Crocheting

I simply love to crochet. I haven't always liked to crochet. It seemed too difficult. I mean how do you keep one hand going while holding the yarn in the other hand, count stitches and follow a pattern?
I didn't get into crocheting until I became a grandmother 17 years ago. Then all I wanted to do was crochet edgings around flannel blankets and burb clothes.
But then I was faced with lots of wedding invites and my sister gave me granny squares to sew together for afghans. I then found some patterns and then I discovered there were many types of yarns out there.
I will admit I have enough yarn that if for some odd reason I ended up stuck inside my house for six months, the food will run out before the yarn.
And it's not all the Red Heart stuff either.
There's feathery yarn.Yarn that looks like fur. Yarn with glitters. Yarn that is silky.
And my patterns. I think I have more pattern books than mystery murder books and that is saying something. I also love to make up my own patterns. My favorite one is one that my son-in-law, Josh, created last Christmas. It was for a batman afghan for his two sons. My daughter-in-law Megan asked me to make one for Ben for this Christmas. I loved making it even though I devoted hours and hours to all three of hte
And hooks.
Oh my goodness. My favorites are rosewood. I love how they feel in my hand and how my hand doesn't cramp. I was introduced to rosewood by my aunt. She gave me a beautiful H rosewood which I used until I lost it on a trip. I have invested in many rosewood hooks since then. Not all rosewood hooks are equal.
Then there are the hooks that have lights on them to make it easier to crochet when the lights are out, like on a road trip or camping. And they make it easier to crochet with dark yarn.
Oh, I could go on and on about how much I love to crochet. Crocheting, like writing and reading, makes the time go faster.
Crocheting has a way of making me relax and quit focusing on stupid problems, like kids, husbands, housecleaning, editors and holidays. I just focus on the project, the yarn and the hook, marveling how after hours and hours I have created something that is usually appreciated.

Spiders

I don't like spiders.
But don't tell my daughters or grandchildren that. They think I'm fearless when it comes to spiders. I know "There's a spider in the same area" scream when I hear it. I will dash to the scream, whip out the AK47 tissue, book or shoe to kill the vermin and all will be well.
But let the spider, no matter its size, come around me when I'm no where near my offspring and I can shake with fear and bellow with the best of them.
For example, I was approaching a bench to sit in court when a spider the size of nothing caught my eye. It was walking along the partition separating us good folks from the court staff. I did my best squeaky, "Spider," with wide eyes and shaky hand pointing to the teeny, tiny eight-legged creature.
The bailiff, who is twice my size, slapped at the moving dot, only to fling it off the partition.
Yup, spider landed right next to my foot. I jumped almost on top of the bench, when I realized how silly I looked, so I stepped purposefully, adding a twist and committed capital homicide.
Then on Thanksgiving, with a houseful of guests and my bedroom filled with grandchildren watching a movie, I headed into my bathroom for a break of sorts.
Now there I was preparing to take care of business when I noticed I was "Not Alone. "
An eight-legged creature that looked like a Argog's grandchild was doing its best imitation of wall decor at eye level to the white throne.
I felt the scream coming, but checked it. After all, four of my grandchildren were on my bed in the very next room watching a movie. And in the room next to them was my German exchange student with her friend visiting with my daughter. And I can vouch none of them would run to help me. Rod, of course, was not in the house. He had gone outside to show our oldest son some manly thing in The Shop.
So I grabbed a fistful of TP and pounded the wall, while trying not to cry, which naturally caught the attention of my grandchildren who knew for certain I must be having a seizure or something.
"Grandma, are you alright?" Katie asked.
"Yes," I said, choking back sobs.
"Grandma, do you need help?" she said.
"No, I'm fine. Just a spider," I replied.
"Spider!" she screamed and I could hear her racing to the other side of the room followed by her sister and cousins.
Like I said, no help.

Wondering

I just read my cousins' blogs. I remember those days of staying at home and all of the sudden the day was hijacked.
It happens now even though I work full-time.
I had great intentions to go today to Credit Union A, pull out the funds for our property taxes and put into my checking account in Credit Union B before I mail the payment. Why two credit unions?
Well, if I have to go to Credit Union A to pull funds out of savings, I have to THINK about it, then plan the trip and most of the time, it's NOT worth the effort, so I do NOT hijack funds for spending. If you know me, you know I LOVE retail therapy!
OK, back to the topic.
Hijacked.
You see instead of a friend calling to see if I could watch their kid so they can run errands and I end up staying home, a story now falls in my lap that has to be done. Usually these stories require that I wait P-A-T-I-E-N-T-L-Y for people to research the answers to my questions and call me back.
I know they're waiting until the absolute last minue. Which would just fine except Friday, tomorrow is Veterans Day, which means every government office and financial instutition, i.e., credit unions, are CLOSED.

The Nest

My nest once held five children. As they grew up, they spread their wings and jumped into their lives. Everyone said to me wait for the empty nest syndrome. I think they meant I would miss my kids. They were right.
After my youngest left home the first time to work in Virginia, within six months we received a request from a young man we knew in Germany. He wanted to come live with us for few months. He was 19. Matt was a fun young man.
Then he went home and Jennica returned from Virginia. She finished her studies at Weber State, spent a year at our home, until she got married to Tyler a 18 months ago.
Then within a few months, Terra, Josh and their sweet two sons moved in. They were between houses. They stayed for a few months and moved out within just a few weeks of Christmas.
Our nest was empty for about six months. Jennica and Tyler moved in July. They were between houses. They moved out two weeks ago.
Clarissa moved in just a week ago. She's from Germany. She's an exchange student and the hoset family where she was staying was having a crisis. My friend, who is a coordinator with the program, asked if I knew anyone with an extra bed, room and open heart.
Yup. I'm parenting again.
I think I need intervention, but not until Clarissa leaves. She's such a nice girl. Sure, getting her to school and back is a slight hassle, but it could be worse:)