So, Grandma is gone - safely laid to rest.  I'm back home from the funeral and from visiting family.  It's always good to see my family - but it's sad that the only time we seem to be able to gather is at a time of mourning... Still, I was able to see family I hadn't seen in years and years so that's a good thing.  I reconnected with my cousin Julie which is awesome! 
My sister and I decided to make our own arrangements for the funeral - we bought large crystal vases - like the ones that our Grandmother had at her house (but bigger) and fill them with roses and other flowers.  Grandma loved yellow roses... and hydrangea but really, she wasn't that picky - she loved any flower... right down to wildflowers!  That way, after the service, we could keep the vases and remember our Grandmother whenever we used them - she loved flowers so much - and we both thought it would be a fitting tribute... to also be able to pass down through the family generation to generation...

we made 2 large and 1 smaller arrangement in her honor and placed them in the funeral home during the visitation.  We made the smaller arrangement with hydrangea and other flowers, and I cut wild sage from my sister's yard and put in that vase - it smelled so good!
The other two vases were either filled with 4 dozen yellow and red/pink roses or full of lilies and roses -
After the visitation and service, I took the flowers and put them in a large 5 gallon bucket (which is where they are in this photo) - and carried them to the cemetery.  After the graveside service was finished and we were leaving, I put a rose on my grandfather's grave, my great grandmother and great grandfather's graves, and on my dad's grave.  we paid out respects, then headed back across the river to Indiana to the nursing home that Grandma spent her last years.
We ran by a dollar store and I picked up a bunch of plastic vases that look like cut crystal (they're actually pretty nice!) and then my nephew, brother in law and I sat them out on the sidewalk at the nursing home, filled them with water from the hose, and while they cut the stems shorter and handed the flowers and greenery to me, I quickly made 9 smaller arrangements out of the large assemblage of flowers we had.
The three of us went into the nursing home and after speaking with the staff, randomly selected residents to receive flowers.  The first lady I gave flowers to had been there only 3 weeks - she was happy with the home so far - I explained that my Grandmother had lived there over a decade and had just finished her life - and in celebration of her wonderful life and in her honor, we were giving flowers - to let each person there know that there are people who are thinking of them... it was a wonderful feeling!
The last lady we gave flowers to had just finished with some sort of surgery.  Her family was visiting with her and she seemed to be doing pretty well.  Her face lit up and she was so happy that we had taken time to say hi and that we had thought of her.  She happened to also be covered in one of the blankets that my Grandmother had made - (Grandma used to make quilts and blankets and donate them to the homes - years and years ago.... - I don't know how old this particular one was... but the nurse told me it came from my Grandma) -

Anyway, I wanted to share - the service was beautiful - the family was there and we were able to celebrate her life - she is now laid to rest and at peace and, as my sis said, she's finally free - no longer trapped in that frail body!

If you ever have extra flowers... and you don't know what to do with them... if you have a wedding, or funeral, or large party... and there are flowers abundant afterwards, might I suggest that you take a little of your time, spend a few dollars and get some plastic vases - arrange some happiness and make some random deliveries to a nursing home.  It will be the highlight of your week; I promise.

Grandma would have been proud of us.  I think we did good.

Here's a great photo of my Grandma and Great Grandma, along with my cousin - I think this was in the 60's and I think it is in Florida... this photo hung on Grandma's wall for as long as I can remember!

While visiting, I had my share of sweet tea (I LOVE it and you can't get it in California at the restrurants.... and putting sweetener in it is not the same!) and we were able to stop at Cracker Barrel and get Chicken and dumplings!
I'm going to miss my Grandma - but I know she's in a better place now - and I also know that someday I'll see her again...

