This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Happy Friday!

Photo credit to my sister via text message.

This one does get a little explanation...it's not totally my moment, but after last weeks phone calls, FaceTime and texts, I'm claiming it.  My sister, who really just got into crocheting, is blocking her first project....I'm so proud!!

Inspired by Amanda Soule - Feel free to join in and share a link to your moment.

Better Late Than Never

OK, so I'm a little behind today.  It was one of those days...I haven't even read your blogs yet!  I am so behind!  I'm off to do that after I do a really quick post here. I promised a completed project, so here you go....the obligatory bathroom shot...because seriously, what blog is complete without one.  I've managed to get this far without one, so it's about time...I've even thrown in a kitty for good measure....

Isn't he a cute adoring kitty?  You gotta love some Oreo!

And if that wasn't enough, here is  Number Two Son making his mama laugh....

 

Complete with cheesy grin!

So there it is...the amazing herringbone poncho...just in time for fall!

This thing took fooooreverrr! But it is so worth it!  That cotton yarn is so wonderfully soft and I know that it is going to be amazing this fall....can you say warm?!?  I made a hat to go with it...it's around here somewhere, but said boy up there and his buddy had a great time wearing it and being silly, so if it's gone for a bit, I'm good with that.

This week has been a bit quiet around here.  One son at college and one Car Guy in Santiago, Chile, leaves one boy and one Mama.  We've had a great time....watching movies together, eating sushi....he has taken good care of his mama.  I thought I'd leave you with the view that Car Guy has had to deal with.  He sent this picture to me...it's the view from his hotel room...it's a rough life he lives....

Those are the Andes Mountains back there. He says that they are truly awe inspiring.  I'll have more Car Guy pictures later.  He comes home Friday and I can't wait...after 22 years, I'm big enough to admit that I missed the old guy. 

So that's my quick post.  I'm off to see what everyone has been up to. Hope you are all having a wonderful week!

Mailbox Love

A little while back, my blog buddy Steph had a little drawing to celebrate a year of blogging...and lo and behold I won.  Now most of you don't know this, but I have the crappiest luck and typically don't win anything...so this uses up my quota for the next ten years or so.

So here is what I found in my mailbox...there is definitely something great about getting something so pretty in the mail!  You unwrap that pretty up there and this is what was inside...

Look at all that good stuff!  Everything was in the orange knot bag.  Don't you love the fabric? It has the Lorax from Dr. Seuss, and several other Seuss characters, on it and they are knitting. So cute and the perfect project bag for perhaps a pair of socks or a scarf!  (Yes, I know.  I could have taken a better picture of it.) There were some mints (Lobster Tin) that went straight into my purse.  A bath cube that went straight into my basket by the tub. Some beautiful stitch markers, a lavender sachet, some cute magnets (Hello! Already on the fridge!).  I know I'm probably forgetting something because I'm such a scatterbrain, but it was just full of wonderfulness!  The timing of it's arrival was perfect. It was the best "cheer me up" after sending Number One Son off to college and Car Guy to Santiago, Chile.  So thanks so much Steph!!  By the way,  I would have taken Ted E. Bear too (wink, wink).

It's just me and Number Two Son and the house is Q U I E T. We've gone out for sushi, watched some movies and ushered in his junior year of high school.  He's taking good care of me and making sure I get a few laughs in there.

I have a reveal for you tomorrow...a finished project.  Can you believe it? And the start of another. Have a good one!

{Magic of the Mundane}

Today, I am joining Sofia over at Sofia's Ideas for Magic of the Mundane. I so love this idea because it totally falls in line with my desire to get back to simple. It can be a picture, a poem or song, a short video or anything else that celebrates the Magic. So often, we get caught up in "where we're going" that we forget to look at the beauty of "where we are."


It's been a couple of weeks since I've done a Magic of the Mundane post.  It's not that I haven't seen it, it's that I've seen so many little moments of it everywhere...the excitement in one college student's face at the new adventure ahead, the hug between brothers as they say good bye, the love and pride in a father's face as he let's go.  All these things fill me with joy and wonder.  But these are momentous moments too.  Then this weekend I had a lovely moment...almost all weekend long.

