Knitpickin'

Still Here, 2012 version

2012-01-13T16:57:00.001-06:00

I miss this blog. I won't say that I am resolving to blog regularly. I would love to! But then I feel pressure to do it "right," when really, what does that even mean?? I know too many people who have very widely-read blogs or are influential "leaders" in their circles, so I am sometimes inundated with how one's blog is a powerful tool and ought to be managed properly. Well guess what? I'm a stay-at-home mom with no "platform" and I don't even know if anyone drops by here anymore! So phooey on anyone who thinks I'm not doing it right. I fell for that way of thinking a few years ago, but no more. Hmph.

Sorry, I got distracted by my own self-motivational speech there for a moment. Where was I?

Oh right. The blog. I do miss it! I miss sharing my current projects and funny things my children say. I need an outlet for talking about life with diabetes. It is unlikely that my words here will ever be widely-read or influential.

But I will be here. And I will be honest. Ok, honest with some filtering, because if I had said all the things I really wanted to say over the past couple of years...well, let's just stop there, shall we?

So hello again, dear blog. Let's get reacquainted.

Rainy Days

2011-09-07T10:08:00.000-05:00

This latest project is quite reflective of our weather lately. Rain, rain, cloudy skies and more rain. I am overjoyed at the cooler temperatures, but a little sun here and there would be nice.

I decided to dig out a crochet hook and try my hand at a larger crochet project. Eva's Shawl seemed like the perfect pattern to start with since there are no fancy stitches and I had yarn on hand that I could use. The yarn I picked is a hand-dyed lightweight sock yarn that I purchased in my early days of knitting. It is beautiful, but a bit splitty and definitely on the thinner side of what I like to use for socks, so I was happy to be able to use it up on this little shawl. While I did have almost a full skein, it wasn't enough to make a full-sized shawl, so what you see here is more of a shawlette. I think I like it better as a scarf, though.

Hootie Hoot-Hoot-Hoooooot

2011-09-02T10:05:00.000-05:00

We have an owl. Well, we don't own an owl. It's not ours, nor does it live with us. I guess it's more of a local owl. A neighborhood owl, if you will. And it seems quite fond of the tree outside our bedroom window. It isn't there every night, but when it is there I'll admit that I enjoy drifting off to sleep to it's repeated calls of "Hootie hoot-hoot-hoooot! Hootie hoot-hoot-hooooot!"

Speaking of owls, I finally got around to rehabbing the owl napkin holder that I picked up at Goodwill a few weeks ago. In the interest of frugality, I decided that I would use some of the few paints I already had on hand. I gave it a good prime with white paint, but it didn't cover very well. It was good enough for primer, but I could tell that if I really wanted solid coverage it could be a challenge. Thankfully, solid coverage wasn't what I was after.

BEFORE

I put on a coat of aqua paint, but that particular paint had a very matte finish and it didn't look right at all. Since I decided to let the white of the primer show through in the recessed areas, I decided to do a very light wash of white over the color. It was trial and error at its finest, but in the end I mixed a little bit of the white paint with a little water and lightly brushed it all over with a foam brush. It took the edge off the matte finish without lightening the aqua color, which was exactly what I wanted!

AFTER:

New Page

2011-09-01T10:35:00.001-05:00

For those looking for the Jacobean Socks pattern, I have now added a new "Patterns" page to the blog. If you look to the upper left, you should see the link. Please let me know if you have any trouble with it.

Signature Story

2011-08-23T12:27:00.002-05:00

It seems like everyone has a signature story - you know, the one they tell at parties or family gatherings. It's the story that usually has everyone leaning in, dying to know, "What happened next??" I had never thought about what my signature story might be until yesterday. While brushing my teeth, I pondered the nosebleed I had the day before. I don't have nosebleeds frequently, but it made me realize that I do, in fact, have a signature story. I cannot guarantee that it will be riveting, but if you're looking for a good comedy of errors, read on.

When I was in high school, my mom and I were invited to spend the day at Six Flags with family friends and their children. Our friends had enough room in their vehicle for us to ride with them, so they picked us up early in the morning so we could spend the whole day at Six Flags. It was late in the summer, so even in the morning it was hot and humid. We arrived when the park opened and general merriment commenced. Rides were ridden, snacks were consumed.

A good time was being had by all until early afternoon. I was sitting on a park bench with our friend and her baby. My mom had taken one of the older children to ride a roller coaster and as they approached, I noticed three things: 1) Mom looked a little green around the gills, 2) I suddenly had a headache and 3) my nose was starting to bleed. Since we were not driving and planned to spend the entire day at Six Flags, neither my mom nor I had brought a purse. We simply brought our wallets, since that was all we thought we would need. Yet there I was, suddenly in need of a tissue. Lucky for me, our friend had young children and a baby, so she quickly handed me a tissue and we thought nothing more about it until I realized that the slow trickle coming from my nose was now a very steady stream.

When I realized that my nose was now gushing and that I had gone through all the available tissues, I started to feel a bit sick. At a loss for what to do, our friend shoved a clean diaper into my hands. By now a crowd of gawkers had gathered. There I sat, in all my bloody glory, diaper held unashamedly to my face. I heard a man ask our friend, "Does she do drugs?" He should have known better: jeans shorts, t-shirt tucked in and appropriately bloused over the waistband, large bow in the hair, brown saddle-oxford-style Keds (don't judge me, it was the late 80's) - none of these point to Obvious Teenage Drug User of that era. After several minutes, a clot that was easily 6 inches long came out and the nosebleed started to slow down. Someone in the crowd of gawkers had called security, so around this time a very nice man with a wheelchair appeared and whisked me off to the First Aid building.

I'm sure adults and children alike were wondering, "Why is that girl holding a diaper to her face?," as I was wheeled past them, but let's be honest. If you have to ride in a wheelchair to the First Aid building at Six Flags with a diaper clutched against your nose, your inhibitions go right out the window. By the time the nurse looked me over, my nose had stopped bleeding and the whole visit was anticlimactic. She advised me to lay low for the rest of the day and to come back if anything else happened.

Funny about that. I was enjoying the afternoon with my now diaperless nose. Mom suggested lemonade, so we found a nice quiet spot to sip our cold drinks. Mom sat down and immediately sprang back up again, which I found a little odd since I thought we were there to rest. Unfortunately for my mother, a bee had already claimed that spot on the bench and made no bones about stinging whatever part of Mom's anatomy that came closest as she sat down. Once again, we found ourselves visiting the nice folks at the First Aid building. By that point, we had spent quite enough time at Six Flags and were ready to go home.

By the time our friends dropped us off at home, it was quite late and their children were exhausted. We waved goodbye, thanked them for the ride and opened the door to go inside. Well, we tried. The door was locked. Do you remember me mentioning earlier how neither Mom nor I had brought our purses? Yes. No purses, no keys and these were the days before cell phones. At the time, my dad was still working and usually didn't get home until after midnight, so he wasn't there to let us in. We tried the front door (also locked) and the sliding glass door (yep, locked). There was nothing for us to do but sit on the deck in the dark, wait for Dad to get home and pray that this was NOT a night he had a chance to work overtime.

Dad did come home after his shift ended. My nasal passages were fine in the end and Mom's bee sting was a minor (yet painful) annoyance.

Don't do drugs, friends. And if you do, I suggest carrying an ample supply of tissues.

Halfway is for Sissies

2011-08-22T10:51:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, my obsession with Pinterest continues to grow. The first project I decided to tackle was a crocheted rag rug. I'm no expert at crochet, but I know the basics and thankfully, that is all you need for this project. I had hoped that I could make a rug entirely out of scrap fabric that I already had on hand, but unfortunately my recent need to purge the house of ~~junk~~ no-longer-needed-treasures left me with little remaining in my fabric stash. There was enough to get a good start, though, and I supplemented the rest for a reasonable price by scouring the clearance fabric bin at Wal-Mart and buying 3 sheets at Goodwill.

If you are a long-time reader of my blog, you may have gathered that I tend toward the "Go big, or go home" theory with crafting. I don't mean to. I guess it's just my nature. When I was really into scrapbooking, I did it with gusto. When I started knitting, I tackled a Dale of Norway colorwork sweater as my first sweater project. So I guess it is no surprise that when I decided to crochet a rag rug, I would make one that is 4.5 feet wide.

I would have loved for it to be even bigger, but as it happened, I had EXACTLY enough fabric for this size. Since I had to buy fabric (cheap though it was) to complete it, I just wasn't willing to buy any more. This is not the color scheme I would have picked if I was actually planning a rug and buying fabric accordingly. However, I meant for it to be a rag rug made from scraps and I love the perfectly imperfect nature of it.

(Nearly) Instant Gratification

2011-08-18T11:28:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I posted pictures of the lamp I got at Goodwill. Missing a shade but otherwise in perfect condition, except for a raging case of the blahs. Nothing a can of Valspar "Exotic Sea" couldn't cure.

Here's the before:

And here's the after:

I can honestly say it turned out EXACTLY how I wanted. Now if only I could spray paint the rest of my house.

One Man's Junk

2011-08-17T10:57:00.000-05:00

They say the first step is admitting you have a problem, so here goes. I have a problem. I am a Pinterest addict. One look down that rabbit hole and I was done for. So many ideas! So many possibilities!

The first project I decided to start after spending some time on Pinterest was a crocheted rag rug. No pics of that today, but I will be blogging about it when I finish (hopefully in the next day or two). Of course I have been busy pinning countless other project ideas, too, so when I had to go to Goodwill yesterday to look for sheets to use to complete the rag rug, I couldn't help but look around to see if there was anything there that I could use for other projects.

I knew I needed books for one project, so I bought 4 of the thickest books they had. It made no difference what the books were; I just need books. You'll see why once I tackle that project. I did find a few other bargains, though, and thought I would share "before" pictures of them since I plan to change them up a little!

I got this lamp (minus the light bulb) and plan to get it a shade and a whole new color.

