Knit 4th of July Flag

I couldn't wait to get home from work tonight to start a new knitting project - just in time for the Fourth of July.  We've been invited to a party on the 4th and I wanted to bring a hostess gift and decided that this is the perfect gift.

I will be using this yarn (Fantasy Naturale - 100% cotton)

and these needles

with this pattern

 to make this centerpiece/dishcloth/hotpad (the picture isn't too clear - it's an American flag).

This is a free pattern on the Plymouth Yarn website.  Here is the link to the website:  www.plymouthyarn.com  Click on PATTERNS and then choose FREE PATTERNS.  Enter pattern number F338.  This would be a great project for someone who is learning to knit with multiple colors.  (You need to carry the yarn up the side when changing colors - always wrap the yarn you are going to use from the bottom.  Search You Tube for "how to" carry yarn - there are lots of great videos.  You have plenty of time get your yarn and get your flag made too!!!

"I love my freedom.  I love my America."  -Jessi Lane Adams

Great Chiropractor

My son, who plays baseball, had been in terrible pain for the last two weeks with a sore heel but was reluctant to say anything to us because he was sure we would rush him off to the doctor who would in turn, tell him he had to "rest it" and that would be it for his baseball season.  But this mom is full of surprises.  I talked to one of the other mom's on his baseball team and she said that she had similar pain and going to the doctor didn't seem to help.  What did help though was a trip to the chiropractor.  So.....it got me thinking about a chiropractor.

I admit that I've been skeptical of chiropractors in the past but I've heard of so many success stories from friends about relief from back pain, migraines, tennis elbow and a host of other ailments.  I knew that my son would never go to the doctor, so I suggested maybe we see a chiropractor.

I put a question out on my Facebook page, asking if anyone had a chiropractor recommendation for a teenage athlete.  The first response I got was from a friend of mine who is a chiropractor.  I had totally forgotten that she was a chiropractor and that she worked in an office close to our home.

Dr. Thea Killeen works at Abeler Chiropractic at 600 W. Main Street in Anoka, MN (763-421-3722) and she is fabulous!  She was able to get us in right away.  When we met with her, she greeted my son first and put him totally at ease.  He recognized her from the baseball park and her easy going banter with him made him feel really comfortable.  That's huge when dealing with a teenage boy!

She explained how his joints, muscles and bones all work together.  That was great for a kid who is really smart and into how things work and why they work that way.   I visibly saw my son sigh with relief when she figured out what was wrong and that it didn't include the words "rest it".

So, it turns out that his right leg was almost an inch shorter than his left leg.  The muscles on the right side were so tight they hurt when he tried to stretch them.  The left side he could stretch just fine.  Dr. Thea adjusted his back and his right ankle and then gave him a number of stretching exercises to loosen his tight muscles.  She assured him that he would feel better quickly and the more consistent he was with his exercises, the better.

I watched him at practice tonight and I walked behind him and his buddies after practice - no limping.  When we got in the car I asked him how he felt and he laughed and said, "really good".  The pain/stress in his face is gone.  Just now, two hours later, I asked him how he felt and he said, "good, but it's weird walking".  He has been so out of whack for so long it had changed his gait.

Here is a link to Dr. Thea's website:  www.yourbodyyourfuture.com  She's great with kids and adults alike.  She understands the minds of athletes and if she can put my teenage son at ease, she can put anyone at ease.

"A wise man ought to realize that health is his most valuable possession."  -Hippocrates

Thanksgiving Recipe Cookbook for my Niece

Last November, around Thanksgiving, I blogged about making a Thanksgiving Recipe Cookbook for my niece who had graduated from college and moved to Spain for a year.  She grew up having Thanksgiving meals at my house with her family and I knew that this was probably the first of many Thanksgivings she would be absent at our table.  I wanted to give her the recipes she loved so that she could share them at her own Thanksgiving table.

At that time of that first blog, I showed how I  cut the paper and added some embellishments to each page.  I didn't have a finished project to show and promised that I would post the cookbook when I finally finished it.  Well.....that day has FINALLY come!

I spent the afternoon finishing up the recipes, with lots of help from my mom.  I printed out pictures of the actual dishes and put the finishing touches on each page.  I also added family pictures taken at Thanksgiving over the years.  Here is what the finished project looks like - from beginning to end.

The cover:

My note to my niece:

The pages - recipes, family pictures, pictures of each dish and even my niece's place card:

This was so fun to put together and I can't wait to give it to my niece.  I am also working on cookbooks for each of my children of their favorite recipes that I plan on giving them when and if they ever move into their own homes.  They won't be as elaborate but they will be just as heartfelt!

"Bless the food before us, the family beside us, and love between us."  -Unknown

Doily Drink Covers

Today I got to spend some time doing a little crafting.  I ran to Michael's for some extra supplies:  colorful beads (40% off) and ready made doilies ($1.50 a piece).

Then I set to work making cute doily covers for when we have drinks outside.

I took beading thread and an assortment of beads of all shapes and sizes.........

and I attached  the beads to the doily with the thread.  The beads give the doily weight and keep it from blowing off of the glass or pitcher.

I used a lots of different beads in many shapes, colors and sizes.  I tried to use different patterns on each doily, giving them each their own unique look.

 This is how they are used......when you have a drink outside and you want to keep the bugs (especially bees) out of it, you just drape one these doilies over the top of your glass or pitcher to keep the bugs away.

 This was a really fun and easy project and would make a great hostess gift.  I plan on making some for all of my friends!

"Spending time outdoors makes you feel great."  -Elizabeth Hurley