my new walking shoes proving to be as comfortable as any confining shoe can be I also went out to find the shoelaces that you don't need to tie... and I did find them I'll let you know what I think of them when I return home. When I went into the shoe store to purchase them (so glad they had them) they were called springs ... the laces you don't tie... and I asked the salesman if they could replace my regular laces & he told me yes. Then I told him I wanted them so I wouldn't have to tie & untie my shoes at the security ck point & he told me understood he uses the same laces for that very purpose when he travels. So hopefully I will enjoy them. (but with feet that swell up like mine do I don't know what to expect)

Now my last minute to pack / bring along items are : phone charger, hair brush ... I have everything else packed completely. I'm a bit in shock. I will go work on the ruffled stole that is well over half way now ... I should be able to complete this before we leave... leaving me to work on my other two projects :)
Wishing you a wonderful evening and frog free projects!!!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Packed & ready to go!

I have never been packed this early for a trip before in my life! I'm so very excited ... yes I do realize that I have a couple of last minute items to place in the bag before leaving on Sunday morning but I've got my list & I'm checking it twice :) to make sure I don't leave anything necessary behind.
I am amazed because I am only allowed 50 pounds for my checked bag and I have it weighing in under 45 right now with only a minor light weigh additions to go in still ... and my carry on bag weighed in at 20 pounds ... lucky for me I just have to wheel it and not actually carry it around.
My personal bag is a third piece of my matching luggage and it has all my most important items ... my crochet projects are in there!!! along with my camera, phone accessories, and batteries & memory cards and stuff. So my must remember to bring list includes : phone charger, neck pillow, travel size toothpaste ... well I'll go double ck my list again to make sure I haven't left out anything (like my hair brush!) LOL
good night ... pleasant dreams :)

Second view of dresses


I can't wait for Sunday to arrive!



I haven't finished packing yet in case you were wondering. My two sundresses are ready to be packed. I really don't care for either print however they were the only 2 options I had when I was shopping for the fabric and since I really believe sundresses will be easiest to wear while I'm away I decided to go ahead & get both. Out of the two my "preferred" one is the dots ... in any case they are finished (yes hemmed or trimmed) & ready for packing.

I went to a professional seamstress & asked her for help in cutting the fabric for the second dress & showed her what I did with the first one ... she told me to fix the first one (she didn't like it at all) and she took the time to pin the fabric and then show me how to sew it (verbablly) so I could take it home & do it myself... she also told me not to make my straps with elastic to make straight straps and how long to make them to begin with so I could sew to the back & then bring to the front & see just where they needed to be sewn there. I am so very happy with the results. And even though I didn't want to "fix" the first one I did as I was told & have to admit I am much happier with the results.
I was so happy with my new walking shoes but I failed to tell you how I purchased them 1/2 size larger (when my feet swell they SWELL) but the next morning when I put them on (and they felt so good) within a very short period of time it was obvious that they were too big for me. I ended up going back to exchange them for the correct size (which I'm wearing right now & loving how they fit & feel). They did not have a second pair of the walking shoe in my size so I purchased a pair of cross trainers in my size that I can return later if I try them on & don't care for how they fit. (I won't be using them & I haven't even tried them on yet when I return I'll see how they fit & I will exchange them then if necessary.)
Now that I have my walking shoes & my dresses I'm ready to actually pack. I wish I knew which outfit to "travel in" that hasn't been decided yet and comfort is the main key to my decision. In any event I will pick something and be ready on time.
As for my crocheting ... the one ruffled stole in lavendar is about half way finished. When finished I will concentrate on the other one in progress... I have enough time between now & the time we really meet up with the family to finish these gifts so I am not worried about it ... I just would have preferred to have them completed before traveling so my take along project could have top priority while at the various places I would be waiting. I plan on bringing my shrug along to work on ... I might continue the baby afghan for my grandbaby due in March. All of this will be decided when I pack.
Wishing you all a great day ... I'm sure I'll post again before I leave (knowing me I might even post Sunday morning before I leave I wouldn't put it past me LOL) ...
And may you have frog free projects!

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Labor Day stories ....

