Monday, November 30, 2009
magic
The holiday season is so full of favorites that it's hard to pick a favorite favorite, but for the minute (11:30 PM) my favorite favorite is my Christmas tree. I used tonight's solitude to redecorate unassisted my tree whose bottom half had *mysteriously* gone awry. As my task was accomplished and lights were turned on, I was reminded of the mystical magic that is a glowing Christmas tree on a quiet night. I'm not sure what it is, but some intangible wonder fills my heart with the warmest of seasonal joys when I gaze into a glimmering tree. Oh! and that feeling is as familiar and dear to my soul as the anticipation of Christmas Eve. And so I felt the desire to share this quiet moment, to make record of the contented sigh, to bask in the holiday quietude before morning comes and life's irritations, holiday's bustle, children's curious hands find me as undone as my tree will inevitably become. Isn't it funny-fantastic how these short moments make it all so well worth the while? It's nothing short of a Christmas miracle!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
my new hero(ine)
I am a knitting-phobe - what I've seen of it boggles my mind. Thus it is that I happily stick with my crocheting skills. Of course, I used to think crocheting skills were beyond my limited physical prowess (yeah, clumsy), until I had my crocheting epiphany. In college I discovered that all you really needed to know to start was how to chain - very doable - and now I feel confident tackling any number of projects and stitches. Recently, I decided to help my knitting epiphany along by borrowing a round knitting loom from my sil Rayn. Children can make hats with them, so why couldn't I? I borrowed the smallest loom thinking I could make leg warmers - that hasn't happened yet - but I have made this really cool ball of wool... out of a ball of wool... hmm, pointless?.. maybe.
Isn't he a CUTE little model? Anywho, while blog surfing for patterns I came across this gem of a blog: rostichery. Not only did she have the pattern to make these adorable leggings - that I absolutely HAVE to try - she is a seamstress after my own heart. She is all about fudging and no-fuss sewing and has any number of cheating tutorials; meanwhile, she still has real skills that even my amazing mom would enjoy. So, after spending a number of gleeful hours perusing her blog, I thought I'd pass on the joy.
Isn't he a CUTE little model? Anywho, while blog surfing for patterns I came across this gem of a blog: rostichery. Not only did she have the pattern to make these adorable leggings - that I absolutely HAVE to try - she is a seamstress after my own heart. She is all about fudging and no-fuss sewing and has any number of cheating tutorials; meanwhile, she still has real skills that even my amazing mom would enjoy. So, after spending a number of gleeful hours perusing her blog, I thought I'd pass on the joy.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Uninvited Guests
We came home one day to find these two moving, crowing lawn ornaments.
Their visit seemed harmless at first, but then I stepped in a pile of some of this...
... and then they refused to leave.
They are a couple of the worst unwanted guests ever! Besides arriving unexpectedly, they don't clean up after themselves, they're up at all hours making a ruckus, and they're constantly eating but never bother to chip in with an egg or two. Roosters! I tell you! They need to take a cue from the hummingbirds, doves, robins, finches, pidgeons, etc. that come, eat, nest, and fly away without leaving droppings the size of ICK! all over the place.
Okay, so it is pretty danged funny to watch Tomy and Hazel chase them around. Watching Levi and two other grown men try to chase them down the street was also priceless - the neighbor even busted out his bb gun! (Yes, this neighbor is a retired fellow - further proof that boys never grow up ;o) and never grow out of their love for guns of all shapes and sizes.) It is also very sweet to see Hazel's ears perk up when she hears the "roostah" crow, returns his "cock cock ..... do do," and asks "whe' go?"
Their visit seemed harmless at first, but then I stepped in a pile of some of this...
... and then they refused to leave.
They are a couple of the worst unwanted guests ever! Besides arriving unexpectedly, they don't clean up after themselves, they're up at all hours making a ruckus, and they're constantly eating but never bother to chip in with an egg or two. Roosters! I tell you! They need to take a cue from the hummingbirds, doves, robins, finches, pidgeons, etc. that come, eat, nest, and fly away without leaving droppings the size of ICK! all over the place.
Okay, so it is pretty danged funny to watch Tomy and Hazel chase them around. Watching Levi and two other grown men try to chase them down the street was also priceless - the neighbor even busted out his bb gun! (Yes, this neighbor is a retired fellow - further proof that boys never grow up ;o) and never grow out of their love for guns of all shapes and sizes.) It is also very sweet to see Hazel's ears perk up when she hears the "roostah" crow, returns his "cock cock ..... do do," and asks "whe' go?"
a social experiment
I find it intriguing that people have such different methods to their parking madness. It's something I used to take for granted - that my "perfect parking spot" was the same as others' "perfect parking spot" and hence, it is always taken :o) Since I've been married, this Saddie-centric theory has been blasted to smithereens!
Levi's parking hunt always leads him to the soonest get-away position spot. This may be *miles* away from the door, but that's okay as long as he doesn't have to go back up or down another row.
I have experienced several changes to my parking preferences. For example, when I was first learning to drive a stick I tried as hard as I could to park directly in a spot that required the least amount of maneuvering to escape. It was also beneficial if it was far from any other living being to avoid stalling with an audience.
In college, it was all about location, availability, and timing. I always had my favorite spots that I knew I could get to at specific times for specific classes - though sometimes it required a few laps around the lot.
Nowadays, I have to keep the little children in mind, so we park as near as we can to both the building and the cart corral or sidewalk. All it took was one trip to the store with the baby to realize that I needed the cart to heft the newborn, carseat, and groceries, but that returning the cart left the baby alone and vulnerable. (yeah... I just ditched the cart... something I generally wouldn't do.) Nearness to the store is mostly only important if there are no carts for hauling or there is inclement weather to escape.
So, that's the method to my madness, at least for now. I wonder what my parking priorities will be when the children are older? Hmm...
So, why do you park where you do?
Levi's parking hunt always leads him to the soonest get-away position spot. This may be *miles* away from the door, but that's okay as long as he doesn't have to go back up or down another row.
I have experienced several changes to my parking preferences. For example, when I was first learning to drive a stick I tried as hard as I could to park directly in a spot that required the least amount of maneuvering to escape. It was also beneficial if it was far from any other living being to avoid stalling with an audience.
In college, it was all about location, availability, and timing. I always had my favorite spots that I knew I could get to at specific times for specific classes - though sometimes it required a few laps around the lot.
Nowadays, I have to keep the little children in mind, so we park as near as we can to both the building and the cart corral or sidewalk. All it took was one trip to the store with the baby to realize that I needed the cart to heft the newborn, carseat, and groceries, but that returning the cart left the baby alone and vulnerable. (yeah... I just ditched the cart... something I generally wouldn't do.) Nearness to the store is mostly only important if there are no carts for hauling or there is inclement weather to escape.
So, that's the method to my madness, at least for now. I wonder what my parking priorities will be when the children are older? Hmm...
So, why do you park where you do?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
