It's Saturday. What's Up?

Good Morning OFF Family,
I had a good post, and lost it.  Argh.  It's 7:30 and nobody is up.  I am up from a nap, coz I got up around 5:00, and  walked Utley already. 

I am heading to an AA meeting around 9:00, then to my therapy appointment. 

Tonight, I will be watching the Phillies game.  Last night's game was awesome, and tonight Halladay is pitching, and it should be a good one as well.

Have a super day.  And, again, thanks for all the support earlier this week.

Hugs,
Trish

Good morning Trish and everyone!

I was also up early and took a walk. In a little bit I will head to the Farmer's Market and the ATM. Maybe not in that order.

Then off to Fort Myers to find a health food store that is supposed to have some interesting products including a black bean pasta - ingredients are black beans and water. Nothing else. Let's check this out! If it's good I'll be sure to let ya know!

Then what? I started a crochet project and am making a quick afghan for one granddaughter for Christmas. The pattern I use goes quickly and I like having something to do in the evenings or odd moments. Problem is...it's hot pink and I just don't like that color. 2nd problem is....when I finish, I'll have to make one for her sister, in a color called "grape." Not my fave either! (I am such a purist! My favorite one I have ever done was ivory...and I gave it to MIL for her 80th bd.)

Last night I headed to the beach for a couple of hours at sunset. The breeze was beautiful and it was very peaceful and a meditative time. On this side of FL, watching the sunset is "the" thing to do, and I like that. Very different from the hustle of the Atlantic side.

Wishing all of you a wonderful Saturday and a few minutes to count your blessings!

Lynn,
I am crocheting an afghan for Isabel, my 4 year old granddaughter.  She requested a red, pink and white one.  We went shopping together, and picked out two shades of pink, hot pink and baby pink.  I found an easy pattern that is square, but not granny square, similar though.  The colors look good together.  She already has a sage green afghan I made her when she was born, but it is not the soft yarn I made her brother's blanket with. 

I am also in the middle of knitting a baby blanket for the grandkids new cousin on their Daddy's side.  I have made baby blankets for each of my daughter's nieces and nephews, of which there are 7, plus my own Munchkins.  For my grandchildren, I make blankets the size of the crib mattress, and make them a color that is not particularly a baby color.  Lincoln's is colonial blue and Izzy's is sage green.  For their cousins, they are baby blankets gender specific.  Well, my dear sweet mother, who finds fault with just about everything I do, keeps asking why I find it necessary to make blankets for every cousin.  She thinks it is a waste of my time.  She can't accept that I love making the blankets, and I love helping my daughter's in-laws.  They are always so welcoming to me when I am in Michigan.  They treat me like their own family, and take special care to make sure they see me when I am in town, and my daughter's mother-in-law always takes my granddaughter and me out for lunch with one of the other girl cousins she babysits. 

Sorry for the rant.  I am a yarn addict, and love to have an excuse to make things with it.  My Munchkins always come first.  That is why I am also making dresses for Izzy and coverall shorts for Lincoln.  I love sewing, and post pics of the stuff on my Facebook page.  Not sure if you saw them.  They are in my photos.  I need to take pics of the yarn projects before I give them away. 

Hugs,
Trish

Trish, I plan to learn to knit in the next year or two. My ultimiate goal would be to knit socks, but I have to overcome the fear that I could never make 2 to match. Otherwise, I'd end up with an odd collection of Christmas stockings! I need to take a class, though, because although I know the basics I can't read a pattern.

I love it that you do the baby blankets! What a beautiful tradition! (AND you get to buy yarn!)

I also have started some machine quilted quilts for the 2 granddaughters in Michigan. These are flannel "rag quilts" where the seams are on the outside. Very cute but....I bought the fabric almost a year ago and am not done with all the cutting yet. These have to be twin size so it is a bigger project, although very easy. I learned while doing a service project for our local hospital's Healthy Beginnings program. We got a grant and a number of donations of flannel, and donated about 35 quilts. (All were tied with ribbon and had a cute computer graphic gift card on it...which was NOT done by me!!!!)

Another project I'd like to do that is quick and easy is making special pillowcases for the kids. A friend does them and kids love the adorable fabrics. She also did them for her husband when he was deployed to Iraq - he got a pillowcase for various holidays and special occasions, and she also sent a lightweight quilt to remind him of home in his army issue sleeping bag. The troops don't get pillowcases - I didn't know that.

All I need is time and a little more talent!!!!

