My bargains this week

$25.33 at CVS

It was a good (but not great) week for the bargain shopping...though Sam is really happy with all the batteries for his Thomas the Tank Engine trains.

And as if by some magical alignment of the planets, punch balloons sell for $0.50 each at Walgreens. I bought six.

I was also able to stock up on their boxed assorted birthday cards. I got 24 cards for $3! Yay! Now I just have to remember to send them at the appropriate times...

I went to the grocery store and spent $105.21 for groceries for the week. And SAVED $48.81!!!

If anyone knows anything...

...it'd be you ladies...

Does anyone know anything about Brenda???

(AND...I've lost my password...grrrr!)

New York Legislators Kill Bill for Grieving Mothers

Albany, NY (June 26, 2008) --- SB8960 would have helped to provide much-needed comfort, dignity, and accurate documentation to women and their families experiencing the death of a baby just prior to or during birth. Yet, despite overwhelming support from individual legislators, including 53 Democrat and Republican sponsors, a powerful minority of reproductive rights activist legislators have “killed the bill” as of 11:00 p.m. on the last day of session.

All states, including New York, wherein nearly 2000 babies are stillborn each year, require the family to pay for funeral expenses, and a death certificate/report is issued after a stillbirth. Yet, New York, unlike 23 other states, will not offer women the choice of a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth. During a presidential election year, when women’s choices are a top priority for candidates, this topic is highly provocative.

“There is an enormity to this public health issue,” says Dr. Joanne Cacciatore, an expert in traumatic child death. “More than ten times the number of babies die of stillbirth than those who die of SIDS, yet it’s virtually invisible.” Part of the problem, according to grieving parents, Jeff and Lori Tieger of Staten Island, is that families experiencing stillbirth have been silenced due to abortion politics. On June 15th, the Tieger’s held an important Father’s Day Press Conference on the steps of the New York legislature, where they also had a brief conversation with Speaker Sheldon Silver who assured grieving parents personally that, “We’re moving your bill.”

However, by the end of session that day, the bill was being held for consideration due to vociferous opposition from Helene Weinstein (D-Brooklyn). Yet, Weinstein's own county is in the top three in all of New York for stillbirth rates where one in 92 births results in stillbirth. “Assemblywoman Weinstein did not act on behalf of her constituents. She attended to the demands of large lobbying organizations supporting her position in the Assembly, and together they fought against grieving mothers,” said activist Paige Ricci of Malta. “I mean, how can you say you’re pro-woman, pro-children, and pro-choice and yet oppose a bill that advocates for women, children, and choices?”

Dr. Cacciatore asserts that, “grieving mothers are being thrust into the middle of an acrimonious, long standing battle, as pawns in a political debate that has absolutely nothing to do with them.” Advocates for the legislation will continue their ongoing battle in New York for the third legislative session. Lori Tieger is committed to this fight in memory of her son, Daniel, who died just prior to birth at full term for unknown causes. “I’ll keep coming back and fighting this year after year until we are successful. It is time for New York to do what is right for all women.”For more information, please visit the legislative page at: http://www.missingangelsbill.org
and http://www.DanielsStar.org


*A personal message from Jeff and Lori:

Dear Friends,

The fight will continue in New York State.

We are very disappointed and saddened to say that our bill was killed last night at 11pm…talk about the final hour.

We are planning to expose this injustice for what it is, and we will be working toward alerting the national media of this transgression against grieving families.

We want to thank each of you who responded to our call to action.

During the final two weeks of session, the entire Ways and Means Committee have been inundated with calls, e-mails, and faxes in support of our bill.

They were answering their phones asking if the call was in reference to “the birth certificate”. You filled voice mail boxes over the weekends. And many of you have pledged your efforts when session starts again. We have more people and momentum than ever.

I am sure there are a few people who would like to ask Ms. Weinstein some questions.
Please feel free to contact her by e-mail weinsth@assembly.state.ny.us and by phone 718-648-4700 (district) and 518-455-5462 (Albany).

A lifelong friend of ours created a video to help communicate our message. He gave up his Father’s Day to join us at NY City Hall and record the press conference.

