Friday, March 18, 2016

Returning to reality................




My visit with my sister Claudia and her husband Don has come to an end.  How come work weeks go so slow but visits with your sister wiz by at the speed of sound?  It was great, each and every minute of it was great.  It is so nice to have a sister that you feel is an extension of you.  Well to be honest a better extension of you.  I sort of feel like I am missing an important body part with her gone.  That will ease up as the days go by, it always does, but it is still a pretty prominent feeling right now.  Now remember I have one sister that has not been in contact with Claudia or I for years, even through my parents illnesses and deaths, so it isn't like I don't understand that siblings aren't all fabulous.  I think that is what makes my relationship with Claudia even more sweet, we know what the dark side of sisterhood is all about.  

I know one little boy that is going to be pretty sad when he returns home from school and therapy today.  He had the best time ever!  He wowed his aunt and uncle with all his skills, learned new songs how to play the ukulele, and had them run frantically outside several times a day to practice fire drills. He kept them laughing and very, very busy.  I bet they need to go home just to rest.



The whole time they were visiting I was working on Lovey Lamb a pattern by the famous Alicia Paulson of posie gets cozy blog fame.  She is an amazing designer, many of you have made her Maggie Rabbit.    Her newest designs are this sweet lamb and a bunny.  When she had them ready I ordered mine right away, well you know my sheep obsession.  This pattern was fun to make and very easy.  Based on these pictures I should have stuffed mine more, but it is what it is.  I did order the yarn to go with it, but after making the first one decided to make another with a little bit softer yarn.  The first one was going to be for me, and the second for Little Buddy...............
.

But he just might have other plans.  He calls this his Toad-da-roe or something like that.  We have yet to figure out what he is talking about.  And just in case you are wondering he called it his new favorite toy, ah well, maybe number two will be for me!

I will catch up with all of you this weekend.

Happy Friday.

30 comments:

kathy b said...

Mere my sisterhood has a similiar story. Just spent time with my Minnesota sister and we are very close. Estrangement is all over my family of origin. So sad. I pray it never infects my own family.

LOVE the fire drills. Hahahahha. Love the sheepy.

happy Friday. !

Lilbitbrit said...

Isn't it nice to have a sister, I am so glad I do, she is my tie and link to memories, mum and dad and so much more. You all seem to have had such a wonderful time. And I love Dunedin

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I know it was so hard to say goodbye to Claudia and Don! Just so happy they were able to come for a visit and get wowed by Little Buddy. He is beyond adorable. I hope you have a good weekend. The little bub a dub is so cute!
hugs,
Linda

Anonymous said...

Toad-da-roe is absolutely adorable (as is the little guy holding it).

When Stephen was little he won a goldfish at a fair. He named it Tuna Dinner. At least I THINK that is what he said. LOL

Hope Claudia and her husband have a safe trip home and can come back and visit again soon.

A Whole Lotta Magic said...

Sisters can be the best. I will never understand estrangement. What could possibly possess someone to throw away their entire family?
Happy Friday and all the best, Meredith.
Sue
xo

Caffeine Girl said...

I hate that feeling of loneliness that sets in when loved ones leave after a visit. My loved ones are on both coasts, and here I am in the middle. It's hard.

I don't blame LB one bit for taking ownership of the sheep! I would grab it if I could ... but not out of LB's hands!

Betsy said...

I have an inkling of how difficult it is to have Claudia leave. My sister came to visit with her husband last summer for a week and it was agonizing when they left. Between the stories on her blog and what you told us today though, it looks as though the visit was a great success. I laughed out loud at the fire drills! How blessed you and Claudia are to be each other sisters. The love you have for each other is very evident for us all to see. Your other sister is missing out so much. It makes me sad to think of it. Have a lovely lovely weekend Merdith and I'll be praying for a safe trip home for Claudia and Don.
Blessings, Betsy

mamasmercantile said...

My older sister was estranged from us for 20 years or so, my parents mainly she is just starting to make contact and visit. It really is hard, there is a lot of bitterness. As always Little Buddy made me smile, I love his new favourite toy...

Karen said...

It's so nice that you all had a chance to be together. I loved seeing the photos on Claudia's blog. You live in beautiful place and that, combined with being with family, is as good as it gets! xo

Teresa Kasner said...

I'm so happy to see all the joyful photos of Claudia, Don and Little Buddy having fun together. What a treat for you all! I'm so glad that both of my sisters live within a 35 minute drive from me and that we all get together pretty well. I didn't know you were making Alicia's lamb.. it turned out ADORABLE!! Now I want to make one. LOL! OK.. I better get off to swimming.. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

kristieinbc said...

I'm glad you had such a great visit with your sister, and that Little Buddy enjoyed time with his aunt and uncle. I am really close to one of my brothers, but the other one has been in and out of prison most of his adult life. It's hard to believe he was raised in the same house, by the same parents, as my other brother and me. I love your crocheted sheep!

Anonymous said...

I think LB might be referring to Totoro. It's a Japanese movie I have watched so many times when my boys were little. Hope I can post this; don't have a Google account or the others as well!! Long time reader tho!
Linda from Boston

Lynne said...

