Waiting: Day Five

My family comes over to play.

Family

When we were growing up, my mother would often tell my sister and I that the only person you get for your whole life is your sister. It was important to her that we have a close relationship, despite a six year age difference and natural sibling rivalry. Her ploy

worked. There is no relationship in my life quite like the one I have with my sister.

So, this week was incredibly special. She had one week between semesters in graduate school, and she came to spend it helping me re-arrange the house and set up the nursery. I took the first half of the week off, giving us five full days to focus on all things baby. Most of the time it was just the two of us, and it was a great chance to be together and share the excitement.

And we did a great job, if I do say so myself.But, best of all, I got to share this incredibly exciting time with my sister. She listened to the baby's heartbeat, felt her kicks and swore she could see my belly grow before her very eyes.

How did she do?

Not bad.  Not bad.

Monday - Cardio and stretching

Tuesday - Wii yoga

Thursday - Cardio, stretching, and strength building

Saturday and Sunday - manual labor

I spent the weekend helping my sister and her husband move in to their new cottage in the midst of a horse farm.  My first task was assisting with re-screening the front porch.  Then it was moving furniture and boxes, cleaning and generally making myself useful.  It was wonderful and I am pleasantly tired.  But, it was definitely manual labor.

Puttering My Way To Progress

With my sister's bridal shower only two weeks away, I decided it was safe to wash and block the shawl. I am thrilled with the final product, and I can already see that blocking it is going to make it sing as Amy promises.She's going to love it.
And with chores done on a rainy Sunday, what's a girl to do but play with scraps? My tumblers quilt was named today - Carnival Tumblers. After all, it was the Carnival Bloom scraps that were the inspiration and how I chose my color palette. I am counting on that color palette to tie it all together, since I spent several hours today chain piecing blocks together at random. I did pay some attention to contrast, but that's really it. Now I have a basket of two-units and single pieces to play with in putting together rows. If I'm smart, I'll do that tomorrow and go to bed now... I'm guessing I'll be tired tomorrow.

And So It Begins

Wedding preparations have begun in earnest, and we've upped the ante with handmade bridesmaid's dresses. Fortunately, there are only two of us. Mom is making the one for our young cousin and I've begged help from a friend who is a much more accomplished seamstress. And by help I was clear that I meant "I'll cut out the pattern and follow instructions, but you'll do all the alteration and actual construction of this thing." I've just begun to develop some ability to construct simple garments that I'll actually wear. I am not ready to be responsible for my own dress when I'll be standing beside the most important person in my life on one of the most important days of hers.

The Crafty Gifts

Knowing that I had committed to finishing a quilt for Christmas, I was determined to keep the rest of the Christmas crafting simple.This scarf, for my other aunt, was the only other thing in the queue. I started it just to keep my hands busy when my grandmother was in the hospital. Nothing portable was on the needles, and I'd just finished my linen wrap. So, I grabbed the needles and leftover yarn and cast on for a scarf in the same pattern. While we waited, my aunt admired the emerging pattern and so I knew it was meant to be hers. I was right; she loved it.
But, as it turned out, Wandering Flamingoes, the scarf and a super-secret project for the early spring were all completed well in advance of Christmas. And so, I added another project to the queue, naturally. My almost-married-and-actually-cooking-these-days sister needed an Emmeline apron to go with the cutting board she requested. I mean, look at that cute gathered bodice.
And its power to be easily reversed when you've made a mess of your apron just as your guests are walking in the door.
And the fact that she loves it. She also looks so much better in it than I did. I should probably figure out why and what to adjust before I make one for myself, because I will definitely be making one for myself.

Wandering Flamingos - Grand Finale

And so, the quilt that spoke my aunt's name all those months ago is done.

Pieced, quilted and bound.
Labeled.
Given.
Loved.

It was perfect. It made her cry. And I find there is really nothing more to be said.

His and Hers

My Christmas crafting is coming to a close, and I am finally getting around to taking pictures before wrapping things up. This scarf was a last minute addition to my Christmas list. My cousin's and their on-the-cusp-of-being-teenagers kids are coming to Florida to see us for Christmas; the first Christmas I've spent with them since I left D.C. Its also only the second time I've seen the kids since I left D.C. almost seven years ago.

