Grandma - 2.22.14

grandma - noun
1. the mother of one's father or mother
2. a female ancestor
source: dictionary.com

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Grandma

When I was little I remember watching my grandma crochet blankets, towels that hung from the oven door, pot holders, you name it.  Looking at the pieces closely, I couldn't figure out how it was done.  It seemed so complicated.  As I grew a little older she started to teach me how to crochet.  I realized the repeated slip-knot like motion was not nearly as difficult as I expected.  That evening, sitting on my grandma's couch, I created a gigantic chain of light blue yarn.  It had absolutely zero use, but I was proud of it and so was my grandma.  Unfortunately, my grandma passed away before I had the opportunity to learn how to make something more useful than a rope out of the repetitive motion.  Again, I wished to learn how to crochet, but lacked a teacher.  

My sophomore year of college I was sitting in the commons area when a friend walked up and started to crochet.  I found a teacher.  She kindly taught me how to crochet rows back and forth. I tried to make a scarf but gave up when it began to get narrower and narrower.  Time passed and I always thought about giving it another shot.  Between school and work I never really seemed to have the time.  

Recently, one of my dear friends found out she was having a baby girl.  I figured a small hat would be a good place to start trying to learn again, plus I had some really pretty lavender yarn left over from another project.  I found a fairly easy to follow YouTube video and set to work. After a few failed attempts, knots, and rewinding I finished the hat.  While I was incredibly excited to finally finish a project, it seemed a little plain.  Back to YouTube I went and found a video for an easy crochet  flower.  

I felt close to my grandma while I was creating this little hat.  I'd like to think that she would be delighted to see my little project and excited to see this tradition passed on.  

Patience - 2.15.14

patience - noun
World English Dictionary 
2. the capacity for calmly enduring pain, trying situations, etc.
source: dictionary.com

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Patience

This week I don't really feel like putting out a lot of explanation for this piece.  In short, patience feels like trying to calm my mind and heart amidst everything else going on in life.  Some days I'm more successful than others.  

Here are a few close ups of the middle squares. 

Influential - 2.8.14

influential - noun
2. a person who exerts or can exert strong influence.
source: dictionary.com

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Influential

My childhood is filled with fantastic memories of growing up on the farm.  I remember riding to the field with my mom to bring my dad lunch or dinner during planting and harvest.   I would often ride along with my dad in the combine or fall asleep in the back of the case as the planter dropped tiny seeds into the ground.  I looked forward to the bright lights of the combine coming down our long lane like a monster in the night when my mom let me stay up way past my bed time and wait for dad. 

One spring day, when I was about eight, I was following my dad around the farm.  We were walking from the shop to the house when he turned toward the field and motioned for me to follow him. When we reached the edge of the field, dad pulled the small screwdriver that he always carries out of the pocket of his overalls and bent down towards one of the ripples of dirt in the field.  He carefully brushed the dirt away with the screwdriver and picked something up.  When he stood up he slowly opened his big, farmer hand.  In it I saw a little kernel of corn with tiny green and white sprouts growing from it. He took the time to explain how the seed grows and pushes the tiny green sprout out of the ground while the roots grow down.  

I have no idea why this particular moment has stuck with me for over twenty years.  Like the many others, I cherish it.  Growing up on the farm was a wonderful experience, however, my amazing parents are who made it one of the most influential and cherished parts of my life.