Never Forget . . . .

Photo credit: CharlesFred / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

It was a lovely Remembrance Day ceremony this morning at the town's war memorial/cenotaph.  Maybe it was just my impression, but there seemed to be more people this year than last.  In any case, it was moving and poignant to hear from the speakers and see the veterans, soldiers and cadets.

Remembering . . .

It's windy and blustery out in my neck of the woods.  And many Remembrance Day ceremonies have been moved indoors.  Perhaps the weather is rather fitting given the occasion.  Good to remember the sacrifices of those who came before me.  I can't even imagine the hardships and horrors they lived through. 

Canadian Soldiers in France courtesy of ww2incolor.com

Recently caught the opening sequence of Saving Private Ryan--akin to getting punched in the belly.  In the building where I work, there's a display of nurses from the local area who served overseas during the war.  There are mementos such as uniforms, medical equipment and lots of pictures.  Just ordinary people . . . in extraordinary times.

Canadian Soldiers in Italy courtesy of ww2incolor.com

Hope you have a chance to stop and remember.

Always Remember . . .

That there were others before us that made the supreme sacrifice . . .

Poppy Wreath courtesy of morguefile.com

So that we could enjoy all the freedoms and rights we have now.   

Red Poppy courtesy of morguefile.com

Lest we forget . . .

Summertime Festivities

There has been crafting (including ripping and re-knitting, but can't show you that 'cuz its for Bernat blog).  The toads are coming along--very slowly.  The hot sticky weather drains all my energy at the end of the day.  So I'm takin' her easy.

Lots of stuff going on in town this weekend with Highland Games.  Its a big cultural event drawing lots of tourists to the area (this year marks 147 years running which makes it the longest consecutive running highland games outside of Scotland.  Canada has only been a country for 143 years, so the event is older than the country). 

First we walked on campus at our local university 'cuz it's so pretty (I get to walk through it often with my toddlers, but hubby and the boys aren't on campus too often).

The Boys Following Their Dad

Campus Gardens

I always thought the campus was pretty.  In fact, I'd dare say town looks lovely during the summer with all the pretty hanging baskets and flower boxes.  It really is very quaint and welcoming.

After our little jaunt 'round campus, we found a nice shady spot under the trees to watch the annual Highland Games Parade.  

Kids Waiting for Parade to Start

The boys enjoyed all the piping bands.  I like them too.

RCMP Piping Band

Another Band on Parade

There's nothing so mournful as hearing all those pipes wailing and the drums pounding in your ears . . . very neat!  And its a big social outing too: feels as if all of town comes out for the parade.  Beside, fun to run into friends and acquaintances.  

Hope your weekend is filled with summertime fun.  Have a good one!

Lest We Forget

This day always makes me think about all those soliders who fought for the freedoms we now enjoy.  Lest we never forget the sacrifices of our veterans (or of those currently serving), please pause at 11:00AM for two minutes and remember . . .

Knitting: A Link to the Past?

For me, knitting is an on-going history of which I am an active participant. I learned to knit from my mother who was taught my her mother and grandmother, who in turn were taught by their mothers . . . and so on, ad infinitum. It goes on much as one stitch connects to the one before it, so too I am connected to my ancestors. And I feel blessed to have been given the chance to learn how to fashion fabric from sticks and string (oddly enough, my sisters never shared any interest in learning to knit, although one of them did sew for a while). I don't have any daughters onto which to pass on my skills, but one of my sons has expressed an interest in learning the craft.

I don't recall the exact age when I learned. Sometime before I turned 10, my mom busily knit many sweaters and such for my youngest sibling (who was in utero). I'm not sure if it was then or some time afterwards that my mom took the time to teach me. I remember she had bought me my own plastic needles; they were bright yellow (my sister had the green ones, but she wasn't too keen on the whole string-and-stick thing in the first place). I distinctly recall making a garter stitch scarf for one of my dolls. With each new row, the thing inexplicably grew width-wise as well as length-wise.

Once I was proficient enough, I naturally sought projects to practise my newly learned skills. Dreamly I browsed through the craft section in our local Woolworths (yea, that dates me, doesn't it). I'd fondle the yarns (yeah, they were acrylic but they were still fun to touch) and browse through the Beehive Patons booklets. The one that stole my heart and fanned my imagination: Patons booklet #139.


See all those Barbie doll outfits? Oh how I loved my Barbies! I ended up making the blue suit, the sheath dress and I think the long coat. I made some cute baby doll outfits too.

The last time I had visited my mom, I discovered to my great disappointment that she had gotten rid of all her old crochet and knitting books and magazines. I was so disheartened! I had hoped to take them all home with me as my mom no longer knitted.

And then one day while browsing through some old craft books at a rummage sale on campus, my little eye spied one Patons booklet: book #139!! I swear I jumped and I think my boys looked at me funny. I snatched that baby so fast . . . my childhood had come back and I could hold it in my hands!

I haven't knit anything out of that booklet--at least not yet. I'm waiting for my niece to be old enough for Barbies (is it wrong to still fondly walk through the Barbie aisle at the toy store?). I'm sure I will some day. . . .

Such good memories filled with fibery goodness--of the acrylic variety of course. After all, it was the seventies (I know. I'm old). Some day, I'll regal you with my fondest crochet memories full of ponchoes, granny-square vests, never-ending afghans and purty doilies . . . good times!!
:)