Christmas Blankets

This year I combined a few of my passions: sewing, crocheting, knitting, giving gifts, and old people. For months I've been working on making 20 blankets to take to "my-people." During my break time on Christmas Eve, I got a cart and loaded it up. Then I went up and down my hall giving personalized blankets to each of my people.

December 23rd addition

One lady couldn't stop smiling.

One lady told everybody that she had made this blanket for Betsy. When they explained to her that Betsy made it for her and showed her the name tag I sewed into it she responded, "I put that there so she would know that I made it for her."

Finally all done and labeled.

One lady told the CENA to go hide it in her room, she didn't want anyone else to take it.

It was such a delight for me to see my people opening Christmas gifts that I had made especially for them. I don't know if I told you or not, but I love Christmas. And this was one of the best ones I've had.

Messiah Christmas Walk

Libby, Lauren Mae and I went to the Christmas Walk at the church on our corner.

Mary receiving a visit from an angel

Elizabeth and Zechariah (Kenny Brown)

Joseph's angel visit.

The Roman soldiers

The bored shepherds.

The prophets on break!
Micah (Curtis Reames) and Jeremiah (Joshua Reames)

The angels did NOT enter with a Scha-zam.
(Sarah Reames [far left angel] Pamela Reames [far right angel])

Kenny, pretending he doesn't like me!

The finale.

Whatcha Been Doin?

Yesterday I finished another lap robe. This one is for one of my favorite residents. I just found out that she is moving away, so I had to finish this and get it to her before she leaves. 

Amy added the fancy bow. I can sew but I'm not artsy-fartsy.....so good thing Amy came to the rescue.

My stock pile. Only one week left and I still need six more.

Today I searched for a new hat pattern to try. I haven't made anything for Lillian in awhile, so I figured today would be a good day. I found this simple pattern on Lion Brand's site. 

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L30265.html?noImages=

Fun Times

Fun Times with Fun Friends!

Cookie Exchange

For those of you who follow my sister's blogs, this post will be redundant. 

But it was a fun thing that we did, and I happened to take pictures. So therefore it is "blog-worthy."

Sarah's Hidden Treasure cookies! They have a yummy cherry in the middle.

My lazy Chocolate bark. Tasted good and took three minutes to make. Thank you TollHouse.
Don't worry I made some real cookies too.

Naomi's fancy Neapolitan bars.
Even though she used apricot preserves, the cookies were great.

Me and my really cool friend Ulysa Girard.

Our guest speaker from Zambia, Africa.

We had so many cookies we couldn't even fit them all on our dining room table! 

It was so fun to host this party. I'm already looking forward to next year's party.

Today's Edition

Here is the lap robe of the day. 

Thanks again to the old lady who hand sewed the nine-patch squares.

Old Lady 9-patch

Friends were cleaning out their sewing area and found a bag of 9-patches. An old lady had sewed them by hand, and the thought of throwing them in the trash was too upsetting, but they thought I might be able to use them. I put them in my sewing area and waited for inspiration.

Hand sewing is not my thing.

I trimmed them all into 10 and 1/2" blocks

Then I added some borders

I sewed it all up

Added some fancy stitching

And inspiration

I plan to take 20 lap robes to "my" hall for Christmas. My residents all have dementia, but they still remember Christmas and I want to make sure they feel loved, even if they can't be home with their families.

My Family

I love my family! 

We posed for a picture Thanksgiving day. We've been planning this ever since we knew Julie was coming home from Africa for a quick visit. 

L to R back row: Aaron, Naomi, Julie, Libby, Brian, Betsy, Logan
L to R front row: Amy, Lauren Mae (Aaron's wife) Mom, Dad
not pictured Joel, Judith, Kaelyn, Janessa, Austin

Thanksgiving

Med Carts

Me and "my" med cart. It normally services 20 residents.

Macha med cart. It serves a 40-bed ward.

Baby Hogging

Maybe you are not familiar with this term? 

But when there is only one nephew to share among 8 aunts and 5 uncles.... 

baby hogging becomes a very big crime.

and I think he knows it!

Blueberry Waves

Today I finished another afghan. 

This one is going to be a Christmas gift for one of my residents. She and I share a favorite color: blue.

detail of pattern. 

This was an easy pattern I made up. It wasn't supposed to be so big, but I started it in the airplane, so I couldn't really tell how big it was!

The pattern goes like this.
(working all stitches in back loop only)
chain in groups of 16 stitches

*double crochet in 5 stitches, 2 double crochet in each of next 2 stitches, double crochet in 5 stitches, double crochet next 2 together, double crochet next 2 together* repeat to end of line. continue this row until the piece measures the desired length.

Macha Hospital

I've never been to a mission hospital before I visited the Macha BIC hospital. I've heard about them, read about them and seen lots of pictures. I wasn't surprised, but I was sobered. Maybe someday I will have the opportunity to spend some time working in Macha?

micro-biology lab

waiting room

AIDS clinic auditorium

This housing was for family members, but is now for staff

These huts on the edge of campus are true isolations quarters. Last time they were used was in a cholera outbreak.

Hospital kitchen on the left, laundry on the right.

Kids burn unit. We were glad it was empty!

We call it a crash cart.

Looking out the nurse's station into the 40 bed men's ward.

Stretchers waiting at the main entrance

Hospital chapel. Right in the middle of everything. Somehow it seemed a lot more useful than our hospital chapel.