These are My People

Grandma and her granddaughters and great grandchildren.

Uncle Dick and Sammajamma. Uncle Dick is a true Papa, loving, funny, tender.
This is the hysterical. Can you see the genuine laughter on their faces?




Emma and Maddy. I could just eat her up!

Mother and daughter, My Grandma and Aunt.

An Uncle with his nephew.

Sisters caught in a not so unusual, silly act.

Sam saying his abosolute, favorite word in the whole world!

Cousins in conversation. I'm missing a photo of my cousin John. He was in a couple but they were not good. Sorry John. I think that is everyone.

When we got home, Rachel and I met our Mom and Aunt at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. Here are the ladies. Aren't they cute?

We had a good trip. It ranged from hysterically funny to sad. We got lost, took many wrong turns, and exits, while the kids asked "Do you know where we are? Did we take another wrong turn? When are we going to be there?" They were so patient, flying, delays, driving, visiting. They were also obnoxious, making us laugh with their silliness. We visited with our Grandma, our Uncle and Aunt, and had a gathering at our hotel with all who could come. At one point, Uncle Dick stated that this was not right, that Christine should be there. It wasn't right. She should be there with the cousins and her children. It was a moment of unsureness. Did we do the right thing? Was it too soon? Or will there never be a good time, when the two daughters of his brother visit, the gathering of family, bringing with them the reality of loss. So hard. But we told stories of life now and life as kids. We heard of Christine's magic show at a birthday party of John's that we did not know about. After everyone left, Rachel and I cleaning up, we embraced and cried, about family differences yet the importance that we all felt of being together, loss, stories told, our Grandma and her force of connecting us and concluded it was a good trip. Our children saw and heard of their family they know little of and know of the goodness of family, immediate, and distant. And when home, met up with the ladies who have influenced us to be the perfect travelling companions for each other, to laugh with and at each other, to be sisters. And that my friends, was our trip.

Off We Go!

Here we are, My sister and me!

She loves me.

I love her too!

We leave this morning with all children in tow to fly to Chicago area to be with family. Our Grandma has never seen Sammajamma and it's been 3 years since she's seen all our kids. It's the right time to go.

Apple Sunshine, again

Is she just the cutest thing ever? This is where she chooses to sit while I'm driving. Yes, we take her everywhere. Don't worry, we were stopped at road work.

Skirt Love

Okay, I'm delusional. I envisioned lovliness. We would look beautiful, our fabrics piled neatly, looking so... neat, 2 skirts a piece finished, lovely photos of our finished skirts. Not exactly what happened. First off, I hadn't showered in almost 24 hours, and had taught 5 classes, so I didn't look and smell so hot. There goes that vision. Then I dumped my breaking shopping bag of loot onto my sisters table, totally covering her lovliness (and yes, it was lovely). The dogs played, then got on each other's nerves. Apple Sunshine went after Gordy, not a good thing. Sammajamma woke up. We played with the puppie and we played with Sam. As soon as we started, it was time to leave. Ugh. Well, two days later, I have finished my skirt and showered (well, that came yesterday). I will make some adjustments for the next one, but other than that, I am pleased. It will be a perfect summer skirt. I'm not delusional when I say I will be wearing skirts all summer and that will be lovely.

Getting to know you

This has been going around via email with My Handsome Prince's Family, so thought I would share it here:

