Reflecting

Good morning!
 Today is my birthday and I have been sitting on the sofa for about an hour thinking of the last year and what a lucky person I am. In a very big way the year was bad, we suddenly lost my stepdad in February, just a few short weeks after he and my Mom retired from work. He was such a good man and so good to my mother. I miss him. Then there has been the whole knee replacement. I needed it badly and knew it would be complicated, but it made for a long summer and thankfully I am close to finishing up the whole physical therapy and regular doctor appointments and hospital stays.
  I hasn't all been bad though. Far from it. I have the best husband in the world. He has supported me and put up with everything without ever complaining or making me feel like a burden. I have my daughter who is so special to me. I love them more than anything.
  Last winter I was out to lunch with my good friend, my best yarn buddy, and she says to me 'You should go check out Attic24, there is a bag on there that looks just like something you would like."

I read the blog and was hooked. I made the bag and see that probably thousands of others have as well. I have gotten good ideas from Lucy. My daughter and I made the toilet roll people and I made the Blooming Flower cushions too. I see these projects all over blogland. I wonder if she has any idea the influence she has on crafty folks.

I read a few blogs and have to give a nod to Crochet With Raymond too, Alice is a very talented lady. These two women really inspire me with all kinds of ideas.
   We had a very busy weekend here. On Saturday my best friend and I took our kids to the park to play and feed the ducks, only to find that we are no longer allowed to feed them. The kids had fun chasing them around the park anyway.

We then decided to take the kids for ice cream and I only wish I had taken pictures of that. We had just sat down when my friend's 3 year old daughter dropped her ice cream cone on the floor. Lisa went to get her another one and her 1 1/2 year dropped Lisa's milkshake on the floor. The people in the restaurant were very kind. We got through that mess and went back to my house.  I had made scones and my version of clotted cream (you can't get it here) and a lemon pound cake.

After all the ice cream though, we ordered a pizza and let the kids play while we crocheted.  Yesterday was another fun day. We went to the apple orchard which is just a couple of miles from here. It was really hot this weekend and a good time to go. We took the hayrack ride and picked some apples.

That's my husband picking apples. We then went home and took a nap then I made dinner and that was the end of a really nice weekend. Autumn and I did end up having our tea party when we got up yesterday.

Today is my actual birthday, my husband has to work and Autumn has to have some dental work. So I will get a lot of time in on my projects today. I started joining my blanket and will take some pictures today. I am loving it, I can tell you that. Hope everyone has a great day.