I wanted something special for them, and of course that means handmade. I already had one Rubblework Scarf that I made last Christmas but ended up not gifting when the intended recipient didn't spend the holiday with us after all. I pulled it out, and I knew it was the perfect gift for my young cousin. And, when I found the wonderful solar system fabric, a matching scarf for her brother was a given.

Of course, my to do list was already long and my time short. Fortunately, the Rubblework Scarf is an easy evening's work. I easily finished it up and delivered it, along with its sister, to my Mom. She'll be putting together a basket of goodies to keep them entertained on the long drive back up. We figure these flannel backed beauties will help keep them warm as they leave Florida and head back in to the snow.

(Unfortunately, the colors aren't true in these photos, but they are the closest I can get. The second flannel is not burgundy, but a rich purple.)

Campfire Knitting

I'm a little late telling you about it, but that camping trip I keep mentioning was great.  I grew up camping 9 times a year or more.  I have great memories and great stories of the trips that weren't so great.  We don't often have a chance to camp now, and I really miss it.  So, that was my birthday request this year.  And my family came through in spades - my parents, my sister and her fiancee, her future in laws, and two of the families we camped with during my childhood.  

It was unseasonably cold, though, and we spent the nights and mornings huddled in our coats and around the fire. But, it warmed up during the day and was great. We did some hiking, and some laying in the sun with the dogs. Just look at this pack. No question who is Alpha, is there?  (Trying to count the dogs? Four.  And a husband.  And, look, they are using the picnic quilt I made!)
And when the gloves came off, I sat around the fire visiting with people I love and knitting on the Ribby Pulli.  Heaven on Earth - and some serious progress on a beautiful sweater.
The yarn is definitely not my favorite.  Its stiff, and therefore unforgiving, but more annoyingly each skein has at least one knot and most have more.  The color is beautiful, though, and I think the sweater will look good on.

Losing Count of My Blessings

November has been full to the brim with wonderful events that are now amazing memories.  We kicked it off with an election we both cared deeply about, and for the most part the results are exactly what we hoped for, giving us great hope for the future.  Then we partied like rock stars at an Indian wedding, celebrated my birthday in a low key way, spent time alone and ate incredible food on our 2nd anniversary, attended a rally to support the civil rights of our friends, kicked off a landscaping project we've been discussing for a year, and camped in the cold with my family and the friends of my childhood to celebrate my birthday in a less low key way.  And now, we're going to wrap it all up in a bright and shiny bow with the traditional Thanksgiving feast.  My family is large and primarily still local, so for us that means 20 people all bringing dishes of food and then sprawling about my aunt's house.  Its beautiful.  

This year, like most years, I don't have to reach very far before I lose count of all the reasons I'm thankful.  And that in itself, is the greatest blessing.  But, in 2008, I am particularly grateful that my grandmother will be with us today, in the midst of the chaos and very likely turning off her hearing aid to deal with the din of the wonderful family she created.

I hope the blessings are as abundant for you and yours.  Gobble till you wobble.

A Seaside Celebration

We've been very busy with the business of life recently. Lots of work and lots of play - and for me spurts of progress on my projects.











This weekend we spent three days at the beach, celebrating my little sister's 26th birthday. It was a grand celebration with tons of food, sun and sand. October in Florida is the perfect time for swimming and sand castles with our 5 year old friend, and her 11 week old brother allowed us to cuddle and rock to our hearts content. We did have a mishap when my husband walked off a ten foot sea wall in the dark, but besides a bruised shoulder and a sore knee he's recovered well.

Early in the morning this Thursday I'm off to Portland for a long awaited retreat with my college girlfriends. Despite the long list of things I need to do before going, life really doesn't get any better than this.

Photo Monday

Birthday Surprise

This weekend was my mother-in-law's birthday. Her cat, Thomas, decided he was the only birthday gift she needed.

Photo Monday

Beat the Heat

Photo Monday

Waiting for Grammie

Picnicking

Saturday morning, we lay in bed enjoying the luxury of waking up without an alarm, and Alex looks at me and says "we have absolutely no plans for today." And then we grinned at each other liked fools. Wow it felt good.

A couple of hours and cups of coffee later, we leisurely headed to the farmer's market for our Saturday morning breakfast and I grabbed the quilt so we could have an all out picnic.

