Anniversary

This past Saturday marked a very important anniversary in my life. It was 15 years ago on Saturday, I was given a very special gift: a cornea. I was diaginosed in 1986 with a degenerate eye disease: keratoconus. It is heriditary. It is a disease where your cornea becomes cone shaped. As I was told then as it comes to a point, scar tissue builds up and light evenually won't penitrate it. You then need to have a transplant. The thing with this disease is there is no way of knowing how bad it will get, it doesn't get that bad for everyone. I lost my battle with the disease in 1994. Mine was a case whereby the cone was so steep, I could no longer wear my contact lens. I had my cornea transplant on October 24, 1994. I was 34 years old. The following January I finally asked how old the cornea I received was. It was 49 years old. On Saturday I realized I am now the same age as the cornea was.

I have never forgotten the person or their family whose cornea I received. It is a very precious gift and am thankful every day for their generousity. I pray someday I will be able to thank that person myself.

Busy, busy, busy

These days there is so much to do and so little time to do it in.

The custom order is completed and sent to the customer. The vest turned out beautifully!!!! I finished another baby afghan out of Red Heart's Baby Cloud yarn. I hope to have pictures taken tonight so I can post them. Monday, a friend from church and I went shopping to get material to finish her put the quilt blocks she and her mother embroidered into a quilt. I purchased yarn for two more baby afghans, different pattern, different yarn, and for two triangle shawls. The yarn for the baby afghans will make one yellow and one green afghan. The yarn for the triangle shawls will make a shaded light blue one and a shimmering white one. All will be beautiful and will get pictures posted as they are completed.

Last night another friend and I took the first of two coiled baskets classes. It is a fun project. These will not make up as quickly as some of my other project do, but will help use up leftover yarns. The one I started last night, I don't care for. I should have used a light weight yarn. I am going to try to start another one with different yarn.

I continue with working on dish cloths, pot scrubbers and other items some for stock and others will be only one available to purchase. With Christmas coming, I want to make sure I have plenty for immediate shipping. Get those Christmas lists ready!!!!!!

Completed Projects

Last night I finished two projects I have been working on: a knitted vest, I am finishing for someone and another Baby Clouds afghan. I never get tired of the feeling of accomplishment when I finish a project let alone getting two done in one evening. I started another afghan out of the same kind of yarn, same pattern as this last one, but with different colors. Tonight I will be figuring out yardage of fabric needed to completed the top and binding for a quilt for a friend from church. She and her mother embroidered the squares, I will be assembling them. I am looking forward to do it.

Stay tuned for the updates on the quilt and other projects.

Fall is Definitely Here

Today is a very rainy day. It's one of those days you want to curl up with a good book or a good project. Alas, I am at my regular job. My crafty time is currently consisting of finishing a vest for someone. It is knitted. The pattern is victorian lace, very pretty. I am having fun with it. The fronts have the point dipped down toward the center front. This presents a challenge when knitting. You start with a few stitches, work in the designated pattern and add more stitches every so many rows. I am discovering when I had the stitches, I am actually adding another panel to the piece I am working on. I have the right front completed and I am guessing about a third of the way down with the left front. I am anxious to see how it looks assembled.

Baby Clouds Afghan

I finished the first of two baby afghans using Red Heart's Baby Clouds yarn. I love this yarn. You can't use a really detail pattern as the yarn is very thick. This pattern is very simple and works up quickly. The main color is white with little specks of other colors. It can be found for purchase in my etsy shop at: http://www.maryellenscrafts.etsy.com/ I have another color of this yarn to make for afghan. This will be a different pattern. I will post pictures of it when it is completed and ready for sale.

The Buddy Walk

Yesterday, my sister, Geralyn, invited me to do the "Buddy Walk" with her. The buddy walk is "step up for Down Syndrome". This was the 12th annual walk. We have beautiful weather for it. We checked in at the spot of the old "bubble" at Como Park in St. Paul and walk to and around Como Lake. There were two different distances you could walk. We chose the longer of the two. It was very impressive to see the number of people who participate in the walk. This was my first year. Geralyn has done it several years. Her godson has down syndrome. There were people of all ages participating. Many of the people out there had shirts with the name of a loved one they were walking for who has down syndrome. The shirt which "said" the most to me was one with a picture of a very precious little girl and the words "We miss you." My sister and both looked at each other and I said a prayer for the little girl and her parents. I am very glad my sister invited me to join her on this very important walk. I hope to participate in it next year.

Remebering 9/11

For most of us, we will never forget the day when our country was attacked or where we were when we heard about it. I remember very well: I was at work, I had just switched out the till and was returning to my office. We had a customer lounge across the stair case from my office. Our salesman was in there and the TV was on. They were talking about the first plane going into the World Trade Center. I went in to the lounge to see what they were talking about. While we were watching the second plane crashed into the second tower. Later hearing about the other two planes: the one that hit the Pentagon and the one that went down in the field in Pennslyvania,I admit it was like watching one of the disaster movies Hollywood likes to put out.

Once the salesman left, I turned the TV so I could see it from my office. It was left on the rest of the day. It is a day I will alway remember, as I know we all will. Please join me in praying for all those who lost their lives that fateful day on 09/11/01 and their families.

God bless America!!!!