View, unobstructed wrote:

I have remembered the PERFECT crochet project for you, Luv...and any other sisters
who know how to make a chain, but nothing more elaborate!!

Today I wore a "necklace" to church.  It is one of 6 that I have. They are perfect for me because wearing it is something between wearing a scarf around your neck and a necklace.  I am allergic to some metals, including the clasp and chains on most necklaces, but this has no metal.  It can be made in almost any color to match your wardrobe.

Two years ago I took a day class in AZ to learn how, and later made quite a few of them...for myself and others.
The months before I met you gals my husband had surgery and quite a few weeks of recovery. This was a neat portable "hand work" to have with me in the hospital or motel.

Thanks View, These look very interesting.  I don't think I have ever seen anything like it, and they are "pretty" too.  Humm, if I ever get in the mood, I just may try and make a few. lol

JetmamaDiDi wrote:

HAHAHA!!!!!

For us, yesterday was the infamous Black Friday trek to The Grove for the American Girl birthday party for granddaughter #2, 9 year old Faith. We needed to be there by 12:15 for the lunch seating at 12:30 so, not knowing what traffic and other conditions would be like (considering the hype in the media), we checked the traffic at 9:30 and everything was GREEN!!! Riding with DIL and eldest granddaughter, Rebekah....turned out we needed to stop for gas so that was a slight detour. We hit the freeway at 10:10AM...and much to our surprise, we arrived at The Grove in less than 30 minutes!!! It is about 30 miles from the house, which has always seemed like about 50 miles in traffic!! Daughter and fam who have been staying at her MIL's this week arrived 5 minutes before we did. Parking was not a problem, not many shoppers waltzing around AT ALL, and the AG store was pretty much EMPTY!! It never got elbow-to-elbow crowded like we've seen it every time before---and we had the same traffic free ride home!!!! LOL Would that every day were like that!!! LOL LOL BIGGEST SCORE OF THE DAY!!

Funny related anecdote kind've laid the ground for the day. In the morning Rebekah came downstairs ready for the party and her mom shared that she'd had a dream during the nite that she arrived at the AG store with $15.00 I had given her!!! She looked around the store and knew there was nothing she could buy for $15.00. LOL LOL (I doubled over laughing...saying, "So you must think DiDi's a cheapskate, huh?!!" It was really funny!!!). In the dream she went to the next shop where Alton Brown was giving cooking classes--but they were giving lessons on making food for American Girls dolls and that was very expensive too!!! LOL Couldn't afford that either!! She must have awakened about then, but she obviously had American Girl on her mind!!! She is all into cooking and baking--and Grace, the doll of the year who is being retired at the end of 2015, is all about the same things. All of Bekah's Christmas list is related to Grace but didn't include the doll, which she doesn't have.

We all had a good laugh about the dream....and joked about it pretty much all day....but the interesting thing was what started to happen right before she and DIL told the dream story. As we prepared to leave the house, our friends from England gave each of the kids a little cash, then we gave them each some (preplanned before the dream--and more than $15.00!!!!). When we got to the store each of the grandchildren was given money by my sister-in-law and niece (for birthdays missed, etc.!), and at the conclusion of the party our daughter and SIL gave each child who attended the party (7) a $25.00 gift card to the AG store. So by then Rebekah had enough money...unsolicited....unexpected...just simply given.....to get the doll she wanted and which she hadn't wanted to ask for (the type of child she is)--even for Christmas. The girl is a saver so she always has money saved up but Mom had told her she couldn't get anything before Christmas!! However, because of how that worked out, she was allowed to get the doll....and was so excited she wouldn't even let me help carry the heavy bag while she was holding her cousin's hand walking to the parking lot! It was the neatest thing EVER!!

After hours in the store and a lovely meal, we headed home about 3:30 or so. Of course all 14 decided to descend on our place for supper!!! So as we rode home, DIL and I strategized how to maximize our turkey and other Thanksgiving reruns. Was a bit concerned how this would work out because there wasn't that much of any one thing and it seemed like less than I recalled (turned out the boys, who hadn't gone with us, ate some of it for lunch!!! LOL) So we made a potload of fresh mashed potatoes since there weren't any left over. But, I tell you, as I cooked the potatoes, what came to mind was Jesus' feeding of the 5,000 with 2 fish and 5 barley loaves!!!!!!!!!!! LOL And was I ever praying this would feed the hungry masses!!!! However, I am happy to report that everyone left satisfied...and it all worked!!! Life has a way of doing that we just allow it.

In a very interesting way there was such a pronounced overall message of faith, hope, and charity in all of this...so appropriate for the season. We are truly blessed in so many ways.

Just wanted to share this story with all my sisters....and hope that you ALL had a wonderful time with family and friends.

