The Story of Our Blizzard Blanket

The Blizzard Blanket is stored in the very top of my linen closet. I need a ladder to get it down. I'll do that one day soon and post a picture of the blanket that's so much a part of the boy's memory and mine.

The Blizzard Blanket became part of this little family’s history in January, 1978. Even though my mother taught me to crochet at an early age I had never, ever made anything larger than a dishcloth with a crochet hook. I had done lots of knitting and was comfortable with all aspects of the craft. I knew it was a lot easier to rescue ones self from a dropped stitch while crocheting than while knitting. With two young sons and a husband living almost 600 miles away I certainly didn't need a dropped stitch to ruin a perfectly good day.

A friend who lived close to me made a small afghan in granny-squares. She used bright colors to compliment a quilt her grandmother gifted to her. The boys liked it and talked about it over the next week or so. Next frame has me buying yarn as the boys selected a variety of colors. The decision was to frame each block in black was mine. My friend gave me a copy of her pattern and helped me get started. I decided to work the pattern using two strands of yarn. (Otherwise I would have had way too much yarn.) The first stitch was made on the Monday following New Year, 1978.

I found that the squares were easy to make and that I could hold a conversation with the boys, take part in some of their games, and watch meals cook while making the squares. When I had as many squares as the pattern called for I looked at the left over yarn and decided to keep making squares until most of the yarn was worked. That decision resulted in an afghan large enough for a king size bed. I started setting the huge, heavy monster together at the end of January and finished it in the early hours of the 5th day of February.

The 5th day of February, 1978, was a lovely day. Temps were in the high 60s to low 70s. The sun was shining. Children were so excited that they could play outside. My two boys were invited to visit with a friend who lived a few miles away. Because it was very close to the grocery store, I decided to do my shopping two days early. I only shopped once a month and our shelves were getting bare. I filled the trunk of the car and part of the front floorboard with groceries and drove by to pick up the boys.

When I stopped at their friend’s house the boys were ready to go. It was 1:15 and a fairly strong wind had begun to blow but the temps were still steady. The mother of the boy’s friend told me that, while the weather reports didn't say so, we were in for a severe blizzard. I didn't really believe her. You know how it is in the mountains – folk tales rule. No way was she correct.

By 3PM it was 35 degrees, wind was blowing, and snow was swirling! By 6PM the weather reports said we were in for “the storm of the century”. Our dog was in the dog run and I went to leash her and bring her inside. While I was outside I was caught in my first whiteout. I couldn't’t tell up from down but the dog pulled me to the door.

Shift workers were kept at jobs, civil defense declared a total curfew, power and phones were out. My next door neighbor and friend made it to my garage door (her husband was trapped at work) and stayed with me and the boys. We had plenty of food but no heat. Temps dropped to waaaay below zero and the wind howled for three days. We huddled under that afghan for hours at a time with the boys between us to keep them as warm as possible. Thus the Blizzard Blanket was born.

Now you know the rest of the story.

This was called “The Storm of the Century” It lasted from February the 5th to the 7th and covered the whole Northeastern United States.

Thursday Morning Rambling

I really don't know what happened last evening but it seemed to me that busy was the word of the evening. I was late preparing dinner (chicken pot pie) - everything seemed to be late the whole day. Could it be because I slept until 9 o'clock? I don't think so because I do that sometimes anyway. Whatever. Today seems more normal.

I've decided that I need to declare a hobby. Harry is busy with his two little companies plus coral sales and I need something to do that keeps me occupied. Don't suggest spring cleaning. I retired from one job and I'm retiring from that one, too. What I really need is something to do for the two or three hours after dinner and before bedtime. The TV is always on but I seem to have lost interest in most programming except for Lost. I know, I'll make an afghan. I've done it before - I can do it again. Which brings to mind "The Blizzard Blanket" That's a story I'll tell you all sometime later. I'd like to take it out of storage and have a picture to go with the story.

This is the day that I need to do some major damage at the grocery store/s. I really don't mind going to grocery shop, going through checkout, and loading the stuff. I hate unloading at home and putting everything away. I'm thankful, though, that we have plenty of stuff to put away. Tomorrow is play-day and I look forward to that. The boys are growing up fast and before long play-days with Nana will be boring. I'm making the most of these days.

I've rambled about nothing. Time to take a deep breath, put on my big girl britches, and get on with this day. Hope all my blog buddies have a good day. Until later.

Spring is Trying to Break Through

Hope springs Eternal.........Miracles do happen every day. These pics were taken in my yard this afternoon. I'm no photographer, but I wanted to share these anyway.

