1,2,3,4...35

1,2,3,4,..35. Like a rhythm in my head. That's what I did all morning, count marigold seeds into the rows--35 seeds per row, 6 (or 12) rows per color, depending on popularity. It's a busy time in the greenhouse right now--mostly seeding. I seeded a 512 hole tray of portulacas, 3 seeds per hole, tiny like the period in normal typing--by hand.

Like I said in the profile, we operate a small greenhouse (7000 sq. feet) and because of its scale, we do everything by hand--equipment too expensive.

I would like to introduce you to the lovely ladies in the picture above: three of my four granddaughters: Kayla (now 18), Christine (now 16) and Elizabeth (now 20). I can't believe it, but for the 4th one, Kelsey, I couldn't find a picture with a sweater on it!! have to do something about that.

In my début post, I mentioned my inspirational grandmother "Oma". There she is, spinning away.

And here are my sister (left) and I, wearing matching knit dresses. I still have the pattern. Notice the extra long hem on my dress--room to grow.

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY: I belong to a little Roman Catholic church community. Our CWL (Catholic Women's League) has a membership of 9 ladies. We're small, but powerful. Almost 3 years ago we started a prayer shawl ministry. We knit or crochet shawls or lap robes, and while working on them we pray for the needs of the recipient--sometimes they are made for a certain person in mind, who is ill, or burdened by difficulties; other times we make them for when the need arises. After the garment is finished, we bring it to church, and the entire community prays over the shawl and the priest blesses it, whereafter it is presented to the recipient or a family member. Since the prayer shawls had all been given to ill people, to lighten up our mission, we decided to give a prayer baby shawl to all new babies in our community.

The prayer shawl pictured above was given to my youngest sister, who had been diagnosed with a very serious cancer. It so happened that the Sunday that she was to receive her prayer shawl, the new archbishop was visiting our church. So it was he who blessed her and the shawl. He had never heard of this ministry before, but was very impressed. My sister underwent months of gruelling treatments , both chemo and radiation, and is, at the moment, free of cancer.

I'm on dial-up internet, and am surprised that the picture took such a long time to upload, and yet the quality is not good.

Till next time: "Grandmas are always astonished to find themselves old enough to be grandmas." (Julie B. Jones)