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DECEMBER 23, 2011--Season's Greetings to all the "squares" out there! Thanks so much for your support in 2011--We sent blankets to New Orleans, Tuscaloosa, Joplin. . . all because people from all over the country sat down, picked up needles or hooks and worked towards a common goal. . . Thanks especially to all the women who worked so hard and continue to work from the Huron Valley Correctional Facility--Having you as part of Close Knit Hugs is vital and welcome.
DECEMBER 16, 2011--HURRAH!!!! Blankets have been sent to Joplin, Missouri. . . I heard from the community relations representative Grace Love from the YMCA there who says, "Wow, thank you so much! I’m looking forward to seeing what you have all worked so hard on! I greatly appreciate all of your kindness. " We did good Close Knit Huggers! Special greetings and thanks to the Canyon Villa Knitting and Crocheting group who send us a large box each and every month of squares. I also thanks the women in Ypsilanti who do sch a great job of putting the squares together. Thanks to Laurel for the blanket and squares, to Bev and her sister as well as Jennifer, Brawee and Cloe. . . I am certain I have forgotten people. . . but my list is downstairs! Heck , I cannot forget Marjorie who sends us a box every month or so too! Have a happy holiday. . . "Friend" Close Knit Hugs on Facebook. . . I seem to update there a bit more often than here these days. Life , work and more life seems to always get in the way of my time writing.
AUGUST 14, 2011--WELL, what a summer. THanks to everyone for you kind emails and notes of concern. I began the summer teaching two classes which seemed easy--no pressure--and I could still garden and get out some blankets. Then at the very end of June, mortality threw us wild fly ball--my husband Chris who has been one of our blanket transporters and who is fit, lean and at the time 59--had a heart attack. He had been having pain for three days. (Did he mention it to me--NO!) After unsuccessfully trying to get him in the car because he didn't want an ambulance, I called the ambulance and stuck an aspirin in his mouth; the drivers arrived, loaded him up, started the "drip" and took off. I arrived at the local hospital thirty minutes away, twenty minutes before they did. (NO COMMENT!) Once we got Chris in, they did their tests and immediately upon getting the results transported him to Munson Hospital in Traverse City--another long ambulance ride. But it's a first class cardiac hospital. And we've come a long way from when we first moved up here and were told upon asking the question, "Where's the best hospital in the area," to get on Highway 75 and head south for three hours. At any rate, he definitely had a heart attack; the doctors put in a stint the next day in his main left artery which was 90% blocked, and so here we are a month or so later--he is doing well, gaining weight (can you imagine to have to gain weight?), and almost done with cardiac rehab. Long story short--that's why nary a word from us this past summer. . . but Joplin remains on the list. It seems the summer has been filled with disasters.My oldest son has had wildfires in New Mexico and even had to evacuate his home for three days! My son David who lives in Louisiana reminded me that he had gone through the ER in Joplin's hospital that was destroyed a few years back when he sprained his ankle on a geology field trip. I just get chills seeing the photos of it now and wondering about all the people. Hearing all the boys' stories makes me realize that it's true--an action so far across the country does ripple its energy out into the universe and affect all of us. Thanks everyone for the yarn, squares, queries--We're still here and yes, we're still putting them together! I promise more updates soon!
JUNE 18, 2011--OK--I AM MAJORLY ASHAMED IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE I UPDATED THE WEBSITE. DON'T THINK FOR ONE MINUTE (OR OVER A MONTH) THAT CLOSE KNIT HUGS HAS BEEN IDLE...55 BLANKETS HAVE GONE TO ALABAMA. . .AND BY THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK AFTER NEXT. . . BLANKETS WILL BE HEADED TO JOPLIN, MISSOURI. YOU ALL CONTINUE TO SEND SQAURES , YARN AND EMAILS. . . THANK YOU. MY FIRENDS MARJORIE IN MICHIGAN AND DIANE IN SAN DIEGO CONTINUE TO SEND SQUARES ALONG WITH NEW PEOPLE FROM PITTSBURGH AND YES, EVEN SOUTH DAKOTA! I ALSO CANNOT BEGIN TO EVER THANK THE WOMEN IN YSPISILANTI FOR THEIR BEAUTIFUL WORK PIECING THE BLANKETS TOGETHER. THEY MAY BE SERVING SENTENCES. . .BUT THE GOOD THEY ARE PUTTING OUT IN THE WORLD WITH THEIR HANDIWORK. . . WELL KARMA, LADIES, KARMA.
