Just a Break

I hope everyone is well.  Taking a little break here.  Still visiting, but need some time away to sort some things.  Back soon!

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.

Isn't she lovely?

I'd also like to take a  moment to wish my wonderful sister a Happy Birthday!!!  I love you!!!

Nothing Much

So what's everybody been up to?  Let's see, I'm back to work - since I have a desk job - and I've manage to run a four legged marathon....from my office to the bathroom....I have to tell you, the walk to the other side of the building to the only bathroom truly does feel like a marathon and these dang crutches are getting on my nerves!  If you can't tell, I don't do incapacitation very well.  I'm only working six to seven hours, but while I'm at work, I can't take the pain meds because they make me loopy....or, I should say loopier.  I get home, pop a pain pill and in about thirty minutes, I'm out.  Number One Son asked why I was tired....Oh, to be young again.  At least he didn't ask why I'm being such a cranky witch!

I really thought that I'd be knitting or crocheting in my down time, but I really haven't been.  Since I've been working, I'm too tired to do much otherwise.  A little light reading and some TV watching and that's about it. 

Progress has been really slow, but that is a shot of the herringbone poncho I'm working on.  I haven't worked on the sparkly project because I know that I'm going to have to tink two rows and I want to have my wits about me when I do it....foggy brain will only make it worse I'm sure. I worked on the chevron scarf while in the waiting room at the emergency room and the orthopedist, but didn't take a picture because it pretty much looks the same, only longer.  Yawn....see, after all the excitement of the past weekend, everything is pretty quiet.

On the up side, tonight is Biscuit Night!!  Yea!  Can't wait to see my girls.  Lauren is picking me up when she gets off work.  These ladies have been so sweet...every last one of them checking on me.  Just knowing they are there, should I need anything, is so wonderful! In times like these, you do find out who your friends are, but then I was lucky enough to already know :) You blog friends have been so incredibly sweet as well! I truly do appreciate your comments, emails and well wishes.  Thanks for checking up on me!

{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."

So you see that really sexy boot up there?  That's mine....it's new.  They only gave me one, but I'm actually quite grateful that I don't have a matching pair.  Something you might not know about me is that my parents wasted A LOT (in my opinion) of money on dance lessons on me when I was a child. First of all, because I hated it...well, not the dancing so much, but the dance teacher...another story, for another day.  Secondly, because I'm about as graceful as a pig on ice.  Seriously....that boot up there is proof. This is what happens when you fall asleep on the sofa, wake up at 1:00 a.m. and remember that you need to let the neighbor's dogs in the house for the evening.  You go across the street, half asleep, and don't get your foot completely on the step, roll you ankle and fall on your own foot. Thank goodness for the sweet, strapping young man I gave birth to that got me back home and in bed...Needless to say it was a fun thing to explain to Car Guy in the morning when I told him I really need to go see a doctor....yup, one foot, two broken bones...Can you say talent?  That's me....I'm that kid that spent all her charm school money on bubble gum. What does this have to do with Magic of the Mundane and appreciating the every day?  I REALLY appreciate walking without crutches and without pain.  I appreciate sleeping through the night without waking up every time I roll over. I now truly appreciate the everyday that I took for granted. Think about it for a minute...what if you couldn't walk on your own....fix a meal without wearing yourself out...drive a car....so many things that are everyday occurrences that are just a part of life...you know, like walking up a step without falling on your face....oh wait, you can do that?  Must be nice :)

By the way, I am fine if not slightly frustrated.  I should be back to normal...well normal for me...in about 8 to 12 weeks.  I apologize now if blogging and commenting are sporadic.  Be careful out there and watch where you're going.  You never know what might jump out at you!

P.S. There was no alcohol involved and I wasn't chewing gum...I'm just that clumsy.

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.

Continuous Projects

Well, it appears that this past week has not been my week for knitting. Everything I touch goes south. Ugh. And yes, I'm regurgitating pictures...sad, as I have nothing to show for the past week.

I decided that I wanted to make the Herringbone Poncho. I have this really great cotton yarn and thought it would be perfect.  The yarn is perfect for it, see it in the picture up there? The knitter however is another story. Ack! I don't know where my brain was, but the pattern calls for 12mm needles and dummy here picked up 9mm...What?!?! This is not a little difference in size people.  *sigh*  So ten rows in and ripppppp.......

