July 20, 2007--The semester of online teaching is almost over CLOSE KNIT HUGS watchers and readers. I have much to update you on, but until I have all the papers (and there are a great many) graded, you'll have to keep checking back. Thanks to Canyon Villas for another box--Diane you are terrific; tell the ladies thank you! Shelly from Minnesota sent us two yo-yo blanks as well some beautiful squares. We also received squares from one of our first contributors two day ago--a nice surprise and beautiful work. I will share a letter I received with you in my next update! And no Kathy and Shelly, I haven't mailed the boxes yet to you, but as I am getting out-of-town company next Thursday and it's all sitting on the guest bed, it's getting closer to being sent!
JULY 5, 2007--TO ALL MY BLANKET HELPERS--I laid out and bagged 17 blankets last night/this morning. Kathy, I will sending some your way; Therese and Ruth--I will drop off a few at Bud Jones Insurance Agency! I have enough squares to put together another 10 or so, but I need to wait on some more colors to compliment them. And who says we're losing momentum?????
JULY 3, 2007--Thanks to Diane from California and the Canyon Villa Knitters/Crocheters for the the box of yet another 100 or so squares. I heard the dogs barking this afternoon, and there was the UPS truck barreling up the drive, around the curve, coming to a fast, gravel-throwing stop. Before I could get to the door to say, "SLOW DOWN,we have dogs and cats here, " Cindy (OUR DRIVER) had dropped the box off and was gone in a cloud of gravel dust. Obviously, we were the last one on her route, and tomorrow is the 4th, and she had places to go. . . At any rate, it was wonderful as always to know the group out in California supports our efforts. We also now have Wyoming on the map, thanks to Christine--Come on Montana, come on South and North Dakota. . . and what about Arkansas and Nevada and Idaho--All I need is one square. I would love to have all 50 states represented by this time next year. . . . Also thanks to Kathy in New York; she did another yo-yo blanket as well as some squares; Jennifer in Illinois sent squares as well as Marjorie in Bay City and Nan in Saginaw and "The Colorado Crew"--Nancy and Bev! There I sound like the old Romper Room teacher again (I am dating myself.)
Good news--we're heading to New Orleans in August. I was surprising my husband for his birthday/retirement, got the reservations, arranged for all the boys andn their significant others to be there, and they knew it was going to be a surprise, and we had to keep the lips tight. So Saturday night, my mom is over for dinner. We had a glass or two of wine--and yes, she spilled it--the surprise not the wine. I cried, she feels terrible, but boy is Chris excited. I really had wanted it to be a surprise, but heck, there has to be a reason that it's not--right? We'll be flying, but before we go, I hope to send at least ten or so blankets to Catholic Charities. The next box going out, however, will be to Kansas. Once my cousin is back from a short vaction, we'll get these pictures updated. I have also added some links to BLOGS on knitting and crocheting I have run across who are helping us--they are great reads. It makes me feel quite connected to a terrific circle of people when I read what others are doing and thinking. Hey, have a Happy Fourth of July. Notice we'll be closing in on 200 blankets sent in the next months. . . maybe we can do this by September 1. . . . Thank you all.