I will be getting off the train in Rensellaer for the regional romance writers conference, and boy am I excited! To think I will be in the very same space as Sherrilyn Kenyon is awe inspiring. Add in the chance to meet one of my very closest friends in the world and it is sure to be an amazing weekend.
So, why do I, a single Mom, the product of not one, but two failed marriages, love the romance genre so much? The answer is quite simple. I want my Happily Ever After, dangit! And I get it, with every single book, no matter the obstacles, in the end, it ALWAYS works out. What could be better than that?
I am painting my own rose coloured future, one word at a time.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Hospitals are no fun....
Friday saw my daughter Chryssie admitted, she had caught some kind of stomach bug on top of a UTI... with the bulemia her resources are always on the low side, so... this landed her in the ER, then an admittance until Sunday.... we gt home at 1 in the afternoon yesterday, and less than 12 hours alter, my youngest, Adrianna, catches the tummy bug. Hopefully we can avoid another hospital stay.
Sadly this meant no Memorial Day parade for us. Pictures soon!
Sadly this meant no Memorial Day parade for us. Pictures soon!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Still breathing...
There are times I feel utterly incapable of writing, because it seems the day-to-day of our lives can be pretty monotonous. I know this isn't truly the case, but... it sure was feeling it at the end of winter/early spring.
Miss Adrianna is indeed pumping insulin once again, with her pink pump of choice. We spent a good deal of time between her pediatrician, endocrinologist and the diabetes center at the hospital, coordinating it all. Thankfully, they are a fantastic group of people and it went smoothly. Okay, perhaps a few minor bumps along the way, though nothing that couldn't be sorted out quickly. The Animas pump rep in our area came to the house for the official pump start and everything has been going amazingly well since. I cannot believe how advanced insulin pumps are... just the improvements over the last few years are pretty incredible.
I am going away next month for the first time in several years... okay.. 'away' is for 2 nights..and only about an hour or so from my home..BUT...it is to go to THIS so I am terribly excited and counting down the days. I will be meeting up with a very close friend from PA. So not only am I going to this amazing conference, I will also be meeting her in person for the first time. I know I will want to slow the clock down to a snails pace, and yet the time will likely sail by.
Miss Adrianna is indeed pumping insulin once again, with her pink pump of choice. We spent a good deal of time between her pediatrician, endocrinologist and the diabetes center at the hospital, coordinating it all. Thankfully, they are a fantastic group of people and it went smoothly. Okay, perhaps a few minor bumps along the way, though nothing that couldn't be sorted out quickly. The Animas pump rep in our area came to the house for the official pump start and everything has been going amazingly well since. I cannot believe how advanced insulin pumps are... just the improvements over the last few years are pretty incredible.
I am going away next month for the first time in several years... okay.. 'away' is for 2 nights..and only about an hour or so from my home..BUT...it is to go to THIS so I am terribly excited and counting down the days. I will be meeting up with a very close friend from PA. So not only am I going to this amazing conference, I will also be meeting her in person for the first time. I know I will want to slow the clock down to a snails pace, and yet the time will likely sail by.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Is spring ever coming?
Today dawned with an absolute breathtaking blue sky filled with sunshine, so I'm thinking spring IS going to happen. Someday.
So, I had gone out and gotten a domain and was trying to get wordpress set up. I have a vision of the way I want my blog to look. I went around to some of my favorite blogs, to see what themes they used, how they were set up, etc. And discovered one glaring fact. One simple thing that could have saved me a LOT of frustration I think. They all use typepad. Every single one of them. So, I am on a trial period for typepad, and if I can get that sorted out, that will be the new home.
We have an appointment on Tuesday, the Miss A and myself, to see a new endocrinologist, and hopefully get her back on an insulin pump. She has her eye on this lil number
So, I had gone out and gotten a domain and was trying to get wordpress set up. I have a vision of the way I want my blog to look. I went around to some of my favorite blogs, to see what themes they used, how they were set up, etc. And discovered one glaring fact. One simple thing that could have saved me a LOT of frustration I think. They all use typepad. Every single one of them. So, I am on a trial period for typepad, and if I can get that sorted out, that will be the new home.
