Monday Music

Nike Cup

One Moment

The Evil Pickle by Jack

Jack's been writing a hilarious story about an "evil pickle!!" I love how he's starting to write more & really enjoy it. This story even comes with a live character found right on our kitchen counter!!!

Dear Me..

I've been reading a sweet little book, "Dear Me, A letter to my 16 year old Self" full of all kinds of people you may or may not have heard of, writing to themselves. This is my letter. Dear 16 yo Me.. Wow this is harder than I thought, writing back to 1990. Yes. I just did the math, & had to write it out. I do have a hard time remembering you, but I remember that we're not that good at math, are we? Especially when you are nervous and can't find a pen & paper. Unfortnately, that lack of math knowledge & frustration doesn't go away (or it hasn't so far)..here at 37. Yep, 37. Mom is only 36 right now..yes, i just did the math again. So I'm older than mom & writing to tell you that you are late bloomer..really late. I guess it's ok to tell you that despite not ever getting through algebra in high school, you will graduate college. You will even get a call one day that you have a teaching job at this amazing school. You should enjoy every second & consider keeping your teaching license renewed, just in case you decide at 40 to go back in the classroom. Life is always going to hold alittle worry over your head. At every moment in your life...graduation, marriage, every job interview & yes..giving birth..you are going to be full of worry. I wish I could take that away from us..that family tradition. But you should know that you are a lot stronger & smarter than you think. ALOT! You don't marry Chip, but will never stop loving him. You will have a beautiful husband & family. They are going to help you more than you will understand. Spend more time with daddy. He likes it when you sit there with him, but just doesn't know how to tell you. Try to get him to stop smoking & maybe even you two could do that together. You'll both be better off. Soak up every happy moment and try to remember the details. Look around more, really pay attention to what surrounds you. Be nicer to your sister. She's struggling too. Know you can make dreams without a boy involved. Use condoms. Wear less makeup & don't worry about how skinny you feel. They'll make "skinny" jeans one day & you will still hate that word. Walk over to your Grandma Essie's house right now & just be with her. Take more pictures of where you live. You're going to miss that place a lot. Tell your mom you love her more & spend more time with your grandparents. Your're going to see how important they are one day & wish you had called everyday. Oh & if I were there with you right now, I'd love to take a blanket outside tonight & look up at the stars. You have one of the best views on the planet! Love, 37 yo Me PS. Can you believe that one day you are going to knit a sweater..or two:)

The Sky Tonight

Monday Music

Alumni Weekend for John's old gang!

April ago

Around the house

I took my camera on a walk today around the house. Here's what I found.
My potted flower (not sure what this is) survived the winter..that we didn't really have:(

Phlox from last spring reappearing in bloom. I see alot of this around town.

My Butterfly Bush..reminds me of our first yard in Hillsborough..

Succulents that I transplanted this year from below the deck. Hoping they like their new homes by the swing.

Dandelions get a bad wrap around here..

Peonies, remind me of my Grandma Essie..

Little Pine that I planted on Earth Day 2009. Slowly but surely she's growing

Knockout Roses, my mom got these for us two springs ago when she was here. They are monsters!!

My herbs seem happy!!

Fern & Poinsettas from houseplants. New growth..

A Duet

Monday Music

How can you not love this song?

Weekending

This Moment

Gemini Pullover

This was alot of fun to knit. My first hand-knitted cotton sweater for myself. Thanks Jane Richmond for making this pattern for the perfect season!
You can find the pattern here:
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEss12/PATTgemini.php
and join a kal here:
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEss12/PATTgemini.php

Sprouts

I think I'm more excited than the kids to see these little guys show up! Can't wait to see how this inside herb garden evolves:)

A Goodbye

Fly away beautiful bird,
Spread your wings and be free.
Pain and sadness,
no longer inside thee.
A treasure hunt you must feel,
seeing all those old faces you had forgotten,
come back to you.
I hope you are running and dancing,
smiling and laughing.
Holding all those you lost years before,
together again.
Fly away beautiful woman,
Sail away and watch over all of us.
Janet Cox Riggan
March 11, 1933- April 7, 2012

Monday Music

Remembering

This Moment

Blank Day

Sometimes the road takes you down a different path than you expected it to,
A thought turned upside down and inside out, only to arrive at where it began.
Struggling to find a way to feel connected without disconnecting.
Too many voices spilling onto the page, making my brain jumble in a daze.
Emotions rise & fall, doubt & regrets hammer along.
But reality slowly fills back up, making the well full again.
All their faces reappear.
Hands move and eyes see.
Every inch of me comes from them.
Accepting we are who we are.
Not afraid of saying it's hard.
This life we lead, the blank days we are handed, stand on our easel waiting to painted.
Waiting to be seen.

The ends & beginnings..

My Gemini Pullover designed by beautiful Jane Richmond is coming to an end! With a few glitches here & there..I learned that yarn can differ in color based on it's batch number. When I originally bought my yarn, I picked four skeins that came from two different batches. Realizing this too late in the beginning..I just couldn't bring myself to frog so much for such a minor issue, me thinking..."will someone really notice, my slightly different shade of green sweater???" hmm. But as I came to the bottom this morning & started with the last skein of the different batch, I noticed too much. Luckily, I was able to nab the last #8469 of this "moss green." & run for the door. I didn't get out of the store without picking up a few new skeins of "naturally caron; silky soft bamboo blend" black.



I have my eye on "Roxborough Doman" by Courtney Kelley..found in "knitscene's spring 2012 issue." Yes, I got a copy. I've started the swatch for gauge & so far, so good. No stripes for this one, just black! You can see it here.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/roxborough-dolman


Living in Ohio, the evenings are never as they were in NC..going outside to a nice & cool 80 degrees. I do like the summer nights here. So I'm excited to add some light weight knitted sweaters for my summer attire.

April Showers Cowl - Off-T-N

This one is done! Just in time for April Showers. It turned out very different in size..I'm guessing the gauge was way off with the needle size I used. I knew this all along, but it worked out ok. I just sewed a seam when I was done to create a cowl The lace repeated every four rows creates a really pretty design. I just ended up using most of the left over yarn I got for Christmas & made a shorter version.

Monday Music

Can't wait to her this summer!!

Weekending