1. What is your occupation? Wife, Mother, fitness instructor
2. What color is your underwear? Honestly, I mostly go commando
3. What are you listening to right now? Songs that Speak of the Spirit - a playlist I made of songs that speak of hope, peace, faith, etc.
4. What was the last thing you ate? roast beef, mushroom, swiss cheese panini that I just made for Emma and me
5. Do you wish on stars? no, eyelashes
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Never thought of it
7. How is the weather right now? beautiful
8. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Emma to ask what she needed from the grocery store
9. Do you like the person who sent this to you? yes
10. How old are you today? 43
11. Favorite drink? good coffee. Did I say good?
12. Favorite sport to watch? swim meets but haven't been to one since my girls stopped swimming
13. Have you ever dyed your hair? yes, but I refuse to hide my grey
14. Do you wear contacts or glasses? glasses to read
15. Pets? Gus, the designer dog, Apple Sunshine, the princess and Punkin, the Queen
16. Favorite month? July
17. Favorite food? Mexican
18. What was the last movie you watched? The Pursuit of Happyness (yes, it's spelled that way)
19. Favorite day of the year? A day with my family
20. What do you do to vent anger? internally fume, then explode, yelling
21. What was your favorite toy as a child? Can't think of a toy, just playing outside with the neighborhood
22. Fall or Spring? Fall
23. Hugs or kisses? Hmm, both
24. Cherry or Blueberry? depends on what it is. Fresh cherries, yum. Blueberry pie, yum
25. Do you want your friends to email you back? ok
26. Who do you think will respond? I haven't decided who it is going to
27. Who is least likely to respond? see above
28. Living arrangements? My Handsome Prince, Emma and Audrey
29. When was the last time you cried? When Ellen sang on Sunday. That song always makes me cry.
30. What is on the floor of your closet? Shoes and dry cleaning
31. Who is the friend you've had the longest? My sister
32. What did you do last night? spent it in the car with My Handsome Prince coming home from the eastern shore
33. Who inspires you? My husband and children always inspire me to be a better person
34. What are you afraid of? car accidents and rats (that's why I never go to Elizabeths)
35. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? All if they are on the grill
36. What is your favorite car or truck? I guess that would have to be the one I'm driving, as long as it runs and is dependable I don't really care, although I really miss my puzzle truck
37. Favorite dog breed? Morhound (hound plus moron, yup, that's Gus) and Chihuahua, of course this will change with whatever breed follows these two
38. Number of keys on your key ring? I'm not going upstairs to count
39. How many years at your job? Wife, 22 and counting, Mother 19 and counting, Fitness instructor 20 and counting, but 6 at the YMCA
40. Favorite day of the week? Any day but Tuesday
41. How many states have you lived in? 2
42. How many cities have you lived in? I've lived in 4 towns
43. How many countries have you lived in? One

Feel free to answer these yourself.

Ready, Set, Go!

Okay, it's Tuesday. My bed is made, I had plain oatmeal for breakfast, delivered the papers, went to Pilates, taught my Seniors, checked a couple things off my to do list, have killer workouts for my classes this evening and am planning a date with my hook, my rug, and a movie. How's that?

Monday Musings

I know Sunday is the official start of the week, but I feel Monday is the start. It's the day when the routine starts again. The day when you can really make the changes that you need to make. The day you organize the rest of the week. Today, the new session started. It WAS (key word here) the day I was jumpstarting my fitness and diet routine. What did I do? Slept in, ate nachos for lunch. Yuck. Can Tuesday begin my week?

Anyway, I'm trying to get my classes together for the week. I've looked at the rosters and see it's mostly the same people so it's time to challenge them and myself. It's time to start lifting, swimming and running again. I've signed myself up for a weight management course so I have a support system to make the right choices. I haven't changed much, but just need that inspiration and motivation to keep this up. It's a lifelong pursuit and anyway that I can achieve it, I will.

This week I need to finish my Love rug, make my songs of the spirit cd, pick up chips at the Utz outlet for 200 people, make a giant pasta salad, make 2-3 pans brownies, help the Prince with his scrapbook page for his Grandma. Those are the big ticket items along with routine cleaning, teaching, delivering papers, cooking, and working nights. And who can forget...OZOMATLI, Wednesday night Baby! "Party people rock the house, party people rock the house!"

I had all kinds of reflections of my time last week. There is no other way to say it. It was sad, terribly sad. My Dad, in his own grief, sick with a virus, was a rock for his brother and performed the ceremony just as he should. I had to call my sister the day we were leaving, just to talk to her, hear her voice, tell her I loved her. And the mystery of life goes on. There are still mornings to rise, meals to make, rides or walks to take, work to do, with a void, a hole, so enormous that it's almost inconceivable, and yet we/they do. My Uncle, his wife, my cousin, Pete, Ben, and Maddy. I wish them peace when they are ready.

I called my elementary schoolhood friend, Karen, who lives in the midwest, to tell her the news. She knew my cousins, lived a block behind them. She, too, had news. Her partner of many years had died unexpectedly shortly after she had seen him. Sad. The tragedy at Virginia Tech hit close to home, also. It was Emma's friend's dorm that was hit. She is okay, but she, too, has an emptiness to fill.

I am home, with my children, my husband, checking in on my father, getting together with family. Life goes on.

Cousins

Today I watched my kids with their cousins. I watched them all hunt for Easter eggs, with my two sharing a basket. They kept others occupied while we hid, too. I watched (or rather, heard) the oldest and the youngest have a screaming competition, and turn the younger, grouchy screams to laughter. I watched the middle one tenderly care for the puppy. I watched the girls gather together on the couch, eating their candy, and also take up one corner of the table to eat together, my two gathering their girl cousin to them. We talked of how much they enjoy being together, despite the range in age from 19 to almost 2. It's a wonderful, family relationship. May the Circle Be Unbroken.

