Every other Thursday a number of us ladies from church get together to do stitchwork of various kinds and to have some good fellowship.  This started out when several people approached my sister and "the other" Juanita and asked if they would start a knitting class.  Juanita is a fabulous knitter and seamstress.  She has made wedding gowns for several of our recent brides.  And she knows more knitting tricks than most books can teach you.  Jo Ann can craft anything she wants to with her fingers.  She used the make the sweetest little dresses for Aimee with smocking and ribbons and tiny buttons -- they would have sold for lots of dollars at baby stores.  She knits and crochets.  She has tatted.  She has done decoupage, quilling, and macrame, crocheted table cloths, doilies, etc.  I have several things she made me over the years.   Her work is always perfection. 

So the two of them agreed to start knitting classes.  Jo Ann invited me to attend to help when she and Juanita were each busy with someone, I could help answer questions or give assistance to another.  The first lesson was held in Jo Ann's lovely home.  Since then we go to the homes of different ladies.  There are about a dozen or so regulars and others who come occasionally.  The group now includes people working on various needlework projects, not just knitting as you will see in the photos I'm posting.

This is Jo Ann -- working on the beginning stage of a sweater.              

Carolyn is finishing up a wool purse she is going to felt.  "The Other Juanita" sits behind Carolyn. I'm not sure what she's working on.  Carolyn really wanted to learn to knit successfully.  She had previously made several dish cloths, but she called them her "Swiss Cheese" cloths because they had so many holes in them!  She's getting quite skilled!

Left to right - Amanda, Maxine, and Aimee

Jo Ann had taught Amanda to knit about two years ago.  She had made some lovely little caps and scarves for her children.  (She's the mother of three.)  Now she's working on a more complicated little romper set for an infant and appreciates having Jo Ann nearby to help her when she hits a challenge.  Maxine is skilled at crocheting -- new babies in the Assembly are the recipients of lovely crib afghans. Jo Ann and Juanita taught her to knit, but she's gone back to a crocheting project for now.  (Maxie has two teenage daughters.)  Jo Ann's eldest daughter, Aimee, is also skilled at crocheting.  She learned to knit at our Thursday evening meetings, but she's decided to finish a picture she had begun to cross stitch before she got married.  (She now has two little darlings.)

The week I took these photos we met in Susan's home.  This is Susan's little "surprise" daughter (her two oldest are married).  Jo Ann's youngest, Amber, has learned to knit -- she does beautiful work, just like her mom.  Right now she's working on knitting a little stuffed rabbit for one of her nieces or nephews.  And Aimee again, working on her black and white cross stitch project.

This is Jo Ann's daughter Holly.  She decided she didn't like knitting -- it was too slow.  So her mom taught her to crochet.  She's just gone to town on that!!  Here she is crocheting a beautiful afghan.

This is Jo Ann's second daughter, Emily.  She's knitting a handle for a purse she knitted.  She took the purse part to work and embroidered her initials on it -- she works at a little shop that stamps and embroiders shirts, etc. 

This is Gloria, knitting a shawl.  She has it wrapped around her so she can determine how much longer she wants it to be. 

Ms. Mable (on the left) is always working on some little project -- hats, scarves, etc.   

Juanita created these little pins for us to wear when we're knitting.  She had one on the evening I took these pictures.  The next meeting she had enough for everyone to have one.  We were able to choose different colors.  On the next picture I put a ruler beside it so you can get an idea as to the actual size. 

I decided to knit a baby sweater.  I used this pattern to make half a dozen or more of various sizes back when I was a new auntie (now I'm a grand-auntie), so I know how to make these things.  But the pattern requires concentration and I found I couldn't concentrate properly at the meetings.  So I've given it up for now -- I only work on it when I've got a block of time with no distractions!    

So now I'm crocheting a crib afghan.  The pattern was written incorrectly and it took me several tries to get it right.  Now it's a breeze whipping through the project!    

 It's about 2 -1/2 feet wide.  I'm not sure how long it will end up being.

So, that's my post for this week.  Kathy wants me to knit her a pair of slippers with Phentex, so I ordered some of that this week.  I'll get started on that next.

Have a good one!! 

This will have to be quick, but it's been too long since I've posted anything personal.  Quick because I am ready to head to bed!!  And my suitcase is still lying on my bed, unpacked.  I really don't want it as a bedmate, so I need to get this done so I can unpack it.