So nice to see you spending time with your sis. Mine lives only about 3 miles away and we spend a lot of time together. I would hate to move away from her. I love your lamb! I debated on getting that pattern, but I will just enjoy the pictures of Little Buddy with his. Have a great weekend :)

Anonymous said...

Maybe it is Totoro. A Walt Disney film a Studio Ghibli film from director Hayao Miyazaki.A ...nidia

susanne said...

There is always something missing when someone you love leaves, part of your heart, they take it with them. There is a darker side to brothers too. I don't have any sisters, but I do have those 5 younger brothers. Right now they are not happy with each other and it all stems from being speciousness and distrust over absolutely nothing. Hurtful things have been said and found out. I try to be like Switzerland, neutral. The sheep is a cute pattern and actually I think that pattern was perfect for Buddy. It looks to be kinda rolly-polly (now is that spelled right?). Every time I see a sheep pattern I think of you. I know how you say you love them. My children flew home from Florida this afternoon and had a safe flight. I am sure they are ready to go back to their separate lives after spending a week with each other. My little guy got to see Mickey & Minnie Mouse and also got to see Woody and Buzz of Toy Story fame. He even got to go to Lego Land. I was told he was having the time of his life, I was sent a lot of text messages with pics with big smiles. I guess I miss out cause I don't fly and just can't manage all the walking involved with ventures like that. I keep the home fires burning. Thank goodness that isn't literally, cause I doubt that my meager supply of bottled water would put one out.
Have a good weekend,
Sue :)

Gracie Saylor said...

Sweet Lamb Lovey! I resisted Alicia's initial introduction [I don't know how! ] but now I am tempted again! I am so glad you had a great visit with Claudia and Don, and so very sorry for the chasm between you and your other sister and I pray that she will have a change of heart. xx

Chris said...

I am so happy to hear you have had such a happy time with your sis and bil this past week. You are so well overdue for some happy joyful times! I'm sure they are missing you and your family so much. Lovely pictures- you can see the love and happiness just popping out! Love the lambs- they're So darn cute!! Families, hmmm, the sister I have wouldn't cross the street to help my Folks or me out- never heard a word from her. Now she has some health problems, evidently I'm her bestie?!? Go figure,

Jo@awholeplotoflove said...

I'm glad you all had a good time. I'm very lucky that my sister lives just down the road from me so we have the chance to see each other often I;m sorry you can't do that. Love the little lamb - very sweet xx

Jo said...

Happy times indeed Meredith. Jo x

Babajeza said...

Hopefully, you will meet again soon! Hugs, Regula

Blondie's Journal said...

It sounds like your Little Buddy really is a people lover. I love that in kids. Some can be very shy and it takes them a long time to warm up to people...some of my young nieces from out of town are like that. By the time they leave we are all caught up and smiling!

I love the little lamb! You definitely have to have one of your own! I used to knit but I was terrible at it. I envy those who do and find it to be so relaxing. I hope you make the bunny, too.

Thanks for the visit!

Jane

Judy S. said...

Looks to me like you're going to have to knit another lamb for you! LB is so cute. Glad you and your sis had a good visit! Good days/weeks/years go way too fast, don't they?

Grandmabeckyl.blogspot said...

It's always hard the first few days after company leaves, especially when it's your dear sister. So glad it was a good visit. I like the lamb you knitted even though Buddy confiscated it! My sis stops in once or twice a year, sometimes staying a night. About two hours away so we try to get together when we can a few times a year. Happy spring weekend to you!

handmade by amalia said...

That little boy is such a darling. And yes, sisters are the best! I'm lucky enough to have two.
Amalia
xo

Janet said...

So glad you had a wonderful time with Claudia and Don. Such a pity time flies when you don't want it to. It is wonderful that you have a close friendship with your sister. It is truly something to treasure.

Anita said...

Oh I love your lamb!!!! How sweet, love the stitches you've
used too. Buddy looks pretty happy with the lamb. Looking at
Buddy's patch made me recall a conversation I had with a student
last week. She too has to wear a patch as much as she can and her
Grandma helps her make super cool girl patches to make it all fun.
I didn't realize she wore one. It's a small world.
Sad the visit with your sister has come to an end. I have a Darth Vader sister and a Snow White sister too...lol...it happens in most families I think. Stick with the ones that make you feel good.
Cheers, Anita.

Jo said...

It sounds like you all had a wonderful time. My sister and I had a relationship like that, she died sixteen years ago and I still miss her, and our relationship, so much. The lamb is so cute, no wonder it's Little Buddy's new favourite toy.

20 North Ora said...

I am so glad you and Claudia and Don had such a good visit. They are so in awe of LB as are most of us. He is so precious.

I am very fortunate in that my three sisters and I are so close. We lost our baby sister several years ago but the other two and I talk daily and spend at least two mini vacations a year together. It makes for precious memories. I'm so glad you two have each other.

Judy

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

I'm pretty sure almost every family has dysfunction. Mine is rife with it. And so is my husband's. :/ That plump little lamb sure is cute. I doubt you'll be able to make the switch with Z Man. You may just have to stick with number 2. :) Glad you enjoyed quality time with Claudia and Don. I know they loved spending time with all of you.

Toni said...

It sounds like just the loveliest of visits!