We were like that growing up. We were a pack with our cousins. There were 7 of us growing up together, and just like Sam, another came along later. By that time, our family had moved from the midwest to the east coast, so we did not watch him grow up. We spent weekends at Grandma and Grandpa's house, eating cinnamon rolls, carving pumpkins, wearing Easter masks or cowboy hats or whatever holiday/prop was on hand, going to dog shows, the circus, helping Grandpa over at the church, or just hanging around. We always wanted to sleep together in G & G's room, with the roll away cot and I guess someone on the floor and a few in their bed (we kicked them out and they slept on the pull out in the tv room). Grandma would tell us stories and rub our backs. When Mark and Christine moved in our neighborhood, literally two blocks away we were estatic! Mark and I were 6 months apart, Rachel and Christine, one year. Now, one of our pack is gone. Daughter, Grandaughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Cousin, Friend.

My sister and I grieve. We spend a lot of time on the phone wondering when is the right time to make the trip? What do we do for the family? How do we express our sadness? We talk of our father, our uncle, our Grandma, her husband, her children. We just talk. I'm so thankful for that. I will travel with my father this week to Illinois to attend the funeral.

I was gathering songs for my Songs that Speak of the Spirit cd and came upon Paul Simon's "Father and Daughter". I cried. It spoke to me of my Father, but even more, my Uncle, and know the words are true "There could never be a Father that loved his daughter more than I loved you."
If you leap awake

In the mirror of a bad dream
And for a fraction of a second

You can't remember where you are
Just open your window

And follow your memory upstream

To the meadow in the mountain

Where we counted every falling star

I believe the light that shines on you

Will shine on you forever (forever)

And though I can't guarantee

There's nothing scary hiding under your bed

I'm gonna stand guard like a postcard of a golden retriever

And never leave till I leave you with a sweet dream in your bed

Chorus: I'm gonna watch you shine

Gonna watch you grow

Gonna paint a sign

So you'll always know

As long as one and one is two

There could never be a father who loved his daughter more than I love you

Trust your intuition

It's just like goin fishin'

You cast your line and hope you get a bite

But you don't need to waste your time

Worryin' about the market place

Try to help the human race

Strugglin to survive its harshest night.

-Paul Simon

Let's Play Top 10

1. Lucinda Williams concert. Wonderful venue, small sit down theatre, very intimate. Great performance, despite the fact that she had to start two songs over. Such a perfectionist in performing yet looking so uncomfortable on stage. She makes herself vulnerable. It was a great evening with a friend. Bar hopping in the 'burg, lovely dinner, great music, how could it be better?

2. A conversation with my sister about effort. It's making me realize that the source of my own, Whatever, funk, is the lack of my own effort. I'm just going through the motions. It started about others lack of effort, with the classic Why should I bother if no one else cares? and then the lightbulb went off. I realized how hard I worked last year and how much it paid off.

3. Not necessarily top rating but top in memory. The Anders Osborne show I went to that he did not. Bummer. Got our money back, had a good time with Tasha and my Prince, but we were so looking forward to listening to Anders jam and he did not.

4. Puppy, puppy, puppy! AppleSunshine has been so much fun! Neither I nor the Handsome Prince or even Audrey thought much of getting a puppy. Now that she is here, she is so much fun. She is personable, friendly, small, smart, and starts puppy classes this Saturday.

5. Keep up with the Joneses. My neighbor totally finished her quilt. Need I say more.

6. The emergence of spring. Rebirth and regrowth. Remember these? They are budding and flowering!

7. Emma made a school decision.

8. Audrey conquered a fear and auditioned for the Ensemble. Now it's just sit and wait.

9. I finished PT, thank goodness and am feeling better but not quite whole.

10. I can't even come up with 10. Isn't that pitiful?

To Do Today

I had a long list of things to do today. Instead, I slept in until 7, taught a killer cycle class, and came home and cleaned out my truck while Emma cleaned out her car. The day is bright and the time was right. Plus, her car was TRASHED! Mine is so small it doesn't take much to trash it or clean it. I guess now I'll tackle the long list.

Prom Night

That's what some of the soldiers call it. At a promotion ceremony I attended yesterday, the buzz was "Are you going to prom?" "See you tomorrow at the prom." So that is where we are going tonight. Last year we took social dancing lessons to prepare for this event, only to discover there really wasn't an opportunity to use what we learned. No foxtrots, no swing, and just some minor slow dancing. I've practiced this week and I'm sure I'll get the Handsome Prince to dance with me after a couple drinks. Recently a note went home from the high school about inappropriate dancing. That's what we should have learned, dirty dancing. teehee. What a scene we would make.