My older sister lives on the west coast...California to be more specific.  She moved out there about 14 years ago.  I miss my sister a lot.  We are so different, yet so similar.  We understand each other...most of the time ;)  My sister has been a knitter for years.  I have several scarves she's made me over the years.  I love them and wear them regularly every winter.  My sister decided that she wanted to learn how to crochet.  She bought a magazine or two and found a pattern she really liked. It's an "easy pattern" and as she's learned the basics, she decided to give it a go....and proceeded to get VERY frustrated...as in ARGH!  frustrated.  So we used FaceTime, texting, videos and emails and my sister is now crocheting her poncho.  It was so wonderful that we were able to do this.  I was able to help my big sister learn something new all the away on the other side of the country. It made me remember how much fun we used to have and it was neat to be able to do it again.  It was different but the same, but always special.

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Happy Friday!

Inspired by Amanda Soule - Feel free to join in and share a link to your moment.

Blocking

Check that out!  That is my poncho being blocked.  Once it's dry, I'll sew it up and done!!  So excited!  It feels like forever since I've had a completed project. I really need to get back to Christmas projects.  So many to do and so little time....It really is just around the corner!

I am so looking forward to this evening.  Car Guy is away on a business trip, so the girls are coming over for some quality knit/wine time.  I wonder how much knitting/crocheting we'll actually do...hmmmm.....

Is It Just Me?

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I'm just wondering.  You see, I have this little pet peeve and I didn't know if it was just me or if it's all knitters and crocheters who feel this way.  Does it just crawl under your skin when you see a product advertised as knitted and it's crocheted and vice versa? 
Those slippers over there are great...over priced, but great.  They are being marketed as crocheted slippers.    Really?  Anybody worth their salt will look at those and know that they are knitted...duh!  How do they get away with this.  Are they just assuming that we are idiots?  Or is it because a machine can't crochet and they are thinking if it's marketed as crocheted then they can jack the price up as a hand made one of a kind item...which is so totally WRONG! Do you understand my frustration as a bi-crafty individual?  Or am I just being touchy because of all the time it took me to learn said crafts....hmmmm....

So, is it just me?  Let's do some real scientific work here and let me know.

He's In College Now

I have to say, everything went beautifully last week moving Number One Son into the dorm.  We drove down Wednesday night, stayed in a hotel and then moved him in Thursday morning. We were done by lunch. Compared to a lot of people, my dear boy was a light packer - thank you! He's on the third floor, so we were able to use the stairs and had everything in the room in two trips!

That building in the center is his dorm. 

 

There is his desk and bed.  So....institutional.  

Nothing like cinder block walls and linoleum to make you feel at home.

So much has changed since I was in college.  There is A/C in every room and a refrigerator and microwave. We didn't have A/C in the dorm I was in and microwaves were forbidden...the wiring was so old in my dorm it probably would have fried the whole building.

 Thank goodness he's a boy.  He only gets one of those wardrobes for his clothes...that and one of the little three drawer dressers. Not nearly enough room for a girl - boy did they have a lot of stuff! He lives in a coed dorm with split halls.  Down one end of the hall is the girls and the other end is the boys with the stairs and elevator in the middle.  When I was in college, they had just started coed dorms on my campus and it was girls on one floor and boys on another and after a particular hour, the two did not mix.

 

That building up there is where he will be getting most of his meals now.  

He hasn't complained about the food yet, so it must not be all bad.

I've tried to respect his privacy with this post since he is moving into a more adult world, I think it's only fair that I not post his personal space.  That's why there are no pictures of his room put together or of his room mate, etc. I've had a few text conversations with him and had my first phone conversation with this morning. He appears to be adjusting beautifully.  Mama is getting there slowly.  The house is very quiet.  

On top of Number One Son leaving, Car Guy will be gone for the next two weeks on business. He will come home for two days and then has to leave again.  Thank goodness I still have Number Two Son around.  He's been very sweet. We have a sushi date Tuesday evening and he and his friends have been hanging around our house. I love having them there. Even when they get a little loud, it's wonderful.