The pretty black sparkly project is sitting to the side right now.  I made a booboo somewhere, screwed up my stitch count with a lace boarder, so I had to put it down....or have a good ol' fashioned hissy fit. Maybe I'll pick it back up this weekend.  I just didn't want the aggravation on Mother's Day.

Since I seem to be doing such a wonderful job on my knitting, I decided not to pick of the scarf I'm working on.  I just don't think I could stomach three strike outs in one week.

I so enjoyed everyone's comments yesterday.  There are a disgusting number of morning people out there!  I just say that because I'm jealous.  You see, I used to be a morning person.  Then, when I was in college, I had a job in a bar and that killed early mornings for me. I do want to clarify one thing though....just because I'm quiet in the morning, doesn't mean that I'm quiet all the time. Hardly!  I've said it before, I can have a conversation with the wall, once I get warmed up...just ask those that know me!

I'm off to see what see what everyone else has been up to...hope your projects are moving along better than mine!

Quiet Day

Well, Sunday was a lovely quiet day...just what was ordered for this mama.  Car Guy took me to breakfast....after letting me sleep late...Are any of you in relationships with morning people?  Aren't they disgusting?  Ugh!  He wakes up all chipper and chatty and all I want is my coffee and quite...and for crying out loud, on Sunday, don't wake me before 9 am....if then.  That doesn't normally happen, but on Mother's Day, I slept until 10 am...it was bliss.

We have a tendency to keep things kind of low key around here.  The main thing about Mother's Day is that the Mama gets to do whatever she wants,  so I put a pot roast on when we got back from breakfast and planted myself on the sofa with my needles and yarn and proceeded to watch the first season of "Downton Abbey" and oh my, I'm hooked.  My Sainted Mother, Frankie and my Mother in Law came over to enjoy some quality PBS entertainment and eat the pot roast for dinner. After cooking all day, the roast was perfect.

My Sainted Mother loved her Airy Scarf and laughed when I told her it was purely decorative. The color does such beautiful things with her blue eyes. 

Now, I have to share my Mother's Day card with you...It's not the typical hearts and flowers kind of card, but it so epitomizes my off beat family, that it's perfect...

Yeah, I'm that kind of mama, so encouraging. Of course, it's also perfect because My Boys picked it out for me.

All in all, it was a perfect Mother's Day.  Going back to work on Monday was quite a shock to my system.  I hope all you mamas out there were able to spend your Mother's Day the way you wanted!

{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."

Shhh.....do you hear that?  That's right...it's nothing....it's quiet....not a sound. 

That quiet is something that we sometimes take for granted.  We don't always have to have a three ring circus to entertain us.  Sometimes the best moments are the ones spent quietly.  That moment with a loved one before the alarm clock goes off.  The kiss on the forehead as someone sleeps. The time alone as the sun sets. The first cup of coffee or a single glass of wine with a good book.  Sharing a movie, a story, a smile or a look of understanding.

In the craziness of everyday life, we sometimes forget the beauty and need for quiet or silence and the opportunity to just be.  Reality will remind us that it's out there soon enough.  I was reminded at 8:15 this morning when the system went down and we dealt with 9 million calls...phones ringing loudly, constantly, jarringly. But once everything was fixed, I sat in my office, closed my eyes, took a deep breath and was.  That peaceful, quiet moment was magically perfect. Try it.  Go on...close your eyes and just be.....For me, it helps put everything in perspective...just don't do it for too long. Someone might think you've fallen asleep.

Happy Mother's Day!

Wishing all the mothers out there a happy day!

And to my Sainted Mother - Thank you for everything....life, love, support, friendship, and for just being there,  even when I thought I didn't need you - because those were the moments I needed you most.  I love you!

It's All Good

Hi there!  Happy Saturday!  Just wanted to let you know -  no more Debbie Downer.  I really do try to keep this a happy place...a place of laughter, but sometimes life just gets to me and I have to put it out there.  I'm fine. Grace will be missed, but all is as good as can be expected and life moves on.  I do want to thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, emails, and support.  It means a great deal to me and gives me a warm fuzzy feeling when I need it most.

Over the past week, I think Mother Nature has been trying to help me out and cheer me up with all of her little visitors.  First we had our indignant bird last Friday...he really wasn't.  Here's a better picture...

I think his biggest concern was the cat pawing at the window trying to get to him.  I'm amaze the he hung around long enough for me to get the pictures. But I do love the "look" from the other picture.

Then there was the bunny.

