A Christmas Stocking for Brooks

Kelly comes up with some great ideas and one of the most recent was for Grandma to sew a Christmas Stocking for Brooks.  Kelly bought a kit and gave it to Pam.  And she was up to the challenge.

But this story goes back about 33 years and a Christmas stocking for Kelly.  My oldest brother Marty and his wife Bonnie lived in Oakland California in 1982.  Pam and I were in Birkenfeld, Germany when we were stationed over there with the Air Force.  

By then Pam was out of the Air Force and home with 19 month old Adam.  And then Kelly joined us in November.  She did not have a stocking for her first Christmas and her Aunt Bonnie made one and sent it to us.

Now with our first grandson - Bonnie's memory comes to mind and her continuing impact on our lives in the form of another handmade, needle crafted stocking.  From one generation to another...

This Christmas stocking kit Kelly got is a little complicated and overwhelming for me, but not for Pam.

After she digested the instructions, she put all the moving parts into an extra screw bin box.

She got right on it and worked on it daily for the 2+ weeks.  Talk about a labor of love -- she probably has put 50+ hours into this. (I got to help -- I probably threaded 30 needles...)

This stocking effort reminds me of two other projects Pam did.  She sewed a small quilt for Adam and then did one for Kelly back when they were newborns. Quilting, needlework -- all of those things are for the detail people with a steady hand.  And patience.  My hat goes off to them.

It's been a real joy to watch and reflect back to those times.  And to see how this little gem is taking shape.

And finally, the long awaited stocking came together!

Now it hangs in a prominent place on Kelly and Jon's hearth along with the other Christmas stockings, waiting for Santa to come.

We hope you have a wonderful holiday and a Merry Christmas!

Thanks for joining us on this edition of the Roadrunner Chronicles!