I also found this adorable wooden owl napkin holder, which will also get a new color.

My last find is actually just fine as-is. It's a wooden storage basket with a chalkboard side! It's a little worn around the edges and needs a good cleaning, but it will be perfect for the play room.

Stay tuned for future projects!

Too Sweet

2011-04-14T13:58:00.000-05:00

I mentioned recently that in November we learned that Ethan has Type 1 Diabetes. He is, quite literally, too sweet. The symptoms appeared out of nowhere: insatiable thirst, looking tired, dry mouth and suddenly wetting the bed (often multiple times a night). At first I dismissed the tiredness because it happened to coincide with the time change in the fall. We were all tired. The bed-wetting, though, concerned me because it hadn't happened since Ethan was a toddler. After 10 days I decided to call the pediatrician's office and speak to a nurse. My sister had been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes earlier in the year and I knew extreme thirst and dry mouth can be symptoms, so I mentioned that. The nurse asked us to come in the next day to do a finger prick and a urine specimen. When the blood glucose meter showed a reading of 476 I knew life had suddenly changed.

Our pediatrician explained that Ethan very likely had Type 1 and got an appointment for us at the Vanderbilt Eskind Pediatric Diabetes Clinic the next morning, with strict instructions to head straight to the emergency room if we saw any sign of Ethan going downhill. The doctor explained that the problem we faced was that without treatment, Ethan would get very sick, very fast and there was no way to know if it would happen in a few days or a few weeks. Thankfully the night was uneventful and Ethan and I headed to Vanderbilt on November 11 to get a crash course in diabetes management. He started vomiting not long after we arrived (the start of getting "very sick, very fast," otherwise known as DKA). The nurses made him a nest on the floor of the conference room with blankets so he could rest while I learned everything I needed to know. After nearly 5 hours of teaching, the nurse took us down to McDonald's so Ethan could eat and I could test him and give him insulin before we left the hospital. It was there that I had to tell my son that these horrible needles would be a part of his life forever. We both cried.

Our new routine consisted of testing Ethan's blood sugar before each meal, before bed and again at 2 AM, and giving insulin after each meal and at bed. His insulin dose is not a set dose; it is calculated by ratio. For instance, a 1:12 ratio means he would get 1 unit of insulin for every 12 grams of carbs he eats. The trick is that often each meal has a different ratio, plus there is the correction factor - so if his blood sugar is over a certain number, there's a sliding scale system of how much insulin to add. Hello Math, nice to see you again. It's not complicated math, but if you don't keep track the consequences are dire. This is made even more frustrating when you eat out and discover that many restaurants have no nutritional information they can give you. The first week after Ethan's diagnosis was extremely hard on all of us. We never had to physically restrain him to do his shots or finger pricks, but there was a lot of crying and begging me to stop (he wouldn't let Greg even try, so I did it all). The first two days I handled it well because I was in survival mode, just trying to remember how to do everything. The third day was when I was an emotional basketcase. It does get easier - I can attest to that.

I have learned that most people know nothing about Type 1 Diabetes, largely because Type 2 is so rampant in the US. However, many doctors feel strongly that Type 2 should not even be called diabetes. Can Type 2 be managed with diet, exercise and pills? Yes, much of the time. Some people (like my sister) have Type 2 and require insulin. However, Ethan (and anyone with Type 1) cannot manage his diabetes with diet, exercise and pills. His pancreas has stopped producing insulin. Without it being injected into his body throughout the day, he will die. I'm sure it sounds overly dramatic, but it is our reality. Will diet and exercise be important for him? Yes, absolutely! There are some pretty awful things that can happen to diabetics if they don't take care of their bodies. Can Ethan still have sweets? Yes, absolutely! He can have anything (except poison, and cookies...made with poison); he simply has to take insulin for it.

The other thing I have learned is that children are amazingly resilient. They adapt quickly to the new "normal." Ethan doesn't like shots or finger pricks, but they don't bother him anymore. The excellent news is that he will soon be on an insulin pump, which will mean only one quick needle every 2-3 days (plus finger pricks - those can never go away). I know life with the pump will not be without challenges or frustrations, but I am hoping it will be better for Ethan.

As for me, I have realized that as the mother of a child with Type 1, it's like I have diabetes myself. I manage it. I do all the shots. I do all the finger pricks. I record the numbers. I calculate carbs. I try to anticipate lows or highs. I try to make sense of it all. I can't sleep in because Ethan has to be tested before he eats breakfast and get insulin right after. But here's the rub: I don't have diabetes. I have no idea what it physically feels like when his blood sugar crashes or shoots up high. There are signs, but I don't know how it feels leading up to those numbers, nor do I know how drained and exhausted he must feel afterward. I am responsible for being an external pancreas and it can be exhausting. It won't be long before Ethan will be responsible enough to take over some of the diabetes duties, but I will still have to supervise, ask questions and worry.

All in all, Ethan is doing well. We adjust his ratios as needed on a weekly basis and are working on making healthier food choices. "Is his diabetes 'bad?'," you may ask yourself. Let me say this: any disease that requires you to make your child bleed at least 4 times a day and then give them a shot is "bad." Type 1 diabetes is certainly manageable, but it is predictable only in theory. Our bodies sometimes do things for which we have no explanation and leave us scratching our heads as we look at numbers that make no sense based on what Ethan ate. Can he thrive with this disease? YES. My prayer is that my son (and my daughters) will live a long, healthy life - not just surviving, but thriving and making a difference in the world.

One More Time

2011-03-05T10:43:00.000-06:00

It has been a busy week of knitting, trying to get some gifts finished and ready to mail off. In the midst of that my big kids have both had the flu. I do not like the flu. It has been lingering around for 2 weeks now. Thankfully Ellie has only had a runny nose and Greg and I haven't gotten sick. Here's hoping it stays that way!

You may recognize this sweater pattern, since I have knit it twice before. It just doesn't get old!

In All My Spare Time

2011-02-25T09:47:00.000-06:00

All in all, as a homeschooling mom with a toddler, the only "me" time I get is between 11 PM and midnight (if I'm lucky), so I have to squeeze in the creative stuff wherever I can. It is easy enough to knit or crochet a few rows here and there while the kids do a worksheet or write spelling words. Sometimes it doesn't feel like much since I'm not working in a big chunk of time, but here's proof that it does add up.

A Reminder

2011-02-24T14:52:00.000-06:00

There has been a lot going on inside my head during my blog hiatus. A major life change is that we discovered in November that Ethan (who just turned 7 this month) has Type 1 diabetes. The symptoms and diagnosis came seemingly out of nowhere. He was fine and then suddenly, over about 10 days, he wasn't. I am so thankful for the pediatric diabetes clinic at Vanderbilt; they do a fantastic job. Going from only getting a shot once every few years to getting 4 a day, plus at least 4 finger pricks...well, it was extremely stressful for all of us at first. Children are amazing, though, and Ethan is doing great.

All the stress made me choose to avoid blogging, I suppose. There have been many things I have wanted to say and didn't, sometimes for fear of what people might think. Then again, I suppose it's not a bad rule of thumb to err on the side of silence if you're not sure what you have to say really needs to be said in a public forum! But life goes on. Schoolwork still needs to be done, bills still need to be paid, knitting awaits.

Not too long ago, on a day when I was feeling overwhelmed and alone, I went out to run some errands. When I returned, I noticed something that hadn't been there when I left the house a few minutes earlier and I had to take a picture. I know it's just a leaf, but it was a beautiful and unexpected reminder that I am loved. Strangely, when I went back outside later that day, it was gone.

I Miss You

2011-02-23T10:27:00.001-06:00

Dear Blog,

It's been a long time. We've hardly spoken. It's not you...it's me. Really. Can we put it all behind us and try again?

Love,
Julie

Didn't You Just...

2010-10-26T22:28:00.003-05:00

Look familiar? Yeah. Another gift - but this time with different buttons.

I also did a little crochet, which I hadn't done in a few years.

And still more...

Knitknitknitknitknit...

More Gifts

2010-10-21T16:17:00.001-05:00

These are for another baby girl who hasn't arrived yet...

Outfitted Well

2010-10-18T12:48:00.002-05:00

Someone is going to be a well-dressed baby in a few months. The only problem is that she's not born yet.

One

2010-10-12T08:58:00.002-05:00

Ellie is one. I'm pretty sure she was just born a couple of weeks ago, but the calendar tells me otherwise. She's still mostly bald for now, but her hair appears to be growing (finally). It also looks like her eyes are going to remain hazel, which is a surprise. Natalie and Ethan were both blue-eyed from birth, but Ellie's eyes are brownish-green.

She started walking the week she turned one, which is earlier than either of her siblings. We started using basic sign-language signs with all of the kids when they were infants and Ellie now uses 7 signs: milk, drink, more, please, thank you, all done and cookie. Not surprisingly, she learned the sign for cookie faster than any other sign.

We have been working on pointing out parts of the body and she can point to her head, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, teeth, tongue, tummy and toes and she says them as she points them out. It's adorable, except when I'm rocking her to sleep and she's digging her finger in my ear or smashing my nose, saying "eeeh" and "noss" over and over.

It's hard to remember what life was like without her!

This is getting ridiculous

2010-09-27T12:28:00.002-05:00

Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'...into the future...

Pardon my lapse into a Steve Miller moment. I wanted to give you a nice, newsy post complete with pictures and everything, but unfortunately my computer decided it was time to die. I am using Greg's MacBook (which I am very thankful for), but at some point he's going to need it back. Thankfully he had just backed up my computer and thinks it will be ok once we get a new hard drive. Unfortunately, our budget right now doesn't seem to think that buying a new hard drive falls into the URGENT category...so I will wait.

Things are fine - we're all healthy and doing well. My baby girl turned 1 last week, which seems impossible. She's trying to walk, which also seems impossible. The big kids have started school, so we are trying to get into a routine with that. It's a much bigger adjustment for me, trying to figure out how to work with both of them at the same time and deal with a curious baby, too.