We had a great time! I felt beautiful, my Handsome Prince was, of course, Handsome. We danced a lot. Even got a foxtrot in there. We did see a couple doing the dirty dancing thing. They were good! There is definitely something about couples who dance together regularly. There is rhythm, intimate knowledge of each others bodies and how they move. There was a couple at New Orleans Jazz Fest that had a bizarre dance that did with each other with hops, head ducking, etc. We saw them 2 years in a row. You couldn't help but notice them. They had been dancing like this forever and felt comfortable. Maybe we'll get there someday.

A Heart for Sunshine

I have not made it to the post office. Sorry Sunshine! But your heart has been finished for quite some time. My neighbor loved it. It is needle felted roving onto off white wool. I love the heart you made for me and will treasure it for I know what is behind it. I know about keeping the hands busy while the head and heart worry. I'm getting back into my creative groove.

Everyday Inspiration

Some time ago, I had been tasked with a 6 week Adult Sunday school session on Everyday Inspiration. I wish I had taken it more seriously, but typical to my nature, I procrastinated. I should have done more research on line and in the blog world because I know there is a wealth of information, ideas, and opinions. . Anyway, I didn't. Let this be a lesson. We are focusing on passions, hobbies, and professions. Exploring the relationship between our spiritual life and our creative life. How we are inspired, inspire others, how the spirit moves within us, around us, and through us and our creativity. If you have any definite thoughts on the matter, leave me a comment. This will be going on for 6 weeks and can always use new ideas and material.

Today was our first presentation. She was a painter from our congregation. She spoke of creating, and how it truly is the spirit within her. She had examples of her work, inspired some conversation on paintings, and gave us a little watercolor lesson. It went well, though not exactly what I had in mind. I have five more presenters that I can coach. I have it pretty well lined up. This week was a painter, next week - a carpenter. From there on I have a teacher who runs a one room schoolhouse in Baltimore, a quilt artist, a photographer, and an ordinary, elderly woman who has lived her life to the Glory of God.

So, let me ask these questions:
What do you create? When do you create? Same time everyday? every week? How does it make you feel? Excited, calm, peaceful, agitated? What does it give to you? How do you give back? Do you have a spiritual connection to your creativity? What inspires you? Do you have stories or quotes that inspire you? Feel free to pose your own questions or answer other questions. Thanks.

Project Day

Today was supposed to be project day at my sister's house. She invited some people over to work on whatever they had to work on. I have a heart for Sunshine I needed to work on. Well, after 3 beautiful spring days, we got snow and ice today, plus a nasty headcold. I stayed home, from work and project day. I snoozed, watched "The Holiday" (I sure do like that Jude Law. Who can forget that expression when Inman finally finds his way to Ada. ) and got a much needed mental/physical health day, so all is not lost.

Spring Fever

Gus must have gotten spring fever today. He r-u-n-n-o-f-t! (Remember Oh Brother Where Art thou?) I looked for this dog for 3 hours! The first hour, I wasn't concerned. By the second hour, I was getting a little concerned. After all, he is no spring chicken and he had surgery on his leg last year. I was terrified he would run till he couldn't run anymore, or get confused, or hit, or anything! I walked the farms and yards, I drove down driveways, both of which can be scary around here. There are peope with NO TRESPASSING signs and shotguns. I discovered things in my neighborhood that I had no idea existed. And my neighbors in back are pigs! Anyway, the buddy boy had taken up with a much younger Rottie and by the time I found them (and they had covered miles) they were hanging by the pen of two chows. He must have had to prove himself still manly after hanging with a princess chihuahua. He was a little worse for wear, so I have him a Rimadyl, called him a shithead, and burst into tears. How was your day?

Apple Sunshine

Sounds like a hippie name, doesn't it? It's the name of Emma's new best friend. Someone who won't stand her up for breakfast, who will keep the weekend free for her that has been planned for months, who will always be happy to see her. It's been a tough change for Emma, hopefully this new someone will make things a bit brighter.

