I Never Promised You an Organic Garden

2011 has been a great year for Loops of Love.  We recently did an inventory of all the items made in 2011, and it was quite an impressive number of items.  In case you aren’t aware, Loops of Love is a charitable knitting and crochetting group I started in cooperation with Richmond Church of the Brethren and Unwind Yarn Shop.  We meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month from 5 to 7pm at the yarn shop, and we donate handmade items to a number of local organization including: Birth-t0-Five, Salvation Army, YWCA, Genesis Women’s Shelter, Reid Babies, and Nobel Women’s Circle.

Photo Copyright Jim Hair

Our tally of donated goods for the first half of 2011 is:

Baby Hats: 33
Kids Hats: 23
Adult Hats: 15
Baby Blankets: 19
Chemo Caps: 7
Washcloths: 10
Mittens:3
Baby Sweater: 1
Scarfs: 9
Booties: 7
Slippers: 1
Shaw : 1

A big thank you is in order to all the people who show up every week to knit or crochet, all the people who don’t attend but donate completed items, all the people who donate yarn and needles, and especially Unwind Yarn Shop for hosting us each week.

I can’t wait to see how much stuff we create in the rest of 2011.

For those of you who don’t know her, the girl in the photo next to me is my little sister.  I say little knowing she would quickly remind me that she is no longer my little sister but my younger sister.  Only 3 years, 11 months, 10 days, etc.  I am pretty sure she even has the number of minutes separating our ages memorized. But to me she will always be my little sister.  (Deal with it Meg, it’s not changing).

My little sister who,  by virtue of me being her BIG sister, I feel the need to harass, help, direct, give unsolicited advice to, support, and protect. So two years ago when I found out she has Lupus it was quite upsetting.  Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body.  Basically it causes your immune system to attack various parts of your body.  In Megan’s case, it is currently manifesting itself in joint pain and extreme fatigue, but it can vary from person to person and even from year to year. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for Lupus only treatments to keep the symptoms under control.

However, this May, Megan is participating in a walk to raise money for the Lupus Foundation of America.  The money she and other walkers raise will go to support research for a cure and help provide programs and treatments for people suffering from Lupus, along with supporting their friends and families. I would love to be able to join her team and walk with her in May; however, the walk is taking place in North Carolina, and I am in Indiana.  So in order to still participate and support my little sister, I am trying to help her raise as much money as possible.

Her team has set $1,000 as their goal, and they are on their way.  But, they could use your help getting to that goal.  You can donate online at Megan’s website or by giving me check or cash.  I will be sending her all the cash donations I round up before the walk.

I know everyone is probably already inundated with request to support various causes or groups, and I am sorry to pile on.  But this is something extra close to me and my family, and I want to do anything I can to support my little sister.

Thank you for your help!

Thanks to my friend Emily, who took the time to organize a local team, I am participating in the March of Dimes’ March for Babies this year.  The event is a 6 mile walk on September 18th to raise money for babies.  Specifically, to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

Since my husband was a preemie, and I have a lot of friends who have had to deal with sick or early babies, this is something that I feel connected to and I am excited to raise money for. Soooo, I am aiming high and hoping to raise $1,000 by the time of the walk.

This is where I am hoping for your help.  Please make a donate to support baby health.  You can make a donation online at my personal site or by cash or check.  Every cent is a step in the right direction!

As I have mentioned in past blog posts, I have recently become obsessed with knitting.  I am currently working on no less than 6 projects simultaneously and have a growing stash of knitting needles and yarn.  I knit while watching tv, in church, at meetings, hanging out with friends, in the car, and on planes.  I knit gifts, household items, clothing, etc.

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