We have an appointment on Tuesday, the Miss A and myself, to see a new endocrinologist, and hopefully get her back on an insulin pump. She has her eye on this lil number
Saturday, February 16, 2008
5 years.
That is how long i have been separated. Only.. last week I became, truly..a single parent. Andrew and Adrianna's father... doesn't want them even calling him anymore. In fact... he called the police , him and his girl friend, because Adrianna called the house to talk to him. Adrianna is 11... and just wanted to talk to her Daddy. Bastard. What kind of person calls the police on his 11 year old little girl? They are better off for it, its something I wish he had done years before. I wish even more so...t hat he would have been the father they deserve. But at least now there will be no more broken promises. No more waiting for a father who has 'better things to do' than keep his promises to his children. I have begun to actively look for good male role models for Andrew. He really needs them. His big brothers are going to have to make more of an effort, for sure... but... there are also some men in the community that canbe examples of what a man should be.
It's... odd thinking of it. I have made many sacrifices over the last 5 years... so my children would have their father in their life, almost daily. Despite our problems. Ok...not problems. Despite the reason I left. And he so easily... walks away.
It's... odd thinking of it. I have made many sacrifices over the last 5 years... so my children would have their father in their life, almost daily. Despite our problems. Ok...not problems. Despite the reason I left. And he so easily... walks away.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Talk about a 'duh!' moment... day...week.....
So..to start off the new year... well, mid December I think, I decided to rethink a few things, baggage I didn't want to carry in to 2008, did some house cleaning, of many varieties, few of which had to do with my actual domicile. Part of that was a new email account. An email account I also used to link to some other new things I was starting. An email account which included the.. login and password information for several of these 'new' things.
Then... I got a new computer... my old one was so close to death with the things I use it for. A 6 year old eMachine. not even a top of the line eMachine back then... but a cheapest i could find variety. One I happily cleaned off and gave to the kids... one that had ALL my password, login and acct stuff...saved. Yeah.. I didn't WRITE this new information on real paper. And.... part of the newness was not using any of the names for these things I have in the past. So yeah. I.... can't remember it. I have tried.... in vain.
Hey 2008.... you are so squeeky clean and filled with glorious possibilities. Can we forget this one... silly little... lapse in intelligence, and pretend it never happened?
Then... I got a new computer... my old one was so close to death with the things I use it for. A 6 year old eMachine. not even a top of the line eMachine back then... but a cheapest i could find variety. One I happily cleaned off and gave to the kids... one that had ALL my password, login and acct stuff...saved. Yeah.. I didn't WRITE this new information on real paper. And.... part of the newness was not using any of the names for these things I have in the past. So yeah. I.... can't remember it. I have tried.... in vain.
Hey 2008.... you are so squeeky clean and filled with glorious possibilities. Can we forget this one... silly little... lapse in intelligence, and pretend it never happened?
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
-clears throat- Mememememememmeeeeeeeeeeeee
Blame it on Melly she tagged me. Seven things about me.
1. I was an only child until I was 18, when I kinda got a step brother. It became official another ten years later. I left him on a garage roof once, and had him convinced he imagined it. Two Christmas's ago, my Mom spilled the beans. Thanks Mom. BTW, I kinda like him now.
2. This 'only' child ended up with 6 kids of her own. I think I'd have had a dozen if I had been in a more stable relationship. I not only love my kids, but I like them too. (3 of each, boys 23, 20 and 12, girls 18, 16 and 11) Being a single mom today sure makes me relate better to my own mother, who raised me alone back in a day it wasn't so common.
3. One of my goals this year is reading a little Shakespeare each day. I am reading A Midsummer Nights Dream right now, Macbeth waits on my nightstand. After Shakespeare I will start on other classics.