I also have plans to do things with my girlfriends.  There is girls' night Wednesday and *gasp* I may go to the gym on Thursday...not that I'm a member...yet.  We'll see.  Everything is happening one day at a time.

Thank you again for all your love and support, kind words and for just being there.  I really can't tell you how much that means to me.  I never have to look far to know that someone is offering a smile and virtual hug. It's a very special thing that means the world to me. It has made this adjustment so much easier!

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Happy Friday!

And so it begins...

Inspired by Amanda Soule - Feel free to join in and share a link to your moment.

Just a little side note:  Everything went smoothly yesterday and Number One Son is now officially a college student.  The tears were minimal on my part...as in just a few the night before, in the bathroom, where no one saw them.  I'm sure it will hit hard later this week in my VERY quiet house. Thank you everyone for your kind words, encouragement and support.  It meant the world to me knowing had you as a phenomenal back up system.  Thanks again for lending me your strength!

A Letter to My Son

Dear Son,

Life as you know it is about to change. This won't be the last time, but this is the first significant change that is leading you to adulthood. You will learn and see so much. It is the beginning of the rest of your life.

I really wish I had some great wisdom to impart to you. I hope this little bit will help.

You will meet some amazing and not so amazing people. Friendships will be made and lost. Hold on to the people that enrich your life and let go of the ones that try to tear it down.

Money will be tight. Know that you will become rich with experience and knowledge. No one can take those away from you. LEARN!

Try to pause and enjoy all that is around you. You will miss it later in life...the freedom, excitement, wonder. You will experience them again, but never in the same way.

There will be disappointment. Take what you can from it, but don't let it or hatred rule you. Let go of the negative things because they will only slow you down and make you bitter.

Above all else, know that I love you. You have brought so much joy and wonder to my life.  You leave me in awe and humble me. I know that I was not the perfect mother and I've probably let you down. Please never doubt what you mean to me. I would move heaven and earth for you if you need me to do so.

Please enjoy what life has to offer you, be safe and know that you ALWAYS have a place with me.

Mom

Eight Things

My mother sent me the email below. There is nothing better than a lot of truth served up with a great dose of humor. Hope you enjoy as much as I did

Number 8
Life is sexually transmitted...Ahem.

Number 7
Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

Number 6
Men have two emotions : Hungry and Horny. If you see a gleam in his eyes, make him a sandwich.

Number 5
Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach a person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks, months, maybe years

Number 4
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in the hospitals, dying of nothing.

Number 3
All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.

Number 2
In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

And The Number 1 Thought
Life is like a jar of Jalapeno peppers--what you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.

- - - and as someone recently said to me:
"Don't worry about old age--it doesn't last that long."

We are really busy right now. Things are moving right a long. I'll try to pop back in real soon. 

Silly.

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Happy Friday!!

I do love a good storm.

Inspired by Amanda Soule - Feel free to join in and share a link to your moment.

I Tink Therefore I....

Argh! Cuss. Swear. Threaten to Rip. *sigh*

Lovey black blob photo that shows no details.

Do you remember this? The pretty black sparkly thing? It's supposed to have a lace edge....ahem. Not so much. It has been sitting to the side for quite some time now (since Mother's day) looking very pathetic.  I just don't think it's going to work out, so I've decided to do something else with it.

Prettier black blob photo...that still shows no details.

Here it is now. I know, I know.  It doesn't look much different. But it does...I tinked back 4 rows of yarn overs, slip stitches, Knit 5 pass 4 over, etc. and so on.  It's amazing how quickly one can screw something up and how long it takes to undo it. So I'm going for a simpler boarder of my own making.  We'll see how that turns out. I finished one row of it last night and I plan to finish the rest tonight....while watching Dallas - I am so pathetically hooked...again.

And yes, that is the Herringbone poncho in the back.  Almost done with it. Yeah, I know I said I was going to finish it at the beach and I almost did. Then I made the mistake of leaving it sitting on the sofa. Someone was kind enough to move it and some stitches fell off...really my own fault. So I had to go back about eight or nine rows.  It was a little frustrating but not too bad.

