Saturday, July 11, 2009

Trips back home are either too long or too short

Trips home are always too short, or too long...depends on how much you're trying to do and how many friends and family you want to meet up with. True? Well, check this out!

Do you know what this is?

My aunt's old Boye interchangeable needle set! My cousin and I went through a bunch of things she had left from her Mom's knitting days. (she's out of the picture, because she wasn't too happy with me for putting it on Face Book in the first place. ah..cousins!)

I have brought this afghan home with me for some repair work. But check it out! Now I know where my love affair with the Feather and Fan pattern came from!

Here's a close up-such even stitches that have to be nearly 40 years old.

Then, I went to the boat races-the River Roar in downtown. It was my first time going.

After all the years of hearing about it, I was there...

front row, center...with a long lens!

It was up to about 98*F, and really loud.

Loved it! And yes, I'd go back again, only hopefully not by myself.

Here's the bird my Dad loves to antagonize over at my Aunt's house.

Baked a little bit of pumpkin bread...

...blocked mom's Tam (Hat's On! pattern)

Finally finished Mom's vest from Knitter's #76-only about 4-5 years in the works! And knit up a bunch of kitchen sets for cousins, my Aunt, and a few thank yous.

Made a bunch of stitch markers and row counters...

Started the BSJ's for the Bruin twins, ripped one out...

Dad got an early Birthday card...check it out by clicking on the picture. Can you see the signature and the return address? Yep..after all his 'presidential' studies over the years, he got some 'official mail' from Pennsylvania Ave!

and had a little bit of birthday cake while I was in town.

Another night, I went to visit my college suite mate at her 'new' house. Check out her 'back yard!"

Here's another view. And very few mosquitoes.

Now, what do you need when you're enjoying a campfire?

Marshmallows that become s'mores! Of course!

Directly across the river, we had a couple of 'visitors'...

This one actually came up wayyyyyyyy too close to my 'sit uponer...'...

The town I come from, is known for it's 4th of July celebrations. And guess who was able to come and enjoy some time with cousins? Recognize anyone?

Lots of cousins...

Proof I was there....

Two of my kids drove from Boston and Syracuse! They arrived early on the morning of the 4th, took a nap, and we all went over to my Aunt and Uncles so they could make faces...

with the little ones...

get some a bit of studying for the bar...

..hang out with the oldest generation...

...enjoy some more really good birthday cake...

...find my favorite picture of the day between a Great Grandma and the youngest of the day...

My two favorite July 'boys'....wearing their Boys in Blue hats, reminiscing about the ball game I took them to years ago, where we sat directly over home place and could call the pitch before the umpire did!

And have some Grandma hugs, too! Just missing the two youngest daughters! before...

The chairs were put into place...

and wrapped up in the blankets while waiting for the fireworks to start!

Yep, I'm still tired.

And miss them all.

The trip? Too short.

For the record, Mom finished her radiation treatments last Thursday, but had a fall the day before. Other than a lump on her head and a nasty bruise on her collarbone, she's OK. But it's time that the walker was brought out of the closet to help her steady her balance as she stands up.

I hope this passes quickly and she's doing better soon. We'll know more in a month.