Maltese Fisherman Hat

This was taken a couple Friday nights ago after dinner. I knit the hat Frankie is wearing. It's called the Maltese Fisherman Hat by EZ and can be found in 'Knitter's Almanac'.

I used Sheepsdown and found it a quick knit at 2 1/2 stitches/inch. It only took 3 hours. I sent the picture to Meg Swansen and she emailed me the next morning and loved that I completed it with, as she said - "Antic Top Twiddles". :)

I think my son likes it.....and his girlfriend, Becca.

She is really nice......

and knits!

......and then there's Scarlett

If you haven't heard of Scarlett, I think you are missing out. She recently had a contest to help name her blog and Etsy store. My DH came up with most of it and she refined it. Now it reads, Scarlett's Society of Quirky Things.

I would like to take a moment and tell you that I was the first to purchase from her Etsy Store. Scarlett is just starting out and has a new found talent - drawing.......and, by golly, I think she's got something.

I met Scarlett when we were knitting Springtime in Paris socks, from Six-Socks KAL. She is certainly my knitster-in-crime. The quirky in her new name fits. I hope you will take a moment and click on over to her blog.....and get an idea of what she is all about.

Family History.......

......and I've been tagged by Romi!
The rules are very simple:
I am to open a book I am currently reading to page 161 and copy the fifth sentence on the page.
Well, it isn't as simple for me since I do more knitting than reading - so....this is a great place to put my knitting down and read the book I stuck a marker in.
In this book, on page 161, 5th sentence - it reads, "She had been beaten and abused by her husband and wanted to get out of Nogales so he wouldn't be able to find her."
The book is "Hidden Treasures of Santa Cruz County" by Betty Barr.
A little history here: In my 30's, I found out my Grandfather, on my father's side, was not my Grandfather. Well, let's see, my grandparents lived on a ranch in southern Arizona (in Santa Cruz County) while working for a rancher named Jim Hathaway. Yup, you got it - HE is my grandfather. Oh, I learned so much and it is sooooo interesting, to say the least.

{If you want to read more about my findings, please leave a comment!!!}

Now for my 5 tag-ees: Scarlett; Kat; Rochelle; Irie and Diana!! Gosh, I wanted to add a few more, but those are the rules!! Ready, set, GO...........

The things I am so grateful for

~ I am grateful for wonderful friends who have sons that can help edit a picture to fit a blog header and move the words around. It's Teri McD, a member of Socks for Soldiers, and her son Keith. Thank you, Keith!!!! I love my new blog header!!

~ I am grateful to my mom. She made me what and who I am today....and more. No matter how tired she was from working to support 3 growing girls, she always stopped when she heard, "Watch ME, mom!" When we sat together in the living room, we raced to see which one of us would be on either side of her and one sitting at her feet. On weekend mornings, she would sometimes be awakened to 3 girls snuggling up to her and she would smile.

~ I am grateful to my son, Frankie Jr. Even though he's grown up, I still see that little boy who fit the poster he had in his room forever. It was a close-up picture of a Cowboy digging his heels in the thick dirt, bulldogging a steer and it said "Boys Will Be Boys". I must have raised him right, right from the get go because he is good and has a level head on his shoulders. He still likes to hug and snuggle with me.....and he loves my cooking.

~ I am grateful to my DH (aka: Darling Husband or Ed). September 13th will be our 8th Anniversary. We have been through a big learning curve with each other. I believe the older we get, when we get together to make a life, the longer it takes to "get" each other and appreciate the differences. It's harder to bend.....but it's much better. Ed gives me the opportunity to devote so much to my passion for Socks For Soldiers. He never once complains about that.....and HE loves my cooking, too.

~ I am grateful to my Internet friends. My goodness, I've made many. I should have warned you all that when I make friends, it's for life. Ask my friends that I call up after 20+ years. ;)

~ I am grateful to my late husband's friends who email or call me every so often to make sure I'm okay. They've been doing this for over 20 years now.

~ I am grateful to have the opportunity to participate in Socks for Soldiers. Nothing touches the heart like seeing the smiles on the soldiers faces as they open the boxes Kim sends. You cry and then want to knit more and faster. Like Kim says, it's "we" that makes her mission to let soldiers know they are not forgotten. Kim and I have never met, yet she made me a moderator. She is also known as Sarge and her keyboard is aka: Command Central. She is tough and soft all rolled into one. My one wish is that every sock knitter knit just one pair to send to Kim. THAT would be awesome......and we would all cry.

~ I am grateful to my sisters. I remember having lots of fun growing up.......and, I would have never learned how to fight without them. :)

~ I am grateful for the talent I have to master anything crafty or mechanical.....and to share my talent with others. I think it would be a sin, not to.

Okay, I'll stop for now. It looks like, since I've missed blogging for a few weeks, I'm trying to make it up all at once!

Oh! One more:

~ I am grateful that I started a blog because............

I met YOU.
When YOU visit my blog, you visit me. I count each and every one of you as a blessing in my life. Thank you.