Please pass along the You Tube link to our video. NY CBRS

As always, thank you for your guidance and support. This is a tremendous disappointment, but we will be back stronger than ever and much better prepared for next session.

For all our children,
Jeff and Lori Tieger

It's the end of the world...

...when you're six years old
and you get a big red punch balloon as a party favor
and you and your father blow it up with an air pump while your mother laughs
and you enjoy exactly thirty-seven minutes of playing with it
before it pops...

*I just want my balloooooooonnn...
I love that balloooooooonnn...
I didn't want it to pooooooopppp...
It was my faaaaaaavorite.
(repeat from * ad nauseum)

The boy has a zillion dollars worth of fancy toys to play with. Yet the untimely destruction of a $0.50 punch balloon is enough to send him into a hysterical fit of grief and despair.

Oh, to be six years old again...

Not urban legend

i’m is an initiative from Microsoft. Every time you use Windows Live™ Messenger or Windows Live Hotmail®, our free webmail service, Microsoft shares a portion of the program's advertising revenue with an organization of your choice from a selection of some of the world's most effective organizations dedicated to social causes. We've set no cap on the amount we'll donate to each organization. The sky's the limit. And it's free.

i’m is about making a difference. Not in a huge expensive way, not in a time-consuming way. But in a simple, effective way.

You won't have to change your conversation to change the conversation. With every e-mail and instant message, you help address an issue you feel passionate about, including poverty, child protection, disease, environmental degradation and animal protection. Just join and start talking, and we'll start giving.

Join now

Bloggers...watch the i'm talkathon.

Welcome to the world Sophia Grace and Danielle Joy!

My dear friend, M, delivered her twin girls early via c-section. According to M's mother-in-law, Dani weighed 3.4 lbs and Sophia weighed 3.14 lbs (so tiny). I don't have any more details yet, but I hope that all is well and everyone is happy and healthy.

Gotta be some kind of record

Two days at daycare and the littlest one brought home the creeping crud. Snot and vomit for a week from him...now he's feeling better and Steve and I are sick. Fun stuff. (H...I'm just going to apologize in advance if any of you gets sick. I really thought he was over it and since we hadn't gotten sick, I figured we weren't contagious. I was wrong. I'm so so sorry.)

But on a positive note...Myles is seven months old (can you believe that?) and weighs 19 lbs, 1 oz. He is 27.5 inches tall. He had NO problems adapting to daycare and seems generally happy.

We took both boys to get studio photos taken and ended up spending A LOT of money. We couldn't help ourselves. We've waited SO LONG to have photos of our children together. Not that Sam's solo photos aren't gorgeous. But the cutesy "Brothers from the start, Friends to the end" that was printed on one of the portraits means something entirely different to me.

One of the things that caused me an enormous amount of pain in the days after Alex died was hearing friends talk about the interaction of their living children with each other. Such a joy to see how they love each other. So thrilling to see them interacting with one another. So painful to know how my boys were cheated.

To some extent, I still have "ghost child" issues when I see young siblings together. Sometimes the anger bubbles up. Sometimes it's just a sad smile that crosses my lips when I think of what was lost.

I long to see my boys TOGETHER...a wish that can never really come true.

I only had to excuse myself from the portrait studio once to wipe the tears from my eyes.

Thank you Secret Pal

This was waiting for me last night when I got home from Sam's tee-ball game. A handmade stamped card, a gauge ruler, a magnetic list pad, and some adorable stitch markers. Thank you Secret Pal!

Edited to add:
Oh MY! It's a good thing my son wanted to play with the box! He took out the tissue on the bottom and discovered the most gorgeous handpainted cashmere yarn! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! (I WILL be checking packages more closely from now on!)

Stillbirth news

--------------------------------------
First Candle is pleased to announce its full support of the Preventing Stillbirth and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Act of 2008 which was introduced on Tuesday, June 17th by U.S. Senator Barack Obama of Illinois. The bill would establish a national stillbirth and SUID registry and promote prevention and risk reduction activities nationwide.

