to celebrate

today my blog turns five

it began for my mom. she loved seeing photos of her

grandchildren. i hoped to help her memory.
my stepdad would sit her in front of the computer and she would

be delighted, he'd tell me. since beginning this blog, my mom has passed from 

alzheimer's. when she couldn't sit at the computer anymore, i thought of stopping, but my 

stepdad said to go on, he was proud of me (he said). 

i am so glad, that i did. like most every blogger, i've made friends with

 people, the whole world over. and incredibly, met many too. from 

new york city to far continents, blogging has taken living and loving and adventuring to another level. 

at the beginning, my first blogging friends were in africa (and geli in germany, an auntie to her african nieces)

chuck and i were planning a trip to zimbabwe in 2008 (to be taken in 2009).

 by then i had made a connection to an orphanage because of this new dear friend in botswana,

 and in the midst of planning i came to chuck with the idea of

extending our trip to include botswana, meet my friend, and visit the orphanage. 

my husband did not understand blogging then and looked at me like i'd lost my mind. 

but he trusted me, and agreed, we would go.

it was a surreal experience to meet two good friends on the other side of the world, after only talking online.

one had traveled from south africa with her bewildered husband (he'd been persuaded too), just to meet.

i'll never forget sitting at a bar on the chobe river, the three couples,

husbands scratching their heads, what is a blog anyway? 

how did we get here?

(for the babies, 35 little knitted hats)

:)

because of this blog, because of you, i have

found friendship

found confidence

felt comfort
felt love

gained compassion

learned how incredibly giving you are (remember pockets for africa?)

been thrilled and delighted

and became a better person

because of you.

thank you beautiful friends

i'm having a giveaway to celebrate five years, but more to celebrate you
 if you've read and felt some connection here like i have, that pleases me to no end.

*

the giveaway:

 one skein of jade sapphire exotic fibres
silk cashmere
55% silk, 45% cashmere 2 ply
in color way   #158 seaglass
there are (approx.) 400 yards  55g in this hand-dyed skein
it's enough to make a small shawl this is what i used in 'flying home' and even had a bit left over
(it's so so lovely, and this color...SO pretty!)

and
one lantern moon handcrafted repair hook
this is the featherlight
(i have one and LOVE it)
'this environmentally friendly product is made from plantation grown wood
that is organically treated to add density and hardness. free of formaldehyde and resin'
 to protect this tiny hook it comes in its own little sleeve
a sample of the beautiful hand weaving done by the cham people of vietnam

and alternatively,
if you are not a knitter, i have filled a small abalone shell with seaglass to give away
collected by me, on beaches here in california and in mexico and hawaii

please leave a comment if you would prefer the wool or the glass
random number generator will choose two names, one for each, five days from now,
this giveaway is open to the whole world,
no exceptions.
(((thank you again)))
xxxxxx lori

today was also my mom's wedding anniversary. in celebration of her love (s)
this is for you mom...

(edited to add) song by simon lynge