WOOHOOO! Patti's book!!

I promise I will.....just don't hold your breath while waiting for it! I'd hate to see you turn blue and crash to the floor! Especially after holding your breath so long waiting for it to come out! :-)

The Lute one is my absolute favorite... for some reason that one in particular just sings out to me. It's the stars -- years ago (25?) we took Son and Kidlet to a planetarium and he was totally captivated. When we returned home we ended up painting the ceiling of his bedroom black, and painted on stars, the constellations and such. For years after I bought those glow in the dark stickers too and scattered them randomly on the ceiling (and a few on the walls) Additionally, I would cut out pictures of planets, the moon -- anything round! -- and glue it to the ceiling... it was a wonderful room.

Anyway, that's why one day I need to make the Lute quilt. It reminds me of Son. He's a star now -- he had one of those dreadful heart attacks that happen to "other people" when he was just 21... Lute will be a memorial of sorts. (shrugs)

And that is why I "must" (as soon as the budget recovers) get Pat's book. That the quilting directions are included is a bonus for certain! :)

Oh mercy, Kathyl, I just happened upon your kind words when I checked to see who had received a copy of Pat's book and was as delighted as I am. Writing was something I did before I became the happiest deadbeat you'll ever know. I have also abandoned my audition with the Russian ballet. I can't even remember why I chase cars and bark. Please pass me my crayons. Polly

Oh heavens....I just realized I spelled your name wrong. EstHer! Perhaps you could title your book "Why I abandoned the Russian Ballet". Which box do you want? The 64 or the 120+ crayons? I always lusted after the really BIG box with the sharpener....I thought it was the epitome of wealth when I was a child. My life would be perfect if only I could have that big box. But our school supply list only had the box of 8 with the fat crayons. AND our mean old art teacher would make us take the paper off and break them into thirds during the first week! I would almost cry. The "Arteest" said we would have better control if we could hold them so we could swoop with our whole wrist rather than holding it like a pencil. How did I get off on that tangent???? I should go to bed...I'm babbling.

That would have made me cry. There's not much as special as the pristine appearance and smell (ah) of a new box of crayons. But . . . I've been silently observing and not one of our grandchildren or great grandchildren knows the 'proper' way to hold a pencil. They can text and compute and calculate faster than the speed of light but none of them can write reading worth a happy damn. We will hope it doesn't matter. Polly

I just find it hard to believe you have GREAT grandchildren! They are so lucky to have a spitfire like you for a grandma OR greatgrandma! I want to be you when I grow up....

I think it is this generation that holds their pencil "wrong". It looks so clumsy to me and even though I taught my kids to hold their pencil the "correct" way I've noticed one dd is holding it the new way --she is all grown up and I haven't a clue when she started it !!

Mary

But . . .

Toby checked out getting the book and found it wasn't easy for her. She suggested I order it thru Amazon and I did. I'm eagerly awaitng delivery. Bonnie NJ

Yes, I feel sure that will be easier for a lot of people. I just hope that you enjoy it - no matter how you acquire it! Thanks for ordering it. . In message , Bonnie NJ writes

Kindly run this through for me. What is the 'wrong' way and what is the 'right' way to hold a pencil? I've been sitting here fiddling with a pen, and can only hold it one way for writing. I let the business end rest on the first knuckle of the middle finger, then grasp it loosely with the pointer finger ant the thumb, while the longer end rests in the base of the thumb, where it joins the hand. Is there another way??

PAT ... avoid> I think it is this generation that holds their pencil "wrong". It looks so

me, too, Polly!!!! you must be the most awesome gramma! and i believe there is a reason we chase cars and bark..of course i do it while running with scissors.... amy

The way a small child holds a thick crayon - in the fist! Yes - I saw this in a bank last week!

Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk

Pat > Kindly run this through for me. What is the 'wrong' way and what is the

I don't think there is a right or wrong way...that's why I used quotation marks. I had never seen anyone hold pencils differently than how I learned until the past few years. It's diff. from what I'm used to, that's all. People can hold it like a hammer if it works for them. Mary

Well, but Mary, you see, there is a right way and there is a reason. If you hold a pen or pencil as Virginia's Pat described, you are in a better position to write legibly and for a long period of time. If you notice eerie feelings of being haunted, we will suspect it's one of my penmanship instructors. They showed no mercy and took no hostages. Polly

They sound like mine, Polly! I was demoted from 'joined-up-writing' back to printing, as my efforts were not considered acceptable >gWell, but Mary, you see, there is a right way and there is a reason. If you