Last week was a busy one!  Saturday, the 5th, we had a church picnic at the Poor Farm Park.  I didn't get home from work and shopping until 7:00 Friday and it was 8:00 until I got started boiling potatoes and eggs for salad, then mixed up a sheet of "Pumpkin Pie a la Easy."  I got the potato salad put together and in the fridge by 11:00.  Saturday morning I was up at 7:00 to fix the Candied Chicken Wings, load the picnic basket into the car, get a cooler up from the basement, and load the foodstuffs into the car.  After I got to the park I realized I'd forgotten to put a lawn chair in.

I got home from the picnic around 2:30, unloaded the car, put things into the dishwasher, etc., then sat in the recliner/rocker in our bedroom and went to sleep.  I was sleeping when John got home from Ontario at 4:00.

Tuesday I stopped at Ukrops on the way home to buy ingredients for several pies.  Wednesday I came home from work rather than going to church and baked up three pies -- Chocolate-Banana Cream, Fresh Peach, and Cherry.  

NASCAR was in Richmond for the weekend, so John's boss, Wendell Erb and wife Cheryl, their two adult children, and two other families drove down from Ontario with their RV's.   John had invited all 12 of them to come out for pie and coffee -- they were planning to get to RIR around two or three, get everything set up, and then come out.  But Wendell had a flat tire about halfway down and it took several hours to get it replaced as it was an odd size.  So they didn't get to RIR until 6:00.  By the time they got everything set up and the ladies had fixed supper for their families, no one felt like driving back out here; so only Wendell and Cheryl came for pie and ice cream!  We had a lovely visit with them, and I sent most of the pie that was left back with them. 

Friday I worked in the office all day -- it was a busier week than normal because Karen was on vacation, so I had to do her work plus my database work plus my human resources work.  I left the office at 4:45 to get the mail to the box before 5:00, then went to the bank, then drove to the airport where I parked my car in the Park & Go lot.  John met me there and we drove home, then went next door to the neighbors for a lovely dinner. 

Got home from there around 9:30 and got our suitcases out to begin packing them.  We were up around 6:00 Saturday morning to finish packing, water plants, empty the dehumidifier, etc.  John wanted to leave by 9:00, so we were actually on the road at 8:30.  John drove to Flying J (about 12 miles)where we fueled up, then I took over the driving.  I drove as far as into Pennsylvaina, then I began getting sleepy, so John drove for an hour or so while I slept, then we stopped at Friendly's for a quick lunch.  John drove from there to Williamsport while I napped some more.  We stopped in Williamsport for gas while the prices were still reasonable, then I took over the driving again and drove to Batavia, New York where we got a room at the Hampton Inn for the night.

Sunday morning we were on the road by 9:00.  John drove to Mississauga where we stopped at Swiss Chalet for lunch -- it is a tradition that I have to eat at Swiss Chalet at least once on any trip to Ontario!  When we finished there we stopped at Erin Mills Shopping Mall for about half an hour, then drove down the street to Gerry and Marise's.  We visited with them for a couple hours, then headed for Kitchener.  

Gerry and Marise Zorayan

We unloaded our things at the motel, then headed for Waterloo where we visited with Richard and Tara for a couple hours.  The kids (Wyatt and Summer Grace) were so excited to finally meet "the real Nonnie" (I send them birthday presents each year, but I have been more of a fantasy than reality to them).  The kids are such fun.  Wyatt is 6 and Summer is 4.  Both are very bright, articulate children.  The coup dé grace was when Nonnie read their bedtime stories to them.   Tara wrote to me the next day with their comments:  TOO SHORT!  That's verdict on your visit!  It's unanimous!  Richard wished you'd come for the day,  Wyatt thought you were just like grandma only funnier (ouch!)  and  Summer said you were sooooo fun!

Thanks for making time for us.  We were thrilled to see you.  In hind sight, I think now I know why my children were initially so wound up... it was nervous excitement.  Wyatt had said earlier that day that he wasn't sure how he'd be when you came..."You know mom...like shy or nervous..."  and as we were going up to bed that night he said, " Wow mom,  I didn't know she was going to be that nice!" Of course lot's of giggles on my part.  Even Richard was tickled pink by the visit...that's rare.  And wow Nonnie, MAN OH MAN! ...you got a hug!  There are only an elite few in that club!  Congratulations!  So expect a visit from us sooner than later! 