I have so many fond childhood memories. There was that cardboard box that sat in Grandma’s laundry room and was pulled out every time I came to visit.  I knew the toys and coloring books were there waiting for me as we parked around the corner, and as I walked down the sidewalk past her rose bushes and that white metal rocker to her screen door.  I remember the moments right after my parents left – I would put my little suitcase in Grandma’s room and we’d talk about what I would like for dinner. 
Chicken and Dumplings…banana salad… and ice cream; whatever I wanted – we’d make a list, get her black metal rolling grocery cart out and make our way up the narrow sidewalk to the store.  Keeping me safe, she’d always walk between me and the busy street– and while we walked, we’d look around and tell stories.  When I was  visiting Grandma, it seemed I could have anything I wanted, right down to desert!   My favorite was chocolate ice cream.  She’d buy a half gallon without any question (even though her favorite was butter pecan) and smile as she watched me gobble it down…at that time I didn’t realize that her buying me ice cream or a toy meant tighter budgeting for her… splurging for her grandson meant sacrificing down the road.  
One afternoon, while Grandma was either ironing for someone or maybe repairing uniforms for the folks at Kentucky Fried Chicken,  I remember asking her to make me a pillow for me.  She stopped what she was doing and asked me what the pillow was to look like.  We’d pull out a box of fabric scraps buttons and ric rac and I would design the pillow while she finished mending or hemming or sewing on her work.  After she got to a point where she could take a break, she’d spend a long while sewing a one of a kind creation just for me.  I find joy in giving handmade gifts because of my Grandmother.  She taught me to create and through my family I have grown to realize that the value of a gift is not related to its cost – the best gift I ever received was that of encouragement from Grandma.
I don’t have any of her pillows anymore.  Growing up, they were lost in the shuffle – but what has not been lost are the memories I have watching her do her very best at every craft – the finest work – and working with what she had to solve problems.  I believe this is where I get my creativity… working with what you have….
I remember my naps in Grandma’s room – the freezing cold of her air conditioner – dozing off in the powdery smell of her bed – waking up and playing music on her record player – “Fiddler on the Roof” … “The Gatlin Brothers”… dulcimer music … Elvis Presley’s “How Great Thou Art”…
I also remember going to Eastlawn Elementary to fly a kite with her… I remember going to the creek, and her losing one of her shoes – chasing after it as it floated away… I remember sitting in her lap, laying my head on her chest and dozing off; totally safe… listening to her talk and the vibrations through her ribcage… listening to her heartbeat… and to her singing. 
I remember one day probably around 3rd grade, Grandma wrote me a note and told me that she’d pay me $1 if I would memorize Psalm 23; The Lord’s Prayer.  She wrote in this note that it’s an important message.  I sat down and memorized the prayer and returned to her… recited it for her…   "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul..."
She smiled and gave me a dollar.  The last time I remember seeing that note, I had rolled it up and put it inside a glass jug – probably 6th grade.  Being an adult, even today, I still don’t know the gifts I have received from my family – the strength I have witnessed – the creativity and love and understanding – the feeling that no matter what struggle I had there would always be open arms to go to…
She taught me all those years ago not to be afraid – and in her letters to me, she assured me (even decades ago) that she was not afraid of dying.  She told me not to be afraid – that death is a part of life – and I know now, with the passing of Dad in 2007 that while it may seem like a scary path to travel, it’s something we all must do.  I find comfort in knowing that Dad is there, along with Uncle Dave and so many others waiting to welcome her to Heaven.
Growing up is hard... it’s impossible to believe that my Grandmother’s time on Earth is over.  The years have been difficult, and while some may feel left behind, I am doing my best to be brave.  I know that she is watching over each one of us– doing everything that she can to protect us… standing between me and the busy road, just like she always has.  Venice Kunnecke passed away today, August 20, 2008 around 2PM in Southern Indiana surrounded by her family.  She was 95. 

Am I the only one who didn't know about this website?  www.knitmap.com is a fun search engine type site that tells you all the yarn stores in a given area!  It also has space for reviews, ratings, etc. - a great site to help plan your next yarn crawl! :)

I took a class on Saturday at Unraveled with Janice Rosema (Fiber Goddess) and had a great time making my own lambie pie!  the process is not difficult at all - it's a little fiddly but quite simple - and since it's a stuffed animal, gauge isn't REALLY important either!  We had a blast knitting and hanging out - and one wonderful knitter bought pastries to share with us from the bakery across the street!

By the end of the class, many lambs were almost completed... most lacked faces and feet, but we all knew what we were doing... The next morning I woke up and spent some time adding ears and legs to my critter - and Sunday night, I added his face, complete with button eyes - he's adorable and I really enjoyed myself.  I recommend you go to Ravelry or Janice's ETSY shop and buy the pattern - it's a quick knit, allows you to play with the beautiful Ozark yarn and when you're done, you have created a creature with personality all its own!  I was impressed with the shop we were knitting in- it's in a beautiful old brick building with high ceilings and ancient beams - it's comfy, cheery, and the staff is very helpful - I'll definately go there again... I wish it was a little closer to my house... but I will say this: it's worth the drive!  I understan now why some people swear by this place!

I also did some organizing - this is how far I am on my mitered square blanket - after stalking finished projects, I think I like this style of layout for my blanket - it'll give a neat edge and when it's all sewn up, the seams make fun vertical lines... but I am a ways off from completing the piece - I have about 50 squares left to make....

I started a new sweater last night (8/10/08) and decided it's sleeves first this time - I think if I get sleeves out of the way, I can use them to double/triple check gauge and it makes it easier to complete a project because all it leaves for me is the front and back to knit which is, let's face it, the FUN part....

I also finished my guernsey sweater - but no photos yet - I'll post about that another day :)

I hope everyone had a great weekend!