KEEP US IN MIND WHEN GARAGE SALE HUNTING AND THERE'S YARN. WE USE ANY COLORS. . . ANY TYPE AND APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.
MAY 1, 2011--BLANKETS WILL BE SENT TO ALABAMA THIS WEEK; THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE SENT SQUARES. . .IT HAS BEEN A SPRING OF TOO MANY "NATURAL DISASTERS." We continue to collect and assemble blankets sent directly to recipients. Never think your work is for naught. My aunt made me a sampler years ago--"Love isn't love until it's given away." Give your love folks in any way you are able.
APRIL 19--WE HIT THE MAGIC 500 PLUS SOME! I am looking for a place to send some to the tornado vicitms. . . .
APRIL 11, 2011--I have not fallen off the lower pennisula--I promise. Check back Thursday or Friday for a momentous occasion--We will have snet over 500 blankets! I still am looking for Japanese sources. No luck with knitted blankets--weight and the need for easily washed items or disposable with the radiation problem. If anyone reading this has some ideas for where I can send them, please let me know by email or post on ON FACEBOOK!
March 1, 2011--Lots of blankets to mail, lots of squares to put together, and remember yarn sales start soon as the weather warms. . . if you want to help, please send us any yarn you have and cannot use, any yarn you see and purchase at a great price, and if you're in a warm place and garage sales have started, any yarn found at them. And of course, we always can use squares! It's muddy March, but there's still snow on the ground, but as I type this, guess what--I hear the chicadees' mating calls. This is a good sign. Preparing taxes, ugh. . . grading papers. . .doing some genealogy research and enjoying the exploits of our sons vicariously.One is on an oil platform, another in the mountains of New Mexico and still another looking at the Rockies and skiing whenever possible. It's great to get to the stage when we can enjoy their lives as they move on in life and the world.
The gals in Yspsilanti have more blankets to pick up, and my husband will be heading there to do so this week. . .then they are off to people who need them. We appreciate all your inquiries, support and friends.
January 19, 2011--HAPPY NEW YEAR--Here's to another year where we can all help one another with our little project. I am putting a request out for some new squares as well as any scrap yarn you might have. We're using it as fast as we get it! I hit Big Lots and Hobby Lobby for yarn sales, but during the winter months when there are not too many garage sales, yarn "finds" fall off. If I have neglected to say so recently, thanks to all of you! We got hit with a bit of snpw yesterday --schools were closed unless of course you teach online (as I do). The dogs and I trudged through the snow for our morning walk and I must say being the first person to walk across a snow-covered path is as satisfying as putting the knife in a new jar of peanutbutter!
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DECEMBER 24, 2010--Well, the 83 blankets arrived, and they're making families in the Gulf area very happy. Thanks to all of you! And yes more squares also arrived in the past two weeks from Diane and Marjorie. By the way Diane, hope all is well in San Diego with you and the Canyon Villa knitters! The pictures and stories from the floods have been horrific. If anyone needs our blankets out there, let us know. We should have quite a few to send in a few weeks. And this is a perfect example (and a sad one) of why Close Knit Hugs exists.
I am almost ready for Christmas. . .wrapping remains, some baking and cooking, but I believe I am home for a few days. There's nothing better than knowing I don't have to leave. I can walk the dogs, putter, wrap, putter, cook, wrap more and finish a knitting project for my daughter-in-law. I have a sleeve and hood to go before 5 P.M. on Christmas when she and my son arrive. You know you're knitting a lot when your hands are permantly shaped to hold knitting needles and you knit in your sleep only to abruptly wake up and realize you're upright, the needles are in your hands, and you're "watching" an infomercial for some skin rejuvenation product or new brownie pan at 2:30 A.M.