He's just so cute.  I'm not some Dr. Doolittle that all the animals love, I just have a really great zoom lens on the camera. The kids across the street thought I'd finally gone off the deep end when they saw me laying in the grass trying to take this picture...then they saw the bunny and ran over to get a better look.  They ended up looking at my pictures because those stampeding feet sent the bunny on his way.

But those same boys helped me out with tomorrow's picture....just a little something for mother's day.  I had lost track of my target when I went in to get the camera and they kept an eye on it for me...I guess you'll just have to check in tomorrow to see what it is. Hope you are all enjoying your weekend! We're off to the farmer's market...Yea!!!

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!!

Our newest guest.

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

***Updated 5/11/2012 @ 3:36 pm***

This beautiful beautiful woman, so aptly named Grace, left this world this morning on the same day she entered it sixty-eight years ago. She fought a hard battle against cancer  for the last seven years and will be greatly missed by all those who knew her.  Rest well.

Long, Hard Days

Hey y'all!  Sorry I've been away.  Sometimes life takes me away from this little place of peace. Things are starting to gear up for the end of the school year and that means graduation for Number One Son.  I'm dealing with it a bit better, but not much. He and Number Two Son still don't have access to the computer and Xbox.  I was asked when they would get access by them and Car Guy and I told them I haven't decided yet, maybe this weekend.  It really just depends on how they behave the rest of this week....which is almost over.

There has been a prevailing sense of sadness around here for the last few days. Car Guy's little sister's mother-in-law has been battling cancer now for about the past five years.  I hate to say that I'm not actually sure how long, but it's been long enough that it's became part of the fabric of their daily lives...and ours in a round about way.  Unfortunately, I'm afraid she is losing this battle.  She is with Hospice now, no longer eating or drinking and barely recognizing people or speaking to them.  I can't even fathom how this is affecting the members of her family...Her husband, her sons.  It's heart breaking. We've been kept up to date with emails and they are getting harder to read as the days pass. I guess that's why I haven't been here.  I really don't know what to say. My thoughts and prayers are with this extended part of our family but I don't know how much comfort that really is. I know the pain they are feeling...the anger...the why's...and it causes a knot in the pit of the stomach because, short of a miracle, there is nothing else to do.  I think that's the toughest part...there is nothing else to do...but wait. So we wait, with our hearts in our hands, hoping, praying and wishing....for what, I'm not sure.  Maybe just for peace.

{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."

Unplugged...As most of you know, raising children is not always easy.  Some days are more difficult than others.  I'm here to tell you that older children are not always easier.  Sometimes they have bad days.  Sometimes, even though one is almost a junior in high school and the other leaves for college in the fall, they can act as petty as kindegarteners. Some days I get to hear what "he" did and then what "he" did to "get even."  Really?!?!  Seriously?!?!  How old are they again? Hmmm.....well, even this mama can reach her breaking point and get "feed up."  When that happens, things change.  If I reach "that" point, I don't yell and I don't ground. I enact change. So this past Sunday afternoon, while they were bickering and not listening to their mama, things changed.  Suddenly there wasn't a cord connecting the Xbox to the TV.  And why is there a password on the computer? Hmmm......maybe there's been enough time with electronics and we need to learn to communicate again....maybe?  And as I cooked dinner, I heard the distinct sound of a pool table in use and laughter as the "smack talk" began and after dinner, some basketball outside. It wasn't perfect, but it's a start. Just a little time spent together unplugged and if there is bickering, at lease it isn't over an inanimate object that sucks away time.  Seeing their faces, hearing their laughter...that's magic...even if mama is a mean old lady.

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.

****************************************************************
I wanted to thank everyone for their comments on yesterday's post.  Your support and wisdom was heartwarming and much appreciated.  I'm sure they are something that I will go back to when I'm have one of "those days" and be the supportive hug that helps get me through.  Thank you!

Change

Oh gosh...I'm having one of those weeks...It's all on the heels of great triumph for my son and possible triumph for Car Guy and I am feeling....blah. Restless. Aggravated. Frustrated. Irritated. (Did I cover all the "ated" words?) There is a feeling of discontent that I can't quite put my finger on.  I think part of it is good ol' fashioned "mama angst" and the knowledge that change is coming. You see, I'm a creature of habit, so that means I'm not that crazy about change...even good change.  Change makes me question things...particularly when the change is happening all around me, but not necessarily with me. Is any of this making sense?