Each year, more than 25,000 women in the United States experience a stillbirth and approximately 4,500 infants die suddenly and unexpectedly. First Candle, a leading health organization dedicated to safe pregnancies and the survival of babies through the first year of life, has served as a lead advisor to Senator Obama in crafting the bill.

First Candle urges you to write to your Senators and encourage them to join Senator Obama by adding their name as cosponsor of this important legislation.

Additionally, we also invite you to support H.R. 5979, the Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act of 2008, introduced by Congressman Peter King of New York.

To learn more today about these groundbreaking bills visit www.firstcandle.org. Thank you for your support in the belief that every baby should live.
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Andre Ware, shares his story about becoming a father.
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'No stillbirth link' to Caesarean
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Chlorine in tap water 'nearly doubles the risk of birth defects'
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Quick question

How long do you have, after a baby is born, to send a baby gift? Does it become inappropriate after a certain length of time?

Father's Day 08

We shared a look when the visibly pregnant woman walked by...two small children bouncing around her...cigarette in her hand. I glanced at him and saw the hurt in his eyes. In one split second we both KNEW what the other was thinking. "I know...can you believe THAT?...some people don't have a clue...I want to run up and shake her and yell about our two dead babies and how incredibly lucky she is...how incredibly SELFISH and STUPID she is...but let's not talk about it ok?...let's leave it alone for today...we all need a break from the hurt today."

This shared perspective...shared pain...it's always there. Even on Father's Day at the zoo with the two beautiful boys we love more than anything in this world. ESPECIALLY on Father's Day with our two beautiful boys.

It was a glorious day for which there are happy memories that will always make us smile...and that one moment when all the pain of our world was unleashed and simultaneously stuffed back into its cage...growling and snarling and taunting us with gnashing teeth...all within that one brief glance between our two wounded souls. One second shared and deliberately passed for the sake of some peace.

Miscellaneous thoughts

Last weekend we had a brief and very violent windstorm that tore a healthy limb from the giant old oak tree in our front yard. That limb crashed down on the power line running from the roadside pole to our house...literally ripping the electric connection from the side of our house. Had to call the fire department so they could tape off the area in this oh-so-lovely DANGER tape.

We were without power overnight and only given a temporary connection by the power company. We had to call a licensed electrician to repair the damage lines and connection on the house itself.

Since we had no idea how much such a repair should run us, I called my connections at the county building department and asked for the name of a couple reputable electricians. Steve called a couple of them with the intention of getting a quote. One replied to a message left on his voicemail and said he was headed out to our house to "see what we have going on."

By the next day we still hadn't heard back from him, so Steve called and left a message asking what was up. They called back later that day...to apologize for having ALREADY DONE THE WORK. No written authorization. No quote. No communication whatsoever.

We're in the process of trying to find out how much other people WOULD HAVE charged...just to check. I really hope we didn't get scammed because I really don't want to have to fight about this.

The really funny thing is, our last contractor would take DAYS to do the simplest of jobs. It seems we've found the opposite extreme in this new guy. I'm beginning to wonder if there is a happy medium.
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Went to McDonald's for dinner and so Sam could play on the Playplace for a while. I caught him being nice and helping a little girl he didn't know climb up the giant tower.

Sometimes he surprises me in such good ways.
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I need to think of a good thank you gift for my boss. What do you know about Scotch?

Speaking of alcohol...I'd love to try Smirnoff Mojito but am put off by the giant size of the bottle. What if I don't like it? Anyone tried it?
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My brother is engaged! Congratulations to him and his fiancee!
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Myles loves daycare. I can't even imagine what I was so worried about now.
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I'm learning to bargain shop. It's fun. Kind of like a giant treasure hunt. I'm going to start a running total over in my sidebar (stole the idea from another blog). Tonight's trip was most impressive. All this for $0.05.
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I have to sign Sam up for some summer activities...for after t-ball is finished. Basketball "camp," soccer "camp," and flag football "camp" seem to be the frontrunners. Each takes about an hour in the evenings for one week. It's a pain in the ass logistics-wise, but I really want to be sure he gets out from in front of the tv/playstation enough to stay active and not get fat like his mama and daddy.
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Star Wars Episode VI DVD release: For the DVD release of the original trilogy, Christensen was edited in to replace Sebastian Shaw as the Force ghost of Anakin. That is just wrong.
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Good thoughts are going out to Claire's Friends for tomorrow's Butterfly Tea. Three years and one thousand memorial bracelets...Congratulations!
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I have time on my hands today. I think I'm going to do something crafty. Now I just have to settle on what that will be...
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Back to the future

