Where to Start? Where to Start?

What an unbelievable summer...

In mid-June our Hospital had a visit from the Magnet appraisers. Only 2% of hospitals in the US have achieved Magnet Status which is a big honkin' award earned by the Nurses for the hospital. I was privileged to be an escort for the lead appraiser, and it was a terrific opportunity and experience. (We found out on Thursday that we were officially redesignated. It's really huge.)

Two days later I left for Girl Scout Camp where I spent the next 5 weeks in a cabin in the mountainous woods of western Virginia. I lived in the health center. It was a lot of work, but a fantastic experience. I learned so much, and really enjoyed it.

My days began a bit before 7 am, administered meds before and after breakfast, and after lunch and dinner, and before bedtime. It's hard to describe what filled the days, because every day was different.

There was the day that 7 girls arrived simultaneously with multiple bee stings. There were numerous scrapes and bumps. There were quite a few "roving" stomachaches that were usually associated with homesickness. There were headaches and cramps, multiple mosquito bites, pulled muscles, rashes, splinters, throwing up (for some reason people always felt it necessary to state whether it was inside or outside the "biffies" (latrines)), and so forth.

I was rather proud of the fact that only 2 campers went to see the doctor during the 5 weeks I was there. (The staff record wasn't as good--I think we averaged 1-2 per week.)

The day usually lasted until 11 pm. There was a lot of paperwork-- not only documenting the daily occurrances, but preparing for the next week's campers.

I met a lot of fantastic people. My boss at camp was amazing, and it was really good to work with the staff who came from around the world.
Would I do it again? In a minute!!!!

I left camp 2 weeks before the season ended to join The Husband and The Offspring as well as The Parents, The Siblings and their Collective Offspring for a week on a lake in Minnesota. It was very strange going from my cabin in the mountains in the woods with Girl Scout rules to flying first class.The Annual Family Get-Together (aka FolkFest)
That's my parents, my brothers and sisters and our collective kids. There are a few missing from the picture, but they were present in our hearts. We have been able to get together for a week every summer for many years. What a blessed time. We are so very fortunate. The kids are all growing up, and I laughed so hard at their wit and antics. I don't get to see my nieces and nephews very often, and I am overwhelmed by their personalities, talents, and caring for each other. We always have a wonderful time together. I just love spending time with my brothers and sisters (and that includes the spouses.) I have learned so much from each of them, and as the years go by, I just love them all more and more.

While in the Northwoods of Minnesota, one needs some field trips. A large group of us went to Fargo, North Dakota. Seemed like a good idea. We and had lunch at a brewery that served samples of 6 different beers for $4:






saw the Roger Maris Museum (that's Roger and Mickey Mantle with President Truman):





and a reconstructed Viking ship and Viking Church:









My Parents, The Husband and I went to the headwaters of the Mississippi River--Lake Itasca-- and we walked across the Mississippi. (That's the south end of The Husband.) We took a side trip to Bemidji-- home of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. The Parents were there nearly 60 years ago-- on their honeymoon.
And that evening we returned to a sight that we shared every evening-- and never tired of:
Re-Entry

Has been a bit strange for a number of reasons:
*45 minute commute in the car vice 3 steps from my room to the treatment room.
*Non-stop political commercials vice no tv, radio or newspapers for 5 weeks.
*Having to decide what to wear vice putting on either khaki or olive scrub pants and a t-shirt.
*Air conditioning vice being warm or being chilly, compliments of Mother Nature.
*Blow-drying my hair vice being perfectly happy with frizz.
*Extra work tasks vice just gettin' through the day.

The good things about being back are that I get to be with The Husband (who, by the way, redid our living room-- painted walls, ceiling, and installed new crown molding), and I have a bit more free time-- as in time to knit. I only knit for about 45 minutes-TOTAL- during my summer.

Since I've been home and watching the Olympics, I've been working on linen hand towels. The Summer Camp Sweater is almost done (Lord-- when will I ever get anything done in time for its intended purpose?) I had a GREAT time on Friday because Knit Happens had their huge summer sale. I picked up a bunch of beautiful orange WaterColor merino wool that will become a sweater (February Lady Sweater, maybe?) , a boatload of grey linen that will become a short-sleeved top-- probably a bit of lace involved. I got yarn for some endpaper mitts. It was terrific to see Holly, Kelly and Steph. I saw them last just before leaving for camp, but missed them a bunch.

So as my life returns to whatever seems to be normal for me, and we approach the Fall, I have one overriding thought:

GO HOKIES!!!

Hey-- It's Hot Out There!

Out camping with the Girl Scouts, that is...