One of my favorite pictures.

Number One Son's college acceptance has brought home the fact that my baby is almost grown and will be leaving the nest....I'm not ready. And for some reason, I don't think he'd be to keen on the idea of me grabbing hold of him and hanging on for dear life.  I might not be ready for him to leave, but he's ready...at least in his mind.  I'm sure he's excited, afraid, thrilled and so much more...and I'm already feeling lost...like something is missing. This brings up so many questions in my mind...Did I teach him everything I was supposed to teach him?  Will he be OK?  I know he's smart, but will he make the "right" decisions? What if he gets hurt?  What if he falls for the wrong girl? I'm not going to be there to help...not that he'd let me.  He's at that age where he wants everything to be "just so" and is selective about what he'll "allow" his mother to be a part of and what he'll allow her to "fix." That is it's own mine field...trying to find the right distance.  Don't hover, but don't go too far away....sigh. I appreciate my own mother so much more now.  In fact my appreciation for her grows every day. How do you step back, let go and trust?  Her response...you just do. It sounds so simple but is the hardest thing I've ever done...and I'm just not ready. I don't think I ever will be.

And There is Knitting.

As if you didn't know...But first I want to thank you all for your kind words and congratulations on Number One Son's college acceptance. It warmed my heart! We are so very excited for him and his future.....And now back to our regularly scheduled program....

This beauty is the lace scarf from last week.  It is actually the Big Lace Scarf from More Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson.  She has another book called...wait for it...Last Minute Knitted Gifts.  Bet you would have never guessed, huh? Joelle Hoverson is the owner of Purl Soho in New York.  I've never been, but maybe someday. Anyway, I love these two books because of the way the patterns are organized by how long it takes to make them.  The above scarf was made for Anne who writes at Writing by Numbers (waving hello!)  I met Anne a few years ago because Car Guy and I have known her husband for years.  We went to visit her and her husband this past weekend and you can't go without a hostess gift...my Sainted Mother taught me that...she's smart that way. This just struck me and said I needed to make it for Anne.  It's feminine without being too frilly or froufrou. I think I'm going to have to make some more of these puppies....hmmm....I wonder...So, we had a wonderful visit with Anne and her family.  I ate way too much food, but it was so good - Bruschetta and grilled pizza...yum! Hope we didn't keep you from anything Anne!  You must come visit us soon!

Sorry...back to the task at hand. I have a few other things on needles. One item is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. It's the Chevron Scarf.

I am using some left over sock yarn and I'm really loving it.  It's slow going, so I should have it done by next winter....maybe. Depends on whether or not I get distracted....Oh look!  Sparkley!

I don't know if you can see it, but that yarn has sparkles in it.  This is a Christmas gift, so I'm just going to tease you with this picture. Can you believe I'm already working on a Christmas gift?!?! Crazy, right? I don't know what's going on with that.  The next thing you know, I'll go and organize my stash.  Nah, never mind.  That would be crazy.

So that's what I've been working on.  Hope the creative juices are flowing for you!

{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."

The mail...we all get it.  Mostly it looks a little something like this...

A collection of bills, sales flyers, the occasional magazine, etc. Nothing particularly exciting.  When I was a child, I loved getting the mail...just to see if there was anything in there for me.  I had a grandmother that was wonderful about sending me little notes in the mail.  She was my first pen pal.  When I was too small to read them, my Sainted Mother would read her notes to me.  Then, as I got older we'd write to each other fairly regularly, even though she only live 45 minutes away. I had a couple of other pen pals over the years and then there were the letters from my "first love" when I was thirteen.  I remember the excitement of opening that metal door and flipping through it all until I saw the envelope with my name on it.

When I eventually became an adult, the mail kind of lost it's luster for me.  Most of my friends and I email or talk on the phone, so the mail became something that I didn't really enjoy. It was mostly junk mail and bills...basically someone asking for the money that I felt like I didn't have.  Until now.   After months of waiting, Number One Son got a couple of large envelopes, one from Charlotte and one from Greenville ...news we'd all been anxiously waiting for....

In the fall, my oldest will became an East Carolina University Pirate...that makes this Mama VERY proud and so excited for him and the opportunities this will bring him. And the bonus? Last Friday, I fell in love with the mail all over again...until that first tuition bill comes...Yikes!

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.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

What do May Flowers Bring?  Pilgrims....Sorry it's an old, bad joke, but the rain is coming down in torrents here in the south, with the occasional boom of thunder and I just couldn't resist.