Calculated Acts of Kindness

Africankelli is starting this up. I believe this is her second year. This is something I try to do but am not always regular. I want my kindness to reach to those I do not know. I really try to be a cheerful, helpful person at the Y all the time. I see all kinds of people everyday. I smile and say hello. Occassionally, I'm approached by someone I don't know who feels they can tell me something. I listen and we go our separate ways. Lately, I've not been putting myself out there too much, so it's a perfect opportunity to participate in CAOK. I bought a card for a fellow PT patient, whom I don't know or speak to, but I know is having a particularly bad time. In watching her, watching My Handsome Prince, and Lil' Sister, I want her to know that this, too, shall pass. I hope it gives her a little boost. I've also sent my sister a little boost which will arrive tomorrow. She's the best!

Women's Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope: (kə-lī'də-skōp') n. A series of changing phases or events.

For the past 10 years (?) our church has sponsored a children's art camp, called Kaleidoscope. They hire artists to work with the kids and there is usually a theme. The kids spend the day learning music, putting together a drama, making giant (and I mean giant!) papier mache puppets to be used in the drama, and some other art form, sometimes story cloths, or mosaics, or quilts or...Anyway, Audrey attended for 2 years, and every day when I took her, I would whine about why there wasn't one for adults. Apparently, I was not the only one who whined. Over the weekend, we had Women's Kaleidoscope. The classes offered were: rug hooking, vintage windows, painted floor cloths, painted screens (an old Baltimore thing), and mosaics. A light breakfast was provided at 8:30am, classes started at 9, lunch at noon, then classes again at 1. We ended at 4pm. Rug hooking and painted floor cloths were offered both in the morning and in the afternoon. Mosaics was an all day workshop. Vintage windows was an am thing and painted screens was a pm thing. The only catch of the day...I had to teach...all day.


I taught a rug hooking class. It was labeled hooking with rags, incorporating clothing, cast offs, and what not into a hooked piece. My intention was to teach how to deconstruct clothing, which I did with a turtleneck and a wool skirt. I had hoops and hooks and my whole stash of wool. The drew a simple design on burlap, chose their colors and started hooking. All was well up until then. I had forgotten how it can be difficult to get that rhythm of hooking, especially with a hoop. They did not finish their pieces, which was a disappointment to me. All other classes went home with a finished project. I still think that as a whole, it was successful. I had 8 students and only 2 that did not really enjoy the process. That's what it's all about. Learning and expanding. This was a totally new experience for me. I felt quite honored to be asked, as the others had been involved in the children's Kaleidoscope for years. I promised them a photo tutorial on finishing so that means I've got to get cranking on my piece so I can finish it.

Here are some of the projects from the day:

a vintage window and a hooked mat








mosaic



windows and floor cloths



hooking in progress





painted screens

My Day tomorrow

You can find this, here. Made my to do list a little more interesting.

Monday, Monday

It's Monday morning. The alarm, or should I say, coffegrinder, went off at 6:20. Later than normal, but still earlier than I had been getting up for a week. Last week we got hit by snow and ice. Schools were cancelled 3 days in a row, classes at the Y were cancelled. We all enjoyed our respite but it's time to get back in gear. Today, we are a bit back to normal, but there is still a holiday for President's Day, so school is out. I have Pilates this morning followed by a Cycle class, followed by PT for my shoulder. It's also time to get back into productive gear. I feel that for quite some time, I've been slacking. Slacking in blogging, good and bad, slacking in my intentions, slacking in my physical fitness, just plain everywhere. I'm not sure exactly where it is coming from but It's. got. to. stop.
So for today:
I will work hard in Pilates
I will teach a sweaty, intense cycle class
I will work on my PT and my posture
I will get my hooking class together
I will provide a dinner on time for everyone to eat
I will plan my next project to finish
I will look at my list for the coming year and determine what I need to do to feel proactive in my own life.

Upcoming Dates

I can't hardly stand it!
Lucinda Williams March 28
Anders Osborn March 31
Brandi Carlile April 30

I've already got tickets to Lucinda and working on the other two today. Brandi Carlile's new song "The Story" is incredible. Have a listen.

I <3 heart art!

Here is some to share with you:

Kleas
ATC swap
Lovely Hearts charity exhibition
Pink Chalk Studio
Turkey Feathers
Knottybits
Art Spirit


These are just a few that I have found. There are a bunch more out there. Here are my own creations and some found in my house:








a rusty heart cookie cutter, a felted heart received in a swap, a crazy quilted ornament received in a swap, a wooden ornament, hearts on the wall in my kitchen

heart trivet, a wooden tray decopauged by my youngest with heart cutouts, a silly heart made by me from a recycled sweater, another long term work in process from thimbleberries book, and rug in process just started last week.

Where are your hearts?

