Sunshine through the Clouds: Tohono Chul Park

When we visited Tucson this past winter, we walked through Tohono Chul Park, located diagonally from my old elementary school.  They had extended the park since I had been there last, and although I wasn't crazy about the sounds of traffic zooming down the road, I couldn't resist taking pictures of these gorgeous "life reminders" as I call them. 

 



"How many humans have had the patience to know even one saguaro well?"



These pictures give me a touch of sunshine on cloudy days.



"The desert is my lady.  She screams at the spring sky, dances with her skirts high, kicks sand, flings tubmleweeds, digs her nails into all flesh.  Hair unveield, lust fascinates the sun."

Where do you find your touch of sunshine?

Hat Craze

Lovely and her Purpley Flower Hat

Finished!  Can you believe I finished two hats in less than a week?  Well, I think it was less than a week...I only really worked on them about four days!  Allison was right--this was a super easy, super quick project that got me hooked on crocheting (no pun intended)!  What do you think?  I used really cute leather (or faux leather--not sure) buttons that I found in my mom's really, really, really old button jar. 

Snugglebug and her Snuggly Flower Hat

Snugglebug's hat was first, so the seams are a lot more visible and the stitches aren't quite as even.  However, she still seems pleased with it!  I let her pick the buttons for this and she chose a cute gold circle with what looks like white knitted material in the middle.  Then, she chose a really cheesey gold anchor buttom that I'm not so fond of, but hey, this is her hat, so I'll just deal with it ;-)

Below are the hats by themselves.  I'm quited psyched (or stoked, according to Hubby) about finishing these projects...Beware of what summer may hold!  My eventual goal for August:  crochet dresses for this winter!  Mwoohahaha!

This pattern is found at McKinley's Closet:  http://mckinleyscloset.blogspot.com/2010/03/spring-fever.html

Making the Rounds

This is my newest project...crochet.  Yes, I decided four graduate classes, 20 hrs/wk at the writing center, my husband's business paperwork, two small children, and a household wasn't a big enough challenge...something had to be done with these hands!  Actually, I'm wondering if needlework will be therapeutic, if I can block everything else out and just remember to count!  Victorian literature always mentions women and their hands, usually sewing or doing other needlework, so lets see if there's a method to their maddness. 

I did the lighter purlple first with guidance from my friend, Allison (thank you, Allison!) and I did the second round this weekend on my own (woohoo initiative!).  These are supposed to turn into hats, which I believe they will!  Wish me luck!

What challenges are you giving yourself this week?

A *Heart* Surprise

A New Use for the Hat Box :)

Hubby surprised me when I got home!  I don't remember getting anything for Valentine's Day last year, so this was a very nice surprise!  In fact, I was completely oblivious to the surprise as I walked right past it to the backyard to check on swingset building progress.  When I came back in, I finally noticed it sitting on the dining room table.  I normally get roses, but I kinda like the tullip change :) 

Have there been any surprises in your life lately?

Happy *Heart* Day



Cards of Caring

Happy *Heart* Day, everyone!  Unfortunately, I had to work Saturday afternoon and since my babysitter is out of town, I brought the girls with me to work.  Let's just say I'm ok brining Lovely, but I will resist brining Snugglebug back if possible! 

Luckily, I only had one appointment, so I took the opportunity to work on Valentine's Day cards for Lovely's class.  I debated buying ready-made packaged ones, but I decided against it.  No, these aren't all nice and neat and picturesque, but they are from our imaginations, using our hands and our time.  Not only was I able to listen to Lovely decide what she thought each classmate would like to receive (right down to the colors of the card), but I was able to do some semi-mindless art therapy to ease stress. These are actually two pieces of construction paper glued together, the inner piece having a pop-up square so Lovely could glue cute hearts to pop-up at their new owners!  (Some even have googley-eyes!)

Are you doing anything special for Valentine's Day?



Old Hat Box and Hat, Finaly Dust Free--Almost

This is a hat box I rumaged off with from the family farm in Pennsylvania.  It was dirty and blackened, but I was surprised to find it made of a vinyl material--so easy to clean!  It even came with a really cute petal hat that I ashamedly probably ruined with water (I had to remove the spider webs some way!).  I think I'll turn the box into some sort of craft box, but I haven't decided yet.  For now, it's sitting on my dining room table, thankful that I removed it from the dusty clutces of a 200 year old attic.  Any ideas for the box?

Desert Play

Lovely on the same metal spider I used to climb on and pretend was She-ra's space ship.
 I was surprised that it even has some red paint remaining on its body!

The carefree feeling of youth...now, I must vicariously live through the lives of my children...or must I?  I do find myself imposing wishes and dreams of my youth onto my girls, but then again, I find we frequently have the same yearnings.  What Lovely & Snugglebug want that I didn't, I just refer to as weird. 

This involved many takes and retakes for it to turn out...like this.  It was a good day; just me and the girls.  I love spending time with my girls, even when Lovely digs her heals in and refuses to budge in judgment.  This was taken on a walk at a park I used to go to on field trips.  The city has really grown up around it, so the only wildlife we noticed were birds flying high in the sky as they landed on mesquite and palo verde trees.  The girls' one question:  How can a bird land like that on a cactus and not get hurt?  ;-)  This picture is from at least 20 years after my last field trip to the desert, but I still feel like I'm wandering; attempting to find the dust-covered path beneath my weary feet. 

Where did your childhood walks take you?