Of course, by the time I got back from buying vegetables, Alex had talked to a friend who told us about his really cool plans for the evening. A Homelessness Awareness Rally in the early evening followed by the Fringe Festival. We managed to fill up our day very quickly after that.

But, I did start cutting the blocks for a new quilt. I know!

Celebrating 50

My Aunt turned 50 last weekend, and so she held a weekend-long birthday extravaganza. Summer comes early here, so where better to have an extravaganza than at a condo on the beach? Friday night was just her and her girlfriends (and sisters), and then Saturday night and Sunday the family descended for our turn to help her party. So, we welcomed her fiftieth decade and summer with a great day on the beach.The dogs came along to keep a watchful eye on those crazy humans.
Point in case, those crazy boys who think its never too cold to go in the ocean. (I may think summer is here and enjoy a day at the beach, but that water isn't getting any higher than my ankles thank you very much.) Alex had his first chance to commune with the waves all summer.
He even took a stab at learning to surf.My sister and I preferred walking on the beach and admiring the art left by nature.
Gwen, not a fan of the sand or the salt, very much preferred sunbathing on the balcony. Of course, she still had several long runs on the beach and 24 hours worth of dealing with two young dogs. When we got home Sunday night, she was so tired she couldn't even go for her walk. She just sat down and looked pitifully at us. You could tell from the way she walked that every muscle in her body was protesting.

It was a lovely way to celebrate 50 years. And even the wildlife came out to wish her a happy birthday.Oh, hello. Happy Birthday to ya.Is there cake around here somewhere? I'd sing for cake.It's your birthday; it's your birthday. We're gonna par-tay, par-tay.

The mockingbird had a little too much sugar. Some people just don't know when to stop with the cake.

Busy, Busy Saturday

**Brit - you might wanna skip this one until the snow melts. I'm just sayin'.

That's my sister lugging our morning haul back to the car. Most of it, I'm relieved to say, was Mom's. But, the three of us had a great time at the annual plant sale at Leu Gardens. It takes hours to walk through the booths and by the end of it we were sweaty and sunburned, but satisfied. We certainly had something to show for it, didn't we?

I'll be spending part of tomorrow planting. (Just making it through the sale was enough for today.) I'm particularly excited about this plant, though. The name escapes me at the moment, but its a fruiting bush. It gets little berries on the trunk that taste like grapes. Two came home with me - one for myself and one for my father-in-law - and one with Mom.

Of course, we left the three dogs at home while we were there. Half way through the morning, Alex called to tell me our friend had found the two young dogs out in the street. They had torn through the screen we'd secured to the gate to keep Gwen from walking through it. He replaced the screen with low gauge chicken wire and moved the big trash can in front of it, before leaving for his own errands. By the time we got home, I found this. And they had somehow pulled the bamboo plant that sits outside the gate down and had chewed at it. Ferociously.And they were dancing at that gate, so proud of their handiwork, when we got home. Not Gwen, though. The experienced old lady that she is wanted it very clear that she had no part in either the original escape or the final destruction. In fact, she was pretty darn glad to see those young 'uns go home.

The Photo Shoot

My parents stayed the night last night, a lovely treat. This morning Mom suggested we take the cameras and the dogs to Mead Gardens. It was a perfect morning (sunny but slightly overcast), and the dogs spent over an hour running and playing while we took pictures of flowers. They are great photo shoot companions, never bored. Pippen did eventually wear himself out. He was following Mom about and dropping down at her feet. Gwen toughed it out while we were there, but she's been sound asleep for hours now.

Thanks to their ability to entertain themselves (and the fact that you can rely on them to stay close), I had a chance to really play with the camera and try out some of the manual settings that always intimidate me. I'm pleased with the results.

Photo Monday

I've ditched the idea of the 365 project. My schedule and my life being what it is, I wasn't spending more time with my photos, but turning it in to a chore. And taking more boring pictures, rather than better ones.. So, I'm going to narrow the resolution to posting one photo a week - a reminder to spend some time developing my skills in my already prolific photo taking.

This one is a favorite wedding gift. The Love Lives Here is a Bill Davis exclusive, given to us by his wife, with the statute, because he did not live to see our wedding day. It was one of the few wedding gifts to make me cry, and a treasured little tableau at the top of our stairs. It is a daily reminder of how lucky I am in - in my marriage and in my life. Life sometimes feels too full, too busy, but that is a side effect to being so full of love.