Knit Your Square To Give Your Share - Part 3

mioliere

Hi everyone.

ISOM - I'm so sorry that I missed your post about posting if you haven't made anything, so I'm really glad you've brought it up. I know we knit and crochet for charity and that's why this thread started, but we are so much more than that. We are a group of people that the charity knitting has brought together, and I count you all as very good friends, full of inspiration, talent, and generosity, laughter when times are good, and support when times are bad, with such a range of lifestyles, age groups, even countries, that make for such interesting posts. I'm guiltier than most for not making as many things as I would like (sadly, the move and all the renovation work, the getting to grips with this new way of life in France, and my online work keep me away from what I would so much rather be doing - knitting and crocheting) but I know that life WILL settle down and I'll be able to devote my time and energy to it in the way I want.

I don't want anyone to feel that they would not be welcome if they haven't made anything - you are all important to the cause and, let's face it, we all have other commitments what with work, families, and so on. This is why I say that if someone only managed to make one preemie hat a year, that one hat will go a long long way to helping a precious little mite in need, and is just as valuable as a hundred hats.

Please, please don't any of you feel that you can't post if you haven't made anything. I think we all enjoy the posts on here and have built up what must surely be one of the friendliest threads on here. I'm proud to count you all as friends, and value each and every one of you, not just for what you are able to make, but for who you are.

Only Girl - good to hear from you. I'm so sorry that life has been bleak and hope that the spring heralds happier times for you.

Chalky - enjoy the gardening! I do wonder now and again when we'll get the post that says you are a grandmother-to-be!

Elaine - keep thinking of you all!

Mrs Moneypenny - I hope life hasn't been too hectic for you during the school holidays!

Well, work in the attic continues apace. I've taken more photos but haven't put them on my blog yet. Today is busy - I've been to the hairdresser's this morning and run a few errands in DH's van (no rear-view mirror! Don't like that!), then I have dentist this afternoon to finally get my crown fitted and part with €880 (of which I will get €235 back through the health system here) but still a lorra lorra money.

I'll do the update later this afternoon or tomorrow morning so thanks for your totals.

Craftlady - we update taking figures posted up until midnight each Sunday, so your totals will go in next week's update. Roamin in the Gloamin has devised a wonderful spreadsheet that makes the update so much easier to do - you can find it in my blog.

The new steel beams are here and we are waiting for another chap to come along and help get them up into the attic - they are really heavy so I'm not sure if three men will be enough. We may have to wait until our neighbour comes home for lunch!

Anyway, I'll catch up with you all later.

KathyXX

Kinsey

ISOM and anyone else, we support each other because we feel we know you and we're all friends, it doesn't matter how much or how little charity stuff we do. I tend to update when I have enough for a parcel, not every week or I get confused (doesn't take much). I personally love to hear what you all do from day to day, whether it's to do with knitting or not. That's what makes this thread so special. Please don't stop posting.

Well, the weekend went quite well, feeding nine people gets more difficult as time goes on, I used to take it in my stride. Does anyone else find that? Dil loved the ami dracula, thank goodness. Baby bump (other dil) is doing well, very energetic and possibly quite big, but he's a boy. Haven't had a boy in the family for over 30 years, so it's lovely. I'm keeping my eyes open for a 'special' pattern.

Hope everyone is well and happy and the sun is shining on you,
Lots of love xxx

Kinsey

Posts crossed Kathy, you said what I was trying to say, but you do it sooooo much better.

Seakay

ISOM - no need to leave! As I said a while back and Moliere said so much better just now, we are now more than a charity knitting group!
Personally, I haven't been up to doing any knitting at all for weeks, but I still like to join in when I can.
For me, too low to post means feeling so much worse than usual base level "too ill to do much" that I can't think straight to type, or I've been in bed and not done anything at all to post about!

roamin_in_the_gloamin

Kathy sums it up beautifully, we all do what we can when we can. I am only going like the clappers as I want to take all the things to LH in May while I am on holiday. If there was more time in the day I could post (on the forum) bookfuls IYSWIM.
Off to empty and clean the camper DH is off in it on Thursday - on his own - so I can have some quality time - doing nothing, I wish! Oh and when I am down I am known as EDNA BUCKET, cos that's the only place I can face.

psso

ISOM and anyone else not posting because you haven`t done any charity knitting - don`t even think of leaving us temporarily - we`d miss you soooooooo much. All Kathy has said, and others following, is so true.

In my darkest days when Jim was so ill and then when he died, my friends on here kept me on an even keel. Having suffered with depression for many, many years it would have been so easy to give up completely but the chat of friends on here was actually better than my real live friends at times. Strange I know, but I could sit here with tears running down my face and not be upsetting anyone else or making them feel bad about upsetting me. Anyone going through a tough time will be wholeheartedly supported by this lovely group of people, as I was, and even just knowing that they are `here` makes a whole lot of difference when you are in some deep dark place with apparently no light at the end of the tunnel.

We all have different lifestyles and different amounts of spare time (or not !!) and there is no contract here which says you have to do X,Y,Z. amount for charitable causes, which is just as well because I would be chucked out this year for sure, not much charity stuff done yet as Bump knitting has taken up my time. Still lots of year left though :T.

