Blogging

I was asked what blogging was, and I just think to me it is kind of like a diary but very public!  Also, may be a way to show and sell my crocheted items.  It might be a way for all old friends to find me if they don't have a FaceBook account.  And it is an easier way for me to follow my favorite blogs.

Probably most of mine will be a public diary.  Like today's I want to share some of my adventures of camping last weekend!  My biggest regret is I didn't take enough pictures!  I have a couple cute pics of my middle granddaughter that we were lucky enough to have camping with us along with her daddy.

She was a very beautiful Ariel, I am sure everyone will agree!!   and here is one of her and her daddy!

We had about 300 trick or treaters come to our campsite.  And I forgot to take pics of any of them.  And I also took no pics of all the nifty, scary, awesome decorated campsites, hopefully next year I will do better.  There were about 250 campsites occupied and at least half of them decorated.  And the weather was great!!

While there I did get one hat started and I finished it during the Monday night baseball game between the Tigers and the Rangers.  Tigers lost but....the hat got finished.  I wish I had a child here to model it!

And then last night I crocheted an entire hat while watching the Tigers beat the Rangers!!  Yea, Detroit!  I hope they can keep that up for 3 more games!!

I'm hoping this one is sold to a friend that saw some of my hats at the campground but wanted a blue one for her daughter.  This was my first time to use variegated yarn (multi-colored) and I like how the colors "landed".  You can see by the one with earflaps that they can be different each time.

I need to get back to crocheting my snowflakes!!  But crocheting Halloween stuff has been fun this year.  I have never done that before.  And look for turkeys to be showing up in November!

I did visit my friend Catina yesterday but she was not able to talk, when I ask her a question they are always yes or no answers but yesterday the voice just wouldn't come out but I could tell from a slight nod or shake of the head what the answer was.  We did get out to the garden, the only flowers left tho were mums and not many there.  Note to myself, take some mums next time to plant there.

You could tell she was really enjoying the sun and the slight breeze on her face.  And during the walk inside the building it was evident that she loved seeing the faces of friends that would say hi to her as we walked the halls.  She is my inspiration for living in the moment and looking for the little things in my life that make it so great as they add up to a larger part of my life.

Today is laundry day and packing for camping this weekend.  We love to camp, this will be our next to the last trip out this year.  Last weekend it was down to 40 during the day but this weekend the sun will be shining and 70 degrees!  Yes!!  Makes it that much nicer but when you are with family and friends at the campground you can weather most any kind of weather.  It has even snowed on our tent back in the day of tent camping and that was with a 2 yr old and 4 yr old.  No electricity, pit toilets, cooking over the campfire, ahhh...those were the days!!

We are going to a state campground that is doing an Ichobod Crane theme.  Basically just Halloween type stuff tho I think.  I crocheted a spider web and 2 spiders to add to my decorations for the weekend!  It should look cute all stretched out on the front of our trailer or a handy bush on the site.

I hope all have a great weekend!  I'll have lots of pics to share from our weekend so will come back next week and post them!!

MS SHG

MS SHG--Initials that I have used now for 9 years and still have to explain to others--Multiple Sclerosis Self-Help Group.  I understand why not too many know what MS SHG means.  Until you need us you probably skip over anything about a SHG but two times a month we have meetings in Shiawassee County here in Michigan-the first and third Tuesday of each month.

These days bring me face to face with MS.  I am the co-leader of this group and plan the meetings because the other co-leader has been having a rough time for the last 2 years.  I enjoy this task most weeks but this is one of those weeks that I am having a tough time with the agenda--what to share?  what to have for a discussion topic?  will I do what I feel is a great agenda only to have others need something different than what I have planned?  if I decide not to do an agenda with a topic will we just sit and stare at each other (yes, that has happened but not too often).  Decisions, decisions, decisions and MS has messed with the part of my brain that used to make decisions.  grrrr...

What really brings me face to face with MS is visiting a friend who used to be at all our meetings, she is our youngest member, she is always smiling and positive even tho MS has hit her with a low blow!!  She is 34 years old and has been in a "nursing home" for the past 4 yrs.

She cannot walk, she is tube fed, she has no control of bladder or bowels, she cannot use her hands because of tremors and spasticity,  she does not carry on a conversation, but most times will answer questions with yes, no or I don't know.  You may know many people with MS but you will probably not know about people like my friend, Catina!!

She used to run track, cross country.  Even after dx'd with MS she was an honorary track and cross country coach for our local high school teams!  That was before MS hit her with this low blow.

I know Catina might be helped by some future research development but now is now!  Catina loves country music and still sings along when she hears a song she recognizes!  She knows the words better than this old country music lover!

When I visit her today I have it set up for her to be in her wheelchair (which she can only be in 1 hour a day because of her tendency towards bed sores).  I will be able to take her for a walk around the facility and all the others will say hi to her, smile, and she will say hi back and smile!!  And if we are lucky enough we will be able to go outside in the garden for one of her few outdoor walks!  Weather looks promising for that!!

As you walk, talk and eat with friends and family today please say a prayer for my friend Catina!  And all those suffering with this horrendous disease!  Some of us, like me, have invisible symptoms that can be helped somewhat with meds, therapy and FAMILY and FRIENDS.  But when someone with MS talks to you about MS please listen.  Their fatigue, confusion, pain are all real and unless you have MS you really can't understand but you can help, whether it is just by listening or helping them with some tasks that may be difficult for them.

Thanks for reading this!  I guess I just needed to get it out!

I have a great life, family, friends and am very thankful!

Oh, and I am a proud member of ShiaWalkers!  This is our  WalkMS team that raises funds for that cure or future developments that will help those like Catina!  When someone asks you to contribute to this great cause please remember my friend Catina and give what you can!

Peace Be With You: Sometimes ...

Peace Be With You: Sometimes ... 

This woman says it all with her sayings for those of us with MS.