I'm doing a lot of knitting these days, at least when I can. Hopefully there will be some news about that soon! In the meantime, I'll be here hoping a new hard drive will waltz into my life when I least expect it.

What's Happening Here

2010-06-13T09:45:00.003-05:00

There's a lot of this happening these days.

This and lots of other destruction.

She's an adorable menace.

Zig and Zag Pram Blanket

2010-05-28T19:24:00.004-05:00

It appears that I haven't blogged in a few weeks. Nor did I knit during that time. We had a flood here in Nashville (thankfully our house was not in one of the major flood areas), Ellie started crawling and we've been on a big push to get our school year finished. I did pick the needles back up early this week, though, and managed to finish this work-in-progress called the Zig and Zag Pram Blanket. I loved the pattern as soon as I saw it on Ravelry and I am so pleased with how it turned out. Great use of leftover sock yarn - just be prepared to weave in lots of ends if you decide to knit one for yourself! I did mine as I went, so I wasn't overwhelmed with it at the end.

I knew I wanted mine to be blankie-sized - not a big blanket. I think the finished, blocked measurements came out to be about 22"x28", which was right where I wanted it to be. If you ever knit this, I would highly recommend considering the sock yarn before you use it - I have so many that bled like the dickens when I made socks out of them, so I chose to not use those in this blanket.

Common Nonsense

2010-04-28T13:54:00.003-05:00

I am re-reading the Anne of Green Gables series right now and something Anne says in Anne of the Island stood out to me. Anne is preparing to leave for college and several well-meaning women have come to say goodbye, yet they each "managed to say something that seemed to take the color out of life and leave it as gray and dismal and cheerless as a November morning." Gilbert reminds her that these women have a narrow outlook on life and have a hard time seeing past life in Avonlea. Anne responds:

"Oh, I know. But feeling is so different from knowing. My common sense tells me all you can say, but there are times when common sense has no power over me. Common nonsense takes possession of my soul."

If I'm honest, common nonsense takes possession of my soul far more often than I'd like. Does it happen to you?

Blasts From the Past

2010-04-28T13:27:00.002-05:00

I was going through old files today and came across these pictures of Natalie and Ethan, taken in 2006. It's amazing what a difference a few years makes!

Stuck

2010-04-26T00:12:00.005-05:00

I've had a few songs stuck in my head lately. I won't mention them by name because some of them you would know and I fear you wouldn't forgive me for planting them firmly in your head, too. One of them, though, isn't so common. Some of you might know it - if you come from a traditional church background. I grew up Baptist and it's not a hymn we ever sang. We sang old hymns, but this one is truly an OLD hymn. Here is the English version (originally written in Latin):

"Of the Father's Love Begotten"
by Aurelius C. Prudentius, 413, cento
Translated by John. M. Neale, 1818-1866
and Henry W. Baker, 1821-1977

1. Of the Father's love begotten
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the Source, the Ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see
Evermore and evermore.

2. Oh, that birth forever blessed
When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bare the Savior of our race,
And the Babe, the world's Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face
Evermore and evermore.

3. O ye heights of heaven, adore Him;
Angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him
And extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring
Evermore and evermore.

4. This is He whom Heaven-taught singers
Sang of old with one accord;
Whom the Scriptures of the prophets
Promised in their faithful word.
Now He shines, the Long-expected;
Let creation praise its Lord
Evermore and evermore.

5. Christ, to Thee, with God the Father,
And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
And unending praises be,
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory
Evermore and evermore.

Here is a recording, in case you aren't familiar with this beautiful plainsong chant. The video only contains still images and contains only the first three verses, but it's a lovely arrangement of the music.

Jacobean Pattern

2010-04-21T22:24:00.003-05:00

I've had a couple of people ask me for my Jacobean sock pattern lately, but I'm not sure how to get in touch with them since email addresses aren't listed in the comments AND I don't know how to host the PDF of the pattern here. So...if you'd like the pattern, please email me at julie.persinger at gmail.com and I'd be happy to send it to you!

Simple Thoughts

2010-04-20T16:16:00.002-05:00

It's a gloomy day here, I have ridiculous sciatic nerve pain shooting down my legs and poor Ellie is a snotty mess thanks to spring pollen, so I'm taking the easy way out and copying this post from a friend (with my own answers, of course - thanks JD, LOL!).

Outside my window...Natalie and Ethan are happily playing with a plastic tub full of mud.

I am thinking...how much I'd love to take a nap right now.

I am thankful for...remembering to thaw meat so I could put dinner in the oven a few minutes ago.

I am wearing...the same shirt I slept in, plus track pants.

I am remembering...what it was like to have good friends who lived in my neighborhood.

I am going...nowhere. Wanted to go to the Y, but don't think I should put Ellie in the nursery since she's a slimy mess.

I am currently reading...the Anne of Green Gables series, currently on Anne of the Island.

I am hoping...that I can get some knitting done soon.

On my mind...finances, wondering when we will be able to move past just surviving.

Noticing that...my house still isn't clean and orderly even though I wish for it to be all the time.

Pondering these words...a quote about Mr. Rogers, "Fred wanted to know the truth of your life, the nature of your insides, and had room enough in his own spirit to embrace without judgment whatever that truth might be."

From the kitchen...tonight's dinner: cube steaks, mashed potatoes, green beans.

Around the house...a lot of stuff I need to take to Goodwill or list on Craigslist.

One of my favorite things...my Sanuk yoga mat flip flops.

To Blog, Or Not To Blog

2010-04-16T22:26:00.002-05:00

If anyone is still out there, I do still exist. Having three children, two of whom I educate at home and one small one who mostly wants to be held (by me) all the time, tends to make me a little busy. I expected that, but I kinda thought it might even out a little sooner than it has. Ah well, it's all good.

The big kids are doing well and have grown to love their baby sister, who they sometimes call Queen Baby. Once she started interacting with them she suddenly became a lot more interesting. It's hard to believe Ellie is six months old already! She is now able to pull up on her knees when she has something to hold onto and she is very close to being able to get a foot under her and ultimately pull up to standing. I am NOT ready for that! I've also caught her on all fours, rocking back and forth. Natalie and Ethan didn't do those things this early, so I have no idea what to expect this time.

As for me, I've debated on what to do with the blog. I do enjoy blogging. I just need to get back into the routine...just like I need to do with most other things in my life right now.

The Bravest Tiger in the City

2010-02-04T15:24:00.003-06:00

Natalie and I have been learning about the basics of composition in school this week. We've learned how stories need characters, details, a problem and solution, a beginning, middle and end, etc. Today, Natalie's job was to write her own story, using all the skills she has learned. I suspected she would be overwhelmed at first, so we planned everything out first (story mapping) before she actually started writing. I thought I'd share her story with you, but you should be aware that she is currently obsessed with tigers.

*Tigea is pronounced TYE-gee-uh and a "dogamel" is a cross between a dog and a camel.

The Bravest Tiger in the City
by Natalie, age 8

One morning, Tigea was sleeping in her house in Tiger City. Everyone had gone to the cheese stand the day before. Tigea woke up to the sound of people yelling, "Where's our cheese???" She looked out her window, opened her bedroom door, rushed down the hall to the front door and opened it. Tigea yelled, "What is all the noise about??" One of the tigers told her to ride her dogamel to the Evil Lizard's castle to get the cheese back from the Evil Lizard.

Tigea ran to the dogamel's barn to get it. Wearing green harem pants, she rode her dogamel, Emily, into the desert until she couldn't see the city anymore. She passed a pyramid, a sphinx, an oasis (where she stopped to get something to eat and drink, plus food and water for the road), and the underground ruins. She finally got to the Evil Lizard's castle.

Tigea sneaked into the castle. She sneaked past the Evil Lizard in his lab and crept quietly to the room where the cheese was hidden. She opened the door, filled her sack with the cheese and crept quietly out of the castle.

Tigea rode back to Tiger City. The next morning she returned the cheese to the people. They said, "Thank you Tigea!"

The End

Shiny Happy People

2009-12-16T23:24:00.004-06:00

Unexpected warm days in late fall + a trampoline in the back yard = happy kids.

Time Warp

2009-11-16T13:59:00.002-06:00

I have the best intentions about blogging regularly. But darn it if it isn't nearly Thanksgiving already!! I was trying to calculate the age of a friend's baby earlier today and for several minutes, thought it was still September. sigh

Most of my time is taken up with Baby Duty and school, but I'm managing to squeeze in a little time for knitting, too. People seem amazed that I have time to do it, but I do it in little spurts...a few rows while waiting for one of the kids to finish a workbook page or as I listen to Natalie read...and I can get quite a bit done in the evenings if Greg is able to take Ellie for a while. (They like to hang out together in the recliner and nap.)

Here is one of my recent quick projects. My friend Lisa mentioned she would like a pair of long fingerless gloves to wear while she paints in the winter, so I was happy to oblige. I used Caron Simply Soft Eco since she needed something that was very easy care and fine to go in the washer and dryer. The pattern is an easy spiral rib by Joelle Hoverson and can be found here.

Blissful Slumber

2009-11-09T14:19:00.001-06:00

Ellie's Birth Story

2009-10-12T14:10:00.002-05:00

**Disclaimer: I realize that not everyone enjoys reading birth stories and some people are uncomfortable hearing specifics about the birthing process...so if you're not interested, don't say I didn't give you fair warning! I have tried to keep Ellie's story accurate without over-sharing. There may be a few unfamiliar terms, such as birthing time (labor) and pressure waves (contractions). I studied and used Hypnobabies, a method of hypnosis for childbirth, thus the different terms.**

Ellie's Birth

My due date was September 8, which came and went without any sign of impending labor. My first baby was induced on my due date due to extremely low amniotic fluid and my second was a c-section on my due date for no valid medical reason - so I had no point of reference for how my body might begin my birthing time naturally. At 41 weeks I asked for an internal exam - 1.5 cm, not very effaced, but my midwife said my cervix was in the perfect position for delivery and the baby's head was extremely low. In the meantime I was trying all sorts of natural induction methods, none of which produced more than a few twinges of pressure waves. Since I was a VBAC, Greg and I didn't feel comfortable going beyond 42 weeks so we agreed to go in for induction on September 22. My midwife was thrilled I was using Hypnobabies and was completely on board with only using pitocin to get pressure waves started and then let my body take over.