Off to see midwife now, hopefully she will tell us DD is in early labour.:D

Back later. Hugs to anyone who needs one.

Elaine.x

f1widow

Hi - ISOM I have pm'd you but totally re-iterate what everyone else has said and I totally agree with PSSO - when you rant or off load to your virtual great friends none of you judge (different to those around you) (I hope this makes sense).

I disappear off in one of my "la la" moments or "dark cloud" moments and when Ive come back its like I have not been away

So lets all have a :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug: and a massive one at that - lets agree not to worry anymore about how little we have knitted just being here is a massive contribution in itself and even if you can only manage one hat or one square etc its one more than there was before you did it

Jaqui xxx

PS Maybe PSSO you should go over a bump in the car (only a small one maybe though) - that could start it off like the sleeping policemen in the supermarket car park ...... curry tonight ?????

mioliere

Elaine - such lovely words and it's wonderful to know that this thread was such a comfort when you most needed it and is still there for you now; after all, it's not long since you lost your dear Jim, and you have had to face many 'firsts' without him, not least the imminent birth of the baby. I know what you mean when you say that coming on here is sometimes better than talking to 'real' friends. No-one on here judges or criticises or makes nasty remarks, and that can be really refreshing and do so much good when you are feeling down.

I DO hope DD is in labour, that she has a good experience, and that you are soon all back home with the latest member of your lovely family.

Well, the dentist has been visited for the last time (for now!), and, although my purse is a lot emptier now, I am really pleased with the treatment I have had, the new crown is great, and both the dentist and his receptionist are lovely people.

Well, I really must count up my squares - I still have some that need the ends sewing in, so will get on with that a bit later. Why is that bit so boring? I wish there was a fairy who sat by my side doing all the finishing-off while I just crocheted or knitted!

Thanks to all those who have reinforced my words about posting on here.

(((Hugs))) to all who suffer with depression or times when they feel down. I hope life looks up and stays 'up' for you all.

KathyXX

In_Search_Of_Me

Well thats good then...I wasnt saying it so much for me and PLEASE dont think anyone said or did anything to make me feel that way - its just me with my catholic guilt! I agree that talkg on here is sometimes easier than in real life - for me partly because I find people, even people I love, takes energy and, despite outward impressions, am an introvert so top up my energy with me time. Some (extroverts) find seeing people is how they top up so were all different! I would say though that I am very cautious of what I say publically on here anyway due to my line of work but also due to current situation with work as people know I post on here. Suffice to say that at the moment I have to pace myself and just put one foot in front of the other and while hard for me to do that, have to accept thats all I can do for now. Changing medications at the moment so theres also that to take into account! Overall I am hugely thankful for my lovely mum, internet friends(or the girs as yu are all collectively known), some of whom have become friends in real life for which I am thankful, as well as being blessed with faith, a fantastic church family and good friends who have stuck with me through thick and thin - literally having gone from a size 22 - to an 8 and then back up to a huge 24!!
Anyway...hopefully this discussion will have helped others who have also been feeling bleugh and may not have posted due to feeling guilty too iykwim!
So on that note I'm off for a snooze...church lunch went well but as always my back is killing me plus have to bath a very active 2 year old later! Am excited at the masterchef prog but didnt realise there were 2 nights to go!! I thought it was the final tonight...did feel for them yesterday cooking in that heat!
Prayers for you psso! Great that the crown sorted miol even if it did require a 2nd mortgage!! that joist must weigh a ton! I always think of you when I watch house renovations!

Pippa.S

Yoo Hoo :hello:only me

Been AWOL for a few days due to DGD's and DGS and oooo I have had a lovely munchin time sharing their Easter Eggs, and sooo many cuddles. They arrived on Friday PM and went home Sunday late afternoon. Too quiet and far too tidy now though.
DS2, DIL and DGS all came over for Lunch on Sunday so we had a full house, it was so nice to see the girls and DGS playing and laughing together.

Certainly been a lot of chat on here, 4 pages since I last came in, its taken me ages to read it .....hope I remember it all

First off ISOM dont even think of not coming in here we would really miss you if you did'nt as we would any of our group. It is'nt just for knitting in here its a friendship thing as well,we may never meet but that does'nt mean we can't be friends and we all love the little insights into each others lives, (not that we are nosy you understand);) I find that just typing things on here helps when I get a fit of the glums, and someone always cheers me up with some daft caper or other

Elaine - anything moving yet ???
chalky - count me in for a couple of hats. Love the tree
Kathy - well said:T
mrs-m - that came quickly did'nt it? glad you liked the bits and pieces in there.
May - no still havent got the handles, I just despair of him I really do :rotfl:
Craftlady - OnlyGirl nice to see you :wave:
Shaz - hope the cold is better now, mine decide to dry up the end of last week, I think the Lemsips and the Echinacea helped it on its way:)

I know I have missed lots of you but have one of these:grouphug:

Better go time for a :coffee: I think
Anne
x

Edit: Totally forgot :doh:Can someone let me have Mrs Twins address so I can send a couple of sunshine squares off...TYVM in advance x