Ladies, I must thank you for your help!  I do love my friend and I don't mind making the random baby blanket or hat for her store, but I broke the news to her last night that there would be no socks.  And bless her, once I explained, she was good with that.  I have some bootie patterns that she likes, so I'll continue making those when she needs them.

We haven't had a Car Guy update in a while and so I thought it was about time to let you know what's going on with his "baby."  I only say this because I was with some friends last night and was asked where he was and my reply was "under the Porsche."  Which I quickly had to follow with "and I didn't put him there" after I received several odd looks.  Just a quick catch up...Car Guy is restoring a 1972 Porsche 914.  He's doing all the work himself, so this isn't a quick process.

I am happy to say that these car parts aren't on the floor in my den....I don't think...either that, or I've become so immune to them that I don't even notice any more...anyway, they are now out in the garage where they belong...except for the headlights sitting on the desk. Those are too fragile to reside out there where they might get broken. I've been told they are crazy expensive to replace...I'll trust him on that one.

 I kind of wish I had a before pictures of these.  They are all pretty and shiny now...I sound like such a girl. 

 This is the car before he started the restoration...not to shabby if I do say so myself. I know you are thinking that she really doesn't look like she needs a lot of work.

Here she is back in July.  The tear down had begun.

 

Here she is now.  See that green?  That's her original color. We are going back to that color. No more roots, just glorious green. 

Now what I'm about to show you is a tad bit scary....for me anyway. You are about to see exactly why she needs a full restoration...

See that rust....see those holes....that's the floor board...Here, let's take a better look....

Do you see the red circles?  Those are actual holes that I can fit my fingers through.

Now I know you are asking what's the big deal...It's an old car and rust is bound to happen and it's fixable.  Yes it is.  Here's the scary part.  That's the floor board on the passenger side of the car underneath the seat. That was where my behind was planted on a regular basis, people. And if we are going to be painfully honest here (you know, full disclosure and all that) my behind is not that of a young, 120 pound waif.  No sirree, it belongs to a full figured gal that has birth two strapping boys.  It kind of freaked me out a bit.  

You know, I often said that I felt like my rear end was dragging the ground when I rode in that car....now I know why.

Frustration

I hope everyone is well.  The comments from yesterday's post were great...however, I must say I started feeling my age when Hannah had to ask her mother who Hall and Oates were....OUCH! I'm guessing her mother and I are about the same age since Hall and Oates were really popular when I was in High School.  And then Courtney, who was in High School in the 90's...Yikes!  I was having babies in the 90's. And Rachel roller skating to Boy George....Sigh....It made me feel a little cantankerous and old...but that's OK because there were several of you...Karen, Tracey and Steph that are right there with me...I guess we listen to the "classics." According to my "scientific research,"  it appears that 80's and 90's music is going over well with the younger generation in Kelly's and Anne's homes...I say introduce them to some Zepplin, man! Although I'm not sure some of the lyrics are age appropriate...."Hey, Hey Mama, said the way you move, gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove....." Yeah, umm, maybe not...Moving on.....

So this morning has been an exercise in frustration.  It took FOREVER to get my pictures to download...and then they aren't even good ones...sigh...here they are in all the over exposed and under exposed glory....

This is something I've been working on...it's actually finished, but it's for someone, so I can't tell you what it is or who it's for....shhh...it's a surprise.  It's only my second attempt at knitting lace (sort of lace) and I think I'm starting to get addicted to it. There is definitely a bit of satisfaction to watch it unfold.  This worked up quickly because I used thick yarn and large needles.  Hopefully I'll be able to post a picture of it on the recipient soon.  We'll see.  Some people are a little camera/blog shy.

This is another bit of frustration for me.  It's a baby sock and it's adorable...although I do need to work on my grafting (more frustration).  I love baby socks and I have a friend that wants to sell some in her store, but I just can't seem to find a way to make it cost effective.  They take way too much time to put on the shelf for just a few dollars, so I have to ask what you think a reasonable price would be...we'll make it all official and call it "market research." I also need to find a way that doesn't take me all evening to make one sock....which takes me back to my crappy grafting.  I think I need to find an easier way to close the toe...or maybe try toe up socks? Are they very hard? Any suggests would be great.

Well I'm off to find my rocking chair.  After yesterday, I'm feeling a bit old and I think a nap might be in order.  Take care!