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?

The Girls' Great-Grandma

The girls' great-grandma, my brother, and my niece, Summer 2010

I had planned on posting pics from our vacation to Tucson and Christmas, but we only got back last Sunday, I went to school & work the next day and throughout the week, and then my grandma went into the hospital on Thursday afternoon.  I will have to post the other pics later; now, I want to remember my grandma.

She was born in March 20, 1922 and passed away January 15, 2011 surrounded by family and close friends.  Grandma suffered a massive heartattack about five years ago, resulting in a triple bypass because there wasn't enough tissue/veins to do a quadruple bypass.  The surgeons didn't expect her to live, and yet she did.  She began having more consistant heart problems once again this past summer, but the Lord let us keep her with us until Thursday, when she suffered another heartattack.  Although the doctors brought her body back, I believe she left us before she even got to the Code room (And who could blame her?  I'm sure she's with my grandpa, my uncle, my father, and many others.).  She remained physically unresponsive, and so family made the decision to turn off the machines. 

Grandma was a truely unselfish lady.  When we would ask her where she wanted to eat, she refused to say anything other than, "Oh, anywhere is fine with me.  You pick."  My girls loved their great-grandma, and Snugglebug was always hugging and kissing her.  I know I'm a bit stand-offish when it comes to physical displays of affection (other than with the girls or Hubby), so I'd vicariously live through Snugglebug's ability to charm and delight my grandma.  I have memories of the only time I stayed with my grandparents as a child, sleeping on their bedroom floor, and going to Village Inn for breakfast where I got smiley-face pancakes.  I cherish the memories of the family Christmases at her house with all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. We will miss her dearly, but I believe she's not only happier, but younger than me now! 

The Warmth of the Season

I have to admit, I've been cold. Very, very cold. Finally, I'm warm. Very, very warm. I will upload pics as soon as I can, but I don't have internet service where we are staying, so this is just a quick update.

I had no idea I missed Tucson this much. I feel...home. I am able to melt into the crowd here, unknown to most (since there are rather large crowds here), and take in the scenery, along with the simple pleasures of the Southwest: the metal desert animals scampering up adobe walls along the road, the purple mountains looming in the distance like old friends to welcome you home, the saguaros warming themselves in the sun without a care--similar to the way Snugglebug sleeps in her bed. I even appreciate the rectangular reflectors used to define the lanes on the road--something the snowplows of the Midwest would never allow. Will I really have to leave?

Christmas Traditions

We don't have many out-of-the-ordinary Christmas traditions (or at least what I would consider so), but this is my one tradition since I was a very little girl.  My mother would put a pile of Christmas records on the record player in the foyer, and I would sit in the living room on the old, uncomfortable green sofa that weighed a ton and was therefore never moved from the house (until it was sold, I believe).  The room would be dark, the Christmas lights would be flashing in multi-color brilliance, and the flames of Christmas candles would flicker in the dark.  It may have been 80 degrees outside (it was Tucson, after all), but it was Christmas.  Anyway, without further ado:



Merry Christmas!