When I'm 64

Ok, So for me, this just might be the most noteworthy blog I have written  so far. 

I have FINALLY FINISHED DYEING MY HAIR and for more than a few reasons. 

1.   I'm tired of having it done.  

2.   It is expensive

3.   It is time consuming. (I have better things to do with this time.)

4.   I think the dye is causing my hair to thin and even fall out.

      (my hairdresser denies this fact....hmmmm)

5.   The darker color no longer matches my skin tone.

      (my hairdresser denies this fact but offers to "go lighter"  

      hmmmmmm.....)

6.    And  at the end of the day let's face it........

               I'M STILL 64 YEARS OLD 

I didn't come to this decision over night.  One cold day back in January of this year, soon after my 64th birthday, I was walking with my sister . I  began "airing all of my hair related complaints to her while  I lamenting that I feared looking old. "When she could get a word in she asked me, "Why not let the color grow out and see if you like it?  You know you can always dye it back if you want to.  Just like that she planted the seeds of change. After all It was in my own power to decide what I wanted to do.  By the end of the month I had cancelled my standing appointment and started on the 9 month journey. I had my hair cut as short as I could stand it and wore a lot of head wraps and hats to cover the unsightly white roots that appeared. At about 9 months in it most of the color was gone. 

The big surprise for me is that I LOVE IT! I have no regrets though I do admit to being a bit startled from time to time by the 

"old lady" 

looking back at me in the mirror. 

Thanks to Paul McCartney and John Lennon for their timeless song "When I'm 64" released in 1967 

I have to admit though that 64 years old seemed a lot older  in 1967 than it does now! 

When I'm Sixty-Four

The Beatles

When I get older losing my hair

Many years from now

Will you still be sending me a Valentine

Birthday greetings bottle of wine

If I'd been out till quarter to three

Would you lock the door

Will you still need me, will you still feed me

When I'm sixty-four

You'll be older too

And if you say the word

I could stay with you

I could be handy, mending a fuse

When your lights have gone

You can knit a sweater by the fireside

Sunday mornings go for a ride

Doing the garden, digging the weeds

Who could ask for more

Will you still need me, will you still feed me

When I'm sixty-four

Every summer we can rent a cottage

In the Isle of Wight, if it's not too dear

We shall scrimp and save

Grandchildren on your knee

Vera, Chuck and Dave

Send me a postcard, drop me a line

Stating point of view

Indicate precisely what you mean to say

Yours sincerely, wasting away

Give me your answer, fill in a form

Mine for evermore

Will you still need me, will you still feed me

When I'm sixty-four

Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul Mccartney

When I'm Sixty-Four lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Peace and Love
Jackie
✌

WHAT 'S THE needlePOINT?

I have to say this endeavor has benefited me in ways that I never anticipated. As I cull through the endless projects awaiting my attention; some old and some not so old,  I am in awe of the way that time passes by so quickly yet the unfinished items remain frozen in time. Here is one of my favorite photos from 1978.  My little boy happily turns his breakfast bowl of  applesauce and oatmeal on top of his head. He is proud as punch and his face shows it. It was hilarious and I was lucky enough to capture the moment forever; but look behind him. On the wall are two needlepoint pieces my mom made for me when we moved in to our new little apartment.  I wasn't the only one who loved them, my little boy, so sweet and funny,  used to wiggle around in his high chair until his chubby little hand could knock them off the wall; he was always delighted with  his efforts. We have moved many times since that photo was taken and the needlepoint fruits have been hung and re-hung until eventually they were stored away and forgotten.  I Recently came across them in the bottom of a box of old photos; there they were just waiting to be found.  Time paused andI I remembered.  The wall decorations were filthy and the frames broken, but the memories were as clear as they could be. After a good soaking and blocking and a minor repair here they are. 

The fruits grace my wall again but this time they are appreciated in a different way. My baby boy is a grown man with a life of his own.   My mom, is now 91 years old; her failing eye sight and memory loss has sadly robbed her of her ability to create such beautiful things  and I am more aware than ever that our time together is dwindling.  I wonder where has the time has gone and I know I need to hold tight to my memories now. 

 Time is fleeting

                        

When Charity Calls

One problem with my plan of  "Finally Finishing" every project I have ever started is that more often than not, the intended recipient has either "grown out of" or grown beyond" the intended item.  In many cases I have the pattern, material and accessories but lack anyone in my life that would want or appreciate the gift, therefore forcing me to look elsewhere for a home for my project. This was actually easier than I thought  It would be. The internet has a plethora of charities looking help. Not only have I found many deserving charities but I am making significant progress with my "stash busting" efforts too.  I have found many places to assist starting with:   Enactivist   

founder of the 

"Immigration Yarn Project." 

Hot of the needles is my contribution to their "Banner Project" which will be held in San Francisco later this year. 

