Gratitude

The other day I wrote that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and with it coming up next week, I wanted to take the time to make note of some of the things I am thankful for. Really, I am blessed and can't list everything, but it's good to think about it, you know?

Friends – you know who you are. My friends are the people who boost me up every day. They are the ones who challenge me to become a better person. I have found I surround myself with people, who, like me, see the glass as half full, and it’s something delicious with which to raise our glasses and make a toast! One never knows what life will bring, and there’s no point in spending time with negative people who bring you down.

Love – I am so fortunate to have found my soul mate. Bill is my best friend and the love of my life! We finish each others’ sentences, reach the same conclusions at the same time, and sometimes even buy the same greeting cards. Some of our most wonderful evenings are those we spend sitting at home knitting and reading together and not saying a word. When we’re apart, I feel as though a part of me is missing.

Family – I am so blessed to still have my parents and siblings here with me, despite some serious illness scares the past couple of years. We are close, and we are silly, and when we are all together we can be scary and a bit intimidating to outsiders. LOL I know how lucky I am, and I give thanks every day for my crazy family… all the way down to my parents’ great-grandchildren. On top of that, I am going to be step-mom to two wonderful college boys whom I love dearly. They, along with Mayhem and Absent-Minded Professor, keep me laughing and fill my heart with joy.

And then there are the daily things… coffee, knitting, sunshine, snow, my mom’s cooking, knitting, a warm house, snoring dogs, good wine, a job that pays the bills, knitting, my local yarn shop, modern medicine, knitting… the list goes on and on. Did I mention knitting?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Catching Up

Hey! I'm still alive!



I don't know if I can begin to tell you all of the things that have happened since mid-July when I last blogged here, but I will try to catch you up.



Yes, I still knit. I still write the blog for Yarn Cravin'. I seem to be able to do that regularly. Go figure. I even find time to work there once in a while. I am constantly knitting, but don't seem to finish many projects. I'm working on that, really. I did finish some little socks and a sweater for my brand new great-nephew, whom I will meet at Thanksgiving. Yummmm... can't wait to smooch on that baby!

The kids are doing well. They have adjusted to our shared parenting arrangement of one week with dad, one week with me, and seem to be OK with that. School is going well for them and me, and life has settled into a routine of school/work in the mornings, study/play in the afternoons, knit/tv in the evenings. Life is quieter and peaceful now that we're all in a routine.

Mayhem is playing the viola, having just started orchestra this year. She is already making "real" music. Absent-Minded Professor is thrilled that he is nearly as tall as his dear momma... just one more inch to go! Next year he will join me at the high school. He got braces right before school started in August and we can see a huge improvement already. College Kid the Elder had swine flu in October and was brought home for several days to recuperate. (The younger kids and I get our vaccines this week - finally!) Bill and I can't believe the oldest will graduate in May! College Kid the Younger transferred to Ohio University this fall for his second year of college and is having a fabulous year with their debate team.

Right now Bill and I are getting ready for Thanksgiving; we have so much to be thankful for! This is my favorite time of year, and Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. To answer the big question: No, we aren't married yet. We are still working out the logistics of combining our families and households. I don't know when the wedding will be, or even how it will be. Right now we are deliriously happy just knowing it will be.

Someone stay on my case about blogging, OK?

Where I've Been...

Have you been wondering about me? Here's what's going on! I have been to eleventy-billion softball games to watch Mayhem play. Her team is undefeated and just finished regular season play. Tournaments start next week! Not one single game was rained out.

The kids and I have been to The Toledo Zoo. The new children's area is beautiful, but geared toward little kids. My kids liked it, especially the "kids only" treehouse. We are really too grown-up for it, though.

Somehow, Mayhem was turned into a giraffe for a few moments.

One of my lifelong friends has the good fortune to finally be blessed with impending motherhood! I knitted a blanket for Linda's baby shower, and attended. We have known each other since Kindergarten, and I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Araucania pima cotton. All garter stitch.

The glowing Linda and a friend.

Bill and I again took a big group of 7th graders to Gettysburg andWashington, DC this year. Here's Bill and I at Mount Vernon. He's a big fan of President Washington. (I'm a Lincoln fan, myself.)
This year, my Absent-Minded Professor was old enough to go on the trip!

He was one of two students chosen to do the Wreath Laying Ceremony at The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier at Arlington.

My kid is wearing the red tie.

At the Lincoln Memorial, my favorite place in DC, all the kids ran up the steps, and Bill stopped me to have a very serious conversation. CJ took our photo afterward.

I said "yes"!!! I am the future Mrs. Bill. No date is set.


And the rollercoaster continues with pro baseball games and trips to Traverse City and swimming and swapping the kids back and forth with their dad...

Plans... Interrupted

Saturday morning, today, dawned sunny and warm, and I had a plan. I was going to pull weeds like a madwoman and then sit outside and knit to my hearts' content until late afternoon. It's Memorial Day Weekend, after all.

The little people at my house, however had other plans. It started with the phone ringing non-stop and the words, "Mom can you take me to..." repeatedly. My plans went out the window and I proceeded to shower, put on clean clothes, and drive my children all over God's green earth. One packed up clothes, swimsuit and towel and was dropped off to spend the night at a friend's. The other was transported to a video game store to trade in one old game and buy a new game. Unfortunately, that store didn't have the needed new game, so off we went to a different part of town to find the "absolutely must have today, Mom!" game. You know, the kind that is so urgent that he would die if he didn't have it.