4. I create and sell virtual products, in a virtual world, for real cash. It's crazy. Old World flavoured furniture, by the way. Not a lot of cash, yet, but.. cash is cash.
5. When I was little I went to catechism with my neighbor friends. When it would have been time to follow through to First Communion, my Mom didn't allow it. All my life, when I wasn't busy being angry with God... I have been drawn to it. I have been Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, dipped my toes in being Pagan... this year... I will find my way to where I started, where I have been drawn to, and will begin the process to convert to Catholicism.
6. I love to read...anything. Magazines, books, blogs. I always have a couple books going and don't go anywhere without some kind of reading material. My favorite part of a new interest...is the research for it, far more than actually 'doing' it.
7. I have lived in the Northeast almost my entire life, and I hate snowy winters. I try, really, to see the beauty in them... I'm not a skier, snowmobiler or anyone else that glories in what snow brings. I suffer from SAD .... but spring, summer and fall keep me here. They are glorious.
Ok, here's the rules if you want to play along. I'm tagging no one just yet. =P
Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
You can play or not. It's all in fun. Come out and play!
1. I was an only child until I was 18, when I kinda got a step brother. It became official another ten years later. I left him on a garage roof once, and had him convinced he imagined it. Two Christmas's ago, my Mom spilled the beans. Thanks Mom. BTW, I kinda like him now.
2. This 'only' child ended up with 6 kids of her own. I think I'd have had a dozen if I had been in a more stable relationship. I not only love my kids, but I like them too. (3 of each, boys 23, 20 and 12, girls 18, 16 and 11) Being a single mom today sure makes me relate better to my own mother, who raised me alone back in a day it wasn't so common.
3. One of my goals this year is reading a little Shakespeare each day. I am reading A Midsummer Nights Dream right now, Macbeth waits on my nightstand. After Shakespeare I will start on other classics.
4. I create and sell virtual products, in a virtual world, for real cash. It's crazy. Old World flavoured furniture, by the way. Not a lot of cash, yet, but.. cash is cash.
5. When I was little I went to catechism with my neighbor friends. When it would have been time to follow through to First Communion, my Mom didn't allow it. All my life, when I wasn't busy being angry with God... I have been drawn to it. I have been Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, dipped my toes in being Pagan... this year... I will find my way to where I started, where I have been drawn to, and will begin the process to convert to Catholicism.
6. I love to read...anything. Magazines, books, blogs. I always have a couple books going and don't go anywhere without some kind of reading material. My favorite part of a new interest...is the research for it, far more than actually 'doing' it.
7. I have lived in the Northeast almost my entire life, and I hate snowy winters. I try, really, to see the beauty in them... I'm not a skier, snowmobiler or anyone else that glories in what snow brings. I suffer from SAD .... but spring, summer and fall keep me here. They are glorious.
Ok, here's the rules if you want to play along. I'm tagging no one just yet. =P
Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
You can play or not. It's all in fun. Come out and play!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Cabin Fever
I really, truly, entered this winter season with better intentions than my former I-hate-winter-from-the-last-fall-leaf-to-drop-self . I tried. I really did. It lasted all the way until.. last week. Now cabin fever has set in full forced.
I am awaiting spring. Lilacs. Green leaves. Fresh mowed grass. Rainy days.
So yes, I am a bit quiet.
We are also dealing with Adri's blood sugars being completely out of whack. Her ketones have been climbing bit by bit since Thursday last week. Agressive insulin and water not helping. I have opened all fresh bottles of insulin, changed to different test strips, re-calibrated her meter. All to no avail. Dr's tomorrow. I am beginning to think, we are in the beginnings of the wonderful hormone cycles of adolescence. Dear God. I am SO not ready for that with her.
I am awaiting spring. Lilacs. Green leaves. Fresh mowed grass. Rainy days.
So yes, I am a bit quiet.