In case you didn't know, I'm on a self imposed UFO quest.  No, I'm not looking for martians (found him yesterday).  I am trying to get those items up there, and a couple of more, completed before I start anything else.  I figured out that I have five WIPs.  MUST. GET. THEM. DONE.  Just so I can start a lot more...all those skeins and patterns in baggies waiting patiently...to sit in the basket next to the sofa.

Storm clouds from Monday Night.  It was a real humdinger!

I want to thank you sweet people for your kind comments and support while getting Number One Son ready for college.  You are all correct in that it is a very bittersweet thing. I'm doing OK right now....next Thursday will probably be another story, I'm sure.  Can you say water works? But you all have been so there for me and I really do appreciate it. Your support has helped me keep a smile on my face and tears out of my eyes. The person who probably appreciates it the most is my son....he can't stand it when his Mama gets teary eyed and clingy.  It's so embarrassing. So thanks bunches!

Mars....Life Out There?

So I'm sure everyone has heard amongst all the Olympic news, that the rover landed on Mars and everything went smoothly.  We are already getting pictures back and it's been confirmed....there is life on Mars....

Pictures don't lie...right?  Hopefully he doesn't have any blasters, like a 2001 Space Modulator. Those are dangerous things.

We are busy getting everything ready for Number One Son to leave home - sniff, sniff.  Linens are bought.  Mini fridge is ready and there is still so much to do.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week so far!!

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Happy Friday!!

Inspired by Amanda Soule - Feel free to join in and share a link to your moment.

Serve You?

So how many of you have cafeterias near you?  I'm not talking about the school cafeterias we ate at as kids.  I'm talking about the ones that cater to...shall we say mature adults?  You know, the Picadilly Cafeteria, the Rainbow Cafeteria, K & W or J & S.  They are usually close to a retirement home....I'm not being judgmental, just honest and it might be different where you live.

These places are supposed to offer fairly decent food at a reasonable price.  It always start with the salads on ice....

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You know, the strawberries in syrup, carrots in who knows what, tons of iceberg lettuce that has no nutritional value whatsoever....And the lady behind the line...."Serve you?"

Why do all those women wear the same heinous color of pink lipstick?

So you pick your salad and then they ask what kind of dressing you want. If you aren't paying attention, you'll get a half gallon of it dumped on a third of a cup of salad...so much for trying to be healthy.

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Next comes...."Meat ma'am?"  What is that liquid that the meat is in?  It's not the correct color to be water.  Or grease for that matter - it doesn't congeal like grease or fat.  Whatever it is, it doesn't look very appetizing, so you find yourself in the quandary of what looks the least offensive....hmmm.....broiled Talapia maybe?  Or, if you are feeling really brave, you get the mystery meat that is passed off as country style steak and are asked "gravy with?" I am shuddering at this point because that gravy does congeal or you can see the pools of grease floating on top...Ugh!

Then the desserts...steer clear of these - just saying. They always look a lot better than they taste.  I remember a custard pie with a card board/sandpaper crust.  One bite was plenty for my discerning palette....Ahem.

So after being exposed to the plethora of hearty goodness (choking a bit here) you sit down and actually eat this stuff.....What?!?!

What is all this leading up to you ask?  Why am I sharing this experience with you?  Because we ate at one of these fine establishments this week with family.  When I was asked where I'd like to eat, I specifically requested that we not eat at one of the local cafeterias.  So another one was recommended.  It rated a 95% on Urban Spoon.  Who knew that the octogenarian crowd was so active on the "Spoon?"

What did I learn from this experience? That it doesn't matter the name or the geography, the cafeteria is still the same.  The decor is still the same.  The servers are still the same - do they rotate through each one? And most importantly, the food is still the same. And so help me, I swear they all put laxatives in their food....

Needless to say, I will NOT be eating in a cafeteria any time soon...if at all.  And my body heaves a HUGE sigh of relief.