Warmer weather and knitting

   Good morning!  Hope you are having a wonderful morning so far!  Yesterday was a doozy!  Not only was it windy, cold and 38 degrees, it also SNOWED!  Now, I know it wasn't much and it did not stick, but that is trivial!  I almost thought I was hallucinating!  So many people have already put in flowers, trees, etc.  I've only lived here 13 years, but I know you don't plant until May!

   I have really gotten the knitting bug!  I am  slow right now, so I'm not knitting any baby clothes.  The babies might be in 3rd grade when I finished their booties!  I have fallen in love with the Debbie Bliss books.  My favorite one so far is ' The Knitter's Year'.  It is broken down into the four seasons, each having several projects.  I am working on one in the Spring section.  I will show you that in a few days.

 

   These are some of the projects in the book.  The pink baby cardigan is so cute and seeing it is worked in seed stitch, the sleeves can be turned up and the collar turned back without seeing the 'wrong side'.  These flags are also cute!  I really love anything British.  .




    I have also been reading a book series by Gil McNeil.  The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club is the first book.  It is about a young woman and her two sons moving from London to a town on the coast and the woman running her granny's yarn shop.  I am almost finished with it and will start the next in the series.  I do recommend this book.  It is a good read and it shows just what a single mom can do.  I say BRAVO for the bravery and stamina of single moms!

   That's all for now.  I hope the day brings to you good times, warm weather and many blessings.

Hugs...

Happy Easter!

   The Easter lily is a symbol of purity, virtue, innocence, hope and life.  It has also been called "the white robed apostle of hope".  It has been said that when Eve was banished from the Garden of Eden, her fallen tears turned into lilies.  The lily was found growing in Gethsemane after Christ's agony.

   The lily was originally brought to America by a tourist that had been in Japan.  By 1941, America was importing the lily bulbs in great quantities.  Today, they are mostly grown in Oregon-California coastal areas.  About 11.5 million bulbs are shipped to local greenhouses each year for Easter.

   I hope that all of you have a wonderful Easter.  As you celebrate this day with family and friends, stop and remember what the day is really all about.

   Hugs....

Snafus, weeds and a new friend

   My goodness, it seems like eons since I have posted!  We had anelectric snafu that lasted 6 days, yes, 6 days without electric!  Then my poor, old, tempermental computer decided it needed a vacation, so it went away to Computer Vacationland, and has just returned, rested and ready to work!

   Have you been having a problem with weeds this spring?  I am mostly talking about dandelions!  My goodness, they are taking over the entire city!  I'm thinking it must be due to the warm winter we had, with a very limited snowfall.  I am not sure, but I think i saw a sci-fi movie about the weeds taking over!  It has gone from 1 pretty dandelion to whole fields full!  Allergy meds are flying off the shelves!!  It may be a bit soon to ask for it, but we need a cold, snowy winter!

   Now I am going to tell you about my afternoon.  There is yarn store in the town I live in.  It is called Ewe-Nique Knits.   I have lived in this town for 8 months and never, until today, have ventured inside.  Now, seeing you don't know me except through this blog, you don't know how hard it is for me to talk to a stranger.  I just clam up, break out in sweats, the whole nine-yards!  My daughter has told me that I really should check the place out.  I love crocheting and am getting back to knitting and there is nothing like being surrounded by yarn!  It is a calming experience, at least for me.  So, today I ventured out.  I probably sat in my car, outside the shop, for a good 5 minutes.  I finally gave myself a talk, opened my car door and went inside the shop.  It was heaven!!  I touched every hank and skein of yarn in the store, looked at book upon book, and guess what?  I talked to the owner!  The nicest woman there is!  She talked to me about the yarn, projects she has done, showed me a scarf she designed and then, she invited me to come to the Monday group that meets!  I tell you, I haven't felt this good or happy in a while!  The knitting night is April 16 and I am going!!  Besides getting help with my projects, I may make another friend!

   I must be off now.  Have some things left to do today before I can play with my new yarn and needles!  Thanks for stopping by and hopefully, I won't have anymore snafus in the future!

   Hugs....

A Light Exists In Spring

A Light exists in Spring
Not present on the year
At any  other period--
When March is scarcely here

A Color stands abroad
On Solitary Fields
That Science cannot overtake
But Human Nature feels.

