Catching Up: Toys for Tots

So!  I have been formally chastised for not posting pictures of my projects.  And not just the recent projects either.  Readers, I beg your support (and forgiveness), you know how it is - daily activities, family, and WIP often takes precedence over blogging.

Here goes Round 1...
Toys for Tots is one of my favorite Christmas charities, based on the fact that our US Marines sponsor this program.  They volunteer their lives for our freedoms and have a spare hand to help children at Christmas.  And - I love their commercial where the little girl asks the Marine if he's Santa, but haven't seen it in a couple of years.  It makes me tear-up thinking about it.

Purchasing a gift doesn't seem adequate, so I sew.  Normally I make rag edge quilts, one for a boy, one for a girl, but this year I ventured into something new:  Pillow Pets!  These little guys are so cute, so easy, so soft and cuddly.  The idea came from this site:  http://www.allfreesewing.com/Sewn-Toys/Sewing-Pattern-for-Pillow-Pet with written and video instructions. 

I followed most of their instructions making a quick mod suggested by granddaughter.  We replaced the step to sew the head to the pillow cover by sewing Velcro (loop side) to the cover and (hook side) to the back of the head.  I used two strips about 4" long, spacing them 1" apart.  Granddaughter loves that she can yank off the head, cuddle with it at nap time and still use the pillow.  Two gifts for the price of one.  I love it because I can wash the pillow cover, dry it easily, AND the loops on the Velcro don't attach to other items in the dryer.  Multi-tasking?  OK, that's a stretch.

Sigh, life is good.

Zebra

Pink Puppy - TFT

Cat - TFT

Strange Relationship

I have a good friend, one of my best and one of my longest (oldest sounds so negative).  We met in college; but knew we were not compatible as boyfriend/girlfriend.  For years, we disapproved each others "partners."  Then the right woman came into his life, they married, had kids - two boys.  Those two are spitting images of their dad.  I question if they know who the real mother is.  Mom is sweet and gentle and very much a lady.  Me, I like to get my hands dirty, play with power tools, and enjoy the great outdoors.  I enjoy cooking, but cleaning can be left alone for a little while.

The youngest son and I were chatting one day, I believe we were grilling ribs in my backyard.  Jokingly I told him he was one of my favorite nephews.  He replied I was his favorite uncle.

Me:  "Uncle?"
Him:  "Yep, Dad always says you're one of the guys."
Me:  "Why would he say that?"
Him:  "Because you can do things Mom can't.  She can't tell the difference between a screwdriver and a hammer."

From that point I was known as "Uncle Cindy."

I am proud of both of these young men.  The eldest has finished his service with the United States Army, the youngest is now enlisted in the US Navy.  Thank you very much for your selfless decisions.