When we got to the hospital, we found that I hadn't dilated any more than I was at 41 wks and were also told my cervix was now extremely high and posterior, so we knew it would take a while. We agreed to the use of a foley bulb catheter to help me open up a bit more. I ended up laboring for 16 hrs on pitocin with no pain meds. Hypnobabies was GREAT! My hospital gown had a pocket on the front, so I clipped my iPod to it and kept one ear bud in the whole time to listen to the Hypnobabies scripts. Even though the pressure waves did start to get stronger and more intense, I was able to stay calm and relaxed through them. It helped, too, to think of them as "rushes" - as Ina May Gaskin calls them...I pictured myself riding on the front of a bullet train as each one propelled itself forward.

After 16 hours, I was at 6.5 cm, but the midwives had different opinions on what station the baby was at, so they broke my water, which seemed to be the start of things going off track. They wanted to do internal monitoring and had trouble getting it in. Two different midwives tried, which was extremely uncomfortable and really disrupted my focus. They had turned the pitocin down low (possibly even off? I'm not sure) since I was doing well, but then needed to turn it up again, so the pressure waves got a lot more intense again. I was stalled at 6.5 cm for a few hours and knew I was going to need an epidural to go any longer. While they worked on placing the internal monitors, the baby had a few decel's in heart rate, so that caused a lot of commotion! Even with having the Hypnobabies scripts playing and having Greg and my doula there with constant support, it was very difficult to get back to that calm and peaceful state. While I desperately wanted an unmedicated VBAC, I knew I needed an epidural in order to have the focus to keep going.

Once I got the epidural, the midwives started talking to us about considering a c-section (because the baby just wasn't descending), but there was NEVER any pressure, which we appreciated so much. We had total support in whatever we decided. It seemed like it took forever for the epidural to really kick in, but once it did, I knew it was better to go ahead with the surgery because there was no way I was going to have the energy and stamina to push for very long.

As it happened, the OR's were backed up and it took almost two hours for one to be available - so by the time they put in the catheter and started really getting ready to take me, we discovered I was fully dilated and complete! I know Greg would have liked to encourage me to try to push, but our doula helped him to understand that if I knew I didn't have it in me, his encouragement would likely only make me feel guilty - so I'm grateful she was there. Once we got into surgery, they discovered all kinds of scar tissue from my previous c-section on my bladder, so they had to spend a lot of time cleaning that up. I'm thankful to have a "reason" for the c-section...I never knew there were any issues and the scar tissue could have caused problems in the future.

Eleanor Elizabeth (Ellie) was born September 23, 2009 at 10:11 PM, weighing 9 lbs 11 oz and was 21 1/2" long. While it was not the birth experience I had hoped for, it did produce the outcome I desired: a strong, healthy, beautiful baby. I do believe we made the right decisions based on the circumstances. It was never an emergency situation and I'm thankful for that. The midwives and doctors were all wonderful, as were all the nurses I had. I am extremely thankful for Hypnobabies and how it worked for me, even in a Plan B situation. I know I have learned skills that I can continue to use well into the future.

Success!

2009-09-30T14:50:00.002-05:00

As you can see, I decided it was time for a face lift for the ol' blog. I'm clueless about HTML and web design, so I am forced to rely on free templates. I loved this one, but needed to edit out some text and replace it with my own. However, there was no simple editing option to do that, so I had to find a blank version of the image and do it myself in PhotoStudio. It wouldn't be a big deal to many of you, but I'm thrilled that I got it to work!

Now maybe the new look will inspire me to blog more often. In the meantime, there's a hungry baby calling me...

Long Overdue. Literally.

2009-09-29T09:43:00.006-05:00

Pregnancy is long, folks. Forty weeks, which is in fact TEN months...not nine. My baby decided that her accommodations were quite pleasant and decided to extend her stay by another two weeks. Women should not have to be pregnant for 42 weeks. While I felt fine physically (apart from being exceedingly great with child), I was mentally and emotionally done and soon began to feel like the proverbial watched pot that never boils. I started to think I would come unhinged if one more person asked me, "Well, aren't you feeling ANY contractions yet??"

Rest assured, the appointed day did finally arrive. It didn't begin the way I had hoped (induction, rather than spontaneous labor), nor did it end the way I had hoped (c-section after 22 hours of labor, rather than a VBAC). It did, however, produce exactly what I had hoped for - a strong, healthy, beautiful baby girl. I even got the added bonus of having our first dark-haired baby! (which was a secret hope of mine)

Allow me to introduce Ellie, the newest member of our family:

Eleanor Elizabeth
9 lbs, 11 oz
21 1/2" long
Born September 23, 2009 at 10:11 PM

Just born:

The next day, meeting Natalie, Ethan and Neena (my mom):
Don't let the picture fool you. The kids weren't nearly as exuberant as this image would lead you to believe. They were a little overwhelmed with the newness of everything, but they are adjusting well now.

Rocking with Neena:
Wearing her first handknits:
Finally home:
It has only been six days, but it's already hard to imagine what life was like without her.

Food For Thought

2009-08-14T11:00:00.002-05:00

A quote from the book Ruthless Trust, by Brennan Manning - a book that I have been trying to read for several years now (yes, YEARS). So full of insight, but the type you need to chew on for a while...

"The great weakness in the North American church at large, and certainly in my life, is our refusal to accept our brokenness. We hide it, evade it, gloss over it. We grab for the cosmetic kit and put on our virtuous face to make ourselves admirable to the public. Thus, we present to others a self that is spiritually together, superficially happy, and lacquered with a sense of self-deprecating humor that passes for humility. The irony is that while I do not want anyone to know that I am judgmental, lazy, vulnerable, screwed up, and afraid, for fear of losing face, the face that I fear losing is the mask of the impostor, not my own!"

Growing Up

2009-07-29T15:51:00.004-05:00

Last winter we decided to get Natalie a duvet to replace the comforter that was on her bed. It was cute and she still liked it, but the seams had split in a few places and it was not a warm comforter. I bought the duvet, but had a very hard time finding a reasonably-priced twin duvet cover that Natalie liked. In fact, I looked everywhere I could think of and we were still unable to find something suitable.

Finally, I decided that if I was going to have to spend more than I really wanted to, it might as well be on something Natalie absolutely loved and would be willing to live with for quite some time. We started exploring fabric options and as soon as we saw Anna Maria Horner's Drawing Room line, Natalie knew exactly what she wanted.
We looked at several fabric options in that line, but all she wanted were the birds. Since the print is so large, I decided to just let the fabric shine on its own and use as much of the aqua version as I could as the main panel. It wasn't quite large enough, so I got the same print in cream and used that as a 5" border all the way around.
For the back, I bought a good quality flat sheet and trimmed it to fit. Since flat sheets have that nice, finished, decorative edge on the top, I decided to use that as the top part of the overlap closure. I still need to get some velcro to help keep it closed, but that can wait. Contrary to how it looks in the picture, I really did iron the sheet!
My girl is growing up. Let's just hope she likes this now that it's finished.

For Baby

2009-07-21T13:58:00.003-05:00

When Natalie and Ethan were born, I wasn't knitting yet so I made them quilts. Now that knitting has taken over my crafty pursuits, I decided to knit something special for the new baby. Obviously, this isn't the type of thing that will be used every day like a quilt would, but it is something we can use as a special wrap when she is tiny and then it can be put away and saved until she grows up.

So here it is - the Queen Anne's Lace Shawl - started in May and finished yesterday. The next time you see it, it will be wrapped around a sweet baby girl!

Knitknitknitknit

2009-06-15T07:58:00.004-05:00

Just in case you thought I hadn't been doing anything...

Of course, there are other projects currently on the needles, too. Stay tuned.

Why It's Good To Have Children

2009-06-12T13:10:00.003-05:00

I dreaded waking up this morning because my kitchen was an absolute wreck. It looked like some scary white trash people lived here! There were dirty dishes everywhere, the counters were both cluttered AND dirty, and the floor was just disgusting. It didn't take me long to fill up the dishwasher and get it started. After that, I hand-washed everything else so it was finished. The biggest issue was the floor. I knew it needed a good old hands-and-knees scrubbing, but I was really dreading it.

Enter one happy-go-lucky 7 year old girl who just happened to be looking for something to do.

Muwahahahahahaha....

In a matter of minutes, she was convinced that not only would she like to try scrubbing the floor, but that it also sounded FUN! I'm not one to waste an opportunity like that, so I gave the floor a good sweep, got her a bucket of diluted Lysol and a sponge and showed her what to do! Of course, it didn't take long for her brother to wander in and want in on the action, too.
All things considered, they did a very nice job for their first time scrubbing a floor! I rinsed it with a mop and clean water and let it dry. There is still de-cluttering to be done and the counter tops need a good wipe-down, but at least there's a light at the end of the tunnel now.

Locks of Love

2009-05-07T15:11:00.003-05:00

My daughter inherited my hair. It grows thick and fast. Several months ago I explained the purpose of Locks of Love to her and asked if she would be interested in letting her hair grow for a while so she could donate it. She liked the idea of being able to help another child and agreed to grow out her hair.

Now, several months later, we were both more than ready to be able to get her hair cut since it was getting ratty as soon as it was brushed. So we were very happy to learn last week that her hair was finally long enough! Today was the day of the big cut and Natalie couldn't be more pleased...nor could I.