It waits upon the Lawn,
It shows the furthest Tree
Upon the furthest Slope you know
It almost speaks to you.

Then as Horizons step
Or Noons report away
Without the Formula of sound
It passes and we stay.

A quality of loss
Affecting our Content
As Trade had suddenly encroached
Upon a Sacrament.

~~ Emily Dickinson ~~


I hope all of you have a wonderful Spring day!  Get outside and take a walk with someone.  Plant some flowers.  Have a picnic.  Make a memory.

Hugs...

White picket fences and the doldrums

  I must apologize for not posting in almost two weeks.  A case of the doldrums have hit me, rather hard.

Doldrums is an interesting word.  It has two meanings:
1- a depressed or bored state of mind, a state of inactivity or stagnation
2- a belt of light winds along the equator, formerly hazard to sailing vessels
  My doldrums is in the form of the first definition; depressed and stagnate.

  What brought it on?  Well, I would love to say it was the weather.  It lulled us into thinking spring was around the corner, then proceeded to dump snow, cold winds and frigid temps on us again.  The weather didn't help, but that was not the cause.  A white picket fence was the cause.


 When growing up, I always knew that I would marry, have children, a house and a white picket fence. Never a doubt in my mind this wouldn't happen.  From birth, I was a romantic, a dreamer and most of all, I knew I would always be a helper to everyone. When I was young, I thought of going into nursing or to be a doctor, both of which help people.  As I grew older, though, I knew I wanted to be a wife and mom.

  I became a wife and mom by the time I was 19.  Even though I was young, I knew I could do that job.  I knew that I would give it everything in me, that it was my calling.  I knew that my dreams would come true.  I would have all I ever wanted, my white picket fence dream.

  I went on to have children, live in foreign countries, watch my girls grow up and even have grandchildren.  What more could I ask for?  It was a dream come true.  It is amazing how fast a dream can come crashing down on you.

  Last July, after 33 years, my dream stopped. Halted forever and, for a while, I felt like I was in a nightmare and couldn't wake up.  Since July, I have found out a lot of lessons the hard way.  Some have made me feel bitter at times, some have just opened my eyes and let me know that I had been living in denial a very long time.  But, most of all, I thought my white picket fence was gone for ever.  I would never dream of anything again.  I have since learned that is not true.


  I had always thought that a white picket fence was the object that went around your home, keeping the yard and home safe from harm.  While that is true, a white picket fence can be invisible.  It can be something that holds all of the goodness that is there for you to keep, it protects it from harm and keeps it safe.

  For some reason, the last few weeks, memories have been coming back to me in huge, crashing waves, threatening to push me down to the very bottom of the ocean, not allowing me to get back up to the surface and catch that breath of air.  It has been very frightening at times.  I have actually been in the ocean and had difficulty in getting back to the surface, able to see the light above, not knowing if I could ever get to it.  The thing that brought me back from these threatening waves, the thing that works all the time, is the white picket fence.

  You see, I have realized that my girls, my grandkids, are my picket fence.  My love of music, of reading a good book, creating something new out of fabric or yarn, those are what my life savers, my picket fences are. I have realized that even though my dreams of the past will never be able to come true, I can have new dreams.  Dreams that may be very different of those past ones.  New dreams with new people, new directions, new goals.
   Is this easy for me?  Not at all.  I will forever remember those old dreams, those old fences.  I have realized that I have a new palette to paint from, new colors to work with.  Sometimes, I will grieve for the old colors, for the way they blended together, for the old paintings they were on.  I will just look at them at a distance and study them and keep with me what it meant to me at the time.  But, I will realize that if I take this new color, this new shade, I can make that old picket fence look brand new.  Put a new hinge on the gate and let it protect a new home.

  I hope you haven't minded this long post.  I felt like it was what I needed to write.  I promise not to be so 'deep' next time!

  Have a wonderful warm and safe day!

Hugs....