We are also dealing with Adri's blood sugars being completely out of whack. Her ketones have been climbing bit by bit since Thursday last week. Agressive insulin and water not helping. I have opened all fresh bottles of insulin, changed to different test strips, re-calibrated her meter. All to no avail. Dr's tomorrow. I am beginning to think, we are in the beginnings of the wonderful hormone cycles of adolescence. Dear God. I am SO not ready for that with her.
Friday, January 18, 2008
We have been bitten
By the flu..and the bento bug -grins- Tonight Miss Adri and I scored her first bento box, which should be winging it's way from Japan soon! I detest the school lunches, not the best for her blood sugar, and taking lunch can get so..boring. We have been doing a bit of bento box drooling.. and tonight, finally found a good assortment of goodies.... and here is what she is getting. Along with two egg molds... can't wait to play with those. You put a still hot, peeled hard boiled eg in..close it up, chill it and voila! shaped hard boiled eggs. We are getting a bear and a bunny. Fun stuff, I tell ya!
This..is Miss Bunny... Thumper's girl! Is this cute or what? I also scored three Burda magazines, and one Ottobre. The mail will be fun for the next week or so with all these goodies on their way. The I will be digging in to my fabric stash and playing.
As for the flu... hopefully it is on it's way out of our house. Knocked me in bed for 5 days... with rare blocks of time upright. Chryssie is finally starting to feel better too. Adri... is getting it I think. Her and Chryssie both had the flu shot... sucks they didn't escape this round.
Should be back up and happily blogging soon.
I have added quite a few "must reads" to my blog list. Check some of them out when you get a chance, some wonderful finds out in blogland.
This..is Miss Bunny... Thumper's girl! Is this cute or what? I also scored three Burda magazines, and one Ottobre. The mail will be fun for the next week or so with all these goodies on their way. The I will be digging in to my fabric stash and playing.As for the flu... hopefully it is on it's way out of our house. Knocked me in bed for 5 days... with rare blocks of time upright. Chryssie is finally starting to feel better too. Adri... is getting it I think. Her and Chryssie both had the flu shot... sucks they didn't escape this round.
Should be back up and happily blogging soon.
I have added quite a few "must reads" to my blog list. Check some of them out when you get a chance, some wonderful finds out in blogland.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Happy New Year!
Pictures... I had planned to take pictures of the small dolls, bags and other projects before they went out the door, that never happened. I promise to get better about picture taking this year.
Today we will take down the Christmas tree.It is the very first year since 1993, that the tree stayed up past Christmas day. Life is so very good right now. Despite the mountains of difficulties we face still, me and the kids are happy.
I have "big plans" for 2008. ;)
This..is my very favorite gift this year... it is a picture of my Great Grandmother... G.G. to all of 'us kids' She was my favorite person as a child and I spent many vacations visiting her in Portland Maine. It now sits beside one of her antique paperweights I have... on top of her old writing desk my Mother gave me this summer.
Monday, December 24, 2007
to all my friends , new and old...
Happiest of Holidays.... may the memories made today and every day, last a lifetime.
Best wishes....
Steph
Best wishes....
Steph
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
silence...
The wee miss has developed laryngitis, and per doctors orders, her Christmas holidays have begun early. Poor girl. Somehow, in her snowflake cutting euphoria, I don't think she minds. She has taken to adorning each flake with a single sequin in the center... very cute. I am thinking of helping her create a crafting blog of her own... she is crafty beyond belief for her 11 tender years. She knits! Not a lot...but she does... and she crafts with paper, and anything else she can get her hands on. Perhaps tomorrow morning we will start that. OK...after many tries at striking out that line..and ending up with everything after it struck out... no matter how many times I deleted the html from the end of the post..it kept showing up so.. my baby girl and i got her blog framework up, her first post will be written tomorrow, most likely during a paper snowflake break. Here it is. She has been decorating gingerbread houses ala
Jenny Harris ... so much fun. Okay... so I have been playing too -grins-
Dishcloths are beginning to make a small pile... Mum's request.... some bags from this tutorial are cut and ready to sew.... cloth napkins and placemats are next... not sure the wristlets are going to make it by Christmas... I finally figured out one spot I was making a mistake in.. to being bogged down with meds and not fathoming the next step well.