Before:

After:

Getting the ponytail shaved off (it was too thick to use scissors):

A typical Natalie face:

And my new, short-haired girl:

Better Vision

2009-04-03T14:55:00.003-05:00

I have horrible eyesight, as do several members of my family. So I figured it was only a matter of time before one of my children needed glasses. As it turned out, this was the week! Natalie has never mentioned having any trouble seeing, but after the pediatrician did a vision screening on Monday, he recommended a trip to the optometrist. After a thorough eye exam, it was decided that Natalie definitely needed glasses.

We just picked them up and she seems to think they help, so that's a good start.

Have You Ever Made A Phoenix?

2009-04-02T14:01:00.004-05:00

Well Natalie did.

For Christmas, we decided to encourage Natalie's creativity with something new and different: the LaQ Building Set. I had only seen it in the Mindware catalog, but knew it would be right up her alley. At first it was overwhelming, with so many tiny pieces...oh, and the instructions are only in Japanese. Natalie made the recommended basics like a flat strip of repeating patterns, a box and a sphere, but it took a lot of trial and error for her to begin to feel confident enough to try some of the other designs that are shown in the pamphlets. Before long, she was able to figure them out.

There was one in the pamphlet, though, that was elusive. And complicated. And she thought she could never do it.

Then, one day, she did.

I proudly present to you, Natalie's phoenix:
Here is a close-up. LaQ's are comprised of squares, triangles and various connecting pieces.
And here is what Natalie had to work from:
She's pretty amazing, I think.

Big News in a Tiny Package

2009-02-27T12:38:00.002-06:00

I was really hoping to have a picture to share in this post, but alas, I was not given one. Part of the reason why the blog has been pretty quiet lately is because I have been exceedingly tired. Beyond tired, actually. But it is all for a good reason, though.

We're having another baby!! (See, this is where I would post an ultrasound picture, but the tech didn't offer to give me any.)

I'm due September 8, which puts me at 12 weeks now. Actually, I have known for about seven weeks already, but we waited a while to tell family and wanted to make sure everything looked good on the ultrasound yesterday. Everything did look good, and since I am 12 weeks, the baby definitely looked like a baby! There was a lot of curling up, leg stretching and flipping over, which is to be expected since there's still room to move around in there.

As for me, I am doing well. My first two pregnancies were very uneventful, with only tiredness and mild nausea at the start, and it looks like this one is following the same path so far. I am very excited to get to do some baby knitting this time! I wasn't knitting yet when I had Natalie and Ethan.

So that's the big news. Hopefully I'll work up the energy to start posting more often.

This Alone Was Worth $89.99

2009-02-02T15:32:00.003-06:00

My kids pooled their Christmas and birthday money to buy Wii Fit last week. It is SO fun, but when I came around the corner yesterday to see Ethan doing the ski slalom like this I had to run for the camera:

Seven Years

2009-01-30T12:37:00.004-06:00

Today is Natalie's 7th birthday. I can NOT believe it has been seven years already!! She arrived looking like this:
And has grown into a lovely, extremely creative and artistic girl:
The only trouble is, now she says, "I can't wait to be 10."

Fashion Plates

2009-01-27T18:57:00.003-06:00

I am not a fashion plate. I am not fashion forward. I would like to be, but honestly I just don't care that much. I try not to look like a frumpy slob when I'm out in public, but sometimes it can't be helped.

As a kid, though, I would spend hours drawing dresses and dreaming up designs. Then, one Christmas, these came along and I was in love:
Did anyone else have Fashion Plates?? They were THE BEST. EVER. I don't know what became of mine, but I miss them.

It Continues

2009-01-07T11:40:00.006-06:00

Wow. I didn't mean to be gone that long! We had a great Christmas and New Year with our families, although I was very disappointed by the total lack of snow in the Midwest. Now that the holidays are over, I can show you a few projects that I finished:
The Danica scarf, for Chelsea.
This is a sort of cowl, big neckwarmer, accessory sort of thing...technically, it's a mobius.

Now that I am home, the knitting obligations do not end. I am working on a scarf that will be a thank-you gift for a friend who helped us immensely on Christmas Eve:
This is Anne Hanson's lovely La Novia pattern.

I am also working on one last for-hire scarf for a child who wanted stripes:
There will be lavender in it, too - just haven't gotten there yet. No pattern, just making it up as I go.

Since we were gone for over a week, we had our mail held. When I picked it up, I was thrilled to find a package containing yarn! Some time ago, I had purchased some roving and later had the brilliant idea to ask my friend Erin to spin it for me since she has a spinning wheel and I am very slow with my drop spindle. She obliged and now I have this lovely yarn waiting to be knit up:
Thanks for hanging in there during the hiatus. I promise to be back again soon.

An Unintended Hiatus

2008-12-23T21:49:00.002-06:00

Hm. I didn't mean to keep the blog silent for so long. It was those darn scarves! Since my last post, I have knit 6 scarves (all different patterns), 35 felted fortune cookies and 3 hats. Oh, and a mobius/neckwarmer thingie (twice - first time it was huuuuge).

Anyway, I just wanted to pop in to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and holiday season. Greg and I will be participating in the Christmas Eve services at Cross Point, so if you by some strange chance are just looking for somewhere to go in Nashville, come! 2:00, 3:30 and 5:00. Then our family will be leaving after the last service and heading into the night to Missouri. We'll spend a few days there, then head to Illinois to visit my family before coming back home.

I may post from the road...we'll see!

Finally, I can share

2008-12-01T16:53:00.004-06:00

I've had this wee outfit finished for weeks now, but wanted to postpone sharing it until I had given it to our friends, Matt and Holly. They are expecting their first baby in a few weeks (or so) and I knew I wanted to knit something for her. I figured they would be inundated with cute little pink goodies, so I wanted to make it both cute AND cool. Matt is the creative director at our church and happens to be a self-admitted Mac geek.

It didn't take me long to figure out what I wanted to do:
I got a lot of hugs.

Step Into the Wayback Machine...

2008-12-01T13:33:00.003-06:00

Wow. I haven't seen this video in years!! The hair...the shades...the jackets...and a great song. Enjoy!

The Power of Words

2008-11-25T16:15:00.002-06:00

Whoever came up with the old saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me," was clearly in denial.

Our tongues are one of our most powerful weapons. I notice it with my children all the time. Even our tone can pack a punch. I am trying to catch myself in the act and make note of how I am coming across to my kids. I'm also realizing more and more that it's the little things that make a big impact...for instance, saying "I'm proud of you," or paying a compliment. Sometimes I think those things, but I get distracted and never actually say them to the person I'm with. But I know from my own experience that receiving those words can make a huge difference in my outlook.

Yesterday I received a card from my sister and I asked her if I could share what she wrote. I was feeling extremely frustrated about something and was having a hard time seeing how the situation could ever improve. Reading her words completely changed my attitude. They had nothing to do with my frustration and offered no solution...but the encouragement made all the difference. Here's what she wrote:

"Have I told you how proud I am of you? You have grown into a delightful adult and a great mom. I think I would like you if I just happened to meet you on the street (but really, how often do we meet people on the street?) I love you dearly - Karen."

In this week of Thanksgiving, I challenge you to use your words for good and not for evil. Say those little words of encouragement that often go unspoken. You never know, you may just have the exact words someone needs to hear.

A Full Life

2008-11-17T12:52:00.002-06:00

Thanks to the wonders of technology, I recently reconnected with a few old friends on Facebook. These are people with whom I went to elementary school. Reality smacked me upside the head when I realized that I probably have not seen these folks for 25 years. Twenty five!! Good gracious.

We gave each other a brief synopsis of what we are all doing now and commented on all of our cute children. What really made me stop and think, though, was that two of these old friends made the exact same comment to me:

"It looks like you have a very full life."

Wow.

Of course, then I had to stop and ask myself, do I really? Do I lead a full life?

I have been pondering that question for several days now. I want to live a full life - very much, in fact. I can't say that I have always succeeded. We all have seasons that are challenging and those that are smooth sailing, but I am learning (ever so slowly) to choose peace and contentment even during the challenging seasons.

When I step back and evaluate my life right now, yes, there are some things I would like to change. I would love for finances to never be an issue. I would love a slightly bigger house, I would love to be able to travel. But I have the basics. I have a husband who loves me. I have two very healthy and fantastic children. We have great relationships with our parents and families. I have the privilege of staying home and educating my children. We laugh a lot. We love our church and are very involved there. I have made some wonderful new friends this year.

My old friends were right. I do have a very full life. And I am very thankful.

Just Because

2008-11-15T10:16:00.001-06:00

I was looking through my files and found this video, taken when Ethan was almost 3. He was pretending to take my order in a restaurant.

Ethan at 23 months, taking my order from Julie Persinger on Vimeo.

Dreary Weather Leads to Movie Watching

2008-11-12T11:47:00.002-06:00

I don't know about you, but cold and gloomy weather makes me want to hunker down and watch movies. Well, and knit...but that's a given.

Here's a clip from the beginning of one of my favorite movies - Charade (1963):

What are some of your favorites?

Sometimes I Have to Wonder

2008-11-07T09:17:00.002-06:00

Out

2008-11-06T14:22:00.002-06:00

Today is a sad day. I ran out of two of my favorite products.

All summer I used Philosphy's Purity facial cleanser. Now I am out and my face will no longer be pure.
For several months now, I have been shampoo-free. Yes, I still wash my hair, but I have been using WEN Cleansing Conditioner (which I LOVE...I just don't love the price). Now I am out and I'll probably be going back to shampoo for a while (see aforementioned cost issue). Sigh.
I shall console myself with my new green hat (knit earlier this week).

Wee Li'l Knits

2008-11-05T15:15:00.002-06:00

I've been doing a lot of baby knitting lately. I didn't know how to knit when my own children were babies, so it has been fun making little things for a change.