Busy, busy, busy

 


   How are you today?  Did you have a good long weekend?  I have been busy as a bee!  I have a habit of finding too many wonderful things to do and trying to do them all at once!  This weekend, I have found a baby layette that is so adorable, just calling out to me, that I have made the hat and am starting on the little jacket!  Who is getting this layette?  No clue, just one of those things I knew I must make!  I have also found out that I can make socks!  Not knitted ones, but crocheted ones!  I am thrilled!  I have worked 45 rows on a blanket for my bed, have learn the Tunisian stitch in crochet and lastly, I have started knitting again!  Yes, I have very tired fingers!

   I have been thinking of opening an Etsy shop.  So many of you out in blog land have one.  I hopefully will be able to have enough items to start one by spring.  I know that having a good number of items made ahead of time seems to be the advice of Etsy sellers.  Any suggestions?


   It has started to snow again.  Last week, it seemed as though we may be having an early spring, but no such luck!  I really had some bad thoughts this morning when I looked out my kitchen window!  At least it's not a blizzard, so it won't be that bad!

   Tomorrow, I'll show you the baby outfit I am working on and a scarf and hat that I have finished.  Until then, be safe, have fun and remember to say Hi to every one you see.  You just might make someone's day!

Hugs...









     

Happiness

 

  As I sit here today, looking out my window at the shining sun and realizing that there are birds singing, I thought about happiness.  What really is happiness?

   According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it is a state of well-being and contentment, a pleasurable or satisfying experience. The words joy, bliss, gladness, even warm fuzzies can be used to describe happiness.

   I am realizing, as I get older, that being happy sometimes comes so easy.  For me, a simple cup of coffee can make me happy.  A funny movie or a wonderful mystery book.  Clean sheets and flannel pajamas.

  

   My dream has always been to live where I can hear the ocean.  I have many pictures of beaches, sea shells, little beach huts.  Just looking at these pictures are enough to bring those content and happy feelings to me.

   Lately, I have been crocheting and sewing more and more.  I realized a few days back that when I am stressed or my day is really going downhill fast, just picking up a ball of yarn and a hook or some needles brings such a feeling of calmness and contentment.  I feel happy.

   Happiness is different for each of us.  What makes you happy?  Whatever it is, I hope you find it and have all the peace, comfort and happiness that is possibly.

   Have a wonderfully happy weekend!

Hugs....

   

   

   

   

Best laid plans

   Do you ever get so distracted that nothing seems to get done?  Well, that was my day yesterday.  I got up and said to myself that after Laura went to school, I would get on the computer and do a posting. HA!  That did not happen!

   It was my own fault.  First I thought I would quickly check my e-mail.  Well, look...an e-mail from a crochet site.  Must check that out.  Then it was, "Oh, my goodness, that is SO ADORABLE!  Must have a look at that pattern."  So, of course I clicked on it.  Loved it!  Oh, that pattern is in a book?  What book?  Must search for it.  Does my library have it?  Is it on Amazon?  Is it an e-book?  So, off I went in search of it.

   Well, after a break to eat, wash dishes, go get some groceries, I finally got home.  Oop, didn't write my post.  Must go do that.  Wait, what did I write down here on my scratch pad?  Oh, a new stitch I want to try to learn so I could work it into a new blanket.  Off I go in search of stitch instructions.

   Do you see a pattern developing?  Yup, you guessed it.  9:45 last night, I am working on this 'new stitch' and remembered I had not posted yet!!  Seriously, I think I am getting adult ADHD or something!  Maybe my mind is so full of new things I am learning, I just can't remember to do the simple things!  Actually, I think I am just getting old and having brain fog :)

   So, what have we learned?  When needing to post, DO NOT get distracted!  Go straight to your blog, do not check e-mail or look at any new anything.  Just post first, and enjoy later!  I'm hoping I'll remember that advice past this morning!
   Have a wonderful day wherever you are.  Stay warm and always remember that every day is a good day, just some are better than others!
Hugs....

What's it all about....

As it is Valentine's Day, I thought I would talk some about the actual history of the day.

 Valentine's Day started out as an ancient Roman festival, Lupercalia.  Lupercalia was a fertility festival, celebrated on February 15.  In 496, Pope Gelasius 1 made the day a Christian feast, honoring St. Valentine and moving it to the date we now know, February 14.

