I remember a picture that I once embroidered... I used to do that you know... embroider... I think I began when I was around eleven. My mother was always crocheting or embroidering and I wanted to learn too so I could be considered more than a child. I was very good at it by the time I married at 18. I creweled a very large, gawdy, orange, sunset of a ship sailing into the sunset. Was that prophetic? I thought it romantic at the time as I embroided the tiny woman and child waving to her sailor. I learned to knit, crochet, embroider, cross-stitch, craft, and sew. My biggest claim to fame was when I sewed a baby-blue polyester suit coat for the love of my life! Although I didn't quite get the bias right on the lapel, and fashion tape wasn't invented back in 1974, my love wore it. Perhaps he only wore it when I was looking... but he wore it.
When my sons were small an annual effort was to sew matching outfits. They were ADORABLE if I do say so myself. Over the years I continued to collect fabrics, thinking I would begin to quilt... well... times and people change. My life became full of raising three very active boys. They consumed all my energy, trying to keep up with working full-time and shuttling them to skating rinks, baseball fields, and such. .. then I went to college. My first class in ernest was 10-years ago this January - Psychology 101 at Grand Valley State University... the same week my oldest son showed at my doorstep with a very pregnant girlfriend... do I drop my class? It's not too late... no, now more than ever I realized I was going to need tools to put in my psychological toolbox...my boxes of crafts were closed, I would get back to them. A couple years later, we downsized... moving away from the country and became full-time parents again... this time to a bright-eyed blonde grandhild. Sometimes I think he takes more energy than the three of my own put-together... but then I remember I'm not a young parent anymore.. The boxes and all of my cross-stiched pictures were sold. A symbolic closing of a chapter of my life. The territory ahead was uncharted... together my husband and I would make it through the unknown waters... we've been there before.. we'd make it through. We're still plugging through... there are no crafts to go back to. I now have books and classes and more of the unknown to wade through... I've learned that what is important is that wonderful man who would do anything to try to make me happy, who would wear anything...not to hurt my feelings... I'm still crafting... perhaps not with material items, but with developmental building blocks. My (our) latest project is showcased in the John Ball Park Zoo slideshow. It takes a lot of effort to raise another family, but the results are definitely worth it!
at the end of the day, they have given back so much more than they have demanded. Mobley is a very spoiled puppy but he's not snobby. We find ourselves visiting the local pet stores every weekend now to socialize him to all the strangers we can. He makes friends wherever he goes, especially as it seems, little girls dressed in pink and purple! It's a thrill to see the joy he evokes in the people we are able to meet. It's pure pleasure for us to share our little bundle of black fur. He's looking more lab than newfoundland... like a fuzzy lab ;) I took these photos after returning from this weekend's shopping spree. I can't believe we've only had him three weeks. He's about 3 months old now and tomorrow's trip to the veterinarian for his regular vaccination will reveal how many pounds he's gained! We are cherishing being able to pick him up and cuddle him (he loves that!) He particularly loves to be held in the arms of his two big men! We'll see just how long Paul and Devon will be able to do this! When Mobley weighs 120# the photos will definitely be posted! Check out Mobley's toy "flea" in this photo. He's eaten off two of the six legs and I thought I better take the pictures before he completely devours the animal! The nose is well on its way out of the picture as he nipped the end off today! As the flea invites Mobley to "bite him" Mobley eagerly accepts the challenge! We are busy making memories!!!
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