Austin

Hi dear friend!

I know...no fainting, here I am two days in a row.  I am going to try to be better about posting here.  

As you know, I had a little vaca down to Austin to visit my family.  It was busy and oh so fun filled. I have tons of pics to share!!  I like pictures if you haven't figured that out yet.  Pictures of people, pictures of the sky, pictures of random things...  So, here is your days entertainment.

Here are my two crazy kiddos on the way down.

 Star Trek version of Settlers of Catan.  My nephew LOVED it and we played every spare minute.

Random yard art at my sister's house.  So cute.

A couple of views from the neighborhood swimming pool.

A nature trail in the neighborhood.

MEAT!!  We Texans love our BBQ~

More crazy pics of the kids.

We went to a place called Krause Springs.  It was so gorgeous.  A natural spring that makes pools and the kids swam and jumped off cliffs and rope swings.

BIIIIG spider

Yummy meal Saturday night!

Movie time.  Except the women are apparently more interested in their phones!  :)

Got pedicures

My daughter is pregnant, so we took a four generation picture.  My mom, me, Cate, and Zeke.  

She is due in late October.

Had to get the dog in there!  :)

#MandalasForMarinke

Hi all....Michelle here.  Caution:  link heavy post, but you'll see why.

I troll Ravelry almost everyday for new and exciting patterns.  Today I clicked on this Borderline Mandalas pattern.
Which subsequently led me Raising Robertsons Crochet.
Upon reading the blog post, I ended up at a creative being, only to learn that Wink lost her long battle with depression at the end of last month.

In her original post about Wink, Kathryn at Crochet Concupiscence admits an emotion that many of us might feel....fear.  Fear that it could happen to anyone we know, or even ourselves.  I have struggled with depression, maybe you have too.

Here's how you can help:  Crochet a Mandala in honor of Wink.  All mandalas and written notes will be presented at an art show, and subsequently made into a book.  Don't crochet?  Here are some knit pattern ideas.

Fiber arts are documented as a stress reducer, fun, relaxing, and even a life saver, as written in Kathryn's book Crochet Saved My Life.

The Craft Yarn Council's take.

Take care of yourselves.  Don't be afraid to seek help if you or someone you love is struggling with depression.  <3