This place has become awkward for me and I've been trying to pinpoint why. Yes, there is the standard, "If Alex had lived, Myles wouldn't be here," issue to deal with. But I expected that. I didn't expect these other complicated thoughts to create such a block that seem to make it impossible to write at all. I've given it a lot of thought and I have come up with three reasons I'm having difficulty here in this space...

1. I am suffering from some strange sort of survivor's guilt. It feels foreign to be happy and it feels even more foreign to express that I'm happy. But next to the happiness is the fear...sitting quietly in the wings waiting to take center stage. I keep waiting...for those familiar grief feelings to drop on me like a lead balloon...squashing me into oblivion.

I'm also ever-aware of what it's like to NOT be happy and how my happiness might unintentionally cause someone reading this blog additional pain. I haven't been entirely truthful here. I DO write for me, but I also DO censor myself quite a bit to save myself any additional drama that might be created by my being completely honest. Now is no different. I COULD wax poetic about life now...about the healing that Myles has brought to my life...but it seems redundant and unnecessarily hurtful to some of my dearest blogosphere friends.

2. It seems somehow wrong to use this place to talk about Myles...as if I'm treading on holy ground and/or disrespecting the memories of Alex and Travis by using this place to talk about the little brother they never got to meet. This also ties in to #3.

3. "I hate to say it, but if Alex had lived, I'm not sure how we would have managed (financially)." This simple truth makes me feel sick. I do not want to ever find a silver lining. I do not ever want to feel even the tiniest bit of relief that my child died. But I do and I am not emotionally equipped to process this, let alone the feeling of happiness I feel when I look at Myles.

It's like a ball of yarn that gets tangled. I know it's all one piece and all I have to do is unravel it in order to be able to use it to create something beautiful...but I just can't unwork the knots.

So I'm not sure where this leaves me as far as this blog goes. I'm not sure if the emotional baggage in this place will allow me room to say what I want to say. But I am also not sure I want to let a little bit of complicated emotional untangling to run me off of a place I've felt so at home for so long. This place was home before the bad stuff and I'd like it to remain home now that I'm through the bad stuff (knock on wood). But I worry that it's like my colleague and I were talking about earlier...once you wear that cute little black dress to a funeral, it ceases being the little black dress and becomes your funeral dress...there is no going back.

So if I'm quiet for a while, just know that I'm working it out in my head. I will let you, dear internets, know where I land.

Days go by

Tomorrow is the big day. The bottles, baby food, bowl, spoon, bib, diapers, wipes, change of clothes, toys, blankets and binkies are all packed in the daycare bag that used to be Sam's.

I know it's going to be fine. I know it. But it still hurts a little bit.

Wish us both luck...that we don't miss each other so much that we fall apart...me more than him.

All the news that's fit to print

The lawnmower is broken and the lawn is a veritable jungle complete with its own wildlife population. My gardens are a mess because I'm never home with two free hands when it's not raining or humid and HOT (like a zillion degrees). I'm slightly overwhelmed by my gardens, to be honest. They are so far-gone that I just don't even know where to start. I tried pulling weeds a few weeks back (it's a great exercise when you're angry with your husband)...but it started to rain and I didn't get very far. I'm hoping to really get to it on Sunday...if for nothing else than to get some bulbs and veggie plants in the ground.

Things SHOULD be calm for the summer. But even as I type that, I'm making a mental list of all the upcoming events we've planned "for fun." I know if they're anything like the "fun" things we've been doing lately, I will be glad when they are over and I can quietly peruse the photos from the comfort of my nice comfy sofa. Tomorrow is supposed to be Sam's annual birthday trip to the zoo, but they're calling for isolated thunderstorms so we'll see.