XXXXX OOOOO

Aw.....it sounds like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and a pretty good Black Friday.  Glad that the traffic and people weren't bad.  Loved the story about your Grand daughter.  I bet she will cherish that doll for a long, long time.

LOL at the boys eating some of the left overs.  At least they do not "go bad" at your house.    Mashed Potatoes.....always a great "filler".  I wonder if that is always why when mentioning a hearty dinner, it is always meat and potatoes...lol

Am I reading these right?  This doesn't look too great.

JetmamaDiDi wrote:

HAHAHA!!!!!

For us, yesterday was the infamous Black Friday trek to The Grove for the American Girl birthday party for granddaughter #2, 9 year old Faith. We needed to be there by 12:15 for the lunch seating at 12:30 so, not knowing what traffic and other conditions would be like (considering the hype in the media), we checked the traffic at 9:30 and everything was GREEN!!! Riding with DIL and eldest granddaughter, Rebekah....turned out we needed to stop for gas so that was a slight detour. We hit the freeway at 10:10AM...and much to our surprise, we arrived at The Grove in less than 30 minutes!!! It is about 30 miles from the house, which has always seemed like about 50 miles in traffic!! Daughter and fam who have been staying at her MIL's this week arrived 5 minutes before we did. Parking was not a problem, not many shoppers waltzing around AT ALL, and the AG store was pretty much EMPTY!! It never got elbow-to-elbow crowded like we've seen it every time before---and we had the same traffic free ride home!!!! LOL Would that every day were like that!!! LOL LOL BIGGEST SCORE OF THE DAY!!

Funny related anecdote kind've laid the ground for the day. In the morning Rebekah came downstairs ready for the party and her mom shared that she'd had a dream during the nite that she arrived at the AG store with $15.00 I had given her!!! She looked around the store and knew there was nothing she could buy for $15.00. LOL LOL (I doubled over laughing...saying, "So you must think DiDi's a cheapskate, huh?!!" It was really funny!!!). In the dream she went to the next shop where Alton Brown was giving cooking classes--but they were giving lessons on making food for American Girls dolls and that was very expensive too!!! LOL Couldn't afford that either!! She must have awakened about then, but she obviously had American Girl on her mind!!! She is all into cooking and baking--and Grace, the doll of the year who is being retired at the end of 2015, is all about the same things. All of Bekah's Christmas list is related to Grace but didn't include the doll, which she doesn't have.

We all had a good laugh about the dream....and joked about it pretty much all day....but the interesting thing was what started to happen right before she and DIL told the dream story. As we prepared to leave the house, our friends from England gave each of the kids a little cash, then we gave them each some (preplanned before the dream--and more than $15.00!!!!). When we got to the store each of the grandchildren was given money by my sister-in-law and niece (for birthdays missed, etc.!), and at the conclusion of the party our daughter and SIL gave each child who attended the party (7) a $25.00 gift card to the AG store. So by then Rebekah had enough money...unsolicited....unexpected...just simply given.....to get the doll she wanted and which she hadn't wanted to ask for (the type of child she is)--even for Christmas. The girl is a saver so she always has money saved up but Mom had told her she couldn't get anything before Christmas!! However, because of how that worked out, she was allowed to get the doll....and was so excited she wouldn't even let me help carry the heavy bag while she was holding her cousin's hand walking to the parking lot! It was the neatest thing EVER!!

After hours in the store and a lovely meal, we headed home about 3:30 or so. Of course all 14 decided to descend on our place for supper!!! So as we rode home, DIL and I strategized how to maximize our turkey and other Thanksgiving reruns. Was a bit concerned how this would work out because there wasn't that much of any one thing and it seemed like less than I recalled (turned out the boys, who hadn't gone with us, ate some of it for lunch!!! LOL) So we made a potload of fresh mashed potatoes since there weren't any left over. But, I tell you, as I cooked the potatoes, what came to mind was Jesus' feeding of the 5,000 with 2 fish and 5 barley loaves!!!!!!!!!!! LOL And was I ever praying this would feed the hungry masses!!!! However, I am happy to report that everyone left satisfied...and it all worked!!! Life has a way of doing that we just allow it.

In a very interesting way there was such a pronounced overall message of faith, hope, and charity in all of this...so appropriate for the season. We are truly blessed in so many ways.

Just wanted to share this story with all my sisters....and hope that you ALL had a wonderful time with family and friends.

XXXXX OOOOO

Jet when my daughter was little we went to an American Girl Fashion Show/Luncheon...she had a wonderful time. Never got a chance to go to the American Girl Store ( the only one open then was the original one back then)  We still have her doll and clothes safe and sound!!!