Unexpected gift

Over the summer I knitted several pairs of wool socks for a family friend.  This friend who is a few years older than I am, was in a serious car accident the day after she graduated from high school.  She was in a coma for 6 months and has a traumatic brain injury.....she has made many gains, although many go unnoticed unless you know her.  In the past six months she has been able to cough and sing for the first time in 17 years!  Due to her accident she is no longer able to walk (due to the brain injury).  Many people who are in wheel chairs do not have the best circulation in their arms and legs.  This leaves them having very cold hands and feet.  Well, she LOVED the socks, in fact wouldn't allow her mom to take them off her this summer.  As a thank you she and her mom found a special gift for the child I will adopt.  It was a completely unexpected gift that they left at my parent's home.  I finally decided to bring it home.  It is now being used by my two furry children as a place to sleep.

This is Bogart, he had been laying on the top of the toy sleeping, but decided to sit up when I came in with my camera.

Pippin also has been caught napping on the toy, but he usually prefers the Pottery Barn Anywhere Chair.  My cats (aka the boys) tend to claim unusual places to sleep.  I wonder what they will do when there is a crib or toddler bed in the room.

While I wait....

Sometimes it is hard filling the waiting time up.  So, I thought I would share some things that I have been doing recently during the wait.

These are the Valentine's that I made for some family, friends and co-workers.  I got the idea from Martha Stewart.  I was able to catch one of her episodes during the blizzard the other week.  I think they came out pretty cute :)

This is the 3-4 year old purple stripped sweater I have been working on.  I still need to find buttons for it and need to cover the inside seams with ribbon to ensure none of the ends come loose.  I am happy with how it turned out and discovered that it only took half the yarn I bought for it.  So, I have enough to knit another one!

Can anyone relate?

I am so tired of winter.  Usually it doesn't bother me...but after the lovely blizzard last week that gave us over 10 inches of snow and the several mornings of negative degree temps....I'm ready for some warmer weather.  So, I decided to look at pics from my trip to Hawaii a few years ago.  I was so lucky to spend 2 weeks with friends on the Big Island and get the locals' tour of the island.  It is amazing.  Hope you enjoy the pics!

East coast of the Big Island going towards south point

Can you see the turtles on the black sand beach?

The green turtles live here year round on the black sand beach a little over a mile from Pahala where I stayed. 
Snorkeling was amazing!  I saw several turtles, but don't touch it is illegal.

Akaka Falls on the north side of the Big Island.

 Akaka Falls....breath taking....wish I was there right now!  How about you?