I had hoped to share neat flower bed with newly planted flowers with all of you. I can entertain you with this, however. It's the most unflattering photo of me ever taken, and I'm only sharing it for two reasons. First, it documents my career flexiblity and the fact that I may have the option of working as a clown if my illnesses cause me to be canned from my current job. Second, the hair is gonna go. Next Saturday I have an appointment to drastically change the hairdo. That hair has not been cut in two years. (Thanks, Mary, for the lovely portrait of me!) Put down any drink you may be consuming. I'm not responsible for your computer.


Here is proof that I am knitting still. Look! It's on two circulars, even! The pattern is Eleanor, and it's free on Ravelry. You just have to join. The yarn is a custom dye for our sock of the month club by Sarah at Perfect Day Yarns. (Look her up, I'm too lazy to link today. Sorry.)


Hope the knitting is good in your corner of the world.

MAKE TIME TO REMEMBER OUR VETERANS AND FLY THE FLAG THIS WEEKEND!!!

World War II Memorial, Washington, D.C. 2008

Bumpy Road Ahead

Have you been to T-Town lately? Make sure your seatbelt is fastened securely because the roads are bumpier than most. We don't even need speed bumps. That's true of the road of my life, too, right now but there is a smoother road up ahead, and it's coming very, very soon. 18 days or less from today, not that I'm counting.

Mayhem is playing softball, you know, and her team continues to be undefeated. Yay, team! A week ago today she hurt her knee at practice, and it's still hurting. She voluntarily missed a game, tried to play the next game (against doctor's orders - long story) and had to be taken out. Today we didn't even attempt practice. Rest and ice. Ice and rest. I see an x-ray in our future.

During games, I knit. During practices, I knit. Does anyone else? Nope. I'm like a knitting alien. No one even asks about the knitting, or expresses an interest. Not one person brings anything else; not a book, not bills to pay, no other crafts. There's not multi-tasking even during practices. I don't get it.

Here's my latest project close to completion: Thuja socks, from last year's sock club. The yarn is from Chewy Spaghetti, in a custom color for our shop. Yum. Yum. (Yes, I was knitting during a softball game! *gasp*)

Bill's boys are home for the summer from college. Look what the oldest brought with him! Everyone is trying to decide on a name because according to Mayhem, "Blackie is a stupid name." I vote for Kat. My first thought was how in the world are we going to introduce her to my dogs??

And just for fun, I was playing with my zoom lens and took these photos from my car (while parked) waiting for Absent-Minded Professor to come out of school the other day.

That new lens is going to be great fun in Washington, D.C.!

Spring Happenings

The crabapple trees are blooming here. My front yard has two trees, but some streets are lined with them, almost making a canopy of blooms as you drive down the road. A strong gust of wind sends the petals flying, making it look like snow. They're beautiful, and I had to share.



My entire weekend was spent sitting at softball fields. Mayhem had her Pre-Season Tournament. Friday night it was cold and rained off and on; her game wasn't until 7:00PM. Saturday she played at 2:00PM and it was sunny, but chilly. We all sat bundled in sweatshirts and blankets. Sunday morning, finally, it was warm. Why so many games? They kept winning!

Mayhem had a great weekend. She had several hits, and scored two runs this weekend. Here's a photo of her coming in to home plate. Score!

Mayhem's team won the Championship for this tournament. Regular season play starts this week.

And what do I do to stay sane at the games? I complete my UFO's! Look: My Monkey Socks from last year's sock club. ~blush~ Size 2 US needles. Yarn is Muddy Maumee (custom dyed) from Perfect Day Yarns for Yarn Cravin's Sock of The Month Club.

They have been worn and are warm and comfy. My sock skills are definitely improving, as these fit better than any socks I have made so far.

Escape from Reality

Sometimes it's good to run away from everything. That's what I did last weekend. The Insanknitty Retreat was the perfect escape from the reality that is my life - medical tests, kids crazy schedules, refinancing, etc.

An overnight knit-fest with 40+ knitters, many of whom are dear friends, was just what the doctor ordered. We holed up at Widewater Retreat Center from 9:00AM Saturday until 5:00PM Sunday. I ate too much, had a fabulous massage, knitted as much as I wanted, sat in the sun...

There were eight people assigned to my room, including me, not that we did much sleeping! That full room was by choice, because we knew we would be up late being silly. I think we went to bed around 2:10AM, and finally fell asleep around 3:00AM. Much knitting and spinning was accomplished, though. Even more laughter was accomplished, and at times we laughed until we cried. Picture a big slumber party with your closest friends, away from home. Add in knitting and silliness... like Jello wrestling.

And musical entertainment.
I had time to spin... here I am pre-drafting some fiber.

We had some basic spinning lessons with drop spindles.

My friends in attendance weren't just local friends. Becca and Kristy and Beth came in from Chicago. Cary drove up from Tennessee. I love your faces!

Who could be stressed with beauty like this to see all weekend?

The retreat was well-organized and loosely structured enough to be relaxing. I missed my kids, but the time away with my knitter friends to re-charge my batteries was so worth it! Bill deserves a special thank you for the camp chair with attached foot-rest. It was so comfy all weekend for knitting, sitting outside and relaxing... my pregnant friend Heather also appreciated it! Thanks so much for another considerate gift, Luv.