   Pope Gelasius 1 did not make clear which St. Valentine he was speaking of and it turns out, with further digging, that there were at least 3 different St. Valentines that he could have been referring to.  All had been martyred on February 14.  One story says that Valentine was a prisoner and fell in love with the daughter of the jailer.  Prior to being executed, Valentine wrote a letter to her and signed it, "from your Valentine."


It was not until the 14th century that love was associated with Valentine's Day.  Chaucer wrote a poem to honor the marriage of  Richard the second and Anne of Bohemia.

   In England, February 14th became a day of gift giving and exchanging of hand-made cards. As the American colonies were created, so came the tradition of England's Valentine's Day.  It took until 1850, when Esther  A. Howland started mass-producing valentines, that it became an American tradition.

  Many of us have come to think that Valentine's Day is only for those of us who have 'partners'.  While that, in a sense, is true, I feel differently.  Love for someone should not be kept for a special day or be shown by giving flowers and candy.  While I love getting flowers and yummy chocolate, it should be more about everyday love.  Telling someone how nice they look, putting a little extra time in the meal you serve, talking to an old friend.  Love can be shown in so many ways and we need to treat everyday as though it was Valentine's Day.

   I want to leave you with something I saw on this morning.  Go to cocorosetextiles.blogspot.com and click on her youtube link.  Or, for those of you who would like to go to youtube directly, type in Turning Page by Sleeping At Last.  It is a wonderful slow and meaning song.

   I wish all of you a Happy Valentine's Day, today and every day.
Hugs....

Comfort

     I've been thinking lately about comfort.  Not just comfort food, which is really good, but comfort in life. How, at different times, we find comfort in different ways.

     It all starts when we are small. Falling down, scraping our knee, our hand. At times like that, we take comfort in knowing our mom or dad will be there, to 'kiss the boo-boo'.  As we get older, when our heart is broken for the first time by 'love', we know a parent or grandparent or even a good friend will be there, saying what we need to hear.
     Then we grow up and we become the Comforter.  We kiss the 'boo-boos',  listen as a broken heart cries.  We stay up and rock the crying baby, sit and watch a feverish child as they fitfully sleep.  We stay up and wait till our child comes home safely, from that first date or that late night job.  It is what we do, what our job is.

     Sometimes, when we need to be comforted as we grow old, we remember things from our childhood.  Most times, we remember things that no one else does.  I remember my maternal grandpa very clearly.  I only saw him once, when I was about 18 months.  I remember my daddy holding me,over his shoulder, and I was looking up at the stairs in my grandparents house.  My grandpa walked down the stairs, came over to me, took my hand and kissed my forehead.  That was the only time I saw him, but after 50 plus years, it is like it happened yesterday.

     I believe that we are allowed to remember certain moments, so when we need them, they are there to give us comfort.  These 'moments' can also be triggered by sounds or smells.  The first rain in the spring, the smell of a freshly mown  lawn, the snow falling on the trees in the forest.  Anything can trigger these memories.
     As I grow older, and now only with one daughter left at home, I find myself  remembering so much from my childhood.  Aunts and uncles who are gone, looking at pictures of cousins I've never met, places family have lived that I may never visit.  I hope that I am giving my children, most of whom are grown with children of their own, memories like these.  Happy times that they can look back on when they are walking the floor with their baby, kissing those 'boo-boos' of their children.  Making new memories that give them comfort.
     I hope all of you have moments and memories that you can go to when you need comfort.
Hugs....

Welcome!

Hello,everyone! Welcome to my blog.  Let me tell you a little about myself and, of course, this blog.

My name is Debbie and I live in Indiana. I am now a single mom, with one girl still at home. I love crocheting, sewing, cross stitch, am learning to knit and I love a good mystery!  I have decided to finally start a blog.  My daughter Laura wanted me to start a blog a year ago, but the time just was not right.  Now, however, I think I will be able to devote time to blogging.

Speaking of Laura, I would like to thank her for all of her help.  She is a master at this stuff and is a willing helper.  She has told me that she now has carpel tunnel, as she has organized my links, favourite blogs, and generally my computer.  

I will be talking about various things, from crafts to cooking, reading to life.  I hope that you will like my blog and keep coming back! 

If there is ever a subject you want to talk about, or have me talk about, please feel free to e-mail me or ask on my blog comments.

Thanks again for reading this and have a wonderful day!