Granny loved fall.

She wasn’t one to want to travel away from her little house on Aaron’s Creek, but when the fall colors were at their peak, she welcomed rides with Mom to visit us at Berea College in Eastern Kentucky.

I’ve never known a person to delight in the fiery reds, dazzling yellows and sun bright oranges of the trees more than she.

She would anticipate the journey down I-64 to marvel at the landscape of brilliance. Perhaps these rides reminded her of her childhood home in West Virginia. Nothing brought her such contented smiles and reminisces like driving through the rugged hills in the fall.

Granny was handy with all types of needle work. She was the most resourceful person I’ve ever known, using every sturdy scrap of material, thread and yarn to create something functional for our family’s benefit.

She seldom asked for gifts, but, when fall came, she would ask for a shopping trip to purchase yarn for her next crochet project.

In my heart’s eyes, I can see Granny walk the aisles of Kresge’s in Ironton, looking for the perfect blend of fall colors, dreaming the entire time of what her next afghan would become.

I have a sweet picture of Granny with yarn on her lap, head bowed down and fingers working diligently for the latest treasure.

I remember the tight stitches of the rippled afghans and the multi-colored granny-square afghans that she’d throw over me when I’d nap on her couch.  I still have one of the fall afghans she made for me. If a stranger looked at these simple gifts of love, they wouldn’t be capable of seeing the treasure that it holds.

Isn’t it beautiful the way we carry down the traditions of love within families?

My mom has made dozens, if not hundreds of quilts and afghans as treasures for her children and her many grandchildren.

Both of my daughters were thrilled when, Mom, their granny, gave them the soft, brightly-colored treasures.

It’s more than yarn artfully twisted together in pretty pattern. They cherish the image of their granny sitting on her porch swing, moving her arthritic hands diligently, smiling in spite of any pain, simply out of love and wanting to give them a part of her heart.

I have a niece, Rachel, who carries the gift of needle work down through the family. Rachel has created beautiful afghans and knitted gifts for many family and friends.

She even knitted a Hobbes toy for the newest member of our clan, who is named Calvin.

The toy is meant for play, so I don’t know how long it will endure, but I hope someday baby Calvin feels the love Rachel put into the hours of focus using simple yarn to express her love.

Granny has been in Heaven for 40 years, and I still miss her. But her fingerprints are all over my life to remind me of her intense love for me.

In two simple granny-square afghans, my mom has given my children a reminder of her love for them.

My prayer is that we continually recognize that our treasures of family and relationships are more valuable than gold and silver.

These will never rust or decay but continue to grow within our spirits.

Nora Swango Stanger, a Lawrence County native and Appalachian outreach coordinator for Sinclair Community College, can be reached at norastanger@gmail.com.