Pattern is by:  The Stitch Hiker All profits from the  sale of this pattern will be donated to the Southern Poverty Law Center

Join Enactivist in mounting the nation’s largest yarn-based work of public art in honor of our rich immigrant history.

Be sure to click the link above if you are interested in crafting for this wonderful program.

Share the Love! 

Peace

Lost Souls Skulls Shawl

I think if I could stay out of thrift shops and second hand stores I could get a handle on my ever growing yarn stash and thus catch up on the mountain of unfinished projects.

 I can't ...

the problem is bigger than me!

   I know I don't need all the stuff I buy;  it's about THE FIND. Some of you know what I mean.  I see something interesting and I want to either: fix it, paint it, sew it, knit or crochet with it or re-purpose it.  Several months ago while perusing the shelves of my favorite thrift shop I spotted a bag of 16 skeins of  Red, Jaeger Cotton DK yarn for 12 dollars. All new and in the original package. With no idea what I would do with it  I 

grabbed it before anyone else spotted it.  In a giddy "rush: I made my way to the register. The woman behind me said "good find" while others nodded in agreement. "It  is," I said proudly. (the bragging rights definitely helped make the purchase worth it. )"What will you do with it?" another asked. "I haven't  a clue," I confessed.  I knew time would tell....and it did. 
     By October I had signed up for a Christmas Swap through Ravelry My assigned swap partner was a lovely woman from Germany who I learned through corresponding over the internet that among other things she likes the color red and skulls. It took no time at alI to find a pattern and get crocheting. I  worked very hard and while it was a ton of work I was able to complete and ship it in time for  Christmas.

 My swap partner  was surprised and very pleased with her gift. She seemed genuinely  appreciative of  the shawl and my efforts. 

If you would like to make on you can find the free pattern on Ravelry

Lost Souls Skull Shawl

Spring Has Sprung

The color green always reminds me of Spring and this year I welcome the season change more than ever. We've just endured our 4th Nor'easter in as many weeks and I am done with "Old Man Winter" but enough complaining  for now. I'm happy to report I have completed last week's  assignment for Frankie Brown's Knit Along; Square #11.  Frankie's Knitted Stuff. It's called Honey Comb.  I've committed to using up my "mile high"stash pile for this project and it is starting to show. It shouldn't surprise anyone that it is sewing all these squares together that is proving to be a challenge for me; the "queen of putting things off" and I'm already falling behind. While I didn't set out to use  green I'm glad I did.  This soft, light green color reminds me of new seasons, new life and hope. This yarn is probably a leftover from one of the million baby items my 90 year old mom has made over the years and am thrilled to add it to my blanket.   She recently lost her ability to knit so I inherited her stash.  

Thanks Mom, it's exactly what

 I DIDN'T
 need. 😊

HAPPY SPRING
 EVERYONE 

Oh, and I

I couldn't resist re-posting this little leprechaun
 again!

(Hat and Beard crocheted by 
"Yours Truly")

Snow Day

Calm before the storm!

Here we are again in the North East enduring yet another "Nor'easter." The wind is howling and the tides are high. In the last month we've had more than our share of wild weather; the lights are flickering and my fingers are crossed. 

We are luckier than some. We are safe and warm; we can wait it out.  Being forced inside gives "license" to do whatever I want....(or not want) to

do.  I'd be lying if I said I was disappointed. Today I will Finally Finish this week's assignment for the Ravelry group Frankies' Blankie .  I joined this lively group to help me  hone my knitting skills while using the plethora of "stash" that I have acquired.  Each week Frankie Brown, our Group Leader, assigns a new knitted square pattern. At the end we will have knit 50 squares and sewn them together for a wonderful and unique blanket. The group's lively members are quick to encourage and support each other's efforts while offering sound advice and praise. I certainly am not a master knitter but have managed to keep up. 

Today, hopefully

 I will Finally Finish Square

  #10 "Dotted Ladder"

Peace and Love

Walk Of Shame

Here I am ...I'm back.  

 My excuses are many but I'll spare you the drama and the details and get right to it,  the object of this blog. While I've certainly neglected recording my progress I never abandoned my goals of  Finally Finishing every project I've ever started and left undone. So allow me my "Walk of Shame" and then without further adieu let's move on.  
        Ages ago I came upon a darling pattern for a  crocheted coin purse that I wanted to make my sisters for our annual  Family Christmas Swap. I bought the "kiss clasp" hardware and more  cotton yarn giving me enough now "to sink a ship."  I managed to use some of it for washcloths and some for baby hats, but of course I never got around to making the purses for those special ladies in my life.   Finally I did make one (with many others to come I hope) It was for a group swap I took part in with Ravelry This little swap seemed to be the perfect gift for my partner. 

If you get the hankering to make one too, click the link below. 

Be sure  to scroll down on blog for this particular one.

I used 

  Crochet Coin Purse 

from Lyndieloop's Blog