I did the First Aider thing with a really great group of girls. And it was hot. Dripping hot. I can hardly breathe because the air is so thick hot.

It happens on this day EVERY year!

It all turned out all right-- no catastrophes, and I actually got some sleep last night.

I also got some knitting done on the Leaf & Tendril sock. I hadn't been able to knit for a week, so I was a Happy Nurse.

I really enjoy being with the girls, and spending time with women who share my belief that we are contributing to the best hope for another generation of strong women who will change the world.

Tomorrow-- a review of "What I've Been Reading."

How I Spent My Saturday

Knitting in public on the Metro, and

With about 120,000 friends from all around the country.




Some of you know that I'm active with the Girl Scouts, and this year marks the 95th birthday of the largest women's volunteer organization in the world. In the past I've been a troop leader for all levels except Daisies (the kindergarteners), and now I work in positions helping the adult volunteers. One favorite service is as a "First Aider". I was a Red Cross First Aider for many years, and now I fill the role as a nurse. In addition to serving at events such as this, I go on campouts when first aid presence is needed.

Be Prepared:

A Gentle Pitch
If you're in the Nation's Capital area, and have an itching to work with the Girl Scout Organization, or if you're an ol' Girl Scout anywhere in the country who would like to register as an Alumna, go ahead and contact the council. There are opportunities to work with girls, or if that's not your thing, to do support activities, paperwork assistance, teach outdoor skills, first aid, helping area groups with money management, be the "extra adult"-- no matter what your strengths and interests, there's a place for you. And there's not a better way to be a part of helping girls become responsible adults.

Of course, we have a lot of fun, while teaching girls independence. Check out these two from Connecticut:


There's Even Room for Knitting
One of the most fun times I had was when I was a Day Camp Unit Leader for Cadettes. This can be a really tough group, and I was very concerned, and not too eager at first. Silly me. The theme for the week was women's history, and one of the activities we were encouraged to explore was learning a craft that was important years ago. Well, of course you can guess that I decided to teach the young lovelies to knit!!!

This could have gone really really well, or really really badly. In preparation, I overplanned activities so we could quickly switch away if it bombed.

I was so happy that it went well.

Being on a rather tight budget, Addi Turbo's, Lantern Moons, and even Clovers weren't in the plan. I purchased dowels-- probably about size 10's, and sharpened them in an old pencil sharpener that came with the house. This was for 15 girls, by the way. (There were a couple of blisters on my thumb and hand that are probably now healing after 5 years.) I started to sand the tips, and then decided to let the girls do it-- good decision! I think the girls took pride in working on their own tools. We glued on ends (I think they were toy car wheels from the wood section at Michaels). And then taught them to knit using donated bulky craft yarn.

I was thrilled at how they embraced the craft. By the end of the week, they even learned to cast on. I learned a lot about teaching knitting to kids, and I learned that I could love even a group of middle-school girls. The night before camp ended, I was at Michaels, and found some close-out knitting needles-- REAL needles-- for $1.00 a pair. So I was able to give each of the girls a pair, and closed out my stash of Wool-Ease.

And Then Some Grown-Up Time

It was hot and sunny. White Girl Need Shade!!! So I took the Metro back, picked up a Raspberry Crystal Lite Slurpee at the 7-11, and drove to KnitHappens where I spent a couple of hours with
Holly and Kelly. They have some cool new stuff, including some shawl pins that I am definitely going to buy several of (some wooden, some carved bone), and some nifty new yarns. I'm still working on the top for The Daughter, but I need to go in small increments because the Jaeger Aqua is a tightly spun cotton with no give that is a bit hard on the fingers for closely knit projects-- but it's gorgeous.

I've been working on the Leaf Tendril sock from Socks Soar on Two Circulars, using Ellen's Half Pint Farm sock yarn that I got at MSW. I really love the colors, and I think that the 1/2 Merino, 1/2 Tencel blend will make them durable.
The pattern isn't difficult, once you decipher Cat Bordhi's sometimes cryptic pattern-writing. This toe-up pattern is different from those I've done before, and the toes are somewhat pointy, even after I stuffed them for the picture. I have rather squared-off feet. But we'll see. I don't feel like frogging this, and I have lots of relatives and close friends with skinny, pointy feet who could use them if they don't work for me. I usually use the short-row start for Wendy's Generic Toe-Up Socks. Next time, I'll stick with a sure thing, use Wendy's toe, and continue on with the other pattern.

(Go, Wendy!!!!)

How I Won't Be Spending Next Saturday
Even though it'll be a good time.
Because I'll be helping to finish Hokie Healing blankets.

And in my life, every day is a Folk festival.