Sunday, November 19, 2006

It's been a bumpy ride

I've been trying to recover from that funky stomach bug that is apparently sweeping the nation. It's nasty and takes forever to feel normal again. You know how you feel so drawn--as if all of the blood were drained from your face permanently? I can hear you now--Uhhh...no.

Anyway, the daughter is in serious rehearsals for this year's Nutcracker performance. She is a clown in Act II--you know, they pop out of Mother Ginger's enormous skirt? So, we've been spending lots of time down there, volunteering and waiting and waiting and waiting...but it's all so worth it in the end because there is something so magical about seeing her dance on stage. Every year sees a higher level of expertise and it's thrilling to witness.

I'm busy making business type decisions, thinking of new goals I wish to reach and deadlines for those goals. I don't know about you, but these type of decisions make me extremely skittish. However, I know they are necessary to do because it puts me in the right mindset as a business owner. It reminds me I AM a business owner and solely responsible for the growth of that business. Therefore, it's been knitting and thinking, knitting and thinking. It's overall very positive and once things get rolling, I hope it's all I wish it to be.

I realized today that Thanksgiving is only 4 days away and I will be responsible for feeding 13 people. I go to pick up the organic, Amish grown turkey tomorrow. He or she will be treated to an apple cider brine a day before T-day. I still need everything else for the dinner and have been in denial about that. Hopefully, I'll snap out of that soon, huh?

If I am not here to blog before the big day, it's because I'm stuck in rehearsals, coaxing little cherubs to smile, and cleaning my house, and trying to remove all stains from my tablecloth, and removing small fingers from my pies.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Don't Curse the Dad!

I thought that would get your attention. I'm sorry, I have had little to say and little time or energy to say what little I do have to say. **
Strike that--because one thing I promised myself was that I would NOT apologize to my BLOG for being busy.**

Today, I decided to bail out on pre-school "try out" or "practice" or whatever- you- want- to -call- it- day this morning because the thought of cutting one pseudo obligation out of my schedule this week was too tempting. (Don't get all huffy, it was basically a free- come- and- sing -and- play- in- our- pre-school to -see- if- you- like- it- enough- to- pay- a -lot- of- money- to- send- your- child- here- next- year. There is another one in December.)

So, we're home, the two-year old and I, for the first day this week. I get a few things done around the house so that it looks better. I had a scary realization the other night. I was walking through my kitchen door and noticed a bug on the trim on the wall. It was a box elder bug and where we live, they come out in the fall and try to live in your home. Anyway, I couldn't tell right away it was a box elder bug because attached to it was a huge giant dust bunny. It was at the same time amazing and embarrassing. I did consider running for my camera but decided that it would be wrong to document the fact that BUGS find it a little dusty on my wood floors.

My excuse is, of course, the fact that I'm busy. In fact, each week seems to get worse. I'm not sure how or why this is, but it is. It requires some looking at because I have not had ample knitting time to bring me down each night before bed. It's also trashing my creativity and I sorely need that to make it through this existence as a taxi-cab-driver mom.

I've had some exciting news this week--news that still has me poking it once in a while to make sure it's real. I am going to have a knitting design published in a BOOK!! Every once in a while, I remember it and go, "OH! Yeah! That is pretty cool." Then, I resume driving again. So, more details on that later.

And the reason for today's title? Dominic wanted a grapefruit and I only bought the grapefruit because my husband asked me to get some. I am not a grapefruit fan because I end up spending half a day in the kitchen preparing the grapefruits for the kids and prefer quick and dirty fruits like apples and bananas and oranges. Anyway, Dominic was asking for one during a time when I was particularly pre-occupied and I said with all the flair I could muster, "Curse the Dad and his grapefruits!!" Just as a joke, you know. However, Dominic is now marching around saying, "Curse the Dad!". I can't wait to hear the husband's reaction to that.

On a final note to this admittedly CRAZY blog entry, please go to the Fiber Arts Avengers store and see if there are any goodies to tempt you. Things are running until the 12th, so please go check it out!

Thursday, November 02, 2006

The Fiber Arts Avengers are at it AGAIN!!

First, let me say how much I adore being a part of this group of vibrant, strong ladies who KNOW that when you put your Fiber Arts powers to good use, amazing things can happen!! Kudos to my friend Pamela for brainstorming this fabulous way of raising money for charitable fund-raising.

Now, on to the serious matter. My friend Marnie has a sweet daughter who is friends with a little man named "The Professor". He was recently found to have a brain tumor. My mama heart quakes at the thought of something similar happening to any of my children. I know YOURS is doing so, too, right now. He came through the surgery to remove the tumor fine, but is recuperating for the long battle ahead to ensure he has plenty of years to play with his friends.

The Fiber Arts Avengers are currently in the process of fund-raising for The Professor's family because as you all know, it's expensive to have a loved one ill and meals on the road, traveling, bills, etc. add up quickly. And money is not what you want to have to worry about while your little one is fighting a brave fight. So please, go to www.FiberArtsAvengers.com and see what you can do to help. If you are a fiber artist, consider joining our cause! If you are a parent, check out the amazing wares that will be offered for auction or drawing--all proceeds are 100% to the Professor's family. If you want to donate directly, that information is available at the website, as well. Even if you could just take a few minutes a day and send positive, healing thoughts to Natty, that would be appreciated and FELT.

Here's the link to all of the goodies: http://hyenacart.com/Charity_raffles/

Thank you so much for reading!


A hole, a hole!



Last week, Cari showed us a pretty sock that had developed a huge hole in the heel. Now it's my turn to mourn my first pair of hand-made socks. They are my Koigu Falling Leavessocks. Both of them developed holes in the ball-of-the-foot region at the same time. On one hand, I'm a little disturbed that the Koigu didn't wear that well. On the other hand, I like that the Koigu isn't long-lasting because well...handmade socks are special that way. Maybe if I gift a bunch of Koigu socks this Christmas, all of my friends will want to remain my friends because they will need their hand-knit wool sock fix.