I'm Two Years Old!

I thought my actual blog anniversary was January 1st, but when I looked back I missed it by a couple of days...as always I'm a day late.

I've been thinking about this post for awhile and can compose it in my head quite nicely,but I'm not too sure how it's going to flow through the fingertips. So with that warning I will give it a try.

I worry. Big time. About things that I can't control. Two events brought this into the forefront this past year. President-elect Obama's win and a visit with old friends.

With Obama's win I realized that I had grown into a middle aged cynic. Not sure how I got there, and wasn't happy with what I saw. Maybe it's raising kids, a husband that travels, economic woes, who knows...but it grew like an ugly sore. A conversation with my brother (thanks Tim) woke me up to the person that use to be. I still worry that all of our woes are too much to handle for this man but he has renewed my faith in myself...so I guess that's a plus.

The other night we spent time with old college friends. Friends that have seen all that we had to offer at age twenty and then are there for the rest of our lives. People that we can fall easily into a discussion about politics and then change quickly to recalling the night in that bar when so and so did that!!! And so the conversation began the other evening, but I wasn't ready for the information that followed: two siblings struck with heart disease, bosses dying, people moving...etc...Each one of us had a story. I went to bed that night and hugged my husband. Knowing that we were growing older, realizing we need to spend each and every day trying to be good people, teaching our boys about life and all the opportunities that they have in front of them. Hoping that we can support our friends in their happiness and sadness.

So I'm led here, January 30th, 2008. I already know things will be vastly different in the coming year. For our Nation and for our own home. But I'm not willing to have anyone dictate to us what that will be. I will live for my kids, my husband, my friends, but most importantly, I will live for me.

Thanks for stopping and spending your time in my small space of the blog world. We are all busy people and I appreciate your blog-friendship. To you and yours...Happy 2009!

A Surprise

What a surprise when I clicked onto etsy today and saw these on the main page. I'm officially on the wagon from spending money so I won't be purchasing, but many of you follow Leslie and she has made us all pine for wooden plates. (no pun intended)

So if you want to buy yourself a little present, skip on over to

JollyPollyPickens and enjoy!

Cold....

Cold....
Originally uploaded by Upper Pond

Just a quick shot of the snow we had this past Friday...it was all gone by Monday. But never fear...there's more on the way this evening. It just keeps coming and coming!

ps: I uploaded this from Flickr and am not happy with it. If you want to see it large click the sidebar...I'm too tired to link tonight :(

Signs of the Season

Christmas lists and knitting and of course coffee!

It's beginning to feel quite festive around here. I'm pretty organized and enjoying the whole process this year!(those in my family know that this isn't always the case with me) My major knitting projects are almost completed and it looks like I won't be staying up until all hours of the night Christmas Eve knitting 'till my fingers ache!

I've been very inspired by what I have seen out in the blog-o-sphere. This is something I never would have thought of, but yet so simple. Might look through my closet or thrift shops after the holidays to tackle this project.

Enjoy the signs of the season and remember to breathe from time to time!

This and That

Thought I would stop in to clean the place up a bit. December is in full swing and my to-do list is growing ever longer. Since we didn't have to spend a Sunday in the hockey rink we decided to get our tree. It's still taking water...but I'm not sure if we will have any needles on it once December 25th rolls around.

We celebrated my husband's birthday this past Monday. Don't let that young face fool you, he's older than me...by a whopping nine months. We spent a quiet night at home eating cake and opening presents.

Yesterday the sunrise was so beautiful that I had to snap a picture. It's very unusual to see the sun in these parts during the winter. You have to catch it when you can and enjoy every minute of it. We have snow and cold predicted for the rest of the week. Ryan is very worried that we won't have snow for Christmas. Ah..the worries of a child!

I'm knitting away and am halfway through my big project. Hopefully, if I finish I can knit these.

That's it for now. Have a look at all the letterpress stationary over at Jane's blog. Some stunning paper eye candy!

On Being Thankful-Part Two

Oh yes...I had grand plans of posting every day for a week! Once again, life has been kicking me in the butt. I've made a huge to-do list and have been trying hard to stay on track. Ha! Fat chance of that happening!

So what else am I thankful for?? My ipod is my best friend while the boys are at school. I have discovered many podcasts that I enjoy listening too. If I ever get my rear in gear, I will link them in the sidebar. I do have music on my ipod, but rarely listen to it during the day. I think it's the sound of talking that keeps me company while knitting, sewing or keeping house.