I also am amazed at the yarn I "find" left over from projects. It goes into a bag for the gals in Yspsilanti who are committed knitters, crocheters and who need our leftovers. Keep this in mind in 2011 when you're preparing for the new year. If you're like me, I clean, sort and try to get organized. I am shocked sometimes at the "stuff" I hang onto thinking I might need. But then I watch Hoarders and get back to work with new resolve!
Have a great Season squares. . . I send greetings and thanks for the friendships and enduring care you all have given me and Close Knit Hugs.
DECEMBER 9, 2010--DRUM ROLL. . . . 83 blankets are on their way to New Orleans and the Catholic Chariities Transitional Housing. We packed, weighed, sealed and UPS showed up early and carted off nine boxes of blankets--Gosh it's a great feeling and won't the families receiving them be happy and surprised! Thanks one and all. One point I want to make--the odd and ends of yarn you all send us are put to good use and not a bit is wasted--if it means a wild granny square or perhaps a multi-colored square--all yarn is used and appreciated!
NOVEMBER 25, 2010--Happy Thanksgiving one and all--I have to put my thinking cap on and figure out how to do a posting here and ON FACEBOOK! Lots of blankets in the basement. . . thanks to the gals in Yspsilanti--also to Katherine my driver and picker-upper downstate. I will be boxing them, counting them and sending them South by the end of next week for holiday giving. Heard from Knitting Today/Crocheting Today magazines, and they're listing us as an organization in their publications. I may not be posting as much as I used to--SCHOOLWORK!--but we're alive and well, and if you're a knitter, crocheter or just a person with lots of yarn--we're here to accept your squares and yarn. All squares are put into blankets and sent to victims of natural disasters--we have sent blankets to the Gulf and continue to do so, to tornado victims in Kansas, to flood victims in Nashville and to the earthquake victims in Haiti.
It's cold today in Northern Michigan, the dogs are all sacked out, the cats curled up, and I have a small turkey brining. No kids home this year, but my mother who just turned 90 will be here. . . for that, I am lucky and thankful. She still kniits, needlepoints and has so many great stories. Have a great day everyone, enjoy your friends and families.
November 11, 2010--Wow--I just had to correct my date from 11/11/11 to 11/11/10--Wonder what that means! Remember today is Veteran's Day. My dad was one as was my grandfather. Whether we believe in war or not, we must honor and remember the men and women who have served and fought for this country.
Spent a great weekend in the UP with friends. Saw our first significant snow of the season and also went rock hunting along the shore of Lake Superior. No agates for me, but some of the girls found them.
Lots of squares coming in as always from Diane and the San Diego gang as well as lovely Majorie. And Rose from Yspsilanti has three bags of blankets for us when I get to Ann Arbor. I also picked up yarn donations from the local Credit Union, and we also have new contributors: Shania and JoAnna from Rodney, Michigan--
10/27/10--She's back. . . .sorry for the lack of postings; for the first time in five years, I am teaching on campus. Though the work is the same and I love seeing students in person, the driving (forty-five minutes each way) takes from spare time! Getting ready to celebrate my thirty-third wedding anniversary to the same person! It seems to me that my husband and I should get some sort of tax break. . .cannot believe it. Also the squares are coming in, and I am going to be sending boxes of blankets out for holiday delivery. More on that later. The gals from Yspsilanti have been busy and we'll be picking up blankets from them soon; Diane and the group from San Diego remain steadfast and strong, and Marjorie--bless her--is sending squares and worried that I haven't updated. So Marjorie--Now I have. By the way, the storms from the past few days have filled the sky with some incredible cloud formations as well as plenty of excitement from storm warnings to power outages. If this had had snow with it. . .well it would have been something! I hope the friends in Minnesota and Wisconsin are OK.
December 23, 2011 7:48 AM