Not a lot to say this evening. I'm tired or lazy, depending on your view. I'll surf later after I prepare dinner. Hope I find everyone well, happy and looking forward to spring.

Weather, Schedules, and Happy Smiles

It's Monday evening and a beautiful Monday it has been! Warm, breeze (not wind), and mostly sunny. The weather fronts are coming in from the west and are predicted to be here around midnight. Temps predicted to be 60 at midnight and near freezing by morning. That spells trouble.

Tonight I'm going to re-prioritize my "list" I lost out before the children were ill and our trip. Now I'm home and things are on even keel again. Time to get some things done. I have a BIG box to put things in for the curb. I also have a box for things to donate. Before I lost out on my routine I was doing a pretty good job. I plan to do even better this time. I absolutely hate the way my house looks - too much stuff. The little ones love it, though.

Last evening, the youngest came running from the sewing room to the kitchen with a beach towel in his hand. His eyes were sparkling and he sounded so excited. "Nana, Nana, wook what I fownd!" He found the beach towels that we brought back from Florida. We planned to give both boys a towel before they leave for the beach in a month or so. (When spring breaks are over.) Needless to say, each boy went home with his beach towel and a happy smile. Those children love the beach! It's OK that the towels were found. Maybe they'll find other treasure, too. Any suggestions?

Hope everyone is safe, sound, and happy this evening.

I Love Our Sunday Routine

Gathering day was a happy normal day. Our expecting DIL and son decided she needed to stay home on her own comfy sofa. The baby is expected to be big and she's already getting pretty uncomfortable. We miss them but understand. Everyone else was here. The oldest grandson is finally fever free. This flu has really taken its toll on him. The youngest grandson was in fine form - smiling, giving hugs, and telling us about his week.

The menu was eye of round roast, garlic potatoes, gravy, cooked carrots, and the ever present green salad. Desert was a strawberry pie (made with fresh strawberries) topped with whipped cream. Harry and I will have the same (left overs) for dinner tomorrow.

It's a long story and I won't tell it tonight but.........After years of thinking my mother's special recipes were lost forever I found at least some of them.

Caroline, they were under a powder puff in a cookie tin. Your encounter with powder puffs made me remember that smelly tin so I opened it, moved the puff, and there they were.

I'm going to make each and every one of these recipes over the next few weeks. I made the meat loaf already and it was exactly as I remembered it. Harry really liked it and told me not to loose the recipe again. I cooked the eye of round according to mother's hand written notes today. I was afraid it would be tough as shoe leather but it wasn't. It was lean, firm, but very tender. The gang all complimented the roast and I know they liked it because of the way they ate it. (No half slices left on plates.) Having everyone here and cooking for them makes me happy.

The guys watched the NASCAR race and I checked on it as often as possible. It was not a clean cut race. Tony Stewart had an accident and was pretty shaken up. He had to be helped from the car. Later he complained about his back. I hope it is not anything serious. Jeff Gordon wrecked at the end of the race. He really took a hard hit into an inside hard wall. Jeff was - of course - shaken but smiling and saying that he just made a wrong move. Edwards won and did his customary back-flip from the car window to the ground.

And so went my day. I hope you also had a pleasant day. Thanks for stopping by. My best to you.

Memories and Thanks

It's a busy morning and my mind is very busy. Many of my blog friends have things going on that bring memories to the surface.

I received my first award since becoming a blogger - it's from Jamie at Grace, too. She has serious health problems and I feel very humble that she would have thought of me for an award. If you have time, please visit her blog and wish her well.

This is the day that I should see all the kids. It's always a happy time for me when they are here. We wish our little family in Phoenix could be here, too. That would make a perfect day even more perfect.

I'll try to post again this evening, but if I don't I will tomorrow and remember - I wish all of you only the best. I'm thankful for all of you.

At Soul's Request

OK, Soul, you asked for it. I don't have a copy of my yearbook picture but this was made within six months of that Sadie Hawkins Day dance. Somewhere I have a hard copy picture that was taken just before I left for that dance. Incidentally, it was a Rainbow Girls (Shrine) dance not a school dance. My date wasn't from the school I attended. He attended one of the private boy's schools in Chattanooga. (His name escapes me.) I - or rather - Dad provided a driver and car to pick up my date and take us to the dance. It was truly an experience.

The picture was taken with my Dad, who had just come home from the hospital following a heart attack. I was 17 and Dad was 75. Do you think that maybe I was an accident? You bet I was!