One friend's baby received booties from me when she was born, but has now outgrown them. Apparently she won't keep regular socks on, so my friend asked me to knit some larger booties. The mary janes are knit out of Schaefer Anne, double-stranded (sorry, no links today - don't have time right now!):
These are knit out of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport, double-stranded:
This same friend asked if I would also be willing to knit a baby sweater, so I obliged. This is knit with KnitPicks Swish:
There's one more that I'm dying to share, but don't want to post it here until I give it to its intended recipient!

Now I'm not quite sure what to knit. Suggestions?

Happy Election Day

2008-11-04T07:51:00.002-06:00

There has been so much unpleasantness surrounding this election, but rather than get into any of that on this important day, I thought I would give you some edu-tainment instead.

Enjoy a few minutes of Schoolhouse Rock...and go vote, if you haven't already!

I Have to Know.

2008-11-03T14:09:00.003-06:00

OK, I have to know. How do you apply your mascara?

I was getting ready for Mom's Group this morning and began to wonder how other people do their makeup. I'd love to say I was thinking deep, spiritual thoughts, but I wasn't. I have to be honest...I can multi-task with the best of 'em, but when I'm applying mascara, I can really only think about applying mascara. It's tricky that way.

Here's my routine: I always start with my right eye, top lashes, and I work from the inside corner outward. Then bottom lashes the same way. Repeat on left eye. Oh, but I do my left eye mascara with my left hand. I don't do my left eye's eye shadow with my left hand...just the mascara. Let's not be too crazy.

So how about you? Tell me about your mascara application routine. I need to know.

I'm Curious

2008-10-29T08:52:00.003-05:00

Sometimes I feel guilty that I am not using my college degree. Then again, sometimes I am relieved that I decided not to pursue my original plan of grad school. I do use my years of violin training when I play at church, but on a daily basis my (expensive) degree (Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance) is not utilized.

I don't think I am alone in this, though - so I'm curious...are you actively using your degree or training? If so, in what way? If not, do you think you will at some point?

Frazzled No More

2008-10-22T08:24:00.003-05:00

I've been feeling frazzled lately...scattered and stressed. My life used to be pretty slow and boring, but this is the season of homeschool co-op and Mom's Group, which both meet weekly. Then there's our regular homeschool day on top of that. I'm also scheduled to teach some classes at The Neighborhood Knit Shop. It's still not a terribly fast-paced life compared to some of you, I'm sure - but lately it has started to feel hectic.

Yesterday, though, I realized one reason why. I forgot to put the October daily pages in my beloved Franklin Covey planner.

Instead, I have been operating off the October monthly pages, which is fine for scheduled events - but I use the daily pages for my to-do list each day and without those pages in my planner, I have been trying to remember everything! Sadly, my memory ain't what she used to be.

So yesterday I took action and put the remaining daily pages in the October section of my planner, as well as all of the November pages. It was such a relief to be able to make my to-do list and check things off! Now I feel like I'm on track again.

I'm curious, though...what helps you stay on track with your schedule? Planner? Online calendar? Post-it notes?

This one stopped me cold

2008-10-17T09:36:00.002-05:00

Recently I pulled out a book I've had for a few years, but never actually read: Ruthless Trust by Brennan Manning. I love his writing, but it is not light reading. And he uses a lot of big words sometimes. And you have to think. However, it is always worth plowing through all of that because Manning can just whomp you over the head with truth sometimes.

That happened to me two nights ago. I read the following excerpt and I'm still pondering it now:

"It is of immense importance to understand that every word spoken and written about God is delivered in the language of analogy. In any divine analogy, there is a similarity between the human words used about God and the reality of God himself; there is also, however, a radical dissimilarity. What is affirmed in one breath must be denied in the next. For example, we liken the divine love to human love. The similarity induces us to think that we are getting a grip on God's love. And yet, though human love is the best image we have, it is utterly inadequate to express the love of the Infinite. Not because human love is too sugary and sentimental or because it is too passionate and emotional, but because it can never fully compare with that source whence it came - the passion-emotion love of the Totally Other.

The more we let go of our concepts and images, which always limit God, the bigger God grows and the more we approach the mystery of his indefinability. When we overlook the dissimilarity, we begin to speak with obnoxious familiarity about the Holy, make ludicrous comments such as 'I could never imagine God doing such a thing,' calmly predict Armageddon, glibly proclaim infallible discernment of the will of God, and trivialize God, trimming the claws of the Lion of Judah."

Blog Action Day: Poverty

2008-10-15T13:25:00.002-05:00

Did you know that today is Blog Action Day? The focus this year is on poverty.

A few years ago, when my family's financial situation was at its worst, I thought things were bad. BAD. Scary words like foreclosure and bankruptcy swirled around in my mind, threatening to undo me. I prayed. And I prayed. And I prayed. Do you know what I realized?

As bad as things were, I was still rich. For that day, at least, I had a proper house. We had two vehicles. I had heat and air conditioning. Clean water. Plenty of clothes. Food. Yes, things were difficult and stressful, but I realized that I really have no idea what bad means for the rest of the world.

I'm sure you have seen images and read statistics, but while we in the US are being inundated with the word "CHANGE!" right now, please think about making some changes of your own, if you haven't already. There are many wonderful organizations that are working non-stop to fight poverty around the world. I am including this video from Compassion that explains why they do what they do.

Click here for more information on sponsoring a child through Compassion.

Wishing

2008-10-13T13:15:00.002-05:00

Money is tight for most of us these days, right? What with the increased price of groceries and it costing about $4,273 to fill up your car with gas and all. I know my family is feeling the pinch in a big way. Greg has been working ridiculous hours on a job in Murfreesboro since this summer - something that's not even related to his new business...and by "ridiculous hours" I mean that I've lost count of the times that he's left the house around 8 AM and returned around 10 AM the next day, only to take a nap and go back out there the same day. The job is nearly done, or so he says, but we are still waiting on the paycheck. Until then, things are beyond tight.

But if I had an extra $20 to spend just on myself today, I would snap this ring (in a sz 8) up in a heartbeat!!
What about you? If you had $20 to spend on something for yourself right now, what would it be?

Enjoy

2008-10-09T17:43:00.002-05:00

Given the current election hubbub and general interest in politics and government, I think it is fitting to share this gem from my all-time favorite TV show. Enjoy!

I've Been Doing Stuff

2008-10-08T14:08:00.001-05:00

See?

Timely Words

2008-10-06T12:20:00.003-05:00

In his book Bread for the Journey, the late Henri Nouwen said this:

"To be grateful for the good things that happen in our lives is easy, but to be grateful for all of our lives - the good as well as the bad, the moments of joy as well as the moments of sorrow, the successes as well as the failures, the rewards as well as the rejections - that requires hard spiritual work. Still, we are only grateful people when we can say thank you to all that has brought us to the present moment. As long as we keep dividing our lives between events and people we would like to remember and those we would rather forget, we cannot claim the fullness of our beings as a gift of God to be grateful for. Let's not be afraid to look at everything that has brought us to where we are now and trust that we will soon see it in the guiding hand of a loving God."

Thanks Mr. Nouwen - I needed that reminder.

Enough With the Procrastinating

2008-09-29T14:09:00.004-05:00

I've had this fabric for several months now - sitting forlornly in a bag, waiting to be cut and ironed and transformed into valances for my windows. There was no great reason for my procrastination. Mostly, it had to do with the fact that I don't enjoy the cutting and measuring part of sewing.

Yesterday, I finally bit the bullet, pulled out the fabric, hauled the ironing board upstairs and got to work. I knew what I wanted and there was no need for a pattern. I just wanted flat panels. No ruffles, no gathers, nothing fancy - just flat panels. I had done the measuring of the windows months ago and thankfully, my measurements proved to be right on the mark. All in all, it probably took about 90 minutes, and that was with a lot of stopping and starting and dealing with children.

Today, I learned that it is difficult to take a good picture of a valance in a wood-paneled room. Here's the best I could do...there is one window on one wall and a bank of 3 windows on the next wall.

I can't believe it took me so long to do this.

Repurposing, or Making Do With What You Have

2008-09-23T13:09:00.005-05:00

Two years ago, I knit a cardigan for Natalie. It was a bit big, but children tend to grow a lot in two years so the sleeves were getting short. The yarn, however, was still in great shape. What's a knitter to do? Rip it apart, wind the yarn back up into balls and knit something new with it, of course! So this:
has been transformed into this:
I looked and looked at patterns, hoping to find an easy crochet shrug (since crochet goes so quickly). Alas, I had no luck. I continued my search, though, and came across the Simple Lace Shrug (knit, not crochet) and thought I may have found just what I needed. While it is not written for children's sizes, I was able to adjust the size very easily.
The best part is that Natalie is much happier with her new shrug than she ever was with the original cardigan and I think she will wear it often.

February in September

2008-09-19T14:31:00.002-05:00

Today I realized that my children aren't the best when it comes to photographing handknits. This should not come as a surprise to me since they are 4 and 6, but one tries to remain hopeful.

This is the February Lady Sweater, which is the adult version of Elizabeth Zimmerman's classic baby sweater. (Not the most flattering angle in this pic, but again - I think I was lucky to actually have my body in the shot at all, considering the photographers.) It is an excellent pattern and I could see myself knitting this again. I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca, which I have had in my stash for well over a year now and has been started as a few different sweaters and then ripped out. Much to my surprise, I quite like how the Ultra Alpaca knit up in this pattern. I had pretty much convinced myself that it wasn't going to be hefty enough, but I have been proven wrong.

Now if only the temperature would cool down enough to be able to wear my new sweater.

Big Promises

2008-09-18T10:05:00.003-05:00

My children are intrigued by As Seen On TV items. I don't know why.

Last year I was on a quest for a great new handbag. One day Ethan interrupted my shower to tell me, with great enthusiasm, about the Buxton Bag. In fact, he declared that it could solve all of my problems.

Both kids were thrilled when we saw Aqua Globes on display at Walgreen's and were disappointed that I didn't snatch any up before they were all gone. However, since our house gets very little sun through the windows it is pointless to keep house plants. In fact, even as I clicked over to get the link for this post, the kids saw what was on my screen and squealed, "We've seen those on tv!! They help you not have a mess of sad, drooping-down plants! We should get some!"