Back in this post I professed my love for the annual peppermint mocha from Starbucks. Well it's that time of year and I am truly thankful to have these delightful drinks in my life. Hand me one grande, non fat, no whip and I am happy, happy happy.

I'm thankful that there are still school events that keep our children young. The boys have been busy with hockey, orchestra and most recently tonight's fourth grade concert. So cute and whimsical. Just what little kids should be!

While travelling around the blogosphere this week, I've read a lot of fear, nervousness and the unpredictability that the economic events are causing. So many people are living in a state of limbo, waiting for the other shoe to drop. I feel like I'm stuck in a glass and am unable to get out. I'm thankful to read that I'm not the only one feeling this way...escaping to my friends in the blogworld have been a wonderful distraction that I'm thankful to have.

On Being Thankful

Today has been a tough day. Emotions were frayed due to mean children in school, homework difficulties and the anticipation of the upcoming holidays. I've been reflecting on things that I'm thankful for in my life. Of course there is the obvious: the gift of family and friends, a roof over our head and food on the table are all things that we give thanks for each and everyday. But over the next few days I want to share some of the things that I welcome into my life each and everyday. Some may be very materialistic and vain...but, man, if I didn't have them in my life, well, I guess I could live without them, but they just make my life a bit easier and gentler.

After today's episodes I thought I would start with Bare Minerals. I thank my SIL, Julie for introducing this stuff to me back in May. I guess I'm not watching enough late night commercials to see that this stuff has been around for awhile. As I enter the back side of my forties, I'm amazed to see how those little "life lines" are quickly multiplying. I'm not a big make-up person but this powder is just enough to cover the red blotches that seem to appear out of nowhere, dry up the oily skin and at least lessen the lines a bit. Love it and will continue to use until I'm unable.

So I start with a vain thank you. Probably not the best, but at least I didn't start with my favorite brand of vodka...because I so need a tall glass of something after this evening's activities!

Shhhh...don't tell!

I've started my Christmas knitting so pictures of my finished projects won't be seen until after the holiday. I've decided that my little sister will not be getting the cashmere cabled hat because she made fun of MY Christmas wishlist ( maybe I will feel differently about this tomorrow). Seeing that she lives in NYC I requested ANYTHING from Purl. "oh, Jane" I heard from the other end of the phone. I could picture her rolling her eyes and trying to plan when she could go so no one would see her entering a yarn store...So uncool in her eyes! Little does she know how cool it is...but I won't tell her. So she told me to send a few ideas along so she would know what to ask for and ultimately cut down on the time she is in said yarn shop. I have a few ideas...but my number one idea is some Koigu. It's not sold around here and the colors are luscious. Maybe some Habu...oh, the choices are endless. I'm curious, what would you wish for!

Ingenue!

Oh, how I LOVE this sweater! It was quick and easy to knit. I would highly recommend it for a beginner knitter. I enjoyed knitting with the Cascade Eco-wool. (Plus it's pretty inexpensive!) My only worry is that the sweater will pill quickly.

I started a Hemlock Ring Blanket in the same yarn, but if you listen carefully today, you will hear the sound of ripping so I can start another Ingenue or a modified version of said pattern. I forgot how much I enjoyed knitting top-down raglans and this pattern is a great starting point in creating something of my own.

Specs:

Ingenue

From the book "Custom Knits"

by Wendy Bernard

Cascade Eco-wool 1.25 skeins used

brown

Size XS-which gave me a nice snug fit

Needles: size 8

On another note...does anyone have a really good recipe for oatmeal? You know the kind...goopy and thick...the stick to your stomach kind. Thanks for your help!

We Are There!

I guess we need to work on the spelling .

It's been long and emotional. I've said some things that I never thought would be uttered across my lips. I disengaged from the facts and became disgusted by the hatred for supporting another candidate. I became cynical about everything.

I'm searching for the idealist that I once was in my twenties. I'm not sure where she has gone. She was there, as she traveled through nasty, nasty streets to help educate the poor. A young woman out to save the world and change young lives. A young woman that has so many stories of children, in our own country, that need desperate help. I need to find her again and help her to raise her own young sons to know how important it is to help others. To let them know that no matter how beaten down and useless that it may seem at times, that somewhere they will touch the life of at least one person and for that, our world will be a better place.

Jane #1

Taken on my in-laws 50th anniversary celebration

Jane was really sick here, but somehow managed to pull herself up on the day of the party.

We glitzed her up...which she never did for herself. She was a farm girl through and through.

The Little Ship
I stood watching as the little ship sailed out to sea. The setting sun tinted her white sails with a golden light, and as she disappeared from sight a voice at my side whispered, “She is gone”.