Something Wonderful

Finally finished, after probably 10 years. I need to make a label to go on the back. The lable will say "Napping Quilt, started sometime around 1996, 97, or 98 finished on February 10, 2007." This quilt was a pattern in one of the Thimbleberries books. I love the planned scrappiness, I love the quilting. Quite honestly, the finishing is somewhat anticlimactic, yet truly satisfying, sort of like how I felt with my birthday project. It's over, it's done, time to move on.

Check it out!

First, Betz White will be on Martha Stewart today demonstrating her cup 'o joe pinchusions. They are absolutely delightful! Here is a link to her blog:
http://www.betzwhite.com/blog/betzblog.html
The segment will also be available on line for two weeks, after 6pm tonight. I can't wait!

Second, this woman's stuff makes me drool!
http://marystanley.blogspot.com/

Purely for entertainment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg
Use this link, but I am in the process of trying to get it directly on my blog (or at least that's what I think YouTube is doing).

Everyone loves a snow day

The cold weather has definitely made us grumpy. Even My Handsome Prince, who is never cold, walks around with his hoody on in the house, shoulders up, and even wore a nightshirt to bed, despite the fact that our house is quite warm and cozy inside. The outside temperatures chill to the bone! So, today, when the radio announced school closed, college opening at 10, and no classes at the Y, we all slept in. Delightful! It's warm, the snow looks nice, and we don't have to go anywhere until it's cleaned up.

Friday Fun Day

When the girls were in elementary school, they used to have Friday Fun Day, probably once a month. It was torture for Emma. She did not like change in her routine and used to cry on Friday Fun Days (it was supposed to be fun!). On FFD, they would have stations in all the classrooms of that grade team, with coloring, crafting, eating, reading, and what not in coordination with what they had been learning. Well, today is my FFD, with the learning of a new tool (punch needle), thoughts and visions of Valentines (see yesterdays post), finishing the knitting of a scarf, a much needed nap, a house to myself, dinner out tonight, and the looking forward to quilting most of the day tomorrow. I hope you have a Friday Fun Day, too!

Last night I dreamt of Valentines...

paper mache valentines. I dreamt of making the shape from paper bags filled with newspaper and refined with masking tape. I dreamt of covering the shapes with newspaper and goop. I dreamt of colors; pink, purple, white, red, polka dots and stripes, words and decopauge. Lord help me, I didn't sleep a wink. My hands were working and my mind was racing. Maybe it was because of this:

(having trouble loading photos, they will be added)

A group of elementary aged kids, making birds, from web pictures, or picture books, or field guides. Their imaginations gone wild! It is exciting to see them think, figure and work with little guidance. One is making a pearatuc (combination peacock, parakeet, and tucan), one is making a penguin from a soda bottle and and styrafoam egg, one is making a funky bird with high heel shoes, one is making a sweet little bird similar to those found here. Incredible!

How do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time! That has been my mantra for the month of January. We've been trying to put our house together after the new carpet installation, taking the time to sort, to purge, to organize, to rearrange. It takes time and it's easy to lose motivation. Yet, little by little, improvement is seen. I am getting ready to contact an uphosterer for two chairs and my sofa.

The same goes for some other projects this month. I have binders of home ideas, quilt ideas, craft ideas, and fitness routines. Along with these binders are stacks of pages ripped from magazines, a pack or two of page protectors, and more magazines. One page at a time. I'll probably have to go buy more binders for the fitness pages.

And so it goes for the quilt I've been working on. Every evening, I sit in the corner of the tv room, illuminated by my free, floor ott light (freecycle people!) and watch either bad movies or bad tv. Seems to be a theme. And I quilt till my fingers are raw. Audrey asked how long I had been working on this quilt. I guess it has just been a part of me every winter. It's been a 10 year project. In looking around my sewing/craft area, thinking, pulling out projects, I've determined I'm a process person. The finished product is not really my goal. I like the planning, the playing, the ideas, etc. Although, when something is finished, it is wonderful. I expect something wonderful to happen this weekend.

Car Talk

For many years, I don't even know how many, My Handsome Prince and I have gotten up just before 8 on Saturday morning, made coffee and sat down to listen to Car Talk. It is our ritual, our connecting time, our relaxation. We don't always listen, sometimes we talk, we browse through magazines, we plan, but we always sit together on the sofa with Car Talk on the radio. It is very important time together. We usually catch something that makes us laugh, try our mind at the puzzler, plan our calls to Click and Clack about our various vehicles and their issues (we have 5 for 3 drivers). Once 9Am hits, we continue with our day in a more productive manner. We have chastized family members for calling during our together time, and after years of doing so, they have finally caught on, more or less. But now, WAMU, has messed up everything! Car Talk is now not on until 10AM! Today, I listened by myself while sorting through papers. It's just not the same. Honey, what are we going to do?

