Friday, April 29, 2011

A Man Named Fred


This is a post about a man who belongs to our Church family.  Fred is a very sincere, artistic, and religious man, and he is blind.

I have known Fred for several years now and we have become good friends.  Fred is furiously independent, so much so that on a few occasions it has threatened our friendship but we each know when to step back and talk about what is bothering us.  Now sometimes I forget about his blindness and will show him something or make a facial expression, and of course he doesn't see me.  Our fun conversation is:
Fred:  "I don't want to take the bus."
Me: "Okay, so do you want to borrow my SUV?"
Fred:  "I can't see, remember?"
Me:  "Oh, so why should that stop you?"
And then we burst out laughing.  (o:

After going blind Fred learned to crochet, it was necessary so that he could make little covers for his throat.  Yes, Fred is a cancer survivor who had throat cancer and now speaks through an airway in his throat. He has a daughter but does not know where she is or even if she knows about his blindness and cancer.  We have talked about the possibility of finding her but that must be his decision.

He has his own apartment, is an excellent cook, loves to read, do crafts, and of course crochet.  I am so amazed at the technology for special needs, he has a reader (so he can read his Bible, novels) a color reader that tells him the color of his clothing, yarn, and anything else he needs to know. His clock has voice and tells him the time.  His weight scale also works with voice.

Now Fred is ready to begin a new business.  He has a shop on Etsy, his address is http://www.etsy.com/shop/Crochetgrannysquares. Currently he is making hats, scarfs, afghans and a fun & portable checker board game. Fred has a friend from Church helping with picture taking and posting on Etsy but it was decided that since I have my own shop (on Etsy) and know how to do the editing/posting that I should take over managing his shop, and so I have. Janet has just begun her SHOUT Ministry and is busy, so this change was a good decision.

Please drop in and see some of Fred's work.  I asked for his permission to post this on my Blog, and he had to think about it but finally gave in to my idea.  We talked about a Blog but at this time he doesn't have the capabilities on his computer to manage it himself.
One of Fred's Checker Sets available on Etsy

Checker Set on the go.....

Blessings
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh no,  here comes trouble....

Hi, Happy Friday everybeary.  Just wanted to tell you that we are busy working on a project, we found where she keeps her paints - and that we will be back next Friday. Boy, "face painting" isn't easy.

"Oh my gosh, PRUDENCE, what have you done to LuLu?"
LuLu:   "Me soooo purtty."

to be continued....
Heaps of Hugs
Prudence


20 comments:

  1. yes dear Prudence we have any other way! Chocolate all the day!!
    have great fun with your new project and a nice weekend
    hugs
    Astrid

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  2. First of all I want to say that I admire Fred and all the things he still can do!! Respect!

    But ..oh boy what are Prudence and Lulu doing?? face painting??LOL
    Very curious to the continue of this story,
    Have a great weekend,
    Hugs,Leny

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  3. Hi Leny,

    Yes, Fred is a remarkable person.

    As for, I think she has gotten into some serious trouble.

    Hugs

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  4. Hi Astrid,

    Happy Weekend, eat chocolate (giggle), we will have our favorite - honey & peanut butter.

    Hugs

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  5. What a wonderful story. I will check out Freds store. Its amazing and wonderful he can crochet so well. Have a great weekend M and P. Hugs, Kim

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  6. Thank you Kim. Fred is a wonderful friend.

    HUgs

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  7. Thoroughly enjoyed this post Joyce ... it's good to see the new technology benefits being put to good use. Give Fred a Congratulations Hug from me.

    Mmmm what mischief is that Prudence bear getting up to now I wonder ... face painting certainly conjours up a picture!

    Have a wonderful weekend girls!
    Warmest Hugs,
    Sandi @ Bearly Sane / Ess D'Ess Bears

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  8. ohh Fred is an admirable person ... God knows what he does ... but it is amazing how it helps you to move forward .... The friends are always beautiful..Have a most blessed day.hugs

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  9. Thank you, Sandi. Yes, Fred is amazing and doesn't let his blindness get in the way of his enjoying life.

    Hugs

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  10. Dear duendes,

    Thank you. Yes Fred is certainly amazing and his faith is so strong and I think that is how he accomplishes all that he does.

    Hugs

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  11. Hello friends,
    Oh Fred is a person with a great strength of mind. I admire him.
    That may be an example to all the people.
    A good weekend to you.
    Woof, woof,

    Chicco

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  12. Hi Chicco,

    Thank you. Yes, Fred is an excellent example and maybe his story will help others.

    Blessings

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  13. Fred certainly shows great determination not to let his problems stop him from living a full life. Well done to him.

    Prudence I do hope you haven't done terrible damage to Lulu. She's only wee and very inexperienced so you shouldn't take advantage.

    Instead stroll over to my gallery and enjoy Sunday morning in the woods. I got up at 5.45 and had the woods to myself for the first hour at least.

    Alan

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  14. Oh wow, Fred did an amazing job on his draughts board, hope the shop goes well.

    The Clan are a wee bit worried about Lulu now...

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  15. Worried about LuLu? Gee, why? Giggle.

    Hugs
    Prudence

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  16. Hi Mr. ALan,

    We love the pictures, so peaceful and beautiful. Are those Blue Bells?

    Damage to LuLu, DAMAGE.....face painting isn't damage, pulling arms and legs off - now THAT is damage.

    You worry too much.

    Hugs
    Prudence

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  17. Yes Prudence those are bluebells, and they are really pretty. If you are lucky the smell like hyacinths, but as in this case, they often grow near wild garlic and that really overpowers the delicate smell of the bluebells.

    Face paint that gets into your fur can stay there for EVER, and it's not fair if you take advantage like that. I'm sure you wouldn't do that but as KT says, it's a bit worrying.

    Hugs,

    Alan

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  18. We love Blue Bells. But wild garlic - she planted some by the garage - even the deer won't go near it. Stinky stuff (the garlic, not the deer).

    So, I have you worrying about paint in mohair, hm? Well, you'll just have to drop in next Friday and see what happens. (o:

    Heaps of Hugs
    Prudence

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  19. Well you can't do much about banning plants in a wild wood so I enjoy the bluebells and put up with the stink.

    Wow, now I'm worried again. I thought Lulu would be safe with uncle Manchester. How wrong can a boy be?

    Yours worriedly,

    Alan

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  20. Pretty vs. stinky - hm, I'll take the pretty and ignore the stink.

    LuLu is having a blast here, she isn't the same bear....Uncle Manchester - I have him eating out of my paw. He is a push over.

    Hugs,
    Prudence

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Thank you for writing, I love to receive mail and comments on my posts. Thank you for dropping by and have a most blessed day. Hugs, Prudence