But the sea was a narrow one. On the farther shore a little band of friends had gathered to watch and wait in happy expectation. Suddenly they caught sight of the tiny sail and, at the very moment when my companion had whispered, “She is gone” a glad shout went up in joyous welcome, “Here she comes!”

My mother-in-law.

We shared the same name...first and last.

She was Jane #1 and I'm Jane #2

February 24 1935-October 31, 2008

Black-eyed Susan's from my MIL garden. Her favorite flower.

My MIL is in her last days of Parkinson's Disease so I'm going offline for awhile. Please, when you get your solicitations from all the non-profits at the end of the year, consider donating to the National Parkinson's Foundation. It is a horrible, debilitating disease that is so close to being cured. Will see you when I'm able.

A Busy Day

I was inspired by Ali to carry my camera today. Wednesday was probably not the best day to document. It's one of my busiest days and to carry a camera with me added more stress. Not sure why I do this to myself. Enjoy my very uneventful life of mine!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Up and checking email and weather sites. My quiet time.

Making beds

Last minute touches on homework. I hate that it is so dark in the morning.

Never ending dishes.

Driving the boys to school.

Yelling out vocabulary words for a quiz later this week. Multi-tasking at it's best!

Always vacuuming!

Lunch on the go...I have no idea where I was going at this point!

Stopping at the library barn to pick up books that the library sells on Amazon. My one volunteer activity.

Waiting for one of the boys...always waiting!

More homework!

Sorting the mail!

Sick kiddo. Asthma cough has struck again!


Early dinner...don't even ask what I making.

Waiting for his brother

who had hockey practice!

On our way home....

Field Trip

So Ry and I went for a quick three hour tour and ended up in the Catskill Mountains (actually the Hudson River Valley...but Ry was more interested in the mountains). Lo and behold there was a fiber show going on! It wasn't difficult to persuade my little guy to join me. He's my adventurer and right-hand man. He hopped out of bed at an un-godly hour of 5:45 AM and we were walking through the gates at 9:20!

We had a wonderful time! I ended up buying a small amount of yarn from Briar Rose and Creatively Dyed. It was chilly so I had to buy a hat for Ry.

Ry especially liked participating in the Mad Science program.

I missed the Ravelry hook-up because we were busy eating AWFUL fried dough and then learning about letterpress in the museum. (I know somewhere down the line this paper craving is going to turn into something.) I did get to meet Leslie. She is an absolute delight. But, you already knew that!And I was so sorry to miss Kim and Rachel!

The best part of the whole day was just spending time with my son. We talked the entire day about just about everything. We laughed about silly stuff and were serious about the tough stuff in his life. It wasn't about the yarn or how many people I saw from the blogworld. It was all about the kid holding my hand as we turned to go home. Thanks Ry for an outstanding day!

New project to come soon....

I forgot how much I enjoy knitting top-down sweaters!

Validation

picture via The Sartorialist

I knew it! One day MY daily outfit would be featured on The Sartorialist's site. I just knew, deep down I wasn't the fuddy duddy 46 year old mom that didn't know a thing about fashion. Just switch out the hairwrap to a colorful headband ( and add a few laugh lines around the eyes and mouth)...and you've got me! All moms are thanking The Sartorialist today!

P.S. and she's from Paris!

Skull Cap

It was just a gorgeous fall weekend here in the Northeast. The leaves are the prettiest that I have seen in a long while. Hope all of you were able to get outside and enjoy some nice weather too!

Finished up a hat for a friend. I know the model isn't the most handsome...but believe me, it was better than me. I loved making this hat. It was quick and easy and the yarn was so soft. I will be making a bunch of these for holiday gifts.

I started the Mystery Through the Loops socktober socks but am going to rip them out. I used a number 2 needle despite not listening to my gut. I always use number 1's when knitting socks. Will try again on a smaller needle.

Have a happy week everyone!

Out for a Ride

Took the long way home after dropping the boys off at school yesterday. The mornings have been beautiful the last few days. On the way to school today, Ryan commented that the sky looked like an impressionist's painting. Thanks go out to his art teacher for that comment.

Found this site while avoiding the housework. Oh, to have a husband that did all these things. But what is even better, the advice is coming from the dad. Enjoy your day!

Etsy Find

all photos courtesy of paperedtogether.etsy.com

Found this seller over on etsy this am while looking for some holiday letterpress stationary.

Krista Stout is her name and she has some really cute and different paper.

My job is complete this Saturday...now go...spend some money!

Happy Saturday!