Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder

 

Isn't she lovely indeed! A week ago I made a quick trip up to Rotorua for a very special event... my Grandmother's birthday. What made it even more special was that it was her 90th birthday! Here she is carving up her decadent rich chocolate cake. I was also touched to see the necklace see was wearing, I had given it to her for her birthday fifteen years ago. I spotted it at the Christchurch Art Centre and had to buy it for her, it's made from mauve hand dyed silk twisted into balls. For something so fragile I'm amazed at how well it has lasted.

Anne-Marie was asking how my Mother was doing... well this photo tells the story. Here is Mum with Grannie at the birthday lunch. Mum is doing well but is still having a few difficulties adjusting to life without Dad. I know how she feels!

 

  Here I am with Grannie and my gorgeous cousin Julie. I'm wearing a jersey because it was a freezing cold day I wore this particular one because I knew that Grannie would be wearing her burgundy suit. There's nothing like being a co-ordinated family!

 

After the party I spent a couple of days with Mum at her place in Hamilton. On the way back I drove through the central plateau and here we have photo's of Lake Taupo, the Desert Road and Mount Ruapehu... covered in cloud. The weekend snow fall had melted but it was still a very cold and wet seven hour drive home.

 

Time for an update on the UNICEF "Unite for Mother's" Charity knitting project. Here we have my boss Karen and I presenting Sarah from UNICEF with all the blankets we knitted.

 

I promoted the project at my work (PSIS) and got several people at Head Office and in the branches knitting squares for the cause. I spent my lunch hours helping people with their knitting and sewing up the squares and used my train commute and evenings knitting squares, including a PSIS square for each blanket. The response was so overwhelming that we were able to present eleven blankets to UNICEF, my one, one from the Friday Night Sock Club, and nine from PSIS staff. It was the ultimate example of how kind and generous knitter's can be. The blankets have since been distributed to needy families in Papua New Guinea. On the left is the blanket of 25 individual squares I knitted. In the centre is a photo of all eleven blankets we were able to contribute. On the right is a closeup of one of the blankets with the PSIS square standing out.

Comments

[QueerJoe]

What a wonderfully uplifting blog post. The photos of your grandmother and mom are wonderful and the blankets for Unicef art truly an inspiration.

Your jumper is pretty spectacular as well.

[anne marie in philly]

granny does not look 90, your mum looks super (considering all she has endured this year), the blankets are fabu, and you are such a handsome guy!

thanks for sharing, james! smooches to you and ian and jazz!

[Jennifer]

What a touching post. First of all - Happy Birthday Granny. She looks marvelous. I love that you wore a matching sweater. You Mum looks fabulous! I can't even imagine what a difficult journey she is enduring alone. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with her and you.

Now onto the Unicef blankets. They are fantastic. What an amazing gesture. What marvelous blankets. What lucky recipients to have you and PSIS in this world.

[Cath]

Thanks for the uplifting post. It is great to see the pics of your mum and grandmum. They look quite happy and healthy. The picture of Lake Taupo is beautiful.