A Crazy Parade.

...I found these napkins months ago and was saving them for a family gathering. I finally had my chance Friday night.

We had the whole crew (save my sister's husband Ron who had another family gathering to attend) here for "drinks, etc." Cousin Becky and George joined us for a bit, too. All the photos below are thanks to her (which you could probably figure out since she's the only one not represented!) 

Lydia, Paula, Karen, Sara, me, Polly

Paula and Andrew

Steve, Roy, George

Steve, Mary, Karen, Roy - I LOVE THIS PHOTO!!!

She's quite persuasive when she gets her phone out. Seriously, she got Marc to smile. 

and almost Holly (and my mom).

...and this is post #30 for November. NaBloPoMo, finally. I'm still gathering my thoughts about daily blogging but for sure, what's helped me the most is a community of readers who have cheered me on. I am incredibly grateful for this experience; even the darkest days were lightened by y'all. Thank you.

Self-Portrait | Deadline Knitting.

...one hat. less than 150 yards of worsted weight yarn on size 7 needles. somehow that didn't seem like much at all when I brought the yarn home two weeks ago. but this afternoon, when I finally cast-on, and with a newsletter deadline looming...I find myself stressed. about knitting.

but grateful for the quick break that taking the photo and sharing it here has provided. wish me luck!

Saturday Morning.

...no walk in the park for me today. Instead, Marc and I were at Home Depot dark early to get our tree.

pretty sure we were the first customers this morning

the view from my driveway just after we unloaded the tree

and then Holly and took one quick loop around the neighborhood. because steps. and Game Day! (I've got my cowl ready... and only hope it will be our lucky charm today).

Kickoff is at noon. Go Jackets!!

The One with All the Books.

...I'm pretty sure that's how Sara is going to remember this Thanksgiving. I think we all lost count of how many books she read to Charlie.

or maybe it will be the one with the very best applesauce smile.

makes peeling all those apples completely worthwhile!

or the one where we took our walk before dinner and it was warm enough to leave our jackets behind.

or the one where we kind of remembered to take photos of each other,

but didn't remember to check that everyone's smiles were in place.

photo credit to Katie

or simply the one with all the photos. I usually end up with just a handful, but this year, I have dozens. Here are a few more of my favorites from the day.

photo credit to Marc

love his full plate... he tried everything!

What favorite memories did you capture yesterday?

Throwback Thursday | Cooking Thanksgiving.

...with Sara, 2008.

This is one of my favorite photos of the two of us together in the kitchen. One that was barely big enough for two (with a big dog at our feet).

Flash forward seven years and Katie is hosting dinner. My part is a few sides, a pie and ice cream. I cooked a little yesterday and finished up this morning. I've already washed the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen.

Marc should be arriving with Sara (who took a 6am flight from Madison this morning!) any minute. We won't be cooking together this year, but we will be together all weekend. and for that I am very grateful.

Wishing all of you the very best Thanksgiving.

Wordless Wednesday.

Joyful.

...I hadn't planned to post today. Y'all have been amazing in your support; my family has loved and appreciated every single comment. But I thought today would be ... simply too sad to share.

I've never been so happy to be proved wrong. The sunrise was clear and bright.

The service was standing room only, a fitting tribute to a young man who touched many lives and will be remembered for his gentle spirit and his smile... joyful.

Late this afternoon we gathered at my sister's. PJ would've enjoyed the party. The food was delicious. And there was wine & beer and the company was ... family.

I"m sure he would've had a ball entertaining his cousin Charlie. 

and all of us.

In Loving Memory.

this past Memorial Day weekend

...my nephew PJ passed away last Wednesday. suddenly and unexpectedly. He was 22 years old. Needless to say, we are all devastated. But as I look back on these last few days, my heart is uplifted by the love and support my family has shared and by all the kind and thoughtful words from so many others.

His mom (my sister-in-law Lydia) said it would be good for me to share a little more about all of this here today.

His dad (my brother Steve) wrote his obituary and a very moving post on Facebook. My brother's words describe PJ perfectly. He embodied joy. Of course no number of words or photos could capture everything we love about him, but I do think these two boards tell exactly the right story.

For the service tomorrow, Steve and Lydia chose these six photos (in addition to the one at the top of this post) to highlight.

We have a long, hard journey ahead of us. Please keep us close in your hearts.

Self-Portrait | Sunday Morning.

weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

- Psalm 30:4b

 

Saturday Morning.

...back at the park. Blue skies, sunshine, my very favorite place (I wish you could hear the water moving over the rocks)

and a wonderful friend who will balance precariously on the creek's edge for a selfie. Happy to report we didn't get even a little wet.

that's Lauren on the right, sporting new shoes, and me on the left

FO Friday | Birthday Mitts.

...one of my very favorite things about knitting is seeing someone wear - and love - something I've made for them.

Thank you, dear Honoré, for brightening my week with this photo of you wearing the mitts I knit you for your birthday!

Honore loves to write and she loves to be outside; I figured fingerless mitts might be just the thing to keep her hands (somewhat) warm for both. The colorway - Malabrigo's Liquidambar - was inspired by her Baltimore Album Quilt (there's a photo near the bottom of this post that shows the fabric).

The colors are cozy and warm...and I enjoyed the knitting along with several cups of tea (in mugs that matched perfectly)!

This is the second time I've made these mitts; and I cannot recommend the pattern highly enough. Even better, most skeins of worsted weight yarn will make two pairs (even if you make the mitts a smidge longer than the pattern suggests, like I did this time - you can see my notes on Ravelry here).

Wishing you a wonderful weekend; hope it's full of cozy and warm!

Throwback Thursday | M and M.

...M and M. Marc and Mary. Married 32 years today.

I spent a few hours this morning with Katie sorting through photos. So many memories captured in 4x6 or 3x5 frames.

And we found the photos I had wanted to share last year.  So here you go - a walk down our memory lane!

at Katie's wedding, May 2013

Christmas, 2012

2003

1996

1980

...and finally...one I always think of as "the beginning"

Georgia Tech Homecoming, October 1979...our first "big date"!

Wordless Wednesday.

 

Fifty Years Ago.

.

..I was three. and had a party at my grandparents' house in Alabama.

out front at my grandparents' house, holding camellias

I never noticed the camellia's around the cake until this morning. My grandmother had huge camellia bushes at the front of the house. I'm guessing they bloomed all winter.

Charlie and I have a busy day planned and then Katie's making a pizza party. Sounds like a perfect 53rd birthday, don't you think?