Some small wee felt dolls are progressing in their assembly as well. A set for the we miss... a set for an friends daughter... to be epiphany gifts... and then a third set fo an online friend whose daughter is having surgery in Feb and will be bedridden for 10 days... I am thinking to make some wee felt furniture for them too... or maybe a tiny fabric house... something she can play with in bed and not hurt herself on should she fall asleep with it all.
I will try to update this tomorrow with some pictures.. it is quite dark and not condusive to picture taking tonight at all.
Jenny Harris ... so much fun. Okay... so I have been playing too -grins-
Dishcloths are beginning to make a small pile... Mum's request.... some bags from this tutorial are cut and ready to sew.... cloth napkins and placemats are next... not sure the wristlets are going to make it by Christmas... I finally figured out one spot I was making a mistake in.. to being bogged down with meds and not fathoming the next step well.
Some small wee felt dolls are progressing in their assembly as well. A set for the we miss... a set for an friends daughter... to be epiphany gifts... and then a third set fo an online friend whose daughter is having surgery in Feb and will be bedridden for 10 days... I am thinking to make some wee felt furniture for them too... or maybe a tiny fabric house... something she can play with in bed and not hurt herself on should she fall asleep with it all.
I will try to update this tomorrow with some pictures.. it is quite dark and not condusive to picture taking tonight at all.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
I should be asleep...
The wee miss and I have been ill again...hooray for upper respiratory illness...not. I have slept away most of the last two days, and was feeling blog withdrawal so got up to do a bit of reading.
Feeling a bit ... screwed today. For lack of a better way to put it. Having someone around with an eating disorder that involved binging and purging, is a bit like having a crack addict around., Things go missing. Money goes missing. Things and money that are needed. Badly. -sighs- So I am now the proud owner of .17$ and trying to figure out how to fill holiday stockings for the little two..I have a few things tucked aside, thanks to my Mum, but ... the rest?
Add to that, my second oldest son, the one I am closest to of the boys, called me tonight to let me know that he was going to be meeting with a Marine recruiter. He is my biggest source of support here, the one I know I can count on. And... there is a good chance that fairly soon, he won't be here. I know he has to do what he has to do for his own future... but when his older brother went into the Marine's it was hard as hell on all of us, we are a close family, and having one of the kids 'gone' is... difficult all the way around. I will, of course, support his decision, either way.
Missing an old friend .
Realizing the end of a marriage that has been over for 5 years almost... but oddly this is our first holiday season on our own. Not a bad thing, just the realization of it.
A busy mind and heavy heart tonight.
Feeling a bit ... screwed today. For lack of a better way to put it. Having someone around with an eating disorder that involved binging and purging, is a bit like having a crack addict around., Things go missing. Money goes missing. Things and money that are needed. Badly. -sighs- So I am now the proud owner of .17$ and trying to figure out how to fill holiday stockings for the little two..I have a few things tucked aside, thanks to my Mum, but ... the rest?
Add to that, my second oldest son, the one I am closest to of the boys, called me tonight to let me know that he was going to be meeting with a Marine recruiter. He is my biggest source of support here, the one I know I can count on. And... there is a good chance that fairly soon, he won't be here. I know he has to do what he has to do for his own future... but when his older brother went into the Marine's it was hard as hell on all of us, we are a close family, and having one of the kids 'gone' is... difficult all the way around. I will, of course, support his decision, either way.
Missing an old friend .
Realizing the end of a marriage that has been over for 5 years almost... but oddly this is our first holiday season on our own. Not a bad thing, just the realization of it.
A busy mind and heavy heart tonight.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
the spoils...
