Friday, February 24, 2012

Knitting Fun Things

I crocheted for years and as soon as I found out that I was going to be a Grandmother I decided that it was time to learn to knit. I found a wonderful local yarn shop, Knitter's Dream and the knitting began. I also learned that the pastel pink and blue that my children wore as babies, was no longer popular. I dragged myself into this century and started to use the bolder, brighter colors.I just finished a sweater for Lucy, our seven year old. It turned out great but I was knitting in PA and she continued to grow in Illinois. When she received it and called me on the iPad, I saw that it just fits her, sigh. Lesson learned - next one will be made four sizes larger instead of two. I am working on two new major knitting projects that I will share as they progress. Here are some that I have completed:

Monday, February 20, 2012

Story Time - long distance

Hi, I'm back. It has been a long time since my last post. A lot has happened, I had surgery and got a new job but most important, I have figured out how be a long distance Grandma. I live in Pennsylvania and our grandchildren live in Illinois and Florida. More than anything, my husband and I want our grandchildren to know our faces and voices. We use to own The Children's Bookshelf, a bookstore just for kids. Reading to kids is so important-doesn't matter how young they are. I bought a favorite picture book and a bell. I read the story into the recorder in my laptop, when I came to the end of the page, I would ring the bell and the child knew it was time to turn the page. I then burned it into a CD, made a label, placed it in a clear CD envelope and taped it to the inside of the back cover of the book. Mailed it out-kids love to get mail! For Christmas, we gave them a portable CD player. It is fun to follow along and listen for the bell. Both my husband and I had fun recording these, something they will always have. Electronics has come a long way in just the last couple of years, we can now read them a story face to face. My son sets up his iPad on the bedside table in his daughter's room. I use our iPad and read them bedtime stories by using Face Time.. We can see and talk to each other!! Our 7 year old is now reading chapter books, we buy 2 copies one for me and one for her. We take turns reading chapters.