Free day

We finally got a light dusting of snow. With that came the 2 hour delay for the school, YMCA morning classes cancelled, and sleeping in. I have been working on my pinwheel quilt and have two borders completely quilted and hope to finish the other two this week. My fingers are pricked and sore but I am determined. I have joined Holiday Headstart so am thinking of my first Christmas project. I felted a bar of soap the other night. It was quick, fun, and easy. Hmmm, stocking stuffers and little gifts to have on hand. I like that!

It's a good day, today. One that was needed. Emma made a public announcement via email about her changes. She was worried about being judged, constantly being asked questions, and just not feeling up to a public appearance. Everyone knew she had left the week before. The email made it a bit easier. She received such generous and enormous support from people at church. Family members and friends have written her back. She is admired for making such an adult decision in the way she did. Confronting it head on. She has been asked to help with Youth Choir and has the narrator part in our production of "Joseph and the Techinicolor Dreamcoat". The sisters are bonding, sleeping together, playing, watching movies but will fall back in to some individual activities. Emma will start school again next Monday. In the meantime, she makes her place in our home again. I like my family together. I know it's not forever but it's a bit longer.

Now Playing

Scissor Sisters, Donovan Frankenreiter, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Lucinda Williams, Jamie Cullum, Eastmountainsouth, Beatles, Ben Harper, Amy Rigby, Dave Matthews, Delbert McClinton, John Prine, Tom Waits, John Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, John Hiatt, Johnny Cash, Mindy Smith, and more to come. Lost in the music. My new project will be to make a playlist of songs that speak of the spirit, that speak to me, reaffirms, brings peace, joy, and faith. If you have a favorite, leave it in the comments. Later, I'll post a complete playlist. Here are some examples so far:

Wood Brothers: One More Day
Susan Tedeschi/Bob Dylan: Lord Protect My Child
Macy Gray: A Moment to Myself
Nathasha Bedingfield: Unwritten
Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge over Troubled Water
Mindy Smith - Angle Doves and Come to Jesus
Amy Rigby - Don't Ever Change
John Hiatt - Have a Little Faith

A girl can never have too many Danskos!

This makes my 7th pair. My Mother will be so proud. They are red.

What's new? Not much, how 'bout you?

Actually, that is a lie. Since the last post, I've:
celebrated my 43 birthday with 5 year olds, fed the homeless, helped my daughter struggle with an important decision and am now bringing her home from college, fought with my handsome prince, sorted out my sewing area, started gutting the storage area, gotten mad at my mother, cried to my sister (more than once), started purging unwanted physical clutter, injured my shoulder, slacked in working out, put on unwanted body clutter, had an ipod, lost an ipod, gotten one monkey off my back, worked on my quilt, started a scarf, replaced a lost earing, then lost it, and I'm sure there is more. I just did not want more than a week to go by without a post. I've been struggling, physically and mentally with myself, my projects, my house, my family, but I think I'm turning the corner.

SPC - NY resolutions - list

This list and photo really do not have anything to do with one another. This is just the self portrait I took on New Years Eve. I left my camera out and everyone took a self portrait. But, for the record:
In 2007, I would like to: Let go, pray more, be creative, do 100 pushups, 10 chin ups, finish more projects, learn to be still, listen better, be a better Mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend, serve on a regular basis, recycle more, budget, take pride in my home and take better care of it, purge the house and myself of unwanted clutter, continue to guide Emma on her journey to adulthood, help Audrey find her groove, start my path on becoming a personal trainer (see, I revised this one), prepare better meals, have fun, expect less, learn about my camera, take more photos.That's it so far. I'm sure I'll think of more. Not all of this is going to happen. Other things will happen in place of some. The point is to recognize this and be okay with it. I'm okay with that.

Blueprint

We have been asked to provide a blueprint of our life for the youth. They are attending a retreat this weekend and are working on blueprints and building. We, the parents, have been asked to provide one (or the top 3) things we use as a bluprint of our lives. One of my "blueprints" is due to the fact that I am a Mom. That is my job. Being a Mother is the most important job I will ever hold, so I try to be a good one. Not an easy task. I want my children to know that I love them with every ounce of my being, even while fuming at them in church for goofing off. I want them to have confidence in themselves, to be faithful people, to be selfless rather than self centered, have compassion, be respectful, responsible. So I try to be an example. Not easy. I have to bite my tongue, forgive when I am furious, love when I am mad, constantly admit my faults, discipline when all I want to do is wrap my arms around a child a say it's okay, learn from them while teaching, be open and listen while doing twenty other things, and remind myself that this is the next generation, next leaders, next workers. While my blueprint is easy in words "Be a good Mom" it contains many elements of being that I remind myself of daily, hourly and sometimes every minute.