Sam won a ticket to a minor league baseball game as a prize for participating in a reading program. While at the ballpark, we had a happy birthday greeting run on the scoreboard for him, but he didn't see it because he was too busy playing around with his friends. The money went to charity, so I can't complain. And I got a picture...so we can tease him about that for many years to come.

Myles was not impressed with the loudness of the ballgame. And since it was Daddy's birthday, I gave him a break from the screaming baby during the game. That was fun. (/sarcasm)

The big sixth birthday bash went off without a hitch. I think everyone had fun. I know I did...as evidenced by sheer exhaustion by the end of the day.

T-ball had been going well until the game earlier this week when my ham of a son grabbed hold of the coach's batting tee and broke it. He "was sliding and couldn't stop." In t-ball. Sliding. Really?!?! (sigh)

Tuesday morning was Sam's kindergarten program/graduation. Anyone who knows me at all probably expected that I would cry. I did. I'm just so proud of that little boy. I know it sounds cliche to say that time goes so fast...but it really does. I look at this little person who was a not-so-tiny baby just six short years ago...and I really can not believe how AMAZING he is.

Myles is just cuter and cuter every day. He lights up the room when he smiles or giggles. We'll see how big he is at his six-month appointment in two weeks. I suspect he's outgrown his infant carrier...at least that's what my aching arms tell me when I try to lug him around. Let me tell you...the sling is my friend.

Next week is supposed to be the first week of daycare for the boys. Though it's a bit complicated, I'm working it out in my heart and my head as best I can. Yesterday's office drama apparently included much talk about me. Nobody has the nerve to talk WITH me...but they apparently have no problem expressing their displeasure ABOUT me to my boss. And so Myles' last day at the office was actually Tuesday, instead of today as planned. I don't understand why people just can't mind their own business...but it seems they can't. It's a shame, really, that it had to end that way after going relatively well for the past five months.

I have no good reason for not blogging recently. I'm not particularly busy...haven't accomplished anything spectacular. I have tried to write some things but I always find myself debating whether to hit the publish button...and ultimately choose not to. There are reasons for this that I'm trying to sort out. Maybe I'll blog about it...maybe not.

Secret Pal 12!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? My recent favorite is anything with bamboo in it. I also enjoy alpaca and, of course, silk. I do NOT like wool because I'm allergic. It kind of takes the fun out of stitching if I turn into an itchy strawberry who sneezes.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a wicker hamper that I use at home and a needle roll for travel (it came with the Mary Poppins style sewing bag a friend gave me).

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I am a beginning knitter and an advanced crocheter. My mom introduced me many moons ago and I've been doing it off and on ever since.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Amazon - yes

5. What's your favorite scent?
Sweet and/or homey scents...vanilla, cinnamon, mint

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. :o)

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I do not spin. I sew and scrapbook, though I haven't had time to do either lately.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Country music mostly.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
LOVE purples. Not a fan of neon colors.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married, 14 years this August. Two living children...Sam is 6 and Myles is 6 months. Two stillborn children (all of my children inspire me daily). Two horses, five dogs, two cats and two fish.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Scarves, hats and mittens. I can't stand ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I like to knit straight line items...scarves, blankets, and the like. I like to crochet just about anything. I get a lot of pleasure out of stitching gifts for other people. I really enjoy stitching for charity as well...preemies and stillborn babies mainly.

13. What are you knitting right now?
An overdue baby blanket for a friends baby. I'm ashamed to admit she might get it by the time he's one year old. I'm also crocheting a granny-square blanket for a friend (been working on it for two years now). With any luck, it will end up being a housewarming present for her in her new house.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
LOVE it!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I prefer straight, but I think that might just be because I've got only one pair of crappy plastic circulars. I really like my one pair of bamboo knitting needles and I would LOVE to have Lacis ebony or rosewood crochet hooks.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Neither.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Probably the two-year old granny-square blanket. I typically do projects from start to finish...but the repetition in this one is killing me.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas and my birthday are tied...though I guess my birthday isn't really a holiday, is it?