Started on some wristlets for the girls (bigger) for Christmas, in a chocolate brown and robins egg blue. -whispers- They are crocheted, not knit, because I can crochet WAY faster than I can knit... makes no sense, one hok instead of two needles being faster, but... I guess that is because I have been crocheting since I was 8 or so... and knitting since err.... recently. A year now? And that has been sporadic at best... hmm..... make that two years. Or so.
I bought the fusible interfacing for these. They will become teachers gifts, our driver's gifts, a wonderful lady named 'Ginny's" gift, and various other neighbors etc.
Another storm due in tonight.... ah winters in the northeast... such...bliss. -coughs- Ok... I am trying to like winter this year, or at least, not hate it. I am embracing mittens and hats and hot cocoa and all things cozy.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Message from the Universe
so perfect for today, as I look toward the new year and ...hope.
" You can "dance" with the illusions of time and space, Steph, choosing your "steps" based upon things and events as they now are, or you can dance with your dreams, choosing your "steps" based upon things and events as they will be.
" You can "dance" with the illusions of time and space, Steph, choosing your "steps" based upon things and events as they now are, or you can dance with your dreams, choosing your "steps" based upon things and events as they will be.
And I bet you can guess which steps will perpetuate today's illusions, and which ones will change everything...
The Universe"
Friday, December 07, 2007
Owies
So, I finally found a pattern or two for the hood/scarf combo... to learn what I want is basically a wide scarf, folded in half... and sewn together for about 10 inches...to create the hoot part. So now my favorite yarn will become something warm to wear for winter walks. Yay! Then... I somehow got a very painful papercut on the end of my left thumb. Right where the yarn runs over it. Ouch. No more knitting today.
A bit late for this year (I am NOT a quick knitter...yet) but over on Soule Mama's blog she made a beautiful i-cord garland. I am so doing that for next year. I think this weekends craft project will be cinnamon applesauce ornaments for the tree. It is also time to whip up a batch...big batch... of one of our favorite hot cocoa's.
25.5 ounces nonfat dry milk powder
16 oz jar powdered non-dairy creamer
16 oz container presweetened cocoa powder (we used nestle quick)
13 oz jar instant malted milk powder
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
To use: combine equal parts mix and boiling water (we just use a few heaping spoonfuls per muc, to taste, and add a dash of milk or cream)
Combine all the ingredients in a large bow, . Package in canning jars, bags tucked into mugs, decorative jars, cannisters and what have you to give as gifts. Save some for home, this stuff is wonderful on chilly winter days.
Enjoy!
A bit late for this year (I am NOT a quick knitter...yet) but over on Soule Mama's blog she made a beautiful i-cord garland. I am so doing that for next year. I think this weekends craft project will be cinnamon applesauce ornaments for the tree. It is also time to whip up a batch...big batch... of one of our favorite hot cocoa's.
25.5 ounces nonfat dry milk powder
16 oz jar powdered non-dairy creamer
16 oz container presweetened cocoa powder (we used nestle quick)
13 oz jar instant malted milk powder
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
To use: combine equal parts mix and boiling water (we just use a few heaping spoonfuls per muc, to taste, and add a dash of milk or cream)
Combine all the ingredients in a large bow, . Package in canning jars, bags tucked into mugs, decorative jars, cannisters and what have you to give as gifts. Save some for home, this stuff is wonderful on chilly winter days.
Enjoy!
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Alas, despite ALL my begging....
Mother Nature has turned a deaf ear and we have...snow. -insert long-drawn, overlay dramatic sigh here- Ok. I'll survive. It's just winter, right? Right.
Ugh.
I live in the northeast, have almost my entire 43 years.... and still not made peace with winter. It's the rest of the seasons that kep me here or I would high tail it for warmer climes. Ok... that and my offspring. They aren't all portable now.
So... I have some lovely yarn, bought from Elan two years ago. A few skeins got seperated from the rest in moving, so it won't be what I had originally planned, and now hope to make it into some kind of... hood like from a cozy cape, with a scarf attached. Now to find a pattern -grins- though I am rather tempted to just start knitting and see what happens. The little Princess and Golden Boy have taken up their needles again as well. I don't force craftiness on the kids, but rather leave the materials around for them, and always drop whatever I am doing if they wish a refresher.