On a lighter note, I'm finally compiling my list for the year.

SPC - New Years Resolutions -Fresh

At the end of the day you are worn out, you areworn out, and too tired to sleep
But then you do dream of wonderful things
That you might do, right on through to the nextday
And then you wake up
The sun's on your face
You're stretchin' while you're sayin'
It's a Brand New Day!
It's a brand new day and the sky is clear
So let's come together, everybody cheer
Come out people from everywhere
Let's see your faces, the day we'll share
Come on and celebrate a Brand New DayEveryday!
Call out to the workers and the children in theschools
It's a day of celebration so put down your toolsand
Celebrate a Brand New Day Everyday!
Come see the mountains and come see theshores
Mother nature is calling so come climb aboardand
Celebrate a Brand New Day Everyday!
Let's go
At the end of the day there is no doubt you areworn out
Ooh but then you do dream of wonderful things
Wonderful things you might do
And then you wake up
The sun's on your face
You're stretchin' while you're sayin'
It's a Brand New Day!
Celebrate a Brand New Day, Everyday!
Celebrate a Brand New Day, Everyday!

-Gwen Stephanie

In One Short Year

I've managed to get my mojo and lose it, let my oldest child go forth into the world, been terrified, seen and heard some great music, tried not to smother my youngest child with attention, keep my blog fairly consistent, complete a mini triathalon, make a good friend, help with the care of those I love, challenge myself creatively, not participate in the cq ornament exchange, have some good camping trips, celebrate 21 years, use what I have, buy too much stuff, please some people, let some down, been intollerant, not achieved some goals, set new goals, finish some projects, start some new, not finish some that should have been finished, went to familiar places, said Goodbye to a dog, watch those I love struggle and come out on top, felt and been inadequate, been insensitive, participated in service projects. There has been more. It's been a well rounded year, with struggles and triumphs, frustration and elation. Shouldn't it be this way?

Guess what today is?

It is the anniversary of my blog. Wow! I can not believe that I maintained this for one year. In simple terms, it makes me happy. In honor of my anniversary, I'm spending some time updating. Enjoy some of my new links. Thanks for being with me this year.

Christmas Self Portraits

For some reason, blogger won't load the last five, even in a new post, so I give you this. They are all there in their glory! We had a delightful day, delicious food, presents, games, and family in and out. The girls, typically, did not get out of their jammies all day. It was a good day.

Christmas Eve

I needed today, home by myself, to clean, to renew, to read this, to center myself, and to wait, with hope, joy, peace and love for the birth of a king.

Merry Christmas all, may peace be with you.

 

Christmas Gifts

Okay, I really tried for the days of the week posts but gift making, gift shopping and getting ready for carpet really got in the way. Today I feel that I can post a couple of the gifts I made as I am giving them away tonight. The recipients read my blog so did not want to ruin the surprise. This is a stole made for my father who is a minister. The tag inside reads:





Dad,
This stole started with a wool jacket of yours. To it, I added a top that both Rachel and I wore, a tie of Pat's, and dresses from Emma and Audrey's wardrobe. Wear it in Peace, Dad. I love you.
Dana











This is a knit, felted bowl for his wife. It was too tall so I scalloped the edge and dry felted some yarn along it. The whole reason I scalloped it was because I had folded down a brim and it looked too much like a premie hat and here is Audrey modeling it on her head. Sheesh!
That's it for the gifts tonight.

Earlier in the week, we attended the high school choral concert, this time to see Audrey performing in the treble choir. The treble choir is a group that meets after school for 1/2 hour, 1 day a week. It was a strong group of women and much better than the Beginner's concert choir that meet daily. It was such a joy to see my other daughter up on stage, looking confident and happy, singing Christmas songs.

Today we attended NC Idol at the high school. What a fun time! Three contestants, along with some guest performers (Emma included) and an audience vote. I am reminded what a good school my daughter attends. Emma having graduated, succeding in college, definitely prepared. Audrey just beginning her education. Yes, there are frustrating things within the school, county and state, but for the most part, it is good.

Now time for the really good, family time.