Forever and a day

Not quite, but that is now long it feels like since I last posted. A lot has happened since then.

Our oldest grandson has been promoted from 5th grade into intermediate school. We were able to be there for the ceremony and his baseball game the night before.

Our oldest granddaughter has also been promoted from 5th grade into intermediate school. Unfortunately, we were not able to be there.

I am currently 'walking' around ... not too much walking though in a podiatric boot. This wonderful device was described to me as the equivalent of a walking cast. I am scheduled for an MRI later today to see if it is actually a stress fracture (again). I have had at least one other stress fracture that did not manage to show up on x-rays, so I get to have MRI's to see if there is actually a break. The podiatrist thought there might be gout or pseudogout involved, but the rheumatologist ruled that out. He is thinking there is a bit of osteoporosis involved, but my bone density scans haven't shown that ... everything changes though.

I have been able to get a LOT of stitching done though. I have completed three pieces that had been hanging around   -- Cirque des Carreaux, Quaker Diamond and a Raven.

Cirque (Ink Circles) has been hanging out the longest. I started it several years ago, didn't like it in just one color and ripped out a lot and changed it. I made the larger diamonds turquoise, magenta and green. The first two colors are in Carrie's Thread's Epiphany - a blended color silk. The green - not so much, but I liked it. The colors in the Epiphany don't really show up in the picture though.

The Quaker Diamond was my Tuesday Stitch project for a year or so ... a little bit each Tuesday. When I got to the alphabet which is stitched over one, I put it aside. So, while I was just sitting around with my foot up, I dragged it out an put in the alphabet.

The Raven is one that just plain caught my fancy. It was my Tuesday project after the Diamond.

I have now started working on Christmas ornaments for the grandkids. Seems like those are slower than the rest .. probably because I work so hard to find just the right design for them. This year the girls were easy ... I found a charming colonial girl in The Gift of Stitching magazine. Same design for each, but I am changing the color of the dress for each granddaughter. I haven't decided on what to stitch for the boys ... yet.

A friend from Arizona was in town yesterday. Several of us got together for lunch at the Amphora diner in Vienna. We like going to the Amphora for several reasons - it is pretty centrally located for the group - they don't get grouchy when we sit and talk all afternoon - the food is usually pretty good.

She lived in this area, Maryland and Virginia, during the years her kids were growing up. Then she and her husband moved to Delaware - a beach community. After than, they followed Horace Greeley's advice and went west. She has been in Arizona a number of years now. They had a beautiful southwestern style home in a development that did not allow 'grass' ... native plantings only. And it was a fantastically beautiful area. After her husband died, she moved to a retirement center - along the lines of The Virginia. She is well into her 80's and still drives across the country once a year to visit old friends.

I'm not sure if I would ever do that. I'm not happy on the Interstates - too many people trying to get too many places too fast for me. But I'm truly happy she does it. It is always good to see her. Phone calls and email and notes aren't always enough. Sometimes just seeing and talking the person is what you need.

Here it is June 6th already. I can't believe how fast the year is going.

My son celebrated his birthday early. He became a licensed surveyor in the state of New York. His actual birthday isn't until the 9th, but he was notified that he had received the license about the 1st. We are very proud of him ... this took a lot of doing. He had to present information on all the surveying projects he has undertaken, and pass an intensive exam.

We will have a visiting dog this weekend. My daughter and her family are heading to the Newport News area to celebrate a friend's birthday. But, the dog wasn't invited. So, he gets to visit. We will take him back on Monday when we go to watch Bryce's baseball game. Then on Tuesday, we will be there for the promotion ceremonies as Bryce leaves elementary school and heads to intermediate school. Doesn't seem like he is old enough for that ... or am I just showing my ignorance about when elementary stops and intermediate starts. When I was in school, it was elementary for grades 1-6, junior high for grades 7-9 and high school for grades 10-12. In Anne Arundel County, it is elementary for grades 1-5, intermediate for grades 7 and 8.... I think.