Around here there are no longer any wonderful little cozy yarn or fabric shops outside the mainstream. The closest of the knit heavens is in Saratoga Springs, an hour away, and without a car, that doesn't happen often. But... I have found a pattern online that I have absolutely got to have. Sewing pattern that is... for this. I think I am officially in love with Amy Butler patterns. They may in fact be my new crafting crack.
Of to the counselor in a couple for CiCi. She has her good days and her not so good, Thankfully the bad are far and few between these days. I need to begin work on a 504 for a child with an eating disorder. Will google that a bit later. I know this blog is fairly unread right now, but... if anyone out there has thoughts on this, I would love to hear them.
Til later.
Ugh.
I live in the northeast, have almost my entire 43 years.... and still not made peace with winter. It's the rest of the seasons that kep me here or I would high tail it for warmer climes. Ok... that and my offspring. They aren't all portable now.
So... I have some lovely yarn, bought from Elan two years ago. A few skeins got seperated from the rest in moving, so it won't be what I had originally planned, and now hope to make it into some kind of... hood like from a cozy cape, with a scarf attached. Now to find a pattern -grins- though I am rather tempted to just start knitting and see what happens. The little Princess and Golden Boy have taken up their needles again as well. I don't force craftiness on the kids, but rather leave the materials around for them, and always drop whatever I am doing if they wish a refresher.
Around here there are no longer any wonderful little cozy yarn or fabric shops outside the mainstream. The closest of the knit heavens is in Saratoga Springs, an hour away, and without a car, that doesn't happen often. But... I have found a pattern online that I have absolutely got to have. Sewing pattern that is... for this. I think I am officially in love with Amy Butler patterns. They may in fact be my new crafting crack.
Of to the counselor in a couple for CiCi. She has her good days and her not so good, Thankfully the bad are far and few between these days. I need to begin work on a 504 for a child with an eating disorder. Will google that a bit later. I know this blog is fairly unread right now, but... if anyone out there has thoughts on this, I would love to hear them.
Til later.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Time flies ...
It's taking a bit to get back in the habit of blogging. I know soon enough it will be old hat again, in the meantime two weeks pass between posts, lol.
I found a wonderful new blog, which has all but saved Christmas gift giving for me this year. Sew, Mama, Sew! She has a ton of wonderful projects there, and this month is posting a gift a day! My stash will be put to good use making placemats, purses, tote bags and all manner of other wonderful ideas, complete with instructions.
While going through my fabric I found a bag filled with partially made Christmas ornaments. What a relief to know a bit of stuffing and whipstitching and we will have a tree's worth of ornaments.
The weather is taking on the feel of early winter, fall was short but beautiful, the tree's are nearly bare here but for a few hangers on.
Sunday we will be having our Thanksgiving meal. With half the kids grown and on their own, significant others and extended family in their lives I decided not to vie for time on Thanksgiving itself and have the whole family here on Sunday instead. If this works we will most likely stick to this in the future. The kids will all be here, with boyfriends or girlfriends in tow, my parents, a few friends and perhaps my ex. It's his family too after all. Trying to figure seating out and table space. The new house is much smaller than the last. I found some fall fabric in the hope chest and will make a table runner for the main table. Along with the fabric pumpkin a friend who still means the world to me made, even though our paths seem to have gone in very different directions.
This time of year makes me appreciate the people in my life all the more. And miss those who aren't in it as they once were. I especially miss being a 'couple' with the holidays coming. I often wonder if the rest of my life will be spent this way. I like to think that somewhere out there is the perfect relationship for me. Somewhere. -smiles-
I found a wonderful new blog, which has all but saved Christmas gift giving for me this year. Sew, Mama, Sew! She has a ton of wonderful projects there, and this month is posting a gift a day! My stash will be put to good use making placemats, purses, tote bags and all manner of other wonderful ideas, complete with instructions.