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Besides yarn? Nope.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I can't really think of anything...but I haven't looked in a while. I really really really LOVE handpainted/hand-dyed yarns...but it's hard to find many that aren't wool. I don't have any subscriptions, but would love Interweave Crochet.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I'd like to learn intarsia, but I think that's way beyond my skill level at this point.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
No, I'm not a sock knitter. The idea of more than two knitting needles scares me.
I wear a ladies size 10 shoe.

23. When is your birthday?
2/8

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
Yes! My ID is Kate94651

Weekly SP questions

What's your favorite summertime drink?

For some unknown reason, iced tea is strongly associated with summertime for me. I like flavored tea all the time (hot and cold) and my particular favorite is peach.

As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?

Riding bikes from sun up until sundown (and sometimes later). We lived in a little subdivision with cul-de-sacs at either end of a pretty big hill. My best friend lived at one end and we lived at the other. We would go back and forth between our houses all day long. Coasting down that hill...so much fun.

What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?

I thought you could never have enough...and seeing this proves my theory correct. Still.Not.Enough. I think I will never see a "perfect" amount of stash in my lifetime...though I'm going to have a lot of fun TRYING.

What yarn (that you don’t have/haven’t used) would make your stash “complete”? What yarn do you never want to be without?

There isn't anything really to make my stash complete. I'm a yarn feeler and compulsive buyer...so I usually snatch up whenever I feel something on sale that I like. I never want to be without the Bernat bamboo blend...or alpaca/silk blend...I LOVE them both. I'm just mostly a silky softness freak...whatever FEELS good. My dirty little secret is that I love working with Lion Brand Microspun because the texture is awesome.

Where is your favorite place to go for vacation/holiday? Where is one place you’d like to go?

Favorite vacation so far in my life has got to be Wyoming. I KNOW...WYOMING?!?! Steve and I drove out in my Jeep Wrangler with the wind in our hair (insert snarky comment about Steve's balding), camped out at a campground on the edge of a cattle ranch, hung out with real cowboys at the rodeo, and laughed at the repetitiveness of the Neal McCoy concert (Smokin' in the Boys Room? REALLY?!?!)

One place I'd like to go? Europe. I love the history and the architecture and the different pace of life.

What is your favorite type of project to take along on holiday/vacation?

Granny squares. I usually take them with me whenever we go on a vacation. They're small and don't make me sweat because they're laying across my lap. Plus, I can stash the completed ones wherever as I finish them and not worry that if I lose one (or one gets damaged during vacation fun) the whole project will be ruined.

What is(are) your favorite place(s) to knit? What supplies (besides yarn & needles) make the setting perfect for knitting?

My living room and the car (not while I'm driving, obviously). I like to listen to the tv and have a glass of diet dr. pepper while I'm stitching (except during the winter I like to drink coffee or tea).

What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening?

I personally love chicken salad on croissant sandwiches. But my guys don't eat that sort of thing, so anything Steve grills outside is usually what we have.

Have you ever entered your knitting (or anything else) in the fair? Would you ever consider it?

I HAVE considered it. In fact, I was THIS close to entering something this year, but just didn't get my act together in time to meet the submission deadline. Next year I think I'm going to go for it. I'm hoping to have at least one sewing project, one crochet project, and one photograph entered. I'd like to do more, but I'm starting with small goals so I have a hope of actually reaching them.

What Olympic event would best describe you knitting/knitting style?

The marathon...because it takes forever. Ba-dum-bum!

What is the best thing you've ever received in the mail/post?

When Alex died, my friends all around the country chose fabric and sent their selections to one particularly crafty friend to put together in a quilt. It is beautiful and heartfelt and I treasure it.

I’m sure most of us have a proudest moment when it comes to knitting. A project or technique that you’ve tackled and completed beautifully. What is your proudest knitting moment??

And on the flip side? What is the one thing that you can’t get right? What is that one project that you’ve never been able to complete? Or that you did complete but then hid away instantly because it was too embarrassing?

My proudest CROCHET moment was when I completed the christening gown for my coworker's son. He was born just after I lost Alex and I now get some (sometimes bittersweet) comfort by watching him grow. Being able to make something special for his special day was an honor.

One thing I can't get right? Most knitting. I'm a terrible knitter. *sigh*