Home from Missouri

Hi Megs

I am now home from Missouri visiting mother, sisters, nieces, nephews, in-laws, great nieces and nephews - Joneses and Places - had a great time and it was wonderful being able to see so many family members.

Your grandmother is very well and LOVES the socks you made for her. She wears them "out" when she goes down to eat or if she has visitors - she has a lot of visitors! There was a 50 year Lee's Summit High School reunion (brother Jack's class) and she was the "bell of the ball" - so says the Lee's Summit paper! Not bad for an over 90.
I also took her the Place/Jones family mat, I called it "Mother's Mat" and she really likes it. I explained who everyone was - she put it on the floor (I really like mats on the floor where they belong) and everyone who comes she explains who everyone is - including Rushka and Carrie.


She particularly liked Jack on the "Silver Streak" - she had forgotten about that old bike we all used - but we never will!

I went to Evan's first birthday (that is the Murray "Evan") in Kansas City and it was a grand time. Got to see Sarah and Sean, Sally and Mike and other Jones cousins, friends and Sean's parents.

Evan was given his first birthday cake - had never eaten cake before.


His eyes bugged out the first time he tasted SUGAR! He is so cute and lively, was getting ready to walk but has now walked.

As a gift I made "Russell". Russell was welcomed into the Murray home. I made him from the NorNoro wool and angora blend I bought in Columbia when we went to Anne's wedding. The sweater is made from some hand spun I picked up in Amherst, NS, and Dianne Fitzpatrick's studio. Russel is so soft. The Pattern is "Small rabbit with sweater" (modified to fit the yarn) from Debbie Bliss, Toy Knits. I like Russell.

On Canada Day (July 1) we celebrated in Susan's backyard. All the Place sisters, in-laws, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, friends were there. It was a challenge for the teenage girl at the Price Chopper to come up with the Canadian Flag but she was so proud of herself - she found it! Meredith, Amelia, Evan (the Burns Evan), and Tate were great fun. They ran around. Amelia was weaving a long stand on her fingers from the tube things that we used to make pot holders from. It was really neat. Very nice Canada Day picnic!

I stayed with Ellen. We did a search for rug hooking and knitting shops. We did find a rug hooking section - a really good one for primitive hooking - in Greenwood - part of a "general" store.

We also went to the shop in Independence - and I did try to get tickets to hear Obama when he spoke in Independence earlier in the day but they were sold out - available from 1 to 4, I got there at 3:30 and they were gone! But we did get some nice yarn. Susan really liked the 3 button shawl I made so I gave her the pattern I worked out and she bought some yarn to make one for the two sisters. Susan showed me her latest projects -YIKES - a very big and really neat
American flag afghan.

You can't see it in the picture but every square has a "relief (k/p)" picture of one of the US states. There blue section has stars and there is also the Liberty Bell. She is going to put it in a school auction to raise money. It is something!



I flew home over the flooding. You could really see it as we went over the Mississippi and Missouri. It was wild. Got bounced in Chicago when United cancelled the flight to Halifax - got home a day late and my luggage arrived 4 days later. But did get home!

Since I have been home I have been busy with the shop. Lots of tourists in Yarmouth getting off the Cat. It has been lively on Main Street. Pam M-A and I set up our shop at the Spring Fling (a hook-in in Yarmouth put on by the Rugg Bees). We did very well and I think our shop was appreciated - from the comments we received. I think I am a budding entrepreneur.






Dad loved his book and his Cardinal BBQ cover! But the Nova Scotia wind has done some damage. It has been patched with duck tape. It is a feature on the deck and can be seen when you turn up Session Hill - over the lake - on the way home! We will never get lost.

Hope all is well with you'll. Don't work too hard - it is summer. I see that San Francisco is very dry and Dad checks your temperature every day on his new IPhone. Getting it was an adventure!

Love ya,

Mom
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