While going through my fabric I found a bag filled with partially made Christmas ornaments. What a relief to know a bit of stuffing and whipstitching and we will have a tree's worth of ornaments.
The weather is taking on the feel of early winter, fall was short but beautiful, the tree's are nearly bare here but for a few hangers on.
Sunday we will be having our Thanksgiving meal. With half the kids grown and on their own, significant others and extended family in their lives I decided not to vie for time on Thanksgiving itself and have the whole family here on Sunday instead. If this works we will most likely stick to this in the future. The kids will all be here, with boyfriends or girlfriends in tow, my parents, a few friends and perhaps my ex. It's his family too after all. Trying to figure seating out and table space. The new house is much smaller than the last. I found some fall fabric in the hope chest and will make a table runner for the main table. Along with the fabric pumpkin a friend who still means the world to me made, even though our paths seem to have gone in very different directions.
This time of year makes me appreciate the people in my life all the more. And miss those who aren't in it as they once were. I especially miss being a 'couple' with the holidays coming. I often wonder if the rest of my life will be spent this way. I like to think that somewhere out there is the perfect relationship for me. Somewhere. -smiles-
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Inspiration in quiet moments...
I have come across two things tonight that have struck a chord with me ...
"Real life is the best fairy tale" Ain't that the truth? Life is full of some rough roads, but it sure makes the sweet moments ever so full of bliss.
The other 'thing' isn't a thing at all really, but, a way of life. I think it is what I have been longing for for weeks, no, months now, and couldn't pinpoint. It is called Hygge. Yeah..I made that face too. What the -heck- is Hygge? And why would I want it. I am going to borrow from another site, one I link to in the sidebar, to explain it, as they explain it so absolutely perfectly.
So... tomorrow morning I will unearth my Great Grandmothers (I always called her GiGi) tea cups... and drink my morning tea... with her. -smiles-
"Real life is the best fairy tale" Ain't that the truth? Life is full of some rough roads, but it sure makes the sweet moments ever so full of bliss.
The other 'thing' isn't a thing at all really, but, a way of life. I think it is what I have been longing for for weeks, no, months now, and couldn't pinpoint. It is called Hygge. Yeah..I made that face too. What the -heck- is Hygge? And why would I want it. I am going to borrow from another site, one I link to in the sidebar, to explain it, as they explain it so absolutely perfectly.
The Danish word Hygge (hu-gah) is a feeling or mood that comes from taking genuine pleasure in making ordinary everyday things simply extraordinary; whether it's using real lights on a Christmas tree or breaking out the good wine when friends come over. It's about owning things you only truly love or that inspire, being present in yourself and your life, putting effort into your home without being Martha Stewart or buying a bed in a bag. It's about being conscious and authentic from home to work to friends to celebrations and making all events {no matter how big or small, mundane or exciting} matter. Words like cosiness, security, familiarity, comfort, reassurance, fellowship, simpleness and living well are often used to describe the idea of Hygge.
Some refer to Hygge as the Art of Creating Intimacy (with yourself, friends and home). Technology and modern day busy-ness has removed Americans from themselves, their homes and ordinary tasks, making them feel as though these things are hard to do, have no importance or are too time-consuming. Danes, however, only like to do things that are fun, nourish the soul and are familiar so they find ways to incorporate that into their daily life. By creating simple rituals without effort {such as brewing real tea with a little china cup every evening to stopping at the farmers market every week to buy flowers} the Danes see both the domestic and personal life as an artform and not every drudgery to get away from.
Taking pride in what you have now and not just what you dream are part of Danish life and Hygge. Think of it as what Chic is to the French; a lifestyle that can explain a table top to a dinner party to a charming house or a personal way of being. Basic, uncomplicated, unexaggerated - Hygge!
So... tomorrow morning I will unearth my Great Grandmothers (I always called her GiGi) tea cups... and drink my morning tea... with her. -smiles-
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