Well, things are both scarier and better here in my country. Better because it seems the death rate is slowing down. Scarier, well, because some people are in histerics. And some more are adamant that this is nothing to worry about.
So I'm moving on to nicer stuff because I know you already know all this from the news, and because why dwell in unpleasant subjects when I can talk about, instead of these wonderful women. Please excuse the poor photo quality but I took photos of the photos at a family reunion and it wasn't such a good resolution camera.
I wanted for a while now to tell you about the women in my family, and I'm going to start today to make a sketch of my mother's mother's side... hehehe! well, here we go. Pack up your hooks and needles, and maybe some refreshments, because we are traveling back in time... :D
In this photograph, the first one, right to left, upper line is my great grandfather Manuel, or Nino Manuel. He's here with his parents and siblings. My Great-great-grandmother Margarita loved to do needlework... and do you notice something funny about the photo?
Well, check out the patriarc and matriarc... see what I mean?
She's sitting in a low stool and he is sitting in a chair... because she was taller than he was!
Nina Margarita was a very merry woman. As soon as she heard music, her feet started moving even when she was sitting, because her husband didn't dance much, specially since he was selfconscious about their height difference. I can easily picture her as a girl, dancing while doing her chores. The years of her youth were hard, but she was quick of wit and had a sunny spirit.
Once I was told that when someone asked her why had she married my great greatgrandfather when she was a lot taller than him (regarding her dancing sitting) and she andwered:
"Well, we started talking at a party, and I liked him pretty well. By the time we stood up and I noticed I was taller, it was too late. I was already in love"
On this photograph, again first, right to left, is Nino Manuel. Then there is my great uncle Martin, (their son), my Great grandmother Concepción (his wife), my great aunt Nena(their daughter) and the little one is my great aunt Rita. In this photo they were celebrating my Nino and Nina's silver wedding, my aunt Nena's quinceañera (15th birthday, like sweet 16 in US) and my aunt Rita's First Communion. Yup, that is their party clothes. Cheery, aren't they? I don't understand why photographers felt the need to make them look glum and serious. I know they were a merry lot!
Nina Concha was so much more addicted to anything related to needles, hooks, fabric and yarn that anyone I've known or know about! She lived in a very very small town (it's small even now), one of those towns with only one street, no electricity, no running water, you get my point. So, she had one son, three daughters, and she got up hours before the sun to get all her chores done before there was natural light. I mean, she used a wood stove, for cripes sake! She and her three daughters had to cook for her husband and son so they could take their food to the fields, plus clean the house, do laundry, and so on and so forth.
Then they were ready as soon as the sun came up to sit in their patio... and embroider, crochet, sew, the works!!!!! I've seen her work, and let me tell you, her lace is as good as any european expensive, delicate lace!!! they would work until there was no more good natural light, and then they had to begin preparing for the next day's chores.
This handsome woman is my grandmother Mary, here on her wedding day to my grandpa Carlos. She was Concepción's eldest daughter, pretty as a picture! To the day, there's probably no craft invented that she hasn't at least tried to learn. Well, other than carpentry. Or maybe ice sculpting. Or stone sculpting... well, she has done a lot!! She gave birth to eight daughters and four sons, of which...
My mom, this little girl with the big bow and serious expression is the eldest. She may look very solemn, but she was quite a handful, or so my great grandpa Antemio says (more about him some other time). She helped her mom raise her brothers and sisters, so she learned to sew at an early age. She taught me to crochet, to sew, to embroider... I honestly think there's nothing Mom can't do.
Ok, now I've introduced you to the crafty women on my family on my mother's side... I have more on my father's side. Now tell me
Is there any chance that I would have escaped this case of atavism, this adiction to yarn related crafts????Lol! I'm sure glad I did not!
(Half finished stocking for a non existing mantle) 
