Hotel Coffee

As I sit in the lobby of my third hotel in a month, sipping coffee

and knitting, 

I am reminded of several things:

1. Sleeve Island can feel like a lonely place. 
2. Hotel lobbies are fun, with so many people to watch as the sun comes up! 
3. I am blessed to be living a life that affords me the luxury of a hotel stay, knitting retreats and special times with granddaughters that live far, far away.

Regarding Sleeve Island, I should be close to the mainland by the end of the day, since we have an 8-hour drive ahead of us. (By the time this post goes live, we should be close to home!)

Regarding hotel coffee and lobbies, well...I'm thankful, but I'll be glad to return to my own sofa and Keurig very soon. 

Regarding those beautiful girlies, I'll miss them, and I'm so glad that we've made new memories at the zoo with cousins, 

at the movies with cousins, 

at Cedar Point with cousins and friends, 

and at Aunt Jess's annual 4th of July party with all the fun! 

Yes,  she has her temps. 
No, it was not that scary, Aunt Jess!

You'll see by the photos that these beauties are in their middle years, and I don't want to give the false impression that it's been totally smooth sailing for the whole 10 days...suffice it to say that there have been both highs and lows. Lucky for us, we have ended on a high note, and I'm hopeful that the girls would agree that there was more fun than frustration at Gramma and Pop Pop's house...especcially with all the Guess the Gibberish we played! (Not sponsored, but a great game for ages 12+!)

Looking forward to my own bed tonight, but still basking in the glow of a mostly great visit. 🙂 Here's hoping that all of you are also making good, summer memories that will last you through whatever comes next in your life. 🌞 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Overall, the coffee was good. 😋

Saturday, in the Park...?

...I think it was the Fourth of July. Well, God bless America...with memories of today that song can be true! It will be a busy holiday for us, with the big party at Jess's new house, so I thought I'd knock out a quick post before the fun starts. Wait, to be clear, the fun has already started...

The girls have come for a visit, and we've had fruit by the foot contests with cousins (and Aunt Jess), 

crafts,

and dinners out...

All after an epic road trip to Nashville to pick them up. So fun!

Today we party, and the rest of the week we make sure they see all the loved ones they can fit into an 8-day visit (plus two days of driving)...

...and I will sleep sometime after the 12th! Until then, we will party on, Garth...

with hamburger cookies!

No knitting today, but I am almost to the lace on my cardigan,

and I finished the second pair of fingerless mitts on the drive, so yay!

I hope your day is good, and that any fireworks you see will blow your mind (and not take off your fingers). Happy birthday, America!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Young Blood

Hard topic today, because I wasn't ready a few weeks ago...

This morning, I asked Alexa to define young blood, and she replied, "Young blood typically refers to youthful people. It can also apply to fresh, revitalizing ideas or vigor."

This answer made me curious, so I followed up with a question about the science of young blood, and I learned that there is some scientific evidence that young blood contains molecules that may have rejuvenating effects, including "specific proteins that can improve cognitive function and skin cell regeneration." Who knew? Well, I suppose the scientists did! 🤣

Before we go any further, please know that I have not fact-checked this AI response, and I'm also not researching cosmetics or fountain-of-youth products! The thing that prompted me into this rabbit hole is that my cousin passed away on Christmas day, just a few minutes after she and I had been texting holiday greetings...but I don't feel old enough for that to have happened. I still have young blood, don't I?

Teresa (DeLuca) McQuay is not the first person I've known to pass away from among my peers, but she is the first of this cousin group to pass on to the next life, and it makes me so sad for her kids, her brother...and also for me. 

Teresa was 59, and I've known her since 1968, when I was born. Neither one of us had regularly been referred to as "young" in many years (unless you count time spent with our moms!), but I would venture to guess that, like me, she wasn't feeling like she was old. I mean we're not as young as we were in 1973,

or 1982, or 1997, or even 2003,

but we're certainly not OLD!, and it feels unfair that she would have to leave so suddenly, without having the opportunity to meet any grandchildren that may come along. Wasn't 1983 just a few years ago? 

Hmmm, no. I guess not, but that cousin bond can be strong. Some even compare it to a semi-sibling-style relationship, or mention that cousins are our first (maybe forced) friends as well as family...which is not wrong. (If you can't tell from those 80s photos, Tre was a bit of a rebel. She was Sandy at the end of Grease, while I was Sandy-fresh-off-the-boat...but we were friends!) While we hadn't talked often recently, when we did, we laughed over many shared memories of our childhood and teenage years, and we celebrated the women we have become. 

Just a few years back, in 2021, almost all 8 of us cousins got together to celebrate one of our parents, Aunt Mickey, who passed away during the awful year of Covid.

We talked, and we laughed, and we remembered together, as you do...it was so very good...and the bond was still there, as she grabbed my hand for the photo. 

Memories of late-night gab sessions when she stayed at my house...

 

Memories of holiday photos taken on the front porch, or in front of the tree, with Grandpa Joe's little camera (not instant, you got one chance at the "right face"... did you choose well? We'll find out when the film is developed!)...followed by cookies in Grandma's kitchen...

Memories of running around Euclid, while Tre and I stayed at Mary's house in the summer...

Memories of board games, and sleepovers, and shocking (at the time) truths between cousins...

All these memories add up to a life, no matter how many years it lasts...so I'll keep making more, but (sadly) not with my cousin, Teresa.

Zach, Ricky & Kylie, Rich, Tony, Patti, Kim...she was amazing, wasn't she? Keep her memory alive in your hearts, and her legacy will continue to bless you, and your children and their children, for generations to come. 

Blog friends, treasure your loved ones as long as you can, for none of us knows the hour of our death. Love one another well, whether your blood is young or old, and your legacy will be love. 

Thanks for stopping by, and for listening...and Knit in Good Health. 

Have a Hap- Hap- Happy New Year!

Because of my surgery, we did not get to see our son and his family this year for Christmas. I'm happy to say that our daughter and her family did make the trip out to visit her brother, and this picture was one of the fun memories that she sent to me from "Kansas, she says, is the name of her star!" I added some details, and we all wish you the happiest of new years for 2026!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Chicken Casualty

The granddog's favorite toy...not Steve's Lava Chicken...

was a bit of a casualty for the kids' summer visit this year, but I suppose worse things have happened to chickens. 

Still, it's a bit confusing when you're a dog. 

At least all of the cousins had a great time, and no limbs were lost at Aunt Jess and Uncle Aaron's annual sleepover.

To celebrate all the good times, after helping Sweetie give the whole house a good clean on Monday, 

I took a trip to Cedar Point and got this shot of Siren's Curse in a nearly full tilt as Top Thrill 2's train launched backwards next door! Took this while waiting in line for a night ride on the newest coaster, which was great! 

Then the cleaning resumed with a visit from our friends at Stanley Steemer, who did a great job on the carpets,

which gave me some time to work on my sweater. I've divided for the sleeves on this Neretina by Kirsten-Michele, and I'm pretty stoked about how it's turning out! 

And, though I was thinking I might get another CP trip in last night, we went walking at Sandy Ridge instead. I was rewarded by this lovely shot of dreamy, purple wild bergamot in the hazy glow of the setting sun. 

All-in-all, a good, low-key week, but I'm tired! How has your week been? 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!