food, crochet, merriment
Ahhhh yes. We’re a patriotic bunch, us.
Yep.
We seem to have a never ending supply of shirts to celebrate the day.
It’s a good thing too, because we have several “days” that seem to warrant a little red, white and blue action going on.
We have Memorial Day…
We have Summerfest…
we have the Freedom Festival Balloon thingy…
and, you know–the actual 4th of July.
No matter WHAT it looks like–
we’re not messing around.
Heh, heh.
Yummy food.
Allll…
the…
fabulous…
beautiful…
forever…
FAMILY.
Oh, and I almost forgot.
There were even a couple of balloons.
Perfecto.
I hope it doesn’t seem morbid to say what I’m about to say. Here goes…
I love Cemeteries. I really do. 
Of course, it helps that there are people buried here that I have known and loved. My grandma Elsie and grandpa Clyde…
my sweet mom and dad.
My sweet brother in law Mark–who wasn’t suppose to be here for a long, long time and just makes this mortality so much more real.
There are many more that I’ve only read stories about so that I feel like I know them and I’ve come to love them just the same. My great grandma Sophia and great grandpa Alfred her husband. My mom’s brother who died at birth and was never even named.
That’s the beauty of this funny little Memorial Day tradition that we have here. Now I know that this holiday is for honoring Veterans that have given their lives for our freedom. But my mom taught us to use this day to also remember any of our loved ones that are buried nearby. Over the years we would bring flowers to the cemetery for everyone we knew any stories about. But the best things were the stories that made them all come to life.
So, I hope it’s ok that we use this day the way we do.
It just feels right.
If your family is at all familiar with the series Avatar–the Last Airbender then you will, no doubt, recognize this little fellow.
If not, I’ll help you out just a teensy bit.
His name is Sokka and he’s from the Water Tribe.
I think it would be fair to say that our family loves this show beyond belief.
We love Aang, Katara, Toph, Zuko, Sokka–and all the rest. So much so–that my son–back when he was the “Bald Kid”–
even dressed up at the grown up Aang…
and won 1st Place at the Ebay Costume Contest…remember? Â
At some point, I’ll likely make all these cuties from the pattern I found at Crafty Tibbles on Etsy.
But when I offered to make any of the characters for Miss Chomp for her birthday, without hesitation she said, “Sokka, please.”
Done, my dear. Happy Birthday.
Next I’ll probably make my personal favorite– Uncle Iroh!!
Eeeeek I’m sooo excited!
I’ll keep you posted.
A lot went on “business as usual” this Thanksgiving…
except for me. I was over on the couch in my nightgown…asleep.
In the dark, early morning hours of the day, I passed out and fell on the tile floor. I believe I chipped the bone in my elbow and broke a few ribs in the fall. I’ll never know for sure because….well…
hospitals and I…not so much.
Angels woke Rhen up to come find and get me up and into a chair. That was incredibly painful. Then–somehow, I don’t remember, they took me to April’s for the feast. I think Lyndi fed me some mashed potatoes and gravy. It’s kinda fuzzy. 
Rhen went out of town with April’s family after the Thanksgiving meal, so Lyndi’s family took me home with them and took care of me for a whole week.
Sweet Lyndi fed me and walked me around and helped me the whole time, day and night. I’ll never be able to thank them enough.
Tons to be thankful for–to be sure. It could have been so much worse and gratefully I was well looked after.
I guess I missed the dinner and that’s sure a first.
What a funny day.