Lynn and Trish,

I love to crochet, too!  Love to make things for the little ones, especially.  But I have a large selection of sweaters that I have made for myself.  I can just barely knit.  Barely.  I did make one sweater once.  Maybe I'll be able to wear it again this winter!!!  However, I have some wonderful crochet sock patterns.  I love to make slipper socks. 

Grammylew is a big crocheter, too.  I wish we could all get together each month to crochet and swap patterns, etc.  Wouldn't that be fun?

Good morning Trish and all friends to follow!! 

Sat on the front porch with  morning coffee with hubby after getting home from our route this morning.  Sunny & breezy...very nice.  Nothing like that 1st cup of coffee in the mornings.....yum.  Now I've got my 2nd load of laundry on....2 more to go.  Also have got to do the dreaded job, one I despise doing but it's a must.....fixing those little pill boxes for hubs & I...I do a 2 weeks medicine sorter so that does help.  It's just boring and time consuming...lol...whine whine whine Cindy!!

Not much going on today other than our midday sleep because we work nights.  I read the post from you Trish in your giving thanks for the support you feel from the OFF board and Monica I read your post as well and all I can say is "Amen"!!  I totally agree with the friendship/support I feel from this board.  Monica, like you, this is the 1st place I come to in the mornings....anxiously awaiting to hear from everyone.  I'm trying my best to be a better participant which is something I usually don't do.  I'm usually one who lurks but I'm working on changing some things about me.  I decided that this is the best place to make those changes...safe and welcoming.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention...I made an appt. with an Endocrinologist for Monday.  This RH is whipping my butt...lol.  I'm gaining weight by trying to compat the problem so somethings gotta give here.  Anywho, I go up the road about an hour away to hopefully get some help/direction on this problem.

Wishing you all an awesome Saturday.  I hold you all in my thoughts & prayers often.

Cindy

OHHHH yes, I can't forget to give a huge "THANK YOU LORD" for the wonderful news of Bev's cancer report.  Wonderful!!

Cindy,

I'm just like you (and Monica)!  This is my first stop in the mornings.  I drink my water and take my pills and catch up with my OFF family.  Love it!

Good morning Trish and everyone else
I'm off to a day spent with other women listening to a speaker from Ghana talk about the conditions for women in her country.  This group of women has already raised enough money to have two wells built in Ghana for people who were drinking water that is brown and murky.  Imagine drinking that or giving it to your babies/children to drink!  What horrid conditions in which to live.

I really exercised for the first time since wls at an aquatics class this week.  I wanted to go to the class for the past month or more and have wanted to exercise for many months, but  there was something holding me back  -  my age, my size, the scar from breast cancer  -  mostly fear??  I don't' know, maybe all of those things.  I would get ready to go and then find an excuse not to.  I had to  push myself to get there, but I loved the class! 
I am not the oldest, as if that really mattered , I'm no where near the largest, and I can keep up with the instructor.  Wow!  What a revelation for me.  I want to vividly remember the feeling of being there and doing well so that I keep going.

The lesson that I'm taking from this experience is that I put roadblocks in my path.  I am going to try to recognize this and do what I need to do no matter what I may fear; hopefully, I will remember this.
 
I'm off work for the summer!  Yahoo  -  can't believe it  -  the winter seemed so long and I had huge classes with lots of marking, prepping and teaching.  I earned my vacation!

Have a wonderful weekend.
Margaret 

Margaret,

When I went to the firs****er exercise class, I was so nervous at the thought of exposing this body, I had to take an Ativan. 

Instead of a swim suit I wear biking shorts, a bra and tank top. Cheaper and covers more skin.

Lack of balance, coordination and core strength caused me to be under water more than on top. Instead of causing humiliation, it caused wonderful laughter. Having friends there and a delightful instructor made the constant dunking FUN.

More than a year later I can do the exercises and am much more stable in the water. It is good exercise and very easy on the joints.

Nobody seems to compare body's. I lied - sometimes we sneak a peek at the really toned young men. We may be old but not immune to a handsome man.

Keep going and you will find each time easier and better. Not just for the body but a sense of accomplishment.

Kisses
Annette

One of the best things about being 63 is going up to good looking young and older men and letting them know how much I appreciate their making the world more attractive or "how nice their presentation is"...bold I am and not immune to handsome men.
I also go up to women who are attractive, or are wearing a nice outfit and let them know...age, size, color, doesn't matter, except that I appreciate them.