Doubly Warm Scarf

I wished you could feel this scarf right through the picture to see how nice and thick it is. This will be doubly warm when the weather turns frigid here in Central Ohio and keep one of our homeless folks warm. Thanks so much to Sandie for keeping these scarves coming for our cause. Scarf #103

Goals:
Hats 178 (22 needed to reach goal of 200)
Mittens 43 pairs (57 need to reach goal of 100)
Scarves 103 (97 needed to reach goal of 200)

If you didn't get a chance, please read this post, I'm asking for a favor. AND, special summer updates for our folks living under the bridge posted here. PLEASE take time to read these posts.

As always many thanks.

Asking a Special Favor, Please and Thanks

Many of you are aware of my nieces long hard battle against cancer. Janet battled Osteosarcoma. She had multiple surgeries, spent a year of her life in the hospital (her senior year in HS), she endured massive amounts of chemotherapy. I'm happy to say, she is doing well. My favor is to ask you to suport her and her continued fight; by signing her dedication page. This page is part of the Lance Armstrong "Living Strong", action.

Janet's page is here

Thank you.

I'm happy to say, I've finally finished a scarf for our cause, (#102) and am working on another navy blue one. The color seems off in this picture to me, not sure why.

Goals:
Hats 178 (22 needed to reach goal of 200)
Mittens 43 pairs (57 need to reach goal of 100)
Scarves 102 (98 needed to reach goal of 200)

Special Yarn = Sandie's Scarf

If you've been here recently, you know Sandie's last scarf is the one that made us reach our goal, and now it's Sandie again pushing us forward in the + column. YIPPEE! You might also know how extra special I think it is that she's using donated yarn from a dearly departed friend to carry these donations forward. This is Scarf #101 (1 over our original goal of last year of 100, so now we'll make our goal 200).

I hope you're all having a wonderful summer, though it's quite cool and damp here at the moment and doesn't seem like summer at all. We had a fire going last night to keep warm while attending a special gathering at Jan's house. Jan is my SIL, she's the one that delivers all our hand knit and crocheted goodies to Rae to be distributed to those in need, both under the bridge and at the free clinic.

I've added links to Sandie's blog, and both my SIL, Jan's so you can all pay a visit above, and here am leaving links about special summer needs, as well a story about scattered homeless. If you've not yet read those post and commented, please do. Perhaps you can share a story about homeless in your area. I'm also still wanting to follow up on the story to see about a shelter or something in the area where these folks were scattered from due to the Park.

I'm still finding knitting and crocheting difficult due to the association with Mom and all those hours at the hospital, but am working on it. I do have a scarf going for this project, and some granny squares.

Goals:
Hats 178 (22 needed to reach goal of 200)
Mittens 43 pairs (57 need to reach goal of 100)
Scarves 101 (99 needed to reach goal of 200)

And while you're visiting either of my SIL's blog's be sure and wish her Happy Anniversary. We were celebrated 40 years last night at the gathering.

Current Needs and updates Under The Bridge

Hi all,
I emailed with Rae (our lady who feeds the folks under the bridge), the other day. Wanted to give you some current information about how people are fairing. There currently are more women under the bridge than previously, usually 4-5 per week. People have a need for batteries for flashlights, in order to see after dark. Socks for men and women are always needed, throughout the year due to wet feet when they can't get in out of the eliminates. They have a need of toilet paper, something that never crossed my mind. Mens pants are currently needed too, in addition to your knitting and crocheting hats, mittens, and scarfs; if you're able to send any of those items I'll pass them along to help these folks.

In early October Rae plans to send letters, and make phone calls to churches for any used blankets they might be able to offer. Shortly after that is when the temps really start to dip.

Sadly, many deal with poison ivy and poison oak in the summer months. They often are looking for a place to sleep after dark and end up in the poison without knowing it. Sadder still, many have spent 30 days in jail for pan handling; though the flip side of that is they do have a roof over their heads, food, and a place to sleep during their jail time.

Such is the plight of these homeless folks leaving under the bridge. Not just in this one location we know about; but across this great country of ours. If mailing items for these folks is a problem and you still want to help, please search out those in need in your local area. We can't rid the country of this problem, but helping in many ways is possible. Please continue to do what you can. It is appreciated by many.

**Next up, pictures of another scarf from Sandie (camera batteries are being charged as we speak). Please check back. I'm currently working on a navy scarf.

Homeless are often scattered.

Yesterday while my family gathered to celebrate our Nations birthday and have our traditional cook out, my youngest nephew, Ryan told a story I'd like to share with you all.

He works for the Division of Parks here in our city. Loves it and loves being outdoors. He was telling us about a new park in the works. Well, really not a new park...an area that had been a park of sorts, had gotten run down and wasn't taken care of---in a not so good part of the city. Over time homeless moved in, for them the area cast off and abandoned by others was home. Somewhere along the line the city decided to re-claim it and bring new life to the park. It will have a new name and a dedication is soon to take place. Everyone's first reaction was cool, a nice new park thats good. It played on my mind throughout the day. What happened to those homeless folks, where did they go........do they get the same "New Life" the park does? We all know the sad answer to that thought, they do not!

Will the park revitalize the area for the community? I don't know; but hope so. I would like to think that something positive will come of this action. It's the ying and yang of life. The positive is perhaps a safer, nice new park for families and children........the negative displacing already downtrodden people. I want to find out more about this new park and the area it is to support. Perhaps the beyond part of our Bridge and Beyond could be of some use? Perhaps there's a community homeless shelter.

It's warm here now in Central Ohio, you may think making hats, mittens, and scarves has no place at the moment. PLEASE, keep them coming. We hope to be ready for this season to help those less fortunate.

My continued thanks to one and all for your dedication, your hard work and your big hearts. This is certainly something to celebrate along with our Nations Birthday. I hope you were all able to spend the special holiday with friends and family. Travel over to my travel blog for a virtual visit in Colonial Williamsburg, what could be more fitting on this 4th of July wkend.

• The Red Cardinal is our state bird. Such pretty birds. This one I photographed was perched on the back of a chair on my deck. I took the photo through the door to the deck. Didn't want to open it and send the bird flying away.
• I'm in the process of communicating with Rae to get a bit of an update for you all on our Bridge People