The stuff I'm made of...

I've been blogging, journaling, note keeping, calendar marking and talking to myself for about six months now. In keeping with my OCD personality, if I could not blog perfectly, I refused to keep a blog. I missed the opportunity to share many experiences, accomplishments and observations.

I don't do resolutions. This year, I made a mental list of those things I'd like to do. This far, January 14, I have broken every one, so it's a bust...so my INTENTION is to blog once a week...

If you don't hear from me by next Sunday, make noise...I'll hear you!

Now, what you have missed since July 5, 2006, the last time I posted any personal news on my old blog, One Red Sock:

Andy started his new job at Castcon Stone, Tony worked all summer at improving his golf game and working at the country club. I knit socks...

Mark and his father (Dave) went to Geneva, NY, for their third annual 'farewell tour.' They also made a side trip to have breakfast with our dear friends, Patricia and Sandro, who own Riverqueen Housboats in Ivy Lea, Ontario.

At the same time, I attended an 80th birthday party for my uncle Tony. More than 100 of his friends and relatives came. He promised to come to my 80th...

At the end of August, we celebrated Tony's 18th birthday...

And early September saw Andy turning 20...

Andy and Kailyn...where you see one, you see the other!

September also saw Tony going back to school for his senior year. In October, we all got together at our home to celebrate my mother's 75th birthday. It was the first time we were all in one place since Christmas!

That same weekend, we added to our family...with an 11 month old English Mastiff pup named Linda Lou. She was a skinny 'rescue' when we got her, about 88 pounds-that's almost 30 pounds underweight! She's up to 110 now, about 15 pounds underweight. She's quite a character...and a cuddler...

In November, my mother's cousin, Walter, and his darling wife, Jenny, came from Canada. Mom and Walter had never met! We got to celebrate Walter's birthday, take them to see Pittsburgh from the overlook and Tony and Walter got to talk sports

(Tony even got to point out the stadiums from Mt. Washington)!

Christmas came all too soon. The boys are men now and the threat of coal in their stockings was not enough for them to pretend, for mom, that they still believed in Santa.

We all got together at my mother's again. This year was just as much fun as last...As usual, the stockings were hung, and filled...and once again, we did the family picture. As usual, some of us didn't quite get with the program (I'm not naming names!). Sadly, on December 26, my Father-in-law lost his long term battle with cancer. Like my Mother-in-law, he generously donated his body to science. We held a beautiful memorial service on January 6. Each of the 14 grandchildren and his great-grandchild placed a yellow rose in a vase on the alter. Mark P, my brother-in-law, Lauren, his daughter, and I spoke and Pastor Tim said the most wonderful words to share with us. It was an honor. Dad will be missed by his family and many friends.

Mark, Andy, Kailyn and her parents managed to stay awake until midnight on New Year's Eve...a first for Mark!

And here we are...almost to today. I'd like to share what I said at Pap Dave's memorial, but it's all too new for me to share yet. I think he'd be proud.

Now...in closing, my knitting tally for 2006 was:

• 3 Irish hiking scarves
• 4 hats
• 18 pair socks
• 2 pair clogs
• 2 clapotis
• 1 shawl
• 30 dishcloths
• 2 doll sweaters

It's been a very good year!

Whew!