But by far, the product that garners the most excitement with Natalie and Ethan is the Rocket Fishing Rod. Ethan has informed me that he needs one for Christmas. I am not convinced.

So tell me what you think. Are these types of products worth investigating? Or do you think they are scams? I think there are some that are probably good products...but I think there's a lot of junk that you have to weed through to find those treasures!

Me too, Winston...

2008-09-17T11:41:00.001-05:00

Although prepared for martyrdom, I prefer that it be postponed.: -Sir Winston Churchill

Six Random Things

2008-09-15T15:32:00.003-05:00

It's been sparse here on the blog lately. No big reason - just haven't had much to say. However, I was quite surprised to see that Jenni tagged me in her "Six Random Things" post! Some of you may know these things about me; some may not. Either way, here we go:

1. My left elbow is double-jointed. I think my thumbs might be, too, but I'm not certain.

2. I love garbanzo beans and enjoy them straight from the can. However, I'm not crazy about hummus. You would think that I would if I like garbanzo beans so much, but no.

3. Greg and I only knew each other for 9 months before we got married and did not live in the same state until after our wedding. Then he spent most of our first year of marriage on a major concert tour and was typically home for about 24 hours every two weeks or so. I'm not sure it's the ideal way to start a marriage, but we made it work.

4. I became a paid member of my hometown's symphony (comprised mostly of university students and faculty) when I was 11 years old and played with them through high school.

5. In college, I was a music performance major but everyone's first impression of me was that I was a voice major. I was not - my degree is in piano performance. More than one person told me, "You have voice major hair." What does that even mean??

6. I was plagued with constant ear infections as a child and had tubes 7 different times. Miraculously, I suffered no permanent damage to my hearing.

I can't decide who to tag, so feel free to tell me six random things about yourself in the comments - or do your own blog post!

Scattered

2008-09-05T08:39:00.002-05:00

My thoughts have been scattered this week, which is the main reason I haven't posted here. I have been getting Natalie back into our school routine and we had family in town for the long weekend. While they were here, I started having what I assume are some sort of allergic reactions - nothing serious enough to need to go to the doctor, but enough to leave me in a Benadryl fog for much of the time.

Otherwise, things are fine. I am finishing my umpteenth reading of Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire and am eager to start a new book. We discussed this not long ago, but do you have any suggestions??

Like jr. high, but with less acne

2008-08-29T10:38:00.002-05:00

I'm beginning to wonder if I've been blackballed.

We had a meeting to go to this week and while waiting for my husband afterward, I found myself in the awkward position of being in conversations where people were making plans for double dates and getting together and making time to get to know each other better. It all sounds good except that I was neither the inviter nor the invitee. Please understand - I do not expect everyone's plans to include me!! It was just uncomfortable. At one point, one of the inviters did turn to me and say, "Oh...yeah...maybe the four of us could get together for a double date sometime. Yeah. That would be...er...fun?"

I don't want to be the last one picked for the team. Nor do I want to be considered an obligation.

There are several people I have tried to connect with this year - through email, in person, on the phone...all in the hope of getting to know them better and perhaps developing a true friendship. My calls and emails have gone unanswered.

Yesterday I very nearly gave a local church (not my own) a lecture on customer service because I had called and emailed multiple times, trying to find out when their AWANA program was starting for the year. My kids went there last year and are eager to go back. No one ever responded! I finally got someone on the phone yesterday who could answer and it's probably just as well that I held my tongue. What if I didn't go to church anywhere? What if I was considering trying that church? Why would I even want to if you can never connect with someone there??

I don't expect anyone to have answers - and believe me, I do realize that all of us are busy people. We all have to sacrifice to make time for relationships. I get that. I also acknowledge that it is much harder to connect and get together with people when you are married with children than it was as a single or newly-married-with-no-kids person.

But really. I've had enough with the blackball thing.

So How About That Weather?

2008-08-28T12:26:00.002-05:00

I'm a little out of sorts today. I was awakened at 2 AM by a 4 year old boy who proceeded to throw up all over himself, me, the bathroom floor, the toilet and everything else that was nearby. Then I spent the morning straightening up the house because an old friend was supposed to come over for lunch at 11. She stood me up. I've also been trying to connect with someone this week and have gotten no response so far.

None of these things are major, earth-shattering or life altering...I realize that. I just feel a little let down, I guess.

Creative Repair & Holding Out Hope

2008-08-27T13:32:00.003-05:00

I've been busy with the crafting lately. One project on the to-do list has been to find a way to repair a hole in one of Natalie's dresses. It's a comfy, cotton knit dress from Land's End, but there was no way to actually repair the hole. The best I could do was cover it somehow. I had considered sewing a band of wide ribbon around the waist, but kept putting off going to buy ribbon. Fortunately, I remembered that I had some nice cotton yarn in a color that would match, so I crocheted this little circle medallion thingie and stitched it over the hole. Not a bad solution and now Natalie can wear the dress again.
Another project that was both started and completed this week is the Tamarind Cowl. It's a quick, easy knit and using Malabrigo yarn makes it even better.
Now if only the weather would cool off.

Just Because

2008-08-26T14:43:00.002-05:00

The Beginning of the End

2008-08-25T14:19:00.004-05:00

This weekend I purchased my first anti-aging product.

Hm.

I've noticed lately that the pores across my cheeks seem to be getting bigger at an alarming rate, so I thought I would see what I could do to hold time at bay for a while. Of course, I did not want to spend a fortune on my very first anti-aging product - I only wanted to baby-step in.

I settled on Olay Total Effects Instant Smoothing Serum, mostly because there was only one other pore-refining product available besides that one and Olay Total Effects claims to provide SEVEN "anti-aging therapies in one vitamin and mineral formula to fight uneven tone and texture."

We'll see.

Poker: Another Option

2008-08-23T08:40:00.003-05:00

I'm not much of a card player, though I'd love to learn the standard card games. Last night, Greg and I got sucked into some rather horrible late-night tv, where we learned about Cowboy Poker. The cowboys sit at tables in the rodeo ring, a bull is released into the ring, and whoever is the last man still seated is the winner.

I want to know who ever thought this was a good idea?

Our Own Aisle?

2008-08-20T08:33:00.004-05:00

When Greg and I were in California last month, we stopped at a grocery store for some snacks and bottled water. We all know that any time you are in a store that is new to you, you tend to rely on the signs over the aisles to know where things are. When I saw this one, I had to whip out my phone and take a picture.

I don't consider myself a Southerner, really - I'm from Illinois...but the idea that "Southern" merits its own spot in an aisle is very entertaining to me! Unfortunately, we were in a hurry, so I wasn't able to go see what sort of products were in the Southern section, but I'm still curious about it.

Hmm...

2008-08-19T00:39:00.002-05:00

I'm all for hygiene and promoting good health and all, but is this entirely necessary?
It seems a little silly to me. Maybe I'm wrong.

What do you think?

My Olympic Finish

2008-08-17T15:33:00.003-05:00

With needles blazing, I finished my Olympic knitting project on Saturday and wore it to church today!

Pattern: Rusted Root
Yarn: Berroco Love It, color: Lawn
Needles: US sz 6
Started: 8/5/08
Completed: 8/16/08

Distracted

2008-08-14T11:18:00.002-05:00

I've really been lax about blogging this week. Mostly because I've been engrossed in three things: starting school again with Natalie, watching the Olympics and knitting on my Olympics project. "Olympics project?" you might ask. Yes. I'm sure whatever cool factor I had with some of you may now have been obliterated - but I'm ok with that.

Just prior to the 2006 Winter Olympics, a rather spectacular knit blogger known as the Yarn Harlot organized the 2006 Knitting Olympics, where she challenged anyone who wanted to participate to select a project to knit during the Olympics. You could not begin until Opening Ceremonies started and the goal was to finish by the end of Closing Ceremonies. Thousands (yes, you read that correctly) of knitters participated, including myself.

For the 2008 Summer Olympics, the lovely folks at Ravelry decided to head up another knitty Olympic challenge. Same rules apply. I have chosen to knit a short-sleeved sweater - Rusted Root. So far, so good. I already had the yarn in my stash, so I am pleased to put it to good use. This sweater is knit from the top down and I am now finished with the sleeves and just barely into the body.
It should be smooth sailing from here on out. Besides, once Michael Phelps quits distracting me from my knitting, it should go much faster.

Sometimes I Feel...

2008-08-08T08:39:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I feel as though I have less worth because I am not a "leader." I realize that not everyone can be a leader; someone has to follow at some point. I don't particularly want to be a leader...I know I'm not gifted in that area.

Perhaps being a leader is of little importance in the circles you run in. Honestly, I'm not even sure I have a circle (and knowing me, it would be more like a rhombus or a trapezoid) - I just happen to know a lot of people who are strong, natural, gifted leaders and they are always striving to be better at what they do. I admire that very much and appreciate their honesty when they see areas that they know need improvement. I guess it has been on my mind a lot because being a leader is a hot topic among many of the people I know and the blogs I read.

I'm not looking for any answers here - just saying how I feel. Good leaders can be hard to find and I am thankful for the ones I have in my life. They are people of integrity and I am glad to be under their leadership. But I know I'm not one of them.

Followers unite!

A Quote

2008-08-07T08:29:00.002-05:00

Here's a quote for pondering, from Meet the Austins by Madeleine L'Engle. I read it last night and thought it was lovely.

"God is over all things, under all things; outside all; within, but not enclosed; without, but not excluded; above, but not raised up; below, but not depressed; wholly above, presiding; wholly without, embracing; wholly within, filling." (attributed to Hildevert of Lavardin, written around 1125)

I Wonder

2008-08-06T09:23:00.001-05:00

Will we see any moments like this one during this Olympics?

What are some of your favorite Olympics moments?

