Hit the 75 completed mark!

As I finished these last 4 lapghans I'm wondering if the nursing home these are going to has added any more residents ?? Think I'll wait until I'm closer to my goal to call and check!  

Another 2 finished

I've finished 2 more. Count to date: 67

Past the 60 mark!

I've had a lot of elbow issues. So I just was doing a square here and there.  Well I went downstairs to add the latest to the tote and the tote was full!  So I got busy sewing them together.  Here they are!  Count to date: 65

Another one done!!

Wow up to 52!  I wish I could get these done faster!  

Woohoo!!! More than half way!!

In going thru  the house for garage sale items, I decided to put the latest lapghans in storage with the others. Been slow going due to the tennis elbow I've developed over the winter. The count is at 51!  So more than half way there!  I have a few more squares and a small lapghans almost finished so I will keep chipping away on the total needed. 

Had to take a break

Elbow pain (tennis elbow) has sidelined my working on squares. I finally went to the Dr. and got a wonderful cortisone shot. I've started up again slowly. I will post some new lapghan photos after I get some sewn together.

Busy during baseball!

Baseball games make it easy for me to bring my bag and work on squares. Now that the weather has cooled a bit I could bare to sew them together. These bring the total up to 41!. I have another in the works so we will soon be at 42.

Been away but still working hard!

I know some people who have helped me are probably wondering what happened. I've been in a funk. Yes for the last year. Camera troubles, computer troubles and lack of something to say is a big part. BUT even tho I haven't been on here I've been busy. I have completed a bunch of granny squares. Those are easy and don't need to look at a pattern. SO I've working on those as many as possible. I've finished 9 so far with more squares in the works. Here they are!

I will be working non stop to get as many squares done as I can. I have to go put the new ones in totes so I can hopefully have an updated count next time I'm on here. Please believe me it won't be a year!! So embarrassed when I saw that!!

Didn't make the goal.

Sorry, I've been away for awhile. Still plugging along on squares and lapghans here and there in between other gifts and such. You'd think I'd have a ton done with being off work the last 6 months but when your in a personal funk it's kinda hard to do things you find enjoyable.

In coming on here to put this update on I noticed we missed Sara's goal of 2010. Oh well, better late than never. Please know if you have donated, your lapghan is safely tucked into tote waiting to be delivered. I have about 30 or so, honestly I haven't counted.

I did hit the mother load at a yard sale recently. My loving husband in fact called me to "get over here quick". He had stopped at what he thought was a yard sale, come to find out it was an estate sale. I got 5 huge bags of yarn for $15. This will keep me going and out of trouble for quite awhile. Been winding and making squares and going thru patterns to switch things up a bit. Hope to include photos next time I'm on. Promise it wont be this long!! I have a new office in the new house. So I'm on the computer a bit more!

Till next time Happy knitting!

New inspiration

I was surfing some knitting blogs and stubled upon Spud & Chloe. I love Susan Anderson's baby hat designs from when I was making the hats for Preemie Project. I haven't stumbled upon her yarn anywhere yet but I have heard its really nice. Plan to get some as soon as I can. Not many yarn shops around, I hope to be able to get to a few while in Boston.
Anyway- she has shared some great knitted square patterns to be used with her yarn. I've tried two of the square patterns and I love them. They are a great size, knit up quick and look great. Fabulous textures and the patterns are really easy. I have been using the donated yarn and will try to do several squares from each skein.
When I find her yarn I will buy some to make a baby blanket for my sister who is now expecting in the fall!.. Yeah - Connor will have some one to grow up with! Her oldest son is graduating high school in a month. Connor was 1 in February hard to believe already.

15 years ago this angel was born.

15 years ago I got an early morning phone call. It's a GIRL! I was so excited. We had been "thinking pink" for as long as we knew my sister was pregnant. We needed a girl. Up to this day we had only had boys in the family. You have to understand Sara was the first GIRL in our family since her mother was born. We knew on that day she was special. Just how special we had no idea at the time. As she grew we learned. She had so many plans so many things she wanted to do and see. She had visited many places and made friends everywhere she went. She was the sweetest girl with the most amazing smile. Everyone remembers her smile. When she did, her entire face smiled.

I haven't been as diligant as I should be about completing her project. I have had projects to get done for work and home. It's funny how easy life can get in the way of our best intentions. I promise Sara to get this project complete. I've been working on squares in hope to sew them into many different lapghans. I'm doing this to honor you. To make the one last thing you asked for me to help you do get completed! Love you and miss you angel. Aunt Sue.

Been busy just not on here!

I've been busy but blogging. I don't have a photo to share but I have been busy making squares. I got 2 big bags of acrylic yarn from a good friend and have been using alot of that to quickly crochet squares so my mom and sister can start sewing them together!

Sorry I've been lax in posting but work has been extremly busy then of course the holidays. Finishing up some UFO's and working on squares in between it all. I will post a photo of the progress soon!

Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Oh almost forgot. The Yellowbook ad lady dropped off a square to my office. She felt bad because she promised me some but had severly injured her wrist and is just getting back to her needlework. Crochet granny squares in an awesome blue color that is good for men or women.

Sara's Plaque

This is the plaque that is in the ground under Sara's tree. I finally got over and had a camera to take a picture. I love how it turned out.

A new one- by me.

