When do you KNOW you've lost it?

Is it when playing word soup with your spouse and the made up word pitboom makes you laugh like a loon?

Or is it when a coworker misuses yet another common phrase and you don't even blink, you just write it down on the list. I.e. "You've been gone so long we thought you fell into the obese." (Abyss)

Perhaps it's when you sit down and get covered by cats and it doesn't cause you to blink.

When you realize you have dressed all kinds of wounds and it no longer bothers you, is that when you know?

It's probably when you put the hash browns on your breakfast sandwich because it's easier to eat while you drive.

You can't tell how many hours you've wasted watching building off the grid/tiny house/holiday baking/90 day fiancé/little women television shows. That's probably a sign.

The dryer lint seems a good subject matter for a blog pic.

Or when this picture seems to be perfect for this post.

Quality control! There are tots in my fries! It came to me this way!

Growing. Me, the knitting and fun along the way.

I've been expecting one thing from my sibling while getting far, far less in return. It's been this way for awhile, but I still get hurt and amazed when this happens. My usual m.o. When this happens is to vent to Blueman and spend  waste an evening stewing and feeling bad. Tonight I tried a new tack. I told Blueman what happened then advised I needed some time. So I sat down, read some blog posts, knitted a little and let it go. I'm still a little sore about the situation but not in a cursing angry sort of way. The bright side, I'm telling myself, is that I handled the situation on my own. Look at me. Growing as a person!

Something else is growing. My knitting is coming right along. I have three yarn projects going and one sewing. Variety is the spice of life!

I'm guessing we have ten inches on it. It's so pretty and lightweight. Rainbow Boucle -America.

The funny thing, while soothing myself with the needles, I heard what I thought was a vibrating text message. I didn't want to bestir the feline chilling on my chair, so I waited to go get the phone. Turns out my phone was in the laundry room. The vibrating noise was a series of belly groans from the feline. I guess he was happily groaning in sleepy pleasure. Either that or intestinal gas! I choose the former!

Happy Sunday!

Small business Saturday

I like shopping downtown. There are a few shops that have some cute things for sale. I also like helping small shops once in awhile. Today I bought a couple of goodies for Christmas presents and got a cute tote bag. For free! Folks who know me know I love a tote bag. I use the cloth reusable bags for groceries, crafts, library trips, etc.

Got a few things at a big department store too. $4 t-shirts are a good deal.

Will get to crafting. Singing in the choir tonight and tomorrow is my final day off from this lively Thanksgiving holiday. Next week is renovation days for the bathroom. If I could blink and have it over, I'd be interested in that!

Post thanksgiving day thoughts

Forget New Years, I felt a resolution aura surround me last night. I'd been grumpy at the thought of dinner but it ended up being okay. Resolution #1- don't pre-stress.

Dinner was good except for the pie. I don't like grainy pie. But I ate too much and am getting real tired of the over full feeling. The maternal unit regularly takes leftovers home because she knows where her full button is. Resolution #2 - get a handle on this portion size stuff.

Apologies have been a big part of my vocabulary lately. I've been wicked moody and apologizing for everything, deservedly so.  Resolution #3 - stop letting tongue rule head.

Today's craft status is sort of a statement of life. I'm making rings from these little tiny skeins Blueman got me for my birthday. You can get six rings from one tiny skein and in a rainbow of colors, well, it just made sense to arrange them rainbowingly. (Resolution #4 - make up more words because it's fun)

They'll be connected with a neutral color I think.

Kind of a metaphor for life, these rings. The colors roll through the rainbow with an ebb and flow kind of feeling, much like life. They twist so easily and you spend time fixing, straightening and double checking to make sure you are still on track, much like life.  It was originally a gift that I thought might wither away in the closet because I didn't think I'd have any other idea for them, but in using them I feel like it honors Blueman. Much like I wish I would do more of in life.

Thanksgiving day

I'm thankful for the same things most are - my immediate family, my great friends, gainful employment, God given talents, etc.

I've decided to relish these days off work and really do things that make me happy and recharged.
I started a project with my knit/crochet crew and took it with me to the MRI appt that I went to with Blueman.  I think it nearly doubled in size and got my knitting juices flowing.

I'm thankful for the women who taught me crafting, crocheting, sewing, knitting, embroidery. I'm master of none of these skills but I do enjoy them all.

Do what you love and others will enjoy the beauty in that.  Happy Thanksgiving!

48 hours of tears

friday was a crazy day, busy and frustrating. I made a big mistake, caught before it was irreversible but it weighed on me. I had lunch with a friend who was told to prepare herself for the end of her mothers existence. How does one do that?

I wept on the way home about hurts, fears, revelations, just feelings that all came to a head on Friday. Saturday was better, my group of women who knit and crochet and generally lift my spirit worked their magic.

Today I was told my friends mother passed. 95.6 years of life, 42 of which were spent without her husband. I cry at the mere thought of this little woman's passing, not that we were particularly close but more because of the impact on my friend. And the realization that my own mother is not gifted with immortality either.

Fly to Heaven little Hazel. Find your other half and know that we are with your daughter.

Pretty as a postcard

At the end of a day at home doing chores, finishing the QOV and trying to blow away the stresses of the previous week, all I wanted to do was hideout at home. I still had one more thing to do and that was to stop by the hub housing the maternal unit.  It was upon leaving that I not only stopped but I paused, called out a witness request and just stood in awe for a moment. It took me a moment to even think about getting out my phone. It was so pretty in person I didn't think I'd get a good phone pic. I think I did. What do you think?

Finished quilt of valor

I love love love this quilt. Pulling it out of the box to trim and put binding on was an awesome feeling. I just finished writing my name on the label and will work to attach it as well as make the case. This has been an awesome experience. Patience, perseverence and pride were some of the lessons I relearned while working on this project.

Terri Miller did an awesome quilting job. I think that eclipses my juvenile piecing but I couldn't be more proud of the finished product. I hope the recipient feels the love and respect sewn into every corner of this quilt.

Bargain bazaar buy

I found this folded piece of fabric at a bazaar today. It's soft and dish cloth like material. I figure it has a real name but I'm not terribly educated about fabric types. I just know what I like.
I was able to walk away with this for the bargain price of $1.50. Score!

Could there be a Christmas gift in its future?  I think so!