One of the blogs I follow along is The Diaper Diaries http://thediaperdiaries.net/ and she described her "labors & deliveries" then asked for her readers to play along & give the scoop on how their labor & deliveries went (all in honor of Labor day so sorry this is late) ...
My children now 29 1/2, 27 1/2, & 25 1/2 yrs of age : their stories in a nutshell:
A- water broke, went to hospital, no physical signs of labor Dr. asked the nurse to "check" and see if my water really broke! Sat up on the bed (was told I would need to take a walk) and a gush of fluids escaped ~Yep her water really did break... an hour later labor pains showed up, 4 hours later our first born arrived!
Dr. in the delivery room following the birth : do you have any other children? me- no I'd remember if I ever did this before! Dr. - it was such a short labor, that is usually found in women who have had at least one child before. (so you see he was born at a hospital and delivered by a doctor) as for drugs ... something called a caudal block (spelling?) and it basically was like Novocaine to either side of the cervix...

S- water broke, went to hospital ... however after an exam Dr. discovered I had a full bag of water so determined I must have had a sac on the bag of water that broke ... c. block given & worn off just before delivery so my sweetheart was born au natural as they say, she arrived just 6 hours after the sac of water broke. Doctor did threaten to use forceps however I didn't want them used so had to find the strength to push harder... managed to do so and was much happier that she was delivered without the use of forceps.

J- woke up in middle of night to go to the bathroom, while sitting there groggily noticed my stomach tighten up & then relax ... thought I was dreaming... saw it do this again and in a short period of time yet again.... yes painless contractions were taking place. Called the doctor and he said get to the hospital ... arrived at the hospital and within 2 hours delivered my last child. Did have the same c. block and no "prep" work done on me as the nurses said they had no desire to have the baby arrive in the toilet ... back labor with this delivery.
Same doctor delivered all 3 (he was our family doctor not a gyn he took care of my children after their births also, as well as my care)

Hope you have pleasant memories of your "labor days" and go to the diaper diairies to play along :)

Have you heard about????

The scarf project for the Special Olympics? http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Features/Special+Olympics.htm

This sounds like so much fun. What a cool way to support the athletes. I believe this will be one of my projects when I am back from my trip. I already know just how I want my scarf to look ~ yay. So when I return I will share with all of you my scarf plans.

Yesterday was a very exhausting day of shopping & searching for a store that carried a walking shoe by New Balance in a wide width. I finally found it (late lastnight) and it was on sale too! What made it even better was at the check out they informed me that they could use a coupon for $5 dollars off my purchase & give me another coupon for $5 off another purchase of New Balance shoes only I have to use it by Sunday. I think if I can get back there this week I will go alone & hopefully in the morning when my feet are almost normal size. I know it sounds foolish to purchase another pair right now but I think I would like very much to puta pair away in my closet until it's needed... especially since I had so much difficulty in locating a store that had them in wide width to begin with, and it was on sale ~ that does make me think I'll be back to that store for another pair.
So much left to do and so little time ...
With that in mind I'm wishing you all frog free projects & a great day

Monday, September 1, 2008

Hellooooo September!

I leave in 6 days ... I am not packed ... I still have to get one dress cut & sewn, the other dress still needs straps and to be hemed... the crocheted gifts are not finished (not even half way!) I still need to find a decent fitting pair of walking shoes (that means New Balance since so far they have been the only brand to fit comfortably with my one foot that swells) ... this task should be fun since the last week now my feet/ankles/ legs have resembled elephant legs.
I did find a pair of jeans and they are in the washing machine now. I did manage to pick up some snacks to bring along (for survival if necessary) ... I do plan on packing at least 12 bottles of water in my checked bag... More if I can get away with it between my stuff & the weight limit.
Oh stink I just realized I haven't washed my new pj's (thanks mom) that should be packed & they would have washed with the jeans just peachy ... now I have to remember to wash them & pack them.
Welcome September ... an incredible & busy month for me and now I will go search for where I put my pj's.
Wishing you all a wonderful crochet day ... frog free projects & a great time before school begins ... that is if it hasn't already!