I Miss Shopping For These

2008-08-05T14:36:00.004-05:00

I love homeschooling Natalie, but the biggest thing I feel I'm missing out on is shopping for school supplies. I love school supplies...all those notebooks and pencils and crayons and glue sticks...all new and unspoiled. It's not that we don't need them as homeschoolers - it's just that the curriculum we use (The Calvert School) happens to include all of your school supplies as part of the package. Trust me, it is a thrilling day when that giant box of stuff arrives!

Do you miss anything about the back-to-school time of year?

Ragamuffintop Challenge: Week 10

2008-08-04T07:48:00.004-05:00

So I'm up. Not up as in perky or in high spirits...up as in up almost 2 lbs since my last check-in two weeks ago.

I'm not surprised. When you are careless about your eating and don't exercise, weight gain tends to happen. I have no good excuse - only that it has been hard to get back into the routine. Today, that changes. No more regular Coke - lots of water instead. Better food choices and daily exercise.

It will be a better week! Check out how the other Ragamuffintops did this week here.

Bee Fields

2008-07-31T13:13:00.003-05:00

Good yarn + pointy needles + a great pattern = a big finished lace project. It is also my reason for not blogging much this week. Bee Fields is now finished. Thanks yet again to Anne Hanson for another glorious pattern! The yarn is Wooly Wonka Fibers merino laceweight in the colorway "The Silk Road."

Excuses and Overcoming

2008-07-28T07:59:00.002-05:00

One of the activities that Greg enjoyed at Gull Lake was the zip line. We had a young member of our party (not one of our children) who was eager to try it this year and Greg was happy to oblige her. After years of experience climbing lighting rigs, heights are not an issue for him. He did check everything out for safety first; had there been any question, he would have walked away.

By the last day of camp, I agreed to go on the zip line myself. You have to understand something, though. For a long time, things like this have been in the category of "If I wasn't so overweight or uncomfortable with how I look, I might try _______." Yes, I've lost a little weight, but not enough to drastically change the things that fell into that category. Something prodded me to take a risk this time, though. I told my sister, "I could die in my sleep tonight or get hit by a car - any number of tragic things could happen. If I continue to put things off because I'm overweight or uncomfortable with how I look, who knows what I could miss out on?"

*I should make note here that the pictures I have included are of one of Greg's trips down the zip line - not mine. I put my sister in charge of my camera, but in her defense, it is very hard to take pictures of someone hurtling through the air.*

Greg went with me. Actually the whole family went with me, as though it was some sort of historic event. Once we were in harnesses and helmets, we climbed the steps of the 40-foot tower and did the safety checks. With great trepidation, I inched forward toward the edge and sat down (which, for the record, I think is the scariest part of the whole zip line experience). Three...two...one...
The part that was not quite clear to me until the critical moment was that you have to scoot yourself off the platform to go down the zip line. Since you are seated, it is hard to consider it jumping off. I don't know what I was expecting, but I learned that it wasn't enough to climb the tower and sit down. In order to overcome my fears and excuses, I had to willingly take that last, very scary step. Or scoot, as it were. I had to take the risk to go from the nice, solid tower to the unknown of the zip line.
I did it. Twice, actually. I'm not sure "fun" is the word I would use to describe it, but I am proud of myself. I think my husband was shocked - and pleased. The whole experience meant a little bit more to me the next day when I learned that a friend of a friend had just lost her husband. He was a few years younger than I am - no obvious life-threatening issues...he simply had trouble breathing one night and died soon after arriving at the hospital.

Life is so short, friends, and none of us have any guarantees.

Have you taken a risk lately? Or are you putting something off until _____? I would love to hear about it.

Summers Are For Snowcones

2008-07-25T11:08:00.002-05:00

We had snowcones our last night at Gull Lake. I'm not fond of the blue ones, but Natalie is.
I go for cherry if it's your basic carnival snowcone. If it's something more high-end, like from a proper snowcone stand...well, that changes things.

What's your snowcone preference?

Foreign to Me

2008-07-23T12:08:00.004-05:00

A few days of my recent travels were spent in Palm Springs, CA. I have spent very limited time in California and even that was years ago. All I knew about Palm Springs was that it was popular with golfers. A quick search about weather told me to be prepared to be exceedingly hot while I was there.
The extra-nice part of the trip was that since it was off season in Palm Springs, we were able to stay at the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort. While I wouldn't say the rooms were luxurious, they were very nice and the bathroom was huge. The biggest perk for a family would be the pools. There are seven! None of them are massive, but having several allows you to have plenty of room. I'm sure that isn't the case during peak season, but it was true while we were there.
Our children were not with us on this short trip; they stayed with Greg's parents in Missouri. So do you know what my favorite part of my resort experience was? The pool that was for adults only. In reality, I spent very little time there, but boy it was nice.
I wish I could go back. At the same time, the scenery and lifestyle were so foreign to me. It seemed to be an entirely different world than the one I'm used to.

When was the last time you got a new perspective?

Ragamuffintop Challenge: Week 8

2008-07-21T07:51:00.002-05:00

Hey Ragamuffintops - I'm back! I really expected the past three weeks to set me back a few pounds. I mean, it was vacation for pete's sake. While we were in Palm Springs I got to eat at PF Chang's, California Pizza Kitchen and The Cheesecake Factory (complete with White Chocolate Caramel Macadamia Nut Cheesecake). There were also several fast-food stops since we had so much driving to do after the California trip. Then at Gull Lake I had ice cream pretty much every night.

However, I am pleased to report that I am down another 2.4 pounds since my last weigh-in! My total is now 13.1, which if you recall, is short of my July 12 goal (15 lbs). But you know what? I'm not disappointed. Not one bit. I knew 15 lbs would be a stretch - that's why I chose it...and I'm almost there! I still have a long way to go beyond 15 lbs and I fully intend to go for it.

Go here to check in on the other Ragamuffintops.

Home

2008-07-19T12:51:00.002-05:00

We're home! We left Michigan at 8:30 yesterday morning and got back to Nashville at 11:30 last night. It's not that long of a trip, but we had to make a lot of stops along the way - so we just took our time.

Today we are unpacking and recovering. More later.

Checking In

2008-07-10T20:14:00.002-05:00

Hello!!

I'm checking in from Missouri tonight on my in-laws' brand-new Mac. Greg has been on them for the past few years to get one and they finally agreed. I figured that while I checked my email, I'd pop in here and do a quick post.

Our trip to Palm Springs was great. Greg felt like it was a good trip from a business standpoint and for me, it was a very nice vacation! I hung out poolside and got to know Greg's new business partners and their wives. Plus, Greg's frequent flyer upgrade scored us first-class seats on the St. Louis/Phoenix leg of our trip both coming and going. (Phoenix/Palm Springs was a regional jet, so first-class was a moot point.)

We got back to Missouri last night and will leave to head toward Michigan tomorrow. Then we'll meet up with my family at Gull Lake on Saturday and spend the week there. I do have some pictures but my in-laws don't really need them on their computer, so I'll wait. If we can get a good wireless connection, I can post them from Gull Lake.

I've missed blogging and keeping up with all of you! I'll be back soon!

Gone

2008-07-03T16:16:00.001-05:00

I'm outta here, peeps. I'll do my best to check in from the road, but if not, I'll be back around the 20th.

See ya!

Tired, but Hopeful

2008-07-02T09:36:00.003-05:00

I was going to do a Watercooler Wednesday post today. I even had one nearly finished. But today I'm beat and the post was no good, so I deleted it. I was up late watching the new episode of Deadliest Catch, so this morning I look like this:
I have to get started on packing today. I don't really want to. I also have to mow. Don't really want to do that either. I made some poor food choices yesterday and feel like a big ol' slug.

I am hopeful, though. Know why? Because after we visit Greg's parents and make our business trip to California, we will be here:
This dock is just feet from the back door of the house we'll be staying in.

Rest is just around the corner.

The-Plause

2008-07-01T08:01:00.005-05:00

"Don't even think about it," she said. I have started working with Natalie at the piano. We are not on a regular schedule with it yet, but I work with her when she asks. Last week, she was very focused on picking out the melody of Mary Had A Little Lamb on her own, so I left her to her devices.

After a lot of persistence and a bit of frustration, Natalie finally had it. She asked me to come and listen, so I obliged. When she finished, I gave her a hug and told her how proud I was that she kept working on it even when it got hard. She quickly backed out of my hug and said, "Don't even think about it! Don't even think about giving me a round of the-plause!"

It took everything I had not to laugh hysterically. Instead, I did my best to hold it in, but clapped for her, giving her a sly grin as I did so. Natalie grinned back and said, "I'm just kidding. I was secretly hoping you'd give me some the-plause!"

Have you given anyone a round of the-plause lately?

For more funny things kids say, check out Tiny-Talk Tuesday.

Local Goodness

2008-06-30T10:37:00.003-05:00

Every town has its oddities. Every town also has its local greasy spoon that people either love or hate. My hometown has Krekels, which manages to combine both categories.

Krekels has been around since at least the 1950's, if not a little earlier, and is known for its thin hamburgers (very much like those at Steak 'N Shake) and soft-serve ice cream cones, particularly the lemon flavor (though my favorite is chocolate). The owner of Krekels was known for running a very tight ship. I remember going there as a little girl and hearing him bark out orders and get on his employees for not going fast enough.

Mr. Krekel, however, was also known for this:
I believe there are at least two of them, perhaps more now. You always knew he was there if you saw the chicken car. Of course, you also knew where he was, regardless. The chicken car is not subtle.

I've been told Bobbie's Dairy Dip is a great local place here in Nashville for a good burger, but we haven't been yet. It certainly has the same vibe as Krekels, minus the chicken car.

What sort of local establishments do you like to indulge in?

Ragamuffintop Challenge: Week 5

2008-06-28T09:29:00.003-05:00

Ragamuffintop Challenge: Week 5 from Julie Persinger on Vimeo.