Wyatt and Summer

Richard took this picture of the two of us

I wonder how long I can stay on that pedestal??!  (And for those who don't know -- Tara is the daughter of one of my very best friends.  Tara, her younger brother Troy, and my Sean all played together as kids.  Troy was the first to call me "Nonnie" -- Sherry had no idea where he picked it up, but that's what he started calling me, I liked it, and it stuck.  Now I'm "Nonnie" to all the little ones.

We intended to leave them at 8:00 -- the kids' bedtime -- but it was closer to 9:00 till we got away.

Monday morning I was up at 7:00 to take John to work, then drove back to the motel to shower, wash my hair, etc.  At 10:30 I headed for Baden to have lunch with John's nieces, Brenda and Donna.  John called around 1:00 to suggest I come get him earlier than 5:00.  He said one of the girls had seen me bring him in that morning, but I didn't go in and talk to them.  They came trooping into his office wondering where I was, and were quite offended to learn I hadn't stayed to say hello!  

Brenda J.

Donna and Karissa

Rachel 

So I left Brenda and Donna around 4:15, only to get to New Hamburg to learn that the girls were already gone for the day!!  I told John to tell them that I hadn't showered, hadn't fixed my hair, and didn't have any makeup on, so I hadn't wanted them to see me!!  

John was done work at 5:00, so we headed back in to Kitchener where we met his siblings and spouses at the Golf's Steak House in Bridgeport.  Had a lovely dinner, then went back to Bill and Lucille's for cake and ice cream.  The dinner was to celebrate five July/August birthdays, with emphasis on three special ones.  John and his sister Lucille share August 4th as their birthday, Nelda's birthday was in July, and Robert and Irene's (husband and wife)birthdays are the 24th and 23rd of August.  The three special ones were John (60), Irene (65), and Nelda (70).

 John, Nelda, and Irene

John, Nelda, Lucille, Irene, and Robert

We said our goodbyes around 10:00 and went back to the motel.  I was up at 4:00 so I could get to the airport by 6:00 for a 7:00 flight.  One of John's Account Managers stopped by the motel and gave me a ride to Toronto.  The flight was half an hour late leaving Toronto and about 20 minutes late getting in to Chicago.  I had only one hour between the scheduled arrival time and departure for Richmond.  Fortunately, Terminal 2 isn't very far from Terminal 1, so I was able to get to my gate as they were beginning the boarding process.  Arrived in Richmond about 10 minutes ahead of schedule.  I collected my one piece of checked luggage, shuttled to the Park & Go for my car, stopped at Wawa's for gas, a coffee, and a cream cheese pretzel before heading for the office.  I got to the office around 1:00 and worked until 6:30.  I've spent most of my evening catching up on emails and blogs.  It is now 11:30 and I have GOT to close this down and get to bed!!

Shalom y'all!!             

Can anyone hide out in a corner where I can't see him? declares Yahweh. Am I not present everywhere, whether seen or unseen?  Jeremiah 23:24

As told by Andrea Wolfe

In the 1930's Stalin ordered a purge of all Bibles and all believers.  In Stavropol, Russia, this order was carried out with a vengeance.  Thousands of Bibles were confiscated, and multitudes of believers were sent to the gulags (prison camps) where most died for being 'enemies of the state.'

We once sent a team to Stavropol.  The city's history wasn't known at that time.  But when the team was having difficulty getting Bibles shipped from Moscow, someone mentioned the existence of a warehouse outside of town where these confiscated Bibles had been stored since Stalin's day.  

After much prayer by the team, one member finally got up the courage to go to the warehouse and ask the officials if the Bibles were still there.  Sure enough, they were.  Then they asked if the Bibles could be removed and distributed again to the people of Stavropol.  The answer was, "Yes!" 

The next day the team returned with a truck and several Russian people to help load the Bibles.  One helper was a young man - a skeptical, hostile, agnostic collegian who had come only for the day's wages.  As they were loading Bibles, one team member noticed that the young man had disappeared.  Eventually they found him in a corner of the warehouse, weeping.  

He had slipped away, hoping to take a Bible for himself.  What he found shook him to the core.

The inside page of the Bible he picked up had the handwritten signature of his own grandmother.  It had been her personal Bible.  Out of the thousands of Bibles still left in that warehouse, he stole the one belonging to his grandmother -- a woman persecuted for her faith all her life.

No wonder he was weeping -- God was real -- and this was his introduction to the sovereign El, the Creator of the universe!                                               

Shalom, y'all!