I recently finished this lapghan. I used the left over yarn from Connor's baby blanket. It is nice colors and a larger size good for a man. The colors I made my first lapghan from are kinda bright and girly so I had to even things out a bit. I've been having a hard time making lapghans.. not sure why . I know I need to get going again. During the move my hubby had the totes full of lapghans donated to date and that kinda sparked me to finish this one. Thank you to everyone who has helped me. I'm still here and still plugging along. Please note the new address on the blog. I'm still accepting donations of any kind. Still hard at work trying to get Sara's goal accomplished but I think she was right 2010 is realistic. Lil bugger was a smart one for her age. I still miss her everyday. Hard to believe she would be graduating 8th grade next month if she was still with us. Aly keeps me going we will enjoy her school successes. But thought of Sara are always right on the edge of the surface.. the what if's. They can make you crazy, in good and bad ways.

Yesterday was another reminder.

I really wanted to do a post on here yesterday. I couldn't bring myself to do it. Sara would've turned 14. With all the happiness around the family with the birth of Connor we still paused to remember we should be celebrating Sars's second year of being a teenager. She was just heading into womanhood when she was taken from us. I was looking forward to so many things with her getting older. School dances and such. She so enjoyed going to see plays in Chicago. Wicked was her favorite. I never got to see Wicked but she did!! Twice I believe.
Happy Birthday Saraboo. Aunt Sue loves and misses you, thank you for helping your mom and dad and the rest of the family heal by picking out Connor for us to love. God must have great plans for him. We know you helped send him to us.

Happy Birthday!!

Connor William came into the world this morning at 2:06 am. He weighed 8lb 10 oz. Mom and baby are doing great. Mom also said he doesn't look like his sister or brother. I can't wait to go see him this afternoon. I will post pictures asap.

Still here... hope you are also.

Well this new baby has taken my free time and will probably continue to do so once he arrives. Sara's new baby brother is due to arrive at anytime! His blanket has been very time consuming but my sister loves it and is so grateful. I will post a photo once it's complete.

I think of Sara all the time and know how excited she would be about the new baby. That reassures me that she is ok with Aunt Sue taking a little break from making our blankets. I have a bunch of squares to sew together. I have them in a box ready to go. I also have a good supply of left over yarn in (male) colors I plan to use soon.

I thought Sara was way off with her 2010 target date. The more I think about it she was right on target! Miss you sweety.. I know you are watching over us all!!

A year ago today.

It's so hard to believe a year ago today I was on my way to the hospital full of hope for a recovery. I remember driving hoping to see her sitting up in her hospital bed and seeing her beautiful blue eyes looking back at me. But that was not the case. A few hours passed and she was gone. Our beautiful baby girl was on her way to heaven. We still miss her everyday. It gets a bit easier to handle as time passes by and now with the upcoming arrival of a new baby it helps make it a bit easier. I have ahd several "strange" occurances in the last year to let me know she is still a big force in our lives. My dog Zoe is a prime example. Sara knew how upsetting it was for me to give our dog Diamond away when we moved into our old house. She always thought it wasn't fair but like me tried to understand that she is with DH's aunt and will be well taken care of. Diamond is crrently spoiled and loving life in Michigan. It's hard to give away a part of the family. Well I have wanted another dog for a long time and figured not until we move. Then along came Zoe. She was a surprise anniversary present from DH. Zoe is our first "Yellow/blond" lab mix. We have always had black labs. I remember calling my sister to tell her our news and to ask to borrow the small crate from her. She asked me if I had named the puppy yet and I said no we have no idea.. she said how about Zoe? She also said she had no clue where that name came from it just popped in her head. Saraboo in action. :) Last weekend I was collecting some t-shirts from my sister so I can make her a t-shirt quilt made up of Sara's t-shirts. I turned around and there is a framed poster of "yellow lab puppies" and mom said oh that one looks like Zoe. Then I knew - Zoe was meant to be my baby. Thanks Sara! I'm hoping to get your quilt done for your mom for Christmas! I think even tho she is going to have this new baby she is going to need your quilt to have a memory of you to hold also.
I have never made a quilt like this so I hope Sara will be my little helper on that project. I feel her around me alot, she was a one of a kind girl and I will miss her until we meet in heaven. I also had an ironic twist. The knitting needles I helped Sara purchase are now mine. My sister doesn't need them or want them so I have them now and the yarn she had just purchased to start a scarf for the nursing home. That yarn I think will be used to make a few square for lapgahns toward Sara Smiles Project. That way I can spread her love around into more than one lapghan. I have been lax in the last few months on the Sara Smiles Project. Lost my mojo. I'm hoping to get it moving again. Missing her helps to get me moving. I have a bunch of squares to get sewn together. I think I will start with that to get me motivated again.

New Lapghans!

Last Monday my hubby and I were going to the "old house" to pack up some of the last stuff at the house. We found a box on the front porch. It was two beautiful lapghans, pictured above. These were donated by Nancy L. from Sterling, MA. Thank you Nancy! They are beautiful!

IT'S A BOY!!

I got the call with the news from my sisters first official ultrasound. The tech is 99% sure it's a boy! We are all convinced Sara has a big part in this baby. She heard my moms and my prayers for a boy. We just feel it will make this easier for everyone not to be tempted to compare this baby to Sara. The tech also found her to be a bit further along.. so his new due date is March 2nd. That works out well with everyone! We aren't worried about when he arrives just as long as he is healthy and happy!

I'm also more convinced that Sara's original date for delivery of the lapghans to the nursing home of 2010 is becoming more practical. After a rough summer and now a move I finally am getting back in the spirit to make more lapghans. I will also have to start a new baby blanket for "Him". No names picked as of yet. They only had girls names! They can save those for "next" time :)

Congrats again Heather & Al! I know Sara is thrilled also!!