Throwback Saturday?

No storms this week! Hooray! Double hooray because I had a semi-outdoor event to attend last night, and rain threatened but did not wash us out. Thanks to Curt and all who came out for an impromptu, semi-reunion of the Brunswick HS Class of 1986!

This was not all of us, but it's almost everyone who attended the meet-up (minus a couple of spouses and a few who graduated a year or two before or after), and we had such a nice time remembering and making new memories.

Here, I'll confess something I told Dan while we were chatting: I almost didn't go, and I very nearly left before I should have. I didn't know too many of the folks who responded to the Facebook invite that came up just three weeks ago, and so I almost let this opportunity to connect with my past pass me by. But I'm so glad that I stepped on that fear and went anyway. 

I graduated with between 500-600 of my best friends...not! There is no way I would have known all of those people, and when I arrived, I only recognized about half of the faces I saw. But it was still a small crowd, so I grabbed a beer and hung around. As I chatted and listened, I confirmed my suspicion that this was not a crowd I hung around with back in high school. But gosh, They were fun! 

There was a slightly awkward moment when the guy next to me leaned in and said quietly, "I think I might've picked on you in school...," but I didn't even remember that, so I told him so. Just like that he was off the hook, and he was wonderful company during the evening!

Later on I was glad to see a friend I thought I'd miss (Patty knew she wouldn't arrive until later, and I wasn't sure how long I'd stay); and I caught up with a friend I didn't expect to see at all! Larry, I still have three drawings you did for me in high school...

It's good to be a grown-up in an adolescent world. It's good to reconnect with people who remember the way it was for us, before this age of technology. It's good to celebrate the fact that we survived our own youthful foibles and flub-ups to become parents and grandparents. It's great to forgive past offenses, known or not, and forge new(-ish) friendships!

Wherever you are in your journey, friends, be sure to celebrate. Celebrate what you can from your past. Celebrate the right now at every opportunity. Celebrate all of the promises our future holds, and pray that we don't become bitter because the "good old days" are gone. Get together with people you have something in common with and make new memories for tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you are well. Drop a comment, if you'd like to say hello. And, if you knit, Knit in Good Health!

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Psst! As long a we're talking about the 80s, and since this is kindof a craft blog, here's a little something I put together for a friend who is moving. It has a real vintage vibe, no? Lolz...

(Note, she is NOT moving to the
mission fields of Malawi!) 

Cousins and Grandkids and Funtimes: Oh, My!

There hasn't been much knitting this week, but I'm ok with that...and this is the reason: 

All the kids have had some great cousin time, and we've had fun hanging out with them all together, too! 

There's been playground time, 

Dinners together, 

Playtime 

and even times to borrow handknit socks from Gramma, to help them slide smoothly down the stair-slide, without stopping! 

In the middle of it all, I SAW DONNY OSMOND IN CONCERT last Saturday!

Jess and I went to Akron, and we had the best time!

So, yeah! Very little knitting, but SO MUCH FUN!!!

I hope you've had some fun with your family and friends this Summer!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Eight

Today is the seventh. It is also the eighth! Today marks the eighth trip this Pikachu-loving granddaughter has made around the sun, and boy did she love that sweater!

You know the knit's a hit when it goes right on, as soon as it is out of the box, and much posing ensues!

Yes, a matching sweater for Kitty...lol!

(FYI, the concert hoodie was also a hit, and it went right on, and posing ensued...but it's different with a pre-teen than with a kid still in single digits! Hahahahahaha...)

As you may have guessed by the first few photos, second Christmas was a big success last Saturday at our daughter's house! There was too much wonderful food...

The boys watched football, played with new toys and had fun...

The girls applied makeup, took selfies, and squealed over new knits...

...and all was right in our little corner of the world! 

Pop Pop and I went to bed before the ball dropped, as per usual and despite the big college game that was not over yet, and we woke up for a moment with the neighbor's fireworks... Since then, we have started to get back to the normal of a northeast Ohio winter. Part of the ritual is storing the Christmas decorations, which we did...

Well, except these sweet girls, who have entered their eternal rest. At first glance, they are still lovely, but something new falls off or comes unstitched each year...and they are tired. 

A gift from my Sister-in-Law, many Christmases ago.
I love that I can keep the memory in pictures.

As our decorating evolves in this house, I find myself using less and less of the ornaments I've used every year. Of course, if you decorate your tree with cookies, that'll happen! Still, for the past two years, I've used garland around the mirror to display some of my favorite handmade goodies, and others have found new homes. 

All-in-all, 2023 has started strong. This year will bring birthdays number 8, 12, 1, 3 and 5 for the grands, so it's gonna be a good one with lots of milestones and lots of smiles. For today, happy birthday number 8 to our Sweet Pea! We can barely believe you are not a tiny baby anymore, but we are excited to watch you continue to grow!

I hope your year has also started well, readers. While each year and season brings ups and downs into all our lives, I pray that you are treasuring the good and coping well with any challenges. Remember that you are loved, and take a moment to let me know if you have any big plans this year! I'd love to know what you are looking forward to. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!